An indicator system is provided for ensuring proper registration of a frame. A plurality of stops for a registration system are electrically coupled to each other. When contact is made with a metal frame, a circuit is created and an indicator coupled to the circuit, such as a light, can be activated to show such contact.

An apparatus and methods of decorating a metallic container are provided. More specifically, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods used to provide a decoration on a predetermined portion of a metallic container body. The decorator includes a sensor that senses decorations on metallic containers. A control system receives information related to the sensed decorations from the sensor and then determines if the decorations at least meet predetermined color, density, thickness, orientation, and consistency targets. The control system can automatically adjust elements of the decorator to correct a deficient decoration. In one embodiment, the control system can automatically adjust ink blades associated with a plurality of inking assemblies of the decorator to adjust the color, density, orientation, positioning, and consistency of decorations transferred to the metallic containers. In another embodiment, the control system can adjust a position of an inking assembly, an ink roller, a plate cylinder, a printing plate, a blanket cylinder, and a transfer blanket of the decorator.

An image processor 53 processing taken images includes an image inspection means 54 for inspecting whether printing is performed properly as compared with a master image by using the image of the entire can taken by a first camera, a density measurement means 55 for measuring densities in designated positions for respective colors also by using the image of the entire can taken by the first camera, and a printing misalignment value measurement means 56 for measuring misalignment values with respect to set positions of printing misalignment inspection marks printed on an opening-side end portion of a can for respective colors by using the image of the opening-side end portion of the can taken by the second camera.

The invention relates to a printing machine for printing a material. The printing machine comprises a conveyor belt, an optical sensor and an evaluation unit. The conveyor belt is movable in a feed direction along a feed path. The conveyor belt comprises a plurality of portions along the feed direction over the feed path. The optical sensor is arranged to detect at least one image of each portion of the plurality of portions of the conveyor belt sequentially. The evaluation unit is arranged to identify or determine a position of the conveyor belt on the basis of the images of the plurality of portions of the conveyor belt.

A system can include one or more image sensors, a processor system, one or more output devices, and one or more computer-readable storage media. The output devices can include a printing device configured to apply a graphic on an article. The one or more computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions that when executed by the processing system, cause the system to perform a method of processing an article. The instructions can include instructions to receive an image of the article from the one or more image sensors, instructions to determine a location of one or more fiducials in the image of the article, instructions to determine a print location on the article based on the location of the one or more fiducials in the image of the article, and instructions to send a signal to the printing device to print the graphic on the article at the print location.

The present invention relates to a method for controlling the operation of a printing press and a flexographic printing press for implementing said method, wherein the method comprises performing the following steps: a) capturing information from at least one image printed by said printing press; and b) comparing said information captured from said printed image with at least some digital-format information predetermined in prepress, or digital prepress information, including at least one part of the image to be printed. The method comprises adjusting the pressure and/or register setting of one or more printing units of the printing press, using at least the result of the comparison in said step b). The press is designed in order to implement the method.

The present application provides an overprint orientation system. The overprint orientation system may include a first printer for printing on a substrate a first field and one or more orientation indicators within a second field, a second printer for overprinting the second field, and an orientation sensor. The orientation sensor determines whether the orientation indicators are visible.

A multi-application module (1), a multi-application device (2) and a working method for a multi-application device (2). The multi-application module (1) for printing on a substrate (6) or a transfer product (7) includes a printing unit (8) and a multifunctional element (9), wherein a printing nip (10) is formed between the printing unit (8) and the multifunctional element (9), and wherein the multifunctional element (9) has a first multifunctional roller (91) and/or at least one second multifunctional roller (92) and/or a printing table (13), and wherein the printing unit (8) is designed such that it can print along two running directions in the printing nip (10).

The invention describes a system (1) for overprinting on formats, comprising at least one printing unit (2), having first actuation means (14), and also comprising format supplying means (6, 7), format collecting means (9), at least one conveyor belt (5), second actuation means (10), and control means (11, 12, 13). The at least one printing unit (2) comprises at least one rotatable printing cylinder (3), having printing zones at the surface, and also first actuation means (14), configured to drive, in a controllable manner, the rotation of the printing cylinder (3). The format supplying means (6, 7) are configured to supply the system with one or more formats (4), each being intended to be overprinted in preset zones to be overprinted. The format collecting means (9) are configured to collect the one or more formats (8) once printed. The at least one conveyor belt (5) is configured to arrange, for the aforementioned one or more formats (4), an advancement path comprised between the format supplying means (6, 7) and the format collecting means (9). The advancement path passes through the printing unit (2). The second actuation means (10) are configured to drive, in a controllable manner, the advancement of the conveyor belt (4) along the advancement path, upstream of the printing unit (2) in the advancement direction. The control means (11, 12, 13) are configured to control, in a coordinated manner, both the first actuation means (14) and the second actuation means (10), so as to determine at each moment a correspondence of the preset zones to be overprinted of the format (4) with respective printing zones of the printing cylinder (3).

A method for printing on a substrate is disclosed. In an embodiment of the method, the method includes printing a small print control mark of a printed color in a print zone of the substrate and printing a large print control mark of the printed color in the print zone of the substrate. A measurement value of the small print control mark and a measurement value of the large print control mark is detected by a sensor. A deviation between the measurement value of the small print control mark and the measurement value of the large print control mark is determined and an actual value of a print parameter of the printed color is corrected based on the deviation.