US3890048A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for measuring the color density of printing inks applied to a moving web
Assignee: Gretag AG
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Filing: 1972-10-30
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Granted: 1975-06-17
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Expires: 1992-10-30
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus is provided for measuring the color density of printing inks applied to a moving web of paper to form multi-colored printed pages. The color density of the inks is measured from a test colorimetric scale specially printed on the paper either outside or between the edges of the pages. The test scale comprises a plurality of color zones, one each for the different color inks being used, each zone having three different tones of the zone color, a reference white zone and two groups of synchronising marks. The apparatus is adapted to detect the synchronising marks and produce timing pulses which are applied to a programmer controlling the sensing of the density values of each of the tones in the zones as the scales pass by a reading head. Light from the reading head is focussed onto the scales the reflected light being received by a photo-detector which produces signals and passes them on to an evaluation circuit which determines the color density value of each of the tones of a zone against the reference white value, the evaluation being synchronised with the movement of the paper by means of the programmer.
Inventors
- 👤 Antonio Abbondio
- 👤 Tino Celio
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 00:14
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J3/00; G01J3/46; G01J3/50; B; B41; B41F; B41F33/00; B41F33/0036; G01J3/52; B41P; B41P2233/00; B41P2233/50; B41P2233/51; G01J3/51
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
A method of measuring the color density of printing inks applied to a moving web of material to print multi-colored matter thereon, the method comprising; a. printing on said web in the direction of movement thereof a plurality of colorimetric scales, each scale having a plurality of different colored zones, and each zone comprising at least three different tones of the zone color arranged in sequence on said web in the direction of web movement, a first group of synchronizing marks at one end of each said scale and a second group of synchronizing marks between zones of a scale each mark being printed in a direction transverse to the direction of web movement, b. sensing the synchronizing marks and providing in response thereto a plurality of timing pulses each representing an incremental movement of said web, the distance between said first and second groups determining the synchronization between web travel and sensing of each of the tones in a zone, c. sensing the color density of each tone in a zone in response to a timing pulse indicating that the zone is in a position to be sensed, d. providing a white reference, and e. evaluating the density of each tone of a reference zone relative to the white reference.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
211 words
A method of measuring the color density of printing inks applied to a moving web of material to print multi-colored matter thereon, the method comprising; a. printing on said web in the direction of movement thereof a plurality of colorimetric scales, each scale having a plurality of different colored zones, and each zone comprising at least three different tones of the zone color arranged in sequence on said web in the direction of web movement, a first group of synchronizing marks at one end of each said scale and a second group of synchronizing marks between zones of a scale each mark being printed in a direction transverse to the direction of web movement, b. sensing the synchronizing marks and providing in response thereto a plurality of timing pulses each representing an incremental movement of said web, the distance between said first and second groups determining the synchronization between web travel and sensing of each of the tones in a zone, c. sensing the color density of each tone in a zone in response to a timing pulse indicating that the zone is in a position to be sensed, d. providing a white reference, and e. evaluating the density of each tone of a reference zone relative to the white reference.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of printing the colorimetric scales on said web of material is peRformed in such manner that the individual tones in each zone decrease in density in the direction of web movement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said multi-colored matter appears on said web in the form of printed pages, pairs of pages being printed side-by-side to define a gap therebetween and wherein the step of printing the colorimetric scales on said web is performed in such manner that said scales are located in said gap.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said multi-colored matter appears on said web in the form of printed pages, pairs of pages being printed side-by-side to define gaps between an edge of each page and an adjacent edge of said web and wherein the step of printing the colorimetric scales on said web is performed in such manner that said scales are located in said gaps.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein said scales are so printed in said gap that the length of each said scale is less than that of a printed page measured in the direction of web travel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein said scales are so printed in said gap that the length of each said scale is less than that of a printed page measured in the direction of web travel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method according to claim 1, in which the synchronizing marks are so printed that the ratio of the length of each synchronizing mark as measured in the direction of web movement to the length measured in the same direction of each tone of each zone is equal to or less than the ratio of the minimum and maximum speeds of the web.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 1, including storing the color density value of each tone in corresponding zones in a plurality of scales and producing from said store values a mean value for the color density.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 8, including repeating the storing and production of the mean value for each of the tones in corresponding different zones in said plurality of scales.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2968988A
Cited
US3376426A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-06-16 | 1978-12-16 | 1979-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-06-16 | 1982-12-16 | 1983-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-06-16 | 1986-12-16 | 1987-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |