Abstract: A rotary printing machine has blanket cylinders and plate cylinders, which are integrated in pairs into cylinder groups by a mechanical coupling for their joint drive. Such a cylinder group is driven by a separate drive motor.

Abstract: The invention accomplishes print medium feed functions, at least in part, by making use of pre-existing printer apparatus that is used to accomplish other functions of the printer. For example, the invention can enable the use-of a single print drive mechanism to accommodate multiple print medium feed paths within a printer and, in particular, feed paths in which print media are fed into the print drive mechanism in different (e.g., opposite) directions. Additionally, the invention can enable a rotatable media guide that can be positioned in one position to guide a sheet of a print medium during a print operation and in another position to release the sheet of the print medium after the printing operation, to be positioned in still another position to facilitate guiding a sheet of a print medium into a print drive mechanism after the sheet has traversed a gap in the feed path.

Abstract: A drive mechanism for cylinders in a rotary press utilizes a plurality of motors associated with various cylinders. These motors are offset axially with respect to each other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an image forming method comprising the steps of forming visible images in application of an ink, which at least includes an ink solvent and a color material, onto a recording medium having a porous layer on a surface of the medium from a side of the porous layer; conveying the recording medium from a location for forming images to a location for a subsequent process; and flattening the surface of the recording medium formed with visible images by pressing the surface while heating to form a flattened layer. In a nip region that the surface of the recording medium formed with visible images is pressed, a point A at which the ink solvent contained in the recording medium reaches the boiling point is located upstream of a point B at which the porous layer of the recording medium loses its liquid permeation property.

Abstract: A modular duplex media handling system is installable for use with a print recording system having a simplex media handling system. During first side printing a media sheet is fed along a first media path in the simplex system from feed rollers to metering rollers and into a print zone. After first side printing and prior to releasing the media sheet, the metering rollers feed the media sheet back along the first media path to the feed rollers. The feed rollers in turn feed the media sheet completely into the duplex module where the media moves along a loop path (in effect flipping the media sheet). The media sheet then is fed back to the feed rollers and along the first media path for second side printing. A humidity sensor in the duplex module signals to the print recording system whether the duplex handling system is installed.

Abstract: The rotation angle position of a moveable component, such as a cylinder, is detected or determined through a method in which the detected rotation angle position is modified using a correction value when the moveable component is in a second position.

Abstract: A web-fed offset printing press has printing units each comprising a plate cylinder, a blanket cylinder, and an impression cylinder, the impression cylinder being movable into and out of rolling engagement with the blanket cylinder via the web. A first printing unit prints a first image portion on the web at prescribed spacings, by moving the impression cylinder away from the blanket cylinder each time one first image portion is printed. A second printing unit prints a second image portion on the spacings left on the web by the first printing unit, also by moving the impression cylinder away from the blanket cylinder each time one second image portion is printed. A variable speed motor rotates each blanket cylinder, while each time the associated impression cylinder is held away to create a space on the web for causing printing of the first or the second printing portion at required spacings.

Abstract: Time between recording print on one media sheet and a subsequent media sheet is substantially reduced by ejecting, picking and loading within a single transmission state. In a continuous feed mode multi-sheet job, individual media sheets are continuously picked and loaded. The leading edge of one media sheet is substantially adjacent to the trailing edge of the prior media sheet. A media support plate is maintained in a raised position during the entire continuous feed cycle. The support plate biases a paper stack into communication with a pick roller. As the trailing edge of one media sheet exits the media stack, the leading edge of the next media sheet is already in position for engagement with the pick roller. Upon completion of print recording, a media sheet is ejected into an output tray by accelerating the media sheet. Such acceleration is achieved while remaining in the single transmission state.

Abstract: A hardcopy printing mechanism and a greeting card feeder retrofit kit therefor, along with an operating method are provided for printing images on a first-sized media, and on both surfaces a second-sized greeting card media without removing the first-sized media from its normal supply tray. The hardcopy device may be an electrophotographic or inkjet printer preferably equipped with a duplexer module which inverts media from a printed first surface to an opposing second surface for printing an image thereon. For a printer having an alignment surface, and a width adjuster to push the first-sized media against the alignment surface, the greeting card feeder includes a biasing member which pushes the card stock against the alignment surface. The retrofit kit includes a supply of pre-scored greeting card stock and a software program with a group of greeting card images for a consumer to select from to print store-bought quality greeting cards.

Abstract: A pin registration system uses a plurality of registration pins having different thickness heads to align an edge of a printing plate when mounting the plate to a drum of an imaging system. The registration pins are optionally adjustable along the longitudinal axis of the drum. The registration system avoids the requirement to punch holes or notches in a printing plate and does not require adjusting the thickness of a common registration pin. The registration system allows printing plates having different widths to be mounted without necessitating adjustments of the registration pins.

Abstract: A system and method for tagging sheets of recording material, so that the origin of the sheets and the authenticity of the sheets may be determined, includes a roller that applies at least a portion of the random pattern to the document. The random pattern is applied by imprinting, embossing, or by piercing the sheet. The pattern applied to the sheet can be determined by any known forensic technique and the pattern can be imaged and stored in a database. A series of rollers may apply phase shifted random patterns to one side or both sides of the sheet. The phase shift of the random patterns may be determined to establish a sequence code. The roller or rollers including the random patterns may be installed in an image forming apparatus, preferably in a sheet transport mechanism of the image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A bearing assembly for rotatably supporting the cylinder on a printing press is disclosed. The printing press comprises a frame, a support shaft, a cylinder, and the bearing assembly. The support shaft includes an inner fixed end attached to the frame, a free end disposed outwardly away from the frame, and an interconnecting central portion. The bearing assembly rotatably supports the cylinder on the support shaft The bearing assembly includes an inboard bearing set secured to the support shaft adjacent the central portion, and further includes an outboard bearing set secured to the support shaft adjacent the free end. A portion of the bearing assembly is adapted to permit angular adjustment of the cylinder about an axis perpendicular to the support shaft longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A special ink consists of water and a humectant. A reusable paper includes a surface darkened by a water-insoluble material and a coating covering the darkened surface. The coating is made of a material that scatters light when dry and that becomes at least translucent when wetted by water. If the special ink is used to print on the reusable paper, the print will be visible for a limited period of time (e.g., half an hour). By the end of that time period, however, the special ink will have evaporated and the print will have disappeared completely from the reusable paper. The special ink may be applied to the reusable paper by an inkjet printer. An inkjet cartridge for such a printer includes a casing filled with the special ink.

Abstract: A thermal printer is loaded with a recording sheet package. The recording sheet package has a packaging body, which contains a stack of plural recording sheets. A loading engaging cutout is formed in the packaging body, and when the packaging body is set in an acceptable orientation relative to the printer, is engaged with a loading guiding projection of the printer, and allows mounting the packaging body on the printer. When the packaging body is set in an orientation different from the acceptable orientation, the loading guiding projection inhibits the packaging body by interference from being mounted on the printer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a media handling system for an imaging system, such as an external drum platesetter. Separate input and output trays are provided, thereby allowing pre-staging of a second printing plate while a first printing plate is being imaged. The input tray is positioned over the output tray to reduce the floor space (i.e., footprint) of the imaging system.

Abstract: Present invention relates to a sheet material feeding apparatus comprising sheet material stacking means, sheet material feeding means, separation means for separating the sheet materials fed by the sheet material feeding means one by one; and a guide member for guiding one side end of the sheet material. The sheet material feeding means includes first, second, and third feeding rotary members, which are respectively formed with a sheet material contacting surface made of a high frictional material, coaxially positioned in this order from a location closer to the guide member, wherein a maximum outer diameter of the second rotary member is larger than a maximum outer diameter of the first rotary member.

Abstract: The combination of a cooling and conditioning unit for a material web to which ink is applied on at least one side thereof, having a multiplicity of chill rolls arranged in a housing at least approximately vertically above one another, utilizing the height of the housing, the material web being guidable around the chill rolls along a web path extending at least approximately vertically, and a dryer disposed upline from the cooling and conditioning unit for drying the material web, includes a material web outlet formed in the dryer, and a material web inlet formed in the cooling and conditioning unit, the cooling and conditioning unit being disposed immediately downline of the dryer in a manner that the material web leaving the dryer outlet immediately enters the inlet formed in the cooling and conditioning unit.

Abstract: A tool and a method for adjusting a space between a printhead in a print cartridge and a platen in an ink jet printer are disclosed. The shape of the tool mimics the shape of a print cartridge. The tool is inserted into an aperture in a carriage in place of the print cartridge whose printhead is the closest to the platen, or, if all of the printheads are equally close to the platen, then the tool may be inserted in place of any of the print cartridges. The tool includes a thin flexible member that extends toward the platen. The length of the member is such that, when the tool is properly inserted into the aperture and contacts the platen, then the printhead to platen spacing at that point on the platen would be just equal to a minimum acceptable spacing between a printhead in the same aperture and the platen.

Abstract: In a printer including a plurality of print drums sequentially arranged in a direction of sheet conveyance, a member causative of noticeable variation in load during printing is driven by a driveline assigned to one print drum that is connected to a main drive source. The printer reduces synchronization errors between the print drums ascribable to variation in load and therefore reduces offset ghosts while making the most of the advantages of a timing belt type drive system.

Abstract: A printing unit enabling format variability, is distinguished by substantial component standardization and simple stand design. For this purpose, printing unit cylinders are mounted in slides which are arranged on at least one carrier and which, for distance adjustment, can be displaced on the carrier in each case by means of a drive.