Vacuum exposure frame with unworked glass insert/plate exposer and optionally having separate ID viewing area

A vacuum exposure frame and platen assembly for use in making exposed printing or lithographic plates, using a discrete mask sheet, a film sheet and a plate sheet, said assemblies comprising:

• a platen for holding the plate;
• registering pins associated with the platen for penetrating the mask, film and plate sheets to register the same;
• a metal frame having an upper side and a lower side and having an open window in the frame extending between the upper and lower sides of the frame;
• a peripheral portion of the metal frame adapted to be attached to a chase;
• a routing in the lower side of the frame surrounding the window;
• an unworked glass positioned in the window with peripheral edges of the glass positioned in the routing;
• a lower side on the glass being flush with the lower side of the frame to receive and hold a mask flat thereagainst;
• a sealant-adhesive in said routing for adhering the glass to the frame and for creating an air-tight seal therebetween;
• a vacuum tower located inwardly of the peripheral portion for the chase and mounted on the upper side of the exposure frame for connection to a vacuum source to hold the mask firmly in place against the lower side of the glass;
• and
• pin towers mounted on the upper side of the metal frame and outside of the glass, to receive registering pins for registration of the plate, film and mask sheets relative to the metal frame.

A vacuum exposure frame for mounting on a chase and movable thereby for use in making exposed printing or lithographic plates, said frame comprising:

• a metal frame having an upper side and a lower side and having an open window in the frame extending between the upper and lower sides of the frame;
• a routing in the lower side of the frame and having a vertical face and a horizontal face surrounding the window;
• an unworked glass positioned in the window with peripheral edges of the glass positioned in the open window;
• a lower side on the glass being flush with the lower side of the frame to receive and hold a mask flat thereagainst;
• at least one pin tower on the metal frame to receive registering pins for registration of the plate;
• a vacuum tower mounted on the upper side of the exposure frame connection to a vacuum source to hold the mask firmly in place against the lower side of the glass;
• and
• an identification exposure window in said metal frame located at predetermined positions in the metal frame with respect to the registration pin tower to allow identification information to be transferred to the plate adjacent image.