CA1074098A - Platemaking apparatus - Google Patents
Platemaking apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA1074098A CA1074098A CA248,523A CA248523A CA1074098A CA 1074098 A CA1074098 A CA 1074098A CA 248523 A CA248523 A CA 248523A CA 1074098 A CA1074098 A CA 1074098A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- photopolymer
- upright plate
- plate
- scoop
- scoop means
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03F—PHOTOMECHANICAL PRODUCTION OF TEXTURED OR PATTERNED SURFACES, e.g. FOR PRINTING, FOR PROCESSING OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; MATERIALS THEREFOR; ORIGINALS THEREFOR; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED THEREFOR
- G03F7/00—Photomechanical, e.g. photolithographic, production of textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. printing surfaces; Materials therefor, e.g. comprising photoresists; Apparatus specially adapted therefor
- G03F7/16—Coating processes; Apparatus therefor
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Coating Apparatus (AREA)
- Photosensitive Polymer And Photoresist Processing (AREA)
Abstract
Hughes Case 3 PLATEMAKING APPARATUS
Abstract of the Disclosure The invention is an improved liquid photopolymer applica-tor means for use on photorelief printing platemaking machines.
The applicator means comprises a substantially vertical plate which acts as both the rear wall of the applicator means and as a doctor blade for uniformly spreading the photopolymer. The re-maining sides of the applicator means form a scoop means which is substantially movably connected to the vertical plate to define a bottom slot-like opening immediately in front of the vertical plate to discharge the photopolymer at a controlled rate, said photopolymer being doctored by the vertical plate as the entire assembly traverses the length of the platemaking machine.
Abstract of the Disclosure The invention is an improved liquid photopolymer applica-tor means for use on photorelief printing platemaking machines.
The applicator means comprises a substantially vertical plate which acts as both the rear wall of the applicator means and as a doctor blade for uniformly spreading the photopolymer. The re-maining sides of the applicator means form a scoop means which is substantially movably connected to the vertical plate to define a bottom slot-like opening immediately in front of the vertical plate to discharge the photopolymer at a controlled rate, said photopolymer being doctored by the vertical plate as the entire assembly traverses the length of the platemaking machine.
Description
~o~
Hughes Case ~
In the past, processes and apparatus have been developed which apply a liquid photocurable polymer to a support surface, said apparatus providing means for leveling the applied composi-tion to provide a substantially uniform thickness of composition over the support surface. U.S. patent 3,837,887 to Akamatsu et al discloses apparatus which supplies a predetermined quantity of liquid resin in one load on the support surface and doctors said resin while simultaneously pressing a plastic backing sheet into the doctored surface of the polymer. Akamatsu et al dis-lO close apparatus which dumps in one load photopolymer on the sup-port surface, the flow rate of said photopolymer varying depend-ing upon the viscosity of the photopolymer and the depth of the photopolymer as it flows from the bucket. It can be seen that the flow rate of the photopolymer initially after rotation of the bucket will be greater than the flow rate at the point where the bucket has substantially traversed the length of the support surface. This pressure differential in the photopolymer becomes a critical difficulty when making thick plates or when travers-ing long distances, i.e., the thickness of the plate can vary 20 from thick to thin as the assembly traverses the plate. The only other attempt at solving this problem is that shown in U.S.
patent 3,751,164 to Miller et al, which discloses a constant pressure dispensing manifold having nozzles to dispense at a uni-form rate. The ~iller et al approach is far more complicated, expensive and difficult to maintain than the instant novel approach. The instant invention is an improvement over the Akamatsu et al apparatus. The instant invention provides appara-tus to prepare a smooth and precisely planar surface by metering the amount of photopolymer needed and doctoring the same indepen-30 dent of viscosities or depth of the photopolymer.
It is a primary object of the instant invention to provideimproved apparatus to regulate the flow of photopolymer liquid resin in any desired thickness for any desired length of travel onto a support surface.
Hughes Case ~
In the past, processes and apparatus have been developed which apply a liquid photocurable polymer to a support surface, said apparatus providing means for leveling the applied composi-tion to provide a substantially uniform thickness of composition over the support surface. U.S. patent 3,837,887 to Akamatsu et al discloses apparatus which supplies a predetermined quantity of liquid resin in one load on the support surface and doctors said resin while simultaneously pressing a plastic backing sheet into the doctored surface of the polymer. Akamatsu et al dis-lO close apparatus which dumps in one load photopolymer on the sup-port surface, the flow rate of said photopolymer varying depend-ing upon the viscosity of the photopolymer and the depth of the photopolymer as it flows from the bucket. It can be seen that the flow rate of the photopolymer initially after rotation of the bucket will be greater than the flow rate at the point where the bucket has substantially traversed the length of the support surface. This pressure differential in the photopolymer becomes a critical difficulty when making thick plates or when travers-ing long distances, i.e., the thickness of the plate can vary 20 from thick to thin as the assembly traverses the plate. The only other attempt at solving this problem is that shown in U.S.
patent 3,751,164 to Miller et al, which discloses a constant pressure dispensing manifold having nozzles to dispense at a uni-form rate. The ~iller et al approach is far more complicated, expensive and difficult to maintain than the instant novel approach. The instant invention is an improvement over the Akamatsu et al apparatus. The instant invention provides appara-tus to prepare a smooth and precisely planar surface by metering the amount of photopolymer needed and doctoring the same indepen-30 dent of viscosities or depth of the photopolymer.
It is a primary object of the instant invention to provideimproved apparatus to regulate the flow of photopolymer liquid resin in any desired thickness for any desired length of travel onto a support surface.
- 2 -10'7'~ 8 It is another object of the instant invention to provide apparatus that is uncomplicatea and inexpensive to build.
It is yet another object of the instant invention to provide apparatus that is easy to clean and maintain.
Accordingly, the present invention provides photopolymer plate-making apparatus for making a photorelief printing plate, which apparatus comprises a horizontal flat plate to support a photo transparency and a cover film on the photo transparency, a movable carriage to traverse the flat plate, said carriage having photopolymer supply means, roll and backing sheet supply means all mounted on said carriage and a substantially upright plate con-nected to said carriage, said upright plate acting as a back wall and as a doctor blade; scoop means substantially movably connected to said upright plate, movement of said scoop means with respect to said upright plate defining a bottom opening between said scoop means and said upright plate to control the flow of photopolymer therethrough; and actuator means further interconnecting said scoop means and said upright plate to control the speed and amount of movement of said scoop means with respect to the upright plate and the resulting opening between said scoop means and said upright plate, whereby said opening provides uniform flow of a photopolymer onto the sur-face of the cover film and said upright plate doctors said photopolymer touniform thickness before the application of a backing sheet onto the surface thereof.
me purpose of the instant invention is to provide controllable photopolymer dispensing apparatus that can uniformly distribute liquid photo-polymer of essentially any viscosity in any aesired thickness or length. To accomplish this purpose, the instant invention provides photopolymer appli-cator means including a substantially vertical plate and a scoop that is sub-stantially movably connected to said vertical plate, said scoop and said vertical plate defining therebetween a bottom opening slot to control liquid flow. The vertical plate provides doctoring means for said controlled flow as said scoop means and vertical plate traverse a flat horizontal support surface onto which the liquid photopolymer is to be uniformly distributed.
~ _ 3 _ r~
10'74(~8 ~ he figure is a full cross-sectional view of the preferred appli-cator means and platem~king apparatus of the instant invention.
~ s can be seen in the figure, platemaking apparatus 10 traverses horizontal flat plate 12 to the left to produce a photopolymer plate. Photo transparency 14 has been positioned on flat plate 12 and has ~een covered by cover film 16 to protect said transparency. Platemaking apparatus 10 tra-verses the photo transparency 14 and cover film 16 applying a photopolymer 18 onto the surface thereof and rolling backing sheet 20 into the photo-polymer 18. me instant invention provides unique applicator means in the form of an upright plate, i.e. vertical plate 22 and scoop means 24. The lower portion of vertical plate 22 comprises a doctoring blade portion 26 to level the photopolymer 18. Scoop means 24 is shown to be open at the top and to have four walls, the thickness of the front and bottom walls being cross-hatched in the figure. The far end wall 28 of scoop means 24 is shown and the symmetrical near end wall is not illustrated. Outside end plates (not shown) - 3a -~ ' ~0'74l)~
are connected to vertical plate 22 to contain photopolymer. Scoop means 24 is shown to be pivotally interconnected to vertical plate 22 by pivot means 30. Scoop means 24 is rotated with re-spect to vertical plate 22 by rotation means generally noted at 32. Rotation means 32 comprises arm 34 rigidly connected to end wall 28 of scoop 24 and air cylinder 36 connected to vertical plate 22 by support means 38. Air cylinder 36 is pivotally con-nected to arm 34 at 40 and to support means 38 at 42. Thus, it can be seen that controlled actuation of air cylinder 36 will ro-10 tate scoop means 24 in controlled fashion to regulate the opening44 between scoop means 24 and vertical plate 22. Roller 46 is rotatably connected to the carriage of platemaking apparatus 10 to press the backing sheet ~0 into the photopolymer 18 at a pre-determined height. It is within the scope of the invention to provide other means than rotation means 32 to control the open-ing 44, such as electrical or hydraulic motors.
It is also within the scope of the invention to mount scoop means 24 for linear movement toward and away from vertical plate 22 to define a bottom opening 44 therebetween. It is also 20 important to note that vertical plate 22 need not be pçrpendicu-lar to flat plate 12 but may be inclined.
It can be appreciated that to produce printing plates of uniform thickness, the width of the opening 44 can be variably controlled while traversing flat plate 12 to provide a uniform flow of photopolymer 18 onto the surface of cover film 16. The width of the opening 44 may be increased while traversing flat plate 12 to compensate for photopolymer depth decrease and other-wise resulting flow rate decrease caused by decreasing head pres-sure.
In addition, precise control allows manufacture of both thick and thin plates as well as any thickness therebetween.
It is also important to note that the instant applicator means may be closed and reopened while the carriage traverses the flat surface. This is important when making a partial plate or more than one plate in line, i.e., photopolymer may be con-served.
While preferred embodiments o:E the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that variations therefrom may be made without departing from the scope of the in-vention.
- 5 - :
' .,:
It is yet another object of the instant invention to provide apparatus that is easy to clean and maintain.
Accordingly, the present invention provides photopolymer plate-making apparatus for making a photorelief printing plate, which apparatus comprises a horizontal flat plate to support a photo transparency and a cover film on the photo transparency, a movable carriage to traverse the flat plate, said carriage having photopolymer supply means, roll and backing sheet supply means all mounted on said carriage and a substantially upright plate con-nected to said carriage, said upright plate acting as a back wall and as a doctor blade; scoop means substantially movably connected to said upright plate, movement of said scoop means with respect to said upright plate defining a bottom opening between said scoop means and said upright plate to control the flow of photopolymer therethrough; and actuator means further interconnecting said scoop means and said upright plate to control the speed and amount of movement of said scoop means with respect to the upright plate and the resulting opening between said scoop means and said upright plate, whereby said opening provides uniform flow of a photopolymer onto the sur-face of the cover film and said upright plate doctors said photopolymer touniform thickness before the application of a backing sheet onto the surface thereof.
me purpose of the instant invention is to provide controllable photopolymer dispensing apparatus that can uniformly distribute liquid photo-polymer of essentially any viscosity in any aesired thickness or length. To accomplish this purpose, the instant invention provides photopolymer appli-cator means including a substantially vertical plate and a scoop that is sub-stantially movably connected to said vertical plate, said scoop and said vertical plate defining therebetween a bottom opening slot to control liquid flow. The vertical plate provides doctoring means for said controlled flow as said scoop means and vertical plate traverse a flat horizontal support surface onto which the liquid photopolymer is to be uniformly distributed.
~ _ 3 _ r~
10'74(~8 ~ he figure is a full cross-sectional view of the preferred appli-cator means and platem~king apparatus of the instant invention.
~ s can be seen in the figure, platemaking apparatus 10 traverses horizontal flat plate 12 to the left to produce a photopolymer plate. Photo transparency 14 has been positioned on flat plate 12 and has ~een covered by cover film 16 to protect said transparency. Platemaking apparatus 10 tra-verses the photo transparency 14 and cover film 16 applying a photopolymer 18 onto the surface thereof and rolling backing sheet 20 into the photo-polymer 18. me instant invention provides unique applicator means in the form of an upright plate, i.e. vertical plate 22 and scoop means 24. The lower portion of vertical plate 22 comprises a doctoring blade portion 26 to level the photopolymer 18. Scoop means 24 is shown to be open at the top and to have four walls, the thickness of the front and bottom walls being cross-hatched in the figure. The far end wall 28 of scoop means 24 is shown and the symmetrical near end wall is not illustrated. Outside end plates (not shown) - 3a -~ ' ~0'74l)~
are connected to vertical plate 22 to contain photopolymer. Scoop means 24 is shown to be pivotally interconnected to vertical plate 22 by pivot means 30. Scoop means 24 is rotated with re-spect to vertical plate 22 by rotation means generally noted at 32. Rotation means 32 comprises arm 34 rigidly connected to end wall 28 of scoop 24 and air cylinder 36 connected to vertical plate 22 by support means 38. Air cylinder 36 is pivotally con-nected to arm 34 at 40 and to support means 38 at 42. Thus, it can be seen that controlled actuation of air cylinder 36 will ro-10 tate scoop means 24 in controlled fashion to regulate the opening44 between scoop means 24 and vertical plate 22. Roller 46 is rotatably connected to the carriage of platemaking apparatus 10 to press the backing sheet ~0 into the photopolymer 18 at a pre-determined height. It is within the scope of the invention to provide other means than rotation means 32 to control the open-ing 44, such as electrical or hydraulic motors.
It is also within the scope of the invention to mount scoop means 24 for linear movement toward and away from vertical plate 22 to define a bottom opening 44 therebetween. It is also 20 important to note that vertical plate 22 need not be pçrpendicu-lar to flat plate 12 but may be inclined.
It can be appreciated that to produce printing plates of uniform thickness, the width of the opening 44 can be variably controlled while traversing flat plate 12 to provide a uniform flow of photopolymer 18 onto the surface of cover film 16. The width of the opening 44 may be increased while traversing flat plate 12 to compensate for photopolymer depth decrease and other-wise resulting flow rate decrease caused by decreasing head pres-sure.
In addition, precise control allows manufacture of both thick and thin plates as well as any thickness therebetween.
It is also important to note that the instant applicator means may be closed and reopened while the carriage traverses the flat surface. This is important when making a partial plate or more than one plate in line, i.e., photopolymer may be con-served.
While preferred embodiments o:E the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that variations therefrom may be made without departing from the scope of the in-vention.
- 5 - :
' .,:
Claims (2)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. Photopolymer platemaking apparatus for making a photorelief printing plate, which apparatus comprises a horizontal flat plate to support a photo transparency and a cover film on the photo transparency, a movable carriage to traverse the flat plate, said carriage having photopolymer supply means, roll and backing sheet supply means all mounted on said carriage and a substantially upright plate connected to said carriage, said upright plate acting as a back wall and as a doctor blade; scoop means substantially mov-ably connected to said upright plate, movement of said scoop means with respect to said upright plate defining a bottom opening between said scoop means and said upright plate to control the flow of photopolymer therethrough;
and actuator means further interconnecting said scoop means and said upright plate to control the speed and amount of movement of said scoop means with respect to the upright plate and the resulting opening between said scoop means and said upright plate, whereby said opening provides uniform flow of a photopolymer onto the surface of the cover film and said upright plate doctors said photopolymer to uniform thickness before the application of a backing sheet onto the surface thereof.
and actuator means further interconnecting said scoop means and said upright plate to control the speed and amount of movement of said scoop means with respect to the upright plate and the resulting opening between said scoop means and said upright plate, whereby said opening provides uniform flow of a photopolymer onto the surface of the cover film and said upright plate doctors said photopolymer to uniform thickness before the application of a backing sheet onto the surface thereof.
2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said scoop means is pivotally connected to said upright plate, rotation of said scoop means with respect to said upright plate defining a bottom opening between said scoop means and said upright plate.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US57103075A | 1975-04-23 | 1975-04-23 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1074098A true CA1074098A (en) | 1980-03-25 |
Family
ID=24282043
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA248,523A Expired CA1074098A (en) | 1975-04-23 | 1976-03-22 | Platemaking apparatus |
Country Status (9)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS6041345B2 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU513861B2 (en) |
| BE (1) | BE840730A (en) |
| BR (1) | BR7602443A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1074098A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2615880C3 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2308957A1 (en) |
| GB (1) | GB1527045A (en) |
| NL (1) | NL7604190A (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPS62254155A (en) * | 1986-04-28 | 1987-11-05 | Asahi Chem Ind Co Ltd | Laminate molding equipment for viscous substances |
| CN119974562B (en) * | 2025-04-14 | 2025-06-27 | 深圳市力子光电科技有限公司 | Automated chip placement equipment for combined filters |
-
1976
- 1976-03-22 CA CA248,523A patent/CA1074098A/en not_active Expired
- 1976-04-10 DE DE19762615880 patent/DE2615880C3/en not_active Expired
- 1976-04-14 BE BE166147A patent/BE840730A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1976-04-19 JP JP4377476A patent/JPS6041345B2/en not_active Expired
- 1976-04-21 FR FR7611721A patent/FR2308957A1/en active Granted
- 1976-04-21 NL NL7604190A patent/NL7604190A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1976-04-22 GB GB1634176A patent/GB1527045A/en not_active Expired
- 1976-04-22 BR BR7602443A patent/BR7602443A/en unknown
- 1976-04-23 AU AU13294/76A patent/AU513861B2/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| JPS6041345B2 (en) | 1985-09-17 |
| GB1527045A (en) | 1978-10-04 |
| BR7602443A (en) | 1976-10-19 |
| AU1329476A (en) | 1977-10-27 |
| DE2615880A1 (en) | 1976-11-04 |
| FR2308957B1 (en) | 1982-02-19 |
| DE2615880B2 (en) | 1980-03-20 |
| NL7604190A (en) | 1976-10-26 |
| JPS51129308A (en) | 1976-11-10 |
| BE840730A (en) | 1976-08-02 |
| AU513861B2 (en) | 1981-01-08 |
| DE2615880C3 (en) | 1980-11-13 |
| FR2308957A1 (en) | 1976-11-19 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |