Abstract: A plate cassette loader for a platesetter comprises a cassette holder for receiving a cassette, containing a stack of plates. A cassette inverter then rotates this cassette to a feed position in which the plates can be fed into the imaging engine of the platesetter. In this way, the somewhat unwieldy process of loading plates into the imaging engine is handled by the cassette inverter, in combination with the fact that the stack of plates, contained in the cassette, can be loaded in one step, rather than requiring the feeding of individual plates by a dedicated operator.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for supporting and feeding printing plates in an imaging system. The apparatus includes a vacuum system for picking up an edge of a top printing plate from a stack of printing plates, and a peeling system including a pair of rotatable belts, a plurality of plate feed beams attached to, and extending between, the pair of rotatable belts, and a drive system for rotating the pair of rotatable belts to displace the plurality of plate feed beams between the top printing plate and an underlying printing plate in the stack of printing plates, thereby peeling the top printing plate from the stack of printing plates.

Abstract: A substrate manager for a substrate exposure machine is used, in one example, as a platesetter. As such, it comprises a substrate storage system, containing one or more stacks of substrates, such as plates in one implementation. A substrate picker is provided for picking substrates from the stack of substrates. The substrates are then handed to a transfer system that conveys the substrates to an imaging engine. A substrate registration system is provided upstream of the imaging engine. The substrate registration system includes (1) a substrate transfer system for supporting and conveying substrates and (2) at least one engaging member for pushing the substrates on the substrate transfer system to a desired position. Preferably, two sets of engaging members are used, one on either side of the plates. This allows angular as well as positional registration. The substrate transfer system includes a frame and a series of rollers for supporting the substrates.

Abstract: A substrate manager for a substrate exposure machine is used, in one example, as a platesetter. As such, it comprises a substrate storage system, containing one or more stacks of substrates, such as plates in one implementation. A substrate picker is provided for picking substrates from the stack of substrates. The substrates are then handed to a transfer system that conveys the substrates to an imaging engine. According to the invention, a substrate registration system is provided upstream of the imaging engine. At least one engaging member is provided for pushing the substrates on the substrate transfer system to a desired position. Preferably, two sets of engaging members are used, one on either side of the plates. This allows angular as well as positional registration.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for picking a single printing plate from a stack of printing plates. The apparatus includes a plurality of suction cups, a peeler, a drive system for displacing the suction cups and the peeler against the surface of the top printing plate on the stack, a vacuum source for supplying a vacuum to the suction cups to secure the suction cups against the surface of the top printing plate, and a system for rotatably displacing the suction cups relative to the peeler to peel a portion of the top printing plate off of the stack. The center line of rotation of the displacing system is located at a contact point between the peeler and the surface of the top printing plate. This prevents any relative motion of the top printing plate against the next, underlying printing plate on the stack during the peeling operation.

Abstract: A plate cassette loader for a platesetter comprises a cassette holder for receiving a cassette, containing a stack of plates. A cassette inverter then rotates this cassette to a feed position in which the plates can be fed into the imaging engine of the platesetter. In this way, the somewhat unwieldy process of loading plates into the imaging engine is handled by the cassette inverter, in combination with the fact that the stack of plates, contained in the cassette, can be loaded in one step, rather than requiring the feeding of individual plates by a dedicated operator.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for picking a single printing plate from a stack of printing plates. The apparatus includes a plurality of suction cups, a peeler, a drive system for displacing the suction cups and the peeler against the surface of the top printing plate on the stack, a vacuum source for supplying a vacuum to the suction cups to secure the suction cups against the surface of the top printing plate, and a system for rotatably displacing the suction cups relative to the peeler to peel a portion of the top printing plate off of the stack. The center line of rotation of the displacing system is located at a contact point between the peeler and the surface of the top printing plate. This prevents any relative motion of the top printing plate against the next, underlying printing plate on the stack during the peeling operation.

Abstract: The present invention provides an input roller system for displacing a printing plate toward and against a plurality of registration pins located on an external drum of an imaging system. The input roller system deskews the printing plate relative to the registration pins.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for supporting and feeding printing plates in an imaging system. The apparatus comprises a vacuum system for picking up an edge of a top printing plate from a stack of printing plates, and a peeling system including a pair of rotatable belts, a plurality of plate feed beams attached to, and extending between, the pair of rotatable belts, and a drive system for rotating the pair of rotatable belts to displace the plurality of plate feed beams between the top printing plate and an underlying printing plate in the stack of printing plates, thereby peeling the top printing plate from the stack of printing plates.

Abstract: A vacuum system is provided including a vacuum source and plurality of suction cups coupled to the vacuum source, wherein at least one of the suction cups is coupled to the vacuum source using a non-constricted fitting, and wherein at least one of the suction cups is coupled to vacuum source using a fixed orifice fitting. The vacuum system is configured to pick a top printing plate from the stack of printing plates, such that each suction cup coupled to the vacuum source using a non-constricted fitting is configured to always engage the top printing plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides an input roller system for displacing a printing plate toward and against a plurality of registration pins located on an external drum of an imaging system. The input roller system deskews the printing plate relative to the registration pins.