CA1255534A - Apparatus for punching materials used in the production of printing plates - Google Patents
Apparatus for punching materials used in the production of printing platesInfo
- Publication number
- CA1255534A CA1255534A CA000360266A CA360266A CA1255534A CA 1255534 A CA1255534 A CA 1255534A CA 000360266 A CA000360266 A CA 000360266A CA 360266 A CA360266 A CA 360266A CA 1255534 A CA1255534 A CA 1255534A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- punch
- punching
- edge
- central
- configuration
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
- 238000004080 punching Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 32
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 title claims description 22
- 238000007639 printing Methods 0.000 title claims description 11
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 title claims description 5
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 10
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000008602 contraction Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000006677 Appel reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 241000022563 Rema Species 0.000 description 1
- 230000002411 adverse Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000004075 alteration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003086 colorant Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000881 depressing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000428 dust Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000839 emulsion Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000007645 offset printing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000452 restraining effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- WTGQALLALWYDJH-WYHSTMEOSA-N scopolamine hydrobromide Chemical compound Br.C1([C@@H](CO)C(=O)OC2C[C@@H]3N([C@H](C2)[C@@H]2[C@H]3O2)C)=CC=CC=C1 WTGQALLALWYDJH-WYHSTMEOSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 description 1
Landscapes
- Perforating, Stamping-Out Or Severing By Means Other Than Cutting (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
A combined pre-press punch for simultaneously punching a symmetrical configuration for film sheet bearing a fixed relationship with desired plate punch configurations and having a floating back punch symmetrically disposed relative to said symmetrical punching configuration.
A combined pre-press punch for simultaneously punching a symmetrical configuration for film sheet bearing a fixed relationship with desired plate punch configurations and having a floating back punch symmetrically disposed relative to said symmetrical punching configuration.
Description
~LZ5~ 4 1 The present invention relates to printiny and in particular to an apparatus for improving pre~press registration between films and plates during the production of those plates.
The need for consistent registration is most marked where full colour printing is required as each of four plates must have their printing surfaces i.n precise register with each other to avoid colour overprinting at the edges of colour boundaries and so provide poor boundary definition on the resultant colour ~rinted sheet.
Difficult problems of registration are discussed in Australian Patents 404,967 and 462,212.
In the process of producing offset printing plates, several complex steps have to be undertaken to arrive at a single sheet of film, per colour to be printed, which is then exposed direct to the printing plate.
Tn general the steps are as follows 1. A line negative is photographed from base artwork to the desired size,
The need for consistent registration is most marked where full colour printing is required as each of four plates must have their printing surfaces i.n precise register with each other to avoid colour overprinting at the edges of colour boundaries and so provide poor boundary definition on the resultant colour ~rinted sheet.
Difficult problems of registration are discussed in Australian Patents 404,967 and 462,212.
In the process of producing offset printing plates, several complex steps have to be undertaken to arrive at a single sheet of film, per colour to be printed, which is then exposed direct to the printing plate.
Tn general the steps are as follows 1. A line negative is photographed from base artwork to the desired size,
2. Four colour separations are produced by either camera, enlarger or electronic scanning techniques and are supplied in single sheet form per colour to the relevant size of reproduction required, either from colour transparency, colour prints or hard copy.
- 3. Using a predetermined layout as a guide, a sheet of c~ear film is placed on a graph and a rule up is done.
Register marks, centre marks, trim, fold and perforation marks are added, this step is done due to the need to have the job exactly to correct size and square,
Register marks, centre marks, trim, fold and perforation marks are added, this step is done due to the need to have the job exactly to correct size and square,
4. The line negatives are positioned on another sheet of clear film which has been punched to the same configuration ~. ;.
'' 1 , ~L~t'5~iS~34 -2a-1 as the rule uP! -this allows register pins to hold each shee-t in perfect register with each other t
'' 1 , ~L~t'5~iS~34 -2a-1 as the rule uP! -this allows register pins to hold each shee-t in perfect register with each other t
5. I~ the job requires reverses, a sheet of light 2~
' .
~2~5~3~L
restraining paper is punched, relevant reverses cut out of paper and this line negative with paper mask registered by the pin register system is then contacted in a vacuum contact frame onto a sheet of film (unexposed) that has also been punched and is held in position by register pins during exposure. Tbis exposed film is then developed either manually or through an automatic film processor.
' .
~2~5~3~L
restraining paper is punched, relevant reverses cut out of paper and this line negative with paper mask registered by the pin register system is then contacted in a vacuum contact frame onto a sheet of film (unexposed) that has also been punched and is held in position by register pins during exposure. Tbis exposed film is then developed either manually or through an automatic film processor.
6. Where colour shots butt up to other colour shots or where tints of colour meet, chokes and spreads have to be produced to allow a degree of fit when making up final film.
In normal work screens with a line ruling of 150 lines to the inch are used, sometimes 200 lines to the inch and fit is only one line of dots.
In normal work screens with a line ruling of 150 lines to the inch are used, sometimes 200 lines to the inch and fit is only one line of dots.
7. Masks are cut manually using a material that when the eumulsion is cut with a sharp blade, it can be peeled of~
from its clear film base.
from its clear film base.
8. Final film is produced manually by making multiple exposures onto photographic film to produce a final sheet of film that contains all the required elements, including four colour pics, tints, reverses, chokes, spreads, line copy and centre, trim, fold and perforation marks.
9. Final film (in the case of four colour process) are then proofed, either by chemical proofing methods or plates are made and ink proofs done.
In the multitude of sub straights or "flats", it may require many exposures to produce one final negative or positive, depending on the complexity oE the particular job.
It is, therefore, vitally important that the registration of these various components be absolute. This is why a punch register system is used. Punch register systems can take many forms and have various punch hole configurations.
Most punch register systems available for use in the dark room, or pre plate area, work on the principle of using a round hole (or a series of round holes) on one side and a slotted hole on the other side of a central position. These ~Z~;534 systems are not ideal, because when a register pin is placed in the round hole, optimum registration takes place on and from that round pin and any variation occurs towards the slotted pin as the flat is pulled down in contact under vacuum. This fault is amplified by the variety of substraight ("flats") materials used in the process. ~ach material, either paper, clear film, photographic film, rubylith etc. all have their own dimensional stability problems, each being effected by temperature and humidity in various ways. Therefore the present invention provides a punch that works from a round hole in the centre, with slotted holes to both left and right to allow any shift in registration to move equally from centre.
An additional problem is that while registration is obtained along 'che punching side of the film/materials (normally the longest side) there is no control over registration on the shorter side. Therefore the present invention provides a floating pin/punch. This additional punch may be slid down a track, which is at 90 to the front punching function, and is independant of the main punch action. The action in total is as follows. The material to be punched is placed in the punch knocking up to a back stop, the main punch is operated, say, by depressing a handle, a locking or pressure bar precedes the cutters to hold the film flat across the punching head, the material is punched and the cutters lock the punched material into the dies, the portable or floating pin unit is then moved to the desired position to accommodate the film size being used, a single hole is then punched, preferably a slot hole. The punched film is then placed into a vacuum contact frame and registration pins are placed through the holes, the flat is placed over the film and located by the pins, a cover sheet is placed over and a vacuum applied so that when perfect contact is achieved, an exposure is made. This exposure process is repeated as many times as required depending on ~25~i5~4 the number of flats to achieve the final result, all of these flats are located by the register pins protruding through the film. The completed, exposed film is ~hen processed. These procedures are repeated for as many colours as are to be printed.
It might be thought that the foregoing procedure provides precise registration however further difficulties arise. Printing machines are in use having di~ferent punch registration systems fitted to their plate cylinder or plate clamp bar, in the case of Web presses their plate bender, to locate the plate in the correct position while the positioning of the plate is of paramount importance if the image or plate is not correctly in its position much time and materials are wasted To tie the final film into the same punching system that appeL~s ~on ~ particular printing press requires a carrier.
(Me~nc.~ or similar material) is punched using the particular machine punch system. A line is drawn on the carrier to indicate grip edge folds and double cuts. The negatives are taped to this carrier reading wrong emulsion up. The carrier is turned over and a piece is cut out of the carrier to expose the holes in the punched film and a portable hole or tab is either taped to the back o~ the carrier or is affixed by double sided tape.
Once this has been done the negatives or positives can be removed and all negatives or positives that have been produced using a constant punching configuration can be taped to the carrier and plates can be made changing each negative after exposure to plate and replacing the next negative on the carrier using register pins to locate each negative in the same position on the carrier. The latter process not only involves a great deal of time but also creates another process or step that could adversely ef~ect the register of the ~inal image or plate; involves an extra surface for dust and scratches to form and if the job comes back at any time Q~6 ~
;S3~
1 in the future for a rema~e or alteration to any less than the complete set o~ plates, no real conEidence could be afforded to the carrier system due to temperature/humidity variations that could have effected the positioning of the -tabs or holes on the carrier sheet~
According to the invention there is provided apparatus for punching materials used in the production of printing plates and having a symmetrical punching configuration, the apparatus comprising a central round hole punch positioned to punch one edge of a material to be punched, and at least two slotted hole punches provided one on each side of said central punch and equally spaced from said central punch to punch said material along said one edge, a position-adjustable punch adjustable in a direction perpendicular to said one edge and disposed symmetri-cally relative to said central punch and said slotted punches, and plate configuration punching means operable in unison with the operation of said central and slotted punches.
By this means final film can be produced which-is punched to the same register configuration as on the printing press. The application of common punching configurations so as to produce punched film, punched proofs and punched plates greatly facilitates the checking of the relative position of the image before it goes to press; the edge of a proof is the same as the edge of its respective plate, Further, symmetrical punching allows double sided proofs to be positioned with great accuracy, The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows an exemplary punch con~iguration in accordance with -the present invention.
~5553~
-6a-1 A preferred form of punch for producing the depicted configuration is a hand operated deviee that punches or cuts holes and slots of speciflc configuration oE the drawing figure in all materials used in the pre~plate/sereen or eylinder area of the printing industry. By the use of a handle or lever, pressure is applied via an off--eentered cam ~.2~ ;3~
to the various cutting or punch heads which are forced down through the material being punched or cut and into a female plate.
In the same action of the lever or handle, a flat bar or pressure plate moves down ahead of the cutting or punch heads and rests on top and in pressure contact with the material being punched or cut. After the cutting or punching action has been effected the spring loaded punching heads or cutting heads become locked and can be released by additional pressure on the handle or lever. The punching o~ cutting function is mounted onto a flat base, in the center of which is a track or slot that permits a single hand operated punch or cutter to slide down the base board at ~0 to the aforementioned punching function.
The punching configuration shown in the drawing is the left hand side of the punch, the mirror ~everse of it represents the right hand side. There~ore the punch is completely symmetrical in its operation.
As shown in the drawing the cenral round hole 10 in association with the slotted holes 11 provided each side of the centre hole 10 provide for even expansion and contraction either side of the central position. In addition adjustable back slot 12 allows for film expansion and contraction in a direction transverse to that of the front edge slots 11. The remaining punch holes 13 coincide with varying punch systems which are formed simultaneously with holes 10, 11.
A preferred punch of this invention would include a vacuum drawn down system to ensure improved contact between films which greatly assists in registration.
In the multitude of sub straights or "flats", it may require many exposures to produce one final negative or positive, depending on the complexity oE the particular job.
It is, therefore, vitally important that the registration of these various components be absolute. This is why a punch register system is used. Punch register systems can take many forms and have various punch hole configurations.
Most punch register systems available for use in the dark room, or pre plate area, work on the principle of using a round hole (or a series of round holes) on one side and a slotted hole on the other side of a central position. These ~Z~;534 systems are not ideal, because when a register pin is placed in the round hole, optimum registration takes place on and from that round pin and any variation occurs towards the slotted pin as the flat is pulled down in contact under vacuum. This fault is amplified by the variety of substraight ("flats") materials used in the process. ~ach material, either paper, clear film, photographic film, rubylith etc. all have their own dimensional stability problems, each being effected by temperature and humidity in various ways. Therefore the present invention provides a punch that works from a round hole in the centre, with slotted holes to both left and right to allow any shift in registration to move equally from centre.
An additional problem is that while registration is obtained along 'che punching side of the film/materials (normally the longest side) there is no control over registration on the shorter side. Therefore the present invention provides a floating pin/punch. This additional punch may be slid down a track, which is at 90 to the front punching function, and is independant of the main punch action. The action in total is as follows. The material to be punched is placed in the punch knocking up to a back stop, the main punch is operated, say, by depressing a handle, a locking or pressure bar precedes the cutters to hold the film flat across the punching head, the material is punched and the cutters lock the punched material into the dies, the portable or floating pin unit is then moved to the desired position to accommodate the film size being used, a single hole is then punched, preferably a slot hole. The punched film is then placed into a vacuum contact frame and registration pins are placed through the holes, the flat is placed over the film and located by the pins, a cover sheet is placed over and a vacuum applied so that when perfect contact is achieved, an exposure is made. This exposure process is repeated as many times as required depending on ~25~i5~4 the number of flats to achieve the final result, all of these flats are located by the register pins protruding through the film. The completed, exposed film is ~hen processed. These procedures are repeated for as many colours as are to be printed.
It might be thought that the foregoing procedure provides precise registration however further difficulties arise. Printing machines are in use having di~ferent punch registration systems fitted to their plate cylinder or plate clamp bar, in the case of Web presses their plate bender, to locate the plate in the correct position while the positioning of the plate is of paramount importance if the image or plate is not correctly in its position much time and materials are wasted To tie the final film into the same punching system that appeL~s ~on ~ particular printing press requires a carrier.
(Me~nc.~ or similar material) is punched using the particular machine punch system. A line is drawn on the carrier to indicate grip edge folds and double cuts. The negatives are taped to this carrier reading wrong emulsion up. The carrier is turned over and a piece is cut out of the carrier to expose the holes in the punched film and a portable hole or tab is either taped to the back o~ the carrier or is affixed by double sided tape.
Once this has been done the negatives or positives can be removed and all negatives or positives that have been produced using a constant punching configuration can be taped to the carrier and plates can be made changing each negative after exposure to plate and replacing the next negative on the carrier using register pins to locate each negative in the same position on the carrier. The latter process not only involves a great deal of time but also creates another process or step that could adversely ef~ect the register of the ~inal image or plate; involves an extra surface for dust and scratches to form and if the job comes back at any time Q~6 ~
;S3~
1 in the future for a rema~e or alteration to any less than the complete set o~ plates, no real conEidence could be afforded to the carrier system due to temperature/humidity variations that could have effected the positioning of the -tabs or holes on the carrier sheet~
According to the invention there is provided apparatus for punching materials used in the production of printing plates and having a symmetrical punching configuration, the apparatus comprising a central round hole punch positioned to punch one edge of a material to be punched, and at least two slotted hole punches provided one on each side of said central punch and equally spaced from said central punch to punch said material along said one edge, a position-adjustable punch adjustable in a direction perpendicular to said one edge and disposed symmetri-cally relative to said central punch and said slotted punches, and plate configuration punching means operable in unison with the operation of said central and slotted punches.
By this means final film can be produced which-is punched to the same register configuration as on the printing press. The application of common punching configurations so as to produce punched film, punched proofs and punched plates greatly facilitates the checking of the relative position of the image before it goes to press; the edge of a proof is the same as the edge of its respective plate, Further, symmetrical punching allows double sided proofs to be positioned with great accuracy, The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows an exemplary punch con~iguration in accordance with -the present invention.
~5553~
-6a-1 A preferred form of punch for producing the depicted configuration is a hand operated deviee that punches or cuts holes and slots of speciflc configuration oE the drawing figure in all materials used in the pre~plate/sereen or eylinder area of the printing industry. By the use of a handle or lever, pressure is applied via an off--eentered cam ~.2~ ;3~
to the various cutting or punch heads which are forced down through the material being punched or cut and into a female plate.
In the same action of the lever or handle, a flat bar or pressure plate moves down ahead of the cutting or punch heads and rests on top and in pressure contact with the material being punched or cut. After the cutting or punching action has been effected the spring loaded punching heads or cutting heads become locked and can be released by additional pressure on the handle or lever. The punching o~ cutting function is mounted onto a flat base, in the center of which is a track or slot that permits a single hand operated punch or cutter to slide down the base board at ~0 to the aforementioned punching function.
The punching configuration shown in the drawing is the left hand side of the punch, the mirror ~everse of it represents the right hand side. There~ore the punch is completely symmetrical in its operation.
As shown in the drawing the cenral round hole 10 in association with the slotted holes 11 provided each side of the centre hole 10 provide for even expansion and contraction either side of the central position. In addition adjustable back slot 12 allows for film expansion and contraction in a direction transverse to that of the front edge slots 11. The remaining punch holes 13 coincide with varying punch systems which are formed simultaneously with holes 10, 11.
A preferred punch of this invention would include a vacuum drawn down system to ensure improved contact between films which greatly assists in registration.
Claims (10)
1. Punch apparatus for punching materials used in the production of printing plates, comprising first punching means having a symmetrical punching configuration, the first punching means comprising a central round hole punch positioned to punch one edge of a material to be punched, and at least two slotted hole punches provided one on each side of said central punch and equally spaced from said central punch to punch said material along said one edge, a and further comprising second punching means having a punch configuration corresponding to a pin configuration of a press plate and the second punching means operable simultaneously with the operation of the first punching means along said one edge.
2. Punch apparatus for punching materials used in the production of printing plates, comprising first punching means having a symmetrical punching configuration, the first punching means comprising a central round hole punch positioned to punch one edge of a material to be punched, and at least two slotted hole punches provided one on each side of said central punch and equally spaced from said central punch to punch said material along said one edge, a position-adjustable punch adjustable in a direction perpendicular to said one edge and disposed symmetrically relative to said central punch and said slotted punches, and further comprising second punching means having a punch configuration corresponding to a pin configuration of a press plate and the second punching means operable simultaneously with the operation of the first punching means along said one edge.
3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, having manual operating means.
4. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, having manual operating means.
5. An apparatus as defined in claim 1, having power assisted operating means.
6. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, having power assisted operating means.
7. Apparatus according to claims 1, 3 or 5 comprising vacuum operated draw down means.
8. Apparatus according to claims 2, 4 or 6 comprising vacuum operated draw down means.
9. An apparatus as defined in claims 1, 3 or 5 having a plurality of slotted hole punches spaced apart along said one edge on each side of said central round hole punch.
10. Apparatus according to claims 2, 4 or 6 having a plurality of slotted hole punches spaced apart along said one edge on each side of said central round hole punch.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000360266A CA1255534A (en) | 1980-09-12 | 1980-09-12 | Apparatus for punching materials used in the production of printing plates |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000360266A CA1255534A (en) | 1980-09-12 | 1980-09-12 | Apparatus for punching materials used in the production of printing plates |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1255534A true CA1255534A (en) | 1989-06-13 |
Family
ID=4117883
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000360266A Expired CA1255534A (en) | 1980-09-12 | 1980-09-12 | Apparatus for punching materials used in the production of printing plates |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1255534A (en) |
-
1980
- 1980-09-12 CA CA000360266A patent/CA1255534A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |