Abstract:
A printing machine for printing on a web of printing material includes a plurality of in-line flexographic printing units disposed in a plane that is accessible to a machine operator. Every two flexographic printing units of the plurality of flexographic printing units together form a double printing station and the two flexographic printing units of a respective double printing station have a common impression cylinder. A method of operating a printing machine is also provided.
Abstract:
Thin film labels, systems, and methods of making and using thereof are described. The thin film systems contain a label and a carrier film, where the label contains an overprint layer, indicia, and an adhesive layer. The carrier film may be coated on one or both sides with a release liner. The adhesive layer can be any suitable adhesive, such as a pressure sensitive adhesive, a fluid activatable adhesive, a heat activated adhesive, or a contact activated adhesive. The label is formed by printed or coating one or more layers of precursor material on the carrier film using standard printers. Suitable precursor materials include, but are not limited to epoxys, solvent cast films, polyurethane dispersions, such as acrylic-urethane hybrid polymer dispersions and polyester-polyurethane dispersions. After the overprint layer dries or is cured, the indicia are printed onto the overprint layer, then the adhesive is coated on top of the indicia.
Abstract:
A tension control system for a web in a form printing press permits arbitrary setting of tensions of a web at respective zones between an impression cylinder and respective rollers. The system includes tension detectors located on the upstream side of an impression cylinder in the printing portion and upstream side of a tension roller in the processing portion, for detecting tension on the web, speed adjusting mechanisms provided at least in respective drive systems of the impression cylinder and the tension roller adjacent to respective tension detectors, for adjusting respective rotation speeds of the impression cylinder and the tension roller on the basis of output signals from controllers, to which detected signals of respective tension detectors are fed back and tension setting devices associated with respective controllers. The controllers compare the detected values from respective tension detectors with set values from the tension setting devices and output the output signals for controlling rotation speeds of the impression cylinder and the tension roller so that differences between the compared values are reduced to zero.
Abstract:
The exit cylinder of a first unit is connected to the entrance cylinder of a second unit for making a deformable parallelogram, and at least the exit and entrance cylinders of each unit are respectively connected to displacement mechanisms.
Abstract:
A web width adjusting device can adequately adjust the width of paper web which is travelled through at least two printing sections. The travelling web is sandwitched by a pair of contact means including a plurality of contact members which are aligned in parallel to the axis of cylinders for driving the paper web. The contact members of one alignment are alternatively in contact with the web surface with respect to the other alignment.
Abstract:
A printed upon sheet is divided into a plurality of sequentially longitudinally spaced printing fields having a selected field length, said printing fields each being divided into a plurality of longitudinally and laterally spaced printing domains. The plurality of imprints are divided into a plurality of subsets thereof, said subsets having a null set intersection with each other, the union of all of said subsets of said imprints being a set consisting of all said imprints, each of said subsets of said imprints being sub-divided into a different integral number of sub-subsets of said imprints. The imprints are printed on each of the printing fields on the sheet such that each of the sub-subsets of the imprints is printed on only a selected subset of the longitudinally and laterally spaced printing domains, the printing fields having a null set intersection with one another and the selected subsets of the printing domains having a null set intersection with one another. Coding is printed on the sheet corresponding to each of the printing fields, the coding identifying each of the sub-subsets of the imprints printed on each of the subsets of the longitudinally and laterally spaced printing domains.
Abstract:
An apparatus and method converts an existing printing press to offset printing. An auxiliary frame and two auxiliary impression cylinders are mounted to the press and existing cylinders are adapted for offset printing. A new web path is defined to the cylinders, through an auxiliary cross brace member. The shafts of auxiliary cylinders are eccentrically mounted dead shafts. The cylinder surface is friction driven by the web. Bearers smooth the movement of the cylinders across the blanket slots. The auxiliary cylinders are maintained on impression by an incompressible fluid for uniform impression and thrown off rapidly by a pressurized gas.
Abstract:
Method and apparatus are disclosed for indicating and correcting misregister of plural overlapping images produced by a multicolor press. A register indicia (FIG. 3) is used comprising two overlapping sets of parallel lines (R and C), each set being formed in a known position relative to a corresponding one of the images whereby the positional relationship between the sets of lines varies with the positional relationship of the images. The extent of overlap of the sets of lines is dependent upon displacement of the sets of lines in a direction transverse to the lines, whereby the percentage of nonprint area in the register indicia is dependent upon register of the overlapping images in that transverse direction. The percentage of nonprint area is detected by illuminating the register indicia area and measuring the extent to which the area reflects the light. The resulting signal is used to control the register adjustment mechanisms of the multicolor press.
Abstract:
A web fed offset printing press unit (42) including a frame (12), an auxiliary frame (44), a pair of plate cylinders (46 and 46a), a first blanket cylinder (48), a second blanket cylinder (50), a common impression cylinder (56) and an auxiliary impression cylinder (58) is disclosed. The second blanket cylinder is swung bodily through a short radius arc between a first end position in rolling contact with the common impression cylinder and a second end position in rolling contact with the auxiliary impression cylinder.In one arrangement, the second blanket cylinder is journaled in an eccentric sleeve (76) at each end and linkage (86) is switchable between the two modes of operation with a throw-off position associated with each.A method for converting a web fed letterpress unit (10) into a web fed offset printing press unit for multicolor or two-sided printing is disclosed.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a printing machine incorporating a compact serpentine arrangement for supporting one or more printing belts in printing relation with a path for a printable web. The belt support arrangement herein disclosed has great utilizing in a belt printing machine wherein a plurality of belts are required in the printing of a single web to not only conserve space but to render equipment at the printing stations more accessible, and to enable the envelopment of a large portion of the periphery of each plate cylinder by the associated belt passing therearound.