Abstract: A printer includes a discharge unit, a first printing unit disposed along a sheet conveying path extending from the discharge unit and configured to print an image on a first sheet while the first sheet is conveyed from the discharge unit to the first printing unit and then to the discharge unit, a second printing unit disposed farther from the discharge unit than the first printing unit along the sheet conveyance path and configured to print an image on a second sheet while the second sheet is conveyed towards the discharge unit therethrough, using a printing method that is different from a printing method of the first printing unit, and a control unit configured to determine whether or not each of the first and second printing unit is in use and control only one of the first and second printing units to print the image, based on the determination.

Abstract: An encoder that detects a position of a movable body from an origin includes a signal generation unit configured to generate an incremental signal and an origin candidate signal by using A-phase and B-phase voltages obtained from an orthogonal signal pattern, a reference position detection unit configured to detect a reference position signal by using a Z-phase voltage obtained from a reference position signal pattern, and a counter configured to reset a counted value of the incremental signal on the basis of the origin candidate signal.

Abstract: In a printing press and a method, provided are an offset rotary press for printing predetermined information on a web using a printing plate, a printer for digitally printing specific information desired by a reader and reader identification information at a specific location on a web surface, and a dispatch system for reading the reader identification information on a newspaper, thereby sorting the newspaper by delivery destination. The offset rotary press and the printer are collectively driven by a controller, thereby improving the productivity of printed matter.

Abstract: A vacuum belt conveyor for transferring a web threading tail in a web manufacturing machine has a frame construction (15) and an air permeable belt loop (20), which is arranged around rolls (16, 17). The vacuum belt conveyor also has a first vacuum means (22) for creating a vacuum effect for the part of the belt loop (20) that transports the web threading tail (14) and a second vacuum means (23) for creating a vacuum effect in connection with the first roll (16). The second vacuum means (23) is arranged in the frame construction (15) for creating a vacuum to be introduced to the first roll (16) inside the belt loop (20).

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: 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: 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: A device for registering the position of a rotor part in a transport system also having a static part in addition to the rotor part includes a dimensional standard forming part of the rotor part, and a plurality of transmitters provided on the static part; and a printing unit and a printing machine including the position registering device.

Abstract: A printing apparatus and a printing method capable of preventing stacks of printed sheets from falling apart which can occur when continuously printing stacks of sheets of different sheet sizes. A printing press is controlled to suspend printing for removal of printed sheets, to change the storage destination of the printed sheets or to change printing order, based on a result of sequential or simultaneous comparisons between print sizes of a plurality of print data and a previously determined permissible limit.

Abstract: An inserter (10) for synchronously feeding a preprinted portion (X1) of a pamphlet into a printing press (P) to be adhered to a complemental portion of the pamphlet in substantial registration to form the completed pamphlet is disclosed. The inserter (10) broadly includes a feeder assembly (12), an aligner assembly (14), and a drive assembly (16). The feeder assembly (12) moves a plurality (Xn) of sequential preprinted portions (X1, X2 . . . Xn,) of the pamphlets along a substantially horizontal support surface (42) and then feeds them, one at a time, into the aligner assembly (14). The aligner assembly (14) includes aligner pins (246,248), that are universally spaced independent of the dimension of the preprinted portions (Xn), that aligns each of the pamphlet portions into the desired alignment so that the aligner assembly (14) can introduce them one at a time into the printing press (P) in sufficient registration to allow the formation of the completed pamphlets.

Abstract: A guiding device for an areal printing material, the guiding device having an areal structure with a guide surface facing towards the printing material, and wherein the areal structure includes a supporting layer, and a surface layer is provided for forming the guide surface and covering the supporting layer; and a rotary printing machine equipped with the guiding device.

Abstract: An inserter (10) for synchronously feeding a preprinted portion (X1) of a pamphlet into a printing press (P) to be adhered to a complemental portion of the pamphlet in substantial registration to form the completed pamphlet is disclosed. The inserter (10) broadly includes a feeder assembly (12), an aligner assembly (14), and a drive assembly(16). The feeder assembly (12) moves a plurality (Xn) of sequential preprinted portions (X1, X2 . . . Xn) of the pamphlets along a substantially horizontal support surface (42) and then feeds them, one at a time, into the aligner assembly (14). The aligner assembly (14) includes aligner pins (246,248), that are universally spaced independent of the dimension of the preprinted portions (Xn), that aligns each of the pamphlet portions into the desired alignment so that the aligner assembly (14) can introduce them one at a time into the printing press (P) in sufficient registration to allow the formation of the completed pamphlets.

Abstract: A multistage printing machine is disclosed with a vacuum conveyor between stages, and in which supplemental air is provided adjacent at least one printing cylinder.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a first plate cylinder and a second plate cylinder. Each plate cylinder supports a plate mounted peripherally thereof having two image areas. Four ink feeders contact and feed inks to the image areas on the plate when mounted on the first and second plate cylinders. A first blanket cylinder has a diameter equal to a diameter of the first plate cylinder and is contactable therewith. A second blanket cylinder has a diameter equal to a diameter of the second plate cylinder and is contactable therewith. An impression cylinder having a diameter half the diameter of either the first and second plate cylinders as well as the first and second blanket cylinders, is contactable with the first and second blanket cylinders. A pair of grippers that each hold an end of the printing paper maintain two sheets of printing paper peripherally of the impression cylinder. A paper feed cylinder feeds the printing paper to the impression 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 postage meter has the print rotor and platen within a single secure housing, with a letter detection lever along the paper path downstream from the rotor. The letter detection lever is in a spring-loaded coupling relationship with the trigger that triggers franking. If a letter remains in the meter due to a paper jam, the detection lever continues to be actuated and the spring-loaded coupling keeps the trigger in the triggered position. The meter further comprises a platen carrier moving the platen toward and away from the rotor; when the rotor is in its home position a radial cam on the rotor and cam follower keep the carrier away from the rotor. When franking of a letter begins and the rotor begins to rotate, the rotor cam releases the cam follower, permitting the carrier to move up in spring-loaded relation toward the rotor. A letter stopper is in the paper path downstream from the rotor and helps to align the letter so that the postage imprint is optimally oriented on the letter.

Abstract: Overshooting-sheet safety device for sheet deliveries of printing presses includes a triggering member responsive to overshooting sheets for triggering a stoppage of the printing press, the triggering member extending across the width of an oncoming sheet and being mounted in bearings at both sides thereof, the triggering member being deflectable perpendicularly to a line connecting said bearings for triggering a stoppage of the printing press.

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 and a device for controlling the sheet inlet when starting up a sheet-processing printing machine having a vibrator-type inking unit, in which the sheets are positioned at front lays, their correct position is established and, in the case of the position having been established as correct, the sheet inlet is cleared at a particular machine position. The intention is to avoid the first entering sheet running into the printing machine in each case at different phases of the vibrator cycle in the case of a plurality of start-up operations. This is achieved according to the invention in that the first sheet is conveyed up to the positioning line, the feeder is then switched off and the sheet inlet is only cleared again when the vibrator gearing assumes a particular angular position.

Abstract: A control device for on the fly printing machines, especially machines for franking envelopes, comprises a printing device comprising a rotary print head actuated by a first motor and carrying on a portion of its surface a printing active part. A conveyor device for conveying the envelopes is actuated by a second motor and feeds the envelopes into contact with the printing device at a given conveyor speed and evacuates franked envelopes. The rotation speed of the first motor is optimized so that the tangential speed of the print head is held equal to the conveyor speed during a printing phase corresponding to the period during which an envelope is in contact with the active printing part and as close as possible to the conveyor speed during a complementary catch-up phase. The conveyor speed is optimized so that the conveyor speed is as low as possible whilst preventing overlapping of envelopes arriving on the conveyor device.

Abstract: A device for laterally aligning sheets in a printing machine can have a feeding table via which the sheets are stream-fed to front lays, and a corresponding side-pull device for laterally moving the sheets after having been aligned at the front lays. The side-pull device can operate by admitting a suction to the sheets, and when moving heavy sheets, e.g. cardboard, at high machine speeds, a pull roller can supplement the suction air by pressing the sheets onto the side-pull device.

Abstract: The sheet feed print installation of the flexographic type for printing on a semi-rigid material of the corrugated card type comprises:a plate-carrier cylinder having a plate of thickness E.sub.c fixed to the periphery thereof;a backing system, optionally constituted by a backing cylinder;a screened cylinder; anda transfer system having an inlet into which the sheets are inserted one by one.The installation further comprises:a) three or four motors which are mechanically independent, the first rotating the plate-carrier cylinder, the second rotating the screened cylinder, the third rotating the transfer system, and optionally the fourth rotating the backing cylinder; andb) an electronic circuit connected to the second, third, and optionally fourth motors, that receives an input reference signal and that includes means for inputting operating parameters, including at least the thickness E.sub.c of the plates and the print rate.

Abstract: A delivery system in a sheet-fed rotary printing press includes at least one main sheet pile, and at least one auxiliary pile for an inspection-sheet delivery; a conveying device for transporting sheets; release members for releasing the sheets from the conveying device above one of the main and auxiliary piles; a sensor device for detecting the position of the respective sheets, the sensor device having a capability of emitting electrical pulses to an electronic computer for controlling the printing press, the electronic computer being actuatable for recording measured data, for documenting the measured data with respect to pertinence thereof to respective inspection sheets, for automatically delivering inspection sheets and for setting an inspection-sheet delivery cycle.

Abstract: A printer that prints characters or graphics on tape by means of a thermal print head, having a cutting means that cuts the tape at predetermined positions, and control means which act to eliminate printing defects such as gaps, or spaces, between printed dot strings. Gaps between printed dot strings, caused by a tape cutting operation that pulls the tape past the print head, is eliminated by the control means which reverses the tape feed mechanism in order to slacken the tape just prior to cutting. After cutting, the control means forwards the tape by an amount less than or equal to the amount reversed and printing is resumed. Printer also provides means for entry of lead margin length, total tape length, character spacing and character string to be printed by means of a keyboard. Rear margin length is computed by the printer.

Abstract: The pneumatic controller for detecting the presence or absence of sheets fed through a press machine includes a suction system having a suction duct in a sheet feed cylinder of the press machine and a vacuum pump connected to the suction duct, the suction duct opening onto a surface of the sheet feed cylinder on which one of the sheets contacts at least partially obstructing an air flow through the suction duct during normal press operation. To rapidly detect a sudden increase in the air flow through the suction duct caused by a missing sheet, the pneumatic controller is provided with a flow sensor (1) in the suction duct having a hot wire (16) and a surrounding protective jacket (15), and an analyzing circuit (2) connected to the flow sensor. The analyzing circuit (2) detects the temporary cooling of the hot wire (16) caused by the increase in the air flow rate and the analyzing circuit (2) detects the change of resistance of the wire and generates and amplified voltage output signal.

Abstract: According to a method and apparatus for multiple sheet detection for a sheet in a printing press capable of performing multiple sheet detection at a first feed operation timing which can stop feeding of the sheet to the printing press, a second feed operation timing immediately before the start of feeding of the sheet is determined. Multiple feed detection of the sheet again is performed at the determined second feed operation timing. A print stop control output is supplied to the printing press when multiple sheet feeding is detected at the determined second feed operation timing.

Abstract: A document imprinting device for imprinting on documents such as checks comprises a frame, a document feeding mechanism mounted on the frame for sequentially feeding documents, a conveying mechanism for conveying a document from the document feeding mechanism along a document conveyance path, an imprinting mechanism for imprinting the documents conveyed along the document conveyance path, and a sensing mechanism positioned along the document conveyance path for sensing the position of the documents and for triggering the imprinting mechanism such that the document is imprinted at a desired location on the document.

Abstract: In an imprinting device including a pressure cylinder and a movable counterpressure cylinder, the counterpressure cylinder is disposed opposite the pressure cylinder and is elastically attached to a rocker which is pivotal about a point. The device includes at least one electro-dynamic actuator so as to vary the axial distance between the pressure cylinder and the counterpressure cylinder in that the actuators move the rocker about its pivot point.

Abstract: An electronic, programmable check encoder (10) having a check guide (14) capable of receiving a check to be encoded. A plurality of sensors (40,42,44,46) locate the position of the check in the check guide (14). Following determination of the position of the check, the check is clamped and moved by a drive assembly to an encoder (80) and then moved out of the apparatus by an eject assembly. the structure and interrelationship of the check gudie (14), the sensors (40,42,44,46) the check drive assembly and the check eject assembly are such that the check processing speed is significantly increased.

Abstract: In a machine including driving apparatus and structure for feeding a sheet through and from the machine, and wherein the machine includes structure for sensing a sheet, an improvement comprising: a rotary timing cam; an actuating member movable into and out of locking engagement with the cam; a source of supply of d.c. power; a circuit for controlling the driving apparatus, the circuit including a trip switch actuatable in response to the sensing structure sensing a sheet fed to the machine; the driving apparatus responsive to actuation of the trip switch for causing the actuating member to move out of locking engagement with the cam and then causing the cam to rotate; and the circuit including structure for disabling the trip switch for a predetermined time period after the driving apparatus commences rotating the cam.

Abstract: In a machine including driving apparatus and structure for sensing a sheet fed to the machine; an improvement comprising: a rotary timing cam; an actuating member movable into and out of locking engagement with the cam; a source of supply of d.c. power; a first circuit connected across the power supply and including a solenoid and a trip switch actuatable for energizing the solenoid; a second circuit connected across the power supply and including a d.c. motor and a motor switch actuatable for energizing and deenergizing the motor; and the trip switch actuated in response to the sensing structure sensing a sheet fed to the machine, and the driving apparatus causing the actuating member to move out of locking engagement with the cam and actuate the motor switch for energizing the motor to drive the cam when the solenoid is energized.

Abstract: In a mailing machine including a postage meter and a housing for supporting the postage meter, wherein the mailing machine includes means for individually feeding sheets in a path of travel through the machine, wherein the postage meter includes rotary means for printing indicia on the sheets; and wherein the postage meter includes a roller spaced downstream in the path of travel from the rotary printing means, an improvement in the sheet feeding means, the improvement comprising: an impression roller and a shaft on which the impression roller is mounted for rotation therewith; an ejection roller and a shaft on which the ejection roller is mounted for rotation therewith; an elongate carriage including a pair of side walls spaced apart from each other, one end of each of the side walls including an arcuately-shaped portion pivotally attaching the carriage to the housing and forming a generally C-shaped bearing bushing; the ejection roller shaft rotatably mounted with the bearing bushings for supporting the eje

Abstract: In a machine including rotary structure for printing indicia on a sheet fed to the machine, wherein the machine includes apparatus for driving the rotary printing structure, wherein the driving apparatus includes a drive gear having a home position, wherein driving apparatus includes a locking member movable into and out of locking engagement with the drive gear when the drive gear is in its home position, and wherein the machine includes trip structure for sening a sheet fed to the machine, an improvement comprising: an actuating member for moving the locking member into and out of locking engagement with the drive gear; apparatus for controlling the actuating member, the controlling apparatus including resilient structure for urging the actuating member to move the locking member into and out of locking engagement with the drive gear; and the trip structure including structure for normally latching the controlling apparatus for preventing the resilient structure from moving the actuating member to move the

Abstract: In a delivery safety apparatus for a sheet-fed printing press, regardless of the operation mode of the delivery table lifting unit, a delivery table is automatically moved downward on the basis of a detection result from a pile height detecting means for detecting a sheet pile height exceeding a predetermined position for sheets delivered and stacked on the delivery table. If automatic descending of the delivery table is not started even when a predetermined period of time has elapsed, this abnormal state is detected, and an alarm is generated. When automatic descending is not yet started when another predetermined period of time has elapsed after the alarm is generated, this abnormal state is detected to interrupt delivery of sheets onto the delivery table.

Abstract: A side lay position control apparatus for a sheet-fed printing press, includes a switch for setting a distance from a reference point of the sheet-fed printing press to a side lay and a fine adjustment length with reference to the distance, a CPU for calculating an actual distance from the reference point to the side lay in accordance with the distance from the reference point to the side lay and the fine adjustment length, and a driver for moving the side lay in accordance with the actual distance.

Abstract: A mailing machine system, including a mailing machine base and a feeder module secured to the base for conveying envelopes toward a postage meter secured to the base. The feeder module includes a horizontal feed deck and a vertical registration wall adjacent the feed deck and forming a right angle therewith. The system also includes an automatic override circuit for turning the mailing machine system on and off at particular times depending upon the presence or absence of an envelope on the feed deck, and a sensing device having an emitting element and a receiving element. One of the elements is situated in the feed deck and the other of the elements is situated in the registration wall. The sensing device is operatively connected to the on-off circuit, wherein the detection by the sensing device of the presence of an envelope causes the mailing machine system to be turned on and the lack of detection by the sensing device for a predetermined period of times causes the mailing machine system to be turned off.

Abstract: A die protection device that prevents the taking of fraudulent non-metered impressions from the value printing die surface of a printing member in a postage meter machine. A slug is reciprocally received within the print head of the postage meter machine such that the slug will extend beyond the diameter of the print head when the postage meter machine is inoperative, but the slug will be retracted during operation for the purpose of allowing the printing postage on an envelope. The device is particularly useful in a postage meter having a reciprocating platen.

Abstract: A speed control method for printing press wherein a predetermined reference value of rotation speed of a plate cylinder is set in a controller, and when a rotation speed which differs from the reference value to exceed it is set in the controller, the plate cylinder is started to rotate at a speed lower than the reference value and the rotation speed of the plate cylinder is then increased stepwise at the rate of printing integer sheets of printing paper until it reaches the set rotation speed.

Abstract: An improvement in combination with apparatus including rotary means, wherein the rotary means includes a periphery having indicia printing means and is adapted for feeding a sheet in a path of travel. The improvement comprises: a first device for sensing a time interval during which a sheet having a leading edge is linearly displaced a predetermined distance in the path of travel; a d.c. motor coupled to the rotary mean for rotation of the rotary means; a second device for sensing angular displacement of the rotary means and a computer coupled to the first and second sensing devices and to the d.c.

Abstract: A passbook printer uses a conveyor belt (16) to urge a passbook (86) towards a raised barrier (40) for the passbook (86) to strike the barrier (40) and then have one edge thereof aligned with the barrier (40) by sliding engagement with the conveyor belt (16). After alignment, the barrier (40) is lowered and the passbook (86) is advanced beneath a printhead and sensor assembly (38) which senses the orientation of the passbook (86) and prints thereon in a correct and upright manner regardless of the orientation of the passbook (86).

Abstract: A document printer in which a print drum is driven by a direct current electric motor whose voltage is controlled by a first voltage regulator circuit for supplying a first voltage to the motor during a non-printing operating condition and a voltage boost circuit for supplying a higher voltage to the motor during a printing operating condition so that the same document feed rate is maintained throughout the operation of the device.

Abstract: A circuit for controlling the firing of a print hammer so as to maintain constant intercharacter spacing during printing. The speed of a motor which moves a document in printing relationship with a printer is used to ascertain the instantaneous velocity of the document just prior to the firing of a hammer associated with the printer. An up/down counter is used in determining the delay, if any, in firing the hammer to compensate for instantaneous velocities which are slower than the fastest velocity of document travel expected.

Abstract: In printing apparatus including structure for changing a value to be printed and structure for selecting a value to be printed, wherein the former includes a plurality of banks, each of which includes a print wheel having a plurality of print elements, and the latter includes structure for selecting each bank and structure for selecting each print element of a selected bank, and structure for driving the bank and print element selection structure, wherein the driving structure includes an output shaft, and structure for selectively coupling the shaft to the bank and print element selection structure, the improvement for controlling the value selection structure, the improvement comprising: the driving structure including a d.c.

Abstract: An electromagnetic, clutch-brake, positioning assembly is shown in an endorsing or printing environment which requires precise positional control. The assembly has an output shaft and a second output member which is an output gear which is located close to a rotary input member. The assembly also includes a feedback system which monitors the wear of an associated brake pad in the assembly to adjust the energization of the associated electromagnetic clutch and braking coils to maintain accurate positional control.

Abstract: An electromechanical automated document encoding apparatus is releasably constructed of modular components for accepting and transporting batch documents from either the left or the right. The apparatus is further capable of printing on a first side of a document or an opposite facing second side. A print module includes two parallel document receiving tracks, and a rotatable print head which moves responsive to movement of a table mounting the two document receiving tracks. The print head has two positions, and is capable of printing either on the front or rear of the document. Neither reversing print modes nor feeding batches of documents of different or varying thicknesses require realigning or repositioning of the printing head. Document sensors are an integral part of an adaptive control system optimizing apparatus productivity.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with the high speed printing of a line of text on a sheet in very accurate registration with an edge of the sheet or another feature (for example an existing print line) on the sheet. The sheet is fed without preregistration on to a track (10, FIG. 1) which passes the printing station (20). A detector (16) adjacent the track senses the arrival of the edge or some other feature of the sheet and a printing control means (14) responsive to the detector signal initiates the firing of the printing hammer (22) when the print line reaches the printing station, a registered operation being thereby effected without stopping the sheet. The detector signal may start the operation of a counter (70, FIG.

Abstract: A paper feed apparatus for line printer means for the transport of single-ply and multi-ply paper contains a paper levelling gap in the ingress region of the paper guidance channel. The paper levelling gap consists of a stationary part and of a slide capable of excursion relative to said stationary part, with said slide communicating with a sensing means. Given transgression of a prescribed slot width due to buckling of the multi-ply paper, the paper feed is interrupted via the sensing means and a warning light is actuated.

Abstract: A silk-screen printing machine, preferably of the kind which uses an endless conveyor belt as a material conveying means, said conveyor belt being driven by a drive source in a manner such that the belt can be stopped in a first position for registering or aligning the material to be printed upon, and then to convey the material to a printing position where a print corresponding to a stencil pattern is applied to the material. A sensing device for sensing the movement of the material from the registering position to the printing position with an accuracy less than 0.5 millimeters is connected to a counter. The counter includes an arrangement which at a predetermined setting substantially corresponding to the conveyed distance between the first and second positions generates a signal adapted to actuate a drive for stopping the conveyor when the material is in the second position.

Abstract: A printing apparatus of the type capable of printing on both sides of a paper supplied thereto is improved by enabling simple operation through the use of a single operating lever. Adjustment devices allow simple vertical and transversely adjustment of the plate cylinders with respect to the paper position. After printing is effected, the operating lever is shifted stepwise from the printing position to a starting position through intermediate positions wherein blanket cleaning and plate ejection functions are effected. Changeover between single and two-sided printing is easily effected by a simple switch operation.

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.