Print Plate Feeding Or Delivering Patents (Class 101/477)
  • Patent number: 6067901
    Abstract: A device for collecting waste or used masters and applicable to a stencil printer or similar printer is disclosed. The device includes a waste master box accommodating a compression plate therein. The compression plate is rotatable at least more than 90 degrees about a shaft on which it is mounted. Every time a waste master peeled off a print drum is introduced into the box, the compression plate rotates over the above angular range in order to compress the waste master. The box prevents consecutive waste masters sequentially compressed by the compression plate from being localized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takayuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6055908
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for positioning a flexible printing plate in a desired position on a flexible carrier arranged on a table, the method comprising the steps of placing the printing plate at a first easily accessible position on the table and subsequently moving the printing plate from the first position to the desired position on the flexible carrier in accordance with a predetermined direction and distance; and wherein the device comprises a flat table, means for positioning the flexible carrier, means for determining the location of the carrier in a first easily accessible position, and transporting means for transferring the printing plate from the first position to the predetermined position on the flexible carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: AV Flexologic B.V.
    Inventor: Hans Van Der Horst
  • Patent number: 6053105
    Abstract: A method and device for automatically feeding a printing plate to a plate cylinder of a printing press, includes a draw-in shaft for inserting a printing plate, a leading-edge clamping device on the plate cylinder, the draw-in shaft being positionable on the plate cylinder so that a printing plate therein is insertable by a leading edge thereof into the leading-edge clamping device due to a backward rotation of the plate cylinder, and a control for stopping the backward rotation of the plate cylinder after the leading edge of the printing plate has been inserted into the leading-edge clamping device, for closing the leading-edge clamping device, and for then initiating a forward rotation of the plate cylinder so as to wind the printing plate on the plate cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Stephan Rudzewitz
  • Patent number: 6038972
    Abstract: A robotic apparatus for a printing press transports components between the press and a staging or make-ready area so that components can be prepared for a new press run off-line from the press. The robotic apparatus includes a pair of lifting assemblies which are movable horizontally between the press and a support frame in the make-ready area. Each of the lifting assemblies includes a vertically movable lift mechanism, and each lift mechanism includes a plurality of lifting cups for engaging the ends of the components of the press which are to moved. The lifting cups can be operated independently, so that desired components can be moved from any printing deck to any position on the support frame. The press components which can be moved include a plate cylinder and a carriage assembly. The carriage assembly includes a frame, an anilox roll assembly mounted in the frame, and an ink container mounted on the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Paper Converting Machine Company
    Inventors: Christopher Delwiche, Joseph Bero, Gregory Ginnow
  • Patent number: 6032581
    Abstract: The present invention generally describes register control equipment for the cylinder of a printing machine. It specifically pertains to the printing plate of sheet-fed offset printing machine that has fitted register pins. The register pins are electrically insulated with respect to the cylinder and emit a signal when a printing plate is resting in register on one or more of the pins. The signal is communicated to a stationary evaluation unit by an electrical contact adapted to contact the printing plate. The evaluation unit uses the communicated signal to determine whether or not insertion was properly performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Beutler, Christopher Muth, Michael Rother, Helmut Schild, Peter Biernot, Franz Reiner
  • Patent number: 6026747
    Abstract: Multiple winding mechanisms are disposed within a single cylinder, such as the plate cylinder of a printing press, and are actuable so as to pay out material across different cylinder segments. For example, the winding mechanisms may be differentially geared to cylinder rotation, such that rotation of the cylinder in a first direction advances material from a first winding mechanism across a first circumferential portion of the cylinder to a second winding mechanism; while rotation of the cylinder in the opposite direction advances material from the second winding mechanism across a second circumferential portion of the cylinder (which may, for example, be diametrically opposed to the first cylinder portion) to the first winding mechanism. Alternatively, material advancement may be achieved by means of a dedicated motor rather than mechanical coupling to cylinder rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Presstek, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Carme, Richard A. Williams, Douglas D. Fuller
  • Patent number: 6026745
    Abstract: A tail edge side part 50b of a plate 50 disposed on a cylinder surface of a plate cylinder 1 is pushed in a direction of an arrow 100 with a blade 39 rotated in a direction of an arrow 91. At that time, a tail edge side lower plate 6 maintains an initial position. And the tail edge side part 50b is clamped by closing a tail edge side upper plate 7 with a condition that the tail edge side part 50b is in contact with the tail edge side lower plate 6 by the rotation of the blade 39.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: Ryobi Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsushi Hirokawa, Shigeo Fujiwara, Masao Nitta, Mikio Yamaoka
  • Patent number: 6024019
    Abstract: Lithographic printing constructions are removable from a permanent support, which may be a metal sheet affixable (usually by clamps) to a plate cylinder, or may instead be the permanent surface of such a cylinder. In this way, the traditional "plate" is replaced with a thin, easily manufactured printing member, which is separated from the support following its use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Assignee: Presstek, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Williams, Ernest W. Ellis, Thomas E. Lewis, Robert Howard
  • Patent number: 6006662
    Abstract: An automatic control apparatus in a printing press includes plate replacing units, an ink presetting portion, and a test printing control unit and a CPU. Each plate replacing unit mounts a printing plate on a circumferential surface of a plate cylinder. The ink presetting portion forms, in a roller group of an ink supply unit, an ink film thickness distribution corresponding to an image of the printing plate which is to be mounted on the plate cylinder. The test printing control unit and the CPU control the plate replacing units and the ink presetting portion to automatically perform, as a series of work steps, at least a mounting operation of mounting the printing plate on the plate cylinder and a forming operation of forming the ink film thickness distribution corresponding to the image of the printing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Komori Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Ishida, Masaru Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6000337
    Abstract: The primary function of the optional handler is to make plates available on demand to the imaging engine. A multitude of plates are stored inside cassettes and these cassettes are loaded into the handler. There may be up to four cassettes residing in the handler. Inside a cassette there may be a protective interleaf sheet, sometimes called a slip sheet, between each plate which is removed by the handler and discarded. The handler receives commands from the engine control sequencer which provides instructions as to what cassette needs to be accessed to make a plate available to the picker mechanism so the plate may be conveyed to the imaging engine. Conversely the handler provides status information to the engine to make full interaction with the system possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Agfa Corporation
    Inventors: Laurence S. Blake, Philip A. Rombult, Libor Krupica, David B. Larsen, James C. Folsom, Ross A. Freeman, Roger A. Jacques, Robert S. Ring, Gerald L. Smith
  • Patent number: 5996490
    Abstract: A positioning device for a printing press, having at least one guard adjustable within an adjustment range relative to an instantaneous pole axis in a first adjusting direction counter to gravity and in an opposed second adjusting direction, and having an energy storage for setting a variable support moment in opposition to a moment of weight resulting from the gravity and engaging with the guard, includes a control cam having a predetermined contour, a cam follower contacting the control cam for controlling the support moment by motion of the cam follower relative to the control cam, the contour of the control cam being such that the guard is in equilibrium at every location within the adjustment range under the influence of the support moment and a manual force of predetermined magnitude and direction which is associated with the respective location, the manual force, upon being adjusted in the first adjusting direction, counteracting the moment of weight in an initial section of the adjustment range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Inventors: Martin Baureis, Michael Rehberg, Norbert Thunker, Lothar Stadler, Volker Weindel
  • Patent number: 5992324
    Abstract: The primary function of the optional handler is to make plates available on demand to the imaging engine. A multitude of plates are stored inside cassettes and these cassettes are loaded into the handler. There may be up to four cassettes residing in the handler. Inside a cassette there may be a protective interleaf sheet, sometimes called a slip sheet, between each plate which is removed by the handler and discarded. The handler receives commands from the engine control sequencer which provides instructions as to what cassette needs to be accessed to make a plate available to the picker mechanism so the plate may be conveyed to the imaging engine. Conversely the handler provides status information to the engine to make full interaction with the system possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Agfa Corporation
    Inventors: Philip A. Rombult, Libor Krupica, David B. Larsen, Pedro Beildeck
  • Patent number: 5992325
    Abstract: A method for automatically detecting at least one printing plate edge in at least one clamping device of a plate cylinder of a printing press includes detecting at least one of a position of a printing plate edge and a respective presence and absence of a printing plate edge in the at least one clamping device by at least one sensor, the printing plate edge being detected being the printing plate trailing edge, and the clamping device by which it is detected being the trailing edge clamping device, and a device for performing the detecting method, including at least one sensor disposed in a trailing edge clamping device of the plate cylinder for detecting at least one of a position of the printing plate trailing edge and a respective presence and absence of the printing plate trailing edge in the trailing edge clamping device, and at least one transmitter for transmitting the signals from the plate cylinder to stationary parts of the printing press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Schumann, Stephan Rudzewitz
  • Patent number: 5983793
    Abstract: A drive for a sheet-fed printing machine, in particular a sheet-fed offset printing machine is described, in which the individual cylinders and/or drums and the plate or form cylinders are driven by a common drive train. In order to allow automated operations to proceed simultaneously, clutches are arranged in the drive trains of the individual plate or form cylinders and, furthermore, the individual plate or form cylinders are assigned drive motors which can be controlled separately and by means of which the plate or form cylinders can be driven in the intended manner after corresponding disengagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Albrecht Volz, Joachim Blumor, Klaus-Peter Reichardt, Holger Wiese, Helmut Schild
  • Patent number: 5970869
    Abstract: In a stencil printer, a first conveyor portion conveys a stencil master toward a printing drum and includes a rotatable platen roller which rotates to convey the stencil master pinched between the platen roller and a thermal head and associates with the thermal head to thermally make a perforating image on the stencil master. A second conveyor portion which is disposed between the first conveyor portion and the printing drum and conveys the stencil master toward the printing drum. When making the perforating image on the stencil master, the first conveyor portion operates at a first speed with the second conveyor portion stopped or operated at a low speed after the leading end of the stencil master is delivered to the second conveyor portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Hara, Hisashi Sanagi
  • Patent number: 5964148
    Abstract: In a stencil sheet discharge device having a pair of stencil sheet discharge rollers for transferring a stencil sheet removed from the outer circumferential surface of a printing drum of a rotary stencil printer toward a stencil sheet disposal spot, it is prevented that the trailing end of the stencil printer mounted around the printing drum is contaminated with ink by a contact with the stencil sheet discharge rollers, by a cover member being provided between at least one of the pair of stencil sheet discharge rollers and the printing drum. The cover member may be movable between an operating position interposed between the at least one of the pair of stencil sheet discharge rollers and the printing drum and a non-operating position for exposing the pair of stencil sheet discharge rollers to the printing drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventor: Shigenori Ishii
  • Patent number: 5947028
    Abstract: The holding of metal printing plates on a rotating drum using vacuum is greatly improved by bending at least one edge of the plate with a curvature approximately matching the drum curvature. Plate can be bent back to flat shape after unloading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Creo Products Inc.
    Inventors: Darcy T. Montgomery, David P. Pires
  • Patent number: 5927192
    Abstract: This invention is intended to prevent loosening of a stencil which is wound round a core 16B in the shape of a roll 16. The stencil roll 16 has at least one side surface 16t thereof applied with a paste 16a1. This is effective in preventing the stencil from becoming loose by an inertia force of the stencil roll 16 when it is unstable during its rotation. Thus, the stencil can be paid out from the stencil roll without becoming slack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mituru Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5921183
    Abstract: An apparatus and method which allows a printing plate to be mounted onto a plate cylinder in a quick and efficient manner. The apparatus includes a lock-up mechanism which is removable from the plate cylinder, and which is preferably slidably received in an axial slot in the plate cylinder. The axial slot may include a mechanism for retaining the lock-up mechanism once it is inserted in the axial slot, and for tensioning the plate on the plate cylinder. The method of the invention includes a first step of removing the lock-up mechanism from the plate cylinder and unlocking the lock-up mechanism. A flat plate has both its ends bent approximately 90.degree., and then the plate is bent into a cylindrical shape. The bent ends of the plate, which after the cylindrical bending are approximately parallel to one another, are then inserted into the lock-up mechanism. The lock-up mechanism is thereafter locked, clamping the ends of the plate into the previously-bent cylindrical shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignees: Heidelberger Druckmaschienen AG, Heidelberg Harris, Inc.
