Printing plate processing machine

Claim 2

In a printing plate processing machine: (a) a loading station for receiving a loading stack of alternately disposed printing plates and plate-separating paper sheets, (b) a first conveyor means for receiving the printing plates, (c) a second conveyor means for receiving the plate-separating paper sheets, (d) feed means selectively transporting the plates and paper sheets alternately from the loading stack toward the first and second conveyor means, (e) plate and paper sheet diverting means between the first and second conveyor means for alternately delivering the plates to the first conveyor means and the paper sheets to the second conveyor means, (f) plate-processing means for processing the plates after disposition on the first conveyor means, and (g) a collecting station for receiving the same plates and same paper sheets from the first and second conveyor means respectively and for disposing the plates and paper sheets alternately in a single collecting stack after processing of the plates.

Claim 3

A printing plate processing machine as defined in claim 1, in which: (h) the feed means includes: 1. a fluid-operated cylinder and ram, the ram being movable selectively between an extended position and a retracted position, 2. plate and paper sheet gripping means carried on the ram, and 3. operating means placing the gripping means selectively and alternately into gripping engagement with the plates and paper sheets in the loading stack when the ram is in one of said positions, the gripping means transporting the plates and paper sheets alternately from the loading stack and toward the first and second conveyor means as the ram moves toward the other said position.

Claim 4

A printing plate processing machine as defined in claim 1: (h) the feed means includes a first fluid-operated cylinder and ram, the cylinder being pivotally mounted and the ram being movable selectively between an extended position over the stack of plates and paper sheets at the loading station, and a retracted position, (i) plate and sheet gripping means carried on the ram, and (j) a second fluid-operated cylinder and ram operatively connected to the said first cylinder for pivoting the first cylinder and moving the gripping means selectively and alternately into gripping engagement with the plates and paper sheets when the ram is in the extended position, the gripping means transporting the plates and paper sheets alternately from the loading stack and toward the first and second conveyor means as the ram moves toward the retracted position, the gripping means being releasable from the plates and paper sheets when the ram is in the retracted position.

Claim 5

A printing plate processing machine as defined in claim 1, in which: (h) the diverting means includes a baffle selectively located in one position for directing plates on to the first conveyor means, and selectively located in another position for enabling movement of the paper sheets on to the second conveyor means, and (i) the diverting means includes a blower selectively discharging an air stream against the baffle to move the baffle to said other position.

Claim 6

A printing plate processing machine as defined in claim 4, in which: (j) the blower selectively discharges the same air stream against the paper sheets to urge the paper sheets past the baffle when in said other position and on to the second conveyor means.

Claim 7

A printing plate processing machine as defined in claim 3, in which: (h) the diverting means includes a baffle selectively located in one position for directing plates on to the first conveyor means, and selectively located in another position for enabling movement of the paper sheets on to the second conveyor means, (i) the diverting means includes a blower selectively discharging an air stream against the baffle to move the baffle to said other position, and (j) the blower is carried by the first cylinder.

Claim 8

A printing plate processing machine as defined in claim 1, in which: (h) the first conveyor means and second conveyor means are relatively spaced, (i) the diverting means includes: 1. a passage having an entrance between the loading station and the first conveyor means, and having an exit communicating with the second conveyor means, and 2. a baffle rotatively mounted on a rotative axis substantially in the passage entrance, the baffle being selectively located in one position to effectively close the passage entrance and direct the plates on to the first conveyor means, and selectively located in another position to effectively open the passage entrance for movement of the paper sheets through the passage entrance and on to the second conveyor means, (j) the baffle engages and directs the sheets through the passage entrance, and (k) the diverting means include a blower located above the passage entrance and the baffle for discharging an air stream against both the paper sheets and the baffle at one side of the rotative axis to move the baffle to the other position to effectively open the passage entrance, and to urge the paper sheets through the passage entrance and passage, and on to the second conveyor means.

Claim 9

A printing plate processing machine as defined in claim 7, in which: (l) the baffle is counterbalanced to move to the said one position when the air stream from the blower against the baffle is selectively terminated.

Claim 10

A printing plate processing machine as defined in claim 7, in which: (l) the feed means includes: 1. a fluid-operating cylinder and ram, the ram being movable selectively between an extended position and a retracted position,

Claim 11

plate and sheet gripping means carried on the ram, and 3. operating means placing the gripping means selectively and alternately into gripping engagement with the plates and paper sheets when the ram is in the extended position, the gripping means transporting the plates and paper sheets alternately from the loading stack toward the first and second conveyor means as the ram moves toward the retracted position, and releasing the gripping means from the plates and paper sheets when the ram is in the retracted position, and (m) the blower is carried by the fluid operated cylinder and discharges an air stream selectively against the paper sheets as the paper sheets are transported by the gripping means from the loading station as the ram moves toward the retracted position.

Claim 12

plate and sheet gripping means carried on the ram, and 3. operating means placing the gripping means selectively and alternately into gripping engagement with the plates and paper sheets when the ram is in the extended position, the gripping means transporting the plates and paper sheets alternately from the loading stack toward the first and second conveyor means as the ram moves toward the retracted position, and releasing the gripping means from the plates and paper sheets when the ram is in the retracted position, and (m) the blower is carried by the fluid operated cylinder and discharges an air stream selectively against the paper sheets as the paper sheets are transported by the gripping means from the loading station as the ram moves toward the retracted position.

Claim 13

A printing plate processing machine as defined in claim 1, in which: (h) the feed-means includes: 1. a first fluid-operated cylinder and ram, the cylinder being pivotally mounted, and the ram being movable selectively between and extended position over the stack of alternately disposed plates and paper sheets at the loading station, and a retracted position, 2. plate and sheet gripping means carried on the ram, and 3. a second fluid-operated cylinder and ram operatively connected to the said first cylinder and ram for pivoting the first cylinder and ram and placing the gripping means selectively and alternately into gripping engagement with the plates and paper sheets in the loading stack when the ram is in the extended position, and for pivoting the first cylinder and ram for raising the gripped plates and paper sheets alternately from the loading stack, the gripping means transporting the plates and paper sheets from the loading stack and toward the first and second conveyor means as the ram of the first cylinder and ram moves toward the retracted position, and the gripping means selectively releasing the plates and paper sheets when the ram of the first cylinder ram is in the retracted position. (i) the first conveyor means is located in spaced relation above the second conveyor means, (j) the diverting means includes: 1. a passage having an entrance between the loading station and the first conveyor means, and having an exit communicating with the second conveyor means, 2. a baffle rotatively mounted on a rotative axis substantially at the passage entrance, the baffle being selectively located in one rotated position to effectively close the passage entrance and direct plates on to the first conveyor means as the ram of the first cylinder and ram moves toward the retracted position, and selectively open the passage entrance and for movement of the paper sheets through the passage entrance and on to the second conveyor means as the ram of the first cylinder and ram moves toward its retracted position, and 3. a blower carried by the cylinder of the first cylinder and ram and located above the entrance passage and baffle for discharging an air stream against both the paper sheets and the baffle at one side of the rotative axis to move the baffle to the said other rotated position to effectively open the passage entrance and for urging the paper sheets through the passage entrance and the passage, and on to the second conveyor means as the paper sheets are transported by the gripping means from the loading station as the ram of the first cylinder and ram moves toward the retracted position.