# US 7,610,854 B2 · Imaging system and method for loading a printing plate > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,610,854 B2 - Document ID: US7610854B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/542,490 - Filed: 2006-10-03 - Published: 2007-04-19 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2005-10-04 - Assignees: Punch Graphix International N.V. - Inventors: Bart Marc Luc Wattyn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7610854B2 ## CPC - B41C 1/00: Forme preparation - B65H 3/40: by two or more separators acting alternately on the same pile (rotary or oscillating bodies carrying two or more separators B65H3/42) - B41C 1/05: Heat-generating engraving heads, e.g. laser beam, electron beam - B41C 1/10: for lithographic printing; Master sheets for transferring a lithographic image to the forme {(chemical or electrical pretreatment B41N3/03)}(neutralising or similar differentiation treatments of lithographic printing formes B41N3/08) - B65H 2301/423245: the pile lying on a stationary support, i.e. the separator moving according to the decreasing height of the pile - B65H 2511/15: Height, e.g. of stack - B65H 2511/20: Location in space - B65H 2701/18264: Pile of alternate articles of different properties, e.g. pile of working sheets with intermediate sheet between each working sheet - B65H 2701/1928: Printing plate - B41C: PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES (photomechanical processes for producing printing surfaces G03F; photoelectrical processes for producing printing surfaces G03G) - B65H: HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES ## Abstract An imaging system for performing a computer-to-plate imaging process on printing plates includes a plate imaging bed for exposing radiation to a printing plate. The bed includes an input section for receiving a printing plate and an output section for transferring the printing plate to a chemical processing unit. The system further comprises a loading device for loading the printing plate from a multiple plate stack to the input section of the plate imaging bed. The input section is adjustable with respect to the output section to adjust the position of the input section to near the top of the multiple plate stack. The latter is accomplished in a preferred embodiment by providing the plate imaging bed with a pivot axle near the output section. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An imaging system for performing a computer-to-plate imaging process on printing plates, comprising: a plate imaging bed for exposing radiation to a printing plate, the plate imaging bed being provided with an input section for receiving a printing plate from a multiple plate stack and an output section for transferring the printing plate to a processing unit, said plate imaging bed being pivotable about a pivoting axis to adjust a position of the input section relative to the output section; and a loading device for loading the printing plate from the multiple plate stack to the input section of the plate imaging bed, wherein the input section of the plate imaging bed is adjustable with respect to the output section to adjust the position of the input section to near the top of the multiple plate stack by pivoting the plate imaging bed about the pivoting axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the pivoting axle is arranged near the output section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An imaging system according to claim 1 wherein the plate imaging bed forms a stiff lever arm. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An imaging system according to claim 1, comprising a position adjusting device engaging the plate imaging bed remote from the pivoting axle for positioning the input section near the top of the multiple plate stack. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) An imaging system according to claim 4 wherein the position adjusting device comprises an actuator mechanism. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An imaging system according to claim 1, wherein the loading device comprises a printing plate loader and a paper gripper. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) An imaging system according to claim 6, wherein the printing plate loader and/or the paper gripper are movable along the plate imaging bed between the input section and the output section. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) An imaging system according to claim 6, wherein the printing plate loader comprises a vacuum loader. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A method for loading a printing plate from a multiple plate stack to an input section of a plate imaging bed in an imaging system as claimed in claim 1 for performing a computer-to-plate imaging process on printing plates, the method comprising adjusting the position of the input section to near the top of the multiple plate stack. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A method according to claim 9, further comprising gripping an interleave paper that is positioned between subsequent printing plates. ### Claim 11 An imaging system for performing a computer-to-plate imaging process on printing plates, comprising: a plate imaging bed for exposing radiation to a printing plate, wherein the plate imaging bed forms a stiff lever arm, the bed being provided with an input section for receiving a printing plate, an output section for transferring the printing plate to a processing unit, the plate imaging bed including a pivoting axle arranged near the output section for pivoting the plate imaging bed; a loading device for loading the printing plate from a multiple plate stack to the input section of the plate imaging bed, wherein the input section is adjustable with respect to the output section to adjust the vertical position of the input section to near the top of the multiple plate stack, the loading device comprising a printing plate loader and a paper gripper, wherein the printing plate loader comprises a vacuum loader; and a position adjusting device engaging the plate imaging bed remote from the pivoting axle for positioning the input section near the top of the multiple plate stack, wherein the position adjusting device comprises an actuator mechanism.