Template for a graphic forming device

Claim 2

A template for use in a device to selectively transmit radiant energy in a predetermined pattern for the formation of graphics such as letters, symbols or pictures in a radiation activatable strip material, said template comprising: a thin flexible supporting member which is transmissive of heat producing radiant energy; a coating on one surface of said supporting member, said coating being less than about 0.001 inch thick; being highly reflective of heat producing radiant energy; and having an opening corresponding in shape to a graphic to be formed to provide a radiation transmissive window through said template; and mounting means adapted for engagement with said device to mount said template on said device with said window registered at a predetermined position adjacent said strip material.

Claim 3

A template according to claim 1, wherein said coating is of copper and has a smooth specularly reflective surface.

Claim 4

A template according to claim 1, wherein said coating is of aluminum and has a smooth specularly reflective surface.

Claim 5

A template according to claim 1, wherein said template further includes a thin layer of material adhered to the coating on the side opposite said supporting member to provide abrasion protection for said coating.

Claim 6

A template according to claim 2 wherein the thickness of said copper coating is about 5,000 Angstroms.

Claim 7

A template according to claim 1, wherein said template is circular and has a plurality of radiation transmissive windows arranged in a circular array disposed concentrically about the center of said template.

Claim 8

A template adapted for use at the exposure station of a device to selectively transmit radiant energy in a predetermined pattern for the formation of visible graphics such as letters, symbols or pictures in a radiation activatable strip material, said device including drive means for driving the strip material along a path toward a first side of the exposure station, said template comprising a transparent supporting member which is transmissive of heat producing radiant energy; a coating on one surface of said supporting member, said coating being highly reflective of heat producing radiant energy, having an opening corresponding in shape to a graphic to be formed to provide a radiation transmissive window through said template, and having a viewing opening closely spaced from one side of said window to afford visual inspection of a graphic on said strip material adjacent said window; a mark in said viewing opening spaced a predetermined distance from the adjacent extremity of said window; and mounting means adapted for engagement with said device to mount said template on said device with said window adjacent said strip material at said exposure station and said extremity at a predetermined line transverse of said path on the first side of said exposure station; said mark being positioned to provide a visual indicatiOn of the proper positioning along said path of a graphic formed through said template to provide a predetermined spacing between that graphic and the next graphic formed along said strip material.

Claim 9

A template adapted for use at the exposure station of a device to selectively transmit radiant energy in a predetermined pattern for the formation of visible graphics such as letters, symbols or pictures in a radiation activatable strip material, said device including drive means for driving the strip material along a path toward a first side of the exposure station, said template comprising a transparent supporting member which is transmissive of heat producing radiant energy; a coating on one surface of said supporting member, said coating being highly reflective of heat producing radiant energy, having an opening corresponding in shape to a graphic to be formed to provide a radiation transmissive window through said template, and having a viewing opening closely spaced from one side of said window to afford visual inspection of a graphic on said strip material adjacent said window; a mark in said viewing opening spaced a predetermined distance from the adjacent extremity of said window; and mounting means adapted for engagement with said device to mount said template on said device with said window adjacent said strip material at said exposure station and said extremity at a predetermined line transverse of said path on the first side of said exposure station; said mark being positioned to provide a visual indicatiOn of the proper positioning along said path of a graphic formed through said template to provide a predetermined spacing between that graphic and the next graphic formed along said strip material.

Claim 10

A template according to claim 7, wherein said predetermined distance is measured between said extremity and said mark and is a distance equal to said predetermined spacing.

Claim 11

A template according to claim 7, wherein said predetermined distance is measured between said extremity and said mark and is a distance equal to said predetermined spacing plus the width of said graphic from said one side to the opposite side thereof.

Claim 12

A template for use in a device to selectively transmit radiant energy in a predetermined pattern for the formation of graphics such as letters, symbols or pictures in a radiation activatable strip material; said template comprising: a supporting member which is transmissive of heat producing radiant energy; a specularly reflective metallic coating on said supporting member, said coating being less than about 0.001 inch thick and having a plurality of openings corresponding in shape to graphics to be formed to provide radiation transmissive windows through said template said windows being arranged in inner and outer concentric circular arrays, said coating having an opening beside each of the windows of said inner array between said inner and outer arrays to afford visual inspection of said strip material through said supporting member; and mounting means adapted for engagement with said device to mount said template on said device with one of said windows registered at a predetermined position adjacent said strip material.

Claim 13

A template for use in a device to selectively transmit radiant energy in a predetermined pattern for the formation of graphics such as letters, symbols or pictures in a radiation activatable strip material; said template comprising: a supporting member which is transmissive of heat producing radiant energy; a specularly reflective metallic coating on said supporting member, said coating being less than about 0.001 inch thick and having a plurality of openings corresponding in shape to graphics to be formed to provide radiation transmissive windows through said template said windows being arranged in inner and outer concentric circular arrays, said coating having an opening beside each of the windows of said inner array between said inner and outer arrays to afford visual inspection of said strip material through said supporting member; and mounting means adapted for engagement with said device to mount said template on said device with one of said windows registered at a predetermined position adjacent said strip material.

Claim 14

A template according to claim 10, wherein said supporting member is a sheet of about 0.007 inch thick polyester, and metallic coating is of copper about 5,000 Angstroms thick.

Claim 15

A template according to claim 10, wherein said metallic coating is of aluminum.

Claim 16

A template according to claim 11 wherein said template further includes a thin layer of material adhered to the coating on the side opposite said supporting member to provide abrasion and corrosion protection for said metallic coating.

Claim 17

A template for use in a device to selectively transmit radiant energy in a predetermined pattern for the formation of graphics such as letters, symbols or pictures in a radiation activatable strip material, said template comprising: a circular transparent supporting member which is transmissive of heat producing energy; a thin coating on one surface of said supporting member, said coating being highly reflective of heat producing radiant energy; having a plurality of openings corresponding in shape to a graphic to be formed to define radiation transmissive windows through said template, said windows being arranged in inner and outer circular arrays disposed concentrically about the center of said circular member; and having an annular opening between said inner and outer arrays to afford visual inspection of a said strip material through said circular member; and mounting means adapted for engagement with said device to mount said template on said device with one of said windows registered at a predetermined position adjacent said strip material.

Claim 18

A template for use in a device to selectively transmit radiant energy in a predetermined pattern for the formation of graphics such as letters, symbols or pictures in a radiation activatable strip material, said template comprising: a circular transparent supporting member which is transmissive of heat producing energy; a thin coating on one surface of said supporting member, said coating being highly reflective of heat producing radiant energy; having a plurality of openings corresponding in shape to a graphic to be formed to define radiation transmissive windows through said template, said windows being arranged in inner and outer circular arrays disposed concentrically about the center of said circular member; and having an annular opening between said inner and outer arrays to afford visual inspection of a said strip material through said circular member; and mounting means adapted for engagement with said device to mount said template on said device with one of said windows registered at a predetermined position adjacent said strip material.

Claim 19

A template according to claim 14, wherein said coating is of copper and has a smooth specularly reflective surface.

Claim 20

A template according to claim 15, wherein the thickness of said copper coating is about 5,000 Angstroms.

Claim 21

A template according to claim 14, wherein said coating is of aluminum and has a smooth specularly reflective surface.