Method for fabricating a registration guide for a wide-format printer or plotter
First Claim
1. A method for fabricating an encoder for use as a registration reference for the print head of a printer, said encoder having an integer number of registration markings per unit linear distance, a length, and a total number of registration markings within said length, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a template having a multiplicity of indices spaced generally equidistantly therealong, said multiplicity of indices being generally equal to the total number of registration markings in the length of the encoder, said template having a length defined by the extent of said multiplicity of indices, said length of said template being generally less than or generally greater than the length of the encoder;
providing a substrate on which the encoder is to be imprinted;
providing a light source incident on said template and said substrate; and
projecting an image of said multiplicity of indices onto said substrate while enlarging or reducing said image by a scaling factor such that said image of said multiplicity of indices on said substrate corresponds to the integer number of registration markings per unit linear distance of the encoder and the total number of registration markings within the length of the encoder.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for fabricating an encoder containing the intended integer number of registration markings (and spaces) per unit distance, over the correct length of that entire encoder. The method is practiced by producing a template having the desired number of registration indices at reasonably exact tolerances--but at widths and spacing less than or greater than intended for the registration markings, and therefore having an overall length less than or greater than that of the encoder--and using the template to project an image onto a substrate at a suitable scaling factor to form the encoder having the correct widths and spacing of the registration markings on that substrate. The template may be a wholly computer-generated and memory-resident virtual image, or may be imprinted upon a tangible intermediate medium and transferred to the substrate using a projection technique. The scaling process may be accomplished using mechanical, optical, or photochemical techniques, as well as combinations thereof.
11 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for fabricating an encoder for use as a registration reference for the print head of a printer, said encoder having an integer number of registration markings per unit linear distance, a length, and a total number of registration markings within said length, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a template having a multiplicity of indices spaced generally equidistantly therealong, said multiplicity of indices being generally equal to the total number of registration markings in the length of the encoder, said template having a length defined by the extent of said multiplicity of indices, said length of said template being generally less than or generally greater than the length of the encoder; providing a substrate on which the encoder is to be imprinted; providing a light source incident on said template and said substrate; and projecting an image of said multiplicity of indices onto said substrate while enlarging or reducing said image by a scaling factor such that said image of said multiplicity of indices on said substrate corresponds to the integer number of registration markings per unit linear distance of the encoder and the total number of registration markings within the length of the encoder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 21, 26)
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14. A method for fabricating an encoder, said encoder having a number of registration markings per unit linear distance, a length, and a total number of registration markings within said length, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a template having a multiplicity of indices spaced therealong, said template having a length defined by the extent of said multiplicity of indices, said length of said template being generally less than or generally greater than the length of the encoder; providing a substrate on which the encoder is to be imprinted; and projecting said template onto said substrate to form an image of said multiplicity of indices on said substrate while enlarging or reducing said image by a scaling factor such that said image of said multiplicity of indices on said substrate corresponds to the number of registration markings per unit linear distance of the encoder and the total number of registration markings within the length of the encoder. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27)
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Specification