JPH05134422A - Printing plate carrying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To carry a photosensitive planographic printing plate to an exposing device without contacting with its photosensitive surface. CONSTITUTION:A lift base 300 is provided below a horizontal carrying device 106, and the printing plate 20 is placed on the lift base 300. A moving frame 354 which has a chuck 356 facing to the lift base 300 is provided in the device 106. A pawl part 372 inserted under the printing plate 20 placed on the lift base 300 and a pin 376 opposed to the end face of the printing plate 20 are provided in the chuck 356, and actuated by driving air cylinders 370 and 374. The printing plate 20 is transferred to the moving frame 354 in a state where it is supported by the pawl part 372 and the pin 376 is allowed to abut on its end face. The moving frame 354 horizontally moves in a state where the printing plate 20 is supported by a rodless cylinder 364.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing plate transport device for transporting a photosensitive lithographic printing plate to an exposure device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Photosensitive lithographic printing plates (hereinafter referred to as "printing plates") used in offset rotary presses for newspapers are prepared by coating an organic photo-semiconductor on a conductive support such as an aluminum plate. Layered OPC (Organic Photo Cond
uctor) There is a direct plate making recording system using what is called a sensitive material. In such a direct plate-making recording system, since the support is charged during exposure, the electrostatic image formed by exposure is disturbed if it comes into contact with a conductive member such as metal after exposure, so care must be taken when handling.

In general, a large number of printing plates are stacked on a mounting table for storage or transportation. When the printing plate is supplied to the exposure device for exposure, the plate is loaded together with the plate supply device provided adjacent to the exposure device. The printing plates stacked on the mounting table are sequentially supplied to the exposure device from the uppermost layer by the plate supply device.

The exposure apparatus is provided with a surface plate on which a printing plate having a photosensitive surface facing upward is placed.
It is positioned at a predetermined position. The printing plate positioned on the surface plate is charged, and then exposed to laser light or the like modulated according to the original image to form an electrostatic latent image. The printing plate on which the electrostatic latent image is formed is taken out from the surface plate and sent to the developing section.

By the way, the printing plate supplied from the plate supply device has a photosensitive surface facing upward, and the printing plate is conveyed to the exposure device and placed on the surface plate of the exposure device. In the transportation of this printing plate, generally, the surface is sucked by a suction cup or the like,
Alternatively, it is held by rollers or the like.

[0006]

However, the OPC
When the photosensitive material is adsorbed on the photosensitive surface by a suction cup or the like, or when it is contacted by a roller or the like, traces of these contacts may remain after exposure, which may adversely affect the image formed on the printing plate.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above facts, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing plate transporting device that can be transported to an exposure device without contacting the photosensitive surface of a photosensitive lithographic printing plate. And

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing plate transporting device for transporting a photosensitive lithographic printing plate placed on a lift table with its photosensitive surface facing upward. A printing plate transporting device, which is provided so as to face the outside of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate, and a front end portion of the device is movable below the photosensitive lithographic printing plate and relatively moves upward in a state of being positioned below. A supporting means for supporting the end portion of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate in a horizontal state, an operating means for moving the supporting means below the photosensitive lithographic printing plate, and the photosensitive lithographic printing plate by the supporting means. And a moving means for moving the supporting means in a horizontal direction in a state of supporting the.

A printing plate transporting device according to a second aspect of the present invention is the printing plate transporting device according to the first aspect, wherein the supporting means includes a claw portion protruding in the horizontal direction, and the tip of the claw portion is It is characterized in that it is moved below the photosensitive lithographic printing plate by the operation of the actuating means so that the photosensitive lithographic printing plate can be supported.

A printing plate transporting device according to a third aspect of the present invention is the printing plate transporting device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the supporting means is capable of contacting the end surface of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate. Is provided, and the movement of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate supported by the claw portion is regulated.

A printing plate transporting device according to claim 4 of the present invention is the printing plate transporting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the photosensitive lithographic printing plate is a photoconductive photosensitive layer and a conductive support. It consists of and.

[0012]

The printing plate transporting device according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises:
It comprises a support means and an actuation means for actuating the support means. In the photosensitive lithographic printing plate supplied and placed on the lift table, the tip of the supporting means is inserted downward. In this state, the lower surface of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate is supported by the supporting means with the photosensitive surface facing upward by moving the lift table downward or the supporting means upward.

The support means is provided with moving means. The moving means moves the photosensitive lithographic printing plate in a horizontal state by the supporting means. Therefore, the printing plate transport device can transport the photosensitive lithographic printing plate without contacting the upper surface of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate, that is, the photosensitive surface.

When the photosensitive lithographic printing plate is conveyed to the exposure device and placed on the surface plate of the exposure device, the supporting means may be retracted to the outside of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate. The planographic printing plate is placed on the surface plate after being unsupported by the supporting means.

In the printing plate conveying device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the tip of the supporting means is constituted by a claw portion protruding in the horizontal direction. The claw portion may have a simple structure formed, for example, in a substantially L-shape, and the tip of the claw portion may be actuated, for example, by operating an air cylinder provided above as the actuating means. Under the edge of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate can be supported.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing plate transporting device, wherein the supporting means is provided with a regulating means capable of contacting an end surface of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate. The photosensitive lithographic printing plate is supported by the supporting means, and the regulating means is brought into contact with the end surface of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate on the horizontal direction side. As a result, the photosensitive lithographic printing plate supported by the supporting means does not shift and drop during transportation. Further, by retracting the supporting means from the lower side of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate in a state where the regulating means is in contact with the end surface of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate, the photosensitive lithographic printing plate is displaced during the retracting movement of the supporting means. Without being put in place.

A printing plate transporting device according to a fourth aspect uses a photosensitive lithographic printing plate in which a photoconductive photosensitive layer is provided on a conductive support. In the printing plate transporting device of the present invention, the supporting means supports the lower surface of the end portion of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate with the photosensitive surface facing upward. Also, when a regulation means is provided,
The regulating means is adapted to come into contact with the end face of the end portion of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate. For this reason, the printing plate transporting device is transported without contacting the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate, and, for example, does not leave contact marks such as suction cups and rollers on the photosensitive surface.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An outline of a direct printing plate apparatus 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

The printing plate 20 used in this embodiment is a rectangular OPC direct printing plate, which is an aluminum plate having a thickness of about 0.3 mm as a conductive support, and one surface of the aluminum plate is a photosensitive surface. An anodized layer for
An OPC layer having a thickness of several microns and having an OPC as a main component and having an alkali-soluble polymer is coated on the upper surface thereof. The size of the conductive support, that is, the size of the printing plate 20 is 398 (mm) as a printing plate for newspaper printing.
× 1120 (mm) (2 pages of newspaper) In addition,
The size of the printing plate 20 is, for example, 398 (mm) × 560.
(Mm) (for one page of newspaper) is also applicable, and other dimensions may be used.

The arrow A direction shown in each drawing corresponds to the width direction of the printing plate 20, and the arrow B direction corresponds to the printing plate 2.
0 corresponds to the longitudinal direction. In the direct printing plate apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, when the printing plate 20 is conveyed to the adjacent processing section, the printing plate 20 is moved in parallel along the width direction or the longitudinal direction of the printing plate 20.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the direct printing plate apparatus 10 supplies the printing plate 20 to the drawing unit 18 as an exposing unit, and discharges the printing plate 20 from the drawing unit 18. Plate supply and plate discharge unit 1 configured to
Equipped with 6. The plate supply unit 12 is loaded with a printing plate placement table 38 on which the printing plates 20 are stacked. Printing plate mounting table 38
The printing plates 20 are stacked and mounted on a mounting table 40 that is substantially parallel to the floor surface. Printing plate 20 installed
Has a photosensitive surface facing downward, and the printing plate mounting table 38
The printing plate 20 is positioned with respect to the plate feeding unit 12 by loading the printing plate 20 at a predetermined position on the plate feeding unit 12.

The loading and unloading of the printing plate mounting table 38 to and from the plate supply unit 12 is performed by a shutter (not shown) provided in the casing 16A, and the shutter is normally closed to shield the interior from light. The printing plate mounting table 38
May be movable by a forklift or the like, or may be movable by a caster or the like provided at the bottom.

The plate feeding unit 12 is provided with a sheet feeding device 102 and a reversing device 104, and the printing plate 20 mounted on the printing plate placing table 38 is sucked and held by the sheet feeding device 102 to be lifted and inverted. It is delivered to the device 104. The reversing device 104 attracts and holds one end of the printing plate 20 in the width direction and rotates, whereby the printing plate 20 is reversed and the photosensitive surface is directed upward.

Further, the plate supply section 12 is provided with a lift table 300 and a horizontal transfer device 106, and the reversing device 104.
The printing plate 20 reversed by the above is placed on the lift table 300. The printing plate 20 placed on the lift table 300 is positioned with respect to the lift table 300 and then passed to the horizontal transport device 106. The printing plate 20 has its lower surface supported by a plurality of claw portions of the horizontal transport device 106, and is transported onto the surface plate 408 of the drawing unit 18 provided adjacent to the plate supply unit 12.

The printing plate 20 placed on the surface plate 408 of the drawing unit 18 is charged, and then an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive surface by the drawing device. Printing plate 20 on which an electrostatic latent image is formed
Is moved from the surface plate 408 to the plate discharge unit 14 provided adjacent to the drawing unit 18 and above the plate supply unit 12 by the take-out device 450. The plate discharge unit 14 includes a transport stage 5 that moves inside the plate discharge unit 14 toward the drawing unit 18.
02 is provided, and the printing plate 20 lifted by the take-out device 450 is placed on the transport stage 502.

A transport stage 502 on which the printing plate 20 is placed
Are moved toward the insertion stage 532 provided in the plate discharge section 14 adjacent to the developing section 22. The printing plate 20 is transferred from the transport stage 502 to the insertion stage 532. As shown in FIG. 3, when the printing plate 20 is placed on the insertion stage 532, it is inclined toward the developing unit 22 at a predetermined angle, and then the placed printing plate 20 is fed toward the developing unit 22. It has become. This insertion stage 53
The inclination angle of 2 is equal to the inclination angle of the printing plate 20 conveyed near the insertion port of the developing unit 22.

As shown in FIG. 1, a developing unit 22 is connected to the plate feeding / discharging unit 16. The developing unit 22 includes a developing processing unit 24 that develops the printing plate 20 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed, and a fixing processing unit 26 that fixes the developing printing plate 20. The printing plate 20 is applied with a toner as a developing solution in the development processing section 24, and then squeezed with unnecessary toner to be dried. The development system of the development processing unit 24 is a reversal development system, and toner having a positive charge is applied to the surface of the printing plate 20 that is positively charged in the drawing unit 18. Further, in the development processing section 24, when the toner particles are attached, the toner particles are applied so as to flow onto the surface of the printing plate 20, so that the toner particles are inclined at a predetermined angle so as to flow evenly on the surface of the printing plate 20. It is designed to be transported in the state where it was processed. Development unit 2
In the second fixing processing unit 26, the printing plate 20 is heated by the fixing lamp and then the printing plate 20 is cooled. The heated toner particles are formed into a film and fixed on the surface of the printing plate 20.

An elution section 28 is disposed downstream of the developing section 22. The elution part 28 applies an alkaline solution to the printing plate 20 on which the toner image is formed, and performs an etching process. As a result, the non-image portion of the printing plate 20, that is, the OPC layer other than the portion where the toner image is formed is eluted. Thereafter, the printing plate 20 is washed with the alkaline solution and the OPC layer, and a gum solution for protecting the plate surface is applied.
The printing plate 20 coated with the gum solution is dried in the drying unit 30, and then sent to the punching unit 32 and the plate bending unit 34 on the downstream side.

In the punching section 32, the printing plate 20 is positioned on a surface plate (not shown), and a notch and a round hole are formed at the end of the printing plate for positioning when the plate is hung on the plate cylinder of a rotary press. In the plate bending portion 34, both end portions of the printing plate 20 in the longitudinal direction are bent into predetermined shapes. This allows printing plate 2
0 is positioned on the plate cylinder of the rotary press to enable plate hanging.

After the plate bending is completed, the printing plate 20 has a plate bending portion 3
It is discharged from 4 and stored. Next, the plate supply / discharge unit 16 to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the plate feeding / discharging unit 16 is provided with a plate feeding unit 12 on the lower side and a plate discharging unit 14 on the upper side so as to be adjacent to the drawing unit 18. Plate supply section 12
The plate discharge portion 14 and the plate discharge portion 14 are shielded from light by the casing 16A and are also separated from each other by the partition wall 13B (partially shown in FIG. 1). [Plate feeding unit sheet-fed device] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 to 6, the plate feeding unit 12 is loaded with a printing plate mounting table 38 on which a large number of printing plates 20 are mounted. Above the printing plate placing table 38, a sheet feeding device 102 as a feeding device 100 and a reversing device 104 are provided. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the single-wafer apparatus 102 is attached to the frame 108, and the reversing device 104 is provided on the drawing unit 18 side of the single-wafer apparatus 102. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, in the plate supply unit 12, a horizontal transfer device 106 that transfers the printing plate 20 supplied from the printing plate placement table 38 by the supply device 100 to the drawing unit 18 is adjacent to the supply device 100. And is provided on the drawing section 18 side.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, in the single-wafer apparatus 102, a plurality of negative pressure supply means (not shown) are connected to a support frame 110 assembled in a substantially rectangular shape and arranged substantially horizontally. The suction cup 112 and the block 144 are arranged downward. The suction cups 112 face the vicinity of the central portion on the surface of the uppermost printing plate 20 of the printing plate placement table 38, and the blocks 144 support the support frame 110 in order to bring the suction cups 112 into optimal contact with the printing plates 20. The distance between the printing plate 20 and the printing plate 20 is maintained. Sucker 112
Is adapted to adsorb the printing plate 20 when a negative pressure is supplied.

The support frame 110 includes a reversing device 104.
A support bar 114 is connected to the end portion on the opposite side to the longitudinal direction of the printing plate 20. The support bar 114 is supported by the frame 108 of the plate supply unit 12 so as to be movable in the vertical direction.

The frame 108 (not shown in FIG. 4) is provided with a pair of guide rods 118 at both ends along the longitudinal direction of the printing plate 20.

A shaft 120 is stretched around the upper end of the guide rod 118 in the axial direction (upper side of the paper surface of FIGS. 4 to 6) and is rotatably supported by the frame 108. A sprocket 122 is fixed to the shaft 120, and the sprocket 122 is rotatably supported by the frame 108 near the lower end of the guide rod 118. Chains 124 arranged along the axial direction of the guide rod 118 are wound around these sprockets 122, respectively.

The rodless cylinder 116 is provided with a drive block 126 which is vertically moved by the drive of the rodless cylinder 116.
6 is connected to the chain 124 via a bracket 126A. Further, a block 128 is inserted into the guide rod 118 so as to be movable along the axial direction of the guide rod 118. The block 128 is connected to the chain 124 near the guide rod 118. Therefore, when the rodless cylinder 116 is driven by an air supply means (not shown), the drive block 126 is moved, the chain 124 and the shaft 120 are rotated, and the pair of blocks 128 of the guide rod 118 is moved.
Are moved in the same direction. In addition, the longitudinal ends of the support bars 114 of the support frame 110 are respectively connected to the guide rods 1.
It is movably supported by 18, and abuts on the upper surface of the block 128 and is supported by them in a horizontal state. Therefore, when the rodless cylinder 116 is driven, the support frame 110 is translated in the horizontal direction in the vertical direction.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the support frame 110 of the sheet feeding device 102 is provided with the turning portions 130 at both ends of the printing plate 20 in the longitudinal direction. The turning portion 130 includes a substantially rectangular base plate 132, an air cylinder 134, and a pair of guide rods 136. The air cylinder 134 and the pair of guide rods 136 are arranged so that their axial directions are parallel to each other in the vertical direction, and the drive shaft 134A of the air cylinder 134 penetrates through the base plate 132 and the tip thereof is the support frame 110.
Is linked to. Further, each of the pair of guide rods 136 has an intermediate portion inserted into a slide bearing 138 fixed to the base plate 132, and a lower end penetrating the base plate 132 is connected to the support frame 110.

Therefore, when the air cylinder 134 is driven by the air supplied from the air supply means (not shown), the base plate 132 causes the support frame 11 to move.
Translated upward with respect to 0.

The base plate 132 is provided with a suction cup 140 to which a negative pressure supply means (not shown) is connected at a position corresponding to the longitudinal end of the printing plate 20, and an air cylinder 142 near the suction cup 140. .. The drive shaft 142A of the air cylinder 142 penetrates through the base plate 132 and projects downward. The drive shaft 142A projects downward from the tip of the suction cup 140 when the air cylinder 142 is driven.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a plate detection sensor 146 is attached to the central portion of the support frame 110 so as to face the surface of the printing plate 20. The plate detection sensor 146 has a plurality of electrode pins (not shown) protruding downward. The printing plate 20 is attached to these electrode pins.
The presence or absence of the printing plate 20 is detected by detecting the change in the energization state between the electrode pins due to the contact with the surface of the plate.

In the single-wafer apparatus 102, the position moved to the upper end of the frame 108 is the standby position, the air cylinder 134 of the turning portion 130 accommodates the drive shaft 134A, and the suction cup 140 is provided on the support frame 110. The suction cup 112 has substantially the same height. The tip of the drive shaft 142A of the air cylinder 142 is located above the suction cup 140.

As shown in FIG. 7A, the single-wafer apparatus 1
02 is lowered by the drive of the rodless cylinder 116, the suction cups 112, 140 and the block 144 are brought into contact with the uppermost printing plate 20, and the lowering of the support frame 110 is stopped. The rodless cylinder 116 further lowers the drive block 126 to stop. When negative pressure is supplied to the suction cups 112 and 140 in this state, the printing plate 20 is adsorbed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7B, when the air cylinder 134 of the turning portion 130 is driven, the end of the printing plate 20 is rolled up by the suction cup 140, and the air cylinder 142 is driven. Thus, the vicinity of the end of the printing plate 20 rolled up by the suction cup 140 is pushed downward. As a result, the uppermost printing plate 20 adsorbed by the suction cups 112 and 140 and the printing plate 20 closely attached to the lower surface thereof are separated, and only the uppermost printing plate 20 is sucked by the suction cups 11.
2,140 is adsorbed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7C, the printing plate 20 sucked by the suction cups 112, 140 is lifted by driving the rodless cylinder 116.

When the uppermost printing plate 20 is separated from the printing plate 20 below it, air is supplied from the end portion wound up on the suction cup 140 by an air nozzle or the like to further separate the uppermost printing plate 20. It is preferable to separate the printing plate 20 and the printing plate 20 that is in close contact with the lower surface thereof. [Plate feeding unit reversing device] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a pair of side plates 200 extending toward the drawing unit 18 side are provided on the upper portion of the frame 108, and a frame member 202 is spanned therebetween. A frame 204 that supports the reversing device 104 is configured. The frame member 20 is attached to the frame 204.
A rodless cylinder 206 is attached to the position 2 by straddling it. The rodless cylinder 206 is provided so that the driving direction is along the side plate 200. The drive unit 206A of the rodless cylinder 206 includes a reversing device 104.
Is attached. The rodless cylinder 206 is driven by an air supply unit (not shown), and the reversing device 1
04 is moved along the side plate 200.

The reversing device 104 is composed of a supporting member 208 which is arranged so as to be bridged between a pair of side plates 200, and a pair of side plate members 210 which extend from both ends of the supporting member. .. Side plate member 210 and frame 20
A guide (not shown) that supports the side plate member 220 and guides the side plate member 210 when the rodless cylinder 206 is driven is provided between the four side plates 200.

A support shaft 212 is arranged between the pair of side plate members 210, and a rotary cylinder 214 is arranged on one side plate member 210. The support shaft 212 is stretched around a pair of side plate members 210 and rotatably supported, and one end thereof is connected to the rotary cylinder 214. The rotary cylinder 214 is set to 1 by an air supply means (not shown).
The support shaft 212 is rotated 180 ° in the direction of arrow C or in the direction opposite to the direction of arrow C each time it is driven.

A long hole 216 elongated in the axial direction is formed in one end of the support shaft 212 in the axial direction.
Further, a plurality of through holes 218 are formed between the elongated hole 216 and the other end portion in the axial direction. The elongated holes 216 and the through holes 218 are provided such that their axial directions are parallel to each other, and the suction cup support member 220 is inserted and fixed to the support shaft 212. A suction cup 222 connected to a negative pressure supply means (not shown) is attached to the tip of the suction cup support member 220 so as to face the same direction.

The reversing device 104 has the suction cup 222 of the support shaft 212 at the standby position at the end on the sheet feeding device 102 side.
Is directed downwards. In this state, when the sheet-fed device 102 that holds the printing plate 20 by suction moves upward, the suction cup 222 of the support shaft 212 comes into contact with the end of the printing plate 20 in the width direction. The suction plate 222 of the reversing device 104 adsorbs the printing plate 20 when a negative pressure is supplied in a state of being in contact with the surface of the printing plate 20. After this, the single-wafer apparatus 10
When the negative pressure supply to the second suction cups 112 and 140 is released,
The printing plate 20 is delivered to the reversing device 104.

The printing plate 20 has a suction cup 222 at one end in the width direction.
It is held in a state of being adsorbed on (is cantilevered) and is moved to the end portion on the drawing section 18 side by driving the rodless cylinder 206 (shown by a chain double-dashed line in FIGS. 4 and 5). Further, the printing plate 20 is rotated in the direction of arrow C together with the support shaft 212 by driving the rotating cylinder 214. As a result, the photosensitive surface of the printing plate 20 supplied from the printing plate mounting table 38 to the drawing unit 18 is directed upward. [Supply Unit Horizontal Conveying Device] As shown in FIG. 9, a lift table 300 faces below the printing plate 20 that is inverted and supported by the inverting device 104. Also, FIG.
As is also shown, the horizontal transport device 10 that moves between the plate feeding unit 12 and the drawing unit 18 is provided above the inverted printing plate 20, that is, above the plate feeding unit 12 and above the lift table 300.
6 is provided.

The lift table 300 is a planographic plate having a substantially rectangular shape,
The printing plate 20 is arranged so that its longitudinal direction is along the longitudinal direction and is substantially horizontal. The lift table 300 is supported by a frame 302 (shown only in FIG. 9) so as to be vertically movable in parallel.

A pair of guide rods 304 are attached to the frame 302 on both sides of the lift table 300 in the longitudinal direction. The middle portion of each guide rod 304 is inserted into the slide bearing 306, and the slide bearing 306
Is movable along the vertical direction. These slide bearings 306 are fixed to the ends of the lift base 300 in the longitudinal direction.

Below the lift base 300, a shaft 308 is rotatably supported on the frame 302 along the longitudinal direction. A pulley 310 is coaxially fixed to an intermediate portion of the shaft 308. An endless belt 316 is wound around the pulley 310 between the pulley 310 and a pulley 314 attached to the rotation shaft of the motor 312.

Further, on both ends of the shaft 308, in the vicinity of each of the pair of guide rods 304, the sprocket 3
18 is attached. Each guide rod 304
A sprocket 320, which corresponds to the sprocket 318, is rotatably supported by the frame 302 near the upper end of the. A chain 322 provided along the axial direction of each guide rod 304 is wound around the sprocket 318 and the sprocket 320. The longitudinal ends of the lift table 300 are connected to the chains 322, respectively. Therefore, by driving the motor 312, the shaft 308 and the chain 3
22 is rotated. The rotation of the chain 322 causes the lift table 300 to be translated upward or downward along the guide rod 304.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the lift base 300 has a rectangular deep notch 32 at one end in the width direction.
4 and a plurality of shallow notches 326 are continuously formed. These notches 324 and 326 are provided at both ends and the middle part in the longitudinal direction. Further, a notch 328 is formed at a position corresponding to the notch 324 of the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction at the other end portion in the width direction of the lift table 300. Further, notches 330 are formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction from positions corresponding to the notches 324 to the ends. These notches 3
Reference numerals 24, 326, 328, and 330 are used for inserting a claw portion when the printing plate 20 is transferred from the lift base 300 to the horizontal transport device 106 described later.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a roller 332 is linearly arranged along the longitudinal direction at the widthwise end of the lift table 300, and a width is provided at one longitudinal end. A roller 334 is arranged at an intermediate portion in the direction.
Further, elongated holes 336 and 338 elongated in the longitudinal direction are formed in the central portion in the width direction at the other end portion in the longitudinal direction of the lift table 300 and the central portion in the longitudinal direction. A roller 340 is inserted through the long hole 336 at the end portion in the longitudinal direction and protrudes on the upper surface of the lift table 300. This roller 3
40 is connected to and supported by the tip of a drive shaft 342A of an air cylinder 342 attached to the lower surface of the lift table 300. Therefore, the roller 340 is moved along the longitudinal direction in the elongated hole 336 by the driving of the air cylinder 342, and the printing plate 2 placed on the lift table 300 is moved.
The end portion of 0 in the longitudinal direction is pressed toward the roller 334.

A roller 344 is provided in the elongated hole 338 at the center of the lift table 300 so as to be retractable. The roller 344 is disposed on the lower surface of the lift table 300 so as to face upward and is attached to the tip of the drive shaft of the air cylinder 346. The air cylinder 346 is connected to the lower surface of the lift table 300 at the tip of a drive shaft 348A of an air cylinder 348 attached along the longitudinal direction of the lift table 300. Therefore, the roller 344 can be retracted from the upper surface of the lift table 300 by the air cylinder 346, and the long hole 33 is formed by the air cylinder 348.
8 is moved along the longitudinal direction.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the lift table 3
00 is near the position where the printing plate 20 is placed and raised.
A pair of air cylinders 350 are attached. The drive shafts 350A of these air cylinders 350 are oriented inward in the width direction of the lift table 300, and
A roller 352 provided at the front end of 50A presses the printing plate 20 placed on the lift table 300 toward the roller 332.

These are used for positioning the printing plate 20 with respect to the lift table 300. By positioning the printing plate 20 with respect to the lift table 300, the printing plate 20 is provisionally positioned with respect to the drawing section 18. Is becoming
That is, the printing plate 20 placed on the lift table 300 has its longitudinal end portion abutted on the roller 334 of the roller 340 of the air cylinder 342, and its widthwise end portion is abutted by the roller 352 of the pair of air cylinders 350. It is brought into contact with the roller 332 and positioned with respect to the lift table 300. The rollers 340 of the air cylinders 342 are used for positioning the printing plate 20 of the size of two pages of newspaper in the longitudinal direction, and the rollers 344 of the air cylinders 346 and 348 are
Used for positioning a printing plate having a size of one page of newspaper, the roller 344 is normally located below the lift table 300.

The lower end of the lift table 300 is a standby position, a position facing the reversing device 104 is a transfer position, and a position facing the pair of air cylinders 350 is a positioning position. These positions are not shown in the figure. To be detected by. [Horizontal Transfer Device] As shown in FIG. 8, the horizontal transfer device 106 includes a movable frame 354 assembled in a substantially rectangular shape and a plurality of pairs of chucks 3 provided on the movable frame 354.
And 56. On the moving frame 354, flat plate-shaped support bars 358 and 360, which are hung along the longitudinal direction of the printing plate 20, are provided in pairs at the end portion and the intermediate portion on the drawing unit 18 side, and are opposite to the drawing unit 18. A wide support plate 362 is provided at the end portion on the side.

At the intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction of the support plate 362 of the moving frame 354, the driving portion 36 of the rodless cylinder 364 whose both ends are fixed to the frame of the plate feeding portion (not shown).
4A is connected. In addition, the rodless cylinder 36
On both sides of 4, a pair of guide rods 36 are provided along the axial direction.
6 are provided. Both ends of each of the guide rods 366 are supported by the frame of the plate feeding portion by brackets 366A, and the middle portions of the guide rods 366 are respectively inserted into two slide bearings 368. These slide bearings 368 are attached to the support plate 362 of the moving frame 354, and the moving frame 354 is supported by the guide rod 366.

The moving frame 354 is supported in a cantilever state by a support plate 362 provided at the end portion on the opposite side of the drawing portion 18, and is moved in parallel by the driving of the rodless cylinder 364, and a pair of support bars 358. 360 can be inserted into the drawing unit 18 (moved as indicated by a chain double-dashed line in FIG. 8).

The chuck 356 provided on the moving frame 354 includes an air cylinder 370 and an air cylinder 37.
Claw 37 attached to the tip of drive shaft 370A of 0
2, and the air cylinder 374 and the air cylinder 374
And a pin 376 attached to the tip of the drive shaft 374A. These chucks 356 are
A pair of support bars 358 and 360 is attached to the printing plate 20 at both ends and an intermediate portion in the longitudinal direction.

As shown in FIG. 12, a chuck 356.
The air cylinders 370 and 374 of each drive shaft 37
0A and 374A are attached to the outside of the printing plate 20 in the width direction, and the pins 376 are directed downward. Further, the claw portion 372 is substantially L-shaped, the middle portion is directed downward, and the tip end portion is directed inward in the width direction of the printing plate 20. Therefore, by driving the air cylinders 370 and 374, the claw portion 372 and the pin 376 facing each other are moved in the direction of separating or approaching.

The distance between the tips of the claw portions 372 facing each other is made longer than the widthwise dimension of the printing plate 20 in the separated state, and shorter than the widthwise dimension of the printing plate 20 in the approached state. ing. As a result, in the state where they are close to each other, the widthwise end of the printing plate 20 is placed on and supported by the tip of the claw 372. The distance between the pins 376 facing each other is longer than the dimension in the width direction of the printing plate 20 in the separated state, and is substantially the same as the dimension in the width direction of the printing plate 20 in the approached state.

At the standby position above the lift table 300, the horizontal transfer device 106 keeps the claw portion 372 and the pin 376 separated from each other. These claws 372 correspond to the cutouts 324, 328, and 330 of the lift table 300, and the pin 376 corresponds to the cutout 326.
As the lift table 300 is raised, the claw portion 372 and the pin 3 are
76 is located outside the notches 324, 326, 328, 330. By driving the air cylinder 370, the claw portion 372 is inserted into the notches 324, 328, 330.
Further, the pin 376 is driven by driving the air cylinder 374.
Is adjacent to the widthwise end of the printing plate 20. When the lift table 300 is moved downward in this state, the printing plate 20
It is separated from the upper surface of the lift table 300 and is supported by the claw portion 372 and transferred to the moving frame 354.

The printing plate 20 is supported by the moving frame 354, inserted into the drawing unit 18, and dropped on a surface plate, which will be described later. That is, when the air cylinder 370 is driven, the claw portion 3 that supports the lower surfaces of both end portions in the width direction of the printing plate 20.
Since the 72 are moved in the direction away from each other, the claw portion 37
2 is removed from the printing plate 20 and the printing plate 20 is dropped.
At this time, the pin 376 holds down the end portion of the printing plate 20 in the width direction so that the printing plate 20 is not caught by the claw portion 372 and does not move.

The moving frame 354 is used for the printing plate 20.
A magnetic sensor, for example, is provided so as to face the surface of the printing plate 20, and the printing plate 20 supported by the claw portion 372 is detected. [Drawing Unit] FIG. 13 shows an outline of the drawing unit 18. The drawing unit 18 includes a printing plate 402 on which the printing plate 20 is placed on the frame 400, and a charging device 404 that charges the printing plate 20.
And a drawing device 406 that forms an electrostatic latent image on the charged photosensitive surface of the printing plate 20, which are housed in a light-shielded manner by a casing (not shown).

The plate base 402 has a rectangular flat plate shape and is provided with a surface plate 408 on which the printing plate 20 is placed, and a movable table 410 on which the surface plate 408 is fixedly supported. The moving base 410 is guided by a pair of rails 412 on the frame base 400 and is movable in the direction of the drawing device 406.

On the plate table 402, a positioning device for positioning the printing plate 20 placed on the surface plate 408 with respect to the surface plate 408 and the printing plate 20 positioned on the surface plate 408 are suction-held. And an adsorption device. The positioning device includes a plurality of pins 414 and 416 provided so as to project on the surface plate 408, a pusher 418 provided corresponding to the pin 414, and a pusher 420 provided corresponding to the pin 416. ..

The pusher 418 presses the end portion of the printing plate 20 in the width direction toward the pin 414 to position the printing plate 20 in the width direction. Further, the pusher 420 presses the longitudinal end of the printing plate 20 toward the pin 416 to position the printing plate 20 in the longitudinal direction.

It should be noted that the newspaper 1
Pins (not shown) for positioning the printing plate for the pages are arranged so that they can be projected and retracted, and the printing plate having the size of one page of newspaper can be positioned.

Further, a plurality of grooves (not shown) are formed on the upper surface of the surface plate 408, and the printing plate positioned on the surface plate 408 when negative pressure is supplied by negative pressure supply means (not shown). 20 is adsorbed and held.

Further, the surface plate 408 is formed with a plurality of notches 422 which reach the vicinity of the end portion in the width direction of the printing plate.
When the printing plate 20 is discharged from the surface plate 408, the claw portion of the discharging device is inserted.

The frame base 400 is provided with a moving device 424 for moving the plate base 402 along a pair of rails 412. The moving device 424 is connected to a plate 402 by a feed screw 428 rotatably supported by the frame base 400 in parallel with the rail 412 and having a drive shaft of a motor 426 connected to one end thereof. It is composed of a nut 430. Therefore. The feed screw 428 rotated by the drive of the motor 426 moves the plate base 402 together with the nut 430.

The printing plate 20 positioned and held on the surface plate 408 is charged by the moving device 424 into the charging device 404.
And is sent to the drawing device 406. On this occasion,
The printing plate 20 is positively charged by corona discharge from the charging device 404. The printing plate 20 moved to the lower side of the drawing device 406 is, for example,
A semiconductor laser having a wavelength of 780 nm is scanned and exposed according to an image to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive surface. The printing plate 20 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed is returned to the original position, that is, the position positioned on the surface plate 408 by the moving device 424. [Ejecting Device] As shown in FIG. 15, an extracting device 450 is provided above the surface plate 408 in the drawing unit 18 and above the moving frame 354 (not shown in FIG. 15) inserted from the plate feeding unit 12. Are arranged. As shown in FIG. 14, the take-out device 450 includes a moving base 4 having a substantially rectangular flat plate shape.
A base plate 454 is attached below 52.

An air cylinder 456 is attached to the center of the moving base 452. This air cylinder 4
The drive shaft 456A of 56 passes through the moving base 452 and is connected to the central portion of the base plate 454. Guide rods 458 are provided near the four corners of the moving base 452. These guide rods 458 have an axial direction parallel to the axial direction of the air cylinder 456, and an intermediate portion is inserted into a slide bearing 460 attached to the moving base 452. The lower ends of these guide rods 458 are connected to the base plate 454. Therefore, by driving the air cylinder 456, the base plate 454 is moved in parallel with the moving plate 452 in the vertical direction. The base plate 454 is a substantially rectangular flat plate, and is arranged so that its longitudinal direction is along the longitudinal direction of the printing plate 20. A chuck 462 is arranged at the end of the base plate 454 in the width direction so as to correspond to the notch 422 of the surface plate 408. The chuck 462 is an air cylinder 46.
4 and a claw portion 466 attached to the tip of the drive shaft 464A of the air cylinder 464.

Air cylinder 464 of chuck 462
Are attached to the respective upper surfaces of both ends in the width direction of the base plate 454, and the drive shaft 464A is projected outward in the width direction of the base plate 454. Claw 46
6 is substantially L-shaped, the middle part is directed downward, and the tip end is directed inward in the width direction of the base plate 454. A pressing plate 468 and a compression coil spring 470 are attached to the inside of the claw portion 466 in a substantially L shape. The pressing plate 468 is moved along the tip of the claw portion 466 by the biasing force of the compression coil spring 470.
4 is urged inward in the width direction.

The chucks 462, which are provided so as to face each other in the width direction of the base plate 454, are moved in the direction in which the claw portions 466 are separated or approached by the drive of the air cylinder 464. When the facing claw portions 466 are separated from each other, the distance between the tips of the claw portions 466 is longer than the widthwise dimension of the printing plate 20. In addition, the facing claw portion 46
In the state where 6 are close to each other, the distance between the tips of the claws 466 is shorter than the dimension of the printing plate 20 in the width direction, and the printing plates 20 can be placed on the upper surfaces of the tips of the claws 466. There is. The pressing plate 468 is configured to contact the end face in the width direction of the printing plate 20 with the printing plate 20 placed on the claw portion 466. The pressing plate 468 causes the printing plate 20 to move in the width direction. The end faces are pressed and pinched.

As shown in FIG. 16, the take-out device 45
By moving 0, the claws 466 of the chuck 462 are positioned near the notches 422 of the surface plate 408, the claws 466 are inserted into the notches 422 by driving the air cylinder 464, and the tip of the claws 466 is printed. The pressing plate 46 is disposed below the plate 20 and is provided on the end face in the width direction of the printing plate 20.
8 is abutted. When the base plate 454 is lifted by driving the air cylinder 456 from this state, the printing plate 20 is lifted from the surface plate 408.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the moving base 452 of the take-out device 450 is assembled in a substantially rectangular shape and is supported by the frame of the drawing section 18 (not shown).
It is arranged in 72. The frame 472 has a pair of guide rails 474 along the width direction of the printing plate 20.
(Illustrated in FIG. 14) is provided. Moving base 452
A guide block 476 is provided corresponding to these guide rails 474, and is supported by the guide block 476 movably engaged with the guide rail 474.

Further, between these guide rails 474, rodless cylinders 478, both axial ends of which are fixed to the frame 472, are arranged in parallel with the guide rails 474. Drive unit 47 of rodless cylinder 478
A moving base 452 is connected to 8A.

The moving base 452 is moved by the driving of the rodless cylinder 478, and from the upper side of the surface plate 408,
It is moved to the plate discharge unit 14 side. As shown in FIG.
By this movement, a part of the end portion of the base plate 454 in the width direction is inserted into the plate discharge portion 14. Further, the chuck 462 of the moving frame 454 drives the air cylinder 464 to separate the claw portions 466 from each other, thereby dropping the placed printing plate 20 and delivering the printing plate 20 to the transport stage 502 described later. It is like this. The take-out device 450 is a platen 40.
A state where the air cylinder 456 houses the drive shaft 456A above 8 (shown by the solid line in FIG. 15) is the standby position. [Plate Discharging Portion Conveying Stage] As shown in FIG. 17, the plate discharging unit 14 takes out the printing plate 20 from the drawing unit 450.
A transfer device 500 is provided for receiving and transferring the prints into the plate discharge section 14. A transfer stage 502 is provided in the transfer device 500, and the transfer stage 502 is used as the plate discharge unit 1.
4 is inserted into the drawing unit 18.

The transfer stage 502 is a substantially rectangular flat plate, and a substantially rectangular and long resin plate 504 is fixed to the upper surface of the transfer stage 502 along the width direction of the printing plate 20. Further, the end portion of the resin plate 504 on the drawing portion 18 side is projected upward. The transfer stage 502 is the drawing unit 1.
8 above the position where it is projected into
Printing plate 2 which is moved and delivered from the take-out device 450
0 is placed on the upper surface of the transfer stage 5 shown in FIG.
02 position). When the printing plate 20 is placed on the transfer stage 502, the printing plate 20 is supported by the plurality of resin plates 504 so as not to come into direct contact with the metal portion of the transfer stage 502.

The carrying device 500 includes a carrying stage 502.
Is provided with a drive mechanism for moving. This drive mechanism includes a rodless cylinder 506 and a pair of guide rods 5.
And a guide rail 512 provided in parallel therewith. The rodless cylinder 506 and the pair of guide rods 508 form the printing plate 2
It is provided along the width direction of the printing plate 20 so as to face one end side in the longitudinal direction of 0.

Both ends of the rodless cylinder 506 and the pair of guide rods 508 are attached to the frame of the plate supply section 14 by brackets 514. A drive block 516 is arranged at an intermediate portion in the axial direction. A slide bearing structure is formed in the drive block 516, and a rodless cylinder 506 and an intermediate portion of the pair of guide rods 508 are movably inserted. Further, the drive block 516 includes a rodless cylinder 506.
It is designed to be moved by driving.

The guide rail 512 is provided on the opposite side of the driving unit 510 in the longitudinal direction of the printing plate 20 along the width direction of the printing plate 20 and in parallel with the rodless cylinder 506. It is attached to 14 frames. A convex portion 520 is formed on the guide rail 512 along the longitudinal direction, and a guide block 522 is movably engaged with the convex portion 520.

A drive block 516 and a guide block 522 are attached to the end of the carrying stage 502 opposite to the drawing part 18 and along the longitudinal direction of the printing plate 20. Therefore, the transport stage 502 is moved by being supported and guided by the pair of guide rods 508 and the guide rails 512 by the driving of the rodless cylinder 506. The transport stage 502 is used as the plate discharge unit 1.
4 is waited at the intermediate position (the position shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 17). [Insertion Device] As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the insertion stage 532 of the insertion device 530 is provided below the transport stage 502 on which the printing plate 20 is placed and is moved to the side opposite to the drawing unit 18. A transfer device 534 is provided above the transfer stage 502.

The transfer device 534 is composed of a support base 538 attached to the frame of the plate discharge section 14 by a plurality of stays 536, and an arm 544 provided below the support base 538. The support base 538 is a substantially rectangular long flat plate, and is provided at the end of the insertion stage 532 on the drawing unit 18 side with the longitudinal direction corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the printing plate 20. The arm 544 is a long rod-shaped member, and is provided with its longitudinal direction along the longitudinal direction of the support base 538.

The support base 538 has an air cylinder 5
40 and a pair of guide rods 542.
The air cylinder 540 is attached to the support base 538, and its drive shaft 540A penetrates the support base 538 and is connected to an intermediate portion of the arm 544. In addition, the pair of guide rods 542 are inserted into the slide bearing 546 attached to the support base 538 at the intermediate portion, and one end is connected to the arm 544. The arm 544 has a substantially rectangular shape and at least the surface thereof is made of a non-conductive material (for example, resin,
A plurality of claws 548 formed of ceramic or the like are provided. These claws 548 are attached along the longitudinal direction of the arm 544.

The arm 544 is lowered by the driving of the air cylinder 540, and the pawl 548 is moved to the transfer stage 502.
Positioned between the resin plates 504 above the transfer stage 5
The printing plate 20 placed on 02 is opposed to the end surface on the drawing section 18 side. In this state, the transfer stage 502 is at the standby position (the position indicated by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 17).
When moved to, the printing plate 20 is scraped from the transport stage 502 because the printing plate 20 is prevented from moving by the claw 548.
As a result, the printing plate 20 is placed on the insertion stage 532 located below the transport stage 502. The insertion device 530 is configured to send the printing plate 20 placed on the insertion stage 532 toward the developing unit 22.

As shown in FIGS. 18 to 21, the insertion device 530 includes a pair of side plates 550 attached to a frame (not shown) of the plate discharge section 14. As shown in FIGS. 19 and 21, the pair of side plates 550 are parallel to each other and are directed toward the developing section 22. That is, it is provided along the longitudinal direction of the printing plate 20. The side plate 550 has a trapezoidal shape in which the developing unit 22 side is low and the opposite side is high, and one side is inclined toward the developing unit 22.

As shown in FIGS. 18 to 21, an insertion stage 532 is arranged above the pair of side plates 550. The insertion stage 532 is a flat plate made of a long resin, and the longitudinal direction of the insertion stage 532 is directed toward the developing unit 22 and is provided in parallel with each other. In addition, the developing unit 2 of the side plate 550
A shaft 552 is hung and supported rotatably in the vicinity of the top on the opposite side to 2, and an end of the insertion stage 532 on the side opposite to the developing unit 22 is rotatably supported by a bracket 554 on the shaft 552. It is supported.

An air cylinder 556 (not shown in FIG. 19) is attached between the pair of side plates 550. The drive shaft 556A of the air cylinder 556 is directed to the developing section 22 side, and a support arm 558 is provided at the tip. The support arm 558 has a substantially U shape, and an intermediate portion is rotatably connected to a drive shaft 556A of the air cylinder 556. In addition, the tips of the brackets 56 are respectively attached to the lower surfaces of the intermediate portions in the longitudinal direction of the insertion stage 532.
It is rotatably connected via 0. Therefore, the insertion stage 532 is swung about the shaft 552 by the driving of the air cylinder 556 between a horizontal standby position and an insertion position inclined toward the developing unit 22.

A fixed guide 562 is provided on the extension line of the inclined insertion stage 532 on the side of the developing section 22. The fixed guides 562 are provided in pairs so as to correspond to the respective insertion stages 532, and the insertion stages 532 in a tilted state are extended toward the developing section 22 side. These insertion stage 532 and fixed guide 5
The inclination angle of 62 with respect to the horizontal direction is equal to the inclination angle of the transport path near the insertion port of the developing unit 22.

Shaft 5 hung between side plates 550
A sprocket 564 is fixed between the pair of insertion stages 532 at an intermediate portion of 52. Below the fixed guide 562, the shaft 5 is provided between the pair of side plates 550.
56 is hung and is rotatably supported. A sprocket 564 is also provided between the pair of fixed guides 562 in the middle of the shaft 566. Further, a guide rail 570 having a convex cross-section is arranged between the shaft 552 and the shaft 566.

A chain 568 is wound around each sprocket 564 of the shafts 552 and 566.
Chain 5 moved up between sprocket 564
68 is supported by a guide rail 570 and guided toward the developing unit 22 side. That is, the middle portion in the width direction of the chain 568 is stretched so as to enter the convex portion of the guide rail 570. A pressing block 572 is arranged on the chain 568. This pressing block 572
Are moved as the chain 568 rotates. The pressing blocks 572 are provided at two positions (only one is shown in each drawing), and when one is moved to the fixed guide 562 between the insertion stages 532, the other passes from the vicinity of the fixed guide 562 to a lower position. And is moved to the shaft 552 side.

The pressing block 572 is detected by the micro switch 571 fixed on the stay 551 that is stretched between the side plates 550, and the motor 576 is stopped accordingly (see FIG. 21).

Further, one end of the shaft 552 has a side plate 550.
A sprocket 574 is disposed so as to project from the motor 576 on one side plate 550 below the shaft 552.
Is provided. Rotating shaft 576A of this motor 576
Is projected from the side plate 550, and the sprocket 578 is attached to the tip.
Is attached to the sprocket 574 of the shaft 552.
A chain 580 is wound between and. Therefore. By the rotation of the motor 576, the insertion stage 53
The pressing block 572 is moved between the two.

As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, a bracket 582 is provided outside one of the pair of side plates 550. The bracket 582 includes a side plate 550.
A plurality of rollers 588 are rotatably supported along the inclination of.

A bracket 586 facing the bracket 582 is arranged outside the other of the pair of side plates 550. The roller 584 is rotatably supported also on the bracket 586 along the inclination of the side plate 550.
The bracket 586 is supported by an air cylinder 590 provided on the side plate 550 and a pair of guide rods 592. The air cylinder 590 is a side plate 5.
The drive shaft 590A provided on the inner side of the side plate 50 has a side plate 55
It is connected to the bracket 586 through 0. Further, each of the pair of guide rods 592 is provided such that its axial direction is parallel to the axial direction of the air cylinder 590, and an intermediate portion thereof is inserted into a slide bearing 594 attached to the side plate 550 to be movably supported. The tip of the guide rod 592 is connected to the bracket 586.

Therefore, the bracket 586 is translated by the drive of the air cylinder 590 in a direction in which the roller 588 is brought into contact with or separated from the roller 584 provided on the bracket 582. As a result, the widthwise end of the printing plate 20 placed on the inclined insertion stage 532 is pressed and abuts against the roller 584 of the bracket 582, and positioning is performed when the printing plate 20 is inserted into the developing unit 22. .. The roller 588 does not have to completely press the printing plate 20 against the roller 584, and when the air cylinder 590 is operated, the roller 584 is bent within a range in which the printing plate 20 is bent and displaced when the developing unit 22 is inserted. You may stop before.

The outer peripheral surfaces of these rollers 584 and 588 are coated with, for example, ceramics.
The edges of the printing plate 20 in the width direction are not damaged, and the conductive member does not directly contact the printing plate 20. Further, a micro switch 572 is provided on the insertion stage 532 near the guide rail 570, and when the printing plate 20 is placed on the insertion stage 532, it is turned on by the printing plate 20 on the insertion stage 532.
This serves to inform that the printing plate 20 is at that position when the machine is stopped again due to a trouble or the like and then returned to the original position. [Shutter] As shown in FIG. 22, the casing 16 </ b> A of the plate feeding / discharging unit 16 is formed to project in a substantially rectangular shape on the drawing unit 18 side and includes a connecting unit 600. This connecting part 6
The drawing unit 18 surrounds the connecting unit 600 around 00.
A rib 602 is provided so as to project toward.

The casing 18A of the drawing portion 18 has a groove portion 6 provided with a concave portion facing the rib 602 of the plate feeding / discharging portion 16.
04 is provided in a protruding manner, and the rib 602 is inserted into the groove 604 so that the connecting portion between the plate feeding / discharging portion 16 and the drawing portion 18 is shielded from light. Also, the casing 18A
Inside the groove portion 604, the connecting portion 60 of the plate feeding / discharging portion 16 is provided.
The connection port 606 into which 0 is inserted is formed, and the plate feeding / discharging portion 16
The connecting part 600 is inserted into the connecting port 606 of the drawing part 18 and connected.

As shown in FIG. 23, the plate feeding / discharging unit 16
A projecting portion 610 is provided below the connecting portion 600. The projecting portion 610 is a rectangular box body, and the plate feeding portion 12
The side is opened and communicates with the inside of the plate supply unit 12. Also,
A rectangular plate feed port 612 is formed on the surface of the protrusion 610 on the drawing unit 18 side, and thereby the drawing unit 18 and the plate feeding unit 12 communicate with each other.

The plate feed port 612 is formed in a recess 614 formed in the projecting portion 610, and the outer peripheral edge portion of the plate feed port 612 is projected outward (to the drawing portion 18 side) to form the rib 61.
6 is formed.

The plate feed port 612 is opened and closed by a shutter 618. The shutter 618 is
A flat plate lid 620 shaped to cover the recess 614 of the projecting portion 610 and a rib 6 of the plate feed port 612 on the inner peripheral edge of the lid 620.
A groove portion 622 having a concave portion into which 16 is inserted is provided. Further, the lid 620 is provided with a recess 614 near the insertion opening 612.
Are connected to each other at a plurality of positions by a protrusion 610 and a hinge 624 above the. The lid 620 is rotated around a hinge 624, and the plate feed opening 612 is closed with the rib 616 inserted in the groove 622. In this state, the plate supply unit 12 and the drawing unit 18 are shielded from light.

An air cylinder 626 is provided on the inner wall 610A of the protrusion 610. Air cylinder 62
6, the rear end side of the inner wall 610A is formed by the bracket 628.
It is rotatably supported by. Also, the air cylinder 6
The tip of the drive shaft 626A of 26 is swingably supported by a bracket 630 provided inside the lid 620.
Therefore, the shutter 618 is attached to the air cylinder 626.
The lid 620 is swung by the driving of, and the plate feed opening 612 is opened and closed. When the plate feed port 612 is open, the lid 620 is substantially horizontal, and the movable frame 354 of the horizontal transport device 106 can be inserted into the plate feed port 612.

As shown in FIG. 22, the drawing section 18 and the plate discharge section 14 are communicated with each other by a plate discharge port 632. The plate discharge port 632 is the protruding portion 61 of the connecting portion 600.
It is provided above 0 in a rectangular shape that is elongated in a substantially horizontal direction. A shutter guide 634 is provided on the inner surface of the connection portion 600 near the plate discharge port 632, from below the peripheral edge of the plate discharge port 632 to above the peripheral edge of the plate discharge port 632.

A substantially rectangular flat plate lid 638 which constitutes the shutter 636 is slidably inserted in the shutter guide 634 along the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 15, the upper end of the lid 638 is bent toward the plate discharge portion 14 side and is bent to form a flange 640. Above the flange 640, an air cylinder 642 and a pair of guide rods 64 sandwiching the air cylinder 642.
4 are provided. The air cylinder 642 is provided in the frame 14 of the plate discharge portion 14 with the axial direction provided along the vertical direction.
It is attached to B. The tip of the drive shaft 642A of the air cylinder 642 is connected to the flange 640 of the lid 638. Further, the guide rod 644 is provided in parallel with the axial direction of the air cylinder 642 by inserting the middle portion into the slide bearing 646 attached to the frame 14B.

Therefore, in the shutter 636, the lid 638 is moved by the driving of the air cylinder 642, and the plate discharge port 632 is opened and closed. Shutter 63
When the plate discharge port 632 is closed by 6, the lid 63
8 and the shutter guide 634 overlap each other, and the plate discharge unit 14
The space between the drawing unit 18 and the drawing unit 18 is shielded. Further, when the plate discharge port 632 is opened, the take-out device 450 can be inserted from the drawing unit 18 side, and the transport stage 502 can be inserted from the plate discharge unit 14 side.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS.

FIG. 24 shows the plate feeding / discharging section 16 according to this embodiment.
The main routine of the flowchart showing the operation of is shown. In step 800 of this main routine, the printing plate 20 is taken out from the printing plate 38 by the sheet-fed device 102 of the plate supply unit 12. The support frame 110 of the sheet feeding apparatus 102 stands by above the printing plate mounting table 38.

As shown in FIG. 25, the single wafer processing device 102.
In step 820, the rodless cylinder 116 is driven to lower the support frame 110. Due to the lowering of the support frame 110, the suction plates 112, 14 of the support frame 110 are attached to the uppermost printing plate 20 of the printing plate mounting table 38.
0, the block 144 and the plate detection sensor 146 come into contact with each other, and the lowering of the support frame 110 is stopped. in this case,
The drive block 126 of the rodless cylinder 116 may be moved further downward, and the drive of the rodless cylinder 116 may be stopped when the lowering of the support frame 110 is stopped.

