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:
Sep. 23, 2003
Filed:
Sep. 18, 2000
Yoshinori Kawamura, Kanagawa, JP;
Yoshihiro Koyanagi, Kanagawa, JP;
Mitsuyoshi Nishimura, Saitama, JP;
Takashi Kato, Saitama, JP;
Other;
Abstract
An automatic exposure apparatus for printing plates and a method for exposing printing plates, which can prevent a defective image such as an unfocused image from being formed when an image is recorded onto the printing plate is provided. Suction holes are formed at a surface plate of an automatic exposure apparatus for printing plates, and a vacuum pump communicates with the suction holes. A solenoid valve is provided at a communicating path between the suction holes and the vacuum pump , and a chamber is provided at the communicating path between the solenoid valve and the vacuum pump . The solenoid valve is closed and the vacuum pump is operated in a state in which a photopolymer plate is disposed on a top surface of the surface plate , and the solenoid valve is opened completely in an instant in a state in which a pressure of a decompressed interior of the chamber is a predetermined value or lower, such that the decompressed interior can suck air all at once from the suction holes with a strong suction force. Accordingly, a curled photopolymer plate can be brought in complete contact with the top surface of the surface plate , and thus, a defective image such as an unfocused image is prevented when an image is recorded.