Rotary Folder Patents (Class 493/424)
  • Publication number: 20030073559
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed useful for folding materials, particularly fabrics that are fragile such as medical gauze. The apparatus in its simplest embodiment comprises a roller and a disk which is in communication with the roller. In operation, the material to be folded first is drawn between the roller and disk and then drawn against the disk to form a fold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventor: Balbir Singh
  • Patent number: 6547232
    Abstract: A folder includes a cam having a cam follower path and a movable segment, the movable segment having a first actuating part and a second part, the first actuating part and the second part being selectively movable into the cam follower path. At holds an edge of a signature, the holding device being actuated by the at least one cam follower. Also disclosed is a method for switching a folder from a straight mode to a collect mode, the folder being actuated by a cam. The method includes moving a movable segment of the cam so that a raised section of the movable segment is in a cam follower path of the cam, so as to permit a straight mode of the folder, and moving the movable segment of the cam so that a non-raised section of the movable segment is in the cam follower path of the cam, so as to permit a collect mode of the folder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Philippe Francois Herda, Christian Heinz Miescher
  • Publication number: 20030050169
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming informational items such as outserts and booklets may include folding a sheet of paper having product information printed thereon by making a plurality of folds in the sheet of paper to form a first folded article, the folds in the sheet of paper being made using a first folding apparatus having a plurality of folding rollers; (b) making a fold in the first folded article to form a second folded article, the fold being parallel to a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the fold being made using a second folding apparatus having a plurality of folding rollers; (c) applying pressure at least about 30 psi and no greater than about 500 psi to the second folded article a first pressing unit having a pair of pressure rollers; and (d) making one or more folds in the second folded article to form an outsert using a third folding apparatus having a plurality of folding rollers having a nip therebetween and a movable blade member, the movable blade member making cont
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: William C. Neubauer, Ilija Ilijevski, Roger Mattila
  • Patent number: 6517655
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically folding a sheet of a media, for example a photographic paper, about a fold line such that a album page is formed. The photosensitive media has images only on one side. A heat activated adhesive sheet is provided between the sides of the photographic paper during folding. The adhesive sheet when exposed to heated and pressure rollers will cause the sides of the photographic media to be secured to form a single album page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Timothy F. Spencer, Thomas W. Glanville, John A. Cogswell
  • Patent number: 6514188
    Abstract: A folding jaw cylinder utilizes folding jaw pairs that automatically adjust the folding gap between the two jaws in each pair in response to the thickness of the folded product. A dual working chamber piston-cylinder unit is placed between first and second rotational carriers of the folding jaw members. One of the chambers is filed with liquid and is linked to a hydraulic accumulator by ways of a flow control valve. The second chamber is provided with compressed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Simon Kostiza
  • Patent number: 6511409
    Abstract: A rotary drum of the folding device comprises a reference portion having a rotating shaft 11, 41 and a basic body 10, 40 rotated integrally with the rotating shaft 11, 41; an adjusted portion able to be rotated integrally with the reference portion and arranged so as to be displaced with respect to the reference portion; an adjusting operation mechanism having a driving source 31 for displacing the adjusted portion with respect to the reference portion, a power source 34 arranged in the reference portion, a control board 32 additionally arranged in the driving source 31 and having a wireless receiving function, and a wireless operation machine 33 for wirelessly transmitting an operation signal to the control board 32; and an adjusting transmission mechanism for transmitting a movement of the driving source 31 to the adjusted portion; wherein electric power is supplied from the power source 34 to the driving source 31, and the driving source 31 is operated by a wireless signal from the adjusting operation mech
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokyo Kikai Seisakusho
    Inventors: Tadashi Hachiya, Nobuaki Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 6454692
    Abstract: A method of producing folds on signatures separated from a material web stream, including a multilayer material web stream, includes the method steps of disposing two cutting and perforating devices, respectively, in a web travel direction; cutting the material web stream in the region of a first longitudinal fold by a first cutting device assigned to the fold; perforating/cutting the material web stream in the region of a crossfold forming material bridges; and providing that at least one of the cutting or perforating tools is adjustable in relation to the material web stream. The invention also includes a device for performing the method; and a folder, and more specifically, a pinless folder having the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Bernard Ganneval, Pierre Hoynant
  • Publication number: 20020119877
    Abstract: A folder includes a first cylinder having at least one first gripper for holding signatures and at least one tucker for tucking the signatures to define a first fold, a second cylinder having at least one first jaw for holding the signatures at the first fold, a first motor driving the at least one first gripper, and a second motor separate from the first motor, the second motor driving the at least one tucker of the first cylinder and the at least one first jaw of the second cylinder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventors: Barry Mark Jackson, Joseph Adrian St. Ours
  • Patent number: 6398704
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an outside diameter adjuster for a folding cylinder. The folding cylinder rotates about an axis and has a basic body having a columnar outer circumferential face, where an outer circumferential member forms one portion of the outer circumferential face of the basic body and is movable in a radial direction of the basic body by the angular displacement of an eccentric portion. The eccentric portion is angularly displaced by gears to which it is connected. These gears are connected to other gears, some of which are helical gears, that are configured to rotate and/or axially move in a manner such that the angular displacement of the eccentric portion can be totally controlled by the movement of the gears while the folding cylinder rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokyo Kikai Seisakusho
    Inventors: Kazuaki Shibuya, Seiji Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20020065183
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for folding sheets (2), in particular printed sheets. A sheet (2) which is fed in a state in which it lies horizontally in a feed plane (7) is fed to at least two incipient-folding rollers (4) by a rectilinear knife (6), which can be moved perpendicularly to the feed plane (7), and is received between the incipient-folding rollers (4) in order to form a fold (8). The sheet is then conveyed away in the direction of the fold without being completely closed. The sheets are conveyed away by at least two removal rollers (5), by means of which the fold is also completed. The sheets are advantageously folded and conveyed away in one process step in the case of the invention, an additional opening step prior to the further processing of the sheet being dispensed with.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Applicant: HUNKELER AG
    Inventors: Ernst Luthi, Robert Glur
  • Patent number: 6394441
    Abstract: Folding of stapled documents is accomplished by using magnetic force to manipulate the document. The magnetic force is applied to the staples in the document and results in movement of the document when the magnetic force is applied. Since the magnetic force is applied at the staples, paper handling operations, such as folding are accomplished with the document aligned in accordance with a staple line. Magnetic force can further be used to transport documents to desired locations, such as individual output bins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Israel Cruz, Marco A. Guerrero, Roberto Obregon
  • Patent number: 6383124
    Abstract: A high speed paper folding machine for cutting a continuously fed web of paper into sections and folding said sections is disclosed. The machine includes a rotating hollow drum on which the web is deposited and on which the cutting and folding operations are performed without transferring the web or the cut or folded sections off of the drum. The drum includes a knife for cutting the web. The knife preferably is situated within the drum interior and adapted to extend through elongated apertures defined on the drum outer surface. Grippers on the drum hold the web on the drum through the operation. At least one folding station is operably associated with the drum. At least one pack-off station can be provided for stacking the folded product in separate stacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Inventors: Patrick C. St. Germain, Vernon C. Wickman
  • Patent number: 6367792
    Abstract: In a rotary printing machine, a folder operatable in different folding modes, and having a copy-guiding cylinder to which copies severed from a material web by a cutting-cylinder pair are feedable, the copy-guiding cylinder having a circumferential surface wherein gripping and cross-folding elements are accommodated, includes a device having movable circumferential-surface parts guidable by a respective guide element and, during folding-mode changeovers, selectively extendable into the circumferential surface of the cylinder and retractable between stationary and movable segments of the copy-guiding cylinder which are positionable relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Franck Chagnon
  • Publication number: 20020039956
    Abstract: A chopper folder for a rotary press folds signatures which are periodically conveyed, one signature at a time, from a folding machine. The chopper folder includes a pair of folding rollers for folding a signature parallel to the conveyance direction, a prime mover, a crank arm fixed to an output shaft of the prime mover to be rotated together with the output shaft, a blade holder connected to the crank arm via a link, a chopper blade held in the blade holder and adapted to push the signature from an upper surface thereof in order to insert the signature into a space between the pair of folding rollers, and guide units for restricting motion of the blade holder such that the blade holder reciprocates only in a direction perpendicular to a conveyance plane along which the signature is conveyed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Applicant: Tokyo Kikai Seisakusho, Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Kitai, Yuuji Iiizumi, Takeo Nanba
  • Patent number: 6358192
    Abstract: The clearance or gap between cooperating pairs of folding jaws in a folding jaw system is adjustable by using a roller and a control cam. The control cam has an axial width that is several times greater than the roller track. The control cam is inclined across its axial width and the control cam and roller are shiftable axially with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Horst Bernhard Michalik
  • Patent number: 6331154
    Abstract: In a pin action timing adjustment device of a folding device wherein a change-over between straight run and collect run is performed in one operation for a folding blade action and a pin action, to make it very easy to adjust a timing with which pins fall relative to the projection of folding blades, to make a mechanism very simple, to largely reduce manufacturing costs, to effectively eliminate the occurrence of faults so that maintenance is easy, and to provide an adjusting mechanism which permits ample adjustment tolerance. A control means is connected to a pin action stop cam which causes the pin action stop cam to undergo an angular displacement around its center line, and a stop means which can be connected to the pin action stop cam which has undergone an angular displacement due to the control means and stops the pin action stop cam with a phase displaced by the control means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: Tokyo Kikai Seisakusho, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuaki Shibuya, Tomonari Nakajima, Seiji Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20010046932
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for folding folding products with sealing flaps and with or without mating flaps, in particular on packaging bags including envelopes with/without self-adhesive glue, it being possible for the envelopes to be moved against a stationary stop and for the mating flaps and the sealing flaps then to be turned over by suction elements during a subsequent movement of the envelopes, said suction elements being arranged on a mating flap roll and on a sealing flap roll.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Inventor: Martin Bluemle
  • Patent number: 6322487
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to providing a method and apparatus for accurately and efficiently folding a flat product (e.g., a web of paper or signatures obtained therefrom) during its delivery. Exemplary embodiments provide a single device for performing the two functions of folding and decelerating flat products. Rotatable seizing elements of a deceleration drum interface with any known folding cylinder having a known tucker blade assembly. As such, the accurate and mark-free folding of a conventional jaw folder can be achieved with any desirable paging, including the wide maximum paging range typically associated with rotary tucker blade folders. A deceleration drum according to the present invention can interface with any folding cylinder having a tucker blade assembly used to create a cross-fold, and can thereby replace any conventional combination of a folder (e.g., rotary tucker blade folder or jaw folder) and associated downstream deceleration device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Charles Henry Dufour
  • Patent number: 6283906
    Abstract: A folding jaw cylinder utilizes folding jaw pairs that automatically adjust the folding gap between the two jaws in each pair in response to the thickness of the folded product. A dual working chamber piston-cylinder unit is placed between first and second rotational carriers of the folding jaw members. One of the chambers is filled with liquid and is linked to a hydraulic accumulator by ways of a flow control valve. The second chamber is provided with compressed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Simon Kostiza
  • Patent number: 6258017
    Abstract: A system (10) for producing folded articles includes a cutting station (58) operable to segment a fabric web (42) into a continuous stream of individual web segments (86). The system also includes a rotary folder (96) comprising a plurality of folding rollers (104, 106). The rotary folder (96) rotates about an axis spaced apart from axes of the folding rollers (104, 106). The rotary folder (96) is operable to receive the web segments (86) at a first location and fold the web segments one or more times while rotating from the first location to a second location about the rotary folder (96) axis. The system further includes a transfer station (62) operable to receive the folded web segments (86) from the rotary folder (96) at the second location and deliver the folded web segments (86) to a third location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Ethicon
    Inventor: Balbir Singh
  • Patent number: 6250622
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a paper conducting cylinder in a folder which is assigned to a rotary printing press such as a rotary newspaper printing press. A plurality of cylinder's surface sections (19) is mounted about the circumference of said cylinder (8). Each of said surface sections (19) being of layered structure comprises a compressible material (24) adhesively attached thereto. Said surface sections (19) are removably secured to mounting surfaces (29) of said cylinder (8), preferably on its side walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gary Frank Fowler, Wayne Harvey Garland, Michael Alexander Novick
  • Patent number: 6251053
    Abstract: A folder for a rotary printing press, having at least one copy-guiding cylinder and, on the one copy-guiding cylinder, gripping devices for gripping one end of a copy, includes a cutting cylinder cooperating with the one copy-guiding cylinder, and copy-guiding devices provided on the cutting cylinder, the gripping devices of the one copy-guiding cylinder and the copy-guiding devices of the cutting cylinder being retractably and extensibly movable substantially parallel to normals to axes of rotation of the one copy-guiding cylinder and the cutting cylinder; and a method of operating the folder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Serge Lanvin, Eddie Smelten, Thierry Vauchelle
  • Patent number: 6241648
    Abstract: A signature-delivery-pitch regulating apparatus includes a grip mechanism adapted to grip a signature received in a rotating delivery fan, push the signature out of the delivery fan, and then release the signature on the transport conveyer operating at a speed slower than the moving speed of the grip mechanism. The grip mechanism includes at least one endless chain in meshing engagement with at least a first sprocket and a second sprocket. The first sprocket rotates at a position within a rotation locus of bottoms of signature receiving spaces of the delivery fan and in the vicinity of a region where the delivery fan comes close to the transport conveyer. The second sprocket has an outer circumference located outside the rotation region of the delivery fan. The endless chain can travel along the transport direction of the transport conveyer from a position inside the rotation region of the delivery fan to a position outside the rotation region of the delivery fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Tokyo Kikai Seisakusho, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Uera, Kazuyuki Motojima, Noritake Harada
  • Patent number: 6228014
    Abstract: A machine (1) for interfolding sheet material (4a, 4b) starting from a web (3a, 3b) of paper and the like. A sequence of offset sheets (4a, 4b) is formed on folding rollers (7a, 7b) which are counter-rotating with respect to each other and have a plurality of circumferential grooves (15a, 15b), in which oscillating folding arms engage (20a, 20b) so as to form a stack (17) of interfolded sheets (4a, 4b). The folding arms (20a, 20b) have pivots (21) very close to the periphery of the folding rollers (7a, 7b), inside or outside of the grooves (15a, 15b). Moreover they can be operated by a crank mechanism that allows to the grooves (15a, 15b) to be shallow enough also in case of rollers (7a, 7b) of enlarged diameter. For the same reason, the folding arms (20a, 20b) can have a bent portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: M T C - Macchine Trasformazione Carta S.R.L.
    Inventors: Alessandro De Matteis, Sergio Landucci
  • Patent number: 6159138
    Abstract: A folder for a rotary printing press, having at least one copy-guiding cylinder and, on the one copy-guiding cylinder, gripping devices for gripping one end of a copy, includes a cutting cylinder cooperating with the one copy-guiding cylinder, and copy-guiding devices provided on the cutting cylinder, the gripping devices of the one copy-guiding cylinder and the copy-guiding devices of the cutting cylinder being retractably and extensibly movable substantially parallel to normals to axes of rotation of the one copy-guiding cylinder and the cutting cylinder; and a method of operating the folder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Serge Lanvin, Eddie Smelten, Thierry Vauchelle
  • Patent number: 6048297
    Abstract: A gripper cylinder for a folding apparatus, the gripper cylinder having a cylinder shaft on which a cylinder body is mounted and at least two gripper stations mounted to the cylinder body. The gripper stations include grippers and corresponding gripper bases. An adjustment mechanism is provided for adjusting the distance between each gripper and its corresponding gripper base to correspond to the thickness of a product to be gripped. The gripper mechanism is operative to simultaneously adjust all of the gripper stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Klaus-Ulrich Lange, Friedrich Michaelis, Hermann Lenz
  • Patent number: 5924970
    Abstract: A cylinder in a folding apparatus includes a plurality of product seizing devices. Each product seizing device includes a cam and a shaft having a plurality of product seizing devices attached thereto. A cam follower is mounted to the shaft and a torsion bar is coupled to the cam follower. A torque preloading element for applying a preloaded torque to the torsion bar is provided which maintains the cam follower in contact with the cam. Finally, mechanism for incrementally adjusting and maintaining the preloaded torque on the torsion bar is provided. A variety of mechanisms for incrementally adjusting the preloaded torque are possible. For example, the mechanism may include a first facial toothing on an interior face of the torque preloading element and a second facial toothing on an exterior face of an opposing element. The opposing element is mounted to a work side end of the cylinder and the first facial toothing engages the second facial toothing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignees: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, Heidelberg Harris, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Anthony Wingate
  • Patent number: 5919122
    Abstract: A method for the manufacture of filters in which a filter material in the rm of a continuous web is pre-embossed, perforated with a laser beam, and then pleated. The pleated filter element is fixed in a subsequent operation in an apparatus and the perforated scrap areas and are removed from the filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignees: Filterwerk Mann & Hummel GmbH, Fraunhofer Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Michael Geiger, Joachim Montnacher, Josef Rohrmeier, Thomas Zink
  • Patent number: 5873808
    Abstract: In a folding blade shaft of a folding cylinder of a drum folding apparatus, the drive shaft and spindle are connected so that the slanting of these parts does not cause any damage to the machine. To this end, the drive shaft and the spindle are connected to each other via a disk packet and centered by a radial rocker bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Man Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Rainer Piller, Reinhard Mayr, Erwin Bradl, Herbert Lutz
  • Patent number: 5846177
    Abstract: A folding mechanism cylinder having a diameter that can be adjusted during operation of the cylinder. Adjustable bands are arranged on the outer jacket of the cylinder and are moved by rotation of spindles that are connected to the bands by gears. One of the spindles is arranged in the hollow shaft of the cylinder and drives all the other spindles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Reinhard Mayr
  • Patent number: 5842964
    Abstract: A sequentially timed vacuum grip system holds a sheet and transports it through a folding nip defined by a pair of folding cylinders. At the nip, the folded edge of the sheet is released and simultaneously picked-up by the paired companion cylinder. Additional folds are achieved in the same manner by the use of additional cylinder pairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Fred Huber & Associates
    Inventors: Manfred Huber, John A. Cogswell
  • Patent number: 5830120
    Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting folding jaws of a folding jaw cylinder having an axle on which a first cylinder part supporting at least one uncontrolled folding jaw and a second cylinder part supporting at least one controlled folding jaw are provided so as to be rotatable in opposite directions. The apparatus includes an adjusting spindle in one end of the axle of the folding jaw cylinder, two slide members, and a housing attachable to the axle at an end face of the cylinder parts and having two oppositely disposed two housing arms with radially directed guides. Each slide member being slidably arranged in a respective housing arm guide and have one end that engages with the adjusting spindle and another end that is engageable with one of the cylinder parts. Sliding pairs are provided for allowing sliding of the slides within the housing arms in a radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Franz Rumesz, Thomas Korting
