Abstract: A transfer sheet placed between a vacuum chuck and a stamp in a soft lithography aligner facilitates three dimensional manufacturing with elastomeric materials.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for regulating the register of a rotary printing press (18), including a register regulator (17), the components (1, 5; 2, 6; 3, 7; 4, 8; 9, 10) of which are connected in a real-time bus system (12) and are chronologically synchronized therein.

Abstract: A reliable method of aligning a printing plate against a stop includes moving the printing plate and the stop relative to each other, detecting temperature changes occurring at a temperature sensor connected to the stop, when the printing plate comes into contact with the stop, deriving signals indicating the position of the printing plate relative to the stop from the signals of the temperature sensor, and deriving a signal indicating the thermal conductivity between the printing plate and the stop from a speed of change of the temperature sensor signal. A signal indicating incorrect alignment of the printing plate against the stop is output if the thermal conductivity drops below a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method for positioning a printing plate includes supporting the printing plate on a support surface. A first force is applied to the printing plate to move the printing plate over the support surface along a path. A second force is applied to the printing plate to alter the movement of the printing plate along the path. The printing plate is pivoted on the support surface while applying the first force and the second force to the printing plate, wherein the printing plate is pivoted about a pivot point located on the printing plate at a location different from each of the locations on the printing plate to which the first and second forces are applied.

Abstract: A method for registering a printing plate includes supporting the printing plate on a support surface. A plurality of registration members adapted to register an edge of the printing plate is provided. The first printing plate is moved over the support surface along a first direction to a position where the edge of the printing plate contacts a first registration member of the plurality of registration members. The first registration member is moved along a second direction that intersects the first direction while maintaining contact between the first registration member and the edge of the printing plate at a location on the edge that does not substantially vary as the first registration member moves along the second direction. Contact is established between the printing plate and a second registration member of the plurality of registration members after the first registration member has commenced moving along the second direction.

Abstract: A method for starting up a web-fed printing machine, in which a web to be printed on is guided through at least one printing gap formed by a printing cylinder and a counter printing cylinder of the web-fed printing machine; the printing cylinder accelerates to a print-on speed (Nprint-on) in a position retracted from the web and is applied to the web; and at least during a partial phase of the acceleration of the printing cylinder, the web is stationary or is conveyed at an initial speed (Nin) which is lower than the current speed of the printing cylinder.

Abstract: A method for setting position register and color register in a sheet-fed printing press having a control computer, which provides for one setting operation, in which both position and color register are set by the control computer. For the purposes of the setting, both the register setting elements in the printing units and the setting elements in the feeder are used. The invention is distinguished by the fact that before carrying out the setting operations, during the calculation of the travels for the register setting elements and setting elements in the feeder, an optimization comprising the travels of the register setting elements and the setting elements in the feeder is carried out in the computer.

Abstract: A plurality of printing blocks are placed on a plate cylinder of a printing machine. Each of these printing blocks is located at one of a plurality of mounting locations which are located adjacent each other in an axial direction of the plate cylinder. Each of these printing blocks is stored in a storage device which includes storage positions that are located adjacent to, and offset from each other at a fixed distance in the axial direction of the plate cylinder, prior to the arrangement of the printing blocks at one of the mounting locations of the plate cylinder. The plate cylinder and/or the storage device are displaced axially relative to each other by the operation of a positioning device.

Abstract: A printing product manufacturing method of printing a plurality of printing products on a medium includes: generating first and second images on the basis of a printing target image; printing the first image in a first area of a print area and printing the second image in a second area of the print area on the downstream side of the first area in a transport direction; and transporting the first image printed in the first area to the second area, wherein the printing products in which the printing target image is printed on the medium are manufactured by alternately repeating the printing and the transporting.

Abstract: A printing machine utilizes several printing couples to produce at least one printed image on a printed material. Compensation for at least one of a longitudinal elongation and a transverse elongation of the printed material is accomplished. An anticipated elongation of the printed material is compensated for by matching of a printed image placement, with respect to length, width or position, with an imaging system generating the printed image placement on a printing form.

