Print Plate Feeding Or Delivering Patents (Class 101/477)
  • Patent number: 6334387
    Abstract: To provide a stencil printer equipped with a carriage capable of stably and definitely conducting a leading end of a stencil sheet from a position at an outlet of a stencil sheet perforation device to a stencil sheet leading end mounting device of a printing drum and also capable of braking the stencil sheet so that the stencil sheet is wound around the printing drum according to its rotation under any optimum controlled expansion applied thereto, the carriage is provided with a stencil sheet leading end clamping device and a pair of stencil sheet leading end feeding rollers, separately, the stencil sheet leading end clamping device clamping the leading end of the stencil sheet when the carriage moves from the position at the outlet of the stencil sheet perforation device to the stencil sheet leading end mounting device of the printing drum, while the stencil sheet leading end feeding roller pair feeding out the stencil sheet leading end toward the stencil sheet leading end mounting device of the printing dru
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Riso Kagako Corporation
    Inventor: Katsuro Motoe
  • Patent number: 6334393
    Abstract: A plate inserting apparatus in a rotary printing press for inserting a plate into a plate fixing unit of a plate cylinder includes a plate holder, a cover, and a first reference pin. The plate holder moves between a first position where the plate holder holds the plate and a second position where the held plate is inserted into the plate fixing unit of the plate cylinder. The cover selectively opens and closes a plate insertion side of the plate cylinder. The first reference pin is fixed to the cover to position the plate before held by the plate holder when the plate holder is located at the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Komori Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Asai, Hirotaka Iida
  • Patent number: 6334392
    Abstract: A recording drum has a clamp groove extending in its circumferential direction formed on its outer peripheral surface. A plurality of front end clamps are attached to the outer peripheral surface of the recording drum. Rear end clamps are attached so as to be movable and so as to be fixable along the clamp groove on the outer peripheral surface of the recording drum. A recording head is disposed ahead of the recording drum, and a clamp driving device is disposed behind the recording drum. The clamp driving device comprises a first driving device for fixing the front end clamps and fixing and releasing the rear end clamps and a second driving device for releasing the front end clamps. The front end clamps and the rear end clamps reliably fix a front end and a rear end of a plate to the outer peripheral surface of the recording drum by a reaction force produced by a spring and a centrifugal force produced by the rotation of the recording drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Kawada, Shiro Kitawaki, Tadaaki Tani, Arifumi Omoto, Kazuma Kan
  • Publication number: 20010050007
    Abstract: On each of plural printing drums (25, 26) in a stencil printing machine (1), a stencil sheet (11) made corresponding to printing data is rolled. The machine (1) for a stencil printing process, in which a printing paper is pressed on each printing drum and the used stencil sheet is disposed, has a mode designation section (101) and a controller (102). The section (101) designates whether or not a stencil printing process is performed for plural printing information including common printing data. The control section (102) controls the stencil making process, the stencil disposing process, and the stencil printing process for the printing information. When the printing information includes common printing data, the controller (102) controls the printing drum on which the stencil sheet for the common printing data is rolled so that the stencil making and disposal processes are not performed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Publication date: December 13, 2001
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Hara, Takeshi Koishi
  • Patent number: 6325322
    Abstract: A plate material tensioning and advancement mechanism is disposed in parallel relation to a cylinder, such as a plate cylinder of a printing press, so as to separate the plate material into distinct printable sections. The plate material tensioning and advancement mechanism assists in supplying tension to the plate material via a tensioning roll during printing operation and assists in winding fresh plate material about the cylinder during advancement operation by reducing the tension on the plate material and by optionally applying tangential force to the plate material via a winding roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Presstek, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20010045171
    Abstract: A printing plate changing device reliably discharges a printing plate from a plate cylinder comprising a lower second printing plate guiding device, and printing plate discharging means having a pick-up member, a supporting member, a bracket, and an actuator. The printing plate changing device further includes a receiving board restricted to move the discharged printing plate toward the downstream side with respect to the discharged storing direction and moved in accordance with the movement of the discharged printing plate with the pick-up member, and releasing means including a lower first printing plate guiding device, a guide plate, and an actuator for releasing a gripped side of the discharged printing plate discharged from the lower plate cylinder from the front end of the guide plate of the lower second printing plate guiding device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Inventors: Shinichi Fujishiro, Yoshiyuki Ueno
  • Patent number: 6321653
    Abstract: A printing press comprises a pair of left- and right-frames, a first printing plate guiding device provided at a location near a lower plate cylinder, swingably supported so as to be moved between a guiding position for guiding a new printing plate supplied to a lower plate cylinder or a discharged printing plate discharged from the lower plate cylinder and a shelter position released from the lower plate cylinder, a second printing plate guiding device provided at a location near the lower plate cylinder, swingably supported so as to be moved between a guiding position for guiding the new printing plate or the discharged printing plate and a shelter position released from the lower plate cylinder and a safety cover swingably supported so as to be moved between a closing position for closing at least one part of a space formed between the left- and right-frames and a releasing position for releasing the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Komori Corporation
    Inventors: Kazumasa Kobayashi, Shinichi Fujishiro, Takehiko Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20010042477
    Abstract: A printing plate changing device prevents a new printing plate from being damaged even if an abnormal attachment has occurred during/before attaching the printing plate on a plate cylinder. Various sensors detect a rear end of the new printing plate located near an extrusion member when a phase of the lower plate cylinder forwardly rotating is positioned at a predetermined position, an actuator of the lower printing plate holding device is extended by a control device in accordance with a signal from the sensors to release a hook from an engaged pin. A claw portion is rotated by force energized by a spring to advance into a stored portion. The claw portion of the hook is engaged with the rear end of the new printing plate so that the new printing plate can be returned into the stored portion by extending the actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Inventor: Shinichi Fujishiro
  • Publication number: 20010042478
    Abstract: A printing press includes a plate cylinder, a plate making unit, at least one first engaging member, a first regulating member, a second engaging member, and a second regulating member. The plate cylinder is rotatably supported by a frame and has an outer surface on which a plate is mounted. The plate making unit is supported to be movable between an operative position where plate making is performed and a wait position to escape from the operative position. The first engaging member is fixed to one of the frame and the plate making unit. The first regulating member is fixed to the other of the frame and the plate making unit to engage with the first engaging member, and the first regulating member has a recess extending in an axial direction of the plate cylinder. The second engaging member is fixed to one of the frame and the plate making unit, and the second regulating member is fixed to the other of the frame and the plate making unit to engage with the second engaging member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Inventors: Kyotaro Onuma, Takashi Fuseki
  • Publication number: 20010042475
    Abstract: A sheet-fed printing press is provided to shorten the operation time thereof for feeding the printing plate on the plate cylinder in a printing operation without the tail edge of the printing plate clamped. For this purpose, the sheet-fed printing press is operable in the standard-sized printing plate feeding mode and the shorter-sized printing plate feeding mode. When the shorter-sized printing plate feeding mode is selected, the plate cylinder is rotated in the forward direction with the leading edge of the printing plate clamped by the first clamp device, so that the printing plate is wound around the plate cylinder. In this operation, the second clamp device is not actuated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Inventor: Takashi Kimura
  • Publication number: 20010042476
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cylinder with a functional layer (23) and with a supporting body (1), which passes through the cylinder. On the supporting body (1), a sleeve that accommodates the functional layer (23) is supported at ends (2, 5, 25). The supporting body (1) is for its part accommodated on supporting elements (10, 11, 13) provided on the frame side. The cylinder sleeve (3) that accommodates the functional layer (23) can be centered in relation to the axis of rotation (8) by centering faces (6, 7) formed at the ends (2, 5, 25). One end of the cylinder can be exposed at the supporting element (13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2001
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Applicant: NexPress Solutions LLC
    Inventors: Wolfgang Heinrich Alberstadt, Christian Compera, Andreas Dickhoff, Karlheinz Groeninger, Gregory Kowalski, James Shifley
  • Patent number: 6318262
    Abstract: The present invention provides a media handling system for an imaging system, such as an external drum platesetter. Separate input and output trays are provided, thereby allowing pre-staging of a second printing plate while a first printing plate is being imaged. The input tray is positioned over the output tray to reduce the floor space (i.e., footprint) of the imaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa Corporation
    Inventors: John Wolber, Phillip A. Rombult, Dennis W. Dodge, David B. Larsen
  • Patent number: 6314882
    Abstract: A printing unit enabling format variability, is distinguished by substantial component standardization and simple stand design. For this purpose, printing unit cylinders are mounted in slides which are arranged on at least one carrier and which, for distance adjustment, can be displaced on the carrier in each case by means of a drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Man Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Godber Petersen
  • Publication number: 20010037743
    Abstract: A plurality of offset perfecting printing units are stacked up for concurrently printing both sides of a continuous web of paper. Each printing unit comprises blanket cylinders held against each other, two plate cylinders held one against each blanket cylinder, and two inking mechanisms for inking the plate cylinders. The blanket cylinders and plate cylinders of all the printing units are rotatably supported by and between a pair of fixed bearing walls secured to the framework of the machine. The inking mechanisms of all the printing units are supported respectively by and between two pairs of movable bearing walls which are mounted to the framework for movement into and out of contact with the fixed pair of bearing walls in order to carry the inking mechanisms into and out of inking engagement with the plate cylinders of all the printing units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventor: Kenji Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6308629
    Abstract: A container for a printing blanket comprises a cassette of dimensions sufficient at least to contain a printing blanket in wound form. The cassette comprising a casing of generally cylindrical shape having a longitudinal opening for sheet-form egression of a printing blanket from within the cassette. In one preferred embodiment, the cassette has a pressure slide attached to or integral therewith adjacent to the longitudinal opening, for pressing a printing blanket on a press cylinder when the blanket is fed onto the cylinder. The cassette is employed in the manipulation of large adhesive-backed printing blankets for web-feed offset printing presses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2001
    Assignee: Duco International Limited
    Inventor: John M. Smith
  • Publication number: 20010032561
    Abstract: A system for loading and clamping one or more plates onto the cylindrical surface of a rotatable drum, such as used in a platesetter for printing, and for unloading the plates from the drum. The system is characterized by clamps that are movable over the surface, preferably along circumferential tracks, enabling the attachment of multiple plates, end-to-end and/or side-by-side, each plate having any of a wide range of sizes. The clamps are preferably of the dynamic type, whereby the clamping force increases with rotational speed. Also disclosed is a method for mounting and unmounting plates, using the movable clamps, such that allows flexible and convenient arrangement of loading- and unloading stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Applicant: CREOSCITEX CORPORATION WAS FILED IN PARETN CASE
    Inventors: Nir Halup, Yehuda Barnes Solomon, Moshe Beres
  • Publication number: 20010029853
    Abstract: A device for printing board or cut sections of board comprising a number of print stations through which the board is arranged to pass successively to receive print images from one or more of the print stations and at least one print station. The print station comprising a print cylinder mounted in a laterally displaceable carriage which can be moved laterally away from the board travel line, leaving in place substantially all the remaining parts of the at least one print station, to allow changing of printing plate or plates on the print cylinder while the printing apparatus can continue to operate with one or more of the other print stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Inventor: Joseph J. Weishew
  • Patent number: 6302017
    Abstract: A stencil printing machine comprises a feed-per-revolution detecting unit for detecting a feed-per-revolution of the stencil sheet on the basis of the rotation amount of the detecting roller for a given time; and a control unit for calculating a driving speed of the platen roller correspondingly to the feed-per-revolution detected by the feed-per-revolution detecting unit and such a standard feed-per-revolution that the platen roller should be originally transported for the given time, and then controlling the driving unit in the manner that the driving unit rotates the platen roller at the calculated driving speed. Upon stencil-making, the error of the feed-per-revolution of the stencil sheet is corrected and then the driving of the platen roller is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventors: Muneaki Kawai, Masao Suzuki, Hirotaka Kaneda
  • Publication number: 20010025581
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for correctly registering mounting of a printing plate. Task of the invention is to provide an apparatus to control the correctly registered position of a printing plate, which can be realized with simple means and can withstand abrupt load changes of the printing plate. The task is solved according the invention by inserts allocated to registering elements, which are contacting the printing plate electrically isolated from the registering elements and are connected to a control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Inventors: Arnfried Jehring, Christian Ziegenbalg, Ralf Zscheile, Andreas Techert
  • Publication number: 20010025582
    Abstract: A residual amount in the discharged stencil sheet box is displayed, a superior compression is performed against the discharged stencil sheet and many stencil sheets can be stored in the box. When the perforated stencil sheet 22 transferred by the feeding means 41 into the discharged stencil sheet box 42 is compressed by the discharged stencil sheet compression plate 43, the encoder 50 is utilized for detecting moving amount and compression force of the plate 43. When the pulse width of the pulse generated from the encoder 50 becomes a predetermined value, it is discriminated that the compression force with the plate 43 reaches a desired value, and the compression motor 44 is stopped. The number of pulses generated by the encoder 50 is counted to detect the moving position of the plate 43 and the residual amount in the box 42 is displayed in response to the moving position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Inventor: Makoto Furutsuka
  • Patent number: 6295929
    Abstract: The present invention provides a media handling system for an imaging system, such as an external drum platesetter. Separate input and output trays are provided, thereby allowing pre-staging of a second printing plate while a first printing plate is being imaged. The input tray is positioned over the output tray to reduce the floor space (i.e., footprint) of the imaging system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: Agfa Corporation
    Inventors: William W. Tice, Christopher Evans, Aaron Mirmelshteyn, Phillip A. Rombult, David B. Larsen, Dennis W. Dodge, Thomas E. Robinson, James D. Roberge, Thomas Marincic
  • Publication number: 20010023648
    Abstract: A plate-mounting member to be attached to a plate front end of a flexible plate in order to mount said flexible plate having a plurality of fixing holes onto a plate cylinder including a plate front end clamp mechanism having upper and lower teeth and at least two positioning pins disposed between upper and lower teeth, said plate-mounting member comprising a base and a plurality of fixing pins disposed on said base to be respectively inserted into said plurality of fixing holes formed in said plate front end, wherein said base is to be attached to said positioning pins disposed in said plate front end clamp mechanism to thereby position said plate front end. Also disclosed are method and apparatus for mounting a flexible printing plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Publication date: September 27, 2001
    Inventors: Mutsumi Naniwa, Chikashi Oishi
  • Publication number: 20010015143
    Abstract: To pertinently control perforation and transfer (setting) of stencil sheet in correspondence with respectives of plural printing drums, perforated stencil sheet is set to plural printing drums by moving single stencil making unit, position of the stencil making unit is detected by position sensors and shield plate, printing drum information of ink color supplied to the respective printing drums is detected by printing drum information detecting means with regard to respective printing drums, the stencil making unit is made to be on standby as it is at a position of setting drum to which the stencil making unit has been transferred finally after finishing to transfer stencil sheet to the respective printing drums. At successive stencil making operation, stencil making instruction information expediting perforation to the operator, is displayed from the printing drum at standby position to displaying means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20010013285
    Abstract: By making ON VSYNC signal, platen motor and feed motor are driven and thermosensitive perforation of stencil sheet is started. From the state, the platen motor is driven continuously for &ggr; second. When upstream side stencil sheet awaiting sensor is made ON and &agr; second has elapsed, feed of platen motor is controlled to reduce and actual perforation speed is made constant. Thereafter, when downstream side stencil sheet awaiting sensor is made ON and &agr; second has elapsed, feed motor is made OFF and stopped and lower side movable guide plate is moved to lower limit position by driving downstream side movable guide motor. Thereafter, when downstream side movable guide plate lower limit sensor is made ON, feed motor is made ON and driven again. When downstream side stencil sheet feed sensor is made ON and &dgr; second has elapsed, feed motor is made OFF and stopped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Inventor: Hideo Shoji
  • Publication number: 20010011513
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2001
    Publication date: August 9, 2001
    Inventors: Tsukasa Ono, Takashi Koizumi
  • Publication number: 20010010193
    Abstract: A paper discharge base 10 is applied with a sponge sheet 84 as a damping plate 78 of an impact wall 70 provided at a paper discharge base 10. A protection sheet 16 is pasted on a surface of the sponge sheet 84. When the damping plate 78 is impacted by print sheet P, the impact force is transmitted from the protection sheet 86 to the sponge sheet 84 and is damped by the sponge sheet 84. Further, the sponge sheet 84 is protected by the protection sheet 86 and therefore, the sponge sheet 84 is not destructed by impact of the print sheet P.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Publication date: August 2, 2001
    Inventor: Takeshi Tsurumaki
  • Patent number: 6260482
    Abstract: A system for loading and clamping one or more plates onto the cylindrical surface of a rotatable drum, such as used in a platesetter for printing, and for unloading the plates from the drum. The system is characterized by clamps that are movable over the surface, preferably along circumferential tracks, enabling the attachment of multiple plates, end-to-end and/or side-by-side, each plate having any of a wide range of sizes. The clamps are preferably of the dynamic type, whereby the clamping force increases with rotational speed. Also disclosed is a method for mounting and unmounting plates, using the movable clamps, such that allows flexible and convenient arrangement of loading- and unloading stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Creoscitex Corporation LTD
    Inventors: Nir Halup, Yehuda Barnes Solomon, Moshe Beres
  • Patent number: 6257141
    Abstract: A printing-plate mounting-position instruction system instructs a worker where to mount a plurality of printing plates in a rotary printing press. The system includes a controller, a reader, a judging device, and a display device. The controller creates assignment information for assigning printing plates to mounting positions on each of plate cylinders used in each of printing units on the basis of production instruction information. The reader reads a mark on a printing plate for printing-surface information. The judging device is connected to the controller and the reader and collates the assignment information received from the controller and the printing-surface information received from the reader, thereby judging the location where the printing plate is to be mounted. The display device displays the result of the judgment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Tokyo Kikai Seisakusho, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Hashimoto, Chuuji Miyauchi
  • Patent number: 6247406
    Abstract: A printing unit with more easily removable components, comprising two outer shoulders, which are adapted to support a printing cylinder, and two inner shoulders, which are pivoted to the outer shoulders so as to pass from an open position to a closed active printing position, the pair of inner shoulders supporting an inking cylinder, a tray which is suitable to contain the ink and is arranged below the inking cylinder, and a cylinder bearing the type, the closure position of the two inner shoulders being such as to move the cylinder bearing the type into abutment against the printing cylinder in order to perform printing and such as to move the inking cylinder into abutment against the cylinder bearing the type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2001
    Assignee: Gi Due S.r.l.
    Inventors: Federico D'Annunzio, Giacomo Maccalli
  • Patent number: 6237491
    Abstract: A leading edge side part 10a of a printing plate 10 can easily be inserted into a gap L1 formed between a plate guide 15 positioned adjacent to positioning pins 11 and a leading edge side clamping base 51 because the gap L1 is formed in a thickness slightly thicker than the printing plate 10. Restoring force caused by flexure of the printing plate 10 allows the leading edge side part 10a thereof being inserted into the gap L1, the restoring force being generated when a tail edge side part 10b of the printing plate 10 is in contact with a contact member 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Ryobi Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Yasuhara, Masazumi Hidera
  • Patent number: 6230620
    Abstract: A bearing assembly for a rotary printing press cylinder supports a journal of the cylinder using a plurality of support rollers. At least one of the cylinder journal support rollers is moveable so that the cylinder will either be supported or can be removed from the printing press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignees: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft, U. E. Sebald Druck und Verlag GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Christmann, Hans-Dieter Drumm, Rudolf Herb, Werner Georg Roman Straubinger
  • Patent number: 6220155
    Abstract: A stencil making device includes supporting a supporting device for rotatably supporting a rolled stencil a sheet; perforating device for perforating the stencil sheet conveyed from the supporting device to form an image therein; a pair of rollers rotatably disposed between the supporting device and the perforating device to hold the stencil sheet therebetween; and a torque applying device attached to one of the rollers to apply a predetermined torque to the roller when it rotates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventor: Kaoru Kimura
  • Patent number: 6216594
    Abstract: A plate replacing system has a cassette capable of accommodating a new printing plate. The cassette is held at a fulcrum supported by a frame. A front end of the cassette turns about the fulcrum, and can contact and be retracted from a plate cylinder. Inside the cassette, an automatic mounting mechanism including long and short links and an air cylinder is provided for deforming the new plate so as to make a leading edge of the new plate bend. There is a gripping support side surface of a gap in the plate cylinder, which is parallel to the bend while moving a holding member, such as suction pads, which holds the leading edge of the new plate, from a waiting position to an inserting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Komori Corporation
    Inventors: Takeaki Nakano, Kazuya Iyokawa
  • Patent number: 6205924
    Abstract: A sheet unloading apparatus is used for rotary drum rotatable in one direction along with a paper sheet which is wound around a peripheral surface of the rotary drum and at rear end mechanically engaged in an engagement groove formed in the peripheral surface. The sheet unloading apparatus includes a separation paws for separating a front end of the paper sheet from the rotary drum by contacting the peripheral surface of the rotary drum while the rotary drum rotates in the one direction, and a pair of pinch rollers for rotating to pinch and feed out the paper sheet supplied according to the rotation of the rotary drum in a state where the front end of the paper sheet is separated from the rotary drum by the separation pawl and the rear end of the paper sheet is engaged in the engagement groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tadao Kamano
  • Patent number: 6200044
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for stamping distinguishing marks on the parts moving in the feed direction of a transport device, e.g. a roll line, comprising at least one mark-holder for holding a mark, the mark-holder being removably placed on the circumference of a stamping wheel. The inventive device comprises at least one hopper for the mark-holders. The hopper for the mark-holders and the stamping wheel can be placed relatively to one another, in a position where the mark-holders of the stamping wheel can pass through cavities of the mark-holder hopper, and the mark-holders of the mark-holder hopper can pass directly through cavities of the stamping wheel. A revolver hopper comprising mark-holder pins which can move axially with it is rotatably mounted and has the same axis as the stamping wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Inventor: Bruno Berger
  • Patent number: 6189452
    Abstract: A system for loading and clamping one or more plates onto the cylindrical surface of a rotatable drum, such as used in a platesetter for printing, and for unloading the plates from the drum. The system is characterized by clamps that are movable over the surface, preferably along circumferential tracks, enabling the attachment of multiple plates, end-to-end and/or side-by-side, each plate having any of a wide range of sizes. The clamps are preferably of the dynamic type, whereby the clamping force increases with rotational speed. Also disclosed is a method for mounting and unmounting plates, using the movable clamps, such that allows flexible and convenient arrangement of loading- and unloading stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Creoscitex Corporation Ltd.
    Inventors: Nir Halup, Yehuda Barnes Solomon, Moshe Beres
  • Patent number: 6186062
    Abstract: The stencil printing apparatus of the present invention is provided with a stencil making section for perforating each stencil sheet with a desired image pattern, a porous structure printing drum incorporating an ink supply mechanism and coming to have a stencil sheet perforated in the stencil making section to be wound thereon, a sheet supply section for supplying print sheets, a roller for pinching the print sheet supplied from the sheet supply section between the printing drum and itself, and time counting means for counting the rest time of the stencil printing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventor: Katsumi Ohno
  • Patent number: 6164204
    Abstract: A recording drum has a clamp groove extending in its circumferential direction formed on its outer peripheral surface. A plurality of front end clamps are attached to the outer peripheral surface of the recording drum. Rear end clamps are attached so as to be movable and so as to be fixable along the clamp groove on the outer peripheral surface of the recording drum. A recording head is disposed ahead of the recording drum, and a clamp driving device is disposed behind the recording drum. The clamp driving device comprises a first driving device for fixing the front end clamps and fixing and releasing the rear end clamps and a second driving device for releasing the front end clamps. The front end clamps and the rear end clamps reliably fix a front end and a rear end of a plate to the outer peripheral surface of the recording drum by a reaction force produced by a spring and a centrifugal force produced by the rotation of the recording drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Kawada, Shiro Kitawaki, Tadaaki Tani, Arifumi Omoto, Kazuma Kan
  • Patent number: 6161480
    Abstract: A device (14) for production of printing forms is integrated into a control desk (4) which has operating and display elements (20, 21) for the control of operating processes of a printing press (2, 3). The device can be used in print shops in which production of printing forms and printing itself are closely linked on the basis of operation sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Pfizenmaier
  • Patent number: 6158337
    Abstract: A stencil-making-type printing machine in which plural types of rotary cylindrical drums having printing regions of different sizes can be replaceable loaded, in which a stencil sheet provided in the form of a roll is cut according to the printing region of a rotary cylindrical drum loaded therein to form a printing stencil, and a printing operation is carried out with the printing stencil wound on the rotary cylindrical drum, and before a printing operation is carried out for a new original, a used stencil is separated from the rotary cylindrical drum and discarded into a used-stencil accommodating box by a conveying means. The printing machine comprises a control system which controls operating time of the conveying means depending on the loaded rotary cylindrical drum, thereby stopping the operation of the conveying means immediately after the stencil has been discarded in the accommodating box and surely accommodating the stencil in the accommodating box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshikazu Hara
  • Patent number: 6142072
    Abstract: An adjustable suspension for a printing unit guard on a printing unit, having guides and at least one rope or chain pull assembly, on both sides of the guard, for performing an adjusting movement, includes at least one deflecting roller, and at least one counterweight connecting the at least one rope or chain pull assembly via the at least one deflecting roller to the at least one counterweight, the counterweight having a mass which is tared or calibrated for a virtually force-free adjustment of the printing unit guard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Stephan Rudewitz, Rudiger Bohm
  • Patent number: 6142073
    Abstract: A side shift mechanism for a deck of a printing press enables a roll, for example, a plate roll and/or an anilox roll, to be shifted axially so that one end of the roll extends out of the frame of the press. The extended roll or a sleeve on the roll is thereby made accessible for easy exchange. After the roll or sleeve is exchanged, the roll is shifted back to its original position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Paper Converting Maching Company
    Inventors: Dale E. Zeman, William J. Van Ryzin, Robert J. Manders, Craig T. Compton
  • Patent number: 6135027
    Abstract: A device for in-register positioning of a printing plate for mounting it on a plate cylinder of a printing press, includes at least two positioning pins engageable for in-register positioning exactly in recesses formed in a printing plate leading edge, and sensors for detecting the exact engagement and for transmitting a corresponding signal, at least one positioning pin and at least one recess on one side of the printing plate leading edge having noninterchangeable engagement positions in relation to at least one positioning pin and at least one recess on another side of the printing plate leading edge which is opposite to the one side thereof with respect to a center line of the printing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stephan Rudzewitz, Frank Schumann
  • Patent number: 6125757
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a web fed rotary printing press which can perform a printing plate change on the fly, while preventing the printing plate from touching an associated moving blanket cylinder. In accordance with exemplary embodiments, a nip roller is used to securely press the printing plate toward the plate cylinder during printing plate replacement, such that only a small gap exists between the stopped plate cylinder and the moving blanket cylinder. As such, the entire printing unit need not be modified to account for ink train cylinder movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Michael Robert Lemelin
  • Patent number: 6112663
    Abstract: A loading table for flexographic printing plates is disclosed wherein pneumatic suction is employed to secure the printing plate to the loading table and pneumatic pressure is employed to reduce the friction when conveying the printing plate from the loading table to an imaging cylinder. The loading table comprises a plurality of openings connected to a reversible pump. Pneumatic suction or pressure from the pump is transferred to the printing plate via the openings in the loading table. While immobilized on the loading table with pneumatic suction, the flexographic plates can be prepared for imaging by peeling the protective coating from the active layer. The coupling of the plate to the loading table surface facilitates such preparatory steps without excessive handling of the plate. After preparation, the pneumatic pressure is reversed and a thin layer of air is created underneath the plate reducing the friction and permitting simple transfer of the plate to an imaging cylinder for further processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Creo Products Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Ulrich, Christopher Stephen Dudra
  • Patent number: 6109181
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide an inking device for a printing machine, which enables a work for replacing a plate cylinder to be carried out easily without removing a form roller or readjusting a nip pressure. Over a bearing 10 of the first swing roller 9a are supported a roller supporting lever 35 supporting rotatably the first form roller 13a and a roller attaching/detaching lever 45 linked with link mechanisms 49,47 and 48 each mounted on a machine frame 1, a compression coil spring 63 is mounted in each lever via a guide rod for biasing the first form roller 13a against a plate cylinder 4, and the first form roller 13a is able to be moved to a retreat position separated from a running position into the axial direction of the plate cylinder by a prescribed distance via both the levers 35 and 45.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Komori Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyoshi Kamoda
  • Patent number: 6085650
    Abstract: A printing unit enabling format variability, is distinguished by substantial component standardization and simple stand design. For this purpose, printing unit cylinders are mounted in slides which are arranged on at least one carrier and which, for distance adjustment, can be displaced on the carrier in each case by means of a drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Godber Petersen
  • Patent number: 6085657
    Abstract: An imagesetting or platesetting system and method for transporting one or more sheets of media having varying stiffness and thickness includes the steps of: transporting the sheets through the system in a first direction (A); recording an image onto the sheets; and redirecting one or more of the sheets in a transverse direction (B) relative to the first direction (A). Preferably, this is accomplished using: a transport mechanism for transporting the sheets of media through the system in the first direction (A); an imager for recording the image onto the sheets; and a jogging mechanism for redirecting the sheets in the transverse direction (B). The jogging mechanism can be integrated or modular to the system. Moreover, the jogging mechanism can be used in both internal and external drum imagers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Agfa Corporation
    Inventors: Philip A. Rombult, David L. Cooper
  • Patent number: 6076464
    Abstract: A system for making printing plates for newspaper, which can make, with great efficiency, replacement printing plates to be used when a printing face of the printing plate mounted on the plate cylinder of the rotary press is to be changed in part. The plate-making system is built by linearly arranging in series a plate feeder 2, an exposure unit 3, and a developer 5 so that the exposure unit 3 may directly form images on the printing faces of a plate material 12 in accordance with image drawing signals from a computer to make a printing plate P large enough for at least several pages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kaneda Kikai Seisakusho
    Inventor: Yuichi Okamura
  • Patent number: 6076458
    Abstract: The stencil printing apparatus of the present invention is provided with a stencil making section for perforating each stencil sheet with a desired image pattern, a porous structure printing drum incorporating an ink supply mechanism and coming to have a stencil sheet perforated in the stencil making section to be wound thereon, a sheet supply section for supplying print sheets, a roller for pinching the print sheet supplied from the sheet supply section between the printing drum and itself, and time counting means for counting the rest time of the stencil printing, apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventor: Katsumi Ohno