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

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 another cassette.

1 .- 13 . (canceled)  
     
     
         14 . An automatic computer-to-plate platesetter for making plates comprising: 
 a digital file of an image;    a plurality of plate stacks, each plate stack having printing plates of a particular plate characteristic;    a plurality of plate support tables, wherein each of the support tables corresponds to and supports each plate stack;    an imaging engine that has an imaging drum and a laser to directly image the digital file onto a printing plate and a command generator in communication with the plate handler;    an elevator that automatically positions the plate support tables and plate stacks between lower and upper levels, wherein the elevator positions, in response to a signal from the command generator requesting a particular plate, a desired plate stack having a desired plate characteristic to an access level located between the upper and lower levels which permits access to the desired plate stack;    an automatic plate picker that automatically removes a first desired plate from the plate stack at the access level and delivers the first desired plate directly to the imaging engine wherein the imaging engine images the digital file onto the first desired plate to form an imaged plate; and    wherein the elevator positions the plate support tables to an intermediate level located between the lower and upper levels and supports the plate support tables for horizontal movement into and out of the elevator so that plate stacks may be placed on and removed from the plate support table.    
     
     
         15 . The computer-to-plate platesetter as set forth in  claim 14 , further comprising a front end in communication with the imaging engine for sending an input command that identifies the plate characteristic required by the digital file.  
     
     
         16 . The computer-to-plate platesetter as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the plate stacks are moved in a substantially vertical direction by the elevator.  
     
     
         17 . The computer-to-plate platesetter as set forth in  claim 14 , further comprising a slip sheet detector for detecting whether a slip sheet is present on top of the plate stack at the access level.  
     
     
         18 . The computer-to-plate platesetter as set forth in  claim 14 , further comprising a slip sheet removal mechanism for removing a slip sheet when present on top of the plate stack at the access level.  
     
     
         19 . The computer-to-plate platesetter as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the plate picker moves substantially horizontally with respect to the plate stack at the access level to transfer the first desired plate to the imaging engine.  
     
     
         20 . The computer-to-plate platesetter as set forth in  claim 14 , further including means for maintaining a light tight interior within the platesetter.  
     
     
         21 . The computer-to-plate platesetter as set forth in  claim 14 , further comprising printing plates which are photosensitive.  
     
     
         22 . The computer-to-plate platesetter as set forth in  claim 14 , further comprising printing plates which are thermal plates and imaged by the laser.  
     
     
         23 . The automatic computer-to-plate platesetter as set forth in  claim 14  wherein an actuator moves the plate picker towards the table so the plate picker may engage the desired plate.  
     
     
         24 . The automatic computer-to-plate platesetter as set forth in  claim 14  wherein an actuator moves at least one of the table and the plate picker in at least one of a vertical and horizontal direction towards each other so that the plate picker may engage the desired plate.  
     
     
         25 . The automatic computer-to-plate platesetter as set forth in  claim 14  wherein an actuator moves the plate picker in a generally horizontal direction towards the table so that the plate picker may engage the desired plate.