Ohio Electronic Engravers, Inc.

Eric R Auberry

David R Seitz

Kenneth F Bornhorst, Jr

Eric J Serenius

Kenneth William Jackson

David L Flannery

Eric Helser

Jim Klinger

An engraver including an automatic tool changer and verification system for changing engraving tools on engraving heads. The engraver includes a turret having a plurality of workholders for holding a plurality of replacement tools. Some of the workholders are empty for replacing a worn tool from an engraving head on the engraver. When it is desired to change a tool on the engraving head, an empty tool holder is indexed to a tool changing position opposite the engraving head whereupon the worn tool is transferred from the engraving head to the tool changer. Thereafter, the tool changer is indexed to a position where a replacement tool is situated in opposed relationship with the engraving head. The tool changer includes a pneumatic system for causing the worn tools and replacement tools to be transferred between the engraving head and the tool changer. The engraver also utilizes a tool verification routine for verifying that a tool on the engraving head is the correct tool and/or is not defective. Moreover, the engraver may be equipped with an engraving head turret having multiple engraving heads for indexing into engraving relationship with a cylinder to be engraved. The multiple-engraving head turret facilitates, for example, reducing the number of required tool changes.

Engraver with automatic tool changer

An engraving system for engraving printing cells in a gravure printing cylinder uses a video camera for feedback control of printing cell width. A setup procedure for the engraving system involves engraving an isolated test cell and a series of adjacent test cells, the latter being engraved under steady state engraving conditions. The isolated test cell is located through a search sequence which establishes a strobe control count for a strobe trigger unit. The strobe control count then is adjusted for steady state engraving by acquiring and centering a steady state test cell. Cell width is measured by creating video runtable sets for a plurality of overlapping video boxes and finding a maximum connected run length which meets predetermined acceptance criteria.

Error tolerant method and system for measuring features of engraved areas

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Beavercreek, OH, United States of America

Eric R Auberry