Abstract: The invention resides in an imaging apparatus comprising a stationary support element for supporting an imaging material, an imaging device for exposing an image onto the imaging material, and a loading device for automatically loading and unloading the imaging material onto the stationary support element. The loading device includes an output conveyor mechanism for removing the imaging material from the stationary support element without contact between the image on the imaging material and an adjacent platen.

Abstract: A virtual-drum capstan-driven device for outputting images from electronic files onto paper, film or plate material has increased output speed and reduced cost compared to an internal drum device. A capstan drive moves web type image recording media through a curved media platen having an upper curved surface and a lower curved surface which form the media into a virtual drum. The optical system has a rotating reflective spinner at the center of curvature of the virtual drum to scan modulated image date across media while being continuously driven. A tensioning mechanism maintains the media in a taught configuration and works in cooperation with the capstan drive to accurately control the motion of the media during imaging.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a lithographic printing plate according to the silver salt diffusion transfer process image-wise exposes an imaging element with a high intensity short time scanning exposure. The imaging element comprises on a support in the order given a silver halide emulsion layer and a layer containing physical development nuclei. A thus obtained image-wise exposed imaging element is subsequently developed in the presence of a developing agent and silver halide solvent. The image-wise exposure is focused substantially within the silver halide emulsion layer of the imaging element.

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: A positive lithographic printing plate exposed by an imagesetter and suitable for mounting on a press cylinder comprising a photo-lithographic DTR material having a DTR processed RIP image to be printed lithographically and a DTR processed ink repelling region for mounting the printing plate on the press cylinder. The RIP image is exposed according to exposure commands which are sent to the imagesetter by the RIP and the DTR processed ink repelling region is exposed according to exposure commands generated by the imagesetter.

Abstract: A screening system comprises at least one screen of which the phase is tone or image level dependent. This tone dependent phase shift influences the rosette structure and can be used to improve the neutral balance and colour fidelity in multi-colour reproduction and to minimise the visibility of such rosette structures in highlight and shadow areas.

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 media buffer capable of buffering two lengths of media, is fed a first length of media from an imagesetter at a first speed, and releases the media to a processor at a second speed. An input media sensor senses the media entering the buffer. Drive rollers take up the leading edge of the media at the imagesetter speed. Shortly thereafter a signal from an output media sensor located between the drive rollers and the processor, opens an input door to an input bin and stops the drive rollers. The incoming media continues to be fed by the imagesetter forming a first slack loop within the input bin. The imagesetter signals the buffer that the media has been cut, thereby actuating drive rollers to advance the media at the processor speed to a pair of rollers in the processor. A signal from the processor sensor opens an output door to an output bin. The drive rollers increase speed to transport the first piece of media from the input bin to the output bin thereby forming a second slack loop.

Abstract: The 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 dual buffer internal to an imaging device uses a one-way, over-running clutch system to buffer multiple sheets of media between an internal drum recorder and a processor. The one-way over-running clutch system is incorporated into a drive system of a plurality of rollers that transport the media. An input set of rollers and an output set of rollers are driven independently to allow for two sheets of media to be buffered simultaneously and at different speeds if desired. The buffer is mounted pivotally within the imaging device to allow access into the imaging device and to allow installation of a take-up cassette as an alternative to the buffer.

Abstract: A thermal imaging apparatus includes an internal drum for supporting a receiver material and a donor material in a superimposed relationship, an imaging unit for thermally transferring an image from the donor material to the receiver material, and a material dispensing mechanism for dispensing the receiver and donor materials from a plurality of material supply rolls. A rotatable material supply carousel having a plurality of supply stations for supporting the plurality of supply rolls is provided. A drive system rotates the carousel to sequentially position a selected plurality of the supply stations at a dispensing position.

Abstract: A media transport bridge is an integral media transport device within an internal drum laser imagesetter that transports media from an imaging area in the drum to an external processor or intermediate buffer. Five pairs of rollers transport the film over the drum. A first stage of the bridge includes a first pair of rollers driven independently so that the first stage is removable and replaceable with a take-up cassette if desired. A friction drive within the imagesetter is adaptable to drive either the first stage or the take-up cassette when installed. Upon removal of the first stage, an automatic adjustment of the bridge is performed to balance the pivotally mounted bridge. The media is moved into the bridge by a pair of drum rollers while the first stage is synchronized with the other four pairs of rollers in the bridge and monitored to keep a slack loop of media at the first stage rollers to eliminate perturbations in the media.

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: In order to improve the printability of a periodic halftone screen, the amount of growth of the halftone dots in a halftone screen is modulated as a function of tone in a tone selective way that is different for at least two halftone dots.

Abstract: A platesetting method and apparatus provides for dimensional and/or exposure sensitivity changes in a printing plate to be imaged in a platesetter. A condition sensor senses the temperature of the plate prior to exposure so that a control unit can adjust the control commands to the scanning exposure mechanism of the platesetter in order to compensate for any thermal expansion or exposure sensitivity shifts. An image to be recorded onto the plate material has a standard size at a standard plate material temperature. When the plate material is at a non-standard temperature, as determined by the thermal sensor, a program, stored in memory, calculates a new image size based on the non-standard temperature and the thermal characteristics of the plate material which are also stored in memory. The imagesetter electronic controller then exposes an image having a size which will be the standard size when the plate material returns to the standard temperature.

Abstract: In order to achieve a larger color gamut, more colorants are used than the classical three chromatic colors cyan, magenta and yellow. The use of extra process colors, such as red or orange, green and blue, poses extra requirements on the screening process or on the color separation process. A method is described in which optimal color rendering is achieved by use of maximum three chromatic colorants at the same place only. In one embodiment particular sets of three chromatic colorants each cover color sub-gamuts which are disjunctive, allowing each input color to be located within one color sub-gamut. A set comprises no complementary colors.

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 handier. 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 handier provides status information to the engine to make full interaction with the system possible.

Abstract: The invention involves an internal drum thermal imaging apparatus comprising a support for supporting a receiver material and a donor material in a superimposed relationship. The support includes a cylindrical drum having an inner circumference on which the receiver material is supported against in a bottom layer of the superimposed relationship and the donor material in a top layer of the superimposed relationship. An imaging unit thermally transfers an image from the donor material to the receiver material. An applicator automatically loads and unloads the receiver material and donor material onto the cylindrical drum comprising an applicator carriage, an attachment device for attaching the receiver material to the applicator and an applicator transport device for transporting the applicator carriage along the inner cirumference of the cylindrical drum.

Abstract: The invention involves a thermal imaging apparatus comprising a support for supporting a receiver material and a donor material in a superimposed relationship. The support includes a cylindrical drum having an inner circumference on which the receiver material is supported against in a bottom layer of the superimposed relationship and the donor material in a top layer of the superimposed relationship. An imaging unit thermally transfers an image from the donor material to the receiver material.

Abstract: An electronic prepress system for electronically preparing and outputting images onto image receiving materials includes a computer for generating and storing color separated images in electronic files. A processor processes the electronic files received from the computer and converts the electronic files to rasterized image files. The rasterized image files are accepted by the scan engine from the processor. The scan engine outputs color separated images on an image receiving material and is operable in a first operating mode for outputting the color separated images individually onto a first image receiving material as a set having a separated image for each of the color separated images, and a second operating mode for outputting the color separated images onto a second image receiving material having the color separated images superimposed as an assembled color proof of the image.