Abstract: Container handling machine for printing onto containers with a transport device optionally configured as a carousel for transporting said containers, with direct printing heads and with a cleaning device for cleaning the direct printing heads, the cleaning device including at least one cleaning unit for dispensing cleaning fluid to a direct printing head and a collection device for discharging spent cleaning fluid.

Abstract: Container handling machine for printing onto containers with a transport device optionally configured as a carousel for transporting said containers, with direct printing heads and with a cleaning device for cleaning the direct printing heads, the cleaning device including at least one cleaning unit for dispensing cleaning fluid to a direct printing head and a collection device for discharging spent cleaning fluid.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for handling printing plates which are fed to at least two process stations, include at least one receiving deck on which the printing plates are provided and fed to the different process stations by pivoting the receiving deck. The receiving decks are pivoted first of all about a first rotational axis and likewise about a second rotational axis which is different than the first, in order to ensure favorable receiving angles between the receiving deck and the individual process stations in each case for the printing plate transfer. A printing plate exposer having an apparatus for handling printing plates, is also provided.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for handling printing plates which are fed to at least two process stations, include at least one receiving deck on which the printing plates are provided and fed to the different process stations by pivoting the receiving deck. The receiving decks are pivoted first of all about a first rotational axis and likewise about a second rotational axis which is different than the first, in order to ensure favorable receiving angles between the receiving deck and the individual process stations in each case for the printing plate transfer. A printing plate exposer having an apparatus for handling printing plates, is also provided.

Abstract: A device is provided for singly separating flat objects of different flexibility from a stack preferably being formed of printing plates and flexible interleaves. At least one suction element sucks up an object with a suction air flow. At least one form element at least approximately encloses the at least one suction element. The at least one form element has boundaries being spaced from the at least one suction element. A method of operating the device is also provided.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling the vacuum distribution in an exposer for recording printing originals. The recording material for the printing originals is held firmly on a supporting surface by negative pressure. The recording material being attracted by suction by a vacuum pump via suction grooves machined into the supporting surface and via suction ducts connected to the suction grooves. For opening and closing the suction ducts, valves are provided, the valves being closed by the mechanical action of force from an actuator on a piston rod and opened by the action of compressed air on a piston in the valve. For opening the valve, an outlet opening for the compressed air is integrated into the actuator. In a printing plate exposer with an exposure drum, the suction ducts and the valves are located in the exposure drum, and the actuator is located outside the exposure drum.

Abstract: A method for handling printing plates includes moving the printing plates from a first process station to a second station by a printing plate holder. The process stations are all arranged on a cylinder circumferential surface around a mid-axis, and it is possible for all to be opened out by the printing plate holder in the same way as with a distributor for the purpose of input or output. An apparatus for handling printing plates has a printing plate holder containing at least two mutually parallel, intercoupled holding decks for printing plates which can be pivoted about a common axis of rotation. The holder is located in the vicinity of the process stations and is suitable for transporting a printing plate from a first process station to a second station. Therefore, different types of printing plate can be handled manually, automatically or partly automatically in a less complex structure.

Abstract: A method for handling printing plates includes moving the printing plates from a first process station to a second station by a printing plate holder. The process stations are all arranged on a cylinder circumferential surface around a mid-axis, and it is possible for all to be opened out by the printing plate holder in the same way as with a distributor for the purpose of input or output. An apparatus for handling printing plates has a printing plate holder containing at least two mutually parallel, intercoupled holding decks for printing plates which can be pivoted about a common axis of rotation. The holder is located in the vicinity of the process stations and is suitable for transporting a printing plate from a first process station to a second station. Therefore, different types of printing plate can be handled manually, automatically or partly automatically in a less complex structure.

Abstract: A method for handling printing plates includes moving the printing plates from a first process station to a second station by a printing plate holder. The process stations are all arranged on a cylinder circumferential surface around a mid-axis, and it is possible for all to be opened out by the printing plate holder in the same way as with a distributor for the purpose of input or output. An apparatus for handling printing plates has a printing plate holder containing at least two mutually parallel, intercoupled holding decks for printing plates which can be pivoted about a common axis of rotation. The holder is located in the vicinity of the process stations and is suitable for transporting a printing plate from a first process station to a second station. Therefore, different types of printing plate can be handled manually, automatically or partly automatically in a less complex structure.

Abstract: In the field of electronic reproduction technology, an apparatus for clamping and holding a printing plate on the surface of an exposure drum in a printing plate exposer includes a clamping apparatus for the front edge of the printing plate. The clamping apparatus has actuating elements that are accommodated in the interior of the exposure drum. Only the clamping bars that clamp the printing plate fixedly protrude slightly beyond the drum surface. Terminating elements are provided for holding the rear edge of the printing plate, which terminating elements can be displaced in the suction grooves of the drum surface and primarily restrict the vacuum that draws the printing plate onto the drum surface to the surface below the printing plate. Additionally, the terminating elements are provided with a roof element that protrudes beyond the rear edge of the printing plate and, thus, encloses the rear edge in the gap between the roof element and the exposure drum without, however, clamping it fixedly.

Abstract: A device is provided for singly separating flat objects of different flexibility from a stack preferably being formed of printing plates and flexible interleaves. At least one suction element sucks up an object with a suction air flow. At least one form element at least approximately encloses the at least one suction element. The at least one form element has boundaries being spaced from the at least one suction element. A method of operating the device is also provided.

Abstract: In the field of electronic reproduction technology, an apparatus for clamping and holding a printing plate on the surface of an exposure drum in a printing plate exposer includes a clamping apparatus for the front edge of the printing plate. The clamping apparatus has actuating elements that are accommodated in the interior of the exposure drum. Only the clamping bars that clamp the printing plate fixedly protrude slightly beyond the drum surface. Terminating elements are provided for holding the rear edge of the printing plate, which terminating elements can be displaced in the suction grooves of the drum surface and primarily restrict the vacuum that draws the printing plate onto the drum surface to the surface below the printing plate. Additionally, the terminating elements are provided with a roof element that protrudes beyond the rear edge of the printing plate and, thus, encloses the rear edge in the gap between the roof element and the exposure drum without, however, clamping it fixedly.

Abstract: A method for handling printing plates includes moving the printing plates from a first process station to a second station by a printing plate holder. The process stations are all arranged on a cylinder circumferential surface around a mid-axis, and it is possible for all to be opened out by the printing plate holder in the same way as with a distributor for the purpose of input or output. An apparatus for handling printing plates has a printing plate holder containing at least two mutually parallel, intercoupled holding decks for printing plates which can be pivoted about a common axis of rotation. The holder is located in the vicinity of the process stations and is suitable for transporting a printing plate from a first process station to a second station. Therefore, different types of printing plate can be handled manually, automatically or partly automatically in a less complex structure.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling the vacuum distribution in an exposer for recording printing originals. The recording material for the printing originals is held firmly on a supporting surface by negative pressure. The recording material being attracted by suction by a vacuum pump via suction grooves machined into the supporting surface and via suction ducts connected to the suction grooves. For opening and closing the suction ducts, valves are provided, the valves being closed by the mechanical action of force from an actuator on a piston rod and opened by the action of compressed air on a piston in the valve. For opening the valve, an outlet opening for the compressed air is integrated into the actuator. In a printing plate exposer with an exposure drum, the suction ducts and the valves are located in the exposure drum, and the actuator is located outside the exposure drum.

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: A method of and an apparatus for handling an exposure surface to be exposed includes the steps of hanging the exposure surface in a transitional state during introduction into the exposure region of an exposure unit and/or during discharge from an exposure unit. The exposure surface is transferred from an approximately horizontal orientation in a feed region or loading region into a hanging orientation and/or is lowered for introduction into the exposure unit. The exposure surface to be exposed is, in particular, a printing plate. The exposure unit is, preferably, a printing plate exposer, and is, in particular, an inner-drum printing plate exposer.

Abstract: The invention includes a method and a device for transferring storage containers, especially cassettes for printing plates, in order to reliably and accurately receive both manually inserted cassettes and cassettes from upstream transport systems and upstream storage devices, such as MCLs. The invention enables these cassettes to be supplied to other devices constructed, for example, for separating printing plates. The storage containers are aligned in a holder provided for them, and are positioned and secured against inadvertent withdrawal. In this case, the transport of the storage containers within the device is carried out in a damped manner and can be assisted automatically. A pneumatic drive system is preferably used for this purpose.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for decollating flat objects from a stack, in particular objects individually separated from one another in the stack by interlayers, preferably printing plates. The object of the invention is to ensure that only one object is taken from the stack and made available for any further handling. A lifting device lifts the object from the stack and a separating device separates any article possibly adhering to the underside of the lifted object from the lifted object. The article possibly adhering may in particular be a second object or an interlayer. For example, the separating device may be of similar construction to the lifting device and in particular include suction elements.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, an apparatus, and a loader for moving, for example, for transporting, a printing plate into an exposer for printing plates, and after exposure, out of the exposer and into a processor, for example. The object is to save space in the region of the exposer when moving the printing plate. The method is distinguished in that 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 that 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: The invention includes a method and a device for transferring storage containers, especially cassettes for printing plates, in order to reliably and accurately receive both manually inserted cassettes and cassettes from upstream transport systems and upstream storage devices, such as MCLs. The invention enables these cassettes to be supplied to other devices constructed, for example, for separating printing plates. The storage containers are aligned in a holder provided for them, and are positioned and secured against inadvertent withdrawal. In this case, the transport of the storage containers within the device is carried out in a damped manner and can be assisted automatically. A pneumatic drive system is preferably used for this purpose.