Abstract: A stack of planographic printing plates is accommodated in a packaging box for planographic printing plates in a manner such that imaging surfaces of the planographic printing plates are directed toward a bottom face plate. Therefore, when the packaging box for planographic printing plates is opened in a manner such that top face plates are directed upwards, the imaging surfaces of the planographic printing plates are directed downwards.

Abstract: A printing press which can limit increase in the entire size of a plate discharge device while moving a printing plate in a plate discharge direction by a sufficient distance is provided. The plate discharge device is provided with a cylinder device. A first clamping roller is mounted via a pinion to a mounting member mounted to a rod of the cylinder device. A rack is disposed to be meshed with the pinion. A second clamping roller is provided to the mounting member so as to be movable closer to and away from the first clamping roller via a switching means.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for registration and loading of ferromagnetic metal-based printing plates to a magnetic drum. The apparatus comprises a magnetic cylinder equipped with registration holes; a loading table, a non-magnetic material spacer tray and at least one pair of registration pegs.

Abstract: A system for determining the location of an edge of a sheet of media for alignment purposes utilizes a beam of light directed at the media surface to produce a reflected light beam. The reflected light beam intensity varies in response to the reflectivity of the surface on which it impinges and the beam position shifts in accordance with the datum of the surface at which the reflected beam is originated. By monitoring both intensity and positional information of the reflected beam as it is scanned across the media edge, the edge location can be determined using a weighted combination of the intensity and positional information.

Abstract: An image recorder of an external drum type includes a feed/discharge unit located above a drum and having an upper tray and a lower tray. The upper tray is inclined so that an edge thereof on the front side of an image recorder body is downward or at a lower level. For placing a plate on the upper tray, the plate is fed over the lower edge of the tray onto the tray. The upper tray has a movable suction pad for raising the plate. The image recorder of the external drum type can easily feed a large-size image recording material or plate over an upper edge of the inclined tray onto the tray.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for positioning a plurality of cassettes within an automated printing plate handler. In a plate handler, a plurality of cassettes each contain a supply of printing plates for delivery to an automatic plate-recording device. The apparatus includes a separate support table for supporting each of the plurality of cassettes within the plate handler and an elevator device for moving each of the support tables along a vertical axis of the automated plate handler. The automated plate handler is configured to automatically position a selected cassette in a first position to facilitate removal of the cassette from the handler. The plate handler further includes a platform, which substantially forms an extension of the support table supporting the selected cassette in the first position. The platform provides a second position, at which the selected cassette is to be one of, loaded or unloaded.

Abstract: An image recording material separating/removing device which, by using a single lift-out mechanism section, can lift image recording materials out from plural cassettes along simple loci of movement, and in which a space for providing and withdrawing the cassettes is kept as small as possible. In a cassette housing section, a plurality of cassettes are disposed one above another. Each cassette is offset in a horizontal direction. An amount of offset is set on the basis of a locus of movement of a printing plate at a time when the printing plate is sucked and held by suction cups and lifted up in a vertical direction. At least while the suction cups are moving in the vertical direction, the printing plate is not interfered with by cassettes thereabove, and an emulsion surface of the printing plate is not scratched. Space required for placement of the cassette housing section can be reduced. Moreover, because movement of the suction cups can be simplified, a control system can be simplified.

Abstract: A stack of alternating plates and interleaves are stored in a cassette of a plate feed apparatus. An interleaf is removed from the stack by a plurality of vertically moving suction cups. There are cases where a plate is attached to the back surface of the interleaf during the removal. Lifting up the plurality of suction cups being reciprocated horizontally causes the plate attached to the interleaf to drop off.

