JP2005246917A - Printing plate supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing plate supply device which prevents transport failure occurring when printing plates stored in a stacking state are successively transported to a printing plate exposure device. <P>SOLUTION: Sheet holding rings 32 are attached to a pair of side end guide plates 22 slidably arranged in the cassette 14 of the PS plate supply device 10, and a plurality of high friction sheets 34 are provided via the sheet holding rings 32. In loading and storing the stacked bundles B of PS plates P in the cassette 14 in a plurality of times, the high friction sheets 34 is placed on the PS plate P4 of the top-most layer of the pre-stored stacked bundle B1. The subsequent bundle B2 is placed on the stacked bundle B1, interposing the high friction sheet 34 between the PS plate P4 and the PS plate P5 being the lowest layer of the stacked bundle B2. Thereby, the occurrence of multiple feeding, wherein a plurality of PS plates P including the PS plate P5 are taken out at one time, is suppressed, in the supply operation wherein a pick-up roller 52 is brought into contact with the PS plate P7 being the top-most layer of the stacked bundle B2 to be rotatably driven. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing plate supply device, and more specifically, is used to sequentially store printing plates and protective sheets in a storage portion in a state of being alternately stacked, and sequentially supply printing plates from the storage portion to a printing plate exposure device. The present invention relates to a printing plate supply apparatus.

  For printing plates such as thermal plates, photopolymer plates, and PS (Presensitized Plate) plates, a printing plate supply device having a cassette type storage unit that stores a plurality of printing plates in a stacked state is used. Is used to sequentially supply the printing plates to the printing plate exposure apparatus.

  For example, when the PS plate is stored in the storage unit of such a printing plate supply device (PS plate supply device), as shown in FIG. 6, the PS plate P has a printing surface PA provided with a photosensitive layer. In a state of being alternately laminated with the slip sheets S as protective sheets for protecting the paper, the paper is loaded into the storage unit (cassette) 202 of the PS plate supply apparatus 200 and mounted on the mounting plate 204 provided in the storage unit 202. Placed and stored. The storage unit 202 can store up to 60 to 120 PS plates P depending on the plate thickness (60 mm and 0.2 mm thickness for PS plates of 0.3 mm thickness and 0.24 mm thickness). 100 sheets for PS plates and 120 sheets for PS plates with a thickness of 0.15 mm), usually a bundle of about 3 to 4 PS plates P (laminated bundle B) that can be lifted without excessive force by the operator. The loading and replenishment work is performed in divided times.

  In the example of FIG. 6, the stack bundle B1 is formed by interposing three sheets of slip sheets S2 to S4 between the four PS plates P1 to P4 and the PS plates P1 to P4 for the first time. 204 is loaded and stored in the storage unit 202, and two sheets of interleaving paper S6 and S7 are interposed between the three PS plates P5 to P7 and the PS plates P5 to P7 for the second time. A stacked bundle B2 is formed, placed on the stacked bundle B1, and loaded and stored in the storage unit 202.

  When the storage unit 202 of the PS plate supply device 200 that stores the PS plates P (laminated bundle B) is set at a predetermined position of the printing plate exposure device, for example, a pickup roller 206 provided on the printing plate exposure device side is stacked. When contacting the PS plate P7 arranged on the uppermost layer of the bundle B and supplying the PS plate, the pickup roller 206 is driven to rotate, and the PS plate P7 is combined with the slip sheet S7 to form a set of PS plates on the lower layer side. Separate and take out. The PS plate P7 and the slip sheet S7 taken out from the storage unit 202 are separated from the PS plate P7 by the slip sheet separating device or the like in the middle of conveyance, and only the PS plate P7 is an exposure position of the printing plate exposure apparatus. Supplied to. By repeating these operations, the uppermost PS plate P is sequentially taken out from the stacked bundle B (B1, B2) stored in the storage unit 202 of the PS plate supply apparatus 200 (PS plate P7, PS plate P6). , PS plate P5,...) And a printing plate exposure apparatus.

  However, in the PS plate P supply form using the above-described PS plate supply apparatus 200, the PS plate P4 disposed in the uppermost layer of the stacked bundle B1 previously stored in the storage unit 202, and the stacked plate B1 later on Since the air enters between the PS plate P5 disposed in the lowermost layer of the laminated bundle B2 placed on the PS plate P5 and the air layer A is formed, between the PS plate P4 and the PS plate P5 The frictional force will decrease. For example, in the case of the stacked bundles B1 and B2 in FIG. 6, the relationship between the frictional forces between the PS plates (PS plate P and slip sheet S) is {friction force between PS plate P4 and PS plate P5} << {PS plate P3 And the friction force of the slip sheet S4 (PS plate 4)} ≈ {the friction force of the PS plate P5 and the slip sheet S6 (PS plate P6)} ≈ {the friction force of the PS plate P6 and the slip sheet S7 (PS plate P7)} and Become. However, since the frictional force (F) = the magnitude of the drag perpendicular to the contact surface (here, approximately the weight of the PS plate P × the number of sheets) (W) × the friction coefficient (μ), strictly speaking, the PS plate P The frictional force between the PS plates P arranged on the lower layer side to which the weight corresponding to the number of stacked sheets is added becomes slightly larger than the frictional force between the PS plates P arranged on the upper layer side.

  For this reason, when the PS plates P are sequentially taken out from the laminated bundle B2, as shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of PS plates P5 and a plurality of PS plates P and interleaving papers S higher than that are taken out at a time and conveyed. In other words, a so-called “multiple feeding” phenomenon occurs, causing a problem of conveyance failure. In this multi-feed, when a stacked bundle having a larger number of PS plates, such as 5 or more, is added, the weight decreases as the remaining number of PS plates of the added stacked bundle decreases, and the above air The effect of lowering the frictional force due to the layer becomes larger and more likely to occur. Further, when the stacking bundles are added a plurality of times, air enters between the stacking bundles, so that the number of intervening portions of the air layer increases and the number of locations where multiple feeding is generated increases.

  In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing plate supply apparatus that can prevent a conveyance failure that occurs when printing plates stored in a stacked state are sequentially supplied to a printing plate exposure apparatus.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 is capable of being loaded as a stacked bundle formed by alternately stacking a plurality of protective sheets for protecting the printing plate and the printing surface of the printing plate. A storage unit in which the printing plate and the protection sheet are stored in a stacked state by loading, and when the stacked bundle is loaded and stored in a plurality of times in the storage unit, the first stacked bundle stored first The lowermost layer of the second laminated bundle that can be placed on the upper surface of the first printing plate or the first protective sheet disposed in the uppermost layer and is placed on the first laminated bundle later in the loaded state. Is disposed between the second printing plate or the second protective sheet disposed on the first printing plate or the first protective sheet and disposed on the uppermost layer from the stacked bundle stored in the storage unit. One printing plate or protective sheet alone, or the printing plate and the next Of the protective sheets to be taken out one by one and sequentially supplied to the next step, when the printing plate and the protective sheet arranged in an upper layer than the second printing plate are taken out, the protective sheets are adjacent to the second printing plate. A contact member that contacts the second printing plate or the second protective sheet with a frictional force greater than the frictional force generated between the third protective sheet and the second printing plate disposed in the upper layer, and the second printing plate or And holding means for holding the contact member interposed between the second protective sheet and the first printing plate or the first protective sheet at the interposed position.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, the storage portion of the printing plate supply device can be loaded as a stacked bundle formed by alternately stacking a plurality of protective sheets for protecting the printing plate and the printing surface of the printing plate. The printing plate and the protective sheet (laminated bundle) loaded in the storage unit are stored in a stacked state.

  Here, when loading and storing the stack bundle in a plurality of times in the storage section, on the upper surface of the first printing plate or the first protective sheet arranged in the uppermost layer of the first stack bundle stored earlier, When the contact member is placed and then the second laminate bundle is placed on the first laminate bundle, the contact member is placed on the second printing plate or the second printing plate disposed in the lowermost layer of the second laminate bundle stored later. 2 is interposed between the protective sheet and the first printing plate or the first protective sheet, and is held at the interposed position by the holding means.

  In order to supply the printing plate from the printing plate supply device to the next process, the printing plate supply device is set in, for example, a printing plate exposure device, and a pick-up roller or the like provided in a sheet transport mechanism of the printing plate exposure device includes a stacked bundle. Is rotated and driven, the printing plate and the protective sheet arranged in the uppermost layer from the stacked bundle stored in the storage unit of the printing plate supply device are singly one by one, or the printing plate and the adjacent protective sheet are 1 Each set is taken out and sequentially supplied to the next process (inside the printing plate exposure apparatus).

  And in this supply, when the printing plate and the protective sheet arranged in the upper layer than the second printing plate are taken out, the contact member is adjacent to the second printing plate and the third protective sheet and the second protective sheet arranged in the upper layer. Since the second printing plate or the second protective sheet is in contact with the second printing plate with a frictional force larger than the frictional force generated between the two printing plates, the printing plate and the protective sheet arranged in an upper layer than the second printing plate are taken out. Accordingly, the occurrence of multiple feeding in which the second printing plate and a plurality of printing plates arranged on the upper layer side than the second printing plate are taken out together is suppressed.

  Further, since the contact member is held by the holding means, when the second printing plate or the second protective sheet with which the contact member is in contact with the upper side is taken out, or the contact member is in contact with the lower side. When the first printing plate or the first protective sheet, the printing plate or protective sheet on the lower layer side than the first printing plate or the first protective sheet in the first laminated bundle are sequentially taken out, the printing plate or It is not taken out together with the protective sheet and conveyed to the next process by mistake.

  Therefore, it is possible to prevent a conveyance failure that occurs when the printing plates stored in a stacked state in the storage unit of the printing plate supply apparatus are sequentially supplied to the next process.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printing plate supply apparatus according to the first aspect, the contact member is disposed at a first position outside the storage area for storing the stacked bundle in the storage portion, and It is characterized by being connected to the holding means so as to be movable between the second positions arranged inside the storage area.

  In the invention according to claim 2, in order to place the contact member on the upper surface of the first printing plate or the first protective sheet of the first stacked bundle stored in the storage unit, the contact member connected to the holding means is used. It can be mounted by moving from a first position arranged outside the storage area for storing the stacked bundle in the storage section to a second position (intervening position) arranged inside the storage area. In addition, when a stack is newly loaded and stored in a plurality of times in an empty storage section for which the supply of the printing plate has been completed, a contact member remaining in the storage area (second position) is attached. The contact member is placed on the upper surface of the first printing plate or the first protective sheet of the first stack bundle newly loaded in the storage unit by moving the storage region to the outside (first position) and performing the same operation as described above. be able to.

  Thereby, for example, the contact member is separated from the holding means (detachable type), and is held when the contact member is placed on the upper surface of the first printing plate or the first protective sheet of the first laminated bundle. The contact member separated from the means is attached to the holding means. Compared to the case in which the contact member that remains is removed from the holding means and moved to the outside of the storage area, and the contact member is reattached to the holding means when the stack is newly loaded, as described above, the contact member In the configuration in which the contact member is connected to the holding means, the operation when the contact member is repeatedly used is simplified, and loss of the contact member can be prevented.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printing plate supply apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the storage unit contacts and contacts the outer peripheral end of the stored stacked bundle and positions and stores the stacked bundle. It has a positioning member supported so that it can move within a part, and the holding means is provided in this positioning member.

  In the invention according to claim 3, the stacked bundle stored in the storage unit is arranged such that the end of each printing plate constituting the stacked bundle is aligned by bringing the positioning member into contact with the outer peripheral end thereof, and the predetermined stacking is performed. Positioned at a position (storage area). Further, in the storage unit having the positioning member, the position and position of the positioning member supported so as to be movable in the storage unit are changed to accommodate the storage and supply of printing plates (stacked bundles) of a plurality of sizes. Can do.

  Here, when the position of the positioning member is changed, the holding means provided in the positioning member is changed in position together with the positioning member, and accordingly, the contact member held by the holding means is the first of the size positioned by the positioning member. The position of the first printing plate or the first protective sheet of the laminated bundle is changed to an appropriate placement position on the upper surface.

  Thereby, the position changing operation of the holding means and the contact member accompanying the size change of the printing plate (laminated bundle) stored in the storage unit is facilitated.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the printing plate supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the contact member is a sheet-like member formed of a resin material. Yes.

  In the invention according to claim 4, by making the contact member a sheet-like member formed of a resin material, the contact member is interposed between the first laminated bundle and the second laminated bundle, so that the second laminated bundle is obtained. The bending and deformation that occur can be reduced. For example, the printing plate or the protective sheet is taken out one by one by a pickup roller or the like, or the printing plate and the adjacent protective sheet are taken out one by one and sequentially supplied to the printing apparatus. In this case, it is possible to prevent a conveyance failure or the like caused by deterioration of the contact state between the printing plate or the protective sheet and the pickup roller.

  In addition, for example, even when a stacking bundle is loaded (added) a plurality of times and a contact member is interposed between the stacking bundles, if the sheet-like member is used, each stacking bundle is bent or deformed. It is possible to reduce the size, and it is possible to prevent the above-described conveyance failure and the like, and it is possible to suppress an increase in the thickness dimension of the entire laminated bundle, and to suppress an increase in the size of the storage unit.

  In addition, this sheet-like member can be easily manufactured and can be manufactured at low cost, and is very thin and lightweight, so that it is easy to handle.

  Since the printing plate supply apparatus of the present invention has the above-described configuration, it is possible to prevent a conveyance failure that occurs when printing plates stored in a stacked state are sequentially supplied to the printing plate exposure apparatus.

  Hereinafter, a printing plate supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a PS plate supply apparatus that is a printing plate supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a cassette (storage unit) in the PS plate supply apparatus of this embodiment. ) And the sheet conveyance unit of the printing plate exposure apparatus are shown in a state where PS plates as printing plates are stacked and stored in a cassette. FIG. 5 shows a state in which PS plates are stacked and stored in the cassette of this embodiment.

  The PS plate P shown in FIG. 5 is configured by coating a photosensitive layer on one surface of a support made of an aluminum plate. The surface provided with the photosensitive layer is a printing surface PA, which is the opposite side of the printing surface PA. The other surface is the back surface PB. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the unused PS plate P has an interleaf S as a protective sheet (protective paper) that protects the print surface PA in close contact with the print surface PA. When a plurality of sheets are stored in a cassette 14 described later, the PS plates P and the interleaf sheets S with the printing surface PA facing upward are stored in a state of being alternately stacked in the thickness direction (stacked bundle B).

  The PS plate supply device 10 shown in FIG. 1 takes out the PS plate P and the slip sheet S from the laminated bundle B stored in the cassette 14 as a set, and the slip sheet S is separated by the slip sheet separating device 66 described later. The used PS plate P is used to transport and supply the PS plate P to the PS plate exposure unit 151 of the printing plate exposure apparatus 150. Hereinafter, the conveyance direction of the PS plate P is indicated by an arrow F, and the direction orthogonal to this (the cassette 14 and the width direction of the PS plate P accommodated in the cassette 14) is indicated by an arrow W.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the PS plate supply apparatus 10 includes a support base 12 that constitutes a base portion (leg part) of the apparatus, and a cassette 14 is disposed on the support base 12. Casters 16 (four pieces) are attached to the lower part of the support base 12, and the PS plate supply device 10 can be moved by these casters 16 and is provided in the sheet conveyance unit 152 of the printing plate exposure device 150. The cassette 14 can be attached to and detached from the cassette mounting part (cassette receiving part) 154 or the like. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, when the cassette 14 is mounted on the cassette mounting portion 154, a sheet transport mechanism 156 provided on the back side of the cassette mounting portion 154 is disposed at the front portion of the cassette 14.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the cassette 14 has a flat rectangular shape with a top surface opened. In the cassette 14, a placement plate 20 on which the stored PS plate P (laminated bundle B) is placed is disposed on the bottom plate portion 14 </ b> A. The placement plate 20 is a base end on the rear end side. The portion is connected to the bottom plate portion 14A of the cassette 14 so as to be swingable, and the swing end side (front end side) is biased upward by a biasing member (not shown) such as a coil spring.

  Further, the cassette 14 is provided with an actuator (not shown) for moving and restraining the mounting plate 20 to the lower limit position close to the bottom plate portion 14A along the swinging direction against the biasing member. If the cassette 14 is not mounted on the cassette mounting portion 154, the actuator moves the mounting plate 20 to the lower limit position (in the direction of arrow D in FIG. 2 / PS plate replenishable position). 2 is released from the lower limit position in conjunction with mounting on the cassette mounting portion 154 (in the direction of arrow U in FIG. 2 / PS plate supplyable position).

  A pair (two) of side end guide plates 22 and one rear end guide plate 24 are provided on the upper surface (PS plate mounting surface) of the mounting plate 20, and the pair of side end guide plates 22. A region (substantially concave portion) partitioned by being substantially surrounded by the rear end guide plate 24 is a PS plate storage region 20A on the mounting plate 20.

  The side end guide plate 22 is slidable in the direction of arrow W by a slide mechanism (not shown). When the cassette 14 is used (PS plate storage / supply), the side end guide plate 22 is suitable for the size of the PS plate P to be stored. The side end positions are aligned in contact with the side ends of the plurality of PS plates P (laminated bundle B) set on the mounting plate 20 and positioned in the width direction. Similarly, the rear end guide plate 24 is also slidable in the direction of arrow F and the opposite direction by a slide mechanism (not shown), and a plurality of PS plates P (laminated bundle B) placed on the placement plate 20 are slidable. The rear end position is aligned with the rear end, and the front-rear direction is positioned. By sliding the pair of side end guide plates 22 and rear end guide plates 24 and changing their positions, the cassette 14 can store and supply a plurality of sizes of PS plates.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the side end guide plate 22 is L-shaped, and includes a base plate portion 26 slidably mounted on the mounting plate 20, and an inner end portion of the base plate portion 26. And a guide plate portion 28 extending substantially vertically upward. The base plate portion 26 has its front and rear end portions slightly protruded from the guide plate portion 28 so that the length dimension in the front-rear direction is increased. A slit 30 is formed in the center of the guide plate portion 28 and is cut out along the vertical direction with a predetermined width dimension.

  Sheet holding rings 32 are respectively disposed at three positions on the upper surface of the base plate portion 26 of the side end guide plate 22, the front end portion, the rear end portion, and the central portion corresponding to the slit 30 of the guide plate portion 28. .

  The sheet holding ring 32 is formed by bending a round bar material or a round pipe material into a U shape as shown in the figure. The straight shaft portion is attached in a direction along the width direction of the base plate portion 26 (the direction of arrow W in FIG. 2), and the height in the attached state is slightly higher than the side end guide plate 22.

  The sheet holding ring 32 can be attached to and detached from the base plate portion 26. For example, both lower end portions of the sheet holding ring 32 are fitted into a pair of holes formed in the base plate portion 26, or the sheet holding ring 32 is held. Screw portions (male screws) formed at both lower ends of the ring 32 are inserted into a pair of holes formed in the base plate portion 26, and nuts and the like are screwed into the screw portions from the upper surface and the lower surface of the base plate portion 26. It is attached by fixing with screws.

  A plurality of high friction sheets 34 are held on the three sheet holding rings 32 provided on the side end guide plate 22. The high friction sheet 34 is formed in a rectangular shape by using a resin sheet material such as a Teflon (registered trademark) sheet or a urethane sheet, and the length dimension of the sheet main body portion is the base plate portion of the side end guide plate 22. The width dimension is made slightly longer than 26, and the width dimension is about 1/4 of the width dimension of the PS plate P.

  Three connecting portions 36 for connecting the high friction sheet 34 to the three sheet holding rings 32 are integrally formed at three locations of the front end portion, the rear end portion, and the central portion of one side end of the high friction sheet 34. Provided. The connecting portion 36 extends linearly from the sheet main body portion to the side, and an insertion hole through which the sheet holding ring 32 is inserted is formed at the distal end portion thereof.

  The high friction sheet 34 is inserted into the three sheet holding rings 32 before being attached to the side end guide plate 22 through the insertion holes of the three connecting portions 36, and in this state, each sheet holding ring 32 is connected to the side end. By being attached to the guide plate 22, it is connected and held to the sheet holding ring 32. In addition, the high friction sheet 34 held by the sheet holding ring 32 is guided by the insertion hole of the connecting portion 36 to the sheet holding ring 32, so that the outside of the side end guide plate 22 that is outside the PS plate storage area 20 </ b> A, And it is movable between the insides of the side end guide plates 22 that are inside the PS plate storage area 20A.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a light-shielding cover 40 that closes the opening on the upper surface side of the cassette 14 is detachably attached to the cassette 14 configured as described above. On the upper surface of the light shielding cover 40, a handle 42 is provided as a grip when the light shielding cover 40 is attached to and detached from the cassette 14. When the light shielding cover 40 is attached to the cassette 14 by gripping the handle 42, The opening on the upper surface side is closed by the light shielding cover 40, and the inside of the cassette 14 is shielded from light.

  An opening 44 for taking out the PS plate P from the cassette 14 and supplying it to the printing plate exposure apparatus 150 is provided at the front end of the light shielding cover 40. The opening 44 is opened and closed by a cover lid 48 attached to the front end portion of the light shielding cover 40 via a hinge 46, and the cassette 14 is not attached to the cassette attachment portion 154. In this case, the opening 44 is closed to shield the inside of the cassette 14, and the cassette 14 is lifted by a cover lid opening mechanism (not shown) provided in the single wafer transport unit 152 in conjunction with the cassette 14 being mounted on the cassette mounting unit 154. Then, it pivots about the hinge 46 to open the opening 44 (see FIG. 1), and the PS plate P can be taken out from the cassette 14.

  When the cassette 14 with the light shielding cover 40 attached is attached to the cassette attachment portion 154 of the printing plate exposure apparatus 150, the opening 44 (front portion of the cassette 14) opened by the upward rotation of the cover lid 48 is As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a part of the single wafer transfer mechanism 156 provided in the single wafer transfer unit 152 is disposed.

  The sheet transport mechanism 156 includes a holder 50 that is positioned above the front side of the cassette 14 mounted on the cassette mounting unit 154 and is spanned along the width direction of the cassette 14 and the PS plate P. A pick-up roller 52 is rotatably attached to the holder 50 so as to be positioned above the front portion of the stacked bundle B housed in the cassette 14. The pick-up roller 52 has an endless driving force of a driving motor 54. The PS plate P or the interleaf paper S (PS plate P in the example of FIG. 5) transmitted through the belt 56 and disposed in the uppermost layer of the stack B is rotated in a direction in which it is taken out from the cassette 14 and conveyed.

  The holder 50 is pivotally supported by a pair of support shafts 58 provided at both ends in the width direction and on the downstream side in the transport direction, and is provided on one side. The rotary driving force from the drive motor 60 rotates between a transport position where the pickup roller 52 is brought into contact with the laminated bundle B and a separated position separated from the laminated bundle B.

  In addition, two guide plates 62 and 64 are disposed on the front side (downstream in the transport direction) of the cassette 14 with a predetermined interval in the transport direction. The PS plate P taken out from the cassette 14 by the pickup roller 52 is conveyed while being supported by the guide plates 62 and 64.

  A slip sheet separating device 66 is disposed between the guide plates 62 and 64. The interleaf separator 66 includes a transport roller unit 68 and a retard roller unit 70 that are sequentially arranged along the transport direction. Each of these is composed of a rotatable shaft 72 spanned along the width direction and a plurality of rubber rollers 74 fixed to the shaft 72 at a predetermined interval. When the transport roller unit 68 and the retard roller unit 70 are rotated by receiving the driving force from the drive motor 76, the rubber roller 74 of the transport roller unit 68 rotates (forward) in the direction of the arrow R1 shown in FIG. The rubber roller 74 of the retard roller unit 70 rotates (reverses) in the direction of the arrow R2 opposite to the arrow R1.

  The retard roller unit 70 has a drive unit 78 provided at one end thereof, and a contact position (a position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 4) that contacts the interleaving slip sheet S, and a separation position (see FIG. 4) that separates from the interleaving sheet S. 4 (position indicated by a two-dot chain line). At the contact position, the retard roller unit 70 reverses in contact with the slip sheet S, so that the slip sheet S can be separated from the PS plate P. Further, the rubber roller 74 of the retard roller unit 70 contacts the rubber roller 74 of the transport roller unit 68 so that the slip sheet S can be nipped with the rubber roller 74 of the transport roller unit 68.

  Above the transport roller unit 68, a nip roller 80 is wound so as to be rotatable along the width direction. The nip roller 80 is in contact with the rubber roller 74 of the transport roller unit 68 by its own weight so that the PS plate P and the interleaf sheet S can be nipped. When the rubber roller 74 of the transport roller unit 68 rotates in the direction of the arrow R1 in the nipped state, the PS plate P and the interleaf paper S are transported in the direction of the arrow F. As can be seen from FIG. 4, a gap is formed between the nip roller 80 and the rubber roller 74 of the retard roller unit 70 so as not to nip the PS plate P and the interleaf sheet S.

  Below the transport roller unit 68 and the retard roller unit 70, interleaf transport roller units 82A and 82B are arranged, respectively. Similarly to the transport roller unit 68 and the retard roller unit 70, the interleaf transport roller units 82A and 82B are composed of a shaft 72 and a rubber roller 74, and the interleaf paper S is interposed between the rubber rollers 74 of the interleaf transport roller units 82A and 82B. Can be nipped. An endless drive belt 84 is wound around the shaft 72 of the transport roller unit 68 and the shaft 72 of the interleaf transport roller unit 82A, and the interleaf transport roller unit 82A is synchronized with the transport roller unit 68 in the same direction. Rotate to. Similarly, a drive belt 84 is also wound around the shaft 72 of the retard roller unit 70 and the shaft 72 of the interleaf transport roller unit 82B. Therefore, the nipped slip sheet S can be transported downward by rotating with the slip sheet S nipped between the rubber rollers 74 of the slip sheet transport roller units 82A and 82B. At this time, the slip sheet S is guided by the drive belt 84. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a stacking box 86 is provided below the slip-sheet transport roller units 82A and 82B, and the slip-sheet S guided by the drive belt 84 and transported downward is the stack box. 86.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the presence / absence sensor 88 and the discrimination sensor 90 are attached to the holder 50 on the upstream side of the pickup roller 52 in the transport direction. The guide plate 62 is also provided with a presence / absence sensor 92 and a discrimination sensor 94 in order from the upstream side, and a discrimination sensor 96 is held above the guide plate 62 by a holding member (not shown) (see FIG. 2). Further, the guide plate 64 is also provided with a presence / absence sensor 98 and a discrimination sensor 100 in order from the upstream side. These presence / absence sensors 88, 92, 98 detect the presence / absence of PS plate P or slip sheet S, and discrimination sensors 90, 94, 96, 100 detect whether the conveyed product is PS plate P. It is determined whether or not S.

  A slip sheet detection sensor 102 is disposed between the transport roller unit 68 and the retard roller unit 70 and the corresponding slip sheet transport roller units 82A and 82B, respectively, so that the passage of the slip sheet S can be detected. ing.

  Information detected by the presence / absence sensors 88, 92, 98, discrimination sensors 90, 94, 96, 100 and slip sheet detection sensor 102 is sent to a control unit (not shown) of the printing plate exposure apparatus 150. Based on this information, each unit of the sheet transport mechanism 156 and the slip sheet separating device 66 in the sheet transport unit 152 is controlled.

  Next, the operation when supplying the PS plate P to the printing plate exposure apparatus 150 configured as described above using the PS plate supply apparatus 10 will be described.

  First, the PS plate P (laminated bundle B) is stored in the cassette 14 of the PS plate supply device 10 and the light shielding cover 40 is mounted on the cassette 14. In this state, the PS plate supply device 10 is moved to move the cassette 14 to the printing plate. It is mounted on a cassette mounting section 154 provided in the single wafer transport section 152 of the exposure apparatus 150. With this cassette mounting, as shown in FIG. 1, the cover lid 48 is rotated upward, the opening 44 of the light shielding cover 40 is opened, and a part of the stacked bundle B (near the front end) is exposed.

  When the cassette mounting is completed, the presence / absence sensors 88, 92, 98, the discrimination sensors 90, 94, 96, 100, and the interleaf detection sensor 102 are operated by the control unit of the printing plate exposure apparatus 150, and the presence / absence is detected. The non-sensor 88 detects the presence of the PS plate P or the slip sheet S in the cassette 14, and the discrimination sensor 90 detects the type. Based on these pieces of detection information, the control unit drives and controls the drive motor 60 and rotates the holder 50 so that the pickup roller 52 is disposed on the uppermost layer of the stack B as shown in FIGS. The printed surface PA of the PS plate P is brought into contact.

  Subsequently, when receiving a command to supply the PS plate P to the PS plate exposure unit 151, the control unit drives and controls the drive motor 76 to rotate the pickup roller 52. Due to the friction between the pickup roller 52 and the printing surface PA of the PS plate P, a conveying force acts on the uppermost PS plate P and the slip sheet S arranged in close contact with the back surface PB. A set of paper S is separated from the lower-layer PS plate P, taken out, and conveyed in the direction of arrow F (see FIG. 5).

  When the PS plate P and the interleaving paper S conveyed on the guide plate 62 pass through the presence / absence sensor 92 and the discrimination sensors 94 and 96, the control unit controls the drive motor 76 and the drive unit based on the detection information by these sensors. 78 is driven and controlled, the conveyance roller unit 68 is driven to rotate, and the retard roller unit 70 is raised from the separated position and arranged at the contact position.

  When the PS plate P and the interleaf S that are conveyed on the guide plate 62 in response to the conveying force from the pickup roller 52 are fed into the interleaf separating device 66, the rubber roller 74 of the conveying roller unit 68 and the rubber roller 74 of the nip roller 80 are used. The retard roller unit 70 which is nipped and continuously conveyed and disposed at the contact position brings the rubber roller 74 into contact with the slip sheet S disposed below the PS plate P while reversing the rubber roller 74. The paper S is separated.

  Then, the PS plate P is conveyed to the guide plate 64 side, and when the presence / absence sensor 98 and the discrimination sensor 100 detect that the slip sheet S is properly separated, the PS plate P is conveyed on the guide plate 64 as it is. It is sent to the exposure position. On the other hand, the slip sheet S is conveyed downward while being guided by the drive belt 84 and is accumulated in the accumulation box 86. At this time, when the slip sheet detection sensor 102 detects the passage of the slip sheet S, the control unit controls the drive unit 78 to lower the retard roller unit 70 and return it to the separation position.

  Here, the case where the PS plate P is taken out from the cassette 14 and transported as a pair with the slip sheet S has been described as an example. However, depending on the configuration of the laminated bundle B, only the PS plate P or only the slip sheet S is used. Sometimes it is taken out. In that case, as described above, it is not necessary to separate the slip sheet S from the PS plate P by the slip sheet separating device 66, and when only the PS plate P is taken out, the PS plate P is conveyed as it is and exposed position. When only the slip sheet S is taken out, the slip sheet S may be transported to the stacking box 86.

  Next, a procedure for loading and storing the PS plate P (laminated bundle B) in the PS plate supply apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment described above and the operation in the PS plate supply operation will be described.

  When the stacked bundle B is loaded and stored in the PS plate supply apparatus 10 in a plurality of times, for example, as in the conventional example described with reference to FIG. The laminated bundle B1 is formed by interposing three sheets of paper S2 to S4 between each of P1 to P4, placed on the placement plate 20 of the cassette 14, loaded into and stored in the cassette 14, and second time. A laminated bundle B2 is formed by interposing two sheets of interleaf S6 and S7 between each of the three PS plates P5 to P7 and the PS plates P5 to P7. The laminated bundle B2 is placed on the laminated bundle B1 and placed in the cassette 14. When loading and storing, as shown in FIG. 5, a high friction sheet 34 is interposed between the stack bundle B1 and the stack bundle B2.

  The procedure is as follows. First, before loading the stacked bundle B (B1, B2) into the cassette 14, the plurality of high friction sheets 34 connected to the sheet holding ring 32 of the side end guide plate 22 are all moved to the side. It is arranged outside the end guide plate 22. Next, the laminated bundle B1 is placed in the PS plate storage area 20A on the placement plate 20 where the high friction sheet 34 does not exist.

  After the first stacking bundle B1 is loaded and stored, it is disposed on the upper surface (printing surface PA) of the PS plate P4 disposed in the uppermost layer of the stacking bundle B1, outside the side end guide plates 22 on both sides. The high friction sheets 34 are moved and placed one by one from each bundle of high friction sheets 34.

  Subsequently, the laminated bundle B2 is placed on the laminated bundle B1. As a result, the two high friction sheets 34 are interposed between the PS plate P4 and the PS plate P5 disposed in the lowermost layer of the laminated bundle B2, and the friction force between the high friction sheet 34 and the PS plate P5. : FSvs5, that is, the frictional force F4vs5 between the PS plate P4 and the PS plate P5 with the high friction sheet 34 interposed therebetween is larger than the frictional force F5vs6 between the PS plate P5 and the slip sheet S6 (PS plate P6).

FSvs5 (F4vs5)> F5vs6
Further, when the friction force between the PS plate P5 and the slip sheet S6 (PS plate P6): F5 vs6 is compared with the friction force between the PS plate P6 and the slip sheet S7 (PS plate P7): F6 vs7,
F5 vs 6 = PS plate P. Weight of 2 sheets (W2) × Friction coefficient (μ)
F6vs7 = PS plate P · weight per sheet (W1) × friction coefficient (μ)
Therefore, F5vs6> F6vs7.

  Therefore, the relationship between the frictional forces between the PS plates on the upper layer side of the PS plate P4 (the PS plate P and the interleaf S) is FSvs5 (F4vs5)> F5vs6> F6vs7.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, when a further laminated bundle B3 is added on the laminated bundle B2, or a plurality of laminated bundles B3, B4, B5,... Are joined on the laminated bundle B2. Also in the case of adding, high friction one by one from the outside of the side end guide plates 22 on both sides to the upper surface (back surface PB) of the PS plate P7 arranged in the uppermost layer of the laminated bundle B2 as in the above procedure. After the sheet 34 is moved and placed, the laminated bundle B3 is placed on the laminated bundle B2, and between the laminated bundle B3 and the laminated bundle B4, between the laminated bundle B4 and the laminated bundle B5,... ..., the high friction sheets 34 are moved one by one from the outside of the side end guide plates 22 on both sides and interposed.

  Accordingly, the frictional force between the uppermost PS plate P7 of the laminated bundle B2 and the lowermost PS plate P8 of the laminated bundle B3, or the uppermost PS plate of the laminated bundle B3, with the high friction sheet 34 interposed therebetween. Friction force between P and the lowermost PS plate P of the laminated bundle B4, Friction force between the uppermost PS plate P of the laminated bundle B4 and the lowermost PS plate P of the laminated bundle B5, ... · Becomes larger than the frictional force between the PS plates P in which the high friction sheet 34 is not interposed.

  For example, when the PS plate P is supplied from the stacked bundles B1 and B2 stored in the cassette 14 to the printing plate exposure apparatus 150 in the state shown in FIG. 5, the PS plate P7 disposed above the PS plate P5 and the combined plate When the paper S7, the PS plate P6, and the slip sheet S6 are sequentially taken out, the high friction sheet 34 interposed between the PS plate P4 and the PS plate P5 is disposed in the upper layer adjacent to the PS plate P5. Since the PS plate P5 is in contact with the PS plate P5 with a friction force larger than the friction force generated between the paper S6 (PS plate P6) and the PS plate P5, the PS plate P7 and the slip sheet S7 arranged in an upper layer than the PS plate P5. As the PS plate P6 and the slip sheet S6 are taken out, the occurrence of multiplex feeding in which a plurality of PS plates P and the slip sheet S arranged on the upper layer side of the PS plate P5 and the PS plate P5 are taken out together is suppressed. It is done.

  Further, since the high friction sheet 34 interposed between the PS plate P4 and the PS plate P5 is held by the sheet holding ring 32, the PS plate P5 in which the high friction sheet 34 is in contact with the upper surface side is taken out. Or the PS plate P4 and the interleaving paper S4 with the high friction sheet 34 in contact with the lower surface side, the PS plate P3 and the interleaving paper S3, the PS plate P2 on the lower layer side of the PS plate P4 in the laminated bundle B1, and When the interleaf S2 and the PS plate P1 are sequentially taken out, they are taken out together with the PS plate P and the interleaf S and are erroneously transported to the sheet transport unit 152 and the PS plate exposure unit 151 of the printing plate exposure apparatus 150. There is nothing.

  Further, when the laminated bundle B3 is further added to the above-described laminated bundle B2 with the high friction sheet 34 interposed therebetween, or a plurality of laminated bundles B3, B4, B5,. Similarly, when the high friction sheet 34 is added to each other, each high friction sheet 34 interposed between the PS plates P contacts the PS plate P adjacent to the upper layer side with a high frictional force. As the PS plate P and the interleaf paper S arranged in the upper layer than the PS plate P on the upper layer side in contact with the high friction sheet 34 are taken out, a plurality of PS plates P and the interleaf paper S are taken out at a time. The occurrence of multiple feeding is suppressed, and each high friction sheet 34 held by the sheet holding ring 32 is not taken out together with the PS plate P and the interleaf S, and is not erroneously conveyed.

  Accordingly, it is possible to prevent a conveyance failure that occurs when the PS plates P stored in a stacked state in the cassette 14 of the PS plate supply device 10 are sequentially supplied to the printing plate exposure device 150.

  Further, for example, when the slip sheet S is disposed on the upper surface (printing surface PA) of the PS plate P4 disposed on the uppermost layer of the stacked bundle B1 loaded and stored in the cassette 14 for the first time, the alignment is performed. Since the paper S can be easily slid on the PS plate P4, when the laminated bundle B2 to be loaded and stored for the second time is placed on the laminated bundle B1, the slip sheet S is displaced and the inside of the cassette 14 is placed. Between the side edge guide plate 22 and the frame wall portion of the cassette 14, or the slip sheet S is bent to cause a conveyance failure, or the print surface PA of the PS plate P 4 is damaged to deteriorate the image quality of the printed matter. The problem of making it easy to occur. In addition, each of the above-mentioned laminated bundles B3 is added to the laminated bundle B2, or when a plurality of laminated bundles B3, B4, B5,. When the slip sheet S is arranged on the upper surface (printing surface PA) of the PS plate P arranged in the uppermost layer of the stack B, the same problem occurs and the number of problem occurrences increases.

  On the other hand, in the PS plate supply apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, the above-described slip sheet S is loaded after the first stacking bundle B1 is loaded and stored, or every time a plurality of stacking bundles B are added onto the stacking bundle B2. By placing the high friction sheet 34 on the sheet, the slip sheet S is less likely to be displaced due to the frictional force with the high friction sheet 34, thereby causing the displacement, bending, etc. of the slip sheet S. Can prevent problems.

  In this embodiment, in order to place the high friction sheet 34 on the upper surface (printing surface PA) of the PS plate P4 of the stacked bundle B1 stored in the cassette 14, the high friction sheet connected to the sheet holding ring 32 is used. 34 from a position (first position) arranged outside the PS plate storage area 20A for storing the stack B on the placement plate 20 of the cassette 14 to a position (first position) arranged inside the PS plate storage area 20A (first position). It can be mounted by moving it to the second position. Further, when the stack B is newly loaded and stored in a plurality of times in the empty cassette 14 for which the supply of the PS plate P has been completed, the high friction sheet remaining in the PS plate storage area 20A is stored. 34 is moved to the outside of the PS plate storage area 20A, and the upper surface of the PS plate P (PS plate P4) disposed in the uppermost layer of the stacked bundle B (laminated bundle B1) newly loaded in the cassette 14 by the above-described operation. The high friction sheet 34 can be placed on the surface. Thereby, the operation when the high friction sheet 34 is repeatedly used is simplified, and the loss of the high friction sheet 34 can be prevented.

  Further, since the sheet holding ring 32 can be attached to and detached from the side end guide plate 22, when the high friction sheet 34 becomes dirty or damaged, the high friction sheet 34 can be replaced by removing the sheet holding ring 32. .

  In the present embodiment, the stack bundle B (stack stack B1, B2) housed in the cassette 14 is stacked by the pair of side end guide plates 22 and the rear end guide plates 24 coming into contact with the outer peripheral ends thereof. The ends of the PS plates P constituting the bundle B are aligned and positioned at a predetermined storage position (PS plate storage area 20A). Further, in the cassette 14 having the side end guide plate 22 and the rear end guide plate 24, the positions of the side end guide plate 22 and the rear end guide plate 24 supported so as to be slidable in the cassette 14 are changed. Accordingly, it is possible to accommodate and supply a plurality of sizes of PS plates P (laminated bundles B).

  Here, when the position of the side end guide plate 22 is changed, the position of the sheet holding ring 32 provided on the side end guide plate 22 is changed together with the side end guide plate 22, and accordingly the height held by the sheet holding ring 32 is increased. The friction sheet 34 is repositioned to an appropriate placement position on the upper surface of the PS plate P of the stacked bundle B having a size positioned by the side end guide plate 22. Thereby, the position changing operation of the sheet holding ring 32 and the high friction sheet 34 accompanying the size change of the PS plate P (laminated bundle B) stored in the cassette 14 becomes easy.

  In the present embodiment, the members (contact members) interposed between the PS plates P4 and P5 (laminated bundles B1 and B2) are made of a resin material (a resin sheet material such as a Teflon (registered trademark) sheet or a urethane sheet). By using the formed high friction sheet 34, in the example of FIG. 5, it is possible to reduce the deflection and deformation generated in the laminated bundle B2 by interposing the high friction sheet 34 between the laminated bundle B1 and the laminated bundle B2. When the PS plate P and the interleaf S are taken out one by one by the pickup roller 52 and sequentially supplied to the printing plate exposure apparatus 150, the conveyance failure caused by the deterioration of the contact state between the PS plate P and the pickup roller 52 is possible. Etc. can be prevented.

  Further, as described above, even when the stacking bundle B is loaded (added) a plurality of times and a contact member is interposed between the stacking bundles B, each stacking bundle B can be used as long as the high friction sheet 34 is used. Each of the bending and deformation can be reduced, the above-described conveyance failure can be prevented, and the increase in the thickness dimension of the entire laminated bundle can be suppressed, and the cassette 14 is increased in size. Can be suppressed.

  In addition, the high friction sheet 34 formed of this resin material can be easily manufactured and manufactured at low cost, and is very thin and lightweight, so that it is easy to handle.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated in detail by embodiment mentioned above, this invention is not limited to it, Other various embodiment is possible within the scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the sheet holding ring 32 having a structure that can be attached to and detached from the side end guide plate 22 is used in consideration of replacement of the high friction sheet 34 or the like. A sheet holding ring having a structure in which the ring main body can be divided / connected in the middle or a sheet holding ring having a substantially ring-shaped structure in which the ring main body is partially cut out instead of a complete ring shape like the sheet holding ring 32 Etc. can also be used. In this case, the replacement work of the high friction sheet 34 is facilitated as compared with the case where the sheet holding ring 32 is detachable by screwing.

  Further, the contact member is not limited to the above-described sheet-like member (high friction sheet 34), and for example, a highly rigid thin plate-like member or the like may be used.

  Further, the above-described high friction sheet 34 or contact members having other configurations can be provided on the rear end guide plate 24.

  Further, the high friction sheet 34 or other contact member has a surface roughness on the upper surface (upper part) and the lower surface (lower part) that are in contact with the PS plate P or the interleaf paper S in contact with them. The frictional force (friction coefficient) generated between the PS plate P or the slip sheet S may be varied by making the surface different, providing unevenness such as embossing on the surface, making the contact area different, or applying a coating. Good. For example, the upper surface side that performs the multiple feed prevention function is configured so that a desired frictional force is generated between the PS plate P or the slip sheet S, and the lower surface side generates less frictional force than the upper surface side. By being configured, the friction force generated when the PS plate P arranged below the high friction sheet 34 or the contact member is taken out can be suppressed, and the PS plate P can be prevented from being scratched. In addition, the load applied to the high friction sheet 34 or the contact member is reduced, and the durability thereof can be increased.

It is a side view which shows the state which mounted | wore the printing plate exposure apparatus with the PS plate supply apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the sheet | seat conveyance mechanism of the cassette of the PS plate supply apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention, and a sheet | seat conveyance part. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the vicinity of a PS plate storage area in the cassette of FIG. 2. It is a front view which shows schematic structure of the sheet | seat conveyance mechanism in the sheet conveyance part of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that PS plate and a slip sheet are taken out from the lamination | stacking bundle accommodated in the PS plate supply apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that PS plate and a slip sheet are taken out from the lamination | stacking bundle accommodated in the conventional PS plate supply apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

10 PS plate supply device (printing plate supply device)
14 Cassette (storage section)
20 Mounting plate (storage part)
20A PS plate storage area (storage area)
22 Side end guide plate (positioning member)
32 Sheet retaining ring (holding means)
34 High friction sheet (contact member / sheet-like member)
150 Printing plate exposure equipment (next process)
151 PS plate exposure section (next process)
B Laminated Bundle B1 Laminated Bundle (First Laminated Bundle)
B2 Laminated bundle (second laminated bundle)
PPS plate (printing plate)
P4 PS plate (first printing plate)
P5 PS plate (second printing plate)
S slip sheet (protective sheet)
S6 slip sheet (third protective sheet)

Claims (4)

The printing plate and a protective sheet for protecting the printing surface of the printing plate can be loaded as a stacked bundle formed by alternately laminating a plurality of sheets, and the printing plate and the protective sheet are stored in a stacked state by the loading. A storage section;
When the stacked bundle is loaded and stored in the storage portion in a plurality of times, it is placed on the upper surface of the first printing plate or the first protective sheet disposed in the uppermost layer of the first stacked bundle stored previously. A second printing plate or a second protective sheet that is disposed in the lowermost layer of the second laminated bundle that is placed on the first laminated bundle and that is placed on the first laminated bundle. Alternatively, the printing plate or the protective sheet that is interposed between the first protective sheet and disposed in the uppermost layer from the stacked bundle stored in the storage unit is singly one by one, or the printing plate and the adjacent protection Among the sheets taken out one by one and sequentially supplied to the next step, the upper layer adjacent to the second printing plate is taken out when the printing plate and the protective sheet arranged on the upper layer than the second printing plate are taken out. Than the frictional force generated between the third protective sheet and the second printing plate A contact member in contact with the second printing plate or the second protective sheet deal of frictional force,
Holding means for holding the contact member interposed between the second printing plate or the second protective sheet and the first printing plate or the first protective sheet at an intervening position;
A printing plate supply apparatus comprising:   The contact member is configured to be movable between a first position arranged outside a storage area for storing the stack of bundles in the storage section and a second position arranged inside the storage area. 2. The printing plate supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing plate supply apparatus is connected to a holding means.   The storage portion includes a positioning member that contacts the outer peripheral end of the stored stack bundle to position the stack bundle and is supported so as to be movable within the storage portion. The printing plate supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing plate supply apparatus is provided.   The printing plate supply apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the contact member is a sheet-like member formed of a resin material.

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