Abstract: A method and apparatus for inking a "waterless" planographic printing plate utilizes an ink application unit and a separating agent application unit. These two units supply conventional ink and a separating agent either directly or indirectly to the planographic printing plate.

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 combined lithographic/flexographic printing process having a plurality of successive printing stations for printing color images on a substrate in a continuous in-line process. One of the stations prints a first color image using the flexographic process and at least one of the successive printing stations prints a second color image over the first color image using an offset lithographic process in the continuous in-line process.

Abstract: A system for supplying dampening fluid to a lithographic press dampening system. The system prevents dampening fluid starvation at a metering nip located between dampening system rollers, and minimizes contamination of the dampening fluid in the dampening system. A pre-determined distance is maintained between (1) the surface of a roller partially immersed in dampening fluid and (2) several surfaces of a fluid collection pan, so as to move contaminants from a back region of the collection pan to a front region of the collection pan for removal. Sensors are used to determine the proper level of dampening fluid within the collection pan to avoid nip starvation.

Abstract: A water distribution system is disclosed in an ink flow temperature control system of a plurality of printing presses such as multi-color offset perfecting and nonperfecting web and sheet fed presses. The system includes a plurality of printing presses each having at least one printing head whereat water is used to control the temperature of ink distributed through the head. A multiple zone control unit controls the temperature of water distributed to the printing heads of the plurality of printing presses. An enlarged rigid conduit extends between the multiple zone control unit and each printing press. A plurality of flexible non-metallic distribution hoses are located within the enlarged rigid conduit for distributing water between the multiple zone control unit and the printing heads of the plurality of printing presses.

Abstract: A printing press (10) is disclosed which incorporates a cooling system for the lubricating oil. The lubricating oil comes into contact with the major heat generating components of the printing press and control of the temperature of the lubricating oil provides an efficient technique for maintaining the printing press temperature at optimal temperature. A printing press (100) is also disclosed which includes water fluid flow through ink rollers (108). A source of cold water (114) can be tapped to supply water to the rollers to cool the rollers and a source of hot water (126) can be tapped to provide heated water to heat the rollers. Fuzzy logic is utilized with heating or cooling about a set point temperature within a given range being performed with the majority of the fluid being bypassed while heating and cooling outside of the predetermined range is achieved by flow of solely heated or cooled water.

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: Printing apparatus with quickly changeable printing plate, the impression cylinder being mounted on the drive side of the machine and the remaining end of the impression cylinder being arranged to be freely floating in order to permit an unhindered attaching or fitting of the printing plate on the cylinder.

Abstract: A bank check endorser is provided that permits endorsement in each of three discrete locations along the length of the reverse side of a check. The endorser unit utilizes a one-way clutch along the drive shaft to permit movement of the drive mechanism for the print cylinder. By releasing a latch mechanism, the housing portion, which contains the drive mechanism and the print cylinder, is moved along the length of the drive shaft to a second position.

Abstract: A pitted roll for an offset litho press inking unit, more especially as part of a short inking unit, has a dual coating layer of which the inner layer is formed of a material such as copper comprising the application of a high affinity for ink and the outer layer is formed of ceramic material to give lands wiped by a doctor, preferably set at a negative angle, around the pits. A high wear resistance and a high accuracy may be achieved if the plain base member of the roll is coated with copper or the like and then with ceramic material, after which engraving takes place to penetrate the ceramic layer right into the copper or the material with an affinity for ink.

Abstract: In a sheet rotary printing press having printing units followed by a delivery, a lacquering device located downstream of the printing units and upstream of the delivery and including a lacquer application cylinder for transferring lacquer onto a printed sheet lying on an impression cylinder, a metering roller operatively associated with the lacquer application cylinder, and a dipping roller operatively associated with the metering roller and immersed in a supply of lacquer received in a tank, the metering roller transferring a defined layer of lacquer to the lacquer applicator cylinder and having a diameter comparable to the diameter of the lacquer applicator cylinder in accordance with a ratio of 0.6:1 to 1:1.

Abstract: A water and ink dispenser for a rotary printing press includes a metering roll that is driven by a gear train directly from the printing cylinder, the gears of the gear train each being rotatable on an axis fixed relatively to the axis of rotation of each other gear, in order to avoid chatter and noise in the gear train, a form roll of the device being adjustable relative to the printing cylinder and metering roll entirely independently of said gear train, whereby scuffing and gear marking in the finished print is eliminated.

Abstract: A wet laid watermark of uncoated paper is simulated by the use of a resin or resin-plasticizer mixture dissolved in a slow evaporating, high boiling solvent. A sufficient quantity of the low viscosity solution is printed onto an uncoated paper sheet of stationery grade by a standard flexographic press to penetrate the paper fiber and deposit a non-tacky solid having a refractive index which closely approximates that of cellulose. The resulting image of the print is visible to both faces of the paper sheet.

Abstract: A printing method and apparatus which use a sleeve-shaped printing form attached to a rotating body. The sleeve-shaped form conveniently permits the printing operation to be performed continuously and on both sides of the print carrier simultaneously. The sleeves preferably exhibit a number of process-specific functional layers. Exemplary layers are: (1) a supporting metal sleeve, (2) an intermediate metal layer for carrying the ink, and (3) a surface metal layer for carrying the water. Copper is an exemplary intermediate layer, and chromium is used as the surface metal layer.

Abstract: Coupling device for an adjuster wheel to manually start up printing machine functions, including an adjuster wheel shaft adjustably displaceable axially in stages for bringing an adjuster wheel mounted on the shaft and into and out of operative connection with drive gearing of a printing machine, shift sense, in response to axuation of the adjuster wheel shaft, in a first stage, preventing switching-on of a drive motor for the printing machine, and a clutch device, in a second step of axial adjustment of the adjuster wheel shaft, forming the operative connection of the adjuster wheel with the drive gearing of the printing machine.

Abstract: A system for the continuous and automatic supply of a mixture of ink and dampening fluid to a lithographic press. The ink and dampening fluid are mixed and then pumped to the press fountain. The fluid mixture is sampled downstream from the mixing location and a signal is sent to control feed of ink and dampening fluid to the mixing location to ensure that the desired ratio of ink to water is maintained.

Abstract: Single-sheet printer paper comprises a sheet of paper having a middle portion having the same dimensions as a standard-size sheet of paper, upper and lower holding portions which are integrally formed on the upper and lower edges of the middle portion, and guide lines for cutting which are formed along the borders between the middle portion and the holding portions. In a preferred embodiment, the guide lines are in the form of perforations. A method for using this paper comprises printing over the entire length of the middle portion with a printer and removing the holding portions by shearing along the guide lines so as to obtain a sheet having the same dimensions as a standard-size sheet and which is printed on over its entire length.

Abstract: An attachment for a lithographic press includes an additional form roller with a chain of ink rollers from an auxiliary oscillator roller to the form roller mounted in a detachable frame assembly, including a gear train for driving the rollers and an eccentric for raising and lowering the form roller into engagement with the plate cylinder of the lithographic press.

Abstract: A printing system incorporating a re-usable ink image transfer surface. A material which forms a thin hydrophobic layer is arranged by various techniques over a substantially hydrophilic transfer surface in a configuration which defines the desired latent image in terms of exposed, contiguous hydrophilic and hydrophobic areas. In some cases, a hydrophilic layer may be in direct contact with the hydrophobic layer. Depending upon the configuration of the layers, either an aqueous or oleo ink may be used to develop and print an image. If desired, the layer configuration may be replaced by a different configuration without substantial interruption to the printing process. No photo-induced chemical reaction or latent image developing steps are required at any time. The ink image transfer surface may be a planographic printing screen or a printing screen.

Abstract: A Supplementary Liquid Dispensing Device is disclosed. The Supplementary Liquid Dispensing Device is particularly useful in lithographic printing presses and in particular for dampening systems within such presses. The device dispenses from an enclosed source of a given liquid a continuous flow of the given liquid which is part of a fountain solution of the dampening system by metering the continuous flow of liquid proportionate to the rate of evaporization of the liquid in a fountain solution with very minimal evaporization loss of the liquid by the device. The device reduces air polution particularly when a volitile liquid such as alcohol is a part of the fountain solution. The device also has the advantage of supplementing and replacing alcohol in a fountain solution in a very inexpensive way without the use of a highly sophisticated and complex electronic system.

