Q. What modifications are required to my folder to use the LQF ?

1. The parent folder must be modified to permit the LQF to take the
   signature from the jaw cylinder. Of course the extent of this modification depends on the design of the folder, but it is usually not extensive.
   For example, a Goss C-700 requires only the addition of a moveable guide.

2. An encoder must be added to the parent folder to sense its speed.

3. Location blocks should be added to the frame edges to aid in location
   during installation. This not strictly required but it is an excellent
   investment for future time savings.

4. There will probably also be a few other very minor modifications, but these are related to the plant and folder itself, after all no two folders are exactly alike.

Q. Can the LQF be left in place or must it be removed between quarter fold jobs?

Yes, it can be left in place and the jaw folded signatures delivered on an
optional conveyor below the LQF, or it can easily be removed. The change from parent jaw folder with an air cylinder and switching a guide position with a lever. It should take only a minute. Ultimately, this is a pressroom operation preference which will undoubtedly be based on many factors.

Q. What does it take to remove the LQF between jobs?

Disconnect the encoder cable, jam system cable and air line. Pick up the LQF with a fork lift, (it weighs about 3500 lbs.), and carry it away, 5 minutes tops.

Q. How long will it take to put the LQF in place and be ready to run ?

It will take about a shift to initially install the machine. After that it can be set in place with a fork lift and be ready to run in 15 minutes. It is a matter of driving it into self locating stops, setting it down, making the air and electrical connections, and fine tuning the fold position.

Q. What does the LQF use for jam sensing and protection ?

The LQF uses two photo eyes and an electronic counter to sense and monitor entering and exiting signatures. When it detects a difference between entering and exiting signature streams, it sends an
E-stop signal to the press and folder web severer. The LQF is reasonably insensitive to small jams and relies on the folder web severer to stop the incoming paper before large jams can build.

Q. How does the LQF create the spacing between the signatures ?

The LQF does not create the spacing between the signatures; the act of jaw folding does. When sheets are jaw folded the fold is made in the middle of the sheets by folding the leading half back over the trailing half. This results in a stream of folded signatures which are spaced apart by half the length of the unfolded sheets, or the length of the folded signature. The LQF simply folds in this existing space.

Q. Why can't the LQF pick up the signatures after the fan ?

The LQF takes the signatures from the jaw where they are precisely spaced apart, exactly parallel to each other and perfectly aligned. When signatures are slowed and delivered into a shingled stream, they loose their precise location. The spacing become uneven, some signatures are skewed, and the side to side alignment varies too greatly. If the LQF were to take the signatures after the fan, it would first have to reestablish the spacing, straightness and alignment. This is probably possible, but definitely complicated and expensive. In our opinion much more difficult to do than to make the minor changes to needed with the current approach.