| 摘要 |
The invention provides an apparatus for collecting ablated material generated by exposure of an imaging layer to a source of radiation, said apparatus comprising a vacuum supply means, and a vacuum head (3) connected to, and in close proximity with, a centrifugal separator (5), said vacuum head (3) being for direct attachment to a movable mounting means having guide means. The centrifugal separator (5) preferably comprises a reverse flow gas cyclone or a uniflow gas cyclone. The apparatus preferably also includes a filtration system (8) capable of removing any remaining contaminants. Typically, the vacuum supply means comprises a vacuum pump (10), the movable mounting means comprises a carriage to which the vacuum head (3) may be attached and the guide means comprises a guide rail (23). A method of preparing an imaged member is also disclosed, preferably from an imaging member which comprises a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a substrate and a metal imaging layer. <IMAGE>
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