Report 36 d,e,f,s,i.qxd:Report - KBA

plate loading and mounting. The
system can be automated in stages.
Plates conveyed as if
by an unseen hand
Automatic plate feed and disposal at
the press are controlled by a computer-assisted
plate logistics management
system (PLM). In the first
step the exposed plates are seized
from the delivery of the punching
and bending machine by KBA Plate-
Sorter, an intelligent robot gripper.
They are then identified via a barcode,
subjected to a quality check
(optional) and sorted according to
the designated printing couple into
the KBA PlateBox transport magazine,
which has already been locked
onto the transport vehicle.
The intelligent transport vehicle,
KBA PlateTrain, can hold up to
five magazines, one of which is reserved
for the first used plates to be
removed from the tower. Each of
the other magazines holds four new
single plates or two new doublespread
plates plus slots for used
plates. Two and three carriages respectively
are required for one side
of a 4/2 and a 6/2 tower. KBA Plate-
Train, which is suspended from an
overhead rail that is freely configurable
to suit plant architecture,
conveys the plates to a position
above the relevant tower.
Tracking level
Planning level
KBA PlateLoader removes the PlateBox magazines from the PlateTrain
transport vehicle and passes them, correctly positioned, to the
PlateTronic automatic plate changers in the press
Plate logistics management (PLM)
Printshop management and tracking system
Production scheduling system Console
Plate workflow control
Pre-press
Execution level
Sequence
Plate logistics management system
KBA PlateTrain
KBA PlateBox
scheduling
Exposure Plate bending Plate inspection Magazine loading
Plate change
KBA
PlateSorter
Plate exchange
Co-ordination level
KBA
PlateTrain
Interim storage
Magazine transport Plate removal Ready
KBA
PlateLoader
KBA PlateTronic
plate change
Magazine transport
The computer-controlled PLM system co-ordinates, monitors and controls all individual sequences
as well as the entire KBA PlateTrans plate-logistics process
Specifications
KBA PlateBox transport magazine
• Max. weight: 3 kg
• Capacity: 4 single or two-double-spread
plates plus used plates
• Identification via 2-D matrix code
KBA PlateTrain transport vehicle
• Max. load: 50 kg
• Average speed: 0.7 to 1 m/s
Unrivalled plate-changing speed
In the next step the PlateBox magazines
with the new plates are transferred
by the KBA PlateLoader robot
to the KBA PlateTronic automatic
plate-changing units in the press.
Prior to this the robot will have removed
any magazines with used
plates and transferred them to the
train.
The plate-changing sequence itself
takes just two minutes or so
and is thus twice as fast as any other
robotic systems available on the
market.
High-performance
Multicar system
KBA PlateRail is an unmanned system
for conveying plate magazines
to the Cortina and Commander CT
printing towers. Unlike similar systems
from other manufacturers
KBA PlateRail incorporates Swisslog-
Telelift’s MultiCar system, which allows
the individual towers and
optional buffer sections to be
reached via a system of switchpoints.
On its return journey the train
stops at an offloading station where
the used plates are removed automatically
and the PlateBox magazines
reallocated. The magazines
are subsequently reinserted in the
train at the loading station ready to
accept new plates.
The flow chart above shows
how the relevant sequences are coordinated
and controlled, how the
processes in subordinated systems
interact, and how the entire process
is safeguarded and monitored by
the computer-assisted plate logistics
management system PLM.
Klaus Schmidt
klaus.schmidt@kba.com
Report 36 | 2010 37