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US 2009/0290891 A1Published application
Curing of photo-curable printing plates using a light tunnel of mirrored walls and having a polygonal cross-section like a kaleidoscope
AssigneeEsko-Graphics Imaging GmbH
InventorWolfgang Sievers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus, a method, and a plate made by the method, e.g., using the apparatus. The apparatus includes a light tunnel of light reflective walls with polygonal cross-section like a kaleidoscope, and a light source, located at one end to produce light radiation to the inside of the light tunnel towards the other end. Light entering the light tunnel towards an inner reflective surface of a wall is reflected off the inner reflective surface so that it can emerge from the other end to cure a plate having photo-curable material thereon.
Claims40
An apparatus comprising:
- a light tunnel of light reflective, e.g., mirrored walls and having a polygonal cross-section like a kaleidoscope, wherein one example includes at least four walls, each wall having a reflective inner surface, e.g., the wall being mirrored or having a mirror attached on it;
- and
- a light source, e.g., UV source located at or near one end, called the source end of the light tunnel and arranges in operation to produce light radiation, e.g., UV radiation to the inside of the light tunnel towards the other end of the light tunnel, called plate end, including towards the reflective inner surfaces of the walls,
- such that light entering the light tunnel towards an inner reflective surface of a wall is reflected off the inner reflective surface so that it can emerge from the plate end,
- wherein the combination of the light tunnel and the light source forms a light exposure unit arranged such that when a photo-curable plate is placed near the plate end, e.g., substantially parallel to the cross-section of the light tube, and the light source, e.g., UV source is in operation, the plate material is cured by applying the light radiation for a time sufficient for curing.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- placing photo-curable plate near a light exposure unit having a length, a cross-section, and a pair of ends being a source end and a plate end, the plate having a printing surface placed with the printing surface closer to the plate end than the source end with the plate substantially parallel to the cross-section of the light exposure unit, wherein the light exposure unit includes:
- a light tunnel of light reflective, e.g., mirrored walls and having a polygonal cross-section like a kaleidoscope, wherein one example includes at least four walls, each wall having a reflective inner surface, e.g., the wall being mirrored or having a mirror attached on it;
- and
- a light source, e.g., UV source located at or near one end, called the source end of the light tunnel and arranges in operation to produce light radiation, e.g., UV radiation to the inside of the light tunnel towards the other end of the light tunnel, called plate end, including towards the reflective inner surfaces of the walls;
- and
- causing the light source to operate to cure the plate material by applying light radiation, e.g., UV radiation for a time sufficient for curing.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.