Abstract: Faulty useful units printed on a sheet of useful units are separated from the acceptable useful units. A first cutting device cuts the sheet into a plurality of longitudinal strips, each of which contains several of the useful units. A quality control device detects the faulty useful units prior to a second cutting device that cuts the strips into individual units. A filtering unit is placed between the two cutting units and filters out strips with one or more faulty units. Strips with no faulty units replace the filtered out faulty unit strips. This simplifies further processing of the strips.

Abstract: The invention relates to a perforating, grooving or cutting device for a multicolor or single-color sheet-fed rotary press (1) comprising printing and/or varnishing groups (2), at least one of which has a rubber cylinder (3) with a holding system (14) for a blanket, as well as an associated counter-pressure cylinder (4). According to the invention, a rectangular base plate (13) is provided, which is made from a flexible and shape-retaining material over which it is possible to glue embossed treatment profiles (29, 37) used as perforating and/or grooving and/or punching profiles corresponding to perforating and/or grooving and/or punching shapes which can be predetermined. Furthermore, at least two fastening strips (17, 18) are provided for detachably attaching the punch foil to opposed marginal areas in the stretched state.

Abstract: A cutting machine which dispenses and cuts sheet material includes a carriage on rails for movement parallel to the horizontal rolls carried on a vertical carrousel. The carriage supports a cutting table top and a drive roller at one side for driving the roll of floor covering material on the carrousel in forward direction for feeding the sheet to the table top and in reverse direction for re-winding. A measuring wheel and electric eye for detecting the presence of the material are located on the table top. A sensor is provided to detect if the measuring wheel is de-activated during use. A control unit includes a printer and is arranged to cause measurement and feeding of a measured length of the material which is fed to a re-roller on the carriage.

Abstract: A web-fed offset printing machine includes printing units having at least one form cylinder and one transfer cylinder; and at least one folder unit; and wherein, for each printing unit, at least one of the form and transfer cylinders has a drive connection to a separate electric motor, the at least one cylinder has either no mechanical drive connection to a further one of the cylinders in case the further cylinder is driven directly or indirectly by a further separate electric motor, or a mechanical drive connection to one of the further cylinders in case the further cylinder is non-driven; the printing machine further includes a motor control system for the at least one electric motor for adjusting a printing group and for presetting the printing units for adaptation to either a different web path or production configuration, the motor control system has an input side; and a computing and memory unit for storing a plurality of cylinder positions connected to the input side of the motor control system.

Abstract: An imaging system includes a guide which transports a recording medium and a roller which holds the recording medium in place to pull the recording medium through an imaging plane defined by a surface of the roller. A device forms an image onto the recording medium at the imaging plane. The roller is a vacuum roller that uses a vacuum produced at the imaging plane to hold the recording medium in place during transport and imaging.

Abstract: In electrographic printing devices which print a printing material, for example paper webs, there exists a problem in the case of a malfunction that the printing material has to be removed from the printing unit as this occurs it should be avoided that drive rollers for the printing material are dirtied by non-fixed toner images. To avoid this, a cutting device is provided that presents a reel cutter that is guided in a guide groove of a guide tube. When a malfunction occurs, the cutting device is activated, the reel cutter cuts the printing material, and the cut sections of the printing material are pulled out of the printing unit separately.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to automatically adjust cutting and printing registers based on the detection of predetermined mark for different colors in a rotary press using a paper web, thereby eliminating the need for skills and reducing time for adjusting cutting registers. A driving reference setting section, a feedback signal output section, a mark detecting section and a register correction value output section are provided, and a control section for controlling the driving section of the printing mechanism effects control so that the driving reference phase is synchronized with the feedback phase of the plate cylinder by each driving means.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing multiple die cut business forms is disclosed. One embodiment of a printing press according to the present invention includes a number of different stations that are connected together by a continues web. Multiple die cut business forms are produced by a continues process from stock paper to an output configuration such as continues roll, fan fold, or cut sheet. One aspect of the present invention is that a silicone treated glassine stock paper substrate can be utilized to allow business forms to be produced with minimized curling.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to automatically adjust cutting and printing registers based on the detection of predetermined marks for different colors in a rotary press using a paper web, thereby eliminating the need for skills and reducing time for adjusting cutting registers.

Abstract: A sheeting apparatus and method are disclosed for cutting a web of material passing through a printing press into sheets. The apparatus comprises a rotating die roller including a knife mounted longitudinally thereon, the die roller being connected to the printing press transversely to the web and moveable between an engaging position wherein the knife rotates into cutting engagement with the web and a released position wherein the knife does not contact the web. A pair of springs bias the die roller into one of the engaging and released positions and a pair of linear actuators are provided to selectively move the die roller into the other of the engaging and released positions in opposition to the spring bias. The sheeting apparatus further includes a programmable controller for automatically operating the actuators. The method involves cyclically moving the die roller between the released position and the engaging position at intervals to cut the web into sheets of a predetermined length.

Abstract: Method for form-processing paper in a printing press by at least one processing tool and a computer includes converting digital data representing desired processing geometries into signals in the computer, and controlling the at least one processing tool with the signals so as to obtain the processing geometries: and apparatus for performing the method.

Abstract: In an apparatus for imprinting an unmarked foil with images which are to be arranged within sections of the foil of a predetermined length L, including a printing device, a foil section transport device for moving the foil stepwise in sections of the length L, a cutting device for cutting the foil into the sections and a foil buffer arrangement accommodating a varying length of the foil between the printing device and the transport device, a foil motion sensor is arranged at the exit of the buffer arrangement for sensing the foil movement out of the buffer arrangement and controlling accordingly the speed of the printing device and a foil length sensor is arranged in the buffer arrangement and providing a print initiation signal when the foil length between the end of the foil in the cutting device and the printing device is a predetermined multiple of the foil section length L.

Abstract: A method for making a roll for a rotary printing press includes cutting a strip of a material so as to form a first web with a plurality of first tabs disposed one after the other and extending from the first web. The plurality of first tabs is bent relative to the first web so as to form a strut strip having the tabs extending from the web at an angle relative to the web. The strut strip is wrapped about a cylindrical form so as to form a cylindrical tube with the plurality of first tabs extending from the tube.

Abstract: In a folder, a folding cylinder having folding components accommodated on the periphery thereof and being phase-dependently operatable, and cylinder segments for carrying the folding components, the cylinder segments being adjustable in relation to one another and being mounted coaxially in side walls, includes separate drives, respectively, for driving each of the folding components, a rotary leadthrough via which energy is supplied to the separate drives, and a speed controller for speed-dependently controlling the separate drives; a method of operating the folding cylinder; a folder including the folding cylinder; and a rotary printing machine in combination with the folder including the folding cylinder.

Abstract: A cutter device includes at least one stationary blade, which has a stationary blade cutting edge extending crosswise to a recording sheet. At least one movable blade moves in contact with the stationary blade cutting edge to cut the recording sheet. A stopper plate prevents the recording sheet from being moved by the movable blade while the movable blade cuts the recording sheet. In a preferred embodiment, the stopper plate is shiftable between a stopper position and a retracted position, and when in the stopper position, contacts a side edge of the recording sheet, and when in the retracted position, is away from the side edge.

Abstract: A rotary trimmer apparatus and signature trimming method are provided that enable operators to set a gap spacing between a rotating knife and an anvil at different predetermined sizes in an easy and accurate manner. The operator chooses the optimum knife/anvil spacing that produces a scissors-like cutting action on the particular type of signatures being trim cut and which does not cause premature knife dulling. The selected knife/anvil spacing is readily reproducable for future runs with the same operating conditions. This is true regardless of changes in the knife thickness as can be created by sharpening thereof, or knife replacement. For this purpose, a user operated control assembly including a control knob and calibrated indexer are provided. To keep the knife/anvil spacing at the set size during trim cutting operations, a temperature control system is employed that keeps axial expansion of the knife spindle shaft from reducing the gap size.

Abstract: Removable handles are disclosed for attaching to die boards for installation and removal from die cutter machines in a printing machine.

