Flat bed platesetter system

A flat bed plate setter system for imaging radiant energy onto a printing plate, the system comprising:

• a stationary supporting bed;
• a carriage for engaging the printing plate in direct contact with the stationary support bed and sliding the printing plate on the supporting bed in a direction of movement;
• and
• an optical head movably mounted on a stationary bridge and adapted to move across the direction of movement of the printing plate, wherein the optical head comprises emitters for emitting radiant energy onto the printing plate.

A method for imaging a printing plate with radiant energy in a flat bed plate setter, the method comprising:

• (a) providing a flat bed plate setter having a stationary support area;
• (b) disposing a printing plate on, and in direct contact with, the stationary support area;
• (c) positioning the printing plate in a defined and centered position on the support bed;
• (d) sliding the printing plate in a first direction;
• and
• (e) moving a radiant energy emitting head in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction to provide an image on the printing plate.

A plate setter system for imaging radiant energy onto a printing plate, the system comprising:

• a support bed comprising a stationary support surface sufficiently large to receive and directly support the printing plate with one face of the printing plate in sliding contact with the support surface;
• a printing plate positioning means for bringing the printing plate into a defined and centered position;
• drive means for sliding the printing plate over the stationary support surface in a direction of movement;
• an optical head movably mounted on a stationary bridge and adapted to move across the direction of movement of the printing plate, the optical head being adapted to emit radiant energy onto the printing plate;
• and
• a plurality of bearings configured to maintain a portion of the printing plate at a predetermined distance from the optical head.

A plate setter system for imaging radiant energy onto a printing plate, the system comprising:

• a support bed having a support field defining a support plane;
• a printing plate positioning means for bringing the printing plate into a defined and centered position;
• a carriage movable across the support field in a direction of movement and having a holder adapted to secure the printing plate to the carriage and maintain the printing plate at the level of the support plane and in direct contact with the support bed;
• and
• an optical head movably mounted on a stationary bridge and adapted to move across the direction of movement of the carriage, the optical head comprising emitters for emitting radiant energy onto the printing plate.