Automatic printing plate feeding system

Abstract

An automatic plate feeding system for loading plates of various sizes into a printing plate imaging device, which includes a plurality of trays staggered one on top of the other is provided. At least two of the trays contain plates of different sizes stacked with their sensitive side downward. Separation papers are interposed between the plates. The automatic plate feeding system includes suction cups, which touch the non-sensitive surface of the plate, and a loading mechanism for loading plates from the trays and feeding the loaded plates to the imaging device.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Automatic plate feeding system comprising: 
 a plurality of trays staggered one on top of the other; and    a loading unit to load plates from said plurality of trays and to feed said plates to an imaging device, said loading unit comprising at least one sensor capable of distinguishing between said plates and separation papers interposed there between.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said loading unit comprises: 
 a horizontal bar rotatable around its longitudinal axis and having one or more suction cups attached thereto to pick up said plates.    
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said horizontal bar further comprises grippers to grip said separation papers.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said loading unit further comprises: 
 two vertical rails to carry said horizontal bar, said vertical rails movable in a horizontal direction perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.    
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said horizontal bar is movable in a vertical direction.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said loading unit further comprises: 
 two vertical rails to carry said horizontal bar, said vertical rails rotatable about an axis parallel to and below said longitudinal axis.    
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a control unit coupled to said imaging device activates said loading unit.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a paper bin having dimensions exceeding the dimensions of the largest of said plates.    
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said paper bin is positioned below the lowest of said trays.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  1  further comprising: 
 one or more rails positioned below the lowest of said trays to carry a shipping container filled with imaging plates, wherein a top surface of said container is removed.  
 
     
     
         11 . The system of  1  further comprising: 
 two or more paper bins; and  
 one or more rails positioned below the lowest of said trays to carry said paper bins.  
 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising: 
 positioning a loading unit having one or more suction cups and one or more grippers attached thereto in proximity to one of a plurality of staggered trays each having plates with separation papers interposed therebetween;    activating a sensor to determine if a surface directly below said suction cups is a surface of one of said plates; and if so    lifting said one of said plates with said suction cups.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 arranging said plates within said trays such that a non-sensitive surface of each of said plates is facing upward.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 positioning said suction cups onto a non-sensitive surface of said one of said plates.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising: 
 when said sensor determined that said surface directly below said suction cups is a surface of one of said separation papers, gripping said one of said papers; and  
 disposing said one of said separation papers into a disposal bin.  
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein disposing said paper comprises spreading said paper in said bin.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 when said disposal bin is filled with said papers, automatically moving said disposal bin to advance an additional disposal bin to a predefined position.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 positioning in a staggered manner below the lowest of said trays said plates a shipping container filled with additional plates such that a non-sensitive surface of each of said additional plates is facing upward; and    removing the top surface of said packaging container.