US3716668A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Engraving machine
Assignee: Graphic Electronics Inc
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Filing: 1970-12-28
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Granted: 1973-02-13
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Expires: 1990-12-28
Abstract
Abstract An improved engraving machine having a cylinder on which is wrapped in side-by-side relation an image to be reproduced and a plate to be engraved with such image, including a scanning member and a cutting member arranged adjacent respective portions of the cylinder for cooperation with the image and the plate to be engraved respectively, the apparatus including means for rotating the cylinder and moving the same axially relative to the scanning and cutting carriages while the latter remain stationary.
Inventors
- 👤 W Barron
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 13:58
CPC Classifications
B; B44; B44B; B44B3/00; B44B3/001; B44B3/004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
262 words
An electronic engraving machine for engraving a right-reading image on a flexible plate by scanning copy material comprising the image to be reproduced, the improvement comprising, in combination, cylinder means on which a flexible plate to be engraved and copy material to be reproduced are wrapped in axially spaced relation, stationary scanner means mounted alongside said cylinder adjacent said copy material for scanning the latter, stationary cutter means mounted alongside said cylinder adjacent said flexible plate for engraving the latter, said cutter being spaced axially along said cylinder from said scanner, cylinder carriage means on which said cylinder is rotatably journalled, said cylinder carriage being slidably mounted on a pair of stationary parallel guide rods for axial movement thereon alongside said scanner and cutter, cylinder drive means for rotating said cylinder, said cylinder drive means being mounted on said cylinder carriage for axial movement therewith, a cylinder carriage feed screw rotatably journalled on said cylinder carriage and extending along the length of said cylinder parallel to the cylinder axis, feed screw drive means for continuously rotating said feed screw, and nut means mounted independently of said cylinder carriage for engagement with said feed screw to effect axial movement of said feed screw when the latter is rotating and thereby effect axial movement of said cylinder carriage whereby as said rotating cylinder is advanced axially past said scanner and cutter, said scanner will scan said copy material along a spiral path and said cutter will engrave along a corresponding spiral path on said flexible plate in response to signals received from said scanner.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
262 words
An electronic engraving machine for engraving a right-reading image on a flexible plate by scanning copy material comprising the image to be reproduced, the improvement comprising, in combination, cylinder means on which a flexible plate to be engraved and copy material to be reproduced are wrapped in axially spaced relation, stationary scanner means mounted alongside said cylinder adjacent said copy material for scanning the latter, stationary cutter means mounted alongside said cylinder adjacent said flexible plate for engraving the latter, said cutter being spaced axially along said cylinder from said scanner, cylinder carriage means on which said cylinder is rotatably journalled, said cylinder carriage being slidably mounted on a pair of stationary parallel guide rods for axial movement thereon alongside said scanner and cutter, cylinder drive means for rotating said cylinder, said cylinder drive means being mounted on said cylinder carriage for axial movement therewith, a cylinder carriage feed screw rotatably journalled on said cylinder carriage and extending along the length of said cylinder parallel to the cylinder axis, feed screw drive means for continuously rotating said feed screw, and nut means mounted independently of said cylinder carriage for engagement with said feed screw to effect axial movement of said feed screw when the latter is rotating and thereby effect axial movement of said cylinder carriage whereby as said rotating cylinder is advanced axially past said scanner and cutter, said scanner will scan said copy material along a spiral path and said cutter will engrave along a corresponding spiral path on said flexible plate in response to signals received from said scanner.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
262 words
An electronic engraving machine for engraving a right-reading image on a flexible plate by scanning copy material comprising the image to be reproduced, the improvement comprising, in combination, cylinder means on which a flexible plate to be engraved and copy material to be reproduced are wrapped in axially spaced relation, stationary scanner means mounted alongside said cylinder adjacent said copy material for scanning the latter, stationary cutter means mounted alongside said cylinder adjacent said flexible plate for engraving the latter, said cutter being spaced axially along said cylinder from said scanner, cylinder carriage means on which said cylinder is rotatably journalled, said cylinder carriage being slidably mounted on a pair of stationary parallel guide rods for axial movement thereon alongside said scanner and cutter, cylinder drive means for rotating said cylinder, said cylinder drive means being mounted on said cylinder carriage for axial movement therewith, a cylinder carriage feed screw rotatably journalled on said cylinder carriage and extending along the length of said cylinder parallel to the cylinder axis, feed screw drive means for continuously rotating said feed screw, and nut means mounted independently of said cylinder carriage for engagement with said feed screw to effect axial movement of said feed screw when the latter is rotating and thereby effect axial movement of said cylinder carriage whereby as said rotating cylinder is advanced axially past said scanner and cutter, said scanner will scan said copy material along a spiral path and said cutter will engrave along a corresponding spiral path on said flexible plate in response to signals received from said scanner.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
262 words
An electronic engraving machine for engraving a right-reading image on a flexible plate by scanning copy material comprising the image to be reproduced, the improvement comprising, in combination, cylinder means on which a flexible plate to be engraved and copy material to be reproduced are wrapped in axially spaced relation, stationary scanner means mounted alongside said cylinder adjacent said copy material for scanning the latter, stationary cutter means mounted alongside said cylinder adjacent said flexible plate for engraving the latter, said cutter being spaced axially along said cylinder from said scanner, cylinder carriage means on which said cylinder is rotatably journalled, said cylinder carriage being slidably mounted on a pair of stationary parallel guide rods for axial movement thereon alongside said scanner and cutter, cylinder drive means for rotating said cylinder, said cylinder drive means being mounted on said cylinder carriage for axial movement therewith, a cylinder carriage feed screw rotatably journalled on said cylinder carriage and extending along the length of said cylinder parallel to the cylinder axis, feed screw drive means for continuously rotating said feed screw, and nut means mounted independently of said cylinder carriage for engagement with said feed screw to effect axial movement of said feed screw when the latter is rotating and thereby effect axial movement of said cylinder carriage whereby as said rotating cylinder is advanced axially past said scanner and cutter, said scanner will scan said copy material along a spiral path and said cutter will engrave along a corresponding spiral path on said flexible plate in response to signals received from said scanner.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
An electronic engraving machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cylinder drive means comprises a first drive motor mounted on said cylinder carriage, and wherein said feed screw drive means comprises a second drive motor mounted on said cylinder carriage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
58 words
An electronic engraving machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said nut means is movable between an operative position wherein it is engaged with said feed screw and an inoperative position wherein it is disengaged from said feed screw, said cylinder carriage being freely slidable on said guide rods when said nut means is in its inoperative position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electronic engraving machine in accordance with claim 3 where said nut means comprises a half-nut member mounted adjacent said feed screw, and spring means biasing said half-nut member into engagement with said feed screw.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-13 | 1976-08-14 | 1977-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-13 | 1980-08-14 | 1981-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-13 | 1984-08-14 | 1985-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |