Abstract:
An adjustable delivery web conversion apparatus is provided. The adjustable delivery web conversion apparatus includes a variable cutting apparatus cutting a printed web into a first signature and a second signature, a first assembly receiving the first signature and a second assembly downstream of the first assembly receiving the second signature. Also included are a first delivery section for receiving the first signature from the first assembly, a second delivery section for receiving the second signature from the second assembly and a stack receiving conveyor for receiving the first signature and the second signature. The first delivery section is movable between a first delivery and a first non-delivery position. The second delivery section is movable between a second delivery position and a second non-delivery position. The stacking receiving conveyor is movable between a conveying position and a non-conveying position. A method of producing and delivering signatures is also provided.

Description:
The present invention relates generally to printing presses and more particularly to adjustable delivery web conversion apparatuses and methods in printing presses. 
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     Combination folders are currently available that can deliver relatively high page-count products (typically 32- or 64-page) and a former-folder-style product (slit over former and half-folded). These combination folders are typically complex and expensive and have fixed cut-offs. Conventional folders may be limited to delivering either straight products or collated products. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,533,132 discloses a collating and stitching machine to arrange into informative and significant order a plurality of part-product or sheets. The machine has at least two rotating sheet delivery drums, the axis of rotation of which extend substantially perpendicularly to the conveying direction of an endless conveyor. The endless conveyor transports the folded sheets during the collating thereof with their folded backs extending transversely to the conveying direction and with the folded backs leading the direction of movement. The conveyor inserts the sheets one into the other. At least one stitching head is arranged in the return area to the endless conveyor to stitch the sheets together and thereby form a booklet, a magazine or the like. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,538,242 discloses a folder apparatus for a web-fed printing press. The printed webs are conducted over a former and folded. After being folded, the web is fed through the nips of upper and lower draw rollers and guide rollers to a cutting cylinder, which severs the web to form printed signatures. A web separating device is provided between the upper draw rollers and the lower draw rollers. The signatures are then fed by a lead-in tape system to fan pockets of two fans. As the fans rotate, the signatures are deposited to two stacks. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,044 discloses a delivery portion of a folder of a high speed printing press which includes a diverting section and a bucket section. Successive folded and cut signatures enter the diverting section from the cutting cylinders and are positioned between driven transport tapes. The signatures are diverted into a first or a second signature path and, most typically, the signatures are diverted alternately to the first path then to the second path. After being diverted, the signatures enter the bucket section of the folder. Signatures on the first path are transported between the tapes to a first rotating bucket assembly and the signatures on the path are transported between the tapes to a second rotating bucket assembly. The first bucket assembly transfers and slows down signatures diverted along the first path to a first conveyor and the second bucket assembly transfers signatures diverted along the second path to a second conveyor. The conveyors transport the signatures in a shingled stream to an area for accumulation or further processing, such as to a stacker. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An adjustable delivery web conversion apparatus is provided. The adjustable delivery web conversion apparatus includes a variable cutting apparatus cutting a printed web into a first signature and a second signature, a first assembly receiving the first signature and a second assembly downstream of the first assembly receiving the second signature. Also included are a first delivery section for receiving the first signature from the first assembly, a second delivery section for receiving the second signature from the second assembly and a stack receiving conveyor for receiving the first signature and the second signature. The first signature is stacked on the second signature on the stack receiving conveyor. The first delivery section is movable between a first delivery position where the first delivery section can receive the first signature from the first assembly and a first non-delivery position where the first delivery section cannot receive the first signature. The second delivery section is movable between a second delivery position where the second delivery section can receive the second signature from the second assembly and a second non-delivery position where the second delivery section cannot receive the second signature. The stacking receiving conveyor is movable between a conveying position where the stacking receiving conveyor can receive the first signature from first assembly and the second signature from the second assembly and a non-conveying position where the stacking receiving conveyor cannot receive the first signature or the second signature. 
     A method of producing and delivering signatures is provided. The method includes the steps of cutting a printed web with a cutting apparatus to create a first print job first signature and a first print job second signature; transporting the first print job first signature to a first assembly; transporting the first print job second signature to a second assembly; delivering the first print job first signature and the first print job second signature to a stack receiving conveyor such that the first print job first signature is stacked upon the first print job second signature; moving the stack receiving conveyor to a non-conveying position where the stack receiving conveyor cannot receive signatures from the first assembly and second assembly; moving a first delivery into a first delivery position; cutting a printed web with a cutting apparatus to create a second print job first signature; transporting the second print job first signature to the first assembly; delivering the second print job first signature to the first delivery. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention is described below by reference to the following drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic side view of a printing press including an adjustable delivery web-conversion apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention configured for straight delivery; 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the web conversion apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  configured for straight delivery; 
         FIG. 3  shows a schematic side view of the printing press shown in  FIG. 1  with the adjustable delivery web conversion apparatus configured for collating delivery; 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the web-conversion apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3  configured for collating delivery; 
         FIG. 5  shows an enlarged perspective view of a ribbon guiding section of the web-conversion apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows an enlarged view of a deceleration assembly delivering signatures to a collating conveyor to form product stacks as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 ; and 
         FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of the web-conversion apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4  configured to run for both straight delivery and collating delivery simultaneously. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a schematic side view of a printing press  100  including an adjustable delivery web conversion apparatus  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention configured for straight delivery. Printing units  110 , each including an upper plate cylinder  101 , an upper blanket cylinder  102 , a lower blanket cylinder  103  and a lower plate cylinder  104 , act together to print four color images on a web  12 . The term image used herein includes text, graphics or printed indicia on web  12 , with each image have a length equal to a circumferential printing length of each plate cylinder  101 ,  104  and including contents of a number of pages of final printed products produced by printing press  100 . After images are printed on web  12 , web  12  passes through a slitter  112 , which longitudinally slits web  12  into a plurality of ribbons  14 . A ribbon guiding section  114  may then turn and offset ribbons  14  so ribbons  14  are vertically aligned and traveling in a horizontal plane as ribbons  14  pass through vertically aligned nip rolls  17  and enter a former  28 . Former  28  imparts a longitudinal fold upon ribbons  14  such that ribbons  14  are horizontally aligned and traveling substantially in the same horizontal plane as ribbons exit former  28 . Ribbons  14  may also be slit over former  28  to yield twice as many unfolded ribbons  14 . Web  12  and ribbons  14  may travel at a velocity V 1 . 
     Once longitudinally folded, ribbons  14  are cut by a cutting assembly  30  into successive intermediate printed products or signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 . Cutting assembly  30  includes cut cylinders  48 ,  50  interacting with respective anvil cylinders  148 ,  150  to create signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 . Cut cylinder  48  may include one or more knives that are segmented and partially cut, or perforate, ribbons  14  by contacting anvils on anvil cylinder  148 . Cut cylinder  50  may include knives that finish the partial cuts created by knives of cut cylinder  48 , forming signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 , by contacting anvils on anvil cylinder  150 . Knives on cut cylinder  50  may also be segmented. Cutting assembly  30  may include a first pair of nip rollers  44 ,  144 , and a second pair of nip rollers  46 ,  146 . Nip rollers  44 ,  144 ,  46 ,  146  deliver ribbons  14  to cut cylinder  48  where knife blades perforate ribbons  42  with a first cut. The process of partially cutting ribbons with cut cylinder  48  and finishing the cut with cut cylinder  50  may be referred to as a double cut. In another embodiment, ribbons  14  may also be cut completely by cut cylinder  50  and anvil cylinder  150 , making the perforation by cut cylinder  48  and anvil cylinder  148  unnecessary. 
     In this embodiment, printing units  110  print successive four-color images on both sides of web  12 , each image being aligned with an image on the opposite side of web  12 . Each image includes the contents of 32 pages of final printed products produced from the image, so that a length of web  12  with an image on both sides includes the contents of 64 pages of the final printed products. Cutting assembly  40  forms four individual signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  from each image printed on web  12  by printing units  110 , with each signature including 16 pages (8 pages, printed on both front and back). For example, ribbons  14  are cut by cutting assembly  30  such that one cut by cut cylinder  50  creates a lead edge of one first signature  32 , a subsequent by cut cylinder  50  creates a lead edge of one second signature  34  and a tail edge of the one first signature  32 , a subsequent by cut cylinder  50  creates a lead edge of one third signature  36  and a tail edge of the one second signature  34 , a subsequent by cut cylinder  50  creates a lead edge of one fourth signature  38  and a tail edge of the one third signature  36  and a subsequent by cut cylinder  50  creates a lead edge of one subsequent first signature  32  and a tail edge of the one fourth signature  38 . In the embodiment where a double cut is performed, each cut by cut cylinder  50  creating edges of signatures finishes a partial cut created by cut cylinder  48 . In the embodiment where only cut cylinder  50  is provided, and not cut cylinder  48 , each cut by cut cylinder  50  cuts entirely through ribbons  14 . 
     Cylinders  48 ,  148  may be phased with respect to cylinders  50 ,  150 , with cylinders  48 ,  148  being driven by a servomotor  25  at varying velocities during each revolution and cylinders  50 ,  150  being driven by a servomotor  27  at varying velocities during each revolution so that printed signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  may vary in length. Servomotors  25 ,  27  may be controlled by a controller  200 . Any combination of cutoff lengths for signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  is possible, as long as the sum of the cutoff lengths equal the length of each four-color image printed by printing units  110 . For example, if plate cylinders  101 ,  104  and blanket cylinders  102 ,  103  each have a printing circumference of 44 inches and print images that are 44 inches in length on web  12 , signature  32  may have a cutoff length of 15 inches, signature  34  may have a cutoff length of 10 inches, signature  36  may have a cutoff length of 11 inches and signature  38  may have a cutoff length of 8 inches. 
     Signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 , traveling away from cutting assembly  30  enter a delivery section  106  where conveyor  40  transports signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  at a second velocity V 2  away from cutting assembly  30 . Velocity V 2  may be greater than velocity V 1 . Conveyor  40  may be in the form of transport tapes, which grip a lead edge of ribbons  13  just as ribbons  14  are cut by cut cylinder  50  and positively grip signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  by contacting signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  from above and below. Guide belts may be provided to assist in guiding ribbons  14  into cutting assembly and signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  towards conveyor  40 . The guide belts may be provided in circumferential cutouts spaced axially in cylinders  48 ,  50 ,  148 ,  150  and rolls  44 ,  46 ,  144 ,  146 . In an alternative embodiment, the guide belts may be introduced only between cut cylinder  48  and cut cylinder  50  to control the printed product while the uncut portions of ribbons  14  are cut by cut cylinder  50 . 
     Signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  are diverted from conveyor  40  by respective diverter assemblies  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 . Diverter assemblies  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58  force respective signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  out of the path of conveyor  40  and down to respective deceleration assemblies  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68 . 
     A first diverter assembly  52  removes signatures  32  from conveyor  40  and transports signatures  32  to a first deceleration assembly  62 . First deceleration assembly  62 , rotating about a first axis that is perpendicular to the direction of travel of conveyor  40 , grips signatures  32  and delivers signatures  32  to first delivery section  72 . First delivery section  72 , which may be a conveyor running axially with respect to deceleration assembly  62  in a second horizontal plane below the horizontal plane of conveyor  40 , carries signatures  32  away from deceleration assembly  62 . 
     Signatures  34 ,  36 ,  38  are transported by conveyor  40  past first diverter assembly  52 . A second diverter assembly  54  removes signatures  34  from conveyor  40  and transports signatures  34  to a second deceleration assembly  64 . Second deceleration assembly  64 , rotating about a second axis that is perpendicular to the direction of travel of conveyor  40 , grips signatures  34  and delivers signatures  34  to second delivery section  74 . Second delivery section  74 , which may be a conveyor running axially with respect to deceleration assembly  64  in the second horizontal plane below the horizontal plane of conveyor  40 , carries signatures  34  away from deceleration assembly  64 . 
     Signatures  36 ,  38  are transported by conveyor  40  past second diverter assembly  54 . A third diverter assembly  56  removes signatures  36  from conveyor  40  and transports signatures  36  to a third deceleration assembly  66 . Third deceleration assembly  66 , rotating about a third axis that is perpendicular to the direction of travel of conveyor  40 , grips signatures  36  and delivers signatures  36  to third delivery section  76 . Third delivery section  76 , which may be a conveyor running axially with respect to deceleration assembly  66  in the second horizontal plane below the horizontal plane of conveyor  40 , carries signatures  36  away from deceleration assembly  66 . 
