Abstract:
A rotary folder includes two cutting devices for cross-cutting at least a first web. The cutting devices are cutting or counter cylinders that can rotate together and that define gaps in conjunction with a conveying cylinder. A path of web conveyance runs through each of these gaps. The conveying cylinder or the cutting cylinders support at least one blade for cutting of a product from the webs. The conveying cylinder comprises a retaining device for retaining a cut-off signature and for conveying the signature through the respective gap. The conveying cylinder or the counter cylinders comprise thrust bearings that interact with the blade.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This patent application is the U.S. national phase, under 35 USC 371, of PCT/EP2004/050656, filed Apr. 30, 2004; published as WO 2004/096687 A1 on Nov. 11, 2004, and claiming priority to DE 103 19 774.5, filed May 2, 2003, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention is directed to a wheel folding apparatus with a cutting device for accomplishing the transverse cutting of at least one web of material.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     A wheel folding apparatus is typically employed, for example, to separate paper webs, which have been imprinted in a web-fed rotary printing press, into individual signatures by use of a cutting device, and to fold the individual signatures.  
         [0004]     Generally known wheel folding devices of this type usually comprise cutting devices which are provided with a transport cylinder and with a cutting cylinder, which cylinders are mutually rotatable and which define a gap through which a conveying path for the web of material to be cut extends. The cutting cylinder supports at least one cutter, each which cutter cuts respectively one signature off the web of material when it passes through the gap.  
         [0005]     DE 25 17 000 C2 shows a folding apparatus with a spur cylinder and with a cutting blade cylinder, which cooperate to form a single cutting gap.  
         [0006]     DE 35 27 710 A1 and EP 0627 310 A1 both disclose folding apparatus. Two folding blade cylinders work together with a folding jaw cylinder. A single cutting cylinder is assigned to each one of these folding blade cylinders.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The object of the present invention is directed to providing a wheel folding apparatus with a cutting device for transverse cutting of at least one web of material.  
         [0008]     In accordance with the present invention, this object is attained by.  
         [0009]     The advantages which can be obtained by the present invention lie, in particular, in that with only a small outlay for apparatus, the present invention makes possible the combining of two webs of material, which two material webs are fed to the cutting gaps on two transport carriages, into a common product. The present invention also allows the processing of a web of material, with a very large number of layers, by combining two partial webs.  
         [0010]     Processing of webs of materials, which are composed of a large number of layers, by the use of a folding apparatus with a single cutting gap, such as is described in DE 25 17 000 C2, entails difficulties for several reasons. For one, traction rollers, which are customarily provided for use in setting a required tension in the web of material, act directly only the respectively outermost layers of the web of material. The force exerted by such traction rollers is only indirectly transmitted to the inner layers of the web of material by friction of the layers of material against each other. These frictional forces are not accurately controllable, particularly if it is necessary to guide the web around curves, such as, for example, to loop it around a roller. Therefore, the tension of the inner layers of such a web are harder to control, the greater the number of layers there are. Also, the forces required for processing a web, either during cutting of the web or during pushing of the spur points into the web, are all the greater, the greater the number of layers there are. With the wheel folding apparatus in accordance with the present invention, it is possible to combine a product with a defined number of pages from several partial webs, which had been cut separately of each other and placed on the spurs. Since the forces required for cutting these partial webs and, if required, for placing these partial webs on spur points, are less than the corresponding forces that are required when processing a single web with the same defined number of pages, the wheel folding apparatus of the present invention can be constructed lighter and therefore more cost-effectively, without any loss in quality, compared with prior devices.  
         [0011]     Further advantages of the wheel folding apparatus of the present invention include that the cutting device eliminates the danger of re-cutting already separated signatures, in the course of a further passage of such signatures through a cutting gap. This is accomplished without requiring elaborate shifting devices, or an extraordinarily high degree of precision when controlling the rotations of the individual cylinders of the cutting device.  
         [0012]     To prevent the second cutting blade from again cutting through the first web, during the passage of the web through the second cutting gap, the rotation of the two cutting cylinders is preferably synchronized. During its passage through the second cutting gap, the second cutting blade engages a cut which was formed by the first cutting blade of the first web.  
         [0013]     To make the engagement of the second cutting blade with this previously made cut easier, assemblies are preferably provided for use in moving apart the cut edges of the first web that were generated by the first cutter in the course of cutting the first web. During its passage through the gap, the second cutter encounters a gap of non-vanishing width that has been formed in the first web.  
         [0014]     In an embodiment of the wheel folding apparatus in accordance with the present invention, in which the cutting cylinder in the cutting device also takes on the function of a transport cylinder for the separated products, the single signature is located between the two cutters, by which it had been cut, so long as it is maintained on the cutting or the transport cylinder. It is sufficient, during this time, that the cutters and the signature do not move in relation to each other. This is done in order to assure that the signature is not cut again in the course of another passage of the signature through the cutting gap. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     Preferred embodiments of the present invention are represented in the drawings and will be described in greater detail in what follows.  
         [0016]     Shown are in:  
         [0017]      FIG. 1 , a schematic side elevation view of a portion of a wheel folding apparatus with a cutting device in accordance with the present invention, in  
         [0018]     FIGS.  2  to  5 , respectively partial sectional views of the transport cylinder and of one cutting cylinder in different embodiments of the present invention, in  
         [0019]      FIG. 6 , a schematic side elevation view of a portion of a different embodiment of a wheel folding apparatus with a cutting device in accordance with the present invention, in  
         [0020]      FIG. 7 , an enlarged representation of a detail of a portion of the device shown in  FIG. 6 , in  
         [0021]      FIG. 8 , a schematic representation of a mode of operation, in  
         [0022]      FIG. 9 , a schematic representation of another mode of operation, and in  
         [0023]      FIG. 10 , a further preferred embodiment of a wheel folding apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0024]     A schematic side elevation view of a portion of a wheel folding apparatus in accordance with the present invention is represented in  FIG. 1 . This wheel folding apparatus has two inlets  01 ,  02  for multi-layered webs  03 ,  04  of material, and in particular for paper webs  03 ,  04 , which will be called inner or outer web  03 ,  04 , respectively, in what follows. Both webs  03 ,  04  pass throughtraction roller pairs  06 ,  07 , respectively, for setting their tension. Both of these webs  03 ,  04  meet a transport cylinder  11  at the heights of cutting gaps  08 ,  09 , respectively, between the transport cylinder  11 , on the one hand, and one of two cutting cylinders  12 ,  13  on the other. Instead of two such inlets  01 ,  02  and two cutting gaps  08 ,  09 , it is also possible to provide three or more of each. In the course of this passage, the webs  03 ,  04  preferably first make contact with the respective cutting cylinder  12 ,  13  and subsequently make contact with the transport cylinder  11 . The webs  03 ,  04  first loop around the cutting cylinder  12 ,  13  and then loop or wrap around the transport cylinder  11 .  
         [0025]     Each cutting cylinder  12  or  13  has a circumference corresponding to at least one, and preferably to two lengths of the signatures  21 ,  27  to be produced from the webs  03 ,  04 , and each cutting cylinder  12  or  13  supports two cutters  14 , as may be seen more clearly in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0026]     The circumference of the transport cylinder  11  corresponds to more than five, and in particular corresponds to seven lengths of the signatures  21 ,  27 . Seven counter-cutting strips, which may be, for example, hard rubber strips, and which are inserted at equal spaced circumferential distances into the circumferential face of the transport cylinder  11 , are used as stops  33 . Each of these stops  33  works together with a cutter  14  when cutting the webs  03 ,  04 . A holding device  16  is arranged at the transport cylinder  11  adjoining each one of the stops  33 , and may be, for example, a spur strip  16  with extendible spur needles  23 , as may be seen in FIGS.  2  to  5 .  
         [0027]     In the position of the folding apparatus represented in  FIG. 1 , a cutter  14  of the cutting cylinder  12  and a stop  33  of the transport cylinder  11  are shown as passing through the first cutting gap  08 , and cooperate, in the process, to cut the inner web  03 . The leading edge of the inner web  03 , which is formed during this cutting, has been speared or impaled on the spur needles  23  of a spur strip  16  which spur strip  16  had been extended immediately prior to its reaching the cutting gap  08 . These spur needles  23  continue to hold the leading edge of the inner web  03  firmly on the surface of the transport cylinder  11  during further transport of the inner web  03 .  
         [0028]     The signature  21 , which has now been cut off from the inner web  03  in this way, is conveyed on the transport cylinder  11  to the second cutting gap  09 , where the outer web  04  is placed on top of it. The outer web  04  is also speared or impaled by the spur needles  23  of the spur strip  16 .  
         [0029]     The rotations of the two cutting cylinders  12 ,  13  are synchronized in such a way that a cutter  14  of the second cutting cylinder  13  always passes through the second cutting gap  09  simultaneously with the passage of a small gap that has been formed between two successive signatures  21  which were cut from the inner web  03 ,and the passage of a stop  33  through gap  09 . Different techniques for forming this gap will be explained in what follows with the aid of, and with reference to, FIGS.  2  to  5 .  
         [0030]     In the example represented in  FIG. 1 , an angular distance between the two cutting gaps  08 ,  09  is approximately 50°. This angular distance can differ from an angular distance between the spur strips  16  from each other of approximately 51.5° or a multiple thereof. Cutting is thus not performed simultaneously at both of the cutting gaps  08 ,  09 . Even a half-number multiple of this value is disadvantageous from the point of view of avoiding vibrations.  
         [0031]     Following its passage through the second cutting gap  09 , each spur strip  16  supports a total product which is composed respectively of a signature  21  cut off from the inner web  03 , and a signature  27  cut off from the outer web  04 . Seven products are formed during each revolution of the transport cylinder  11 . This is the same result as if both webs  03 ,  04  had been brought along in the customary manner through a common inlet  01 ,  02 . Since the cutting off of each individual signature  21 ,  27  is spread over two cutting steps at the two spaced cutting gaps  08 ,  09 , the force which must be employed in each cutting step is less. This means that a satisfactory, more even running of the machine can be more easily maintained.  
         [0032]     Two cylinders  17  and  18 , and in particular two folding rollers  17  and  18 , which together form a gap  19 , and in particular which form a folding gap  19 , have been placed, in a contactless manner, against the cutting and transport cylinder  11 . Seven folding blades, which are not specifically represented in  FIG. 1 , are attached to the transport cylinder  11 , each of which folding blades is extended when reaching the folding gap  19  between the folding rollers  17 ,  18  in order to push the products, which are being transported on the transport cylinder  1   1 , and in a manner that is known per se, into the folding gap  19 , with the products leading with a desired fold line that is located approximately centered on the sides of the signatures  21 ,  27 , and to fold them in this way. The folded products pass through the folding gap  19  and, in a generally known manner, fall onto a paddle wheel, which is not specifically represented, and are placed by the paddle wheel on a conveyor belt.  
         [0033]      FIG. 2  shows a detailed view of the second cutting gap  09  and its surroundings, in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. Two of the seven spur strips  16  of the transport cylinder  11  are represented in  FIG. 2  and are identified as spur strips  16 ′,  16 ″. Each of these spur strips  16 ′,  16 ″ is pivotable around a shaft  22  in a controlled manner and has spur needles  23  which are oriented in such a way that their respective tips, which are extending radially from the circumference of the transport cylinder  11 , are farther away from the center of the shaft  22  than are their bases, which are located inside the transport cylinder  11 . The spur needles  23  of the spur strip  16 ′ are depicted in  FIG. 2  as being situated in a comparatively far extended position, in which extended position they had also previously passed through the first cutting gap  08 . This identical position is shown by dashed lines at the location of the spur strip  16 ″.  
         [0034]     In comparison with this extended position of the spur strip  16 ′, the spur strip  16 ″ has been pivoted back some distance into the interior of the transport cylinder  11 . This pivot movement causes a displacement of the intersection point between the spur needles  23  and the surface of the transport cylinder  11  in a circumferential direction which is opposite to the direction of rotation of the transport cylinder. Because of this displacement, the signature  21  which is held by the spur strip  16 ″, has been shifted slightly in a direction that is also opposite the direction of rotation of the transport cylinder  11 . This shifting is in comparison to the position in which the signature  21  had been cut off the inner web  03  in the first cutting gap  08 . Following its passage through the second cutting gap  09 , the spur strip  16 ″ returns to the extended position shown in dashed lines, or even extends to a further extended position in order to cancel, or to overcompensate for, the prior rear displacement of the signature  21 . A small gap  26  is formed in this way between the signature  21  and a previous signature  27  which had been cut off immediately prior to this, and into which small gap  26  the cutter  14  of the second cutting cylinder  13  can extend and can, in this way, press the outer web  04  against the stop  33  and can sever it, without the danger arising of again cutting one of the previously cut signatures  21 ,  27 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 3  shows an alternative embodiment of the transport cylinder  11  and of the cutting cylinder  13 , in accordance with the present invention, in a partial cross-sectional view that is analogous to the view of  FIG. 2 . In connection with each cutter  14 , the cutting cylinder  13  has a strip  28 , which projects past theouter circumference of cutting cylinder  13  and which passes through the cutting gap  09  shortly ahead of the respective associated cutter  14 . A complementarily shaped groove  29  is formed in the transport cylinder  11 , and is located opposite the strip  28  during each gap passage. The strip  28  thus presses a trailing edge area of the first signature  27 , which was cut off the inner web  03 , as well as the outer web  04 , into the groove  29 . The trailing edge of the previously cut signature  27  is pulled ahead by this and the gap  26  is opened. Therefore, with this embodiment of the present invention, it is not necessary for the spur strip  16 ″ to pivot outward again after its passage through the cutting gap  09  in order to form the gap  26 .  
         [0036]     A third preferred embodiment of the present invention is represented in  FIG. 4 , again by the use of a partial cross-sectional view taken through the transport cylinder  11  and the cutting cylinder  13 . The cutting cylinder  13  is identical to the one depicted in  FIG. 2 . The transport cylinder  11  differs from the prior ones by the arrangement of the shafts  22  around which the spur strips  16  are pivotable. In the embodiments in accordance with  FIGS. 2 and 3 , these shafts  22  are located ahead of the spur needles  23 , in the direction of rotation of the transport cylinder. These shafts  22  are arranged behind the spur needles  23  in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 . The orientation of the spur needles  23 , in relation to the surface of the transport cylinder  11 , is the same in all cases. The spur needles  23  are inclined slightly forward, and in the direction of rotation of the transport cylinder  11 , with respect to a line that is normal to the cylinder surface. Atension that is acting on the material which is speared or impaled on the spur needles  23  keeps the material pressed against the surface of the transport cylinder  11 .  
         [0037]     A changed course of the pivot movement of the spur strips, which are here identified by  16 *,  16 **,  16 ***, results from the changed arrangement of the shafts  22 . The spur strip  16 *, which is still situated at a distant that is relatively far from the cutting gap  09 , is in a position in which it is comparatively only slightly extended, in which its spur needles  23  extend only far enough past the circumference of the transport cylinder  11  to hold the inner web  03 . The spur strip  16 * is extended further only shortly before it reaches the second cutting gap  09 , in order to also be able to puncture the outer web  04 , which positioning can be perceived at the spur strip  16 **. With this embodiment, the upward or rapidly outward movement of the spur needles  23  causes a shifting of their intersection with the circumference of the transport cylinder  11  in a direction that is opposite to the direction of movement of the transport cylinder  11 . Therefore, the movement of the leading edge of the signature  21  which is held by the spur strip  16 ** is away from the impact point of the cutter  14  on the stop  33 . In opposition to this, the spur needles  23  of the spur strip  16 *** have been retracted a short distance into the transport cylinder  11  in order to move the signature  27  they are holding forward in the circumferential direction and in this way to open the resultant gap  26  that is provided at the location of the stop  33 .  
         [0038]     With this third embodiment, several direction changes of the movement of the spur needles  23 , in the course of the revolution of the transport cylinder  11 , are avoided.  
         [0039]     A fourth embodiment of the cutting device in accordance with the present invention is represented in  FIG. 5 , again in a partial cross-sectional view analogous to  FIG. 4 .  
         [0040]     In this fourth embodiment, segments  32 ′,  32 ″ . . . , are arranged on the circumference of the transport cylinder  11  with each such segment  32 ′,  32 ′″ . . . , being located respectively between two successive spur strips  16 ′,  16 ″,  16 ′″, . . . , and are used for increasing the circumference of transport cylinder  11 . Each one of these segments  32 ′,  32 ″ is comprised of a plurality of flexible disks, which are arranged side-by-side in the axial direction of the transport cylinder  11  and which are spaced apart by gaps. In the course of the passing of the finished cut signatures  21 ,  27  on to the folding rollers  17 ,  18 , these gaps are used as the outlet openings for tines of a folding blade, which is not specifically represented. The ends of each of the disks  32 ′,  32 ′″ . . . , are anchored on head strips  31 , which head strips  31  can be shifted in the circumferential direction of the transport cylinder  11 .  
         [0041]     The segment  32 ′ is in a configuration wherein the course of its disks corresponds to the cylindrical shape of the transport cylinder  11 . After each suchsegment  32 ′ has passed through the cutting gap  09 , its head strips  31  are shifted circumferentially toward each other, so that its disks form a protrusion that is extending beyond the circumference of the transport cylinder  11 , as is shown by the depiction of the segment  32 ″. Because of this protrusion, the distance between the spur strips  16 ″ and  16 ′″, as measured along the outer circumferential surface of the transport cylinder  11 , is greater than the corresponding distance between the spur strips  16 ′ and  16 ″, wherein the latter distance corresponds to the length of the signatures  21 ,  27  that are formed at the cutting gap  06 . Therefore, the bulging of the segment  32 ″ causes the formation of the gap  26  between the signatures  21  and  27 , into which gap  26  the cutter  14  of the second cutting cylinder  13  can extend.  
         [0042]     The second cutting cylinder  13  is arranged adjacent the circumference of the transport cylinder  11  so that it cuts in a phase-shifted manner.  
         [0043]     The cut of the second cutting cylinder  13  on the transport cylinder  11  takes place close to, in particular 10 mm, next to the other cut of the first cutting cylinder  12 .  
         [0044]     The cutting cylinders  12  and  13  are arranged sequentially in the circumferential direction on the transport cylinder  11 .  
         [0045]      FIG. 6  shows a schematic side elevation view of a portion of an alternative preferred embodiment of the wheel folding apparatus in accordance with the present invention, wherein the cutters  14  are arranged on the transport cylinder  11 . The circumference of the now cutting and transport cylinder  11  corresponds to more than five, and preferably corresponds to seven lengths of the signatures  21 ,  27 . It supports more than five, and preferably supports seven cutters  14 , which are evenly distributed over its circumference and, in its movement direction, which is a rotation in a counterclockwise direction in  FIG. 1 . The cylinder  11  also carries a holding device  16 , such as, for example, a spur strip  16 , closely behind each cutter  14 . Such a spur strip  16 , which is pivotable around the shaft  22  and which carries spur needles  23 , is represented, in an enlarged view, in  FIG. 7  at the moment of its passage through the cutting gap  08  formed by the cooperation of the cutting and transport cylinder  11  with a first counter cylinder  34 .  
         [0046]     Each one of the two identically constructed first and second counter cylinders  34  or  36  has a circumference corresponding to at least one, and preferably to two lengths of signatures  21 ,  27  to be produced from the webs  03 ,  04 . Each cylinder  34  on  36  supports at least one, and preferably supports two counter-cutting strips, such as, for example, hard rubber strips, that are sunk into its circumferential surface, and which are used as stops  33  for the cutter  14 . Each cylinder  34  or  36  also has a groove  24  which is located closely behind each stop  33  and which is utilized for receiving the tips of the spur needles  23  of the spur strips  16  which had been extended past the circumference of the cutting and transport cylinder  11  during the passage of the spur strips  16  through the cutting gap  08  or  09 .  
         [0047]     In the position of the wheel folding apparatus that is represented in  FIG. 6 , a cutter  14  of the cutting and transport cylinder  11  and a stop  33  of the first counter cylinder  34  just pass through the first cutting gap  08  and in the process cut through the inner web  03 . A leading edge of the inner web  03 , which has been formed by this cutting, has been speared on the spur needles  23  of a spur strip  16 , which had been extended shortly before reaching the cutting gap  08 . These spur needles  23  of the extended spur strip  16  continue to hold the newly formed leading edge of the inner web  03  firmly during its further transport on the surface of the cutting and transport cylinder  11 .  
         [0048]     The signature  21 , which has been cut off the inner web  03  in this way, is further conveyed on the cutting and transport cylinder  11  to the second cutting gap  09 , where the outer web  04  is placed on top of it. This outer web  04  is also speared by the spur needles  23  of the spur strip  16  and is cut by the same cutter  14 . Since the cutters  14  and the spur strips  16  do not move with respect to their circumferential location on the cutting and transport cylinder  11  between the time of their passage through the first cutting gap  08  and the second cutting gap  09 , there is no danger that the signatures  21 , which had been cut off the web  03  in the first cutting gap  08 , will be cut again during their passage through the second cutting gap  09 .  
         [0049]     At the locations of the first and second cutting gaps  08  and  09 , the tips of the spur needles  23 , as is shown in  FIG. 7  extend farther past the circumference of the cutting and transport cylinder  11  than do the cutters  14 . This is done in order to assure that the spur needles  23  have already penetrated through the webs  03  or  04  before the latter are being cut by the cutter  14 .  
         [0050]     The angular distance between the two cutting gaps  08 ,  09  is approximately 50° in the example represented in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . This angular distance can differ from an angular distance between the spur strips  16  from each other, which is preferably 51.5°, or a multiple thereof, so that cutting is not performed simultaneously at both cutting gaps  08 ,  09 . Even a half-number multiple of this value is disadvantageous from the point of view of avoiding vibrations.  
         [0051]     Following its passage through the cutting gap  09 , each spur strip  16  supports a total product which is comprised respectively of a signature  21  cut off from the inner web  03  and a signature  27  cut off from the outer web  04 . Seven products are formed with each revolution of the transport cylinder  11 , the same as if both webs  03 ,  04  had been brought along in the customary manner via a common inlet  01 , or  02 . Since the cutting off of each individual signature  21 ,  27  is spread over two cutting steps at the first and second cutting gaps  08 ,  09 , the force which must be employed in each cutting step is less. Accordingly, satisfactory, even running of the machine can be more easily maintained, and the demands made on the mechanical load- bearing capability of the cutting device are less than if both webs were fed in via a common inlet  01 ,  02 .  
         [0052]     Furthermore, at least five, and preferably seven folding blades, which are not specifically represented in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , are attached to the cutting and folding cylinder  11  and which folding blades, each time they reach a folding gap  19 , that is formed between two folding rollers  17  and  18  which are placed in a contactless manner against the cutting and transport cylinder  11 , are extended for use in transferring the products that are being transported on the cutting and transport cylinder  11  into the folding gap  19  in a manner which is generally known, and fold them. The now folded products pass through the folding gap  19  and, in a generally known manner, fall onto a paddle wheel, which is also not represented in the drawings since it is known, and are placed by it on a conveyor belt.  
         [0053]     A modified embodiment of a cutting device in accordance with the present invention differs from the one represented in  FIG. 6  in that it has only a single inlet  02  for a single web  04  to be cut. Reference is made to  FIG. 6  in describing this embodiment, wherein the first inlet  01 , the inner web  03  and the first counter cylinder  34  are assumed not to exist.  
         [0054]     It is possible that each one of the webs  03 ,  04  has identical patterns A and B one behind the other, or in the transport direction. Preferably, these patterns A and B are printed by at least one forme cylinder of a printing unit, that is not specifically shown and which carries two identical patterns A and B on its circumference. The webs  03 ,  04  are conducted on top of each other, so that signatures with patterns A and B resting on top of each other are formed, each of which signatures is moved to the folding gap  19 . To this end, it is not absolutely necessary for the transport cylinder  11  to have an odd division of its circumferential surface. Instead, it can also have an even division, which preferably is greater than 4 or 6.  
         [0055]     Preferably, each of the patterns A, B, C, D identifies two newspaper pages, wherein A 1 , A 2 , B, B 2 , C 1 , C 2 , D 1 , D 2  each identify one newspaper page. At least one web  03 ,  04  is to be understood by the identification web  03 ,  04 . However, preferably this is to be understood as a continuous web consisting of several webs  03 ,  04  placed on top of each other.  
         [0056]     In this case, the webs  03 ,  04  can each be imprinted by forme cylinders of printing units which either have a pattern A or B on the circumference, which is a single circumference, or which have two patterns A or B on the circumference, which is a double circumference. In the case of double circumference forme cylinders, two identical patterns A, A and B, B, or two different patterns A, B can be arranged on the forme cylinder circumference.  
         [0057]     Therefore, four modes of operation are possible, when employing the wheel folding apparatus in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0058]     In a first and second mode of operation, both of the webs  03 ,  04  are brought together upstream of the first inlet  01  on the transport cylinder  11  and are cut by the use of a single cutting process.  
         [0059]     In a first mode of operation, the webs  03 ,  04  here each have the same patterns A or C, as can be seen in  FIG. 8 . The result is that identical products are formed, one behind the other, on the transport cylinder  11  during each revolution and are directly delivered to the folding gap  19 .  
         [0060]     In a second mode of operation, that is corresponding to a collection operation, the webs  03 ,  04  each have alternating patterns A, B or C, D, respectively, situated one behind the other, as is represented schematically in  FIG. 9 , which patterns, in the course of a first revolution, are alternatingly deposited on the transport cylinder  11 , which now acts as a collection cylinder, and which cylinder is provided with an odd number of fields. Fields of the transport cylinder  11 , which carry signatures with only patterns A, C, move past the folding cylinders  17 ,  18  without the signatures being delivered into the folding gap  18 . During a second passage of each such field past the inlet  01 , it is additionally loaded with signatures with the patterns B, D. Only then are all four signatures delivered together to the folding gap  19 .  
         [0061]     In third and fourth modes of operation, the two webs  03 ,  04  are separately fed to the transport cylinder  11  via the inlet  01 ,  02 .  
         [0062]     In the third mode of operation, the webs  03 ,  04  carry patterns A, B or C, D alternatingly one behind the other in accordance with the representation shown in  FIG. 9 .  
         [0063]     In this third mode of operation, and in the course of a first revolution of the transport cylinder  11 , which is functioning as a collecting cylinder, a first field of the transport cylinder is loaded with a signature with the pattern A at the inlet  01 , and with a signature with the pattern C at the inlet  02 , so that every second spur strip  16  carries signatures with the patterns A, C when passing the folding cylinders  17 ,  18 , and passes the folding cylinders  17 ,  19  without delivering the signatures. In the course of a second revolution, two signatures with patterns B, D from the webs  03 ,  04  are then conducted on the spur strips  16  which had previously received the patterns A,C.  
         [0064]     Therefore, during the second revolution of the transport cylinders  11 , signatures with patterns A, B, C, D on the spur strips  16  alternate with spur strips  16  which only carry signatures with the patterns A, C, or B, D wherein the finished products, consisting of four signatures with patterns A, B, C, D of each second field are transferred to the folding gap  19 .  
         [0065]     In a fourth mode of operation, the webs  03 ,  04  have the same patterns A, A, or C, C in succession, as is shown in  FIG. 8 , so that during each revolution of the transport cylinders  11  each spur strip  16  picks up signatures with the patterns A, C, which are directly transferred to the folding gap  19  when it is reached.  
         [0066]     In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, as seen in  FIG. 10 , the transport cylinder  11  has three holding devices  16 , which preferably are provided as spur needle sets  16 . Two folding blades have been arranged in the transport cylinder  11 . These two folding blades are rotatably arranged on a rotatable support and are positioned inside a shell surface of the transport cylinder  11 . This support for the two folding blades is arranged eccentrically with respect to the axis of rotation of the shell surface of the transport cylinder  11 . The folding blade support rotates at a relative speed with respect to the shell surface of the transport cylinder  11 . Two cutting arrangements are assigned to this transport cylinder  11 , so that two cutting gaps  08 ,  09 , which are arranged circumferentially offset, are provided on the circumference of the transport cylinder  11 .  
         [0067]     Each of these two cutting arrangements has rotatable cylinders  12 ,  13 , or  34 ,  36 , which are both provided either with at least one cutter  14  or with at least one stop  33  for a cutter  14  generally in the manner as has been described previously.  
         [0068]     If the two cylinders  12 ,  13  have cutters  14 , cooperating stops  33 , and preferably three such stops  33 , are arranged on the transport cylinder  11 . If the cylinders  34 ,  36  have stops  33 , then cooperating cutters  14 , and preferably three such cutters  14 , are arranged on the transport cylinder  11 .  
         [0069]     While preferred embodiemtns of a rotary folder comprising a cutting device for cross-cutting at least one web in accordance with the present invention have been set forth fully and completely herinabove, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art that various changes in, for example, the drives for the cylinders, the types of presses used to print the webs and the like could be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention which accordingly is to be limited only by the appended claims.