Abstract: The present invention discloses an alignment layer printing device in which already used waste liquid is recovered for printing the alignment layer and can be reused in alignment layer printing. An alignment layer printing device consists of a raw material supplying device in which the alignment layer raw materials are supplied, a printing device in which the above raw materials that are supplied from the above raw material supplying device are printed on some object material, a recovery device in which the alignment layer raw materials that are not actually used in the printing are rerouted to the above raw material supplying device.

Abstract: A printer for printing onto a substrate includes a substrate feed mechanism configured to secure the substrate during printing and a print mechanism configured to print on the substrate. A transceiver is configured to transfer power through a non-physical link to a radio frequency (RF) circuit carried on a printer supply to thereby power the RF circuit. The transceiver also responsively receives printer supply data through a non-physical link from the RF circuit.

Abstract: An apparatus for remote ink control fountain selection comprising a video camera for reading a signature image, an image digitizer, an image comparator for comparing the signature image to a sample image set and a memory device for storing the sample image set in digitized form, as well as a method for remote ink fountain selection comprising the steps of digitizing sample images and providing each said sample image with an identification; digitizing a printed signature image from a printing press which corresponds to at least one of the sample images; comparing the digitized printed signature image to the digitized sample images; and outputting the identification of the digitized sample image upon a match with the digitized signature image.

Abstract: A printing machine for printing a substrate web, which printing machine comprises at least one printing module, such a printing module being provided with an impression roller and ink application means, the ink application means comprising a cylindrical element, which cylindrical element extends parallel to the impression roller and abuts against the impression roller at a contact line with interposition of the substrate web, the cylindrical element being arranged to apply a desirable ink printing pattern to the substrate web, wherein a relevant printing module is provided with a circumferential bearing which engages an outer surface of a relevant cylindrical element, which can be brought into a locking position and into an exchange condition, the circumferential bearing being arranged to receive cylindrical elements intended for different printing techniques, such as silk-screen printing, flexographic printing, letterpress printing, intaglio printing, offset printing and the like.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing vignettes includes the use of a rotary printing member having an outer surface with a series of elongated printing dots. The lengthwise dimension of the dots extends substantially in the machine direction of the printing press, i.e., in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the printing member. For producing vignettes, the dots increase in density in a direction parallel to the linear direction and have a width which is substantially less than the length. For process printing operations, each color of the process printing is laid down by a series of dots extending substantially in the machine direction, although the screen angles of each series of dots may vary.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bearing mechanism in which a groove portion in a shaft and a pawl portion on a bearing corresponding to the groove portion are not required and which can improve production efficiency and operability, and a conveying apparatus which has such a bearing mechanism and in which, when a driven roller is not located at an entire area of a sheet to be conveyed, a side edge of the sheet to be conveyed can be directed correctly not to damage the sheet to be conveyed after the sheet was discharged, and a recording apparatus having such a conveying apparatus. A bearing mechanism includes a pair of pinching portions for pinching both surfaces of a supporting plate, and a fixing portion, and further includes a guide member for directing a side edge of the sheet to be conveyed, and a sheet catching preventing protecting member.

Abstract: A roller assembly positioned downstream of a printing station in a web-fed rotary printing press for pneumatically guiding a web of paper after it has been printed upon, without the risk of smearing the printings. The assembly includes a roller in the form of a hollow cylinder defining a plenum chamber therein and having formed in its surface a multiplicity of air outlet openings in communication with the plenum chamber. Air supplied under pressure to the chamber is therefore expelled from the air outlet openings in order to avoid contact with the roller the web traveling over the rollera baffle encloses at least part of the circumferential part of the roller surface for confining the air being expelled from said at least part of the other circumferential part of the roller surface and for redirecting the confined air into a pair of spaces, spaced, between the web and the roller.

Abstract: In an ink supply amount adjusting method for this printing machine, reference opening amounts of ink fountain keys in units of ink colors are obtained in accordance with image area ratios of respective areas, corresponding to the ink fountain keys, of a plate by following a relationship between an image area ratio and opening amounts of the ink fountain keys, the relationship being preset to be common to the respective ink colors. The obtained reference opening amounts are uniformly corrected with correction values preset in units of ink colors, thereby obtaining preset values of the opening amounts of the ink fountain keys in units of ink colors. An ink supply amount adjusting apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: To effectively cool the inking unit of a rotary printing machine during a machine stop, the inking unit can be driven during the machine stop by at least one motor, with the rubber-covered ink transport rollers having contact with the temperature-modified ink transport rollers.

Abstract: A method for mounting printing plates to a printing cylinder including the steps of first securing the plates to a flexible transparent polymer film sleeve and then securing the sleeve to the printing cylinder.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating handling of sheets in a sheet-fed printing press comprising a matte that is mountable on a cylinder. The matte has at least one inflatable pocket for cushioning sheets of printable material as they are passed between two cylinders of the press. At least one valve communicates with the inflatable pocket and controls the quantity of fluid in the inflatable pocket. A number of inflatable pockets can be utilized to provide increased control over various sheet sizes. Further control may be obtained by including a number of valves to independently operate each of the inflatable pockets. Ease of installation and removal is accomplished by incorporated mounting holes along the long axis of the matte. Alternatively, the matte may be arranged on the cylinder by adhesively bonding (tape or glue) the matte to the surface of the cylinder or by arranging the matte on the cylinder with Velcro fasteners.

Abstract: An ink-metering device in a printing press having a film disposed between an ink roller and metering elements associated with the ink roller, each of the metering elements having at least one support rib indirectly resting on the ink roller via the film, comprising low-wear zones provided on the film for covering the support ribs, the low-wear zones being formed as wirelike bodies joined to the film.

Abstract: A device for selectively positioning at least one cylinder in a printing machine, the cylinder being rotatably mounted in a carrier and, together with the carrier, forming a unit that is adjustable into different positions, includes a pull mechanism drive for adjusting one of the cylinder and the unit into the different positions, the pull mechanism drive including a pull mechanism, the unit being held on and suspended from the pull mechanism.

Abstract: The object of the invention is an integrated guiding device for positioning and cutting with the help of a cutting tool, a printing plate (16) on a sleeve (10) or on a printing cylinder, particularly for flexography, said sleeve or cylinder comprising an external coating (24) adapted to be deeply machined, characterized in that it comprises at least one longitudinal guide (30) along a generatrix, and/or a peripheral guide, along a circumference, provided within a matrix of material of high hardness, embedded in the thickness of said external coating. The invention also comprises the sleeve or cylinder provided with this device.

Abstract: A multicolor printing method and system including a master making device having plurality of removable ink drums replaceable with each other and a printing device. The plurality of removable ink drums are fed with respective masters to be used for printing, by fixed master feeding devices smaller in number than the removable ink drums. The removable ink drums fed with the respective masters are then used by the printing device for printing onto paper. The method and system provides multicolor printing with lower cost, reduced size and accurate registration between the respective masters, as compared to conventional methods and systems.

Abstract: The present invention provides an input roller system for displacing a printing plate toward and against a plurality of registration pins located on an external drum of an imaging system. The input roller system deskews the printing plate relative to the registration pins.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to various apparatuses and methods for prevention of anilox roller scoring and compensation for anilox scoring ink marks, focusing on the anilox roller. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the uneven ink distribution pattern may be treated by an addition of an ink distribution mechanism. According to other embodiments of the present invention, image data modification methods are used for compensation for the scoring marks.

Abstract: In a rotary printing machine, a folder operatable in different folding modes, and having a copy-guiding cylinder to which copies severed from a material web by a cutting-cylinder pair are feedable, the copy-guiding cylinder having a circumferential surface wherein gripping and cross-folding elements are accommodated, includes a device having movable circumferential-surface parts guidable by a respective guide element and, during folding-mode changeovers, selectively extendable into the circumferential surface of the cylinder and retractable between stationary and movable segments of the copy-guiding cylinder which are positionable relative to one another.

Abstract: In an ink film thickness control method for a multi-color printing press having a plurality of printing units for continuously performing designated color printing on a printing paper by means of ink supplied to a printing plate through an ink roller group, when in at least two of the printing units are plate exchange printing units, exchange to new printing plates are simultaneously performed, the number of printing sheets to be printed for ink removing is set in units of plate exchange printing units. The ink feed operation in each plate exchange printing unit is turned off. Printing for ink removing is performed in each plate exchange printing unit on the basis of the set number of printing sheets while keeping the previous printing plate mounted, thereby forming a first ink film thickness distribution minimum and necessary for printing on the ink roller group of the plate exchange printing unit. An ink film thickness control apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: To minimize the presence of roll-to-roll nips in an inking system for a printing plate cylinder, an ink transfer belt transfers ink from an ink transfer roller, which receives ink from a supply, to the ink receiving elements on a printing plate cylinder. A plurality of guide rolls inside the loop of the ink transfer belt contact the drivable surface of that belt. A drive is connected with one of the guide rollers for driving it to rotate at a first velocity, which is the velocity of the ink transfer roll and of the printing plate cylinder. An ink distribution roller is disposed outside the loop of the belt in contact with the opposite, ink transfer surface of the belt and between the ink transfer roller and the printing plate cylinder. The ink distribution roller is driven to rotate at a different speed than the ink transfer belt and is also driven to vibrate or to oscillate axially for ink distribution on the ink transfer surface of the belt.