Folding apparatus of an offset web-fed printing press and offset web-fed printing press

A folding apparatus of an offset web-fed printing press, comprising:

• a first transport means formed as a first belt conveyor system for a web-shaped printing material,
• wherein the first transport means is configured such that one or more first belts thereof are driven at a speed that corresponds to a speed of the web-shaped printing material;
• a first cutting means arranged in a region of the first transport means, wherein the first cutting means is configured to sever the web-shaped printing material in a format-variable manner in one or more sections of the first transport means that are not covered by the one or more first belts of the first transport means;
• a second transport means arranged downstream from the first transport means and formed as a second belt conveyor system, wherein the second transport means is configured such that one or more second belts thereof are offset relative to the one or more first belts of the first transport means transversely to a transport direction of the web-shaped printing material, wherein the second transport means is configured such that the one or more second belts thereof are driven at a speed that is larger than the speed of the one or more first belts of the first transport means;
• a second cutting means arranged in a region of the second transport means, wherein the second cutting means is configured such that to separate a plurality of signatures from the web-shaped printing material the second cutting means severs the web-shaped printing material in a format-variable manner in the one or more sections of the first transport means that are covered by the one or more first belts of the first transport means;
• and
• a signature accelerator for accelerating the plurality of signatures starting at the speed of the one or more first belts of the first transport means to the speed of the one or more second belts of the second transport means.