Abstract: A printing unit consists of at least two printing groups, which are placed vertically above each other, in a printing machine. Each of the printing groups includes a printing cylinder, an inking unit with at least one inking roller, a dampening unit with several dampening rollers arranged in a line, and a transfer cylinder that cooperates with the printing cylinder. The inking cylinder and the dampening roller, in an operational state in which they are adjacent the printing cylinder, form an obtuse opening angle with the printing cylinder. The rollers of the dampening unit are arranged with at least the first and last rollers in the roller train arranged inside an acute angle depending from the transfer cylinder. A horizontal line extending from the transfer cylinder defines an opening angle of less than 45° with the rollers of the dampening unit. A printing forme is fed to the printing cylinder through an obtuse angle between the dampening roller and the inking roller.

Abstract: A rotary printing press has at least one printing group with at least one waterless planographic printing forme. An inking unit is assigned to the printing group as is provided with a screen roller for use in conveying printing ink to the printing group. The screen roller has line engraving or cross-hatchings, with an angle of inclination or an angle of rise of between 50° and 80° and preferably also has a raster frequency of less than 80 lines or cross hatchings per centimeter on its surface area.

Abstract: The inking system of an offset lithography press incorporates certain rollers running at different speeds. The hard rollers do not oscillate and the form rollers and the soft transfer rollers of the inking system oscillate endways.

Abstract: A method for operating a printing group and a device for the use of a printing ink in a rotary printing press is disclosed. The tack of an ink that is used in a printing group of a rotating printing press, or the temperature of a rotating component in the printing group is selected or controlled. The ink itself is temperature regulated in response to production speeds to maintain the ink tackiness in the desired range. A gradient that sets forth an interrelationship between ink tackiness, temperature and production speed can be used in a control device for use in temperature regulation.

Abstract: A method of producing a printing plate on a cylindrical printing-plate carrier includes subdividing the printing-plate carrier by computation in terms of its width and axial length into at least two circumferential subareas. Then an actual transfer characteristic curve for each subarea is determined and compared by computation with a predetermined desired printing characteristic curve for each subarea to find a deviation. The method further includes calculating a correction to compensate for each deviation; receiving a digital image data in a first data format using a raster image processor; converting the digital image data into machine-specific image data including the position and the tonal value in the form of a bitmap; applying the correction for a predetermined desired printing characteristic curve for the edition print to the machine-specific image data using the raster image processor; and supplying the corrected machine-specific image data to an imagesetting unit.

Abstract: A process for correcting the longitudinal registration error of a rotary printing press with several inking systems in which a control unit adjusts the desired application line of the printing plate on the material web lying on one of the two rollers. In making the adjustment, the control unit takes into account the shift of the effective print line that arises as a consequence of an adjustment movement of one of the two rollers along an axis that does not run coincident with the connecting line of the axes of rotation of the two rollers, and determines correction values from the relative positions of the two rollers and the inking system, and the angle between the connecting line of the axes of rotation and the axis of adjustment.

Abstract: A method for operating a printing group and to the use of a printing ink. The tack of an ink that is used in a printing group of a rotating printing press, or the temperature of a rotating component in the printing group is selected or controlled. The ink itself is temperature regulated in response to production speeds to maintain the ink tackiness in the desired range. A gradient that sets forth an interrelationship between ink tackiness, temperature and production speed can be used in a control device for use in temperature regulation.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for printing on material in web form print images are successively applied to the web by a transfer cylinder. The web is continuously drawn into the printing station and the speed at which the web is moved in the printing station during a printing operation is greater than the speed at which it is drawn into the printing station. After the printing operation the web is positioned in the printing station for the following printing operation relative to the transfer cylinder which is not in contact with the web during a part of a revolution of 360°, and at the same time the path of the web is altered in accordance with the change in the speed thereof. The web is driven by the impression cylinder which is associated with the transfer cylinder and around the peripheral surface of which the web partially passes. Positioning of the web for the respectively following printing operation is implemented by a change in the rotary movement of the impression cylinder.

Abstract: The tack of an ink that is used in a printing group of a rotating printing press, or the temperature of a rotating component in the printing group is selected or controlled. The ink itself is temperature regulated in response to production speeds to maintain the ink tackiness in the desired range. A gradient that sets forth an interrelationship between ink tackiness, temperature and production speed can be used in a control device for use in temperature regulation.

