Method and machine for positioning films on base sheets

A method and machine for positioning films on base sheets is disclosed. A first film on a base sheet is laid out into a desired position on a base plate, and positions of register marks attached on the first film are detected by photoelectric detectors including photoelectric elements which detect the register marks and output signals whose strengths are varied depending on the positions of the elements with respect to the register marks. Then, a second film on a base sheet is put on the first film so that the register marks on the second film, which are marked in the same positions as those of the first film, may approximately overlap those register marks of the first film, and the register marks of the second film become coincident with those of the first film by moving the second film by means of a drive means according to the output signals from the photoelectric elements, thereby positioning the second film into the desired position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a method and machine for positioning 
films, such as color separation films used in multi-color printing, on 
transparent base sheets according to a desired layout. 
As is well known, color printing is performed by superimposing different 
colored inks by employing a plurality of printing plates which are 
produced by separating an original picture into several colors; for 
example, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. 
When a printing layout includes several pictures, each picture is generally 
color-separated independently and color separation films of each picture 
are made separately. Then, the color separation films for each color are 
collated and mounted on a transparent base and are printed in contact with 
a printing plate material, such as a pre-sensitized plate to obtain an 
original color separation plate for printing of the desired layout. 
It is essential that the various color plates print precisely in 
coincidence, to prevent "color mackle", which would otherwise impair the 
printing quality, and thus it is critical that the relative positions of 
the various picture, mounted on the layouts for each color, exactly 
correspond. Hitherto, several methods have been developed for performing 
the positioning operation of mounting the color separation films on the 
layouts, and a summary of some of these known methods is set forth 
hereinbelow. 
In the first method, which is at present the one which is most frequently 
used, position lines for the original films are drawn on a backing sheet 
of the necessary size, according to the desired layout. A transparent base 
is overlaid on the backing sheet and then for one of the separation 
colors, the separation films for each picture are laid individually on the 
transparent base by adjusting registration marks on the films to coincide 
with marks on the backing sheet by eye and they are secured to the 
transparent base by adhesive tape, to obtain a first original color 
separation plate. This process is repeated for each color to obtain all of 
the original color separation plates. 
By this method, however, the accuracy of the setting positions of the films 
depends on the skill and care of an operator and accordingly it is 
unstable and erratic. Furthermore, the operational speed is low. 
In a second known method, the transparent bases for each color, and the 
original color separation films are provided with punched apertures and 
the positioning of the color separation films on the transparent bases is 
effected by inserting registering pins into the punched apertures. 
In this method, for instance, when four color inks are used for printing, 
four transparent bases (one of each color) are put on the backing sheet 
and the four original color separation films of each picture are placed on 
the four transparent bases one by one, according to the desired layout. 
Then, the four transparent bases and each set of four color separation 
films are punched all together in a single operation, and then separated 
one from another. The transparent base sheets and the color separation 
films of each color, which are recollated, are positioned by using the 
register pins, as mentioned above. In practice, however, this method is 
prone to errors due to slippage when the eight film sheets are punched 
together. If, for example, the operator uses a handheld power drill for 
the punching operation, which is convenient in a plate-making factory, it 
is fairly difficult to maintain a position perpendicular to the film 
sheets, so errors in the alignment of the apertures in the film sheets are 
liable to occur. Furthermore, the operation of inserting and removing the 
registering pins is troublesome and time consuming. 
In a third method, the positions of the register marks of the original 
color separation films are detected by photoelectric detector means and 
the original color separation films are automatically moved to the correct 
positions if the register marks are out of alignment, and then are 
provided with the punched apertures. Then, the original color separation 
films are laid out on a transparent base sheet which is positioned by 
inserting the register pins into its punched apertures, by a pinbar, 
having a pair of standing pins for locating the original color separation 
film, capable of moving upward and downward and in the X and Y directions 
over the setting surface of the base sheet for the color separation films. 
