Plate cassette for platesetter

Abstract

A plate cassette for a platesetter comprises a tray that receives and stores stacks of plates. Side frame members are located on opposed sides of the tray. These side frame members have tracks that engage with wheels of another plate cassette and wheels that engage with tracks of still another plate cassette. In this way, cassettes may be stacked and stored, one on top of each other. The wheel engagement strategy, between cassettes, however, allows individual cassettes to be rolled out, enabling access to the plate stack in the selected cassette's tray. A suction leak groove is formed in a surface of the tray. This provides for a suction leakage path for a picker, when the picker must grab typically the last plate in the stack and the plate is not full-sized. The suction grabbers that do not directly grab the plate do not adhere to the tray, allowing the picker to separate the plate from the tray. A slip sheet removal groove is also provided.

1 . A plate cassette for a platesetter, comprising: 
 a tray for receiving a stack of plates;    side frame members on opposed sides of the tray;    tracks on the side frame members that engage with wheels of another plate cassette; and    wheels on the side frame members that engage with tracks of another plate cassette.    
     
     
         2 . A plate cassette as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a suction leak groove formed in a surface of the tray for providing a suction leakage path for a picker.  
     
     
         3 . A plate cassette as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising guides that slide on the tray for aligning the stack of plates.  
     
     
         4 . A plate cassette as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 cover frame members on opposed sides of the tray; and    a cover cooperating with the cover frame members to protect plates in the tray.    
     
     
         5 . A plate cassette as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the cover engages side frame members upon closure.  
     
     
         6 . A plate cassette as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the wheels are located on a bottom of each side frame member.  
     
     
         7 . A plate cassette as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tracks are located on a top of each side frame member.  
     
     
         8 . A plate cassette as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the wheels are located on a bottom of each side frame member.  
     
     
         9 . A plate cassette as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the tracks comprise grooves for guiding the wheels, the tracks being formed into each side frame member.  
     
     
         10 . A plate cassette as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising cassette registration features formed into at least one of the tracks for aligning the cassette to another plate cassette.  
     
     
         11 . A plate cassette as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the registration features comprise at least one bump in one of the tracks that cooperates with the wheels of the other cassette.  
     
     
         12 . A plate cassette as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a reinforcing member attached to a bottom of the tray for increasing the rigidity of the cassette.  
     
     
         13 . A plate cassette as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising support ledges that cooperate with docking station arms that engage and support the cassette.  
     
     
         14 . A plate cassette as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the ledges comprise cut-out regions for accepting the docking station arms.  
     
     
         15 . A plate cassette as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a suction leak groove formed on in a surface of the tray for providing a suction leakage path for a picker.  
     
     
         16 . A plate cassette as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a slip-sheet removal groove formed in a surface of the tray for providing clearance between slip sheet rollers and the tray during removal of a slip sheet on the tray.  
     
     
         17 . A plate cassette for a platesetter, comprising: 
 a tray for receiving a stack of plates; and    a suction leak groove formed on in a surface of the tray for providing a suction leakage path for a picker.    
     
     
         18 . A plate cassette as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising edge guides that slide on the tray for aligning the stack of plates.  
     
     
         19 . A plate cassette for a platesetter, comprising: 
 a tray for receiving a stack of plates; and    a slip-sheet removal groove formed in a surface of the tray for providing clearance between slip sheet rollers and the tray during removal of a slip sheet on the tray.    
     
     
         20 . A plate cassette as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising edge guides that slide on the tray for aligning the stack of plates.