Esko-graphics Imaging Gmbh

Esko-graphics A/s

Jörg Koberg

Jörg Wolterink

Stefan Wellendorf

Pascal F M Thomas

Jürgen Andresen

Christian Diekmann

Pascal FM Thomas

A plate handling system () for transporting printing plates between workstations in a process workflow. A plurality of vacuum gripper end effectors () configured to grip the printing plates are mounted to a computer-controlled transporter () configured to translate in at least three orthogonal directions and to rotate about at least one rotational axis. At least one sensor () detects orientation of the plate relative to a staging location and a controller () causes the transporter to move based upon programmed instructions in accordance with information provided by the sensor. A mobile preparation table () may be provided in the staging location. A thickness measurement system () may be included in some embodiments.

Transport system and method for printing plates

Apparatus and methods for attaching flexible or magnetic plates onto an imaging cylinder are provided. A drum apparatus of an imaging device includes an imaging cylinder having an outer surface and a magnetic foil attachable to the outer surface of the imaging cylinder. In a configuration with the magnetic foil attached to the outer surface of the imaging cylinder, at least one metal back plate can be attached to the imaging cylinder via magnetic coupling to the magnetic foil. In a configuration without the magnetic foil attached to the outer surface of the imaging cylinder, at least one flexographic plate can be attached to the imaging cylinder.

Method and apparatus for attaching flexographic and metal back plates on an imaging cylinder

An apparatus and method for positioning and aligning one or more pre-punched printing plates on a cylinder for imaging a plate in a computer-to-plate drum imaging device. The apparatus includes an imaging cylinder and a registration device connectable to the cylinder. The apparatus includes at least one groove and one pair of register pins, with a first register pin in a fixed position, and a second register pin movable in the groove to a second position, and collinear with the first register pin in the axial direction of the cylinder, arranged such that when connected to the cylinder, the registration device allows a plurality of pre-punched printing plates with variable widths to be positioned and aligned on the cylinder with simplicity.

Method and apparatus to position and align pre-punched printing plates on an imaging cylinder

An apparatus for and a method of loading and unloading of plates to and from an imager. The apparatus includes a loading area holding one single or a plurality of plates and an unloading area holding a single plate, the areas arranged vertically. The plate includes ultraviolet curable material. The apparatus includes a control system configured when in operation to control the automated loading and unloading and the apparatus elements therefor. One fully automatic version includes automatic loading from a stack or set of plate magazines and in the case that the plate includes a protective sheet thereon, includes removing the protective sheet from the plate. Some versions also include one or more ultraviolet sources to irradiate the flexographic plates with ultraviolet radiation during the automated loading and/or unloading. The ultraviolet sources are controlled by the same control system.

Method and apparatus for loading and unloading flexographic plates for computer-to-plate imaging including separate loading and unloading areas

An imaging cylinder includes a clamping device embodiment with a pair of independent adjacent clamping elements, and a method embodiment includes placing end edges of a flexible plate between each of the clamping elements of the clamping device and a surface approximately flush with the outer surface of the cylinder. One or more biasing devices, e.g., springs are used to impart a force onto the placed plate towards the surface approximately flush with outer surface of the cylinder. For each independent clamping element, a crank and lever mechanism or other means to translate rotative motion to approximately rectilinear motion is used to open a space between the clamping element and the outer surface when a rotative force is manually applied to provide for mounting and unmounting an end of a plate.

Clamping device, system and method for clamping flexible plates onto an imaging cylinder

A cylindrically-shaped tube fitting over a cylindrically-shaped base body rotatable around an axis of rotation. The tube has a cylindrically-shaped inner surface defining a hollow region, a cylindrically-shaped outer surface, a first end, and a second end. The base body is arranged to fit either a sleeve or the tube. The outer surface includes vacuum grooves or a plate clamping system or both, and arranged to secure a flexible sheet of material around the outer surface of the tube.

Plate drum loadable as a sleeve for an imaging device

A clamping device, a cylinder including a clamping device, and a method for clamping a plate onto the outer surface of the cylinder. The clamping device includes a base body extending in the axial direction and fixed to, or incorporated into the cylinder. The clamping device also includes a clamping element extending in the axial direction. The clamping device also includes a lifting bar located in the interior of the base body and coupled to the clamping element by at least one guiding shaft. The lifting bar being movable in a first radial direction to move the clamping element away from the outer surface of the cylinder to form a gap between the outer surface and the clamping element. The lifting bar also is movable in the radial direction opposite the first radial direction to close the gap formed between the outer surface of the cylinder and the clamping element. The clamping device also includes a mechanism to impart and maintain compressive force between the clamping element and the outer surface of the cylinder such that any gap formed is maintained closed unless forcibly opened. The apparatus is arranged such that when the gap is formed by moving the lifting bar in the first radial direction, the edge of a flexible plate can be placed in the gap, and such that when the gap is closed, the plate is maintained clamped onto the outer edge of the cylinder.

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Itzehoe, Germany

Jörg Koberg