Abstract: A device for measuring stiffness of the string bed of a racket, includes a main body adapted to sit on the string bed; a force measuring device mounted to the main body; a biasing arrangement connected to the force measuring device and adapted to be connected to the string bed for deflecting the string bed in relation to the force measuring device, and causing the force measuring device to output a signal corresponding to the deflection of the string bed; a stop connected to the main body in a manner such that the stop is not acted upon by the deflection of the string bed when deflected by the biasing arrangement and which limits the string bed to a predetermined amount of deflection by the biasing arrangement; a switch to provide an output when the string bed is deflected to at least a predetermined position; a display for displaying the stiffness of the string bed in accordance with the signal output from the force measuring device in response to a change in the output from the switch as the string bed move

Abstract: An end seal for a fluid chamber which supplies fluid to a roll, includes a generally parallelepiped compressible member having first and second opposite sides and including a first end section having a first inclined planar upper surface, a second end section having a second inclined planar upper surface, and a central section which connects together the first and second end sections, the central section having an arcuate upper surface for receiving the roll, the arcuate upper surface connected to the first and second inclined planar upper surfaces at respective apices; and at least one pressure relieving recess positioned in the compressible member at a position below at least one apex, each pressure relieving recess extending through one side of the compressible member and terminating short of the opposite side of the compressible member so as to define a membrane of the compressible member thereat.

Abstract: A method for laser ablating an image on a blank printing plate, includes providing a peripheral tolerance region at the edges of a printing plate, mounting the printing plate on a roller, detecting positions of at least one edge of the printing plate, determining positions of all edges of the printing plate in accordance with the detection, determining an image area within boundaries of the printing plate, laser ablating an image on the printing, within the image area, laser ablating all areas outside of the image area on the printing plate to provide a relief area at which no printing, based on the determined positions of all edges of the printing plate, and controlling the laser to prevent any laser ablation outside of boundaries of the edges of the printing plate, based on the determined positions of all edges of the printing plate, within the provided peripheral tolerance region.

Abstract: A chamber blade/sealing assembly for use with a fluid chamber which supplies fluid to a roll, includes a containment blade including an elongated thin plate having opposite ends; and a wear element which increases at least one of stiffness and wear of the thin plate, mounted to a surface of the thin plate at the opposite ends thereof. First and second end seals for sealing first and second ends of the fluid chamber, each include a supporting wall, an upper concave surface on the supporting wall and adapted to engage an outer surface of the roll, and a first upper supporting surface extending from one end of the upper concave surface, the first upper supporting surface adapted to receive the wear element such that the wear element does not substantially increase pressure from the roll on the containment blade at the first upper supporting surface.

Abstract: A printing structure for printing on a medium, includes a first layer having an outer surface adapted to receive ink for printing on the medium, the first layer having a first hardness and/or a first surface energy; and a second layer positioned outside of the first layer, the second layer having an outer surface adapted to receive ink for printing on the medium and the second layer having a second hardness which is less than the first hardness and/or a second surface energy which is greater than the first surface energy, and portions of the second layer are removed to expose the outer surface of the first layer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for calibration of laser ablating energy versus ablating depth for a laser ablateable printing plate in relation to materials forming the printing plate, includes a memory for storing data, for each of a plurality of materials, corresponding to correlated different detected depths of each of a plurality of laser ablated areas with ablating energy levels. A first laser ablates a printing image of desired depth in a printing plate formed by a selected one of the materials. A first control device interpolates laser ablating energy levels for the printing image of desired depth in the printing plate formed by the selected material, in accordance with the stored data and the selected material, and controls the laser to laser ablate the printing image in the printing plate of the selected material in accordance with the interpolated laser ablating energy levels.

Abstract: A sealing assembly for an ink chamber associated with an anilox roll, includes a doctor blade having a doctoring edge, with each end having a notch at the doctoring edge, and first and second seals adapted to seal ends of the ink chamber. Each seal includes a peripheral supporting wall, an upper wall thereon including an upper concave surface for engaging an outer surface of the anilox roll, a flat upper supporting surface at opposite ends of the upper wall on which ends of the doctor blade seat, and an extension above the flat upper supporting surface for engaging within the notch at the end of the doctor blade to permit the doctor blade to bend thereat. A lubricant chamber is defined therein and the upper wall includes an opening through which the lubricant is forced out of the lubricant chamber due to external pressure.

Abstract: A seal adapted to seal an end of a fluid chamber which supplies fluid to a roll, includes at least one supporting wall and an upper concave surface on the at least one supporting wall and adapted to engage an outer surface of the roll. First and second, sloping, upper supporting surfaces are formed at opposite ends of the upper concave surface for receiving an end of a doctor/sealing blade thereon. Four flexible, resilient upstanding wings are provided along side edges of the first and second upper supporting surfaces for providing a sealing engagement with the doctor/sealing blades, even when the doctor/sealing blades bow outwardly away from the first and second upper supporting surfaces.

Abstract: Apparatus for balancing a printing roller having an image producing area thereon, includes a detector for detecting any unbalance of the printing roller during rotation thereof. A computer determines weight adjustments of the printing roller that are required to correct the unbalance, in response to the detection. A laser is controlled by the computer to remove material, in response to the determination, from at least one engraveable plate mounted on the outer surface of the printing roller or from the printing roller itself, in an area outside of the image producing area, in order to balance the printing roller.

