Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for reducing the temperature of print heads of a printer in a multi-printer environment. The system comprises a receiving printer operable to receive a web of print media heated by an upstream dryer. The system further comprises an airflow generator located immediately before the heated web enters the receiving printer, the airflow generator operable to project impinging air that deflects warm air proximate to the heated web.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a heated drum within a continuous web printer includes operating an actuator to rotate a drum that is heated to a first temperature. The drum rotates in a process direction of a media web contacting the drum and heats the media web as the media web moves over a portion of the drum. The method also includes stopping movement of the media web, heating the drum to a second temperature that is greater than the first temperature, and operating the actuator to rotate the drum against a portion of the stopped media web to transfer ink from the drum to the portion of the stopped media web.

Abstract: A device for supplying radiant energy onto a printing substrate (14), including at least one radiant energy source (10) whose light (12) impinges on the printing substrate (14) on the path (16) of the printing substrate (14) through a printing press at a position (116) downstream of at least one printing nip (18) in a printing unit. The radiant energy source (10) emits light (12) having a peak-to-valley homogeneity of less than 15% in a direction transverse to the direction of the path (16) of the printing substrate (14).

Abstract: Apparatus for drying media in a printer includes first and second successive printing stations with a first rotatable member that contacts the wet side of the media between them. Each prints on one side of the media. A media-path extender between the first printing station and the first rotatable member includes a dry-side rotatable member and a wet-side rotatable member around which the media path passes in that order. An extension media path is defined from the first printing station past the dry-side member, the wet-side member, and the first rotatable member, in that order, to the second printing station. The printer selectively transports the media either along a bypass media path or along the extension media path. The wet-side member is farther past the first printing station than is the first rotatable member.

Abstract: A printing device system comprises a printing roller that has a blanket adhered to an outer surface thereof. The printing device system further comprises a drying device that dries the blanket of the printing roller.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for reducing the temperature of print heads of a printer in a multi-printer environment. The system comprises a receiving printer operable to receive a web of print media heated by an upstream dryer. The system further comprises an airflow generator located immediately before the heated web enters the receiving printer, the airflow generator operable to project impinging air that deflects warm air proximate to the heated web.

Abstract: A flexographic printing system for printing flat corrugated sheets using radiation curable inks. An ultraviolet curing unit is positioned after each of the printing stations. The ink applied at each station is partially cured before a different color ink is applied at the next printing station.

Abstract: A sheet processing machine, in particular a sheet-fed printing press, includes a varnishing unit and at least one combination drier for applying radiation energy and heated air to a newly varnished sheet. The at least one combination drier includes a plurality of circular or polygonal air nozzles and narrow-band high-power infrared light sources disposed between the air nozzles. The infrared light sources apply radiation at a radiation density of at least 25 kW/m2 in total to the varnished sheet. The temperature of the heated air passing through the nozzles is below 100° C., preferably below 80° C. A method of drying sheets is also provided.

Abstract: A decorating apparatus comprises an advancing arrangement for advancing an elongated element in an advancing direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated element and a plurality of decorating devices positioned downstream one another along the advancing arrangement for decorating distinct surfaces of said elongated element, each decorating device comprising a decorating unit for decorating a respective surface of the elongated element, the decorating unit comprising: a transferring device for transferring a flowable material on the elongated element, including a transferring roller rotatable around a rotation axis and arranged for interacting with the elongated element, the transferring roller being made of deformable material so that non-flat surfaces can be decorated; a kiln arrangement arranged downstream of the transferring device for heating said flowable material applied to said elongated element.

Abstract: Design and integration of a UV LED curing system into a multi-station UV-curing process, such as for inkjet or offset printing. Docking ports may be permanently mounted into various stations within the UV-curing process. The UV LED lamps may be modular and may therefore be inserted into any one of the desired docking ports at variable distances from the substrate to be cured without significant loss of optical uniformity or radiant intensity. The docking ports are designed such that they can accommodate UV LED lamps of differing wavelengths and, therefore, power requirements. The insertion of a UV LED lamp into a docking port is designed such that it is accomplished without tools and may be considered a “plug and play” operation. Multiple docking ports may be mounted into a single station in the UV-curing process to allow for the installation of multiple lamps at each station.

Abstract: An apparatus includes: a drying unit to dry a printing medium on which an image was printed using an inkjet head; a humidification unit to humidify the printing medium that was dried by the drying unit so that the moisture content of the printing medium becomes the equilibrium state in the ambient environment; a colorimetric unit to perform colorimetry on the printing medium that was humidified by the humidification unit; and a calibration unit to calibrate printing properties on the basis of the result of colorimetry by the colorimetric unit.

Abstract: A method of curing radiation-curable fluid is described. In one example, the method includes emitting radiation from an array of light-emitting diodes towards ink to be cured. LEDs are cheap, light weight, highly efficient in their conversion of electrical power, and give effectively instant switching to full power. Another advantage is that the emission spectrum of an LED is sharply peaked around the nominal frequency. Thus LEDs give several advantages over conventional radiation sources such as mercury lamps. A low oxygen environment is preferably provided at the radiation source to accelerate the curing reaction. Also described are inks which are specially formulated to respond to the radiation emission spectrum of an LED.

Abstract: Various embodiments and methods relating to moving a printed upon web along bowed segments of a web path through at least three consecutive turns in a same direction are disclosed.

Abstract: A ventilation and drying equipment for printing machines, including ovens operable to dry solvent on a printed support travelling through the ovens passages into and out of the ovens through which false or ambient air can enter the oven from the outside. At least one false air suppression device for which each printing unit covers at least one of the passages and which is maintained at a pressure lower than the air pressure inside the oven, to prevent false air from entering the oven through the at least one passage. Each false air suppression device is connected with a common recirculation duct in order to share the false air coming from each printing unit with the whole press.

Abstract: A fan drive apparatus includes a first fan, a second fan configured to form an air flow space, which has an intake side and an exhaust side, in cooperation with the first fan, a first drive circuit and a second drive circuit configured to output drive voltages to drive the first fan and the second fan respectively, a current detection unit configured to detect a drive current for the second drive circuit when the first fan and the second fan are driven, and a control unit configured to control the second drive circuit to change the drive voltage applied to the second fan, and determine a drive voltage so that a variation amount of the drive current detected by the current detection unit with respect to a change of the drive voltage is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A printing press has at least one first printing tower with at least one first printing unit that has several offset printing couples which are usable to print on one or on both sides of a first web which runs through the first printing unit substantially from the bottom to the top. The web is printed in multiple colors in the first printing tower. A dryer is arranged downstream of the first printing unit and along the conveying path of the first web. A former structure, with at least one former through which the web runs, is located downstream of the dryer. At least one nipping roller is located downstream of the dryer and upstream of the former. A spreading device is provided between the dryer and the at least one nipping roller that is located upstream of the former and along the conveying path of the first web.

Abstract: There are provided a printing method for a printing press that includes: printing an image on a sheet of paper fed using an ultraviolet curable paint; and irradiating the ultraviolet curable paint on the printed sheet fed by selectively causing a plurality of light emitting diodes disposed at predetermined intervals across a lateral direction of the sheet to turn on in accordance with the location and size of a predetermined area of the sheet, thereby irradiating the predetermined area with ultraviolet light therefrom and curing the predetermined area.

Abstract: A printing press and a method of drying printed or varnished sheets in a printing press include heating printed and/or varnished sheets, before the sheets enter a dryer, to a temperature higher than the ambient temperature, through the use of a heatable impression cylinder in the last printing and/or varnishing unit upstream of the thermal dryer device.

