GB2576048A - Support surface for a flexible print plate mounting apparatus - Google Patents

Support surface for a flexible print plate mounting apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2576048A
GB2576048A GB1812687.0A GB201812687A GB2576048A GB 2576048 A GB2576048 A GB 2576048A GB 201812687 A GB201812687 A GB 201812687A GB 2576048 A GB2576048 A GB 2576048A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
support surface
flexible print
print plate
moveable
moveable sections
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB1812687.0A
Other versions
GB201812687D0 (en
Inventor
Littler Graham
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.)
J M HEAFORD Ltd
Original Assignee
J M HEAFORD Ltd
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 J M HEAFORD Ltd filed Critical J M HEAFORD Ltd
Priority to GB1812687.0A priority Critical patent/GB2576048A/en
Publication of GB201812687D0 publication Critical patent/GB201812687D0/en
Publication of GB2576048A publication Critical patent/GB2576048A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F27/00—Devices for attaching printing elements or formes to supports
    • B41F27/12—Devices for attaching printing elements or formes to supports for attaching flexible printing formes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F13/00—Common details of rotary presses or machines
    • B41F13/08—Cylinders
    • B41F13/10—Forme cylinders
    • B41F13/12—Registering devices
    • B41F13/16—Registering devices with means for displacing the printing formes on the cylinders
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F27/00—Devices for attaching printing elements or formes to supports
    • B41F27/005—Attaching and registering printing formes to supports
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F27/00—Devices for attaching printing elements or formes to supports
    • B41F27/12—Devices for attaching printing elements or formes to supports for attaching flexible printing formes
    • B41F27/1262—Devices for attaching printing elements or formes to supports for attaching flexible printing formes without tensioning means
    • B41F27/1275—Devices for attaching printing elements or formes to supports for attaching flexible printing formes without tensioning means by means of adhesives, staples
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41P—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO PRINTING, LINING MACHINES, TYPEWRITERS, AND TO STAMPS
    • B41P2227/00—Mounting or handling printing plates; Forming printing surfaces in situ
    • B41P2227/40—Adjusting means for printing plates on the cylinder

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Printing Plates And Materials Therefor (AREA)

Abstract

A support surface 100 for a flexible print plate mounting apparatus comprises moveable sections 130, 140 for adjusting the profile of the flexible print plate 190 on the support surface. The support surface may comprise a support table 110 and a layer of resilient material 120 provided on an upper surface of support table 110. The moveable sections may be configured to raise an area of the flexible print plate proximal to registration marks present on the flexible print plate. The moveable sections may be movable between a raised position and a position parallel to the support surface. The moveable sections may be moveable in the y-direction by lifting means 160, 170 arranged below and in contact with the moveable sections. An optical device 180 such as a camera may be mounted below the support surface and is oriented upwards so that the camera’s line of sight extends through the gap 150 to view registration marks of the flexible printing plate. The support surface may also comprise moveable sections (230, 240, Fig.2) that are articulately connected to the support surface. There is also provided a method of mounting a flexible print plate onto a print sleeve or cylinder.

Description

Support Surface for a Flexible Print Plate Mounting Apparatus
Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a support surface for a flexible print plate mounting apparatus, to a method for mounting a flexible print plate from said support surface and to a flexible print plate mounting apparatus comprising said support surface.
Background to the Invention
In the printing industry flexographic plates formed on one surface with a relief print have to be mounted with accuracy, either directly onto press cylinders (hereafter cylinder(s)) or onto cylindrical print sleeves (hereafter sleeve(s)) mounted on rotatable mandrels. The accuracy of mounting is particularly important when mounting photopolymer printing plates where the colours of an image (yellow, red, blue (cyan), black etc.) are overlaid to produce the finished image. Thus, the mounting operation has to be repeated with precision for each of the plates carrying the image portions for each colour, with four to eight colours being typical. Registration marks, usually crosses or dots, are often provided on each printing plate to promote accurate alignment of the printing plates on to the cylinder or sleeve.
When printing plates are supported on a flat support table, as is the case in US5488781, edges of the printing plate are known to curl and lay in an uneven manner with raised portions visible as the plate lies in its natural state. This problem is exacerbated if printing plates are re-used in order to reduce costs. The curl or uneven nature of the surface presents a distorted position of the registration marks to the camera which can lead to a reduction in the accuracy of alignment between the printing plate and the printing cylinder. The operator may also experience difficulties in mounting the printing plate to the printing cylinder when the edges of the printing plate are curled, thereby reducing the speed and efficiency of the mounting operation.
Current solutions that have been employed to reduce curling at the print plate’s edges and/or unevenness of the print plate when placed on a flat support table include using vacuum suction to pull the print plate flat. In such cases, holes are drilled through the support table and a vacuum is generated on the underside so as to pull the print plate located above flat. However, this solution has the disadvantage that for the vacuum to be effective, all of the holes must covered by the print plate otherwise excessive loss of vacuum can be experienced, and it will be appreciated that a loss of vacuum in some regions but not others will reduce the accuracy of alignment between the print plate and the print sleeve or cylinder. Moreover, when the print plate is placed on the support table in an inverted manner, as per GB2490029 and NL2015516, channels are formed between raised portions of the print plate and the support table which can lead to a loss of pressure and consequently a reduction in the accuracy of alignment between the print plate and the print sleeve or cylinder. On the other hand, if the vacuum is too powerful, it can lead to deflection of the relief area on the print plate surface which can also lead to the same positional issue. In addition, vacuum generators are costly to run and to maintain.
As disclosed in EP0922578 and US9266320, an alternative solution to reduce plate curl and unevenness of the print plate when provided on a flat support table is to place a weight, typically in the form of a bar or ring, on the print plate in order to compress the print plate and to keep it flat. However, this approach has the drawback that additional operations are required to be carried out by the operator which complicates and extends the time required to mount the print plate on the print sleeve or cylinder. Moreover, there is a significant risk that the print plate will be disturbed from position when the weight is removed prior to the mounting operation. There is also a risk that the weight will be left in place rather than being removed once the flexible print plate has been appropriately aligned with the print sleeve or cylinder, in which case the weight could become entangled in the apparatus during a subsequent processing step thereby damaging the apparatus.
In light of the above it is an object of embodiments of the invention to provide an improved support surface and methodology for reducing or eliminating curling at a print plate’s edges when placed on the support surface.
It is also an object of embodiments of the present invention to provide an improved support surface and methodology that enables accurate alignment of a flexible print plate on a print sleeve or cylinder without the use of a vacuum and/or weights.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a flexible print plate mounting apparatus that is cost-effective to run and maintain.
Summary of the Invention
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a support surface for a flexible print plate mounting apparatus, wherein the support surface comprises moveable sections for adjusting the profile of the flexible print plate prior to its application to a print sleeve or cylinder.
The support surface of the present invention is an improvement over existing flat support surfaces from which flexible print plates are mounted onto print sleeves or cylinders. In particular, the support surface of the invention minimises curling at the flexible plate’s edges which improves the accuracy of alignment of the registration marks on the flexible print plate relative to virtual target locations which are overlaid on a visual display onto an image of the flexible print plate. This in turn leads to a more accurate mounting operation which is particularly important when mounting photopolymer printing plates where the colours of an image (yellow, red, blue (cyan), black etc.) are overlaid to produce the finished image. Since the profile of the flexible print plate is adjusted through movement of the moveable sections, it is no longer necessary to use vacuum means to eliminate curling at the plate’s edges by pulling the plate flat. This makes the apparatus of the present invention much less expensive to operate and maintain relative to existing apparatus that comprise vacuum suction means. Moreover, since the apparatus of the present invention does not rely on vacuum suction means or weights to adjust the plate’s profile, it is much more suited for applications where the flexible print plate is inverted and the raised print surface is facing the support surface. It also avoids the positional and accuracy issues brought about by a loss of vacuum or if the vacuum pressure is too high.