Abstract: The screen printer machine includes: a base assembly; at least one print station having a support suitable for receiving a silk screen; and elements for moving the support relative to the base assembly. The elements for moving the support include: three coupling assemblies each provided with a moving member that is movable relative to the base assembly, sliding-connection elements for the moving member, and elements for moving the moving member; and members for controlling the drive elements for moving the three assemblies independently. The moving member of each coupling assembly is connected to the support by the sliding-connection elements along a direction that is fixed relative to the support.

Abstract: At least one of a transverse elongation and a longitudinal elongation of a printing material are compensated for. The printing material passes through serially arranged printing couples in a printing press. A component of the transverse elongation is compensated for after passage of the printing material through a first printing couple and before its entry into a second printing couple. This can be accomplished by the use of a framing controller. Alternatively, this transverse elongation can be compensated for by the displacement of at least one printing form which is situated on a subsequent printing couple. The printing form can be displaced transverse to a production direction of the printing material, relative to a reference mark on the printing material. An elongation of the printing material, which is known at the time of image generation on a printing form of a subsequent printing couple can be compensated for by proper configuration or positioning of the printed image on the printing form.

Abstract: An embossed sheet forming apparatus has phase controlling means (33, 34) axially shifting a second embossing roller 11, a front embossed profile detector 74 for detecting an embossed profile on a front surface of a both-sided embossed sheet 100, a rear embossed profile detector 75 for detecting an embossed profile on the rear surface, both surfaces phase difference computing means 80 comparing a detection signal from the front embossed profile detector 74 and a detection signal from the rear embossed profile detector 75 for calculating an embossing phase difference in a sheet width direction between the embossed profiles on the both surfaces, and phase adjustment control processing means 77 inputting a phase difference signal representing the embossing phase difference from the both surfaces phase difference computing means 80 for outputting a command to the phase controlling means (33, 34) to cancel a deviation of the phase difference.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method to print objects employing a letterpress or offset printing method. The surface of the object to be printed or the holding device respectively is measured before printing so as to determine deviations of the distance and the parallelism between the impression cylinder and the object accommodated in a holding device. Based on this measuring, the inclination of the impression cylinder and its distance is adjusted by the holding device either before or during printing.

Abstract: A method of controlling register when overprinting a plurality of separated colors, includes adjusting with register adjusting devices the position of image fields produced with the separated colors on a print carrier, so that the image fields are in register with one another. The position of all of the image fields on the print carrier are continuously changed simultaneously in the same direction by an equal amount.

Abstract: A printing unit is comprised of at least two cylinders which cooperate with each other in a printing group. At least one of these at least two cylinders is movably mounted so that it can be positioned against the other of the at least two cylinders by the use of at least one actuator, which is preferably configured as a power-controlled actuator. A control device is provided and in which several different preset values, which represent different levels of contact force between the two cylinders, are stored. Such data storage is in accordance with a criterion which concerns machine data and/or consumed material data and/or operational data. This data is usable to position the cylinder by operation of the actuator.

Abstract: A method for pre-registration in a printing machine with multiple printing units in which phases of the printing cylinders involved in the printing process are so mutually attuned that the deviations of the printing images of the different printing cylinders lie within mutual capture areas, includes using the deviations in the context of the registration of an ongoing printing operation, respectively, for the determination of the position of the printing images or parts thereof. The web to be printed, which is fed during the pre-registration to the printing machine, has at least one mark, which passes through different printing units during the pre-registration. The time points at which the mark passes the measuring points in the printing units are recorded, and these time points are set with reference to the angular position of the printing images of the respective printing units at those time points.

Abstract: A device is used to influence the fan-on effect of a web in a web-fed rotary printing press. Sensors are used to sense and to monitor a side register control or adjustment of the web. The values provided by the sensor are supplied to the device which controls the fan-out effect.

