FOLDING MACHINE OF ROTARY PRINTER

PURPOSE:To facilitate the change between a non-collect folding and a collect folding by providing a clutch means between a transmission means for transmitting a turning force to a cam for operating a thrust edge which is rotatably supported by a thrust barrel and said cam. CONSTITUTION:In the case of a non-collect folding, a clutch 19 is placed in the middle position of clutches 17 and 18 by means of a lever 22 and, after a handle 26 is fitted to a shaft 13 and rotated to position a cam 10 in a defined phase, the clutch 19 is engaged with the clutch 18 to operate a folding machine. Thereupon, due to the rotation of a thrust barrel 2, a cam roller 7 rotates a lever 5 in the eccentric zone of the cam 10, projecting out a thrust edge 6 to thrust a sheet of printing paper 36 into a catch barrel 33, and the sheet of printing paper 36 which is delivered to the catch barrel 33 side is doubly folded, forming three parts of signature 37 by one rotation of the thrust barrel 2. In the case of a collect folding, on the other hand, as the clutch 19 is engaged with the clutch 17 operating the folding machine, the cam 10 is rotated at the same speed as that of the catch barrel 33 through the rotation of the thrust barrel 2. Thus, the change between a non-collect folding and a collect folding can be easily carried out.