Abstract: A lithographic newspaper printing press including printing units which are mounted on top of each other, forming a tower arrangement. Each printing unit including a first and a second plate cylinder having a length being substantially four times the width of a newspaper page and having a circumference being substantially equal to the height of a newspaper page. Each printing unit further includes first and a second blanket cylinder associated with said first and second plate cylinders, whereby each of said first and second blanket cylinders has substantially the same diameter as the associated plate cylinder. Each of the blanket cylinders carries a respective continuous sleeve-shaped printing blanket which is axially removable from the respective plate cylinder through an aperture formed in the side wall of the housing of the printing unit, while the respective blanket cylinder is cantilevered in the opposite side wall of the housing.

Abstract: A multiple-image-carrying cylinder has a cylinder section having at least part of a first image to be printed, a shell axially movable with respect to the cylinder section, the shell having at least part of a second image to be printed, and a ring located between the shell and the cylinder section and axially movable with respect to the shell and the cylinder section, the ring capable of having another part of the first image when connected to the cylinder section and capable of having another part of the second image when connected to the shell.

Abstract: A printing cylinder for a web printing press includes an extensible cylindrical sleeve configured for carrying an image to be printed. An extension device is provided for applying a force to the sleeve so as to stretch at least a portion of the sleeve and axially move the image. A method of web fanout compensation is provided.

Abstract: Multi-section print material, such as a newspaper, is folded so as to enable inserts to placed at any location or at multiple locations within the half fold. Several sections are stacked onto one another with one of the signatures offset in the transport direction by a given amount. When the stack is subsequently half-folded, the protruding signature forms a lap which enables an insertion device to automatically insert at the lap position. The system may be operated in straight operation or collect operation. In one embodiment, the sections are transported in two web paths where they are cut into signatures. One of the web paths is delayed so that its signature arrives at the half fold gripper or pin cylinder slightly later than the signature from the other web path. The subsequently formed half fold has the trailing edge of the later-arriving signature protruding by a given lap amount that enables the downline inserter to insert at that position.

Abstract: A printing unit includes a plate cylinder, a blanket cylinder for printing a first side of a web of material, and an inker for inking the plate cylinder, the inker being movable between an active position and an inactive position, the inker contacting the plate cylinder in the active position and the inker being separated from the plate cylinder in the inactive position. A plate operation unit such as a direct imaging device or a plate exchanger is movable into the active position of the inker when the inker is in the inactive position.

Abstract: A printing cylinder for a web printing press includes an extensible cylindrical sleeve configured for carrying an image to be printed. An extension device is provided for applying a force to the sleeve so as to stretch at least a portion of the sleeve and axially move the image. A method of web fanout compensation is provided.

Abstract: A printing press comprising a multi-plate plate cylinder for carrying at least a first printing plate and a second printing plate, the plate cylinder having a cylinder body with an outer surface and a lock-up bar having a retracted position and an extended position, the lock-up bar for fastening both of the first and second plates about the outer surface in the retracted position. A tucker bar is located adjacent the lock-up bar, the tucker bar including at least a first segment for tucking and holding the first printing plate on the plate cylinder and a second segment for tucking and holding the second printing plate on the plate cylinder, the first segment being independently movable with respect to the second segment.

Abstract: A printing cylinder has a first rotatable section having a central image area on the surface, and a first and second end. A first shell is disposed circumferentially about the first end, and a second shell is disposed circumferentially about the second end, the first and second shells having image areas on the surface and movable axially with respect to the central image area. Also provided is a printing press comprising a first sensor for detecting register marks, a second sensor for detecting fanout, and a rotatable cylinder with a first section axially adjustable with respect to a second section. A method for correcting fanout in a web printing press includes sensing register marks to provide overall circumferential and/or lateral register adjustments of a printing cylinder, sensing a section of the web other than the register marks to provide fanout information, and changing a lateral position of a first part of the printing cylinder with respect to a second part of the printing cylinder.

Abstract: Multi-section print material, such as a newspaper, is folded so as to enable inserts to placed at any location or at multiple locations within the half fold. Several sections are stacked onto one another with one of the signatures offset in the transport direction by a given amount. When the stack is subsequently half-folded, the protruding signature forms a lap which enables an insertion device to automatically insert at the lap position. The system may be operated in straight operation or collect operation. In one embodiment, the sections are transported in two web paths where they are cut into signatures. One of the web paths is delayed so that its signature arrives at the half fold gripper or pin cylinder slightly later than the signature from the other web path. The subsequently formed half fold has the trailing edge of the later-arriving signature protruding by a given lap amount that enables the downline inserter to insert at that position.

Abstract: A multiple-image-carrying cylinder has a cylinder section having at least part of a first image to be printed, a shell axially movable with respect to the cylinder section, the shell having at least part of a second image to be printed, and a ring located between the shell and the cylinder section and axially movable with respect to the shell and the cylinder section, the ring capable of having another part of the first image when connected to the cylinder section and capable of having another part of the second image when connected to the shell.

Abstract: A printing unit includes a plate cylinder, a blanket cylinder for printing a first side of a web of material, and an inker with a plurality of inker rollers for inking the plate cylinder. The inker is movable between an active position and an inactive position, the inker contacting the plate cylinder in the active position and the inker being separated from the plate cylinder in the inactive position. At least one of the plurality of inker rollers is adjustable as a function of a diameter of the plate cylinder when the inker is in the inactive position.

Abstract: A printing unit includes a plate cylinder, a blanket cylinder for printing a first side of a web of material, and an inker for inking the plate cylinder, the inker being movable between an active position and an inactive position, the inker contacting the plate cylinder in the active position and the inker being separated from the plate cylinder in the inactive position. A plate operation unit such as a direct imaging device or a plate exchanger is movable into the active position of the inker when the inker is in the inactive position.

Abstract: A printing press comprising a multi-plate plate cylinder for carrying at least a first printing plate and a second printing plate, the plate cylinder having a cylinder body with an outer surface and a lock-up bar having a retracted position and an extended position, the lock-up bar for fastening both of the first and second plates about the outer surface in the retracted position. A tucker bar is located adjacent the lock-up bar, the tucker bar including at least a first segment for tucking and holding the first printing plate on the plate cylinder and a second segment for tucking and holding the second printing plate on the plate cylinder, the first segment being independently movable with respect to the second segment.

Abstract: A plate cylinder comprising a cylinder body having at least one external slot extending axially with respect to the cylinder body, and at least one register pin slidable by an external registration device within the slot. Also provided is an external registration device comprising a base for attaching to a periphery of a plate cylinder, and a pin pusher interacting with a register pin in a slot of the plate cylinder, the pin pusher being axially movable relative to the base. A method is provided for registering plates on a plate cylinder comprising the steps of placing an external registration device on a plate cylinder having at least one register pin, and moving the register pin axially with the external registration device.

Abstract: A printing press comprising a multi-plate plate cylinder for carrying at least a first printing plate and a second printing plate, the plate cylinder having a cylinder body with an outer surface and a lock-up bar having a retracted position and an extended position, the lock-up bar for fastening both of the first and second plates about the outer surface in the retracted position. A tucker bar is located adjacent the lock-up bar, the tucker bar including at least a first segment for tucking and holding the first printing plate on the plate cylinder and a second segment for tucking and holding the second printing plate on the plate cylinder, the first segment being independently movable with respect to the second segment.

Abstract: A movable folder assembly includes one or more folders slidingly supported on a pair of rails and an actuator for moving the folder on said pair of rails. The actuator may include a hydraulic cylinder and a control unit for controlling said hydraulic cylinder. The folder(s) is supported on said rails by bearings. Preferably, the bearings are linear bearings, and most preferably, the folder(s) is supported on at least one of said rails by dual-type linear bearings. The folder(s) may be used in conduction with a former board arrangement in a web-fed rotary newspaper printing press which includes a first and a second row of former boards each row including a first, second and third former board for longitudinally folding one or more ribbons passing over the former boards. The first row of former boards is arranged above the second former board, and a movable folder is located below one of the former boards of the second row of former boards for crossfolding and cutting the ribbons into signatures.

Abstract: A lithographic newspaper printing press comprises printing units which are mounted on top of each other, forming a tower arrangement. Each printing unit comprises a first and a second plate cylinder having a length being substantially four times the width of a newspaper page and having a circumference being substantially equal to the height of a newspaper page. Each printing unit further comprises a first and a second blanket cylinder associated with said first and second plate cylinders, whereby each of said first and second blanket cylinders has substantially the same diameter as the associated plate cylinder. Each of the blanket cylinders carries a respective continuous sleeve-shaped printing blanket which is axially removable from the respective plate cylinder through an aperture formed in the side wall of the housing of the printing unit, while the respective blanket cylinder is cantilevered in the opposite side wall of the housing.

Abstract: A printing sleeve removal device includes a first jaw arm and a second jaw arm movable with respect to the second jaw arm, the first and second jaw arms having ends forming a jaw to engage a printing sleeve. Also disclosed is a method for removing a printing sleeve comprising engaging a printing sleeve on a printing cylinder with a first jaw arm and a second jaw arm and moving the printing sleeve via the first and second jaw arms so as to slide the printing sleeve axially with respect to the printing cylinder.

Abstract: A lithographic newspaper printing press comprises printing units (4.1 to 4.5) which are mounted on top of each other, forming a tower arrangement (2). Each printing unit comprises a first and a second plate cylinder (24a, 24b) having a length being substantially four times the width of a newspaper page and having a circumference being substantially equal to the height of a newspaper page. Each printing unit 4 further comprises a first and a second blanket cylinder (10a, 10b) associated with said first and second plate cylinders (24a, 24b), whereby each of said first and second blanket cylinders (10a, 10b) has substantially the same diameter as the associated plate cylinder (24a, 24b).

Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a tubular printing blanket, comprises a first end cap mounted to a first end portion of the tubular printing blanket; a second end cap mounted to a second end portion of the tubular printing blanket, a compressed air inlet passing through the first end cap; a compressed air supply coupled to the compress air inlet for supplying compressed air to the inside of the tubular printing blanket for stiffening the tubular printing blanket during a cleaning operation; and a cleaning element which interacts with the outside surface of the tubular printing blanket, for cleaning the tubular printing blanket.