Abstract: A movable tucker apparatus and method include a tucker element having a tip and base at opposite ends thereof, a tucker spring and a tucker positioning lug configured for operative mounting within the slot in a folding roll. The lug is operatively affixed to the roll within the slot and extends at least partly across a width of the slot. The tucker element includes a relief for operative receipt therein of the lug. The tucker element, lug and spring are operatively connected to allow the tucker element to move in and out within the slot, and the tip of the tucker to move circumferentially with respect to the slot when the tucker element is operatively mounted in the slot and the tucker positioning lug operatively disposed within the relief in the tucker element.

Abstract: To fold sheets of newsprint (1), a ring gear 7 is driven in rotation by a motor 11 under the control of a controller 12 such that, for most of the time, the ring gear 7 rotates at the same speed as a folding cylinder 2 and arms 8. When it is desired to initiate a folding operation, the ring gear 7 is momentarily stopped or slowed. The relative motion that occurs between the ring gear 7 and planet gears on the arms 8 causes the planet gears 9 to rotate about their axes and respective tucking blades 6 mounted on the planet gears 9 to protrude above the surface of the cylinder 2, where they engage collated sheets on the cylinder surface and push them into the nip of folding rollers (4). Upon completion of the movement of the planet gears 9 and associated tucking blades 6, the ring gear 7 is again caused to move at the same angular speed as the arms 8, such that the tucking blades 6 retain their “silenced” positions below the surface of the cylinder 2.

Abstract: In some embodiments of the present invention, a method and apparatus for folding sheets are disclosed in which single transverse folds are created by vacuum rolls in one operational mode and double transverse folds are created by vacuum rolls in another operational mode. The folder can have a low profile in which the axes of various elements and assemblies in the folder are located within height ranges relative to the height of a folding roll axis in the folder.

Abstract: This folder includes a device for cutting sheets from a web of paper, a folding cylinder which is provided with movable retention devices and movable blades for folding the sheets cut from the web, a cam for controlling the movement of the movable retention devices by contact with cam followers, a cam for controlling the movement of the tucking blades by contact with cam followers, and at least one covering cam. The covering cam includes two semi-cams which can each be moved radially between a retracted position and an extracted position, the covering cam being in a configuration for straight operation when the semi-cams are in a retracted position and in a configuration for collect operation when the semi-cams are in an extracted position.

Abstract: A sheet conveying section (B) sequentially conveys a sheet (P) from a sheet feeding section (A), and a sheet folding section (D) folds the sheet (P) received from the sheet conveying section (B) in a conveying direction. The sheet conveying section (B) comprises a conveyer belt (3), and a positioning ruler (4) for positioning the sheet (P) while it is conveyed. The sheet folding section (D) comprises a folding knife (9), a pair of folding rollers (10), and first and second guides (11a, 11b) arranged on either side of the folding knife (9). The sheet (p) is positioned to a fold position by the first and second guides (11a, 11b) and folded by the folding knife (9) and the folding roller (10). The positioning ruler (4) is moved in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction by a first driving mechanism (5, 6). The first and second guides (11a) are moved in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction respectively by second and third driving mechanisms (21, 22; 23, 24).

Abstract: A cylinder, which is part of a folder, includes a cylinder body with at least one gripper that can be moved between a retracted position within the cylinder body; an extended position, and a clamping position in which a tip of the gripper presses flat material against a surface section of the cylinder body. A pivot axis, about which the gripper pivots between its retracted position and its extended position, is within the cylinder body. A counterthrust element, which cooperates with a separate cutting blade, to cut the flat material which is to be gripped by the gripper, is associated with the cylinder body. The gripper is situated upstream of the counterthrust element, in the rotational direction of the gripper cylinder. A second axis, about which the gripper moves in the peripheral direction of the cylinder, is also provided. Both of these axes are fixed in relation to the cylinder.

Abstract: A folding drum of a folding device is comprised of at least one folding element and a transmission unit. The transmission unit has at least one toothed wheel which is coaxially arranged with respect to the rotational axis of the folding drum. The toothed wheel can be moved in the axial direction of the folding drum between at least two positions.

Abstract: In some embodiments of the present invention, a method and apparatus for folding sheets are disclosed in which single transverse folds are created by vacuum rolls in one operational mode and double transverse folds are created by vacuum rolls in another operational mode. The folder can have a low profile in which the axes of various elements and assemblies in the folder are located within height ranges relative to the height of a folding roll axis in the folder.

Abstract: In the production of (cigarette) packs of the hinge-lid-box type with round edges, preliminary deformation of blanks (10) is desirable for producing hinge-lid boxes of satisfactory quality. The preliminary deformation of the round edges takes place in the region of a rounding turret (18) during transportation of the blanks (10). The latter are deformed back into an essentially planar starting position upon leaving the rounding turret (18) and thereafter.

Abstract: A jaw cylinder has sets of fixed and movable jaws arranged at circumferential spacings thereon for folding the printed sheets into signatures as the sheets are thrust into the jaw cavities by folding blades on a folding cylinder. The movable jaws are mounted fast on respective jaw carrier shafts for pivotal motion into and out of engagement with the fixed jaws. For such pivotal motion of the movable jaws, the jaw carrier shafts are engaged via cam followers with a jaw drive cam of annular shape mounted to the frame, so that the movable jaws successively pivot toward and away from the fixed jaws upon rotation of the jaw cylinder. A timing screw acts between the jaw drive cam and the frame to cause angular displacement of the former relative to the latter about the axis of the jaw cylinder, in order to time the opening and closing of all the sets of jaws to the thrusting of the sheets off the surface of the folding cylinder by the folding blades.

Abstract: A folding blade cylinder for use in a folding machine includes a cylindrical cradle and a folding blade that can be situated in various positions in the cylindrical cradle. Each position of the folding blade corresponds to a gap in the cylinder cradle surface. These gaps are separated from ach other by segments of the cylindrical cradle. In order to move the folding blade from one gap to another, the folding blade is retracted into the interior of the folding blade cylinder.

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.

Abstract: A rotary blade folder includes two fold rollers and a folding cylinder, the folding cylinder including a cylinder body with an outer surface, a set of tucking blades and an expansion plate adjustable to change an effective diameter of the folding cylinder. The expansion plate has at least one aperture, the set of tucking blades fitting through the at least one aperture during a tucking operation so as to present a fold in a signature to the two fold rollers. Also provided is a method of folding a signature comprising the steps of gripping a signature about a folding cylinder so that the signature is over an expansion plate of the folding cylinder, the expansion plate having at least one aperture, and folding the signature by passing tucking blades through the at least one aperture.

Abstract: A rotary drum of the folding device includes a reference portion having a rotating shaft and a basic body rotated integrally with the rotating shaft 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 for displacing the adjusted portion with respect to the reference portion, a power source arranged in the reference portion, a control board additionally arranged in the driving source and having a wireless receiving function, and a wireless operation machine for wirelessly transmitting an operation signal to the control board; and an adjusting transmission mechanism for transmitting a movement of the driving source to the adjusted portion; wherein electric power is supplied from the power source to the driving source, and the driving source is operated by a wireless signal from the adjusting operation mechanism.

Abstract: A rotary-blade folding unit includes at least one folding blade, a pair of folding rollers and a drive for producing a hypocycloid movement of the folding blade about a rotational axis of the folding blade and a main rotational axis for folding a signature that has been guided up to the rotary-blade folding unit in a transport plane extending between the main rotational axis and the folding rollers, and further includes a drive mechanism for producing an oscillatory movement of the folding blade at least approximately parallel to the main rotational axis; a folder including the folding unit; and a printing machine in combination with the folder.

Abstract: A device for folding printing copies in a web-fed rotary printing machine includes a folding knife, controls for reciprocatingly moving the folding knife at least approximately in one plane, the controls including a first and a second toggle lever, which, at one of the ends thereof, respectively, are movably attached to frame-fixed parts of the printing machine and at the other ends thereof, respectively, are movably attached to the folding knife, and a rotary element simultaneously actable upon both the first and the second toggle levers for operating the controls; a folder including the folding device; and an assembly including the folder with the folding device.

Abstract: Apparatus for splitting a stream of products coming from a folding group making any desired fold and feeding it to either of two further folding groups making a respective further fold includes a stripper assembly guiding the products away from a folding cylinder of the folding group making the desired fold, a diverter element, and tape guide systems that transport the products from the latter to the further folding groups. The stripper assembly includes a tape guide module that can be pivoted towards the folding cylinder, and at least one stripper tongue; the tape guide systems and the diverter element being integrated into a splitter module.

Abstract: A folder system includes an adjustable-lap folder for folding signatures so-as to define folded signatures, an optical sensor for measuring a presence of the fold&ed signatures, and a controller connected to the rotary blade folder and the optical sensor for determining a lap of the folded signatures. Also provided is a method for folding signatures comprising folding signatures in a folder so as to define folded signatures, and measuring with an optical sensor the edges of the folded signatures so as to determine a lap.

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.

