Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ink rail assembly having a key sharing provision. The ink rail assembly includes a page pack having an ink inlet for receiving ink from an ink source and an ink outlet; and an ink rail fluidly coupled to the page pack ink outlet. The ink rail includes at least two ink keys for delivering ink to a drum of a printing press, and a diverter assembly in fluid communication with the at least two ink keys and to the page pack to control the flow of ink from the page pack and selective divert the flow of ink between the at least two ink keys.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an ink rail assembly having a key sharing provision. The ink rail assembly includes a page pack having an ink inlet for receiving ink from an ink source and an ink outlet; and an ink rail fluidly coupled to the page pack ink outlet. The ink rail includes at least two ink keys for delivering ink to a drum of a printing press, and a diverter assembly in fluid communication with the at least two ink keys and to the page pack to control the flow of ink from the page pack and selective divert the flow of ink between the at least two ink keys.

Abstract: A printing press having inboard cantilevered cylinder supports is disclosed. The press includes a frame with a drive side spaced from a non-drive side, and the press includes a cylinder defining an having an axis and having a drive end and a non-drive end. The drive end includes a drive aperture extending axially into the cylinder and a splined insert mounted within the drive aperture, while the non-drive end includes a non-drive aperture extending axially into the cylinder. A drive shaft is rotatably mounted to the drive side of the frame and is arranged for connection to a power source. The drive shaft includes a spline sized to engage the splined insert and is arranged to a portion of the cylinder, while a mandrel carried by the non-drive side of the frame extends into the non-drive aperture and is arranged to support another portion of the cylinder.

Abstract: A printing press includes gear driven rollers, such as, for example, a plate cylinder and a blanket cylinder, and a pivotable gear train adapted to synchronize rotation of the cylinders, and is able to accommodate a range of cylinder sizes. Changing cylinder sizes may be accomplished without the need for changing any gears in the gear train.

Abstract: A printing press includes a frame that supports one or more printing units. Each printing unit includes a retractable inker module cantileverly supported by the frame, an ink injection system having a pump, a sidelay registration mechanism for one or more plate cylinders of the printing unit, an extension sleeve extending a length of a plate cylinder sleeve, and an expandable layer for each blanket cylinder and plate cylinder that provides changing the inner diameter of the blanket cylinder and the plate cylinder.

Abstract: A printing press includes a frame that supports one or more printing units. Each printing unit includes a retractable inker module cantileverly supported by the frame, an ink injection system having a pump, a sidelay registration mechanism for one or more plate cylinders of the printing unit, an extension sleeve extending a length of a plate cylinder sleeve, and an expandable layer for each blanket cylinder and plate cylinder that provides changing the inner diameter of the blanket cylinder and the plate cylinder.

Abstract: A printing press includes a frame that supports one or more printing units. Each printing unit includes a retractable inker module cantileverly supported by the frame, an ink injection system having a pump, a sidelay registration mechanism for one or more plate cylinders of the printing unit, an extension sleeve extending a length of a plate cylinder sleeve, and an expandable layer for each blanket cylinder and plate cylinder that provides changing the inner diameter of the blanket cylinder and the plate cylinder.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for use on a printing press is disclosed. A printing press includes a support frame. A shaft having a first end and a second end fixedly attached to the support frame, the shaft arranged to define a longitudinal axis relative to the support frame. A cylinder, the cylinder having a cylinder bore formed therethrough; and a bearing assembly having an outer circumferemce and an inner bore, the outer circumference sized insertion within the cylinder bore and the inner bore sized to rotatably engage the shaft. The bearing assembling includes an adjustment assembly including a first tapered portion and a second tapered portion, the first and second tapered portions cooperate to permit angular adjustment of the cylinder relative to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, the angular adjustment of the cylinder being about an axis perpendicular to the support shaft longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A printing press having inboard cantilevered cylinder supports is disclosed. The press includes a frame with a drive side spaced from a non-drive side, and the press includes a cylinder defining an having an axis and having a drive end and a non-drive end. The drive end includes a drive aperture extending axially into the cylinder and a splined insert mounted within the drive aperture, while the non-drive end includes a non-drive aperture extending axially into the cylinder. A drive shaft is rotatably mounted to the drive side of the frame and is arranged for connection to a power source. The drive shaft includes a spline sized to engage the splined insert and is arranged to a portion of the cylinder, while a mandrel carried by the non-drive side of the frame extends into the non-drive aperture and is arranged to support another portion of the cylinder.

Abstract: A printing press includes a frame that supports one or more printing units. Each printing unit includes a retractable inker module cantileverly supported by the frame, an ink injection system having a pump, a sidelay registration mechanism for one or more plate cylinders of the printing unit, an extension sleeve extending a length of a plate cylinder sleeve, and an expandable layer for each blanket cylinder and plate cylinder that provides changing the inner diameter of the blanket cylinder and the plate cylinder.

Abstract: A tension control device for a printing press having an adjustment roller, with a web of the press passing from a supply roll of the web to the adjustment roller. Means are provided for measuring the tension on opposed sides of the web passing downstream from the adjustment roller, and means are provided responsive to the measuring means for automatically approximately equalizing the tension of the web by adjustment of the adjustment roller on one end only of the adjustment roller.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting the level of circulating fluid in a tank comprises a paddle blade disposed at a particular height and oriented generally radially from a rotating shaft in the tank. A sensing device, such as a strain gauge, is attached to the paddle blade to detect when the paddle blade is in at least one of a normal and a displaced position, thereby indicating that fluid is absent or present at a particular level. Additional sensors may be used in the same tank to provide fluid level feedback at more than one height.

Abstract: A tension control device for a printing press having an adjustment roller, with a web of the press passing from a supply roll of the web to the adjustment roller. Means are provided for measuring the tension on opposed sides of the web passing downstream from the adjustment roller, and means are provided responsive to the measuring means for automatically approximately equalizing the tension of the web by adjustment of the adjustment roller on one end only of the adjustment roller.

Abstract: A water metering apparatus for measuring water concentrations in a water-ink emulsion used in a printing press is provided. The apparatus develops a substantially linear output for water concentrations ranging from 0% to approximately 50% without employing a logarithmic amplifier. In addition, an improved sensor for use in the water metering apparatus is provided.

Abstract: In order to control the delivery of a liquid to a vessel, a liquid level control system includes a regulated supply of low pressure air delivered to an air supply tube which extends to a liquid vessel for discharging the low pressure air at a preselected level within the liquid vessel. The control system also includes a sensor sensing fluctuations in air pressure at an intermediate point along the air supply tube. In particular, the sensor senses a first air pressure when the liquid is below the preselected level and sensing a second, higher air pressure when the liquid is at or above the preselected level. The sensor is in communication with the liquid supply source to produce a signal upon sensing the second, higher air pressure in the air supply tube. When the higher pressure is sensed, the sensor sends the signal it produced and the liquid supply source is responsive to the signal to stop supplying liquid to the liquid vessel.

Abstract: In order to facilitate removal and replacement of blanket and impression sleeves in a rotary offset printing press, the blanket and plate cylinders are supported in cantilever fashion. The cantilevered cylinders allow axial removal and replacement of the blanket and impression sleeves without temporary support of the cylinder and without removal of any bearings. Each cylinder is rotatably supported on a cantilevered support shaft having a bore therethrough. A drive shaft operatively connected to a drive motor extends through the support shaft bore and engages the inner surface of the generally hollow cylinder. A blanket or impression sleeve mounted on the cylinder is removable using compressed air, which is routed through a bore in the drive shaft and through a plurality of radially oriented passage in a flange on the end of the drive shaft.

Abstract: In order to provide a variable cutoff printing press, the press includes a pair of plate cylinders and a pair of blanket cylinders with all of the cylinders having a cylindrical body and a central axis of rotation. The plate cylinders are each mounted perpendicular to at least one side frame in a fixed position such that the axes of the plate cylinders are maintained in spaced parallel relation. The blanket cylinders are also each mounted perpendicular to the side frame by a pair of linear slide assemblies such that the axes of the blanket cylinders are maintained in spaced parallel relation. The linear slide assemblies accommodate linear adjustable positioning of the blanket cylinders along spaced parallel adjustment axes generally in the plane of the side frame. With this arrangement, the blanket cylinders are linearly adjustably positionable along and perpendicular to the adjustment axes to adjust the spacing between the plate and blanket cylinders to accommodate blanket sleeves of different thicknesses.

Abstract: A dampening assembly (10) for a printing press (12) having a spray bar (16) and source (18) of a liquid (L). The system (10) has a pressure regulator (22) being connected to the source (18) through a first conduit (20), and being connected to the spray bar (16) through a second conduit (24). The system (10) has an accumulator (26) having a chamber (28) being separated into first and second compartments (32 and 34), with the first compartment (32) being closed and being charged with an inert gas (G), and the second compartment (34) being connected to the second conduit (24). The system 10 has a third conduit (38) being connected between the second conduit (24) and the supply (18), and having a flow restriction orifice (40) restricting the flow of liquid (L) between the second conduit (24) and the source (18).

Abstract: A rotary offset printing press having a pair of carriage mounted interchangeable plate cylinders is disclosed. The carriage is slidably mounted to the press and reciprocates along a generally linear path. The pair of plate cylinders are rotatably mounted to the carriage, and each of the plate cylinders is selectively moveable into an operative position in contact with the blanket cylinder. Accordingly, while the press is operating using one of the plate cylinders, the other plate cylinder is idle, which permits the impression sleeve thereon to be removed and replaced without stopping the press. The plate cylinders, when in their respective operative positions, contact the blanket cylinder at the same point of tangency, thus simplifying registration.

Abstract: A blanket cylinder (10) having an inner mandrel (12) having an outer surface (14), a split shell (16) having a longitudinal slit (18) defining opposed ends (20 and 22) of the shell (16), and being positioned on the outer surface of the mandrel (12) with a minimal gap (24) between the opposed ends (20 and 22) of the shell (16), a device for retaining the shell (16) on the mandrel (12), and a compressible blanket (34) being formed on an outer surface (36) of the shell (36) and having dimensions to close the opposed ends (20 and 22) of the shell (16).