Printing press with a device for providing a suction force

A printing press having a device for uniformly providing a suction force on a plane body on a support, the device comprising a closed suction chamber having a supporting surface, the supporting surface featuring suction ports. A blower, assigned to the suction chamber, produces an underpressure or vacuum pressure in the suction chamber. The device is designed so as to increase the suction capacity in the marginal area of the body to be sucked by using as little energy as possible, Also, a device for uniformly providing a suction force on a plane body on a support, the device being especially suitable for printing machines and their accessories, the device comprising a closed suction chamber having a supporting surface, the supporting surface featuring suction ports, a blower being assigned to the suction chamber and producing an underpressure in the suction chamber, and the device being designed so as to increase the suction capacity in the marginal area of the body to be sucked by using as little energy as possible.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention generally relates to a printing press, wherein such a 
printing press may include a device for uniformly sucking a plane body 
provided on a support. The device comprises a closed suction chamber, the 
supporting surface of which features suction ports, and a blower which is 
assigned to the suction chamber and produces an underpressure, or vacuum 
pressure, in the suction chamber. 
Additionally, the present invention relates to a device for uniformly 
sucking a plane body provided on a support, especially for printing 
machines and their accessories, the device comprising a closed suction 
chamber, the supporting surface of which features suction ports, and a 
blower which is assigned to the suction chamber and produces an 
underpressure, or vacuum pressure in the suction chamber. 
2. Summary of the Invention 
Such a device may be used on a measuring table, or aligning table, for 
example, when providing a suction force on sheets. It may also be used on 
transport drums on the respective outer cylindrical surface of which, for 
example, printed paper sheets have a suction force applied thereto in 
order to be conveyed to a new processing station. 
Known devices for providing a suction force on plane bodies that are 
provided on a respective support have the disadvantage that, in the 
marginal area of the body to be sucked, the vacuum pressure or 
underpressure of the suction air can drop considerably so that it cannot 
always be ensured that the marginal areas come to lie properly on the 
supporting surface of the device. Attempts have been made to avoid this 
phenomenon by increasing the suction capacity of the blower used and thus 
the underpressure within the suction chamber. As a result thereof, the 
production costs as well as the operating costs are also increased without 
ensuring that the plane and format-independent bodies, featuring a certain 
stiffness, such as printing plates, come to lie properly on a support, 
especially in view of the marginal areas. 
Other systems solve this problem by increasing the energy or air 
consumption, or by switching the vacuum zones depending on the respective 
format used. The systems using vacuum zones tend to comprise an expensive 
vacuum pump which does not allow any leaking, as such leakage losses would 
cause the vacuum to collapse. Furthermore, such systems tend not to be 
very dynamic with respect to their suction behavior. 
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
Proceeding from the facts associated with the known arrangements discussed 
above, it is an object of the present invention to increase the suction 
capacity in the marginal area of the body to be sucked by essentially 
using as little energy as possible. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
According to the present invention, the above object can be achieved, in 
accordance with at least one preferred embodiment, in that the support is, 
at least, of a two-layer design, that a lower throttle plate having 
suction porte maintains the underpressure in the suction chamber, that an 
upper supporting plate also having suction ports and bearing the plane 
body is provided at a smell distance with respect to the lower throttle 
plate, and that thin labyrinth-like intervals or passages are provided 
between both of the aforementioned plates in order to increase the flow 
resistance. The labyrinth-like intervals can essentially increase the flow 
resistance of the suction air in the marginal area or areas of the body to 
be sucked so that the reduction of the underpressure or vacuum force is 
lessened, thus providing a greater suction effect in the marginal area of 
the material to be sucked. Practical tests have shown that relatively 
stiff material such as, for example, flexible printing plates, can be 
sucked with respect to the marginal area so that only a relatively small 
housing, or chamber, is needed in order to cut down on energy consumption. 
The material to be sucked may essentially be of any format. 
In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the labyrinth-like 
intervals can be provided in intermediate layers between the 
aforementioned throttle plate and supporting plate. In these thin 
intermediate layers, recesses forming the aforementioned intervals may be 
provided without essentially any problems. 
An advantageous embodiment of the present invention is characterized in 
that a first intermediate layer features equally distributed bores, and 
that a second intermediate layer comprises suction chambers separated by 
skeletally arranged crosspieces and that the diameter of a respective bore 
of the first intermediate layer is greater than the width of a respective 
crosspiece of the second intermediate layer so that there is a connection 
between the suction spaces. 
A further advantageous embodiment is characterized in that the crosspieces 
of the second intermediate layer comprise, i.e. surround, or define, 
square suction spaces and run in the middle of a row of bores of the first 
intermediate layer. Of course, in accordance with at least one preferred 
embodiment of the present invention, the aforementioned embodiments of the 
labyrinth-like intervals can be arbitrarily varied and modified with 
respect to their design, always with the aim to increase the flow 
resistance of the suction air without increasing the suction capacity. 
Generally, it is to be understood that the term "marginal area(s)", as set 
forth herein, can be considered as being indicative of that area, or those 
areas, of a planar object which are located at or near the edges of the 
object. 
The above discussed embodiments of the present invention will be described 
further hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying figures. When the 
word "invention" is used in this specification, the word "invention" 
includes "inventions" that is, the plural of "invention". By stating 
"invention", the Applicant does not in any way admit that the present 
application does not include more than one patentably and non-obviously 
distinct invention, and maintains that this application may include more 
than one patentably and non-obviously distinct invention. The Applicant 
hereby asserts that the disclosure of this application may include more 
than one invention, and, in the event that there is more than one 
invention, that these inventions may be patentable and non-obvious one 
with respect to the other. 
In summary, one aspect of the invention resides broadly in a printing press 
comprising: at least one printing unit comprising: a frame; a plate 
cylinder being rotatably mounted on the frame; an inking unit for 
supplying ink to the plate cylinder; the inking unit comprising: an ink 
fountain for containing ink; a plurality of inking rollers; means for 
transferring ink between the ink fountain and the plurality of inking 
rollers; a plurality of ink applicator rollers for transferring ink 
between the plurality of inking rollers and the plate cylinder; a damping 
unit for supplying damping medium to the plate cylinder; a blanket 
cylinder having means for being engaged with the plate cylinder; means for 
feeding sheets, to be printed, to the at least one printing unit; means 
for directing printed sheets away from the at least one printing unit; 
means for providing a suction force, the means for providing a suction 
force comprising: means for supporting a body to be subjected to the 
suction force; means for generating suction; means, disposed through the 
supporting means, for permitting the application of a suction force, 
generated by the generating means, to a body supported on the supporting 
means; the means for permitting the application of a suction force 
comprising suction input means end suction output means, the suction input 
means for being disposed towards a body to be supported on the supporting 
means, the suction output means for being disposed away from a body to be 
supported on the supporting means; passage means, disposed in the 
supporting means, for providing fluid communication between the suction 
input means and the suction output means; and the passage means comprising 
means for directing a suction force, between the suction input means and 
the suction output means, in a manner to increase the suction force at 
marginal areas of the body being supported on the supporting means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIG. 1a illustrates a rotary print stand 10' of a rotary printing press 
which can employ a suction arrangement according to the present invention. 
Rotary print stand 10' generally includes; a plate cylinder 11' for having 
mounted thereon a printing plate D'; an inking unit 12' which includes ink 
applicator rollers 13' for applying ink to the printing plate an ink 
profile; a dampening (or wetting) unit 18' having dampening applicator 
rollers 19' for transferring a dampening agent to the printing plate, a 
blanket cylinder 16' carrying a rubber blanket 17' for receiving an ink 
impression from the printing plate, and a sheet drum 15' for carrying a 
printed sheet 14' onto which the ink impression carried by blanket 17' is 
transferred. A duct roller 23' is typically mounted adjacent to ink duct 
21'. Typically, ink is transferred from duct roller 23' to inking unit 12' 
by means of a vibrator roller 24' which oscillates to successively pick up 
ink from duct roller 23' end deposit the same on a roller 32' of inking 
unit 10'. Typically, the printing stand 10' will also include auxiliary 
mechanisms such as, for example, a duct roller drive 28', a vibrator 
roller drive 29', an applicator roller throw-off 27" for lifting the ink 
applicator rollers 13' off of the printing plate, a press drive 25' and a 
sheet feed 27' for supplying the sheets to be printed 26' to sheet drum 
15'. 
It should be understood that the components and methods discussed above 
with relation to FIG. 1a may, if appropriate, essentially be considered to 
be interchangeable with similar components and methods discussed herebelow 
with relation to FIGS. 1b-3. 
FIG. 1b schematically illustrates a multi-unit printing press 100" which 
may employ a suction arrangement according to the present invention. 
Particularly, a multi-unit printing press 100" may typically include a 
plurality of printing units, such as four printing units 1", 2", 3" and 
4". Each printing unit may typically include a support frame arrangement 
22". 
The sheets 7" to be processed can preferably be fed from a supply stock to 
the impression cylinder 9" of a first printing unit 1" by sheet feeder 6". 
Each sheet 7" can preferably receive its first ink application by means of 
plate cylinder 10" and blanket cylinder 11" of printing unit 1". 
Accordingly, each subsequent printing unit 2", 3" and 4" can also 
typically include its own plate cylinder 10" and blanket cylinder 11". 
Typically, an inking unit 8" and damping unit 8'" can be assigned to each 
plate cylinder 10". 
In accordance with at least one preferred embodiment of the present 
invention, there are preferably transfer rollers or drums 13" provided, 
and possibly also a transfer roller or drum 15". 
A possible location of supporting surface 3, suction chamber 1 and blower 2 
(to be described herebelow with relation to FIGS. 1-3), in accordance with 
at least one preferred embodiment of the present invention, is at the 
sheet delivery area of the printing press 100". Particularly, suction 
chamber 1, supporting surface 3 and blower 2 may form part of a sheet 
delivery apparatus, wherein at least portions of printed sheets borne by 
conveyor 18" would be drawn downward by suction onto supporting surface 3. 
The general operation and makeup of sheet delivery apparatus will be 
well-known to those of ordinary skill in the printing arts and, as such, 
will not be described further herein. However, further details regarding 
such sheet delivery apparatus may be found in any of several pertinent 
U.S. Patents listed at the close of the instant specification, including 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,608 to Pollich. 
In accordance with at least one preferred embodiment of the present 
invention, supporting surface 3 may be utilized in conjunction with a 
transfer cylinder or drum, such as those indicated at 13" and 15" in FIG. 
1b. The general operation and makeup of drums and cylinders with suction 
capacity will be well-known to those of ordinary skill in the printing 
arts and, as such, will not be described further herein. However, further 
details regarding such drums and cylinders may be found in any of several 
pertinent U.S. Patents listed at the close of the instant specification. 
Other components illustrated in FIG. 1b but not otherwise described herein 
are discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,529 to Jahn, which is incorporated by 
reference herein. 
In accordance with at least one preferred embodiment of the present 
invention, a supporting surface 3, suction chamber 1 and blower 2 may be 
utilized in either a lacquering station of a printing press or a drying 
station associated with such a lacquering station. In either context, at 
least a portion of supporting surface 3 could conceivably be essentially 
horizontal. The general operation end makeup of such lacquering end drying 
stations will be well-known to those of ordinary skill in the printing 
arts and, as such, will not be described further herein. However, further 
details regarding such lacquering and drying stations can be found in the 
following two publications, both published by Heidelberger Druckmaschinen 
Aktiengesselschaft (Heidelberg, Germany), which are hereby incorporated by 
reference into the instant specification: "Lackieren und Trotkhan", 
designated with the reference Heidelberger Nachrichten (HN) 3/49; and 
"Heidelberg M-Offset CP-Tronic", designated with the reference HN 1/49. 
