Abstract: The invention relates to a method for aligning at least two cylinders in a parallel manner relative to each other. In a first step, one cylinder is rotated and moved in a parallel manner towards the other cylinder in order to align a first end of the cylinder, and in a second step, the second end of the cylinder is rotated and moved towards the other cylinder in order to align the second end of the cylinder.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member that includes a photosensitive layer, the photosensitive layer being thicker at a first axial end of the photosensitive member than at a second axial end of the photosensitive member; and a forming unit that forms a first image and a second image on the photosensitive member, the first image being transferred to each of transfer areas defined on continuous-form paper, the second image being transferred to the first axial end but to neither a position between adjacent ones of the transfer areas that are side by side in a longitudinal direction of the continuous-form paper nor a position in any of the transfer areas.

Abstract: A variable cutoff printing press includes a plate cylinder, a plate cylinder support removably supporting the plate cylinder, a blanket cylinder, a blanket cylinder support removably supporting the blanket, an impression cylinder and an impression cylinder support. An actuator for moving the blanket cylinder support accommodates different blanket cylinder sizes, the actuator further moving the impression cylinder support so that regardless of blanket cylinder size a gap exists between the blanket cylinder support and the impression cylinder support. An on impression actuator moves the impression cylinder support against the blanket cylinder support to set a desired print load. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A printing machine with at least one inking unit which has at least two cylinders which are set against each other during the printing operation and can be rotated by at least one drive. The printing machine is provided with sensors for recording parameters of the rotary motion of the cylinders such as the torque and speed. A setting mechanism is provided for setting the at least two cylinders against each other in radial direction. The control unit is configured to trigger the setting mechanism to set the at least two cylinders against each other. The at least two cylinders are brought to different circumferential velocities and set against each other. The relative position of the two cylinders is recorded or maintained when at least one parameter of the rotary motion of the at least two cylinders exceeds a threshold value.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a first cylinder, second cylinder, third cylinder, first driving device, second driving device, third driving device, gap amount input device, and controller. The first cylinder receives a sheet from an upstream transport cylinder and holds the sheet. The second cylinder is disposed to oppose the first cylinder and prints/coats the sheet held by the first cylinder. The third cylinder is disposed to oppose the first cylinder and supplies ink/varnish to a circumferential surface of the first cylinder. The first driving device adjusts a gap amount between the first cylinder and upstream transport cylinder. The second driving device adjusts the position of the second cylinder with respect to the first cylinder. The third driving device adjusts the position of the third cylinder with respect to the first cylinder. The gap amount input device inputs the gap amount between the first cylinder and upstream transport cylinder.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus includes a first cylinder, second cylinder, third cylinder, first driving device, second driving device, third driving device, thickness input device, and controller. The first cylinder receives a sheet from an upstream transport cylinder and holds the sheet. The second cylinder is disposed to oppose the first cylinder and prints/coats the sheet held by the first cylinder. The third cylinder is disposed to oppose the first cylinder and supplies ink/varnish to a circumferential surface of the first cylinder. The first driving device adjusts a gap amount between the first cylinder and the upstream transport cylinder. The second driving device adjusts the position of the second cylinder with respect to the first cylinder. The third driving device adjusts the position of the third cylinder with respect to the first cylinder. The thickness input device inputs the thickness of the sheet.

Abstract: A variable cutoff printing press is provided. The printing press includes a first plate cylinder rotating at a constant angular velocity and printing on a web during each revolution about a first plate cylinder axis and a first blanket cylinder rotating at varying angular velocities during each revolution about a first blanket cylinder axis. The first blanket cylinder comes in and out of contact with the first plate cylinder during operation. A method of variable cutoff printing is also provided.

