Abstract: An adjustable signature stripping mechanism for stripping signatures from a rotating bucket assembly in a folder of a printing press. The mechanism includes a stripper shaft having a mounting portion and a pivot axis and a plurality of strippers mounted on the stripper shaft for stripping signatures from the bucket assembly and wherein the strippers are non-rotatable relative to the stripper shaft and slidable positionable along the stripper shaft.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining color registration in a multi-color printing press having a plurality of printing stations. A process black registration mark is formed in an identified area by positioning a plurality of color registration marks on top of each other. The process black registration mark is position in a portion of the image that is intended to be printed black, and preferably adjacent to a black ink image. The identified area is examined to determine whether the process black registration mark is properly positioned.

Abstract: A drive-through strapping machine for use in securing materials together on a pallet and for securing stacked pallets together and a method for securing materials together for shipment or storage and for delivering those materials to a location. The drive-through strapping machine provides a strapping device for wrapping straps around a pallet or stacks of pallets while the pallets are supported on a forklift. The strapping machine also provides for movement of the forklift through the strapping machine for delivery of the pallets to a storage location or for shipment.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing printed products to a gatherer, including a product supplier for feeding printed products, a product separator positioned to receive printed products from the product supplier and to separate the printed products into a separated stream, a printer positioned adjacent to the separated stream and positioned to print on the separated printed products, and a gripper conveyor positioned to receive the separated printed products from the printer and to form a shingled stream.

Abstract: A cutoff control system for controlling the positional relationship of a series of printed images on a continuous web of material relative to a cutoff device. The system includes a scanner for producing an output signal indicative of a suitable portion of the printed image on said web and a mechanism for laterally positioning the scanner with respect to said printed image on said web. The system also includes a control mechanism for controlling the operation of the positioning mechanism in response to digital prepress data, including a system for determining a suitable portion of the printed image to be scanned by the scanner.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for attaching a cover to a signature. The apparatus includes a cover applicator for securing covers to signatures, a signature supplier positioned to provide at least one signature to the cover applicator, a cover feeder positioned to feed covers in separated relation to the cover applicator, and a printer positioned between the cover feeder and the cover applicator. The printer is oriented to print onto a surface (e.g., an inner surface) of a cover fed from the cover feeder. The apparatus can further include an item feeder positioned to feed items in separated relation to the cover applicator, and an adhesive applicator positioned to deposit adhesive between the item and the cover. For example, the printer can be oriented to print on a printed area of a cover fed from the cover feeder, and the item feeder can be oriented to deposit an item onto the printed area. Preferably, the apparatus further includes an item printer positioned to print on an item fed from the item feeder.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for controlling a plurality of ink control devices on a printing press, wherein the press operates to repetitively print an image on a substrate. The ink control devices each control the amount of ink supplied to a respective ink key zone on the substrate. The method includes the step of measuring color values for a plurality of areas of a selected image printed on the substrate to produce an acquired image array. Next, the acquired image array is aligned with a target image array comprised of target color values for the plurality of areas. The acquired image array is compared to the target image array on a pixel by pixel basis. A matrix equation is determined that links ink control device adjustments to changes in color values of the image printed on the substrate via sensitivity factors for each of the plurality of pixels. A least squares solution to the matrix equation is obtained to determine ink adjustments for each ink key zone.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for correction of the effects of ink back-flow and lateral flow in the inking system of a web-offset printing press. A plate coverage equation dependent on plate coverage is used to compensate for ink back-flow into the ink reservoir. An ink key distribution function is utilized to correct for the blurring effects of lateral ink spread caused by the action of vibrator rollers. A correction is also made for the ink saturation effect. The method is applicable to an ink key preset system.

Abstract: A method of producing a printed product having a computer disk incorporated therein, including the steps of providing a sheet of material, placing personalized indicia onto either the disk or the sheet of material, depositing the disk onto the sheet of material, folding the sheet of material over the disk to produce a package, gathering the package with a signature to produce a book block, and binding the book block to produce a printed product. The placing step can include the step of printing or the step of adding a label to either the disk or the sheet of material. The depositing step can include the step of positioning the disk over the personalized indicia such that the disk covers the personalized indicia. The placing step can occur either before or after the depositing step.

Abstract: A drive-through strapping machine for use in securing materials together on a pallet and for securing stacked pallets together and a method for securing materials together for shipment or storage and for delivering those materials to a location. The drive-through strapping machine provides a strapping device for wrapping straps around a pallet or stacks of pallets while the pallets are supported on a forklift. The strapping machine also provides for movement of the forklift through the strapping machine for delivery of the pallets to a storage location or for shipment.

Abstract: A method of producing a printed product having a computer disk incorporated therein. The method includes the steps of depositing the disk onto the sheet of material, folding a first portion of the sheet over the disk and over at least a second portion of the sheet, securing the first portion to the second portion, folding a third portion of the sheet into overlapping relation with the first portion to produce a package, maintaining the third portion free from securement with the remainder of the sheet, and gathering the package with a signature to produce a book block while maintaining the third portion free from securement with the remainder of the sheet. The method further includes the step of perforating the sheet with a plurality of perforations to form a perforation line. The perforation line is formed substantially parallel to a fold line produced by the folding step, and preferably before the folding step.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing printed products to a gatherer, including a product supplier for feeding printed products, a product separator positioned to receive printed products from the product supplier and to separate the printed products into a separated stream, a printer positioned adjacent to the separated stream and positioned to print on the separated printed products, and a gripper conveyor positioned to receive the separated printed products from the printer and to form a shingled stream.

Abstract: A system for controlling the lateral position of a web in a web-fed printing press having a printing unit. The web has a series of printed images thereon. The system includes an optical scanner for sensing the lateral position of an image on the web and for generating a first signal. The system also includes an edge sensor which senses the lateral position of a corresponding web edge and which generates a second signal. A controller processes the first and second signals to produce a control signal. The systems also includes a positioning means responsive to the control signal for laterally positioning the web.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for controlling the amount of ink and water supplied to the plate cylinder of a web offset press. The web offset press operates to print an image on a travelling substrate and the method includes the steps of: (A) monitoring a characteristic of the substrate; (B) changing by a known quantity the amount of ink supplied to the plate cylinder in response to said monitored characteristic; (C) monitoring the change in the characteristic after the step (B) to determine whether the density of ink supplied to the substrate has changed in response to the step (B); and (D) decreasing the amount of water supplied to the plate cylinder when the monitored characteristic does not change in response to the step (B).

Abstract: A ribbon gathering and folding assembly including a plurality of guide rollers positioned in superimposed relation to each other, the guide rollers being adapted to guide a ribbon, and a ribbon former including a former board that is positioned to receive ribbons from the guide rollers. The former board has a longitudinally extending forming surface that is positioned such that a direction of each ribbon travelling between the guide rollers and the former board is always within about 35 degrees of the forming surface. The ribbon former further includes a former roller positioned to guide the ribbons travelling from the guide rollers to the former board, and preferably also a control roller positioned between the former roller and the guide rollers on an opposite side of the ribbons from the former roller. A coating device is positioned to coat a low friction substance (e.g., silicone) onto a the upper surface of the upper-most ribbon and another coating device coats the lower surface of the lower-most ribbon.

Abstract: A method for monitoring color of a printed image printed on a substrate, the method comprising the steps of: positioning a camera assembly to receive light reflected from the printed image on the substrate, the camera assembly including a structure for producing a signal; transmitting the signal from the camera assembly to a computer; and processing the signal in the computer to correct for the effects of scattered light reflected from the printed image.

Abstract: A drive-through strapping machine for use in securing materials together on a pallet and for securing stacked pallets together and a method for securing materials together for shipment or storage and for delivering those materials to a location. The drive-through strapping machine provides a strapping device for wrapping straps around a pallet or stacks of pallets while the pallets are supported on a forklift. The strapping machine also provides for movement of the forklift through the strapping machine for delivery of the pallets to a storage location or for shipment.

Abstract: A control system is disclosed for controlling misregistration between the colors of an image printed on a web. The system includes an imaging device such as a camera or group of cameras, a processor, and image conversion circuits coupled to the processor. The system detects print color misregistration based upon the signals produced by the imaging device as a result of scanning the printed image. The conversion circuits convert the signals to signals usable by the processor to determine the color densities of the various colors within the image. These on-press color densities are compared with reference color densities stored in a memory of the processor, wherein the reference color densities may be generated from a source such as the printing plates used to print the image for which misregistration is being monitored.

Abstract: An apparatus for registering a cover with a book block. The apparatus includes a book block holder, a cover feeder, and a lateral positioning device for laterally positioning a cover fed from the cover feeder. A cover position sensor positioned to detect a lateral position of the cover. A control mechanism is operatively interconnected with the cover position sensor. An adjusting device is provided for adjusting a relative lateral position between the lateral positioning device and the book block holder.

Abstract: An apparatus for attaching an item to printed material, including a cover applicator for securing covers to signatures, a signature supplier positioned to provide at least one signature to the cover applicator, and a cover feeder positioned to feed covers in separated relation to the cover applicator. An item feeder is positioned to feed items in separated relation to the cover applicator, and an adhesive applicator is positioned to deposit adhesive between the item and the cover. In one embodiment, a first adhesive applicator applies a temporary adhesive between the item and the cover, and a second adhesive applicator deposits a second adhesive between the item and the signature. In another embodiment, a first cover feeder feeds outer covers and a second cover feeder feeds inner covers. The first adhesive applicator applies a temporary adhesive between the item and the outer cover, and the second adhesive applicator deposits a second adhesive between the item and the inner cover.