Abstract: A method includes delivering a wafer into a process chamber, applying a thermal energy to the wafer by a heat source, and moving the heat source substantially along a longitudinal direction of the heat source with respect to the wafer. An apparatus that performs the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to methods and apparatus useful in the nanopatterning of large area substrates, where a rotatable mask is used to image a radiation-sensitive material. Typically the rotatable mask comprises a cylinder. The nanopatterning technique makes use of Near-Field photolithography, where the mask used to pattern the substrate is in contact or close proximity with the substrate. The Near-Field photolithography may make use of an elastomeric phase-shifting mask, or may employ surface plasmon technology, where a rotating cylinder surface comprises metal nano holes or nanoparticles.

Abstract: A printing apparatus in which a general command is converted to a real-time command depending on the needs, allowing fast status analysis and error recovery with fewer number of control commands without inconveniencing the user, a control method therefor, and a data processing apparatus using the printing apparatus. In the printing apparatus or the data processing apparatus including the same which is operated by transmission of command data and print data from a host computer, general data usually processed in order is converted to a real-time command using a real-time command identifier. The printing apparatus receives the data with the real-time command identifier and processes the command or print data designated by the real-time command identifier. The apparatus and method allow using a fewer number of commands to execute various controls.

Abstract: In a tandem type color printer, a second memory memorizes bitmap data sets in a second arrangement. In the second arrangement, each of the bitmap data sets is divided into a plurality of data units. In addition, the data units of all of the bitmap data sets are arranged on the basis of predetermined output order regardless of the colors. A first memory separately memorizes the bitmap data sets in a first arrangement different from the second arrangement. A data line control circuit reads out the bitmap data sets from the first memory when a first copy of a printed matter is made by the use of the bitmap data sets. In this time, the data line control circuit stores the bitmap data sets in the second memory with changing its arrangement. When a second or later copy of the printed matter is made, the data line control circuit reads out the bitmap data sets at high speed.

Abstract: An integrated, in-line bumping and exposure system for printing plates or other substrates having a photosensitive layer. A linear illumination source or sources are for bumping the photosensitive material with a band of illumination to consume dissolved oxygen within the photosensitive layer. A raster scan optical assembly or an illuminated and re-imaged spatial light modulator array exposes the photosensitive material with a rasterized beam or beams or an array of modulated electromagnetic radiation located downstream of the bumping illumination. A conveyance mechanism is configured to provide relative continuous motion between one or more substrates and the bands of illumination to continuously bump and pattern one portion of the plate or plates while the other portion of the plate or plates is bumped in anticipation of patterning.

Abstract: The present invention is to easily examine the contact state of two piled films in a short time.

Abstract: The present invention is to easily examine the contact state of two piled films in a short time.

Abstract: A photoengraving machine of this invention increases photoengraving speed without unduly increasing size or manufacturing costs of a CPT-type photoengraving machine by decreasing waiting time for form plates transferred from a plate feed section. The machine comprises a plate feed section, an exposure section, a plate discharge section, and a development section to make a drawing on a form plate at the exposure section in accordance with a signal output from a computer. The form-plate feed section has a stocker case for storing form plates and a transfer unit set above the stocker case to be vertically movable for transferring form plates along a guide rail. The exposure section has at least two exposure barrels arranged at intervals, a laser-beam scanning head, a first table on a side of each exposure barrel toward the form-plate feed section, and a second table on a development-section side of each exposure barrels.

Abstract: For a multiprocess application including a plurality of work stations at which the application processes proceed simultaneously, such as a printer including serially aligned laser and inkjet print engines, a method of controlling job throughput includes providing a queue for each work station, providing job data to the queues for a plurality of jobs, and consecutively tracking for the jobs the progress of the process corresponding to the rate-determining step for the application for each of the jobs so that as each job is completed at a particular work station the work station begins the process of the work station for the next job.

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 news-printing photoengraving machine of this invention increases photoengraving speed without unduly increasing size or manufacturing costs of a CPT-type photoengraving machine by decreasing waiting time for form plates transferred from a plate feed section. The machine comprises a plate feed section, an exposure section, a plate discharge section, and a development section to make a drawing on a form plate at the exposure section in accordance with a signal output from a computer. The form-plate feed section has a stocker case for storing form plates and a transfer unit set above the stocker case to be vertically movable for transferring form plates along a guide rail. The exposure section has at least two exposure barrels arranged at intervals, a laser-beam scanning head, a first table on a side of each exposure barrel toward the form-plate feed section, and a second table on a development-section side of each exposure barrels.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of using same for exposing successive sections of opposite sides of a web of material to actinic radiation in patterns on each section of the opposite sides of the web is provided. The apparatus includes a first station having mechanisms to locate and expose selected sections on the first side of the web to actinic radiation in a first pattern, and a second station spaced from the first station having mechanisms to locate and expose selected sections on the second side of said web to actinic radiation. The first and second stations include first and second pattern masters and first and second mountings for the masters, and first and second sources of actinic radiation to project the desired patterns of exposure from each of the masters to each of the sections on the first and second sides of the web in very close registration or alignment thereof.

Abstract: An exposing apparatus provided with a first alignment stage B, a first exposing stage C, a reverse stage D, a second alignmen stage E and a second exposing stage F in which the first alignment stage B, the reverse stage D and the second alignment stage E being provided in a straight line and each of the first alignment stage B and the second alignment stage E being provided in perpendicular dirction to the straight line the first exposing stage C and the second exposing stage F, respectively, and the ultraviolet rays irradiation stage H being located between the first exposing stage C and the second exposing stage F, offers an improved exposing apparatus of smaller installation space, the upper printing frame being replaced very easily when deteriorated after long time use, the lower printing frame properly absorb and displace the work from the lower printing frame, smaller consumption of the electricity, and forming of the vacuum frame and locating of the work are performed efficiently and accurately.

Abstract: An original film holder includes an elongated main body having a plurality of pins for engaging a plurality of punch holes formed in a side portion of an original film; a push-up plate for pushing up the side portion of the original film from the main body to disengage the original film from the pins, the push-up plate being located on the main body and having holes through which the pins are inserted; a pressing member located above the main body and the push-up plate to clamp the original film in cooperation with the push-up plate; a push-up plate moving unit for moving the push-up plate upwardly from the main body to disengage the original film from the pins; a pressing member moving unit for moving the pressing member downwardly to press the original film on the push-up plate; and a retreating unit for retreating the pressing member from a position above the main body.

Abstract: An automatic loader loads multiple sizes of unexposed printing plates into an exposure unit without using cassettes. The cardboard shipping container is used as a cassette by removing the front wall. Plates are lifted and loaded by a vacuum system. Paper used to separate plates in shipping container is removed by two sets of motorized rollers. The top rollers slide the paper off the plate while the bottom rollers completely remove the separating paper from the shipping box in order to avoid jamming and allow the shipping box to be re-closed. Shipping container is used with the active side of the plates facing down in order to protect plates from accidental exposure.

Abstract: An alignment system for aligning the print plates of a two-sided contact printing station includes expanding pin assemblies each having an expanding collet and a mandrel for engaging and aligning match drilled holes in each of the print plates. An expansion cylinder moves the mandrel into and out of engagement with the expanding collet to cause the collet to expand into engagement with the match drilled holes. The outside profile of the expanding collet forms a straight-pin diameter which corresponds to the diameter of the match drilled holes when expanded. The expanding pin assemblies may be contracted to facilitate moving the print plates apart for advancing the working material.

Abstract: A photosensitive resin printing plate which can provide printed matter with good ink coverage and little dot gain, and a plate making apparatus used therefor.

Abstract: An appropriate photochemical reaction is produced in electrodeposited photoresist applied to the surface of a board and to the inner wall surfaces of holes extending through the board, for improving the efficiency of the operation of image formation. Upper and lower ultraviolet illumination devices and upper and lower light condensers 34a, 34b are provided. Each ultraviolet illumination device has a discharge lamp 32 and a reflecting mirror 33. Each light condenser consists of a horizontal array of a multiplicity of lenses 35 placed close to each other. The upper and lower ultraviolet illumination devices are disposed respectively above and below the board 31 in a symmetrical relation with respect to the board. The upper light condenser 34a is disposed between the upper discharge lamp 32 and the board 31, while the lower light condenser 34b is located between the lower discharge lamp 32 and the board 31. These light condenser which are spaced from each other can be moved horizontally.

Abstract: An automatic printing system includes an array of printing devices arranged along a direction in which the printing member is fed, each of printing devices having a positioning mechanism for positioning the printing member, a feeding device for feeding a printing member to each printing device, a delivery device for picking up the printing member from the feeding device and bringing the printing member into engagement with the positioning mechanism, and a discharging device for discharging the printing member, which has been exposed by the printing device, from the printing device. the automatic printing system further includes a supplying device for storing printing members of different sizes and selectively supplying the printing members one at a time, a punching device for forming a positioning opening in the printing member supplied by the supplying device, and an automatic developing device for developing the printing member which has been exposed by the printing device.