Abstract: A printing unit is provided including a frame and at least a first printing group having a first plate cylinder and a first blanket cylinder which is intended to co-operate with a pressing cylinder. The printing group further includes a mechanism by means of which the first blanket cylinder can be moved between at least one throw-on position, in which it is pressed against the first plate cylinder and against the pressing cylinder, and a throw-off position, in which it is spaced apart from the first plate cylinder and the pressing cylinder. The support mechanism includes at least one main connection rod which can be moved relative to the frame and which carries the blanket cylinder. The main connection rod can be moved in rotation relative to the frame about the centre axis of the first plate cylinder.

Abstract: Printing units are supported between side frames of a web-fed rotary printing press. Each such printing unit includes at least one transfer cylinder and at least one cooperating printing cylinder, which is embodied as a form cylinder. These cylinders are rotatably mounted between the spaced side frames. The printing unit is provided with an inking unit that includes a roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus of the invention at least includes: a transport control component for controlling a transporting component so that transporting of the continuous paper is stopped when a print job is finished, the continuous paper is back-transported to an image formation start position of the next print job, and after that, the continuous paper is transported again; and a control component that, when a print job is executed in the case where a pattern image exists in a back-transported area which is set after the continuous paper is back-transported, controls the image formation controlling component so as not to correct the image formation position.

Abstract: Apparatus for preventing the cylinder drive wheels of the transfer cylinders jamming against one another during setting and throwing-off movements includes a transfer cylinder having cylinder drive wheel which engages the drive wheels of a forme cylinder and of an impression cylinder in the thrown-on position. A linkage is connected to the transfer cylinder to be moved into the thrown-off position so that synchronously with the pivoting of the transfer cylinder to be thrown off, a counter-rotation of the transfer cylinder is produced a gear-wheel chain which meshes with the drive gear wheels of the forme cylinder and of the impression cylinder.

Abstract: A mechanism for rotary printing presses to increase the number of ink form-rollers without decreasing the space available for changing the printing plates. An additional advantage of this mechanism is the ease of access to the inner form rollers.

Abstract: A rotary press to lay patterns of a material on a strip material comprises a working cylinder bearing embossing plates of the patterns of the aforesaid material to be laid and an opposed anvil cylinder. The working cylinder is rotated. A heater for the working cylinder. A device to exert a defined prestress between the working cylinder and the anvil cylinder. Ball-bearings between the anvil cylinder and its shaft. A device adjusts the space between the working cylinder and the anvil cylinder, independent of the device to exert the defined prestress.

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 adjustable bearing arrangement is used for the remote controlled adjustment of an inking roller or a dampening roller with respect to a second, contacting roller. The journal of the roller to be adjusted is secured to an adjusting element. A pre-settable adjusting force is transferred from one roller to the other. In the adjustment position, the receiving element or elements are locked so that it is temporarily impossible for the now adjusted roller to move either in, or opposite to the direction of adjustment.

Abstract: A rotary printing machine includes a first gearwheel, a second gearwheel, and a setting device for selectively adjusting the second gearwheel into a first position, in which the gearwheels are coupled to one another, and into a second position, in which the gearwheels are uncoupled from one another. The printing machine includes a traction mechanism for securing a staggered-teeth rotary-angle position of the second gearwheel relative to the first gearwheel when the second gearwheel is adjusted into the second position, and a first tension element for tensioning a rotatably arranged traction means of the traction mechanism. The first tension element is loaded by a spring. The traction means is assigned a second tension element, and in the second tension element is mounted so to be a selectively adjustable into a first switching position and a second switching position.

Abstract: In a rotary printing machine, in particular a web-fed rotary printing machine, having at least one printing unit including a plurality of printing-unit cylinders, of which at least one can be brought into and out of operative connection with at least one functional unit which is associated with a function needed to operate the printing unit, is provided with a drive device and is fitted on a linear guide device, a high level of operating convenience and working accuracy being achieved by the functional unit being assigned a positioning device, which has a controller which can be fed with at least one position-dependent signal which can be generated by means of a sensor arrangement associated with the functional unit and by which the drive device can be controlled.

