Abstract: The invention relies on the visual persistence of the human eye to perceive a circle when a laser spot is rotated rapidly. A diode laser spot projector is temporarily attached to the spindle of a machine tool and projects a sharp spot on the work piece. As the spindle rotates, an image of a circle is formed which is perfectly centered with the axis of rotation of the spindle. The work piece is moved until the projected circle lines up with the desired location for machining. The size of the projected circle can be changed by adjusting the position of the laser beam or by changing the distance between the spindle and work piece. The jig can accommodate a wide range of chuck and collet diameters.

Abstract: Making the volume of the arterial system increase elastically with blood pressure reduces high systolic blood pressure peaks and can also assist the pumping function of the heart by reducing load on the heart. This volumetric elasticity is achieved by the action of a spring controlling a volume. The spring can be implanted on the outside of the aorta and the volume is elastically controlled by squeezing the aorta or the spring can be installed inside an elongated elastic sealed vessel inserted into the aorta. Such a sealed vessel will respond to increase in blood pressure by reducing its volume, thus preventing the blood pressure from rising. When the latter method is used the device can be inserted into the aorta via a major artery without the need for major surgery. In both cases the device is powered by the blood pressure itself and requires no other energy source or control circuits.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating a pressure wave for activating a fusion reaction in fusionable material in a liquid medium is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of pressure wave generators having respective moveable pistons, the pistons having respective control rods connected thereto. The apparatus also includes a plurality of transducers coupled to the liquid medium and means for causing the pistons of respective ones of the plurality of the pressure wave generators to be accelerated toward respective ones of the plurality of transducers. The apparatus further includes means for causing restraining forces to be applied to respective control rods to cause respective pistons to impact respective transducers at respective desired times and with respective desired amounts of kinetic energy such that the respective desired amounts of kinetic energy are converted into a pressure wave that converges toward the fusionable material in the liquid medium.

Abstract: Rapid heating of a lithographic printing plate is achieved by feeding the printing plate along a substantially curved path that is adjacent to one or more curved pads of an air bearing that is pressurized with heated air. The one or more curved pads are constructed such that the substantially curved path is curved with an axis of curvature substantially perpendicular to the feed direction of the printing plate. The plate is additionally elastically bent to follow and conform to the substantially curved path. The substantially curved path minimizes printing plate distortion during heating, and thus prevents the plate from being damaged from contact with any of the one or more curved pads. The one or more curved pads are also arranged to allow for exceptionally good heat transfer characteristics and thus more-effective plate heating.

Abstract: A flexographic press of conventional design is used to print on a container, with the container to be printed upon replacing the web and the impression roll of the conventional press. In order to maintain the registration between the print stations, the container is placed into a carrier and stays registered to the carrier until all colors are printed. The carrier is moved between the different print stations and is registered to each print station independently. All print stations are set up to print in exactly the same place relative to the carrier, thus registration is achieved.

Abstract: A light valve for use in an imaging head for imaging a regular pattern with relatively large imaged areas in a pre-determined orientation has low resolution channels and high resolution channels corresponding to the pattern to be imaged.

Abstract: An authentication system uses the unique distribution of an invisible taggant as a “signature” to identify an item. The verification is error tolerant. The taggant is made visible to a camera by special illumination. Inert taggants, with no optical activity, can be made visible by their thermal properties.

Abstract: A fast scan axis for a high speed flat bed scanner has an elongated reciprocating table for securing the material to be scanned. The table is narrower than the material and portions of the material overhang the table. The overhanging portions are supported by stationary support surfaces with a plurality of air ports in the surface thereof for providing an air bearing support for the overhanging portions. The moving mass of the scanner is thus kept small enabling fast scanning of the material.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling droplets allows the phase difference between a calibration signal and its signature signal on a detector to be minimized, or the amplitude of the signature signal to be maximized, by adjusting the droplet charging means of the device, or the droplet generation means, and the signals on either. The apparatus converts a stream of fluid into a stream of droplets under the influence of a droplet stimulation signal imposed onto the droplet generating means. Droplets are subsequently signal-wise charged under the influence of a droplet charging signal imposed on the droplet charging means. The charged droplets are then deflected. The calibration signal is imposed onto the stream of droplets. The calibration signal has characteristics that do not appreciably affect the trajectory of the stream of droplets, thereby ensuring that the placement accuracy of the individual droplets is a maintained.

Abstract: In an inkjet printer there is a trade off between speed and quality. Higher speed can be achieved at the expense of quality as inkjet droplets deposited are distorted in shape and or placement position if the relative velocity between the inkjet nozzles and the printing medium is simply increased. The velocity above which distortion occurs is termed threshold velocity. A feed mechanism that varies the printing medium advance rate to allow printing at below threshold velocity while maintaining a high average feed rate is described. By advancing the printing medium at a periodically varying velocity, with the printing medium velocity lower than the threshold velocity, the problem is avoided.

Abstract: A flexographic press of conventional design is used to print on a container, with the container to be printed upon replacing the web and the impression roll of the conventional press. In order to maintain the registration between the print stations, the container is placed into a carrier and stays registered to the carrier until all colors are printed. The carrier is moved between the different print stations and is registered to each print station independently. All print stations are set up to print in exactly the same place relative to the carrier, thus registration is achieved.

Abstract: A computer-to-plate (CTP) machine is operated using processless printing plates. A plate bender is built directly into the CTP, bending the plate after imaging in order to make it ready for mounting on the printing press, eliminating all intermediate steps. For presses requiring punched holes in addition to the bend in the plate, the required holes are also punched in the CTP machine.

Abstract: A flexographic press of conventional design is used to print on a container, with the container to be printed upon replacing the web and the impression roll of the conventional press. In order to maintain the registration between the print stations, the container is placed into a carrier and stays registered to the carrier until all colors are printed. The carrier is moved between the different print stations and is registered to each print station independently. All print stations are set up to print in exactly the same place relative to the carrier, thus registration is achieved.

Abstract: A flexographic press of conventional design is used to print on a container, with the container to be printed upon replacing the web and the impression roll of the conventional press. In order to maintain the registration between the print stations, the container is placed into a carrier and stays registered to the carrier until all colors are printed. The carrier is moved between the different print stations and is registered to each print station independently. All print stations are set up to print in exactly the same place relative to the carrier, thus registration is achieved.

Abstract: A method of adding authentication material during printing by dispensing the authentication material in powder form over the articles being printed before the ink used for the printing is fully cured. The method can be combined with the spray powder step during the printing process.

Abstract: A method for making a printing plate is disclosed comprising mounting a printing plate to a holder; applying a non-permanent patterned coating to an outer surface of the printing plate by moving a coating applicator relative to the holder; and, exposing the printing plate to actinic radiation through the patterned coating without removing the printing plate from the holder. The invention avoids handling-induced damage by performing coating and exposure steps in a single apparatus.

Abstract: A deformable mirror element with a high natural frequency has elongate ribbons attached along a longitudinal portion thereof to a support. The ribbon is transversely slit to divide each ribbon into at least two individual wing portions. The wing portions extend laterally from the support and are capable of deforming in response to a force applied to the wing. The deformable mirror element is used in a light valve for modulating one or more beams of incident light. The high natural frequency of the element ensures that the light valve is useful in applications requiring fast response time.

Abstract: A light valve for use in an imaging head for imaging a regular pattern with relatively large imaged areas in a pre-determined orientation has low resolution channels and high resolution channels corresponding to the pattern to be imaged.

Abstract: A deformable mirror element with a high natural frequency has elongate ribbons attached along a longitudinal portion thereof to a support. A reflective wing portion extends laterally from the support and is capable of deforming in response to a force applied to the wing. The deformable mirror element is used in a light valve for modulating one or more beams of light. The high natural frequency of the element ensures that the light valve is useful in applications requiring fast response time.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for a multi-channel imaging system wherein the beams of light corresponding to each channel can be individually auto-focussed. Individual channel focussing permits image data to be recorded on a surface of variable depth, such as the patterned surfaces of semiconductor wafers and masks. A light source illuminates an array of reflective, deformable, micromachined ribbons and the ribbons reflect the light to form beams for the various channels. An auto-focus detector determines the depth profile of a recording surface and focus data for each channel is fed back to the ribbon array. The focus data for a particular channel is used to control the deformation of a corresponding ribbon and consequently, the focal length of the reflected beam. The individual beams can be modulated with image data by an external modulator or by the ribbon array itself.