Abstract: A disclosed information recording apparatus includes an erasing unit configured to erase prerecorded information on recording media capable of being colored and decolored by heat; a recording unit configured to record information on the recording media from which the prerecorded information is erased; and a control unit configured, when a recording request is received, to cause the recording unit to start recording information on a first one of the recording media and to cause the erasing unit to start erasing prerecorded information on a second one of the recording media.

Abstract: A thermal transfer dyesheet comprising a substrate bearing a region of a thermally transferable dye, the region including a first printable portion within the region having a first optical density, a second printable portion within the region having a second optical density, the difference in optical density between the first and second optical densities being detectable by a detection means on a dyesheet printer, and a third printable portion within the region having an optical density substantially the same as that of the first printable portion is provided, together with a method for manufacture of the dyesheet and an associated printer.

Abstract: A device is for scribing a visible label on the medium. The medium (11), for example an optical disc, has a label side provided with a radiation sensitive layer for creating the visible label via a beam of radiation. The device has a head (22) and a positioning unit (25) for radially positioning a scribing spot, which unit has a course positioning system by movements of the head and a fine positioning system. The device has a generator unit (32) for, during at least one boundary trace of the substantially parallel traces which precedes or succeeds a head movement, temporarily applying a broadening signal (35) to the fine positioning system for broadening the boundary trace in the transverse direction. This has the advantage that unwritten annular areas called white bands, which may occur due to mismatch of the head movement and the fine positioning system, are reduced or prevented.

Abstract: An image forming device includes a first carriage path for carrying paper stored in a paper feeding tray to a printer, there is a second carriage path for carrying paper stored in a second paper feeding tray to the printer. The first carriage path and the second carriage path individually carry a paper to the printer.

Abstract: A printer processor prints out two sheets of test prints by printing a test pattern on two recording sheets of different lengths. The test pattern consists of eight straight-linear lines that are parallel to a main scan direction or a sub scan direction of an exposure section. Dimensions of designated portions of the test pattern are measured on each of the test prints, to detect skew characteristics of the recording sheets, deviations of print starting positions in the main and sub scan directions and fluctuations in transport speed of the recording sheets. Based on the detected values, a skew correcting section, the exposure section and a conveyer device for the recording sheets are controlled to correct skew of the recording sheets, the print starting positions in the main and sub scan directions and the transport speed.

Abstract: A simple structure of a digital photosensitive drum having an exposure source and a photosensitive member which are integrated with each other. The drum is mountable to a structure of a conventional electrophotographic image forming process. An interval between phase detecting patterns of an encoder wheel portion which is rotated with the drum is equal to or smaller than an interval between a charging position and a developing position. During an image forming process, a timing for each pixel to be driven to emit light is controlled based on a phase detection value.

Abstract: An image printing apparatus, which can correct variation in inter-sheet distance at the time of conveyance of transfer sheets, comprising an image printing section which performs image printing by sequentially conveying a plurality of transfer sheets at predetermined intervals at a first convey velocity and performing transfer and fixing of a toner image on each transfer sheet, a timepiece section which measures a time required for the image printing section to perform image printing on the each transfer sheet, and a delivery convey section which receives each transfer sheet on which image printing is performed by the image printing section and delivers the each transfer sheets while adjusting intervals therebetween by conveying the each transfer sheets upon changing the convey velocity to a second convey velocity set on the basis of the measured time required for the image printing on the each transfer sheet.

Abstract: A printing apparatus executes a print process of body text and a 2-sided print process of tab paper sheets by a single operation at an information processing apparatus. After one face of each tab paper sheet undergoes a print process, the printed tab paper sheets are set on a tray again, and the other face of each tab paper sheet undergoes a print process upon reception of a print instruction. In this case, the information processing apparatus issues commands and data required for the printing apparatus to execute such print processes.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a sheet tray; an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording sheet; a sheet transporting path that allows a transportation of the recording sheet fed from the sheet tray to the image forming unit; and a sheet detecting unit that detects a passage of a rear end, with respect to a direction in which the recording sheet is transported, of the recording sheet along the sheet transporting path. The transportation of the recording sheet is temporarily stopped at the time of, or after a predetermined time from when the rear end is detected by the sheet detecting unit. The transportation of the recording sheet is resumed on the basis of data on a size of the transported recording sheet and a timing of image formation by the image forming unit.