Abstract: A lithographic newspaper printing press including printing units which are mounted on top of each other, forming a tower arrangement. Each printing unit including a first and a second plate cylinder having a length being substantially four times the width of a newspaper page and having a circumference being substantially equal to the height of a newspaper page. Each printing unit further includes first and a second blanket cylinder associated with said first and second plate cylinders, whereby each of said first and second blanket cylinders has substantially the same diameter as the associated plate cylinder. Each of the blanket cylinders carries a respective continuous sleeve-shaped printing blanket which is axially removable from the respective plate cylinder through an aperture formed in the side wall of the housing of the printing unit, while the respective blanket cylinder is cantilevered in the opposite side wall of the housing.

Abstract: A printing group of a rotary printing press includes at least one forme cylinder and at least one transfer cylinder. The forme cylinder has at least two printing forme end receiving channels. These two channels are spaced circumferentially. At least one of these forme cylinder end receiving channels rolls off against a channel in the transfer cylinder. One of the forme cylinder end receiving channels is at least partially covered by a printing forme carried by the forme cylinder.

Abstract: In the region of a turner device in a sheet processing machine, a sheet-guiding device is disposed at a great spacing from the turner drum on the other side of a common tangent between a turner drum and a transfer drum.

Abstract: A delivery for a machine for processing flat printing materials includes sheet brakes for accepting sheets fed in a processing direction at an acceptance level and for releasing the sheets at a surrender level. The sheet brakes are adjustably disposed for varying the acceptance level and the surrender level. A machine is provided for processing flat printing materials, having the delivery.

Abstract: A rotary printing machine includes at least one form cylinder, at least one further cylinder, and a gear transmission via which the form cylinder and the further cylinder are drivable together during a printing operation. A device is provided for setting an image on a printing form located on the form cylinder. A switchable speed-change gear mechanism is disposed between the form cylinder and the gear transmission for driving the form cylinder during the printing operation.

Abstract: This invention relates to an offset printing method in which the picture to be printed is formed on a plate-holder-cylinder (3), the said picture is transferred onto a blanket (4) carried by a blanket-holder-cylinder (5), then transferred onto a paper compressed between the blanket (4) and a back pressure cylinder (7). The temperature T3 of the blanket-holder-cylinder (5) is regulated. The invention also relates to an offset printing device comprising an inking unit (1), a plate-holder-cylinder (3), a blanket-holder-cylinder (5), a backpressure cylinder (7). It comprises means (8) for regulating the temperature T3 of the blanket-holder-cylinder (5).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for printing on a substrate for preparing packaging blanks. The substrate is divided into copies, each of these copies having one or more areas for subsequent application of an adhesive, and a printed image produced on the copy by application of an ink film and coated with a lacquer. It is an object of the present invention to develop a method and apparatus for printing on a substrate for preparing packaging blanks, for which specially manufactured lacquer plates are not required. Pursuant to the present invention, this object is accomplished based on the fact that an ink film and a binder customarily used for offset printing inks are used to produce a printed image on a substrate and a lacquer is applied over the surface of the substrate, wherein the binder is applied at areas intended for application of an adhesive and the lacquer is absorbed by the binder.

Abstract: A method for driving a printing press includes driving, in a printing operation, via a gear train by at least a first motor, at least one drum for advancing printing material and a printing-form cylinder, processing angle-of-rotation signals of the drum in a control device for controlling the driving of the drum and the form cylinder, and driving, in a printing-form production operation in the printing press, a printing-form cylinder by a separate motor. The method further includes, in an operation for producing the printing form, synchronously actuating the first motor and the separate motor by providing a gear allocated to the driving of the printing-form cylinder, and an adjacent gear allocated to the driving of the drum of the gear train, the gears being disposed relative to one another at the most out of contact with one another, and at the least barely in engagement with one another so as to exert a slight pressure on one another, and a device for performing the method.

Abstract: A printing group of a printing machine is comprised of a pair of cylinders each having a circumference that corresponds essentially to a length of a section of a side to be printed. The effective generated surface of at least one of the cylinders comprises, at the most, one break in the circumferential direction. The surface forms, in the longitudinal direction, a plurality of adjacently arranged breaks which, when viewed in the circumferential direction, are arranged in a staggered manner with respect to each other.