Abstract: An ultraviolet drying device (37) and a photoelectric sensor (70) for detecting the outer surface of a transport cylinder (36) are provided at a position close to the outer surface of the transport cylinder (36) arranged downstream in a sheet-like material convey direction of a reverse printing unit (11) for subsequent printing. When the ultraviolet drying device (37) is turned on and the photoelectric sensor (70) detects that a contamination-preventive member is mounted on the outer surface of the transport cylinder (36), the driving of a printing press stops. Also, when an IR lamp (46) of an infrared drying device (47) is turned on and the photoelectric sensor (70) detects that the contamination-preventive member is not mounted on the outer surface of the transport cylinder (36), the driving of the printing press is stopped. With this arrangement, deformation of the contamination-preventive member mounted to protect the cylinder is prevented in a liquid transfer apparatus.

Abstract: A web printing apparatus includes a transfer device which transfers highly reactive ink/varnish onto a web, and a fixing device which fixes, on the web, the highly reactive ink/varnish transferred by the transfer device. The fixing device includes only a light irradiation device which irradiates the web with light in the wavelength range, in which no ozone is generated, to cure the highly reactive ink/varnish on the web without thermal drying of the web.

Abstract: An industrial printer includes a frame; a cabinet defining a media path; a pagewidth printhead arranged on the frame for printing images on blank web media; pilot guides for guiding the blank web media fed from cartridges via the media path past the pagewidth printhead to facilitate printing; a dryer module configured to operatively dry the printed web media; and a cutter module for cutting the printed web media before the printed web media is fed into a container for storing the web media in a roll. The cutter module includes a frame having end plates, and a pair of entry rollers and a pair of exit rollers serving as a transport mechanism for the web media through the module. The cutter module further includes a slitter gang composed of a plurality of slitters each having a plurality of blades, the slitter gang being located between the end plates. The dryer module includes a plenum defined vertically downward through the cabinet for supplying air received from a top of the plenum to the media path.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of printing an area of a substrate in a plurality of passes using curable ink, the method comprising depositing a first pass of ink on the area, partially curing ink deposited in the first pass, depositing a second pass of ink on the area, and fully curing the ink on the area. The method finds particular application in the field of inkjet printing, and can afford the advantage of better wetting of ink on the substrate deposited by a previous pass and reducing the problem of ink spreading.

Abstract: A printing machine for cylindrical objects, comprising a carousel for moving for locating the cylindrical objects in a successive number of work stations, among which at least a printing station and a drying station; at least a device for inking for printing on the lateral surface of a cylindrical object located in the printing station; and at least a drying device for generating a beam of rays which strike a cylindrical object located in the drying station; the drying device including an obturator for intercepting the beam of rays when the means for moving transfer the objects from one station to another.

Abstract: A method for printing and decorating packaging materials, such as paper, paper board and various flexible polymer films by electron beam exposure of plural layers of curable inks and coatings which do not substantially change viscosity during the printing process. The inks and coating are essentially free of volatile components such as organic solvents, inorganic solvents, water and low molecular weight fractions before, during and after exposure to electron beam irradiation. The method involves applying multiple layers of ink and an optional coating onto a substrate. The ink is an admixture of a colorant, and an unsaturated component such that the inks have a maximum of 10% volatile components. Thereafter these layers are simultaneously exposed with electron beam radiation to cause the ethylenically unsaturated components to polymerize or crosslink such that they become dried.

Abstract: A printing apparatus for a liquid crystal display (LCD) device and a patterning method using the same is disclosed. The printing apparatus includes a printing plate; a printing roller to roll on the printing plate and to print a pattern material onto a substrate; a coating roller to transfer the pattern material to the printing roller; and a printing nozzle to coat the pattern material onto the coating roller.

Abstract: A sheet-fed offset printing press prints multiple colors on both sides of sheets, preferably on sheets of paper. A first row of in-line printing units print a first side of the sheet, before the sheets are turned in a reversing device, which is followed by a second row of in-line printing units for printing the other side of the sheets. The second row of in-line printing units is followed by one or more varnishing units that are arranged in such a way or include varnishing blanket cylinders that are arranged in such a way that the front sides and the back sides of the passing sheets are varnished.

Abstract: A sheet-fed offset printing press for printing multiple colors on both sides of sheets, preferably on sheets of paper, includes a first row of in-line printing units for printing a first side of the sheet, followed by a reversing device, followed by a second row of in-line printing units for printing the other side of the sheets, and followed by one or more varnishing units that are disposed in such a way, or include varnishing blanket cylinders that are disposed in such a way, that the front sides and the back sides of the passing sheets are varnished. A further reversing device is inserted between two varnishing units. A method of printing multiple colors on both sides of sheets is also provided.

Abstract: An ink printing device is disclosed that incorporates a curing lamp located on the opposite side of a printed face of a printed substrate and partially cures a radiation curable ink by irradiating through the substrate. Additionally, this disclosure provides a method for partially curing radiation curable inks by exposing a radiation curable ink on a substrate to a curing lamp located opposite the printed face of the substrate.

Abstract: A printing press system includes a first machine line of a printing press, which is embodied as a newspaper printing press, and is provided with at least one first printing unit having printing group cylinders of a first maximum effective printing width. A second printing press, which is equipped with at least one second printing unit with printing group cylinders that have a second maximum effective printing width, is part of the first machine line. A dryer is located in alignment with the second printing unit. A former structure, having an effective width that is defined by the width of one, or of several formers disposed next to each other, and perpendicular to the feeding direction of the web to be folded, is also provided in the printing press system. At least one turning device is usable to transfer a web or a printed web, which has been printed in the first printing unit, to the former station.

Abstract: A sheet dryer includes: a coating section 10 which includes a single coating unit coating a paper sheet W transported by a transport part with a UV varnish; a first chain conveyor 20 which does not have a guide surface coming into contact with the UV-varnish coated surface of the paper sheet W passed over from the coating section 10, and which has a transport distance L2 longer than a transport distance L1 of the single coating unit; a transport cylinder 22 which transports the paper sheet W passed over from the first chain conveyor 20; and an LED-UV drying device 30 which is disposed in the vicinity of the transport cylinder 22, faces the UV-varnish coated surface of the paper sheet W held by the transport cylinder 22, and cures the UV varnish on the paper sheet W.

Abstract: A method for drying a printing ink (114) on a printing substrate (14) in a printing press (30), and a printing press (30). The printing substrate (14) is moved along a path (16) through the printing press (30) and printed on by at least one printing ink (114) at a first position (18) of the path (16). At a second position (124) of the path (16), in a conditioning apparatus, a treatment agent (118) is applied to the printing substrate (14) to accelerate the drying of the printing ink (114) on the printing substrate (14) and includes, in particular, an infrared absorber which has an absorption wavelength that is essentially resonant to the wavelength of the light (12) of the radiant energy source (10). The printing substrate (14) may be dried by the action of radiant energy at a chronologically later point in time, at at least one third position (116) of the path (16), by a drying device, in particular by a narrow-band radiant energy source (10).

Abstract: A printing device and method for printing a latex ink on a printing medium is disclosed. The printing device comprises a heating stage for heating the medium at least during printing the latex ink on said medium, a further heating stage for curing the latex ink on the medium and a controller arrangement for individually controlling the heating stage and the further heating stage, whereby the controller arrangement is arranged to reduce the heat output of the heating stage during a non-printing mode of the printing device and to reduce the heat output of the further heating stage during a non-curing mode of the printing device.

Abstract: A ventilation and drying equipment for printing machines, including ovens operable to dry solvent on a printed support travelling through the ovens passages into and out of the ovens through which false or ambient air can enter the oven from the outside. At least one false air suppression device for which each printing unit covers at least one of the passages and which is maintained at a pressure lower than the air pressure inside the oven, to prevent false air from entering the oven through the at least one passage. Each false air suppression device is connected with a common recirculation duct in order to share the false air coming from each printing unit with the whole press.

Abstract: A printing system includes a first printing machine that is provided in the form of a newspaper printing machine and which comprises at least two first printing units that are provided in the form of printing towers and with a number of printing machines arranged one above the other for effecting double-sided printing of a substrate in multiple colors. A first folding funnel is arranged in a machine exit of these first printing units. A second printing machine is provided with at least one second printing unit and with a dryer that is situated in the machine exit of the second printing unit. The at least one second printing unit is positioned with respect to its printing location, and when viewed from above, is arranged next to the machine exit of the first printing units provided in the form of printing towers.

Abstract: An object is to provide a drying device of a printing press that is capable of securely storing the integrated values of the irradiation times of LEDs and notifying the operator of the replacement timing of the LEDs. Two control parts are provided to control operation of the printing press. The two control parts each store and update integrated values of the irradiation times of the LEDs on one-by-one basis or on a group-by-group basis automatically or arbitrarily, and compare and update the integrated values of one of the two control parts with the integrated values of the remaining control part to keep each of the integrated values of both the control parts update with the latest integrated value.

Abstract: A method of predicting at least one drying parameter for a printing press includes estimating an amount and type of an ink to be deposited on a printing surface, determining at least one of: i) a type of the printing surface, ii) a thickness of the printing surface, and iii) a speed of the printing surface moving through the printing press, and calculating, via a controller associated with the dryer, the at least one drying parameter based at least on: i) the amount and the type of the ink to be deposited on the printing surface; ii) the type of the printing surface, iii) the thickness of the printing surface, and iv) the speed of the printing surface moving through the printing press. Also disclosed herein is a method of determining if the ink established on the printing surface is dry.

Abstract: An apparatus for imprinting a sheet web includes two cylinders that rotate with a circumferential speed that corresponds to the speed of the web and which support the web over a specified angle region. Contactless printing heads are arranged side by side and at a distance to the circumferential surface of the associated cylinder and positioned transverse to the rotational direction of the associated cylinder. The printing heads each have a face oriented tangential to the associated cylinder and a center line that is essentially radial to the circumferential surface of the associated cylinder. A guiding device includes first and second guide devices associated with the respective cylinders to guide the web. Each guide device includes at least one pressure roller that fits against the surface of the associated cylinder and an element arranged to pull the web tangentially from the circumferential surface of the associated cylinder along a tangential path section.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes: a recording unit that performs a recording operation on a recording medium; a transport unit that transports the recording medium; and a drying unit that promotes drying of the recording medium by ejecting gas to the recording medium. The drying unit includes a main passage through which the gas flows on a surface of the recording medium along the transport direction of the recording medium, and a sub-passage that merges with the main passage and extends in a direction crossing the surface of the recording medium when merging with the main passage.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus including: a heating rotary member, which heats an image on a recording material in a nip portion; an air blowing unit, which blows air toward an air blowing port to cool a predetermined area of the heating rotary member; and a shutter, which opens and closes the air blowing port, wherein a cooling operation can be performed continuously with the shutter opened after image heating processing is completed, whereby a downtime required for making the temperature distribution over the entire heating area uniform after the continuous sheet supply of small-size recording materials is reduced remarkably.

Abstract: An ultraviolet drying device (37) and a photoelectric sensor (70) for detecting the outer surface of a transport cylinder (36) are provided at a position close to the outer surface of the transport cylinder (36) arranged downstream in a sheet-like material convey direction of a reverse printing unit (11) for subsequent printing. When the ultraviolet drying device (37) is turned on and the photoelectric sensor (70) detects that a contamination-preventive member is mounted on the outer surface of the transport cylinder (36), the driving of a printing press stops. Also, when an IR lamp (46) of an infrared drying device (47) is turned on and the photoelectric sensor (70) detects that the contamination-preventive member is not mounted on the outer surface of the transport cylinder (36), the driving of the printing press is stopped. With this arrangement, deformation of the contamination-preventive member mounted to protect the cylinder is prevented in a liquid transfer apparatus.

Abstract: A printing station for producing a layer of coloring for a contact lens, comprising a transport system to carry and transport a molding tool which comprises at least one contact lens forming mold, a pad unit comprising at least one pad, and a blade unit suitable to carry and ink a cliché with an ink. When in use the pad transfers an inked image from the cliché to the contact lens forming mold. The printing station further at least partially cures the inked image after it has been transferred to the mold and cleans the pad.

Abstract: One embodiment of this invention discloses a silk screening device which includes an integrated quartz flash unit. The invention improves upon prior art systems and relates to a system whereby both a silk screen squeegee unit and a quartz flash unit are slidably mounted on a common set of rails, in order to allow each to be easily placed and removed from the silk screening platform.

Abstract: A print media and printing fluid cartridge is provided which is removably mounted to a support structure of a digital photofinishing system in juxtaposition with a printer mounted to the support structure together with a digital processor and print media drive mechanism for the printer. The cartridge has a roll of print media, a print media delivery arrangement arranged to couple with the print media drive mechanism so as to feed the print media from the roll to the printer on demand, and at least one removable printing fluid first cartridge for feeding printing fluid to the printer on demand. A dryer is located in series with the printer so as to receive printed media directly therefrom. The dryer has guide rollers for transporting the printed media through the dryer and a blower arranged to direct drying air onto the printed media as it is transported therethrough.

Abstract: A sheet transfer assembly for use above an ultraviolet curing unit in a flexographic printing press used for printing corrugated sheets includes a vacuum plate with heat sinks. The vacuum plate includes openings for rollers that extend through the vacuum plate to drive printed sheets across the bottom of the transfer assembly. Heat sinks are formed on the top surface of the vacuum plate between rollers to remove heat from the vacuum plate. Heat from the UV curing unit is effectively dissipated from the vacuum plate into the air used to hold printed substrates against the rollers in the transfer assembly.

Abstract: A printing press and a method of drying printed or varnished sheets in a printing press include heating printed and/or varnished sheets, before the sheets enter a dryer, to a temperature higher than the ambient temperature, through the use of a heatable impression cylinder in the last printing and/or varnishing unit upstream of the thermal dryer device.

Abstract: A printing system that includes a source which emits UV radiation to polymerize a fluid that is deposited onto a substrate by one or more print heads. The source emits low energy UV radiation sufficient to set the fluid to a quasi-fluid, non-hardened state.

Abstract: A web-fed press includes at least two printing units and at least one drier for drying at least one printing-material web which is moved through the at least two printing units and printed on at least one side with at least one offset printing ink at each of the printing units. The printing-material web is dried at least after the first printing unit and before the second printing unit.

Abstract: A printing device system comprises a printing roller that has a blanket adhered to an outer surface thereof. The printing device system further comprises a drying device that dries the blanket of the printing roller.

Abstract: The invention provides for a wallpaper printer having a cabinet built around a frame, the cabinet configured to receive replaceable ink reservoirs and cartridges of blank wallpaper. The printer also includes pilot guides for guiding the blank wallpaper fed from the cartridges via a media path defined in the cabinet past a pagewidth printhead for printing images onto the blank wallpaper, and a dryer module configured to dry the printed wallpaper. The printer also has a cutter module for cutting the printed wallpaper before the printed wallpaper is fed into a container which stores the wallpaper in a roll.

Abstract: A combined lithographic/flexographic printing process having a plurality of successive printing stations for printing color images on a substrate in a continuous in-line process. One of the stations prints a first color image using the flexographic process and at least one of the successive printing stations prints a second color image over the first color image using an offset lithographic process in the continuous in-line process.