Punching station and method for a relief plate precursor

An apparatus for treating a relief plate precursor comprising:

• a transport system with at least one transport bar;
• a punching station configured for coupling an edge of a relief plate precursor to a transport bar of said at least one transport bar;
• said punching station comprising:
• a punching means comprising one or more penetration elements, said punching means being configured for arranging the one or more penetration elements in an edge portion of the relief plate precursor, so as to couple the edge portion of the relief plate precursor to said transport bar;
• abutment parts aligned with the punching means and configured for forming an abutment for the edge of the relief plate precursor, wherein the abutment parts comprise at least a first abutment part and a second abutment part, each of which is movably arranged, such that when the edge portion is correctly positioned at a first location the first abutment part is in a first position and when the edge portion is not correctly positioned at said first location the first abutment part is in a second position, and such that when the edge portion is correctly positioned at a second location the second abutment part is in a first position and when the edge portion is not correctly positioned at said second location the second abutment part is in a second position;
• a detection means configured to detect at said first location and said second location whether the edge portion of the relief plate precursor is correctly positioned against said first abutment part and against said second abutment part;
• a signalling means configured to communicate a signal to the punching means in function of the detection by the detection means;
• a hammer configured to arrange the one or more penetration elements in an edge portion of the relief plate precursor;
• a treatment compartment configured for treating the relief plate precursor.

A punching method for arranging one or more penetration elements of a transport bar in an edge portion of a relief plate precursor, said punching method being performed in a punching station, and comprising the steps of:

• bringing a relief plate precursor with a leading edge against at least a first abutment part and a second abutment part, each of which is movably arranged, such that when the edge portion is correctly positioned at a first location the first abutment part is in a first position and when the edge portion is not correctly positioned at said first location the first abutment part is in a second position, and such that when the edge portion is correctly positioned at a second location the second abutment part is in a first position and when the edge portion is not correctly positioned at said second location the second abutment part is in a second position;
• detecting at said first location and said second location whether the edge portion of the relief plate precursor is correctly positioned against said first abutment part and said second abutment part;
• communicating a signal in function of said detecting;
• arranging the one or more penetration elements in an edge portion of the relief plate precursor when a signal indicating a correct positioning at the first and the second location has been communicated, so as to couple the edge portion of the relief plate precursor to the transport bar.

A punching station for arranging one or more penetration elements in or through an edge portion of a relief plate precursor or for arranging one or more perforations in an edge portion of a relief plate precursor, said punching station comprising:

• one or more penetration elements or perforating elements arranged next to each other,
• a hammer configured for arranging the one or more penetration elements or perforating elements through or in an edge portion of the relief plate precursor;
• a first alignment pin and a second alignment pin aligned with said one or more penetration elements or perforating elements and arranged such that they extend along the edge portion of the relief plate precursor, wherein the first and the second alignment pins are pivotable around a horizontal axis from a first position to a second position and vice versa, such that when the edge portion contacts said first and second alignment pins, said first and second alignment pins pivot from the second position into the first position;
• a first detector and a second detector configured to detect whether said first alignment pin and said second alignment pin have pivoted, respectively;
• a signalling means configured to trigger the hammer when a pivoting movement of the first and second alignment pins has been detected by the first and second detector.