Abstract: A method of detecting the positional accuracy of register and any of folding and cutting-edge positions, respectively, on flat copies, including scanning a prescribable recording field on the copy by a detector, which comprises determining the position of the printed image and of the folding and cutting edges, respectively, by contrast transitions extending through screen fields.

Abstract: A printer comprising a perforator is provided, both printing and perforating functions being controllable in response to a single operator program. The single operator program can be a pre-existing word-processing program modified by addition of software provided together with the printer and perforator unit, a unique word processing program integrally including the perforator control functionality, or another type of program for interacting with a printer, such as a graphics program.

Abstract: A color thermosensitive recording sheet extends two-dimensionally in main and sub scan directions perpendicular to each other. In a thermal printer for use with the recording sheet, two cutters remove front and rear margins from the recording sheet by cutting the recording sheet along lines extending in the main scan direction. Two slitters remove first and second side margins from the recording sheet by slitting the recording sheet along lines extending in the sub scan direction. A slitter shifter shifts the slitters in the main scan direction between a slitting position and home position. The slitters are set at the side margins when in the slitting position, and away from the recording sheet when in the home position. An externally operable mode selector selectively sets a marginless mode and margin mode. A controller causes the slitter shifter to shift the slitters to the slitting position when the marginless mode is set, and actuates the cutters and slitters.

Abstract: A device for electrostatically charging a multilayer material web includes electrostatic charge elements assigned to outer sides of the multilayer material web, the charge elements being disposed upline of an inlet of the multilayer material web into a cylinder group of a folder, as viewed in a travel direction of the multilayer material web, the cylinder group including cylinders formed with respective outer cylindrical surfaces, the cylinders including a cutting cylinder pair having a cutting nip into which a leading end of the multilayer material web extends, the cutting cylinder pair being provided with an electrically insulated cutting tool; and a folder including the charging device.

Abstract: A device for folding printing copies in a web-fed rotary printing machine includes a folding knife, controls for reciprocatingly moving the folding knife at least approximately in one plane, the controls including a first and a second toggle lever, which, at one of the ends thereof, respectively, are movably attached to frame-fixed parts of the printing machine and at the other ends thereof, respectively, are movably attached to the folding knife, and a rotary element simultaneously actable upon both the first and the second toggle levers for operating the controls; a folder including the folding device; and an assembly including the folder with the folding device.

Abstract: The present invention is intended to automatically adjust cutting and printing registers based on the detection of predetermined marks for different colors in a rotary press using a paper web, thereby eliminating the need for skills and reducing time for adjusting cutting registers.

Abstract: A shell featuring a main body formed of a hard and flexible sheet-like substance, such as stainless steel, is substituted for the rubber blanket of a blanket cylinder in a lithograph offset press. Perforating material that includes spaced teeth with flat edges are mounted on the impression cylinder and engage the main body of the shell to form perforations without shoulder defects. Slitting or scoring may also be accomplished by the arrangement. Stabilizing strips are positioned upon the main body of the shell in sheet-fed press applications. Flexible rubber sheets are mounted to the ends of the main body. Blanket bars are also mounted to the flexible rubber sheets. The blanket bars engage the lock-up of the blanket cylinder to secure the shell in position.

Abstract: A high speed rotary cutter assembly for transversely cutting a moving web, comprising a cutting roll and an anvil roll rotating at web speed which are selectively movable toward and away from one another to set the rotary cutter assembly in operative and idle modes, respectively. The invention also extends to a web handling device for forming a continuous multi-form web into a stack, comprising a folder assembly laying successive forms of the web in a superposed relationship on a table to form a stack. A temporary stack support assembly is extended along an arcuate descending path between the folder assembly and the table when the stack is completed for temporarily holding the incoming folded product until the completed stack on the table has been ejected.

Abstract: Several printing units are arranged in a row for printing on as many separate webs traveling in centerline alignment and in phase with one another. At least one preselected web, on issuing from one printing unit, is directed over an angled guide rod thereby to be turned 90 degrees out of phase with the other, unselected webs. Subsequently traveling over a triangular shaped former, the preselected web is folded along a centerline thereof, back into phase with the unselected webs. The preselected web, already formed, and the unselected ones, yet unfolded, are then all superposed one upon another, with the fold of the preselected web in register with the aligned centerline of the unselected webs. The superposed webs are then folded by another former along the aligned centerline of the unselected webs. Subsequently fed into a cutting and folding device, the webs are cut and folded transversely into individual multiple-page signatures each having one center spread in addition to the usual inmost center spread.

Abstract: A printing device produces printed pieces of paper having no blank areas, and which can precisely position print content on the back side of continuous printing paper. A mark is provided in a blank area on the back side of printing paper. A sensor senses the mark, whereby the position of a regular-form print area adjacent to the blank area on the printing paper can be recognized. A thermal head and a cutter respectively print the printing paper and cut off the blank area based on the sense output. Accordingly, it is possible to produce a printed piece of paper having a desired print on the front side and a regular-form print on the back side without positional misalignment and without blank in the feed direction, with the mark removed therefrom.

Abstract: Printed products having a print gap and simulated full bleed borders or simulated full bleed backgrounds of a fractal design with a non-linear outer edge provide a visual effect of perfect edge alignment such that an additional allowance for trimming of the printed image is unnecessary.

Abstract: Printed sheets are fed into a sheet processing machine where they are separated into partial sheets by being cut longitudinally. The partial sheets are separated laterally from each other by gripper components. Each of the partial sheets can have its leading and trailing ends cut. The cut partial sheets can then be inspected and deposited into a selected one of a plurality of partial sheet stacks.

Abstract: An adhesive tape dispenser comprises a base, a tape roll mounting portion disposed at one end of the base, a tape cutting tool disposed at other end of the base, a printing cylinder pivoted to the base, an ink supplying device located on the base and under the printing cylinder, and a cover fastened pivotally with the base. As the adhesive tape is dispensed, the underside of the dispensed tape comes in contact with the printing cylinder. When the printing cylinder is actuated to turn by the dispensed tape, the dispensed tape is printed by the printing plate of the printing cylinder. The printing plate is continuously provided with ink by an ink cylinder of the ink supplying device.

Abstract: An offset perfecting press is disclosed wherein a web is printed on both sides while traveling between a pair of blanket cylinders. In the event of a web break downstream of the blanket cylinders, the web is conventionally cut off immediately upstream of the blanket cylinders. Thereupon, on the downstream side, the web will stick to either of the printing cylinders due to the adhesiveness of the ink thereon, tending to be wound about the cylinder all the way down to the point of break. In order to prevent this a pair of opposed web cut blades are disposed. Intermediate the printing cylinders and a downstream guide roller. Upon web break a pressure roller is actuated into rolling engagement with the guide roller via the web, urging the web forwardly by inertial rotation of the guide roller. Thus tensioned between either of the printing cylinders and the guide roller, the web is held tightly against either of the opposed blades thereby to be cut off.

Abstract: An apparatus produces printed matter, such as forms and publicity material, from a first, continuously fed flexible material web of given width. The first flexible material web is conveyed at a first constant supply speed. A second flexible material web is conveyed at a second constant supply speed lower than the first supply speed. In a cutting station, the second flexible material web is cut into material strips. The supply speed of a leading end region of the second flexible material web is briefly increased periodically by an arrangement provided upstream of the cutting station.

Abstract: The sheet presenter includes a housing having a feed path therethrough from a feed end to a presenting end, and which defines an escrow area between the feed end and the presenting end. Presenting rollers at the presenting end initially restrain forward movement of a continuous sheet along the feed path, and cooperate with a gate to divert the sheet from the feed path into the escrow area to enable the sheet to be accumulated in the escrow area as the sheet is being imprinted. Subsequently, the presenting rollers urge the imprinted portion of the sheet out of the escrow area to present the imprinted portion. The presenting rollers are de-clutched to allow the recipient to grab the imprinted portion and pull it out without damaging the mechanism or the remaining sheet.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device to prevent damage to printing groups of web-fed rotary presses that print webs fed by a cylinder which is placed on a reel changer. A fault detector is provided that has a deflection device next to both web edges. It can create a deflective force transverse to the web plane transport, which can be overcome by the tension of the web during normal operation. A monitor is also provided that detects changes. With the aid of this device, damage to printing groups can be prevented (especially arising from defects occurring during reel exchange) by locating the fault detection device in front of the first printing group of the web-fed rotary press, and each of the two monitors of the fault detector is designed as an optical sensor that emits a signal which depends on shading by the web, and its optical axis is tilted in the lengthwise direction of the web in relation to the direction of the deflection force that is essentially perpendicular to the transport plane of the web.

Abstract: A device for perforating, die-cutting, cutting or creasing in printing machines comprises a supporting foil which at two of its opposite sides is provided with strips for mounting onto a rubber blanket cylinder of a printing unit, whereby a component for perforating, die-cutting, cutting or creasing is affixed to the supporting foil. An impression cylinder covered with a protection foil co-operates with the rubber blanket cylinder. The use of a relatively hard supporting foil instead of a rubber blanket allows for much cleaner and quicker perforation and punching, and the affixing of the perforating, die-cutting, cutting or creasing component to the supporting foil on the rubber blanket cylinder allows a much easier and more precise positioning of that component. As a result, the device can also be used in endless printing machines. Moreover, the use of an independent inner underlying blanket allows an exact calibration of the total thickness of the supporting foil comprising the working tools.

Abstract: A tension control device (50) for a printing press (10) having an adjustment roller (52), a device (64 and 66) for measuring the tension on opposed sides of a web (14) passing downstream from the adjustment roller (52), and a device (82) responsive to the measuring device (64 and 66) for automatically approximately equalizing the tension of the web (14) on the adjustment roller (52) on opposed sides of the adjustment roller (52).

Abstract: In order to provide a variable cutoff printing press, the press includes a pair of plate cylinders and a pair of blanket cylinders with all of the cylinders having a cylindrical body and a central axis of rotation. The plate cylinders are each mounted perpendicular to at least one side frame in a fixed position such that the axes of the plate cylinders are maintained in spaced parallel relation. The blanket cylinders are also each mounted perpendicular to the side frame by a pair of linear slide assemblies such that the axes of the blanket cylinders are maintained in spaced parallel relation. The linear slide assemblies accommodate linear adjustable positioning of the blanket cylinders along spaced parallel adjustment axes generally in the plane of the side frame. With this arrangement, the blanket cylinders are linearly adjustably positionable along and perpendicular to the adjustment axes to adjust the spacing between the plate and blanket cylinders to accommodate blanket sleeves of different thicknesses.

Abstract: A platen holder 8 is provided with a stopper member 12 which comes into contact with a lever 20 depressed when the platen holder 8 is rotated to a home position by removing of a cassette cover 2B from an upper cover 2A. The stopper member 12 is formed to have a contact plane 12A so that an angle .alpha. defined between the contact plane 12A and an imaginary line connecting a tip end R of the stopper member 12 and a fixed point P is set to approximately 90.degree. or less than 90.degree.. A projection part 13 is provided in the platen holder 8, which is to be pressed by a tape cassette 4 when inserted in a tape receiving part. When the platen holder 8 is rotated to an operational position after the cassette cover 2B is attached to the upper cover 2A, a clearance is produced between the projection part 13 of the platen holder 8 and the tape cassette 4.

Abstract: A folder having a cutting-cylinder pair with two cutting cylinders for cutting a vertically fed material web into products, and downline transport tape lines guidable over deflecting rollers for onwardly passing the cut-off products therebetween, and including a product guiding device assigned to the cutting-cylinder pair and extending at least partly over the width of the material web, the product guiding device bridging a region extending from an outlet nip of the cutting cylinder pair to an inlet region of the transport tapes.

Abstract: A system for controlling the lateral position of a web in a web-fed printing press having a printing unit. The web has a series of printed images thereon. The system includes an optical scanner for sensing the lateral position of an image on the web and for generating a first signal. The system also includes an edge sensor which senses the lateral position of a corresponding web edge and which generates a second signal. A controller processes the first and second signals to produce a control signal. The systems also includes a positioning means responsive to the control signal for laterally positioning the web.

Abstract: A cutting station (10) that permits rapid change-over and adjustment of its cutting and anvil rollers (62,60) between printing runs is disclosed. The cutting station (10) includes a frame (14) having a longitudinal axis (19) defining a web travel path; an anvil roller (62) configured for rotatably mounting on the frame; a cutting roller (60) configured for rotatably mounting on the frame (14) adjacent the anvil roller (62); and an improved biasing assembly (18) for biasing the cutting roller (62) against the anvil roller (60). The biasing assembly (18) includes a track (80) extending transversely from the frame (14), a carriage (82) slidably mounted on the track (80) for movement toward and away from the frame (14), and a biasing member (84) mounted for vertical shifting movement below the carriage (82).

Abstract: An apparatus and process for making sheets having indicia spaced in a machine direction. Between or among the indicia are perforations or chop-off cuts. The spacing, in the machine direction, between the indicia and perforations or chop-off cuts is maintained over long sheet lengths. The product produced using this apparatus and process is typically paper, and particularly can be used for paper towels or placemats.

Abstract: Method for form-processing paper in a printing press by at least one processing tool and a computer includes converting digital data representing desired processing geometries into signals in the computer, and controlling the at least one processing tool with the signals so as to obtain the processing geometries; and apparatus for performing the method.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for the production of printed pages from a web that is moved continuously in the transport direction in rotary offset printing and printed on one or both sides, is heat set and then, by being transferred to at least a first cooling roller, is cooled in a first curvature direction with a first curvature radius, the web then being separated into the printed pages optionally after folding. The web is inverted, before being transferred to at least the first cooling roller, with a second curvature radius to obtain smooth, unrippled pages.

Abstract: In a web-fed rotary press for processing web-shaped materials, the latter run between two working rollers (3, 4) that are arranged in side bearing housings (8, 9). The working rollers (3, 4) that are connected via the bearing housings (8, 9) to a machine column (14) are prestressed in the operating position by a lifting mechanism (15) and are lifted away from each other as well as installed and removed.

Abstract: A wide printed paper web is longitudinally separated into at least two partial paper webs after the last printing unit of a printing press and before being dried. The plural partial paper webs are dried in a drying device on separate or the same level. The partial paper webs are dried in a smudge-free manner and are free of longitudinal creases or folds.

Abstract: A cutting device for transversely severing a printed web into signatures utilizes a collection and counter-cylinder, in cooperation with a cutting cylinder support that carries two cutting cylinders. Each cutting cylinder is rotatable with respect to the cutting cylinder support. These two cutting cylinders are also both axially shiftable on the cutting support cylinder to vary the lengths of the signatures being cut.

Abstract: A system and method for preventing a broken printing web from wrapping about or otherwise fouling the blanket cylinders of printing press units. The system and method includes a web tensioning device located downstream of the printing press units for maintaining tension upon a broken web and pulling the web from the printing press units. The device includes a plurality of web disturbance detectors for detecting a wave, ripple or other disturbance indicative of a web break. A pair of anti-wrap rollers located above and below the web are engaged upon detection of a web break to engage the web between them to exert tension onto the web and pull it from the printing units. The anti-wrap rollers are rotated at a surface speed nominally greater than the surface speed of the printing rolls. The anti-wrap rollers include a plurality of opposed peak and valley portions which enable them to interlock and grip the web along a line of contact.

Abstract: In a rotary printing press with at least one folder, which comprises at least one cutting cylinder and one folding jaw cylinder, each folder is driven, due to being equipped with at least one separate drive motor, mechanically independently at least from the printing units of the printing press, and can be installed and registered independently therefrom.

Abstract: A spring to operate a merchandise dispenser used for storing and dispensing a plurality of like items of merchandise. The dispenser utilizes a metal spring having indicia imprinted or engraved thereon to provide both a biasing force to the merchandise and inventory information. A method is provided for producing a metal spring having indicia printed in ink or paint.