Abstract: A device and method prevents movement of a printing plate during clamping of an end of the plate to an external drum of an imaging system using a clamping apparatus having: a clamping portion disposed on the external drum, wherein the clamping portion may be selectively displaced between a clamping position for clamping the leading edge of the printing plate against the external drum and a release position; and an inflatable member positioned between the clamping portion and the external drum for displacing the clamping portion between the clamping position and the release position. The device includes: a first spring-metal component mounted onto the external drum wherein the end of the plate can be positioned between one end of the first spring-metal component and the external drum, and the first spring-metal component is positioned between the clamping portion and the plate, to prevent the plate from moving during clamping.

Abstract: A tucking device for tucking a printing plate into a gap of a plate cylinder includes a tucker bar having a tucking surface and at least one magnet for creating a repulsive magnetic force at the tucking surface. An actuator connected to the tucker bar is used for moving the tucker bar to tuck the printing plate into the gap.

Abstract: A lithographic newspaper printing press including printing units which are mounted on top of each other, forming a tower arrangement. Each printing unit including a first and a second plate cylinder 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 further includes first and a second blanket cylinder associated with said first and second plate cylinders, whereby each of said first and second blanket cylinders has substantially the same diameter as the associated plate cylinder. Each of the blanket cylinders carries a respective continuous sleeve-shaped printing blanket which is axially removable from the respective plate cylinder through an aperture formed in the side wall of the housing of the printing unit, while the respective blanket cylinder is cantilevered in the opposite side wall of the housing.

Abstract: A method of using a printing plate includes, in a first step, setting an image on the printing plate in an imaging machine, while holding the printing plate firmly on a magnetic cylinder of the imaging machine during the imaging process, and in a second step, printing in a printing machine with the printing plate having the image set in this manner; and an imaging machine and a printing machine for performing the method.

Abstract: A photosensitive device has a cylinder, a photosensitive sheet slidably wrapping outer surface of the cylinder, and a feeding roller in the cylinder. The feeding roller feeds the photosensitive sheet to the outer surface of the cylinder sequentially. The photosensitive device also has a winding roller in the cylinder. The winding roller rolls the photosensitive sheet sequentially from the outer surface of the cylinder. The photosensitive device also has an adjusting member for adjusting contact force emerged between the cylinder and the photosensitive sheet.

Abstract: A perforation and image exposure system comprises an image exposure apparatus and a punch unit. The image exposure apparatus has a first reference pin for defining a lateral position of a plate through contacting with one side edge of the plate contacting a pair of first positioning pins, and image exposure means for exposing the image into the plate subjected to positioning by the pair of first positioning pins and the first reference pin. The punch unit has a second reference pin for defining a lateral position of the plate through contacting with one side edge of the plate contacting a pair of second positioning pins, and perforation means for forming punched holes for positioning on the plate subjected to positioning by the pair of second positioning pins and the second reference pin.

Abstract: A plate cylinder of a printing press, with a tensioning channel which extends in the axial direction, in which means for fixing the plate ends of at least one printing plate which can be positioned on the plate cylinder are arranged. The leading plate end can be fixed by a holding element against a contact surface by means of a tensioning rail which can be moved in the tensioning channel. After that, and after the plate cylinder has been rotated, it is then possible to hook the trailing plate end on the extended tensioning rail. After that, it is possible to draw the tensioning rail back in again to tension the trailing plate end.

Abstract: An assembly for an offset printing machine having a blanket unit comprising a blanket and a blanket support plate, the front edge and rear edge of the support plate being bent over and extending beyond the front edge and rear edge of the blanket, and a cylinder having an aperture for receiving the front edge and rear edge of the support plate, the cylinder comprising a device for fixing the blanket unit to the cylinder, the fixing device comprising at least one hook for tensioning the blanket unit.

Abstract: A low profile linear movement lock-up system that uses a rack-and-pinion gear mechanism to open and close a sliding jaw to selectively tighten and loosen a print carrier sheet on a print roll. The rack-and-pinion gear mechanism includes a sliding cam with diagonal cam slots and locking clip with pins that slide within the cam slots to open and close the jaw. The rack-and-pinion lock-up device may be configured for installation on a print roll, either in a new machine or in a retrofit application. The rack-and-pinion lock-up device may also be deployed within a print roll, or as a printing machine including a print roll with a rack-and-pinion lock-up device. An existing printing machine may be retrofitted by replacing its existing lock-up system with the rack-and-pinion lock-up system.

Abstract: A plate holding apparatus includes a plate holding device and an air cylinder. The plate holding device holds an old plate discharged from a plate cylinder. The air cylinder moves the plate holding device between the first position of holding the discharged old plate and the second position away from the plate cylinder. The plate holding device includes a support member, first and second rotary members, a lever, stopper, and tensile coil spring, and a one-way clutch. The first rotary member is rotatably, axially supported by the support member. The second rotary member is axially supported by the support member to be movable and rotatable. The lever, stopper, and tensile coil spring move the second rotary member to come into contact with and separate from the first rotary member.

Abstract: A method for mounting a printing master on a printing form cylinder includes readying a new print job with a printing-image length by releasing an unwinding spool, activating an unwinding spool drive for moving the printing master a length in circumferential direction of the cylinder on the circumferential surface by drawing the printing master to a rewinding spool and braking the unwinding spool for building tension. A preceding job image start is located on the surface facing the rewinding spool. A control device activates the unwinding spool drive and, before activation, data is produced in the control device regarding the length to be spooled forward, and the spools are fixed, after advancing the printing master a length, for insuring tension. A value is determined for the printing master length to be spooled forward, being at most the printing image length of the preceding print job plus a printing image spacing.

Abstract: A printing plate is mounted peripherally of a first plate cylinder or a second plate cylinder by using a forward-end clamping mechanism having a forward-end clamping jaw and an air cylinder for opening and closing the forward-end clamping jaw, and a rear-end clamping mechanism having a rear-end clamping jaw and two air cylinders for opening and closing the rear-end clamping jaw. The forward-end clamping mechanism is used for clamping the forward end of the printing plate. The rear-end clamping mechanism is used for clamping the rear end of the printing plate and straining the printing plate over the periphery of the first or second plate cylinder.

Abstract: A device is provided for securing at least one leading end and at least one trailing end of at least one packing on a cylinder of a rotary printing machine. The cylinder is provided with an axially extending channel. The leading end of the packing is bent at an acute angle and can fit into a nose configurement between the channel wall and the cylinder's peripheral surface. A securement element, that has a one-armed lever, is located in the channel and secures the trailing end by clamping it using a spring force. The channel has only one securing device in the peripheral direction.

Abstract: An image exposure apparatus has a rotating drum for winding a printing plate on which an image is recorded; a punch unit for forming punched holes to be used for positioning in printing processing on the printing plate; a conveying guide unit having a guide section that selectively moves to a first position facing the punch unit and a second position facing the rotating drum to guide a printing plate to the selected position so as to supply the printing plate; a width direction moving unit for moving in a width direction while a conveying pin is in contact with a width direction edge of the printing plate that is put on the conveying guide unit; a reference pin moving unit having a reference pin disposed at an opposite side of the width direction moving unit for defining the width direction edge of the printing plate, the reference pin moving unit moving the reference pin in accordance with a size of the printing plate; and a home position sensor mounted on a fixing portion independently of the conveying guid

Abstract: A form cylinder is provided with a circumferential surface which is convexly curved in the axial direction, such that the convex profile, determined by calculation, of the circumferential surface varies in such a way that the diameter of the form cylinder is largest in the axial center and smallest at the lateral edges.

Abstract: A plate changing apparatus includes a loader, air cylinder, and removed plate recovery section. The loader is supported by a frame to be movable substantially parallel to a sheet convey direction, and feeds a new plate to a plate cylinder. The air cylinder moves the loader from a retreat position to a wait position close to the plate cylinder during plate changing. The removed plate recovery section is fixed to the frame and recovers an old plate discharged from the plate cylinder.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an intensive machine performing a plurality of processes in a series of steps of fabricating a multilayer substrate. In order that the object may be achieved, the invention provides an intensive machine including an intensive platform installed in a direction in which a ceramic green sheet is fed out of a roll by a feeding apparatus. An adsorbing and conveying table is installed on the platform for conveying the sheet while the sheet is adsorbed and held by an air suction force. On the intensive platform are installed a via hole forming apparatus, via hole inspecting apparatus, filling and printing apparatus, filling and printing apparatus, filling and printing inspecting apparatus and wiring pattern printing apparatus arranged in the sheet conveying direction.

Abstract: A device for registering the position of a printing plate on the plate cylinder of a printing machine includes sensors responsive to being covered by the printing plate, the sensors being provided on one of the plate cylinder and an attachment device of the plate cylinder, respectively.

