Patent ID: 6715422
Filing Date: 2004-04-06
Classification: B41C

Abstract:
A plate producing apparatus, comprising:an image processing assembly for transmitting image data associated with a plurality of color separation images, which are used for making a printed material, and control information created for each of a plurality of plates required for recording the plurality of color separation images; a plurality of cassettes for accommodating plates; a cassette selection assembly for selecting a cassette from the plurality of cassettes and moving the selected cassette to a plate feeding position; a plate retrieving assembly for retrieving a plate from the cassette located in the plate feeding position; a feed path for moving the plate retrieved by the plate retrieving assembly to a pre-loading position just short of going onto a next stage; a recording drum for mounting the plate thereon; a recording head for irradiating the plate mounted on the recording drum with a laser beam which is modulated in accordance with the image data transmitted from the image processing assembly; and a control assembly for receiving the control information from the image processing assembly after the start of an image recording for a plate on which a first one of the plurality of color separation images is recorded, the control information being associated with a prescribed one of the plurality of color separation images, which is different from said first one of the plurality of color separation images, the control assembly determining whether a cassette movement by the cassette selection assembly is required based on the control information, wherein if it is determined that the cassette movement by the cassette selection assembly is required, the control assembly controls the cassette selection assembly such that a cassette having accommodated therein a plate, which is used for recording said prescribed one of the plurality of color separation images, starts moving toward the plate feeding position before the completion of the image recording for a plate on which a color separation image immediately before said prescribed one of the plurality of color separation images is recorded.