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:
Aug. 10, 1999
Filed:
Jun. 13, 1997
Ronald A Rinke, Ozark, MO (US);
Richard P Simonian, Springfield, MO (US);
John W Powers, Battlefield, MO (US);
Western Litho Plate & Supply Co., St. Louis, MO (US);
Abstract
A conveyor conveys first and second plates to an exposure station. First and second laser imagers mounted at the exposure station above the support generate first and second laser beams adapted to sweep over the first and second plates, respectively. A mechanism effects simultaneous relative movement between the first laser imager and the first plate and between the second laser imager and the second plate. A computer system receives source image data corresponding to first and second source images, which correspond to first and second print images to be formed on the first and second plates, respectively. The computer system generates a first set of electrical signals corresponding to the first source image which are provided to the first laser imager, and generates a second set of electrical signals corresponding to the second source image which are provided to the second laser imager. The laser imagers are responsive to the electrical signals to modulate the first and second laser beams in synchronization with the relative movement between the laser imagers and the plates. As a result, the first laser beam is adapted to expose certain portions of the first plate to the first beam to form the first print image on the first plate and the second laser beam is adapted to expose certain portions of the second plate to the second beam to form the second print image on the second plate.