US5713288A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for use in offset printing
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1996-10-18
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Granted: 1998-02-03
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Expires: 2016-10-18
Abstract
Abstract In a printing method, an electrically encoded image to be transferred to a printing substrate during a printing process is provided in an electronic memory. A flexible carrier web is attached under tension to a cutting cylinder identical in dimensions to a blanket or printing cylinder of a printing machine. The curing cylinder may be a blanket or printing cylinder in a printing machine or a dedicated support cylinder in a stand-alone cutting assembly. The carrier web is cut automatically in accordance with the electrically encoded image after attachment of the carrier web to the cutting cylinder. Subsequently, sections of the carrier web are removed therefrom along cut lines made in the carrier web during the cutting thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph R. Frazzitta
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 05:12
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41C; B41C1/00; B41C1/10; B41C1/1083; B41C1/02; B41C1/04; B41C1/05; B41C1/1008; B41C1/1033; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S430/00; Y10S430/146
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A method used in offset printing, comprising: providing, in an electronic memory, an electrically encoded image to be transferred to a printing substrate during a printing process; attaching a flexible carrier sheet under tension to a rotatably mounted cutting cylinder identical in dimensions to a blanket or printing cylinder of a printing machine; after attachment of said carrier sheet to said cutting cylinder, automatically cutting said carrier sheet in accordance with said electrically encoded image; removing at least one section of said carrier sheet along cut lines made in said carrier sheet during the cutting thereof; and using the cut carrier sheet, with the section removed therefrom, on the blanket or printing cylinder of the printing machine to transfer an ink or coating composition to the printing substrate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
128 words
A method used in offset printing, comprising: providing, in an electronic memory, an electrically encoded image to be transferred to a printing substrate during a printing process; attaching a flexible carrier sheet under tension to a rotatably mounted cutting cylinder identical in dimensions to a blanket or printing cylinder of a printing machine; after attachment of said carrier sheet to said cutting cylinder, automatically cutting said carrier sheet in accordance with said electrically encoded image; removing at least one section of said carrier sheet along cut lines made in said carrier sheet during the cutting thereof; and using the cut carrier sheet, with the section removed therefrom, on the blanket or printing cylinder of the printing machine to transfer an ink or coating composition to the printing substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said cutting cylinder is separate from said printing machine, further comprising: detaching the cut carrier sheet from said cutting cylinder; fastening the cut carrier sheet under essentially the same tension to said blanket or printing cylinder of said printing machine; and after said fastening, operating said machine to transfer the ink or coating composition to the printing substrate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method defined in claim 2 wherein the cutting of said carrier sheet includes automatically operating a cutting device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method defined in claim 3 wherein the cutting of said carrier sheet includes operating a computer to change a positioning of said cutting device relative to said carrier sheet, said computer being operatively connected to said memory.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method defined in claim 4 wherein the cutting of said carrier sheet also includes operating said computer to change an angular positioning of said cutting cylinder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method defined in claim 3 wherein said cutting device is a laser cutting device and the operating of said laser cutting device includes operating a computer to control energization of said laser cutting device, said computer being operatively connected to said memory.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method defined in claim 3, further comprising the step of making micrometer adjustments to said cutting device to control depth of cutting of said carrier sheet.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method defined in claim 2 wherein said carrier sheet is a dual-layer carrier sheet, said cutting including the step of cutting essentially only an outer layer of said carrier sheet, the removed sections of said carrier sheet being of said outer layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method defined in claim 2 wherein the step of providing said electrically encoded image includes: scanning a pre-existing image; thereafter converting said pre-existing image into electrical signals; and storing said electrical signals.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method defined in claim 9 wherein said scanning includes optically scanning.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method defined in claim 2 wherein each of said cut lines is an essentially continuous curvilinear cut in said carrier sheet, the cutting of said carrier sheet including forming essentially only continuous curvilinear cuts in said carrier sheet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method defined in claim 11 wherein said cut lines and outer edges of said carrier sheet essentially define only closed sections in said carrier sheet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
83 words
The method defined in claim 2, further comprising (a) shifting a coating device into contact with raised portions of said carrier sheet after fastening the cut carrier sheet to said blanket or printing cylinder and (b) operating said coating device to provide a spot coating image on said carrier sheet, a plate cylinder of said printing machine being inoperative to transfer ink images to the carrier sheet during the operation of said coating device to provide a spot coating on said carrier sheet.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
86 words
The method defined in claim 2 wherein said step of attaching includes coupling said carrier sheet to a metal plate via an adhesive layer and subsequently attaching said metal plate with said carrier sheet to said cutting cylinder, the detaching of the cut carrier sheet from said cutting cylinder including detaching said carrier sheet with said metal plate, the fastening of the cut carrier sheet to said blanket or printing cylinder including fastening said carrier sheet with said metal plate to said blanket or printing cylinder.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein said cutting cylinder is said blanket or printing cylinder.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method defined in claim 15 wherein the cutting of said carrier sheet includes automatically operating a cutting device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method defined in claim 15 wherein said carrier sheet is a dual-layer carrier sheet, said cutting including the step of cutting essentially only an outer layer of said carrier sheet, the removal sections of said carrier sheet being of said outer layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method defined in claim 15 wherein the step of providing said electrically encoded image includes: scanning a pre-existing image; thereafter converting said pre-existing image into electrical signals; and storing said electrical signals.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
102 words
An apparatus used in offset printing, comprising: a memory for storing an electrically encoded image to be transferred to a printing substrate during a printing process; a rotatable cylinder; coupling elements on said cylinder for removably attaching a carrier sheet under tension to said cylinder; a cutting device for forming continuous curvilinear cuts in said carrier sheet attached to said cylinder; and a controller operatively connected to said memory and said cutting device for controlling said cutting device to form, in said carrier sheet in accordance with said electrically encoded image, continuous curvilinear cuts defining removable closed forms in said carrier sheet.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
102 words
An apparatus used in offset printing, comprising: a memory for storing an electrically encoded image to be transferred to a printing substrate during a printing process; a rotatable cylinder; coupling elements on said cylinder for removably attaching a carrier sheet under tension to said cylinder; a cutting device for forming continuous curvilinear cuts in said carrier sheet attached to said cylinder; and a controller operatively connected to said memory and said cutting device for controlling said cutting device to form, in said carrier sheet in accordance with said electrically encoded image, continuous curvilinear cuts defining removable closed forms in said carrier sheet.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus defined in claim 19 wherein said cutting device includes a laser.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus defined in claim 19 wherein said controller includes a computer programmed to control said cutting device to form continuous curvilinear cuts in said carrier sheet in accordance with said electrically encoded image.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus defined in claim 19 wherein said cutting device further includes positioning components operatively for positioning the cutting relative to said cylinder, said computer being operatively connected to said positioning components for controlling the operation thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus defined in claim 22 wherein said cutting device further includes angular positioning components operatively coupled to said cylinder for rotating same during a cutting operation, said computer being operatively connected to said angular positioning components for controlling an angular positioning of said cylinder.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus defined in claim 19, further comprising a scanner operatively connected to said memory for scanning a pre-existing image and transmitting, to said memory, electrical signals encoding said pre-existing image.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-02-02 | 2001-08-04 | 2002-02-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-02-02 | 2005-08-04 | 2006-02-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-02-02 | 2009-08-04 | 2010-02-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |