Abstract: The present invention relates to a deceleration device for flat products, such as signatures. A deceleration device has a plurality of seizing elements attached thereto for seizing signatures at their respective leading edge while the signatures are emerging from a conveying device. The leading edge of a signature travels on a first path, whereas the trailing edge of the signature travels on a second path, which creates a larger air-drag coefficient on the signature than the first path.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for providing positive control of a printable medium in a printing system such that high speed processing of the printable medium can be achieved without damage to the product (e.g., printed signatures). Exemplary embodiments are directed to a carrier system which contacts (e.g., grips) the printable medium from both sides to provide positive control over the printable medium as it is transported from one area of positive constraint (e.g., a folding mechanism of a folder device) to another area of positive constraint (e.g., transport tapes and/or a signature deceleration device located downstream of the cutting cylinders).

Abstract: A post folder diverting apparatus includes a first and second conveyor system, each having a conveyor drive, a conveyor cable, a plurality of gripper blocks connected to each conveyor cable and a gripper element attached to each gripper block for transporting signatures from a folder apparatus to separate product streams. The first and second conveyor cables are configured to follow a parallel path for part of the way and separate paths for part of the way. Each gripper block has a first recess for receiving the cable to which it is attached, and a second recess for allowing the other cable to pass through the gripper block without contacting it. The recesses in the gripper blocks are sized and spaced so as to allow gripper blocks attached to the first conveyor cable to share a common path with gripper blocks attached to the second conveyor cable where the conveyor cables follow parallel paths and to deviate from one another where the conveyor cables diverge.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to severing a running material web in a folding apparatus of a web-fed rotary printing press. In one exemplary embodiment, a severing element is moved in the traveling direction of the web with a speed which is substantially equal to the speed of the running web and is simultaneously moved across the width of the web in a substantially lateral direction. The severing element can be a sled with a blade, a laser source, a high-pressure fluid jet or a heated wire. The severing element is received and guided by a guiding rail coupled to a pair of endless parallel transport chains.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting, including an anvil cylinder which may have a plurality of cut rubbers strips affixed around the anvil cylinder and a cut cylinder which is mounted for rotation about an eccentric axis. Two knife boxes may be mounted on the cut cylinder, each knife box having a knife and cheekwood for securing the knife to the cut cylinder. A paper tape guides the material to be cut between the cut cylinder and the anvil cylinder. When one knife box degrades, a knife sleeve on the cut cylinder can be indexed so that the other knife box takes the place of the degraded knife box. When a cut rubber strip degrades, the anvil cylinder can be indexed so that another cut rubber strip takes the place of the degraded cut rubber strap. Either of these functions can occur while the apparatus is still running. The anvil cylinder can also use a cut rubber sleeve.

Abstract: A collation method and apparatus that is immune from singularization faults which disrupt the collation process. Each signature is loaded into individual grippers of a power and free gripper conveyor system. Those grippers that experience a miss or a double are diverted out of the process stream. Only those grippers that carry one and only one signature are allowed to continue on in the primary signature queue. The grippers that continue on in the primary signature queue are re-queued into a sequential order which eliminates gaps in the queue. The collation machine accepts signatures from the downstream end of the signature queue as the singularization process continues to add signatures to the upstream end of the signature queue. The singularizer uses a track and diverter structure, where grippers without a signature are diverted to the diverter structure and grippers with a signature continue on the track to a collator.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing and conveying a product stream includes a conveying belt entering a folder to grip products. The conveying belt comprises product grippers arranged thereon in an endless configuration. At least some of the grippers are selectively rotatable around an axis during movement of the conveying belt to allow for the signatures gripped to be converted into a leading corner configuration. If only a selected set of the grippers are rotated, a secondary stream of products may be formed.

Abstract: A device for selectively extracting samples from a folding unit is provided. The device includes a signature transport system for transporting signatures to a deceleration device. The deceleration device has a plurality of rotating arms with gripping elements assigned thereto for seizing signatures emerging-from the transport system. Portions of the signature transport system or selectively actuable gripping elements either deliver sample signatures to a delivery system or deviate sample signatures into an alternate transport path.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for transporting a flat printed material being conveyed, such as a printed web of material, a ribbon, a signature, or the like. An exemplary apparatus includes a pair of seizing elements for transporting a web of material, and corrugation inducing elements arranged along a linear path adjacent to each other. The corrugation inducing elements are provided in a non-contacting manner on both sides of a transition area within which the flat printed material is conveyed, the corrugation inducing elements substantially extending along the transition area which is located between an output of the pair of seizing elements and the input to further processing elements to corrugate the flat printed material.

Abstract: A self-compensating tensioner, particularly a self-compensating tensioner for use in a folder of a web offset printing press, includes a plurality of rollers designed to tension tapes. Each roller is mounted on a tensioner arm. The tensioner arms are mounted on a rotatable shaft via one-way clutches with a weight attached to each tensioner arm so that the center of mass of the tensioner arm is offset from the rotatable shaft. The force of gravity may therefore rotate the tensioner arm about the shaft, applying a minimum tension to the tape through the roller. A lever arm is connected to the shaft through an engagement clutch, with an actuator connected to the lever arm. When the actuator and the engagement clutch are activated, the lever arm can apply a torque to the tensioner arms through the shaft, thereby increasing the tension in the tapes to a working level.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to transporting signatures within a folding apparatus. Exemplary embodiments include at least one pair of cooperating cutting cylinders, each having at least one of a knife and an anvil. A conveying plane extends in substantially vertical direction. A right and a left conveyor assembly are assigned to the conveying plane. The cooperating cutting cylinders are integrated into the paths of conveying elements of the left and right conveyor assemblies, seizing a web of material prior to a cutting operation.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a conveying device for flat printed products. Exemplary embodiments include a transport device for transporting signatures. A plurality of arms, each having a seizing device, are assigned to the transport device for seizing signatures emerging from the transport device. Upon rotational movement of the arms, the seizing devices dive into non-raised portions of a transporting element of the transporting device for seizing a leading edge of respective signatures.

Abstract: A variable velocity profile deceleration device is provided for gripping a signature from a cutting cylinder, tape system or other transporting device at high speeds. The signatures are positively gripped, decelerated through a smooth velocity profile, and delivered to a further processing device such as a single copy gripper conveyor, or a stacker. The deceleration device includes a plurality of rotary grippers mounted to a drum. The drum rotates about an axis under the control of a drive. The rotary grippers each include an upper roller in rolling engagement with a lower roller at a nip. An independent gripper drive is coupled to each rotary gripper for rotating the upper and lower rollers.

Abstract: An apparatus for splitting a product stream includes a conveying belt entering a folder to grip products. The conveying belt comprises first and second product grippers arranged thereon in an endless configuration. The first grippers are selectively rotatable around an axis during movement of the conveying belt to allow for a secondary stream of products to be formed.