Abstract: An apparatus and method cleans rollers on printing presses that print indicia on three dimensional objects such as candies, confectionaries and other comestible items. The cleaning apparatus moves in three axes to position itself alternately opposite an engraved roller and a blanket roller. The cleaning apparatus dry cleans one roller and dry and/or wet cleans the other roller. The apparatus has a cleaning pad that extends toward a web of cleaning material to press the cleaning material against a roller. The apparatus moves across the roller to wipe ink and/or debris from the surface of the roller.

Abstract: Intaglio printing press systems for recto-verso intaglio printing of sheets, in particular for the production of banknotes and the like securities, wherein first and second intaglio printing presses are operatively-coupled to one another by a sheet processing and transporting system comprising an automated guided vehicle system for automatically transporting sheets from a sheet delivery station of the first intaglio printing press where recto printing is performed to a sheet feeding station of the second intaglio printing press where verso printing is performed.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a printing press including a plurality of print units and, optionally, a folder. Each print unit has one or more cylinders, a motor for driving the cylinders; an encoder for providing a cylinder position signal, a controller coupled to the encoder, the motor, a bus which interconnects each of the controllers and an input port for designating the controller as either master or slave. Any one of the controllers is selectively set as a master controller and the remaining controllers are set as slave controllers. The master controller generates a control signal based on a signal from the input port and outputs the control signal to the motor via the output port and to the slave controllers via the bus. Each of the slave controllers outputs a signal on the respective output port based on the received control signal.

Abstract: A web-fed rotary printing machine has at least one printing unit and at least one turning bar that is usable to redirect a travel direction of a web that is to be conveyed. The turning bar has an effective length, for redirecting the web. A projection of this effective length corresponds with the width of the incoming web which is of at least four adjacently arranged printed pages in newspaper format.

Abstract: Intaglio printing press systems for recto-verso intaglio printing of sheets, in particular for the production of banknotes and the like securities, wherein first and second intaglio printing presses (1a, 1b) are operatively-coupled to one another by a sheet processing and transporting system (9) comprising an automated guided vehicle system for automatically transporting sheets from a sheet delivery station (8.1) of the first intaglio printing press (1a) where recto printing is performed to a sheet feeding station (1.2) of the second intaglio printing press (1b) where verso printing is performed.

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 method for simulating one of a plurality of web-up configurations for a press line in order to provide web length information associated with the selected web-up configuration (32) to a product tracking system (16). The method includes providing a drawing of a press line on a touch screen (24) and pulling a virtual web through the drawing to illustrate a selected web-up configuration (32). Web length information is calculated based on the selected web-up configuration (32) and is communicated to the product tracking system (16).

Abstract: In a rotary printing machine the printing cylinder (1) is supported on a flexible band (6) under tension, printing ink being introduced into the gap (8) between the band (6) and the printing cylinder. This facilitates the hydraulic mounting of the printing cylinder (1) while reducing the load on the cylinder shaft journal mounting (2) and prevents deformation of the cylinder, and also ensures even ink coverage of the printing cylinder surface.

Abstract: A doctor arrangement for a rotary intaglio printing machine comprises a doctor to remove excess ink from the plate cylinder. The doctor is in the form of a band which extends parallel to the axis of rotation of the plate cylinder against which it is pressed by a doctor bar. The doctor band is so flexible that it can be wound on and unwound about axes which extend transversely to its longitudinal direction and the doctor band is so mounted and guided at the doctor bar that it is displaceable relative thereto in the longitudinal direction, the length of the doctor band being substantially greater than the axial length of the plate cylinder. A respective winding device for winding on and unwinding the doctor band is arranged in the region of each of the axial ends of the plate cylinder. A drive means displaces the doctor band along the doctor bar during the printing operation when the doctor band is unwound from the one winding device and wound on to the other winding device.

Abstract: In a combination of a cleaning device of a cylinder of an offset sheet-fed press and a cylinder to be cleaned, the cleaning device is provided with a blade member as a cleaning cloth pressing member against the cylinder to be cleaned, the blade member having a relatively sharp edge pressing the cleaning cloth against the cylinder. The cylinder is an impression cylinder provided with sheet holding grippers projecting over the outer peripheral surface of the impression cylinder. The grippers are protected so as not to directly contact the cleaning cloth under the pressed condition by locating cam members to cover the grippers or by locating a cleaning device moving mechanism in a manner such that when the grippers approach the blade member during the rotation of the impression cylinder, the cleaning device is moved away therefrom.

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: This printing press includes improved mechanism for removing excess ink from the printing plate. The press includes a main frame which supports a plate cylinder, a pressure cylinder vertically above the plate cylinder and a scraper blade which engages one side of the plate cylinder and removes most of the excess ink therefrom. A first auxiliary carriage at said one side of the main frame supports an ink supply mechanism and receptacles for receiving surplus ink removed by the scraper blade. A second auxiliary carriage, at the opposite side of the main frame, supports two wiping webs, their supply and take-up reels, and the driving and control mechanism for the webs and their reels. The wiping webs remove any residue of excess ink on the plate. Each auxiliary carriage is lockable in an operating position abutting the main frame, and is movable to a retracted position spaced from the main frame without disturbing the setting of any adjustable element.

Abstract: An improved mechanism for cleaning a driven blanket cylinder in an offset lithographic printing press is described. In the mechanism, a wash cloth is fed from a magazine roller over a pressure roller to a take-up roller. The pressure roller can be brought to bear against the dirty surface of the blanket cylinder with the wash cloth therebetween. The wash cloth is wetted by spraying a cleaning fluid thereon immediately prior to its encountering the pressure roller. The wet wash cloth is thus brought into contact with the dirty surface of the blanket cylinder which is then rotated against the cloth to cleanse the surface. After the surface is clean, dry cloth can be brought into contact with the blanket cylinder by merely not activating the fluid spray. Means are provided in the preferred embodiments for agitating the cleaning fluid to keep it well-mixed and means are also provided for collecting and reusing any excess cleaning fluid which may be dispensed.

Abstract: A device for cleaning ink from rollers of a printing apparatus. A container of ink solvent is removably mounted to the printing apparatus. A continuous web extends from the container and against the inked roller(s) of the printing apparatus. The web extends into the container and is directed downwardly by additional rollers into the ink solvent. As the printing apparatus roller is rotated, ink is transferred from the roller onto the continuous web. The web is then engaged by two wiper assemblies and a brush assembly thereby cleansing the ink from the web and allowing the ink to be transferred from the web into the ink solvent.