Abstract: A method for creating a coating blanket for use in printing presses includes providing a sheet of work material having a laminated construction wherein a flexible layer is coupled to a carrier layer of semi-rigid material. A cutting apparatus employing a drag-type knife movable between a working and non-working position is employed to cut the coating blanket from the coating blanket material. A controller having graphic cutting data and carrier layer cutting data stored therein generates command signals to operate the cutting apparatus, causing the flexible layer of coating blanket material to be cut in a single pass in accordance with said graphic cutting data and the carrier layer of coating blanket material to be cut via multiple passes of the knife in accordance with the carrier layer cutting data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus used with a printed circuit board (PCB) defect detection system generates a reference database image of the PCB having tolerances for each individual PCB feature, The invention is characterized by a tolerance database of at least three states in which each color is weighted and adjacent pixels are grouped into arrays or "bins". An error signal is generated when the sum of the pixel weights in a bin exceeds a preselected threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus used with a printed circuit board (PCB) defect detection system generates a reference database image of the PCB having tolerances for each individual PCB feature wherein a tolerance database of at least three states in which each color is weighted and adjacent pixels are grouped into arrays or "bins". An error signal is generated when the sum of the pixel weights in a bin exceeds a preselected threshold.

Abstract: A workpiece locating unit is receivable in a T-slot formed in a workpiece supporting table member and provides a pin or other locating device cooperable with a locating feature on a workpiece to aid in accurately positioning the workpiece on the work supporting surface of the table member. The unit has four corners each providing an abutment surface for engagement with one or the other of two vertical slot surfaces. Two diagonally opposite ones of the abutment surfaces are rigid and the other two diagonally opposite ones of the abutment surfaces are resilient. The resilient abutment surfaces resiliently engage the two vertical surfaces of the slot and urge the unit about a vertical axis to hold the rigid abutment surfaces engaged with the vertical slot surfaces eliminating lateral looseness between the unit and the table member and providing accurate positioning of the locating device of the unit as the unit is moved from one position to another along the length of the slot.

Abstract: A drum for a photoplotter has a base having a partially cylindrical recess formed therein which recess being defined by in part by a plurality of elevated surfaces providing a support bed on which is mounted a sheet of material providing an exposed surface for supporting a substrate thereon. The drum is formed by a method whereby a tool is provided about which the sheet material is drawn and is moved into engagement with the bed and is caused to maintain this shape by an adhesive interposed therebetween. A method for mechanically compensating for surface irregularities by fixing the scanner relative to the support surface after displacements have been made is also provided.

Abstract: A drum for a photoplotter has a base having a partially cylindrical recess formed therein which recess being defined by in part by a plurality of elevated surfaces providing a support bed on which is mounted a sheet of material providing an exposed surface for supporting a substrate thereon. The drum is formed by a method whereby a tool is provided about which the sheet material is drawn and is moved into engagement with the bed and is caused to maintain this shape by an adhesive interposed therebetween. A method for mechanically compensating for surface irregularities by fixing the scanner relative to the support surface after displacements have been made is also provided.

Abstract: In a light-tight photoplotter, a system handles sheets of photosensitive media from an initial supply location through the photoplotter and advances them to final a location. The system includes a loading device interposed between the supply location and a workpiece support surface on which surface a work operation is conducted on the involved media sheet. It further includes an off-loading device positioned at the opposite end of the workpiece support surface and the collecting location. The loading device includes a locating mechanism which allows the involved media to be precisely oriented on the workpiece support surface in registry with two orthogonally oriented coordinated axis. The system further permits loading and unloading of covered cassettes in daylight without exposing the media supply to light which might otherwise be cast onto it. The system further provides for the safety locking of stacked media within the photoplotter to prevent inadvertent removal.

Abstract: There is disclosed apparatus for stacking and banding tags. The tag stacks are successively banded and a series of selected number of detachably connected tag stacks are produced.