IL87442A - Apparatus and method for printing quasi random number tables in a flexographic press - Google Patents

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRINTING QUASI RANDOM NUMBER TABLES IN A FLEXOGRAPHIC PRESS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention This invention relates to apparatus for printing quasi random number tables and has been devised particularly though not solely for printing tables for games of Art This invention is a development of the printing apparatus described in my granted Patents and In those specifications there is described a fiexographic printing press which can be set up to print quasi random number tables for games of These tables are seldom true random number tables but incorporate a very large number of variables which are eventually repeated after a large number of tables have been To the end each table appears to incorporate a matrix of apparently random numbers and is referred to throughout this specification as a random number The apparatus described in my patents referred to above is very effective in a large number of situations but requires the use of an entire fiexographic press which may not always be available in some printing the size of the table printing cylinders which may be utilized in a fiexographic press is limited due to the physical constraints of the press and therefore the number of different tables which can be printed before the sequence of apparently random numbers begins to repeat is also The number of different tables which can be printed would be increased if larger table printing cylinders could be but these cannot be physically accommodated on a conventional fiexographic The central impression press described in my above referenced patent specifications is also limited to printing on flexible webs such as paper or sheet plastics It is some times desirable to print quasi random number tables for games of chance onto cylindrical objects such as soft drink paper cardboard tubes or the SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The invention therefore provides apparatus for printing quasi random number tables comprising a printing press having one or more printing stations incorporating a plurality of endless each entrained around an impression roller and an each belt being a different length which is a multiple of a basic pitch and each belt having affixed to the outer surface thereof and arranged in a row along the length of the a plurality of printing plates arranged to print an impression onto a web or other medium passing through the press in register with a similar impression printed by each other In one form of the invention each plate prints a number such that each belt prints different numbers in forming larger numbers or tables whose digits change from impression to impression in a quasi random In one form of the invention each printing station incorporates one said In an alternative form of the invention at least one printing station incorporates a plurality of belts entrained about a common impression Each belt may be inked from a common source or may be independently inked so that a number of different colors may be printed at the one each belt is provided with roller or shoe arranged to tension the belt about the impression and idle This particularly important when a plurality of belts of different lengths are entrained about common impression and idle rollers at the same Notwithstanding any other forms that may fall within its one preferred form of invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 1 is a perspective view of apparatus according to the invention having four belts of different lengths provided at a single printing 2 is an end view of the apparatus shown in showing only one belt for 3 shows a sample of the outer surface of a belt used in the apparatus according to the and a sample of a table that may be printed by six such belts used 4 is a diagrammatic end view of four belts used at a single wherein each belt is inked from a separate source allowing a different color to be used on each 5 is a diagrammatic end view of the apparatus according to the invention used for printing onto cylindrical objects such as 6 is a diagrammatic end view of a ilexographic central impression press incorporating four single printing stations according to the 7 is a diagrammatic end view of a fiexographic central impression press incorporating one multiple belt printing station according to the 8 is a diagrammatic end view of a six color stack press incorporating one single belt and one belt printing station according to the 9 is a diagrammatic end view of a narrow web single station press incorporating a belt printing station according to the 10 is a diagrammatic end view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention as part of an endless belt 11 is a top view of the belt of figure DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION In the preferred form of the invention a printing station which may be used o many different types of presses such as central impression flexographic rotogravure stack or narrow web presses is constructed as Referring to figure the station has an impression cylinder or roller which is driven by the drive mechanism of the press in the normal An endless belt is entrained around the impression cylinder and also around an idle roller spaced from the impression In some forms of the invention a tension roller may also be provided to tension the belt about the impression and idle The belt is typically a nylon belt having internal teeth on the inner surface of the belt which are engaged with gear teeth on the impression cylinder to keep the belt always in register with the motion of the impression The outer surface of the belt is provided with a plurality of flexographic printing plates which are adhered to the nylon belt at a predetermined basic pitch value or As can be seen from 3 the plates are typically arranged to print numbers such as the three digit numbers shown and are spaced on the belt at a typical gradient of half an inch Each station may incorporate a single belt of the type shown in or alternatively a number of belts such as the four belts shown in 1 may be positioned side by side on common elongate impression and idle In the latter situation each belt has own tension roller which is located in a different position from the tension rollers of the other belts so that four or six belts each of different length may be entrained about the common or impression Although the tensioning device has been shown as a tension roller it will be appreciated that a tension shoe or other similar device may also be The flexographic plates on the belt are inked by way of an anilox roller which is in turn inked from an inkin roller 8 in th onal A six belt printing station of the type shown in 1 may therefore be utilized with six belts all of different length each a multiple of the basic pitch value or to print quasi random number tables of the type shown in As a further as shown in a number of different four belts may be entrained about a common elongate printing or impression cylinder and then each belt entrained about an independent idle roller This configuration allows each belt to be independently inked via an anilox roller and an inking roller provided as separate items for each belt so that each belt may be inked with a different This adds a further variation or variable to the quasi random number table that may be printed by the An alternate embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in figure A belt 45 is entrained about a printing cylinder tension cylinder 42 and drive cylinder An optional tension cylinder 43 may be utilized if The drive cylinder 44 includes a plurality of pins or protrusions 46 for engaging openings in belt The drive cylinder 44 is turned so as to move belt 45 about the other In the example drive cylinder 44 turns a clockwise it may also be used in a counter clockwise direction if Referring briefly to figure a top view of belt 45 entrained about printing cylinder 41 and drive cylinder 44 is Also shown are additional belts 54 Each of the belts includes a plurality of openings or indentations 52 registered with the pins 46 of drive cylinder This allows the engagement of the belt 45 with the gearing of the drive cylinder Referring again to figure an ink roller 8 receives ink from ink font 40 and transfers it to anilox roller Anilox roller 7 engages the belt 45 at printing cylinder 41 and transfers the ink to the belt Belt 45 engages web 47 at impression cylinder 1 and transfers the image of belt 45 to the web Web 47 is entrained about impression cylinder Although only a single belt 45 is shown in figure a number of belts such as belts 54 56 of figure 11 may be entrained about a common The printing apparatus according to the invention has the further advantage that it can be utilized not only for printing on webs such as paper or plastics film material but it can also be used for printing onto cylindrical objects such as soft drink cans or paper 5 shows an application of printing onto cans which are fed through the normal can printing line and revolve as they pass down the A photocell in the printing line activates a clutch to stop the revolving can into a predetermined alignment for whereupon the can passes beneath the impression cylinder of a printing station according to the The printing station has endless belts and a tension roller of the type previously described and is also provided with the inking apparatus earlier described but not shown in Although 5 only shows the end view of a single it would of course be normal to incorporate a number of belts entrained about the impression cylinder in a similar manner to the apparatus shown in 1 or As the can passes beneath the impression roller it rises up to touch the periphery bull and rotates in contact with the printing belt to print the impression from the flexographic plates on the belt onto the In this way quasi random number tables of the type shown in or single lengthy quasi random numbers can be printed onto the surface of a can or any other cylindrical object and used in games of chance in the same way as quasi random numbers or tables printed onto sheet The belt printing station according to the invention may be utilized in a number of different ways on stack or narrow web presses as will now be described with reference to 6 to 6 shows a conventional central impression flexographic press a central impression cylinder and two conventional printing stations and In place of the remaining printing stations that would normally form part of the central impression single belt printing stations and are These stations each have an impression idle roller and optionally to utilize a greater number of gradients at these stations than would be possible using conventional printing In the example shown in Fig 6 stations of and 53 gradients are utilized which would be difficult if not impossible if using conventional cylinders due to the large size of the cylinders 7 shows a central impression flexographic press having a central impression cylinder and six conventional printing stations These conventional printing stations may be utilized to print conventional impressions onto the surface of paper or other medium and can be used for multiple color or scratch silver applications in the conventional One of the conventional stations is removed and substituted by a multiple belt station of the type shown and described in 1 and In this way quasi random number tables can be printed from the single station while retaining the remaining conventional printing stations for printing the remainder of the document of which the random number table forms a small Various other combinations of multiple belt or single belt printing stations may be incorporated into various other types of printing press such as the six colored stack press shown in 8 having a multiple belt station and a single belt station 9 shows a narrow web press with a multi belt printing station The printing apparatus according to the invention has a number of significant advantages over the prior For example when printing random number tables onto cylindrical objects such as cans it is possible to reliably print tables having very long repeat factors without any risk of errors leading to unbudgeted prize Claims of this type can happen when jet printing which is commonly used for printing date onto cans is used for promotions as the jet printing system is Mechanical numbering is recognized by most security printers as being most reliable as it is mechanical and functions continuously without stops the machine is Conventional mechanical numbering however is very limited in the random number tables to be printed onto soft cans in high speed operations such as 1500 cans per minute in a mechanically synchronized continuous flow Although the invention has been described thus far as a flexographic printing ink application system it could readily be adapted to As an example of a six belt printing the belts are commonly provided of different lengths and typically with six different half gradients such as 61 half inch gradients on the first 58 on the and 41 and 49 gradients respectively on the other All of these belt lengths are prime number lengths which give a large number of and in the example given above allow numbers to be printed before the combination Although it is desirable for the endless belts to be prime number multiples of the base the belts can be multiples as long as they contain a multiplication of the prime 7 x 5 Although the printing apparatus according to the invention has been described as being incorporated into larger printing press it can also be used as an separate from the normal printing press line or after a conventional printing press as a secondary printing This could be used in conjunction with a die perforating production The variation of the invention shown in 4 has the advantage that four color capacity may be added at any one printing In this manner the invention adds four color capacity to one central impression press station at the expense of only one conventional By adding the apparatus according to the invention to a outboard unit on a gravure printing random game imprinting is achieved during normal gravure Similarly the invention can be applied to a web printing line to achieve random imprinting during or after the printing process depending on drying insufficientOCRQuality

Claims (20)

87442/2 - 11 - WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A device for printing quasi random number tables comprising: a plurality of printing stations, each of said printing stations including an impression cylinder, a continuous belt disposed about said impression cylinder, an idle roller disposed within said belt, said idle rollers spaced apart from said impression cylinder, a tension roller abutting said belt for providing tension to said belt; each of said plurality of printing stations having a belt of different length, each of said belts having gearing means disposed on one side thereof for engagement with said impression cylinder and maintaining registration between said belts and said impression cylinder, said belts having a plurality of flexographic printing plates disposed on another side thereof at a predetermined pitch and being entrained about a common idler ; each of said belts having a length which is a multiple of said predetermined pitch; each of said printing plates having at least one number disposed thereon so that a plurality of numbers may be printed by said plurality of printing stations.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said plurality of printing stations share a common impression cylinder.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said plurality of printing stations share a common idle roller.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said tension roller is disposed within said belt and away from said impression cylinder and idle roller.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein each of said belts has a length which is a prime number multiple of said predetermined pitch.

6. A device for printing quasi random numbers comprising: - 1 2 - 87442 /2 a plurality of printing stations comprising an impression cylinder, a continuous belt disposed about said impression cylinder, an idle roller disposed within said belt and spaced apart from said impression cylinder; inking means for transferring ink to said belt; said belt having gearing means disposed on one side thereof for engagement with said impression cylinder and maintaining registration between said belt and said impression cylinder, said belt having a plurality of flexographic printing plates disposed on another side thereof at a predetermined pitch; each of said printing stations having a belt of different length, and said belts being entrained about a common idler.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said inking means comprises a plurality of individual inking stations.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein each of said inking stations comprises a different color of ink.

9. The device of claim 6 wherein each of said printing stations employs a common impression cylinder.

10. The device of claim 6 wherein the length of said belts is a prime multiple of said pitch.

11. The device of claim 6 further including alignment means for aligning cylindrical objects to a predetermined position and transporting means for moving said cylindrical objects into contact with said belt at said impression cylinder.

12. The device of claim 6 wherein said printing stations are disposed adjacent a central impression cylinder having at least one conventional printing station disposed adjacent thereto for printing on flexible webs.

13. The device of claim 6 wherein said printing stations are disposed in a stack press having at least one conventional printing station.

14. A method of printing quasi random numbers comprising the steps of: , - 13 - 87442/2 disposing a first belt about an impression cylinder and an idle roller spaced apart from said impression cylinder, said first belt having flexographic printing plates disposed on one side thereof at a predetermined pitch; disposing a second belt about an impression cylinder and an idle roller spaced apart from said impression cylinder, said second belt having flexographic printing plates disposed on one side thereof at said predetermined pitch, said second belt having a greater length than said first belt such that said belts produce a pattern that repeats after a predetermined time; inking said belts; bringing said belts into contact with a printing medium at said impression cylinder.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said first and second belts are disposed about a common impression cylinder.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said first and second belts are disposed about a common idle roller.

17. The method of claim 14 further including the step of disposing tension rollers adjacent said first and second belts.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein said belts have a length which is a prime multiple of said predetermined pitch.

19. A device for printing quasi random number tables according to claim 1 , substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings .

20. A method of printing quasi random numbers according to claim 14, substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings . FOR THE APPLICANT WOLFF, BREGMAN AND GOLLER by: