Abstract: Images are transferred to printing plates by illuminating light-responsive materials with patterns corresponding to the images to be printed. The present invention provides for the transferring of an image by the combined flux from two or more beams of light. Particular embodiments ablate the mask printing plates for CTP systems by the combined illumination from a first, broad beam and a plurality of controllable, pulsed beams that co-illuminate the plate with the first beam. The resulting system and method is less expensive than the prior art and produces a printing plate more efficiently and with improved productivity than the prior art.

Abstract: A method of exposing imaging data onto a sensitized medium including exposing K sets of N of tracks on to the medium according to a corresponding part of imaging data, each successive set being a pixel distance apart in a fast scan direction. The method further includes exposing L sets of N tracks onto the medium with an offset of M pixels in a slow scan direction substantially perpendicular to the fast scan direction, according to a second corresponding part of imaging data. The method includes repeating alternately exposing K sets and L sets of N tracks until the complete medium is exposed along the fast scan direction. During or after the alternately exposing K sets and L sets, there is progression in the slow scan direction such that after exposing the complete length of N tracks of exposed pixels, the next N tracks match along the medium at the start of the next N tracks.

Abstract: A substrate to be cut and/or scored is pre-printed with graphics, at least first and second registration marks, and optional encoded-to-print instructions, bar-encoded data, as well as ordinary graphics. The registration marks are sensed as the substrate is automatically transported to a cutting table station that defines a cutting reference plane. Sensed detection of location of the registration marks relative to the reference plane enable the cutting plan for the substrate to be amended for precise location of the graphics on the substrate relative to the reference plane. Automated cutting according to the amended cutting plan occurs. As the registration marks were printed simultaneously with and in known relationship to the graphics, the cut line will be precise relative to the graphics. Machine readable encoded-to-print instructions optionally printed on the substrate can further amend the cutting plan.

Abstract: A clamping device, a cylinder including a clamping device, and a method for clamping a plate onto the outer surface of the cylinder. The clamping device includes a base body extending in the axial direction and fixed to, or incorporated into the cylinder. The clamping device also includes a clamping element extending in the axial direction. The clamping device also includes a lifting bar located in the interior of the base body and coupled to the clamping element by at least one guiding shaft. The lifting bar being movable in a first radial direction to move the clamping element away from the outer surface of the cylinder to form a gap between the outer surface and the clamping element. The lifting bar also is movable in the radial direction opposite the first radial direction to close the gap formed between the outer surface of the cylinder and the clamping element.

Abstract: A method for representing a digital image in an extended CMYK color space that has an extended color gamut. The image is for output to an output device that uses a set of more than four colorants and is capable of reproducing the extended color gamut. The method includes providing a transformation from the extended CMYK color space to amounts of each of the set of colorants of the output device, providing a device profile for the extended CMYK color space that is associated with the transformation and that provides for converting a first color represented by a first set of color coordinate values in a first color space into a set of CMYK values in the extended CMYK color space such that the output device behaves as if it was a CMYK device with the extended CMYK values, and representing the digital image in the extended CMYK color space.

Abstract: A diode laser system providing a high-power laser beam with good spatial coherence, which can be focused to a small spot size over long distances and which has a good pointing stability. The laser system comprises a laser diode (301) adapted to emit a first light beam, where the first light beam comprises a plurality of spatial modes, selection means (304) adapted to select a predetermined part of the first light beam, and a reflector (306), where the laser diode and the reflector define a cavity and where the reflector is adapted to reflect the selected part of the first light beam back into the laser diode as a second light beam. The laser system is characterised in that the selection means is adapted to select a part of the first light beam corresponding to a spatial mode with a higher mode number than a spatial mode with maximum gain.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to aid the loading and unloading of flexographic plates to and from an imager. The apparatus includes a magazine containing a plurality of compartments each for holding a single flexographic plate, the compartments arranged vertically, and movable in a vertical direction, a lifting mechanism to lift and lower the compartments; and a control system to control the lifting and lowering by the lifting mechanism. The control system is such that a particular compartment is moved from its rest vertical position at a rest horizontal position to a loading vertical position and a loading horizontal position at which the particular compartment is at a height for loading onto the imager. The loading is automatic and in the case that the plate includes a protective sheet thereon, the loading includes removing the protective sheet from the plate.

Abstract: An external drum laser imagesetter providing one or more imaging beams. The drum is rotated in a fast scan direction and the one or more beams are modulated while the beams are moved in a slow scan direction. In one embodiment, the imaging beams are deflected in a slow scan direction to compensate for the spiral advance.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to aid the loading and unloading of flexographic plates to and from an imager. The apparatus includes a magazine containing a plurality of compartments each for holding a single flexographic plate, the compartments arranged vertically, and movable in a vertical direction, a lifting mechanism to lift and lower the compartments; and a control system to control the lifting and lowering by the lifting mechanism. The control system is such that a particular compartment is moved from its rest vertical position at a rest horizontal position to a loading vertical position and a loading horizontal position at which the particular compartment is at a height for loading onto the imager.

Abstract: Full-format screened data is processed in a computer-implemented method to identify zones that contain printable information. The zones are packed, imaged and made into flexo plates, and elements cut out from the plates for each zone of printable information. The plates use less flexo material than the full-format screened data. The cut elements are accurately placed on a flexo plate carrier to form a set of plates on a carrier for printing the full format screened data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for mounting printing plate segments on a printing plate carrier comprising accepting positioning data indicative of a set of first positions and loading the imaged segments onto a working surface of the loading table at approximately the corresponding first positions. The method further includes, for each segment, detecting the position of the segment on the table, and using a mechanical pick-up system to pick up the segment and to carry the segment to a final position on the carrier. The carrying is via a path determined using the detected position on the table and the final position. The table's working surface has a set of vacuum holes coupled to a vacuum system. The mechanical pick up system includes a plurality of suction caps coupled to the vacuum system to pick up the plate. One version includes a mechanism for cutting the segments from the sheet.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a laser to generate a single-mode laser beam of energy, a multichannel spatial light modulator (SLM) accepting a plurality of modulating signals, and a beam multiplier between the radiation source and the SLM. The multiplier accepts the beam and generates from that beam a plurality of beams directed onto the SLM. The beams from the beam multiplier illuminate the active region of the SLM such that the SLM generates a plurality of modulated beams modulated according to the modulating signals. An optical subsystem is located between the SLM and an imaging plane including at least one optical element focusing the modulated beams onto the plane on which recording medium is placed to permanently mark the recording medium in response to incidence of such imaging radiation. Each beam from the SLM is substantially single-mode such that the optical subsystem can be designed using diffraction-limited optics.