Interleaf removal apparatus, plate feed apparatus and image recording system
AssigneeDainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
InventorHiroshi Miyoshi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A stack of alternating plates and interleaves are stored in a cassette of a plate feed apparatus. An interleaf is removed from the stack by a plurality of vertically moving suction cups. There are cases where a plate is attached to the back surface of the interleaf during the removal. Lifting up the plurality of suction cups being reciprocated horizontally causes the plate attached to the interleaf to drop off.
Claims8
An interleaf removal apparatus for removing an interleaf from at least one stack of alternating plates and interleaves, said interleaf removal apparatus comprising:
- (a) a support;
- (b) a plurality of suction cups for holding and fixing an interleaf under suction,
- said plurality of suction cups including a plurality of fixed suction cups fixed to said support and a plurality of movable suction cups movably supported by said support, and being arranged linearly such that said plurality of movable suction cups are interposed between said plurality of fixed suction cups;
- (c) a lifting element for vertically moving said plurality of suction cups together with said support with respect to said at least one stack;
- (d) a suction element for causing said plurality of suction cups to exert suction;
- and
- (e) a suction cup moving element having a belt for moving said plurality of movable suction cups toward and away from said plurality of fixed suction cups in a direction substantially parallel to a top surface of said at least one stack.
A plate feed apparatus for feeding a plate to a recording apparatus for forming an image on said plate, said plate feed apparatus comprising:
- (a) a storage part for storing therein at least one stack of alternating plates and interleaves;
- and
- (b) an interleaf removal mechanism for removing an interleaf from said at least one stack, said interleaf removal mechanism including:
- (b-1) a support;
- (b-2) a plurality of suction cups for holding and fixing said interleaf under suction, said plurality of suction cups including a plurality of fixed suction cups fixed to said support and a plurality of movable suctions cups movable supported by said support, and being arranged linearly such that said plurality of movable suction cups are interposed between said plurality of fixed suction cups;
- (b-3) a lifting element for vertically moving said plurality of suction cups together with said support with respect to said at least one stack;
- (b-4) a suction element for causing said plurality of suction cups to exert suction;
- and
- (b-5) a suction cup moving element having a belt for moving said plurality of movable suction cups toward and away from said plurality of fixed suction cups in a direction substantially parallel to a top surface of said stack.
An image recording system comprising:
- an image recording apparatus for recording an image on a plate;
- and
- a plate feed apparatus for feeding said plate to said image recording apparatus, said plate feed apparatus including:
- (a) a storage part for storing therein at least one stack of alternating plates and interleaves;
- and
- (b) an interleaf removal mechanism for removing an interleaf from said at least one stack, said interleaf removal mechanism including:
- (b-1) a support;
- (b-2) a plurality of suction cups for holding and fixing said interleaf under suction, said plurality of suction cups including a plurality of fixed suction cups fixed to said support and a plurality of movable suctions cups movably supported by said support, and being arranged linearly such that said plurality of movable suction cups are interposed between said plurality of fixed suction cups;
- (b-3) a lifting element for vertically moving said plurality of suction cups together with said support with respect to said at least one stack;
- (b-4) a suction element for causing said plurality of suction cups to exert suction;
- and
- (b-5) a suction cup moving element having a belt for moving said plurality of movable suction cups toward and away from said plurality of fixed suction cups in a direction substantially parallel to a top surface of said at least one stack.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.