Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41C—PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES
  • B41C1/00—Forme preparation
  • B41C1/055—Thermographic processes for producing printing formes, e.g. with a thermal print head
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41C—PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES
  • B41C1/00—Forme preparation
  • B41C1/10—Forme preparation for lithographic printing; Master sheets for transferring a lithographic image to the forme
  • B41C1/1083—Mechanical aspects of off-press plate preparation
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G05—CONTROLLING; REGULATING
  • G05D—SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
  • G05D23/00—Control of temperature
  • G05D23/19—Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means
  • G05D23/1927—Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means using a plurality of sensors
  • G05D23/193—Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means using a plurality of sensors sensing the temperaure in different places in thermal relationship with one or more spaces
  • G05D23/1931—Control of temperature characterised by the use of electric means using a plurality of sensors sensing the temperaure in different places in thermal relationship with one or more spaces to control the temperature of one space

Definitions

• This invention relates in general to an imaging and punching apparatus and related method for a plate imaging system. More particularly, it relates to a punching apparatus that is a part of the imaging and punching system that can precisely punch an imaged plate.
• Printing plates typically include an image area that is either capable of forming or not forming a printed image when the plate is mounted on a press cylinder of a printing press.
• the images are formed on the printing plate by one of many methods known in the art including directly imaging the image on the printing plate Typically, multiple printing plates are used in a printing operation, wherein each plate prints a specific color on the printed substrate. Each plate is registered to its corresponding press cylinder via one or more features punched in the plate.
• a thermal control system for an imaging and punching system including a thermal sensor system coupled to the imaging and the punching device that generates one or more measured signals; a controller that generates a digital format of the one or more measured signals and stores temperature-related information; and a thermal control device that analyzes the digital format and the temperature-related information and makes thermal control decisions for regulating thermal characteristics of the punching device.
• the thermal control system is coupled to the image recording device to receive temperature-related information derived from the digital sensor data, said information stored in the controller so that the thermal control device can analyses in conjunction to other information, and adjusting a location adjuster in response to a determination that the temperature is outside of the selected range.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an imaging and punching system.
• FIG. 2 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the imaging and punching system of the invention.
• FIG. 3 is a second side view of a preferred embodiment of the imaging and punching system of the invention.
• FIG.4 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the imaging and punching system of the invention.
• FIG. 5 is a perspective top view of a portion of the imaging and punching system of the invention.
• FIG. 6 is a perspective side view of a portion of the imaging and punching system of the invention.
• FIG. 7 is a perspective top view of a portion of the imaging and punching system of the invention.
• FIG. 8 is an exploded, schematic of a portion of the imaging and punching system.
• an imaging and punching systemlOO including an apparatus and method, for imaging and perforating recordable media 102 using an imaging system 104.
• the imaging system 104 includes an image- recording device 106 with an image-recording member 108, which in a preferred embodiment is a drum, and an exposure head 110.
• the image-recording device 106 is capable of recording an image 112 on the recordable media 102, such as a plate, to form an imaged media 114.
• the exposure head accomplishes this in the preferred embodiment by translating along the sub-scanning axis of the drum while the drum is rotating.
• One edge of the plate is located with a thickness- detecting laser before the drum starts to spin. There are other methods for determining where the edge of the plate is prior to recording the image, as known by those skilled in the art.
• the imaging system 104 also includes a recordable media support 116 for conveying the recordable media 102 to the imaging system wherein the recordable media support 116 and the image-recording device 106 defines a load path 118.
• the image 112 is aligned relative to at least two edges 120, 122 of the recordable media as will be discussed in more detail below.
• a transfer assembly 124 including an imaged media support 126 with a movable first end 128 to accept the imaged media 114 via an unload path 130 wherein the imaged media support 126 and the image-recording device 106 define the unload path 130.
• the first endl28 disposed to shuttle between a first position 132, indicated by the dashed lines, and a second position 134, indicated by the dashed lines.
• the imaged media 114 is unloaded from the imaging systemlO4 onto the imaged media support 126 when the first end 128 is in the first position 132 and the imaged media 114 is loaded from the imaged media support 126 surface to a punching system 140 when the first end 128 is in the second positionl34.
• the movable first end 128 of the imaged media support 126 is moved about a pivot point 136 from a first position 132 to the second position 134, shown in FIG.3, proximate the punching system 140.
• the first end 128 may move back and forth between first position 132 and second position 134 along any suitable path including, but not limited to curved paths (e.g. circular, elliptical, parabolic, etc), liner paths and combined curved and linear paths.
• the imaged media support 126 could be articulated with the first end part of one of a plurality of sections or parts of the transfer system.
• the transfer assembly allows the punching system 140 to be part of the same system as the imaging system 104 which can result in more accurate punching and less damage to the plates which are large and fragile, and prone to damage, especially after imaging. Damage to the plates is not only expensive, since the plate cannot be re-imaged and must be discarded but also very time consuming since most damaged plates are not identified until the press starts printing.
• a position and location of the imaged media plate 114 can be determined by one or more sensors (not shown), such as an optical sensor for optically determining at least one point of at least three points along two edges of the imaged media plate 114.These sensors can be included in the system as needed to assist the other registration components.
• the registration components act, along with various sensors in conjunction with a controller, can act as a positioning device for adjusting the position of the imaged media with respect to the surface in a perforation device, wherein the perforation device is further operable for forming a perforation in the imaged media in a predetermined, aligned relationship with the at least three points located on the at least two edges.
• This positioning device can include any of a push bar, registration pins, sensors or readers, cameras, vacuum cups, a vacuum chuck (grooves in a bar fed by a vacuum), air cylinders pushing the plate edge, air cylinders pulling the plate edge, belts with fingers to push the plate, air, rollers to convey the plate, an incline (gravity), leadscrew(s) for the pins, all types of motors including linear induction motors, and other devices.
• the system can also move the punches and punch registration pins toward a stationary plate 110 or imaged media 114 rather then moving the plate itself.
• the imaging and punching system 100 also helps assure that the position of the plate will be easily controlled and initialized during each step of the imaging and punching process since the same imaged media support 126 is used to both unload imaged media 114 as is used to transfer that imaged media 114 to the punching system 140 as shown in FIG.3.
• the apparatus and associated method of the present invention does not typically require a new set up and exerts total control including, if desired, a single controller 138, including software to control all components and their interactions. Theses can be located in the punching system, as indicated figuratively by box 138, or in others system component or in a separate controller, such as a computer.
• Image media placement and system thermal control are two important control features that the imaging and punching system 100 can provide.
• the imaging and punching system 100 can result in a compact and reliable system that can handle multiple plates and can image and punch simultaneously.
• the punching system 140 as shown in FIG. 3, includes a perforation assembly 142 proximate the imaged media support 126.
• the movable first end 128 now defines a punch clearance 144.
• the perforation assembly 142 includes at least one perforation device 146 for perforating the imaged media 114 in a punch area 148 (shown in Figure 4), and a registration bar 150, which includes a punch platen , proximate the punch clearance 144.
• FIG. 4 A schematic of a portion of this preferred embodiment of the imaging and punching system 100 is shown in FIG. 4.
• the imaged media 114 moves into the punching system 140 after imaging.
• the punched holes are customized for each individual customer.
• the punched holes are typically configured in accordance with the registration features of a printing plate press cylinder onto which the plate is to be mounted.
• the punching system 140 includes the following major components.
• the registration bar 150 which includes the surface for punching, referred to as the punch-platen, and a plurality of vacuum orifices or apertures 152 that control the imaged media 114 and moves it to one or more punch registration pins 154.
• each vacuum cup contains an orifice so when a small plate which does not cover many of the cups, would allow the orifices to limit the vacuum loss from the uncovered cups so the overall vacuum is maintained high without the requirement for an excessively large vacuum source.
• the registration bar 150 moves on air bearings via a plurality of air apertures 155 (shown in FIG. 5) to reduce friction but other bearings or means of reducing friction could be employed.
• a punch bar 156 also referred to as a punch extrusion bar 156.
• the punch bar 156 has registration features and punches arranged closely to the leading edge of the imaged media 114.
• the registration bar 150 supports imaged media 114 such that the leading edge or first edge of media 114 extends only a small distance beyond the bar to minimize distortion in imaged media 114 during the registration and punching processes.
• the registration bar 150 holds the imaged media 114 flat for accurate spacing when punching holes, which are often far apart from one another.
• the registration pins 154 or a plurality of registration members are operable for aligning the first edge of at least two edges of the imaged media 114.
• the first set, a pair in this embodiment, of registration pins can be selected from the plurality of registration members 164 in accordance with at one or more factors that can include a size of the imaged media.
• the set of registration members 164 can be selected to substantially correspond to a set of registration member located on image recording member 108 which were used to align the recordable media during the forming of image 112 on the recordable media to for the imaged media 114.
• the spacing and location of the selected registration members 164 in relation to the first edge of the imaged media can be selected to correspond to the spacing and location of the registration pins used to align the recordable media on member 108 when image 112 was recorded to form image media 114.
• the registration members 164 can be selected to contact two of three points associated with two of the edges of imaged media 114, the three points associated with the two edges being determined before or during the recording of image 112 to form image media 114.
• FIG. 5 A partial top view of a portion of a preferred embodiment is shown in FlG. 5.
• the punching system 140 shown includes a punch bar 156 in this embodiment. Also shown is the perforation assembly 142, mounted to the punch bar 156, including one or more punches 158 and the punch registration pins 154.
• the punch bar 156 is hollow to allow the punch debris, such as punch chips from the punches, to fall into the punch bar 156 and be removed by vacuum as described in the co pending application serial number ⁇ l/xxx,xxx filed on the same date by the applicant.
• FIG. 6 shows a top side view of a portion of the punching system 140 including the side registration pin 162, an edge 160 of the imaged media 114 and a side registration pin 162 to register the subscan side of the plate.
• the side registration pin 162 in a preferred embodiment has a flat face that can rotate slightly to conform to the edge angle of imaged media 114. This rotating capability allows the side registration pin 162 to present a flat supporting face to the imaged media 114 to minimize contact stress and prevent distortion of the media edge.
• the side registration pin 162 moves on a screw device 164 to move the plate into the correct side position.
• FIG. 7 shows a top view of a portion of the punching system 140 including one, of a plurality of six in this embodiment, registration pin 164, sometimes referred to as the main, mainscan, lead, edge or leading edge rotating registration pin.
• registration pin 164 sometimes referred to as the main, mainscan, lead, edge or leading edge rotating registration pin.
• the registration pins 164 have a flat surface on them so they can be rotated to not contact the plate if not required.
• One is shown in a schematic enlargement in FIG. S.
• one imaged media 114 will only use two of the six registration pins 164 that can be installed.
• the registration pins 164 can rotate when the imaged media 114 is held against the pins 164 and is moved laterally.
• Imaged media 114 can be moved laterally while the media is being pushed by side registration pin 162. This rotation helps prevent the imaged media from being scraped or scuffed on the pins, which can damage both the pins and the imaged media 114 and or lead to subsequent registration problems.
• the registration pins 164 of this embodiment also prevent too much load being applied to the side registration pin 162 which would lower the side pin 162 accuracy and thus affect the placement accuracy of the media 114.
• an electrical registration method as disclosed in U.S. Pat. 6,510,793 (which is herein incorporated by reference) can be used determine if media 114 is in properly in contact with the registration pins.
• Non- electrically conductive bearings such as ceramic ball bearings can be used to electrically isolate the registration pins from the surrounding structure to establish electrical paths with the imaged media 114.
• the registration pins 164 are addressable and can rotate so that only a few out of the plurality of registration pins present, two in the preferred embodiment, contact the imaged media 114 at any one time. As previously discussed, the registration pins 164 also rotate to reduce frictional forces as the plate moves sideways against them. Lower frictional forces reduce the tendency to scuff material off the plate edge that may leave deposits on the pins and affect the registration accuracy of subsequently punched plates.
• the registration pins 164 preferably have a rotational surface that is cylindrical and is appropriately sized to reduce contact stress that can lead to deformation to the edge of the imaged media 114. Many rotational bearings known in the art can be used to allow the pins to rotate. Preloaded deep groove ball bearings are one such example of a suitable bearing since they are easily replaceable and their preloaded nature reduces bearing clearances that can adversely affect registration accuracy.
• One or more electronic pressure regulators 168 can control air pressure supplied to air cylinders that can be used to move registration bar 150, also referred to as the punch vacuum bar 150.
• the cylinders can include push cylinders 170 to push the registration bar 150 towards the leading edge rotating registration pinsl64 based on an analog electrical input. This pressure can be calculated by the firmware 166 based on the size of the imaged media 114 and its position can be incorporated as well.
• the electronic pressure regulators 168 send the air to the air cylinders and move imaged media 114 to the pins. This allows the system 100 to handle heavy thick imaged media on the same machine as thin imaged media without distorting the thin imaged media with the amount of force that would be required to handle a thick imaged media.
• the controller 138 containing the firmware 166 also allows coordination between the imaged media 114 and the registration pins 162 and 164 to establish proper registration.
• the firmware 166 can also control the thermal measuring and collection of thermal data from various assemblies and components such as the image support member 108, registration bar 150, and a movement device for side registration pin 164.
• the movement device can include a punch screw device and corrections in the placement of the imaged media 114 can be made to compensate for thermal variations that may if for example, the plate, punch bar, or screw device grow thermally during the imaging and punching steps.
• Fans can be also used to keep the punch temperature as close to the drum temperature as possible to help reduce thermal differences in conjunction with the other thermal controls described below.
• the present system 100 can handle the punching of a range of imaged media plates 114 from very heavy plates to light fragile plates on the same device. Normally the force to handle a heavy plate will distort a light plate beyond acceptable limits. This is handled in this system by using the firmware 166 to calculate the plate's mass and centre and then using this information to calculate the correct air pressure to apply to the air cylinders 170 that push the plate towards the two punch registration pins 154, and then applying that correct air pressure using electronically variable air pressure regulators 168.
• the punch system compensates for thermal differences between various components in the system by taking the measurements from thermal sensors 172 shown in FIGs. 1 and 2 and collecting them along with ambient conditions to calculate correction factors for the various placement devices.
• One method employed to accomplish this is to measure the temperatures of the imaging system 104 (which will be the plate temperature), the punch bar 156 (the bar that holds the punches), and the side pin screw device 164, and then calculating the amount to compensate for these thermal effects for the single side registration pin position 162 (subscan positioning pin) so that the punched registration holes are in the correct position regardless of temperature variances.
• the first thermal correction system 174 is basically a cooling and mixing system, in a preferred embodiment one or more fans are used to mix the air up inside the machine to help keep the punch bar 156 closer to the temperature of the imaging engine. It has been found that the punch bar 156 can get 7 degrees Celsius warmer than the aluminum imaging member 108 (drum) when air is stagnant, but only about 0.5 degrees Celsius warmer if 2 large circulation fans are installed.
• the second thermal control system uses a thermal controlled location adjuster 176.
• the thermal controlled location adjuster 176 is activated based on thermal measurements including the temperature of the plate, punch bar 156, and side registration pin positioning screw device 164, and then compensate for the calculated thermal expansion of each to make sure that at least the primary registration hole (i.e one of the punched holes that the printing press relies on for indexing the subscan position of the plate) will be punched in the correct place with the accuracy required.
• the positioning screw device 164 is the thermal controlled location adjuster 176 in this embodiment but other devices could be used such as a pneumatic arm connected to the punching system or imaged media support.
• the second thermal control system is also referred to as the thermal control system for the imaging and punching system.
• the system includes a sensor system including one or more sensors that sense the thermal characteristics of the various components of the imaging and punching system. These sensors could be thermal sensors coupled to the imaging recording device and the punching device that generates one or more measured signals.
• the thermal control system also includes the 138 controller that generates a digital format of the measured signal and stores the temperature-related information and a thermal control device in the controller that analyzes the digital format and the temperature-related information and makes thermal control decisions for regulating thermal characteristics of the punching device.
• the control device is further coupled to the image recording device to receive both temperature-related information derived from digital sensor data and also capable of receiving information from other sources, such as tables of data entered by the operator, that is stored in the controller. This allows the thermal control device to analyze both the temperature-related information derived from digital sensor data and other stored information. Note that that other information may be simply a subset of the digital format received from the sensors in certain circumstances.
• the thermal control system is capable of collecting thermal information from a plurality of imaging and punching components, both in a pre- imaging system wherein the plate is punched prior to being imaged and in a post- imaging system as described above.
• Each of these imaging and punching components has a given coefficient of thermal expansion associated with the component so that the thermal control device can take advantage of that information when making thermal control decisions in accordance with differences between each of the thermal coefficients of expansion.
• the thermal control device can also make use of other different stored information from worker and environment information, such as normal diurnal thermal environmental characteristics of a particular work location or cycle, all the way to the physical properties of component materials used in the system.
• the thermal control device will make the thermal control decisions in accordance with the differences between each of the first and second thermal coefficients of expansion.
• the control device regulates the thermal characteristics of the punching device by comparing a measured signal of the sensor to a pre-selected temperature threshold value to determine if the temperature is within a selected range.
• the control device can also adjust a location adjuster in response to one or more sensors by responding to the collected information. For example a determination that the temperature is outside of the selected range could result in the controller to adjusting the location adjuster by transmitting energy to the location adjuster to relocate system components, such as the imaged media or the registration pins to improve accuracy or to prevent imaging altogether.
• the thermal control device can also include a set point register containing the preselected value, a sensor register containing the digital format, and a comparator connected to the set point register and to the sensor register.
• the temperatures are measured by thermistors 172 mounted proximate various components and in other locations distributed throughout the machine and collected by the firmware 166.
• the temperature of the three main components, the plate, punch bar 156, and side registration pin locating screw device 164, are most important.
• the temperature of the engine frame is measured instead of the plate since it approximates the temperature of the plate because the plate is wrapped around the drum while imaging. Since the plate is very thin with a large surface area in contact with the drum, the plate temperatures quickly equalizes to the drum temperature when it is wrapped around the drum.
• the drum temperature is very close to the frame temperature since the wall thicknesses are similar, the air around the drum and frame is substantially the same temperature, and air is drawn through vacuum holes in the drums surface meaning both inner and outer drum surfaces see the same air temperature and are substantially the same as the frame.
• This situation allows the use of a fixed thermistor mounted in an appropriate part of the engine frame to tell us the temperature of the plate. Vacuum holes may be used to help secure the plate to the outer drum surfaces.
• the temperature of the punch bar 156 is measured by mounting a thermistor in the middle of the punch bar 156.
• the side positioning screw device is measured by mounting a thermistor on the screw device nut. This nut rides on the screw device and positions the side registration pin and provides accurate readings without having to monitor the length of the screw device directly.
• the plate, punch bar 156, and side registration pin locating screw device 164 are all made from aluminum, except for the positioning screw device, which is made from steel. This means that even if all items rise in temperature exactly equally, one still needs to monitor and compensate for temperature because the screw device will grow at a slower rate than the aluminum items (the thermal expansion coefficient of steel is much lower than that of aluminum).
• Firmware 166 does this by calculating the thermal length changes, and therefore knows how much to alter the position of the punch's subscan registration pin so that the resulting hole punched will be in the correct place on the plate. Since the position of the punch's subscan registration screw device is controlled by a stepper motor, the firmware simply alters the number of steps it asks the stepper motor to go in order to accomplish its task of positioning the punch's subscan registration pin where it wants it. Thermal compensation is achieved by corrections in the subscan direction, and typically not in the rnainscan direction, because the very short distances in the mainscan direction mean that even large temperature variations would not change the punch position enough in the mainscan direction.
• the controller 138 containing the firmware 166 also allows coordination between the imaged media 114 and the registration pins 162 and 164 to establish proper registration.
• the firmware 166 can also control the thermal measuring and collection of thermal data from various assemblies and components such as the image support member 108, registration bar 150, and a movement device for side registration pin 164.
• the movement device can include a punch screw device and corrections in the placement of the imaged media 114 can be made to compensate for thermal variations that may if for example, the plate, punch bar, or screw device grow thermally during the imaging and punching steps.
• Fans can be also used to keep the punch temperature as close to the drum temperature as possible to help reduce thermal differences as further described in a co-pending application 1 l/xxx,xxx filed by the Applicant.
• the partially cylindrical registration pins 164 with a flat side as shown on FIG 8, the pins can be rotated to present the flat or cylindrical surface to the edgel ⁇ O. If the pin is rotated so the flat side is facing the imaged media 114, then the imaged media 114 will not register to that pin because that pin will be further away from the edge compared to any pin that has not rotated. In one preferred embodiment only two pins 164 will have their round side facing the edge 160 and therefore the edge 160 will abut only those two pins. The pin diameters are large so that the contact area with the edge 160 is high enough to reduce edge distortions from the contact force.
• each registration pin 162 can be mounted in non-electrically conductive ceramic ball bearings that are preloaded in both axial and radial directions to make the assembly extremely accurate and repeatable. If pop-up pins were employed rather than rotating pins, the pin positional accuracy would typically be reduced since linear bearing may not necessarily provide the minimal clearances associated with preloaded ball bearings.
• the imaged media support 126 moves the imaged media 114 and positions it over the registration bar 150 with the plate's leading edge overhanging the punch bar 156.
• the imaged media 114 must overhang some amount in order to be able to enter the punches. An overhang of 2 inches will typically suffice, but the exact amount will be dependent n the punches used.
• the registration bar turns on and raises many vacuum orifices that pull the imaged media 114 down flat against the registration bar 150. Holding the imaged media 114 flat against the registration bar 150 helps to maintain the leading edge of the imaged media 114 to be in a flat orientation that mimics the conditions when the imaged media 114is installed on the printing press.
• the leading edge could be wavy when punched and the distance between the punched holes would be incorrectly positioned when the plate is installed on a press. Incorrectly punched holes can lead to registration errors on press.
• the edge 160 is moved toward the registration pins 164 in the punch bar 156.
• the amount of air pressure necessary to move the imaged media 114 varies by size, and the force required to move a thick full size imaged media 114 (e.g .-62" x 82" x 0.020”) will typically be too high for a thin imaged media 114 (e.g. ⁇ 16" x 20" x 0.007”) because it can damage the thinner edge.
• the firmware 166 in the system 100 can calculate the mass of the imaged media 114and its geometric center, and thereby calculates how much air pressure is required to each air cylinder in order to push the imaged media 114 towards the registration pins in the punch bar 156 without distorting the imaged media 114 once it contacts the pins.
• the firmware 166 calculates and directs an air source to supply the correct air pressure to the air cylinders (using electronically controlled variable air pressure regulators 168), to move the registration bar 156, on air bearings to minimize friction, and yet not cause the imaged media 114to move too quickly toward the pins thus causing damage.
• this contact can be detected by passing an electrical signal through the plate from the pins 164 and is sometimes called mainscan registration.
• the third point of contact to assure accurate plate position is provided by the side registration pin 162, which is positioned by the screw device 164 in the subscan direction.
• This single subscan registration pin 162 moves to contact the side of the imaged media 114 and then pushes the plate to the correct position that can be a thermally compensated position based on the thermal readings discussed above. Distortion of the plate edge contacted by side registration pin 162 can be reduced or minimized due to the rotating action of the registration pins 164, the reduced friction associated with the air bearings, and the minimally calculated force applied by the air cylinders discussed above.
• the flat side of the side registration pin 162 is in contact with the imaged media 114 and thus the side pin 162 fully contacts the plate edge thereby further reducing contact stresses. Since the vacuum orifices are spaced closely together, there is very little plate length between the side registration pin 162 and the closest vacuum orifice, which results in very little distortion or buckling of the plate side edge.
• the side or subscan registration pin is mounted in all metal antifriction bearings so it easily pivots allowing the full flat to always contact the plate edge. These bearings are mounted in a non-electrically conductive housing but, alternately, the pin could use a metallic housing and non-electrically conductive ceramic bearings to allow for electrical registration.
• the side registration pin 162 contacts the plate, this contact can be detected by passing an electrical signal from the pin 162 through the plate to the pins 164. Once the pin 162 stops in it's predetermined final place, electrical conductivity through the plate between all three pins is confirmed and then the plate is punched.
• the punches can be electrical or air actuated. They could be actuated in other ways such as hydraulic and mechanical methods.
• the side registration pin 162 need not go to the pin's home position; it can just backs away slightly to a location adjacent the position of a subsequently loaded imaged media that of a similar size as the previous imaged media.
• the imaged media 114 can then be withdrawn out of the punches and away from the mainscan registration pins 164 to the same imaged media support 126.
• the imaged media support 126 moves the plate further away from the punch system in order to get it ready to be ejected out of the system to a plate processor or stacker, etc.
• Another method for detecting contact conducts electricity through the plate between the three registration points to ensure they are in contact with the plate. This is monitored by the firmware 166 while punching is actually taking place, not just prior to punching, thus guaranteeing the imaged media plate 114 was punched correctly.
• the present system can handle the punching of a range of Imaged media plates 114 from very heavy plates to light fragile plates on the same device. Normally the force to handle a heavy plate will distort a light plate beyond acceptable limits. This is handled in this system by using the firmware 166 to calculate the plate's mass and centre and then using this information to calculate the correct air pressure to apply to the air cylinders that push the plate towards the two front registration pins, and then applying that correct air pressure using electronically variable air pressure regulators. Alternately the cylinders could move the bar in other ways, such as to pull the bar if that was desired.
• the firmware also helps prevent distortions to the edge of the imaged media 114.
• This allowable pin rotation also lowers the friction force the plate edge sees therefore lowering the distortion of the plate edge at the single side pin that is doing the pushing of the plate sideways. It also reduces the amount of plate material that will build up on the pin face (the plate will roll and not scrub on the pin surface).
• This system can register a plate accurately so it can be punched in preparation for placing it on a printing press. The plate is pushed against 3 pins that conduct electrically through the plate to ensure they are in contact while the plate is punched. The force with which the plate is pushed against the pins is controlled to prevent distortions in the plate that would affect accuracy, and temperature measurements are taken and compensated for to ensure the punch hole is accurately placed.
• the pins are allowed to rotate to prevent damage and smearing of the plate edge against the pin when the plate moves sideways against them.
• a flat on the otherwise round front registration pins allows them to be rotated to a position where they can not touch the plate edge if that pin is not required (this allows multiple registration pins to all be in line for different plate sizes and yet not interfere with each other).
• the plate edge is held flat against a bar by suction cups to: 1) keep the plate edge flat so the distance between the punches is as accurate as possible (if the plate is wavy then the plate distance is more than that between punches), and 2) minimizing the distance of the unsupported plate being pushed against the 2 front registration pins (keeping the column of plate as short as possible to prevent buckling and distortion), and 3) the suction cups are spaced close together so when the single side registration pin pushes on the plate's side edge, it also has a minimum of unsupported plate length (distance between the side pin and the nearest suction cup) to minimize plate buckling and plate distortion.
• the sequence of operation shown below is for punching of a single plate, meaning only one plate is imaged on the image recording member 108 (an imaging drum in this instance) at a time.
• An un-imaged plate is picked from a plate supply, loaded onto the drum, and imaged to produce an imaged media plate 114.
• the imaged media plate 114 is unloaded off the drum and onto an imaged media support which has been moved into an inclined first position.. Once the imaged media support un- tilts and moves to a horizontal second position, the punch sequence starts.
• the imaged media plate 114 is positioned to be handed off to the punch: o
• the imaged media 114 is shuffled sideways to approximately the centre of the imaged media support 126(most imaged media plates 114 are punched while centered on the punch bar).
• a deflector tilts down to contact the imaged media support 126.
• a traveler device (not shown) on the imaged media support 126 pushes the imaged media 114 up the deflector and over the punch registration bar 150 2.
• Control of the imaged media plate 114 is now transferred from imaged media support 126 to the registration bar 150: o
• the registration bar 150 turns on its vacuum orifices, raises them to control the imaged media plate 114, and lowers the vacuum orifices. ' o
• the imaged media support 126 releases the imaged media 114 plate.
• the imaged media plate 114 is moved for registration with the leading edge rotating registration pins 164: o
• the firmware selects two pins required for that particular imaged media 114, and rotates them into a position wherein their cylindrical surfaces are presented towards the leading edge of the imaged media 114 (the unselected pins have a flat face presented towards the leading edge of the imaged media 114).
• the firmware calculates the force needed by the electronic pressure regulators to operate the registration bar push cylinders. o The cylinders move the registration bar until the imaged media 114 contacts the selected leading edge rotating registration pins 164. Contact is confirmed by the electrical registration system.
• the imaged media plate 114 is then moved to a correct sub-scan position i.e. along the leading edge of the imaged media 114: o
• the side registration pin screw device is turned until the pin 164 is in the correct position.
• the position is determined by a calculation and firmware parameters that allows individual imaged media plates 114 to be matched to the positions of their punch locations and preferably takes into account any inaccuracies of the side registration pin's screw device and installation inaccuracies.
• the correct position of the imaged media plate 114 on the side registration pin 162 is confirmed by the electrical registration system. o
• the screw device starts from a
• the imaged media plate 114 is then punched: o
• the custom electronic board capable of controlling the punch motors energizes the correct punches.
• the punches will be moved in subscan ( i.e along the leading edge) or mainscan (i.e. perpendicular to the leading edge) direction if required (some punches can move laterally although most are fixed in position).
• the firmware and control electronics can delay the start of each punch motor to avoid too much inrush current and monitors the sensor on each punch to know when they have finished punching. If the punch is a moveable punch and requires that it move from where it is, it will be moved by firmware 166.
• Control of the imaged media plate 114 is then transferred to the imaged media support 126: o
• the side registration pin moves slightly away from the imaged media plate 114; the registration bar moves back to its starting position; the imaged media support 126 secures the imaged media plate 114; the registration bar releases the imaged media plate 114; and the imaged media support 126 traveler moves the imaged media plate 114 into the middle of the imaged media support 126 ready to be taken away to the processor.
• the punched, imaged media plate 114 is ejected out of the machine to a Processor or Stacker etc.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Thermal Sciences (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Remote Sensing (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Automation & Control Theory (AREA)
• Manufacture Or Reproduction Of Printing Formes (AREA)
• Exposure And Positioning Against Photoresist Photosensitive Materials (AREA)
• Supply, Installation And Extraction Of Printed Sheets Or Plates (AREA)

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Citations (5)

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• 2006
  • 2006-04-03 US US11/397,035 patent/US20070227384A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2007
  • 2007-04-02 WO PCT/US2007/008289 patent/WO2007117452A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2007-04-02 EP EP07754758A patent/EP2004405A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2007-04-02 JP JP2009504262A patent/JP2009532246A/ja active Pending

Patent Citations (5)

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