Abstract: Apparatus for producing printing plates in particular a blank sleeve-like printing plate, includes a cylinder carrier for receiving a printing plate, the cylinder carrier being held in cantilever fashion at one end in a frame in a mounting and is driven by a motor, it being possible for the printing plate to be pushed onto the carrier cylinder at an opposite side of the latter which faces away from the mounting and is, therefore, more accessible for making printing plate exchange. An image-setting device is moved along the carrier cylinder.

Abstract: A method for register correction in machines for processing webs of material includes providing at least one transport shaft and at least one processing shaft cooperating with the at least one transport shaft, driving the shafts synchronously with one another each by an individual drive mechanism, obeying by at least one shaft a chronological guide shaft function which corresponds to an instantaneous position of a guide shaft, correcting a plurality of register-tracking shafts formed by the transport shafts in accordance with a scan of register marks or the web of material relative to the guide shaft function, effecting only one common scanning for one group of the register-tracking shafts which correspond to one another in term of the register correction, and deriving from the only one common scanning a common correction function that all of the register-tracking shafts of the group obey.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for making sheets having indicia spaced in a machine direction. Between or among the indicia are perforations or chop-off cuts. The spacing, in the machine direction, between the indicia and perforations or chop-off cuts is maintained over long sheet lengths. The product produced using this apparatus and process is typically paper, and particularly can be used for paper towels or placemats.

Abstract: A modular printing machine system for printing on sheets, including a first printing machine of satellite construction type having a central first impression cylinder and at least four printing devices assigned thereto, a second printing machine having a second impression cylinder, and a coupling device for coupling the printing machines to one another for in-line operation thereof, includes a feeding device for transferring the sheets to the second impression cylinder, and at least one adjusting device assigned for register correction to the feeding device.

Abstract: An image processing system wherein a data processing apparatus and a plurality of image processing apparatuses are connected through a network. The data processing apparatus transmits a print job that is received through the network from a client and first instruction data that instructs to calculate a printing cost for the print job to each of the plurality of image processing apparatuses, and receives response data with respect to the transmission from each of the plurality of image processing apparatuses, and selects one of the plurality of image processing apparatuses based on a plurality of response data received. The image processing apparatus responds to reception of the print job and the first instruction data from the data processing apparatus, calculates a printing cost based on an image processing capability of the apparatus itself, and transmits the print cost calculated to the data processing apparatus.

Abstract: A drive mechanism is provided for a printing unit. The printing unit has an axially movable forme cylinder and a second cylinder that cooperates with the forme cylinder. The forme cylinder can be driven by a drive motor through a spur tooth gear. The second cylinder is driven by the forme cylinder through a drive connection between the two.

Abstract: A positioning device for functional devices of printing presses, having at least one guide unit and one drive for moving and positioning the functional device for throwing-on/throwing-off movements with regard to impression cylinders. Weight compensation means are provided for the vertical displacement, so that the drive can be at least partially relieved of the weight of the functional device.

Abstract: A system, method, and process that determine and automatically correct registration errors between printed objects and mechanically produced objects using advanced image processing techniques is disclosed. Means are also presented for maintaining all registered functions to within very close tolerances during normal running, with other means for rapidly obtaining initial registration with substantial savings in material waste. The disclosed system and method/process are compatible with the printing and converting industry in which rolls of material are processed by printing a number of colors that require close registration especially in pictorial representation. These roll-fed printing machines are quite versatile and in addition to the printing of any number of colors on both front and back can perform any number of additional operations on the printed web at the same time.

Abstract: A multiple-image-carrying cylinder has a cylinder section having at least part of a first image to be printed, a shell axially movable with respect to the cylinder section, the shell having at least part of a second image to be printed, and a ring located between the shell and the cylinder section and axially movable with respect to the shell and the cylinder section, the ring capable of having another part of the first image when connected to the cylinder section and capable of having another part of the second image when connected to the shell.

Abstract: An apparatus for setting the lateral register of a printing unit of a rotary press that prints on a paper web includes a first bearing block configured as a locating bearing arranged on the drive side of a forme cylinder; and a second bearing block configured as a floating bearing on the operating side of the forme cylinder. A pressure medium operated operating cylinder displaces the first bearing block axially and presses it against an adjustable stop without play for the purpose of setting the lateral register. A controller controls the axial location of the adjustable stop in at least one of a closed-loop fashion and an open-loop fashion based on register deviations determined by a scanning optics unit.

Abstract: A device for locking, with respect to a first power transmission element, a further power transmission element that is lockable in a rotational position thereof, provides for the first and the further power transmission element to have a common working chamber with a variable volume to which a pressure medium can be applied, it being possible for the pressure medium in the working chamber to be solidified by applying an electric voltage or a magnetic force field thereto.

Abstract: A rotary printing machine includes at least one form cylinder, at least one further cylinder, and a gear transmission via which the form cylinder and the further cylinder are drivable together during a printing operation. A device is provided for setting an image on a printing form located on the form cylinder. A switchable speed-change gear mechanism is disposed between the form cylinder and the gear transmission for driving the form cylinder during the printing operation.

Abstract: A printing cylinder for a web printing press includes an extensible cylindrical sleeve configured for carrying an image to be printed. An extension device is provided for applying a force to the sleeve so as to stretch at least a portion of the sleeve and axially move the image. A method of web fanout compensation is provided.

Abstract: A process for making continuous stretchable substrate products comprising the steps of supplying a web of stretchable substrate having a first surface and a second surface, embossing at least one of the surfaces of the web substrate with an embossed image using at least one embossing roller, printing at least one of the surfaces of the web substrate with a printed image using at least one printing roller; wherein the embossed image and the printed image are disposed onto the substrate relative to each other such that a print/emboss registration is created, measuring the angular location of one embossing roller and translating that location into a digital signal, measuring the angular location of one printing roller and translating that location into a digital signal, manually zeroing the print/emboss registration; and automatically controlling the print and emboss rolls to maintain registration using a control program that comprises the steps of i) comparing the digital signal from the embossing roller and th

Abstract: A printer includes a cylinder pair that consists of a forme cylinder and a transfer cylinder. A satellite or steel cylinder forms a print position as it cooperates with the transfer cylinder of the cylinder pair. The form cylinder and the transfer cylinder are a fixed coupling driver assembly which is driven by a common drive motor. The drive assembly of the cylinder pair and a drive system for the satellite or steel cylinder can be selectively mechanically coupled with each other by use of a coupling.

Abstract: A device and method for synchronizing at least two printing-unit groups (2, 3) which represent a sheet-fed printing machine (1). Between the two printing-unit groups (2, 3) there is provided a transfer unit (10) being operable by means of a separately controllable drive (12). The present invention is used in sheet-fed printing machines assembled in serial arrangement.

Abstract: A multi-motor drive for a printing press having a plurality of printing unit groups, includes at least one motor provided for each of the printing unit groups, and gear trains via which the printing unit groups are synchronously driven. The gear trains are mechanically separated from one another during a printing operation. The at least one motor is assigned to a respective separation location between the printing unit groups. A method for driving a printing press is also provided.

Abstract: A printing unit is comprised of at least one counter-pressure cylinder and a transfer cylinder. A printing point is formed between the two cylinders when they are in contact. The counter-pressure cylinder is actuated by one drive motor independently of the transfer cylinder. In a print-on position, the counter-pressure cylinder is adjusted as a guide variable in relation to the power of the motor which drives the cylinder.

Abstract: The tension of a web in a rotary printing press is regulated during passage of the web between at least first and second cylinders of at least one printing group. The two cylinders are driven using at least one drive mechanism. A distance between the two cylinders is varied to influence the web tension before, between and after the printing groups.

Abstract: A method for driving a printing press includes driving, in a printing operation, via a gear train by at least a first motor, at least one drum for advancing printing material and a printing-form cylinder, processing angle-of-rotation signals of the drum in a control device for controlling the driving of the drum and the form cylinder, and driving, in a printing-form production operation in the printing press, a printing-form cylinder by a separate motor. The method further includes, in an operation for producing the printing form, synchronously actuating the first motor and the separate motor by providing a gear allocated to the driving of the printing-form cylinder, and an adjacent gear allocated to the driving of the drum of the gear train, the gears being disposed relative to one another at the most out of contact with one another, and at the least barely in engagement with one another so as to exert a slight pressure on one another, and a device for performing the method.

Abstract: A plate cylinder has a cylinder body having a cylinder body outer surface for a first image to be printed and a first end, and a shell having an inner surface circumferentially disposed about the first end and having a gap for holding a printing plate, the shell being axially and circumferentially moveable with respect to the first end and having a shell outer surface for a second image to be printed, the inner surface having at least one projection directed inwardly, the gap extending into the projection.

Abstract: A flexographic printing machine having at least one inking unit in which the setting of the printing position of the format cylinder and the anilox roller can be achieved by adjusting the format cylinder to the impression roller and the anilox roller to the format cylinder using adjustment equipment. The setting of the printing position of the format cylinder and/or the anilox roller is achieved by manually operating this adjustment equipment, while the removal of the format cylinder and/or the anilox roller from the previously manually set position and the readjustment of these rollers into the same position can be achieved using at least one drive.

Abstract: A web-fed, multicolor, offset printing press having a plurality of printing units for printing different-color images on a continuous web of paper. Each printing unit includes a three-part plate cylinder rotatably supported between a pair of confronting framing walls. The plate cylinder is split into three parts which each have two newspaper pages width. The three parts of the plate cylinder are each capable of adjustable displacement both laterally and circumferentially of the plate cylinder for registration. Lateral and circumferential adjustments for the three parts of the plate cylinder are all mounted outside the framing walls.

Abstract: A method for detecting registering errors for multi-color rotary presses in which register marks are printed on a paper web by each printing section, a light source is caused to flash based on a reference signal generated by signal output means operating in synchronism with the rotation of a predetermined plate cylinder for outputting signals, the register marks printed by all printing sections are read as two-dimensional image data via reading means operating in synchronism with the flashing of the light source, the two-dimensional image data are developed into matrix data, a first center of gravity is found as an approximate center of gravity of each register mark from the matrix data, a second center of gravity is found as a high-precision center of gravity of each register mark from the matrix data based on the first center of gravity, the second center of gravity of a predetermined register mark is used as a reference to find the relative positions of other register marks, a deviation of the resulting re

Abstract: An apparatus for setting the lateral register of a printing unit of a rotary press that prints on a paper web includes a first bearing block configured as a locating bearing arranged on the drive side of a forme cylinder; and a second bearing block configured as a floating bearing on the operating side of the forme cylinder. A pressure medium operated operating cylinder displaces the first bearing block axially and presses it against an adjustable stop without play for the purpose of setting the lateral register. A controller controls the axial location of the adjustable stop in at least one of a closed-loop fashion and an open-loop fashion based on register deviations determined by a scanning optics unit.

Abstract: The circumferential register of a web passing through printing units of a web-fed rotary press is accomplished by determining an actual value of the tension in the web. An angular position or an angular velocity of a cylinder of a first print unit, with respect to a cylinder of a second print unit, is varied based on this determined tension. This corrects any register offset without the need to control web tension and without the use of an optical recognition system. The value of the needed change for the cylinder angular position or velocity is determined as a function of the measured tension of the web.

Abstract: In order to improve a method for register correction in machines (1) for processing webs of material (2), in particular rotary printing presses, paper processing machines and sheet-fed printing presses, having at least one transport shaft (3, 4) and at least one processing shaft (5, 6, 7, 8) cooperating with it, each of which is driven, synchronized with one another, by its own individual drive mechanism (9) and of which at least one shaft (6, 7) obeys a chronological guide shaft function (12), which corresponds to an instantaneous position (13) of a guide shaft (L), and a plurality of register-tracking shafts (3, 4) are corrected in accordance with a scanning of register marks (14) of the web of material (2) relative to the guide shaft function (12), in such a way that—particularly when there is a large number of shafts to be regulated—it assures a greater degree of synchronicity of the shafts to be corrected and at the same time makes simple startup possible with comparatively little effort and

Abstract: A conveyor system (10) for a sheet of printing material (12) in a printing material processing machine (14), including a running member (16) which can be moved through the machine (14) along a transport path (18) using a drive (22), and including a number of encoders (24) which are arranged along the transport path (18) and used to sense the position of the running member (16), the conveyor system having the feature that the encoders (24) are connected to an evaluation unit (26) for progressive sampling of the encoder signals; it being possible for an active encoder (28) and a passive encoder (30) of the number of encoders (24) to be specified in the evaluation unit (26) so that a drive signal can be generated in a signal processor unit (32) on the basis of a change in amplitude of the signal of the active encoder (28) and a change in amplitude of the signal of the passive encoder (30).

Abstract: A printing unit is comprised of at least three rotating members, such as an impression cylinder, a forme cylinder that cooperates with the impression cylinder in a printing position, and a roller that cooperates with the forme cylinder. The two, cylinders and the roller may gave a zero rotational speed or a production rotational speed. At least two of the rotating member also have a set-up rotational speed that is different from the zero rotational speed and the production rotational speed of these rotating members.

Abstract: A printer capable of printing a multicolor image with a single pass of a paper or similar recording medium includes a plurality of print drums. Drum drive gears each are mounted on a particular print drum such that the print drum is replaceable. The print drums are interlocked to each other by rotatable members including relay gears meshing with the drum drive gears, timing pulleys fixed to the relay gears, a timing belt, and pulleys for adjustment. Each rotatable member has teeth the number of which is selected such that the number of rotations of the rotatable member to occur in a single period of the print drums is an integral multiple of the number of rotations of the print drums.

Abstract: A rotary printing machine is disclosed comprising a conveyor for conveying sheets of material from an upstream cylinder to a downstream conveyor in which the angular positions of both conveyors are sensed, as well as the linear position of each sheet, and the speed of the conveyor is adjusted to maintain registry of each sheet.

Abstract: A device for adjusting the distance between adjacent rotating tools, the tools arranged in lateral supports on a common base frame of a printing apparatus of which the axes extend in parallel. The distance of the tools relative to one other in their lateral supports is adjustable on a sliding rail in the base frame. The device includes a guide disposed on at least one of the lateral supports. The guide extends obliquely to the vertical direction. Also provided is an adjustably displaceable sliding element retained by the guide. The sliding element has a first and second end. A counter abutment surface is provided on at least one of the other lateral supports. The first end of the sliding element configured to contact the counter abutment surface. An adjusting drive is configured to act on the second end of the sliding element so that the sliding element acts on the counter abutment surface and adjusts the other lateral support.

Abstract: In order to provide a rotary printing machine for direct printing, in which the printing-assembly cylinders are guided in a stable manner by means of a cost-effective device, the forme cylinder and the impression cylinder of a printing assembly are mounted, adjustably in terms of their mutual spacing, in side walls. At least one of the two cylinders is mounted on both sides in slides movable on straight guide elements which are arranged in each case on at least one of two opposite panels of an aperture in the side walls.

Abstract: An apparatus for positional adjustment of a plate cylinder in both lateral and circumferential directions thereof for image registration in a multicolor, offset rotary printing press. A lateral adjustment mechanism includes a spur gear which is motor driven bidirectionally, and which travels laterally back and forth, to cause lateral displacement of the plate cylinder. The gear has a pin erected eccentrically thereon for abutment against a fixed limit stop on the press frame in order to limit the bidirectional rotation of the gear and hence to prevent the plate cylinder from being driven laterally beyond limits. A circumferential adjustment mechanism includes another spur gear which is motor driven bidirectionally, and which also travels laterally back and forth, to cause circumferential displacement of the plate cylinder. This second gear has a double-ended pin extending eccentrically therethrough and having its ends projecting in opposite directions therefrom.

Abstract: There is provided a marking apparatus, a marking method, and a marking system that enable the position of a marking target to be accurately shown, and that reliably enable only that portion containing the marking target to be removed. The marking system has a detector that detects a marking target on a subject material and acquires the position thereof, a marking apparatus having heads capable of marking an optional position in the transverse direction of the subject material, and a control apparatus that sends a marking instruction to the marking apparatus when the position of the marking target in the transverse direction arrives at the marking apparatus, and the position of the marking target matches the position of a head of the marking apparatus.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to the register coordination of cylinders of a web-fed rotary printing press which print on a web, wherein a first cylinder printing on one side of the web is driven by a first motor and a second cylinder printing on the same side of the web is driven by a second motor. An angular position of the second cylinder is coordinated with the first cylinder in good register by a controller. In the case of a change in a production condition, at least one controller parameter (kP, kD, kI, kf) of the controller is changed and the controller setting is adapted to the production condition as a result.

Abstract: A web-fed offset printing machine includes printing units having at least one form cylinder and one transfer cylinder; and at least one folder unit; and wherein, for each printing unit, at least one of the form and transfer cylinders has a drive connection to a separate electric motor, the at least one cylinder has either no mechanical drive connection to a further one of the cylinders in case the further cylinder is driven directly or indirectly by a further separate electric motor, or a mechanical drive connection to one of the further cylinders in case the further cylinder is non-driven; the printing machine further includes a motor control system for the at least one electric motor for adjusting a printing group and for presetting the printing units for adaptation to either a different web path or production configuration, the motor control system has an input side; and a computing and memory unit for storing a plurality of cylinder positions connected to the input side of the motor control system.

Abstract: An image exposure control apparatus includes a memory and an adjustment section. The memory stores a correction amount for each color in accordance with a stretch amount of a printing paper sheet in multicolor printing operation. The adjustment section adjusts an exposure position of a pixel of an image to be exposed for each color, on the basis of the correction amount read out from said memory means, in exposing the image on a printing plate.

Abstract: At specific time intervals register commands are fed to a plate cylinder in a printing machine in the circumferential direction and/or the lateral direction and adjust the cylinder by a small amount. All the remaining plate cylinders can be readjusted with the aid of the register control. Alternatively, the same control commands may also be fed to all the plate cylinders involved in printing, in order to carry out a desired continuous or stepwise adjustment of the cylinders in the lateral direction and/or the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A reference medium is scanned both with a medium sensor (44) capable of detecting a low-transmittance printing medium with high accuracy and with a medium sensor (45) capable of detecting a high-transmittance medium with low accuracy so as to find edge positions Ry0, Ry1 of the reference medium. The difference Diff0 between the edge positions is calculated and stored as a correction value. If it is hard to detect a printing medium by means of the medium sensor (44), the medium sensor (45) is used to detect the medium, and the resulting edge position is corrected using the correction value Diff0. In addition, for any given printing medium, a first driving level of a light source for outputting a predetermined output amount of the sensor (44) and a second driving level of a light source for outputting a predetermined output amount of the sensor (45) are calculated and, based on the difference between the two driving levels, the type of the printing medium is determined.

Abstract: A printer including drive pulleys each being mounted on a particular print drum. Each of the print drums has a pitch circle diameter and a number of teeth related to each other as: d/z<1 where d denotes the pitch circle diameter (mm) and z denotes the number of teeth.

Abstract: A cylinder apparatus for a rotary printing press includes a pair of inner bearings, an outer bearing, a pair of frames, a pair of cylinders, a motor, and a pair of abutting members. The pair of inner bearings rotatatively support two end shafts of at least one plate cylinder. The inner bearings have engaging projections. The outer bearing pivotally supports one of the inner bearings. The pair of frames are arranged to oppose each other through a predetermined distance, and pivotally support the outer bearing and the other one of the inner bearings. The pair of cylinders pivot the inner bearings supported by one of the frames and the outer bearing. The motor pivots the outer bearing supported by the other one of the frames. The pair of abutting members are supported by the frames. The engaging projections of the inner bearings abut against the pair of abutting members when the plate cylinder abuts against a blanket cylinder upon driving operation of the cylinders.

Abstract: Determining presetting data for the cut register and/or color register (circumferential register) for printing mechanisms with no lineshaft. Using sensor, the web lengths needed for the respective print job are determined and are used to calculate presetting values for the cylinders involved in the printing.

Abstract: For printing machines furnished with a Direct Imaging system for preparation of printing plates there is designed an equipment, comprising an auxiliary drive unit (23) coupled with the plate cylinder (1), which is coupled with the gear wheel assembly by disenagageable coupling means. In the preferred embodiment the plate cylinder (1) is at one end accommodated in a bearing (27) of a print unit side wall (4) by means of a carrier (3) which is axially shiftable seated at the neck (2) of the plate cylinder (1) and is in a direct engagement with the plate cylinder (1). The carrier (3) is further by means of a belt drive coupled with an auxiliary drive unit (23) and by an electrically operated clutch (7) with an output wheel (6) of the gear wheel assembly. In another preferred embodiment the plate cylinder (1) is furnished with a mechanism for angular displacement and a mechanism for axial shift.

Abstract: A photo minilab includes a computer or other device for estimating processing times of jobs accepted by the minilab.

Abstract: The invention relates to an adjustable bearing arrangement for remote-controlled adjustment of an inking roller or a dampening roller in relation to another roller. This is achieved by fixing the axes or journals of the roller which is to be adjusted to a receiving element for said axes or journals and by transferring a pre-settable adjusting force from one roller to the other roller. In the adjustment position, the receiving elements of the axes or journals are locked in such a way that it is temporarily impossible for the roller thus adjusted to move in the direction of adjustment or in a direction opposite thereto.

Abstract: A flexographic printing machine (101) is shown

Abstract: A printing cylinder has a first rotatable section having a central image area on the surface, and a first and second end. A first shell is disposed circumferentially about the first end, and a second shell is disposed circumferentially about the second end, the first and second shells having image areas on the surface and movable axially with respect to the central image area. Also provided is a printing press comprising a first sensor for detecting register marks, a second sensor for detecting fanout, and a rotatable cylinder with a first section axially adjustable with respect to a second section. A method for correcting fanout in a web printing press includes sensing register marks to provide overall circumferential and/or lateral register adjustments of a printing cylinder, sensing a section of the web other than the register marks to provide fanout information, and changing a lateral position of a first part of the printing cylinder with respect to a second part of the printing cylinder.

Abstract: In a folder, a folding cylinder having folding components accommodated on the periphery thereof and being phase-dependently operatable, and cylinder segments for carrying the folding components, the cylinder segments being adjustable in relation to one another and being mounted coaxially in side walls, includes separate drives, respectively, for driving each of the folding components, a rotary leadthrough via which energy is supplied to the separate drives, and a speed controller for speed-dependently controlling the separate drives; a method of operating the folding cylinder; a folder including the folding cylinder; and a rotary printing machine in combination with the folder including the folding cylinder.

Abstract: A printing-material sheet processing machine includes at least one processing unit with an impression cylinder and a tool-carrying cylinder bringable into contact with the impression cylinder, the tool-carrying cylinder having at least one tool selected from the group of tools consisting of respective deforming and separating tools for the printing-material sheets, the processing unit also having a circumferential-register adjusting device and a lateral-register adjusting device, which are assigned to the tool-carrying cylinder for adjusting the register thereof, and having a diagonal-register adjusting device assigned to a sheet transport cylinder for adjusting the register thereof, the sheet transport cylinder being disposed for transferring the printing-material sheets to the impression cylinder.