In step 822, the plate detection sensor 146
When the printing plate 20 is detected, the negative pressure supply means (not shown) is operated to suck the upper surface of the printing plate 20 by the suction cups 112 and 140. Since the photosensitive surface of the printing plate 20 is directed downward, the suction cups 112 and 140 adsorb the surface opposite to the photosensitive surface. The operation of the negative pressure supply means may be performed in step 820.

At step 824, the air cylinders 134 of the turning portion 130 are driven so that the four corners of the printing plate 20 are sucked by the suction cup 1.
Lift while adsorbing at 40. Further, the air cylinder 142 is driven to press the end of the printing plate 20 lifted by the suction cup 140 downward (step 8).
26). As a result, the printing plate 20 in close contact with the lower surface of the uppermost printing plate 20 is separated.

In step 828, the rodless cylinder 116 is driven to raise the support frame 110, and the drive shafts 134A and 142A of the air cylinders 134 and 142 of the turning portion 130 are housed in the main body (step 830).

In step 832, the moving frame 110
It is detected whether has moved to the transfer position (standby position) to the reversing device 104, and the driving of the rodless cylinder 116 is stopped (step 834). As a result, the printing plate 20 supported by the support frame 110 is transferred to the reversing device 10
It reaches the delivery position to 4.

At step 802 of the main routine, the printing plate 20 adsorbed by the sheet feeding device 102 is turned over by the reversing device 104.
It is transported to the lift table 300 by. As shown in FIG. 26, in step 840, the reversing device 104 causes the suction cup 222 to suck the widthwise end portion of the printing plate 20 suction-held by the suction cups 112 and 140 of the sheet feeding device 102. After that, the suction of the printing plate 20 by the suction cups 112 and 140 of the sheet feeding apparatus 102 is released. Thereby, the reversing device 10
A suction plate 222 sucks and holds the printing plate 20 in a cantilever state.

At step 842, the rodless cylinder 206 is driven to move the support shaft 212 to the lift table 30.
Move to the 0 side. The support shaft 212 moves to the end on the lift table 300 side. When it is detected in step 844 that the support shaft 212 has moved to the position where the printing plate 20 is transferred to the lift table 300, step 84
6, the rotary cylinder 214 is driven to rotate the support shaft 212 in the direction of arrow C. As a result, the printing plate 20 whose photosensitive surface is directed downward is inverted and the photosensitive surface is directed upward.

Since the surface of the printing plate 20 opposite to the photosensitive surface is directed upward, the sheet feeding device 102 and the reversing device 10 are arranged.
4 can adsorb the surface of the printing plate 20 opposite to the photosensitive surface. For this reason, no suction mark or the like remains on the photosensitive surface of the printing plate 20.

In step 804 of the main routine, the printing plate 20 is passed from the reversing device 104 to the lift table 300. The lift platform 300 stands by below.

As shown in FIG. 27, the lift base 300
Is increased by driving the motor 312 in step 850. When it is detected in step 852 that the lift table 300 has risen to the position where the printing plate 20 is delivered, the drive of the motor 312 is temporarily stopped. In this state, the printing plate 20 whose one end in the width direction is adsorbed by the suction cup 222 of the support shaft 212 is placed on the lift table 300 from the vicinity of the middle portion in the width direction to the other end. Step 856
Then, the supply of the negative pressure to the suction cup 222 of the reversing device 104 is released. As a result, the suction of the printing plate 20 by the suction cup 222 of the reversing device 104 is released, and the printing plate 20 is supported by the lift table 300. When the position where the printing plate 20 is delivered is detected, the suction of the printing plate 20 by the suction cup 222 may be released without stopping the motor 312.

In step 858, the reversing device 104 drives the rodless cylinder 206 to drive the sheet feeding device 102.
When the rotary cylinder 214 is driven, the support shaft 212 rotates 180 degrees in the direction opposite to the arrow C direction in FIG. 5, and the tip of the suction cup 222 is directed downward.

At step 860, the motor 312 is re-driven to raise the lift table 300. Lift table 300
However, the position where the printing plate 20 is positioned with respect to the lift table 300, that is, the pair of air cylinders 350,
When it is detected that the motor 312 has risen to a position facing the end portion in the width direction (step 862), the driving of the motor 312 is stopped (step 864).

At the next step 866, the pair of air cylinders 350 are driven to drive the printing plate 2 by the rollers 352.
0 is pressed along the width direction to abut on the roller 332 provided on the lift table 300. Also, the lift stand 30
0, the air cylinder 342 is driven to press the printing plate 20 by the roller 340 in the longitudinal direction,
The printing plate 20 is brought into contact with the roller 334 provided so as to face it. As a result, the printing plate 20 is positioned with respect to the lift table 300. The positioning is confirmed by a plate detection sensor such as a magnetic sensor provided on the lift table 300 (step 868).

When positioning of the printing plate 20 with respect to the lift table 300 is completed, the motor 312 is driven and the lift table 3
00 to raise the moving frame 3 of the horizontal transfer device 106.
54 (step 872) to face the lift table 300.
Is stopped (step 874).

In step 806 of the main routine, the printing plate 20 is transferred from the lift table 300 to the horizontal transfer device 106, and the horizontal transfer device 106 transfers the printing plate 20 onto the surface plate of the drawing unit 18. At the standby position above the lift table 300, the chuck 356 is in a state in which the claw portion 372 and the pin 376 are opened.

As shown in FIG. 28, the horizontal transfer device 1
When detecting that the printing plate 20 is opposed to the moving frame 354 in step 880, in step 882, the air cylinder 370 is driven to insert the tip of the claw portion 372 of the chuck 356 below the printing plate 20. To do. In step 884, the air cylinder 374 is driven so that the pin 376 faces the end portion of the printing plate 20 in the width direction.

Thereafter, in step 886, the motor 312 is
Is driven to lower the lift table 300 to the lower standby position. As a result, the lower surface of the printing plate 20 placed on the lift table 300 is supported by the claw portions 372 of the chuck 356, and is passed from the lift table 300 to the moving frame 354 of the horizontal transport device 106.

At the next step 888, the air cylinder 626 is driven to open the shutter 618 between the plate supply unit 12 and the drawing unit 18, and the plate supply unit 12 and the drawing unit 18 shielded by the shutter 618 are opened. Communicate. As a result, the moving frame 354 is moved from the plate supply unit 12 to the drawing unit 18
It can be inserted inside.

When the shutter 618 is opened, the rodless cylinder 364 is driven to insert the moving frame 354 holding the printing plate 20 into the drawing section 18. When it is detected that the moving frame 354 has moved onto the surface plate 408 of the drawing unit 18 (step 892), the air cylinder 370.
Is driven to open the chuck 356 (step 894).
As a result, the printing plate 20 is dropped onto the surface plate 408 and transferred to the surface plate 408. At this time, since the pin 376 is in contact with the end portion of the printing plate 20 in the width direction, the claw portion 372 is formed.
The printing plate 20 is not pulled by the movement of the
The printing plate 20 can be placed at a predetermined position on the surface plate 408.

When the printing plate 20 is transferred to the surface plate 408, the air cylinder 374 is driven to separate the pins 376 from each other (step 896) and the rodless cylinder 36 is also moved.
4 is driven to return the moving frame 354 to the standby position on the lift table 300 of the plate supply unit 12 (step 898).

When it is confirmed that the moving frame 354 has returned to the standby position (step 900), the air cylinder 6
26 is driven to close the shutter 618. As a result, the plate supply unit 12 and the drawing unit 18 are shielded from light.

Since the printing plate 20 is placed on the surface plate 408 with its photosensitive surface facing upward, the lift table 300 and the horizontal transfer device 106 support the printing plate 20 from the lower surface. Also,
The positioning with respect to the lift table 300 presses the end surface of the printing plate 20. Therefore, the photosensitive surface of the printing plate 20 can be held in a uniform state without coming into contact with the photosensitive surface of the printing plate 20.

Further, the printing plate 20 is positioned with respect to the lift table 300, and provisional positioning is performed when the printing plate 20 is placed on the surface plate 408. Therefore, the printing plate 20 is sucked by the suction cups 112 and 140 of the sheet feeding device 102 and the reversing device 104.
Sucked by the suction cup 222 and conveyed, and further, the reversing device 10
Even if it is reversed at 4, it can be placed on the surface plate 408 without error.

At step 808 of the main routine, the drawing device 406 performs drawing processing on the printing plate 20 placed on the surface plate 408 to form an electrostatic latent image on the printing plate 20. The printing plate 20 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed is drawn by the drawing unit 18.
(Step 810).

As shown in FIG. 29, the take-out device 450.
When it is confirmed in step 910 that the drawing process is completed and the surface plate 408 is returned to the predetermined position, step 912
Then, the air cylinder 456 is driven to lower the base plate 454. At this time, the base plate 45
The chuck 462 of No. 4 spreads the claw portions 466 apart from each other. When it is detected that the base plate 454 has descended to the lower end (step 914), the air cylinder 464 of the chuck 462 is driven to close the claw portion 466 (step 916).

When the base plate 454 is lowered to the lower end, the tip of the claw portion 466 faces the notch 422,
By driving the air cylinder 464, the claw portion 4
The tip of 66 is made to enter below the printing plate 20 on the surface plate 408.

At step 918, the air cylinder 46
4 to raise the base plate 454,
The printing plate 20 is lifted from 08. When it is detected in step 920 that the base plate 454 has moved to the upper end, the air cylinder 642 of the shutter 636 is driven to open the shutter 636 (step 922). As a result, the drawing unit 18 that was shielded from light by the shutter 636.
And the plate discharge unit 14 are communicated with each other.

Further, in step 924, the moving base 452 supporting the base plate 454 is moved toward the plate discharge portion 14 and a part of the base plate 454 is inserted into the plate discharge port 632. Further, the transport stage 502 provided in the plate discharge section 14 is inserted into the plate discharge port 632 by driving the rodless cylinder 506 (step 926). In steps 928 and 930, it is detected that the moving base 452 and the transfer stage 502 have moved to predetermined positions. As a result, the transfer stage 502 is positioned below the base plate 454.

In step 932, the base plate 45
The chuck 462 of No. 4 is opened. As a result, the printing plate 20 supported by the claw portions 466 of the chuck 462 of the base plate 454 is dropped onto the transport stage 502.
After that, the moving base 452 returns to the standby position on the surface plate 408 (step 934), and the transport stage 502 is driven by the rodless cylinder 506 to insert the stage 53.
Move above 2.

Base plate 454 and transfer stage 50
When it is confirmed that 2 and 3 have moved to a predetermined position (step 938), the air cylinder 642 is driven and the shutter 632 is closed. As a result, the space between the drawing unit 18 and the plate discharge unit 14 is shielded from light.

At step 812 of the main routine, the printing plate 20 taken out from the drawing unit 18 is inserted into the insertion device 530.
To the developing unit 22.

As shown in FIG. 30, the plate discharge section 14 is
In step 950, the air cylinder 540 is driven to move the claw 5
The arm 544 provided with 48 is lowered. As a result, the claw 548 faces the widthwise end of the printing plate 20 placed on the transport stage 502. In step 952,
The rodless cylinder 506 is driven to transfer stage 50
2 is moved to the drawing unit 18 side of the insertion stage 532 (step 852), and the transport stage 502 is returned to the standby position (steps 954 and 956).

When the transfer stage 502 moves, the claw 54
Since 8 comes into contact with the end of the printing plate 20, the printing plate 20 is prevented from moving with the transport stage 502, and the transport stage 5
02, the transfer stage 502
Is dropped and placed on the insertion stage 532 located below.

At step 958, it is confirmed whether the printing plate 20 can be sent to the developing unit 22, and the process waits until the printing plate 20 can be sent to the developing unit 22.

When the printing plate 20 can be fed to the developing section 22, the air cylinder 556 is driven in step 960 to tilt the insertion stage 532. This inclination angle is equal to the insertion angle of the conveyance path near the insertion opening of the developing unit 22. Thereafter, the air cylinder 590 is driven to move the roller 588 in parallel toward the roller 584 facing the roller 588 (step 962). As a result, the printing plate 20 placed on the inclined insertion stage 532 is moved to the roller 5
The end portion in the width direction is pushed toward the roller 584 by 88 and comes into contact with the roller 584. This allows printing plate 2
0 is positioned for being sent to the developing unit 22.

When the printing plate 20 is positioned, the motor 576 is driven in step 964. The pressing block 57 provided on the chain 568 by driving the motor 576
2 moves toward the developing unit 22 while pressing the longitudinal end of the printing plate 20. By this movement, the printing plate 20
Is guided by the insertion stage 532 and the fixed guide 562, which are inclined at a predetermined angle, and is sent to the developing unit 22. At this time, the width of the printing plate 20 is determined by the rollers 584,
You will be guided to 588.

In step 966, the pressing block 976
Is detected by the micro switch 571, the air cylinder 540 is driven to make the insertion stage 502 horizontal and return to the standby state (step 968). As a result, the feeding of the printing plate 20 to the developing unit 22 is completed.

In the plate feeding / discharging unit 16, this operation is repeated to continuously supply the printing plate 20 to the drawing unit 18, and the printing plate 20 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed by the drawing device 406.
Is taken out and sent to the developing unit 22.

The printing plate 20 sent to the developing section 22 is
A toner image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image is formed in the developing processing unit 24, and the toner particles are heated and fixed on the printing plate 20 in the fixing processing unit 26. After this, the printing plate 20 is subjected to plate surface protection, and further, the punching part 32 and the plate bending part 34 are formed with notches and circular holes for mounting and rubbing on the rotary press, and the plates are bent and the plates are sequentially stored.

The printing plate 20 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed by being charged by the drawing unit 18 is conveyed while being supported on the surface opposite to the photosensitive surface or the end surface in the width direction. In addition, a conductive member such as metal does not come into direct contact with the printing plate 20.
Therefore, the charge of the printing plate 20 is not discharged,
Further, there is no contact mark on the photosensitive surface during conveyance,
Thus, a predetermined toner image can be formed.

Further, when the printing plate 20 is sent to the developing unit 22, the insertion stage 532 is inclined along the conveyance path near the insertion port of the developing unit 22, so that the printing plate 20 sent to the developing unit 22 is forced. Toner particles can be evenly attached to the photosensitive surface of the printing plate 20 without bending.

The drawing section 18 and the plate feeding / discharging section 16 are shielded from light by shutters 618 and 636.
These shutters 618 and 636 are opened and closed when the printing plate 20 is supplied and taken out. For this reason, light does not unnecessarily enter the drawing unit 18 during maintenance of the plate supply / discharge unit 16.

[0155]

As described above, the printing plate transporting device according to the present invention can transport the photosensitive lithographic printing plate in a horizontal state without touching the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate.

Therefore, it is possible to obtain an excellent effect that a trace of a suction cup, a trace of a roller or the like does not occur on the photosensitive surface of the conveyed photosensitive lithographic printing plate.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a direct printing plate apparatus according to this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the direct printing plate apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a main part of the direct printing plate apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part of the single-wafer apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a main part of the single-wafer apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a side view of an essential part showing the single-wafer apparatus.

7 (A), (B), and (C) are side views of essential parts showing an operating state of the sheet-fed device, and FIG. 7 (A) shows a state in which the printing plates are in contact with each other. B) shows a state in which the turning portion is operated, and (C) shows a state in which the printing plate is sucked and held by the sheet-fed device.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a lift base and a horizontal transfer device.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing a lift base and a horizontal transfer device.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a main portion showing a lift base.

11 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts taken along line 11-11 of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of essential parts showing a chuck of a horizontal transport device.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a main part showing a drawing unit.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a take-out device.

FIG. 15 is a front view showing the take-out device.

FIG. 16 is a schematic plan view showing positions of a surface plate and a chuck.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a transfer stage.

FIG. 18 is a front view showing an insertion stage.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing an insertion stage.

FIG. 20 is a plan view showing an insertion stage.

FIG. 21 is a side view showing the insertion stage.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of relevant parts showing a connecting portion between the plate supply / discharge unit and the drawing unit.

23 is a main-portion cross-sectional view along the line 23-23 in FIG.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing the operation of the plate supply / drainage unit.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing the operation of the single-wafer apparatus.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the operation of the reversing device.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing the operation of the lift table.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing the operation of the horizontal transport device.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing the operation of the take-out device and the plate discharge device.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing the operation of the insertion device.

[Explanation of reference numerals] 10 color printing plate direct printing device 12 plate feeding unit 14 plate discharging unit 16 plate feeding and discharging unit 18 drawing unit 20 printing plate 22 developing unit 38 printing plate placing table 102 sheet-fed device 104 reversing device 300 lift table 356 chuck (Supporting means) 364 Rodless cylinder (moving means) 370 Air cylinder (operating means) 372 Claw portion 376 Pin (regulating means) 450 Extracting device 502 Conveying stage 532 Inserting stage 618, 636 Shutter

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A printing plate transporting device for transporting a photosensitive lithographic printing plate, which is placed on a lift table, with its photosensitive surface facing upward, to an outside of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate. Supports that support the end portions of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate in a horizontal state by opposingly moving the upper end of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate downward while the front end portions of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate are opposed to each other. Means, an operating means for moving the supporting means below the photosensitive lithographic printing plate, and a moving means for moving the supporting means in a horizontal direction in a state of supporting the photosensitive lithographic printing plate by the supporting means, A printing plate transporting device comprising: 2. The supporting means includes a claw portion protruding in the horizontal direction, and the tip of the claw portion is moved below the photosensitive lithographic printing plate by the operation of the actuating means to form a photosensitive lithographic printing plate. The printing plate transport device according to claim 1, wherein the printing plate transport device can be supported. 3. The supporting means is provided with a regulating member capable of contacting an end surface of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate, and regulates the movement of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate supported by a claw portion. The printing plate transport device according to claim 1 or 2. 4. The printing plate conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the photosensitive lithographic printing plate comprises a photoconductive photosensitive layer and a conductive support.