Abstract: A rotary printing machine is disclosed comprising a conveyor for conveying sheets of material from an upstream cylinder to a downstream conveyor in which the angular positions of both conveyors are sensed, as well as the linear position of each sheet, and the speed of the conveyor is adjusted to maintain registry of each sheet.

Abstract: A method for placing an image onto an object is described. In a preferred embodiment, the method includes obtaining a first image. At least one region of the image may then be defined. Each defined region may then be manipulated as desired. After manipulating each region, a desired color may be added to each region to produce a second image. The second image may then be transferred onto a desired object.

Abstract: A patch measurement device which is capable of accurately detecting the position of a patch in a control strip is provided. In a patch measurement device 27, a data storage section 271 stores printed-image data containing a control strip printed on a printed material. A reference mark detection section 272 detects the positions of cross points P corresponding to reference marks rm contained in the printed-image data. An inter-mark distance calculation section 273 calculates a measured shortest distance with respect to the cross point P. An inter-mark distance correction section 274 calculates magnification correcting coefficients k, by utilizing theoretical shortest distances among the cross points P in deployed position information and the measured shortest distance. Based on the magnification correcting coefficients k and the values of pixels constituting the printed-image data, a patch position detection section 275 finalizes the patch position.

Abstract: Sheet perfecting apparatus for a satellite-type printing press by which double-side printing is performed with a single satellite-type press and if sheet perfecting is not needed the sheet is printed on one side only. In the course of printing with a plurality of printing units (26) which are provided in satellite-like manner around a common pressure cylinder (10), a plurality of chain gripper conveyors (38, 42) are arranged in parallel and are connected via a perfecting cylinder (40) to invert the sheet of material.

Abstract: A holographic stereogram printing system capable of printing a holographic stereogram by selectively performing a desired image processing on a still picture image or a motion picture image entered. The printing system is comprised of an image processing server for selectively performing an image processing on an image data, an image storage server for storing the image data processed in the image processing server, and a printing device for printing a holographic stereogram in accordance with the processed image data stored in the image storage server.

Abstract: A card supply for use with an identification card printing system includes a card hopper and a supply circuit. The card hopper contains a stack of cards. The supply circuit is mounted to the card hopper that includes a memory containing supply information relating to parameters of the card supply.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for printing metallic inks wherein a fountain solution and a first imprint ink are concurrently deposited onto a printing plate. A foundation metallic ink is then deposited onto the first imprint ink followed by depositing a second imprint ink is then onto the metallic ink. One or more layers of process ink colors can then be deposited onto the second imprint ink. The fountain solution is adjusted to have a pH of from about 3.7 to about 3.9 and the metallic ink is provided to have a tack of from about 14 to about 16.

Abstract: An ink cooling system for printing presses is disclosed. The ink cooling system is arranged to cool ink at locations within a printing press at the locations in which the ink properties are most likely to be adversely impacted, and which locations are or may be physically remote from the centralized ink supply or ink tanks. The disclosed system thus counteracts localized heating that commonly occurs in printing presses, thus minimizing or eliminating printing problems caused by heated ink.

Abstract: A sleeve to be drawn over a rotary support in order to define a blanket cylinder of an indirect or offset printing machine, this cylinder cooperating with a lithographic plate cylinder from which it receives the date to be printed and with a substrate onto which said data are transferred, said substrate moving between the blanket cylinder and a pressure cylinder, the sleeve comprising an inner cylindrical portion to be drawn over the aforesaid rotary support and having its surface covered by a layered structure comprising at least one compressible layer and an incompressible outer layer arranged to cooperate directly with the lithographic plate and with the substrate to be printed; the layered structure being composed at least partly of polyurethane material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing security foils for objects of value such as papers of value consisting of a carrier foil and a cover layer applied thereto, the cover layer having the form of characters or patterns and/or coating-free areas in the form of characters, patterns or the like. In this method a printing form fastened in a printing machine is imaged so that areas of the form are ink-accepting, subsequently the form is inked and a carrier foil printed. In the next step the printed carrier foil is provided with a thin cover layer and finally the printed inking and the cover layer thereabove are removed so that coating-free areas arise.

