Variable cutoff folding device and printer comprising variable cutoff folding device

A variable cutoff folding device, comprising:

• a folding cylinder for sequentially receiving an individual sheet conveyed from an upstream side;
• and
• a jaw cylinder for receiving the individual sheet from the folding cylinder and carrying the individual sheet to a downstream side,
• the folding cylinder comprising:
• a paper edge holding mechanism configured capable of holding a front edge portion in a conveying direction of the individual sheet and capable of changing a timing for releasing holding of the individual sheet based on a length in the conveying direction of the individual sheet;
• and
• a thrust blade mechanism configured capable of thrusting the individual sheet to an outer side in a radial direction of the folding cylinder and capable of changing a position in a circumferential direction in the folding cylinder based on the length in the conveying direction of the individual sheet,
• wherein the paper edge holding mechanism comprises:
• a drive cam that includes an endless cam surface on a circumferential surface thereof and is capable of angular displacement around an axial center of the folding cylinder, the endless cam surface being configured from a holding region and a releasing region, the holding region having a certain radius, and the releasing region having a radius which is smaller than that of the holding region;
• a drive cam drive mechanism that includes a drive source and a transmission mechanism, the transmission mechanism being configured to cause the drive cam to undergo angular displacement around the axial center of the folding cylinder by transmitting a rotational force of the drive source to the drive cam;
• a drive cam-dedicated cam follower provided to be movable along the endless cam surface of the drive cam;
• and
• a paper holding pin that is connected to the drive cam-dedicated cam follower, is configured such that, when the drive cam-dedicated cam follower moves along the holding region of the endless cam surface, a tip of the paper holding pin projects further to the outer side in the radial direction of the folding cylinder than the circumferential surface of the folding cylinder, and is configured such that, when the drive cam-dedicated cam follower moves along the releasing region of the endless cam surface, the tip of the paper holding pin retracts further to an inner side in the radial direction of the folding cylinder than the circumferential surface of the folding cylinder,
• wherein the thrust blade mechanism comprises:
• a drive cam that includes an endless cam surface on a circumferential surface thereof, the endless cam surface of the drive cam of the thrust blade mechanism being configured from a withdrawing region and an advancing region, the withdrawing region having a certain radius, and the advancing region having a radius which is smaller than that of the withdrawing region;
• a drive cam-dedicated cam follower provided to be movable along the endless cam surface of the drive cam of the thrust blade mechanism;
• and
• a thrust blade that is connected to the drive cam-dedicated cam follower of the thrust blade mechanism, is configured such that, when the drive cam-dedicated cam follower of the thrust blade mechanism moves along the withdrawing region of the endless cam surface, a tip of the thrust blade retracts further to the inner side in the radial direction of the folding cylinder than the circumferential surface of the folding cylinder, and is configured such that, when the drive cam-dedicated cam follower moves along the advancing region of the endless cam surface, the tip of the thrust blade projects further to the outer side in the radial direction of the folding cylinder than the circumferential surface of the folding cylinder,
• wherein the drive cam of the thrust blade mechanism is provided in a state of being incapable of rotation with respect to a frame of the variable cutoff folding device,
• wherein the drive cam-dedicated cam follower and the thrust blade of the thrust blade mechanism are configured capable of changing positions in a circumferential direction in the folding cylinder based on the length in the conveying direction of the individual sheet, and
• wherein the drive cam of the paper edge holding mechanism is configured capable of angular displacement around the axial center of the folding cylinder with respect to the drive cam of the thrust blade mechanism by the drive cam drive mechanism.