Abstract:
There is described a printed security feature (1) provided onto a printable substrate, which 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 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 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 security feature is illuminated with non-visible light. Inside boundaries (160) of the distinctive two-dimensional graphic element, a part (P3) of the rectilinear and/or curvilinear elements is printed with a combination
Abstract:
There is described an intaglio printing press (1; 1*) comprising a plate cylinder (8) carrying one or more intaglio printing plates, the plate cylinder (8) receiving ink from an inking system (9, 20, 23; 20*, 23*) having a plurality of chablon cylinders (23; 23*) transferring ink directly or indirectly onto the plate cylinder (8), the intaglio printing press (1; 1*) comprising an adjustment system acting on the chablon cylinders (23; 23*) in order to compensate elongation of the one or more intaglio printing plates. The adjustment system comprises, for each chablon cylinder (23; 23*), an adjustable drive unit, which adjustable drive unit (25) is interposed between the chablon cylinder (23; 23*) acting as a rotating output body of the adjustable drive unit (25) and a driving gear (100) 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 chablon cylinder (23; 23*) 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 chablon cylinder (23; 23*) is adjusted over each revolution of the chablon cylinder (23; 23*) by means of an adjustment motor (300) of the adjustable drive unit (25). In a non-adjusting state of the adjustable drive unit (25), the adjustment motor (300) is inoperative and driving into rotation of the chablon cylinder (23; 23*) is performed exclusively mechanically via the adjustable drive unit (25), the chablon cylinder (23; 23*) rotating at a same rotational speed as the driving gear (100).
Abstract:
There is described an ink wiping system (100) for an intaglio printing press comprising a rotatable wiping roller assembly (102) designed to wipe excess ink from the surface of a rotatable intaglio printing cylinder (80). The rotatable wiping roller assembly (102) comprises a rotatable hollow cylindrical body (110) having an outer surface (110a) positioned to wipe the surface of the printing cylinder (80), and a pressing device (130) disposed inside the cylindrical body (110) and designed lo exert pressure on an inner surface (110b) of the cylindrical body (110) and to allow adjustment of a wiping pressure between the cylindrical body and the intaglio printing cylinder (80). The pressing device (130) preferably comprises a plurality of pressing units (132) that are distributed axially along the inside of the hollow cylindrical body (110) to allow adjustment of the wiping pressure between the cylindrical body (110) and the intaglio printing cylinder at a plurality of axial positions along the length of the hollow cylindrical body (110).
Abstract:
There is described a device (1) for offline inspection and color measurement of printed sheets for the production of banknotes and like printed securities, comprising (i) a console (10) having a supporting surface (10a) for supporting a sample printed sheet (S), (ii) a multipurpose measuring apparatus (20), which multipurpose measuring apparatus (20) comprises multiple sensors (22, 23) including at least one camera (22) for taking images of selected portions of the sample printed sheet (S) and a color measurement sensor (23) for performing spectrophotometric, colorimetric, and/or densitometric measurements at selected locations on (22, 23) the sample printed sheet (S), (iii) a display (30) for displaying the images taken by the camera (22) and the measurements performed by the color measurement sensor (23), and (iv) a control and processing unit (40) coupled to the multipurpose measuring apparatus (20) and the display (30). The device (1) comprises a move-sensor beam (200) housing the multipurpose measuring apparatus (20), which moveable sensor beam (200) is displaceable along an x-axis over the supporting surface (10a) of the console (10) and over the entire surface of the sample printed sheet (S) located on the supporting surface (10a), the multiple sensors (22, 23) being mounted on a common sensor head (21) which is displaceable within the moveable sensor beam (200) along a y-axis so that the multipurpose measuring apparatus (20) can selectively take images of selected portions of the sample printed sheet (S) by means of the camera (22) or perform measurements at selected locations on the sample printed sheet (S) by means of the color measurement sensor (23). The control and processing unit (40) is configured to control displacement of the moveable sensor beam (200) along the x-axis and of the sensor head (21) along the y-axis.
Abstract:
There is described an intaglio printing press comprising a plate cylinder (8) carrying one or more intaglio printing plates (8c) and an impression cylinder (7) cooperating with the plate cylinder (8), a printing nip being formed between the plate cylinder (8) and the impression cylinder (7). The plate cylinder (8) and the impression cylinder (7) each comprise one or more cylinder pits (8a, 7a) and a corresponding number of cylinder segments (8b, 7b), the plate cylinder (8) and the impression cylinder (7) being in rolling contact with one another during printing operations along their respective cylinder segments (8a, 7b) when no cylinder pits (8a, 7a) are present at the printing nip. The intaglio printing press further comprises a monitoring system (150) designed to monitor a rolling condition of the impression cylinder (7) with respect to the plate cylinder (8) and to provide an indication as to whether or not the rolling condition corresponds to a desired rolling condition, the desired rolling condition being a rolling condition corresponding to true rolling of the impression cylinder (7) with respect to the plate cylinder (8) where no slippage occurs between a circumferential surface of the impression cylinder (7) and a circumferential surface of the plate cylinder (8). Also described is a method of monitoring operation of an intaglio printing press.
Abstract:
There is described an inspection system (10) for inspecting the quality of printed sheets which are transported by a sheet conveyor system comprising at least one sheet gripper system (3a, 3b) including a plurality of spaced-apart gripper bars (32) for holding the printed sheets by a leading edge thereof. The inspection system (10) comprises an optical quality control apparatus for carrying out inspection of a first side of the printed sheets while the printed sheets are being transported by the sheet gripper system (3b). The optical quality control apparatus includes a line camera (11) for scanning the first side of the printed sheets at an inspection location which is situated at a location proximate to a portion of the sheet gripper system (3b) where the gripper bars (32) transporting the printed sheets undergo a change of direction of displacement while the printed sheets are still being scanned by the line camera (11). The inspection system (10) further comprises a suction roller (50) that is placed in front of the optical path (B) of the line camera (11) along the path (A) of the printed sheets being transported by the sheet gripper system (3b), which suction roller (50) contacts a second side of the printed sheets opposite to the first side which is being scanned by the line camera (11), the suction roller (50) being driven at a selected circumferential speed to drive successive portions of the printed sheets being inspected by the quality control apparatus at a determined and controlled speed past the line camera (11).
Abstract:
There is described an inspection system (10) for inspecting the quality of printed sheets which are transported by a sheet conveyor system comprising at least one sheet gripper system (3a, 3b) including a plurality of spaced-apart gripper bars (32) for holding the printed sheets by a leading edge thereof. The inspection system (10) comprises an optical quality control apparatus for carrying out inspection of a first side of the printed sheets while the printed sheets are being transported by the sheet gripper system (3b). The optical quality control apparatus includes a line camera (11) for scanning the first side of the printed sheets at an inspection location which is situated at a location proximate to a portion of the sheet gripper system (3b) where the gripper bars (32) transporting the printed sheets undergo a change of direction of displacement while the printed sheets are still being scanned by the line camera (11). The inspection system (10) further comprises a suction roller (50) that is placed in front of the optical path (B) of the line camera (11) along the path (A) of the printed sheets being transported by the sheet gripper system (3b), which suction roller (50) contacts a second side of the printed sheets opposite to the first side which is being scanned by the line camera (11), the suction roller (50) being driven at a selected circumferential speed to drive successive portions of the printed sheets being inspected by the quality control apparatus at a determined and controlled speed past the line camera (11).
Abstract:
There is described a printing press (1; 1*; 1**) comprising an ink-receiving cylinder (9; 8) receiving ink from an inking system (90-93, 90*, 93*; 95-99, 95*, 99*; 100-104, 100*, 104*) having a plurality of ink-applying cylinders or rollers (93, 93*; 99, 99*; 104, 104*) arranged one above the other around part of a circumference of the ink-receiving cylinder (9; 8), the ink-applying cylinders or rollers (93, 93*; 99, 99*; 104, 104*) being inked by a corresponding plurality of inking devices (90, 90*; 95, 95*; 100, 100*), the printing press (1; 1*; 1**) further comprising an inking carriage (52; 55; 57) supporting the plurality of inking devices (90, 90*; 95, 95*; 100, 100*), which inking carriage (52; 55; 57) can be moved with respect to the ink-receiving cylinder (9; 8) between a working position and a retracted position. The at least one selected inking device (90*; 95*; 100*) amongst the plurality of inking devices (90, 90*; 95, 95*; 100, 100*) of the inking system (90-93, 90*, 93*; 95-99, 95*, 99*; 100-104, 100*, 104*) is supported onto the inking carriage (52; 55; 57) via a movable frame (60; 65; 70), which movable frame (60; 65; 70) is supported by the inking carriage (52; 55; 57) to allow movement of the selected inking device (90*; 95*; 100*) with respect to the inking carriage (52; 55; 57) and with respect to a remaining part (90; 95; 100) of the plurality of inking devices (90, 90*; 95, 95*; 100, 100*).
Abstract:
There is described a method for controlling the orientation and/or position of sheets (1) processed on a printing machine, each sheet being provided with at least one marking (12; 15) embedded in the sheet, which marking is embedded in the sheet during manufacturing thereof, prior to processing of the sheet on a printing machine. The marking (12; 15) is disposed in a selected location of the sheet and defines a unique orientation and/or position of the sheet. The method comprises the steps of: —checking for the presence or absence of the marking at the selected location on the sheet and/or of characteristic features of the said marking; and —issuing a warning signal if the marking is not detected at the selected location or if the characteristic features of the marking are not detected at the said selected location. The invention advantageously makes use of features already embedded in the sheets (such as metallic and/or magnetic strips or threads, watermarks, etc.) as control markings for controlling the orientation and/or position of the sheets.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a device and to a method for providing and adjusting a numbering machine with which value papers or sheets of value papers are printed with an individual piece of information, particularly a serial number. The numbering machine comprises carrier discs and numbering units on said carrier discs, wherein a plurality of numbering units are fixed on a carrier disc and a plurality of said carrier discs are fixed on a shaft, and the shaft is driven by at least one drive element with at least one rotary encoder. According to the invention, a position device provides the target position of the carrier discs and the associated numbering units on the associated carrier discs. Such a position device is preferably a light generating device with a light beam, a mechanical stop collar, or a camera with a monitor with a reticle. A light generating device hereby is preferably a laser or illumination means with focusing lenses that indicate the target position with a light spot on the carrier disc or the numbering unit.