Abstract: A method for automated alignment and register measurement in a printing press provides for test patterns having multiple color separations to be printed by the printing press on a printing substrate, recorded by using at least one image sensor of an image acquisition system as a digital overall image, evaluated by a computer with respect to an alignment/register offset and then corrected by the computer for the alignment/register offset. Circular measuring marks having known diameter for each color separation are integrated into the test patterns and the computer ascertains the center position of each circular measuring mark with subpixel accuracy and thus computes the alignment/register offset by cutting out an image region having at least one circular measuring mark from the digital overall image and determining parameters of a model of a printing point of the circular measuring mark from the digital overall image.

Abstract: A method for removing solidified ink or varnish from a surface includes applying a cleaning agent to the ink on the surface. The cleaning agent applied to the ink on the surface is substantially solvent-free and water-based and reduces adhesion between the ink and the surface without dissolving the ink. An adhesive side or face of a single-sided or single face adhesive element is applied to the surface. As the adhesive element is removed from the surface, the ink that has been treated with the cleaning agent but is undissolved adheres to the adhesive element and is thus removed from the surface together with the adhesive element without splitting.

Abstract: A method of operating a vacuum corrugated belt feeder, which may or may not have a positive air pressure separator, during non-feed cycle time. “The result being” to separate a sheet from a sheet supply stack, which method comprises agitating the top sheets in the stack by actuating the vacuum and/or the positive air pressure separator during non-feed cycle time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing and conveying a product stream includes a conveying belt entering a folder to grip products. The conveying belt comprises product grippers arranged thereon in an endless configuration. At least some of the grippers are selectively rotatable around an axis during movement of the conveying belt to allow for the signatures gripped to be converted into a leading corner configuration. If only a selected set of the grippers are rotated, a secondary stream of products may be formed.

Abstract: An imprinter printing unit for a web fed rotary printing press comprises a first print couple including a first plate cylinder and an associated first blanket cylinder, a second print couple including a second plate cylinder and an associated second blanket cylinder, a first drive motor and a second drive motor. The printing unit further comprises a gear arrangement with axially movable gear wheels for operating the unit in a first mode of operation, in which the first drive motor drives the first print couple and the second drive motor independently drives the second print couple; a second mode of operation, in which the first drive motor commonly drives the first blanket cylinder and the second print couple; and in a third mode of operation, in which the second drive motor commonly drives the second blanket cylinder and the first print couple.

Abstract: A device for forming a sheet pile in a delivery of a sheet-fed printing press includes jogging plates for jogging edges of the sheet. The jogging plates are disposed perpendicularly to a lateral surface of the sheet pile and are drivable so as to move in a stationary sheet guide and to a sheet stop, respectively. The jogging plates are elastically suspended, without any other guide elements, in at least one of the stationary sheet guides and the sheet stop. An oscillation exciter is connected to each of the jogging plates for respectively oscillating and vibrating the jogging plates independently of a cycle of the delivery.