Abstract: A cylinder folding apparatus for a web-fed rotary printing press utilizes solid cutting and a collecting cylinders to cut a paper web into signatures. A hollow folding drum is provided with an interior folding blade cylinder whose axis of rotation is offset from that of the folding drum. A pair of folding rollers are placed adjacent the folding drum. A stapling device may also be placed adjacent the hollow folding drum. The folding apparatus is intended to cut thick signatures at high production speeds as well as to produce stapled tabloid products.

Abstract: A device for making folded products, which is usable to simultaneously make two different folded products, includes a plurality of partial paper web train fold formers arranged on lower and upper levels and a double wide folding station. The fold formers located in the upper level are shiftable in the direction of the axis of rotation of the cylinders in the folding station. This axial movement of the upper level fold formers allows the production of various folded products having different signature arrangements by the insertion of the partial web trains from the upper level fold formers into either the right or left sides of the double wide folding station.

Abstract: A former assembly for a folder in a web-fed rotary printing press is disclosed. The former assembly includes a paper guide spaced between side frames which are supported for rotation about a vertical axis above a group of folder cylinders. An upper carrousel is used to support the side frames while a carrousel base is carried by the folder. A steering ring is interposed between the upper carrousel and carrousel base to allow rotation of the upper carrousel with respect to the base. Suitable locks are provided to fix the former assembly at desired points along its rotational path above the folder cylinders.

Abstract: A folding jaw cylinder having friction increasing elements for insuring that the fold is not withdrawn from the folding jaws during removal of the folding blade is disclosed. The folding jaw cylinder includes a fixed front folding edge and a movable folding jaw which together cooperate to form a folding slot into which a folding blade forces a plurality of sheets which are folded into a signature. The folding jaw carries suitable friction increasing elements and the folding slot is so structured that the folded sheets are retained in the slot while the folding blade is withdrawn.

Abstract: A web-fed rotary printing press apparatus for the production of printed products of various sizes is disclosed. The apparatus includes forme cylinders having removable printing formes of different sizes, adjustably positionable cross cutting cylinders, speed varying means for the collecting and transfer cylinders, and a longitudinal folding device. As the number and size of printing formes on the forme cylinder is varied to change the size of the printed product, the position of the cross cutting cylinders and the speeds of the collecting and transfer cylinders are selectively varied so that the different sized printed products will be correctly severed and folded into signatures.

Abstract: A folding assembly for book folding in web-fed rotary printing machines is disclosed. A take-over or transfer cylinder, which is capable of operating in either straight or collect run production, transfers signatures to an acceleration section which is run at a selected speed to deliver the signatures to a longitudinal folding device in a spaced array thereby allowing adequate time for the longitudinal folding device to perform a second longitudinal folding operation on the signatures. The speed of the acceleration section is varied by changing its gear drives.

Abstract: A gear folder comprising a gear folding cylinder, at least a pair of folding rollers, and spaced pressure mechanisms for maintaining a precut ribbon segment in position on the folding cylinder for accurate folding of the segment. A first pressure mechanism is positioned before the folding rollers and a second similar mechanism is located after the folding rollers. These pressure mechanisms have rotating, yieldable surfaces which contact the ribbon section which is to be folded. The rotational speeds of the pressure mechanisms are different from each other and from that of the gear folding cylinder to tension the ribbon section on the folding cylinder.