Abstract: In one aspect, a scrubber brush assembly is provided. The scrubber brush assembly includes (1) a cylindrical brush including exterior and interior surfaces; and (2) a sleeve having an exterior surface coupled to the interior surface of the scrubber brush and an interior surface. The exterior surface of the sleeve includes first coupling features adapted to prevent rotation of the sleeve relative to the brush. The scrubber brush assembly also includes a mandrel coupled to the interior surface of the sleeve. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: A shaft motion detection mechanism capable of detecting the displacement of a rotating body in a direction along a rotational axis and the rotation of the rotating body is disclosed. In one embodiment, the invention is a conditioner head capable of detecting the displacement of a polishing disk in a direction along a rotational axis and the rotation of the polishing disk. A shaft rotates around a rotational axis and a cylindrical shaft is attached to the shaft so that the shaft can be displaced along the rotational axis. A first plurality of projections are formed on the surface of the shaft so as to be aligned in a circumferential direction. A second projection is formed around the entire circumference on the surface of the shaft. Proximity sensors arranged around the rotational axis sense the first and second projections to detect displacement and rotation of the rotating body.

Abstract: To provide a shaft motion detection mechanism capable of detecting the displacement of a rotating body in a direction along a rotational axis and whether or not the rotating body is rotated, and a conditioner head capable of detecting the displacement of a polishing disk in a direction along a rotational axis and whether or not the polishing disk is rotated. A conditioner head 10 has a shaft 18 rotating around a rotational axis C, a cylindrical shaft 19 attached to the shaft 18 so as to be displaced along the rotational axis C, a frame 16 rotatably supporting the shaft 19, a plurality of projections 18c formed on the surface of the shaft 18 so as to be aligned in a circumferential direction, a projection 18d formed throughout the entire circumference on the surface of the shaft 18, and proximity sensors 30a to 30c arranged around the rotational axis C so as to face the shaft 18.

Abstract: In one aspect, a scrubber brush assembly is provided. The scrubber brush assembly includes (1) a cylindrical brush including exterior and interior surfaces; and (2) a sleeve having an exterior surface coupled to the interior surface of the scrubber brush and an interior surface. The exterior surface of the sleeve includes first coupling features adapted to prevent rotation of the sleeve relative to the brush. The scrubber brush assembly also includes a mandrel coupled to the interior surface of the sleeve. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of a load cup for transferring a substrate are provided. The load cup includes a pedestal assembly having a substrate support and a de-chucking nozzle. The de-chucking nozzle is positioned to flow a fluid between the polishing head and the back side of a substrate during transfer of the substrate from the polishing head to the substrate support.

Abstract: In an ink supply amount control method for a printing press, the number of ink fountain keys whose gap amount with respect to an ink fountain roller falls within a predetermined range is counted. On the basis of the count value, the swing operation of an ink ductor roller which is arranged in an ink supply path and swings in synchronism with rotation of the printing press is controlled. Ink is supplied from the gap between the plurality of ink fountain keys and the ink fountain roller to the ink supply path in accordance with rotation of the ink fountain roller at the time of printing. The ink is supplied to a printing plate attached to a plate cylinder through the ink supply path by the swing operation of the ink ductor roller. An ink supply amount control apparatus and a printing press are also disclosed.

Abstract: In an ink supply amount adjusting method for this printing machine, reference opening amounts of ink fountain keys are obtained in accordance with image area ratios of respective areas, corresponding to the ink fountain keys, of a plate by following a preset relationship between an image area ratio and opening amounts of the ink fountain keys. The obtained reference opening amounts are uniformly corrected with preset correction values, thereby obtaining set values of the opening amounts of the ink fountain keys. An ink supply amount adjusting apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of a load cup for transferring a substrate are provided. The load cup includes a pedestal assembly having a substrate support and a de-chucking nozzle. The de-chucking nozzle is positioned to flow a fluid between the polishing head and the back side of a substrate during transfer of the substrate from the polishing head to the substrate support.

Abstract: In an ink supply amount control method for a printing press, ink is supplied from the gap between a plurality of ink fountain keys and an ink fountain roller to an ink supply path in accordance with rotation of the ink fountain roller. The swing operation of an ink ductor roller is temporarily stopped. When the swing operation should intermittently be stopped, the operation of the ink fountain key or the ink fountain roller is controlled to control the ink supply amount to the ink ductor roller. Ink in a corrected amount is supplied to a printing plate attached to a plate cylinder through the ink supply path by the swing operation of the ink ductor roller. An ink supply amount control apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for numerically adjusting the home position of a plurality of ink fountain blades in a printing press. In the printing press, apparatus is provided for adjusting the ink feed amount to be supplied from an ink fountain into an ink fountain roller by adjusting the position of these ink fountain blades, supplying ink to a printing plate through the ink fountain roller, and printing the ink supplied on the printing plate on a printing sheet. The present method and apparatus first position each ink fountain blade at its home position, then set the indication of the position of each ink fountain blade at a predetermined value. Each ink fountain blade is then adjusted by the same amount while observing the indication of the position of each ink fountain blade. Finally, the position of each ink fountain blade as so adjusted is stored as a new home position.

Abstract: In an ink supply amount control method for a printing press, the number of ink fountain keys whose gap amount with respect to an ink fountain roller falls within a predetermined range is counted. On the basis of the count value, the swing operation of an ink ductor roller which is arranged in an ink supply path and swings in synchronism with rotation of the printing press is controlled. Ink is supplied from the gap between the plurality of ink fountain keys and the ink fountain roller to the ink supply path in accordance with rotation of the ink fountain roller at the time of printing. The ink is supplied to a printing plate attached to a plate cylinder through the ink supply path by the swing operation of the ink ductor roller. An ink supply amount control apparatus and a printing press are also disclosed.

Abstract: In an ink supply amount control method for a printing press, ink is supplied from the gap between a plurality of ink fountain keys and an ink fountain roller to an ink supply path in accordance with rotation of the ink fountain roller. The swing operation of an ink ductor roller is temporarily stopped. When the swing operation should intermittently be stopped, the operation of the ink fountain key or the ink fountain roller is controlled to control the ink supply amount to the ink ductor roller. Ink in a corrected amount is supplied to a printing plate attached to a plate cylinder through the ink supply path by the swing operation of the ink ductor roller. An ink supply amount control apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A sheet supply control apparatus for a printing press includes a sucker, a memory, a sheet detector, a counter, and a CPU. The sucker supplies sheets to a printing unit one by one with a predetermined supply interval. A count of sheets to be supplied to the printing unit is set in the memory. The sheet detector detects the sheets supplied from the sucker. The counter counts sheets supplied from the sucker after the sheet detector detects a first sheet. The CPU controls supply operation of the sucker, on the basis of the count preset in the memory and the count of the counter, such that the count of sheets supplied from the sucker coincides with the count preset in the memory. A sheet supply control method for a printing press is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for numerically adjusting the home position of a plurality of ink fountain blades in a printing press. In the printing press, apparatus is provided for adjusting the ink feed amount to be supplied from an ink fountain into an ink fountain roller by adjusting the position of these ink fountain blades, supplying ink to a printing plate through the ink fountain roller, and printing the ink supplied on the printing plate on a printing sheet. The present method and apparatus first position each ink fountain blade at its home position, then set the indication of the position of each ink fountain blade at a predetermined value. Each ink fountain blade is then adjusted by the same amount while observing the indication of the position of each ink fountain blade. Finally, the position of each ink fountain blade as so adjusted is stored as a new home position.

Abstract: In an ink supply amount adjusting method for this printing machine, reference opening amounts of ink fountain keys in units of ink colors are obtained in accordance with image area ratios of respective areas, corresponding to the ink fountain keys, of a plate by following a relationship between an image area ratio and opening amounts of the ink fountain keys, the relationship being preset to be common to the respective ink colors. The obtained reference opening amounts are uniformly corrected with correction values preset in units of ink colors, thereby obtaining preset values of the opening amounts of the ink fountain keys in units of ink colors. An ink supply amount adjusting apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A head for an image printing apparatus includes a housing, an air nozzle, an ink nozzle, a valve seat, a diaphragm, and an actuator. The housing has a cylindrical body with a bottom to cause a nozzle head to oppose a printing surface at a predetermined interval. The air nozzle is connected to an air path formed at a central portion of a front end face of the nozzle head. The ink nozzle is formed coaxial with the air nozzle, connected to an external pressurized ink tank, and formed in the nozzle head. The valve seat is formed in a rear opening end of the ink nozzle. The diaphragm is in tight contact with the valve seat and has a peripheral portion supported by the nozzle head. The actuator is supported by a support member in the housing and its operation end is fixed on a central portion of a surface of the diaphragm.