JP2004034466A - Method for making photogravure plate - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To manufacture a good photogravure plate generating no pinhole by using an inkjet printer in place of photolithography. <P>SOLUTION: A roll on which a plate is to be made is chucked on its both ends and is rotated by a required number of rotation, and an inkjet nozzle of the inkjet printer is closely brought to one end of the roll on which the plate is to be made, and ink durable to an etching liquid is jetted. Then, it is moved in the generator direction of the roll on which the plate is to be made to form a negative mask for the photogravure plate by coating. Then, etching is performed to form a cell, and the negative mask is removed and chrome plating is performed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention relates to a gravure plate making method capable of producing a good gravure plate quickly and easily without pinholes by using an ink jet printer instead of photolithography.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the conventional gravure plate making method, a photosensitive film is applied to a plate making roll, a latent image is formed by laser exposure, developed to form a resist mask, and the exposed surface of the thick copper sulfate plating is etched to form a cell. There are a photolithography method of forming and removing a resist image and finally chrome plating, and an engraving method of engraving a cell on a plate making roll with an electronic engraving machine and chromium plating.
A major problem in the photolithography method is how to avoid generation of pinholes when a photosensitive film is applied and formed. Further, if the compatibility between the photosensitive agent and the developing solution is poor, there is a problem that a good plate cannot be formed.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention provides a gravure plate making method capable of producing a good gravure plate having no pinholes by using an ink jet printer instead of photolithography.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention described in [Claim 1] is that the plate making roll is chucked at both ends and is rotated at a required peripheral speed so as to be equal to the line forming speed of the ink jet of the ink jet printer, and the ink jet nozzle of the ink jet printer is rolled. The inkjet nozzle is moved in the generatrix direction of the plate-making roll by ejecting ink having resistance to the etching solution close to one end of the plate to apply and form a gravure negative mask, and then performing etching to form a cell and then forming the negative mask. And chromium plating.
The invention described in claim 2 is that the roll to be made is chucked at both ends and rotated, and the tape of the wiping cloth is drawn out from the raw fabric reel, slidably in contact with one end of the roll to be made to run, and wound up. Move the sliding contact position to the other end of the plate making roll, wipe the dirt and oils and fats adhered to the plate making roll with tape, and then make the plate making roll equal to the inkjet line forming speed of the inkjet printer. Rotate to the required peripheral speed, bring the inkjet nozzle of the inkjet printer close to one end of the plate-making roll, eject ink having resistance to the etching solution, and move the inkjet nozzle in the generatrix direction of the plate-making roll to form the gravure plate. An object of the present invention is to provide a gravure plate making method characterized by applying a negative mask, followed by etching.
[0005]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the gravure plate making method of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a front view of a plate-making ink jet printer for carrying out the gravure plate-making method of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of a main part before starting the operation of the wiping head.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of a main part of the cleaning head during operation.
In FIG. 1, a casing denoted by reference numeral 1 has a roll feed-in / out opening 1a at the upper part on the front surface and a roll feed-out door 2 which rises to close the roll feed-in / out opening 1a.
A plate making roll chuck rotating means 3 is provided in the casing 1. The plate-making roll chuck rotating means 3 rotates the plate-making roll R with a drive-side chuck 3a, which is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown), and moves on the movable table 3b in accordance with the roll length and with the tail chuck 3c. The rotation speed at which the required low speed, for example, the peripheral speed becomes 0.5 m / s, is calculated based on the input of the diameter of the plate making roll R that can be chucked, and the roll is rotated at the rotation speed.
The plate making roll R according to this embodiment is a sleeve type plate making roll for gravure printing having a size of 100 mm x 800 mm to 300 mm x 2000 mm.
The movable table 3b is configured such that the movable table 3b is guided by a horizontal linear guide 3d provided on the rear wall of the casing 1 and a ball screw 3e provided between the linear guides 3d. A ball nut 3f to be screwed is provided on the movable table 3b, and the ball screw 3e is rotated by a servomotor 3g, so that the ball nut 3f becomes a runner.
[0006]
Below the plate making roll R chucked by the plate making roll chuck rotating means 3, a moving table 5 mounted on a rail 4 can reciprocate along the plate making roll R by driving a ball screw. A movable bracket 7 is provided on an elevating table 6 mounted on the moving table 5, and the movable bracket 7 is equipped with a wiping head.
In the configuration for raising and lowering the lifting table 6, the lifting table 6 is guided by a vertical linear motion guide 8 provided on the moving table 5, and a ball screw (not shown) is on the vertical axis of the moving table 5. And a ball nut (not shown) screwed to the ball screw is provided on the lifting table 6, and the ball screw is rotated by a servo motor (not shown) so that the ball nut becomes a runner.
The movable bracket 7 is configured to further move up and down with respect to the elevating table 6 that performs the above-described elevating. In the configuration in which the movable bracket 7 is raised and lowered, a male guide 10 provided on the movable bracket 7 is guided by a female guide 9 provided on the lifting table 6, and the lifting table 6 and the movable bracket 7 are connected by the cylinder device 11. The movable bracket 7 is connected to and moved up and down with respect to the elevating table 6 by expansion and contraction of the cylinder device 11.
The movable bracket 7 is raised before the elevating table 6 by the extension operation of the cylinder device 11, and is then chucked by the plate making roll chuck rotating means 3 when the elevating table 6 is moved up and down. And a bay portion 7a for receiving the plate-making roll R.
The proximity sensor 12 is attached to the movable bracket 7 so as to correspond to the center of the bay 7a. The proximity sensor 12 outputs a detection signal when the gap with the lower surface of the plate making roll R received in the bay portion 7a becomes, for example, 3 mm. Based on the detection signal, the lifting table 6 stops lifting. It is supposed to. Accordingly, the movable bracket 7 is moved upward by a large stroke by the extension of the cylinder device 11, and then the movable bracket 7 is moved to the maximum in the bay 7a of the movable bracket 7 regardless of the diameter of the plate making roll R. A stroke corresponding to the diameter of the plate making roll R is shared by the elevating table 6, thereby shortening the operation time and shortening the positioning stroke.
The moving speed of the moving table 5 is changed according to the number of rotations of the plate making roll R so that the plate making roll R moves by, for example, 8 to 10 mm when it makes one rotation.
[0007]
The wiping head draws out a tape T of a wiping cloth having no self-dusting property from a web reel 13 attached to the movable bracket 7 and a pair of guide rolls 14 provided on an opposing portion sandwiching the bay portion 7a of the movable bracket 7, 15, the tape T is wound around a winding bobbin 17 driven to rotate by a first torque motor 16, and a braking free roll 21 to which a nip pressure is applied to a guide roll 14 by a cylinder device 20. The tape T is pressed and pressed, and the rotation of the guide roll 14 is braked to apply a brake to the feeding of the tape T from the material reel 13.
The braking free roll 21 has play in the shaft and the bearing so as to be separated from the guide roll 14 by, for example, 0.5 mm, and the braking free roll 21 is urged by the cylinder device 20 being extended, and the braking free roll 21 is urged. Reference numeral 21 applies a nip pressure to the guide roll 14.
The plate making roll chuck rotating means 3 rotates the plate making roll R in a direction opposite to a running direction of the tape T unwound from the raw material reel 13 so that a load is applied to the first torque motor 16. I have.
[0008]
The rewinder shaft 18 is configured so as to be connected to and disengaged from the output shaft of the second torque motor 19, to be able to be pulled out and removed in the axial direction, and to insert and support the center hole of the material reel 13. The second torque motor 19 has a smaller torque than the first torque motor 16 and is provided so as to rotate in a direction in which the feeding of the tape T from the raw reel 13 is braked.
