Abstract: An optical isolator and circular polarizer are used in combination to optically isolate specular and diffuse reflections which result when a forward traveling radiation beam encounters an optical or non-optical boundary surface. The forward traveling radiation beam is linearly polarized with a linear polarizer such that its plane of linear polarization is aligned with a first polarization axis, then the axis of linear polarization is rotated to a second polarization axis with a polarization rotator and finally the linearly polarized forward traveling beam is circularly polarized with a quarter wave retarder.

Abstract: An inclined mirror is provided in a cylindrical housing which has an open end and a closed end. An optical planar glass plate or window is mounted at the open end of the cylindrical housing. A laser beam enters the housing through the window and is reflected off the inclined mirror. The reflected beam leaves the housing through a side aperture in the housing. The cylindrical housing is rotated to scan the beam through a range of angles. Rotation of this optical system induces astigmatism in the beam due to the deformation of the inclined mirror at high rotational speed. If the window is tilted so that the entering laser beam is no longer normal to the window surface, then the window will induce a degree of astigmatism in the laser beam. The angular position of the window can be adjusted relative to the inclined mirror, thus compensating for the dynamic astigmatism due to rotation.

Abstract: The primary function of the optional handler is to make plates available on demand to the imaging engine. A multitude of plates are stored inside cassettes and these cassettes are loaded into the handler. There may be up to four cassettes residing in the handler. Inside a cassette there may be a protective interleaf sheet, sometimes called a slip sheet, between each plate which is removed by the handler and discarded. The handler receives commands from the engine control sequencer which provides instructions as to what cassette needs to be accessed to make a plate available to the picker mechanism so the plate may be conveyed to the imaging engine. Conversely the handler provides status information to the engine to make full interaction with the system possible.

Abstract: A pallet assembly for supporting and protecting a load during transportation of the load. The pallet comprises two elongated members spaced apart and oriented substantially parallel so as to be located on opposite sides of the load. A plurality of support members support the load with a clearance space between the support members and the ground. The support members are removably attached to the two elongated members. An adjusting mechanism adjusts the support members relative to the two elongated members to lower the support members toward the ground and reduce the clearance space between the support members and the ground.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus providing an object focal plane for original documents to be scanned, wherein a scan carriage containing illumination, sensor, and optical elements is moved together to scan an original document and to obtain a digitized representation thereof. The movable carnage further includes an automatically-positioned alignment grid for aligning original documents, such that the grid is visible at the surface and moves with the scan carriage.