Patent Publication Number: US-2007101879-A1

Title: Offset printing machine

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to offset printing machines and, more particularly, to drives and driving processes for cylinders and functional groups of offset printing machines.  
      2. Description of the Prior Art  
      German Patent No. DE 42 19 969 A1 describes an offset printing machine having a longitudinal shaft which is driven by one or more electric motors. Drive shafts, which are used to drive the printing units, unwinders, folder units and functional groups, e.g., feeding and transfer rollers, forming rollers, cutting rollers, and cooling mechanisms, in such printing machines branch off from the longitudinal shaft via gears and couplings. The gears usually contain further couplings and gearwheels. These drives are therefore technically complex and expensive.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is based on creating simplified and less expensive processes and devices for driving cylinders and functional groups for offset printing machines.  
      The individual motor drive of the present invention makes it possible to dispense with shafts, gears, couplings and gearwheels. In addition, electrical monitoring devices for the aforementioned components are dispensed with as well.  
      Further advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent when taken in conjunction with the following description.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to several examples. The accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals denote similar elements throughout the several views show:  
       FIG. 1  is a schematic side view of a first embodiment of a printing unit in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a schematic side view of a second embodiment of a printing unit in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a schematic side view of a third embodiment of a printing unit in accordance of the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a schematic side view of a fourth embodiment of a printing unit in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a top view partly in section of the printing unit of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 6  is a schematic side view of a first embodiment of a printing group bridge with a drive in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 7  is a schematic side view of a second embodiment of a printing group bridge with a drive in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 8  is a schematic side view of a third embodiment of a printing group bridge with a drive in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 9  is a schematic side view of a fourth embodiment of a printing group bridge with a drive in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 10  is a top view partly in section of the printing group bridge of  FIG. 6 ;  
       FIG. 11  is a schematic side view of a first embodiment of a printing group bridge having a drive for each printing group in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 12  is a schematic side view of a second embodiment of a printing group bridge having a drive for each printing group in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 13  is a schematic side view of a third embodiment of a printing group bridge having a drive for each printing group in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 14  is a schematic side view of a fourth embodiment of a printing group bridge having a drive for each printing group in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 15  is a top view partly in section of the printing group bridge of  FIG. 11 ;  
       FIG. 16  is a schematic side view of a first embodiment of a printing group bridge having a drive for each cylinder in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 17  is a schematic side view of a second embodiment of a printing group bridge having a drive for each cylinder in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 18  is a schematic side view of a third embodiment of a printing group bridge having a drive for each cylinder in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 19  is a schematic side view of a fourth embodiment of a printing group bridge having a drive for each cylinder in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 20  is a top view partly in section of the printing group bridge of  FIG. 16 ;  
       FIG. 21   a  is a side view partly in cross section and partly in elevation of a first printing machine having functional groups;  
       FIG. 21   b  is a side view partly in cross section and partly in elevation of a second printing machine having functional groups;  
       FIG. 22   a  is a side view partly in cross section and partly in elevation of a first folder unit having functional groups;  
       FIG. 22   b  is a side view partly in cross section and partly in elevation of a second folder unit having functional groups;  
       FIG. 23  is a side view of a device for ink register adjustment of printing forms of a form cylinder;  
       FIG. 24  is a side view of a device for ink register adjustment from printing site to printing site;  
       FIG. 25  is a side view of a device for cutting register adjustment;  
       FIG. 26  is a schematic side view of a device for setting the plate changing position;  
       FIG. 27  is a schematic side view partly in section of a first embodiment of a drive for an inking and damping unit in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 28  is a schematic side view partly in section of a second embodiment of a drive of an inking and damping unit in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 29  is a schematic side view partly in section of a third embodiment of an inking and damping unit in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 30  is a side view partly in section and partly in elevation of the distribution cylinder shown in  FIG. 29 ;  
       FIG. 31  is a cross sectional side view of first embodiment of an electric motor on a form cylinder in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 32  is a cross sectional side view of a second embodiment of an electric motor on a form cylinder in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 33  is a cross sectional side view of a third embodiment of an electric motor on a form cylinder in accordance with the present invention; and  
       FIG. 34  is a front view of  FIG. 33  in the direction of the arrow Y.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      FIGS.  1  to  4  show individual printing units, each printing unit is driven by a separate, angle-controlled electric motor. In  FIG. 1 , the printing unit contains two printing groups  3 ,  4 . Each printing group  3 ,  4  includes a form cylinder  1 . 1 ,  1 . 2  and a transfer cylinder  2 . 1 ,  2 . 2 . Each form cylinder  1 . 1 ,  1 . 2  and each transfer cylinder  2 . 1 ,  2 . 2  includes journals  154 ,  156 ;  158 ,  160 ;  162 ,  164 ; and  166 ,  168 , respectively, on both sides thereof and is mounted by its journals in side walls  5 ,  6 . The mounting of the form cylinders  1 . 1 ,  1 . 2  and the transfer cylinders  2 . 1 ,  2 . 2  of  FIG. 1 , is shown in  FIG. 5 . An angle-controlled electric motor  7 , which drives the form cylinder  1 . 1 , is arranged on the operator-side wall  5 . The design of this drive connection will be discussed below. The journals  156 ,  160 ,  164 ,  168  mounted in the side wall  6 , each carry a respective spur gear  8  to  11 . The cylinders  1 . 1 ,  1 . 2 ,  2 . 1 ,  2 . 2  are coupled together through the spur gears  8 ,  9 ,  10 ,  11  and are in drive connection with each other. In this way, all four cylinders  1 . 1 ,  1 . 2 ,  2 . 1  and  2 . 2  are driven by the electric motor  7  through their connection to the transfer cylinder  1 . 1  of the first printing group  3 . The electric motor  7  is represented in  FIGS. 1-4  by hatching.  
      In  FIG. 2 , the printing unit shown in  FIG. 1  is supplemented by the printing group  12  which includes a form cylinder  1 . 3  and a transfer cylinder  2 . 3 . The printing group  12  is set on the printing group  4 , whereby the drive-side journals of the printing group  12  also carry spur gears (not shown) and the spur gear of the transfer cylinder  2 . 3  engages with the spur gear  11  of the transfer cylinder  2 . 2  so the printing groups  4  and  12  are in drive connection with each other.  
      Via these spur gears,  8  to  11 , all the form and transfer cylinders are in drive connection with the form cylinder  1 . 1 , and thus are driven by the electric motor  7 .  
      In  FIG. 3 , the printing groups  3 ,  4  as in  FIG. 1 , are supplemented by two coupled printing groups  13 ,  14 . Each printing group  13 ,  14  includes a form cylinder  1 . 4 ,  1 . 5  and a transfer cylinder  2 . 4 ,  2 . 5 . Each of these cylinders  1 . 4 ,  1 . 5 ,  2 . 4 ,  2 . 5  include journals on either side. The drive-side journal of each of the cylinders  1 . 4 ,  1 . 5 ,  2 . 4 ,  2 . 5  carries a spur gear (not shown), through which the cylinders are interactively engaged. Furthermore, the spur gear  11  of the transfer cylinder  2 . 2  is in drive connection, via a gear chain  15  with the spur gear (not shown) of the transfer cylinder  2 . 5 , and thus is also in drive connection with the form cylinder  1 . 1 , so that all of the cylinders are driven by the electric motor  7 .  
      In contrast to  FIG. 3 , the printing unit in  FIG. 4  includes a satellite cylinder  16 . The satellite cylinder  16  also includes journals on either side thereof and carries a spur gear (not shown) on the drive-side journal. This spur gear, as well as the spur gear of the form cylinder  1 . 4  of the printing group  13 , is driven by a gear chain  17 . The gear chain  17  is also coupled to and in drive connection with the spur gear  8  of the form cylinder  1 . 1 . Thus, all cylinders of the printing unit are coupled together and driven by the electric motor  7 .  
