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:
Jun. 13, 1995
Filed:
Oct. 28, 1993
Charles J Leonhart, Schaumburg, IL (US);
William R Walters, Union, IL (US);
nuArc Company, Inc., Niles, IL (US);
Abstract
Vacuum frame apparatus is provided for maintaining precise registration between and an image forming sheet to be reproduced and a light sensitive sheet adapted for controlled exposure to light. The apparatus includes a light transmitting glass panel having a planar surface for contact with the image sheet and a vacuum blanket assembly including a blanket of thin, flexible sheet material adapted to contact the light sensitive sheet and bias the sheets toward the planar surface of the glass panel while maintained in precise registration. The vacuum blanket assembly includes a peripheral edge seal around the blanket for sealing engagement with the planar face of the glass panel and means for evacuating the space inside the peripheral edge bead between the planar face of the panel and the blanket of the vacuum blanket. A novel platen system is provided for moving the vacuum blanket and sheets thereon bodily toward the glass panel in a direction perpendicular thereto to engage the peripheral edge bead in a floating manner whereby the sealing pressure is equal along the entire length thereof. Thereafter a vacuum can be rapidly drawn between the sheets, the vacuum blanket and the planar surface of the glass panel.