Abstract: A method of automatically adjusting the printing pressure in flexographic printing machines is disclosed. The method is applied to flexographic machines with a rotating support drum around which a series of printing units with a series of printing rollers associated to respective ink rollers are arranged, and includes carrying out for each printing unit: detecting the start and the end of one mark (M1) printed with a printing roller and the angular positions of one or more rollers of the printing unit to which the printing roller belongs, and based on the detections establishing the size (Td) of the mark; comparing the detected size (Td) with a predetermined size (Tr) of the mark (M1) which is representative of a good print quality, and if the sizes are not equal adjusting the pressure of the printing roller which has printed the mark (M1) and of the associated ink roller.

Abstract: A method for controlling the print-to-cut register in a web printing press having at least one print unit printing a web, each print unit having at least one drive driving the print unit independently of the other print units. The method includes presetting a web compensator position so as to set a print-to-cut registration between a print unit and a cross-cutter and controlling the print-to-cut register during printing by controlling the drives of the print units and/or a drive of the cross-cutter. A method for controlling circumferential register, as well as a printing press are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of exchanging printing units at a running rotary printing press, wherein a first printing unit is withdrawn from the printing medium, and a second printing unit for printing the same image with the same register is set against the printing medium, includes the steps of applying to the printing cylinder of the second printing unit, prior to start of the printing operation, a register printing block elevated relative to the regular printing block; prior to changeover of the printing units, setting the second printing unit against the printing medium such that register marks print with the register printing block without an image printing with the regular printing block; detecting register marks and adjusting the second printing unit register by reference to the detected register mark; and with the register adjusted, exchanging the printing units by withdrawing the first printing unit and setting the second printing unit.

Abstract: Register errors on a web of material which is moving through the printing nip of a multicolor web-fed rotary printing press are reduced. This is accomplished by providing a portion of the web of material, what is located between the web lateral edges of the web and areas in the vicinity of the lateral edges of the web, with a deformation relative to each other. Such deformations are directed perpendicularly to a plane of rotation of the web of material which is subject to a register error occurring in the direction of rotation of the web of material.

Abstract: A method for checking a correctness of impositions and correct mutual register of the print pages at a front side and a rear side of different types of printed matters using a check print apparatus comprising two co-operating printers. The method includes preparing impositions in a control unit of the front side and the rear side of a print original to be made, printing a plurality of print pages having a first imposition of the front side of the paper, printing a plurality of print pages having a second imposition on the rear side of the paper with the page in position turned 180°, checking that the first and second impositions of the front and rear sides coincide, correcting the first and second impositions using the control unit when the checking step determines the first and second impositions do not coincide, and preparing a print original with the first and second impositions coinciding.

Abstract: A method for processing lenticular foil in sheet-fed printing presses is provided, the lenticular foil having lens strips adjacently disposed and extending transversely to the running direction of the sheets. The method ensures that the lens strips proceed parallel to the sheet's front edge For determining the actual position of a sheet aligned according to a front edge, the position of a contact line between two adjacent lens strips is determined, and compared with a nominal position. If the actual position deviates from the nominal position, an adjusting value is generated for realizing a leading or trailing movement of plate cylinders making possible the nominal position, of a gripper sheet-holding system of a sheet-accelerating device mounted in a drum.

Abstract: A mailpiece fabrication system including a source for providing sheet material having mailpiece data printed thereon. The mailpiece fabrication system further includes at least one spatial positioning device adapted to direct the sheet material along one of two fabrication paths. Each fabrication path includes a fabrication assembly for producing one of at least two mailpiece configurations. In one embodiment, the spatial positioning device includes an orbiting nip roller for changing the elevation of the sheet material while, furthermore, providing an accurate and controlled mechanism for stacking and aligning sheet material to produce a flats mailpiece. In another embodiment, the spatial positioning device includes a routing roller in combination with the orbit nip roller to change the orientation of the sheet material. The routing roller is employed to change the direction of the sheet material relative to the feed path.

Abstract: A method for aligning the leading edge of printing plate (110) to an axially disposed slot (70) in a cylindrical surface (30) of an imaging drum (20) comprising at least one printing plate clamp (90) having a clamp surface (100) disposed parallel to the slot, the method comprising straightening (210) the leading edge against the clamp surface and positioning (220) the leading edge to protrude over the slot by rotating the imaging drum under the plate. The straightening comprises resting (200) the leading edge of the plate on the cylindrical surface of the imaging drum and rotating the imaging drum about its cylindrical axis (60) to contact with the clamp surface a point along the leading edge of the plate and to rotate the plate until its leading edge is in alignment with the clamp surface.

Abstract: A system and process for aligning printed images on a rolled product with perforation lines being formed into the product is disclosed. According to the process, the position of printed images are sensed as the images are being printed onto a substrate, such as a tissue strip. The images are printed onto the substrate using a printing device including at least one rotating print roller. In order to maintain the printed images in alignment with perforation lines being formed into the substrate, the speed of the print roller is adjusted in order to adjust the length of the printed images.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for dynamically adjusting at least one printing press module of a printing press (100), in order to correct a first register. Only the first register is changed. Further registers are decoupled from this dynamic adjustment by coupling correction values (146, 148, 150) for further printing press modules with consideration for dynamic time elements (140, 142, 144).

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display includes: loading an upper substrate or a lower substrate on a stage; positioning a printing roll on the loaded substrate; measuring the printing roll, the measurement being indicative of a size change of the printing roll; compensating the operation of the printing roll relative to the stage according to the measurement of the printing roll; supplying an alignment solution to the printing roll; driving the printing roll under the compensated operation to print the alignment solution onto the loaded substrate; attaching the upper substrate and the lower substrate; and forming a liquid crystal layer between the upper substrate and the lower substrate.

Abstract: A printing method for window blind slats includes three blind slats situated side by side before three printing rollers that are equidistantly spaced out in a transverse direction with one growth-ring printing area and two fine-texture printing areas alternatively arranged and precisely formed at corresponding lengthwise and widthwise positions of the sequentially aligned printing rollers thereon. Via the printing operation of the alternatively-arranged growth-ring printing areas and the fine-texture printing areas of the three printing rollers, the three blind slats thereof can be synchronically printed with complete wood grain pattern and finished with growth-ring pictures and fine-texture pictures disposed thereon, efficiently providing a speedier printing method for the blind slats and ensuring an accurate control of the quality of each blind slat to achieve a standardized manufacturing thereof.

Abstract: A process for replacing the printing sleeves of a printing machine includes mounting printing sleeves that are not required for the printing process in at least one storage device. The transportation of the printing sleeves necessary for replacement between the storage device and the printing machine is performed by a transportation device. The transportation device has printing sleeve retaining devices that bring the printing sleeves into a position that facilitates their replacement. The arrangement of the printing sleeves in the transportation device is determined by a processing and control unit to which set positions of the printing sleeves during the next printing job are known. The processing and control unit adjusts the arrangement of the printing sleeves such that at least one printing sleeve retaining device remains free in the transportation device.

Abstract: After the front surface of a web is printed by a first-side printing unit, the web is shifted in the direction of its width by a direction-changing unit, flipped over by rollers, and transported to a second-side printing unit, where the back surface of the web is printed. A sensor detects a displacement between the second-side printing unit and the web or marks printed on the web. According to the amount and direction of displacement detected by the sensor, a printing unit body is shifted in the direction of the web width, and the web traveling as opposed to the first-side printing unit is shifted in the direction of its width by an edge guide.

Abstract: A home position sensor, which constitutes a portion of a home position storage unit, stores a home position by means of previously detecting the position of a printing cylinder cam. Accordingly, a printing cylinder comes to a stop at a plate replacement position at the time of replacement of a plate even when the printing cylinder cam does not pass by the home position sensor.

