US3904291A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photoexposure mechanism and contact printer therefor
Assignee: Gerber Systems Corp
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Filing: 1972-12-18
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Granted: 1975-09-09
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Expires: 1992-12-18
Abstract
Abstract A photographic artwork generating mechanism comprises a contact printer for exposing relatively large area images on a photosensitive surface in combination with another photoexposure device for drawing lines and/or for flashing small symbols on the photosensitive surface to complete the artwork by adding lines and other features to the image or images exposed by the contact printer. The contact printer may be operated either in a step and repeat manner or in a photo composition manner. In the step and repeat mode of operation, with each operation of the contact printer either a complete artwork or a complete artwork skeleton is exposed on the photosensitive surface. In the photo compose mode of operation, the contact printer is operated a number of times to compose a complete artwork or artwork skeleton from a number of exposures. In either mode of operation, when the contact printer is used to produce an incomplete artwork or skeleton, the artwork may be completed by using the second photoexposure device to add lines, small symbols and other features to the skeleton.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald B Webster
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 21:27
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/02; G03B27/04; G03B27/06; H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/0073; H05K3/0082
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
226 words
A mechanism for exposing an artwork on a photosensitive surface, said mechanism comprising means providing a work surface for supporting a sheet of material with a photosensitive surface, a contact printing device, a line drawing device, and means including automatic controller for moving both said contact printing device and said line drawing device in a plane parallel to said work surface to being said contact printing device into registry with selected areas of said photosensitive surface and to move said line drawing device along desired lines on said photosensitive surface, said contact printing device including means operable when said contact printing device is held stationary relative to said photosensitive surface for exposing a predetermined portion of an artwork on the area of said photosensitive surface registered therewith, said contact printing device further including a light source and a photomask arranged parallel to said work surface and located between said work surface and said light source, said photomask being generally planar and being divided into a number of discrete areas, and said light source including means for illuminating selected ones of said discrete areas of said photomask, and said line drawing device including means for directing a spot of light onto said photosensitive surface as said line drawing device is moved relative to said photosensitive surface to cause the exposure of a line on said photosensitive surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
226 words
A mechanism for exposing an artwork on a photosensitive surface, said mechanism comprising means providing a work surface for supporting a sheet of material with a photosensitive surface, a contact printing device, a line drawing device, and means including automatic controller for moving both said contact printing device and said line drawing device in a plane parallel to said work surface to being said contact printing device into registry with selected areas of said photosensitive surface and to move said line drawing device along desired lines on said photosensitive surface, said contact printing device including means operable when said contact printing device is held stationary relative to said photosensitive surface for exposing a predetermined portion of an artwork on the area of said photosensitive surface registered therewith, said contact printing device further including a light source and a photomask arranged parallel to said work surface and located between said work surface and said light source, said photomask being generally planar and being divided into a number of discrete areas, and said light source including means for illuminating selected ones of said discrete areas of said photomask, and said line drawing device including means for directing a spot of light onto said photosensitive surface as said line drawing device is moved relative to said photosensitive surface to cause the exposure of a line on said photosensitive surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
307 words
A mechanism for exposing an artwork on a photosensitive surface, said mechanism comprising means providing a work surface for supporting a sheet of material with a photosensitive surface, a contact printing device, a line drawing device, and means for moving both said contact printing device and said line drawing device in a plane parallel to said work surface to bring said contact printing device into registry with selected areas of said photosensitive surface and to move said line drawing device along desired lines on said photosensitive surface, said contact printing device including means operable when said contact printing device is held stationary relative to said photosensitive surface for exposing a predetermined portion of an artwork on the area of said pHotosensitive surface registered therewith, and said line drawing device including means for directing a spot of light onto said photosensitive surface as said line drawing device is moved relative to said photosensitive surface to cause the exposure of a line on said photosensitive surface, said contact printing device including a photomask arranged parallel to said work surface and a light source in the form of an electro-luminescent panel, said photomask being located between said work surface and said electro-luminescent panel so that when said electro-luminescent panel is energized said photomask is illuminated thereby to expose an image of said photomask on the photosensitive surface of the sheet of material supported by said work surface, said photomask being generally planar and being divided into a number of discrete areas, said electro-luminescent panel being arranged in a plane parallel to said photomask and also being divided into a number of discrete areas each registering with a respective one of said discrete areas of said photomask, and means for selectively energizing said discrete areas of said electro-luminescent panel to selectively illuminate corresponding ones of said discrete areas of said photomask.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
307 words
A mechanism for exposing an artwork on a photosensitive surface, said mechanism comprising means providing a work surface for supporting a sheet of material with a photosensitive surface, a contact printing device, a line drawing device, and means for moving both said contact printing device and said line drawing device in a plane parallel to said work surface to bring said contact printing device into registry with selected areas of said photosensitive surface and to move said line drawing device along desired lines on said photosensitive surface, said contact printing device including means operable when said contact printing device is held stationary relative to said photosensitive surface for exposing a predetermined portion of an artwork on the area of said pHotosensitive surface registered therewith, and said line drawing device including means for directing a spot of light onto said photosensitive surface as said line drawing device is moved relative to said photosensitive surface to cause the exposure of a line on said photosensitive surface, said contact printing device including a photomask arranged parallel to said work surface and a light source in the form of an electro-luminescent panel, said photomask being located between said work surface and said electro-luminescent panel so that when said electro-luminescent panel is energized said photomask is illuminated thereby to expose an image of said photomask on the photosensitive surface of the sheet of material supported by said work surface, said photomask being generally planar and being divided into a number of discrete areas, said electro-luminescent panel being arranged in a plane parallel to said photomask and also being divided into a number of discrete areas each registering with a respective one of said discrete areas of said photomask, and means for selectively energizing said discrete areas of said electro-luminescent panel to selectively illuminate corresponding ones of said discrete areas of said photomask.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-08 | 1979-03-10 | 1979-09-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-08 | 1983-03-10 | 1983-09-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-08 | 1987-03-10 | 1987-09-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |