Abstract: A printing sleeve in combination with a support device includes a printing sleeve having, a first end, a second end and an interior surface, and an inflation device acting on the interior surface of the printing sleeve when the printing sleeve is removed from a printing press. The combination advantageously permits the inflation device to act at both ends of the printing sleeve and also to make the combination portable.

Abstract: A printing cylinder with a cylinder core (10), on which a carbon fiber-containing casing (20) is disposed, wherein the casing (20) is self-supporting and held at a distance from the peripheral surface (18) of the cylinder core (10) by disks (22) disposed at the two ends.

Abstract: A computer-to-plate method and apparatus is described for imaging media sleeves by employing a laser-based imaging head in conjunction with a two stage mandrel comprising an expandable arbor and an intermediate sleeve. Most of the bulk of the mandrel is contained in the expandable arbor, which may be expanded hydraulically to mechanically engage the intermediate sleeve. The media sleeve to be imaged is mounted on the intermediate sleeve by conventional means. The method and apparatus of the invention makes possible the rapid changing between different sizes of media sleeves without requiring the handling of bulky mandrels and without endangering the precision optics imaging head of the apparatus, while maintaining the mounting precision.

Abstract: There is disclosed a hand-held labeler which is easy to load, clean and service. The labeler has a gear driven print head wherein the print head is situated on an upper housing section and the print head is actuated from a lower housing section. The upper housing section can be moved to an open position without interfering with the maintenance of the drive connection with the print head or the advance of a label carrying web through the labeler. An inker enables an ink roller to be easily inserted and removed without ink from the ink roller being transferred to the user's hands. An impression control device has only a small number of parts and is easy to assemble.

Abstract: A printing cylinder assembly is in the form of a multi-layer laminate having an inner layer and an outer layer made of readily expandable material. The laminate also includes an intermediate layer which functions as an expansion restricting layer by being made of a material which is less expandable than the inner layer and the outer layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an imprinter unit, and is for the purpose of facilitating the plate replacement to reduce the work load. In an imprinter apparatus capable of replacing a portion of or all of a common pattern to be printed in a printer with a different pattern, there is provided a plate cylinder on which a press plate is mounted and a blanket cylinder to which a pattern on the press plate is transferred. The press plate is a gapless press plate having no joint.

Abstract: A printing sleeve in combination with a support device includes a printing sleeve having a first end, a second end and an interior surface, and an inflation device acting on the interior surface of the printing sleeve when the printing sleeve is removed from a printing press. The combination advantageously permits the inflation device to act at both ends of the printing sleeve and also to make the combination portable.

Abstract: A printing group of a rotary printing press includes at least one form cylinder and at least one transfer cylinder. The form cylinder has at least two printing forme end receiving channels. These two channels are spaced circumferentially. At least one of these form cylinder end receiving channels rolls off against a channel in the transfer cylinder. One of the form cylinder end receiving channels is at least partially covered by a printing form carried by the form cylinder.

Abstract: A high-precision cylinder for a printing machine provides a sleeve for a cylinder of a printing machine made out of a plastic material, which includes an electrically conducting layer on the plastic material, and a layer made of a metallic material on the electrically conducting layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cylinder of a rotational printing press. Two channels are offset from each other by an angle &phgr; which is fixed according to the natural bending frequency frib of the cylinder.

Abstract: The invention relates to the cylinder of a rotary printing machine in which cylinder two channels are arranged off-set from each other by an angle &phgr;, said angle &phgr; being determined depending on the moment of flexion frib inherent to the cylinder.

Abstract: A block copy sheet for lithographic printing plate to be interposed between a plate cylinder and a lithographic printing plate having a front surface and a back surface, at least the back surface being made of a material other than metals, wherein the block copy sheet have convex portions provided on a surface thereof, the convex portions having a predetermined shape so as to concave the back surface of the lithographic printing plate when pressed against the back surface of the lithographic printing plate, and wherein (1) the convex portions comprises a composite particle having protrusions provided on the surface thereof and having a hardness greater than that of the back surface of the lithographic printing plate and a particle diameter of from 1 &mgr;m to 100 &mgr;m, or (2) the convex portions comprises non-spherical fillers having an average length of from 1 &mgr;m to 200 &mgr;m and the contact area of the convex portions and the back surface of the lithographic printing plate is from 0.6% to 3.