Abstract: In the context of a device for producing printing plates comprising a printing down station with a plate table and an associated illuminating means, which station has associated with it a foil receiving means formed preferably constituted by a foil cassette for unprinted foil and preferably at least one receiving cassette for printed foil, in the case of which the foil to be printed onto an unexposed or blank printing plate is able to be taken from a foil receiving means by means of a moving vacuum frame, is able to be moved onto the blank plate on the plate table and after exposure is able to be discharged, preferably into a receiving cassette, a higher throughput rate and a gentle handling of the foils etc.

Abstract: The equipment is intended for exposing both side of printed circuit plates by means of a contact print. The equipment comprises a master copy and printed circuit plates holder in a rack provided with feeding elements and guided in parallel between two light sources and comprising respectively one portion above and below the exposure plane. The holder is formed of a dual frame (1) the two frame portions 2,2' of which are formed to be moved part and together relative to one another and in parallel to one another and while remaining in a position parallel with respect to one another. Located in the frame portions (2,2') of the dual frame (1) is respectively one transparency (4) framed by a frame (5) provided at least on one side thereof with alignment elements (15), with suction ports (7) being provided in its counterdirected surfaces (6) along the circumferential edges thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a recording apparatus including a plurality of printers each for reproducing an image on a recording sheet upon receiving the same signal, and a single sheet delivering device for delivering recording sheets to the printers. The present invention also provides a recording apparatus including a plurality of printers each for reproducing an image on a recording sheet upon receiving the same signal, and a sheet discharge device for feeding the recording sheets from the printers to a collector or sorter.

Abstract: A photoetch plate hinge apparatus having a base photoetch plate for supporting a base hinge platform to which a metal hinge is mounted. The metal hinge is also secured to a coverplate hinge platform which is affixed to a cover photoetch plate via a cantilever bridge structure. The cover plate hinge platform and the cover photoetch plate are capable of vertical arc-like movement relative to the base photoetch plate, so as to accomplish the disposition of sheet material between the base and cover plates for photoetching. The usable surfaces of the plates are totally accessible to irradiation and cleaning, and will not damage when subjected to vacuum photoetching procedures.

Abstract: An apparatus for the exposure of photosensitive plates on two sides, in particular for the preparation of printed circuits for electronic devices, comprises two similar exposure devices, mechanically connected and arranged adjacent to each other, each being equipped under a copying frame with an illuminating system, wherein a glass plate filling the format is arranged in the copying frame onto which a negative or positive master may be placed, together with a photosensitive plate above it, with a reversing station being associated with each of the exposure devices and both between each exposure device and the reversing station associated with it, and between the reversing stations a pivoting arm rotatable by 180 degrees each being arranged. The light source of each exposure device is arranged in or under the associated reversing station, wherein the beam of light may be conducted to the plate to be exposed of each exposure station.

Abstract: A chase for photographically producing images on both sides of shadow mask material includes a fixed suspension member and a moveable suspension member which is vertically and horizontally moveable relative to the fixed suspension member in the plane of the moveable suspension member. Support members are suspended from the suspension members through solid flexible hinges. Frames are indivdually supported by the support members and include openings for receiving photographic plates. Pivoting means are coupled to the frames whereby the frames are held in a substantially parallel relationship during exposure of the shadow mask material and are separable by flexure of the hinges during changing of the mask material. The images on the plates are alignable by selectively moving the moveable suspension member vertically or horizontally.

Abstract: A multiplexing electrostatic copier system employing one or more detachable portable optical reader units, each including a "memory" or recorder, that may be readily carried about by a user for temporarily recording a "video" image of a printed document or other object to be copied or reproduced. For reproducing the recorded video image, the portable units are selectively connectable to an electrostatic copy making machine at the convenience of the users to transfer the remembered or recorded "video" images to the copy machine for reproducing the stored images and preparing a hard copy of the original document, e.g. a printed copy document on paper. The copier machine may also provide an advanced visual display of each of the transferred "video" images, enabling the users to initially observe the images before the hard copies are made.

Abstract: A method and article are disclosed for facilitating repeated use in a photolithographic imaging process of a photomask assembly comprising a pair of glass plates by means of a flexible polymeric hinge permanently joining said pair of glass plates.

Abstract: A contact reproduction apparatus for duplicating images formed upon a transparency onto a photosensitive material, including plural vacuum contact printers, the respective evacuation chambers of which are connected, in parallel manner, to a master vacuum holding tank, the interior of which is maintained at an extremely high state of evacuation by a high displacement vacuum pump capable of drawing a maximum end vacuum in excess of 29 inches of mercury. An extremely high evacuation potential is provided at each evacuation chamber by making the volume of the master holding tank significantly larger than the combined volumes of the respective evacuation chambers.