John P Richards

US Patent:

6374731, Apr 23, 2002

Filed:

Apr 18, 1997

Appl. No.:

08/844350

Inventors:

Peter W. Walczak - Dover NH
Charles Henry Dufour - Durham NH
Michael Stevenson - Gouvieux, FR
John Sheridan Richards - Barrington NH
Roland Thomas Palmatier - Durham NH

Assignee:

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG - Heidelberg

International Classification:

B41F 712

US Classification:

101142, 101216, 101217, 101375

Abstract:

A lithographic newspaper printing press comprises printing units ( to ) which are mounted on top of each other, forming a tower arrangement ( ). Each printing unit comprises a first and a second plate cylinder ( ) having a length being substantially four times the width of a newspaper page and having a circumference being substantially equal to the height of a newspaper page. Each printing unit further comprises a first and a second blanket cylinder ( ) associated with said first and second plate cylinders ( ), whereby each of said first and second blanket cylinders ( ) has substantially the same diameter as the associated plate cylinder ( ). Each of the blanket cylinders ( ) carries a respective continuous sleeve-shaped printing blanket ( ) which is axially removable from the respective plate cylinder through an aperture formed in the side wall of the housing of the printing unit, while the respective blanket cylinder ( ) is cantilevered in the opposite side wall of the housing.

US Patent:

6382101, May 7, 2002

Filed:

Mar 4, 1997

Appl. No.:

08/810581

Inventors:

John Sheridan Richards - Barrington NH

Assignee:

Heidelberg Harris, Inc. Heidelberger Druckmaschinen - Heidelberg

International Classification:

B41F 3102

US Classification:

101365, 382306

Abstract:

An apparatus for remote ink control fountain selection comprising a video camera for reading a signature image, an image digitizer, an image comparator for comparing the signature image to a sample image set and a memory device for storing the sample image set in digitized form, as well as a method for remote ink fountain selection comprising the steps of digitizing sample images and providing each said sample image with an identification; digitizing a printed signature image from a printing press which corresponds to at least one of the sample images; comparing the digitized printed signature image to the digitized sample images; and outputting the identification of the digitized sample image upon a match with the digitized signature image.

US Patent:

6474231, Nov 5, 2002

Filed:

Jul 26, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/625623

Inventors:

John Sheridan Richards - Barrington NH

Assignee:

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG - Heidelberg

International Classification:

B41M 114

US Classification:

101211, 101177

Abstract:

A multi-color printing press comprising a first print form cylinder; second print form cylinder; at least one first inking unit for inking the first and second print form cylinders; third print form cylinder; fourth print from cylinder; at least one second inking unit for inking the third and fourth print form cylinders with an ink color different from the at least one first inking unit; a common blanket cylinder, the first and third print form cylinders contacting the common blanket cylinder during a first mode of operation and the second and fourth print form cylinders contacting the common blanket cylinder during a second mode of operation. A method for printing material comprising the steps of transferring ink from a first inking unit to a blanket cylinder through a first printing form, transferring ink from a second inking unit to the blanket cylinder through a third printing form, moving the first and third printing forms away from the blanket cylinder, transferring ink from the first inking unit to the blanket cylinder through a second printing form, and transferring ink from the second inking unit to the blanket cylinder through a fourth printing form.

US Patent:

6551228, Apr 22, 2003

Filed:

Oct 23, 1997

Appl. No.:

08/956912

Inventors:

John Sheridan Richards - Barrington NH

Assignee:

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG - Heidelberg

International Classification:

B42C 100

US Classification:

493417, 493444, 271245, 270 46, 270 5214

Abstract:

A quarterfold folding device and method forms groupings of signatures in a signature product stream by delaying selected signatures during transport to a chopper mechanism, the chopper mechanism adapted to fold multiple signatures in a single chop, thereby increasing throughput of the quarterfold folding device and reducing the rate of operation of the chopper mechanism.

