Folding device comprising upstream or downstream blade shafts or comparable tool shafts

Abstract

In a device ( 10 ) for folding a paper web ( 28 ) comprising a pair of tool shafts ( 24, 26 ) carrying circular knives ( 70, 74 ) which pair is arranged upstream or downstream of its folding rollers ( 16, 18, 20, 22 ), the circular knives ( 70, 74 ) and/or the transport roller units ( 40, 50 ) can be rotatively driven for transporting the paper web at the same web running speed in the region of the tool shafts ( 24, 26 ) and in the region of the folding rollers such that the speed components of the circular knives ( 70, 74 ) in the web running direction are at least not lower, preferably higher than the web running speed of the paper web ( 28 ).

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A device for folding a paper web comprising
 lower and upper tool shafts arranged upstream or downstream of folding rollers, said lower tool shaft carrying at least one lower circular knife, and said upper tool shaft carrying at least one upper circular knife, wherein said lower and upper circular knives are arranged and can be rotatively driven for cutting such that at least a longitudinal cut can be produced in a running direction of said paper web in said paper web running through said upper and lower tool shafts, and   transport roller units for transporting said paper web through and between said upper and lower tool shafts and towards said folding rollers and/or away from said folding rollers and towards said upper and lower tool shafts and through and between them,   wherein   said circular knives are rotatively driven such that speed components of said circular knives in said web running direction are higher than said web running speed of said paper web,   rotational drives for at least one of said upper and lower tool shaft and for at least one of said folding rollers folding roller are such that web running speeds of said paper web through between said upper and lower tool shafts and through between said folding rollers are equally high,   at least one upper circular knife is supported in a freely rotatable manner on said upper tool shaft,   at least one lower circular knife cooperating with said at least one upper circular knife for cutting is supported in a freely rotatable manner on said lower tool shaft, and   the upper and lower circular knives are rotatively driven at a higher speed with respect to said tool shafts, so that each circular knife has a higher rotational speed as compared to that of said tool shafts on which it is placed.   
     
     
         19 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein a transmission is provided between at least one rotatively driven tool shaft and at least one circular of said circular knives. 
     
     
         20 . The device according to  claim 18  wherein a transmission between at least one of said circular knives and a rotatively driven auxiliary shaft is provided. 
     
     
         21 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein circular knives cooperating for cutting are pressed together in an axial direction. 
     
     
         22 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein
 at least one transport roller unit is arranged fixedly against rotation on one of said tool shafts, and   at least one transport roller unit is supported in a freely rotatable manner
 or in a fixed manner on another of said tool shafts. 
   
     
     
         23 . The device according to  claim 21 , wherein an elastic element presses in said axial direction against one of said circular knives such that said one of said circular knives abuts with frictional engagement against another of said circular knives cooperating with said one of said circular knives for cutting. 
     
     
         24 . The device according to  claim 23 , wherein said elastic element is an elastically deformable ring, such as, in particular, a rubber ring or a steel spring. 
     
     
         25 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein a cutting rim of at least one of said circular knives has a hollow grinding. 
     
     
         26 . The device according to  claim 18 , wherein rotational speeds of the circular knives are about 20% higher than said web running speed of said paper web.