Interrupter Patents (Class 101/247)
  • Publication number: 20010017088
    Abstract: In a web-fed rotary offset printing machine, operating preferably with variable-format cylinders, both sides of the printing machine are covered, during the operation and resetting of the machine, so that no access, in particular no access to the printing units, is possible. For this purpose, an access module is used between the printing-units, which module is equipped laterally with covers which resemble window roller blinds and cannot be opened while the machine is in operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Applicant: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Peer Dilling, Hermann Lenz
  • Publication number: 20010015145
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for operating a sheet-fed offset press so as to reduce the occurrence of spoilage caused by nonuniform printing. In this method, the timing of start of oscillating motion of oscillating rollers is regulated. Also, the present invention provides an oscillation mechanism for a sheet-fed offset press, in which less failure and wear occur, and a smaller force is required to accomplish a changeover from transmission to stoppage of oscillation and vice versa.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Shinichi Fujimoto
  • Patent number: 6272985
    Abstract: A link mechanism is provided for setting and maintaining a minimum spacial distance between a blanket cylinder and a plate cylinder of a rotary printing press. The link mechanism includes a first link arm that is rotatably mounted on an axle of the blanket cylinder at one of the blanket cylinder. A second link arm rotatably is mounted on an axle of the plate cylinder. The first link arm and the second link arm are pivotably connected to each other for single axis pivoting about a point offset to one side of an imaginary line drawn through centers of the plate cylinder axle and the blanket cylinder axle. An adjustment mechanism is positioned between the first and second link arms on projections offset to the other side of the imaginary line so that the set minimum spacial distance between the plate cylinder axles and the blanket cylinder axle can be adjustably set and maintained throughout impression rotation of the rotary printing press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Kelray Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: James J. Keller, Wallace E. Keller
  • Patent number: 6272986
    Abstract: A retractable impression cylinder coater printer known as the “Lithoflex I™” combines lithographic and flexographic printing and coating in a single pass operation. The apparatus is adapted for installation on any printing station of a multi-color lithographic press, and is not limited to the last printing station. Ink or coating materials are applied from a printing plate or a blanket mounted on the plate cylinder of the retractable printer-coater unit and applied directly onto the surface of a substrate passing over the impression cylinder of the lithographic printing station just after being lithographically printed on that station. The combination printed substrate is passed to the next or a following lithographic printing station where it is lithographically overprinted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Inventor: Max W. Hess
  • Publication number: 20010003954
    Abstract: A method for adjusting a cylinder in a printing machine includes, in a first step, rotating a first cylinder into a rotary position wherein a cylinder gap formed in the first cylinder is directed towards a second cylinder of the printing machine and, in a second step, displacing one of the two cylinders, with the second cylinder dipping into the cylinder gap; and a printing machine for performing the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Publication date: June 21, 2001
    Inventors: Rodolf Leib, Gunter Stephan
  • Patent number: 6240795
    Abstract: A cam-controlled power differential gear transmission for a sheet acceleration system, which is formed of a pregripper having an acceleration course determinable by a control cam driven at a single speed, includes two compensating masses pivotably supported diametrically opposite one another, and respective control cams assigned to the compensating masses, respectively, for controlling the pivoting motion thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Siegfried Kurtzer
  • Patent number: 6227110
    Abstract: An offset printing press for printing a web, the press comprising a frame, a first plate cylinder movably mounted in the frame, and a first blanket cylinder in selective contact with the first plate cylinder. A second blanket cylinder for forming a nip with the first blanket cylinder is in contact with a second plate cylinder. The press has a first operative condition wherein the first plate cylinder and the first blanket cylinder are in direct contact to permit double-sided printing on the web, and a second operative condition wherein the first plate cylinder and the first blanket cylinder are separated to permit a plate change on the first plate cylinder while the web is printed by the second blanket cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Lev Zlatin
  • Patent number: 6227111
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a printing unit including a frame (2) and an upper plate cylinder (12) mounted in the frame (2). An upper blanket cylinder (16) is in selective contact with the upper plate cylinder (12), and a lower blanket cylinder (18) forms a nip with the upper blanket cylinder (16). A web (8) passes through the nip. A lower plate cylinder (14) contacts the lower blanket cylinder (18). Impression setting means (60, 62, 82) are assigned to movable housings (40, 44) of the movable cylinders (12, 14, 16). The impression setting means (60, 62, 82) are provided to adjust forces exerted on bearers (20) of the printing unit cylinders (12, 14, 16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Douglas Joseph Dawley, David John Gagnon
  • Patent number: 6216592
    Abstract: Large throw-off distances of the transfer cylinders in a double printing unit of a rotary printing machine operating on the rubber/rubber principle are achieved by enabling the two transfer cylinders to be set away from each other, and enabling the two form cylinders to be set away from the respective transfer cylinder. The form cylinder and the transfer cylinder of each printing unit have a drive connection via spur gears, the transfer cylinders are not in tooth engagement via their spur gears, and each printing unit has its own electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Peter Knauer, Josef Singler
  • Patent number: 6213016
    Abstract: A cylinder throwing-off/throwing-on controller for a multicolor lithographic rotary press in which paper splicing is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Tokyo Kikai Seisakusho Ltd.
