US 5,850,789 A · Method and apparatus for mounting printing plates

Abstract

An apparatus and method for mounting a plurality of plates onto a carrier sheet includes a table mounted on a stationary base, each plate having a first and a second registration mark thereon. A first camera assembly is moveably attached to a support adjacent the table and is connected to a first video monitor for viewing the first registration marks. A second video camera is moveably attached to the support adjacent the table and is connected to a second video monitor for viewing the second registration marks. Linear actuators are connected to the first and the second camera assemblies and to the table for independently moving each camera assembly relative to the table. A motion controller is connected to the linear actuators for sending moving signals thereto, and generates at least two moving signals corresponding to the two registration marks for each plate. Each plate is positioned on the carrier sheet beneath the first and the second camera assemblies so that the first registration mark aligns with a cross-hair image on the first video monitor and the second registration mark aligns with a cross-hair image on the second video monitor.

Claims16

Dependent claims

An apparatus for mounting a plurality of plates onto a carrier sheet, each plate having a first and a second registration mark thereon, comprising:

a table mounted on a stationary base;
a first camera assembly adjacent the table and moveably attached to a support, said first camera assembly connected to a first video monitor for viewing said first registration marks;
a second camera assembly adjacent the table and moveably attached to said support, said second camera assembly connected to a second video monitor for viewing said second registration marks;
means connected to said first and said second camera assemblies for independently moving each camera assembly relative to said table;
and
a motion controller connected to said moving means for sending moving signals thereto, said motion controller including means for generating at least two moving signals corresponding to said two registration marks for each plate.

3 more elements

A method for mounting a plurality of plates onto a carrier sheet, each plate having a first and a second registration mark thereon, comprising:

(a) placing said carrier sheet on a table mounted on a stationary base;
(b) sending first moving signals from a motion controller to means for moving said table and to means for moving a first camera assembly to first position coordinates corresponding to said first registration mark for a first plate being mounted, said first camera assembly moveably attached to a support adjacent said table and connected to a first video monitor;
(c) sending second moving signals from said motion controller to means for moving a second camera assembly to second position coordinates corresponding to said second registration mark for said first plate being mounted, said second camera assembly moveably attached to said support adjacent said table and connected to a second video monitor;
(d) moving said table and said first and said second camera assemblies in response to said first and said second moving signals so as to locate said first and said second camera assemblies, respectively, at said first and said second position coordinates;
(e) positioning said first plate on said carrier sheet beneath said first and said second camera assemblies so that said first registration mark aligns with a cross-hair image on said first video monitor and said second registration mark aligns with a cross-hair image on said second video monitor;
and
(f) mounting said first plate onto said carrier sheet after said positioning step.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for mounting printing plates

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for mounting printing plates

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16