Abstract: A sleeve (10) for flexographic printing includes a sleeve body (2) made of an at least partially non-electroconductive material, which within its inside (4) is mountable on an electroconductive king roll on the outer wall of the roll, of a printing press, the king roll being designed as an air cylinder, and exhibiting at least one contact zone with the king roll. The sleeve exhibits an electroconductive surface (6), which is connected to the contact zone via at least one electroconductive element (20) provided in the sleeve body (2) for diverting electrostatic charges into the outer wall of the roll of the king roll. The sleeve is therefore given an electroconductive structure, through which the unavoidable electrostatic charges in printing presses with a plurality of printing couples are diverted via the king roll before it reaches a scale that would suffice for a discharge, ignition, or deflagration of the solvents used in the printing.

Abstract: A printer includes a cylinder pair that consists of a forme cylinder and a transfer cylinder. A satellite or steel cylinder forms a print position as it cooperates with the transfer cylinder of the cylinder pair. The forme cylinder and the transfer cylinder are a fixed coupling drive assembly which is driven by a common drive motor. The drive assembly of the cylinder pair and a drive system for the satellite or steel cylinder can be selectively mechanically coupled with each other by use of a coupling.

Abstract: At printing time, a blanket cylinder gear is meshed with a plate cylinder gear, whereby a first plate cylinder is rotatable by a drive motor. At image-recording time, the blanket cylinder gear is separated from the plate cylinder gear. In this state, a different motor drives the plate cylinder gear to rotate the first plate cylinder at low speed.

Abstract: An air assisted sheet guide device in a printing machine which is operable during either positive pressure (blast) air operation as well as suction air operation to permit reliable and stable sheet guidance with reduced air flow turbulence. The sheet guide device includes at least one module that defines a guide surface having air flow openings therein and an air flow channel, and a pneumatic system for creating either a positive or suction pressure generated air flow in the flow channel. One or more plate-like air directional elements are mounted within the air flow channel which create a uniform pressure distribution on the guide surface during positive (blast) air operation and which more uniformly direct air to the pneumatic system during suction pressure operation.

Abstract: A device for turning sheet-like material from a printed side onto an unprinted side uses an impression cylinder which guides the sheet-like material and which is preceded by a transfer cylinder and followed by a further transfer cylinder. The sheet-like, flexurally rigid material is received on the outer surface of the impression cylinder and can be printed with a transmission cylinder. In the gusset between the outer surfaces of the impression cylinder and the preceding transfer cylinder, a contactlessly acting throw-on device is provided which forces the sheet-like material into a curved position corresponding to the curvature of the outer surface of the impression cylinder such that the sheet-like material is curved even in the gusset region. A printing press and a multicolor rotary printing press are also provided.

Abstract: A variable cut-off offset press system and method of operation which utilizes a continuous image transfer belt is provided. The offset printing system comprises at least two plate cylinders adapted to have thereon respective printing sleeves. Each of the printing sleeves is adapted to receive colored ink from a respective ink source. An optional coating source may be provided to fully or partially coat the image transfer belt before inking. The system further comprises at least a impression cylinder, wherein the image transfer belt is positioned to contact each of the printing sleeves at respective nips formed between respective ones of the plate cylinders and the at least one impression cylinder. An image belt cleaning station adapted to remove residual ink or coating from the surface of the image transfer belt after image transfer of a multicolored image from the image transfer belt to a substrate is also provided.

Abstract: A method of tempering a printing press with a circulating tempering medium includes regulating a temperature of the tempering medium. The temperature at a first measurement location is measured for purposes of control during production printing by the printing press. The temperature at a second measurement location is measured during a tempering phase of the printing press preceding production printing.

Abstract: A printing press performs offset color printing. A blanket cylinder having four image segments selectively contacts a plate cylinder having four image segments and an impression cylinder having five image segments for carrying print media. A pair of eccentric bushings for independently controlling the impression cylinder engages same to blanket cylinder. A print media feed system and a delivery system are located on the same side of the press and cooperate with each other via a means for moving feed and delivery trays in a generally vertical direction. Print media are gripped only once and travel in the same direction until let go by the impression cylinder. An image forming system forms four images on a plate cylinder to be inked by four respective inking units oriented therearound. All four plate image sections can be inked during one rotation of the plate cylinder. Four inking units including a minimal number of rollers for inking the plate image sections.

Abstract: A sheet member feeding device comprises a first gear transmitting a driving force to a feeding roller for intermittently feeding a sheet member per a predetermined feeding amount, a second gear having a first mark and a second mark representative of a maximum eccentric position and a minimum eccentric position along a radial direction relative to a predetermined concentric circle in a tooth space, in opposition to each other and directly or indirectly transmitting a driving force to the first gear, a third gear directly or indirectly transmitting driving force from driving means to the second gear, detecting means for detecting the first mark and the second mark in the second gear and transmitting a detection output, and a control portion operating the driving means for performing operation for rotating the second gear through 180° between the first mark and the second mark with respect to feeding for a feeding amount of the sheet member for one time, on the basis of the detection output from the detectin

Abstract: A printing press includes a plate cylinder, a plate making unit, and a detection unit. The plate cylinder is rotatably supported by a frame and has an outer surface on which a plate is mounted. The plate making unit is supported to be movable between an operative position where plate making is performed and a wait position to escape from the operative position to perform plate making for the plate. The plate making unit has an exposure unit and a support mechanism for supporting the exposure unit to be movable in an axial direction of the plate cylinder. The exposure unit has a head which irradiates the plate with a laser beam to print an image on the plate. The detection unit detects a position of the exposure unit with reference to the frame.

Abstract: A printing unit, a sheet-feeding unit, a sheet-discharging unit, an ink-feeding unit and a roller-oscillating unit of a digital printing press are adapted to receive the driving force from a common motor. An image-forming device fixedly mounted on the digital printing press is adapted to form images on printing plates mounted on the printing unit as the plate cylinder rotates upon receiving the driving force from the common motor. The transmission of the driving force to at least two of the sheet-feeding unit, the sheet-discharging unit, the ink-feeding unit and the roller-oscillating unit is shut off by means of a single clutch during the image-forming operation.

Abstract: An offset printing machine including an impression cylinder, a sheet feed cylinder and a blanket cylinder. An outer peripheral surface of the blanket cylinder is divided into a plurality of color sections in a circumferential direction thereof, and an outer peripheral surface of the sheet feed cylinder has a peripheral length equal to the circumferential length of each color section. A sheet held in the sheet feed cylinder is transferred to the impression cylinder each time the sheet feed cylinder rotates a predetermined number equal to the number of the color sections. One of impression cylinder grippers and a sheet feed cylinder gripper intermittently confront with each other upon rotation of these cylinders.

Abstract: A rotary offset printing machine uses a plurality of printing units placed inversely by 180° with respect to a vertical line with respect to each other. The drive assemblies for the cylinders of the inversely placed two printing units are also inversely disposed.

Abstract: Product is printed in a combined printing process with two ink systems. The printing material is first printed with a solvent-based or radiation-curing ink and then with at least one offset-typical ink. The printing machine for the inline implementation of the novel process is a hybrid press, having a flexo printing unit and a downstream offset printing unit. A UV, electron-beam or air-stream dryer is integrated into the flexo printing unit, or a UV, electron-beam or air-stream drying unit is arranged between the flexo printing unit and the offset printing unit.

Abstract: A friction roller is connected, in an articulated manner, in the area of its axis of rotation, to one end of a connecting rod. The second end of this connecting rod is connected, in an articulating manner, to a peripheral portion of a rotatable lever that can be driven. A rotational axis of the lever is situated at an angle with respect to the rotational axis of the friction roller.

Abstract: A printing unit of an offset printing press utilizes a plurality of forme cylinders, transfer cylinders and at least two counter-pressure cylinders. In one mode of production all of the transfer cylinders engage one of the counter-pressure cylinders. In another mode of production two of the transfer cylinders cooperate with one of the counter-pressure cylinders and at least another one of the transfer cylinders cooperate with the other counter-pressure cylinder.

Abstract: A method for driving a printing press having, (i) an impression cylinder, (ii) at least one cylinder group having (a) a blanket cylinder, (b) a printing form cylinder, and (1) an imaging device, (2) an inking unit, and (3) an inherent drive system, all for said printing form cylinder, (iii) a sheet feeding device, (iv) a sheet delivering device, (v) a drive wheel train connecting the cylinders and the inking unit, and (vi) optionally a main motor drive, the method comprising detaching the printing form cylinder from the drive wheel train, driving the printing form cylinder by the inherent drive system at imaging speed during image formation, and re-attaching the printing form cylinder after image formation to the drive wheel train in an operating phase position.