Abstract: The optical recording medium comprises a visible information recording layer comprising at least two dyes of the following dyes. Ra1 to Rb3 each independently denote a hydrogen atom or a monovalent substituent, Ra2 and Ra3 may bond together to form a five to seven-membered heterocyclic ring, A denotes a substituted or unsubstituted aliphatic group, substituted or unsubstituted aryl group, or substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group, n denotes 0, 1, 2, or 3. In general formula (II), R?1 to R?8 and R?1 to R?8 each independently denote a hydrogen atom or a monovalent substituent, M denotes two hydrogen atoms, a metal, a metal oxide, or a metal having a ligand. A1?N—B1??General formula (III) A1 denotes a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group, a substituted aliphatic group, or a substituted or unsubstituted carbocyclic group, and B1 denotes a substituted or unsubstituted heterocyclic group or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group.

Abstract: An optical disc has a first plate, a second plate adhered to the first plate, and an optically-activated colorant disposed between the first and second plates.

Abstract: An inner ring signal and an outer ring signal according to specific patterns formed on the label side of the optical disc are generated. Timing starts when the outer ring signal reveals the end of a positioning pattern and stops to obtain a timing value when the inner ring signal reveals the start of a square wave defining a specified spoke. A starting spoke is defined according to the inner ring signal and the specified spoke. A deviation bit value is calculated according to the timing value and a bit number of a data to be marked on a certain track of the optical disc. The data is rotated according to the deviation bit value, and then marked on the certain track, starting with the starting spoke.

Abstract: An air bearing sheet heater assembly is provided for heating a sheet in an ink imaging printer. It includes a heater plate that has a heating element and defines a first side of a sheet path through the heater assembly. It also includes at least one movable platelet that defines a second side of the sheet path, as well as, an air bearing assembly mounted to the at least one platelet. The air bearing assembly controllably creates an air bearing between the second side and the first side of the sheet path for moving and pneumatically spacing the front surface of the at least one movable platelet from the front side of the heater plate, thereby reducing stiction forces and friction along the sheet path through the air bearing sheet heater assembly.

Abstract: A record carrier (10) and a method of recording an image on a record carrier (10) are provided. A plurality of optical property changing layers (12, 14, 16) that change their Color upon the application of thermal energy applied by a laser beam (18) is provided. It depends on the power of the laser beam (18) which layer of the stack is reached and thereby colored. Since the temperature to induce an optical property change increases from one layer to the subsequent layer, a fine adjustment of the laser power is not needed.

Abstract: This printer includes a print head portion having a laser application portion emitting a laser beam, for performing printing by applying the laser beam from the laser application portion in a state bringing an ink sheet and a paper into contact with each other while transporting the ink sheet in a first direction and transporting the paper in both of the first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction.

Abstract: A media handling system for delivering media sheets to be printed from a staging location to a drum along a media path, including: at least one drive roller positioned along the media path between the staging location and the drum; a sensor positioned along the media path between the at least one drive roller and the drum; and, an encoder that provides an output responsive to the sensor; wherein, when the at least one drive roller advances a media sheet from the staging location to engage the drum, the sensor detects a position of the advancing media sheet prior to engaging the drum, and the rate of further advancing of the media sheet to engage the drum by the at least one drive roller is dependent upon the encoder output.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and programs for adjusting marking data for use with alternately stacked multi-thickness media. The systems, methods, and programs input marking data and determine an orientation of sheets of the multi-thickness media that is alternated within a stack. The systems, methods, and programs adjust, for each sheet whose orientation is not consistent with the marking data, the marking data for that sheet such that the marking data for that sheet is consistent with the orientation of that sheet.

Abstract: A controller stops a registration roller to temporarily hold a recording sheet and restarts the registration roller at a timing of transferring an image formed on an intermediate transferring belt to a predetermined position of the recording sheet. Then, an adjustment time calculator compares a time measured by a time counter with a predetermined reference time and calculates the difference between the measured time and the reference time as the adjustment time. The controller controls the driving of the sheet feeding mechanism based on the calculated adjustment time so that the waiting time of a next recording sheet becomes closer to the predetermined reference time.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for multi-dimensional registration printing. One embodiment of the apparatus includes an image module, a print module, and an object registration module. The image module stores a digital representation of an image. The print module prints the image on a multi-dimensional surface of an object. The object registration module controls a multi-dimensional registration of the multi-dimensional surface of the object in proximity to a print head in accordance with the image. The printing system may use a print ribbon that includes an infrared absorbent, a resin, or both.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus that forms images, while continuously conveying, a long flexible recording medium in a constant conveyance direction on a conveyance path, the image forming apparatus comprising: a belt conveyance mechanism that is disposed on the conveyance path and is configured by an endless belt wound between at least two rollers; and an image forming unit that conducts image forming on the long flexible recording medium being conveyed in a state where the long flexible recording medium is flatly disposed on the endless belt of the belt conveyance mechanism disposed on the conveyance path.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for compensating for the movement of a substrate in a lithographic apparatus during a pulse of radiation include providing an optical structure configured to move a patterned projection beam incident on the substrate in synchronism with the substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method of print registration are provided. The invention includes first and second optical channel modules configured to communicate light from a page to a sensor module. The sensor module sums the light from the first and second optical channel modules and detects one or more light transitions as a first registration mark of a first image of the page moves past the first optical sensor module and as a second registration mark of a second image of the page moves past the second optical channel module. The invention determines that the first image and the second image are registered if the sensor module detects a single light transition as the first registration mark and the second registration mark pass the first and the second optical channel modules.

Abstract: Laser information is prepared which indicates the irradiation interval and intensity level to be irradiated on an optical disc in advance. Then, when image drawing is indicated together with the indication of the forming spacing for pits, a laser is controlled so as to achieve the irradiation interval and intensity level indicated by the laser information that corresponds to the indicated formation spacing to fabricate pits in the optical disc.

Abstract: In a marking device, by illuminating a laser beam onto an X-ray film which is a light-photosensitive heat-developing photosensitive material, an inner portion of a surface layer is melted, a cavity is formed, and a dot, which projects a surface out in a convex shape, is formed. At this time, an illumination time of the laser beam is controlled in order to control melting of the surface layer. In the marking device, when conveying of an X-ray film is stopped, oscillation of a laser oscillating tube is continued until a predetermined period of time elapses. When stoppage is for a short time, control is carried out such that marking can be started quickly.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an electrophotographic photoreceptor having a conductive substrate and a photosensitive layer provided on the conductive substrate; a charging unit for charging the electrophotographic photoreceptor; an exposure unit for exposing the charged electrophotographic photoreceptor to light thereby forming an electrostatic latent image; a developing unit for developing the electrostatic latent image with toner thereby forming a toner image; and a transfer unit for transferring the toner image from the electrophotographic photoreceptor to a transferred image-receiving medium. The exposure unit is a multi beam exposure unit which has a surface emitting laser array and which carries out the electrostatic latent image formation by scanning the electrophotographic photoreceptor with eight or more light beams where electrophotographic photoreceptor gives a quantum efficiency of 0.

Abstract: A data recording layer and an image drawing layer are disposed in an optical disk. Optical pickups are disposed on opposite sides of this optical disk, respectively. One of the optical pickups records data on the data recording layer. The other optical pickup forms a visible image on the image drawing layer. The one of the optical pickups detects a predetermined rotation reference position from the optical disk before an image drawing operation on the image drawing layer by the other optical pickup. An orientation of the visible image is set on the basis of the detected rotation reference position to form the visible image on the image drawing layer.

Abstract: A printing system includes first and second marking engines which are operatively connected to each other for printing images onto print media. A print media transport system collects printed media from the marking engines. The print media transport system includes a common paper path which receives printed media from the first and second marking engines. A sensor element is associated with the common paper path for measuring an image quality parameter of printed media traveling thereon and generating a control signal therefrom. An image quality controller is in communication with the sensor element for adjusting image quality parameters in at least one of the first marking engine and second marking engine based on the control signal to reduce a variation in an image quality characteristic of printed images produced by the first and second marking engines.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for drawing a visible image on an optical disk incorporate an optical pickup, which irradiates an optical beam onto the optical disk through its objective lens. The optical disk, which has a target layer on which the drawing is to be performed, is rotated while applying an oscillation signal to a focus actuator of the optical pickup to thereby vibrate the objective lens in an optical-axis direction thereof so that the focus point of the optical beam recurrently passes through the target layer of the optical disk. The power of the optical beam is controlled to form a recording spot on the target layer each time the focus point of the optical beam passes through the target layer so that a visible light property of the target layer is changed to thereby perform the drawing on the target layer.

Abstract: Featured are a system and method for designing a gear driving system. The designing system includes a characteristic setting section, calculating section and comparing section. The calculating section simulates an oscillation that is caused in the final gear of the gear driving system, based on the gear characteristic value(s) set in the characteristic setting section. The comparing section judges whether or not the frequency mid amplitude of the oscillation obtained by the simulation fall within an acceptable range. If the frequency and amplitude do not fall within the acceptable range, the characteristic changing section changes the setting of a gear characteristic value, and the processes of the calculating section and the comparing section, as well as that of the characteristic changing section are repeated until it is judged that one of the frequency or amplitude of the simulated oscillation falls within the acceptable range.

Abstract: A photographic printer is loaded with two webs of photographic paper, and produces photographic prints by exposure thereto. Initially, the photographic paper is advanced from two photographic paper rolls in parallel. Those two are combined together to constitute a photographic paper roll unit. The photographic paper is cut to obtain photographic paper sheets, on which an image frame is formed. In one embodiment, the photographic paper roll unit includes a single axial core which extends through axial holes of the two photographic paper rolls positioned at an interval L1, and is fitted thereon. The photographic paper rolls include a spliced region for splicing two consecutive photographic paper strips to one another. The spliced region is detected from a single one of the two photographic paper rolls in combination.

Abstract: A feeding device for feeding a recording medium in a feed direction, including: a drive roller having an annular recess; and a driven roller rotatably held and positioned such that a radially outer end portion of the driven roller is positioned within the annular recess of the drive roller. The driven roller is displaceable away from the drive roller, so that the recording medium is fed to pass between the drive and driven rollers, with the recording medium being gripped by the radially outer end portion of the driven roller and the radially outer end portion of the drive roller.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus forms a latent image on a photoconductive member by scanning a light beam with a rotational deflector, and forms a visual image on a sheet without temporarily stopping the sheet on a sheet conveyance path. The image forming apparatus includes a motor that drives the rotation deflector when an image formation instruction is given, a rotation status-determining device that determines if the motor driven the rotation deflector reaches steady state, and a sheet feed control device that starts conveying the sheet (from a starting position of the sheet conveyance path) when the rotation status-determining device determines that the motor reaches the steady state. A detection device detects a passage time when the sheet passes a prescribed position on the sheet conveyance path. A latent image formation control device starts forming a latent image on the photoconductive member based on the passage time.

Abstract: An inner ring signal and an outer ring signal according to specific patterns formed on the label side of the optical disc are generated. Timing starts when the outer ring signal reveals the end of a positioning pattern and stops to obtain a timing value when the inner ring signal reveals the start of a square wave defining a specified spoke. A starting spoke is defined according to the inner ring signal and the specified spoke. A deviation bit value is calculated according to the timing value and a bit number of a data to be marked on a certain track of the optical disc. The data is rotated according to the deviation bit value, and then marked on the certain track, starting with the starting spoke.

Abstract: A photographic printer removably holds a magazine for containing a roll of photographic paper is provided. The photographic paper is advanced and supplied to a transporting path. A large-width loading support is loaded with a large-width magazine removably. A small-width loading support is loaded with plural small-width magazines removably. The small-width magazines have a smaller width than the large-width magazine, and are arranged in a path crosswise direction that extends along a width of the transporting path. As viewed from the large width loading support, the small-width loading supports are arranged in a vertical direction that is perpendicular to the path crosswise direction. Furthermore, a cutter cuts the photographic paper to form a photographic paper sheet.

Abstract: The number of pages of a print job received at printer (10) is determined (256). If the number of pages is low, printing is conducted at intermediate speed (262). If the number of pages is higher, printing is conducted at high speed (254). If the number of pages is not known, a default is selected (260). The default often will be to print at intermediate speed because most jobs are short. If high speed printing is in progress when a job is received, the next job is printed at high speed (254). Alternatively, a predetermined number of the first pages of a job may be printed at intermediate speed.

