INTAGLIO ENGRAVING METHOD AND APPARATUS

摘要

This invention relates to an engraving method and apparatus for engraving a cylinder (10, 12) for printing an intaglio pattern on a web of material. The engraver comprises a driver for rotatably driving the cylinder and a computer (34) for controlling the operation of the engraver corresponding to the predetermined intaglio pattern. The stylus (58) having a generally flat cutting edge or surface. The engraving head also capable of engraving at response times of less than 200-300 microseconds, thereby enabling the engraving head to engrave the intaglio cylinder in response to the intaglio engraving signal (38). The apparatus and method also comprise a fine line boost routine for facilitating engraving fine areas or lines of the intaglio pattern. There is also provided apparatus and method for controlling ink flow (144, 145, 147) in large engraved areas or intaglio trenches (72a, 72b, 74, 76, 77a, 77b, 78). The apparatus and method facilitate engraving intaglio grooves or trenches which may be generally rectangular in cross section, and which were engraved in response to a pulse-width modulated intaglio engraving signal generated by the computer.