Abstract: The present invention provides a printing press. The printing press includes a frame, a plate cylinder, a plate cylinder support supporting the plate cylinder, a blanket cylinder for receiving an image from the plate cylinder, a blanket cylinder support supporting the blanket cylinder, an impression cylinder for supporting a printing substrate between the blanket cylinder and the impression cylinder, an actuator connected to and controlling a position of the plate cylinder support or the blanket cylinder support and a controller providing the actuator with a position setpoint, the actuator receiving position feedback signals to maintain the position setpoint during a printing operation. The present invention also provides a method for operating a printing press.

Abstract: A compact printing unit includes a plate cylinder, an impression cylinder, and an ink applicator roller in a printing press, in particular a label printing press. In the printing unit, the plate cylinder is disengageable from cylinders contacting the plate cylinder for the purpose of format variation. The plate cylinder is pivotable about the impression cylinder about a pivot axis which is parallel to the axis of rotation of the impression cylinder and a distance between the axes of rotation of the plate cylinder and the impression cylinder is variable. A printing press and a method of producing labels or self-adhesive labels in a printing press are also provided.

Abstract: A printing unit for printing a web of paper is provided. The printing unit includes a frame and an upper printing group and a lower printing group. The printing unit has at least one throw-on configuration and a blanket-changing throw-off configuration. The blanket cylinders are capable of each receiving at least one tubular blanket. The frame has, in at least one lateral wall, at least one opening to allow the passage of the tubular blankets. In the blanket-changing throw-off configuration, the blanket cylinder of the upper printing group has been moved upwards relative to the position which it occupies in the throw-on configuration and the blanket cylinder of the lower printing group has been moved downwards relative to the position which it occupies in the throw-on configuration, so that an adequate space is provided between the blanket cylinders to allow a web of paper printed by another printing unit to pass between them.

Abstract: An offset print unit includes a plate cylinder having an end, a rotatable plate cylinder support supporting the end and having a first bearing surface, a blanket cylinder having a blanket cylinder end, a rotatable blanket cylinder support supporting the end and having a second bearing surface and an actuating device for rotating the plate cylinder support and the blanket cylinder support, the first and second bearing surfaces contacting during a part of the rotation of the supports. A method is also provided.

Abstract: An offset print unit includes a plate cylinder, a blanket cylinder having an end and a blanket gear coaxial with the blanket cylinder, a drive axle or pinion supporting a gear driving the blanket gear and a blanket lift arm for selectively supporting the end to cantilever the blanket cylinder, the blanket lift arm being rotatable about the drive axle or pinion. A method is also provided.

Abstract: An offset print unit includes a plate cylinder having an end, a rotatable plate cylinder support supporting the end and having a first bearing surface, a blanket cylinder having a blanket cylinder end, a rotatable blanket cylinder support supporting the end and having a second bearing surface and an actuating device for rotating the plate cylinder support and the blanket cylinder support, the first and second bearing surfaces contacting during a part of the rotation of the supports. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A device is provided for engaging and/or disengaging a roller with or from a first mating roller. The device includes a second mating roller, with which the roller is engaged, and with a basic unit, with which the roller can be moved to or away from the first mating roller in the circumferential direction of the second mating roller. A process for engaging and/or disengaging a roller of a printing press with or from a first mating roller is provided wherein the roller is engaged with a second mating roller and the roller is guided in the circumferential direction of the second mating roller in the state in which it is engaged with the second mating roller.

Abstract: The sheet-fed or web-fed printing machine comprises a main unit (1), at least one mobile carriage (2) adapted to be coupled to the main unit for cooperation therewith during printing operations and to be moved away from the main unit during maintenance operations, a control unit for controlling displacement of said mobile carriage toward and away from said main unit, and an access zone (9, 9?) surrounding at least partly the mobile carriage for allowing a human operator to get access to the main unit and mobile carriage, which access zone lies outside of the displacement path (10) of the mobile carriage. The printing machine further comprises detection means (11) for monitoring the access zone and detecting presence of a human operator within the access zone.

Abstract: A web-fed rotary printing press is used for printing a web and consists of at least two satellite cylinders and of at least six cylinders, each of which defines a printing location in cooperation with the satellite cylinders. Each printing location can be brought into a printing-on or a printing-off position. The six or more printing locations can be positioned to all print the same side of the web. At least five of the printing locations, that can be positioned on the same side of the web, are arranged in direct succession along the path of travel of the web.

Abstract: A method of printing utilizing a plurality of printers, each capable of printing an image on a same side of a web, the method comprising: printing, by a first printer, of first images, separated by spaces, along a first side of a web; and printing, by a second printer, of second images at spaced positions within the spaces between the first images on the first side.

Abstract: A cylinder throwing-off/throwing-on controller for a multicolor lithographic rotary press in which paper splicing is performed.

Abstract: An offset perfecting press is disclosed which has a pair of blanket cylinders on opposite sides of a web traveling along a predefined path. Bearing different images to be printed, two plate cylinders are disposed in circumferentially spaced apart positions on each blanket cylinder. Each plate cylinder is independently movable between an image transfer position, where the plate cylinder is held to the blanket cylinder in order to print an image thereon for subsequent transfer to the web, and an image nontransfer position where the plate cylinder is spaced from the blanket cylinder. Only one plate cylinder is held in the image transfer position on each side of the web. For a change from one image to another, the plate cylinders that have been printing the opposite sides of the web are retracted to the image nontransfer positions, and the other plate cylinders, rotating in phase with the blanket cylinders, are moved to the image transfer positions. There is no need for stopping the web or the blanket cylinders.

Abstract: A printing press (32) with a pair of plate cylinders (12A, 12B) each having a cylindrical body (22A, 22B) and a central axis of rotation (20A, 20B) mounted in fixed parallel spaced relationship, a pair of blanket cylinders (14A, 14B) located adjacent the plate cylinders (12A, 12B) with each having a cylindrical body (30A, 30B) and a rotary axis (24A, 24B) parallel to the axes (20A, 20B) of the plate cylinders (12A, 12B), having a blanket cylinder throw off apparatus (26) mounting the blanket cylinders (14A, 14B) in an operative position in engagement with the pair of plate cylinders (12A, 12B), respectively, and with their rotary axes (24A, 24B) in lateral alignment with the axes of rotation (20A, 20B) of the plate cylinders to reduce vibration and a throw off position in which a throw off gap (39) exists between the pair of blanket cylinders (14A, 14B) and a pair of gaps (403, 43B) exist between the pair of plate cylinders (12A, 12B), respectively.

Abstract: A printing unit (10) includes a frame (22), first and second brackets (50, 54), and upper and lower plate cylinders (14, 18). The first bracket (50) is supported on the frame (22) for movement relative to the frame (22). The upper plate cylinder (14) has an end supported to move with the first bracket (50). The second bracket (54) also is supported on the frame (22) for movement relative to the frame (22), and the lower plate cylinder (18) has an end supported to move with the second bracket (54). The printing unit (10) also includes a skewing mechanism and a throw-off mechanism. The skewing mechanism moves the brackets (50, 54) transversely relative to the frame (22) independently of each other. The throw-off mechanism moves the brackets (50, 54) pivotally relative to the frame (22).

Abstract: To permit easy change-over between double-prime, double-verso (2/2) printing on a substrate web (5) and double-prime, single-verso (2/1) printing, the cylinders are arranged in printing couples so that first and second blanket cylinders (1, 2) are in printing engagement with each other, with the web (5) therebetween and printing couples including blanket cylinders (3, 4) independently of the blanket cylinders (1, 2) are in engagement with each other, with the web therebetween. One (3) of the blanket cylinders of the printing couples is eccentrically shiftable from engagement with the associated blanket cylinder into engagement with another blanket cylinder (2) so that said other blanket cylinder will function as an impression cylinder for one prime image, and as a printing cylinder for the verso image, while, at the same time, another prime image is being applied thereagainst by the shifted blanket cylinder (3).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement for eliminating the play or clearance between an eccentric bearing bush for a printing cylinder bearing and a bearing hole which rotatably accommodates the bush in the side frame of the printing press. Mutually contiguous surfaces of the bearing bush and the bearing hole are formed with contours which provide mutual contact between the surfaces along two areas which are substantially parallel to the bearing hole axis. The contact surfaces are separated by an angle of less than 180.degree. defined by gaps between an outer surface of the bush and an inner surface of the bearing hole.

Abstract: An offset lithographic web printing press capable of printing a series of relatively short runs without interruption and with minimum waste of web material. The press includes a plurality of printing units. During a given run, some of the printing units are in a printing mode, while others are in a nonprinting or thrown-off mode. The web moves freely through the units which are thrown-off while those units are made ready for a succeeding run. Each unit includes a motor which has adequate capacity to drive such auxiliary equipment as a web infeed and folder, in addition to the unit, itself. Each unit motor may be clutched into a common drive line passing through all the units in order to drive the infeed and folder. Each printing unit also includes apparatus for throwing the printing cylinders of the unit to and from the web, and for changing the attitude of the web as it passes through the unit.