Method and apparatus for engraving using a magnetostrictive actuator
AssigneeOhio Electronic Engravers, Inc.
InventorLester W. Buechler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An engraving head apparatus and method for engraving a gravure cylinder. The engraving head apparatus includes a magnetostrictive actuator formed from TERFENOL-D.TM. which elongatably drives a diamond-tipped stylus arm in a reciprocal manner in response to a varying magnetic field created by a bias coil and a drive coil. The bias coil establishes a DC biasing magnetic field which causes an initial expansion of the actuator to approximately one-half the total linear expansion limit of the actuator. The drive coil is concentrically interposed between the actuator and the bias coil and modulates the magnetic field intensity established by the bias coil to cause additional expansion and contraction of the actuator about the initial expansion point.
Claims61
An engraver for engraving a cylinder having an engraving surface comprising:
- an engraving bed;
- a headstock and a tailstock mounted on said engraving bed;
- said headstock and tailstock cooperating to rotatably support said cylinder at an engraving station of said engraver;
- an engraving head mounted on said engraving bed at said engraving station to permit the engraving head to engrave said engraving surface;
- said engraving head comprising:
- a housing;
- an engraving stylus for engraving a cylinder positioned at said engraving station of said engraver;
- a magnetostrictive member situated in the housing and operatively coupled to said engraving system;
- and
- an energizer for energizing said magnetostrictive member to cause said engraving stylus to oscillate to engrave a predetermined pattern of cells on a surface of said cylinder.
A stylus driver for driving a stylus in an engraver comprising:
- a magnetostrictive member coupled to the stylus;
- and
- an energizer for energizing said magnetostrictive member to cause said stylus to oscillate.
A method for engraving a predetermined pattern of cells in a cylinder rotatably mounted on an engraver comprising the steps of:
- coupling a stylus to a magnetostrictive member;
- positioning the stylus in proximate relationship with the cylinder;
- rotating said cylinder;
- and
- energizing said magnetostrictive member to oscillate said stylus.
An engraving head for use in an engraver comprising:
- a housing;
- an engraving stylus for engraving a cylinder positioned at an engraving station of said engraver;
- a magnetostrictive member situated in the housing and operatively coupled to said engraving stylus;
- and
- an energizer for energizing said magnetostrictive member which causes said engraving stylus to oscillate to engrave a predetermined pattern of cells on a surface of said cylinder.
A method for engraving a cylinder comprising:
- rotatably mounting said cylinder at an engraving station of an engraver;
- positioning a stylus coupled to a magnetostrictive member in proximate relationship with an engraving surface of said cylinder;
- and
- energizing said magnetostrictive member to oscillate said stylus during the rotation of said cylinder to engrave the predetermined pattern of cells on said engraving surface of said cylinder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.