Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of the intaglio printing process. In particular, the present invention relates to a method that combines intaglio inks curable by oxidation with UV-VIS-curable intaglio inks on one intaglio plate or cylinder. The disclosed method results in an intaglio printed security element using advantageously the unalike properties of the different inks while enabling the printing on a standard printing press in one printing step.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a product comprising an array of product features (3) arranged on a surface (7) of a substrate sheet (5), and an arrangement for the production of such products. In this method curable compound (13) is filled into recesses of a matrix (8), pre-cured and then printed onto the substrate sheet (5), thereby forming printed product features (3). These printed product features (3) and additional product features (2) arranged on the opposed side of the substrate sheet (5) may form image objects and focusing elements, respectively, of a synthetic image device. By way of example a cast cure step can be used to form the additional product features (2). Preferably the production of the product is performed in a continuous roll-to-roll process.

Abstract: A proof printing press includes an impression cylinder, a collecting cylinder, and a wiping roller, which are positioned relative to a plate cylinder such that a length of an outer circumference of the plate cylinder at a downstream side of a facing position P1 in a rotation direction of the plate cylinder is longer than a length in a circumferential direction of a mounting surface of the plate cylinder, where the length of the outer circumference of the plate cylinder extends between the facing position P1 where the plate cylinder faces the collecting cylinder and a facing position P2 where the plate cylinder faces the wiping roller, and that a length of the outer circumference of the plate cylinder at a downstream side of the facing position P2 in the rotation direction of the plate cylinder is longer than the length in the circumferential direction of the mounting surface of the plate cylinder, where the length of the outer circumference of the plate cylinder extends between the facing position P2 where th

Abstract: A wiping device includes an intaglio cylinder, a cylinder cleaning device, and a wiping liquid supply device. The intaglio cylinder is rotatably supported. The cylinder cleaning device removes excess ink adhered to an outer surface of the intaglio cylinder. The wiping liquid supply device supplies a wiping liquid for cleaning to the cylinder cleaning device. The wiping liquid supply device includes a waste liquid tank, a new liquid tank, a first pump, and second pump. The waste liquid tank stores a waste wiping liquid discharged from the cylinder cleaning device. The new liquid tank stores a clean wiping liquid. The first pump supplies the clean wiping liquid from the new liquid tank to the cylinder cleaning device. The second pump supplies a supernatant liquid of the waste wiping liquid stored in the waste liquid tank and separated into a precipitate and the supernatant liquid to the cylinder cleaning device.

Abstract: A doctor blade system intended for a print unit includes a doctor blade support provided with a blade, an edge of the blade is able to come into contact with a peripheral surface of an engraved printing cylinder, a supporting hub, on which the doctor blade support is mounted, a structure fixing the supporting hub to a frame of the print unit. Apparatus provides a reciprocating motion of the blade along the peripheral surface of the engraved cylinder roughly parallel to the axis of revolution of the engraved cylinder. Thrust elements drive movement of the blade along the direction of the peripheral surface of the engraved cylinder. The reciprocating apparatus directly drives the doctor blade support. The thrust element or elements move the supporting hub and the doctor blade support and the blade to maintain a constant contact over the entire length of the edge of the blade with the peripheral surface of the engraved cylinder.

Abstract: An embodiment is a method and apparatus to meter ink for electrographic printing. An ink loading mechanism having an anilox roller fills ink from an ink supply into cells in the anilox roller having a plurality of valleys and lands that form the cells. The ink loading mechanism causes the valleys to be full or nearly full with the ink. The anilox roller rotates in a first direction. A blanket roller rotationally engaged with the anilox roller pulls the ink out of the cells and causes the valleys to be partially filled. The blanket roller rotates in a second direction. A first cleaning blade cleans tops of the lands of the cells. Another embodiment is a method and apparatus to meter ink for electrographic printing. An ink loading mechanism having an anilox roller fills ink from an ink supply into cells in the anilox roller having a plurality of valleys and lands forming the cells. The ink loading mechanism causes the valleys to be full or nearly full with the ink.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to meter ink for electrographic printing is disclosed. An ink loading mechanism having an anilox roller fills ink from an ink supply into cells in the anilox roller having a plurality of valleys and lands that form the cells. The ink loading mechanism causes the valleys to be full or nearly full with the ink. The anilox roller rotates in a first direction. In one embodiment, a soft blade positioned slightly below surface of the lands removes ink from the cells and causes the valleys to be partially filled as the anilox roller rotates. A hard blade positioned at the surface of the lands to clean residue of ink on the surface of the lands as the anilox roller rotates. In another embodiment, a blanket roller rotationally engaged with the anilox roller pulls ink out of the cells and causes the valleys to be partially filled. The blanket roller rotates in a second direction. A first cleaning blade cleans tops of the lands of the cells.

Abstract: A printing surface includes a substrate having latching electrodes on a first surface, a spacer layer on the first surface of the substrate, the spacer layer patterned to form wells such that the latching electrodes reside in the wells, a deformable membrane, the membrane having conductive regions, on the spacer layer to enclose the wells, each enclosed well and its associated region of the membrane forming a pixel membrane, and actuation circuitry to actuate the electrodes to cause selected ones of the pixel membranes to remain in a deflected state when the pixel membranes receive an impulse to return to an undeflected state.

Abstract: An intaglio printing press includes an intaglio cylinder supported rotatably, an inking device for supplying ink to the intaglio cylinder, a wiping device for removing a surplus ink of the ink supplied to the intaglio cylinder, and a prewiping device, provided upstream of the wiping device and downstream of the inking device in the direction of rotation of the intaglio cylinder, for removing the ink before being removed by the wiping device. The prewiping device has a belt conveyor device for discharging the removed ink to the outside of the printing press.

Abstract: An intaglio printing press includes a rotatably supported intaglio cylinder, and a wiping roller and a wiping tank for removing excess ink from the intaglio cylinder. A rotatably supported fountain roller is provided. Wall plates and a bottom plate for supplying ink to the fountain roller, or an ink collection pan and a doctor blade for collecting ink through contact with the fountain roller is selectively provided. When the wall plates and the bottom plate are provided, the fountain roller supplies ink to the intaglio cylinder. When the ink collection pan and the doctor blade are provided, the fountain roller collects ink from the intaglio cylinder.

Abstract: An intaglio printing press includes, an intaglio plate cylinder, inking units, each having an ink supplying pattern roller in contact with the intaglio plate cylinder, and each ink supplying pattern roller having different supply patterned portions, an ink removing unit which removes surplus ink of the ink supplied to the intaglio plate cylinder, an ink recycling unit provided upstream of the ink removing unit with respect to a rotation direction of the intaglio plate cylinder and downstream of the inking unit, and adapted to remove ink before the ink is removed by the ink removing unit and return the removed ink to the inking unit. The ink recycling unit includes precedence ink removing means which includes a pre-wiping pattern roller in contact with the intaglio plate cylinder for removing the ink from the intaglio plate cylinder, and ink returning means which returns the removed ink to the inking unit.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to disclose an apparatus and method for printing a spark plug, wherein an excellent print quality is obtained and maintained. The printing apparatus comprises: a marking roller for forming an ink film on an intaglio on itself; a transfer roller for transferring the ink film from the intaglio to the spark plug insulator; an ink supply nozzle for supplying the intaglio with the printing ink; and a doctor blade for scratching a surplus ink which does not contribute to form the ink film. the concave depth of the intaglio is made to be between 15 ?m and 20 ?m, both inclusive, thereby optimizing the ink drying.

Abstract: An intaglio printing ink comprising a first binder compound selected from the group of water-soluble or water-thinnable acrylate oligomers, and optionally, a second monomeric binder compound selected from the group comprising water-soluble or water-thinnable PEG diacrylate or polyethoxylated polyol triacrylate monomers to adjust the viscosity of the ink composition. To initiate polymerization of the binder compounds upon irradiation by electromagnetic radiation or electron beam radiation a photoinitiator is included. Further optional additives, such as pigments, fillers, photosensitizers, stabilizers emulsifiers and security pigments may be present. The ink shows excellent wipeability and allows precipitation from the wiping solution.

Abstract: A printing device (1) is disclosed for rotogravure printing machines comprising: a printing cylinder (3) with notches (50) for printing liquid, a rubber roller (4) for pushing paper web supports (2) against the cylinder (3) in order to print, and a scraper member (7) for cleaning the surface of the printing cylinder (3) of printing liquid not contained in notches (5); the scraper member (7) is equipped with thrusting members (9, 10) central therewith that thrust a central portion of the scraper member (7) towards the cylinder (3) in order to bend the scraper member (7) such that the bend in the scraper member (7) follows a bending to which the cylinder (3) is subjected upon the rubber roller (4) being pushed against the cylinder (3).

Abstract: A device for metering and equalizing an ink layer on the surface of a printing machine roller, in particular on the surface of an ink applicator roller in the inking unit of a printing machine, the surface being additionally wetted with dampening medium. The device contains at least two doctor blades which are arranged preferably at a short distance one behind the other in the direction of rotation of the roller and rest under pressure against the surface of the roller and of which a front doctor blade, with respect to the direction of rotation of the roller, has a doctor blade edge radius such that essentially only the dampening medium, but not the ink layer, can be wiped off from the surface of the roller by said front doctor blade, while a rear doctor blade, with respect to the direction of rotation of the roller, has, by comparison, a smaller doctor blade edge radius such that at least part of the ink layer which has remained on the surface of the roller can be wiped off.

Abstract: A wiping device of an intaglio printing press comprises a liquid tank storing a cleaning liquid inside, a wiping roll disposed in the liquid tank and contacting a plate of an intaglio cylinder for removing ink on a surface portion of the plate, a base plate disposed in the liquid tank, and a wiping roll cleaning sheet supported by the base plate and contacting a circumferential surface of the wiping roll for removing ink adhering to the circumferential surface of the wiping roll. The wiping roll cleaning sheet comprises a supporting wire net tautly supported on the base plate, a cleaning wire net supported by the supporting wire net so as to contact the circumferential surface of the wiping roll, and an elastic cloth supported by the supporting wire net so as to be interposed between the supporting wire net and the cleaning wire net, for pressing the cleaning wire net against the circumferential surface of the wiping roll. The wiping device requires less labor for maintenance and check.

Abstract: A doctor blade for use in screen printing includes a head, a base in the form of a lip and at least one elastically deformable member connecting the head and the base. The elastically deformable member is structurally discontinuous on at least one location in the longitudinal direction of the doctor blade extending along a plurality of spaced spring layers. The elastically deformable member is realized from a plurality of elastically deformable wires which are arranged in spirals or in undulations or from a cut-out sheet so as to form a double comb the stiffness of which is controlled by the transverse dimension of the windings, undulations, or cut-outs, or the characteristics of the constituent material, and the spacing between the teeth of the comb.

Abstract: The wiping cylinder drive has a drive shaft (4) which is independent of the wiping cylinder shaft (2) and which, at its end facing away from the wiping cylinder, is connected to the drive member (15) with the aid of a claw coupling (10). Inserted between the adjacent claws of the constantly engaged claw coupling (10) is a gearwheel (20) which is made of elastically deformable material and the teeth (21) of which are in each case inserted positively between the flanks of adjacent claws of the two coupling parts and, in the case of sudden changes in the load torque of the wiping cylinder, function as damping elements. The drive member (15) has a gearwheel (17) which is constantly in engagement kinematically with the gear leading to the main motor of the printing machine.

Abstract: The intaglio printing machine comprises a main structure (6), a plate cylinder (4), an impression cylinder (3), a wiping device (10) and an inking system consisting of a collector inking cylinder (5), of at least four color-selector cylinders (7a to 7d), and of an inking device (8a to 8d) associated with each color-selector cylinder (7a to 7d) and mounted in a mobile inking carriage (9). The ratio between the diameter of the collector inking cylinder (5) and the diameter of the plate cylinder (4) is equal to 2/3. The two extreme color-selector cylinders (7a, 7d) are placed so that they are approximately diametrically opposed with respect to the collector inking cylinder (5).

Abstract: A press for printing an electrical circuit component directly onto a substrate with an electrically-conductive liquid includes a press surface having a printing direction and a direction transverse thereto. A plurality of liquid-carrying cells are disposed on the press surface for carrying the electrically-conductive liquid, the cells being in liquid communication with each other in both the printing direction and in the transverse direction. A method of making such a press includes the steps of providing a press surface and engraving the press surface with the plurality of liquid-carrying cells which are in liquid communication with each other in both the printing direction and in the transverse direction.

Abstract: A low basis weight, continuously moving substrate is printed by a single substrate, repeat-pass printing process. The continuously moving substrate is passed a first time through the printing station without receiving any pattern directly printed thereon, and is then repeat-passed through the printing station and over a single-passing portion of the substrate. The repeat-pass portion then has an ink pattern directly printed thereon. Ink striking through the directly printed repeat-pass portion of the substrate is collected or absorbed by the underlying single-pass portion of the substrate, thereby preventing ink buildup on the printing apparatus.

Abstract: A low basis weight, continuously moving substrate is printed by a single substrate, repeat-pass printing process. The continuously moving substrate is passed a first time through the printing station without receiving any pattern directly printed thereon, and is then repeat-passed through the printing station and over a single-passing portion of the substrate. The repeat-pass portion then has an ink pattern directly printed thereon. Ink striking through the directly printed repeat-pass portion of the substrate is collected or absorbed by the underlying single-pass portion of the substrate, thereby preventing ink buildup on the printing apparatus.

Abstract: A doctor blade bar assembly supports spaced doctor blades which are resiliently carried by slidable base bodies that can be moved to throw-on or adjust the doctor blades with respect to a screened ink roller. A pair of blade base shifting devices are secured to doctor blade base support beams. The shifting devices utilize rotatable eccentric cams to move the base bodies along guide surfaces on the beams. The doctor blades are moved in a linear manner to resiliently engage the screened ink roller at a negative contact angle. End plates on the base bodies cooperate with the spaced, resiliently supported doctor blades to form an ink receiving chamber.

Abstract: A sector blade bar assembly supports spaced doctor blades on slidable base bodies which can be moved to throw-on or adjust the doctor blades with respect to a screened ink roller. A pair of blade base shifting devices are secured to doctor blade base support beams. The shifting devices utilize fluid actuated pistons to move the base bodies along guide surfaces on the beams. The doctor blades are moved in a linear manner to engage the screened ink roller at a negative contact angle. End plates on the base bodies are slidably supported and are spring biased into contact with the screened ink roller when the doctor blades are thrown onto the screened ink roller.

Abstract: The wiping cylinder (10) is mounted in eccentric bushes (12) and can be coarsely adjusted by hydraulic cylinders (15), by which the eccentric bushes can be rotated, between its operating position resting on the plate cylinder (3) and a position of rest removed from the latter. Additionally, a fine adjustment is provided, by which the change in spacing between the axles of the plate cylinder and the wiping cylinder as a result of deflection of the plate cylinder (3) occurring during the engagement of the impression cylinder (2) can be compensated. For this purpose, the hydraulic cylinders (15) are each attached to a worm wheel (17) which can be rotated by a worm spindle (18). Serving for the fine adjustment of the worm spindle (18) is a stepping motor (19) which is adjusted simultaneously with the engagement and disengagement of the impression cylinder (2) in each case by a preselectable amount in either direction.

Abstract: The wiping device has a trough (4) and a wiping cylinder (2) which is mounted in the mutually opposite side walls (4a) of the trough (4). The trough (4) is itself mounted tiltably about a pivot axis (6) lying at least approximately in that plane (T') which passes through the axis of rotation of the wiping cylinder and which is parallel to the tangential plane (T) of the wiping cylinder (2) and plate cylinder (1) passing through the point of contact between the two cylinders. The pressing force with which the wiping cylinder (2) bears against the plate cylinder (1) can be set and requlated during the printing operation by means of an adjusting device (11, 12, 13) by correspondingly tilting the trough (4) together with the wiping cylinder (2) about its pivot axis (6). At the same time, the pressing forces are transmitted by adjusting rods (7) which are mounted on both sides of the wiping cylinder (2) and which act on the trough (4).

Abstract: A device for wiping ink from a cylindrical printing surface, said device being formed from a single piece of flexible material and folded to form a pair of spaced apart legs joined by a deformable folded portion, and a stiffener disposed between said legs for maintaining said legs in said spaced apart relationship, said folded portion adapted to press against and conform to a segment of said cylindrical printing surface so as to wipe ink from said printing surface as said folded portion moves over said printing surface.

Abstract: To provide for a tight fit between adjacent tongues (4, 4') subdividing a doctor blade (1), one edge (9) of a tongue (4) facing a slit (5) between the tongues is coated with a material substantially softer than the material of the doctor blade, for example galvanically deposited copper, with a thickness which is in excess of the width of the slit (5) separating the adjacent tongues (4, 4'). Upon closing of the tongues with respect to each other, after having been spread, the tongues will shear off the softer material so that the then formed remaining separation between the tongues will have effectively or quasi zero dimension, thus forming a tight fit between the tongues, while still permitting individual adjustability with respect to a roller against which the doctor blade is to operate.

Abstract: A wiping apparatus for an intaglio printing machine has a first wiping roller which is in rolling contact with a plate cylinder and which is driven in the same rotational direction as that of the plate cylinder; a second wiping roller which is in rolling contact with the first wiping roller and which is frictionally driven in the same direction as that of the first wiping roller; an ink scraper member brought into tight contact with the outer surface of the second wiping roller; an ink tray disposed under the first and second wiping rollers; and wiping paper having substantially the same width as each of the first and second wiping rollers, brought into contact therewith, and driven at a low speed in a direction opposite to that of movement of the wiping paper contacting surfaces of the first and second wiping rollers.

Abstract: An ink wiping device for an intaglio rotary printing machine comprises a tank for containing a cleaning liquid therein, an ink wiping roller rotatably supported in the tank and having a circumferential surface positioned for rolling contact with a printing plate of the intaglio rotary printing machine, the ink wiping roller having a portion immersible in the cleaning liquid, and a cleaning assembly disposed in the tank and immersible in the cleaning liquid for cleaning the circumferential surface of the ink wiping roller. The cleaning assembly includes at least one brush unit adjustably supported in the tank and having a plurality of rows of bristles having distal ends located in the vicinity of the circumferential surface of the ink wiping roller, and a cleaning sheet of synthetic fibered nonwoven cloth supported on the brush unit and interposed between the circumferential surface of the ink wiping roller and the distal ends of the bristles.

Abstract: An ink fountain including a frame defining a horizontal slot adjacent the fountain roller. Arranged side by side in the slot is a metering assembly in the form of a series of flat slides each having a cam assembly at its rear end for adjusting the position of the slide with respect to the fountain roller thereby to meter ink in predetermined thickness in respective zones. Each slide is formed of a body having secured thereto a rectangular tip portion formed of resilient plastic. The tip portion of each slide has embedded in it a blade of wear resistant spring metal, the blade being coextensive with the width of the slide and so oriented as to present a flat face to the fountain roller defining, with the fountain roller, a sharply acute cusp.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for removing particles of foreign matter adhering to the surface of a printing plate mounted on a rotating plate cylinder. The apparatus comprises a pair of parallel, spaced flexible blades which contact the surface of the printing plate. One blade spreads and thins the layer of ink on the surface to expose the adhering particles, and the other blade disturbs and dislodges them from the surface. A method for removing particles in this manner is also provided.

Abstract: A squeegee arrangement has a holder which supports a squeegee member having a squeegee blade. A supporting block on the holder engages and supports the squeegee member. A spring element engages the squeegee blade at or in the vicinity of the longitudinally extending free edge thereof.

Abstract: A wiping cylinder is coated with a synthetic resin plastic composition by rotating the cylinder downwardly past a straight-edge blade on which the plastic composition is supplied so that a thin uniform layer is spread onto the cylinder. The blade is progressively retracted from the cylinder so that successive layers are applied to provide the desired total thickness. Provision is made for first heating and then cooling a layer after it has been applied.