Itek Graphix Corp.

Itek Graphic Corp.

Juergen Lein

Michael A Brookmire

Daniel H Robbins

John S Wirtz

Joel Hotelling

Robert Powers

A color scanner is provided having a commonly mounted and driven original scanning table and LED dot generator exposure source. Scanning is accomplished by illuminating a strip of the original artwork with high intensity fluorescent light and detecting the illuminated strip through a linear scanning aperture, lens and color filter wheel using a charge coupled device ('CCD') linear detector. Original artwork is held by vacuum against the flat original artwork receiving surface and photosensitive material is automatically loaded and held by vacuum onto the surface of a rotating exposure drum mounted parallel to the direction of travel of the LED dot generator exposure source, and the exposed halftone film is automatically removed from the drum surface and loaded into a transfer cartridge. Advantageously, multiple linear scans may be averaged in order to reduce color fringe effects. As a further advantage of the present invention photosensitive material is loaded and unloaded from the exposure drum in daylight operation.

Low cost color scanner

An automatic vacuum feed and hold down system is provided having a transport belt with vacuum grippers, a peripheral vacuum channel surrounding the platen, and a lead edge blow apparatus. In the preferred embodiment the transport belt consists of polyester fabric selectively coated with plastisol sealant to define a window area similarly shaped but smaller than the platen and suction grippers within the window area. In the preferred mode of operation a lifting apparatus raises the belt away from the exposed photosensitive sheet on the platen and the natural curl of the sheet, together with the lead edge blow, cause the sheet to release from the platen. The lifting apparatus then lowers the belt and suction is reapplied to the grippers, whereafter the belt and sheet are raised and advanced to deliver the exposed photosensitive sheet for processing.

Automatic vacuum feed and hold down assembly for camera system

An automatically operated vacuum feed system for cameras is disclosed. Such system includes an opaque, flexible transport belt that is secured between rollers situated at opposite sides of the platen of the camera. A manifold is secured to a vacuum pick-up bar that is adhesively joined to the transport belt, and a central bore and depending channels are defined in the bar. The channels are aligned with openings passing through the belt so that suction forces can be introduced to the underside of the belt to cause photosensitive materials to adhere thereto. The pick-up bar is suspended between a pair of C-shaped tracks that is secured inboard of a pair of side frames for a rigid belt frame. Lift links join the tracks to the side frames, and a lift motor periodically elevates the tracks, thus lifting the manifold and the belt. A reversible motor, a drive sprocket, idlers, and an endless chain are situated outboard of one of the side frames. The motor drives the sprocket which drives the chain in one direction, and then the other. This motion is mechanically transmitted to the rollers for the transport belt and causes them to pay out, or take up, the transport belt. The transport belt, without the intervention of a human operator, picks up, advances, raises and lowers, a sheet of photosensitive material relative to the platen of the camera through a series of distinct, operational steps. The emulsion side of the photosensitive material is not marred, and exposures of increased clarity are obtained.

Growing community of inventors

West Henrietta, NY, United States of America

Juergen Lein