Abstract: A pallet assembly for use in simultaneously printing multiple articles of manufacture. The assembly includes a pallet having a support surface, a carrier mountable onto the pallet and conforming with the pallet surface features (e.g., individual article of manufacture platforms) such that individual articles of manufacture may be place on the support surface(s) of the pallet yet the carrier substantially covers the remaining areas of the top surface of the pallet to protect the pallet from unintentional application of ink by the printer. The carrier also includes supports which allow a carrier loaded with articles of manufacture to be lifted off of the pallet and carried away for further processing. The assembly may also include a positioner which is mountable over the carrier on the pallet. The positioner operates as a jig for aligning each of the articles of manufacture in proper position on the support surface of the pallet.

Abstract: A printing system includes a processing unit configured to cause a sheet processing unit to execute a sheet processing including a folding processing and a trimming processing on a printed sheet by executing a job, a determining unit configured to determine whether a fold line of a sheet folded by the folding processing is cut out by the trimming processing, and a control unit configured to perform controlling such that the fold line of the sheet folded by the folding processing is not cut out by the trimming processing if the determining unit determines that the fold line of the sheet folded by the folding processing is cutout by the trimming processing.

Abstract: A device and a method for separating printing plates from a stack uses a lifting device for lifting the printing plates and at least one separating element to be moved under the lifted printing plates. The structurally simple device is able to react flexibly to different printing plate formats and, at the same time, avoids damage to a surface to be imaged of the individual printing plates. In order to avoid such problems, the device includes at least three separating elements which, as they move under a lifted printing plate at any time, are continuously disposed at distances from one another having a ratio that always remains constant.

Abstract: A sheet folding apparatus includes a first folding unit that folds a sheet of recording medium along first folds that extend orthogonal to a sheet conveying direction, a second folding unit that folds the sheet along a second fold that extends orthogonal to the first fold, a folded-sheet conveying unit that conveys the sheet folded by the first folding unit to the second folding unit, and a stacker unit. The stacker unit is arranged above the folded-sheet conveying unit. The sheet folding apparatus has a first exit through which a non-folded sheet is output, a second exit through which a fan-folded sheet is output, and a third exit through which a cross-folded sheet is output. Sheets output from the first exit and the second exit are stacked in the stacker unit.

Abstract: A stencil printer includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, a substrate support coupled to the frame to support a substrate in a print position, and a print head, coupled to the frame, to deposit and print viscous material over the stencil. The print head includes a squeegee assembly having at least one squeegee blade and a squeegee blade movement mechanism configured to move the squeegee blade from a raised position in which the squeegee blade is spaced from stencil and a lowered position in which the squeegee blade engages and applies a force on the stencil. The print head further has a device to detect a first reference point associated with a first force of the squeegee blade against the stencil and a second reference point associated with a second force of the squeegee blade against the stencil when moving the squeegee blade to the lowered position in which the squeegee blade engages and applies a force on the stencil.

Abstract: A stencil printer includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, a substrate support coupled to the frame to support a substrate in a print position, and a print head, coupled to the frame, to deposit and print viscous material over the stencil. The print head may include a squeegee blade configured to engage the stencil, a squeegee blade mount configured to house the squeegee blade, a squeegee blade movement mechanism configured to move the squeegee blade mount in a z-axis direction from a raised position in which the squeegee blade is spaced from stencil and a lowered position in which the squeegee blade engages and applies a force on the stencil, and a connector configured to pivotally connect the squeegee blade mount to the squeegee blade movement mechanism. The connector may include a load cell configured to measure force of the squeegee blade against the stencil. Other embodiments and related methods are further disclosed.

Abstract: A printing unit of a printing press is composed of at least two frame parts, the position of at least one of which, relative to the other, can be changed. Cooperating ones of these frame parts are placed against each other along a common joining surface, in a first operational position. These frame parts are separated from each other in a second operational position. An interstice, that is partly defined by these frame parts, is formed between the separated frame parts in the printing unit. At least one of the cooperating frame parts is supported so that it is movable along an adjustment path. At least one sensor is provided and is usable to monitor the interstice. The sensor has orientation characteristics or a sensory range along the joining surface. A control unit is provided and is connected to the at least one sensor.

Abstract: A transfer drum between printing units in a sheet-fed printing press includes gripper systems which can be switched to a desired mode of operation by simple measures and ensure stable and reliable transport of a sheet between printing units when in a respective operating position. A drum body has journals for supporting the drum body in side walls and two gripper systems provided on the drum body. The gripper systems are radially extendable into an operating position depending on a selected mode of operation for printing on only one side or for printing on both sides of the sheet. The gripper systems are disposed diametrically opposite each other relative to an axis of rotation of the drum body and are attached to a support disposed in the drum body to move in radial direction.

Abstract: A frame for tensioning fabric such as a silkscreen mesh is described. The frame includes a groove for securing the fabric using a locking strip. The groove includes a central cavity between a groove floor and a groove entrance, an insertion cavity coupled to the groove entrance and the floor, a side cavity opposite the central cavity from the insertion cavity and coupled to the groove entrance and the floor, and a pivot disposed on the groove floor. The side cavity includes a vertex. The insertion cavity may be adjacent the central cavity. A portion of the side cavity may be removed at an end of the frame for softening corners of the fabric or mesh. Locking strips may be stitched to edges of the fabric or mesh.

