US 5,392,706 A · Pad transfer printing method

Abstract

A method for carrying out pad transfer printing is disclosed in which process parameters for a desired print cycle are input to a controller. The method includes the steps of independently driving a gravure printing plate between an inking position and an ink transfer position, and independently driving an ink transfer pad between an ink receiving position and an ink transfer position, both in accordance with the input process parameters. The process parameters may include the velocities or lengths of movement of the gravure printing plate and ink transfer pad, and the dwell periods between movements of these components. The process parameters may be adjusted automatically in accordance with differences between the estimated and actual times required to move the printing plate and transfer pad along their paths of movement.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of pad transfer printing, comprising the following steps:

inputting process parameters regarding a desired print cycle to a controller, said process parameters including plate movement parameters and pad movement parameters, said plate movement parameters including independently selected plate extension and retraction velocities;
extending and retracting a gravure printing plate in accordance with said plate movement parameters between an inking position at which ink is applied to said plate and an ink transfer position at which an ink image is transferred from said plate to an ink transfer pad, said extension and retraction of said plate occurring at said independently selected plate extension and retraction velocities, respectively;
and
independently driving said ink transfer pad in accordance with said pad movement parameters between an ink receiving position at which said ink image is received from said plate and an ink transfer position at which said ink image is transferred to a surface to be printed.

1 more element

A method of controlling a pad transfer printing cycle that includes at least one step of moving a gravure printing plate and at least one step of moving an ink transfer pad, comprising the following steps:

inputting process parameters to a controller regarding a desired printing cycle;
calculating the estimated time required to move each of the gravure printing plate and the ink transfer pad based on the process parameters;
moving the gravure printing plate in accordance with the process parameters and measuring the actual time of the movement;
comparing the estimated time required to move the gravure printing plate with the actual time of the movement and adjusting selected process parameters if the difference is outside a predetermined range;
moving the ink transfer pad in accordance with the process parameters and measuring the actual time of the movement;
and
comparing the estimated time required to move the ink transfer pad with the actual time of the movement and adjusting selected process parameters if the difference is outside a predetermined range.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Pad transfer printing method

Life of this patent

Pad transfer printing method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20