Abstract:
Disclosed is a method of exposing an area according to digital image data representing an image, the digital image data comprising a plurality of image pixels, each pixel corresponding to a pixel value indicative of whether an exposure of said pixel is required. The method comprises dividing the image into a number of sub-images; generating a sequence of said sub-images; and exposing a sequence of sub-areas of said area corresponding to the sequence of sub-images. The dividing step comprises identifying respective groups of pixels that require an exposure, wherein the pixels of each group are located in a predetermined proximity from each other; and for each identified group of pixels, generating a corresponding sub-image to comprise that group of pixels.
Abstract:
Disclosed is an apparatus for scanning a surface with electromagnetic radiation. The apparatus comprises a base plate for supporting a medium said medium having a scanning surface to be scanned, an optical head unit adapted to scan the scanning surface with electromagnetic radiation propagating along an optical axis, a fluid film generation unit connected to the optical head unit and adapted to generate a fluid film between the scanning surface and a gliding surface of the fluid film generation unit for maintaining a predetermined distance between the gliding surface and the scanning surface during scanning operation of the optical head unit across the scanning surface, and control means for controlling the position of the fluid film relative to the optical axis.
Abstract:
A laser system for generating a least two output beams comprising a laser multimode diode member (101) emitting a light beam with an intensity distribution comprising a plurality of spatial modes. A dual feedback cavity is provided by first and second selection means (108,110,111) for selecting corresponding to one of said plurality of spatial modes on opposite sides of the optical axis; and first and second reflective members (106,112) where the laser diode member and the reflective members define a dual cavity and are adapted to reflect corresponding feedback fractions of the selected parts of the emitted light beam back into the laser diode member and to produce respective output beams (113,114).
Abstract:
A substrate (20) to be cut and/or scored is pre-printed with at least first and second registration marks (360), optional encoded-to-print instructions (370), bar-encoded data, as well as ordinary graphics. The registration marks (360) are sensed as the substrate (20) is automatically transported to a cutting table station (230) that defines a cutting reference plane. Sensed detection of location of the registration marks (360) relative to the reference plane enable the cutting plan for the substrate (20) to be amended for precise location of the graphics on the substrate (20) relative to the reference plane. Automated cutting according to the amended cutting plan occurs. As the registration marks (360) were printed simultaneously with and in known relationship to the graphics, the cut line will be precise relative to the graphics. Machine-readable encoded-to-print instructions (370) optionally printed on the substrate (20) can further amend the cutting plan.
Abstract:
A method of modifying screened image data so that there is no visible seam when the image is printed repeatedly in a circumferential direction, for example using a drum output device. One version applicable to images screened using a supercell includes cutting the image so that the image size in the circumferential direction is an integral number of screen supercells. Another version includes displacing halftone dots in a neighborhood of the seam such that the seam is not visible in a repeated print.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for mounting printing plate segments on a printing plate carrier comprising accepting positioning data indicative of a set of first positions and loading the imaged segments onto a working surface of the loading table at approximately the corresponding first positions. The method further includes, for each segment, detecting the position of the segment on the table, and using a mechanical pick-up system to pick up the segment and to carry the segment to a final position on the carrier. The carrying is via a path determined using the detected position on the table and the final position. The table's working surface has a set of vacuum holes coupled to a vacuum system. The mechanical pick up system includes a plurality of suction caps coupled to the vacuum system to pick up the plate. One version includes a mechanism for cutting the segments from the sheet.
Abstract:
A method and an apparatus for exposing light-sensitive materials, including a first light beam conducted from a light source with the wavelength lambd1 to a first exposure point on the light-sensitive material via an optical system. This system has at least one input end and one output end as well as at least one reflecting or transmitting rotating optical element arranged relatively to the optical output end, wherein at least one additional light source generates an additional light beam with a wavelength lambdx which is different from lambd1. The additional light beam with the wavelength lambdx is conducted via the input end of the optical system to the output end of the optical system, so as to be geometrically coincident with the first light beam at the output end of the optical system, the additional light beam being conducted from there to an additional exposure point on the light-sensitive material inside the image setter drum in dependence on lambdx or the mutual difference between the wavelength DELTAlambd, said light beams being conducted completely or partly from the input end of the optical system via one or more light guides, preferably optical fibers, to the output end of the optical system.
Abstract:
A method to aid designing flexible packaging for wrapping around a solid object and finalizing the packaging. The method includes accepting a description of the surface of a sheet of packaging material after wrapping around the solid object and finalizing, using a mapping of points in the 2D plane of the sheet of the packaging material to the corresponding points in the 3D surface of the wrapped and finalized packaging. The method further includes displaying the surface of the wrapped and finalized packaging or displaying graphic elements on the surface of wrapped and finalized packaging. A version includes pre-distorting graphics to correct for any distortions to graphics that occurs during the wrapping and finalizing process, and generating press-ready graphics from the pre-distorted graphics for printing onto the surface of the sheet of packaging material.
Abstract:
An internal drum scanning system comprising a cylinder with an imaging surface, a laser source for generating a first and a second laser beam, a rotating deflector for deflecting the beams towards said imaging surface, a focussing lens for focussing the laser beams onto respective positions on said imaging surface, and a controllable optical elements which, during operation, is positioned such that its optical axis is displaced from the optical axis of the focussing lens, and which is adapted to direct the second laser beam onto said focussing leans at a varying incident angle causing the focussing lens to image the second laser beam onto the imaging surface such that, during relative rotation between the deflector and the cylinder, the focussing spot of the second laser beam is fixed relative to the optical axis.
Abstract:
A diode laser system providing a high-power laser beam with good spatial coherence, which can be focused to a small spot size over long distances and which has a good pointing stability. The laser system comprises a laser diode (301) adapted to emit a first light beam, where the first light beam comprises a plurality of spatial modes, selection means (304) adapted to select a predetermined part of the first light beam, and a reflector (306), where the laser diode and the reflector define a cavity and where the reflector is adapted to reflect the selected part of the first light beam back into the laser diode as a second light beam. The laser system is characterised in that the selection means is adapted to select a part of the first light beam corresponding to a spatial mode with a higher mode number than a spatial mode with maximum gain.