  • Patent number: 5807227
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a folder apparatus including a first cylinder for transporting a product and a folding cylinder rotatably engaged with the first cylinder at a nip. A product guiding device is assigned to a transition area between surfaces of the first cylinder and the folding cylinder, the guiding device having a smoothing element which includes different sections of product contacting elements being angled in opposite directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignees: Heidelberg Harris Inc., Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: David George Field
  • Patent number: 5797319
    Abstract: A drive device (10) for a folder in a printing press having a folding blade mounted to a folding blade shaft (12). A drive gear (16) drives a folding blade shaft gear (14). The drive device also includes a plunger (24) having an intermediate gear (28) between the gear (14) of the folding blade shaft (12) and the drive gear (16), and a device for moving the plunger (24) between a first longitudinal position and a second longitudinal position. In the first longitudinal position, the intermediate gear (28) meshes with the folding blade shaft gear (14). In the second longitudinal position, the intermediate gear (28) is out of register with the drive gear (16) to prevent the folding blade shaft gear (14) from being driven by the drive gear 16. The drive device (10) may also include a cam (38) and an indexing ring (56) operable in response to axial movement of the plunger (24) to cause the intermediate gear (28) to be moved from the first longitudinal position to the second longitudinal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Goss Graphic Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Tomczak
  • Patent number: 5741209
    Abstract: The folding blade spindle of a folding drum is rotatably driven by a single drive train that utilizes only one gear drive pair. The folding drum itself is rotated by a separate drive assembly. The use of only one gear drive pair for the folding blade spindle drive substantially reduces play in the folding blade and promotes accurate folding of printed products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer-Albert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernd Anton Hillebrand, Horst Bernhard Michalik
  • Patent number: 5676630
    Abstract: A folder device that can be converted from parallel fold to delta fold, and the pre-fold of which is also convertible. The device includes cylindrical segments respectively, that are turned relative to one another by two planetary gear trains, which are adjustable relative to one another, so that the respective transmissions of the planetary gear trains balance one another. The adjustment of the cylindrical segments is carried out in dependence on the adjustment of the planetary gear trains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Robert Mayr
  • Patent number: 5637072
    Abstract: An apparatus for the adjustment of folding jaws, in which the cylinder body supports the noncontrolled folding jaw and, for the purpose of its adjustment, is supported on the cylinder shaft so as to be swivelable. The cylinder body further contains a swivelable support in which the controlled folding jaw is supported eccentrically to the swivel axis of the support. A gear unit acts on the support and swivels it so that the controlled folding jaw is moved in the opposite direction of the noncontrolled folding jaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Friedrich Michaelis
  • Patent number: 5527256
    Abstract: A device for converting the function of a cutting/collecting cylinder (4) of a folding apparatus for rotary printing presses is provided. The cutting/collecting cylinder is convertible from a "collect" to a "non-collect" mode of operation and vice versa. Within the cutting/collecting cylinder (4) there is placed at least one group of pins (7), the pins (7) being disposed on a pin-bearing shaft (9) which can be actuated via a cam follower (41) rolling off on a cam body (27). The cam body (27) is adjustably mounted in a side wall (25) of the folding apparatus so as to be situated opposite a face side of the cutting/collecting cylinder (4). The relationship between the circumferential speed of the cutting/collecting cylinder (4) and the cam body (27) is changeable through a second power transmission element (34) which is coaxially movable and engageable with a first power transmission element (29) having at least two engagement areas (29a, 29b) .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignees: Heidelberg Harris S.A., Heidelberger Druckmeschner AG
    Inventors: Thierry Vauchelle, Herve Henry
  • Patent number: 5507714
    Abstract: A jaw cylinder 30 includes a jaw cylinder body 31 and a folding jaw support 36 rotatably supported with respect to the jaw cylinder body 31, and two folding jaws 11 and 15 are attached to the jaw cylinder body 31 or the jaw cylinder support 36, respectively. The folding jaw 11 is rotated with respect to the folding jaw 15 so as to adjust a gap between the folding jaws 11 and 15 in accordance with the thickness of a product. At this time, a jaw cylinder driving helical gear 38 and a gap adjusting helical gear 39 are moved in an axial direction thereof by an adjusting unit 43 so that the jaw cylinder driving helical gear 38 or a folding cylinder driving helical gear 25 meshing with the helical gear 38 are rotated in a circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiji Furuta, Satoshi Matsushima
  • Patent number: 5468209
    Abstract: A reliable, wear-resistant sealing for a collecting and folding cylinder includes, on each folding blade shaft, a disk (4) which has a sealing ring (13) arranged on the collar of the side facing the oil space (6) of the folding cylinder (1). The disk (4) can be pressed by means of a clamping ring (5) arranged on the folding blade shaft (2) against a covering disk (3) eccentrically arranged on the shaft (2). The disks (3, 4) are rotatably connected with one another via a bearing (11) and a stud (12). An additional sealing ring (17) is provided at the collar of the side of the covering disk 3 facing the oil space (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Ulrich Rohrhiursch, Georg Schmid
  • Patent number: 5429578
    Abstract: A machine for cutting and folding an uninterrupted printed web of paper to produce folded sections includes a cutting cylinder cooperating with a transfer cylinder. The transfer cylinder is rotationally driven about its longitudinal axis and interacts with a folding cylinder having a set of folding jaws. The transfer cylinder has an external transfer surface interrupted by a number of sets of impaling pins and engaging blades intended to introduce the transversely cut web of paper into the folding jaws. The transfer cylinder also includes means for causing the angular spacing between the engaging blades and the impaling pins to vary. The disclosed transfer cylinder also includes, in the region of its external transfer surface, a set of closure plates on either side of each engaging blade and on either side of each set of impaling pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschien AG
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Calbrix, Gerard Guerinet
  • Patent number: 5405126
    Abstract: A folder having, disposed in succession in a web-and-copy traveling direction, at least a first longitudinal folding device, driven severing members, and cross-folding devices formed of folding cylinders to which a first copy delivery is assigned, and a second longitudinal folding device to which folding copies are supplied via a section of a conveyor belt which is disposed over a second loadable copy delivery, includes drawing devices disposed upstream of the severing members in the web-and-copy traveling direction, a first drive for separately and controllably driving the drawing devices, a second drive for driving the severing members and the cross-folding devices, and outwardly swingable conveyor belts having a third copy delivery assigned thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Richard Mack
  • Patent number: 5368540
    Abstract: A folding device for folding a copy along a line parallel to a direction of forward travel of the copy, the copy being delivered to a folding table having a longitudinal central slit, is disclosed. The folding device includes a crankshaft, disposed below the folding table in line with the central slit, which is rotatably driven about a central axis of rotation parallel to the direction of forward travel of the copy. The folding device also includes a folding cylinder having a radius R and an external surface S, which is rotatably mounted about a central geometric axis on the crankshaft. The central geometric axis is parallel to the central axis of rotation of the crankshaft and offset with respect to the central axis of rotation by a distance equal to the radius R.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Saeed Saab
  • Patent number: 5364334
    Abstract: A continuous paper folding device adapted to fold a continuous paper having perforations along which the paper is to be folded. The continuous paper folding device includes a table movable between a storing position where the paper is to be received by the table and a drawn position where the table is drawn from the storing position, and a pair of rotational tapping mechanisms provided on both sides of the table, for rotationally tapping the paper received by the table to forcibly fold the paper along the perforations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Kiyoshi Inomata
  • Patent number: 5242367
