Abstract: An aqueous ink jet ink composition includes resin fine particles, a non-ionic surfactant, a resin dissolving solvent, and water, in which, in the aqueous ink jet ink composition, a total acid value of an acid value of the resin fine particles and an acid value of the dispersant resin when the aqueous ink jet ink composition includes a dispersant resin is 200 (mg KOH/100 g ink) or less.

Abstract: A method for producing a letterpressed printed card includes letterpressing a design into card stock, to create a card shell. The card shell has a positive image of the letterpressed design debossed into a front face of the card. After letterpressing the design, an image is printed onto the card shell, to produce the letterpressed printed card.

Abstract: A sliding plate air damper allows control over air flow with the sliding plate having a range of positions which do not change the total area of the orifices through the damper. Openings through the fixed plate and the openings through the sliding plate can each make up about 70% of the active area of each plate. The slide plate can be slid to a position where its webbings divide each fixed plate opening into two orifices for air flow. The air flow can be controlled by selecting the slide position of the webbings from a most restrictive position in which the webbings are in the middle of fixed plate openings, through a range of positions where the orifice on one side of the webbing is larger than the orifice on the other side of the webbing, to a maximally opened position where the webbing on the slide plate overlies the webbing on the fixed plate.

Abstract: A collation of printed marketing signs for delivery or distribution to a retail store includes at least a first group of marketing signs and a second group of marketing signs. Each group has at least one stack of marketing signs for altering product display structures in a retail store and each marketing sign in each stack has a same non-rectangular shape. The first group of signs includes a first level of priority and the second group of signs includes a second level of priority. The first level of priority indicates that the first group of signs be set in the store before the second group of signs, which have the second level of priority.

Abstract: A double-sided embossing folder includes a first embossing plate having a first plurality of positive embossing features disposed thereon in the shape of a first image and a first plurality of negative embossing features formed on an opposite side thereof. A second embossing plate has a second plurality of positive embossing features disposed thereon in the shape of the second image configured to mate with the first plurality of negative embossing features and a second plurality of negative embossing features formed therein in the shape of the first image configured to mate with the first plurality of positive embossing features. At least one living hinge is interposed between and integrally formed with the first and second embossing plates. Each living hinge is formed from at least one V-cut formed between the first and second embossing plates to form inwardly tapered sides.

Abstract: Apparatuses are disclosed that include forming selected perforation designs and patterns. The perforation designs and patterns can be formed in linear or nonlinear fashion, can extend in the cross direction or the machine direction and can be formed to complement or match an embossed or printed design on the web. The perforation designs and patterns can be formed utilizing various mechanical perforating techniques.

Abstract: Methods of perforating a web substrate are disclosed that include forming selected perforation designs and patterns. The perforation designs and patterns can be formed in linear or nonlinear fashion, can extend in the cross direction or the machine direction and can be formed to complement or match an embossed or printed design on the web. The perforation designs and patterns can be formed utilizing various mechanical perforating techniques.

Abstract: A device for embossing Braille characters on an embossable substrate includes a embossing wheel and an anvil. The head containing a series of locations. The locations contain a combination of pins or divots and are configured to print one or more columns of a Braille cell. The anvil is configured with a series of grooves for mating with the pins of the embossing wheel. Embossing occurs when the anvil or embossing wheel is moved against the other and the embossable substrate is made to conform to the depressions in the locations where a pin on the embossing wheel is positioned. An embossed Braille cell can be unembossed by aligning the divots in the Braille embossing wheel with ridges formed between the grooves of the anvil.

Abstract: A double-sided embossing folder includes a first embossing plate having a first plurality of positive embossing features disposed thereon in the shape of a first image and a first plurality of negative embossing features formed on an opposite side thereof. A second embossing plate has a second plurality of positive embossing features disposed thereon in the shape of the second image configured to mate with the first plurality of negative embossing features and a second plurality of negative embossing features formed therein in the shape of the first image configured to mate with the first plurality of positive embossing features. At least one living hinge is interposed between and integrally formed with the first and second embossing plates. Each living hinge is formed from at least one V-cut formed between the first and second embossing plates to form inwardly tapered sides.

Abstract: Apparatuses are disclosed that include forming selected perforation designs and patterns. The perforation designs and patterns can be formed in linear or nonlinear fashion, can extend in the cross direction or the machine direction and can be formed to complement or match an embossed or printed design on the web. The perforation designs and patterns can be formed utilizing various mechanical perforating techniques.

