US 2014/0233080 A1Published application

Multi-Beam ROS Imaging System

AssigneeXerox Corporation

InventorSteven R. Moore

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Abstract

A multiple-beam imager includes multiple light sources (e.g., laser diodes) that transmit light beam pulses (energy doses) along parallel paths onto print plate spots disposed in a circumferential target region during each imaging period. The beam pulses are coordinated with rotation of the imaging cylinder such that, as a selected print plate spot is rotated through the target region, it is sequentially positioned during successive imaging periods to receive light beam pulses from each of the sequentially-aligned light sources, whereby the selected print plate spot receives multiple energy doses (e.g., one during each raster-scan) as it passes through the target region, thereby gradually heating and then evaporating the fountain solution predisposed over the selected print spot. A polygon mirror is used to raster-scan the beam pulses along parallel raster-scan zones.

Claims17

Dependent claims

multiple-beam imaging system comprising:

an imaging cylinder having a cylindrical print plate defining a plurality of circumferentially arranged print plate spots;
means for forming a uniform fountain solution layer on the cylindrical print plate over the plurality of circumferentially arranged print plate spots;
illuminator means for producing a plurality of beam pulses that are directed along corresponding beam paths onto a targeted group of said print plate spots disposed in an elongated target region such that each beam path is aligned with an associated said print plate spot of said targeted group;
means for controlling the illuminator means in coordination with rotation of the imaging cylinder such that during a first imaging period, a first said print plate spot of said targeted group is aligned with a first beam path and the illuminator means generates a first beam pulse along the first beam path onto the first print spot, and during a second imaging period, said first said print plate spot is aligned with a second beam path and the illuminator means generates a second beam pulse along the second beam path onto the first print spot,
wherein said means for controlling the illuminator means generates said first beam pulse such that, after said first imaging period, a fountain solution portion of said uniform fountain solution layer disposed over said first print spot increases to a first temperature, and generates the second beam pulse such that, after said second imaging period, said fountain solution portion increases to a second temperature, said second temperature being greater than said first temperature.

2 more elements

A multiple-beam Raster Output Scanner (ROS) imaging system comprising:

an imaging cylinder having a cylindrical print plate defining a plurality of print plate spots;
means for forming a uniform fountain solution layer on the cylindrical print plate over the plurality of circumferentially arranged print plate spots;
a plurality of light sources arranged to respectively produce a plurality of beam pulses that are directed along respective corresponding fixed parallel beam paths;
a polygon mirror including a plurality of mirror facets, said polygon mirror being positioned relative to the plurality of light sources and to the imaging cylinder such that, when the polygon mirror is rotating around an axis, the plurality of beam pulses are raster-scanned by the plurality of mirror facets along corresponding scan paths onto longitudinally-arranged groups of said print plate spots respectively disposed in corresponding elongated raster-scan zones;
and
means for controlling the plurality of light sources in coordination with rotation of the imaging cylinder and the polygon mirror such that, during a first raster-scan period when one or more print plate spots are disposed in a first said raster-scan zone, a first light source is activated to generate one or more first beam pulses that are respectively reflected by a first said mirror facet onto said one or more print plate spots, and during second raster-scan period when said one or more print plate spots are disposed in a second said raster-scan zone, a second light source is activated to generate one or more second beam pulses that are respectively reflected by second said mirror facet onto said one or more print plate spots,
wherein said means for controlling the plurality of light sources causes the first light source to generate said one or more first beam pulses such that, after said first raster-scan period, a fountain solution portion of said uniform fountain solution layer disposed over said one or more print plate spots increases to a first temperature, and causes the second light source to generate said one or more second beam pulses such that, after said second raster-scan period, said fountain solution portion increases to a second temperature, said second temperature being greater than said first temperature.

4 more elements

A multiple-beam Raster Output Scanner (ROS) imaging system comprising:

a cylindrical print plate defining a plurality print plate spots;
means for forming a uniform fountain solution layer on the cylindrical print plate over the plurality of circumferentially arranged print plate spots;
a plurality of light sources arranged to respectively produce a plurality of beam pulses that are directed along respective corresponding fixed parallel beam paths;
rastering means for raster-scanning the plurality of beam pulses along corresponding scan paths onto longitudinally-arranged groups of said print plate spots respectively disposed in parallel elongated raster-scan zones;
and
means for controlling the plurality of light sources in coordination with rotation of the cylindrical print plate 132 and the rastering means such that, during a first raster-scan period when one or more print plate spots are disposed in a first said raster-scan zone, a first light source is activated to generate one or more first beam pulses that are respectively raster-scanned onto said one or more print plate spots, and during a second raster-scan period when said one or more print plate spots are disposed in a second said raster-scan zone, a second light source is activated to generate one or more second beam pulses that are respectively raster-scanned onto said one or more print plate spots,
wherein said means for controlling the plurality of light sources causes the first light source to generate said one or more first beam pulses such that, after said first raster-scan period, fountain solution portions of said uniform fountain solution layer disposed over said one or more print plate spots are heated to a first temperature, and causes the second light source to generate said one or more second beam pulses such that, after said second raster-scan period, said fountain solution portions increase to a second temperature, said second temperature being greater than said first temperature.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.