JPH0315737B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an exposure apparatus, and more particularly to an exposure apparatus suitable for continuously exposing a large-sized photosensitive material for a printing plate.

For example, PS plates (photosensitive materials for offset printing, in which a photosensitive resin is coated on an aluminum substrate) are used as photosensitive materials for large-sized printing plates such as those used in newspaper printing. is desired.

When handling PS plates mechanically, in order to match the processing speed of the next process, such as the development process, there was a demand for the exposure equipment to be able to perform printing and exposure as continuously as possible. .

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to be suitable for continuous exposure of large-sized photosensitive materials for printing plates, and to reduce the floor space occupied by the exposure device. An object of the present invention is to provide an exposure apparatus having a compact structure.

The above objects of the present invention include: an exposure section having an exposure means for exposing a photosensitive material; a supply section for the photosensitive material;
An exposure apparatus comprising a transport/positioning means for transporting the photosensitive material set in the supply section and positioning it in the exposure section, and a transport means for sending the exposed photosensitive material from the exposure section to the next step, The supply section and the exposure section are provided on the front side of the present exposure apparatus, and the supply section is provided so as to be located substantially directly below the exposure section, and the transfer/positioning means is configured to move the plurality of sheets set in the supply section. A mechanism for separating and adsorbing one of the uppermost layers of photosensitive material and taking it out, and a mechanism for transferring the taken out photosensitive material backward and upward, and then aligning the transfer direction of the photosensitive material that has been transferred backward and diagonally upward to a substantially horizontal plane. and a mechanism for transferring the photosensitive material to the exposure section and positioning the photosensitive material with respect to the exposure means, and the transfer means transfers the exposed photosensitive material from the exposure section to the next one. Exposure characterized by having a mechanism that guides and moves the photosensitive material toward a second transfer path arranged above the transfer path parallel to the transfer path of the transfer/positioning means in the process of sending the photosensitive material to the process. This is accomplished by a device.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a right side view schematically showing an outline of a PS plate exposure apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view thereof. The configuration of the apparatus of this embodiment will be explained below based on both figures.

There is a PS plate supply section (hereinafter simply referred to as "supply section") 10 at the lower front of the apparatus. Supply section 10
The PS version loaded on the transportable trolley can be set as is. It also has a lift-up mechanism that maintains the top layer at a constant position even when the amount of PS plate remaining is low.

Above the supply section 10, there is a plate feeding mechanism 20 that takes out PS plates one by one. The plate feeding mechanism 20 includes a plurality of suction cups 21A, 21B, 21C, and 21D and a plurality of air cylinders AC1, AC2, and AC that move these up and down.
3 and PS plate separation air outlet 22A, 22B
A take-out part 23 having a
It is configured to be movable in the direction of arrow A in the figure) by a motor M1.

At the rear of the plate feeding mechanism 20, there is a plate feeding conveyor 25 that receives the PS plate sent out from the plate feeding mechanism 20 and transports it rearward and diagonally upward. The nip rollers 26A, 26B of the receiving section and the conveyor section 25 are driven by the same motor M2.

Diagonally above and behind the plate feeding conveyor 25 is a plate feeding conveyor 30 which has the function of changing the direction of the PS plate. The plate feeding conveyor 30 is centered on the axis B.
It is swingable as shown by arrow C in the figure. This swinging motion is executed by air cylinder AC4.
Further, the plate feeding conveyor 30 is provided with a preliminary adjustment mechanism for the PS plate position. This pre-adjustment mechanism is
The forward and backward position of the plate is determined by the movement of the conveyor and the contact with the pin, and the left and right position is determined by the air cylinder.
This will be corrected by AC5.

Before the plate feeding conveyor 30 (PS to the exposure section 40)
There is a guide plate 35 on the other side (based on the plate transport direction). The guide plate 35 is swingable between a position 35 shown in solid lines in FIG. 1 and a position 35' shown in phantom lines. This swinging motion is executed by air cylinder AC19.

An exposure section 40 is provided on the forward side of the guide plate 35 in the transport direction and above the supply section. Details of the exposure section will be described later, but first the plate supply carrier 45 that supplies the PS plate to the exposure section will be explained.

