Abstract: An apparatus for safely operating at least two components which are movable relative to one another in a machine for processing printing materials, includes drive motors each driving a respective one of the movable components. At least one control computer detects movement of the movable components. The control computer is set up in such a way that, if a spacing is reduced between the movable components, at least that movable component, which is the cause for the reduction in the spacing between the movable components, is brought to a standstill. A printing press having the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: In one embodiment, printing, on a first side of a media, of a first plurality of plots and a plurality of associated fiducials is caused. For each of a second plurality of plots, using data from a sensor, a distance to one of the plurality of associated fiducials is measured to discern a reference for printing that plot on a second side of the media. Printing of the second plurality of plots on the second side is caused so that each of the second plurality of plots is substantially in registration with one of the first plurality of plots.

Abstract: A printing state automatic switching apparatus includes a printing state switching unit, abnormal end detection unit, and error recovery unit. The printing state switching unit automatically switches the printing state of a printing press from a first printing state to a second printing state through a plurality of switching steps. The abnormal end detection unit detects an abnormal end of each switching step of automatic switching from the first printing state to the second printing state. When the abnormal end detection unit detects an abnormal end of a switching step, the error recovery unit receives an error recovery instruction and eliminates the error of the switching step. A printing state automatic switching method is also disclosed.

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: The present invention is an imprint system including an imprint unit transferring a transfer pattern to a coating film formed on a substrate using a template having the transfer pattern formed on a front surface thereof to form a predetermined pattern in the coating film, the imprint system including: a substrate carry-in/out station connected to the imprint unit, capable of keeping a plurality of the substrates, and carrying the substrate into/out of the imprint unit side; and a template carry-in/out station connected to the imprint unit, capable of keeping a plurality of the templates, and carrying the template into/out of the imprint unit side at a predetermined timing.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for changing printing plates in sheet-fed rotary printing presses include a plurality of printing units and plate cylinders being coupled to one another mechanically in the printing units during a printing operation. At the beginning of a plate change, the plate cylinders are coupled to one another mechanically and are driven jointly by a main drive motor. After an old printing plate has been conveyed out, each plate cylinder is decoupled from the common mechanical connection and is driven by a separate drive motor.

Abstract: A control method for a publisher that has a media drive for writing data to one side of a target disc, a label printer for printing on the other side of the target disc, media stacker for storing the target discs, and a media transportation mechanism for transporting the target disc at least any one of the media drive, the label printer, and the media stacker in response to a command from a host computer reports an error to a host computer when the target disc cannot be transported as instructed by the host computer.

Abstract: In a printed product color misregister amount detection method, a reference register mark including a first color area portion with a predetermined width and a blank portion in contact with the first color area portion is printed in a reference color on a printed product to be printed by a multi-color printing press. A positional shift detection register mark including a second color area portion with a width smaller than that of the first color area portion of the reference register mark is printed in a color other than the reference color to have as a target position a position where the width of the second color area portion falls within the width of the first color area portion of the reference register mark.

Abstract: A web printing press is provided. The web printing press includes at least one printing unit printing images on a web, at least one press component in direct contact with the web, a cutting device for cutting the web into sheets and a controller transmitting a virtual master signal to the at least one printing unit and at least one press component. A sensor senses the at least one press component or directly senses the web downstream of the at least one print unit and generates a sensor signal. A processor receives the sensor signal and the virtual master signal, the processor transmits a modified virtual master signal to the cutting device as a function of the received sensor signal. Methods are also provided.

Abstract: At least one rotating component of at least one printing unit is regulated to a target value for a temperature, representing the component temperature, by a temperature controller. At least one drive of an assembly of the printing machine is regulated or controlled, on the basis of a target value for a rotational speed prescribed by a command level, with respect to a rotational speed to be maintained. For at least an operating phase transient, relative to the rotational speed, a target value prescribed by the command level, is modified. This is done by considering at least one member of a route and/or a control model characterizing the temperature controller and/or by using a rule (F2(?)) for a dependence of a rotational speed on a temperature. The modified target rotational speed serves as a prescribed value for the rotational speed of the drives.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus of the present invention is capable of matching an image of a printed matter with a desired image with high accuracy by adjusting tints even when tints change while printing.

Abstract: A system and method for accurately controlling a printing process regardless web width or printing layout. A user interface is provided for configuring a printing application that includes a plurality of sensors arranged to form an interface region. The sensors are configured to generate feedback indicating user interaction with the interface region. A controller is configured to map the plurality of sensors into virtual keys based on at least a columniation of the printing application and adjust parameters of the printing application based on the feedback.

Abstract: The ink in a printing press, in which a stock of material is being printed in an ongoing printing process, is registered. At least one ink is applied to the stock in several inking zones. A measured value, indicating an ink density, is determined for the at least one ink which is being applied to the stock in the printing process and within the printing press. A relation is formed between the measured ink density for a specific ink in a selected ink zone and a measured ink density value determined for the same ink in at least one other inking zone. The relation between the measured ink density values in different inking zones is formed only if the majority of the inking zones of a specific inking unit of the printing press supply one respective measured ink density value for an ink supplied by that inking unit, and when the measured ink density value reaches at least a predetermined fraction of a preset, desired value in the respective inking zone.

Abstract: The invention is about a marking method and a corresponding coding center device for the marking of individual items (1), such as security documents, currency, tax excise stamps, labels, pieces of packaging, articles, or transportation means, with pertinent information indicating their nature and/or content, origin and/or destination, etc., and their registration in a remote, centralized data base, enabling the tracking & tracing of said items (1) and of the goods they may be applied to. The method of the invention is based on a three-step printreadcancel (PRC) sequence, embodied in a device comprising a printing unit (P), a reading unit (R) and a canceling unit (C), arranged in-line on an integrated equipment and operating under the control of information processing means (IP).

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for controlling drive settings in a press for printing on a web of media. A drive is provided to receive the web from an upstream location and to transport the received web downstream of the drive at a controllable speed. The speed of the drive is sampled plural times while operating the drive in a tension control mode that varies the speed to maintain a desired tension in the web adjacent the drive. An optimal speed of the drive is calculated from the sampled speeds. The drive is operated in a constant velocity mode at the optimal speed during printing.

Abstract: A method for operating a web printing system enables web and roller changes arising from temperature changes to be identified and used to adjust operation of the reflex registration system. The method includes identifying a temperature change for at least one roller in a web printing system, identifying a temperature change for a web moving through the web printing system at one or more locations in the web printing system, modifying web velocity computations for a reflex registration system with reference to the identified temperature change for the at least one roller and the identified temperature change for the web, and operating printheads to eject ink onto the web at positions identified with reference to the modified web velocity computations.

Abstract: A display system is provided that can perform suitable procedure display in accordance with the respective operation statuses of a plurality of electronic devices. The display system is formed by connecting an electronic device, a portable terminal, and an information distributing apparatus through a network, and the electronic device has a description tool affixed to the device to indicate the electronic device information of the device and transmits the state information of the device to the information distributing apparatus. The portable terminal acquires the electronic device information of the electronic device from the description tool and transmits it to the information distributing apparatus and displays the returned operation procedure information.

Abstract: A measurement field allows determining the smearing limit during printing, in particular during lithographic wet offset printing. The measurement field is arranged on a printing form, in particular a printing plate, which has printing, ink-carrying regions and nonprinting, dampening solution-carrying regions on its surface. A dampening solution-carrying property in the region of the measurement field is reduced by a nanoscopic coating (e.g., with amphiphilic molecules) or an unscreened, microscopic coating (e.g., a polymer coating) in comparison with the dampening solution-carrying property in the nonprinting regions of the surface of the printing form. The nanoscopic coating or the microscopic coating advantageously leads to a shifting of the smearing limit, that is to say to a displacement of the starting point of scumming, by the dampening solution requirement which is increased for scum-free printing within the region of the measurement field.

Abstract: A method enables changes in the operation of a web printing system in response to web dimensional changes being detected. The method includes identifying a cross-process dimensional change in a web moving through a printing system, comparing the identified cross-process dimensional change to a predetermined threshold, and changing operation of a component in the web printing system in response to the cross-process dimensional change exceeding the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Method of manufacturing a hygiene paper product in form of a continuous paper web (W) of sheets partly separated by perforation lines (9) and wound to a log of predetermined longitudinal length, providing a continuous paper web (W), moving the continuous paper web in a direction of its longitudinal extension, providing at least one embossed pattern on the continuous paper web, providing in the area of an embossing station at least one mark (6, 7) onto the continuous paper web, which mark (6, 7) is in register to the embossed pattern, sensing the mark and controlling perforating means for registering the perforation lines (9) with the embossed pattern thereby imparting perforation lines to the continuous paper web in predetermined longitudinal distances, winding up the resulting web to logs, and cutting the log into rolls.

