Abstract: A printing plate making apparatus for color printing is provided with a depicting section for recording an image on the surface of a printing plate, a processing section for processing the printing plate, with a processing solution, while conveying the printing plate, and a punching section for punching notches for positioning and winding the printing plate around a plate cylinder of a rotary press, the depicting and punching sections are provided with a first reference pin for abutting against a side edge of the printing plate being moved in a first direction to position the printing plate in the first direction, and a second reference pin for abutting against a side edge of the printing plate being moved in a second direction to position the printing plate in the second direction. The positional relation between the first and second reference pins in the depicting section and the positional relation between the first and second reference pins in the punching section are set identically.

Abstract: This invention relates to a printing press including an impression cylinder and a plurality of printing units which include drive gears and plate cylinders which are movable into and out of engagement with the impression cylinder. The press also includes a driven central gear which is coaxial to the impression cylinder and in mesh with all plate cylinder drive gears. The plate cylinders are permitted to have a plate length which is not exactly equal to an integral multiple of the tooth pitch of the plate cylinder gears so that the peripheral length of the plate cylinder is not an integral multiple of the tooth pitch of the central gear. The central gear is operatively connected by a gear train to drive a gear that is secured to the stub shaft of the impression cylinder. The gear train includes a differential gear train which has an input member that is adapted to be driven by an infinitely controllable transmission or by a stepping motor or the like.

Abstract: A method of mutually adjusting single-color images on a rotary printing press for printing multicolor images on a continuous paper strip, each single-color image being printed by a respective printing cylinder adjusted in relation to the other printing cylinders by selecting a reference cylinder from among the printing cylinders; disconnecting the printing cylinder for adjustment from a transmission common to all the printing cylinders; and reconnecting the transmission and the printing cylinder for adjustment, upon the reference cylinder, powered by the transmission, eliminating any difference in timing in relation to the printing cylinder for adjustment. FIGS. 1 and 4).

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for determining the position and angular velocity of a print drum. The apparatus includes a detector that is positioned proximate to the drum, and a processor coupled to the detector. The drum has a cylindrical body with a plurality of alphanumeric characters and a sequence of marks, including an index mark and a plurality of timing marks uniformly disposed about the circumference of the body, the timing marks being in relative alignment with the characters such that each character is associated with a pair of timing marks. The index mark is used to designate a start or reference location on the body.

Abstract: A screen printing method comprises an aligning process for fixing a master plate (10) to a fixing frame (20) in aligned relation thereto, an exposure process of exposing a screen printing plate (50) through the master plate (10) fixed to the fixing frame (20), a developing process for developing the thus exposed screen printing plate (50), and a printing process for printing a workpiece (80) by using the thus developed screen printing plate (50). In the aligning process, the positioning pins (22a, 22b, 22c) of the fixing frame (20) abut against the positioning protuberances (62a, 62b, 62c) of a fixing block (61). In the exposure process, the positioning pins (22a, 22b, 22c) of the fixing frame (20) abut against the positioning protuberances (32a, 32b, 32c) of a positioning block (3), while the positioning pins (52a, 52b, 52c) of the printing plate (51) holding the screen printing plate (50) abut against the positioning protuberances (62a, 62b, 62c) of the fixing block (61).

Abstract: In performing markings in semiconductor manufacturing devices, the positional discrepancy between printing plate and plate holder is first detected by a camera. After correcting such a discrepancy, the printing plate is positionally fixed and then printing is performed. The printing plate is rotated and moved horizontally in any directions when positional discrepancy is detected and corrected, and an image signal of such positional discrepancy supplied from the camera which is set to face the plate holder is processed to be shown on a monitor for executing correction of the discrepancy.

Abstract: In order to fix two plates (3, 4) onto the cylinder formed by a sleeve (1) or by a plate cylinder of the intaglio printing machine, two axial grooves (2) are formed on the cylinder such that the plane of one of the lateral faces of each groove (2) forms an angle with the axis of the cylinder. A strip (5, 6), whose face adjacent to the end of the plate is perpendicular to said plate, is welded onto the concave face of the two ends of each plate (3, 4). The edge of each plate (3, 4) projecting beyond the corresponding strip (5, 6) is then cut off such that the edge of the plate forms a continuous surface with the face of the strip, and such that the sum of the lengths of the plates equals the length of the periphery of the cylinder. The plates are then arranged on the cylinder (1) by introducing the neighboring strips (5, 6) into a groove (2) and the free space in the groove is completed by a wedge-shaped strip (7) in order to tension the plates and obtain an edge-to-edge join.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically changing a printing plate on a rotary printing machine utilizes two adjacent storage compartments which are located beside the peripheral surface of a plate cylinder. A first printing plate's trailing edge is released from the plate cylinder and is guided into a first one of the storage compartments. This first plate is fed into the first storage compartment and a second plate is directed out of the second storage compartment and is attached to the surface of the plate cylinder.

Abstract: A method of in-register exposing and printing of a flexible letterpress form for spot varnishing, which comprises fixing on a copying cylinder in-register a flexible letterpress form having a register system in a region of the leading edge of the form, and exposing the form, then clamping the flexible letterpress form on a rubber-blanket cylinder having a greater diameter than that of the copying cylinder so as to compensate for distortion of a subject in circumferential direction during circular exposure.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for printing plate cylinder--impression cylinder registration for a multi color flexographic press wherein pin means are provided on the plate cylinder gear and finger means provided on the impression cylinder gear and when the two come in contact upon rotation of the impression cylinder gear, the plate cylinder gear rotates through a small arc during which time the gears are brought into meshing engagements.

Abstract: A system for generating indicia of registration error between the respective printing units of a web-fed, four-color printing press. An optical line scanner is disposed over a web to generate signals indicative of the brightness level of successive nominal pixels along a line transverse to the motion of the web. The respective printing units each generate registration marks on the web, the relative positions of which are indicative of the relative cyclical (rotational) and transverse (lateral) positions of the printing units with respect to the web. As the web moves past the scanners, successive line scans generated by the scanner provide the equivalent of a two-dimensional raster scan of a strip of the web centered on the expected center line of registration marks produced by the respective printing units.

Abstract: A sheet type printing press is disclosed which includes a transmission assembly that prevents misregistration of plate and blanket cylinders upon their separation. The assembly also permits the press to be advanced or retarded while running to either correct misregistration or to start a new job using the same plate cylinders. A double harmonic drive is used to advance or retard the press. The harmonic drive is mounted to a hub which causes one of the circular splines and flexsplines thereof to be maintained under constant load. Such loading prevents misregistration when the plate cylinder drive gear is disengaged.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for setting a plurality of print wheels, in an automated cable making machine for imprinting a desired set of characters onto a connector housing. The method includes a unique way of homing each of the print wheels to a known position prior to setting the print wheels to their desired print positions. This is a done by rotating each print wheel until a rod, which is constrained to move only along its longitudinal axis, can be inserted into an opening in the print wheel. This prevents further rotation of the print wheel thereby indicating that the wheel is in its home position.

Abstract: A system for inspecting and characterizing continuous web material such as may be wound into a roll. This system includes a recording storage means for providing a duplicate image of the web material and a device for reviewing the recording storage means image to detect a predetermined characterisitc of the image such as a defect therein. The position along the image is detected and a switch is responsive to both the content information and position information to record an indicia of image position corresponding to detection of the predetermined characteristic.

Abstract: In the operative position shown in FIG. 4 a printing roller abuts the cylindrical surface of an impression roller to cause ink to be transferred from an anilox roller via the printing roller to the impression roller. The gear wheel on the impression roller meshes with a gear on the printing roller which in turn meshes with a gear on the anilox roller to cause rotation of those three rollers.The printing roller and the anilox roller can be moved to the right, when viewed in FIG. 4, to move their co-operating cylindrical surfaces out of contact with each other, and yet still leave their gears in mesh in order to enable the printing roller to be changed and yet maintain the rotation of the anilox roller. A clutch is provided to enable the printing roller to be stationary when being changed, or to enable the printing roller to be correctly aligned with the impression roller when brought back into co-operation therewith.

Abstract: A device and method for installing an adhesive-backed printing blanket on a cylinder is provided. The printing blanket has an adhesive backing for holding it on the cylinder and a leading edge substantially perpendicular to the edge of the blanket. The device comprises an angle bar having a generally orthogonal pair of leg forming an inside corner therebetween for receiving the leading edge of the printing blanket to be contiguous therewith. A first one of the legs has an inside surface being an adherend of limited adhesion, the periphery of the adhesive backing adjacent the leading edge being removably adherable thereto. The first leg also has an outside surface formed to be axially aligning with the cylinder when placed thereon. As a result, the leading edge of the printing blanket is held squarely in place on the angle bar while the printing blanket is wrapped evenly around the cylinder.

Abstract: A mounting device and method for positioning a printing plate on a press cylinder utilizes a transparent planar surface having a grid thereon. A cylinder can be lowered into the cradle and adhesively retain a flexible printing plate which has been alinged on the grid. The method employed provides an efficient time saving and accurate mounting process.

Abstract: A manually operable sweeping-type compact printer apparatus includes a key entry unit, a display unit, a memory unit, an encoder and a printer unit which are mounted on a manually manipulatable housing. When the housing is manually moved over a printing medium with the printer unit in contact with the printing medium, data entered by the key entry unit is printed out on the printing medium. In the printer apparatus, only designated segments or lengths of data are printed out on the printing medium, independent of continued travel or movement of the housing. Also, even if the housing is moved over the printing medium at an unstable moving velocity, high printing quality can be realized by control of the printing head. Stop codes designating the end of a data segment can be automatically or manually inserted.

Abstract: A method of cut position determination for printing machines, wherein in order to ensure a synchronous running of the paper webs (P1-P4) to be folded and cut into newspapers (16) on a printing machine for rotary offset printing or rotary letter press printing, main and secondary registers (5, 7) are controlled in their position by means of servomotors (M1-M4) as a function of actuating signals (S.sub.M1 -S.sub.M4). Above each former-introduction guide roller (10), 4 photocells (11) are arranged equally spaced next to one another, which detect brightness signals (H.sub.A1 -H.sub.D4) from the printed surface of these paper webs at a scanning frequency of 20 khz. These brightness signals are subjected to a Fourier analysis in a microprocessor. The fundamental oscillation is evaluated, the fundamental oscillation with the greatest amplitude being selected from the 4 fundamental oscillations of each paper web.

Abstract: A system for generating indicia of registration error between the respective printing units of a web-fed, four-color printing press. An optical line scanner is disposed over a web to generate signals indicative of the brightness level of successive nominal pixels along a line transverse to the motion of the web. The respective printing units each generate registration marks on the web, the relative positions of which are indicative of the relative cyclical (rotational) and transverse (lateral) positions of the printing units with respect to the web. As the web moves past the scanners, successive line scans generated by the scanner provide the equivalent of a two-dimensional raster scan of a strip of the web centered on the expected center line of registration marks produced by the respective printing units.

Abstract: A magnetic rotary locking mechanism for locking a plate or sheet-like member by placing it in tension which may be adapted to provide a self-tensioning locking device for securing a printing plate to a printing cylinder in a rotary printing press. The base and rotatable bar each have formed therein a plurality of magnetic strips which generate a plurality of magnetic fields so that the bar magnetic fields are attracted to the base magnetic fields at a first angular position of the bar with respect to the base and are repelled by the base magnetic fields at a second angular position of the bar with respect to the base.

Abstract: A flexographic printing machine, especially for flexographic web printing, has at least one printing unit. Such a printing unit comprises an endless printing band drawn on round a back-up cylinder and a tension roller, an impression cylinder, an engraved roller transferring the ink to the printing cylinder or to the printing belt, and an ink drier. A paper web runs through all the printing units.In each printing unit, the bearings of the impression cylinder are fastened rigidly to the machine frame, whereas the bearings of the back-up cylinder and those of the tension roller are arranged displaceably on it, a tension rod keeping a distance (a) between the back-up cylinder and the tension roller constant.

Abstract: A silk screen printing frame that consists of a frame that can accommodate two smaller screens that fit into the larger frame. A set of the smaller screens range from 0-9, thus a total of 20 screens will accommodate all numbers from 0-99. Alignment and centering of the numbers on the work product is accomplished by a centering and alignment indices and a uniquely configurated numeral "1" screen.

Abstract: An inching drive mechanism which affords the capability of rotating the plate and blanket cylinders of a printing press in an automated fashion by utilizing a hydraulically powered motor, a gear train and a pneumatic clutch. The hydraulic motor produces torque which is transmitted via the gear train to the pneumatic clutch. When the pneumatic clutch is engaged, the torque is transmitted to and rotates the plate and blanket cylinders of the printing press.

Abstract: A lock-up mechanism for holding printing blankets to printing cylinders in rotary presses, which eliminates the problem of blanket pullout. The lock-up mechanism includes a substantially planar surface on a reel rod, running from the inner edge of the axial groove to a point on the reel rod circumference on the opposite side of the reel rod center. The substantially planar surface forms an angle with the inner edge of the reel rod groove and the surface of from about 85.degree. to about 97.degree., preferably about 90.degree.. The configuration eliminates blanket pullout by redirecting the forces applied to the blanket to a direction where the forces do not tend to pull the blanket out of the groove. The lock-up mechanism can be used in any printing cylinder, but most preferably in narrow gap type cylinders.

Abstract: The method utilizes an encoding switch to derive encoded position signals representing the current position of a member such as the print element of a franking machine. The switch has conductive strips and in order to ensure reliable operation of the switch the strips have substantial length. However for correct printing it is necessary that not only is the selected type character at the printing position but that it is precisely positioned to achieve correct printing of the character. In order to obtain this precise positioning of the print element the encoded position signals are utilized to move the selected type character to the print position and the print element is then moved by a predetermined distance to achieve precise positioning of the type character within the printing position.