JP2003098681A - Printing plate developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent occurrence of vignetting and uneven rubbing in the case of developing by brushing a planographic printing plate by two brush rollers. SOLUTION: In the developing part 14, the brush roller 60 is arranged facing the PS plate 12 which is moved obliquely downward in the upstream part of a developing tank, and also, the brush roller 58 is arranged in the downstream part of the developing tank, and the PS plate is brushed by the brush rollers 58 and 60. In this case, the brush roller 60 is rotated forward, and also, the brush roller 58 is rotated backward in the case the direction of winding the belt-like member 166 around the brush roller 58 is the same as that around the brush roller 60. Then, the uneven rubbing is mutually eliminated between the brush rollers 58 and 60, then, the occurrence of uneven rubbing on the surface of the PS plate is prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing plate developing apparatus for carrying an image-exposed lithographic printing plate while immersing it in a developing solution and brushing it with a brush roller for development. More specifically, the present invention relates to a printing plate developing apparatus that brushes a lithographic printing plate that has been scanned and exposed by a laser beam with brush rollers that are respectively arranged at an upstream portion and a downstream portion in the transport direction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Photosensitive materials include lithographic printing plates in which a photosensitive layer is formed on the surface of a support made of aluminum or the like. This lithographic printing plate includes a so-called photopolymer plate that uses a photopolymerizable layer as a photosensitive layer. This photopolymer plate is C
Used in a TP (Computer to Plate) system, an exposure device such as a setter performs scanning exposure while modulating laser light in accordance with image data to perform image exposure.

In a printing plate developing apparatus for developing a photopolymer plate (hereinafter referred to as "PS plate processor"), the photopolymer plate is conveyed while being immersed in a developing solution for development processing. The photosensitive layer formed on the photopolymer plate swells when the unexposed portion of the photopolymerizable layer is dipped in a developing solution and is peeled off from the support. At this time, in the PS plate processor, a brush roller is provided in the developing solution, and the surface of the photopolymer plate is brushed by the brush roller to promote the removal of the unnecessary photosensitive layer swollen by the developing solution. ing.

On the other hand, P for developing the photopolymer plate
In the S plate processor, brush rollers are arranged at each of an upstream part and a downstream part in the conveying direction of the photopolymer plate,
By brushing the surface of the photopolymer plate with two brush rollers, it is possible to reliably remove the unnecessary photosensitive layer and achieve high quality finish.

That is, when the photopolymer plate is exposed, scattered light is liable to be generated, and the photosensitive layer exposed by the scattered light may not be completely removed by only brushing with one brush roller. For this reason, it is necessary to reliably remove the photopolymerization layer that is slightly exposed to the scattered light by using two brush rollers.

By the way, in the brush roller used for brushing such a photopolymer plate, a belt-shaped woven blanket (hereinafter referred to as a "band-shaped member") formed by previously implanting a blank material on a belt-shaped cloth is used as a roller body. A wound one is used. At this time, the belt-shaped member is wound spirally from one end side to the other end side of the roller body.

On the other hand, when brushing the photopolymer plate, it is necessary to increase the contact pressure when the bristle material provided on the brush roller contacts the photopolymer plate, as compared with brushing other lithographic printing plates. is there.

[0008]

However, when brushing a lithographic printing plate with a brush roller, vignetting may occur. Further, in the brush roller formed by spirally winding the strip-shaped member from one end side to the other end side of the roller body, the density of the bristle material becomes low at the boundary portion of the strip-shaped member, and this low density area is the peripheral area of the brush roller. There are spiral stripes on the surface. For this reason, when the photopolymer plate is brushed, streak-like rubbing unevenness may occur on the surface of the photopolymer plate, and the finished quality of the photopolymer plate may be degraded.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned facts, and when a planographic printing plate such as a photopolymer plate is brushed with a brush roller for development processing without causing vignetting, the surface of the planographic printing plate is processed. It is an object of the present invention to propose a printing plate developing apparatus that prevents the occurrence of uneven rubbing on the surface.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is formed by spirally winding a belt-shaped member having a bristle member on its surface from one end to the other end on the peripheral surface of a roller body. In the printing plate developing device, the brush roller is provided at the upstream and downstream parts of the developing tank for developing by immersing in a developing solution while conveying the lithographic printing plate, and brushing the lithographic printing plate by each of the brush rollers. There, while brushing while rotating so that the brush roller facing the lithographic printing plate moving diagonally downward in the transport direction upstream of the lithographic printing plate so as to be in the forward direction with the transport direction of the lithographic printing plate, A brush roller facing the lithographic printing plate at a downstream portion in the transport direction of the lithographic printing plate is rotated in a rotation direction set based on a winding direction of the belt-shaped member around the roller body. And wherein the brushing.

According to the present invention, the brush roller formed by spirally winding the belt-shaped member around the roller body is provided at the upstream and downstream portions of the transport path of the lithographic printing plate, and is transported while being immersed in the developing solution. The surface of the printing plate is brushed with each brush roller.

At this time, in the present invention, the lithographic printing plate is moved in the forward direction so that the bristle tips of the brush rollers provided in the upstream portion, which move obliquely downward, move in the conveying direction while contacting the lithographic printing plate. Rotate and brush.

Further, the brush roller provided in the downstream portion sets the rotation directions so as to cancel the streak-like uneven rubbing, based on the winding directions of the brush rollers provided in the upstream portion and the downstream portion, respectively.

As a result, when the surface of the planographic printing plate is brushed by the two brush rollers, the respective brush rollers cancel out the uneven rubbing of each other, so that the surface of the planographic printing plate is substantially uneven in rubbing. You can avoid it.

According to the present invention as described above, when the winding direction of the belt-shaped member is the same between the upstream portion in the transport direction of the printing plate and the downstream brush roller in the transport direction, the rotation direction of the brush roller at the downstream portion in the transport direction is the same. May be set in a direction opposite to the rotating direction of the brush roller at the upstream portion in the carrying direction.

When the winding direction of the belt-shaped member is different between the upstream side of the printing plate in the transport direction and the downstream brush direction of the transport direction, the rotation direction of the brush roller at the downstream side of the transport direction is the upstream side of the transport direction. It may be set in the same direction as the rotation direction of the brush roller of the section.

The lithographic printing plate applied to the present invention preferably contains a photopolymerizable layer as a photosensitive layer.

Further, the lithographic printing plate may include an oxygen barrier layer as the uppermost layer, and the lithographic printing plate provided with the oxygen barrier layer is subjected to a heat treatment (previous treatment) before the development treatment. It is preferable to perform (heating) and water washing treatment (pre-water washing), and at the time of pre-water washing, it is preferable to remove the oxygen barrier layer which is easily peeled off by pre-heating by brushing with a brush roller provided separately. The rotating direction of the brush roller during the pre-washing can be set arbitrarily regardless of the rotating direction of the brush roller during the developing process.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a PS plate processor 10 applied as a printing plate developing apparatus to this embodiment.

The PS plate processor 10 uses a rectangular thin plate using aluminum or the like as a support, and a lithographic printing plate having a photosensitive layer formed on one surface of the support,
It is used when a developing process is performed after image exposure by an exposure device (not shown). A so-called photopolymer plate provided with a photopolymerizable layer as a photosensitive layer is applied to the lithographic printing plate processed by the PS plate processor 10 (hereinafter, the so-called photopolymer plate is referred to as “PS plate 12”).
And). The PS plate 12 may have a photosensitive layer on which an overcoat layer is formed as an oxygen barrier layer. At this time, P of PS version 12
It suffices that the removal treatment of the overcoat layer is performed by performing the heat treatment and the water washing treatment prior to the development treatment in the S plate processor 10.

The PS plate 12 having the four-layer structure is exposed by a laser beam based on image data by an exposure device such as a setter to perform image exposure, thereby promoting the polymerization reaction of the image portion of the photopolymerizable layer. . The PS plate 12 having a four-layer structure will be described below as an example.

FIG. 2 shows a PS plate 12 which has been subjected to image exposure.
Pretreatment device 11 for preheating and prewashing
0 shows a schematic configuration of 0. The pretreatment device 110
May be integral with the PS plate processor 10 or may be connected to the PS plate processor 10. Furthermore, when using a photopolymer plate having a single-layer structure without an overcoat layer as the PS plate 12, the treatment by the pretreatment device 110 can be omitted.

The pretreatment device 110 includes a machine frame 112,
A pre-heating unit 114 as a pre-heating process is provided on the upstream side of the PS plate 12 in the conveying direction, and the pre-water washing unit 1 as a pre-water washing process is performed.
16 is provided on the downstream side.

In the machine frame 112, an insertion port 118 is formed on the upstream side of the pre-heating unit 114, and a pair of transport rollers 120 is provided between the insertion port 118 and the pre-heating unit 114. When the plate 12 is inserted into the insertion port 118, it is nipped by the pair of transport rollers 120 and drawn.

In the preheating section 114, a plurality of skewer rollers 124 are arranged in the heating chamber 122. The skewered roller 124 includes, for example, a plurality of short rollers provided with a predetermined gap so as to be axially supported, and each roller is slightly movable along the axis, and the preheating unit 114 heats the PS plate 12. Even if thermal expansion occurs in the support at this time, it is possible to prevent waviness and the like from occurring in the support.

Further, in the heating chamber 122, a far infrared heater 126 is provided on the inlet side as a heating means, and a circulation fan 128 is provided downstream of the far infrared heater 126.

The far-infrared heater 126 radiates radiant heat toward the transport path of the PS plate 12. As a result, the heating chamber 1
The far-infrared heater 12 is the PS plate 12 sent into the inside 22.
When facing 6, the radiant heat heats the entire region along the width direction substantially uniformly.

The circulation fan 128 sucks the air in the vicinity of the conveyance path of the PS plate 12 and sends it to the far infrared heater 126. As a result, the air in the vicinity of the far-infrared heater 126, which is heated by the radiant heat, is ejected to the inlet-side transport path, and the air in the heating chamber 122 is agitated so as to be substantially uniformly at a predetermined temperature. The far-infrared heater 12 removes the cold air near the surface of the PS plate 12 inserted into the heating chamber 122 by scraping it off from the surface of the PS plate 12.
6 promotes heating of the PS plate 12.

In the preheating section 114, when the PS plate 12 passes through the inside of the heating chamber 122, the photopolymerization layer of the PS plate 12 is appropriately cured by controlling the temperature and the heating time to a predetermined temperature. , PS plate 12 is intended to increase the printing durability.

On the other hand, the PS plate 1 which has passed through the heating chamber 122
2 is sent to the front water washing unit 116. The heating chamber 122
A cooling unit is provided between the outlet of the heating chamber and the front water washing unit 116,
By cooling the PS plate 12 before the washing water is supplied to the PS plate 12 sent from the pre-washing unit 116 by the pre-washing unit 116, the PS plate 12 is rapidly cooled by the washing water supplied in the pre-washing unit 18. It is also possible to prevent wrinkles and the like from being generated.

The front washing section 116 is provided with a washing tank 130, and a washing tank 132 for storing washing water is formed in the washing tank 130.

In the pre-water washing section 116, the conveying rollers 134, 136, 138 are arranged in a zigzag pattern on the pre-heating section 114 side. The transport rollers 134 and 138 are the PS plates 12
Is provided so as to face the upper surface of the conveyance roller 136.
Is arranged between the transport rollers 134 and 138 so as to face the lower surface of the PS plate 12.

As a result, the PS plate 12 sent to the pre-water washing section 116 is conveyed between the conveying rollers 134, 138 and the conveying roller 136.

The upper end portion of the transport roller 136 is located above the lower end portions of the transport rollers 134 and 138, and when the PS plate 12 is transported between the transport rollers 134 and 138, it is transported. The rollers 136 are curved so as to be slightly convex upward, and the transport rollers 136, 1
From between 38, it is sent out slightly obliquely downward.

The transport rollers 134 and 138 are skewer rollers in which each of a plurality of short rollers can be slightly moved along the axial direction.
In addition to the staggered arrangement of 38, the pre-heating unit 1
Even if the PS plate 12 heated by 14 is shrunk, wrinkles and the like are prevented from occurring.

On the other hand, in the front water washing section 116, the conveying roller 1
On the downstream side of 38, a brush roller 140 and a backup roller 142 are provided vertically in pairs. The contact position between the brush roller 140 and the backup roller 142 is lower than the lower end of the transport roller 138. As a result, the PS plate 12 is inclined from between the transport rollers 136 and 138, and the PS roller 12 and the backup roller 1 are inclined.
It is sent between 42.

In the front water washing section 116, the transport roller 1
38 and the brush roller 140 between the spray pipe 144
The spray pipe 146 is provided above the brush roller 140. Spray pipe 144,1
The cleaning water in the cleaning tank 132 is supplied to each of 46 by a cleaning pump or the like (not shown).

Each of the spray pipes 144, 146 is arranged in the axial direction along the conveyance width direction of the PS plate 12, and further, a plurality of ejection holes are formed at predetermined intervals along the axial direction (illustration). Omitted). As a result, each of the spray pipes 144 and 146 is supplied with the cleaning water in the cleaning tank 132 and ejects the cleaning water from the ejection holes.

A channel brush 148 is provided near the spray pipe 144. In this channel brush 148, the longitudinal direction is arranged along the axial direction of the spray pipe 144, and the tip end of the bristle material that is directed downward is PS that is directed obliquely downward between the transport roller 138 and the brush roller 140. It projects to the transport path of the plate 12.

A rectifying plate 150 is provided near the spray pipes 144 and 146. This straightening plate 1
The reference numeral 50 flows down while the cleaning water ejected from the spray pipes 144, 146 is evenly diffused along the width direction of the PS plate 12.

The tip of the current plate 150 provided on the spray pipe 144 is inclined toward the tip of the channel brush 148. Further, the straightening plate 150 provided on the spray pipe 146 has a tip end portion that is inclined downward facing the upper end portion of the brush roller 140.

As a result, the cleaning water ejected from the spray pipe 146 is supplied to the entire area of the brush roller 140 in the axial direction. As a result, the PS plate 12 is brushed by the brush roller 140 supplied with the cleaning water ejected from the spray pipe 146.

The cleaning water ejected from the spray pipe 144 is supplied to the channel brush 148, and the PS plate 12
Comes into contact with the tip of the channel brush 148 (the tip of the bristle material), so that it is supplied to the surface of the PS plate 12 in the entire width direction between the tip and the rear along the transport direction. It Further, as the cleaning water is further ejected from the spray pipe 146, the brush roller 14 is applied to the surface of the PS plate 12 inclined toward the brush roller 140.
Rinsing water is stored between 0 and 0.

As a result, the PS plate 12 is supplied with cleaning water on the surface thereof, and further, with the cleaning water stored therein, the brush roller 140 and the backup roller 14 are provided.
It is sent to between 2.

The overcoat layer formed on the PS plate 12 is swollen by the washing water and easily peeled off. Therefore, the PS plate 12 is brushed by the brush roller 140 in a state where the cleaning water is accumulated on the surface thereof, the overcoat layer is reliably removed, and the overcoat layer is partially left, so that the PS plate 12 is subjected to the development process. In addition, uneven development does not occur.

The brush roller 140 is adapted to obtain a predetermined brush pressure when the PS plate 12 is sandwiched between the brush roller 140 and the backup roller 142, so that the brush roller 140 rotates in a predetermined direction. When the PS plate 12 passes between the brush roller 140 and the backup roller 142, the surface of the PS plate 12 is reliably brushed.

Further, a guide plate 152 is provided between the conveying rollers 138 and the spray pipe 144 on the lower side of the conveying path of the PS plate 12, and the guide plate 152 allows the guide plates 152 to move from between the conveying rollers 136 and 138. When the rear end of the PS plate 12 is sent out, it is prevented from being lowered due to its own weight or the weight of the cleaning water supplied to the surface.

Further, a guide plate 154 is provided below the idle roller 142 so as to be inclined so that the cleaning water sprayed from the spray pipes 144 and 146 may drop from the backup roller 142 onto the guide plate 154. Thus, the cleaning water falling from the backup roller 142 is prevented from bubbling and scattering of the cleaning water by hitting the surface of the cleaning water stored in the cleaning tank 132.

On the other hand, in the pre-water washing section 116, a skewer roller 156 is provided on the downstream side of the brush roller 140. The skewered roller 156 is arranged on the upper side of the conveyance path of the PS plate 12, and the PS plate 12 that has passed between the brush roller 140 and the backup roller 142 floats up because it is brushed by the brush roller 140. Therefore, it is prevented from coming off the transport path.

A conveying roller pair 158 is provided at the most downstream side of the front water washing section 116. This transport roller pair 1
58 is the PS plate 12 from the spray pipes 144 and 146.
The PS plate 12 is sent out while dropping the cleaning water supplied to the PS plate 12 from the front and back surfaces of the PS plate 12.

In the pre-water washing section 116, the overcoat layer removed from the surface of the PS plate 12 is washed with washing water.
It is collected in the cleaning tank 132. Further, the cleaning tank 132 has a new liquid supply means (or a replenishing means) (not shown).
Fresh wash water is supplied by
The overcoat layer, together with the surplus washing water, is washed by the washing means 13 by an overflow means (not shown).
I try to discharge from 2.

Further, the pair of transport rollers 158 are provided in the machine frame 112.
The PS plate 12 is sent out from the discharge port 159. However, as shown in FIG. 2, the conveying roller pair 158 in the machine frame 112 is omitted and the PS plate 12 is adjacent to the downstream side of the pretreatment device 110. When a processing device such as an automatic developing device is installed,
The transport roller pair provided at the most upstream side of this processing apparatus may be used as the transport roller pair 158.

The preheating and prewashing of the PS plate 12 are
Not limited to the preprocessing device 110, any configuration can be applied.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the PS plate processor 10 includes a developing section 14 for treating the PS plate 12 with a developing solution, and a PS plate 12 treated with the developing solution.
Washing unit 16 for supplying and washing the washing water of P, and P after washing
The S plate 12 is provided with a desensitization processing unit 18 for applying a gum solution for plate surface protection to desensitize the S plate 12, and a drying unit 20 for drying the PS plate 12. That is, the PS plate processor 10 has a general configuration in which a developing process, a water washing process, a desensitizing process process, and a drying process are sequentially arranged along the transport direction (arrow A in FIG. 1) of the PS plate 12. Has become.

A processing tank 22 is provided in the PS plate processor 10. In the processing tank 22, a developing tank 24 is formed as a processing tank at a position to be the developing section 14, and a washing tank 26 and a desensitizing processing tank 28 are formed at positions to be the water washing section 16 and the desensitizing processing section 18. Has been done. In the processing tank 22, a space for the insertion portion 34 is provided on the upstream side of the developing tank 24 (upstream side in the transport direction of the PS plate 12), and a space for the drying portion 20 is provided on the downstream side of the desensitizing processing tank 28. Are formed.

An outer panel 3 covering the periphery of the processing tank 22.
No. 0 has a slit-shaped insertion port 32 formed on the insertion side of the PS plate 12 into the PS plate processor 10 (on the left side of FIG. 1), and the processing tank 22 is inserted on the insertion port 32 side of the developing unit 14. The part 34 is formed.

The PS plate processor 10 has covers 36 and 3 for covering the upper part of the processing tank 22 and the upper part of the drying part 20.
8 are provided. The cover 36 on the insertion port 32 side is arranged so as to cover the insertion part 34 of the processing tank 22 to the upper part of the water washing part 16, and the cover 38 is arranged so as to cover between the upper part of the water washing part 16 and the upper part of the drying part 20.

Further, the cover 36 is provided with an insertion opening (sub-insertion opening) 40 for inserting the PS plate 12 between the developing section 14 and the water washing section 16. The sub-insertion port 40 is for inserting the PS plate 12 for performing the process in the PS plate processor 10 excluding the process in the developing unit 14.

At the insertion portion 34 adjacent to the insertion port 40, a rubber conveying roller pair 42 is arranged. The PS plate 12 with the image printed (or the PS plate 1 with the pretreatment completed)
2) is fed between the pair of transport rollers 42 by being inserted from the insertion port 32 along the arrow A direction.

When the conveying roller pair 42 is driven to rotate, the PS plate 12 is pulled into the insertion opening 32 and is fed to the developing section 14 at an angle of about 15 ° to 31 ° with respect to the horizontal direction. The PS plate 12 is inserted through the insertion opening 32 with the photosensitive layer (photosensitive surface) facing upward.

Developing tank 2 formed in processing tank 22
4 has a substantially mountain shape in which the center of the bottom is projected downward, and stores a developing solution for developing the PS plate 12.

In the developing tank 24, a pair of conveying rollers 48 is arranged on the side of the insertion portion 34 which is the upstream portion of the conveying path of the PS plate 12. Further, in the developing tank 24, a pair of conveying rollers 50 is arranged at the center of the conveying path of the PS plate, and a pair of conveying rollers 52 is arranged on the side of the washing section 16 which is the downstream portion.

In the developing tank 24, a guide 44 is provided between the carrying roller 48 and the carrying roller pair 50, and a brush roller 60 and a backup roller 60A are arranged facing the guide 44. Further, in the developing tank 24, a guide 46 is arranged between the conveyance roller pair 50 and the conveyance roller pair 52, and a brush roller 58 and an idle roller 58A are arranged so as to face the guide 46.

In the developing tank 24, these conveying rollers 4 are
8 to 52 and the guides 44 and 46 form a substantially U-shaped transport path for transporting the PS plate 12 while immersing it in the developing solution.

In the developing section 14, while the PS plate 12 is being conveyed along the conveying path in the developing tank 24, the PS roller 12 is moved on the guide 44 by the brush roller 60 provided so as to face the guide 44 at the upstream portion. After brushing the surface of the PS plate 12, the brush roller 58 provided facing the guide 46 at the downstream portion moves on the guide 46.
The surface of the S plate 12 is brushed to promote the removal of the unnecessary photosensitive layer swollen by the developing solution.

The backup rollers 58A and 60A provided on the downstream side of the brush rollers 58 and 60 are
The rear end of the PS plate 12 that has passed through the brush rollers 58 and 60 is prevented from rising from the guides 44 and 46, so that the PS plate 12 can be smoothly conveyed. Also,
The conveying roller pair 52 is formed of, for example, a roller whose outer peripheral portion is made of rubber, and holds the PS plate 12 and holds the developing tank 2 in between.
While pulling out from 4, when sending it to the washing section 16,
The developer is squeezed from the surface of the PS plate 12.

In the developing tank 24, spray pipes 54 and 56 are provided near the bottom surface between the carrying roller 48 and the carrying roller pair 50 and between the carrying roller pair 50 and the carrying roller pair 52. The developer in the developing tank 24 sucked by a pump (not shown) is supplied to the spray pipes 54, 56.
This developer is jetted from 56. As a result, the developing tank 2
The developing solution in 4 is agitated so that the PS plate 12 can be uniformly processed. At this time, by ejecting the developer from the spray pipe 54 along the width direction that is a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the PS plate 12, the developer ejected from the spray pipe 54 is transported in the developing tank 24. Wrap around the front and back sides of the PS plate 12,
In order to prevent rapid development processing and occurrence of processing unevenness.

The PS plate 12 pulled out from the developing tank 24 by the pair of conveying rollers 52 is sent to the water washing section 16 while the developing solution adhering to the surface thereof is squeezed by the pair of conveying rollers 52.

In the washing section 16, a conveying path for conveying the PS plate 12 in a substantially horizontal state is formed by a pair of conveying rollers 62, 64 arranged above the washing tank 26.
2 is sandwiched between a pair of conveyance rollers 62 and 64, and the washing tank 26
Is transported horizontally above.

The washing section 16 has a pair of conveying rollers 62, 64.
In between, spray pipes 66 and 68 are provided in a pair in the vertical direction with the transport path of the PS plate 12 interposed therebetween. The spray pipes 66 and 68 are arranged such that the axial direction is along the width direction of the PS plate 12 (direction orthogonal to the transport direction), and a plurality of discharge holes (not shown) facing the transport path of the PS plate 12 are provided in the axial direction. It is formed along.

Water (hereinafter referred to as "rinsing water"), for example, is stored as a cleaning agent in the water washing tank 26, and in the automatic developing device 10, it is synchronized with the conveyance of the PS plate 12 by a water supply pump (not shown). The washing water in the washing tank 26 is supplied to the spray pipes 66, 68. As a result, washing water is ejected from the spray pipes 66 and 68 toward the PS plate 12, and the developer adhering to the surface of the PS plate 12 is washed away.

The rinsing water supplied to the PS plate 12 is sent out while the PS plate 12 is sandwiched by the conveying roller pair 64, and is sent out together with the developer and the like attached to the front and back surfaces of the PS plate 12. It is squeezed from the back surface and collected in the washing tank 26. In addition, as for the spraying direction of the washing water from the spray pipes 66, 68, the spray pipe 66 is the PS plate 12
At the upstream side in the transport direction of the PS plate 12
However, the present invention is not limited to this and may be another direction. In addition, the new liquid for washing water is PS version 1
The washing tank 26 by means not shown according to the throughput of 2
Is supplied to.

In the desensitizing section 18, a pair of conveying rollers 70 is provided above the desensitizing tank 28, and the PS plate 12 is provided.
After being transported by the transport roller pair 64 toward the transport roller pair 70, it is transported through the desensitization processing unit 18, and then is sandwiched by the transport roller pair 70 and transported toward the drying unit 20.

In the desensitizing section 18, a spray pipe 72 is provided above the transport path of the PS plate 12, and a spray pipe 74 is provided below the transport path. The spray pipes 72, 74 have PS in the longitudinal direction (axial direction).
The PS plates 12 are vertically arranged along the width direction of the plate 12 with the transport path of the PS plate 12 interposed therebetween. Also, spray pipes 72, 74
A plurality of discharge holes are formed along the width direction of the PS plate 12.

In the desensitizing tank 28, a gum solution used for protecting the plate surface of the PS plate 12 is stored, and this gum solution is synchronized with the transportation of the PS plate 12 and the spray pipes 72, 74.
Is supplied to. The spray pipe 72 uses this gum solution as a P
It is dripped toward the S plate 12 and spread on the surface of the PS plate 12 and applied. In addition, the spray pipe 74 is
The gum solution is discharged toward the back surface of the plate 12 to apply the gum solution to the back surface of the PS plate 12.

The PS plate 12 has protective films formed by the gum solution applied to the front and back surfaces. In addition, spray pipe 7
The discharging direction of the gum liquid from 2 is not limited to the downstream side in the transport direction of the PS plate 12, and may be another direction. Further, a rectifying plate is provided and the gum liquid jetted toward the rectifying plate is While uniformly diffusing along the width direction of the PS plate 12 with the current plate,
The PS plate 12 may be applied by dropping it on the surface. Further, instead of the spray pipe 74, the PS plate 12 moves while being in contact with the discharged gum liquid, so that P
You may use the discharge unit etc. which apply a gum solution to the back surface of S plate 12.

In the desensitizing section 18, a cleaning spray 76 is provided above the conveying roller pair 70, and a cleaning roller 78 that rotates while contacting the roller above the conveying roller pair 70 is provided. The cleaning water is dropped from the cleaning spray 76 to a contact position between the cleaning roller 78 above the conveying roller pair 70 and the cleaning roller 78 at a predetermined timing set in advance through the straightening plate 80. The gum liquid is evenly dispersed on the peripheral surfaces of the rollers above the conveying roller pair 70 to wash away the gum liquid from the peripheral surfaces of the upper and lower rollers of the conveying roller pair 70, and the gum liquid adheres to the peripheral surfaces of the rollers to cause PS.
The plate 12 is prevented from being damaged.

The PS plate 12 coated with the gum solution in the desensitizing section 18 is sandwiched between the pair of conveying rollers 70, and a little gum solution remains on the front and back surfaces (state where gum solution remains as a thin film). And sent to the drying section 20.

The PS plate processor 10 is provided with a partition plate 82 between the desensitizing section 18 and the drying section 20. The partition plate 82 is disposed above the transporting path of the PS plate 12 so as to face the upper end of the processing tank 22, whereby the desensitization processing unit 18 and the drying unit 20 are disposed.
A slit-shaped insertion opening 84 is formed between the two. In addition, the partition plate 82 has a double structure, whereby a groove-shaped ventilation passage is formed on the drying portion 20 side of the insertion opening 84, and the air in the drying portion 20 enters into this ventilation passage. This prevents the air in the drying unit 20 from entering the desensitization processing unit 18 through the insertion opening 84.

In the drying section 20, in the vicinity of the insertion opening 84,
A support roller 86 that supports the PS plate 12 is disposed, and a transport roller pair 90 and a transport roller pair 92 are disposed in the central portion of the PS plate 12 in the transport direction and in the vicinity of the discharge port 88. . The PS plate 12 is transported in the drying section 20 by the support roller 86 and the transport roller pair 90, 92.

Between the support roller 86 and the conveying roller pair 90 and between the conveying roller pair 90 and the conveying roller pair 92, a pair of ducts 94 and 96 sandwiching the conveying path of the PS plate 12 is provided.
Is provided. The ducts 94 and 96 have a longitudinal direction of P.
The PS plate 12 is arranged along the width direction of the S plate 12.
A slit hole 98 is provided on the surface facing the conveyance path.

When the dry air generated by the dry air generating means (not shown) is supplied to the ducts 94 and 96 from one end side in the longitudinal direction, the dry air is supplied to the slit holes 98 from the slit holes P.
It is discharged toward the transport path of the S plate 12 and sprayed on the PS plate 12. As a result, the gum solution applied to the front and back surfaces of the PS plate 12 is dried to form a protective film.

On the other hand, the lower surface of the developing section 14 is the developing tank 24.
The shielding lid 100 is arranged below the liquid surface of the developer stored in the developing tank 24 to reduce the area where the liquid surface of the developer in the developing tank 24 contacts the air. The sub-insertion port (reentry insertion port) 40 of the cover 36 is closed by a shielding member (not shown), and the shielding member prevents outside air from entering the developing unit 14.

When the shielding lid 100 is provided with the recess 100A into which the brush roller 58 and the conveying roller 60 protruding from the liquid surface of the developing solution enter, and the roller on the upper side of the conveying roller pair 52, a selection component described later is arranged. A recess 100B into which the selected component enters is formed. Accordingly, the liquid surface lid 100 can be used as it is when the automatic developing device 10 is used as any of the automatic developing devices 10A, 10B, and 10C described later.

In the automatic developing apparatus 10, by disposing the liquid surface lid 100 in the developing tank 24, deterioration due to contact of the developing solution in the developing tank 24 with carbon dioxide gas in the air and evaporation of moisture. I try to prevent it. A blade-shaped shielding member (not shown) made of silicon rubber or the like is provided between the shielding lid 100 and the processing tank 22 and the conveying roller 48, the conveying roller pair 52, and the like, and the developing tank 24 is provided.
It is more preferable because it may prevent the developing solution inside from coming into contact with fresh outside air or evaporating the water content in the developing solution.

Next, the PS plate 1 using the pretreatment device 110 and the PS plate processor 10 configured as described above
The process 2 will be described. The pretreatment device 110, when the image-exposed PS plate 12 is inserted into the preheating unit 114, heats the PS plate 12 at a preset heating temperature and heating time to perform photopolymerization of the light receiving unit. The degree of polymerization of the layer is increased to increase the printing durability.

The PS plate 12 having passed through the pre-heating section is sent to the pre-water washing section 116 while being cooled by the cooling section 128. In the pre-water washing unit 116, the brush rollers 140 are inclined while the PS plates 12 are inclined by the transport rollers 134 to 138.
And the idle roller 142. At this time,
The cleaning water is supplied from the spray pipe 146 to the brush roller 140, and the cleaning water is supplied from the spray pipe 144 to the upper surface of the PS plate 12 via the channel brush 148. As a result, the PS plate 12 has the brush roller 14 while the overcoat layer on the upper surface is soaked in the cleaning water.
It is fed between 0 and the idle roller 142 and brushed by the brush roller 140. Therefore, in the PS plate 12, the overcoat layer on the surface is swollen by the cleaning water supplied from the spray pipe 144 and then brushed by the brush roller 140, so that the overcoat layer is efficiently and surely applied from the surface. After being removed by the pretreatment device 110, the conveyance roller pair 158 sends the pretreatment device 110 out.

PS plate 1 which has been prewashed in this way
No. 2 is developed by the PS plate processor 10. PS
When the PS plate 12 is inserted through the insertion port 32, the plate processor 10 rotationally drives the transport roller 42. As a result, the PS plate 12 is nipped by the pair of transport rollers 42 and drawn into the PS plate processor 10.

The PS plate processor 10 is provided with a sensor for detecting the PS plate 12 passing through the insertion port 32 in the vicinity of the insertion port 32.
When the insertion of 2 is detected, the rotation drive of the conveying roller pair 42 and the like is started, and at the timing based on the detection of the PS plate 12 by this sensor, the rinsing water from the spray pipes 66, 68 of the rinsing section 16 is detected. The gum liquid is discharged from the spray pipes 72 and 74 of the discharge and desensitization processing unit 18.

The pair of conveying rollers 42 has the PS plate 12 drawn from the insertion opening 32 at 15 ° to 31 ° with respect to the horizontal direction.
It is fed into the developing tank 24 at an insertion angle within the range. As a result, the PS plate 12 is transferred to the developing tank 2 by the conveying roller pair 48.
4 and is guided and conveyed in the developing solution by the conveying roller pairs 48 to 52 and the guides 44 and 46, and is rotated by 17 °.
It is delivered from within the developer at an ejection angle in the range of ˜31 °.

When the PS plate 12 is immersed in the developing solution in the developing tank 24, an unnecessary photosensitive layer swells according to the exposed image, and the swollen photosensitive layer is removed from the support. At this time, the PS plate processor 10 is output from the PS plate 12 by the brush roller 60 arranged in the upstream portion of the developing tank 24.
After brushing the surface of the PS plate, brushing is performed again by the brush roller 58 arranged at the downstream side to promote the removal of the unnecessary photosensitive layer from the surface of the PS plate 12.

The PS plate 12 which has been subjected to the development processing and sent out from the developing tank 24 is washed with water 1 while the developing solution adhering to the front and back surfaces is squeezed out by the conveying roller pair 52.
Sent to 6.

In the water washing section 16, the PS plate 12 is sandwiched by the conveying roller pairs 62 and 64 and conveyed in a substantially horizontal state, while the washing water is jetted from the spray pipes 66 and 68. The transport roller pair 64 arranged on the downstream side in the transport direction of the PS plate 12 squeezes the wash water supplied to the front and back surfaces of the PS plate 12 together with the developer remaining without being squeezed by the transport roller pair 52. While dropping, the PS plate 12 is sent to the desensitization processing unit 18. As a result, PS version 1
In No. 2, the developer remaining on the front and back surfaces is washed off when passing through the water washing section 16.

PS plate 12 sent to the desensitizing section 18
The PS plate 12 including the is passed between the spray pipes 72 and 74, and is sandwiched by the conveyance roller pair 70, and is sent out from the desensitization processing unit 18 by the conveyance roller pair 70.

At this time, in the desensitizing section 18, the gum solution is discharged from the spray pipes 66 and 68 to make the PS plate 1
The gum solution is uniformly applied to the front and back surfaces of No. 2 while diffusing the gum solution.
The conveying roller pair 70 sandwiches and conveys the PS plate 12, and squeezes the excess gum liquid from the front and back surfaces of the PS plate 12, thereby forming a uniform thin film of gum liquid on the front and back surfaces of the PS plate 12. .

The PS plate 12 coated with the gum solution is sent to the drying section 20 from the insertion opening 84 by the pair of conveying rollers 70. When the insertion opening 84 is provided with a shutter, the timing for starting the processing of the PS plate 12 or P
At the timing when the S plate 12 is sent out from the desensitization processing unit 18, the shutter is operated to open the insertion opening 84,
When the PS plate 12 does not pass through, the drying air of the drying unit 20 unnecessarily enters the desensitization processing unit 18 to prevent the gum solution from sticking to the pair of transport rollers 70, and also the insertion port 8
4 to prevent the deterioration of the developing solution due to carbon dioxide in the air that reaches the developing section 14 and to prevent the developing solution from deteriorating, or the water in the developing solution, the washing water and the water in the gum solution evaporate. It prevents you from getting out of 84.

In the drying unit 20, while the PS plate 12 is being conveyed by the supporting roller 86 and the pair of conveying rollers 90 and 92, the drying air is blown from the ducts 94 and 96 to the front and back surfaces of the PS plate 12. As a result, the PS plate 12 has a protective film formed by the gum solution applied on the surface and is discharged from the discharge port 88.

By the way, in the PS version processor 10,
Brush rollers 58 and 60 are provided in the developing tank 24. The brush rollers 58 and 60 are arranged along the transport path of the PS plate 12, and are opposed to the surface of the PS plate 12 on the photosensitive layer side. As a result, the PS plate 12 conveyed in the developing solution in the developing tank 24 has the brush rollers 58, 6
By 0, the surface on the photosensitive layer side is brushed, and peeling of the photosensitive layer swollen by the developing solution is promoted.

First, the brush rollers 58 and 60 provided in the PS plate processor 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4A to 4D. Note that the brush rollers 58 and 60 have the same basic configuration, and the brush roller 60 is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4A to 4D.

As shown in FIG. 3, the brush roller 60 is
A roller body 164 as a core material and the roller body 16
4 and a brushing strip body 166 (hereinafter simply referred to as a strip body 166) which is a strip-shaped member wound around the outer peripheral portion of FIG.

The strip 166 is, as shown in FIG.
First, the woven fabrics 168, which are sheet-shaped base materials, are held in a pair so as to face each other, and the bristle material 170 is hung over the woven fabrics 168.
Weave in.

For the bristle material 170, for example, natural fiber or artificial fiber material is applied. The bristle material 170 is not limited to natural fibers and artificial fibers, and may be metal as long as it has an appropriate thinness. That is, as the material of the bristle material 170, natural fibers such as plant fibers and animal fibers, polyamides such as nylon 6, nylon 66, nylon 6/10 and nylon 11, polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate, It is possible to use polyacrylonitrile, polyacrylics such as alkyl polyacrylate, artificial fibers such as polypropylene and polystyrene, and metal fibers such as stainless steel and brass.

Here, after the bristle material 170 is woven into the fabric 168 under tension, it is cut at the middle portion of the bristle material 170 to apply the strip 166 (FIG. 4).
(See (B)) is completed. After the strip 166 is spirally wound around the peripheral surface of the roller body 164 (see FIG. 4C), further shearing is performed so that the length of the bristle material 170 is evenly adjusted (FIG. 4D). (See), the brush roller 60 is obtained.

As shown in FIG. 3, the brush roller 60 is
For example, by winding the fastening band 172 from above the strip 166 wound around both ends of the roller body 164, the fabric 168 as the base material of the strip 166 is fixed to both ends of the roller body 164.

The fastening band 172 is used to remove the strip 16
When fixing 6 to the roller body 164, the bristle material 170
The fabric 168 may be woven into the woven fabric 168 and fixed by tightening it with the fastening band 172. However, as shown in FIG. 3, the hair material 170 in a predetermined region on both ends of the strip 166 facing the fastening band 172 is fixed. Alternatively, shearing or the like may be performed for trimming, or the band 166 may be formed in advance in such a manner that the bristle material 170 is not woven into the woven fabric 168 in a region facing both ends of the roller body 164.

Further, using the fastening band 172, the strip 16
6 is fixed at the end of the roller body 164, the fabric 168 is fixed to the roller body 164 by applying a slight adhesive to the back surface of the fabric 168 facing the peripheral surface of the shaft end of the roller body 164. It is preferable to perform it in a temporarily fixed state.

Further, the brush roller 60 is not limited to the fastening band 172, but any fixing means may be used.
What fixed 6 to the roller main body 164 can be used. Further, as the brush roller 60, the roller body 1
The belt body 166 is spirally and tightly wound around the roller body 164 by applying an adhesive or the like to the back surface side of the fabric 168 facing the peripheral surface of 64 and adhering it to the roller body 164 to fix it. Anything is fine.

In the PS plate processor 10, the developing tank 24
When the two brush rollers 58 and 60 are provided in the same, the cost is reduced by using the roller body 164 of the same size and the strip 166 of the same width. In addition, PS
The brush rollers similar to the brush rollers 58 and 60 used in the developing tank 24 of the plate processor 10 are pretreatment devices 11
It may be used as the brush roller 140 provided in the pre-water washing section 116 of 0.

In this way, the brush roller 60 formed by spirally winding the strip 166 around the roller body 164.
Then, the boundary portion of the strips 166 adjacent to each other along the axial direction of the roller body 164 (hereinafter referred to as “boundary portion 160”).
Are formed in a spiral shape along the peripheral surface of the roller body 164.

The boundary portion 160 of the strip 166 faces the surface of the PS plate 12 when brushing the PS plate 12 with the brush rollers 60 and 58, and is located on the surface of the PS plate 12 downstream in the transport direction of the PS plate 12. Move to the side.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, the PS plate 1
On the surface of No. 2, the trajectory 162 of the facing position of the boundary section 160
However, it may appear as an inclined streak. At this time, when the surface of the PS plate 12 is brushed by the brush roller 60 provided in the upstream portion and the brush roller 58 provided in the downstream portion, the spiral boundary portion 1 of the brush rollers 58, 60
60 streak-like unevenness is emphasized by the PS plate 12
Appears clearly on the surface of the PS plate, and the finished quality of the PS plate 12 processed by the PS plate processor 10 is likely to deteriorate.

Here, in the PS version processor 10, the PS
Two brush rollers 58, 60 along the transport path of the plate 12.
And the PS plate 12 by the brush rollers 58 and 60.
When the removal of the unnecessary photosensitive layer from the surface of the PS plate 12 is promoted by brushing the surface of the PS plate 12 on the photosensitive layer side, a boundary portion 160 between the brush rollers 58 and 60 is provided.
The locus 162 is cancelled to prevent uneven rubbing on the surface of the PS plate 12.

At this time, in the PS version processor 10,
The brush roller 60 brushing the surface of the PS plate 12, which moves diagonally downward in the upstream portion of the developing tank 24, is rotated in the forward direction. As a result, the PS plate 12 sent to the developing tank 24 can be prevented from contacting the upper surface of the PS plate 12 after being immersed in the developing solution and before contacting the brush roller 60.

That is, since the brush roller 58 comes into contact with the surface of the PS plate 12 that has passed through the conveying roller pair 50, vignetting is prevented by the guide 46 and the idle roller 58A provided on the downstream side. The brush roller 60, which comes into contact with the surface of the PS plate 12 at a position distant from the pair of carrying rollers 48, is reversely rotated to move in the opposite direction to the carrying direction of the PS plate 12 when the bristle material 170 comes into contact with the PS plate 12. Vignetting occurs on the PS plate 12.

On the other hand, in the unexposed area of the photopolymerization photosensitive layer (photopolymerization layer), the acidic component reacts with the alkaline developer to swell and
Dissolve. At this time, since a certain amount of dissolution time is required, the roller or the like is in contact with the photopolymerization photosensitive layer in the unexposed portion after being immersed in the developing solution and before being brushed by the brush roller 60 for the first time. May hinder the swelling of the glass, resulting in unevenness in the treatment that partially leaves the unexposed portion.

For this reason, in the PS plate processor 10, the brush roller 60 is rotationally driven in the normal rotation, and it is not necessary to provide a roller or the like on the upstream side of the brush roller 60 for preventing vignetting. .

From here, the rotation direction of the brush roller 60 is set to the forward direction, and the rotation direction of the brush roller 58 is set based on the winding direction of the brush rollers 58, 60 and the rotation direction of the brush roller 60. ,
When the PS plate 12 is brushed by 60, uneven rubbing is prevented.

Hereinafter, as Examples 1 and 2, an example will be described in which the two brush rollers 58 and 60 cancel each other's loci 162 to suppress the occurrence of rubbing unevenness on the surface of the PS plate 12.

[Embodiment 1] FIG. 6 shows the arrangement of the brush rollers 58 and 60 applied to Embodiment 1. In the first embodiment, as the brush rollers 58 and 60, the strip body 166 is formed by spirally winding the same in the same direction around the roller body 164.

In the PS plate processor 10, the brush roller 60 disposed upstream of the developing tank 24 is set to P
The bristle material 170 in contact with the S plate 12 is rotationally driven in the forward direction (arrow C direction) so as to relatively move in the same direction as the transport direction of the PS plate 12.

On the other hand, in the first embodiment, the developing tank 24
The brush roller 58 disposed in the downstream portion of the roller rotates in the direction opposite to the brush roller 60 (direction of arrow D). That is, in the brush roller 58, the bristle material 170 is P
When contacting the surface of the S plate 12, the PS plate 12 moves in the direction opposite to the conveying direction.

In this way, the brush rollers 58, 60
By rotating each of them, on the surface of the PS plate 12, the locus 162 of the boundary portion 160 of the brush roller 58 is obtained.
And the locus 162 of the boundary portion 160 of the brush roller 60 intersects, and brushing can be performed between the brush rollers 58 and 60 so as to cancel out the locus 162 of the boundary portion 160 of each other. Rubbing unevenness due to the two brush rollers 58 and 60 appears, and the PS plate 12
It is possible to prevent the quality of the finished product from deteriorating.

Here, in FIG. 7, combinations of rotation directions of the brush rollers 58 and 60 having the same winding direction, transportability (presence or absence of vignetting) and finish (presence or absence of uneven rubbing) in each combination are shown. The experimental result of is shown.

In this test, brush rollers 58 and 60 having an outer diameter of 35 mm are used, and the PS plate processor 10 has a maximum width of the PS plate 12 that can be processed of 940.
mm and 1300 mm are being tested. Also, the rotation speed of the brush rollers 58 and 60 and PS
The transport speed of the plate 12 is 105 rpm and 1400 mm / min for the 940 mm size and 140 rpm and 2000 mm / min for the 1300 mm size.

As shown in the test result of FIG. 7, the developing tank 24
When the brush roller 60 provided in the upstream portion of the P is rotated in the reverse direction (Test Examples 3 and 4 in FIG. 7), any size P
Even in the S plate processor 10, the conveyance property was deteriorated, that is, vignetting was generated, but when the brush roller 60 was rotated forward (Test Examples 1 and 2 in FIG. 7), vignetting was not generated and good conveyance property was obtained. Is obtained.

On the other hand, the brush roller 60 and the brush roller 5
When 8 was set in the same direction (forward rotation in Test Example 1 or reverse rotation in Test Example 4), streak-shaped uneven rubbing occurred on the surface of the PS plate 12, whereas the brush roller 60 When the rotation direction is changed between the brush rollers 58, that is, when the brush roller 60 is normally rotated and the brush roller 58 is reversely rotated (Test Example 2), and the brush roller 60 is reversely rotated and the brush is rotated. When the roller 58 is rotated in the normal direction (Test Example 3), since the rubbing unevenness of each other can be canceled out, no streak-like rubbing unevenness appears on the surface of the PS plate 12, which is good. Can be finished.

Therefore, when the brush rollers 58 and 60 having the same winding direction of the strip 166 are used, the brush roller 60 in the upstream portion is rotated in the normal direction and the brush roller 58 in the downstream portion is rotated in the reverse direction (Test Example 2). )
Good transportability and finish can be obtained.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 8 shows the arrangement of brush rollers 58 and 60 applied to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, as the brush rollers 58 and 60, the strip body 166 is formed by spirally winding the roller body 164 around the roller body 164 in opposite directions.

In the PS plate processor 10, the developing tank 24
The brush roller 60 disposed in the upstream portion of the developing roller 24 is rotationally driven in the forward direction (the direction of arrow C), and the brush roller 58 disposed in the downstream portion of the developing tank 24 is forward in the transport direction of the PS plate 12. It is designed to rotate in the direction of arrow C.

In this way, the brush rollers 58, 60
By rotating each of them, on the surface of the PS plate 12, the locus 162 of the boundary portion 160 of the brush roller 58 is obtained.
And the locus 162 of the boundary portion 160 of the brush roller 60 intersects, and brushing can be performed between the brush rollers 58 and 60 so as to cancel out the locus 162 of the boundary portion 160 of each other. It is possible to prevent the rubbing unevenness caused by the two brush rollers 58 and 60 from appearing and deteriorating the finish quality of the PS plate 12.

That is, when using the brush roller 58 in which the winding direction of the strip 166 is reversed with respect to the brush roller 60, by rotating the brush roller 58 in the forward direction together with the brush roller 60, the winding direction is changed. Using the same brush rollers 58 and 60, the same effect can be obtained as when the brush roller 60 is normally rotated and the brush roller 58 is reversely rotated.

Here, the brush roller 60 in the upstream portion is rotationally driven in the forward direction, and the rotation direction of the brush roller 58 in the downstream portion is based on the rotation direction of the brush roller 60 and the winding direction of the brush roller 58.60. A specific example of processing of the PS plate 12 using the automatic developing device 10 set as described above will be described.

Specific Example 1 In Specific Example 1, the photopolymer plate shown below is used as the PS plate 12.

An aluminum plate of material 1S having a thickness of 0.30 mm was sanded with a No. 8 nylon brush and a 800-mesh aqueous suspension of Bumistone, and the surface was roughened and then thoroughly washed with water. Next, add 10% sodium hydroxide to 70 ° C.
After dipping for 60 seconds in order to etch, rinse with running water,
Neutralize and wash with 20% HNO ₃ .

This is subjected to electrolytic surface-roughening treatment in a 1% aqueous nitric acid solution using a sinusoidal AC waveform current under the condition of V _A = 12.7 V with an anode hour electricity of 300 coulomb / dm ² . The surface roughness at that time is 0.45 μm (Ra indication)
Is.

Subsequently, it was immersed in a 30% H ₂ SO ₄ aqueous solution, desmutted at 55 ° C. for 2 minutes, and then 33 ° C.
C, 20% H ₂ SO ₄ aqueous solution, a cathode was placed on the grained surface and anodized at a current density of 5 A / dm ² for 50 seconds so that the thickness became 2.7 g / m ^2. To do.

On the aluminum plate thus treated, the high-sensitivity photopolymerizable composition 1 having the following composition was coated so that the dry coating amount was 1.5 g / m ^2, and the coating was carried out at 100 ° C. for 1 hour.
Dry for minutes to form a photosensitive layer. (Photopolymerization composition 1) Ethylenically unsaturated bond-containing compound (A1) 1.5 parts by weight Linear organic polymer (B1) 2.0 parts by weight Sensitizer (C1) 0.15 parts by weight Light Initiator (D1) 0.2 part by weight ε-phthalocyanine (F1) dispersion 0.02 part by weight Fluorine-based nonionic surfactant Megafac F177 0.03 part by weight (manufactured by Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc.) Methyl ethyl ketone 9.0 parts by weight Propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate 7.5 parts by weight Toluene 11.0 parts by weight

[0138]

[Chemical 1]

A 3% by weight aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol (saponification degree: 98 mol%, polymerization degree: 500) was applied onto the photosensitive layer so that the dry coating amount was 2.5 g / m ² .
Dry for 3 minutes at 120 ° C. to obtain a photopolymer plate.

This photopolymer plate was designated as PS plate 12,
For example, image exposure is performed using an FD / YAG laser (plate jet 4 manufactured by CSI) or the like. At this time, prior to the development processing, preheating is performed so that the temperature reached to the plate surface becomes 100 ° C.

In the automatic developing device 10, the PS plate 12 is carried at the carrying speed (1120 mm / min) at which the developing time (the time of being immersed in the developing solution) is 15 seconds to carry out the developing treatment. At this time, a developing solution having the following composition is used, and the developing treatment is performed with the solution temperature of the developing solution at 30 ° C. (Composition of developer) Potassium hydroxide 0.15 g Polyoxyethylene finyl ether (n = 13) 5.0 g CHIREST 400 (chelating agent) 0.1 g Water 94.75 g (pH is 11.5 at 25 ° C, conductivity) The rate is 5 ms / cm) The water washing treatment is performed using water, and the desensitizing treatment is PS Finishing Gum FP-2W (1: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.).
1) is used.

As a result, the size is 1030 mm × 800.
The mm photopolymer plate (PS plate 12C) was satisfactorily finished without uneven processing.

Specific Example 2 In Specific Example 2, the following photopolymer plate is used as the PS plate 12.

An aluminum plate having a thickness of 0.30 mm and made of a material 1S was cleaned with a No. 8 nylon brush and an 800-mesh aqueous suspension of Bumistone to roughen the rough surface and then thoroughly washed with water. Next, add 10% sodium hydroxide to 70 ° C.
After dipping for 60 seconds in order to etch, rinse with running water,
Neutralize and wash with 20% HNO ₃ .

This is subjected to electrolytic surface roughening treatment in a 1% aqueous nitric acid solution using a sinusoidal AC waveform current under the condition of V _A = 12.7 V with an anode-time electrical quantity of 160 coulomb / dm ² . The surface roughness at that time is 0.6 μm (Ra indication).

Subsequently, it was dipped in a 30% H ₂ SO ₄ aqueous solution and desmutted at 55 ° C. for 2 minutes, and then 20% H 2
During ₂ SO ₄ aqueous solution at a current density of 2A / dm ^2, so that the thickness of the anodic oxide coating becomes 2.72.7g / m ^{2 2}
Anodizing treatment is performed for a minute.

On the aluminum plate thus treated, a photosensitive layer having the following composition was applied at a dry coating amount of 1.5 g / m ^2.
And is dried at 100 ° C. for 1 minute to form a photosensitive layer. (Composition of photosensitive layer) Pentaerythritol tetraacrylate 1.5 g Binder (polyurethane resin (90)) 2.0 g Dye-1 0.1 g S-1 0.2 g Fluorine-based nonionic surfactant 0.03 g Copper phthalocyanine pigment (organic) Polymer dispersion) 0.1 g Methyl ethyl ketone 20.0 g Propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate 20.0 g

[0148]

[Chemical 2]

A 3% by weight aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol (saponification degree: 86.5 to 89 mol%, polymerization degree: 1000) was applied onto the photosensitive layer so that the dry coating amount was 2 g / m ² . Dry at 100 ° C for 2 minutes.

The PS plate 12 thus obtained had 7 parts.
Image exposure is performed by an exposure device using a 5 mW air-cooled Ar laser as a light source, heating is performed at 100 ° C. for 1 minute, and development processing is performed using a developing solution having the following composition. In addition,
In the automatic developing device 10C, the temperature of the developing solution is set to 25 ° C., and the processing is performed at the carrying speed at which the developing time is 20 seconds. Potassium (composition developer) 1K potassium silicate 30g hydroxide _{15g C 12 H 25 -C 6 H} 4 -O-C 6 H 4 -SO 3 Na 3g water 1000g Also, after the development processing, water washing treatment with water Then, the plate surface is protected with a protective gum GU-7 (1: 2) manufactured by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.

As a result, the size is 1030 mm × 800.
The mm photopolymer plate (PS plate 12) was satisfactorily finished without uneven processing.

[Specific Example 3] Next, an application of the photopolymer plate, which is subjected to image exposure with a blue laser, to a developing process will be illustrated. That is, the PS plate 12 has a photosensitive area of 350.
The photopolymer plate, which is sensitive to laser light having a wavelength of nm to 700 nm, particularly 350 nm to 450 nm, is developed.

Such a PS plate 12 can be formed by using various supports. (Support 1) An aluminum plate of material 1S having a thickness of 0.30 mm is brushed with water after thoroughly graining the surface of No. 8 nylon brush and 800 mesh Bumistone water suspension. After immersing in 10% sodium hydroxide at 70 ° C for 60 seconds for etching, rinse with running water and then add 20% H
Neutralize and wash with NO ₃ , and wash with water. This is VA = 12.7V
Electrolytic surface roughening treatment was performed in a 1% nitric acid aqueous solution under the conditions of 1) in a 1% nitric acid aqueous solution with an anode time electricity of 300 Coulomb / dm2 to obtain a surface roughness of 0.45 μm (Ra indication).
And

Subsequently, it was immersed in a 30% H ₂ SO ₄ aqueous solution, desmutted at 55 ° C. for 2 minutes, and then 33 ° C.
In a 20% H ₂ SO ₄ aqueous solution of C, a cathode is placed on the grained surface and anodized at a current density of 5 A / dm 2 for 50 seconds. As a result, the support 1 having a thickness of 2.7 g / m ² is obtained. (Support 2) The support 2 is prepared by adding the following surface treatment undercoat liquid composition 1 to the above support 1 in a P amount of 0.005 g / m 2.
^It is applied so that it becomes ^2, and dried at 100 ° C. for 1 minute to obtain. (Liquid composition for undercoat 1) Finylphosphonic acid 2 parts by weight Methanol 800 parts by weight Water 50 parts by weight (Support 3) The support 3 is the undercoating liquid composition 2 for surface treatment described below on the support 1. To be 0.001 g / m ² and dried at 100 ° C. for 1 minute. (Liquid composition for undercoating 2) Liquid composition 2 for undercoating generates heat after about 5 minutes by mixing and stirring the following components, and after reacting for 60 minutes, the contents are transferred to another container,
Further, 30,000 parts by weight of methanol is added.

Unichemical Co., Ltd. Fosmer PE 20 parts by weight Methanol 130 parts by weight Water 20 parts by weight Paratoluenesulfonic acid 5 parts by weight Tetraethoxysilane 50 parts by weight 3-methacryloxypropyltriethoxysilane 50 parts by weight The photopolymerizable composition having the following composition is applied to the support 1 to the support 3 so as to have a dry coating weight of 1.5 g / m ² and dried at 100 ° C. for 1 minute to be formed.

Subsequently, a 3 wt% aqueous solution of polyvinyl alcohol (saponification degree: 98 mol%, polymerization degree: 500) was applied onto the photosensitive layer so that the dry coating weight was 2.5 g / m ^2, and 120 °. Dry at C for 3 minutes to obtain PS plate 12C. (Photopolymerizable composition (photosensitive layer coating solution)) Ethylenically unsaturated bond-containing compound (A) 1.7 parts by weight Linear organic polymer (B) 1.9 parts by weight Sensitizer (C) 0 .15 parts by weight Photoinitiator (D) 0.30 parts by weight Additive (S) 0.50 parts by weight Fluorosurfactant 0.03 parts by weight (Megafuck F-177, Dainippon Ink and Chemicals, Inc.) Thermal polymerization inhibitor 0.01 part by weight (N-nitrosohydroxylamine aluminum salt) ε-type copper phthalocyanine dispersion 0.2 part by weight Methyl ethyl ketone 30.0 parts by weight Propylene glycol monomethyl ether 30.0 parts by weight

[0157]

[Chemical 3]

The PS plate 12 as described above is exposed to laser light having a predetermined wavelength (for example, 405 nm), preheated so that the temperature reached to the plate surface becomes 100 ° C., and then developed by the automatic developing device 10. Perform processing.

In the automatic developing device 10, a developer having the following composition is prepared and used. (Developer) Potassium hydroxide 0.15 g Polyoxyethylene finyl ether (n = 13) 5.0 g CHIREST 400 (chelating agent) 0.1 g Water 94.75 g (pH 11.5, conductivity 5 ms / cm) In the automatic developing device 10, the carrying speed is set so that the developing time is 20 seconds, and the developing process is performed. Further, water is used for the washing treatment, and the finishing gum solution FP-2W manufactured by Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. is used for the desensitizing treatment.

As a result, the size is 1030 mm × 800.
The mm photopolymer plate (PS plate 12) was satisfactorily finished without uneven processing.

The present embodiment described above does not limit the constitution of the present invention, and the present invention is concerned with two brush rollers provided with a planographic printing plate, especially a photopolymer plate, in a developing tank. The invention can be applied to a printing plate developing apparatus having an arbitrary structure in which brushing is performed and development processing is performed.

[0162]

As described above, according to the present invention, the upstream brush roller is rotated in the normal direction, and the downstream brush roller is rotated in the rotating direction between the upstream brush roller and the downstream brush roller. By setting based on the winding direction of the belt-like member, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of conveyance defects such as vignetting and to prevent uneven rubbing due to the brush roller from appearing on the surface of the lithographic printing plate, and to improve the finish quality. The excellent effect that a high planographic printing plate can be obtained is obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a PS plate processor according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of a pretreatment device used for preheating and prewashing a PS plate.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a brush roller applied to the present embodiment.

4A to 4D are schematic views showing an example of a manufacturing process of a belt-shaped member applied to the brush roller of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a winding direction of a belt-shaped member on a brush roller and a locus on a PS plate of a boundary portion of the belt-shaped member that causes uneven rubbing.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a winding direction and a rotating direction of the belt-shaped member on the brush roller in the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a table showing test results of transportability and finish performance with respect to combinations of rotation directions of brush rollers.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a winding direction and a rotating direction of a belt-shaped member on a brush roller in Example 2.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 PS plate processor (print plate developing device) 12 PS plate (lithographic printing plate) 14 Development Department 24 developing tank 44,46 guide 48-52 Conveyor roller pair 58 Brush roller (downstream brush roller) 58A, 60A Idol roller 60 brush roller (upstream brush roller) 160 border 162 locus 164 Roller body 166 band-shaped member 168 Woven blanket 170 hair

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A brush roller, which is formed by spirally winding a belt-shaped member having a bristle surface on the peripheral surface of a roller body from one end side to the other end side, is used as a developer while conveying a lithographic printing plate. A printing plate developing device which is provided at an upstream part and a downstream part of a developing tank for immersion and development processing, and brushes the lithographic printing plate by each of the brush rollers. Brushing while rotating the brush roller facing the lithographic printing plate moving toward the forward direction with respect to the lithographic printing plate transport direction, and facing the lithographic printing plate at a downstream portion in the lithographic printing plate transport direction. And a brush roller for rotating the brush roller in a rotation direction set based on a winding direction of the belt-shaped member around the roller body to perform brushing. 2. When the winding direction of the belt-shaped member is the same between the upstream side and the downstream side of the brush roller of the planographic printing plate, the rotation direction of the brush roller at the downstream side of the transfer direction is the transport direction. The printing plate developing device according to claim 1, wherein the setting is made in a direction opposite to a rotating direction of the brush roller at an upstream portion. 3. When the winding direction of the belt-shaped member is different between the upstream portion of the planographic printing plate in the transport direction and the brush roller downstream of the transport direction, the rotation direction of the brush roller in the downstream portion of the transport direction is set to the transport direction. The printing plate developing device according to claim 1, wherein the setting is made in the same direction as the rotating direction of the brush roller in the upstream portion.