Steven D Siler

US Patent:

6376024, Apr 23, 2002

Filed:

Feb 11, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/502734

Inventors:

Steven J. Siler - Cary IL
David M. Klein - Fontana WI

Assignee:

Hurletron, Incorporated - Lincolnshire IL

International Classification:

B05D 104

US Classification:

427458, 427483, 4273741, 101487

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for processing a moving web of material is provided with an applicator that applies a liquid material to the moving web, a drying apparatus that heats the web to an initial temperature, a first cooling apparatus that causes the web to be cooled to a second temperature that is at least about 20Â F. lower than the initial temperature, and a second cooling apparatus disposed after the first cooling apparatus that causes the web to be cooled to a third temperature that is at least about 20Â F. lower than the second temperature. The first cooling apparatus includes a generator adapted to generate a directed electrostatic field through which the web passes and a sprayer adapted to spray liquid through the electrostatic field and onto the web.

US Patent:

6408754, Jun 25, 2002

Filed:

Mar 23, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/816059

Inventors:

Steven J. Siler - Cary IL 60013
David M. Klein - Fontana WI 53125

International Classification:

B41N 600

US Classification:

1014011, 101153, 101170, 101489, 101DIG 37

Abstract:

A flexographic printing apparatus for printing a moving web is provided with a rotatable ink roller, a roller support that rotatably supports the ink roller, an ink source associated with the ink roller which provides ink for the ink roller, a rotatable printing roller associated with the ink roller, and a printing plate disposed on the printing roller that makes physical contact with the ink roller so that ink is transferred from the ink roller to the printing plate as the ink roller and the printing roller rotate. The printing apparatus also has a rotatable backing roller disposed adjacent the printing roller so that the moving web on which ink is to be applied passes between the backing roller and the printing plate as the backing roller and the printing roller rotate so that a printed image is applied to the web. The apparatus also has a charge applicator that causes an electric charge to be applied to the semi-conductive printing plate.

US Patent:

6435094, Aug 20, 2002

Filed:

Nov 14, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/712089

Inventors:

Steven J. Siler - Cary IL
David M. Klein - Fontana WI

Assignee:

Hurletron, Incorporated - Libertyville IL

International Classification:

B41F 506

US Classification:

101488, 101487, 101179, 101180, 101220, 101221, 118 58

Abstract:

An apparatus for processing a web of material by applying a liquid material to the web, heating the web, cooling the web and moistening the web is provided with an applicator that applies the liquid material to the web, a drying apparatus that heats the web to an initial temperature of greater than about 250Â F. and causes the web to have a moisture content of no greater than about 1. 5%, a first cooling apparatus that causes the initial temperature of the web to be reduced to a second temperature no greater than about 210Â F. and no less than about 100Â F. , a moistening apparatus that causes the moisture content of the web to be increased to at least about 2. 5%, and a second cooling apparatus that causes the web to be cooled to a temperature not greater than about 100Â F. The moistening apparatus includes a generator adapted to generate a directed electrostatic field through which the web passes and a sprayer adapted to spray liquid through the electrostatic field and onto the web when the temperature of the web is between about 210Â F. and 100Â F.

US Patent:

6591746, Jul 15, 2003

Filed:

Jun 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/880422

Inventors:

Steven J. Siler - Lake Geneva WI

Assignee:

Hurletron, Incorporated - Libertyville IL

International Classification:

B41F 1300

US Classification:

101171, 101181

Abstract:

A printing press may be provided with a first rotatable printing roller that prints ink of a first color on a web of material and causes a first pair of registration marks to be periodically printed in the first color on the web, a second rotatable printing roller that prints ink of a second color on the web of material and causes a second pair of registration marks to be periodically printed in the second color on the web, a third rotatable printing roller that prints ink of a third color on the web of material and causes a third pair of registration marks to be periodically printed in the third color on the web, an imaging device positioned to detect the registration marks printed on the web that generates image data representing the registration marks, and a controller operatively coupled to the printing rollers and the imaging device. The controller may include a processor and a memory, and the controller may be programmed to identify the pairs of registration marks based on the image data and based on registration mark reference data for at least three registration mark pairs defined by a registration mark relationship table.

