Abstract: An inking unit for a printing press, having a plurality of inking rollers for feeding a required ink quantity from an ink fountain to a printing plate, at least one of the inking rollers being additionally capable of performing an axial movement during a press run, includes a drive for driving the inking rollers axially via push rods and rocking levers, the drive including a drive wheel carrying an eccentrically disposed journal pin, and an uncouplable eccentric assigned to and cooperating with the journal pin.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously providing dampening fluid to a plate cylinder of a lithographic printing press includes a frame operatively connected to the printing press. A dampening fluid reservoir is attached. A pan roller is rotatably mounted in the frame and is disposed in contact with dampening fluid in the dampening fluid reservoir. A transfer roller set tangentially contacts and is parallel to the pan roller. The transfer roller is rotated by friction from the pan roller which is driven at a rotation speed proportional to the speed of the plate cylinder. An ink receptive oscillating roller having a resiliently compressible surface is tangentially contacting and parallel to the transfer roller. The oscillating roller is gear driven at a rotational speed proportional to the speed of the plate cylinder.

Abstract: An inking apparatus for a printing press includes an ink supplying unit, an ink form roller, an oscillating roller, and an ink ductor roller. The ink supplying unit has an ink fountain for storing an ink, and an ink fountain roller having a circumferential surface on which a film of the ink supplied from the ink fountain is formed. The ink supplying unit supplies the ink on the circumferential surface of the ink fountain roller to an ink transfer line for a plate cylinder. The ink form roller supplies the ink, supplied from the ink supplying unit through the ink transfer line, to a plate mounted on the plate cylinder. The oscillating roller is disposed along the ink transfer line between the ink fountain roller and the ink form roller to reciprocally move in an axial direction.

Abstract: An anti-ghosting roller having a main shaft, an inner race detachably mounted on the main shaft, a rotary bearing having movable bearing elements (e.g., needle bearings) positioned on the inner race, a roller core secured to the rotary bearing, and an end collar mounted to the shaft and spaced from an end of the roller core such that the roller core can both rotate and axially oscillate relative to the main shaft. The inner race extends beyond the end of the rotary bearing. An end collar is mounted to the end of the shaft. The end collar includes a spacer portion extending axially toward the roller core. The spacer portion is radially spaced from the main shaft so that it is free from interaction with the inner race.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a drive for distributor rollers in an inking-unit of a rotary printing machine comprising a central gearwheel driven by a printing unit-cylinder, and distributor rollers the drive gears of which are in mesh with the central gearwheel, each of the distributor rollers performing a lateral stroke, and the central gearwheel being provided with an adjusting possibility of varying the timing point of starting the lateral stroke with respect to the front end of the printing plate, and thus influencing the inking of the printing plate according to the respective subject to be printed.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for displacing at least one roller of an offset rotary printing press. An arrangement is provided for affording the displaceability of at least one roller in a highly versatile and adaptable manner. Displacement of the at least one roller in question can be undertaken in such a manner as to markedly facilitate the operation of a printing press.

Abstract: In a continuous dampening system, an oscillating distributor roller distributes ink/dampening fluid emulsion preferably over the form roller. The drive for causing distributing motion, back and forth along its axis of rotation, of the distributor roller is derived by friction drive to the roller surface and the support shaft of the distributor roller is also rotatably driven through appropriate gearing, thus rotation of the distributor roller is varied along with the rotational speed of the other rollers of the dampener, but the rate of longitudinal oscillation remains relative, since the speed of relative motion between the shaft and distributor roller itself increases or decreases proportionately as the press and dampener speed up and slow down.

Abstract: An anti-ghosting roller having a main shaft, an inner race detachably mounted on the main shaft, a rotary bearing having movable bearing elements (e.g., needle bearings) positioned on the inner race, a roller core secured to the rotary bearing, and an end collar mounted to the shaft and spaced from an end of the roller core such that the roller core can both rotate and axially oscillate relative to the main shaft. The inner race extends beyond the end of the rotary bearing. An end collar is mounted to the end of the shaft. The end collar includes a spacer portion extending axially toward the roller core. The spacer portion is radially spaced from the main shaft so that it is free from interaction with the inner race.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for moving rollers in a printing press comprising a device for setting the stroke length during machine run and means for synchronously adjusting the movement of the roller.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously providing dampening fluid to a plate cylinder of a lithographic printing press includes a frame operatively connected to the printing press. A dampening fluid reservoir is attached. A pan roller is rotatably mounted in the frame and is disposed in contact with dampening fluid in the dampening fluid reservoir. A transfer roller set tangentially contacts and is parallel to the pan roller. The transfer roller is rotated by friction from the pan roller which is driven at a rotation speed proportional to the speed of the plate cylinder. An ink receptive oscillating roller having a porous and compressible surface is tangentially contacting and parallel to the transfer roller. The oscillating roller is gear driven at a rotational speed proportional to the speed of the plate cylinder.

