US 5,626,076 A · Printing plate mounting system, physical register record plate and method employing the same

Abstract

A flexible printing plate mounting system, physical register record plate (PRRP) and method employing the same, wherein the system includes a sticky back covered plate cylinder, a plate support surface, arms operably connected to the cylinder for drawing the cylinder toward the support surface in a manner to establish a uniform contact line, the PRRP having a microring formed on a surface thereof and arranged in a fixed position on the support surface such that the microring is in a predetermined position in relation to the contact line, a printing plate having a microdot formed on a surface thereof, wherein the microdot is of a size and configuration to be generally complimentarily received within the microring when positioned thereagainst to place the printing plate in condition for mounting by the plate cylinder.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A system for mounting flexible printing plates, comprising:

a sticky back covered plate cylinder;
a plate support surface;
means operably connected to said plate cylinder for drawing said plate cylinder toward said plate support surface in a manner to establish a uniform contact line;
a physical register record plate (PRRP) having a microring formed on a surface thereof, said PRRP being arranged in a fixed position on said plate support surface such that said microring is in a predetermined position in relation to said contact line;
a printing plate having a print surface and a microdot formed on a surface thereof, wherein said microdot is of a size and orientation on said printing plate with respect to said print surface to be generally complimentarily received within said microring when positioned thereagainst thus placing said printing plate in condition for mounting by said plate cylinder.

2 more elements

A method for mounting flexible printing plates, comprising the steps of:

(a) forming a flexible printing plate having a microdot thereon;
(b) forming a flexible physical register record plate (PRRP) having a microring formed thereon, wherein said microring is configured to have a receiving surface generally complimentary to an outer surface of said microdot;
(c) orienting said PRRP onto a surface;
(d) interfacing said printing plate with said PRRP such that said microdots are positioned within said microring to ready said printing plate for mounting;
and
(e) drawing into contact with said printing plate a print cylinder in a manner wherein said printing plate adheres to said cylinder upon contact and separates from said PRRP resulting in said printing plate being registered.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Printing plate mounting system, physical register record plate and method employing the same

Life of this patent

Printing plate mounting system, physical register record plate and method employing the same

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17