US Patent:

6314879, Nov 13, 2001

Filed:

May 12, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/310259

Inventors:

Steven J. Siler - Cary IL
David M. Klein - Fontana WI

Assignee:

Hurletron Incorporated - Lincolnshire IL

International Classification:

B41F 900
B41M 110

US Classification:

101153

Abstract:

A flexographic printing apparatus for printing a moving web is provided with a rotatable ink roller, a roller support that rotatably supports the ink roller, an ink source associated with the ink roller which provides ink for the ink roller, a rotatable printing roller associated with the ink roller, and a printing plate disposed on the printing roller that makes physical contact with the ink roller so that ink is transferred from the ink roller to the printing plate as the ink roller and the printing roller rotate. The printing apparatus also has a rotatable backing roller disposed adjacent the printing roller so that the moving web on which ink is to be applied passes between the backing roller and the printing plate as the backing roller and the printing roller rotate so that a printed image is applied to the web. The apparatus also has a charge applicator that causes an electric charge to be applied to the semi-conductive printing plate.

US Patent:

59171928, Jun 29, 1999

Filed:

Oct 26, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/178865

Inventors:

Steven J. Siler - Cary IL
Scott T. Hilkert - Skokie IL
Jeffrey C. Petrin - Arlington Heights IL

Assignee:

Hurletron, Incorporated - Danville IL

International Classification:

G01N 2186

US Classification:

25055944

Abstract:

An apparatus for scanning colored registration marks printed on a moving web by a plurality of printing cylinders of a printing press is provided with a photoemitter for generating a beam of light directed at the moving web, a detector for detecting the amount of light reflected from the moving web and generating a reflectance signal having a magnitude relating to the amount of light, an A/D converter for periodically sampling the reflectance signal to generate a number of scan values, a memory for storing the scan values, and a baseline generator for determining a baseline level of the reflectance signal. The baseline generator may include means for assigning each of the scan values to one of a plurality of predetermined ranges of values based on the magnitudes of the scan values, means for determining a baseline range from the plurality of the predetermined ranges based on the range having the largest number of the scan values, and means for determining the baseline level based upon the baseline range. The predetermined ranges may be overlapping ranges.

US Patent:

57718113, Jun 30, 1998

Filed:

Oct 10, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/728203

Inventors:

Steven J. Siler - Cary IL
Scott T. Hilkert - Skokie IL
Jeffrey C. Petrin - Arlington Heights IL

Assignee:

Hurletron, Incorporated - Danville IL

International Classification:

B41F 1324

US Classification:

101486

Abstract:

A pre-registration system for a printing press may be provided with a first detector for detecting an angular position of a first rotatable printing cylinder by sensing when a reference mark disposed on the first printing cylinder is in a predetermined angular position, a second detector for detecting an angular position of a second printing cylinder by sensing when a reference mark of the second printing cylinder is in a predetermined angular position, and an adjustment mechanism for automatically adjusting the angular position of one of the printing cylinders based on the circumference, a web distance, and the angular position of one of the printing cylinders. The adjustment mechanism may adjust the angular position based upon a stored phase data relating to the web distance and the circumference. Alternatively, the adjustment mechanism may determine a target angular position for the one printing cylinder, determine a phase correction signal based upon the angular position of the one printing cylinder and the target angular position, and adjust the angular position of the printing cylinder based upon the phase correction signal.

US Patent:

62996851, Oct 9, 2001

Filed:

Feb 11, 2000

Appl. No.:

9/502727

Inventors:

Steven J. Siler - Cary IL
David M. Klein - Fontana WI

Assignee:

Hurletron, Incorporated - Lincolnshire IL

International Classification:

B05C 312
B41F 506

US Classification:

118 58

Abstract:

An apparatus for processing a web of material by applying a liquid material to the web, heating the web, cooling the web and moistening the web is provided with an applicator that applies the liquid material to the web, a drying apparatus that heats the web to an initial temperature of greater than about 250. degree. F. and causes the web to have a moisture content of no greater than about 1. 5%, a first cooling apparatus that causes the initial temperature of the web to be reduced to a second temperature no greater than about 210. degree. F. and no less than about 100. degree. F. , a moistening apparatus that causes the moisture content of the web to be increased to at least about 2. 5%, and a second cooling apparatus that causes the web to be cooled to a temperature not greater than about 100. degree. F. The moistening apparatus includes a generator adapted to generate a directed electrostatic field through which the web passes and a sprayer adapted to spray liquid through the electrostatic field and onto the web when the temperature of the web is between about 210. degree. F. and 100. degree. F.