Abstract
There is described a sheet-fed printing press (1000; 1000*) comprising at least two printing units (200; 200.1, 200.2; 200.1 *, 200.2*) located one after the other, each printing unit (200; 200.1, 200.2; 200.1 *, 200.2*) being adapted to carry out simultaneous recto-verso printing of the sheets (S) and including two printing cylinders (105, 106) cooperating with one another and forming a printing nip, the two printing cylinders (105, 106) each collecting ink patterns from at least two associated plate cylinders (15A, 15B, 16A, 16B) wherein 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 (201 a; 201 a*) located upstream of the printing nip to a second lateral side (201 b; 201 b*) located downstream of the printing nip, wherein a number of at least two sheet transfer elements (110, 120, 95) is provided downstream of the printing nip of a first one (200.1; 200.1 *) and upstream of the printing nip of a second one (200.2; 200.2*) of the at least two printing units (200.1, 200.2; 200.1 *, 200.2*) to transfer the sheets (S).
Claims
1-26. (canceled)
27. A sheet-fed printing press adapted to carry out recto-verso printing of individual sheets, comprising one or more printing units each adapted to carry out simultaneous recto-verso printing of the sheets, each printing unit including two printing cylinders cooperating with one another and forming a printing nip where both sides of the sheets are simultaneously printed, a first printing cylinder of the two printing cylinders collecting ink patterns from at least two plate cylinders associated with the first printing cylinder and a second printing cylinder of the two printing cylinders collecting ink patterns from at least two plate cylinders associated with the second printing cylinder and wherein the two printing cylinders are located one above the other such that the sheets travel laterally through each printing unit from a first lateral side located upstream of the printing nip to a second lateral side opposite to the first lateral side and located downstream of the printing nip, characterized in that the sheet-fed printing press is comprising at least two of said printing units that are located one after the other, wherein a number of at least two sheet transfer elements is provided downstream of the printing nip of a first one of the at least two printing units and upstream of the printing nip of a second one of the at least two printing units to transfer the sheets from the first printing unit to the second printing unit and in that the plate cylinders are each inked by an associated inking apparatus, and in that for each ink fountain, there is defined at least one reference plane, that intersects with that respective ink fountain and that contains the rotational axis of the plate cylinder associated with that respective ink fountain each inking apparatus being characterized in that the at least one respective reference plane contains at least one straight reference line, and in that this at least one straight reference line is oriented perpendicularly to the rotational axis of the plate cylinder associated with that respective ink fountain and in that this at least one straight reference line together with a vertical straight line confines an angle that is smaller than 35.
28. The sheet-fed printing press according to claim 27, wherein at least part of the number of at least two sheet transfer elements is supported in an intermediate frame interposed between the second lateral side of the first printing unit and the first lateral side of the second printing unit.
29. The sheet-fed printing press according to claim 27, wherein the at least two printing units are coupled directly to one another, with the second lateral side of the first printing unit being coupled to the first lateral side of the second printing unit, and wherein the number of at least two sheet transfer elements is an integral part of the first and second printing units.
30. The sheet-fed printing press according to claim 27, wherein the two printing cylinders comprise a first printing cylinder acting as sheet-conveying cylinder, wherein the sheets are transferred to the first printing cylinder by means of a first sheet transfer element or first sheet transfer cylinder cooperating with the first printing cylinder upstream of the printing nip, wherein the sheets are taken away from the first printing cylinder by means of a second sheet transfer element or second sheet transfer cylinder cooperating with the first printing cylinder downstream of the printing nip.
31. The sheet-fed printing press according to claim 30, wherein each printing unit comprises a pair of side frames supporting at least the two printing cylinders as well as the first sheet transfer element or first sheet transfer cylinder and/or the second sheet transfer element or second sheet transfer cylinders.
32. The sheet-fed printing press according to claim 27, wherein each printing unit is configured as aover-Simultan unit comprising first and second plate cylinders cooperating with a first one of the two printing cylinders to print a first side of the sheets and third and fourth plate cylinders cooperating with a second one of the two printing cylinders to print a second side of the sheets.
33. The sheet-fed printing press according to claim 27, wherein the plate cylinders are each inked by an associated inking apparatus, the inking apparatuses each comprising two ink fountains.
34. The sheet-fed printing press according to claim 27, further comprising at least one respective drying or curing unit located downstream of the respective printing nip between the two printing cylinders of the respective printing unit.
35. The sheet-fed printing press according to claim 34, comprising first and second drying or curing units each cooperating with an associated sheet transfer element to dry first and second sides of the sheets.
36. The sheet-fed printing press according to claim 35, wherein each printing unit is provided with the first and second drying or curing units and associated sheet transfer elements.
37. The sheet-fed printing press according to claim 34, wherein the least one drying or curing unit is a UV-curing unit and/or a UV-LED curing unit.
38. The sheet-fed printing press according to claim 27, wherein the sheet-fed printing press is a sheet-fed printing press adapted to carry out recto-verso printing of individual sheets for the production of security documents such as banknotes.
39. The sheet-fed printing press according to claim 27, wherein this at least one straight reference line together with a vertical straight line confines an angle that is smaller than 25 and/or smaller than 20.
40. The sheet-fed printing press according to claim 27, wherein at least one of the sheet transfer elements is embodied as a gripper system or as a chain gripper system or as a sheet transfer cylinder comprising at least one gripper system and/or wherein the first sheet transfer element is embodied as a first sheet transfer cylinder and/or the second sheet transfer element is embodied as a second sheet transfer cylinder and/or the third sheet transfer element is embodied as a third sheet transfer cylinder.
41. The sheet-fed printing press according to claim 27, wherein the number of at least two sheet transfer elements is an uneven number of at least three sheet transfer elements.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly from reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention which are presented solely by way of non-restrictive examples and illustrated by the attached drawings in which:
[0035] FIG. 1 is schematic illustration of a known Simultan-type recto-verso printing press exhibiting a configuration similar to that disclosed in International PCT Publication No. WO 2007/042919 A2;
[0036] FIG. 2 is a schematic partial side view of the printing unit of the printing press of FIG. 1;
[0037] FIG. 3 is a schematic partial side view of the printing unit of a known Simultan-type recto-verso printing press exhibiting a configuration similar to that disclosed in International PCT Publication No. WO 2016/071870 A1;
[0038] FIG. 4 is a schematic partial side view of a known double-decker-type recto-verso printing press exhibiting a configuration similar to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,804;
[0039] FIG. 5 is a schematic partial side view of a printing unit of a printing press in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;
[0040] FIG. 6 is a schematic partial side view of a printing press comprising at least two printing units as shown in FIG. 5 in accordance with another embodiment of the invention ; and
[0041] FIG. 7 is a schematic partial side view of a printing press comprising at least two printing units in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0042] The present invention will be described in the particular context of a sheet-fed recto-verso printing press adapted to carry out offset printing on both sides of the sheets and comprising one or more printing units each exhibiting a (2)-over-(2) Simultan configuration. It shall be appreciated however that the invention is not limited to this particular configuration and could be extended to any (m)-over-(n) Simultan configuration where variables m and n are integers greater or equal to 2. This being said, the printing press configurations as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 are particularly preferred as they exhibit a reasonably simple configuration while still allowing unprecedented expansion capabilities and great modularity. As this will be appreciated from reading the following description of embodiments of the invention, the preferred (2)-over-(2) Simultan printing unit configuration would allow any printing press configuration for (2N)-over-(2N) recto-verso printing (N being an integer number equal to the number of individual (2)-over-(2) Simultan printing units. The expression (m)-over-(m) configuration is to be understood as a simultaneous recto-verso printing with m colour separations or frames printed on each side and/or a configuration of a recto-verso printing press, printing unit or group comprising a first set of m plate cylinders cooperating with a first printing cylinder and a second set of m plate cylinders cooperating with a second printing cylinder, which first and second printing cylinders cooperate to build a common printing nip.
[0043] The expression printing group will be used for the equipment, e.g. the cylinders, rollers and the means of the inking unit(s), belonging to a printing nip for at least printing on one side of the substrate. A double sided printing group therefor is a special printing group with two printing groups, one on or for each side of the substrate path, sharing a same printing nip for printing simultaneously both sides of a passing substrate and mutually acting with its printing cylinders as counter-pressure cylinders for the other printing group. It is to be understood, that several printing groups can be arranged in a same printing unit, with these printing groups for example being arranged in single- or multi-part frame walls.
[0044] In the context of the present invention, the expression printing cylinder(s) will be used to designate the relevant cylinders of the printing press that directly cooperate with the first or second side of the sheets S to transfer printing patterns thereon. This expression is however interchangeable with the expression blanket cylinder, it being to be understood that the relevant printing cylinders each carry a number of printing blankets. In the embodiments of FIGS. 5 to 7, these printing (or blanket) cylinders are designated by reference numerals 105 and 106 and are two-segment cylinders. The printing cylinders could however present any suitable size or diameter.
[0045] The expression upper side (or recto side) and lower side (or verso side) are used in the following description to designate the two opposite sides of the sheets S being printed. More precisely, in the illustrations of FIGS. 1 to 7, the upper/recto side designates the side of the sheets S that is identified by the black triangles in the drawings, while the lower/verso side designates the side of the sheets S that is identified by the white triangles in the drawings. These expressions are however interchangeable.
[0046] FIG. 5 schematically shows a partial side view of a printing unit, designated by reference numeral 200, of a printing press in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. While only one printing unit 200 is depicted in FIG. 5, the relevant printing press could comprise any desired number of printing units 200 located one after the other, all sharing the same or substantially the same configuration. A sheet-feeder, feeder table, sheet conveying system and sheet delivery unit are not shown in FIG. 5, but it shall be appreciated that such componentswhich are known as such in the artwould typically be provided to ensure feeding of sheets S to the (first) printing unit in the sequence and conveyance of the printed sheets S from the last printing unit in the sequence to the delivery unit. Furthermore, any additional printing or processing unit could be provided upstream or downstream of any one of the printing units 200, including but not limited to an inspection system for inspecting one or both sides of the sheets, a coating unit for coating one or both sides of the sheets with e.g. a varnish, or any other printing unit operating in accordance with any desired printing process (such as intaglio printing, screen printing, letterpress printing, etc.).
[0047] The printing unit 200 illustrated in FIG. 5 is specifically designed to be able to be coupled to at least another, identical printing unit 200, be it on the upstream side and/or downstream side. More precisely, the printing unit 200 includes two printing cylinders 105, 106 cooperating with one another and forming a printing nip where both sides of the sheets S are simultaneously printed. These two printing cylinders 105, 106 are located one above the other such that the sheets S travel laterally (here from the right to the left) through the printing unit 200 from a first lateral side, designated by reference numeral 201a, located upstream of the printing nip formed by the two printing cylinders 105, 106 to a second lateral side, designated by reference numeral 201b, opposite to the first lateral side 201a and located downstream of the printing nip. In the illustrated example, the first printing cylinder 105 acts as a sheet conveying cylinder and transports the individual sheets S to and past the printing nip.
[0048] The second printing cylinder 106 could alternatively be designed as the sheet conveying cylinder, in which case conveyance of the sheets S to and away from the printing nip between the two printing cylinders 105, 106 would have to be changed accordingly. In the context of the present invention, it does not really matter if the sheets S are conveyed by the first or second printing cylinder.
[0049] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the printing unit 200 is preferably designed as a (2)-over-(2) Simultan unit comprising first and second plate cylinders 15A, 15B cooperating with the first printing cylinder 105 and third and fourth plate cylinders 16A, 16B cooperating with the second printing cylinder 106. In the illustrated example, the first and second plate cylinders 15A, 15B are accordingly located above the first printing cylinder 105, while the third and fourth plate cylinders 16A, 16B are located below the second printing cylinder 106. Each of the plate cylinders 15A, 15B, 16A, 16B is inked by a corresponding inking apparatus 25A, 25B, 26A, 26B, which inking apparatuses 25A, 25B, 26A, 26B can advantageously be designed to each comprise two ink fountains, which configuration is useful for rainbow printing.
[0050] Each inking apparatus 25A, 25B, 26A, 26B is conveniently designed to extend along a substantially vertical direction above or below the associated plate cylinder 15A, 15B, 16A, 16B, thereby freeing space to get access to the plate cylinders 15A, 15B, 16A, 16B for the purpose e.g. of mounting or removing the printing plates from the circumference of the plate cylinders 15A, 15B, 16A, 16B. For each ink fountain, there is defined at least one reference plane, that intersects with that respective ink fountain and that contains the rotational axis of the plate cylinder 15A, 15B, 16A, 16B associated with that respective ink fountain. An inking apparatus designed to extend along a substantially vertical direction above or below the associated plate cylinder 15A, 15B, 16A, 16B is preferably characterized in that for at least one ink fountain of that inking apparatus and preferably for each ink fountain of that inking apparatus, the at least one respective reference plane contains at least one straight reference line, and in that this at least one straight reference line is oriented perpendicularly to the rotational axis of the plate cylinder 15A, 15B, 16A, 16B associated with that respective ink fountain and in that this at least one straight reference line together with a vertical straight line confines an angle that is smaller than 45, more preferably smaller than 35, more preferably smaller than 25 and most preferably smaller than 20. Alternatively, the inking apparatus 25A, 25B, 26A, 26B could be located in corresponding inking carriages designed to be retractable away from the plate cylinders 15A, 15B, 16A, 16B.
[0051] In the illustrated example, the first and second printing cylinders 105, 106, the corresponding plate cylinders 15A, 15B, 16A, 16B, as well as the associated inking apparatuses 25A, 25B, 26A, 26B (unless the latter are supported in inking carriages as mentioned above) are supported between a pair of side frames 201, which pair of side frames 201 forms corresponding connection interfaces on the first and second lateral sides 201a, 201b at the input/upstream side and output/downstream side of the printing unit 200. By way of preference, the pair of side frames 201 also supports a first sheet transfer element 95, in particular a first sheet transfer cylinder 95, cooperating with the first printing cylinder 105 upstream of the printing nip and at least a second sheet transfer element 110, in particular a second sheet transfer cylinder 110, cooperating with the first printing cylinder 105 downstream of the printing nip. Even more preferably, the pair of side frames 201 also supports a third sheet transfer element 120, in particular a third sheet transfer cylinder 120, cooperating with the second sheet transfer cylinder 110 to take away the sheets S from the second sheet transfer cylinder 110. In other words, in the example of FIG. 5, the sheets S travel laterally through the printing unit 200 from a first sheet transfer location (or sheet input location) T1 located on the first lateral side 201a (namely the sheet transfer location to the first sheet transfer cylinder 95) to a second sheet transfer location (or sheet output location) T2 located on the second lateral side 201b (namely the sheet transfer location from the third sheet transfer cylinder 120), the sheets S being transported in succession by cylinders 95, 105, 110 and 120.
[0052] Sheet transfer elements 110, 120, 95 are exemplarily shown as sheet transfer cylinder 110, 120, 95 throughout the drawings. Nevertheless, at least one of the sheet transfer elements 110, 120, 95 or a plurality of the sheet transfer elements 110, 120, 95 or all of the sheet transfer elements 110, 120, 95 are alternatively embodied as another kind of sheet transfer element 110, 120, 95, e.g. a chain gripper system 110, 120, 95 and/or a gripper system 110, 120, 95 being moveable by a transport element, such as a cylinder or a transfer drum. In particular, at least two separate gripper systems 110, 120, 95 spaced apart in a circumferential direction around a common transfer cylinder 110, 120, 95 carrying these at least two gripper systems 110, 120, 95 can be regarded as at least two transfer elements 110, 120, 95. Preferably, at least one of the sheet transfer elements 110, 120, 95 is embodied as a gripper system or as a chain gripper system 110, 120, 95 or as a sheet transfer cylinder 110, 120, 95 comprising at least one gripper system. More preferably, at least two of the sheet transfer elements 110, 120, 95 are embodied as a respective gripper system and/or as a respective chain gripper system 110, 120, 95 and/or as a respective sheet transfer cylinder 110, 120, 95 comprising at least one gripper system. In an exemplary embodiment, the first sheet transfer element 95 is embodied as a first sheet transfer cylinder 95 and/or the second sheet transfer element 110 is embodied as a second sheet transfer cylinder 110 and/or the third sheet transfer element 120 is embodied as a third sheet transfer cylinder 120.
[0053] According to the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 5, first and second drying or curing units 510, 520 are further located downstream of the printing nip of the at least one and preferably of the respective printing unit 200; 200.1, 2001.2; 200.1*, 200.2* between the two printing cylinders 105, 106, namely about a corresponding portion of the circumference of the second and third sheet transfer cylinders 110, 120, respectively, where the sheets S are transported. The second drying or curing unit 520 could alternatively be cooperating directly with the circumference of the first printing cylinder 105 immediately after the printing nip so as to dry or cure the verso/lower side of the sheets S. The drying or curing units 510, 520 are preferably UV-curing units, such as UV-LED curing units. The second and third sheet transfer cylinders 110, 120 could again alternatively be embodied as any other kind of sheet transfer elements 110, 120.
[0054] Ideally, the sheet transfer location T1 to the first sheet transfer element 95 or first sheet transfer cylinder 95 and the sheet transfer location T2 away from the third sheet transfer element 120 or third sheet transfer cylinder 120 are located at a same height, as illustrated in FIG. 5, thereby allowing a direct coupling of two identical printing units 200 one after the other, in which case the third sheet transfer element 120 or third sheet transfer cylinder 120 of the upstream-located printing unit 200 is made to cooperate directly with the first sheet transfer element 95 or first sheet transfer cylinder 95 of the downstream-located printing unit 200.
[0055] Such a configuration where at least two identical printing units 200.1, 200.2 are coupled directly to one another is shown in the embodiment of FIG. 6. Indeed, FIG. 6 is a schematic partial side view of a printing press designated by reference numeral 1000 and comprising at least two printing units 200.1, 200.2 of the same type as previously described in connection with FIG. 5. Components 15A, 15B, 16A, 16B, 25A, 25B, 26A, 26B, 95, 105, 106, 110, 120, 201, 510, 520 in FIG. 6 are the same components as described in connection with FIG. 5 and do not therefore need to be described again. It suffices to understand that the two printing units 200.1, 200.2 are coupled directly to one another, with the second lateral side 201b of the first printing unit 200.1 being coupled to the first lateral side 201a of the second printing unit 200.2. In the illustration of FIG. 6, the first lateral side 201a of the first printing unit 200.1 is shown coupled to a feeder table 1* of a sheet feeder, which feeder table 1* is provided with a sheet transfer element 90 or sheet transfer cylinder 90 acting as infeed and receiving individual sheets S from e.g. a swing-gripper arm system. The second lateral side 201b of the second printing unit 200.2 (not shown in FIG. 6) could likewise be coupled to a third printing unit in a similar manner to the first and second printing units 200.1, 200.2.
[0056] The last printing unit in the sequence of printing units could likewise be coupled to any suitable sheet conveying system for transporting the printed sheets S to a corresponding sheet delivery unit in a manner similar to what is shown e.g. in FIG. 4, in which case a suitable sheet transfer element or sheet transfer cylinder could equally be interposed between the third sheet transfer element 120 or third sheet transfer cylinder 120 of the last printing unit in the sequence and the upstream end of a sheet conveying system 3 (like the sheet transfer cylinder 13 depicted in FIG. 4).
[0057] While this is not specifically illustrated, an inspection system similar to the inspection system 11, 12, 61, 62 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 could likewise be provided downstream of the last printing unit with a view to inspect both sides of the printed sheets S.
[0058] FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of a printing press, designated by reference numeral 1000*, according to the invention and comprising at least two printing units 200.1*, 200.2* which are located one after the other. Like in the embodiment of FIG. 6, an uneven number of sheet transfer elements, in particular sheet transfer cylinders, namely transfer cylinders 110, 120 and 95, is provided downstream of the printing nip of the first printing unit 200.1* and upstream of the printing nip of the second printing unit 200.2* to transfer the sheets S from the first printing unit 200.1* to the second printing unit 200.2*. The only difference with respect to the embodiment of FIG. 6 resides in that not all of the sheet transfer elements 110, 120, 95 or sheet transfer cylinders 110, 120, 95 are an integral part of the first and second printing units 200.1*, 200.2*. Rather, in the example of FIG. 7, only the first sheet transfer element 95 or sheet transfer cylinder 95 and the second sheet transfer element 110 or sheet transfer cylinders 110 are supported between the pair of side frames 201* of the two printing units 200.1*, 200.2*, the third sheet transfer element 120 or sheet transfer cylinder 120 being supported in this case in an intermediate frame 205 that is interposed between the second lateral side 201b* of the first printing unit 200.1* and the first lateral side 201a* of the second printing unit 200.2*. In the illustrated example, the second lateral side 201b* of the second printing unit 200.2* is likewise coupled to an intermediate frame 205 supporting the third sheet transfer element 120 or third sheet transfer cylinder 120 downstream of the second printing unit 200.2*.
[0059] From a functional perspective, components 1*, 15A, 15B, 16A, 16B, 25A, 25B, 26A, 26B, 90, 95, 105, 106, 110, 120, 201*, 205, 510, 520 in FIG. 7 fulfill the same function as components 1*, 15A, 15B, 16A, 16B, 25A, 25B, 26A, 26B, 90, 95, 105, 106, 110, 120, 201, 510, 520 described in connection with FIG. 6.
[0060] Various modifications and/or improvements may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the annexed claims.
[0061] First of all, any one of the two printing cylinders 105, 106 could be designed as a sheet conveying cylinder and the invention is therefore not limited to the illustrated embodiments where the sheet conveying cylinder is located above the path of the sheets S. The sheet conveying cylinder could equally be located below the path of the sheets S. In one embodiment, the sheet conveying cylinder of a first printing unit is located above the path of the sheets S while a sheet conveying cylinder of an adjacent second printing unit is located below the path of the sheets S. In another embodiment, the sheet conveying cylinder of a first printing unit is located bellow the path of the sheets S while a sheet conveying cylinder of an adjacent second printing unit is located above the path of the sheets S.
[0062] Similarly, while FIGS. 6 and 7 show that three sheet transfer cylinders 110, 120, 95 are provided downstream of the printing nip of the first printing unit 200.1, respectively 200.1*, and upstream of the printing nip of the second printing unit 200.2, respectively 200.2*, to ensure transfer of the sheets S from one printing unit to the other, any number of at least two sheet transfer elements or cylinders would be convenient. The number of at least two transfer elements or cylinders is preferably any uneven number of sheet transfer elements or cylinders and more preferably an uneven number of at least three sheet transfer elements or cylinders. The illustrated examples are advantageous in that the at least two sheet transfer elements 110, 120, 95 and in particular the at least three sheet transfer elements 110, 120, 95 or cylinders 110, 120, 95 ensure sufficient spacing between two successive printing units and accessibility to all relevant parts of the printing presses, in particular the plate cylinders 15A, 15B, 16A, 16B and drying/curing units 510, 520.
[0063] Alternatively, the three sheet transfer elements 110, 120, 95 or cylinders 110, 120, 95 could be replaced by another number, in particular another uneven number of sheet transfer elements or cylinders, for example five sheet transfer cylinders of the size as sheet transfer cylinder 95 shown in FIG. 6 and/or FIG. 7.
[0064] It shall furthermore be appreciated that all relevant printing units do not necessarily need to be strictly identical. The embodiments disclosed herein however have a major advantage in that full modularity is ensured as each individual printing unit is designed as an elementary building block that can be added or removed from the printing press without major difficulties.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS USED THEREIN
[0065] 100 Simultan-type printing press(2+4)-over-(4) configuration (prior art of FIGS. 1 and 2) [0066] 100* Simultan-type printing press(2+4)-over-(2+4) configuration (prior art of FIG. 3) [0067] 100** Double-decker-type printing press(4)-over-(4) configuration (prior art of FIG. 4) [0068] 1000 printing press(2+2)-over-(2+2) configuration (embodiment of FIG. 6) [0069] 1000* printing press(2+2)-over-(2+2) configuration (embodiment of FIG. 7) [0070] 1 sheet feeder [0071] 1* feeder table [0072] S sheets [0073] 2 printing unit (prior art of FIGS. 1 and 2) [0074] 2* printing unit (prior art of FIG. 3) [0075] 2.1-2.8 printing units (prior art of FIG. 4) [0076] 200 printing unit (embodiment of FIG. 5) [0077] 200.1, 200.2 printing units (embodiment of FIG. 6) [0078] 200.1*, 200.2* printing units (embodiment of FIG. 7) [0079] 3 sheet conveying system (chain gripper system with spaced-apart gripper bars) [0080] 31 pair of chain wheels of sheet conveying system 3 (upstream end) [0081] 4 sheet delivery unit [0082] 41, 42, 43 delivery pile units [0083] 5 sheet conveying cylinder/(first) printing cylinder (main printing group)/three-segment blanket cylinder (FIGS. 1 to 3) [0084] 5.1-5.4 printing cylinders of printing units 2.1, 2.3, 2.5 and 2.7/one-segment blanket cylinders (FIG. 4) [0085] 105 sheet conveying cylinder/(first) printing cylinder/two-segment blanket cylinder (embodiments of FIGS. 5 to 7) [0086] 6 (second) printing cylinder (main printing group)/three-segment blanket cylinder (FIGS. 1 to 3) [0087] 6.1-6.4 printing cylinders of printing units 2.2, 2.4, 2.6 and 2.8/one-segment blanket cylinders (FIG. 4) [0088] 106 (second) printing cylinder/two-segment blanket cylinder (embodiments of FIGS. 5 to 7) [0089] 7 sheet conveying cylinder/(third) printing cylinder (additional printing group)/two-segment blanket cylinder (FIG. 3) [0090] 8 (fourth) printing cylinder (additional printing group)/two-segment blanket cylinder (FIGS. 1 to 3) [0091] 8 sheet conveying cylinder/two-segment cylinder (FIGS. 1 and 2) [0092] 9 sheet transfer cylinder (infeedFIGS. 1 to 4) [0093] 9, 9 sheet transfer cylinders (FIG. 3) [0094] 90 sheet transfer cylinder (infeedembodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7) [0095] 95 (first) sheet transfer cylinder (embodiments of FIGS. 5 to 7) [0096] 10 sheet transfer cylinder (FIGS. 1 to 2) [0097] 10, 10, 10 sheet transfer cylinders (intermediate sheet conveying system interposed between additional printing group and main printing groupFIG. 3) [0098] 11 inspection cylinder or drum (part of inspection systemFIGS. 1 to 3) [0099] 12 inspection cylinder or drum (part of inspection systemFIGS. 1 to 3) [0100] 10.1-10.4 sheet conveying cylinders/impression cylinders of printing units 2.1, 2.3, 2.5 and 2.7/two-segment impression cylinders (FIG. 4) [0101] 11.1-11.4 sheet conveying cylinders/impression cylinders of printing units 2.2, 2.4, 2.6 and 2.8/two-segment impression cylinders (FIG. 4) [0102] 13 sheet transfer cylinder/two-segment cylinder (FIG. 4) [0103] 110 (second) sheet transfer cylinder/two-segment cylinder (embodiments of FIGS. 5 to 7) [0104] 120 (third) sheet transfer cylinder/two-segment cylinder (embodiments of FIGS. 5 to 7) [0105] 15 (four) plate cylinders cooperating with printing cylinder 5 (lower/verso side of sheets S)/one-segment plate cylinders (FIGS. 1 to 3) [0106] 15.1-15.4 plate cylinders of printing units 2.1, 2.3, 2.5 and 2.7 (upper/recto side of sheets S)/one-segment plate cylinders (FIG. 4) [0107] 15A, 15B (two) plate cylinders of printing unit 200, 200.1, 200.2, 200.1*, 200.2* (upper/recto side of sheets S)/one-segment plate cylinders (FIGS. 5 to 7) [0108] 16 (four) plate cylinders cooperating with printing cylinder 6 (upper/recto side of sheets S)/one-segment plate cylinders (FIGS. 1 to 3) [0109] 16.1-16.4 plate cylinders of printing units 2.2, 2.4, 2.6 and 2.8 (lower/verso side of sheets S)/one-segment plate cylinders (FIG. 4) [0110] 16A, 16B (two) plate cylinders of printing unit 200, 200.1, 200.2, 200.1*, 200.2* (lower/verso side of sheets S)/one-segment plate cylinders (FIGS. 5 to 7) [0111] 17 (two) plate cylinders cooperating with printing cylinder 7 (lower/verso side of sheets S)/one-segment plate cylinders (FIG. 3) [0112] 18 (two) plate cylinders cooperating with printing cylinder 8 (upper/recto side of sheets S)/one-segment plate cylinders (FIGS. 1 to 3) [0113] 20 printing press main frame/pair of side frames (FIGS. 1 to 4) [0114] 201 frame of printing unit 200, 200.1, 200.2/pair of side frames (embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6) [0115] 201a connection interface of frame 201/first lateral side (input/upstream side) [0116] 201b connection interface of frame 201/second lateral side (output/downstream side) [0117] 201* frame of printing unit 200.1*, 200.2*/pair of side frames (embodiment of FIG. 7) [0118] 201a* connecting interface of frame 201*/first lateral side (input/upstream side) [0119] 201b* connecting interface of frame 201*/second lateral side (output/downstream side) [0120] 205 intermediate frame (FIG. 7) [0121] 21 retractable inking carriage supporting inking apparatuses 25 [0122] 22 retractable inking carriage supporting inking apparatuses 26 [0123] 23 retractable inking carriage supporting inking apparatuses 27 (FIG. 3) [0124] 24 retractable inking carriage supporting inking apparatuses 28 (FIGS. 1 to 3) [0125] 25 (four) inking apparatuses each cooperating with a corresponding one of the plate cylinders 15 (FIGS. 1 to 3) [0126] 25.1-25.4 inking apparatus of printing units 2.1, 2.3, 2.5 and 2.7 cooperating with plate cylinder 15.1, 15.2, 15.3, 15.4, respectively (FIG. 4) [0127] 25A, 25B (two) inking apparatuses each cooperating with a corresponding one of the plate cylinders 15A, 15B (FIGS. 5 to 7) [0128] 26 (four) inking apparatuses each cooperating with a corresponding one of the plate cylinders 16 (FIGS. 1 to 3) [0129] 26.1-26.4 inking apparatus of printing units 2.2, 2.4, 2.6 and 2.8 cooperating with plate cylinder 16.1, 16.2, 16.3, 16.4, respectively (FIG. 4) [0130] 26A, 26B (two) inking apparatuses each cooperating with a corresponding one of the plate cylinders 16A, 16B (FIGS. 5 to 7) [0131] 27 (two) inking apparatuses each cooperating with a corresponding one of the plate cylinders 17 (FIG. 3) [0132] 28 (two) inking apparatuses each cooperating with a corresponding one of the plate cylinders 18 (FIGS. 1 to 3) [0133] 50 drying/curing unit for recto side of sheets S, e.g. UV-LED curing unit (FIGS. 1 and 2) [0134] 51 (first) drying/curing unit for verso side of sheets S, e.g. UV-LED curing unit, cooperating with sheet transfer cylinder 10 (FIG. 3) [0135] 52 (second) drying/curing unit for recto side of sheets S, e.g. UV-LED curing unit, cooperating with sheet transfer cylinder 10 (FIG. 3) [0136] 510 (first) drying/curing unit for recto side of sheets S, e.g. UV-LED curing unit, cooperating with sheet transfer cylinder 110 (embodiments of FIGS. 5 to 7) [0137] 520 (second) drying/curing unit for verso side of sheets S, e.g. UV-LED curing unit, cooperating with sheet transfer cylinder 120 (embodiments of FIGS. 5 to 7) [0138] 61 inspection camera (verso side of sheets S) cooperating with inspection cylinder or drum 11, e.g. line-scan camera (FIGS. 1 to 3) [0139] 62 inspection camera (recto side of sheets S) cooperating with inspection cylinder or drum 12, e.g. line-scan camera (FIGS. 1 to 3) [0140] T1 sheet transfer location to (first) sheet transfer cylinder 95/sheet input location [0141] T2 sheet transfer location away from (third) sheet transfer cylinder 120/sheet output location
