Device and method for driving cam masks in a folder

1 . A folder comprising:

a collect cylinder mounted for rotation;

a collect cylinder drive mechanism for rotating the collect cylinder;

the collect cylinder including at least one gripper;

a gripper actuator connected to the gripper, the gripper actuator including a cam follower arrangement;

a fixed cam having a surface profile for engagement with the cam follower arrangement to cause actuation of the gripper;

a rotating cam mask mounted for rotation relative to the fixed cam to selectively mask the surface profile of the fixed mask for actuation of the gripper in a preselected mode; and

a cam mask drive mechanism mechanically independent of the collect cylinder drive mechanism for rotating the rotating cam mask in a controlled rotation to selectively mask the surface profile.

2 . The folder as recited in claim 1 wherein the independent cam mask drive mechanism comprises an electric motor.

3 . The folder as recited in claim 2 wherein the electric motor includes an encoder for determining an angular position of the motor.

4 . The folder as recited in claim 3 further comprising a controller receiving an input from the encoder.

5 . The folder as recited in claim 4 wherein the preselected mode is one of a straight delivery, two collect delivery or three collect delivery mode.

6 . The folder as recited in claim 5 wherein the controller controls the motor to rotate the rotating cam mask for proper collect mode phasing with the fixed cam.

7 . A method for operating a folder having a collect and transfer cylinder including a collect cylinder mounted for rotation, the collect cylinder including at least one gripper, a gripper actuator connected to the gripper, the gripper actuator including a cam follower arrangement, a fixed cam having a surface profile for engagement with the cam follower arrangement to cause actuation of the gripper, and a rotating cam mask mounted for rotation relative to the fixed cam to selectively mask the surface profile of the fixed mask for actuation of the gripper in a preselected mode, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a collect cylinder drive mechanism for rotating the collect cylinder;

providing a cam mask drive mechanism for rotating the rotating cam mask in a controlled rotation to selectively mask the surface profile; and

electronically controlling the cam mask drive mechanism as a function of the speed of the collect cylinder drive mechanism.

8 . The method of claim 7 comprising the further step of operating the cam mask drive mechanism to be in one of a straight delivery, two collect delivery or three collect delivery mode.

9 . The method of claim 7 comprising the further step of operating the cam mask drive mechanism to rotate the rotating cam mask for proper collect mode phasing with the fixed cam.

10 . A folder comprising:

a rotating cylinder having a selectively actuatable printed product contacting device for contacting a printed material on the cylinder;

a cam follower arrangement connected to the printed product contacting device; a fixed cam having a surface profile in engagement with the cam follower arrangement to cause actuation of the printed product contacting device;

a rotating cam mask mounted for rotation relative to the fixed cam to selectively mask the surface profile of the fixed mask for actuation of the printed product contacting device in a preselected mode; and

a cam mask drive mechanism independent mechanically from the rotating cylinder for rotating the rotating cam mask in a controlled rotation to selectively mask the surface profile.

11 . A method for driving a cam mask in a folder comprising:

driving the cam mask using an angle-controlled motor mechanically independent from a drive of the folder.

12 . The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising turning off the angle-controlled motor during at least one preselected mode, the cam mask being stopped during the preselected mode.