Pre-setting of printing machines

Claim 3

The method according to claim 1 and comprising the steps of generating a first pulse when each of said times is detected, generating a second pulse upon the detection of the second reference mark, generating additional pulses in proportion to the length of material moved past said downstream location and counting the number of said additional pulses generated between adjacent first and second pulses, the number of additional pulses counted between adjacent first and second pulses being proportional to said angular offset.

Claim 4

The method according to claim 2 wherein a drive for the first and second cylinders includes a common rotating element whose angular rotation is proportional to the angular rotation of the cylinders, said method including the steps of generating a number of cylinder position pulses in proportion to the angle of rotation of said common element from a reference point, determining the cylinder position pulse generated when said first reference mark is detected, and generating said first pulse when said cylinder position pulse is thereafter generated.

Claim 5

A method for pre-setting registration in a printing machine comprising measuring the angular offset between predetermined locations on printing cylinders according to claim 1 and generating a signal proportional to said length of material and utilizing this signal as a positioning command to adjust the angular position of a respective printing cylinder.

Claim 6

The method according to claim 4 and utilizing the length of material which passes the downstream location between the detection of two reference marks of the same printing cylinder for determining the printing format.

Claim 7

The method according to claim 4 and utilizing the length of material which passes the downstream location between the detection of two reference marks of the same printing cylinder for determining the cylinder circumference.

Claim 8

The method according to claim 4 and utilizing the length of material which passes the downstream location between the detection of a reference mark at a location upstream of the first printing cylinder and the detection of the same reference mark at the downstream location for determining the material travel distance between the two printing stations.

Claim 9

In a printing machine including a plurality of printing stations each having at least one printing cylinder which can be activated for printing independently of printing cylinders of other stations, means for determining the angular offset of the printing cylinders of an upstream and a downstream printing station comprising means disposed at a predetermined location on each of the cylinders of the upstream and downstream printing stations for printing a reference mark on web or sheet material moved past the cylinders, optical scanning means disposed downstream of the printing cylinder of the downstream station for detecting reference marks printed by the two cylinders and providing respective output signals in response thereto, first transducer means having an output signal proportional to the length of material moved past the first transducer means, second transducer means having an output signal proportional to the angular rotation of a respective cylinder, first means coupled to receive the output signals of the scanning means and the second transducer means and in response thereto determining the relative angular position of the predetermined location of the downstream printing cylinder when a reference mark printed by the downstream printing cylinder is detected and for providing an output signal each time the predetermined location of the upstream printing cylinder rotates past an angular position corresponding to the relative angular position of the predetermined location of the downstream printing cylinder when the reference mark printed by the downstream printing cylinder was detected and second means coupled to receive the output signals of the first transducer means, the scanning means and the first means and providing a signal proportional to the distance travelled by the material between an output signal of the first means when the printing cylinder of the downstream printing station is not printing and when the printing cylinder of the upstream printing station is printing and the next reference mark printed by the printing cylinder of the upstream printing station detected by the optical scanning means.

Claim 10

In a printing machine including a plurality of printing stations each having at least one printing cylinder which can be activated for printing independently of printing cylinders of other stations, means for determining the angular offset of the printing cylinders of an upstream and a downstream printing station comprising means disposed at a predetermined location on each of the cylinders of the upstream and downstream printing stations for printing a reference mark on web or sheet material moved past the cylinders, optical scanning means disposed downstream of the printing cylinder of the downstream station for detecting reference marks printed by the two cylinders and providing respective output signals in response thereto, first transducer means having an output signal proportional to the length of material moved past the first transducer means, second transducer means having an output signal proportional to the angular rotation of a respective cylinder, first means coupled to receive the output signals of the scanning means and the second transducer means and in response thereto determining the relative angular position of the predetermined location of the downstream printing cylinder when a reference mark printed by the downstream printing cylinder is detected and for providing an output signal each time the predetermined location of the upstream printing cylinder rotates past an angular position corresponding to the relative angular position of the predetermined location of the downstream printing cylinder when the reference mark printed by the downstream printing cylinder was detected and second means coupled to receive the output signals of the first transducer means, the scanning means and the first means and providing a signal proportional to the distance travelled by the material between an output signal of the first means when the printing cylinder of the downstream printing station is not printing and when the printing cylinder of the upstream printing station is printing and the next reference mark printed by the printing cylinder of the upstream printing station detected by the optical scanning means.

Claim 11

The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the optical scanning means provides a pulse upon detection of such reference mark, the first transducer means provides pulses in proportion to the length of material which moves therepast, and the second transducer means provides pulses in proportion to cylinder angular rotation, the first means comprising a first counter coupled to the second transducer means and the optical scanning means operative to count pulses from the second transducer means, to store a pulse count upon receipt of a selected pulse from the optical scanning means, and to provide an output pulse whenever the pulse count equals the stored count, the second means comprising a second counter coupled to the first transducer means to receive the pulses therefrom and further coupled to the optical scanning means to receive the pulses therefrom and to the first counter to receive the output pulse therefrom, and in response thereto, provide an output proportional to the number of pulses received from the first transducer means between said output pulse from said first counter and a selected pulse from the optical scanning means.

Claim 12

Means for pre-setting the registration of printing cylinders in the apparatus according to claim 9 comprising adjusting means for adjusting the angular position of a cylinder wherein the output of said second counter is coupled to said adjusting means as a positioning command.

Claim 13

The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said first and second means comprise a computer.

Claim 14

Means for pre-setting the registration of printing cylinders in the apparatus according to claim 8 comprising adjusting means for adjusting the angular position of a cylinder wherein the output of said second means is coupled to said adjusting means as a positioning command.

Claim 15

The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said first and second means comprise a computer.