Abstract: A substrate manager for a substrate exposure machine is used, in one example, as a platesetter. As such, it comprises a substrate storage system, containing one or more stacks of substrates, such as plates in one implementation. A substrate picker is provided for picking substrates from the stack of substrates. The substrates are then handed to a transfer system that conveys the substrates to an imaging engine. According to the invention, a substrate inverter system is also provided. This system inverts the substrates from being imaging or emulsion side down to emulsion side up in the present implementation. This allows plates, for example, which are stored emulsion side down in cassettes to be flipped to an emulsion side up orientation, and then transferred, using the substrate transfer system to the imaging engine. This flipping process has two advantages. First, the plates can be emulsion side up during the transfer. This prevents any damage to the sensitive plate emulsions.

Abstract: A substrate manager for a substrate exposure machine is used, in one example, as a platesetter. As such, it comprises a substrate storage system, containing one or more stacks of substrates, such as plates in one implementation. A substrate picker is provided for picking substrates from the stack of substrates. The substrates are then handed to a transfer system that conveys the substrates to an imaging engine. According to the invention, a substrate inverter system is also provided. This system inverts the substrates from being imaging or emulsion side down to emulsion side up in the present implementation. This allows plates, for example, which are stored emulsion side down in cassettes to be flipped to an emulsion side up orientation, and then transferred, using the substrate transfer system to the imaging engine. This flipping process has two advantages. First, the plates can be emulsion side up during the transfer. This prevents any damage to the sensitive plate emulsions.

Abstract: A flow system includes an air mover operable to cause the flow. A first stage, such as a coarse filter, is disposed upstream of the air mover and operates on the flow. A second stage, such as an adsorbent cell or muffler, is disposed downstream of the air mover and further operates on the flow. Other stages, such as a fine filter, may be disposed between the first and second stages.

Abstract: A hose and cable routing system for routing and flexing a coolant supply hose, a coolant return hose, and an electrical cable to a laser system mounted on a movable optical carriage in an imaging system without introducing mechanical disturbances to the optical carriage. The hose and cable routing system includes a support tray, mounted to the imaging system, for supporting the coolant hoses and electrical cable, and a movable support bracket for supporting and running the coolant hoses and electrical cable from the support tray to the optical carriage. A track is provided to guide the movable support bracket along the imaging system in response to a displacement of the optical carriage. A vibration isolator is mounted between the support bracket and the optical carriage. Other embodiments of the hose and cable routing system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A filtration system, includes a filtration unit and processor. The filtration unit operates to filter ablative particles generated by thermal imaging of media and transmits a signal corresponding to a parameter, such as a pressure or pressure differential, representing a current state of the operation of the filtration unit, such as the state of the filters, during the filtering of the ablative particles. The processor receives the transmitted signals and generates, responsive to the receipt of the transmitted signal, a signal representing operator information associated with the current state operation, such as a warning or instructions for correcting a deficiency, and/or a signal to stop the imaging of the media.

Abstract: A vacuum system can remove ablated particles from an internal drum platesetter which has a drum for supporting a photosensitive medium, a carriage moveable in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the drum, and a laser mounted onto the moveable carriage for generating a beam to create an image on the medium during movement of the carriage, the beam ablating particles of the medium during creation of the image. The vacuum system includes: a vacuum head fixedly attached to the moveable carriage, and having at least one chamber for receiving the ablated particles through a slot located proximate to a periphery of the vacuum head; and an exhaust system connected to the vacuum head and including ductwork, at least one fan and at least one filter, for extracting the ablated particles from the at least one chamber of the vacuum head.