Abstract: A method of printing a token by printer (5), in which the printer (5) includes a digital identification device (1) configured to generate a series of distinct print job counter numbers and to provide a public key of a cryptographic public key/private key pair. The method includes the steps of sending a printer generated print job counter number and an encryption key to a token issuer (4) the token issuer (4) sending to the printer (5) a message encrypted by the encryption key, the message including the print job counter number and information representative of the token (9) to be printed and the printer (5) decrypting the encrypted message and printing the token using the information representative of the token (9) if the print job counter number is valid.

Abstract: A method of determining misalignment of color planes within an image forming apparatus. A first pattern is formed with a first color and comprises first and second sections. A second pattern is formed with a second color and positioned within the first and second sections of the first pattern. The alignment of the two color planes is determined by the difference in the amount of color within the first and second sections. The amount of misalignment may further be determined by the ratio of the difference in the amount of color within the sections and the sum of the amount of color within the sections. Perfect alignment of the two color planes results in equal color amounts in each section.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for delivering signatures to a binding line, the apparatus and method preferably comprising a printer feeder apparatus and method for providing personalized information in a variety of locations upon a selected one of a plurality of signatures types before the signatures are fed to the binding line.

Abstract: A printing machine provided allows even unskilled operators to perform ink and water supply control according to the contents of an image. While a reference image to be printed is segmented into a plurality of regions similar in contents, image data is obtained from printed matter and a color difference between the reference image and a print image is calculated. Ink and water (I/W) supplies are determined based on regional color difference data obtained by summing the color differences for each region. At this time, by adding correction of the regional color difference data based on the characteristics of each region and the contents of the image, and correction of the I/W supplies based on external factors and variables, even unskilled operators can perform rapid I/W supply control based on the contents of the image.

Abstract: A printing system is disclosed including an inking system with a single form roller for applying ink to a printing cylinder. Ink is applied to the form roller by an applicator roller having a surface with an array of interconnected wells and a variable speed drive. The form roller and plate cylinder are rotated at the same rpm while the speed of the applicator roller is varied to vary the amount of ink applied to the plate. A variable speed subtractive roller system removes excess ink from the form roller and returns the ink to a common reservoir. For wash-up, the press drive and form roller are disengaged and the inking system is rotated by an inker roller drive while wash-up fluid is applied to the inking system.

Abstract: A seal for a chambered doctor blade (10) of a printing machine, in the form of a rubber-elastic body, which is inserted at the end of the chambered doctor blade in a seal holder (18) and lies against the periphery of a roller (12) against which the chambered doctor blade is placed, wherein the part of the seal (20) taken up in the seal holder (18), is constructed as a solid, rectangular support (22), which lies, with one end face, with a smooth surface (42), in contact with the chambered doctor blade (10) and is surrounded at the three remaining sides by continuous tolerance equalization lips (44).

Abstract: A form roller for use in an offset lithographic printing press comprises a stationary shaft and an eccentric roller supported on the shaft for rotation around the shaft and for oscillation along the length of the shaft. One or more cams are mounted on the shaft for controlling the operation of the rollers therealong. The exterior surface of the roller comprises an impregnated elastomeric material.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for printing multiple TIFF files as a single print job are disclosed. Multiple-TIFF-file data is concatenated into a single stream, without completely merging the data into a single TIFF file with all byte offsets affected. Instead, tag data is used to either delineate which data comes from which files (allowing offset pointers to be offset or reset), or to set an offset adjustment value to interpret byte offsets that do not refer to the beginning of the file stream. A PDL interpreter and/or a TIFF reader on the printer processes the concatenated data, allowing the use of advanced print features and efficient device utilization when multiple TIFF files are printed together.

Abstract: In order to provide a rotary printing machine for direct printing, in which the printing-assembly cylinders are arranged in a space-saving way, there is arranged in side walls at least one double printing assembly containing two form cylinders which are located one above the other, each having its own drive motor and between which at least one impression cylinder is arranged, a web being printable between a form cylinder and an impression cylinder. Each form cylinder and the impression cylinder cooperating with the latter are mounted, adjustably in terms of their mutual spacing, in side walls of the printing unit. For this purpose, the adjustable cylinders are mounted on both sides in slides which are moveable on guide elements fastened to the side walls.

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.