Apparatus for minimizing registration errors when mounting plate cylinders in an optical disc printing system
AssigneeCinram International Inc.
InventorThomas I. Sweeney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for minimizing registration errors when mounting a plate cylinder in an optical disc printing system is provided. The apparatus comprises a locating member attached to an end of an imaging drum in the printing system, facing away from a drive member in the printing system, and a clamping tool including spring-loaded handles, a plurality of arms, and a locating sleeve integrally attached to an outer surface of one of the clamping tool arms. The apparatus allows an operator to maneuver the plate cylinder in radial and axial directions into a final, aligned position, and the clamping tool holds the plate cylinder in place in the final position while the operator secures the plate cylinder in the system.
Claims11
An apparatus for minimizing registration errors when mounting a plate cylinder in a subsystem of an optical disc printing system, the subsystem including a drive member, an expanding mandrel attached to the drive member, and an imaging drum adapted to slide over the mandrel, said apparatus comprising:
- a locating member attached to an end of the imaging drum facing away from the drive member;
- and
- a clamping tool including spring-loaded handles, a plurality of arms, and a locating sleeve integrally attached to an outer surface of one of the clamping tool arms,
- wherein said clamping tool is adapted to grip the mandrel, and when the clamping tool gripping the mandrel is in a locating position such that the clamping tool engages the imaging drum and the locating sleeve of the clamping tool engages said locating member, said clamping tool is moved by an operator of the optical disc printing system in a rotational direction relative to an axis of the mandrel, allowing the locating sleeve to remain engaged to the locating member and causing the imaging drum to rotate in a similar direction, while the clamping tool holds securely to the mandrel in a radial direction and pressure is applied by the clamping tool against said end of the imaging drum in an axial direction towards the drive member, until the imaging drum is brought to a final position.
An apparatus for minimizing registration errors when mounting a plate cylinder in a subsystem of an optical disc printing system, the subsystem including a drive member, an expanding mandrel attached to the drive member, and an imaging drum adapted to slide over the mandrel, said apparatus comprising:
- engaging means for gripping the mandrel in a locating position and simultaneously engaging the imaging drum in a locating position;
- and
- locating means coupled to said engaging means, for engaging a location member attached to an end of the imaging drum,
- wherein when said engaging means engages the imaging drum and said locating means engages the locating member attached to the end of the imaging drum, said engaging means is moved in a direction allowing said locating means to remain engaged to the locating member and causing pressure to be applied by the engaging means against the end of the imaging drum in an axial direction towards the drive member, while the engaging means holds securely to the mandrel in a radial direction, until the imaging drum is brought to a final position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.