Rotational scanning image recording system having both a large format and high resolution
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A scanning optical system for the recording of an image on a flat substrate supporting a radiation-sensitive imageable material, the scanning optical system comprising:
- a. a rotating support which rotates about an axis perpendicular to the plane of said flat substrate;
b. the radiation-sensitive imageable material having a sensitivity to radiation;
c. at least one exposure head capable of exposing the radiation-sensitive imageable material supported on said flat substrate, said at least one exposure head capable of moving along a line parallel to the plane of said rotating substrate to image a photographic, photothermographic, photoresist, photopolymerizable, phototackifiable, or photosolubilizable radiation-sensitive imaging material; and
d. a camera for receiving radiation to inspect imaging performed on said radiation-sensitive imageable material while said flat substrate is rotating.
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Abstract
Images are scanned onto photosensitive media in many different technical fields such as printing plate imaging, printed circuit board manufacture and other product areas. It is important to minimize the time involved in generating high resolution images on relatively large surface areas. The present system allows for both high imaging speeds and high resolution.
15 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A scanning optical system for the recording of an image on a flat substrate supporting a radiation-sensitive imageable material, the scanning optical system comprising:
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a. a rotating support which rotates about an axis perpendicular to the plane of said flat substrate;
b. the radiation-sensitive imageable material having a sensitivity to radiation;
c. at least one exposure head capable of exposing the radiation-sensitive imageable material supported on said flat substrate, said at least one exposure head capable of moving along a line parallel to the plane of said rotating substrate to image a photographic, photothermographic, photoresist, photopolymerizable, phototackifiable, or photosolubilizable radiation-sensitive imaging material; and
d. a camera for receiving radiation to inspect imaging performed on said radiation-sensitive imageable material while said flat substrate is rotating. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11)
a. said substrate has a radius measured perpendicular to said axis and parallel to the plane of said flat substrate, b. said exposure head provides an exposure area at a focal point on said flat substrate of maximum dimension R as measured along said radius, and c. movement of said exposure head is controlled to a degree that with any rotation of said flat substrate, each movement of said exposure head along a line parallel to the plane of said flat substrate moves said exposure area at a focal point on said flat substrate along said radius by a distance less than or equal to R, and a multi-channel camera is positioned over said surface of the imageable material to read information on said surface to inspect imaging results.
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6. The scanning optical system of claim 5 wherein after any one rotation of said flat substrate while said flat substrate is being scanned, said exposure head is moved linearly, and said movement is a linear distance along said radius which is less than or equal to R.
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7. The scanning optical system of claim 5 wherein there are at least two multi-channel exposure heads, said at least two exposure heads sandwiching the plane of said flat substrate.
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8. The scanning optical system of claim 7 wherein after any one rotation of said flat substrate while said substrate is being scanned, said exposure heads are moved linearly, and movement for said two exposure heads is a linear distance along said radius which is less than or equal to R.
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9. The scanning optical system of claim 8 wherein said at least two exposure heads are symmetrically aligned in register with each other.
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11. The scanning optical system of claim 1 wherein said rotatable support has said at least one exposure head supported by a lead screw which is able to move in a line parallel to a surface of said support.
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10. A scanning optical system for the recording of an image on a flat substrate comprising a photosensitive material, the system comprising:
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a a rotating support which rotates about an axis perpendicular to the plane of said flat substrate; and
b at least one exposure head capable of exposing the photosensitive material on said flat substrate, said exposure head capable of moving along a line parallel to the plane of said flat substrate wherein the photosensitive material is held flat on said flat substrate by pressure provided by two flat surfaces, at least one of which two flat surfaces allows transmission of radiation to which the photosensitive element is responsive.
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12. A system capable of both writing and scanning printed circuit boards comprising:
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a a disc platen capable of holding at least one printed circuit board on a surface of the platen and means for rotating the platen around an axis perpendicular to a plane of said board;
b at least one multi-channel camera positioned on at least one side of the printed circuit board;
c a support for said multi-channel camera which translates the multi-channel camera over a surface of the board, obtaining images for use in viewing said board; and
d at least one multi-channel writing head from said at least one side of said printed circuit board, which multi-channel writing head translates over said surface of the board to expose a photosensitive material on a surface of said board; and
said at least one multi-channel camera positioned over the surface of the platen to receive radiation and to inspect results of imaging.- View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification