Abstract: A series of printing plate imagers for imaging lithographic printing plates onto a continuous web are combined in a single imaging process line. The imageable web is passed through a series of properly spaced imaging stations in the line with multiple plate sections being selectively imaged in one or another of the stations or with each individual plate section being partially imaged in two or more stations. The imaging stations may operate in different modes, such as the digital mode with a laser and the analog mode with actinic radiation, with the prepared web capable of being imaged by either of the modes.

Abstract: A wet modular film printer having a plurality of removable modules upon which film printer components are mounted including a liquid immersed, capstanless printing head. The printing head immersion liquid is continuously recirculated and filtered by means of a recirculation draw off near the top of the liquid surface and a recirculated liquid return downstream of the printed head. Liquid containing areas are all enclosed and a negative pressure is maintained to remove any noxious vapors. After printing, the liquid remaining on the raw stock and the negative is removed by a series of wipers, an air stripper and a drying column. The drying column uses heated air which flows countercurrent to the direction of film movement so that the air is progressively hotter along the film's path of movement.

Abstract: A process is provided for making a relief printing form which is at least partially cylindrical from a liquid photopolymerizable molding material. In accordance with the process, a molding material is spread over the internal surface of the cylindrical wall by centrifugal force and hardened in the desired places with ultraviolet light to form an image corresponding to a printing design. The nonhardened portions of the molding material are then removed. The cylindrical wall is a transparent cylindrical tube. An exchangeable image-bearing film is placed on the inside of the tube.Photopolymerizing radiation of the printing form material is effected during rotation of the transparent cylindrial tube. An exchangeable image-bearing film is placed on the inside of the tube. Photopolymerizing radiation of the printing form material is effected during rotation of the transparent cylinder by means of one or more radiation sources distributed around the circumference of the transparent cylinder.

Abstract: An optical distortion device which can make a contact copy of a photographic film image with one dimension of the copy lengthened or shortened while the perpendicular dimension is unchanged is comprised of a pair of cylindrical motor driven rollers, at least one of which can be driven at a very low speed. The axes of the rollers are disposed parallel to each other and to a narrow slit through which a beam of light is directed. A copy sheet such as a photographic negative and a sheet of photosensitive material are pressed into intimate contact as they pass over the slit by a jet of positive air pressure and each sheet is held to the circumference of a respective roller by negative air pressure selectively supplied to a plurality of grooves in the surface of the roller.

Abstract: A printing head assembly for exposing raw stock film with a preprint film in a contact film printer including a dual roller gate assembly. The dual roller gate assembly includes a pair of rollers mounted on a roller frame for engaging the preprint film and raw stock film on opposite sides of the printing aperture for wrapping both the preprint and raw stock film about a segment of the printing sprocket of substantially greater length than the printing aperture. An adjustable biasing spring permits regulation of the tension applied through the rollers to the film runs. The dual roller gate assembly includes a selectively operable retraction device to withdraw the rollers away from the printing sprocket for loading and unloading the film printer. In an alternate embodiment, the dual roller gate assembly is pivotally mounted by an offset shaft which permits pivotal movement of the dual roller gate assembly to provide clearance for loading the film printer.