Abstract: A device and a method for detecting the edge of a recording material, in particular, a printing plate, in an exposer for recording printing originals includes an exposer having an exposure drum holding the plate, and an exposure head moved axially along the drum and focusing exposure beams onto the plate. An optical fiber is let into the drum surface and an illuminating device, moved axially along the drum, radiates light radially into the fiber. A photodetector at the fiber receives the light radiated therein. Covering the light radiated in with the plate is used to detect the plate edge. Counting cycles of a feed drive moving the illuminating device determines an axial position of the edge. Alternatively, light of a light source is radiated axially into the fiber and the light emitted radially by the fiber is received using an optical detector moved by the feed drive.

Abstract: A single sheet has multiple separation lines arranged such that the sheet can be printed on by a standard printer such as a personal computer printer, and the sheet may thereafter be separated and/or folded in any one of three different configurations to form different possible compact disc jewel case inserts including both face labels and spine labels. One embodiment is of a sheet having at least four longitudinal lines of weakness extending across at least a major portion of the length of the sheet, and at least three latitudinal lines of weakness extending across a major portion of the width of the sheet, with at least one longitudinal line of weakness being a fold about which at least one portion is folded.

Abstract: An image recorder includes a punch unit for punching a hole in a plate. The punch unit has six punchers disposed movably. Punches of the punchers can punch holes of different configurations. A punch of a required configuration moves to a required location toward a plate prepared on an upper tray of a feed/discharge unit. After a hole is punched in the plate by this punch, the plate is fed to a drum. This allows changes in the location of a punched hole in the plate without the need to simply increase the number of punchers when the range of plate sizes mountable on the drum is expanded. If competition in punch standards occurs, the image recorder allows a required puncher to be situated in a desired location.

Abstract: An image recorder includes a punch unit for punching a hole in a plate. The punch unit has six punchers disposed movably. Punches of the punchers can punch holes of different configurations. A punch of a required configuration moves to a required location toward a plate prepared on an upper tray of a feed/discharge unit. After a hole is punched in the plate by this punch, the plate is fed to a drum. This allows changes in the location of a punched hole in the plate without the need to simply increase the number of punchers when the range of plate sizes mountable on the drum is expanded. If competition in punch standards occurs, the image recorder allows a required puncher to be situated in a desired location.

Abstract: A method is provided for applying a watermark pattern along a length of photosensitive medium, the photosensitive medium having a frame pitch in the length direction that is the sum of an image frame height plus an interframe distance. The method exposes watermark tiles contiguously along the length of the photosensitive medium, wherein each watermark tile has a height dimension that is an integral divisor of the frame pitch.

Abstract: A device and a method for detecting the edge of a recording material, in particular, a printing plate, in an exposer for recording printing originals includes an exposer having an exposure drum holding the plate, and an exposure head moved axially along the drum and focusing exposure beams onto the plate. An optical fiber is let into the drum surface and an illuminating device, moved axially along the drum, radiates light radially into the fiber. A photodetector at the fiber receives the light radiated therein. Covering the light radiated in with the plate is used to detect the plate edge. Counting cycles of a feed drive moving the illuminating device determines an axial position of the edge. Alternatively, light of a light source is radiated axially into the fiber and the light emitted radially by the fiber is received using an optical detector moved by the feed drive.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus (10) for writing images to print media (32), which comprises an imaging drum (300) for supporting the print media (32), wherein the imaging drum (300) has a surface, a drive end wall (310), and a vacuum end wall. A printhead (500) is used for forming an image onto the print media (32). A motor rotates the imaging drum (300) and a blower creates a vacuum supply to the imaging drum (300) for holding the print media (32) on the surface. At least one vacuum piston (504) creates a second vacuum supply (508) to the surface, wherein the vacuum piston (504) is mounted in the drive end wall (310) or the vacuum end wall, or if more than one vacuum piston (504) is used, optionally in both walls.

Abstract: A photosensitive tabular member suction mechanism that can reliably suck with a simple configuration, on a stage, photosensitive tabular members of different sizes by effectively using the suction force resulting from negative pressure, and an image recording device disposed with this photosensitive tabular member suction mechanism. Cylinder members are attached inside the stage in correspondence to respective suction holes, and the piston members accommodated in the suction holes are urged upward by springs. In a state where a substrate is not placed on a placement surface of the stage, the piston members are in a closed position due to the urging force of the springs and block off the suction holes. When the substrate is placed on the placement surface, the piston members move to an open position counter to the urging force of the springs and the suction holes are opened, whereby the substrate is sucked by a suction force resulting from negative pressure.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus for duplex printing has a duplex printing unit conveying the paper sheet, which is printed on a first side by a developing unit and a fixing unit on a first paper conveyance path and then conveyed to the paper discharge unit, to be fed back to the developing unit through the fixing unit to form another image on a non-printed side of the paper sheet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying an image to a printing plate while maintaining registration between the image and a reference edge of the printing plate include mounting the printing plate on a plate making machine and then determining the locations of two or more points on the reference edge. The locations of the two or more points are used to determine a transformation which is applied to image data to yield transformed image data. The transformed image data is used to image the printing plate.

Abstract: A roller incorporating a relief surface is used for handling the emulsion coated surface of laser sensitive media in a laser imaging system. In some embodiments, the roller incorporating the relief surface is used to mount and demount media from a media support surface of the laser imaging system. The relief surface may be an integrally formed component of the roller. Alternatively, the relief surface may be provided by a braided sheath that is removably couplable to the roller. The relief surface minimizes debris contamination of the roller during the process of unloading an imaged media from the media support surface. This in turn minimizes contamination of subsequent pieces of media that are loaded by the roller onto the media support surface in order to be imaged.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing substantially intimate rolling contact between a portion of a donor sheet and a portion of an acceptor element in a laser-induced thermal transfer printer comprises a rotatably mounted cylindrical drum, an acceptor element affixed to and supported by the cylindrical drum, a rotatably mounted dispensing roller for dispensing a donor sheet, and a rotatably mounted receiving roller for receiving the donor sheet, so that the donor sheet is extended between the dispensing roller and the receiving roller. A plurality of rotatably mounted contact rollers configured to bring a portion of the donor sheet extended between the dispensing roller and the receiving roller into contact with a portion of the acceptor element is also included. Alternatively, contact rollers need not be utilized, and the dispensing roller and receiving roller are configured to bring a portion of the donor sheet extended therebetween into contact with a portion of the acceptor element.

Abstract: First and second light receiving windows are formed on a head cover of a thermal head. The first light receiving windows are disposed to cross the lateral edges of the first king-sized recording paper. The second light receiving windows are disposed to cross the lateral edges of the second large-sized recording paper. First and second phototransistors are provided on the thermal head so as to measure quantity of light passed through the first and second light receiving windows. When printing the first recording paper, the first light receiving windows are partially shielded with lateral edges of the first recording paper and the second light receiving windows are completely shielded with the recording paper. Positions of the lateral edges are determined from the difference between output signals of the two phototransistors. When printing the second recording paper, the first light receiving windows are shielded by light-tight shielding stickers.

Abstract: A laser thermal transfer recording method comprises: dispensing a thermal transfer sheet and an image-receiving sheet to an exposure recording device; cutting each of the sheets into pieces of a predetermined length; superposing each of the cut pieces of the image-receiving sheet on each of the cut pieces of the thermal transfer sheet; loading an exposure drum installed in the exposure recording device with the thus superposed pieces of sheets; and irradiating the sheets loaded on the exposure drum with a laser beam according to image information, in which the laser beam is absorbed in the thermal transfer sheet and converted into a heat, and an image is transferred onto the image-receiving sheet by the heat converted from the laser beam, wherein each surface of the thermal transfer sheet and the image-receiving sheet is cleaned by contacting with an adhesive roller that includes an adhesive material on its surface, in which the adhesive roller is disposed in any one of a feeding part and a conveying part of

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, and a loader for moving (e.g., transporting) a printing plate into an exposer for printing plates and, after exposure, out of the exposer and into a processor, for example, saves space in the region of the exposer when moving the printing plate. In the method, the movement of the printing plate into the exposer takes place, at least in a path segment of the movement run, at a first level and the movement of the printing plate out of the exposer takes place, at least in a path segment of the movement run, at a second level that differs from the first level. The path segments of the movement run at the two different levels are each located on the same side of the exposer.