    Inventor: Makoto Tsunashima
  • Patent number: 6202555
    Abstract: A driving mechanism for a cylinder of a rotary printing machine utilizes a drive pinion that engages a drive gear of a cylinder which is supported in an eccentric bushing. The cylinder can be moved between print and non-print positions. The rotational axis of the drive pinion lies on a straight line defined by the axis of rotation of the cylinder and the axis of rotation of the eccentric bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Christian Martin Michael Fischer
  • Patent number: 6178884
    Abstract: A cylinder of a rotary printing press is driven by a hollow shaft electric motor. The cylinder is supported in eccentric bushings and can be re-positioned. A coupling assembly, that includes two couplers and a connector shaft, is used to connect the shiftable cylinder to the fixed motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer-Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Kurt Johannes Weschenfelder
  • Patent number: 6176180
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Dahlgren USA, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Taylor, Brian M. Bargenquest, Richard W. Carlson
  • Patent number: 6125752
    Abstract: A flexographic rotary printing machine has a supporting structure provided with two lateral shoulders, an impression roller over which a material in sheet form to be printed passes, at least one printing element or assembly arranged adjacent to the impression roller and having an inking unit, a printing plate cylinder and an anilox roller, which are sleeve cylinders, and a drive for transmitting motion between the impression roller and each printing assembly. At each shoulder there is at least one lateral support device for the advancement-retraction of the sleeve cylinders, adapted to move them between a retracted or resting position, in which a respective sleeve can be inserted or removed, and an advanced or active position, in which the cylinders are kept in contact with, and operatively connected to, the impression roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Uteco S.p.A. Roto-Flexo & Converting Machinery
    Inventors: Giovanni Freddo, Agostino Pertile
  • Patent number: 6098542
    Abstract: A rubber roller in a printing press inker or dampener is force loaded against its adjacent rollers with hydraulic cylinders. The bearings of the adjacent rollers are fixed in the machine frame, while the position setting sockets of the rubber roller are supported on the hydraulic cylinders. The rubber roller can be thrown on and off by actuating the hydraulic cylinders and the loading force can be adjusted by the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Charles Henry Dufour
  • Patent number: 6085650
    Abstract: A printing unit enabling format variability, is distinguished by substantial component standardization and simple stand design. For this purpose, printing unit cylinders are mounted in slides which are arranged on at least one carrier and which, for distance adjustment, can be displaced on the carrier in each case by means of a drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Godber Petersen
  • Patent number: 6085651
    Abstract: A device for engaging and disengaging or throwing-off printing unit cylinders in a printing entity of a rotary printing press for printing a web of material, the printing entity including a lower and an upper printing unit, and one of the printing unit cylinders having a stationary mounting support in one of the printing units of the rotary printing press, includes a first adjusting unit for adjusting printing unit cylinders of the printing entity which are formed as printing form cylinders, and a second and eccentric adjusting unit for adjusting one of two of the printing unit cylinders of the printing entity which are formed as transfer cylinders, so that the printing unit cylinders of each of the lower and the upper printing units, respectively, are in mutual engagement, while the transfer cylinders of the respective lower and upper printing units are disengaged from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Serge Defrance, Franck Roland
  • Patent number: 6041706
    Abstract: A printing press includes an interchangeable plate cylinder, in which the plate cylinder may have variable cutoff diameters. The plate cylinder is mounted in the printing press in rolling contact with a fixed diameter blanket cylinder. The ink rollers of the inker mechanism may be positionally adjusted to accommodate a plate cylinder of various diameters. The surface of the printing blanket which is mounted on the blanket cylinder includes a material of low polarity surface energy, such as PTFE. The ink used in the press is selected such that, in combination with the PTFE of the blanket surface, the ink does not remain as a latent image on the blanket cylinder after transfer of the image from the blanket cylinder to a web of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Robert Richard Murray
  • Patent number: 6032579
    Abstract: A newspaper printing press for web fed, offset printing of newspapers, comprising a first plate cylinder; a first blanket cylinder associated with the first plate cylinder; a second plate cylinder; a second blanket cylinder associated with the second plate cylinder and in rolling contact with and mechanically coupled to the first blanket cylinder, each of the first and second blanket cylinders having sleeve-shaped blankets located about their peripheries; a first drive motor for individually driving the first plate cylinder; a second drive motor for individually driving the second plate cylinder; and a third drive motor for driving the first and second blanket cylinders mechanically independently of the first and second drive motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: John Sheridan Richards
  • Patent number: 6019036
    Abstract: A stencil printer of the present invention includes an ink drum and a press drum rotatable with a paper or similar recording means wrapped therearound while pressing the paper against the ink drum. A moving mechanism selectively moves the press drum into or out of contact with the ink drum in synchronism with the feed of the paper order to prevent the press drum from contacting the ink drum when the paper is absent therebetween. Even when the moving mechanism angularly moves the press drum, the press drum is free from a change in peripheral speed and can surely catch the leading edge of the paper. Drive transmission to the press drum is implemented by an Oldham coupling or a universal coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiji Ohkawa
  • Patent number: 6019039
    Abstract: The invention relates to a web-fed rotary printing press having a plurality of double printing units in which each of the printing units of the double printing units work together in the blanket--blanket method and each has its own drive. Transfer cylinders of each printing unit are driven independently. To permit a rapid change in production, both upon recto and verso printing, the transfer cylinders of the disconnectable double printing units are separable by eccentric bushings or swingable levers such that a web which passes through the printing press is conducted between them without being printed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Peter Knauer, Josef Singler
  • Patent number: 6004038
    Abstract: An eccentric bearing includes inner and outer race rings, an eccentric ring positioned between the inner and outer race rings, two spaced apart rows of roller elements positioned between the inner race ring and the eccentric ring, and two spaced apart rows of roller elements positioned between the eccentric ring and the outer race ring. An adjustment lever is positioned adjacent one side surface of the eccentric ring and is mounted on a link pin that is positioned in a bore in the eccentric ring. The link pin is axially fixed in place by a tie bolt that extends through the bore in the eccentric ring. The link pin includes a conically shaped mantle surface that engages a correspondingly shaped portion of the bore in the eccentric ring, thus achieving a tight seat with a large surface at the point most at risk, i.e., the point where the link pin exits at the side surface of the eccentric ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: SKF GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Dittenhofer
  • Patent number: 5983793
    Abstract: A drive for a sheet-fed printing machine, in particular a sheet-fed offset printing machine is described, in which the individual cylinders and/or drums and the plate or form cylinders are driven by a common drive train. In order to allow automated operations to proceed simultaneously, clutches are arranged in the drive trains of the individual plate or form cylinders and, furthermore, the individual plate or form cylinders are assigned drive motors which can be controlled separately and by means of which the plate or form cylinders can be driven in the intended manner after corresponding disengagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Albrecht Volz, Joachim Blumor, Klaus-Peter Reichardt, Holger Wiese, Helmut Schild
  • Patent number: 5974968
    Abstract: A printing machine, preferably a flexographic printing machine, is provided with at least one counter-pressure cylinder and with at least one printing roller and one engraved roller, whose one end floats in the frame. To intercept the free ends of the printing roller and the engraved roller during the printing operation, the bearing blocks, in which the journals of the free ends of the printing and engraved rollers are supported in the slid-in state, can be moved in guides at right angles to the printing and engraved rollers in the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Windmoeller & Hoelscher
    Inventors: Fritz Achelpohl, Rainer Jendroska, Uwe Rogge
  • Patent number: 5967037
    Abstract: A printing machine includes a machine base, a lower box mounted on the machine base, an upper box mounted on the lower box in a vertically movable and adjustable position, a conveyor passing horizontally between the upper and lower boxes, and an upper printing device mounted in the upper box for printing a workpiece carried by the conveyor. The lower box has an adjustable support for adjustably supporting the upper box. The adjustable support has two upright support tubes mounted to the lower box, and driven shafts received rotatably in the support tubes. Each of the driven shafts has an upper end, a lower end which extends outwardly of a respective one of the support tubes, a threaded hole which extends longitudinally in the upper end, and an upright connecting rod with an externally threaded lower end that engages the threaded hole and an upper end connected to the upper box. The lower box further has a driving mechanism to drive the driven shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Inventor: Chiung-Fen Su
  • Patent number: 5967043
    Abstract: A bearing assembly for a roller of an inking or wetting device includes a drive device that moves in a first direction to move a roller holder holding a roller from a print ready to an away position. The drive device also moves in a second direction to lock the roller holder onto a base of the bearing assembly at the print ready position. A spring urges the roller holder toward the print ready position when the drive device is inactive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Robert Mayr
  • Patent number: 5967038
    Abstract: The invention provides a rotary printing machine having a form cylinder movable between an on and an off position mounted in a rotary printing machine. The form cylinder cooperates with a transfer cylinder or directly with a back-pressure cylinder (7) to print a printing material. In addition to driving gearwheels the printing machine has a positively power introducing drive band, for example a toothed belt, which transmits the drive power from the back-pressure cylinder or the transfer cylinder to the form cylinder. In the off position, the form cylinder is driven solely by the drive band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Bernhard Feller
  • Patent number: 5964154
    Abstract: A device for accurately setting a roller gap of a folding device of a rotary web-fed press uses a rotatable threaded spindle with contrarotating threads at both of its ends. A drivable differential screw gear mechanism is associated with each threaded spindle end and operates to pivot two-armed levers that support the folding rollers to thus vary the roller gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer-Albert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Horst Bernhard Michalik
  • Patent number: 5953991
    Abstract: A cylinder for a printing press is adjusted away from a printing stock web or an adjacent cylinder by rotation of an eccentric element. The change in position caused by the movement of the eccentric element is compensated by an additional rotating movement superposed on the rotating movement of the cylinder such that the outer surface of the cylinder has no relative velocity relative to the adjacent cylinder or the printing stock web. Compensation is carried out by a regulating circuit to which is supplied the actual rotational angle of the cylinder with respect to the eccentric element and the actual rotational angle of the eccentric element with respect to the side wall or an angular function derived therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Stefan Geissenberger, Nils-Hendric Schall, Michael Schramm, Bernhard Feller, Michael Hess, Michael Dotzert
  • Patent number: 5950539
    Abstract: An improved printing machine comprises: a frame, at least one cliche carrying roller fitted rotationally on the frame, the cliche carrying roller being interchangeable with cliche carrying rollers of different diameters, at least one inking roller fitted rotationally on the frame parallel to and in contact with the cliche carrying roller, the inking roller being mobile along an arc of circle to enable it to make contact with cliche carrying rollers of different diameters, at least one disk joined to each cliche carrying roller, at least one cam joined to the inking roller and in contact with the disk. Means are provided for automatically rotating the cam in relation to the movements of the inking roller to maintain the cam regulation of the inking roller with respect to the cliche carrying roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: OMET S.r.l.
    Inventor: Amerigo Manzini
  • Patent number: 5906162
    Abstract: A printing machine with preferably several inking units, which are disposed on a common back-pressure cylinder (12), with in each case at least one roll body (16, 18), which is held with its two opposite ends in two bearing blocks (22, 24) that can be moved approximately radially with respect to the back-pressure cylinder, and is held with its one end in a hinged bearing (42), fastened to the bearing block (22) there, while it is clamped with its other end in a cantilever manner in a holding device (26), it being possible to move the holding device and the hinged bearing in such a manner relative to one another that, after the hinged bearing is lifted up, the roll body can be moved out of this bearing and then removed in an axial direction, characterized in that the hinged bearing (42), in the lifted-up state, is open in the direction of movement of the associated bearing block (22) and, by moving this bearing block in the direction approximately radial to the back-pressure cylinder (12), can be moved into th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Fischer & Krecke GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Kolbe, Bodo Steinmeier, Manfred Terstegen, Klaus Schirrich
  • Patent number: 5901647
    Abstract: Various components in a rotary printing press are driven by suitable electric motors. Each component and its associated drive motor is provided with an angle position sensor. A tolerance range for the rotary angular position of each electric motor is selected. If the actual instantaneous angular position of the motor or component falls outside of the tolerance range, the rotary printing press is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer-Albert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Michael Kohlmann
  • Patent number: 5901648
    Abstract: Device for adjusting printing-unit cylinders in a printing unit of a rotary printing press for printing on both sides of a material web, the printing-unit cylinders including printing-form cylinders with exchangeable printing forms, one of the printing-unit cylinders being held stationary in the printing unit, includes an auxiliary adjusting unit for maintaining a gap traversible by the material web, the gap being formed between outer cylindrical surfaces of two of the printing-unit cylinders disposed adjacent to a path of the material web through the printing unit, the gap being maintainable by the auxiliary adjusting unit independently of adjusted positions of others of the printing-unit cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Franck Roland, Franck Bausela
  • Patent number: 5868071
    Abstract: In order to provide a variable cutoff printing press, the press includes a pair of plate cylinders and a pair of blanket cylinders with all of the cylinders having a cylindrical body and a central axis of rotation. The plate cylinders are each mounted perpendicular to at least one side frame in a fixed position such that the axes of the plate cylinders are maintained in spaced parallel relation. The blanket cylinders are also each mounted perpendicular to the side frame by a pair of linear slide assemblies such that the axes of the blanket cylinders are maintained in spaced parallel relation. The linear slide assemblies accommodate linear adjustable positioning of the blanket cylinders along spaced parallel adjustment axes generally in the plane of the side frame. With this arrangement, the blanket cylinders are linearly adjustably positionable along and perpendicular to the adjustment axes to adjust the spacing between the plate and blanket cylinders to accommodate blanket sleeves of different thicknesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Goss Graphic Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thaddeus A. Niemiro, William G. Hannon
  • Patent number: 5832829
    Abstract: A printing machine with preferably several inking units, which are disposed on a common back-pressure cylinder (12), with in each case at least one roll body (16, 18), which is held with its two opposite ends in two bearing blocks (22, 24) that can be moved approximately radially with respect to the back-pressure cylinder, and is held with its one end in a hinged bearing (42), fastened to the bearing block (22) there, while it is clamped with its other end in a cantilever manner in a holding device (26), it being possible to move the holding device and the hinged bearing in such a manner relative to one another that, after the hinged bearing is lifted up, the roll body can be moved out of this bearing and then removed in an axial direction, characterized in that the hinged bearing (42), in the lifted-up state, is open in the direction of movement of the associated bearing block (22) and, by moving this bearing block in the direction approximately radial to the back-pressure cylinder (12), can be moved into th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Fischer & Krecke GmbH & Co.
    Inventors: Wilfried Kolbe, Bodo Steinmeier, Manfred Terstegen, Klaus Schirrich
  • Patent number: 5819656
    Abstract: The ends of an inking- or dampening-device roller are mounted in respective bearing arrangements displaceable along a control surface co-operating with a guide part. The control surface includes an adjustment zone and a further zone. The adjustment zone runs substantially parallel to an angle bisector of an angle formed by two lines connecting the axis of the inking- or dampening-device roller to the respective axes of the adjacent stationary rollers. Only a single linear drive is necessary for displacing the bearing arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Gimaco Ingenieur Ag Fur Maschinenbau
    Inventors: Peter Gertsch, Robert Imhof
  • Patent number: 5816157
    Abstract: A rotary printing press with rubber-rubber printing units arranged essentially vertically above one another. The rubber cylinders of at least one rubber-rubber printing unit can be retracted from one another in the formation of a usable gap between the two rubber cylinders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik WIFAG
    Inventors: Peter Gertsch, Robert Imhof
  • Patent number: 5813336
    Abstract: A printing unit with a rotatable print cylinder and a rotatable blanket cylinder is provided. A tubular printing blanket is removably mounted on the blanket cylinder. The printing unit may have an imaging unit mounted therein. A printing member, which is mountable on the print cylinder, is imaged by the imaging unit inside the printing unit. The printing member has a continuous surface and may be removed axially from the print cylinder. The printing unit may be configured as a cantilever printing unit, or, alternatively, may be configured with both a gear side frame and a work side frame for supporting the print and blanket cylinders. In order to provide a variable-cutoff capability, a plurality of print cylinder saddles may be provided. Each print cylinder saddle has the same inner diameter for mounting on the print cylinders. However, in order to provide a variable cut-off, the print cylinder saddles may have a variety of outer diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignees: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, Heidelberg Harris, Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn A. Guaraldi, Roland T. Palmatier, Roger R. Belanger
  • Patent number: 5806427
    Abstract: A rotary offset printing press having a pair of carriage mounted interchangeable plate cylinders is disclosed. The carriage is slidably mounted to the press and reciprocates along a generally linear path. The pair of plate cylinders are rotatably mounted to the carriage, and each of the plate cylinders is selectively moveable into an operative position in contact with the blanket cylinder. Accordingly, while the press is operating using one of the plate cylinders, the other plate cylinder is idle, which permits the impression sleeve thereon to be removed and replaced without stopping the press. The plate cylinders, when in their respective operative positions, contact the blanket cylinder at the same point of tangency, thus simplifying registration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Goss Graphic Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thaddeus A. Niemiro, Thomas W. Orzechowski
  • Patent number: 5797318
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Dahlgren USA, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Taylor, Brian M. Bargenquest, Richard W. Carlson
  • Patent number: 5791246
    Abstract: A device for effecting an impression throw-on and throw-off of a cylinder in a rotary printing press, the cylinder having a shaft supported in swivellably disposed bearing levers, includes respective guides located at respective ends of the shaft for setting the shaft in rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Carsten Kelm
  • Patent number: 5778782
    Abstract: In a web-fed rotary press for processing web-shaped materials, the latter run between two working rollers (3, 4) that are arranged in side bearing housings (8, 9). The working rollers (3, 4) that are connected via the bearing housings (8, 9) to a machine column (14) are prestressed in the operating position by a lifting mechanism (15) and are lifted away from each other as well as installed and removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: GRAPHA-Holding AG
    Inventors: Richard Behringer, Juergen Rudiger
  • Patent number: 5778783
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Christian Compera, Martin Greive, Bernd Herrmann, Anton Rodi
  • Patent number: 5778780
    Abstract: A printing press has a replaceable cassette removably mounted on a frame. An impression cylinder cooperates with a printing cylinder in the cassette to define a nip through which sheet material moves during printing on the sheet material. The impression cylinder is movable relative to the frame between a retracted position in which the impression cylinder is offset to one side of the cassette and a printing position in which the impression cylinder extends into the cassette. In addition, a manually actuatable mechanism is provided to simultaneously adjust the size of opposite ends of a gap at the nip between the printing cylinder and the impression cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Stevens International
    Inventor: John Jarrett Miller
  • Patent number: 5746132
    Abstract: A printing machine designed to accommodate different repeat lengths for a first and second cylinders, that includes: a front and rear frames; a first cylinder cartridge, including a first cylinder with a centerline; a first assembly attached to the front and rear frames for holding the first cylinder cartridge; a second cylinder cartridge separate from the first cylinder cartridge, with the second cylinder cartridge including a second cylinder with a centerline; a first and second cradles for holding the ends of the second cylinder cartridge, with the cradles including a cradle arm with an opening therein; and a second assembly for each cradle for moving its respective cradle to hold different diameter second cylinders in parallel adjacency with the first cylinder. The second assembly is specifically designed to be operable to change the orientation of its respective cradle for each different diameter second cylinder to facilitate lift-off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Mark Andy, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Dewayne Parks, Michael Rolland Turner, Dale Leon Bunnell, Gary Wilson Teeter
  • Patent number: 5740736
    Abstract: A printing press comprises an impression cylinder and an intaglio cylinder each having a notched portion and an effective impression area; an eccentric bearing for supporting the impression cylinder; a lever locked on one end side to the bearing; a hydraulic cylinder for acting on the other end side of the lever to turn the bearing; a pressure transducer for detecting pressure which acts on the hydraulic cylinder when the impression cylinder is pressed against the intaglio cylinder; a display device for displaying a printing pressure between the impression cylinder and the intaglio cylinder that has been calculated from a detection signal produced by the pressure transducer when the notched portions of both cylinders face each other, and a detection signal produced by the pressure transducer when the effective impression areas of both cylinders face each other; and adjusting screw and threaded shaft for adjusting the pressure of contact between the impression cylinder and the intaglio cylinder by changing the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Komori Corporation
    Inventor: Hideaki Toyoda
  • Patent number: 5722323
    Abstract: An improved throw off device for disengaging adjacent blanket cylinders (12) and (14) from each other and corresponding adjacent plate cylinders (16) and (18) is provided. The device includes pairs of bearing assemblies (28A), (28B), (30A) and (30B) that are mounted on the opposite ends of the journal (26) of each of the blanket cylinders (12) and (14). Each bearing assembly is defined by an inner race (36) and an outer race (38) having an eccentric bore in which the inner race is disposed. The device eliminates the need for a bearing sleeve. Each bearing assembly has a lever (74) arm that is mounted to the outer race (38). The lever arm (74) is defined by two wing-shaped portions (76) and (78). Each bearing assembly further includes a hydraulic cylinder (86). Each hydraulic cylinder (86) is coupled at one end to one of the two wing-shaped portions of the lever arm (74) and at the other end to one of the side frames of the printing press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Goss Graphic Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick J. Whiting, Thomas W. Orzechowski, Stanley Momot, Thaddeus A. Niemiro
  • Patent number: 5706728
    Abstract: Interchangeable cassettes containing a blanket cylinder and a plate cylinder of varying circumferences can be located in a printing tower of an offset printing apparatus. An impression roller is journaled to a pair of sub-frame arms pivoted to the frame by means of a pivot shaft which extends through the gear side frame wall. The impression roller shaft extends through the gear side frame wall in an arcuate slot, and the impression gear meshes with the pivot shaft gear at all angles of displacement of the impression gear. A pivoting sub-frame includes exterior plates mounted to the pivot shaft and on the exterior of the frame walls. Hydraulic clamping devices can clamp the exterior sub-frame plates and the sub-frame arms to the frame wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: RDP Marathon Inc.
    Inventors: Marcel Motard, Eric J. Short
  • Patent number: 5704288
    Abstract: A printing machine including multiple interactively arranged printing cylinders, at least some of which are directly-driven by induction motors. The induction motors have rotors that are connected to the cylinder mantle of the printing cylinder, and stators directly or indirectly connected to the side walls of a printing unit along substantially rigid axes, so that the respective rotors and stators associated with each printing unit are radially displaced from each other relative to the axes to define a gap between adjacent printing cylinders. The relative radial position of the printing cylinders is determined not by any mechanical mounting but, rather, by way of magnetic lateral forces of the induction motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Thomas John
  • Patent number: 5699737
    Abstract: To improve the throw-on and throw-off movement of the rollers in the roller train of inking or dampening units of a printing machine, an improved and simpler throw-on and throw-off device is provided. For this purpose, intermediate rollers are carried in bearing levers, which enable the intermediate rollers to be thrown off from adjacent distributor rollers. For the simple parallel throw-on of the intermediate rollers, their bearing levers carry cam rollers which are supported on an adjusting rod. The adjusting rod has cam sections which cooperate with the cam rollers, and in response to longitudinal displacement of the adjusting rod, the intermediate rollers are moveable in throw-on and throw-off directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Peter Hummel, Robert Ortner