Abstract: Drive for at least one oscillating roller in an inking unit of a rotary printing press, wherein the drive starts from a printing unit cylinder, and at least one oscillating roller is arranged in the inking unit for performing a lateral oscillating motion, includes a central gear-wheel for driving the oscillating roller, an intermediate gear-wheel in engagement with the central gear-wheel, and a bushing eccentrically arranged with respect to the oscillating roller, the intermediate gear-wheel being mounted on the bushing.

Abstract: For combination with apparatus, including a printing press roller that oscillates along a roller axis and relative to a cam, and in response to tracking of a follower in reversing spiral grooves defined by the cam, the cam also having a cylindrical surface intersected by the grooves comprising a shaft carrying the cam and on which the roller oscillates, endwise; first bearing annular sleeve structure associated with the roller and receiving the shaft; first axially spaced stops carried by the sleeve structure; first bearing rollers spaced about the axis and located between the shaft and the bearing sleeve structure, and a first cage for the rollers allowing axial shifting of the cage and rollers between the stops, the axial spacing between the stops substantially exceeding the width of the cage and rollers.

Abstract: A roller device such as is used, e.g. as a distribution roller in an off-set printing machine, include an outer cylinder mounted in bearing units at opposed ends and is rotatable around and axis. At least one of the bearing units includes an inner cylinder, a casing built into the inner cylinder, which casing is rotatable via a gear by a rotation speed that differs from the rotation speed of the inner cylinder. A mechanism is provided which operates between the casing and the inner cylinder, for the purpose of converting the relative rotational movement between the casing and the inner cylinder into an axial reciprocal motion of the inner cylinder and thus also of the outer cylinder.

Abstract: A mechanism for insertion into one end of a distribution cylinder in printing machines for converting the rapid rotational movement of the cylinder to a slow reciprocating cylinder movement. The other end of the distribution cylinder is journalled in a stationary shaft fixedly mounted in a printing machine frame. The mechanism is mounted above the stationary shaft and includes a cylinder (2) which is intended to be fixed in the distribution cylinder. The cylinder (2) is journalled for rotation around the stationary hollow shaft (1). A camming groove element (8; 8A) is fixed axially on the stationary hollow shaft (1) and is journalled for rotation about the symmetry axis (24, 25) thereof. A runner-camming groove-unit (13, 9) facilitates the slow, relative rotation of the camming groove element to an axial reciprocating movement of the cylinder (2), therewith causing the distribution cylinder to move axially backwards-and-forwards.

Abstract: An inking system for a rotary printing press is provided in which an ink application roller moves along in a frictionally engaged manner between an ink friction cylinder, which moves back and forth in the axial direction, and a plate cylinder to transfer ink to the plate cylinder for producing two quarter-cylinder-wide prints of maximum width and one half-cylinder-wide panoramic print of maximum width. Ink-free zones between the type matter on the plate cylinder are spaced from each other by less than distances between ink-free zones on an ink ductor. The ink application roller has annular grooves in its jacket surface and is disposed so that it moves back and forth at the same axial traversing frequency as the ink friction cylinder, but with a lesser traversing length.

Abstract: An inker mechanism has an inking roller rotatably mounted on a frame. The inking roller has a degree of freedom allowing the roller to shift axially. A bearing assembly is coaxially connected to the roller for axially shifting the roller. This bearing assembly has an outer shell with a universal joint. The inker mechanism also has a cam and a pivotally mounted lever connected between this cam and the universal joint. This cam can articulate the lever to oscillate the roller axially.

Abstract: A self-oscillating roller assembly (10, 10A, 10B, 10C, 10D) with an oscillating shaft (54) mounted on translational bearings (58, 60) to slide along a stationary shaft (48) and with a rotary shaft (55) mounted to the oscillating shaft (54) on rotational bearings (80, 82) to provide rotational movement. A key assembly (62, 63, 64, 66) restrains the relative longitudinal movement between the oscillating shaft (54) and the rotary shaft (55) while a pair of springs (68, 70) provides bias to return the rotary shaft (55) and oscillating shaft (54) to a preselected home position.

Abstract: A self-oscillating roller assembly (11, 13) and method of oscillating a roller in an offset printing press having an oscillating drive assembly (11) for oscillating a rotationally mounted roller (10, 12) with a source of pneumatic pressure (62) by alternatively applying pressure to pressure chambers (42A, 42B) on opposite sides of the roller (10, 12) to impart a longitudinal force on the oscillating roller (10, 12) from the source of pressure (62) in two opposite directions and a controller (47) for controlling the application of pressure (58, 62) to alternately move the rotationally mounted roller in two opposite directions.

Abstract: A printing apparatus (10) comprises a plurality of ink distributor rolls (20) supported for rotation about their axes (48, 50, 52), a rotatable shaft (90), and a vibrating means (32) for reciprocating the rolls (20) axially in response to rotation of the shaft (90). The vibrating means (32) comprises a plurality of eccentric members (116) fixed to the shaft (90) for rotation with the shaft (90). Each of the eccentric members (116) applies an individual torque to the shaft (90) in response to axial movement of a respective one of the rolls (20) when the eccentric member (116) rotates with the shaft (90). The fixed positions of the eccentric members (116) relative to each other on the shaft (90) minimize the sum of the individual torques and the fluctuations in the sum of the individual torques during rotation of the eccentric members (116). The detrimental effects of the torques on the printed image are thereby minimized.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a coating apparatus for a printing press. The apparatus includes an oscillating-metering roller having an internally disposed oscillation mechanism for delivering to a printed web a uniform fluid coating free from coater-imposed aberrations. The oscillation mechanism includes a translating means for translating a rotational movement into an oscillating movement, a velocity-modifying means for modifying the velocity of the rotational movement and a velocity-regulating means for providing a regulated, consistent velocity.

Abstract: An oscillating form roller in the inking mechanism of a printing press includes a roller casing which is rotatable and axially displaceable relative to a roller shaft. During its axial displacement the roller casing encounters set collars that are fastened to the roller shaft so as to be continuously adjustable. Friction surfaces are provided so that, in this contacting position, the set collars and the roller shaft are caused to rotate in synchronism with the roller casing.

Abstract: A mechanism for axially oscillating a distribution roller in a printing, duplicating or like machine, in which a drive shaft extends generally coaxially of the distribution roller. The mechanism is operatively associated between the drive shaft and the roller and includes right hand and left hand threads axially spaced of the shaft. A teeter member extends axially of the shaft and is pivotally mounted intermediate its opposite ends on a pivot axis extending generally transverse to the shaft. The teeter member has portions for alternating engagement in the right hand and left hand threads for axially oscillating the distribution roller in response to rotation of the roller. The threads have risers to lift the teeter member out of a respective threads, and a detent device facilitates moving the teeter member into the respective opposite thread.

Abstract: A distributor roller for a printing press is usable to distribute fluids or inks by rotational and axial movement. The roller is driven by frictional engagement with a cooperating roller. Axial oscillatory movement of the roller with respect to its roller shaft is accomplished by preventing a drive housing from rotating with the roller body. The distributor roller may be used as an oscillating or non-oscillating ink transport roller.

Abstract: A dampening system has a pan for containing dampening fluid, and transfer and metering rollers for bringing dampening fluid up out of the pan. A transition roller contacts one of the transfer and metering rollers. The transition roller is movable between first and second position. In the first position, the transition is off of the plate cylinder and dampening fluid is applied to the plate cylinder by ink form rollers. In the second position, the transition roller is on the plate cylinder. Another version of the dampening system has a bridge roller between the transition roller and a ink form roller, which bridge roller is movable between the third and fourth positions. In the third position, the bridge roller is on the transition roller. In the fourth position, the bridge roller is off of the transition roller. The dampening system can dampen the plate cylinder without the use of alcohol. The transition roller is rotated by a separate motor so that its speed is controlled independently of the other rollers.

Abstract: To adjust the axial spreading movement of distributing rollers (30) in rotary printing presses, at least one eccentric stud (18) is mounted which is rotatable around its axis of rotation (19) in a rotatably drivable housing (3). The housing rotates around the axis of rotation (9) which is located at a distance (a) from the axis of rotation of the eccentric stud. The eccentric stud (18) has an eccentric pin (20), which is arranged at least at one of its ends and is located at the same distance (a) from the axis of rotation (19) of the eccentric stud (18). The eccentric stud (18) is rotatable via a sleeve (10) and via the planetary gear (16), i.e., the distance of the eccentric pin (20) from the axis of rotation (9) can be changed. The eccentric pin (20) transforms its rotary movement via a sliding block (29) into a reciprocating movement, with which the distributing roller (30) is axially driven.

Abstract: An oscillating roller for offset printing machines has a central shaft fitted for appropriate rotation into a frame of the machine, and a concentric oscillating cylinder. A cotter fitted on the cylinder engages in a guiding groove of the shaft in order to ensure common rotation of the two components without preventing their respective axial shifts. Two chambers made up by the cylinder and the shaft can be alternatively subjected to hydraulic pressure in order to cause the cylinder to shift axially in the one or the other direction.

Abstract: An oscillator apparatus for imparting axial oscillations to a roller (10). The roller (10) has at least a cylindrical outer core (12) rotatable about a stationary shaft (14), that is, the shaft (14) is stationary relative to the outer core (12) of the roller (10). The oscillator apparatus is connected to a supply (46) for providing a pressurized medium. The oscillator apparatus has at least one reciprocating assembly (30, 32) having a substantially stationary portion attached to the stationary shaft (14) and a moveable portion attached to the outer core (12), the reciprocating assembly (30, 32) also having at least first and second ports (52, 54) connected to the supply (46). The supply (46) alternately provides the pressurized medium to the first and second ports (52, 54) to activate the reciprocating assembly (30, 32).

Abstract: In an inking apparatus for a printing press, a rotary lever is rotated by adjusting means disposed between a roller arm and the rotary lever around an axis parallel to a swing shaft of the roller arm to move a cam follower mounted to the rotary lever, and a cam mounted coaxially with a plate cylinder is rotated by cam driving means to select pressing state and unpressing state of the ink form roller through the cam follower, thereby preventing the nip pressure from being varied by skewing adjustment of the plate cylinder.

Abstract: An oscillating forme roller which is unseable in an inking unit of a rotary printing machine has a rotatable and axially oscillating mantle tube carried on a roller axle. Stops are used at either end of the axle to prevent oscillation of the mantle tube. At least one of these stops is moveable axially to selectively prevent or allow the axial movement of the mantle tube.

Abstract: Dampening unit for an offset printing machine includes a metering roller, a dampening form roller for applying dampening medium to a plate cylinder of the printing machine, the metering roller and the form roller being in mutually pressing engagement at a contact zone along respective axially parallel lines on respective casings of the rollers, a drive for rotating the metering roller and the form rolelr with circumferential speeds which are substantially in a downward direction in vicinity of the contact zone, a storage space for dampening medium located above the contact zone and defined by surfaces of the casings of the metering roller and the form roller and sealing elements located at respective ends of the metering roller and the form roller, and a traversing distributor roller disposed in direct friction contact with the metering roller.

Abstract: A roller for distributing a coating material such as ink in a press is mounted on a shaft for sliding axially on and rotating on the shaft. First and second internally threaded sleeves are fixed internally of the roller coaxially with each other and concentric to the shaft. One of the threads has a left hand twist and the other has a right hand twist. Two follower plungers, one having left hand thread segments and the other having right hand thread segments are meshed alternately with the left and right hand twist square threads. A link spans between double armed levers which connect to the follower plungers, respectively. When one plunger is automatically forced out of engagement with its cooperating thread in the one sleeve, a force is transmitted through the link to the other lever which causes the other follower plunger and its thread segments to mesh with the internal threads on the other sleeve so the roller changes the direction of its axial movement.

Abstract: A pneumatic axially oscillated, frictionally rotated roller is disclosed and may be used in the ink or damping systems of a printing press. The roller features an internal air piston-cylinder construction that causes the axial motion but permits the roller to freely rotate. Further, several air cylinders can be stacked on each side of the roller to permit even a small diameter roller to be pneumatically oscillated. The roller, when used as an ink form roller, may be operated to oscillate in synchronization with an adjacent oscillating, vibrating roller to continually diagonally redistribute the ink so as to eliminate or minimize "ghosting". The foregoing is accomplished by controlling the oscillation of the form roller to move axially in a direction opposite of that of the vibrating roller. The lengths of the strokes of the two rollers may differ or be the same.

Abstract: A printing mechanism and a distributing roller unit thereof has an inking roller, a dampening roller, a distributing roller located between the inking roller and dampening roller and movable between at least two positions in which it becomes alternately associated with the inking roller and the dampening roller and axially displaceable relative to the inking roller and the dampening roller, respectively, and elements for moving the distributing roller between the two positions and axially displacing the same.

Abstract: An internal worm drive has a worm gear and a substantially hollow tubular worm with an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface has at least one internal worm thread mating the worm gear. The axis of the worm gear is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular worm. Utilizing the tubular worm with the threaded internal surface in conjunction with the mating worm gear is an oscillating roller assembly suitable for use as an ink roller in lithographic presses. The oscillating roller assembly has a shaft, and a bearing unit mounted along the shaft. A worm gear having a plurality of teeth is contained in a slotted space in the bearing unit and the shaft such that the rotational axis of the worm gear is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bearing unit and the shaft. The slotted space has first and second opposite longitudinal ends within the shaft.

Abstract: A method of setting the starting time of transverse ink distribution for printing machines, which comprises determining impression-area dispersion on a printing plate and, in conjunction with parameters specific to the printing machine which affect ink dispersion on a printed sheet, calculating an optimum starting time of transverse ink distribution.

Abstract: To provide a drive mechanism for axially reciprocating the first roller or the first and second roller of an intermediate roller pair adapted to be selectively associated with the first ink spreader roller of an inking unit or with the final applicator roller of a damping unit of a combined damping and inking unit of an offset printing press, a stroke coupling for the spindle of the first intermediate roller with the first ink spreader roller is provided. This stroke coupling is transmitted to the spindle of the second intermediate roller only when both intermediate rollers are in engagement with the damping roller, whereas in the position in which the second intermediate roller interconnects the damping unit and the inking unit, the spindle of the latter roller is secured axially and separated from the stroke coupling.

Abstract: A drive for rotating and reciprocating a distributing roller in inking or damping units of offset printing presses includes two gears rotating at different speeds from one another, only the first rotation-transmitting gear of the two gears is driven by a gear connected to the plate cylinder and the second lateral reciprocation-transmitting gear is driven by the first gear by way of an intermediate gear meshing with both gears.

Abstract: A distributor roller for use in a printing press which includes an axial shaft member, a casing member surrounding the axial shaft member and being rotatably and axially slidably mounted with respect thereto, an interior surface of the casing member having a cross-section which, when taken tranverse to the axial shaft member, is eccentrically disposed with respect thereto, an arrangement for rotating the casing member about the axial shaft member, an oscillating body member disposed within the casing member and mounted for pivotal movement in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axial shaft member, the oscillating body member having an engagement surface for engaging the eccentrically disposed interior surface of the casing member, thereby the oscillating body member is caused to undergo a reciprocating movement in the direction transverse to the axial shaft member upon rotation of the casing member thereabout, and conversion means for converting the reciprocating movement of the oscillating body member

Abstract: An apparatus and method for oscillating the ink form rollers and dampening form roller in a lithographic printing press to apply a smooth, relatively uniform coating of ink to the ink-receptive areas of the lithographic printing plate and to prevent ink from being transferred from the dampening form roller to the ink-rejecting areas of the printing plate. The ink form rollers and the dampening form roller are each mounted on a shaft rotatable about its own axis. The shaft has at least one shaft key for mating with a complementary keyway in a bushing which is inserted at least partially into the central opening of the corresponding roller. The engagement between the shaft key and the bushing keyway allows the roller and bushing to engage the shaft for common rotation while permitting the roller and bushing to slide axially with resepct to the shaft.

Abstract: A variable speed oscillating roller assembly (10) is provided for use on a press. The roller (12) in the assembly can be adjusted to oscillate at a desired speed by adjusting the frictional engagement between the roller and a first sleeve (18). If desired, the oscillation of the roller can be halted by securing a second sleeve (60) to the shaft (14).

Abstract: Drive system having drive means for axially reciprocating a distributor roller of an inking unit which, in addition to the distributor roller, includes other ink rollers, including additional drive means for superimposing an additional oscillatory movement of the distributor roller in axial direction in the form of a shorter stroke upon a longer stroke effected with the axial reciprocation of the distributor roller by the first mentioned drive means.

Abstract: An axially oscillating ink or other coating material distributing rotationally driven roller has axially spaced apart internal left and right hand threads journaled for rotating and sliding axially on a shaft. A unitary rocker-follower lever is mounted for rocking relative to the shaft about the axis of a pin or a spherical element mounted to the shaft. Opposite ends of the lever has segments of external threads formed integrally with it. The external thread segments act as internal thread followers and are caused to engage and disengage the internal threads alternately to drive the roller in opposite axial directions. The lever is made long to minimize the angle through which it rocks in which case there is only a tiny amount of movement between possible wearing surfaces on the rocker and the pin or spherical element on which the lever rocks so wear is reduced to a minimum.