Abstract: A web printing system automatically detects the location of a wrinkle in a moving web. The web has a plurality of marked reference positions including an inboard position, a center position, and an outboard position. A plurality of contact image sensors detect the reference positions after the web passes through a spreader and an inboard distance and an outboard distance are respectively measured from the center position. If the inboard distance is less than a nominal inboard distance, the wrinkle is identified as inboard of the center position. If the outboard distance is less than a nominal outboard distance, the wrinkle is identified as outboard of the center position. The machine operator is notified of the fault condition and takes action to remedy the situation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a marking and/or scanning head comprising a plurality of receiving spaces in which individual marking and/or sensing devices can be arranged for marking and/or scanning an object, wherein the receiving spaces are arranged in at least two sub-arrays, wherein at least one sub-array is movable and/or rotatable with regard to at least one other sub-array. The invention further relates to a marking and/or scanning apparatus and a method for operating a marking and/or scanning head or apparatus.

Abstract: A method for determining optical density is disclosed. A first measurement is taken on a white area of a substrate (402). A second measurement is taken on an area of the substrate printed with ink (404). A relative optical density of the ink is determined using the first and second measurements (406).

Abstract: An apparatus for producing proof prints on which the correctness of page impositions can be checked comprises a stand configured to receive a roll of paper. A first printer and a second printer are provided for printing pages on the front side and the rear side, respectively, of a paper web fed from the paper roll. An optical sensor is arranged between the first printer and the second printer. The optical sensor is configured to detect the position of an alignment mark which has been printed by the first printer on the front side of the paper. A control unit modifies the spatial relationship between the rear side of the paper and what is printed on the rear side of the paper depending on the detected position of the alignment mark. This can be accomplished either by electronically modifying the second pages as such, or by mechanically modifying the paper position with respect to a printing head contained in the second printer.

Abstract: A printing operation assisting device for assisting a printing operation performed by a solder printer configured to print a solder cream on a substrate surface, including: a measure determining portion configured to determine a remedial measure against a deterioration of a print quality specified on the basis of print-result information obtained from an inspecting machine configured to inspect a print result by the printer, in accordance with a kind of the print-quality deterioration; and a measure issuing portion configured to issue a command relating to the remedial measure determined by the measure determining portion to at least one of the printer and its operator, wherein the measure determining portion is configured to determine a remedial measure against a certain print-quality deterioration and to redetermine another remedial measure different from the previously determined remedial measure where the deteriorated print quality is not improved by execution of the previously determined measure.

Abstract: An ink supply method in an ink supply apparatus including an ink fountain, a plurality of ink fountain keys, an ink fountain roller, an ink ductor roller, and an ink roller group. An ink film thickness distribution corresponding to an image on a printing plate is formed in the ink roller group. The ink roller group is divided into a plurality of roller subgroups. After or before division, a throw-on operation is performed for at least one of the plurality of roller subgroups, and a plate cylinder on which the printing plate to be used for printing of the next job is mounted. Ink in at least one of the plurality of roller subgroups is supplied to the printing plate mounted on the plate cylinder by rotating the plate cylinder and at least one of the plurality of roller subgroups. An ink supply apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and printing press for performing the method is provided for recording print processing conditions on a printed web of a rewind roll during operation of a printing press to print a print job, including associating sensed printing process parameters with tracked locations on the web at which the printing process parameters were sensed such that, for each tracked location, there is an associated set of printing process parameters; storing in memory, for each tracked location, the associated set of printing process parameters; and storing in memory an identification of the rewind roll, and an association of the rewind roll with the associated set of printing process parameters for each tracked location.

Abstract: A method of setting web tensioning in a processing machine for processing a material web, in particular in a shaftless printing machine, wherein, for the purpose of setting the web tensioning in a first web-tensioning portion, which is bounded upstream by a first clamping location and downstream by a second clamping location, the first clamping location is given a control command, and at least one clamping location which is located upstream of the first clamping location, as seen over the course of the web tensioning, and at least one clamping location which is located downstream of the second clamping location, as seen over the course of the web tensioning, are precontrolled in dependence on the first control command, where the second clamping location is not adjusted.

