Patent ID: 6097417
Filing Date: 2000-08-01
Classification: B41C,B41J

Abstract:
A vacuum system for use in an internal drum platesetter having a drum for supporting a photosensitive medium, a carriage moveable in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the drum, and a laser mounted onto the moveable carriage for generating a beam to create an image on the medium during movement of the carriage, the beam ablating particles of the medium during creation of the image, the vacuum system comprising:a vacuum head fixedly attached to the moveable carriage, and comprising at least one chamber for receiving the ablated particles through a slot located (i) proximate to or along a periphery of the vacuum head, and (ii) proximate to an internal circumferential surface of the drum, said vacuum head positioned on the carriage behind the beam during imaging, with respect to movement along the longitudinal axis of the drum; andan exhaust system connected to the vacuum head and comprising ductwork, at least one fan and at least one filter, for extracting the ablated particles from the at least one chamber of the vacuum head while the beam is imaging the medium.