The invention relates to a method for applying perforations in a printed or exposed carrier, wherein at least a first and a second register mark are applied on the carrier, and wherein the carrier and a perforation member are positioned with respect to each other by means of the first and the second register mark, and whereafter at least one perforation is applied in the carrier by means of the perforation member. Such a method is known from US-PS-3 , 368, 34 and is applied in the graphic industry for printing, copying or exposing carriers formed of plates or foil. Since the exposure, copying or printing are often dealt with in several phases, it is necessary to correctly position the plate or the folio at each phase. Therefor one or more holes are punched in the carrier. The punching occurs each time after that the first and second register mark on the carrier are recognised and that the perfor¬ ation member is positioned with respect to these register marks. The positioning of the perforation member with respect to the register marks occurs visually by means of a microscope that is coupled with the perforation member.

A drawback of the known method is that it is not very suitable for "on-line" application of perfor- ations. The displacement of the microscopes is indeed laborious. Furthermore the perforation member is only provided with one perforation element whereby the same perforation format is each time applied. To apply a perforation of another format the whole element has to be changed which is again laborious.

The object of the invention is to realise a method for applying perforations in a carrier whereby perforations of different format are on-line applied.

A method according to the invention is characterised in that a codeword, which indicates for each perforation to be applied the format of that perforation to be applied is read before the perforation is applied and wherein after reading the codeword a perforation element is selected from the perforation member which corresponds with the format for the perforation to be applied indicated in the codeword. Because the codeword comprises the format of the perforation to be applied and because the format supplied in the codeword is selected it is possible to apply on-line perforations of different format in the carrier. The presence of several perforation elements in the perforation member moreover allows such a selection. Because the perforations are each time applied after accurate positioning with respect to the nearby register marks deformations in the carrier will also not exert any negative influence.

It should be noticed that the use of a codeword for applying perforations is known by itself from DS-PS-3439770. The codeword used there does not comprise the format of the perforation to be applied and is used more as a location indication. Moreover in this German patent text the codeword itself is formed by perforations because it is used in a profiling machine that processes profiles. Such profiles clearly differ from an exposed or printed carrier. A first preferred embodiment cf a method according to the invention is characterized in that for each perforation to be applied a position information is each time present in the codeword, which position informa¬ tion indicates where the perforation has to be applied. This renders the detection of the first register marks

simpler as well as the positioning of the perforation member and carrier.

It is favourable that said codeword is applied on the carrier. The risk of false information is hereby minimal and moreover there is a single unambiguous relation between carrier and codeword.

A second preferred embodiment of a method according to the invention is characterized in that said first register mark is each time applied on a distance of at the most 50 mm of the perforation to be applied. Hereby possible deformations in the carrier that are the conse¬ quence of temperature and humidity fluctuations are taken into consideration. In that way perforations are applied each time on or in the neighbourhood of the register mark whereby deformations do not have any influence any more, since the register mark has to be applied with great accuracy upon exposure.

A third preferred embodiment of a method according to the invention is characterized in that at the beginning of the carrier an indicator is applied which indicates the origin of a reference frame of the carrier and wherein the codeword is applied on a predetermined location with respect to that reference frame, and wherein upon introducing the carrier said indicator is recognized before reading the codeword. Such an indicator is quickly "on-line" recognised. Since the codeword is applied en a predetermined location indicator, the codeword is quickly searched after recognition of the indicator.

A fourth preferred embodiment of a method according to the invention is characterized in that said carrier is on-line supplied and the supply speed of the carrier being determined, and wherein the speed at which the perforations are applied on successive locations in the carrier is at the most set equal to the supply speed. It is hereby avoided that the carrier passes too quickly through the perforation member and thus pull on the

carrier which would be a drawback for the developing process .

The invention also relates to a device for applying perforations in a printed or exposed carrier. Such a device is characterised in that the device com¬ prises a codeword read-member provided for reading a codeword indicating the format of the perforation to be applied, and that the perforation member comprises at least two perforation elements which are selectable under control of the codeword.

The invention will now be described in more detail by means of the embodiment represented in the drawings . In the drawings :

Figure 1 shows a top view of a possible embodiment of a device according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows the set-up of the detector and the perforation member;

Figure 3 respectively 4, shows a carrier before respectively after application of the method according to the invention;

Figure 5 shows an example of a carrier provided with a codeword and a first register mark;

Figure shows an example cf a carrier provided with a codeword and an applied perforation. In the drawings a same reference number is attributed to a same or analogous element.

In the following description a punch machine is considered as embodiment. Other embodiments of a device for applying perforations are also possible. Thus the perforations can be applied for example by means of a laser beam, a water jet or by milling. The perforations are formed by holes applied through the carrier or by notches applied in the border of the carrier.

The perforation machine 1 according to the invention, and represented in figure 1 has a supply opening 8 for supplying a carrier 7. This carrier is for

example formed by a plate or a folio, preferably a polyester folio. The printed or exposed carrier is prefer¬ ably by current or on-line supplied by a developing machine 2. The arrow 9 supplies the transport direction of the carrier.

The punch machine 1 is provided with trans¬ port means 20 for transporting the carrier through the machine . These transport means are for example formed by a roller assembly. The roller assembly is driven by a motor whereof the speed is adjustable. Therefor a first detection cell 19 is applied at the output of the develop¬ ing machine 2, for example a photocell, that supplies a first control pulse when the front of a carrier comes by. Before the roller assembly 20, a second detection cell 22 is disposed at the entry of the perforation machine 1, that is provided for generating a second control pulse when the front of an incoming carrier enters the punch machine. The supply speed of the carrier is determined from the time difference between the first and the second control pulse since the distance between the first and the second cell is known. This supply speed is thus equal to the speed with which the carrier is delivered by the developing machine 2.

The supply speed is important for deter- mining the speed with which the roller assembly 20 has to be driven and thus for the speed with which the successive perforations will be applied in the carrier. Indeed if the roller assembly is driven at a higher speed then the supply speed, then the punch machine would pull on the carrier and thus disturb the development process in the developing machine or even damage the carrier. To avoid this the speed of the carrier in the punch machine is determined in such a way that the latter equals at the most the supply speed. The perforation machine moreover comprises a detection member formed by a first 3 and a second 5

detector as well as a perforation member formed by a first 4 and a second 6 punch element or perforation element. The perforation element 4 respectively 5 is associated with the detector 3 respectively 6. Preferably the perforation machine contains two units 10, 11 whereof at least one is displaceable at least in transverse direction (arrow 12) . Longitudinal displacement (arrow 13) is also possible, for example when the perforation machine operates on a stationary carrier. Transversal and/or longitudinal displacements make the machine suitable to punch holes in carriers of different formats. The units 10 and/or 11 are then displaced in such a way that the carrier is adequately applied between them. The units 10 and/or 11 are thereto mounted for example on carriages and provided with propelling means that allow the displacement .

The perforation elements preferably contain several perforation heads for punching each time a differ¬ ent format of hole. The different perforation heads of a same perforation element are for example disposed side by side. In that disposition the perforation elements must be shiftably disposed, for example by shifting the units 10 and 11, in order to position the selected perforation element adequately above the location that has to be punched. According to another embodiment the perforation elements are mounted on a rotating drum or a ring in order to make the selection of one of the heads possible by rotation and to maintain the mutual distance proportion between detector and perforation head. Preferably the different heads of a same perforation element are mounted on a predetermined posi¬ tion in the element because an accurate positioning of the head with respect to the first register mark is hereby possible. The different heads are then selectively acti- vated.

Since the carrier is formed by a film or a plate, destined to be used in a printing process cr a photographic process, it is important that the holes be punched at an correct location on the carrier. Deviations should preferably be smaller than 0.01 mm because other¬ wise printing errors can occur that are the consequence of shifts between the different color prints or developments. If the carrier is not adequately positioned upon every printing test because the holes were not sufficiently accurately punched, the different colors will not be printed on the adequate location whereby the whole color impression will be disturbed. The relation between the carrier and the thereon applied picture is important and can not be disturbed by positioning errors in the differ- ent impression or exposition phases.

It is thus important to apply the holes with a relatively great accuracy. Because moreover different formats of carriers exist it is favourable to take this into consideration upon punching the holes without negiec- ting the accuracy with which the holes have to be applied.

In order to identify the location where the holes have to be applied first register marks 15 are applied on the carrier (figures 3 and 4) . Moreover still a second register mark 16 per carrier is applied. That second register mark is preferably applied on the ether border cf the carrier than the one whereon the first register mark is applied. The second register mark 16 is necessary to make corner corrections possible. Indeed if only the first register mark is used for positioning an inaccuracy could still occur consequently to a rotation of the carrier. The perforation indeed has a determined dimension.

A codeword 18 is further applied on the carrier, for example in the form cf a barcode. This codeword comprises amongst others information about the format of the different holes to punch in the carrier.

Thus a well determined format per hole can be indicated. In figure 4 four different hole 17 formats are thus repre¬ sented. The codeword comprises further for example infor¬ mation about the fact whether the folio or the carrier have to be dealt in two or more parts, the place of the second register mark, the distance between successive first register marks, the format and type of carrier, how to punch.

Each applied register mark 15 on the carrier shows that on or in the neighbourhood of this register mark a hole has to be punched. According to a preferred embodiment the first register marks are applied on the carrier at a distance that each time comprises at the most 50 mm from the hole to punch. The first register marks are preferably applied during the exposition of the folio or the plate. Preferably at least one hole to punch is associated with each first register mark 15, which offers the possibility to couple the holes with the picture to be applied and no longer with the border of the carrier. A greater accuracy for the holes to be punched is hereby obtained. The application of the holes on the location indicated by the register mark occurs by means of the perforation element 4, 6.

