Exposure drum mask
AssigneeA. B. Dick Company
InventorJuergen G. Lein
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mask is used for mounting a sensitized sheet, such as a printing plate, onto the surface of an exposure drum. The mask, acting as an intermediary between the exposure drum and the printing plate, is a flexible sheet, with a top and bottom surface, that is mounted about the exposure drum. A groove formed within the top surface of the flexible sheet is used for securing the printing plate by means of a vacuum. A passageway formed within the flexible sheet connects the groove to the bottom surface and receives a vacuum from the exposure drum. Plates of different sizes are mounted to the exposure drum by interchangeable masks of corresponding sizes.
Claims21
A mask for mounting a sensitized sheet onto an exposure drum comprising:
- a flexible sheet, having a top surface and a bottom surface, for mounting about the exposure drum;
- a groove formed within the top surface of the flexible sheet for securing the sensitized sheet;
- and
- a passageway formed within the flexible sheet, fluidly connecting the groove to the bottom surface of the flexible sheet for receiving a vacuum from the exposure drum.
A mask for mounting a sensitized sheet onto an exposure drum comprising:
- a flexible sheet, having a top surface and a bottom surface, for mounting about the exposure drum;
- a gripper groove formed within the top surface of the flexible sheet for securing a lead edge of the sensitized sheet;
- a peripheral groove formed within the top surface of the flexible sheet for securing the sensitized sheet;
- a first passageway formed within the flexible sheet, fluidly connecting the gripper groove to the bottom surface of the flexible sheet for receiving a vacuum from the exposure drum;
- a second passageway formed within the flexible sheet, fluidly connecting the peripheral groove to the bottom surface of the flexible sheet for receiving a vacuum from the exposure drum;
- and
- means for mounting the flexible sheet onto the exposure drum.
A method for mounting a sensitized sheet onto an exposure drum comprising:
- mounting a flexible sheet, having a top surface and a bottom surface, where the top surface has a groove that is in fluid communication with the bottom surface via a passageway, onto an exposure drum, so that the passageway on the bottom surface is in fluid communication with an opening in the exposure drum, for receiving a vacuum;
- applying a vacuum to the groove through the passageway and through the opening in the exposure drum;
- feeding a sensitized sheet onto the exposure drum;
- and
- rotating the exposure drum so that the sensitized sheet wraps around the flexible sheet, and a vacuum seal is formed between the sensitized sheet and the flexible sheet.
A mask for mounting a sensitized sheet onto an exposure drum comprising:
- a flexible sheet having a central opening, for mounting about the exposure drum;
- and
- a window of open mesh fabric extending across the central opening, that permits airflow, for receiving a vacuum from the exposure drum and for securing the sensitized sheet.
A mask for mounting a sensitized sheet onto an exposure drum comprising:
- a first flexible sheet layer having a first central opening;
- a second flexible sheet layer having a second central opening;
- and
- a central window of open mesh fabric which permits airflow, for receiving a vacuum from the exposure drum and for securing the sensitized sheet, where the central window is fastened between the first and second flexible sheet layers, so that the central window extends across the first and second central openings.
A sensitized sheet mounting system comprising:
- an exposure drum;
- a flexible sheet, having a top surface and a bottom surface, for mounting about the exposure drum;
- a groove formed within the top surface of the flexible sheet for securing the sensitized sheet;
- and
- a channel formed within the flexible sheet, fluidly connecting the groove to the bottom surface of the flexible sheet for receiving a vacuum from the exposure drum.
A sensitized sheet mounting system comprising:
- an exposure drum;
- a flexible sheet having a central opening, for mounting about the exposure drum;
- a window of open mesh fabric extending across the central opening, for receiving a vacuum from the exposure drum and for securing the sensitized sheet;
- a pair of clamp bars connected to the leading and trailing edges of the flexible sheet;
- and
- means for mounting the flexible sheet onto the exposure drum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.