Abstract: A liquid transfer device for rotary presses includes at least two cylinders which can transfer the liquid, especially ink, and at least one liquid transfer element intended to interact with the two cylinders in order to transfer the ink from one cylinder to the other cylinder. Each liquid transfer element can be displaced in an essentially circular path and come into essentially tangential contact with the cylinders.

Abstract: Apparatus for preventing backlash between a first gear and a second gear of a gear train. Exemplary embodiments include a supplementary gear rotatably mounted adjacent to the first gear and rotatable about the same rotational axis as the first gear, the teeth of the supplementary gear being in meshing engagement with the teeth of the second gear. The apparatus further includes a support element formed on at least one of the first gear and the supplementary gear, and a leaf spring assembly extending essentially radially with respect to the rotational axis of the first gear. The leaf spring assembly is bent out of its zero-position and engages the support element at its second end portion, thereby applying a force to the support element for biasing the supplementary gear and the first gear to rotate in opposite directions.

Abstract: Offset printing cylinder is formed of a basic cylinder body and a printing cover disposed on an outer cylindrical surface of the cylinder body, the printing cover including a plurality of layers of which at least one is a heat-removing layer having a location selected from a group thereof consisting of a location intermediate two other layers of the printing cover and a location at the bottom of the printing cover.

Abstract: A printing unit with a rotatable print cylinder and a rotatable blanket cylinder is provided. A tubular printing blanket is removably mounted on the blanket cylinder. The printing unit may have an imaging unit mounted therein. A printing member, which is mountable on the print cylinder, is imaged by the imaging unit inside the printing unit. The printing member has a continuous surface and may be removed axially from the print cylinder. The printing unit may be configured as a cantilever printing unit, or, alternatively, may be configured with both a gear side frame and a work side frame for supporting the print and blanket cylinders. In order to provide a variable-cutoff capability, a plurality of print cylinder saddles may be provided. Each print cylinder saddle has the same inner diameter for mounting on the print cylinders. However, in order to provide a variable cut-off, the print cylinder saddles may have a variety of outer diameters.

Abstract: Ink duct of a rotary printing press, having two side walls between which an ink duct blade is arranged, each of the side walls being formed with an arcuate recess at a front end face thereof for bearing against an ink duct roller of the printing press, includes a deformation device disposed at each of the side walls for modifying a contour thereof defining the respective recess formed therein.

Abstract: A method for detecting disruptions in the transport of a web in a rotary printing press. A speed evaluation is performed on the web and then analyzed, including a comparison of a contactless measurement of the instantaneous speed (VPAP(t)) of the web with a speed selected from the group of speeds of the web consisting of: 1. a virtual speed (VVIRT(t) which is evaluated from the mechanical speed of the press, 2. an average speed (VAVE(t)) measured during a time before the last measurement, and 3. a speed (VPAP (t.sub.k-1)) measured at the moment immediately before the moment when an instantaneous speed (VPAP(t.sub.k)) is measured. The analysis is performed to obtain a respective speed difference, and to compare the respective speed difference with a respective prescribed threshold value. If the speed difference is not within the threshold value, a signal is generated which indicates that the web is not traveling at the proper speed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a folder apparatus including a first cylinder for transporting a product and a folding cylinder rotatably engaged with the first cylinder at a nip. A product guiding device is assigned to a transition area between surfaces of the first cylinder and the folding cylinder, the guiding device having a smoothing element which includes different sections of product contacting elements being angled in opposite directions.

Abstract: A turner bar has a hollow space that can be connected to a compressed air source, for deflecting a printed web of material. Closable and openable air outlet openings are disposed on a turner bar jacket. When a web is present above the air outlet openings of the turner bar, a counterpressure that builds up below the web effects a displacement of a movable opening and closing element, in such a way that an air supply is released.

Abstract: A variable velocity profile deceleration device is provided for gripping a signature from a cutting cylinder, tape system or other transporting device at high speeds. The signatures are positively gripped, decelerated through a smooth velocity profile, and delivered to a further processing device such as a single copy gripper conveyor, or a stacker. The deceleration device includes a plurality of rotary grippers mounted to a drum. The drum rotates about an axis under the control of a drive. The rotary grippers each include an upper roller in rolling engagement with a lower roller at a nip. An independent gripper drive is coupled to each rotary gripper for rotating the upper and lower rollers.

Abstract: A complaint drive for use in a printing press. The compliant drive is coupled to a driving gear which can be on the plate cylinder of the printing press. The compliant drive includes an input gear meshing with the driving gear. A compliant coupling is connected between the input gear and a first output gear. The compliant coupling includes circumferentially-spaced compression springs between the input gear and the first output gear. The first output gear can drive a driven gear which in turn drives a vibrator in a dampener. The first output gear can also drive a second output gear. Each of the input gear, first output gear and second output gear are mounted on rolling contact bearings, which improves efficiency of the drive and, with the compliant coupling, prevents transmission of transient forces, shocks or vibrations to the plate cylinder, thereby eliminating doubling of the printed images.

Abstract: A device for securing printing forms on the circumference of a printing form cylinder, wherein a leading edge and a trailing edge of a printing form are receivable in a gap formed in the printing form cylinder and, in a clamped or locked-up state of the printing form, engage respective side faces defining the gap, including a rotatable cross-bar received in the gap, and a clamping element for acting upon one of the edges of the printing form, the clamping element being secured to the cross-bar, further includes a protrusion formed on a side wall having one of the faces defining the gap of the printing form cylinder, the clamping element being cooperable with the protrusion for clamping a printing form edge in a tangential direction to the printing form cylinder during a clamping or locking process.

Abstract: A rotational detector is attached to each of the rolls that might be passed over or under as part of a paper web/path. Each of the rotational detectors emits an output signal which indicates whether the roll it is attached to is moving and, if it is moving, the direction it is moving. A comparator compares the output from each of the rotational detectors to path requirement data for the path that the pressman intended to web. The comparator determines whether any mistakes have occurred and if an error has occurred the roll on which the mistake has occurred. The comparator then determines whether any of the mistakes which might have occurred are catastrophic, requiring rewebbing. If there are no catastrophic errors, a controller adjusts the register for any deviations from the intended path that might have occurred during webbing.

Abstract: An offset lithographic printing process comprising printing at a relative humidity of 75-90% utilizing a water-based, single fluid, fountain solution free, printing ink containing (a) a macromolecular binder composed of binders soluble in water regardless of the pH of the water; resin rosin salt binders soluble in water at a pH from 7.5 to 10; and aqueous emulsion binders; (b) pigment and; (c) a re-wetting agent.

Abstract: A printing unit for a web fed rotary printing press for printing newspapers is provided in which the central impression cylinder (2) is commonly rotatably mounted in the two side walls (14a, 14b) of the housing (14) of the printing press and the blanket cylinder (4) and/or print cylinder (6) are rotatably cantilevered on one end in the first side wall (14a) during the make ready operation of the printing press, allowing a quick and easy changing of the cylinders (4, 6) via an opening (30) formed in the second side wall (14b). When the printing press is in operation the blanket and print cylinders (4, 6) may be additionally rotatably supported in a side plate (32) fitted to the opening (30), or may remain unsupported on their other ends.

Abstract: A rotary printing press includes an inking unit with an ink fountain and an ink fountain roller. An ink fountain blade to be disposed in the ink fountain for scraping printing ink from the ink fountain roller includes a base body having a free end region to be associated with the ink fountain roller. The free end region has a plurality of slits formed therein for dividing the free end region zonally into a corresponding number of individual blades and defining zones of contact of the individual blades with the ink fountain roller. A hard-material coating is disposed on the base body in the zones of contact.

Abstract: Device for converting or changing a mode of operation of a paper-conducting cylinder of a folder having at the circumference thereof at least one element for operating on the paper conducted by the cylinder, a disc having a peripheral contour forming a control cam for at least one actuating element for generating a movement of the operating element, and a device for moving the control disc, independently of a drive therefor, so as to switch the mode of the paper-conducting cylinder between operating on the paper and not operating on the paper, includes at least one first adjustment element activatable axially and angularly by remote control for radially moving the actuating element, and at least one second adjustment element activatable by remote control for axially moving the control disc.

Abstract: A tubular printing blanket for a blanket cylinder in an offset printing press comprises a cylindrical sleeve, a compressible layer over the sleeve, and an inextensible layer over the compressible layer. The cylindrical sleeve is movable telescopically over a blanket cylinder. The compressible layer comprises a first seamless tubular body of elastomeric material containing compressible microspheres. The inextensible layer comprises a second seamless tubular body of elastomeric material containing a tubular sublayer of circumferentially inextensible material. A seamless tubular printing layer over the inextensible layer has a continuous, gapless cylindrical printing surface. Methods of manufacturing the tubular printing blanket are also disclosed.

Abstract: Device for exchanging printing forms on a form cylinder in a printing unit of a rotary printing press, a holding device being provided in the printing unit for both holding therein at least one printing form which is to be installed, as well as at least one printing form which is being removed, includes profile members for guiding the printing forms substantially by lateral regions thereof.

Abstract: A printing unit (1) of a rotary printing press for using various ink types is provided. The printing unit includes an inking mechanism (45), a print cylinder (3), and a blanket cylinder (2). The inking mechanism (45) and the cylinders (2, 3) are mounted in side walls of the printing unit (1). A housing (14) at least partially surrounds the inking mechanism (45) and the cylinders (2, 3) to maintain a surrounding atmosphere within an at least semi-enclosed area (100) of the printing unit (1). A chemical agent is selectively added to the atmosphere in the semi-enclosed area (100) to reduce the rate of evaporation of a substance in the ink.

Abstract: A mechanism to exclude critical speeds from normal operating ranges is provided having at least one drive unit to drive at least one unit of a processing machine. The at least one unit of a processing machine has a known torsional stiffness. A single power transmission is provided linking said at least one drive unit to said at least one unit of a processing machine. Said power transmission includes an adjustment member coupling to tune all torsional critical speeds out of the range of normal operating speeds of the processing machine. A single power transmission unit can therefore be used for an entire family of processing machines, wherein each processing machine may have a different stiffness.