Abstract: An improved printing press includes a tubular-shaped printing blanket removably disposed on a blanket cylinder rotatably supported by a frame and having a continuous outer circumferential surface which is free of gaps. The printing blanket is disposed in rolling engagement with a conventional printing plate disposed on a plate cylinder having an axially extending gap in which opposite ends of the printing plate are secured. The printing blanket is removed by opening a portion of the frame and axially sliding the printing blanket off of the blanket cylinder. To assist in the removal or insertion of the printing blanket the blanket cylinder has passages which deliver a stream of air to the outer surface of the blanket cylinder which expands the inner circumferential surface of the printing blanket so that the blanket can be axially removed or inserted onto the blanket cylinder.

Abstract: A lithographic newspaper printing press comprises printing units (4.1 to 4.5) which are mounted on top of each other, forming a tower arrangement (2). Each printing unit comprises a first and a second plate cylinder (24a, 24b) having a length being substantially four times the width of a newspaper page and having a circumference being substantially equal to the height of a newspaper page. Each printing unit 4 further comprises a first and a second blanket cylinder (10a, 10b) associated with said first and second plate cylinders (24a, 24b), whereby each of said first and second blanket cylinders (10a, 10b) has substantially the same diameter as the associated plate cylinder (24a, 24b).

Abstract: A first printing unit of an offset printing press has five cylinders, which include two forme cylinders, two transfer cylinders and a counter-pressure cylinder. These five cylinders are arranged in a manner forming a shape of a “W”.

Abstract: A feeder unit for a sheet-processing machine having a plurality of processing units is provided. The feeder unit includes a feeder, a feed table, and a feed drum. The feed drum is double-sized or larger in that it has a diameter at least twice that of the diameter of the plate or blanket cylinder of at least one of the processing units of the sheet-processing machine. The feed drum includes at least two gripper systems distributed symmetrically on a periphery of the feed drum. The feed drum is arranged with its rotational axis on or offset vertically above a horizontal plane formed by the rotational axes of the printing cylinders in the processing units. Each gripper system is pivotally supported on the feed drum and includes a gripper shaft, at least one gripper arranged on the gripper shaft, a gripper stop bar associated with the gripper, and a front guide arranged on the gripper stop bar.

Abstract: A printing press comprises first to fourth offset printing units for offset printing a sheet, and a screen printing unit for screen printing the sheet. The first to fourth offset printing units and the screen printing unit are connected together so that offset printing and screen printing can be continuously performed on the same sheet efficiently.

Abstract: A processing device in a printing apparatus includes a developer feed roller partly immersed in a developer stored in a developer tank, a fixer feed roller partly immersed in a fixer stored in a fixer tank, and a drive mechanism for rotating the developer feed roller and fixer feed roller. Each of the developer feed roller and fixer feed roller has positioning members mounted on opposite end portions thereof to position the surface of the roller at a slight distance from an image area of a printing plate. Thus, the developer feed roller feeds the developer to the image area without contacting the image area, while the fixer feed roller feeds the fixer to the image area without contacting the image area.

Abstract: A printing press includes a plate cylinder, a plate making unit, and a detection unit. The plate cylinder is rotatably supported by a frame and has an outer surface on which a plate is mounted. The plate making unit is supported to be movable between an operative position where plate making is performed and a wait position to escape from the operative position to perform plate making for the plate. The plate making unit has an exposure unit and a support mechanism for supporting the exposure unit to be movable in an axial direction of the plate cylinder. The exposure unit has a head which irradiates the plate with a laser beam to print an image on the plate. The detection unit detects a position of the exposure unit with reference to the frame.

Abstract: An offset printer includes a drive motor, an impression cylinder gear, a paper feed cylinder, a paper feed cylinder gear, a paper discharge portion, a paper discharge gear, a blanket gear, a plate cylinder gear, an ink reciprocation roller, a mechanism for rotating the ink reciprocation roller, a mechanism for reciprocating the ink reciprocation roller, and first through fourth electromagnetic clutches. Rotation of the drive motor is transmitted to the paper feed cylinder gear and the paper discharge gear through the impression cylinder gear. The rotation force of the impression cylinder gear is also transmitted to, in the order of, the blanket cylinder gear, the plate cylinder gear, and the rotation and reciprocation mechanisms. Driving connection between the paper feed cylinder gear and the paper feed cylinder is selectively disconnected by the first clutch. Driving connection between the paper discharge gear and the paper discharge portion is selectively disconnected by the second clutch.

