Photosensitive printing plate automatic feeding apparatus and method

A photosensitive printing plate automatic feeding apparatus comprising:

• a storage shelf on which is placed a bundle comprising a predetermined plural number of photosensitive printing plates stacked together, the storage shelf including a shelf member on which is placed an end portion of the bundle of photosensitive printing plates and a support base disposed diagonally such that the photosensitive printing plates diagonally rest on the storage shelf, with the photosensitive printing plates having the characteristic that transport and storage are possible in a state where the photosensitive printing plates have been stacked together such that back sides of the photosensitive printing plates being in direct contact with photosensitive surfaces on front sides of the photosensitive printing plates;
• takeout means that separates and takes out the photosensitive printing plates one plate at a time from the bundle of photosensitive printing plates placed on the storage shelf;
• a primary conveyor belt winding mechanism including a primary conveyor belt disposed along a conveyance path on which the photosensitive printing plate taken out by the takeout means is conveyed to an exposure apparatus;
• a secondary conveyor belt winding mechanism including a secondary conveyor belt that presses and retains the photosensitive printing plate against the primary conveyor belt;
• an intermediate roller disposed such that the primary conveyor belt and the secondary conveyor belt meet at a conveyance-direction upstream side;
• and
• a leading end roller disposed to set a guide range in which the leading end of the photosensitive printing plate taken out by the takeout means strikes the primary conveyor belt extending from the intermediate roller.

A photosensitive printing plate automatic feeding apparatus comprising:

• a light-shielding cassette to which an open/close lid portion is attached such that the open/close lid portion can be opened and closed, the light-shielding cassette accommodating a bundle comprising a predetermined plural number of photosensitive printing plates stacked together, the photosensitive printing plates having the characteristic that transport and storage are possible in a state where the photosensitive printing plates have been stacked together with back sides of the photosensitive printing plates being in direct contact with photosensitive surfaces on front sides of the photosensitive printing plates;
• a pedestal member disposed inside the light-shielding cassette such that the bundle of the photosensitive printing plates is placed on the pedestal member;
• a conveyance height adjusting mechanism that causes an operation portion to extend through an operation-use opening disposed in the light-shielding cassette and push up the pedestal member in a state where the light-shielding cassette has been connected to the automatic feeding apparatus with the open/close lid portion opened;
• a takeout-use roller that rollingly contacts and takes out the uppermost photosensitive printing plate placed on the pedestal member;
• a primary conveyor belt winding mechanism including a primary conveyor belt disposed along a conveyance path on which the photosensitive printing plate taken out by the takeout-use roller is conveyed to an exposure apparatus;
• a secondary conveyor belt winding mechanism including a secondary conveyor belt that presses and retains the photosensitive printing plate against the primary conveyor belt;
• an intermediate roller disposed such that the primary conveyor belt and the secondary conveyor belt meet at a conveyance-direction upstream side;
• and
• a leading end roller disposed to set a guide range in which the leading end of the photosensitive printing plate taken out by the takeout-use roller strikes the primary conveyor belt extending from the intermediate roller.

An apparatus that automatically feeds photosensitive printing plates having the characteristic that transport and storage are possible in a state where the photosensitive printing plates have been stacked together with back sides of the photosensitive printing plates being in direct contact with photosensitive surfaces on front sides of the photosensitive printing plates, the apparatus comprising:

• a storage member that accommodates a bundle comprising a plural number of the photosensitive printing plates stacked together without slip sheets;
• a takeout member that separates and takes out the photosensitive printing plates from the bundle one plate at a time;
• and
• a conveyance member that conveys the taken-out photosensitive printing plates to an exposure apparatus,
• wherein the conveyance member includes plural rollers and an endless belt wound around the rollers, the conveyance member being configured such that leading ends of the photosensitive printing plates taken out by the takeout member strike the endless belt and are conveyed to the exposure apparatus by the endless belt.

A method of automatically feeding and developing photosensitive printing plates having the characteristic that transport and storage are possible in a state where the photosensitive printing plates have been stacked together with back sides of the photosensitive printing plates being in direct contact with photosensitive surfaces on front sides of the photosensitive printing plates, the method comprising the steps of:

• accommodating a bundle comprising a plural number of the photosensitive printing plates stacked together without slip sheets;
• separating and taking out the photosensitive printing plates from the bundle one plate at a time;
• and
• conveying the taken-out photosensitive printing plates to an exposure apparatus.