Agfa Corporation

Agfa Division, Bayer Corporation

Arthur R Newton, Jr

Jeffrey S Knox

Larry S Blake

Libor N Krupica

Thomas E Robinson

Angelo Diramio

James K Cote

A punch assembly is provided with a positive retraction mechanism to remove the punch from the media to be punched, thereby preventing binding of the punch in the media. The punch assembly includes a driving mechanism to provide a driving force on the punch and a positive retraction mechanism disposed to provide a retraction force on the punch operative sequentially following operation of the driving mechanism. The punch assembly, which is of a smaller size and more economical to manufacture, is particularly useful with an imagesetter of a prepress printing system. The punch may be mounted in a cantilever manner to punch the opening as close to the edge of the media as possible without interfering with the laser beam of the imaging assembly. In this maimer, the area of media available for imaging may be maximized and media waste minimized. Additionally, a shaft support mechanism is provided for the shaft upon which the retraction mechanism for each punch is mounted. When the punches advance into the media, an oppositely directed force is placed on the shaft. The shaft support mechanism supports the shaft when it is so loaded by the punches, thereby minimizing deflection of the shaft and allowing use of a smaller diameter shaft. Other equipment, such as take-up rollers which are used to transfer the media may also be fixed to the punch assembly. Similarly, a cutter assembly which cuts sheets of the media may also be fixed to the punch assembly.

Punch assembly having a positive punch retraction mechanism for an internal drum imagesetter

A system and method for transferring and buffering sheets of media between first and second components of an imagesetting system operates by: rotating a transfer buffer having at least two storage devices, to align a first storage device with the first component while concurrently aligning a second storage device with the second component; transferring a first sheet of said media from the first component to the first storage device; rotating the transfer buffer to align the first storage device with the second component while concurrently aligning the second storage device with the first component; and transferring the first sheet of said media from the first storage device to the second component while simultaneously transferring a second sheet of said media from the first component to the second storage device. The transfer system includes: a transfer buffer; at least two storage devices mounted onto the transfer buffer, each storage device moveable within the transfer buffer and capable of storing one sheet of imaged media; and a controller for automatically controlling operation of the transfer system.

Method and apparatus for buffer transfer of media sheets between components in an imagesetting system

An imagesetting system includes: an imagesetter for photographically recording an image onto media; a wet chemical processor, proximately positioned adjacent to the imagesetter, for receiving and processing the imaged media, and a light-tight control wedge box containing a test strip to be processed by the wet chemical processor, without physically separating the imagesetter and the processor, to indicate whether chemicals in the wet chemical processor are depleted below a level of effectiveness. The imagesetting system operates in a test mode to determine whether chemicals in the processor are depleted below the level of effectiveness. The test mode method includes the steps of: stopping the imagesetter from photographically recording an image onto the media and stopping the imagesetter from transferring media to the processor; installing the control wedge box into the imagesetting system without physically separating the imagesetter and processor; and running a sequence of operations to extract the test strip from the control wedge box and to transfer the test strip through the processor to determine whether chemicals within the processor are depleted below the level of effectiveness.

System and method for testing chemicals in an on-line wet chemical

A media guidance system for substantially reducing media jamming as the leading (head) end of a web of recording media is directed over the drum surface of an internal drum type laser imagesetter during a media loading procedure. The media guidance system includes a hollow shield, at least one outrigger extending laterally away from the hollow shield, and at least one retractable plate assembly for selectively applying a pressure load against the leading end of the recording media as it approaches the exit aperture of the internal drum.

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North Reading, MA, United States of America

Arthur R Newton, Jr