Abstract: A method for forming a printing plate from a printing plate precursor having a radiation-sensitive layer, sensitive to radiation in a first frequency spectrum such as the far or near infrared, and to radiation in a second frequency spectrum other than the first frequency spectrum such as visible or ultraviolet. The plate is exposed twice. Once to imaging radiation in the first frequency spectrum and again to radiation in the second frequency spectrum. The second frequency spectrum exposure is done only to the areas of the plate undesirably shaded during the imagewise exposure.

Abstract: A plate cylinder and printing plate holder for the cylinder is provided, which is capable of adjusting relative positions of plural printing plate holders and fixing the printing plate holders on the plate cylinder without causing misalignments of images among printing plates held by the printing plate holders even after overprinting. A plate cylinder (2) is equipped with at least two printing plates (P) wrapped around the outer circumference thereof. The plate cylinder comprises printing plate holders (6, 7) provided each per printing plate (P) for holding the printing plates (P) on the outer circumference of the plate cylinder. The printing plate holders include one printing plate holder (6) provided in a stationary state and fixed against the plate cylinder and other printing plate holders (7) provided adjustable to move in the circumferential direction of the plate cylinder (2) and fixable against the plate cylinder.

Abstract: A magnetic clamp for firmly clamping the edge of an imaging media on an imaging bed has one or more magnetic assemblies located in a clamp frame. The magnetic assemblies include magnets which may be permanent magnets, the magnets are prevented from contacting the imaging bed surface by pole pieces. The pole pieces contact the surface of an imaging bed thus channelling the magnetic flux generated by the magnets through the surface to provide a clamping force. In one embodiment, the magnetic assemblies are slidable in a frame to allow clamping of different thickness media.

Abstract: A method of aligning a rubber blanket formed with register cut-outs, relative to a clamping device having register pins, for clamping the rubber blanket onto a cylinder, includes bringing the register cut-outs formed in the rubber cylinder into contact with the register pins of the clamping device when the clamping device has been applied to the cylinder.

Abstract: A plate cylinder of a printing press, with a tensioning channel which extends in the axial direction, in which means for fixing the plate ends of at least one printing plate which can be positioned on the plate cylinder are arranged. The leading plate end can be fixed by a holding element against a contact surface by means of a tensioning rail which can be moved in the tensioning channel. After that, and after the plate cylinder has been rotated, it is then possible to hook the trailing plate end on the extended tensioning rail. After that, it is possible to draw the tensioning rail back in again to tension the trailing plate end.

Abstract: A cylinder covering (10) is described, having a lateral edge reinforcement (12), which is received partially overlapping on the cylinder covering (10), the cylinder covering (10) having an upper side (14) as the printing side, which is distinguished in that the lateral edge reinforcement (12), on the part (16) not overlapping with the cylinder covering (10), has at least one projection (18) having a projection terminus (20) on a lateral surface, which faces toward the upper side (14) of the cylinder covering, of the lateral edge reinforcement (12), the perpendicular from the projection terminus (20) on the plane of the overlapping part of the cylinder covering (10) running at least partially outside or precisely on the contour of the lateral edge reinforcement (12).

Abstract: An assembly for an offset printing machine having a blanket unit comprising a blanket and a blanket support plate, the front edge and rear edge of the support plate being bent over and extending beyond the front edge and rear edge of the blanket, and a cylinder having an aperture for receiving the front edge and rear edge of the support plate, the cylinder comprising a device for fixing the blanket unit to the cylinder, the fixing device comprising at least one hook for tensioning the blanket unit.

Abstract: A register device for insertion into a channel of a printing unit cylinder. The device includes a rod defining an axial direction and a pin support movable in the axial direction by the rod, the rod being movable with respect to the pin support in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. A register pin is attached to the pin support. Also provided is a register device with a pin support, a register pin and shims for altering the position of the register pin on the pin support.

Abstract: In a printing press and attached onto the transfer cylinders, an anti-marking system that uniformly supports the transport and the release of the wet printed sheet from one station to the next. The anti-marking sheet consists of a two plus layer system, the outer layer being a textured surface and the inner layer being a microcellular material that is both compressible and resilient. The outer textured layer may be treated with either conductive/anti-static layers or an ink repellent layer or both. The two plus layer system is easily attached to both transfer cylinders and tracking/skeleton wheels using any combination of fixtures from Velcro™, magnetic, metallic, and pressure sensitive double sided tape to elastic loops.

Abstract: Deformable hollow bodies are placed in cylinders of printing presses to actuate retaining and clamping devices. The hollow bodies require a sealed supply channel for supply of a pressure medium. A sealing surface and a dividing surface between the cylinder and the hollow body are arranged parallel to each other and generally perpendicularly to the direction of pressure generated by the pressure medium flowing into the hollow body.

Abstract: A perforation and image exposure system comprises an image exposure apparatus and a punch unit. The image exposure apparatus has a first reference pin for defining a lateral position of a plate through contacting with one side edge of the plate contacting a pair of first positioning pins, and image exposure means for exposing the image into the plate subjected to positioning by the pair of first positioning pins and the first reference pin. The punch unit has a second reference pin for defining a lateral position of the plate through contacting with one side edge of the plate contacting a pair of second positioning pins, and perforation means for forming punched holes for positioning on the plate subjected to positioning by the pair of second positioning pins and the second reference pin.

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 packing is pressed against a surface of a cylinder by using at least one roller which is deployed and retracted with respect to the cylinder by an adjusting mechanism. A guard is provided for covering the roller. The guard is actuated by the roller adjusting mechanism. The guard covers the roller in the direction of the cylinder and is actuated with the roller.

Abstract: A rotating drum in which, when the rotating drum is rotated at high speed, there is no offset between divisional drum parts, there is little imbalance, and a moment of inertia for rotation is small. A drum main body is divided into four drum parts whose cross-sectional configurations orthogonal to an axis are fan-shaped. Female projecting portions and male projecting portions are formed at a pitch dimension having a predetermined fit-together tolerance. Thus, the drum parts can be assembled together with a certain amount of leeway at a time of assembly. After the four drum parts have been assembled together, wires are press-fit in from an end surface side of the drum main body so as to tightly fasten the drum parts. Because the assembled drum main body defines configurations of the drum parts to have point symmetry, imbalance can be made small.

Abstract: A mechanism for correcting unbalance of a rotor that is caused at positions at which at least one of a leading edge chuck and a trailing edge chuck that hold a sheet member disposed on a peripheral surface of the rotor varying in accordance with the sheet size. The unbalance is corrected by disposing, at a predetermined distance from a rotary shaft, an anchor having a fixed weight. In a state where the unbalance is corrected, a main balancer is purposely attached to the rotor to cause an unbalanced state. According to the position at which the trailing edge chuck attaches to the peripheral surface of the rotor, a second arm is moved by mechanical interlocking to maintain an angle &thgr;2 with respect to a chuck holder. Consequently, unbalance is adjusted in accordance with the size of the sheet.

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 thin wall external drum for an external drum imaging system includes a cylindrical portion having a hollow tube and a pair of end plates mounted to opposing sides of the hollow tube, wherein the hollow tube has the wall thickness less than or equal to about 1.5 percent of the outside diameter of the external drum.

Abstract: Blankets, which are mounted or dismounted on cylinders and rollers, are fitted to these cylinder in a homogenous manner to insure their proper winding and unwinding. Several pressure or force application rollers, that each can move independently, can be fitted to the cylinder simultaneously to provide a device for pressing the blanket onto the cylinder. Different rollers for mounting or for dismounting the blanket can be provided.

Abstract: A method of attaching a flexible printing plate having a concavo-convex structure on the rear surface thereof and three or more notches at the plate front edge thereof on a plate cylinder using an apparatus comprising a plate front end positioning mechanism, a printing plate pressing mechanism and a plate rear end fixing mechanism together with a packing sheet having a concavo-convex structure.

Abstract: A surface for a plate handling machine is movable in a plate handling direction relative to the plate handling machine. The surface has at least two groups of stops. The stops permit various arrangements of plates to be registered on the surface. Two smaller-sized plates or one larger-sized plate can be registered on the surface.

Abstract: A sheet material holding device applicable to an automatic printing plate exposure apparatus is disclosed. A notched groove is disposed in an upper surface of a clamp body corresponding to the pressing direction of a press shaft of the sheet material holding device, and a point of contact between the press shaft and the groove is adjusted. A straight line connecting the contact point with an axial center of a rotating shaft intersects a circular trajectory of the contact point at a substantially right angle. Substantially all of the pressing force of the press shaft acts to pivot the clamp body, whereby a rotary drum is prevented from being rotated at the time of pressing.

Abstract: The clamping device is used to adjust at least one register element in a printing machine. The device has an upper clamping rail, to which the register element is fixed. The upper clamping rail can be moved in a guide and fixed in position in order to adjust the register element.

Abstract: A rotary printing press transfer cylinder has two or more axially spaced apart discs of a given diameter, each disc having an open minor segment with inwardly disposed edges and a concentric, shaft receiving hub to support the discs for rotation. A flexible plastic sheet, with flanges bent to fit within the inwardly disposed edges, covers the discs to provide a cylindrical shape, and is held under tension by attaching members connected to the flanges. A cushioning, ink repellent jacket is attached over the flexible plastic sheet.

Abstract: A method for holding a sheet material wound around a circumferential surface of a rotating drum and an image recording apparatus are provided. When at least one of a leading edge and a trailing edge of the sheet material, which is fed in a direction tangential to the rotating drum, is nipped between the circumferential surface of the rotating drum and chucks, nipping by the chucks is sequentially effected from one axial-direction end of the rotating drum to the other axial-direction end of the rotating drum.

Abstract: A tucking device for tucking a printing plate into a gap of a plate cylinder includes a tucker bar having a tucking surface and at least one magnet for creating a repulsive magnetic force at the tucking surface. An actuator connected to the tucker bar is used for moving the tucker bar to tuck the printing plate into the gap.

Abstract: As a rotational reference position of a rotating drum is detected by a rotational position detection sensor for each rotation of the rotating drum, a rotational position of the rotating drum at a time of detection can be known. Subsequent to a signal for instructing stop of the rotating drum being input, the rotational reference position is detected. Then, a stop position calculation processing section calculates a stop control pulse for stopping the rotating drum from the rotational position at a trailing edge chuck detaching position. Thus, the rotating drum is reliably stopped at the trailing edge chuck detaching position. A stop processing is performed by a rotating drum drive control section when the rotational reference position is detected after the calculation. As a result, the stop position is not shifted by the time required for calculation and generation of the stop control pulse.

Abstract: An apparatus for clamping the trailing edge of a supply of recording media on the external drum of an imaging system. The trailing edge clamping apparatus includes a plurality of magnetic clamp sections. Each magnetic clamp section includes: a body having a top portion and a pair of legs, wherein a bottom surface of each leg forms a clamping surface of the magnetic clamp section; a plurality of apertures formed in the top portion of the body for receiving a corresponding plurality of lift pads of an actuating system; a set of permanent magnets mounted to an underside of the top portion of the body; and a cover for encapsulating and protecting the set of permanent magnets, wherein the cover includes a raised portion for accommodating the set of permanent magnets, and a pair of flanges for securing the cover to the underside of the top portion of the body.

Abstract: A plate-mounting member to be attached to a plate front end of a flexible plate in order to mount said flexible plate having a plurality of fixing holes onto a plate cylinder including a plate front end clamp mechanism having upper and lower teeth and at least two positioning pins disposed between upper and lower teeth, said plate-mounting member comprising a base and a plurality of fixing pins disposed on said base to be respectively inserted into said plurality of fixing holes formed in said plate front end, wherein said base is to be attached to said positioning pins disposed in said plate front end clamp mechanism to thereby position said plate front end. Also disclosed are method and apparatus for mounting a flexible printing plate.

Abstract: In an exposure device for exposing thermal printing plates having a plate drum holding the printing plates and a pressure roller pressing the pressure plates onto the plate drum during the clamping and unclamping of the printing plates, a device for eliminating combustion residues in an exposer for printing plates includes a pick-up roller in contact with the pressure roller and picking up the combustion residues adhering to the pressure roller. The pick-up roller preferably has an adhesive surface and the pressure roller has a non-adhesive surface.

Abstract: A cylinder can receive one or more packings which are held in proper register. One or more register elements are carried by support strips which are placed in the cylinder barrel. These register elements can be held against longitudinal displacement in the cylinder barrel by a clamping device that is operable from the end face of the cylinder. The clamping device includes a clamping assembly which is useable to hold the register elements in place.

Abstract: An imaging drum assembly is provided for use in an imaging apparatus for forming images on sheet material. The imaging drum assembly comprises a rotatable imaging drum having an outer surface adapted to attract sheet material to the imaging drum. A material clamp is mounted to the drum and has a retainer positioning a retaining surface radially outward of the outer surface and forming a space therebetween. A slide is movable positioned within the space between an outer radial position where outward radial movement of the slide is blocked by the retaining surface and an inner radial position distant from the retaining surface. A biasing member urges the slide toward the outer radial position.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an imaging system and method for operating same are provided which includes a media support surface for supporting a printing plate during recording of an image thereon, a leading edge clamping mechanism for securing a leading edge of the printing plate to the media support surface, and a trailing edge clamping mechanism for securing a trailing edge of the printing plate to the media support surface. An actuation system is used to actuate both the leading edge clamping mechanism and the trailing edge clamping mechanism.