US Patent:

6553907, Apr 29, 2003

Filed:

Aug 2, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/211747

Inventors:

John Sheridan Richards - Barrington NH

Assignee:

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG - Heidelberg

International Classification:

B41M 114

US Classification:

101211, 101181, 101247, 101177

Abstract:

A multi-color printing press comprising a first print form cylinder; second print form cylinder; at least one first inking unit for inking the first and second print form cylinders; third print form cylinder; fourth print from cylinder; at least one second inking unit for inking the third and fourth print form cylinders with an ink color different from the at least one first hiking unit; a common blanket cylinder, the first and third print form cylinders contacting the common blanket cylinder during a first mode of operation and the second and fourth print form cylinders contacting the common blanket cylinder during a second mode of operation. A method for printing material comprising the steps of transferring ink from a first inking unit to a blanket cylinder through a first printing form, transferring ink from a second inking unit to the blanket cylinder through a third printing form, moving the first and third printing forms away from the blanket cylinder, transferring ink from the first inking unit to the blanket cylinder through a second printing form, and transferring ink from the second inking unit to the blanket cylinder through a fourth printing form.

US Patent:

6553908, Apr 29, 2003

Filed:

Sep 29, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/675494

Inventors:

John Sheridan Richards - Barrington NH
Charles Henry Dufour - Durham NH

Assignee:

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG - Heidelberg

International Classification:

B41F 1324

US Classification:

101248, 101220, 101486

Abstract:

A printing cylinder has a first rotatable section having a central image area on the surface, and a first and second end. A first shell is disposed circumferentially about the first end, and a second shell is disposed circumferentially about the second end, the first and second shells having image areas on the surface and movable axially with respect to the central image area. Also provided is a printing press comprising a first sensor for detecting register marks, a second sensor for detecting fanout, and a rotatable cylinder with a first section axially adjustable with respect to a second section. A method for correcting fanout in a web printing press includes sensing register marks to provide overall circumferential and/or lateral register adjustments of a printing cylinder, sensing a section of the web other than the register marks to provide fanout information, and changing a lateral position of a first part of the printing cylinder with respect to a second part of the printing cylinder.

US Patent:

6651556, Nov 25, 2003

Filed:

Apr 30, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/302774

Inventors:

John S. Richards - Barrington NH

Assignee:

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG - Heidelberg

International Classification:

B41F 516

US Classification:

101178, 101174

Abstract:

A web offset printing press for dual webs includes several printing units, each printing a color image on outer sides of a pair of webs. The webs travel through these printing units in a back-to-back arrangement. Additional printing units print another color image on the outer side. The webs may be separated during this process, with a pair of printing couples used for each web, so that one couple may print the additional image while the plate of the other is changed. The additional printing units also print a single-color image on the opposite side of each web.

US Patent:

6745688, Jun 8, 2004

Filed:

Mar 31, 1998

Appl. No.:

09/052472

Inventors:

Michael Robert Lemelin - Dover NH
Dale Hiett Jackson - Newmarket NH
Mark Bernard Dumais - Kennebunk ME
John Sheridan Richards - Barrington NH

Assignee:

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG - Heidelberg

International Classification:

B41F 710

US Classification:

101138, 101176, 101180, 101221

Abstract:

A web-fed rotary printing press ( ) for alternatively printing, in a perfecting mode, a single web ( ) or, in a non-perfecting mode, first and second webs ( ), comprises a first impression cylinder ( ) having a plurality of first blanket cylinders ( ) and a corresponding plurality of second plate cylinders ( ) arranged along a periphery of the first impression cylinder ( ). A second impression cylinder ( ) located adjacent to the first impression cylinder ( ) has a plurality of second blanket cylinders ( ) and a corresponding plurality of second plate cylinders ( ) arranged along a periphery thereof. In the perfecting mode, the single web ( ) is passed over first impression cylinder ( ) to be printed on a first side ( ) thereof and is afterwards passed through a gap ( ) between the first and second impression cylinders ( ) to the second impression cylinder ( ) to be printed on a second side ( ) thereof. In the non-perfecting mode, the first web ( ) is passed over the first impression cylinder ( ) and the second web ( ) is passed over the second impression cylinder ( ).