The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 16, 1978
Filed:
Nov. 16, 1976
Robert D Jacobs, Geneseo, NY (US);
Itek Corporation, Lexington, MA (US);
Abstract
Apparatus for supporting a sheet of photosensitive material in the image plane of an optical imaging system for exposure thereat. The apparatus includes a first cover plate assembly having a transparent cover plate and a second backing plate assembly including a relatively flexible backing sheet. The cover plate assembly is driven into contact with the backing plate assembly with the photosensitive sheet to be exposed supported therebetween such that an air-tight chamber is defined between the cover plate assembly and the relatively flexible backing sheet. The air-tight chamber is then evacuated through the cover plate assembly, and as it is evacuated, the flexible backing plate will be sucked towards the cover plate assembly and drive the photosensitive sheet into firm contact with the transparent cover plate. By the use of the flexible backing plate, the chamber can be evacuated very rapidly, for example, in two or three seconds. Also, since the photosensitive sheet is not supported against a rigid back plate as in the prior art, an optically flat back surface is not required.