Abstract: A hybrid transfer machine includes a body, a fabric supply drum driving means, a fabric detection sensor, a take-up transfer paper drum driving means, a thermal transfer unit, a piece-mode roller, a take-up main drum driving means, a main guide roller, and a roll-mode roller. The body includes a first body, a second body, and a worktable. The fabric supply drum driving means drives a fabric supply drum. The fabric detection sensor detects fabric, and controls an operation. The take-up transfer paper drum driving means drives the take-up transfer paper drum. The thermal transfer unit heats the fabric and transfer paper. The piece-mode roller rotatably guides the transfer paper. The take-up main drum driving means drives the take-up fabric drum or take-up transfer paper drum. The main guide roller guides the transfer paper or the fabric. The roll-mode roller guides the transfer paper.

Abstract: A belt device includes a support and a support roller that support a belt. A driven gear is mounted on one of a plurality of shafts of the support roller. A driving gear meshing with the driven gear at a mesh position transmits a driving force to the support roller through the driven gear to rotate the support roller. An elastic bearing rotatably bearing each of the plurality of shafts of the support roller has an inner diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the shaft of the support roller. The bearing includes a slit defining a part of the bearing in a circumferential direction thereof. The slit is disposed upstream from the mesh position in the direction of rotation of the support roller such that the mesh position and the slit define a circumferential angle not smaller than about 20 degrees.

Abstract: An improved method of manufacturing a photosensitive printing element that minimizes relief variation and improves image fidelity. The method involves a step of pre-curing the first (floor layer) of photocurable material prior to depositing an additional layer or layers of photocurable material that may be imaged and developed to produce a desired relief image on the surface of the photosensitive printing element. The photosensitive printing element is then thermally developed by contacting the photosensitive printing element with at least one roll that is capable of moving over at least a portion of the imaged surface of the flexographic printing element to remove the softened or melted non-crosslinked photopolymer.

Abstract: With the method according to the invention for producing a printing plate, in particular for flexoprinting, a layer of a curable elastomer is applied to a carrier (15) with a cylindrical surface area (26), subsequently the elastomer layer is cured to an essentially cylindrical endless printing form blank and possibly ground to a cylindrical peripheral form or processed otherwise, and afterwards the printing form blank (33) is separated along a line which is essentially parallel to the axial direction of the carrier and the printing plate produced in such a manner.

Abstract: A printing press includes an impression cylinder, a seal cylinder, two number printing cylinders, and a transfer cylinder. The distance L1 between the outer circumference of the impression cylinder and the outer circumference of the impression cylinder, and the distance L2 between the outer circumference of the impression cylinder and the outer circumference of the impression cylinder are set longer than the sheet length Lo of the effective printing area of the sheet, and the distance L3 between the outer circumference of the impression cylinder and the outer circumference of the impression cylinder is set shorter than the sum of the effective impression area length La of the impression cylinder and double of length Lb of the notch of the impression cylinder, and an inspection portion for inspecting the sheet supplied to the impression cylinder is also provided.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a shoe fabric having a concealed pattern, including the step of weaving prepared warp yarns and weft yarns into a woven fabric, and the step of using a hot imprinting apparatus to print the woven fabric into a finished shoe fabric having printed patterned flat surface portions and non-patterned surface portions on a front side thereof. The finished shoe fabric has printed patterned flat surface portions that reflect light and non-patterned surface portions that refract light, such that the pattern in the printed patterned flat surface portions is seen when viewed perpendicularly from the front side, or become invisible when viewed from an oblique angle.

Abstract: A multistage printing machine is disclosed with a vacuum conveyor between stages, and in which supplemental air is provided adjacent at least one printing cylinder.

Abstract: A sheet-fed printing machine having a control console at the downstream end of a sheet transfer system which transfers printed sheets to a delivery unit. The control console has an inclined proof sheet support surface disposed in direct overlying relation to the delivery unit and sheet transfer system upon which a proof sheet withdrawn from the delivery unit may be positioned and assessed for quality. The support surface further includes control elements for directly adjusting and controlling printing quality based upon assessment of the proof sheet. With the control console support surface in overlying relation to the sheet transfer system and the delivery unit, the support surface is at a height which can be comfortably used by an operator of average height and does not impede access to the end of the printing machine nor increase its overall length.

