Apparatus and method for treating and transporting a relief printing plate precursor

1 . An apparatus for preparing a relief plate precursor that has to be treated, comprising:

a transport bar provided with at least one pin-like penetration element having a sharp tip, the transport bar comprising a beam part, wherein the at least one pin-like penetration element points upward;

a plate coupling station configured for arranging the relief plate precursor on the at least one pin-like penetration element and for coupling the relief plate precursor to the transport bar by causing a penetration by the at least one pin-like penetration element through an unperforated area near an edge of the relief plate precursor, such that the at least one pin-like penetration element extends from a first side of the relief plate precursor through the relief precursor and protrudes at a second side of the relief precursor;

wherein the plate coupling station comprises at least one actuator connected to a hammer tool for pushing the at least one penetration element through the material of the relief plate precursor;

wherein the at least one actuator is configured for moving the hammer tool downward, wherein the hammer tool is located above the beam part of the transport bar when the transport bar is in the coupling station, said hammer tool being configured for pushing the relief precursor on the at least one pin-like penetrating element, wherein the hammer tool is configured to abut against the beam part of the transport bar.

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the shape of the at least one penetration element comprises a rod with a round, elliptical, triangular, rectangular or multi-angular cross section.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein each penetration element comprises a penetration portion extending in a penetration direction and having a length between 1 mm and 20 mm.

4 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the length of the transport bar is from 100 mm to 10000 mm.

5 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one penetration element is made of metal or an alloy.

6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a treatment compartment configured for treating the relief plate precursor, whilst the relief plate precursor is being transported coupled to the transport bar.

7 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a plate decoupling station configured for decoupling the treated relief plate precursor from the transport bar; wherein the plate decoupling station comprises at least one actuator connected to a tool configured for pushing the relief plate precursor away from the transport bar such that the at least one penetration element is moved out of the relief plate precursor.

8 . The apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising a further transport bar, a plate decoupling station configured for decoupling the treated relief plate precursor from the transport bar, and a transport system, wherein the transport system is configured to move each transport bar, after being coupled to a relief plate precursor in the plate coupling station, from the plate coupling station through the treatment compartment to the plate decoupling station, and, after being decoupled from a treated printing plate, from the plate decoupling station back to the plate coupling station; wherein the transport system is configured to move the transport bar and the further transport bar in a closed loop through the apparatus.

9 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the hammer tool comprises at least one hole configured for receiving the at least one pin-like penetration element.

10 . An apparatus for preparing a relief plate precursor that has to be treated, comprising:

a transport bar provided with at least one penetration element;

a plate coupling station configured for coupling the relief plate precursor to the transport bar by causing a penetration by the at least one penetration element through an unperforated area near an edge of the relief plate precursor;

a treatment compartment configured for treating the relief plate precursor with a liquid, whilst the relief plate precursor is being transported coupled to the transport bar, wherein the treatment compartment has an inlet and an outlet, the plate coupling station being located upstream of the inlet of the treatment compartment;

a plate decoupling station configured for decoupling the treated relief plate precursor from the transport bar, the plate decoupling station being located downstream of the outlet of the treatment compartment, and

a transport system, wherein the transport system is configured to move each transport bar, after being coupled to a relief plate precursor in the plate coupling station, from the plate coupling station through the treatment compartment to the plate decoupling station, and, after being decoupled from a treated printing plate, from the plate decoupling station back to the plate coupling station;

wherein the transport system comprises a forward transport mechanism configured to transport the transport bar with the coupled relief plate precursor at least from an inlet side to an outlet side of the treatment compartment, and from the outlet side to the plate decoupling station, wherein the forward transport mechanism comprises a first and/or second lead screw; and wherein the first and/or second end of the transport bar is provided with a first and/or second coupling portion configured to be coupled to the first and/or second lead screw, respectively:

wherein the transport system comprises a backward transport mechanism configured to transport the transport bar from the plate decoupling station back to the plate coupling station, wherein the backward transport mechanism is located partly above or below the treatment compartment, wherein the transport system comprises an upward or downward transport mechanism configured to move a decoupled transport bar in the plate decoupling station upward or downward toward the backward transport mechanism;

wherein a plate discharge zone is provided between an outlet side of the treatment compartment and the plate decoupling station such that a relief plate precursor is pulled fully out of the treatment compartment in the plate discharge zone before being decoupled from the transport bar in the plate decoupling station.

11 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the transport system further comprises a bar coupling means configured to couple the transport bar with coupled relief plate precursor to the forward transport mechanism.

12 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the forward transport mechanism comprises a first and/or second chain or belt or linear motor; and wherein the first and/or second end of the transport bar is provided with a first and/or second coupling portion configured to be coupled to the first and/or second chain or belt or linear motor, respectively.

13 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the backward transport mechanism comprises any one of the following: one or more belts, one or more chains, one or more lead screws, a linear motor, or combinations thereof.

14 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the backward transport mechanism is located around the treatment compartment, and wherein the transport system comprises an additional transport mechanism configured to move a decoupled transport bar in the plate decoupling station toward the backward transport mechanism.

15 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising a further transport bar and a control unit configured to control the transport system, such that when the transport bar moves through the treatment compartment, the further transport bar moves back to the plate coupling station.

16 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising a removal means configured to remove a treated relief plate precursor after being decoupled from the transport bar in the plate decoupling station.

17 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , further comprising a removal means configured to remove a treated relief plate precursor after being decoupled from the transport bar in the plate decoupling station wherein the removal means comprises any one or more of the following: a carrier or a trolley configured for receiving the treated relief plate precursor in the plate discharge zone and for being moved out of the plate discharge zone; a robot; a moving belt; at least one rotating drum.