Web Patents (Class 101/178)
  • Patent number: 11433661
    Abstract: A flexographic printing press for printing a substrate web comprises at least one printing unit and at least one central cylinder. A plurality of printing couples are arranged around the periphery of the at least one central cylinder. A horizontally aligned dryer unit, having at least one guide element, is arranged above the printing unit in a vertical direction. The at least one horizontally aligned dryer unit has at least two dryer sections with one dryer section being arranged separated from the next dryer section by at least one diverting assembly. The at least one flexographic printing press has at least one roll unwinder and at least one roll winder. The at least one roll unwinder and the at least one roll winder are arranged on opposite sides of the at least one central cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventor: Stefano Magnone
  • Patent number: 10131136
    Abstract: There is described a recto-verso printing press (100*) adapted to carry out simultaneous recto-verso printing of sheets, the printing press (100*) comprising a main printing group (5, 6, 15, 16, 25, 26) with first and second printing cylinders (5, 6) cooperating with one another to form a first printing nip between the first and second printing cylinders (5, 6) where first and second sides of sheets are simultaneously printed, the first printing cylinder (5) acting as a sheet conveying cylinder of the main printing group (5, 6, 15, 16, 25, 26). The printing press (100*) further comprises an additional printing group (7, 8, 17, 18, 27, 28) with third and fourth printing cylinders (7, 8) cooperating with one another to form a second printing nip between the third and fourth printing cylinders (7, 8) where the first and second sides of the sheets are simultaneously printed, the third printing cylinder (7) acting as a sheet conveying cylinder of the additional printing group (7, 8, 17, 18, 27, 28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: KBA-NOTASYS SA
    Inventor: Johannes Georg Schaede
  • Patent number: 9864891
    Abstract: A label printing device and method include a proportional-integral-derivative controller and a variable speed printer motor. The variable speed printer motor is connected to the proportion-integral-derivative controller, and has an automatically optimized printing speed determined by a print duration history of one or more previously completed print jobs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Intermec Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Torben Kristofer Berggren, Thomas Axel Jonas Celinder, Erik Karl Henning Unemyr
  • Patent number: 9545786
    Abstract: A method for producing color steel plate with multicolored patterns, the PLC control module of servo control system collects the process and rotation speed of each roller of the roller coating unit, calculates out and makes the theoretical roller surface linear velocity be consistent with the process rotation speed; conversely, the actual roller surface linear velocity of each roller of roller coating unit is collected by servo control module having an encoder, and the signal of actual roller surface linear velocity is input into the PLC control system, so that PLC control system can compare actual and theoretical roller surface linear velocity, and adjust current frequency until actual and theoretical roller surface linear velocity are consistent. Control method ensures actual roller surface linear velocity is consistent with process rotation speed, so there is no need to stop the line for adjusting in the production process, thus increasing the production efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: LIAONING CHAOSHUO TOMA TECHNOLOGY STEEL PLATE PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yueping Tang, Jianping Zhou, Liang Wu
  • Patent number: 9340054
    Abstract: A method for producing a patterned insulation board used for exterior wall of building by using screen printing, and the patterned insulation board comprising a metal veneer, a substrate an insulation layer between the metal veneer and the substrate, and the method comprising a step of screen printing the metal veneer, wherein, a flattening device is arranged at a bottom of the printing table, and used to flatten a surface of metal veneer, prior to the screen printing. The flattening device makes the scraper transfer ink by uniform force, which reduces printing difficulties overcome the printing difficulty.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: LIAONING CHAOSHUO TOMA TECHNOLOGY STEEL PLATE PRINTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yueping Tang, Jianping Zhou, Liang Wu
  • Patent number: 9238740
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to an apparatus for a flexographic printing process with wet on wet capability based on controlled polymer or polymer segment precipitation that leads to gel formation of ink compounds by controlling the solubility parameter of the ink system. Insoluble segments in the ink form a reversible gel that is broken to a liquid by heat and/or shear forces during the application process, allowing application of a liquid ink. After application, the ink reverts to its gel state with such strength as to allow overprinting in the wet on wet flexographic printing process. The disclosure is also related to a flexographic printing apparatus comprising a feeding system for providing a flexographic ink, wherein the ink in a liquid state has a viscosity ranging from about 100 cps to about 4,000 cps, and the ink in a gel state has a measurable hardness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: TECHNOSOLUTIONS ASSESSORIA LTDA
    Inventors: Valter Marques Baptista, Wilson Andrade Paduan
  • Publication number: 20140352561
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for converting a coldset printing press to a hybrid heatset and coldset printing press that comprises a infrared heater with a footprint of only about 5 square feet, and optionally an electrical VOC incinerator of about the same size. The hybrid heatset and coldset printing press does not need to make any blanket changes, roller changes, or ink changes when switching between heatset and coldset printing; only the paper is changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventor: Joe I.V. Rosenberg
  • Patent number: 8665493
    Abstract: A paper product having at least one ply, a basis weight of greater than 18 g/m2, and indicia having L*a*b* color values disposed thereon is disclosed. The web substrate is defined by the difference in CIELab coordinate values disposed inside the boundary described by a first system of equations and outside the boundary described by a second system of equations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Michael Scott Prodoehl, Thomas Timothy Byrne
  • Patent number: 8539882
    Abstract: A method of operating a web printing press is provided. The method includes storing productivity data, press speeds and paper types of past print jobs run on the web printing press in a database; comparing a paper type of a new print job with the paper types of the past print jobs stored in the database to identify past print jobs with similar or the same paper type as the new print job; selecting a press speed for the new print job based on at least the productivity data of the past print jobs with similar or the same paper type as the new print job; and printing the new print job on the web printing press at the selected press speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Goss International Americas, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Raymond Rancourt
  • Patent number: 8365660
    Abstract: In a printing press and a method, provided are an offset rotary press for printing predetermined information on a web using a printing plate, a printer for digitally printing specific information desired by a reader and reader identification information at a specific location on a web surface, and a dispatch system for reading the reader identification information on a newspaper, thereby sorting the newspaper by delivery destination. The offset rotary press and the printer are collectively driven by a controller, thereby improving the productivity of printed matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Printing & Packaging Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Kaji, Norifumi Tasaka, Takahide Toshito, Koji Nishiyama
  • Patent number: 8205553
    Abstract: A printing press is comprised of at least one dry offset printing unit. At least two different webs can be fed through the dry offset printing unit. In a first production mode “C” of the printing press, a first web is fed through the dry offset printing unit without a subsequent drying process. In a second production mode “H” of the printing press, a second web is fed through the dry offset printing unit and through an active dryer. In both the first and second production modes “C”, “H”, an inking unit of the printing unit is filled with the same ink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Anastasius Benz, Günther Oskar Eckert, Bernd Kurt Masuch
  • Publication number: 20120060709
    Abstract: In an apparatus for imprinting a material web including a transport arrangement for moving the material web through the apparatus along stations for applying coloring agents to the material web and fixing the coloring agent applied to the web, and a web buffer arranged in the web transport direction of the material web ahead of the first imprinting station for accommodating a section of the material web moved back out of the station area upon shutdown of the apparatus, at least one clamping structure (11a, 11b) is provided for fixing the material web (3) during the movement of the material web back out of the station area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Inventor: Hans Mathea
  • Patent number: 8080277
    Abstract: A method of forming an organic compound layer for producing organic EL element exhibiting high quality and high productivity without increasing cost; a relevant process for producing an organic EL element. There is provided a method of forming an organic compound layer of organic EL element using production apparatus including supply section, coating•drying section and recovery section, characterized in that flexible band substrate (A) having an anode layer in roll form is fed to the supply section; the production apparatus has at least one unit coating•drying section, the unit containing coating section capable of forming coating film for formation of organic compound later under atmospheric pressure by wet applicator and drying section; and at least one organic compound layer is formed on the anode layer to obtain flexible band substrate (B), which is wound on a core to form a roll in the recovery section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Takashima, Seiichi Tobisawa, Masaaki Murayama, Yousuke Takashima
  • Patent number: 7966935
