Abstract: A dampening assembly (10) for a printing press (12) having a spray bar (16) and source (18) of a liquid (L). The system (10) has a pressure regulator (22) being connected to the source (18) through a first conduit (20), and being connected to the spray bar (16) through a second conduit (24). The system (10) has an accumulator (26) having a chamber (28) being separated into first and second compartments (32 and 34), with the first compartment (32) being closed and being charged with an inert gas (G), and the second compartment (34) being connected to the second conduit (24). The system 10 has a third conduit (38) being connected between the second conduit (24) and the supply (18), and having a flow restriction orifice (40) restricting the flow of liquid (L) between the second conduit (24) and the source (18).

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for cleaning one or more of the rollers used in printing presses. Typically, the printing press features manual or automated devices for supplying cleaning solvent to the press during a washing operation. A blade assembly is pivotally disposed for engagement with the press roller. The blade assembly features a blade unit for scraping solid and liquid debris from the roller, and a receptacle trough for collecting used solvent as well as solid and liquid debris. In the improvement, a sheathing system is provided to supply protective sheath material to cover the blade assembly to keep the blade assembly clean during the washing operation. The sheath material preferably has a low coefficient of friction to prevent wearing of the components and is relatively thin to maintain the blade geometry for effective cleaning of the roller.

Abstract: A device for alignment of images for a control system of a printing press having a device for creating targets, a device for aligning a camera, a device for finding actual dot positions on at least one of the targets, a device for calculating the desired dot positions, a device for generating transfer functions, and a device for aligning the images.

Abstract: A device to align images for a printing press control system comprising, a device for capturing a reference image containing one or more image planes from a reference copy, a device for converting the reference image into a monochrome reference image, a device for capturing a production image containing one or more image planes from a production copy, a device for converting the production image into a monochrome production image, a device for defining at least one object model in the monochrome reference image, a device for identifying the position of at least one of the object models in the production image, a device for defining a transfer function which maps the position of the models in said monochrome production image to the position of the models in said monochrome reference image, and a device for applying the transfer function to each of the image planes of the production image, resulting in its alignment to the reference image.

Abstract: A rotary offset printing press having a pair of carriage mounted interchangeable plate cylinders is disclosed. The carriage is slidably mounted to the press and reciprocates along a generally linear path. The pair of plate cylinders are rotatably mounted to the carriage, and each of the plate cylinders is selectively moveable into an operative position in contact with the blanket cylinder. Accordingly, while the press is operating using one of the plate cylinders, the other plate cylinder is idle, which permits the impression sleeve thereon to be removed and replaced without stopping the press. The plate cylinders, when in their respective operative positions, contact the blanket cylinder at the same point of tangency, thus simplifying registration.

Abstract: A control system (60) for a printing press having a printed copy, a device (68 and 70) for manually using the copy to control operation of the press based on information on the copy, and device (80 and 82) for automatically reading the copy while excluding any control by target information on the copy, and controlling operation of the press based upon information on the copy.

Abstract: A drive device (10) for a folder in a printing press having a folding blade mounted to a folding blade shaft (12). A drive gear (16) drives a folding blade shaft gear (14). The drive device also includes a plunger (24) having an intermediate gear (28) between the gear (14) of the folding blade shaft (12) and the drive gear (16), and a device for moving the plunger (24) between a first longitudinal position and a second longitudinal position. In the first longitudinal position, the intermediate gear (28) meshes with the folding blade shaft gear (14). In the second longitudinal position, the intermediate gear (28) is out of register with the drive gear (16) to prevent the folding blade shaft gear (14) from being driven by the drive gear 16. The drive device (10) may also include a cam (38) and an indexing ring (56) operable in response to axial movement of the plunger (24) to cause the intermediate gear (28) to be moved from the first longitudinal position to the second longitudinal position.

Abstract: A color sensing device of a printing press control system, having a plurality of lamp fixtures (100 and 102) for providing light in the visible region and the near infrared region of the spectrum to illuminate a viewing area (104), a camera assembly (108), the camera assembly having multiple channels to capture images in the visible region and the near infrared region, and at least one lens for generating the images, a calibration target (108) with a uniform light reflectance, a device for adjusting the distribution of the light so that image captured from said calibration target in each channel of the camera assembly is as even as possible, a device for applying a position related compensation process in order to obtain an image which corresponds to a position-invariant viewing condition, and a device for applying a camera value related compensation process in order to obtain an image under a standard viewing condition.

Abstract: A blanket cylinder (10) having an inner mandrel (12) having an outer surface (14), a split shell (16) having a longitudinal slit (18) defining opposed ends (20 and 22) of the shell (16), and being positioned on the outer surface of the mandrel (12) with a minimal gap (24) between the opposed ends (20 and 22) of the shell (16), a device for retaining the shell (16) on the mandrel (12), and a compressible blanket (34) being formed on an outer surface (36) of the shell (36) and having dimensions to close the opposed ends (20 and 22) of the shell (16).

Abstract: A web-cutting arrangement uses two-stage cutting to produce a plurality of products from a continuous web (100), while ensuring that the web, and the products (125) cut therefrom, remain continuously guided and undamaged. The arrangement includes a leading cutting structure (170) which provides an initial partial cut (115) into the web. The partial cut (115) is made along a line (110) directed perpendicular to the web length, leaving a remaining uncut portion (120) along the line (110). Using web transport belts (140) located so as to overlap the cutout (or partially cut) portions of the web (100), the continuous web is moved in a direction parallel to the web length with the belts (140) pulling and guiding the web (100) around rotating cylinders (164, 166).

Abstract: Web feed apparatus, for example in web printing and folding apparatus, has a pair of opposing rollers, one (28) on a fixed axis and one (22) laterally movable to define an adjustable nip gap between their peripheries. The gap is automatically set and adjusted by a setting screw (4) driven by a servo motor (60) with rotation of the screw monitors by a potentiometer sensor (64). A stop collar (52) on the screw limits axial displacement thereof to determine the set nip gap and a spring (50) urges the rollers towards each other but permits displacement under overload conditions. A rectilinear sensor (54) senses said conditions by monitoring relative displacement of the stop collar and a programmable control system processes signals from the sensors and operates the servo motor accordingly.

Abstract: An improved throw off device for disengaging adjacent blanket cylinders (12) and (14) from each other and corresponding adjacent plate cylinders (16) and (18) is provided. The device includes pairs of bearing assemblies (28A), (28B), (30A) and (30B) that are mounted on the opposite ends of the journal (26) of each of the blanket cylinders (12) and (14). Each bearing assembly is defined by an inner race (36) and an outer race (38) having an eccentric bore in which the inner race is disposed. The device eliminates the need for a bearing sleeve. Each bearing assembly has a lever (74) arm that is mounted to the outer race (38). The lever arm (74) is defined by two wing-shaped portions (76) and (78). Each bearing assembly further includes a hydraulic cylinder (86). Each hydraulic cylinder (86) is coupled at one end to one of the two wing-shaped portions of the lever arm (74) and at the other end to one of the side frames of the printing press.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for producing at least two 4-page signatures (340) and an apparatus for producing at least one 16-page signature (460). The signatures are produced by folding and cutting sheets cut from a continuous web in a folding machine (500 or 600). The apparatus of the present invention provides a selectable blade device which folds or folds and cuts sheets being processed in the device. When placed in the fold and cut position, the apparatus is capable of producing at least two 4-page signatures (340) or at least one 16-page signature (460) without the need for a final off-line trimming step.

Abstract: A fluid level detection system (50) for ink in a printing press (10) having a vessel (58) having walls (60) defining a chamber (62), an elongated rotatable shaft (64) in the chamber (62), a motor (66) for rotating the shaft (64), an elongated flexible blade (68) affixed to the shaft 64 such that the motor (66) rotates the blade (68), and a proximity sensor (72) adjacent the walls (60) of the vessel (58) to detect the rotating blade (68) in the absence of ink at the level of the blade (68), with the blade (68) flexing in the presence of ink such that the sensor (72) does not detect the blade (68).

Abstract: A system for supplying dampening fluid to a lithographic press dampening system. The system prevents dampening fluid starvation at a metering nip located between dampening system rollers, and minimizes contamination of the dampening fluid in the dampening system. A pre-determined distance is maintained between (1) the surface of a roller partially immersed in dampening fluid and (2) a fluid collection pan, so as to remove contaminants from the system. Sensors are used to determine the proper level of dampening fluid within the system to avoid nip starvation.

Abstract: A printing press assembly (10) with a powered paper roll loader (22) having a triangular frame made of a pair of spaced upright triangular frame sections (28) supporting a pair of load chains (36A, 36B) to raise and lower a pair of load hooks (32) and associated eject hooks (34) that support opposite ends of a core axle (16) of a paper roll (18). The load chains are powered by an electric motor (54) and gear box (48) driving a pair of sprocket pulleys (38A, 38B) interconnected by a tie shaft (33) to insure movement in unison. The control from the motor (54) has a pair of "dead man" switches for optimal safety during operation, while the frame (28) is located beneath paper feed rollers (14) to reduce floor space utilization. The eject hook (34) is used to move the paper roll (18) from the operative position to underlying support by the load hook (32) to lower the paper roll (18) to the ground (17).

Abstract: A gripping surface adapted to be mounted on the outer circumferential surfaces of a pair of cutting cylinders 12, 14 in a printing press is provided. The gripping surface includes a plurality of mounting strips 26. Each mounting strip 26 has an upper surface and a lower surface and a layer of VELCRO.TM. brand gripping material 38 mounted on the upper surface. The layer of gripping material 38 is mounted on the upper surface of each mounting strip 26 using a self adhesive. At least one keeper tab 36 is disposed on the lower surface of each mounting strip 26. The keeper tab 36 is mounted in a "t" slot formed on the outer circumferential surface of the cylinder on which the mounting strip is mounted. The mounting strips 26 are flat and formed of a thermoplastic material using an injection molding process.

Abstract: A printing press (10) with a dampener roller (16) and a spray bar assembly (12) for spraying dampening liquid (20) onto the dampener roller is provided with a dampening liquid spray control apparatus (15) including a control member (18) with a diagonal blocking section (40) for blocking dampening liquid (20) from impinging upon selected locations on the dampener roller (16) when there is a relatively narrow web running in the press and a transverse deflecting section (42) for deflecting dampening liquid (20) onto the dispenser roller at preselected locations adjacent the end of the dampener roller (16A) when a relatively wider web is running in the press to reduce scumming and an adjustable mounting apparatus (24, 26, 28, 30, 31, 34 and 37) to mount the control member (18) in different positions to achieve different dampening results.

Abstract: A system for supplying dampening fluid to a lithographic press dampening system. The system prevents dampening fluid starvation at a metering nip located between dampening system rollers, and minimizes contamination of the dampening fluid in the dampening system. A pre-determined distance is maintained between (1) the surface of a roller partially immersed in dampening fluid and (2) several surfaces of a fluid collection pan, so as to move contaminants from a back region of the collection pan to a front region of the collection pan for removal. Sensors are used to determine the proper level of dampening fluid within the collection pan to avoid nip starvation.