Abstract: In an image recording apparatus, when a photograph image to be printed on a printable surface area of a circular recording medium is selected, a margin area for writing a title or a description is set. Once the margin area has been set, the photograph image is arranged in an area of the printable surface area of the recording medium excluding the margin area. Then, the photograph image is printed in the area excluding the margin area of the recording medium as arranged.

Abstract: Patterns of nanometer and micrometer dimensions are printed on a substrate by first forming a solution or suspension of a liquid and a printing material and then applying a layer of the solution or suspension to the substrate. Then, without applying pressure, a stamp provided with relief patterns is positioned at a distance of 0 nm to 500 ?m from the substrate with the relief patterns in contact with the layer of the solution or suspension. The liquid is then evaporated from the solution or suspension from between the substrate and the stamp so as to draw the suspension or solution by capillarity to the relief patterns and deposit the material on the substrate in accordance with the relief patterns of the stamp. Thereafter the stamp is separated from the substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for transferring a pattern from a stamping surface (31) of a stamp (30) to a receiving surface (21) of a substrate (20). The pattern is transferred to the receiving surface (21) by successively bringing portions of the pattern within such a range of the receiving surface (21) during a certain period, that the pattern is locally transferred from the stamping surface (31) to the receiving surface (21). The individual portions can be moved by means of individual actuators (50). By applying the method, the transfer of the pattern can be performed according to a wave, which is for example ring-shaped, moving from the center of the receiving surface (21) to the circumference, or linear, moving from side of the receiving surface (21) to an opposite side.

Abstract: A printer module for use with like printer modules to form an array of printer modules includes a housing that defines a print media inlet and a print media outlet. A chassis is positioned in the housing. A print engine is mounted on the chassis to carry out a printing operation on the print media. A feed assembly is mounted on the chassis to feed the print media through the print engine. A first locator is positioned on a first side of the housing. A second locator is positioned on a second side of the housing. The locators are configured so that the first locator is engageable with the second locator of an adjacent printer module.

Abstract: A method of controlling register when overprinting a plurality of separated colors, includes adjusting with register adjusting devices the position of image fields produced with the separated colors on a print carrier, so that the image fields are in register with one another. The position of all of the image fields on the print carrier are continuously changed simultaneously in the same direction by an equal amount.

Abstract: A system and method for continuously printing images on a web material and continuously transferring the images to identity documents. A print component prints images on the web material. A registration component registers select images to identity documents. An applicator component applies the select images to the identity documents. A controller maintains throughput of the web material through the print component, registration component, and applicator component. The controller allows the system to continuously print images on the web material and continuously transfer the images to identity documents, in that it synchronizes cycles of the components, so that the components have simultaneous processing cycles and have simultaneous intervals between processing cycles.

Abstract: This printing apparatus comprises a support tray provided with a rotatable base, and an optical disk as a printing object is mounted on the rotatable base. A control section of the printing apparatus selectively operates rotation drive means for driving the rotatable base to be rotated and print means for printing predetermined data on a surface of the optical disk, thereby executing printing to a plurality of portions of the optical disk.

Abstract: A data entry pad arrangement includes twenty-six letters of the Roman alphabet arranged in a matrix including six rows of three to six letters per row. Ideally, no two adjacent letters in a row of the matrix are in alphabetical order. A method for designing a data-entry interface layout including letters of the Roman alphabet thereon involves the transposition of the letters of the Roman alphabet on a three-row QWERTY keyboard into six rows, wherein a letter (optimally every other letter) within a first, second, or third row of said three-row QWERTY keyboard is placed in an additional row substantially below an adjacent letter of said first, second, or third row.

Abstract: A method for printing digital images on plastic containers having curved surfaces, including providing a series of hollow plastic containers, moving the containers along a track past first and second digital printing locations, and printing first and second digital images on the curved container surfaces while maintaining the container being printed under internal pressure and while firmly holding the container being printed at spaced locations thereon.

