Folder with multiple-motor drive

A folder comprising:

• cutting cylinders for cutting a web of material into signatures,
• a first cylinder having at least one first gripper for holding the signatures at a lead edge and at least one tucker for tucking the signatures to define a first fold;
• a second cylinder having at least one first jaw for holding the signatures at the first fold and at least one second jaw for holding the signatures at a second fold;
• a third cylinder having at least one second gripper for holding the signatures at the first fold and at least one second tucker for forming the second fold;
• a first motor driving the cutting cylinders and the at least one first gripper;
• a second motor independent from the first motor, the second motor driving the at least one tucker of the first cylinder, the at least one first jaw of the second cylinder, and the at least one second gripper of the third cylinder;
• and
• a third motor independent from the first and second motors, the third motor driving the at the one second jaw of the second cylinder and the at least one second tucker of the third cylinder.

A method for cutting and folding printed products comprising the steps of:

• driving with a first motor a first loop for cutting a signature and transferring the signature to a first gripper with a first motor;
• driving with a second motor a second loop for tucking the signature into a first jaw and transferring the signature to a second gripper;
• and
• driving with a third motor a third loop for tucking the signature into a second jaw.

A folder comprising:

• a first cylinder having a first functional device and a second functional device;
• a second cylinder having a third functional device dependent on the second functional device;
• a first motor driving the first functional device;
• and
• a second independent motor driving the second and third functional devices.