The moveable sections may be configured to raise an area of the flexible print plate proximal to the registration marks. This creates surface tension in the print plate close to the registration marks which reduces the uneven nature of the flexible print plate and any curvature in the area where the registration marks are located. Since the registration marks will be viewed on a substantially flat surface rather than on a curved and/or uneven surface, improvements in the accuracy of alignment of the registration marks on the print plate and the virtual target locations can be obtained.
The moveable sections may be configured to be movable between a raised position and a position parallel to the support surface. When the moveable sections are in the position parallel to the support surface, the moveable sections are at substantially the same height as the support surface to define a substantially flat support surface.
The moveable sections may be configured to be moveable in the y-direction. In particular, the moveable sections may be spring loaded which urges the moveable sections upwards when not under compression. Alternatively, the moveable sections may be moved in the y-direction by lifting means arranged below the moveable sections. The lifting means may comprise mechanical, pneumatic or electrical lifting means.
In some embodiments a moveable section may be articulately connected to a non-moveable section of the support surface. For example, the moveable section may be configured to move in a hinge-like manner. The moveable section may be moveable between an upwardly angled position and a position parallel to the support surface.
The moveable sections may be angled upwards in their resting position. Alternatively, the moveable sections may lie in a position parallel to the support surface and be moved to a raised position once the flexible print plate has been applied to the support surface.
The apparatus may comprise mechanical, pneumatic or electrical means for moving the articulated moveable sections. However, it will be appreciated that if the articulated connection comprises a resilient member or material then additional means for moving the moveable section may not be necessary. Instead, the moveable sections may be moved from their raised position to a position parallel to the support surface as the print sleeve or cylinder pushes against the moveable sections in the direction of the support surface. Once the flexible print plate has been mounted and the print sleeve or cylinder is moved away from the support surface, the moveable sections may then automatically return to their raised angled position.
The articulated connection may comprise a resilient material or member capable of moving the moveable sections between an upwardly angled position and a position parallel to the support surface. The resilient material itself may be adhesive or the articulated connection may comprise a laminate comprising the resilient material and an adhesive flexible material. For example, the laminate may comprise a layer of double-sided adhesive tape and a resilient material. Such a construction means that the articulated connection can, if necessary, be repaired easily, quickly and at low cost. It is also an energy efficient means for moving the moveable sections. The resilient member may comprise rubber or a foam material.
The moveable sections may be configured to move together or alternatively, they may be configured to move independent of one another.
The support surface may be a support table. The support table may be provided with a layer of compressible material. The compressible material may be a layer of resilient material. Resilient materials that may be used in accordance with the invention include rubber, foams, e.g. polyurethane foams or other synthetic polymer materials. The support surface can be moveable horizontally and/or vertically as desired.
A gap or viewing window may be provided between the moveable sections to enable an optical device positioned below the support surface to view the registration marks on an inverted flexible print plate. The gap or viewing window may be 2 to 10 mm wide. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of mounting a flexible print plate onto a print sleeve or cylinder, the method comprising the steps of:
i. providing the apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention;
ii. moving the moveable sections to a raised position for adjusting the profile of the flexible print plate;
iii. applying the flexible print plate on the support surface, and iv. mounting the flexible print plate to the print sleeve or cylinder.
The method may comprise the step of raising the moveable sections in the ydirection. Alternatively, the method may comprise the step of angling the moveable sections upwards in the direction of the flexible print plate.
In some embodiments the moveable sections may be moved to their raised position prior to the step of applying the flexible print plate on the support surface, while in other embodiment the flexible print plate may be applied on the support surface prior to the step of moving the moveable sections to their raised position.
The movable sections may be moved to their raised positon automatically.
The method may comprise the step of positioning the flexible print plate on the support surface so that an area of the flexible print plate proximal to the registration marks is raised. The moveable sections may be moved together or alternatively they may be moved independent of one another.
The registration marks on the flexible print plate may be aligned with virtual target locations following the step of adjusting the profile of the flexible print plate. However, it will be appreciated that the alignment of the registration marks with the target locations can also take place before the profile of the flexible plate is adjusted. In some embodiments, the step of aligning the registration marks on the flexible print plate with the target locations is an automated process. Alternatively, the alignment of the registration marks with the target locations may be carried out manually by an operator. Alignment of the registration marks with the target locations may be verified by visual inspection, e.g. on a display screen connected to an optical device.
The print sleeve or cylinder may be brought into contact with the flexible print plate when the moveable sections are in their raised position. In this way, the flexible print plate is prevented from curling which helps to ensure accurate alignment of the registration marks with the target locations as the print sleeve or cylinder contacts the flexible print plate. In some embodiments, the print sleeve or cylinder may be lowered into contact with the flexible print plate. However, it will be appreciated that the support surface could be raised towards the print sleeve or cylinder with the moveable sections in their raised positions.
The movable sections may be moved from their raised position to a position parallel with the support surface once the print sleeve or cylinder has been brought into contact with the flexible print plate. This has the advantage that the flexible print plate can be accurately attached to the print sleeve or cylinder and thereafter mounted easily and quickly once the moveable sections are parallel to the support surface.
The flexible print plate may be rolled onto the print sleeve or cylinder which has the benefit that any air trapped between the flexible print plate and print sleeve or cylinder is removed. In particular, the flexible print plate may be rolled onto the print sleeve or cylinder following the step of moving the movable sections to a position parallel to the support surface. In an alternative embodiment, the mounting operation may include the step of moving the support surface in a substantially horizontal direction perpendicular to the axis of the print sleeve or cylinder so that the flexible print plate is wound onto the print sleeve or cylinder.
The flexible print plates may be placed on the support surface with the print surface facing upwards towards the print sleeve or cylinder. Alternatively, the flexible print plate may be provided on the support surface in an inverted manner meaning that the print surface is facing the support surface.
According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for mounting a flexible print plate onto a print sleeve or cylinder, the apparatus comprising the support surface according to the first aspect of the invention. The apparatus according to the third aspect of the invention comprises the support surface according to the first aspect of the invention and therefore the apparatus may include any or all features described in relation to the first aspect of the invention.
The apparatus may comprise an optical device for viewing registration marks on the flexible print plate. The optical device may comprise a camera, a video camera or other device capable of displaying, recording and storing digital images. The optical device may be linked to a display screen that provides the operator with magnified images of the registration marks. Since the target locations are overlaid onto the image of the flexible print plate being shown on the display screen, the operator is able to align the registration marks with the target locations with greater accuracy. The display screen may be a split display screen. The image shown on the display screen may be a video image.
In some embodiments the optical device may be arranged below the support surface and oriented upwards for viewing the registration marks on the flexible print plate. This arrangement may be appropriate when the flexible print plate is provided on the support surface in an inverted manner with the print surface facing the support surface. In particular, the optical device may be arranged below the support surface to enable viewing of the registration marks through the gap or viewing window.
In other embodiments, the optical device may be arranged above the print sleeve or cylinder and oriented downwards for viewing the registration marks on the flexible print plate from above. This arrangement may be appropriate when the flexible print plate is provided on the support surface such that the print surface is facing the print sleeve or cylinder. Given that the optical device is mounted above the flexible print plate, it is not necessary to provide an aperture or viewing window in the support surface between the moveable sections. However, the provision of an aperture or window means that the apparatus can be used for mounting flexible print plates in their conventional and inverted orientations.
Detailed Description ofthe Invention
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood one or more embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
Figure 1 shows a schematic of a support surface having a moveable sections in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 2 shows a schematic of a support surface having a moveable sections in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.
