Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Product assembly or manufacturing
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-17
2001-06-05
Heckler, Thomas M. (Department: 2787)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Product assembly or manufacturing
Reexamination Certificate
active
06243617
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a unique system and method for performing a post-production operation upon a web subsequent to its output from an image transfer device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is often desirable in a printing process involving a continuous stream of images laid down upon a moving paper web to incorporate other post-production processes to the web downstream of the printing process. These post-production processes may include, for example, page or job separation, hole punching, color logo application or folding operations. The problem with performing such post-production processes or operations is that the web transferred between the image and the post-production machines may not contain standard length pages or may otherwise have pages in locations upon the web that are difficult to gauge. Thus, the post-processing device must have some means for accurately locating each page presented to it, and furthermore, once each page location is found, must have a means of distinguishing between each individual page sent to it to determine which page must include a given post-production operation.
An additional problem with keeping track of processed pages as they are transferred to a post-production device is that the two devices may run at unsynchronized speeds, especially where they are discrete and separate units. As such, slack may develop in the transfer loop of web between the two devices, resulting in more images en route than expected and potential misapplication of the post-production operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a unique system and method for allowing post-production operations to be performed on a moving web containing images wherein the image production element and the post-production device may not be synchronized in their feeding of the web.
It is another object of this invention to provide a system and method for incorporating post-production operations that accurately locates the point upon the web at which the post-production operation is to be applied.
It is another object of this invention to provide a system and method for incorporating post production operations that allows the tracking of various locations upon a moving web to accurately perform a multiplicity of types of post-production operations at these various locations.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a system and method for incorporating post-production operations that allows the tracking of pages and images placed upon a moving web wherein the pages and images are of variable length.
This invention provides a system for incorporation, in the production of continuous stream of images by an image transfer device upon a moving web, post-production operations upon the web at various web locations. There are means for tracking locations of a web, having a plurality of images placed thereon, output from an image transfer device. There are post-production means to perform a specific operation at locations of the web upon its passing through the post-production means. There are also means for directing the web from the image transfer device to the post-production means. There are means, responsive to the means for tracking, for determining when the location has entered the post-production means, and there are also means responsive to these determining means for commanding the post-production means to perform its specific operation at the location.
In a preferred embodiment, the means for tracking also includes means for generating a pulse each time a interval of web is output from the image transfer device. This means for generating may include means for combining a plurality of pulses to indicate the output from the image transfer device of a page length of web. The post-production means may include means for creating an electronic mark each time one of the intervals of the web passes through the post-production means. This means for creating may include page identification means that indicates, by means of counting the electronic marks, the passing of the page length or certain image of the web through the post-production means.
The determining means may further include counter means that increments a stored value for each page indicated by the means for combining, and decrements the stored value for each page indicated by the page identification means. This stored value is a total length value equaling the number of page lengths upon the web disposed between the image transfer device and the post-production means when the web is pulled taut with relatively no slack thereon. The determining means may further include a register means, responsive to the counter means, to store first through last data blocks equal in number to at least a current value contained in the counter means. Each of the data blocks directly corresponds to a page length disposed between the image transfer device and the post-production means and each of the data blocks contains a data value representative of a post-production operation to be performed upon the web at the page length. The last of the data blocks contains a data value corresponding to the page length increment currently entering the post-production means. The register means may include a shifting means that adds a new data value, deletes a data value, or moves values in data blocks to correspond directly to the movement of each page length increment upon the web from the image transfer device to the post-production means.
In an alternative embodiment, the determining means may including storage register means having a number of storage locations to each store a data value corresponding to the number of intervals between each of the locations upon which the specific post-production operation is to be performed. This storage register means may also include means for monitoring the total number of intervals of the web currently disposed between the image transfer device and the post-production means.
In yet another embodiment, a storage register means may also have a number of storage locations to consecutively store first through last data values corresponding to the number of page length increments between each of the locations upon which a specific post-production operation is to be performed. This storage register may also include a means for structuring a number of storage locations; equal to the maximum number of page lengths upon the web that may be disposed between the image transfer device and the post-production means. This storage register may further include a means for comparing a last data value stored in the storage register to the number of pages successively indicated by the page identification means. This allows the means for comparing to indicate when a correct location has entered the post-production means. There may be a means for moving data values, in response to the comparing means, within the storage register means to add a new data value to the storage register and to delete last data values from the storage register. This means for structuring may include a means for calculating the number of page lengths on the web currently disposed between the image transfer device and the post-production means.
The post-production means may generally include, among other devices, a folder, job separator, printing device, hole punching device, or web cutting device. Additionally, the image transfer device may include among its elements an electronic printer such as a laser, impact or other type capable of the production of variable page length images.
A method for incorporating, in the production of a continuous stream of images by an image transfer device upon a moving continuous web, post-production operations upon the web at various locations is also provided. Such a method would generally include the steps of tracking the locations of a web, having a plurality of images placed thereon, output from the image transfer device. There would also be provided a step of performing, with a post-production means, a specific operation at eac
Cesari and McKenna LLP
Heckler Thomas M.
Loginov William A.
Roll Systems Inc.
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