Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
  • B41F19/00—Apparatus or machines for carrying out printing operations combined with other operations
  • B41F19/02—Apparatus or machines for carrying out printing operations combined with other operations with embossing
  • B41F19/06—Printing and embossing between a negative and a positive forme after inking and wiping the negative forme; Printing from an ink band treated with colour or "gold"
  • B41F19/064—Presses of the reciprocating type
  • B41F19/068—Presses of the reciprocating type motor-driven
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B44—DECORATIVE ARTS
  • B44B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR TOOLS FOR ARTISTIC WORK, e.g. FOR SCULPTURING, GUILLOCHING, CARVING, BRANDING, INLAYING
  • B44B5/00—Machines or apparatus for embossing decorations or marks, e.g. embossing coins
  • B44B5/0071—Machines or apparatus for embossing decorations or marks, e.g. embossing coins which simultaneously apply a decorative material
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B44—DECORATIVE ARTS
  • B44B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR TOOLS FOR ARTISTIC WORK, e.g. FOR SCULPTURING, GUILLOCHING, CARVING, BRANDING, INLAYING
  • B44B5/00—Machines or apparatus for embossing decorations or marks, e.g. embossing coins
  • B44B5/0095—Machines or apparatus for embossing decorations or marks, e.g. embossing coins using computer control means
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B44—DECORATIVE ARTS
  • B44B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR TOOLS FOR ARTISTIC WORK, e.g. FOR SCULPTURING, GUILLOCHING, CARVING, BRANDING, INLAYING
  • B44B5/00—Machines or apparatus for embossing decorations or marks, e.g. embossing coins
  • B44B5/02—Dies; Accessories
  • B44B5/022—Devices for holding or supporting work

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of machines for performing an embossing of sheets, for example paper, cardboard or other materials, for making embossed images or wordings.
• the object of the present invention is a method and machine for mounting the cliches that make the embossing on a registration table of a flat hot foil stamping machine.
• the sheets enter into the embossing machine with the print facing downwards; the Magnesium cliche moves from the top towards the sheet, impacting it on the back of the pattern or the wording that will be embossed. To obtain this effect, the image impressed thereon is upturned by 180° on the forming cliche.
• the machine table whereon the cliches are mounted is heated with resistors so as to bring all the system to a temperature of 100°-130°C. Therefore, the cliche that will be subject to a thermal expansion is constructed with reduced dimensions compared to the original image, in a percentage related to the thermal expansion coefficient.
• One of the problems related to the mounting of the cliches on the table is due to the fact that there are no possible references whereon the cliches may be aligned, since the back of the printed sheet is generally neutral or white.
• the already printed sheet of the covers is used. It is placed on the table used by the embossing machine in a turned over manner, with the printed side in contact with the table, centred with references.
• the portions that will be embossed are traced with empirical methods. For example, the cliches are aligned on the back of the sheet at the wording to be highlighted and slits corresponding to the beginning and to the end of the cliche are marked. Or cuts are made on the printed sheet at the edges of the characters of the beginning and the end of the word itself, and the cliche is aligned on these slits with the relevant reference.
• This sheet is placed on the table of the machine whereon the cliches shall be mounted. The cliches are then placed on the table under the sheet, and aligned with the reference slits made on the sheet itself.
• the cliche registration table is then put into the machine and heated by internal resistors to 100-130° degrees centigrade.
• the printed sheet is then embossed; the embossing is matched against the print and through little and continuous adjustments moving the cliches with repeated cycles of embossing of the sheets, the error is reduced to an acceptable value.
• the sheet is used only in an approximate manner; the real setup of the cliches is in the machine, with repeated processing cycles and corrections of the cliche positions.
• a second method envisages: [0018] - creating a transparent film dimensionally corresponding to the sheet to be processed, which shall exactly show what shall be embossed, already upturned by
• a smaller cliche than the image to be embossed must be positioned, in any case requiring a subsequent adjustment of the same during the embossing in temperature, to be centred with the real image.
• the real setup of the cliches on the registration table is made in subsequent cycles of embossing and correction of the cliche positions up to the correct matching of the print with the embossing.
• FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of the machine for mounting cliches according to the invention
• FIG. 2 shows a schematic plan view of the machine with a sheet to be embossed
• figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 shows schematic views of the result of as many steps of the method of mounting cliches.
• reference numeral 10 globally denotes a machine for mounting cliches 5 on a registration table 12 of a flat hot foil stamping machine.
• Machine 10 comprises a structure 14 provided with a bench 16 suitable for supporting the registration table 12.
• Machine 10 is provided with at least one image capturing device 18 and at least one device 20 for displaying the images framed by said image capturing device 18. The latter is supported projecting-wise and faces bench 16 so as to frame a portion of a sheet to be embossed 6 placed on table 12 and/or (a portion of) a cliche 5 placed on the table, accounting to the mounting method that will be described hereinafter.
• Machine 10 is further associated to means for storing the images (not shown) suitable for allowing a concurrent display on the display device 20 of at least one image previously captured by the capturing device 18 and of an image relating to (a portion of) a cliche 5 framed in real time.
• Image capturing device 18 is a transducer or sensor suitable for shooting or framing an item located within its field of vision and for converting the shot or framed image into a flow of electrical data suitable for being transmitted to a display device 20, which is capable of transforming said data into signals suitable for visually reproducing, virtually in real time, the framed image.
• - "framed image” the image relating to the portion of an element (sheet to be embossed 6, table 12 or cliche 5) that at a certain time is within a field of vision of an image capturing device 18;
• - "captured image” a framed image converted into a flow of electrical data suitable for being displayed by an image display device 20;
• processed image an image obtained through the processing of the information defining a captured or stored image.
• the image capturing means 18 comprise two cameras. Cameras 18 are fixed to respective moving means suitable for moving them in a plane parallel to that of bench 16 supporting table 12.
• said moving means comprise a Cartesian axis system 22.
• each camera 18 is associated to at least one linear axis 22' (figure 1 ), defining for example the axis X, sliding along a common linear orthogonal axis 22", defining for example axis Y.
• Each camera 18 is therefore associable to a position X 1 , Y' in a Cartesian plane having an origin XO, YO acting as common reference.
• said origin coincides with the centre of the registration table 12.
• machine 10 is provided with sensing means 26 suitable for detecting the current position of cameras 18 and with means for storing the information relating to said position.
• each camera 18 is provided with devices suitable for setting and adjusting optical, mechanical and electronic parameters, which characterise the image capturing and processing.
• Optical or mechanical parameters of the camera typically are the zoom and focus factors.
• the electronic parameters are the digital zoom, the colour gain index, the colour contrast value, the colour saturation value, the colour hue value and the image brightness value.
• Cameras 18 are associated to storage means suitable for storing the electrical data relating to the captured images, that is, all the digital and analogue data that define the information making up the visual representation of an image framed or shot by the camera.
• the method for mounting cliches on the registration table 12 comprises the steps of: [0045] - capturing at least one reference image 30 corresponding to (at least one portion of) an image to be embossed 30', each reference image 30 being associated to a position X', Y' relative to a reference system (figure 3); [0046] - framing a portion of the registration table 12 determined by the position of the reference image;
• the image framed in real time and the reference image are displayed overlapped to one another.
• a printed sheet 6 is placed in the embossing machine so that the cliches that come down from the top press the image to be embossed on the back side, not printed.
• the reference image 30 and its position X', Y' are reprocessed so as to be displayed upturned by 180° relative to such axis (figure 4), obtaining upturned reference images 30a.
• the position of the reference image optionally upturned by 180° is reprocessed according to the thermal expansion coefficient C of the registration table 12 and of temperature T to which table 12 shall be brought during the embossing operation.
• said reprocessing of the reference image causes a contraction of the coordinates of said position, that is, an approach towards the centre (figure 5).
• the cliches mounted thereon will tend to move away from the centre.
• it is therefore suitable to compensate such subsequent movement of the cliches moving the reference image in reverse direction, that is, moving it towards the centre.
• Figure 5 exemplifies such device showing with a dashed line the reference image 30a in its original position (even if upturned by 180°), and with a continuous line the reference image 30 in a "contracted" position, that is, close to the centre of table 12.
• d C x L x T.
• machine 10 comprises actuating means 28 for moving cameras 18 along the movement system 22.
• a processing unit compares the value of the current position of a camera with a reprocessed and stored position value, and an operator can move the camera until the difference between said values decreases to zero.
• the processing unit is suitable for controlling by feedback said actuating means for moving each camera 18 to a reprocessed and stored position.
• the image of the cliche is aligned with the reference image 30.
• the captured image of cliche 5, before being reproduced by the display device 20 is reprocessed according to the thermal expansion coefficient of the cliche and of the temperature it will take during the embossing operation. Normally, such cliche image reprocessing leads to an enlargement 5' of said image (figure 6).
• the cliches are originally made smaller than the relevant image of the sheet, just to keep into account that in working conditions, the heating thereof will cause some expansion.
• the framed image of cliche 5 is reprocessed virtually in real time, so as to simulate the working conditions and substantially reproduce the dimensions of the reference image. In this way it is possible to make a precise alignment by overlapping of the two images.
• the capture of the reference image 30 comprises the steps of:
• both the image captured and the position thereof are optionally reprocessed as described above.
• the same printed sheet to be embossed is used, with the images facing upwards, to obtain the reference images required for the alignment operation.
• the image to be embossed is sufficiently small, the entire image may be used as reference image for the alignment of the cliche; on the contrary, if it is a wider image, it may be necessary, or in any case advantageous, to capture a considerable portion thereof.
• the presence of at least two cameras 18 is very advantageous since it allows framing and capturing two portions, for example at the opposite ends, of an image so as to determine in a unique manner position, shape and orientation of the reference image.
• the parameters related to the capture of an image may be at least the image enlargement factor, or zoom, the focus, the image brightness value, the colour gain index, the colour contrast value, the colour saturation value, the colour hue value.
• the processing unit that implements the mounting method is programmed for processing the electrical information associated to the visual representation of at least one captured image so as to facilitate the operation of alignment of said image with another image displayed at the same time.
• processing comprises an adjustment of the transparency effect of at least one image, a logical combination of the type "and" or "or” of at least two images, or a colour variation of at least one image captured so as to improve the contrast when it is displayed at the same time as another image.
• the registration table 12 After having mounted the cliches, the registration table 12 is put into the machine and heated, for example by internal resistors, at 100-130° degrees centigrade.
• all the operations can be stored by the cliche mounting machine.
• the registration table 12 after a working cycle, can be placed on the cliche mounting machine 10 again so as to automatically capture the differences between the theoretical positioning and the adjustments made in the machine by the operator.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Image Processing (AREA)
• Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)
• Duplication Or Marking (AREA)

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• 2007
  • 2007-03-27 IT ITBS20070041 patent/ITBS20070041A1/it unknown
• 2008
  • 2008-03-20 EP EP08751517A patent/EP2132038A2/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2008-03-20 WO PCT/IT2008/000185 patent/WO2008117327A2/en active Application Filing

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