GB985786A - Improvements in or relating to single-stage printing plate etching apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

985,786. Etching. INSTITUTE FUR GRAFISHE TECHNIK. April 9, 1962, No. 13654/62. Heading B6J. A single-stage etching apparatus for printing plates comprises a housing 1 enclosing an etching chamber 2, a carriage 11 slidable with respect to the housing 1 into and out of first and second positions respectively inside and outside the etching chamber 2, and a plate-clamping device 10 rotatably mounted on the carriage 11. A plate 9 to be etched is carried by the plate-clamping device 10 which is rotated by means of a spindle 13 and friction wheels 14, 15 from a motor 18. The friction wheel 15 is mounted on a shaft 16 which is axially displaceable by manual operation of a control linkage 17 to allow disengagement of the wheels 14, 15. As the clamping device 10 and plate 9 are rotated in the chamber 2 they are sprayed with etching fluid by banks of nozzles 4 to which the fluid is delivered through a pipe 6 by a pump 5 from a reservoir 7, the pump also being powered by the motor 18. The plate can be inspected during etching through a glass plate 3 or a plate of transparent synthetic plastic material mounted in the front of the housing 1. The carriage 11 is slidable in guide rails 12 and is secured to an end wall 20 of the housing 1. The parts 10, 11, 20 can be withdrawn together to a position indicated at 23 in Fig. 2, for mounting, removing or otherwise treating the plate 9, at which position the plate 9 may be rinsed with water sprayed from nozzles 24.