Patent · US Expired

Method for reliable loading of unexposed printing plates

US6130702A · kind A · utility

8Cited by
3References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 28, 1995
Grant dateOct 10, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 28, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB41C1/1075
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

In a computer-to-plate system, printing plates are loaded from their shipping container onto a drum, where they are exposed by a laser. As the plates are packed with paper sheets between them, a paper removal system followed by a capacitance probe is used. The capacitance probe detects any paper remaining on the front or back of the plate. The plate is gravity loaded onto the drum and is resting on two contact points identical in position to the contact points of plate punching equipment. The orthogonal edge of the plate is detected electronically, in order to fully register the image to the plate. Magnetic clamps hold the plate to the imaging drum.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.