    Inventor: Jackson Hacker Jones
  • Patent number: 5887523
    Abstract: An apparatus for mounting flexible printing plates on a printing cylinder includes a base rotatably supporting a printing cylinder in a predetermined position and support having a turntable for supporting a flexible printing plate having a reference point thereon and a front plate support mounted adjacent the front of the turntable. Means for selectively moving front plate support and an associated pressure roll toward and away from the turntable to facilitate the application of the flexible printing plate onto the printing cylinder in a predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Leader Engineering-Fabrication, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles B. Leader, Jr., Chad E. Cox, Gary L. Hammitt
  • Patent number: 5868072
    Abstract: Shafts 7, a plate 6 and a guide plate 5 are moved so as to follow movement of both a stay 4 and a pushing member 3 by pushing force of coil springs 12 when the stay 4 and the pushing member 3 are moved toward a direction of an arrow 91 in accordance with rotation of pinion gears 15. The movement of both the plate 6 and the guide plate 5 is suspended when the shaft grips 7b are contacted to arms 13. Thereafter, only the stay 4 and the pushing part 3 are moved toward a direction of the arrow 91. So that, a tail edge side part 10b of the plate 10 is guided between the tail edge side clamp 23 and the tail side clamping base 24 along with the guide plate 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Ryobi Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidekazu Nishi
  • Patent number: 5865118
    Abstract: A novel method and apparatus for the imaging of a continuous web on an internal drum type imaging device is disclosed. The method and apparatus may further be included in a process to produce punched, imaged sheets. A web is punched with registration holes and imaged in an internal drum-type imager prior to cutting the web into individual imaged plates particularly for use as printing plates. The web with an imageable surface is serially punched, imaged and sheeted with the punched holes being utilized to assure registration and alignment in the imaging operation and in the subsequent use of the plates on a printing press. The imaging station has an arcuate concave imaging platen. The web is advanced under tension and then stopped while a roller on an arm forces the web down into contact with the platen. Vacuum is then used to hold the web on the imaging platen while the web is imaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Howard A. Fromson
    Inventors: Howard A. Fromson, William J. Rozell, Paul C. Schunk
  • Patent number: 5816153
    Abstract: An arrangement for controlling a pressure medium of an actuator cylinder on a printing press, wherein the actuator cylinder is provided for moving a protective cover into respective opened and closed positions, includes a control circuit for setting different working-pressure ranges for the actuator cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Mathias Zuber
  • Patent number: 5816149
    Abstract: A master making device for a stencil printer and a device included in the master making device for automatically peeling the leading edge of a stencil from a stencil roll are disclosed. Even when the leading edge of the stencil has a noticeable curl, it can be surely peeled off from the roll and paid out automatically. A peeler has its peeling end prevented from being curled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Assignee: Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Kagawa, Terunobu Ohnuma, Kazuhisa Takahashi, Yoshiharu Kanno, Takayuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5806427
    Abstract: A rotary offset printing press having a pair of carriage mounted interchangeable plate cylinders is disclosed. The carriage is slidably mounted to the press and reciprocates along a generally linear path. The pair of plate cylinders are rotatably mounted to the carriage, and each of the plate cylinders is selectively moveable into an operative position in contact with the blanket cylinder. Accordingly, while the press is operating using one of the plate cylinders, the other plate cylinder is idle, which permits the impression sleeve thereon to be removed and replaced without stopping the press. The plate cylinders, when in their respective operative positions, contact the blanket cylinder at the same point of tangency, thus simplifying registration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Goss Graphic Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thaddeus A. Niemiro, Thomas W. Orzechowski
  • Patent number: 5809360
    Abstract: The primary function of the optional handler is to make plates available on demand to the imaging engine. A multitude of plates are stored inside cassettes and these cassettes are loaded into the handler. There may be up to four cassettes residing in the handler. Inside a cassette there may be a protective interleaf sheet, sometimes called a slip sheet, between each plate which is removed by the handler and discarded. The handler receives commands from the engine control sequencer which provides instructions as to what cassette needs to be accessed to make a plate available to the picker mechanism so the plate may be conveyed to the imaging engine. Conversely the handler provides status information to the engine to make full interaction with the system possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Agfa Division - Bayer Corporation
    Inventors: Laurence S. Blake, David L. Cooper, Pedro Beildeck, James C. Folsom, Ross A. Freeman, Roger A. Jacques, Robert S. Ring, Gerald L. Smith
  • Patent number: 5806431
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for axially positioning a flexible plate on a surface of a cylinder, that is divided into several axially spaced segments, utilizes a plate transport arrangement to transfer plates from a plate preparation device to the plate cylinder. The plate is axially shiftable during transport and arrives at the plate cylinder in proper axial position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer-Albert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Bernhard Walter Wolfgang Muth
  • Patent number: 5791250
    Abstract: The primary function of the optional handler is to make plates available on demand to the imaging engine. A multitude of plates are stored inside cassettes and these cassettes are loaded into the handler. There may be up to four cassettes residing in the handler. Inside a cassette there may be a protective interleaf sheet, sometimes called a slip sheet, between each plate which is removed by the handler and discarded. The handler receives commands from the engine control sequencer which provides instructions as to what cassette needs to be accessed to make a plate available to the picker mechanism so the plate may be conveyed to the imaging engine. Conversely the handler provides status information to the engine to make full interaction with the system possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Agfa Division, Bayer Corporation
    Inventors: Laurence S. Blake, Philip A. Rombult, Libor Krupica, David B. Larsen, James C. Folsom, Ross A. Freeman, Roger A. Jacques, Robert S. Ring, Gerald L. Smith
  • Patent number: 5782179
    Abstract: In a stencil printer, a master making device has a body and a roll holding section. To load the roll holding section with a new stencil roll, the operator should only pull out the roll holding section from the body of the device. The operator sets the new roll in the roll holding section and pushes the holding section into the device body as far as a preselected operative position. Then, rotary drive apparatus rotates the roll in a direction for paying out the leading edge of a stencil. At the same time, peeling apparatus adjoins or contacts the periphery of the roll in accordance with the varying diameter of the roll and automatically peels off the leading edge of the stencil from the roll. The leading edge is paid out toward master making apparatus. The stencil can therefore be surely paid out and brought to a stand-by position. This facilitates the loading of the stencil and allows it to be fully automatically paid out from the roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Kagawa, Mituru Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5758579
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for replacing printing plates in rotary printing presses, particularly in web-fed rotary printing presses for printing both sides of a material web. The printing presses have at least one printing unit which has a cylinder having a clamping device within a cylinder gap for clamping the ends of a printing plate wound around the surface of the cylinder. The plate cylinder has a removal device for removing the printing plates released by the plate cylinder, as well as an infeed device for new printing plates to be fastened on the plate cylinder. The invention includes a plate cylinder of a lower printing unit with associated pivotable plates to be fed, as well as pivotable holding devices for the printing plates to be removed from the plate cylinder. The feed and the holding devices support the printing plates in a hanging position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Heidelberger DruckmaschinenAG
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Marmin, Jacky Planas
  • Patent number: 5758578
    Abstract: Device for exchanging printing forms on a form cylinder in a printing unit of a rotary printing press, a holding device being provided in the printing unit for both holding therein at least one printing form which is to be installed, as well as at least one printing form which is being removed, includes profile members for guiding the printing forms substantially by lateral regions thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignees: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, Heidelberg Harris S.A.
