Abstract: A device for producing a printing form, including at least one radiation source directed towards a material whereon an image is to be formed, and a device for positioning the radiation source in a direction parallel to the surface of the material, includes a slide movable parallel to the surface of the material between the at least one radiation source and the material whereon the image is to be formed, the slide being formed with at least one opening and, when an image is being formed on the material, being positionable for allowing free passage through the at least one opening to a beam from the at least one radiation source, and, when no image is being formed on the material, being positionable as a shield between the material and the at least one radiation source.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus having structure for mounting a drive motor on the fuser section whereby the motor can be removed and replaced from the outside of the housing. The structure includes a mounting structure which is affixed to one of the walls of the housing and an adapter plate which is affixed to the face of the motor. The mounting structure has a stub extension for receiving the gear on the drive motor and a plurality of mounting holes spaced outward therefrom. The adapter plate has a main opening to receive the hub of the motor and openings through which screws secure the plate to the motor. The plate has mounting openings which align with the mounting holes in the mounting structure to secure the plate, hence the motor, to the housing.

Abstract: A printing unit arrangement in a web-fed rotary printing press includes at least one printing unit 2a having a first and second plate cylinder 4, 6 and associated first and second blanket cylinders 8, 10 which are mechanically coupled via meshing gear wheels and which are commonly driven by one drive motor 12. A second printing unit of the printing unit arrangement includes a first and second plate cylinder 24, 26 and associated first and second blanket cylinders 28, 30. The first plate cylinder 24 and the first and second blanket cylinders 28, 30 are mechanically coupled via meshing gear wheels and are commonly driven by a first drive motor 42. The second plate cylinder 26 is individually driven by a second drive motor 46, and is engageable and disengageable from the associated second blanket cylinder 30 while the printing press is in operation, in order to perform flying edition changes or changes of a spot color.

Abstract: A drive system for a carriage, which is fitted with a scanning or recording device, in a reproduction appliance, in which the scanning or recording device scans or exposes a recording material periodically along scanning or recording lines. The carriage is moved forward with the aid of a drive apparatus along a straight line at right angles to the scanning or recording lines. The drive apparatus contains an electric motor whose rotation speed is determined by a frequency of drive pulses that are produced by dividing a master clock by an integer factor. The drive apparatus contains an apparatus for converting a rotary movement of the electric motor into a linear movement of the carriage. Furthermore, the drive system contains a device by which an identical number of drive pulses can be lengthened or shortened by one or more periods of the master clock in each scanning or recording period.

Abstract: A device for changing printing forms on form cylinders of rotary printing machines, having a pivotable surface for guiding the printing forms to be changed, the printing forms being grippable at an underside thereof, includes a pivotable printing-form table to which a separately actuatable contact member is assigned, the contact member being throwable onto a surface of a printing form disposed on the printing-form table for positioning the printing form in any selective position, a method for changing printing forms, and a printing unit including the changing device.

Abstract: A counterpoise device having a first actuating device, a first counterpoise arm connected to the first actuating device for interacting with a cantilevered cylinder, a second actuating device, and a second counterpoise arm connected to the second actuating device for interacting with an other cantilevered cylinder. The first and the second counterpoise arms have a common pivot axis. A vertical web press with a counterpoise device is also disclosed. Moreover, a method for removing gapless print sleeves includes rotating a first counterpoise arm about an axis so as to counterpoise a first end of a first cylinder, sliding a first print sleeve off of the first cylinder, rotating a second counterpoise arm about the axis so as to counterpoise a second end of a second cylinder, and sliding a second print sleeve off the second cylinder.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to providing a product delivery apparatus which includes a fan wheel or the like having a modified arrangement for interacting with a product feed device, to enhance the control with which products are delivered into the pockets of the fan wheel. In accordance with exemplary embodiments, characteristics of the fan wheel are adjusted with regard to the product feed to accommodate product delivery requirements. More particularly, exemplary embodiments are directed to modifying a fan wheel to include a receiving area in each fan tip for receiving a product feed device (e.g., conveyor belt, tape drive, roller and so forth), such that the product feed devices can be placed in alignment with the fan blades of the fan wheel. Such a feature provides better control of the products as they are transported into the fan blades, since the product feed can be placed in closer proximity to a fan arrangement along the direction of product transport.

Abstract: In a method for determining the axial position of an engraving element in an engraving machine used for engraving impression cylinders, the engraving machine has a fixed toothed comb in which a significant tooth flank of each tooth presents an axial distance which is a multiple of the tooth spacing of the toothed comb to a reference point. A photoelectric barrier which serves as axial reference mark is positioned on the engraving element and the toothed comb serves as black-out element for said photo-electric barrier. The engraving element is displaced by means of the photoelectric barrier from a momentary position to the nearest relevant tooth flank of the toothed comb. The approximate distance between the reference mark and the reference point is measured by means of a distance meter.

Abstract: An air cushion guide for sheet or web-formed material that includes at least one guide member having a chamber and a surface formed with nozzle openings that may communicate with the chamber, through which air is blown between the guide member and the guided material for supporting the guided material on a supporting air cushion located above the guide member. Each of the nozzle openings has a cross sectional area. At least one moveable element is constructed to vary a volumetric flow of air emitted from the nozzle openings to form the air cushion guide. The moveable element is selected from the group consisting of a component having a movement which changes a number of the nozzle openings formed in the surface that are supplied with blown air, and at least one component having a movement that changes the cross sectional area of at least one of the nozzle openings formed in the surface. A control unit is provided for controlling a movement of the at least one moveable element.

Abstract: A spray dampening device for a printing apparatus, the spray dampening device comprising a plurality of spray nozzles. The spray nozzles are each cycled at a predetermined frequency and at an individual nozzle phase shift with the individual phase shifts being synchronized so that an effective frequency of spray bursts applied to target surface of the printing apparatus is greater than the predetermined frequency. Dampening system performance may be improved without the implementation of new individual nozzle technology. The benefits of a pulsed dampener system are maintained while system performance approaches that of a continuous dampener.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to providing a method and apparatus for accurately and efficiently folding a flat product (e.g., a web of paper or signatures obtained therefrom) during its delivery. Exemplary embodiments provide a single device for performing the two functions of folding and decelerating flat products. Rotatable seizing elements of a deceleration drum interface with any known folding cylinder having a known tucker blade assembly. As such, the accurate and mark-free folding of a conventional jaw folder can be achieved with any desirable paging, including the wide maximum paging range typically associated with rotary tucker blade folders. A deceleration drum according to the present invention can interface with any folding cylinder having a tucker blade assembly used to create a cross-fold, and can thereby replace any conventional combination of a folder (e.g., rotary tucker blade folder or jaw folder) and associated downstream deceleration device.

Abstract: A device for transporting printed products including a plurality of individual pocket grippers, each pocket gripper having a first connector on one side and a second connector on a second side, and having gripping elements for gripping a printed product. A plurality of transport units is also provided, with each transport unit being movable along a track and being releasably attached to the first connector of a respective one of the plurality of pocket grippers. Also disclosed is a method for transporting printed products including the steps of gripping a printed product in a gripper pocket, moving the gripper pocket along a track, and releasing the gripper pocket while the printed product remains gripped.

Abstract: A device for automatically catching a torn material web running through a rotary printing machine includes a pair of clamping rollers, respectively, disposed beneath and above the material web, the rollers being rotatingly entrainable and being able to clamp the web when a web tear is detected, at least one of the clamping rollers having variable outer main dimensions, and an actuator connected to the at least one clamping roller for causing the outer main dimensions thereof to increase upon detection of a web tear, so as to clamp the torn material web between the clamping rollers.

Abstract: A structured surface coating is electrochemically deposited on an (electrically conductive) surface of a component. The component to be coated forms the cathode in a galvanic bath. The process current is raised in discrete steps in a nucleation phase during which island formations are deposited on the surface, with brief pauses between each increase of between 0.1 and 30 sec. The process current is then maintained at a constant level, during which the islands grow. The process sequence may be repeated several times.

Abstract: The combination of a cooling and conditioning unit for a material web to which ink is applied on at least one side thereof, having a multiplicity of chill rolls arranged in a housing at least approximately vertically above one another, utilizing the height of the housing, the material web being guidable around the chill rolls along a web path extending at least approximately vertically, and a dryer disposed upline from the cooling and conditioning unit for drying the material web, includes a material web outlet formed in the dryer, and a material web inlet formed in the cooling and conditioning unit, the cooling and conditioning unit being disposed immediately downline of the dryer in a manner that the material web leaving the dryer outlet immediately enters the inlet formed in the cooling and conditioning unit.

Abstract: A printing machine includes a printing form, an optical imaging unit for directly imaging the printing form, and an inking unit for inking the printing form, the printing form having a surface formed of a material with wetting properties reversibly changeable between a state with a very small contact angle and a state with a relatively large contact angle, the state with a small contact angle being achievable by action of light having a wavelength shorter than a material-specific wavelength, and a cleaning device for cleaning the surface of the printing form; and a printing process performed with the printing machine.

Abstract: A delivery of a sheet-processing printing machine having operationally revolving grippers for transferring processed sheets to a sheet brake in a conveying direction includes sheet guides for acting upon lateral borders of the sheets, as viewed in the conveying direction, and for guiding the sheets as they are transferred to the sheet brake.

Abstract: A composite nip roll or nip ring that is durable and requires minimal adjustment, and which accurately provides a constant gain. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the nip roll or ring has a rigid shaft, a resilient polymer inner material mounted on the rigid shaft, and a metal outer covering over the resilient polymer inner material. The metal covering can be rigid or flexible. The nip roll can also include limiting rings that limit deflection of the outer covering to a maximum amount.

Abstract: A printing press has a ductor inking unit that includes a ductor roller and a motor for moving the ductor roller via a rotatable cam disc, the motor being constructed so as to subject the cam disc to periodic angular acceleration at constant printing speed of the printing press, and so as to rotate the cam disc alternatingly in opposite rotational directions; and a method of operating the printing press.

Abstract: A gripper drum device comprising a drum body rotatable about a central axis, an actuating shaft rotatable within the drum body, a box cam follower connected to the actuating shaft for moving the actuating shaft, a gripper seat connected to the actuating shaft, a gripper connected to the actuating shaft, and a box cam, the box cam follower being located within the box cam for following the box cam. Also provided is a method for gripping printed products including the steps of rotating a drum about a central axis, moving a cam follower within a box cam, and gripping a printed product with a gripper attached to the cam follower.