Abstract: A turn-bar for adjusting orientation of a web includes a plurality of roll bars. Positions of at least two bars of the plurality of roll bars are movable with respect to a direction of travel of the web through the turn-bar. An orientation of the web passing through the plurality of bars may be changed by adjusting a position of the at least two bars without removal of the web from the turn-bar. A method of selectively inverting or not inverting a web includes changing a position of at least two roll bars of a turn-bar apparatus with respect to a direction of travel of the web through the turn-bar apparatus, where the web is not inverted by passing through the turn-bar apparatus when the at least two roll bars are in a first position, and the web is inverted by passing through the turn-bar apparatus when the at least two roll bars are in a second position.

Abstract: A pad printing system includes a pad printing machine and an object positioning device. The object positioning device is a multiple positioning device by means of which an object support may be consecutively positioned at a print station each time.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for inscribing identification plates (22) of an identification plate set (16) having a retaining device (14) in which the identification plate set (16) may be fixed, and having an inscribing unit (18), which comprises a carrier arm (24) movable in a linear fashion in an advancement direction (26) and spanning the retaining device (14) and an inscribing head (20) mounted on the carrier arm (24) such that it is movable transversely to the advancement direction (26) for inscribing the identification plates (22). According to the invention, the inscribing unit (18) has a gripping unit (36) for gripping and transporting the identification plate set (16).

Abstract: A printing table for supporting a substrate opposite a print-head. The printing table comprises a plurality of substrate supports which are selectively presentable towards the print head.

Abstract: A sheet-processing machine, in particular a rotary press, has a first gripper system for transporting sheets onto a sheet stack and a second gripper system following the former for accepting selected sheets from the first gripper system. The second gripper system is oriented substantially vertically and it has a drive that can be actuated separately and independently from the first gripper system.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing an image on an object includes electronic image storage for storing the image and a print head positioned in spaced-apart relation to the object for receiving electronic data representing the image. The image is printed onto the object using an ink that is applied with a predetermined electrical charge polarity. A voltage generator generates an electrical charge having opposite polarity charge in relation to the predetermined charge polarity of the ink proximate the object and at a position to accelerate the ink being applied from the print head onto the object. A tray is provided for holding a plurality of the objects in a fixed orientation while the image is printed. The tray includes a plurality of cradles for receiving respective objects and a rotation assembly for rotating the cradles in unison to position a desired surface of the objects in proper orientation for printing.

Abstract: A device for transferring print products comprises a circulating conveying element that includes clamps. A conveyor moves approximately in the same direction and synchronously below the conveying element, which includes grippers. A guide arrangement is provided in a transfer segment where the print products are transferred from the circulating conveying element to the conveyor. The guide arrangement includes spiral rotors having spiral sections respectively extending from opposite sides into spaces between the print products and which are effective in the conveying direction to stably position the print products. Activation devices operatively are arranged to open the clamps and close the grippers to effect the transfer of the print products from one of the clamps on the circulating conveying element to one of the grippers on the conveyor.

Abstract: A hat pallet for use in a printer which prints an image onto a hat of the type having a cap and a bill attached thereto includes a bottom plate and a top plate mountable in a closed position over the bottom plate. The bottom plate includes a printing plate and a bill support fixedly mounted thereon. The top plate has an opening exposing at least a portion of the printing plate when the top plate is in the closed position. The bill support is positioned relative to the printing plate such that when the hat is mounted in the pallet with the top plate in the closed position, a portion of the cap on which the image is to be printed is supported on the printing plate and exposed through the opening of the top plate and the underside of the bill of the hat is supported by the bill support.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying sheets through a printing machine allows continuous monitoring of the position of a sheet with regard to a guide element over a long time period. There is provided a circulating conveyor element with grippers in which the sheet is held at a leading edge. A device for setting the position of the sheet can adjust the position with regard to a desired position. A measuring configuration measures the position and the presence of the sheet. A control device is connected to the device for setting the position and to the measuring configuration. The measuring configuration is mounted so as to circulate with the conveyor element.

Abstract: Provided is a modular printer assembly which includes a housing having upper and lower covers, a first side wall and a second, opposed side wall, as well as a loading mechanism which includes a drive assembly with a traversing mechanism engaged with the drive assembly, and a pair of endless belts and roller assemblies operatively engaged with the traversing mechanism, so that actuation of the drive assembly displaces the traversing mechanism to push, or pull, the belt and roller mechanisms farther apart, or closer together, respectively. The printer assembly also includes a print engine having two opposed arcuate printheads each with a radius of curvature which approximates a radius of inlet rollers with each roller at least partially received in said curvature of each respective printhead, the print engine configured to print ink followed by a fixative onto the media operatively fed between the printhead.

Abstract: Device for the substitution of a cliché-jacket from a cliché cylinder in a printing machine or the like wherein said cylinder (1) is connected to a motor (3) driving it into rotation about its longitudinal axis and is provided with radial holes connected with an air inlet (7), the latter being apt to be connected with a compressed air supply (6) by means of a delivery means (8), device characterized in that it comprises automatic means sensing the position of said air inlet (7) relative to said delivery means (8) and automatic means for positioning said air inlet (7) and said delivery means in a reciprocal coupling position, said automatic sensing and positioning means being connected to a programmable electronic unit (E) which, when said air inlet (7) and said delivery means (8) are coaxial, drives said coupling and switches on an on-off valve (60) which, on a side, is connected to said compressed air supply (6) and, on the other side, is connected to said delivery means (8).

Abstract: A centering bush for connecting components includes a bush head having a construction generally in accordance with that of a blade pin. A combination, a system and a printing press having the centering bush, are also provided.

Abstract: A credential production device includes a unitary frame formed of plastic, a first processing component and a second processing component. The unitary frame includes a rear wall, a pair of side walls extending from opposing sides of the rear wall, a top wall extending from a top side of the rear wall and coupled to the side walls, a bottom wall extending from a bottom side of the rear wall and coupled to the side walls, a first device registration member and a second device registration member. The rear wall, the side walls, the top wall and the bottom wall define an interior cavity and an opening to the interior cavity. The first processing component includes a first frame registration member that is configured to cooperate with the first device registration member to place the first processing component in a known position relative to the unitary frame and the second device registration member.

Abstract: This image generating apparatus includes a side plate, mounted on a first side surface of a chassis provided with a print portion, integrally including a bearing, a bracket member mounted on the side plate and a support shaft arranged between the side plate and the bracket member for rotatably supporting a gear member, while a first end of the support shaft is fixedly mounted on the bracket member, and a second end of the support shaft includes a side end surface brought into line contact with the bearing of the side plate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying printing of indicia and logo to golf balls held and indexed by magnetic indexing devices connected to a conveyor. The device includes a stationary base portion and a rotating cup portion which are magnetically coupled to each other. Each portion has recesses for housing magnets to create a magnetic field of attraction which firmly locks the two portions together. When rotation of the cup portion to the base portion is required, the rotation is substantially friction-free because of a thrust bearing ring set in the base portion. The cup portion is caused to rotate 45° or 90° upon being biasly urged by station locks located on the conveyor. The cup portion has an open bridge section wherein cam surfaces of the station locks can engage and cause the cup portion to rotate, which is necessary for each new procedure, whether it be inspection of the ball, pad printing of indicia and logo, or curing the printed ink with ultraviolet light.

Abstract: Disclosed are a printer and a stacker and methods. The printer prints selectively on one or both sides of a printable web and sheets or labels are cut from the web and stacked in the stacker. The printer has an unwind mechanism that accepts and holds web rolls of different widths in center-justified relationship with respect to a print head. The printer has a spindle for mounting an ink ribbon core with a detent for center-justifying the ink-ribbon with respect to the print head.

Abstract: Disclosed are a printer and a stacker and methods. The printer prints selectively on one or both sides of a printable web and sheets or labels are cut from the web and stacked in the stacker. The printer has an unwind mechanism that accepts and holds web rolls of different widths in center-justified relationship with respect to a print head. The printer has a spindle for mounting an ink ribbon core with a detent or latch for center-justifying the ink-ribbon with respect to the print head. A spindle assembly has two latches for counter-justifying a wide range of cores of different widths.

Abstract: Sheets are conveyed through a rotary press with linear travel grippers. The novel conveying apparatus prevents collisions between the grippers and printing unit cylinders. The grippers are fixed to circulating links to convey a sheet through a nip between two cylinders that interact during printing. The links and the cylinders are coupled to drives that can be activated separately. In each case a collision disk is mounted on a shaft journal of at least one cylinder. A slip clutch is provided between the collision disk and the cylinder. A braking element is coupled to the grippers which, in the event of non-synchronous running with the cylinder, runs onto the collision disk and prevents the collision disk from moving.

Abstract: A method of varying a drum profile of a vario drum for transporting printing material sheets, in which shell segments of the vario drum are pivoted inward and outward. Sheet supporting elements assigned to the shell segments are reversibly deformed by pivoting the shell segments. A vario drum suitable for implementing the method and a machine containing the vario drum for processing printing material sheets contain the shell segments and the associated sheet supporting elements.

Abstract: A machine for processing sheets of printing material has a cylinder for transporting the sheets and sheet supports which are mounted such that they can be rotated about a sheet support axis of rotation and in each case contain supporting segments for pressing the sheets onto the cylinder. The supporting segments are mounted such that they can be pivoted as desired into an active position and into a passive position about pivot axes that are skewed relative to the sheet support axis of rotation or about rotary joints determining the pivot axes.

Abstract: A label printing apparatus for accommodating a plurality of widths of rolled label stock is provided. The label printing apparatus includes a frame, a label stock support arm extending from the frame, and a print head located for having label stock pass thereby for printing. The label stock support arm may have at least two stepped regions for supporting rolled label stock, including a first stepped region with edges spaced apart by a first distance corresponding to a first width of label stock and a second stepped region with edges spaced apart by a second distance corresponding to a second width of label stock. One or more label stock guides may include recessed regions for guiding different widths of label stock. A movable wall may also be provided. The various features could also be provided in connection with printers using rolled print media other than label stock.

Abstract: A fixture attached to the rear of the base plate of a semi-automatic screen printer includes an element holder having a vertical recess or pocket for receiving an assembly, such as a substrate, of LTCC laminate material lengthwise therein so as to expose only one side surface to the printing head which would otherwise be prevented because of the height restrictions imposed by the printer head.

Abstract: A plate is consecutively mounted on the outer peripheral surface of a recording drum under pressure from a squeegee roller, with its leading edge clamped by leading edge clamps. Guide members for causing the squeegee roller to climb up thereon are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the recording drum such that the squeegee roller is prevented from interfering with the leading edge clamps during plate mounting. Without the need to stop the rotation of the recording drum during plate mounting, a time period required for plate mounting can be reduced.

Abstract: An image recording device includes plural retaining units each of which retains a recording medium on circumference thereof, a printing head that forms an image on the recording medium, a loop unit that retains the plural retaining units on a closed path, a first driving unit that drives each of the plural retaining units, and a second driving unit that conveys the retaining units on the loop unit, wherein when the first driving unit drives one of the plural retaining units to form an image on a first recording medium retained on circumference thereof, the first driving unit drives another one of the retaining units to mount a second recording medium on circumference thereof, and the second driving unit conveys one of the retaining units to a recording medium peeling position after completing image formation, and another one of the retaining units to a printing position.

Abstract: A clamp for connecting together a set of structural bars having a body defining at least one pair of prismatic guides for positioning one of the bars within the clamp and a locking mechanism for securing the bars inside the guides. The body is defined by four sheet metal plates arranged parallel and facing each other in pairs of two, each pair of two arranged perpendicular to the other such that each pair is connected to the other collectively along four parallel edges of the body. The prismatic guides are each defined by a pair of aligned seats formed along respective sides of each pair of facing plates.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to systems and methods that remove an interleaf sheet interposed between plate sheets from a material stack used, for example, in a computer-to-plate imaging system and/or environment. Embodiments of the system and method can also remove plate sheets from an interleaf sheet, and transport the plate sheet for subsequent imaging.

Abstract: A compact motorized transfer roller for a printer is disclosed. The roller has a cylindrical body with an outer surface and an interior space. A motor is located in the interior space and rotates the body. The rotating body advances and prints on a sheet of media. In some embodiments, the motor is a stepper motor and uses a gear assembly in which worm gear carried by an output shaft of the motor cooperates with one or more reduction gears.

Abstract: Disclosed is a print engine having a page-width printhead assembly and a motorized transfer roller located adjacent to the printhead. The transfer roller is also adjacent to the sheet media path of the device which uses the engine. The printhead is oriented to print directly onto the transfer roller. The engine has a second roller closely adjacent to the transfer roller and on an opposite side of the path for pressing the sheet onto the transfer roller. In some embodiments, the printhead has a surface adjacent to the transfer roller that carries capping seals on either side of the ink ejecting area. The printhead is held off of the transfer roller by a solenoid but parked against the transfer roller when not in use.

Abstract: A holding device is provided with adapters capable of dealing with a case where the hollow shaft portions of a roll-like fixing medium differ in inner diameter. Thus, it is unnecessary to have a complete set of roll paper supporting members to be used every time the hollow shaft portions of the roll-like fixing medium differ in inner diameter. As the size of such an adapter can be made at least smaller than the size of the roll paper supporting members, the adapter is easily stocked under control.

Abstract: A label holder for use in a moist environment including a body panel connected at its lower edge by a resilient hinge to a transparent cover member to form an openable pocket for labels therebetween. The body panel is secured to a supporting surface by adhesive or may include an attachment panel connected to the rear of the body panel by a resilient spacer so that the attachment panel can be flexed for engagement in a C-channel. A downwardly and forwardly extending lip is formed on the top edge of the body panel and the top edge of the cover member is secured thereunder in the closed position of the cover member. A downwardly and forwardly extending ledge member is formed on the top edge of the cover member and extends beyond the lip member to a freely extending edge to dissipate moisture forming on the lip member. The mating side edges of the body panel may be sealed with strips of a resilient material to limit moisture from entering the label-receiving pocket.

Abstract: An improved table and ink wipe cartridge for a pad printer consists of a table mounted to a base by a pair of parallel, nylon bearings. The bearings enable the table to slide back and forth easily without requiring conventional ballbearings and guides. The cartridge automatically rolls and wipes ink on a print tray carried by the table.

Abstract: A cylinder, such as an inking roller for a printing press, includes a base body and an outer body. A tempering medium can flow in a gap between the base body and the outer body. The base body has a circumference which includes grooves that define a multiple helical channel for the tempering medium. The outer body is supported by the base body of the cylinder.

Abstract: Apparatus for retaining a mail piece includes first and second elements, said elements having an open state in which the first element is spaced from said second element for insertion of a mail item therebetween into a required position and a closed state in which at least one of the first and second elements is displaced toward the other of the first and second elements to clamp the mail piece and further including mail piece retention means mounted on the first element and effective during displacement of the element to retain the mail piece in the required position to which it has been inserted.

Abstract: A portable printer for printing on a roll of paper or label stock is provided having automatic print alignment with the width of the roll. The portable printer has a housing having a compartment for receiving the roll, a cover to access the roll, and a centering mechanism for the roll. The centering mechanism has two rotatable spindle members in the compartment engageable with the opposing ends of the roll's tubular core, and a pair of racks each coupled to one of the spindle members, and to each other by a gear, to enable each of the spindle members to move in opposite directions with respect to a center between the spindle members. The position of centering mechanism is optically, magnetically, or electro-mechanically encoded and a sensor reads the encoded position of the centering mechanism.

Abstract: A device for laterally aligning a sheet in a sheet-processing machine, includes a marking device for automatically identifying a sheet side edge.

Abstract: A tire, for example, is nipped by a pair of bead portion support members and filled with an internal pressure. Logo marks printed on a transfer film are positioned in front of the tire at a transfer position at which the logo marks are to be transferred or printed to the tire. The transfer film is pressed by thermal plates onto the side portions of the tire so that the logo marks are transferred onto the side portions thereof. In short, the present invention provides a printing device and a printing method capable of effectively printing clear indications on the side portions of a toroidal-shaped body such as a tire.

Abstract: A stamp making apparatus of the invention makes a stamp plate on a stamp material by applying light thereto through a draft sheet. The stamp making apparatus includes an attachment that can be attached to and removed from a predetermined position facing the draft sheet and has a mounting hole where a holder having a stamp material can be inserted into and removed from. A plurality of mounting holes are formed in the attachment so that the holders having various types and shapes can be inserted into and removed from directly or via an auxiliary attachment. Further, the attachment includes a first adjusting device, which moves the mounting hole in a longitudinal direction of the draft sheet (in the Y direction), and a second adjusting device, which moves the mounting hole in a lateral direction (in the X direction), so that the position of the mounting hole in the attachment can be finely adjusted.

Abstract: A sheet receiving apparatus in a sheet-fed rotary printing press includes at least one paper receiving bar, an air cylinder, and a moving plate. The paper receiving bar is inserted in a dropping path for a sheet-like printing product to temporarily stop it after printing. The air cylinder moves the paper receiving bar between a wait position and a sheet receiving position. The moving plate supports the paper receiving bar to be movable in a widthwise direction of the printing product.

Abstract: An aluminum foam core vacuum imaging drum (14) comprised of an aluminum foam cylinder (70) having a densified surface (72). A first metal layer (75) covers the densified surface (72), and vacuum holes (130) in the first metal layer (75) connect a surface of the first metal layer (75) to an interior of the aluminum foam cylinder (70). In one embodiment, the aluminum foam cylinder (70) is fabricated using open-cell aluminum foam construction.

Abstract: A support structure for a plate cylinder is composed of a pair of support frames; a pair of eccentric slide bearings rotatably supported on the support frames; a pair of eccentric roller bearings rotatably supported by the eccentric slide bearings and rotatably supporting end portions of a shaft of the plate cylinder; dogs and pinions for rotating the eccentric slide bearings relative to the support frames in the same amount; an annular plate, a casing, a drive shaft, a worm wheel, a worm gear, a threaded shaft, a support member, a connecting rod, and a connecting pin for rotating one of the eccentric roller bearings relative to one of the support frames; and an annular plate, a connecting rod, and connecting pins for restraining rotation of the other eccentric roller bearing relative to the other support frame.