Abstract: A universal cylinder mount for mounting a at least one of a plurality of cylinders between a headstock and a tailstock of an engraver. Each of the cylinders have a mounting aperture at each end adapted to receive a universal cylinder mount associated with each of the headstock and tailstock. The universal cylinder mount is adapted to accommodate a plurality of mounting apertures formed with different sizes and having various sloped walls for facilitating alignment and frictional gripping engagement of the cylinders.

Abstract: A system for locating a plurality of engraving heads on an engraver wherein a plurality of engraving heads are automatically positioned into a predetermined configuration. A mechanism for positioning the engraving heads preferably includes a leadscrew and a drive nut which is rotatable relative to the leadscrew. In addition, each of the engraving heads preferably includes a rotatable drive nut with a respective motor for rotating the nut whereby the heads may be selectively positioned into a predetermined configuration. In a further aspect of the invention, the engraving heads are mounted on a carriage which is movable in an axial direction relative to a cylinder to be engraved. The heads are selectively positionable on the carriage and the carriage includes a nut threadably engaged with a leadscrew whereby the carriage may be driven in an axial direction relative to the cylinder to be engraved.

Abstract: An engraving head apparatus and method for engraving a gravure cylinder. The engraving head apparatus includes a magnetostrictive actuator formed from TERFENOL-D.TM. which elongatably drives a diamond-tipped stylus arm in a reciprocal manner in response to a varying magnetic field created by a bias coil and a drive coil. The bias coil establishes a DC biasing magnetic field which causes an initial expansion of the actuator to approximately one-half the total linear expansion limit of the actuator. The drive coil is concentrically interposed between the actuator and the bias coil and modulates the magnetic field intensity established by the bias coil to cause additional expansion and contraction of the actuator about the initial expansion point.

Abstract: An engraver having an engraving head is provided wherein replaceable components, such as tools, of the engraving head are formed with a cartridge-style construction. For example, in one aspect of the engraving head, a cartridge-type diamond stylus is provided having a trapezoidal cross-section for facilitating positive registration and positioning of the stylus within the engraving head. Other tools, such as a shoe and/or burr cutter may also be provided in a detachable cartridge arrangement to facilitate quick mounting and replacement of an existing shoe or burr cutter, respectively, such that the shoe or burr cutter also becomes aligned and registered on the engraving head.

Abstract: An error detection apparatus and method for use with engravers, such as gravure engravers. An error value E corresponding to the difference between a set of predetermined setup parameters and actual measurement of a portion of an engraved area on the cylinder is determined. The error value E is then used to adjust the engraver to engrave an actual cut or etch in accordance with the set of predetermined setup parameters. Advantageously, an error detection and correction system is suitable for providing a closed-loop system for engraving a cylinder. The apparatus and method may be used during initial setup or during normal operation of the engraver.

Abstract: An error detection apparatus and method for use with engravers, such as gravure engravers. An error value E corresponding to the difference between a set of predetermined setup parameters and actual measurement of a portion of an engraved area on the cylinder is determined. The error value E is then used to adjust the engraver to engrave an actual cut or etch in accordance with the set of predetermined setup parameters. Advantageously, an error detection and correction system is suitable for providing a closed-loop system for engraving a cylinder. The apparatus and method may be used during initial setup or during normal operation of the engraver.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated loading and unloading of a cylinder in an engraver. The method and apparatus permit the engraver to accommodate cylinders of differing geometries, including a range of lengths, diameters and mounting configurations. The engraver includes a headstock and a tailstock which cooperate to rotatably support a cylinder at an engraving station in the engraver. The engraver includes a cylinder handling system having at least one cylinder supporting the cylinder between the headstock and the tailstock during the loading and unloading of the cylinder. The cylinder handling system includes a driver for driving the cylinder support towards and away from the engraving station until the headstock and the tailstock engage and rotatably support the cylinder. Once the cylinder is rotatably supported between the headstock and the tailstock, then the cylinder support is retracted.

Abstract: Apparatus for engraving a gravure printing cylinder includes a setup circuit enabling direct dimensional control of the cavities engraved by a stylus. Controls are provided for setting a black cell width, a black channel width and a highlight cell width. These parameters are fed to the setup circuit which translates them into multiplication factors for an AC signal and a video signal. The multiplied signals are combined with an offset signal to produce a driving signal for the stylus.

Abstract: A system and method relates to an ink volume determination for determining the amount of ink to be applied by the printer. The ink volume determination involves generating a composite cylinder layout of at least one image for the engraved cylinder, generating a set of data corresponding to the composite cylinder layout and then using the set of data to determine the volume of ink. The printer is then filled with a volume of ink related to this calculated ink volume during a printing process. The method of determining ink volume may be used independently of the printing process, for example, in order to control or manage the amount of ink used in the printing press.

Abstract: A leadscrew driving arrangement which is corrected to eliminate the effect of pitch errors. The leadscrew is mapped to create a table of differences between the leadscrew angular position and the corresponding angular position of a perfect leadscrew which has been advanced the same axial distance. The differences are used to create a correction table which is stored in a PROM. During operation of the leadscrew, the correction table is used to adjust the leadscrew driving signal.

Abstract: An engraving apparatus for engraving the outer surface of a cylinder used in a gravure printing process includes an engraving stylus mounted onto a shaft for engraving the surface of the cylinder. A drive mechanism is employed for producing angular movement of the shaft and the stylus aboout the central axis of the shaft. A position sensor comprising a light beam illuminator and a light beam detector is associated with the shaft to sense the angular movement of the shaft and produce a shaft position signal representative thereof. A reference signal generator is employed for producing a reference drive signal and a video signal generator is used to produce a video drive signal representative of the information to be engraved into the surface of the cylinder.

Abstract: An engraving head incorporates a shaft which is supported for high frequency oscillation by axially spaced metal spring elements, and the shaft is acted upon by improved dampening means to minimize undesirable transverse and transient vibrations. A diamond cutting stylus is carried by a holder mounted within an arm projecting from the shaft by means which facilitates convenient removal and resharpening of the stylus. A diamond guide shoe has a flat face which engages the surface to be engraved adjacent the stylus and is supported by means which may be conveniently adjusted without rotation to obtain precision alignment of the face with the surface. A diamond deburring or shaving element has a shearing edge adjacent the stylus and is also supported for convenient angular adjustment to obtain precise alignment. The entire engraving head is pivotally supported by leaf springs and is raised and lowered by power operated means.

Abstract: An engraving head incorporates a shaft which is supported for high frequency oscillation by axially spaced metal spring elements, and the shaft is acted upon by improved dampening means to minimize undesirable transverse and transient vibrations. A diamond cutting stylus is carried by a holder mounted within an arm projecting from the shaft by means which facilitate convenient removal and resharpening of the stylus. A diamond guide shoe has a flat face which engages the surface to be engraved adjacent the stylus and is supported by means which may be conveniently adjusted without rotation to obtain precision alignment of the face with the surface. A diamond deburring or shaving element has a shearing edge adjacent the stylus and is also supported for convenient angular adjustment to obtain precise alignment. The entire engraving head is pivotally supported by leaf springs and is raised and lowered by power operated means.