EP4282657A1 - Folding apparatus of an offset web-fed printing press and offset web-fed printing press - Google Patents

Abstract

Folding apparatus (10) of an offset web printing machine, with a first transport device (11), designed as a belt guide system, for a web-shaped printing material, which is set up in such a way that belts (13) of the same can be driven at a speed which corresponds to the speed of the printing material a first cutting device (15) arranged in the area of the first transport device (11), which is set up in such a way that it cuts through the printing material in a format-variable manner in those sections that are not covered by the belts (13) of the first transport device, with one downstream of the first Transport device (11) arranged second transport device (18), designed as a belt guide system, the belts (19) of which are offset transversely to the transport direction of the printing material to the belts (13) of the first transport device (11), which is set up in such a way that belts (19) the same can be driven at a speed that is greater than the speed of the belts (13) of the first transport device, with a second cutting device (21) arranged in the area of the second transport device (18), which is set up in such a way that it is used to separate signatures the printing material is cut in a format-variable manner in sections which are covered by the belts (13) of the first transport device (11), with a signature accelerator (30) in order to obtain the signatures separated from the web-shaped printing material, based on the speed of the belts of the first transport device (11). to accelerate to the speed of the belts of the second transport device (18).

Description

The invention relates to a folder of an offset web printing press. The invention further relates to an offset web printing machine.

Offset printing units of an offset web printing machine are used to print a web-shaped substrate with a fixed print format. The cylinders of an offset printing unit of an offset web printing machine are designed for a fixed print format. If a printing material is to be printed with a different printing format on an offset web printing machine, different offset printing units with different printing formats must be kept ready for this purpose. When executing a print job with a defined print format, only offset printing units that have the same print format are used for printing. After completing a print job with a defined print format, the offset printing units used for printing can then be changed to execute a new print job with a new print format.

To form printed products, an offset web printing machine has a folding device. The basic structure of a folder of an offset web printing press is known from practice. A folder of an offset web printing press has at least one cutting device in order to separate individual signatures from a printed, web-shaped printing material. Before the signatures are separated, a longitudinal fold can be formed on the still web-shaped printing material in the area of a folding former. Alternatively and additionally, a transverse fold can be carried out on separated signatures in the area of a transverse folding device and/or a longitudinal fold can be carried out in the area of a longitudinal folding device.

In practice, the folder of an offset web printing machine is adapted to the format of the offset printing units. If an offset web printing press has offset printing units with different print formats, the offset web printing press also has several folding devices in order to further process the print formats printed with the different offset printing units into printed products in the area of a respective folding unit.

A distinction must be made between offset web printing machines and digital web printing machines. In digital web printing machines, printing is not done with fixed printing forms and therefore fixed printing formats, but rather without printing forms and variable printing formats. Folders of digital web printing machines are known from the prior art, which provide format variability on a digital web printing machine to a certain extent.

DE 10 2012 103 729 A1 discloses a folding apparatus of a digital web printing machine with a cutting device through which signatures can be separated from a printed substrate. A longitudinal folding device is arranged upstream of the cutting device. Signatures separated from the web-shaped printing material in the area of the cutting device are accelerated to the peripheral speed of a collecting cylinder using an acceleration direction. In the area of a folding jaw cylinder, transverse folds can be carried out on the separated signatures and in the area of a further longitudinal folding device, longitudinal folds can be carried out. In the area of the cutting device, signatures can be separated from the printed substrate in variable formats, i.e. with different section lengths.

EP 1 209 000 B1 discloses a method for producing newspapers on a digital printing press with two folding stations and two collecting stations.

There is a need for a format-variable folder of an offset web printing press.

Proceeding from this, the present invention is based on the object of creating a format-variable folding apparatus for an offset web printing press. Furthermore, the invention is based on the object of creating an offset web printing machine with such a folder.

The task is achieved by a folder of an offset web printing machine according to claim 1.

The folding apparatus according to the invention of an offset web printing press has a first transport device designed as a tape guide system for a web-shaped printing material. The first transport device is set up in such a way that its belts can be driven at a speed that corresponds to the speed of the web-shaped printing material.

The folding apparatus according to the invention of an offset web printing press also has a first cutting device arranged in the area of the first transport device. The first cutting device is set up in such a way that it cuts the web-shaped printing material in a format-variable manner in those sections that are not covered by the belts of the first transport device.

The folding apparatus according to the invention of an offset web printing press further has a second transport device arranged downstream of the first transport device and designed as a belt guide system, the belts of which are offset transversely to the transport direction of the printing material to the belts of the first transport device, the second transport device being set up in such a way that belts of the same can be driven at a speed that is greater than the speed of the belts of the first transport device.

The folding apparatus according to the invention of an offset web printing machine further has a second cutting device arranged in the area of the second transport device, the second cutting device being set up in such a way that, in order to separate signatures, it cuts through the web-shaped printing material in a format-variable manner in those sections which are cut by the belts of the first transport device are covered.

The folding apparatus according to the invention of an offset web printing press also has a signature accelerator in order to accelerate the signatures separated from the web-shaped printing material from the speed of the belts of the first transport device to the speed of the belts of the second transport device.

The folding apparatus according to the invention of an offset web printing press has the first transport device and the second transport device, which are each designed as tape guide systems. The belts of the second belt guiding system are offset from the belts of the first belt guiding system when viewed transversely to the transport direction of the web-shaped printing material.

The first cutting device is arranged in the area of the first transport device and the second cutting device is arranged in the area of the second transport device. The two cutting devices jointly cut through the printing material transversely to the transport direction over its entire width in a variable format, namely the first cutting device in those areas that are not covered by the belts of the first transport device, and the second cutting device in those areas that are covered by the belts of the second transport device are not covered, but by the belts of the first transport device.

The belts of the second transport device have a higher speed than the belts of the first transport device. In the area of the first transport device, the speed of the belts corresponds to the speed of the web-shaped printing material. In the area of the second transport device, the signature accelerator accelerates signatures separated from the web-shaped printing material to the speed of the belts of the second transport device. The speed of the web-shaped printing material upstream of the second cutting device is lower than the speed of the belts of the second transport device.

The folding device according to the invention of an offset web printing press allows a reliable, format-variable separation of signatures from the web-shaped printing material in the area of the first and second cutting devices, a reliable guidance of the printing material and the signatures in the area of the first and second transport devices and an acceleration of the signatures from the speed of the first transport device to the speed of the second transport device.

The folding apparatus according to the invention is used on an offset web printing machine which has at least two offset printing units that differ in terms of their printing format. The folding device according to the invention makes multiple folding devices, which are designed for different print formats on offset printing units, unnecessary.

To provide format variability, the first transport device is preferably set up in such a way that, with the same number of signatures to be processed per unit of time, the smaller or shorter the length of the signatures, the lower the speed of the belts of the first transport device.

To provide the format variability, the signature accelerator is preferably set up in such a way that the shorter the length of the signature accelerator, the more the signatures are accelerated from the speed of the belts of the first transport device to the speed of the belts of the second transport device signatures is. Furthermore, to provide format variability, a relative position of the signature accelerator to the second cutting device can be set to be variable in format in such a way that the shorter the length of the signatures, the smaller the distance of the signature accelerator to the second cutting device in the transport direction of the signatures.

The format variability can be provided particularly advantageously by the above features. The speed of the belts of the first transport device as well as the acceleration of the signatures by the signature accelerator and the distance of the signature accelerator from the second cutting device can be adjusted in a variable format.

Preferably, the first cutting device and the second cutting device are designed as cutting cylinders and can be driven in such a way that when the respective format-variable cut is carried out, a peripheral speed of the respective cutting cylinder corresponds to the speed of the web-shaped printing material, regardless of the length of the signatures. This can also ensure format variability is particularly advantageous.

Furthermore, this task is solved by an offset web printing machine according to claim 14.

Fig. 1:

eine Seitenansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines Falzapparats einer Offset-Rollendruckmaschine;

Fig. 2:

einen Ausschnitt aus dem Falzapparat der Fig. 1,

Fig. 3:

einen Ausschnitt aus dem Falzapparat der Fig. 1 in Blickrichtung III der Fig. 1, und

Fig. 4:

eine Seitenansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer Offset-Rollendruckmaschine.

Preferred developments of the invention result from the subclaims and the following description. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail using the drawing, without being limited to this. This shows:

Fig. 1:

a side view of an embodiment of a folding apparatus of an offset web printing press;

Fig. 2:

a section of the folder Fig. 1 ,

Fig. 3:

a section of the folder Fig. 1 in viewing direction III of the Fig. 1 , and

Fig. 4:

a side view of an embodiment of an offset web printing machine.

The invention relates to a folder of an offset web printing press.

Fig. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a folding device 10 of an offset web printing machine designed as a book folding device. As will be described below, signatures are separated from a printed web of printing material in the area of a book folder, collected to form signature stacks and longitudinal folds are formed on the signature stacks. Although the invention can be used particularly advantageously in a folding device designed as a book folding device, the invention is not limited to this application.

The folding device 10 designed as a book folding device Fig. 1 has a first transport device 11, which is designed as a first tape guidance system.

The first transport device 11, designed as a first tape guide system, serves to convey a web-shaped, printed printing material 12 in the area of the folder 10, the first transport device 11 being set up in such a way that belts 13 of the first transport device 11 can be driven at a speed that is the speed of the web-shaped Printing material corresponds. For this purpose, the first transport device 11 has a drive motor 14, which drives the belts 13 of the first transport device 11 in such a way that the speed of the same corresponds to the speed of the web-shaped printing material 12.

The folder 10 has a first cutting device 15, which is arranged in the area of the first transport device 11 designed as a first tape guide system. The first cutting device 15 is set up in such a way that it cuts the web-shaped printing material 12 in a format-variable manner in those areas that are not covered by the belts 13 of the first transport device 11.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the first cutting device 15 has a cutting cylinder 16 with cutting knives, which cooperates with a counter-cylinder 17. The cutting blades of the cutting cylinder 16 are interrupted at the positions at which the belts 13 of the first transport device 11 cover the web-shaped printing material.

The folder 10 has a second transport device 18 designed as a second tape guide system downstream of the first transport device 11. Belts 19 of the second transport device 18 are offset from the belts 13 of the first transport device 11, viewed transversely to the transport direction of the transport devices 11, 18, so that the belts 19 of the second transport device 18 release those sections of the printing material 12 which are in the area of the first transport device 11 from the Belts 13 of the first transport device 11 are covered. The belts 19 of the second transport device 18 can be driven by a drive motor 20 in such a way that they are driven at a speed that is greater than the speed of the belts 13 of the first transport device 11.

A second cutting device 21 is arranged in the area of the second transport device 18. The second cutting device 21 is set up so that, in order to separate signatures from the web-shaped printing material 12, it cuts the same in a format-variable manner in those areas which are covered by the belts 13 of the first transport device 11 in the area of the first transport device 11 and thus the first cutting device 15.

The second cutting device 21 cuts through the web-shaped printing material 12 in those areas where the web-shaped printing material 12 is not cut through in the area of the first cutting device 15.

In the area of the second cutting device 21, the variable-format partial cut of the first cutting device 15 is therefore completed in order to separate signatures from the web-shaped printing material in a variable-format manner.

The first cutting device 15 and the second cutting device 21 are synchronized in such a way that their format-variable cuts are aligned when viewed transversely to the transport direction of the printing material 12, i.e. resulting in a continuous cut across the width of the printing material.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the second cutting device 21 is also formed by a cutting cylinder 22 and a counter-cylinder 23 which interacts with the cutting cylinder 22. The cutting cylinder 22 of the second cutting device 21 carries cutting blades which are interrupted in the area of the belts 19 of the second transport device 18.

In Fig. 3 the counter-cylinders 17, 23 are arranged behind the cutting cylinders 16, 22, i.e. covered by them.

Fig. 3 shows drive motors 24, 25 for the two cutting cylinders 16, 22 of the two cutting devices 15, 21 in order to drive the cutting cylinders 16, 22. Such drive motors are also assigned to the counter-cylinders 17, 23 of the cutting devices 15, 21 in order to drive them. The drive motors are used to dynamically drive the cylinders 15, 22, 17, 23 in order to generate the format-variable section lengths.

As already stated, the speed of the belts 13 of the first transport device 11 corresponds to the speed of the web-shaped printing material. The speed of the belts 19 of the second transport device 18 is greater than the speed of the belts 13 of the first transport device 11, whereby in the exemplary embodiment shown, the speed of the belts 19 of the second transport device 18 corresponds to the peripheral speed of a signature collecting cylinder 26 arranged in the area of the second transport device 18.

In the area of the signature collecting cylinder 26, signatures separated from the web-shaped printing material 12 can be collected in variable formats to form signature stacks. These signature stacks are transferred to a signature cylinder 27 downstream of the signature collecting cylinder 26 and, starting from this signature cylinder 27, are conveyed via a transport device 28 in the direction of a longitudinal folding device 29 in order to form longitudinal folds on the signature stacks.

In order to accelerate signatures separated from the web-shaped printing material 12 to the speed of the belts 19 of the second transport device 18, the folder 10 further comprises a signature accelerator 30. The signature accelerator 30 is installed in the area of the second transport device 18, directly adjacent to the second cutting device 21, in the area where the signatures are separated from the web-shaped printing material 12. Upstream of the second cutting device 21, the signatures have not yet been completely separated from the web-shaped printing material 12.

The second cutting device 21, which is synchronized with the first cutting device 15 and serves to complete the separation of the signatures from the web-shaped printing material 12, is arranged immediately adjacent to a transfer area 31 between the first transport device 11 and the second transport device 18 in the area of the second transport device 18.

In this transfer area 31 between the first transport device 11 and the second transport device 18, there is a difference in speed between the speed of the printing material web 12 and the speed of the belts 19 of the second transport device 12.

The signature accelerator 30 accelerates the signatures, which are completely separated from the web-shaped printing material 12 in the area of the second cutting device 21, to the speed of the belts 19 of the second transport device 18.

The signature accelerator 30 is formed from a pair of acceleration rollers 32, of which in Fig. 3 only one is visible. Fig. 3 shows a drive motor 33 for the acceleration rollers 32.

To advantageously provide format variability, the first transport device 11 is set up in such a way that, with the same number of signatures to be processed per unit of time, the speed of the belts 13 of the first transport device 11 is lower, the shorter or smaller the length of the web-shaped printing material 12 in the area the cutting devices 15, 21 are signatures to be separated.

The signature accelerator 30 is set up to advantageously provide format variability in such a way that the shorter the length of the signatures, the more the signatures are accelerated from the speed of the belts 13 of the first transport device 11 to the speed of the belts 19 of the second transport device 18.

Furthermore, in order to advantageously provide format variability, the relative position of the signature accelerator 30 to the second cutting device 21 can be adjusted in a variable format.

The shorter the length of the separated signatures, the smaller the distance between the signature accelerator 30 and the second cutting device 21. The relative distance of the signature accelerator 30 from the second cutting device 21 can be adjusted via a linear drive 34. The linear drive 34 can move the signature accelerator 30, namely the accelerator rollers 32 of the same, in the direction of the transport direction of the signatures in order to adapt the distance of the signature accelerator 30 to the second cutting device 21 in a variable format in this direction.

As already stated, signatures separated from the web-shaped printing material 12 in the area of the second cutting device 21, which are accelerated to the peripheral speed of the signature collecting cylinder 26 using the signature accelerator 30, can be collected into signature stacks in the area of the signature collecting cylinder 26, in the exemplary embodiment Fig. 1 the signature collecting cylinder 26 is designed as a puncture needle collecting cylinder.

So points in Fig. 1 The signature collecting cylinder 26 distributes several puncture needles 35 over its circumference, with several signatures being able to be collected into a signature stack in the area of each of these puncture needles 35. The distance between the puncture needles 35 in the circumferential direction is based on the largest format of the signatures designed for the longest signatures. The distance between the puncture needles 35 in the circumferential direction corresponds at least to the section length of the longest signatures.

The peripheral speed of the signature collecting cylinder 26 relative to the speed of the printing material web 12 is greater, the shorter the length of the variable-format separated signatures.

The signature collecting cylinder 26, designed as a puncture needle collecting cylinder, works Fig. 1 , 2 a cylinder 37 together, which presses the signatures onto the puncture needles 35 for threading. The cylinder 37 therefore provides a threading aid for the signatures on the puncture needles 35 of the signature collecting cylinder 26. This cylinder 37 preferably has rails made of plastic, which tension the signatures when collecting the signatures on the signature collection cylinder 26, so that the puncture needles 35 can needle them securely.

In contrast to the exemplary embodiment shown, it is also possible for the signature collecting cylinder 26 to be designed as a gripper collecting cylinder. In this case, the cylinder 37, which serves as a threading aid, can then be dispensed with.

In Fig. 1 , 2 A sensor 36 is also shown, with the help of which the front edge of a signature separated from the web-shaped printing material 12 can be detected. This sensor 36 can be used in conjunction with the signature accelerator 30 to ensure that a front edge of each signature has the signature collecting cylinder 26 in the correct position relative to its collecting devices Fig. 1 to its puncture needles 35, so that clean signature stacks can be formed in variable formats.

As already stated, in the exemplary embodiment shown, the folding apparatus 10 is designed as a book folding apparatus, in which only a longitudinal fold is formed on the separated signatures in the area of the longitudinal folding device 29. It is possible for a further longitudinal folding device to be arranged upstream of the first transport device 11 and the first cutting device 15 in order to form a longitudinal fold on the printing material that has not yet been severed. It is also possible for the signature collection cylinder 26 not only to collect signatures, but also to form transverse folds on them.

As already stated above, the cutting cylinders 16, 22 of the cutting devices 15, 21 and the counter-cylinders 17, 23 can be driven by drives 24, 25. This is done with the help of the drive motors 24, 25 in such a way that when the respective cut is carried out, a peripheral speed of the respective cutting cylinder 16, 22 or a peripheral speed of the cutting blades of the respective cutting cylinder 16, 22 corresponds to the speed of the web-shaped printing material in the area of the respective cutting device 15, 21 . In this way, the respective cuts can be carried out particularly advantageously.

As already stated, the two cutting devices 15, 21 are synchronized in such a way that the cuts made by them in a variable format are aligned transversely to the transport direction of the printing material 12, i.e. they complement each other, so that the cuts in the area of the two cutting devices 15, 21 complete signatures separate from the web-shaped printing material 12. The drive motors 24, 25 of the cutting cylinders 16, 22 and the counter cylinder are highly dynamic motors in order to accelerate and decelerate the cylinders of the cutting devices 15, 21 according to the desired format of the signatures. The drive motors of the cutting cylinders and the counter cylinders of the cutting devices 15, 21 are preferably controlled via an electronic cam control, which is stored in a control unit, not shown. The folding device 10 is adapted to a new format between two different print jobs with a different format. During a print job, the format is fixed, unchanged or constant.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic side view of an offset web printing machine 40 according to the invention, which shows the folder 10 according to the invention Fig. 1 having. The printing material web 12, from which signatures are separated in the area of the folder 10, is kept ready on a roll changer 41 and printed in at least one offset printing unit 42, 43, 44, 45.

The offset web printing machine 40 of the exemplary embodiment Fig. 4 has four offset printing units 42, 43, 44 and 45, with these printing units 42 to 45 each differing in their printing format. The offset web printing machine 40 has cylinders in the area of each of the printing units 42 to 45, namely forme cylinders 46 carrying printing plates and transfer cylinders 47 carrying transfer forms, which differ in terms of their diameter and thus in terms of their offset printing format. To print on a web of printing material 12 during a print job, only offset printing units with the same or identical, printing unit-fixed print format are active and therefore in a print-on position. That's how it is Fig. 4 the offset printing unit 44 is active and in its print-on position, while the printing units 42, 43 and 45, which differ in their print format from the print format of the printing unit 44, are inactive and therefore in a print-off position.

While printing a print job with a defined print format, at least one offset printing unit with a print format corresponding to the print format of the print job is always in its print-on position, while other offset printing units with a different print format assume their print-off position. If, after completing a print job with a defined print format, a new print job with a different print format is to be processed, then at least one different offset printing unit is used Offset printing machine 40 is used for printing and transferred to its print-on position, whereas the other offset printing units with a different print format assume their print-off position.

The folding apparatus 10 of the offset web printing machine 40 is, as explained above, adaptable to the print format to be printed between two print jobs, in that in particular the signature accelerator 30 is adjusted in its position relative to the second cutting device 21. The other format-variable features of the folder 10 have already been discussed in detail above.

The folder 10 is designed for the largest print format in the area of offset printing units. The changeover to smaller formats is carried out, as described above, by the format-variable cutting of the printing material web 12 in the area of the cutting devices 15, 21 and by the format-variable transport of the separated signatures, in particular via the signature accelerator 30.

Accordingly, if an offset web printing machine 40 has offset printing units 42, 43, 44, 45 of different print formats, the print formats that can be printed using the offset printing units 42, 43, 44, 45 can be further processed with one and the same folder 10, without the need several folders.

