Abstract:
There is described a sheet-fed printing press (1000; 1000*) adapted to carry out recto-verso printing of individual sheets (S), in particular for the production of security documents such as banknotes, comprising one or more printing units (200; 200.1, 200.2; 200.1*, 200.2*) each adapted to carry out simultaneous recto-verso printing of the sheets (S), each printing unit (200; 200.1, 200.2; 200.1*, 200.2*) including two printing cylinders (105, 106) cooperating with one another and forming a printing nip where both sides of the sheets (S) are simultaneously printed, the two printing cylinders (105, 106) each collecting ink patterns from at least two associated plate cylinders (15A, 15B, 16A, 16B). The two printing cylinders (105, 106) are located one above the other such that the sheets (S) travel laterally through each printing unit (200; 200.1, 200.2; 200.1*, 200.2*) from a first lateral side (201a; 201a*) located upstream of the printing nip to a second lateral side (201b; 201b*) opposite to the first lateral side (201a; 201a*) and located downstream of the printing nip.
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 multicolour letterpress printing press, in particular a numbering press, comprising a printing group (50) with at least a first letterpress (e.g. numbering) cylinder (51) which is inked by an associated inking system (60, 71, 72, 81, 81 a, 81 b, 82, 82a, 82b). The inking system (60, 71, 72, 81, 81 a, 81 b, 82, 82a, 82b) comprises (i) a first inking device (81) supplying ink to a first chablon cylinder (71), (ii) at least a second inking device (82) supplying ink to a second chablon cylinder (72), and (iii) an ink-collecting cylinder (60) contacting the first and second chablon cylinders (71, 72) and collecting a first ink pattern (A, D) from the first chablon cylinder (71) and a second ink pattern (B, C) from the second chablon cylinder (72). As a result, a first multicolour pattern of inks (A-D) is formed on the ink-collecting cylinder (60), which first multicolour pattern of inks (A-D) is transferred onto the first letterpress cylinder (51).
Abstract:
The blanket cylinder (8) for an intaglio printing machine comprising a plate cylinder (6) carrying printing plates with engravings corresponding to a specific intaglio structure to be printed on a substrate (1), and cooperating with an impression cylinder (3), the blanket cylinder having at least one blanket (9) on which the ink in the different colours is deposited by selector cylinders (10), each selector cylinder having reliefs with contours corresponding to the area of the intaglio structure to be inked with said colour, the at least one blanket (9) being made of several successive layers (30, 31, 32) each with different properties.
Abstract:
There is described a sheet inspection system for a sheet-fed recto-verso printing press of the type comprising two printing cylinders (10, 20) for carrying out simultaneous recto-verso printing of the sheets, said sheet inspection system comprising at least a first inspection device (100) for taking an image of a first side of the printed sheets. The first inspection device (100) comprises a first line image sensor (110) for performing line-scanning image acquisition of the first side of the printed sheets, and the first inspection device (100) is disposed in such a way that the first line image sensor visually acquires an image of a printed sheet while the said printed sheet is still adhering onto the surface of a first one (10) of the two printing cylinders (10, 20) of the printing press and immediately before the said printed sheet is transferred to a chain gripper system (5) of the printing press. Also described is a printing press equipped with the inspection system.