GB2024457A - Printing press make ready and control system - Google Patents

Abstract

A system is disclosed for making ready and otherwise controlling a printing press. Data is gathered relating to the configuration of the press being controlled from PIM, REP etc., and also to certain other parameters required for presetting and otherwise controlling the various mechanical settings on the press. A number of dedicated microprocessors, each associated with one type of mechanical setting (i.e., ink fountains, water fountains, registration elements, etc.), process this data in order to derive control information therefrom. These processors then cause an associated control circuit to preset the corresponding mechanical settings as determined by this processing using feedback control. Facilities are also provided for an operator to view the various presets and to make changes therein. Positions of the ink keys, used to regulate the flow of ink, for instance, are adjusted in dependence upon the print density in the column of print corresponding to each key. The density is measured in a scanner processor PIM which illuminates each column in turn of a film representing the page of print and determines the density by the amount of light transmitted. The setting parameters for more than one run using different material on the same machine may be worked out in advance in processors RC1, RC2 and stored at 70. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Press make ready and control system Background and Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the art of printing, and more particularly to a system for automatically making ready a press for a printing run by presetting a number of mechanical adjustments thereon, and for otherwise controlling the press.

Large printing presses, whether commercial, newspaper, or otherwise include a large number of mechanical elements which must be adjusted before proceeding with any given printing run. These elements include the water fountains, ink fountains, web infeed, registration elements, folder, etc.

Conventionally, the press operator would adjust the majority of these settings manuaily, guessing at the appropriate settings in view of his past experience in working with that particular press. Refinements of the adjustments during run time were, of course, generally necessary since these adjustments were rarely completely correct.

The problem of adjusting these various elements is complicated by the fact that the various adjustments are dependent not only ugon the particular press being employed, but also upon a number of other factors which will vary from run to run.

The settings of the ink fountains, for example, will depend upon the actual printing plate being used in conjunction with that ink fountain. In the past, systems have been used which scan the image to be printed, and then use the resulting signals in order to preset the ink fountains. Even when the ink keys were thus adjusted, however, it was found that significant adjustments in the settings would bg required by the operator, Summary of the Invention It has been found that the proper presetting of these mechanical adjustments is a function of a large number of factors, including press dependent factors, and product dependent factors. The manner in which these factors influence the proper setting of the various mechanical elements of the press can, however, be characterized in well defined relationships.A system is therefore disclosed herein which utilizes these well defined relationships to establish appropriate presetting signals and run control signals for use in operation of a printing press.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system for automatically presetting and otherwise controlling various mechanical elements of a printing press.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a specific system utilizing dedicated processors for control of the various mechanical elements in the system It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an ink control system for presetting a plurality of ink control devices associated with various ink fountains on a printing press.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a system for presetting the various mechanical elements of the system in accordance with a plurality of factors, including at least product dependent factors and press dependent factors, so as to provide accurate presetting adjustments of the mechanical elements, thereby eliminating undue waste of time and material.

There is disclosed herein a press control system for use in conjunction with any conventional press, whether newspaper, commercial, or otherwise. This apparatus is intended for use with a printing press having a plurality of adjustable mechanical settings, all of which may require adjustment in order to properly print a given product, and with these adjustments being dependent upon plurality factors including at least press dependent factors and product dependent factors.

In accordance with the present invention, this press control system includes means for inputting data indicative of these plurality of factors, including at least the press dependent and products dependent factors. Means are provided for predetermining the required mechanical adjustments in dependence upon this inputted data. Means are also provided for adjusting each of the mechanical settings in accordance with these predetermined settings.

19 accordance with another aspect of the present invention, apparatus is provided for presetting a plurality of ink control devices in order to control the amount of ink supplied to the respective ink columns on a printing cylinder of a printing press. This apparatus includes means for providing data indicating the percentage of printed area in at least part of a corresponding ink column of the image to be printed. Other means are provided for inputting other data indicative of a plurality of factors which effect the required settings of the ink control devices in order to properly print the image.Another means determines, upon the basis of this data, the amount of ink which must be supplied to each ink column in order to properly print the image, and then determines the required settings of the ink control devices in order to supply the amount of ink per ink column as thus determined. The ink control devices are then set at the settings thus determined so as to thus cause the device to supply the proper amount of ink to the printing cylinder for printing the image.

Brief Description of the Drawings The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments, as taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figures 1 A-1 C are schematic illustrations of a newspaper printing press and the ink fountains associated with this printing press; Figure 2 is a broad block diagram of a preset control system in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 is a more detailed block diagram of a press control system in accordance with the teachings of-the present invention; Figure 4 is a more detailed block diagram of one of the processors of the press control system of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a more detailed block diagram of the ink control block of the system of Figure 3;; Figure 6 is a more detailed block diagram of a portion of another embodiment of the ink control broadly illustrated in Figure 3; Figure 7 is a more detailed block diagram of the film scanner shown broadly in Figure 3; Figure 8 is a flow chart representing the operation of the scanner processor PIM of Figure 3; Figure 9 illustrates the format in which data will be stored as a result of the operation of the scanner processor PIM of Figure 3; Figure 10 is a overall flow chart illustrating the operation of the ink processor RIM of Figure 3; Figure 11 is a flow chart detailing the operation of the block identified by reference numeral 2000 in Figure 10; Figures 1 2A-1 2G are flow charts detailing the operation of the block identified by reference numeral 3000 in Figure 10;; Figure 1 3 is a flow chart detailing the operation of the block identified by reference numeral 4000 in Figure 10; Figure 14 is a flow chart detailing the operation of the block identified by reference numeral 5000 in Figure 10; Figure 1 5A-1 5E are flow charts detailing the operation of the block identified by reference numeral 6000 in Figure 10; Figure 1 6 is a flow chart detailing the operation of the block identified by reference numeral 7000 in Figure 10; and Figure 1 7 is a flow chart detailing the operation of the key driver procedure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Reference is now made to the drawings wherein the showings are provided for the sole purpose of illustrating preferred embodiménts of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope thereof.

Thus, although the invention will be described in the environment of a conventional newspaper press, the invention has broader application to printing presses in general.

Figure 1 A is a schematic illustration of a newspaper press of conventional design. This press includes seven printing units 10, 12, 14, 16, 1 8,-20, and 22. In addition, a folder (not shown) will be located at the position indicated at 24 in the drawing. Webs on press units 10 through 1 6 move to the right from the press units to the folder, while the webs on units 18, 20, and 22 move toward the left of the folder. In common terminology, the units are designated as right hand or left hand, depending upon the direction of movement of the web to the folder. Accordingly then, units 10 through 1 6 are termed right hand units and units 18 through 22 are termed left hand units.

All of the units 10 through 22 include the plate and blanket cylinders generally shown with respect to unit 10. Thus, each of units 10 through 22 will include two plate cylinders 30 and 32 upon which printing plates will be clamped, and blanket cylinders 34 and 36. In addition, half decks 40, 42, and 44 are carried on printing units 1 2, 1 6, and 20 respectively. Each of these half decks includes a plate cylinder 46 and an impression cylinder 48.

Ink and dampener mechanisms (not shown in Fig. 1A) will be associated with each plate cylinder in the press. These mechanisms apply ink and dampening solution to the printing plates as in conventional lithographic printing presses.

The ink fountain of a conventional inker mechanism is shown in Figures 1 (B) and 1 (C). This fountain generally includes an ink fountain roll 41 having a fountain blade 43 resting against it so as to form a ink reservoir in which ink 45 is placed. The fountain roll receives a layer of ink from the reservoir and transfers it to a ductor roll 47. The amount of ink applied to ductor roll 47 is adjustable by varying the speed of the fountain roll, and also by means of a number of ink keys 49 spaced along the blade.

These ink keys control the flow of ink by controlling the separation between the edge of the blade 43 and the fountain roll 41. The various ink keys 49 are, in turn, positioned by electrically controlled actuators 51 associated with each ink key. The position of each actuator will control the supply of ink to a corresponding portion (indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1(C) of the fountain roll.

Other rolls, not shown, will take the ink from the ductor roll and apply it to the printing plates.

Again, however, the amount of ink supplied to each portion of the printing plates will depend upon the position of a corresponding ink key 49. In the description which follows, the particular printing plate area serviced by a single ink key will be referred to as an ink column. The ink, thus applied to the printing plates, will then be transferred to the blanket cylinders, and thus to a web passing between the blanket cylinders 34 and 36 of the unit.

in the illustrated press arrangement, six webs W1 through W6 are threaded through the press. A large number of alternative webbing arrangements are, however, also available, and the selection of a particular webbing arrangement will depend upon the particular product to be printed.

Preparing a press of this type for a printing run involves the presetting of a large number of mechanical adjustments thereon. The ink keys of the inking mechanisms associated with each of the plate cylinders, for example, must be adjusted in accordance with the amount of ink required at the various positions (ink columns) along the transverse dimension of the plate cylinder. Other settings include registration control, dampener (water fountain), setting, compensator roll settings, folder settings, unit tension or infeed settings, reel tension settings, etc. Conventionally, a press operator would adjust the majority of these settings manually, guessing at the appropriate settings upon the basis of his past experience with working with that particular press. Since these settings would rarely be completely correct, further adjustments were necessary during the run of the press.Although eventually accurate adjustments could be achieved in this manner, substantial wastes of time and materials tool place during the interum.

The problem is complicated by the fact that these various adjustments are dependent not only upon the particular press employed, but also upon a number of other factors. The settings of the ink keys, for example, is markedly sensitive to the amount of printed material in the ink column represented by that particular ink key. The appropriate ink key setting will also depend upon the color of the ink being supplied by that ink fountain, as well as upon such process parameters as paper-type, water-type, and ink-type.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, all of these mechanical adjustments to are preset prior to press run operations in a manner which is functionally depicted in Figure 2. In this figure, a preset control PC is shown as responding to a variety of data which is inputted thereto. This data includes data representative of the particular press being employed, product description information (such as color, etc.), process factors, as well as factors indicating the percent of printed area per ink column, This preset control determines from this data the correct presets for the various mechanical settings.

This preset system may be constructed in hardware terms in any of a variety of ways. Preferably data processing is employed to facilitate the calculation of the various presets from the inputted data.

Architecturally it is preferred that the system take a form such as that shown in Figure 3 which may be termed as a distributed processing system since dedicated processors are employed for each of the various mechanical press controls. For example, as shown in Figure 3, such dedicated control processors may include a remote ink processor RIM, a registration processor RP, a water fountain processor WP, and a compensator processor CP. As will be brought out in greater detail hereinafter these processors respectively serve to provide control signals for operating the ink controls 50, the registration controls 52, the water controls 54 and the compensator controls 56.

The dedicated processors are all coupled by way of a serial bus 58 with a series of intelligent processor driven video display terminals. These terminals are all operator controlled for entering data into the system and for viewing the data by way of video display. Each terminal includes a processor together with such input and output peripherals as a keyboards and video displays.

For preset operations the data is entered into the system by two of the terminals including a scanner processor PIM and a remote entry processor REP. One of the primary purposes of the scanner processor PIM is to provide data indicating the percent of printed area per ink column. This data will be used by the remote ink processor RIM to calculate the appropriate ink key settings. The primary purpose of the remote entry processor REM, on the other hand, is to provide data indicating the manners in which the webs and the printing plates must be applied to the press in order to produce a particular product.

Both of these processors communicate with the other dedicated processors by way of the serial bus 58. As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the scanner processor receives inputs from such input peripherals as a film scanner 60 and a keyboard 62. This data may be displayed for the operators inspection by way of a video display 64. The remote entry processor REP also receives data from an operator actuated keyboard 66 and provides operator viewable displays as with a video display 68.

The data entered into the scanner processor PIM and remote entry processor REP from their respective input peripherals will include data representing the description (configuration) of the press to be controlled, a description of the product to be printed, data respecting the printed area per ink column, and process parameters. The nature of this data will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter.

This data is processed by the various processors in accordance with instructions programmed therein. At various times, processed data may be stored in memories located at the processors PIM and REP. Depending upon the memory capacity within these processors, the data may also be stored in a mass storage device, such as a floppy disc or the like. A conventional mass storage device is illustrated as the system store 70, and communicates interactively with the processors by way of the serial bus 58.

This permits a large number of jobs to be stored for subsequent retrieval.

It may be desirable to provide print outs of some of the processed data. This capability is provided by a conventional printer 72, which again communicates with the processors by way of the serial bus.

The system shown in Figure 3 also includes two intelligent run control terminals. One of these terminals includes a run control processor RC1 together with a keyboard 74 for inputting data and a video display 76 for providing operator viewable displays. The other run control terminal is similar to the first and includes a run control processor RC2 together with a keyboard 78 and a video display 80. The number of run control terminals may vary depending upon the press configuration. It will be recalled the system presently being described includes (see Fig. 1) seven press units with four being located on one side of the folder 24 and three being located on the other side of the folder.It is contemplated in this embodiment that one of the run control terminals will be assigned to the press units on one side of the folder and the other run control terminal will be assigned to the press units located on the other side of the folder.

During present operation, to be described in greater detail hereinafter, an operator will employ the keyboard 74 to cause a preset operation to take place whereupon the various mechanical settings will be preset Each of the preset functions such as ink control, registration control and the like is individually controllable. For example, the operator may call for an ink preset and by way of the video display be provided with a graphical depiction of the preset values of the ink key settings. By way of the keyboard the operator may then change the preset values as he deems necessary in view of his knowledge of the press units to which his processor is assigned.

It is contemplated that one main control terminal will be employed for each folder of a press system.

Thus, one such terminal'would be employed for a press configuration such as that shown in Figure 1. This terminal is shown in Figure 3 as a .main control processor MCP together with an operator actuatable keyboard 82 and a video display 84. The main press operator will be stationed at this terminal and will employ it to oversee the operation of the system. Data respecting the various presets may be called up by the operator actuating the proper keys on the keyboard to address the memory having the presets involved.

These would then be displayed graphically by the video display 84.

Thus far, a somewhat general description has been given of the various aspects of the system and the components employed. The system will now be described in greater detail.

PROCESSORS As illustrated in Figure 3, various processors are employed, some being configured as intelligent video display terminals and others being used without keyboard or video displays but serving to control other peripherals. In each case, however, the architecture of the processor may take the same form.

Although referred to generally herein as processors, these system components will, in fact, each comprise a complete microcomputer system, including a central processing unit, some amount of memory, and various inpurloutput devices. It is presently preferred that they be based upon single-chip central processing units commonly known as microprocessors. These processors may thus, for example each comprise an SBC-80 microcomputer, manufactured and sold by Intel Corp. of Santa Clara, California.

For a better understanding of such a microcomputer, reference may be now be made to Figure 4.

The central processing unit CPU together with suitable interfacing circuitry is connected to a common bus, as illustrated. This common bus structure includes an address bus AB, a data bus DB, and a control bus CB. The address bus may, for example, be a sixteen bit bus whereas the data bus may be an eight bit bus. The control bus CB has a variable number of control lines dependent upon the number of control commands and the like being employed. Whereas only single lines are illustrated leading to the various busses, it will be appreciated that these various lines are generally as "wide" as the buses to which they are connected, at least insofar as the data and address buses are concerned.

As is conventional, the program instructions or OP codes are stored in an external read-only memory (ROM) or in an external programmable read-only memory (PROM). Such a memory is illustrated as memory M-1 on the bus structure. Data to be manipulated in accordance with the programmed instructions is stored in a read-write random access memory M-2 also located on the bus structure. Data may be entered into the memory M-2 from the keyboard or other data source such as the film scanner 60 by way of a conventional input-output control 10. The input-output control 10 also serves to provide communications (generally ina parallel format) with output peripherals such as various video displays or the machine controls 50 through 56 illustrated in Figure 3.

The control bus conventionally carries various control signals for enabling various operations. For example, when the CPU addresses memory M-1 to fetch an instruction code (or OP code) a MEMORY READ signal is supplied to the control bus CB and a sixteen bit address is placed on the address bus - AB. Consequently the data (in this case an instruction byte) at the particular address memory M-1 is read and placed on the data bus DB. The instruction is decoded within the CPU, which then carries out the designated operation. It may require, for example, that data located in a certain location in memory M-2 be fetched and placed on the data bus. The CPU would then place an address on the address bus identifying that address in memory M2 and would raise the MEMORY READ control line on the control bus once again. This would cause the data at that address to be read from memory M-2 and placed on the data bus. Similarly if data obtained from some source and located on the data bus is to be written into the address in memory M2 the CPU would raise a MEMORY WRITE line in the control bus. During video display of operational information, data fetched from memory M-2 would be supplied by way of the data bus to the video display, such as display 64, as by way of the input-output control 10. This is all conventional in the art.

Data entered into the system as by the inputs to processor PIM or to processor REP may be stored locally within that processor in memory M-2 or, if that memory capacity is not sufficient, then the data may be stored on a mass storage device such as a floppy disc or the like. It is contemplated that job data and the like may be stored at the system store 70, from where the data may be retrieved by one of the other video display terminals or by one of the press function processors. As has been stated previously, communications between the processors and the system store is by way of the serial bus 58. Preferably data flow within a processor itself, as shown in Figure 4, is in a parallel format. This data, however, is converted to a serial format by way of a universal synchronous-asynchronous receiver/transmitter USART.This device is also conventional in the art and, as shown in Figure 4, it will also be connected to the common bus structure. The serial output of the USART is connected, of course, to serial bus 58.

The job stored in the system store 70 may thus be called up by a CPU in one of the processors by addressing the system store through the USART. An operator at one of the video display terminals, for example, may call up a job from the system store and have it displayed on his video display. Each of the video display terminals is provided with editing capability (not shown) so that data respecting a particular job may be edited and revised with both the original text and the edit text then being returned to the system store for later retrieval.

OUTPUT PERIPHERALS The dedicated processors RIM, RP, WP, and CP all operate with what may be termed as output peripherals. These peripherals include the ink controls 50, the registration controls 52, the water controls 54 and the compensator controls 56. Each receives position control information from its respective processor and in turn also provide some feedback information indicating the positions of the controlled elements.

