Abstract: A process is provided for determining the position of a printed paper web in a printing press, especially in a rotary printing press. Reference values for determining the position from the image data of the preliminary printing stage are obtained. At least part of a printing style on the paper web is detected by at least one scanner. The reference values obtained from the image data of the preliminary printing stage are compared with the measured values detected by at least one sensor. The position of the printed paper web is determined from the result of the comparison. A device is provided for determining the position of a printed paper web in a printing press, especially in a rotary printing press, with a data processing device, in which reference values are generated from image data from the preliminary printing stage for determining the position. At least one sensor is provided for detecting at least part of a printing style on the paper web.

Abstract: An apparatus for, and a method of, transferring an image to a substrate. At least one printed, flexible membrane is located adjacent at least one forming fixture having a complementary shape to the substrate surface. The membrane is urged into image transferring contact with the substrate.

Abstract: A multi-printer system comprising: a plurality of imaging apparatus, each said apparatus comprising at least one liquid-toner reservoir, containing liquid toner; a central source of toner concentrate; a toner concentrate conduit which connects the central source to the individual imaging apparatus; and at least one toner-concentrate pump which pumps the toner concentrate from the central source to the individual imaging apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing information, such as postal indicia and other information, on a medium. The system is implemented by detecting a type of medium and entering a printing mode as a function of the type of medium detected. The printing mode is either an envelope printing mode or a tape/label printing mode. When in the envelope printing mode, a print module is positioned at a first position, and prints postal indicia data on a first area of the envelope. The print module is then positioned at a second position. Additional data is obtained and the additional data is printed on a second area of the envelope. The print module is then positioned at a third position and recipient address data is obtained and printed on a third area of the envelope. The print module is positioned at a fourth position, and sender address information is obtained and printed on a fourth area of the envelope.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a fiber optic media thickness sensor used in a print media or document processing device. The invention is further directed to a method for measuring media thickness in a media processing device using a fiber optic sensor.

Abstract: A die cut printed blank (10) providing a bisectional, continuous printed surface (24) defined by non-magnetic and magnetic sheets (12,14) joined with an adhesion seam (36) is disclosed. The blank (10) broadly includes a printable sheet (12), a magnetic sheet (14) coupled to the printable sheet (12), a coating carrier (16) applied to the magnetic sheet (14), and a plurality of die cuts (18) in the magnetic sheet (14). The coating carrier (16) is a thin solid liner having a relatively low coefficient of friction that is formed by applying a curable liquid to the rear face (34b) of the magnetic layer (34) and then UV curing the liquid to form the solid liner (16). The coating carrier (16) retains the magnetic sheet (14) together after the sheet (14) has been die cut and enables the sheet (14) to be easily and quickly removed from a stack of other similar magnetic sheets without inhibiting the desired magnetic properties of the finished printed blank (10).

Abstract: A digitally controlled can printing apparatus for printing on circular two-piece cans, the apparatus including digital print-heads for printing an image on the cans and drives for transporting and rotating the cans in front of the print-heads in registered alignment.

Abstract: A paper-web holding apparatus is provided in a rotary printing press having rollers which form a path for a paper web fed from a paper web feeding unit to travel along to a folding unit via a press unit and around which the paper web is wrapped. The paper-web holding apparatus includes a rotation restraint mechanism provided for at least one selected roller, and a propeller roller mechanism provided for the selected roller. The rotation restraint mechanism restrain rotation of the roller when the rotary printing press is halted, and allows rotation of the roller when the rotary printing press is operated. The propeller roller mechanism has a pressing member which is advanced toward the roller in order to apply pressing force to the roller at least when the rotary printing press is in a halt state.

Abstract: A printed wiring board 50 is assembled to a molded ink manifold 52. A bonding board 50 has circuit contacts 54 aligned on a similar pitch as circuit contacts 56 on a die module 58. A fluid seal material 64 is applied onto the die mold 58 on an ink inlet surface. During the same dispensing step, a series of microdots of conventional isotropic conductive adhesive 62 are dispensed upon the circuit contacts 56 of the die module 58. The die module 58 is aligned brought into contact with the manifold 52/wiring board 50 assembly. The bonds made by the fluid sealant 64 and the isotropic conductive adhesive 62 are cured simultaneously in an oven.

Abstract: A method for the production and control of merging continuous webs with variable data therein is described. The method provides for the printing of control codes preceding and antedating live variable data on the web. These control codes are used to match related webs so as to facilitate the matching of related webs during collation.

Abstract: A method of detecting undesired metal objects in a document feed path and a document processing apparatus that includes a feeder for transporting document sheets along a feed path; and a detector for detecting the presence of foreign metal objects in said feed path. The detector comprises a source of alternating electrical energy connected to a conductive transmitter loop for generating a pulsed magnetic field proximate the feed path and a conductive receiver loop that receives reflected magnetic field signals. The reflected magnetic signals induce electrical signals in the receiver loop which are amplified and processed to produce output signals which are sent to a phase shift analyzer which discriminates among output signals produced in the receiver loop by magnetic reflections from metal objects of varying types to provide an output signal when an undesired metal object in the feed path is detected.

Abstract: A fixing devise is disclosed. It is usable for clamping two radially displaceable elements.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an identification card printer that can be used with a card cartridge that protects a stack of cards stored therein from environmental contamination and establishes a card transport plane, from which other components of the identification card printer can be aligned, independent of the card cartridge. The identification card printer includes a cartridge receiver adapted to receive the card cartridge and a card transport mechanism. The card transport mechanism includes a pair of feed rollers, portions of which extend to the cartridge receiver and define the card transport plane.

Abstract: A silk-screen printing machine in simplified register comprising a bearer structure (12) on which a silk-screen printing frame is arranged, elements in register (18) of the position of a sheet element to be printed (15) in a supply plane (14), means (34) for detecting the position of the sheet in register (15) and at least one pincer-carrying rod (16) suitable for pulling the sheet (15) on a printing plane (13), is equipped with a group for registering the sheet (15), which is arranged upstream of the pincer-carrying rod (16) and comprises a transversal plate (17) for supporting the sheet and able to translate towards the pincer-carrying rod (16), a plurality of the mobile elements in register (18) suitable for interacting downstream of the plate (17) with the supply plane (14) of the sheet and a plurality of presser elements (19) arranged in a position above the support plate (17) and mobile towards it to engage the sheet (15).

Abstract: Systems and methods for aligning High Density Array (“HDA”) pin plates, substrates and reservoirs with respect to each other. The system includes a flexure having a flexible print head, elongated members flexibly connected off-axis to the system and a pin plate support assembly detachably connected to the flexure allowing the pin plate assembly to adapt its position during a printing operation. The pin plate has alignment ball receptacles on its surface and the reservoir has alignment balls on its surface facing the pin plate. The pin plate is positioned with respect to the reservoir such that each of the alignment balls is located within one of the alignment ball receptacles to achieve the alignment. Once the pin plate is aligned, it is secured to a supporting assembly such as a vacuum bridge, and inking and printing operations are performed.

Abstract: A surface for a plate handling machine is movable in a plate handling direction relative to the plate handling machine. The surface has at least two groups of stops. The stops permit various arrangements of plates to be registered on the surface. Two smaller-sized plates or one larger-sized plate can be registered on the surface.

Abstract: A printing press with a doctor blade device (24), which has a doctor blade (26), which can be placed against a cylinder (10), wherein the doctor blade (26) is caused to oscillate with a frequency of at least 1 Hz by an oscillator (38).

Abstract: Apparatus for retaining a mail piece includes first and second elements, said elements having an open state in which the first element is spaced from said second element for insertion of a mail item therebetween into a required position and a closed state in which at least one of the first and second elements is displaced toward the other of the first and second elements to clamp the mail piece and further including mail piece retention means mounted on the first element and effective during displacement of the element to retain the mail piece in the required position to which it has been inserted.

Abstract: Describe is a method of positioning a male die member (34) on a backing rolled (14) of a stamping station (10), which backing roller co-operates with a stamping roller (12), wherein the stamping roller (12) has a die (18). Temporarily fixed to the die (18) of the stamping roller (12) is a flexible transfer male die member (24) having a fitting window (32). The transfer male member (24) is transferred from the stamping roller (12) to the backing roller (14) and fixed to the backing roller (14). The male die member (34) is then fixed in accurately fitting relationship in the fitting window (32) of the transfer male die member (24).

Abstract: A nano-imprinting method includes a process of transferring an embossed pattern from a master plate (120) to a surface of a pattern-receiving or donee substrate (130) by applying a pressure to the master plate (120) having an information carrier region (120A) having formed the embossed pattern and the donee substrate (139) from opposite sides of a pair of press surfaces (100) sandwiching them. When the pressure is applied, a buffer layer (110) shaped in accordance with the information carrier region is interposed in a position aligned with a pattern-forming region between the master plate or donee substrate and the press surface.