WO2007086580A1

WO2007086580A1 - Automatic feeding device for lithographic printing plates

Info

Publication number: WO2007086580A1
Application number: PCT/JP2007/051499
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kazuoki Komiyama; Yoshinori Kawamura; Kikuo Matsuba
Original assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
Priority date: 2006-01-30
Filing date: 2007-01-30
Publication date: 2007-08-02

Abstract

An automatic feeding device for lithographic printing plates capable of reducing carrying resistance when lithographic printing plates are carried one by one by being separated from a bundle of slip-sheet-less lithographic printing plates using a roller-pick method, and being constructed simply and inexpensively using a low-output, small drive motor. With a bundle of slip-sheet-less lithographic printing plates (10) kept loaded, the upper-most lithographic printing plate (10) in the bundle is pulled up from lithographic printing plates (10) below using a handling operating unit (164, 1164), a carrying resistance reducing member (166) or a protection member (1166) is inserted between them by an input/output operating unit to put it ready for use, and a carrying out roller (146, 1146) is rolled within a range corresponding to the carrying resistance reducing member (166) or the protection member (1166) in the uppermost printing plate (10) to thereby carry out the uppermost printing plate (10) with a low carrying resistance. Alternatively, the uppermost lithographic printing plate (2010) housed in a printing plate supply cassette (2020) is sucked by vacuum-suction of a sucker (2202), and is handled at the portion thereof directly below where the sucker (2202) of a lithographic printing plate (2010) is tightly attached using a waveform suction surface of the sucker (2202) to thereby prompt air to flow to between the uppermost lithographic printing plate (2010) and lithographic printing plates (2010) below it.

Description

Specification

Automatic feeding device for lithographic printing plates

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to an automatic supply device for a lithographic printing plate provided with a sheet feeding device for loading a bundle of only a plurality of lithographic printing plates, and separating and transporting each lithographic printing plate one by one.

[0002] In the present invention, only a plurality of lithographic printing plates are loaded in a stacked state in a horizontal direction, and each lithographic printing plate is separated and carried out by lifting each lithographic printing plate one by one using a suction cup. The present invention relates to an automatic feeder for lithographic printing plates.

Background art

In general, a lithographic printing plate (so-called PS plate) is used for offset printing. In the field of lithographic printing, an unexposed lithographic printing plate is supplied, the lithographic printing plate is subjected to laser exposure processing based on digital data from a computer, and the lithographic printing is performed by an automatic processor. A CTP (Computer to Plate) system that directly develops a printing plate by developing the latent image formed on the plate into a visible image has been put into practical use. Some of these CTP systems are equipped with an automatic feeder for lithographic printing plates.

[0004] In a conventional lithographic printing plate automatic supply device of an automatic plate making machine, a plurality of lithographic printing plates and interleaf sheets are alternately stacked and stored in a printing plate packaging box, and an open / close lid With the closed and light-shielded, it is loaded into the printing plate supply cassette in the lithographic printing plate automatic supply device, the door of the lithographic printing plate automatic supply device is closed, and the interior of the device is shielded from light. When the opening / closing lid of the packaging box is opened and the plate making operation is started, the lithographic printing plate is fed from the bundle of lithographic printing plates stored in the printing plate packaging box by the sheet feeding device of the lithographic printing plate automatic feeding device. those carried out to the exposure unit side and separated one by one planographic printing plate removed flux or we interleaf has been proposed (e.g., JP-11 314 771 JP reference.) ₀

[0005] In such an automatic plate making plate automatic supply device, the photosensitive surface strength of the planographic printing plate from which the packaging material is removed while keeping the light-shielded state in the automatic plate printing plate supply device. In order to remove the paper and store it at the disposal site, an automatic device for removing large interleaf paper is required, which has a complicated structure, and this is equipped with an automatic feeder for lithographic printing plates. When used in a CTP system, the CTP system becomes large and expensive.

[0006] In addition, the CTP system does not require protection of the interleaf, and the surface-enhanced photopolymer 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. The development of the one using the PS version (so-called interleaf-less lithographic printing plate) is progressing.

[0007] As illustrated in FIG. 9, a lithographic printing plate 10 constituted as this interleaf-free lithographic printing plate is coated with a photosensitive agent on the surface of a thin aluminum-umum substrate 12 to form a photosensitive layer. Furthermore, an overcoat layer (so-called OC layer called PVA: Polyvinyl alcohol) is used on the outermost surface of the photosensitive layer 14 of the lithographic printing plate (PS plate) to prevent desensitization of the photosensitive layer 14 by oxygen. ) 16 is applied to make it strong against external force (for example, strength characteristics more than 20 times that of a normal PS plate).

[0008] The OC layer of this interleaf-free lithographic printing plate is necessary force until image recording (exposure) is completed. Since it becomes an obstacle to development, it can be completely removed in the water washing step before development. Construct OC layer with water-soluble material!

[0009] Further, in this lithographic printing plate 10, the lithographic printing plates 10 that overlap each other when the lithographic printing plate 10 is transported to the back surface (the surface on which the photosensitive layer 14 is not provided) of the aluminum-umum substrate 12 are provided. Some of them have a water-glass knock coat layer 18 so that they do not adhere to each other.

[0010] In a CTP system that uses such a slip-less lithographic printing plate (slip-paper-less PS plate), the backcoat layer of the other lithographic printing plate 10 on the overcoat layer 16 on the surface of one lithographic printing plate 10 A stack of a predetermined number of sheets stacked in direct contact with 18 is loaded into the housing of a lithographic printing plate automatic feeding device (not shown), and the lithographic plate is fed by the sheet feeding device of the automatic feeding device as the plate making operation starts. Separate the lithographic printing plates 10 one by one, and carry them to the exposure processing section.

In such an automatic lithographic printing plate supply apparatus, it is only necessary to separate and carry out the slip-sheet-less lithographic printing plates one by one. Therefore, the slip-sheet removing mechanism, the slip-sheet transport mechanism, and the slip-sheet stacking unit are provided. Since it is not necessary, the productivity of the CTP system can be improved, an inexpensive CTP system can be provided, and the CTP system can be reduced in size to save space.

Furthermore, in the lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus using this interleaf-free lithographic printing plate, a pickup is picked up on the surface of the uppermost lithographic printing plate 10 in a stack of lithographic printing plates 10 stacked. A roller pick method is used, in which the lithographic printing plate 10 is separated and carried out by rolling the rubber unloading roller (Kegger roller), which is a roller, with the required pressure contact force (eping force). Can be considered.

[0013] In the lithographic printing plate automatic supply device configured in such a roller pick system, the unloading roller rolls and contacts the surface of the top lithographic printing plate 10 in the bundle of lithographic printing plates 10 The uppermost lithographic printing plate 10 in the bundle of lithographic printing plates 10 is carried out while sliding on the second lithographic printing plate 10 in the bundle of lithographic printing plates 10. Relative to the resistance, the transport force (Nipuka X friction coefficient between the transport roller and the surface of the lithographic printing plate 10) generated when the unloading roller rolls in contact with the required pulling force is greater. You need to win! /, RU (conveyance resistance <conveyance force formula holds).

[0014] Here, the conveyance resistance for pulling out the uppermost lithographic printing plate 10 by a roller pick method from a stack of a plurality of lithographic printing plates 10 without interleaving may vary depending on environmental conditions.

[0015] For example, when the transport resistance is set in a high humidity environment when a bundle of a plurality of lithographic printing plates 10 with no interleaving paper is placed in a high humidity environment, the overcoat layer 16 of the lithographic printing plate 10 contains moisture and is placed thereon. The adhesion force with a certain lithographic printing plate 10 increases and the conveyance resistance increases.

[0016] Further, when the conveyance resistance is placed in a low humidity environment, the lithographic printing plate 10 is charged and the conveyance resistance is increased by an electrostatic adsorption force.

[0017] In addition, the conveyance resistance is increased by the vacuum contact between the lithographic printing plates 10 in which a plurality of lithographic plates 10 are bundled without a slip sheet.

[0018] For this reason, the lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus configured in the roller pick method requires a higher conveying force in response to an increase in the conveying resistance, so that the carry-out roller is a lithographic printing plate. It is necessary to increase the driving force of the carry-out roller by increasing the pucker.

[0019] In this way, when the roller pick type lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus increases the pucker and increases the driving force of the carry-out roller, the carry-out roller can strongly press the lithographic plate 10. There is a problem that a large mechanism is required, the drive motor of the carry-out roller needs to be enlarged, and the apparatus is expensive.

[0020] In the lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus configured in such a roller pick system, When La performs the operation of rolling and unloading the surface of the lithographic printing plate 10 on the surface of the lithographic printing plate 10 in the bundle, the uppermost lithographic printing plate 10 is loaded. The back surface of the unloading roller that receives the paper is rubbed against the surface of the lithographic printing plate 10 located below.

That is, in this roller pick type lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus, the lithographic printing plate 10 that unloads the unloading roller of the lithographic printing plate 10 immediately below the lithographic printing plate 10 that is unloaded. The portion of the area received via the plate is strongly rubbed in the carrying direction by the back surface of the lithographic printing plate 10 to be carried out.

[0022] Therefore, in the lithographic printing plate 10 immediately below the lithographic printing plate 10 to be carried out, the photosensitive layer 14 and the overcoat layer 16 in the range affected by the unloading roller pulling force are rubbed. Serious problems may occur on the printed surface, such as scratches and visible black scratches.

[0023] In addition, in a CTP system that uses a large interleaf-less lithographic printing plate (such as a B1 size) (interleaf-less PS plate), for example, only a plurality of lithographic printing plates are substantially horizontal. In the horizontal direction, the notch coat layer of the other lithographic printing plate is directly brought into contact with the overcoat layer on the surface of one lithographic printing plate, and a predetermined number of stacked bundles are stacked in the automatic feeding device of the lithographic printing plate. The paper is loaded into the hood, and when the plate making operation is started, the lithographic printing plates are separated one by one from the lithographic printing plate bundle by the sheet feeding device of the automatic feeding device, and are transported to the exposure processing unit side.

[0024] In such an automatic lithographic printing plate supply apparatus, only the slip-sheet-less lithographic printing plates need be separated and transported one by one, so that the slip-sheet taking-out mechanism, the slip-sheet transport mechanism, and the slip-sheet stacking unit are provided. Since it is not necessary, the productivity of the CTP system can be improved, an inexpensive CTP system can be provided, and the CTP system can be reduced in size to save space.

[0025] Further, the automatic lithographic printing plate supply device using this interleaf-free lithographic printing plate is a pickup roller on the surface of the uppermost lithographic printing plate in a stack of lithographic printing plates stacked in plural. Roll out the rubber unloading roller (Kegger roller) under the required load (pressure contact force) and pile it on the conveyance resistance of the lithographic printing plate to separate the lithographic printing plates one by one. It is conceivable to use a V-type transport roller system.

[0026] In the automatic feeding device of the transport roller type lithographic printing plate in the CTP system using such a slip-less lithographic printing plate, only a plurality of lithographic printing plates are housed in the housing of the automatic feeding device. Are loaded in bundles in a horizontal direction that is substantially horizontal, so that the inside of the automatic supply device's housing is hot and humid (for example, temperature 30 ° C, humidity 50 %), The OC layer absorbs moisture from the air and dissolves to increase adhesion.

[0027] As a result, in the automatic feeding device of the transport roller type lithographic printing plate, the portion of the photosensitive printing plate on the top where the OC layer absorbs water and melts to increase the adhesion is superposed thereon. Adhering to the back surface of the Lumi-um substrate increases the transport load for peeling the uppermost photosensitive printing plate from the underlying photosensitive printing plate and carrying it out. It is necessary to increase the conveying force by pressing the roller strongly and increasing the two-up load.

[0028] Further, in this transport roller type lithographic printing plate automatic supply device, when the OC layer absorbs water and melts and the adhesion is increased, the adhesive force at the tl portion increases. This may cause the photosensitive printing plate to be carried out, or the conveyance load to increase and the conveyance to become impossible.

[0029] Further, in this transport roller type lithographic printing plate automatic supply device, when the transport force is increased by strongly pressing the pick-up roller, the unloading roller in the uppermost lithographic printing plate The back surface of the area where the paper is received slides while strongly rubbing the surface of the lithographic printing plate located below.

[0030] That is, in this transport roller type lithographic printing plate automatic supply device, the unloading roller of the lithographic printing plate directly under the lithographic printing plate to be unloaded is received via the lithographic printing plate to be unloaded. The area of the range is strongly rubbed in the transport direction by the back side of the lithographic printing plate to be transported.

[0031] For this reason, in the lithographic printing plate directly under the lithographic printing plate to be carried out, the photosensitive layer and the overcoat layer within the range affected by the unloading roller's up-rolling force are scratched and visible. May cause serious problems on the printed surface, such as bruises.

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11 314771

Disclosure of the invention

Problems to be solved by the invention [0032] In view of the above-mentioned problems, the present invention reduces the transport resistance when separating and transporting lithographic printing plates one by one from a bundle of interleaf-free lithographic printing plates by a roller pick method, with low output. The purpose is to provide a new lithographic printing plate automatic supply device that can be configured simply and inexpensively using a small drive motor.

[0033] Further, in the present invention, in view of the above-mentioned problems, only a plurality of planographic printing plates are loaded in a stacked state in a horizontal direction and bundled together, and each planographic printing plate is lifted one by one using a suction cup. The purpose is to provide a new lithographic printing plate automatic supply device that separates and transports sheets separately. Means for solving the problem

[0034] The lithographic printing plate automatic supply device according to claim 1 of the present invention is transported in a state where the back surface of the other lithographic printing plate is directly contacted and laminated on the photosensitive surface of one lithographic printing plate surface. The top lithographic printing plate in the lithographic printing plate bundle is loaded from the lithographic printing plate below it, with a predetermined number of lithographic printing plates having storable characteristics loaded in a bundle. A pulling operation section for performing the pulling-up operation, a use state inserted between the uppermost lithographic printing plate and the lower lithographic printing plate, and the uppermost lithographic printing plate and the lower lithographic printing plate When the uppermost lithographic printing plate is pulled up by the transport resistance reducing member made of a material with a low coefficient of friction, which is mounted so as to be movable between the standby position where it has left In addition, the conveyance resistance reducing member is inserted between the uppermost lithographic printing plate and the lithographic printing plate below it to make it ready for use. The transport resistance of the top lithographic printing plate is low in the operating state where the transport resistance reducing member is inserted between the unloading section, the top lithographic printing plate and the lithographic printing plate below it. And an unloading roller that rolls over the range corresponding to the reducing member and unloads the uppermost lithographic printing plate while sliding on the conveying resistance reducing member.

[0035] By configuring as described above, a bundle of a plurality of predetermined planographic printing plates stacked and stacked without intervening interleaf is loaded into the automatic feeding device, and the bundle of the planographic printing plates is loaded. Insert a conveyance resistance reduction member between the uppermost lithographic printing plate and the lower lithographic printing plate, and roll the unloading roller configured as a roller pick method on the uppermost lithographic printing plate. When unloading, the transport resistance is reduced by sliding the back of the uppermost planographic printing plate on the transport resistance reducing member formed of a low friction coefficient material. Rotation driving force to rotate the carry-out roller by setting the low pressure at the time of press contact low Reduced and reduced the drive source of the unloading roller with a low output and simplified the mechanism to add a pucker to press the unloading roller against the lithographic printing plate so that it has rigidity corresponding to the low nip force. And can be manufactured at low cost.

[0036] The invention described in claim 2 is the lithographic printing plate automatic supply device according to claim 1, in which the conveyance resistance reducing member is electrically connected via a ground wire in order to release static electricity of the lithographic printing plate. It is characterized by being configured to be grounded.

[0037] By configuring as described above, in addition to the operation and effect of the invention of claim 1, the static electricity stored in the lithographic printing plate is released, and the uppermost lithographic printing plate due to static electricity and its Adsorption with the lower lithographic printing plate can be suppressed, and an increase in transport resistance due to static electricity can be prevented.

[0038] In the invention described in claim 3, in the automatic lithographic printing plate supply apparatus described in claim 1 or 2, the rolling operation unit pulls up the uppermost lithographic printing plate, Create a space with a predetermined space between the lithographic printing plates and introduce air, and after removing the vacuum contact between them, place the uppermost lithographic printing plate on the conveyance resistance reducing member. A space is created around the conveyance resistance reducing member sandwiched between the uppermost lithographic printing plate and the lithographic printing plate below it, reducing the effects of static electricity, preventing vacuum adhesion, and reducing conveyance resistance. It is configured to be configured as described above.

[0039] By configuring as described above, in addition to the operation and effect of the invention according to claim 1 or 2, it is possible to prevent the lithographic printing plates from coming into sliding contact with each other in a vacuum contact state. By suppressing the lithographic printing plates from being adsorbed by static electricity, the increase in transport resistance can be further reduced.

[0040] According to the lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the conveyance resistance when separating and carrying out the lithographic printing plates one by one using a roller pick method, such as a bundle-less lithographic printing plate bundle. By reducing the size and using a small drive motor with low output, the structure of the apparatus can be simplified and the size can be reduced, and at the same time, it can be manufactured at low cost.

[0041] The lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus according to claim 4 of the present invention is transported in a state where the back surface of the other lithographic printing plate is directly contacted and laminated on the photosensitive surface of one lithographic printing plate surface. A state in which a predetermined number of lithographic printing plates with characteristics that can be stored are stacked and bundled The uppermost lithographic printing plate in the bundle of lithographic printing plates can be pulled up to the lithographic printing plate cover below it, and the uppermost lithographic printing plate can be The control member is inserted between the uppermost lithographic printing plate and the lower lithographic printing plate by controlling the rotation of the operating shaft member with the thin plate-shaped protective member attached when the plate is pulled up to the insertion position. The protective member moves onto the lithographic printing plate under the top lithographic printing plate when the rolling operation is performed to drop the top lithographic printing plate in the rolling operation unit, and the top lithographic printing plate is removed. Insertion in which a protective member is inserted between the adjustment operation device that rotates the operating shaft member so that the protective member returns to the standby position after unloading, and the uppermost planographic printing plate and the lower planographic printing plate In the state, it is rolled to the range corresponding to the protective member in the uppermost lithographic printing plate. Te, and having a carry-out and low La for unloading while sliding on the protective member planographic printing plate of the top-level.

[0042] The invention according to claim 5 is the lithographic printing plate automatic supply device according to claim 4, wherein the insertion adjusting operation device has a small sliding frictional resistance! The material is made into a thin plate having a required rigidity. The formed protection member, the operation shaft member with the protection member attached to the tip, the housing on which the operation shaft member is slidable in the axial direction, and the restraining member provided at a predetermined position in the housing of the operation shaft member A spring that is spanned between the restraining member and the wall of the housing and urges the operation shaft member to extend to a position that is restrained by the restraining member, and an end portion of the operation shaft member that is provided with a protective member; An interlocking member connected so as to be relatively unrotatable and relatively movable in the direction of the rotation axis with respect to the opposite end, and a drive operation motor that rotationally drives the interlocking member. It is characterized by doing.

[0043] The invention described in claims 6 and 7 is the lithographic printing plate automatic supply device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the protective member is pressed against the lithographic printing plate having the uppermost discharge roller. It is characterized in that it is formed in a size that is larger than the working range of the pressure contact force.

[0044] By configuring as described above, the uppermost lithographic printing plate in the bundle of lithographic printing plates is rolled up and pulled up to the firing position by the operation unit, and the operation shaft member is rotated to control the protective member to the uppermost plate. When the plate is inserted between the planographic printing plate and the planographic printing plate below it, the protective member is placed under the top planographic printing plate in accordance with the rolling release operation that causes the top level planographic printing plate to drop in the rolling operation section. Move to the planographic printing plate and set it in the inserted state. In this state, the unloading The uppermost lithographic printing plate is moved to the range corresponding to the protective member of the uppermost lithographic printing plate, and the uppermost lithographic printing plate is carried out while sliding on the protective member. The portion of the back surface of the printing plate where the loading force of the unloading roller is applied slides on the protective member, and directly rubs the recording layer side of the lithographic printing plate directly below the uppermost lithographic printing plate. Thus, the recording layer side can be prevented from being damaged.

[0045] According to the lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus of the present invention, when the lithographic printing plates are separated and carried out one by one by the roller pick method, the pick-up roller is used. There is an effect that the portion on the recording layer side corresponding to the range where the force acts can be protected with a protective member to prevent scratches.

[0046] In the lithographic printing plate automatic supply device according to claim 8 of the present invention, the lithographic printing plate can be obtained by laminating the back surface of the other lithographic printing plate on the surface of one lithographic printing plate in direct contact. A storage device in which a predetermined number of sheets are stacked and set in a state of being held substantially horizontally, and a lithographic printing plate positioned at the top of a bundle of lithographic printing plates set substantially horizontally Of the lithographic printing plate set up almost horizontally so that the lithographic printing plate directly below the uppermost lithographic printing plate does not adhere by adsorbing at the adsorbing surface formed by undulating bending. The unloading roller mounted so as to be capable of rolling contact with the uppermost lithographic printing plate in the bundle, and the uppermost lithographic printing plate adsorbed by the sucker are lifted to a predetermined height position to be discharged downstream in the force conveying direction. The paper is conveyed horizontally on the roller and the top lithographic printing plate is placed on the unloading roller. And a moving operation unit that is operated so as to be able to be carried out by being lowered and nipped between the carry-out roller and nipping between the carry-out roller and the carry-out roller and rolling.

[0047] By configuring as described above, a predetermined plurality of planographic printing plates stacked and stacked without intervening interleaving paper are set in a state of being held substantially horizontally and placed at the uppermost position. When a lithographic printing plate to be transported is sucked with soccer, the lithographic printing plate is lifted in a deformed state along the suction surface formed by curving the soccer undulation, so that the lithographic printing plate is curved to wave. The lower part of the lithographic printing plate in the transport direction of the lithographic printing plate to be transported is lifted by lifting the lithographic printing plate while allowing air to flow in through the gap created by the elastic deformation along the shape of the suction surface formed in this way. Printing force It is possible to perform a good rolling operation to peel off. In addition, the top lithographic printing plate adsorbed by soccer using the moving operation unit Good when the lithographic printing plate is lifted to the specified height position and transported horizontally onto the unloading roller on the downstream side in the conveyance direction. A whispering operation can be performed. In addition, since the lithographic printing plates separated into one sheet are unloaded by the unloading roller and the unloading roller and rolled out, the situation where the lithographic printing plates slidably contact each other to cause scratches can be eliminated. .

[0048] The invention according to claim 9 is the lithographic printing plate automatic supply device according to claim 8, wherein when the uppermost lithographic printing plate is lifted by adsorbing the unloading roller with soccer, It is characterized in that it is mounted so that the lithographic printing plate immediately below the uppermost lithographic printing plate does not adhere by making a height difference between the two.

[0049] By configuring as described above, in addition to the operation and effect of the invention of claim 8, the portion near the downstream end in the transport direction of the lithographic printing plate is, for example, a portion of the soccer plate. And is pushed down by the unloading roller at the other part, it becomes sufficiently elastically deformed and curved so as to draw a large wave, and the conveyance direction downstream with the lithographic printing plate under it The entire contact in the width direction of the lithographic printing plate is completely released, air is sufficiently allowed to flow in through the gap created by the elastic deformation of the lithographic printing plate, and the intermediate portion in the conveyance direction of the lithographic printing plate to be unloaded is The lithographic printing plate force below can be peeled off.

[0050] The invention described in claims 10 and 11 is the lithographic printing plate automatic supply device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the uppermost lithographic printing plate adsorbed by soccer is placed at a predetermined height position. Lifting and force A feature is provided to prevent the lithographic printing plate adjacent to the uppermost lithographic printing plate from being unloaded together when transported horizontally onto the unloading roller on the downstream side in the conveying direction. And

[0051] By configuring as described above, when the lithographic printing plate adsorbed by soccer is moved substantially horizontally, the lithographic printing plate adjacent to the lithographic printing plate is moved toward the downstream side in the transport direction. Since it is stopped by hitting the tops, only the lithographic plate adsorbed by soccer can be transported more reliably.

[0052] The invention described in claims 12 to 15 is the lithographic printing plate automatic supply device according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the uppermost lithographic printing plate adsorbed by soccer is predetermined. When lifted to a height position and transported sideways onto the unloading roller on the downstream side in the transport direction, It is characterized in that an air blower nozzle is arranged between the uppermost lithographic printing plate and the lithographic printing plate below the uppermost lithographic printing plate so as to be separated by peeling force S.

[0053] With the configuration as described above, the lithographic printing plate adsorbed by soccer is adjacent to the lithographic printing plate adsorbed by soccer when the lithographic printing plate adsorbed by soccer moves substantially horizontally toward the downstream side in the transport direction. By blowing air between the lithographic printing plate and the lithographic printing plate, the lithographic printing plate adsorbed by soccer can be more reliably carried out.

According to the lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus of the present invention, only a plurality of lithographic printing plates are loaded in a stacked state in a horizontal direction, and each lithographic printing plate is packed one by one using a suction cup. By lifting, each lithographic printing plate can be separated and transported reliably.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an entire CTP (Computer to Plate) system provided with an automatic lithographic printing plate supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing an overall schematic configuration inside a CTP system provided with an automatic lithographic printing plate supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a main part taken out of a part 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. FIG.

圆 4] Schematic showing the main part of the sheet feeding device for carrying out each lithographic printing plate from the bundle power of the lithographic printing plate loaded in the lithographic printing plate automatic feeding device according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a composition diagram.

[FIG. 5] The main part relating to the sheet feeding apparatus having another configuration for carrying out each lithographic printing plate from the bundle of lithographic printing plates loaded in the lithographic printing plate automatic feeding apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part extracted and shown.

[Fig. 6] Operation for unloading each lithographic printing plate from a bundle of lithographic printing plates loaded in the lithographic printing plate automatic supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and carrying it out with a sheet feeding device of another configuration It is a principal part schematic block diagram which takes out and shows the principal part.

[FIG. 7] A portion of a storage shelf in 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 is taken out. It is a principal part schematic front view shown.

圆 8] The bundle force of the lithographic printing plates loaded in the lithographic printing plate automatic supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention is also taken out from the plate feeding device of another configuration for carrying out each lithographic printing plate. It is a schematic block diagram taken out and shown.

9] A schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the structure of a lithographic printing plate used in a sheet feeding device of a lithographic printing plate automatic feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

圆 10] Bundle power of lithographic printing plates loaded in the lithographic printing plate automatic supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention The main part in a state where the sheet feeding device for unloading each lithographic printing plate is in the rolling position It is a principal part schematic block diagram taken out and shown.

圆 11] Bundle power of lithographic printing plates loaded in the lithographic printing plate automatic supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention Outline of taking out and showing the part of the sheet feeding device in a state where each lithographic printing plate is unloaded It is a block diagram.

FIG. 12 is a schematic front view showing a state in which the insertion adjusting operation device in the sheet feeding device in the lithographic printing plate automatic feeding device according to the embodiment of the present invention sets the protective member at the standby position.

13] FIG. 13 is a schematic front view showing an intermediate state in which the protective member is rotated by the insertion adjustment operation device in the sheet feeding device in the lithographic printing plate automatic feeding device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

圆 14] Bundle power of lithographic printing plate loaded in the lithographic printing plate automatic supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention Outline of taking out and showing the part of the sheet feeding device in the state where each lithographic printing plate is unloaded It is a front view.

[15] FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the entire CTP system provided with the lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

16] FIG. 16 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of the inside of a CTP system provided with an automatic lithographic printing plate supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a part of an automatic supply device for a lithographic printing plate according to an embodiment of the present invention.

圆 18] Pick-up in the lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a main part showing a state where one lithographic printing plate is lifted by a unit.

FIG. 19 is a main part schematic explanatory diagram showing an operation when the lithographic printing plate is moved up and down by a pickup unit in the lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a main part schematic explanatory diagram showing an operation when the lithographic printing plate is moved substantially horizontally by the pickup unit in the automatic lithographic printing plate supply apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a main part schematic perspective view showing a part of the automatic lithographic plate supplying apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing the bottom side of the soccer used for the lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing a soccer used for the lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing a state in which the lithographic printing plate is adsorbed by soccer used in the automatic lithographic printing plate supply apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is a main part schematic explanatory view 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. 26 is a flowchart showing a procedure for separating and carrying out one sheet at a time by the lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0056] <First embodiment>

An embodiment relating to an automatic feeder for a planographic printing plate according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus according to the present embodiment is a photosensitive plate formed by applying a photosensitizer to the surface of a lithographic printing plate, compared to a general lithographic printing plate (PS plate) currently available on the market. Photopolymer PS plate that is strong against external force (more than 20 times) and does not require protection of interleaving paper, V, a planographic printing plate with no interleaving paper (PS plate without interleaving paper) in a predetermined bundle of multiple sheets It is configured to enable feeding work by loading the product into the machine and separating each lithographic printing plate one sheet at a time with a sheet feeder.

[0057] That is, the interleaf-free lithographic printing plate used in the lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus is a predetermined size. A recording layer (photosensitive surface that is an image recording layer) formed by applying a photosensitive agent containing a photosensitive material is provided on a thin aluminum plate support formed in the shape of a rectangular plate. To do.

For example, the lithographic printing plate 10 shown in FIG. 9 described above can be used as the lithographic printing plate configured as an interleaf-free lithographic printing plate used in the automatic lithographic printing plate supply apparatus. As described above, the lithographic printing plate 10 comprises a photosensitive layer 14 formed by coating a photosensitive agent on the surface of a thin aluminum-umum substrate 12 as a support to form a photosensitive layer 14, and the lithographic printing plate 10 (PS plate). The surface of the photosensitive layer 14 is coated with an overcoat layer 16 to prevent desensitization development of the photosensitive layer 14 due to oxygen, so that the characteristics are strong against external forces (for example, 20 times the strength characteristics of ordinary PS plates). A back glass layer 18 made of water glass is used so that the lithographic printing plates 10 that are overlapped when the lithographic printing plate 10 is transported do not adhere to the back surface (the surface on which the photosensitive layer 14 is not provided). Is provided.

[0059] The lithographic printing plate 10 that is bundled without interleaving paper used in this lithographic printing plate automatic feeding device is manufactured, and a predetermined number of lithographic printing plates are produced and the interleaving paper is abolished. The photosensitive plate (Em surface, which is the photosensitive agent surface) that contacts the surface of the printing plate, and the back surface of the planographic printing plate (Back surface, which is the PS plate aluminum surface) are in direct contact with each other to form a bundle of rectangular solids. The lithographic printing plate is automatically supplied to the inside of the lithographic printing plate automatic supply device in a light-shielded state. The internal mechanism of this lithographic printing plate automatic supply device uses the aluminum surface that is the base material of the lithographic printing plate as the photosensitive surface. Scraping the lithographic printing plate one sheet at a time while rubbing it, it has the property of not causing scratches or pressure capri

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus performs laser exposure processing based on digital data of a computer or the like and puts it on the lithographic printing plate 10 by an automatic processor. It is used by being mounted on a CTP (Computer to Plate) system that directly develops a printing plate by converting the formed latent image into a visible image.

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 10 stacked without a slip sheet is supplied, and the automatic supply device 110 A sheet feeding device 112, an inner drum exposure device (monogon scanner) 114, and a noffer, which are configured to be integrated and supplied separately from a bundle of the lithographic printing plates 10 to separate the lithographic printing plates 10 (PS plates). An apparatus 116 and a development processing apparatus 118 are provided. As shown in FIG. 3, the automatic supply device 110 in this CTP system is configured integrally by disposing a mechanism of a main part of the single-sheet supply device 112 therein. In order to configure the single-wafer supply device 112, a storage shelf 144 is installed inside the automatic supply device 110.

[0063] As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 7, the storage shelf 144 is mounted on a support stand 160 disposed obliquely from the floor surface of the automatic supply device 110 to the upper part on the inner drum exposure device 114 side. The shelf member 162 is mounted so that the height position can be adjusted. Furthermore, a guide member 161 that can be moved and adjusted to guide the left and right sides of the bundle of planographic printing plates 10 is mounted on the support base 160.

[0064] When configured in this manner, 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 arranged horizontally.

[0065] In order to place a bundle of a plurality of lithographic printing plates 10 stacked on the storage shelf 144 configured as described above without interleaving paper, as shown in Figs. The upstream end in the direction is placed on the shelf member 162, and the guide member 161 is placed along the left and right sides of the bundle, and is placed so as to be obliquely held on the surface of the support base 160.

[0066] As shown in Figs. 2 to 6, the single-wafer supply device 112 is moved to a position above the storage shelf 144 between a pickup position and a retracted position by an operating device (not shown). Mount the unloading roller (pickup roller) 146 as the unloading section.

The carry-out roller 146 is formed to have a predetermined short dimension in the rotation axis direction so as to make rolling contact over a predetermined length range at the center portion in the width direction of the planographic printing plate 10. The unloading roller 146 may be configured to have a full width in the width direction of the planographic printing plate 10 or a length longer than that, or may be divided into a plurality of parts.

The carry-out roller 146 is fixedly disposed on the rotation drive shaft 147, and is rotated by rotating the rotation drive shaft 147 with a drive motor mechanism as a drive source (not shown).

[0069] Further, in this sheet feeding device 112, a rolling operation for spreading the lithographic printing plate 10 to be carried out located on the most surface side in the bundle of lithographic printing plates 10 placed on the storage shelf 144 is carried out. Wear the part.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5, this squeezing operation section is a portion near the upper end of the uppermost lithographic printing plate 10 placed on the storage shelf 144 by the suction cup device 164 (the downstream end in the transport direction). Close The first lithographic printing plate 10 that is separated from the second lithographic printing plate 10 in a bundle of lithographic printing plates 10 and moved out. And a second lithographic printing plate 10 to create a space of a predetermined distance, thereby introducing air to eliminate the vacuum contact state between them, and further carrying out the conveyance resistance reducing member 166 first. It is configured so as to perform a rolling operation of moving to a separating position where it can be inserted into the space between the second lithographic printing plate 10 and the second lithographic printing plate 10.

[0071] Further, following the whirling operation of pulling up the first lithographic printing plate 10, the squeezing operation unit releases the suction of the suction cup device 164 to the first lithographic printing plate 10 at the squeezing position. The first lithographic printing plate 10 is configured so as to perform a squeeze release operation by dropping the first lithographic printing plate 10 onto the second lithographic printing plate 10 by its own weight.

[0072] In addition, the rolling operation unit moves the unloading roller 146 to the retracted position illustrated in FIG. 5 in conjunction with the rolling operation of pulling up the first lithographic printing plate 10, and the first lithographic plate. It is configured to return to the transfer operation state (returned to the pickup position) in which the carry-out roller 146 is pressed against the upper surface of the first planographic printing plate 10 in conjunction with the rolling release operation that drops the plate 10 .

[0073] This conveyance resistance reducing member 166 is made of a material (Teflon (registered trademark), nylon, PC, PET, etc.) having a small sliding friction resistance with respect to the back surface of the planographic printing plate 10 in a sheet shape having a predetermined thickness. Or, use it in the form of a thin plate.

[0074] Further, this conveyance resistance reducing member 166 has a pressure contact force on the surface of the second planographic printing plate 10 when the carry-out roller 146 is pressed on the first planographic printing plate 10 on the top surface. It is formed in a size larger than the range (covering range) including the portion that increases the sliding friction resistance until it becomes a problem.

Further, the conveyance resistance reducing member 166 is formed to have a size over the entire width of the lithographic printing plate 10 or divided into a plurality of pieces so as to extend over the entire width of the lithographic printing plate 10 with a predetermined interval. It may be configured so that it can be placed.

Further, the conveyance resistance reducing member 166 is a vacuum between the first lithographic printing plate 10 and the second lithographic printing plate 10 which are covered on the conveyance resistance reducing member 166. Form a space large enough to prevent adhesion, or the first planographic printing plate 10 and the second planographic printing plate 10 The thickness may be set so that a space having a size capable of preventing adsorption due to static electricity can be formed therebetween.

[0077] The conveyance resistance reducing member 166 is inserted between the first lithographic printing plate 10 and the second lithographic printing plate 10 by a loading / unloading operation unit (not shown) or between them. To be pulled out to the standby position.

For example, when the transfer resistance reducing member 166 is linearly moved as shown in FIG. 4, the first lithographic printing plate 10 is moved as shown in FIG. With the pulling up and moving operation to the rolling position, the conveyance resistance reducing member 166 is linearly moved and inserted into the usage state indicated by the imaginary line in FIG.

[0079] Further, this loading / unloading operation section is the first lithographic printing plate that has been unloaded after the operation of unloading the unloading roller 146 to the planographic printing plate 10 and unloading it to the transport belt winding mechanism is completed. After being lifted from the plate 10, the conveyance resistance reducing member 166 is moved to a standby position separated from the uppermost lithographic printing plate and the lithographic printing plate below it, as indicated by a solid line in FIG.

Further, this entry / exit operation unit may be configured to move and operate the conveyance resistance reducing member 166 by a rotation operation, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, for example. In this case, by fixing the center of the end of the conveyance resistance reducing member 166 to the tip of the rotating shaft member 168 and rotating the rotating shaft member 168, the use state shown in FIG. It can be moved to the standby position indicated by the solid line in Fig. 5.

In the loading / unloading operation unit configured as described above, the rotary shaft member 168 is rotated by a predetermined angle while the first lithographic printing plate 10 is pulled up and moved to the scooping position as shown in FIG. As a result, the conveyance resistance reducing member 166 is rotated and inserted into the use state shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 5 (shown by the solid line in FIG. 6).

[0082] Further, the loading / unloading operation section is configured such that the unloading roller 146 is brought into rolling contact with the planographic printing plate 10, and the operation of unloading the unrolled roller 146 to the transport belt winding mechanism is completed, and the first planographic printing plate is unloaded After being lifted from the plate 10, the rotary shaft member 168 is rotated by a predetermined angle to move the transport resistance reducing member 166 to a standby position indicated by a solid line in FIG.

[0083] As shown in Figs. 4 to 6, in this single-wafer feeding device 112, a material that conducts static electricity through the conveyance resistance reducing member 166 (for example, V, a material of antistatic grade, or carbon is charged with static electricity). The bundle of lithographic printing plates 10 placed on the storage shelf 144 can be electrostatically grounded by being electrically grounded via the ground wire 170. This prevents the first lithographic printing plate 10 from adsorbing to the second lithographic printing plate 10 due to static electricity and increasing the transport resistance.

[0084] In the sheet feeding device 112 configured as described above, only the first lithographic printing plate 10 on the top of the bundle of lithographic printing plates 10 placed on the storage shelf 144 is separated. When carrying out the feeding operation to the conveyor belt wrapping mechanism, first, only the lithographic printing plate 10 at the top of the bundle is moved to the rolling position by the rolling operation unit, and the conveyance resistance is reduced by the loading / unloading operation unit. Set member 166 in use for the second planographic printing plate 10. Next, in the sheet feeding device 112, the first lithographic printing plate 10 is moved through the transport resistance reducing member 166 by causing the squeezing operation section to perform a squeezing release operation. It is assumed that it is on the top.

In this sheet feeding device 112, air enters the space between the first lithographic printing plate 10 and the second lithographic printing plate 10 by the series of operations described above, and then the first lithographic printing plate. As the printing plate 10 descends onto the second lithographic printing plate 10, the air in the space spreads over the entire back surface of the first lithographic printing plate 10 and the first lithographic printing plates 10 and 2 Release the vacuum contact state with the second lithographic printing plate 10 to reduce the transport resistance caused by the vacuum contact.

Furthermore, in this sheet feeding device 112, the conveyance resistance reducing member 166 is sandwiched between the first lithographic printing plate 10 and the second lithographic printing plate 10, and the conveyance resistance reduction member 166 Since the air can be kept in the surrounding space, the lithographic printing plate 10 can be transferred to the unloading roller 1

When unloading at 46, it is possible to prevent the first lithographic printing plate 10 and the second lithographic printing plate 10 from being in close contact with each other and to be in a vacuum contact state. The conveyance resistance caused by contact can be reduced.

In this sheet feeding device 112, the conveyance resistance reducing member 166 sandwiched between the first lithographic printing plate 10 and the second lithographic printing plate 10 is provided via the ground wire 170. Because it is grounded, the static electricity charged in the bundle of lithographic printing plates 10 placed in a low-humidity environment can be transported by the resistance of the conveyance between the first lithographic printing plate 10 and the second lithographic printing plate 10. Eliminating through the reducing member 166 reduces the effect of electrostatic attraction and reduces the transport resistance of the lithographic printing plate 10 Can be reduced.

[0088] Further, in this sheet feeding device 112, the conveyance resistance reducing member 166 is sandwiched between the first lithographic printing plate 10 and the second lithographic printing plate 10, thereby reducing the conveyance resistance. It is possible to create a separated state so as to create a space around the member 166, reduce the influence of static electricity, and reduce the conveyance resistance.

Next, in the sheet feeding device 112, a conveying operation for bringing the unloading roller 146 into pressure contact with the upper surface of the first lithographic printing plate 10 in conjunction with the rolling release operation of the first lithographic printing plate 10. After returning to the state (returned to the pickup position), the unloading roller 146 is rotated by a drive motor mechanism (not shown) so that the unloading roller 146 is placed on the top of the lithographic printing plate 10 bundle. Roll on the plate 10 to separate only one and feed it to the conveyor belt winding mechanism.

In this sheet feeding device 112, when the lithographic printing plate 10 is carried out by the carrying-out roller 146, the sheet feeding device 112 is placed on the back surface of the first lithographic printing plate 10 in the range where the pressing force of the carrying-out roller 146 is applied. The conveyance resistance reducing member 166 comes into sliding contact.

Therefore, in the operation of carrying out the first lithographic printing plate 10, the small frictional resistance when the back surface of the lithographic printing plate 10 slides on the conveyance resistance reducing member 166 having a small friction coefficient is mainly used. Therefore, the predetermined conveying force required for the unloading roller 146 configured in the roller pick method for unloading the first lithographic printing plate 10 can be reduced.

[0092] In particular, in the sheet feeding device 112, when the overcoat layer 16 in the bundled lithographic printing plate 10 contains moisture when used in a high humidity environment, the lithographic printing plate 1 laminated thereon is used. 0 Since the adhesive force to the back surface increases and the friction coefficient value increases, the back surface of the lithographic printing plate 10 is slid directly onto the overcoat layer 16 containing the moisture of the lithographic printing plate 10 and the friction coefficient is increased. If it tries to do, conveyance resistance will become very large.

[0093] For example, the friction coefficient value between the overcoat layer 16 of the lithographic printing plate 10 and the back surface of the lithographic printing plate 10) changes from a normal humidity environment (normal humidity environment) to a high humidity environment. Friction coefficient in normal humidity environment) = approx. 0.45, while friction coefficient in high humidity environment) increases to approx. 1.45, greatly increasing the friction resistance in high humidity environment Increase. (However, friction coefficient) = Calculated by the transfer resistance and the force) Therefore, by interposing the conveyance resistance reducing member 166 between the overcoat layer 16 of the lithographic printing plate 10 and the lithographic printing plate 10 disposed thereon, the reverse side of the lithographic printing plate 10 to be transported is removed. The sliding resistance reducing member 166 with a low friction coefficient is slid on the 166 to suppress the transportation resistance to a low level and prevent an increase in the frictional resistance between the lithographic printing plates 10 in a high humidity environment. The planographic printing plate 10 can be transported with a low-up force and a low driving force.

Therefore, the effect of reducing the conveyance resistance by releasing the above-described vacuum adhesion, the effect of reducing the conveyance resistance by suppressing adsorption by static electricity, and the planographic printing plate 10 on the conveyance resistance reducing member 166 are Combined with the effect of being able to slide and transport with low sheet transport resistance, the unloading roller 146 configured in a roller pick system for unloading the lithographic printing plate 10 is pressed against the lithographic printing plate 10. Because the rotation driving force that rotates the unloading roller 146 can be reduced, a small drive motor can be used as the drive source for the unloading roller 146, and it is possible to reduce the size in a smaller space. The design layout can be simplified, and a low-priced drive motor with a small size and low output is used, and a mechanism for providing a pusher to press the unloading roller 146 against the planographic printing plate 10 has a low nip force. Go which is suitable for By simplifying lifting Tsuyo and can provide inexpensive products.

The sheet feeding device 112 configured as described above separates only the lithographic printing plate 10 on the top of the bundle of lithographic printing plates 10 placed on the storage shelf 144 by the carry-out roller 146. Conveyor belt Feeds to the winding mechanism.

[0096] This transport belt winding mechanism includes a main transport belt winding mechanism 150 that stretches a main transport belt 148 in order to transport each lithographic printing plate 10 from the storage shelf 144 to the inner drum exposure device 114, and A sub-conveying belt winding mechanism 154 is installed that stretches the sub-conveying belt 152.

[0097] This main transport belt winding mechanism 150 transports the transport belt 148 in a stretched manner between the transport position of the lithographic printing plate 10 that hits the upper part of the storage shelf 144 and the transport position to the inner drum exposure device 114. Configure the road.

Further, the sub-transport belt winding mechanism 154 shares a part of the transport path set on the lower side of the main transport belt 148 in the main transport belt winding mechanism 150 to share the planographic printing plate 1 being transported.

Configure to prevent 0 dropping out. For this reason, the sub-transport belt winding mechanism 154 has an intermediate roller 156 on the downstream side in the transport direction from the guide range of the main transport belt 148 against which the front end of each lithographic printing plate 10 transported from the storage shelf 144 is abutted. From the intermediate conveyance roller 158 near the exit of the conveyance path set on the lower side of the main conveyance belt 148, so that the main conveyance belt 148 and the IJ conveyance belt 152 and the force S are wound so as to travel. Constitute.

[0100] When a bundle of a plurality of lithographic printing plates 10 stacked with a predetermined number of sheets without interleaving paper is loaded into the automatic feeding device 110 including the sheet feeding device 112 configured as described above, it is not illustrated. However, an operator prepares a bundle of lithographic printing plates 10 packed in packaging material by removing them from the outer box in a dark room.

[0101] Next, the operator opens the door 142 of the automatic feeder 110 in a dark room, places a bundle of the planographic printing plates 10 on the storage shelf 144 arranged obliquely, and closes the door 142. The light is shielded, and the inside of the automatic feeder 110 is a dark room.

[0102] Next, in the sheet feeding device 112 in the automatic feeding device 110 in which a bundle of a plurality of lithographic printing plates 10 stacked without a slip sheet is loaded on the storage shelf 144, FIG. 2 and FIG. As shown in the figure, the lithographic printing plate 10 located at the uppermost position is brought into contact with the unloading roller 146 as described above to carry out the lithographic printing plate 10, and the lithographic printing plate 10 is sequentially carried out. The main transport belt is fed to the winding mechanism 150.

In this main transport belt winding mechanism 150, the leading end of the lithographic printing plate 10 separated and transported by the unloading roller 146 is the first roller 151 and the intermediate roller at the leading end of the main transport belt 148. In the guide range 148A corresponding to the portion stretched between the belt and the belt 156, it is conveyed to the intermediate roller 156 side according to the traveling operation of the main conveyance belt 148.

[0104] In this sheet feeding device 112, the leading end of the lithographic printing plate 10 unloaded by the unloading roller 146 hits the main conveying belt 148 stretched over the guide range 148A, and the main conveying belt 148 is elastic. The lithographic printing plate 10 is easily deformed so as not to give an impact to the lithographic printing plate 10, and the main conveying belt 148 of the portion of the lithographic printing plate 10 hit by the tip is deformed into a substantially letter shape, It is possible to smoothly squeeze the front end of the intermediate roller 156 between the main transport belt 148 and the sub transport belt 152. In this way, the lithographic printing plate 10 can be elastically and flexibly received when its leading edge hits the main conveyor belt 148. Thus, the photosensitive surface on which the photosensitive layer 14 is formed can be prevented from being damaged.

[0105] Further, in this sheet feeding device 112, the lithographic printing plate in which the unloading roller 146 is rolled up and pulled up even when the lithographic printing plate 10 is unloaded even when the lithographic printing plate 10 is bundled. The tip of 10 must be in contact with the main conveyor belt 148 within the guide range 148A so that it can be properly transported.

Therefore, in this sheet feeding device 112, the bundle force of the lithographic printing plate 10 can be appropriately carried out even if the drawing position changes every time the lithographic printing plate 10 is pulled out, so that the lithographic printing plate is stored in the storage shelf 144. Since it is not necessary to provide a complicated device for adjusting the ten drawer positions, the configuration can be simplified and the device can be downsized.

Then, the lithographic printing plate 10 whose leading end is guided by the main transport belt 148 is sandwiched between the main transport belt 148 and the sub transport belt 152 at the position of the intermediate roller 156. It is transported on the transport path, the nipping state is released at the position of the intermediate roller 158 near the exit, and it is carried into the inner drum exposure device 114.

[0108] The inner drum exposure apparatus 114 in this CTP system is configured with a support body 134 having an arc inner peripheral surface shape (a shape constituting a part of the cylindrical inner peripheral surface) as a base body. The planographic printing plate 10 is supported along the circumferential surface.

In this inner drum exposure apparatus 114, the lithographic printing plate 10, which is an unrecorded recording medium, is held in a state of being in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the support 134 by a vacuum suction unit (not shown). Then, an exposure process is performed.

In this inner drum exposure apparatus 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 has a rotary shaft 140 having a reflector member (spinner mirror) 138 arranged on the top surface by a motor as a drive source whose rotation is controlled by a spinner driver of a control device (not shown). Configure for high-speed rotation. 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 this spinner mirror device 136, the light beam projected from the optical system on the light source side is reflected by the reflecting mirror surface of the rotating reflecting mirror member 138 to perform main scanning with respect to the photosensitive surface of the lithographic printing plate 10. Scan exposure in the direction is performed. [0112] The spinner mirror device 136 is controlled to move at a constant speed in the axial direction of the center axis of the arc 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). Sub-scanning is performed.

For this reason, 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 as described above reflects the light beam projected from the optical system on the light source side and modulated in accordance with the image information onto the reflecting mirror surface of the rotating reflecting mirror member 138. The two-dimensional image is recorded on the entire recording surface of the planographic printing plate 10 by moving the spinner mirror device 136 in the sub-scanning direction while performing scanning exposure in the main scanning direction. .

[0115] The buffer device 116 provided in this CTP system is a function for carrying the lithographic printing plate 10 exposed by the inner drum exposure device 114 to the image processing device 118 at a required timing by adjusting the conveyance speed. Have

[0116] The development processing device 118 performs a development process on the exposed lithographic printing plate 10 that has been carried in, visualizes the latent image, and makes a printing plate.

[0117] Next, another configuration example related to the sheet feeding device 112 in the CTP system will be described.

This will be explained by 8.

The configuration shown in FIG. 8 is configured such that a bundle of a plurality of lithographic printing plates 10 stacked without a slip sheet is supplied to the automatic supply device 110 while being stored in the light shielding power set 200. The light-shielding cassette 200 is configured so that it can be sealed in a light-shielded state by covering the open upper part of the lower case 204 in a rectangular box shape with an upper case 202 formed in a shape that is slightly larger than this.

[0119] Furthermore, the upper case 202 is integrally configured with an opening / closing lid portion 202A that is attached to an end portion of the automatic supply device 110 on the mounting side so as to be opened and closed with a hinge. In addition, a base member 206 formed in a tray shape is disposed inside the light shielding cassette 200, and a bundle of a plurality of lithographic printing plates 10 stacked on the base member 206 without any interleaving paper is placed thereon. Put.

[0120] In this way, the light-shielding cassette 200 storing the bundle of planographic printing plates 10 is a trolley for carrying 2 In a state where it is placed on 08, it is connected to the automatic feeding device 110, and the opening / closing lid 202A is opened so that the internal lithographic printing plate 10 can be carried out.

[0121] Further, an operation opening 210 of the base member 206 is formed in a predetermined portion of the lower case 204 facing the inside of the light-shielded space of the automatic supply device 110 in the light-shielding cassette 200 set in this way. .

[0122] Further, inside the automatic supply device 110, a transport height adjusting mechanism 214 including a rod-like operation member 212 that is vertically expanded and contracted is disposed. The transport height adjusting mechanism 214 extends the operation member 212 upward and pushes the back side of the pedestal member 206 through the operation opening 210 to thereby bundle the lithographic printing plate 10 placed on the pedestal member 206. The top surface of the lithographic printing plate 10 is configured to be brought into contact with the carry-out roller 146 with a predetermined pressure.

[0123] It should be noted that the inside of this automatic supply device 110 has a planographic printing plate 10 below the transport path of the planographic printing plate 10 from the end of the light shielding cassette 200 to the guide range 148A of the main transport belt hanging mechanism 150. A guide member 216 for preventing the printing plate 10 from falling into the automatic feeder 110 is disposed.

[0124] The sheet feeding device 112 shown in Fig. 8 is equipped with the suction cup device 164 that constitutes the above-described whirling operation unit, and the conveyance resistance reducing member 166 that is operated by the loading / unloading operation unit.

In the sheet feeding device 112 configured as shown in FIG. 8, only the lithographic printing plate 10 at the top of the bundle of the lithographic printing plates 10 is lifted by the rolling operation unit, and the force is also conveyed below it. The force reducing member 166 is inserted. Thereafter, in the sheet feeding device 112, the conveyance height adjusting mechanism 214 extends the operation member 212 to lift the base member 206, and unloads the surface of the planographic printing plate 10 at the top of the bundle of the planographic printing plates 10. After being brought into pressure contact with the roller 146 with a predetermined pulling force, the carry-out roller 146 is rotationally driven to carry out the lithographic printing plate 10. Further, in this sheet feeding device 112, the leading edge force of the lithographic printing plate 10 is also applied to the guide range 148A to guide it, and at the position of the intermediate roller 156, the main conveying belt winding mechanism 150 and the auxiliary conveying belt 152 Carry it out so as to be sandwiched between.

[0126] Further, when carrying out the second and subsequent lithographic printing plates 10, they are carried out by repeating the same operation as described above.

[0127] Further, the configuration and operation of the single wafer feeder 112 having the configuration shown in Fig. 8 other than those described above. The effects are the same as those of the sheet feeder 112 shown in FIGS.

Note that the above-described automatic lithographic printing plate supply apparatus does not require protection of the slip sheet described above! In addition to the photopolymer PS plate that is the lithographic printing plate 10, for example, a so-called thermal PS plate is used. In order to prevent the recording layer forming the image formed on the surface from being scratched, an overcoat layer (consisting of a water-soluble material that can be completely removed by a washing process before development) is formed on the outermost surface of the recording layer. Those coated with OC layer etc. can be used. Furthermore, the automatic supply device for lithographic printing plates does not require the protection of interleaving paper, and is a surface-enhanced type that reinforces the surface on the recording layer side to the extent that scratches do not pose a problem even when handled in a stacking state. Thermal PS version can be used.

[0129] In addition, the configuration of this lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus is a lithographic printing plate generally compatible with the plate making method used in the field of lithographic printing, and records an image on a recording layer using light ( (Light mode) lithographic printing plate, recording an image on the recording layer using heat (thermal mode) lithographic printing plate, recording light by converting light into heat in the recording layer (light, thermal mode) Of course, it can be used to separate and supply lithographic printing plates, lithographic printing plates using chemical reactions, lithographic printing plates using physical development, etc. one by one.

[0130] The second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. In the drawings that are specifically referred to in the second embodiment below, the same reference numerals in the drawings in the first embodiment are regarded as four digits for the same components as those in the first embodiment. It should be noted that the reference number is used with the value of the thousands place as "1". In addition, the description of the same configuration and function as in the first embodiment is omitted to avoid duplication.

[0131] In order to place a bundle of a plurality of lithographic printing plates 10 stacked on the storage shelf 144 without interleaving paper, one end of the bundle is placed as shown in FIGS. It is placed on the shelf member 1162, and is placed so as to be held diagonally on the surface of the support base 1160 with the guide members 1161 along the left and right sides of the bundle.

[0132] As shown in FIGS. 10 to 11, the single-wafer feeding device 1112 is moved to the upper position of the storage shelf 144 between the pick-up position and the retracted position by a not-shown operation device. Be done Then, an unloading roller (pickup roller) 1146 configured in a roller pick system as the unloading unit is mounted.

The carry-out roller 1146 is formed to have a predetermined length in the direction of the rotation axis so as to make rolling contact over a predetermined length range in the center portion in the width direction of the planographic printing plate 10. The carry-out roller 1146 may be configured to have a full width in the width direction of the planographic printing plate 10 or a length longer than that, or may be divided into a plurality of parts.

[0134] The carry-out roller 1146 is configured to rotate integrally with the pulley 1146A. The unloading roller 1146 and the pulley 1146A that are integrated together are mounted on the rotating shaft 1147 so as to be attached thereto. The rotary drive shaft 1147 is disposed with its both ends fixed to the support member 1165. The pulley 1146A thus mounted is configured to transmit power by winding a belt between the output shaft of a drive motor as a drive source (not shown). Although not shown in the drawing, each support member 1165 has its end opposite to the end to which the unloading roller 1146 is attached pivotally attached to the housing side so that the unloading roller 1146 has the pickup position shown in FIG. It is mounted so that it can be moved between the retracted position shown in Fig.3.

In this single wafer feeder 1112, the drive motor is driven to rotate the output shaft, the belt winding mechanism transmits the rotational torque to the pulley 1146A, and the pulley 1146A and the unloading roller 1146 are rotated. Operation.

[0136] Further, the sheet feeding device 1112 has a rolling operation for spreading the lithographic printing plate 10 to be unloaded that is positioned on the most surface side in the bundle of lithographic printing plates 10 placed on the storage shelf 1144. Wear the part.

[0137] As shown in Figs. 10 to 12, this squeezing operation section is a portion near the upper end of the uppermost lithographic printing plate 10 placed on the storage shelf 1144 by the suction cup device 1164 (at the downstream end in the transport direction). The first lithographic printing plate 10 that is separated from the second lithographic printing plate 10 in a bundle of lithographic printing plates 10 by moving the adsorbed lithographic printing plate 10 in a vertical standing direction. Air is introduced by creating a space of a predetermined distance between the plate 10 and the second lithographic printing plate 10 to eliminate the vacuum contact state between them, and the protective member 1166 is first removed. It is configured to perform a rolling operation to move to a winding position where it can be inserted into the space between the second lithographic printing plate 10 and the second lithographic printing plate 10. [0138] Further, the squeezing operation unit releases the suction of the suction cup device 1164 to the first lithographic printing plate 10 in the squeezing position following the squeezing operation for lifting the first lithographic printing plate 10. The first lithographic printing plate 10 is configured so as to perform a squeeze release operation by dropping the first lithographic printing plate 10 onto the second lithographic printing plate 10 by its own weight.

[0139] Although not shown in the drawings, the rolling operation unit moves the support member 1165 in conjunction with a rolling operation for pulling up the first lithographic printing plate 10 so as to swing the support member 1165, thereby removing the unloading roller 1146. Moving to the retracted position illustrated in FIG. 10 and dropping the first lithographic printing plate 10 The support member 1165 is swung in conjunction with an unillustrated interlocking mechanism for unwinding operation. Is configured to return to a transport operation state (a state in which the first lithographic printing plate 10 is pressed against the upper surface of the first lithographic printing plate 10).

[0140] A protective member 1166 for insertion into the space between the first lithographic printing plate 10 and the second lithographic printing plate 10 to be carried out is mounted on the insertion adjusting operation device 1167 and arranged.

[0141] This protective member 1166 is made of a material (Teflon (registered trademark), nylon, pc, PET, etc.) having a small sliding frictional resistance against the back surface of the planographic printing plate 10 and has a thickness of, for example, about 2 mm to 1 mm. It is constructed using a thin plate (sheet) material with the required rigidity.

[0142] Furthermore, the protective member 1166 has a pressing force acting on the surface of the second lithographic printing plate 10 when the unloading roller 1146 is pressed onto the first lithographic printing plate 10 on the top surface. Then, it is formed in a required shape such as a rectangular shape with a size larger than the range (covering range) including the portion that increases the sliding friction resistance until it becomes a problem.

The protection member 1166 has a distal end portion of the operation shaft member 1168 of the insertion adjustment operation device 1167 fixed to the vicinity of the central portion of one end side thereof, and a plane of the protection member 1166 with respect to the rotation shaft of the operation shaft member 1168. Attach so that they are perpendicular to each other.

As shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, the insertion adjustment operation device 1167 is configured such that the operation shaft member 1168 can be rotated at a predetermined angle and is pulled in with a pressing force equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

This insertion adjustment operating device 1167 includes a first housing 1170 to which the operation shaft member 1168 is attached, a second housing 1174 to which an interlocking member 1172 for transmitting rotational driving force to the operation shaft member 1168 is attached, To rotate the interlocking member 1172, the second housing 1174 And a drive operation motor 1176 attached to the motor.

In this first housing 1170, a sliding through hole member 1178 on the front end side provided in the center of the front end surface 1170A and a sliding end on the rear end side provided in the center of the partition wall 1186 between the second housing 1174 are inserted. The operation shaft member 1168 having a round shaft shape is inserted so as to penetrate each of the hole members 1180 so that the operation shaft member 1168 can slide in the axial direction with respect to the first housing 1170 and can rotate freely. Installing.

This insertion adjustment operating device 1167 is configured in such a manner that the operating shaft member 1168 is inserted into the through hole 1196 drilled in the support base 1160 so as to communicate with the through hole of the sliding through hole member 1178 on the distal end side. The front end surface 1170A of the first housing 1170 is fixedly installed at a predetermined position on the back surface of the support base 1160.

[0148] The operation shaft member 1168 has a flange for restraining the end portion, to which the protective member 1166 is attached, from extending further when a predetermined distance extends from the sliding through hole member 1178 on the distal end side. A stop member 1182 formed in a shape is integrally provided.

In this insertion adjustment operating device 1167, the compression coil spring 1184 is inserted into the operation shaft member 1168, and is laid between the restraining member 1182 and the partition wall 1186, and the operation shaft member 1168 is attached to the protection member 1166. The end to which is attached is biased in the extending direction.

In this insertion adjustment operating device 1167, the protective member 1166 fixed to the tip of the operating shaft member 1168 is pressed by the rolling operation unit during the rolling release operation for dropping the first lithographic printing plate 10. Then, the operation shaft member 1168 moves so as to descend while elastically deforming the compression coil spring 1184, and is configured to perform an operation of pressing the protective member 1166 onto the second lithographic printing plate 10.

[0151] In addition, in this insertion adjustment operating device 1167, when the protective member 1166 is in the most extended state (the extension of the operation shaft member 1168 is stopped by the stopping member 1182), the maximum amount is stored in the storage shelf 1144. The surface position of the bundle of the lithographic printing plates 10 placed (the maximum height position of the stacked plate, for example, when the thickness t of one lithographic printing plate 10 is 0.2 mm, the lithographic printing plate 10 When it is a bundle of 100 sheets, a position 20 mm above the surface of the support stand 1160) and the operation unit moves the first lithographic printing plate 10 to the position to be rolled. The first lithographic printing plate 10 is constructed so that it is positioned below the back surface of the first lithographic printing plate 10. At the same time, in this insertion adjustment operating device 1167, the position where the operating shaft member 1168 is most retracted while elastically deforming the compression coil spring 1184 is the position where the protective member 1166 is in contact with the surface of the support base 1160. Configure to be

With this configuration, in this insertion adjustment operating device 1167, the bundle force of the lithographic printing plates 10 placed on the storage shelf 1144 is reduced so that the lithographic printing plates 10 are sequentially carried out and the number decreases. According to the above, the surface of the bundle of the lithographic printing plates 10 moves to the surface side of the support 1160, so that the protective member 1166 moves following this, and is always under the lithographic printing plate 10 being carried out. It is possible to realize a state in which the lithographic printing plate 10 abuts on the surface.

In this insertion adjustment operating device 1167, the end of the operating shaft member 1168 extending from the partition wall 1186 into the second housing 1174 is relatively unrotatable and rotatable with respect to the interlocking member 1172. It is connected in a relatively movable state in the axial direction.

Therefore, in this insertion adjustment operating device 1167, the interlocking member 1172 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the end of the operating shaft member 1168 is inserted into the cylindrical hole so as to be slidable in the axial direction.

[0156] Further, the interlocking member 1172 is provided with a guide hole 1188 which is a rectangular long hole along the axial direction. At the same time, a follower 1190 projects from the end of the operation shaft member 1168 so that the head faces the guide hole 1188.

The follower 1190 is slidable in the axial direction within the guide hole 1188, and movement of the guide hole 1188 in the width direction (circumferential direction of the interlocking member 1172) is restricted by the side wall of the guide hole 1188. As a result, the operation shaft member 1168 and the interlocking member 1172 are connected in a relatively non-rotatable state and relatively movable in the direction of the rotation shaft.

[0158] A part of the interlocking member 1172 is provided with a rotational position detection plate 1190 extending in a flange shape. The second housing 1174 has a position for facing the rotational position detection plate 1190, detecting the rotational position, and transmitting the detected position signal to the control device of the drive operation motor 1176 (not shown). A sensor 1192 is provided so that the rotation state of the protection member 1166 that rotates integrally with the interlocking member 1172 and the operation shaft member 1168 can be detected.

In this insertion adjustment operating device 1167, the output shaft 1176A of the drive operation motor 1176 attached to the end plate 1174A opposite to the partition wall 1186 in the second housing 1174 is passed through the through hole of the end plate 1174A. Coaxially contact the interlocking member 1172 in the second housing 1174. Continue.

[0160] The drive operation motor 1176 is controlled by a control device (not shown), thereby rotating the output shaft 1176A to rotate the interlocking member 1172, and via the connection mechanism of the guide hole 1188 and the follower 1190. The operation shaft member 1168 and the protection member 1166 are rotated.

[0161] In this operation, the control device (not shown) is configured such that the protective member 1166 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 by a position sensor 1192 that detects the rotational position of the rotational position detection plate 1194 that rotates integrally with the interlocking member 1172. When it is detected that it has moved from the standby position to the insertion position shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 through the intermediate operation state shown in FIG. 13, the drive operation motor 1176 is stopped and the protection member 1166 is set in the insertion state. Further, a control device (not shown) controls the protection member 1166 to return from the insertion position to the standby position by an operation reverse to the above.

[0162] With the insertion adjustment operating device 1167 configured as described above, the protective member 1166 can be stably and reliably moved between the insertion position and the standby position each time the protective member 1166 is rotated 180 degrees.

[0163] In the sheet feeder 1112 configured as described above, only one first lithographic printing plate 10 on the top of a bundle of lithographic printing plates 10 placed on the storage shelf 1144 is separated. When performing the operation of feeding to the conveyor belt hooking mechanism, first, only the lithographic printing plate 10 at the top of the bundle is moved to the rolling position by the rolling operation unit, and the ヽ control not shown The insertion adjustment operation device 1167 is driven and controlled by the device, and the protection member 1166 is set at the insertion position. Next, in this sheet feeding device 1112, the first lithographic printing plate 10 is moved to the protective member 1166 in accordance with the operation of dropping the first lithographic printing plate 10 by its own weight by performing the rolling release operation of the rolling operation unit. Through the second planographic printing plate 10.

[0164] In this sheet feeding device 1112, air enters the space between the first lithographic printing plate 10 and the second lithographic printing plate 10 by the series of operations described above, and then the first lithographic printing plate. As the printing plate 10 descends onto the second lithographic printing plate 10, the air in the space spreads over the entire back surface of the first lithographic printing plate 10 and the first lithographic printing plates 10 and 2 Release the vacuum contact state with the second lithographic printing plate 10 to reduce the transport resistance caused by the vacuum contact.

[0165] Further, in this sheet feeding device 1112, a protective member 1166 having a predetermined thickness is sandwiched between the first lithographic printing plate 10 and the second lithographic printing plate 10, and the periphery of the protective member 1166 is surrounded. In space Since the air can be maintained, when the lithographic printing plate 10 is carried out by the carry-out roller 1146, the first lithographic printing plate 10 and the second lithographic printing plate 10 are in close contact with each other. It is possible to prevent vacuum contact.

Next, in this sheet feeding device 1112, the conveying roller 1146 is brought into pressure contact with the upper surface of the first lithographic printing plate 10 in conjunction with the rolling release operation of the first lithographic printing plate 10. After returning to the operating state (returned to the pickup position), the unloading roller 1146 is rotated by a drive motor mechanism (not shown) to bring the unloading roller 1146 to the top of the bundle of planographic printing plates 10. Roll over a certain lithographic printing plate 10 to separate only one and feed it to the conveyor belt winding mechanism.

[0167] In this sheet feeding device 1112, the first lithographic printing plate in the range where the pressing force of the unloading roller 1146 is applied during the operation of unloading the first lithographic printing plate 10 by the unloading roller 1146. The protective member 1166 comes into sliding contact with the back surface of the tenth surface.

That is, in this sheet feeding device 1112, the back surface of the first lithographic printing plate 10 where the pressing force of the carry-out roller 1146 acts slides on the protective member 1166, so The second lithographic printing plate 10 eliminates the fact that the back surface of the first lithographic printing plate 10 is directly rubbed to the photosensitive layer 114 side with the required high-pressure required for the unloading operation. It is possible to prevent the printing plate 10 from being scratched on the photosensitive layer 114 side.

In this sheet feeder 1112, only the portion of the back surface of the first lithographic printing plate 10 where the unloading force of the unloading roller 1146 is applied receives the puck and slides on the protective member 1166. Because of the moving configuration, the lithographic printing plate 10 can be carried out without any scratches other than the back of the first lithographic printing plate 10 regardless of the strength of the piercing force. Therefore, in this single wafer feeder 1112, the unloading roller 1146 can be determined only by the convenience of the unloading operation.

[0170] Further, in the operation of carrying out the first lithographic printing plate 10, the small frictional resistance when the back surface of the lithographic printing plate 10 slides on the protective member 1166 having a small friction coefficient is mainly the conveyance resistance. Therefore, the predetermined conveying force required for the unloading roller 1146 configured in the roller pick method for unloading the first lithographic printing plate 10 is reduced, and the unloading roller 1146 is always at a predetermined low level. The lithographic printing plate 10 can be conveyed with a nip force and a low driving force. [0171] Therefore, the effect of reducing the conveyance resistance by releasing the above-described vacuum adhesion and the effect of enabling the lithographic printing plate 10 to slide on the protective member 1166 and carrying it out with a low conveyance resistance are combined. Therefore, in the unloading roller 1146 configured in the roller pick method for unloading the lithographic printing plate 10, the pucker for pressing against the lithographic printing plate 10 is set low to prevent the lithographic printing plate 10 from being damaged. it can.

In this sheet feeder 1112, when the first lithographic printing plate 10 is unloaded and can be conveyed by the conveying belt winding mechanism, the unloading roller 1146 is discharged from the first lithographic printing plate 10. Dissociated.

Then, in the sheet feeding device 1112, when the first lithographic printing plate 10 has been carried out, the operation shaft member 1168 to which the protection member 1166 is attached becomes the restraining member 1182 by the urging force of the compression coil spring 1184. It extends to the position where it is stopped, and the surface force of the second planographic printing plate 10 is also released.

Thereafter, a control device (not shown) that controls the sheet feeding device 1112 starts driving the driving operation motor 1 176 and sets the rotational position of the rotational position detection plate 1194 that rotates integrally with the interlocking member 1172. When the position sensor 1192 to be detected detects that the insertion position force of the protection member 1166 has also moved to the standby position shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, the drive operation motor 1176 is stopped and protected. The member 1166 is returned to the standby position to prepare for the next operation.

[0175] Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the drawings specifically referred to in the third embodiment below, the same reference numerals in the drawings in the first embodiment are considered to be four digits for the same components as those in the first embodiment. It should be noted that the reference number with a thousand value of “2” is used. Further, the description of the same configuration and function as those of the first embodiment and the second embodiment is omitted to avoid duplication.

Embodiments relating to the lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 to 26. FIG. The lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus according to the present embodiment, for example, applies a light-sensitive agent to the surface of a photosensitive printing plate as compared to a general photosensitive printing plate (PS plate) currently on the market. The photosensitive surface formed in this way is strong against external forces (20 times or more), and it is necessary to protect the slip sheet. Necessary! /, Photopolymer PS plate, V, photo paper-less photosensitive printing plate (interleaf-free PS plate), and a predetermined number of large interleaf-free lithographic printing plates such as B1 size A bundle of sheets is loaded as a bundle that is stacked in a substantially horizontal direction in the apparatus (a small lithographic printing plate may be loaded as a stack that is stacked in a substantially horizontal direction. ) Configure the sheet feeding device so that each lithographic printing plate is separated and transported one by one.

That is, the interleaf-less photosensitive printing plate (interleaf-free photosensitive printing plate) as the interleaf-free lithographic printing plate used in the lithographic printing plate automatic supply device is formed in a rectangular plate shape of a predetermined size. A light-sensitive surface containing a light-sensitive material (photosensitive agent surface as an image recording layer, that is, Em surface) is provided on a thin, aluminum plate support.

[0178] The slip-less photosensitive printing plate used in this lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus is manufactured by removing a predetermined number of photosensitive printing plates, eliminating the slip sheet, It is transported and stored in a state of being stacked and bundled in a state where the photosensitive surface that hits the front side is in direct contact with the back side of the photosensitive printing plate (the back side that is the PS plate aluminum side), and is further photosensitive. Even if the photosensitive printing plate is separated and transported one by one while rubbing the photosensitive surface with the aluminum surface, which is the base material of the printing plate, it has the characteristic that it does not cause scratches or pressure capri.

[0179] In addition, the interleaf-free photosensitive printing plate used in this lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus is a photosensitive layer that is stacked on the back surface, which is an aluminum-umum material surface that hits the back surface of the photosensitive printing plate. In addition, an overcoat layer may be applied to prevent the recording surface of the printing plate surface from being scratched.

[0180] After manufacturing, this photosensitive paper-less printing plate is packed into a rectangular parallelepiped by stacking a predetermined number of sheets without interleaving paper, making it easy to handle such as transportation and storage. . This interleaf-free photosensitive printing plate is a light-blocking state inside a lithographic printing plate automatic feeder installed in the CTP system in the form of a bundle of a predetermined number of sheets unpacked and stacked without any interleaving paper. Supply with.

[0181] This CTP (Computer to Plate) system performs laser exposure processing based on digital data from a computer, etc., and converts the latent image formed on the photosensitive printing plate into a visible image using an automatic processor. The plate is made directly by developing.

[0182] As shown in Fig. 15 and Fig. 16, this CTP system stacks a predetermined number of sheets without interleaving. The cassette storage device 2010 to which the bundle of the lithographic printing plate 2011 fed is supplied, and the lithographic printing plate 2011 bundling force is separated from the lithographic printing plate 2011 (PS plate) one by one following this cassette storage device 2010. Single wafer supply device 2012, inner drum exposure device (monogon scanner) 2014, noffer device 2016, and development processing device 2018.

[0183] The cassette storage device 2010 in this CTP system stores a plurality of printing plate supply cassettes 2020 that have been carried by an operator with external force in the cassette rack 2022, and the required printing plate supply cassettes 2020 are stored in a single wafer supply device. Configure to supply to 2012.

[0184] For this reason, the cassette rack 2022 has a plurality of (here, five) stages arranged in the vertical direction with the printing plate supply force set 2020 stored horizontally with the planographic printing plate 2011 in a substantially horizontal direction. It is configured so that it can be set and stocked in each part.

[0185] This cassette rack 2022 is arranged in such a manner that the required printing plate supply cassettes 2020 in five vertical rows are aligned with the carry-in entrance of the sheet feeding device 2012 and the leading end of the printing plate supply cassette 2020 The cassette rack 2022 can be moved up and down to move to each of the five predetermined positions using a lifting mechanism (not shown) in the cassette storage device 2010. Installing.

In addition, in the cassette storage device 2010, the printing plate supply cassette 2020 is positioned by the cassette moving mechanism 20 23 in a state where the required printing plate supply cassette 2020 is positioned at the height position of the carry-in entrance of the sheet supply device 2012. The 2020 is configured to be movable between the supply setting position where the 2020 is set in the carry-in port of the single wafer supply apparatus 2012 and the storage position where the cassette rack 2022 is stored on the shelf.

[0187] Further, in this cassette storage device 2010, although not shown, when the required printing plate supply cassette 2020 is moved and set into the carry-in entrance of the sheet feeding device 2012 by the cassette moving mechanism 2023, the printing plate The lid 2020A of the supply cassette 2020 is automatically opened, and an opening / closing portion is provided for automatically closing the lid 2020A when the printing plate supply cassette 2020 is moved to the storage position on the shelf.

[0188] Further, this sheet feeding device 2012 is located at the uppermost position in the bundle of planographic printing plates 2011 in the portion where the lid 2020A of the printing plate supply cassette 2020 set in the carry-in opening is opened. In order to reduce the adhesive force between adjacent lithographic printing plates using the lithographic printing plate 2011 And a carry-out section configured in a transport roller system for sending out the lithographic printing plate 2011 that has been rolled one by one. In addition, “spreading” means that the lithographic printing plate 2011 to be transported is lifted and slid at the uppermost position in a stack of a plurality of interleaf-free lithographic printing plates 2011 (stacked plate), and the lithographic plate underneath It means that the close contact with the printing plate 2011 is released.

As shown in FIG. 18 and FIG. 21, in the single wafer feeder 2012, a pick-up unit that is integrally configured by mounting a winding portion and a carry-roller type carry-out portion on a single operation member 2206. 200 is placed. In this pickup unit 2200, soccer (vacuum soccer, sucker) 2202 is mounted on the operation member 2206, and a rubber roller carry-out roller 2146 for forming a part of the carry-roller carry-out portion. To do.

It should be noted that the pickup unit 2200 has a plurality of required suction cups so as to be able to perform an average lifting operation over the entire length in the width direction in accordance with the size of the planographic printing plate 2011 to be conveyed (not shown). The soccer 2202 made up of is arranged in a straight line in the width direction of the planographic printing plate 2011.

[0191] The operation member 2206 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 a pair of operation rods 2208 are projected from both longitudinal ends thereof. The operation member 2206 is connected to a moving operation mechanism 212 2 which is driven and controlled by the control unit 2120 with a pair of operation rods 2208 projecting from both ends of the operation member 2206 in a state where the longitudinal direction thereof is in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction. And put it on.

[0192] This moving operation mechanism 2122, together with the operation member 2206 equipped with the soccer 2202 and the carry-out roller 2146, lifts the uppermost planographic printing plate 2011 set substantially horizontally to a predetermined height position. Power is transported horizontally onto the unloading roller 2147 on the downstream side in the conveying direction, and the uppermost lithographic printing plate 2011 is lowered onto the unloading roller 2147 and is pushed between the unloading roller 2146 for unloading. The roller 2146 and the unloading roller 2147 constitute a moving operation unit that is operated so as to be unloadable by rolling and rolling.

[0193] The moving operation mechanism 2122 is configured to cause the operation member 2206 to perform a predetermined control operation that combines a lifting operation in the height direction and a reciprocating operation that moves in a substantially horizontal direction. [0194] Although not shown, for example, the moving operation mechanism 2122 has a pair of operation rods 2208 attached to one end of the link, and the other end of the link is connected to the rotational axial force bias of the rotary drive disk. Ascending and descending as shown by arrow A in Fig. 3 by axially attaching to the centered position, inserting a follower projecting from each link slidably into the cam groove, and rotating the rotation drive disk forward or backward. It is configured to perform an operation, a substantially horizontal reciprocating operation indicated by an arrow B, and an elevating operation indicated by an arrow C. It should be noted that a part for performing a controlled lifting operation and a part for performing a controlled substantially horizontal reciprocation may be provided.

[0195] In this sheet feeding device 2012, the planographic printing plate 2 011 stored in the printing plate supply cassette 2020 is adsorbed and lifted by the soccer 2202 of the pickup unit 2200 operated by the moving operation mechanism 2122. The feed roller 2147 is configured to be sent out.

[0196] Therefore, in comparison with a so-called conveyance roller type configuration in which a pickup roller is rolled and carried out on the surface of the uppermost planographic printing plate in a bundle of a plurality of stacked planographic printing plates, which is conventionally used. , A so-called lithographic plate transport height adjustment mechanism is no longer required to lift the bundle of lithographic plates stored in the printing plate supply cassette and press the uppermost lithographic plate against the pickup roller. The cost can be reduced by simplifying the configuration.

[0197] The soccer member 2202 is attached to the operation member 2206 at both ends in the longitudinal direction via a lifting device 2210 in a so-called swingable state. This lifting / lowering device 2210 is configured so that it can be lifted and lowered to a lifting position separated by a predetermined distance by using an actuator or the like driven and controlled by the control unit 2120 to attract the soccer 2202 to the surface of the planographic printing plate 2011. To do.

[0198] As shown in Figs. 22 and 23 to 25, the football 2202 is configured as a suction cup device for vacuum suction, and the suction cup portion for vacuum suction runs along the upper end of the planographic printing plate 2011. Thus, it is formed in a long and thin shape (for example, an oval shape). This soccer 2202 is formed by curving the suction surface portion that hits the bottom of the suction cup body 2201 so as to wave in the longitudinal direction.

That is, the suction surface portion of the suction cup body 2201 is formed with a concave portion 2201A for deformation operation that is curved so as to separate the suction flat force in a portion where the suction port portion 2224 to which the vacuum hose 2226 is connected is provided. In this soccer 2202, the suction surface of the suction cup body 2201 A suction port 2224 for sucking air is disposed in the center.

[0200] Furthermore, a concave portion 2201A for deformation operation is formed in the suction surface portion of the suction cup body 2201 near both longitudinal ends of the suction cup body 2201. In addition, a curved convex portion 2201B is formed between the adjacent concave portions 2201A for deformation operation so as to be smoothly curved and continuous, and the end portions of the concave portion 2201A for deformation operation that hit both ends of the suction cup body 2201 are convex. Formed in part 2201B.

[0201] The suction cup main body 2201 is configured such that the height difference between the most recessed point of the recess 2201A for deformation operation and the most protruding apex of the protruding part 2201B is from 0.6 mm to 0.9 mm.

[0202] The concave portion 2201A for the deformation operation is a curved shape of the concave portion 2201A for the deformation operation by the suction force when air is sucked from the suction port portion 2224 when the planographic printing plate 2011 is sucked by the suction cup body 2201. The planographic printing plate 2011 is elastically deformed so that Therefore, the suction cup body 2201 is provided with at least one deformation operation recess 2201A in a portion where the suction port 2224 connected to the vacuum hose 2226 is provided.

[0203] Further, the suction face portion of the suction cup body 2201 is integrally formed with a frame-shaped contact edge portion 2203 that is one step higher so as to surround the outer periphery thereof. Further, in the suction surface portion of the suction cup body 2201, the inner side of the contact edge portion 2203 is formed in a shallow groove-shaped bottom surface portion 2205 serving as an air passage. A suction port 2224 is opened at the center of the bottom surface 2205.

[0204] On the suction surface portion of the suction cup body 2201, a skirt portion 2202A is integrally formed so that the outer peripheral side force of the abutting edge portion 2203 is also obliquely outward. This skirt portion 2202A is configured to be relatively soft so as to be interposed between the wavy contact edge portion 2203 and the flat surface of the planographic printing plate 2011 so as to maintain airtightness, and contact. The edge 2203 is configured to have a length corresponding to the height difference of the wave shape. For this reason, the skirt portion 2202A is configured to be as thin as 0.5 mm with a thickness of 0.3 mm.

