EP1155835A1 - Method and apparatus for storing processed printing plates - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for storing processed printing plates Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1155835A1 EP1155835A1 EP00201726A EP00201726A EP1155835A1 EP 1155835 A1 EP1155835 A1 EP 1155835A1 EP 00201726 A EP00201726 A EP 00201726A EP 00201726 A EP00201726 A EP 00201726A EP 1155835 A1 EP1155835 A1 EP 1155835A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- stacker
- printing plate
- tilting
- pushing
- trolley
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
- B65H29/38—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by movable piling or advancing arms, frames, plates, or like members with which the articles are maintained in face contact
- B65H29/44—Members oscillated in arcuate paths
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
- B41F27/00—Devices for attaching printing elements or formes to supports
- B41F27/12—Devices for attaching printing elements or formes to supports for attaching flexible printing formes
- B41F27/1206—Feeding to or removing from the forme cylinder
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41C—PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES
- B41C1/00—Forme preparation
- B41C1/10—Forme preparation for lithographic printing; Master sheets for transferring a lithographic image to the forme
- B41C1/1083—Mechanical aspects of off-press plate preparation
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41P—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO PRINTING, LINING MACHINES, TYPEWRITERS, AND TO STAMPS
- B41P2227/00—Mounting or handling printing plates; Forming printing surfaces in situ
- B41P2227/60—Devices for transferring printing plates
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for storing printing plates in a stacker. More specifically, the invention is related to an improved method and apparatus for automatically storing processed and /or baked lithographic offset printing plates.
- USP 5,455,651 and in USP 5,606,720 both assigned to Agfa-Gevaert N.V.
- apparatus for processing exposed photographic sheet material in particular lithographic printing plates, of the type described in EP-A-410500 (of Agfa-Gevaert N.V.).
- a LITHOSTAR TM plate stacker LS82 Ultra may be installed , which is a printing plate reception tool making it possible to collect more than one printing plate without risk of damages such as scratches or any other visible traces left on the printing plate.
- large format plates, especially thin plates e.g. with a thickness of 0.15 mm
- a stacker 10 is installed between the exit of a plate processor 1 and a trolley 5.
- the inclination ⁇ of the stacker can be adapted (by means of lifting arm 3) in order to get a good handling of the printing plate from the processor, over the stacker to the trolley (having an inclination ⁇ ).
- the stacker 10 mainly comprises a set of printing plate conveying strings (or belts) 2 and a set of printing plate tilting bars 6. Arrow A indicates a printing plate conveying operation, whereas arrow B indicates a printing plate tilting operation.
- Reference nr 4 indicates collected printing plates on stacker 5.
- a view along the X-direction is called a 'front view'
- a view along the Y-direction is called a 'side view'
- a view along the Z-direction is called a 'top view'.
- Figures 1 and 2 show two principle front views of a plate stacker 10 with a transport trolley 5 according to the prior art and incorporated by e.g. LITHOSTAR TM plate stackers LS82 or LS150 (both of Agfa-Gevaert).
- a set of tilting bars 6 (e.g. a set of 10 tilting bars, preferably all in one plane) is in a home position 19 underneath a set of conveying strings 2.
- a processed printing plate 8 is coming down (see arrow A) to a rear side 18 of the stacker 10.
- Fig. 3 illustrates a problem in the prior art wherein a printing plate 4, especially a large and thin printing plate 4 can buckle up (see mark 9) and drop down the trolley 5. So, sometimes, said fallen printing plates can get damaged. This causes a lot of trouble as e.g. distortion of the work flow, loss of quality, possibly loss of printing plate material, extra manipulation and cost.
- tilting the printing plate 8 is carried out by (i) releasing a pushing means from said stacker, and (ii) pushing said printing plate away from said tilting bars against a rest position in said trolley.
- the inventors have developed an inventive pushing finger mechanism.
- a method for storing printing plates (4) in a stacker (5) comprises the steps of:
- the present invention also provides a stacker for storing processed printing plates making use of a method as described hereabove.
- Figures 4.1 and 4.2 respectively show a top view and a front view of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, comprising a pushing means, preferably a pushing finger or a plate assisting lever 11 in home position 19.
- a pushing means preferably a pushing finger or a plate assisting lever 11 in home position 19.
- the push finger is in line, or at least parallel, with the tilting bars, laying against the cover 7 of the plate stacker.
- Figure 5 shows a schematical front view of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, comprising a tilting bar of the plate stacker in an intermediate position, e.g. an upright position and the pushing finger to a maximum push position.
- a sensor e.g. a microswitch, a dielectric or an optic or a ultrasonic or a pneumatic sensor; not shown
- the tilting bars 6 moves upwards and brings the printing plate in position against the transport trolley.
- a pushing finger 11 will be pushed out as soon as the tilting bars have moved away from the cover 7 of the plate stacker. This will support the printing plate until it has reached its final position 21 on the transport trolley 5 and will prevent the printing plate distorting and sliding downwards.
- said releasing a forcing means comprises releasing a pushing means, and said forcing said printing plate comprises pushing said printing plate against a rest position (21) in said trolley.
- said releasing a pushing means comprises rotating a pushing finger over a predetermined angle ⁇ .
- said predetermined angle ⁇ is between 15 and 45 degrees, and more preferably being about 30 degrees.
- said pushing said printing plate against a rest position in said trolley is carried out under a predetermined spring-load.
- said predetermined spring-load is in a range between 300 and 700 N.mm, more preferably between 400 and 600 N.mm, and most preferably between 475 and 525 N.mm .
- Fig.10 shows a partial front view of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention, comprising a tilting bar of the plate stacker in its end position and a pushing finger to a maximum push position.
- Figures 6.1 to 6.3 show schematical views of a tilting mechanism according to the present invention, respectively a front view, a top view and a side view.
- Figures 7.1 to 7.3 shows practical views of a tilting mechanism according to the present invention, respectively a front view, a top view and a side view.
- following reference nrs are used 11 is a plate assisting lever, 12 a plate assisting block, 13 a plate assisting spacer, 14 a stop pin, 15 a torsion spring, 16 a first screw and 17 a second (fastening) screw.
- the pushing finger mechanism consists of e.g. five individual components fitted with a spring 15 that gives the pushing finger its rotation in a range between 15 and 45 °, preferably approximately 30°.
- the pushing finger can be positioned at different heights and slides over the tilting bars of the plate stacker 10. In some cases it may be necessary to fit more than one pushing finger on a same tilting bar.
- Figure 9 shows a global side view of a preferred embodiment according to the present invention.
- stacker 10 one perceives a set of conveying strings or belts 2, a set of tilting bars 6, two plate assisting levers 11, two plate assisting blocks 12 and two torsion spring 15.
- said pushing means comprises at least one pushing finger.
- Other embodiments of such pushing means comprise e.g. an elastomer of suitable elasticity and friction, air pressure means comprising an air jet with overpressure or/and a suction by underpressure, electromagnetic means, etc.
- said at least one pushing finger is positioned laterally slidably over a tilting bar.
- the direction of transporting the printing plate may be as well from the right to the left as vice versa (cf. Figs. 1-3 versus Figs. 8 & 10)
- the plate assisting lever 11 may be mounted on the left of the plate assisting block 12 or it may be mounted on the right side (see Fig. 9)
- the torsion spring 15 may be oriented to the left or may it be oriented to the right (implicitly indicated in Fig. 9)
- both parts of plate assisting lever 11 may have an unequal length or unequal length (cf. Figs. 4-6, versus Figs. 7, 9, 10), etc.
- plate assisting lever 11 may have a linear axis of symmetry (as shown e.g. in Figs. 4.2, 5, 6.1, 6.2, 7.1), an inclined linear or hooked axis of symmetry, or a curvilinear axis of symmetry (e.g. a boomerang-type).
- torsion spring 15 may be replaced by a suitable compression spring, an extension spring, a leaf spring, etc.
- the instant invention comprises an add-on feature that can be fitted to existing plate stackers, for example on a "Druck Platten Stapler PSH 85, PSH 105, PSH125 or PSH 145" (available from Agfa-Gevaert).
- the instant invention is particularly advantageous when used in relation to large format plates.
- plates up to 820 mm x 1130 mm may be processed in a 'Galileo-system' (available from Agfa-Gevaert).
- EP-A-410500 disclosed an imaging element containing an aluminium support provided with in the order given an image receiving layer and a silver halide emulsion.
- DTR process diffusion transfer reversal process
- said imaging element is imagewise exposed and subsequently developed using a developing liquid or activating liquid in the presence of a silver halide complexing agent.
- the imaging element is then guided through a diffusion transfer zone so that the silver halide complexes formed during the development step are allowed to diffuse into the image receiving layer where they are converted to silver.
- the imaging element leaves the diffusion transfer zone a silver image is formed in the image receiving layer.
- the now useless photosensitive layer and optional other layers above the image receiving layer are then removed by guiding the imaging element through a washing and through a rinsing station.
- the element now carrying a silver image on its surface is treated with a finishing liquid that contains a so called hydrophobizing agent for improving the hydrophobicity of the silver image.
- the instant invention may be applied as well on silver-halogenid-printing plates, as on so-called thermal printing plates, as on polymer printing plates, as on direct thermal plates.
- Suitable supports comprise aluminium, which was explicitly mentioned before; but also polyester or paper supports (cf. SETPRINT TM) might be applied.
- the instant invention also can be applied on plates exiting a baking station (not shown), or even on unprocessed printing plates disposed from a loading system (e.g. for sake of collecting).
- a baking station comprises a burn-in oven "Haase TOP Line 2000" of Peter Haase GmbH.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Pile Receivers (AREA)
- Discharge By Other Means (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- detecting a printing plate (8) exiting a processor (1) or exiting a baking station,
- activating a conveying mechanism (2) of a stacker,
- conveying (A) said printing plate to a rear side (18) of said stacker,
- deactivating said conveying mechanism when said printing plate reaches said rear side of said stacker,
- tilting (B) said printing plate by means of rotating tilting bars (3) into a plate trolley (5),
- returning said tilting bars back to a home position (19) on said stacker,
- characterised in that said tilting said printing plate comprises following substeps:
- releasing a forcing means from said stacker, and
- forcing (P) said printing plate away from said tilting bars against a rest position (21) in said trolley.
In a further preferred embodiment said releasing a pushing means comprises rotating a pushing finger over a predetermined angle α. Preferably said predetermined angle α is between 15 and 45 degrees, and more preferably being about 30 degrees.
Now in relation to Figs. 6.1-6.3, 7.1-7.3 and 10, it will be explained that in a further preferred embodiment said pushing said printing plate against a rest position in said trolley is carried out under a predetermined spring-load. Preferably, said predetermined spring-load is in a range between 300 and 700 N.mm, more preferably between 400 and 600 N.mm, and most preferably between 475 and 525 N.mm .
Moreover,
Further,
- 1
- plate processor
- 2
- conveying strings
- 3
- lifting arm
- 4
- collected printing plates
- 5
- trolley
- 6
- tilting bars
- 7
- cover of the stacker
- 8
- processed printing plate
- 9
- buckle
- 10
- stacker
- 11
- pushing finger or plate assisting lever
- 12
- plate assisting block
- 13
- plate assisting spacer
- 14
- stop pin
- 15
- torsion spring
- 16
- first screw
- 17
- second (fastening) screw.
- 18
- rear side (bottom) of stacker
- 19
- home position of tilting bars in stacker
- 21
- rest position of collected plates in trolley
- 22
- bottom of the trolley
- A
- conveying plate in stacker
- B
- tilting plate into trolley
- -B
- returning tilting bars towards stacker
- P
- pushing force
- X, Y, Z
- tridimensional co-ordinates, respectively indicating a front direction, a side direction and a top direction
- α
- pressure angel of pushing finger
- β
- inclination of stacker
- γ
- inclination of trolley
- δ
- inclination of tilting bars
Claims (9)
- A method for storing printing plates (4) in a stacker (5), comprising the steps of:detecting a printing plate (8) exiting a processor (1) or exiting a baking station,activating a conveying mechanism (2) of a stacker,conveying (A) said printing plate to a rear side (18) of said stacker,deactivating said conveying mechanism when said printing plate reaches said rear side of said stacker,tilting (B) said printing plate by means of rotating tilting bars (6) into a plate trolley (5),returning said tilting bars back to a home position (19) on said stacker,characterised in that said tilting said printing plate comprises following substeps:releasing a forcing means from said stacker, andforcing (P) said printing plate away from said tilting bars against a rest position (21) in said trolley.
- A method according to claims 1, wherein said releasing a forcing means comprises releasing a pushing means, and wherein said forcing said printing plate comprises pushing said printing plate against a rest position (21) in said trolley.
- A method according to claim 2, wherein said releasing a pushing means comprises rotating a pushing finger (11) over a predetermined angle α.
- A method according to claim 3, wherein said predetermined angle α is between 15 and 45 degrees, and more preferably being about 30 degrees.
- A method according to claim 2, wherein said pushing said printing plate against a rest position (21) in said trolley (5) is carried out under a predetermined spring-load (15).
- A method according to claim 5, wherein said predetermined spring-load is in a range between 300 and 700 N.mm, more preferably between 400 and 600 N.mm, and most preferably between 475 and 525 N.mm .
- A stacker (10) for storing processed printing plates (4) making use of a method according to anyone of the preceding claims.
- A stacker according to claim 7, wherein said pushing means comprises at least one pushing finger (11).
- A stacker according to claim 8, wherein said at least one pushing finger (11) is positioned laterally slidably over a tilting bar (6).
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP00201726A EP1155835A1 (en) | 2000-05-16 | 2000-05-16 | Method and apparatus for storing processed printing plates |
US09/848,018 US20020178948A1 (en) | 2000-05-16 | 2001-05-03 | Method and apparatus for storing processed printing plates |
JP2001138723A JP2002046919A (en) | 2000-05-16 | 2001-05-09 | Method and device for storing processed printing plate |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP00201726A EP1155835A1 (en) | 2000-05-16 | 2000-05-16 | Method and apparatus for storing processed printing plates |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1155835A1 true EP1155835A1 (en) | 2001-11-21 |
Family
ID=8171499
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP00201726A Withdrawn EP1155835A1 (en) | 2000-05-16 | 2000-05-16 | Method and apparatus for storing processed printing plates |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1155835A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2002046919A (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1400473A1 (en) | 2002-09-19 | 2004-03-24 | Agfa-Gevaert | Method and apparatus for stacking sheets |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP5664048B2 (en) * | 2010-09-13 | 2015-02-04 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | Sorting device |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE395214C (en) * | 1922-11-25 | 1924-09-05 | Fritz Hoffmann | Device to prevent sheets from sticking to the rake of printing machines |
JPS6164657A (en) * | 1984-09-04 | 1986-04-03 | Fuotopori Ouka Kk | Standing device for planar member |
JPH101248A (en) * | 1996-06-17 | 1998-01-06 | Konica Corp | Receiving and piling device for sheet |
JPH10194544A (en) * | 1997-01-10 | 1998-07-28 | Dainippon Screen Mfg Co Ltd | Form plate stacker |
WO2000017071A2 (en) * | 1998-09-19 | 2000-03-30 | Heights Design Production Limited | Plate stacking |
-
2000
- 2000-05-16 EP EP00201726A patent/EP1155835A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2001
- 2001-05-09 JP JP2001138723A patent/JP2002046919A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE395214C (en) * | 1922-11-25 | 1924-09-05 | Fritz Hoffmann | Device to prevent sheets from sticking to the rake of printing machines |
JPS6164657A (en) * | 1984-09-04 | 1986-04-03 | Fuotopori Ouka Kk | Standing device for planar member |
JPH101248A (en) * | 1996-06-17 | 1998-01-06 | Konica Corp | Receiving and piling device for sheet |
JPH10194544A (en) * | 1997-01-10 | 1998-07-28 | Dainippon Screen Mfg Co Ltd | Form plate stacker |
WO2000017071A2 (en) * | 1998-09-19 | 2000-03-30 | Heights Design Production Limited | Plate stacking |
Non-Patent Citations (3)
Title |
---|
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 010, no. 231 (M - 506) 12 August 1986 (1986-08-12) * |
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 1998, no. 05 30 April 1998 (1998-04-30) * |
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 1998, no. 12 31 October 1998 (1998-10-31) * |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1400473A1 (en) | 2002-09-19 | 2004-03-24 | Agfa-Gevaert | Method and apparatus for stacking sheets |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP2002046919A (en) | 2002-02-12 |
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Owner name: AGFA-GEVAERT |
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Owner name: GLUNZ & JENSEN LIMITED |
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Effective date: 20020522 |