Of Print Means Patents (Class 101/486)
  • Publication number: 20120304881
    Abstract: A method and a device for placing a flexible printing plate in its register position, by placing the printing plate on a carrier, detecting the position of at least two reference marks, the relative position of which is known, by means of a camera while the printing plate is placed on the carrier, and transporting the printing plate to the register position. Prior to detecting the position of the reference marks, at least one of the reference marks is defined by moving the camera until a point within the part of the image whose relative position is known falls within the part of the image detected by the camera, and the position of the reference mark is stored together with properties of the reference mark detected by the camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: AV Flexologic B.V.
    Inventor: Petrus Johannes Marie Otten
  • Patent number: 8316764
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for preparing a sheeted substrate with a registered structured image in which a resin coated sheeted substrate is provided in the form of a series of spaced sheets with leading or trailing edges acting as reference positions along with a master web with structured images and registration marks. Reference positions of the series of spaced sheets are aligned with the registration mark on the master web and the master web is nipped to the coated sheeted substrate after which curing energy is applied through the master web to the resin coat while the master web and sheeted substrate are in contact. Then the master web is separated from the sheeted substrate to leave a structured image on the sheeted substrate. Registration between the sheeted substrate and the master web may be maintained by varying the relative speed of the master web and the sheeted substrate through stretching of the master web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Inventor: Teh Ming Eric Wu
  • Publication number: 20120227599
    Abstract: A system and method for reducing and/or eliminating the printed layer-over-layer registration error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: DAETWYLER R&D CORP.
    Inventors: John W. Fraser, Jeffrey William Hemmelgarn, Eric J. Serenius
  • Patent number: 8245638
    Abstract: Color separations of a printing image are aligned on a printing material perpendicular to the transport direction of the printing material. A front edge and a rear edge of a register mark are detected. Their distances and, at least in some regions, their widths along the traveled distance of the transport belt between the detection of the front edge and of the rear edge of the register mark are determined. Misalignments of the imaging devices used for the color separations are determined and corrected using these distances and widths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Ralph Petersen
  • Patent number: 8210104
    Abstract: A method for registering a printing plate includes supporting the printing plate on a support surface. A plurality of registration members adapted to register an edge of the printing plate is provided. The first printing plate is moved over the support surface along a first direction to a position where the edge of the printing plate contacts a first registration member of the plurality of registration members. The first registration member is moved along a second direction that intersects the first direction while maintaining contact between the first registration member and the edge of the printing plate at a location on the edge that does not substantially vary as the first registration member moves along the second direction. Contact is established between the printing plate and a second registration member of the plurality of registration members after the first registration member has commenced moving along the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: John Funk, Jo Anna L. Gromadzki, Aleksandar Tegzes, Peter Hawes
  • Patent number: 8205548
    Abstract: There is provided a method of winding up a transfer film and a device for performing transfer printing on printed sheets of paper, capable of eliminating the need to frequently replace the transfer film, thereby allowing the transfer film to be used over a prolonged time. According to the method of winding up a transfer film, the transfer film fed from a feed roll through a feed path is pressed onto a fed printed sheet to transfer patterns of the transfer film, and then the transfer film is wound up onto a windup roll through a windup path. During the rewind of the transfer film from the windup roll to the feed roll, a lateral position of the transfer film running along the feed path is detected, and the feed roll is moved in its axial direction to follow a lateral positional change of the transfer film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Ryobi Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Yamashita, Katsushi Hirokawa, Takahiko Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8181572
    Abstract: A system and method of identifying the match of a printing cylinder and sleeve when the combination thereof has been dressed by laser ablation to achieve a degree of cylindricity. It is desirable to retain the identification of this match for reuse purposes and thereby avoid unnecessary redressing. The identification convention of the invention represents simple encoding, conventional marking means, and readability on sight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventor: Mark Van Denend
  • Patent number: 8181573
    Abstract: In an apparatus for feeding printing plates to a plate cylinder of a printing press, the printing plate is prealigned on stops outside the plate cylinder with a lateral offset and with an oblique skew. Then the printing plate is fed, in the thusly aligned position to the register pins of the plate cylinder, wherein the printing plate is finally aligned by lateral displacement and by a pivoting movement about the first register pin, until the printing plate bears with its receptacles against both register pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Heidleberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Greive, Rolf Hilpert, Alexander Knabe, Rainer Schmitt
  • Patent number: 8176846
    Abstract: A method for positioning a printing plate includes supporting the printing plate on a support surface. A first force is applied to the printing plate to move the printing plate over the support surface along a path. A second force is applied to the printing plate to alter the movement of the printing plate along the path. The printing plate is pivoted on the support surface while applying the first force and the second force to the printing plate, wherein the printing plate is pivoted about a pivot point located on the printing plate at a location different from each of the locations on the printing plate to which the first and second forces are applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: John Funk, Jo Anna L. Gromadzki, Aleksandar Tegzes, Peter Hawes
  • Patent number: 8172968
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for contacting a flexible sheet to a first element with improved lateral alignment. The method includes a step of measuring a first lateral misalignment after establishing a first contact between the flexible sheet and either of the first element and a sheet parking surface called anchor in the first stage. If the 5 misalignment exceeds a predetermined threshold the flexible sheet is parked at the anchor such that it is not in contact with the first element, and the relative position of the first element and the anchor is altered during the second stage for correcting the mismatch during a contact between the flexible sheet and the first element to be established within the next step of the method. During the steps of shifting the contact point to obtain the second stage 10 the contacting process is more accurate and reproducible than the process for establishing the initial contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Marcus Antonius Verschuuren, Mischa Megens
  • Patent number: 8146498
    Abstract: A method for determining a position of a mechanical edge of a reference edge of a sheet of recording media relative to a first edge of a drum slot in a cylindrical surface of an imaging drum, the method includes: mounting the sheet of recording media on the imaging drum in an orientation wherein the reference edge extends along the cylindrical surface of the imaging drum in a substantially axial direction and wherein the reference edge extends over the first edge of the drum slot; establishing at least one acute apex diffuse light source in the slot; capturing at least one digital camera image of the reference edge and the at least one acute apex diffuse light source; and determining from the at least one digital camera image a location of at least one point on the mechanical edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Peter J. Hawes, Allan Warnes
  • Patent number: 8148704
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the alignment of printing plate (14) mounted on an imaging drum (12), and applying an image to a printing plate while maintaining registration and alignment between the image and a reference edge (15) of the printing plate include mounting the printing plate on a plate-making machine (10) and then determining the locations of at least two points on the reference edge. The locations of two or more points are used to determine a transformation that is applied to image data to yield transformed image data (27). The transformed image data is used to image the printing plate. A method and apparatus for determining the locations of the points using backlighting avoids errors encountered in illuminating from the top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Calvin D. Cummings, Allan Warnes, Peter Hawes
  • Patent number: 8146497
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for aligning at least two flexographic printing plates on at least one printing cylinder, which provides acquiring an image of a part of a first plate, memorising the acquired image, framing a part of a second plate, at the same time displaying the memorised image and the image relating to the part of the second framed plate in real time; and aligning the image framed in real time with the memorised image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: SYS TEC S.r.l.
    Inventor: Franco Caliari
  • Publication number: 20120067235
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of securing and tensioning a printing form in an apparatus having a rotatable drum, comprising positioning a first portion of the printing form over a first set of pins that are coupled to a surface of the drum. The first portion of the printing form is then stamped onto the first set of pins thereby securing the first portion of the printing form to the drum. A rotatable member having a second set of pins is rotated so that the circumferential distance between the first set of pins and the second set of pins, is about equal to the length of the printing form. The drum is rotated until a second portion of the printing form is positioned above the second set of pins. The second portion of the printing form is then stamped onto the second set of pins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: JAMES KENTON ODLE, Theodore William Frentzel, JR., George Y. Thomson, JR., Kirk D. Bailey, William Jennings Briers, III, Peter Christopher Baiocco
  • Patent number: 8136447
    Abstract: A decorative article having a substrate with two opposing viewable surfaces. Each viewable surface has a screen print thereon which, in combination, provides a decorative article having a three-dimensional visual. Also, a method of registering the screen prints is provided. The method ensure that two or more panels having the same designs printed thereon are consistent with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: AWI Licensing Company
    Inventors: William C. Gochenauer, James R. Baxter, Ann M. Murdoch
  • Patent number: 8132506
    Abstract: A control method for a publisher that has a media drive for writing data to one side of a target disc, a label printer for printing on the other side of the target disc, media stacker for storing the target discs, and a media transportation mechanism for transporting the target disc at least any one of the media drive, the label printer, and the media stacker in response to a command from a host computer reports an error to a host computer when the target disc cannot be transported as instructed by the host computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Mahito Ichikawa, Kazuya Toshima, Keisuke Tsunoda
  • Patent number: 8096241
    Abstract: A method for controlling cut-off registration in a printing press having printed webs includes applying print control marks which are invisible to the human eye to the printed webs; passing the webs pass through cut-off register control actuators; assembling the webs into a bundle for cut-off; scanning the webs with sensors to determine the actual positions of the marks; comparing the actual positions with desired positions of the marks; and generating signals for the cut-off register control actuators based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: manroland AG
    Inventor: Eduard Steinbacher
  • Patent number: 8061297
    Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a printer apparatus may include a chuck configured to support a substrate thereon, a rail spaced apart from the chuck, a printhead carriage frame coupled to the rail, and a printhead carriage coupled to the printhead carriage frame. The printhead carriage may include a printhead and an actuation mechanism. The actuation assembly may be coupled to the printhead carriage and may be selectively engagable with the printhead for selective displacement of the printhead relative to the printhead carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Ulvac, Inc.
    Inventors: David Albertalli, Paul A. Parks, Scott D. Slade, Roy M. Patterson
  • Patent number: 8042466
    Abstract: A printing press and a method for controlling a printing press include rotatably mounted cylinders. At least two adjacent cylinders roll on one another through bearer rings. At least one of the adjacent cylinders can be rotated actively relative to at least one of the bearer rings by a setting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Jochen Bechtler, Michael Krüger, Detlef Strunk, Willi Stutz
  • Patent number: 8037819
    Abstract: A machine for in-register mounting of flexographic printing plates with a virtual data-processing system, having a supporting footing for a printing plate cylinder, on which a respective flexographic printing plate is mounted, suitable for printing a predefined image, and at least one television camera, which is connected to a monitor, is trained onto the cylinder and can slide parallel to the cylinder to check correct positioning-mounting of the printing plate, the television camera being associated with position sensors and connected to a device for the real-time processing and display of at least one composite image, for allowing the operator to perform precise position comparisons for optimum plate mounting between a preprocessed graphical reproduction of the image to be printed, provided on a digital memory composed of graphical memory associated with position measurements, and the position of the printing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Bieffebi S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alberto Zanoli, Stefano Sambri
  • Patent number: 8028621
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating three-dimensional structures comprise: contacting a printing plate face with a suspension comprising particles to arrange the particles at predefined positions on the printing plate face, the predefined positions comprising a first position laterally adjacent to a second position; positioning the printing plate with the printing plate face turned toward a substrate and the first position aligned to a protrusion on the substrate; contacting the protrusion with a first layer of particles disposed at the first position of the printing plate to transfer the first layer of particles to a protrusion surface; moving the printing plate laterally to align the second position to the protrusion; and contacting the first layer of particles disposed on the protrusion surface with a second layer of particles disposed at the second position of the printing plate to transfer the second layer of particles to on top of the first layer of particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tobias Kraus, Heiko Wolf
  • Publication number: 20110232518
    Abstract: Apparatus (10) for registering printing plates (24) with a plurality of registration members (40A-40F), the apparatus (10) including a plate positioning system (64). The plate positioning system including a first member (50) adapted to pivot about a first pivot point and a plurality of second members (53A, 53B), each second member being pivotally coupled to the first member, and each second member comprising at least one element (58) adapted for engaging a printing plate. The apparatus includes a plurality of sensors (80A, 80B) adapted for detecting contact between the printing plates and the plurality of registration members. The plate positioning system includes a plurality of actuators (72A, 72B) coupled to the second members. An actuator in the plurality of actuators is selectively operated to apply force to an associated second member during a registration of a printing plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventor: Ali Faraz
  • Publication number: 20110219974
    Abstract: An adaptive overprint system for providing an overprint upon a substrate; the substrate comprising a plurality of registration markers at predetermined locations thereon and at least one pre-printed feature; the system comprising: an imager for capturing a digital image of said substrate with said registration markers and said feature; a printing platform upon which the substrate resides during overprinting; a printing mechanism for stamping said overprint upon said pre-printed feature; a controller operatively connected to said imager and said printing mechanism; and a handling device to move the substrate in and out of the printer; wherein said controller is adapted to identify and calculate the shift in said pre-printed feature based on said image of the substrate received from said imager, and to calculate a correlating compensation or correction shift to be electronically applied to the overprinted image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2008
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: Scodix, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eli Grinberg, Kobi Bar
  • Patent number: 8006618
    Abstract: A device and method for performing a printing plate change on a plate cylinder of a printing press is disclosed. The device includes a rolling element featuring several rollers for pressing at least one printing plate on the plate cylinder during a printing plate change. A strip bearing several alignment elements extends parallel to the rolling element, where a printing plate can be aligned true-to-register between every two adjacent alignment elements before the printing plate is clamped in a lockup slot of the plate cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Thomas Gsell, Rudolf Stroh, Thomas Boeck, Wolfgang Kaeser
  • Publication number: 20110203472
    Abstract: An ultra-precision register control method in a continuous roll-to-roll printing process for manufacturing electronic devices via a feedforward register control logic, which compensates for and eliminates additional register errors attributable to variations in the speed of upstream printing cylinders. When used in combination with a conventional feedback register control logic, the feedforward register control logic accomplishes a register control with ultra-precision in a continuous roll-to-roll printing process, and enables implementation of a continuous roll-to-roll printing process for manufacturing electronic devices, for which a roll-to-roll printing process was formerly unavailable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Inventors: Kee-Hyun Shin, Hyun-Kyoo Kang
  • Patent number: 8001900
    Abstract: A home position sensor, which constitutes a portion of a home position storage unit, stores a home position by means of previously detecting the position of a printing cylinder cam. Accordingly, a printing cylinder comes to a stop at a plate replacement position at the time of replacement of a plate even when the printing cylinder cam does not pass by the home position sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: RYOBI Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenta Kimura, Takahiko Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20110192303
    Abstract: A method for determining if a printing plate is registered. A support surface supports the printing plate. An electric signal travels along a path through the printing plate. A plurality of registration members includes a set of two or more registration members, each adapted to receive the electrical signal when contact is established between an edge of the printing plate and the registration member. Detecting a presence or absence of the electrical signal at each of the registration members. Determines contact between the printing plate and each registration member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventor: Ryan K. Hines
  • Publication number: 20110192304
    Abstract: An apparatus for registering a printing plate includes a support surface. A first registration member provides an electrical signal to the printing plate when contact is established between the first registration member and a first edge of the printing plate. Each registration member in a set of two or more registration members receives the electrical signal provided to the printing plate when contact is established between an edge of the printing plate and the registration member. A set of two or more sensors detects a presence of the electrical signal received by a registration member. A plurality of actuators is operable for moving the printing plate towards a registration member. A controller determines a presence or absence of contact between the printing plate and a selected registration member based on information provided by each sensor. The controller selectively operates at least one of the actuators to move the printing plate towards the selected registration member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventor: Ryan K. Hines
  • Patent number: 7978349
    Abstract: A web platform has multiple print modules adapted to print form data and variable data in a continuous operation. A controller with access to a form image database and a variable document database is connected to the web platform. Each print module on the web platform uses single color, ink jet, print heads. Form data is printed by a plurality of single color print modules. Variable data is printed by a single color print module. Bulk paper in rolls is fed through the web platform to print the forms and customer statements. The controller can direct printing of multiple statements simultaneously in discrete lanes on the web platform. Printed customer statements are subsequently separated into individual finished documents for process and mailing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: DST Output
    Inventors: Charles B. Clupper, Frank W Delfer
  • Patent number: 7971530
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for positioning a flexible printing plate on a carrier, comprising the following steps of: placing on a table the flexible printing plate for positioning; determining the position of the printing plate by means of a visual display device; and depending on the position, moving the printing plate to its end position on the carrier, wherein the position of the carrier is sensed in the vicinity of the final position and the carrier is moved to its end position depending on the position sensed in the vicinity of the final position. The positioning takes place much more accurately as a result of these measures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: AV Flexologic B.V.
    Inventor: Petrus Johannes Marie Otten
  • Patent number: 7963226
    Abstract: A printing unit has at least one press unit having a plate cylinder with at least one printing plate that can be mounted on the plate cylinder and which carries a printing image. The plate cylinder has at least one cylinder channel in which ends of the printing plate can be fixed or positioned. The printing plate has a leading angled end and also has a trailing angled end, as viewed in the direction of rotation of the printing cylinder during operation of the printing press. The printing plate can be secured to the plate cylinder by insertion of the plate leading end into the cylinder channel and by insertion of the plate trailing end into the same, or another cylinder channel. Initially, the plate trailing end is fixed in its associated cylinder channel and the plate cylinder is rotated in a rotational direction counter to a production direction. The leading plate end is then fixed in its associated cylinder channel during continued rotation of the plate cylinder opposite to a production direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Georg Schneider, Bernd Kurt Masuch
  • Publication number: 20110126728
    Abstract: A printing unit of a printing machine is configured having at least two frame parts, a spacing between which can be modified. Several forme cylinders and several transfer cylinders, which cooperate to print a web, are located on each of the at least two frame parts. The distance between the two frame parts is less when the printing unit is closed than it is when the printing unit is open. The printing unit includes at least two web guiding elements. A first tangent is established by a transfer cylinder of a stationary one of the frame parts. A second tangent is established by the at least two web guiding elements. The first tangent and the second tangent are spaced from each other at a distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Inventor: Christoph Alfons Schmitt
  • Publication number: 20110067588
    Abstract: A method of preparing cylinders for printing on a web during auto transfer operations is provided. The method includes the steps of printing images on a web with at least one first printing cylinder; accelerating at least one second printing cylinder so that the at least one second printing cylinder has a surface velocity that equals a velocity of the web; adjusting a phasing of the at least one second printing cylinder with respect to the web during the accelerating step and before the surface velocity of the at least one second printing cylinder equals the velocity of the web; moving the at least one first printing cylinder away from the web and moving the at least one second printing cylinder towards the web; and printing images on the web with the at least one second printing cylinder. A printing press configured for auto transfer is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: GOSS INTERNATIONAL AMERICAS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Raymond Rancourt, Atef Tanious Massoud, George Athans, Richard Conrad
  • Patent number: 7908964
    Abstract: The clearance ‘d’ between a substrate 3 and a mask 2 can be reduced at the time of the position recognition by horizontally offsetting two recognition devices 53,54 for recognizing the substrate 3 and the mask 2. Therefore, since the ascending stroke of the substrate 3 can be shortened at the time of the position alignment to contact the rear face of the substrate 3 with the rear face of the mask 2, the position misalignment of the substrate in the horizontal direction caused by the raising is suppressed. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the reduction of the position alignment accuracy with the mask 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Kimiyuki Yamasaki, Seikou Abe, Takahiro Fukagawa
  • Publication number: 20110041716
    Abstract: A workpiece processing system and method, the workpiece processing system comprising at least one workpiece processing module (3), each workpiece processing module comprising: a workpiece processing unit (11) for processing workpieces (W); and a feed unit (37) which is operable to transfer workpieces to and from the workpiece processing unit, wherein the feed unit comprises input and output feed assemblies (38, 39) which are operable to transfer workpieces to and from the workpiece processing unit and a processing zone feed assembly (40) which interconnects the input and output feed assemblies and is operable to transfer workpieces from the input feed assembly (38) to the workpiece processing unit and from the workpiece processing unit to the output feed assembly (39).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventors: Richard Willshere, Martyn Buttle, Mick Bartholomew, John Bruce Knowles, Darren Brown
  • Patent number: 7891292
    Abstract: A printing method and a printing apparatus including a stencil printing apparatus and so on. Focusing on the relationship that exists between copy number and master position displacement that occurs during printing, by determining by pretest and setting top-bottom shift correction values in accordance with parameters including copy number that affect printed master position displacement in the direction of rotation of a plate cylinder, and during printing, utilizing conventionally used top-bottom shift means to automatically execute top-bottom shift correction in accordance with the set top-bottom shift correction values, printing position displacement can be prevented from occurring, waste of master and printing medium such as paper can be eliminated and, in addition, the operation time can be shortened and the number of operation steps can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mituru Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20110030569
    Abstract: A print press system and a method are described herein that print an electronic circuit onto a material (e.g., glass substrate, plastic film, plastic film-glass substrate laminate). In exemplary applications, the print press system can print an electronic circuit onto a material to form, for instance, a flexible Liquid Crystal Display, a retail point of purchase sign and an e-book.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventors: Robert Addison Boudreau, Douglas Edward Brackley, Raymond Charles Cady, Gary Edward Merz, James Paul Peris, Kevin Lee Wasson
  • Publication number: 20110005419
    Abstract: A method is implemented by a printer to move a transfix roller selectively to clean the transfix roller. The transfix roller is moved from a transfix nip with the print drum to a position where the transfix roller remains in rolling contact with the print drum, but exerts a pressure on the print drum that is less than the transfix pressure. The transfix roller is later moved out of rolling contact with the print drum in response to the transfix roller rotating a predetermined distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Paul John McConville, Trevor James Snyder, Jeffrey Russell Kohne, Brent Edward Fleming, Michael Eugene Jones
  • Patent number: 7856925
    Abstract: A plurality of printing blocks are placed on a plate cylinder of a printing machine. Each of these printing blocks is located at one of a plurality of mounting locations which are located adjacent each other in an axial direction of the plate cylinder. Each of these printing blocks is stored in a storage device which includes storage positions that are located adjacent to, and offset from each other at a fixed distance in the axial direction of the plate cylinder, prior to the arrangement of the printing blocks at one of the mounting locations of the plate cylinder. The plate cylinder and/or the storage device are displaced axially relative to each other by the operation of a positioning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Koenig & Bauer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Karl Robert Schäfer
  • Publication number: 20100302332
    Abstract: A continuous feed printer for printing on the surface of an object, such as a CD, a DVD or a Blu-Ray disc, wherein the continuous feed printer has a continuous loop belt, a feed mechanism for depositing the object onto the continuous loop belt, at least one pair of alignment elements located on the continuous loop belt, and an alignment device which urges the object into abutment with the alignment elements. After the object is aligned against the alignment elements it is printed in a printing zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventor: Walter Wafler
  • Publication number: 20100294154
    Abstract: A method for making adjustable magnified images in a plurality of physically coupled print engines by printing a first print including two first fiducial marks related to an original document. The separation of the two first fiducial marks on the first print are measured. Then the second engine is adjusted after printing a second image that has at least two second fiducial marks and using the separation between the at least two second fiducial marks on the second print until the separation equals the separation of the two first fiducial marks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: Alan E. Rapkin, Michael T. Dobbertin
  • Publication number: 20100288146
    Abstract: A method is presented for automatically controlling the spacing between printer drums. The printer includes at least two print drums (920.1, 920.2) whose parallel rotation leads to image transfer, either between the drums or onto a printed surface. First the pressure a signal indicative of the pressure between the two print drums is obtained by a measurement unit (930), and then the gap between the drums is automatically adjusted in accordance with the indicator signal by a gap adjuster (940).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: David Levanon, Ilan Frydman, Yury Alioshin, Shai Lior, Boaz Tagansky
  • Patent number: 7827914
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes applying at least one invisible mark to media, sensing the at least one invisible mark with separate sensors, and determining a speed of the media from signals of the separate sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Cesar Fernandez, David Florez
