GB2073151A - Printing Plate Processing Machine - Google Patents
Printing Plate Processing Machine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2073151A GB2073151A GB8010425A GB8010425A GB2073151A GB 2073151 A GB2073151 A GB 2073151A GB 8010425 A GB8010425 A GB 8010425A GB 8010425 A GB8010425 A GB 8010425A GB 2073151 A GB2073151 A GB 2073151A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- plates
- conveyor
- processing machine
- printing plate
- conveyor means
- 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- Withdrawn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
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41N—PRINTING PLATES OR FOILS; MATERIALS FOR SURFACES USED IN PRINTING MACHINES FOR PRINTING, INKING, DAMPING, OR THE LIKE; PREPARING SUCH SURFACES FOR USE AND CONSERVING THEM
- B41N3/00—Preparing for use and conserving printing surfaces
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03F—PHOTOMECHANICAL PRODUCTION OF TEXTURED OR PATTERNED SURFACES, e.g. FOR PRINTING, FOR PROCESSING OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; MATERIALS THEREFOR; ORIGINALS THEREFOR; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED THEREFOR
- G03F7/00—Photomechanical, e.g. photolithographic, production of textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. printing surfaces; Materials therefor, e.g. comprising photoresists; Apparatus specially adapted therefor
- G03F7/16—Coating processes; Apparatus therefor
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Delivering By Means Of Belts And Rollers (AREA)
- Separation, Sorting, Adjustment, Or Bending Of Sheets To Be Conveyed (AREA)
Abstract
The printing plate processing machine includes a first conveyor 15 for receiving printing plates 12 and a second conveyor 25 for receiving plate-separating sheets 13, and a feed mechanism, e.g. suction caps 44, for selectively transporting the plates and sheets from a loading station in which the plates and sheets are alternately disposed in a stack, toward the first and second conveyors. A plate and sheet diverting mechanism, e.g. baffle 57, is located between the first and second conveyors for alternately delivering the plates to the first conveyor and the sheets to the second conveyor. The plates are processed after disposition on the first conveyor for example by punch 64 and coating assembly 73. A collection station 81 receives the plates and sheets from the first and second conveyors alternately in a stack after processing of the plates. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Printing Plate Processing Machine
In the heretofore conventional printing plate processing machines in which the plates are punched or coated, the plates are fed manually into the machine, and after processing, the plates are then removed from the machine and stacked manually. In some prior known machines, the plates are fed automatically into the plate processing machine and then discharged into a stack. However, in these prior machines, the plate-separating sheets are handled separately and manually.
This invention provides a printing plate processing machine in which the printing plates and plate-separating sheets are fed automatically into the machine from a stack in which the plates and sheets are alternately disposed, separated in the machine so that the plates can be processed, and then discharged in a stack in which the same plates and sheets are again alternately disposed after the plates have been processed.
The printing plate processing machine of the invention comprises a loading station for receiving a stack of alternately disposed printing plates and plate separating paper sheets, a first conveyor means for receiving the printing plates, a second conveyor means for receiving the separating sheets, and feed means for transporting the plates and sheets alternately from the loading station in a path towards the first and second conveyor means. A plate and sheet diverting means in the path between the loading station and the first and second conveyor means alternately delivers the plates to the first conveyor means and the sheets to the second conveyor means. A plate-processing means processes the plates after disposition on the first conveyor means.A collecting station receives the plates and sheets from the first and second conveyor means and disposes them alternately in a single collecting stack after processing of the plates.
In one aspect of the printing plate processing machine, the feed means includes a fluidoperated cylinder and ram, the ram being movable selectively between an extended position and a retracted position. Cooperating means places plate and sheet gripping means carried on the ram into gripping engagement with the plates and sheets when the ram is in one of the said positions, the gripping means transporting the plates and sheets toward the first and second conveyor means as the ram moves toward the other said position. More particularly, in the preferred embodiment, the cooperating means places the gripping means into gripping engagement with the plates and sheets when the ram is in the extended position, and transports the plates and sheets toward the first and second conveyor means as the ram moves toward the retracted position.The gripping means then releases the plates or sheets when the ram is in the retracted position.
In one embodiment of the plate processing machine, the diverting means comprises a blower that discharges an air stream against the sheets to urge the sheets on to the second conveyor means. As an alternative or in addition to such a blower, the diverting means advantageously comprises a baffle selectively located in one position defining a path for the plates on to the first conveyor means, and selectively located in another position defining a path for the sheets on to the second conveyor means.
For example, the diverting means may include a passage having an entrance between the loading station and the first conveyor means, and having an exit communicating with the second conveyor means. The baffle may then be rotatively mounted on an axis substantially at the passage entrance, the baffle being selectively located in its one position effectively to close the passage entrance and direct the plate on to the first conveyor means, and selectively located in its other position effectively to open the passage entrance for enabling movement of the sheets through the passage entrance and on to the second conveyor means.
Drawings
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the printing plate processing machine, partially cutaway to show the operating mechanism;
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine shown in Figure 1, with the feed means removed and the housing over the coating rollers removed for clarity;
Figure 3 is a top plan view of the second conveyor means on which the plate-separating sheets are disposed and transported;
Figure 4 is an end view of the two conveyors as seen from the right of Figure 1, and
Figures 5A-5F are a series of diagrammatic views illustrating the sequence of operation.
Referring now by characters of reference to the drawings, and first to Figure 1, it will be understood that the printing plate processing machine includes a loading station 10 on top of platform 1 1 on which a stack 14 of alternately disposed printing plates 12 and plate-separating sheets 13 are disposed, as is best shown in
Figures 5A-5F. The stack of plates 12 and sheets 13 is shown diagrammatically in Figure 2.
Located operatively downpath of the loading station 10, is a first conveyor means referred to by 15. The conveyor means 15 as shown in Figures 1 and 2 includes a transverse front shaft 16 on which a plurality of axially spaced rollers 17 are drivingly connected. A transverse rear shaft 20 is provided with a plurality of axially spaced rollers 21 aligned with the compatible front rollers 17 these aligned and compatible rollers 17 and 21 receive and drive a plurality of laterally spaced conveyor belts 22. For reasons which will later appear, the upper span of the first conveyor belts 22 are supported below and closely adjacent to the front roller 17 by a plurality of support rollers 23 carried on a transverse shaft 24.
A second conveyor means indicated generally ,#, 25 is located below and in spaced relation to the firs'. conveyor means 15. This second cffinJeyor means 25 includes a transverse front shaft 26 on which a plurality of rollers 27 are drivingly connected and mounted in axially spaced relation. A transverse rear shaft 30 is ji-ovided on which a plurality of compatible rollers 31 are driving mounted in axially spaced relation and in alignment with the compatible front rollers 27. Disposed on and carried by the aligned and compatibl front and rear rollers 27 and 31, are a plurality of conveyor belts 32. The second conveyor means 25 is longer than and extends beyond the rear end of the flrst conveyor means 15.
Disposed over the upper spans of the second conveyor belts 32, are elongate guide strips 33.
These cooperating guide strips 33 and second conveyor belts 32 are slightly spaced so as to receive he plate-separating sheets 13 therebetween when such sheets 13 are disposed on the second conveyor means 25, the guide strips 33 providing sufficient friction so that the sheers i 3 can be transported by and discharged from the second conveyor belts 32. The elongate guide strips 33 are provided with upwardly curved front ends 34 to facilitate movement of the sheets 13 between the strips 33 and second conveyor belts 32 when the sheets 13 are disposed on the second conveyor means.
Afeed means referred to by 35 is provided for selectively transporting the plates 12 and sheets 13 from the loading station 10 toward the first and second conveyor means 15 and 25. This feed means 35 includes a pair of fluid-operated cylinders 36 and rams 37 disposed in laterally paced relation over the loading station 10 and the front end portion of rhe first conveyor means 1 5. The cylinders 36 have one end pivotally mo'-#nted by pins 39 to laterally spaced brackets 40 attached to a machine frame 41.The rams 37 are movable seiectively between an extended position shown in broken lines in Figure 1 to a ret#acted position illustrated n full lines in Figure
The outer ends of the rams 37 are provided wit heads 42 that carry vacuum lines 43 operatively connected to suction cups 44, constituting gripping means, that are movable into gripping engagement with plates 12 and sheets 13 when the rams 37 are disposed in tie extended position.
The cylinders 36 are operatively connected so as to pivotally move simultaneously as a unit by a transverse frame 45. Another cylinder 46 and ram 47 is provided to pivotally move the cylinders 36 and rams 37 upwardly and downwardly incident to moving the suction cups 44 into gripping engagement with the plates 12 and sheets 13.
The o-ylincier 46 is pivotally connected by pin 50 to the transverse cylinder frame 45, and the end of ram 47 is pivotally connected to bracket 51 attached to the machine frame 41.
A cou.#terbaIance 52 is attached to each of the cylinders 36, and is iocated on the opposite side of the pivot pin 39 so as to tend to raise the cylinders 36 ann rams 37.
Attached to the underside of the transverse cylinder frame 45 is a pressure roller 53 that is adapted to engage the top of the centrally located, first conveyor belt 32 immediately above its associated roller 23. The pressure roller 53 enables movement of the printing plate 12 on to the first conveyor belts 32, and provides sufficient friction so that the first conveyor belts 32 will transport the plates 12 to a plate-processing position which will be later described.
The plate and sheet diverting means between the first and second conveyor means 15 and 25 for alternately delivering the plates 13 to the first conveyor means 15 and the sheets 13 to the second conveyor means 25, includes a passage 54 having an entrance 55 between the loading station and the front of the first conveyor means i 15. and having an exit 56 communicating with the front of the second conveyor means 25. An elongate baffle 57 is rotatively mounted on a rotative axis 60 substantially at the passage entrance 55.The baffle 57 is selectively located in one position shown in full lines in Figure 1 to effectively close the passage entrance 55 and direct plates 13 on to the first conveyor means 1 5, and is selectively located in another position shown in broken lines in Figure 1 to effectively open the passage entrance 55 for enabling movement of the sheets 13 through the passage entrance 55 and onto the second conveyor means 25.
A blower 61 having a nozzle 62 and an air line 63 is carried by each of the cylinders 36. The blower nozzles 62 are located above the passage entrance 55 and the baffle 57 for discharging air streams against the sheets 13 and the baffle 57 at one side of the rotative axis 60 to move the baffle 57 to its other position in which the passage entrance 57 is effectively open, and to urge the sheets 13 through the passage entrance 57, through the passage 54, and on to the second conveyor means 25.
The machine includes a first plate-processing station whereby the plates 12 are punched along their side edges to provide register holes. The punching assembly generally indicated by 64 includes side rails 65 along opposite sides of the first conveyor means 15, and a plurality of punches 66 mounted on the side rails 65 in longitudinally spaced relation. Each punch 66 includes a body 67 having a side opening slot 70 for receiving the side edge of the printing plate 12 as it is transported by the first conveyor means 15. A pneumatically-operated punching rod 71 is carried in the body 67, and is adapted to punch the register hole in the plate side edge located in the slot 70.
The front edge of the printing plates 12 engage solenoid operated positioning pin 72 which is normally extended to locate the plates 12 in appropriate position in the punch assembly 64 at the first plate-processing station. When the plates 12 have been punched, the positioning pin 72 is retracted to permit the processed plates 12 to be transported further by the first conveyor means 15.
This machine can be utilized to process either lithographic plates or photopolymer plates. In those instances in which the lithographic plates are being processed, a second plate-processing station is provided for applying a diazo lightsensitive material as a coating on both sides of the plates.
The coater assembly referred to by 73 is located behind the rear end of the first conveyor means 15. This coater assembly 73 includes two sets of coating rollers 74 and 75 between which the printing plates 12 are passed as the plates 12 are discharged from the first conveyor means 15.
The lower rollers 75 revolve in trays 76 containing the light-sensitive coating material. As the printing plates 12 move between the cooperating sets of rollers 74 and 75, a coating is applied to the opposite sides of the plates 12, and the coated plates 12 are then discharged to a pair of pressure rollers 77.
A drive assembly referred to as 80 and shown diagrammatically in Figure 1, operatively interconnects motor 79 with the first conveyor means 15, the second conveyor means 25, the coating rollers 75 and discharge pressure rolls 77
As is conventional this drive assembly 80 can consist of belt-pulley elements or chain-sprocket elements
Located behind the coater assembly 73 and behind the end pressure rolls 77, is a collecting station 81 for receiving the plates 12 and sheets 13 from the first and second conveyor means 15 and 25 alternately in a stack after processing of the plates 12.
It is thought that the usage and operation of the plate processing machine has become apparent from the foregoing detailed description of parts, but for completeness of disclosure, such operation will be briefly described.
From Figure 5A-5F, it will be assumed that a stack 14 of alternately disposed plates 12 and sheets 13 is located at the loading station 10.
Initially, the rams 37 are located in their retracted position, and the baffle 57 is located in its position to effectively close the passage entrance 55 and to engage the upper span of the first conveyor belts 32.
First the cylinders 36 are actuated to extend the rams 37 from the retracted position shown in
Figure 5A to an extended position over the printing plate 12 on the top of the stack 14 at the loading station 10. Then the cylinder 46 is actuated to pivot the cylinders 36 and rams 37 downwardly about the pivot pins 39 in order to bring the suction cups 44 down into engagement with the top printing plate 12. Simultaneously, the vacuum line 43 is activated so that the suction cups 44 will grip and retain the top plate 12. Then, the cylinder 46 is activated to pivot the cylinders 36 and rams 37 upwardly about their pivot pins 39, while the suction cups 44 grip and raise the front end of the top printing plate 12.
The cylinders 36 are then actuated to bring the rams 37 back to their retracted position illustrated in Figure 5C. During this retracting movement of the rams 37, the suction cups 44 carry and push the printing plate 12 over the baffle 57 and on to the first conveyor means 15. The vacuum line 43 is deactivated so that the suction cups 44 release the printing plate 12, and the first conveyor means 15 carries the printing plate 12 to the first processing station as determined by the engagement of the plate with the positioning pin 72, and in which the printing plate 12 is directly and operatively associated with the punch assembly 64 as is illustrated in Figure 5D.
While the punches 66 of the punch assembly 64 are processing the printing plate 12 at the first processing station by punching register holes in the plate side edges, the cylinders 36 are again actuated to extend the rams 37, and the cylinder 46 is again subsequently actuated to pivot the cylinders 36 and rams 37 downwardly to bring the suction cups 44 into direct engagement with the front end of the top plate-separating sheet 13, in stack 14 as illustrated in Figure 5D. Again, the vacuum line 43 is activated so that the suction cups 44 will grip the top sheet 13. The cylinder 46 is then actuated to pivot the cylinders 36 and rod 37 upwardly so that the suction cups 44 lift the front end of sheet 13. As the cylinders 36 are actuated to retract the rams 37 the suction cups 44 will carry and push the sheet 13 over the passage entrance 55.
Simultaneously with the initiation of this retracting movement of rams 37, the lower nozzles 62 will discharge air streams into engagement with one side of the rotatively mounted baffle 57 so as to rotate the baffle into a position to open the passage entrance 55 as illustrated in Figure 5D. As the sheet 13 is moved over the passage entrance, the air streams from the lower nozzles 62 engage the sheet 13 and urge the sheet 13 through the passage entrance 55 and into passage 54, and on to the second conveyor means 25. while at the same time holding the baffle 57 in its open position, as is illustrated in Figure 5E.
While the plate-separating sheet 13 is being fed on to the second conveyor means 25, the printing plate 12 has been punched by the punch assembly 64 and has been transported by the first conveyor means 15 into and between the sets of coating rollers 74-75 as illustrated in Figure 5E.
The rollers 74-75 will apply a light-sensitive coating on opposite sides of the plate 12. After the plate 12 has been coated, it is moved through the pressure rollers 77 and is discharged into the collecting station 81.
After the plate-separating sheet 13 is delivered on to the second conveyor means 25, the air streams from the blower nozzles 62 is terminated, thereby allowing the unbalanced weight of the baffle 57 to automatically rotate the baffle 57 to its closed position with respect to the passage entrance 55 and on to the upper span of the first conveyor means 15 as illustrated in Figure 5F.
The feed means 35 is then again activated in the sequence described previously to pick up and deliver the next printing plate 12 from the stack 14 at the loading station 10. While this subsequent feeding procedure is being accomplished, the plate-separating sheet 13 is being transported by the second conveyor means 25 and discharged into the collecting station 81 on top of the previously processed printing plate 12. It will be understood that the processed plates 12 and associated plate-separating sheets 13 are disposed automatically and sequentially in alternate-disposed relation in a stack at the collecting station.
Claims (11)
1. A printing plate processing machine comprising a loading station for receiving a loading stack of alternately disposed printing plates and plate-separating paper sheets, a first conveyor means for receiving the printing plates, a second conveyor means for receiving the plateseparating paper sheets, feed means selectively transporting the plates and paper sheets alternately from the loading station in a path towards the first and second conveyor means, plate and paper sheet diverting means in the path between the loading station and the first and second conveyor means for alternately delivering the plates to the first conveyor means and the paper sheets to the second conveyor means, plate processing means for processing the plates after disposition on the first conveyor means, and a collecting station for receiving the same plates and same paper sheets from the first and second conveyor means respectively and for disposing the plates and paper sheets alternately in a single collecting stack after processing of the plates.
2. A printing plate processing machine according to claim 1, in which the feed means includes a fluid-operated cylinder and ram, the ram being movable selectively between an extended position and a retracted position, plate and paper sheet gripping means carried on the ram, and cooperating means for placing the gripping means into gripping engagement with the topmost plate or paper sheet in the loading stack when the ram is in one of said positions, the gripping means transporting the plate or paper sheet so gripped in the path toward the first and second conveyor means as the ram moves toward the other said position.
3. A printing plate processing machine according to claim 2, wherein the cooperating means comprises a second fluid-operated cylinder and ram operatively connected to the first cylinder for pivoting the first cylinder about a pivot mounting to move the gripping means into gripping engagement with the topmost plate or paper sheet in the loading stack.
4. A printing plate processing machine according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the gripping means is engageable with the topmost plate or paper sheet in the stack when its ram is extended, and releasable when the ram is retracted.
5. A printing plate processing machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the diverting means comprises a baffle movable between a first position defining a path for printing plates from the loading station to the first conveyor and a second position defining a path for paper sheets from the loading station to the second conveyor.
6. A printing plate processing machine according to claim 5, wherein the baffle is biased towards its first position but is movable to its second position by an air stream discharged from a blower nozzle.
7. A printing plate processing machine according to claim 6, wherein the blower nozzle is positioned to discharge its air stream against the paper sheets as well as the baffle to urge the paper sheets along the path to the second conveyor.
8. A printing plate processing machine according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the blower nozzle is mounted on the feed means.
9. A printing plate processing machine according to any of claims 6 to 8, wherein the baffle is pivotally mounted and counterbalanced to provide the bias urging it towards its first position.
10. A printing plate processing machine according to any preceding claim, wherein the first conveyor means is located in spaced relationship above the second conveyor means.
11. A printing plate processing machine substantially as described herein with reference to the drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8010425A GB2073151A (en) | 1980-03-28 | 1980-03-28 | Printing Plate Processing Machine |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8010425A GB2073151A (en) | 1980-03-28 | 1980-03-28 | Printing Plate Processing Machine |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2073151A true GB2073151A (en) | 1981-10-14 |
Family
ID=10512447
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8010425A Withdrawn GB2073151A (en) | 1980-03-28 | 1980-03-28 | Printing Plate Processing Machine |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2073151A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0096864A2 (en) * | 1982-06-11 | 1983-12-28 | E.I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company | Transport system for an automatic repetitive registration and imagewise exposure apparatus |
-
1980
- 1980-03-28 GB GB8010425A patent/GB2073151A/en not_active Withdrawn
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0096864A2 (en) * | 1982-06-11 | 1983-12-28 | E.I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company | Transport system for an automatic repetitive registration and imagewise exposure apparatus |
| EP0096864A3 (en) * | 1982-06-11 | 1986-05-14 | E.I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company | Transport system for an automatic repetitive registration and imagewise exposure apparatus |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |