The present invention generally relates to mounting a printing plate on a mounting plate. The present invention specifically relates to mounting a printing plate in the form of a cliché plate on a mounting plate for purposes of executing an imaging method (e.g., an indicia formation process involving a formation of indicia on the cliché plate and/or a pad printing process involving the transfer of ink within the indicia formed on the cliché plate to a printing pad).
When printable plate body 11 has a magnetic material composition (i.e., the material composition of printable plate body 11 exhibits a magnetic attraction to magnets), then an array of magnets 22 embedded in plate body 21 are magnetically coupled to printable plate body 11 to securely mount printing plate 10 on mounting plate 20 as shown in
The present invention provides a new and unique mounting plate for securely mounting a printing plate thereon for purposes of executing an imaging method (e.g., an indicia formation process involving a formation of indicia on the cliché plate and/or a pad printing process involving the transfer of ink within the indicia formed on the cliché plate to a printing pad).
In a first form of the present invention, a mounting plate comprises a mountable plate body, a magnetic coupling channel and a magnetic coupler for use in an imaging method involving a printing plate including a printable plate body and a mounting channel extending through the printable plate body. The magnetic coupling channel extends into the mountable plate body. The magnetic coupler includes a base magnetic member (e.g., a magnet) embedded in the mountable plate body, and an insertable magnetic member (e.g., a magnetic shaft) that can be magnetically coupled to the base magnetic member in response to the insertable magnetic member being concurrently inserted through the mounting channel of the printing plate and into the magnetic coupling channel.
In a second form of the present invention, an image processing system employs a printing plate and a mounting plate. The printing plate includes a printable plate body, and a mounting channel extending through the printable plate body. The mounting plate is used to mount the printing plate thereon. The mounting plate includes a mountable plate body, a magnetic coupling channel extending into the mountable plate body and a magnetic coupler. The magnetic coupler includes a base magnetic member (e.g., a magnet) embedded in the mountable plate body, and an insertable magnetic member (e.g., a magnetic shaft) that can be magnetically coupled to the base magnetic member in response to the insertable magnetic member being concurrently inserted through the mounting channel of the printing plate and into the magnetic coupling channel.
In a third form of the present invention, an imaging method involves a printing plate and a mounting plate. The printing plate includes a printable plate body and a mounting channel extending through the printable plate body. The mounting plate includes a mountable plate body, a magnetic coupling channel extending into the mountable plate body and a magnetic coupler including a base magnetic member embedded in the mountable plate body and an insertable magnetic member. The imaging method comprises a mounting of the printable plate body onto the mountable plate body and an insertion of the insertable magnetic member through the mounting channel of the printing plate and into the magnetic coupling channel of the mounting plate to thereby be magnetically coupled to the base magnetic member whereby the printable plate body is securely mounted to the mountable plate body.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of the invention, rather than limiting the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description, in conjunction with the claims.
While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described as a presently preferred embodiment with the understanding that the presently preferred embodiment is to be considered an exemplification of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention of the specific embodiment illustrated.
It should be understood that the title of this section of this specification, namely, “Detailed Description Of the Invention”, relates to a requirement of the United States Patent Office, and does not imply, nor should be inferred to limit the subject matter disclosed herein.
Referring now to the drawings, the present invention is premised on a magnetic coupler including a base magnetic member embedded in a mounting plate and an insertable magnetic member that can be inserted through a mounting channel of a printing plate and into a magnetic coupling channel of the mounting plate. To this end,
A stage S56 of flowchart 50 encompasses an execution of an imaging process involving printing plate 10. In one embodiment, the imaging process is an indicia formation process involving a formation of indicia on printing plate 10 as would be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art. In a second embodiment, the imaging process is a pad printing process involving the transfer of ink within the indicia formed on printing plate 10 to a printing pad as would be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art. In a third embodiment, the imaging process consists of both the indicia formation process and the pad printing process.
A stage S58 of flowchart 50 encompasses a removal of each magnetic coupling pin 40 from its associated mounting channel 12-15 and magnetic coupling channel 32-35 to thereby eradicate the magnetic coupling to its associated magnet 36-39. A stage S60 of flowchart 60 encompasses a dismounting of printing plate 10 form mounting plate 30.
Referring to
In the disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular.
From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modification and variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Applications 60/754,718 filed Dec. 29, 2005, and 60/771,317 filed on Feb. 8, 2006 the entirety of each of which is incorporated by reference herein.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60754718 | Dec 2005 | US | |
60771317 | Feb 2006 | US |