To offer a printing system with a continuous image transfer belt which is adapted to permit the printing system to print a variety of different sized printed matter.
The system includes an ink source (16), at least one plate cylinder (P) and at least one blanket cylinder (B). The system is characterized in that a replaceable sleeve (21) for the plate cylinder (P) is provided with a printing plate (20) which is adapted to receive ink from the ink source (16). The image transfer belt (12) is positioned to contact the printing plate (20) in a nip formed between the plate (20) and the blanket cylinders (B). An image transfer belt tensioning system (22, 24, 26) is provided to register the image transfer belt (12) to the blanket cylinder (B) position in the area of desired image transfer, and an image belt cleaning station (30) is adapted to remove residual ink from the surface of the belt.
ANDREW ROBERT
MCLEAN MICHAEL E
Tadashi Masui
Yasushi Kobayashi
Hiroyuki Tomita
Osamu Hoshino