Abstract: A printing-material transport system for a printing machine, having at least one printing-material guide surface and a device for producing an air cushion between the guide surface and the printing material, comprising at least one sensor arrangement for registering the spaced distance between the printing material and the guide surface, and a control device for controlling the thickness of the air cushion, based upon the registered distance, so that the spaced distance registered by the sensor arrangement comes to lie within a desired range.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in a gravure press or other reproduction apparatus, comprising a roller apparatus which is at least partly electrically conductive and at least one electrical transfer device adjacent the surface of the roller and connected to a power source, in use, to enable a charge to be applied to the surface of the roller by each such transfer device, and means for moving the transfer device relative to the surface of the roller, in use, whereby to mitigate the adverse image-patterning effects on gravure printing, or other reproduction, of any spatial discontinuities in the level of charge transfer from the spaced transfer devices onto the roller.

Abstract: A printing-machine form cylinder having, in an interior space thereof, a winding reel and an unwinding reel for a printing film drawn around the outer casing surface of the form cylinder, respective ends of the printing film being fastened to the winding reel and the unwinding reel inside the form cylinder, the form cylinder being formed with a cylinder gap extending in the direction of a generatrix of the outer casing surface of the form cylinder, the cylinder gap being defined by cylinder gap edges which are formed on the form cylinder and around which the printing film is guidable into the interior of the form cylinder, includes a cover element closing the form cylinder gap, and at least one pressure roller disposed on the cover element and bearing against the printing film for guiding it out of the interior of the form cylinder over one of the cylinder gap edges.

Abstract: A method for producing a screen printing stencil comprises the following: applying at least one light-sensitive layer to an essentially closed covering surface of a cylindrical base body; removing portions of the light-sensitive layer from the covering surface in accordance with a prescribed screen pattern; filling the portions thus removed of the light-sensitive layer with metal for the purpose of forming a cylindrical screen; and removing the cylindrical screen from the base body. A hollow cylinder is used as the base body and is inflated via at least one of its ends by a compressed gas to such an extent that it obtains a circular cross-section.

Abstract: A system for accepting and winding lithographic plate material around a cylinder adapted for rotation about a longitudinal axis includes supply and uptake spools and an alignment tool for use therewith. The cylinder is hollow, having an interior and an axial opening thereto, and includes means within its interior for selectably engaging supply and uptake spools. The engagement means are in fixed alignment with one another and are disposed within the cylinder so as to define an unobstructed winding path extending around the cylinder from the supply spool to the uptake spool. Plate material stored on the supply spool is extended around this path and affixed to the uptake spool. The tool includes means for releasably gripping supply and uptake spools, and alignment components for aligning the gripping means to at least one engagement means within the cylinder when the tool is introduced therein. The tool is removed from the cylinder following release of the spools to the engagement means.

Abstract: A winding assembly especially suitable for use in conjunction with a system for automated imaging of lithographic plate material, including on-press imaging systems. A feeder spool installed within a plate-support cylinder contains a rolled supply of plate material, which wraps around the cylinder and is received by an uptake spool, also located within the cylinder. The assembly is driven by the same power source used to rotate the plate-support cylinder, and maintains a strong tension along the wrapped material.

Abstract: A plate loader for an offset printing machine includes means for allowing the loader to be pivoted between an operative position in which drive is automatically connected to the plate forwarding means of the plate loader, and a raised inoperative position in which drive is automatically disconnected from the plate forwarding means to allow plates to be fed by hand. The printing machine also includes an applicator for plate priming liquid, where the applicator is mounted movably on the machine frame for adjustment of the spacing between the plate delivery mechanism of the applicator and a stop position for the leading edge of a plate on the plate loader, in order to adjust for different plate lengths.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a stencil duplicator having a loading device in the form of a pair of guide members which are mounted for movement between a first position in which they define a slot into which a stencil can readily be inserted to attain a predetermined position and a second position in which they define a narrower slot and hold the stencil heading strip close to the surface of the rotatable ink screen of the duplicator and in the path of movement of mounting pins carried by the stencil mounting bar on the ink screen so that when the pins next pass the guide members they enter holes in the stiff heading strip of the stencil and drag the stencil through the slot and onto the surface of the ink screen without any need to stop the machine.Preferably the guide members present elongate edge portions which are undulated to define recesses, through which in the second position of the guide members the pins may pass, and fingers between said recesses to hold the stencil heading strip adjacent each recess.

Abstract: Printing apparatus comprising a plate carrying impression cylinder and a flexible printing plate detachably securable thereon. Because the printing plate may be large and flexible, special apparatus is provided for positioning the plate on the cylinder and removing it therefrom, comprising a suction head carried by an endless member for reciprocal movement between the cylinder and a storage cylinder on which the flexible plate can be wound.

Abstract: A machine for printing addresses on envelopes or cards from a plurality of master cards each having an address and other indicia imprinted thereon with heat conducting material, such as carbon. Master cards and envelopes or cards to be printed are delivered to a printing zone in face-to-face relationship together with a length of printing tape interposed between each master card and its respective envelope or card to be printed. The tape has one surface coated with heat-transferable printing medium disposed in face-to-face relationship with the envelopes. The master cards, tape and envelopes or cards to be printed are pressed together at the printing zone where heat is applied to the heat conducting indicia on the master cards.

Abstract: A pressure-roller apparatus comprising two compression rollers providing a pressure nip therebetween for the introduction of sheets or other thin members to be compressed and fed. The degree of pressure in the nip is variable by means of one or more adjustment roller assemblies comprising adjustment rollers which are substantially shorter in length than said compression rollers and which engage one of said compression rollers at one or more points intermediate its ends to provide an intermediate and balanced pressure adjustment which avoids bowing of said compression roller.

Abstract: A printing machine, especially an office offset printing machine, in which a master before being wrapped around the master cylinder is pre-curved by sliding over an edge of one pivotable part of a bipartite table which part is tilted manually during the mounting of the master to expose said edge against which the master is guided by a roller positioned above the table and by a guiding and operating member arranged between the two parts of the table. The curvature may be preadjusted in accordance with the characteristics of the master by adjusting the relative end positions of said roller and said table edge. The end of the movable table part closest to the master cylinder forms together with a guiding plate a slot which guides the master until it is gripped by the master cylinder. By actuating a handle and thereby raising one end of the movable table part the other end is lowered and thus said slot facing the master cylinder is opened to avoid straightening of the pre-curved master.

Abstract: A duplicating machine has an impression roll positioned to press copy sheets against a master sheet on a drum which is rotatable by an electric drive motor through a coil spring type clutch. The clutch consists of a coil spring having an interference fit with cylindrical friction surfaces on driving and driven clutch members which are connected respectively to the motor and drum. The coil spring is helically wound in a direction to tighten the interference fit when the motor rotates the driving clutch member to turn the drum in a printing direction; conversely, the interference fit loosens when the driving end of the coil spring is held, enabling the driving clutch member to rotate freely. A tang on the driving end of the spring is positively connected to a cylindrical release collar surrounding the spring. The driven end of the spring has a positive tang connection to the driven clutch member and drum.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for loading a master onto and unloading the master from the rotating master cylinder in a lithographic printing machine at substantially the same angular position of cylinder rotation. The apparatus includes external grippers for gripping a master edge and moving it into the proximity of the cylinder through a master delivery path. Internal grippers for gripping and later releasing the master edge in the proximity of the cylinder are mounted in the cylinder and are extendable beyond the cylinder surface during a first angular sector of cylinder rotation to describe a master receiving path that intersects the master delivery path in a loading merger region. The internal grippers are also extendable beyond the cylinder surface in a second angular sector of cylinder rotation to describe a master release path.

Abstract: A stencil duplicator has a rotatable support which, in use, supports a stencil, and a feed path along which a stencil is advanced as it is loaded onto the support defined by a supporting roller spaced from the rotatable support and a smoothly arcuate guide surface extending over a considerable part of the feed path between the roller and the support. The arrangement is such that as a stencil, whose trailing part is supported by the supporting roller, is wound onto the rotatable support, it is drawn over the guide surface.

Abstract: A rotary duplicator includes a handwheel for manually moving the cylinders to insert and remove masters, to make adjustments, etc. To minimize risk to the operator when the machine is running, there is provided a means for disconnecting the handwheel automatically and holding it stationary whenever the machine is turned on.

Abstract: A duplicating method and apparatus in which information is transferred onto a copy web from a master web and a repeat printing roll and in which a common impression cylinder carries the copy web past a pressure roll which cooperates with the impression cylinder for bringing the master web in printing contact with the copy web to print equally spaced indicia from the master web on the copy web and the repeat printing roll cooperates with the impression cylinder for printing repeat indicia on the copy web, and including a sheeter for separating the copy web at spaced lengths, each length including an impression from the master web and an impression from the repeat printing roll.