Abstract: A locking device (12) for a printing press (10) having a cylinder (40) having an outer surface (44) and an elongated slot (46) adjacent the outer surface (44), with the slot (46) having a lower surface (48) and a pair of opposed first and second side surfaces (50 and 52) extending between the lower surface (48) of the slot (46) and the outer surface (44) of the cylinder (40), a slide block (54) having an outer surface (56) and being slidably received in the slot (46), with the slide block (54) being movable between a first inner position with the outer surface (56) of the slide block (54) being flush with the outer surface (44) of the cylinder (40), and a second outer position with the slide block (54) projecting above the outer surface (44) of the cylinder (40), a retaining member (20) rotatably mounted in the slide block (54) and having an elongated groove (22) and a blanket (68) having one end (70) received against the first surface (50) of the slot (46) and a second end (72) received in the groove (22) of

Abstract: A folder (58) of the type having a folding cylinder (16) cooperating with a jaw cylinder (20) to cut and fold a ribbon of paper (14) into a folded product (14') provided with a guide assembly (60) with a guide surface defined by a nonconcentric guide with a convex section (64) and a convex section (74) joined together end-to-end to form a generally S-shaped or approximately cubical parabolic guide surface which conforms to the natural flow shape of the product (14') for minimum interference therewith to reduce the formation of dog-ears.

Abstract: An ultrasonic printing fluid input apparatus and method for use in a lithographic printing press. The system has a rotatable roller 20 having at least an oleophilic and hydrophobic surface and a source 100 of printing fluid. A metering blade 62 for applying a thin film of printing fluid to the surface of the metering roller 20 has at least one device 63 for imparting ultrasonic vibrations to the metering blade 62 such that a thickness of the thin film of printing fluid is a function of the amplitude of ultrasonic vibrations. A control 65 for varying the amplitude of ultrasonic vibrations is connected to the device 63 for imparting ultrasonic vibrations. A fixed end of the metering blade 62 is attached to a stationary support 42 via a decoupling material 65. An printing fluid removal device 73 is also provided for substantially removing a return printing fluid film on the oleophilic and hydrophobic surface of the metering roller 20.

Abstract: A roller 14 for use with a surface-scraping doctor blade to meter a fluid applied to an outer surface of the roller 14. The roller 14 has the following elements: a substantially cylindrical core 101 having a core surface; a coating 105 of a polymer material 102 on the core surface, the coating 105 having a predetermined thickness and having a predetermined percent by volume of substantially hard wear-resistant particles 103, the coating 105 also having a surface which is the outer surface of the roller 14; a plurality of cells 104 in the coating 105, each of the cells 104 having at least one cell wall oriented substantially perpendicular to the outer surface of the roller 14 and having an open end at the outer surface of the roller 14. A method for the manufacture of the roller 14 and a method for using the roller 14 are disclosed.

Abstract: A computer is programmed in accordance with an algorithm which allows it to send a series of tentative unique initialization commands to a port which should be connected to a modem for the purpose of establishing what type of modem is connected if any. In accordance with an internal flag setting, an appropriate translation table is then used in any future communications with that modem to convert the basic commands used by the computer operated device to commands that will be recognized by the modem in setting up communications with other modems at the other end of a transmission line and for terminating said communications. The algorithm involved is also able to ascertain whether or not an operable modem is connected to a port by monitoring the response obtained. Thus, modems can be changed and potential technician error is eliminated due to the dynamic selection capabilities of the computer programmed to operate in accordance with the inventive concept algorithm.

Abstract: A cleaning device (10) for a threaded shaft (12) having a cleaning member (34) having a threaded recess (42) received on the shaft (12) and extending partially around the shaft (12) with the threads (44) of the cleaning member (34) meshing with the threads (14) of the shaft (12).

Abstract: A direct-to-press imaging system for use in lithographic printing wherein a master-image printing cylinder is used with separate application of ink and water onto its surface to enable repetitive conveyance of image-formatted ink films onto substrates for printing purposes. The imaging system inlcudes a master-image printing cylinder adapted for receiving a hydrophilic coating layer on its surface and a device for laying down a uniform layer of hydrophilic material on the surface of this cylinder. An apparatus is also provided for applying oleophilic materials in image-formatted patterns on top of the layer of hydrophilic material on the master-image printing cylinder to form a printing structure having separate hydrophilic and oleophilic areas of the format to be printed.