    Abstract: A method for registering a rotary press for a printing process, in which “n” inking systems (Fn) each produce monochrome printed images and print one on top of the other thereby producing n-colored printed images, includes producing the images of a printed material with at least one sensor station, recording information on rotary movements of printing plate cylinders (Dn), and using the images and the information to produce correction signals which actuate the cylinders until a deviation of the images of the respective inking systems from a desired position on the material lies within a defined range of tolerance values. During the registering method, one printing plate cylinder at a time is in the printing position, the sensor station produces the printed images, and the correction signals are obtained based on the image produced by the respective cylinder and the information on the rotary movements of at least one cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Windmoeller & Hoelscher KG
    Inventors: Manfred Loddenkoetter, Martin Kruempelmann
  • Patent number: 7921771
    Abstract: A web-fed rotary printing machine has at least one printing unit and at least one turning bar that is usable to redirect a travel direction of a web that is to be conveyed. The turning bar has an effective length, for redirecting the web. A projection of this effective length corresponds with the width of the incoming web which is of at least four adjacently arranged printed pages in newspaper format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Günther Oskar Eckert
  • Publication number: 20090282996
    Abstract: A web printing press is provided printing a web having a first side and a second side including a first plate cylinder having a first diameter for printing a first image on the first side of the web and a second plate cylinder having a second diameter different from the first diameter for printing a second image on the second side of the web. A method of printing a web is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: Goss International Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Laura Schuler-Cossette, Wesley Clements
  • Publication number: 20090266250
    Abstract: A variable cutoff printing press is provided including a first plate cylinder with a first plate disposed about the first plate cylinder and having a first image portion. A first blanket cylinder transfers the first image portion to a web at a first location. A second plate having a second image portion is disposed about the second plate cylinder. A second blanket cylinder transfers the second image portion to the web at a second location. An impression cylinder contacts the first blanket cylinder and the second blanket cylinder via the web. The first image portion and the second image portion form one continuous image having an image cutoff length. A method of printing an image on a web with a cutoff using a variable cutoff offset printing press is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: Goss International Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Francis Blaney, Michael Robert Lemelin
  • Patent number: 7562623
    Abstract: A printing unit is comprised of at least two pairs of two cylinders each. The two cylinders in each pair are a transfer cylinder and a forme cylinder. The transfer cylinder and the forme cylinder are each embodied with a width sufficient for printing six newspaper pages arranged axially next to each other. The transfer cylinder of each pair cooperates with a counter-pressure cylinder, that is embodied as a satellite cylinder to form a printing head in a so-called print-in-place arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernd Kurt Masuch, Karl Robert Schäfer, Kurt Johannes Weschenfelder
  • Patent number: 7546801
    Abstract: A printing unit is comprised of at least two pairs of two cylinders each. The two cylinders in each pair are a transfer cylinder and a forme cylinder. The transfer cylinder and the forme cylinder are each embodied with a width sufficient for printing six newspaper pages arranged axially next to each other. The transfer cylinder of each pair cooperates with a counter-pressure cylinder, that is embodied as a satellite cylinder to form a printing head in a so-called print-in-place arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernd Kurt Masuch, Karl Robert Schäfer, Kurt Johannes Weschenfelder
  • Patent number: 7540239
    Abstract: A web fed rotary printing unit is provided. The printing unit includes a plurality of cylinders including a first cylinder assigned a first adjustable drive motor and a second cylinder assigned a second adjustable drive motor. The first and second cylinders are in a mechanical drive connection that can be moved between engaged and disengaged positions. When the mechanical drive connection is engaged, the first drive motor assigned to the first cylinder forms a master drive in dependence on which the second drive motor assigned to the second cylinder can be controlled in the manner of a slave drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: manroland AG
    Inventors: Alfons Baintner, Karl-Heinz Bienert, Norbert Dylla, Max Eder
  • Patent number: 7448320
    Abstract: A printing unit is comprised of at least two pairs of two cylinders each. The two cylinders in each pair are a transfer cylinder and a forme cylinder. The transfer cylinder and the forme cylinder are each embodied with a width sufficient for printing six newspaper pages arranged axially next to each other. The transfer cylinder of each pair cooperates with a counter-pressure cylinder, that is embodied as a satellite cylinder to form a printing head in a so-called print-in-place arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernd Kurt Masuch, Karl Robert Schäfer, Kurt Johannes Weschenfelder
  • Patent number: 7178458
