Abstract: An apparatus for measuring zonal inking on a printed product having a plurality of inking zones includes a plurality of optical sensors, each of the optical sensors picking up signals from at least one zonal measurement region assigned to a respective one of the plurality of inking zones of the printed product. The apparatus also includes at least one optical switch connected for receiving the picked up signals from the plurality of optical sensors and at least one measurement device connected to the at least one optical switch for receiving the picked up signals and evaluating the picked up signals.

Abstract: The method for controlling a printing process in a printing press by means of cut register control, ink register control or ink density control includes the steps of measuring a printed image with a sensor to determine an actual characteristic value of the printed image, determining a prepress-based desired characteristic value for the printed image from prepress print image data by taking into account data about characteristics of the sensor, comparing the actual characteristic value of the printed image with the prepress-based desired characteristic value thereby acquiring a control deviation, and determining an actuating signal based on the control deviation for adjusting the printing process.

Abstract: The amount of cleaning media needed for cleaning the printing forme is determined with regard to the level of coverage with ink and/or image carrier material of a printing surface and/or from image data about the printing surface. An erasing and hydrophilizing apparatus includes a cleaning apparatus and nozzles for applying a cleaning medium, the cleaning apparatus and/or the nozzles being connected to a computing and/or storage device.

Abstract: A method for process control during printing includes recording a digital image of a substrate detail and determining a frequency distribution of the gray values of the image points from this image. A minimum of the frequency is defined as the limiting value of the gray value from this frequency distribution in its central range of the gray value. To calculate the half-tone value R of the substrate, those image points which lie on one side of this limiting value are counted as covered and those image points which lie on the other side are counted as free.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring zonal inking on a printed product having a plurality of inking zones includes a plurality of optical sensors, each of the optical sensors picking up signals from at least one zonal measurement region assigned to a respective one of the plurality of inking zones of the printed product. The apparatus also includes at least one optical switch connected for receiving the picked up signals from the plurality of optical sensors and at least one measurement device connected to the at least one optical switch for receiving the picked up signals and evaluating the picked up signals.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a conditioning solution, a rubber-covering solution, or a medium for producing an image-differentiating layer, to a surface to be coated, in particular to a rewritable and erasable printing forme positioned on a forme cylinder of a press, includes a coating roller which applies the fluid to the surface to be coated. The coating roller rolls on the surface to be coated and simultaneously executes a translational movement along an axis of rotation of the coating roller relative to the surface to be coated. A smoothing roller which evens out a layer thickness of the fluid on the coating roller rolls on the coating roller. The coating roller has a dry or fluid-free section at the front, in the direction of the translational movement, and a rear section, wherein a device applying the fluid to the coating roller applies to fluid only to the rear section.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a medium, especially a conditioning medium or a rubber covering medium, to a printing form positioned on a form cylinder, especially to a rewritable and erasable printing form, is disclosed. The medium is applied to a rubber covered cylinder or to a separate applicator roll or an applicator cylinder for the medium, the medium then being transferred from the rubber covered cylinder or applicator roll or applicator cylinder to the form cylinder, in this case the rubber covered cylinder, the applicator roll or the applicator cylinder rolling repeatedly over the form cylinder in order to ensure a uniform application of the medium to the printing form.

Abstract: In order to simplify the sequence of creating a mask, in particular for producing a printing plate, and at the same time to improve the quality of the printing plate produced by means of a mask, the use of laser-induced thermal transfer is provided. The structure information is applied directly to the surface of a printing plate carrier during the creation of a mask, by means of a thermal transfer film and a laser image-setting unit, so that by means of the structure information applied, differentiation with regard to image points and non-image points can be carried out directly in order to produce a printing plate.

Abstract: A method for imaging a printing form in which the printing form is charged on its entire surface and is coated on its entire surface with particles, in particular toner particles, which bear the opposite charge. The layer formed by the particles is then fixed in accordance with the image by a beam, in particular a laser beam, and especially by infrared radiation, on the surface of the printing form or ablated in accordance with the image. Thereupon, the unfixed portions of the layer are removed or the non-ablated portions are fixed by full-surface heat treatment.

Abstract: The image subject to be transferred is applied in preformatted form to at least two printing formes in the form of segment-like image data in a row and column arrangement, in such a way that a first portion of information from each segment of the image subject (information (a) with appropriate index features) is provided on a first printing forme, and a second portion of information from the corresponding segment of the image subject (information (b) with appropriate index features) is provided on a second printing forme. As a result of synchronous rolling of the printing-forme cylinders, the portions of information are assembled to form complete information (<a,b> with the respectively combined index features) for each segment of the image subject on the printed page.

Abstract: In an erasing and cleaning device for cylindrical surfaces, in particular of printing-form and rubber-blanket cylinders of a printing machine, with the aid of a cleaning cloth capable of being moved by cleaning-cloth transport means, the cleaning-cloth transport means comprising a fresh-cloth roll, a pressure element, which presses the cleaning cloth against the cylindrical surface, and a dirty-cloth roll for receiving the spent cleaning cloth and cooperating with a positioning unit for the operating position and a drive, to make it easier to change the cleaning cloth and to achieve a reduction in the time taken by this change and, moreover, to make this erasing and cleaning device capable of being used universally, there is provision for the cleaning-cloth transport means together with the cleaning cloth, to be packaged in an independent cassette and to be exchangeable in this form and for the positioning unit, in the form of a running mechanism with a drive for the cassette, to be arranged permanently as a

Abstract: A method of producing a thermal transfer print, including the steps of controlled imagewise heating of a surface layer of the print by means of a laser beam from a laser writing head; applying selected area elements to a substrate using a tape-like transfer film with a width which is small in relation to a width of the substrate, transporting the transfer film continuously between the substrate and the laser beam, close to the substrate surface during imaging moving the transfer film over the substrate width simultaneously and in synchronism with movement of the laser writing head the width of the transfer film being sufficiently large for a number of imaging tracks to be used alongside one another, and selecting an as yet unused track for each imaging operation.

Abstract: A method for imaging a printing form in which the printing form is charged on its entire surface and is coated on its entire surface with particles, in particular toner particles, which bear the opposite charge. The layer formed by the particles is then fixed in accordance with the image by a beam, in particular a laser beam, and especially by infrared radiation, on the surface of the printing form or ablated in accordance with the image. Thereupon, the unfixed portions of the layer are removed or the non-ablated portions are fixed by full-surface heat treatment.

Abstract: The amount of cleaning media needed for cleaning the printing forme is determined with regard to the level of coverage with ink and/or image carrier material of a printing surface and/or from image data about the printing surface. An erasing and hydrophilizing apparatus includes a cleaning apparatus and nozzles for applying a cleaning medium, the cleaning apparatus and/or the nozzles being connected to a computing and/or storage device.

Abstract: The image subject to be transferred is applied in preformatted form to at least two printing formes in the form of segment-like image data in a row and column arrangement, in such a way that a first portion of information from each segment of the image subject (information (a) with appropriate index features) is provided on a first printing forme, and a second portion of information from the corresponding segment of the image subject (information (b) with appropriate index features) is provided on a second printing forme. As a result of synchronous rolling of the printing-forme cylinders, the portions of information are assembled to form complete information (<a,b> with the respectively combined index features) for each segment of the image subject on the printed page.

Abstract: In order to simplify the sequence of creating a mask, in particular for producing a printing plate, and at the same time to improve the quality of the printing plate produced by means of a mask, the use of laser-induced thermal transfer is provided. The structure information is applied directly to the surface of a printing plate carrier during the creation of a mask, by means of a thermal transfer film and a laser image-setting unit, so that by means of the structure information applied, differentiation with regard to image points and non-image points can be carried out directly in order to produce a printing plate.

Abstract: A method of producing a thermal transfer print, including the steps of controlled imagewise heating of a surface layer of the print by means of a laser beam from a laser writing head; applying selected area elements to a substrate using a tape-like transfer film with a width which is small in relation to a width of the substrate, transporting the transfer film continuously between the substrate and the laser beam, close to the substrate surface during imaging moving the transfer film over the substrate width simultaneously and in synchronism with movement of the laser writing head the width of the transfer film being sufficiently large for a number of imaging tracks to be used alongside one another, and selecting an as yet unused track for each imaging operation.

Abstract: In an erasing and cleaning device for cylindrical surfaces, in particular of printing-form and rubber-blanket cylinders of a printing machine, with the aid of a cleaning cloth capable of being moved by cleaning-cloth transport means, the cleaning-cloth transport means comprising a fresh-cloth roll, a pressure element, which presses the cleaning cloth against the cylindrical surface, and a dirty-cloth roll for receiving the spent cleaning cloth and cooperating with a positioning unit for the operating position and a drive, to make it easier to change the cleaning cloth and to achieve a reduction in the time taken by this change and, moreover, to make this erasing and cleaning device capable of being used universally, there is provision for the cleaning-cloth transport means together with the cleaning cloth, to be packaged in an independent cassette and to be exchangeable in this form and for the positioning unit, in the form of a running mechanism with a drive for the cassette, to be arranged permanently as a

Abstract: To optimize the provision of thermal transfer material and to correctly provide different thermal transfer materials for the respective purpose at the correct time, a plurality of thermal transfer ribbons are made available, each in its own cassette. A control device provides management and controlling mechanism for managing the plurality of cassettes that are stored in a storage device.

Abstract: A method of producing a print, especially a multicolor print, especially for proof purposes, by controlled heating, in accordance with an image, of a surface layer one or more laser beams from a laser imaging unit and by applying the selected surface elements to a substrate. For the purpose of imaging the substrate, applied to a substrate cylinder, use is made of a tape-like transfer tape with a width which is small in relation to the substrate width, so that the gas produced during the laser imaging operation can escape to a sufficient extent because of the substrate and transfer tape being placed opposite each other over a small area. During the imaging operation this transfer tape is guided continuously through between the substrate and the laser beam or beams, close to the substrate surface, and is moved over the substrate width simultaneously and in synchronism with the movement of the laser imaging unit.