Abstract: A method for controlling an amount of dampening solution in a printing unit of a printing press using a computer and a measuring device, includes setting an amount of dampening solution in the printing unit based on data of a current print job, reducing the amount of dampening solution towards a smearing threshold with the computer, recording color measurement values with the measuring device in at least one full tone area with low area coverage and in at least one halftone area with high area coverage on a printing material of the current print job, and stopping the reduction of the amount of dampening solution with the computer when a dot gain of the halftone in areas with high area coverage increases significantly and a density of the full tone in areas with low area coverage increases significantly.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a mobile control device for safe operation of machines for processing printing materials. The machine is divided into a plurality of spatially delimited zones and the position of the control device can be detected in relation to the plurality of zones. It is possible to determine the zone in which the control device is located by using the position of the control device. Certain functions of the machine are enabled or disabled depending on the determined zone. A printing press having the device and a method for safely operating a machine for processing printing materials, are also provided.

Abstract: A printing system includes first and second printing apparatuses that form images on first and second surfaces of a continuous recording sheet, respectively. The second printing apparatus includes a printing unit that forms a toner image on the sheet; a conveying unit that conveys the sheet at a reference speed in the printing unit; a fixing-conveying unit that conveys the sheet and fixes the toner image adhered to the sheet; a buffer unit that takes up slack in the sheet generated because of a difference in conveyance between the conveying unit and the fixing-conveying unit; a determining unit that determines a brake force for stopping conveyance of the fixing-conveying unit, based on a buffer amount of the buffer unit, which corresponds to the slack in the sheet; and a conveyance control unit that performs control to stop conveyance of the sheet by the determined brake force.

Abstract: An ink film thickness distribution forming method in an ink supply apparatus including an ink fountain. A plurality of ink fountain keys are arranged in the ink fountain. Ink is supplied to an ink fountain roller in accordance with the opening ratios of the plurality of ink fountain keys. Ink is transferred to an ink ductor roller from the ink fountain roller. Ink from the ink doctor roller is transferred to an ink roller group including at least one ink form roller. A throw-off operation of the ink form roller positioned at an end of the ink roller group is performed after the end of a print job. The ink roller group is divided into a plurality of roller subgroups after the end of the print job. The ink in at least one of roller subgroups is removed. An ink film thickness distribution forming apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A display device and a display method are provided for printing material processing machines having components disposed relative to a printing material. The display device and method are configured in such a way that changes in a relative position of the components of the machine are displayed on the display device in relation to the printed image and/or the printing material. A printing press having a display device is also provided.

Abstract: A system for setting up a printing station (136), the printing station (136) includes printing rollers (110, 114, 116), the printing rollers (110, 114, 116) including at least one ink transferring roller (110, 114) and an impression roller (116). The system includes a camera (104), an actuator interface (106) and a processor (102), the actuator interface (106) being coupled with at least one actuator (108, 112), the processor (102) being coupled with the camera (104) and with the actuator interface (106), the actuator interface (106) directing the at least one actuator (108, 112) to move at least one printing roller (110, 114, 116) of the printing press (1OO). The processor (102) receives an output from the camera (104), the processor (102) determining at least one no print threshold respective of each adjacent pair of the printing rollers, according to the output respective of the absence or presence of the representative impression (132).

Abstract: A method for regulating a web tension in a processing machine for processing a product web, in particular a shaftless printing press, includes separating a first product-web section from a second product-web section by a delay section. The web tensions in the first and second product-web sections are influenced by first and second actuators, respectively. To regulate the web tension in the first product-web section, the method further includes defining a regulation output value from which an actuating command for the first actuator is derived. An actuating command for the second actuator is defined from the regulation output value and a delay element to decouple the web tension in the second product-web section from the regulation of the web tension in the first product-web section. The delay element delays the effect of the regulation output value on the actuating command for the second actuator by a delay time.

