Abstract: An imaging system with beam focus adjustment, includes an emitter which emits a beam of radiation along a beam path and an optical assembly, having a focus adjustment mechanism, configured to focus the emitted beam on a medium to be imaged. A medium support member supports the medium on its support surface during imaging. A sensor generates temperature data representing a detected temperature of the medium support member and a controller controls the focus adjustment mechanism in accordance with the temperature data to adjust the focus of the emitted beam on the medium.

Abstract: An imaging system with beam focus adjustment, includes an emitter which emits a beam of radiation along a beam path and an optical assembly, having a focus adjustment mechanism, configured to focus the emitted beam on a medium to be imaged. A medium support member supports the medium on its support surface during imaging. A sensor generates temperature data representing a detected temperature of the medium support member and a controller controls the focus adjustment mechanism in accordance with the temperature data to adjust the focus of the emitted beam on the medium.

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: 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.

Abstract: A linear motion drive apparatus uses a friction drive wheel to drive a carriage along two rails. The drive shaft of the friction wheel is supported by the carriage, and has a rotor of a pancake motor and an inertia wheel non-rotatably attached thereto. The stator is fixed to a wall of the carriage. The carriage is supported by recirculating ball bearings which are arranged with permanent magnets to urge the friction wheel into engagement with the flat rail. A slip detection and correction system has first encoder mounted on the drive shaft to produce a signal representing the rotational position of the shaft, and a second encoder mounted on the carriage to produce a signal representing the position of the carriage with respect to the rails. The motor is responsive to the signals to compensate for detected slippage.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus is disclosed in an imagesetter with an internal drum recording surface, having an improved carriage system which is self-propelled and carries scanning optics for recording an image including a spin motor/mirror, a laser diode, and a focusing lens. The drive system is mounted to the carriage to allow the carriage to move linearly inside the drum as a self-propelled direct drive. An electronic control device mounted on the carriage provides precision motion control of the carriage.