Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating the surface of substrates such as printed sheets, with improved surface quality. The apparatus includes a first roller (2, 7) rotatable in a first direction and forming a placement surface for traveling printed sheets, one or more second rollers (4, 5, 6) mounted parallel to the first roller (2, 7) for defining a roller nip with the first roller through which the sheets are directed and for exerting a predetermined radial pressing force against the sheets, the second rollers (4, 5, 6) being rotatable in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the first roller (2, 7) and at least some of the second rollers (4, 5, 6) having a heating device for heating the printed sheet in the area of the roller nip between the first and second rollers.

Abstract: A roller used in handling a media sheet or plate has a non smooth surface. In some embodiments the surface comprises a braided sheath. The sheath may comprise a material such as polyethylene.

Abstract: A method of setting guide elements for a flat material along a printing-material conveying path in a rotary printing machine includes determining a job-specifically optimized actuating position for a positioning of sheet-guiding elements and of sheet-conveying elements by using job-specific printed-image information known from a prepress stage. The sheet-guiding elements and/or the sheet-conveying elements are positioned in relation to a printed image by using the determined job-specifically optimized actuating position.

Abstract: The invention is a simple, inexpensive, wash-free integrated cover for a printing transfer cylinder (preferably, but not necessarily, in a Komori press), comprising a flexible jacket covering permanently attached to a cylinder base cover. The invention provides advantages over T-Y paper and non-tack film in that dampening solution, washing, and cleaning causes failure in both over time, whereas dampening solution is beneficial to the present invention as such is retained in the flexible jacket cover and helps to prevent ink buildup and marking. The flexible jacket covering is moveable relative to the cylinder base cover, thereby further reducing ink buildup and marking. The integrated cover is disposable, which reduces periodic maintenance and cleaning of the transfer cylinder coverings and provides for fresh, clean substrate support surfaces upon each new installation.

Abstract: A method of retaining a sheet on at least one of a transfer cylinder and a guide surface of a sheet-guiding device in a sheet-processing machine by pneumatically activatable nozzles for producing an air cushion beneath the respective sheet, which comprises producing an air cushion by an air-pressure distribution resulting in air flows beneath the respective sheet, the air-pressure distribution being based virtually only on radially decelerated air flow, and being capable of retaining the respective sheet in position; and a retaining device for performing the method.

Abstract: A powder apparatus for a sheet-fed rotary printing press includes a nozzle, valve, state detection unit, arithmetic operation unit, and controller. The nozzle sprays powder onto a printed surface of a sheet delivered after printing. The valve adjusts a quantity of powder sprayed from the nozzle. The state detection unit detects a quantity of powder attaching to the sheet. The arithmetic operation unit and controller control the valve on the basis of data output from the state detection unit and indicating a powder quantity.

Abstract: In a printing press and attached onto the transfer cylinders, an anti-marking system that uniformly supports the transport and the release of the wet printed sheet from one station to the next. The anti-marking sheet consists of a two plus layer system, the outer layer being a textured surface and the inner layer being a microcellular material that is both compressible and resilient. The outer textured layer may be treated with either conductive/anti-static layers or an ink repellent layer or both. The two plus layer system is easily attached to both transfer cylinders and tracking/skeleton wheels using any combination of fixtures from Velcro™, magnetic, metallic, and pressure sensitive double sided tape to elastic loops.

Abstract: A stencil printing machine is provided with a paper feed section feeding a print sheet, which is allowed to have paper dusts thereon, in a paper feed path, and a print section to which the print sheet is transferred, and including a printing drum carrying thereon a stencil sheet having a perforated image area formed on the basis of image data and a rotary printing press member located in close proximity to an outer circumferential periphery of the printing drum to impart printing pressure thereto to allow the print sheet to be transferred in press contact between the printing drum and the rotary printing press member such that printing ink is transferred onto the print sheet to generate a desired image thereon through the perforated image area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lacquering device which is integrated in a printing machine or configured as a separate lacquering device. An object of the present invention is to provide a variable lacquering device for applying different lacquer thicknesses, lacquer types and/or lacquer colors in one lacquering device.

Abstract: An ink jet printer is provided for producing high quality permanent ink images. The ink jet printer includes a frame in part defining a sheet travel path, a sheet supply and handling assembly mounted to the frame for supplying and moving a sheet through the sheet travel path, at least one printhead connected to an ink supply and located along the sheet travel path for printing ink images on the sheet moving through the sheet travel path; and an image protective layer applying apparatus for supplying and applying a moisture repelling protective layer on ink images printed on the sheet moving through the sheet travel path. The image protective layer applying apparatus includes a moisture repelling material, a holder for holding the moisture repelling material, and an applying member for applying a layer of the moisture repelling material on ink images printed on the sheet moving through the sheet travel path; thereby enabling production of high quality permanent ink images.

Abstract: A wax coating device for a wet type electrophotographic color printer is capable of preventing the coating operation when printed matter is not supposed to be wax-coated. The wax coating device includes: a coating roller rotatably disposed so as to be partially immersed in the wax of a wax tank; a pressing roller disposed so as to be in tight contact with the coating roller for pressing the printed matter passing between the pressing and coating rollers against the coating roller; a pressing roller spacer for permitting the printed matter to pass between the pressing and coating rollers by spacing the pressing roller apart from the coating roller; and a coating prevention section for preventing contact of printed matter with the coating roller when the printed matter passes between the spaced pressing and coating rollers by being selectively advanced between and withdrawn from the pressing and coating rollers in accordance with the operation of the pressing roller spacer.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for protecting an optical system from residual material that is scattered and dispersed during the imaging of printing plates and collecting same. The apparatus includes a housing with upper and lower chambers and surrounding at least a portion of the printing drum. The lower chamber is configured to be fitted to the optical system of the imager. A compressed air supply connects to the lower chamber and a suction device connects to the upper chamber for extracting the residual material. Air from the compressed air supply is moved through the lower chamber forming two air-streams, which are drawn into the upper chamber with the residual material of the imaging process.

Abstract: An ink duct for use with a screen roller which comprises a working doctor blade and a closing doctor blade, wherein the working doctor blade has one or both sides partially or completely coated with an unreleasable coating of a low surface energy substance having a surface energy of 10 to 60 mN/m. This coating prevents disruptive ink deposits from forming on the side of the working doctor blade opposite to the ink retaining portion of the ink duct and reaching the doctored surface of the ink metering roller in an uncontrolled or random manner.

Abstract: A sheet offset printing method and a sheet offset printing press includes altering flow relationships in an interior of a housing of a sheet delivery of a sheet-fed printing machine to prevent uncontrolled spread of powder in the housing by extracting powder-laden air from the housing and/or feeding air into the housing from outside at a point along a return belt of a sheet conveying device. Air currents are channeled inside the housing by feeding air not laden with powder into the housing and/or leading the air into an air flow path along the return belt downstream of the point with respect to a return belt motion direction to transport the unladen air toward a printing unit by a drag effect of the return belt and/or impeding/blocking a supply of powder-charged air from around a conveyor belt of the sheet-conveyor or a powder-scattering device into a flow path along the return belt.

Abstract: A hot air dryer utilizes high velocity air jets which scrub and break up the moist air layer which clings to the surface of a freshly printed sheet. High velocity air is heated to a high temperature as it flows along a resistance heating element within an air delivery baffle tube. The heated, high velocity air pressurizes a plenum chamber within an air distribution manifold. High velocity jets of hot air are discharged through multiple air flow apertures onto the wet ink side of a printed sheet as it moves through the dryer exposure zone. An extractor removes the moist air layer, high velocity hot air and volatiles from the printed sheet and exhausts it from the press.

Abstract: A powder apparatus for a sheet-fed rotary printing press includes a nozzle, valve, state detection unit, arithmetic operation unit, and controller. The nozzle sprays powder onto a printed surface of a sheet delivered after printing. The valve adjusts a quantity of powder sprayed from the nozzle. The state detection unit detects a quantity of powder attaching to the sheet. The arithmetic operation unit and controller control the valve on the basis of data output from the state detection unit and indicating a powder quantity.

Abstract: A method for improving human interaction with a printer and its hardcopy output. The method comprises printing a first page and placing it into an output bin followed with a pause to allow for full drying of the print. However, this pause will be interrupted if the page is removed from the output bin and thereby expedite any subsequent printing output that may be queued follow.

Abstract: A powder sprayer unit which provides improved spraying of powder onto printed sheets of material produced in printing presses. The powder sprayer includes a source of pressurized fluid, a source of powder, a mixer and a distributor. The mixer includes at least one fluid inlet positioned to receive fluid from the fluid source, and at least one powder inlet positioned to receive powder from the source of powder to mix the fluid and the powder forming a fluid/powder mixture. The distributor-includes a disperser positioned to disperse the mixture as it flows to a plurality of nozzles. The nozzles are positioned to spray the dispersed mixture onto specified areas of printed sheets of material having passed through the printing press.

Abstract: A chill roller having in the interior thereof structural features selected from groups thereof consisting of mixing zones and transport pipes, and having at the exterior thereof a coolant supply pipe and a coolant discharge pipe, includes coolant supplied through the coolant supply pipe to the structural features simultaneously for forming a uniform temperature profile over the entire length of one of the chill roller and a surface of a cylinder jacket thereof; a chill roller stand having a plurality of the foregoing chill rollers; and a rotary printing press having the chill roller stand with a plurality of the chill rollers.

Abstract: A printing press having an actuator, includes a chamber partly surrounding the actuator and having a pressure prevailing therein that is greater than the pressure in the outer surroundings of the chamber.