System for reducing setting-up time in printing machines having register adjustment devices

US4484522A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG · DE

Inventor

• Claus Simeth · Mühlheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 4, 1983
• Grant date: Nov 27, 1984
• Expiry date: Mar 4, 2003

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B41F13/12
• WIPO field: Textile and paper machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An automatic register adjustment system for a multicolor printing machine has a computer for remote control of register adjusting devices and computer drivable optical scanners traversably mounted for axial movement with respect to the cooperating plate cylinders so that the axial and peripheral coordinates of register marks engraved on the printing plates are determinable. Before printing starts, the printing plates are automatically adjusted for precise register with respect to each other. The register marks may be placed at any desired position on the printing plates and the reference coordinates are freely programmable since the optical scanners can approach any desired point on the printing plate. The scanners, for example, are reciprocated in synchronism with plate cylinder rotation at a speed generally proportional to the rotational speed of the printing machine so that the axial and peripheral coordinates of the register marks are simultaneously sensed. An optimization procedure is also disclosed for minimizing the required adjustment device time and detecting whether the register error exceeds the maximum adjustment travel.