Gerber Systems Corporation

The Gerber Scientific Instrument Company

Bruce L Davidson

Ronald J Straayer

Alan W Menard

H Joseph Gerber

Robert J Pavone

Dana W Seniff

Henry F Berdat

Scott P Snietka

Peter M Walsh

Timothy P MacDonald

James P Kohler

Heinz J Gerber

Joseph J Conlan

Michael T Silva

Uri Bin-Nun

James M Diener

David P Squires

John R Masotta

John M Davies

Robert V DeMartino

Mark C Schwartz

Thomas J Suhr

Richard S Lech

An automated media transport apparatus and method includes a load module for loading media plates from a flat cassette through one end of an internal drum of an imaging module. Sensors detect the presence of interleaved paper sheets from the media plates being loaded, and paper assemblies remove any interleaved paper sheets. An unload module unloads imaged media plates from the other end of the drum, and position the unloaded plates onto a multi-directional conveyor of the unload module. The conveyor is capable of moving the imaged media plate in one of several directions to other devices for further processing of the media plates.

Automated media transport device and method of using the same

An apparatus for feeding media to an internal drum imaging system includes a pair of parallel rails secured to a support frame that is mechanically isolated from the imaging system. The tracks are parallel to the outer circumferential edges of the internal drum. The feeding apparatus further includes a plurality of media engagement means movably coupled between the tracks. The engagement means are adapted to transport the medium to and from the internal drum along the tracks. Each engagement means includes a rail extending between the tracks and a pair of drive means pivotally connected to the ends of the rail for advancing the rail along the tracks. Each engagement means further includes a lifting means for raising and lowering the rail and a coupling means disposed to the undersurface of the rail for securing the media to the rail. The feeding apparatus further includes a controller which provides signals to the engagement means to couple the media to the rails and advance the engagement means along the tracks and accurately position the medium onto the drum, in response to an algorithm and feedback from a pair of docking sensor. The docking sensor are disposed on the leading edge of internal drum for contacting the leading edge of the medium and providing a signal to the controller representative of the position of the medium on the internal drum.

Media feed apparatus for an imaging device

An apparatus includes a media handler which is capable of processing a supply of media sheets which can take the form of plates, aluminum or plastic used in lithographic printing presses or the like, or can be film which is advanced to a drum and scanned by a scanning process and thereafter removed from the drum surface by appropriate handling means.

Pixel clock method and apparatus for scanning type photo imaging

Apparatus and method of positioning photosensitive media on an exposure

A method and apparatus used with a printed circuit board (PCB) defect detection system generates a reference database image of the PCB having tolerances for each individual PCB feature, The invention is characterized by a tolerance database of at least three states in which each color is weighted and adjacent pixels are grouped into arrays or 'bins'. An error signal is generated when the sum of the pixel weights in a bin exceeds a preselected threshold.

Automatic optical inspection system having a weighted transition database

A method and apparatus used with a printed circuit board (PCB) defect detection system generates a reference database image of the PCB having tolerances for each individual PCB feature wherein a tolerance database of at least three states in which each color is weighted and adjacent pixels are grouped into arrays or 'bins'. An error signal is generated when the sum of the pixel weights in a bin exceeds a preselected threshold.

An apparatus for use in improving the accuracy of optical systems such as internal drum photoplotters includes a raster scanner responsive to control signals for advancing relative to a substrate an optical beam across a substrate surface in a first direction forming a scan line and for cooperatively advancing relative to the substrate the optical beam in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction. A signal generator provides a clock signal configured to control the advancement of the optical beam in a first direction. There is a memory for storing error signals indicative of deviations of the curved surface from a preferred value of curvature. The apparatus is characterized by a controller for generating control signals in dependence on the error signals such that the phase of the clock signal is adjusted, thereby removing the curvature error for a segment of the scan line.

Method and apparatus for enhancing the accuracy of scanner systems

An image buffer for use with laser imagers is configured to receive image signals from a raster image processor (RIP). The image buffer comprises a two by two data switch and two memories for storing image data signals as generated by the RIP. The stored image data signals are presented to the laser imager in accordance with command signals provided by an image buffer controller. The image buffer controller utilizes a video interface that includes a SCSI controller and line buffer to reformat the stored image data signals before presentation to the laser imager, thereby allowing for independent operation of the RIP and laser imager.

Imaging system with image buffer for exposing film on a substrate

An indexing system for selectively orienting one of a series of arcuately oriented different sized and/or shaped apertures formed around an aperture disc used in a photohead for exposing upon a photosensitive surface detailed graphic information using a light beam. The aperture disc has formed thereon, equidistantly spaced indicators in the form of slots allowing radiant energy generated by a light emitter to impede upon and energize a split cell photosensitive detector. A control system rotates an aperture wheel to a next selected position at a first velocity until a selected aperture is within the vicinity of the next selected position and subsequently rotates the aperture disc at a second slower velocity to precisely position the next selected position in registry with the light beam. A method for creating the aperture disc includes inscribing with a light beam upon a film, the pattern of the aperture and the indicators, developing the film as a master and contact printing copies of the images formed on the master.

Aperture disc and method of making the same

An indexing system for selectively orienting one of a series of arcuately oriented different sized and/or shaped apertures formed around an aperture disc used in a photohead for exposing upon a photosensitive surface detailed graphic information using a light beam. The aperture disc has formed thereon, equidistantly spaced indicators in the form of slots allowing radiant energy generated by a light emitter to impede upon and energize a split cell photosensitive detector. A control system rotates an aperture wheel to a next selected position at a first volocity until a selected aperture is within the vicinity of the next selected position and subsequently rotates the aperture disc at a second slower velocity to precisely position the next selected position in registry with the light beam. A method for creating the aperture disc includes inscribing with a light beam upon a film, the pattern of the apertures and the indicators, developing the film as a master and contact printing copies of the images formed on the master.

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East Hartford, CT, United States of America

Bruce L Davidson