Abstract: A banding system for piled products with a machine frame (8), a band feed mechanism (6) disposed on the machine frame for feeding band material (2) from a supply roll (1), means for forming a loop (7) with said band material (2) around the products to be banded, welding means (14, 15) to close said loop, and cutting means (17) for cutting said band material, said means for forming the loop comprising transporting means (111, 13) for transporting the band material (2) around the product to be banded and vacuum means (19, 19?, 24) connected to the transporting means.

Abstract: A method is described for generating patterns representing a halftone image, said method comprising the generation of a first set of patterns consisting of lines and curves dimensionally modulated so as to produce variations in tones reproducing the halftones of the image using an intaglio rendering technique. The method comprises the generation of a second set of patterns consisting of microstructures separate from the lines and curves of the first set of patterns, said microstructures being dimensionally modulated so as to produce variations in tones reproducing the halftones of the image. According to a first aspect of the invention, the microstructures consist of stochastic microstructures that can be likened to a grain. According to a second aspect of the invention, the microstructures consist of repetitive microstructures reproducing information that can be recognised by an observer, which repetitive microstructures comprise microletters and/or microsymbols.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for printing security documents (1) comprising in particular a lacquering step which consists in depositing a protective layer on the surface of the security documents, as well as a typographic printing step which consists in printing at least one typographic element (4) on said security documents following the lacquering step. Therefor, prior to the typographic printing step, at least one roughened surface (3) is formed on the security documents, for receiving a typographic element. The roughness of the surface (4) provides better adherence of the typographic ink on the documents already provided with a protective coating produced, for example, with a UV-curable lacquer.

Abstract: There is described a sheet inspection system for a sheet-fed recto-verso printing press of the type comprising two printing cylinders (10, 20) for carrying out simultaneous recto-verso printing of the sheets, said sheet inspection system comprising at least one inspection device (200; 300; 400) for taking an image of one side of the printed sheets. The sheet inspection system comprises first and second transfer cylinders (60, 65) interposed between a first (10) of the two printing cylinders (10, 20) and a chain gripper system (5) of the printing press, printed sheets being transferred successively from the first printing cylinder (10) to the first transfer cylinder (60), to the second transfer cylinder (65), and to the chain gripper system (5).

Abstract: There is described a sheet inspection system for a sheet-fed recto-verso printing press of the type comprising two printing cylinders (10, 20) for carrying out simultaneous recto-verso printing of the sheets, said sheet inspection system comprising at least a first inspection device (100) for taking an image of a first side of the printed sheets. The first inspection device (100) comprises a first line image sensor (110) for performing line-scanning image acquisition of the first side of the printed sheets, and the first inspection device (100) is disposed in such a way that the first line image sensor visually acquires an image of a printed sheet while the said printed sheet is still adhering onto the surface of a first one (10) of the two printing cylinders (10, 20) of the printing press and immediately before the said printed sheet is transferred to a chain gripper system (5) of the printing press. Also described is a printing press equipped with the inspection system.

Abstract: The blanket cylinder for an intaglio printing machine comprising a plate cylinder carrying printing plates with engravings corresponding to a specific intaglio structure to be printed on a substrate, and cooperating with an impression cylinder, the blanket cylinder having at least one blanket on which the ink in the different colors is deposited by selector cylinders, each selector cylinder having reliefs with contours corresponding to the area of the intaglio structure to be inked with said color, the at least one blanket being made of several successive layers each with different properties.

Abstract: The invention relates to a screening machine comprising a frame and two bearing arrangements which are arranged thereon for the rotational positioning of a screening cylinder, whereby the bearing arrangements comprise rings which are rotationally driven around a common axis and which support catches on the sides opposite to each other. In order to enable the head piece of the screening cylinder to be mounted on the ring, said catches can be positioned on one half of the periphery thereof.

Abstract: There is described a web-fed or sheet-fed printing machine for security papers, in particular banknotes, comprising a machine frame in which is located a main printing group, the printing machine further comprising an additional printing group, independent of the main printing group, placed upstream of the main printing group with respect to a direction of displacement of the web or sheets for performing additional printing of the security papers prior to printing by said main printing group. The additional printing group comprises an inking module containing at least one inking device, and a printing module comprising a cylinder arrangement including a plurality of cylinders, the printing module being interposed between the inking module and the machine frame of the printing machine.

Abstract: A composite identity marking comprising first and second identity markings is provided on a substrate (1) of a security document. The first identity marking is provided by a first marking station (5, 5?, 5?, 5??) by bringing a first side of said substrate (1) into marking relationship with said first marking station (5, 5?, 5?, 5??). The second identity marking is provided by a second marking station on a portion of the second side of said substrate (1) provided with a layer of material (60) capable of absorbing a substantial amount of radiation emitted by a laser beam. Said laser beam is produced by a laser marking station (6, 6?) included in said second marking station and directed onto said layer of absorbing material (60) through the first side of the substrate and across said substrate to form said second identity marking only on said second side of the substrate (1).