Abstract: A system and method for color accuracy checking is discussed. In one embodiment, areas within a document are selected for color-checking. A confirmation is made that a second printing of the document has color values which deviate within tolerances from color values of a first printing of the document within each of the selected areas.

Abstract: An ink film thickness distribution correction method in an ink supply apparatus including an ink fountain storing an ink, a plurality of ink fountain keys, an ink fountain roller to which the ink is supplied from the ink fountain, an ink ductor roller to which the ink is transferred from the ink fountain roller, and an ink roller group including at least one ink form roller to which the ink transferred to the ink ductor roller is supplied. A throw-off operation of the ink form roller positioned at the end of the ink roller group is performed during test printing or final printing. An ink film thickness distribution correction apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for controlling an inking unit of a printing press, includes resetting an ink metering element from first to second metered quantities for an intended inking level. The metering element is set to a temporary, third metered ink quantity by a control unit, for a time interval, during a non-steady phase of the inking unit before reaching the intended level. A value of a variable characterizing the inking state of printing material is determined and a plurality of sets of values for the variable are predefined, into which the determined value can be grouped. The temporary metering quantity is carried out: at a first rate and/or during a first time period if the value of the variable lies in a first set of values, and at a second rate and/or in a second time period if the value of the variable lies in a second, different set of values.

Abstract: A mark detecting device detects a positioning mark on a transfer medium based on light that is emitted to and then reflected from the transfer medium. The mark detecting device includes a light emitting unit that emits light to a target position on the transfer medium; a light receiving unit that receives light reflected from the target position; and an adjusting unit that rotatably supports a detecting unit including at least one of the light emitting unit and the light receiving unit about a center of rotation, which passes through the target position, on the transfer medium and adjusts the rotation angle of the detecting unit with respect to the center of rotation.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for operating a printing press determine the vibration behavior of at least one impression cylinder of the printing press, with the avoidance or suppression of undesirable vibrations such as resonant vibrations by utilizing measures in the range of the critical frequencies which trigger the vibrations. During operation of a printing press of this type, undesirable vibrations occur which cause quality impairments in relation to the printed image. The invention reduces quality impairments of this type. The problem is solved by performing targeted loading of the drive of the impression cylinder of the printing press with an exciting signal of the power output to cause vibrations of the impression cylinder, and determining critical frequencies in the resonant frequency spectrum of the impression cylinder using the vibrations which are caused.

Abstract: A printing material web processing machine, in particular a web-fed rotary offset press, has at least one press cylinder for printing the web, a dryer disposed downstream of the press cylinder, which guides the web along a path, and at least a first pull roll disposed downstream of the dryer to convey the web along the path with a given tensile stress. The web processing machine further has a first apparatus disposed downstream of the press cylinder and upstream of the dryer for separating the web from the press cylinder, and a second apparatus for driving the first pull roll, which drives the first pull roll at a rotational speed that is reduced as compared with the rotational speed of the press cylinder.

Abstract: A color measurement on printed materials produced by a printing press is performed by at least a first color measuring device installed in the printing press and at least a second color measuring device. A signal is output by the first color measuring device in the printing press when the measured color values registered on the printing materials are located within a predefined tolerance limit for a predefined period and that, after the signal has been output, a color measurement on one of the printed materials thus produced is performed with the second color measuring device.

Abstract: A method controls a printing speed and a temperature of a printing press to attain a predetermined actuating variable. The printing press includes a control computer. The method is characterized by calculating a target temperature to attain the predetermined actuating variable at a desired printing speed and initiating the adjustment operations to attain the target temperature by the control computer. The actual printing speed is changed via a first acceleration within a tolerance limit with respect to fluctuations about the predetermined actuating variable. The first acceleration process is stopped if the desired printing speed is attained in the process. The first acceleration is changed if the tolerance limits are reached and the desired printing speed has not been attained yet. The printing speed is ran at a modified second acceleration along the tolerance limits until the desired printing speed is attained.

Abstract: A method for printing which includes the steps of: printing a web of material so as to define a printed web; winding the printed web onto at least one roll; cutting the printed web so as to define at least one printed roll; transporting the at least one printed roll in rolled form to a folder separate from a printing press; and processing the at least one printed roll in the folder into a finished printed product.

Abstract: A method for controlling inking units having a plurality of zones and/or dampening units in printing presses, includes determining reference values, which are dependent on surface area coverage and/or location, through the use of a computer for the inking zones in the inking unit. Deviations of detected color measuring values from the reference values are calculated for each inking zone. The calculated deviations are compared with data stored in the computer and corresponding with causes of color problems. The computer determines causes of color problems in the inking unit and/or dampening unit by comparison with the data.

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

Abstract: An image forming apparatus which configures a printing system includes an application server which has a function of editing and storing document data, and provides the document data in response to a request; the image forming apparatus having a plurality of functions including a printing function; a data generation apparatus which generates, from the document data, print data printable by the image forming apparatus; and a storage apparatus which stores data having undergone processing by the image forming apparatus, the apparatuses being communicable with each other via a network, comprising: recording unit configured to record, as difference data, a setting difference upon setting change of print data; and transmission unit configured to execute processing for the print data, and transmitting a completion notification of the processing together with the difference data.

Abstract: A method and a device for determining color register and lateral register deviations on printing material during production in multi-color printing presses, include a computing unit which takes into consideration the influence of ghosting effects when measuring the deviations on the printing material. The ghosting effects of at least one preceding and/or one succeeding printed image are recursively taken into consideration in the computing unit, when measuring on the printing material.

Abstract: An approach is provided for balancing a pressure profile of a spreader nip formed by a first roller and a second roller within a print system. A line parallel to a target process direction is determined. One of an inboard side and an outboard side of the spreader nip is loaded with a first variable force. The other one of the inboard side and the outboard side of the spreader nip is loaded with a second variable force. The inboard side and the outboard side of the spreader nip are then separately loaded by a first balancing force and a second balancing force to cause a substrate passing through the spreader nip to track in a direction such that a side edge of the substrate remains parallel to the line parallel to the target process direction.

Abstract: A print control strip to be applied to printing material during a multicolor printing process, includes multiple measuring fields associated with one ink zone on the printing material. The measuring fields, which are associated with one ink zone, include at least two gray measuring fields. A method of measuring measuring fields in print control strips on printing material with a measuring device and a control unit connected thereto, and a method of controlling metering of ink in offset printing presses including at least one ink metering device in each printing unit and a control unit, are also provided.

Abstract: An ultra-precision register control method in a continuous roll-to-roll printing process for manufacturing electronic devices via a feedforward register control logic, which compensates for and eliminates additional register errors attributable to variations in the speed of upstream printing cylinders. When used in combination with a conventional feedback register control logic, the feedforward register control logic accomplishes a register control with ultra-precision in a continuous roll-to-roll printing process, and enables implementation of a continuous roll-to-roll printing process for manufacturing electronic devices, for which a roll-to-roll printing process was formerly unavailable.

Abstract: The sheet-fed or web-fed printing machine comprises a main unit (1), at least one mobile carriage (2) adapted to be coupled to the main unit for cooperation therewith during printing operations and to be moved away from the main unit during maintenance operations, a control unit for controlling displacement of said mobile carriage toward and away from said main unit, and an access zone (9, 9?) surrounding at least partly the mobile carriage for allowing a human operator to get access to the main unit and mobile carriage, which access zone lies outside of the displacement path (10) of the mobile carriage. The printing machine further comprises detection means (11) for monitoring the access zone and detecting presence of a human operator within the access zone.

Abstract: The present invention provides device and method for forming a thin film pattern which can maintain an extent of wetting of a printing liquid at a proper state without time dependence. The device for forming a thin film includes a printing liquid supply unit for supplying printing liquid, a cliché having a depressed pattern and a relieved pattern for patterning the printing liquid, a printing roller for having the printing liquid supplied from the printing liquid supply unit thereto coated thereon and being rolled on the cliché and the substrate, and a solvent supply unit for supplying a solvent to the printing liquid before the printing liquid coated on the printing roller is brought into contact with the cliché.

Abstract: A method of preventing damage in a printing press is provided. The method includes determining a minimum value at which tension in a web in the printing press is capable of damaging at least one web contacting component of the printing press; sensing a tension in the web in the printing press; and severing the web when the sensed tension reaches the minimum determined tension value. A printing press is also provided.

Abstract: A color control system for use in a printing press is provided. The system includes a controller for reviewing digital data for a print job and identifying solid color regions of the print job that are greater than a predetermined size, a user interface allowing an operator to select solid color regions identified by the controller, a sensor for measuring a characteristic of the selected solid color regions of the print job on a printed substrate, the controller determining measured values of the characteristic for each of the selected solid color regions, and at least one inking unit for supplying ink in a plurality of ink zones to a plate cylinder, the controller varying the ink supplied to ink zones including the solid color regions as function of a difference between the measured value of the characteristic of each selected solid color region and a predetermined target value of the characteristic. A method for controlling printing of a printing press is also provided.

Abstract: A method of compensating for vibration-induced circumferential-register errors in a sheet-fed printing press includes compensating for at least one vibration-induced deviation of an actual angular position of a cylinder from a nominal angular position by adjusting the circumferential register of at least one printing unit, in particular of the cylinder. For this purpose, the current vibration state of the sheet-fed printing press is determined, the effect of the determined vibrations of an integer order on a position of color excerpts on a sheet of printing material is calculated, and the compensating circumferential-register adjustment required in accordance with the result of the calculation is carried out. A sheet-fed printing press for carrying out the method, is also provided.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes an input unit configured to input a print job, a print unit configured to perform print processing onto a print medium based on the print job input by the input unit, a receiving unit configured to receive a request for shutting off power supply of the printing apparatus, an execution unit configured to execute processing for shifting to a state where power supply of the print unit can be shut off, in response to the fact that the request has been received by the receiving unit, and a control unit configured to perform control, if a request for shutting off a power supply of the printing apparatus is received by the receiving unit, to prevent the print processing based on the print job from being executed, and on the other hand, to permit execution of processing based on another job different from the print job.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for compensating for inking differences between setpoint color values and actual color values in offset printing presses having at least one inking unit and a control computer. The control computer controls the printing speed of the offset printing press and the temperature control of rollers in the inking unit of the offset printing press. The control computer is set up in such a way that, if an inking difference is detected between the setpoint color values and the actual color values, a combined control operation including a change in the printing speed and the temperature in the inking unit is performed in order to compensate for the inking difference. A printing press having the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: A web printing press is provided including a printing unit for printing a web, a delivery for printed products formed from the web, the web and printed products defining a printed product stream, a first sensor sensing a first characteristic of the web or printed products, a controller connected to the first sensor, and an indicator indicating in real-time a print defect in the printed product stream as a function of the first sensor. A method is also provided.

Abstract: Printing methods and systems that provide both a secure value label printing mode of operation and a non-secure mode of operation that allows generic printing of non-value items without compromising the security feature of the secure printing mode are described. If the printing system determines the image is a non-secure image such as an address label or other non-value graphic, the printing system utilizes the non-secure mode and disables the use certain printhead elements. In such a system, the enforced print disabled white bands are enforced in non-secure mode such as by actually disabling the print drive mechanism that allows a row to be printed or by populating certain regions of the print buffer with zero values.

Abstract: An electrical voltage supply device for machines processing printing material includes at least one drive motor for the transport of printing material and at least one further electrical consumer. A control unit is provided which, when the supply voltage drops below a minimum acceptable supply voltage of the machine processing printing material, switches of electrical consumers which are not required for the transport of printing material and supplies the drive motor for the transport of printing material from energy stored in the moving masses of the machine processing printing material.

Abstract: A process for controlling the quantity of ink applied to a material being printed includes the stages of: driving an inking roller and a printing roller at first inking and printing speeds, changing the printing speed to a second printing speed, changing the inking speed to a second inking speed on the basis of a speed correction index, measuring a first and a second quantity of ink, calculating the difference in the quantities of ink applied, and altering the speed correction parameter on the basis of the difference in the quantity of ink printed. The process may be applied to offset presses.

Abstract: A method of printing on a web of substrate (510) using a web printer (610) comprising: interrupting a first print operation on a first substrate (512); attaching a second substrate (514) to the first substrate (512); and continuing the first print operation on the first substrate (512).

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

Abstract: A method of controlling the ink feed to a printed substrate in a lithographic printing press is provided which includes providing, for each of a plurality of ink zones, an ink coverage requirement for a printing unit of the lithographic printing press; color scanning a first ink zone of a plurality of ink zones on a printed substrate as it exits the printing unit of the lithographic printing press; calculating, for each one of the plurality of ink zones, a dynamic flow change based on the static flow change for said each one of the plurality of ink zones and the ink coverage requirement for said each one of the plurality of ink zones; and providing a flow setting for each one of the plurality of ink zones based on the dynamic flow change for said each one of the plurality of ink zones.

Abstract: A method for color control in printing presses having at least one first color measuring instrument and at least one second color measuring instrument, includes registering at least one first inking zone on a printing material with the first color measuring instrument and registering at least one other, second inking zone on the printing material with the second color measuring instrument. In a first step, a color difference between actual colorations of the first and second inking zones is calculated, in a second step, a color difference between an actual coloration of the first inking zone and a desired coloration of the second inking zone is calculated and, in a further step, the calculated color differences are added and supplied to a color control for the second inking zone.

Abstract: A method is provided for a rotary press of the type including at least one cylinder for printing and feeding a web to be printed, and a device for driving in rotation the or each printing and feed cylinder. In normal operation, the at least one cylinder is driven by applying thereto a positive drive torque and a positive drive power, and, in the event of the web breaking, the at least one cylinder is braked by the associated drive device. According to one embodiment of the invention, in an emergency shutdown step, the torque or the power applied to the at least one printing and feed cylinder by the associated drive device is limited in such a manner as not to exceed a predetermined torque threshold or power threshold.

Abstract: Method and apparatuses for measuring and regulating the strain of a material web is disclosed. A material web is passed through a first and second non-slip roller pair. The first and second roller pair form a predefined span. In some embodiments, the angular positions of the first and second roller pair are monitored, and the phase angle between the roller pairs is calculated. The phase angle is directly related to the level of strain in the web, and the velocity of the web is controlled to maintain a phase angle which corresponds with the desired strain level. This maintains a constant strain level in the predefined span. In one embodiment, the strain entering a non-slip roll pair is controlled to be zero. The roll pair then introduces a predefined strain to the span entering subsequent processes.

Abstract: A method for calculating characterization data of a printing process, is more manageable and less complicated than previously-known methods, in which determining printing tables for CMYK printing systems with special colors or for multicolor systems easily becomes unwieldy and complicated because of necessary colored areas in test elements. A test element supplies actual spectral data. By using subsets of this actual data, tonal value curves or tonal value gain curves, parameters of a model of the printing process for determining spectra of overprinted printing inks and adapted input variables, are determined in a calculating device in accordance with the model, taking into account the tonal value gain, to determine corrected tonal values or their spectra. Then only a few colored areas are needed to calculate characterization data. A test element for determining characterization data of a printing process and an apparatus for carrying out the method are also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods for web tension adjustment in a processing machine for processing a web of goods, in particular in a shaftless printing press, in which downstream web tension segments are decoupled from an adjustment of the web tension in a first web tension segment defined upstream by a first clamping point and downstream by a second clamping point. To that end, the first clamping point is subjected to a first control instruction, which is generated using a first dynamic element with a non-constant transmission function, and the second clamping point is acted upon by a second control instruction, which is generated using a second dynamic element with a non-constant transmission function. As a result of the provisions of the invention, for decoupling the downstream web tension segments from the web tension adjustment and so forth, it is unnecessary to pilot-control the corresponding downstream clamping points.