More specifically, each processor may provide address information, direction information, and distance information to the associated mechanical controls. The address information serves to select which of the mechanical elements within the group is to be operated. With respect to Figure 1 , for example, there is illustrated a seven unit press with the various units having upper units and lower units and with printing units 12, 1 6, and 20 having upper decks. Consequently, in the case of ink flow control, there is a need to identify (i.e., provide the address of) the printing unit to be controlled, and also to indicate whether control information is to be provided for the ink fountain serving the upper portion, the lower portion, or the halfdeck. Furthermore, each ink fountain may include, for example, thirty-two keys to be adjusted.In newspaper presses these thirty-two keys will generally be divided into four groups of eight keys each with each group being referred to as a page back A, B, C, or D. Consequently, then, additional information is required to select which page pack is to be selected as well as the particular key within the page pack. With this information being outputted by the ink processor RIM a given key to be adjusted may be selected.

Additional commands for that key includes the direction of movement as well as the amount of movement. This information is all provided by the ink processor in order to either preset the ink key or to adjust a previously positioned ink key.

Some feedback is required from the ink keys to the ink processor so that an operator at one of the run control terminal may view the settings and also to provide accurate positioning of the keys by the preset operation of the ink processor. This type of information, namely address, direction, and amount, together with a feedback indication is used at each of the processors. A typical illustration of these mechanical controls is illustrated in Figure 5 with respect to the ink flow controls 50.

As discussed above, the ink processor provides address information for selecting keys to be adjusted either for preset purposes or for readjusting a previously preset condition. This may be done in various ways and Figure 5 provides a schematic illustration of one embodiment in accordance with the present invention. Here the ink processor RIM outputs digital data to an ink key selection circuit 52 as well as a fountain roll selection circuit 54. A portion of the data is address information including the printing unit address 56 and data 58 indicating whether the selected fountain is at the upper, lower, or halfdeck location.

Three fountain rollers 60, 62, and 64 are illustrated in Figure 5. These rollers are intended to be representative of a plurality of fountain rollers regardless of which printing unit is involved. Upon the basis of the address data 56 and 58 provided by the ink processor RIM, the fountain roll select decoder 54 will determine which fountain roll is to be adjusted. The fountain roll select decoder 54 will thus enable one of a number of a conventional analog gating circuit 66, 68, or 70 in accordance with this address. A particular gating circuit will thus be enabled to pass motor control signals from a motor control circuit 72, of conventional design.This then will energize one of the motors 74, 76 or 78 so as to respectively drive its associated fountain roll 60, 62, or 64 at a commanded speed, thus controlling the ink transfer flow rate. In this case, the direction command may indicate whether the fountain roller is to be increased in speed or decreased in speed. The magnitude of the speed variation may be supplied as a digital signal to a digital-to-analog convertor 82, with the resulting analog signal then being applied to the motor control 72.

In order that position feedback information be provided for viewing by an operator at a video display terminal, suitable potentiometers 84, 86, and 88 will be associated with the various fountain motor controls. The particular potentiometer selected to provide a feedback signal will depend upon the fountain roller which has been selected. The analog speed signal provided by this potentiometer will be converted to a digital signal by an analog-to-digital converter 90 so that a digital signal is supplied to the ink processor RIM. It is to be understood that there are times when the operator may want to obtain position feedback information relative to a fountain roll without causing the fountain roller to be adjusted.This, of course, would be accomplished by supplying the address information to the fountain roll select circuit 54 to select a particular fountain roller, without supplying actuating signals thereto.

The associated potentiometer would therefore supply a speed feedback signal to the ink processor. This data will then be employed within the processor in a known manner to provide a video display of the position of the fountain roller.

Whereas the fountain roll control has been described above in conjunction with a newspaper p:ass such as that illustrated in Figure 1 it is to be appreciated that the invention may also be employed tc control the ink fountains in a commercial press. As is well known in the art an ink fountain in a commercial press is typically controlled by an ink ratchet mechanism wherein the selected fountain roll to be adjusted is indexed in either a clockwise direction or a counterclockwise direction by a ratchet mechanism. In such cases the direction command would indicate direction of adjustment and the amount command would indicate the extent of adjustment required.

In a press such as that illustrated in Figure 1 there are a number of ink keys associated with each ink fountain. The data provided by outputs 56 and 58 of the ink processor will select a fountain but not an ink key. In the particular embodiment being described, there are thirty-two ink keys per fountain. The ink keys of each ink fountain are divided into four page packs A, B, C, and D, each of which include eight ink keys. An additional output of the processor, designated by character 92, carries the page back address information for the selection of one of the page packs. Another output 94 may be used to designate the particular ink key to be selected within a page pack. With this information, the ink key select circuit 52 selects one of the ink keys for adjustment, or for the operator to be provided with a video display of the ink key position.Only four ink keys 100, 102, 104, and 106 have been illustrated in Figure 4 for purposes of simplification. These may be considered as being spread among various press units or ink fountains. With the ink key select 52 having selected the ink key to be adjusted, one of a plurality of analog gating circuits 108, 110, 112, and 114 each associated with one of the ink keys, will be enabled thereby. Depending upon the enabled gate, an associated ink key motor 116, 118, 120, or 122 will receive motor control signals by way of the gate from a conventional motor control circuit 124.

The direction command is provided by the processor in order to determine the direction of motor movement and hence of ink key movement. The magnitude of the commanded movement is supplied as a digital signal and is converted to an analog signal by a digital-to-analog converter 128, and then supplied to the motor control 124. The ink key position information is obtained in a known manner by, for example, one of the associated potentiometers 130, 132, 134, and 136, each of which may serve, when its associated ink key is selected, to provide an analog signal. This analog signal is converted to a digital signal by an analog-to-digital convertor 1 40 so that digital position feedback information may be supplied to the ink processor.The processor will then use this data in a known manner to supply a video representation on the operators display screen to show the ink key position.

Reference is now made to Figure 6 which schematically illustrates the form that the ink controls 50 may take in order to control a pawl and ratchet drive such as typically employed on the fountain rolls in a commercial press (as opposed to the newspaper press fountain control depicted in Figure 5). The extent of rotation of a fountain roll while in engagement with the ductor roll determines, for a given film thickness on the fountain roll, the amount of ink transferred from the fountain roll to the duct roll and, in turn, the amount of ink transferred to the plate cylinder. The ducting mechanism and the adjustable pawl and ratchet mechanism are well known to those skilled in the art and will not be described herein in further detail.As shown in Figure 6, a fountain roll select circuit 140 (similar to that of circuit 54 in Figure 5) may be employed to select the fountain to be adjusted and thereby dictate which pawl and ratchet mechanism 142 or 144 is to be controlled. A motor control circuit 146 of conventional design will be employed to receive a direction command, and an analog magnitude signal by way of digital-toanalog convertor 1 50. Fountain roll select circuit 1 40 will enable one of the gate circuits 1 56 or 1 58 in order to permit energization of the associated ratchet drive motor. Motor control 146 will thus control ratchet motors 1 52 and 1 54 respectively associated with ratchet and pawl mechanisms 1 42 and 144 in a known manner. Again, suitable potentiometers 1 60, 1 62 are employed with each ratchet motor so as to provide feedback. These potentiometers 1 60 and 162 provide the position feedback information to the ink processor RIM by way of the analog to digital convertor 166.

DATA ENTRY Having now generally described the system, attention is more particularly directed to the manner in which presetting of the ink keys and ink fountain rolls is accomplished.

Data will be entered into the scanner processor PIM in order to permit it to accumulate a block of data consisting of a sequence of Sj's (sometimes referred to hereinafter as screen values) together with information identifying the data block, and certain other print data. Each of these S(s represents a corrected indication of the percentage of ink in each ink column of the actual printing plate served by that ink key.

Thus, data will be entered into scanner processor PIM from the film scanner 60. Preferably, film scanner 60 includes a light table employing a sensor used to scan the film transparency which will be employed to expose a particular printing plate. Such scanners are well known and are, for example, described in the United States patents to Murray 3,958,509, Gaillochet 3,853,409, and Norton 3,185,088. This film scanner 60 will scan the transparency and provide, for each ink column, the average transmission value (percentage of light transmitted through the film) of the film in that column.

Such a scanner is schematically illustrated in Figure 6, and is representative of the film scanner 60 shown in Figure 3. A transparency or film 200 is placed on a table (not shown) and a light bar 202 is placed beneath the film so as to transmit light through the film to a sensor head 204 containing a linear array of light sensors. The light bar 202 and scanning head 204 are moved together, as indicated by arrow 206, such that a reading is taken for each column of type of film 200. The light transmission measurements are averaged over each ink column by a suitable averaging circuit 208, and are then each converted to a corresponding digital word by an analog to digital converter 21 0. Digital transmission values Tj are thus provided to the scanner processor PIM, where i equals 1, 2,.. . N ink keys.This data is converted into a corresponding block of Si values in a manner described hereinafter.

Additional data will be entered into the scanner processor PIM by way of the keyboard 62. Certain elements of this data identify particular parameters of the film being scanned by scanner 60. This film related data includes the screen rulings R (in lines per inch), a transparency factor Kf (having a value between zero and one, with zero indicating complete opacity and one indicating complete transparency), and an indication P specifying whether the film being scanned is a film negative or a film positive. Further information will be entered into keyboard 62 in order to identify the data block being generated. This identification data, including a job identification number, a form number, and a plate ID, will be stored in memory along with the data block of Sj's so as to permit that data block to be recalled by reference to this identification data.

Still further data will be entered into the scanner processor PIM by means of the keyboard to indicate other factors. This data will include a color index Fc, an ink index Fj, a paper index Fp and a dampening solution index Fs. The color index Fc indicates the actual color in which the image contained on the printing plate is to be printed. The ink index Ffi, on the other hand, is dependent upon the particular ink being used, and is representative of the various properties of that ink. Similarly, the paper index Fp and the solution index Fs are specific to the type of paper and dampening solution being employed, and represent certain properties of these elements.

In addition to these index factors, which are independent of the particular press configuration, certain press dependent information will also be entered. This includes a starting press water setting Wc and a starting press or make-ready speed Ps. This data may also be entered into the scanner processor PIM by means of the keyboard 62.

Alternatively to entering data in the above manner, data may also be derived in a number of other manners. In Figure 7, the film 200 is shown as including a bar code which may contain certain portions of the information outlined above, such as product identification, color, etc. This information can be read into the system from the scanner 60, rather than being inputted through the keyboard 62. Also, of course, all of the foregoing information cou!d alternatively be entered into the scanner processor PIM from an external mass storage device. In any event, the data entered into the scanner processor PIM (whether through its input output control 10 or the serial input device USART) will be recorded in the processor read/write memory M-2, under programmed control.Other indices useful in determining the proper ink key and fountain roll settings will be calculated by scanner processor PIM on the basis of the other data entered. These indices will also be stored in the processor memory M-2.

Thus, all of the factors necessary to determine the proper ink key settings will have been stored in a single block of data in memory M-2 of scanner processor PIM, together with appropriate data block identification information.

Reference is now made to the flow diagram of Figure 8 which illustrates the manner in which the processor is programmed to determine the screen value Sj for each transparency value T1 as well as to provide the print factors and indices discussed above. To facilitate an understanding of the procedure reference is now made to Table I below which provides a summary definition of terms used in the procedure.

TABLE I T1 : 1th light transmission measurement in percent i = 1 , Nkeys R : screen ruling used in lines per inch Kf : film transparency factor: O < Kf < 1 Kf = 0 film opaque Kf= 1 film transparent P : film type: P = 0for negative film or P = 1 for positive film Si : ith screen value in percent Fc : color index Fl : ink index Fp : paper index F5 : solution index n :Yule-Nielsen factor given the 4 indices Fc, Fl F and F5 with Si = 50.00 assumed RF : rate factor for optical density of solid vs. thickness given thel 4 indices Fc, Fl, Fp, and F5 Do : maximum optical density of solid obtainable given the 4 indices Fc, F1, Fp, and F5 D5 : optical density of solid desired given Fc Wc : water setting P5 : press speed The procedure may be described as follows: Description Description 1000 This invokes a procedure to determine the ink area of coverage per key width (ink column) and the press independent factors required to set the fountain in accordance with the following rules.

1. The screen values (Sj's) represent the percentage of ink area per key width covered with ink (printed image). It does not discern how the area is distributed. Thus a 50% screen (gray) over the entire area will result in an Si which is equal to that S, for a solid screen (black) over half the area.

Procedure Description 2. Given rule 1 ,the system assumes that the Sj's represent screens exclusively with ruling R.

3. The film information: Tj's, R, Kf, and P and the print factors and indices Fc, F,, Fp, F,, n, RF, D,, and D, represent a set of information which is complete and press independent. This information, when combined with press dependent information such as water setting Wc and press speed P5, form the necessary information for adjusting the fountain keys to correctly configure the blade.

1001 If P equals zero (representative of a negative film) go to 1002 otherwise go to 1003.

1002 For each value ofTl determines S, as a function of the film transparency factor Kf where: Si =T/Kf 1003 For each value of T1 for a positive film determines the screen value Si as a function of Ti and Kf where: S, = - (T1/Kf) 1004 This instruction invokes a procedure whereby the inputs Fc, F1, Fp, F5, D5, R, Wc, and P5 are called.

1005 This instruction invokes a sequence wherein indices n, RF, Do, and D5 are determined as a function of Fc, Fl, Fp, and F5.

This is done as with a lookup table 1005b which has empirical data relationships between these factors As brought out in Table I n, RF, and Do vary in dependence upon the values of Fc, F1, Fp, and F5 whereas the optical density of solid desired D5 varies as a function of the color index Fc.

The data provided as indicated at 1006 is preferably stored for subsequent use in determining ink key settings in the manner to be described hereinafter. As stated previously, the data is preferably stored in memory M-2 in the scanner processor PIM along with job identification data. The format of this data block will be such as shown in Figure 9. Here it will be noted that the data includes digital information identifying the job number 220, the form number 222, plate identification 224, the print factors 226, and the screen values SI's 228. The print factors 226 represents ali of ; the data shown with reference to statement 1006 in Figure 8, with the exception of the screen values.

For each job there may be several form numbers (representing, for example, different editions of a newspaper) and for each form number there may be different plate identifications together, of course, with a different set of print factors Sj's. This data is all stored in memory M-2 so that it may be read on command by one of the other processors and particularly by the ink processor RIM, in response to an operator entering a PRESET command (having also entered, along with that command, the appropriate job number, form number, and plate ID information). It is contemplated that several jobs of the nature indicated by the format in Figure 9 will be stored in memory M-2 within the storage capacity thereof.If additional jobs are to be stored it is contemplated that they may be stored in the system store 70 as desired.

DATA PROCESSING The data entered into the system, as represented by the data block shown in Figure 9, is used along with press dependent geometry data to preset the ink keys and ink fountain. As will be brought out hereinafter the press geometry data may be entered by way of a keyboard or previously stored, and is used in determining the fountain blade gap, in determining blade profile as effected by hydrostatic loading, and in providing continuous blade corrections. With respect to presetting ink keys and ink fountains this data is stored either in the read/write memory M-2 within the processor PIM or within the system store 70. This data is then used by the ink processor RIM under program control to control the ink controls 50, including the ink keys and the ink fountain rolls.

The stored data may be called up and entered into the read/write memory of the ink processor RIM in various ways. Preferably a video display terminal is associated with the ink processor and this terminal is operator controlled. This terminal may, for example, be the terminal including run control process of RC1. As stated previously, this processor RC-1 communicates with the ink processor RIM and the system store 70 by way of the serial bus 58. An operator using this run control processor will enter identification data (via the keyboard 74) representative of a job number and a form number as well as plate identification. This then is sufficient information to provide an address to access the data block including the print factors and screen values Sj associated with the ink keys to be preset (see Fig.

9). Once this identification data has been entered the operator will then enter a command PRESET by using the keyboard 74. If desired, a separate command key may be employed for this command at the keyboard. In response to entering the PRESET command the addressed data block, whether stored in the PIM processor or in the system storer, will be accessed and will be entered into the read/write memory of the ink processor RIM. The ink processor will now operate to determine from the inputted data as well as from press geometry data (to be discussed hereinafter) the correct ink key settings to be employed.

Thereafter, the ink processor RIM will output data representative of these settings to the ink control 50 for controlling the ink keys and ink fountains in the manner discussed previously with reference to Figures 5 and 6. Since feedback is provided for the ink key and fountain roll positioning the operator will be provided with a visual display at the video display 76. Although this may take various forms, the video display will preferably be in the form of a bar graph having a bar for each ink key such that each bar will continuously indicate that present position of the corresponding key.

Once the preset operations have been completed the operator may be dissatisfied with the settings because of his peculiar knowledge of the operation or variations of the press from the assumed standardized press geometry and other factors. In such a case the operator may use the keyboard 74 to enter variations in the key positioning or fountain roll adjustment and this data entered from the keyboard will include the address information as well as the direction and amount of actuator movement as discussed previously with reference to Figures 5 and 6.

Once the operator is satisfied with his revised adjustments or the preset adjustments he may enter a command RECORD by using the keyboard 74. This will cause the -key and fountain roll settings to be entered in storage along with the appropriate job, form, and plate identification for future use in the event that a second job is required on the same press using the same data. This data may be stored the read/write memory of the ink processor RIM, or in the event that this memory capacity is not sufficient, may be stored in the mass storage facilities at the system storer 70. This feature permits an operator to call up actual ink key and fountain roll settings if they have been previously used. if not, then data must be processed by the ink processor RIM to obtain the correct ink key settings and fountain roll adjustments.

Reference is now made to Figure 10 which represents an overall flow diagram of the procedure carried out by the processor RIM. As shown, six procedures 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000, and 7000 are involved. Each will be discussed in greater detail hereinafter with respect to more detailed diagrams.

In general, procedure 2000 is involved with determining dot gain dgj for each screen value Si as a function of the paper index Fp and the solution index F5. The screen values S and the values of the dot gain dg for each screen value are then used in procedure 3000 to determine the effective screen value that will be printed as a function of the screen ruling R in lines per inch. If there is no dot gain then the effective screen value Sj* will be equal to the screen values Sj. The screen value Sj and the effective screen values Sj* are used in procedure 4000 to determine the ink film thickness T1 for each screen value as a function of indices D,, D5, n, and RF.

Procedure 5000 serves to determine the fountain blade gap (ignoring bending and deflection of the rolls) as a function of indices Fc, Fj, F5 with the ink film thickness T1 and effective screen value Sj*, water setting W, press speed PS, and press geometry data PG 1. The press geometry data PG 1 includes data representing the plate cylinder radius rp in inches, the fountain roll radius ref in inches, the number of ductor deliveries K per plate cylinder revolution and the ratio of plate image area to plate cylinder surface area K2.Data representing the press geometry PG1 may be previously entered into the read/write memory M-2 of the RIM processor, may be entered by way of keyboard 74, or by any other suitable input means such as reading a tape having data representing the press geometry factors 10 associated with the particular press employed.

Procedure 6000 utilizes the fountain blade gap H1 to determine for each screen value the blade profile Pi adjustment considering the bending effects or hydrostatic loading on the fountain roll. This procedure utilizes indices Fi and Fc as well as press geometry PG2. Data representing the press geometry PG2 will be described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to procedure 6000 and all of this data may be entered in the same manner as that with respect to press geometry PG 1.

Procedure 7000 serves to determine the fountain key displacements K, inches with respects to the non-deflected fountain body reference as well as the key actuator outputs V,in terms of volts due to the displacement K1. This procedure utilizes information indicative of the number of ink keys N together with press geometry PG3. The press geometry PG3 is defined at a later point herein in conjunction with the discussion of procedure 7000 and this press geometry may be entered in the same manner as that discussed here and before with respect to press geometry PG 1. Procedures 2000 through 7000 will now be described in greater detail with reference to more detailed flow diagrams.

PROCEDURE 2000 Before describing the details involved in Procedure 2000 reference should be made to the flow diagram of Figure 11 as well as to Table II, below, for a definition of the terms employed.

TABLE II S, : ith screen value in percent from PIM W : water setting characterized by the pan roll speed in revolutions per minute nominal water setting dgi : ith dot gain value in inches at water setting W dgi : ith dot gain value in inches at wate setting W= Wn Kw : dot gain multiplication factor due to water setting W Fp : paper index from PIM Fs : solution index from PIM Procedure Description 2000 This instruction invokes a procedure to determine the dot gain associated with each screen value as as a function of the water setting W, and indices Fp and F5. Consequently the procedure calls these variables and determines the dot gain dgf in accordance with the following rules: 1.A particular press unit has been set up under a desired and repeatable procedure (standard press conditions such as blanket type, packing heights), Procedure Description 2. given rule number 1, a nominal water setting Wn, the paper index Fp and the solution index F5, the nominal dot gain versus screen value empirical data can be obtained.

3. if the water setting is varied from the nominal setting, the effect can be characterized by the product of a gain factor and the screen values nominal dot gain.

2001 This instruction invokes a procedure to determine which table of dot gains versus screen values should be employed as a look-up, and is determined as a function of Fp and F5 based on empirical data.

2002 Dependent upon the selection made in 2001 a particular look up table of dot gain values with respect to screen values is chosen to obtain the dot gain dgi as a function of the screen value Si (with the assumption that the water setting is equal to the nominal water setting Wn) 2003 This instruction invokes a procedure to determine from a look uptable a dot multiplication factor Kw due to the actual water setting W.

2004 This instruction invokes a procedure to determine the product of the gain factor obtained from 2003 and the dot gain of 2002 so that the effect of variations in water settings may be accounted for. If the water setting is equal to the nominal setting than the gain factor will be unity.

PROCEDURE 3000 Before describing this procedure in detail with reference to the flow diagrams of Figures 1 a through 1 g reference should be made to the definition of terms employed in Table Ill, below.

TABLE III dgi : th dot gain value in inches (either positive or negative) S, : th screen value in percent from PIM R : screen ruling used to make the film in lines per inch from PIM Si* : ith effective screen value printed in percent (Sj* is S, corrected for dot gain) The procedure to be described below is given with reference to Figures 1 la through 1 1 g. These Figures may all be connected together as a single flow chart and are described separately for purposes of simplification.

Procedure Description 3000 This instruction invokes a procedure to determine the effective screen value S,* that will be printed using the following rules: 1. the effective screen value that will be printed can be determined given the original desired screen value, the associated dot gain and the ruling size used to produce the film, 2. for screen values equal to or less than 39.27%, the dots are filled circles. The effect of dot gain is to extend the radius of the circle, 3. for screen values equal to or less than 50.00% but greater than 39.27%, the dots are the filled common area between a circle and a square.The effect of dot gain is to extend the radius of the circle and the side of the square to thus define a new larger common area, 4. for screen values less than 60.73% but greater than 50.00%, the dots are the empty common area between a circle and a square.

The effect of dot gain is to reduce the radius of the circle and the side of the square to thus define a new smaller common area, 5. for screen values less than or equal-to 100% but greater than or equal to 60.73%, the dots are empty circles. The effect of dot gain is to reduce the radius of the circle, 6. negative dot gain can be accounted for by replacing the input screen value Si by S,' = 100 and the absolute value of the dot gain. The output S," is replaced by the quantity S,+ = 1 00 - 3001 This instruction invokes a procedure wherein the dot gain dg, is compared to determine whether it is equal to or greater than zero or whether it is less than zero.

Procedure Description 3002 This instruction invokes a procedure wherein, if the dot gain dgi is equal to or greater than zero (indicative that the dot gain level is positive representative of a negative film), then dgj' equals dg1. Si' is then equal to S,.

3003 This instruction invokes a procedure when the dot gain is less than zero so that dgi' equals the absolute value of dgi and that S,' is equal to 100 - S,.

3004 This instruction invokes a procedure wherein Si' is compared with 50% to determine whether it has a value equal or less than 50% or a value greater than 50%. If less than 50% than go to 3005 otherwise go to 3006.

3005 This instruction invokes a sequence to compare each screen value Si' with 39.27%. If S,' is equal to or less than this value than go to 3007 other wise go to B2 (3020: see Figure 12D).

3006 This instruction invokes a sequence in which the effective screen value Si' is compared with 60.73%. If the value is equal to or greater than that than go to 3008 otherwise go to B3 (3033: see Figure 12E).

3007 This instruction invokes a procedure in which the effective screen value Si' is compared with zero. If less than that value go to 3009 otherwise go to B1 (3011: see Figure 12C).

3008 This instruction invokes a sequence for comparing Si' with 100% and if greater than that value go to 3010 otherwise go to B4 (3042: see Figure 12F).

3009 This instruction invokes a sequence for setting the value of S,'2 to zero if the determination at 3008 was that S is less than zero.

3010 This instruction invokes a sequence to set S,' to 1 00% if at 3008 the determination was made that S,' was greater than 100%.

3011 B 1: This instruction invokes a sequence for calculating the value of a term a1 as a function of S,' as indicated in Figure 12C, wherein S,' is greater than Procedure Description or equal to zero and less than or equal to 39.27%. Term a1 for each screen value refers to the radius before dot gain.

301 2 This instruction invokes a sequence in which a term b1 is calculated in terms of the screen ruling R, the dot gain dgi' and a1 as indicated in Figure 12C. Term b1 refers to the radius with dot gain.

3013 This instruction invokes a procedure wherein b1 is compared with a value of .707. If b1 is less than or equal to that value than go to 3014 otherwise go to 301 5.

3014 This instruction invokes a sequence wherein b1 is compared with zero. If less than that value go to 3016 or otherwise go to 3017.

301 5 This instruction invokes a sequence wherein bi is compared with one and if greater than that value go to 3018 otherwise go to 3019.

3016 If bi is less than zero than set the value of bi to zero and go to 3017.

3017 This instruction invokes a sequence wherein the screen value is now determined as a modified value S," as a function of b1, as shown in Figure 12C.

3018 This instruction invokes a sequence wherein if b1 is greater than one than b1 is set to a value of one. Go to 3019.

3019 This instruction invokes a sequence to set a modified value of the screen value Silt in terms of b1 and A. A is a function (see Fig. 1 2C) dependent upon two variables X and Y, and in this step is evaluated with X = bi and Y=.707.

3020 B2: This instruction invokes a sequence wherein the function A, evaluated with X = ai and Y = 1/2 is set equal to a value dependent upon S; (from 3005).

3021 This instruction invokes a sequence to determine each value of a1 from a look up table given the value of A as a function of a1 (as shown at 3020 in Figure 12D).

Procedure Description 3022 This instruction invokes a sequence for calculating the term bi in terms of a1 (from 3021) and in terms of the screen ruling R and the dot gain dgi' (as shown by the equation at 3022 in Figure 12D).

3023 This instruction invokes a procedure to for calculating value a c, as a function of the screen ruling r and the dot gain dgi.

3024 This instruction invokes a sequence in which c1 is compared with unity (1). If greater than that value go to 3025.

3025 This instruction invokes a sequence to set ci to unity (1) if c1 at 3024 was greater than one.

3026 This instruction invokes a sequence to compare bi with a the number shown in drawing 1 2D at 3026. If less than or equal to that value go to 3027 otherwise go to 3028.

3027 This instruction invokes a sequence to compare b1 with 0.5. If less than that value go to 3029, otherwise go to 3030.

3028 This instruction invokes a sequence to compare bi with unity(1) and if greater than that value go to 3031, otherwise go to 3032.

3029 This instruction invokes a sequence when b1 is less than 0.5 from 3027 and sets the value of b1 to 0.50. Go to 3030.

3030 This instruction invokes a sequence to determine the value S," as a function of bi obtained from 3027 or 3029 and c1 obtained from 3024 or 3025.

3031 This instruction invokes a sequence to set b1 to a value of unity (1) if b1 from 3028 is greater one. Go to 3032.

3032 This instruction invokes a sequence to determine the value of S," as a function of bi from 3028 or 3031 and ci from 3024 or 3025.

3033 B3: This instruction invokes a sequence to set the function, evaluated with X =A and Y = .5, equal to a value dependent upon the value of S, taken from 3006.

Procedure Description 3034 This instruction invokes a sequence to determine the values of ai from loop up table, given that A is a function a1 and 0.50, and has the value shown in 3033.

3035 This instruction invokes a sequence to calculate the value of a term ei in terms of ai, the screen ruling R, and dot gain dug1, in accordance with the formula shown in Figure 1 2E at 3035.

3036 This instruction invokes a sequence to calculate the value of a term d1 as a function of R (screen ruling) and dot gain dug1, in accordance with the equation shown in Figure 12E at 3036.

3037 This instruction invokes a sequence to compare ei with zero. If less than that value go to 3038 otherwise go to 3041.

3038 This instruction invokes a sequence to set the value of ei to zero if ei from 3037 was less than zero. Go to 3041.

3039 This instruction invokes a sequence to compare d1 from 3036 with zero. If less than that value go to 3040 otherwise go to 3041.

3040 This instruction invokes a sequence to set d1 to zero if d1 from 3039 was less than zero. Go to 3041.

3041 This instruction invokes a sequence to determine the value of S" in accordance with the equation indicated at 3041 in Figure 12E.

3042 B4: This instruction invokes a sequence to define a term a1, from 3008.

3043 This instruction invokes a sequence to call for the screen ruling value R and the dot gain dgi', and then to calculate the value of a term ei as a function of those terms as well a1 from 3042, in accordance with the equation shown in Figure 12F at 3043.

3044 This instruction invokes a sequence to compare the term ei with zero. If less than that go to 3045 otherwise go to 3046.

3045 This instruction invokes a sequence to set e to an a value of zero if ei from 3044 was less than zero. Go to 3046.

Procedure Description 3046 This instruction invokes a sequence to determine the value of Sj" from the values of ei from 3044 or 3045.

3047 This instruction invokes a sequence to compare a dot gain dgj with zero. If greater than or equal to zero go to 3048 otherwise go to 3049.

3048 This instruction invokes a sequence to set the effective screen value Si* equal to S" when the dot gain dgi is equal to or greater than zero.

3049 This instruction invokes a sequence to set the screen value Sj* equal to (100 - S(') when the dot gain dgi is less than zero.

PROCEDURE 4000 Before describing this procedure in detail reference should be made to the detailed diagram of Figure 13 as well as the definition of terms employed as set forth in Table IV below.

TABLE IV S : ith screen value, in percent, from PIM Si* : ith effective screen value printed, in percent (S* is Si corrected for dot gain) t, : ith required to print ink film thickness in inches D5 : optical density of solid desired from PIM Do : maximum optical density of solid obtainable given the indices g, F1, Fp, Fsfrom PIM RF : rate factor for optical density of solid vs thickness given the indices F FF, F F5fromPl-M n : Yule-Nielsen factor given the indices Fc, Fl, Fp, F5 and also R, the screen ruling size, in lines per inch.This factor value assumes S, = 50.00% Kn : gain factor for n due to Dti : (reference definition) ith optical tone density due to an with D5 Dsit : ith optical density of solid required to pring S,l* and yield Dtib Procedure Description 4000 This instruction invokes a sequence to determine the print ink film thickness for a screen value corrected for dot gain such that the optical tone density is conserved as if the original screen value without dot gain were printed. This procedure is based on the following rules: 1.The Yule-Nielsen equation is valid: Utj = -nj log10 { 1 - ( 1 - 10-#s@@@)} 2. TheY-N paper factor n assuming Si = 50.00% may be specified given the paper type, the ink, and the screen ruling.

3. A given Si value specifies a gain factor Kn1. The product of Knl and n yields nl which can be used in the Y-N equation to predict Dti.

4. Two equations may be defined and equated.

Dtj = -ni, log10 { 1 - Si ( 1 - 10- (10-Ds/ni'} Dti = ni loglO 1 - =( 1 - 10-Dsi*/ni')} We may then solve for D9i* in terms of S" S,*, Ds and n. Hence, if we print Sl* with solid density Dsi* Dt, is conserved as if we print S with solid density D5.

5. The density of solid equation is valid: Dsi* = Do (1 - eRFti) Hence, given Dsi* = Do and RF we can predict the required t1.

6. The rate factor RF is a function of ink, paper and solution type only.

4001 This instruction invokes a procedure in which the gain factor Kni is determined from a look-up table as a function of the screen values S,.

4002 This instruction invokes a procedure wherein the gain factor Kni obtained from 4001 is multiplied by the Yule Nielsen factor n to obtain the value n1.

4003 This instruction invokes a procedure in which Si, S*, D5 and N1, are called and the ith optical density of solid Dsi* is determined from the equation shown in the box at 4003.

Procedure Description 4004 This instruction invokes a procedure calling for the rate factor RF, the maximum optical density of solid D,, and the th optical density of solid Ds* from 4003, and provides as an output the ,th required print ink film thickness tin inches in dependence upon the equation shown in block at 4004.

PROCEDURE 5000 Before describing this procedure in detail reference is now made to the detailed flow diagram of Figure 14 together with the definition of terms employed as found below in Table V.

110800 TABLE V Fc : color index from PIM F, : ink index from PIM F5 -: solution index from PIM W : water setting characterized by the pan roll speed in revolutions per minute PS : press speed in feet per minute A : angular measurement of the fountain roll rotation per ratchet in radians RS : ratchet setting given A : : plate cylinder radius in inches : : fountain roll radius in inches K : the number of ductor deliveries per plate cylinder revolution K2 : the ratio of plate image area to plate cylinder surface area t,, : ith required ink thickness at the fountain roll in inches h, ; th required fountain blade opening in inches Si* : ith effective screen value corrected for dot gain K,' : jth ratio between the volume of ink entering through the fountain blade and the volume of ink being returned to reservoir at the ith key width location Ci ; ith quantity equal to toi (1-K')

Procedure Description 5000 This instruction invokes a procedure to determine the thickness of ink required on the fountain roll for the th key with such that ink film thickness t, is printed.This is done in accordance with the following rules: 1. The following equations are valid for an inker in steady state: A. th Volume of ink In Plate Revolution ith Volume of ink Out Plate Revolution B. ith Volume of ink In = ( -K11)X ith Volume of ink at the fountain roll C. ith Volume of ink In Plate Revolution K1 (rA 5k ( - K11))t0j D. Ith Volume of ink Out Plate Revolution 2k2rpSt 51* 100 2. The factor K,' and the required fountain roll angle per ratchet are a function of ink, solution, water setting and press speed only.

3. The ith fountain blade gap required is equal to the ith ink thickness required at the fountain roll.

4. The influence of vibrators on the equations is negligible.

5001 This instruction invokes a procedure calling for Fc F1, F5, and W. From these inputs the selection is made as to which rule is to be used in a look-up table comparing angular measurement A of the fountain roll rotation per ratchet (in radians) relative to the starting press speed ps (in feet per minute).

5002 This instruction invokes a procedure to use the rule from 5001 to look up a value of A from the starting press speed ps.

Procedure Description 5003 This instruction invokes a sequence calling for A and then determining from a look-up table the ratchet setting RS as a function of A.

5004 This instruction invokes a procedure to determine the value of C, in accordance with the equation shown in the block 5004 and in which the values called for are A, S,*, T1 together with press geometry factors PG-i. These press geometry factors, which have been previously inputted to the memory, include the plate cylinder radius in in inches, the fountain roll radius ref in inches, the number K1 of ductor deliveries per plate cylinder revolution and the ratio of plate image area to plate cylinder surface area K2.

5005 This instruction invokes a procedure to select the proper rule of T.

versus C based on the inputs Fc, F1, F5, W, and PS.

5006 This instruction invokes a sequence calling for the selection from 5005 together with an input of C, from 5004 to go through a look-up table to obtain the value toi.

5007 This instruction invokes a sequence to set the value H1 as being equal to the value t PROCEDURE 6000 Before describing this procedure in detail -reference should now be made to Figures 1 5A through 1 5E which illustrate more detailed flow-diagrams as well as to the definition of terms employed in Table VI-below.

As in the case of Procedure 5000 certain press geometry factors PG2 have been previously inputted to the system and in this case are used to determine the effects of hydrostatic loading. These inputs, which are defined in Table VI are LA, rA, A1, A2, B2, LA, ER, IRZ KB LF, N, S, VA, B3, L5, EB Is ho, WF, L1 L2S EF IF Yot tb TABLE VI FA : the resultant hydrostatic load on the fountain roll, in pounds B, : the angle, in radians, that FR makes with the horizontal datum B2 : the angle, in radians, that the line through the fountain roll center and the fountain blade tip makes with the horizontal datum FR' : the total hydrostatic load on the fountain roll along the B2 line TABLE VI (cont.) B3 : the angle, in radians, that the fountain body reference makes with the horizontal datum pg : weight per unit volume of the ink, in pounds per inch3 L3 : length of the fountain roll, in inches rR : radius of the fountain roll, in inches A, : the angle, in radians, between the horizontal datum line through the fountain roll center and the point where the surface of level of the ink touches the roll A2 : the angle, in radians, between the horizontal datum line through the fountain roll center and the lower most roll contact point with the ink reservoir ER : the modulus of elasticity of the fountain roll material, in pounds per inch2 1A : the moment of inertia of the fountain roll, in inches4 KB : the stiffness coefficient of the fountain roll bearings, in pounds per inch YAl : ith fountain roll deflection, in inches Xi . ith lateral ink key location ink key location index LF : the length of the fountain blade, in inches N : the number of keys per fountain S : the spacing between ink keys, in inches VA : the volume of ink that the reservoir contains, in inches3 Wl : the weight of ink in the reservoir, in pounds : - : the load, in pounds, perpendicular to the reference body which acts on it YB : ith fountain body deflection, in inches LB , length of the fountain body, in inches Es : the modulus of elasticity of the fountain body material, in pounds per inch2 the moment of inertia of the fountain body, in inches4 ho : the vertical distance from the clamped end of the fountain blade to the surface of the ink WF ; the width of the fountain blade, in inches : : the force per unit length acting on the fountain blade, in pounds per inch L, : the distance from the clamped end of the fountain blade to the keys, in inches TABLE VI (cont.) L2 : the distance from the end of the fountain blade to the keys, in inches EF : the modulus of elasticity of the fountain blade material, in pounds per inch2 IF : the moment of inertia of the fountain blade, in inches4 AF : the deflection of the fountain blade end due to ink hydrostatic load h, : ith fountain blade opening required, in inches, with no fountain member deflections yi : ith fountain blade height, in inchesr required at the blade end exclusive of blade thickness pi : ith blade profile location with respect to the non-deflected fountain members, in inches, at the key location Procedure Description 6000 This instruction invokes a procedure to determine the deflections due to hydrostatic loading of the fountain roll, fountain body, and the fountain blade. A discrete blade profile function at the keys is defined given the required fountain blade to roll the gap and the fountain member deflections. This is accomplished in accordance with the following rules.

1. The hydrostatic load on the fountain blade at each point is a function of the weight per unit volume of the ink and the height of ink above the point. A uniform load has been assumed which conserves the integral of the hydrostatic load distribution on the blade.

2. A uniform load on the fountain body has been assumed whose integral is the weight of the ink in the reservoir.

6001 This instruction invokes a procedure calling for indices Fc and F. From these, the value of the weight per unit volume pg of the ink (in pounds per cubic inch3) is obtained from a look-up table.

6002 This instruction invokes a sequence calling for the values of pg, LA, rA, A,, and A2 from which the resultant hydrostatic load FR on the fountain roll, in pounds, is determined in accordance with the following equation El.

FR = pg Lr2 [(A2-A1)sinA1 + (cosA2 - cosA1)] Procedure Description 6003 This instruction invokes a sequence, calling for A, and A2, from which B, (i.e., the angle, in radians, that FR makes with the horizontal datum) is determined in accordance with the following equation: E2.

6004 This instruction invokes a procedure calling for B2, FR, and Br, to determine therefrom FR' in accordance with the following equation: E3.

FR' = FR cos (B2 - B1) 6005 This instruction invokes a procedure calling for Lp N, and S from which the term x, is determined in accordance with the equation shown in Figure 15c at 6005.

6006 This instruction invokes a sequence calling for x1 from 6005 as well as the ink key location index i, from which xi is determined in accordance with the formula as indicated in Figure 15c at 6006.

6007 This instruction invokes a sequence calling for LR ER A KB FR and x1 and determining therefrom Y Ri (xi in accordance with the following equation: E4.

6008 This instruction invokes a procedure calling for pg and VA and determining therefrom the weight of ink Wl in the reservoir, in pounds, in accordance with the equation as shown in Figure 1 sod at 6008.

6009 This instruction invokes a procedure calling for B3 and Wl and determining therefrom the load (FB in pounds) perpendicular to the reference body which acts on it in accordance with the equation as shown in Figure 1 sod at 6009.

Procedure Description 6010 This instruction invokes a procedure calling for B3, FD Xi, LD, ED, and ID and computing therefrom the ith fountain body deflection Ybi (x*), in inches, in accordance with the following equation: E5.

6011 This instruction invokes a procedure calling for pg, ho, LF' B3, and Wand computing therefrom the force per unit length fF acting on the fountain blade, in pounds per inch, in accordance with the following equation: E6.

6012 This instruction invokes a sequence calling for fF, Lr, L2, Ef' and I and computing therefrom AF in accordance with the following equation: E7.

6013 This instruction invokes a procedure calling for h, YRl, YB. B2, B3, and y0 and computing therefrom y, in accordance with the following equation: E8.

6014 This instruction invokes a sequence calling for y1, L1, LF and td and computing therefrom the ith blade profile location pi with respect to the non-deflected fountain members, in inches, at the key location in accordance with the following formula: E9.

PROCEDURE 7000 Before describing this procedure in detail, reference should now be made to the detailed flow diagrams of Figure 1 6a, 1 6b, and 1 6c as well as to a definition of terms employed as shown in Table VI below.

Procedure 7000 press geometry factors PG3 are inputted in the manner as discussed here and before with press geometry factors PG 1 (Procedure 5000) and PG2 (Procedure 6000). These press geometry factors include the following: a, r, tb, Ymt V,, and Vk all of which are defined in Table VII.

TABLE VII pi : ith blade profile location with respect to the non-deflected fountain body reference : ink key location: i = 1,2, . . keys X : independent location variable: X = i - 1 N : the number of total keys L : a variable equal to N-1 P : the period of the extended periodic function y(x): P-2L y(x) : the continuous function of x which collocates with P1 data K : an index which varies as follows:K = 0, 1 , L the the jth coefficient of the y(x) function y,(x) : the continuous function of x which can be set and represents the bestfitto y(x) considering blade limitations y,'(x) : the 1st derivative of y,(x) A1 : the absolute value of the angle in radians that the blade makes with respect to the non-deflected fountain body reference at the ith key location YTi : ith blade height where YT (i = x + 1) = y (x =.1 ) (in inches) th : the thickness of the fountain blade in inches C11 . ith key location correction due to the blade thickness and angle at the key in inches a : the shortest distance in inches from the key cap inside cavity surface to the cap top r : the radius in inches of the key cap captivity C21 ith key location correction due to the key cap and angle at the key in inches K1 : ith key displacement in inches with respect to the non deflected fountain body reference Vk : the number of volts per inch of displacement of a key actuator Vm : the maximum potentiai that all actuators can attain in volts Vi : the key actuator output in volts due to displacement K1 Ym : the maximum blade profile height with respect to the non deflected fountain body reference in inches that the blade profile can be set Procedure Description 7000 This instruction invokes a procedure to determine the fountain key displacements and respective actuator set point voltages required to best set the fountain blade given the discrete desired profile. This is done in accordance with the following rules: 1. The criteria used to best set the fountain blade is a least squares fit of the discrete desired profile which satisfies fountain blade constraints on blade slope and concavity.

2. Each actuator mechanical zero has been set as follows: Set the key such that the voltage output Vm is the highest that all actuators can attain. Set the key mechanical zero so that the maximum height ym of the blade surface with respect to the reference body surface is attained. Repeat for all keys individually until completed.

7001 This instruction invokes a procedure calling for P, and n to determine therefrom the continuous function of x in terms of y(x) which collocates with P, data in accordance with the formula indicated in Figure 1 6A at 7001.

7002 This instruction invokes a procedure calling for y(x) and to determine therefrom the value of ak in dependence upon the following equation:

7003 This procedure calls for the a,from 7002 and to compute therefrom the value of yt(x) in dependence upon the following equation: F2

Procedure Description 7004 This instruction invokes a procedure to compute differences A1 and 2 respectively in accordance with the following equations F3 and F4: F3.

7005 This instruction invokes a procedure to compare the differences computed at 7004 with a look-up table providing empirical data relative to constraint values on blade slope and concavity.