In this method, first the color separation films of one color are located 
in the desired positions by locating the color separation films for each 
picture in turn to the pinbar, and the pinbar is moved to the desired 
alignment on the layout. Then, the position of the color separation film 
is stored into a memory, and the setting operation for the color 
separation films of the other colors on the base sheets is repeated by 
utilizing the stored data in the memory. This method enables accurate 
positioning of the original films and is highly practicable but requires a 
large system and accordingly high costs are involved. 
In a fourth method, as in a similar manner to the third method, first the 
original color separation films are automatically positioned in the 
correct positions and then are punched. Then, the color separation films 
of one color are laid out on the base sheet by locating the color 
separation films for each picture to a plurality of pinbars which are 
fixed to the desired positions during the operations. Then, the setting 
operation for the color separation films of the other colors on the base 
sheets are repeated in the same manner as described above. This method 
does not require a memory and enables accurate positioning of the films 
but again involves high cost. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is, therefore an object of the present invention is provide a method for 
positioning films on base sheets free from the abovementioned defects, and 
one which is simple, and enables quick and accurate positioning of the 
films at lower cost, and which does not require an accurate punching steps 
for the films. 
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a machine for 
positioning films on base sheets free from the abovementioned defects, and 
one which is of simple construction, and enables quick and accurate 
positioning of the films at lower cost, and which does not require an 
accurate punching means for the films. 
According to the present invention, there is provided a method for 
positioning films on base sheets, comprising the steps of: laying out a 
first film having register mark means on a first base sheet into a desired 
position, detecting the position of the register mark means of the first 
film by a photoelectric detector means including photoelectric element 
means which detects the register mark means and outputs signals whose 
strengths are varied depending on the position of the photoelectric 
element means with respect to the register mark means, overlaying a second 
film having register mark means in the same position as that of the first 
film on a second base sheet to the first film so that the register mark 
means of the second film may approximately overlap to the register mark 
means of the first film, and moving the second film by a driving means so 
that the register mark means of the second film is coincident with the 
register mark means of the first film by controlling the output signals 
from the photoelectric element means, thereby positioning the second film 
into a coincident position with respect to said first film. 
According to the present invention there is also provided a machine for 
positioning films on base sheets, comprising: a base plate on which a 
first film having register mark means on a first base sheet is laid out 
into a desired position and a second film having register mark means in 
the same position as that of the first film on a second base sheet is 
placed on the first film, a photoelectric detector means which is capable 
of moving over the base plate and includes photoelectric element means 
which detects the register mark means and outputs signals whose strengths 
are varied depending on the position of the photoelectric element means 
with respect to the register mark means, and a drive means for moving the 
films over the base plate by controlling the output signals from the 
photoelectric element means so that the register mark means of the second 
film is coincident with the register mark means of the first film, thereby 
positioning the second film into a coincident position with respect to 
said first film.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Prior to the description of the preferred embodiments of the present 
invention, the above-mentioned third method will be described in 
connection with FIGS. 1 and 2. 
A conventional positioning and punching machine is shown in FIG. 1, in 
which a color separation film 1 is placed on a table 2, and the table 2 is 
moved in order to position the color separation film 1 in the correct 
position wherein register marks 3 and 3a attached on the film 1 coincide 
with photoelectric detectors 4 and 4a including photoelectric detector 
elements. Then, the color separation film 1 is precisely provided with a 
pair of punched apertures in its upper portion by a pair of punches 5. 
In FIG. 2 there is shown a conventional film layout machine. On a table 10 
a backing sheet and a transparent base sheet 11 overlaid on it are 
positioned by locating register pins 14 into the punched apertures 
provided in the base sheet 11. Then first the color separation film 1a 
punched of one color is located onto a pinbar 13 mounted to the bottom of 
a movable vertical rod 12 which is adapted to be movable up and down and 
in X and Y directions by means of screw shafts 15 and 16 driven by motors 
M1 and M2, by inserting the pinbar into the punched apertures of the color 
separation film 1a. The pinbar 13 is moved to the desired position on the 
transparent base sheet 11 and the color separation film 1a is secured to 
the base sheet 11 by adhesive tapes 17. 
