Patents by Inventor Howard Hoff

Howard Hoff has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8763528
    Abstract: A color control system for use in a printing press is provided. The system includes a controller for reviewing digital data for a print job and identifying solid color regions of the print job that are greater than a predetermined size, a user interface allowing an operator to select solid color regions identified by the controller, a sensor for measuring a characteristic of the selected solid color regions of the print job on a printed substrate, the controller determining measured values of the characteristic for each of the selected solid color regions, and at least one inking unit for supplying ink in a plurality of ink zones to a plate cylinder, the controller varying the ink supplied to ink zones including the solid color regions as function of a difference between the measured value of the characteristic of each selected solid color region and a predetermined target value of the characteristic. A method for controlling printing of a printing press is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Goss International Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Robert Elkinson, Michael Raymond Rancourt, Howard Hoff
  • Publication number: 20120145018
    Abstract: A color control system for use in a printing press is provided. The system includes a controller for reviewing digital data for a print job and identifying solid color regions of the print job that are greater than a predetermined size, a user interface allowing an operator to select solid color regions identified by the controller, a sensor for measuring a characteristic of the selected solid color regions of the print job on a printed substrate, the controller determining measured values of the characteristic for each of the selected solid color regions, and at least one inking unit for supplying ink in a plurality of ink zones to a plate cylinder, the controller varying the ink supplied to ink zones including the solid color regions as function of a difference between the measured value of the characteristic of each selected solid color region and a predetermined target value of the characteristic. A method for controlling printing of a printing press is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: Goss International Americas, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Robert ELKINSON, Michael Raymond RANCOURT, Howard HOFF
  • Publication number: 20100206192
    Abstract: A web fed rotary printing press apparatus and a method for operating the same which includes at least one reconfigurable printing mechanism, a sensor for detecting the end of a print job, and a controller coupled to the sensor and the at least one printing mechanism for providing control signals representing predetermined printing parameters for a subsequent print job to the at least one print mechanism upon detection of the end of a print job. The apparatus may further include a planning computer coupled to the controller for generating printing parameters for each print job based on user input. Furthermore, the printing parameters generated by the planning computer for a print job may be stored as data in JDF files communicated to the controller which may be used to provide control signals representing predetermined printing parameters for a print job based on the data in the JDF files.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: GOSS INTERNATIONAL AMERICAS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Raymond Rancourt, Howard Hoff
  • Publication number: 20070181020
    Abstract: An offset printing press includes a plate cylinder having a plate cylinder circumference and a blanket cylinder having a blanket cylinder circumference, the plate cylinder circumference being in a N:1 relationship with the blanket cylinder circumference, N being 2 or greater. The large plate circumference area permits for various components to fit around the plate cylinder, while using small blankets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: Goss International Americas, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard Hoff