Abstract: An ink delivery system is provided. The ink delivery system includes at least one ink cartridge dispenser including an ink cartridge holder for holding an ink cartridge storing printing ink, at least one ink level sensor, a rotatable ink fountain roller and an ink fountain blade, forming a dispensed ink area receiving printing ink from the ink cartridge. The ink delivery system also includes a support supporting the at least one ink cartridge dispenser movably across a longitudinal axis of the ink fountain roller. The ink cartridge dispenser is movable along the support and fixable to the support manually. A method for supplying printing ink is also provided.

Abstract: A web printing press is provided. The web printing press includes at least one printing unit printing images on a web, at least one press component in direct contact with the web, a cutting device for cutting the web into sheets and a controller transmitting a virtual master signal to the at least one printing unit and at least one press component. A sensor senses the at least one press component or directly senses the web downstream of the at least one print unit and generates a sensor signal. A processor receives the sensor signal and the virtual master signal, the processor transmits a modified virtual master signal to the cutting device as a function of the received sensor signal. Methods are also provided.

Abstract: A cutting cylinder pair for cutting a substrate in a folder of a printing press is provided which includes a cutting cylinder, the cutting cylinder including a knife and a binding pin adjacent the knife in a circumferential direction of the cutting cylinder; and an anvil cylinder, the anvil cylinder including a cutting rubber, the cutting rubber engaging the knife and the binding pin as the cutting cylinder and anvil cylinder rotate, the binding pin positioned on the cutting cylinder to impart a dimple to a substrate passing between the cutting cylinder and anvil cylinder.

Abstract: A printing press is provided which includes a printing unit for printing on a web. The printing unit includes a plate cylinder, a blanket cylinder, and an impression cylinder. The press further includes a web displacement bar movable between a first position in which the web displacement bar is spaced apart from a web passing between the blanket cylinder and the impression cylinder, and a second position in which the web displacement bar holds the web in contact with the impression cylinder and spaced apart from the blanket cylinder. A method of operating the press is also provided.

Abstract: A printing press is provided which includes a printing unit for printing on a web. The printing unit includes a plate cylinder, a blanket cylinder, and an impression cylinder. The press further includes a web displacement bar movable between a first position in which the web displacement bar is spaced apart from a web passing between the blanket cylinder and the impression cylinder, and a second position in which the web displacement bar holds the web in contact with the impression cylinder and spaced apart from the blanket cylinder. A method of operating the press is also provided.

Abstract: A broadsheet newspaper printing press is provided including an image carrier carrying three images around in broadsheet newspaper format. The image carrier transfers the three images to a web. The broadsheet newspaper printing press also includes a folder for imparting a longitudinal fold to the web and cutting the web into broadsheet newspaper pages. The folder includes a cylinder cross-folding the broadsheet newspaper pages off center. A web offset broadsheet newspaper printing press also is provided. Methods are also provided.

Abstract: A method of forming printing sleeve for mounting on a cylinder in a printing press is provided. The method includes providing a permanent hydrophilic tubular layer on a tubular base; selectively providing a first temporary hydrophobic layer on the hydrophilic tubular layer to form a first imaged printing sleeve, the temporary hydrophobic layer forming a first image; printing, by the first imaged printing sleeve, a first print job including the first image on a substrate; and removing the first temporary hydrophobic layer from the permanent hydrophilic layer such that the permanent hydrophilic layer remains intact on the tubular base. A lithographic printing sleeve for a printing press is also provided.

Abstract: A folding device is provided for folding a sheet comprises a jaw cylinder, a folding cylinder, a paper guide, and an actuator. The jaw cylinder has a jaw, and the folding cylinder has a hold down element and a folding blade. The folding blade is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The folding blade is in the extended positron to transfer one or more sheets to the jaw cylinder during a fold off operation, and the folding blade is in the retracted position during a collect operation. The paper guide is positioned between the folding cylinder and the jaw cylinder. The paper guide includes a static guide element and a reciprocating guide element connected to the static guide element, the reciprocating guide element movable between a retracted position and an extended position.

Abstract: A method for operating a web printing press is provided. The method includes unwinding a substrate from a roll to define a web; during makeready, printing the web using at least one print unit, the makeready ending when the web is being printed to a desired standard; stopping the web after the makeready; rewinding the web so that the substrate printed during the make ready pass back through the print unit; and unwinding again the rewound substrate to pass through the print unit. A press and printed product are also provided.

Abstract: A method for operating a web printing press is provided. The method includes unwinding a substrate from a roll to define a web; during makeready, printing the web using at least one print unit, the makeready ending when the web is being printed to a desired standard; stopping the web after the makeready; rewinding the web so that the substrate printed during the make ready pass back through the print unit; and unwinding again the rewound substrate to pass through the print unit. A press and printed product are also provided.

Abstract: A saddle stitcher is provided. The saddle stitcher includes a saddle conveyor for transporting signatures and at least one signature guide located along the saddle conveyor. The signature guide includes a plurality of supports and at least one flexible member supported by the plurality of supports thereby defining a guide area. The at least one flexible member guides the signature in the guide area. Methods are also provided.

Abstract: A method is provided of charging an inker in a lithographic printing press. The method comprises placing all of the printing units of the printing press in an off impression position, with a continuous substrate passing through the printing units, each printing unit including a blanket cylinder; and in one or more printing units of the plurality of printing units, moving the takeaway roller into contact with the blanket cylinder of the printing unit. Thereafter, the method includes driving the ink train, plate cylinder, blanket cylinder and the take away roller at a first surface speed, whereby the ink from the ink train transmitted to the plate cylinder from the ink train, from the plate cylinder to the blanket cylinder, and from the blanket cylinder to the take away roller; and during said driving step, keeping the continuous substrate stationary or moving the continuous substrate at a second surface speed less than 50% of the first surface speed.

Abstract: A method for determining blanket performance in a printing press is provided. The printing press includes a plate cylinder having a printing plate transferring an image to a blanket on a blanket cylinder for printing on a substrate. The method includes determining an acceptable range of nip force (Fp) between a plate cylinder and a blanket cylinder in a printing unit, calculating the nip force (Fp) between the plate cylinder and blanket cylinder and determining blanket performance based on the nip force with respect to the acceptable range of nip force. A printing press is also provided.

Abstract: A method is provided which reduces substrate waste while adjusting the press parameters to obtain a satisfactory image. The method includes the steps of: supplying a web to a printing press; printing a plurality of first images on the web at corresponding printing positions; inspecting one of the first images on the web; rewinding the web to one of the printing positions; and printing a further image over one of the first images on the web. A printing press is also provided which is configured and arranged to print in accordance with the method.

Abstract: A printing press is provided. The printing press includes a print unit printing a stream of printed products having a first pitch, a pitch changing device and a controller. The pitch changing device includes an upper roller mounted on an upper axle, a lower roller mounted on a lower axle, the upper and lower rollers forming a roller nip and at least one motor driving the upper and lower rollers in opposite directions. The roller nip receives the stream of printed products. The controller is connected to the at least one motor and is configured to decrease an initial velocity of the roller nip to a final velocity using an electronic cam velocity profile and to increase the final velocity of the nip to the initial velocity after releasing the printed products over a longer period of a cycle of the electronic cam velocity profile than decreasing the initial velocity to the final velocity. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A variable cutoff cylinder alignment apparatus is provided. The variable cutoff cylinder alignment apparatus includes a plate cylinder support box for supporting an exchangeable variable cutoff plate cylinder, a blanket cylinder support box for supporting an exchangeable variable cutoff blanket cylinder and an alignment stop adapted to align the blanket cylinder support box and the plate cylinder support box. The plate cylinder support box supports an exchangeable plate cam and the blanket cylinder support box includes a blanket cam. The exchangeable plate cam is capable of contacting the stop and the exchangeable blanket cam is capable of contacting the plate support box to align the blanket cylinder support box and the plate cylinder support box. The plate cylinder support box and the blanket cylinder support box are capable of aligning cylinders of different sized cutoffs. A variable cutoff offset printing press and a method of aligning printing cylinders during a cutoff change are also provided.

Abstract: A 3 by 2 tabloid printing press includes a plate cylinder having a straight across lock-up and a blanket cylinder contacting the plate cylinder; a blanket cylinder printing a web; and a folder superstructure having at least one slitter for slitting the web into three ribbons and a folder for forming a tabloid newspaper from the three ribbons.

Abstract: A double cut folder is provided for a printing press. The folder has a first cutting cylinder pair including a first knife cylinder and a first anvil cylinder for perforating a web, and a second cutting cylinder pair including a second knife cylinder and a second anvil cylinder for cutting the web into signatures. Each cutting cylinder pair includes a plurality of knife mounting locations and a plurality of cutting rubber locations. Each knife mounting location is configured to hold a knife box. A first subset of the plurality of knife mounting locations each have a knife box secured therein, and a second subset of the plurality of knife mounting locations do not have a knife box secured therein.

Abstract: A folder superstructure includes a former, a first nip roll located downstream of the former and having a compressible outer layer, and a second nip roll forming a nip with the first nip roll. A nip roll for nipping a plurality of superimposed printed ribbons or webs is also disclosed, the nip roll including a roll body and a compressible layer disposed about the roll body. A method for operating a printing press is also provided.

Abstract: A folder superstructure includes a former, a first nip roll located downstream of the former and having a compressible outer layer, and a second nip roll forming a nip with the first nip roll. A nip roll for nipping a plurality of superimposed printed ribbons or webs is also disclosed, the nip roll including a roll body and a compressible layer disposed about the roll body. A method for operating a printing press is also provided.