Method and apparatus for stacking and drying cut imaged media

US6278511A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Agfa NV · BE

Inventors

• Libor Krupica · Nashua, US
• Peter W. Austin · Bury, GB

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 30, 1998
• Grant date: Aug 21, 2001
• Expiry date: Dec 30, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G03D15/027
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A conventional imagesetting system includes an imagesetter for transferring an image onto media, a wet chemical processor for processing the imaged media, an enclosed dryer section for drying the media by circulating air thereabout, and extraction rollers for extracting the media from the enclosed dryer section. An improved imagesetting system further includes: an apparatus for drying and lifting the media after extraction from the enclosed dryer section by blowing air along an underside of the extracted media; a stacking surface for stacking the extracted, dried media, where the stacking surface is formed by one or more external surfaces of the imagesetter and the processor and the stacking surface has at least one sloped section; and an indent which extends the stacking surface beneath the extraction rollers in a direction opposite to a direction of movement of the media being extracted, so that the indent prevents binding of trailing edges of the media by accepting sections of the media which abut the trailing edges onto the stacking surface proximate to the indent.