JP2000247460A - Printed matter feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent printed matters with paper sheets that are interposed therebetween stuck thereto from being fed to a printed matter recording device by providing a paper sheet removing means for carrying and removing the paper sheets and a paper sheet detection means for detecting that the paper sheets are stuck to the printed matters carried by a printed matter carrying means. SOLUTION: When an intermediate sensor 128 is put ON, operation of a paper sheet removing means (mechanis) is started. Then, operation of a printed matter carrying means (printed matter pad unit) 81 to carry printed matters 4 and operation of a paper sheet removing mechanism to remove paper sheets 5 interposed between the printed matters are carried out. A paper sheet pad unit 191 is raised by the pulse number 1. Whether a metal sensor 232 is put ON or not is confirmed. If ON, it shows that the printed patter 4 is stuck to a rear surface of the paper sheet 5 taken out. A pair of rollers 153, 154 have at their outlets a discharge sensor 172 and a paper sheet detection means (paper sheet sensor 9) 174, 174. The sensor 174 confirms that there is not paper sheet 5 stuck to the front or rear surface of the printed matter 4 biten by between discharge rollers 153, 154.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A color print is produced through several processes such as an exposure process and a printing process. Prior to this exposure step, typically, Y
Image data of four colors of (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black) is created. In recent years, based on such image data, a PS plate (Presensitized Pl
ate) and the like, a plate recording apparatus that directly records an image on a plate, that is, a so-called CTP machine (Computer To Plate) is being developed.

The present invention relates to such a printing plate recording apparatus,
The present invention relates to a plate supply device that automatically loads a plate to a device that handles the plate.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art Usually, printing plates are stored in a cassette in a stacked state. The plate supply device sequentially takes out the plates one by one from the cassette and supplies the plates to the plate recording device.
The printing plate is composed of a support layer and an image recording layer. Since the image recording layer is easily damaged, the image recording layer is housed in a cassette with paper called interleaving paper interposed between the printing plates. When supplying a printing plate to a printing plate recording apparatus, it is necessary to remove these slip sheets in advance. FIG. 27 shows a conventional plate supply device provided with such a slip sheet removing mechanism.

The printing plate case 101 contains printing plates and slip sheets alternately. The suction pad 102 takes out the printing plate and the interleaf stored in the case 101 in order from the top one by a motor (not shown). Metal sensor 103
Inspects the removed printing plate and slip sheet to detect a metal material. The path switching guide 104 includes a metal sensor 103.
, The position indicated by the solid line and the position indicated by the dotted line are moved relative to each other. The printing plate taken out by this,
The slip sheet that has been conveyed to the exposure device (not shown) and that has been taken out is conveyed to the collection box 121 side.

[0005]

With the above-described plate supply device, the sheet on the side facing the suction pad 102 can be determined. However, since the slip sheet may have air permeability, the suction pad 102 may suck the printing plate through the slip sheet. Even if the slip sheet has no air permeability, the printing plate may adhere to the back surface of the slip sheet due to strong static electricity. Since the printing plate supply device cannot detect the printing plate attached to the back surface of the interleaving paper, the interleaving paper with the printing plate adhered may be conveyed to the collection box 121 side. Similarly,
Since the slip sheet attached to the back surface of the printing plate cannot be detected, the printing plate may be conveyed to the exposure device while the slip sheet remains attached. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to prevent a printing plate to which an interleaf has adhered from being transported to a printing plate recording apparatus, or to prevent the interleaving paper to which the printing plate has adhered from being removed.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention (1)
1st invention A plate supply device according to a first invention is a plate supply device for supplying a plate to a plate recording device, comprising plate storage means for alternately storing plates and interleaving paper. A plate carrying-out means for carrying out the plate from the plate storing means and sending it to the printing plate recording device, a slip sheet removing means for carrying out and removing the slip sheet from the plate storing means, and carrying out by the plate carrying means. And an interleaf sheet detecting means for detecting that the interleaf sheet is attached to the inner printing plate.

The plate supply device according to the first aspect of the present invention has the slip sheet detection means for detecting that the slip sheet is attached to the printing plate carried out by the printing plate discharge means. It is possible to prevent the attached printing plate from being supplied to the printing plate recording device.

(2) A plate supply device according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises:
In the printing plate supply device according to the first invention, the slip sheet detection means is an optical sensor that detects a difference in light reflectance, light transmittance, or color between the slip sheet and the printing plate.

In the plate supply device according to the second aspect of the present invention, since the slip sheet attached to the plate is detected by the optical sensor, it is ensured that the plate with the slip sheet is sent to the plate recording device. Can be prevented.

(3) A plate supply device according to a third aspect of the present invention is:
In the plate supply device according to the first invention or the second invention, the slip sheet detection means determines the uppermost sheet of the plate storage means during the plate conveyance by the plate discharge means. It is characterized by.

Since the printing plate and the interleaving paper are alternately stored in the printing plate storage means, the uppermost sheet of the printing plate storage means during printing plate transport by the printing plate unloading means, If no slip sheet is attached to the printing plate being unloaded by the plate unloading means, it should be a slip sheet. In the plate supply device according to the third invention, during plate transportation by the plate carrying-out means, the plate carrying-out means is determined by determining whether the uppermost sheet of the plate containing means is a plate or a slip sheet. It is possible to detect whether or not the slip sheet is attached to the printing plate being transported.

(4) A plate supply device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention includes:
In the plate supply device according to the third invention, the slip sheet detecting means is a metal sensor provided in the slip sheet removing means and detects a metal material.

In the plate supply device according to the fourth invention, it is possible to reliably prevent the plate on which the slip sheet has adhered from being sent to the plate recording device.

(5) A plate supply device according to a fifth aspect of the present invention comprises:
A plate supply device for supplying a plate to a plate recording device,
Plate storage means for alternately storing plates and interleaving paper, plate unloading means for unloading plates from the plate storage means and sending them to the plate recording device, and unloading slip sheets from the plate storage means And a plate detecting means for detecting that the plate is attached to the interleaving paper being carried out by the interleaf removing means.

The plate supply device according to the fifth invention has plate detection means for detecting that the plate has adhered to the slip sheet being carried out by the slip sheet removal means. Can be prevented from being removed.

(6) A plate supply device according to a sixth aspect of the present invention comprises:
In the printing plate supply device according to the fifth invention, the printing plate detecting means is a metal sensor provided in the slip sheet removing means, and detects a metal material.

In the plate supply device according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the metal sensor is provided in the slip sheet removing means, the plate attached to the slip sheet is detected in the slip sheet removing step by the slip sheet removing means. Can be.

[0018]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS "1" Apparatus Overview FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a use mode of a plate recording system 1 according to the present invention. The plate supply device 2 includes a plate recording device 3
Is connected. The plate supply device 2 automatically takes out the plate 4 from a cassette 30 (described later) disposed therein and supplies the plate 4 to the plate recording device 3. The printing plate 4 to be subjected to image recording includes a support layer and an image recording layer responsive to heat and / or light of a predetermined wavelength, and is stored inside the cassette 30. In order to prevent the image forming layer from being damaged by friction between the printing plates 4, an interleaf 5 is sandwiched between the printing plates 4.

