Lithographic production planning system
OwnerAchilles Tomasiniinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A production planning system for use in providing color-separated films to a litho platemaker. The system utilizes a programmed computer for gathering and storing information relative to various images of a particular production job. A computer/digital table/rotating arm structure allows for calculation of scaling and angling factors of the original image transparency relative to the size and orientation of the image within the final layout.
Claims20
For use in a system for producing color-separated films of a transparency appearing as a final image in a layout, said films used by a lithographic plate maker, said system including a drum-loaded scanner having a preselected axis thereon for separation of said image into said films and storage means for said color-separated films, apparatus for orienting said transparency onto said drum at the desired angle of said final image in said layout relative to said axis comprising:
- a digital table having a multiplicity of cursor-readable data positions thereon;
- a cursor associated with said table for logging positions of common first and second points on said transparency and said image positioned on said table;
- a programmed computer adapted to receive data corresponding to said logged positions from said table, said programmed computer calculating a first angle of a line extending between said points on said final image and between a selected axis passing therethrough, said selected axis corresponding to said axis on said scanner drum, said computer further calculating a position for a base line intersecting a line connecting said points on said transparency;
- a T-square assembly on said table having at least one rule;
- drive means on said T-square for rotating said rule about an imaginary vertical axis passing therethrough;
- means for coupling said programmed computer to said drive means, said coupling means rotating said T-square rule to a position indicative of said base line intersecting said points on said transparency, said base line alignable with said scanner drum axis, whereby to position said transparency on said drum at an angle congruent to said first angle of said final image in said layout.
Apparatus for orienting a first image transparency with the angle of a second transparency relative to a preselected axis comprising:
- a digital table having a multiplicity of cursor-readable data positions thereon;
- a transducer associated with said table for logging positions of common first and second points on said first and second transparencies positioned on said table;
- processing means adapted to receive data corresponding to said logged positions from said table, for calculating a first angle of a line extending between said points on said second transparency and between said selected axis passing therethrough, said means further calculating a position for a base line intersecting a line connecting said points on said first transparency;
- a T-square assembly on said table having at least one rule;
- drive means on said T-square for rotating said rule about an imaginary vertical axis passing therethrough;
- means for coupling said processing means to said drive means, said coupling means rotating said T-square rule to a position indicative of said base line intersecting said points on said first transparency, said base line alignable with said preselected axis, whereby to orient said first transparency at an angle congruent to said second transparency.
Apparatus for orienting a rule at a desired position on a drafting table comprising:
- data means on said drafting table for presenting locatable positions thereon;
- logging means associated with said table for transferring said locatable positions on said table to a downstream processing means;
- processing means interfaced with said logging means for receiving data corresponding to positions logged from said table, said processing means receiving data corresponding to a present position of said rule on said table and said desired position of said rule on said table;
- a T-square assembly on said table containing said rule;
- drive means on said T-square for rotating said rule about an imaginary vertical axis passing therethrough;
- means for coupling said processing means to said drive means, said coupling means rotating said T-square rule to a position indicative of said desired position as calculated by said processing means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.