Charles H Dufour

US Patent:

6371025, Apr 16, 2002

Filed:

May 16, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/571907

Inventors:

Charles Henry Dufour - Durham NH
David Crowell Emery - York ME
Roland Thomas Palmatier - Durham NH

Assignee:

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG - Heidelberg

International Classification:

B41F 3506

US Classification:

101425, 101423, 101424, 1525652, 1525653

Abstract:

An apparatus for cleaning a tubular printing blanket, comprises a first end cap mounted to a first end portion of the tubular printing blanket; a second end cap mounted to a second end portion of the tubular printing blanket, a compressed air inlet passing through the first end cap; a compressed air supply coupled to the compress air inlet for supplying compressed air to the inside of the tubular printing blanket for stiffening the tubular printing blanket during a cleaning operation; and a cleaning element which interacts with the outside surface of the tubular printing blanket, for cleaning the tubular printing blanket. A method for cleaning a tubular printing blanket comprises the steps of mounting end caps to the end portions of the tubular printing blanket for sealing the inside of the tubular printing blanket against ambient air; supplying compressed air to the inside of the tubular printing blanket for stiffening the tubular printing blanket; and cleaning the outside surface of the tubular printing blanket.

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:

6386103, May 14, 2002

Filed:

Mar 31, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/540790

Inventors:

William Albert Charette - Rollinsford NH
Christian Heinz Miescher - Newburgport MA
David Crowell Emery - York ME
Charles Henry Dufour - Durham NH

Assignee:

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG - Heidelberg

International Classification:

B41F 2700

US Classification:

101375, 101479, 29280, 29282, 2989523, 81418, 814265, 814275

Abstract:

A printing sleeve removal device includes a first jaw arm and a second jaw arm movable with respect to the second jaw arm, the first and second jaw arms having ends forming a jaw to engage a printing sleeve. Also disclosed is a method for removing a printing sleeve comprising engaging a printing sleeve on a printing cylinder with a first jaw arm and a second jaw arm and moving the printing sleeve via the first and second jaw arms so as to slide the printing sleeve axially with respect to the printing cylinder.

US Patent:

6422552, Jul 23, 2002

Filed:

Dec 8, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/456852

Inventors:

Lewis Bradley Chesno - Brentwood NH
Charles Henry Dufour - Durham NH
Robert Michael Riotto - Somersworth NH

Assignee:

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG - Heidelberg

International Classification:

B41F 1356

US Classification:

270 32, 270 41, 101225, 101483, 493477, 493478

Abstract:

A movable folder assembly includes one or more folders slidingly supported on a pair of rails and an actuator for moving the folder on said pair of rails. The actuator may include a hydraulic cylinder and a control unit for controlling said hydraulic cylinder. The folder(s) is supported on said rails by bearings. Preferably, the bearings are linear bearings, and most preferably, the folder(s) is supported on at least one of said rails by dual-type linear bearings. The folder(s) may be used in conduction with a former board arrangement in a web-fed rotary newspaper printing press which includes a first and a second row of former boards each row including a first, second and third former board for longitudinally folding one or more ribbons passing over the former boards. The first row of former boards is arranged above the second former board, and a movable folder is located below one of the former boards of the second row of former boards for crossfolding and cutting the ribbons into signatures.

US Patent:

6439117, Aug 27, 2002

Filed:

May 17, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/572361

Inventors:

Mark Bernard Dumais - Kennebunk ME
Charles Henry DuFour - Durham NH
Lev Zlatin - Exeter NH
Glenn Alan Guaraldi - Kingston NH

Assignee:

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG - Heidelberg

International Classification:

B41F 2700

US Classification:

101383, 1013821, 1014151

Abstract:

A printing press comprising a multi-plate plate cylinder for carrying at least a first printing plate and a second printing plate, the plate cylinder having a cylinder body with an outer surface and a lock-up bar having a retracted position and an extended position, the lock-up bar for fastening both of the first and second plates about the outer surface in the retracted position. A tucker bar is located adjacent the lock-up bar, the tucker bar including at least a first segment for tucking and holding the first printing plate on the plate cylinder and a second segment for tucking and holding the second printing plate on the plate cylinder, the first segment being independently movable with respect to the second segment. Also disclosed is a method including the steps of contacting the first printing plate with an associated first segment of a tucker bar when the common lock-up bar is in an extended position and while the second printing plate is not contacted by an associated second segment of the tucker bar, moving the common lock-up bar to the retracted position so that the first printing plate is fastened and so that an end of the second printing plate is free, and removing the second printing plate from the plate cylinder.

US Patent:

6443065, Sep 3, 2002

Filed:

May 17, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/572175

Inventors:

William Albert Charette - Rollinsford NH
Lev Zlatin - Exeter NH
Charles Henry Dufour - Durham NH

Assignee:

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG - Heidelberg

International Classification:

B41F 2712

US Classification:

1014151, 101378, 101486, 101DIG 36

Abstract:

A plate cylinder comprising a cylinder body having at least one external slot extending axially with respect to the cylinder body, and at least one register pin slidable by an external registration device within the slot. Also provided is an external registration device comprising a base for attaching to a periphery of a plate cylinder, and a pin pusher interacting with a register pin in a slot of the plate cylinder, the pin pusher being axially movable relative to the base. A method is provided for registering plates on a plate cylinder comprising the steps of placing an external registration device on a plate cylinder having at least one register pin, and moving the register pin axially with the external registration device.

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:

6615731, Sep 9, 2003

Filed:

Jun 10, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/165906

Inventors:

Mark Bernard Dumais - Kennebunk ME
Charles Henry Dufour - Durham NH
Lev Zlatin - Exeter NH
Glenn Alan Guaraldi - Kingston NH

Assignee:

Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG - Heidelberg

International Classification:

B41F 134

US Classification:

101485, 1013821, 101383, 1014151

Abstract:

A printing press comprising a multi-plate plate cylinder for carrying at least a first printing plate and a second printing plate, the plate cylinder having a cylinder body with an outer surface and a lock-up bar having a retracted position and an extended position, the lock-up bar for fastening both of the first and second plates about the outer surface in the retracted position. A tucker bar is located adjacent the lock-up bar, the tucker bar including at least a first segment for tucking and holding the first printing plate on the plate cylinder and a second segment for tucking and holding the second printing plate on the plate cylinder, the first segment being independently movable with respect to the second segment. Also disclosed is a method including the steps of contacting the first printing plate with an associated first segment of a tucker bar when the common lock-up bar is in an extended position and while the second printing plate is not contacted by an associated second segment of the tucker bar, moving the common lock-up bar to the retracted position so that the first printing plate is fastened and so that an end of the second printing plate is free, and removing the second printing plate from the plate cylinder.