Abstract: A printing press may be provided with a first rotatable printing roller that prints ink of a first color on a web of material and causes a first pair of registration marks to be periodically printed in the first color on the web, a second rotatable printing roller that prints ink of a second color on the web of material and causes a second pair of registration marks to be periodically printed in the second color on the web, a third rotatable printing roller that prints ink of a third color on the web of material and causes a third pair of registration marks to be periodically printed in the third color on the web, an imaging device positioned to detect the registration marks printed on the web that generates image data representing the registration marks, and a controller operatively coupled to the printing rollers and the imaging device.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a web of material by applying a liquid material to the web, heating the web, cooling the web and moistening the web is provided with an applicator that applies the liquid material to the web, a drying apparatus that heats the web to an initial temperature of greater than about 250° F. and causes the web to have a moisture content of no greater than about 1.5%, a first cooling apparatus that causes the initial temperature of the web to be reduced to a second temperature no greater than about 210° F. and no less than about 100° F., a moistening apparatus that causes the moisture content of the web to be increased to at least about 2.5%, and a second cooling apparatus that causes the web to be cooled to a temperature not greater than about 100° F.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for processing a moving web of material is provided with an applicator that applies a liquid material to the moving web, a drying apparatus that heats the web to an initial temperature, a first cooling apparatus that causes the web to be cooled to a second temperature that is at least about 20° F. lower than the initial temperature, and a second cooling apparatus disposed after the first cooling apparatus that causes the web to be cooled to a third temperature that is at least about 20° F. lower than the second temperature. The first cooling apparatus includes a generator adapted to generate a directed electrostatic field through which the web passes and a sprayer adapted to spray liquid through the electrostatic field and onto the web.

Abstract: A flexographic printing apparatus for printing a moving web is provided with a rotatable ink roller, a roller support that rotatably supports the ink roller, an ink source associated with the ink roller which provides ink for the ink roller, a rotatable printing roller associated with the ink roller, and a printing plate disposed on the printing roller that makes physical contact with the ink roller so that ink is transferred from the ink roller to the printing plate as the ink roller and the printing roller rotate. The printing apparatus also has a rotatable backing roller disposed adjacent the printing roller so that the moving web on which ink is to be applied passes between the backing roller and the printing plate as the backing roller and the printing roller rotate so that a printed image is applied to the web. The apparatus also has a charge applicator that causes an electric charge to be applied to the semi-conductive printing plate.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a web of material by applying a liquid material to the web, heating the web, cooling the web and moistening the web is provided with an applicator that applies the liquid material to the web, a drying apparatus that heats the web to an initial temperature of greater than about 250° F. and causes the web to have a moisture content of no greater than about 1.5%, a first cooling apparatus that causes the initial temperature of the web to be reduced to a second temperature no greater than about 210° F. and no less than about 100° F., a moistening apparatus that causes the moisture content of the web to be increased to at least about 2.5%, and a second cooling apparatus that causes the web to be cooled to a temperature not greater than about 100° F.

Abstract: A web-offset printing press is provided with a first rotatable printing cylinder adapted to print a first image on a web by applying a heat-settable ink to the web, a second rotatable printing cylinder adapted to print a second image on the web, the second image being printed on the web subsequent to the first image being printed on the web by applying a heat-settable ink to the web, a drying station for drying the heat-settable ink applied to the web by the first and second rotatable printing cylinders by heating the web to an initial temperature, and a cooling station disposed adjacent the drying station, the cooling station receiving the web after the web has been heated by the drying station, the cooling station causing the initial temperature of the web to be reduced by at least about 20.degree. F.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for automatically affixing notes to a moving printed web which has a plurality of repeat lengths, each of the notes being automatically applied at the same relative location in each of a plurality of repeat lengths of the printed web. The apparatus includes a note feed device adapted to receive a note web consisting of a carrier web and a plurality of removable notes disposed on the carrier web. The apparatus also includes a note handler operatively coupled to separate the notes from the carrier web and cause them to be applied to the printed web and a controller adapted to control the note feed device so as to cause each of the notes to be applied to the printed web in a predetermined position in each of the repeat lengths of the printed web.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for automatically affixing cards to a moving printed web which has a plurality of repeat lengths, each of the cards being automatically applied at the same relative location in each of a plurality of repeat lengths of the printed web. The apparatus includes a card feed device adapted to receive a web of cards having no registration holes formed therein and having a plurality of weakened links disposed between pairs of adjacent cards. The card feed device is adapted to cause the web of cards to pass through the card feed device so that there is substantially no slippage between the card feed device and the web of cards. The apparatus also includes a card handler operatively coupled to separate the web of cards into individual cards and cause them to be applied to the printed web and a controller adapted to control the card feed device so as to cause each of the cards to be applied to the printed web in a predetermined position in each of the repeat lengths of the printed web.

Abstract: A fan folded product and method for packaging preprinted fan folded cards or other material for attachment and for continuous feeding to a distribution machine. The cards are packaged in a series of rows having multiple stacks of cards in each row. The cards are pre-spliced together between adjacent rows to provide continuous folding of the cards. Alternate rows of cards are reversed fan folded and then packaged so that bottommost cards feed up the side wall of each stack in the opposite direction as the adjacent rows to provide continuous feeding in a serpentine manner of the cards to the distribution machine.

Abstract: An apparatus for scanning colored registration marks printed on a moving web by a plurality of printing cylinders of a printing press is provided with a photoemitter for generating a beam of light directed at the moving web, a detector for detecting the amount of light reflected from the moving web and generating a reflectance signal having a magnitude relating to the amount of light, an A/D converter for periodically sampling the reflectance signal to generate a number of scan values, a memory for storing the scan values, and a baseline generator for determining a baseline level of the reflectance signal. The baseline generator may include means for assigning each of the scan values to one of a plurality of predetermined ranges of values based on the magnitudes of the scan values, means for determining a baseline range from the plurality of the predetermined ranges based on the range having the largest number of the scan values, and means for determining the baseline level based upon the baseline range.

Abstract: A web-offset printing press is provided with a first rotatable printing cylinder adapted to print a first image on a web by applying a heat-settable ink to the web, a second rotatable printing cylinder adapted to print a second image on the web, the second image being printed on the web subsequent to the first image being printed on the web by applying a heat-settable ink to the web, a drying station for drying the heat-settable ink applied to the web by the first and second rotatable printing cylinders by heating the web to an initial temperature, and a cooling station disposed adjacent the drying station, the cooling station receiving the web after the web has been heated by the drying station, the cooling station causing the initial temperature of the web to be reduced by at least about 20.degree. F.

Abstract: An apparatus for scanning colored registration marks printed on a moving web by a plurality of printing cylinders of a printing press is provided with a photoemitter for generating a beam of light directed at the moving web, a detector for detecting the amount of light reflected from the moving web and generating a reflectance signal having a magnitude relating to the amount of light, an A/D converter for periodically sampling the reflectance signal to generate a number of scan values, a memory for storing the scan values, and a baseline generator for determining a baseline level of the reflectance signal. The baseline generator may include means for assigning each of the scan values to one of a plurality of predetermined ranges of values based on the magnitudes of the scan values, means for determining a baseline range from the plurality of the predetermined ranges based on the range having the largest number of the scan values, and means for determining the baseline level based upon the baseline range.

Abstract: A pre-registration system for a printing press may be provided with a first detector for detecting an angular position of a first rotatable printing cylinder by sensing when a reference mark disposed on the first printing cylinder is in a predetermined angular position, a second detector for detecting an angular position of a second printing cylinder by sensing when a reference mark of the second printing cylinder is in a predetermined angular position, and an adjustment mechanism for automatically adjusting the angular position of one of the printing cylinders based on the circumference, a web distance, and the angular position of one of the printing cylinders. The adjustment mechanism may adjust the angular position based upon a stored phase data relating to the web distance and the circumference.

Abstract: A gravure printing press assembly composed of an impression roller having a core portion, a support shaft for the core portion which is rotatable with respect to the core portion, and an outer conductive layer disposed about the core portion and a high-voltage contact assembly for applying a high voltage to the impression roller. The high-voltage contact assembly comprises a first assembly having a brush support member and a plurality of brushes associated with the brush support member, the brushes being held by the brush support member at a plurality of positions circumferentially disposed with respect to a central axis passing through the support shaft; a second assembly having a conductive contact ring disposed adjacent the brushes and being rotatable relative to the first assembly; and means for allowing relative movement between the first assembly and the second assembly in a direction parallel to the central axis of the support shaft.

Abstract: A fan folded product and method for packaging preprinted fan folded cards or other material for attachment and for continuous feeding to a distribution machine. The cards are packaged in a series of rows having multiple stacks of cards in each row. The cards are pre-spliced together between adjacent rows to provide continuous folding of the cards. Alternate rows of cards are reversed fan folded and then packaged so that bottommost cards feed up the side wall of each stack in the opposite direction as the adjacent rows to provide continuous feeding in a serpentine manner of the cards to the distribution machine.

Abstract: A gravure printing press with an electrostatic assist unit having a fault detection circuit and crowbar circuit in which the crowbar circuit has a transformer with a primary winding and a plurality of secondary windings. Each of the secondary windings has a field-effect transistor which is turned on in response to the detection of a fault condition whereby the voltage applied to the press is substantially reduced to zero and any electrostatic charge is substantially removed. A capacitor is coupled in parallel with the gate and source terminals of each field-effect transistor to lengthen the on-time of the transistors.