Patent ID: 11860543
Assignee: ESKO-GRAPHICS IMAGING GMBH
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B  G | IPC B  G

Claim 59:
60. A method of processing a printing plate in a plurality of workstations in a process workflow, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a plate handling system for transporting the printing plate from one workstation to another in the process workflow, the plate handling system comprising a computer controlled transporter configured to translate in at least three orthogonal directions and to rotate about at least one rotational axis, end effectors for gripping the printing plates connected to the transporter, at least one sensor for detecting orientation of the plate relative to at least one staging location in the process workflow; and a process controller, the process controller connected to the transporter, to the at least one sensor, and to a computer processor;
(b) sensing, with the at least one sensor, location and orientation of a plate to be transported; and
(c) using the transporter, lifting the plate in a Z direction relative to an XY plane and one or more of: moving the plate in an X direction, moving the plate in a Y direction, and rotating the plate relative to a Z-axis;
wherein the end effectors are configured to grip the printing plate on an upper surface of the plate, and the method comprises applying an image to the upper surface of the plate at an imaging station, and irradiating both the upper surface and an opposite lower surface of the plate at a photopolymer curing station, including curing the photopolymer plate using actinic radiation emitted from radiation sources mounted on a linear stage having a resting location relatively nearer a trailing end of the curing station than to a leading end of the curing station, and pulling the plate onto the curing station in a direction from the leading edge to the trailing edge using the transporter, depositing the plate in a curing location, and the transporter returning to a location that does not interfere with transit of the curing station linear stage.