Agfa Corporation

Agfa Division, Bayer Corporation

Other

Miles Inc.

Agfa Divison, Bayer Corporation

David B Larsen

Philip A Rombult

Libor N Krupica

Laurence S Blake

Robert S Ring

James C Folsom

Ross A Freeman

Roger A Jacques

Gerald L Smith

Norman F Rolfe

Frank Lynn Scholten

Henry A Kelley

Dennis W Dodge

Pedro Beildeck

Phillip A Rombult

John William Wolber

Thomas K Hebert

John F Nolan

Thomas P Marincic

Arthur J Bellemore

William W Tice

Thomas E Robinson

Ronald W Krohn

Christopher Evans

James D Roberge

Aaron Mirmelshteyn

David Coppeta

Jeffrey Scott Carter

Robert Zawojski

An apparatus for automatically maintaining the water level of a body of water, such as a pool, is described herein. The present invention comprises a float body contained within a float housing chamber and selectively coupled to a float valve, a ball check valve employed as a means for isolating the pressurized water in the circulation system of a body of water from the water in the float chamber and, after pump operation has ceased, allowing the passage of supply water from the float chamber of the apparatus of the circulation system of a body of water. Flexible conduits or tubing may be provided for ease of installation. Furthermore, the present invention is intended to be conveniently located near the equipment of the circulation system for the body of water.

Automatic water leveler

An apparatus is provided for positioning a plurality of cassettes within an automated printing plate handler. In a plate handler, a plurality of cassettes each contain a supply of printing plates for delivery to an automatic plate-recording device. The apparatus includes a separate support table for supporting each of the plurality of cassettes within the plate handler and an elevator device for moving each of the support tables along a vertical axis of the automated plate handler. The automated plate handler is configured to automatically position a selected cassette in a first position to facilitate removal of the cassette from the handler. The plate handler further includes a platform, which substantially forms an extension of the support table supporting the selected cassette in the first position. The platform provides a second position, at which the selected cassette is to be one of, loaded or unloaded. The selected cassette may be filled with a new supply of plates on the platform or the selected cassette may be removed from the platform and replaced by a another cassette.

Apparatus for loading and unloading a supply of plates in an automated plate handler

The present invention provides an apparatus and method for removing a slip sheet from the top of a stack of printing plates. The apparatus includes a wing for covering an end section of the slip sheet, an air manifold coupled to an end of the wing, the air manifold including a plurality of orifices for directing streams of air along an underside of the wing to lift the end portion of the slip sheet off of the printing plate and toward the underside of the wing, a plurality of idler rollers rotatably mounted about the air manifold, and a clamping bar mounted to the wing for selectively pinching the lifted end section of the slip sheet against the underside of the wing, thereby capturing the slip sheet.

Apparatus and method for removing slip sheets

The present invention provides a media handling system for an imaging system, such as an external drum platesetter. Separate input and output trays are provided, thereby allowing pre-staging of a second printing plate while a first printing plate is being imaged. The input tray is positioned over the output tray to reduce the floor space (i.e., footprint) of the imaging system.

External drum imaging system

The present invention eliminates artifacts in an image formed using a plurality of imaging sources. Visible seams in the image are eliminated by randomizing the stitch point between the scan lines produced by each imaging source. The randomization may be optimized by additionally applying a method for relocating the random stitch point based on the data content of the scan line, adjacent scan lines, and other criteria. The present invention further compensates for in-scan and cross-scan errors caused by thermally induced errors, spinner synchronization errors, mechanical misalignment, and other factors associated with the use of a plurality of imaging systems. A photodetector system, comprising a mask having a pair of triangular openings, provides measurements of the in-scan and cross-scan errors.

Method and apparatus for combining a plurality of images at random stitch points without incurring a visible seam

A correction element assembly for correcting misalignment of a beam of radiation with respect to a location on a target includes a correction element housing, and first and second piezo elements. The correction element is fixedly mounted in the housing and moveable therewith. The piezo elements are supported by a member having a first portion and a second portion. The first piezo element is mounted to the first portion of the member and to said housing, and moves the housing in a first direction. The second piezo element is mounted to the second portion of the member and to a base, and moves the housing in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

Beam alignment correction element assembly

The primary function of the optional handler is to make plates available on demand to the imaging engine. A multitude of plates are stored inside cassettes and these cassettes are loaded into the handler. There may be up to four cassettes residing in the handler. Inside a cassette there may be a protective interleaf sheet, sometimes called a slip sheet, between each plate which is removed by the handler and discarded. The handler receives commands from the engine control sequencer which provides instructions as to what cassette needs to be accessed to make a plate available to the picker mechanism so the plate may be conveyed to the imaging engine. Conversely the handler provides status information to the engine to make full interaction with the system possible.

Method for loading and unloading a supply of plates in an automated

Method and apparatus for combining a plurality of images without

An imaging system for imaging media while supported at an imaging position on a support surface, the imaging system, includes a storage device for storing media to be imaged and a loading device for moving a medium to be imaged to the imaging position on the support surface. A delivery device moves the medium to be imaged over the support surface at a distanced therefrom, to thereby deliver the medium from the storage device to the loading device. By moving the medium to be imaged over the support surface, the medium can be removed from the storage device and buffered close to the loading device while another medium is positioned on the support surface.

Imaging system with high efficiency media loading

Method and apparatus for an automated plate handler with elevator and

Method and apparatus for making lithographic printing plates in an

A collapsible shield for shielding the imaging beam of an internal drum imaging system. The collapsible shield is configured to be positioned in an extended position to enclose the imaging beam during scanning of an imaging material, and positioned in a retracted position during loading of the imaging material into the imaging system.

Method and apparatus for shielding light in an internal drum imaging

A correction element assembly for correcting misalignment of a beam of radiation with respect to a location on a target, includes a housing having a correction element fixedly mounted therein. A flexure is attached to the housing and at least two drive devices are disposed radially around the housing. Each of the drive devices is operable to apply a force to the housing to thereby deflect the flexure causing the housing to move such that said correction element moves in a cyclic fashion about its beam axis.

Growing community of inventors

Woburn, MA, United States of America

David B Larsen