Patent ID: 7390292
Filing Date: 2008-06-24
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
1. A folding apparatus comprising: a spur cylinder having a spur cylinder circumferential shell surface and a first direction of rotation; a folding jaw cylinder cooperating with said spur cylinder and defining a transfer gap in cooperation with said spur cylinder; at least one spur strip on said spur cylinder and having a plurality of spur needles adapted to releasably hold leading ends of at least first and second signatures during passage of said at least one spur strip through said transfer gap, said plurality of spur needles selectively extending radially outwardly beyond said spur cylinder circumferential shell surface to releasably hold said leading end of each said signature during passage through said transfer gap and retracting radially inwardly beneath said spur cylinder circumferential shell surface to release said leading end of each said signature after passage through said cylinder gap for transfer of each said signature to said folding jaw cylinder; at least one deflector on said spur cylinder and having a deflector strip usable selectively to cover said spur needles on said at least one spur strip, and to expose said spur needles on said at least one spur strip; and means for moving said at least one deflector between a spur needle exposing position, wherein said at least one deflector strip is retracted in said spur cylinder to expose said spur needles during passage of said spur needles and said leading end of each said signature through said transfer gap, and a spur needle covering position wherein said at least one deflector strip is extended radially from said spur cylinder and circumferentially with respect to said spur needle circumferential shell surface to cover said spur needles and a leading end of each said signature, said at least one deflector strip being movable from said spur needle exposing retracted position, during passage of said at least one spur strip and each said signature leading end through said transfer gap, to said spur needle covering extended position, covering said spur needles and each said signature leading end, in response to rotation of said spur cylinder and subsequent to passage of said at least one spur strip with each said signature leading end and said at least one deflector strip through said transfer gap, said at least one deflector strip, in said spur needle covering extended position shielding said extended spur needles from contact with a released leading end of a prior one of said signatures during retrograde movement of said prior signature leading end along said spur cylinder circumferential shell surface opposite to said spur cylinder direction of rotation.