Abstract: The invention concerns a device (01) for aligning at least along one edge several stacked sheets (09) into a book, while maintaining the serial order of sheets, said device comprising an editing table (11), having on one of its sides, a front stop (13) for aligning the edges of the sheets (09). The invention is characterized in that upstream of the editing table (11) is provided a support plate (02), whereon the sheet (09) can be set into a bound book with non-aligned edges, and is further provided in the device (01), a sheet feeder (08, 04, 06) whereby the sheets can be conveyed from the support plate (02) towards the front stop (13) of the editing table (11), while forming a stream of subjacent webs.

Abstract: A doctor blade device (01) for cleaning a surface has a doctor blade (03) and a tub (09) for receiving the material stripped from the surface by the doctor blade. The doctor blade is movable between a position in which it projects out of an opening (13) of the tub and a position in which it is submerged in the tub. A closure element (07) closes the opening in the submerged position of the doctor blade.

Abstract: The machine comprises a substrate feeder (1,3,10,11), a laminate feeder (14,15,16) and application means (12,18) for applying said laminate to said substrates. It further comprises cutting means (17,22,23,24) for cutting said laminate (13) betw successive substrates (2) during application of said laminate (13) on said substrates (2).

Abstract: The process comprises the following steps: detection of the passage of an edge of the substrate by a first trigger, detection of the passage of said edge of the substrate at least at a first selected checkpoint on the substrate; control of the presence of the detection of the edge of the substrate at said at least first checkpoint between said detection by said triggers and generation of an integrity check failed message in the absence of the detection of the edge of the substrate at said checkpoint.

Abstract: The process for treating stacks formed of a predetermined number of planar substrates, such as securities, banknotes, checks and other similar documents, said securities being formed by prints on said substrates arranged in matrix-form in lines and columns, comprises the steps of (a) displacing the stack under a cutting device; (b) cutting a strip of the stack with cutting means; (c) evacuating the cut strip for liberating the front side of the stack which is under the cutting means; (d) taking an image of the front side of the stack; (e) counting the number of substrate in the stack by analyzing the image taken; (f) resuming the process at step (a) until all strips of a stack have been cut and starting with another stack.

Abstract: A process includes the steps of loosening a pack of piled substrates, taking a first image of the piled planar substrates, the image being made of a two-dimensional array of single image detectors arranged in lines and columns, counting the number of edges of substrates detected, statistically treating the result obtained and, based on the statistical treatment, determining whether the counting is accurate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for aligning at least the front edge of several sheets arranged in a stack, one above the other, whilst maintaining the order of the sheets. Said device comprises a stacking table, one side of which is provided with a front edge stop for aligning the front edge of the sheets. A supporting platform, upon which a stack of sheets can be placed with non-aligned front edges, is arranged upstream of the stacking table. The device is provided with a sheet feeder, which removes the sheets from the supporting platform by placing them in an overlapping stream with the front edges placed under the preceding sheets. A turning device is provided downstream of the sheet feeder, said device turning the overlapping stream in such a way that the front edge area of each sheet is freely accessible.

Abstract: There is described a method for controlling the orientation and/or position of sheets (1) processed on a printing machine, each sheet being provided with at least one marking (12; 15) embedded in the sheet, which marking is embedded in the sheet during manufacturing thereof, prior to processing of the sheet on a printing machine. The marking (12; 15) is disposed in a selected location of the sheet and defines a unique orientation and/or position of the sheet. The method comprises the steps of:—checking for the presence or absence of the marking at the selected location on the sheet and/or of characteristic features of the said marking; and—issuing a warning signal if the marking is not detected at the selected location or if the characteristic features of the marking are not detected at the said selected location. The invention advantageously makes use of features already embedded in the sheets (such as metallic and/or magnetic strips or threads, watermarks, etc.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for controlling material comprising a sensor device and a lighting device, whereby the material which is to be controlled is guided on a transparent drum.

Abstract: The invention relates to a screening machine comprising a frame and two bearing arrangements which are arranged thereon for the rotational positioning of a screening cylinder, whereby the bearing arrangements comprise rings which are rotationally driven around a common axis and which support catches on the sides opposite to each other. In order to enable the head piece of the screening cylinder to be mounted on the ring, said catches can be positioned on one half of the periphery thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a screening machine comprising a frame and two bearing arrangements which are arranged thereon for the rotational positioning of a screening cylinder, whereby the bearing arrangements comprise rings which are rotationally driven around a common axis and which support catches on the sides opposite to each other. In order to enable the head piece of the screening cylinder to be mounted on the ring, said catches can be positioned on one half of the periphery thereof.