Abstract: A method for controlling a print-to-cut register in a shaftless web printing press having a first print unit having a first plate cylinder and first blanket cylinder for printing a web, at least one independent drive for the first print unit, and a folder having a cross cutter for cutting the web. The method includes printing the web using the first plate cylinder and first blanket cylinder so as to form at least one printed section of the web; sensing the print-to-cut register of the at least one printed section; and controlling the print-to-cut register of the first plate cylinder during printing via the first drive as a function of the sensing. The controlling includes pulling the first plate cylinder off impression and phasing the first plate cylinder with respect to the cross cutter using the independent drive. A method for controlling circumferential register and a printing press is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for incorporating graphics into absorbent articles. The method involving: providing a moving substrate to a print cylinder; sensing a line speed reference signal from a line speed target machinery component; rotating the print cylinder at a predetermined speed, based on the line speed reference signal, to thereby print a series of graphics on the moving substrate at a predetermined distance frequency; sensing a phase difference signal from a phase target machinery component; and setting an actual print cylinder phase angle, based on the phase difference signal, to approximate a predetermined phase angle to thereby position the series of graphics on the moving substrate at a series of desired graphics locations. A system for executing the method and garments produced from the method and system are also provided.

Abstract: A method for incorporating graphics into absorbent articles. The method involving: providing a moving substrate to a print cylinder; sensing a line speed reference signal from a line speed target machinery component; rotating the print cylinder at a predetermined speed, based on the line speed reference signal, to thereby print a series of graphics on the moving substrate at a predetermined distance frequency; sensing a phase difference signal from a phase target machinery component; and setting an actual print cylinder phase angle, based on the phase difference signal, to approximate a predetermined phase angle to thereby position the series of graphics on the moving substrate at a series of desired graphics locations. A system for executing the method and garments produced from the method and system are also provided.

Abstract: A method and control device for determining a register error, whereby at least one register mark is printed and at least one sensor records the register mark, whereby the sheet edge of the sheet is recorded by the sensor, and the register error is determined from the sensor data and the target data.

Abstract: Devices for accomplishing the alignment of a covering applied to a cylinder in a printing machine include a detent and a roller element. The detent is situated in a mounting direction of the covering and is upstream of the roller element. The covering to be applied engages with the detent. In an alternative configuration, the roller can itself act as the detent. A method for aligning or for mounting the covering on the cylinder utilizes the detent or the roller element.

Abstract: A method of controlling register when overprinting a plurality of separated colors, which includes adjusting with register adjusting devices the position of image fields produced with the separated colors on a print carrier, so that the image fields are in register with one another, which comprises continuously changing the position of all the image fields on the print carrier simultaneously in the same direction by an equal amount.

Abstract: The invention relates to a positioning apparatus for positioning flexible printing plates on printing cylinders, wherein the printing plates are provided with at least one mark functioning as reference, wherein the apparatus comprises: a support device for a printing cylinder; at least one camera which is adapted to record the image of the at least one mark of the printing plate positioned on the printing cylinder; and a monitor for enlarged display of the image recorded by the at least one camera, wherein the positioning apparatus is provided with a registering device for registering the image recorded by the camera. Using such a registering device it is possible to establish that the marks are located at the correct position. By making a copy of the data thus inputted into the register, evidence can be provided that the flexible printing plate is placed in the correct manner.

Abstract: A machine for printing on containers and applying labels thereto, includes a printing blanket cylinder having a printing blanket thereon; inking assemblies applying ink to the printing blanket; a cylinder having mandrels for holding containers to be printed; a cylinder driving moving the cylinder to position each mandrel in sequence at a printing position adjacent the printing blanket; a mandrel drive rotating each mandrel positioned adjacent the printing blanket in order to rotate a container thereon against the printing blanket to print thereon, except for a predetermined area; a label applying device applying a label to the predetermined area of the container, substantially simultaneously with printing on the container; and a control arrangement which controls timing of the label applying device, the support member drive and the mandrel drive in a manner to ensure that the label is applied to the predetermined area on each container.