EP1097811B1 - Procédé de fabrication d'une plaque d'impression lithographique travaillant en négatif et sans ablation - Google Patents

Procédé de fabrication d'une plaque d'impression lithographique travaillant en négatif et sans ablation Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1097811B1
EP1097811B1 EP19990203682 EP99203682A EP1097811B1 EP 1097811 B1 EP1097811 B1 EP 1097811B1 EP 19990203682 EP19990203682 EP 19990203682 EP 99203682 A EP99203682 A EP 99203682A EP 1097811 B1 EP1097811 B1 EP 1097811B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
powder
acid
metal support
press
printing
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 - Lifetime
Application number
EP19990203682
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1097811A1 (fr
Inventor
Joan C/O Agfa-Gevaert N.V. Vermeersch
August c/o Agfa-Gevaert N.V. Meisters
Stefaan c/o Agfa-Gevaert N.V. De Meutter
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Agfa Gevaert NV
Original Assignee
Agfa Gevaert NV
Agfa Gevaert AG
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Agfa Gevaert NV, Agfa Gevaert AG filed Critical Agfa Gevaert NV
Priority to EP19990203682 priority Critical patent/EP1097811B1/fr
Priority to DE69912792T priority patent/DE69912792T2/de
Priority to US09/694,674 priority patent/US6399280B1/en
Priority to JP2000332629A priority patent/JP2001171068A/ja
Publication of EP1097811A1 publication Critical patent/EP1097811A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1097811B1 publication Critical patent/EP1097811B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41C—PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES
    • B41C1/00—Forme preparation
    • B41C1/10—Forme preparation for lithographic printing; Master sheets for transferring a lithographic image to the forme
    • B41C1/1066—Forme preparation for lithographic printing; Master sheets for transferring a lithographic image to the forme by spraying with powders, by using a nozzle, e.g. an ink jet system, by fusing a previously coated powder, e.g. with a laser
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41C—PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES
    • B41C1/00—Forme preparation
    • B41C1/10—Forme preparation for lithographic printing; Master sheets for transferring a lithographic image to the forme
    • B41C1/1058—Forme preparation for lithographic printing; Master sheets for transferring a lithographic image to the forme by providing a magnetic pattern, a ferroelectric pattern or a semiconductive pattern, e.g. by electrophotography

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a heat-mode method for preparing lithographic printing plates.
  • the invention is related to a method for making a lithographic printing plate by a negative working non-ablative process.
  • Rotary printing presses use a so-called master such as a printing plate which is mounted on a cylinder of the printing press.
  • the master carries an image which is defined by the ink accepting areas of the printing surface and a print is obtained by applying ink to said surface and then transferring the ink from the master onto a substrate, which is typically a paper substrate.
  • ink as well as an aqueous fountain solution are fed to the printing surface of the master, which is referred to herein as lithographic surface and consists of oleophilic (or hydrophobic, i.e. ink accepting, water repelling) areas as well as hydrophilic (or oleophobic, i.e. water accepting, ink repelling) areas.
  • Printing masters are generally obtained by the so-called computer-to-film method wherein various pre-press steps such as typeface selection, scanning, colour separation, screening, trapping, layout and imposition are accomplished digitally and each colour selection is transferred to graphic arts film using an image-setter.
  • the film can be used as a mask for the exposure of an imaging material called plate precursor and after plate processing, a printing plate is obtained which can be used as a master.
  • EP-A- 786 337 discloses a process for imaging a printing plate, wherein the printing plate is charged over the whole surface and wherein the whole surface is covered with fluid toner particles, which are charged oppositely. Thereon is the layer, formed by the particles imagewise fixed or imagewise ablated by infrared exposure on the surface of the printing plate. Thereafter the parts which are not fixed are removed and optionally the non-ablated areas are fixed by heating over the whole surface of the plate. This process requires a cumbersome development.
  • the metal support is preferably pure aluminum or an aluminum alloy, the aluminum content of which is at least 95%.
  • the thickness of the support usually ranges from about 0.13 to about 0.50 mm.
  • the preparation of aluminum or aluminum alloy foils for lithographic offset printing comprises the following steps : graining, anodizing, and optionally sealing of the foil.
  • the aluminum foil has a roughness with a CLA value between 0.2 and 1,5 ⁇ m, an anodization layer with a thickness between 0.4 and 2.0 ⁇ m and is posttreated.
  • the roughening of the aluminum foil can be performed according to the methods well known in the prior art.
  • the surface of the aluminum substrate can be roughened either by mechanical, chemical or electrochemical graining or by a combination of these to obtain a satisfactory adhesion of a layer to the aluminum support and to provide a good water retention property to the areas that will form the non-printing areas on the plate surface.
  • the electrochemical graining process is preferred because it can form a uniform surface roughness having a large average surface area with a very fine and even grain which is commonly desired when used for lithographic printing plates.
  • the roughening is preferably preceded by a degreasing treatment mainly for removing greasy substances from the surface of the aluminum foil, e.g. by applying a surfactant and/or an aqueous alkaline solution.
  • Preferably roughening is followed by a chemical etching step using an aqueous solution containing an acid.
  • the chemical etching is preferably carried out at a temperature of at least 30°C more preferably at least 40°C and most preferably at least 50°C.
  • the aluminum foil is anodized which may be carried out as follows.
  • An electric current is passed through the grained aluminum foil immersed as an anode in a solution containing an acid.
  • An electrolyte concentration from 1 to 70 % by weight can be used within a temperature range from 0-70°C.
  • the anodic current density may vary from 1-50 A/dm 2 and a voltage within the range 1-100 V to obtain an anodized film weight of 1-8 g/m2 Al 2 O 3 .H 2 O.
  • the anodized aluminum foil may subsequently be rinsed with demineralised water within a temperature range of 10-80°C.
  • the anodised aluminum support may be treated to improve the hydrophilic properties of its surface.
  • the aluminum support may be silicated by treating its surface with sodium silicate solution at elevated temperature, e.g. 95°C.
  • a phosphate treatment may be applied which involves treating the aluminum oxide surface with a phosphate solution that may further contain an inorganic fluoride.
  • the aluminum oxide surface may be rinsed with a citric acid or citrate solution. This treatment may be carried out at room temperature or may be carried out at a slightly elevated temperature of about 30 to 50°C.
  • a further interesting treatment involves rinsing the aluminum oxide surface with a bicarbonate solution.
  • the aluminum oxide surface may be treated with polyvinylphosphonic acid, polyvinylmethylphosphonic acid, phosphoric acid esters of polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylsulphonic acid, polyvinylbenzenesulphonic acid, sulphuric acid esters of polyvinyl alcohol, and acetals of polyvinyl alcohols formed by reaction with a sulphonated aliphatic aldehyde It is further evident that one or more of these post treatments may be carried out alone or in combination.
  • the magnetic powder comprises a hydrophobic thermoplastic binder, a magnetic material and preferably a release agent.
  • the binder resin used in the present invention may for example include hydrophobic thermoplastic vinyl resins, polyester resins and epoxy resins, Among these, vinyl resins and polyester resins are preferred in view of fixability.
  • vinyl monomers to be used for providing a vinyl polymer constituting the binder resin of the present invention may include: Styrene; styrene derivatives, such as o-methylstyrene, m-methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene, p-methoxystyrene, p-phenylstyrene, p-chlorostyrene, 3,4-dichlorostyrene, p-ethylstyrene, 2,4-dimethylstyrene, p-n-butylstyrene, p-tert.-butylstyrene, p-n-hexylstyrene, p-n-octylstyrene, p-n-nonylstyrene, p-n-decylstyrene, and p-n-dodecylstyrene; e
  • a combination of monomers providing styrene-type copolymers and styrene-acrylic type copolymers may be particularly preferred.
  • a suitable polyester resin for use in the present invention may preferably have a composition that comprises 45-55 mole % of alcohol component and 55-45 mole % of acid component
  • Examples of the alcohol component may include: diols, such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 2,3-butanediol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, neopentylglycol, 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol, hydrogenated bisphenol A.
  • diols such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, 1,3-butanediol, 1,4-butanediol, 2,3-butanediol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,5-pentanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, neopentylglycol, 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediol, hydrogenated bisphenol A.
  • Examples of the acid constituting at least 50 mole % of the total acid may include benzenedicarboxylic acids, such as phthalic acid, terephthalic acid and isophthalic acid, and their anhydrides; alkyldicarboxylic acids, such as succinic acid, adipinic acid, sebacic acid and azelaic acid, and their anhydrides; C 6 -C 18 alkyl or alkenyl-substituted succinic acids, and their anhydrides; and unsaturated dicarboxylic acids, such as fumaric acid, maleic acid, citraconic acid and itaconic acid, and their anhydrides.
  • benzenedicarboxylic acids such as phthalic acid, terephthalic acid and isophthalic acid, and their anhydrides
  • alkyldicarboxylic acids such as succinic acid, adipinic acid, sebacic acid and azelaic acid, and their anhydrides
  • polybasic carboxylic acids having three or more functional groups may include;trimellitic acid, pyromellitic acid, benzophenonetetracarboxylic acid, and their anhydrides.
  • a preferred polyester for use in the present invention may preferably have a glass transition temperature of 50°-75°C, particularly 55°-65°C, a number-average molecular weight (Mn) of 1,500-50,000, particularly 2,000-20,000, and a weight-average molecular weight of 6,000-100,000, particularly 10,000-90,000 and a diameter between 0.50 and 10 ⁇ m.
  • Mn number-average molecular weight
  • Examples of the magnetic material contained in the magnetic powder used in the present invention may include: iron oxides such as magnetite, hematite, and ferrite; iron oxides containing another metal oxide; metals, such as Fe, Co and Ni, and alloys of these metals with other metals , such as Al, Co, Cu, Pb, Mg, Ni, Sn, Zn, Sb, Be, Bi, Cd, Ca, Mn, Se, Ti, W and V; and mixtures of the above.
  • the magnetic material may include: triiron tetroxide (Fe 3 O 4 ), diiron trioxide ( ⁇ -Fe 2 O 3 ), zinc iron oxide (ZnFe 2 O 4 ), ytrium iron oxide (Y 3 Fe 5 O 12 ), cadmium iron oxide (CdFe 2 O 4 ), gadolinium iron oxide (Gd 3 Fe 5 O 12 ), copper iron oxide (CuFe 2 O 4 ), Lead iron oxide (PbFe 12 O 19 ), nickel iron oxide (NiFe 2 O 4 ), neodymium iron oxide (NdFe 2 O 3 ), barium iron oxide (BaFe 12 O 19 ), magnesium iron oxide (MgFe 2 O 4 ), manganese iron oxide (MnFe 2 O 4 ), lanthanium iron oxide (LaFeO 3 ), powdery iron (Fe), powdery cobalt (Co), and powdery nickel (Ni).
  • the above magnetic materials may be used singly or in mixture of two or more species. Particularly suitable
  • the magnetic material preferably shows the following magnetic properties when measured by 798 kA/m (10 kilo-Oersted), inclusive of: a coercive force of 1596 - 11970 A/m (20-150 Oersted), a saturation magnetization of 50-200 emu/g, particularly 50-100 emu/g, and a residual magnetization of 2-20 emu/g.
  • Preferred compounds capable of converting light into heat are dyes, preferably infrared dyes and pigments, preferably infrared pigments.
  • the powder of the present invention preferably also contains a compound capable of converting light into heat.
  • the magnetic material itself may be used as light absorbing compound.
  • Examples of the release agent may include : aliphatic hydrocarbon waxes, such as low-molecular weight polyethylene, low-molecular weight polypropylene, microcrystaline wax, and paraffin wax, oxidation products of aliphatic hydrocarbon waxes, such as oxidized polyethylene wax, and block copolymers of these; waxes containing aliphatic esters as principal constituent, such as carnabau wax, sasol wax, montanic acid ester wax, and partially or totally deacidified aliphatic esters, such as deacidified carnabau wax.
  • aliphatic hydrocarbon waxes such as low-molecular weight polyethylene, low-molecular weight polypropylene, microcrystaline wax, and paraffin wax
  • oxidation products of aliphatic hydrocarbon waxes such as oxidized polyethylene wax, and block copolymers of these
  • waxes containing aliphatic esters as principal constituent such as carnabau wax, sa
  • the release agent may include: saturated linear aliphatic acids, such as palmitic acid, stearic acid, and montanic acid; unsaturated aliphatic acids, such as brassidic acid, eleostearic acid and palmitiric acid; saturated alcohols, such as stearyl alcohol, arachidic alcohol, behenyl alcohol, carnaubyl alcohol, ceryl alcohol, and melissyl alcohol; aliphatic acid amides, such as linoleyl amide, oleylamide and laurylamide, saturated aliphatic acid bisamides, such as methylene-bisstearylamide, ethylene-biscaprylamide, and ethylene-biscaprylamide; unsaturated aliphatic acid amides, such as ethylene-bisoleylamide, hexamethylene-bisoleylamide, N, N'-dioleyladipoylamide, and N,N'-dioleylsebacoylamide; aromatic bisamides, such
  • the release agent may preferably be used in an amount of 0.20 wt. parts, particularly 0.5-10 wt. parts, per 100 wt. parts of the binder resin.
  • the release agent may be uniformly dispersed in the binder resin by a method of mixing the release agent in a solution of the resin at an elevated temperature under stirring or melt-kneading the binder resin together with the release agent.
  • the above described metal support was placed in a first magnetic field with the hydrophilic surface located in the direction of the magnetic powder.
  • the polarity of the magnetic field is so that the magnetic powder is attracted to the hydrophilic surface of the support.
  • said imaging element is image-wise or information-wise exposed.
  • Image-wise exposure in connection with the present invention is preferably an image-wise scanning exposure involving the use of a laser or L.E.D.
  • a laser or L.E.D Preferably used are lasers that operate in the infrared or near-infrared, i.e. wavelength range of 700-1500 nm. Most preferred are laser diodes emitting in the near-infrared.
  • the imaging element was freed of magnetic powder on the non-exposed areas by applying a magnetic field with the opposite polarity of the first field to said imaging element.
  • the plate is then ready for printing without an additional development and can be mounted on the printing press.
  • some or all of the above steps can be performed on-press, i.e. after mounting the support on the press.
  • An aluminum support was electrochemically grained using hydrochloric acid, anodized in sulphuric acid and subsequently treated with polyvinylphosphonic acid.
  • the above described aluminum support was placed together with a dry magnetic powder in a first magnetic field in such a way that the magnetic powder is attracted to the hydrophylic surface of the aluminum support.
  • the aluminum support covered with one of the magnetic powders was exposed with an 830 nm diode laser (Isomet-3600 dpi-spot size 11 ⁇ m-at a speed of 3.2 m/s; i.e. pixel dwell time of 3.4 ⁇ s; the image plane power was varied: 80mW-190 mW-292 mW were used).
  • the same aluminum supports were also exposed with an 1060 nm NdYLF laser (Isomet-spot size 18 ⁇ m-speed 3.2 m/s; the power was varied between 250 mW and 750 mW).
  • the magnetic powder was removed by applying a second magnetic field with an opposite polarity as the first magnetic field.
  • the thus obtained printing plates were mounted on a conventional offset printing machine equipped with a conventional ink and fountain solution. Printing was started without any further treatment, and resulted in good prints with good image quality.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Printing Plates And Materials Therefor (AREA)
  • Materials For Photolithography (AREA)
  • Photosensitive Polymer And Photoresist Processing (AREA)
  • Manufacture Or Reproduction Of Printing Formes (AREA)

Claims (9)

  1. Procédé pour préparer un cliché d'impression lithographique, comprenant les étapes consistant à :
    appliquer un premier champ magnétique sur une poudre sèche absorbant la lumière, qui comprend une matière magnétique et un liant thermoplastique hydrophobe, en recouvrant ainsi la surface d'un support métallique avec ladite poudre ;
    exposer à de la lumière en forme d'image la poudre avec la surface du support métallique pour ainsi augmenter l'adhérence de la poudre à la surface du support métallique sans soumettre la poudre à une ablation ;
    retirer la poudre magnétique non exposée de la surface du support métallique sous l'action d'un deuxième champ magnétique dont la polarité est opposée à celle du premier champ magnétique.
  2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la matière magnétique comprend des particules possédant un diamètre entre 0,50 et 10 µm.
  3. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ladite poudre comprend une substance absorbant la lumière dans le domaine infrarouge proche du spectre.
  4. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, dans lequel le liant comprend une résine vinylique thermoplastique hydrophobe.
  5. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, dans lequel le liant comprend une résine d'ester thermoplastique hydrophobe.
  6. Procédé selon la revendication 4, dans lequel la résine vinylique est un composé choisi parmi le groupe constitué par le polystyrène et le polyacrylate.
  7. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, dans lequel le support métallique est une feuille mince en aluminium anodisé.
  8. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, dans lequel la poudre comprend un agent de libération.
  9. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, dans lequel on effectue sur presse l'une quelconque des étapes ou la totalité de ces dernières.
EP19990203682 1999-11-03 1999-11-03 Procédé de fabrication d'une plaque d'impression lithographique travaillant en négatif et sans ablation Expired - Lifetime EP1097811B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19990203682 EP1097811B1 (fr) 1999-11-03 1999-11-03 Procédé de fabrication d'une plaque d'impression lithographique travaillant en négatif et sans ablation
DE69912792T DE69912792T2 (de) 1999-11-03 1999-11-03 Negativ arbeitendes Verfahren zur Herstellung einer lithographischen Druckplatte ohne Ablation
US09/694,674 US6399280B1 (en) 1999-11-03 2000-10-24 Method for making a lithographic printing plate by a negative working non-ablative process
JP2000332629A JP2001171068A (ja) 1999-11-03 2000-10-31 ネガティブ作用性非−融蝕法による平版印刷版の作製法

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19990203682 EP1097811B1 (fr) 1999-11-03 1999-11-03 Procédé de fabrication d'une plaque d'impression lithographique travaillant en négatif et sans ablation

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1097811A1 EP1097811A1 (fr) 2001-05-09
EP1097811B1 true EP1097811B1 (fr) 2003-11-12

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EP19990203682 Expired - Lifetime EP1097811B1 (fr) 1999-11-03 1999-11-03 Procédé de fabrication d'une plaque d'impression lithographique travaillant en négatif et sans ablation

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EP (1) EP1097811B1 (fr)
JP (1) JP2001171068A (fr)
DE (1) DE69912792T2 (fr)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2016202669A1 (fr) * 2015-06-17 2016-12-22 Agfa Graphics Nv Précurseur d'impression flexographique et son développement magnétique
JP6969304B2 (ja) * 2017-11-10 2021-11-24 コニカミノルタ株式会社 インク膜形成用原版、凹凸パターン形成方法、パターン膜形成方法、パターン膜形成装置

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS49110404A (fr) * 1973-01-29 1974-10-21
JPS63135248A (ja) * 1986-11-28 1988-06-07 Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd オフセツト印刷機
US5188033A (en) * 1991-07-08 1993-02-23 Rockwell International Corporation Direct-to-press imaging system for use in lithographic printing
DE19602328A1 (de) * 1996-01-24 1997-07-31 Roland Man Druckmasch Verfahren zum Bebildern einer löschbaren Druckform

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69912792D1 (de) 2003-12-18
EP1097811A1 (fr) 2001-05-09
JP2001171068A (ja) 2001-06-26
DE69912792T2 (de) 2004-09-23

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