Adjustable matte for handling sheets in a printing press and method of using same
First Claim
1. An apparatus for facilitating handling of sheets in a sheet-fed printing press as they are passed between a first cylinder and a second cylinder, comprising:
- a matte having at least one inflatable pocket for cushioning sheets of printed material as they are passed through the first and second cylinders wherein the matte is mounted to the first cylinder such that the matte can conform to any shape of the first cylinder.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for facilitating handling of sheets in a sheet-fed printing press comprising a matte that is mountable on a cylinder. The matte has at least one inflatable pocket for cushioning sheets of printable material as they are passed between two cylinders of the press. At least one valve communicates with the inflatable pocket and controls the quantity of fluid in the inflatable pocket. A number of inflatable pockets can be utilized to provide increased control over various sheet sizes. Further control may be obtained by including a number of valves to independently operate each of the inflatable pockets. Ease of installation and removal is accomplished by incorporated mounting holes along the long axis of the matte. Alternatively, the matte may be arranged on the cylinder by adhesively bonding (tape or glue) the matte to the surface of the cylinder or by arranging the matte on the cylinder with Velcro fasteners. A number of mattes may be combined to form a compound matte resulting in greater resolution and precision. Methods for making as well as using the apparatus are also disclosed.
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Citations
55 Claims
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1. An apparatus for facilitating handling of sheets in a sheet-fed printing press as they are passed between a first cylinder and a second cylinder, comprising:
a matte having at least one inflatable pocket for cushioning sheets of printed material as they are passed through the first and second cylinders wherein the matte is mounted to the first cylinder such that the matte can conform to any shape of the first cylinder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for facilitating handling of sheets in a sheet-fed printing press as they are passed between a first cylinder and a second cylinder, comprising:
inflatable cushion means for cushioning sheets of printed material as they are passed between the first and second cylinders, wherein the inflatable cushion means is mounted to the first cylinder such that the inflatable cushion means can conform to any shape of the first cylinder. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for facilitating handling of sheets in a sheet-fed printing press as the sheets are passed between a first cylinder and a second cylinder, the apparatus being mountable on the first cylinder and comprising:
at least one inflatable tube for cushioning sheets of printed material as the sheets are passed between the first and second cylinders; and
at least one valve in communication with the tube such that the valve receives a fluid medium independent of contact with the first cylinder.- View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An apparatus for facilitating handling of sheets in a sheet-fed printing press as they are passed between a first cylinder and a second cylinder, the apparatus comprising:
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an outer surface of the first cylinder having a plurality of grooves extending substantially along a circumference of the first cylinder, the plurality of grooves having at least a first edge and a second edge in the outer surface of the first cylinder defining outer peripheries of the plurality of grooves, the first and second edges being spaced along a long axis of the first cylinder;
a pliable membrane arranged on the first cylinder and sealingly attached to the outer surface of the first cylinder at least at the outer peripheries of the plurality of grooves, wherein a plurality of sealed cavities for receiving a quantity of fluid are formed by the plurality of grooves and by portions of the pliable membrane which sealingly enclose the plurality of grooves for cushioning sheets of printed material as they are passed between the first and second cylinders. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of forming an apparatus for facilitating handling of sheets in a sheet-fed printing press as they are passed between a first cylinder and a second cylinder, the method comprising:
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selecting a pliable material for at least one layer of a matte;
selecting a suitable material for at least a second layer of the matte;
applying a sealing means to the pliable material at least at two locations spaced along a long axis of the matte whereby at least one inflatable pocket is formed. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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40. A method for facilitating handling of sheets in a sheet-fed printing press as they are passed between a first cylinder and a second cylinder, the first cylinder having a matte with at least one inflatable pocket arranged thereon, the method comprising:
controlling a quantity of fluid in the at least one inflatable pocket for cushioning sheets of printed material as they are passed through the first and second cylinders; and
receiving the fluid independent of contact with the first cylinder.- View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
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44. An apparatus for facilitating handling of sheets in a sheet-fed printing press as they are passed between a first cylinder and a second cylinder, the apparatus being mountable on the first cylinder and comprising:
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a compound matte including at least two mattes, a first matte and a second matte arranged on the first matte;
the first and second mattes having at least one inflatable pocket each for cushioning sheets of printed material as they are passed through the first and second cylinders; and
the second matte having at least one opening adapted to allow the at least one inflatable pocket of the first matte to pass therethrough when the at least one inflatable pocket of the first matte is inflated. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A method for facilitating handling of sheets in a sheet-fed printing press as they are passed between a first cylinder and a second cylinder, the first cylinder having a compound matte arranged thereon, the compound matte comprising at least two mattes, each matte having at least one inflatable pocket, the method comprising:
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receiving data associated with an image to be printed; and
controlling a quantity of fluid in the inflatable pockets of the compound matte according to the data. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55)
receiving an electronic image file of the image to be printed;
processing the electronic image file to identify non-print areas;
controlling the quantity of fluid in the inflatable pockets of the compound matte corresponding to the non-print areas.
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55. The method according to claim 54, further comprising:
operating a valve to control the quantity of fluid in the inflatable pockets of the compound matte.
Specification