Output conveyor for thermal imaging apparatus
AssigneeAgfa Division, Bayer Corporation
InventorsJames J. Hebert, Ronald W. Krohn, James M. Renaud
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention resides in an imaging apparatus comprising a stationary support element for supporting an imaging material, an imaging device for exposing an image onto the imaging material, and a loading device for automatically loading and unloading the imaging material onto the stationary support element. The loading device includes an output conveyor mechanism for removing the imaging material from the stationary support element without contact between the image on the imaging material and an adjacent platen.
Claims20
An imaging apparatus, comprising:
- stationary support means for supporting an imaging material;
- imaging means for exposing an image onto the imaging material;
- and
- loading means for automatically loading and unloading the imaging material onto said stationary support means including output conveyor means for removing the imaging material from said stationary support means without contact between the image on the imaging material and an adjacent platen, wherein the imaging material has a curl and said output conveyor means comprises redirecting means for redirecting the imaging material in a direction against the curl.
An internal drum thermal imaging apparatus, comprising:
- support means for supporting an imaging material having a curl, the support means including a cylindrical drum having an inner circumference on which the imaging material is supported against;
- imaging means for exposing an image onto the imaging material;
- loading means for automatically loading and unloading the imaging material onto the cylindrical drum including output conveyor means for removing the imaging material from the cylindrical drum without contact between the image on the imaging material and adjacent platens, wherein the imaging material is loaded onto the cylindrical drum with the curl aligned with the inner circumference of the cylindrical drum, said output conveyor means including redirecting means for redirecting the imaging material in a direction against the curl.
An imaging apparatus, comprising:
- a material support element;
- an imaging device for exposing an image onto a sensitive side of an imaging material;
- a material applicator movably disposed with respect to said material support element;
- an output conveyor device for delivering said exposed imaging material out of said imaging apparatus;
- and
- an output guide device positioned between said material support element and said output conveyor device for advancing said exposed imaging material from said material support element to said output conveyor device.
An imaging apparatus, comprising:
- a material support element for supporting an imaging material;
- an imaging device for exposing an image onto a sensitive side of an imaging material;
- a material applicator movably disposed with respect to said material support element;
- an output conveyor device for delivering said exposed imaging material out of said imaging apparatus;
- an output guide device positioned between said material support element and said output conveyor device for advancing said exposed imaging material from said material support element to said output conveyor device, said output guide device comprising a driven roller pair and an accelerated idler roller pair for guiding said exposed imaging material as it advances from said material support element to said output conveyor device.
A method comprising the steps of:
- attaching a leading edge of an imaging material to a material applicator;
- advancing said leading edge over a material support element to an imaging position;
- exposing an image onto a sensitive side of said imaging material;
- reattaching said leading edge to said material applicator;
- and
- advancing said leading edge through an output guide device to an output conveyor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.