JP2007001681A - Automatic planographic printing plate feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic planographic printing plate feeder charged with a bundle of a plurality of planographic printing plates without interposing slip sheets therebetween and capable of separating the planographic printing plates one by one for delivery, and simplified in structure to be manufactured at low costs, and possible to be miniaturized. <P>SOLUTION: This automatic feeder places a bundle of the predetermined number of planographic printing plates 111 on a storage shelf 144 so as to obliquely lean on an obliquely arranged support base 160 by stacking the planographic printing plates 111 so that a back face of one planographic printing plate 111 is directly brought in contact with a surface of the other planographic printing plate 111. A separating means 202 separates the planographic printing plate 111 positioned in the top of the bundle of the planographic printing plates 111 stacked on the storage shelf 44 by raising it so as to be separated from the storage shelf 44. A delivering roller 146 is brought in roll-contact with a surface of the planographic printing plate 111 positioned at the top of the bundle of the planographic printing plates 111 placed on the storage shelf 44 and separated by the separating means 202 for delivery. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a lithographic printing plate automatic supply device provided with a sheet feeding device that loads a bundle of only a plurality of lithographic printing plates and separates and transports each lithographic printing plate one by one.

  In general, for offset printing, a photosensitive printing plate (so-called photopolymer PS plate) or a so-called thermal PS plate is used as a lithographic printing plate. In the field of lithographic printing, an unexposed photosensitive printing plate is supplied, and the photosensitive printing plate is subjected to laser exposure processing based on digital data from a computer or the like. A CTP (Computer to Plate) system for making a printing plate directly by developing a latent image formed on a plate into a visible image has been put into practical use.

  In the photosensitive printing plate 10 as a lithographic printing plate used in the CTP system, as illustrated in FIG. 11, a photosensitive layer 14 is formed by coating a photosensitive agent on the surface of a thin aluminum substrate 12 in layers. . Further, in such a photosensitive printing plate (PS plate) 10, the photosensitive agent applied to the aluminum substrate 12 has a characteristic strong against external force (for example, a strength characteristic more than 20 times that of a normal PS plate). The surface-enhanced photopolymer PS plate (so-called interleaf-free lithographic printing plate) has been reinforced so that scratches do not pose a problem even when handled in a state of being directly stacked and bundled. There is.

  Further, in this interleaf-free lithographic printing plate, an overcoat layer (so-called OC layer is called on the outermost surface of the photosensitive layer 14 of the lithographic printing plate (PS plate) in order to prevent the desensitization phenomenon of the photosensitive layer 14 due to oxygen. PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) 16 is applied. The OC layer 16 of this interleaf-less lithographic printing plate is necessary until image recording (exposure) is completed, but it becomes an obstacle to development, so that the OC layer can be completely removed by a washing step before development. 16 is made of a water-soluble material.

  Some CTP systems using such a slip-less lithographic printing plate (slip-paper-less PS plate) include an automatic lithographic printing plate supply device. In this automatic planographic printing plate supply apparatus, the back surface of the other photosensitive printing plate 10 is directly contacted and laminated on the photosensitive surface of one photosensitive printing plate 10, and a bundle of a predetermined number of sheets is shielded from light. It is loaded into the housing of the automatic supply device, and when the plate making operation is started, the photosensitive printing plate 10 is separated from the bundle of photosensitive printing plates one by one by the sheet supply device of the automatic supply device, and is carried out to the exposure processing unit side. To do.

  This lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus is composed of a slip-sheet-less lithographic printing plate take-out mechanism and a PS plate transport mechanism. This automatic lithographic printing plate supply device is configured as a sheet feeding means for a slip-less lithographic printing plate, so that a slip sheet take-out mechanism, a slip sheet transport mechanism, and a slip sheet stacking unit are not required, resulting in high productivity and low price. It is possible to take a space-saving configuration.

  Further, an automatic lithographic printing plate supply apparatus using this interleaf-free lithographic printing plate transfers a rubber roller to the surface of the uppermost photosensitive printing plate 10 in a bundle of the photosensitive printing plates 10 stacked. It is conceivable that the photosensitive printing plate 10 is separated and carried out one by one by bringing it into contact with each other, so-called roller pick method.

  However, in the roller pick type lithographic printing plate automatic supply device in the CTP system using such a slip-less lithographic printing plate, the photosensitive printing plate 10 is stacked in a state of being stacked in the housing of the automatic supply device. Since the bundle is loaded, the OC layer absorbs moisture in the air when the inside of the housing of the automatic supply device becomes hot and humid (for example, temperature 30 ° C, humidity 50% or more), such as when operating in the rainy season. , Tend to melt and increase adhesion.

  As a result, in the roller pick type planographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus, as shown in FIG. 12, the OC layer is absorbed and melted, and the portion 16A having increased adhesion is superposed thereon. Since the adhesive printing plate 10 adheres to the back surface of the aluminum substrate 12 and the uppermost photosensitive printing plate 10 is peeled off from the underlying photosensitive printing plate 10 and carried out, the transport load R increases. Then, the pick-up roller must be strongly pressed to increase the nip force and increase the conveying force F.

  Further, in this roller pick type lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus, when the adhesive force of the portion 16A where the adhesiveness has increased is increased, a state in which a plurality of photosensitive printing plates 10 are carried out at a time by a pickup roller, Further, the conveyance load R may increase and the conveyance may be impossible.

  Further, in this roller pick type lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus, when the pick-up roller is strongly pressed to increase the conveying force F, as shown in FIG. The portion 16A having increased adhesion on the back surface of the sheet is carried out in a state where it is partially or entirely attached, and there is a risk that the photosensitive printing plate 10 may be damaged due to peeling of the OC layer 16.

  Therefore, in such a lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus, when one lithographic printing plate is lifted and conveyed from a plurality of laminated lithographic printing plates, the surface of the lithographic printing plate photosensitive layer, OC layer, etc. It is conceivable to use a means for handling using a suction pad as a lithographic printing plate supply device that prevents damage to the plate.

  The conventional means of handling using the suction pad is to suck the front edge of the top lithographic printing plate among the multiple lithographic printing plates stacked and stored in the cassette. A lifting plate feeder has been proposed.

  In this printing plate supply device, a roller group of a roller support of the printing plate support mechanism is inserted into the gap between the raised lithographic printing plate and the lower lithographic printing plate, and these lithographic printing plates are separated, Supports the underside of the raised lithographic printing plate. In this state, the transport mechanism moves the suction pad portion upward, transports the planographic printing plate supported by the suction pad to the entrance of the image processing apparatus, and supplies the planographic printing plate to the image processing apparatus. Means to do this have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, in the conventional printing plate supply apparatus as described above, the suction pad portion in a state in which the lithographic printing plate is sucked and supported is moved upward by the transport mechanism in a state where the lithographic printing plate is sucked and supported by the suction pad, Further, since the work for carrying the image to the carry-in port of the image processing apparatus is performed, there is a problem that this carrying mechanism is complicated and large and expensive.

  Further, in this conventional printing plate supply device, the suction pad section takes a long time from when the lithographic printing plate is sucked and supported from a bundle of lithographic printing plates until the lithographic printing plate is conveyed to the carry-in port of the image processing apparatus. In order to maintain the state in which the lithographic printing plate is adsorbed and supported for a long time, a large and expensive vacuum pump must be used.

Further, in this conventional plate supply apparatus, a vacuum hose is connected between a vacuum pump fixedly arranged at a predetermined portion and a suction pad that is moved over a long range by a transport mechanism. Therefore, since the vacuum hose is always moved greatly, it is easy to deteriorate, so there is a problem that frequent maintenance is required and the maintenance cost becomes high.
JP-A-7-172607

  In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention can load a bundle of a plurality of interleaf-free lithographic printing plates and separate and transport the lithographic printing plates one by one, making the apparatus configuration simple and inexpensive to manufacture. It is another object of the present invention to newly provide an automatic supply device for a lithographic printing plate that can be further miniaturized.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for automatically supplying a lithographic printing plate, wherein a plurality of lithographic printing plates are laminated on the surface of one lithographic printing plate by directly contacting the back surface of the other lithographic printing plate. A storage shelf on which a stack of bundles is placed so as to be held diagonally on a support table arranged diagonally, and the uppermost position in a bundle of planographic printing plates placed on the storage shelf The lithographic printing plate to be lifted away from the storage shelf is lifted and released, and the lithographic printing plate placed on the storage shelf is located at the top of the bundle and is rolled by the rolling means. And a carry-out roller that rolls on the surface of the planographic printing plate and carries it out.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the automatic lithographic printing plate supply apparatus according to the first aspect, the spreading means is constituted by a suction cup device for vacuum suction.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the automatic lithographic printing plate supply apparatus according to the first aspect, the spreading means is configured by using an adhesive capable of repeating the sticking and peeling operations.

  With the configuration as described above, a predetermined plurality of planographic printing plates are stacked and stacked in an automatic feeding device without intervening interleaving paper so as to be held diagonally on a storage shelf. By placing and rolling with a rolling means, the lithographic printing plate to be carried out at the uppermost position is lifted and air is put between the lithographic printing plate underneath, so that the adhesive force between them Recording layer on the surface of the lithographic printing plate by reducing the conveying load, reducing the conveying force required for the unloading roller to unload the lithographic printing plate, and reducing the nip force of the unloading roller. It is possible to prevent the OC layer and the like from being damaged.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for automatically supplying a lithographic printing plate, wherein a plurality of lithographic printing plates are laminated on the surface of one lithographic printing plate by directly contacting the back surface of the other lithographic printing plate. A storage shelf on which a stack of bundles is placed so as to be held diagonally on a support table arranged diagonally, and the uppermost position in a bundle of planographic printing plates placed on the storage shelf The lithographic printing plate located on the top of a bundle of lithographic printing plates placed on a storage shelf and a soccer ball with a skirt that is a suction cup for vacuum suction formed on the surface of the lithographic printing plate A state in which a soccer roller is placed on both sides of the unloading roller that rolls on the surface of the plate and unloads, and the football is vacuum-adsorbed on the surface of the top planographic printing plate in the lithographic printing plate bundle When lifting the unit away from the storage shelf, The lithographic printing plate is bent so as to draw a large wave by positioning the unloading roller toward the storage shelf rather than the soccer ball, and then the picking force of the soccer plate is released and the lithographic printing plate is released. And a pickup unit.

  By configuring as described above, a predetermined plurality of lithographic printing plates are stacked and stacked in an automatic feeding device so as to be slanted on a storage shelf without interleaving. And picking up the lithographic printing plate at the uppermost position by sucking it with football and putting air between it and the lithographic printing plate below it. Reducing the adhesive force between the plates, reducing the transport load, reducing the transport force required for the unloading roller to unload the planographic printing plate, reducing the nip force of the unloading roller, It is possible to prevent the recording layer, OC layer and the like on the surface from being damaged. Also, when the pick-up unit is lifted away from the storage shelf with the vacuum sucked onto the surface of the lithographic printing plate, the lithographic printing plate is placed by placing the unloading roller closer to the storage shelf than the soccer on both sides. Since the lithographic printing plate is elastically deformed along the small wave shape of the skirt when each football is vacuum-adsorbed, the lithographic printing plate to be transported is Since it is elastically deformed to form a relatively small wave shape and a relatively large wave shape at the same time, a gap is formed between the lithographic printing plate and the lithographic printing plate below it. A large amount of air will be peeled off in a state where it can easily flow in through a gap that is spaced across the entire width of the surface, and air will rapidly flow toward the entire lithographic printing plate to be transported. It is possible to satisfactorily perform the separating operation as broaden the range away.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, a protective overcoat layer is provided on the surface of the recording layer of the lithographic printing plate. It is characterized by carrying out what is being carried out.

  By comprising as mentioned above, in addition to the effect | action and effect of invention of any one of Claim 1 thru | or 4, even when an overcoat layer becomes wet and adhesiveness increases, it is favorable Can be peeled off and carried out.

  According to the lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus of the present invention, a bundle of a plurality of interleaf-free lithographic printing plates is loaded, and the lithographic printing plate to be unloaded is spread and the adhesive force between the adjacent lithographic printing plates Since the lithographic printing plates can be separated and carried out one by one by the roller pick method after being reduced, the configuration of the apparatus can be simplified and manufactured at low cost, and further miniaturization can be achieved.

  An embodiment relating to an automatic lithographic printing plate supply apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus according to the present embodiment applies a photosensitive agent to the surface of a photosensitive printing plate as compared with, for example, a general photosensitive printing plate (PS plate) currently on the market. The formed photosensitive surface is strong against external force (more than 20 times) and is a photopolymer PS plate that does not require protection of the slip sheet, so-called slip sheet-less photosensitive printing plate (slip sheet-less PS plate). A bundled product is loaded into the apparatus, and each lithographic printing plate is separated and transported one by one by a sheet feeding device.

  That is, an interleaf-free photosensitive printing plate (interleaf-free photosensitive printing plate) as an interleaf-less lithographic printing plate used in this lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus is a thin plate formed into a rectangular plate of a predetermined size. A photosensitive surface formed by applying a photosensitive surface containing a photosensitive material (photosensitive agent surface as an image recording layer) is provided on a support that is an aluminum plate.

  The slip-less photosensitive printing plate used in the lithographic printing plate automatic supply device is manufactured by manufacturing a predetermined number of the photosensitive printing plates, eliminating the slip sheet, and exposing the photosensitive printing plate to the surface of the photosensitive printing plate. Transport and store in a state of being laminated and bundled with the surface (Em surface that is the photosensitive agent surface) directly contacting the back surface of the photosensitive printing plate (Back surface that is the PS plate aluminum surface). Even if the photosensitive printing plates are separated and carried out one by one while rubbing the photosensitive surface with the aluminum surface which is the base material of the photosensitive printing plate, there is a characteristic that no scratches or pressure fogging occurs.

  In addition, the slip-less photosensitive printing plate used in this lithographic printing plate automatic feeding apparatus is recorded on the back side of the photosensitive printing plate stacked on the back side of the aluminum material which is the back side of the photosensitive printing plate. An overcoat layer may be applied to prevent the surface from being scratched.

  This interleaf-less photosensitive printing plate is manufactured, and after stacking, a predetermined number of sheets are stacked without interleaving paper to be bundled in a rectangular parallelepiped and packaged so that handling such as transportation and storage is easy. This interleaf-free photosensitive printing plate is supplied in a light-shielded state to the inside of a lithographic printing plate automatic supply device provided in the CTP system in the form of a bundle in which a predetermined number of sheets are stacked without unloading after unpacking. .

  This CTP (Computer to Plate) system performs laser exposure processing based on digital data from a computer or the like, and performs development processing to convert a latent image formed on a photosensitive printing plate into a visible image by an automatic processor. Make a printing plate directly.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the CTP system includes an automatic supply device 110 to which a bundle of a plurality of lithographic printing plates 111 stacked without a slip sheet is supplied, and the automatic supply device 110 continuously. A sheet feeding device 112 for supplying the lithographic printing plates 111 (PS plates) separately from the bundle of lithographic printing plates 111, an inner drum exposure device (monogon scanner) 114, a buffer device 116, and phenomenon processing Device 118.

  The automatic supply device 110 in this CTP system is configured to be continuous with the single-wafer supply device 112 therein. In order to configure this single wafer supply device 112, a storage shelf 144 is installed inside the automatic supply device 110 with the door 142 opened. The storage shelf 144 is provided with a shelf member 162 so that the height position can be adjusted on a support stand 160 disposed obliquely at a predetermined angle from the floor surface of the automatic supply device 110 to the upper portion on the inner drum exposure device 114 side. Install and configure. In the storage shelf 144, the support base 160 is inclined with respect to the horizontal in the range of 60 degrees to 80 degrees, preferably 70 degrees.

  In order to place a bundle of a plurality of planographic printing plates 111 stacked without a slip sheet on the storage shelf 144 configured in this manner, as shown in FIGS. The end portion is placed on the shelf member 162 and placed on the surface of the support base 160 so as to be inclined.

  With this configuration, the lithographic printing plate located on the most surface side in a bundle of a plurality of lithographic printing plates 111 stacked on a support table 160 disposed obliquely at a predetermined angle without interleaving paper. The plate 111 can reduce the force that presses against the lithographic printing plate 111 underneath due to its own weight as compared with the case where the storage shelf 144 is disposed horizontally.

  Furthermore, in the case of such a configuration, the size of the automatic supply device 110 in the horizontal direction can be reduced and the size of the device can be reduced as compared with the case where the storage shelf 144 is horizontally arranged.

  Further, in this sheet feeding device 112, an adjacent lithographic plate is placed at a position above the storage shelf 144 by placing the lithographic printing plate 111 to be carried out at the uppermost position in a bundle of a plurality of interleaf-free lithographic printing plates 111. Scattering means for reducing the adhesive force with the printing plate and unloading means configured in a roller pick system for separating and unloading the rolled lithographic printing plates 111 one by one are arranged. Here, “spreading” means lifting the lithographic printing plate 111 that is carried out at the uppermost position in a bundle (stacked plate) of a plurality of interleaf-free lithographic printing plates 111, and the lithographic printing plate located thereunder It means that air is put between

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the single-wafer supply device 112, a pickup unit 200 that is integrally configured by mounting a rolling unit and a roller pick type unloading unit on a single operation member 206 is disposed. In this pickup unit 200, a soccer (vacuum soccer) 202 as a rolling means and a rubber roller carrying-out roller 146 as a roller pick type carrying-out means are mounted on the operation member 206.

  The operation member 206 is formed in a predetermined deformed plate shape in which the central portion of the long plate is cut out in a U-shape, and the rotary shaft 208 is projected from both longitudinal ends thereof. The operating member 206 is connected to a rotary operating machine that is driven and controlled by a control device (not shown) with the rotary shaft 208 protruding from both ends thereof in a state in which the longitudinal direction is directed in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction. Thus, the whole is configured to be capable of controlling rotation by a predetermined angle about the rotary shaft 208.

  Each football 202 is attached to the operation member 206 at both ends in the longitudinal direction via a lifting device 210 in a so-called swingable state. The lifting device 210 is configured to be able to be lifted and lowered from a suction position where the football 202 is brought into close contact with the surface of the planographic printing plate 111 to a lifting position separated by a predetermined distance using an actuator or the like that is driven and controlled by a control device.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the soccer 202 is configured as a suction device for vacuum suction, and a suction cup portion for vacuum suction is formed in an oval shape. In the soccer 202, a skirt portion 202A that is in contact with the planographic printing plate 111 is formed in a relatively small wave shape. When the skirt portion 202A is formed in a relatively small wave shape as described above, when the skirt portion 202A is adsorbed on the surface of the planographic printing plate 111, the planographic printing plate 111 follows the wave shape of the skirt portion 202A. Since it is elastically deformed, it is possible to appropriately perform a rolling operation in which air is easily introduced from the gap between the adsorbed lithographic printing plate 111 and the underlying lithographic printing plate 111 to release the vacuum contact.

  Further, a suction port portion 224 for sucking air is opened at the inner central portion of the skirt portion 202A of the football 202 that contacts the planographic printing plate 111. One end of a vacuum hose 226 is connected to the suction port 224. Further, the other end of the vacuum hose 226 is connected to a vacuum pump (not shown), and the control of the vacuum pump is controlled by this control device, and air is supplied from the suction port 224 of the skirt 202A of the soccer football 202 through the vacuum hose 226. The skirt portion 202A is configured to be attracted to the surface of the lithographic printing plate 111 by sucking.

  The football 202 is used to perform a rolling operation for lifting the planographic printing plate 111 positioned on the top of the bundle of planographic printing plates 111 placed on the storage shelf 144 so as to be separated from the storage shelf 144 and then separating it. Therefore, since the one-time driving time of the vacuum pump is short and the air suction capability may be small, it is possible to use an inexpensive vacuum pump having a relatively small size and low output.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a carry-out roller 146 is disposed on the operation member 206 so as to face a U-shaped notch provided in the center in the longitudinal direction. The carry-out roller 146 is mounted so that both end portions of the rotary shaft 212 are rotatably supported by bearing members (not shown) provided on the back surface of the operation member 206.

  In order to rotationally drive the unloading roller 146, a pulley 214 is coaxially fixed to the rotating shaft 212 protruding from one end of the unloading roller 146. Further, a drive motor 218 that is driven and controlled by a control device is installed on a base 216 that protrudes from a part of the operation member 206. A drive pulley 220 is coaxially fixed to the output shaft of the drive motor 218.

  Then, an endless belt 222 for a transmission mechanism is wound around the drive pulley 220 of the drive motor 218 and the pulley 214 of the carry-out roller 146 so that the carry-out roller 146 can be driven to rotate by the drive motor 218. Constitute.

  Next, the picking unit 200 having the configuration shown in FIG. 3 described above is used to move the lithographic printing plate 111 to be carried out at the uppermost position in a bundle of a plurality of interleaf-free lithographic printing plates 111, and the lithographic plate thus squeezed. A carry-out operation for separating and carrying out the printing plates 111 one by one will be described.

  The pickup unit 200 is moved between a pickup position, a rolling operation position, and a retracted position by a rotation operating device (not shown).

  The pick-up unit 200 is retracted at a position where a plurality of slip-sheet-less lithographic printing plates 111 are separated from each other by a predetermined distance from the bundle of the plurality of slip-sheet-less lithographic printing plates 111. The position is set so as not to obstruct the operation of replenishing the shelf 144.

  In this retracted position, the pickup unit 200 is driven and controlled by the control device by the control device to move the football 202 to a predetermined raised position separated from the contact level of the carry-out roller 146 with the planographic printing plate 111. stand by.

  Since the pickup unit 200 performs a rolling operation when starting the carry-out operation of the planographic printing plate 111, the pickup unit 200 uses a rotary operation device that is driven and controlled by a control device (not shown) from the standby state at the retracted position. The lithographic printing plate 111 is moved to the upper surface of the bundle.

  During this operation, as shown in FIG. 5A, the pick-up unit 200 first comes into contact with the surface of the planographic printing plate 111 with the carry-out roller 146 positioned first. Next, the control device for driving and controlling the pickup unit 200 is in the state shown in FIGS. 5B and 6A in which the elevating device 210 is driven and the football 202 is pressed against the surface of the planographic printing plate 111. And

  The control device drives the vacuum pump and sucks air from the suction port 224 of the skirt 202A of the football 202 via the vacuum hose 226, thereby moving the skirt 202A to the front end side in the transport direction of the planographic printing plate 111. Adsorb to the surface near the edge. By this operation, the portion of the lithographic printing plate 111 near the front end in the conveying direction is elastically deformed along the corrugated shape of the skirt portion 202A, so that air is between the surface of the lithographic printing plate 111 therebelow. A relatively small opening into which the water can flow is opened, and the close contact is partially released.

  Next, the control device drives and controls the elevating device 210 to move the football 202 to a predetermined ascending position separated from the contact level of the carry-out roller 146 with the planographic printing plate 111 as shown in FIG. State. In this state, a portion near the front end of the planographic printing plate 111 in the transport direction opens a relatively small opening along the corrugated shape of the skirt portion 202A, and near the front end of the planographic printing plate 111 in the transport direction. The lithographic printing plate is brought into contact with the carry-out roller 146 at the center thereof, is elastically deformed and curved so as to draw a relatively large wave at both sides thereof and is lifted by the case football 202, and is carried out. The contact between 111 and the planographic printing plate 111 therebelow is completely released over the entire width direction at the front end in the transport direction.

  Next, the control device drives and controls a rotating operation machine (not shown) to bring the pickup unit 200 into the operation position for the picking operation, as shown in FIGS. 5 (D) and 6 (B). During this operation, the lithographic printing plate 111 to be carried out has a gap in a state where its tip is elastically deformed so as to simultaneously form a relatively small wave shape and a relatively large wave shape. By peeling off a large amount of air in a state where it can easily flow in from a gap spaced over the entire width with respect to the surface of the underlying lithographic printing plate 111, The range in which air rapidly enters and separates toward the outside increases.

  In this operation, since the soccer ball 202 is swingably mounted, it is possible to prevent an excessive bending force from acting on the planographic printing plate 111.

  Further, the rolling means of the sheet feeding device 112 is used when the pick-up unit 200 is moved to the rolling operation position in order to prevent the multiple lithographic printing plates 111 from being unloaded in a stacked state. A striking member 228 (shown in FIG. 5D) configured in an elastic plate shape is attached to a fixed frame member (not shown) or the like so as to face the trajectory through which the tip of the lithographic printing plate 111 adsorbed at 202 passes. May be.

  In the case where such a separating member 228 is arranged, when the plurality of planographic printing plates 111 are lifted in a state where they overlap each other on the soccer ball 202, the leading end of the planographic printing plate 111 in the conveying direction hits the separating member 228, and the second sheet. Since the subsequent lithographic printing plate 111 is peeled off from the first lithographic printing plate 111 and dropped, only one lithographic printing plate 111 can be moved to the operation position.

  Next, the control device stops a vacuum pump (not shown) and releases the suction force of the soccer 202 to the planographic printing plate 111. Then, the transported lithographic printing plate 111 leaning diagonally on the storage shelf 144 is an operation in which the front end portion in the transport direction falls down on the surface side of the lithographic printing plate 111 underneath due to elastic return force and its own weight. I do. During this falling operation, air between the lithographic printing plate 111 to be carried out and the lithographic printing plate 111 therebelow is pushed out from the downstream side in the carrying direction to the upstream side in the carrying direction. Air flows between the upstream portion in the transport direction of the plate 111 and the surface of the lithographic printing plate 111 therebelow, and the two are completely separated and adjacent to each other with an air layer interposed therebetween, thereby reducing the adhesive force. State.

  It should be noted that the above-described whirling operation may be performed a plurality of times or as a whirling operation, and may be accompanied by a rocking motion or a whispering motion.

  In addition, the above-described whirling operation by the pickup unit 200 is a configuration in which a bundle of a plurality of planographic printing plates 111 stacked without a slip sheet is placed on a support table 160 that is obliquely arranged at a predetermined angle. Good effects can be obtained. For example, in the case of a configuration in which a bundle of a plurality of lithographic printing plates stacked without a slip sheet is placed on a horizontally arranged support, even if the leading end of the lithographic printing plate is lifted by a pickup unit, Since the rear end side of the lithographic printing plate is kept in close contact with the lithographic printing plate under its own weight, it is difficult to obtain a rolling effect that reduces the adhesive force.

  Next, the control device drives and controls the elevating device 210 to move the football 202 to a predetermined ascending position separated from the contact level of the carry-out roller 146 with the planographic printing plate 111. Further, the control device drives and controls a rotation operating device (not shown) to bring the pickup unit 200 into the pickup position as shown in FIG. After that, the control device drives and controls the drive motor 218 to rotationally drive the carry-out roller 146 so as to be brought into contact with the surface of the planographic printing plate 111 so that the planographic printing plate 111 is directed to the transport belt winding mechanism. Take it out.

  At this time, the lithographic printing plate 111 to be carried out is scratched to reduce the adhesive force and the conveyance load is reduced. Therefore, the conveyance force required for the carrying-out roller 146 to carry out the lithographic printing plate 111 is also reduced. Therefore, the nip force of the carry-out roller 146 can be reduced. Thereby, OC layer peeling (scratch) of the lithographic printing plate 111 can be suppressed.

  When the carry-out operation of the above-described single planographic printing plate 111 is completed, the control device drives and controls a rotation operating device (not shown) to return the pickup unit 200 to the retracted position to prepare for the next transport operation. .

  In the configuration example of the pickup unit 200 described above, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the control device is configured to drive and control the lifting device 210 to raise and lower the soccer ball 202. Thus, the carry-out roller 146 and the soccer ball 202 may be configured to perform required operations through a mechanical interlocking operation mechanism using a link mechanism as shown in FIGS.

  8 to FIG. 10 is configured so that each soccer ball 202 is supported and operated by a four-bar rotation chain mechanism. For this reason, one end of the second link member 234 is rotatably attached to the first link member 232 for driving, to which the rotation control shaft 230 is fixed at one end, coaxially with the rotation control shaft 230.

  One end of the third link member 236 is pivotally attached to the other end of the second link member 234. Further, one end portion of the fourth link member 238 is pivotally attached to the other end portion of the third link member 236. Further, the other end portion of the fourth link member 238 is pivotally attached to the other end portion of the first link member 232 to constitute a four-node rotation chain mechanism.

  In this four-joint rotation chain mechanism, the bracket 240 is fixed to the side of the third link member 236 that is in contact with the second link member 234. The bracket 240 is fixed to the bracket 240 in a state where the tubular fixing member 242 of the football 202 is penetrated. The tubular fixing member 242 is connected to one end of a vacuum hose drawn from a vacuum pump (not shown).

  In the four-joint rotation chain mechanism for operating the football 202 configured as described above, the football 202 is moved to the surface of the planographic printing plate 111 by rotating the first link member 232 forward or backward by a predetermined angle by the rotation control shaft 230. In the state parallel to the movement, the operation of separating or abutting is performed.

  8 to 10 is configured to move the carry-out roller 146 in association with the four-bar rotation chain mechanism. For this reason, one end portion of the support link member 244 is mounted on the same axis as the rotation control shaft 230 that drives the four-node rotation chain mechanism. The rotating shaft of the carry-out roller 146 is attached to the other end portion of the support link member 244.

  Further, in order to relate the operation of the carry-out roller 146 to the operation of the second link member 234, an arc-shaped elongated hole centering on the rotation axis of the rotation control shaft 230 is provided at a predetermined intermediate position of the second link member 234. The operation control hole 246 is drilled.

  At the same time, a round bar-shaped operation auxiliary pin 248 is protruded at a predetermined position facing the operation control hole 246 of the support link member 244, and the distal end portion of the operation auxiliary pin 248 is loosely inserted into the operation control hole 246. . The portion of the four-joint rotation chain mechanism and the support link member 244 configured in this way is always in the state shown in FIG. 8 due to the weight of the unloading roller 146 side.

  Next, the operation and operation of the configuration using the interlock operation mechanism shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 will be described.

  In the pickup unit 200 configured using the interlocking operation mechanism shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the four-joint rotation chain mechanism and the support link member 244 are in the state shown in FIG. Yes. From this state, the control device performs a rolling operation when starting the carry-out operation of the lithographic printing plate 111. Therefore, the rotation control shaft 230 is rotated by a predetermined angle from the standby state at the retracted position. The paperless planographic printing plate 111 is lowered to the upper surface of the bundle. At this time, the carry-out roller 146 first comes into contact with the surface of the planographic printing plate 111.

  Further, when the rotation control shaft 230 rotates from this state, the operation assisting pin 248 moves in the operation control hole 246 while the unloading roller 146 rests on the surface of the planographic printing plate 111, so that the football 202 is 9 is brought into contact with the surface of the lithographic printing plate 111 to be in the state shown in FIG.

  Next, a control device (not shown) drives the vacuum pump and sucks the lithographic printing plate 111 with the football 202. Then, the control device turns the rotation control shaft 230 by a predetermined angle to bring the pickup unit 200 into the state shown in FIG. Note that the state shown in FIG. 10 corresponds to the above-described FIGS. 5D and 6B.

  Thereafter, the lithographic printing plate 111 is released from the soccer ball 202 by performing the same operation as the pickup unit 200 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 described above, and then the pickup unit 200 is set at the pickup position. Then, the operation of carrying out the planographic printing plate 111 is performed.

  The configurations, operations, and effects other than those described above in the configuration using the interlock operation mechanism shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 are the same as those of the pickup unit 200 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 described above.

  3 and 4 and FIG. 8 to FIG. 10, the soccer 202 is composed of a suction suction device for vacuum suction. However, the sticking formed into a sheet shape. And an adhesive that can repeatedly perform the peeling operation.

  In the sheet feeding device 112 configured as described above, the unloading roller 146 moved to the pickup position is transferred to the planographic printing plate 111 on the top of the bundle of the planographic printing plates 111 placed on the storage shelf 144. In contact, only one sheet is separated and fed to the conveyor belt winding mechanism.

  The transport belt winding mechanism includes a main transport belt winding mechanism 150 that stretches a main transport belt 148 and a sub-transport belt for transporting each lithographic printing plate 111 from the storage shelf 144 to the inner drum exposure device 114. A sub-conveying belt winding mechanism 154 around which 152 is stretched is installed.

  The main transport belt winding mechanism 150 forms a transport path by stretching the transport belt 148 between the position where the lithographic printing plate 111 which hits the upper part of the storage shelf 144 is loaded and the position where the lithographic printing plate 111 is transported to the inner drum exposure device 114. .

  Further, the sub-transport belt winding mechanism 154 shares a part of the transport path set below the main transport belt 148 in the main transport belt winding mechanism 150 so that the lithographic printing plate 111 being transported drops off. Configure to prevent.

  For this reason, the sub-transport belt winding mechanism 154 is configured so that the main transport belt 148 from the intermediate roller 156 on the downstream side in the transport direction from the guide range where the front end of each planographic printing plate 111 transported from the storage shelf 144 is abutted. In the section of the intermediate roller 158 close to the exit of the transport path set on the lower side of the transport belt 148, the main transport belt 148 and the sub transport belt 152 are wound so as to run together.

  In the main transport belt winding mechanism 150 configured as described above, the front end of the lithographic printing plate 111 separated and transported by the unloading roller 146 is intermediate to the first roller 151 at the front end of the main transport belt 148. It hits a guide range 148A corresponding to a portion stretched between the roller 156 and is conveyed toward the intermediate roller 156 according to the traveling operation of the main conveyor belt 148.

  In this single-sheet feeding device 112, the leading end of the lithographic printing plate 111 carried out by the carry-out roller 146 hits the main conveyance belt 148 stretched over the guide range 148A, and the main conveyance belt 148 is easily and elastically deformed. Thus, the lithographic printing plate 111 is received so as not to give an impact, and the main conveying belt 148 of the portion of the lithographic printing plate 111 hit by the tip is deformed into a substantially U-shape, and the lithographic printing plate 111 is bent and its tip is The portion can be smoothly sandwiched between the main transport belt 148 and the sub transport belt 152 at the position of the intermediate roller 156. As described above, the planographic printing plate 111 is elastically softly received when the leading end of the planographic printing plate 111 comes into contact with the main transport belt 148, so that the photosensitive layer forming the photosensitive surface 10A can be prevented from being damaged.

  Further, in the sheet feeding device 112, even when the number of the lithographic printing plates 111 is carried out from the bundle of the lithographic printing plates 111, the leading edge of the lithographic printing plate 111 to which the carrying-out roller 146 is rolled up is pulled up. Can surely contact the main transport belt 148 within the guide range 148A, and can be properly transported.

  Therefore, each time the lithographic printing plate 111 is pulled out from the bundle of the lithographic printing plates 111, the sheet feeding apparatus 112 can appropriately carry out the drawing position even if the drawing position changes. Therefore, the drawing of the lithographic printing plate 111 to the storage shelf 144 is possible. Since it is not necessary to provide a complicated device for adjusting the position, the configuration can be simplified and the device can be miniaturized.

  The planographic printing plate 111 whose leading end is guided by the main transport belt 148 is transported on the transport path while being sandwiched between the main transport belt 148 and the sub transport belt 152 at the position of the intermediate roller 156. Then, the nipping state is released at the position of the intermediate roller 158 close to the outlet, and it is carried into the inner drum exposure device 114.

  The inner drum exposure apparatus 114 in this CTP system is configured with a support 134 having a circular arc inner peripheral surface shape (a shape constituting a part of the cylindrical inner peripheral surface) as a base, and on the inner peripheral surface of the support 134. The planographic printing plate 111 is supported along the same.

  In this inner drum exposure device 114, exposure is performed after holding the lithographic printing plate 111, which is an unrecorded recording medium, securely in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the support 134 by a vacuum suction means (not shown). Process.

  In the inner drum exposure device 114, a spinner mirror device 136 as a light beam deflector is disposed at the center of the arc of the support 134. This spinner mirror device 136 is configured such that a rotary shaft 140 having a reflecting mirror member (spinner mirror) 138 disposed on the top surface thereof can be rotated at high speed by a motor as a drive source whose rotation is controlled by a spinner driver of a control device (not shown). To do. The spinner mirror device 136 is configured such that the rotation center axis of the rotation shaft 140 coincides with the arc center axis of the support 134.

  In the spinner mirror device 136, the light beam projected from the optical system on the light source side is reflected on the reflecting mirror surface of the rotating reflecting mirror member 138 to scan the photosensitive surface of the planographic printing plate 111 in the main scanning direction. Perform exposure.

  The spinner mirror device 136 performs sub-scanning by being controlled to move at a constant speed in the axial direction of the arc center axis of the support 134 (direction penetrating from the front surface to the back surface in FIG. 2) by a sub-scanning moving unit (not shown). .

  Therefore, in the spinner mirror device 136, the rotation of the motor is controlled by the spinner driver of the control device, and the movement is controlled in the sub-scanning direction by a sub-scanning moving unit (not shown).

  The spinner mirror device 136 configured in this manner reflects the light beam projected from the optical system on the light source side and modulated in accordance with image information to the reflecting mirror surface of the rotating reflecting mirror member 138 in the main scanning direction. The two-dimensional image is recorded on the entire recording surface of the planographic printing plate 111 by moving the spinner mirror device 136 in the sub-scanning direction while performing the scanning exposure.

  The buffer device 116 provided in the CTP system has a function of carrying the lithographic printing plate 111 exposed by the inner drum exposure device 114 to the phenomenon processing device 118 at a required timing by adjusting the conveyance speed.

  The phenomenon processing device 118 performs a developing process on the exposed lithographic printing plate 111 that has been carried in, visualizes the latent image, and makes a printing plate.

  In addition to the photopolymer PS plate that does not require the protection of the slip sheet, the automatic lithographic printing plate supply device described above is, for example, a so-called thermal PS plate for a recording layer that forms an image formed on the surface. In order to prevent scratches, an overcoat layer (an OC layer composed of a water-soluble material that can be completely removed by a washing process before development) is applied on the outermost surface of the recording layer. can do. Furthermore, the lithographic printing plate automatic supply device does not require protection of interleaf paper, and it is a surface-enhanced thermal plate that has a surface that has been strengthened to the extent that scratches do not pose a problem even when handled in a stacked and bundled state. PS version can be used.

  In addition, the configuration of this lithographic printing plate automatic supply device is a lithographic printing plate that is generally compatible with a plate making method used in the field of lithographic printing, and records an image on a recording layer using light (optical mode). Lithographic printing plate, lithographic printing plate for recording an image on a recording layer using heat (thermal mode), lithographic printing plate for recording an image by converting light into heat in the recording layer (light, thermal mode) Of course, the present invention can be used for separating and supplying a lithographic printing plate using a chemical reaction and a lithographic printing plate using a physical phenomenon one by one.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an entire CTP system provided with an automatic lithographic printing plate supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of the inside of a CTP system including an apparatus for automatically supplying a lithographic printing plate according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a main part of a sheet feeding device for taking out each lithographic printing plate from a bundle of lithographic printing plates loaded in the lithographic printing plate automatic feeding device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part showing a soccer portion of a sheet feeding device for carrying out each lithographic printing plate from a bundle of lithographic printing plates loaded in a lithographic printing plate automatic feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is. (A) thru | or (D) is principal part schematic explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement of the carrying-out roller with which the automatic supply apparatus of the lithographic printing plate concerning embodiment of this invention was mounted, respectively, and a soccer. (A) thru | or (D) is a principal part schematic explanatory drawing which shows the operation | movement which spreads a lithographic printing plate with the sheet feeding apparatus in the automatic supply apparatus of the lithographic printing plate concerning embodiment of this invention, respectively, and carries it out one by one. It is. FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory view of a main part showing a state where one lithographic printing plate is lifted by a pickup unit in the lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a main part showing a standby state of a mechanical interlocking operation mechanism for operating a carry-out roller mounted on a pickup unit and a soccer ball in a planographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view. In a lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, a mechanical interlocking operation mechanism mounted on a pickup unit lowers a carry-out roller and a soccer ball onto the upper surface of a bundle of interleaf-free lithographic printing plates. It is a principal part schematic perspective view which shows a state. The main part outline | summary which shows the state which is carrying out the rolling operation | movement with the roller for carrying out, and a soccer | football by the mechanical interlocking operation mechanism with which the pick-up unit was mounted in the automatic supply apparatus of the lithographic printing plate concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view. FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a main part illustrating a laminated state of lithographic printing plates in a bundle of interleaf-free lithographic printing plates. It is a principal part schematic explanatory drawing which illustrates the lamination | stacking state when the OC layer of the lithographic printing plate in the lithographic printing plate in the bundle of interleaf-less lithographic printing plates is absorbing and adhering. FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a main part illustrating a state in which an OC layer of a lithographic printing plate in a bundle of lithographic printing plates of interleaf paper absorbs water and adheres to and peels off from the back of the lithographic printing plate to be carried out.

Explanation of symbols

12 Aluminum substrate 14 Photosensitive layer 16 OC layer 110 Automatic feeding device 111 Planographic printing plate 112 Sheet feeding device 144 Storage shelf 146 Unloading roller 160 Supporting base 162 Shelf member 200 Pickup unit 202 Soccer 202A Skirt portion 210 Lifting device 218 Drive motor 224 Suction port 226 Vacuum hose

Claims (5)

A support base in which a predetermined number of the lithographic printing plates are stacked and bundled on the surface of one lithographic printing plate by directly contacting and laminating the back surface of the other lithographic printing plate. A storage shelf placed diagonally on top,
A rolling means for performing a rolling operation for lifting the lithographic printing plate positioned on the top of the bundle of lithographic printing plates placed on the storage shelf to lift it away from the storage shelf;
An unloading roller which is positioned at the top of the bundle of lithographic printing plates placed on the storage shelf and is brought into rolling contact with the surface of the lithographic printing plate which is rolled by the rolling means;
An apparatus for automatically supplying a lithographic printing plate, comprising: 2. The lithographic printing plate automatic supply device according to claim 1, wherein the spreading means is constituted by a suction cup device for vacuum suction. 2. The lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the spreading means is configured by using an adhesive capable of repeatedly performing a sticking and peeling operation. A support base in which a predetermined number of the lithographic printing plates are stacked and bundled on the surface of one lithographic printing plate by directly contacting and laminating the back surface of the other lithographic printing plate. A storage shelf placed diagonally on top,
A football in which a skirt portion, which is a suction cup portion for vacuum suction, is formed in a small wave shape on the surface of the planographic printing plate located on the top of the bundle of planographic printing plates placed on the storage shelf,
An unloading roller for rolling and unloading the surface of the lithographic printing plate located on the top of the bundle of lithographic printing plates placed on the storage shelf;
The soccer is arranged on both sides of the unloading roller, and the soccer is lifted away from the storage shelf in a state where the soccer is vacuum-adsorbed on the surface of the lithographic printing plate located at the top of the lithographic printing plate bundle. In this case, the lithographic printing plate is bent so as to draw a large wave by positioning the carry-out rollers closer to the storage shelf than the footballs on both sides, and the suction force of the football is released. A pick-up unit that performs a separating operation to release the planographic printing plate;
An apparatus for automatically supplying a lithographic printing plate, comprising: 5. The lithographic printing plate automatic according to claim 1, wherein the lithographic printing plate having a protective overcoat layer provided on the surface thereof is unloaded. Feeding device.

Images