Abstract: Systems and methods for allowing existing rotary printing press units to produce smaller pages at a faster rate of speed without having to replace the press unit. Specifically, the systems and methods relate to retrofitting an existing press unit to produce three pages of material in each full rotation instead of the traditional two pages.

Abstract: In a stencil printing machine including a plate discharge device for stripping a master from a plate cylinder and collecting the master after attaching the master subjected to plate making to the plate cylinder for printing on a sheet, the plate discharge device includes a storing section for storing the master, a lid for closing the storing section to be opened/closed freely, and a device for locking the lid in a closed state, the plate discharge device being provided such that it can be taken out to the housing of the stencil printing machine. Consequently, a stencil printing machine from which the plate discharge device can be taken out while secrecy is kept surely can be provided.

Abstract: A cartridge detachably attached to a printer apparatus includes a casing, an ink ribbon provided in the casing, a supply spool provided in the casing for supplying the ink ribbon, and a take-up spool provided in the casing for retrieving the ink ribbon. The printer apparatus includes a locking member rotatably supported on the printer apparatus and locking the cartridge to the printer apparatus, a detection device for detecting an installation of the cartridge by detecting a locked state of the locking member, a locking portion for locking the locking member when the cartridge is installed in the printer apparatus, and a guide forcefully and rotatingly displacing the locking member from a locking position when the cartridge is pulled out from the printer apparatus.

Abstract: A switch-over processing method includes the steps of performing a first process on a sheet passing between a first cylinder and a second cylinder with a first mounted body being mounted on a circumferential surface of the second cylinder arranged to oppose the first cylinder, and performing a second process different from the first process on the sheet passing between the first cylinder and the second cylinder with a second mounted body being mounted on a circumferential surface of the second cylinder in place of the first mounted body. A switch-over processing apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A plate inserting apparatus includes a plate cylinder, press roller, and braking unit. A plate is to be mounted on the outer surface of the plate cylinder. The press roller is rotatably supported to oppose the outer surface of the plate cylinder, and inserts the leading edge bent portion of the plate, supplied to the plate cylinder upon rotation of the plate cylinder, into a groove portion formed in the outer surface of the plate cylinder. The braking unit is arranged in a plate storing portion for storing the plate supplied to the plate cylinder, and brakes the plate with the leading edge bent portion inserted in the groove portion of the plate cylinder.

Abstract: The present invention provides an easy-to-use stencil discharging box that can easily be detached from a printing apparatus with one hand, and can smoothly execute vertical discard in this state. A stencil discharging box that is detachably mounted to a printing apparatus for receiving a used stencil compressed by compressing means of the printing apparatus is detached from the apparatus. When an operation lever is depressed, a cover member provided to an upper opening of a main body moves in an upward direction to open the opening, and a stencil moving member integrally formed with the cover member pivots in a frontward and upward-direction from between compression ribs of the main body so as to lift up the used stencil sticking to the ribs in the main body. When the main body is tilted with a discharge port provided at one side face of the main body (at the near side in the figure) facing downward, the used stencil can be discharged to the outside (vertical discard).

Abstract: Provided herein is a printer, including a printing head that executes printing in units of columns of dots; a feed roller that feeds a print medium in synchrony with driving of the printing head; a motor that constitutes a drive source for the feed roller; a memory section that memorizes a predicted idling amount, which is the amount of idling predicted to occur when motor drive starts; and a drive control section that controls driving of the printing head and the motor, wherein when printing operation is halted and restarted, the drive control section drives the motor by a first idling amount that is smaller than the predicted idling amount, implements printing based on data for a first dot column to be printed at printing restart, further drives the motor by a subtraction amount that equals the predicted idling amount minus the first idling amount, and then starts printing from first dot column data.

Abstract: When a printed circuit board is inspected and determined to have an insufficient amount of printing of a print pattern, the printed board is returned to a screen-printing apparatus so that a new print pattern is formed so as to overlap a previous print pattern. In the re-printing, a raising speed of the printed board at a final stage of the board raising operation is rendered lower than in the previous screen printing so that the printed board is brought into contact with the underside of the screen mask more slowly.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a printing plate includes forming first trenches having a first depth into an insulative substrate, forming an organic film over the insulative substrate including the first trenches, and forming second trenches having a width smaller than that of the first trenches into the organic film, the second trenches formed at positions corresponding to the first trenches by selectively removing the organic film.

Abstract: A new and improved roller press for embellishing media includes a pair of spaced apart roller press members supported for rotation by bearing blocks. A handle having a ratchet mechanism is connected to a first roller for turning the roller during pressing. A gear set connects the rollers for turning a second roller in a rotational direction opposite of the first roller for moving the media between the rollers for pressing. A feed bed and exit bed are disposed between the bearing blocks to provide a stable base for supporting the press.

Abstract: A folding machine includes: pairs of upper and lower downstream-side conveying belts (18B), the pairs being provided at intervals in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction of a signature (Wb) and conveying the signature while holding the signature therebetween; stoppers (32) provided between the downstream-side conveying belts and stopping the signature conveyed by the downstream-side conveying belts by contacting therewith; and a chopper blade (19a) folding the signature stopped by the stoppers (32) in a direction parallel to the conveying direction. In the folding machine, a pair of right and left cameras (30A and 30B) are provided, which take images respectively of ranges where a conveying direction leading edge of one side edge and a conveying direction leading edge of the other side edge, the side edges being parallel to the conveying direction of the sheet, are decelerated or stopped by contacting with the stoppers (32).