Abstract: A printing plate sucker capable of stably suction-adhering and sheet-feeding both a printing plate and a protective sheet simultaneously without causing wrinkling at the protective sheet during the suction-adherence and sheet-feeding. The sucker is structured by a main body portion formed of a stiff body, a skirt portion formed of a resilient body, and a spring. When a moment from a printing plate acts on the sucker during sheet-feeding, the spring resiliently deforms. Thus, the main body portion is displaced (inclined) in the moment application direction, effective weight on the sucker is reduced, and a state in which a reduced moment acts on the sucker is achieved (the moment is substantially absorbed). Furthermore, the spring which redirects the moment is structured separately from the main body portion and skirt portion. Therefore, the sucker will not be deformed, an interleaf sheet will not be hoistingly deformed, and wrinkling will not occur.

Abstract: A printing apparatus includes a first plate cylinder with a squeeze roller disposed therearound. The squeeze roller is connected to a squeeze roller moving mechanism that moves the squeeze roller between a squeeze position adjacent the peripheral surface of the first plate cylinder, and a standby position spaced away from the peripheral surface of the first plate cylinder. When in the standby position, the squeeze roller is shielded from the first plate cylinders by a shield connected to a shield moving mechanism.

Abstract: A plate discharger includes a peeling claw, a transport device and an air blowing device. The transport device has a rotary shaft, first transport rollers rotatable about the rotary shaft, a driven rotary shaft connected to a drive gear meshed with and driven by a transmission gear disposed sideways from the first transport rollers, second transport rollers rotatable about the driven rotary shaft, peeling rollers pivotable about the rotary shaft, and belts wound around the first transport rollers and peeling rollers. When a printing plate is passed between the first transport rollers and second transport rollers, the air blowing device blows air to the undersurface of the printing plate.

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: The present invention relates generally to systems and methods that remove an interleaf sheet interposed between plate sheets from a material stack used, for example, in a computer-to-plate imaging system and/or environment. Embodiments of the system and method can also remove plate sheets from an interleaf sheet, and transport the plate sheet for subsequent imaging.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to aid the loading and unloading of flexographic plates to and from an imager. The apparatus includes a magazine containing a plurality of compartments each for holding a single flexographic plate, the compartments arranged vertically, and movable in a vertical direction, a lifting mechanism to lift and lower the compartments; and a control system to control the lifting and lowering by the lifting mechanism. The control system is such that a particular compartment is moved from its rest vertical position at a rest horizontal position to a loading vertical position and a loading horizontal position at which the particular compartment is at a height for loading onto the imager. The loading is automatic and in the case that the plate includes a protective sheet thereon, the loading includes removing the protective sheet from the plate.

Abstract: A plate removing apparatus includes a plate cylinder, cover, loader, cover members, and plate removal port. The plate cylinder is rotatably supported between a pair of frames opposing each other through a predetermined distance. The cover is provided to a front side of the plate cylinder and supported between the pair of frames. The loader swings between a closing position to close at least part of a space formed between the pair of frames and an opening position to open the space. The cover members move from a retreat position to an operative position, when the loader is located at the opening position, to close the space opened by the loader. The plate removal port is formed in the cover members. A plate mounted on the plate cylinder is removed through the plate removal port when the cover members are located at the operative position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to aid the loading and unloading of flexographic plates to and from an imager. The apparatus includes a magazine containing a plurality of compartments each for holding a single flexographic plate, the compartments arranged vertically, and movable in a vertical direction, a lifting mechanism to lift and lower the compartments; and a control system to control the lifting and lowering by the lifting mechanism. The control system is such that a particular compartment is moved from its rest vertical position at a rest horizontal position to a loading vertical position and a loading horizontal position at which the particular compartment is at a height for loading onto the imager.

Abstract: In the plate supplying apparatus of the present invention, various vibrations are provided to a plate secured via suction during a separating operation by causing pad rods 403 to repeat a slight ascent and a pause, and thereafter causing the pad rods 403 to make an abrupt descent, thereby reliably peeling off a slip sheet adhering to the back face of the plate. Further, vibration in the rod-up/down direction is provided to the plate during the separating operation, and the plate is not pushed hard. Thus, it is possible to prevent the plate from being damaged. A raising and lowering motor 52 is driven to lower the cassette 9. A separating operation for peeling off a slip sheet S adhering to the back face of the plate P is performed, and thereafter the plate P secured via suction is turned over and transferred.

Abstract: A plate changing method and an apparatus for rotating all plate cylinders of a plurality of printing units by a drive device, and performing plate changing by plate changing unit provided in correspondence with the plate cylinders has an abnormality detection step of detecting presence or absence of a plate changing abnormality by detectors provided in correspondence with the plate cylinders, a step of stopping the drive device when the plate changing abnormality is detected in the abnormality detection step, a return step of controlling at least one of the drive device and the plate changing unit of a normal unit, other than an error unit in which the plate changing abnormality has been detected, in accordance with the status of progress of plate changing in the normal unit after the stop step, and an error elimination step of eliminating the plate changing abnormality in the error unit after the stop step.

Abstract: A tucking device for tucking a printing plate into a gap of a plate cylinder includes a tucker bar having a tucking surface and at least one magnet for creating a repulsive magnetic force at the tucking surface. An actuator connected to the tucker bar is used for moving the tucker bar to tuck the printing plate into the gap.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying an image to a printing plate while maintaining registration between the image and a reference edge of the printing plate include mounting the printing plate on a plate making machine and then determining the locations of two or more points on the reference edge. The locations of the two or more points are used to determine a transformation which is applied to image data to yield transformed image data. The transformed image data is used to image the printing plate.

Abstract: A conveying device has: a moving member provided so as to be movable; a rotating member rotatably supported at the moving member; and a holding member rotatably supported at the rotating member, and able to hold a sheet. In a state in which the holding member is holding the sheet, the holding member conveys the sheet by at least one of movement of the moving member, rotation of the rotating member with respect to the moving member, and rotation of the holding member with respect to the rotating member.

Abstract: A conveyor system for transporting a printing plate in a platemaking system includes: a carriage riding on a track and one or more low friction substantially horizontal planar support surfaces provided as a high wear laminate, positioned above the carriage and the track, for supporting the printing plate on the non-emulsion side without the use of rollers, belts, bearings or air cushioning. The carriage includes one or more engagement mechanisms for engaging a bottom, non-emulsion side of the printing plate, and the track includes an air cylinder. The engagement mechanisms can be, for example, suctions cups which engage the plate by a vacuum, suction cups which engage the plate by pressure and adhesion, other adhesive devices, or a mechanical gripper for gripping the plate. The track or linear actuating system is preferably an air cylinder. Alternatively the linear actuating system could include a belt and pulleys, a chain and gears, or a threaded lead screw.

Abstract: A method for automatically exchanging a printing plate (500) in a print unit of a rotary press having a blanket cylinder (250) and a plate cylinder (260) carrying the printing plate includes disengaging the plate cylinder from the blanket cylinder; reducing the speed of the plate cylinder (v_P) to a rendezvous speed (v_R) which is greater than 0; automatically clamping the printing plate onto the plate cylinder at the rendezvous speed (v_R); and increasing the speed of the plate cylinder (v_P) to a printing speed (v_DG).

Abstract: Plate transfer apparatus is disclosed which is suitable for satellite-type printing press and excels in operability with small space. For these purposes, plate transfer apparatus comprises transfer means (26) which has functions in it's normal and opposite rotations, for ejecting the used plate (52) outwards and feeding new plate (50) to the plate cylinder (16), flat sustaining board (30) provided above the transfer means (26) in order to prepare new plate (30), one end of the board (30) is swingably supported and the other end is branched, and drive means (36) for swinging the sustaining board (30) in order to sink the branched end into transfer path of the transfer means (26).

Abstract: A conveying device for a printing plate precursor which takes the printing plate precursor and an interleaf sheet out from a cassette, and which, along a conveying path to an exposure section, takes-off only the interleaf sheet. When a leading end of the interleaf sheet passes by an interleaf sheet peeling roller disposed on the conveying path, the interleaf sheet peeling roller rotates in a direction opposite to a direction of conveying to the exposure section, and contacts the interleaf sheet, and slack is formed in the interleaf sheet between the interleaf sheet peeling roller and a conveying roller. A slack portion is nipped between two belts and fed to a forked-off path, and the interleaf sheet is removed from the conveying path. It is possible to feed only the printing plate precursor out to the exposure section while continuing to convey the printing plate precursor.

Abstract: A plate-making system, in which a light-sensitive lithographic printing plate carrying an interleaf paper superimposed thereon and/or an original plate for making a dummy plate carrying an interleaf paper superimposed thereon are processed in a plate-setter provided with an automatic interleaf paper-removing mechanism and an automatic developing machine, is characterized in that it comprises a means for detecting the presence of any interleaf paper on the lithographic printing plate and/or the original plate or a means for discriminating the interleaf paper, the light-sensitive lithographic printing plate and the original plate.

Abstract: A method of using a printing plate includes, in a first step, setting an image on the printing plate in an imaging machine, while holding the printing plate firmly on a magnetic cylinder of the imaging machine during the imaging process, and in a second step, printing in a printing machine with the printing plate having the image set in this manner; and an imaging machine and a printing machine for performing the method.

Abstract: A printing system has an imaging subsystem, an application subsystem, and a decoupler separating the imaging subsystem from the application subsystem. A method of imaging is also provided. In a placing action, an image is placed on a transfer roll in a first environment. In a moving action, the transfer roll is moved to a second environment. In a transferring action, the image is transferred to a media.

Abstract: A perforation and image exposure system comprises an image exposure apparatus and a punch unit. The image exposure apparatus has a first reference pin for defining a lateral position of a plate through contacting with one side edge of the plate contacting a pair of first positioning pins, and image exposure means for exposing the image into the plate subjected to positioning by the pair of first positioning pins and the first reference pin. The punch unit has a second reference pin for defining a lateral position of the plate through contacting with one side edge of the plate contacting a pair of second positioning pins, and perforation means for forming punched holes for positioning on the plate subjected to positioning by the pair of second positioning pins and the second reference pin.

Abstract: In a removing/conveying portion of a printing plate removing/supplying device, when one cassette among a plurality of cassettes is empty, the empty cassette is placed on a raising/lowering stand and moved to a loading space. Due to a spur gear being rotated clockwise by a motor, a sliding cover, with which the spur gear is engaging, is moved toward a removing portion such that an opening of a cassette stocker portion is opened. In this way, it is possible to refill and load printing plates from a top side of the cassette stocker portion into the empty cassette positioned at the loading space.

Abstract: A plate holding apparatus includes a plate holding device and an air cylinder. The plate holding device holds an old plate discharged from a plate cylinder. The air cylinder moves the plate holding device between the first position of holding the discharged old plate and the second position away from the plate cylinder. The plate holding device includes a support member, first and second rotary members, a lever, stopper, and tensile coil spring, and a one-way clutch. The first rotary member is rotatably, axially supported by the support member. The second rotary member is axially supported by the support member to be movable and rotatable. The lever, stopper, and tensile coil spring move the second rotary member to come into contact with and separate from the first rotary member.

Abstract: A method for mounting a printing master on a printing form cylinder includes readying a new print job with a printing-image length by releasing an unwinding spool, activating an unwinding spool drive for moving the printing master a length in circumferential direction of the cylinder on the circumferential surface by drawing the printing master to a rewinding spool and braking the unwinding spool for building tension. A preceding job image start is located on the surface facing the rewinding spool. A control device activates the unwinding spool drive and, before activation, data is produced in the control device regarding the length to be spooled forward, and the spools are fixed, after advancing the printing master a length, for insuring tension. A value is determined for the printing master length to be spooled forward, being at most the printing image length of the preceding print job plus a printing image spacing.

Abstract: A printing apparatus (1001) having a plurality of blanket cylinders (1051 to 1054) normally-contacting to impression cylinders (1031, 1032), plate cylinders (1041 to 1044) normally-contacting to the respective blanket cylinders, and a ink coating apparatus (1061 to 1064), a printing apparatus, an imaging apparatus, an imaging method, an imaging medium, a printing system, and a printing method. In the printing apparatus (1001), a plurality of ink coating apparatus (1061 to 1064) is arranged in a substantially gravity direction, a feeding apparatus (1020) of sheets of recording mediums to the printing apparatus and a discharging apparatus (1070) are provided at a side opposite to a setting side of the ink coating apparatus with respect to the blanket cylinders. The printing apparatus can execute a back face printing easily, and has good workability.

Abstract: When an image is recorded on a recording material while concurrently transferring print data and conveying the recording material, the recording material at the time when exposure is stopped can be placed in a state before unprocessed at a high probability. Conveying of a photopolymer plate started concurrently with transfer of print data, is temporarily stopped on standby immediately before punch-hole forming processing. Therefore, when transfer of print data is stopped, the photopolymer plate can be placed in a reusable state at a high probability, and the number of waste photopolymer plates can be reduced. The standby time and the time at which conveying is restarted are determined based on a transfer rate of print data and a remaining conveying time. As a result, there is no possibility that delay of image recording processing caused by temporary stop may occur.

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 method, an apparatus, and a loader for moving (e.g., transporting) a printing plate into an exposer for printing plates and, after exposure, out of the exposer and into a processor, for example, saves space in the region of the exposer when moving the printing plate. In the method, the movement of the printing plate into the exposer takes place, at least in a path segment of the movement run, at a first level and the movement of the printing plate out of the exposer takes place, at least in a path segment of the movement run, at a second level that differs from the first level. The path segments of the movement run at the two different levels are each located on the same side of the exposer.

Abstract: Printing plates are mounted onto a cylinder by first establishing a temperature difference between the plate and the cylinder; in particular, the temperature of the plate exceeds the temperature of the cylinder. The plate is then wrapped around the plate cylinder, and the temperature difference causes the plate to shrink against the cylinder.

Abstract: A device for positioning a sheet-shaped material by providing a plurality of pairs of pins on a conveying path. Printing plate precursors are classified, on the basis of widths thereof, into large-sized and small-sized. Two pairs of positioning pins are provided for each size, and are disposed so as to be offset in a direction of conveying a printing plate precursor toward a rotating drum. A width of a small-sized printing plate precursor is smaller than a pitch dimension of a pair of positioning pins for large-sized printing plate precursors. Therefore, the small-sized printing plate precursor abuts and is positioned by positioning pins for small-sized printing plate precursors which are provided further ahead. Moreover, a large-sized printing plate precursor directly abuts and is positioned by the positioning pins for large-sized printing plate precursors, so as not to be interfered with by the positioning pins for small-sized printing plate precursors.

Abstract: An image exposure apparatus has a rotating drum for winding a printing plate on which an image is recorded; a punch unit for forming punched holes to be used for positioning in printing processing on the printing plate; a conveying guide unit having a guide section that selectively moves to a first position facing the punch unit and a second position facing the rotating drum to guide a printing plate to the selected position so as to supply the printing plate; a width direction moving unit for moving in a width direction while a conveying pin is in contact with a width direction edge of the printing plate that is put on the conveying guide unit; a reference pin moving unit having a reference pin disposed at an opposite side of the width direction moving unit for defining the width direction edge of the printing plate, the reference pin moving unit moving the reference pin in accordance with a size of the printing plate; and a home position sensor mounted on a fixing portion independently of the conveying guid

Abstract: A plate changing apparatus includes a loader, air cylinder, and removed plate recovery section. The loader is supported by a frame to be movable substantially parallel to a sheet convey direction, and feeds a new plate to a plate cylinder. The air cylinder moves the loader from a retreat position to a wait position close to the plate cylinder during plate changing. The removed plate recovery section is fixed to the frame and recovers an old plate discharged from the plate cylinder.

Abstract: A knock-off unit for knocking off sheet material from the circumferential surface of an impression cylinder in a rotary printing machine operatable in recto and in recto/verso or perfector printing modes, includes a knock-off device mounted on a rectilinear guide and controllable by a gripper shaft for lifting a leading region of the sheet material off the circumferential surface of the impression cylinder. The knock-off device is coupled via a transmission mechanism to said gripper shaft and, during an outward movement, said knock-off device being extended beyond the circumferential surface of the impression cylinder, initially bridging an idle stroke; an impression cylinder in combination with the knock-off unit; and a printing unit having the knock-off unit.

Abstract: Systems and related methods are provided for modulating web tension loss at the edge of spool-hosting cavities in a cylinder by displacing the feed path and/or the exit path of the web material.

Abstract: A device for registering the position of a printing plate on the plate cylinder of a printing machine includes sensors responsive to being covered by the printing plate, the sensors being provided on one of the plate cylinder and an attachment device of the plate cylinder, respectively.

Abstract: Two dual-configuration systems for loading plate in a CTP imager; in the first configuration one multi-cassette unit (MCU) serves two CTP imagers and in the second configuration two MCUs serve one CTP imager.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to aid the loading and unloading of flexographic plates to and from an imager. The apparatus includes a magazine containing a plurality of compartments each for holding a single flexographic plate, the compartments arranged vertically, and movable in a vertical direction, a lifting mechanism to lift and lower the compartments; and a control system to control the lifting and lowering by the lifting mechanism. The control system is such that a particular compartment is moved from its rest vertical position at a rest horizontal position to a loading vertical position and a loading horizontal position at which the particular compartment is at a height for loading onto the imager. The loading is automatic and in the, case that,the plate includes a protective sheet thereon, the loading includes removing the protective sheet from the plate.

Abstract: A printing unit of an offset printing press includes a first plate cylinder, a first blanket cylinder for selectively contacting the first plate cylinder, a first inker for inking the first plate cylinder, a second plate cylinder, a second blanket cylinder for selectively contacting the second plate cylinder, and a second inker for inking the second plate cylinder. A first inker drive gear connects to the first inker for driving the first inker, and a motor uniquely associated with the printing unit is configured to drive the first inker drive gear. In addition, a gear train engaging the first inker drive gear is driven by the first inker drive gear so as to drive the first plate cylinder, the first blanket cylinder, the second blanket cylinder, the second plate cylinder and the second inker.

Abstract: A method of dispensing a metal-backed printing blanket onto a printing press cylinder in a controlled fashion is provided. A carton containing the rolled printing blanket may be provided, and a lengthwise slit or opening is opened to withdraw a mounting end of the printing blanket. The alignment and tension of the printing blanket is controlled as it mounts on the printing press cylinder. Parallel reference lines on the carton may be used to draw alignment marks on the printing blanket such that it may be properly inserted into a locking device of the printing press cylinder. The alignment and tension may be controlled using graspable sides of the carton.

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 inverter system is also provided. This system inverts the substrates from being imaging or emulsion side down to emulsion side up in the present implementation. This allows plates, for example, which are stored emulsion side down in cassettes to be flipped to an emulsion side up orientation, and then transferred, using the substrate transfer system to the imaging engine. This flipping process has two advantages. First, the plates can be emulsion side up during the transfer. This prevents any damage to the sensitive plate emulsions.

Abstract: A storage and loading device for sheet articles, wherein the articles are stored vertically in a rotating carousel. A picking mechanism picks a foremost article and delivers it to a depositing location. A slip-sheet removal mechanism removes protective slip sheets located between the sheet articles. The device may be used in conjunction with a CTP system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to aid the loading and unloading of flexographic plates to and from an imager. The apparatus includes a magazine containing a plurality of compartments each for holding a single flexographic plate, the compartments arranged vertically, and movable in a vertical direction, a lifting mechanism to lift and lower the compartments; and a control system to control the lifting and lowering by the lifting mechanism. The control system is such that a particular compartment is moved from its rest vertical position at a rest horizontal position to a loading vertical position and a loading horizontal position at which the particular compartment is at a height for loading onto the imager.