Controlling line widths in flexographic printing
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsJames Douglas Shifley, Peter Steven Alexandrovich, James Albert Reczek
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for controlling feature characteristics in a flexographic printing system that forms a printed pattern on a substrate by applying ink from an ink reservoir using a flexographic printing plate mounted on a plate cylinder. An imaging system is used to capture an image of the pattern printed on the substrate, and the captured image is analyzed to determine a feature characteristic of one or more features of the printed pattern. A control system automatically controls an amount of solvent used to replenish the ink in the ink reservoir responsive to the determined feature characteristic.
Claims17
A method for controlling feature characteristics in a flexographic printing system, comprising:
- using the flexographic printing system to form a printed pattern on a substrate by applying ink from an ink reservoir using a flexographic printing plate mounted on a plate cylinder, wherein the flexographic printing plate has raised features corresponding to the printed pattern;
- using an imaging system to capture an image of the pattern printed on the substrate;
- analyzing the capture image to determine a feature characteristic of one or more features of the printed pattern;
- and
- using a control system to automatically control an amount of solvent used to replenish the ink in the ink reservoir responsive to the determined feature characteristic, wherein the feature characteristic is a line width.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.