Computerized cutting method and apparatus for use in printing operations
OwnerJoseph R. Frazzittainventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a printing method, an electrically encoded image to be transferred to a printing substrate during a printing process is provided in an electronic memory. A flexible carrier web is attached under tension to a cutting cylinder with an adjustable diameter. The cutting cylinder is adjusted to have a diameter which matches the diameter of a blanket or printing cylinder of a printing machine. The length of the cutting cylinder is at least as great as the length of the blanket or printing cylinder. The carrier web is cut automatically in accordance with the electrically encoded image after attachment of the carrier web to the adjusted cutting cylinder.
Claims37
A printing method comprising:
- providing, in an electronic memory, an electrically encoded image to be transferred to a printing substrate during a printing process;
- providing a rotatably mounted cutting cylinder having an adjustable diameter and a length at least as long as a length of a blanket or printing cylinder of a printing machine;
- adjusting the diameter of said cutting cylinder to be equal to a diameter of said blanket or printing cylinder;
- after adjusting of the diameter of said cutting cylinder, attaching a flexible carrier web under tension to said cutting cylinder;
- after attachment of said carrier web to said cutting cylinder, automatically cutting said carrier web in accordance with said electrically encoded image;
- and
- using the cut carrier web on the blanket or printing cylinder of the printing machine to transfer an ink or coating composition to the printing substrate.
An apparatus used in printing, comprising:
- a memory for storing an electrically encoded image to be transferred to a printing substrate during a printing process;
- a rotatable cylinder having an adjustable diameter;
- coupling elements on said cylinder for removably attaching a carrier web under tension to said cylinder;
- a cutting device for forming continuous curvilinear cuts in said carrier web attached to said cylinder;
- and
- a controller operatively connected to said memory and said cutting device for controlling said cutting device to form, in said carrier web in accordance with said electrically encoded image, continuous curvilinear cuts in said carrier web.
A method used in printing, comprising:
- providing, in an electronic memory, an electrically encoded image to be transferred to a printing substrate during a printing process;
- disposing a flexible carrier web on a cutting surface;
- placing tension on said carrier web substantially equal to tension said carrier web would experience when attached to a blanket or printing cylinder of a printing machine, said cutting surface being different from any surface of said blanket or printing cylinder;
- after disposition of said carrier web on said cutting surface and after placement of tension on said carrier web, automatically cutting said carrier web in accordance with said electrically encoded image;
- removing at least one section of said carrier web along cut lines made in said carrier web during the cutting thereof;
- and
- using the cut carrier web, with the section removed therefrom, on the blanket or printing cylinder of the printing machine to transfer an ink or coating composition to the printing substrate.
An apparatus used in printing, comprising:
- a memory for storing an electrically encoded image to be transferred to a printing substrate during a printing process;
- a substantially flat support surface having at least two pairs of opposing edges;
- coupling elements for releasably placing a carrier web disposed on said surface under tension;
- a cutting device for forming continuous curvilinear cuts in said carrier web disposed under tension on said support surface;
- and
- a controller operatively connected to said memory and said cutting device for controlling said cutting device to form, in said carrier web in accordance with said electrically encoded image, continuous curvilinear cuts in said carrier web.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.