The plate feeding carrier 45 has a plurality of suction cups 46A, 46
B, . . . , the carrier attracts and transfers the right end of the PS plate, and is configured to be able to reciprocate between the exposure section 40 and the plate feeding conveyor 30 by a motor M4.

The exposure unit 40 includes an exposure light source LP, a cooling fan, an exposure control mechanism, a light-shielding hood, etc. On the surface plate 41, there is a positioning mechanism in the front-back and left-right directions, and a positioning mechanism for positioning the original onto the PS plate. Also provided are a vacuum sealing cover sheet feeding/winding mechanism 42, and a squeeze mechanism 42.

The positioning mechanism includes a reference pin 43A on the right edge (corresponding to the so-called "ground side") fixed on the surface plate 41, which sinks into the surface plate 41 during plate feeding, and moves onto the surface plate 41 only when necessary. Protruding rear edge reference pin 4
It consists of three reference pins 3B and 43C, and pushers 44A (left-right direction) and 44B (front-back direction) for positioning the PS plate by bringing it into contact with the reference pins.

Sending out the original and the cover sheet for vacuum sealing
The winding and squeezing mechanism 42 is a moving block 42 having a cover sheet feeding/winding shaft 42A and a squeeze roller 42B on which a document is fixed.
C and a sheet that holds the tip of the cover sheet.
It consists of a nip portion 42D, and the moving block 42
C is configured to be movable back and forth by a motor M5. In addition, the seat nip portion 4
2D is operated by air cylinder AC6.

The surface plate 41 is provided with air supply holes at a plurality of locations in addition to exhaust holes for achieving a vacuum during exposure of the PS plate. This air supply hole is used when supplying the PS plate to the exposure section, when transporting the PS plate within the exposure section, or when supplying the PS plate to the exposure section.
Having sharp edges when moving the PS plate on the surface plate 41, such as when ejecting the PS plate from the exposure section
This is provided so that the PS version can be moved smoothly. As a result, in the device of this embodiment, the plate feeding carrier 4
5. It is also possible to transfer the PS plate smoothly by using a so-called cantilever transfer method in which the discharge plate carrier 55 and the like transfer the PS plate by sucking only the side edges thereof. The shape, arrangement, etc. of the air supply holes can take various forms.

The plate discharge mechanism 50 for transporting the PS plate from the exposure section 40 will be described next. Plate ejection mechanism 50
is a plate discharge carrier 55, the above-mentioned guide plate 35,
It consists of a pair of plate discharge rollers 58 and a plate discharge conveyor 59. The plate discharge carrier 55 has a plurality of suction cups 56A, 5
6B, ... is a carrier that attracts and transfers the left end of the PS plate, and is equipped with a lifting mechanism using an air cylinder AC18, and is moved back and forth between the exposure section 40 and the pair of plate discharge rollers 58 by a motor M7. It is configured as possible.

The guide plate 35 is connected to the air cylinder AC1 as described above.
9, the PS plate is moved to the position 35' shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 1, and the PS plate is guided to the pair of plate discharge rollers 58. A pair of plate discharge rollers 58 is driven by a motor M8, and transports the PS plate onto the plate discharge conveyor 59.

The plate discharge conveyor 59 is driven by a motor M9, and sends the PS plate to the next process, for example, a development processing line. This plate discharge conveyor 59 is provided above the plate supply conveyor 30 with a slight gap, and different transport paths are formed for the PS plate to be fed and the PS plate to be discharged.

In the above description, detailed explanations of the drive control mechanisms of each mechanism are omitted in some parts, but for example, the setting of the plate feeding carrier 45 to the initial position, stopping at a predetermined position during operation, and The return to the initial position and the like are executed sequentially in accordance with a program set in the sequence programmer based on signals from plate feeding carrier detection means provided at each position. The operations of other carriers, conveyors, air cylinders, etc. are similarly controlled. The control unit 60 that performs these controls has a built-in microcomputer, and can easily respond to various step changes.

The operation of the apparatus of this embodiment constructed as described above will be explained below according to the steps shown in FIG.

(1) Preparation Place the required amount of PS plates in the supply unit 10 with the photosensitive surface facing upward. The original is set at a predetermined position on the cover sheet of the exposure section 40. Leave all the transport means etc. in their initial state. Vacuum pump
P ₁ to P ₃ , the compressor CP is operated.

(2) Transfer (1) When the switch is pressed, the take-out section 23 of the plate feeding mechanism 20
descends onto the PS version, picks up one of the top layers, and then rises. At this time, the inner suction cups 21B, 2
1C is due to the action of air cylinders AC3 and AC2.
The rise of the central part of the PS plate is slightly delayed, and together with the air blowing from the air blowing ports 22A and 22B, it operates to separate and adsorb only the uppermost layer of the PS plate.
The take-out unit 23 that has adsorbed the PS plate is driven by the motor M1 and moves backward, and the PS plate is transferred to the plate feeding conveyor 25.
Pass it to the PS version receiving roller pair 26A, 26B.
Thereafter, the PS plate is transported on the plate feeding conveyor 25 and reaches the plate feeding conveyor 30.

When it is detected that the PS plate has reached a predetermined position on the plate feeding conveyor 30, the drive motor M3 of the plate feeding conveyor 30 switches from normal rotation during PS plate transfer to low speed rotation for alignment. The PS plate is adjusted in the front and rear directions by coming into contact with an adjustment pin (not shown), and at the same time, the PS plate is pressed in the right direction by the air cylinder AC5 to have its position adjusted in the left and right directions. In parallel with this, the plate feeding conveyor 30 is rotated upward by the air cylinder AC4 and reaches a substantially horizontal position, at which point the PS plate is transferred by suction by the plate feeding carrier 45. That is, plate feeding carrier 4
5 to the waiting position by the rotational movement.
PS plates are supplied and sucked by suction cups 46A, 46B, . . . of the plate feeding carrier 45. When detecting that the PS plate has been adsorbed, the plate feeding carrier 45 passes above the guide 35 and transfers the PS plate to the exposure section 4.
Transfer to 0. The plate feeding carrier 45 that has reached the exposure section 40 releases the adsorption of the PS plate and returns to its initial position.

(3) Positioning The PS plate transferred to the exposure section 40 is subjected to a positioning operation by the above-mentioned positioning mechanism.

As is clear from the above explanation, the positioning operation is based on the right and rear edges of the PS version.
This is done by bringing it into contact with a reference pin. Specifically, first, the PS plate is brought into contact with the rear edge reference pins 43B and 43C by the pusher 44B, and then, while maintaining this state, the PS plate is brought into contact with the rear edge reference pins 43B and 43C by the pusher 44A.
The plate is brought into contact with the ground side reference pin 43A to complete positioning in both directions.

(4) Exposure With the positioning completed in the exposure section 40,
Unfold the cover sheet with the original attached to the PS version. To do this, after holding the leading end of the cover sheet by the sheet nip section 42D, the motor M5 is driven to move the moving block 42C to feed the original and the cover sheet onto the PS plate.
Immediately after that, the squeeze roller 42B squeezes from behind.

In synchronization with the completion of the expansion of the cover sheet, the area under the cover sheet is evacuated, and when the predetermined degree of vacuum is reached, the air cylinder AC11 is operated to lower the light-shielding hood onto the cover sheet, and the PS plate is A predetermined printing exposure is performed on the PS plate while preventing unnecessary exposure to areas other than the exposed area. When the exposure is completed, the light-shielding hood is raised, the vacuum is released, the document and the cover sheet are wound up, and the positioning is also released.

(5) Transfer (2) When the exposure and associated post-processing operations are completed, the plate discharge carrier 55 is transferred to the air cylinder AC.
18, it descends, adsorbs the PS plate, and rises. At the same time, the guide plate 35 moves from position 35 shown in solid lines to position 3 shown in phantom lines in FIG.
Move to 5'. Plate feeding carrier 55 is motor M7
and toward the plate discharge roller pair 58.
Transfer the PS version. At this time, the discharge carrier 55
The portion that is not attracted by the guide plate 35' is guided by the guide plate 35'. The PS plate is continuously transferred onto a plate discharge conveyor 59 by a pair of plate discharge rollers 58.

(6) Post-processing, etc. Although omitted in the explanation of each step above,
Each transport means, etc. returns to its initial position after completing the specified operation, so
It is also possible to supply the next PS plate and prepare for exposure, as long as it does not overlap with the PS plate. If printing exposure is to be continued from the same original, the above-mentioned steps are repeated as many times as necessary for a newly supplied PS plate. If printing exposure is required from another document, the above steps are repeated with only the document or a combination of a document and a cover sheet prepared in advance.

The PS plate transport method, exposure method, positioning method, etc. used in the apparatus of the above embodiment are given as examples, and the present invention should not be limited thereto.

Furthermore, it goes without saying that various changes can be made within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention regarding the change in the transfer direction, which is a key point of the present invention.

Furthermore, it will be clear that the exposure apparatus of the present invention can be used not only as an exposure apparatus for PS plate shown in the above embodiment but also as an exposure apparatus for various other photosensitive materials.

As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided an exposure section having an exposure means for exposing a photosensitive material, a supply section for the photosensitive material, an exposure section having an exposure means for exposing the photosensitive material, and a supply section for the photosensitive material. a transporting/positioning means for transporting the photosensitive material set in the supplying part and positioning it in the exposure part;
In an exposure apparatus having a transfer means for transporting the exposed photosensitive material from the exposure section to the next process, the supply section and the exposure section are provided on the front side of the exposure apparatus, and the supply section is arranged in a position abbreviated to the exposure section. The transfer/positioning means includes a mechanism for separating and adsorbing one of the uppermost layers of the photosensitive material set in the supply section, and a mechanism for separating and taking out the uppermost layer of the photosensitive material set in the supply section, and a mechanism for moving the taken out photosensitive material backward and diagonally. After being transferred upward, the direction of transfer of the photosensitive material that has been transferred diagonally upward is changed to the front direction in a substantially horizontal plane, and the photosensitive material is transferred to the exposure section and positioned with respect to the exposure means. and a mechanism, the transfer means comprising:
In the process of sending the exposed photosensitive material from the exposure section to the next process, the photosensitive material is transferred to the
Since it is configured to have a mechanism for guiding the positioning means toward a second transfer path disposed above the transfer path in parallel with the transfer path of the positioning means, a large-sized printing plate photosensitive material can be continuously exposed. An exposure apparatus suitable for this can be provided.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic right side view showing an outline of a PS plate exposure apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the same, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the operation steps of the embodiment apparatus. 10... supply unit, 20... plate feeding mechanism, 25...
Plate feeding conveyor, 30... Plate feeding/discharging conveyor, 35...
... Guide plate, 40 ... Exposure section, 41 ... Surface plate, 4
5... Plate feeding carrier, 50... Plate discharging mechanism, 55...
...Discharge carrier, 60...Control unit.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1: an exposure section having an exposure means for exposing a photosensitive material; a supply section for the photosensitive material; a transport/positioning means for transferring the photosensitive material set in the supply section and positioning it in the exposure section; In an exposure apparatus having a transfer means for sending the finished photosensitive material from the exposure section to the next process, the supply section and the exposure section are provided on the front side of the exposure apparatus, and the supply section is placed almost directly below the exposure section. The transfer/positioning means is provided such that the
a mechanism for separating and adsorbing and taking out one of the uppermost layers of the plurality of photosensitive materials set in the supply section; a mechanism for changing the transport direction of the incoming photosensitive material to the near side in a substantially horizontal plane, transporting the photosensitive material to the exposure section, and positioning the photosensitive material with respect to the exposure means; In the process of sending out the photosensitive material from the exposure section to the next process, the photosensitive material is guided and moved toward a second transfer path disposed above the transfer path parallel to the transfer path of the transfer/positioning means. An exposure apparatus characterized by having a mechanism for causing