Abstract: The present invention is referred to a method and a machine for decorating bottles or similar articles of the type that includes: a supporting structure; a rotatable shaft (12) coupled in the supporting structure, to rotate over its own axis with an intermittent movement; a plurality of transporting stations (14) connected to the shaft (12) to rotate together with the rotatable shaft (12); supporting members (16 and 18) for each transporting station (14), each supporting member (16, 18) being arranged to transport a bottle from a loading position to an unloading position of the machine; drive means connected to the rotatable shaft (12), the rotatable shaft (12) and the transporting stations (14) being rotated together by means of the drive means; and, a printer screen (PD) for each of the transporting stations (14), the screens (PD) being located toward and coinciding with a surface of the bottles to be decorated, the machine having at least two free transporting stations (14), one for the loading and another

Abstract: A plate material for laser plate making contains a thermoplastic resin, a light absorbing agent and a water repellent or an oil repellent.

Abstract: Can-holding device for holding filled beverage cans for printing on their surfaces, consisting of a frame (1) and two jaws (2) displaceable in the axial direction of the beverage can (D)to be held between a closed position (FIG. 2) and an open position (FIG. 1) for gripping the beverage can (D) to be printed at its two ends, with jaws (2) each being pretensioned by a spring (3) into its closed position and with grippers (21, 22) which permit gripping by external opening elements (Z) for optional movement of the jaws into their open position, and with each jaw (2)consisting of a jaw carrier (23) that cooperates with guide (11) on frame (1) and is provided with a gripper (21, 22), and of a jaw body (24) rotatable relative thereto, said body being lockable in a reference rotational position (FIG.

Abstract: A register punch system for printing plates has several punch modules for an interior drum printing plate exposer in which the printing plate is arranged inside a cavity formed of a segment of a circle. The punch modules are arranged next to one another on a base plate at one end of the cavity outside an inside of the cavity in which the printing plate is located. The punch modules each have a guide block arranged on the base plate, a stamping punch guided inside the guide block, a connecting rod for actuating the stamping punch and a stripper plate arranged on the base plate at the end of the base plate facing the cavity and through which the stamping punch is furthermore guided. The stamping punch has a cutting finger at the end that reaches through the stripper plate, the cutting finger reaching over the end of the printing plate. The stamping punch is actuated through the connecting rod, so that a punching is carried out at the end of the printing plate during the drawing back of the stamping punch.

Abstract: The invention relates to a printing form for a rotary relief-printing method, in which the printing dots transferring the printing ink constitute a half-tone screen and are superimposed by a relief structure constituted by indentations. Such printing forms are used, for example in flexographic printing methods for printing glass plates, for example display screens having a luminescent material coating. In the manufacture of these screens, the printing ink must be applied homogeneously and the ink dots appearing in the printed image must have a uniform border area. According to the invention, the printing form is to this end implemented in such a way that the relief structures are arranged homogeneously relative to the printing dots and, if the printing dots are periodically spread across the printing form, these relief structures are superimposed on the printing dots preferably with the same period.

Abstract: An apparatus for decorating articles comprises a transport path with at least one decorating station, and at least one article carrier displaced by a circulating transport system along the transport path. The transport system circulates in a horizontal plane and comprises a plurality of rigid rack portions which are interconnected pivotably in the horizontal plane. The transport system is driven by way of a gear. The transport system is guided by guide rollers mounted on a connecting pivot connecting each two adjacent rigid rack portions and they co-operate with guide rails defining at least a portion of the transport path.

Abstract: A two stage feeding apparatus and method for feeding articles to a printing machine are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a transfer tray between a conventional stack loading mechanism and a conventional printing machine feeding mechanism. The transfer tray is both movable between a horizontal loading position and an inclined transitional position, and rotatable between the inclined transitional position and an inclined unloading position. The method comprises two stages of which a first stage involves moving the transfer tray between the horizontal loading position and the inclined transitional position, and a second stage involves rotating the transfer tray between the inclined transitional position and the inclined unloading position.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing on individual articles has at least two rotatably disposed holders, each of which carries an article. Each of the holders which can comprise first and second holder portions is provided with separate drives for transporting the respective holder and for producing rotational movement thereof so that an article carried by one of the holders can be moved and rotated independently of articles carried by other holders. When printing on articles whose region to be printed upon differs from the shape of a circle or a circular arc, it is also possible for the printing mechanism consisting of a screen printing stencil and a squeegee to be raised or lowered in the printing operation, in dependence on the cross-sectional shape of the region to be printed upon, so that there is no need to alter the position in respect of height of the article during a printing operation.