Abstract: A rubber cylinder sleeve for web-fed rotary offset printing machines has a covering layer which is a finite layer having a joint location, the joint location being filled with a compressible material.

Abstract: A sleeve-shaped printing element for mounting on a carrying cylinder in a printing unit of a web-processing rotary printing machine. The element includes a structure formed of material permitting radial expansion of the sleeve-shaped printing element, the carrying cylinder has an elongated axial extent and being formed with ducts for discharging an expansion medium. The ducts open on a circumferential surface of the carrying cylinder, and the expansion medium is pressurizable by a pressure source. The sleeve-shaped printing element is formed with an inner diameter increasing from one end to the other end of the printing element, and is formed with an at least approximately constant wall thickness; and a combination of the printing element and the carrying cylinder.

Abstract: A printing cylinder for accepting an axially-removable printing sleeve includes a cylinder body having an outer surface, the outer surface having at least one hole and a supply line in the cylinder body for supplying fluid to the at least one hole. The supply line has at least one flow restrictor designed to alter fluid flow as a function of the at least one hole being covered by an axially-removable printing sleeve. Also provided is a printing press having two such cylinders and a common pressure source.

Abstract: A bridge mandrel construction is provided which is simple to manufacture, light weight, and easy to mount and dismount from underlying printing cylinders in flexographic and gravure printing systems. The bridge mandrel includes a generally hollow, cylindrically-shaped tube adapted to fit over a print cylinder. A channel extends substantially around the circumference of the inner surface of the tube, and a plurality of orifices extends generally radially outwardly from the channel to the outer surface of the tube. The channel and orifices permit pressurized air to be provided from the interior of the mandrel to its surface for the mounting of a print sleeve onto the mandrel. In one embodiment, the bridge mandrel includes a locking mechanism which is adapted to engage the print cylinder to prevent movement of the mandrel during printing operations.

Abstract: Apparatus includes a housing, a feed table outside the housing for receiving a plate-like blank, a round shaping device in the housing for shaping the blank into a sleeve-like printing forme, a welding system, and a transport device for fixing, transporting and depositing the blank aligned level on the shaping device. The transport device includes a plate suction frame penetrated by suction elements which make contact with the blank placed on the feed table. After contact has been made, the blank is fixed by activating the suction elements on the plate suction frame so as to be aligned level, and transported in a stable position to the round shaping device. The raw forme is deposited on the round shaping device so as to be aligned level and fixed in-register.

Abstract: A printing plate or decorator cylinder has a tapered bore for engaging the tapered outer surface of a sleeve member which is mounted on an untapered rotatable cantilevered printing press or decorator drive shaft and the sleeve is adjustably coupled to the shaft to permit axial and circumferential adjustment of the sleeve and the cylinder as needed.

Abstract: A feed assembly is provided which feeds a pressure medium to a cylinder and fixes the cylinder in position, independently of whether or not the pressure medium to be connected is supplied. A feed part can be placed on a feed opening of the cylinder by an actuating element which can be controlled independently of any control of the pressure medium. An outlet of the feed part and the feed opening engage one another and lock the cylinder against rotation.

Abstract: The cylinder includes first and second cylinder parts which are designed to be rotatable in relation to one another in the circumferential direction and are fitted with respective first and second operating elements for acting on a foldable product. The first cylinder part is mounted non-rotatably on a shaft and of the second cylinder part is mounted on the shaft rotatably in the circumferential direction. The shaft is mounted at one end, fixed axially, in a side wall in a bearing designed as a fixed bearing. The second cylinder part is mounted separately, with a spacing (A) from the first cylinder part, in a second fixed bearing which is independent of the first bearing.

Abstract: A method for forming a seamless cylindrical photosensitive element on a flexible cylindrical sleeve wherein the flexible sleeve is mounted onto a sleeve support to isolate the flexible sleeve from high temperature and/or high pressure associated with forming a cylindrical photosensitive layer on the flexible sleeve.

Abstract: A printing cylinder for offset printing includes a cylinder member of a hollow cylinder having a covering portion which forms a substantially uniform, smooth outer circumferential surface having no spliced portion in the circumferential direction, the covering portion being capable of transferring printing images onto an adjacent printing cylinder or printing paper in contact with the covering portion; and printing cylinder support mechanism including a pair of support shafts which are supported on opposed frames such that the support shafts are rotatable about a common axis, the support shafts each having a shaft end portion which is connected to an end portion of the cylinder member via an engagement portion and by use of connection member. The engagement portion includes a depression and a projection formed on the end surface of the cylinder member and the shaft end portion of the corresponding support shaft.

Abstract: A covered roll structure employed in the manufacture of a paper machine roll comprises a core roll having a substantially cylindrical outer surface, a sleeve of removable material surrounding the core roll outer surface, a sleeve of compressible material surrounding the sleeve of removable material, and a sleeve of polymeric material surrounding the sleeve of compressible material and the sleeve of removable material.

Abstract: A printing plate cylinder has a linear bearing press-fitted into its axial bore with the linear bearing having a ball-bearing surface for engaging a cylindrical rotatable drive shaft to permit axial and circumferential adjustments as needed.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a camera-ready copy sheet to be inserted between a plate cylinder and a lithographic printing plate at least the back side of which is made of a non-metallic material. The copy sheet has asperities of a predetermined shape on the front side that are urged against the back side of the lithographic printing plate to depress it. The height of the projections in the asperities ranges from 5 &mgr;m to 50 &mgr;m. The sum per unit area of maximum cross-sectional areas of planes in the projections that are parallel to the surface of the sheet ranges from 0.2% to 4% of the unit area.

Abstract: It is disclosed a process for preparing a removable sleeve to be photoengraved, for use in printing presses, which sleeve is obtained by immersion of a cylinder in a copper-electroplating tank to generate the sleeve itself, and separation of the cylinder is obtained either by an extraction tooling or with use of a metal ring for closure of the holes for air admission, which are designed to create an air cushion enabling easy removal.

Abstract: A printing cylinder sleeve assembly comprises an inner sleeve made of tubular form from a material which is capable of expanding upon the application of air pressure to the inner surface of the inner sleeve. An outer sleeve is mounted over the inner sleeve in a slip fit manner so that the outer sleeve could be mounted over the inner sleeve assembly comprising the inner sleeve and the outer sleeve and the assembly as a unit can then be mounted over the printing cylinder.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a camera-ready copy sheet to be inserted between a plate cylinder and a lithographic printing plate at least the back side of which is made of a non-metallic material. The copy sheet has asperities of a predetermined shape on the front side that are urged against the back side of the lithographic printing plate to depress it. These asperities are formed of projections that consist of at least two groups of particles. A larger particle group having a particle size larger than an intermediate between maximum and minimum particle sizes has an average size at least twice an average size of a smaller particle group having a particle size smaller than the intermediate. The sum per unit area of maximum cross-sectional areas of planes in the particles of the larger particle group that are parallel to the surface of the sheet ranges from 0.1% to 4% of the unit area.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a toy stamper having a body portion. The body portion of the toy stamper has a first attachment point where a first wheel member is attached. The wheel is provided with a stamp ring disposed about the circumference wheel, and is configured to stamp a pattern onto a substrate when the stamp ring is inked and moved across the substrate. The stamp ring is advantageously provided with a second wheel attached at the first attachment point such a that a wheel pair is formed. The wheel pair, with both wheels having a stamp ring disposed thereon, produces tracks of various design, such as wheel treads, when the wheel pair is inked and moved across a substrate.

Abstract: A drum assembly comprises a replaceable sleeve of resilient material supported by a rigid cylindrical mandrel having an air bearing at one end to facilitate loading and removal of the resilient sleeve. The air bearing is provided by a pair of cooperating plates one of which is scored with equally spaced and radially extending slots. When urged together, the plates define a central air chamber and a plurality of radially-extending passages serving to direct pressurized air radially from one end of the mandrel.

Abstract: A printing cylinder with a cylinder core (10), on which a carbon fiber-containing casing (20) is disposed, wherein the casing (20) is self-supporting and held at a distance from the peripheral surface (18) of the cylinder core (10) by disks (22) disposed at the two ends.

Abstract: An under sheet for a lithographic printing plate which has an initial modulus of elasticity of 34×108 Pa or more, and has concavities and convexities having a central line average roughness (Ra) of less than 2 &mgr;m and Ra/Rz of 0.05 or more on the surface in contact with the back surface of the lithographic printing plate.

Abstract: A printing sleeve removal device includes a first jaw arm and a second jaw arm movable with respect to the second jaw arm, the first and second jaw arms having ends forming a jaw to engage a printing sleeve. Also disclosed is a method for removing a printing sleeve comprising engaging a printing sleeve on a printing cylinder with a first jaw arm and a second jaw arm and moving the printing sleeve via the first and second jaw arms so as to slide the printing sleeve axially with respect to the printing cylinder.

Abstract: A lithographic newspaper printing press comprises printing units (4.1 to 4.5) which are mounted on top of each other, forming a tower arrangement (2). Each printing unit comprises a first and a second plate cylinder (24a, 24b) having a length being substantially four times the width of a newspaper page and having a circumference being substantially equal to the height of a newspaper page. Each printing unit 4 further comprises a first and a second blanket cylinder (10a, 10b) associated with said first and second plate cylinders (24a, 24b), whereby each of said first and second blanket cylinders (10a, 10b) has substantially the same diameter as the associated plate cylinder (24a, 24b).

Abstract: The object of the invention is an integrated guiding device for positioning and cutting with the help of a cutting tool, a printing plate (16) on a sleeve (10) or on a printing cylinder, particularly for flexography, said sleeve or cylinder comprising an external coating (24) adapted to be deeply machined, characterized in that it comprises at least one longitudinal guide (30) along a generatrix, and/or a peripheral guide, along a circumference, provided within a matrix of material of high hardness, embedded in the thickness of said external coating. The invention also comprises the sleeve or cylinder provided with this device.

Abstract: A printing plate or decorator cylinder has a tapered bore for engaging the tapered outer surface of a sleeve member which is mounted on an untapered rotatable cantilevered printing press or decorator drive shaft and the sleeve is adjustably coupled to the shaft to permit axial and circumferential adjustment of the sleeve and the cylinder as needed.

Abstract: A printing plate or decorator cylinder has a tapered bore for engaging the tapered outer surface of a sleeve member which is mounted on an untapered rotatable drive shaft and the sleeve is adjustably coupled to the shaft to permit accurate registration of the printed indicia when a printing plate is changed.

Abstract: A bridge mandrel construction is provided which is simple to manufacture, light weight, and easy to mount and dismount from underlying printing cylinders in flexographic and gravure printing systems. The bridge mandrel includes a generally hollow, cylindrically-shaped tube adapted to fit over a print cylinder. A channel extends substantially around the circumference of the inner surface of the tube, and a plurality of orifices extends generally radially outwardly from the channel to the outer surface of the tube. The channel and orifices permit pressurized air to be provided from the interior of the mandrel to its surface for the mounting of a print sleeve onto the mandrel. In one embodiment, the bridge mandrel includes a locking mechanism which is adapted to engage the print cylinder to prevent movement of the mandrel during printing operations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fitting a printing plate to a plate cylinder where the printing plate is bent into a circular shape and fixed in this form by leading and trailing legs of the plate being firmly connected to each other. The printing plate shaped in this way is subsequently axially pushed onto the plate cylinder from the free side of the plate cylinder.

Abstract: A lithographic printing method comprises:

Abstract: A pull band (34) is attached to a printing plate (22) in a flexographic printing operation to hold a flexible substrate (30) in a selected orientation for transfer of ink in a selected pattern. The pull band overcomes differences in friction between the printing plate and the substrate in areas of different amounts of ink to maintain the selected orientation. A specific length pull band may be selected and cut from a roll of pull band material. Pull bands may be attached parallel and perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the printing plate.

Abstract: A groove for receiving opposite end edges of an object such as a printing plate is formed in a printing cylinder in the vicinity of the outer circumferential surface thereof such that the groove extends from an axially extending anchor-shaft hole toward the outer circumferential surface of the cylinder body, thereby opening at the outer circumferential surface. One wall surface of the groove intersects, at an acute angle, with a tangent plane passing through a line of intersection between the wall surface and the outer circumferential surface of the printing cylinder, thereby forming an edge together with the outer circumferential surface of the printing cylinder. The first end edge portion of the object is bent at an acute angle, and the second end edge portion of the object is bent at an obtuse angel which is substantially the supplementary angle of the acute angle.

Abstract: Variable-format web-fed offset printing machine having printing-unit cylinders comprising core cylinders to which compressed air can be applied and onto which intermediate sleeves can be pushed axially and shrunk on radially. Each intermediate sleeve includes a carrier layer whose inner face rests on the core cylinder, a compressible intermediate layer, a transition layer, and a variable-thickness bridging layer, which ends with a covering layer to which a further surface like a printing plate or a rubber blanket can be fitted.

Abstract: A print unit (1) in a printing press, which includes an inking roller (2) and a plate cylinder (4), a rubber blanket sleeve (14) being allocated to the inking roller (2), is distinguished by the inking roller (2) being supported in a cantilever-type arrangement on one side wall (34) of the printing press, and the rubber blanket sleeve (14) being able to be axially slid onto and pulled off of the inking roller (2).

Abstract: The present invention provides a paint supply and finishing system including a paint roller and a tray. The paint roller includes a handle, a shaft extending from the handle along an access, a paint applying medium having a circumferential surface with a plurality of portion extending and rotatably disposed about the axis and an axial face coupled to the paint applying medium. The paint applying medium applies paint to a surface as a medium is rolled against the surface. The axial face includes at least one location memory indicia. Each indicia corresponds to a particular location on the circumferential surface of the medium. As a result, at least on indicia indicates which of the plurality of portions were last in contact with the surface. The tray includes a pan having a well at a first end and a ramp extending from the well to a second end, first and second spaced legs and a bar.

Abstract: A roller lock for releasably fastening a roller in a printing machine includes a pressure piece for retaining the roller, the pressure piece serving for exerting a retention force on a shaft journal of the roller, and the roller having two stops between which a central axis of the roller extends, both a force action line of the retention force of the pressure piece exerted on the axle journal of the roller, and a force action line of a contact force exerted on a bale of the roller being directable through the central axis; and a printing machine having the roller lock.

Abstract: For use in a printing press cylinder (1) of the type having in its surface an axial cavity (2) produced for location of a lock-up device for a printing blanket on the cylinder, there is provided an adaptor fillet to adapt the cylinder for accommodation of a printing blanket without a lock-up device, the adaptor fillet comprising a fillet (3) of a shape for insertion into the cavity so as to bridge the cavity flushly with the cylinder surface periphery, said fillet having an arcuately curved bridge surface (10) of the same radius of curvature as that of the cylinder and having in its bridge surface a longitudinal slit (11) for guidance of a knife edge. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fillet is in two-part form, consisting of a lower part (4) securable in the cavity by a threaded fastener entering the cavity base, and an upper part (5) securable to the lower part and providing the arcuately curved bridge surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic closing device for air passage holes in a support cylinder, or compression sleeves used in printing applications. The automatic closing devices of the invention are inserted into the thickness of the wall of the cylinder and comprises a support, a seat with an interior passage and a valve mobile in translation in the support. The support is capable of assuming two positions, the first in which the valve comes into tight contact with the aforementioned seat and the other in which it is retracted so as to allow for a passage.

Abstract: A bridge mandrel construction is provided which is simple to manufacture, light weight, and easy to mount and dismount from underlying printing cylinders in flexographic and gravure printing systems. The bridge mandrel includes a generally hollow, cylindrically-shaped tube adapted to fit over a print cylinder. A channel extends substantially around the circumference of the inner surface of the tube, and a plurality of orifices extends generally radially outwardly from the channel to the outer surface of the tube. The channel and orifices permit pressurized air to be provided from the interior of the mandrel to its surface for the mounting of a print sleeve onto the mandrel. In one embodiment, the bridge mandrel includes a locking mechanism which is adapted to engage the print cylinder to prevent movement of the mandrel during printing operations.

Abstract: A printing machine with a cylinder sleeve (16), which can be rotationally driven and is supported at both ends with protruding axle journals (18) directly in the machine frame (10, 12), and with a shaft (22), which passes through the cylinder sleeve and can be driven along with it, such that the rotational driving takes place over the shaft (22) and the cylinder sleeve (16) can be set axially against a torque transfer element (28), which is seated on the shaft.