Abstract: A printing blanket cylinder assembly (14', 16') with an exposed edge (60) at the end of an inwardly turned mounting member (30M, 34M) protectively enclosed within a mounting slot (32) within a blanket cylinder (16) while an outer layer (40) of the blanket (34) is protectively wrapped around a leading edge (30D) of a metal backing plate (30) to both protect intermediate layers (44, 48) of the blanket (34) and the bonds therebetween from the deleterious effects of dampening liquid while concurrently providing a gap (56) of preselected size to achieve a stress-free boundary for the blanket (34) on opposite sides of the gap (56) for optimal vibration reduction.

Abstract: An ink metering roller for a keyless inking system which comprises a steel or aluminum roller core and an outer surface of highly wear-resistant hard particles imbedded in an oleophilic and hydrophobic bonding matrix, which matrix is subject to wear by contact with a coacting doctor blade, thereby creating gaps or interstices between the hard particles for conveying fixed amounts of input ink to the rotary press.

Abstract: A printing press (10) with a roller mounting assembly (14) for mounting a form roller (16) and a transfer roller (22) to an axle (20") of a drum roller (20) to rotate therewith by means of a bracket assembly (44) which oscillates both the form roller (16) and the transfer roller together (22) relative to the drum roller (16) and a plate cylinder (18) while permitting rotation of a form bracket (46) carrying the form roller (16) to adjust the pressure of the form roller (16) against the plate cylinder (18) but locking the transfer roller (22) against such rotary movement by means of a link (66) between the transfer bracket (48) securing together the transfer bracket (48) and an oscillating piston member bracket (52) and a post (62) carried by the oscillating piston bracket (52) restrained to slide within a slot (64) in a base bracket (58) which is fixedly secured against any movement.

Abstract: A method of automatically returning calls to callers (18) who have recorded a message in an ACD mail (22C) controlled message bin (22D) of a voice response unit (22) in response to a stored announcement in an announcement table (22B) selected in accordance with call statistics in a statistics table (22A) from an automatic call distributor (12) to provide the caller with queue information when no agent stations (14) are available. In one mode of operation (FIG. 4), the recorded voice message in queue is automatically provided to an agent when one becomes available in the same manner as an incoming call except an indication is given to the agent station (14) that the incoming call is, in fact, a prerecorded message which requires a cell back. The agent must obtain the telephone number from the recorded voice message and then input the multidigit number to place a return call. In other modes of operation (FIGS.

Abstract: A rotary ink valve assembly with a plurality of rotary ink valves contained in a housing (10), having a stationary outer portion (16) with first and seconds ends (50, 52) connected by a cylindrical body (54) having at least one bypass aperture (42) adjacent the first end (50) and at least one ink output aperture (40) adjacent the second end (52). A substantially tubular inner portion (18) rotates within the cylindrical interior area (56) of the outer portion (16) with at least one bypass aperture (66) in the side wall (64) adjacent a first closed end (60) and at least one ink output aperture (68) in the side wall (64) adjacent a second open end (62). Ink is supplied to at least the open second end (62) for supplying ink to the inner portion (18) while the inner portion (18) is rotated by means (28, 32, 34) between an open position, a closed position and an intermediate position.

Abstract: A flow restrictor (12) for a fluid comprising, an elongated conduit (26) having a lumen (28), and a restriction member (32) snugly received in the lumen (28) of the conduit (26), and having a pair of opposed ends (38) and (40), an entry port (33) adjacent one end (38) of the restriction member (32), and an exit port (35) adjacent the other end (40) of the restriction member (32), and a device (42a-j) and (46a-i) defining a tortuous path (48) between the entry port (33) and exit port (35) to restrict passage of fluid therethrough.

Abstract: A clutch mechanism for a printing press (10) having a shaft (14) having a cylindrical outer surface (36) adjacent one end (28) of the shaft (14 ). The mechanism has a device (15) for rotatably driving the shaft (14) and a drive member (32) having a cylindrical bore (34), with the one end (28) of the shaft (14) being received in the bore (34) of the drive member (32) such that the drive member (32) rotates on the shaft (14), with the drive member (32) having a clutch surface (30). The mechanism has a device (26) and (23) for coupling the shaft (14) with the clutch surface (30) of the drive member (32).

Abstract: A printing fluid circulating device for use in a printing press having a printing fluid container (32) for containing printing fluid and having a rotatable pickup roller (34) partially submerged in the printing fluid in the container (32). The pickup roller (34) has a surface for picking up printing fluid. The printing fluid circulating device has at least one outer ribbon (10, 12) having a predetermined diameter and a predetermined surface area and at least one inner ribbon (14, 16) also having a predetermined diameter and a predetermined surface area. The diameter of the inner ribbon (14, 16) is less than the diameter of the outer ribbon (10, 12) and the surface area of the outer ribbon (10, 12) is less than the surface area of the inner ribbon (14, 16). Each of the outer and inner ribbons (10, 12, 14, 16) has a substantially helix configuration, the helix configuration of the inner ribbon (14, 16) being opposite the helix configuration of the outer ribbon (10, 12).

Abstract: Transmissions of synchronous digital data from a master control unit (50A) to a slave, network termination unit (50B) are via a pulse width modulated data stream including pulse width modulated binary code pulses (20, 22) with a pulse width modulated synchronization pulse (24) all of which have a preselected leading edge transition (28) at the same point in each cycle of a master clock signal. A clock signal is derived at the network termination unit (50B) from the received pulse width modulated binary data stream for decoding and for nonself-clocking, synchronous transmissions from the slave, network termination unit (50B) to the master, control unit (50A). The phase synchronization pulse (24) is employed to maintain phase sychronization between the transmission to and from the control unit (50A).

Abstract: A digital communication network (10) with a multiple space storage, time space-time configuration defined by a first, or input, time stage (12), a second, or output, time stage (14) and a preselected number of space stages (16, 22, 24) interconnected between the time stages 12, 14) that introduce time delays which are compensated for by means for time shifting the data in a shadow memory (32) relative to data in a regular memory (34). On-line expansion is accomplished by operating the network (10) off of one of the regular memory and the shadow memory (32) during the expansion, introducing the amount of compensation required by the expansion and then shifting operation over to the other memory. The selection between memories (34, 32) is achieved by means of a trislatable device (38).

Abstract: A cover mounting (10) for a printing press (14) having a rotatably mounted roll (12) having an elongated lateral recess (16) extending from an outer surface (18) of the roll (12), a bracket (20) having a pair of outwardly directed flanges (22) and (24) in said recess (16), and a blanket (30) for covering said roll (12), said blanket (30) having a pair of clips (44) and (46) adjacent opposed ends of the blanket (30), with each of said clips (44) and (46) having a pair of opposed spaced resilient clipping members (48) and (50) for placement on each of the bracket flanges (22) and (24) in said recess (16).

Abstract: A printing press (10) having a delivery fly (12) having a plurality of laterally adjustable arcuate fingers (32) mounted on a shaft (34) and defining a plurality of pockets (33) extending peripherally around the fly (12) to receive a printed article (A) in the pockets (33). The press (10) has a device (42) for rotating the shaft (24), and a belt (18) for moving the articles (A) to a position (14) adjacent the pockets (33) of the fly (12) for depositing the articles (A) in the pockets (33), and a belt (26) for receiving the articles (A) from the pockets (33) of the fly (12), and for transporting the articles (A) away from the fly (12). The press (10) has a hinge (58) for moving the fly (12) to a position away from the belt (18) to provide access to the pockets (33).

Abstract: Method and ultrasonic ink metering system for applying ink to a roller 14 in a printing press; the system comprising: an ink supply 20 containing ink; means 22 for pressurizing said ink in said ink supply 20; at least one ink metering device 10 having an internal passageway 30, said internal passageway 30 having an input 32 connected to said ink supply 20 and having an output 36, said metering device 10 also having a nozzle 34 connected to said output 36 of said internal passageway 30 l; at least one piezoelectric transducer 26 attached to said nozzle 34; and variable means 24 for operating said at least one piezoelectric transducer 34 in a power input range; wherein at least the power input of operation of said at least one piezoelectric transducer 34 determines the quantity of ink applied to the roller 14.