an apparatus is provided for positioning a plurality of cassettes within an automated printing plate handler . in a plate handler , a plurality of cassettes each contain a supply of printing plates for delivery to an automatic plate - recording device . the apparatus includes a separate support table for supporting each of the plurality of cassettes within the plate handler and an elevator device for moving each of the support tables along a vertical axis of the automated plate handler . the automated plate handler is configured to automatically position a selected cassette in a first position to facilitate removal of the cassette from the handler . the plate handler further includes a platform , which substantially forms an extension of the support table supporting the selected cassette in the first position . the platform provides a second position , at which the selected cassette is to be one of , loaded or unloaded . the selected cassette may be filled with a new supply of plates on the platform or the selected cassette may be removed from the platform and replaced by another cassette .