Abstract: A laser platemaking control system includes a control panel (410), microprocessor means (408, 424), and an interface (524) therebetween, the control system controlling (a) the loading and unloading of transports (150) onto and from the inner surface of a support with an arcuate cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drum (243), (b) the translational scanning of paste-ups (478) to be optically read and plates (516) or the like to be optically written on by optical devices (462, 502) which are translated along and rotated about the drum axis, and (c) the selection of size and position of paste-ups (478) and plates (516) on a transport to be scanned. A display (412) also provides communication to an operator from the microprocessor means (403, 424). The microprocessors (403) and (424) are, optionally, incorporated into a single microprocessor.

Abstract: A scanning system using at least one mirror for scanning material to read (or alternatively to be written upon) with a laser beam is provided. Air under pressure is fed into a hollow shaft and escapes through a turbine on the shaft to rotate the shaft. The shaft is supported by air bearings. The shaft rotates the mirror during scanning. Air pressure escaping from the air bearings is vented to the ambient atmosphere. Two special thrust bearings are provided to improve the stability of the shaft. Each thrust bearing applies a force on the shaft in a direction parallel to the axis of the shaft and opposite to the force applied by the other thrust bearing. Each thrust bearing comprises a cavity in the housing, a flat plate attached to the shaft, and a porous bronze plate between the cavity and the flat plate. The air pressures in the two cavities are separately adjustable to enable the operator to select pressures that provide the system with maximum stability.

Abstract: A scanning system receives and ejects material to be scanned in a given plane. There are first and second transports, each for holding material to be scanned. A table has a bed capable of holding one of the transports. Rails above the bed hold the other transport. These rails may be operated to drop any transport that is on the rails onto the bed. The bed and rails may be raised and lowered so that any transport, on the bed, is in the given plane when a transport is to be fed into the scanning system, and so that any transport ejected from the scanning system will be received on the rails. With this apparatus the two transports may be scanned alternately, with the material on one being changed while the other is being scanned. The transports are moved by rollers and pushing devices.

Abstract: A method of feeding material to be scanned to, and ejecting such material from, a scanning system is provided. The scanning system receives, ejects and transports carrying material to be scanned. Two such transports are provided, to permit material to be scanned on one transport while the material on the other transport is changed and/or modified. The transports are fed into the scanning system from a bed and are received from the system on rails. The rails are above the bed. The bed and rails are in one vertical position when transports are fed from the bed into the scanning system and at another vertical position when a transport is ejected from the scanning system onto the rails. A transport may be dropped from the rails to the bed.

Abstract: A cap for securing a printing plate, sheet of paper, or other flat piece of material to a plate or bed having one or more registration pins, is provided. The cap has a resilient O ring for securing it to the pin. The cap is actually applied to, and removed from, the pin by a cap holding and releasing device. The cap holding and releasing device is mounted on an elevator which carries the printing plate (or paper etc.) to the bed and deposits it on the bed.

Abstract: The transport, that carries the material to be scanned to and from scanning position, is held against its support by suction. After the transport has been moved into scanning position the suction is applied progressively starting at one end of the transport and continuing to the other end. A squeegee roller presses the transport against its support. This roller passes over the portion of the transport to which suction has just been applied, but prior to the time that suction is applied to the next section of the transport.

Abstract: The invention provides a way of positioning the material to be scanned with respect to a mirror that both rotates and translates in order to reflect a scanning beam on the material. A sector of a cylinder has the same axis as the rotating mirror. The material to be scanned is mounted on the top of a flexible plate. The flexible plate may rest flat on a table outside of the area scanned. The flexible plate may then be pushed into the cylinder with the bottom face of the flexible plate in contact with the inner side wall of the sector of the cylinder. When the flexible plate has reached the proper position in the cylinder, the bottom face of the plate of the flexible plate is held in position against the inner wall of the sector of the cylinder by suction, so that scanning may proceed.