System and Method for Matching a Corrected Sleeve to a Substrate Printing Cylinder
OwnerMark Van Denendinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method of identifying the match of a printing cylinder and sleeve when the combination thereof has been dressed by laser ablation to achieve a degree of cylindricity. It is desirable to retain the identification of this match for reuse purposes and thereby avoid unnecessary redressing. The identification convention of the invention represents simple encoding, conventional marking means, and readability on sight.
Claims20
A system of identifying a unique match of sleeve and printing cylinder, comprising:
- a printing cylinder having an outside diameter;
- a sleeve mounted over the printing cylinder having an inside diameter substantially matching the outside diameter of the printing cylinder and an outside diameter appropriate for the repeat of a selected printing plate to be mounted onto the sleeve, wherein the sleeve has experienced a dressing operation to the stacked tolerances of cylinder and sleeve thereby to achieve cylindricity of the sleeve surface;
- a marking convention wherein the cylinder and sleeve are uniquely matched;
- and
- an application of the marking convention to the sleeve in an instantly recognizable manner to an unaided viewer.
A method of identifying a unique match of sleeve and printing cylinder, comprising the steps of:
- marking a selected cylinder with a first prescribed convention;
- mounting a sleeve onto the cylinder having an inside diameter to fit and an outside diameter appropriate to a repeat length of a selected printing plate;
- determining information regarding the variability of the total indicated run-out and taper of the sleeved cylinder;
- dressing the sleeve to achieve cylindricity based on the variability information;
- marking the sleeve with a second prescribed convention;
- and
- repeating the process for each new cylinder and sleeve combination.
A method of identifying a match of sleeve and printing cylinder, comprising the steps of:
- ablating the sleeve by means of a laser to achieve cylindricity;
- and
- etching a identification code uniquely indicating the match the cylinder and sleeve on the sleeve by the laser.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.