Abstract: An ink fountain of an ink fountain device is provided with a fixed frame; a plate slidable on the upper surface of the plate; and an advancement and retraction mechanism advancing and retracting the plate with respect to the frame. The advancement and retraction mechanism comprises: a motor; a cam fixed to the output shaft of the motor which is integrally rotatable by rotation of the output shaft and has a cam surface shifted from an exact circle; and a rod in contact with the cam surface and advancing and retracting by the cam. The plate advances and retracts with respect to the frame by the advancement and retraction of the rod.

Abstract: A ductor roller for printing machines has a shaft provided with an air supply pipe, plural individual ductor rollers, and plural electromagnetic valves, both connected to the shaft. The individual ductor rollers advance pneumatically by the electromagnetic valves. The individual ductor rollers have housings that are associated with the shaft and configured to move forward and backward; roller members configured to contact with the ink fountain roller and an ink distribution roller; and bearings connecting the roller members to the housings. The electromagnetic valves are placed in the housings. Protection members for the electromagnetic valves are oil-resistant, have circularly cylindrical or arc-like covers, and are associated with the shaft. They cover the side ends of the housings and are placed in the clearance between the individual ductor rollers.

Abstract: An ink fountain device having a base; a plate; an advancing and retracting mechanism for advancing and retracting the plate along an advancing and retracting direction; and a thin sheet arranged on the base which has plural holes accommodating balls and is thinner in thickness than a diameter of the balls. The plate is arranged over the thin sheet and supported by the balls.

Abstract: Plate cylinder driving devices of a printing machine are provided with a drive shaft driving the plate cylinder, a drive helical gear fixed to the drive shaft, and an anti-backlash helical gear rotatably connected to the drive shaft and is biased by at least a spring towards a direction for preventing backlash. Both the drive helical gear and the anti-backlash helical gear are engaged with the main gear, and a plate provided with plural holes accommodating rollers is provided between the drive helical gear and the anti-backlash helical gear. Friction between the anti-backlash gear and the drive gear is reduced by a simple mechanism in the plate cylinder driving devices in a printing machine.

Abstract: A printing machine has an ink fountain, a fountain roller in contact with the ink fountain, a ductor roller, at least an ink transfer roller and a controller configured and programmed to control the ductor roller. For the printing machine, individual graph data gr and its initial values gri, and average g of the graph data over the entire ductor roller and its initial value gi are used to change graph data gr and g during printing so as to cancel errors between measured printed densities and desired printed densities. An adjustment apparatus and method also achieve this task for such a printing machine.

Abstract: Provided is an ink supply device for a printer, which does not require cleaning process by manual work, even in the case where ink remains in gap portions between adjacent divided ink ductor rollers. A divided ink ductor roller cleaning unit 7 is provided, which includes a cleaning roller 21 having an outer periphery covered with a cleaning fabric 26 and having an axis parallel to an axis of a plurality of divided ink ductor rollers 4. The cleaning roller 21 is pressed against the plurality of divided ink ductor rollers 4, and the cleaning fabric 26 enters gap portions between the adjacent divided ink ductor rollers 4, whereby the divided ink ductor roller cleaning unit 7 wipes off ink adhering to outer peripheral portions of end faces of the divided ink ductor rollers 4.

Abstract: Provided is a method of correcting printing misalignment in a printing apparatus that performs registration by using a printing misalignment inspection mark. This method is capable of improving registration accuracy and is capable of correcting the printing misalignment with higher accuracy. An image processor has printing misalignment value measurement means that measures a misalignment value with respect to a set position of the printing misalignment inspection mark that has been printed on an object. A printing misalignment inspection mark A is a hollow circle that is white inside, and the printing misalignment value measurement means measures the misalignment value with respect to the set position by using a white portion W of the printing misalignment inspection mark A.

Abstract: A can inspection device includes a rotation device rotating cans, an imaging device taking images of rotating cans, and an image processor processing taken images. The imaging device includes a first camera taking an image of an entire can and a second camera taking an image of an opening-side end portion of the can. The image processor includes an image inspection means for inspecting whether printing is performed properly as compared with a master image by using the image taken by the first camera, a density measurement means for measuring densities in designated positions for respective colors by using the image taken by the first camera, and a printing misalignment value measurement means for measuring misalignment values with respect to set positions of printing misalignment inspection marks printed on the opening-side end portion of the can for respective colors by using the image taken by the second camera.

Abstract: Provided is a method of correcting printing misalignment in a printing apparatus that performs registration by using a printing misalignment inspection mark. This method is capable of improving registration accuracy and is capable of correcting the printing misalignment with higher accuracy. An image processor has printing misalignment value measurement means that measures a misalignment value with respect to a set position of the printing misalignment inspection mark that has been printed on an object. A printing misalignment inspection mark A is a hollow circle that is white inside, and the printing misalignment value measurement means measures the misalignment value with respect to the set position by using a white portion W of the printing misalignment inspection mark A.

Abstract: A printing plate unit to be demountably mounted on a printing plate mounting portion of a plate cylinder includes a printing plate and a printing plate coupling member. A length of the printing plate coupling member is larger than a width of the printing plate so that the printing plate coupling member is provided with a projecting portion projecting from the printing plate formed cylindrically in an axial direction. The printing plate unit is fitted to the printing plate mounting portion from one end side, and is demounted from the same one end side by gripping the projecting portion of the printing plate coupling member in a state both end portions of the printing plate formed into a cylindrical shape are coupled to each other by the printing plate coupling member.

Abstract: A dampening water amount regulating apparatus 40 includes a plurality of air supply boxes 41 disposed in a line in an axial direction of a water transfer roller 8 and each defines one air blowing portion. The air supply box 41 includes a substantially U-shaped air passage 67 that allows air in an air supply chamber 57 to pass along an outer peripheral surface of the water transfer roller 8 and supplies the same into an air discharge chamber 60. A valve mechanism 44 that increases and decreases an air amount is provided at a midsection of the air passage 67.

Abstract: A can printing apparatus 1 includes a main printer 2 having plural plate cylinders 47 for printing different colors and performing printing onto side surfaces of cans, a secondary printer 6 performing additional printing to the side surfaces of the cans after the printing by the main printer, and a can inspection machine 5 inspecting a printing state. The can inspection machine 5 includes a can rotation device 51 which rotates cans C, a can imaging device 52 which takes images of the cans C and an image processing device 53 which processes the taken images, and the secondary printer 6 includes a printing head 6a which faces a side surface of a can held by the can rotation device 51 of the can inspection machine 5 and a processing unit which gives an instruction of printing to the printing head 6a based on a predetermined printing pattern and processing data of the image processing device 53 of the can inspection machine 5.

Abstract: A can inspection device includes a rotation device rotating cans, an imaging device taking images of rotating cans, and an image processor processing taken images. The imaging device includes a first camera taking an image of an entire can and a second camera taking an image of an opening-side end portion of the can. The image processor includes an image inspection means for inspecting whether printing is performed properly as compared with a master image by using the image taken by the first camera, a density measurement means for measuring densities in designated positions for respective colors by using the image taken by the first camera, and a printing misalignment value measurement means for measuring misalignment values with respect to set positions of printing misalignment inspection marks printed on the opening-side end portion of the can for respective colors by using the image taken by the second camera.

Abstract: An image processor 53 processing taken images includes an image inspection means 54 for inspecting whether printing is performed properly as compared with a master image by using the image of the entire can taken by a first camera, a density measurement means 55 for measuring densities in designated positions for respective colors also by using the image of the entire can taken by the first camera, and a printing misalignment value measurement means 56 for measuring misalignment values with respect to set positions of printing misalignment inspection marks printed on an opening-side end portion of a can for respective colors by using the image of the opening-side end portion of the can taken by the second camera.

Abstract: An ink supply unit is a unitized member having a casing accommodating components therein. A plurality of plate cylinders are arranged in a circumferential direction at predetermined intervals. The ink supply unit corresponding to the plate cylinder is disposed on a radially outer side of the plate cylinder. The ink supply unit can move between an operation position in which ink can be supplied to the plate cylinder and a standby position located further to a radially outer side than the operation position.

Abstract: A can printing apparatus 1 includes a main printer 2 having plural plate cylinders 47 for printing different colors and performing printing onto side surfaces of cans, a secondary printer 6 performing additional printing to the side surfaces of the cans after the printing by the main printer, and a can inspection machine 5 inspecting a printing state. The can inspection machine 5 includes a can rotation device 51 which rotates cans C, a can imaging device 52 which takes images of the cans C and an image processing device 53 which processes the taken images, and the secondary printer 6 includes a printing head 6a which faces a side surface of a can held by the can rotation device 51 of the can inspection machine 5 and a processing unit which gives an instruction of printing to the printing head 6a based on a predetermined printing pattern and processing data of the image processing device 53 of the can inspection machine 5.

Abstract: A dampening water amount regulating apparatus 40 includes a plurality of air supply boxes 41 disposed in a line in an axial direction of a water transfer roller 8 and each defines one air blowing portion. The air supply box 41 includes a substantially U-shaped air passage 67 that allows air in an air supply chamber 57 to pass along an outer peripheral surface of the water transfer roller 8 and supplies the same into an air discharge chamber 60. A valve mechanism 44 that increases and decreases an air amount is provided at a midsection of the air passage 67.

Abstract: A printing plate unit to be demountably mounted on a printing plate mounting portion of a plate cylinder includes a printing plate and a printing plate coupling member. A length of the printing plate coupling member is larger than a width of the printing plate so that the printing plate coupling member is provided with a projecting portion projecting from the printing plate formed cylindrically in an axial direction. The printing plate unit is fitted to the printing plate mounting portion from one end side, and is demounted from the same one end side by gripping the projecting portion of the printing plate coupling member in a state both end portions of the printing plate formed into a cylindrical shape are coupled to each other by the printing plate coupling member.

Abstract: A printing plate unit automatic mounting apparatus 81 includes: a pressing member 96 inserted from a pressing member insertion opening 33 and pressing an inner slider 36 against a biasing force applied by a printing plate coupling member biasing apparatus 35, a retaining means 94 configured to retain and release the printing plate unit 1 by retaining and releasing a projecting portion 11a provided on the printing plate unit 1 and configured to serve as a gripping portion; and a drive apparatus 92 configured to move the retaining means 94 in an axial direction of a plate drive shaft.

Abstract: Provided is an ink supply device for a printing machine which can accurately supply a quantity of ink necessary for acquiring desired concentration while making the fine adjustment of concentration of ink by an operator unnecessary. A control device 34 of the ink supply device includes: a concentration prediction value calculation means 53 which acquires a concentration prediction value when the concentration becomes stable based on concentration measured values of a predetermined number of printed matters; a graph change value calculation means 54 which acquires a graph change value using the concentration prediction value and a concentration target value; and a control graph value calculation means 55 which acquires a control graph value for controlling a rotational angle based on a preset set graph value and the graph change value.