Abstract: A continuously cast strand is cut into elongated billets having ends and the billets are run through a rolling stand. after cutting the strand into billets and before rolling the billets one of the billets is engaged in the rolling stand and a trailing end of the one billet and a leading end of another billet are enclosed in a mold with the ends longitudinally spaced. This space between the ends is filled with molten metal in contact with the ends of the billets and the molten metal is hardened to interconnect the billet ends. Then the mold is removed from around the billet ends. The molten metal is of substantially the same composition as the billets. Furthermore the one billet is advanced in a travel direction by means of the stand and the mold and the other billet are advanced synchronously with the one billet after enclosing the billet ends in the mold. The mold is removed from the billet ends before the hardened metal between the billet ends enters the rolling stand.

Abstract: A sheet brake improves laying sheets off onto a stack in the take-off unit of a sheet-fed rotary printing press. The sheet brake is provided with a crank drive that generates a back-and-forth stroke by way of a synchronized drive mechanism at the rate traveled by the sheets. The rear portion of each sheet is forced by suction against a suction strip provided on the brake so that the sheet is braked while being stretched and then lowered onto the top of the stack. The suction strip has a groove arranged such that the sheet is braked and stretched as the suction strip works in conjunction with an operation of a take over gripper to accurately guide the sheet to the stack.

Abstract: A roll stand for rolling strip includes work rolls which rest against back-up rolls through intermediate rolls, wherein the work rolls and/or the back-up rolls and/or the intermediate rolls are arranged so as to be axially slidable relative to each other, and wherein at least the work rolls and/or the intermediate rolls have a curved or cylindrical contour extending over the entire roll length. The work rolls and the intermediate rolls have at one of their end faces an annular recess extending around the roll neck, wherein the annular recess is located between the roll neck and the outer surface of the roll.

Abstract: A method of coiling or placing bar steel or wire in coils, wherein the rolling stock is reeled from rolling heat in a basket or is placed by a coiler in the form of coils onto a conveyor and is collected at the end of the conveyor over a mandrel into a coil, wherein the rolling stock is cooled during coiling and the rolling stock is further cooled after the coiling process or the formation of coils. Cooling of the rolling stock from rolling heat prior to coiling into the transformation range characterized by the Ar.sub.3 line or Ar.sub.1 line of the transformation time-temperature diagram corresponding to the type of steel to be cooled is extended, such that, depending on the type of steel, the rolling stock is transformed immediately after cooling prior to, during or after coiling, uniformly over the entire length and entire cross-section thereof essentially isothermally from the austenite phase into the ferrite phase or pearlite phase and, as required, into the bainite phase.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for an anticipatory thickness control in foil rolling by using characteristic lines stored in a process control computer of the individual manipulated variables (for example, strip tensions, rolling speeds) for various operating points (conditions of operation) or by using an on-line operating physical computing model, also in combination with a monitor control. The method includes the steps of determining the thickness deviations of the foil at the entry side of the roll stand and of compensating the thickness deviations by an anticipatory thickness control. The apparatus includes a thickness measuring device between the running-off reel and the rolling mill or the roll gap of the roll stand. The thickness measuring device is connected to a superordinated process control computer. Following the thickness measuring device is arranged a tensioning unit which serves to change the travel path of the foil strip between the running-off reel and the roll gap.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for washing printing press form cylinders and associated applicator rollers in a manner which reduces the drying of quick-drying media, such as varnish or ink, on the applicator roller and form cylinder. The washing device is disposed in a nip between the form cylinder and applicator roller and has two curved surfaces disposed in closely adjacent relation to respective surfaces of the form cylinder and applicator roller. Each curved surface has a spray device for directing a cleaning fluid onto the adjacent form cylinder and applicator roller and a suction-extraction device for removing sprayed cleaning fluid and removed ink and impurities. The method and apparatus may be selectively operated in a print-on mode in which a cleaning fluid is sprayed onto the rotating form cylinder and is suction-extracted from its outer surface.

Abstract: A multi-color offset printing press for the printing and in-line coating of materials is disclosed. The printing press includes an in-line flexographic printing/lacquering unit for applying coating fluids to materials printed in the printing press. The flexographic printing/lacquering unit may be installed upstream of the first printing unit, downstream of the last printing unit or in between printing units.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the metering of liquid media, especially varnish, of differing viscosity in an offset printing machine. Exchangeable metering subassemblies are assigned to a form cylinder. The first metering subassembly provided for processing low-viscosity media consists of a reservoir, a dipping roller, a metering roller and the form cylinder. The second metering subassembly for processing higher-viscosity media consists of a chamber doctor, a screened applicator roller and the form cylinder. In a further version, both metering subassemblies are assigned permanently to the form cylinder. Depending on the media to be processed, the necessary subassemblies are engaged with the form cylinder and the other subassembly is disengaged from the form cylinder.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for metering liquid media of different viscosity and preferably for metering liquid media for application to a printing carrier in varnishing units. In order to assure precise metering, exchangeable metering systems are assigned to a forme cylinder. If processing of low-viscosity media is required, a metering roller and an applicator roller of identical external diameter but different surface hardness are used. For the processing of higher-viscosity media, a chamber-type doctor with a screened applicator roller is used.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying a liquid medium to a printing carrier in offset printing machines. It is suitable for processing media of different viscosity, such as low-viscosity dispersion lacquers or higher-viscosity bronze and effect printing inks. In order to guarantee precise metering, two function modules are assigned in an exchangeable manner to a forme cylinder in two bearings. If processing of low-viscosity media is required, the first function module, consisting at least of a metering roller and an applicator roller, is used. For processing higher-viscosity media, the second function module, consisting at least of a screened applicator roller and a chamber-type doctor, is used.

