Electronic apparatus and computer-controlled method for alignment correction

A device for adjusting the diagonal registration of a plate cylinder of a printing press, the plate cylinder having a first side and a second side, said device comprising:

• apparatus for mounting the first side of the plate cylinder in a substantially fixed position within the printing press and for pivotally mounting the second side of the plate cylinder within the printing press;
• a displacement device for displacing the plate cylinder;
• said displacement device comprising apparatus for:
• pivoting the second side of the plate cylinder with respect to the first side of the plate cylinder;
• and
• rotating the plate cylinder about the axis of rotation to adjust a circumferential alignment of the printing plate;
• a computer processor unit for generating adjustment signals for adjusting the alignment of the printing plate;
• said computer processor unit being operatively connected to said displacement device;
• a data input unit for receiving data and inputting the data into the computer processor unit;
• said computer processor unit comprising at least one calculation algorithm for correcting the diagonal registration of the printing plate;
• said at least one calculation algorithm comprising:
• a first calculation for calculating a pivotal movement of the plate cylinder to provide a first positive correction of the diagonal registration of the second side of the plate cylinder;
• a second calculation for calculating a pivotal movement of the plate cylinder to provide a first negative correction of the diagonal registration of the second side of the plate cylinder;
• a third calculation for calculating a pivotal movement of the plate cylinder to provide a second positive correction of the diagonal registration of the first side of the plate cylinder;
• and
• a fourth calculation for calculating a pivotal movement of the plate cylinder to provide a second negative correction of the diagonal registration of the first side of the plate cylinder;
• each positive correction of the diagonal registration being substantially opposite its corresponding negative correction of the diagonal registration;
• a control console for selecting one of the first, second, third and fourth calculations;
• said computer processor unit being operatively connected to said control console;
• and
• said control console comprising:
• a first pushbutton for selecting the first calculation;
• a second pushbutton for selecting the second calculation;
• a third pushbutton for selecting the third calculation;
• and
• a fourth pushbutton for selecting the fourth calculation.

An electronic system for adjusting the alignment of a printing plate disposed circumferentially about a plate cylinder of a printing press, the plate cylinder having a first side and a second side, and an axis of rotation extending through said first side and said second side, the plate cylinder defining a lateral direction along the axis of rotation, a circumferential direction rotationally about the axis of rotation, and a diagonal direction corresponding to movement of at least one of the first and second sides with respect to the other of the first and second sides, the plate cylinder having an axle defining the axis of rotation, the axle having a first end disposed adjacent the first side of the plate cylinder and a second end disposed adjacent the second side of the plate cylinder, said system comprising:

• an apparatus for mounting the plate cylinder in the printing press;
• said apparatus for mounting the plate cylinder in the printing press comprising:
• a first axle mounting apparatus for mounting the first axle end in a substantially fixed position within the printing press;
• and
• a second axle mounting apparatus for mounting the second axle end in the printing press, said second axle mounting apparatus comprising apparatus for permitting pivoting of the second axle end with respect to the first axle end;
• a displacement device for displacing the plate cylinder, said displacement device comprising:
• an angular displacement device for angularly displacing the axis of rotation of the plate cylinder to move one of the first and second sides of the plate cylinder with respect to the other of the first and second sides to adjust a diagonal alignment of the printing plate;
• said angular displacement device comprising a pivot apparatus for pivoting the second axle end with respect to the first axle end;
• and
• a circumferential displacement device for rotating the plate cylinder about the axis of rotation to adjust a circumferential alignment of the printing plate;
• a computer processor unit for generating adjustment signals for adjusting the alignment of the printing plate;
• a receiving device for receiving said respective adjustment signals from the computer processor unit and for operating said displacement device as a function of said adjustment signals to adjust both the diagonal register of the printing plate and the circumferential register of the printing plate;
• a data input unit for receiving data and inputting the data into the computer processor unit, which data comprises data representative of:
• a location of at least two reference points of the printing plate, said at least two points comprising at least a first point disposed towards the first side of the plate cylinder and at least a second point disposed towards the second side of the plate cylinder;
• and
• a deviation of at least one of said at least two points from a corresponding reference position for each of the at least two points, the deviation comprising one of the following items:
• A) a deviation of said first point in a first direction away from its said corresponding reference position;
• B) a deviation of said first point in a second direction away from its said corresponding reference position;
• C) a deviation of said second point in a first direction away from its said corresponding reference position;
• and
• D) a deviation of said second point in a second direction away from its corresponding reference position;
• the first and second directions of deviation of said first point comprising diagonal directions of the plate cylinder, the second direction of deviation of said first point being substantially opposite to the first direction of deviation of said first point;
• the first and second directions of deviation of said second point comprising diagonal directions of the plate cylinder, the second direction of deviation of said second point being substantially opposite to the first direction of deviation of said second point;
• said computer processor unit further comprising:
• a calculating unit for calculating from the input data, said respective adjustment signals for adjusting said displacement device;
• said calculating unit comprising:
• pre-programmed calculation algorithms corresponding to at least each of items:
• A), B), C) and D);
• a first adjustment signal unit for calculating a first adjustment signal for moving the second axle end with respect to the first axle end to provide a correction in the diagonal register of the printing plate;
• a second adjustment signal unit for calculating a second adjustment signal for circumferentially displacing the printing plate about the axis of rotation to provide a correction in the circumferential register of the printing plate;
• and
• a transmitting unit for transmitting the respective adjustment signals from said calculating unit to said receiving device and operating to operate said displacement device;
• a control console for selecting a deviation Corresponding to one of items:
• A), B), C) and D) for directing the computer processor unit in determining respective adjustment signals for adjusting the plate cylinder;
• said control console comprising a signal generator for producing an electronic signal corresponding to the selected one of items:
• A), B), C) and D);
• a monitoring device for monitoring said control console for receiving said produced electronic signal, evaluating said produced electronic signal to determine the one of items:
• A), B), C) and D) selected, and controlling operation of said computer processor unit on the basis of the selected one of items:
• A), B), C) and D);
• and
• said control console further comprising:
• a keypad for selecting one of items:
• A), B), C) and D) for directing the computer processor unit in determining respective adjustment signals for adjusting said displacement device;
• and
• said keypad comprising at least four push-buttons electrically connected to said monitoring device, each of said push-buttons being for directing the computer processor unit in selecting calculation algorithms for determining adjustment signals, wherein:
• a first push-button corresponds to item A);
• a second push-button corresponds to item B);
• a third push-button corresponds to item C);
• and
• a fourth push-button corresponds to item D).