Abstract: An inking system for a printing press is provided, including a structural member; an internal ink manifold housed in the structural member; and a shuttle inside the internal ink manifold and movable along a length of the internal ink manifold.

Abstract: An inking system for a printing press is provided, including a structural member; an internal ink manifold housed in the structural member; a shuttle inside the internal ink manifold and movable along a length of the internal ink manifold; and a plurality of ink supply sources, a first ink supply source for connection to a first end of the internal ink manifold and a second ink supply source for connection to a second end of the internal ink manifold.

Abstract: An inking system for a printing press is provided, including a structural member; an ink metering device mounted to the structural member; and an internal ink manifold housed in the structural member for supplying ink to the ink metering device.

Abstract: A method of printing comprising includes spreading and flattening a plastic film web before passing the plastic film web through a first printing unit; and spreading and flattening the plastic film web after the plastic film web exits the first printing unit and before passing the plastic film web through a second printing unit.

Abstract: A printing press is provided. The printing press includes a first printing unit including a first plate cylinder, a first blanket cylinder and a first impression cylinder forming a first printing nip with the first blanket cylinder, a first bowed roller upstream of the first printing unit spreading a web before the web enters the first printing nip, a second printing unit downstream of the first printing unit including a second plate cylinder, a second blanket cylinder and a second impression cylinder forming a second printing nip with the second blanket cylinder, and a second bowed roller between the first printing and the second printing unit, the second bowed roller spreading the web before the web enters the second printing nip. A method printing is also provided.

Abstract: A printing press cylinder assembly is provided including a mandrel including an outer surface, a passage formed therein, at least one first conduit formed therein coupled to the passage and the outer surface, and at least one second conduit formed therein coupled to the passage and the outer surface. The printing press cylinder assembly also includes a guide piece located in the passage. The guide piece is movable in the passage between a first position where the guide piece guides air from the passage to the at least one first conduit and a second position where the guide piece guides air from the passage to the at least one second conduit. A method of installing a bridge sleeve and an outer sleeve on a mandrel of a printing cylinder assembly is also provided.

Abstract: An offset print unit includes a plate cylinder having an end, a rotatable plate cylinder support supporting the end and having a first bearing surface, a blanket cylinder having a blanket cylinder end, a rotatable blanket cylinder support supporting the end and having a second bearing surface and an actuating device for rotating the plate cylinder support and the blanket cylinder support, the first and second bearing surfaces contacting during a part of the rotation of the supports. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A printing press cylinder assembly is provided including a mandrel including an outer surface, a passage formed therein, at least one first conduit formed therein coupled to the passage and the outer surface, and at least one second conduit formed therein coupled to the passage and the outer surface. The printing press cylinder assembly also includes a guide piece located in the passage. The guide piece is movable in the passage between a first position where the guide piece guides air from the passage to the at least one first conduit and a second position where the guide piece guides air from the passage to the at least one second conduit. A method of installing a bridge sleeve and an outer sleeve on a mandrel of a printing cylinder assembly is also provided.

Abstract: An offset print unit includes a plate cylinder having an end, a rotatable plate cylinder support supporting the end and having a first bearing surface, a blanket cylinder having a blanket cylinder end, a rotatable blanket cylinder support supporting the end and having a second bearing surface and an actuating device for rotating the plate cylinder support and the blanket cylinder support, the first and second bearing surfaces contacting during a part of the rotation of the supports. A method is also provided.

Abstract: An offset print unit includes a plate cylinder having an end, a rotatable plate cylinder support supporting the end and having a first bearing surface, a blanket cylinder having a blanket cylinder end, a rotatable blanket cylinder support supporting the end and having a second bearing surface and an actuating device for rotating the plate cylinder support and the blanket cylinder support, the first and second bearing surfaces contacting during a part of the rotation of the supports. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A printing unit having a tucker bar capable of tucking a tail edge of a printing plate into an axially-extending gap of a plate cylinder and a tucker bar control device for automatically moving the tucker bar from an operating position to a non-operating position so as to permit access to the axially-extending gap. In addition, a method of plating a plate cylinder using such a tucker bar control device to automatically move the tucker bar so as to permit access to the axially-extending gap of the plate cylinder.

Abstract: A printing unit having a tucker bar capable of tucking a tail edge of a printing plate into an axially-extending gap of a plate cylinder and a tucker bar control device for automatically moving the tucker bar from an operating position to a non-operating position so as to permit access to the axially-extending gap. In addition, a method of plating a plate cylinder using such a tucker bar control device to automatically move the tucker bar so as to permit access to the axially-extending gap of the plate cylinder.

Abstract: A blanket that has a varying profile and a method for its use is disclosed. By varying the profile of the blanket cylinder and/or blanket, either in terms of its material properties or its thickness, the blanket, when placed about a blanket cylinder, corrects for unwanted variation in the velocity profile present in the web. Such velocity profile variations, if not taken into account, may cause wrinkling of a web passing over the blanket cylinder in a printing press and thus cause misregistered images. In a further embodiment, the blanket cylinder may be provided with a varying profile.

Abstract: A blanket that has a varying profile and a method for its use is disclosed. By varying the profile of the blanket cylinder and/or blanket, either in terms of its material properties or its thickness, the blanket, when placed about a blanket cylinder, corrects for unwanted variation in the velocity profile present in the web. Such velocity profile variations, if not taken into account, may cause wrinkling of a web passing over the blanket cylinder in a printing press and thus cause misregistered images. In a further embodiment, the blanket cylinder may be provided with a varying profile.

Abstract: A dampening system for an offset printing press system uses an intermediate roll between the press system and dampening rolls to create multiple slipping nips. By driving the intermediate roll at a surface velocity greater than the dampening roll speed and less than the press system speed, the speed ratio at each slipping nip may be reduced.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for preventing condensation in machines for processing web-like material includes locating a condensation prevention device to reduce the amount of moisture near selected components to be protected and/or maintaining the surface temperature of components of a processing unit above the dew point of the surrounding air.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for preventing condensation in a selected area of a printing press, for example a dampener system, by, for example, controlling the air temperature surrounding the dampener system by cooling, heating or changing the humidity of the air such that the temperature difference between the components of the dampener system and the surrounding air has a desired value.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for preventing circumferential separation between the meshing teeth of a first gear and a second gear of a gear train. Exemplary embodiments of the invention include a first torque transmitting gear coaxially fixed to the first gear, a second torque transmitting gear in meshing engagement with the first torque transmitting gear, a third torque transmitting gear in meshing engagement with the second torque transmitting gear, and being rotatable about a shaft fixedly connected to a fourth torque transmitting gear which in turn is in meshing engagement with the second gear. The third torque transmitting gear is drivingly connected to the shaft via a pre-loaded resilient element formed by a first torsion spring and a second torsion spring. In an exemplary embodiment, the torsion springs are arranged such that windings of the first torsion spring are located within spaces formed between adjacent windings of the second torsion spring.