Abstract: A device for selectively controlling the manual or automatic operation of inking or damping rollers of a printing press wherein the torque which produces the adjusting movement is transmissible through a non-positive coupling and a spring-biased manually releasable and automatically engaging connecting element, characterized in that a first start-stop lever is connected to an input coupling member for the automatic starting and stopping of printing, an operating lever is connected to a handle for manual control of the starting and stopping of printing and a second start-stop lever is connected to an output coupling member and is operative to engage and disengage the rollers.

Abstract: A coating color possessing desirable rheological and other properties is prepared from a binder composition comprising two polymeric components wherein one of said polymeric components is a lightly cross-linked copolymer derived from an ester of an .alpha.,.beta.-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, and .alpha.,.beta.-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, an unsaturated carboxamide and, optionally, one or more other comonomers. Paper coating with the coating colors containing the binder composition exhibit high binding strengths and excellent printability.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for perfecting printing on paper sheets, one side being printed by the offset method and the other side being printed by direct planography, is provided for a five-cylinder sheet-fed offset press having an impression cylinder, first and second plate cylinders and first and second blanket cylinders, the latter being disposed respectively between the plate cylinders and the impression cylinder, wherein one or more printing plates suitable for direct planography are clamped on the impression cylinder in accordance with the size relationship between the impression cylinder and the blanket cylinders, the first plate cylinder and first blanket cylinder are arranged so as not to transfer indicia although the blanket cylinder is engaged with the impression cylinder, the effective diameter (d) of the first blanket cylinder is made slightly less than the dimension that corresponds to an integral multiple (or reciprocal thereof) of the effective diameter (D) of the impression cylinder, and the pr

Abstract: A long wearing printing press ink metering roller which comprises an engraved base roller, a layer of hardened electroless nickel on the outer surface of the base roller and a final layer of copper covering the layer of electroless nickel.

Abstract: A steel ink metering roller for use in lithographic printing having an engraved surface that has been nitride hardened followed by an oxidizing process that results in a surface with a composition of mainly Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4.

Abstract: A system for dehydrating the inking roller system of a lithographic rotary printing press includes providing a flow stream of pressure air or other dry gas across the inking roller system to evaporate water entrained with the ink and which has migrated from the plate cylinder through the inking roller system as a result of application of water to the plate cylinder. An elongated distribution manifold is mounted on the press in proximity to the inking roller distribution system and preferably in proximity to one or more of the vibratory rollers in direct contact with the inking rollers engaged with the plate cylinder.

Abstract: A system for automatically removing dust from a plate cylinder of a printing press has a laminated structure for inputting a dust removal position, which comprises (a) a printed circuit substrate bearing thereon a reference signal input circuit of comb form with numerous comb conductors and position signal read-out circuits alternatively interposed respectively between adjacent pairs of comb conductors and (b) a pressure-activated conductor sheet superposed in laminated state on and over the circuit substrate. When a printed material having a printing defect due to dust on the printing plate is laid over with correct register on this laminated structure, and the part of the defect is pressed, the nearest conductors of the input circuit and of the read-out circuit are shorted to designate the position of the defect. The resulting signal is processed and is sent to a dust removing mechanism to move a disk-shaped elastic dust removing head to the corresponding dust existing part of the printing plate.

Abstract: A collect-printing unit for security printing in offset printing for use in a rotary printing press, provided with a blanket cylinder to which a plurality of cut-out offset rollers are coordinated, is disclosed. Two ink transfer cylinders and one forme cylinder, on whose periphery a plurality of offset printing formes are fixed, are coordinated to this blanket cylinder. Another blanket cylinder is coordinated to the forme cylinder, this blanket cylinder taking the multi-color motif to be printed from the forme cylinder and transferring it onto the support to be printed. A counter pressure cylinder may cooperate with this blanket cylinder. A sheet-shaped or web-shaped support to be printed is interposed between the blanket cylinder and the counter pressure cylinder and is printed in offset collect-printing.

Abstract: The embodiment of a lithography or intaglio printing apparatus described herein include a plate cylinder, an impression cylinder adapted to be periodically pressed against the plate cylinder for rotation therewith at the same speed as that of said plate cylinder, and inking rollers in contact with the surface of a plate. The length of a printing plate mounted on the plate cylinder is less than a half of the peripheral length of the plate cylinder and is also less than the peripheral distance between the contact points of inking rollers with the surface of the printing plate and of the objects to be printed with the surface of the printing plate. The impression cylinder is moved intermittently toward said printing plate to urge sheet material into contact therewith and the periods during which the inking rollers and the sheet material are maintained in contact with the printing plate may be changed independently.

Abstract: To permit, in addition to selectively raised letter printing or direct lithographic printing on a single plate cylinder (2), additionally flexo printing, the damping system (4) utilized for direct lithographic printing is filled with flexo printing ink rather than with damping liquid, and the direction of rotation of the plate cylinder, and an associated impression cylinder, together with direction of passage of a printed web or sheet (28) is reversed so that flexo printing ink is applied by the damper, positioned in advance of the printing or impression line (29) to a flexo printing plate on the plate cylinder (2) whereas, for direct lithographic printing, damping liquid is first applied to the plate cylinder for subsequent application of ink by an inker (8) in engagement with the plate cylinder which is removable from engagement when used in flexo printing.

Abstract: A printing plate holding device for an offset duplicator. The device includes a base slidably positioned on one side of a grooved portion of a plate cylinder of the duplicator. A clamp plate is secured to the base and a clamp lever is attached to the clamp plate. A latch is loosely secured to a pin attached to the clamp lever and connected to a spring to provide a plate clamping force upon the clamp plate. A guide plate and a plate release preventing plate are attached to an outer longitudinal side of the base. An axial displacement control device is positioned at one longitudinal end of the cylinder while a circumferential displacement control device is positioned at the other longitudinal end thereof.

Abstract: An automatic blanket cylinder cleaner having a cleaner fabric adapted to contact the blanket cylinder. A cleaning cloth supply roller provides cloth for the cloth take-up roll. Positioned between these rolls is a water solvent dispensing tube, a solvent dispensing tube and an inflatable and deflatable mechanical loosening means which is adapted to move the cleaning fabric into and out of contact with the blanket cylinder. An air dryer means dries the blanket cylinder after the cleaning of debris. An advancing means advances the cleaning cloth intermittently onto the take-up roller by a control means in contact with the take-up roll which provides for uniform cloth advance during the cleaning cycle. There is a control means providing automatic and manual control.

Abstract: Selective reduction in ink tackiness resulting in better ink transfer with less print through better image reproduction fidelity, less plate wear, less waste of paper, and less linting may be accomplished by selective warming of the image areas on the printing plates prior to application.

Abstract: In a lithographic printing apparatus, the rollers that supply ink and/or water to form rollers have a surface with minutely intermixed hydrophilic and oleophilic areas. The amount of water retained by a roller is dependent upon the total of the hydrophilic areas, and the amount of oil-based ink retained by the roller is dependent upon the total of the oleophilic areas. A preselected ratio of oil to water is obtained by selecting the ratio of hydrophilic areas to oleophilic areas.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a thin film of newsprint ink to a printing plate, the apparatus comprising a metering roller in rolling pressure indented relation with a transfer roller having an oleophillic surface. The transfer roller is in pressure indented relationship with a form roller which transfers a thin film of ink to the printing plate. An excess of ink is supplied to the nip between the metering roller and the transfer roller to produce the thin film of ink which may be further conditioned by an ink storage roller prior to entry of the film of ink into the ink transfer nip between the transfer roller and the form roller. By controlling the relative speeds between the form roller and the transfer roller, slippage occurs which meters a thin film of ink onto the form roller for transfer and application to the printing plate.

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: A newspaper printing system wherein low viscosity newsprint ink and dampening fluid are applied to opposed lithographic printing plates which simultaneously engage opposite sides of a web of porous absorbent newsprint to print on both sides of the web. Each of the inkers comprises an ink metering roller in pressure indented relation with an ink transfer roller having an oleophillic surface, the ink transfer roller being in pressure indented relationship with a single form roller which is in pressure indented relation with one of the printing plates. Each of the dampeners comprises a dampening fluid metering roller in pressure indented relation with a dampening fluid transfer roller having a hydrophilic surface, the dampening fluid transfer roller being in pressure indented relation with the same single form roller such that ink and dampening fluid continuously applied on the single form roller is applied to each of the printing plates.

Abstract: A feed unit (17) feeds a master sheet (14) from an etching unit (28) to a master drum (13), the distance from the etching unit (28) to the feed unit (17) being smaller than the length of the master sheet (14). The feed unit (17) includes a support member (48); (73) disposed above the etching unit (28) and a retractable stopper (41). A lifting member (48); (72) lifts the trailing edge portion of the master sheet (14) onto the support member (48); (73) after the leading edge portion of the master sheet (14) is abuttingly stopped by the stopper (41). The support member (48); (73) and lifting member (48); (72) may be integral and constituted by a conveyor belt (48). Alternatively, the support member (48); (73) may be constituted by a support plate (73) and the lifting member (48); (72) constituted by a rocker frame (72).

Abstract: The description deals with a process of duplicating page order sheets designed to greatly augment the output of existing office duplicators by preparing masters each of which carries the image of two pages of data. The master is placed on the cylinder with the page lengths axially disposed and the page widths peripherally disposed, and prints on long sheets each of which carries two pages of data side by side, each being placed in successive pockets of a collator. The stack of printed sheets in each pocket is then placed in a paper stack cutter and cut into two stacks of standard sized sheets. The present invention relates to the discovery that a certain page order sequence of originals can be devised which will allow the whole process to proceed in an orderly routine manner, materially simplifying the procedure for the operator.

Abstract: A lithographic printing press having the usual plate cylinder, blanket cylinder and impression cylinder in pressure engagement with one another, the bearings having at least a normal amount of play so that the journals are supported in normal elevated positions in the bearings depending upon the direction of the pressure vectors, at least the blanket and impression cylinders having phased gaps in the surfaces thereof, tending to cause cyclical, momentary loss of support accompanied by dropping of the blanket cylinder from the normal journal position in the bearing as the region of the gap is traversed, followed immediately by lifting of the blanket cylinder back to normal position resulting in cyclical impact.

Abstract: A moisture control feed system of the bare-back type in which there is in nip-contact with a moisture transfer roll and the moisture transfer roll is driven solely by the shear resistance offered by the intervening layers at the nip of the ink and the moisture. The system includes an ink reservoir that simulates an oleophilic image in the form of a narrow strip extending transverse the direction of rotation of the master cylinder and is located outside the master retention area to supply ink to the oleophilic moisture form roll. The simulated image maintains the proper ink layer thickness on the oleophilic moisture form roll and the ink quality to assure proper rotational speed control of the transfer roll.

Abstract: Lithographic masters for improved image quality in direct printing process are provided. The masters are formed with a relatively soft elastomeric or resilient layer on a suitable supporting master substrate. An image layer of up to 2.5 microns is supported by the resilient layer. A resilient blanket supports the printing master or receiver sheet.

Abstract: Lithographic masters for improved image quality in direct printing process are provided. The masters are formed with a relatively soft elastomeric or resilient layer on a suitable supporting master substrate. An image layer of up to 2.5 microns is supported by the resilient layer. A resilient blanket supports the printing master or receiver sheet.

Abstract: A sheet handling means is provided for use with a duplicating machine. A duplicator is provided having first and second printing couples for printing first on one face of a copy sheet and then on the other and whose paper feed paths are arranged substantially normal to each other. The duplicator also includes special sheet handling means for passing the copy sheet from the first to the second printing couple and also inverting the sheet. The copy sheet is advanced in a first path and direction away from the first printing couple and is advanced in a second path substantially normal to the first path in a second direction towards the second printing couple. The sheet handling means comprises a sheet turn-over device positioned to intersect the copy sheet paths for receiving and progressively inverting the copy sheet as it is advanced in the first path and simultaneously directing the sheet from the first to the second path.

Abstract: Duplicating equipment is provided for printing on both faces of the same sheet or, in the alternative, making two impressions on the same face (e.g., in different colors) by means of two printing heads. Both printing heads are served with masters from a single supply point, the masters being fed in proper order and attached to the master cylinder of the appropriate printing head automatically. In one form of the invention, the single master supply point takes the form of a single master maker and converter.

Abstract: A printing method and apparatus which use a sleeve-shaped printing form attached to a rotating body. The sleeve-shaped form conveniently permits the printing operation to be performed continuously and on both sides of the print career simultaneously. The sleeves preferably exhibit a number of process-specific functional layers. Exemplary layers are: (1) a supporting metal sleeve, (2) an intermediate metal layer for carrying the ink, and (3) a surface metal layer for carrying the water. Copper is an exemplary intermediate layer, and chromium is used as the surface metal layer.