Abstract: An embossing roll for producing fibrous products especially tissue paper products, non-woven products or a hybrid thereof, and preferably hygiene and cleaning products, with an embossing surface is suitable to run against an anvil roll, the embossing surface includes protrusions starting from a base circumferential surface of the embossing roll; the embossing protrusions form a pattern with a base surface area of at least 3 cm×3 cm; within each pattern there is a high number of embossing protrusions which are sized and/or positioned such as to represent a rastered motive element covering the base surface area; at least some of the embossing protrusions are dimensioned and/or positioned such that consecutive minimum distances between opposed side surfaces of pairs of embossing protrusions arranged in sequence vary gradually. A device employing the embossing roll and a method for arranging embossing protrusions on a circumferential surface of the embossing roll are described.

Abstract: An embossing device having a first embossing unit for satin finishing a strip of packing material, and a second embossing unit for impressing graphics on the strip of packing material; the second embossing unit has two embossing rollers, at least one of which only has embossing pins in areas for impressing the graphics.

Abstract: Instruments for modifying flat substrates to emboss, imprint or cut one or more patterns thereon includes an operative unit for modifying the substrate and structure which positions the substrate relative to the operative unit to enable the unit to interact with the substrate and modify it. Several different combinations of operative units and positioning structure are envisioned with each providing a different form of the substrate. The different combinations may be used together to create a piece of art from individually modified substrates.

Abstract: A process for affixing an embossing arrangement to a printing press having opposing first cylinder and second cylinder is disclosed. The embossing arrangement includes an embossing tool and an opposing tool. The process includes the steps of mounting the embossing tool and the opposing tool together on the first cylinder; making a surface of the opposing tool which faces away from the first cylinder a pressure-sensitive adhesive surface; and positioning the opposing tool on the second cylinder by rolling the first cylinder over the second cylinder. An embossing arrangement and a photopolymer embossing plate are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for the cutting and creasing of plastics material sheet is disclosed which comprises a cutting and creasing tool and a corresponding plate arranged for mutual contact characterized in that the plate is free of raised surfaces and is covered with a plastic material, preferably nylon. Additionally, an apparatus for preheating corrugated plastics sheet material is described which comprises a flat bed portion adapted to receive a stack of precut corrugated sheet material blanks with their direction of corrugation aligned, heating means at at least one end of the stack, and fan means at at least one end of the stack, the heating and fan means being arranged such as to direct heated air along the corrugation of at least some of the sheets in the stack and back via the remainder of the sheets in the stack in an endless loop.

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 embossing apparatus and method which provides a better embossed appearance and eliminates undesired roughness on the backside of the web material. Two plies are multilevel embossed between rigid engraved rolls and backup rolls, which may be either engraved or smooth. One rigid roll has embossing elements of varying heights and perforation elements, which run in a side-by-side relationship with the corresponding perforation elements on the opposing rigid roll in a nip region of the apparatus. The multiple plies are perforation bonded between the perforation elements, which are preferably the two highest elements, thus reinforcing the other multi-level embossed pattern formed in between the perforation bonds. The embossed patterns impart a quilt-like contoured appearance to the finished product.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting indicia from tape. A pair of rollers provided, each with an axis, first and second ends and roller surfaces. Support plates are included for supporting the second ends. Support plates are also included for supporting the first ends whereby the pair of rollers are oriented with the roller surfaces beside each other with parallel axes. The support plates comprise curved spring means having ends for biasing the roller surfaces together with respect to each other and a plate adjuster for separating the ends and for counteracting the biasing of the rollers. A die plate guide may be provided for guiding the die plates used to form the indicia. Tape pullback may also be provided for negative interletter spacing.

Abstract: A method for imprinting alphanumeric or other characters on an adhesive bearing tape of the type having an antiblocking layer or coating on the surface of the tape which is opposite to the surface having the adhesive coating thereon. The method includes the steps of providing a printing plate having a plurality of pin-like projections defining the characters to be printed, coating the pin-like projections with ink, and bringing the ink bearing pins into contact with the tape with sufficient force that the pins penetrate the antiblocking layer and deposit the ink into the tape media below the antiblocking layer.

Abstract: Apparatus for supporting a die plate having indicia formed thereon by a raised rib and for forcing a tape into engagement with the raised rib to cut indicia from said tape corresponding to the indicia on the die. The apparatus utilizes a flat platen supporting one side of the die, a roller mounted on a movable frame and spring biased toward the die plate. A tape is guided across the surface of the die plate at an oblique angle to the direction of movement of the roller such that to cut alphabetic or numerical indicia the cutting is generally taking place at spaced points on the surface of the roller and generally no cuts are made along a line defining a portion of the indicia. The apparatus is cycled by an operating lever to move the roller across the surface of the tape under sufficient spring pressure to afford the cutting operation and then the roller is retracted as the operating handle is returned to the normal position.