       FIGS. 6, 7  and  10  show bridges, i.e., parts of printing units, which correspond to the printing units shown in  FIGS. 1, 2  and  5  respectively and are therefore not described again in detail.  
      In  FIG. 8 , the gear chain  15  shown in  FIG. 3  is omitted. The lower printing group bridge  170  (double printing group) which is created, includes the form cylinders  1 . 1  and  1 . 2  and the transfer cylinders  2 . 1  and  2 . 2 . The lower printing group bridge  170  is driven in the same manner as in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , by the angle controlled electric motor  7 . The upper printing group bridge  172  includes form cylinders  1 . 4 ,  1 . 5  and transfer cylinders  2 . 4 ,  2 . 5 . The upper printing group bridge  172  is also driven by an angle-controlled electric motor  7 , which acts upon the form cylinder  1 . 4 . The angle-controlled electric motor  7  is shown by hatching in  FIGS. 6-9 . The angle-controlled electric motor  7  acts, through the form cylinder  1 . 4 , to drive the spur gears (not shown) on the journals of the cylinders  1 . 4 ,  2 . 4 ,  2 . 5 ,  1 . 5 .  
      In  FIG. 9 , the situation is similar to that of  FIG. 8 . The only difference is that a satellite cylinder  16  is indirectly connected to the form cylinder  1 . 1  of printing group  3 . The satellite cylinder  16  is thus also driven by the electric motor  7  attached to the form cylinder  1 . 1  through the gear chain  18 . Printing group bridges of the types shown in FIGS.  6  to  9 , or of different types, may be combined into various printing units. The embodiments described below with respect to  FIGS. 11-14  and  16 - 19  can also be used.  
      In the above examples, it is also possible for each or all of the form cylinders, transfer cylinders, or satellite cylinders, to be directly driven by an electric motor. The electric motor does not necessarily need to be connected to the form cylinder as described above.  
      The double printing group shown in  FIG. 11  contains the printing groups  3 ,  4 . These printing groups are identical to those in  FIG. 1 . Each printing group  3 ,  4  includes respective form cylinders  1 . 1 ,  1 . 2  and transfer cylinders  2 . 1 ,  2 . 2 . These cylinders are also mounted through their respective journals  154 ,  156 ;  158 ,  160 ;  162 ,  164 ; and  166 ,  168  in side walls  5 ,  6  ( FIG. 15 ), as in  FIGS. 1 and 6 . However, each printing group  3 ,  4  is driven by its own angle-controlled electric motor  7 . More specifically, the form cylinders  1 . 1  and  1 . 2  of each printing group are connected to and driven by a respective angle-controlled electric motor  7 . The angle-controlled electric motors  7  are shown by hatching in  FIGS. 11-14  and can be more clearly seen in  FIG. 15 . The drive-side journals of the form cylinders  1 . 1 ,  1 . 2  carry the respective spur gears  8 ,  19 , which mesh with the respective spur gears  10 ,  20  on the journals of the transfer cylinders  2 . 1 ,  2 . 2  as can be seen in  FIG. 15 . The spur gears  8 ,  10  and  19 ,  20  lie in two different planes, since the transfer cylinders  2 . 1 ,  2 . 2  are not permitted to be in drive connection with one another. The angle-controlled electric motors  7  act upon the respective operator-side journals,  154 ,  166  of each of the form cylinders  1 . 1 ,  1 . 2  and thus the printing groups  3 ,  4  are individually driven.  
      In the previous examples and in those that follow, the electric motors drive the form cylinders. However, it is also possible for the transfer cylinders to be driven by the electric motors. For example, in the printing unit shown in  FIG. 12 , the electric motors  7  drive the respective transfer cylinders  2 . 1 ,  2 . 2 ,  2 . 3  of the printing groups  3 ,  4 ,  12 . These transfer cylinders then drive, their respective associated form cylinders  1 . 1 ,  1 . 2 ,  1 . 3  through associated and interengaging spur gears. As in  FIG. 15 , the spur gears  19 ,  20  of the printing group  4  and the spur gears  8 ,  9  of printing group  3  are not permitted to lie on the same plane. Likewise, the spur gears of the printing group  4  and the spur gears of the printing group  12  are not permitted to lie on the same plane. The spur gears of printing group  12  are not shown in  FIG. 15 .  
      In the printing unit in  FIG. 13 , each of the form cylinders  1 . 1 ,  1 . 2 ,  1 . 4 ,  1 . 5  of the printing groups  3 ,  4 ,  13 ,  14  is driven by an angle-controlled electric motor  7 . These form cylinders then drive the respective associated transfer cylinders  2 . 1 ,  2 . 2 ,  2 . 4 ,  2 . 5  through associated and interengaging spur gears. The respective spur gears of coupled printing groups, i.e. the spur gears of printing groups  3  and  4  and the spur gears of printing groups  13  and  14 , lie on two different planes.  
      In  FIG. 14 , the printing groups  3 ,  4 ,  13 ,  14  are driven analogously to  FIG. 13 . In addition, the satellite cylinder  16  is also driven by a separate, angle-controlled electric motor  7 .  
      In the printing units in FIGS.  16  to  19 , each form cylinder  1 . 1  to  1 . 5 , each transfer cylinder  2 . 1  to  2 . 5  and the satellite cylinder  16 , if present, is driven by a separate, angle-controlled electric motor  7 . As in the previous examples, each of the cylinders have respective journals and are mounted in the side walls  5 ,  6  by these journals. In contrast to the previous examples, however, the respective electric motors  7  are coupled to the journals on the “drive side” S 2  or side wall  6  as is shown in  FIG. 20  representing a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 16 . The electric motors  7  could also be coupled to the journals on the operator-side S 1  or side wall  5 . Furthermore, in the prior examples shown in  FIGS. 1-15 , the electric motors  7  could have been coupled to the journals on the drive-side. When each printing group is equipped with its own drive motor, as shown in  FIGS. 11-14 , the individual printing groups can each be individually adjusted so as to align with the groups of the unit for proper unwinding. When each cylinder is driven individually, it is even possible to individually align and adjust the form cylinder and transfer cylinder of a single printing group. Such embodiments are shown in  FIGS. 16-19 . In addition, all toothed-wheel gears are dispensed with, as are the lubrication, housings, etc., usually required for such gears as the drive motors are capable of performing their functions. This results in a tremendous reduction in price. In addition, mechanical (and electrical) devices for the desired printing group control are no longer needed as the functions of these devices are performed by reversing the rotational direction of the drive motors.  
      In the examples described, a printing group always includes a form cylinder and a transfer cylinder. Each printing group works together with at least one other printing group and/or a satellite cylinder according to the principle of blanket-to-blanket printing. The printing groups described above with reference to  FIGS. 1-20  can also be enlarged by a counter-impression cylinder into a three-cylinder printing group, whereby at least one cylinder is driven by a separate electric motor and the three cylinders are connected so as to drive each other through toothed gears.  
      The angle control of the electric motors is performed by computer motor controls within the framework of the machine control system. Accordingly, the electric motors are connected to the machine control system. However, the controls are not part of the subject matter of the invention and are therefore not depicted or explained herein.  
      Further functional groups of printing machines such as webbing-in mechanisms, cooling rollers, cutting rollers and forming rollers can also be advantageously driven with separate electric motors.  FIG. 21   a  shows a side view of a printing machine  80  and  FIG. 22   a  shows a folder unit  25  including functional groups of the type mentioned above. The printing machine  174  in  FIG. 21   a  contains four printing units  21  to  24  and a folder unit  25 . With respect to drive, the printing units  23  and  24  resemble the printing unit shown in  FIG. 17 , while the printing units  21  and  22  resemble those shown in  FIG. 18 . The drive motors of the cylinders, like those of the functional groups described below, are each identified by an “M” or with hatching. The folder unit  25  shown in  FIG. 22   a  contains the folding mechanisms  26  and  27 . In  FIG. 21   a , the webbing-in mechanisms  28 , the cooling rollers  29 , the cutting rollers  30  and the forming rollers  31  are each driven by respective separate, angle-controlled electric motors  33 . 1  to  33 . 5 . These electric motors  33 . 1 ,  33 . 2 ,  33 . 3 ,  33 . 4 ,  33 . 5  thereby drive the cylinders of the webbing-in mechanisms  28 , the cooling rollers  29 , the cutting rollers  30  and the forming rollers  31 , respectively, indirectly via belts.  FIG. 21   b  shows the same printing machine, with each cylinder being driven directly by a motor.  
      In  FIG. 22   a , the forming rollers  31  and the feeding and transfer rollers  32 , respectively, are each driven directly by separate, angle-controlled electric motors  176 ,  178 ,  180 ,  182 . The two folding mechanisms  26  and  27 , respectively, also have separate, angle-controlled motors  143 ,  144 , which directly drive the respective folding cylinders, in this case, the knife cylinders  146 ,  148 . The knife cylinders  146 ,  148  each have journals and spur gears connected thereto. The other folding cylinders which also include journals and spur gears are each engaged with a respective knife cylinder via the spur gears (not shown) arranged on their journals.  
      In the folder unit in  FIG. 22   b , the forming rollers  31  and the feeding and transfer rollers  32 , respectively, are driven indirectly by a shared motor  150  via a toothed belt  152 . The single folding mechanism  27 . 1  is also driven by a separate, angle-controlled electric motor  184 . The driving of the mechanism  27 . 1  is carried out indirectly through a belt drive  186  on, for example, the point-folding blade cylinder  145 . This cylinder  145  is in drive connection with the other folding cylinders through cylindrical gears. These electric motors  150 ,  152  make it possible to accurately or precisely set the speed of the driven cylinders. In groups with advance control, it is also possible to accurately or precisely set the web tension. Furthermore, the omission of PIV gears, normally used for drives of this type, provides a large reduction in the price of the unit.  
      A separate electric motor, which directly drives a form cylinder, can also be used for adjusting the ink register adjustment device.  FIG. 23  shows an ink register adjustment device  188  for use in a double printing group. The double printing group includes printing groups  34 ,  35 . Each of these printing groups  34 ,  35  include a form cylinder  36 ,  38  and transfer cylinder  37 ,  39 , respectively. The device is described with reference to the form cylinder  38 , which carries two printing forms on its circumference. The electric motor  40  which drives the form cylinder  38  is angle-controlled by a computer motor control  41 . Furthermore, a position indicator  42  of the printing group  35  and a sensor  44  which scans the register marks on the web  43  leaving the printing group  35  are connected to a comparator  45 . The output of the comparator  45  is fed to the input of the computer motor control  41 . The sensor  44  scans the register marks printed by the printing group  35  on the web  43  and thus detects the position of the two images printed per rotation of the form cylinder  38 . Based upon the signal from the position indicator  42 , the relation between the position of the form cylinder  38  and the rotation of the form cylinder  38  is determined by the comparator  45 . When a printing image is staggered in the rotational direction by half the circumference of the form cylinder  38 , i.e., when the printing image deviates from the register marks by half the circumference of the form cylinder  38  a compensating advance or lag of the cylinder is used to adjust the form cylinder  38  prior to printing. This is performed by the computer motor control  41  based on the output signal of the comparator  45 . In this way, for example, errors relating to copying or mounting of the printing form can be compensated for. It is also possible to extend the acceleration or delay phase into this area, allowing the electric motor to be designed with lower power at the expense of sacrificing register quality.  
      The device shown in  FIG. 24  serves to control circumferential registration between two printing sites, in the situation depicted, between the printing groups  46  and  47 . The register marks printed by these printing groups  46 ,  47  on the web  48  are scanned by the sensors  49 ,  50 . Signals from the sensors  49 ,  50  are supplied to the comparator  51 . The comparator  51  sends the results of the comparison to the computer motor control  52 . The computer motor control  52  regulates the speed of the electric motor  54 , which drives the form cylinder  53  of the printing group  47  based upon the results of the comparison. Depending on the required register modification to the printing image of the printing group  46 , the electric motor  54  is operated to impart either an advance or a lag on the cylinder  53 . If the transfer cylinder  55  is also driven by a separate electric motor (not shown), this motor is also corrected with respect to its speed when register correction is needed. Based upon the amount of register marks to be checked, the device is to be used as many times as appropriate to adjust the cylinders. This device is able to reduce the price of the unit by eliminating the need for expensive mechanical gears, e.g., sliding gears, to perform circumferential register adjustment of the form cylinder as was needed in traditional machines.  
      The use of a drive for all the printing groups makes it possible for different paper paths to travel between different printing units without the need for additional devices for regulating the length of the paper path. For example, in the printing machine in  FIG. 21   a , the web  55  can be conducted from the printing unit  23  to either the printing unit  21  or, on the path shown by the broken line, to the printing unit  22 . In keeping with the different paths, the printing groups of the printing units  21  and  22  are moved into the required positions by their respective drive motors. The computer motor control  56  of the electric motors is connected to receive a signal indicating the required cylinder positions from a computing and memory unit  57 , in which the required cylinder positions are stored. Depending on the web course, the computer motor control  56  moves the form cylinders and transfer cylinders of the unit  21  or  22  to be flowed through into the required positions by controlling their electric motors in accordance with the signal received from the computing and memory unit  57 .  
      In addition, the computing and memory unit  57  stores the cylinder positions of the printing groups for the cutting register for each of the possible web courses. In order to set the cutting register, the required cylinder positions are sent to the computer motor control  56 . The computer motor control  56  adjusts the drive motors of all printing groups printing the web  55 . The cutting register for the cut in the folding mechanism  25  is thus set via the cylinder positions of all printing groups printing the web. Expensive linear register devices are no longer needed with the present devices as adjustment is automatically carried out by the computing and memory unit  57  and computer motor control  56  Length regulation of this type is now only required for the turning bar. The computing and memory unit  57  which stores the cylinder positions for the cutting register can also send a signal representative of the cylinder positions for the cutting register to the computer motor control  66  as is shown in  FIG. 25  and described below. This device then serves both to control the cutting register and to adjust it. The computing and memory unit is shown in  FIG. 21   a  and is connected in the same manner as in  FIG. 25 .  
      The separate drives of the printing groups make it possible for groups of printing machines to be assembled in various ways without connecting elements, such as synchronous shafts, couplings, gears and positioning devices which were standard in prior machines. Using a suitable control program, it is also possible for all or some of the printing units  21 ,  22 ,  23  connected to the folder unit  25  shown in  FIG. 21   a  and  FIG. 21   b  to be associated with a different folder unit, not shown.  
       FIG. 25  shows a device for a cutting register control  190 . The printing groups  58  to  61  are printing on a web  62 , for example. A sensor  63  scans the register mark that is being printed. The sensor  63  and the position indicator  64  of an electric motor  192  of a printing unit  59 , through which the web  62  has run, preferably the first printing unit  59  the web has run through, are attached to the inputs of a comparator  65 . Receiving the output of the comparator  65  is the computer motor control  66  for the electric motors of the printing groups  58  to  61 . A register error detected in the comparator  65  is compensated for by advancing or lagging the drive of the printing groups  58  to  61  printing the web  62 . This is accomplished by controlling their electric motors using the computer motor control  66 .  
       FIG. 26  shows a device used to move a form cylinder into a position suitable for performing a form change The printing unit in this figure contains two printing groups  67 ,  68  each including respective form cylinders  69 ,  70  and transfer cylinders  71 ,  72 . Attached to each transfer cylinder  71 ,  72  is a respective position control  194 ,  196 . The drive motors  198 ,  200  of the printing groups  67 ,  68 , which drive the transfer cylinders  71 ,  72  are connected to receive control signals from a computer motor control  73 , which generates the control signals based upon signals received from a computing and memory unit  74 . The cylinder positions of the form cylinders  69 ,  70  required for a printing-forms change are stored in the computing and memory unit  75 . These positions are sent to the computer motor control  73 , which controls the electric motors  198 ,  200  of the printing groups  69 ,  70  such that clamping cavities  75 ,  76  of the form cylinders  69 ,  70  are moved into the form change position using the shortest path. As mentioned previously, it does not matter whether the transfer cylinder, the form cylinder or both cylinders in a printing group are driven by a drive motor. This device makes it possible to dispense with time-consuming individual disengagement of the printing groups, the subsequent positioning of the printing groups, and their re-engagement after the printing form change as is needed in conventional machines of this type.  
      The distribution cylinders of inking and damping units are also driven by separate drives.  FIG. 27  shows a printing group including a transfer cylinder  77 . 1  and a form cylinder  78 . 1 , whereby an inking unit  79 . 1  and a damping unit  80 . 1  are connected to the form cylinder  78 . 1 . The inking unit  79 . 1  contains, among other items, the ink distribution cylinders  81 . 1  and  82 . 1 , and the damping unit  80 . 1  contains the damping distribution cylinder  83 . 1 . Each distribution cylinder  81 . 1 ,  82 . 1 ,  83 . 1  carries a spur gear  84 . 1 ,  85 . 1 ,  86 . 1 , respectively, all of which are engaged with a central gear  87 . The central gear  87  is driven by an angle-controlled electric motor  88 . In this figure, the central gear  87  is located on the rotor journal of the electric motor  88 . The electric motor  88  could also be arranged next to the central gear  87  and engage it through a pinion. The electric motor  88  thus drives both of the inking distribution cylinders  81 . 1 ,  82 . 1  and the damping distribution cylinder  83 . 1  through their engagement with the central gear  87 .  
      In  FIG. 28 , the inking distribution cylinders  81 . 2  and  82 . 2  are driven by an angle-controlled electric motor  89 . The damping distribution cylinder  83 . 2  of the damping unit  80 . 2  is driven by an angle-controlled electric motor  90 . The electric motor  89  is connected to and drives the second inking distribution cylinder  82 . 2  directly. The second inking distribution cylinder  82 . 2  carries a spur gear  85 . 2  through which it drives a spur gear  84 . 2  of the first inking distribution cylinder  81 . 2  through its engagement with an intermediate gear  91 .  
       FIG. 29  shows a drive variant in which each inking distribution cylinder  81 . 3 ,  82 . 3  of the inking unit  79 . 3 , as well as the damping distribution cylinder  83 . 3  of the damping unit  80 . 3 , is driven by a respective separate, angle-controlled electric motor  92 ,  93 ,  94 . All of the toothed gears used in other machines of this type are thus no longer needed when driving the inking and damping units of this device.  
      The lateral distribution of the machine can also be advantageously designed.  FIG. 30  shows a side view of the inking and damping distribution cylinders  81 . 3 ,  82 . 3 ,  83 . 3  mounted in the side walls  95 ,  96 . Linear motors  100  to  102  act on respective journals  97  to  99  of these cylinders  81 . 3  to  83 . 3 . The journals  97 ,  98 ,  99  are designed as rotors for driving electric motors  92  to  94 . The angle-controlled electric motors  92  to  94  are controlled by a computer motor control  103 . The motor control  103  also controls the linear motors  100  to  102  using a like sequence of motions. There is a sine-shaped curve of the oscillating motion, whereby the distributor cylinders are staggered with respect to one another by 120° in phase. In this way, a mass balance is achieved. This balance stops vibrations from being stimulated at right angles to the machine axis. The target value of the axial stroke is established in a selectable manner. The instantaneous position of each of the ink distributors  81 . 3 ,  82 . 3 ,  83 . 3  is fed back to the motor control  103  through respective sensors  140  to  142 . In addition, it is advantageous that the oscillating speed be linearly proportional to the speed of the printing machine.  
      In order to achieve an exact drive of the cylinders, it is important for the coupling of the cylinders to the electric motor to be as rigid as possible. Structural examples of this are provided hereinbelow with respect to the remaining figures.  FIG. 31  shows a form cylinder  105 , which is mounted, through its journals  106 ,  107  in the side walls  108 ,  109  of the printing machine. The journals  106 ,  107  carry flanges  110 ,  111 , through which they are screwed to the faces  202 ,  204  of the cylinder body. The journal  106  is designed to act with the rotor  112  of the electric motor  113  to drive the form cylinder  105 , i.e., the journal  106  carries the components of the rotor  112  of the electric motor  113  on its extended end. The stator  114  is attached to the side wall  108  of the printing machine. Furthermore, a device  115  for laterally moving the form cylinder  105  for side register adjustment acts upon the journal  106 . For example, a linear motor  115  is used here for this purpose. It would also be possible to use, for example, a motor connected to a gear which is able to transform its rotational motion into straight-lined movement. The shift amount Z of the side register is thereby designed in such a way that when the journals  106 ,  107  each move away from the form cylinder body  105  by a distance of Z/2, the cylinder body  105  is uncovered and can be removed from the printing machine. A sleeve-type printing form on the form cylinder  105  can then be changed. Distribution cylinders can also be similarly designed, whereby a distributor lift can be used for uncovering the cylinder body  105  of the distribution cylinder.  
       FIG. 32  shows a drive-side portion of a form cylinder  116  having a journal  117 . The rotor  118  of an electric motor  119  is screwed on the face  206  of the journal  117 . The stator  120  of the electric motor  119 , together with a bushing  121  which is connected thereto and contains the bearing  122  of the form cylinder  116  therein, is held in place by the bearing shields  123 ,  124 . The bearing shields  123 ,  124  can be moved apart from one another in the direction shown by the arrows on each bearing shield  123 ,  124  and, in their moved-apart position, uncover an opening  125  in the side wall  126  of the printing machine. A sleeve-type printing form  139  can then pass through the uncovered opening  125  and either be placed on or removed from the form cylinder  116 . The sleeve of the printing form  139  being passed through is shown by the dot-dash lines. Solutions for the design and actuation of the bearing shields  123 ,  124  as well as for holding the form cylinder  116  in place at its opposite end wherein it is suspended when the opening  125  is uncovered is well known in the prior art and will therefore not be discussed further. It is also possible for a transfer cylinder to be uncovered in the same manner. The motor design described above can be used with transfer cylinders as well as other cylinders of printing machines. In the depicted design options, it is also advantageous that the rotor and stator of the electric motor can be independently preassembled.  
       FIG. 33  shows the connection of a stator  127  of an electric motor  128  to an eccentric ring  129  of a three-ring bearing  130  of a cylinder mounted in a side wall  131  by a journal. This can be, for example, either a form or transfer cylinder, of which only the journal  132  is shown in this figure. By turning the eccentric bearing ring  129  print engagement or disengagement is possible. The connection of the stator  127  permits it to travel during the engagement and disengagement movement of the journal together with the rotor  133  attached thereto. More particularly, the stator  127  is connected to a flange  134 , which is screwed to the bearing ring  129 . The flange  134  is axially fixed on the side wall  131  by hold-down devices  135  and absorbs the tilting moment from the weight of the stator  127 . The activation of the bearing ring  129  is shown in  FIG. 34 .  FIG. 34  is a view of  FIG. 33  taken when looking in the direction of the arrow labeled “Y”. The bearing ring  129  carries a nave  136 , which is acted on by the print engagement and disengagement mechanism, for example, a lever  137 . In the print engagement setting, the bearing ring  129  strikes a stationary and adjustable stop  138  and thus absorbs, given the corresponding rotational direction of the cylinder, the counter-moment of the stator  127 . When the cylinder rotates in the other direction, the sturdily designed print engagement and disengagement mechanism  137  absorbs the counter-moment. Furthermore, the cylinder bearing is designed so as to be free of any play.  
      In the examples, angle-controlled electric motors are used to drive the cylinders and the functional groups. With the present invention, it is also possible to use speed-controlled or moment-controlled electric motors for drives wherein synchronism is not a main factor, such as the drive of web-pulling components and distribution cylinders. The computer motor controls can also be realized using other motor controls, depending on the individual case.