Synchronizing multiple printing presses
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsShane Shivji, Thomas J. Peck
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In various examples, a master press and a slave press may be synchronized. A signal associated with the master press printing a first frame on a first web may be received. A point in time may be determined at which the slave press should begin printing, on a second web, a second frame corresponding to the first frame. The determining may be based on the signal associated with the master press and a first distance between the slave press and a downstream location at which the first and second webs converge. The slave press may be operated to begin printing the second frame at the point in time.
Claims15
A computer-implemented method for synchronizing a master press and a slave press, the method comprising:
- receiving a signal associated with the master press printing a first frame on a first web;
- determining a point in time at which the slave press should begin printing, on a second web, a second frame corresponding to the first frame, wherein the determining is based on the signal associated with the master press and a first distance between the slave press and a downstream location at which the first and second webs converge;
- and
- operating the slave press to begin printing the second frame at the point in time.
A system for synchronizing printing between first and second printing presses, the system comprising circuitry to:
- obtain a first distance between the first printing press and a downstream finishing unit;
- obtain a second distance between the second printing press and the downstream finishing unit;
- and
- determine a point in time at which the second printing press is to begin printing content on a continuous print medium, wherein the point in time is determined based on paper encoder signal generated by a paper encoder of the second printing press and a difference between the first and second distances.
A printing press comprising circuitry to:
- receive a signal from a remote printing press, wherein the signal indicates a first moment in time at which the remote printing press begins printing a first frame on a first web;
- determine a second moment in time at which the printing press will begin printing, on a second web, a second frame intended for combination with the first frame in a product, wherein the determination is based on the first moment in time and a distance between the remote press and a finishing unit at which the first and second webs converge;
- and
- operate the printing press to begin printing the second frame at the second moment in time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.