    Inventor: Jacques Metrope
  • Patent number: 5738015
    Abstract: Device for guiding a print carrier while the print carrier is respectively fed to and removed from a plate cylinder of a printing press includes a pair of guide elements arranged in parallel with the axis of the plate cylinder, and a setting mechanism for positioning the guide elements, the guide elements being formed, respectively, of at least one segment, one of the guide elements, during feeding of a print carrier to the plate cylinder, and another of the guide elements, during removal of the print carrier, being in engagement with the respective print carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Hans-Jurgen Kusch, Rudi Stellberger, Bernd Ruf
  • Patent number: 5738014
    Abstract: The primary function of the optional handler is to make plates available on demand to the imaging engine. A multitude of plates are stored inside cassettes and these cassettes are loaded into the handler. There may be up to four cassettes residing in the handier. Inside a cassette there may be a protective interleaf sheet, sometimes called a slip sheet, between each plate which is removed by the handler and discarded. The handler receives commands from the engine control sequencer which provides instructions as to what cassette needs to be accessed to make a plate available to the picker mechanism so the plate may be conveyed to the imaging engine. Conversely the handier provides status information to the engine to make full interaction with the system possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Agfa Division, Bayer Corporation
    Inventors: Philip A. Rombult, Libor Krupica, David B. Larsen, Pedro Beildeck
  • Patent number: 5727471
    Abstract: There is provided a plate carrier mechanism A having an endless plate belt 3 hung on between a pair of pulleys 2p and 2q spaced from each other, and a blanket carrier mechanism B having an endless blanket belt 5 hung on between a pair of pulleys 4p and 4q spaced from each other, the blanket carrier mechanism B is adapted to be displaceable to a pressure-contacting position Pp or a separating position Pr to the place carrier mechanism A, also, a speed of an outer surface of the plate belt 3 is made greater than that of the blanket belt 5, and the plate carrier mechanism A is of a driving side and the blanket carrier mechanism B is of a driven side, and the plate carrier mechanism A and the blanket carrier mechanism B are connected to each other through a rotation transmitting gear mechanism 6 having a predetermined play which can absorb a difference of the speed of the outer surface of the plate belt 3 and the speed of the outer surface of the blanket belt 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignees: Nagano Japan Radio Co., Ltd., Gradco (Japan) Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoaki Iwafune, Koichi Kamoi
  • Patent number: 5718175
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for mounting a printing plate on a printing unit cylinder's surface, the printing unit cylinder having an open passage in a retaining area of the printing unit cylinder. Within the open passage a lock-up bar is slidably mounted. The lock-up bar includes an element for retaining at least one edge of the printing plate. A tucking device assigned to the printing unit cylinder has a tucker bar substantially covering the retaining area of the printing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignees: Heidelberger Harris Inc., Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Glenn Alan Guaraldi, Warren Hess Jarrard
  • Patent number: 5717958
    Abstract: An automatic photographic processor apparatus automatically produce a set of photographic prints, e.g. identification photos or self-portraits, in a short period of time when a human object or client takes an image of himself or herself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Oka, Yoshiyuki Minakata, Norikazu Kitamura, Toshitsugu Tanaka, Ken Nishimura, Hideya Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 5715749
    Abstract: A transfer cart (10) facilitates exchange of printing cassettes in a printing press (14), the printing cassettes have respective images to be printed. A first shelf (70) of the transfer cart (10) receives a replacement printing cassette (12b) from a cassette storage facility (16). The transfer cart (10) has a base (60) with wheels (62) such that the transfer cart can be moved from the storage facility (16) to a location adjacent to the printing press (14). A second shelf (74) of the transfer cart (10) receives a replaceable printing cassette (12a) from the printing press (14) while the replacement cassette (12b) is retained on the first shelf (70).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Stevens International
    Inventor: John Jarrett Miller
  • Patent number: 5709151
    Abstract: A device for mounting, removing and transporting an easily bendable device, such as a printing plate, to and from a plate cylinder includes a printing plate preparation device which supports the plate, and a cross arm with a plate gripper and pressing assembly. A gripper portion of the plate gripper and pressing assembly acts on the plate and is movable toward and away from a suspension strip of a cylinder. The plate gripper and pressing assembly can be moved to a parked position where it is out of the way and is shielded from contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer-Albert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Reinhold Rudolf Durr, Bernhard Walter Wolfgang Muth
  • Patent number: 5709150
    Abstract: A device for mounting, removing and transporting an easily bendable device, such as a printing plate, to and from a plate cylinder includes a printing plate preparation device which supports the plate, and a cross arm with a plate gripper and pressing assembly. A gripper portion of the plate gripper and pressing assembly acts on the plate and is movable toward and away from a suspension strip of a cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer-Albert Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Reinhold Rudolf Durr, Bernhard Walter Wolfgang Muth
  • Patent number: 5706732
    Abstract: A device for unloading metallized belts comprises a pair of parallel arms rotatably mounted respectively between each of two lateral side walls of the last station of the machine. The arms are connected to one another by crossbeams, which may accept support levers for small-diameter bobbins. Each arm has a base plate for supporting the ends of the axles for the large-diameter bobbins. The device includes an arrangement for rotating the sub-frame formed by the arms from the operating position to an extended position, which has a portion of the arms extending out of the downstream end of the machine to enable exchanging bobbins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Bobst SA
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Rebeaud
  • Patent number: 5704292
    Abstract: An arrangement for transporting metallized belts or bands in a machine for transferring the metallized images from the belts or bands onto a sheet comprises a support for the belt supply bobbins, advance rollers for intermittent unrolling and advancing the belts, guide rollers for guiding the belts between the platens and then a discharge state around one of the platens of the press, a tension roller for placing the belts under tension and an arrangement for removing the worn belts from the machine. The advance rollers are arranged in a parallel group downstream from the platen press and slightly above a plane of transport for the sheets through the press. The machine includes at least one window provided in at least one of the lateral walls of the frame of the machine above this group of advance rollers so that an operator may easily obtain access to the rollers for replacement of the bands and/or adjusting the position of the bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Bobst SA
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Rebeaud
  • Patent number: 5701822
    Abstract: Device for changing printing forms on cylinders of printing presses, including a swivelable printing-form loading unit having respective compartments for feeding and for removing printing forms, the loading unit being swivelable into an operating position at a gap formed in a printing-form cylinder equipped with clamping devices, and into a loading position wherein the loading unit is retracted from the operating position thereof, further includes a holding element having an insertion region for a printing form to be removed from the printing-form cylinder, and devices for transporting a printing form to be fed onto the printing-form cylinder, the printing-form loading unit being swivelable into a vertical loading position thereof at the holding element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignees: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG, Heidelberg Harris SA
    Inventor: Jacques Metrope
  • Patent number: 5699740
    Abstract: Metal printing plates can be loaded onto a drum and held in place by vacuum alone if flat plates are given a permanent curl by a set of four rollers. Same rollers cancel out the curl when plate is unloaded from drum. The invention is useful for Computer-to-Plate and Computer-to-Press systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Creo Products Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Gelbart
  • Patent number: 5678487
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for mounting a printing plate on a printing unit cylinder, with the printing unit cylinder having an opening in a clamping area. A lock-up bar is slidably mounted in the opening of the printing unit cylinder, the lock-up bar having an element for retaining at least one edge of a printing plate. A tucking device substantially extends on the clamping area, the tucking device being provided with a protection element and with a plurality of tucking elements arranged over the clamping area and over the width of the printing unit cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignees: Heidelberg Harris Inc., Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Glenn Alan Guaraldi, Warren Hess Jarrard, Edward E. Urquhart
  • Patent number: 5673619
    Abstract: Firming folds for increasing the firmness of the stencil itself are generated at a leading end of the stencil to be mounted to a cylindrical printing drum of a rotary stencil printer or a trailing end of the stencil mounted to the printing or both. To do so, a pair of rollers one of which has projections to form the folds at the stencil are provided to feed the stencil therebetween toward a stencil leading end mounting means of the printing drum positioned at a standby position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Ohinata, Nagon Takita
  • Patent number: 5666881
    Abstract: Machine for mounting flexible printing plates on plate-holder cylinders and for printing proofs with the cylinders thus prepared, the machine being frontally provided with a counterpressure drum and with a beam which are horizontally parallel and move with respect to each other between a mounting position and a printing position. The counterpressure drum can rotate and is covered with a sheet of paper having registration markings. The beam is provided with supports that rotatably support a plate-holder cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Bieffebi S.p.A.
    Inventor: Alberto Zanoli
  • Patent number: 5657692
    Abstract: A system for accepting and winding lithographic plate material around a cylinder adapted for rotation about a longitudinal axis includes supply and uptake spools and an alignment tool for use therewith. The cylinder is hollow, having an interior and an axial opening thereto, and includes means within its interior for selectably engaging supply and uptake spools. The engagement means are in fixed alignment with one another and are disposed within the cylinder so as to define an unobstructed winding path extending around the cylinder from the supply spool to the uptake spool. Plate material stored on the supply spool is extended around this path and affixed to the uptake spool. The tool includes means for releasably gripping supply and uptake spools, and alignment components for aligning the gripping means to at least one engagement means within the cylinder when the tool is introduced therein. The tool is removed from the cylinder following release of the spools to the engagement means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Presstek, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin G. Theriault, James R. Moss, John P. Gardiner, Douglas D. Fuller
  • Patent number: 5655452
    Abstract: The primary function of the optional handler is to make plates available on demand to the imaging engine. A multitude of plates are stored inside cassettes and these cassettes are loaded into the handler. There may be up to four cassettes residing in the handler. Inside a cassette there may be a protective interleaf sheet, sometimes called a slip sheet, between each plate which is removed by the handler and discarded. The handler receives commands from the engine control sequencer which provides instructions as to what cassette needs to be accessed to make a plate available to the picker mechanism so the plate may be conveyed to the imaging engine. Conversely the handler provides status information to the engine to make full interaction with the system possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: AGFA Division, Bayer Corp.
    Inventors: Laurence S. Blake, Philip A. Rombult, Libor Krupica, David B. Larsen, James C. Folsom, Ross A. Freeman, Roger A. Jacques, Robert S. Ring, Gerald L. Smith
  • Patent number: RE35646
    Abstract: A printing unit (10) includes a blanket cylinder (20), a bearing assembly (56) and a door assembly (72). The blanket cylinder (20) carries a tubular printing blanket (36). The bearing assembly (56) includes a bearing housing (58) fixed to the stub shaft (50) on the end of the blanket cylinder (20). The door assembly (72) includes a door (82) which is supported for pivotal movement on a frame wall (22) of the printing unit (10). The door (82) has a closed position in which it extends across an opening (76) in the frame wall (22), and an open position in which it does not extend across the opening (76) in the frame wall (22). A clamping assembly clamps the bearing housing (58) on the door (82) when the blanket cylinder (20) rotates during a printing operation. The clamping assembly includes a first clamp (100) which fixed to the door (82) and a second clamp (102) which is supported on the door (82) for movement relative to the first clamp (100).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Heidelberg Harris Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn Alan Guaraldi, James B. Vrotacoe, James Warren Geary
  • Patent number: RE36275
    Abstract: A plate cylinder for rotary printing presses, in which the printing plate inside the machine is manufactured digitally, e.g. by spark erosion, and in which the covering with printing foil and the changing of individual segments of the foil following printing is done simply, automatically and with maximum precision inside the machine, with the use of a replaceable cartridge for the printing foil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Hans-Jurgen Kusch, Walter d'Heureuse, Uwe Kleinschmidt