Abstract: In a method and system to control an engraving device for the engraving of printing forms by means of an engraving tool controlled by a driving system, set engraving values for the cups along with engraving signal values are produced from engraving data as a control signal for the driving system. Working strokes of the engraving tool and distances between the printing form and the engraving tool are measured and actual values of engraving depth are determined from the differences and compared to set engraving depth values. The control signal is turned on at beginning of engraving and off when the engraving depth is reached. Set values for pressure force and tracking force are obtained and compared to actual pressure force values applied to the engraving tool and the actual tractive force values applied to a return element of the engraving tool. Exceeded set values are indicated.

Abstract: A method of operating a sheet-processing machine having a sheet-pile station, a sheet conveyor for feeding sheets to the sheet-pile station and for releasing the sheets thereat during operation, the sheet conveyor defining therebeneath a clearance space extending downwardly with a magnitude depending upon the operating condition of the machine, and a drive operatively connected to the sheet conveyor, which comprises detecting extents of the clearance space in a vertical direction which exceed predeterminable values, and, after the drive has been stopped, forcibly keeping the drive stopped for as long as the vertical extent of the clearance exceeds a predetermined value. In another aspect of the invention, instead of the foregoing last step of the method, there is substituted a step of forcibly reducing to a predetermined value an extent of the clearance that exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: An ink key control system comprises a data processor, a local area network connected to the data processor, and a plurality of ink keys connected directly to the local area network. Each of the plurality of ink keys includes a protocol controller for receiving an input from the local area network and a setpoint controller for receiving an input from the protocol controller. Also provided is a method for setting ink keys in a printing press comprising the steps of determining a desired setpoint for an ink key, transmitting the desired setpoint over a LAN to the ink key, receiving the desired setpoint at the key, and setting the key as a function of the desired setpoint.

Abstract: A device for cross cutting material webs includes a cutting-cylinder pair formed of mutually cooperating cylinders having respective cylinder cores and circumferential surfaces formed by exchangeable circumferential elements, the circumferential elements being arranged removably around the respective cylinder cores of the cylinders.

Abstract: A method of removing from a printing machine, with the aid of a traverse of the printing machine, a cleaning device assigned to a cylinder, which comprises, in a first method step, shifting the traverse out of a parallel position relative to the cylinder, wherein a side wall of the printing machine blocks a movement of the cleaning device, guided by the traverse, out of the printing machine, into an inclined position relative to the cylinder, the cleaning device guided by the traverse being movable past an outer contour of the side wall or through an opening formed in the side wall, and out of the printing machine, and, in a second method step, moving the cleaning device, guided by the traverse, in the longitudinal direction of the traverse and out of the printing machine; an assembly for performing the method; and a printing machine having at least one assembly for performing the method.

Abstract: A pile restrictor includes a restrictor body and a restricting blade attached to the body, the restricting blade being adjustable angularly with respect to the body during an operating mode of a sheet feeder. The present invention also provides a pile feed device having a front guide and at least one pile restrictors, each of the pile restrictors connected to the front guide and including a body and a restricting blade attached to the body, the blade being adjustable angularly with respect to the body during the operating mode. Also disclosed is a method of restricting a sheet pile comprising the steps of placing a pile of sheets in a feeder so that the nose of the pile is restricted by a restrictor; and adjusting an angle of the restrictor furing operation of the feeder.

Abstract: An automatic multi-process ink leveler for open-fountain printing presses includes a duct with four chambers extending over the width of the ink fountain. In the case of a split ink fountain, which is typically used in newsprint presses wherein the ink tray is split into four sections each for one page of the paper web, the automatic leveler is provided with a remote-controlled valve for each chamber associated with each of the segments. Accordingly, there are provided 4×4 valves for four colors at the bottom surface of the ink leveler. By opening the remote controlled valves for a desired color (i.e., black, cyan, magenta, yellow) in the segment, a quick color change in a split ink fountain can be obtained without cleaning the entire ink leveler. In addition, different types of ink (different tack, viscosity) can be used with the same result.

Abstract: A system and method for managing production printing workflow is disclosed. The system includes workflow management software which manages and facilitates the procedural stages of the workflow including job origination, job preparation, job submission and job fulfillment. The workflow management software provides an integrated object oriented interface which visually reflects and interacts with the workflow.

Abstract: A gear transmission for driving a printing press, with a plurality of gear pairs formed of mutually meshing gearwheels disposed operationally in a power-flow, at least one of the gear pairs being more heavily loaded than the rest thereof during operation, includes a case wherein the gearwheels forming the at least one, more heavily loaded gear pair are enclosed, the rest of the gear pairs being disposed outside the case.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for advancing and/or slowing signatures in a printing press. The apparatus and method includes a series of two or more belt drives, where each belt drive includes at least a pair of opposed belts. The belts are preferably timing or toothed belts driven by sprockets. The sprockets are formed with a semi-elliptical outer surface. As a result, the belts have two directions of motion. The first direction—horizontal—advances the signatures and may be used to slow the signatures. The second direction—vertical—withdraws the belts away from contact with the signatures to prevent buckling or wrinkling during a speed transition or during a transfer between belts. In one embodiment of the present invention, both opposed belts are retracting belts; in another embodiment, one belt is a fixed conveyor belt, while the other opposed belt is a retracting belt.

Abstract: A seal for a rotary shaft extending from a container containing agitated abrasive particulates through a wall of the container. The seal includes a first polymeric member around the shaft and in engagement with the wall of the container with the shaft rotating inside the first member. The first member is in engagement with a second polymeric member positioned around the shaft for rotation with the shaft and relative to the first member. A third compressible member is positioned around the shaft for rotation with the shaft and the second member. A retaining ring maintains the first, second and third members in compression between the retaining ring and the wall.

Abstract: A method for compensating torsional vibrations of a printing machine by introducing torques which compensate vibration excitation, includes determining at least one characteristic form of a printing machine for at least one location on a drive train of the printing machine, determining and storing at least one respective countertorque for compensating the torques which excite vibration in a characteristic form at a location whereat the characteristic form is not zero, and applying the at least one countertorque at the corresponding location so that the vibration is maximally reduced due to the application of the at least one countertorque.

Abstract: A delivery of a sheet-processing machine having gripper rows for drawing sheets, during operation, along a conveying section having endless conveying chains bearing the gripper rows and, during operation, running through the delivery in a revolving direction, and having a pair of chain wheels which are rotatable about a common axis of rotation, are in engagement with the conveying chains and form a deflecting region of the conveying section, includes a blast-air source for expelling an air curtain actable upon a side of the sheets being drawn past the sheet-deflecting region, that side being directed towards the axis of rotation of the chain wheels, the air curtain being movable past the sheet-deflecting region in the same direction as the grippers, while the sheets passing the sheet-deflecting region are being subjected to the action of the air curtain.

Abstract: A method for taking over a sheet by a trailing edge thereof from an upline cylinder of a sheet-fed rotary printing press and transferring the sheet by the trailing edge thereof to a gripper system, by placing a suction gripper on the sheet in a marginal region of the trailing edge and, during the sheet takeover, having the suction gripper follow the periphery of the upline cylinder, having the suction gripper guided at a constant tangent into the periphery of a downline inverting drum and, along this course, having the suction gripper execute a relative motion in the direction of the tangent so as to tauten the sheet, which comprises, upon reaching a transfer position at the gripper system, having the suction gripper execute a relative motion in the sheet transport direction and, when the grippers close, having the suction gripper and the gripper system disposed at rest relative to one another; and a transmission system for performing the method.

Abstract: An assembly of at least one stop for a sheet pile edge in a sheet-processing machine, the stop being constructed as a rotatably mounted, adjustable-format roller, comprising a vertically pivotable link whereon the roller is disposed so as to be adjustable in height.

Abstract: A conveyor chain for a gripper system-bearing chain conveyor of a printing press, the conveyor chain having standard chain links and special chain links, both types of which are formed by link pins carrying chain rollers, and chain plates articulatedly connecting the link pins to one another, the special chain links serving to connect the conveyor chain to the gripper system, includes two row-wise arranged chain-roller sections rotatable independently of one another, the chain-roller sections being disposed on the link pins of at least the special chain links; and a sheet-processing printing press with a chain conveyor including the conveyor chain.

Abstract: A bearer wipe holder includes a base and a fastener selectively movable with respect to the base, a wipe fitting between the base and the fastener, the fastener contacting the base through the wipe at least separate two locations when the wipe is between the base and the fastener. Also disclosed is a bearer wipe including a body having at least a first hole for receiving a pin of a wipe holder and a second hole or slot for receiving one of a second pin and a bolt of a bearer holder, as well as a method for wiping a bearer of a printing press comprising the steps of placing a wipe against a base of a bearer holder, placing a fastener over the wipe so that the fastener contacts the base at least two separate locations so as to firmly hold the wipe between the base and the fastener, and contacting the bearer with the wipe.

Abstract: An air bar for steering a web of material has a hollow interior subjected to an air bar supply pressure. At least one air jet exit is connected to the hollow interior of the air bar. A metering device is assigned to the hollow interior of the air bar for varying the air pressured formed below the web of material for moving the web of material in a lateral direction.

Abstract: A sheet delivery device with a first gripper module for carrying a first sheet, a second gripper module for carrying a second sheet, a track for guiding the first and second gripper modules, and a stationary, purely mechanical diverter located at a divergence. The track including a first section, a second section and a third section, the first section diverging at the divergence into the second section and the third section.

Abstract: Printing plates can be reliably extracted from a plate cylinder with an automatic plate changer even when the plate lock has a very narrow plate gap between the trailing edge and the leading edge of the printing plate. First, the trailing edge of a printing plate is released by the locking member and the printing plate is elastically deformed at the trailing edge. This allows the guide fork of the automatic plate changer to reliably peel the printing plate away from the plate cylinder. In addition, the guide fork may engage the leading edge of the printing plate after the plate lock has been disengaged once more and peel the leading edge away from the plate cylinder by pivoting away from the cylinder.