Abstract: A rotary printing machine with a sheet-surface treating device disposed between a last cyclically operating printing unit and a device for conveying sheets on a sheet pile, the sheet-surface treating device including at least one fixed drier past which the sheets are guidable, includes at least one module composed of two rotating conveying elements having a like circumferential speed for transporting the sheets along the sheet-surface treating device, the conveying elements carrying grippers for grasping a respective leading edge of one of the sheets, the sheets being supplied to the module and discharged from the module, respectively, during a rotation of the grippers in accordance with a printing cycle, a plurality of gripper arms, the grippers of a respective conveying element disposed first along a conveying path of the sheets being carried by at least one of the gripper arms, guiding elements for freely guiding the sheets otherwise, the grippers of the conveying element disposed second along the conveyin

Abstract: A method is disclosed for starting-up/restarting continuous printing in a sheet-processing printing machine where the sheets to be printed are fed from a feeder stack connected to the printing machine via a switchable clutch, the feeder assembly is cut-in at a basic speed, and the printing machine is run-up to a continuous printing speed. According to the invention, the time for starting the running up of the printing machine from the basic speed to the continuous production speed is a function of the number of machine revolutions necessary to convey a first sheet from the feeder stack to a predetermined position inside the printing machine such that the first sheet reaches the predetermined position inside the printing machine at the same time or after the production speed is reached. The object of the invention is to reduce the number of rejects that occur during the starting-up/restarting of the printing machine to the largest extent possible.

Abstract: A method for eliminating a rhythmic register error in a sheet-fed printing machine with a multiple-size sheet-conveying cylinder having at least one first and one second gripper device includes varying instants of closure of the gripper devices by adjusting adjusting devices assigned to the gripper devices so as to compensate for the register error; and a device for performing the foregoing method.

Abstract: A self service financial print terminal (10) has a keypad (14) to input instructions; a card reader (44) to read a data-bearing user card; and a printer (20) to print a financial document such as a cheque in accordance with instructions. A correctly-printed cheque is driven by pairs of rollers (22,24) to a delivery slot (18). An incorrectly-printed cheque is diverted by divert mechanism (30) to pass between a pair of print rollers (34) which print a stripe on the cheque in indelible security ink. The marked cheque can then be retained in a non-secure part of the terminal (36).

Abstract: Pull lays on a feed table of a sheet-fed rotary printing machine are adjusted by a pulling device for laterally aligning sheets thereon. A spindle, which extends transversely to the travel direction, displaces the pull lays for adjusting to a sheet format to be processed. The spindle engages indirectly at a housing of the side lays which is provided with bearing and guide elements. The pull lays are thereby subject to an energy storing device which supports them in a guide transversely to the feed table.

Abstract: The impression cylinder (2), which together with the cylinder (1) that prints the image, forms the printing nip, co-operates with two transfer cylinders (3, 4) which feed or remove the sheets, and has an essentially closed cylindrical circumferential surface, into which, at the beginning of each impression segment, a suction strip (5, 6) is inset to apply suction to the front edge of a sheet. The two transfer cylinders (3, 4) are similarly provided with suction strips (7, 8; 13, 14) which are arranged in good register with the suction strips (5, 6) of the impression cylinder (2), and moreover have dipping grippers (10, 12; 16, 18), which are located in gaps in the dipping strips. Sheet transfer to and from the impression cylinder (2) is effected by alternately switching on and off the suction air at the relevant suction strips.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing printed products to a gatherer, including a product supplier for feeding printed products, a product separator positioned to receive printed products from the product supplier and to separate the printed products into a separated stream, a printer positioned adjacent to the separated stream and positioned to print on the separated printed products, and a gripper conveyor positioned to receive the separated printed products from the printer and to form a shingled stream.

Abstract: Sheet guiding device for a printing press having a guide surface member for guiding sheets includes blast air or suction nozzles provided in the guide surface member, the guide surface member being formed, as viewed in a sheet transport direction, successively of an entry region, a guide zone and an exit region, the nozzles provided in at least one of the entry and the exit regions of the guide surface member being suppliable selectively with suction or blast air in accordance with a type of printing material or stock to be processed, and the nozzles provided in the guide zone disposed between the entry region and the exit region of the guide surface member being suppliable with blast air, at least some of the nozzles being disposed so as to emit blast air substantially tangentially to a guide surface of the guide surface member.