[0205] Also, one end of a vacuum hose 2226 is connected to the suction port 2224 of the soccer 2202, and the other end of the vacuum hose 2226 is connected to a vacuum that is an intake device whose intake operation is controlled by the control unit 2120. Connect to pump 2024.

[0206] The soccer 2202 is controlled by the controller 2120 to drive and control the vacuum pump 2024, and the suction port 2224 force of the soccer 2202 is sucked through the vacuum hose 2 226 to make the scar. So that the surface of the lithographic printing plate 2011 is adhered to the corrugated abutting edge 2203 surrounded by the ridge 2202A so that the surface of the lithographic printing plate 2011 adheres, and the lithographic printing plate 2011 follows the corrugated shape of the abutting edge 2203. It is possible to appropriately perform a rolling operation to release the vacuum contact by allowing air to easily flow from the gap between the adsorbed lithographic printing plate 2011 and the underlying lithographic printing plate 2011. wear.

[0207] In addition, in this soccer 2202, since the skirt portion 2202A is thin and weakly configured, the waveform formed by the concave portion 2201A and the convex portion 2201B for deformation operation on the suction surface portion of the suction cup body 2201. When the lithographic printing plate 2011 is adsorbed so that it conforms to the shape, the end of the adsorbed lithographic printing plate 2011 is pressed against the surface of the lithographic printing plate 2011 underneath to deform so as to prevent air from entering. This can prevent air from entering between the adsorbed lithographic printing plate 2011 and the lithographic printing plate 2011 below.

[0208] When the elasticity of the skirt portion 2202A is strong, the skirt portion 2202A protrudes obliquely outward from the end portion of the suction cup body 2201, and is adsorbed by the skirt portion 2202A. There is a risk that it will be pressed against the surface of the lithographic printing plate 2011 below and deformed into a suction cup shape, and the lithographic printing plate 2011 below may be adsorbed by the action of the suction cup. Therefore, in this soccer 2202, the skirt portion 2202A is made thin and weakly elastic to prevent this sucking development.

[0209] Further, the football 2202 used as described above lifts the lithographic printing plate 2011 positioned in the bundle of lithographic printing plates 2011 placed in the printing plate supply cassette 2020 in the direction of arrow A. Since it is intended to perform a long-running operation, the vacuum pump needs only a short drive time, and the air suction capability may be small. Therefore, it is possible to use an inexpensive vacuum pump with a relatively small size and low output. .

[0210] The soccer 2202 constructed in this way is located from the leading end (upper end in the figure) of the transported lithographic printing plate 2011 at the uppermost position in a bundle of a plurality of interleaf-free lithographic printing plates 2011. A fixed short distance (distance to the tip of the skirt to be sucked) is placed on the pickup unit 2200 so that it can be sucked to the position. In the present embodiment, the distance from the tip of the lithographic printing plate 2011 to the tip of the skirt 2202A is set to a distance within the range of 2 mm to 10 mm. As shown in FIG. 21, the operation member 2206 is provided with a carry-out roller 2146 so as to face a U-shaped notch provided at the center in the longitudinal direction. The unloading roller 2146 is mounted so that both end portions of the rotating shaft 2212 are rotatably supported by bearing members (not shown) protruding from the back surface of the operation member 2206.

[0212] As shown in FIG. 17, in this single wafer feeder 2012, the carry roller type carry-out section is in a state in which the lithographic printing plate 2011 is placed between the carry-out roller 2147 and the carry-out roller 2146. The lithographic printing plate 2011 is carried out by rotating the carry-out roller 2147.

Next, the picked-up unit 2200 having the configuration shown in FIG. 21 is used to separate the transported planographic printing plates 2011 at the uppermost position in a bundle of a plurality of interleaving paper printing planks 2011 one by one. Therefore, the sheet separation operation executed by the lithographic printing plate feeding apparatus and the unloading operation for unloading the lithographic printing plate 2011 will be described.

[0214] The pickup unit 2200 controls the moving operation mechanism 2122 with the control unit 2120, whereby the pick-up unit 2200 is driven by a lifting operation indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 17 and by a reciprocating operation in a substantially horizontal direction indicated by an arrow B. Perform the operation and the operation for unloading by the lifting operation indicated by arrow C.

[0215] This pickup unit 2200 stands by in a state where the soccer 2202 is moved to a predetermined ascending position separated by the contact level force of the carry-out roller 2146 with respect to the planographic printing plate 2011 before the operation is started.

[0216] When the control unit 2120 receives an instruction to start separating and transporting the planographic printing plates 2011 one by one, the control unit 2120 controls the pickup unit 2200 to perform the predetermined rolling operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. I do.

[0217] The control unit 2120 drives and controls the moving operation mechanism 2122 to start controlling the whirling operation, and from the state where the pickup unit 2200 is waiting at the retracted position, the bundle of interleaf-free planographic printing plates 2011 is obtained. Move to the top.

[0218] During this operation, in the pickup unit 2200, the carry-out roller 2146 first comes into contact with the surface of the planographic printing plate 2011 positioned at the top.

[0219] Next, the control unit 2120 controls the elevating device 2210 to drive the soccer 2202 to the planographic printing plate 2

It is brought into pressure contact with the surface of 011 and is set to start operation. Next, control unit 2120 starts control of the whirling operation shown in the flowchart of FIG. 26, and starts driving vacuum pump 2024 in the close-contact start process of step 30. As a result, the vacuum pump 2024 is driven and sucks air from the suction port 2224 provided in the suction cup body 2201 of the soccer 2202 via the vacuum hose 2226, so that the bottom surface 2205 and the skirt 2202A are Starts the operation of adsorbing the inside of the lithographic printing plate on the surface at a predetermined distance from the end in the transport direction of the planographic printing plate 2011, and proceeds to the next step 31.

In this step 31, as a standby process for deformation, as shown in FIG. 23, it was adsorbed to the waveform shape formed by the concave portion 2201A and the convex portion 2201B for deformation operation on the adsorption surface portion of the suction cup body 2201. Allow the shape of lithographic printing plate 2011 to conform, wait for the deformation waiting time (here, 3 seconds) and wait for that position before proceeding to the next step 32.

[0222] In step 32, as the air introduction lifting process, the control unit 2120 controls the movement operation mechanism 2122 to move the operation member 2206 to move the soccer member 2202 and the planographic printing plate adsorbed thereto. 2011 is lifted at a relatively slow speed, and air is moved between the lithographic printing plates 20 11 to perform an operation.

[0223] At this time, in the planographic printing plate 2011, the portion adsorbed to the soccer 2202 near the end in the conveying direction is elastically deformed along the corrugated shape of the contact edge portion 2203, and below it. A relatively small opening through which air can flow is opened between the surface of a certain lithographic printing plate 2011, and the contact is partially released.

[0224] At the same time, the lithographic printing plate 2011 has a partial force over the entire width near the end in the transport direction and is pushed down by the unloading roller 2146 at the center and lifted by each soccer 2 202 at both sides. At least the front end in the transport direction between the planographic printing plate 2011 adsorbed by the football 2202 and the planographic printing plate 2011 below it is in the state shown in Fig. 25, which is sufficiently elastically deformed and curved to draw a relatively large wave. The entire area in the width direction is completely released from the adhesion.

[0225] Next, the routine proceeds to step 33, where the control unit 2120 shifts to the tilting operation step in which the lifting and lowering operation is performed, and the control unit 2120 performs the tilting operation that drives and controls the moving operation mechanism 2122 to reciprocate the pickup unit 2200 up and down. To do. In this tilting operation, the control unit 2120 controls the moving operation mechanism 2122 to compare the soccer 2202 and the lithographic printing plate 2011 adsorbed thereto. If you lift the lithographic printing plate 2011 from the surface of the lithographic printing plate 2011 to a height of 70 mm and then lift it up to a height of 20 mm from the surface of the lithographic printing plate 2011, the series of operations will be repeated three times. It works by hitting version 2011.

[0226] By performing the tilting operation on the lithographic printing plate 2011 adsorbed by the soccer 2202, the lithographic printing plate 2011 to be carried out has a relatively large wave shape compared to a relatively small corrugated shape. A gap is opened in a state of being elastically deformed so as to form the shape at the same time, and soccer 2202 is heated by taking in a large amount of air from a gap that is separated from the surface of the lithographic printing plate 2011 below the entire width. Since the air that entered between the lithographic printing plate 2011 adsorbed by the lithographic printing plate 2011 and the lithographic printing plate 2011 below it crawls to release the close contact with the tip force of the lithographic printing plate 2011 toward the center, football 2202 The state where the lithographic printing plate 2011 adsorbed on the lithographic printing plate 2011 and the lithographic printing plate 2011 below it are in close contact with each other is released from the front to the center of the lithographic printing plate 2011, and the process proceeds to the next step 34.

[0227] In step 34, the lithographic printing plate 2011, in which the controller 2120 drives and controls the movement operation mechanism 2122 and adsorbs it by the football 2202, as a separation process for the entire surface as a separation operation by a substantially horizontal operation 2011 From the state of lifting to a height of 70 mm, move it approximately horizontally by a distance of about 150 mm toward the downstream side in the transport direction.

[0228] The movement of approximately 150 mm in the horizontal direction with the top of this lithographic printing plate 2011 being sucked with soccer 2202 and lifted to a height of 70 mm is a comparison corresponding to the thickness of the lithographic printing plate 2011 Fast !, at the required speed.

[0229] In the operation of moving the lithographic printing plate 2011 adsorbed by the football 2202 substantially horizontally toward the downstream side in the conveyance direction, printing is performed adjacent to the rear end side portion of the lithographic printing plate 2011 to be unloaded. Plate feeding cassette 2020 is moved so as to release the close contact of the rear end portion in the transport direction of the planographic printing plate 2011 that is pushed out with the planographic printing plate 2011 to be left in the plate feeding cassette 2020.

[0230] Further, in the operation of moving the lithographic printing plate 2011 adsorbed by the football 2202 substantially horizontally toward the downstream side in the transport direction, the air above the rear end portion of the lithographic printing plate 2011 to be carried out is removed. The rear end portion of the planographic printing plate 2011, which is carried out by being sucked so as to be diluted and pulled out, is moved so as to be separated from the lower planographic printing plate 2011.

[0231] The planographic printing plate 2011 adsorbed by the football 2202 is directed downstream in the transport direction. By moving horizontally, the entire bottom surface side slides apart on the surface of the adjacent lithographic printing plate 2011, so that the contact state is completely released.

[0232] Next, the control unit 2120 proceeds to step 35 and proceeds to the unloading preparation process by the descent operation. The control unit 2120 controls the movement operation mechanism 2122 to lower the pickup unit 2200, and the soccer 2202 The tip of the lithographic printing plate 2011 adsorbed on the roller is placed on a rubber roller carry-out roller 2147 that is rotated by a drive motor (not shown), and the lithographic printing plate is placed between the carry-out roller 2147 and the carry-out roller 2146. Move on to version 36 and move to next step 36.

[0233] Next, the control unit 2120 proceeds to step 36 and proceeds to the unloading process, where the control unit 2120 stops the vacuum pump 2024 and opens an electromagnetic valve that opens to the atmosphere to increase the negative pressure in the football 2202. By returning to the atmospheric pressure, the suction state of the soccer 2202 is released to release the planographic printing plate 2011, and the elevator 2210 is driven and controlled to move the soccer 2202 to a predetermined ascending position separated from the planographic printing plate 2011. .

[0234] Thereafter, the control unit 2120 controls the drive motor (not shown) of the carry-out roller 2147 to drive the planographic printing plate 2011 placed between the carry-out roller 2147 and the carry-out roller 2146 to the inner drum. Carry out toward the conveyor belt winding mechanism for transporting to the device 2014.

[0235] As described above, when one lithographic printing plate 2011 is unloaded between the unloading roller 2147 and the unloading roller 2146, the lithographic printing plates 2011 are in sliding contact with each other, and scratches are caused. The situation that occurs can be resolved.

[0236] When the above-described carry-out operation of one lithographic printing plate 2011 is completed, the control unit 2120 drives and controls the moving operation mechanism 2122 to return the pickup unit 2200 to the standby position and perform the next conveyance. Prepare for operation.

[0237] That is, in the sheet separation operation of separating the lithographic printing plates 2011 one by one using the pickup unit 2200 described above and the unloading operation of unloading the lithographic printing plates 2011, As the first step, the top planographic printing plate 2011 stored in the printing plate supply cassette 2020 is sucked by the vacuum suction of the soccer 2202, and the suction surface of the soccer 2202 is formed into a corrugated shape. The part directly under the football 2202 Whisper in minutes (to create an air inflow).

[0238] Next, in this sheet separation operation and unloading operation, as a second stage of rolling, when the lithographic printing plate 2011 is adsorbed and lifted by the football 2202, the height of the soccer 2 202 adsorbed on the lithographic printing plate 2011 is increased. Due to the height difference between the vertical position and the height position at which the unloading roller 2146 comes into contact with the planographic printing plate 2011, the vicinity of the tip of the planographic printing plate 2011 is scratched.

[0239] Next, in this single wafer separation operation and unloading operation, as the third stage of rolling, the lithographic printing plate 2011 adsorbed by the football 2202 is lifted to a height of 70 mm, for example, by the operation of the pickup unit 2200. By repeating the series of operations of lowering to a height of 20 mm three times and scratching the lithographic printing plate 2011, the area around the center of the lithographic printing plate 2011 in close contact is crawled.

[0240] Next, in this single wafer separation operation and unloading operation, as the fourth stage of rolling, for example, the pickup unit 2200 is moved substantially horizontally with the sucker 2202 positioned at a height of 70 mm from the suction surface. Then, the rear end portion of the lithographic printing plate 2011 adhered by the operation of stopping above the unloading roller 2146 is rolled.

[0241] Next, in this sheet separation operation and unloading operation, the pickup unit 2200 is lowered and the lithographic printing plate 2011 is pushed up by the unloading roller 2146 and the unloading roller 2147. Rotate to carry out the planographic printing plate 2011.

[0242] Next, the pick-up unit 2200 performs the operation of separating and carrying out the lithographic printing plates 2011 that are carried out at the uppermost position in a bundle of a plurality of interleaf-free lithographic printing plates 2011 one by one. A section for ensuring the execution will be described.

[0243] In this unloading operation by the pickup unit 2200, the lithographic printing plate 2011 adsorbed by the football 2202 moves substantially horizontally toward the downstream side in the transport direction, and the adjacent lithographic printing plate 2011 is located below. May be dragged out.

[0244] Therefore, as shown in FIG. 19, in the section where the lithographic printing plates 2011 are more reliably separated one by one, the lithographic printing adsorbed by the football 2202 at a predetermined position on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the printing plate supply cassette 2020. Place a protruding piece-like (wall-like or V) stopper 2025 with a predetermined height below the lifting position of the plate 2011.

[0245] When the stopper 2025 is provided in this way, the lithographic printing plate 20 adsorbed by the football 2202 is used. When the lithographic printing plate 2011 adjacent to it is moved to the downstream side in the transport direction when it is moved almost horizontally, it will be stopped by hitting the stopper 2025.

Only the planographic printing plate 2011 adsorbed in 2 can be transported more reliably.

[0246] Further, in the part that separates the lithographic printing plates 2011 more reliably one by one, as shown in Fig. 20, the air blower nozzle 2027 is placed at a predetermined position near the downstream side in the transport direction of the printing plate supply cassette 2020. Arrange and configure.

[0247] In the case of such a configuration, the lithographic printing plate adsorbed by the football 2202 during the operation of moving the lithographic printing plate 2011 adsorbed by the football 2202 substantially horizontally toward the downstream side in the transport direction. By blowing air between 2011 and the adjacent lithographic printing plate 2011, the space between them can be peeled away, allowing only the lithographic printing plate 2011 adsorbed by soccer 2202 to be transported more reliably. .

As shown in FIG. 16, in this sheet feeding device 2012, the lithographic printing plate 2011 separated by the pickup unit 2200 as described above is fed to the conveyor belt winding mechanism.

[0249] This transport belt winding mechanism includes a main transport belt winding mechanism 2150 that stretches a main transport belt 2148 and a sub-transport to transport each lithographic printing plate 2011 to the inner drum exposure device 2014. Install the sub-transport belt winding mechanism 2154 with the belt 2152

[0250] This main transport belt winding mechanism 2150 forms a transport path by stretching the transport belt 148 between the transport position of the planographic printing plate 2011 and the transport position to the inner drum exposure apparatus 2014.

[0251] Further, the sub-transport belt winding mechanism 154 shares a part of the transport path set on the lower side of the main transport belt 148 in the main transport belt winding mechanism 150 to share the planographic printing plate being transported 2 011 Is configured to prevent falling off.

[0252] For this reason, the sub-transport belt winding mechanism 154 is provided in the middle of the main transport belt 148 on the downstream side in the transport direction from the guide range where the leading end of each lithographic printing plate 2011 transported from the transport outlet roller 2147 is abutted. Between the roller 2156 and the intermediate roller 2158 near the exit of the transport path set under the main transport belt 2148, the main transport belt 2148 and the IJ transport belt 2 Wrapped to run along with 152.

In the main conveyance belt winding mechanism 2150 configured as described above, the front end of the lithographic printing plate 2011 unloaded onto the carry-out roller 2146 and the carry-out roller 2147 is transferred to the main conveyance belt 2148. It hits a guide range 2148A corresponding to a portion stretched between the first roller 2151 and the intermediate roller 2156 at the tip, and is conveyed toward the intermediate roller 2156 side according to the traveling operation of the main conveying belt 2148.

[0254] Then, the planographic printing plate 2011 whose leading end is guided by the main transport belt 2148 is sandwiched between the main transport belt 2148 and the sub transport belt 2152 at the position of the intermediate roller 2156. Then, it is transported on the transport path, released from the nipping state at the position of the intermediate roller 2158 close to the exit, and carried into the inner drum exposure device 2014.

[0255] The inner drum exposure apparatus 2014 in this CTP system is configured with a support body 2134 having an arc inner peripheral surface shape (a shape constituting a part of a cylinder inner peripheral surface) as a base body. Support the planographic printing plate 2011 along the inner circumference! RU

[0256] In this inner drum exposure apparatus 2014, the lithographic printing plate 2011, which is an unrecorded recording medium, is held in a state of being in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the support 134 by a vacuum suction unit (not shown). After that, the exposure process is performed.

In this inner drum exposure apparatus 2014, 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 rotates a rotating shaft 140 having a reflecting mirror member (spinner mirror) 138 on its top surface by a motor as a drive source whose rotation is controlled by a spinner driver of a control unit (not shown). Configure as possible. 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 this spinner mirror device 136, the light beam projected from the optical system on the light source side is reflected by the reflecting mirror surface of the rotating reflecting mirror member 138 to perform main scanning with respect to the photosensitive surface of the lithographic printing plate 2011. Scan exposure in the direction is performed.

This spinner mirror device 136 is controlled to move at a constant speed in the axial direction of the arc central axis of the support 134 (direction penetrating from the front surface to the back surface in FIG. 16) by a sub-scanning moving unit (not shown). Thus, the sub-scan is performed. Therefore, in the spinner mirror device 2136, the rotation of the motor is controlled by the spinner driver of the control unit, and the movement is controlled in the sub scanning direction by the sub scanning moving unit (not shown).

[0261] The spinner mirror device 2136 configured as described above reflects a light beam, which is projected from the optical system on the light source side and modulated in accordance with image information, onto the reflecting mirror surface of the rotating reflecting mirror member 2138. The two-dimensional image is recorded on the entire recording surface of the planographic printing plate 2011 by moving the spinner mirror device 2136 in the sub-scanning direction while performing scanning exposure in the main scanning direction. Do.

[0262] The buffer device 2016 provided in this CTP system has a function to bring the planographic printing plate 2011 exposed by the inner drum exposure device 2014 into the development processing device 2018 at the required timing by adjusting the transport speed. Have.

[0263] The development processing unit 2018 performs a development process on the exposed lithographic printing plate 2011 that has been carried in, visualizes the latent image, and makes a printing plate.

Claims

The scope of the claims

[1] A plurality of the above-described lithographic printing plates having characteristics that can be transported and stored in a state where the back surface of the other lithographic printing plate is directly contacted and laminated on the photosensitive surface of one lithographic printing plate In a state in which a bundle is loaded, a firing operation unit that performs an operation of pulling up the uppermost lithographic printing plate in the lithographic printing plate bundle from the lithographic printing plate therebelow,

A use state inserted between the uppermost lithographic printing plate and the lithographic printing plate below the uppermost lithographic printing plate; a standby position separated from between the uppermost lithographic printing plate and the lithographic printing plate below the uppermost lithographic printing plate; A conveyance resistance reducing member formed of a material with a low coefficient of friction, mounted movably between

When the uppermost planographic printing plate is pulled up by the rolling operation unit, the conveyance resistance reducing member is inserted between the uppermost planographic printing plate and the lower planographic printing plate. The entry / exit operation unit to be used,

The conveyance resistance reduction in the uppermost lithographic printing plate is achieved in a state where the conveyance resistance reduction member is inserted between the uppermost lithographic printing plate and the lithographic printing plate therebelow. An unloading roller that rolls in contact with a range corresponding to the member and unloads the uppermost lithographic printing plate while sliding on the conveying resistance reducing member;

An apparatus for automatically supplying a lithographic printing plate, comprising:

[2] The automatic lithographic printing plate according to claim 1, wherein the conveyance resistance reducing member is configured to be electrically grounded via a ground wire in order to release static electricity of the lithographic printing plate. Feeding device.

[3] When the firing operation unit pulls up the uppermost lithographic printing plate, a space of a predetermined interval is created between the lithographic printing plate below and the vacuum contact between them is introduced. After the state has been eliminated, the transport of the uppermost lithographic printing plate sandwiched between the uppermost lithographic printing plate and the lithographic printing plate therebelow is placed on the transporting resistance reducing member. The lithographic printing plate according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a space is created around the resistance reducing member to reduce the influence of static electricity, to prevent vacuum adhesion, and to reduce conveyance resistance. Automatic feeding device.

[4] Laminate by bringing the back side of the other lithographic printing plate into direct contact with the photosensitive surface of one lithographic printing plate In a state in which a plurality of the lithographic printing plates having the characteristics that can be transported and stored in a state of being stacked are loaded in a bundle, a top lithographic printing plate in the lithographic printing plate bundle is loaded. The stencil operating part under which the lithographic printing plate squeezing force can be pulled up to the squeezing position;

When the uppermost lithographic printing plate is pulled up to the squeezed position by the squeezing operation section, the protective shaft is controlled by rotating the operation shaft member to which a thin plate-like protective member is attached. The protective member is inserted into the uppermost lithographic printing plate when the uppermost lithographic printing plate is inserted into the inserted lithographic printing plate and the uppermost lithographic printing plate is dropped by the squeezing operation unit. An insertion adjustment operating device that moves on the lithographic printing plate under the plate and rotates the operation shaft member so as to return the protective member to the standby position after carrying out the uppermost lithographic printing plate;

In the state corresponding to the protective member in the uppermost lithographic printing plate, the protective member is inserted between the uppermost lithographic printing plate and the lithographic printing plate therebelow. An unloading roller for rolling and unloading the uppermost lithographic printing plate while sliding on the protective member;

The insertion adjustment operating device is

The protective member formed of a material having a small sliding friction resistance in a thin plate shape having a required rigidity;

The operation shaft member having the protective member attached to the tip thereof;

A housing in which the operation shaft member is slidably mounted in the axial direction;

A stop member provided at a predetermined position in the housing of the operation shaft member, and is extended between the stop member and the wall of the housing, and extends the operation shaft member to a position where it is stopped by the stop member. A spring energizing

An interlocking member connected to the end of the operation shaft member opposite to the end provided with the protection member so as to be relatively unrotatable and relatively movable in the direction of the rotation axis; ,

A drive operation motor that rotationally drives the interlocking member; 5. The lithographic printing plate automatic supply apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

6. The lithographic plate according to claim 4, wherein the protective member is formed in a size larger than a range in which a pressing force is exerted when the carry-out roller is pressed against the uppermost lithographic printing plate. Automatic plate feeder.

[7] The lithographic plate according to claim 5, wherein the protective member is formed to have a size larger than a range in which a pressing force acts when the carrying-out roller is pressed against the uppermost lithographic printing plate. Automatic plate feeder.

[8] —A laminate in which a predetermined number of the lithographic printing plates are stacked on the surface of the other lithographic printing plate by directly contacting the back surface of the other lithographic printing plate to form a bundle. A storage device that is set while being held in

Directly below the topmost lithographic printing plate by adsorbing at the adsorption surface portion formed by curving so that the lithographic printing plate located at the top of the bundle of lithographic printing plates set substantially horizontally The lithographic printing plate of

A carry-out roller mounted so as to be capable of rolling contact with the uppermost lithographic printing plate in a bundle of lithographic printing plates set substantially horizontally;

The uppermost lithographic printing plate adsorbed by the soccer is lifted to a predetermined height position and then transported horizontally onto a carry-out roller on the downstream side in the carrying direction, and the uppermost lithographic printing plate on the carry-out roller. A moving operation unit that is operated so as to be able to be carried out by lowering and niping between the carry-out roller and the unloading roller and the carry-out roller.

[9] When the carry-out roller is attracted by the soccer and the uppermost lithographic printing plate is lifted, a difference in height from the soccer is created to make the level immediately below the uppermost lithographic printing plate. 9. The lithographic printing plate automatic supply device according to claim 8, wherein the lithographic printing plate is mounted so as not to be closely attached.

[10] When the uppermost lithographic printing plate adsorbed by the football is lifted to a predetermined height position and is transported horizontally onto the unloading roller on the downstream side in the force conveying direction, it is adjacent to the uppermost lithographic printing plate. A stagger is provided to prevent the lithographic printing plates from being carried out together. An apparatus for automatically supplying a lithographic printing plate according to claim 8.

[11] When the uppermost lithographic printing plate adsorbed by the football is lifted to a predetermined height position and transported laterally onto the unloading roller on the downstream side in the force conveying direction, it is adjacent to the uppermost lithographic printing plate. 10. The apparatus for automatically supplying a lithographic printing plate according to claim 9, further comprising a stagger that prevents the lithographic printing plates from being carried out together.

[12] When the uppermost lithographic printing plate adsorbed by the football is lifted to a predetermined height position and conveyed laterally onto a discharge roller on the downstream side in the force conveying direction, the uppermost lithographic printing plate and its plate 9. The apparatus for automatically supplying a lithographic printing plate according to claim 8, further comprising an air blower nozzle that is separated from the lithographic printing plate by blowing air away from the lithographic printing plate.

[13] When the uppermost lithographic printing plate adsorbed by the soccer is lifted to a predetermined height position and transported horizontally onto a discharge roller on the downstream side in the force conveying direction, the uppermost lithographic printing plate and its plate 10. The apparatus for automatically supplying a lithographic printing plate according to claim 9, further comprising an air blower nozzle that is separated from the lithographic printing plate by blowing air away from the lithographic printing plate.

[14] When the uppermost lithographic printing plate adsorbed by the soccer is lifted to a predetermined height position and conveyed laterally onto a discharge roller on the downstream side in the force conveying direction, the uppermost lithographic printing plate and its plate 11. The apparatus for automatically supplying a lithographic printing plate according to claim 10, further comprising an air blower nozzle that is separated from the lithographic printing plate by blowing air away from the lithographic printing plate.

[15] When the uppermost lithographic printing plate adsorbed by soccer is lifted to a predetermined height position and transported horizontally onto a discharge roller on the downstream side in the force conveying direction, the uppermost lithographic printing plate and its plate 12. The apparatus for automatically supplying a lithographic printing plate according to claim 11, wherein an air blower nozzle is disposed between the lower lithographic printing plate to be separated by blowing air.