PLATE PALLET STOCK DETECTION
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.
Reference is made to commonly-assigned copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 94853/NAB), filed herewith, entitled PLATE PALLET ALIGNMENT SYSTEM, by Korolik et al., the disclosure of which is incorporated herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to an apparatus and methods for detecting the amount of plate stock left in a pallet of printing plates configured to be loaded into a computer-to-plate (CTP) imaging device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe CTP systems known today provide manual user input into a system controller of information relating to plate amount and plate type, which are loaded into the various plate trays associated with the CTP device. This data is updated further on by the system controller by counting down the number of plates used during the plate imaging process.
The present invention provides an automatic technique, which does not require manual entry of plate quantitative data. The present invention detects plates availability and alerts the user when plate replenishment is required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONBriefly, according to one aspect of the present invention a plate stock detection apparatus detects plates remaining on a plate pallet on an automatic plate pallet loading system which is configured to load plates into an imaging device. Plate pallet stock detectors measure stock of plates left in the plate pallet and a plate pallet elevation system elevates the plate pallet in response to feedback from the plate pallet stock detectors.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
The present invention describes apparatus and methods for detection of printing plate quantities left in a plate pallet for an automatic pallet loading (APL) device attached to a computer-to-plate (CTP) device.
Referring to
Light source 15 is directed towards light detector 16 via the optical path 17, in order to detect the existence of a plate ready to be loaded by plate loading system 18. Another embodiment, shown in
When light is detected by light detector 16, the plate pallet elevation system 12 raises plate pallet 13. This process is iterative and is performed until the light detector 16 is not able to detect the light generated by light source 15.
Light source 15 and light detector 16 might be replaced by a physical detector 31, shown in
The light detector 16, also helps to avoid a hazardous situation aliasing from elevating plate pallet 13 to an uncontrolled height, possibly damaging the APL and CTP devices.
The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the scope of the invention.
Parts List
- 11 plate pallet adaptor
- 12 plate pallet elevation system
- 13 plate pallet
- 14 encoder
- 15 light source
- 16 light detector
- 17 optical path
- 18 plate loading system
- 21 reflective surface
- 22 reflected optical path
- 31 physical detector
Claims
1. A plate stock detection apparatus for detecting plates remaining on a plate pallet on an automatic plate pallet loading system configured to load plates into an imaging device comprising:
- a plate pallet adaptor wherein said plate pallet is placed on top of said adaptor;
- plate pallet stock detectors configured to measure stock of plates left on said plate pallet; and
- a plate pallet elevation system configured to elevate said plate pallet in response to feedback from said plate pallet stock detectors results.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plate pallet stock detectors comprising a light source and an optical light detector positioned on two opposite sides of said plate pallet.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plate pallet stock detectors comprising a light source and an optical light detector positioned on one side of said pallet and a reflective surface on an opposite side of said plate pallet, for reflecting light back to said light detector.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said reflective surface is a mirror.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plate pallet stock detectors comprises a physical detector.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said physical detector is a mechanical or electronic sensor.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plate pallet stock detectors are optical detectors.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plate pallet stock detectors are inductive detectors.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 10, 2008
Publication Date: Sep 10, 2009
Inventors: Pavel Korolik (Petah-Tikwa), Moshe Beres (Ness Ziona), Tamir Olpak (Petah Tigwa), Shay Regev (Rishpon), Mark Silverman (Tel-Aviv)
Application Number: 12/045,061
International Classification: B65D 19/38 (20060101);