Abstract: A device for separating copies of a flat sheet material mutually adjacently conveyed on paths defining a common wedge-shaped region, one of the copies of the flat sheet material passing over in a transfer region to the respective path whereon the other of the copies is conveyed, includes a guiding device for maintaining a separation of the copies, said guiding device being accommodated in the wedge-shaped region; and a printing unit, a rotary printing machine and a multicolor rotary printing machine, respectively, having such a separating device.

Abstract: A sheet guide unit for a sheet-fed press which will prevent the sheet from flapping or fluttering, and allow sheets of thinner paper to be conveyed smoothly even when using a skeleton cylinder, The sheet guide unit is provided under an intermediate cylinder or a delivery cylinder, and has a curved sheet guide surface with which the lower surface of the cylinder creates a small sheet guide space, the space through which an air stream is directed. An air supply chamber and a pair of air aspiration chambers are provided for directing air through the sheet guide space. An air guide fin which is an outer extended portion of the curved sheet guide surface directs the air from the sheet guide into the aspiration chambers.

Abstract: A sheet-fed printing press comprises a running transport chain, gripper devices supported by the transport chain and each having a gripper and a gripper pad for gripping a sheet, an inspection device for inspecting the sheet gripped and transported by the gripper devices, and a suction table having a guide surface for guiding the sheet at a position of inspection, and suction holes for spreading the sheet along the guide surface. Suction taper plates each having an inclined surface, which gradually decreases the distance between the gripper pads and the guide surface from an upstream side toward a downstream side of the guide surface in the sheet transport direction, are provided on the downstream side of the guide surface at predetermined intervals in the sheet width direction. Grooves, through which the grippers pass, are interposed among the suction taper plates.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus for recording an image on a sensitive material mounted on a drum by emitting light beams to the sensitive material. The apparatus includes a cylindrical drum for supporting the sensitive material mounted peripherally thereof, a drive mechanism for rotating the drum with a rotary shaft disposed on an axis of the drum, guide members formed in opposite end surfaces of the drum and extending circumferentially about the rotary shaft, a pair of counterweights movable along each of the guide members, a moving mechanism for engaging each of the counterweights and moving relative to the drum, thereby to move the counterweight along the guide member, and a fixing mechanism for fixing the counterweight to the guide member in time of image recording.

Abstract: A machine for processing sheets, in particular a sheet-fed rotary printing machine, includes a transporting cylinder for transporting the sheets and having air nozzles disposed offset in relation to one another in a direction other than an axis-parallel direction of the transporting cylinder, and having a directing configuration for directing the sheets and having air nozzles, the configuration being assigned to the transporting cylinder. The machine is distinguished in that the air nozzles include throttled air nozzles and unthrottled air nozzles.

Abstract: A device for detecting register marks includes at least one receiver for scanning register marks along a track disposed in a direction of movement of the register marks, and a device for positioning the receiver transversely with respect to the track, in order to determine an offset of the receiver with respect to the track, at least one positioning mark being disposed upline of the register marks in the direction of movement thereof, the positioning mark having at least one edge extending at an angle to the track, having an extent transverse to the track, which is a multiple of the extent of the register marks, and having a predetermined positional relationship to the track which is transverse to the track.

Abstract: A rotary printing machine is disclosed in which the timing of the sheet feeding is adjustable as a function of the thickness of the selected printing plate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively depositing printed sheets on four superimposed supports which are adjustable as to height independently of one another, each support being adapted to be placed, for the deposition of a sheet thereon, with its support surface or the top sheet situated on the support surface placed a short fixed distance beneath a fixed delivery point and printed sheets of a first type (A) are deposited on the bottom support and printed sheets of a second type (B) are deposited on the supports situated thereabove, wherein out of a group of sheets of a second type (B) for deposition, a first part is first deposited on a higher-level support and then a second part is deposited on a support therebeneath.

Abstract: A guiding device in a machine for processing sheets of printing material includes unthrottled air nozzles for contact-free guidance of the sheets, and throttled air nozzles arranged at locations which are prone to contact by the sheets; and a machine for processing sheets of printing material and a sheet-fed rotary printing machine, respectively, having the guiding device.

Abstract: An apparatus for guiding and transferring a sheet in a printing machine from a first cylinder to a gripper of a second cylinder in which the apparatus has a guide device for a holding element, which is held outside the first and second cylinder. In this way, the design of the guide apparatus can be independent of the first and second cylinders. In addition, a longer time period is available for gripping, tensioning and transferring the sheet. The apparatus can be used both in a recto printing machine and in a turner device in recto and verso printing.

Abstract: A paper roll braking device for rotary presses, in which a web is paid off from a paper roll supported between frames, caused to travel, and printed in a printing unit, comprising rotors provided on supporting members for supporting the paper roll, braking sections provided at a plurality of locations along the rotors and having friction discs that can engage with, or disengage from, the rotors at their respective locations, engage/disengage changeover sections for controlling the engage/disengage operation of the friction discs with respect to the rotors, and a tension sensing mechanism for sensing changes in the running tension of the web; a contact pressure adjusting section for adjusting the contact pressure of the friction discs to the rotors via the engage/disengage changeover section in accordance with the changes in running tension detected by the tension sensing mechanism, an outside diameter detecting section for detecting the outside diameter of the paper roll, and an operation control section for

Abstract: A cylinder jacket profile for impression cylinders or sheet transfer cylinders has uniformly distributed elevations with an easy-clean layer as a surface coating. The easy-clean layer has a thickness of less than 5 &mgr;m, in particular 1 &mgr;m, and a surface energy of less than 50 mN/m. The cylinder jacket profile has an improved cleaning behavior. A method of producing an easy-clean layer on a cylinder jacket profile is also provided.

Abstract: The invention concerns an inverter (1) for thin, flat products (2), especially printing substrates in a printing machine, with belts (7, 8) positioned over two deflection pulleys (3, 4, 5, 6) that are set together at 180° between the deflection pulleys (3, 4, 5, 6).

Abstract: A sheet guide apparatus for use in a rotary printing press which is adapted for the smear and mark free transfer of sheets between two sheet holding and transfer systems, such as a pair of sheet-carrying cylinders or a sheet-carrying cylinder and circulating sheet conveyor. The sheet guide apparatus includes a sheet guide having a guide surface disposed beneath the transfer area, and a pneumatic system for blowing a positive pressure air stream in the direction of a transfer area or tangent point between the sheet holding and transfer systems. A further pneumatic system optionally may be provided for drawing or blowing air through apertures in the guide surface.

Abstract: A method for taking over a sheet by a trailing edge thereof from an upline cylinder of a sheet-fed rotary printing press and transferring the sheet by the trailing edge thereof to a gripper system, by placing a suction gripper on the sheet in a marginal region of the trailing edge and, during the sheet takeover, having the suction gripper follow the periphery of the upline cylinder, having the suction gripper guided at a constant tangent into the periphery of a downline inverting drum and, along this course, having the suction gripper execute a relative motion in the direction of the tangent so as to tauten the sheet, which comprises, upon reaching a transfer position at the gripper system, having the suction gripper execute a relative motion in the sheet transport direction and, when the grippers close, having the suction gripper and the gripper system disposed at rest relative to one another; and a transmission system for performing the method.

Abstract: A delivery of a sheet-processing machine having gripper rows for drawing sheets, during operation, along a conveying section having endless conveying chains bearing the gripper rows and, during operation, running through the delivery in a revolving direction, and having a pair of chain wheels which are rotatable about a common axis of rotation, are in engagement with the conveying chains and form a deflecting region of the conveying section, includes a blast-air source for expelling an air curtain actable upon a side of the sheets being drawn past the sheet-deflecting region, that side being directed towards the axis of rotation of the chain wheels, the air curtain being movable past the sheet-deflecting region in the same direction as the grippers, while the sheets passing the sheet-deflecting region are being subjected to the action of the air curtain.

Abstract: A folder includes a cam having a cam follower path and a movable segment, the movable segment having a first actuating part and a second part, the first actuating part and the second part being selectively movable into the cam follower path. At least one cam follower follows the cam follower path and at least holding device holds an edge of a signature, the holding device being actuated by the at least one cam follower. Also disclosed is a method for switching a folder from a straight mode to a collect mode, the folder being actuated by a cam. The method includes moving a movable segment of the cam so that a raised section of the movable segment is in a cam follower path of the cam, so as to permit a straight mode of the folder, and moving the movable segment of the cam so that a non-raised section of the movable segment is in the cam follower path of the cam, so as to permit a collect mode of the folder.

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.

Abstract: A printer with a media feed apparatus has a media tray with a surface for supporting a stack of media sheets. A wave drive mechanism above the stack support surface has a media contact element operable to make contact with a top sheet of a media stack in the tray while moving in a feed direction to shift the top sheet in the feed direction. An encoder above the tray operates to detect motion of the top sheet. A controller may monitor the encoder to determine the speed of sheet motion, and set the speed of the wave drive mechanism to maintain the sheet motion above a threshold.

Abstract: Multicolor prints should be economically producible in a printing machine suited for automation. For this purpose a printing machine is configured which operates according to the collect-run principle. The multicolor prints are collected on a rubber cylinder (21 on a printing cylinder (5). The printing machine is capable of processing two printing colors (inks) in one printing unit. For the execution of the collecting printing the sheets are fed in a cycle offset to the rotation of the collecting cylinder. There are yielded very compact and simply structured printing machine configurations.

Abstract: A card supply for use with an identification card printing system includes a card hopper and a supply circuit. The card hopper contains a stack of cards. The supply circuit is mounted to the card hopper that includes a memory containing supply information relating to parameters of the card supply.

Abstract: A sheet guiding device for a printing press, includes guide surface members having slit nozzles for emitting blast air. The slit nozzles are aimed in a direction crosswise to a sheet travel path for tautening sheets traveling in the printing operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating handling of sheets in a sheet-fed printing press comprising a matte that is mountable on a cylinder. The matte has at least one inflatable pocket for cushioning sheets of printable material as they are passed between two cylinders of the press. At least one valve communicates with the inflatable pocket and controls the quantity of fluid in the inflatable pocket. A number of inflatable pockets can be utilized to provide increased control over various sheet sizes. Further control may be obtained by including a number of valves to independently operate each of the inflatable pockets. Ease of installation and removal is accomplished by incorporated mounting holes along the long axis of the matte. Alternatively, the matte may be arranged on the cylinder by adhesively bonding (tape or glue) the matte to the surface of the cylinder or by arranging the matte on the cylinder with Velcro fasteners.

Abstract: A sheet transport cylinder in a machine that processes sheets of printing material includes air nozzles for sheet formats of the printing-material sheets. The printing-material sheets are dimensioned from a minimum format up to a maximum format. The sheet transport cylinder is distinguished by the fact that the air nozzles are throttled air nozzles disposed to be matched to the minimum format.

Abstract: A printing press includes an impression cylinder, a seal cylinder, two number printing cylinders, and a transfer cylinder. The distance L1 between the outer circumference of the impression cylinder and the outer circumference of the impression cylinder, and the distance L2 between the outer circumference of the impression cylinder and the outer circumference of the impression cylinder are set longer than the sheet length Lo of the effective printing area of the sheet, and the distance L3 between the outer circumference of the impression cylinder and the outer circumference of the impression cylinder is set shorter than the sum of the effective impression area length La of the impression cylinder and double of length Lb of the notch of the impression cylinder, and an inspection portion for inspecting the sheet supplied to the impression cylinder is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides an input roller system for displacing a printing plate toward and against a plurality of registration pins located on an external drum of an imaging system. The input roller system deskews the printing plate relative to the registration pins.

Abstract: A double-sided printing apparatus which includes two printers each including a tractor unit, a fixing unit and scuff rollers is improved in that, even if a printed surface of continuous recording paper contacts with the scuff rollers, stain to the print does not occur. The double-sided printing apparatus includes a tractor unit for forming a print image on the rear surface of continuous recording paper and transporting the continuous recording paper in a forward direction, a flash fixing unit for fixing the print image formed on the continuous recording paper to the continuous recording paper, scuff rollers capable of transporting the continuous recording paper in the forward direction and outputting transport amount information, and a tension control section for controlling the tractor unit and the scuff rollers so that the continuous recording paper has a predetermined tension when printing of the continuous recording paper is started.

Abstract: A sheet processing device is provided in a sheet-fed printing press. Sheets are conveyed to a sheet transport cylinder and are processed on the sheet transport cylinder. The sheets are each removed twice from the sheet transport cylinder.

Abstract: A belt drive for a machine for processing flat printing materials includes an endless belt revolving during operation, a roller about which the belt is partially looped, a frame with respect to which the roller is adjustable between a working position, wherein the roller keeps the belt tensioned, and a position moved away from the working position, wherein the belt is untensioned, and a spring device for biasing the roller into the working position thereof. Also included are a double crank by which the roller is articulated with the frame, and a stop which, due to a change in position of the double crank from a position corresponding to the working position of the roller into a position corresponding to the moved-away position of the roller, is carried out to a given extent beyond a dead-center position of the double crank, prevents a change in position beyond the given extent; and a machine for processing flat printing materials, which includes the belt drive.

Abstract: In a device for guiding sheets in a sheet-fed apparatus, preferably, a rotary printing press, sheet guide elements that are charged with blasted air are disposed at the sheet guide cylinder, and the air blast nozzles include a combination of conventional free jet nozzles and throttled nozzles, which are independently charged with different pressure levels.

Abstract: A feeder unit for a sheet-processing machine having a plurality of processing units is provided. The feeder unit includes a feeder, a feed table, and a feed drum. The feed drum is double-sized or larger in that it has a diameter at least twice that of the diameter of the plate or blanket cylinder of at least one of the processing units of the sheet-processing machine. The feed drum includes at least two gripper systems distributed symmetrically on a periphery of the feed drum. The feed drum is arranged with its rotational axis on or offset vertically above a horizontal plane formed by the rotational axes of the printing cylinders in the processing units. Each gripper system is pivotally supported on the feed drum and includes a gripper shaft, at least one gripper arranged on the gripper shaft, a gripper stop bar associated with the gripper, and a front guide arranged on the gripper stop bar.

Abstract: A delivery for a machine for processing flat printing materials, includes a sheet guide surface with suction openings opening into the sheet guide surface, a suction chamber communicating with the suction openings, and a sheet conveyor for gripping a respective sheet at an edge thereof extending in a sheet-conveying direction and for dragging the respective sheet over the sheet guide surface, the suction chamber being formed as a throttling duct; a machine for processing flat printing materials including the delivery; and a sheet-processing printing machine including the delivery.

Abstract: A support structure for a plate cylinder is composed of a pair of support frames; a pair of eccentric slide bearings rotatably supported on the support frames; a pair of eccentric roller bearings rotatably supported by the eccentric slide bearings and rotatably supporting end portions of a shaft of the plate cylinder; dogs and pinions for rotating the eccentric slide bearings relative to the support frames in the same amount; an annular plate, a casing, a drive shaft, a worm wheel, a worm gear, a threaded shaft, a support member, a connecting rod, and a connecting pin for rotating one of the eccentric roller bearings relative to one of the support frames; and an annular plate, a connecting rod, and connecting pins for restraining rotation of the other eccentric roller bearing relative to the other support frame.

Abstract: A sheet-fed printing machine having a control console at the downstream end of a sheet transfer system which transfers printed sheets to a delivery unit. The control console has an inclined proof sheet support surface disposed in direct overlying relation to the delivery unit and sheet transfer system upon which a proof sheet withdrawn from the delivery unit may be positioned and assessed for quality. The support surface further includes control elements for directly adjusting and controlling printing quality based upon assessment of the proof sheet. With the control console support surface in overlying relation to the sheet transfer system and the delivery unit, the support surface is at a height which can be comfortably used by an operator of average height and does not impede access to the end of the printing machine nor increase its overall length.

Abstract: A device for fixing the position of a sheet includes a feeding table for transporting the sheet; at least one front lay disposed in vicinity of the feeding table and, in a working position, protruding upwardly beyond the plane of the feeding table; a swivellable holder to which the front lay and an adjusting device for the front lay are secured; and a adjusting device secured to the holder, the front lay and the adjusting device being disposed separated from one another on the holder, the front lay being in continuous biasing engagement, under tension, with the adjusting device, so that, by changing the position of the holder, the front lay and the adjusting device are movable from the working position into a neutral position and, conversely, from the neutral position into the working position.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for releasable attachment of a conveyor belt carrier (1) of a printing press (2), the conveyor belt carrier serving for the transport of printing substrates (3) is capable for moving away from the operating elements (4) interacting with it for service purposes.

Abstract: A paddle-wheel deliverer for a web-fed rotary printing machine is driven by its own, position-controlled motor so that the deliverer can be set up cost-effectively and the products are transferred reliably into the paddle wheel.

Abstract: A belt drive for a machine for processing flat printing materials includes an endless belt revolving during operation, a roller about which the belt is partially looped, a frame with respect to which the roller is adjustable between a working position, wherein the roller keeps the belt tensioned, and a position moved away from the working position, wherein the belt is untensioned, and a spring device for biasing the roller into the working position thereof. Also included are a double crank by which the roller is articulated with the frame, and a stop which, due to a change in position of the double crank from a position corresponding to the working position of the roller into a position corresponding to the moved-away position of the roller, is carried out to a given extent beyond a dead-center position of the double crank, prevents a change in position beyond the given extent; and a machine for processing flat printing materials, which includes the belt drive.

Abstract: A sheet offset printing method and a sheet offset printing press includes altering flow relationships in an interior of a housing of a sheet delivery of a sheet-fed printing machine to prevent uncontrolled spread of powder in the housing by extracting powder-laden air from the housing and/or feeding air into the housing from outside at a point along a return belt of a sheet conveying device. Air currents are channeled inside the housing by feeding air not laden with powder into the housing and/or leading the air into an air flow path along the return belt downstream of the point with respect to a return belt motion direction to transport the unladen air toward a printing unit by a drag effect of the return belt and/or impeding/blocking a supply of powder-charged air from around a conveyor belt of the sheet-conveyor or a powder-scattering device into a flow path along the return belt.

Abstract: This connecting module (2), inserted between a printer and an enveloping machine, comprises a first zone (17) for receiving documents, a second zone (18) for receiving documents, a sheet outlet zone (19) and an envelope outlet zone (20), first conveying means (23-28, 31, 32) connecting the first receiving zone (17) to the sheet outlet zone (19), second conveying means (36-39, 41, 42, 45, 52, 54) connecting the first receiving zone (17) to the envelope outlet zone (20), and third conveying means (82, 53, 52, 54) connecting the second receiving zone (18) to the envelope outlet zone (20), controllable routing means (33) being located on a common inlet section of the first and second conveying means so as to select the path according to the type of document arriving in the receiving zone (17).

Abstract: A stencil printer capable of printing a multicolor image on a sheet of the present invention includes a plurality of drums arranged side by side in an intended direction of sheet transport at a preselected interval. Ink of particular color is fed to the inner periphery of each drum carrying a respective master around its outer periphery. An intermediate transport device transports a sheet from an upstream drum to a downstream drum. A controller controls the sheet conveyance speed of the intermediate transport device and/or the print conveyance speed of the downstream drum in accordance with the size and/or the position of the sheet. The printer allows a minimum of double printing and misregister to occur by making up for a delay of transport of the sheet to the downstream drum.

Abstract: A stamp cylinder, upstream number cylinder, downstream number cylinder and a paper discharge cylinder are respectively arranged with respect to an impression cylinder so that a distance between the stamp cylinder and the upstream number cylinder has a length equal to or more than a length of a sheet paper. Also, a distance between the downstream cylinder and the paper discharge cylinder has a length equal to or more than a length of a sheet paper. Further, a distance between the stamp cylinder and the downstream number cylinder has a length equal to or less than a length obtained by adding a length of the effective surface of the impression cylinder to twice a length of the notch portion of the impression cylinder.

Abstract: A sheet-fed rotary printing press having at least one unit including an impression cylinder and an additional cylinder assigned to the impression cylinder, the impression cylinder and the additional cylinder being relatively adjustable a spaced distance from one another, includes a sheet guiding device disposed on the additional cylinder for keeping sheets of printing material, which have been transported by the impression cylinder past the additional cylinder, away from the additional cylinder, once the spaced distance between the impression cylinder and the additional cylinder has been set.

Abstract: A sheet receiving apparatus in a sheet-fed rotary printing press includes at least one paper receiving bar, an air cylinder, and a moving plate. The paper receiving bar is inserted in a dropping path for a sheet-like printing product to temporarily stop it after printing. The air cylinder moves the paper receiving bar between a wait position and a sheet receiving position. The moving plate supports the paper receiving bar to be movable in a widthwise direction of the printing product.

Abstract: A device for guiding material webs (A through D; E through H) via an angle-bar deck (2), including a folding section that is arranged on a plurality of planes (3.1, 3.2, 3.3), from where the material webs (A through D), (E through H) enter folding apparatuses (4), (5). Accommodated on longitudinal folding devices (8), (9) are infeed elements (7), which have guide sections (13), (14) that are able to be operated independently of one another.

Abstract: A sheet-fed printing machine having an impression cylinder and a movable cylinder that can be thrown onto the impression cylinder and movable into a spaced position far removed from the impression cylinder, includes a sheet guide element assigned to the impression cylinder, the sheet guide element being movably mounted for guiding a printing-material sheet carried on the impression cylinder.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device for a printer, e.g., a stencil printer including an ink drum with a master wrapped therearound and a press drum one of which is pressed against the other during printing is disclosed. The sheet feeding device is capable of feeding a sheet at a preselected speed without regard to a print speed varying every moment due to various factors particular to an ink drum driveline, i.e., whether a set print speed is higher than a standard print speed or lower than the same. This successfully obviates the short loop of a sheet which would result in a skew or a feed failure. In addition, the device reduces noise at print speeds lower than the standard print speed and used more often than the other print speeds.

Abstract: A sheet-braking device for a sheet-processing machine includes a plurality of brake modules with a revolving suction belt formed with at least one suction opening. The brake modules have assigned thereto individual drives with controls for stipulating a reference speed relative to a speed of the machine.

Abstract: Sheets are printed by being automatically run twice through a printing machine. The first sides of each of the sheets are printed in one, or a plurality of colors during a first printing pass. The sheets so printed are then placed in an intermediated storage facility, which is located within the printing machine. These sheets are then rotated 180 degrees and are printed on second sides in one or a plurality of colors during a second printing pass. The sheets are then fed to a final storage device.

Abstract: A sheet-fed rotary printing machine has a plurality of units arranged in tandem, at least one of the units including a first cylinder for transporting a sheet and a second cylinder disposed opposite the first cylinder, the first cylinder and the second cylinder being mounted so as to be disengageable from one another; the second cylinder being stoppable and having a device by which an outer portion of the second cylinder is displaceable; and a method of transporting a sheet through a unit of the printing machine.