Abstract: In order to provide a variable folder which allows smearing-free operation, the cutting blade of an upstream cross-cutting arrangement is provided with recesses, which leave behind residual crosspieces in the strand which is to be cut, and arranged in the product-directing region, between the cross-cutting arrangement and a collecting cylinder, are accelerating and tearing-off cams which grip the incoming product and tear it off from the strand at the residual crosspieces.

Abstract: A rotary offset printing machine having printing units each with a dampening unit and an inking unit with a metering device for setting an inking profile zone can reach the continuous printing state quickly and with little accumulation of rejects. First an inking profile is set on the metering device that is the inverse of the inking profile for continuous printing with the applicator rolls set off the printing plate and the machine operating at a first rotational speed. A defined quantity of ink is supplied to the inking unit, the inking profile for continuous printing then being set on the metering device. The rubber blankets are pre-dampened and, when a third rotational speed is reached, the print is set on. Finally, the printing machine is run up to a fourth speed for continuous printing when the separation of rejects is concluded.

Abstract: A suction gripper is provided having a cylinder and a piston for executing a suction stroke having a first and a second stroke position. A cylinder housing with a cylinder space is provided, which at one end has an orifice to atmospheric pressure, against which the cylinder space is sealed off by means of the piston pre-stressed by a compression spring. A piston rod projects from the other end of the cylinder space for executing a stroke. The cylinder space has a constant connection to a vacuum duct via a first passage bore in the cylinder housing. The piston rod has a central bore in the projecting end. The central bore can be connected in its interior to the vacuum duct via a radial bore in the piston rod and a second passage bore in the central housing. At the projecting end of the piston rod, the central bore is closed by means of a suction element in order to suction a component.

Abstract: In order to provide a rotary printing machine for direct printing, in which the printing-assembly cylinders are guided in a stable manner by means of a cost-effective device, the forme cylinder and the impression cylinder of a printing assembly are mounted, adjustably in terms of their mutual spacing, in side walls. At least one of the two cylinders is mounted on both sides in slides movable on straight guide elements which are arranged in each case on at least one of two opposite panels of an aperture in the side walls.

Abstract: The cylinder includes first and second cylinder parts which are designed to be rotatable in relation to one another in the circumferential direction and are fitted with respective first and second operating elements for acting on a foldable product. The first cylinder part is mounted non-rotatably on a shaft and of the second cylinder part is mounted on the shaft rotatably in the circumferential direction. The shaft is mounted at one end, fixed axially, in a side wall in a bearing designed as a fixed bearing. The second cylinder part is mounted separately, with a spacing (A) from the first cylinder part, in a second fixed bearing which is independent of the first bearing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for changing a printing plate on a plate cylinder in a sheet-fed offset printing machine is provided. The printing plate is first fed to the plate cylinder with its print-end edge leading the print-start edge. The print-end edge of the printing plate is then fixed in a first fixing device on the plate cylinder assigned to the print-end edge of the printing plate. The plate cylinder is then rotated in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation used during a printing operation to draw the printing plate around the outer circumference of the plate cylinder. The print-start edge of the printing plate is then fixed to a second fixing device on the plate cylinder that is assigned to the print-start edge of the printing plate and tensioned on the plate cylinder.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of an erasable lithographic printing plate, includes treating a used or unused printing plate with an erasing composition to clean the printing plate, laser imaging the printing plate with a polymeric substance, and to provide an image thereon, and fixing the image on the printing plate. Further, the printing plane has applied thereto any one of a heat-curable and water-soluble substance, if desired, immediately after the laser imaging, or a water-soluble substance immediately after the laser imaging, or a heat-curable and water-soluble substance immediately after the laser imaging, followed by warming of the printing plate. The water-soluble substance or the heat-curable and water-soluble substance is washed off using a solution essentially consisting of water before printing.

Abstract: A method for reversible imaging of a printing form is provided included feeding a coated transfer film between a printing form and an image information transfer unit having a transfer head. A surface of the printing form is then imaged using image data oriented activation to transfer the transfer film coating in the form of image spots to the printing form. The transfer film is removed from between the printing form and the image information transfer unit. The transferred image spots are fixed on the printing form by re-imaging or fixing the image spots using image data oriented activation. Remaining image information from the printing form is removed or erased once the printing operation is complete so that the printing form is capable of being used in a subsequent printing operation. A device for performing the method is also provided. Optionally, a single laser beam or a plurality of laser beams may be used in the device.

Abstract: An ink regulating device that measures color in a web-fed rotary printing machine for printing a printing material web or sheets in a plurality of colors. The ink regulating device measures and evaluates the colors black, cyan, magenta, and yellow, and after general calibration (i.e., the recording of standard values), derives set values for the inking zone setting devices, without requiring any further patterns, and without the need for a special copy when the printing pattern is changed.

Abstract: In order to simplify the sequence of creating a mask, in particular for producing a printing plate, and at the same time to improve the quality of the printing plate produced by means of a mask, the use of laser-induced thermal transfer is provided. The structure information is applied directly to the surface of a printing plate carrier during the creation of a mask, by means of a thermal transfer film and a laser image-setting unit, so that by means of the structure information applied, differentiation with regard to image points and non-image points can be carried out directly in order to produce a printing plate.

Abstract: The folder superstructure is provided with a copy diverter for dividing up a product stream of individual copies. The copy diverter includes at least one rotating disc deflector and a tongue, arranged at a location where the product stream branches into two sub-streams. It is assigned at least one first belt conveying apparatus, which is arranged upstream of the tongue, as seen in the direction of the product stream, and at least one second belt conveying apparatus which is arranged in the region of the tongue. The rotating disc deflector has a plurality of disk segments arranged axially one behind the other on a spindle running transversely to the product stream. In order to set different deflecting positions, the disk segments can be fixed in different circumferential positions.

Abstract: In order to maintain printing machinery in a monitored operating state during line voltage interference and outages, the rotary printing machine is supplied by an interruption-free power supply (USV) having an input side which is connected to the customer mains and an output connected to the printing machine.

Abstract: In order to reliably tension the legs of the carrier plate by means of tongues fastened to spindles, one spindle is designed as a hollow spindle which is mounted in a bore of the cylinder gap of the printing-unit cylinder, and the other spindle is mounted in the hollow spindle.

Abstract: In a rotary printing machine, in particular a web-fed rotary printing machine, having at least one printing unit including a plurality of printing-unit cylinders, of which at least one can be brought into and out of operative connection with at least one functional unit which is associated with a function needed to operate the printing unit, is provided with a drive device and is fitted on a linear guide device, a high level of operating convenience and working accuracy being achieved by the functional unit being assigned a positioning device, which has a controller which can be fed with at least one position-dependent signal which can be generated by means of a sensor arrangement associated with the functional unit and by which the drive device can be controlled.

Abstract: The invention relates to the drive of a printing machine. Cylinders and functional groups are to be driven with low technical expenditure. To this end, all form cylinders (1.1, 1.2) in a printing unit, for example, are driven respectively by separate electric motors (7) and are not in mechanical drive connection.

Abstract: An offset printing unit includes at least one cylinder pair with a form cylinder and a transfer cylinder. The transfer cylinder cooperates with an impression cylinder in such a way that ink can be applied to a printing material web guided between the transfer cylinder and the impression cylinder. In order to permit the economic production of multifarious products with a relatively low technical outlay, the form cylinder is fitted in the circumferential direction with one, and in the longitudinal direction with at least four, portrait printed pages in broadsheet format. The form cylinder may optionally be fitted with landscape printed pages in tabloid format or portrait or landscape printed pages in book format. A circumference of the form cylinder receives one flexible printing plate and a longitudinal length of the form cylinder receives at least one flexible printing plate.

Abstract: A sheet guide apparatus for use in a rotary printing press which is adapted for the smear and mark free transfer of sheets between two sheet holding and transfer systems, such as a pair of sheet-carrying cylinders or a sheet-carrying cylinder and circulating sheet conveyor. The sheet guide apparatus includes a sheet guide having a guide surface disposed beneath the transfer area, and a pneumatic system for blowing a positive pressure air stream in the direction of a transfer area or tangent point between the sheet holding and transfer systems. A further pneumatic system optionally may be provided for drawing or blowing air through apertures in the guide surface.

Abstract: A control arrangement for controlling web unwinding equipment used for feeding webs to a web-fed rotary printing machine stabilizes a swing roll used to tension the web at a central position via an integrator in a manner independent of the coefficient of friction. A proportional and differential element is connected in parallel with the integrator. The inputs of the integrator and the proportional and differential element are connected directly or indirectly to a swing-roll transmitter whose output is dependent on a position of the swing roll. The outputs of the integrator and the proportional and differential element act on an adder element. The output of the adder element acts directly or indirectly on a brake for braking the rotation of the wound roll.

Abstract: A printing unit for a web-fed rotary printing machine is provided having at least one carrying wall, a plurality of cylinders mounted on the carrying wall, a drive motor corresponding to each cylinder and a slide corresponding to each cylinder. Each slide carries its corresponding cylinder and receives the corresponding drive motor. A drive means is provided for driving the slides and a plurality of guide elements are mounted on the carrying wall and arranged laterally next to the adjacent end faces of the cylinders for guiding the slides along the wall. The guide elements are arranged opposite and parallel to one another on the carrying wall. Optionally, the carrying wall includes panels defining an orifice to allow cylinders, journals and sleeves of the printing machine of varying sizes to be changed readily.