Abstract: A method of reducing printing artifacts in a printing apparatus including a plurality of printing plates, each of which is produced by successive scans of an array of imaging devices wherein the printing artifacts are caused by defective operation of one or more of the imaging devices. Printing artifacts are visually minimized by staggering the imaging devices used to produce separation plates. By staggering the imaging devices, the distance between artifacts can be reduced thereby causing the artifact reproduced in the final composite image to be less accentuated.

Abstract: A color printing apparatus printing for both sides of a web of printing paper comprises a plurality of printing sections which are arranged at a regular interval in a piled configuration. Each one of the printing section includes a pair of blanket cylinders facing each other which can be moved between their contacting positions and their isolating position. Every blanket cylinder is connected to a plate cylinder which is connected to an inking unit, or an inking unit and a dampening unit. Each of the plate cylinders is further provided with a fine adjusting means for shifting the plate cylinder along its axis with respect to the blanket cylinder. The shifting operation of the fine adjusting means can easily minimize the printing shears caused by moisture without stopping the printing apparatus.

Abstract: In the line-by-line recording of films (15') for producing offset printing forms or in the line-by-line exposure of offset printing plates from recording data, i.e. density values of a line, the setting values for the individual zone screws are directly calculated from the density values and are stored or, respectively, directly forwarded to the printing machine (80). Before the forwarding of the setting values to the printing machine (80), density values are advantageously converted into the setting values with masks that, with reference to printing areas, printing surface in the pages (50) and with reference to the register system of the printing machine (80) as well as with reference to the characteristic data of a page (50), contain the allocation of the setting values of the zone screws calculated from the density values of the page (50).

Abstract: Method of ink control in a printing press, includes optically measuring fields on sheets printed by the printing press, comparing an actual ink location for each measuring field, which is attained with the aid of the scanning, with a specified setpoint ink location and controlling inking elements of the printing press so as to reduce deviations in inking.

Abstract: An ultrasonic ink seal for use in a printing press having a metering roller (20) having an outer surface (40) and at least first and second devices (60, 62) for applying first and second inks, respectively, to the outer surface (40) of the metering roller (20). The ultrasonic ink seal has a plurality of piezoelectric transducers (91, 92, 93) and a deflecting device (96, 100, 102) for deflecting the ultrasonic sound waves produced by the piezoelectric transducers (91, 92, 93) toward a predetermined area (70) on the surface (40) of the metering roller (20). The ultrasonic sound waves cause the first and second inks to be forced away from the predetermined area (70) thereby providing a separation of the first and second inks. In a preferred embodiment the deflecting device (96, 100, 102) has a horn (96) having a curvature approximately equal to a curvature of the outer surface (40), of the metering roller (20), the horn (96) having at least first and second deflecting surfaces (97, 98).

Abstract: A lithographic print of a color photograph which includes printed lettering in an area where the density of the ink dots which reproduce the photograph is reduced to enhance the visibility of the printed lettering.The print is prepared by superimposing a screen having a substantially lower dot density over the portions of the color separation films corresponding to the area reserved for lettering and preparing the engraved printing plates from these screened films.

Abstract: Continuous-tone polychrome subjects (O) are reproduced by ink printing on a substrate. The reproduction is achieved by the synthesis of three chromatic components, one of which corresponds to the color of the substrate and the other two of which correspond to the colored inks used for the printing. In one variant of the method, one of the colored inks is replaced by a black ink, printed with a plate made from the achromatic component of the subject.

Abstract: Four colored compositions are employed for the marking of glass objects by means of enamels by a four-color serigraphy. Each composition comprises an enamel having a given primary color (red, yellow, blue, black) and a transparency agent which enables these four primary colors to provide all the desired shades by passage in a serigraphy machine.

Abstract: An offset printing press having a wetting unit and an inking unit which has an ink metering device to set an ink profile, the inking unit and the wetting unit each having at least one applicator roller which can be moved into a position in contact with a printing plate mounted on a plate cylinder. To generate an ink profile which is very close to that required for the printing run and to reduce waste, the applicator rollers are moved by a control apparatus into a position of contact with the printing plate during the establishment of the ink zone profile which occurs before the beginning of printing, or during a jam or a blanket washing process which interrupts the printing process. A corresponding process is also described.

Abstract: A method of printing with at least two printing plates, or their equivalent, characterized in that associated halftone dots belonging to two distinct pluralities, each of which is printed with one of said two printing plates, and each of which are interleaved with the other and printed in a color different from the other, are separated by a gap when printed in perfect register.

Abstract: In a process for the evaluation of the quality of prints and for the color control or ink regulation of a printing machine, half tone fields, preferably gray balance fields, are scanned by a densitometer. The half tone density differences obtained by comparative measurements are transformed by an experimentally determined transform matrix into colorimetric measure differences of a color space uniformly graduated relative to perception, so that on the one hand the advantages resulting from quality evaluations in a true colorimetric system instead of a densitometric measure system may be utilized, and on the other, the use of regulation strategies requiring a colorimetric measuring system, such as for example the L*a*b* system or the LUV system, becomes possible. The transform matrix system is determined experimentally by producing a reference calibrating print and several addition calibrating prints, each containing one gray balance field and three full tone fields.

Abstract: A record position measuring apparatus comprising irradiation means for irradiating a light of a plurality of predetermined wavelength zones to a recording medium on which a color pattern is recorded, two-dimensional imaging means for imaging the color pattern to provide image information, storing means for storing the image information, and operating means for calculating the distance between the color pattern and a reference position according to the image information stored in the storing means.

Abstract: A method for ascertaining possible register errors and for correcting the positioning of printing plate cylinders in a multi-color rotary printing machine utilizes geometric and regular figures of different sizes as register marks images. These figures, such as circles or squares are printed into each other and the resulting register marks' prints may be analyzed to provide infotmaion useable to correct register errors in both the X and Y distances.

Abstract: Method of reducing register errors in multicolor offset printing machines having printing units driven by a common motor and having a register adjusting device, which includes determining and storing a functional relationship between a quantity of torque delivered by the common motor and a quantity characteristic of the torque, on the one hand, and a register adjustment necessary for maintaining satisfactory register, on the other hand, monitoring the quantity during operation of the printing machine, and setting the register adjustment to a value functionally associated with the respective torque.

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: A process of multicolor printing where a first sheet with a layer of a first color material thereon has a portion of said first color material destroyed by a laser to leave a first image of said first colored material. The first image is then transferred to a permanent support. A second sheet with a layer of a second color material has a layer applied thereto to leave a second image of said second material, which second image is also applied to the premanent support to make a combined image. The same procedure can be followed with third and fourth colored materials to provide third and fourth images superimposed over the first and second images.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sheet-fed rotary printing press for multi-color printing with an in-line arrangement of the printing units. Each printing unit comprises a plate cylinder, a blanket cylinder and an impression cylinder, all of a single diameter, as well as three sheet-transfer drums. The sheet-transfer drums of single diameter are provided for printing jobs using a one-sided multi-color printing process. On the other hand, the design for recto-and-verso printing is provided with a storage drum and a turning drum, with the storage drum being of double diameter. Depending on the job structure, the printing press according to the invention can later be converted at the printing shop from one design to the other.

Abstract: A sealing assembly for a liquid fountain such as is employed in flexographic printing and which is especially adapted for the split color printing wherein a foam layer separates the various ink compartments and is equipped with a liquid flow slot in the portion facing the liquid metering roll so as to provide limited axial flow of a slot liquid which is compatible with the ink in the various compartments.

Abstract: A method of non-overlap halftone-dot printing of a colored original on the outer surface of a cylindrical container is done by dry off-set printing. A colored original is color-separated into three primary colors, i.e., cyan, magenta and yellow, change-to-halftone is effected to give an effect of contact screening with the same angle for the individual separated primary colors, and one pixel of print is expressed by three colors at most, i.e., one of the three primary colors, one of three secondary colors, i.e., cyan-magenta, magenta-yellow and yellow-cyan blend colors, and black (tertiary color).

Abstract: A method of printing with at least two printing plates, or their equivalent, characterized in that associated halftone dots belonging to two distinct pluralities, each of which is printed with one of said two printing plates, and each of which are interleaved with the other and printed in a color different from the other, are separated by a gap when printed in perfect register.

Abstract: This method of printing a material consists in decorating the material with a multicolor design or composition consisting of an assembly of elementary primary forms such any desired geometrical forms, numeral and letters having each a primary color, this multicolor design being composed preliminarily on a provisional carrier from inks adapted to be transferred to the material under the combined action of heat and pressure. A basic bundle of colored sheets is formed by stacking one or a plurality of sheets having one flat face covered with sublimable ink. The sheets are cut simultaneously to the contours of the elementary forms of the decorative design with respect to the peripheral contour of the material, each or all the sheets having consequently a cut area corresponding to the elementary forms of the final design.

Abstract: A three-color offset printing machine produces, during the printing of sheets, color measuring strips with several color measuring fields. A gray half-tone field produced by the overprinting of three colors serves as the reference field. The color location of the reference field is compared in a color deviation computer with the color location of a correlated desired reference field. From the color deviation, a layer thickness variation computer calculates a layer thickness variation control vector by means of a sensitivity matrix calculated on the basis of a linear model by a matrix computer. The matrix computer evaluates a series of secondary fields comprising three single color half-tone fields, three single color full-tone fields, three two-color full-tone fields, and a three-color full-tone field.

Abstract: A method of printing a succession of images on to an elongate web, in at least two colors, comprises feeding the web past the first and second rotating printing cylinders 10 and 11, the first print cylinder applying a first color and the second print cylinder applying a second color, and periodically interrupting the movement of the web past the print cylinders, the length of the interruptions controlling the repeat distance, and the interruptions of the movement of the web past the second cylinder being controlled in dependence upon the images being produced by the preceding print cylinder. The web may be driven by means of a servo motor such that the extent to which the web moves while the motor accelerates to and/or decelerates from, its normal running speed is accurately predetermined.

Abstract: In a process for the ink control or regulation of a printing machine the actual color coordinates of measuring fields are compared with the desired color location. If the desired color location is found outside the correction color space defined by the boundary values of the full tone densities of the printing inks, as a substitute for the given desirable color locations, attainable desired color locations are determined on the surface of the correction color space by finding the point on the surface of the color correction space that is nearest to the given desired color location. The search for the nearest point may also be carried out in a manner such that the nearest point on the surface of the correction color space is sought in the direction of the brightness axis of the color space.

Abstract: A process for the offset printing of stock material in which the blanket is inked repeatedly with the printing ink so that an image having an elevated ink layer thickness is produced on the blanket. Before the transfer of the image to the stock any moisture (water) on the blanket is removed, whereafter a non-hygroscopic stock is printed in a single printing step. Consequently, a high color saturation after a single printing is produced even when transparent or opal foil is used for illuminated advertising.

Abstract: A print control strip which allows the optional use of both solid tone control/regulation and halftone control/regulation, and in which the color control/regulation is optimized on the basis of values derived from the solid tone density and the halftone density from single color and/or multicolor halftone fields. Such print control strips are used for control/regulation of the ink feed in the inking mechanism of rotary printing presses. The print control strip disclosed includes alternating single color solid tone fields for each ink color and single color halftone fields for each ink color, and multicolor halftone fields corresponding to every second color zone. There may also be zonally alternating single color solid tone fields for each ink color and multicolor halftone fields.

Abstract: A straight line flexographic printing method and machine having a plurality of in-line liquid application stations, at least one of which is an upstream ink image-printing stations for printing ink images on a succession of cardboard copy sheets, and at least one of which is a final downstream liquid-application station which may be a coating application station for printing a protective, and/or aesthetic coating over selected portions of, or over the entire ink image-printed surface of each cardboard copy sheet. The present method and apparatus involves the placement of a forced hot air drying station between each of the liquid application stations to evaporate volatile solvent/diluent from the ink images applied at each inking or coating station before the application of additional ink images or coatings thereover at the next downstream liquid application station.

Abstract: A process for producing a decorative printed packaging material which is partially light reflective and light refractive. A paperboard layer is printed at a screen angle of 105.degree. with a non-uniform non-leafing metallic ink. A high density pigmented white ink is then printed at a screen angle of 15.degree. directly onto the metallic ink. A colorant and a transparent high gloss overlacquer are then applied.

Abstract: An offset press unit which has a main frame defining a pair of spaced apart walls having bores therein, a pair of plate cylinders are disposed within the frame and are rotatably supported in spaced apart relation, and a pair of blanket cylinders are disposed within the frame each is rotatably supported for rolling contact with the other and with one of said plate cylinders, internal support means are secured to one of the walls and include at least one cylinder supporting bearing, external support means are secured to the other of said walls including at least one cylinder supporting bearing and one of the printing cylinders is rotatably supported by the cylinder supporting bearings.

Abstract: System for positioning objects relative to one another comprising taking an image of a group of marks formed on the medium, an analog-to-digital converter connecting the image-taking equipment to digital recording memories, and a data processing system for limiting the recorded image to a scan window including a fixed reference point corresponding to a predetermined mark for centering the image in the scan window for measuring the separations relative to two perpendicular axes between the reference point and the positions of the corresponding marks in the scan window, and for generating separation correction signals for displacing the objects.

Abstract: A system and method for generating indicia of registration error between respective, separately adjustable printing units of a printing press, the printing units cooperating to print an image on a moving web, the system being of the type comprising a photo-optical control, having a field of view and depth-of-field, for generating output signals indicative of a predetermined relative disposition of marks on a web passing through the field of view within the depth-of-field of the photo-optical control as the web moves in relation to the printing units, and processing circuits, responsive to the photo-optical output signals, for generating signals indicative of deviations of the registration marks printed by the printing units from the predetermined relative disposition; improved wherein:the photo-optical control is disposed proximate to the printing units, and, having associated therewith an air driven stabilizer structure for maintaining the web within the depth of field by creating a Bernoulli effect.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process and a printing press for the production of multicolor impressions with several plate cylinders with corresponding inking mechanisms, whereby multicolor printing is made possible in the so-called direct printing process from plate to paper with a plate feed for the flexible printing plates or films and an automatic feed to the impression cylinders. Then the sheets to be printed are introduced via a sheet feed to the impression cylinder, and after the printing has been done, the used printing plates or films are transferred to an ejection apparatus.

Abstract: A method of detecting the position of a feature, such as a register mark, in a color separation comprises printing the color separation on a substrate with an ink containing a pigment corresponding to the color of the separation and a dye which is detectable only when exposed to radiation outside the visible range. The printed color separation is exposed to the said radiation and the position of the feature in the printed color separation is determined by detecting radiation, such as fluorescence, from the dye.

Abstract: A process which makes possible a zonal ink control with the use of print control strips with single, double, or multizone repetition cycle of the measurement fields, and by means of which controlled variables can also be determined according to measurement strips without zonal separation for all ink zones. Substitute measurement values are formed by interpolation for each ink zone from determined measurements and from their lateral position in relation to the corresponding ink zones, and these substitute measurements are compared with setpoints, and the difference is used to determine controlled variables.

Abstract: Method for printing and article produced thereby which uses the six chromatic colors yellow, green, cyan-blue, violet-blue, magenta, red and orange-red and wherein a plurality of color field tables are produced for combinations of two of the chromatic colors which are juxtaposed or neighboring and a plurality of tables for each specific combination is made by varying the amount of black on different color field tables. The color field tables can be utilized to match and obtain desired colors by comparing color field tables with desired colors. If the printing material is not white, the eighth color white may also be used in the printing process.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for rough registration of printing rolls, or plate cylinders, is provided which makes use of a strip gage, preferably formed from a plastic material, and a pointer or indicator to indicate positions on the plate cylinders at each printing station of the press. The printing press is first rough registered in a normal manner for such press and the center lines of the cylinders and of the printing plates on the plate cylinders are aligned. A mark is then made under the pointer in each station on the roll to indicate the rough registration position of the cylinder in the press after registration. The plastic gage strip is then laid about the cylinders either in the press or after the plate cylinders have been removed and the strip and the cylinders are aligned and the station marks originally made under the pointer are transferred from the cylinders to the strip for each station.

Abstract: In a method of multi-color offset printing each of a plurality of blankets is contacted with respective printing plates corresponding to each color of the blankets to transfer their respective colors to each of the blankets. Then, each of the blankets is contacted with respective preceding printing plates whose colors are respectively printed prior to that of each of the blankets for transferring color ink of the respective preceding color printing plates to each of the blankets. Next, each of the blankets is pressed in the predetermined order onto a sheet of printing paper to transfer each color ink to the printing paper one after one another.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, a control apparatus and aids for the achievement of a uniform printing result on an autotypically operating multicolor printing press. In addition to solid densities and/or screen dot sizes, selected relationships between solid densities and/or screen dot sizes of different printing colors are determined at measuring patches simultaneously printed within the color zones. If they fall outside of the tolerances associated with them, a corrective intervention is made in the printing process by actuating the regulators of the inking units. For the control of the inking units, the first aid provided, instead of the conventional single color meausring patches, is combination measuring patches which are formed by the overprinting of single color measuring patches.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conversion of a web fed letterpress unit (10) into a web fed offset printing press unit (42) having a main frame (12) an auxiliary frame (44) inside the main frame for receiving cylinders, a pair of offset plate cylinders (46 and 46a) for mounting printing plates thereon, an inking arrangement (16, 18 and 20) for applying films of ink to the plates, and a pair of blanket cylinders (48 and 48a) in close proximity to a position for respective rolling contact with the plates on the plate cylinder and the other blanket cylinder. An offset press gear train (114) is installed outside the frames if the shafts for the cylinders can be extended through the bores (56, 56a, 58, 58a, 76 and 112) in the main frame left from the removed letterpress unit cylinders. Otherwise the gear train (54) is placed inside the main frame. Pilots (60, 60a, 62 and 62a) for insertion into bores in the main frame guide the installation of the auxiliary frame.

Abstract: To separate a flexographic ink fountain into axial zones (10a, 10b . . . ) to permit use of inks of different characteristics, for example different colors along axial zones of an anilox roller (10), a separator element (2) has an insert strip element (3) extending over a portion of the circumference of the anilox roller, and resiliently engaged thereagainst, for example by compressed silicone rubber (5). Adjacent the end of the strip element (5) are two felt pads (21, 31) which are supplied from a source of separating fluids, such as water, alcohol-water solution or the like, to apply a ring-shaped film of the separating liquid on the anilox roller which film will continue beneath the separating strip (3), the separating strip being engaged against the roller with sufficient pressure to permit the strip to ride on the liquid film, similar to planing of autombile tires on a wet road surface.

Abstract: A multicolor half-tone image of an original object is formed on preformed plastic containers or other recipient surface by printing such image while wet from an offset blanket cylinder on which the image is formed by overlying a plurality of one-color half-tone images.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for obtaining an accurate half-tone dot percent of each color separation where a color designated by a color specimen is to be reproduced by printing of ink of the colors, for example, yellow, magenta, cyan and black. A variety of color charts printed using predetermined combinations of half-tone dot percents are optically measured to obtain color information of the colors printed on the color charts. The obtained color information values together with the corresponding predetermined combinations of half-tone dot percents therefor are then utilized to prepare a conversion table of color information and corresponding half-tone dot percents for reproducing each of the colors printed on the color charts. A color specimen is then optically measured to detect color information of a color to be reproduced.

Abstract: For image registration as in a web fed, multiple color printing press, printing plates are employed each bearing a registration mark having a first line segment extending transversely of the web and a second line segment extending aslantly of the web. The registration marks are so located on the printing plates that their images reproduced on the web are in a row arranged longitudinally of the web and with spacings from one to another. The printed images of the registration marks on the traveling web are sensed optically in order to determine the actual distances between them and between the first and second line segments of each registration mark. The thus ascertained actual distances are converted into corresponding numbers of reference pulses, and these pulse numbers are compared with reference pulse numbers representative of the proper distances.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for ink tampon printing, wherein printing forms are taken from inked printing blocks by ink tampons and transferred to work pieces mounted in work piece holders. To achieve multicolor printing of a work piece with a single work piece holder, the process of the present invention provides that a plurality of printing forms are taken from a printing block or printing blocks by a plurality of ink tampons aligned next to one another, that the ink tampons are then located in printing positions and the work piece is sequentially located in the printing positions by means of adjustment of the single work piece holder on a sliding track, and through sequential printing and reset strokes of the ink tampons, along with the corresponding adjustment of the work piece holder to the printing positions of the ink tampons, the printing forms are successively transferred to the single work piece mounted in a single work piece holder.

Abstract: A secure and self-verifiable image is formed by an array of image dots 30 on one side of a pellucid stratum or film 10 and a corresponding array of light-transmitting apertures 21 in a dark screen 20 on the other side of film 10, with image dots 30 being offset from the axes of apertures 21 so that the image is viewable only by light passing obliquely through film 10 at an angle that intersects arrayed apertures 21 and dots 30. Both apertures 21 and dots 30 occupy up to about 15% of the total area and the array spacing is at least 40 dots per centimeter. The reflective density of the interaperture regions of dark screen 20 is at least 1.6, and pellucid film 10 is at least 0.05 mm thick.

Abstract: An article having a substrate with a synthetic resin surface that has an affinity for printing inks is printed with a laser-induced hot print method. A transfer medium, printed on a face side with an image formed of sublimable dyes is faced against the synthetic resin surface, and a laser beam is made to impinge upon the unprinted back of the transfer medium. The laser beam is of sufficient intensity to cause the dyes to sublimate and penetrate at least partially into the synthetic resin surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A method of automatically setting the colors printed with yellow, magenta, cyan and black printing inks for four-color printing by flexographic printing machines having printing units provided with plate and backing cylinders is characterized in that, to determine the desired color value in a color triangle which serves for color comparison and the corners of which are fixed by the colors yellow, magenta and cyan, the color location is determined for a test grid area which is printed out by all the printing units and in which each of the printing inks participates with a color proportion between about 40% and 60%, that to determine the existing value of the color by densitometric measurement the proportions of printing inks actually present are measured in the test area and the color location of the existing value is determined in the color triangle, that from a comparison of the color locations the departures of the existing values of the color proportions from the desired values are determined for each colo

Abstract: A method of colorimetrically evaluating a sheet printed on both sides thereof by means of a scanning densitometer having a mechanically controlled measuring head which is guided along a print control strip, to be evaluated and which produces a multiplicity of color density values representing color properties of the control strip, which includes assigning respective control strip measurement fields for different colors to respective printed parts on mutually opposite first form and perfector sides of a sheet, and forming a common control strip set out of all of the measurement fields, assigning to the measurement fields abbreviations for each of the respective ink colors in accordance with the colors to be printed, and introducing into a measuring system the color abbreviations assigned to the respective printing colors and to the respective sides of the sheet.

Abstract: A process for fabricating display panels in which which comprises printing one surface of a pulp paper with a plurality of printed image layers exactly overlaying and aligned with each other bonding; the image bearing surface of the pulp paper bonded to one surface of a panel base; and removing the pulp paper so that the display image is transferred to and remains on the panel base.

Abstract: A method for forming or marking register marks used for the automatic registration between a plurality of printing plates in a printing press. A register mark forming or marking device is mounted on a printing frame of an automatic composer so that a register mark can be formed or marked on a printing plate simultaneously with the printing of a film original over the printing plate. Misalignment between the thus formed or marked register marks and patterns or images can be eliminated.