Control apparatus for the registration of a printing press or the like

Claim 2

For use with a printing press having means for removably mounting printing cylinders having different respective diameters, apparatus for obtaining a reading window pulse for assisting in the control of registration of material printed on such press, comprising a pulse generator adapted to generate a starting pulse for each revolution of one of said mounted printing cylinders, means for producing a control signal representative of the speed of travel of the material being printed by said press, and a timing device connected to receive said starting pulse and said control signal for producing a window pulse in response to said starting pulse, said window pulse having a duration which is a function of the speed of travel of said material being printed and which is independent of the diameter of said one mounted cylinder.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the duration of said winDow pulse is proportional to the speed of said material being printed.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pulse generator comprises a member rotating with said cylinder, and a transducer juxtaposed with said member for producing a pulse at a predetermined time during each revolution of said member.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for producing a control signal comprises a tachometer.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said timing device comprises an integrator for integrating said control signal until a predetermined value is produced by said integrator, and means for manifesting said window pulse during the operation of said integrator.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said means for manifesting said window pulse comprises a bistable device connected to receive said starting pulse, said bistable device being set to one state in response to said starting pulse and reset to its other state when said integrator produces said predetermined value.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said bistable device comprises a flip-flop.

Claim 9

For use with a printing press, apparatus for obtaining a reading window pulse for assisting in the control of registration of material printed on such press, comprising a pulse generator adapted to generate a starting pulse for each revolution of a printing cylinder, means for producing a control signal representative of the speed of travel of the material being printed by said press, and a timing device connected to receive said starting pulse and said control signal for producing a window pulse in response to said starting pulse, said window pulse having a duration which is a function of the speed of travel of said material being printed, said timing device comprising an integrator for integrating said control signal until a predetermined value is produced by said integrator, and means for manifesting said window pulse during the operation of said integrator, said means for manifesting said window pulse comprising a flip-flop connected to receive said starting pulse, said flip-flop being set to one state in response to said starting pulse and reset to its other state when said integrator produces said predetermined value, said integrator comprising a differential amplifier having an input connected to receive said control signal, a feedback capacitor connected between the output of said amplifier and its inverting input, and means for selectively short-circulating said feedback capacitor prior to said starting pulse.

Claim 10

For use with a printing press, apparatus for obtaining a reading window pulse for assisting in the control of registration of material printed on such press, comprising a pulse generator adapted to generate a starting pulse for each revolution of a printing cylinder, means for producing a control signal representative of the speed of travel of the material being printed by said press, and a timing device connected to receive said starting pulse and said control signal for producing a window pulse in response to said starting pulse, said window pulse having a duration which is a function of the speed of travel of said material being printed, said timing device comprising an integrator for integrating said control signal until a predetermined value is produced by said integrator, and means for manifesting said window pulse during the operation of said integrator, said means for manifesting said window pulse comprising a flip-flop connected to receive said starting pulse, said flip-flop being set to one state in response to said starting pulse and reset to its other state when said integrator produces said predetermined value, said integrator comprising a differential amplifier having an input connected to receive said control signal, a feedback capacitor connected between the output of said amplifier and its inverting input, and means for selectively short-circulating said feedback capacitor prior to said starting pulse.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said shortcircuiting means comprises an FET having its drain and source terminals connected across said capacitor, and means connecting the gate terminal of said FET with said bistable device for rendering said FET conductive prior to said starting pulse.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 1, including a second timing device connected to receive said starting pulse, for producing a reference pulse at an interval following said starting pulse which is a predetermined fraction of the duration of said window pulse.

Claim 13

For use with a printing press, apparatus for obtaining a reading window pulse for assisting in the control of registration of material printed on such press, comprising a pulse generator adapted to generate a starting pulse for each revolution of a printing cylinder, means for producing a control signal representative of the speed of travel of the material being printed by said press, and a timing device connected to receive said starting pulse and said control signal for producing a window pulse in response to said starting pulse, said window pulse having a duration which is a function of the speed of travel of said material being printed, and including a second timing device connected to receive said starting pulse, for producing a reference pulse at an interval following said starting pulse which is a predetermined fraction of the duration of said window pulse, said second timing device comprising a second Integrator for integrating said control signal, at a rate bearing a predetermined relationship to the rate of integration of the first integrator, until a predetermined value is produced by said second integrator, and means for manifesting said reference pulse when said predetermined value is reached by said second integrator.

Claim 14

For use with a printing press, apparatus for obtaining a reading window pulse for assisting in the control of registration of material printed on such press, comprising a pulse generator adapted to generate a starting pulse for each revolution of a printing cylinder, means for producing a control signal representative of the speed of travel of the material being printed by said press, and a timing device connected to receive said starting pulse and said control signal for producing a window pulse in response to said starting pulse, said window pulse having a duration which is a function of the speed of travel of said material being printed, and including a second timing device connected to receive said starting pulse, for producing a reference pulse at an interval following said starting pulse which is a predetermined fraction of the duration of said window pulse, said second timing device comprising a second Integrator for integrating said control signal, at a rate bearing a predetermined relationship to the rate of integration of the first integrator, until a predetermined value is produced by said second integrator, and means for manifesting said reference pulse when said predetermined value is reached by said second integrator.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the predetermined value reached by said second integrator is identical to the predetermined value reached by the first integrator.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 11, including connecting means for connecting said control signal with said first and second integrators, said connecting means furnishing predetermined fractions of said control signal to said first and second integrators.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the fraction of the control signal furnished to said first integrator is one half the fraction furnished to said second integrator, such that said reference pulse always falls in the center of said window pulse.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 10, including monostable means connected with said second timing device for producing said reference pulse with a predetermined duration.