Ablation collection system for an image recorder

An apparatus is mounted on a moveable carriage of an external drum platesetter for removing air-borne ablative particles caused when a printing plate mounted on an outside surface of a rotating drum of the platesetter is imaged via a laser source having a window for transmitting a laser beam. The apparatus includes a nozzle, a redirecting surface and a vacuum chamber. The nozzle transmits a line of compressed air towards the redirecting surface which in turn redirects and splits the line of compressed air into two parts. A first part is directed towards the drum and a second part is diverted towards the laser window. The vacuum chamber is connected to a vacuum channel for removing air including the ablative particles.