Product

• ThermoFlex^® Mid II
• ThermoFlex Mid
• ThermoFlex Narrow

Background

A properly adjusted anti-collision detector helps prevent collisions between a plate and the carriage head. The anti-collision detector contains two identical optic fibers and an optic sensor that function as follows:

• Lower optic fiber: transmitter, not moveable
• Upper optic fiber: receiver, moveable for fine-tuning
• Optic sensor: connects to both optic fibers on one end and to the anti-collision detector on the other end

If the signal sent by the lower optic fiber to the upper optic fiber is broken, the optic sensor detects the presence of a plate. The focus lens moves to home position (HP), which prevents the plate from colliding with the carriage head.

After replacing or installing an anti-collision detector, you must adjust the detector.

Requirements

Procedure

Before you begin:

1. Load a 20 x 20 cm (8 x 8 in.) plate on the drum.
2. If your platesetter is ThermoFlex Mid II, after you load the plate, open the service door on the ThermoFlex Mid II, or the front door on the ThermoFlex Mid or Narrow platesetter.
3. On the ThermoFlex Mid or Narrow platesetter, open the loading tray.
4. Insert a motor interlock cheater.
5. In the ThermoFlex Controller software, send the carriage to the position that will bring it in front of the plate.
6. Send the focus motor to the location that is appropriate for the plate on the drum.

Installing the receiver and transmitter:

1. Disconnect the focus motor connector.
   Note: Because the focus motor returns to HP when you cheat the anti-collision detector, you must disconnect the focus motor now.
2. In the optic fiber holders, place the optic fibers so that the hollows in the optic fibers face each other. The receiver (upper optic fiber) hollow is facing down, and the transmitter (lower optic fiber) hollow is facing up.
   
   Optic fiber hollow facing down
   
   
   Nozzle assembly
   
   
3. Verify that the optic fibers do not protrude, and secure them by tightening the screws.
   
4. Remove the optic sensor cover.
   
   
5. On the optic sensor, push down the handle.
   
                                Optic sensor
   
   
6. Insert the ends of the optic fibers into the optic sensor.
7. Confirm that the lower (red) LED in the nozzle assembly is on.
   If the upper LED in the nozzle assembly is on, in the optic sensor, switch the optic fibers.
8. Push up the handle to lock the optic fibers in place.
   

Adjustment Procedure

To set the optic sensor switches:

1. Using the screwdriver from the kit, set the switches on the optic sensor as indicated in the following table.

Switch Name	Set To
Fine / Turbo	Turbo
Off.D / On.D / Off	Off
D.On /L.On	D.On
Potentiometer	Max.

2. With the optic head in front of the drum, adjust the sensor potentiometer to the maximum position and verify that the green LED is on.
   Note: If the green LED is not on, rotate the potentiometer until it turns on.
3. Hold a 7/64" hex key between the transmitter and the receiver. The red LED in the optic sensor should be on. When you remove the hex key, the red LED should turn off. If the red LED in the optic sensor remains on, it indicates that the hollows in the optic fibers are not facing each other.
4. Manually turn the drum and verify that the red LED is off and that the green LED is on. The red LED should be off when the plate is in front of the nozzle assembly. If the red LED is on, increase the sensitivity of the optic sensor.
5. In the ThermoFlex Controller software, open the Anti-collision detector dialog box and verify that the LED status matches the actual status of the LED.
   
   • Red LED on: detector status on
   • Green LED on: detector status off
6. Stack five pieces of masking tape, one on top of another, to form one thick piece of tape, and apply it horizontally across the top or bottom edge of the plate.
7. Manually turn the drum. When the tape passes between the transmitter and the receiver, verify that the red LED in the optic sensor is on. This indicates that the optic sensor detects the excess thickness.
8. Continue to manually turn the drum until only the plate (not the tape) is between the transmitter and the receiver, and verify that the red LED turns off and the green LED turns on.
9. Continue to manually turn the drum until only the bare drum is between the transmitter and the receiver, and verify that the red LED remains off and the green LED remains on.
10. Remove one piece of tape and manually turn the drum. Verify that the red LED is off.
    The status of the green light is not relevant to this step.
    Note: If the red LED is on, open the 7/64" hex screw, move the upper nozzle assembly forward or backward, and adjust the potentiometer, until the red LED is off.
11. Tighten the 7/64" hex screw, and verify that the red LED remains off.
12. Apply the piece of tape that you removed in step 10, manually rotate the drum, and verify that the red LED turns on.
    Note: If the red LED is off, repeat the adjustment.
    
13. When the adjustment is completed, tighten the locking screw.
14. Return the optic sensor cover to protect the sensor.
15. Remove the thick layer of tape, manually turn the drum, and verify that the red LED is off and that the green LED remains on.
16. Connect the focus motor connector.
17. Remove the drum interlock cheater.
18. On the ThermoFlex Mid or Narrow platesetter, close the loading/unloading tray.
19. Close any open doors on the platesetter.

Technical contact(s)

Content owner: Viki Arviv
See the Escalation page for escalation contacts.

Date submitted

08 Dec 2005