System and method for slip sheet evacuation

Abstract

A system and method for slip sheet disposal from a plate imaging device or printing device comprises a slip sheet dispensing means configured for dispensing the slip sheets from the plate imaging device and an air release module configured to apply air flow between the slip sheets and the slip sheet sliding tray during the slip sheets dispensing from the plate imaging device or printing device.

1 . A system for facilitating slip sheets disposal using air flow, the system being operatively associated with a plate stack comprising plates separated by slip sheets, the system comprising:
 a slip sheet clamp and a roller arranged in cooperation to pull a slip sheet from the plate stack and slide it on top of a slip sheet sliding tray;   an air release module operatively associated with the slip sheet sliding tray, wherein a slip sheet dispensing means is arranged to dispense the slip sheet from the plate stack and slide it on top of the slip sheet sliding tray; and   wherein the air release module is arranged to output air flow between the top of the slip sheet sliding tray and the slip sheet thus facilitating the sliding of the slip sheet over the slip sheet sliding tray.   
   
   
       2 . (canceled) 
   
   
       3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the air release module comprises an air compression module coupled to an air dispensing means. 
   
   
       4 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the air compression module is internal. 
   
   
       5 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the air compression module is external. 
   
   
       6 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the air dispensing means is a conduit located and shaped such that air flow is outputted as an air jet in the direction of the sliding of the slip sheet. 
   
   
       7 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein the air dispersion means further comprises an air nozzle. 
   
   
       8 . The system according to  claim 6 , wherein the conduit end as narrower than the conduit. 
   
   
       9 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the conduit end exhibits an aperture of an ellipsoidal shape. 
   
   
       10 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the air dispersion means comprises a plurality of openings located on the top surface of the slip sheet sliding tray and wherein the air compression module is arranged to output an air flow through the plurality of openings. 
   
   
       11 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the slip sheet sliding tray is a straight surface. 
   
   
       12 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the top surface of the slip sheet sliding tray is a curved surface. 
   
   
       13 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the top surface of the slip sheet sliding tray is a combination of a straight and a curved surface. 
   
   
       14 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the system is incorporated within an imaging device. 
   
   
       15 . The systems according to  claim 1 , wherein the system is incorporated within a computer-to-plate imaging device. 
   
   
       16 . A method of facilitation sliding of a slip sheet from a plate stack over a tray within an imaging device, the method comprising:
 dispensing a slip sheet from a plate stack;   sliding the slip sheet over the tray; and   outputting air flow between the slip sheet and the tray.   
   
   
       17 . (canceled) 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein outputting of air flow between the slip sheet and the tray is in the direction parallel to the sliding direction of the slip sheet. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein outputting of air flow between the slip sheet and the tray is in the direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the slip sheet.