Abstract: A processing machine is configured, in particular, as a printing machine and has a plurality of processing stations for the processing of typically hollow bodies. The processing stations for the processing of the bodies are arranged in an operating chamber each at different positions, in a state in which they are lined up in a row in the direction of transport of the bodies which are to be processed. The processing stations are arranged in the same horizontal plane in the operating chamber. A body which is to be processed, or which has been processed, is transported from one processing station to the next processing station beneath that horizontal plane in which the individual processing stations are arranged. A plurality of simultaneously operated, or simultaneously operable, handling devices are provided in the operating chamber. Each handling device is provided for transporting at least one body which is to be processed, or which has been processed.

Abstract: A processing machine is configured, in particular, as a printing machine and has a plurality of processing stations for the processing of typically hollow bodies. The processing stations for the processing of the bodies are arranged in an operating chamber each at different positions, in a state in which they are lined up in a row in the direction of transport of the bodies which are to be processed. The processing stations are arranged in the same horizontal plane in the operating chamber. A body which is to be processed, or which has been processed, is transported from one processing station to the next processing station beneath that horizontal plane in which the individual processing stations are arranged. A plurality of simultaneously operated, or simultaneously operable, handling devices are provided in the operating chamber. Each handling device is provided for transporting at least one body which is to be processed, or which has been processed.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating such as printing objects transports the objects through treatment stations along a transport path using at least one transport means. The transport means is in the form of an endless flexible belt which circulates in a vertical plane and which is provided at its outer surface with holding means for the objects to be decorated. The holding means are in the form of flexible portions of plastic material which are connected to the belt. The belt and the holding means are provided with at least one opening connectable to a reduced pressure source in such a way that the reduced pressure acts on an object in the respective holding means and fixes it in its position.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating such as printing objects transports the objects through treatment stations along a transport path using at least one transport means. The transport means is in the form of an endless flexible belt which circulates in a vertical plane and which is provided at its outer surface with holding means for the objects to be decorated. The holding means are in the form of flexible portions of plastic material which are connected to the belt. The belt and the holding means are provided with at least one opening connectable to a reduced pressure source in such a way that the reduced pressure acts on an object in the respective holding means and fixes it in its position.

Abstract: In an apparatus for decorating stiff articles using a screen printing process, an object carried by an object carrier and the stencil are advanced synchronously along a transport path during a printing operation. A doctor co-operable with the stencil is movable in an opposite relationship to the direction of movement of the stencil and the object. In the region of the at least one screen printing station is a transport screw with at least one screw flight as a drive for the object carrier, which is in engagement with the screw flight of the screw. During a printing operation the object carrier with object, on the one hand, and the stencil, on the other hand, pass synchronously through an acceleration phase and a deceleration phase. The printing stroke of the stencil is less than the total stroke thereof in the direction of movement of the object carrier.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for printing on material in web form print images are successively applied to the web by a transfer cylinder. The web is continuously drawn into the printing station and the speed at which the web is moved in the printing station during a printing operation is greater than the speed at which it is drawn into the printing station. After the printing operation the web is positioned in the printing station for the following printing operation relative to the transfer cylinder which is not in contact with the web during a part of a revolution of 360.degree., and at the same time the path of the web is altered in accordance with the change in the speed thereof. The web is driven by the impression cylinder which is associated with the transfer cylinder and around the peripheral surface of which the web partially passes. Positioning of the web for the respectively following printing operation is implemented by a change in the rotary movement of the impression cylinder.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for printing on material in web form print images are successively applied to the web by a transfer cylinder. The web is continuously drawn into the printing station and the speed at which the web is moved in the printing station during a printing operation is greater than the speed at which it is drawn into the printing station. After the printing operation the web is positioned in the printing station for the following printing operation relative to the transfer cylinder which is not in contact with the web during a part of a revolution of 360°, and at the same time the path of the web is altered in accordance with the change in the speed thereof. The web is driven by the impression cylinder which is associated with the transfer cylinder and around the peripheral surface of which the web partially passes. Positioning of the web for the respectively following printing operation is implemented by a change in the rotary movement of the impression cylinder.

Abstract: In an apparatus for decorating stiff articles using a screen printing process, an object carried by an object carrier and the stencil are advanced synchronously along a transport path during a printing operation. A doctor co-operable with the stencil is movable in an opposite relationship to the direction of movement of the stencil and the object. In the region of the at least one screen printing station is a transport screw with at least one screw flight as a drive for the object carrier, which is in engagement with the screw flight of the screw. During a printing operation the object carrier with object, on the one hand, and the stencil, on the other hand, pass synchronously through an acceleration phase and a deceleration phase. The printing stroke of the stencil is less than the total stroke thereof in the direction of movement of the object carrier.

Abstract: An apparatus for decorating objects which are carried by object carriers and are transported along a transport path through treatment stations of the apparatus includes an input station at which objects to be printed upon are introduced into the object carriers and a removal station at which the printed objects are removed from the respective object carriers. At spacings from the transport path are arranged at least one separating station at which the objects to be printed upon, which are stacked in a magazine, are individually removed, and at least one collecting station for the printed objects. The apparatus has a reciprocable first lift device arranged above the stack in the separating station and a first transport device for taking over the individual objects and transporting the separated objects towards the input station.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the exposure of printing plates for a printing mechanism, wherein the respective printing plate is mounted to a cylinder. Two exposure stations each have a holder for the respective cylinders, with which there is associated a common laser optical system mounted reciprocably between the two exposure stations. A carriage carrying the laser optical system is reciprocable with a movement component parallel to the axis of rotation of the cylinder in the respective station. In each exposure station a support element is operable to support a shaft carrying the respective cylinder, the support element being reciprocatingly slidable between a first position in which it supports the shaft near an end thereof and a second position in which it releases the shaft.

Abstract: A holder is provided for holding an article in a machine for decorating articles, the holder including a base member, a format plate arranged releasably above the base member with an opening in the format plate for receiving the article, and an intermediate plate between the base member and the format plate. On its side facing the format plate the intermediate plate has a layer of soft material, such as a plastic film, to support the article. The intermediate plate and the format plate are easily releasably mounted on the base member. To replace the film, the intermediate plate with film can be removed from the holder and replaced by another intermediate plate carrying a fresh film.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for printing on material in web form print images are successively applied to the web by a transfer cylinder. The web is continuously drawn into the printing station and the speed at which the web is moved in the printing station during a printing operation is greater than the speed at which it is drawn into the printing station. After the printing operation the web is positioned in the printing station for the following printing operation relative to the transfer cylinder which is not in contact with the web during a part of a revolution of 360°, and at the same time the path of the web is altered in accordance with the change in the speed thereof. The web is driven by the impression cylinder which is associated with the transfer cylinder and around the peripheral surface of which the web partially passes. Positioning of the web for the respectively following printing operation is implemented by a change in the rotary movement of the impression cylinder.

Abstract: A holder is provided for holding an article in a machine for decorating articles, the holder including a base member, a format plate arranged releasably above the base member with an opening in the format plate for receiving the article, and an intermediate plate between the base member and the format plate. On its side facing the format plate the intermediate plate has a layer of soft material, such as a plastic film, to support the article. The intermediate plate and the format plate are easily releasably mounted on the base member. To replace the film, the intermediate plate with film can be removed from the holder and replaced by another intermediate plate carrying a fresh film.

Abstract: A device for use in a rotary printing machine having at least one printing mechanism including a plate cylinder which can be releasably mounted on a shaft carrying the plate cylinder. The plate cylinder and the shaft can be oriented both axially and also in the peripheral direction relative to the shaft and thus relative to the article to be printed. When the plate cylinder and the shaft are oriented as desired, the plate cylinder is capable of being fixedly attached to the shaft. The plate cylinder can be fixed in the peripheral direction and in the axial direction.

Abstract: An apparatus for decorating articles has at least one article carrier which is movable along a transport path through treatment stations and which is connected to a vacuum source at least over a portion of the transport path for holding an article in the article carrier by the vacuum. A stationary vacuum duct is arranged along at least a portion of the transport path, to make a connection between the vacuum source and the article carrier. At least one vacuum conduit in the article carrier is connected to the vacuum duct by way of a connecting conduit which is connected to the vacuum conduit in the article carrier and which is moved along the transport path. The vacuum duct is provided with an opening for the passage of the vacuum to the connecting conduit, the opening being movable along the vacuum duct.

Abstract: In an apparatus and method of decorating articles which are transported on article carriers through a treatment station along a transport path which is linear at least over a portion of its extent, the article carriers are transported through the linear portion of the transport path by a screw having a screw flight adapted to engage with a respective article carrier required to move along the linear portion of the transport path. Rotation of the screw advances the respective article carrier along the linear transport path portion. The screw preferably rotates at a constant speed so that changes in the speed of movement of the article carrier along the linear portion of the transport path are implemented by variations in the screw flight pitch over the length of the screw.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing on individual articles comprises a printing cylinder and an impression cylinder. When printing on articles with a cavity for accommodating for example a chip the wall region of the card which delimits the cavity has to be supported for printing on the side opposite the cavity. For that purpose the impression cylinder has a support portion engageable into the cavity when the article passes the impression cylinder. For converting the apparatus between printing procedures of different kinds the support portion is displaceable between an inoperative position and an operative position by displacement of the impression cylinder in the direction of rotation thereof so that in one basic angular position the support portion does not come into contact with the articles passing the impression cylinder during the printing operation and in another basic angular position the support portion engages into the cavity of the article.

Abstract: In a process and apparatus for printing on flat individual articles such as cards by means of offset printing, the article, before being moved into a starting position for the printing operation, is firstly aligned relative to the printing cylinder. While the article is maintained in the aligned position by suction force, the article is then transferred on to a holding device and into the starting position for the printing operation. The holding device with article is then moved in a first direction relative to the printing cylinder for transfer of the print image therefrom on to that article. The holding device then moves in a second direction opposite to the first direction. During that movement the article with print image thereon is displaced relative to the holding device on which it is supported, to provide space on the holding device for the article to be printed upon in the following working cycle.

Abstract: In a process and apparatus for printing on flat individual articles such as CDs by means of offset printing, the surface to be printed upon and the offset printing cylinder which is rolled against the article are adjusted relative to each other to produce a pressure effect which is favorable to transfer of the print image on to the article in order to compensate for differences in thickness between the individual articles. When adjusting the printing cylinder and the surface to be printed upon relative to each other, the radial position of transfer surfaces at the periphery of the printing cylinder may, if necessary, be taken into account. In the absence of an article in the printing station, it is possible to provide a replacement article in the form of a web of material, on to which the print image intended for the missing article is transferred from the printing cylinder.