Abstract:
There is described a recto-verso printing press (100*) adapted to carry out simultaneous recto-verso printing of sheets, the printing press (100*) comprising a main printing group (5, 6, 15, 16, 25, 26) with first and second printing cylinders (5, 6) cooperating with one another to form a first printing nip between the first and second printing cylinders (5, 6) where first and second sides of sheets are simultaneously printed, the first printing cylinder (5) acting as a sheet conveying cylinder of the main printing group (5, 6, 15, 16, 25, 26). The printing press (100*) further comprises an additional printing group (7, 8, 17, 18, 27, 28) with third and fourth printing cylinders (7, 8) cooperating with one another to form a second printing nip between the third and fourth printing cylinders (7, 8) where the first and second sides of the sheets are simultaneously printed, the third printing cylinder (7) acting as a sheet conveying cylinder of the additional printing group (7, 8, 17, 18, 27, 28). The main printing group (5, 6, 15, 16, 25, 26) and the additional printing group (7, 8, 17, 18, 27, 28) are coupled to one another by means of an intermediate sheet conveying system comprising one or more sheet-transfer cylinders (10, 10', 10") interposed between the first and third printing cylinders (5, 7).
Abstract:
There is described a printed security feature (10) provided onto a printable substrate, which printed security feature includes a printed area (11) consisting of a multiplicity of geometric elements (GE, 15) printed with a given distribution over the printed area. The geometric elements are printed with at least first and second inks which exhibit the same or substantially the same optical appearance when illuminated with visible white light, such that the printed security feature produces a first graphical representation (A1) when illuminated with visible white light. At least the first ink is an ink which responds to non-visible light excitation by producing a characteristic optical response differentiating the first ink from the second ink. The printed security feature produces a second graphical representation (B1) when illuminated with non-visible light, which exhibits a distinctive two-dimensional graphic element (B) which is revealed only when the printed security feature is illuminated with non-visible light. The printed area is subdivided into at least first and second printed portions (P1, P2), adjacent to the distinctive two-dimensional graphic element, and a third printed portion (P3), inside boundaries (200) of the distinctive two-dimensional graphic element. In the first, respectively second printed portion, the geometric elements are printed with the first, respectively second ink. In the third printed portion, the geometric elements are subdivided into first and second contiguous portions (GE_a, GE_b) which are respectively printed with the first and second inks. The first and second inks are printed in register one with respect to the other so that the boundaries of the distinctive two-dimensional graphic element are not visible when the printed security feature is illuminated with visible white light and the distinctive two-dimensional graphic element only becomes visible when the printed security feature is illuminated with non-visible light.
Abstract:
There is described a numbering device (1) for carrying out numbering in sheet-fed or web-fed numbering presses, the numbering device (1) comprising a casing and a numbering unit (6) with rotatable numbering wheels (7) carrying alpha-numerical symbols thereon, which numbering wheels (7) are disposed next to each other and rotate about a common rotation axis, the numbering device further comprising electro-mechanical actuation means for setting the position of the numbering wheels (7). The electro-mechanical actuation means are disposed in an inner space of the casing of the numbering device (1) and are mechanically autonomous, the electro-mechanical actuation means comprising a plurality of independent driving means (15, 18-23; 23*) for actuating a corresponding plurality of said numbering wheels (7). The numbering device further comprises calibration detectors (13) for calibrating the position of the numbering wheels (7) actuated by the electro-mechanical actuation means, each calibration detector (13) cooperating with at least one magnet (12) carried by the numbering wheel (7) to be calibrated. The calibration detectors (13) are carried by at least one supporting member (14, 14') located in an upper part of the numbering device, which supporting member (14, 14') extends parallel to the rotation axis of the numbering wheels (7).
Abstract:
There is described a numbering device (1) for carrying out numbering in sheetfed or web-fed numbering presses, the numbering device (1) comprising a casing and a numbering unit (6) with rotatable numbering wheels (7) carrying alpha-numerical symbols thereon, which numbering wheels (7) are disposed next to each other and rotate about a common rotation axis, the numbering device further comprising electro-mechanical actuation means for setting the position of the numbering wheels (7). The electro-mechanical actuation means are disposed in an inner space of the casing of the numbering device (1) and are mechanically autonomous, the electro-mechanical actuation means comprising a plurality of independent driving means (15, 18-23; 23*) for actuating a corresponding plurality of said numbering wheels (7). The numbering device further comprises an electric motor (15) driving the associated numbering wheel through a gear-wheel assembly (16, 19-23; 23*). The gearwheel assembly (16, 19-23; 23*) comprises a driving pinion (23; 23*) meshing with a toothed wheel (16) disposed on a side of the associated numbering wheel (7), an axial position of the driving pinion (23; 23*) along its shaft (22) being adjustable.
Abstract:
There is described an intaglio printing press (1; 1*) comprising an intaglio cylinder (8) and an ink wiping system (10) with a rotating wiping roller assembly (11) contacting a circumference of the intaglio cylinder (8) for wiping excess ink from the surface of the intaglio cylinder (8), a rotational speed of the wiping cylinder being adjustable with respect to a rotational speed of the intaglio cylinder (8). The intaglio printing press (1; 1*) comprises an adjustable drive unit (25), which adjustable drive unit (25) is interposed between the wiping roller assembly (11) acting as a rotating output body of the adjustable drive unit (25) and a driving gear (100) coupled to the intaglio cylinder (8) and acting as a rotating input body of the adjustable drive unit (25). The adjustable drive unit (25) is designed to allow selected adjustment of a rotational speed of the wiping roller assembly (11) with respect to a rotational speed of the driving gear (100). In an adjusting state of the adjustable drive unit (25), driving into rotation of the wiping roller assembly (11) is adjusted by means of an adjustment motor (700) of the adjustable drive unit (25). In a non-adjusting state of the adjustable drive unit (25), the adjustment motor (700) is inoperative and driving into rotation of the wiping roller assembly (11) is performed exclusively mechanically via the adjustable drive unit (25), the wiping roller assembly (11) rotating at a defined rotational speed with respect to the rotational speed of the intaglio cylinder (8).
Abstract:
There is described a printed security feature (1) provided onto a printable substrate, which printed security feature includes a printed area (100) consisting of a multiplicity of adjacent rectilinear and/or curvilinear elements (110, 120) printed with a given spatial frequency. The rectilinear and/or curvilinear elements are printed with at least first and second inks which exhibit the same or substantially the same optical appearance when illuminated with visible white light, such that the printed security feature produces a first graphical representation when illuminated with visible white light, at least the first ink being an ink which responds to non-visible light excitation by producing a characteristic optical response differentiating the first ink from the second ink. The printed security feature produces a second graphical representation when illuminated with non-visible light, which second graphical representation exhibits a distinctive two-dimensional graphic element (B) which is revealed only when the printed security feature is illuminated with non-visible light. Inside boundaries (160) of the distinctive two-dimensional graphic element, the rectilinear and/or curvilinear elements are subdivided into first and second juxtaposed portions (110a, 110b, 120a, 120b), the first juxtaposed portions (110a, 120a) being printed with the first ink and the second juxtaposed portions (110b, 120b) being printed with the second ink. Outside the boundaries of the distinctive two-dimensional graphic element, the rectilinear and/or curvilinear elements are printed with only the first ink or the second ink. The first and second inks are printed in register one with respect to the other so that the boundaries of the distinctive two-dimensional graphic element are not visible when the printed security feature is illuminated with visible white light and the distinctive two-dimensional graphic element only becomes visible when the printed security feature is illuminated with non-visible light.
Abstract:
There is described a method for checking the authenticity of security documents, in particular banknotes, wherein authentic security documents comprise security features (41-49; 30; 10; 51, 52) printed, applied or otherwise provided on the security documents, which security features comprise characteristic visual features intrinsic to the processes used for producing the security documents. The method comprises the step of digitally processing a sample image of at least one region of interest (R.o.I.) of the surface of a candidate document to be authenticated, which region of interest encompasses at least part of the security features, the digital processing including performing a decomposition of the sample image by means of wavelet transform (WT) of the sample image. Such decomposition of the sample image is based on a wavelet packet transform (WPT) of the sample image, preferably a so-called two-dimensional shift invariant WPT (2D-SIWPT).
Abstract:
There is described an ink wiping system (100; 100'; 100") of an intaglio printing press comprising a wiping tank (101) and a rotatable wiping roller assembly (102; 102*) supported on and partly located in the wiping tank (101) for wiping excess ink from the surface of a rotatable intaglio printing cylinder (80) of the intaglio printing press. The ink wiping system (100; 100'; 100") comprises a wiping roller retracting device (150) adapted to be coupled to the wiping roller assembly (102; 102*) to move the wiping roller assembly (102; 102*) between a working position (W) where the wiping roller assembly (102; 102*) is supported on and partly located in the wiping tank (101) for cooperation with the intaglio printing cylinder (80) and a parking position (P) where the wiping roller assembly (102; 102*) is retracted out of the wiping tank (101) and away from the intaglio printing cylinder (80). The ink wiping system (100; 100'; 100") further includes, at the parking position (P), a storage section (110) adapted to receive the wiping roller assembly (102; 102*) which is retracted by the wiping roller retracting device (150).