Graphic-processing apparatus

Claim 2

Imposing apparatus, comprising: an imposing table for receiving a sensitized plate, registration means on said table for locating a plate thereon in a predetermined position, a translation frame, positioning means mounting said translation frame over said imposing table for movement over a range of positions relative to said registration means, and imaging means mounted on said translation frame for producing an optical image on a plate on said table in a region determined by the relative position of said frame and said registration means, said imposing table being pivotally mounted relative to said frame for movement between a loading position and an imposing position parallel to the plane of the image produced by said imaging means, said imposing apparatus including a base frame adapted to be supported on a horizontal surface, and said positioning means comprises means mounting said translation frame on said base frame for movement in a plane inclined at an oblique angle to the horizontal surface when the base frame is so supported.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1, in which said angle is about 55*.

Claim 4

An imposing machine, comprising: a base adapted to be supported on a horizontal surface, an inclined frame mounted on said base and extending upwardly therefrom, imaging means mounted on said inclined frame for movement over a range of positions in a plane inclined at an oblique angle to the surface on which said base is supported, and an imposing table mounted for movement between an imposing position parallel to said plane and a loading position essentially parallel to the surface on which said base is supported, said imposing table being adapted to receive a sensitized matrix and comprising registering means for locating two edges of such a matrix in a predetermined position.

Claim 5

An imposing machine, comprising: a base adapted to be supported on a horizontal surface, an inclined frame mounted on said base and extending upwardly therefrom, imaging means mounted on said inclined frame for movement over a range of positions in a plane inclined at an oblique angle to the surface on which said base is supported, and an imposing table mounted for movement between an imposing position parallel to said plane and a loading position essentially parallel to the surface on which said base is supported, said imposing table being adapted to receive a sensitized matrix and comprising registering means for locating two edges of such a matrix in a predetermined position.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising: two-axis positioning means connected to said imaging means for moving it to a position in said plane determined by an applied address signal.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising: first and second registers each adapted to store an address coordinate on a different one of the axes of said positioning means, means controlled by said registers for applying a two-axis address signal to said positioning means in accordance with the contents of said registers, memory means for storing a sequence of address coordinates signals, and means responsive to an applied stepping signal for supplying coordinate signals from said memory to said register.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 4, in which said imaging means comprises: means for storing a sequence of second members on each of which is recorded an image to be imposed at a predetermined location on a matrix in position On said table, addressing means for sequentially applying address signals defining said locations to said positioning, and record member accessing means synchronized with said addressing means for moving the second member corresponding to the current address signal into imaging position in said imaging means.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6, in which said record members comprise: discrete frames stored in a magazine for independent movement into and out of imaging position.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 6, in which said record members comprise: discrete sections of an integral record member.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 6, in which: said record members are stored in an ordered sequence in said imaging means, and in which said addressing means comprises memory means for storing an ordered sequence of address signals corresponding to said ordered sequence of record members.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 6, said record members each has recorded thereon an address signal defining the location on the matrix where the corresponding image is to be imposed, and in which said addressing means comprises means responsive to the recorded signals on said record members for applying said signals to said positioning means.

Claim 13

Imposing apparatus, comprising: support means for receiving a sensitized matrix, registering means mounted on said support means for locating such a matrix in a predetermined position, imaging means mounted for movement in a plane parallel to said support means, said imaging means comprising means for storing a series of record members on each of which an image to be imposed in a different location on a matrix is recorded, sequencing means operable to move said record members sequentially into position at an imaging station, and a lamp mounted adjacent said imaging station for forming an image on a matrix on said support corresponding to the image on said record member, positioning means connected to said imaging means for moving it to a position in said plane relative to said support determined by an applied address signal, memory means for storing a sequence of address signals, transfer means actuable to supply an address signal from said memory means to said positioning means, means responsive to the movement of said positioning means to a position determined by an applied address signal for producing a first signal, means responsive to the location of a record member in imaging position for producing a second signal, means responsive to said first and second signals for producing an energizing signal to energize said lamp, means responsive to said energizing signal for actuating said transfer means, and means responsive to said energizing signal for actuating said sequencing means.

Claim 14

Imposing apparatus, comprising: support means for receiving a sensitized matrix, registering means mounted on said support means for locating such a matrix in a predetermined position, imaging means mounted for movement in a plane parallel to said support means, said imaging means comprising means for storing a series of record members on each of which an image to be imposed in a different location on a matrix is recorded, sequencing means operable to move said record members sequentially into position at an imaging station, and a lamp mounted adjacent said imaging station for forming an image on a matrix on said support corresponding to the image on said record member, positioning means connected to said imaging means for moving it to a position in said plane relative to said support determined by an applied address signal, memory means for storing a sequence of address signals, transfer means actuable to supply an address signal from said memory means to said positioning means, means responsive to the movement of said positioning means to a position determined by an applied address signal for producing a first signal, means responsive to the location of a record member in imaging position for producing a second signal, means responsive to said first and second signals for producing an energizing signal to energize said lamp, means responsive to said energizing signal for actuating said transfer means, and means responsive to said energizing signal for actuating said sequencing means.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 11, in which said imaging means comprises: a projection head.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 12, in which said imaging means comprises: a contact printing head.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 11, in which said record members comprise: discrete photographic transparencies each mounted in a frame and all stored in a magazine.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 11, in which said second members comprise: discrete regions of a common sheet on which regions the several images to be imposed are serially recorded.