The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 10, 1996
Filed:
Sep. 26, 1995
Michael R Turner, Renton, WA (US);
Heath Custom Press, Inc., Renton, WA (US);
Abstract
A plate clamping system and apparatus for holding a flexible printing plate in position on a rotary printing cylinder. The system includes a plate clamp assembly mounted in a gap in the wall of the rotary printing cylinder for holding the leading edge of the flexible printing plate and a tail clamp assembly mounted in the same longitudinal gap in the cylinder wall for gripping and applying tension to the flexible printing plate to hold it against the surface of the printing cylinder. The plate clamp includes a plurality of individual clamping mechanisms which are air pressure engaged and spring released to hold the leading edge of the flexible plate. The tail clamp assembly includes a plurality of tail clamp mechanisms which are spring applied and air pressure released. The tail clamp mechanisms have a two-stage operation wherein compression springs clamp the tail end of the printing plate and a second set of tension springs moves the mechanism to apply tension on the printing plate. The air cylinders of the clamp assemblies are connected by separate single air pressure lines to a union on the rotary shaft of the printing cylinder with air pressure to the clamping assemblies being individually controlled by means of foot pedal operated air pressure control units.