Focusing mechanism for linescan imaging

In a linear imaging apparatus, a mechanism for moving an imaging medium in a first direction while maintaining it in focus in a second direction along a scanned focal line, the mechanism comprising:

• a frame;
• means for generating a signal beam representing data to be recorded on said imaging media;
• means for scanning said signal beam in a single focal line that is positionally fixed relative to the frame;
• platen means for holding said media;
• carriage means for moving relative to the frame in the first direction;
• means for coupling said platen means to said carriage means inflexibly in the first direction and flexibly in the second direction so that movement of said carriage means in the first direction is inflexibly coupled so as to also move said platen means and said media relative to the frame in the first direction while permitting said platen means freedom of movement in the second direction with respect to said carriage means, wherein said coupling means includes a flexure connection which is rigid in the first direction and flexible in the second direction;
• drive means coupled between said frame and said carriage means for providing motion to said carriage means relative to said frame in said first direction, said motion being continuous during scanning;
• and
• means, operative between the frame and the platen means, for positionally guiding the platen means in the second direction so that said media held by the platen means is positionally maintained in focus in the focal line and along the second direction simultaneously that it is moved by the drive means in the first direction.

In a linear imaging apparatus, a mechanism for moving an imaging medium in a first direction while maintaining it in focus in a second direction along a scanned focal line, the mechanism comprising:

• a frame;
• means for generating a signal beam representing data to be recorded on said imaging media;
• means for scanning said signal beam in a single focal line that is positionally fixed relative to the frame;
• platen means for holding said media;
• carriage means for moving relative to the frame in the first direction;
• means for coupling said platen means to said carriage means inflexibly in the first direction and flexibly in the second direction so that movement of said carriage means in the first direction is inflexibly coupled so as to also move said platen means and said media relative to the frame in a first direction perpendicular to said single line while permitting said platen means freedom of movement relative to said carriage means in the second direction;
• drive means coupled between said frame and said carriage means for providing motion of said carriage means relative to said frame in said first direction, said motion being continuous during scanning;
• and
• guide means, operative between the frame and the platen means, for guiding the platen means in the second direction, during the inflexibly coupled movement of the platen means in the first direction with and by the carriage means as moved by the drive means, so that said media held by the platen means is, as guided along with the platen means in the second direction, maintained in focus in the focal line, said guide means comprising bearings and rails.

A method of focusing a scanning beam at a scanning line on a moveable imaging media, the imaging media being in juxtaposition with a platen that is coupled to a carriage for movement therewith, said method comprising the steps of:

• generating a scanning beam containing data to be recorded on the imaging media;
• holding the media to the platen;
• inflexibly coupling the platen, and the media held to the platen, to the carriage in a first direction that is substantially perpendicular to the scanning line while simultaneously flexibly coupling the platen, and the media held to the platen, to the carriage in a second direction that is substantially along an axis of the scanning beam;
• moving during scanning the carriage coupled to the platen in the first direction, therein to inflexibly couple this movement of the carriage in the first direction to the media held to the platen;
• and
• guiding, also during the scanning and simultaneously with the moving, the platen in the second direction, this guiding of the platen in the second direction being independent of its motion in the first direction that is provided by the carriage, in order to maintain the media that is held to the platen in focus at the scanning line.

In an imaging apparatus for imaging an energy-sensitive medium while it is maintained in focus to a scanning energy beam, a mechanism for (i) precisely positioning the energy-sensitive medium in a focal line relative to the scanning energy beam, while (ii) moving the medium substantially transversely to the focal line simultaneously that it is precisely positioned, the precision positioning and moving mechanism comprising:

• a frame;
• a beam means for directionally scanning a focused energy beam in a focal line that is positionally fixed relative to the frame;
• a holding means for holding the energy-sensitive medium;
• a transport means, operative between the frame and the holding means, for moving the holding means, and the medium held thereon, in a first direction substantially transverse to the focal line, while simultaneously permitting the holding means and the medium held thereon freedom of movement in a second direction substantially along an axis of the scanning energy beam;
• and
• a guide means, operative between the frame and the holding means and in the second direction, for positioning the holding means, and the medium held thereon, in the second direction so that the medium is maintained in focus in the focal line of the scanning energy beam, the guide means not interfering with the movement of the holding means and of the medium held thereon in the first direction by action of the transport means;
• wherein the holding means is moved in the first direction by the transport means while it is simultaneously positioned in the second direction by the guide means;
• wherein the medium is positioned in focus in the focal line by the guide means while it is moved substantially transversely to the focal line by the transport means.

In an imaging apparatus for imaging an energy-sensitive medium with a scanning energy beam, a mechanism for positionally maintaining the medium in focus at a focal line of the scanning energy beam regardless that the medium is moved transversely relative to the focal line in order that, by such movement, successive regions of the medium may be imaged by the scanning energy beam, the mechanism comprising:

• a frame;
• scanning energy beam means for scanning an energy beam in a focal line that is positionally fixed relative to the frame;
• a platen means, moveable transversely relative to the focal line and also in the substantial direction of the energy beam, for holding an energy-sensitive media;
• a carriage means engaging the platen means for movement thereof in a direction transversely relative to the focal line, the engaging permitting the platen means a freedom of movement in a substantial direction of the energy beam;
• a drive means for moving the carriage means, and the platen means engaged thereby, in the direction substantially transverse to the focal line so that successive regions of the energy-sensitive media may be imaged by the scanning energy beam;
• a guidance means, operative between the frame and the platen means, for positioning the platen means and the medium held thereon in the substantial direction of the energy beam so that the medium constantly resides in the focal line;
• wherein the energy-sensitive medium is maintained in focus at the focal line by the guidance means simultaneously that it is moved transversely to the focal line by the drive means.