Multi-printing mode rotary printing machine

Multi-mode rotary printing machine having

• a printing cylinder system (1, 2) rotatable, selectively, in either direction of rotation including
• a plate cylinder (2);
• an impression cylinder (1);
• an inking system (3) having at least one ink application roller (8);
• a damping system (4) having a liquid transfer roller (11), a liquid application roller (12), and means (9, 10) applying liquid to the liquid transfer roller for transfer to the application roller and then to the plate cylinder,
• means to selectively rotate the plate cylinder in either a first direction (a) or a second direction (e),
• and comprising, in accordance with the invention
• means for selectively operating the printing machine in one of the printing modes defined by:
• (a) raised letter printing mode;
• (b) flexo printing mode;
• (c) direct lithographic printing mode, including
• a roller brush (20);
• the ink application roller (8) being adjustably positionable in ink transferring relationship with the plate cylinder, or out of said ink transferring relationship;
• first positioning means (14-16) selectively controlling the position of the liquid application roller (12) for selective engagement or disengagement with the plate cylinder;
• second positioning means (21, 22) selectively controlling the position of the roller brush (20) for surface contact or out of surface contact with the plate cylinder;
• and wherein the liquid supply means of the damping system comprises
• a liquid trough (9) and a pickup roller (10) at least partially dipping into the liquid trough and being positioned in liquid transfer relation to the liquid transfer roller (11);
• and wherein (FIG. 1) for printing in the raised letter printing mode, the first positioning means are controlled for disengagement of the liquid application roller (12),
• the second positioning means are controlled for engagement of the roller brush with the plate cylinder,
• and the ink application roller (8) is positioned in ink transferring relation to the plate cylinder (2), the plate cylinder being rotated in the first direction (a)
• for printing in flexo printing mode (FIG. 2),
• the first positioning means (14-16) controls engagement of the liquid application roller (12) on the surface of the plate cylinder (2),
• the second positioning means (21, 22) controls engagement of the roller brush (20) with the plate cylinder,
• the ink application roller (8) of the inker (3) being positioned out of ink transferring relationship with the plate cylinder, the plate cylinder being rotated in the second direction (e)
• and wherein the liquid trough contains flexo printing ink;
• and
• for direct lithographic printing (FIG. 3)
• the first positioning means controls engagement of the liquid application roller (12) with the plate cylinder,
• the second positioning means (21, 22) controls disengagement of the roller brush (20) from the plate cylinder,
• the ink application roller (8) of the inker (3) being positioned in ink transferring relationship with the plate cylinder (2), the plate cylinder being rotated in the first direction (a)
• and wherein the liquid trough contains offset damping liquid.