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 method of preparing a print control strip including at least two process control elements and being adapted to at least a width of at least one used area of at least one original image, includes determining borders of the at least one used area. A state is assigned to every process control element in dependence on if the process control element is located substantially inside the borders. A print control strip is created by using only process control elements that have been assigned a state as being inside the borders.

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: The present invention provides a printing press. The printing press includes a frame, a plate cylinder, a plate cylinder support supporting the plate cylinder, a blanket cylinder for receiving an image from the plate cylinder, a blanket cylinder support supporting the blanket cylinder, an impression cylinder for supporting a printing substrate between the blanket cylinder and the impression cylinder, an actuator connected to and controlling a position of the plate cylinder support or the blanket cylinder support and a controller providing the actuator with a position setpoint, the actuator receiving position feedback signals to maintain the position setpoint during a printing operation. The present invention also provides a method for operating a printing press.

Abstract: A printing sleeve (10) has a first printing sleeve portion (10A) with a first and a second end. At least one of the ends of the first printing sleeve portion has a plurality of projections (16) and notches (18). A second printing sleeve portion (10B) has a first and second end, and least one of the ends has a plurality of projections and notches. The plurality of projections and notches of the first printing sleeve portion interlocks with the plurality of projections and notches of the second printing sleeve portion.

Abstract: A method for controlling cut-off registration in a printing press having printed webs includes applying print control marks which are invisible to the human eye to the printed webs; passing the webs pass through cut-off register control actuators; assembling the webs into a bundle for cut-off; scanning the webs with sensors to determine the actual positions of the marks; comparing the actual positions with desired positions of the marks; and generating signals for the cut-off register control actuators based on the comparison.

Abstract: A method and apparatus herein supply one or more media characteristics of a continuous media material (such as printing media) being supplied to rollers of an apparatus (such as a printing apparatus). The method and apparatus adjust the position of at least one of the rollers/shafts, relative to other rollers/shafts, based on the media characteristics to cause the media material to exhibit a target resonance frequency when being processed through the rollers. The method and apparatus can also identify excitation frequencies of vibrations produced by the apparatus as the apparatus feeds the continuous media material along the rollers and set the target resonance frequency at a value that is different from the excitation frequencies to prevent the apparatus from exciting the continuous media material at or near a resonant frequency of the processing system transporting the continuous media material.

Abstract: A method for controlling register settings of a printing press, includes rotating imaging cylinders of a first print unit and a second print unit, located downstream of the first print unit in a movement direction of a print medium, at a rotational speed to print an image on the print medium. The method includes of changing a length of the print image to a pre-determined length. The method further includes changing a register setting of the imaging cylinder of the second print unit based on the predetermined change in length of the print image to avoid misalignment of the print image printed by the first and the second print units on the print medium. Changing the register setting is dependent on a length of a section of the print medium between the first and the second print units. A device for controlling register settings of a printing press is also disclosed.

Abstract: A contact pressure adjusting method and a contact pressure adjusting apparatus for a printing press, which can adjust a contact pressure automatically and always highly accurately without the influence of mechanical oscillations (disturbance such as noise), are provided. For this purpose, the contact pressure (load) of a wiping roll on an intaglio cylinder is converted into the torque value (electric current value) of a wiping roll drive motor, and given as feedback to a wiping roll contact pressure adjusting motor.

Abstract: Printing plates are prepared at installation positions on one of a plurality of plate cylinders disposed in a printing machine. A plurality of flat printing plates, which are provided for a printing process to be carried out by the printing machine itself, and which printing plates are themselves bendable, at least along their length, are provided at the outlet of a plate line which is spatially separated from the printing machine and which comprises at least one plate exposure device. Each of the printing plates is temporarily stored in a specific shelf of a mobile collection container that has a plurality of such shelves. The printing plates which are stored in the same mobile collection containers are prepared for installation positions of the same plate cylinder.

Abstract: A method of further inserting a partially inserted leading and/or trailing edge of a printing plate into respective lock-up slots in a plate cylinder of a printing press to allow register slots in said edges to engage with lateral pins or a register mechanism in said lock-up slots is disclosed. The method comprises the step of positioning a pushing element relative to the curved surface of the plate cylinder, on which a printing plate is disposed with its leading and/or trailing edges partially inserted into their respective lock-up slots, such that said pushing element will engage and push a raised portion of said printing plate, adjacent to said partially inserted leading and/or trailing edge, down onto the surface of the plate cylinder and the leading and/or trailing edge further into their respective lock-up slots, as said plate cylinder rotates.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lithographic apparatus includes a first detection unit for detecting a first mark formed on an original and a second mark formed in each of a plurality of shot regions on a substrate, a second detection unit for detecting the second mark, and a processing unit for performing a process of detecting the second mark by the second detection unit to obtain an array of the shot regions, a process of obtaining a positional relationship between the first mark and the second mark, which are detected by the first detection unit, for each of the shot regions upon moving the substrate using the result of obtaining the array of the shot regions, and a process of transferring a pattern of the original onto each of the shot regions upon aligning the original and the substrate for each of the shot regions based on the positional relationship.

Abstract: A rotary die apparatus and method for determining a registration error of a pattern applied to a strip of material by a rotary die. The rotary die apparatus may comprise the rotary die and a control system which senses signals from a sensor and a rotary encoder to determine an actual position of the rotary die when a fiducial on the strip of material is sensed. The control system may calculate the registration error by comparing the actual position with a registration target corresponding to a pattern length. The pattern length may correspond to the number of encoder pulses output per revolution of the rotary die divided by the number of patterns spaced apart around the circumference of the rotary die. An encoder count used to determine the actual position of the rotary die may reset each time it reaches the pattern length.

Abstract: Print arrangement, comprising a first roll, a transport surface, a nip between the first roll and the transport surface through which, at least during printing, a substrate is threaded, a drive system arranged to change a width of the nip, and a lateral stretch member arranged to engage a side of the substrate. The first roll comprises a two coaxially aligned roll segments of similar diameters for rolling over the substrate, with a distance in between.

Abstract: A method for registering a press machine including printing stations, each including a plate roller with a printing plate. Each printing plate includes a microdot engraving. The method includes displacing the plate rollers with respect to each other for scattering them, printing a scattered microdot pattern on a print substrate, acquiring an image of the scattered microdot pattern, associating the plate rollers with their respective microdot marks, and displacing the plate rollers to a registered position, Each of the plate rollers is associated with a unique scattered displacement and with its respective microdot mark according to the position of its respective microdot mark relative to the other microdot marks in the scattered microdot pattern, and to the unique scattered displacement of the plate roller. The plate rollers are displaced to a registered position according to the position of their respective microdot marks relative to the other microdot marks.

Abstract: A machine for in-register mounting of flexographic printing plates with a virtual data-processing system, having a supporting footing for a printing plate cylinder, on which a respective flexographic printing plate is mounted, suitable for printing a predefined image, and at least one television camera, which is connected to a monitor, is trained onto the cylinder and can slide parallel to the cylinder to check correct positioning-mounting of the printing plate, the television camera being associated with position sensors and connected to a device for the real-time processing and display of at least one composite image, for allowing the operator to perform precise position comparisons for optimum plate mounting between a preprocessed graphical reproduction of the image to be printed, provided on a digital memory composed of graphical memory associated with position measurements, and the position of the printing plate.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating three-dimensional structures comprise: contacting a printing plate face with a suspension comprising particles to arrange the particles at predefined positions on the printing plate face, the predefined positions comprising a first position laterally adjacent to a second position; positioning the printing plate with the printing plate face turned toward a substrate and the first position aligned to a protrusion on the substrate; contacting the protrusion with a first layer of particles disposed at the first position of the printing plate to transfer the first layer of particles to a protrusion surface; moving the printing plate laterally to align the second position to the protrusion; and contacting the first layer of particles disposed on the protrusion surface with a second layer of particles disposed at the second position of the printing plate to transfer the second layer of particles to on top of the first layer of particles.

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: 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 method of labeling bottles and a machine therefor in which indicia on the bottles is monitored to determine where to produce indicia on at least one predetermined portion substantially transverse to a longitudinal container axis of each container, such as the top of a bottle cap. The indicia is aligned with the orientation of at least one indicium, such as a side label, on at least one portion of the same container in a predetermined spatial relationship.

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 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 press is provided that includes a printing section including at least one printing unit printing images on a web and at least one compensator unit for varying the direction of travel of the web in the printing section during operation of the at least one printing unit.

Abstract: A web platform has multiple print modules adapted to print form data and variable data in a continuous operation. A controller with access to a form image database and a variable document database is connected to the web platform. Each print module on the web platform uses single color, ink jet, print heads. Form data is printed by a plurality of single color print modules. Variable data is printed by a single color print module. Bulk paper in rolls is fed through the web platform to print the forms and customer statements. The controller can direct printing of multiple statements simultaneously in discrete lanes on the web platform. Printed customer statements are subsequently separated into individual finished documents for process and mailing.

Abstract: A printing sleeve mandrel assembly for use in a rotary printing press is disclosed. The printing sleeve mandrel assembly includes a mandrel having an outer circumference and a plurality of printing sleeves each operable to be removeably disposed along the outer circumference of the mandrel. Each of the plurality of printing sleeves includes a first end and a second end wherein at least one of the first end and the second end includes an engagement mechanism, each engagement mechanism for removeably coupling with the engagement mechanism of an adjacent printing sleeve so that each of the plurality of printing sleeves are operable to rotate in conjunction with the other printing sleeves.

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 invention describes a printing press (1) comprising at least one impression cylinder (2), which comprises a first and a second front side and to which at least two inking systems (6a . . . 6j) each having a print roller are assigned, it being possible to set the print rollers against the impression cylinder and drive each print roller by means of a drive. A first inking system is assigned to the first half of the impression cylinder and a second inking system is assigned to the second half. The drive of the print roller of the first inking system disposed in the first half is arranged on the first front side of the impression cylinder, and the drive of the print roller of the second inking system disposed in the second half is arranged on the first front side of the impression cylinder.

Abstract: A register in a printing machine is controlled and adjusted by providing at least one printing unit provided with at least two printing groups in the printing machine. Each printing group comprises a cylinder pair consisting of at least a forme cylinder and a transfer cylinder. The forme cylinder of the first printing group is phase shifted at a first amount for the register adjustment in a circumferential direction. The transfer cylinder of the first printing group is phase shifted in a second amount in the circumferential direction. The amount of the phase shift of the forme cylinder is different from the amount of phase shift of the transfer cylinder. The two amounts of the phase shifts are not equal to zero.

Abstract: A stack angle compensation arrangement is disclosed. This arrangement is for use with a skewing adjustment system in an offset printing press unit that is configured and disposed for receiving plate and blanket cylinders of various diameters. The arrangement keeps the rotation axis of the skewing adjustment system in line with a reference plane, which reference plane is defined by the rotation axis of a plate cylinder (before skewing) and the rotation axis of a blanket cylinder, when the stack angle changes. A method of automatically compensating a change in the stack angle in an offset printing press unit having a skewing adjustment system is also presented.

Abstract: In a printing press including a printing section to print patterns, a register apparatus captures an image of register marks printed in the printing section, and causes positions of the patterns, which are to be printed in the printing section, to be in register on the basis of positions of the register marks in the image. The register apparatus comprises: a front surface camera or a back surface camera for capturing an image of an edge of a print sheet together with the register marks, the print sheet already subjected to printing in the printing section; and a first-color register adjustment mechanism, a second-color register adjustment mechanism, a third-color register adjustment mechanism and a fourth-color register adjustment mechanism for adjusting the positions of the patterns to be printed in the printing section, on the basis of the positions of the register marks in the image and a position of the edge of the print sheet in the image.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an improved and economical system and method for viewing proposed texture designs for textured decorative laminates without having to make a press plate and a sample laminate. Embodiments of the present invention further provide systems and methods for making sample laminates and for registering a sample press plate with the laminate's decorative design when manufacturing a sample laminate. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention utilize transparent sheets, such as acetate films, in novel ways during the design of textured laminate press plates and during the registration of the press plate and the laminate's decorative layer.

Abstract: A pad printing machine (1) to print an object (8) in at least two stages, said machine comprising at least one printing pad (6) to print said object and at least two printing plate zones (10) within each of which a printing plate (14) may be moved into the desired position, the pad printing machine furthermore comprising an image recorder (44) generating an image of at least a partial area of at least one printing plate zone (10), and a comparator (46) to compare the image generated by said recorder (44) with reference data.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises storing information in a database that describes cutting locations on a web upon which multiple images are printed; embedding, in an area on the web, a key into the database; and using the key to ascertain, from the database, the cutting locations.

Abstract: A printing press is provided. The printing press includes a print unit printing a plurality of printed products, the plurality of printed products being formed into a stream downstream of the print unit. The printing press also includes at least one base and a press component, the press component is mounted onto the at least one base for placement in the stream and translational movement transverse to the stream. The press component may be a pitch changing apparatus. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A pattern transfer apparatus transfers an imprint pattern formed on a mold, provided with an alignment mark, to a resin material on a substrate, provided with an alignment mark. A first image pickup device obtains an image of an object positioned at a first object position. A second image pickup device obtains an image of an object positioned at a second object position. The second object position is more distant from the alignment mark of the mold than the first object position. An optical system forms an image of an object positioned at the first object position and an image of an object positioned at the second object position. Alignment is performed based on first and second information obtained about positions of images of an alignment mark of a reference substrate and an alignment mark of the substrate, to transfer the imprinting pattern to the resin material.

Abstract: A method for successive printing of a first print job and a second print job on the same web using at least one printing group of the rotary press to print the first print job and the second print job is provided. The printing group includes at least a plate cylinder, a plate, a blanket cylinder and a blanket. Between the first print job and the second print job, a plate-changing stage occurs in which the blanket is held away from the web and the plates of the plate cylinder are changed. According to one aspect of the invention, between the first print job and the second print job, the web is kept traveling through the rotary press.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a printing assembly incorporating an improved double-sided image transfer station. The present disclosure also describes a product processing apparatus including a cross feed processing architecture. The single-pass double-sided image transfer station and cross feed processing architectures described herein provide numerous advantages over prior art product processing devices. In particular, the single-pass double-sided image transfer station provides for reduced print times, less shuttling of the product during printing, and a less complex, therefore, more reliable printing operation overall. The cross feed architecture provides an efficient processing path for the product through the device and facilitates processing modularization.

Abstract: An offset print unit includes a plate cylinder having an end, a rotatable plate cylinder support supporting the end and having a first bearing surface, a blanket cylinder having a blanket cylinder end, a rotatable blanket cylinder support supporting the end and having a second bearing surface and an actuating device for rotating the plate cylinder support and the blanket cylinder support, the first and second bearing surfaces contacting during a part of the rotation of the supports. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A method for flexographic printing includes applying a control value to an ink pumping and control system responsive to the control value, where the control value sets an operating mode of the ink pumping and control system. Ink is pumped according to the set operating mode through a rotary coupling into a rotating diffusion cylinder, where the diffusion cylinder has an inner channel, an outer surface and a plurality of passages. Ink is first metered through the plurality of passages so as to contact a permeable membrane covering the diffusion cylinder and secondarily metered by passing through the permeable membrane onto a printing plate or printing sleeve which is impressed onto a printing medium to produce a printed output, where the printed output is sensed to provide a modified control value that is then applied to the ink pumping system.

Abstract: A register control method and printing press capable of preventing wasted paper and improving cost effectiveness by improving detection of a register mark is provided. A position of a register mark printed on a web before starting printing is predicted. A plate cylinder is preset on the basis of the prediction. Then, a predicted value of the register mark position to be used for the next operation is corrected on the basis of the difference between the position of an actual printed register mark and the predicted position. For example, when the predicted value of the register mark is A, an actual position of a register mark is B, and the corrected predicted value of the register mark is A?, correction is carried out on the basis of A?=A+(B?A)×k (where k is a coefficient smaller than one).

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes applying at least one invisible mark to media, sensing the at least one invisible mark with separate sensors, and determining a speed of the media from signals of the separate sensors.

Abstract: Multiple alignment patterns, each composed of first and second alignment pattern elements printed by forward and backward movements of a print head, respectively, are formed while the relative printing positions of the two elements are shifted. From optical characteristics data thereof, whether the data is influenced by a disturbance is determined. When the data is determined to be less influenced by the disturbance and therefore to be reliable, an adjusting value for aligning positions in printing in reciprocal movements is calculated by use of: data with the smallest relative printing position misalignment between the first and second alignment pattern elements; and data of optical characteristics close to the data. When the data is largely influence by the disturbance, a range of shifting of relative position is widened than that of the data less influenced by the disturbance so that more data pieces are used to obtain the adjusting value.

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.

Abstract: A system and method of monitoring a print manufacturing process which may include a raster image processor for imaging proofs, plates and press sheets for a printing press based on raster and vector data and generating a two-dimensional barcode where the data is translated into a homogenous messaging format, a plate imager for imaging a printing plate based on the data received from the raster image processor wherein the printing plate also comprises a two-dimensional barcode, a computer-to-plate device capable of transmitting the data from the raster image processor to the plate imager where the two-dimensional barcode is utilized to monitor the printing plate during the print manufacturing process and/or to image replacement printing plates.

Abstract: The CD-R print system 10 has a shape identical to the CD-R and the like, and the scale marks are printed on the adjustment medium AM with the base line BL previously printed thereon. The user inputs portions of the scales overlapping with the base line BL to the CD-R print system 10 via the user interface. Then, the CD-R print system 10 determines an amount of misalignment of print position based on the input information. The CD-R print system 10 reflects this amount of misalignment to generate print data. Such CD-R print system 10 enables the print position to be readily adjusted with accuracy without using a rule or the like.

Abstract: A method and a printer device capable of correctly processing a printing operation even when a user feeds particular paper, of which a front/back surface (printing surface) and a top/bottom direction (printing direction) are fixed, in a incorrect direction, by determining whether a current feeding direction of the paper is correct and rotating a printing direction by 180° before performing the printing operation if the feeding direction is incorrect.

Abstract: A printing press is provided including at least one print unit printing a first job on a web, a folder splitting the web into a plurality of ribbons, combining the ribbons, and cutting the ribbons into signatures, the folder having a folder delivery for delivery of the signatures, a marking device marking every ribbon, a sensor sensing the marks on every ribbon, and a controller connected to the marking device and the sensor and determining a shortest ribbon value and a longest ribbon value, the shortest ribbon value being a function of a shortest path length of a first ribbon through the folder and the longest ribbon value being a function of a longest path length of a further ribbon through the folder. A method is also provided.

Abstract: A method is used to set a contact pressure between a displaceable roller and another roller or for moving the displaceable roller with respect to the other roller. At least one actuator is subjectible to the action of a pressure medium and presses the displaceable roller toward the other roller with an adjustable force. The pressure of the pressure medium can be adjusted by a valve. A switchover device is provided for use in connecting the valve to different actuators, as desired.

Abstract: In a method and device for determination of a marking of an endless carrier material relevant for positioning of the endless carrier material to be printed in a printer or copier, the endless carrier material is inserted into the printer or copier. The endless carrier material is positioned in the printer or copier such that the marking is arranged in a detection region of a sensor arrangement. The pointing device is positioned at a position of the marking relevant for the positioning of the carrier material in the printer or copier. The position of the positioned pointing device is detected with aid of the sensor arrangement.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a ceramic electronic component includes first and second gravure-printing steps in which conductive paste and step-reducing ceramic paste are printed on a composite sheet including a ceramic green sheet. A first print mark is printed before the second gravure-printing step is performed, and the position of the first print mark is determined and compared with a desired position of the first print mark before the second gravure-printing step. Then, the second gravure-printing step is performed such that a second print mark is printed at a suitable position with respect to the position of the first print mark.