The perforation of holes in the carrier by application of the method according to the invention occurs now as follows. The carrier 7 is introduced in the punch machine or manually placed in the perforation machine by means of a control device. If the punch machine is provided to process different formats of carriers, the detection member and the punch member are preset on the format of the carrier, by means of shifting in the direc¬ tion of the arrow 12. Shifting in the direction of the arrow 12 occurs even when holes have to be punched in the side borders of the carrier. Upon introduction of the carrier 7 the detector 3 first recognises an indicator 21 that is

applied on the front of the carrier. This indicator then supplies the origin of the reference frame of the carrier. In the example represented in figures 5 and 6 the indica¬ tor is formed of a right angle line, but other embodiments are also possible. The codeword 18 is for example applied in the continuation of the indicator, which simplifies the detection of the location of the code word. By the square configuration of the indicator the detection in two directions is possible. Once the detector recognised the code word is easily found. By using a reference frame whereof the indicator 21 supplies the origin the code word is preferably applied on a predetermined location whereof the coordinates are then known by the unit. The read- member 14 is then positioned on said location. It is not necessary to apply the codeword on the carrier itself. When for example the perforation machine 1 and the devel¬ opment machine are connected with each other it is also possible to present the codeword at the entry of the perforation machine, for example as a digital word, so that a data processing unit (not represented in the figure) of the perforation machine thus receives the codeword information and can process further. The codeword is then generated for example by a central data process¬ ing unit and presented there where the information is important, such as for example to the punch machine.

After reading or receiving the codeword the gathered information therein is processed in order to start the perforation process and amongst others to drive the perforation member. If the codeword comprises position information about the location of the first register marks 15 then the latter is used to determine the carrier flux speed between successive perforation locations. Indeed from this position information is known where the first register marks are applied and thus where the perforations have to be applied. The carrier may then be displaced with a somewhat greater speed in order to quickly come near the

first register mark but as already earlier noticed this speed can not be greater than the supply speed. Once near the first register mark precise positioning can take place. When the codeword information also comprises the dimension of the carrier then the latter is used to displace at least one unit of the punch machine in order to let the position of the perforation member correspond with the dimension of the carrier. From the information relating to the dimension a position for the unit is then determined and the latter is brought to this position. All this occurs under control of the data processing unit that knows the actual position of the perforation unit.

Upon on-line punching, the carrier 7 is transported through the perforation machine to a first and a second register mark 15, 16 on the left or right longi¬ tudinal wall is detected by the detector 3 or 5. The detectors and/or the carrier are shifted in such a way that the detector process is positioned with respect to the register marks. By manually placing the carrier in the machine the units 10 and 11 are each time shifted in the longitudinal or transverse direction in order to position the detectors 3 and/or 5 with respect to the carrier.

By means of the first and second register mark the carrier is thus positioned with respect to the detector 3 and/or 5. When this positioning has taken place the transport of a machine with on-line supply is tempor¬ arily interrupted in order to refine the positioning. After that the carrier is positioned with respect to the detection member the punch element 4 and/or 5 is activated in order to select a punch head and to punch one or more holes in the carrier. By on-line supply the punching also occurs with an immobile carrier.

In order to take the position of the head in the perforation element into account when several heads occupy a fixed location in the perforation element, in

such a situation this fixed position is taken into con¬ sideration by applying a first register mark on the carrier. The position of the register mark on the carrier is then determined in such a way that the selected head will apply the perforation on the adequate location. Indeed the distance between the detection member and each of the heads is different upon fixed position of the heads so that these different distances have to be taken into account upon applying the first register mark. This occurs by means of parameter setting.

By applying the perforation on the location supplied by the register mark, after that the positioning of the carrier and the detector has taken place by means of the register mark, the selected perforation element is positioned on the first register mark. This occurs by means of rotation or translation dependent on the chosen structure of the different perforation elements.

When the perforation elements are applied on a distance of at the most 50 mm from their detectors the holes are also applied within this distance from the first register marks recognised by the detectors. Since informa¬ tion about the format of the hole to be punched is taken from the code word then this information is used to select a corresponding perforation head in function thereof. The chosen punch head is then selected, before starting the perforation. In figure 4 different formats of holes are represented. This selection occurs under control of the data processing unit that sends an activation signal to the selected head and subsequently positions the latter with respect to the first register mark before starting the punching.

By now associating the register mark with the holes that are to be applied in the neighbourhood thereof a great flexibility is offered because now the holes are associated with the picture and not only with the carrier. Because of the small distance, at the most 50

mm between the register mark and the hole or holes, temperature influences or humidity influences have almost no effect on the accuracy with which the holes are applied. The distance is indeed too small to have any influence. In this way also the chance that a carrier be rejected because the holes have somewhat shifted due to temperature or humidity are substantially reduced.