The printing plate 4 is taken out of the cassette 30 by the printing plate supply device 2, and is transported by a transport mechanism 150 described later.
Is placed on the transport unit 310 of the image recording apparatus 3. The transport unit 310 has two transport paths that are vertically stacked, that is, a first transport path 312 and a second transport path 314. The printing plate 4 is sent from a first transport path 312 to a recording drum (not shown), wound around the recording drum with the image recording layer facing upward, and held by suction. The printing plate 4 on the recording drum is exposed by a recording head (not shown) which is driven to blink based on given image data. When the exposure is completed, the printing plate 4 is returned from the recording drum to the second transport path 314, from where it is carried to an automatic developing machine manually by an operator and developed. Alternatively, the toner may be directly conveyed from the second conveying path 314 to the automatic developing machine.

An operation panel 318 is provided on the front of the apparatus, through which the operator can operate the plate supply device 2 and the plate recording device 3 and check the operation status. The detailed configuration of the printing plate recording device 3 is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 10-22219, entitled "Cylinder Outer Surface Scanning Device" by the present applicant.

[2] Description of mechanism of plate supply device 2 (frame, etc.) The above-described cassette 30 is mounted on a cassette table 50 below the plate supply device 2. The cassette 30 is placed on the cassette table 50. Since four wheels 51, 51, 51, 51 are attached to the lower surface of the cassette table 50, it can be pulled out to the front of the apparatus. After the cassette table 50 is pulled out, the printing plate 4 and the slip sheet 5 are replenished to the cassette 30 thereon. Alternatively, the printing plate 4 and the slip sheet 5 may be replenished by exchanging the entire cassette 30. In the following description, with reference to the state of FIG. 1, the right side (the surface facing the plate recording device 3) is opposed to the plate supply device 2, and the left side (the slip sheet discharge) is facing. The surface on which the holes 53 are formed) is referred to as a slip sheet discharge surface, and the surface opposite to the front of the apparatus is referred to as a back surface. The opposite surface from the slip sheet discharge surface is referred to as the X direction, the front to the back surface is referred to as the Y direction, and the upward from the bottom is referred to as the Z direction.

The slip sheet 5 sandwiched between the printing plates 4 in the cassette 30 is taken out of the cassette 30 by a slip sheet removing mechanism 190 described later and provided on the slip sheet discharge surface of the printing plate supply device 2. Discharged from the interleaf paper discharge hole 53
It is dropped into an interleaf paper collection box (not shown) and collected. (Overview of Plate Supply Apparatus) An overview of the plate supply apparatus 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The plate supply device 2 includes a loader mechanism 70 for taking out the printing plate 4 from the cassette 30, a slip sheet removing mechanism 190 for taking out and removing the slip sheet 5 from the cassette 30, and a loader mechanism 70.
A transport mechanism 150 for transporting the printing plate 4 taken out from the printing plate toward the printing plate recording device 3, a vacuum pump 17 communicatively connected to the suction pad of the loader mechanism 70 and the slip sheet removing mechanism 190, This is a configuration in which an electrical box 16 for performing control is fixedly attached. The cassette table 50 and the cassette 30 are detachable from the plate supply device 2 as described above.

(Frame 10) The frame 10 is provided between two square-shaped vertical support frames (a first vertical support frame 11 on the front side and a second vertical support frame 12 on the back side) standing upright in parallel. Two bar-shaped horizontal support frames (the first horizontal support frame 13 on the facing surface side and the second horizontal support frame 14 on the slip sheet discharge surface side) are arranged, and furthermore, between these two horizontal support frames 13, 14. And a bottom plate 15. An electric box 16 and a vacuum pump 17 are fixedly mounted on the bottom plate 15, and a cassette table 50 is removably mounted thereon. The cassette table 50 reciprocates between the inside and the outside of the plate supply device 2 through the first vertical support frame 11.

(Loader Mechanism 70) FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. The loader mechanism 70 has a plate pad unit 81 having a plate suction pad 82 attached to the tip thereof, and means for horizontally moving and rotating the plate pad unit 81. Loader mechanism 70
Are fixed to a first side plate 71 fixed to the first vertical support frame 11 so as to be parallel to the XZ plane, and fixed to a second vertical support frame 12 so as to be parallel to the XZ plane. And a second side plate 72.

A plate pad unit 81 is arranged between the first side plate 71 and the second side plate 72. The plate pad unit 81 mainly includes a bracket 108 and first and second plates.
Vertical shafts 111 and 112 and pad holding plate 115
, Nine printing plate suction pads 82, twelve support rollers 120, six blades 100, a horizontal shaft 85, first and second bushes 83, 84, and a protruding member 1.
04, 105 (not shown in FIGS. 2 and 16), first and second gear boxes 96, 97, first and second pinions 98, 9
9

Bracket 10 of plate pad unit 81
Reference numeral 8 denotes a member including two arms (a first arm 130 and a second arm 131) having a U-shaped XZ cross section and a main body 132 elongated in the Y direction. Bracket 108
The first pinion 98 moves in the X direction and the −X direction by rotating the first pinion 98 on the first rack 73 and the second pinion 99 rotating on the second rack 74, and the first and second pinions 98. , 99.

The loader mechanism 70 further includes a first rack 73 and a first guide shaft 79 which are fixed to the first side plate 71 in parallel with each other, and a second rack 73 and which is fixed in parallel to the second side plate 72. It has a rack 74 and a second guide shaft 80. On the first and second side plates 71 and 72, a first guide slope 123 and a second guide slope 124 are further arranged.

The first guide shaft 79 is provided with a first bush 83 and the second guide shaft 80 is provided with a second bush 84. The first and second bush 83,
84 is in the X direction and − by belts 86 and 134, respectively.
A driving force in the X direction is given. First and second bush 8
3 and 84 have the same driving method, and therefore, the bush (second bush 84) on the second side plate 72 will be described as an example.

Above the second guide shaft 80, a second belt 134 runs in parallel.
It is connected to the second bush 84 by a belt fixing member 88 (see FIG. 4). The second belt 134 is stretched between the pulley 91 on the facing surface side and the pulley 92 on the slip sheet discharging surface side. The pulley 91 is a horizontal shaft 8 extending in the Y direction.
5 is attached to one end. A pulley 90 is further fixed to one end of the horizontal shaft 85. A vertical belt 136 is wound around the pulley 90 and connected to the rotation shaft of the plate pad unit drive motor 95. In this way, the rotation of the plate driving motor 95 is controlled by the vertical belt 136.
Through the second shaft 134 and the second shaft 134 and the second shaft 134.
It is transmitted to the bush 84. A pulley 93 around which a first belt 86 is stretched is fixed to the other end of the horizontal shaft 85, and the first belt 86 is connected to a first bush 83 via a first belt fixing member 87. Therefore, when the horizontal shaft 85 is rotated by the plate driving motor 95, the first bush 83 and the second bush 84 move simultaneously and in the same direction.

As the first bush 83 and the second bush 84 move along the guide shafts 79 and 80, the entire plate pad unit 81 moves in the X direction and rotates around the Y axis. The origin sensor 1 is provided on the second side plate 72.
29, the intermediate sensor 128 is fixed. Further, on the bottom surface of the second gear box 97 which is a part of the plate pad unit 81, a blade 133 protruding toward the rear side of the apparatus is attached (not shown in FIG. 2; see FIG. 3). The position of the plate pad unit 81 in the X direction is detected by detecting the blade 133 with the origin sensor 129 and the intermediate sensor 128.

The plate pad unit 81 has a main body 132 and first and second arms 130 and 131 at both ends thereof. The unit 81 is connected to each arm 13
First and second pinions 98, 99 connected to 0, 131
, Are held on the first and second racks 73 and 74. Near the first arm 130 and the second arm 13
Since the configuration near 1 is common, only the vicinity of the first arm 130 will be described. 3 and 4 are used.
FIG. 3 shows a structure near the second side plate 72 of the plate pad unit 81, and FIG. 4 shows a side surface of the plate pad unit 81 from the second side plate 72 side.

A second protruding member 105 is attached to the inner side surface of the second arm 131. Second projecting member 10
5, the output shaft 102 of the second gear box 97 penetrates. The second pinion 99 is attached to the input shaft 101 of the second gear box 97. Second gear box 9
7 is attached to the second bush 84 by a link 106. The second gear box 97 is a member that rotates the output shaft 102 at a rotation speed obtained by dividing the rotation speed by a predetermined number when the input shaft rotates by an external force. In this embodiment, the second gearbox 97 is set to a ratio (reduction ratio) in which the output shaft 102 rotates by １ ／ every time the input shaft 101 rotates seven times. The above description also applies to the first gear box 96.

A hole 109 is formed on the upper surface of the second arm 131. The second vertical shaft 112 is fixedly fitted in the hole 109. A spring 114 and a pad holding plate 115 are movably fitted on the second vertical shaft 112 along the second vertical shaft 112. As shown in FIG. 4, the pad holding plate 115 is an L extending in the Y direction.
Character member. Nine plate suction pads 82 are fixed to the inner surface of the pad holding plate 115. Each printing plate suction pad 82, 82,. . . . Is connected to the hose 126, the plate solenoid valve 19 (see FIG. 2), and the vacuum pump 17 (the same). A second guide plate 117 is attached to a side end of the pad holding plate 115. Second guide plate 11
7, a guide hole 119 is formed.
The rotation shaft 121 of the support roller 120 penetrates through 19 so that it can slide along the inner peripheral surface of the hole.

As shown in FIG. 2, there are a total of twelve support rollers 120. Support rollers 120 at both ends
Are disposed outside the first and second guide plates 116 and 117, and the other support rollers 120 are mounted on both the guide plates 11.
6,117.

Each of the support rollers 12
Six blades 100 are also arranged between zero. These blades 100 are members for supporting the printing plate 4 held by the plate pad unit 81 by suction in the vicinity of the origin position (described later) of the plate pad unit 81.

As shown in FIG. 3, an intermediate sensor 128 and an origin sensor 129 are screwed to the second side plate 72. Each sensor 128, 129 is connected to the second gearbox 9
When the L-shaped blade 133 fixed to the bottom of the sensor 7 passes through the gap between the sensors, it outputs a position detection signal.

(Interleaf Removal Mechanism 190) The interleaf removal mechanism 190 will be described with reference to FIGS. Slip-paper removal mechanism 19
0 is mainly composed of two upright guide shafts 210, 2
11, a slip sheet pad unit 191 that moves up and down along the guide shafts 210 and 211, and a slip sheet discharge unit 192 that discharges the slip sheet 5 lifted by the slip sheet pad unit 191 to the outside of the plate supply device 2. Consists of First
The guide shaft 210 is fixed to the first side plate 71 by bearings 213 and 214, and the second guide shaft 211 is fixed to the second side plate 72 by bearings 215 and 216, respectively.

The slip sheet pad unit 191 is mainly fixed to a bracket 212 which is long in the Y direction, nine slip sheet suction pads 231 fixed to the bottom surface thereof, and a substantially central bottom surface of the bracket 212. It comprises a metal sensor 232 and first and second sliders 219 and 220 for connecting the bracket 212 to the guide shafts 210 and 211. The metal sensor 232 is a sensor for detecting a metal material, and detects whether or not the printing plate 4 is attached to the slip sheet 5 sucked by the slip sheet suction pad 231.

The slip sheet pad unit 191 includes a slip sheet pad unit drive motor 227 and the first and second vertical belts 22.
5, 226, the rotating shaft 229, and the first, second, third, and fourth pulleys 221, 222, 223, and 224 move up and down.

The first vertical belt 225 is connected to the first pulley 22
It is bridged between the first and second pulleys 222. Similarly, the second vertical belt 226 is stretched between the third pulley 223 and the fourth pulley 224. A horizontal belt 228 is provided between the third pulley 223 and the slip sheet pad unit drive motor 227, and the driving force of the slip sheet pad unit drive motor 227 is set to the second level via the horizontal belt 228 and the third pulley 223. The power is transmitted to the vertical belt 226. The third pulley 223 further includes a first side plate 71.
A rotation shaft 229 is rotatably mounted between the first side plate 72 and the second side plate 72. A first pulley 221 is fixed to the other end of the rotating shaft 229. As mentioned above,
Since the first vertical belt 225 is stretched between the pulley 221 and the second pulley 222, the first vertical belt 225 is driven by the interleaf pad unit drive motor 227 transmitted by the rotation shaft 229. Rotate by.

An origin sensor 21 not shown in FIG.
7, the origin position of the slip sheet pad unit 191 is detected. The uppermost position of the slip sheet pad unit 191 is the origin position. The vertical position of the slip sheet pad unit 191 is controlled by pulse control of the slip sheet pad unit drive motor 228 based on the origin position detected by the origin sensor 191.

The structure of the slip sheet discharge unit 192 will be described with reference to FIGS. The slip sheet discharge unit 192 nips the slip sheet 5 with the slip sheet discharge roller 206 and the nip roller 199, and divides the slip sheet 5 into the upper guide plate 234 and the lower guide plate 23.
5 and sent out. An interleaf paper discharge hole 53 (see FIG. 1) is formed on an extension of the upper guide plate 234 and the lower guide plate 235.

The interleaf discharge rollers 206 are provided for the first and second side plates 7.
1, 72 are rotatably held. A pulley 209 is provided at an end of the slip sheet discharge roller 206 on the first side plate side 71 side.
The pulley 209 is connected to a slip sheet discharge motor 204 by a belt 205.

On the other hand, the nip roller 199 is the first link 1
97, the second link 198 (not shown)
00. The rotation shaft 200 is connected to the first side plate 71.
And is rotatably held by the second side plate 72. When the rotation shaft 200 rotates, the first and second links 197 and 198 are rotated.
And the nip roller 199 rotates around the rotation shaft 200. The rotating shaft 200 is rotated by the rotating shaft 2.
A large gear 196 fixed coaxially with 00, a small gear 195 meshing with the large gear 196, and a nip motor 194 fixed to the first side plate 71 for rotating the small gear 195.

In the following description, the slip sheet discharge roller 2
The position of the nip roller 199 at the time of contact with the sheet 06 is a nip position, and the position separated from the slip sheet discharge roller 206 is a rest position. As shown in FIG. 5, a slip sheet detection sensor 207 is disposed below the nip roller 199. The slip sheet detection sensor 207 is a slip sheet pad unit 1
This is a sensor for detecting the slip sheet 5 lifted by 91.

(Transport Mechanism 150) Returning to FIG. 2 again, the transport mechanism 150 will be described. The transport mechanism 150 fixes two slopes 155 and 156 between the pair of side plates 151 and 152, and transport rollers 157 and 158 and the pair of discharge rollers 1
53 and 154 are rotatably held. In the pair of discharge rollers 153 and 154, reference numeral 153 is assigned to a driven roller, and reference numeral 1 is assigned to a driving roller.
Reference numeral 54 is attached.

The drive side discharge roller 154 includes a pulley 168 attached to an end on the front side of the apparatus, and a belt 169.
And the pulley 167, the discharge roller drive motor 16
6 and is rotationally driven by the motor 166.
A pulley 161 is attached to an end of the drive-side discharge roller 154 on the back side of the apparatus. The pulley 161 is
A belt 16 is attached to pulleys 159 and 160 attached to each end of the first and second discharge rollers 157 and 158.
5, the power of the discharge roller drive motor 166 rotates not only the drive side discharge roller 154 but also the first transport roller 157 and the second transport roller 158. The belt 165 is guided in a required direction by three guide wheels 162, 163, and 164 arranged at predetermined positions on the side plate 152. As shown in FIG. 17, a discharge sensor 172 for optically detecting that the leading end of the plate 4 has passed the discharge rollers 153 and 154 is provided on the plate discharge side of the discharge rollers 153 and 154. Have been. By the discharge sensor 172, the discharge rollers 153 and 154
Is detected.

In the printing plate supply device 2, the printing plate 4 and the interleaf 5 are taken out of the cassette 30 separately.
The printing plate 4 may be conveyed to 3, 154. In order to detect such an incorrectly inserted slip sheet 5, the discharge roller 1
Two slip sheet sensors 1 are provided at the plate discharge side positions of 53 and 154.
74, 174 are provided. These slip sheet sensors 1
Reference numerals 74 and 174 detect that the interleaf 5 is attached to the plate 4 by detecting a difference in reflectance between the printing plate 4 and the interleaf 5.

(Explanation of Principle) FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the principle of plate transport. A circle C with a radius r on the line LL
Are shown in five stages (first to fifth stages). Circle C that touches line L in the first stage
The upper point is defined as P1. An arbitrary point fixed on the line LL is defined as Q. Let L be the length of the line connecting point P1 and point Q.

The point P1 moves as the circle C rotates. The point P1 at the second stage is P2, the point P1 at the second stage is P2, the point P1 at the third stage is P3, the point P1 at the fourth stage is P4, and the point P1 at the fifth stage is P5. I do.
The length of the curve connecting the point P1 and the point Q at each stage is determined by the intersection (P1, I2, I2) of the point P1, the circle C and the line LL at each stage.
3, I4, P5) and the length of the straight line connecting the intersection and the point Q. That is,
In the second stage, the length of the curve connecting the point P2 and the point Q is defined as the sum of the length of the arc between the point P2 and the intersection I2 and the length of the straight line connecting the intersection I2 and the point Q. Hereinafter, the third stage P
3. P4 in the fourth stage is in accordance with this. P in the fifth stage
The length of the curve connecting the point 5 and the point Q is the sum of the length of the straight line connecting the point P5 and the point Q and the circumference of the circle C. The length of the curve connecting the points P and Q at each stage is L. That is, the length of the curve connecting the point on the rotating circle and the point on the bottom line does not change during one rotation of the circle.

FIG. 7 shows the state in which the leading end of the printing plate 4 is gripped and conveyed in five stages (t1, t2, t3, t4, t5).
FIG. Plate pad unit 8
1 is a printing plate 4 such that the printing plate grip point draws a cycloid.
Therefore, if the length of the printing plate pad unit 81 is R, the length L of the printing plate 4 is πR (the relationship between L and R will be described later).

The plate suction unit 81 when the plate 4 is sucked is 81 (t1), and when the plate is turned 45 degrees is 81 (t1).
2) 81 (t3) when rotated 90 degrees, 81 (t4) when rotated 135 degrees, and 8 when rotated 180 degrees.
1 (t5).

Since the plate suction unit 81 is for transporting the plate 4 so that the plate suction points form a cycloid, the radius R (= length of the plate suction unit 81)
When the virtual circle is rotating without sliding on the printing plate 4, it can be said that the printing plate is being sucked at one point on the virtual circle.

As described above with reference to FIG. 6, the length of the curve connecting the point on the rotating circle and the point on the bottom line is constant while the circle rotates once. Therefore, the printing plate suction points (P1, P2, P3,
P4, P5) and the rear end Q1 of the printing plate 4 are each equal to the length L1 of the printing plate 4. Therefore, the printing plate 4 being conveyed by the printing plate unit 81 remains stopped and does not rub against the printing plate 4 thereunder.

FIG. 8 shows a length (L2) shorter than the length L1.
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing a state in which the leading edge of a printing plate 4 is gripped and conveyed. As described above, since the length connecting the point on the rotating circle and any fixed point on the bottom line does not change during one rotation of the circle and remains constant, the printing of the plate suction unit 81 at each stage is performed. Plate suction points (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5) and plate 4
The length of the curve connecting the trailing end Q2 is equal to l2. Therefore, also in this case, the printing plate 4 being conveyed by the printing plate pad unit 81 remains stopped and does not rub against the printing plate 4 thereunder.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an outline of the process of plate transport and interleaf removal in the plate supply device 2. First, the cassette 30 is taken out, and a plurality of printing plates 4 and an interleaf 5 sandwiched therebetween are loaded. Next, the operation panel 318 of the plate recording device 3
Then, the number of printing plates 4 to be loaded into the cassette 30 is designated (step S.1).

Upon receiving a signal requesting plate supply from the plate recording device 3, the plate supply device 2 starts taking out the plate 4 (step S.3).

First, initialization is performed, and the printing plate pad unit 81 and the slip sheet discharge unit 191 are returned to the origin positions (step S.10). These units 81, 19
If one of the units 1 is not at the origin position, the unit not at the origin position is moved to the origin position. If both units are not at the origin position, the plate pad unit 81 is first moved to the origin position, and then the slip sheet pad unit 191 is moved to the origin position. The origin position of the plate pad unit 81 is detected by an origin sensor 129 fixed to the second side plate 72. The origin position of the slip sheet pad unit 192 is detected by the origin sensor 217. FIG. 16 shows a state where both the plate pad unit 81 and the slip sheet pad unit 191 are at the origin positions.

The origin position of the plate pad unit 81 is detected by detecting the blade 133 with the origin sensor 129 as described above. At this time, the plate pad unit 81
Is almost upright. The plate suction pad 82 disposed at the tip of the plate pad unit 81 has substantially the same height as the engagement position of the pair of discharge rollers 153 and 154.

On the other hand, the origin of the slip sheet pad unit 191 is detected by the origin sensor 217. Insert paper pad unit 1
When 91 is at the origin position, the interleaf paper suction pad 231
Is slightly higher than the engagement position between the nip roller 199 and the slip sheet discharge roller 206. When the initialization is completed, the nip roller 199 is at the rest position.

Next, whether the uppermost sheet of the cassette 30 is the printing plate 4 or the slip sheet 5 or whether the cassette 30 is empty is determined using the slip sheet pad unit 191 (see FIG. 4). Discrimination process steps S.20 to S.50). If it is determined that the top sheet of the cassette 30 is the printing plate 4, the printing plate is transported by the loader mechanism 70 and the transport mechanism 150 (steps S.60 to S.89), and the plate The slip sheet removal by the sheet removal mechanism 190 (step S.1).
90-S. 134) is performed. After this, the cassette 30
It is determined whether or not the removal of the last printing plate 4 loaded in the cassette 3 has been completed (step S.130).
If it is determined that the printing plate 4 still remains within the range of Step S.0. Return to step 3 and wait for the next plate supply signal.

On the other hand, the discrimination step (steps S.20 to S.20)
If it is determined in step 50) that the top sheet of the cassette 30 is the slip sheet 5, slip sheet removal is performed by the slip sheet removing mechanism (S.106 to S.124), and the process returns to the determination step and returns to the next step. Is determined. Insert paper pad unit 191
Does not detect any sheet, it is determined that no sheet is stored in the cassette 30, and an empty process (step S.38) is performed.

(Determination Step) Determination Step (Step S.20)
~ S. 50) is replaced with FIGS. 10 and 11 of the flowchart,
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 16 shows a state in which both the plate pad unit 81 and the slip sheet pad unit 191 are at the origin positions. The discrimination step is performed using the slip sheet pad unit 191.

First, the first vertical belt 225 and the second vertical belt 226 are rotated so that the slip sheet pad unit 191 is rotated.
Is started at a high speed (step S.22). Next, in step 24, it is determined whether or not the vacuum pump 17 is ON. If it is OFF, the printing plate solenoid valve 19
And the interleaving paper electromagnetic valve 20 is closed (step S.28).
When the printing plate solenoid valve 19 is closed, the suction pipe from the vacuum pump 17 to the printing plate suction pad 82 is closed, and the printing plate suction pad 82 starts a suction operation. Similarly, when the slip sheet electromagnetic valve 20 is closed, the suction pipe from the vacuum pump 17 to the slip sheet suction pad 231 is closed, and the slip sheet suction pad 231 starts a suction operation. Solenoid valves 19, 20
The vacuum pump 17 is turned on after the closing of (Step S.).
30).

Next, only the plate solenoid valve 19 is opened (step S.26). When the plate solenoid valve 19 is opened, the suction pipe from the vacuum pump 17 to the plate suction pad 82 is opened to the atmosphere, and the suction operation of the pad 82 stops. When the slip sheet pad unit 191 approaches the cassette 30, the process proceeds to low speed lowering (step S.32). As the interleaf pad unit 191 descends at a low speed, it is determined in step S.1 whether the interleaf suction pad 231 has reached a predetermined pressure or higher. If the suction pressure is still lower than the predetermined pressure, the process proceeds to the next step S.34. At 36, it is confirmed whether the slip sheet pad unit 191 has been lowered to a predetermined position. This step S. In step S.36, if it is confirmed that the slip sheet pad unit 191 has not been lowered to the predetermined position, step S.36 is repeated. Returning to 34, the suction pressure is compared with the predetermined pressure. Here, the predetermined pressure corresponds to the pressure when the interleaf suction pad 231 is closed by the printing plate 4 or the interleaf 5. Step S. 36, the predetermined position of the slip sheet pad unit 191 is
This is a position immediately before the leading end of the cassette 31 contacts the bottom surface of the cassette 30.

Since a vent hole (not shown) is provided on the bottom surface of the cassette 30 at a position opposite to the slip-sheet suction pad 231 (not shown). At 36, even if the tip of the slip-sheet suction pad 231 contacts the bottom surface of the cassette 30, the slip-sheet suction pad 231 is not blocked by the bottom surface of the cassette 30. Therefore, step S. False detection at 34 can be avoided. Step S. If YES is determined in 36, the process shifts to an empty process (step S.38). That is, the interleaf pad unit 191 is returned to the home position and the cassette 30
The fact that the inside is empty is displayed on the operation panel 318 (see FIG. 1) to call attention of the operator.

Step S. 34, if it is determined that the suction pressure is higher than the predetermined pressure, the slip-sheet suction pad 2
Assuming that the printing plate 4 or the interleaf sheet 5 is attracted to the interleaving sheet 31, the interleaf paper pad unit 191 stops descending (step S.4)
0). Thereafter, the control unit (not shown) performs control such that the pulse signal is applied to the slip sheet pad unit drive motor 227 by the number of pulses 1, and raises the slip sheet pad unit 191. This pulse number 1 is stored in the plate 30
The number of pulses is such that the distance from the top surface of the printing plate 4 (or interleaf sheet 5) to the tip of the interleaf suction pad 231 when the is loaded to the maximum is, for example, 10 mm or more.

Then, with the metal sensor 232 (see FIGS. 2 and 16) attached to the bracket 212 of the slip sheet pad unit 191, the sheet adsorbed on the slip sheet suction pad 231 is the printing plate 4 or the slip sheet 5. Is determined (step S.44). When the metal sensor 232 is ON, it is determined that the printing plate 4 has been sucked, and OFF.
When it is determined that the slip sheet 5 has been sucked. If the distance between the metal sensor 232 and the plate 4 in the cassette 30 is small when the slip sheet 5 is being sucked, the metal sensor 23
Reference numeral 2 denotes a plate 4 passing through the slip sheet 5 and in the cassette 30 thereunder.
May be erroneously detected.
Is set to a number that does not cause such erroneous detection.

Step S. At 44, the metal sensor 232 is
When N is reached, the slip sheet pad unit 191 falls again by the number of pulses 1 (step S.46). Solenoid valve for slip sheet 2
0 is released (step S.48), and the printing plate 4 is returned into the cassette 30. Thereafter, the slip sheet pad unit 191 is raised to the origin position (step S.50). After this is completed, the plate transport process by the loader mechanism 70 is started.

On the other hand, step S. Metal sensor 23 at 44
When it is determined that 2 is OFF, the slip sheet removal by the slip sheet removing mechanism 190 is started. This processing is performed by a loader mechanism 7 described later.
0 (Steps S.90 to S.134), which is a part of the interleaf paper removing step (Steps S.90 to S.134) performed in parallel with the printing plate transporting step (Steps S.60 to S.89) performed by the transport mechanism 150. 106 to S.124), which will be described in detail in the description.

(Printing plate transporting step and slip sheet removing step performed in parallel with this step) Discriminating step (Steps S.20 to S.5)
When the plate 4 is detected in 0), the plate transport process by the loader mechanism 70 is started. 17 to 21 showing the cross section of the main part of the plate supply device 2 and FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the plate pad unit 81 starts to descend at a high speed (step S.62). Specifically, the plate pad unit drive motor 95 is rotated, and the first belt 8 is rotated.
6 is rotated between the pulleys 93 and 94, and the second belt 134 is rotated between the pulleys 91 and 92. 1st, 2nd
The rotation of the belts 86 and 134 is controlled by the first and second bushes 83,
84 is moved in the -X direction. First and second bush 8
With the movement of 3, 84, the first and second pinions 98, 9
9 rotates on the first and second racks 73 and 74. As described above, the first pinion 98 includes the first gearbox 96 and the first gearbox 96.
The second pinion 99 is connected to the plate pad unit 81 via the second gear box 97 and the second projecting member 105 via the projecting member 104. Therefore, the rotation of each pinion 98, 99 is reduced by the first and second gear boxes 96, 97, and then the plate pad unit 81 is rotated.

As described above, the plate pad unit 81 moves in the horizontal direction while rotating about the rotation axes of the pinions 98 and 99.

While the printing plate pad unit 81 is moving down at a high speed, the slip sheet solenoid valve 20 is opened and the printing plate solenoid valve 19 is closed (step S.64). Step S. of the determination step has already been performed. Since the vacuum pump 17 is turned on at 30, the suction pipe from the vacuum pump 17 to the plate suction pad 82 is closed, and the plate suction pad 82 operates.

When the printing plate pad unit 81 approaches the cassette 30, step S. At 66, a transition is made to low speed descent.

Next, at step S. At 68, it is monitored whether the suction pressure of the printing plate suction pad 82 becomes equal to or lower than a predetermined pressure. The suction pressure at this time corresponds to the suction pressure when the printing plate suction pad 82 is closed by any sheet. Step S. If it is determined in S68 that the suction pressure has become equal to or lower than the predetermined pressure, the printing plate pad unit 81 is temporarily stopped (step S.70). This temporary stop is a process for reliably sucking the printing plate 4 to the printing plate suction pad 82. The state at this time is shown in FIG. The printing plate suction pad 82 is in close contact with the printing plate 4 at a position inside a predetermined distance from the leading end of the printing plate 4. This distance is set to, for example, about 50 mm. Since the pad holding plate 115 can move up and down along the shaft 112, the length of the plate pad unit 81 is variable. Therefore, regardless of the number of printing plates 4 in the cassette 30, the printing plate suction pad 82 can be in close contact with the surface of the printing plate 4 horizontally.

Next, at step S. Proceeding to 72, the controller (not shown) sends a pulse signal to the plate pad unit drive motor 95 to move the plate pad unit 81 by two pulses at low speed. FIG. 18 shows the state after the movement. The plate pad unit 81 stops and rotates in the X direction about 45 degrees from the origin position about the rotation axes of the first and second pinions 98 and 99. The printing plate 4 is sucked by the printing plate suction pad 82, and the vicinity of the leading end is curved. The suction position of the printing plate suction pad 82 is determined by the printing plate 4.
Since the position of the printing plate 4 is not the front end but a predetermined distance inside from the front end, the vicinity of the front end of the printing plate 4 can be greatly curved.

In this state, several seconds (for example, 10 seconds)
Stop (step S.74). This is to prepare for a case where the slip sheet 5 adheres to the back surface of the printing plate 4 that has been lifted. In rare cases, the slip sheet 5 adheres to the back surface of the printing plate 4 due to static electricity or the like. If the printing plate 4 is sent to the printing plate recording device 3 (see FIG. 1) with the slip sheet 5 adhered to the back surface, normal image recording on the printing plate 4 cannot be performed. Step S. 7
While the plate pad unit 1 is stopped for several seconds at 4, the slip sheet 5 is gradually peeled off from the curved portion of the plate 4 and falls into the cassette 30. As described above, since the vicinity of the front end of the printing plate 4 is greatly curved, even if the interleaving paper 5 adheres to the back surface of the printing plate 4, the interleaving paper 5 surely falls. Instead of simply stopping for a few seconds, the plate pad unit 81 may be raised and lowered in small increments to promote the drop of the slip sheet 5.

Next, the plate pad unit 81 starts to move up at a high speed (step S.76). In parallel with this operation, the control unit monitors whether the intermediate sensor 128 is turned on (step S.89). FIG. 19 shows a state in which the intermediate sensor 128 is turned ON. The intermediate sensor 128 includes a blade 133 (FIG. 3) fixed to the bottom of the plate pad unit 81.
), The gap is shut off and turned on.

At this time, the printing plate pad unit 81 has rotated about 90 degrees from the time when the printing plate 4 was sucked, and has reached a substantially intermediate position in the longitudinal direction of the first and second racks 73 and 74. ing. Step S. Intermediate sensor 128 at 89
Is turned ON, the slip sheet removal process (steps S.90 to S.134) by the slip sheet removing mechanism 190 is started. Thus, the transport of the printing plate 4 by the printing plate pad unit 81 and the removal processing of the slip sheet 5 by the slip sheet removing mechanism 190 are performed in parallel. In the printing plate supply device 2, the removal of the slip sheet 5 can be started before the printing plate conveyance is completed, so that the work efficiency is high. The plate pad unit 81 is a pair of the discharge rollers 15
Steps S.3 and S154. Moving to 78, the plate pad unit 81 rises at a low speed. However, since the slip sheet removal processing has been started before that, the slip sheet removal processing (steps S.90 to S.134) will be described first.

(Interleaf Removal Step) FIGS. 14, 15 and 2
0 and FIG. First, the interleaf pad unit 191 starts to descend at a high speed (step S.92).
The slip sheet solenoid valve 20 is closed halfway down the high speed (step S.94). When the interleaf pad unit 191 approaches the cassette 30, the speed shifts to low speed (step S.9).
6). Step S. determines whether the suction pressure has fallen below a predetermined pressure. 9
Judge at 8. Thereafter, step S. The descent ends at 100. At this time, the slip sheet 5 immediately below the printing plate 4 currently being conveyed by the slip sheet pad unit 81 is sucked by the slip sheet suction pad 231. The state at this time is shown in FIG.

Next, the slip sheet pad unit 191 is raised by the number of pulses 1 (step S.102). Check whether the metal sensor 232 has been turned on (step S.10)
4). At this time, the fact that the metal sensor 232 is turned on indicates that the printing plate 4 has adhered to the back surface of the interleaf 5 taken out. That is, since the slip sheet 5 may have air permeability, the slip sheet suction pad 231 is
The printing plate 4 may be adsorbed through the plate. Further, even if the slip sheet 5 does not have air permeability, the printing plate 4 may adhere to the back surface of the slip sheet 5 due to strong static electricity.

Step S. The metal sensor 232 at 104
Is OFF, that is, it is determined that only the slip sheet 5 has been attracted to the slip sheet suction pad 231, the process proceeds to step S. Proceeding to 106, the interleaf paper pad unit 191 starts to rise at high speed. When the interleaving paper suction pad 231 is approximately at the same height as the engagement position between the nip roller 199 and the interleaf discharging roller 206, the lifting of the interleaf pad unit 191 is stopped (step S.108).

Next, the nip motor 194 (see FIG. 5) is driven to rotate the nip roller 199. Then, the leading end of the slip sheet 5 is connected to the nip roller 199 and the slip sheet discharge roller 20.
6 (step S.110). Then, the electromagnetic valve 20 for interleaf paper is opened and the suction pad 2 for interleaf paper is opened.
The suction of 31 is stopped.

The slip sheet pad unit 191 is raised again and returned to the origin position (steps S.114 and S.11).
6). FIG. 21 shows the state at this time. Next, the interleaf discharge motor 204 (see FIG. 5) is operated to operate the interleaf discharge roller 20.
6 is started (step S.118). Then, the slip sheet 5 is sent between the upper guide plate 234 and the lower guide plate 235, and advances toward the slip sheet discharge hole 53.

After a predetermined time, the slip sheet detection sensor 207 (FIG. 5)
(See step S.12) is turned off.
0). Here, the fact that it remains ON means that the slip sheet 5 is not normally sent, so that it is regarded as a slip sheet jam and error processing is performed (step S.122). More specifically, the slip sheet discharge motor 204 is turned off, and a message indicating that the slip sheet is jammed is displayed on the operation panel 318 (see FIG. 1) to alert the operator and urge the user to remove the slip sheet manually. If the slip sheet detection sensor 120 is turned off after a predetermined time has elapsed, it is determined that the slip sheet 5 has been normally discharged, and the slip sheet discharge motor 20
4 is stopped (step S.124).

On the other hand, step S. If the metal sensor 232 is turned on at 104, the removed slip sheet 5 is returned to the cassette 30 (step S.126).

The printing plates 4 and the slip sheets 5 are alternately stored in the cassette 30, and the top printing plate 4 of the cassette 30 is being transported by the printing plate unit 81 at this time. Step S. Detected at 104 is the second printing plate 4 from the top of the cassette 30 attached to the back surface of the slip sheet 5. After that, the interleaving paper electromagnetic valve 20 is opened and the operation of the interleaving paper suction pad 231 is stopped (step S.128).

Step S. 126, S.M. 128 for slip sheet 5
Is completed, the slip sheet pad unit 191 is raised again to return to the original position (steps S. 130, 132, 134).

(Printing Plate Discharge) The description will be returned to the printing plate unloading operation by the printing plate unit 191. This will be described with reference to FIGS. The printing plate pad unit 191 determines in step S.
At 76 it is rising fast. When the plate suction unit 82 approaches the vicinity of the pair of discharge rollers 153 and 154, the speed rises at a low speed. As shown in FIG. 22, when the support roller 120 rides on the guide slopes 123 and 124, the leading end of the printing plate 4 sucked and held by the printing plate suction pad 82 is leveled, and is positioned between the pair of discharge rollers 153 and 154. Is inserted into.

At the outlets of the pair of discharge rollers 153 and 154, a discharge sensor 172 and interleaf sensors 174 and 174 are arranged. The discharge sensor 172 is a sensor for confirming that the printing plate 4 is securely held between the pair of discharge rollers 153 and 154, and optically detects the presence of the printing plate 4. On the other hand, the slip sheet sensor 174
This is a sensor for confirming that the slip sheet 5 does not adhere to the front or back surface of the printing plate 4 held between 53 and 154. These sensors are disposed one by one on both sides of the printing plate 4 passing through the discharge rollers 153 and 154, and detect a difference in light reflectance between the printing plate 4 and the slip sheet 5 or a difference in color to detect the printing plate. The interleaf paper 5 attached to the front or back surface of the paper 4 can be detected.

Step S. When the discharge sensor 172 is turned on at 80, the plate pad unit 81 stops rising (step S.81), and then the plate solenoid valve 19 is opened to stop suction of the plate suction pad 82. (Step S.82).

Next step S. If the slip sheet detection sensor 174 does not detect the slip sheet 5 at 84, the driving of the discharge roller drive motor 166 for a predetermined time is started (step S.86). As a result, the pair of discharge rollers 153, 15
4. The first transport roller 157 and the second transport roller 158 rotate integrally for a predetermined time. The printing plate 4 includes a pair of discharge rollers 1.
After passing through 53 and 154, the sheet is conveyed along the slopes 155 and 156 and supplied to the first conveyance path 312 of the plate recording apparatus 3 (see FIG. 1).

The rear end of the printing plate 4 has a pair of discharge rollers 15
It stays on the plate surface until the transfer by 3, 154 is started. When the conveyance in the horizontal direction by the pair of discharge rollers 153 and 154 starts, the rear end of the printing plate 4 separates from the remaining printing plate surface. However, since the printing plate 4 has elasticity and is supported by the blade 100, the rear end of the printing plate 4 moves in a substantially vertical direction.

FIGS. 24, 25, and 26 show, in chronological order, the state in which the printing plate 4 is fed in the horizontal direction by the discharge rollers 153 and 154 after the suction of the printing plate suction pad 82 is released. Things. As shown in these figures, while the plate 4 is being conveyed by the unloading rollers 153 and 154, the plate 4
The rear edge does not damage the remaining printing plate.

On the other hand, step S. When the slip sheet detection sensor 174 is turned ON in step S84, it means that the slip sheet 5 has adhered to the front or back surface of the printing plate 4. At 88, error processing is performed. That is, the fact is displayed on the operation panel 318 to draw the operator's attention, and the removal of the printing plate 4 is urged.

Thereafter, at step S. It is determined whether all the plates 4 loaded in the cassette 30 have been taken out with reference to the number of plates loaded in step 1 (step S.130).

Thus, the removal of the set of the printing plate 4 and the slip sheet 5 is completed. As is apparent from FIGS.
After being taken out of the cassette 30 by the plate pad unit, the portion in contact with the remaining plate 4 remains stopped until it is sandwiched between the pair of discharge rollers 153 and 154. Therefore, there is no problem that the rear end of the printing plate 4 being taken out rubs against and damages the surface of another printing plate 4 in the cassette 30.

In FIG. 21, the trajectory of the leading end of the plate pad unit 81 is indicated by a two-dot chain line. A virtual circle having a radius equal to the length of the plate pad unit 81 is assumed. The trajectory coincides with a cycloid formed by a plate gripping point on the virtual circle when the virtual circle rotates along the length of the plate 4 in the cassette 30 in the X direction.

(Method of Determining Reduction Ratio) Next, a method of determining the reduction ratio of the gearboxes 96 and 97 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the plate pad unit and the plate. FIG. 23 also shows the plate pad unit before movement and the plate pad unit after movement. The right side is before movement and the left side is after movement. Let R be the length from the rotation axis P to the tip of the plate pad unit, and L be the length of the plate.
The plate pad unit moves in the X direction as the pinion having the radius r rotates on the rack. The moving length of the plate pad unit in the X direction is a distance L equal to the plate length. After the rotation of the pinion is reduced by the gear box, it is transmitted to the rotation axis of the plate pad unit.

The reduction ratio d of the gear box is obtained by changing the rotation speed of the input shaft of the gear box (= the rotation speed of the pinion) to the rotation speed of the output shaft of the gear box (= the rotation speed of the plate pad unit).
Is defined as X until plate pad unit stops
If the number of rotations of the pinion in the direction is n, the following equation holds. L = 2πr * n (Equation 1) That is, the product of the circumference 2πr of the pinion and the rotation speed n is equal to the length L of the printing plate.

On the other hand, the length L can be defined by the length R of the plate pad unit. Actually, the printing plate pad unit 81 moves in the horizontal direction during the rotation.
Assuming that the plate is rotated while stopped in the horizontal direction, the plate pad unit 81 draws a virtual circle having a radius R. Since the tip of the plate pad unit draws a cycloid curve, it can be said that the virtual circle rotates without slipping on the surface of the plate in the cassette. Since the plate pad unit makes a half turn before stopping, the following equation is established. L = 2πR * 1/2 (Equation 2) That is, the plate length L is equal to a length obtained by multiplying the circumferential length 2πR of the virtual circle of the plate pad unit by パ ッ ド.

From the equations (1) and (2), the relationship between the radius r of the pinion and the length R of the plate pad unit can be defined as follows. n = 1/2 * R / r (Equation 3) The reduction ratio d of the gearbox is the reciprocal of the number obtained by multiplying the number of revolutions of the pinion by the reciprocal of the number of revolutions of the plate pad unit (1/2 in this case). d = 1 / 2n (Equation 4)

From the above Equations 3 and 4, d = r / R (Equation 5) can be defined. That is, the reduction ratio d of the gear box is
It is equal to the radius r of the pinion divided by the plate pad unit length R.

In the present apparatus, the center of rotation of the pinion and the center of rotation of the plate pad unit coincide with each other, but the present invention can be implemented even if they do not coincide.

In this apparatus, since the rack, the pinion, and the gear box are used, the plate pad unit can be rotated and moved in the horizontal direction by a single drive source. Moreover, it is not necessary to adjust the timing of the rotation operation and the horizontal operation.

The printing plate supply device 2 can also handle a printing plate 4 whose length in the X direction is L or less. The plate 4 whose length in the X direction is L or less is also loaded into the cassette 30 based on the position where the plate pad unit 81 sucks the plate 4. In this case as well, as described above with reference to FIG.
, There is no danger of rubbing against the remaining printing plate 4 and damaging it. As described above, in the printing plate supply device, even when using the printing plates 4 of various lengths, it is not necessary to adjust the mechanism of the plate supply unit and the plate 81, so that printing plates of various sizes are continuously provided. It is convenient when you use it.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a view schematically showing a plate recording system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a plate supply device.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a part of the plate pad unit.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the plate pad unit.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the slip sheet discharge unit.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the principle of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of plate transport.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram of plate transport.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of a plate supply operation.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a determination process.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a determination process.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a plate transporting step.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a printing plate transporting process.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a slip sheet removing step.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a slip sheet removing step.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the entire plate supply device.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view of a main part of the plate supply device.

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of a main part of the plate supply device.

FIG. 19 is a sectional view of a main part of the plate supply device.

FIG. 20 is a sectional view of a main part of the plate supply device.

FIG. 21 is a sectional view of a main part of the plate supply device.

FIG. 22 is a conceptual side view showing a plate pad unit reaching near a pair of discharge rollers.

FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram for explaining a method for determining a reduction ratio of the gear box.

FIG. 24 is a view showing plate conveyance by conveyance rollers 153 and 154.

FIG. 25 is a view showing plate conveyance by conveyance rollers 153 and 154.

FIG. 26 is a view showing plate conveyance by conveyance rollers 153 and 154.

FIG. 27 is a view for explaining a conventional technique of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1. . . Plate recording system 2. . . Plate supply device 3. . . Plate recording device 4. . . Printing plate 5. . . Insert paper 10. . . Frame 17. . . Vacuum pump 19. . . Printing plate solenoid valve 20. . . Solenoid valve for slip sheet 53. . . Interleaf paper outlet 70. . . Loader mechanism 71. . . First side plate 72. . . Second side plate 73. . . First rack 74. . . Second rack 79. . . First guide shaft 80. . . Second guide shaft 81. . . Plate pad unit 82. . . Suction pad for printing plate 83. . . First bush 84. . . Second bush 85. . . Horizontal shaft 86. . . First belt 95. . . Plate pad unit drive motor 96. . . First gear box 97. . . Second gear box 98. . . First pinion 99. . . Second pinion 100. . . Blade 101. . . Input shaft 102. . . Output shaft 104. . . First projecting member 105. . . Second projecting member 106. . . Link 107. . . Link 108. . . Bracket 111. . . First vertical shaft 112. . . Second vertical shaft 115. . . Pad holding plate 116. . . First guide plate 117. . . Second guide plate 120. . . Support roller 121. . . Rotation axis 123. . . First guide slope 124. . . Second guide slope 128. . . Intermediate sensor 129. . . Origin sensor 130. . . First arm section 131. . . Second arm 132. . . Main body 133. . . Feather 134. . . Second belt 136. . . Vertical belt 150. . . Transport mechanism 151. . . Side plate 152. . . Side plate 153. . . Discharge roller (driven side) 154. . . Discharge roller (drive side) 155. . . Slope 156. . . Slope 157. . . First transport roller 158. . . Second transport roller 166. . . Discharge roller drive motor 172. . . Discharge sensor 174. . . Slip sheet sensor 190. . . Interleaf paper removing mechanism 191. . . Interleaf pad unit 192. . . Interleaf paper discharge unit 194. . . Nip motor 199. . . Nip roller 200. . . Rotating shaft 204. . . Interleaf discharge motor 206. . . Interleaf discharge roller 207. . . Slip sheet detection sensor 210. . . First guide shaft 211. . . Second guide shaft 212. . . Bracket 217. . . Origin sensor 219. . . First slider 220. . . Second slider 225. . . First vertical belt 226. . . Second vertical belt 227. . . Slip sheet pad unit drive motor 228. . . Horizontal belt 229. . . Rotation axis 231. . . Suction paper suction pad 232. . . Metal sensor 234. . . Upper guide plate 235. . . Lower guide plate 310. . . Transport unit 312. . . First transport path 314. . . Second transport path 316. . . Lid 318. . . control panel

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A printing plate supply device for supplying a printing plate to a printing plate recording device, comprising: a printing plate storage means for storing the printing plate and the slip sheet alternately; A plate discharging means for sending the plate to the plate recording apparatus; a slip sheet removing means for discharging and removing the slip sheet from the plate storing means; and a slip sheet attached to the plate being discharged by the plate discharging means. And a slip sheet detecting means for detecting the presence of the printing plate. 2. A printing plate supply according to claim 1, wherein said slip sheet detecting means is an optical sensor for detecting a difference in light reflectance, light transmittance or color between the slip sheet and the printing plate. apparatus. 3. The interleaving sheet detecting means determines the uppermost sheet of the printing plate storage means during the printing plate transport by the printing plate unloading means. 3. The plate supply device according to item 2. 4. The plate supply device according to claim 3, wherein said slip sheet detecting means is a metal sensor provided in said slip sheet removing means and detects a metal material. 5. A printing plate supply device for supplying a printing plate to a printing plate recording device, wherein the printing plate storage means for storing the printing plate and the slip sheet alternately, and unloading the printing plate from the printing plate storage means. A plate discharging means for sending the plate to the plate recording apparatus; a slip sheet removing means for discharging and removing the slip sheet from the plate storing means; and a plate attached to the slip sheet being discharged by the slip sheet removing means. A plate detecting device for detecting the presence of the plate. 6. The plate supplying device according to claim 5, wherein said plate detecting means is a metal sensor provided in said slip sheet removing means and detects a metal material.