Abstract: A printing unit has a frame and a plurality of printing cylinders, including a first plate cylinder, a first blanket cylinder, a second blanket cylinder mounted in the frame and forming a nip with the first blanket cylinder for receiving a web of material to be printed, and a second plate cylinder. A plurality of eccentric boxes are mounted on the cylinders and supported in the frame. A plurality of actuation assemblies are provided that are connected to the eccentric boxes. One of the actuation assemblies is connected to each of the eccentric boxes for moving the eccentric boxes such that the printing cylinders can be selectively positioned between a thrown-off position and an engagement position in regards to adjacent printing cylinders. Because of the use of eccentric boxes, lower rated and less complicated actuation assemblies can be used.

Abstract: A device for transmitting rotary motion to a plate-holding impression cylinder of a plate mounting machine for flexographic printing, comprising a backup roll which can be actuated rotatably by a first motor; a beam, which is provided with crescent-shaped rests for rotatably supporting end pivots of the impression cylinder; a gear coaxial to the impression cylinder and rotatably supported by a head associated with the beam; and a hollow transmission shaft engaging at one end, one of the pivots and, at the other end, the gear; the transmission shaft being movable coaxially to the gear between a retracted disengagement configuration and a protruding engagement configuration in which the impression cylinder is actuatable.

Abstract: A retractable in-line inking/coating apparatus selectively applies either spot or overall ink/coating to a blanket or flexographic plate on a blanket cylinder or spot coating or overall ink/coating to a flexographic printing plate on a plate cylinder in a rotary offset printing press. The inking/coating apparatus is pivotally mounted on the tower of a printing unit or dedicated coating unit, and is extended into and retracted out of inking/coating engagement by a carriage assembly which is pivotally coupled to the printing unit tower. Because of the pivotal support provided by a cantilevered support arm, the inking/coating apparatus can be raised and lowered through a Ferris wheel arc movement between adjacent printing units. The aqueous component of the printing ink or coating is evaporated by a high velocity, hot air interstation dryer and a high performance heat and moisture extractor so that the ink on a freshly printed sheet is dry before the sheet is printed on the next printing unit.

Abstract: A central impression printing press (20) utilizes a plurality of quick change print stations (100, 200, 300) to increase safety and print quality. The print stations (100, 200, 300) include movable carriages (102, 202, 302) which mount anilox rolls (40) and meter rolls (38). The carriages (102, 202, 302) roll on guide track assemblies (104, 204, 304) and are locked in operative positions by lock mechanisms (106, 206, 306) utilizing lock arms (1100, 316) with progressive engagement surfaces (1106, 318). The carriages (102, 202, 203) have anilox roll mounts (132) and mounting slots (134) which allow the anilox rolls (40) and meter rolls (38), respectively, to be simply lifted off the carriages (102, 202, 203). The anilox rolls (40) are driven by engagement of a shear pin (160) which shears off if foreign matter becomes caught in the rolls. The press (20) also uses an upstream doctor blade (1126) used on the upstream print station (102).

Abstract: A retractable impression cylinder coater printer known as the “Lithoflex I™” combines lithographic and flexographic printing and coating in a single pass operation. The apparatus is adapted for installation on any printing station of a multi-color lithographic press, and is not limited to the last printing station. Ink or coating materials are applied from a printing plate or a blanket mounted on the plate cylinder of the retractable printer-coater unit and applied directly onto the surface of a substrate passing over the impression cylinder of the lithographic printing station just after being lithographically printed on that station. The combination printed substrate is passed to the next or a following lithographic printing station where it is lithographically overprinted.

Abstract: A method for adjusting a cylinder in a printing machine includes, in a first step, rotating a first cylinder into a rotary position wherein a cylinder gap formed in the first cylinder is directed towards a second cylinder of the printing machine and, in a second step, displacing one of the two cylinders, with the second cylinder dipping into the cylinder gap; and a printing machine for performing the method.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a printing unit including a frame (2) and an upper plate cylinder (12) mounted in the frame (2). An upper blanket cylinder (16) is in selective contact with the upper plate cylinder (12), and a lower blanket cylinder (18) forms a nip with the upper blanket cylinder (16). A web (8) passes through the nip. A lower plate cylinder (14) contacts the lower blanket cylinder (18). Impression setting means (60, 62, 82) are assigned to movable housings (40, 44) of the movable cylinders (12, 14, 16). The impression setting means (60, 62, 82) are provided to adjust forces exerted on bearers (20) of the printing unit cylinders (12, 14, 16).

Abstract: A printing unit in a lithographic web fed rotary printing press has a plate cylinder and an associated blanket cylinder mechanically coupled via a gear train. A first drive motor drives both the plate cylinder and blanket cylinder. An impression cylinder is associated with the blanket cylinder, the impression cylinder being in rolling contact with the blanket cylinder and being driven by a second drive motor. The web passes through a nip formed between the impression cylinder and the blanket cylinder for printing. A clutch is provided for interrupting a drive connection between the first drive motor and the blanket cylinder, as is a throw-off mechanism for separating the plate cylinder from the blanket cylinder. With the printing unit, the blanket cylinder can remain in rolling contact with the impression cylinder and be friction-driven by the web after the drive connection has been interrupted.

Abstract: A printing unit is disclosed which incorporates an applicator roller (66) such as anilox roller with bearer surfaces (206) at the ends thereof for positively positioning the applicator roller relative a cylinder, such as a plate cylinder (32) or a blanket cylinder (34). The bearer surfaces (206) on the applicator roller are engaged with the bearer surfaces (202, 204) of the plate or impression cylinder to precisely and consistently position the applicator roller (66) relative the cylinder.

Abstract: A printing press includes an interchangeable plate cylinder, in which the plate cylinder may have variable cutoff diameters. The plate cylinder is mounted in the printing press in rolling contact with a fixed diameter blanket cylinder. The ink rollers of the inker mechanism may be positionally adjusted to accommodate a plate cylinder of various diameters. The surface of the printing blanket which is mounted on the blanket cylinder includes a material of low polarity surface energy, such as PTFE. The ink used in the press is selected such that, in combination with the PTFE of the blanket surface, the ink does not remain as a latent image on the blanket cylinder after transfer of the image from the blanket cylinder to a web of material.

Abstract: An improved throw off device for disengaging adjacent blanket cylinders (12) and (14) from each other and corresponding adjacent plate cylinders (16) and (18) is provided. The device includes pairs of bearing assemblies (28A), (28B), (30A) and (30B) that are mounted on the opposite ends of the journal (26) of each of the blanket cylinders (12) and (14). Each bearing assembly is defined by an inner race (36) and an outer race (38) having an eccentric bore in which the inner race is disposed. The device eliminates the need for a bearing sleeve. Each bearing assembly has a lever (74) arm that is mounted to the outer race (38). The lever arm (74) is defined by two wing-shaped portions (76) and (78). Each bearing assembly further includes a hydraulic cylinder (86). Each hydraulic cylinder (86) is coupled at one end to one of the two wing-shaped portions of the lever arm (74) and at the other end to one of the side frames of the printing press.

Abstract: To improve the throw-on and throw-off movement of the rollers in the roller train of inking or dampening units of a printing machine, an improved and simpler throw-on and throw-off device is provided. For this purpose, intermediate rollers are carried in bearing levers, which enable the intermediate rollers to be thrown off from adjacent distributor rollers. For the simple parallel throw-on of the intermediate rollers, their bearing levers carry cam rollers which are supported on an adjusting rod. The adjusting rod has cam sections which cooperate with the cam rollers, and in response to longitudinal displacement of the adjusting rod, the intermediate rollers are moveable in throw-on and throw-off directions.

Abstract: Rubber-blanket cylinder engagement and disengagement device for a rotary printing press having a plate cylinder and an impression cylinder includes swivel arms whereon the rubber-blanket cylinder is journalled, the swivel arms being articulatedly connected to a frame of the rotary printing press, an actuating device for swivelling the swivel arms, and an adjustable stop device disposed at a side of the frame for limiting swivelling motion of the swivel arms so as to bring about a setting thereof in a rubber-blanket cylinder engagement position, the stop device having at least one supporting element formed with a large supporting surface by which the stop device cooperates with the rubber-blanket cylinder.

