Printing plate making machine

Claim 1

A device for making printing plates, said plates having a nonprinting area outside the plate area which is to be reproduced, said nonprinting area on the finished plate bearing indicia impressed thereon and so positioned as to indicate the desired number of copies to be made from the printing plate, said device comprising an electrical power source; manually adjustable means movable to a position characteristic of the desired number of copies to be made from the printing plate; means defining a printing plate Path through the device along which a printing plate is movable; means for detecting the presence of a printing plate in the printing plate path at a predetermined position therein and originating an electrical signal from said electrical power source upon such detection; means for applying indicia to the nonprinting area, said applying means comprising electrical circuit means activated upon receipt of said electrical signal, said means applying indicia at a selected portion of said nonprinting area corresponding to the position of the manually adjustable means.

Claim 2

A device for making printing plates, said plates having a nonprinting area outside the plate area which is to be reproduced, said nonprinting area on the finished plate bearing indicia impressed thereon and so positioned as to indicate the desired number of copies to be made from the printing plate, said device comprising an electrical power source; manually adjustable means movable to a position characteristic of the desired number of copies to be made from the printing plate; means defining a printing plate Path through the device along which a printing plate is movable; means for detecting the presence of a printing plate in the printing plate path at a predetermined position therein and originating an electrical signal from said electrical power source upon such detection; means for applying indicia to the nonprinting area, said applying means comprising electrical circuit means activated upon receipt of said electrical signal, said means applying indicia at a selected portion of said nonprinting area corresponding to the position of the manually adjustable means.

Claim 6

A device for marking printing plates having a nonprinting area with indicia characteristic of a desired copy number comprising: a plurality of units digit circuits; each units digit circuit comprising a units digit switch in series with the remaining portions of the circuit; first manually adjustable means for closing selected groups of the units digit switches, a different such group being closed for each position of the manually adjustable means and each such group being characteristic of a different units digit number, each said units digit number comprising the units digit of the desired copy number; means defining a printing plate path along which a printing plate may be advanced in an edgewise direction beneath a printing station; a plurality of marking means for marking, when activated, portions of a printing plate at the printing station, each marking means being connected to a separate units digit circuit and being activated by the receipt of an electrical signal and each marking means marking the printing plate at a different position thereon; a power source for supplying electrical power; first detector means for detecting the presence of a printing plate in a first preselected position at the printing station and thereupon completing the units digit circuits through the power source, the closed units digit switches, and the maRking means, and thereby activating the marking means associated with the closed units digit switches.

Claim 7

A device for marking printing plates having a nonprinting area with indicia characteristic of a desired copy number comprising: a plurality of units digit circuits; each units digit circuit comprising a units digit switch in series with the remaining portions of the circuit; first manually adjustable means for closing selected groups of the units digit switches, a different such group being closed for each position of the manually adjustable means and each such group being characteristic of a different units digit number, each said units digit number comprising the units digit of the desired copy number; means defining a printing plate path along which a printing plate may be advanced in an edgewise direction beneath a printing station; a plurality of marking means for marking, when activated, portions of a printing plate at the printing station, each marking means being connected to a separate units digit circuit and being activated by the receipt of an electrical signal and each marking means marking the printing plate at a different position thereon; a power source for supplying electrical power; first detector means for detecting the presence of a printing plate in a first preselected position at the printing station and thereupon completing the units digit circuits through the power source, the closed units digit switches, and the maRking means, and thereby activating the marking means associated with the closed units digit switches.

Claim 12

A device for making a printing plate from a printing plate blank having a nonprinting area outside the plate area which is to be reproduced, said printing plate blank having two rows of holes, each row parallel to the other and to a side edge of the plate, said printing plate having indicia printed thereon or stamped therethrough and so positioned as to indicate the desired number of copies to be made from the printing plate, said device comprising: means defining a printing plate path along which a printing plate blank may be advanced in an edgewise direction beneath a marking station; a first detector switch; first printing plate detector means for detecting the presence of a printing plate at a first predetermined position in the printing plate path and thereupon closing a first detector switch; first and second detecting brushes, each having a contact end in the printing plate path, one such contact end being aligned with one row of holes and the other with the other row of holes, said first and second detecting brushes making electrical contact through said holes with, respectively, a first contact and a second contact located on the opposite side of the printing plate path; marking means for marking, when said means are activated by an electrical signal, a printing plate blank at the marking station; a first rotary cam; manually adjustable first step-by-step rotation means for rotating the first rotary cam in successive angular steps in response to successive electrical impulses; a first cam switch; means on the first rotary cam for closing the first cam switch at a predetermined angular position of the first rotary cam; power supply means for supplying electrical power to the first step-by-step rotation means; first circuit means for connecting in series the power supply means, the first detector switch, the first step-by-step roTation means, the first detecting brush, and the first contact; power supply means for supplying electrical power to the marking means; second circuit means for connecting in series the power supply means, the first cam switch, the marking means, the second detecting brush, and the second contact.

Claim 13

A device for making a printing plate from a printing plate blank having a nonprinting area outside the plate area which is to be reproduced, said printing plate blank having two rows of holes, each row parallel to the other and to a side edge of the plate, said printing plate having indicia printed thereon or stamped therethrough and so positioned as to indicate the desired number of copies to be made from the printing plate, said device comprising: means defining a printing plate path along which a printing plate blank may be advanced in an edgewise direction beneath a marking station; a first detector switch; first printing plate detector means for detecting the presence of a printing plate at a first predetermined position in the printing plate path and thereupon closing a first detector switch; first and second detecting brushes, each having a contact end in the printing plate path, one such contact end being aligned with one row of holes and the other with the other row of holes, said first and second detecting brushes making electrical contact through said holes with, respectively, a first contact and a second contact located on the opposite side of the printing plate path; marking means for marking, when said means are activated by an electrical signal, a printing plate blank at the marking station; a first rotary cam; manually adjustable first step-by-step rotation means for rotating the first rotary cam in successive angular steps in response to successive electrical impulses; a first cam switch; means on the first rotary cam for closing the first cam switch at a predetermined angular position of the first rotary cam; power supply means for supplying electrical power to the first step-by-step rotation means; first circuit means for connecting in series the power supply means, the first detector switch, the first step-by-step roTation means, the first detecting brush, and the first contact; power supply means for supplying electrical power to the marking means; second circuit means for connecting in series the power supply means, the first cam switch, the marking means, the second detecting brush, and the second contact.