EP0127831B1 - Dispositif de repérage à boucle fermée - Google Patents

Dispositif de repérage à boucle fermée Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0127831B1
EP0127831B1 EP19840105774 EP84105774A EP0127831B1 EP 0127831 B1 EP0127831 B1 EP 0127831B1 EP 19840105774 EP19840105774 EP 19840105774 EP 84105774 A EP84105774 A EP 84105774A EP 0127831 B1 EP0127831 B1 EP 0127831B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
color
television camera
color image
signal
closed loop
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19840105774
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0127831A3 (en
EP0127831A2 (fr
Inventor
R. Langdon Wales
H.W. Crowley
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
WEB PRINTING CONTROLS Co
Original Assignee
WEB PRINTING CONTROLS Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=23988964&utm_source=***_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=EP0127831(B1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by WEB PRINTING CONTROLS Co filed Critical WEB PRINTING CONTROLS Co
Publication of EP0127831A2 publication Critical patent/EP0127831A2/fr
Publication of EP0127831A3 publication Critical patent/EP0127831A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0127831B1 publication Critical patent/EP0127831B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41FPRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F33/00Indicating, counting, warning, control or safety devices
    • B41F33/0036Devices for scanning or checking the printed matter for quality control

Definitions

  • the present invention relates in general to register control for multi-color printing and pertains, more particularly, to a closed-loop register control system used in conjunction with a commercial printing press.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved close loop register control technique that is substantially superior to prior techniques for obtaining and maintaining register on a printing press or other like process that forms patterns on a substrate.
  • Still another object of the present invention is to provide a close loop register system without preprinted marks on the moving material to be printed and without detection means for said preprinted marks.
  • a not least object of the invention is to provide a close loop register system with means to scan a printed multi-color image and generate therefrom position signals corresponding to dots of at least two colors respectively in order to perform correction of a substrate position, if this is necessary.
  • a closed loop register control system as is claimed in claim 1 and used in association with a printing press orthe like.
  • the present invention also comprises a method as is claimed in claim 7.
  • the subject matter claimed comprises a television camera in combination with a strobe light and a solid state imaging device which enables continuous scanning of the sheet web.
  • the television camera (receiver), imaging device and strobe light produce an effective time aperture.
  • the apparatus of this invention also comprises a printing press console having associated therewith a digitizing tablet and a television monitor.
  • the location of the area that is to be examined is defined by the pressman as being important to the specific job at that moment.
  • the area to be examined may be defined by laying a proof sheet down on the digitizing tablet and recording the coordinates of the area of interest. This allows the pressman to select one part of the image as important and causes the register mechanism to maintain register in that selected area.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates a magnified view of a typical printed image with the colors depicted in proper relative registry.
  • the image is printed by a combination of multiple colors laid down separately.
  • the example that has been selected shows three colors; black, yellow magenta and cyan printed with respect to each other.
  • the printed image in this example is about 20 percent of a full solid and represents a typical density for flesh tones and many lightly colored objects.
  • the density of the dots is shown magnified in Fig. 1.
  • the density of the dots are 133 lines per inch or about 0.006 inch between centers.
  • the dots are oriented at various angles with respect to the paper as noted in Fig. 1. This prevents the eye from detecting the patterns of the dots.
  • Fig. 3 shows, in addition to the digitizing tablet 10, a television monitor 14.
  • the tablet 10 and television monitor 14 may both be of conventional design.
  • Fig. 3 also shows a sample or proof sheet 16 disposed on the electronic digitizing tablet 10 in correct registry with the tablet.
  • the area may be selected, for example, by a capacitive pen or probe 17.
  • the coordinates of this area are then electronically transmitted to the positioning mechanisms associated with the television camera 20.
  • Fig. 3 shows, in addition to the digitizing tablet 10, a television monitor 14.
  • the tablet 10 and television monitor 14 may both be of conventional design.
  • Fig. 3 also shows a sample or proof sheet 16 disposed on the electronic digitizing tablet 10 in correct registry with the tablet.
  • the area may be selected, for example, by a capacitive pen or probe 17.
  • the coordinates of this area are then electronically transmitted to the positioning mechanisms associated with the television camera 20.
  • FIG. 2 which shows, in addition to the television camera 20, the positioning mechanism which includes guide members 22 and motor 24.
  • Fig. 2 also illustrates the strobe light 26 and the moving web 27 and associated roller 28.
  • Fig. 2 shows the television camera 20 positioned over an image area 30 of the web 27.
  • the pressman concurrently with the transmission of the coordinates to position the television camera the image also appears locally on the television monitor 14 at the screen 15.
  • the pressman thus has the ability to see quite readily exactly where the register is being monitored and to watch its performance, dynamically, throughout the run.
  • the pressman can also move the image dynamically by watching the television screen and thus pick a slightly different point via the tablet to monitor for register variations before or after the run.
  • the use of a television camera mounted in proximity to the web as illustrated in Fig. 2 has many advantages.
  • the actual image can be watched by the press operator on the screen 15 by comparing the relative positions of various colors with respect to each other.
  • the operator was required to make a visual comparison of a mark on the paper with respect to say an edge of the paper.
  • the non-imaged area can be recorded sothatthe paper whiteness can be subtracted from the overall image to produce an electronically higher contrast.
  • a color camera or a color scanning wheel the individual colors can be viewed separately by one sensor.
  • the natural image storage techniques of television can be used to perform a great deal of analysis from a single sheet without having to build up an algorithm based upon continuous samples of successive sheets.
  • the television camera is looking at an overall image (rather than a mark on the paper with respect to its location on the machinery) the camera can be more flexible in its location and its height above the paper, in order to capture the image. It can also have a longer field focus since the technique is to compare relative colors (color-to-color) rather than colors with respect to a fixed focation.
  • the method for electronically detecting the registration is to use the television camera to examine a pattern such as shown in Fig. 1 on a moving web with the aid of a strobe light.
  • Fig. 2 shows the moving web 27 along with the television camera and strobe light 26.
  • the pressman controls the camera laterally or adjusts the time delay by means of strobe adjustment, to cause the image to move circumferentially until the pressman finds an area of similar percentage screen as to all colors as shown in Fig. 1. This is an area where all colors are showing.
  • a conventional solid-state imaging device with associated electronics locates a black dot and then systematically scans the area about the dot to locate the yellow magenta and cyan dots (see Fig. 1). If the density of the screen is known and the screen angles are known then the precise centers of all dots can be predicted.
  • the aforementioned electronics preferably includes computer or processor means of conventional design.
  • the purpose of the processor then is to compare the locations of the dots with their desired position and to establish X and Y that are lateral and circumferential corrections needed to bring the dots into correct register.
  • the corrections are carried out at the printing press station for each respective color. These correction values are made only with respect to a reference color, in this case, the black dots.
  • the corrections are simply the distance between the theoretical location and the electronically observed position.
  • Fig. 4 shows the television receiver 20 with its output coupling by way of line 39 to the imaging device 40.
  • the imaging device 40 may be of conventional design.
  • the output of this device couples by way of line 41 to the processor 42.
  • the processor 42 is shown schematically broken down into a referenced section 44 in a comparator section 46.
  • the purpose of the processor is to compare the locations of the dots as electronically represented from the imaging device 40, with a reference magnitude as stored in the reference block 44 of FIG. 4.
  • correction signals on lines 48 and 50 referred to, respectfully, as an X correction and a Y correction.
  • the processor 42 looks at the location of a black dot as represented by some X and Y coordinate and compares this address with an address for say a cyan dot which is also digitally represented. If in making this comparison, it is determined that the dots are not in the desired position as established by reference 44, then the aforementioned correction signals are generated. These correction signals may be coupled to the printing press at each respective station for respective colors to provide for both lateral and circumferential corrections (as in connection with FIG. 2).

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Quality & Reliability (AREA)
  • Inking, Control Or Cleaning Of Printing Machines (AREA)
  • Spectrometry And Color Measurement (AREA)
  • Printing Methods (AREA)

Claims (7)

1. Système de commande de repérage à boucle fermée destiné à assurer un repérage correct en impression multi-couleurs dans le cas d'une bande en mouvement ou substrat en forme de feuille (27) portant une image multi-couleurs (30), des moyens (20) servant à contrôler ladite bande en mouvement (27) et à engendrer un signal de position de l'image multi-couleurs en fonction de l'observation de ladite bande en mouvement (27), des moyens (44) servant à fournir un signal de position de référence pour une image en mouvement, des moyens (dans 42) servant à enregistrer ledit signal de position de référence, des moyens de comparaison (46) servant à comparer ledit signal de position de référence audit signal de position de l'image multi-couleurs et des moyens (48, 50) servant à assurer une correction automatique de la position du substrat dans le cas où un signal de correction est engendré par lesdits moyens de comparaison (46), caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens (20) de contrôle de ladite bande en mouvement (27) comprennent une caméra de télévision (20) apte à être déplacée vers une position souhaitée pour permettre d'observer un quelconque segment de l'image multi-couleurs (30) sur ladite bande en mouvement (27), et en ce que des moyens (22, 24) sont prévus pour le déplacement de ladite caméra de télévision (20), y compris des moyens destinés à recevoir un signal de coordonnées pour assurer ledit déplacement de la caméra de télévision par rapport à la bande (27) afin de permettre d'observer un quelconque segment sélectionné de l'image multi-couleurs (30), des moyens (16,17) sous la commande de l'opérateur servant à engendrer ledit signal de commande de coordonnées pour effectuer ledit déplacement, et des moyens (42) servant à enregistrer électroniquement un signal de position correspondant à un point d'une première couleur et au moins d'une seconde couleur respectivement du segment sélectionné de l'image multi-couleurs tel qu'observé par ladite caméra de télévision, lesdits moyens de comparaison (46) comparant lesdits signaux de position de couleurs électronique-ment observées dudit segment (30) audit signal de position de référence afin de déterminer si un réglage est nécessaire.
2. Système de commande de repérage à boucle fermée selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens (22, 24) de déplacement de ladite caméra de télévision (20) comprennent des moyens de commande de moteur.
3. Système de commande de repérage à boucle fermée selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend des moyens de lumière de stro- bage (26) associés à ladite caméra de télévision (20) pour fournir une ouverture optique.
4. Système de commande de repérage à boucle fermée selon la revendication 1 et/ou la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens (16,17) servant à engendrer ledit signal de commande de coordonnées comprennent une tablette de numérisation (10).
5. Système de commande de repérage à boucle fermée selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend une feuille échantillon ou feuille d'épreuve (16) associée à la tablette de numérisation (10).
6. Système de commande de repérage à boucle fermée selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce qu'un écran de télévision (14,15) est associé à la tablette de numérisation (10).
7. Procédé destiné à assurer la commande de repérage à boucle fermée servant, à son tour, à permettre un repérage correct en impression multi-couleurs dans le cas d'une bande en mouvement ou substrat en forme de feuille (27) portant une image multi-couleurs (30), ledit procédé comprenant les étapes consistant à déplacer une caméra de télévision vers une position souhaitée pour permettre d'observer un quelconque segment de l'image multi-couleurs (30) et à recevoir sous la commande de l'opérateur un signal de commande de coordonnées pour effectuer le déplacement de ladite caméra de télévision (20) vers la position souhaitée pour permettre l'observation d'un segment sélectionné de l'image multi-couleurs, à engendrer sous la commande de l'opérateur ledit signal de commande de coordonnées pour effectuer ledit déplacement, à enregistrer électroniquement un signal de position correspondant à un point d'une première couleur et au moins d'une seconde couleur respectivement du segment sélectionné de l'image multi-couleurs tel qu'observé par ladite caméra de télévision (20), à établir un signal de position de référence et à comparer lesdits signaux de position de couleurs électronique- ment observées dudit segment audit signal de position de référence pour assurer la correction de position automatique du substrat au cas où un signal de correction est engendré par ladite comparaison.
EP19840105774 1983-06-02 1984-05-21 Dispositif de repérage à boucle fermée Expired - Lifetime EP0127831B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US50033683A 1983-06-02 1983-06-02
US500336 1983-06-02

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0127831A2 EP0127831A2 (fr) 1984-12-12
EP0127831A3 EP0127831A3 (en) 1985-11-13
EP0127831B1 true EP0127831B1 (fr) 1990-03-14

Family

ID=23988964

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19840105774 Expired - Lifetime EP0127831B1 (fr) 1983-06-02 1984-05-21 Dispositif de repérage à boucle fermée

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0127831B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPS6068947A (fr)
CA (1) CA1230412A (fr)
DE (1) DE3481595D1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102011113885A1 (de) 2010-09-24 2012-03-29 Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft Passermesselement

