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: 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: 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: A method and apparatus for storing scaleable font data in a compact form and retrieving it in one of several usable forms common in digital typography. The retrieval process can be influenced by parameters to produce not only the original typeface designs that were compressed, but also variations on those typeface designs. Variations produced in this manner are related typeface designs which therefore effectively add new fonts to the family originally stored. Individual character pixelmaps and scaleable character outlines are two of the forms which can be retrieved from the compressed font data. The storage and retrieval methods are designed so that the time needed to produce a single character pixelmap from the internal form is less than that required for producing the same pixelmap from an uncompressed hinted outline font stored in an industry-standard format.

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: A fluorescence dot area meter for accurately measuring halftone dot area on a printing plate having an emulsion containing one or more fluorescent compounds. The fluorescent dot area meter generally includes an illumination source for providing light having a first range of wavelengths, a system for exposing the printing plate to this light to cause the printing plate to emit light (fluoresce) within a second, higher range of wavelengths, and a system for determining halftone dot area based on a measurement of the light emitted by the printing plate.

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.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus providing separate fixed object focal planes for transmissive and reflective 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 scan carriage has an illumination source disposed between the reflective and transmissive object focal planes, with the object focal plane to be used selected by changing the position of one or more optical elements within the scan carriage. The illumination source comprises a removable lamp cartridge with one or more lamps disposed for correct illumination of the selected object focal plane.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing data buffering through a plurality of storage buffers between at least one raster image processor (RIP) and at least one output device in an imaging system. The imaging data being produced by a RIP and stored on a first storage buffer is redirected to a second storage buffer if an output divide requires imaging data previously stored on the first storage buffer. After the required imaging data has been output to the output device, the imaging data segmented across the first and second storage buffers is reconstituted.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus providing separate fixed object focal planes for transmissive and reflective 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 scan carriage has an illumination source disposed between the reflective and transmissive object focal planes, with the object focal plane to be used selected by changing the position of one or more optical elements within the scan carriage. The resolution of the digitized representation of the scanned original document can be determined independently of the selection of object focal plane.

Abstract: A cassette handling mechanism is used to remove, reload and reinstall a media supply cassette into a media transport unit. The cassette is supported by a sliding support tray in a horizontal docking position. A locking device on the support tray engages the bottom of the cassette allowing the cassette to be pivoted into several different orientations. The support tray slides out horizontally from the media transport unit, allowing the operator to either lift the cassette vertically without releasing the lock, to actuate the lock thereby pivoting the cassette to an intermediate detent position in which the media can be reloaded, or to pivot the cassette to a 90 degree detent position releasing the cassette on its side onto an optional shelf or roll-up table. The locking mechanism 50 is used on a second support tray which is supported by a counterbalanced pivotable arm, to extract a second cassette docked in a non-horizontal position within the media transport unit.

Abstract: A cover for holding a document to be scanned against the transparent scanning surface of a scanning system. The cover includes at least one hinged "bending axis" about which a portion of the cover may be pivotally displaced without affecting the remaining portion(s) of the cover. Preferably, the bending axes are such that the cover may be pivoted about either of two lines corresponding to the diagonal axes of the rectangular cover.

Abstract: A scanning system comprising a cleaning apparatus for automatically cleaning originals prior to scanning and a dual mode scanner for scanning transmissive and reflective originals. The cleaning apparatus includes an ionizing dust remover and an electrically conductive brush assembly for sweeping dust and other foreign particles from the surfaces of the originals to be scanned.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining contact between the recording media and the media support surface of a scanning system. A pressure load is applied on the recording media in the immediate vicinity of a scanning laser beam, thereby ensuring surface to surface contact between the recording media and the media support surface while scanning.

Abstract: An adjustable focusing apparatus in a scanning device is used in imagesetters, scanners, and platemaking devices to focus a scanning beam on an element to be scanned. Precise focusing is achieved with the adjustable focusing apparatus to produce output images free of undesirable artifacts. The scanning device produces a beam from a light source to scan the element. An optical system focuses the beam on a particular surface within the element. The adjustable focusing apparatus adjusts the focus position of the scanning beam relative to the element according to the thickness of the element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for joining a drive band to the driven element of a servo-controlled precision motion system. A vibration dampening clamp assembly absorbs unwanted vibration energy. The clamp assembly utilizes energy absorbing molded grommets which mechanically isolate the driven element from the band. A threaded fastener passing through an axial bore in each of two energy absorbing grommets is used to join two halves of a clamp assembly. The grommets are preloaded at assembly using threaded fastener and a nut to compress each grommet to a known compression prior to tensioning of the drive band. Upon final tensioning of the band drive assembly, the grommets are brought to a final compression value.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus providing separate fixed focal planes for transmissive and reflective 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 scan carriage has an illumination source disposed between the reflective and transmissive object focal planes, with the object focal plane to be used selected by changing the position of one or more optical elements within the scan carriage. The resolution of the digitized representation of the scanned original document can be determined by rotation of at least one lens about an axis substantially perpendicular to its optic axis.

Abstract: A method 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. The present invention further provides an apparatus for carrying out the above method.

Abstract: The invention supports a mechanical carriage at three contact points for precise positioning on two guide rails, one guide rail having a V-grooved surface and the other having a flat surface. Two of the three contact points are recirculating ball bearings mounted against the V-grooved rail. The third contact point is on the flat rail and is also the driving contact point and comprises a drive shaft having a friction wheel thereon engaged with the flat rail to drive the mechanical carriage. The recirculating ball bearings and friction wheel are loaded against the V-grooved and flat rails, respectively, by magnets mounted on the carriage and spaced from the rails by an air gap. The air gap provides for a magnetic force between the magnets and the guide rails while permitting relative movement therebetween.