     Signatures  38  are transported by conveyor  40  past third diverter assembly  56 . A fourth diverter assembly  58  removes signatures  38  from conveyor  40  and transports signatures  38  to a fourth deceleration assembly  68 . Fourth deceleration assembly  68 , rotating about a fourth axis that is perpendicular to the direction of travel of conveyor  40 , grips signatures  38  and delivers signatures  38  to fourth delivery section  78 . Fourth delivery section  78 , which may be a conveyor running axially with respect to deceleration assembly  68  in the second horizontal plane below the horizontal plane of conveyor  40 , carries signatures  38  away from deceleration assembly  68 . In an alternative embodiment, fourth diverter assembly  58  is not necessary, and conveyor  40  may transport signatures  38  directly to fourth deceleration assembly  68 . 
     Signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  may be transported by respective delivery sections  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78  at a velocity V 3 , which may be less than velocity V 2 , to downstream finishing operations. 
     Each deceleration assembly  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  may include a center body  53 , arms  63 , and grippers  73 , respectively. Arms  63  protrude radially from center bodies  53  and grippers  73 , which are configured to engage signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 , are positioned at ends of arms  63 . 
     Diverting assemblies  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58  and deceleration assemblies  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  are phased so that diverting assemblies remove respective signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  from conveyor  40  in a proper orientation and arms  63  of deceleration assemblies  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  are in proper positions to receives signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  from diverting assemblies  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 , respectively. Deceleration assemblies  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  may driven by respective motors  91 ,  92 ,  93 ,  94 , and diverting assemblies  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58  may be driven by respective motors. Motors  91 ,  92 ,  93 ,  94  and the motors driving diverting assemblies  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58  may be servomotors and may be controlled by controller  200  to ensure proper phasing. 
     In alternative embodiments, cutting assembly  30  may be configured to cut each image into a different number of signatures, for example three. The number of diverting assemblies, deceleration assemblies and delivery sections may be adjusted to match the maximum number of signatures produced by cutting assembly  30 . Web conversion apparatus  10  may be adjusted to accommodate three signatures from one image by inactivating diverting assembly  58  and deceleration assembly  68  and rephrasing diverting assemblies  52 ,  54 ,  56  and deceleration assemblies  62 ,  64 ,  66 . 
     In other embodiments, web conversion and delivery apparatus  10  may be configured such that web  12  is not slit into ribbons  14  and/or web  12  is not folded longitudinally by former  28 . The term web as used herein is defined such that web may also include ribbons. 
       FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of web conversion section  10  configured for straight delivery, as shown in  FIG. 1 . Web conversion apparatus  10  includes ribbon guiding section  114 , cutting assembly  30 , former  28  and delivery section  106 . Ribbons  14  enter web-conversion apparatus  10  and are converted into multiple signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 , which may each form individual final printed products. 
     Ribbon guiding section  114 , which is shown in more detail in  FIG. 5 , includes lead rolls  20 ,  24 , compensators  22  ( FIG. 5 ), angle bars  23  and pull rolls  26 . Ribbons  14  are wrapped around and redirected by lead rolls  20 ,  24  compensators  22 , angle bars  23  and pull rolls  26  to ensure ribbons  14  are properly oriented as they enter former  28 . Ribbons  14  enter ribbon guiding section  114  traveling substantially horizontal and are guided vertically by lead rolls  20  and compensators  22 . Angle bars  23  redirect ribbons  14  so that ribbons  14  are transported horizontally, in an upright on-edge orientation, where each ribbon  14  has one edge located above the other. Lead rolls  24  and pull rolls  26  reverse the horizontal direction of travel of ribbons  14 , while maintaining the upright on-edge orientation of ribbons  14 . The axes of rotation of lead rolls  24 , pull rolls  26 , and nip rolls  17  are aligned with the vertical direction, allowing ribbons  14  to transported horizontally into former  28 . Ribbons  14  are merged on-edge after pull rolls  26 . Ribbons  14  pass between nip rolls  17  and are longitudinally folded by former  28 . 
     Ribbons  14 , once longitudinally folded, are aligned with the horizontal direction so that ribbons  14  are no longer oriented on-edge but instead are aligned substantially in the horizontal plane. Ribbons  14  are then cut by a cutting assembly  30  into four successive signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 . Cylinders  48 ,  50 ,  148 ,  150  of cutting assembly  30  are rotated at appropriate frequencies so that knives on cut cylinders  48 ,  50  create signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  having desired lengths. Signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 , having a horizontal orientation, are transported in the horizontal direction to respective diverting assemblies  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 , which alter the path of signatures and pass signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  to respective deceleration assemblies  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68 , located below conveyor  40 . Deceleration assemblies  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68 , rotating about axes that are perpendicular to the horizontal direction that conveyor  40  transports signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 , grip respective signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 , and rotate signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  approximately 180 degrees with respect to the axes of deceleration assemblies  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68 , respectively. Deceleration assemblies  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  then release signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 , now traveling in a direction opposite the transport direction of conveyor  40 , to respective delivery sections  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78 , which may carry signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  away from respective deceleration assemblies  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  in a direction that is parallel to axes of respective deceleration assemblies  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68 . 
     The present invention can be appreciated as delivering multiple cut-offs on multiple deliveries in the straight delivery mode. A single group of ribbons may be converted into multiple printed products. For example, a strip of ribbons corresponding to the once-around circumferential printing length of each of the plate cylinders of the printing press may be converted in four different print products of four different lengths. Also, not all deceleration assemblies and delivery assemblies need to be active at the same time, so two printed products could be delivered by two deceleration and two delivery assemblies and two deceleration and two delivery assemblies could be inactive. 
     By transporting ribbons  14 , and signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  primarily in the horizontal direction, the height of web conversion and delivery apparatus  10  is advantageously reduced. The reduced height may lower the ceiling height requirements of printing press facilities and decrease the need for press personnel to climb stairs to reach the various apparatus components. Since web conversion and delivery apparatus  10  can be operated from one level, web conversion and delivery apparatus  10  may thus be easier to operate. In one embodiment, e.g. as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , web conversion and delivery apparatus  10  may be 38 feet long and 8 feet high. In another embodiment, a web conversion and delivery apparatus may be 54 feet long and 8 feet high and receive eight ribbons and create and deliver six different signatures. 
     In other embodiments, a second web may be printed by a second set of printing units, slit into ribbons by a second slitter and combined with ribbons  14  to create a ribbon bundle with an increased number of ribbons, which may be converted into signatures with an increased number of pages. Also, more or less than four ribbons  14  could be created by slitter  112  ( FIG. 1 ) and delivered by ribbon guiding section  114 . Delivery sections  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78  may include grippers or other mechanisms to maintain positive control over signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  and ensure accurate delivery streams. 
       FIG. 3  shows a schematic side view of printing press  100  including adjustable delivery web conversion apparatus  10  configured for collating delivery. Deceleration assemblies  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  stack respective signatures  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  on a conveyor  60  instead of passing signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  to respective delivery sections  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78 , as in the straight delivery mode. 
     Printing units  110  print four color images on web  12  and web  12  is slit into ribbons  14 . Ribbons  14  are aligned vertically and merged by ribbon guiding section  114  and longitudinally folded by former  28 . Web  12  and ribbons  14  may be traveling at a velocity V 4 . 
     In this embodiment, printing units  110  print successive four-color images on both sides of web  12 , each image being aligned with an image on the opposite side of web  12 . Each image includes the contents of 32 pages of final printed products produced from the image, so that a length of web  12  with an image on both sides includes the contents of 64 pages of final printed products. 
     Once longitudinally folded, ribbons  14  are cut by a cutting assembly  30  into successive signatures  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48 , with each signature  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  being the same length. Controller  200  controls servomotors  25 ,  27  so that cut cylinders  48 ,  50  form four individual signatures  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  from each image printed on web  12  by printing units  110 , with each signature including 16 pages (8 pages, printed on both front and back). Signatures are then stacked on conveyor  60  to form final product stacks  81  that consist of 64 pages, which may then be bound, and subject to other finishing operations, to form final printed products. 
     After being created by cutting assembly  30 , signatures  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  then enter web conversion and delivery section  106 , which is configured for collating, where conveyor  40  transports signatures  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  at a second velocity V 5  away from cutting assembly  30 . Velocity V 5  may be greater than velocity V 4 . Signatures  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  are diverted from conveyor  40  by respective diverter assemblies  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58  and passed to respective deceleration assemblies  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  in the same manner as signatures  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38  ( FIG. 1 ) are in the straight collect configuration. 
     Fourth deceleration assembly  68 , rotating about an axis that is perpendicular to the direction of travel of conveyor  40 , enter a collating and delivery section  106 , receives each signature  48  one-by-one and passes signatures  48  to a collating conveyor  60 . Collating conveyor  60  is traveling at a velocity V 3 , which may be less than velocity V 2 , in a second horizontal plane below the horizontal plane of conveyor  40 . Collating conveyor  60 , in this embodiment, is traveling below deceleration assemblies  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  in a horizontal direction that is opposite the horizontal direction that conveyor  40  transports signatures  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48 , and is tangential to the paths of rotation of deceleration assemblies  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68 . Third deceleration assembly  66 , operating in a manner similar to fourth deceleration assembly  68 , receives signatures  46  one-by-one and places each signature  46  on top of one signature  48  on conveyor  60 . Second deceleration assembly  64 , operating in a manner similar to deceleration assemblies  66 ,  68 , receives signatures  44  one-by-one and places each signature  44  on top of one signature  46 , which is stacked on one signature  48 , on conveyor  60 . First deceleration assembly  62 , operating in a manner similar to deceleration assemblies  64 ,  66 ,  68 , receives signatures  42  one-by-one and places each signature  42  on top of one signature  44 , which is stacked on one signatures  46  and one signature  48 , on conveyor  60 . 
     Once signature  42  is stacked upon signatures  44 ,  46 ,  48 , a final product stack  81  is formed. Final product stack  81  is delivered by conveyor  60  for finishing operations to create a final printed product. Final product stack  81 , in this embodiment, is a sixty-four page book because four ribbons  14  were longitudinally folded, cut into four 16-page signatures  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  and signatures  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  were stacked on top of one another. In alternative embodiments web  12  may be slit into a different number of ribbons and/or two or more webs can be provided to vary the number of pages in a final product produced by the present invention. 
     For example, assume printing press  100  includes plate cylinders  101 ,  104  having a printing circumference of 44″ and a printing width of 68″ prints images having a 44″ length and a 68″ width. A single web  12  slit into four 17-inch wide ribbons, which are folded longitudinally in half and cut into four 11″ long signatures can deliver a 64-page, 8.5″×11″ book. A second printing unit with a second slitter may be provided and a second web may be introduced. If web  12  and the second web are slit into four 17-inch wide ribbons, which are folded longitudinally in half and cut into four 11″ long signatures, a 128-page, 8.5″×11″ book may be created. A single web slit into six ribbons and cut into six approximately 7.33″ long signatures can create a 144-page, 5.5″×7.33″ book. Two webs slit into six ribbons and cut into six approximately 7.33″ long signatures can create a 288-page, 5.5″×7.33″ book. 
     Diverting assemblies  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58  and deceleration assemblies  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  are phased so that diverting assemblies remove respective signatures  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  from conveyor  40  in a proper orientation and arms  63  of deceleration assemblies  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  are in proper positions to receives signatures  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  from diverting assemblies  52 ,  54 ,  56 ,  58 , respectively, and properly stack signatures  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  on conveyor  60 . Deceleration assemblies  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  may driven by respective motors  91 ,  92 ,  93 ,  94 , and diverting assemblies may be driven by respective motors. Motors  91 ,  92 ,  93 ,  94  may be servomotors and may be controlled by controller  200  to ensure proper phasing and allow for adjustment between the straight delivery mode and the collating mode. The motors driving diverting assemblies may also be similarly be controlled by controller  200 . 
     In alternative embodiments, cutting assembly  30  may be configured to cut each image into a different number of signatures, or if the printing circumferences of plate cylinders  101 ,  104  are varied, phasing of cylinders  48 ,  50 ,  148 ,  150  may be varied accordingly. The number of delivery assemblies, deceleration assemblies and delivery sections may be adjusted to match the maximum number of signatures produced by cutting assembly  30 . Web conversion apparatus  10  may be adjusted to accommodate three signatures from one image, for example, by deactivating diverting assembly  58  and deceleration assembly  68  and rephrasing diverting assemblies  52 ,  54 ,  56  and deceleration assemblies  62 ,  64 ,  66 . 
     Advantageously, intermediate printed products or signatures  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  produced by apparatus  10  may only be longitudinally folded and not half-folded or quarter-folded. Minimizing folding may reduce product defects associated with the multiple fold processes, such as fan-out, which may result from folding thicker signatures, or print-to-fold errors. Signatures may be caused to accelerate, decelerate or change directions during half-folding and quarter-folding, and thus may lead to dog-ears, z-folds or other defects in the intermediate products and limit the speed that intermediate products may be produced. Avoiding half-folding and quarter-folding also may eliminate trimming of folded edges, including the machinery, labor and waste that accompanies such operations. 
       FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of web conversion apparatus  10  configured for collating delivery, as shown in  FIG. 3 . To convert from the straight delivery mode show in  FIGS. 1 and 2  to collating delivery, delivery sections  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78  have been slid away from deceleration assemblies  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  and collate conveyor  60  has been introduced. Web conversion apparatus  10  is arranged such that web conversion apparatus  10  can be switched between straight delivery, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , for example, and collating delivery, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , from print job to print job. For example, the collating conveyor may be snapped into position for the first print job of the day and then snapped out of position for the second print job of the day, while the delivery sections  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78  are slid towards the deceleration assemblies  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68 , into printed product receiving positions. Conveyor  60  may also be stored within a base  150  and may be actuated to ascend from base  150  to set up web conversion apparatus  10  for collating delivery mode and descend from base  150  to set up web conversion apparatus  10  for straight delivery mode. 
     Delivery sections  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78  may each include a conveyor belt  171  and a base frame  170 . For example, base frames  170  may be slid on rails in the floor supporting web conversion apparatus toward or away from respective deceleration assemblies  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  or belts  171  may slide on base frames  170  or telescopically move with respect to base frames  170  such that belts  171  move toward or away from respective deceleration assemblies  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  in and out of printed product receiving positions. 
     Deceleration assemblies  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68  release respective signatures  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  to conveyor  60  to form product stacks  81 . Once signature  42  is stacked upon signatures  44 ,  46 ,  48 , a product stack  81  is formed. Product stack  81  is delivered by conveyor  60  for finishing operations. An in-line binder may be provided downstream of deceleration assembly  62 . Product stack  81 , in this embodiment, is a sixty-four page book because four ribbons  14  were longitudinally folded, cut into four signatures  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  and signatures  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48  were stacked on top of one another. In alternative embodiments web  12  may be cut into a different number of ribbons and/or two or more webs can be provided to vary the number of pages in a final product produced by the present invention. 
     Hoppers  85 ,  86 ,  87 ,  88  may be provided before each deceleration assembly  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68 , respectively, to add inserts to signatures  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48 , respectively. 
       FIG. 6  shows an enlarged view of deceleration assembly  62  shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4  operating in collating delivery mode and delivering signature  42  to form product stacks  81 . Deceleration assembly  62  includes center body  53 , arms  63  and grippers  73 . Arms  63  are connected to  53  center body  53  by connectors  55 . Grippers  73  engage signatures  42  and deliver signatures  42  to conveyor  60 , which is traveling in direction B. As deceleration assembly  62  is rotated about an axis of center body  53 , arms  73  pass by conveyor  60  and grippers  73  release signatures  42  on top of partial product stack  80 . 
     Each partial product stack  80  includes signature  48  resting on conveyor  60 , signature  46  stacked upon signature  48  and signature  44  stacked upon signature  46 . Once signature  42  is stacked upon signature  44 , product stack  81  is formed. Deceleration assemblies  64 ,  66 ,  68  are configured similar to deceleration assembly  62  and transport signatures in a manner similar to how deceleration assembly  62  transports signatures  42 . 
       FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of web-conversion apparatus  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 to 4  configured to run for both straight delivery and collating delivery simultaneously. Delivery sections  76 ,  78  are slid under deceleration assemblies  66 ,  68  in position for straight delivery of signatures  136 ,  138 . Delivery sections  72 ,  74  are slid away from deceleration assemblies  62 ,  64  so that a collating conveyor  160  can be included in web-conversion apparatus  10  for collating delivery of signatures  132 ,  134 . Collating conveyor  160  may be a second conveyor snapped into place below deceleration assemblies  63 ,  64 . In an alternative embodiment, collating conveyor  60  ( FIGS. 3 ,  4 ) may be caused to partially ascend from base  150  so that collating conveyor  60  may receive signatures  132 ,  134 , but does not receive signatures  136 ,  138  and does not interfere with the operation of delivery sections  72 ,  74 . 
     Ribbons  14 , guided and offset by web guiding assembly  114  and longitudinally folded by former section  28 , are cut by cutting assembly  30  into successive signatures  132 ,  134 ,  136 ,  138 . Signatures  132 ,  134  are the same length, while signatures  136 ,  138  may be different lengths. Signatures  132 ,  134 ,  136 ,  138  may also all be the same length, for example 11 inches. Cutting assembly  30  is phased and configured according the desired lengths of signatures  132 ,  134 ,  136 ,  138 . Signatures  132 ,  134 ,  136 ,  138  are transported away from cutting assembly  30  by transport conveyor  40 . 
     Diverter assembly  52  ( FIG. 1 ) removes signatures  132  from conveyor  40  and transports signatures  132  to a first deceleration assembly  62 . Signatures  134  are transported by conveyor  40  past first diverter assembly  52  ( FIG. 1 ) and to a second diverter assembly  54  ( FIG. 1 ), which removes signatures  134  from conveyor  40  and transports signatures  134  to a second deceleration assembly  64 . 
     Second deceleration assembly  64 , receives each signature  132  one-by-one and passes signatures  132  to a collating conveyor  160 . Collating conveyor  160  is traveling in the second horizontal plane below the horizontal plane of conveyor  40 . Collating conveyor  160 , in this embodiment, is traveling below deceleration assemblies  62 ,  64 , in a horizontal direction that is opposite the horizontal direction that conveyor  40  transports signatures  132 ,  134 ,  136 ,  138 , and is tangential to the paths of rotation of deceleration assemblies  62 ,  64 . First deceleration assembly  62 , operating in a manner similar to second deceleration assembly  64 , receives signatures  132  and places one signature  132  on top of each signature  134  transported by conveyor  160 . 
     Signatures  136 ,  138  are transported by conveyor  40  past diverter assemblies  52 ,  54  ( FIG. 1 ). A third diverter assembly  56  ( FIG. 1 ) removes signatures  136  from conveyor  40  and transports signatures  136  to third deceleration assembly  66 . Third deceleration assembly  66 , rotating about a third axis, grips signatures  136  and delivers signatures  136  to third delivery section  76 . Third delivery section  76 , carries signatures  136  away from deceleration assembly  66  for finishing operations. 
     Signatures  138  are transported by conveyor  40  past third diverter assembly  56  ( FIG. 1 ). A fourth diverter assembly  58  ( FIG. 1 ) removes signatures  138  from conveyor  40  and transports signatures  138  to fourth deceleration assembly  68 . Fourth deceleration assembly  68 , grips signatures  138  and delivers signatures  138  to fourth delivery section  78 . Fourth delivery section  78 , carries signatures  138  away from deceleration assembly  68  for finishing operations. 
     The number of deceleration assemblies may be varied so that a number of different embodiments of the present invention are possible. For example, a web conversion apparatus including six deceleration assemblies may have all six deceleration assemblies involved in straight delivery of six signatures or collating delivery of one product stack. Also, for example, two deceleration assemblies may be involved in collating delivery of one product stack, two deceleration assemblies may be involved in collating delivery of another product stack and two deceleration assemblies may be involved in straight delivery of respective signatures. 
     A number of mechanisms may be utilized to move the delivery sections/conveyors in and out of delivery position. For example, fully manual reconfigurations may be employed with operators disassembling the delivery sections/conveyors and moving components from position to position. Also, for example, various degrees of automation are possible. The delivery sections/conveyors could be fully automated whereas the delivery sections/conveyors could be reconfigured at the push of a button, or in response to control system commands. 
     In the preceding specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments and examples thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative manner rather than a restrictive sense.