Imaging and punching thermal control system

Abstract

An imaging and punching thermal control system and related method for a plate imaging system including a thermal sensor system coupled to the imaging and the punching device that generates one or more measured signals; a controller that generates a digital format of the one or more measured signals and stores temperature-related information; and a thermal control device that analyzes the digital format and the temperature-related information and makes thermal control decisions for regulating thermal characteristics of the punching device. The thermal control system and related method that is a part of the imaging and punching system that can precisely punch an imaged plate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention and its objects and advantages will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an imaging and punching system.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the imaging and punching system of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a second side view of a preferred embodiment of the imaging and punching system of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the imaging and punching system of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective top view of a portion of the imaging and punching system of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective side view of a portion of the imaging and punching system of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective top view of a portion of the imaging and punching system of the invention.

FIG. 8 is an exploded, schematic of a portion of the imaging and punching system.

Claims

1. A thermal control system for an imaging and punching system comprising: an imaging recording device for recording an image on recordable media to form imaged media, said device capable of creating heat;a punching system, including a perforation device and a positioning device, for punching said imaged media, said punching system being displaceable due to heat from said imaging recording device; anda thermal control system comprising:a sensor system comprising one or more sensors coupled to the punching system that generates one or more measured signals; anda controller collecting one or more measured signals and storing temperature-related information and making thermal control decisions for regulating thermal characteristics of the punching system.

2. The thermal control system of claim 1, wherein the thermal control system is further coupled to the image recording device to receive temperature-related information derived from sensors coupled to both the punching system and the imaging system, so that the thermal control device can making thermal control decisions in conjunction to other information.

3. The thermal control system of claim 1, wherein the thermal control device regulates the thermal characteristics of the punching system by comparing the one or more measured signals to a pre-selected temperature threshold value to determine if a temperature corresponding to the one or more measured signals is within a selected range, and adjusting a location adjuster in response to a determination that the temperature is outside of the selected range.

4. The thermal control system of claim 3, wherein adjusting the location adjuster comprises transmitting energy to the location adjuster.

5. The thermal control system of claim 3, wherein adjusting the location adjuster comprises preventing imaging.

6. The thermal control system of claim 3, wherein the thermal control device includes a set point registers containing the pre-selected threshold value, a sensor register containing the digital format, and a comparator connected to the set point register and to the sensor register.

7. The thermal control system of claim 1, wherein the punching system comprises a plurality of components, wherein a given coefficient of thermal expansion is associated with each component, and wherein the thermal control device further makes thermal control decisions in accordance with differences between each of the coefficients of thermal expansion.

8. The thermal control system of claim 1, wherein a first coefficient of thermal expansion is associated with the punching system and a second coefficient of thermal expansion is associated with the imaging recording device, and wherein the thermal control device further makes thermal control decisions in accordance with differences between each of the first and second coefficients of thermal expansion.

9. The thermal control system of claim 1, further comprising an air circulation system for establishing substantially equal air temperatures at each of the image recording device and the punching system.

10. An imaging and punching system comprising: an imaging recording device for recording an image on recordable media to form imaged media, said device capable of creating heat;a punching device, for punching said imaged media, said punching system being displaceable due to heat from said imaging recording device; anda thermal control system comprising:a sensor system coupled to the punching system that generates one or more measured signals; anda controller collecting one or more measured signals and storing temperature-related information and making thermal control decisions for regulating thermal characteristics of the punching system.

11. The imaging and punching system of claim 10, wherein the thermal control system further regulates the thermal characteristics of the imaging recording device.

12. The imaging and punching system of claim 10, wherein the thermal control system further regulates the thermal characteristics of a pre-imaged punching device.

13. The imaging and punching system of claim 10, wherein the thermal control system further regulates the thermal characteristics of a post-imaged punching device.

14. The thermal control system of claim 10, wherein the thermal control system is further coupled to the image recording device to receive temperature-related information derived from the sensors so that the thermal control device can making thermal control decisions in conjunction to other information.

15. The imaging and punching system of claim 10, wherein the thermal control device regulates the thermal characteristics of the punching device by comparing the one or more measured signals to a pre-selected temperature threshold value to determine if a temperature corresponding to the one or more measured signals is within a selected range, and adjusting a location adjuster in response to a determination that the temperature is outside of the selected range.

16. The imaging and punching system of claim 15, wherein adjusting the location adjuster comprises transmitting energy to the location adjuster.

17. The imaging and punching system of claim 15, wherein adjusting the location adjuster comprises preventing imaging.

18. The imaging and punching system of claim 15, wherein the thermal control device includes a set point registers containing the pre-selected threshold value, a sensor register containing the digital format, and a comparator connected to the set point register and to the sensor register.

19. The imaging and punching system of claim 10, wherein the punching device comprises a plurality of components, wherein a given coefficient of thermal expansion is associated with each component, and wherein the thermal control device further makes thermal control decisions in accordance with differences between each of the coefficients of thermal expansion.

20. The imaging and punching system of claim 19, wherein a first coefficient of thermal expansion is associated with the punching system and a second coefficient of thermal expansion is associated with the imaging recording device, and wherein the thermal control device further makes thermal control decisions in accordance with differences between each of the first and second coefficients of thermal expansion.

21. The imaging and punching system of claim 10 further comprising an air circulation system for establishing substantially equal air temperatures at each of the image recording device and the punching system.

22. The thermal control system of claim 10, further comprising an air circulation system for establishing substantially equal air temperatures at each of the image recording device and the punching system.

23. An apparatus for imaging and perforating recordable media comprising: an imaging system recording an image on recordable media to form imaged media, said system capable of creating heat;a recordable media support conveying the recordable media to the imaging recording device;at least one perforation device having a punch movable into and out of a punch area to punch the imaged media, said perforation device being displaceable due to heat from said imaging recording device;an imaged media support having a pivot, said pivot having a fixed relationship to said imaging system and said perforation device, the imaged media support being movable about the pivot between a first position proximate the imaging system and a second position proximate the punch area; anda thermal control system comprising:at least one sensor coupled to the punching system that generates one or more measured signals; anda controller collecting one or more measured signals and storing temperature-related information and making thermal control decisions for regulating thermal characteristics of the perforation device.

24. A method for preparing a printing plate comprising: forming an image on the printing plate with an image recording device, said device capable of creating heat;measuring a first temperature of at least one component of the image recording device;forming one or more perforations in the printing plate with at least one perforation device, said punching system being displaceable due to heat from said imaging recording device;measuring a second temperature of at least one component of the at least one perforation device; andadjusting at least one of: a position of the image on the printing plate during imaging; anda position of the one or more perforations in the printing plate during punching in accordance with a difference between the first and second temperature.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising collecting the measured temperatures and making thermal control decisions for said adjusting step.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein said thermal control decisions include comparing the one or more measured temperatures to a pre-selected temperature threshold value to determine if the temperature is within a selected range, and performing the adjusting step in response to a determination that the temperature is outside of the selected range.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein said thermal control decisions include preventing imaging.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprises activating an air circulation system in response to the temperatures.

29. A method for preparing printing plates comprising: measuring a first thermal-related property;positioning a first printing plate in a first position, the first position being determined in accordance with the measured first thermal-related property;forming a perforation in the first printing plate positioned in the first position;measuring a second thermal-related property;positioning a second printing plate in a second position, the second position, the second position being determined in accordance with a difference between the measured first and second thermal-related property; andforming a perforation in the second printing plate.