摘要:
An engraving system and method is disclosed having multiple engraving heads wherein the operation of each head is controllable so that a vertical screen and/or horizontal screen may be independently controlled, thereby facilitating enabling each engraving head to engrave in accordance with different screen rulings as may be selected by a user. The engraving system includes a signal generator for controlling the vertical screen by utilizing a plurality of vertical scalers which use a cylinder factor signal corresponding to the rotational position of a cylinder rotatably mounted on the engraver, as well as screen variables, such as a screen angle and a screen ruling, to generate independent vertical scaled or screen signals. These vertical scaled signals are used to independently energize the engraving heads to engrave patterns defining different vertical resolutions or vertical screens. This system and method also discloses a drive system for independently driving the engraving heads using the cylinder factor signal mentioned above and the screen variables which were input by the user to enable the engraving heads to engrave patterns having differing horizontal resolution or horizontal screens. Thus, the method and apparatus enable a user to simultaneously or independently change the vertical screen and horizontal screen and, consequently, the screen ruling for each pattern of engraved areas being engraved.
摘要:
A method and apparatus for automated loading and unloading of a cylinder in an engraver. The method and apparatus permit the engraver to accommodate cylinders of differing geometries, including a range of lengths, diameters and mounting configurations. The engraver includes a headstock and a tailstock which cooperate to rotatably support a cylinder at an engraving station in the engraver. The engraver includes a cylinder handling system having at least one cylinder supporting the cylinder between the headstock and the tailstock during the loading and unloading of the cylinder. The cylinder handling system includes a driver for driving the cylinder support towards and away from the engraving station until the headstock and the tailstock engage and rotatably support the cylinder. Once the cylinder is rotatably supported between the headstock and the tailstock, then the cylinder support is retracted. The cylinder support includes a telescoping support member having a support nest for engaging and supporting the cylinder at the engraving station.
摘要:
A method and apparatus for automated loading and unloading of a cylinder in an engraver. The method and apparatus permit the engraver to accommodate cylinders of differing geometries, including a range of lengths, diameters and mounting configurations. The engraver includes a headstock and a tailstock which cooperate to rotatably support a cylinder at an engraving station in the engraver. The engraver includes a cylinder handling system having at least one cylinder supporting the cylinder between the headstock and the tailstock during the loading and unloading of the cylinder. The cylinder handling system includes a driver for driving the cylinder support towards and away from the engraving station until the headstock and the tailstock engage and rotatably support the cylinder. Once the cylinder is rotatably supported between the headstock and the tailstock, then the cylinder support is retracted. The cylinder support includes a telescoping support member having a support nest for engaging and supporting the cylinder at the engraving station.
摘要:
A method and apparatus for automatically measuring a cylinder characteristic, such as a cylinder diameter or a cylinder run-out and then automatically adjusting the engraver in response to the measurement and subsequently engraving the cylinder to account for such characteristic. The engraver includes a run-out detector for detecting a cylinder characteristic of the cylinder on the engraver and the run-out detector includes an LVDT sensor and a run-out circuit for generating a signal generally corresponding to a shape of the cylinder surface. The run-out circuit is capable of generating a measured run-out using the signal generated by the LVDT sensor. The method and apparatus also provides a method and apparatus for automatically adjusting for the cylinder characteristic using manual, mechanical and/or electronic features of the method and apparatus.
摘要:
A includes system and method for determining an actual volume measurement for an engraved area on a surface of a workpiece, such as a cylinder. The system and method is capable of capturing an image of an engraved area, determining a plurality of cross-section volumes for a plurality of cross-sectional areas using the image, and generating a plurality of volume values in response thereto. The system and method sum the volume for the plurality of cross-sectional areas to provide a total engraved area actual volume value. If necessary, the system and method causes an engraver to be adjusted during a set-up procedure or during real-time operation to ensure that the densities of the areas being engraved correspond to desired densities. A computer associated with the engraver utilizes an image to determine a stylus profile from which engraved area measurements can be determined. The computer further adjusts the engraved drive signal by applying a gamma correction curve if the actual measurements deviate from a desired measurement by more than a predetermined amount. The engraving system and method also adjusts the engraved drive signal to eliminate engraved areas having densities less than a predetermined amount in order to eliminate undesired "scum dots" or engraved areas having a density less than, for example, three percent of maximum density.
摘要:
A cylindrical engraving system selectively able to engrave either in a helical or circumferential format. An encoder scans index markings on the surface of a cylinder being engraved and generates timing pulses for selective application to one or the other of a helical drive unit or a circumferential drive unit incorporated within the system controller, Engraving is performed by an engraving head which is stepped in the axial direction along the workpiece in response to step pulses generated by the selected drive unit. The step pulses may be generated in spaced bursts or at a regular frequency depending upon whether circumferential or helical driving has been selected.
摘要:
A method and apparatus for automatically measuring a cylinder characteristic, such as a cylinder diameter or a cylinder run-out and then automatically adjusting the engraver in response to the measurement and subsequently engraving the cylinder to account for such characteristic. The engraver includes a run-out detector for detecting a cylinder characteristic of the cylinder on the engraver, and the run-out detector includes an LVDT sensor and a run-out circuit for generating a signal generally corresponding to a shape of the cylinder surface. The run-out circuit is capable of generating a measured run-out using the signal generated by the LVDT sensor. The invention also provides a method and apparatus for automatically adjusting for the cylinder characteristic using manual, mechanical and/or electronic features of the invention.
摘要:
An error detection apparatus and method for use with engravers, such as gravure engravers. An error value E corresponding to the difference between a set of predetermined setup parameters and actual measurement of a portion of an engraved area on the cylinder is determined. The error value E is then used to adjust the engraver to engrave an actual cut or etch in accordance with the set of predetermined setup parameters. The error detection and correction system a closed-loop system for engraving a cylinder. The apparatus and method may be used during initial setup or during normal operation of the engraver. A method is disclosed comprising the steps of engraving ink receptive cells in the surface of a rotating gravure printing cylinder consisting of the steps of generating a cell width command signal comprising a series of cell width commands, engraving the cells by using the cell width command signal to urge an engraving stylus into periodic engraving contact with the surface, measuring actual widths of cells which have been engraved as aforesaid, and adjusting the cell width command signal in correspondence with differences between the actual widths and the cell width commands.
摘要:
A cylindrical engraving system selectively able to engrave in a helical and a circumferential format. An encoder scans index markings on the surface of a cylinder being engraved and generates timing pulses for selective application to one or the other of a helical drive unit or a circumferential drive unit incorporated within the system controller. Engraving is performed by an engraving head which is stepped in the axial direction along the workpiece in response to step pulses generated by the selected drive unit.
摘要:
An error detection apparatus and method for use with engravers, such as gravure engravers. An error value E corresponding to the difference between a set of predetermined setup parameters and actual measurement of a portion of an engraved area on the cylinder is determined. The error value E is then used to adjust the engraver to engrave an actual cut or etch in accordance with the set of predetermined setup parameters. Advantageously, an error detection and correction system is suitable for providing a closed-loop system for engraving a cylinder. The apparatus and method may be used during initial setup or during normal operation of the engraver.