Folding device of a printing press and method for operating the folding device

Abstract

A folding device of a printing press and a method for operating the folding device is disclosed. A folding element is activatable via control elements, where the control elements control a movement of the folding element. The movement of the folding element is controllable in a variable section-based sequence or a variable product-based sequence or a variable time-based sequence.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A folding device of a printing press, comprising:
 a folding element, wherein the folding element is activatable via control elements, wherein the control elements control a movement of the folding element, and wherein the movement of the folding element is controllable in a variable section-based sequence or a variable product-based sequence or a variable time-based sequence.   
     
     
         2 . The folding device according to  claim 1 , wherein a time-based distance of folding operations performed via the movement of the folding element is variably controllable. 
     
     
         3 . The folding device according to  claim 1 , wherein a lifting movement of the folding element is variably controllable during a folding operation. 
     
     
         4 . The folding device according to  claim 3 , wherein the lifting movement of the folding element during the folding operation is adjustable in steps or continuously. 
     
     
         5 . The folding device according to  claim 1 , wherein the control elements include a mechanical control element. 
     
     
         6 . The folding device according to  claim 1 , wherein the control elements include a control cam and a cams collect. 
     
     
         7 . The folding device according to  claim 5 , wherein the control elements include a pneumatic or an electro-pneumatic or an electrical or an electro-mechanical control element. 
     
     
         8 . The folding device according to  claim 7 , wherein the pneumatic or the electro-pneumatic or the electrical or the electro-mechanical control element interacts with the mechanical control element such that when the pneumatic or the electro-pneumatic or the electrical or the electro-mechanical control element is in an inactive state the pneumatic or the electro-pneumatic or the electrical or the electro-mechanical control element permits an activation of the folding element via the mechanical control element, and such that when the pneumatic or the electro-pneumatic or the electrical or the electro-mechanical control element is in an active state the pneumatic or the electro-pneumatic or the electrical or the electro-mechanical control element prevents an activation of the folding element via the mechanical control element. 
     
     
         9 . The folding device according to  claim 1 , wherein the folding element is a folding knife or a folding jaw. 
     
     
         10 . The folding device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a holding element, wherein the holding, element is activatable via control elements, wherein the control elements control a movement of the holding element, and wherein the movement of the holding element is controllable in a variable section-based sequence or a variable product-based sequence or a variable time-based sequence. 
     
     
         11 . The folding device according to  claim 10 , wherein the holding element is a pin or a gripper. 
     
     
         12 . The folding device according to  claim 1 , wherein the folding device is a cylinder folding device for forming transverse folds. 
     
     
         13 . The folding device according to  claim 1 , wherein the folding device is a folding device for forming longitudinal folds. 
     
     
         14 . A method for operating a folding device of a printing press, comprising the step of:
 controlling a movement of a folding element via control elements in a variable section-based sequence or a variable product-based sequence or a variable time-based sequence.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , further comprising the step of controlling a movement of a holding element via control elements in a variable section-based sequence or a variable product-based sequence or a variable time-based sequence.