Engraving mechanism for electronic engraving machines

An engraving element of an electronic engraving machine for engraving a printing cylinder comprising:

• a shaft oscillating around a longitudinal axis;
• a drive for the shaft;
• a stylus holder attached to the shaft and having an engraving stylus as a cutting tool which, for engraving, executes a stroke motion in a direction onto a generated surface of the printing cylinder rotating around a rotational axis;
• the engraving element being arranged with respect to the printing cylinder rotating around the rotational axis such that the shaft proceeds substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the printing cylinder;
• and
• a stroke motion of the engraving stylus occurring in a plane oriented substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the printing cylinder.

An engraving machine for engraving printing cylinders, comprising

• a printing cylinder seated rotational around a rotational axis;
• an engraving element comprising a shaft oscillating by small rotational angles;
• a drive for the shaft;
• a stylus holder located at the shaft and having an engraving stylus as a cutting tool;
• a restoring element connected to the shaft;
• a bearing for the shaft;
• a damping mechanism connected at the shaft;
• the engraving stylus for engraving, executing stoke motion in a direction of a generated surface of the rotating printing cylinder;
• the engraving element being axially displaced along the printing cylinder for planar engraving;
• the engraving element being arranged with respect to the printing cylinder rotating around the rotational axis such that the shaft proceeds substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the printing cylinder;
• and
• the stoke motion of the engraving stylus occurring in a plane oriented perpendicular to the rotational axis of the printing cylinder.

A method for engraving a printing cylinder with an engraving element in an electronic engraving machine, comprising the steps of:

• oscillating a shaft around a longitudinal axis;
• providing a drive for the shaft;
• providing a stylus holder attached to the shaft and having an engraving stylus as a cutting tool, and for engraving executing a stroke motion in a direction onto a generated surface of the printing cylinder which is rotating around a rotational axis;
• arranging the engraving element with respect to the printing cylinder such that the shaft proceeds substantially parallel to the rotational axis of the printing cylinder;
• and
• stroking the engraving stylus in a plane oriented substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis of the printing cylinder.