Abstract: A receiving guide is attached to an upper portion of a discharge mechanism section via a bracket. When a photopolymer plate is discharged from a photopolymer plate conveying section, a leading end portion of the photopolymer plate, which is in a state of hanging down slightly, abuts a flat plate portion of the receiving guide. Thereafter, the receiving guide moves in accordance with movement of the leading end portion of the photopolymer plate. Further, the receiving guide moves forward in a conveying direction of the photopolymer plate immediately before conveying of the photopolymer plate is completed, and the photopolymer plate lands on the surface plate.

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 printing plate is held at one point thereof by a holding portion provided at a surface plate. When pushed by a pushing portion, the printing plate is only rotationally displaced. Thus, an angular error is substantially eliminated and displacement of the printing plate is small. Then, the pushing portion positions the printing plate in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the surface plate can be moved. Then, movement of the surface plate positions the printing plate in the direction in which the surface plate can be moved.

Abstract: A control device has a printing plate changing unit for changing a printing plate supported on a plate cylinder, and a unit for switching a folding device status of a folding machine in accordance with a folding device status in the next printing. The control device operates the printing plate changing unit and the means for switching the folding device status of the folding device simultaneously in order to shorten the total operation time.

Abstract: A method and a device are provided for fastening a printing plate to a plate cylinder of a rotary printing machine. The printing plate has first and second ends to be accommodated in a clamping gap in a circumferential surface of the plate cylinder at least approximately parallel to an axis of rotation of the plate cylinder. The first end is inserted into the clamping gap. An edge of the printing plate is bent over in a region of the first end at an edge of the clamping gap. The printing plate is wound onto the circumferential surface until the second end comes to lie over the clamping gap. The second end is pressed into the clamping gap and deforms the printing plate so that the second end blocks the first end in the clamping gap.

Abstract: An apparatus for positional adjustment of a plate cylinder in both lateral and circumferential directions thereof for image registration in a multicolor, offset rotary printing press. A lateral adjustment mechanism includes a spur gear which is motor driven bidirectionally, and which travels laterally back and forth, to cause lateral displacement of the plate cylinder. The gear has a pin erected eccentrically thereon for abutment against a fixed limit stop on the press frame in order to limit the bidirectional rotation of the gear and hence to prevent the plate cylinder from being driven laterally beyond limits. A circumferential adjustment mechanism includes another spur gear which is motor driven bidirectionally, and which also travels laterally back and forth, to cause circumferential displacement of the plate cylinder. This second gear has a double-ended pin extending eccentrically therethrough and having its ends projecting in opposite directions therefrom.

Abstract: An apparatus for feeding printing plate precursors is provided with a detecting sensor for detecting a position of a separation plate mounted on a cassette accommodating printing plate precursors, and a plate surface detecting sensor for detecting an uppermost plate of printing plate precursors stacked in the cassette. A relative position of the separation plate with respect to suction nozzles of a suction frame of the apparatus for feeding plates is controlled constant.

Abstract: Installed in a rotary press which is provided with an upper work floor T and a lower work floor U to accommodate multi-layered printing sections, there are included upper turning bodies B installed at a high level on an upper story W, opposing each other at an interval larger than the width of a press plate P; lower turning bodies C installed at a low level on a lower story X, opposing the upper turning bodies B vertically and opposing each other at the same interval as the upper turning bodies B; endless flexible bodies D looped over the upper and lower turning bodies B and C; a drive unit E for rotating the turning bodies so as to run the endless flexible bodies D all at once; and a press plate holding F unit which has a plurality of press plate holders and which is disposed between the left and right endless flexible bodies D with its left and right sides connected to the rear or front segments of the respective endless flexible bodies D stretched between the upper turning bodies B and the lower turning bo

Abstract: A printing unit of a sheet-fed printing press for printing on sheets includes a plate cylinder having a circumference, on which a recess is formed; a feed reel mounted within the recess for feeding a printing film onto the circumference of the plate cylinder so as to introduce an image forming region for each printing operation; an image forming device for forming an image on the image forming region of the printing film fed on the circumference of the plate cylinder with the first edge of the image forming region positioned at an edge of the recess closer to the rewind reel; a rewind reel mounted within the recess for rewinding the printing film from the circumference of the plate cylinder; and a control unit for controlling the length of the printing film to be fed from the feed reel onto the circumference of the plate cylinder, based upon the length of sheets to be printed for each printing operation.

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: The invention relates to a method, an apparatus, and a loader for moving, for example, for transporting, a printing plate into an exposer for printing plates, and after exposure, out of the exposer and into a processor, for example. The object is to save space in the region of the exposer when moving the printing plate. The method is distinguished in that the movement of the printing plate into the exposer takes place, at least in a path segment of the movement run, at a first level, and that the movement of the printing plate out of the exposer takes place, at least in a path segment of the movement run, at a second level that differs from the first level. The path segments of the movement run at the two different levels are each located on the same side of the exposer.

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.

Abstract: In an external drum imaging system, a plate locating mechanism and method for operation of same are provided for automatically locating printing plates of various sizes in a staging position so as to be mounted on a predetermined position on external drum of the imaging system. The predetermined position in a particular embodiment is substantially center-justified on the external drum to help prevent artifacts in the recorded image.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for picking a single printing plate from a stack of printing plates. The apparatus includes a plurality of suction cups, a peeler, a drive system for displacing the suction cups and the peeler against the surface of the top printing plate on the stack, a vacuum source for supplying a vacuum to the suction cups to secure the suction cups against the surface of the top printing plate, and a system for rotatably displacing the suction cups relative to the peeler to peel a portion of the top printing plate off of the stack. The center line of rotation of the displacing system is located at a contact point between the peeler and the surface of the top printing plate. This prevents any relative motion of the top printing plate against the next, underlying printing plate on the stack during the peeling operation.

Abstract: A plate handling method and apparatus for a printing press that includes printing units, each having a plate cylinder, a main unit motor for driving the plate cylinders, and electromagnetic clutches disposed between the main unit motor and the printing units for transmitting and cutting off a drive force from the main unit motor to the printing units, and is adapted to rotate the plate cylinders upon the drive by the main unit motor and change plates. The electromagnetic clutch of the printing unit is disengaged, when an abnormality in changing of the plate was detected by any of sensors provided in each printing unit for detecting an abnormality in plate changing, to cut off the drive by the main unit motor, but continue plate changing in the other printing units by the drive force from the main unit motor.

Abstract: An image recorder of an external drum type includes a feed/discharge unit located above a drum and having an upper tray and a lower tray. The upper tray is inclined so that an edge thereof on the front side of an image recorder body is downward or at a lower level. For placing a plate on the upper tray, the plate is fed over the lower edge of the tray onto the tray. The upper tray has a movable suction pad for raising the plate. The image recorder of the external drum type can easily feed a large-size image recording material or plate over an upper edge of the inclined tray onto the tray.

Abstract: A device for automatically changing printing plates is provided in a printing machine having a plate cylinder to which a printing plate is to be fed and on which the printing plate is to be fixed detachably. The device includes a transport system for conveying the printing plate while permitting axial compensating movements thereof. The transport system has at least one driven transport roller and an air cushion for holding the conveyed printing plate in contact with the transport roller. The plate-holding air cushion is formed between a counterpressure element, on one side, and the printing plate, on the other side.

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 pressure switch 302 is set in communication with suction cups 124 of a suction adherence conveying device 109 applied to an automatic exposure device. Further, a suction fan 126, which can approach and move away from a photopolymer plate 102 or an interleaf sheet 118 accommodated within a magazine 208, is set integrally with the suction cups 124. By utilizing the fact that degrees of vacuum of the suction cups 124 differ in accordance with materials to be suction-adhered, determination of a material to be suction-adhered is performed based on output signals of the pressure switch 302.

Abstract: During mounting and dismounting of blankets (2) on cylinders (1), rollers (3) are pressed against the cylinder in order to ensure uniform winding and unwinding. It is necessary to apply a uniform positioning pressure for a low control and driving expenditure. According to the invention, such a device for pressing blankets against cylinders is obtained by applying simultaneously several movable rollers (3, 29), independently from each other, by means of a single actuator (4). According to a particular embodiment of the invention, first and second rollers can be actuated for respectively mounting and dismounting the blanket. The assembly can be protected against contamination by moving a protection (47) by means of the same actuator. A stop is used for the correct positioning of the plate at the forward end.

Abstract: The present invention provides an input roller system for displacing a printing plate toward and against a plurality of registration pins located on an external drum of an imaging system. The input roller system deskews the printing plate relative to the registration pins.

Abstract: A cylinder for receiving a printing form, the cylinder being formed with a gap having gap edges, which projects into the interior of the cylinder, the gap extending in a direction of generatrices of the cylinder and serving for guiding ends of a printing form therethrough, includes device for tautening the printing form on a jacket surface of the cylinder, at least one of the gap edges having a curvature for attaining tensioning forces which are constant over at least approximately the entire width of the printing form.

Abstract: A center justified pin registration system uses a plurality of pairs of registration pins having different thickness heads to align an edge of a printing plate when mounting the plate to a drum of an imaging system. The registration pins are optionally adjustable. The registration system avoids the requirement to punch holes or notches in a printing plate and does not require adjusting the thickness of a common registration pin. The registration system allows printing plates having different widths to be mounted without necessitating adjustments of the registration pins. An alternate embodiment employs a plurality of pairs of registration pins having uniform thickness heads.

Abstract: A device for holding a printing plate comprises guide frames having a storing space for storing a discharged printing plate discharged from an upper plate cylinder a guide member an actuator for moving the discharged printing plate discharged from the upper plate cylinder between an operation position for storing the discharged printing plate in the storing space and a shelter position released from the upper plate cylinder and a hook element for holding the discharged printing plate in the storing space, a downstream side of the storing space located at the shelter position along a discharged printing plate storing direction is lower than an upstream side thereof and the downstream side of the storing space located at the operation position along a discharged printing plate storing direction is higher than the upstream thereof in order to pick-up/insert a discharged/new printing plate easily.

Abstract: A storage and loading device for sheet articles, wherein the articles are stored vertically in a rotating carousel. A picking mechanism picks a foremost article and delivers it to a depositing location. A slip-sheet removal mechanism removes protective slip sheets located between the sheet articles. The device may be used in conjunction with a CTP system.

Abstract: A safety apparatus for a rotary press comprises a detector disposed on a side of a plurality of printing units in order to detect entry of a foreign object between the printing units, the detector consisting of light projecting units and light receiving units; a push button provided on the printing unit and pushed after completion of checking performed before initiation of automatic plate-replacing operation of the printing units; and a controller for starting the automatic plate-replacing operation and detecting operation of the detector when a predetermined time elapses after operation of the button.

Abstract: A plurality of flexible printing plates can be secured on a peripheral surface of a cylinder in a rotary printing press. The cylinder has several plate end clamping devices that can be actuated to release only selected ends of the flexible plates. This facilitates the sequential release or securement of the plates in a desired order.

Abstract: When a stencil sheet (M) is wound around an outer peripheral surface of a rotary cylindrical drum (24) in accordance with a rotation thereof, a leading end of the stencil sheet (M) is retained by a clamp plate (51) provided on the rotary cylindrical drum (24), and the stencil sheet (M) is conveyed while being guided by upper and lower guide plates (45, 46) and nipped between the lower guide plate (46) and a supporting member (48) attached to an underside of a swinging member (47). At this stage, predetermined tension is applied to the stencil sheet (M) by an urging force of the swinging member (47) to thereby prevent occurrence of wrinkles on the stencil sheet (M).

Abstract: A printing unit having a tucker bar capable of tucking a tail edge of a printing plate into an axially-extending gap of a plate cylinder and a tucker bar control device for automatically moving the tucker bar from an operating position to a non-operating position so as to permit access to the axially-extending gap. In addition, a method of plating a plate cylinder using such a tucker bar control device to automatically move the tucker bar so as to permit access to the axially-extending gap of the plate cylinder.

Abstract: A roller for a roller frame fitted with rollers and being in a rotary printing machine, the roller comprising a roller shaft and a first rotational body freely rotatably mounted on the roller shaft and forming a roller body rotating during operation, the roller shaft constituting a second rotational body freely rotatably mounted in the roller frame and, when there is a difference between the rotational speeds of the first and the second rotational bodies, a torque can be transmitted from one to the other of the first and the second rotational bodies for exerting a dragging action on the respective one of the first and the second rotational bodies rotating at the lower speed; and a rotary printing machine including the roller.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate substrate is conditioned for imaging in a printer engine by attaching a leader to the leading edge. The leader is sufficiently flexible to be drawn into the printer engine and is adapted to pull the plate substrate through the printer engine.

Abstract: A device for folding over an edge of a dressing or packing drawn on a cylinder of a printing or varnishing machine, including an edge folding element, further includes a linkage for moving the edge folding element towards and away from the cylinder, the linkage being constructed as a self-locking mechanism; and a printing or varnishing machine including the device.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for supporting and feeding printing plates in an imaging system. The apparatus comprises a vacuum system for picking up an edge of a top printing plate from a stack of printing plates, and a peeling system including a pair of rotatable belts, a plurality of plate feed beams attached to, and extending between, the pair of rotatable belts, and a drive system for rotating the pair of rotatable belts to displace the plurality of plate feed beams between the top printing plate and an underlying printing plate in the stack of printing plates, thereby peeling the top printing plate from the stack of printing plates.

Abstract: A device for holding and feeding a printing plate to a plate cylinder of a printing machine includes a holding device and a member having a supporting surface, the printing plate being disposable by one edge thereof on the supporting surface and being holdable in a predefinable alignment by the holding device, a mounting for movably supporting the holding device on the printing machine so that the holding device is movable from a rest position into a feeding position, a guide element having at least one guide surface, the guide element being movably mounted on the holding device and being movable from a rest position into a feeding position, the guide surface, in the feeding position, defining a feeding direction for feeding a printing plate to the plate cylinder, and a lever device via which the guide element is operatively connected to the printing machine, the guide element being movable automatically from the rest position into the feeding position by movement of the holding device.

Abstract: A device for removing an image recording material is provided, which takes up little space and is used with printing plates and interleaf sheets set alternately in a cassette. An interleaf sheet and a printing plate are taken out simultaneously. In the midst of being conveyed along a conveying path leading to an exposure section, only the interleaf sheet is sucked by a fan or drawn-in between a roller pair so as to be peeled off from the printing plate. The peeled-off interleaf sheet is discarded, and the printing plate is conveyed reliably to the exposure section.

Abstract: In order to can obtain parallelism of an image with respect to an image recording medium, there is provided an image-recording apparatus comprising a rotary body on which the recording medium has been wound, the image-recording section, which includes a plurality of light sources arranged in the sub-scanning direction, the image-recording section being capable of contemporaneously forming a plurality of main scanning lines on the recording medium in accordance with one cycle of main scanning, the recording medium having been pre-inclined with respect to the rotary body when being wound thereon, such that the main scanning lines formed on the recording medium are substantially parallel with one edge of the recording medium; and a control section which alters timing for forming the main scanning lines of each main scan on the basis of an angle at which the recording medium is wound with respect to the rotary body.

Abstract: A vacuum system is provided including a vacuum source and plurality of suction cups coupled to the vacuum source, wherein at least one of the suction cups is coupled to the vacuum source using a non-constricted fitting, and wherein at least one of the suction cups is coupled to vacuum source using a fixed orifice fitting. The vacuum system is configured to pick a top printing plate from the stack of printing plates, such that each suction cup coupled to the vacuum source using a non-constricted fitting is configured to always engage the top printing plate.

Abstract: A method for in-register pre-positioning a printing plate in a plate feeding device, wherein the printing plate is pre-positioned by a positioning device of the plate feeding device, and then fed to a plate cylinder and clamped into a leading edge clamping device of the plate cylinder, includes detecting the in-register pre-positioning by sensors and, if appropriate, correcting the pre-positioning, and then transferring the printing plate in-register to the leading edge clamping device of the plate cylinder; and a device for performing the method.

Abstract: A device for transmitting rotary motion to a plate-holding impression cylinder of a plate mounting machine for flexographic printing, comprising a backup roll which can be actuated rotatably by a first motor; a beam, which is provided with crescent-shaped rests for rotatably supporting end pivots of the impression cylinder; a gear coaxial to the impression cylinder and rotatably supported by a head associated with the beam; and a hollow transmission shaft engaging at one end, one of the pivots and, at the other end, the gear; the transmission shaft being movable coaxially to the gear between a retracted disengagement configuration and a protruding engagement configuration in which the impression cylinder is actuatable.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for guiding a print carrier upon feeding the print carrier to and guiding the print carrier away from a form cylinder of a rotary printing machine. Guide elements for the print carrier are disposed axially parallel to the form cylinder. The guide elements are disposed in two groups. One group serves to pull the print carrier into the printing unit, while the other group assists in the removal of the print carrier from the printing unit of the rotary printing machine. The guide elements assisting the feeding-in and exchanging of the print carrier are protected against contact with the print carrier by throw-on elements during exchange of a print carrier. A printing unit in a rotary printing machine having the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A printing method for printing an ink layer on a can barrel. The method includes picking-up a bright ink containing at least one bright pigment having an average particle size of from 5 to 25 &mgr;m selected from the group consisting of aluminum flake and fine particulate coated pearl pigment from an engraving roller, feeding the picked-up ink to a printing plate directly or via a rubber roller, and applying the ink on the printing plate to a can barrel via a blanket wheel.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing slip sheets from printing plates has two concentric cylinders that are mutually rotatable about a common axis. Suction exerted via two elongated slots separates a deformable sheet from a relatively rigid object to which it is adhered. The deformable sheet is drawn into a recess presented by the two aligned slots. The concentric cylinders are then rotated to grip the deformable sheet between opposing edges of the slots.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate substrate is conditioned for imaging in a printer engine by attaching a leader to the leading edge. The leader is sufficiently flexible to be drawn into the printer engine and is adapted to pull the plate substrate through the printer engine.

Abstract: In an automatic printing plate exposure device, when temporarily positioning a printing plate, a position of the printing plate in a temporary direction is determined by the printing plate abutting a pair of positioning pins. When actually positioning the printing plate in an exposure section, a position of the printing plate in an actual direction is determined by the printing plate abutting a pair of positioning pins. An angle of inclination in the temporary direction with respect to a front is set smaller than an angle of inclination in the actual direction. When positioning the printing plate, a position at which the printing plate abuts the pair of positioning pins and a reference pin, and a position at which the printing plate abuts the pair of positioning pins and the reference pin at a time of positioning in the exposure section, substantially coincide.

Abstract: In a printing plate automatic exposing device, a vacuum pump and a pressure sensor are provided in communication with a detection hole provided in a surface plate. When a photopolymer plate is set on the surface plate, a degree of vacuum of the detection hole becomes a predetermined degree of vacuum due to operation of the vacuum pump.

Abstract: A suction transport device capable of reducing manufacturing cost due to reduction of the number of suction mechanisms by which one of photopolymer plates accommodated in a magazine is taken out is attained. Also separability when the printing plate is taken out is improved, thus improving reliability of the suction transport device. Since, among suckers and suction fans, those located at positions corresponding to the widthwise direction ends of the printing plates are movable in the widthwise direction, and separating plates are movable in the same direction. When one of the printing plates of a different size is to be taken out, the leading end corner portions of the printing plate can always be curved at a fixed curvature, and separability is improved. Further, there is no need to increase the number of suckers thus decreasing cost.

Abstract: A plate inserting apparatus in a rotary printing press inserts a plate in a leading edge plate clamp of a plate cylinder. The plate inserting apparatus includes a plate holder and actuators. The plate holder holds the plate. The actuators move the plate holder in directions to come close to and separate from the plate cylinder. The plate holder forms a moving track comprised of at least a first straight portion and a curved portion. The first straight portion extends in a direction to insert the plate held by the plate holder into the plate fixing unit. The curved portion is connected to a counter plate cylinder-side end of the first straight portion to change a traveling direction of the plate holder.

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 printing-plate changer assembly for making-ready and feeding printing plates to a plate cylinder of a printing unit, the assembly including a printing-plate changer located upline of the printing unit, in a position for feeding the printing plates, and being articulatedly connected to the printing unit by at least two four-bar linkages so that it is pivotable upwardly into a swung-away position for servicing work, includes at least one element articulatedly connected with the printing unit and with the printing-plate changer so that it holds the printing-plate changer in both the feeding and the swung-away positions and assists the pivoting movement.

Abstract: A printing press for newspaper production comprises several printing units each having two plate cylinders for concurrently printing on both sides of a web, each plate cylinder having several predefined plate-mounting positions. The control system includes an assignment controller for putting out ASSIGNMENT INFO indicative of how all the printing plates to made for each newspaper issue are assigned to the plate-mounting positions on the plate cylinders. A plate-maker controller provides CONTENTS INFO indicative of at least the page number of each printing plate being made. In response to the ASSIGNMENT INFO and CONTENTS INFO a printer controller produces POSITION INFO indicative of the desired plate-mounting positions on each plate cylinder to which the printing plates are to be mounted, causing a printer to print the POSITION INFO on each printing plate that has been made.