Patent ID: 7383771

Claim:
A web-fed rotary printing unit comprising: a plurality of printing mechanisms, each printing mechanism including an impression cylinder and further cylinders comprising a form cylinder and a transfer cylinder; a first drive motor associated with the impression cylinder of a first printing mechanism, the first drive motor having a first drive connection to the further cylinders of the first printing mechanism through the impression cylinder of the first printing mechanism; a second drive motor for driving the further cylinders of the first printing mechanism which is connected to the first drive motor by the first mechanical drive connection; a drive coupling in the first mechanical drive connection that is in an engaged position during printing operation in order to prevent stressing the first and second drive motors with a a restraining moment between the impression cylinder and the further cylinders of the first printing mechanism and that is in a disengaged position during setting up operation such that the further cylinders of the first printing mechanism are independently drivable by the second drive motor; a second printing mechanism including the impression cylinder of the first printing mechanism and further cylinders comprising a form cylinder and a transfer cylinder; and a third drive motor for driving the further cylinders of the second printing mechanism, the third drive motor not being connected to the first mechanical drive connection.