Reference symbol list

10

Folder

11

first transport facility

12

web-shaped printing material

13

tape

14

drive motor

15

first cutting device

16

cutting cylinder

17

Counter cylinder

18

second transport device

19

tape

20

drive motor

21

second cutting device

22

cutting cylinder

23

Counter cylinder

24

drive motor

25

drive motor

26

Signature collection cylinder

27

Signature cylinder

28

Transport facility

29

Longitudinal folding device

30

Signature Accelerator

31

Handover area

32

acceleration roller

33

drive motor

34

linear actuator

35

puncture needle

36

sensor

37

cylinder

40

Offset web printing machine

41

Roll changer

42

Offset printing unit

43

Offset printing unit

44

Offset printing unit

45

Offset printing unit

46

Form cylinder

47

Transfer cylinder

Claims (15)

Folding device (10) of an offset web printing machine, with a first transport device (11) designed as a tape guide system for a web-shaped printing material, wherein the first transport device (11) is set up in such a way that belts (13) thereof can be driven at a speed which corresponds to the speed of the web-shaped printing material, with a first cutting device (15) arranged in the area of the first transport device (11), wherein the first cutting device (15) is set up in such a way that it cuts the web-shaped printing material in a format-variable manner in those sections which are not covered by the belts (13) of the first transport device (11), with a second transport device (18) arranged downstream of the first transport device (11), designed as a belt guide system, the belts (19) of which are offset transversely to the transport direction of the printing material to the belts (13) of the first transport device (11),
wherein the second transport device (18) is set up in such a way that its belts (19) can be driven at a speed that is greater than the speed of the belts (13) of the first transport device (11), with a second cutting device (21) arranged in the area of the second transport device (18),
wherein the second cutting device (21) is set up in such a way that, in order to separate signatures, it cuts through the web-shaped printing material in a format-variable manner in those sections which are covered by the belts (13) of the first transport device (11), using a signature accelerator (30). to accelerate the signatures separated from the web-shaped printing material from the speed of the belts (13) of the first transport device (11) to the speed of the belts (19) of the second transport device (18). Folding apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by a longitudinal folding device (29) to form a longitudinal fold on the signatures. Folding apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by a signature collecting cylinder (26) arranged downstream of the second transport device (18), the belts (19) of the second transport device (18) being able to be driven in a format-variable manner at a speed which corresponds to a peripheral speed of the signature collecting cylinder. Folding machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the signature collecting cylinder (26) is set up to be variable in format such that the shorter the length of the signatures, the greater its peripheral speed. Folding apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first transport device (11) is set up to be variable in format such that, with the same number of signatures to be processed per unit of time, the speed of the belts of the first transport device is lower, the smaller or shorter they are Length of the signatures is. Folding machine according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the signature accelerator (30) is set up to be variable in format so that the signatures vary more from the speed of the belts of the first transport device (11) to the speed of the belts of the second transport device (18 ) accelerates the shorter the length of the signatures. Folding apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a relative position of the signature accelerator (30) to the second cutting device (21) is variable in format. Folding apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the shorter the length of the signatures, the smaller the distance between the signature accelerator (30) and the second cutting device (21) in the transport direction of the signatures. Folding machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the distance of the signature accelerator (30) to the second cutting device (21) can be adjusted via a linear drive (34). Folder according to one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that the signature collecting cylinder (26) is designed as a gripper collecting cylinder. Folding apparatus according to one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that the signature collecting cylinder (26) is designed as a puncturing needle collecting cylinder, and that a cylinder (37) cooperates with the puncturing needle collecting cylinder, which is set up to collect the signatures for threading onto puncturing needles (35) of the puncture needle collecting cylinder (26). Folding apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the first cutting device (15) and the second cutting device (21) are synchronized such that the cuts they make are aligned transversely to the transport direction of the printing material. Folding apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the first and second cutting devices (15, 21) have cutting cylinders and can be driven in such a way that when the respective cut is carried out, a peripheral speed of the respective cutting cylinder corresponds to the speed of the web-shaped printing material. Offset web printing machine (40), with a roll changer (41), which is set up to hold ready a web-shaped printing material (12) to be printed, with at least two offset printing units (42, 43, 44, 45), which differ in terms of their printing format, and which are set up to print the web-shaped printing material (12) held ready with a printing form fixed to the printing unit, depending on a print format of a print job,
wherein for printing on the web-shaped printing material (12), at least one offset printing unit (43) with the print format specified for the print job assumes a print-on position, while the or each other offset printing unit (42, 44, 45) with one of If the print format deviates from the print format specified in the print job, it assumes a print-off position, with a folding apparatus (10) according to one of claims 1 to 13, which separates and folds signatures from the web-shaped printing material (12) depending on the print format of the print job. Offset web printing machine (40) according to claim 14, characterized in that the folding apparatus (10) is a book folding apparatus.

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