Since the tape T is fed out from the material reel 13 by the first torque motor 16, the second torque motor 19 rotates the creep in a direction opposite to the rotational direction in which the tape T is driven, thereby causing the tape T to rotate. Braking can be applied to the payout. Accordingly, the application of braking to the feeding of the tape T is performed by pressing the guide roll 14 with the braking free roll 21 to which the nip pressure is applied by the cylinder device 20 and the second torque motor 19 synergistically.
[0009]
The wiping cloth is a cloth made of polyester of ultra-fine and long fibers or polyester and nylon and having no self-dusting property. A suitable wiping cloth is Savina Minimax (registered trademark), a wiping cloth manufactured by Kanebo Co., Ltd., which is an ultra-fine fiber of 0.1 denier (1 to 5 μm in thickness) and a long fiber. It is made of polyester and nylon, has a wedge-shaped cross section of the original yarn, takes in dust, and has no self-dusting property. In addition, a wiping cloth manufactured by Toray Industries, Inc. is a cloth made of polyester of ultra-fine long fibers and having no self-dusting property, and is applicable.
The material reel 13 is formed by winding a wiping cloth tape T around a bobbin, and can be purchased and used from Kanebo Corporation or Toray Industries, Inc.
[0010]
On the upper side of the plate making roll R chucked by the plate making roll chuck rotating means 3, a printer head 22 having an ink jet nozzle 22a opposed to the plate making roll R is provided, and the plate making roll on which the ink jet nozzle 22a is rotated. An ink having a resistance to an etching solution is ejected by moving close to one end of R, and moves to the other end of the plate making roll R to form an image.
The movement of the printer head 22 toward and away from the plate-making roll R is performed by raising and lowering a lifting table 24 supporting the printer head 22 via a bracket 25 by lifting driving means mounted on the carriage 23. .
The elevating / lowering driving means is such that a ball screw provided on the carriage 23 and a ball nut fixed to the elevating table 24 are screwed together, and when the ball screw is driven by the servo motor 29, the ball nut becomes a runner. It is done in.
The reciprocating movement of the printer head 22 along the plate-making roll R is performed by reciprocating the carriage 23 by reciprocating drive means.
The reciprocating drive means includes a ball screw 27 in which a carriage 23 is engaged and guided by a linear motion guide 26 mounted on a rear wall of the casing 1 and a ball screw 27 supported on the rear wall of the casing 1 and a ball fixed to a lifting table 24. When the ball screw 27 is driven by the servomotor 28 when the nut is screwed, the ball nut becomes a runner.
[0011]
The operation will be described.
First, wiping is performed from one end to the other end of the plate-making roll R on which the wiping head is rotated, and then ink is ejected from the ink jet nozzle 21 of the printer head 22 to the rotated plate-making roll R. A corrosion resistant image is formed.
[0012]
The operation of the wiping head will be described in detail.
The raw material reel 13 is attached, and the tape T of the wiping cloth is wound around the free roll 21 for braking, is wound around the guide rolls 14 and 15, and the tape feeding end is wound around the winding bobbin 17.
The plate making roll chuck rotating means 3 chucks and rotates the plate making roll R at both ends. The rotation speed at this time may be a relatively low rotation speed, and is not limited to a specific rotation speed. Next, the movable table 5 moves to a position corresponding to one end of the plate making roll R.
The movable bracket 7 is raised with respect to the elevating table 6 by extending the cylinder device 11, and then the elevating table 6 is moved up, and the plate-making roll R relatively enters the bay portion 7 a of the movable bracket 7 to make the plate-making plate. When the gap with the lower surface of the roll R becomes, for example, 3 mm, the proximity sensor 12 outputs a detection signal and the lifting table 6 stops rising.
At substantially the same time when the lifting table 6 is raised, the first torque motor 16 and the second torque motor 19 are driven, the cylinder device 20 is extended, tension is applied to the tape T of the wiping cloth, and tape running starts.
When the elevating table 6 rises, the plate-making roll R comes into contact with the tape T wrapped around the guide rolls 14 and 15 and relatively enters the bay portion 7a of the movable bracket 7, so that the tape T is rolled. To slide along the peripheral surface of. The rotation of the plate making roll R is in a direction opposite to the running direction of the tape T. Accordingly, the tape T slides and travels on the rotating plate-making roll R without loosening the tension, and starts wiping of dirt and oils and fats adhered to the plate-making roll R.
The moving table 5 moves from a position corresponding to one end of the plate making roll R to a position corresponding to the other end after a lapse of several seconds after the lifting table 6 stops moving up. Accordingly, the wiping cloth is wiped with the tape T from one end to the other end of the plate making roll R. Next, after the elevating table 6 is lowered and returned, the cylinder device 11 is reduced and the movable bracket 7 is lowered with respect to the elevating table 6, and the tape T wrapped around the guide rolls 14 and 15 is separated from the plate making roll R. When returning to the state of being stretched horizontally, the first torque motor 16 and the second torque motor 19 are stopped, the cylinder device 20 is reduced, the tape running is stopped, and the moving table 5 is moved to the original position. Move back to.
[0013]
Next, drawing an image on the plate making roll R rotated by ejecting ink from the ink jet nozzle 21 of the printer head 22 will be described in detail.
The carriage 23 is moved by the drive of the servo motor 28, and the ink jet nozzle 21 comes to a position corresponding to one end of the plate making roll R, and the carriage 23 is stopped. The elevation table 24 is lowered by the drive of the servomotor 29, the ink jet nozzle 21 approaches the plate-making roll R, and the elevation table 24 is stopped.
Ink is ejected from the ink jet nozzle 21 to the rotated plate-making roll R, and the carriage 23 is moved by the driving of the servo motor 28, so that the ink-jet nozzle 21 moves to the other end of the plate-making roll R. Draw an image. After wiping with the wiping cloth, ink is ejected to describe the plate information, so that pinholes do not occur.
When the drawing of the image is completed, the elevation table 24 is lifted and returned by the driving of the servomotor 29, and the ink jet nozzle 21 is separated from the plate making roll R. Next, the carriage 23 is returned and moved by the driving of the servo motor 28, the printer head 22 is returned to the standby position, and the carriage 23 is stopped.
[0014]
A plate making roll R for gravure printing is chucked at both ends by plate making roll chuck rotating means 3, and an ink tank of a cartridge storing ink having resistance to a corrosive liquid corroding thick copper sulfate plating is set. A negative mask is formed on the plate making roll by the ink jet nozzle 21 and is burned.
The gravure plate making is completed by performing etching on a plate making roll on which a negative mask is formed, forming cells, stripping the resist, and performing chrome plating.
[0015]
Even if the diameter of the plate making roll R is variously varied, the peripheral surface speed of the plate making roll R chucked at both ends by the plate making roll chuck rotating means 3 is adjusted to the linear forming speed of the ink jetted from the ink jet nozzle 21. In addition, in response to the rotation speed being different due to variously different diameters of the plate making roll R, the moving speed of the ink jet nozzle 21 along the plate making roll R is changed so that the diameter of the plate making roll R becomes various. , The overlap of the pixels is the same.
[0016]
In the gravure plate making method of the present invention, the thick copper sulfate plating on the surface of the plate making roll R is mirror-finished, and the negative plate information is formed on the roll surface with an ink which is resistant to an etching solution by inkjet and has high adhesion. It is preferably formed.
However, the plate-making roll R may be a mirror-finished surface whose surface is nickel-plated, chrome-plated, or zinc-plated.
At this time, since an etching solution corresponding to the plating is selected, an ink for inkjet having a resistance and an adhesive force corresponding to the etching solution is selected.
When etching is performed by forming a negative plate information by ink jetting by thick chrome plating and leaving chrome plating at the bottom of the cell, subsequent chrome plating is not required.
When zinc plating is applied to the thick copper sulfate plating surface or nickel plating surface and mirror-polished, then negative plate information is formed by ink jet, etching is performed and then chrome plating is performed. The chromium plating can be dissolved and removed together with a hydrochloric acid solution, and if zinc plating and mirror plating are used, negative plate information can be formed by ink jet. This is simpler than ballad plating removal and plate drop polishing.
[0017]
【The invention's effect】
According to the gravure plate making method of the present invention, dirt and oils adhered to the plate making roll are wiped off with a wiping cloth before forming the negative mask on the plate making roll. It can be applied to the plate making roll reliably, and the occurrence of pinholes, that is, points where ink is not applied to the places where ink is to be applied can be avoided with a very high probability. Since it can be formed, the plate can be applied to the production of gravure plates, which are plate-making rolls having various diameters, so that a good negative mask without pinholes or an ink-coated portion can be formed very quickly and easily. On the other hand, the conventional photosensitive film coating, laser exposure and development steps can be omitted in one step, resulting in poor adhesion of the photosensitive film and poor compatibility between the photosensitive film and the developing solution. Can avoid problems occur such as deterioration of the developing solution, it is possible to ensure high reliability for gravure plate making, a significant reduction of the platemaking time, leading to a significant reduction in the making line space.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a plate-making ink jet printer for carrying out a gravure plate-making method of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view of a main part before the operation of the cleaning head is started.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view of a main part of the cleaning head during operation.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Casing, 1a ... Roll-in / out opening, 1b ... Roll-in / out opening, 2 ... Roll-out / door, 3 ... Plate-making roll chuck rotating means, 3a ... Drive side Chuck, 3b: movable table, 3c: tail chuck, R: plate roll, 3d: linear guide, 3e: ball screw, 3f: ball nut, 3g ... Movable table, 4 ... Rail, 5 ... Movable table, 6 ... Elevating table, 7 ... Movable bracket, 7a ... Bay portion, 8 ... Linear guide, 9 ... Female Guide: 10: Male guide, 11: Cylinder device, 12: Proximity sensor, 13: Raw reel, T: Wiping cloth tape, 14, 15: Guide roll, 16 ... First torque motor, 17 ... Wiring bobbin 18 Rewinder shaft 19 Second torque motor 20 Cylinder device 21 Free roll for braking 22 Printer head 22a Ink jet nozzle , 23 ... carriage, 24 ... elevation table, 25 ... bracket, 26 ... linear guide, 27 ... ball screw, 28 ... servo motor, 29 ... servo motor

Claims (2)

After chucking the plate making roll at both ends, rotate it to the required peripheral speed so as to be equal to the line forming speed of the ink jet of the ink jet printer, and make the ink jet nozzle of the ink jet printer close to one end of the plate making roll to resist the etchant Injecting the ink having the following, the inkjet nozzle is moved in the generatrix direction of the plate making roll to apply and form a gravure negative mask, and then etching is performed to form cells, and then the negative mask is removed and chromium plating is performed. Gravure plate making method. The plate making roll is chucked at both ends and rotated, and the tape of the wiping cloth is drawn out from the raw material reel, slid in contact with one end of the plate making roll and run, and wound up, and the sliding position of the tape is moved to the other end of the plate making roll. Move the tape to wipe off dirt and grease adhering to the plate-making roll with tape, and then rotate the plate-making roll to the required peripheral speed so as to be equal to the inkjet line forming speed of the inkjet printer. The ink jet nozzle of the printer is brought close to one end of the plate making roll, an ink having a resistance to an etching solution is jetted, and the ink jet nozzle is moved in the generatrix direction of the plate making roll to apply and form a gravure plate negative mask, and then etching. Characteristic, gravure plate making method.

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