Families Citing this family (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2578486B1 (fr) * 1985-03-08 1987-06-12 Bertin & Cie Procede et dispositif de positionnement d'objets les uns par rapport aux autres, en particulier des rouleaux d'impression de couleurs dans une presse rotative offset
FI78025C (fi) * 1987-08-31 1989-06-12 Valtion Teknillinen Foerfarande foer kvalitetskontroll av tryckning.
DE3811359C2 (de) * 1988-04-02 1994-06-16 Heidelberger Druckmasch Ag Vorrichtung zur Positionierung eines Meßkopfes für Passerabweichungen beim Offsetdruck
FR2633062B1 (fr) * 1988-06-21 1992-11-27 Dubuit Mach Procede pour le controle de qualite d'une impression, et machine d'impression mettant en oeuvre un tel procede
GB8908271D0 (en) * 1989-04-12 1989-05-24 Tecscan Electronics Ltd Monitoring apparatus for colour printing press
CH679990A5 (fr) * 1989-06-08 1992-05-29 Bobst Sa
DE4012608A1 (de) * 1990-04-20 1991-10-24 Roland Man Druckmasch Verfahren und vorrichtung zur bestimmung von passerdifferenzen an druckbildstellen eines mehrfarbenoffsetdruckes
DE4020420A1 (de) * 1990-06-27 1992-01-02 Volker Ludwig Verfahren zum auftragen von fluessigen, pastoesen oder plastischen substanzen auf ein substrat
JPH04226762A (ja) * 1990-12-28 1992-08-17 Sannichi Insatsu:Kk 印刷管理方法
CH687138A5 (fr) * 1992-02-07 1996-09-30 Bobst Sa Dispositif de détection d'erreurs d'impression dans une machine à imprimer rotative.
DE4321179A1 (de) * 1993-06-25 1995-01-05 Heidelberger Druckmasch Ag Verfahren und Einrichtung zur Steuerung oder Regelung von Betriebsvorgängen einer drucktechnischen Maschine
JPH09507040A (ja) * 1993-10-28 1997-07-15 ペレッタ グラフィクス コーポレーション インク濃度を保持するためのシステム
EP0765748A3 (fr) * 1995-09-29 1997-08-13 Goss Graphics Systems Inc Dispositif pour l'alignement d'images dans un système de contrÔle pour une machine à imprimer
IT1284432B1 (it) * 1996-03-22 1998-05-21 De La Rue Giori Sa Procedimento di controllo automatico della qualita' di stampa di un'immagine policroma
DE19613083A1 (de) 1996-04-02 1997-10-09 Koenig & Bauer Albert Ag Verfahren zur qualitativen Beurteilung von bearbeitetem Material
DE19614740A1 (de) * 1996-04-15 1997-10-16 Kammann Maschf Werner Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Bedrucken von selbsttragenden Einzelobjekten
DE10149158B4 (de) * 2001-10-04 2010-07-22 Wifag Maschinenfabrik Ag Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Ermittlung der Position einer bedruckten Papierbahn
DE102008023961A1 (de) * 2008-05-16 2009-11-19 Manroland Ag Verfahren zur Regelung von drucktechnischen Prozessen
DE102016000335A1 (de) * 2016-01-18 2017-07-20 Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag Verfahren zur Kompensation auftrags- und maschinenspezifischer Passerungenauigkeiten und Registerfehler

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2322743A1 (fr) * 1975-09-04 1977-04-01 Windmoeller & Hoelscher Dispositif pour l'observation de l'impression dans les machines a imprimer rotatives
US4135664A (en) * 1977-03-04 1979-01-23 Hurletronaltair, Inc. Lateral register control system and method
JPS5456506A (en) * 1977-10-12 1979-05-07 Sugawara Kenkiyuujiyo Kk Method of detecting printing displacement
JPS54138954A (en) * 1978-04-19 1979-10-27 Dainippon Printing Co Ltd Monitoring device for continuously running sheet member
US4318176A (en) * 1980-03-03 1982-03-02 Hurletronaltair, Inc. Computerized press controls
US4561103A (en) * 1981-07-29 1985-12-24 Dai Nippon Insatsu Kabushiki Kaisha Print inspecting method and apparatus

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102011113885A1 (de) 2010-09-24 2012-03-29 Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft Passermesselement

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS6068947A (ja) 1985-04-19
EP0127831A3 (en) 1985-11-13
EP0127831A2 (fr) 1984-12-12
JPH0469068B2 (fr) 1992-11-05
CA1230412A (fr) 1987-12-15
DE3481595D1 (de) 1990-04-19

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0127831B1 (fr) Dispositif de repérage à boucle fermée
US4736680A (en) Closed loop register control
EP1722978B1 (fr) Procede et systeme destines a surveiller un document imprime produit au moyen d'une presse a imprimer
JP3288628B2 (ja) 印刷機の湿し液を調節するためのシステム及び方法
US5050994A (en) Method of monitoring and/or controlling dampening-medium feed in an offset printing machine
US6050192A (en) Process and arrangement for controlling or regulating operations carried out by a printing machine
US20020033851A1 (en) Process and apparatus for the printing of digital image information
US6129015A (en) Method and apparatus for registering color in a printing press
US5696890A (en) Method of register regulation and printing control element for determining register deviations in multicolor printing
US7206097B2 (en) Patch measurement device and printing apparatus incorporating the same
US5033378A (en) Defective print detecting device
US6009808A (en) Method of multicolor printing involving multiple passes through a printing machine
US20090126591A1 (en) Method of automatically adjusting the printing pressure in flexographic printing machines
EP0323537B1 (fr) Dispositif pour détecter une impression défectueuse
EP0922585A3 (fr) Procédé de correction d'irrégularité de densité et dispositif d'enregistrement d'image utilisant ce procédé
JP3790490B2 (ja) 印刷物の品質管理装置及び印刷機
JP2831162B2 (ja) 多色印刷機用見当制御方法および装置
JP2516606B2 (ja) 印刷品質検査装置
US20120105876A1 (en) Color plane registration error correction
US7450272B2 (en) Method and system for printing management
JP2812988B2 (ja) 印刷機における見当量検出方法及びその装置
JPH0257772B2 (fr)
JP2733941B2 (ja) 多色印刷機用見当制御装置
JPH10175290A (ja) 印刷検査方法とその装置
JP2812987B2 (ja) 印刷機における見当量検出方法及びその装置

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): BE CH DE FR GB IT LI NL SE

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): BE CH DE FR GB IT LI NL SE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19860508

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19871015

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

ITF It: translation for a ep patent filed

Owner name: BARZANO' E ZANARDO ROMA S.P.A.

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): BE CH DE FR GB IT LI NL SE

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Effective date: 19900314

Ref country code: NL

Effective date: 19900314

Ref country code: LI

Effective date: 19900314

Ref country code: CH

Effective date: 19900314

DIN2 Information on inventor provided after grant (deleted)
RAP2 Party data changed (patent owner data changed or rights of a patent transferred)

Owner name: WEB PRINTING CONTROLS CO.

RIN2 Information on inventor provided after grant (corrected)

Free format text: LANGDON WALES, R. * CROWLEY, H.W.

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 3481595

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19900419

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

ET Fr: translation filed
REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: 732

NLV1 Nl: lapsed or annulled due to failure to fulfill the requirements of art. 29p and 29m of the patents act
BECN Be: change of holder's name

Effective date: 19900314

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

PLBI Opposition filed

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009260

26 Opposition filed

Opponent name: CROSFIELD PRESS CONTROLS LTD.

Effective date: 19901213

Opponent name: HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AG

Effective date: 19901210

26N No opposition filed
PLAA Information modified related to event that no opposition was filed

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009299DELT

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: CD

ITTA It: last paid annual fee
PLBQ Unpublished change to opponent data

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS OPPO

PLAB Opposition data, opponent's data or that of the opponent's representative modified

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009299OPPO

R26 Opposition filed (corrected)

Opponent name: HEIDELBERGER DRUCKMASCHINEN AG * 901213 CROSFIELD

Effective date: 19901210

APAC Appeal dossier modified

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS NOAPO

PLBN Opposition rejected

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009273

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: OPPOSITION REJECTED

27O Opposition rejected

Effective date: 19961018

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: IF02

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20030507

Year of fee payment: 20

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20030527

Year of fee payment: 20

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20030627

Year of fee payment: 20

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Payment date: 20030704

Year of fee payment: 20

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF EXPIRATION OF PROTECTION

Effective date: 20040520

BE20 Be: patent expired

Owner name: *WEB PRINTING CONTROLS CO.

Effective date: 20040521

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: PE20

APAH Appeal reference modified

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSCREFNO