Apparatus for loading and unloading a supply of plates in an automated plate handler

US6726433B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Agfa NV · BE

Inventors

• Laurence S. Blake · Peabody, US
• Philip A. Rombult · Bradford, US
• Libor Krupica · Nashua, US
• David B. Larsen · Woburn, US
• James C. Folsom · Sanford, US
• Ross A. Freeman · Somersworth, US
• Roger A. Jacques · Rochester, US
• Robert S. Ring · Rochester, US
• Gerald L. Smith · Broomfield, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 13, 2000
• Grant date: Apr 27, 2004
• Expiry date: Jul 13, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G03F7/24
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for positioning a plurality of cassettes within an automated printing plate handler. In a plate handler, a plurality of cassettes each contain a supply of printing plates for delivery to an automatic plate-recording device. The apparatus includes a separate support table for supporting each of the plurality of cassettes within the plate handler and an elevator device for moving each of the support tables along a vertical axis of the automated plate handler. The automated plate handler is configured to automatically position a selected cassette in a first position to facilitate removal of the cassette from the handler. The plate handler further includes a platform, which substantially forms an extension of the support table supporting the selected cassette in the first position. The platform provides a second position, at which the selected cassette is to be one of, loaded or unloaded. The selected cassette may be filled with a new supply of plates on the platform or the selected cassette may be removed from the platform and replaced by a another cassette.