Abstract: An apparatus for the automatic changing of new and used printing plates in sheet-fed offset printing machines, having a plurality of printing units, includes a central printing plate storage container and a printing plate transport apparatus. Mounted on each plate cylinder of a printing unit is a guide device which is pivotable so as to be capable of being thrown onto the plate cylinder and off from the latter and via which a new printing plate can be fed from above to the plate cylinder and, with the plate cylinder slowly rotating backwards, a used printing plate can also be conveyed out and upwards. Mounted above the printing machine is a guide rail on which a travelling carriage of the transport apparatus, having plate gripping and lifting devices, can be moved along all the printing units of the printing machine.

Abstract: A device for introducing printing plates more simply into the opened gripping region of a tension rail assigned to the print start of a plate cylinder. The device includes an introduction rail extending over the format width of the plate cylinder and adapted to be moved against the outer circumference of the plate cylinder into a specific angular position in the region of the print start. When the introduction rail is so positioned, the front edge of the printing plate may be introduced directly into the gripping region of the print-start tension rail via an introduction face formed on the introduction rail. The outer circumference of the plate cylinder coacts with the introduction face of the introduction rail to define a funnel-shaped region for receiving the front edge of the printing plate just prior to the latter being inserted into the tension rail.

Abstract: A clamping and tensioning rail for the trailing edge of a printing plate is mounted in the cylinder channel of a plate cylinder such that the trailing edge of the printing plate can be introduced in a simple way, without folding, into the gap between an upper and a lower clamping part. The clamping and tensioning rail is mounted pivotably about two pivot axes which are formed, for example, from stops fixed relatively to the cylinder and which interact respectively with an edge and an arcuate recess on the clamping and tensioning rail. Preferably, the clamping and tensioning rail is drawn into a completely open position by the force of a prestressed compression spring and can be pivoted against this force by an actuating shaft via lever arms and straps.

Abstract: A device for drawing and bending the trailing edge of a printing plate onto a plate cylinder of a printing machine such as a sheet-fed rotary printing press, in which a pressure roller with an attached actuatable folding strip draws a printing plate, which has its leading print edge fastened into a tension rail, around the outer circumference of the plate cylinder as the plate cylinder is rotated, to a position where the folding strip is actuated thereby introducing the trailing edge of the printing plate into a second tension rail. The device provides a means for drawing the printing plate onto the printing cylinder with a desirable uniform tension and without requiring auxiliary devices for pre-folding the printing plate in order to secure the trailing printing plate edge into a tension rail.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the varnishing and printing of sheets in a printing machine. A feed drum incorporates a counterpressure surface to form a first nip with an impression cylinder. As sheets are fed to the impression cylinder and transported through the first nip, a constant pressure at the first nip consistently transfers ink to a verso side of each sheet. Arranged thereafter, a varnishing cylinder supplied with a quantity of varnish contacts the impression cylinder creating a second nip. As the sheet passes through the second nip, the recto side of the sheet is coated with the varnish. The impression cylinder thus receives a constant pressure for transferring ink to the sheet independent of the pressure provided by the varnishing cylinder. Accordingly, even a partial or intermittent varnishing of the recto sheet side has no adverse effect on print quality, and the sheet does not have to be transferred from the impression cylinder to a separate varnishing unit.

Abstract: A chain operated sheet transport and transfer mechanism for sheet-fed printing machines having a plurality of printing units. The chain operated mechanism includes a plurality of gripper cars affixed to chains for movement between the printing units. The gripper cars each have a gripper impact strip and a pivotable gripper finger, with the gripper strip of each car extending the width of the gripper car and being of concave configuration. A bending device at the transfer zone of each printing unit is operable for acting on the gripper car to bend the concave gripper impact strips straight in order that sheets are transferred from one printing unit to the other without register deviation.

Abstract: In order to improve mechanical positive synchronization in a sheet-fed printing machine between gripper carriages guided in wave-like fashion through printing units on endless chains and the associated impression cylinder, the impression cylinders (1) have twice the diameter of the plate and blanket cylinders (2, 3). Sprocket wheels (34), also of twice the diameter of the blanket cylinders, are fixed on the ends of the double-size impression cylinders (1) and on them there are disposed two diametrically opposite gripper carriage locating and fixing devices (24-32) which are adjustable both radially and tangentially and which can also be used to bring the different printing plates into register with one another on the printed sheet (38).

Abstract: To obviate local differences in heat expansion in the ink duct, ink metering means and ductor roller, and to temper the printing ink, stabilize the ink-damping agent emulsion and protect the ductor roller from corrosion, the ink duct includes a heat insulating material secured to underside of the duct body and a mid-section portion of the duct body side facing the ductor roller is supplied with a warm air flow from the printing press, boosted by a plurality of fans.

Abstract: To permit accurate control of ink being transferred by an ink transfer roller from an ink source (6; 15, 16, 17) to an ink accepting roller (1, 10), the transfer roller (2, 11) has a surface layer (3, 12) which is made of compressible material, the surface layer being formed with shallow cup-like depression in a grid or similar raster pattern. Upon compression and deformation of the depth of the shallow cup-like depressions, the cup-like depressions will change their volume and thus change the quantity of ink being transferred. This also permits direct inking of a forme cylinder (1) by a chamber ink supply arrangement (6) since the hard surface of the forme cylinder will be engaged by the resilient or compressible surface layer (3, 12) of the transfer roller.