I wonder who will manufacture the new duel press and system that Presstek patented on August 26, 1997. Could Heidelberg want this technology?..... ManRolland?.... Komori?.... Sakurai?.... Omni-Adast?.... maybe all of them? (Do I see engineering fees?)
5660108 : Modular digital printing press with linking perfecting assembly
INVENTORS: Pensavecchia; Frank G., Hudson, NH
ASSIGNEES: Presstek, Inc., Hudson, NH
ISSUED: Aug. 26, 1997
FILED: Apr. 26, 1996
SERIAL NUMBER: 638226
ABSTRACT: Modular printing apparatus wherein multiple central-impression presses may be linked to one another, either directly or through a perfecting assembly that reverses the facewise orientation of cut sheets. The presses each contain circuitry defining a signal and control path for the press and a plurality of electrical contacts that renders the path accessible and facilitates serial connection of the presses without disruption of the path. At least one of the presses includes a port for receiving connection to a controller, which thereby engages the signal path and, via the path, operates the presses independently or together as appropriate. The system includes a connector that is used to couple the electrical contacts of one press to those of the second press, thereby establishing a single, continuous signal and control path through both presses accessible to the controller. The system can accommodate a perfecting assembly that may be selectably engaged between the presses, and which thereby becomes a part of the system. The perfecting assembly includes circuitry defining a signal and control path for the assembly and sets of of electrical contacts capable of mating with the contacts of two presses and retaining the continuous path.
(Does this system allow for continuous printing and connection of two presses?......Allows for additional colors printed on the same stock?)
What is claimed is:
1. Modular apparatus for printing on a printing substrate, the apparatus comprising:
a. first and second printing presses each comprising: 1) a rotatable impression cylinder;
2) a plurality of print stations distributed circumferentially around the cylinder, each print station comprising means for supporting a lithographic printing member; means for forming, on the surface of a lithographic printing member carried on the support means, a pattern corresponding to an image; means for applying a printing liquid to the lithographic printing member in accordance with the pattern; and means for transferring the printing liquid to the substrate on the impression cylinder;
3) means for receiving the substrate;
4) means for releasably gripping the substrate flush against the impression cylinder in a facewise orientation;
5) means for stripping the substrate from the impression cylinder after it has been advanced past all of the print stations; and
6) handoff means for controllably ejecting the substrate from the press;
b. perfecting means, engageable to the first-press handoff means, comprising:
...........1) means for reversing the facewise orientation of the printing substrate; and
...........2) handoff means for controllably ejecting the substrate; wherein
c. the second-press receiving means is engaged to and receives the substrate from the handoff means associated with the first press or with the perfecting means.
RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS: none
FOREIGN APPLICATION PRIORITY DATA: none
FOREIGN REFERENCES: none
OTHER REFERENCES: none
PRIMARY/ASSISTANT EXAMINERS: Bennett; Christopher A.;
ADDED TO DATABASE: Aug. 26, 1997 |
