Method and an apparatus for individual transport of offset printing

Abstract

A method for individual transfer of offset printing plates from a magazine in which the plates are supported at their lower edges and stacked with their respective non-coated sides facing upwards, to a receiving table. The receiving table receives each plate with the non-coated side of the plate facing downwards. The uppermost plate of the stack is gripped by a gripping device engaging the non-coated side of the plate in such a manner that the plate is retained by the gripping means during the transfer to the receiving table. The gripping device is caused to engage the plate adjacent its upper edge, and during the movement away from the stack, the gripping device is initially moved along a path within or along a circle which has its center in the lower edge of the plate, and which has a radius corresponding to the distance between the lower edge of the plate and the engagement point of the gripping means with the plate when the plate is being gripped, until the plate retained by the gripping device is essentially in line contact at its lower edge with the plate situated immediately therebelow in the stack.