Abstract: An apparatus for printing on individual articles has at least two rotatably disposed holders, each of which carries an article. Each of the holders which can comprise first and second holder portions is provided with separate drives for transporting the respective holder and for producing rotational movement thereof so that an article carried by one of the holders can be moved and rotated independently of articles carried by other holders. When printing on articles whose region to be printed upon differs from the shape of a circle or a circular arc, it is also possible for the printing mechanism consisting of a screen printing stencil and a squeegee to be raised or lowered in the printing operation, in dependence on the cross-sectional shape of the region to be printed upon, so that there is no need to alter the position in respect of height of the article during a printing operation.

Abstract: When operating parts, such as a plate cylinder (3), a chamber doctor blade (4), an inking cylinder (5) and an ink trough (6), are to be inserted in a printing machine (13), said operating parts (3,4,5,6) are temporarily secured to a frame (2) adapted to move on a carriage (1) transversely to the latter's direction of motion. Then, the carriage (1) is placed in position in front of the printing machine (13), the front panel of which has previously been removed. After this, the frame (2) is run partially into the printing machine (13), causing the operating parts (3,4,5,6) to be released from the frame (2), after which a device in the printing machine (13) transfers them to their final positions, in which they are held securely in the printing machine (13). When said operating parts (3,4,5,6) are to be removed from the printing machine (13), the procedure is carried out in the reverse sequence.

Abstract: In a process and apparatus for printing on flat individual articles such as cards by means of offset printing, the article, before being moved into a starting position for the printing operation, is firstly aligned relative to the printing cylinder. While the article is maintained in the aligned position by suction force, the article is then transferred on to a holding device and into the starting position for the printing operation. The holding device with article is then moved in a first direction relative to the printing cylinder for transfer of the print image therefrom on to that article. The holding device then moves in a second direction opposite to the first direction. During that movement the article with print image thereon is displaced relative to the holding device on which it is supported, to provide space on the holding device for the article to be printed upon in the following working cycle.

Abstract: In a printing machine (frame etc. not shown) a counterpressure cylinder (1) is rotatably supported in cylindrical bearing housings (5) bordering on the counterpressure cylinder (1) and being held rotatably in the printing machine by means of rollers (10, 11, 12, 13). Opposite to each of these bearing housings (5) is a bearing housing (8) for a plate cylinder (2), the later bearing housing (8)bordering on the plate cylinder (2) and likewise being held in the printing machine between pollers (14, 15, 16, 17). One of these rollers (14) is rotatably supported in the bearing housing (5) for the counterpressure cylinder (1), while two of the rollers (16, 17)act on the bearing housings (8) for the plane cylinder (2) with a classically yielding pressing force.

Abstract: An UV-radiating apparatus for irradiating printing ink on items such as individual articles or portions of material comprises a reflector housing divided into first and second parts in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the radiation source of the apparatus. The two parts are each mounted pivotably about a respective axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the radiation source between a first limit position in which the reflector housing is open at its side towards the item to be irradiated and a second limit position in which the parts of the reflector housing, with their regions towards the item, form between the radiation source and the path of transportation movement of the item a shield which shields the item from the radiation source. Upon stepwise transportation movement of individual items or a web of material the period of action of the rays on the respective item can be controlled by suitable actuation of the parts of the reflector housing.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for printing on objects using a screen printing procedure, the print image applied to a respective object is dried by UV-rays produced by at least one UV-radiating device. Drying of the applied print image is effected during a transportation movement which the object performs in order to be transported after the drying operation from one location to another. The radiating device which produces the UV-rays is moved with the object at least during a pert of the transportation movement in the direction of movement of the object, in such a way that in such movement the print image is dried.

Abstract: In a process and apparatus for printing on flat individual articles such as CDs by means of offset printing, the surface to be printed upon and the offset printing cylinder which is rolled against the article are adjusted relative to each other to produce a pressure effect which is favorable to transfer of the print image on to the article in order to compensate for differences in thickness between the individual articles. When adjusting the printing cylinder and the surface to be printed upon relative to each other, the radial position of transfer surfaces at the periphery of the printing cylinder may, if necessary, be taken into account. In the absence of an article in the printing station, it is possible to provide a replacement article in the form of a web of material, on to which the print image intended for the missing article is transferred from the printing cylinder.

Abstract: Apparatus for aligning bodies supplied in a disordered fashion has a drum defined at the underside by a bottom which comprises at least first and second disks or annular disks arranged one above the other. The outside diameter of a disk or annular disk is smaller than the outside diameter of the disk or annular disk disposed immediately therebeneath. The lowermost disk or annular disk forms the bottom boundary of a generally annular channel whose radially inward boundary is formed by the peripheral portion of the disk or annular disk disposed above the lowermost one, the bottom of the drum thus being of a stepped configuration. The bodies are introduced into the drum and pass outwardly into the channel within which the bodies are then aligned to be transported forwardly in succession therein, and are finally passed out of the drum.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for applying printing or decoration to the conical surface of an article using screen printing, the screen printing stencil performs a pivotal movement during the printing operation in a plane extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the article to be printed upon. The stencil moves on a path of movement which substantially corresponds at least over a part of its periphery to the peripheral surface of a truncated cone whose cone angle is the same as that of the conical surface.

Abstract: In a process and apparatus for printing on articles which are at least in part of non-round cross-sectional shape, by means of screen printing, the article is received by a holding arrangement for supporting it during the printing operation, when the holding arrangement is in an intermediate position between first and second limit positions defining a range of pivotal movement of the holding arrangement, during which the printing is applied to the article. The movements of the article during the printing operation are for the purposes of that operation and not for transportation purposes, the article being transported by at least one transportation arrangement provided specifically therefor.

Abstract: In a rotary multicolor printing press for printing on a continuous web and comprising a plurality of printing units, each of which includes a plate cylinder driven by way of a main drive mechanism common to all of the printing units, there is disposed between the plate cylinder of each printing unit and the main drive mechanism, an adjustable parallel crank coupling which has no play in the direction of rotation thereof. The adjustable parallel crank coupling adjusts to various positionings of the plate cylinder to account for changing plate cylinder diameter and couples the variably positioned plate cylinders with a fixedly positioned first drive train connected with the main drive mechanism. Each printing unit further includes a separate impression cylinder driven from a shaft supporting the plate cylinder and coupled with the adjustable parallel crank coupling.

Abstract: For accurate positioning of a web of material which is to be transported stepwise by at least first and second feed means through processing stations disposed therebetween, the feed means are controlled by a programmable computer which stores a value representative of the length of the distance to be covered by the web during a transportation step. The tension of the web is measured and the measured value is compared to a reference value stored in the computer. If the actual value deviates from the reference value the drive means of at least one of the web feed means is controlled in such a way that the tension in the web is at least substantially adjusted to the reference value by increasing or reducing the length of the portion of web which in a transportation step is drawn into the processing region between the web feed means.

Abstract: In printing an image on a web of material by a screen printing operation, the screen printing stencil is arranged at an acute angle relative to the path of movement of an impression cylinder operable to press the web of material against the stencil. During the printing operation the stencil is lifted approximately perpendicularly to the line of the path of movement of the impression cylinder and is simultaneously displaced parallel to its own main plane over a distance whose length depends on the angle of inclination of the stencil relative to the path of movement of the impression cylinder. In order to adapt the length of the print image on the stencil to a predetermined length on the web of material on which an image is to be printed, the extent of the parallel displacement of the stencil may be varied in accordance with the difference between the length of the print image on the stencil and the predetermined length for the image to be applied on the web of material.

Abstract: An apparatus for decorating articles such as bottles by means of labelling, printing thereon or the like includes a plurality of operating stations for performing various working operations on the articles as they are successively moved through the apparatus, transportation means for transporting the articles in a batch-wise manner from one operating station to the next and holding means for holding the articles in the stations between the transportation stepping movements. The transportation means comprises a main support member which is arranged to perform a reciprocating pivotal movement and on which holding elements such as grippers are pivotably carried. The pivotal movements of the main member and the holding elements take place in the same plane or in mutually parallel planes in such a way that the stroke movements of the main member and the holding elements are added together to make up the total length of movement to be covered by the articles in moving from one station to another.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for decorating articles is provided with article carriers which are advanced with a stepwise motion along a guide track on a circulatory conveyor path whereby each article is passed, on the same carrier, through successive treatment stations. The article carriers are releasably connectible to a reciprocally movable conveyor means which, upon movement thereof in the conveying direction, is engageable with the article carriers, while upon movement thereof in the opposite direction to the conveying direction, it is out of engagement with the article carriers. The conveying stepping motions and the residence times of the articles in the various stations are adaptable to the respective conditions obtaining. The guide track may be subdivided into two portions which are disposed at a spacing from each other, and the spacing between the two portions can be bridged across by reciprocal movable sections carrying the article carriers.

Abstract: A holding device for holding an open-end hollow body with a pivotal carrying handle includes a mounting member for mounting the hollow body. Disposed at one end of the mounting member is an annular support member carrying a locking member. The support member serves as an abutment to define a given position for the pivotal handle, such as not to impede access to the hollow body for the printing mechanism. The locking member is movable relative to the mounting member between an operative position of securing the handle in its given position, and an inoperative position in which the handle is free to pivot into and out of its given position.

Abstract: A screen printing machine has a carrier for an article to be printed, comprising first and second carrier members interconnected by a transverse connecting member. The carrier is reciprocal along the stencil between an article-receiving and an article-discharge station. The connecting member is adapted to pivot to a position beside the carrier, at at least one of the stations, for access to the carrier.

Abstract: In an apparatus for cutting portions such as labels or tickets from a continuously moving web, the web is passed between a blade and a co-operating support member. As the web moves past the blade, the blade is displaced during the cutting operation in the same direction as the web and synchronously therewith, but over a shorter distance than the length of the portion to be cut out. The blade is then disengaged from the web and returned to its initial starting position. The support member may also be displaced in the opposite direction to the movement of the web and blade during the cutting operation.

Abstract: In a screen printing process and machine for stepwise printing a succession of images, the screen printing stencil is moved along with the material during the printing operation, while the material is supported by a rotatable backing roller against the force applied to the material by the screen and a doctor blade disposed opposite the backing roller. During the printing operation the material is rolled against the stencil by the backing roller which together with the doctor may be moved in the opposite direction to the stencil. The direction of movement of the backing roller and an upstream guide roller, relative to the direction of movement of the stencil, is such as to promote separation of the material after printing from the stencil.

Abstract: In a process and apparatus for cutting portions such as labels or tickets from a continuously moving web, the web is passed between a blade and a co-operating support member. As the web moves past the blade, the blade is displaced during the cutting operation in the same direction as the web and synchronously therewith, but over a shorter distance than the length of the portion to be cut out. The blade is then disengaged from the web and returned to its initial starting position. The support member may also be displaced in the opposite direction to the movement of the web and blade during the cutting operation.