Engraving head support method with linear head driver

A method for engraving a cylinder mounted on an engraver comprising the steps of:

• rotating the cylinder on said engraver;
• driving an engraving head in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to an axis of said cylinder until a shoe on said engraving head comes into contact with said cylinder;
• driving said engraving head in a direction parallel to said axis of said cylinder;
• oscillating a stylus into engraving contact with said cylinder to effect engraving of said cylinder;
• driving said engraving head with a motor;
• terminating power to said motor when said shoe engages said cylinder with a predetermined amount of force;
• wherein said method further comprises the step of:
• sensing movement of said engraving head relative to a base on which said engraving head is mounted;
• and
• performing said terminating step when said predetermined amount of force is achieved.

A method of supporting an engraving head which is driven substantially parallel to an axis of a cylinder during engraving, comprising the steps of:

• providing an engraving head;
• providing a carriage that permits said engraving head to move in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to said axis of said cylinder;
• and
• providing a power-operated drive motor for driving said engraving head until a shoe mounted on said engraving head engages said cylinder with a predetermined amount of force and without tilting said engraving head;
• said engraving head engraving said cylinder when said carriage is driven in said direction which is substantially parallel to said axis of said cylinder.

A method of supporting an engraving head which is driven substantially parallel to an axis of a cylinder during engraving, comprising the steps of:

• providing an engraving head;
• providing a carriage that permits said engraving head to move in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to said axis of said cylinder;
• providing a drive motor for driving said engraving head until a shoe mounted on said engraving head engages said cylinder with a predetermined amount of force;
• providing said engraving head mounted on a deck which is coupled to a base;
• and
• providing a coupling between said deck and said base which permits said deck to move radially relative to said cylinder;
• wherein said coupling comprises a plurality of springs.

A method of supporting an engraving head which is driven substantially parallel to an axis of a cylinder during engraving, comprising the steps of:

• providing an engraving head;
• providing a carriage that permits said engraving head to move in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to said axis of said cylinder;
• and
• providing a drive motor for driving said engraving head until a shoe mounted on said engraving head engages said cylinder with a predetermined amount of force;
• terminating power to said drive motor when said shoe engages said cylinder with said predetermined amount of force;
• wherein said method further comprises the steps of:
• providing a sensor for sensing movement of said engraving head relative to a base on which said engraving head is mounted;
• and
• performing said terminating step when said predetermined amount of force is achieved.

A method of supporting an engraving head which is driven substantially parallel to an axis of a cylinder during engraving, comprising the steps of:

• providing an engraving head;
• providing a carriage that permits said engraving head to move in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to said axis of said cylinder;
• and
• providing a drive motor for driving said engraving head until a shoe mounted on said engraving head engages said cylinder with a predetermined amount of force;
• providing an engraving head mounted on a deck which is coupled to a base;
• driving said engraving head towards said cylinder until said shoe engages said cylinder and said deck moves relative to said base;
• continuing to drive said base until said shoe engages said cylinder with a predetermined amount of force;
• and
• wherein said method further comprises the step of:
• providing said engraving head mounted on said deck which is coupled to said base with a plurality of springs.

An engraving head drive system for use on an engraver comprising:

• an engraving head comprising a stylus for engraving a cylinder as the cylinder rotates;
• a deck for supporting said engraving head;
• a platform and a support for flexibly coupling said deck to said platform;
• and
• a driver coupled to said engraving head for driving said engraving head toward and away from said cylinder;
• said driver being power operated;
• said driver driving said engraving head towards said cylinder during rotation of the cylinder and without tilting said engraving head to permit said stylus to engrave a surface of said cylinder;
• wherein said support comprises a plurality of support columns;
• wherein at least on of said plurality of support columns comprises a stiffness which is greater than a stiffness of another of said plurality of support columns.

An engraver comprising:

• an engraving head situated on the engraver for engraving a cylinder, said engraving head having at least one stylus for engraving said cylinder;
• and
• a driver for non-pivotally moving said engraving head towards and away from said cylinder without tilting said engraving head;
• wherein said driver drives said engraving head toward said cylinder when said driver is energized until said engraving head engages said cylinder, said cylinder and said engraving head being moved relative to each other wherein said cylinder is rotating to permit said engraving head to engrave said cylinder;
• wherein said support comprises a plurality of support columns;
• and
• wherein at least one of said plurality of support columns comprises a stiffness which is greater than a stiffness of another of said plurality of support columns.

An engraver comprising:

• an engraving head situated on the engraver for engraving a cylinder, said engraving head having at least one stylus for engraving said cylinder;
• and
• a driver for non-pivotally moving said engraving head towards and away from said cylinder without tilting said engraving head;
• wherein said driver drives said engraving head toward said cylinder when said driver is energized until said engraving head engages said cylinder, said cylinder and said engraving head being moved relative to each other while said cylinder is rotating to permit said engraving head to engrave said cylinder;
• wherein said engraving head comprises a shoe;
• said driver driving said engraving head until said shoe engages said cylinder with a predetermined force.

An engraver comprising:

• an engraving head situated on the engraver for engraving a cylinder, said engraving head having at least one stylus for engraving said cylinder;
• and
• a driver for non-pivotally moving said engraving head towards and away from said cylinder without tilting said engraving head;
• wherein said driver drives said engraving head toward said cylinder when said driver is energized until said engraving head engages said cylinder, said cylinder and said engraving head being moved relative to each other while said cylinder is rotating to permit said engraving head to engrave said cylinder;
• wherein said engraving head comprises a shoe;
• said driver being capable of driving said engraving head until said shoe contacts said cylinder during rotation of the cylinder.