US3653322A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Register indicating system
Assignee: Harris Graphics Corp
•
Filing: 1969-08-05
•
Granted: 1972-04-04
•
Expires: 1989-08-05
Abstract
Abstract Multi-unit machine for operating on sheet material in web form or in the form of individual sheets with the operations performed by each unit to be in precise registry with the operations performed by the other units. Each unit applies a register mark to the sheet material which has a fixed position relative to the operation of the unit on the sheet material. The register marks are scanned as a group to provide output signals for checking the timing of the units. The output signals are pulses which are combined to provide a predetermined pulse pattern when the units are in registry and different pulse patterns when one or more of the units is out of registry. A cathode ray tube is utilized to display the pulse patterns.
Inventors
- 👤 James Ivor Richardson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:24
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41F; B41F33/00; B41F33/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
260 words
A method of checking the register of images applied to sheet material passing through a plurality of N units of a multi-unit printing apparatus with the images printed by each unit to be in precise registry with the images printed by the other units, applying a register marking to the material at each of said units with the register marking having a predetermined fixed position relative to the image applied by the unit to the material with the markings applied by the units when the units are in precise registry with each other constituting a group of markings having a predetermined spacing relative to each other, subsequently sensing different numbers of register markings of a said group at each of a plurality of sensing locations along the path of movement of the material as each of the markings move in sequence past each of the sensing locations with the sensing locations being spaced from each other in such a manner that different numbers of said markings of a group arrive at said sensing locations in sequence and each marking of a group is sensed a plurality of different times with successive markings being sensed simultaneously at said plurality of sensing locations when the units are in registry to provide an output signal each time one or more register markings is sensed, using the signals derived from a sequential sensing of different numbers of markings of a group passing said sensing locations to signal the registry of the images and thereby the timing of the printing units relative to each other.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
260 words
A method of checking the register of images applied to sheet material passing through a plurality of N units of a multi-unit printing apparatus with the images printed by each unit to be in precise registry with the images printed by the other units, applying a register marking to the material at each of said units with the register marking having a predetermined fixed position relative to the image applied by the unit to the material with the markings applied by the units when the units are in precise registry with each other constituting a group of markings having a predetermined spacing relative to each other, subsequently sensing different numbers of register markings of a said group at each of a plurality of sensing locations along the path of movement of the material as each of the markings move in sequence past each of the sensing locations with the sensing locations being spaced from each other in such a manner that different numbers of said markings of a group arrive at said sensing locations in sequence and each marking of a group is sensed a plurality of different times with successive markings being sensed simultaneously at said plurality of sensing locations when the units are in registry to provide an output signal each time one or more register markings is sensed, using the signals derived from a sequential sensing of different numbers of markings of a group passing said sensing locations to signal the registry of the images and thereby the timing of the printing units relative to each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said signals are pulse signals, and wherein signals derived from a simultaneous sensing of said markings are combined to provide a combined pulse output for indicating registry.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
74 words
A method as defined in claim 2 wherein the sensing of the first one of a group of register markings arriving at said sensing locations is used to initiate a display apparatus for displaying the combined pulses and their timed relationship with respect to each other with the number of pulses which are displayed each time a group passes said sensing locations being one less than twice the number of markings in a group.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as defined in claim 3 wherein there are N units and the marking of each unit is sensed N times.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the images of each printing unit are printed from printing plates and the register markings are on the printing plates of each unit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as defined in claim 1 wherein the register markings are printed with equal spacing between the adjacent markings of a group when the units are in registry.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
282 words
In a printing apparatus having a plurality of printing units through which sheet material to be printed passes, each of said units having an image carrying member which carries the image to be printed by the unit and each of said image carrying members having as part of the image carried thereby a register mark which is located in a predetermined position with respect to the image, the images printed by the individual units being superimposed on each other and the register marks on the image carrying members of the units being located on the image carrying member so that the register marks are printed adjacent the superimposed image along an imaginary line which extends lengthwise of the sheet material with the register marks having a predetermined spacing relative to each other when the units are printing in precise registry with each other, the register marks consisting of one mark for each unit as sheet material passes therethrough constituting a group of marks, sensing means comprising a plurality of sensing devices, one for each unit, located at respective locations along the path of travel of the sheet material with the sensing devices being spaced from each other by said predetermined spacing wherebY each of said marks pass each of said devices in sequence and are sensed by each said device to provide an output signal in response to each mark with successive marks being sensed simultaneously by successive sensing devices when said units are printing in precise registry with each other, and electrical means responsive to said output signals generated by one group of marks passing all of said devices for signaling the register condition and thereby the timing of said units.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
282 words
In a printing apparatus having a plurality of printing units through which sheet material to be printed passes, each of said units having an image carrying member which carries the image to be printed by the unit and each of said image carrying members having as part of the image carried thereby a register mark which is located in a predetermined position with respect to the image, the images printed by the individual units being superimposed on each other and the register marks on the image carrying members of the units being located on the image carrying member so that the register marks are printed adjacent the superimposed image along an imaginary line which extends lengthwise of the sheet material with the register marks having a predetermined spacing relative to each other when the units are printing in precise registry with each other, the register marks consisting of one mark for each unit as sheet material passes therethrough constituting a group of marks, sensing means comprising a plurality of sensing devices, one for each unit, located at respective locations along the path of travel of the sheet material with the sensing devices being spaced from each other by said predetermined spacing wherebY each of said marks pass each of said devices in sequence and are sensed by each said device to provide an output signal in response to each mark with successive marks being sensed simultaneously by successive sensing devices when said units are printing in precise registry with each other, and electrical means responsive to said output signals generated by one group of marks passing all of said devices for signaling the register condition and thereby the timing of said units.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A printing apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said signals are pulses and said electrical means comprises circuit means for summing the pulse outputs from said devices.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said electrical circuit means comprises a cathode ray tube for displaying said summed output and a sweep circuit activated in response to a pulse output signal from the sensing device first responsive to a register mark of a group of register marks.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said electrical means comprises a cathode ray tube for displaying said summed pulses.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said electrical means includes means responsive to the speed of the apparatus for maintaining the summed pulses in positions on the tube which are independent of the speed of the material moving through the apparatus.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of checking the registry of a plurality of N units operating for performing operations in sequence on material passing through the units, applying a respective register marking to the material with each of said units to thereby provide a group of markings for indicating the registry of the units, sensing the time of arrival of the markings as the markings arrive at a plurality of sensing locations corresponding in a number to the number of units with the marking applied by each unit being sensed a plurality of times in combination with different numbers of markings of said group of markings to provide a group of electrical signals which are analyzable to determine registry.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of checking the registry of a plurality of N units operating for performing operations in sequence on material passing through the units, applying a respective register marking to the material with each of said units to thereby provide a group of markings for indicating the registry of the units, sensing the time of arrival of the markings as the markings arrive at a plurality of sensing locations corresponding in a number to the number of units with the marking applied by each unit being sensed a plurality of times in combination with different numbers of markings of said group of markings to provide a group of electrical signals which are analyzable to determine registry.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
292 words
A method of checking the register of operations performed in sequence on material passing through a plurality of units of a multi-unit apparatus with the operations performed by each unit to be in precise registry with the operations performed by the other units, said method including the steps of applying a plurality of spaced apart register marks to the material as the material passes through the plurality of units of the multi-unit apparatus with the spacing between the marks varying as a function of variations in the registry operations performed by the units, generating a plurality of pulses having a time relationship which is a function of the spatial relationship between the register marks and the registry of the operations performed by the units, combining at least some of said pulses to form a combined pulse having a characteristic which varies as a function of variations in the time relationship between the combined pulses and which is indicative of the registry between the units, said step of combining at least some of said pulses includes the steps of combining a plurality of pulses to form a plurality of combined pulses each of which has a characteristic which varies as a function of the time relationship between the pulses which were combined to form it, forming a series of pulses which includes a plurality of said combined pulses and which has predetermined characteristics which vary with variations in registry between the units in a manner which is indicative of which unit of the plurality of units is out of registry upon a variation in registry, and sensing the predetermined characteristics of the series of pulses to determine which unit of the plurality of units is out of registry upon a variation in registry.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
292 words
A method of checking the register of operations performed in sequence on material passing through a plurality of units of a multi-unit apparatus with the operations performed by each unit to be in precise registry with the operations performed by the other units, said method including the steps of applying a plurality of spaced apart register marks to the material as the material passes through the plurality of units of the multi-unit apparatus with the spacing between the marks varying as a function of variations in the registry operations performed by the units, generating a plurality of pulses having a time relationship which is a function of the spatial relationship between the register marks and the registry of the operations performed by the units, combining at least some of said pulses to form a combined pulse having a characteristic which varies as a function of variations in the time relationship between the combined pulses and which is indicative of the registry between the units, said step of combining at least some of said pulses includes the steps of combining a plurality of pulses to form a plurality of combined pulses each of which has a characteristic which varies as a function of the time relationship between the pulses which were combined to form it, forming a series of pulses which includes a plurality of said combined pulses and which has predetermined characteristics which vary with variations in registry between the units in a manner which is indicative of which unit of the plurality of units is out of registry upon a variation in registry, and sensing the predetermined characteristics of the series of pulses to determine which unit of the plurality of units is out of registry upon a variation in registry.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of checking the register of operations performed in sequence on material passing through a plurality of units of a multi-unit apparatus with the operations performed by each unit to be in precise regiStry with the operations performed by the other units, applying a register mark to the material at each of said units with the marks applied by the units when the units are in precise registry with each other constituting a group of marks having a predetermined spacing relative to each other, sensing each of the register marks of a group at each of a plurality of sensing locations along the path of movement of the material after said operations have been performed and as the marks move in sequence past each of the sensing locations with the sensing locations being spaced by said predetermined spacing with successive marks being sensed simultaneously at successive said sensing locations when the units are in registry, establishing a signal in response to each sensing of the register marks of a group, and signaling the registry of the operations and thereby the timing of the units relative to each other in dependence on the relationship to each other of the marks of a group.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of checking the register of operations performed in sequence on material passing through a plurality of units of a multi-unit apparatus with the operations performed by each unit to be in precise regiStry with the operations performed by the other units, applying a register mark to the material at each of said units with the marks applied by the units when the units are in precise registry with each other constituting a group of marks having a predetermined spacing relative to each other, sensing each of the register marks of a group at each of a plurality of sensing locations along the path of movement of the material after said operations have been performed and as the marks move in sequence past each of the sensing locations with the sensing locations being spaced by said predetermined spacing with successive marks being sensed simultaneously at successive said sensing locations when the units are in registry, establishing a signal in response to each sensing of the register marks of a group, and signaling the registry of the operations and thereby the timing of the units relative to each other in dependence on the relationship to each other of the marks of a group.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as defined in claim 14 wherein the marks cause a pulse signal at each location and in which the pulse signals are combined to provide output pulses which indicate the registry and thereby the timing of the units.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2289737A
Cited
US2356567A
Cited
US2361549A
Cited
US2616961A
Cited
US2583580A
Cited
US2768827A
Cited
US3084621A
Cited
US3213422A
Cited
US3264983A
Cited
US3339817A
Cited
US3452872A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-04 | 1975-10-04 | 1976-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-04 | 1979-10-04 | 1980-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-04 | 1983-10-04 | 1984-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |