Abstract: A printer includes a platen to support a medium, a conveyor to convey the medium supported by the platen from an upstream side toward a downstream side in conveyance directions, a tension bar, and a floating bar. The tension bar is downstream of the platen in the conveyance directions and positioned such that a lower surface of the medium conveyed from the platen to the downstream side in the conveyance directions contacts the tension bar. The floating bar is downstream of the platen in the conveyance directions and upstream of the tension bar in the conveyance directions and positioned such that an upper surface of the medium located between the platen and the tension bar contacts the floating bar, and has a center axis freely movable by a predetermined degree.

Abstract: A printer includes a platen to support a medium, a conveyor to convey the medium supported by the platen from an upstream side toward a downstream side in conveyance directions, a tension bar, and a floating bar. The tension bar is downstream of the platen in the conveyance directions and positioned such that a lower surface of the medium conveyed from the platen to the downstream side in the conveyance directions contacts the tension bar. The floating bar is downstream of the platen in the conveyance directions and upstream of the tension bar in the conveyance directions and positioned such that an upper surface of the medium located between the platen and the tension bar contacts the floating bar, and has a center axis freely movable by a predetermined degree.

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: In a planographic printing plate feeding apparatus, a load W applied to a stack of plates by a pickup roller which feeds a planographic printing plate from the stack is adjusted. If the load W is increased and exceeds a single feeding threshold, and if a conveyance force F1 applied from the uppermost planographic printing plate to the slip-sheet is increased by such a degree that the conveyance force F1 exceeds a maximum static friction force F2? between the slip-sheet and the planographic printing plate under the slip-sheet, the uppermost planographic printing plate and the slip-sheet 22 can be conveyed integrally (set feeding). Hence, it is possible to obtain a planographic printing plate feeding apparatus with a compact, simple and inexpensive structure and able to feed a planographic printing plate swiftly and reliably.

Abstract: A planographic printing plate supply unit comprising: carrying rollers rotating while pressing a stacking bundle, in which planographic printing plates and covering papers are stacked alternately, so as to carry the planographic printing plate and covering paper at the top of the stacking bundle, wherein convex portions which are elastically deformed when pressing the stacking bundle and whose contact area with the planographic printing plate is larger after being elastically deformed than before are provided on the outside periphery of the carrying roller.

Abstract: An apparatus automatically feeds photosensitive printing plates having the characteristic that transport and storage are possible in a state where the photosensitive printing plates have been stacked together such that back sides of the photosensitive printing plates are brought into direct contact with photosensitive surfaces on front sides of the photosensitive printing plates. The apparatus includes: a storage member that accommodates a bundle comprising a plural number of the photosensitive printing plates stacked together without slip sheets; a takeout member that separates and takes out the photosensitive printing plates from the bundle one plate at a time; and a conveyance member that conveys the taken-out photosensitive printing plates to an exposure apparatus. According to this apparatus, the conventional configuration and process of separating, conveying, and stocking slip sheets from the photosensitive surfaces of the photosensitive printing plates can be omitted.

Abstract: A planographic printing plate supply unit comprising: carrying rollers rotating while pressing a stacking bundle, in which planographic printing plates and covering papers are stacked alternately, so as to carry the planographic printing plate and covering paper at the top of the stacking bundle, wherein convex portions which are elastically deformed when pressing the stacking bundle and whose contact area with the planographic printing plate is larger after being elastically deformed than before are provided on the outside periphery of the carrying roller.

Abstract: In a planographic printing plate feeding apparatus, a load W applied to a stack of plates by a pickup roller which feeds a planographic printing plate from the stack is adjusted. If the load W is increased and exceeds a single feeding threshold, and if a conveyance force F1 applied from the uppermost planographic printing plate to the slip-sheet is increased by such a degree that the conveyance force F1 exceeds a maximum static friction force F2? between the slip-sheet and the planographic printing plate under the slip-sheet, the uppermost planographic printing plate and the slip-sheet 22 can be conveyed integrally (set feeding). Hence, it is possible to obtain a planographic printing plate feeding apparatus with a compact, simple and inexpensive structure and able to feed a planographic printing plate swiftly and reliably.