Apparatus and method for picking a single printing plate from a stack of printing plates
US6675712B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 5, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jan 13, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 5, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65H2701/1928
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method for picking a single printing plate from a stack of printing plates. The apparatus includes a plurality of suction cups, a peeler, a drive system for displacing the suction cups and the peeler against the surface of the top printing plate on the stack, a vacuum source for supplying a vacuum to the suction cups to secure the suction cups against the surface of the top printing plate, and a system for rotatably displacing the suction cups relative to the peeler to peel a portion of the top printing plate off of the stack. The center line of rotation of the displacing system is located at a contact point between the peeler and the surface of the top printing plate. This prevents any relative motion of the top printing plate against the next, underlying printing plate on the stack during the peeling operation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.