Apparatus for continuous contact printing

Claim 2

In an apparatus for copying of transparent film images from a master to a strip duplicate comprising a frame carrying said master and said duplicate on supply and takeup reels, means for moving said master and duplicate, a light source for exposing said duplicate when said master and duplicate are in an exposure zone, the provision of: means for positioning said master with respect to said duplicate during continuous movement of said master and duplicate including entrance vacuum means for compressing said master and duplicate in registry comprising a vacuum chamber defined by sidewalls, means having a movable sUrface in sealing engagement with said movable master and duplicate along a continuous line of contact between said sidewalls, and said master and duplicate, and at least one vacuum port in communication with said vacuum chamber for evacuation thereof whereby atmospheric pressure forces said moving master and duplicate together.

Claim 3

The provision of claim 1 wherein said vacuum means additionally comprises means for maintaining vacuum compression of said master and duplicate throughout said exposure zone.

Claim 4

The provision of claim 2 wherein said vacuum means for maintaining said master and duplicate in vacuum compression throughout said exposure zone comprises longitudinally extending vacuum channels laterally adjacent said master and duplicate edges, a plurality of transverse openings providing fluid communication between said channels and the edges of said master and duplicate, and a longitudinally extending, resilient, thin, highly flexible metallic strip overlying said vacuum channels, transverse notches and edge portions of said master so as to provide a vacuum seal.

Claim 5

The provision of claim 3 additionally including means for laterally guiding said master and said duplicate through said exposure zone.

Claim 6

The provision of claim 2 including means for supporting said master and duplicate in the exposure zone comprising an endless belt having a width equal to the width of said duplicate and master.

Claim 7

The provision of claim 1 wherein said means having a movable surface in sealing engagement with said master and duplicate comprises roller means including a nonslip surface in frictional contact with said master and duplicate.

Claim 8

In an apparatus for contact printing of an image upon a moving strip of light-sensitive material from an image-bearing master comprising a frame, takeup and supply means for the continuous light-sensitive material and master strips, means for moving the master and strip of light-sensitive material and a light source for exposing the strip of light-sensitive material to the master image when the master and light-sensitive strips are in an exposure zone, the provision of: means for positioning said master with respect to said light-sensitive material strip during continuous movement thereof so as to maintain said master and light-sensitive material in precise registry including, entrance vacuum means for guiding said master and strip of light-sensitive material into the exposure zone and compressing said light-sensitive material strip and master in registry including a pair of spaced apart walls, at least two rollers disposed between said master and strip of light-sensitive material in contact engagement with each other and the adjacent surfaces of said master and strip of light-sensitive material, and a second pair of rollers longitudinally spaced toward said exposure zone and positioned exteriorly of said master and strip of light-sensitive material in closely spaced-apart relation so as to effect contact engagement of said master, light-sensitive material and roller surfaces, said sidewalls, rollers, master and light-sensitive material defining a vacuum chamber, and means communicating with said chamber for evacuation thereof.

Claim 9

In an apparatus for contact printing of an image upon a moving strip of light-sensitive material from an image-bearing master comprising a frame, takeup and supply means for the continuous light-sensitive material and master strips, means for moving the master and strip of light-sensitive material and a light source for exposing the strip of light-sensitive material to the master image when the master and light-sensitive strips are in an exposure zone, the provision of: means for positioning said master with respect to said light-sensitive material strip during continuous movement thereof so as to maintain said master and light-sensitive material in precise registry including, entrance vacuum means for guiding said master and strip of light-sensitive material into the exposure zone and compressing said light-sensitive material strip and master in registry including a pair of spaced apart walls, at least two rollers disposed between said master and strip of light-sensitive material in contact engagement with each other and the adjacent surfaces of said master and strip of light-sensitive material, and a second pair of rollers longitudinally spaced toward said exposure zone and positioned exteriorly of said master and strip of light-sensitive material in closely spaced-apart relation so as to effect contact engagement of said master, light-sensitive material and roller surfaces, said sidewalls, rollers, master and light-sensitive material defining a vacuum chamber, and means communicating with said chamber for evacuation thereof.

Claim 10

The provision of claim 7 wherein said vacuum means additionally includes means for maintaining said master and strip of light-sensitive material in compressed registry during movement through said exposure zone including an exposure bed having a pair of longitudinally extending guide walls disposed on opposite sides of said master and light-sensitive material strips, a longitudinally extending vacuum channel laterally adjacent each of said guide walls, a plurality of transverse openings through said walls providing fluid communication between said channels and the edges of said master and light-sensitive material, and longitudinally extending means overlying the edge portions of said master so as to provide a vacuum seal, whereby air is laterally withdrawn from between said master and light-sensitive material so as to compress said master and strip of light-sensitive material in registry.

Claim 11

In an apparatus for continuous contact printing of an image upon a moving duplicate strip from an image-bearing master comprising a frame, takeup and supply means for the continuous duplicate and master strip, means for moving the master and duplicate, and a light source for exposing the duplicate to the master image when the master and duplicate are in an exposure zone, the provision of: means for positioning said master with respect to said duplicate during continuous movement thereof so as to maintain said master and duplicate in precise registry including, vacuum means for maintaining said master and duplicate in compressed registry during movement through said exposure zone including an exposure bed having a recessed longitudinally extending center portion for receiving said master and duplicate, longitudinally extending vacuum channels adjacent the side edges of said center portion, a plurality of transverse notches interconnecting said vacuum channels and said recessed center portion, and longitudinally extending flexible means overlying each of said vacuum channels, transverse notches, and the edge portions of said master so as to provide a vacuum seal, whereby air may be withdrawn laterally outwardly from between said master and duplicate through said vacuum channels so as to compress said master and duplicate in registry.

Claim 12

In an apparatus for continuous contact printing of an image upon a moving duplicate strip from an image-bearing master comprising a frame, takeup and supply means for the continuous duplicate and master strip, means for moving the master and duplicate, and a light source for exposing the duplicate to the master image when the master and duplicate are in an exposure zone, the provision of: means for positioning said master with respect to said duplicate during continuous movement thereof so as to maintain said master and duplicate in precise registry including, vacuum means for maintaining said master and duplicate in compressed registry during movement through said exposure zone including an exposure bed having a recessed longitudinally extending center portion for receiving said master and duplicate, longitudinally extending vacuum channels adjacent the side edges of said center portion, a plurality of transverse notches interconnecting said vacuum channels and said recessed center portion, and longitudinally extending flexible means overlying each of said vacuum channels, transverse notches, and the edge portions of said master so as to provide a vacuum seal, whereby air may be withdrawn laterally outwardly from between said master and duplicate through said vacuum channels so as to compress said master and duplicate in registry.