Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing rastered printing forms, in which an image pattern is opto-electronically scanned to obtain an image signal, and the printing form production is effected by means of an energy beam recording device controlled by the image signal, whereby the raster points are recorded in a raster network having arbitrary raster angles, by means of relative motion between the printing form and the recording device, in which the pattern to be reproduced is scanned to simultaneously provide image signals for a plurality of adjacent image points of such a pattern, following which, for the control of the recording device, the image signal of that image point is selected whose local position on the image pattern is congruent with the local position of the raster point to be presently recorded, in the formation of the desired raster angles.

Abstract: A method of electronically retouching a pattern, for example in connection with a type symbol scanning apparatus for obtaining type data for an electronic light type setting arrangement or the like, for the derivation of recording data relating thereto, in which the pattern is scanned in a dot and image line fashion to form an image signal from a sequence of alternating conditions representative, of the black and white segments of an image line with the sequence of conditions being transformed into recording data, in which the length of the respective segments are compared with predetermined minimum lengths and if a segment is below the minimum length, i.e., represents a defect, it is transformed into recording data of the type corresponding to that of the immediately preceding condition, thereby automatically eliminating such defect segment.

Abstract: Apparatus including a circuit arrangement for adjusting the color signal levels of a white dot in dot and line-wise reproduction of color picture patterns with a scanning instrument and in which for each color includes a photo converter for obtaining a color signal voltage and further including amplifiers receiving the output of each of the converters and wherein the gain of the converters and/or the amplifier are adjustable by means of a control signal through a regulating device. The circuit arrangement can be used not only in color scanners but also in black-white scanners.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for changing the picture point resolution of color separations of continuous tone pictures in multicolor printing processes during transition from the scanning to reproduction in which the original picture is scanned and color separations are obtained from such scanning in the form of electronically stored digital recorded signals of particular raster points of a fine raster and are then converted into a printing raster wherein a raster system is used for printing which has different compression and extension of the distances of the printed raster points in the scan direction and in the direction at right angles to the scan direction, wherein the distances of the raster points in scan direction and the distances of the raster points at right angles to the scan direction have a ratio of integer numbers and wherein the fine raster is selected such that its raster line interval comprises a multiple of a common divisor of the length resulting from the projection of the printing raster on a li

Abstract: Method for the digital run-length coding with redundance reduction for the transmission of binary-coded picture information, whereby short code words are assigned to run lengths which occur often, and long code words are assigned to rare run lengths and whereby, from a given run length on, a prefix word for the differentiation of code words of the shorter run-lengths is assigned to the run-lengths, as well as a code word following the prefix word and stating the respective run-lengths as a binary number. Black and white run-lengths which are transmitted by a code word are associated with different code words, depending on how often they occur. The given run-length, from which the coding is to be done with the help of a prefix word, is different for black and white run-lengths.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for converting patterns for weaving into stored information by scanning according to a scanning raster the pattern and determining the number of steps per stitch of the scanning raster by using the quotient of the dimensions of the scanned pattern divided by the number of stitches in the same direction and wherein such quotient is used such that at equality or upon a known deviation from a prescribed fraction of a step a signal is generated which indicates the beginning of the next stitch and wherein a greater deviation than said prescribed one the signal is given after a further step has been accomplished.

Abstract: A process for the identification of a predetermined plurality of colors on the surface of an object which is scanned by electrical-optical means to produce measured signals substantially representing the colors red, green, and blue coordinates, the plurality of colors defining color-regions, and defining color-identification-regions, wherein the boundaries of the identification-regions are simulated electronically through threshold-value circuits for each of the coordinates, the output signals of which are transferred to coincidence circuits, which indicate the presence of one of the plurality of colors when the coordinates of the color signals lie within the color-identification-region.

Abstract: In the scanning and reproduction apparatus, the signal level of the "black point" or darkest portion of an image, is automatically adjusted without disturbing the previously adjusted white level, by placing a level adjusting circuit in the signal path between the scanner and the reproduction device and including in the adjusting circuit elements affecting a decrease of the operational signal from black to white thereby avoiding disturbing the white level, and wherein the derived image signal of the darkest image portion or "black point" is checked against a reference signal as the scanning proceeds, and also checked for coincidence with the reference signal.

Abstract: An improved color adjustment circuit for a color scanner in which a photoelectric scanning device obtains color signals and which supplies separated output signals to color correction circuits and wherein the output of the scanning device can be disconnected from the correction circuit during adjustment of the correction circuit and wherein for each of the picture points which is to be examined a variable memory receives and stores the color signal values for the picture points from the scanning device and the outputs of these memories can be connected to the input of the correction circuit for adjusting the individual color correction values of the correction circuit.

Abstract: A method for the electro-optical reproduction of half-tone pictures in which the picture is subdivided into surface elements having covering spots therein corresponding to a tone value scale, wherein electronic recording data is produced from the surface elements and is stored, wherein by means of electrooptical scanning of a picture signals are obtained and are used to call up the recording data for the reproduction of the picture, the improvement resides in that several raster screens on the picture are formed and the meshes and the angle of rotation of such raster screens are selected in such a manner that an orthogonally oriented parcel screen having a congruent screen structure is obtained, and subdividing the parcels into smaller orthogonally oriented surface elements and obtaining recording data from such surface elements.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reproducing half-tone pictures utilizing rastered scanning in which the change in the picture element units occur during the transfer from the original to the reproduction with the use of an electronically stored recording data and where the date can be changed in a selectable manner to increase or decrease the raster and or the scale of the reproduction.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a reproduction apparatus having a sensor device for generating sensor signals by optically scanning a picture original and a recording device controlled by recording signals for recording the picture original on a film, comprising the steps: generating a set of first signals for said recording device to produce a sample gray scale on the film having a predetermined first range of gray scale values; generating and storing a set of second signals corresponding respectively to said first signals; generating a set of third signals corresponding substantially to the gray scale values of said sample recorded gray scale; correlating said third signals to said first signals; generating a set of fourth signals representing a predetermined second range of gray scale values of a reference gray scale; substantially correlating a first group of at least some of said fourth signals to a second group of at least some of said third signals for obtaining said second signals; and storing said second sig

Abstract: The invention provides an improvement for an apparatus which produces engraved printing forms via an electron beam device which is located in a vacuum chamber having an open side facing a peripheral surface of a printing form cylinder and defining therewith an air gap, and an arrangement for effecting relative movement of the vacuum chamber and printing form cylinder while maintaining the air gap. The inventive improvement comprises an annular member having an outer circumferential surface of a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the printing form cylinder, and cooperating annular bevelled contact faces provided on respective axial ends of the annular member and printing form cylinder so that, when the contact faces are coaxial and urged into abutment with one another, the outer circumferential surface constitutes an extension of the peripheral surface of the printing form cylinder.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for exactly locating and adjusting the beginning and end of reproduction of an image pattern reproduced from a master picture attached to a rotating scanning cylinder which is reproduced on a rotating printing cylinder and wherein the adjustment is made by a circumferential pulse adjustment movable relative to a permanent circumferential mark in which process the image pattern is optoelectronically scanned, dot and image-line wise, to convert the image pattern into an electrical image signal and wherein the analog image signal is converted into a digital signal with the aid of a scanning pulse sequence device and the data obtained is stored into a memory after which the information is read from the memory with the aid of a recording pulse device and reconverted into an analog image signal and during the process of recording on the printing cylinder the timing of the recording pulse sequence train controls an engraving device and the movement of an engraving member, whereas the timing of t

Abstract: Improved sharpness is obtained in an arrangement for recording continuous-tone pictures in which electro-optic picture scanning apparatus produces picture signals which are applied to an electro-optic recorder to reproduce the picture on a recording medium. Circuits for generating a sharpness signal and for modulating the sharpness signal in dependence upon the picture content of at least a portion of the picture pattern are provided. The modulated sharpness signal is then superimposed on the picture signals to influence the sharpness of pictures recorded by the recorder.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of a printing form by the scanning point-by-point and line-by-line of an image pattern along successive cylindrical peripheral image lines and engraving cavities along corresponding cylindrical peripheral engraving lines by an engraving member having an engraving needle as a cutting tool, and includes the steps of generating image signals from the image pattern from along one of the cylindrical peripheral image lines, and engraving a number of cavities at the beginning of an engraving line to depths substantially less than the depths defined by the corresponding image signals.Then the other cavities of said engraving line are engraved to depths which are defined by the nominal values.Subsequently the incomplete cavities of said engraving line are re-engraved in accordance with the corresponding image signals.

Abstract: A method for the production of a printing form by the scanning point-by-point and line-by-line of an image pattern along successive cylindrical peripheral image lines and engraving cavities along corresponding cylindrical peripheral engraving lines, features the steps of generating scanning image signals from the image pattern from along one of the cylindrical peripheral image lines, reading the image signals into a storage device, reading the stored image signals out of the storage device and coupling the read-out image signals to an engraving device. Then, the engraving with the engraving device is carried out along a cylindrical peripheral engraving line corresponding to the one image line in response to the read-out image signals.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving sharpness when recording half tone pictures wherein picture signals are provided by means of optical/electrical scanning of picture patterns which are superimposed for an increase of sharpness during recording while utilizing a sharpness signal which is provided during the scanning process wherein the sharpness signal is changed in accordance with the picture content of the picture pattern prior to superposition thereof with the signals derived from scanning the picture.

Abstract: A pair of cylinders is rotated in synchronism; each cylinder has a mark on its periphery and the marks are to be moved to angular coincidence. A train of counting pulses is derived from a train of timing pulses which controls the drive of one of the cylinders; when a signal is generated as the mark of this cylinder passes a fixed point, this counting pulse train is applied to a forward-reverse counter to make it count backwards from a reference value. As soon as the signal indicative of the passage of the mark on the other cylinder is generated, the counting pulse train is cut off and a pulse train derived from it but of stepped-down pulse frequency, is applied to the counter to make the same count forward to the reference value. During the forward counting, and until the reference value is reached again, the train of counting pulses is modified by adding or suppressing timing pulses, until the next signals from the one and the other cylinder indicate angular coincidence of the marks.

Abstract: A method for the reproduction of an image pattern disposed on a substantially nonuniformly driven scanning drum, wherein the image pattern is photo-electrically scanned point-by-point and line-by-line to generate an image pattern signal having an analog relationship to the image pattern and the image pattern signal is used to record on at least one recording drum driven substantially nonuniformly and independently of the scanning drum, features generating a scanning timing signal in synchronism with the rotational movement of the scanning drum, converting the image pattern signal to a digital signal in synchronism with the scanning timing signal, storing the digital signal in a storage unit measure-by-measure in synchronism with the scanning timing signal, generating a recording timing signal in synchronism with the rotational movement of the recording drum, reading out the digital signal from the storage unit measure-by-measure in synchronism with the recording timing signal, and, thereafter, driving at leas