Patent ID: 7467586

Claim:
A rotary printing machine having at least one printing unit, said machine comprising: a) a continuous driving gear train of the press operably connectable with a damping roller, said continuous driving gear train having at least one main press drive for driving said at least one printing unit; b) a plate cylinder having a printing plate; c) an individual plate cylinder drive motor, said plate cylinder driven by said individual plate cylinder drive motor and disconnected from said driving gear train; d) said damping roller making surface contact with said printing plate of said plate cylinder; and e) a switchable gear transmission, said damping roller being switchably connectable with said individual plate cylinder drive motor or with said driving gear train by said switchable gear transmission, said switchable gear transmission providing: a first mode of operation, wherein said damping roller is disconnected from said plate cylinder drive motor and is driven by said driving gear train at approximately the same peripheral speed as that of said plate cylinder, and a second mode of operation, wherein said damping roller is disconnected from said driving gear train and is driven by said individual plate cylinder drive motor at a peripheral speed which deviates from that of said plate cylinder while still in surface contact with said printing plate of said plate cylinder.