In accordance with at least one preferred embodiment of the present 
invention, a suction chamber 1, blower 2 and supporting surface 3, such as 
will be described hereinbelow, could be used in conjunction with the 
aligning, registration or measurement of flexible printing plates. They 
could also be used in conjunction with apparatus for transferring sheets 
between printing stations, in which case a planar surface could be 
provided, corresponding to supporting surface 3, for directing the sheets. 
Further details regarding components of this nature may be found in any of 
several pertinent U.S. Patents listed at the close of the instant 
specification. 
FIG. 1 shows a closed suction chamber 1 in which an underpressure is 
produced by means of a blower 2. The suction chamber 1 preferably has a 
supporting surface 3 on which plane bodies may have a suction force 
applied thereto. The supporting surface 3 may be plane or may be of 
another configuration such as, for example, a vaulted or etched 
configuration. 
According to the present invention the supporting surface 3 preferably 
includes, first of all, a lower throttle plate 4 sealing the suction space 
of suction chamber 1, as shown in FIG. 2. The throttle plate 4 preferably 
features suction ports 5 for maintaining the underpressure in the suction 
chamber for a given blower capacity. 
In the specimen embodiment shown, a first intermediate layer 6 is 
preferably provided above the throttle plate 4, and intermediate layer 6 
preferably features bores 7. Preferably, the diameter of a respective bore 
7 is greater than that of a respective suction port 5. 
Upon this first intermediate layer 6, there is preferably provided a second 
intermediate layer 8 which features suction spaces 9 which are separated 
by crosspieces 10. In the specimen embodiment shown the suction spaces 9 
are square-shaped, with the width of a respective crosspiece 10 being 
smaller than the diameter of a respective bore 7. It is advantageous to 
provide the crosspiece 10 so as to extend in the middle of a row of bores 
7 of the first intermediate layer 6. This makes it possible for the 
suction air to pass through the bores 7 from a suction space 9 to an 
adjacent suction space 1 underneath the crosspiece 10. 
In accordance with at least one preferred embodiment of the present 
invention, the aforementioned crosspieces 10 may be considered to be 
skeletally arranged. Preferably, crosspieces 10, as shown in FIG. 2, may 
essentially form a square or rectilinear grid, whereby suction spaces 9 
are essentially surrounded by crosspieces 10. 
A supporting plate 11, preferably featuring a plurality of small suction 
ports 12, is preferably provided as a direct support for the plane bodies 
to be sucked. On the supporting plate 11, flexible printing plates or 
printed sheet material, for example, may have a suction force applied 
thereto for the purpose of taking measurements or to be conveyed. 
With respect to the partial cross-sectional view, shown in FIG. 3, of the 
throttle plate 4, the first intermediate layer 6, the second intermediate 
layer 8, and the supporting plate 11, it should be understood that there 
will be an underpressure P (shown as "P-") in the suction chamber 1 
directly below the throttle plate 4, whereas above the supporting plate 1 
there will essentially be an atmospheric pressure (shown as "P+"). 
Due to the labyrinth-like intervals 7, 9, the suction air applied to the 
body 13 may also be provided by means of suction ports 5 not lying in the 
marginal area of the body 13, i.e. by suction ports provided below said 
body 13, when sucking a plane body 13 on the supporting plate 11. In 
general, there will essentially be no suction-air flow below e body lying 
on a support, so that the suction ports 5 will essentially increase the 
suction effect in the marginal area of the body 13 and ensure that the 
respective body lies properly on the supporting plate 11. 
In other words, in accordance with at least one preferred embodiment of the 
present invention, it will be appreciated that, when there is a plane body 
on supporting surface 3, the suction force provided on marginal areas of 
the plane body 13 can be provided not only by suction ports 5 lying 
essentially directly below the marginal areas of the plane body 13, but 
also by suction ports 5 not lying essentially directly below the marginal 
areas of the plane body 13 but below other areas of the plane body 13, 
such as central areas or other non-marginal areas. Essentially, in 
accordance with at least one preferred embodiment of the present 
invention, the suction force provided through a suction port 5 located 
below a non-marginal area of the plane body 13 can, with the assistance of 
the aforementioned labyrinth-like intervals/passages 7, 9, be used to 
supplement the suction force provided by suction ports 5 located below 
marginal areas of the plane body 13, thus helping ensure that an adequate 
suction force will be provided at the marginal areas of the plane body 13. 
In accordance with at least one preferred embodiment of the present 
invention, the arrangement shown in FIG. 2 could be considered to 
schematically represent the surface of a suction drum or cylinder as 
mentioned heretofore, wherein the overall rectiliear layout shown would be 
analogous to the surface of the cylinder being "unrolled". 
The general arrangement and dimensions of suction ports 5 and 12, as well 
as bores 7, suction spaces 9 and crosspieces 10, as illustrated in FIG. 2, 
is provided only as an example and is not meant to be restrictive. 
However, it may be considered that, in accordance with at least one 
preferred embodiment of the present invention, the following general 
layout can be provided: 
throttle plate 4 may be provided with equidistantly spaced suction ports 5, 
preferably arranged in rectilinear rows and columns, for example in a 
4.times.6 grid as shown; 
intermediate layer 6, immediately above throttle plate 4, may be provided 
with equidistantly spaced bores 7, preferably arranged in rectilinear rows 
and columns, for example in a 9.times.13 grid as shown, wherein every 
second row of bores 7 may be superimposed on every row of suction ports 5 
and every second column of bores 7 may be superimposed on every column of 
suction ports 5, such that the remaining rows end columns of bores 7 will 
not be superimposed over any suction ports 5, and whereby, in each of the 
rows and columns of bores 7 superimposed over the rows and columns of 
suction ports 5, there will preferably be one bore 7 directly and 
concentrically superimposed over each suction port 5; 
each of the suction ports 5 may preferably have the same diameter; 
each of the bores 7 may preferably have the same diameter; 
the diameter of each bore 7 may preferably be greater than the diameter of 
each suction port 5; 
intermediate layer 8, immediately above intermediate layer 6, may be 
provided with crosspieces 10 forming a rectilinear grid, such that 
contiguous crosspieces 10 may preferably define rectilinear, possibly 
square, suction spaces 9 therewithin, wherein each such suction space 9 
may preferably be directly and concentrically superimposed over a bore 7 
which itself is superimposed over a suction port 5, and wherein limited 
portions of the eight other bores 7 disposed about the central bore 7 in 
question will also be superimposed by the suction space 9 in question 
(i.e. each corner of the suction space 9 may be superimposed over a 
corresponding bore 7 such that a contiguous space is provided between the 
suction space 9 and each such corner bore 7, and each side of the suction 
space 9 may be superimposed over a corresponding bore 7 such that a 
contiguous space is provided between the suction space 9 and each such 
side bore 7); 
supporting plate 11, immediately above intermediate layer 8, may be 
provided with equidistantly spaced suction ports 12, preferably arranged 
in rectilinear rows and columns, wherein sixteen such suction ports 12 may 
be uniformly superimposed over each suction space 9, such that four rows 
of four suction ports 12 may extend over suction space 9 side-to-side and 
that four columns of four suction ports 12 may extend over suction space 9 
side-to-side, and such that at least a limited portion of each suction 
port 12 may be superimposed over a bore 7; 
each suction port 12 will preferably not be superimposed, either directly 
or indirectly, over any suction port 5; and 
each suction port 12 will preferably have the same diameter, this diameter 
preferably being smaller then that of each suction port 5. 
One feature of the invention resides broadly in the device for uniformly 
sucking a plane body on a support, especially suitable for printing 
machines and additional equipment, comprising a closed suction chamber 
having a supporting surface, said supporting surface featuring suction 
ports, and a blower assigned to said suction chamber and producing an 
underpressure in said suction chamber, characterized in that the support 
is, at least, of a two-layer design, that a lower throttle plate 4 
features suction ports 5 maintaining the underpressure in said suction 
chamber 1, that an upper supporting plate 11 also featuring suction ports 
12 and, at the same time, bearing the plane body 13 is provided at a small 
distance with respect to said lower throttle plate 4, and that than 
labyrinth-like intervals 7, 9 are provided between both plates 4, 11 in 
order to increase the flow resistance. 
Another feature of the invention resides broadly in the device 
characterized in that the labyrinth-like intervals 7, 9 in intermediate 
layers 6, 8 are provided between throttle plate 4 and supporting plate 11. 
Yet another feature of the invention resides broadly in the device 
characterized in that a first intermediate layer 6 features uniformly 
distributed bores 7, that a second intermediate layer 8 features suction 
chambers 9 separated by crosspieces 10, and that the diameter of a 
respective bore 7 of said first intermediate layer 6 is greater than the 
width of a respective crosspiece 10 of said second intermediate layer 8 so 
that there is a connection between the suction spaces 7, 9. 
Still another feature of the invention resides broadly in the device 
characterized in that the crosspieces 10 of the second intermediate layer 
8 define square-shaped suction spaces 9, and that each of said crosspieces 
extends in the middle of a row of bores 7 of said first intermediate layer 
6. 
In brief recapitulation, it will be appreciated from the disclosure 
heretofore that the present invention, in accordance with at least one 
preferred embodiment thereof, can generally relate to a device for 
uniformly providing a suction force on a plane body provided on a support, 
especially in printing machines or presses and their accessories. 
Examples of vacuum conveyors or suction conveyors, involving perforated 
belts travelling over perforated suction boxes, which may be utilized in 
accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, may be found in 
the following U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. No. 5,348,285, which issued to Huser 
on Sep. 20, 1994; U.S. Pat. No. 5,305,869, which issued to Damkjaer on 
Apr. 26, 1994; U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,092, which issued to Kriefall et al. on 
Apr. 25, 1989; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,488, which issued to Inouye et al. 
on Feb. 9, 1988. 
Examples of rollers, drums or cylinders with suction capacity, which may be 
utilized in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, may 
be found in the following U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. No. 5,241,907, which 
issued to Dorsam et al. on Sep. 7, 1993; U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,456, which 
issued to Germann et al. on Jul. 27, 1993; U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,870, which 
issued to Smith et al. on Jul. 13, 1993; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,176,611, 
which issued to VerMehren on Jan. 5, 1993. 
Examples of vacuum tables and suction tables, i.e. tables or planar 
surfaces having perforations through which a suction is provided with 
respect to a body on the surface of the table, which may be utilized in 
accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, such as in a 
sheet feeding, sheet delivery or sheet transfer arrangement, may be found 
in the following U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. No. 5,326,200, which issued to 
Suzuki on Jul. 5, 1994; U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,821, which issued to Suzuki on 
Jun. 28, 1994; U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,093, which issued to Kinte on Jan. 11, 
1994 U.S. Pat. No. 5,277,092, which issued to Kinta on Jan. 11, 1994; U.S. 
Pat. No. 4,768,763, which issued to Gerber on Sep. 6, 1988; U.S. Pat. No. 
4,730,526, which issued to Pearl et al. on Mar. 15, 1988; U.S. Pat. No. 
4,675,242, which issued to Hashimoto et al. on Jun. 23, 1987; U.S. Pat. 
No. 4,651,984, which issued to Emrich on Mar. 24, 1987; U.S. Pat. No. 
4,646,911, which issued to Pearl et al. on Mar. 3, 1987; and U.S. Pat. No. 
5,243,909, which issued to DeMoore et al. on Sep. 14, 1993. 
