Abstract: The present invention is related to a roller having a mantle. The mantle is expandable in a radial direction to allow for changes in diameter of the roller. The mantle of tubular shape is provided with a pattern of openings along its circumference.

Abstract: A blanket that has a varying profile and a method for its use is disclosed. By varying the profile of the blanket cylinder and/or blanket, either in terms of its material properties or its thickness, the blanket, when placed about a blanket cylinder, corrects for unwanted variation in the velocity profile present in the web. Such velocity profile variations, if not taken into account, may cause wrinkling of a web passing over the blanket cylinder in a printing press and thus cause misregistered images. In a further embodiment, the blanket cylinder may be provided with a varying profile.

Abstract: A transport drum in a rotary printing press, having a covering for preventing a fresh printed product from being smeared when the printed product is being transported through the press, the covering being secured to the jacket surface of the transport drum and being formed of a carrier material, includes resiliently embodied filamentary support elements secured in the carrier material of the covering, and an ink-repellent material applied to outer ends, respectively, of the support elements.

Abstract: A rubber roller in a printing press inker or dampener is force loaded against its adjacent rollers with hydraulic cylinders. The bearings of the adjacent rollers are fixed in the machine frame, while the position setting sockets of the rubber roller are supported on the hydraulic cylinders. The rubber roller can be thrown on and off by actuating the hydraulic cylinders and the loading force can be adjusted by the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic cylinders.

Abstract: An apparatus and method which reduces solid mottling in an offset printing press. One or more form rolls having a hard elastomeric outer surface, in the range of approximately 50-100 Shore A durometer hardness, preferably approximately 60-90 Shore A durometer hardness, are used to transfer ink to the plate cylinder. The use of a form roll of this type ensures a smoother application of ink to the plate cylinder, which in turn ensures smoother ink application to the blanket cylinder and printed web. If more than one form roll is used, it is preferable that, at a minimum, the final form roll, i.e., the last form roll the plate cylinder contacts in the direction of rotation, be a hard elastomeric form roll. In another aspect of the present invention, the form rolls can be made of a convex shape along their axial length, such that the diameter of the form rolls at their axial center is larger than the diameter of the form rolls at their axial ends.

Abstract: A device and method for synchronizing at least two printing-unit groups (2, 3) which represent a sheet-fed printing machine (1). Between the two printing-unit groups (2, 3) there is provided a transfer unit (10) being operable by means of a separately controllable drive (12). The present invention is used in sheet-fed printing machines assembled in serial arrangement.

Abstract: A mailroom conveyor system for transporting and handling a stream of printed and folded signatures supplied by high speed tapes of a folding apparatus of a printing press. The system includes a plurality of grippers, a rail system for guiding the grippers, an electric linear drive system for individually driving the grippers in the rail system, and a control system coupled to the electric linear drive system for individually controlling the movement of the grippers in the rail system.

Abstract: A device for conveying thin workpieces in a machine used in printing technology, which device includes at least one moving conveying element, on whose surface are formed areas of changing charge density, the adherence of the workpiece on the conveying element being supported by electrostatic forces wherein contacts are provided for forming the areas of changing charge density, the contacts touching the conveying element and being connected to at least one voltage source, and an electric current flow being present, via the contacts in the material of the conveying element.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a product cutting device for flat material, such as sheets, webs of material or the like. A product folding cylinder rotates about an axis of rotation and has a surface for supporting the incoming material to be cut. A cutting cylinder cooperates with the product folding cylinder and has knife assemblies mounted thereon. Cyclically engageable product seizing elements are assigned to at least one of the product folding cylinder and the cutting cylinder, and are moveable opposite to a sense of rotation of the product folding cylinder. The product seizing elements engage a respective next product's front portion after the cutting operation is terminated.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing jams in a folder of a printing press includes a roller having vacuum holes to which vacuum pressure may be applied to attract the loosely constrained signature towards the roller. The signature will follow the curved path of the roller and be led away from a jam area of the printing press. When the printing press is running at normal operating speed (e.g., steady state), the vacuum is removed from the roller because the signatures will be guided by grippers and will then take a path through the printing press for further processing.

Abstract: An ink fountain with an ink-duct roller in the inking mechanism of printing presses, with a device for filling printing ink into the ink fountain, is described. The device for filling ink is mounted on a sled so that it can be moved back and forth in the longitudinal direction of the ink fountain. A sensor is fastened to the sled, and when the ink level is too low, the sensor controls the ink feed. Thereby, a precise regulation of the amount of ink added can be achieved by means of a downstream dosing device.

Abstract: A cylindrical rotating body (1) of low inertia is provided including a cylindrical body (1) having a large length/diameter ratio. The cylindrical body (1) is of thin wall thickness and is sealed at the opposite ends by sealing means (3, 8). The hollow interior (9) of the cylindrical body (1) is loaded with a pressurized medium (10).

Abstract: A lubricant transfer connection for transferring lubricant from a lubricant transfer line which feeds into a lubricant supply bore machined in a bearing support housing. A lubricant transfer bushing is located at the moving interface between the lubricant supply bore machined in the bearing support housing and a lubricant input port in a cam follower lever arm. The lubricant transfer bushing is designed so that it provides a movable, sealed, connection between the lubricant channel in the bearing support housing and the lubricant input port in the cam follower lever arm, in all positions of the cam follower and cam follower lever arm.

Abstract: A transfer drum in a sheet-fed printing press having a support surface formed at least segmentally of individual punctiform support elements disposed on the circumference of the transfer drum includes another support surface disposed at least segmentally on the circumference of the transfer drum, the other support surface being continuous, both of the support surfaces being mutually interchangeable.

Abstract: An apparatus (20) for forming sheet material assemblages comprises a conveyor assembly (22) having a plurality of locations (60) for receiving sheet material articles. A sheet material article feeder (54) feeds sheet material articles to the receiving locations (60) in the conveyor assembly (22). Each of the sheet material article feeders has an associated individual drive motor (86) for driving a sheet material feeder element, such as drum (93). A feeder sensor assembly (103) provides a signal indicative of the operative position of the feeder element or drum (93). A receiving location sensor assembly (59) provides a signal indicative of the position of a sheet material receiving location (60) approaching a sheet material article feeder. A sheet material feed controller (80) controls the sheet material feed element (93) in response to signals from the feeder sensor assembly (103), the receiving location sensor assembly (59), and a main controller (40).

Abstract: A plate cylinder including a plate cylinder body; a first partially cylindrical image carrying shell and a second partially cylindrical image carrying shell, the shells being removably fastened to the plate cylinder body. Printing plates can be prefastened to the shells. The present invention also provides a method for attachment to a printing cylinder including the steps of mounting a first partially cylindrical shell and a second partially cylindrical shell to a printing cylinder body.

Abstract: A method for winding a continuous material onto a supporting surface, the method being characterized more precisely by the following process steps:unwinding a material (6) from a material supply (7) and winding said material onto a supporting surface (5);the pendulum-type support (17) of the material (6,7) during the advance, permitting an automatic adjustment of a winding angle .alpha.;maintaining the tensile stress during the winding of the material (6);the cleaning and conditioning pretreatment of the material (6) carried out between unwinding and winding; andthe coating with adhesive carried out between unwinding and winding.

Abstract: An ink metering device and method. Ink is fed at a pressure to an orifice. Pressure may be achieved by either an ink pump or a gravity feed. The size of the orifice may be varied according the conditions existing in the printing press. The pressure at which the ink is fed may also be varied. Ink exiting the orifice is fed onto the surface of an ink applicator roll. At a location downstream of the orifice, a control blade is positioned adjacent the outer surface of the ink applicator roll. The distance between the tip of the control blade and the outer surface of the ink applicator roll may be varied using a control blade positioning mechanism. The distance between the tip of the control blade and the outer surface of the ink applicator roll controls the smoothness and/or the thickness of an ink film which is created on the surface of the ink applicator roll. This film is transferred directly to the image or plate cylinder, which is in contact with the outer surface of the ink applicator roll.

Abstract: A printing press includes a combination printing blanket and blanket cylinder having a fill-in bar adapted to receive both ends of the printing blanket. The printing blanket and the fill-in bar are preattached, and, after wrapping the blanket around the cylinder, a barbed snap fit is achieved to fastened the blanket tightly around the cylinder.

Abstract: A device for tensioning conveying systems for flat products in a folding apparatus includes a conveying system having a plurality of individual conveyors. The individual conveyors rotate about an endless path. A tensioning unit is assigned to each of the individual conveyors, each tensioning unit being pivotally mounted on a support allowing for quick break down detection of the individual conveyors.