Abstract: A positive control signature transferring assembly, for use in a lower folder, transports and diverts signatures under positive control. The assembly has a first positive control deceleration device having grippers for transporting some of the signatures of a stream of signatures to a first delivery stream. The assembly has a gripper cylinder containing a plurality of grippers for gripping a leading edge and a trailing edge of each of the remaining signatures in the signature stream for transporting the signatures on the gripper cylinder. A second positive control deceleration device has grippers for transporting the remaining signatures released by the gripper cylinder to a second delivery stream. In this manner, the signatures are positively controlled at all times and alignment and fixed pitch errors are significantly reduced.

Abstract: An improved printing press includes a tubular-shaped printing blanket removably disposed on a blanket cylinder rotatably supported by a frame and having an outer circumferential surface. The printing blanket is disposed in rolling engagement with a conventional printing plate disposed on a plate cylinder having an axially extending gap in which opposite ends of the printing plate are secured. The printing blanket is removed by opening a portion of the frame and axially sliding the printing blanket off of the blanket cylinder. The blanket cylinder has passages which deliver a stream of air to the outer surface of the blanket cylinder which expands the inner circumferential surface of the printing blanket so that the blanket can be axially removed or inserted onto the blanket cylinder. The printing blanket has a metal inner surface which is tensioned by the blanket cylinder to retain the printing blanket on the blanket cylinder during operation of the press.

Abstract: An improved printing press includes a tubular-shaped printing blanket removably disposed on a blanket cylinder rotatably supported by a frame and having an outer circumferential surface. The printing blanket is disposed in rolling engagement with a conventional printing plate disposed on a plate cylinder having an axially extending gap in which opposite ends of the printing plate are secured. The printing blanket is removed by opening a portion of the frame and axially sliding the printing blanket off of the blanket cylinder. The blanket cylinder has passages which deliver a stream of air to the outer surface of the blanket cylinder which expands the inner circumferential surface of the printing blanket so that the blanket can be axially removed or inserted onto the blanket cylinder. The printing blanket has a metal inner surface which is tensioned by the blanket cylinder to retain the printing blanket on the blanket cylinder during operation of the press.

Abstract: An improved printing press includes a tubular-shaped printing blanket removably disposed on a blanket cylinder rotatably supported by a frame and having an outer circumferential surface. The printing blanket is disposed in rolling engagement with a conventional printing plate disposed on a plate cylinder having an axially extending gap in which opposite ends of the printing plate are secured. The printing blanket is removed by opening a portion of the frame and axially sliding the printing blanket off of the blanket cylinder. The blanket cylinder has passages which deliver a stream of air to the outer surface of the blanket cylinder which expands the inner circumferential surface of the printing blanket so that the blanket can be axially removed or inserted onto the blanket cylinder. The printing blanket has a metal inner surface which is tensioned by the blanket cylinder to retain the printing blanket on the blanket cylinder during operation of the press.

Abstract: An improved printing press includes a tubular-shaped printing blanket removably disposed on a blanket cylinder rotatably supported by a frame and having a continuous outer circumferential surface which is free of gaps. The printing blanket is disposed in rolling engagement with a conventional printing plate disposed on a plate cylinder having an axially extending gap in which opposite ends of the printing plate are secured. The printing blanket is removed by opening a portion of the frame and axially sliding the printing blanket off of the blanket cylinder. To assist in the removal or insertion of the printing blanket the blanket cylinder has passages which deliver a stream of air to the outer surface of the blanket cylinder which expands the inner circumferential surface of the printing blanket so that the blanket can be axially removed or inserted onto the blanket cylinder.

Abstract: An improved printing press includes a tubular-shaped printing blanket removably disposed on a blanket cylinder rotatably supported by a frame and having a continuous outer circumferential surface which is free of gaps. The printing blanket is disposed in rolling engagement with a conventional printing plate disposed on a plate cylinder having an axially extending gap in which opposite ends of the printing plate are secured. The printing blanket is removed by opening a portion of the frame and axially sliding the printing blanket off of the blanket cylinder. To assist in the removal or insertion of the printing blanket the blanket cylinder has passages which deliver a stream of air to the outer surface of the blanket cylinder which expands the inner circumferential surface of the printing blanket so that the blanket can be axially removed or inserted onto the blanket cylinder.

Abstract: Sheet delivery device employing a vertically-movable main pile hoist, a horizontally-insertable auxiliary platen and a racking device having board-supporting ledges immediately below the platen. The auxiliary platen and racking device are mounted on framework of a vertically movable auxiliary pile hoist, and thus move in unison between an upper sheet-receiving limit and a lower pile-discharge limit. When used for pile racking, the platen is first inserted below a conventional sheet conveyor to temporarily receive sheets. A racking board is next inserted below the platen, being supported by side ledges of the racking device. Once the board is in position and the ledges have been removed, the platen may be removed to deposit a newly-forming pile of sheets from the platen onto the board for conventional racking of small sheet piles.