Abstract: A sealing assembly for an ink chamber associated with an anilox roll, includes a doctor blade having a doctoring edge, with each end having a notch at the doctoring edge, and first and second seals adapted to seal ends of the ink chamber. Each seal includes a peripheral supporting wall, an upper wall thereon including an upper concave surface for engaging an outer surface of the anilox roll, a flat upper supporting surface at opposite ends of the upper wall on which ends of the doctor blade seat, and an extension above the flat upper supporting surface for engaging within the notch at the end of the doctor blade to permit the doctor blade to bend thereat. A lubricant chamber is defined therein and the upper wall includes an opening through which the lubricant is forced out of the lubricant chamber due to external pressure.

Abstract: Apparatus for reducing variations in total indicated run-out and taper in a printing roller, includes a detector which detects variations in total indicated run-out and taper in a surface of the printing roller, and a laser which ablates the surface of the printing roller. A control device controls the laser to ablate the surface in a manner to reduce variations in the total indicated run-out and taper in the printing roller, in response to the detector, while there is relative rotation and lengthwise movement between the printing roller and the laser and detector. Also, a printing plate is mounted on the printing roller, and the control device controls the laser to reduce the total indicated run-out and taper by further ablating a surface of the printing plate. The control device further controls the laser to etch an image into the printing plate.

Abstract: For use with an ink chamber housing of a printing machine, a combination includes a doctor blade adapted to be secured to the ink chamber housing so as to extend outwardly therefrom, the doctor blade including a doctoring plate having a rear portion to be secured to the ink chamber housing and a front doctoring edge in contact with the outer surface of the roll to meter ink thereto, and a chamber doctor blade shield having one end fixed to the doctor blade in spaced relation from the doctoring edge and a second opposite free end unsecured to the doctoring plate, so as to cover the outer surface of the ink chamber housing to prevent ink from depositing thereon when the combined doctor blade and chamber doctor blade shield is clamped to the chamber housing.

Abstract: For use with an ink chamber housing of a printing machine, a combination includes a doctor blade adapted to be secured to the ink chamber housing so as to extend outwardly therefrom, the doctor blade including a doctoring plate having a rear portion to be secured to the ink chamber housing and a front doctoring edge in contact with the outer surface of the roll to meter ink thereto, and a chamber doctor blade shield having one end fixed to the doctor blade in spaced relation from the doctoring edge and a second opposite free end unsecured to the doctoring plate, so as to cover the outer surface of the ink chamber housing to prevent ink from depositing thereon when the combined doctor blade and chamber doctor blade shield is clamped to the chamber housing.

Abstract: A printing roller system includes a hollow, cylindrical mandrel which is closed at opposite ends thereof, with an air inlet in one end and a radial bore extending through the mandrel; journal members rotatably holding the mandrel; a resilient and compressible covering layer fixedly mounted on the mandrel and including a cut-away groove in fluid communication with the radial bore; an inelastic printing sleeve removably mounted on the covering layer; and a pressurized air supply connected with the air inlet for supplying the pressurized air to an interior of the mandrel and out through the radial bore and the cut-away groove to a position between at least a portion of the sleeve and the covering layer in order to compress the covering layer and permit mounting of the sleeve on the covering layer and dismounting of the sleeve from the covering layer.

Abstract: A printing carrier sleeve for mounting printing plates thereon, is formed by cutting a sheet of flexible plastic material having opposite edges into a substantially rectangular shape of desired dimensions such that opposite edges are cut-away to provide complementary tabs and openings that interlock with each other, adhering printing plates on the sheet when the sheet is in a substantially flat condition, securing opposite edges of the sheet together in abutting relation so as to prevent air from passing between the opposite edges, and thereby forming the printing carrier sleeve in a cylindrical configuration, by placing a strip of tape on a forming cylinder, securing one edge of the rectangular sheet on the strip of tape on the cylinder, and wrapping the opposite edge of the sheet about the cylinder into abutting relation with the one edge to provide the interlocking arrangement.

Abstract: A doctor blade for a printing press includes a thin unbroken doctoring plate having a rear portion secured to a chamber housing of a printing press and a front portion with a doctoring edge which contacts an outer surface of an ink roll to meter ink thereto; and a thin sealing layer secured across one surface of the thin doctoring plate at a rear portion thereof and spaced away from the doctoring edge so as to be out of contact with the outer surface of the ink roll when the doctor blade is secured in the printing press, the sealing layer being made from a closed cell foam and having a thickness in the range from 0.005 to 0.125 inch, the thin sealing layer being sandwiched between the thin doctoring plate and the chamber housing to prevent migration of ink therebetween.

Abstract: In a printing press having a chamber body, a doctor blade clamping assembly includes a leaf spring having a plurality of leaves assembled together in overlying relation to each other, the leaves being of different lengths; bolts extending through the leaf spring and secured to the chamber body, the bolts engaging the leaf spring to secure the leaf spring to the chamber body in at least partial overlying relation to a doctor blade such that the leaf spring applies a biasing force to the doctor blade to clamp the doctor blade to the chamber body; an inflatable bladder positioned in a recessed area in the chamber body and at least indirectly engaging the leaf spring when the bladder is inflated so as to bias the leaf spring in a direction away from the doctor blade to release the doctor blade from the biasing force of the leaf spring; a conduit connected with the bladder; a spacer positioned in the recessed area between the bladder and the leaf spring; a bladder control connected with the conduit, the bladder co