Abstract: A punch unit (1) having a punch (2) that is reciprocally driven in a punching operation; and, a die (3) cooperating with the punch (2) in punching a punch hole in a soft metal sheet. A cleaning means scrapes a soft metal sheet's fragment, when the fragment is stuck to the punch (2), off of the punch (2). The cleaning means scrapes the fragment by reciprocally moving the punch (2) Further provided in the unit (1) is a punch drive and control circuit (25). The circuit (25) enables the punch to be (2) to perform lost motion at predetermined time intervals. Lost motion enables the punch (2) to scrape the fragment of the soft metal sheet off a surface of the punch (2). Consequently, the fragment of the soft metal sheet does not remain stuck to the punch (2) in the punching operation.

Abstract: A device for removing an image recording material is provided, which takes up little space and is used with printing plates and interleaf sheets set alternately in a cassette. An interleaf sheet and a printing plate are taken out simultaneously. In the midst of being conveyed along a conveying path leading to an exposure section, only the interleaf sheet is sucked by a fan or drawn-in between a roller pair so as to be peeled off from the printing plate. The peeled-off interleaf sheet is discarded, and the printing plate is conveyed reliably to the exposure section.

Abstract: A punch unit (1) is provided with: a punch (2) reciprocally driven in a punching operation; and, a die (3) cooperating with the punch (2) in punching a punch hole in a soft metal sheet. The unit (1) is provided which a gate (13b), which (13b) serves as a cleaning means for scraping the soft metal sheets fragment having stuck to the punch (2) off the punch (2) when the punch (2) is reciprocally moved. Further provided in the unit (1) is a punch drive and control circuit (25) The circuit (25) enables the punch (2) to perform lost motion at predetermined time intervals. Such lost motion enables the punch (2) to scrape the fragment of the soft metal sheet off a surface of the punch (2). Consequently, the unit (1) is free from a fear that the fragment of the soft metal sheet remains stuck to the punch (2) in the punching operation. (See FIG.

Abstract: A punch unit (1) is provided with: a punch (2), which is reciprocally driven in a punching operation; and, a die (3), which cooperates with the punch (2) in punching a hole in a soft metal sheet (i.e., workpiece not shown). In this punch unit (1): punch guides (12, 13a) and the die (3) are integrally formed into a punch block (11); and a radial clearance between the punch (2) and the die (3) is set at a value of from 4 to 15 % of a thickness of the soft metal sheet to be punched; and, the punch unit (1) is further provided with a sheet hold-down means (5) the sheet hold-down means (5) functioning to hold down the soft metal sheet when the soft metal sheet is punched.