Patent ID: 6726433
Filing Date: 2004-04-27
Classification: B41C,B65H,G03F

Abstract:
An apparatus for positioning a plurality of cassettes, each containing a supply of plates, in an automated plate handler, the apparatus comprising:a. support tables supporting each of the cassettes within the plate handler; b. means for holding vertically spaced support cables and cassettes and automatically positioning the support tables and the cassettes of plates on the support tables along a vertical axis to thereby place a selected cassette at a first vertical position; c. platform means having a loading/unloading position in which the platform means forms a substantially horizontal extension of the support table that supports the selected cassette at the first vertical position, wherein the selected cassette can be moved between the support table and the platform means and replaced or refilled with a new supply of printing plates; d. means for facilitating smooth and easy movement of the selected cassette between the support table and the platform means; and e. guide means for guiding the selected cassette between the support table and the platform means.