Abstract: An offset printing press having a plate cylinder and, as viewed in a direction of rotation of the plate cylinder, a first applicator roller assigned to a dampening unit and a second applicator roller to an inking unit, a bridge roller in contact with the first and second applicator rollers, and a roller in contact with the first applicator roller for selectively driving the first applicator roller at the circumferential speed of the plate cylinder and at a different speed, includes a drive connection of the bridge roller so formed that, when the first applicator roller is driven at a circumferential speed different from that of the plate cylinder, the bridge roller is drivable at the circumferential speed of the plate cylinder.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing procession of a gapless tubular printing blanket in an offset printing press caused by at least one fluid wave having a certain pressure trapped at an interface of the printing blanket and a blanket cylinder. The apparatus includes a blanket cylinder which is adapted to receive the printing blanket for mounting on its circumferential surface. The blanket cylinder has at least one path which connects an interface of the blanket cylinder and the printing blanket to a region of pressure lower than the pressure in the fluid wave. The path allows the fluid wave, which is trapped at the interface and advancing in front of a nip between the blanket cylinder and an adjacent cylinder, to escape to the region of low pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing procession of a gapless tubular printing sleeve in an offset printing press caused by at least one fluid wave having a certain pressure trapped at an interface of the printing sleeve and a cylinder on which it is mounted. The apparatus includes a cylinder which is adapted to receive the printing sleeve for mounting on its circumferential surface. The cylinder has at least one path which connects an interface of the cylinder and the printing sleeve to a region of pressure lower than the pressure in the fluid wave. The path allows the fluid wave, which is trapped at the interface and advancing in front of a nip between the cylinder and an adjacent cylinder, to escape to the region of low pressure.

Abstract: A driving mechanism for a cylinder of a rotary printing machine utilizes a drive pinion that engages a drive gear of a cylinder which is supported in an eccentric bushing. The cylinder can be moved between print and non-print positions. The rotational axis of the drive pinion lies on a straight line defined by the axis of rotation of the cylinder and the axis of rotation of the eccentric bushing.

Abstract: A printing apparatus for making a plate by recording and developing images thereon, and thereafter printing the images by feeding inks to the plate. The printing apparatus includes a cylinder for supporting the plate mounted peripherally thereof, a cylinder rotating mechanism for rotating the cylinder, an image recorder for recording the images on the plate mounted on the cylinder, and a developing device for developing the plate mounted on the cylinder. The developing device includes a developing roller reciprocable between an applying position for contacting the plate to apply a developer to the plate mounted peripherally of the cylinder, and a retracted position spaced from the applying position, and a squeeze roller reciprocable between a squeezing position for contacting the plate to squeeze the developer applied by the developing roller off the plate mounted peripherally of the cylinder, and a retracted position spaced from the squeezing position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method which reduces solid mottling in an offset printing press. One or more form rolls having a hard elastomeric outer surface, in the range of approximately 50-100 Shore A durometer hardness, preferably approximately 60-90 Shore A durometer hardness, are used to transfer ink to the plate cylinder. The use of a form roll of this type ensures a smoother application of ink to the plate cylinder, which in turn ensures smoother ink application to the blanket cylinder and printed web. If more than one form roll is used, it is preferable that, at a minimum, the final form roll, i.e., the last form roll the plate cylinder contacts in the direction of rotation, be a hard elastomeric form roll. In another aspect of the present invention, the form rolls can be made of a convex shape along their axial length, such that the diameter of the form rolls at their axial center is larger than the diameter of the form rolls at their axial ends.

Abstract: Apparatus for a web-fed rotary printing press is provided with a first plate cylinder associated with a first blanket cylinder and a second plate cylinder associated with a second blanket cylinder with the second blanket cylinder being in rolling contact with and being mechanically coupled to the first blanket cylinder. A first drive motor individually drives the first plate cylinder. A second drive motor individually drives the second plate cylinder. A third drive motor is used to drive both the first and second blanket cylinders mechanically independently of the first and second motors.