Abstract: Signatures that are cross-folded to form cross folded products can be formed without damaging the product whether the cross-folded product is thick or thin. The signatures are given a pre-fold by a pre-fold cylinder that utilizes a plurality of pre-fold gripping element systems. The pre-folded product is carried by the pre-fold cylinder to a pair of folding rollers which finish fold the cross-folded signatures.

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.

Abstract: A folding apparatus in a rotary printing press utilizes a cutting blade cylinder, a transport cylinder and a folding jaw cylinder. Operation of the various assemblies on the transport cylinder, such as folding blades and gripper systems is accomplished by control cams and associated cam rollers. The control cams are carried on the transport cylinder and rotate in the direction of the transport cylinder and at a speed which is different from the speed of rotation of the cylinder itself. This ensures low wear of the control cams and of the cam rollers.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a product cutting device for flat material, such as sheets, webs of material or the like. A product folding cylinder rotates about an axis of rotation and has a surface for supporting the incoming material to be cut. A cutting cylinder cooperates with the product folding cylinder and has knife assemblies mounted thereon. Cyclically engageable product seizing elements are assigned to at least one of the product folding cylinder and the cutting cylinder, and are moveable opposite to a sense of rotation of the product folding cylinder. The product seizing elements engage a respective next product's front portion after the cutting operation is terminated.

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.

Abstract: Device for converting or changing a mode of operation of a paper-conducting cylinder of a folder having at the circumference thereof at least one element for operating on the paper conducted by the cylinder, a disc having a peripheral contour forming a control cam for at least one actuating element for generating a movement of the operating element, and a device for moving the control disc, independently of a drive therefor, so as to switch the mode of the paper-conducting cylinder between operating on the paper and not operating on the paper, includes at least one first adjustment element activatable axially and angularly by remote control for radially moving the actuating element, and at least one second adjustment element activatable by remote control for axially moving the control disc.

Abstract: In order to set the sheet guidance devices of a folder simply and quickly for the production of once or twice cross-folded products and to guide the products reliably and carefully, a tongue and a tongue bar are arranged in the runout gap of the folding blade cylinder and gripper/folding knife cylinder. To produce twice cross-folded products, the tongue can be moved out of the runout gap, after which a guidance device with a somewhat arc-shaped contour is directed to the runout gap.

Abstract: A cylinder folding apparatus for a rotary printing press uses a collection and cutting cylinder in cooperation with a solid folding blade cylinder. A paper web train is cut into sections and is folded by transverse folding rollers. The point spur sets on the folding blade cylinder release signatures prior to commencement of the folding procedure. A brush roller is used to maintain contact between the signatures and the folding blade cylinder after release of the point spur set.

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.

Abstract: A carton engaging assembly for use in continuous motion packaging machines is designed to perform specific functions on a carton as it moves continuously along the path of travel through the packaging machine. The carton engaging assembly includes mechanisms for aligning the carton engaging device perpendicular to the carton's path of travel and to the carton side wall, so that the engaging device enters and exits the carton side wall along the substantially perpendicular line of travel. The carton engaging assembly is a self-contained, rotary unit which is readily interchanged with other units to facilitate engagement with various sizes and shapes of cartons. The rotational movement of the carton engaging assembly is timed with the continuous linear movement of the carton along the carton path of travel.

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 folding device is provided which produces folded printed products from an incoming web of printed material. The folding device has a mechanism for automatically converting the folding device from a configuration that forms a single transverse fold to a configuration that forms a second transverse fold parallel to the first fold. The conversion mechanism has a set of movable belts wound partially around a first folding cylinder and partially around a second folding cylinder.

Abstract: To move folding jaws (4, 5) in a scissor-like or pincer-like movement symmetrical with respect to a center line (CL) and to permit adjustment of the gap or opening of the jaws, for acceptance of folded substrates of different thicknesses, the jaws are coupled together by a rotation reversal arrangement (14, 114, 112, 314) so that rotation of one of the carrier bodies (6) will be transferred as an equal and opposite movement to the other (7) of the carrier bodies. An axial position adjustment spindle (25, 125, 325), controllable by a hand wheel (29) or servo motor (30), changes the axial position of gears rotating or rotating with a shaft (2, 202, 402) of a folding jaw cylinder (1, 201, 401), at least some of the gears or gear pairs having inclined teeth, to thereby transfer a positioning movement into a relative rotary shift of the respectively rotating gear with respect to the gear driving the shaft, thereby causing rocking or tilting of the folding jaw carriers (6, 7).

Abstract: A web (17) received, for example, from an 8-page or 16-page printing machine, is severed in a cutter blade cylinder (6) needle-tucking blade cylinder (7) combination and the severed sheets are provided with a cross fold in a first system (A) formed by the combination needle-tucking blade cylinder (7) and a combination needle-cutter blade cylinder (12), to be then further cross-folded and cut in a second system formed by the combination of the needle-cutter blade cylinder (12) with a needle-folding jaw cylinder (13). To permit the second combination to be operative, the combination needle-cutter blade cylinder (12) is additionally formed with tucking blades (21) for engagement in the folding jaws (22) of the needle-folding jaw cylinder (13). This arrangement permits double cutting and folding, for example, of longitudinally folded superimposed webs into, selectively, 81/2".times.11" or A4 products and cross-folding them to 51/2".times.81/2 or A5 products.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for folding a length of material includes forming first and second transverse folds at opposite ends of the material whereby the material defines first and second end parts and a central part. Longitudinal corrugations are formed in the first and second end parts in order to reduce a transverse dimension of the first and second end parts. A third transverse fold is formed in the central part in order to bring the first and second end parts into superposition. In the resulting folded material, edges of the first and second end parts are recessed inward from edges of the central part.

Abstract: A lapel provided at the one end of a paper sheet to forming a paper bag is introduced into the interior of an opening on the rotary cylinder by means. The folding blade has a rotational axis located outside the rotary cylinder parallel to an axis of rotation of the rotary cylinder. The thus bent lapel is brought in pressure contact with the edge face of the opening by means of a holding pawl which turns in operative association with the rotary cylinder. Thereafter, the lapel is covered and depressed by means of a depressing pawl which turns in operative association with the rotary cylinder whereby the lapel and a part of the paper sheet are adhesively secured to one another to build a double-walled structure around the opening of the paper bag.

Abstract: In a cross-folder for flexible pads such as diapers a wide first conveyor belt runs over a segment of the periphery of a rotationally driven drum. A narrow second conveyor belt runs in parallelism with the first belt for transporting unfolded pads toward the drum and a third conveyor belt runs in parallelism with the first belt for transporting folded pads away from the drum. The drum carries diametrically opposite pairs of slidable members that are reciprocated radially inwardly and outwardly as the drum rotates under the influence of cam rollers on the members which run in stationary cam grooves. Pivotable levers are carried on the slidable members, respectively. The levers have fingers for gripping the pads at their mid-line. The levers have cam follower rollers which are forced to follow cam grooves carried by the drum and, under the influence of the slidable members, the levers are actuated to grip and release the pads to effect folding.

Abstract: A folding blade cylinder for use in a rotary printing machine is disclosed. The periphery of the cylinder is provided with a plurality of spaced circumferential slots. Arched carrying bows are positioned within the slots and elements which are capable of expanding under the influence of a pressurized fluid are placed in the slots underneath the carrying bows. Application of the pressurized fluid to the expandable elements forces the carrying bows radially outwardly to increase the peripheral size of the folding blade cylinder.

Abstract: An overlay is applied to a substrate, for example in the manufacture of book covers, by serially wrapping the overlay around a first pair of oppositely disposed edges of the substrate, folding the corners of the overlay into the substrate and wrapping the overlay around the two remaining edges of the substrate. The first wrapping of the overlay around a pair of edges of the substrate is accomplished by feeding the substrate with the overlay adhered thereto through a wrapping station alternately in opposite directions and deflecting the overhanging portion of the substrate at the leading edge out of the path of motion so that these overhanging portions may be engaged by a wrapping tool.

Abstract: A machine for folding sheet material comprises a plurality of rollers opposedly arranged in pairs and engaged at the ends with a stationary frame and biased towards each other by pushers. Each roller has a surface provided with resilient lugs and intervening smooth surfaces. Owing to the resilient lugs the rollers are forced to move away from each other, as the sheets move past, only to a limited extent thereby accommodating any uneveness in the sheets.

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 sheet conveying section (B) sequentially conveys a sheet (P) from a sheet feeding section (A), and a sheet folding section (D) folds the sheet (P) received from the sheet conveying section (B) in a conveying direction. The sheet conveying section (B) comprises a conveyer belt (3), and a positioning ruler (4) for positioning the sheet (P) while it is conveyed. The sheet folding section (D) comprises a folding knife (9), a pair of folding rollers (10), and first and second guides (11a, 11b) arranged on either side of the folding knife (9). The sheet (p) is positioned to a fold position by the first and second guides (11a, 11b) and folded by the folding knife (9) and the folding roller (10). The positioning ruler (4) is moved in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction by a first driving mechanism (5, 6). The first and second guides (11a) are moved in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction respectively by second and third driving mechanisms (21, 22; 23, 24).