Abstract: A removal system for removing an interleaf sheet that is interposed between plate sheets in an imaging system, wherein said removal system contains a substantially horizontal member, at least two roller assemblies, a disposal roller assembly, a rail assembly, and at least one springing roller.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting and demounting a materials sheet onto and from a cylindrical surface of a drum (10) has clamps (40) pivotably arranged upon the sheet materials drum. The clamps have a first region (80) and a second region (70) either side of a pivot axis. The second region (70) clamps the materials sheet to the cylindrical surface (20) of the drum. A backbone (120) extends along the length of the drum and is removably attached to the drum. Push rods (90) movably arranged on the backbone are capable of being operated to push against the first region of the clamps to pivot the clamps to move the second region of the clamps. Any existing clasped materials sheet is thereby unclasped from the cylindrical surface.

Abstract: Transportation of a lithographic plate uses an indexer to load plates into pods for delivery to a press cylinder via a pod elevator or a pod cart. The plates are imprinted with a bar code, imaged, punched, bent, sheared, corner notched, and registered to a press cylinder. The plates are loaded into the indexer, which moves the loaded plates into a position in alignment with designated pod compartments, and loads the plates into each of the designated pod compartments by indexed movement of an elevator within the indexer. The pod elevator or the pod cart moves the pods proximate to a press cylinder where the plates are unloaded from the pod and loaded onto a press cylinder. A computing device, such as a PLC, directs the process. A vision system senses information from the indexer, pod, pod elevator, and the plate for feedback to a PLC, which initiates all of the foregoing operations.

Abstract: A printing unit has at least one press unit having a plate cylinder with at least one printing plate that can be mounted on the plate cylinder and which carries a printing image. The plate cylinder has at least one cylinder channel in which ends of the printing plate can be fixed or positioned. The printing plate has a leading angled end and also has a trailing angled end, as viewed in the direction of rotation of the printing cylinder during operation of the printing press. The printing plate can be secured to the plate cylinder by insertion of the plate leading end into the cylinder channel and by insertion of the plate trailing end into the same, or another cylinder channel. Initially, the plate trailing end is fixed in its associated cylinder channel and the plate cylinder is rotated in a rotational direction counter to a production direction. The leading plate end is then fixed in its associated cylinder channel during continued rotation of the plate cylinder opposite to a production direction.

Abstract: A method for moving printing plates includes providing one or more printing plates to an imaging apparatus; forming an image on a printing plate of the one or more printing plates; providing a plate positioning system comprising a movable contact surface; moving the contact surface to a first position; engaging a surface of the printing plate with the contact surface at the first position; moving the printing plate along a path; moving the contact surface from the first position to a second position, wherein a location of the second position is determined based at least on a size of the printing plate; and disengaging the contact surface from the surface of the printing plate at the second position.

Abstract: At least several spaced apart storage compartments are provided in a plate storage device. These compartments can receive used printing formes from a printing cylinder or new printing formes that are to be supplied to the printing cylinder. At least one positioning assembly is utilized to adjust at least one mouth region of two of the storage compartments to the same spaced position, with respect to the printing cylinder, at different times in the operating cycle of the plate storage compartments. This mouth region is situated facing the printing cylinder. In another embodiment, at least one printing forme, that is being received from the printing cylinder, can be stored in at least one storage compartment. At least one conveying apparatus is provided and includes an entraining mechanism for gripping the printing forme that is to be removed.

Abstract: A method for ejecting printing plates from an imaging apparatus includes providing a plurality of the printing plates to the imaging apparatus; forming an image on at least one of the printing plates; determining a desired tail-to-tip spacing between adjacent printing plates; ejecting a sequence of the printing plates from the imaging apparatus along a path; and adjusting a spacing between two adjacent printing plates in the sequence of the printing plates to reduce a variance between a projected tail-to-tip spacing and the desired tail-to-tip spacing.

Abstract: A printing plate is produced having at least one edge which has been cut so that it is parallel to a line of delimitation of the type area of the plate. The printing plate is fed to an impression cylinder of a printing press, in an axial direction of the impression cylinder by use of a plate feeding and alignment device. During the process of feeding the printing plate to the impression cylinder, the at least one edge of the plate, which was cut parallel to the type line of determination, is guided against at least one stop.

Abstract: A method according to the invention of changing the mounting condition, in particular of mounting or dismounting of a printing master on a printing master cylinder having a first receiving element for the leading edge and a second receiving element for the trailing edge of the printing master includes rotating the printing master cylinder at a first speed, actuating the first receiving element in at least one first phase position and actuating the second receiving element in at least one second phase position. At least between a third phase position and a fourth phase position, the printing master cylinder may be rotated at a second speed, which differs from the first speed. Due to the reduced speed, the window of time for actuating one or both receiving elements can be extended to increase the precision and reliability of the locking and release.

Abstract: A system and method for adhering and aligning a generally flat, planar object to an adhesive layer, and for facilitating the mounting of the generally flat planar object, such as a printing plate, in near perfect alignment in a cylindrical manner. The method includes providing a generally flat, planar object such as a printing plate and an adhesive member having an adhesive layer at least on one surface. The adhesive member is preferably approximately the same size as the printing plate. The printing plate is mounted to the adhesive member such that there is one edge of the adhesive member which is not initially covered by the printing plate and one edge of the printing plate which overhangs the adhesive member. The combined adhesive member/printing plate structure is next rolled into a cylindrical form and held in place on a device which allows alignment marks on the printing plate to align the two ends of the printing plate prior to the printing plate being fully adhered to the adhesive member.

Abstract: A device and a method for separating printing plates from a stack uses a lifting device for lifting the printing plates and at least one separating element to be moved under the lifted printing plates. The structurally simple device is able to react flexibly to different printing plate formats and, at the same time, avoids damage to a surface to be imaged of the individual printing plates. In order to avoid such problems, the device includes at least three separating elements which, as they move under a lifted printing plate at any time, are continuously disposed at distances from one another having a ratio that always remains constant.

Abstract: A magazine for printing and converting heads for printing machines, comprising at least one containment body which is adapted to be arranged in close proximity to a printing machine and is adapted to accommodate a plurality of printing and converting heads, a carriage being provided for conveying the printing and converting heads from the at least one containment body to the printing machine and from the printing machine to the at least one containment body.

Abstract: A plate feeding apparatus of this invention includes a storage unit 10 for storing a plurality of plates P with end edges thereof arranged even by a stopper 11, a first and a second nip rollers 12 and 13, a suction device 45 disposed at a distal end of an arm 44 swingable about a moving unit 43 for sucking and holding an upper surface adjacent an end edge of each plate, a moving mechanism for moving the moving unit 43 along the surfaces of the plates, and for swinging the arm 44 about the moving unit 43, thereby to invert a portion adjacent the end edge of each plate sucked and held by the suction device 45, and subsequently to move the portion to a position to be pinched by the first nip roller or second nip roller, and a storage unit moving mechanism 26 for moving the storage unit 10 in directions perpendicular to the axes of the first and second nip rollers 12 and 13.

Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of loading and unloading of plates to and from an imager. The apparatus includes a loading area holding one single or a plurality of plates and an unloading area holding a single plate, the areas arranged vertically. The plate includes ultraviolet curable material. The apparatus includes a control system configured when in operation to control the automated loading and unloading and the apparatus elements therefor. One fully automatic version includes automatic loading from a stack or set of plate magazines and in the case that the plate includes a protective sheet thereon, includes removing the protective sheet from the plate. Some versions also include one or more ultraviolet sources to irradiate the flexographic plates with ultraviolet radiation during the automated loading and/or unloading. The ultraviolet sources are controlled by the same control system.

Abstract: An imaging system for performing a computer-to-plate imaging process on printing plates includes a plate imaging bed for exposing radiation to a printing plate. The bed includes an input section for receiving a printing plate and an output section for transferring the printing plate to a chemical processing unit. The system further comprises a loading device for loading the printing plate from a multiple plate stack to the input section of the plate imaging bed. The input section is adjustable with respect to the output section to adjust the position of the input section to near the top of the multiple plate stack. The latter is accomplished in a preferred embodiment by providing the plate imaging bed with a pivot axle near the output section.

Abstract: Transportation of a lithographic plate uses an indexer to load plates into pods for delivery to a press cylinder via a pod elevator or a pod cart. The plates are imprinted with a bar code, imaged, punched, bent, sheared, corner notched, and registered to a press cylinder. The plates are loaded into the indexer, which moves the loaded plates into a position in alignment with designated pod compartments, and loads the plates into each of the designated pod compartments by indexed movement of an elevator within the indexer. The pod elevator or the pod cart moves the pods proximate to a press cylinder where the plates are unloaded from the pod and loaded onto a press cylinder. A computing device, such as a PLC, directs the process. A vision system senses information from the indexer, pod, pod elevator, and the plate for feedback to a PLC, which initiates all of the foregoing operations.

Abstract: A printing plate handling device for holding a printing plate (11) adjacent to one edge (12) of the plate, especially adjacent to a bent-over leading edge or a bent-over trailing edge of the printing plate, with a mechanism for holding the printing plate (11) in a flat, frictionally-engaged manner along a surface area of the printing plate adjacent to one edge (12) of the printing plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a printing unit (16; 17) comprising several printing groups (03; 04; 21; 22; 28; 29; 31; 32), each of which is provided with at least one plate cylinder (07) and at least one transfer cylinder (06) that is arranged so as to cooperate directly with the plate cylinder(07). The printing unit (16; 17), which is embodied as a nine-cylinder satellite printing unit (16; 17), is equipped with four plate cylinders (07) and a counterpressure cylinder (18) that is configured as a satellite cylinder (18). At least one inking roller of an inking group (09) is disposed so as to cooperate directly with the plate cylinder (07). One respective plate replacing mechanism (11; 11a; 11b), which encompasses a front section facing the associated plate cylinder (07), is assigned to at least two plate cylinders (07) that are placed next to each other in a horizontal direction.

Abstract: A printing press includes an apparatus for handling or manipulating varnishing plates or printing plates, having a plate feed channel which is at least temporarily disposed in a plate feed position for feeding a varnishing or printing plate out of the plate feed channel to a plate cylinder. A seat or step surface for an operator is disposed above the plate feed channel.

Abstract: In an apparatus for feeding printing plates to a plate cylinder of a printing press, the printing plate is prealigned on stops outside the plate cylinder with a lateral offset and with an oblique skew. Then the printing plate is fed, in the thusly aligned position to the register pins of the plate cylinder, wherein the printing plate is finally aligned by lateral displacement and by a pivoting movement about the first register pin, until the printing plate bears with its receptacles against both register pins.

Abstract: An apparatus for preventing printing plate deformation (29) in a plate processor device comprising a plate transport means (19) comprising a motor (15) and plurality of rollers (11, 12, 13, 14). A one way coupler (21) connects the motor (15) and the plurality of rollers (11, 12, 13, 14). Identifying means identifies the slower rollers and decouples the slower rollers from the motor.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method is provided for handling printing plates which are provided in the form of a printing plate stack on at least one storage plane. If printing plates having a particularly large format are required to set images on them in an exposer, loading cassettes for a magazine of cassettes is at least problematic. Therefore, a tray is moved out of a storage device via an adjacent lifting device into the lower region of the storage device, and is fed there to a drawer which can be moved out of the storage device. If the tray is situated on the drawer, the latter can be moved by an operator in a second horizontal direction out of the handling apparatus, in particular out of the storage device. In this position, the tray can then be loaded in an ergonomically favorable manner.

Abstract: A handling device for handling printing plates during an automated change of printing plates on a printing unit of a printing press includes a manipulator arm and a manipulator head with a suction device mounted on its free end. The suction device includes a crossbeam and a plurality of suction sections along the length of the crossbeam. Each suction section has a pair of suction nozzles supported in floating fashion with respect to the crossbeam and a pair of stop elements mounted on the crossbeam and arranged to limit the movement of a printing plate held by respective suction nozzles with respect to the crossbeam. The stop elements are preferably held of a pair of U-profile-shaped sections fixed to the crossbeam, these sections and the stop elements having circular openings through which the suction nozzles project.

Abstract: A plate inserting apparatus includes a plate cylinder, press roller, and braking unit. A plate is to be mounted on the outer surface of the plate cylinder. The press roller is rotatably supported to oppose the outer surface of the plate cylinder. When the leading edge bent portion of the plate to be supplied to the plate cylinder abuts against the press roller and the distal end of the leading edge bent portion abuts against the outer surface of the plate cylinder, the press roller inserts the leading edge bent portion of the plate into a groove portion formed in the plate cylinder upon rotation (with a pressing force) of the plate cylinder. The braking unit keeps braking the plate at least since the leading edge bent portion of the plate abuts against the outer surface of the press roller and until the leading edge bent portion is completely inserted in the groove portion of the plate cylinder.

Abstract: An automatic feeder for planographic printing plates is provided with a storage shelf mounting a plurality of predetermined number of layered and bundled planographic printing plates therein, a conveying unit conveying the planographic printing plate, a sliding friction reducing member, and a separating operation unit for forming a gap between the planographic printing plate positioned at a top in the bundle of the planographic printing plates mounted on the storage shelf, and the planographic printing plate existing therebelow so as to insert the sliding friction reducing member.

Abstract: A plate inserting device includes a plate cylinder, roller, and rotation braking unit. The plate cylinder has a groove portion in its outer surface to extend in an axial direction. A plate is to be mounted on the outer surface of a plate cylinder. The roller is rotatably supported to be able to come close to and separate from the outer surface of the plate cylinder. The roller comes into contact with the outer surface of the plate cylinder, when a distal end bent portion of a new plate is to be inserted in the groove portion of the plate cylinder, to press the distal end bent portion of the new plate. The rotation braking unit brakes rotation of the roller in relation to insertion operation of the distal end bent portion of the new plate into the groove portion of the plate cylinder.

Abstract: A plate handling apparatus includes a loader, first and second air cylinders, and first and second detection units. The loader is supported to be movable substantially parallel to a paper convey direction and swingable in directions to come close to and be spaced apart from an outer surface of a plate cylinder to perform plate removal/supply. The first air cylinder moves the loader among a first position close to the plate cylinder, a second position spaced apart from the first position in the paper convey direction, and a third position which is between the first position and the second position. The second air cylinder swings the loader among a first swing state where the loader is substantially perpendicular to the paper convey direction, a second swing state where the loader is inclined such that its distal end faces the plate cylinder, and a third swing state which is between the first swing state and the second swing state.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for replacing a printing plate enabling to easily replace the printing plate of a plate cylinder of a printing unit in an easy posture in a variable cutoff rotary press of a web offset press or the like is realized.

Abstract: An apparatus for transporting a printing plate to or from a plate cylinder of a printing press includes a first, driven transport roller that is stationarily disposed and a second transport roller that is disposed so as to be movable in the direction of the first transport roller. The second transport roller is mounted so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis disposed perpendicularly to its axis of rotation, preferably by a ball and socket joint or a fork bearing.

Abstract: A transport device for sleeve-shaped covers for cylinders in printing units of a printing press includes a translation element and a number of carrier elements for sleeve-shaped covers. The carrier elements are received on the translation element. A movement of the translation element causes at least a group of carrier elements to be positioned in the vicinity of cylinders of the printing press such that sleeve-shaped covers received on the carrier elements of the group are transferable directly from the carrier elements to the cylinders or that sleeve-shaped covers received on the cylinders are transferable directly to the carrier elements of the group. In the method of changing sleeve-shaped covers, groups of carrier elements are positioned in front of the cylinders so that the sleeve-shaped covers are taken off the cylinders and transferred directly to carrier elements or are transferred and mounted from carrier elements directly to cylinders and are mounted thereon.

Abstract: At least two blankets which are removed from the same cylinder of a printing machine one after the other, are stored in a storage device. The blankets are drawn off the cylinder in a longitudinal direction and are stored in the device at an angle of inclination of not more than 15? relative to the horizontal. The second blanket to be drawn off is stored below the previously drawn-off blanket at a distance that is vertical along its length.

Abstract: At least two blankets which are removed from the same cylinder of a printing machine one after the other, are stored in a storage device. The blankets are drawn off the cylinder in a longitudinal direction and are stored in the device at an angle of inclination of not more than 15° relative to the horizontal. The second blanket to be drawn off is stored below the previously drawn-off blanket at a distance that is vertical along its length.

Abstract: A device for feeding printing plates to a plate cylinder in a printing press includes a pivotable guide element. The pivotable guide element has pivotable guide members which are in contact with an image side of the printing plate when the printing plate is being fed to the plate cylinder. These pivotable guide members are disposed in such a way that they can be disengaged from the printing plate when the printing plate is being wrapped around the plate cylinder. A sheet-fed rotary printing press having the device, is also provided.

Abstract: An offset web print unit includes a plate cylinder, a blanket cylinder, a second blanket cylinder, an autoplating mechanism, and a throw-off mechanism including a single actuator both for moving the blanket cylinder from the second blanket cylinder and for moving the blanket cylinder to selectively contact the plate cylinder to permit autoplating while the blanket cylinder is thrown-off of the second blanket cylinder. Methods are also provided.

Abstract: A device for clamping and tensioning an edge of a printing plate on a plate cylinder of a printing press includes a single actuating shaft for releasing clamping and tensioning forces. The actuating shaft has a control cam for releasing the tensioning forces and a control roller for releasing the clamping forces. A printing unit having the device and a printing press having the printing unit are also provided.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing printing plates (8) having leading and trailing edges located in a lock-up slot in a plate cylinder (2) of a rotary printing press, from said plate cylinder (2) is disclosed. The apparatus comprises means for extracting the trailing edge from a lock-up slot which is also operable to partially extract the leading edge from a lock up slot. The apparatus further includes an extraction member for engaging, as the printing cylinder rotates, a portion of the leading edge (8a) of the printing plate protruding from the lock up slot (9) following its partial extraction, to complete the removal of the printing plates from the printing cylinder and leave the removed plates, hanging by their leading edge (8a), on the extraction member. A method of loading printing plates onto a plate cylinder (2) is also disclosed.

Abstract: A printing unit of a printing press includes a form cylinder and a transfer cylinder and an inking unit. A drive rotates the form cylinder to a position for effecting a printing plate change on the form cylinder in response to an actuating signal from a regulating a or control device. The actuating signal is determined as a function a circumferential register value of the form cylinder.

Abstract: A printing form is either raised or is lowered by the use of a pressure device which includes a roller. The roller is arranged on a cross-beam in such a way that the roller can selectively be placed on, or taken off the forme cylinder, or a forme that is supported on the forme cylinder, by a device. The pressure device, or the cross-beam which supports the roller can be displaced in a manner such that the distance of the roller from the cylinder can selectively be increased.

Abstract: A method of controlling a printing unit is disclosed. The printing unit comprising a plurality of printing couple pairs, each printing couple pair comprising a plate cylinder and a blanket cylinder and an inking system associated with each printing couple pair operable to supply ink to printing plates mounted on the plate cylinders of said printing couple pairs. The printing unit also comprises a primary module carrying the printing couple pairs and, a pair of secondary modules carrying the inking systems, the secondary modules being movable relative to the primary module from an operative into a non-operative position in which each secondary module is separated from the primary module.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for changing printing plates in sheet-fed rotary printing presses include a plurality of printing units and plate cylinders being coupled to one another mechanically in the printing units during a printing operation. At the beginning of a plate change, the plate cylinders are coupled to one another mechanically and are driven jointly by a main drive motor. After an old printing plate has been conveyed out, each plate cylinder is decoupled from the common mechanical connection and is driven by a separate drive motor.

Abstract: A handling device of a printing press, in particular for handling printing plates during an automated printing plate change on a printing unit of a printing press, is disclosed. The handling device has a manipulator arm, where one end of the manipulator arm is assigned a manipulator head, which features a handling element, in particular a holding element for printing plates, and the manipulator arm is embodied in a multi-part manner of several segments. A swivel axis is embodied on each end of each segment, around which at least the respective segment can be swiveled, and each swivel axis is assigned a separate drive for providing the respective swivel movement. The other end of the manipulator arm is mounted so it is translatorily and rotationally movable on a traverse or on a frame or on a wall of the printing press.

Abstract: A printing press is comprised of at least one printing cylinder. A displaceable inking unit and a displaceable plate changing device can alternatingly be placed against the printing cylinder or can be moved out of contact with it. The inking unit and the plate changing device are coupled together so that their respective displacements are accomplished by a common drive. The two move in opposite directions with respect to the printing cylinder and may be connected together. Alternatively, each may have its own drive, with the two drives being coupled together by a common controller.

Abstract: A system for checking the loading of a print forme magazine, which stores at least two print formes, utilizes at least one code reader to read a code which is carried by the print formes. The code reader reads the coding of the printing formes in a secondary region. The coding of at least two printing formes, which are arranged adjacently, horizontally or vertically together, is read by the code reader. The code reader has an image sensor and an illumination system for lighting the secondary region. A system is also provided for transporting at least one print forme stored in the print forme magazine to a cylinder. An analytical unit can be connected to the code reader, or to another registration device, and stores information regarding the transport of each printing forme, that is stored in the print forme magazine, to the cylinder. The analytical unit that may be connected to the code reader is provided with a signaling device.

Abstract: A printing form is either raised or is lowered by the use of a pressure device which includes a roller. The roller is arranged on a cross-beam in such a way that the roller can selectively be placed on, or taken off the forme cylinder, or a forme that is supported on the forme cylinder, by a device. The pressure device, or the cross-beam which supports the roller can be displaced in a manner such that the distance of the roller from the cylinder can selectively be increased.

Abstract: A plate making method comprises pre-aligning a printing plate (50) to an imaging drum (20) of a plate making machine (10) while the printing plate is moving along a plate supply path (60) to the plate making machine. The printing plate is located on a motorized shuttle carriage (90) during the moving and the pre-aligning to the imaging drum comprises rotating into alignment with a lateral alignment surface (110, 120) a lateral edge of the printing plate by moving the printing plate laterally to contact the lateral alignment surface. The method of the invention can further comprise moving the printing plate away (460) from the lateral alignment surface to a predetermined position at which position the plate is aligned with alignment pins or other alignment features on the imaging drum. The method of pre-aligning the plate to the imaging drum can comprise pre-aligning (480) the printing plate to a cylindrical axis of the imaging drum.

Abstract: A device for feeding printing plates to a plate cylinder includes a pressure roller for pressing the printing plate against the circumferential surface of the plate cylinder when the printing plate is being mounted. In order to compensate for uneven pressing forces resulting from a bending of the pressure roller, cylindrical segments are provided that have different widths and/or different diameters and/or different distances between the segments. A printing unit of a rotary printing press having the device, is also provided.

Abstract: A method for handling printing plates, namely for arranging printing plates in cassettes that are used as printing plate repositories during a printing plate change, is disclosed. Each printing plate is assigned a coding before, during or after imaging relating to a plate cylinder position of a printing couple at which the respective printing plate is used. Each imaged and coded printing plate is transported to the region of a cassette. In the region of each cassette, the coding of the printing plates is read out, and in doing so a check is made to see whether the printing plates are located at the correct cassette. If it is established that the printing plates are located at the correct cassette, a defined accommodation position in the cassette is released for each printing plate and the printing plate is positioned at this accommodation position within the cassette.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for handling printing plates on a web-fed printing press is disclosed. Printing plates imaged on an imaging device are assigned a coding relating to the plate cylinder position of the printing couple at which the respective printing plate is used. Imaged printing plates are inserted into cassettes such that printing plates for several printing couples are positioned in each cassette, where each cassette is assigned a data record relating to the position at which each printing plate is arranged within the respective cassette. The loaded cassettes are conveyed to the region of the printing couples where the data record assigned to the cassettes is also made available in the region of the printing couples. The printing plates are removed from the cassettes and, with a comparison to the data record assigned to the respective cassette, supplied to the respective printing couples.

Abstract: The invention relates to a loading device for loading a printing plate from a multiple plate stack to an input section of a plate imaging bed in an imaging system for performing a computer-to-plate imaging process on printing plates. The loading device comprises a picking unit for picking a printing plate from the multiple plate stack and transporting the plate to the input section. Further, the loading device is arranged to release the plate after the plate has been positioned in a starting position for autonomous manipulation by the imaging system.

Abstract: Punches 44 of punchers 41a to 41d each punch a plate P lying immediately thereunder to form a notch. Then, stopper pins 47 of the punchers 41c and 41d abut with the deepest portion of the notch, such that the plate P is further inserted. The punches 44 of the punchers 41a and 41b each punch the plate P lying immediately thereunder to form a deeper notch. In other words, the puncher 41 is capable of forming notches of different depths along one end face of the plate P, whereby it is possible to realize various methods for positioning the plate P on the recording drum 5 in a suitable manner.