A support surface 100 for a flexible print plate mounting apparatus is shown in Figure 1. The support surface 100 comprises a support table 110 and a layer of resilient material 120 provided on an upper surface of support table 110. The support table 110 is formed from a metal or metal alloy such as steel while the resilient material 120 comprises a closed cell polyurethane foam. The layerof resilient material 120 can have a thickness between 1 and 5 mm. The support surface 100 comprises moveable sections 130 and 140 that are separated by a gap 150 that extends along length of the moveable sections 130, 140. The gap 150 may be between 2 and 10 mm wide. The moveable sections 130, 140 are capable of being raised and lowered in a vertical direction, and in this embodiment, the moveable sections 130 and 140 are spring loaded meaning that they are in a raised position unless under compression. However, it will be appreciated that the moveable sections 130 and 140 could alternatively be raised and lowered by a lifting mechanism which would enable an operative to raise and lower the moveable sections together or independently to ensure that any curvature or unevenness at the plate’s edges is minimised. The lifting mechanism may comprise L-shaped support members 160, 170, as shown in Figure 1, and mechanical, electrical or pneumatic lifting means (not shown). An optical device 180 such as a camera is mounted below the support surface 100 and is oriented upwards so that the camera’s 180 line of sight extends through the gap 150. In this embodiment two cameras 180 are mounted below the support surface 100 so that the registration marks present on the flexible print plate 190 can be viewed simultaneously. Such an arrangement is particularly suitable for applications where the flexible print plate 190 is provided on the support surface 100 in an inverted manner. However, it will be appreciated that the support surface 100 of the present invention can also be used to mount flexible print plates 190 that are placed on the support surface 100 with the print surface facing upwards in the direction of the print sleeve or cylinder (not shown). It will be appreciated that when the flexible print plate is placed on the support surface 100 in this way, the support surface need not comprise a gap or viewing window since the registration marks will be viewed from above rather than from below the support surface.
In a typical operation sequence a layer of double-sided adhesive tape with release paper is applied to the print sleeve or cylinder. The print sleeve or cylinder is then mounted between support arms of a support frame that is also configured to carry the support surface 100. The flexible print plate 190 is then placed on the support surface 100 in an inverted manner so that the raised print surface is facing the resilient material 120 of the support surface 100. The flexible print plate 190 should be placed on the support surface 100 so that the registration marks overlie or substantially overlie the gap 150 between the moveable sections 130, 140 which, by virtue of being spring loaded, will be in their raised position with respect to the non-movable sections of the support surface 100, i.e. the moveable sections 130, 140 and the non-moveable sections of the support surface are at different heights. This creates surface tension in the flexible print plate 190 in a region close to the registration marks which causes any curvature at the plate’s 190 edges or unevenness to dissipate, leaving behind a flat undistorted surface that can be viewed by the cameras 180 through the gap. The flexible print plate 190 is then positioned so that the registration marks, now on a flat undistorted surface, are appropriately aligned relative to virtual target locations shown on the display screen. Prior to bringing the print sleeve or cylinder into contact with flexible print plate 190 the release paper is removed to expose an adhesive surface of the adhesive tape. The print sleeve or cylinder is then lowered until the exposed adhesive surface of the adhesive tape contacts the desired perpendicular axis of the flexible print plate 190. Once contact has been made and the operative is satisfied with the alignment of the flexible print plate 190 on the print sleeve or cylinder, the print sleeve or cylinder is lowered towards the support surface 100 which exerts downwards pressure on the moveable sections 130,140 causing them to move to a positon parallel with the support surface 190, i.e. the moveable sections 130, 140 and the nonmoveable sections of the support surface 190 are in the same plane thereby defining a substantially flat support surface 100. Then, the support surface 190 is translated back and forth in order to roll mount the flexible print plate 190 onto the print sleeve or cylinder and to eliminate the presence of air pockets between the flexible print plate 190 and the adhesive tape.
In accordance with a second embodiment of the invention (Figure 2), the support surface comprises moveable sections 230, 240 that are articulately connected to the support surface 200. The articulated connection is formed by providing a laminate that comprises a resilient foam layer and a layer of an adhesive flexible material, e.g., a strip of double-sided adhesive tape. The exposed face of the adhesive tape is adhered to a vertical surface of a non-moveable section 230, 240 of the support surface 200, preferably in an upper region thereof, so that the foam layer faces and pushes against the moveable section 230, 240 urging it upwards and into a raised angled position. When the moveable sections 230, 240 are in their raised angled position, a 2 to 10 mm wide gap is formed which allows the registration marks on the flexible print plate 290 to be viewed by a camera 280 mounted below the support surface 200.
The flexible print plate 290 is placed on the support surface 200 with the moveable sections 230, 240 in their raised angled position having the effect that any distortion in the flexible print plate 290 at the camera viewing gap 250 is eliminated. The flexible print plate 290 having a flat undistorted surface local to the registration marks is then positioned to align the registration marks on the flexible print plate 290 with virtual target locations that are overlaid onto an image of the flexible print plate on the display screen. This positioning process may be an automated process or alternatively the position and fine adjustment of the flexible print plate’s positon on the support surface 200 may be carried out manually by an operative. Once the operative is satisfied that the registration marks and the target locations are accurately aligned, the print sleeve or cylinder is lowered into contact with the flexible print plate 290 so that the centre line of the flexible print plate 290 becomes adhered to an exposed adhesive surface of double sided adhesive tape presenton the print sleeve or cylinder. As the print sleeve or cylinder is lowered, downward force is exerted on the articulable moveable sections 230, 240. This compresses the resilient material and causes the moveable sections 230, 240 to transition from their raised angled configuration to a substantially flat horizontal configuration in which the moveable sections 230, 240 lie in the same plane as the non-moveable sections of the support surface 200. This provides a substantially flat support surface 200 from which the flexible print plate 290 can then be mounted. To mount the flexible print plate 290 the support surface 200 is translated back and forth which rolls the flexible print plate 290 onto the print plate or cylinder while at the same time removing any trapped air from between the flexible print plate 290 and the adhesive tape. Once the flexible print plate 290 has been successfully mounted, the print sleeve or cylinder is retracted which enables the articulated moveable sections 230, 240 to return their raised angled configuration in 5 preparation for the next mounting operation. While in this embodiment a laminate comprising a strip of double sided adhesive tape and foam material has been used to form the articulated connection, it will be appreciated that other means for urging the moveable sections into a raised angled position could be used. For example, a resilient member partly housed within a non-moveable section of the support surface could be 10 used to urge the moveable sections 230, 240 into a raised angled positon that is suitable for eliminating distortion of the flexible print plate 290 in a region local to the registration marks present on the flexible print plate 290.
The above embodiments are described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (12)

1. A support surface for a flexible print plate mounting apparatus, wherein the support surface comprises moveable sections for adjusting the profile of the flexible print plate on the support surface.
2. A support surface according to claim 1, wherein the moveable sections are configured to raise an area of the flexible print plate proximal to registration marks present on the flexible print plate.
3. A support surface according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the moveable sections are movable between a raised position and a position parallel to the support surface.
4. A support surface according to any preceding claim, wherein the moveable sections are moveable in the y-direction.
5. A support surface according to any preceding claim, wherein the moveable sections are spring loaded.
6. A support surface according to claim 4, wherein the moveable sections are moveable in the y-direction by lifting means arranged below and in contact with the moveable sections.
7. A support surface according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the moveable sections are articulately connected to non-moveable sections of the support surface.
8. A support surface according to claim 7, wherein the moveable sections are moveable between an upwardly angled position and a position parallel to the support surface.
9. A support surface according to claim 8, wherein the moveable sections are angled upwards in their resting position.
10. A support surface according to any of claims 7 to 9, wherein the articulated connection comprises a resilient material or member that permits movement of the moveable sections between the upwardly angled position and the position parallel to the support surface.
11. A support surface according to claim 10, wherein the articulated connection comprises a laminate comprising an adhesive flexible material and a resilient material.
12.
12. A support surface according to any preceding claim, wherein a gap or window is provided between the moveable sections.
13. A method of mounting a flexible print plate onto a print sleeve or cylinder, the method comprising the steps of:
i. providing an apparatus comprising the support surface according to any preceding claim;
ii. moving the moveable sections to a raised position for adjusting the profile of the flexible print plate;
iii. applying the flexible print plate on the support surface, and iv. mounting the flexible print plate to the print sleeve or cylinder.
14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the method comprises the step of raising the moveable sections in the y-direction or angling the moveable sections upwards in the direction of the flexible print plate.
15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the moveable sections are moved to their raised position prior to the step of applying the flexible print plate on the support surface.
16. A method according to any of claims 13 to 15, wherein the movable sections are moved to their raised positon automatically.
17. A method according to any of claims 13 to 16, wherein the flexible print plate is positioned on the support surface so that an area of the flexible print plate proximal to the registration marks is raised.
18. A method according to any of claims 13 to 17, comprising the step of aligning registration marks on the flexible print plate with virtual target locations overlaid onto an image of the flexible print plate..
19. A method according to claim 18 wherein the step of aligning the registration marks on the flexible print plate with the virtual target locations is an automated process and/or is confirmed by visual inspection.
20. A method according to any of claims 13 to 19, wherein the print sleeve or cylinder is brought into contact with the flexible print plate when the moveable sections are in their raised position.
21. A method according to any of claims 13 to 20, wherein the movable sections are moved from their raised position to a position parallel with the support surface once the print sleeve or cylinder has been brought into contact with the flexible print plate.
22. A method according to any of claims 13 to 21, wherein the flexible print plate is rolled onto the print sleeve or cylinder.
23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the flexible print plate is rolled onto the print sleeve or cylinder following the step of moving the movable sections to a position parallel to the support surface.
24. A method according to any of claims 13to 21, wherein the support surface is
5 moved in a substantially horizontal direction for roll mounting the flexible print plate onto the print sleeve or cylinder.
25. An apparatus for mounting a flexible print plate onto a print sleeve or cylinder, the apparatus comprising the support surface according to any of claims 1 to
GB1812687.0A 2018-08-03 2018-08-03 Support surface for a flexible print plate mounting apparatus Withdrawn GB2576048A (en)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
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GB2576048A true GB2576048A (en) 2020-02-05

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3253323A (en) * 1962-12-01 1966-05-31 Saueressig K G Maschinenfabrik Pressure roller
US20030205156A1 (en) * 2001-09-19 2003-11-06 Belanger James Richard Blanket cylinder with integrated compressible layer
JP2005132100A (en) * 2003-10-10 2005-05-26 Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp Constituent for flexographic plate size-increasing printing, and flexographic plate size-increasing printing method
EP1688796A2 (en) * 2005-02-07 2006-08-09 Esko-Graphics A/S Method and apparatus to clamp and release flexible plates onto an imaging cylinder
US20080264284A1 (en) * 2007-04-27 2008-10-30 Universal Engraving, Inc. Magnetic chase and graphic arts die assembly with selectively actuatable means for raising and supporting the die plate during alignment

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3253323A (en) * 1962-12-01 1966-05-31 Saueressig K G Maschinenfabrik Pressure roller
US20030205156A1 (en) * 2001-09-19 2003-11-06 Belanger James Richard Blanket cylinder with integrated compressible layer
JP2005132100A (en) * 2003-10-10 2005-05-26 Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp Constituent for flexographic plate size-increasing printing, and flexographic plate size-increasing printing method
EP1688796A2 (en) * 2005-02-07 2006-08-09 Esko-Graphics A/S Method and apparatus to clamp and release flexible plates onto an imaging cylinder
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