Abstract: A method of printing using an electrically conductive ink, wherein the method includes the steps of providing a supply of the electrically conductive ink and providing a relief printing plate having a desired printing pattern formed thereon. The pattern includes at least two adjacent traces having a gap between the adjacent traces of less than about 40 microns and, optionally, at least one trace having a width of less than about 40 microns. The method further includes the steps of applying a controlled quantity of the electrically conductive ink to the relief printing plate and contacting the relief printing plate to a substrate to create an impression on the substrate. An apparatus for implementing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A device that determines conditions under which a web break is more likely to occur in a printing system stores data pertaining to ink temperature or ink temperature gain. The device then implements a correlation analysis, such as a decision-tree induction analysis, using the stored data to determine if there is a correlation between the one or more attributes and the occurrence of a web break. The device has a multiplicity of ink fountains and includes a first temperature sensor that measures a first ink temperature and a second temperature that measures a second ink temperature. A controller compares the first ink temperature to the second ink temperature to determine an ink temperature gain, compares the ink temperature gain to a desired ink temperature gain range and generates an output signal based on the comparison.

Abstract: A device that determines conditions under which a book cover and page delamination is more likely to occur in a binder subassembly line of a book binding system collects and stores data pertaining to numerous bindery process variables such as, temperatures of a glue pot assembly, temperatures of a gas burner assembly, ambient temperatures and humidity of the air surrounding the binder subassembly line, viscosity values for an emulsion glue, and moisture content measurements of the emulsion glue after application of the emulsion glue to a backbone of a book. The device then implements a correlation analysis using the stored data to determine if there is a correlation between data and the occurrence of a delamination, and produces an optimal value or range for operation of the book binding system.

Abstract: The methods and apparatus described herein provide a system for adjusting book cover printing based on the caliper of the book. The caliper of a particular printed book body is measured. Subsequently, a cover is printed for that particular printed book. Printing on the cover is adjusted to compensate for slight variations in the thickness of the book body. For example, a book title which is to be centered on the spine may be transposed if a non-nominal spine size is used to accommodate a non-nominal book body (i.e., a book body which is larger or smaller than the average size for this book).

Abstract: A device and method that determine conditions under which a break in a web of a printing system is more likely to occur store data pertaining to one or more attributes associated with the manufacture of each web used in a plurality of printing runs. The device and method then implement a correlation analysis, such as a decision-tree induction analysis, using the stored data to determine if there is a correlation between the one or more web manufacturing attributes and the occurrence of a web break. The device and method may store web manufacturing data indicating one or more of a mill site, a web manufacturing machine, a date, a reel number, a reel set, a log position, any auxiliary web manufacturing equipment, a web tensile strength, a web moisture content and/or a coefficient of friction associated with the manufacture of the webs used in the plurality of printing runs.

Abstract: A device and a method use a decision-tree induction analysis to determine a web tension ratio range for which web breaks are less likely to occur within a printing system based on web tension data collected from a plurality of previous runs of the printing system. The device and method also measure two are more web tensions during operation of the printing system, calculate a web tension ratio and compare that calculated web tension ratio with the determined web tension ratio range. When the calculated web tension ratio falls outside of the determined web tension ratio range, the device and method alert a user to the fact that a condition leading to a web break is present and/or control the measured web tensions to drive the calculated web tension ratio to be within the determined web tension ratio range.

Abstract: A system and method for assembling and binding books and for printing an address or a personalized message in accordance with coded information. The system includes a main control with a data processor and a memory for coded address and message information. One of more bindery lines each has means for gathering and assembling sections to form a book and for imaging the book with a personalized image. A line control has a data processor connected with the bindery line to control selection and assembly of signatures and imaging in accordance with the control information. Operator terminals at the main and line controls have visual display with touch screen operation input. A communication network connects the main control with each of the line controls. Address and control information from a magnetic tape is transferred to disk memory at the main control. This information is later transmitted over the communication network to the line controls.

Abstract: A system and method for assembling and binding books and for printing an address or a personalized message in accordance with coded information. The system includes a main control with a data processor and a memory for coded address and message information. One or more bindery lines each has means for gathering and assembling sections to form a book and for imaging the book with a personalized image. A line control has a data processor connected with the bindery line to control selection and assembly of signatures and imaging in accordance with the control information. Operator terminals at the main and line controls have visual display with touch screen operation input. A communication network connects the main control with each of the line controls. Address and control information from a magnetic tape is transferred to disk memory at the main control. This information is later transmitted over the communication network to the line controls.

Abstract: A collating and binding system for producing customized versions of books includes means for detecting a defective book, means responsive to the detecting means for rejecting the defective book and means for reordering the rejected book at a point in an original production sequence determined in accordance with a comparison of the postal information of the rejected book with the postal information of a book currently being produced. An indication of the postage required to mail the produced books is derived from an amount calculated before the books are produced and from indications of postage increases for those books which were reordered at subsequent portions in the original production sequence.

Abstract: A collating and binding system for producing customized versions of books includes means for detecting a defective book, means responsive to the detecting means for rejecting the defective book and means for reordering the rejected book at a point in an original production sequence determined in accordance with a comparison of the postal information of the rejected book with the postal information of a book currently being produced. An indication of the postage required to mail the produced books is derived from an amount calculated before the books are produced and from indications of postage increases for those books which were reordered at subsequent portions in the original production sequence.

Abstract: A collating and binding system for producing customized versions of books includes means for detecting a defective book, means responsive to the detecting means for rejecting the defective book and means for reordering the rejected book at a point in an original production sequence determined in accordance with a comparison of the postal information of the rejected book with the postal information of a book currently being produced. An indication of the postage required to mail the produced books is derived from an amount calculated before the books are produced and from indications of postage increases for those books which were reordered at subsequent portions in the original production sequence.