Ribbon transport apparatus and method

1. A folder for a printing press, the folder folding and cutting a plurality of ribbons slit from a web, the folder comprising:

the web traveling along a path, the web being slit by a slitter into the plurality of ribbons;

a ribbon transport apparatus including a vacuum conveyor belt arranged in a vertical alignment on one edge of the vacuum conveyor belt transporting at least one of the plurality of ribbons in a vertical alignment on one edge of the at least one ribbon and a manifold supporting the vacuum conveyor belt, the vacuum conveyor belt and the manifold arranged to draw the at least one ribbon towards the vacuum conveyor belt via a suction;

a former roll for receiving the at least one ribbon downstream of the ribbon transport apparatus; and

a former receiving the at least one ribbon from the former roll, the former longitudinally folding the ribbon.

2. The folder as recited in claim 1 wherein the ribbon transport apparatus further includes a lead roll for guiding the vacuum conveyor belt as the vacuum conveyor belt transports the at least one ribbon past the lead roll, the lead roll supporting the at least one ribbon as the at least one ribbon is transported past the lead roll.

3. The folder as recited in claim 2 wherein the lead roll includes an undercut supporting the vacuum conveyor belt on the lead roll.

4. The folder as recited in claim 3 wherein the manifold wraps around a back side of the lead roll and the vacuum conveyor wraps around a front side of the lead roll in the undercut.

5. The folder as recited in claim 4 wherein the lead roll is configured so that a suction created inside of the lead roll draws the at least one ribbon to an outer surface of the lead roll.

6. The folder as recited in claim 2 wherein the ribbon transport apparatus further includes a second lead roll guiding the vacuum conveyor belt downstream from the lead roll, the lead roll and the second lead roll including holes in outer surfaces thereof, a suction being created in the lead roll and the second lead to adhere the at least one ribbon to the outer surfaces thereof.

7. The folder as recited in claim 6 wherein the manifold extends from upstream of the lead roll to downstream of the second lead roll such that a first portion of the manifold is upstream of the lead roll, a second portion of the manifold is downstream of the lead roll and upstream of the second lead roll and a third portion of the manifold is downstream of the second lead roll.

8. The folder as recited in claim 7 wherein the second portion of the manifold is angled with respect to the first portion of the manifold along a path of the at least one ribbon and the third portion of the manifold is angled with respect to the second portion of the manifold along the path of the at least one ribbon such that the vacuum conveyor belt transports the at least one ribbon in three different directions.

9. The folder as recited in claim 6 wherein the ribbon transport apparatus further includes a pull roll downstream of the second lead roll, the vacuum conveyor belt forming a continuous loop around the lead roll, the second lead roll and the pull roll such that the vacuum conveyor belt transports the at least one ribbon in the vertical alignment on one edge from upstream of the lead roll to the former roll.

10. The folder as recited in claim 1 wherein the ribbon transport apparatus further includes a pump drawing air into the manifold to create the suction.

11. The folder as recited in claim 10 wherein the conveyor belt includes holes that the pump draws air through.

12. The folder as recited in claim 1 wherein the ribbon transport apparatus further includes a plurality of rolls transporting the vacuum conveyor belt, the vacuum conveyor belt forming a continuous loop and being wrapped around the rollers.

13. The folder as recited in claim 12 wherein the ribbon transport apparatus further includes return rolls outside of the continuous loop guiding the vacuum conveyor belt.

14. The folder as recited in claim 12 wherein the ribbon transport apparatus further includes:

a second vacuum conveyor belt transporting a second ribbon, the second ribbon being from the plurality of ribbons;

a second manifold supporting the second conveyor belt;

a plurality of second rolls transporting the second vacuum conveyor belt; and

the former roll draws together the at least one ribbon and the second ribbon to form a ribbon bundle.

15. The folder as recited in claim 14 wherein the former receives the ribbon bundle from the former roll and longitudinally folds the ribbon bundle.

16. The folder as recited in claim 1 wherein an outer surface of the conveyor is aligned in a vertical direction.

17. A method of forming and transporting at least one of a plurality of ribbons in a printing press comprising the steps of:

slitting a web into the plurality of ribbons;

pulling air through holes of a vacuum conveyor belt to draw the at least one of the plurality of ribbons to a surface of the vacuum conveyor belt;

translating the vacuum conveyor belt arranged in a vertical alignment on one edge of the vacuum conveyor belt to transport the at least one ribbon in a vertical alignment on one edge of the at least one ribbon;

gathering the at least one ribbon from the vacuum conveyor at a former roll; and

folding the at least one ribbon with a former.

18. The method as recited in claim 17 wherein the vacuum conveyor belt is translated by a lead roll, the vacuum conveyor belt being oriented in an undercut of the lead roll.

19. The method as recited in claim 17 further comprising the step of guiding the vacuum conveyor belt via a manifold, the manifold and the vacuum conveyor belt being in sealing contact.

20. The method as recited in claim 17 further comprising the step of transporting the at least one ribbon to a former using the former roll.

21. The method as recited in claim 17 further comprising the steps of:

pulling air through holes of a second vacuum conveyor belt to draw a second ribbon to a surface of the second vacuum conveyor belt, the second ribbon being from the plurality of ribbons;

translating the second vacuum conveyor belt to transport the second ribbon; and

drawing the at least one ribbon and the second ribbon together to form a ribbon bundle at the former roll.