Abstract: A plate clamping system and apparatus for holding a flexible printing plate in position on a rotary printing cylinder. The system includes a plate clamp assembly mounted in a gap in the wall of the rotary printing cylinder for holding the leading edge of the flexible printing plate and a tail clamp assembly mounted in the same longitudinal gap in the cylinder wall for gripping and applying tension to the flexible printing plate to hold it against the surface of the printing cylinder. The plate clamp includes a plurality of individual clamping mechanisms which are air pressure engaged and spring released to hold the leading edge of the flexible plate. The tail clamp assembly includes a plurality of tail clamp mechanisms which are spring applied and air pressure released. The tail clamp mechanisms have a two-stage operation wherein compression springs clamp the tail end of the printing plate and a second set of tension springs moves the mechanism to apply tension on the printing plate.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for preparing a preprinted book cover for application to a book block in a perfect binding system A double-walled tubular attachment strip is adhesively attached to the cover spine portion of successive covers in a continuous process. Covers are fed onto a conveyor at a constant speed with a spacing between covers and adhesive is applied to the spine areas. Simultaneously a continuous double-walled attachment strip with a longitudinal lap joint in one wall is formed without adhesive from a source of paper web stock and pressed, lap joint down, onto the cover spines to form a continuous string of covers. The attachment strip is cut by laser cutting beam between each cover while the covers are moving. The double-walled attachment strip is formed by pulling the web under constant tension through side scoring wheels, hold-down shoes, and forming devices which have surfaces to fold the edges of the moving web through 180.degree. toward each other to form a lap joint.

Abstract: A multi-color printing press having a single segmented impression cylinder with multiple, segmented blanket cylinders of equal diameter arranged about the periphery thereof. The segments of the impression cylinder and the blanket cylinders are equal in length and the number of segments on the impression cylinder is equal to the number of segments on the blanket cylinders multiplied by a whole number, plus one additional segment. Each blanket cylinder is provided with a plate cylinder of equal diameter which has the same number of segments. Color rolls provide each segment of the plate cylinder with a different color. Sheets to be printed are fed to the gripping means on the successive segments of the impression cylinder and delivery means removes sheets after printing. Each sheet is held on the impression cylinder for a number of revolutions equal to the number of segments on any one blanket cylinder.

Abstract: A fish fillet trimming device having a swing arm mounted rotary blade which rides on the surface of a moving conveyor table. The fish fillets are passed between the cutting blade and the conveyor surface for trimming blemished portions of the fillets. The method permits an inspector using an endless belt candling table to detect blemishes in the fillets and orient the fillets on the belt surface so as to pass beneath the trimming knife without removal of the fillets from the processing travel path.

Abstract: A handheld snapshot camera is combined with a casing therefor which forms a portion of an aircraft fuselage with a foreshortened wingspan. The casing functions as a carrying case and a novelty amusement device or a toy airplane. The snapshot camera fits snugly within the casing and cooperates with the casing structure and contour such that the film spool-winding operator is exposed in an unobtrusive manner adjacent one of the motor mount positions on one side of the simulated cockpit area. The camera shutter trip button forms a portion of the top surface of the foreshortened wing on the opposite side of the cockpit convenient for use in the picture taking mode. A flash attachment or hot shoe is mounted to the underside of one of the foreshortened wings to receive a standard flash unit. A pivotally mounted nose cone section of the aircraft functions as a lens cap.