Abstract: A method and device to produce printed items having at least one printed product and a supplement. The device includes a gathering device with a gathering section such that the gathering section includes a continuously circulating conveyor. A printer is also provided to produce the printed products wherein the printed products include a single page or partial block stacks. The device further includes feeders to supply the printed products to the conveyor and at least one supplement feeder arranged between two of the feeders to feed at least one supplement to the circulating conveyor.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for a vertical marking system 100 comprising a means for marking 250 and a means for vertical positioning 200 wherein the means for marking 250 is attached with the means for vertical positioning 200. The vertical marking system 100 may include a means for moving the vertical stack of items 300 through the vertical marking system 100 whereby the vertical stack of items may transition from an entry end 320 of the vertical marking system 100 to an exit end 330 of the vertical marking system 100; a programmable control system 100 for adjusting the distance between multiple means for vertical positioning mechanisms; and a means for centering 400 the vertical stack of items in relationship to the means for marking 250.

Abstract: A loader (1) for a printer for printing flat articles (2), this loader (1) which delimits a storage magazine (9) for the articles in the stacked condition being provided internally with a pivoting member (4) arranged to hold the articles (2) in bearing contact with a drive element (5) for discharging the articles (2) to be printed through an opening (7) provided in a wall of the magazine (1). This loader (1) is characterized in that the pivoting member (4) is provided with a counterweight (6) to form an assembly exerting a substantially constant bearing force on the article or articles (2) to be printed, this forced being self-positioning in the course of emptying the loader by moving along one of the articles to be printed in a direction generally opposite to the direction of expulsion of the articles from the loader.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing on dimensionally stable individual articles has a conveyor for conveying the articles, along which printing stations and other treatment stations are arranged. CDs are fed in a magazine in the form of a stack to a separating station, individually separated, and then each fitted into a respective receiver of the conveyor. The printed articles are removed in a removal station from the respective receivers and fed to a magazine in a collecting station. A conveyor belt conveys the magazines both through the separating stations and also through the collecting station, the conveyor belt conveying the empty magazines from the separating station into the collecting station. At least one stepwise circulating transfer arrangement forms a second conveyor path along which are arranged the separating station, the respective receivers disposed in the receiving station for the printed article, and the collecting station.

Abstract: A device including a receiving device for a stack formed by sheets of stock material that move by gravity along the receiving device toward a marker and which includes positioning elements for positioning a sheet to be marked with respect to the marker, and which also includes an ejector for the marked sheets. The marker is arranged under the receiving device and it is used to mark the underside of each bottom sheet of the stack.

Abstract: A laser imageable tuned optical cavity thin film for use with a laser producing laser radiation at a laser wavelength comprising a flexible sheet of plastic having first and second surfaces serving as a film substrate. A thin film stack is disposed on the first surface of the film substrate and comprises a first vacuum-deposited metal layer carried by the first surface. It is also comprised of a dielectric layer deposited on the first metal layer. A second semi-opaque metal layer is vacuum deposited onto the dielectric layer. The thin film stack is tuned to provide maximum absorption at the laser wavelength.

Abstract: A printing machine for printing objects liable to be stacked includes a circular printing table having a plurality of object stations regularly distributed at its perimeter each adapted to receive an object to be printed. By stepwise rotation about an axis, it moves the object stations successively to a loading station, to a plurality of workstations each including a printing system, and to an offloading station. A loading system at the loading station includes a presentation device which moves at least one stack of objects to the loading station and a transfer device operative between the presentation device and the printing table and equipped with at least one pick-up unit adapted to pick up an object from the stack on the presentation device and then to put this object down on one of the object stations of the printing table.

Abstract: The method and apparatus for printing the side edges of sheet stacks, such as books, catalogs, and the like, wherein after the stack side edge has been trimmed and cut the stack sheets are maintained in relationship under slight compression within a belt conveyor using upper and lower belts. As the retained stack is translated through the printer a sensor senses the location of the stack leading edge initiating a timing circuit which controls a rotary printing head engageable with the stack side edge to print indicia upon the side edge at the desired location. The movement of the stack rotates the printing head and a dense high quality image is produced. In an embodiment of the invention, a plurality of printing heads are mounted upon the conveyor apparatus to print the stack edge, sequentially, with a plurality of colored ink.