Abstract: An apparatus for treating a relief plate precursor, such as a printing plate precursor, preferably with a liquid. The apparatus includes a transport system with at least one, preferably at least two transport bars; a plate coupling station configured for coupling a relief plate precursor to the transport bar; a treatment compartment configured for treating the relief plate precursor; and a plate decoupling station configured for decoupling the treated relief plate precursor from the transport bar. The transport system is configured to automatically move each transport bar, after being coupled to a relief plate precursor in the plate coupling station, from the plate coupling station through the treatment station to the plate decoupling station, and, after being decoupled from a treated relief plate precursor, from the plate decoupling station back to the plate coupling station, such that the transport bar moves in a closed loop through the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a relief plate precursor, such as a printing plate precursor, that has to be treated. The apparatus includes a transport bar provided with at least one penetration element, preferably a plurality of penetration elements; and a plate coupling station configured for coupling a relief plate precursor to the transport bar by causing a penetration by the at least one penetration element through an unperforated area near an edge of a relief plate precursor.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a relief plate precursor, such as a printing plate precursor, that has to be treated. The apparatus includes a transport bar provided with at least one penetration element, preferably a plurality of penetration elements; and a plate coupling station configured for coupling a relief plate precursor to the transport bar by causing a penetration by the at least one penetration element through an unperforated area near an edge of a relief plate precursor.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a relief carrier using a solidifiable material includes a support structure configured for providing a substantially cylindrical support surface. The support surface may be formed by a substrate intended to be part of the relief carrier to be generated or by a cylindrical support not intended to be part of the relief carrier to be generated. A container is provided for the solidifiable material, the container having a wall arranged substantially parallel to an axis of the support structure; a moving means to move the support structure relative to the wall such that subsequent areas of the support surface face the wall during the moving. Moving includes at least a rotation around the axis. An irradiating means sends irradiation, through the wall in a predetermined area between the support surface and the wall.

Abstract: An apparatus for treating a relief plate precursor, such as a printing plate precursor, preferably with a liquid. The apparatus includes a transport system with at least one, preferably at least two transport bars; a plate coupling station configured for coupling a relief plate precursor to the transport bar; a treatment compartment configured for treating the relief plate precursor; and a plate decoupling station configured for decoupling the treated relief plate precursor from the transport bar. The transport system is configured to automatically move each transport bar, after being coupled to a relief plate precursor in the plate coupling station, from the plate coupling station through the treatment station to the plate decoupling station, and, after being decoupled from a treated relief plate precursor, from the plate decoupling station back to the plate coupling station, such that the transport bar moves in a closed loop through the apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a relief plate precursor, such as a printing plate precursor, that has to be treated. The apparatus includes a transport bar provided with at least one penetration element, preferably a plurality of penetration elements; and a plate coupling station configured for coupling a relief plate precursor to the transport bar by causing a penetration by the at least one penetration element through an unperforated area near an edge of a relief plate precursor.

Abstract: A multi-mode microlaser and a method for driving a multi-mode broad-area microlaser such as a multi-mode VCSEL is described such that the multi-mode microlaser shows an unexpected Gaussian-like far-field intensity distribution. The driving conditions are in general determined such that a strong reduction of the degree of spatial coherence occurs. For square pulsed driving current, these conditions are determined by the pulse duration pd and the pulse height ph. A Gaussian-like far-field intensity distribution is obtained for pulsed multi-mode broad area microlasers. The typical spatial coherence area corresponding with these driving conditions is substantially independent of the Fresnel number of the microlaser. Additionally, this partial spatial coherence can be tuned by changing the driving conditions, such as e.g. the pulse shape and length.

Abstract: A multi-mode microlaser and a method for driving a multi-mode broad-area microlaser such as a multi-mode VCSEL is described such that the multi-mode microlaser shows an unexpected Gaussian-like far-field intensity distribution. The driving conditions are in general determined such that a strong reduction of the degree of spatial coherence occurs. For square pulsed driving current, these conditions are determined by the pulse duration pd and the pulse height ph. A Gaussian-like far-field intensity distribution is obtained for pulsed multi-mode broad area microlasers. The typical spatial coherence area corresponding with these driving conditions is substantially independent of the Fresnel number of the microlaser. Additionally, this partial spatial coherence can be tuned by changing the driving conditions, such as e.g. the pulse shape and length.

Abstract: The invention relates to an imaging system for performing a computer-to-plate imaging process on printing plates. The system comprises a plate imaging bed for exposing radiation to a printing plate, the bed being provided with an input section for receiving a printing plate and an output section for transferring the printing plate to a chemical processing unit. The system further comprises a loading device for loading the printing plate from a multiple plate stack to the input section of the plate imaging bed. The input section is adjustable with respect to the output section to adjust the position of the input section to near the top of the multiple plate stack. The latter is accomplished in a preferred embodiment by providing the plate imaging bed with a pivot axle near the output section.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for positioning an element with respect to at least two reference points (4a, 4c), in which said device acts upon a working point on the element to be positioned and comprises a positioning arm attached to a fixed hinging point with respect to said reference points (4a, 4c), comprising two mutually hinged parts (6a, 6b) allowing a movement of said element to each reference point (4a, 4c). The invention related further to a device for positioning at least one offset plate on a positioning table of a pre-press equipment, comprising means to move the offset plate in a plane parallel to the positioning table to at least one reference point (4a) on the positioning table, in which said means acts upon a working point situated in the supporting plane of the offset plate on the positioning table.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for positioning an element with respect to at least two reference points (4a, 4c), in which said device acts upon a working point on the element to be positioned and comprises a positioning arm attached to a fixed hinging point with respect to said reference points (4a, 4c), comprising two mutually hinged parts (6a, 6b) allowing a movement of said element to each reference point (4a, 4c). The invention related further to a device for positioning at least one offset plate on a positioning table of a pre-press equipment, comprising means to move the offset plate in a plane parallel to the positioning table to at least one reference point (4a) on the positioning table, in which said means acts upon a working point situated in the supporting plane of the offset plate on the positioning table.