Patent ID: 7172547

Claim:
A variable-circumference folder having a crosscutting device for receiving a web stream and producing cut products, a gathering cylinder fitted with holding elements and folding blades, an accelerating device receiving the products from said crosscutting device and feeding the products to said gathering cylinder, wherein said accelerating device comprises clamping means for gripping the products, said clamping means being arranged at a product length distance from the crosscutting device which corresponds to the shortest product length of the products, wherein said holding elements of said gathering cylinder comprise non-adjustable pin systems, each of said pin systems being arranged and dimensioned for gathering and holding a set of the products by pinning a plurality of products onto said each of said pin systems, and a crossfold cylinder arranged downstream of said gathering cylinder having a gripper system, said crossfold cylinder being arranged and dimensioned for receiving said gathered set of the products in said gripper system and folding said gathered set of the products.