Abstract: A hollow cylinder is fitted with a piston, whose hollow rod or shank protrudes downward from the cylinder to apply lifting suction to print media. The upper end of the cylinder communicates with a suction system. In the cylinder side walls, main passageways and reapportioning passageways apply suction to the underside of the piston when the piston is less than fully extended, drawing the piston down to extend the shank. When the shank is fully extended the piston blocks the reapportioning passageways--reallocating more of the available suction to other feet, in the same system, that remain unextended.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for transporting a mailpiece. The apparatus comprises an assembly for feeding the mailpieces in a path of travel; a sensor assembly for determining the length of the mailpieces; and a controller in operative communication with the sensor assembly and the feeding assembly, the controller for adjusting the gap between a first mailpiece having a measured length and a second mailpiece to: (i) establish a fixed pitch between the first mailpiece and the second mailpiece if the measure length is equal to or less than a predetermined value, or (ii) establish a fixed gap between the first mailpiece and the second mailpiece if the measure length is greater than the predetermined value.

Abstract: A statement printer of an automated banking machine includes a lower roll shaft (118) having round paper engaging rolls (120) thereon. An upper roll shaft (122) has flat spot rolls (124, 125, 126, 127) thereon. The flat spot rolls are positioned in opposed relation with the round rolls. The round rolls are moved by a drive mechanism (128, 129). A paper sheet (130) is moved between the round rolls and the flat spot rolls. As the paper sheet is moved between the rolls lateral stresses in the paper are relieved and creases and puckers in the paper sheet are reduced.

Abstract: In a printing machine with a rotary drum (1) for franking envelopes (4), each print operation is performed at a constant rotational speed in a given direction, whereafter the direction of rotation of the drum (1) is reversed so that for the next print operation, the rotational speed of the drum (1) may be increased in said direction over a greater angle to achieve said constant speed.

Abstract: A blower for printing presses for assisting in the guidance of sheets, and being acted on by individual jets of compressed air, the blower comprising an outer air pressure tube having blowing apertures, the outer tube being connected to a source of air pressure, the air pressure tube having outer air pressure tube orifices therein for blowing toward the edges of the sheet, and an inner air pressure tube disposed entirely within the outer air pressure tube, the outer tube being provided with central portion orifices for blowing compressed air therethrough onto the central portion of the sheet, and optionally a plurality of valves for pneumatically acting on said inner of air pressure tube or on both said inner and said outer air pressure tubes.

Abstract: There is disclosed a liquid application system for the printing, copying, imaging, converting, and related industries, and more particularly a liquid applicator means for applying moisture and coatings to cut sheets using a system of rolls and controlling surfaces, speeds, pressures, and directions of rotation of same relative to successive sheets passing through the system. In the use of the method and apparatus herein described, the liquid applied to the sheet is supplied from a reservoir or other liquid supply source to the nip between a smooth, resilient surfaced metering roll and a smoothly finished hydrophilic transfer roll. An abundant supply of liquid is supplied at the nip between the rolls which is metered by pressure contact between the resilient surfaced metering roll and the transfer roll to an exactly controlled film which adheres to the surface of the transfer roll, which rotates into contact with a cut sheet to apply the liquid thereto.

Abstract: A printing press having an ink carrying roller and a roller having a blanket is equipped with a printed sheet material stripper having air dispenser for directing streams of air toward the roller having the blanket to assist in separating the sheet material from the blanket. A second air dispenser directs streams of air toward the ink carrying roller to set up and dry water in the ink on the ink carrying roller. Air flow regulators control the pressure of the air supplied to the air dispensers.

Abstract: A sheet-guiding system for a printing press, the sheet-guiding system being disposed in the vicinity of a transfer drum located between two sheet-guiding cylinders, respectively, disposed upstream and downstream of the transfer drum, as viewed in a sheet travel direction, the transfer drum being provided with rows of grippers movable along a travel path and having at least nearly closed surfaces between the rows of grippers, including an air guide element disposed above the transfer drum at a slight spacing from the travel path of the gripper rows, the air guide element defining an air chamber at the top thereof, the air chamber extending from the upstream to the downstream sheet-guiding cylinder, and a blower device for applying air to the air chamber in a direction towards the downstream sheet-guiding cylinder.

Abstract: A machine is disclosed for printing and/or otherwise processing blanks of sheet material in which the interior of the machine is pressurized to a super-atmospheric pressure such that the blanks are forced firmly against the transfer conveyor between sections of the machine and dust in the ambient air is prevented from entering the machine and contaminating the print function.

Abstract: A sheet-fed printing press includes a plurality of printing units disposed along a sheet-transport path. A transport apparatus (3, 33, 40, 50, 66, 78) is disposed along the sheet-transport path. The sheets are transported through the printing units along the sheet-transport path and, after recto-printing, they are returned along a return-transport path which extends essentially in an opposite direction to the sheet-transport path. The printing press is thus enabled to print recto-and-verso while having a very short structural length.

Abstract: Sheet delivery in a printing press, wherein, at acceptance of a sheet, a gripper bar of the delivery has a speed which is increased in comparison with a sheet-surrendering or transferring gripper bar includes delivery chains, and a drive for driving the chains so as to increase the speed of the gripper bar of the delivery at an instant at which a sheet is transferred to the gripper bar of the delivery by the sheet-surrendering gripper bar.

Abstract: A device for aligning sheets on a feeding table of a sheetfed printing press having at least one swivelably mounted top lay and at least one swivelably mounted front lay, and a control device for cyclically moving the at least one front lay and the at least one top lay includes a control device for the at least one top lay operative independently of the control device for cyclically moving the at least one front lay and the at least one top lay, the at least one top lay being disposed so as to be vertically movable and being constructed wider than the at least one front lay, and the at least one front lay being laterally encompassed by the at least one top lay.

Abstract: Printing press having a device for centrally adjusting sheet-guiding elements located both on the drive and the control or operating sides of the printing press, the adjusting device including adjusting members for respectively driving the sheet-guiding elements in common, includes a drive member couplable selectively to the respective adjusting member on a respective one of the drive and the operating sides and to the adjusting members on both the drive and the operating sides.

Abstract: A method for creating contact pressure forces between printing substrates conveyed on an endless conveyor belt and multiple ink transfer devices arranged at a distance from one another in tandem along the conveyor belt, the ink transfer devices having respective cylindrically curved surfaces located opposite the conveyor belt. The method includes creating the contact pressure forces through the use of a prestress applied to the conveyor belt, and partially looping the substrates on the curved surfaces of the ink transfer devices with said conveyor belt.

Abstract: A device for adjusting guide yokes in rotary printing machines which are placed on a crossbeam crosswise to the direction in which the sheets travel, and which guide the sheets that are transported by a cylinder; each of the guide yokes are mounted, movable and lockable, on the crossbeam, and the crossbeam is at both ends fastened to the machine side racks.

Abstract: A printing press has a plurality of in-line printing units in which substrates are transported along a rectilinear transport path. The printing units include several recto printing units and several verso printing units disposed along the transport path. A transport system, which transports the substrates through the printing units along the straight transport path, includes a first transport apparatus through the recto printing units, and a second transport apparatus through the verso printing units. A feeder assembly feeds the substrates to be printed from a feeder pile to the transport system. The feed by the feeder also follows a straight path which is coplanar with the path through the printing units. It is thus possible to print not only bendable substrates, but also rigid and stiff substrates such as carton, plastic, sheet metal, glass, and the like. The system further includes a turning apparatus for turning the substrates between the recto printing units and the verso printing units.

Abstract: Rotary printing press having a product delivery unit including a conveyor system revolving in a conveyor path, and a further-processing unit disposed downline therefrom and having a product-guiding cylinder for conveying incoming products through the further-processing unit, includes folding modules disposed downline from the delivery unit for performing folding operations on the conveyed products during the conveyance thereof, at least one of the folding modules being integrated with the conveyor system.

Abstract: A device for holding substrates on a printing-press transport belt successively transporting the substrates closely past an impression cylinder includes at least one stripping device disposed in an exit part of a nip between the impression cylinder and the transport belt, the at least one stripping device being movable in synchronism with a printing-press cycle towards and away from the impression cylinder; and a method of operating the device.

Abstract: Method for pneumatically braking sheets in a delivery of a sheet-fed rotary printing press by means of blast air directed opposite to a sheet-transport direction for forming an air flow for braking the sheet includes adjusting the air flow for braking the sheet to a state of equilibrium between energy of the air flow acting upon the sheet and kinetic energy of the sheet, the sheet being carried in the region of a braking path in a contact-free manner by the air flow, and device for performing the method.

Abstract: Method of changing sheet piles on a sheet-fed printing press, which includes introducing a sheet pile rake above a main sheet pile for forming an auxiliary sheet pile, further includes laying at least one rotatably mounted wedge on an upper edge of the main sheet pile so as to form a wedge-shaped space; and device for performing the foregoing method.

Abstract: A device in a printing press for applying air flow to printing stock being transferred by a transfer drum to an impression cylinder so as to achieve a flawless application of the printing stock on the impression cylinder before the printing stock reaches a printing nip defined by the impression cylinder and a blanket cylinder of the printing press includes a flat air-guide element extending over the breadth of the impression cylinder from a vicinity of the circumference of the transfer drum to as far as possible in a direction towards the printing nip so as to form a wedge-shaped space having a tip extending towards the printing nip.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling the sheet supply in a sheet-processing printing machine, in particular a sheet-fed offset printing machine. In order that, at the beginning of printing, before which a specific process for predamping and/or preinking the plate and/or blanket cylinders takes place, a first sheet always runs into the printing zone precisely on completion of the process, provision is made for a first sheet to be conveyed by means of the engagement and renewed disengagement of the feeder into a predetermined position from which the number of machine revolutions up to reaching the first printing zone is known. The feeder is disconnected and the separator and pull suckers remain pressurized, thereby continuing to hold a sheet gripped. The process for predamping and/or preinking is then started, whereupon the reengagement of the feeder takes place precisely at that moment after which a first sheet then runs into the first printing zone precisely on completion of the process sequence.

Abstract: A sheet guide in a feeder of a sheet-fed printing press has lateral guide plates for upper sheets of a sheet pile for laterally aligning the upper sheets with one sheet edge, and at least one deformable leaf spring located at a side of the sheet pile opposite to the side thereof at which the aligned sheet edge is disposed and acting by spring force against the upper sheets transversely to a sheet-feeding direction of the upper sheets of the sheet pile, the leaf spring being re-deformable counter to the spring force to behind a surface of the guide plate.

Abstract: A drawing roller pair of a web-fed rotary printing press receives a web that is to be conveyed. The axial spacing distance between the two drawing rollers is adjustable by an adjusting spindle. At least one of the rollers carries a resilient transport element whose effective radius will be reduced if the two rollers are moved closer to each other. This will reduce the transport speed of the resilient transport element.

Abstract: A combination of a printing press and a chainless delivery system therefor includes adjustable sheet stops disposed in a horizontal plane, the delivery system being subdivided into a part proximate to the press and a part distal to the press, one of the sheet stops being a rear sheet stop fixedly connected to the distal part of the press, the distal part being adjustable horizontally, together with the rear sheet stop, in a direction towards and away from the printing press.

Abstract: A gripper device of a sheet-guiding system grips a leading edge of a sheet freshly printed on at least one side thereof. The sheet is guided along an imaginary guide path in a sheet travel direction extending perpendicularly to the leading edge of the sheet. A plurality of first air blast nozzles having respective nozzle openings emit an air flow onto a surface of the sheet. The air flow has a first main flow direction extending in parallel with and in the direction of sheet travel. A plurality of second blast nozzles emit respective air jet bundles in a respective second main flow direction perpendicular to the leading edge of the respective sheet. The first and the second main flow directions, respectively, intersect at a common starting point and define an angle therebetween having a maximum value of 90.degree.

Abstract: A paperboard processing machine is disclosed for printing and otherwise processing sheets of paperboard, such as corrugated container blanks, and in which the sheets are conveyed from one section of the machine to another section by one or more vacuum transfer systems. Each vacuum transfer system comprises an enclosure which is closed by a closure plate for creating a subatmospheric pressure, which pressure forces the sheets into frictional engagement with the reaches of a plurality of conveyor belts whereby the sheets are transported without contact of the opposite side of the sheet not contacted by the conveyor reach.

Abstract: Device for avoiding registration errors at an oscillating pregripper of a sheet-processing machine includes a gripper bar deflectable in synchronism with the machine so that a respective sheet being processed therein undergoes stretching in a trailing region of the sheet. The gripper bar, in a middle region thereof, is guided and driven in a flexurally bending-resistant manner. A feeder cylinder carries thrust pads at both sides thereof for deflecting the gripper bar at the ends thereof in a sheet travel direction before a respective transfer of a sheet at the feeder cylinder, and for maintaining the deflection until sheet transfer has been completed.

Abstract: Individual sheets are singled out in a delivery of a sheet-fed rotary printing press. The delivery has a chain delivery with gripper bars extending transversely to the sheet-transport direction. The gripper bars are disposed on revolvingly driven transport chains and carry spaced apart sheet grippers disposed side by side. The sheet grippers grip the leading edges of the sheets and slave them to a main sheet pile. The gripper release is subject to an adjustable control for delayed sheet release, so that selected sheets may be transported beyond the main sheet pile. Revolvingly drivable suction tapes suction-grip the sheets which are released by the grippers with the delay, and they transport those sheets in the transport direction across and beyond the main sheet pile and onto a single sheet depository. The sheet depository is movably disposed in or on the printing-press frame. The suction tapes have upper suction surfaces at a raised position which extend between the sheet grippers.

Abstract: A support system for a paper magazine has a support surface adjacent to a paper feed box. An upper paper guide and a lower paper guide are arranged over the support surface before a paper inlet of the paper feeder box. A pair of magazine guides are mounted on the support surface 3 for guiding both sides of the paper magazine during loading thereof. A lock cam can engage with and disengage from a cam engaging projection of the paper magazine, and is urged by the force of a spring to press the cam engaging projection towards the paper feeder box. A lever holding mechanism holds the lock cam in its unlocked position after a return movement of a swing arm is completed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that uses chain delivery system to deliver printed sheets to one of two sheet stacks is disclosed. The sheets are grasped by chain gripper systems and are transported along an upper chain strand. A transfer cylinder is positioned in the path of sheet travel between the two sheet stacks. Sheets destined for the second sheet stack are removed from the upper chain strand by the transfer cylinder and delivered to the second sheet stack by a lower chain strand.

Abstract: Sheet guiding cylinder of a printing press includes a cylinder casing rotatable about an axis of rotation, and having an outer cylindrical surface defining a skeletal framework; the skeletal framework being formed by guide vanes extending in longitudinal direction of the sheet guiding cylinder and having a curved guide vane profile disposed in planes perpendicular to the axis of rotation, the guide vanes beginning from respective locations radially inward from the outer cylindrical surface and terminating substantially radially in an imaginary cylindrical envelope surface enveloping the outer cylindrical surface and being symmetrical with the axis of rotation.

Abstract: Sheet-guiding drum of a sheet-fed rotary printing press having a drum shaft with support flanges mounted thereon for supporting paper carrier rods, respectively, having a longitudinal axis extending transversely to sheet travel direction on the drum, includes at least one additional support formed as a segment-shaped member and mounted on the drum shaft between a respective pair of the support flanges in a sheet-guiding region of the drum, said segment-shaped member having snap holders disposed at spaced intervals on the circumference thereof, said snap holders being formed of radially projecting, elastically deformable retaining lugs surrounding in pairs, over more than 180.degree., a holder bar of a paper carrier rod.

Abstract: A sheet-conveying drum for use between units in a printing machine is provided with a plurality of gripper bridges arranged substantially circumferentially symmetrically on the drum surface. The gripper bridges include gripper impact strips that are adjustable substantially radially relative to the drum in order to accommodate printing materials of different thickness. Each gripper impact strip is adjusted by means of a positioning device that is arranged on the drum radially inward of the gripper impact strip and mounted so that it can move axially relative to the drum and cam the gripper impact strip radially. The axial movement of each positioning device is brought about by an adjusting means which is selectively operated by a drive that is disposed in one of the drum journals.

Abstract: Suction-type grippers for a sheet-transfer drum includes a sheet-supporting element having a sheet-supporting surface formed with a plurality of suction-air openings disposed along a region thereof to be covered by at least one sheet edge, at least one flexible planar member disposed adjacent to said sheet-supporting element at a side thereof facing away from the sheet-supporting surface thereof, the flexible planar member having a member for sealing at least some of the suction-air openings.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus, for example for flexographic printing and die-cutting of corrugated paperboard container blanks, has first and second successive processing sections connected by a transfer section. The sheets are successively passed through the various sections in positional registrations therewith. A sensor senses a sheet while in the transfer section and provides a signal representative of the positional registration of the sheet in the transfer section. A computer system determines from the signal whether the sheet would enter the second section in correct positional registration for processing by the second section, and adjusts as necessary the positional registration of the sheet while in the transfer section to cause the sheet to enter the second section in correct positional registration therewith.

Abstract: Device for register correction and for compensating for distorted sheets in a pregripper of a feeder for a sheet-fed rotary printing press has a frame-fixed brace disposed on a pregripper shaft and located approximately centrally between end supports on a gripper bar, the gripper bar being supported rigid against torsion at opposite ends thereof on the pregripper shaft and being capable of executing swivelling movements in a sheet-feeding direction and in a direction opposite thereto, the frame-fixed brace serving for elastically bending the gripper bar in the sheet-feeding direction before the sheet is gripped by sheet grippers which are disposed side by side on the gripper bar and are swivellable about an axis of the pregripper shaft, the brace including a cam roller by which it runs onto an adjustable cam having a frame-fixed support, and an articulated joint with an eccentric element having a lever arm connected thereto for carrying the cam roller spaced from a center of the eccentric element.

Abstract: A process and an apparatus for the typographical labeling of folded printed products, such as folded individual sheets or folded publications, on an inner side, in particular in the border region of the inner side, is designed for carrying out this typographical printing in folded printed products which are conveyed with their fold approximately at right angles with respect to the conveying direction, and can thus be used with the conveying systems which are conventional nowadays in printing works for conveying printed products in the form of imbricated streams. The front and rear halves of the respective folded printed products are moved apart via an opening device, with the result that a printing head can carry out the desired typographical-labeling operation on the inner side of the folded printed product.

Abstract: In a process and apparatus for printing on flat individual articles such as cards by means of offset printing, the article, before being moved into a starting position for the printing operation, is firstly aligned relative to the printing cylinder. While the article is maintained in the aligned position by suction force, the article is then transferred on to a holding device and into the starting position for the printing operation. The holding device with article is then moved in a first direction relative to the printing cylinder for transfer of the print image therefrom on to that article. The holding device then moves in a second direction opposite to the first direction. During that movement the article with print image thereon is displaced relative to the holding device on which it is supported, to provide space on the holding device for the article to be printed upon in the following working cycle.

Abstract: A method for starting/restarting the production run on a sheet-processing printing machine in which the sheets to be printed are fed from a stack to the printing machine by a feeder assembly couplable to the printing machine and including separately actuable members causing removal of sheets from the stack, the method comprising the steps of: rotating the printing machine at a basic rotational speed; cutting in the feeder assembly; running-up the coupled printing machine and feeder assembly to a higher rotational speed, and cutting in the members causing removal of sheets from the stack to cause sheets to be conveyed into the printing machine.

Abstract: A high speed sheet feeder for use with utilization devices that process sheets comprises a source of sheets, that can include a web cutter and a transport unit having a surface along which the sheets travel in a downstream direction. The surface can include a pair of conveyors that act as sheet justifiers and have at downstream ends thereof wait stations that can comprise pairs of nip rollers. Sheets are halted at each wait station and simultaneously passed along the surface as a sheet request signal is received from the utilization device. The transport unit can further include a bump/turn module that receives sheets from the conveyors and passes them at a 90.degree. angle to their initial direction of travel into the utilization device via a port in the utilization device adapted to feed sheets upon request.

Abstract: A printed sheet monitoring assembly utilizes a suction box with a planar lower suction surface to hold a printed sheet to be monitored in a crease-free manner. An area array image sensor is positioned beneath the suction box and is actuated by a trigger device to scan the printed sheet. The sheet grippers on an endless conveying chain are arranged on the chain to be in vertical alignment during scanning of the printed sheet.