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a folder for a rotary offset printing press comprising a transfer cylinder, a first-fold cylinder and a second fold cylinder. Each of the cylinders is constructed of two imbricated independent parts, and inner part and an outer part, moveable relative to one another and equipped with a respective driving gear. The drive gears of the respective cylinders are coupled to one another two-by-two so that coincidence between the cylinders is preserved. The drive gears of the transfer cylinder are connected to one another by a first pair of coupling gears coaxial relative to one another and interconnected by a first disengageable coupling and the drive gears of the first-fold cylinder being connected to one another by a second pair of coupling gears coaxial relative to one another and interconnected by a second disengageable coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Marmin
  • Patent number: 5215014
    Abstract: To position two relatively rotatable elements, for example folding jaw control elements of a folding jaw cylinder of a rotary printing machine, with respect to each other, and re-position the elements, a positioning drive (7), for example a motor coupled to a gear, which is coupled for rotary transmission to an axially movable shaft or rod element (10, 10'), movable, for example, under fluid, preferably pneumatic pressure. When projected, the coupling element is engageable with a positioning gear (12) on one of the elements (22) and, upon rotation of the element by the positioning drive, can effect re-adjustment of the angular position of the other element, upon engagement with a positioning gear (11) coupled thereto. The arrangement permits remote positioning and indication of relative position by a feedback transducer (13, 113), such as a potentiometer, which can provide position signals suitable for a display (B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Rainer Burger, Hans Mamberer
  • Patent number: 5213316
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the formation of "dog-ears" or folded corners in material handled by sheet material handling machines such as folders for printing presses in which material such as paper is secured to a rotating cylinder near a leading edge, which includes providing a projection on the cylinder which deflects air flow away from the material leading edge so as to reduce the tendency for the material to lift from the cylinder. In order to pass through the cylinder nip, the projection may be constructed of compressible resilient material such as foam rubber or may be deflectable upon contact with an opposing cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Inventor: Michael B. Loebach
  • Patent number: 5135465
    Abstract: An improved paper guide device is disposed close to folding rollers in a folding machine of a rotary press as spaced from an outer circumference of a folding drum. During normal operation, the paper guide device is preset to allow for minute movement of the folding rollers during the folding operation. But when the folding rollers clog with paper and move apart beyond a predetermined distance, the paper guide device moves as interlocked with the folding rollers. Therefore, paper guides of the paper guide device never contact the folding rollers. Preferably, the position of the paper guides relative to the folding rollers can be changed such that the widths of the respective gaps between the paper guides and the folding rollers can be adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1992
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidefumi Hirahara
  • Patent number: 5092833
    Abstract: The paper folding machine is provided with a roller pair (T1,T2) which forms an intake zone (E) and determines the velocity of feed of the material to be folded, and with at least one pair of folding rollers (W1,W2,W3), which forms a folding zone (F1) and is parallel to the former pair of rollers. A stopless feed limiting device, which determines the actual folding length and can be actuated individually for each folding operation by a microprocessor and/or an electronic control circuit as a function of a feed measuring unit, is arranged in a material feed path (4) which extends past the folding zone (F1,F2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Mathias Bauerle GmbH
    Inventors: Werner King, Joachim Kurtz, Werner Lehmann
  • Patent number: 5088708
    Abstract: The folding cylinder assembly has: rotatable folding cylinder having three pin lever shaft assemblies spaced substantially equally about the folding cylinder, each of the pin lever shaft assemblies having at least one pin and a cam follower positioned on a first end of the folding cylinder; one piece cam for interfacing with the cam followers, the one piece cam rotationally mounted on the first end of the folding cylinder, the one piece cam having two lobes which periodically contact the cam followers as the cam rotates; mechanism for rotating the folding cylinder and the cam such that the cam and the folding cylinder have a first relative angular velocity for the first mode of operation and second relative velocity for the second mode of operation, wherein in the first mode of operation the folding cylinder rotates at a substantially constant angular velocity and the cam rotates at one and one-half times the substantially constant angular velocity in the same direction of rotation as the folding cylinder, an
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: Brent M. T. Nowak