Gerber Scientific Products, Inc.

Cooper Technologies Company

Gerber Scientific International, Inc.

Mark E Guckin

Russell F Croft

Leonard G Rich

David J Logan

Ronald B Webster

Peter R Baker, Jr

Geoff McCue

Jay T Niland

Jules P Prockter

Durairaj Kumar

David A Daraskevich

Brian D Phelan

John B Schneider

A method of providing synchronous control for a number of light-emitting diode (LED) units within a LED fixture is described herein. The method can include receiving an input signal. The method can also include sending, in response to receiving the input signal and for a period of time, a power-on delay signal to the LED units, wherein each LED unit includes a counter, a toggle, and a LED driver, where the power-on delay signal resets the counter, initializes the toggle, and disables the LED driver. The method can also include terminating, after the period of time, the power-on delay signal. A LED fixture and a LED unit within a fixture, having one or more components performing the aforementioned method, is also described herein.

Stand-alone synchronization for a runway light

An apparatus for digitally generating an image includes a printer for generating a desired image either on a final substrate or a carrier sheet with the image then being transferred from the carrier sheet onto the final substrate. The generated image is 'built up' on the carrier sheet or substrate to form a sign, thereby eliminating the need for the weeding process. According to one aspect of the present invention, the apparatus includes a printer that allows the digital application of adhesive onto an image, substantially placing an adhesive in register with the image, for subsequent application of the image with adhesive placed thereon. According to a further aspect of the present invention, a layer of adhesive is applied over a substrate. An image is built atop of the adhesive. A consumable sheet is then brought in contact with the substrate to remove excess adhesive, which is still disposed on the substrate, such that once the consumable sheet is separated from the substrate, the image remains on the substrate with the adhesive disposed therebetween. According to another embodiment of the present invention, liquid film or structural ink is used to generate structure for the image.

Method and apparatus for making signs

An apparatus for digitally generating an image comprises a photoconductor assembly, a corona assembly, and a light source assembly to generate a latent image on the photoconductor. The apparatus also includes a developer assembly that includes a developer, such as powder paint, to generate an image. The apparatus may include a fuser for generating a film image. The apparatus of the present invention may include a cartridge for storing and digitally applying adhesive to the image. Furthermore, the apparatus of the present invention includes a controller for selectively controlling voltages to control thickness of the image. Additionally, apparatus may include a consumable sheet to remove excess adhesive from the substrate.

A friction drive apparatus for feeding strip material in a longitudinal direction includes a first friction wheel and a second friction wheel rotated by a first motor drive and a second motor drive, respectively. The friction drive apparatus also includes a sensor disposed behind the friction wheels with respect to the motion of the strip material to detect a lateral or skewing error and a motion processor that drives the first and the second motor drives independently at different speeds to correct the lateral or skewing error of the strip material. The friction drive apparatus also detects a longitudinal error of the strip material by tracking an actual position of the strip material and comparing it to the commanded position to correct the error. If there is a discrepancy between the actual position and the commanded position of the strip material, the rotational speed of each friction wheel is either decreased or increased to correct any longitudinal creep or slippage, respectively, of the strip material.

Friction drive apparatus for strip material

The friction drive system for printing, plotting or cutting graphic images on strip material includes a feedback for a drive motor driving a plurality of friction wheels for advancing strip material in a longitudinal direction. The feedback signal includes a short-term response component and a long-term response component to accurately pinpoint the exact longitudinal location of the strip material. The short-term response component is generated by comparing a motor encoder signal from a motor encoder secured to the drive motor with a commanded longitudinal position of the strip material and passing the resultant differential error signal through an all pass filter. The long-term response component is generated by comparing a detecting encoder signal from a detecting encoder secured to a device detecting the actual longitudinal position of the strip material with the commanded longitudinal position of the strip material and passing the differential error signal through a low pass filter.

Material advance tracking system

A thermal printing apparatus for printing graphic images on sheet material, such as a vinyl sheet, utilizes a platen drive to move the sheet material between a roller platen and thermal print head. The thermal print head presses the sheet material into engagement with the roller platen along a linear zone of contact, and a drive motor is drivingly connected to the roller platen through a series of drive gears to rotatably drive the roller platen, and in turn move the sheet material between the platen and print head. A pair of registration sprockets are mounted on opposite ends of a common sprocket shaft, and engage corresponding feed holes formed in the marginal edges of the sheet material. The registration sprockets guide and steer the sheet material as it is driven between the roller platen and the print head, and substantially prevent buckling or like distortion of the sheet material. A sensor is coupled to the drive shaft, and generates signals indicative of the rotational position and direction of the registration sprockets, and thus indicative of the position of the sheet material relative to the print head. A controller is coupled to the sensor, and selectively energizes the heating elements of the thermal print head in response to the positional signals transmitted by the sensor and image data to accurately print graphic images on the sheet material.

Apparatus for making graphic products having a platen drive with encoded

A method for printing a graphic having uniform ink density on selected pixel locations of a printing screen coated with a light sensitive emulsion is provided. According to one embodiment of the invention, only some of the pixel locations are printed as required to form a desired image during the first pass of a printhead across a strip of the emulsion coated screen. The remaining pixel locations are printed as required during a second pass of the printhead across the strip. According to a second embodiment of the invention, a portion of the pixel locations in each strip are re-printed on the next succeeding pass of the printhead across the screen.

Method of printing a graphic having uniform ink density on an emulsion

A method for making a printing screen wherein a screen having an unexposed emulsion layer applied thereto is placed in a printing device, such as an ink jet printer, and a graphic is printed directly on the emulsion layer. The graphic is precisely and automatically positioned relative to the screen by orienting the screen with respect to the X, Y and Z printing axes of the printing device, alinging a selected location on the screen with a selected coordinate position on the X and Y printing axes and providing the printing device with data defining the graphic to be printed on the emulsion layer, data defining the dimensions of the screen, and data defining selected coordinates within the dimensions of the screen with which corresponding reference coordinates of the graphic are to register when the graphic is printed on the emulsion layer.

Growing community of inventors

Middletown, CT, United States of America

Mark E Guckin