Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag

Goss International Americas, Inc.

Heidelberg Harris, Inc.

David Charles Burke

Michael A Novick

Kevin Francis Albert

Clifford Allen Zabkar

Glenn Alan Guaraldi

Roland Thomas Palmatier

Richard E Breton

Brian Robert Elkinson

Frederick Elkins McCrillis

Matthew Todd Boyer

A method for controlling tension in a web of a printing press, the printing press including an infeed, printing units and a folder, the method comprising the steps of increasing an infeed tension in the web between the infeed and the printing units when the printing units change to a printing mode from a white web mode; and decreasing the infeed tension in the web when the printing units change from the printing mode to the white web mode. Also disclosed is a web printing press which includes an infeed for providing a web of material to be printed; at least one printing unit for printing the web, the printing unit having a printing mode and a white web mode; a folder for cutting the web into signatures; and a controller for controlling the tension in the web between the infeed and the printing units and the tension after the printing units, the controller controlling the tension between the infeed and the at least one printing unit as a function of a transition between the printing mode and the white web mode.

Device and method for controlling web tension

A first given pressure is provided to a first side of an air pressure cylinder that in turn drives a cutting member under the influence of the first given pressure. A second given pressure is provided to a second side of the air pressure cylinder that is greater than the first given pressure during a non-cutting state of the air cylinder. The cutting member remains stationary as long as the second given pressure is greater than the first given pressure. To transition to a cutting state, the second given pressure is rapidly reduced to a value below the first given pressure value during a cutting state of the air pressure cylinder for moving the cutting member to cut a web.

Full force web severer

A device for providing cleaning or other solution in a printing press including a spraying device, the spraying device having a liquid exit disposed along a width of the spraying device for delivering a liquid to a press component and a spray shield selectively covering at least one part of the liquid exit so as to block delivery of the liquid through the at least one part to the press component. Also disclosed is a method for providing cleaning or other fluid to a printing press component comprising the steps of spraying a fluid over a fixed width of a press component, and blocking part of the fluid over a part of the fixed width so that the part of the fluid does not reach the press component.

Variable-width spray applicator for a printing press

A method and apparatus for adjusting skew settings in a dampener in a printing press. One or more skew adjustment linkages connect skew adjustment rods for the upper and lower dampeners of each printing unit. The linkage ensures that a single movement by the operator will allow adjustment of the skewing of both the upper and lower dampeners at the same time. The linkage or linkages are preferably connected at one end to skew adjustment brackets, which in turn are connected to a skew adjustment rod for one of the upper or lower dampeners. The skew adjustment rod adjusts the amount of skew of associated pan rolls. Movement of the linkage may be controlled by movement of a spring plunger, which is connected to the linkage or linkages. The spring plunger may be spring biased, and may be adjusted and locked into different skew setting positions using a pinhole arrangement. A web width indicator associated with the spring plunger may be used to guide the operator to an appropriate skew setting for a particular web width. The skew adjustment rod may also include a fine tuning mechanism, used to make minor adjustments to the skew settings for the dampeners, for example, when a particular setting is between one of the settings established by the pin-hole arrangement.

Apparatus and method for adjusting skew in a printing press dampener

The present invention is directed to providing apparatus and methods for lateral position control using a web guide which detects a relative lateral shift of a web upstream of a control device. Error correction is thereby implemented using a phase advance rather than a phase lag. The lateral displacement control can be implemented continuously, or can be activated at certain times (e.g., when a new roll is spliced to an old roll, or when disturbances enter the system). The invention eliminates wasted time and wasted paper, by eliminating misalignment of a web with respect to a printing unit.

Method and apparatus for web steering

A position controller comprising an adjusting rod having a first end having at least three flat sides and a second end and an adjustable part interacting with the second end and adjustable through rotation of the adjusting rod. A leaf spring set interacts with a first of the at least three flat sides to prevent unwanted movement within the position controller. A particular application is found in making printing press adjustments.

Position controller for a rotatable adjuster in a printing press

The present invention is directed to introducing air into a web interface of a former board without using holes or internal passageways in the forming bar. Exemplary embodiments achieve an even distribution of air on a surface of the former board which allows a minimum air gap to be achieved between the former board surface and the moving web. As such, damage to the moving web, and wear of the former board are reduced and/or eliminated. Therefore, the former board can be used to introduce a fold into the web without creating significant contact between the former board and the web.

Method and apparatus for air flotation

Apparatus for preventing backlash between a first gear and a second gear of a gear train. Exemplary embodiments include a supplementary gear rotatably mounted adjacent to the first gear and rotatable about the same rotational axis as the first gear, the teeth of the supplementary gear being in meshing engagement with the teeth of the second gear. The apparatus further includes a support element formed on at least one of the first gear and the supplementary gear, and a leaf spring assembly extending essentially radially with respect to the rotational axis of the first gear. The leaf spring assembly is bent out of its zero-position and engages the support element at its second end portion, thereby applying a force to the support element for biasing the supplementary gear and the first gear to rotate in opposite directions.

Apparatus for preventing backlash between the meshing teeth of a first

A web tension measurement and control device and method for a folding machine are provided. The tension of a web over a former board is transduced by a sensor mounted on a former board adjustment rod. The former board adjustment rod is coupled at a first end to a portion of the former board near the edge at which the web departs the former board, and at a second end to a frame. The sensor transduces a signal proportional to the strain to which it is subjected. The signal is provided to a gauge for visualization of a value of the web tension, and/or to an information processing device which generates one or more control signals functions of the measured value of the web tension. The one or more control signals may be fed back to a driven roller upstream of the former board and/or to a set of nip rollers downstream of the former board in order to actuate them so as to produce a desired web tension.

Apparatus and method for measuring and regulating web tension in a

A web transporting device usable in a rotary printing press or folder, includes a rotatably driven transport roller having a fixed axis and at least one engagable nip roller having an axis substantially parallel to the fixed axis and being engagable with the driven transport roller. The engagable nip roller has a length corresponding to a maximum width of the web processable in the printing press. A removable nip sleeve is provided which is axially mounted on the engagable nip roller. The removable nip sleeve has an least one ring-shaped annular gap disposed axially along its length which allows the web to ripple as it passes through the web transporting device without causing permanent wrinkles or creases to form in the web. A counterbalancing mechanism is also provided which stabilizes the engagable nip roller in a maintenance position as the removable nip sleeve is replaced.

Removable nip sleeve

A method of lubricating a bearing (58) in a printing unit (14) includes the step of directing a quantity of grease into the bearing (58), and the step of directing pressurized air into contact with the grease. The bearing (58) supports a printing cylinder (16) for rotation in the printing unit (14), and includes a plurality of rolling elements (100) between a pair of opposed bearing race surfaces (94, 88). A predetermined quantity (160) of grease is directed to flow from a hydraulic pump (114) to the space between the bearing race surfaces (94, 88). The pressurized air is directed to flow from a pneumatic pump (132) into contact with the grease to remove a first portion of the predetermined quantity (160) of grease from the space between the bearing race surfaces (94, 88). The pressurized air further spreads a second portion of the predetermined quantity (160) of grease into coatings (190) which extend over the rolling element surfaces (104) and the bearing race surfaces (94, 88).

Method of lubricating printing cyclinder bearings

A web transporting device usable in a rotary printing press or folder, includes a rotatably driven transport roller having a fixed axis and at least one engagable nip roller having an axis substantially parallel to the fixed axis and being engagable with the driven transport roller. The engagable nip roller has a length corresponding to a maximum width of the web processable in the printing press. A removable nip sleeve is provided which is axially mounted on the engagable nip roller. The removable nip sleeve has at least one ring-shaped annular gap disposed axially along its length which allows the web to ripple as it passes through the web transporting device without causing permanent wrinkles or creases to form in the web. A counterbalancing mechanism is also provided which stabilizes the engagable nip roller in a maintenance position as the removable nip sleeve is replaced.

Growing community of inventors

Portsmouth, NH, United States of America

David Charles Burke