A method of inspecting images on printed products by a computer in a printing machine. Printed products are recorded and digitized by an image sensor of an image inspection system in the course of the image inspection process, and the computer compares them to a digital reference image. If deviations are found, the defective printed products are removed. The computer analyzes the deviations found in the course of the image inspection process together with further data from other system parts and from the machine, determines specific defect classes and the causes thereof based on the defects by machine learning processes, assigns the defects found in the image inspection process to the defect classes in a corresponding way, and displays the classified detected defects with their defect classes and causes to an operator of the machine so that the operator can initiate specific measures to eliminate the defect causes.

According to the invention there is an apparatus for printing onto cylindrical structures comprising: a plurality of inker devices each comprising a print cylinder and one or more servomotors for adjustably controlling the position or orientation of a print cylinder; a blanket device comprising a plurality of print blankets, in which the blanket device is configured to bring each print blanket into contact with the print cylinders to transfer ink from the print cylinders to the print blanket, and to bring each print blanket into contact with a cylindrical structure to achieve printing thereon; a transporter for transporting the cylindrical structures into and out of contact with the print blankets; and an automatic print correction system comprising a print inspection device for detecting a misregistration of ink transferred from one or more of the print cylinders onto a print blanket, and a controller for controlling the servomotors of the print cylinders to correct the misregistration in response to data received from the print inspection device.

A can decorator comprising a spindle disc, a blanket drum, a transfer wheel, a pin chain drive, and a controller. The spindle disc is adapted for (i) receiving beverage cans from an infeed and (ii) carrying and rotating each can body on a corresponding spindle. The blanket drum is adapted for (i) applying ink to printing cylinders and (ii) rotating the print cylinders in registration with beverage cans on the spindle disc to decorate the cans. The transfer wheel is adapted for receiving beverage cans from the spindle disc after decoration by the blanket drum. The pin chain drive is adapted for receiving cans from the transfer wheel and transporting the cans on a chain through an oven. The controller adapted for receiving encoder information and matching or adjusting speeds of a spindle disc motor, a blanket drum motor, a transfer wheel motor, and a pin chain drive motor.

A screen mask inspection device inspects a screen mask including a screen opening that forms a printing pattern, and includes: an inspection control device that detects solder position information of a solder paste printed on a substrate via the screen opening, and based on the solder position information, determines whether a quality of printing using the screen mask is good or bad, the solder position information being based on an amount of positional misalignment of the solder paste actually printed on the substrate relative to a predetermined reference position.

Pattern transfer sheets, methods of monitoring pattern transfer printing, and pattern transfer printing systems are provided, for monitoring and adjusting laser illumination used for transferring paste patterns from trenches on the sheets onto a substrate such as electronic circuitry and/or solar cell substrates. Pattern transfer sheets comprise, outside the pattern, (i) trace mark(s) configured to receive the printing paste, aligned to the trenches and are wider than the width of the illuminating laser beam—to detect misalignment of paste release from within the trace mark(s) and/or (ii) working window marks configured to receive the printing paste, set at specified offsets with respect to specific trenches, with different working window marks set at different offsets—to correct the effective working window by adjusting the power of the laser beam.

A method for attaching a printing plate (12), especially a flexographic printing plate, to a printing cylinder (14) is described. In a first step, the printing plate (12) is provided in a substantially flat condition. Thereafter, an outer circumference of the printing cylinder (14) is arranged adjacent to an edge of the printing plate (12). Subsequently, the printing cylinder (14) is translatorily moved over the printing plate (12) while rotating such that the printing plate (12) is rolled-up on the printing cylinder (14). Additionally, an apparatus (10) for attaching a printing plate (12) to a printing cylinder (14) is presented. The apparatus (10) comprises a printing plate support unit (16) having a substantially flat support surface (18) for supporting the printing plate (12) to be mounted on the printing cylinder (14), and a printing cylinder support unit (36) for supporting and moving the printing cylinder (14). The printing cylinder support unit (36) comprises a translatory drive means (42) for translatorily moving the printing cylinder (14) in a direction parallel to the support surface (18).

In an example of the disclosure, first and second print jobs are received at a printer. The first and second print jobs each include production frames. The first and second print jobs are printed with a media roll change occurring during printing. A first finishing device information nonproduction (“FDIN”) frame and a second FDIN frame are printed. The first and second FDIN frames include coded information regarding the first print job and the second print job, respectively. The coded information is for reading by a scanner at a finishing device. A press calibration nonproduction (“PCN”) frame that includes a printer calibration diagnostic is printed. A scanner at the printer is caused to capture the printer calibration diagnostic. A calibration operation is performed at the printer utilizing data or attributes captured from the printer calibration diagnostic.

A method for correcting a measurement value of a reference mark on a material web is disclosed. A controller, a machine, a computer program and a computer program product can perform a correction of this type. To improve determination of the position of a reference mark on a material web, a machine in which the material web is moved in a conveying direction has at least one tool that functions in a non-positive locking manner, a second tool that functions in a non-positive locking manner and is located downstream of the first tool in the conveying direction, and a sensor that is located between the two tools. A measurement error in the sensor which arises as a result of an adjustment of the second tool is determined at least approximately at least via parameter values of the second tool. The measurement value is corrected by the measurement error.

A microfilter comprising a polymer layer formed from epoxy-based photo-definable dry film, and a plurality of apertures each extending through the polymer layer. A method of forming a microfilter is also disclosed. The method includes providing a first layer of epoxy-based photo-definable dry film disposed on a substrate, exposing the first layer to energy through a mask to form a pattern, defined by the mask, in the first layer of dry film, forming, from the exposed first layer of dry film, a polymer layer having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, the plurality of apertures having a distribution defined by the pattern, and removing the polymer layer from the substrate.

A printing assembly may include a first continuous cylinder and a first jogging assembly. The first continuous cylinder may be configured to apply print media to a flexible substrate responsive to contact with the flexible substrate. The first continuous cylinder may include a plurality of partitions configured such that only one of the partitions is aligned for contact with the flexible substrate at any given time, and each of the partitions may have a unique print characteristic associated therewith. The first jogging assembly may be operably coupled with the first continuous cylinder to move the first continuous cylinder along an axis thereof to change alignment of the partitions relative to the flexible substrate.