Abstract: A printing plate picking mechanism includes a plate cassette stacking mechanism having an array of plate cassettes, each plate cassette adapted to hold a plurality of printing plates separated by intervening sheets of paper. A plate cassette movement mechanism is adapted to move a selected plate cassette to a printing plate loading position. A plate picker is adapted to contact and hold the leading edge of the topmost printing plate and transport it to plate transport pinch rollers. A paper picking unit includes a paper picker adapted to contact and hold a leading edge of a topmost sheet of paper in the selected plate cassette, and a plate guide positioned above the paper picker to guide the printing plate held by said plate picker. A vertical alignment system is adapted to vertically align the plate picker and the paper picking unit with the selected plate cassette.

Abstract: A mandrel position analyzer (108) in an imaging device (100) includes a head stock (144) for a first side of the mandrel; a tail stock (104) for a second side of the mandrel; a first encoder (212) attached to the head stock adapted to measure first signals wherein the first signals are generated by movement of the mandrel; a second encoder (208) attached to the tail stock adapted to measure second signals wherein the second signals are generated by movement of the mandrel; an analyzer (224) which compares measured results of the first signals and results of the second signals; and if the measured results do not match generating an abnormal state of the mandrel signal alarm (260).

Abstract: A method for analyzing a mandrel (108) operation in an imaging device (100) includes installing the mandrel into the imaging device; securing the mandrel between a head stock (144) and a tail stock (104); attaching a first encoder (212) to the head stock and a second encoder (208) to the tail stock; rotating the mandrel; reading signals from first encoder; reading signals from second encoder; comparing the first results and the second results; and if the first results do not match with the second results stopping the imaging device.

Abstract: A mandrel position analyzer (108) in an imaging device (100) includes a head stock (144) for a first side of the mandrel; a tail stock (104) for a second side of the mandrel; a first encoder (212) attached to the head stock adapted to measure first signals wherein the first signals are generated by movement of the mandrel; a second encoder (208) attached to the tail stock adapted to measure second signals wherein the second signals are generated by movement of the mandrel; an analyzer (224) which compares measured results of the first signals and results of the second signals; and if the measured results do not match generating an abnormal state of the mandrel signal alarm (260).

Abstract: A method for analyzing a mandrel (108) operation in an imaging device (100) includes installing the mandrel into the imaging device; securing the mandrel between a head stock (144) and a tail stock (104); attaching a first encoder (212) to the head stock and a second encoder (208) to the tail stock; rotating the mandrel; reading signals from first encoder; reading signals from second encoder; comparing the first results and the second results; and if the first results do not match with the second results stopping the imaging device.

Abstract: An apparatus designed to alert on an abnormal condition inside of a fiber bundle (116). The apparatus includes an air pipe (112) configured inside of the fiber bundle, an air compression element adapted to apply air into the air pipe, at least one sensor (124, 128, 132, 136, 148) configured in combination with the air pipe wherein at least one sensor is coupled to at least one location on the air pipe. An alerting element (172, 308) is configured to notify on an abnormal measurements of at least one sensor.

Abstract: An apparatus designed to alert on an abnormal condition inside of a fiber bundle (116). The apparatus includes an air pipe (112) configured inside of the fiber bundle, an air compression element adapted to apply air into the air pipe, at least one sensor (124, 128, 132, 136, 148) configured in combination with the air pipe wherein at least one sensor is coupled to at least one location on the air pipe. An alerting element (172, 308) is configured to notify on an abnormal measurements of at least one sensor.

Abstract: A plate pallet alignment and loading apparatus (10) for originally packed plate pallet (13) into a printing plate imaging device (71) includes plate pallet adaptor (11) wherein the originally packed plate pallet (13) is placed on top; plate pallet position detectors (15, 21, 31) attach to the plate pallet adaptor (11); a pallet alignment and loading apparatus (10) loads the plates from the originally packed plate pallet (13) into the printing plate imaging device; interleaf removal system (16) separates separation paper sheets placed between the plates; and plate pallet position correction actuators (43, 44, 45) corrects the plate pallet position in respect to the plate loading system (14) in response to pallet position results read from the plate pallet position detectors.

Abstract: A plate stock detection apparatus for detecting plates remaining on a plate pallet (13) on an automatic plate pallet loading system (18) configured to load plates into an imaging device, which includes a plate pallet adaptor (11). The plate pallet is placed on top of the adaptor; and plate pallet stock detectors (15, 16, 21, 31) measure plates left on the plate pallet. A plate pallet elevation system (12) elevates the plate pallet in response to feedback plate pallet stock detectors.

Abstract: A plate pallet alignment and loading apparatus (10) for originally packed plate pallet (13) into a printing plate imaging device (71) includes plate pallet adaptor (11) wherein the originally packed plate pallet (13) is placed on top; plate pallet position detectors (15, 21, 31) attach to the plate pallet adaptor (11); a pallet alignment and loading apparatus (10) loads the plates from the originally packed plate pallet (13) into the printing plate imaging device; interleaf removal system (16) separates separation paper sheets placed between the plates; and plate pallet position correction actuators (43, 44, 45) corrects the plate pallet position in respect to the plate loading system (14) in response to pallet position results read from the plate pallet position detectors.