US 4,463,673 A · Method and apparatus for registration of planar members and the like through the employment of an intermediate alignment sheet

Abstract

A planar member is provided with locator surfaces arranged to cooperate with locator pins provided on the supporting surface of a registration apparatus. The planar member containing a pattern which is to be transferred is provided with a registration pattern. A holder supporting this member may be reciprocated to move this member toward or away from the first-mentioned planar member. Positioning means are provided for selectively moving the planar members relative to one another both orthogonally and rotationally. An alignment sheet containing locator surfaces identical to those of the first-mentioned planar member and a registration pattern complementary to that of the second mentioned planar member is positioned upon the supporting surface. The holder is moved downwardly to lower the second-mentioned planar member upon the supporting surface. The pins are retracted prior to such lowering. Electromagnetic radiation is then directed through the registration patterns of the alignment sheet and second planar member. The positioning means is manipulated until the complementary registration patterns are in registry, at which time substantially all of the radiation is blocked from passing through the combined sheet members. The holder is then raised, the alignment sheet is removed and the first-mentioned planar member is positioned upon the surface with its locator surfaces receiving the locator pins. The first and second planar members are then in precise registration, with no further alignment being required until a different pattern is to be printed.

Claims42

Dependent claims

A method of bringing a substantially planar first member, having a registration pattern, into registration with a substantially planar second member, having locator means, through the employment of an alignment sheet, having a registration pattern, a first support having retractable locator projections and a holder for releasably holding and supporting the first planar member and registration means for movably positioning the holder and the first support relative to one another, comprising the steps of:

(a) raising the locator projections above the surface of the first support;
(b) placing the alignment sheet having locator means for receiving said projections on said surface and aligned so that said locator means receive said projections;
(c) retracting said projections so that they are removed from the alignment sheet;
(d) mounting the first planar member upon said holder;
(e) moving the holder to place the first planar member upon the top surface of the alignment sheet;
(f) operating the registration means to move said first planar member and said alignment sheet relative to one another to bring their respective registration patterns into registry;
(g) raising said holder and removing said alignment sheet to enable placement of the second planar member in registry with the first planar member by positioning the locator means of the second planar member upon said projections.

4 more elements

A method for bringing a first type of planar member, having a first registration pattern, into registry with a second type of planar member having locator means, through the use of an alignment sheet having a second registration pattern and a second locator means employed with a support, having projection means and a receiving surface, a holder and means movably mounting the holder relative to the support, comprising the steps of:

(a) placing the alignment sheet on said surface with said second locator means engaging said projection means to precisely locate the alignment sheet at a predetermined location on said surface;
(b) mounting the first planar member on said holder;
(c) moving the holder to position the first planar member onto the alignment sheet;
(d) directing electromagnetic radiation toward the registration pattern in said alignment sheet;
(e) moving said first planar member and said holder relative to one another until said first registration pattern and said second registration pattern alter the magnitude of radiation passing therethrough to a predetermined radiation level;
(f) raising the holder;
(g) removing the alignment sheet from said surface;
(h) placing the second planar member on said surface;
and
(i) positioning the locator means of said second planar member upon said projection means to bring said first and second planar members into registry.

7 more elements

Apparatus for bringing planar members into registry comprising:

support means having a surface for supporting one of said planar members;
holder means;
means movably mounting said holder means relative to said support means;
said holder means including clamping means for receiving and releasably securing one of said planar members;
means for moving said holder means and said support means relative to one another and in an imaginary plane substantially parallel to the surface of said support means;
the planar member supported on said holder having a first registration pattern;
electromagnetic radiation generation means for directing radiation upwardly through said surface;
projection means associated with said surface;
an alignment sheet for placement on said surface and having second registration means and locator means for positioning on said projection means to locate said alignment sheet on said surface with said second registration means positioned over said radiation generating means.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for registration of planar members and the like through the employment of an intermediate alignment sheet

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for registration of planar members and the like through the employment of an intermediate alignment sheet

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims42