Abstract: An optical instrument for determining properties of the imaging and non-imaging areas of offset printing plates is disclosed. A laser light source (30) directs a laser beam (35) at the surface layer (50) of an offset printing plate (60). A specularly reflected beam (45) is detected by a light detector (40). Additionally. scattered light (55) is detected by a light detector (50). The detectors (40, 50) produce light intensity signals for the reflected and scattered light, respectively. A data processor (70) processes the intensity signals to determine various properties relating to the dampening solution and ink present on the non-imaging and imaging areas of the printing plate, respectively. These properties include the thickness of dampening solution in non-imaging areas, the image density in imaging areas of a moving printing plate, and the occurrence of scumming in non-imaging areas of a printing plate.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) and method for measuring the average thickness of a non-uniform coating (110) on a rough surface (40) are disclosed. A source of light (20) of substantially a single wavelength is directed at a coated surface (40) under investigation. The light reflected (5) from the surface (40) is incident on two or more photodetectors (70), which measure the intensities of different polarisation states. A processing means (90) is provided to calculate the average coating thickness from the measured polarisation state intensities.

Abstract: An optical instrument for determining properties of the imaging and non-imaging areas of offset printing plates is disclosed. A laser light source (30) directs a laser beam (35) at the surface layer (50) of an offset printing plate (60). A specularly reflected beam (45) is detected by a light detector (40). Additionally. scattered light (55) is detected by a light detector (50). The detectors (40, 50) produce light intensity signals for the reflected and scattered light, respectively. A data processor (70) processes the intensity signals to determine various properties relating to the dampening solution and ink present on the non-imaging and imaging areas of the printing plate, respectively. These properties include the thickness of dampening solution in non-imaging areas, the image density in imaging areas of a moving printing plate, and the occurrence of scumming in non-imaging areas of a printing plate.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for measuring a change in an energy path length are disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method/apparatus to determine any one of a plurality of parameters: shape, area, chemical composition, diameter, color, number, thickness, width, length, absorptivity, reflectivity, transmittivity, dielectric constant, raman scattering profile, fluorescence, surface tension, roughness, profile, density, position and orientation. Also use of a plurality of energy beams as source energy: charged and neutral particle beams, gamma-, X-, micro-, optical and acoustic waves. The described apparatus determines the mean and standard deviation of a plurality of diameters of wool fibers, and includes a He-Ne laser (101), and a pinhole (102) which produce an expanding laser beam which passes through cell (105). Beam splitter (103) is operatively disposed to pinhole (102) and laser (101) to direct a portion of the laser beam to reference detector (109) which is electrically connected to processor (110) via line (111).