Printing – Printing members – Rolling contact
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-05
2001-11-20
Grohusky, Leslie J. (Department: 2854)
Printing
Printing members
Rolling contact
C101S415100, C101S383000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318261
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to devices for providing accurate and secure mounting of a flexographic carrier sheet to a printing cylinder and more specifically to a universal edge strip assembly for securing an end of a printing plate carrier sheet to a printing cylinder.
Flexographic printing, also known as flexography or aniline printing, is a generally preferred printing process for large areas such as containers and cardboard cartons, point of purchase displays and the like. Flexographic printing is relief, i.e., direct, printing utilizing large plates fastened to a rotating cylinder. It is capable of producing an image with exceptional clarity and contrast. A single inking roller supplied with aniline ink from rollers in the ink fountain provides ink to raised, image forming printing plates disposed on the rotating cylinder which print directly upon the product. The carrier sheet or mounting material which carries the printing plate or plates may be several inches on each side or several feet. The carrier sheet is mounted to the printing cylinder at one edge by cooperation between a lip on the lead edge of the carrier sheet and a complementarily configured channel and undercut lip on the cylinder. The opposite edge of the carrier sheet is secured to the printing cylinder by one, or typically a plurality of, elastic straps which retain the carrier sheet upon the printing cylinder and properly tension it.
Since the elastic mounting straps merely provide tension to the carrier sheet to retain it upon the printing cylinder, it is apparent that the location and the registration of the carrier sheet and thus of the printing plate disposed thereon is almost exclusively the result of cooperation between the lead edge strip of the carrier sheet and the complementary lip on the printing cylinder. Since the printing cylinder is most generally fabricated of metal, it may be considered dimensionally stable and may thus be virtually ruled out as a source of variability and error when installing and utilizing flexographic printing plates. However, since the carrier sheet and its mounting edge are relatively lightweight, correct mounting and stability are concerns with regard to same. Accordingly, significant attention has been directed to the mounting and components of carrier sheets and their details.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A universal edge strip assembly for a flexographic carrier sheet includes a universal edge strip and a retaining clip. The universal edge strip is secured to both leading and trailing edges of the flexographic carrier sheet. The universal edge strip includes a first pair of parallel walls connected to a center web which define a first deep slot or channel. The universal edge strip also includes a second pair of parallel walls connected to the same center web which defines a second shallow slot or channel. The first slot receives the carrier sheet which is secured to the universal edge strip by conventional means. One of the walls adjacent the second shallow slot includes a projection or J-shape which defines a throat adjacent the opposite wall. A U-shaped retaining clip is received within the second shallow slot in the universal edge strip at one end of the carrier sheet and is hooked to the undercut lip of a flexographic printing cylinder. As noted, both leading and trailing edges of the carrier sheet include a universal edge strip. Formed in the carrier sheet adjacent each edge strip is a plurality of slots. A plurality of elastic straps disposed in the slots secure the trailing edge of the carrier sheet to the cylinder in tension.
The universal edge strip assembly is preferably transparent as this facilitates mounting of the universal edge strip assembly and carrier sheet upon a printing cylinder. The universal edge strip assembly is preferably extruded polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The edge strip may be utilized in any application requiring a secure, engageable lip disposed along an edge of diverse sheet material.
Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide an engageable strip for securement to an edge of sheet material.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel universal edge structure for a carrier sheet for flexographic printing.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a universal edge strip assembly which includes a pair of parallel walls to which a carrier sheet may be secured.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a universal edge strip assembly with improved strength and rigidity which facilitates positive securement of a carrier sheet to a flexographic printing cylinder.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a universal edge strip assembly which is transparent and thus facilitates proper disposition of an associated carrier sheet upon a flexographic printing cylinder.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a universal edge strip which may be mounted to both the leading and trailing edges of a carrier sheet such that the carrier sheet may be reversibly mounted upon a flexographic printing cylinder.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a universal edge strip which, when mounted to trailing edge of a carrier sheet, does not interfere with the flexographic printing process.
Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reference to the following description of the preferred embodiment and appended drawings wherein like reference numbers refer to the same component element or feature.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1996582 (1935-04-01), Marchev
patent: 3295443 (1967-01-01), Devon
patent: 3387559 (1968-06-01), Horner
patent: 3675573 (1972-07-01), Hawks
patent: 3946670 (1976-03-01), Cerny et al.
patent: 4090444 (1978-05-01), Stearns
patent: 4932324 (1990-06-01), Pinkston et al.
patent: 5127327 (1992-07-01), Philpot
patent: 5410964 (1995-05-01), Koelsch
patent: 5562039 (1996-10-01), Fox et al.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Dynamic Dies, Inc.
Grohusky Leslie J.
LandOfFree
Universal edge strip assembly and carrier sheet assembly does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Universal edge strip assembly and carrier sheet assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Universal edge strip assembly and carrier sheet assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2573026