Abstract: A solar energy collecting apparatus for heating a working fluid using the plurality of substantially identical reflective elements arranged in rows is provided. Each reflective element comprises a substantially rectangular element having opposing side walls and opposing end walls which together form a bottom edge for supporting the reflective element on a flat support such as a sheet metal or molded base. Each reflective element further includes a top wall connected with and supported by the side walls and the end walls. The top wall is formed to provide a reflective surface facing away from the bottom edge and is formed in a shape for reflecting solar radiation falling thereon, from a range of incident angles, to a focal axis. The focal axis of each reflective element is substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the reflective element and when the reflective elements are arranged in parallel rows, each row includes a focal axis along its longitudinal length.

Abstract: The invention involves an internal drum thermal imaging apparatus comprising a support for supporting a receiver material and a donor material in a superimposed relationship. The support includes a cylindrical drum having an inner circumference on which the receiver material is supported against in a bottom layer of the superimposed relationship and the donor material in a top layer of the superimposed relationship. An imaging unit thermally transfers an image from the donor material to the receiver material. An applicator automatically loads and unloads the receiver material and the donor material onto the cylindrical drum comprising an applicator carriage, an attachment device for attaching the receiver material to the applicator and an applicator transport device for transporting the applicator carriage along the inner circumference of the cylindrical drum.

Abstract: The invention involves a thermal imaging apparatus comprising a support for supporting a receiver material and a donor material in a superimposed relationship. The support includes a cylindrical drum having an inner circumference on which the receiver material is supported against in a bottom layer of the superimposed relationship and the donor material in a top layer of the superimposed relationship. An imaging unit thermally transfers an image from the donor material to the receiver material. The imaging unit is configured to thermally transfer an image by scanning energy beams across the donor material.

Abstract: The invention involves a thermal imaging apparatus comprising a support for supporting a receiver material and a donor material in a superimposed relationship. The support includes a cylindrical drum having an inner circumference on which the receiver material is supported against in a bottom layer of the superimposed relationship and the donor material in a top layer of the superimposed relationship. An imaging unit thermally transfers an image from the donor material to the receiver material.

Abstract: The invention involves an internal drum thermal imaging apparatus comprising a support for supporting a receiver material and a donor material in a superimposed relationship. The support includes a cylindrical drum having an inner circumference on which the receiver material is supported against in a bottom layer of the superimposed relationship and the donor material in a top layer of the superimposed relationship. An imaging unit thermally transfers an image from the donor material to the receiver material. An applicator automatically loads and unloads the receiver material and donor material onto the cylindrical drum comprising an applicator carriage, an attachment device for attaching the receiver material to the applicator and an applicator transport device for transporting the applicator carriage along the inner cirumference of the cylindrical drum.

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 non-rotating optical shield is generally cylindrical in shape and surrounds a rotating optical deflector to reduce airflow and optical distortion, as well as acoustic noise. A beam entrance aperture is provided in an end of the shield allowing an input beam to project onto the rotating deflector along the deflector's spin axis. The entrance aperture is sealed by a window to prevent air from being drawn into the shield by the action of the rotating optical deflector. The deflected beam exits the shield through a beam exit aperture in the side of the shield which is enclosed by an optical element. Clearances between the shield and the rotating deflector are minimal. The shield reduces temperature gradients in the surrounding air thus reducing optical distortions caused by changes in refractive indices of the deflector and surrounding air.

Abstract: An assist mechanism for installing a web-type media supply into an imagesetter allows a single user to automatically lift and position a large format media supply cassette containing a supply roll from a reloading location remote from the imagesetter to a docking location in the imagesetter. The assist mechanism comprises a roll-up cart having a support bracket mounted on the top a telescopic column with two arms for supporting the supply cassette. The cart is positioned adjacent to the remote location at which time a foot switch on the cart is used to actuate the telescopic column to vertically raise and lower the support bracket. The bracket arms hook under the ends of a supply roll bearing supporting the supply roll, to lift the media supply from the surface. The cart is then rolled to the docking location of the imagesetter and the assist mechanism is actuated by the foot switch to vertically adjust the telescopic column supporting the support bracket.

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.