  • Patent number: 7819060
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for mounting two or more cylindrically-shaped printing forms onto a cylindrically-shaped base. The base can be a print cylinder or an adapter mounted onto a print cylinder. The method and apparatus provide for positioning the two or more printing forms in register on the base. The two or more printing forms are axially oriented on the base using pressurized air as an air cushion between the base and the printing forms, positioned in a registration position, and engaged by a holding member to maintain the two or more printing forms in their respective registration position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Bradley K. Taylor, Stephan Riechert, Thies Knudsen
  • Patent number: 7809464
    Abstract: The invention relates to a registration system for sheet fed processing machines that reduces or eliminates the need to calibrate the register and/or timing dials of such a machine. The system uses known measurements and the elapsed time between electrically generated pulses to determine the relative position of processing cylinders in the machine relative the timing of a feed mechanism. The relative positions are displayed in real-time and can be adjusted by an operator. The machine need not be ‘in time’ to properly register the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Mikowen Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Mike Owen
  • Publication number: 20100242760
    Abstract: A printing plate mounting apparatus includes a mounting mark information acquiring device which acquires mounting mark information formed on each of a plate-making drum provided in a plate-making apparatus, and a printing drum provided in a printing apparatus that prints an image on an object to be printed; an image creating device which creates an image of each color; a first calculating device which respectively calculates a size of each printing plate corresponding to the color image and a mounting position of the printing plate on each of the plate-making drum and the printing drum; a second calculating device which calculates a position of a plate-making positioning mark according to the mounting mark, and also calculates a position of a printing positioning mark according to the mounting mark; and a printing device which prints the plate-making positioning mark and the printing positioning mark on a printing plate support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Shuichi Otsuka, Mitsuru Mushano, Masashi Norimatsu
  • Publication number: 20100236438
    Abstract: A method of forming a nip with a skewed transfix roll includes positioning a first axis of rotation of a transfix roll at a skewed angle with respect to a second axis of rotation of an image drum, forming a nip with the skewed transfix roll and the image drum, and operating the printer with the nip formed with the skewed transfix roll.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Bryan James Roof, Laurence Lynd
  • Patent number: 7784402
    Abstract: A method for aligning the leading edge of printing plate (110) to an axially disposed slot (70) in a cylindrical surface (30) of an imaging drum (20) comprising at least one printing plate clamp (90) having a clamp surface (100) disposed parallel to the slot, the method comprising straightening (210) the leading edge against the clamp surface and positioning (220) the leading edge to protrude over the slot by rotating the imaging drum under the plate. The straightening comprises resting (200) the leading edge of the plate on the cylindrical surface of the imaging drum and rotating the imaging drum about its cylindrical axis (60) to contact with the clamp surface a point along the leading edge of the plate and to rotate the plate until its leading edge is in alignment with the clamp surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Calvin D. Cummings, Peter Hawes
  • Patent number: 7748318
    Abstract: A multi-color rotary printing machine has one printing plate support assigned to the colors that are transferred onto the print substrate. This printing plate support supports a printing plate and is attached to a mandrel or a cylinder of a rotary printing machine in order to transfer the print image onto the print substrate. The rotary printing machine has register devices that determine the position of the printing plates with respect to one another and that have sensors to determine the positions of the printing plate support in the printing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Windmoeller & Hoelscher KG
    Inventors: Martin Kruempelmann, Manfred Loddenkoetter
  • Patent number: 7735420
    Abstract: An apparatus for imaging a media is able to accommodate, in an imaging position, a drum for loading flat sheets of media or a mandrel for loading sleeve media. The apparatus includes a storage position for locating the drum or mandrel when not in use and provides mechanisms for safe transport of the drum or mandrel between the storage and imaging positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Kodak Graphic Communications Canada Company
    Inventor: Aldo Salvestro