Method and apparatus for making lithographic printing plates in an automated computer to plate imaging system

A method for making printing plates in an automated platesetting system, comprising the steps of:

• a. receiving a job in an imaging engine of a platesetting system;
• b. informing a plate handler in the platesetter of a plate size required by the job in the imaging engine;
• c. automatically positioning a plurality of stacks of plates stored in the plate handler to place a stack of the plate size required by the job in an access position relative to the imaging engine;
• d. automatically removing a single plate from the stack of plates in the access position and delivering the plate to the imaging engine;
• e. imaging the job onto the plate in the engine;
• and
• f. processing the imaged plate in a processing device.

An apparatus for making printing plates in an automated computer to plate imaging system, comprising:

• a. a front end server containing a digital fie representing an image to be printed;
• b. a RIP connected to the front end server and processing the digital file received from the front end server into a job to be outputted;
• c. an automated platesetter connected to the RIP comprising a plate handler and an imaging engine, said RIP sending the processed job to the imaging engine to be outputted, and said imaging engine having means for requesting a plate of a particular size required by the job from the plate handler wherein the imaging engine images the job onto the plate;
• d. an elevator mechanism for automatically positioning a plurality of stacks of plates stored in the plate handler to place a stack of the plate size required by the job in an access position relative to the imaging engine;
• e. a picker for automatically removing a single plate from the stack of plates in the access position and delivering the plate to the imaging engine;
• f. a processing device for processing the imaged plate.

An apparatus for making printing plates in an automated platesetting system, comprising:

• a. an automated platesetter comprising a plate handier and an imaging engine, said imaging engine having means for requesting a plate of a particular size required by a job from the plate handier wherein the imaging engine images the job onto the plate;
• b. an elevator mechanism for automatically positioning a plurality of stacks of plates stored in the plate handler to place a stack of the plate size required by the job in an access position relative to the imaging engine;
• c. a picker for automatically removing a single plate from the stack of plates in the access position and delivering the plate to the imaging engine;
• d. a processing device for processing the imaged plate.