Abstract: A conveyor unit for conveying flat objects includes at least first, second and third endless belts, together with a cylinder. The first endless belt extends along a part of the circumference of the cylinder and forms, with the cylinder circumference, a section of a path of conveyance for the objects. The second and third belts define another section of the path of conveyance.

Abstract: A sheet-processing machine includes a conveyor for transporting processed sheets at a processing speed and for releasing the sheets for braking to a depositing speed. A braking element serves for the braking of the released sheets to the depositing speed. A drive is provided for the braking element, and a drive connection is provided for connecting the drive to the braking element. Further included are an overrunning clutch in the drive connection, and a brake for retarding the braking element.

Abstract: The invention concerns a digital printing machine for sheet printing with a digital printing mechanism with free format in the peripheral direction, an intermediate cylinder which is connected downstream of the digital printing mechanism and is at least partially coated with an elastic material, and a counterpressure cylinder which is connected downstream of the intermediate cylinder, wherein the counterpressure cylinder has grippers holding the sheet and the intermediate cylinder periphery is provided with recesses for receiving the grippers.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method in which when both of two-stage type and impression cylinder connecting type sheet-fed perfecting multi-color printing presses are manufactured, there is no need for a manufacture of extra parts or an extra stock, and also the replacement and servicing of parts are easy in the event of a failure of a printing unit or the sheet-fed perfecting multi-color printing press. For this purpose, modules for the printing unit for the sheet-fed perfecting multi-color printing press, each of which consists of a combination of at least two elements of a group consisting of an intermediate cylinder, impression cylinder, blanket cylinder, plate cylinder, inking mechanism, and water supply mechanism are manufactured, and the modules are used to manufacture the two-stage type and impression cylinder connecting type sheet-fed perfecting multi-color printing presses.

Abstract: A conveyor unit for conveying flat objects includes at least first, second and third endless belts, together with a cylinder. The first endless belt extends along a part of the circumference of the cylinder and forms, with the cylinder circumference, a section of a path of conveyance for the objects. The second and third belts define another section of the path of conveyance.

Abstract: The folder of a printing press includes an air knife assembly to reduce damage to signatures as they travel through the folder and to guide signatures through the folder.

Abstract: There is provided a sheet-fed printing press that is capable of rapidly performing printing preparatory work for more secured double sheet detection. A double-sheet-detector control part judges whether an ultrasonic double sheet detector outputs double sheet detected signal during test printing or during feeding a first printing sheet of successively fed printing sheets in large quantity or successive printing. Where double sheet detected signal was output, it is judged that the detection made by the ultrasonic double sheet detector is erroneous so that the double-sheet-detector control part switches to a photoelectric double sheet detector to be employed as a double sheet detector for use in large quantity or successive printing.

Abstract: A printing and/or varnishing machine having a plurality of sheet-guiding cylinders in which at least one of the cylinders has an outer detachable packing which has enhanced ink repellent characteristics and which significantly reduces wear. The packing has a layered structure which includes a flexible backing material 12, the underside of which is assigned to the base body of the sheet-guiding cylinder 3, a coating 13 of molybdenum or tungsten carbide/cobalt which is adhesively applied to the upper side of the backing material 12, and a sealing layer 14 of a material made from the group of polysiloxanes which is adhesively applied to the upper side of the coating 13. The side of the packings 5, 6 which faces the material to be printed has a surface profile consisting of cones 18 with rounded tips 16 for reduced sheet contact.

Abstract: The invention concerns an installation comprising means controlling printing quality supplied by a printed sheet feeding device (1–3). Downstream, printing means (12–16) print serial numbers and/or affix other elements. The quality of the number printing is controlled by a control device (17). A transfer device (18) transports the sheets to a stock of three stacks (21, 22, 23) one of which collects the defective sheets. A marking device (19) affix a mark on the sheets considered unsuitable during the quality control.

Abstract: A photographic processor and method for developing photographic images utilizes a frame and an exposure section that receives and expose print media to record an image on the print media. The exposure section includes a transport system that transports the print media to an exposing mechanism. After the exposing mechanism, the print media goes to a chemical development section contained that develops the exposed print media. A print media supply section secured to a shuttle system attached to the frame wherein the print media supply section provides print media from two or more magazines. The shuttle system sequentially moves one of the magazines to a position in line with the entry to the exposure section and then away from the entry. The shuttle system then moves other magazines from the position in line with the entry to the exposure section and then away from the entry.

Abstract: The invention is a simple, inexpensive, wash-free integrated cover for a printing transfer cylinder (preferably, but not necessarily, in a Komori press), comprising a flexible jacket covering permanently attached to a cylinder base cover. The invention provides advantages over T-Y paper and non-tack film in that dampening solution, washing, and cleaning causes failure in both over time, whereas dampening solution is beneficial to the present invention as such is retained in the flexible jacket cover and helps to prevent ink buildup and marking. The flexible jacket covering is moveable relative to the cylinder base cover, thereby further reducing ink buildup and marking. The integrated cover is disposable, which reduces periodic maintenance and cleaning of the transfer cylinder coverings and provides for fresh, clean substrate support surfaces upon each new installation.

Abstract: A method for operating a machine that processes printing substrates in sheet form, in particular, a printing press, including a delivery device (1) which contains a drive (2) for conveying the substrate sheets and at least one opening (8) through which the substrate sheets are conveyed from the inside (4) of the delivery device (1) to an externally accessible region (6), and further including a control device which controls at least one closing device (7) for opening or closing the opening (8) and which is operatively connected to the drive (2) of the delivery device (1). Also provided is a device for carrying out the method. The present invention has the feature that the opening (8) is closed or is closed by the control device when no substrate sheet is conveyed through the opening (8).

Abstract: A sheet support bridging a pair of parallel longitudinally extending and transversely spaced guides has a stack of substantially identical and transversely extending support elements having transversely opposite ends slidable along the guides and a flexible connecting strand engaging all of the elements such that when stressed longitudinally the elements separate longitudinally from one another at a generally uniform spacing.

Abstract: A machine for sheet-fed rotary printing or sheet coating has a sheet gripper system, an upstream feed system, and an upstream feeder. A surface refinement station for the sheet is disposed downstream of the feeder and upstream of a transfer of the sheet to the sheet gripper system.

Abstract: A device for cooling printing stock and printing units by refrigerated air blast at sheet-fed rotary printing presses. It is an object of the invention to provide a method and a device, which require little energy and space and, at the same time, ensure that the printing stock and the printing press are protected against harmful effects of temperature. Pursuant to the invention, this objective is accomplished owing to the fact that the refrigerated air blast, after contact with the surface of a sheet-guiding cylinder (2) of at least one pneumatic sheet-guiding device (12, 13, 14; 15, 16; 17, 18, 19), is recycled at least partially.

Abstract: A sheet-feeding device for separating sheets stored in a sheet storage unit by blowing air heated by a heater toward the sheets includes a controller which detects an abnormality when a heater temperature does not reach a first predetermined temperature within a predetermined time. The controller continues to control the heater temperature but stops determining whether or not the heater temperature is increased to the first predetermined temperature within the predetermined time when it is detected that the sheet storage unit is in an open state.

Abstract: A conveyor unit for conveying flat objects includes at least first, second and third endless belts, together with a cylinder. The first endless belt extends along a part of the circumference of the cylinder and forms, with the cylinder circumference, a section of a path of conveyance for the objects. The second and third belts define another section of the path of conveyance.

Abstract: In a method of operating a machine processing printing material sheets and having a sheet transport drum in various operating modes, drum circumferential shells are kept fixed on the sheet transport drum in an outer position in a first of the operating modes and in an inner position in a second of the operating modes. During a drum conversion to be carried out before the start of a third of the operating modes, the drum circumferential shells are removed from the sheet transport drum and, in this third operating mode, the sheet transport drum is rotated without the drum circumferential shells.

Abstract: A displacement device for a machine for processing flat printing materials includes a slide displaceable along a displacement path in and counter to a thrust direction, and being divided along the thrust direction into two slide parts. A drag joint forms a mutual connection between the slide parts. The drag joint has a joint axis extending perpendicularly to the displacement path. A machine for processing flat printing materials, such as a sheet-processing rotary printing press, is provided with the displacement device.

Abstract: A printer assembly including a mechanism for rotating a stripper carriage includes a drum blade for stripping media from a drum and a transfix roller blade for stripping media from a transfix roller of an imaging device. The media stripper carriage is accessed and rotated so that a user may maintain parts of an imaging device without having to remove parts of the device. The stripper carriage pivots about a shaft of a transfix roller. A solenoid activates stripping of media from the drum and/or the transfix roller. When maintenance is required, the stripper carriage is rotated by a user and stops at an open position. The user may then clear a jam, clean parts or perform other maintenance on the imaging device. Then, an access door of the device is closed to automatically rotate the stripper carriage to a position in which the imaging device is ready for imaging.

Abstract: An intermediate transfer member is disengaged from an impression drum. Color layers are applied to the intermediate transfer member. A sheet media is transported between the intermediate transfer member and the impression drum while the intermediate transfer member and the impression drum are disengaged. The intermediate transfer member is engaged with the impression drum. Another sheet media is transported between the intermediate transfer member and the impression drum. The color layers are transferred from the intermediate transfer member onto the sheet media.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for cooling material to be printed and printing machine elements at sheet-fed rotary printing machines by means of cooled compressed air. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which requires little space, is able to cool effectively the material to be printed as well as the machine elements, which are undesirably heated by the dryers. Pursuant to the present invention, this objective is accomplished by providing an apparatus wherein cooled, compressed air is supplied over one or more sheet-guiding devices for guiding the sheets pneumatically along the sheet-guiding path, and a cooling device is disposed in the cross section of flow of the compressed air or the sheet-guiding device.

Abstract: In order to create preconditions, in a web-fed rotary press, for good format variability of the printed products and economic utilization of the printing material, at least two printed pages of different heights are arranged in the circumferential direction on a form cylinder.

Abstract: A cam mechanism for a folding cylinder or gripping cylinder of a printing machine have a cam disk assembly with two cam disks located adjacent to one another. The cam mechanism has good kinematic properties and is subject to low wear, the outer casing of the cam roller has two convex curvatures arranged adjacent to one another and running circumferentially around the cam roller, each curvature co-operating with one of the cam disks.

Abstract: A method by which stacks of printed sheets can be formed and, at the same time, the risk of soiling of the stacked sheets can be reduced to the maximum extent. To this end a printing machine is proposed, in particular a sheet-fed printing machine, into which unprinted and intermediate sheets are alternatively feed, wherein the printing is registered such that the printing occurs only on the unprinted sheets and not on the intermediate sheets. In this way, the intermediate sheets prevent damage to the print on the printed sheets.

Abstract: A web infeed device for rotary printing presses includes a pointed nose piece having concave side portions. The flexible infeed element is received in a guide, and driving elements are provided for driving the infeed element along the guide.

Abstract: A sheet-fed printing press includes a printing section for printing on sheets of paper, a sheet discharge section for discharging sheets of paper printed at the printing section from the printing section, a see-through part provided on the upper side of the sheet discharge section so that the inside of the sheet discharge section can be visually observed therethrough, and a color check table, on which a printed sheet of paper picked up from the sheet discharge section is placed for color checking thereof The color check table is located so as to at least partially cover the see-through part from above. The color check table is designed to be movable in a sheet transfer direction so that an area of the see-through part exposed to the outside on the downstream side of the color check table is increased as the color check table is moved towards an upstream side of the sheet transfer direction.

Abstract: A belt drive for a machine for printing images on a flat printing material, having a continuous belt revolving during operation, includes a belt guide having stops for two protruding edges of the belt, the edges being oriented in a longitudinal direction of the belt and opposite one another in a transverse direction of the belt; and a machine for printing images on flat printing material having such a belt drive.

Abstract: A printing machine for multicolor printing which includes a plurality of printing units and a system for transporting and guiding either sheet-type or web-type printable matter through the printing units. The guiding system includes means, such as adhesive, contact pressure, or retaining belts, for maintaining the printable matter on a transfer belt in proper registry during transfer through the successive printing units.

Abstract: A sheet transport system for a rotary press having rails (6a, 6b) configured on both sides of a sheet transport path, driven grippers (20a, 20b) gripping a sheet (2) to be transported near its front end, viewed in the feed direction, at its side edges and pulling it through the rotary press.

Abstract: The process is based on printing, in an electronic printing machine, the various bodies of text of the pages with symmetrical distribution with respect to the center of symmetry of the sheet being printed and likewise symmetrically with respect to one or both axes of symmetry of the initial sheet which pass through the center of symmetry thereof and which are parallel with its outer edges, the extent of the body of text varying for each page in accordance with the dimensions provided therefor and the sheet receiving the print subsequently being reversed in order to print the bodies of text corresponding to the reverse faces of the printed sheets.

Abstract: In the region of a turner device in a sheet processing machine, a sheet-guiding device is disposed at a great spacing from the turner drum on the other side of a common tangent between a turner drum and a transfer drum.

Abstract: A method of operating a sheet-fed printing press having a sheet guide module, removable from the sheet-fed printing press and then inserted back into the sheet-fed printing press again, and a machine control system, includes the steps of monitoring a position of the sheet guide module with respect to its correct operating position with the machine control system, and, based upon results of the position monitoring, the machine control system keeping the sheet-fed printing process in a first operating mode when the sheet guide module is located in the correct operating position, and keeping it in a second operating mode with at least one operating function that is restricted as compared with the first operating mode when the sheet guide module is out of the correct operating position. Also provided is a sheet-fed printing press suitable for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A printing method includes the steps of transporting a recording medium and an intermediate transfer medium for holding an image temporarily to an image forming position; selectively forming an image on the recording medium and the intermediate transfer medium at the image forming position; transporting the recording medium to an image transfer position; and transferring the image formed on the intermediate transfer medium to the recording medium at the image transfer position. When forming the image on the recording medium at the image forming position, it is prohibited to form the image on the intermediate transfer medium.

Abstract: A printing press performs offset color printing. A blanket cylinder having four image segments selectively contacts a plate cylinder having four image segments and an impression cylinder having five image segments for carrying print media. A pair of eccentric bushings for independently controlling the impression cylinder engages same to blanket cylinder. A print media feed system and a delivery system are located on the same side of the press and cooperate with each other via a means for moving feed and delivery trays in a generally vertical direction. Print media are gripped only once and travel in the same direction until let go by the impression cylinder. An image forming system forms four images on a plate cylinder to be inked by four respective inking units oriented therearound. All four plate image sections can be inked during one rotation of the plate cylinder. Four inking units including a minimal number of rollers for inking the plate image sections.

Abstract: A sheet-processing rotary printing press includes a sheet guiding device over which sheets are to be pulled in a processing direction. The guiding device has a stationary first guide surface and a withdrawable second guide surface. The withdrawable second guide surface follows the stationary first guide surface in the processing direction, and forms a pocket with the first guide surface. The guiding device further includes a molded part received in the pocket and forming a third guide surface for bridging over the pocket.

Abstract: An air folder adjuster (10) includes an air supply (12) and air supply tubing (14) connected to air supply (12) at end (16). The opposite end (18) of air supply tubing (14) is connected to one or more air nozzles (20). In a printing press utilized for folding documents such as books, air folder adjuster (10) is positioned so that air nozzles (20) direct compressed air from air supply (12) downward onto the head (26) of document (24) on either side of chopper arm (34) during the folding process thus ensuring that the document (24) lies flat, square, and untouched during the folding process and thereby allowing the elimination of chopper brushes altogether.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device capable of again feeding, when failed to feed a sheet, the sheet by retry control is disclosed. The sheet feeding device includes a sheet tray loaded with a stack of sheets and a feed roller for sequentially feeding the sheets from the sheet tray one by one. A leading edge sensor is positioned downstream of the feed roller in the direction of sheet feed for sensing the leading edge of the sheet fed from the sheet tray. A registration roller pair is positioned downstream of the leading edge sensor in the direction of sheet feed for conveying the sheet toward an image transfer station at a preselected timing. When the retry control is to be executed, control means varies the content of control in accordance with information output from the leading edge sensor.

Abstract: Supply system (10) for a silk-screen printing machine comprising a supply table (20) mobile on longitudinal guides (22) in a longitudinal advancing direction (F) of a sheet (12) able to be registered longitudinally through longitudinal registering means (60), the supply system (10) comprising transversal registering means (40) which comprise locking means (50) suitable for locking the sheet (12) on the supply table (20) for a predetermined time and an actuator (24) to move the supply table (20) in a direction transversal to the longitudinal direction (F) such as to allow the registering of the transversal position of the sheet (12) without misaligning it with respect to the longitudinal direction (F).

Abstract: A printing device includes a roll-to roll printing press for forming a plurality of printed rolls and a separate assembly device, the assembly device having a plurality of roll unwinding devices separate from the printing press, a first folder accepting at least one first web from the roll unwinding devices and forming first signatures, and a second folder accepting at least one second web from the roll unwinding devices and forming second signatures. Also provided is a printing device having a roll-to-roll printing press for printing an image to a web so as to form at least one printed roll, a roll storage unit for the at least one printed roll, and a folder for folding and cutting the at least one printed roll. The folder is located separately from the printing press, and is part of an assembly device which performs a collecting and binding operation.

Abstract: A tandem printer with a mechanism for fine substrate-position correction, comprising: a first printing station; a second printing station; a rotatable element, rotating at a given rotation rate, that receives the substrate after printing thereon by the first printing station and transfer the substrate toward the second printing station; a sensor which measure the position of an edge of the substrate during its transfer from the first printing station to the second printing station; and a controller, which applies a corrective step change in angular position of the rotatable element responsive to the measurements of the sensor, without changing the general rotation rate of the rotatable element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for printing an extruded sheet in which ink is applied over the extruded sheet. The extruded sheet is at an elevated temperature. The ink cures immediately upon contact with the extruded sheet having an elevated temperature. In one embodiment, at least one print roller applies a background color to the sheet and a plurality of print rollers apply one or more additional colors for forming a pattern or image on the sheet. For example, the pattern or image can have a wood grain appearance. The extruded sheet can be sized for use as a vinyl siding product.

Abstract: In an inkjet printing apparatus an inkjet printhead has a plurality of inkjet nozzles which eject ink onto media located within a print-zone. A drive shaft is located upstream of the printhead and is incrementally rotated to advance the media. The drive shaft has a longitudinal axis, a first radius over a central length and a second radius less than the first radius at a first recess and a second recess, each said recess being peripheral to the central length. A plurality of pinch devices stabilize the media against the drive shaft. A first guide is aligned with the first recess and is spaced from an axis of the drive shaft by a first distance which is less than the first radius. A second guide is aligned with the second recess and is spaced from the axis by a second distance less than the first radius.

Abstract: A printing unit for a machine for processing flat printing materials includes a feeding cylinder for loading the printing unit with the printing materials in a processing direction, and a device for removing particles adhering to the surface of the printing materials, the particle-removing device further including a blowing device for separating the particles from the printing materials without contact, and a suction device for discharging the separated particles, both the blowing device and the suction device being formed by blowing and suction chambers arranged within the feeding cylinder and having a fluidic connection to surroundings of a jacket surface of the feeding cylinder; a machine including the printing unit; and a feeding drum or cylinder of the printing unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of paper supply sections having a paper size sensor to detect a size of a print paper; an image forming section forming an image on the fed print paper; a paper discharge section stocking the print paper formed of the image and discharged; an auto fence located on the paper discharge section, and displacing the position of a width direction of the print paper stocked on the paper discharge section according to the paper size of the print paper fed from the paper supply sections; a storage section storing the image forming processing as the printing job in the image for one page unit; and a control section determining a sequence of each printing job stored in the storage section so that printing processing is executed in order from a printing job with the smallest paper size in the width direction.

Abstract: A sheet-fed printing press includes a printing section for printing on sheets of paper, a sheet discharge section for discharging sheets of paper printed at the printing section from the printing section, a see-through part provided on the upper side of the sheet discharge section so that the inside of the sheet discharge section can be visually observed therethrough, and a color check table, on which a printed sheet of paper picked up from the sheet discharge section is placed for color checking thereof The color check table is located so as to at least partially cover the see-through part from above. The color check table is designed to be movable in a sheet transfer direction so that an area of the see-through part exposed to the outside on the downstream side of the color check table is increased as the color check table is moved towards an upstream side of the sheet transfer direction.

Abstract: A method by which stacks of printed sheets can be formed and, at the same time, the risk of soiling of the stacked sheets can be reduced to the maximum extent. To this end a printing machine is proposed, in particular a sheet-fed printing machine, into which unprinted and intermediate sheets are alternatively feed, wherein the printing is registered such that the printing occurs only on the unprinted sheets and not on the intermediate sheets. In this way, the intermediate sheets prevent damage to the print on the printed sheets.

Abstract: A printing apparatus has a manual control mode. The manual control mode has a proportion indication, a proportion adjustment key, a selected range adjustment key, and region selection keys. In the manual control mode, an operator selectively touches the region selection keys to select a region in which an ink key opening is to be changed. Next, the operator touches the selected range adjustment key to change the ink key opening of the selected region. The ink key opening is increased or decreased by the percentage indicated at the proportion indication the number of times the selected range adjustment key is touched. The settings made in the manual control mode are stored in a storage section, and are used to control the amount of ink supply during automatic control. Thus, the printing apparatus having the function of automatically controlling the printed density can make partial tone changes.

Abstract: An intermediate cylinder comprising a main body, and a plurality of suction boxes formed in the main body at positions different with respect to a rotation axis of the main body. The intermediate cylinder further comprises a plurality of suction bores formed in the suction boxes so that they are open at an outer peripheral surface of the main body, an air suction source for generating suction force within the suction boxes, and a switching means for selectively switching connections between the plurality of suction boxes and the air suction source.

Abstract: A printer has a media transport with a rigid, air-transmissive platen. A movable air-transmissive flexible web overlays the platen. A suction device communicates with the platen to draw air through the web and through the platen such that a sheet of media carried on the web is biased toward the platen. A valve sheet overlays or underlies the platen, and includes a plurality of shut-off elements, each movable in response to temperature changes between a closed position in which the element contacts a portion of the platen to prevent air flow through that portion of the platen, and an open position, in which the element is spaced apart from the platen to admit air to the platen portion. The shut off elements may include resistive heaters and bimetallic strips so that application of electricity generates heat to flex the strip to an open position.