Preco Industries, Inc.

Charles C Raney

Hongli Du

John T Pierson, Jr

James T Gramling

Ivan B Helmrich

Joseph E Raney

Web processing method and apparatus () is provided for high speed, extremely accurate die cutting or lamination operations. Processing station () includes a vacuum hold down plate () which receives and holds an image bearing incremental segment of the web. In feed and out feed tension on the web is released while a segment of the web is held by the hold down plate. The hold down plate with a segment of the web thereon is selectively shifted about X, Y, and &#x3b8; axes as required to bring the image on the web segment into alignment with a web processing component at the processing station.

Method for simultaneous x, y and &#x3b8; registration of segment of continuous web with a processing station

Web processing apparatus () is provided for high speed, extremely accurate die cutting or lamination operations. Processing station () includes a Vacuum hold down plate () which receives and holds an image bearing incremental segment of the web. In feed and out feed tension on the web is released while a segment of the web is held by the hold down plate. The hold down plate with a segment of the web thereon is selectively shifted about X, Y and &#x3b8; axis as required to bring the image on the web segment into alignment with a web processing component at the processing station.

Web or sheet-fed apparatus having high-speed mechanism for simultaneous X,Y and theta registration

High speed, extremely accurate web or sheet-fed segment die cutting or lamination apparatus ( ) has a processing station ( ), which receives a sheet or web segment, and is provided with a vacuum hold-down plate ( ) for holding initially fed segments ( ). The plate is shiftable as necessary along orthogonal X-Y axes in the plane of the segment ( ), and/or is rotatable about a &thgr; axis transverse to the segment plane. Plate movement is effected by a series of aligned, translatable eccentric drive units ( ). Segments ( ) carry positioning fiducials ( ) that are compared with fixed reference indicia ( ) in the station ( ). The comparison data is used by a controller ( ) to generate the plate movement information used in simultaneous operation of the associated plate drive units ( ).

Web or sheet-fed apparatus having high-speed mechanism for simultaneous X, Y and &thgr; registration and method

In a die cutting press for elongated material, a registration system includes a die unit that is shiftable along the path of travel of the material, along a direction of travel transverse to the path of travel, and about a reference axis perpendicular to a plane containing the material. At least one camera is provided for receiving images from the desired locations that are occupied by indicia on the material when defined areas of the material are in a predetermined relationship relative to the die unit. Reference image data representative of the desired locations of the indicia relative to the die unit is produced so that a comparison can be made between the reference image data and the actual positions of the indicia. This permits a controller to change the position of the die unit relative to the material to compensate for the difference in position between the indicia within the image and the desired locations of the indicia so that one of the defined areas of the material is positioned in the desired predetermined relationship with the die unit.

Die cutting and stamping press having simultaneous X,Y, and O axes die

A laminator is provided for registering and laminating one or more web or sheet laminae on a web substrate, wherein each lamina has defined, successive areas and indicia provided in predetermined positions relative to the defined areas. The laminator includes feed rollers for feeding a web substrate through the laminator along a path of travel, and an additional feed mechanism for feeding a web or sheets to a drum forming a part of the laminator. The drum is shiftable toward and away from the web substrate between an engaged position in which the drum engages the substrate, and a disengaged position in which the drum is removed from contact with the substrate. A registration system successively registers the web or each sheet on the drum with the substrate, with the defined area of the web or sheet in a desired predetermined relationship to one of the defined areas of the substrate as successive defined areas are brought into a laminating position. The registration system includes a sensing mechanism for sensing the relative positions of the indicia on the web or sheet and the substrate, and a motor is provided for rotating the drum relative to the substrate in the disengaged position of the drum to adjust the relative positions of the web or sheet and the substrate so that each defined area of the web or sheet is in the desired predetermined relationship to one of the defined areas of the substrate. The drum is shifted to the engaged position and rotated when the web or sheet on the drum is registered with the substrate to laminate the web or sheet on the substrate.

Vacuum drum feed and alignment apparatus for multiple layer laminator

A screen printing press is provided for printing on a web having defined, successive areas and indicia provided in predetermined positions relative to each of the defined areas. The press includes a base defining a work station, a screen supported on the base for movement between a printing position overlying the work station and an interrupted position, and a web handling assembly for advancing the web along a path of travel to successively feed the defined areas of the web toward the work station. A registration system successively positions the defined areas of the web in a desired predetermined relationship to the screen as successive defined areas are brought into a position to be printed. The registration system includes longitudinal, lateral and angular shifting mechanisms for adjusting the longitudinal, lateral and angular alignment between the screen and the web. Sensors are provided for sensing the correct positions and orientation of the indicia that are occupied when the defined areas of the web are in the predetermined relationship relative to the screen, and a controller is responsive to the sensors for controlling the longitudinal, lateral and angular shifting mechanisms to adjust the alignment between the screen and the web until the correct positions and orientation of the indicia are sensed.

Screen printing press having longitudinal, lateral and angular screen

Die cutting and stamping press having simultaneous X, Y, and .O slashed.

In a die cutting press, a registration system for successively positioning a die unit in predetermined relationship to defined areas of an elongated material includes servomotors or the like for moving the die unit in a direction transverse to the path of travel of the material, and for rotating the die unit relative to the material. At least one camera is provided for receiving images, and is focused on predetermined locations relative to the die unit corresponding to predetermined positions of indicia included on the material adjacent each of the defined areas. Alternately, a prism or the like may be fixed to the die unit for directing an image from a region of the die unit toward the camera, the region including a preset location of the die unit corresponding to the position of an indicium when the elongated material is in the desired position relative to the die unit. Where a prism is employed, a reference indicium may be provided thereon which appears within the directed image received by the camera. Reference image data representative of the desired position of the area indicia within the images received by the camera is compared with the images actually received and longitudinal, lateral and angular difference data is generated which is representative of this difference. In response to the generated data, the material and die unit are substantially simultaneously shifted as may be required to compensate for the difference in position so that one of the defined areas of the material is in register with the die unit.

Die stamping press having CCD camera system for automatic 3-axis die

A die cutting press for processing web material is disclosed which is operable to provide very precise alignment of a reciprocable die cutting unit with each succesive area of the web to be die cut. In operation, the web is incrementally advanced toward the work station of the press until the area next to be die cut is substantially but not exactly in the die cut position thereof. The web feed is then placed in a creep mode to advance the web until an optical sensor determines the presence of transverse alignment indicium on one side of the web. Mechanism is thereupon actuated to rotate the die unit as required to bring the die assembly into alignment with related indicium on the opposite side of the web while effecting shifting of the web longitudinally thereof in a direction of travel as necessary to maintain die registration with the first sensed web indicium. Structure then shifts the die unit laterally of the web at the work station as required to bring the die unit into precise registration with longitudinally extending indicium on one side of the web. Only then is a defined area of the web subjected to the die cut unit. A cushion of air is provided for supporting the die unit while it is being rotated, during longitudinal shifting thereof in the creep mode, and as lateral shifting is accomplished with respect to the web. Extremely accurate is thereby accomplished registration of the die unit with the plurality of indicia associated with each area of the web subjected to the die cutting operation. Sensing of the presence or absence of alignment indicia on the web is preferably carried out through the use of photooptical devices associated with light transmitting flexible glass fiber bundles that direct light to the web as well as the light reflected therefrom back to the sensor mechanism. A microprocessor receives inputs from phototransistors to control operation of the die alignment and web advancement mechanism.

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Lenexa, KS, United States of America

Charles C Raney