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

Claim 40:
41. A plate handling system for transporting printing plates between workstations in a process workflow, the system comprising:
a plurality of vacuum gripper end effectors configured to grip the printing plates and mounted to a computer controlled transporter, the transporter configured to translate in at least three orthogonal directions and to rotate about at least one rotational axis;
at least one sensor for detecting orientation of the plate relative to at least one staging location in the process workflow;
a controller, connected to the transporter and the at least one sensor, configured to cause the transporter to move based upon programmed instructions in accordance with information provided by the sensor;
wherein the at least one staging location comprises a mobile preparation table configured to transport printing plates to and from the staging location, the mobile preparation table comprising:
a base having a frame and a plurality of wheels attached to the frame and configured to roll along a floor surface;
a planar preparation surface having a frame pivotally attached to the frame of the base;
one or more physical connection interfaces configured to secure the base mechanically in a fixed position in the staging location; and
a processor with a communication interface configured to exchange information between the mobile preparation table and the plate handling system.