Method for the production of printing forms

An apparatus for the production of a printing form by the scanning point-by-point and line-by-line of an image pattern along successive cylindrical peripheral image lines and engraving cavities along corresponding cylindrical peripheral engraving lines, comprising, in combination:

• scanning means operable for generating image signals from said image pattern from along one of said cylindrical peripheral image lines;
• a storage device coupled to said scanning means and operable for storing said image signals which are read into it;
• read-out means coupled to said storage device and operable for reading-out said stored image signals;
• an engraving device;
• coupling means operable to couple said read-out image signals to said engraving device;
• moving means operable to move said engraving device to a succeeding cylindrical peripheral engraving line;
• and inhibiting means operable to said engraving device, said moving means and said read-out means to inhibit the engraving and the read-out of said image signals at least during the time said engraving device is being moved to the succeeding engraving line and to continue the read-out and engraving of said engraving line at the stored image signals or cavities marking the end of the movement of said engraving device, arranged to complete engraving of the first portion of the engraving line, which was previously omitted, and to start the next movement of said engraving device to the succeeding engraving line.

An apparatus for the production of a printing form by the scanning point-by-point and line-by-line of an image pattern along successive cylindrical peripheral image lines and engraving cavities along corresponding cylindrical peripheral engraving lines, comprising, in combination:

• a rotatable image cylinder for receiving said image pattern, a rotatable engraving cylinder, scanning means operable for scanning said image pattern and for producing image signals corresponding to image points in said image pattern;
• an engraving means operable for engraving said engraving cylinder;
• an analog to digital converter coupled to said scanning means and operable for converting said image signals to digital image signals;
• a storage device coupled to said analog to digital converter and operable for storing said digital image signals;
• a digital to analog converter coupled to said storage device and operable connected to said engraving means,
• sensor means operable for producing a first command pulse signal when a predetermined part of said image cylinder rotates past a predetermined spatial position;
• an adjustable first delay stage couples to said sensor means and operable for delaying said first command pulse signal,
• read-in means coupled to said storage device and operable for producing a second command pulse signal when the last address of said image line has been reached and operable for controlling the read-in process,
• a first generator operable for generating a scanning timing signal for controlling said scanning means, said analog to digital converter and the read-in process into the storage device,
• first coupling means operable to couple said first command pulse signal to said first generator to start the scanning timing signal therein;
• second coupling means operable to couple said second command pulse signal to said first generator to interrupt the scanning timing signal therein;
• first moving means responsive to said second command pulse signal and operable for changing the position of said scanning member to a succeeding image line;
• a second delay stage coupled to said first delay stage operable to generate a third command pulse signal,
• read-out means coupled to said storage device operable for controlling the read-out process,
• a second generator for generating a recording timing signal operable connected with said read-out means and said engraving means for controlling the engraving and the readout process;
• third coupling means operable to couple said third command pulse signal to said second generator to start the engraving process;
• second moving means operable for moving said engraving member to a succeeding engraving line and for generating a fifth command pulse signal when the movement is finished;
• inhibit means operable connected with said readout means and said engraving means to inhibit engraving and read-out at least during the time period that the engraving member is being moved, said inhibit means generating a fourth command pulse signal when the engraving of one engraving line is complete;
• fourth coupling means operable to couple said fifth command pulse signal to said inhibit means for continuing engraving when the movement of said engraving member is finished;
• and fifth coupling means operable to couple said fourth command pulse signal to said second moving means for starting movement when the engraving of one engraving line is complete.