A device for the alphanumeric labeling of printed products comprises a shaft mounted in a frame, and around which shaft at least one wheel-shaped or ring-shaped labeling tool is rotatably mounted, which tool carries a number of alphanumeric characters, one behind the other, on its outer circumference. A drive motor, in the form of, for example, a stepper motor, is provided and by which the labeling tool can be rotated around the shaft. The drive motor is linked for signals transmission to one of a data processing and a data storage of a control device, in which an assignment specification between the working positions of the alphanumeric characters or the fields carrying the alphanumeric characters, and step numbers of the stepper motor, is provided. The drive motor is or can be controlled by the control device in terms of a number of steps to be traveled, using this provided assignment specification, to move an alphanumeric character to be printed or the relevant field into a working position.

A sheet-fed printing press includes a printing cylinder and a high-precision sensor system for monitoring a sheet run in the area of the printing cylinder. At least one gage, which is mounted on the printing cylinder, can be detected by the sensor system. It is particularly advantageous if the sensor system is configured to be self-calibrating. A method for calibrating a sensor system and a method for aligning a sensor system are also provided.

Ink-based digital printing systems useful for ink printing include a rotatable charge-retentive reimageable surface layer configured to receive a layer of fountain solution. The fountain solution is carried to the charge retentive surface by a fog or mist including fountain solution aerosol particles, dispersed gas particles, and charge directors that impart charge to the fountain solution aerosol particles. The charge-retentive reimageable surface may be charged to a uniform potential, and selectively discharged using an ROS according to image data to form an electrostatic latent image. The charged fountain solution adheres to portions of the charge-retentive reimageable surface according to the electrostatic latent image to form a fountain solution image thereon. The fountain solution image can be partially transferred to an imaging blanket, where the fountain solution image is inked. The resulting ink image may be transferred to a print substrate.

Ink-based digital printing systems useful for ink printing include a rotatable charge-retentive reimageable surface layer configured to receive a layer of fountain solution. The fountain solution is carried to the charge retentive surface by a fog or mist including fountain solution aerosol particles, dispersed gas particles, and charge directors that impart charge to the fountain solution aerosol particles. The charge-retentive reimageable surface may be charged to a uniform potential, and selectively discharged using an ROS according to image data to form an electrostatic latent image. The charged fountain solution adheres to portions of the charge-retentive reimageable surface according to the electrostatic latent image to form a fountain solution image thereon. The fountain solution image can be partially transferred to an imaging blanket, where the fountain solution image is inked. The resulting ink image may be transferred to a print substrate.

According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided a method of determining the amount of fountain solution employed in a digital offset lithography printing system. Fountain solution thickness is determined from diagnostic images that are printed and analyzed using the existing Image Based Controls (IBC). An analysis of the density of solids, halftones, and background as a function of the fountain solution control parameter is performed to decide on the appropriate level of fountain solution. A latitude window of control parameters is then derived for which the digital offset lithography printing system in operation minimizes the undesirable effects of too much or too little fountain solution.

According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided a method of determining the amount of fountain solution employed in a digital offset lithography printing system. Fountain solution thickness is determined by examining optical density of some halftone or solid patch versus laser current level. The apparatus and method uses a variable current signal to dither or perturb the laser imaging system to irradiate a fountain solution layer to create patches at different laser current levels. An aptly programmed controller then process optical density measurements to indirectly estimate fountain solution level.

According to an embodiment, a printer includes a printer unit configured to print images on paper, a connector connectable to a detachable storage medium, and a controller. The controller is configured to acquire time information from the storage medium when the storage medium is connected to connector, and then store output information in the storage medium. The output information includes device information related to a print function of the printer unit and the acquired timing information in association with each other. The printer may lack an internal clock yet still output information associated with time information.

A tube marking device includes a delivery unit having operating rollers for delivering a tube. A thermal press printing unit includes a first heating device and a press printing roller which are actuated by a first lift cylinder to move vertically. A first transmission printing sheet is mounted to a first rotary disc, carries a plurality of marks thereon, and is moved by an operating unit. Two adjacent marks are continuous to each other or have a spacing therebetween smaller than 50 cm. A control unit is electrically connected to the delivery unit, the thermal press printing unit, the first rotary disc, and the operating unit. The delivery unit and the operating unit respectively move the tube and the first transmission printing sheet. The thermal press printing unit transmissions the plurality of marks of the first transmission printing sheet onto an outer periphery of the tube.

According to aspects of the embodiments, there is provided a method of measuring the amount of fountain solution employed in a digital offset lithography printing system. Fountain solution thickness is measured using a glass roll at a lower temperature than the fountain solution. The lower temperature causes the fountain solution to undergo a change in state and in a solid state the fountain solution crystalizes and changes roll opacity with the thickness of the film. When radiated with a light source the opacity is continuously measured through the surface of the roller. The thickness of the crystallized fountain solution can then be determined via the opacity level increase by the crystallization and the impact to the opacity on the glass roll.

The present invention is a method for measuring the varnish film thickness of a printed article by obtaining the film thickness of varnish on a sheet (1) on which a pattern is printed on a base thereof with ink and the pattern is coated with the varnish, wherein a metal foil (1c) having a smooth surface is attached to the base of the sheet (1), and the film thickness of the varnish coated directly over the metal foil (1c) is detected with a spectral interference-type film thickness meter (81) so as to determine whether the film thickness of the varnish is acceptable or not on the basis of the results detected by the spectral interference-type film thickness meter (81).