Abstract: A cylinder throw-on and throw-off mechanism for a printing press having a plate cylinder and a printing cylinder, which are disposed with outer surfaces being separated from each other, and a blanket cylinder disposed therebetween includes a driving unit and a control unit. The driving unit has a motor serving as a driving source and moves the blanket cylinder between an impression-on position where the blanket cylinder is pressed against the plate cylinder and simultaneously pressed against the printing cylinder through a paper sheet and an impression throw-off position where the blanket cylinder is separated from the plate cylinder and the printing cylinder in accordance with a direction of rotation and the number of revolutions of the motor.

Abstract: In a rotary printing machine, a device for the print setting of a printing cylinder equipped with a slip-on sleeve. The printing cylinder is supported in a bearing to which an eccentric bushing is secured for reciprocating the printing cylinder between print engagement and disengagement positions. The device includes a coupling rod secured to the eccentric bushing for reciprocating the latter, and the coupling rod is joined to the eccentric bushing by a separable joint such that the coupling rod may be swung out of the area of the frame opening to accommodate changing of the sleeve without removing the printing cylinder from the printing machine.

Abstract: A printing press includes two opposite mounting walls formed with aligned horizontally extending openings in which two sliding seats are mounted slidably and respectively, a printing roller extending horizontally between the mounting walls and having a longitudinal axis and two opposite ends mounted rotatably and respectively to the sliding seats, a printing plate unit mounted securely on the printing roller, a first retaining assembly provided on one of the mounting walls for retaining releasably a first one of the sliding seats in a desired position in the respective opening, and a second retaining assembly provided on the other one of the mounting walls for retaining releasably a second one of the sliding seats in a desired position in the respective opening.

Abstract: A cylinder throw apparatus includes a plate cylinder, a printing cylinder, a blanket cylinder, a pair of eccentric bearings, and a motor. The plate cylinder has a circumferential surface on which a printing plate is mounted. The printing cylinder is disposed to have a circumferential surface thereof kept away from the circumferential surface of the plate cylinder. The blanket cylinder is disposed between the plate cylinder and the printing cylinder. The eccentric bearings and the motor move the blanket cylinder between an impression-on position in which the blanket cylinder is pressed against the plate cylinder and, through a paper sheet, pressed against the printing cylinder, and an impression throw-off position in which the blanket cylinder is kept away from the plate cylinder and the printing cylinder, and automatically set a gap between the blanket cylinder and the printing cylinder at the impression-on position in correspondence with a paper thickness.

Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting the impression of an impression cylinder, equipped with a tube that can be slipped on, in a rotary press, the mounting of which apparatus has an eccentric bush equipped with a gearing, which is engaged in the operating state by an eccentric adjustment, which can be shifted out of the region of an opening enabling an exchange of tubes and is equipped with a gearing. A toothed quadrant, engaging the gearing of the eccentric bush, and a working cylinder, which is operated by a pressure medium and linked to the toothed quadrant, are pivotably connected with a rocking lever, which is mounted in the supporting frame and engaged by a two-membered driven toggle joint, which is pivotably connected at the other end with the supporting frame.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus for displacing shaft-mounting bearing stands, which are secured to carriages, in carriage guides, preferably for displacing the bearing stands of plate cylinders and inking rollers of a printing unit in carriage tracks of the inking unit supports of a multicolor rotary press, comprising screw drives, which are driven by electric motors. To solve the object to provide such an apparatus in which shafts and particularly plate cylinders and associated inking rollers can mutually independently be displaced relative to each other and, e.g., relative to an impression cylinder, the invention resides in that a screw that extends parallel to a single carriage track is rotatably mounted in the machine frame or on the inking unit support and is provided with a drive. A nut which is non-rotatably and axially immovably connected to a bearing stand or to a carriage is mounted on the screw.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement for eliminating the play or clearance between an eccentric bearing bush for a printing cylinder bearing and a bearing hole which rotatably accommodates the bush in the side frame of the printing press. Mutually contiguous surfaces of the bearing bush and the bearing hole are formed with contours which provide mutual contact between the surfaces along two areas which are substantially parallel to the bearing hole axis. The contact surfaces are separated by an angle of less than 180.degree. defined by gaps between an outer surface of the bush and an inner surface of the bearing hole.

Abstract: The present invention relates to printing machines with paper reversers.The purpose of the invention is to mitigate the necessity of adjusting or checking the correct position of paper in the paper reverser.The above purpose is achieved by the present invention where a paper feeding scanner, together with a scanner for checking the angle of displacement of the machine cylinders are connected, via a first coincidence gate, to the input of a first memory. The output of the first memory is connected to the serial input of a first shift register. To the clock pulse input of the first shift register is connected a pulse scanner for scanning pulses which are synchronous with the revolutions of the printing machine parts upstream of the paper reverser. To the first used storage location of the first shift register is connected a first circuit for engaging printing sets under pressure.

Abstract: A sheet-fed rotary printing machine with a turn-over mechanism includes a turn-over cylinder interposed between printing cylinders in a pair of printing units and having a pair of gripper shafts mounted on an outer circumferential surface of the turn-over cylinder in diametrically opposite relation. A plurality of turn-over gripper devices are mounted at intervals on each of the gripper shafts, each turn-over gripper device being composed of a fixed turn-over gripper and a loosely fitted gripper pad assembly. The turn-over cylinder also has a cam mechanism for turning over the turn-over gripper devices and another cam mechanism for opening and closing the turn-over gripper devices.

Abstract: A color gravure printing press of simple construction which is easy to set up and operate, and is therefore economic for use in printing short runs comprises printing members (2) for at least two different colors arranged around a common printing cylinder (1), an impression cylinder (3) including means (11) to hold a sheet of substrate (15) to be printed, and at least as many inking assemblies (4) as there are different color printing members (2) arranged around the printing cylinder (1). Each of the inking assemblies (4) includes a doctor blade (35) movable towards and away from the printing cylinder (1). The press is arranged so that each inking assembly (4) applies ink only to its corresponding printing member (2) and each doctor blade (35) contacts only its corresponding printing member (2), and that the substrate (15) is held in a fixed position on the impression cylinder (3) until it has been contacted and printed by all of the different color printing members ( 2).

Abstract: Paper gripper improvement in a printing press of the type having a frame, a large paper carrying impression cylinder drum mounted on the frame and a plurality of retractable printing stations mounted on the frame and spaced around the drum. Each gripper has a stationary finger and a second finger reciprocatable with respect to the stationary finger. A cam is connected to operate the reciprocatable finger to grip the paper as it is fed onto the drum. To detect a missing paper, an electrical circuit is completed by contact between the stationary finger and the reciprocatable finger in the absence of a paper between them insulating them from each other, whereby the need for photo-cells or other detectors to detect missing papers is eliminated. The inking rollers are driven separately from the drum to facilitate retracting the printing stations in the event of a missing paper.

Abstract: A two-color offset printing press having two plate cylinders simultaneously engageable with a single blanket cylinder is disclosed. The plate cylinders and a blanket cylinder are rotatably mounted on a printer head fixed to the mainframe of the press. A first set of dampening and inking rollers is mounted on the printer head and engageable with one of the plate cylinders. A second set of dampening and inking rollers, engageable with the other plate cylinder, is mounted on a ball bushing supported carriage linearly movable to and from the printer head along a pair of parallel rails fixed to the mainframe. Image registry between the two plate cylinders is established by an operator-accessible adjustment mechanism for shifting one of the plate cylinders back and forth along its axis of rotation. An electrical safety interlock system precludes operator access to the carriage-associated plate cylinder during predetermined operating modes of the press.