Apparatus and method of microprocessor-controlling laser scanning of a material held by a transport, the loading and unloading of the transport also being microprocessor-controlled

摘要

A laser platemaking control system includes a control panel (410), microprocessor means (408, 424), and an interface (524) therebetween, the control system controlling (a) the loading and unloading of transports (150) onto and from the inner surface of a support with an arcuate cross- section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drum (243), (b) the translational scanning of paste-ups (478) to be optically read and plates (516) or the like to be optically written on by optical devices (462, 502) which are translated along and rotated about the drum axis, and (c) the selection of size and position of paste- ups (478) and plates (516) on a transport to be scanned. A display (412) also provides communication to an operator from the microprocessor means (403, 424). The microprocessors (403) and (424) are, optionally, incorporated into a single microprocessor.