Claims
- 1. A multicolor lithographic printing press comprising:a. a plate cylinder having a diameter, a circumference, and a plurality of image regions extending fully around the circumference the plate cylinder being configured to receive plate material extending over all of the image regions; b. at least one imager for placing a lithographic image on the plate material at each of the image regions; c. at least one inking mechanism for transferring ink to each of the images, the images each receiving ink of a different color; d. a single blanket member in rolling contact with the plate cylinder for sequentially receiving the ink from each of the images as the plate cylinder rotates the blanket member having a diameter less than the diameter of the plate cylinder; and e. an impression member for receiving a recording medium, the impression member being in rolling contact with the blanket member, the blanket and impression members cooperating to successively transfer the ink from each of the images onto the recording medium.
- 2. The press of claim 1 wherein the blanket member transfers substantially all of the ink to the recording medium, the blanket member sequentially receiving from the images and transferring to the recording medium the different colors of ink.
- 3. The press of claim 1 wherein the plate cylinder has a circumference, a diameter D and N image regions evenly distributed about the circumference, the blanket member having a diameter substantially equal to D/N.
- 4. The press of claim 1 wherein the plate cylinder has a circumference and four image regions evenly distributed about the circumference.
- 5. The press of claim 4 wherein the plate cylinder has a plate-cylinder diameter and the blanket member has a blanket-member diameter, the plate-cylinder diameter being four times the blanket-member diameter.
- 6. The press of claim 4 comprising four imagers evenly distributed about the plate-cylinder circumference.
- 7. The press of claim 1 further comprising:f. distributed about the plate cylinder, a plurality of winding mechanisms equal in number to the image regions, each winding mechanism including (i) first and second rotatable spools within the plate cylinder, (ii) means for winding material onto the second spool, the first spool of each winding mechanism dispensing a rolled supply of plate material over a travel path extending around the cylinder over one of the image regions to the second spool of an adjacent winding mechanism, the second spool of each winding mechanism permitting winding of dispensed plate material therearound, and (iii) tensioning means for establishing a predetermined amount of tension on the plate material across the travel path; and g. means for causing advancement of a predetermined amount of a predetermined amount of untensioned material from a selected winding mechanism onto the second spool of an adjacent winding mechanism.
- 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the winding means comprises means for coupling movement of the plate material along a travel path to rotation of the plate cylinder.
- 9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each winding mechanism further comprises:h. means for locking the first spool; i. means for maintaining a predetermined amount of tension along the plate material originating with the first spool and wrapped around the plate cylinder; j. means for selectably disengaging the locking means; k. means for causing rotation of the plate cylinder to (i) draw material from the first spool around the cylinder into an adjacent winding mechanism, or (ii) draw material from an adjacent winding mechanism around the plate cylinder onto the second spool; and l. means for monitoring the amount of plate material dispensed from the first spool and, upon dispensation of a predetermined amount of material, re-engaging the locking means, thereby re-establishing the predetermined amount of tension along the plate material originating with the first spool and wrapped around the plate cylinder.
- 10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each winding mechanism further comprises:h. means for locking the first spool; i. means for maintaining a predetermined amount of tension along the plate material originating with the first spool and wrapped around the plate cylinder; and j. means for selectably disengaging the locking means, the apparatus further comprising: k. a center gear, the first spool of a first winding mechanism being geared to the center gear by an even number of gears, the first spool of a second winding mechanism being geared to the center gear by an odd number of gears; and l. at least one motor for (i) causing rotation of the center gear in a first direction to draw material from the first spool of a first winding mechanism around the cylinder into a second winding mechanism, or (ii) causing rotation of the center gear in a second direction to draw material from the first spool of the second winding mechanism around the cylinder into the first winding mechanism; and m. means for monitoring the amount of plate material dispensed from each first spool and, upon dispensation of a predetermined amount of material, causing the motor to re-establish the predetermined amount of tension along the material wrapped around the cylinder, wherein said means for causing advancement comprises at least one motor for (i) causing rotation of the center gear in a first direction to draw material from the first spool of a first winding mechanism around the cylinder into a second winding mechanism, or (ii) causing rotation of the center gear in a second direction to draw material from the first spool of the second winding mechanism around the cylinder into the first winding mechanism.
- 11. The press of claim 1 wherein the at least one inking mechanism further comprises a reciprocation assembly for actuating the inking mechanism to contact the plate cylinder only when angularity adjacent to a predetermined image region.
- 12. A printing method comprising:a. providing a plate cylinder having a diameter, a circumference, and a plurality of image regions extending fully around the circumference; b. disposing plate material on the plate cylinder; c. placing a lithographic image on the plate material at each of the image regions; d. transferring ink to each of the images, the images each receiving ink of a different color; e. using a single blanket member in rolling contact with the plate cylinder to sequentially receive the ink from each of the images as the plate cylinder rotates and to successively transfer the ink from each of the images onto a recording medium wherein the blanket member has a diameter less than the diameter of the plate cylinder.
RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the benefits of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/241,056, filed Oct. 17, 2000, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
US Referenced Citations (38)
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/241056 |
Oct 2000 |
US |