Abstract: An ink dosing device of a printing group, that includes a printing group cylinder which is configured as a plate cylinder, includes an inking unit. The ink dosing device has a number of physical zones which are arranged next to each other in a longitudinal direction. These physical zones can be individually adjusted by the use of dosing elements in order to individually adjust, section by section, the amount of ink that is applied. A control station is provided with a number of operator elements which are assigned to virtual zones of a printed page. These operator elements are usable to trigger the dosing elements.

Abstract: A printing device, which is usable to produce printed products, is supplied with a material web of a predetermined length. The length of the required web is defined by the printed product to be produced. The material web is assembled from several partial webs, having defined lengths. The supply of these partial webs to the printing device is provided automatically with the use of a material management system. A control unit of this system determines the length for the partial webs that have been chosen for a certain production request. These partial webs are sent to the printing device in a certain sequence so that the last one of these partial webs to be used has the least web length of the several partial webs. The minimum length of the last partial web is determined by an end of the partial web finishing the production. This sequence is determined, at the earliest, after the cycle time has ended.

Abstract: A method is used for adapting an inking unit of a printing press. During a setup phase for the printing press, at least a first actual value with regard to an ink application that is set at the inking unit and that is applied to the printed material, is determined by use of a first measuring device. The inking unit is initially set using this first actual value. During continuous printing of the printing press, a plurality of second actual values, with respect to a printed image formed on the printed materials, are determined using a second measuring device which is different from the first measuring device. These second values are fed to an ink adapting device for the inking unit. At least one of these several actual values, which corresponds to the setting mode in the setting phase, is set in the ink adjusting device as its setpoint value. The ink adjusting device detects deviations of the other second actual values for this setpoint value and adjusts the inking unit to minimize these deviations.

Abstract: A web offset printing press that prints and processes at least one material web and has printing units and/or printing unit assemblies, at least one folder, and transport elements operates by transporting the at least one material web by the transport elements through a web of the printing press into the at least one folder, electrically driving the at least one folder, the printing units and/or printing unit assemblies and the transport elements at least partially mechanically independently of each other, and synchronizing during printing operation via specified setpoints values of at least one master axis with an electronically generated synchronization clock, and starting from a initial state of the at least one folder in which the master axis and/or condition of motion of the folder are independent of each other, adapting by the at least one folder its initial state to or synchronizing by the at least one folder its initial state with setpoint value assignments of the master axis, by performing compensati

Abstract: A printing machine is provided with at least one printing unit that is usable for printing an image, in ink, on a printable material. The printing machine includes at least one application device which is usable to apply at least one contactless identification characteristic, in the form of an RFID system or a part thereof, to the printable material. At least one inspection device is also provided in the printing machine. At least one test device, for testing the identification characteristic, or the part thereof, is also provided in the printing machine.

Abstract: Line patches m and solid patches s are printed with a subject image, each line patches having at least 200 lines per inch and a duty ratio of at least 60%, to detect densities Dm and Ds. A water coefficient W (=Dm/Ds) is calculated from the detected densities Dm and Ds. Whether dampening water is fed at a proper rate or not is determined based on correlation data stored beforehand and showing a relationship between the feed rate of dampening water and the water coefficient W. The feed rate of dampening water is controlled to be a proper rate.

Abstract: A web offset printing press that prints and processes at least one material web and has printing units and/or printing unit assemblies, at least one folder, and transport elements operates by transporting the at least one material web by the transport elements through a web of the printing press into the at least one folder, electrically driving the at least one folder, the printing units and/or printing unit assemblies and the transport elements at least partially mechanically independently of each other, and synchronizing during printing operation via specified setpoints values of at least one master axis with an electronically generated synchronization clock, and starting from a initial state of the at least one folder in which the master axis and/or condition of motion of the folder are independent of each other, adapting by the at least one folder its initial state to or synchronizing by the at least one folder its initial state with setpoint value assignments of the master axis, by performing compensati

Abstract: A method of operating a web printing press is provided. The method includes storing productivity data, press speeds and paper types of past print jobs run on the web printing press in a database; comparing a paper type of a new print job with the paper types of the past print jobs stored in the database to identify past print jobs with similar or the same paper type as the new print job; selecting a press speed for the new print job based on at least the productivity data of the past print jobs with similar or the same paper type as the new print job; and printing the new print job on the web printing press at the selected press speed.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring zonal inking on a printed product having a plurality of inking zones includes a plurality of optical sensors, each of the optical sensors picking up signals from at least one zonal measurement region assigned to a respective one of the plurality of inking zones of the printed product. The apparatus also includes at least one optical switch connected for receiving the picked up signals from the plurality of optical sensors and at least one measurement device connected to the at least one optical switch for receiving the picked up signals and evaluating the picked up signals.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a system and methods for the production of color coatings gradients on a surface using a blender and applicator, sensors and to computer memory containing stored color gradient representation information to be used for color composition customization and for visually displaying alphanumeric data/information on 2D and 3D surfaces. This invention integrates gradient specific programmable computer digital processes to function as internal editors, manipulate information and present an operator with multiple options and production overrides. This invention will make data analysis more interactive by utilizing existing external software applications as editors and expanding the process of visual communications for multiple purposes.

Abstract: A method for registering a rotary press for a printing process, in which “n” inking systems (Fn) each produce monochrome printed images and print one on top of the other thereby producing n-colored printed images, includes producing the images of a printed material with at least one sensor station, recording information on rotary movements of printing plate cylinders (Dn), and using the images and the information to produce correction signals which actuate the cylinders until a deviation of the images of the respective inking systems from a desired position on the material lies within a defined range of tolerance values. During the registering method, one printing plate cylinder at a time is in the printing position, the sensor station produces the printed images, and the correction signals are obtained based on the image produced by the respective cylinder and the information on the rotary movements of at least one cylinder.

Abstract: The plausibility of at least one measured value, that is determined in a printing press, and that includes a density of an ink applied to a stock, is assessed. The stock is conveyed through the printing press and the ink is applied to the stock in several inking zones. A relation is formed between a measured ink density value, which is determined for a specific ink in a selected ink zone, and a measured ink density value determined for the same ink in at least one other inking zone. The measured ink density value for the specific ink in the selected ink zone is rejected as being implausible, and is not used for automatically regulating the ink in the printing press, if the relation between the measured value and the measured value for the same ink in the at least one other inking zone inadmissibly either exceeds or lies below at least one predefined threshold value.

Abstract: A system and method for customizing and printing custom designed stickers allows a user to select almost unlimited designs (e.g., colors, patterns, artwork, photographs) and to print the selected designs on a blank sticker sheet. The system and method thus allows a retail store to stock blank sticker sheets, avoids the inefficiencies of having to stock stickers with a wide variety of unique colors and patterns, and allows a user to create stickers with a user created design. Although the exemplary embodiments show alphabet stickers, the system and method may be used to custom design and print any type of sticker including, without limitation, message stickers, frame stickers and icon stickers.

Abstract: A printing press, in particular a sheet-fed offset printing press, includes at least one control device, a plurality of printing units, one or more varnishing units, and one or more dryers. Variables determining a dryness of the printing material are determined and used to optimize the drying process. For that purpose, the important material streams influencing the drying process are determined at least for the region of the printing press that contains the drying device(s).

Abstract: A near infrared dye composition includes a microcapsule that includes an inner core region and an outer shell. The inner core region includes a cross-linked polymer-near infrared dye aggregate. The outer shell includes nanoparticles.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing printing plate deformation (29) in a plate processor device comprising a plate transport means (19) comprising a motor (15) and plurality of rollers (11, 12, 13, 14). A one way coupler (21) connects the motor (15) and the plurality of rollers (11, 12, 13, 14). Identifying means identifies the slower rollers and decouples the slower rollers from the motor.

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: The present invention relates to a safety system comprising at least two stationary detector elements each defining a respective first safety zone, said first safety zones not coinciding, a moving detector element, and a control unit connected to the stationary detector elements. The control unit is adapted to detect the presence of the moving detector element in one of the first safety zones. The invention is applicable to rotary printing presses.

Abstract: A method enables linear web velocities generated with reference to angular velocity signals generated by encoders at different rollers in a double reflex printing registration system to be equalized. The method includes identifying a low frequency component of a first linear velocity of a moving web, identifying a high frequency component of a second linear velocity of the moving web, and computing a linear velocity for the moving web at a roller in a print zone with reference to the identified high frequency component of the second linear velocity and the identified low frequency component of the first linear velocity.

Abstract: A media processing device has a printer error detection unit 40 that detects ink supply errors, such as the ink end, in the label printer, and a media retraction stacker for removing written media from the media drive, the label printer, and the media transportation path.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for labeling a container comprising (a) first winder capable of unwinding a heat transfer label from a heat transfer label roll, (b) first vacuum box capable of containing at least a portion of the heat transfer label unwound from the first winder, (c) vacuuming means, (d) heater plate, and (e) heat label applicator. The use of one or more vacuum boxes enables containers to be labeled at a greater speed.

Abstract: A printing system includes a lithographic plate information printing unit, a variable information printing unit, and a control component. The lithographic plate information printing unit prints lithographic plate information on a recording medium using a lithographic plate. The variable information printing unit prints predetermined variable information on the recording medium on which the lithographic plate information is printed by the lithographic plate information printing unit. The control component controls so that the lithographic plate information to be printed by the lithographic plate information printing unit and the variable information to be printed by the variable information printing unit are printed in preset correspondence with each other.

Abstract: A duplex printing apparatus capable of printing by performing a slow-up operation on the printing speed so that it increases from a low speed to a set speed at the time of duplex printing. Control means controls, on the basis of a drum rotation position signal and a drum speed signal from a home position sensor and an unshown encoder sensor, a sheet feeding unit, printing unit, sheet discharge unit, sheet re-feeding means and switching member, such that the printing speed (drum speed) slows up from a low speed to a set speed in each rotation of a plate cylinder, which corresponds to feeding of each sheet to the printing unit when duplex printing is started, and further controls a stepping motor of the sheet re-feeding means such that conveyance speed of a sheet receiving board synchronizes with the printing speed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a digital offset printing method for producing a composite image on a substrate wherein the image is made up of a first plurality number of component images, each being formed from a different ink. The method comprises providing a first component image on a first surface, transferring the first component image from the first surface to an intermediate transfer module, repeating said provided and transferring steps for further component images until a second plurality number, less than the first plurality number, of component images has been accumulated on the intermediate transfer module, and transferring the accumulated component images from the intermediate transfer module to the substrate.

Abstract: A dry cleaner apparatus for cleaning at least one flexographic printing plate carried on a plate cylinder includes a frame for traveling along a path parallel to the axis of rotation of the plate cylinder, an unwind spindle rotatably attached to the frame, the unwind spindle holding a rolled web of dry cleaning material for turning to dispense new dry cleaning material, a rewind spindle for turning to roll up used dry cleaning material, a motor attached to the frame and coupled to one or both spindles to turn the spindles and thereby dispense new dry cleaning material and rewind used dry cleaning material, a pad assembly including a pad retainer, a pad base, and a dry pad, and a linear actuator attached to the frame and operating on the pad assembly to urge the dry pad toward the flexographic printing to remove ink and debris from the surface thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a self diagnosis of a device that includes a universal serial bus (USB) host and a USB client. The method includes detecting whether the universal serial bus client of the device is connected to a universal serial bus host, detecting whether the device acting as the universal serial bus client is identical to a device acting as the universal serial bus host when the universal serial bus client is connected to the universal serial bus host, and allowing the self diagnosis of the device to be automatically performed when the device acting as the universal serial bus client is identical to the device acting as the universal serial bus host. Accordingly, a self diagnosis of a device can be automatically performed by connecting a USB client to its USB host.

Abstract: A damping unit for a press has means for applying a clamping solution to a printing form and means for setting the quantity of damping solution applied. At least one sensor is provided for registering the quantity of damping solution actually applied to the printing form. By means of a comparison with a predefined quantity of damping solution, the quantity of damping solution on the printing form can be regulated.

Abstract: A method of managing the production of tickets in accordance with a ticket order submitted to a ticketing services bureau by a customer includes an optional step of producing a physical ticket proof for the customer prior to execution of the ticket order. Preferably, the physical ticket proof is generated using a plateless printing press, such as a digital printing press, but has the print characteristics of a particular plate-based press platform which is designated to execute the ticket order. A process for accurately matching the color characteristics of the digital printing press with the color characteristics of a plate-based press platform includes the steps of calibrating the plate-based press platform to meet a particular printing standard, creating an International Color Consortium (ICC) profile for the designated plate-based press platform, applying the ICC profile to the digital printing press, and managing the color formulation properties of the digital printing press.

Abstract: A dampening water regulating scale P includes first detecting patches PY1, PM1, PC1 and PK1, and second detecting patches PY2, PM2, PC2 and PK2. The first detecting patches PY1, PM1, PC1 and PK1 are formed of line patches having the number of lines at 400 lines per inch and a duty ratio at 67%. The second detecting patches PY2, PM2, PC2 and PK2 are formed of dot patches having the number of lines at 150 and a dot percentage at 80%.

Abstract: An image forming device comprises: an image forming unit adapted to execute image formation on a recording medium; and a writing unit adapted to be able to execute at least an information writing operation in a non-contact manner to a non-contact IC added to the recording medium. It is controlled whether or not the image forming unit should execute the image formation on the recording medium, according to a result of the information writing operation executed by the writing unit to the non-contact IC added to the recording medium.