Rotary printing press

A combined rotary printing press for printing on sheet material, said press comprising an offset printer and a direct plate printer arranged in tandem,

• said offset printer comprising a blanket cylinder, a plate cylinder cooperating with said blanket cylinder to apply an image thereto and a first impression cylinder comprising a steel cylinder for pressing said sheet material against said blanket cylinder to transfer said image to said sheet material,
• said direct plate printer comprising a plate cylinder, inking means for applying ink to a plate on said plate cylinder and a second impression cylinder for pressing said sheet material against a plate cylinder to print said sheet material,
• said first and second impression cylinders being independently adjustable to provide optimum contact pressure,
• feed means comprising a first conveyor drum for feeding said sheet material to said blanket cylinder of said offset printer at a position in advance of and spaced from said first impression cylinder in proper registration with said image on said blanket cylinder, and transfer means comprising a second conveyor drum for transferring said sheet material from said offset printer to said direct plate printer,
• said first and second conveyor drums being spaced from and independent of said first impression cylinder,
• whereby said first impression cylinder is adjustable to obtain optimum contact pressure without disturbing registration of said sheet material with said image on said blanket cylinder.