The position (the X and the Y direction and an angle .theta.) of the pinbar 
13, that is, the position of the color separation film 1a is stored into a 
memory (not shown). Then, another color separation film 1b of one color is 
positioned in the desired position on the base sheet 11 and its position 
is stored into the memory in the same manner as described above. Then, the 
setting operation for the color separation films of the other colors on 
the other base sheets is repeated by utilizing the stored data in the 
memory. 
One embodiment of the present invention will now be described with 
reference to FIGS. 3-13. The principle of the present invention will be 
first described in connection with FIGS. 3-6, before describing a machine 
for positioning films automatically on base sheets, which is best, shown 
in FIG. 7. 
FIG. 3 shows schematically three photoelectric detector elements 21-23 
which are included in photoelectric register mark detectors 33 and 34 in 
FIG. 7, as described later, and + and - register marks 24 and 25 which are 
attached on color separation film, at the end of the setting operation of 
the color separation film, wherein the register marks 24 and 25 are 
adjusted in the correct positions with respect to the three elements 
21-23. 
In FIG. 5, there is shown schematically the positioning of the first color 
separation film 1a1 on a transparent base sheet and, that is, different 
positions of the register mark 24 partly shown, on a first color 
separation film 1a1 which is moved with respect to the detector element 
21, and the output level of the detector element 21. 
When the register mark 24 attached on the first color separation film 1a1 
is positioned out of the element 21 in a position P1, the element 21 
receives the light by its entire surface and outputs an output L1. When 
the register mark 24 is located in a position P3 the element 21 is shaded 
by the whole width of the register mark 24 and outputs an output L2 which 
is smaller than L1. When the register mark 24 is moved to positions P2 and 
P4, the element 21 is shaded by the part of the width of the register mark 
24 and outputs an output whose level is between L1 and L2. 
As the register mark is moved from the position P1 to the position P4 
through the positions P2 and P3, the output level of the element 21 is 
varied as L1, L2 and L1 as shown in FIG. 5. Accordingly, the positions P2 
and P4 are detected and the register mark 24 is positioned in the correct 
position P3 which is the middle between the positions P3 and P4, thereby 
positioning the first color separation film 1a1 in the correct position. 
The color separation film 1a1 is then secured to the base sheet by 
adhesive tapes. 
Then, the second color separation film 1a2 having another register mark 24a 
on another base sheet, as shown in FIG. 4, will be positioned in the 
correct position by adjusting the register mark 24a with respect to the 
detector element 21. 
FIG. 6 shows schematically, in a similar manner to FIG. 5, the positioning 
of the second color separation film 1a2 on the transparent base sheet 
overlaid on the first color separation film 1a1. 
The register mark 24a of the second color separation film 1a2 generally 
having the same width as that of the register mark 24 of the first color 
separation film 1a1, is moved with respect to the detector element 21. 
When the mark 24a is positioned out of the element 21 in a position P1, 
the element 21 is shaded only by the register mark 24 of the first film 
1a1 and outputs the output L2. When the element 21 is shaded by the full 
width of the mark 24a but the mark does not overlap the mark 24, as in 
positions P2 and P4, the element 21 produces an output L3 which is smaller 
than L2. When the mark 24a is overlapped entirely to the mark 24, as in a 
position P3, the element 21 produces the output L2 again. 
Hence, as the mark 24a is moved from the position P1 to the position P4 via 
the positions P2 and P3, the output level of the element 21 changes from 
L2 to L3, L2, L3 and L2 as shown in FIG. 6. The correct position of the 
second color separation film 1a2 to be positioned is known by detecting an 
extreme maximum output value of the detector element 21 (or an extreme 
minimum output value, when the register marks 24 and 24a are 
photoelectically negative), wherein the register marks 24 and 24a are 
entirely overlapped to each other, as described above, thereby positioning 
the second film 1a2 into the correct position. 
In this case, when the width of the register mark 24 of the first color 
separation film 1a1 is different from that 24a of the second film 1a2. for 
instance, the former is wider than the latter, the detector element 21 
outpus a range of extreme output values. In such a case, both the edges of 
the range of the extreme output values are detected, and thus the register 
mark 24a is positioned in the middle of the edges of the range of the 
extreme output values. 
Therefore, it is readily understood that when the register marks 24, 24a, 
25 and 25a of the first and the second color separation films 1a1 and 1a2 
are overlapped entirely one on another with respect to the detector 
elements 21, 22 and 23, as shown in FIG. 3, the setting operations for the 
first and the second color separation films are completed. In this case, 
of course, the transparent base sheets for the color separation films are 
positioned exactly in a conventional manner, such as, with respect to a 
pair of register pins, or the like, which is easily carried out. 
The second color separation film together with the base sheet are then 
removed from the first color separation film, and thereafter the third 
color separation film on another base sheet is positioned on the first 
color separation film in the same manner as described above. This 
operation is repeated for the other color separation films. 
In FIG. 7, there is shown one embodiment of the machine for positioning 
films automatically on base sheets according to the present invention. 
On a register table 49 a frosted glass disc 47 is rotatably mounted and is 
driven by a motor R. The drive mechanism portion of the frosted glass disc 
47 by the motor R is shown in FIG. 8. To the frosted glass disc 47 is 
secured a circular ring member 52 through a glass holder 51. The circular 
ring member 52 is provided with an outer gear 52a in its outer periphery 
and a guide rail 52b in its inner periphery. The outer gear 52a is engaged 
with a pinion 53 fixed to the drive shaft of the motor R. The guide rail 
52b is supported on its three surfaces by three rollers 54 mounted to the 
body of the machine. A cover 50 is so arranged outside of the glass holder 
51 to be positioned in the same level as the frosted glass disc 47. 
Again, in FIG. 7, the frosted glass disc 47 is illuminated by a light 
source (not shown) disposed in the machine. In this case, the lightening 
of the entire surface of the disc 47 is not necessary, it is enough to 
illuminate some portions just under the photoelectric register mark 
detectors 33 and 34 for detecting the + and the - register marks 24, 24a, 
25 and 25a, formed on the color separation films, and thus is adapted to 
trace the detectors 33 and 34 while the detectors are moved. 
A Y direction rail 43 having a rack 45 therealong is mounted to one side of 
the register table 49. A X direction rail 44 having a rack 46 therealong 
is movably mounted to the Y direction rail 43 in its one end and is moved 
in the Y direction by a motor Y0 disposed to the one end of the X 
direction rail 44. A pair of detector tables 41 and 42 are slidably 
mounted on the X direction rail 44 and are independently driven therealong 
by motors X1 and X2 mounted to the tables 41 and 42. 
A pair of arms 37 and 38 for moving the color separation film to be 
positioned together with suction cups 39 and 40 mounted to the front ends 
of the arms 37 and 38, are movably mounted to the bottom of the detector 
tables 41 and 42 across the X direction rail 44, and are moved 
independently in the Y direction by motors Y1 and Y2 mounted to the 
detector tables. Suitable suction cups 39 and 40 are connected to the 
suction means (not shown) which works when the suction cups hold the film 
on the frosted glass disc 47. 
The + and the - register mark detectors 33 and 34 are vertically secured to 
one side of the detector table 41 and the free end of the arm 38. A pair 
of detector operation boards 35 and 36 for positioning the register mark 
detectors 33 and 34 by driving the motors X1 and Y0; and X2 and Y2 are 
disposed to the one sides of the detector tables 41 and 42. Such a 
detector operation board 35 or 36 is shown in FIG. 9 and includes four 
push switches 55-58 for driving the motors Y0 or Y2 and X1 or X2 so as to 
move the detectors 33 and 34 in +Y, -Y, +X and -X directions. 
An operating panel 48 is arranged in one corner of the register table 49 
and is provided with switches for starting and stopping the light source 
and the motor R for driving the frosted glass disc 47, and for storing and 
reading the positions of the register mark detectors 33 and 34 into or out 
of the memory, other switches, pilot lamps, and so forth. Each motor R, 
X1, X2, Y0, Y1 or Y2 used is preferably a pluse motor so that the 
coordinates of the members such as the register mark detectors driven by 
the motors may be stored in the memory by using the pulse numbers output 
from the motors. 
As shown in FIG. 7, on the frosted glass disc 47 the transparent base 
sheets 11 and 11a are positioned by inserting register pins 32 into the 
punched apertures formed in one edges of the base sheets 11 and 11a, and 
are secured to the frosted glass disc 47 by the adhesive tapes 31. On the 
first base sheet 11 (the lower one in FIG. 7) the first color separation 
films 1a1, 1b1, and 1c1 for one color such as cyan, are positioned 
according to the desired layout, and are secured to the base sheet 11 by 
the adhesive tapes. On the second base sheet 11a put on the first color 
separation films, the second color separation films 1a2, 1b2 and 1c2 for 
another color such as magenta, are placed, the two films 1a2 and 1b2 are 
already positioned and secured to the base sheet 11a by the adhesive tapes 
and one film 1c2 is now being positioned by adjusting the register marks 
24a and 25a attached on the film 1c2 to the detectors 33 and 34 by moving 
the film 1c2 by using the suction cups 39 and 40 in the same manner as 
described above. 
In FIG. 10 is, there shown the detector table 42 for the - register mark 
detector 34. The detector table 42 is placed on the X direction rail 44 by 
four rollers 61 disposed to the table on its top and side surfaces. The 
motor X2 for driving the table 42 in the X direction is mounted to the 
table 42. A pinion 62 secured to the drive shaft of the motor X2 engages 
with the rack 46 on the X direction rail 44, and therefore, as the motor 
X2 is driven, the table 42 is moved along the X direction rail 44. 
The motor Y2 is mounted to the side of the table 42 through a bracket 74. A 
screw rod 63 is connected to a drive shaft of the motor Y2 via a coupling 
member 64 in its one end and the other end is supported by a bearing 65 
mounted onto the bottom of the table 42. A slide member 66 is provided 
with a nut member in its rear end, which engages with the screw rod 63. A 
guide member 67 having a dovetail is secured to the bottom of the table 42 
and a guide piece 68 having a dovetail groove which engages with the 
dovetail of the guide member 67, is mounted onto the middle of the slide 
member 66. Hence, the slide member 66 is moved in the Y direction by 
driving the screw rod 63. 
The register mark detector 34 is secured to the front end of the slide 
member 66. On the bottom of the slide member 66 a rotary solenoid 69 
having an actuating lever 70 and a support block 73 are mounted. The arm 
38 having the suction cup 40 in its front end is pivotally mounted to the 
support block 73 through a pivot pin 72. The front part of the arm 38 is 
biased downward by a spring 71 and the rear end of the arm 38 is contacted 
with the actuating lever 70 of the solenoid 69. 
When the solenoid 69 is actuated, the actuating lever 70 is turned downward 
and thus pushes down the rear end of the arm 38, thereby pivoting upward 
its front end. When the front end of the arm 38 is lowered by switching 
off the solenoid 69, the suction cup 40 contacts to the color separation 
film 1c2 and holds some while the suction means is switched on. Then, the 
rotary solenoid 69 is actuated, the arm 38 and the suction cup 40 hold up 
the film 1c2. 
In FIG. 11, there is shown the detector table 41 for the + register mark 
detector 33. The construction shown in FIG. 11 is almost the same as that 
in FIG. 10, except that the detector 33 is secured to the side of the 
table 41. The motors X1 and Y1 correspond to those X2 and Y2, and rollers 
81, a pinion 82, a screw rod 83, a coupling member 84, a bearing 85, a 
slide member 86, a guide member 87, a guide piece 88, a rotary solenoid 
89, an actuating lever 90, a spring 91, a pivot pin 92, a support block 
93, and a bracket 94 correspond to those members 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 
67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, and 74, respectively, in FIG. 10. 
There is shown in FIG. 12 an electric control system. The switches 108 for 
turning on or off the electric source, driving the detector tables 41 and 
42, starting the automatic operation for the positioning, and so on, are 
manually operated, and the operational signals generated from the 
operation are detected by a digital input controller 104. The detected 
signals are sent to an input/output (I/O) controller 103 and then to a 
central processing unit (CPU) 101. 
The signals processed in the CPU 101 are stored in the memory 102 as 
occasion demands, and are fed to a digital output controller 105 through 
the I/O controller 103, with the result that the digital output controller 
105 controls the rotary solenoids 69 and 89 which pivot the arms 37 and 
38. The signals from the CPU 101 are also sent to a motor controller 106 
and an analog-digital (A/D) converter 107 via the I/O controller 103. 
Then, the motor controller 106 controls, i.e. drives or stops the motors 
R, Y0, Y1, Y2, X1 and X2, and the A/D converter 107 converts the output 
analog signals supplied from the sensors such as the photoelectric 
elements 21, 22 and 23 into digital signals and sends the digital signals 
to the CPU 101 via the I/O controller 103. 
The CPU processes the digital signals input and outputs the digital signals 
processed to the motor controller 106 for controlling the motors R, Y0, 
Y1, Y2, X1 and X2 and the digital output controller 105 for controlling 
the rotary solenoids 69 and 89, and the memory for storing the amounts of 
the rotations of the motors R, Y0, Y1, Y2, X1 and X2. 
The positioning operation for the color separation films of some colors 
such as cyan, magenta, yellow and black, on the base sheets will be 
described with reference to FIG. 13. 
First, the transparent base sheets 11 are provided with punched apertures 
to be inserted over the register pins for positioning said base sheets in 
the precise positions, in a conventional manner such as by hand power 
punching means, or the like. One of the base sheets 11 punched is 
positioned by inserting the register pins into the punched apertures on 
the frosted glass disc 47 and it is then secured to the frosted glass disc 
47 by the adhesive tapes. Then, the first color separation films 1a1, 1b1 
and 1c1 of one color such as cyan for each picture are positioned on the 
base sheet 11 according to the desired layout, and are secured to the base 
sheet 11 by the adhesive tapes 31, as is best shown in FIG. 13(I). 
Then, as shown in FIG. 13(II), the precise positions of the register marks 
of the first color separation films 1a1, 1b1 and 1c1 are detected by the 
machine and are stored in the memory 102 as follows. The film 1a1 is first 
detected. The frosted glass disc 47 is turned so that the line on which 
the register marks 24 and 25 of the film 1a1 are aligned may approximately 
be parallel with the X direction rail 44. 
Then, the register mark detectors 33 and 34 are moved above the register 
marks 24 and 25, respectively, by operating manually the swiches 55-58 on 
the detector operation boards 35 and 36. The switch for the automatic 
positioning of the detectors 33 and 34 are switched on. The photoelectric 
detector elements 21-23 in the detectors 33 and 34 cooperate with the 
register marks 24 and 25 as described above, and send the output signals, 
depending on the amounts of the lights received, to the A/D converter 107 
in which the output signals are converted into the digital signals which 
are then sent to the CPU 101 via the I/O controller 103. 
If the digital signals sent to the CPU 101 are not coincident with the 
desired values, the CPU 101 controls the motor controller 106 via the I/O 
controller 103 to drive the motors R, Y0, Y1, Y2, X1 and X2 so that the 
detector elements 21-23 in the detectors 33 and 34 coincide with the 
register marks 24 and 25 according to the principle abovementioned, and 
thereby the detectors 33 and 34 are precisely positioned. Then, the pulse 
numbers from the standard point for each motor are counted, and depending 
on them the precise positions of the detectors 33 and 34 or the register 
marks 24 and 25 of the film 1a1 are stored in the memory 102. 
Then, the precise positions of the register marks on the other films 1b1 
and 1c1 are also detected and are stored in the memory 102 in the same 
manner as described above. 
Next, as shown in FIG. 13(III), another transparent base sheet 11a is 
located on the first color separation films by inserting the register pins 
32 into the punched apertures, and then is secured to the frosted glass 
disc 47 by the adhesive tapes. 
Then, for the setting operation for the second color separation films 1a2 
of another color such as magenta over the first color separation film 1a1, 
the detectors 33 and 34 are moved to the stored positions in the memory 
102 for the film 1a1 automatically by switching on a reset switch on the 
operating panel 48. 
The second color separation film 1a2 is so placed over the first color 
separation film 1a1 that the register marks 24a and 25a on the second film 
1a2 may approximately be coincided with those 24 and 25 on the first film 
1a1. When an adjusting switch on the operating panel 48 is then switched 
on in order to switch off the powers of the rotary solenoids 69 and 89, 
the front ends of the arms 37 and 38 are pivoted downward by the springs 
71 and 91 and hence the suction cups 39 and 40 in the front ends of the 
arms 37 and 38 come into contact with the second film 1a2. 
Then, the arms 37 and 38 are raised by actuating the solenoids 69 and 89 
again, while the suction cups 39 and 40 hold the film 1a2. The arm 37 is 
moved in the Y direction so that the X direction line of the register mark 
24a of the second film 1a2 may automatically coincide with the register 
mark 24 of the first film 1a1 by driving the motor Y1, and the arm 38 is 
simultaneously moved in the Y direction so that the register mark 25a of 
the second film 1a2 may automatically coincide with the register mark 25 
of the first film 1a1 by driving the motor Y2, as described above. 
In this operation, since the detector 34 and the arm 38 are fixed to the 
slide member 66, as the arm 38 is moved in the Y direction, the detector 
element 23 in the detector 34 is slipped somewhat from the register mark 
25 of the first film 1a1. However, the detector element 23 used is so 
large enough to cover the register mark 25, and the register mark 25a of 
the second film 1a2 coincides with the register mark 25 of the first film 
1a1. Accordingly, there is no problem in this operation. 
Next, the Y direction line of the register mark 24a of the second film 1a2 
is automatically coincidence with the Y direction line of the register 
mark 24 of the first film 1a1 by driving the motors X1 and X2, as 
described above, thereby perfectly adjusting the second film 1a2 over the 
first film 1a1. The second film 1a2 is then secured to the second base 
sheet 11a by the adhesive tapes. 
The adjusting order of these Y and X directions of the register marks 24 
and 24a; and 25 and 25a described above may be interchangeable or may be 
done at the same time. Further, when the adjustment firstly conducted of 
the register marks in the Y direction comes out of the correct position 
after the adjustment done secondly to those in the X direction, these 
adjustments in the X and the Y directions are repeated. 
Then, the setting operation for the second color separation films 1b2 and 
1c2 is repeated in the same manner as described above, and the films 1b2 
and 1c2 are secured to the base sheet 11a by the adhesive tapes. 
The second base sheet 11a with the second color separation films 1a2, 1b2 
and 1c2 thereon is then removed from the register pins 32, and the other 
color separation films of the other colors such as yellow and black are 
laid out on the other transparent base sheets overlaid on the first color 
separation films in the same manner as described above. 
When the register marks attached on the film are inclined, the frosted 
glass disc 47 supporting the films is turned so that the register marks 
may direct the X and the Y directions. 
According to the present invention, reflective films and transparent films 
may be positioned with respect to one another by properly illuminating the 
detector positions or changing the position of the light source therefor. 
Although the present invention has been shown and described in terms of a 
preferred embodiment thereof, however, various changes and modifications 
can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope 
of the present invention.