Abstract: Examples of the preferred embodiments use an ink quantity metric (e.g., lightness L*, darkness, image density, line width) of printed content to determine thickness of fountain solution applied by a fountain solution applicator on an imaging member surface and/or determine image forming device real-time image forming modifications for subsequent printings. For example, in real-time during the printing of a print job, a sensor (e.g., spectrometer) may measure the ink quantity metric of the current printing on print substrate. Based on this measurement of printed content output from the image forming device, the image forming device may adjust image forming (e.g., fountain solution deposition flow rate) to reach or maintain a preferred fountain solution thickness on the imaging member surface for subsequent (e.g., next) printings of the print job.

Abstract: Examples of the preferred embodiments use printed content (e.g., halftones, difference in grayscale or darkness) to determine thickness of fountain solution applied by a fountain solution applicator on an imaging member surface and/or determine image forming device real-time image forming modifications for subsequent printings. For example, in real-time during the printing of a print job, a sensor may measure halftones or grayscale differences between printed content and non-printed content of a current printing on print substrate. Based on this measurement of printed content output from the image forming device, the image forming device may adjust image forming (e.g., fountain solution deposition flow rate, imaging member rotation speed) to reach or maintain a preferred fountain solution thickness on the imaging member surface for subsequent (e.g., next) printings of the print job.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for measuring the varnish film thickness of a printed article by obtaining the film thickness of varnish on a sheet (1) on which a pattern is printed on a base thereof with ink and the pattern is coated with the varnish, wherein a metal foil (1c) having a smooth surface is attached to the base of the sheet (1), and the film thickness of the varnish coated directly over the metal foil (1c) is detected with a spectral interference-type film thickness meter (81) so as to determine whether the film thickness of the varnish is acceptable or not on the basis of the results detected by the spectral interference-type film thickness meter (81).

Abstract: A flexographic printing unit is provided for a sheet along a printing line, including a plurality of printing assemblies, each including a printing roller apt to include a printing block, automatic and programmable movement apparatus for the printing rollers, apt to distance at least one of the printing rollers from the printing line during the printing procedure, so that the printing roller does not print the sheet, wherein each of the printing assemblies includes a structure fixed to the floor, at least one frame, which is movable with respect to the structure fixed to the floor, including at least one printing roller and apt to be moved by the displacement apparatus and damping apparatus arranged between the frame and a fixed point so as to damp the movement of the frame.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a printing blanket including an elastic body that can be repeatedly used by removing a sheet is provided. According to the above of the present invention, the printing blanket includes an elastic body and a sheet bonded to the elastic body and performs printing by pressing the sheet against a printing object surface.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided a method of determining the amount of fountain solution employed in a digital offset lithography printing system. Fountain solution thickness is determined from diagnostic images that are printed and analyzed using the existing Image Based Controls (IBC). An analysis of the density of solids, halftones, and background as a function of the fountain solution control parameter is performed to decide on the appropriate level of fountain solution. A latitude window of control parameters is then derived for which the digital offset lithography printing system in operation minimizes the undesirable effects of too much or too little fountain solution.

Abstract: According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided a method of determining the amount of fountain solution employed in a digital offset lithography printing system. Fountain solution thickness is determined by examining optical density of some halftone or solid patch versus laser current level. The apparatus and method uses a variable current signal to dither or perturb the laser imaging system to irradiate a fountain solution layer to create patches at different laser current levels. An aptly programmed controller then process optical density measurements to indirectly estimate fountain solution level.

Abstract: A print registration system for a beverage can decorator includes an axial registration system and a circumferential registration system. Each registration system is independent and includes a slider that is translated by a motorized lead screw. Axial movement of the axial registration slider is transmitted to axial adjustment of the plate cylinder by a mechanical connection between the axial registration slider and the plate cylinder shaft. Translation of the circumferential registration slider is transmitted to a helical gear mounted to the plate cylinder shaft such that the plate cylinder shaft is rotated by the movement of the circumferential registration slider upon engagement of the helical driven gear with a stationary drive gear.

Abstract: An ink fountain of an ink fountain device is provided with a fixed frame; a plate slidable on the upper surface of the plate; and an advancement and retraction mechanism advancing and retracting the plate with respect to the frame. The advancement and retraction mechanism comprises: a motor; a cam fixed to the output shaft of the motor which is integrally rotatable by rotation of the output shaft and has a cam surface shifted from an exact circle; and a rod in contact with the cam surface and advancing and retracting by the cam. The plate advances and retracts with respect to the frame by the advancement and retraction of the rod.

Abstract: A ductor roller for printing machines has a shaft provided with an air supply pipe, plural individual ductor rollers, and plural electromagnetic valves, both connected to the shaft. The individual ductor rollers advance pneumatically by the electromagnetic valves. The individual ductor rollers have housings that are associated with the shaft and configured to move forward and backward; roller members configured to contact with the ink fountain roller and an ink distribution roller; and bearings connecting the roller members to the housings. The electromagnetic valves are placed in the housings. Protection members for the electromagnetic valves are oil-resistant, have circularly cylindrical or arc-like covers, and are associated with the shaft. They cover the side ends of the housings and are placed in the clearance between the individual ductor rollers.

Abstract: In order to reduce variations in pressing force of a printing nip to make the printing pressure uniform, an apparatus that performs printing on a substrate using a roll-to-roll method according to an aspect of the present application includes: an ink supply member that supplies a printing ink; a blanket cylinder (30) that transfers part of the ink, which has been supplied from the ink supply member and applied on a surface of the blanket cylinder, onto the substrate; a roller mold (40) that removes part of the ink applied on the surface of the blanket cylinder (30); a base (46) on which the blanket cylinder (30) is fixed; a slider (44) that supports the roller mold (40) and moves on the base (46); a moving resistance reduction device (80) that reduces a moving resistance of the slider (44) relative to the base (46); and a roller mold nip device (42) that applies, to the roller mold (40), a nip pressure against the blanket cylinder (30).

Abstract: A method for controlling a drive of a machine having at least one first roll element, which rolls with a surface on a counter surface at least in subintervals of a revolution cycle with the action of a contact force under elastic deformation, that includes a speed correction method, which automatically compensates for deformation-related deviations of the peripheral velocity of the first roll element by way of an adaptation of the setpoint value for the velocity of the first roll element, and a retrospective method, which automatically compensates for deviations of the speed consistency of the first roll element within a revolution cycle by applying a correction signal determined from the curve of a control variable, in particular an actual velocity or actual position of the first roll element, in a preceding revolution cycle or in multiple preceding revolution cycles, are applied in combination.

Abstract: An ink fountain device having a base; a plate; an advancing and retracting mechanism for advancing and retracting the plate along an advancing and retracting direction; and a thin sheet arranged on the base which has plural holes accommodating balls and is thinner in thickness than a diameter of the balls. The plate is arranged over the thin sheet and supported by the balls.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of aligning magnetic flakes, which includes: coating a substrate with a carrier having the flakes dispersed therein, moving the substrate in a magnetic field so as to align the flakes along force lines of the magnetic field in the absence of an effect from a solidifying means, and at least partially solidifying the carrier using a solidifying means while further moving the substrate in the magnetic field so as to secure the magnetic flakes in the carrier while the magnetic field maintains alignment of the magnetic flakes. An apparatus is provided, which has a belt for moving a substrate along a magnet assembly for aligning magnetic flakes. The apparatus also includes a solidifying means, such as a UV- or e-beam source, and a cover above a portion of the magnet assembly for protecting the flakes from the effect of the solidifying means.

Abstract: A device and a method is disclosed to maintain plate and anilox mandrel position stability in print decks of a flexographic printing press. In one aspect, the mandrel bearings associated with at least one of the plate roll and the anilox roll are preloaded for the purpose of eliminating backlash and increasing the positional stiffness of the bearings, and thus the mandrel. In another aspect, the roll drive motor control system is enabled to provide a torque additive command the torque profile to maintain rotational consistency and otherwise overcome torque transients experienced by the motor during print bounce. Accordingly, the problem commonly referred to as print bounce and or print banding is alleviated.

Abstract: A roller for a printing unit of a printing press, has a roller outer body, which is mounted on a roller inner body, so as to be movable axially in a reciprocating manner. For the axial movement of the roller outer body, in at least a first direction, a pneumatic drive is provided. The pneumatic drive has at least one first chamber, which is mounted in the interior of the roller in the manner of a cylinder/piston system between one or more structural elements, that are fixed to the roller outer body, and one or more structural elements that are fixed to the roller inner body. The chamber can be pressurized with compressed air. The parts of the structural elements adjoining the chamber, and that are movable axially relative to one another, form a non-contact seal between themselves on their mutually facing sides.

Abstract: System and methods for optimizing coiled tubing string configurations for drilling a wellbore are provided. A length of a rotatable segment of a coiled tubing string having rotatable and non-rotatable segments is estimated based on the physical properties of the rotatable segment. A friction factor for the rotatable segment is calculated based on the estimated length. An effective axial force for one or more points of interest along the non-rotatable and rotatable string segments is calculated, based in part on the friction factor. Upon determining that the effective axial force for at least one point of interest exceeds a predetermined maximum force threshold, an effective distributive friction factor is estimated for at least a portion of the non-rotatable segment of the string. The rotatable and non-rotatable string segments are redefined for one or more sections of the wellbore along a planned trajectory, based on the effective distributive friction factor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for verifying a printing plate, specifically a gravure cylinder, for errors in an engraving of the printing plate, comprising the following steps: Generating at least two proofs using a printing plate to be verified, capturing at least one digital image each of the at least two proofs with an image-capturing unit, comparing each of the digital images of the at least two proofs with the engraving template of the printing plate, wherein the comparison comprises the following steps: Detecting deviations between each of the images and the engraving template, and verifying that the detected deviations occur in identical fashion on the digital images of all of the at least two proofs, wherein a pseudo error is indicated if the comparison does not show identical deviations between the digital images of the at least two proofs, and wherein identical deviations indicate an engraving defect in the printing plate.

Abstract: According to some examples a substance displacement apparatus may comprise a gas ejection aperture and a deflector arm. The gas ejection aperture may be to direct gas towards a roller having a surface on which a substance is disposed. The deflector arm may be moveable between a first position in which gas is directed away from a target area on the surface of the roller, and a second position in which gas is directed towards the target area on the surface of the roller, thereby to displace at least some of the substance from the surface of the roller within the target area. A method and a print apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: A main body of doctor blade chambers including a first portion configured to hold a first doctor blade, a second portion configured to hold a second doctor blade, a third portion connecting the first portion and the second portion, a cavity intended to receive ink and defined at least by the first portion, the second portion and the third portion, characterized in that the main body is a single closed hollow profile extending along a longitudinal main axis X-X, the main body being made of pultruded composite material.