Abstract: The printer has at least two printing stations which cause images to be printed on a substrate. The printer is capable of registration adjustment. First and second patterns of spaced registration marks are printed onto the substrate by operation of the printing stations. The second pattern partially overlaps the first pattern to form a composite pattern of registration marks. The composite pattern is illuminated and the reflectivity thereof is examined at wavelengths complementary to the colors of the first and second patterns to obtain a reflectivity signature for the composite pattern. The reflectivity signature of the composite pattern (120) is compared with a predetermined signature to determine an adjustment factor for the printer.

Abstract: To improve the control of the inking process in an offset printing machine, color measuring fields provided on printed sheets are evaluated not as heretofore densitometrically but colorimetrically by means of spectral measurements. Spectral reflections are used to match colors, or color coordinates are calculated from them and compared with corresponding set reflections or set color coordinates. The color deviations obtained in this manner are used to control the inking process. For the stabilization of printing runs the spectral reflections are converted into filter color densities and the inking process is controlled on the basis of these color densities in a conventional manner. The control of the inking process using color deviations and control using color density may be superposed upon each other.The process makes it possible to adapt color impressions in delicate locations of importance for the image in the print to the corresponding locations of the proof.

Abstract: An unbaked ceramic layer is formed by applying a ceramic paste on to an organic flexible supporting body. First target marks are formed on the flexible supporting body before or after this process. Then, the positioning for printing electrodes is performed based upon information obtained through image processing of the first target marks, to print the electrodes on the unbaked ceramic layer. With this, a manufacturing method for ceramic electronic components that can minimize positional misalignment in electrode patterns is provided.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a treating device 1, especially a rotating transverse gluing mechanism for high-speed, register mark-related paper or film webs 2. The movements of the transverse gluing mechanism 1 are synchronized with the web 2, and the transverse gluing mechanism has an independent synchronous drive 6 with a drive motor 7 and a regulating unit for this purpose. The electronic regulating unit compensates variations in the synchronism of the running web 2.

Abstract: According to the present invention, ceramic electronic components are produced by a process which includes the steps of forming an unbaked ceramic layer on a surface of an organic flexible supporting body by applying a ceramic paste, the surface having an area that is given a peeling treatment and areas that are not given the peeling treatment; forming first target marks on the flexible supporting body; and positioning and priming electrodes on the unbaked ceramic layer, based upon information obtained through image processing of the first target marks.

Abstract: A plate making device and method, wherein when a light sensor detects that the stencil plate inserted into the plate making device is provided with the through hole, the controller supplies a current to the thermal head for T1 seconds to control the heat time to be short, so that the perforation energy of the thermal head is reduced. On the other hand, when the light sensor detects that the stencil plate has no through hole, the controller supplies a current to the thermal head for T2 seconds longer than T1 seconds to control the heat time to be long, so that the perforation energy of the thermal head is increased. In this device, even when any type of stencil plate is used, the plate making process providing the best print quality for each stencil plate can be performed.

Abstract: An electrographic label system is disclosed whereby flexographic and electronic printing are combined in a modular design to produce multi-color labels. Label stock is unwound from a roll and passes over an automatic shut off roller that shuts down the entire printing process and stops the flow of label stock when it runs out so that a new roll of stock can be sliced to the old roll and rethreading the system is not necessary. A back slitter having a roller cutter cuts the desired height of the label leaving a feed strip between the label and opposite edge. The label stock is fed into a flexographic printer having a drum which imprints a first image, cuts the label to the correct length, and imprints a register mark on the feed strip. The label stock material is next fed into an electronic printer interfaced with a computer or programmable logic controller which imprints a second image upon each label.

Abstract: A sheet for use in a printing process has an image receiving surface on one side and an invisible magnetic coating on the reverse side. The magnetic coating contains encoded data used to determine the nonrecording side of the sheet to prevent printing on the wrong side of the sheet. The encoded data is machine readable and contains information on the printing characteristics of the image receiving surface of the sheet.

Abstract: An ink sensing system for a vector plotter in which a pen is adapted to be raised and lowered from a drawing media surface along a system axis. An optical detection system is provided which has a focal point on the system axis and below the media surface when the pen is in its lowered position and at the media surface when the pen is in its raised position. The optical detection system includes a source of illumination and a detector system to determine the degree of reflectance from the media surface to indicate the presence or absence of ink on the media surface. In a particular embodiment the optical detection system is moveable and the movement of the optical detection system is coupled to the movement of the pen. Furthermore, the focal point of the optical detection system coincides substantially with the last point of contact of the pen with the media surface when the pen is in the raised position.

Abstract: A printing apparatus including a supporting structure and structure for mounting a reel for rotation on the supporting structure. Tubing is wound on the reel and encoded information relating to a characteristic of the tubing is provided on the reel. The tubing can be pulled from the reel and moved through the printing apparatus. A controllable printer is mounted on the supporting structure for printing on the tubing. A sensor senses the encoded information and a microprocessor controls the printer in accordance with the encoded information sensed by the sensor so that the printer is controlled in accordance with the characteristic of the tubing.

Abstract: A data card for a printer includes a plurality of data areas. Data readable by a sensor can be written in the data areas to control specifications or functions of a serial printer. A standard mark is printed on the data card to provide a reference position. The serial printer includes the data card, a card receiver into which the data card is detachably inserted, a sensor for reading data written in the data card, and a carriage having a printing head thereon. Either the card receiver or the sensor is mounted to the carriage. The other component is fixedly arranged within the serial printer. The serial printer further includes a memory for storing the data, and a controller for controlling a printing mechanism according to the data stored in the memory.

Abstract: On a lithographic plate for printing, there is provided an identification mark which indicates for which color the lithographic plate is and in which printing press the lithographic plate is to be used. The identification mark of the lithographic plate is simultaneously recorded when image area rates of the lithographic plate are measured. When the measured lithographic plate is mounted in the printing press, the data of image area rates which have already been measured and recorded are read utilizing the result of reading the identification mark. The data are transmitted to the printing press and used for control of the ink supply amount of the printing press. In order to carry the lithographic plate keeping a flat state, there is provided a difference between air pressure acted upon one surface and another surface of the lithographic plate. A locating apparatus is also used so that the lithographic plate is set at a correct measuring position in order to measure image rates of the lithographic plate.

Abstract: In a thermal transfer printing film cassette having a cassette case and a thermal transfer printing film housed in the case, an outer surface of the case is provided with a plurality of marking positions at which reflective marks are applied. The marks indicate the usage and ink characteristics of the printing film, depending upon their position. When the cassette is mounted in a printer, sensors detect the marks and send signals to a ROM in which various types of operational conditions corresponding to the ink characteristics and usage are stored. And such conditions are automatically set to the printers, which then operates in a manner suitable for the film in the cassette.

Abstract: A print control strip which allows the optional use of both solid tone control/regulation and halftone control/regulation, and in which the color control/regulation is optimized on the basis of values derived from the solid tone density and the halftone density from single color and/or multicolor halftone fields. Such print control strips are used for control/regulation of the ink feed in the inking mechanism of rotary printing presses. The print control strip disclosed includes alternating single color solid tone fields for each ink color and single color halftone fields for each ink color, and multicolor halftone fields corresponding to every second color zone. There may also be zonally alternating single color solid tone fields for each ink color and multicolor halftone fields.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mounting a die, particularly a rigid cutting die, on a die cylinder includes having a bubble along a seal on the die to bridge any gaps between the die and the die cylinder when the die is initially positioned on the die cylinder. This bubble seal enables a vacuum to be applied between the initially positioned die and the die cylinder to pull the die down against and into conformity with the surface of the die cylinder, at the same time flattening the bubble seal. A key at a trailing edge of the die locates in an axial keyway in the die cylinder to circumferentially position the die; a bolt is then inserted at a leading edge of the die to establish axial location. During operation the die is held in position by the vacuum. Beam sensors and light reflectors may be incorporated to sense when a wrong die is present and shut down the apparatus.