Abstract: The invention relates to a method for ink supply to ink trays in printing presses, whereby the printing press has for ink supply an ink tray, which is adjoined with an in ball cooperating with ink dosing elements. Task of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for zonal ink dosage according to the ink requirements and an extensive residue-free emptied ink tray at job end or job change. The task is solved according the invention by stopping the ink supply before the end of the printing job. This moment is determined so, that a minimum amount of ink sufficient for the to be processed product volume remains in the ink tray at the pre-determined job end and the ink is shifted from ink zones or ink zone groups with lesser ink consumption to ink zones or ink zone groups with momentarily higher ink consumption for processing of the remaining printing job.

Abstract: An inking unit for a printing machine, which includes at least one ink roller rolling on a plate cylinder of the printing machine, an ink jet printing apparatus with a plurality of ink jets that can be controlled selectively, and an ink transfer device with a rotating mantle surface for transferring printing ink from the ink jet printing apparatus to the at least one ink roller. A compact and stencil-free inking unit for high-quality printing is achieved and the at least one ink roller and the ink transfer device, and have the same outside circumference as the plate cylinder.

Abstract: Drive for a printing press with a plurality of printing units mechanically interconnected through the intermediary of a gear train, the printing units being associated with respective drive motors for supplying power to the gear train in a preset torque ratio, includes a control device, a device for supplying to the control device information regarding printing-specific variables, said control device including a device for determining, from the printing-specific variables, load-torque changes in the printing units, individually, and for energizing the drive motors so that power flow in the gear train is constant when averaged over time.

Abstract: An inking unit in a printing machine includes a throw-off device for throwing an ink applicator roller group off a printing form cylinder, the throw-off device including a rotatable roller throw-off cam contoured so that, in a first rotational position of the cam, all the ink applicator rollers are in contact with the form cylinder and, in a second rotational position of the cam, the ink applicator roller group is thrown off the form cylinder and at least one ink applicator roller is in contact with the form cylinder; and a printing machine, especially an offset printing machine, having at least one inking unit with the foregoing features.

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: A multi-color offset printing apparatus includes first and second plate cylinders 11 and 12 each having a plate mounted peripherally thereof, the plate defining two image areas, first and second blanket cylinders 13 and 14 equal in diameter to the first and second plate cylinders 11 and 12 and rotatable in contact with the first and second plate cylinders 11 and 12, respectively, and an impression cylinder 15 having a gripper 83 disposed peripherally thereof for holding a forward end of printing paper, the impression cylinder 15 being rotatable in contact with the first and second blanket cylinders 13 and 14. In this multi-color offset printing apparatus, the impression cylinder 15 is rotated at least four times, with the printing paper held in place by the gripper 83, before starting a printing operation. This step creates a state of ink saturation on the first and second blanket cylinders 13 and 14 prior to the printing operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ink supply apparatus for a printing press in which the ink supply amount from an ink fountain to an ink fountain roller is controlled by regulating a gap between ink blades and the ink fountain roller, wherein an integral type ink tray comprising a bottom portion covering portions of the upper faces of the ink blades excluding the distal end portions thereof and side portions covering the inside surfaces of side plates is provided, a first seal member is interposed between the inside surface of the side plate and the side portion, and a second seal member in slidable contact with the ink blades is interposed between the ink blades and the bottom portion of the ink tray.

Abstract: An inking unit for a printing machine, having a metering system for printing ink, and equipment for conveying ink on a conveyor path between the metering system and a plate cylinder of a printing machine, includes a vacuum chamber for evaporating a dampening-solution portion from the printing ink.

Abstract: Vegetable oil-based printing inks having at least about 20 poises are formulated by admixing a vegetable oil-based printing ink vehicle having an effective amount of polymerized vegetable oil and an effective amount of unpolymerized vegetable oil sufficient to provide the vegetable oil-based printing ink with a viscosity of at least about 20 poises, and an effective amount of colorant to provide the vegetable oil-based printing ink with a predetermined color. Methods for reclaiming residual vegetable oil-based printing ink from a printing press and polymerizing the vegetable oil component of the vegetable oil-based printing ink vehicle are also disclosed.

Abstract: In a method of correcting a position of each ink fountain key, a position of an ink fountain key is set as a present position with reference to a home position by using print data including an image area ratio of a reference plate having a predetermined image. A printing product is printed by using the reference plate with the ink fountain key being set at the present position. A density of each of respective areas, corresponding to the ink fountain keys, of the obtained printing product is measured. One of the home position and the present position of the ink fountain key is corrected on the basis of a difference between the measured density of the corresponding area and a reference density stored in advance. A position correcting apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively depositing printed sheets on four superimposed supports which are adjustable as to height independently of one another, each support being adapted to be placed, for the deposition of a sheet thereon, with its support surface or the top sheet situated on the support surface placed a short fixed distance beneath a fixed delivery point and printed sheets of a first type (A) are deposited on the bottom support and printed sheets of a second type (B) are deposited on the supports situated thereabove, wherein out of a group of sheets of a second type (B) for deposition, a first part is first deposited on a higher-level support and then a second part is deposited on a support therebeneath.

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 flexographic printing apparatus for printing a moving web is provided with a rotatable ink roller, a roller support that rotatably supports the ink roller, an ink source associated with the ink roller which provides ink for the ink roller, a rotatable printing roller associated with the ink roller, and a printing plate disposed on the printing roller that makes physical contact with the ink roller so that ink is transferred from the ink roller to the printing plate as the ink roller and the printing roller rotate. The printing apparatus also has a rotatable backing roller disposed adjacent the printing roller so that the moving web on which ink is to be applied passes between the backing roller and the printing plate as the backing roller and the printing roller rotate so that a printed image is applied to the web. The apparatus also has a charge applicator that causes an electric charge to be applied to the semi-conductive printing plate.

Abstract: An automatic multi-process ink leveler for open-fountain printing presses includes a duct with four chambers extending over the width of the ink fountain. In the case of a split ink fountain, which is typically used in newsprint presses wherein the ink tray is split into four sections each for one page of the paper web, the automatic leveler is provided with a remote-controlled valve for each chamber associated with each of the segments. Accordingly, there are provided 4×4 valves for four colors at the bottom surface of the ink leveler. By opening the remote controlled valves for a desired color (i.e., black, cyan, magenta, yellow) in the segment, a quick color change in a split ink fountain can be obtained without cleaning the entire ink leveler. In addition, different types of ink (different tack, viscosity) can be used with the same result.

Abstract: A printing plate cylinder has a linear bearing press-fitted into its axial bore with the linear bearing having a ball-bearing surface for engaging a cylindrical rotatable drive shaft to permit axial and circumferential adjustments as needed.

Abstract: A gear transmission for driving a printing press, with a plurality of gear pairs formed of mutually meshing gearwheels disposed operationally in a power-flow, at least one of the gear pairs being more heavily loaded than the rest thereof during operation, includes a case wherein the gearwheels forming the at least one, more heavily loaded gear pair are enclosed, the rest of the gear pairs being disposed outside the case.

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: A printer having a stapling function is controlled. If the size of a sheet of paper to be printed on is set when the user designates a stapling position, positions at which stapling is possible are decided in dependence upon the set paper size and these positions are displayed as candidates for selection. The user selects a desired position from among the candidates. The selected position is displayed together with an image of the paper shape indicating the page layout of the paper, the orientation of print data and stapling orientation. Lastly, the candidates for selection are displayed on the image. The stapling position thus set is sent to the printer when printing is performed.

Abstract: The side wall (5) for an ink fountain of a printing machine has two plates (11, 14) fixed some distance apart and an intermediate plate (13) having a front edge (13a) in the shape of an arc of a circle. This intermediate plate (3) is mounted between the plates in such a way that it can be shifted and tilted. The front edge of this plate contacts the circumference of an ink fountain roller (6) via springs (18, 19) acting on the intermediate plate. The wall has a slideway (10) in which the plates (11, 14, 13) are mounted. The slideway has a reinforced region (12) on one of its sides which is proximate the ink fountain roller (6). The side wall (5) thus more effectively seals an ink fountain against leakage. The blade at the bottom of the ink fountain is split into several adjacent sectors (111) that can be shifted so as to vary the distance between the edge (112) of the blade and the circumference of the ink fountain roller (6). The sectors (111) can be shifted in the plane of the blade, parallel to each other.

Abstract: A gravure printing method is provided for printing characters or patterns with desired colors and tones on a base material with a printing drum set with 200 to 400 mesh lines and the depth in the range from 10 to 17&mgr;. The ink may be process color of aquatic gravure ink in which coloring materials for indigo blue, red, yellow, black, and white colors are printed once or repeatedly in the overlaid state or specially toned inks. Another aspect of the invention provides an ink pan structure and arrangement for a gravure printing machines using aquatic or oil gravure ink. The ink pan structure has an ink pool sized for only a furnisher roll to be dipped therein and a cooperating printing drum is always maintained outside the ink pool. A furnisher roller unit and arrangement for a gravure printing machine is also provided. The unit may include a plurality of furnisher rollers. A doctor knife unit and arrangement for a gravure printing machine is also provided. The unit may include a plurality of doctor knives.