7006 This instruction invokes a procedure to determine whether any constraints obtained from 7005 have been violated.

If so go to 7007 otherwise go to 7009 as well as 7010.

7007 This instruction invokes a procedure, when constraints have been violated at 7006, to discard the highest remaining frequency, set auk' to zero, and go to 7008.

7008 This instruction invokes a procedure to replace K' with K'-1 and to to 7003.

7009 This instruction invokes a procedure to determine Yt' (x) in accordance with the following equation: F5.

7010 This instruction invokes a procedure to determine Yt, in accordance with the equation indicated in the box of Figure 16B at 7010.

Procedure Description 7011 This instruction invokes a procedure to compute A1 in accordance with the following euqation: F6.

and go to 7012 and 7013.

7012 This instruction invokes a procedure to compute C11from the A1 and tb in accordance with the following equation: F7.

C11 = tb sec A; and then go to a negative output of the summation at 7014.

7013 This instruction invokes a procedure calling for a, r, and the a, and to compute therefrom C21 in accordance with the following equation: F8.

C2, =(a+r) sec A, -- z 7014 This instruction invokes a procedure to determine the value of the term k1 by subtracting from Yt, the values of C11 and C2,.

7015 This instruction invokes a procedure calling for Ymt tb, a, and obtains therefrom Km by subtracting the values of a and tb from y,.

7016 This instruction invokes a procedure to determine V1 from K;, Km, Vm and Vk in accordance with the equations shown in the box of Figure 1 6C at 7016.

KEY DRIVER PROCEDURE The output of Procedure 7000 will thus be a series of terms Vi representing the outputs of the respective key actuators, in volts, when the keys are positioned at the proper places. Description will now be provided of the key driver procedures utilized to position the ink key actuators in accordance with these terms Vl.

Before describing the details involved in the key driver procedure, reference should be made to the flow diagram of Figure 1 7, as well as to Table VIII, below, for a definition of the terms employed.

TABLE VIII Dir, : The direction in which ink key i must move to reach the position identified by term V1.

M, : The magnitude of the movement which ink key i must make to reach the position identified by term V,.

As, : The actual voltage output of the position potentiometer of in key i.

Tol : The closest an in key actuator can be expected to be set to the desired position.

Vi : The voltage output of the position potentiometer of ink key i when it is at its desired position.

Procedure Description 8000 This procedure functions to control the positions of the ink key actuators such that the outputs of the potentiometers associated with the respective actuators are within a fixed limit of the voltage levels determined by the output of Procedure 7000.

8001 This instruction invokes a procedure to address the ink keys which are to be positioned so as to get from the respective feedbacks potentiometers terms As, indicating the present position of the ink key actuators to be positioned.

8002 This instruction calls up the terms Vl indicating the desired position of the ink keys, and the terms As, indicating the present position of the actuators.

The direction and magnitude of movement necessary to position the ink key actuators are then determined based upon the relationships shown in this block of Figure 17.

8003 This instruction invokes a procedure to compare the magnitudes of the adjustments necessary to the ink key actuators with a tolerance level, in order to determine if any ink key.

actuators are at positions which differ from the desired position by an amount which is greater than this tolerance.

8004 This instruction invokes a procedure wherein, if all of the magnitude terms M, derived in 8002 are less than or equal to the tolerance limit, the preset procedure ends, since the ink key actuators need not be positioned.

Procedure Description 8005 This instruction invokes a procedure wherein, if at least one of the ink key actuators is out of position by an extent which is greater than the tolerance, the ink keys are repositioned by providing address, magnitude (M) and direction (Dir) signals on the output lines of the ink processor RIM (see Figure 5 and associated discussion).

Following the position of the ink keys', the processor returns to statement 8001, and thus reads the terms As, indicating the position of the ink keys, following the repositioning thereof. The processor continues through the steps 8001, 8002,8003, etc. until all the ink keys are positioned at the proper place, in which event the preset procedure ends through Procedure 8004.

Although the invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiment it will be appreciated that various rearrangements and alterations of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined in the following claims.

Claims (26)

1. Apparatus for making ready a printing press having a plurality of adjustable mechanical settings such as ink key settings, compensator rolls settings and fountain blade settings, all of which may require adjustment in order to properly print a given product, with the adjustments being dependent upon press dependent factors and product dependent factors, comprising: means for inputting data indicative of the press dependent and product dependent factors to produce the desired product on a particular press; means for predetermining the required mechanical adjustments dependent upon said inputted data; and, means for adjusting each said mechanical adjustments in accordance with said pre-determined settings.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said predetermining means includes a plurality of dedicated data processing means each associated with one of said types of said mechanical adjustments.

3. Apparatus as set forth in in claim 1, wherein one of said dedicated processors is a ink control processor for presetting ink keys on said press.

4. Apparatus for presetting a plurality of ink control devices to control the amount of ink supplied to respective ink columns on a printing cylinder of a printing press, comprising first means for providing first data including a plurality of screen values, indicating the percentage of printed area in at least a part of a corresponding ink column by scanning an image corresponding to an image to be printed, second means for inputting second data indicative of a plurality of factor which affect the required settings of said ink control devices in order to properly print said image, third means for determining from said first and second data the amount of ink which must be supplied to each ink column in order to properly print said image, and for determining the required settings of said ink control devices in order to supply the amount of ink per ink column as thus determined, and fourth means for settings said ink control devices at the settings determined by said third means so as to thus cause said third means so as to thus cause said devices to supply the proper amount of ink to said printing cylinder for printing said image.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said means for providing said data including said screen values includes means for providing first values which are dependent not only upon the percentage of printed area in said ink column, but also upon at least one factor which will vary from image to image, and means for correcting said first values in accordance with said at least one factor so as to thereby derive said screen values from said first values.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said third means includes means for correcting each of said screen values in accordance with a dot gain factor so at to provide a modified said screen value, and for utilizing the modified screen values in order to determine the amount of ink which must be supplied to each ink column in order to properly print said image.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said means for correcting each of said screen values in accordance with a dot gain factor comprises means for correcting said screen values for dot gain such that the optical tone density is conserved as if sasid screen value without dot gain were printed.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said ink control devices comprise a plurality of means, each for controlling the size of a gap between a fountain blade and a fountain roll at an associated location along said roll.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said ink control devices further comprises means for controlling the speed of said fountain roll.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said third means includes means for at least determining the deflections due to hydrostatic loading of said fountain roll and said fountain blade in order to determine said required setting of said ink control devices.

1 Apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein said third means includes means for determining a discrete desired profile of said fountain which satisfies specific mechanical fountain blade constraints, and for then determining the proper settings of said ink control devices in order to produce said desired blade profile.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 1, wherein said specific fountain blade constraints include at least blade slope and concavity constraints.

13. Apparatus for making ready a printing press having a plurality of types of adjustable mechanical settings all of which may require adjustment in order to properly print a given product, with the adjustments being dependent upon press factors and product dependent factors, comprising: means for inputting data indicative of the press dependent and product dependent factors for at least one of said types of settings to produce the desired product on a particular press; means for predetermining the required mechanical adjustments for said at least one of said types of settings dependent upon said inputted data; and, means for adjusting said at least one of said types of settings in accordance with said predetermined settings.

14. Apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein said predetermining means includes a plurality of dedicated data processing means each associated with one of said types of said mechanical adjustments.

1 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein said data inputting means includes a data entry -terminal having data processing means together with data entry means for entering data representative of said press and product dependent factors.

1 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 5, wherein each of said dedicated processing means is coupled to the data entry terminal processing means permitting data communication therebetween.

1 7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 6, wherein said data communication coupling is a serial bus for transmission of said data in bit serial fashion.

18. Apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein each said data processing means is structural internally for multi-bit data byte parallel operation and includes conversion means for converting said data bytes for bit serial transmission over said serial bus as well as converting received bit serial data for data byte parallel operation internally of said processing means.

19. Apparatus as set forth in claim 14, including a run control video display terminal having data processing means together with data entry means and video display means, said processing means being coupled to said dedicated processing means permitting data communication therebetween.

20. Apparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein said run control data entry means includes keyboard means for entering data as well as commands, said data including address information for addressing one of said dedicated data processing means and said commands including operational commands for the addressed processing means.

21. Apparatus as set forth in claim 20, wherein one of said commands is a PRESET command which commands the addressed dedicated processing means to perform the predetermining of the required mechanical adjustments for the associated type of mechanical settings.

22. Apparatus as set forth in claim 21 wherein said addressed dedicated processing means includes means for controlling the associated adjusting means to preset the associated type of setting.

23. Apparatus as set forth in claim 22, including position feedback means for providing position data to said addressed dedicated processing means as to the positioning of said associated adjusting means.

24. Apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said run control video display terminal is provided with said position with data for providing a video display of the positioning of said associated adjusting means.

25. Apparatus as set forth in claim 24, wherein said run control data entry means includes keyboard means for entering a RECORD command to enter the preset adjustmsnts made.

26. Apparatus as set forth in claim 24, wherein said run control data entry means includes means for entering commands and data for causing modification of the positioning of said associated positioning means from the predetermined preset positioning thereof.