Abstract: A gravure roll and associated coating methods are disclosed that produces a uniform coating gradient on a substrate. The gravure roll comprising a series of cells arranged in circumferential line density sections in which the line densities progressively increase from section to section, and in which the cell volumes progressively decrease within each section, and in which the cell volumes at the end of one section are substantially the same as the cell volumes at the beginning of the next adjacent section.

Abstract: A pin oven for curing a decorative or other coating laid down by a rotary decorator on cans has an associated transfer device by which the cans are decelerated and transferred in succession from the decorator onto the chain of the oven. The chain carries two cows of pins which are arranged in staggered and offset relation. By operating at a smaller chain circulating speed than the can output velocity of the decorator, the oven provides benefits in the size and thermal efficiency of the oven and reduced chain wear.

Abstract: A process for producing a durable, readily-storable, cylindrically-shaped flexographic printing sleeve having inner and an outer cylindrically-shaped walls and a substantially constant cross-sectional inner and outer diameter is provided. The flexographic printing sleeve is readily axially mountable on and dismountable from a complementary cylindrically-shaped printing cylinder having an outer cylindrically shaped wall. The process comprises providing a sleeve body. A layer of a low temperature curable polymeric material is provided to the outer circumferential surface of the sleeve body. The low temperature curable polymeric material is then cured at a temperature not greater than about 150 degrees F. to form a hardened layer of the polymeric material having a substantially uniform degree of hardness without damaging or distorting the sleeve body. A portion of the hardened layer of the polymeric material is removed to produce a flexographic printing sleeve having a thickness of up to about 0.

Abstract: Bottles are decorated while advanced by intermittent motion to each of a plurality of decorating stations where a squeegee presses a decorating screen into line contact with a surface of the bottle which has a speed the same as the speed of which the decorating screen is advanced along the printing station. The bottles are decorated at a higher through put rate by initiating linear movement of the screen before the bottle arrives at the decorating station and continuing linear movement of the screen after the bottle moves from the decorating station. The degree of overlap allows the printing cycle to consume a major part of a machine cycle while the bottle indexing cycle consumes a minor part of the machine cycle. The bottles are received in a vertical orientation and intermittently re-orientated horizontally for entrance to the decorating machine.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for printing on objects using a screen printing procedure, the print image applied to a respective object is dried by UV-rays produced by at least one UV-radiating device. Drying of the applied print image is effected during a transportation movement which the object performs in order to be transported after the drying operation from one location to another. The radiating device which produces the UV-rays is moved with the object at least during a pert of the transportation movement in the direction of movement of the object, in such a way that in such movement the print image is dried.

Abstract: The relief printing part (2) of the printing plate, which is intended to be inked over its entire surface, includes at least one etched recessed pattern (4) intended to be filled with the same ink as that serving for the inking of the relief printing part. The relief printing part preferably has a grainy structure composed of evenly distributed screen dots.

Abstract: A web transporting device usable in a rotary printing press or folder, includes a rotatably driven transport roller having a fixed axis and at least one engagable nip roller having an axis substantially parallel to the fixed axis and being engagable with the driven transport roller. The engagable nip roller has a length corresponding to a maximum width of the web processable in the printing press. A removable nip sleeve is provided which is axially mounted on the engagable nip roller. The removable nip sleeve has at least one ring-shaped annular gap disposed axially along its length which allows the web to ripple as it passes through the web transporting device without causing permanent wrinkles or creases to form in the web. A counterbalancing mechanism is also provided which stabilizes the engagable nip roller in a maintenance position as the removable nip sleeve is replaced.

Abstract: A letterpress printing method is disclosed wherein a printing plate, having plastic surface with a critical surface tension in the range of approximately 18-35 mN/m, is engraved or otherwise provided with raised ink-bearing impression sites and the printing plate is used for printing in a letterpress printing machine. As examples, the plastic surface of the printing plate may comprise a fluoropolymer, polytetrafluoroethylene or a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene. The low surface tension is shown to enhance the printing quality in this environment.

Abstract: The present invention provides an offset blanket for printing having a supporting layer and a surface printing layer laminated on the supporting layer. The surface printing layer has a surface configuration in which the mean peak distance is controlled so that good paper discharging properties can be maintained.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for applying printing or decoration to the conical surface of an article using screen printing, the screen printing stencil performs a pivotal movement during the printing operation in a plane extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the article to be printed upon. The stencil moves on a path of movement which substantially corresponds at least over a part of its periphery to the peripheral surface of a truncated cone whose cone angle is the same as that of the conical surface.

Abstract: A pin oven for stoving a decorative or other coating laid down by a rotary decorator (28") on cans has an associated transfer device (40") by which the cans are decelerated and transferred in succession from the decorator onto the chain (20") of the oven. The chain carries two rows of pins which are arranged in staggered and offset relation. By operating at a smaller chain circulating speed than the can output velocity of the decorator, the oven provides benefits in the size and thermal efficiency of the oven and reduced chain wear.

Abstract: The printing offset blanket in accordance with the present invention has a surface printing layer made of a mixture of silicone rubber and oil-resisting rubber. It is therefore possible to prepare ink layers having a uniform thickness and clear edges. Further, the present offset blanket can be improved in paper discharging properties and retention of paper powder, enabling the blanket to be suitably applied to high-speed printing, filter or display prints, or the like. The printing rubber roll of the present invention is made of a mixture of silicone rubber and oil-resisting rubber. Accordingly, the present rubber roll is excellent in stability with respect to ultraviolet-curing ink and can therefore be used for a long period of time.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and process for conveying a printed object, such as a printed bottle. The apparatus comprises a vacuum pump for supplying a vacuum and a rotationally driven central shaft operably associated with the vacuum pump. The central shaft has a bore therethrough for carrying a vacuum. A rotary disc is mounted on the central shaft for rotation therewith for conveying the printed object sequentially from a receipt station to a discharge station. The rotary disc has a front face, a back face and an internal vacuum chamber for carrying a vacuum. The internal vacuum chamber is in communication with the central shaft's bore and the vacuum pump. Additionally, the front face has at least one vacuum port. A valve system is preferably associated with the vacuum port for controlling the delivery of the vacuum to the vacuum port so that suction created by the vacuum picks-up the object at the receipt station.

Abstract: A photoresin relief printing plate comprising a support and a photoresin relief portion disposed thereon, said relief portion having a thickness of not greater than 8 mm and comprising an upper photoresin layer and a lower photoresin layer, wherein said upper photoresin layer has a thickness of at least 2 .mu.m and a Young's modulus of not greater than 650 kg/cm.sup.2 and said lower photoresin layer has a thickness which is greater than the Young's modulus of said upper photoresin layer and a thickness which is greater than the Young's modulus of said upper photoresin layer. The photoresin relief printing plate exhibits not only excellent inking and ink transferability even in solid images, but also excellently less broadening of printed images and excellent image reproducibility, even if the printing operation is performed using an ordinary relief printing machine having poor machine accuracy.

Abstract: This invention relates to a fully automatic curved-surface printing machine, which has a feeding mechanism, a screen block reciprocating mechanism, an elevation printing mechanism, a transmission system and a circulatory conveyor belt. The transmission system is the only means which provides the dynamic force to all the mechanisms. The feeding mechanism and the conveyor belt are set on the same conveying line. The feeding mechanism is designed to automatically push the curved-surface tube forward. The screen block reciprocating mechanism coordinates with an intermittent printing mechanism to enable the conveyor belt which moves intermittently to convey the curved-surface tube to the preset position. At this time the printing mechanism will push the curved-surface tube to the position ready for printing. The screen block reciprocating mechanism will activate the screen block to conduct its printing reciprocation.

Abstract: Apparatus for the transfer of ware in step-wise fashion from one point to another with silk-screen printing of the ware between the remote points. The articles of ware, in spaced-apart locations, are moved by an elongated horizontally disposed beam having a plurality of spaced-apart wareholders from a rearward horizontally disposed rest position downwardly in an arcuate path and then upwardly to a second forwardly located rest position in the same horizontal plane. The articles of ware are then each clamped while the beam reverses direction. A further article of ware is placed in the first wareholder, the other forwardly located articles being received in respective forwardly located wareholders. The beam then again moves forward and the articles of ware are each clamped. The beam then reverses direction, receiving a further article, etc. At the print station the articles are each raised vertically upwardly in a smooth curve, printed, and then lowered vertically downwardly in an opposing smooth curve.

Abstract: A flexible bar code printing plate formed with an ink density gauge rib for concurrently printing a tint gauge whereby the code and tint gauge are printed concurrently enabling the printed gauge to be inspected for a tint pattern deemed indicative of a well-printed bar code image.

Abstract: A container transport and manipulator includes opening and closing beams mounting therealong spaced supports for engaging the ends of parallel horizontally disposed containers, and a swing platform, timed with the supports, for carrying the containers from one support to the next. The final support at the labeling or printing station rocks or manipulates the containers about the axis of curvature of the curved surface on which a label or printing is applied so that the labeling or printing can be smoothly and quickly done in reliable fashion. The final support is quickly set up and changed for different-shaped containers.

Abstract: To permit computer control, for example from a control console in a publisher's office, of the subject matter to be printed from a printing cylinder, the printing cylinder (3) has a layer of semiconductor material thereon, which, by doping, includes capacitative or inductive domains (15, 33), selectively energized in accordance with control from the computer through controllable electronic switches (16, 29), such as transistors formed in the semiconductor layer. Ferrofluidic ink can be attracted by charges onto capacitors formed in the semiconductor layer; the capacitors are charged, selectively, through the transistor electronic switches which are located and connected in a matrix. Packing densities of over 160 domains and switching elements per mm.sup.2 are readily possible and suitable, for example, for newspaper printing. Higher packing densities, for high quality printing, can be obtained by well known microelectronic technology.

Abstract: A printing apparatus for printing a pattern on an endless side wall of a container component comprises six handling mechanisms 13 mounted on an indexing table 11, four printing heads 10 located at spaced apart positions on the indexing table 11, and a carrier 12 associated with each handling mechanism and arranged to carry a container 1 on which a pattern is to be printed. Each handling mechanism 13 comprises an outer roller 26 driven by a motor 20 and an inner roller 32. Each carrier 12 has an endless wall part 35 having a profile which matches that of the side wall of the container and a support part 38,39 for holding a container 1 on which a pattern is to be printed. The endless wall part is held in the nip between roller 26,32. A sensor 41 and an encoder 45 are provided for detecting the position of carrier 12.

Abstract: Apparatus for moving a container from a first container position to a second container position in which the container is spaced from the first position and in a different orientation, the apparatus including a drive member that is rotatable about a first axis between a first drive member position and a second drive member position, the first axis being spaced from the first container position, and a gripper for gripping the container, the gripper being rotatably mounted on the drive member about a second axis that is transverse to the first axis and rotates with the drive member, the gripper being rotatable between a first gripper position and a second gripper position, a container engaged by the gripper being in the first container position when the drive member and gripper are in their respective first positions and in the second container position when the drive member and gripper are in their respective second positions.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for printing quasi random number tables comprising a printing press having one or more printing stations incorporating a plurality of endless belts, each entrained around a printing plate cylinder and an idle roller, each belt being a different length which is a multiple of a basic pitch value, and each belt having affixed to the outer surface thereof and arranged in a row along the length of the belt, a plurality of printing plates arranged to print an impression onto a web or other medium passing through the press in register with a similar impression printed by each other belt. In one form of the invention each plate prints a number such that each belt prints different numbers in register, forming larger numbers or tables whose digits change from impression to impression in a quasi random manner. In one form of the invention each printing station incorporates one said belt.

Abstract: An adjustable workpiece rotating assembly for rotating a workpiece of any of a plurality of configurations at a workstation positioned along a conveyor system. Workpiece carriers attached to the conveyor system allow the workpiece to be positioned thereupon at a desired orientation relative to the work station. A mouth piece and base cup engage opposite ends of the workpiece and cause the workpiece to be rotated about a longitudinal axis thereof. The mouth piece and base cup are supported by a vertical displaceable rack which engage with a rotatably spur gear to allow the mouth piece and base cup to be translated simultaneously in the vertical direction to engage with a workpiece of any one of different elevations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically screen printing on objects includes a first transfer mechanism having suction cups for swinging the objects from a supply station at which are located a plurality of the objects to a preregistering station at which is a preregistering device which rotates the objects into a predetermined orientation closely positioned to a reference position to which the object is printed. From the preregistering station, the objects are swung by a second oscillating transfer means to a third oscillatory transfer means which swings the preregistered objects to the printing station. Preferably, the objects are swung into a holding station wherein the objects are held between transfer movements by the respective second and third transfer means.

Abstract: The present invention provides method and apparatus for printing a pattern on articles employing a printing plate having a grooved pattern therein in which ink is applied to such plate and a scraper blade passes thereover to remove the excess ink from the plate surface while leaving such ink in the grooves. An apertured shield can be placed over the scraped plate, the aperture positioned to expose the grooved pattern. A transfer printing pad is then contacted with the so-shielded grooved plate and picks up the ink pattern. The so-inked transfer pad is then contacted with an article to print the inked pattern thereon. In some embodiments, the apertured shield is omitted.

Abstract: A printing blanket construction and method and apparatus for making the same are provided, the blanket construction comprising an outer layer formed mainly of polymeric material and having an outer printing surface for carrying liquid printing ink or the like for printing purposes or the like, the outer printing surface having a plurality of separate ink wells interrupting the same in a closely spaced apart generally uniform pattern thereof throughout substantially the entire printing area thereof and with a relatively large number of the wells each having a mouth opening at the printing surface that has a substantially straight-line length across the largest portion thereof of approximately 3 microns to approximately 65 microns.

Abstract: A printing plate for printing a linear bar symbol code includes a body portion which is adhesively bonded to a mylar mounting sheet that is secured to a typical printing cylinder core. Integral with the body portion of the printing plate is a substantially rectangular frame member having opposed side members and end members which enclose a central channel. Disposed within the channel and integral with and connecting the opposed side members are a plurality of spaced bar members which define the linear bars of a symbol code. One of the side members includes a plurality of recesses having the configuration of numbers disposed in relief. The machine-readable linear bars correspond to the human-readable numbers of a symbol code. The frame member which constitutes a majority of the printing contact surface of the plate is raised the same distance from the body portion as the linear bar members such that the contact surface of the frame is flush with the contact surfaces of the bar members.

Abstract: A transfer member for transferring ink, paint, and other like vehicles containing organic solvents and a process for its preparation are disclosed, characterized in that the member comprises a polymerized, cross-linked polyurethane, particulate silica, and a bonding amount of a reacted silane. Preferably, the cross-linked polyurethane is prepared by interreacting an organopolyisocyanate with a mixture of hydroxyl-containing organic compounds, such as an organodiol, an organotriol, and optionally, an organopolyol containing more than three hydroxyl groups.

Abstract: An improved print roller for applying dye to a textile material in a predetermined pattern is provided wherein the core of the roller, which is operatively supported in a rotatable position by a shaft, is encapsulated with a cover formed of a substantially impervious elastomeric material. Dye applicators are then bonded to the cover.

Abstract: A composite of several materials constructed to form a printing disc, of the type used in high speed printers. The printing disc is manufactured in separate stages in order to achieve characteristics within the final assembly that are necessary for high speed quality printing. The assembled printing disc comprises a disc shaped member of flexible plastic. The hub of the disc has radially extending arms which each unite with a print head character composed of a thin layer of powdered metal or plastic zinc plated with a layer of metal.