    Abstract: A method of economically dye transfer printing small batches of webbing with custom designs includes printing N longitudinally adjacent identical design strips of approximate length L/N with a desired custom design. The design is printed on continuous roll paper with dye transfer ink using a dye transfer printer controlled by a personal computer. The adjacent design strips are simultaneously cut apart using a slitting cutter with parallel disc blades. The slitting cutter is preferably a modified leather slitting cutter with variable speed control and additional alignment guides for precise cutting. The separated design strips of approximate length L/N are assembled into a continuous transfer strip of approximate length L and rolled onto a core. The transfer strip is fed through an aligner with blank webbing and into a heat transfer web rolling machine where heat and pressure are applied to transfer print the design from the transfer strip to the webbing and produce final printed webbing of length L.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Inventor: Thomas P Bates
  • Patent number: 7159512
    Abstract: The invention relates to a printing unit, comprising at least two pairs of two cylinders each, namely a transfer cylinder and an associated forming cylinder, whereby the transfer and forming cylinders are each embodied with a width sufficient for printing six newspaper pages, arranged axially next to each other and the transfer cylinder co-operates with a printing cylinder embodied as a satellite cylinder to form a printing head in a print-in-place arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernd Kurt Masuch, Karl Robert Schäfer, Kurt Johannes Weschenfelder
  • Patent number: 7114447
    Abstract: The invention relates to a flexographic printer comprising: inner dividing means which, together with a surround casing, define first, second and third enclosures; and fluid circulation means which are used for the circulation of at least one fluid at a regulated temperature. The aforementioned enclosures are sufficiently closed off and insulated from one another and the fluid is circulated at a sufficient flow rate, such that the solvent vapour concentration in the atmosphere, originating from the ink, is below a lower pre-fixed explosion limit in at least the second and third enclosures which house means of actuating the rotation and movement of the cylinders and electric and/or electronic devices and/or elements associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: COMEXI, S.A.
    Inventors: Manuel Xifra I Boada, Joaquim Julia I Ferrer, Jordi Sahun Peres, Jordi Puig I Vila
  • Patent number: 6918338
    Abstract: A printing system has an imaging subsystem, an application subsystem, and a decoupler separating the imaging subsystem from the application subsystem. A method of imaging is also provided. In a placing action, an image is placed on a transfer roll in a first environment. In a moving action, the transfer roll is moved to a second environment. In a transferring action, the image is transferred to a media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kurt E. Thiessen, Antoni Murcia
  • Patent number: 6862986
    Abstract: An apparatus for setting the lateral register of a printing unit of a rotary press that prints on a paper web includes a first bearing block configured as a locating bearing arranged on the drive side of a forme cylinder; and a second bearing block configured as a floating bearing on the operating side of the forme cylinder. A pressure medium operated operating cylinder displaces the first bearing block axially and presses it against an adjustable stop without play for the purpose of setting the lateral register. A controller controls the axial location of the adjustable stop in at least one of a closed-loop fashion and an open-loop fashion based on register deviations determined by a scanning optics unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Robert Kersch, Godber Petersen
  • Patent number: 6832549
    Abstract: A rotary printing press includes a plurality of printing units, including at least one multiple-printing unit having a plurality of printing devices arranged vertically in layers. A plurality of first web feed units each having a web roll support device are provided for the printing units in one-to-one correspondence. At least one second web feed unit having a web roll support device is provided as a counterpart to the first web feed unit corresponding to the multiple-printing unit. The printing press includes a web roll transport apparatus, which includes a web roll transport path provided in between the first web feed units and the second web feed unit and along the row of printing units, and a web roll transport device traveling along the web roll transport path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Tokyo Kikai Seisakusho, Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsumi Satoh
  • Patent number: 6802253
    Abstract: A rotary printing machine, in particular in a reel-fed newspaper offset rotary press is provided with a device for correcting the web width. A rotatively mounted rotational body configuration is arranged in the path of the web between two print printing nips (2, 3) on one side of the web. The rotational body configuration (5; 6) has a wave-like profile that is transverse to the running direction of the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Wifag
    Inventor: Robert Langsch
  • Patent number: 6796226
    Abstract: A method of printing with a rotary printing press having a plurality of printing cylinders that are adapted to be adjusted on and off from a running web, with a length of a printed image being larger than a peripheral length of the largest one of the printing cylinders, the method including the steps of subdividing the printed image into elements, printing these elements with different printing cylinders, and periodically shifting at least one of the printing cylinders off from the web, each time for at least a duration of one turn of the printing cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2004
    Assignee: Fischer & Krecke GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Wilfried Kolbe, Klaus Schirrich, Harald Bollhöfener, Hartmut Grosse
  • Patent number: 6789475
    Abstract: A satellite printing machine for printing sheets includes a single central common counter-pressure cylinder and at least four satellite printing groups arranged in a peripherally distributed manner about the counter-pressure cylinder in a rotational direction thereof from a feed cylinder to an output cylinder. The counter-pressure cylinder is provided in the form of a rubber blanket cylinder. At least one additional satellite printing group cooperates with the counter-pressure cylinder for at least single-color back side printing, and is disposed in the rotational direction of the counter-pressure cylinder before the feed system and after the output cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventor: Ebe Hesterman
  • Patent number: 6705219
    Abstract: The web-fed rotary offset printing machine utilizes a blanket belt onto which two or more colors are offset and which prints the two or more colors at once onto a material web. The blanket belt travels about guide rollers which have a lesser mass and/or a lesser diameter than the form cylinders which offset the colors onto the blanket belt. If several impression nips—blanket to web nips—are formed along the travel path of the material web, they are located so close to one another that fan out register errors cannot occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Gerald Roger Douillard, Eric Michael Lapine, Michael Robert Lemelin
  • Patent number: 6651556
    Abstract: A web offset printing press for dual webs includes several printing units, each printing a color image on outer sides of a pair of webs. The webs travel through these printing units in a back-to-back arrangement. Additional printing units print another color image on the outer side. The webs may be separated during this process, with a pair of printing couples used for each web, so that one couple may print the additional image while the plate of the other is changed. The additional printing units also print a single-color image on the opposite side of each web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: John S. Richards
  • Patent number: 6557467
    Abstract: A printing unit is provided for a web-fed rotary printing machine, having a plurality of cylinders with associated drive motor, an additional device for printing an at least two guide elements. At least one cylinder is a plate cylinder. At least one guide element corresponds to the plate cylinder and is operably arranged in the printing unit for determining a setting path of the corresponding plate cylinder relative to the other cylinders. This guide element extends as far as the additional device for printing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Peer Dilling, Horst Dauer, Josef Göttling, Godber Petersen
  • Patent number: 6363848
    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”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Kurt Johannes Weschenfelder
  • Patent number: 6308619
    Abstract: A lithographic web-fed rotary printing press (1) comprises an apparatus (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) for diverting a wet printed web (4), e. g. in order to pass it around a downstream printing unit (2b) of the press (1). Each diverting apparatus (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d) includes a diverting roll (I 2) having a hydrophilic surface, to which water solution 14, preferably dampening solution, as it is used in dampening systems of a lithographic rotary printing press, is supplied by a spray nozzle arrangement (22), or by an applicator roller (16) which is in contact with a pan roller (20) for transferring the water solution (14) from a reservoir (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Heidelberger Drukmaschinen AG
    Inventor: David Robert Dawley
  • Patent number: 6276269
    Abstract: A guide roll (22, 24) for a printing press (10) printing an image on a flat surface (16) of a web (12) of a lenticular lens material. The other side of the material has a series of lenticules (14) formed on it which extend parallel of each other longitudinally of the web and generally across the width of the web. The surface on which the lenticules are formed is drawn across the guide roll as the web of material is pulled through the press. The guide roll has a band (B) of circumferentially extending grooves (G) formed on an outer surface (26) of the roller. The grooves are formed so at least one lenticule fits in each groove. Thus, as the web is drawn through the press, and across the idler roller, the grooves prevent both lateral movement of the web with respect to the press, and distortion of the web. This helps maintain a printing alignment established between the printing press and the web of material prior to beginning a print run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Lenticular Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel W. Bravenec
  • Patent number: 6244176
    Abstract: Disclosed is a printing apparatus comprising a driving roll, a supporting roll, an endless offset blanket stretched between the driving roll and the supporting roll, a plurality of plate cylinders for transferring inks having a plurality of different colors onto the endless offset blanket, a plurality of first impression drums arranged to have the endless offset blanket held between the first impression drums and the plate cylinders, ink supply means for supplying the inks of the plural colors to the plate cylinders, and a second impression drum positioned to push the supporting roll and to have a printing medium held between the supporting roll and the second impression drum, the inks of the plural colors transferred onto the endless offset blanket being printed on the printing medium in a single operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Kinyosha Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Saburo Sonobe, Akio Onuki
  • Patent number: 6220157
    Abstract: A printing press includes a pair of in-line central impression cylinders which rotate about parallel axes. A web which is printed on the central impression cylinders is advanced from one of the cylinders to the other along a path which is perpendicular to the axes. The web is advanced from an unwind to the first central impression cylinder along a path which is parallel to the axes, and the web is advanced from the second central impression cylinder to a rewind along a path which is parallel to the axis. The web path between the central impression cylinders is relatively short, and the printed side of the web does not contact any rolls except possibly a laydown roll before the second impression cylinder. The central impression cylinders and the plate rolls are driven by different servo motors, and a controller controls the servo motors for adjusting the repeat of the printed images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Paper Converting Machine Company
    Inventors: Christopher Delwiche, Gregory Ginnow, David C. O'Donnell, Jon Vander Pas
  • Patent number: 6189449
    Abstract: A web width adjusting device comprises a pressure force applying unit for applying pressure force to one side surface of a paper web which is successively traveled through two or more printing sections. Further the web width adjusting device may also include a counter pressure applying unit to apply counter pressure to the other side surface of the paper web. The pressure applying unit (and the counter pressure applying unit) deformes the paper web in a wavy surface which causes the width of the paper web to be shortened. The adjusting factors for the web width are controlled by automatic control system which detects traveling condition of the paper web, the generation of shears in printing, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: KabushikiGaisha Tokyo Kikai Seisakusho
    Inventors: Yuko Tomita, Masayoshi Sato, Takashi Iijima, Hideo Ohta
  • Patent number: 6176181
    Abstract: A deck for a printing press includes first and second rolls which are mounted for linear movement on a pair of spaced parallel rails. A rotatable ball screw moves the rolls along the rails. The axis of the screw substantially intersects the axes of the rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Paper Converting Machine Company
    Inventors: William J. Van Ryzin, Paul A. Nelson, Roman J. Mudry
  • Patent number: 6125758
    Abstract: A rotary press can vary the order of piling of printed traveling webs freely without requiring the bay window device to the construction and thus contributes for reducing size and weight of the rotary press. Also, the rotary press may facilitate repairing and maintenance operation so that repairing of each unit, maintenance, cleaning or so forth can be done certainly and quickly. The rotary press includes printing units and a folding unit arranged in parallel and further comprises moving means for re-arranging at least two of the units among set units and/or orientation means for turning at least one of the unit over 180.degree..
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: K.K. Tokyo Kikai Seisakusho
    Inventors: Masayoshi Sato, Shinji Kawashima, Yuko Tomita, Tadashi Naoi
  • Patent number: 6082258
    Abstract: A printing press damping system (10) has a set of rollers (12,1,15,16) to deliver a damping fluid (14) from a trough (11) to a plate cylinder (20) of a printing press. The rollers comprise a fountain roller (12) which is rotatable within the trough to pick up damping fluid (14) which is then transferred to a feed roller (1) then to a distributor roller (15) and finally a damping roller (16) which delivers the damping fluid (14) onto the plate cylinder (20). The fountain roller (12) and distributor roller (15) each have their own drive means. Both the feed roller (1) and damping roller (16) are rotated by frictional engagement with the distributor roller (15). The feed roller (1) has a resiliently deformable outer circumferential surface with a plurality of spaced-apart radial slots which facilitates good grip between the feed roller (1) and the distributor roller (15) and minimises swelling in the feed roller (1) when it heats up in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Inventor: Richard Harrington
  • Patent number: 6041707
    Abstract: A web-fed rotary printing machine having a plurality of directly adjacent printing units. Each of the printing units has only one side wall, in which the printing group cylinders are float mounted. The printing units are arranged in-line with no working space between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Godber Petersen, Hans Fleischmann, Rainer Stamme, Josef Schneider
  • Patent number: 5729817
    Abstract: An accent color printer for printing on a continuous web of material has spaced apart drums, and a flexible continuous belt positioned around the drums. The belt defines a transport path having an arcuate portion at one of the drums. A platen cooperates with the belt to define a curvilinear print region for said transport path. An input module positions a continuous web onto the moving belt. Print heads positioned adjacent the belt print accent colors onto the web at the print region. An outfeed module removes the web from the belt at arcuate portion of the transport path and tensions the removed web whereby the web forms a capstan wrap with the belt at the arcuate portion of the transport path. The capstan wrap results in the tension in the web at the printer region being increased from the tension in the web removed from the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Accent Color Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael W. Raymond, Damian P. Bianchi
  • Patent number: 5724891
    Abstract: A system and a method for producing displays such as signs and cards includes a continuous substrate of material which is passed from a supply roller to a take-up roller. A series of printing stations apply a four-color image to the substrate. A fifth printing station then applies a layer of opaque ink to selected portions of the four-color image. Subsequently, a rotating silk screen applies a pattern of viscous translucent ink to form extraordinarily thick ridges on selected portions of the four-color image and opaque ink layer. Finally, a metalized substrate is laminated to the plastic substrate over the various ink layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Chromium Graphics
    Inventor: Douglas I. Lovison
  • Patent number: 5706725
    Abstract: A flexographic printing press with one or several color printing units (12), which are disposed at the periphery of a common back pressure cylinder (10) and, in each case, have an impression cylinder (14; 14') and an applicator roll (16) and the impression cylinder of which can be driven independently of the back pressure cylinder, characterized in that each applicator roll (16) can be driven over a gear assembly (32, 40; 32') with a fixed transmission ratio by a central wheel (24) fixed on the shaft (22) of the back pressure cylinder (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Fischer & Krecke GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Wilfried Kolbe, Manfred Terstegen, Bodo Steinmeier, Klaus Schirrich
  • Patent number: 5612118
    Abstract: A printing process prints a continuously moving substrate with elongate, semi-tone graphics. The printed substrate is incorporated into a composite elastic material, in which the substrate is contracted, thereby forming a desired full-tone graphic from the semi-tone graphic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Schleinz, Daniel J. Conrad, Joseph S. Kucherovsky
  • Patent number: 5597642
    Abstract: A dual substrate, single-pass printing process prints a high basis weight substrate and a low basis weight substrate. Ink striking through the low basis weight substrate is collected and absorbed by the high basis weight substrate. The printed substrates are then separated and rewound for subsequent transport and handling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Schleinz, Daniel J. Conrad, Joseph S. Kucherovsky
  • Patent number: 5479855
    Abstract: A belt-type printing machine, especially for a plurality of colors, comprising at least one printing station (2) containing a frame (1), idler rolls (7) arranged in bearings therein, an impression cylinder (6) for guiding a continuous web (8) to be printed arranged in preferably fixed bearings on the frame (1), a plate cylinder (3), two sprocket wheels (4, 5) coaxially mounted to but not commonly driven with the plate cylinder (3) and at least one tensioning cylinder (10), around which an endless belt (11) extends having at least one flexible printing plate and being provided with perforations for the sprocket wheels (4, 5), wherein an inking assembly (13) allocated to the flexible printing plate of the belt (11), a drive acting upon the sprocket wheels (4, 5) to the belt (11) and an additional single drive (32) acting upon the plate cylinder (3) to the belt (11) for the purpose of avoiding the jump movement between the perforations of the belt and the pins of the sprocket wheels are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Thimm Verpackung GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Michael Christoph, Udo Welschlau, Wolfgang Becker
  • Patent number: 5413038
    Abstract: In a printing machine with an impression roll and several printing mechanisms, the bearings of the size cylinders and the inking device supports can be moved with the screen rolls on guides of the printing machine stand, approximately radially to the impression roll. The drive of the size cylinders and of the screen rolls is derived from a central drive. In order to create a simple continuously running drive for the inking device rolls, the screen rolls are actively connected via a freewheel to the central drive. For the screen rolls, which can be moved away from the size cylinders, a continuously running drive is provided which consists of a toothed belt, driven by a servomotor, which loops around all of the toothed drive wheels of the screen rolls. The strands of the toothed belt and the strands of the toothed belt enclosing the respectively radial external idle wheels in a loop-like manner, extend in parallel with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: Windmoller & Holscher
    Inventors: Werner Josl-Enneking, Guenter Rogge