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:
Dec. 17, 2002
Filed:
May. 30, 2000
Lauren E. Walker, North Vancouver, CA;
Vince Beyer, Vancouver, CA;
Janice L. Blok, North Vancouver, CA;
David B. Burgess, Vancouver, CA;
Creo Products Inc., Burnaby, CA;
Abstract
A method and apparatus are provided for the removal of laser ablation byproducts generated in the imaging of laser sensitive media. In accordance with the invention, the byproducts are generated when a laser sensitive media is imaged with a laser. At least two sources of fluid flow are directed toward the imaging area and are oriented such that a substantial component of the bias of one source is anti-parallel with that of the other. These two fluid flow sources are operative to direct the ablation byproducts away from the imaging area, where they are collected by a sink, to which fluid moves. The sink removes the ablation byproducts from the vicinity of the laser sensitive media.