Examples of suction rollers, vacuum arrangements, and means for adjusting 
suction, which may be utilized in accordance with the embodiments of the 
present invention, may be found in the following U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. 
No. 5,110,112, which issued to Henn et al. on May 5, 1992; U.S. Pat. No. 
5,109,741, which issued to Fuchs on May 5, 1992; U.S. Pat. No. 4,728,092, 
which issued to Selak on Mar. 1, 1988; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,645,480, which 
issued to Long on Jul. 14, 1953. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,576, entitled "Sheet-Fed Rotary Printing Presses For 
Single-Side Printing Or First Form And Perfector Printing" dicsloses a 
sheet-fed rotary printing press including different transfer drums, 
storage drums and turning drums which are well-known to those skilled in 
the printing arts. 
Examples of sheet feeding arrangements, which may be utilized in accordance 
with the embodiments of the present invention, may be found in the 
following U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. No. 5,102,117, which issued to Henn et 
al. on Apr. 7, 1992; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,179, which issued to Schmitt 
on Mar. 17, 1992. 
Examples of sheet delivery arrangements, which may be utilized in 
accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, may be found in 
the following U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. No. 5,259,608, which issued to 
Pollich on Nov. 9, 1993; U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,645, which issued to Pollich 
on Oct. 30, 1984; U.S. Pat. No. 4,083,556, which issued to Schilling et 
al. on Apr. 11, 1978; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,243,166, which issued to Vossen 
and Vossen on Jan. 6, 1981. 
Examples of suction arrangements, which may be utilized in accordance with 
the embodiments of the present invention, may be found in the following 
U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,355, which issued to Jeschke on May 16, 
1989; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,083,556, which issued to Schilling et al. on 
Apr. 11, 1978. 
Examples of arrangements for automatically mounting printing plates, 
aligning printing plates, ensuring proper registration of printing plates, 
which may be utilized in accordance with the embodiments of the present 
invention, may be found in the following U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. No. 
4,833,985, which issued to Kojima et al. on May 30, 1989; U.S. Pat. No. 
4,846,059, which issued to Brown on Jul. 11, 1989; U.S. Pat. No. 
4,846,063, which issued to Brown on Jul. 11, 1989; and U.S. Pat. No. 
4,872,407, which issued to Banks on Oct. 10, 1989. 
The appended drawings in their entirety, including all dimensions, 
proportions and/or shapes in at least one embodiment of the invention, are 
accurate and to scale and are hereby included by reference into this 
specification. 
All, or substantially all, of the components and methods of the various 
embodiments may be used with at least one embodiment or all of the 
embodiments, if more than one embodiment is described herein. 
All of the patents, patent applications and publications recited herein, 
and in the Declaration attached hereto, are hereby incorporated by 
reference as if set forth in their entirety herein. 
The corresponding foreign patent publication applications, namely, Federal 
Republic of Germany Patent Application No. P 44 06 739.9, filed on Mar. 2, 
1994, having inventor Francesco Esposito, and DE-OS P 44 06 739.9 and 
DE-PS P 44 06 739.9, as well as their published equivalents, and other 
equivalents or corresponding applications, if any, in corresponding cases 
in the Federal Republic of Germany and elsewhere, and the references cited 
in any of the documents cited herein, are hereby incorporated by reference 
as if set forth in their entirety herein. 
The details in the patents, patent applications and publications may be 
considered to be incorporable, at applicant's option, into the claims 
during prosecution as further limitations in the claims to patentably 
distinguish any amended claims from any applied prior art. 
The invention as described hereinabove in the context of the preferred 
embodiments is not to be taken as limited to all of the provided details 
thereof, since modifications and variations thereof may be made without 
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS (FIGS. 1-3) 
1 suction chamber 
2 blower 
3 supporting surface 
4 throttle plate 
5 suction port 
6 intermediate layer 
7 bore 
8 intermediate layer 
9 suction space 
10 crosspiece 
11 supporting plate 
12 suction port 
13 body