JP2009086312A - Immersion type automatic developing device for lithographic printing plate and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic developing device that solves defects of a horizontal conveyance type automatic developing device and can make a lithographic printing plate of high quality. <P>SOLUTION: An immersion type automatic developing device 2 for lithographic printing plates removes a no-image part while a lithographic printing original plate having an image recording layer on a base subjected to image exposure is immersed in a developing tank filled with a developing solution. The developing solution 58, 58a-58c is circulated between the immersion type developing tank 20 forming a processing path line and external tanks 55, 55a-55c provided outside the processing path line so that the liquid level in the immersion type developing tank may be held constant, and the amount of the developing solution in the external tanks is varied in accordance with a processing area per unit time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic developing apparatus for producing a lithographic printing plate, and more particularly to an immersion type automatic developing apparatus.

  In general, a lithographic printing plate comprises an oleophilic image area that receives ink in the printing process and a hydrophilic non-image area that receives dampening water. Lithographic printing utilizes the property that water and printing ink repel each other, so that the oleophilic image area of the lithographic printing plate is the ink receiving area and the hydrophilic non-image area is dampened with the water receiving area (ink non-receiving area). As described above, a difference in ink adhesion is caused on the surface of a lithographic printing plate, and after ink is applied only to an image portion, the ink is transferred to a printing medium such as paper and printed.

  In order to produce this lithographic printing plate, conventionally, a lithographic printing plate precursor (PS plate) in which an oleophilic photosensitive resin layer (image recording layer) is provided on a hydrophilic support has been widely used. Usually, the lithographic printing plate precursor is exposed through an original image such as a lithographic film, and then the image portion of the image recording layer is left, and the other unnecessary image recording layer is removed with an alkaline developer or organic A lithographic printing plate is obtained by dissolving and removing with a solvent and exposing the surface of the hydrophilic support to form a non-image area.

  In the conventional plate making process of a lithographic printing plate precursor, after exposure, a step of dissolving and removing unnecessary image recording layers with a developer or the like is necessary. Treatment and less waste liquid are cited as issues. In particular, in recent years, the disposal of waste liquids accompanying wet processing has become a major concern for the entire industry due to consideration for the global environment, and thus the demand for solving the above problems has become stronger.

  On the other hand, in recent years, digitization technology for electronically processing, storing, and outputting image information by a computer has become widespread, and various new image output methods corresponding to such digitization technology will be put into practical use. It is becoming. Along with this, digitized image information is carried by high-convergence radiation such as laser light, and the lithographic printing plate precursor is scanned and exposed with that light, directly without using a lithographic film. Computer-to-plate technology for manufacturing is attracting attention. Accordingly, obtaining a lithographic printing plate precursor adapted to such a technique is one of the important technical issues.

  As mentioned above, the low alkali level of the developer and the simplification of the processing process are more strongly desired than ever in terms of consideration for the global environment and the adaptation to a small space and low running cost. It has become to. However, as described above, the development processing step generally comprises three steps: development with an alkaline developer having a pH of 10 or more, then pouring an alkaline agent in a water-washing bath, and then processing with a hydrophilic resin mainly composed of a hydrophilic resin. As a result, the automatic developing machine itself takes up a large space, and developing waste liquid, washing waste liquid, and gum waste liquid are generated, leaving problems in terms of environment and running cost.

On the other hand, for example, Patent Document 1 proposes a developing method using an alkaline solution containing a nonionic surfactant having a pH of 10 to 12.5, but the photosensitive composition contains an alkali-soluble polymer. However, there is a problem that development becomes impossible if the pH is lower than that.
For example, Patent Document 2 describes a lithographic printing plate precursor in which an image forming layer in which hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles are dispersed in a hydrophilic binder is provided on a hydrophilic support. This lithographic printing plate precursor is formed by image exposure using an infrared laser to form an image by coalescence of hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles by heat, and is then mounted on a cylinder of a printing machine, fountain solution and / or On-press development is possible with ink. However, the method of forming an image by merging the fine particles by simple thermal fusion exhibits good on-press developability, but the image strength (adhesion with the support) is extremely weak, and the printing durability is poor. Had the problem of being sufficient.

  Therefore, as a method for solving the above-mentioned problems, after recording an image on a lithographic printing plate precursor having a heat-sensitive layer containing a fine particle polymer on a support, an automatic processor equipped with a rubbing member is used in the presence of a developer. A method for producing a lithographic printing plate by removing the image recording layer of the non-exposed portion by rubbing the recording surface of the lithographic printing plate precursor with a rubbing member has been proposed (see Patent Document 3).

JP 2002-91016 A Japanese Patent No. 2938397 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-316021

  However, the reduction in alkali and the simplification of the process impose a great load on the development process. For example, the alkaline developer can easily dissolve and remove the photosensitive layer, but the low alkaline developer cannot easily remove the photosensitive layer. For this reason, the photosensitive layer that could not be dissolved inevitably remained on the plate again and became a residue on the plate, causing poor appearance and eventually smearing during printing. In some cases, afterimages of the photosensitive layer contaminated the interior of the processing machine, increasing the degree of time and labor required for maintenance.

In the past, with the reduction in alkali level and simplification of the process, the processing machine has not been configured to be immersed in a developing solution, but is a type that is transported horizontally and supplied with a developing solution by spray.
However, this horizontal conveyance type configuration has a problem that the liquid is easily scattered by the splashing of the liquid, and the scattered liquid is dried and formed into a residue. In essence, the horizontal transport type configuration makes it easy to dry the developer during non-operation, and the rubbing material (brush), rollers, etc. are also likely to become dirty due to drying, and the problem of debris from the dirt cannot be avoided. . For this reason, the design of the horizontal conveyance type was very difficult and the technical hurdle was high.
In addition, when users of various scales use a conventional automatic replenisher with replenisher replenisher, small-volume users are forced to replace the liquid without using 100% capacity within a certain period of time, and wastefully use the developer. It was. In addition, when the processing is continued until a small amount of user has used up 100% capacity after a certain period of time, the photosensitive layer component and the photosensitive layer protective layer component dissolved or dispersed in the developing solution settle / precipitate on the processing wall. / There was a case where the cleaning at the time of liquid exchange was difficult due to accumulation.
In addition, using up 100% ability means the state which is 100% liquid fatigue. Here, 100% solution fatigue refers to the peripheral portion of a halftone dot (hereinafter referred to as the halftone dot area ratio) when the 50% halftone dot area ratio on a plate developed with a fresh developer after exposure is increased to 52%, for example. This refers to the case where the developability of the half-exposure portion of the fringe portion has become slow. For example, when the dot area ratio increases by 2%, the reflection density of the finished print increases and the influence on tone reproduction can be visually recognized. Therefore, the limit of developing ability here refers to a degree of reduction that has a very slight but obvious effect on printing performance. The percentage at which the halftone dot area ratio is increased depends on the user, and the standard can be set independently.

The present invention has been made to solve the drawbacks of the above-mentioned horizontal conveyance type automatic developing apparatus, and provides an automatic developing apparatus and method capable of producing a lithographic printing plate capable of producing a high-quality lithographic printing plate. The purpose is to do.
In addition, when a user of various scales uses a self-supporting machine with replenisher replenishment, there is provided an automatic developing apparatus and a method for enabling any user to replace the liquid using 100% capacity within a certain period of time. For the purpose.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention of the automatic development apparatus for immersion type lithographic printing plate according to claim 1 is directed to a developing tank filled with a developer for a lithographic printing plate precursor on which an image recording layer on a support is image-exposed. In the automatic development apparatus for immersion type lithographic printing plate in which the non-image part is removed while being immersed in the liquid, between the immersion type developing tank for forming the processing pass line and the external tank provided outside the processing pass line The developer is circulated so as to keep the liquid level of the immersion type developer tank constant, and the developer tank in the external tank is adjusted by adjusting the amount of the developer in the external tank. The total developer in the inner tank and the outer tank is approximately 100% liquid fatigued.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the automatic development apparatus for immersion type lithographic printing plate according to the first aspect, the main component of the developer contains a surfactant of 3 to 20% by mass, and the pH is 4 to 9. It is characterized by five.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the automatic development apparatus for immersion type planographic printing plate according to the second aspect, 1 to 10% by mass of a water-soluble resin is contained in the component of the developer.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the automatic development apparatus for immersion type lithographic printing plate according to the first aspect, the blade is in contact with the carry-in roller upstream in the transport direction and the carry-out roller downstream in the transport direction in the developing tank. It is characterized in that the inside of the developing tank has a sealed structure.
The invention according to claim 5 is the immersion type lithographic printing plate automatic developing device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein at least a part of at least one rubbing member is immersed in the developer. The non-image portion of the lithographic printing plate precursor is removed by rotating the rubbing member.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the automatic development apparatus for immersion type lithographic printing plate according to the fifth aspect, the removal operation of the non-image part of the lithographic printing plate precursor by rotating the rubbing member is the lithographic printing plate The part that receives the removal operation of the original plate is performed after 2 seconds or more have passed since the developer was touched.
The invention according to claim 7 is the automatic development apparatus for immersion type lithographic printing plate according to claim 6, characterized in that the rubbing member is arranged downstream from the middle of the distance in the transport direction of the developer tank. Yes.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the automatic development apparatus for immersion type lithographic printing plate according to the seventh aspect, a spray for spraying the developer in the external tank is provided near the downstream side of the carry-in roller or the carry-out roller. It is a feature.
The invention according to claim 9 is the automatic development apparatus for immersion type lithographic printing plates according to claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a washing unit, a drying unit, and a desensitizing unit are provided downstream of the developing tank. It is said.
A tenth aspect of the present invention is the immersion type lithographic printing plate automatic developing apparatus according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, wherein the exposed lithographic printing plate precursor is heat-treated, and the lithographic printing plate precursor is photosensitive. In the case where a protective layer is present on the layer, at least one of the pre-water washing portions for removing the protective layer is provided upstream of the developing tank.
The invention of the automatic development method for immersion type lithographic printing plate according to claim 11 is a non-image in a state where the lithographic printing plate precursor on which the image recording layer on the support is image-exposed is immersed in a developing tank filled with a developer. In the self-existing method for immersion type lithographic printing plates in which the part is removed, development is performed while circulating the developer between the immersion type development processing tank for forming the processing pass line and the external tank provided outside the processing pass line. The processing is performed while keeping the liquid level of the immersion type development processing tank constant without replenishment, and the amount of the developing solution in the external tank is varied according to the processing area per unit time.
According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the non-image area is removed in a state where the lithographic printing plate precursor on which the image recording layer on the support is image-exposed is immersed in a developing tank filled with a developer. In the self-existing method for immersion type lithographic printing plates, the developer contains 3 to 20% by weight of a surfactant and has a pH of 4 to 9.5.
The invention described in claim 13 is the self-explanatory method for immersion type lithographic printing plate described in claim 12, characterized in that the developer component contains 1 to 10% by weight of a water-soluble resin.

According to the present invention, it is possible to produce a lithographic printing plate of a certain quality without causing the problem of contamination or residue of the automatic developing apparatus.
In addition, since the developer is always kept at a constant level, good processing is always performed, and since it is used in a circulating manner, the amount of developer replenishment, the running cost is reduced by reducing the amount of waste, and the environment is also advantageous. An automatic developing apparatus capable of producing a lithographic printing plate is obtained.
Since the replenishment of the developing solution is not performed, a part of the charging solution having the developing ability is not used as the waste solution, so that the developing ability can be used 100%, the total amount of waste solution can be reduced, and the processing cost is reduced. In particular, the effect of the self-acting machine having a large amount of charged liquid becomes remarkable.
By adjusting the total liquid volume in the external tank according to the user scale, users with large throughput can process a large amount (large area) of printing plate per day, while users with small throughput can conversely reduce the volume per day ( (Small area) printing plates are processed, so if an external tank of the same capacity is installed, if the external tanks of all users are regularly replaced, the external tanks of users with small processing volumes will still have a developing solution that has a developing capacity. Although it remains, it will be forced to be replaced, and the developing ability cannot be used 100%. Conversely, if the processing liquid in the external tank of the user with a small amount of processing is periodically exchanged when 100% is used, the processing liquid in the external tank of the user with a large processing amount is exhausted, which is not preferable. . Also, if the external tanks of users with different processing volumes are completely replaced when they are used 100%, since they cannot be replaced at the same time, work efficiency is significantly reduced. According to the present invention, it is possible to match the processing capacity of the processing liquid (processing area that can be developed per unit liquid volume) and the expiration date (1 week to 6 months), and the user's external tank at the same time during periodic replacement Can be exchanged, the waste of the processing liquid is eliminated, and the efficiency of exchanging the external tank is improved.
In order to make the automatic developing apparatus into such a system, it is preferable that the developer activity is not easily lowered by carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. That is, the pH change of a high pH developer is large when the solution is aged with carbon dioxide, while the pH drop with time is small when the developer pH is lowered to 4 to 9.5. In this way, it is not necessary to consider the factor of liquid fatigue over time by setting the pH to a low value, so that this system can be designed. Moreover, since it is not a strong alkali, there also exists a merit that handling becomes safe.
In addition, the developability fall by making low pH is supplemented by adding surfactant to a 3-20 mass% developing solution.
Since a non-image area protective film can be formed by including a water-soluble resin, simple processing with one liquid (no water washing part, no gum part is required, and the amount of waste liquid is small, maintenance is improved (cleaning, liquid replacement time, failure, etc.) Reduction)) becomes possible.
Due to the shape of the immersion type developing tank, the processing performance is stable, and the inside of the developing tank has a sealed structure, so that the amount of water evaporation is small and it is difficult to be affected by the passage of time.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<Embodiment 1>
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an automatic developing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the automatic developing device 2 develops a photosensitive lithographic printing plate (hereinafter referred to as “PS plate”) 4 and develops a developing unit 6 that also performs gumming, and dries the developed PS plate 4. And a drying unit 10 for performing.
An insertion port 14 is formed in the side plate 12 of the automatic developing device 2, and the PS plate 4 inserted from the insertion port 14 is conveyed to the developing unit 6 by a conveyance roller (loading roller) 16. The insertion port 14 is provided with a rubber blade 18, and the insertion port 14 is closed by the rubber blade 18 when the PS plate 4 is not inserted.
In the developing tank 20 of the developing unit 6, a conveyance roller 22, a brush roller 24, and a squeeze roller 26 are sequentially provided from the upstream side in the conveyance direction, and a backup roller 28 is provided at an appropriate position therebetween. The PS plate 4 is immersed in the developing solution while being transported by the transport roller 22, and the brush roller 24 is rotated to remove the non-image portion of the PS plate 4 and be developed. This will be described in detail later.
The developed PS plate 4 is conveyed to the next drying 10 by a conveying roller (unloading roller) 16.

The drying unit 10 is provided with a guide roller 36 and a pair of skewer rollers 38 in order from the upstream side in the transport direction. The drying unit 10 is provided with drying means such as hot air supply means and heat generation means (not shown). The drying unit 10 is provided with a discharge port 40, and the PS plate 4 dried by the drying means is discharged from the discharge port 40. A shutter 44 is provided in the passage between the drying unit 10 and the developing unit 6, and the passage 46 is closed by the shutter 44 when the PS plate 4 does not pass through the passage 46.
The developing tank 20 is provided with a box-shaped shielding lid 60 integrally with the tank wall. The bottom wall of the shielding lid 60 is continuously curved in an arc shape so as not to come into contact with the upper outer peripheral surfaces of the transport roller 22, the brush roller 24, and the backup roller 28, and does not interfere with the roller or the like.

  Since the shielding lid 60 is box-shaped, an airtight space is defined in the upper part of the developing tank 20, and the amount of air in the developing unit 6 is reduced as much as possible. Further, since the shielding lid 60 is provided, the contact area between the developer and air is reduced as much as possible.

In the automatic developing device 2 having the above-described configuration, the rubber blade 62 is arranged in contact with the carry-in roller 16 at the entrance, and the developing unit 6 is substantially airtight with respect to the external atmosphere, so that outside air does not flow in. It is like that.
In addition, a rubber blade 62 is disposed in contact with the carry-out roller 16 at the outlet of the developing unit 6 and is substantially airtight, so that air in the drying unit 10 does not flow into the developing unit 6. ing.
Therefore, the developing unit 6 has a hermetically sealed structure in which air flows in slightly when the PS plate 4 passes, but is substantially airtight and hardly receives air.
In addition, 98 is a display device that visually informs various necessary information, and 99 is an alarm device that informs by hearing.

Next, the developing unit 6 will be described in detail.
The developer tank 20 is connected with a first circulation pipe 80 for the developer. In the first circulation pipe 80, a developer circulation pump 71, a conductivity sensor 73, and a filter (not shown) are provided.
The developer circulation pump 71 sucks the developer in the developer tank 20 from the suction hole at the bottom of the developer tank 20 into the first circulation pipe 80 and causes the developer to circulate through the first circulation pipe 80 and develop again. Discharge into the tank 20. The filter filters the developer flowing in the first circulation pipe 80. The conductivity sensor 73 measures the conductivity of the developer flowing in the first circulation pipe 80.

The developing unit 6 includes a second circulation pipe 90, a developer storage tank 55 connected to the second circulation pipe 90, and a developer supply pump 74 interposed in the second circulation pipe 90. The developer that is provided and overflows from the developing tank 20 is returned to the developer storage tank 55 via the second circulation pipe 90.

  More specifically, a pair of second circulation pipes 90 and 90 a for replenishing the developer 58 is provided in the vicinity of the developing tank 20. The second circulation pipe 90 for the developer 58 has the other end (the lower end in FIG. 1) connected to the external tank 55, and a developer supply pump 74 is provided in the pipe. The developer supply pump 74 measures and supplies the developer 58 from the external tank 55 to the developer tank 20. That is, the second circulation pipe 90, the developer supply pump 74, and the external tank 55 constitute a developer circulation means.

  The developer supply pump 74 includes a control ROM and a RAM (corresponding to a first storage means and a second storage means) 51 in which developer replenishment conditions and the like are stored based on the plate detection sensor 27 and the time measuring unit 52, and It is controlled by a control device (corresponding to first to fourth control means) 50 provided with a time measuring unit 52. That is, the control device 50 controls the developer supply pump 74 based on the signal from the plate detection sensor 27 that can measure whether or not the plate has been conveyed and the plate area of the conveyed plate. Replenishment is performed based on the replenishment conditions stored in the control ROM and RAM 51 of the developer set according to the actual operating conditions of the developing device 2. As a result, the control device 50 replenishes the developer 58 in an amount corresponding to the replenishment condition from the developer storage tank 55, for example, for each process of one plate. Here, the replenishment of processing may not be performed for each plate but may be configured by replenishing after a plurality of plates have passed.

In this automatic developing device 2, the image recording surface of the PS plate 4 that has passed through the carrying roller pair 16 on the carry-in side is rubbed by the brush roller (rubbing member) 24 with the image recording surface immersed in the developer 58, and the PS Development is performed by removing the non-exposed portion of the image recording layer of the plate 4. Here, the rubbing of the developing solution 58 hardly occurs by rubbing while being immersed in the developing solution 58 filled in the developing tank 20. Thereby, contamination in the developing machine due to scattering and generation of debris do not occur. In particular, when rubbing in a state of being immersed in the developer 58 using a rotating brush roll, the rubbing member is in a state where 1/3 or more of the diameter is immersed in the developer 58 from the viewpoint of scattering of the solution. Is more preferable, and more preferably 1/2 or more is immersed.
In order to form the developing tank 20, the lithographic printing plate precursor is conveyed below the horizontal, immersed in the developer 58, and conveyed in the developer 58.
The rubbing treatment with the rubbing member has a great effect when it is carried out after a certain time has passed after being immersed in the developer. In the development in this system, first, the developer 58 penetrates into the lithographic printing original plate photosensitive layer, and then the photosensitive layer can be easily removed from the non-image area. Therefore, it is possible to effectively remove the photosensitive layer by preliminarily dipping in the developer 58 before performing the rubbing operation. According to the experiment, the elapsed time is 2 seconds or more after the part subjected to the removal operation is immersed in the liquid or wet with the liquid from the spray, more preferably 5 seconds or more, and further preferably 10 seconds or more. Since the development processing is normally performed within 60 seconds, the elapsed time is inevitably shorter than 50 seconds.
Here, before being immersed in the developer 58, the photosensitive layer of the PS plate can be brought into contact with the developer 58 using a spray tube S1 or the like. In this case, the developer in the external tank may be sprayed or a fresh developer prepared in another tank may be used. Since it takes a long time until the photosensitive layer is brought into contact with the developer 58 and then rubbed in the developer 58, the development can be performed more effectively. Further, by bringing the developer 58 into contact with the developer 58, it is possible to appropriately shorten the time from the immersion in the developer 58 to the scraping. Further, in order to promote the penetration of the solution, a method of vibrating the PS plate 4 in a state where it is in contact with the developer 58 can be appropriately used.
Therefore, if it is tsec after dipping in the developer 58 until the PS plate 4 comes out of the developer 58, the rubbing treatment with the rubbing material 24 is preferably performed after t / 2 sec. . Therefore, it is desirable to perform development in the middle or the latter half of the developing tank 20. Of course, the rubbing treatment can be performed in the first half of the developing tank if the developing tank 20 is lengthened or the conveying speed is slowed to increase the time of immersion in the developer 58. In order to always give a stable development process, the rubbing process with the rubbing material 24 is performed in the middle or the latter half.
Now, after developing using the rubbing member 24, the PS plate 4 exits the developer 58. At this time, although depending on the usage situation, when the developer 58 becomes fatigued, depending on the situation, it becomes a situation where debris is likely to adhere. Even in such a case, the developer 58 in the developer storage tank 55 having a lower degree of fatigue than the developer 58 used during the dipping process is directly discharged onto the PS plate 4 by the spray pipe S2, so that the PS plate 4 is discharged. Foreign matter such as adhering debris can be removed.
As described above, the removal of debris by the spray is remarkable when the degree of fatigue of the developer 58 in the developing tank 20 becomes high. A particularly fine filter can be used as appropriate for the circulation system discharged from the spray pipe S2.
In this case, a clean PS plate 4 can be obtained only in the treatment bath, and the steps after the treatment bath can be omitted as appropriate.
Thus, after processing with only one bath, the drying unit 10 is provided, and the plate that has been desensitized simultaneously with development in the first bath is dried in the drying unit 10. In this way, when the treatment is completed with only one bath, the apparatus cost can be reduced and at the same time, the space can be saved.
Moreover, since the developing solution 58 is circulated in the external tank 55, the level of the developing solution can always be maintained at a constant level, and the developing process is stabilized.
Further, in the conventional apparatus, even a developing solution having a developing ability is partially discarded as a waste solution. However, in the present invention, the developing ability of the developing solution can be used 100% by circulating the developing solution. The life of the developer can be controlled.
Moreover, the liquid level can be easily controlled by overflow.
By including a water-soluble resin, the components of an existing automatic processor can be used effectively, and a great effect can be obtained with small improvements.
Furthermore, the external tank 55 installed according to the present invention does not contain a fixed amount of processing liquid in any external tank, but according to the present invention, the liquid in the external tank 55 can be adjusted according to the user's processing volume. The amount is adjusted. In other words, users with a large processing amount process a large amount (large area) of printing plate per day, and users with a small amount of processing process only a small amount (small area) of a printing plate per day. When the tank 55 is installed, when the external tanks 55 of all users are periodically replaced, the replacement is performed even though the charging liquid having the developing capacity still remains in the external tanks 55 of the users with a small processing amount. This is because the development ability cannot be used 100%.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating this relationship.
In the figure, the horizontal axis is the total area (m ² / month) of the user's processed plate per month, the vertical axis is the amount of liquid stored in the developing tank and the external tank (total amount of liquid used), and the straight line S is It is a utilization straight line of the treatment liquid 100%. For example, in the case of a large-scale user who processes a processing plate with a total area of 2000 m ² / month per month, a total volume of 100 liters may be used in order to use 100% of the processing liquid. Accordingly, since the sum of the processing liquid in the developing tank in the automatic developing apparatus and the processing liquid in the external tank is 100 liters, for example, if the developing tank is 20 liters, the external tank is 80 liters. In addition, in the case of a small-sized user who processes only a total area of 1000 m ² / month per month, a total volume of 50 liters may be used in order to use 100% of the processing liquid. For that purpose, if the processing solution in the developing tank is 20 liters, 30 liters may be stored in the external tank. However, if the liquid volume of 80 liters was stored in the external tank, it was discarded even though there was an untreated amount of 50 liters at the time of regular replacement.
Therefore, in general terms, when users a, b, and c have different processing areas per month (however, the processing amount is a>b> c), respectively, the developing tank and the external tank User a may use a total amount of 58 a liters, user b may use a total amount of 58 b liters, and user c may use a total amount of 58 c liters. Accordingly, the external tank 55a only needs to store the amount of processing liquid obtained by subtracting the amount of processing liquid in the developing tank from the total amount of 58a liters. The same applies to the external tanks 55b and 55c. As described above, according to the present invention, the external tank may contain an amount of processing liquid corresponding to the processing amount of 100% within the regular period. If it accommodates more than this, it will be wasted, and if it is less than this, the processing capacity of the plate will decrease.

Returning to FIG. 1, in the present invention, the developer 58 is circulated in the external tank 55 so that the liquid level of the developer is constantly maintained at a constant level. Depending on the amount of processing liquid used, the processing liquid may be stored in different amounts (58a>58b> 58c) as in the external tanks 55a, 55b, 55c.
In this way, when the external tank is regularly replaced, all the external tanks use 100% of the processing liquid, and the processing liquid can be effectively used.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to match the processing capacity of the processing liquid (processing area that can be developed per unit liquid volume) and the expiration date (1 week to 6 months), and therefore, it is also possible to periodically replace it. Sometimes it becomes possible to replace the external tanks of the user all at once, so that the processing liquid is not wasted and the external tanks can be replaced all at once, so that the work efficiency is improved.

  In the case of using an automatic developing machine, for example, a method in which a developer 58 charged in a developer tank is pumped up by a pump and sprayed from a spray nozzle (see Patent Document 3), a submerged guide in a tank filled with the developer 58 Either a method of immersing and conveying the PS plate 4 master plate by a roll or the like, or a so-called disposable processing method of supplying and processing a substantially unused developer 58 for each plate as required However, from the viewpoint of preventing the liquid from scattering, the method of immersing and processing the PS plate 4 original plate is excellent. Further, the PS plate 4 can be produced by an apparatus in which an exposure apparatus and an automatic developing apparatus are integrated.

  In the exposure processing by the exposure apparatus, the PS plate 4 original plate is exposed through a transparent original image having a line image, a halftone dot image or the like, or is exposed imagewise by laser beam scanning or the like using digital data. Examples of light sources suitable for exposure include carbon arc lamps, mercury lamps, xeno lamps, metal hydrado lamps, strobes, ultraviolet rays, infrared rays, and laser beams. A laser beam is particularly preferable, and examples include a solid-state laser and a semiconductor laser that emit infrared rays with a wavelength of 760 to 1200 nm, an ultraviolet semiconductor laser that emits light with a wavelength of 250 to 420 nm, an argon ion laser that emits visible light, and an FD-YAG laser. . Among these, from the viewpoint of simplification of plate making, a laser that emits infrared rays or ultraviolet rays that can be operated under white light or yellow light is preferable.

  The rubbing member used in the present invention may be any member as long as it can rub the image recording surface of the PS plate 4 original plate. In particular, the image recording surface can be rubbed by rotating around the rotation axis. It is preferable to use a known member (for example, a known channel brush, twisting brush, implantation brush, carpet brush, and Morton roller).

  As channel brushes, long so-called channel brushes as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Nos. 62-167253, 4-63447, 4-64128, and JP-A-6-186751. A (band-like brush) that is spirally wound around the surface of the roller body is used.

  As the torsion brush, the one in which a torsion brush is inserted into a spiral groove provided on the shaft as disclosed in JP-A-3-87832 and spirally wound around the shaft is used.

  As an implantation brush, what is created by the method of making a small hole in a shaft roller and implanting a brush material is used.

  As a carpet brush, an elongated belt in which a hair material is woven into a woven fabric is wound around the shaft roller as disclosed in JP 2001-5193 A and JP 2001-66788 A. Is used.

  As the Molton roller, a roller part disclosed in JP-A-10-198044 is covered with a cylindrical sliding contact material made of a fiber knitted fabric and the end on the mounting side is tightened. it can.

  When a rotating member is used as the rubbing member, the number of rotations of the rubbing member is preferably as fast as possible in order to improve the removability of the image recording layer of the non-exposed portion of the PS plate 4 original plate. From the viewpoints of durability, production cost, scattering of the developer 58 and damage to the exposed portion of the PS plate 4 original plate, 30 to 1000 rpm, more preferably 50 to 500 rpm is preferable.

  When using a brush as a rubbing member, the number of the brush should just be one or more, and may have more than one. In the case of two or more, one or more may be rotated in a direction opposite to the processing direction of the PS plate 4 original plate. Further, when a rotating rubbing member is used, the development processing may be performed while swinging the rubbing member in the direction of the rotation axis. By swinging the rubbing member in the rotation axis direction, the non-image part of the PS plate 4 original plate can be removed more effectively, and a higher quality PS plate 4 can be produced.

  As the material of the brush used for the rubbing member, natural fibers such as horse hair and pig hair, artificial fibers, metal fibers, and the like are known, but artificial fibers are preferable from the viewpoint of chemical resistance. Man-made fibers include polyamides such as nylon 6, nylon 6,6, nylon 6,10, nylon 6,12 and nylon 12, polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate and polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyacrylonitrile, poly (meta ) Polyacrylics such as alkyl acrylate, polyolefins such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride and polyvinylidene chloride, celluloses such as acetyl cellulose, polyurethanes such as polyurethane, polyphenylene sulfite, ethylene tetrafluoride Fluorine resins such as ethylene copolymers and polyvinylidene fluoride are used, but considering elasticity, rigidity, wear resistance, heat resistance, chemical resistance, water supply, moisture absorption, etc., nylon 6, nylon 6, 6, Nylon 6 · 10, Nai 6/12, nylon 12, polypropylene, polybutylene terephthalate, and polyethylene terephthalate are preferable, and nylon nylon 6.6, nylon 6.10, 6.12, nylon 12, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), and polypropylene are more preferable. It is done. Of the polyesters, polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) is particularly preferable. Of the polyolefins, polypropylene is particularly preferred.

  The thickness of the brush hair is not particularly limited, but is preferably 0.01 mm to 1.0 mm, more preferably 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm. This is because if the thickness of the brush is thinner than 0.01 mm, the rubbing property is inferior, and if it is thicker than 1.0 mm, the plate surface is easily scratched. Further, the length of the brush bristles is not particularly limited, but is usually in the range of 3 mm to 50 mm. This is because if the length is shorter than 3 mm, the contact with the PS plate 4 original plate becomes non-uniform and the plate surface is easily scratched. On the other hand, if the length is longer than 50 mm, no advantage in development processing can be found by increasing the length, which is disadvantageous economically. In the case of a Molton roller, since the cylindrical sliding contact material which consists of a knitted material is covered, regulation of the thickness and length of a hair material is unnecessary.

Thus, according to the first embodiment, PS that has been desensitized at the same time as development in the developing tank.
Since the plate 4 is dried in the drying unit 10, when the processing is completed, the cost of the apparatus can be reduced, and at the same time, the space can be saved, and the development and rubbing processing is performed in the developer. Compared to a horizontal conveyance type automatic developing apparatus that performs the same alkalinizing treatment, liquid splash due to liquid splash is eliminated, and therefore, the problem that the scattered liquid dries and becomes crushed is also solved. In addition, since the developer 58 is circulated, the level of the developer can always be maintained at a constant level, and the development process is stabilized.

<Embodiment 2>
In the present invention, the bath is not necessarily one bath, and it is of course possible that the PS plate 4 after the development processing is subsequently washed with water, dried and desensitized. In this case, according to the present invention, the internal space of the developing tank is configured to be shut off from the outside air, and the developing solution is circulated. According to the conventional non-circulating apparatus, since the developer is collected even though it is not fatigued, there is no waste in terms of resource saving).
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an automatic developing apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.
In FIG. 3, reference numeral 20 ′ denotes an automatic developing apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In the automatic developing device 20 ′, the same reference numerals as those in the automatic developing device 2 (FIG. 1) according to the first embodiment of the present invention indicate the same functions, and thus the duplicate description is omitted.
In FIG. 3, the developing unit 6 is basically the same as FIG. 1, except that the shutter 44 provided in the passage between the developing unit 6 and the drying unit 10 is different from the gum processing unit 8 and the drying unit in FIG. It is the point which moved to the passage between ten. The major difference is that a two-stage finisher unit 8 is provided downstream of the developing unit 6 to wash away the developer adhering to the developed PS plate 4 and apply a gum solution, followed by a drying unit 10. Is a point. In the developing tank 6 of FIG. 1, the developing process and the gumming process are performed simultaneously, but here the two processes are separated.

In FIG. 3, the finisher portion 8 includes a first finisher portion 8a and a second finisher portion 8b. Each finisher section 8a, 8b is provided with transport rollers 30a, 30b for transporting the PS plate 4, and spray members 34a, 34b for spraying the gum solution in the finisher tanks 32a, 32b onto the PS plate 4. Then, the PS plate 4 after the development processing is applied by spraying the gum solution by the spray members 34a and 34b while being transported by the transport rollers 30a and 30b. The gum solution in the finisher tank 32b of the second finisher portion 8b on the downstream side is supplied by overflowing into the finisher tank 32a of the first finisher portion 8a on the upstream side. It may be supplied in the same manner by a pump or the like.
A shutter 44 is provided in the passage between the drying unit 10 and the finisher unit 8, and the passage 46 is closed by the shutter 44 when the PS plate 4 does not pass through the passage 46.

  Further, the second finisher tank 32 b is replenished with the gum solution in the gum solution tank 56 by the pump 77 and the replenishment diluent 57 in the replenishment diluent storage tank 53 is replenished by the replenishment diluent supply pump 78. Here, the replenishment ratio of the gum solution and the diluent is, for example, 1: 1. With this replenishment, the gum waste liquid overflowed from the first finisher tank 32a is collected in the waste liquid tank 100 in the same manner as the development waste liquid.

  The automatic developing device 2 ′ having the above-described configuration is provided with a rubber blade 62 at an appropriate place, and the developing unit 6 to the second finisher unit 8b are substantially hermetically sealed with respect to the external atmosphere, so that outside air does not flow in. It is like that. Further, a space between the developing unit 6 and the first finisher unit 8a is substantially airtight by the rubber blade 62 so that air in the first finisher unit 8a does not flow into the developing unit 6. Therefore, the developing unit 6 has a hermetically sealed structure in which air flows in slightly when the PS plate 4 passes, but is substantially airtight and hardly receives air.

Also in FIG. 3, in the present invention, the developer 58 is circulated in the external tank 55 so that the liquid level of the developer is always maintained at a constant level. It is only necessary to store different amounts of processing liquid (58a>58b> 58c) as in the external tanks 55a, 55b, 55c depending on the amount of processing liquid used.
In this way, when the external tank is regularly replaced, all the external tanks use 100% of the processing liquid, and the processing liquid can be effectively used.

As described above, according to the second embodiment, the development process and the desensitization process are separated from each other, so that replacement by liquid fatigue can be performed in each process, and each liquid is effectively made independent of each other. Can be used. For example, in the case of a developer, it may be replaced when the display conductivity reaches the lower limit.
Since the developing solution 58 is circulated, the use efficiency of the solution is improved, and the liquid level of the developing solution can always be maintained at a constant level, and the developing process is stabilized. In addition, since the developer tank is configured in a sealed space, evaporation can be prevented and the fatigue of the developer due to air is delayed, so that it is possible to use a high alkali developer (for thermal positive) having a pH of 13 and a thermal CTP plate. Become.
Further, since the development / rubbing process is performed in the developer, the liquid splash due to the liquid splash is eliminated as in the case of the first embodiment as compared with the horizontal conveyance type automatic developing apparatus. The problem is solved.

<Embodiment 3>
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an automatic developing apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
In FIG. 4, reference numeral 2 ″ denotes an automatic developing apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In the automatic developing apparatus 2 ″, reference numerals common to the automatic developing apparatus 2 (FIG. 1) according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Indicates the same function, and thus a duplicate description is omitted.
In FIG. 4, the developing unit 6 is basically the same as FIG. The difference is that a pre-heating (pre-heating) part and a pre-water washing (pre-water washing) part are provided upstream of the developing part 6.
The preheating unit is installed upstream of the developing unit 6 in the transport direction, and has a function of maintaining the specified PS plate surface temperature for a specified time while transporting the PS plate.
The pre-washing unit is installed on the upstream side in the transport direction of the developing unit 6 and on the downstream side in the transport direction of the pre-heating unit, and has a function of cleaning and cooling the surface of the PS plate with water while transporting the PS plate. The PS plate that has passed through the pre-water washing section is automatically conveyed to the developing section 6 which is the next process in a washed state.
The introduction of these processes has a demerit that the entire apparatus becomes large, but the quality such as printing durability can be improved or the quality can be stabilized.
In addition, although two processes of the said preheating part and a pre-water washing part may be put in both, either one may be introduce | transduced.

Also in FIG. 4, in the present invention, the developer 58 is circulated in the external tank 55 so that the liquid level of the developer is constantly maintained at a constant level. It is only necessary to store different amounts of processing liquid (58a>58b> 58c) as in the external tanks 55a, 55b, 55c depending on the amount of processing liquid used.
In this way, when the external tank is regularly replaced, all the external tanks use 100% of the processing liquid, and the processing liquid can be effectively used.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram for explaining the resource-saving feature of the present invention that the apparatus of the present invention can be completed by adding a slight improvement to the conventional automatic developing apparatus. FIG. 5 (a) shows the automatic development according to the third embodiment. Apparatus (b) is a configuration diagram of each of the conventional products.
In FIG. 5 (b), 200 "is a conventional automatic developing device, and the development processing step passes through a preheating part and a pre-water washing part, and after developing with an alkaline developer in the developing part 60, an alkaline agent is added in the water washing part. It is composed of a process of pouring, then treating with a gum solution mainly containing a hydrophilic resin in the gum part, and drying in the drying part.
The developer used in the developing unit 60 ′ is an alkaline developer having a pH of 10 or more, and the alkaline developer is supplied from the developer storage tank 55 ′ to the developer tank 20 through the developer replenishment pipe 90 ′.
On the other hand, the overflowed developer is discharged as a developed developer (waste solution) to the waste solution tank 100 through the waste solution pipe 90 ″. When the waste liquid tank 100 is filled with waste water, the waste liquid tank 100 is unloaded from the apparatus, and after the waste water therein is removed, it is returned to the apparatus.
When the present invention using a developer having a pH of 4 to 9.5 is applied to this conventional automatic developing apparatus, the conventional automatic developing apparatus can be provided with the functions of the present invention with only slight improvements. , Resource-saving and environmentally friendly with few waste parts.
FIG. 5A shows the automatic developing apparatus described in the third embodiment. The difference from FIG. 5B is that (1) the second circulation pipe 90a is used as the waste liquid pipe shown in FIG. 5B. Connect the tip of 90 ″ not to the waste liquid tank 100 but to the developer storage tank 55.
(2) Supply a developer having a pH of 4 to 9.5 to the developer storage tank 55 instead of an alkaline developer having a pH of 10 or more.
With the above two operations, the components possessed by the existing automatic processor can be used effectively, and a large effect can be obtained with small improvements.

<Example>
Self-machine Haase (Germany) TOPLINE OE40,
Developer tank capacity 92 liters,
The capacity of the external tank in the present invention is 8 liters, a total of 100 liters,
The pump capacity for liquid circulation between the external tank and the main development tank is 200cc / min.
Developer: (A) Aqueous solution 1 was prepared. The unit is [g]. The pH of the aqueous solution 1 was 4.3.
8970 g of water
Anionic surfactant (the following chemical formula) 400 g

アラビアガム １５０ ｇ
酵素変性馬鈴薯澱粉 ４００ ｇ
ジオクチルスルホコハク酸エステルのナトリウム塩 ５０ ｇ
第一燐酸アンモニウム １０ ｇ
クエン酸 １０ ｇ
ＥＤＴＡ−４−ナトリウム塩 １０ ｇ
ｐＨ ４．３、

Gum arabic 150 g
Enzyme-modified potato starch 400 g
Dioctyl sulfosuccinate sodium salt 50 g
Primary ammonium phosphate 10 g
Citric acid 10 g
EDTA-4-sodium salt 10 g
pH 4.3,

Planographic printing plate precursor:
Preparation of support body To remove rolling oil on the surface of an aluminum plate (material 1050) having a thickness of 0.3 mm, after performing a degreasing treatment at 50 ° C. for 30 seconds using a 10 mass% sodium aluminate aqueous solution, the bristle diameter The aluminum surface was grained using ^three 0.3 mm bundled nylon brushes and a pumice-water suspension (specific gravity 1.1 g / cm ³ ) having a median diameter of 25 μm and washed well with water. This plate was etched by being immersed in a 25 mass% sodium hydroxide aqueous solution at 45 ° C for 9 seconds, washed with water, further immersed in 20 mass% nitric acid at 60 ° C for 20 seconds, and washed with water. The etching amount of the grained surface at this time was about 3 g / m ² .

Next, an electrochemical roughening treatment was performed continuously using an alternating voltage of 60 Hz.
The electrolytic solution at this time was a 1% by mass nitric acid aqueous solution (containing 0.5% by mass of aluminum ions) and a liquid temperature of 50 ° C. The AC power source waveform is electrochemical roughening treatment using a trapezoidal rectangular wave alternating current with a time ratio TP of 0.8 msec until the current value reaches a peak from zero, a duty ratio of 1: 1, and a trapezoidal rectangular wave alternating current. Went. Ferrite was used for the auxiliary anode.
The current density was 30 A / dm ² at the peak current value, and 5% of the current flowing from the power source was shunted to the auxiliary anode. The amount of electricity in the nitric acid electrolysis was 175 C / dm ² when the aluminum plate was the anode.
Then, water washing by spraying was performed.

Next, a 0.5% by mass hydrochloric acid aqueous solution (containing 0.5% by mass of aluminum ions) and an electrolytic solution having a liquid temperature of 50 ° C. and nitric acid electrolysis under the condition of an electric quantity of 50 C / dm ² when the aluminum plate is an anode. In the same manner as above, an electrochemical surface roughening treatment was performed, followed by washing with water by spraying.
The plate was provided with a DC anodized film of 2.5 g / m ² at a current density of 15 A / dm ² using 15% by mass sulfuric acid (containing 0.5% by mass of aluminum ions) as an electrolytic solution, then washed with water and dried.
The centerline average roughness (Ra) of this substrate was measured using a needle having a diameter of 2 μm and found to be 0.51 μm.

Next, the following undercoat liquid (1) was applied so that the dry coating amount was 10 mg / m ² to prepare a support used in the following experiments.

Undercoat liquid (1)
・ Undercoat compound (1) below 0.017g
・ Methanol 9.00 g
・ Water 1.00g

A photosensitive layer coating solution (1) having the following composition was bar-coated on the support provided with the undercoat layer, followed by oven drying at 70 ° C. for 60 seconds, and image recording with a dry coating amount of 1.1 g / m ² . A protective layer coating solution (1) having the following composition was applied thereon using a bar so that the dry coating amount would be 0.75 g / m ^2, and then at 125 ° C. for 70 seconds. The lithographic printing plate precursor was obtained by drying.

<Photosensitive layer coating solution (1)>
・ The following binder polymer (1) (weight average molecular weight 80,000) 0.54 g
・ Polymerizable compound 0.40g
Isocyanuric acid EO-modified triacrylate (manufactured by Toa Gosei Co., Ltd., Aronix M-315)
・ Polymerizable compound Ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate 0.08 g
(Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd., SR9035, EO addition mole number 15, molecular weight 1000)
・ The following sensitizing dye (1) 0.06 g
・ The following polymerization initiator (2) 0.18 g
・ The following chain transfer agent (1) 0.07 g
・ 0.40 g of ε-phthalocyanine pigment dispersion
(Pigment: 15 parts by mass, dispersant Binder polymer (1): 10 parts by mass,
Solvent cyclohexanone / methoxypropyl acetate / 1-methoxy-2-propanol = 15 parts by mass / 20 parts by mass / 40 parts by mass)
・ Thermal polymerization inhibitor 0.01g
N-nitrosophenylhydroxylamine aluminum salt ・ The following water-soluble fluorosurfactant (1) 0.001 g
・ Polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene condensate 0.04g
(Asahi Denka Kogyo Co., Ltd., Pluronic L44)
・ Tetraethylamine hydrochloride 0.01g
・ 3.5 g of 1-methoxy-2-propanol
・ Methyl ethyl ketone 8.0g

Protective layer coating solution (1)
Polyvinyl alcohol (saponification degree 98 mol%, polymerization degree 500) 40 g
Polyvinylpyrrolidone (weight average molecular weight 50,000) 5g
Poly (vinyl pyrrolidone / vinyl acetate (1/1)) (weight average molecular weight 70,000) 0.5 g
Surfactant (Emalex 710, manufactured by Nippon Emulsion Co., Ltd.) 0.5g
950g of water
Development processing The total area of 2000 m ² was developed with the automatic development apparatus shown in FIG. No replenishment. The total amount of developer used was 100 liters.

<Comparative example>
Self-machine Haase (Germany) TOPLINE OE40 (automatic developing device shown in FIG. 5B)
Developer tank capacity 92 liter Developer High alkali developer pH 12
Prescription pure water 950.0
EDTA (Tetradiaminetetraacetate) 1.5
Potassium carbonate 2.2
KOH (48%) 1.5
Polyethylene naphthyl ether (C = 14) 46.0
Planographic printing plate precursor: Fujifilm CTP plate LP-NNV (photopolymerization type CTP lithographic printing plate)
Development processing Total area 2000m ² developed with OE40 for about 1 month. In order to maintain the development performance, the developer was replenished. Total usage reached 258 liters.

<Examples of non-alkaline aqueous solution>
The lithographic printing plate precursor in the present invention is image-exposed with a light source of 350 nm to 450 nm, and then the plate surface is rubbed with a rubbing member in the presence of an aqueous solution having a pH of 2 to 10, thereby forming a protective layer and a non-exposed portion of the photosensitive layer. It can be removed and an image can be formed on the surface of the aluminum plate support.
The aqueous solution used in the present invention is an aqueous solution having a pH of 2 to 10. For example, water alone or an aqueous solution containing water as a main component (containing 60% by mass or more of water) is preferable. In particular, an aqueous solution having the same composition as that of a generally known fountain solution, a surfactant (anionic, nonionic, An aqueous solution containing a cationic system or the like, or an aqueous solution containing a water-soluble polymer compound is preferable. In particular, an aqueous solution containing both a surfactant and a water-soluble polymer compound is preferable. The pH of the aqueous solution is more preferably 3-9, still more preferably 4-8.

Examples of the anionic surfactant used in the present invention include fatty acid salts, abietic acid salts, hydroxyalkane sulfonic acid salts, alkane sulfonic acid salts, dialkyl sulfosuccinic acid salts, linear alkyl benzene sulfonic acid salts, branched alkyl benzene sulfonic acid salts, Alkylnaphthalene sulfonates, alkylphenoxy polyoxyethylene propyl sulfonates, polyoxyethylene alkyl sulfophenyl ether salts, N-methyl-N-oleyl taurine sodium, N-alkyl sulfosuccinic acid monoamide disodium salts, petroleum sulfonates , Sulfated castor oil, sulfated beef tallow oil, fatty acid alkyl ester sulfate salts, alkyl sulfate ester salts, polyoxyethylene alkyl etherate ester salts, fatty acid monog Ceride sulfates, polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ether sulfates, polyoxyethylene styryl phenyl ether sulfates, alkyl phosphates, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether phosphates, polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ether phosphates, styrene -Partial saponifications of maleic anhydride copolymer, partial saponifications of olefin-maleic anhydride copolymer, naphthalene sulfonate formalin condensate and the like. Among these, dialkyl sulfosuccinates, alkyl sulfate esters and alkyl naphthalene sulfonates are particularly preferably used.

  It does not specifically limit as a cationic surfactant used for this invention, A conventionally well-known thing can be used. Examples thereof include alkylamine salts, quaternary ammonium salts, polyoxyethylene alkylamine salts, and polyethylene polyamine derivatives.

  Nonionic surfactants used in the present invention include polyethylene glycol type higher alcohol ethylene oxide adduct, alkylphenol ethylene oxide adduct, fatty acid ethylene oxide adduct, polyhydric alcohol fatty acid ester ethylene oxide adduct, higher alkylamine ethylene. Oxide adduct, fatty acid amide ethylene oxide adduct, fat and oil ethylene oxide adduct, polypropylene glycol ethylene oxide adduct, dimethylsiloxane-ethylene oxide block copolymer, dimethylsiloxane- (propylene oxide-ethylene oxide) block copolymer, etc. Alcohol-type glycerol fatty acid ester, pentaerythritol fatty acid ester, sorbitol and sorbita Fatty acid esters of fatty acid esters of sucrose, alkyl ethers of polyhydric alcohols, fatty acid amides of alkanolamines.

  These nonionic surfactants may be used alone or in admixture of two or more. In the present invention, ethylene oxide adduct of sorbitol and / or sorbitan fatty acid ester, polypropylene glycol ethylene oxide adduct, dimethylsiloxane-ethylene oxide block copolymer, dimethylsiloxane- (propylene oxide-ethylene oxide) block copolymer, polyhydric alcohol Fatty acid esters are more preferred.

Further, from the viewpoint of stable solubility or turbidity in water, the nonionic surfactant used in the aqueous solution of the present invention is HLB (Hydrophile-Lipophile).
The (Balance) value is preferably 6 or more, and more preferably 8 or more. Furthermore, the ratio of the nonionic surfactant contained in the aqueous solution is preferably 0.01 to 10% by weight, and more preferably 0.01 to 5% by weight. Further, acetylene glycol-based and acetylene alcohol-based oxyethylene adducts, fluorine-based and silicon-based surfactants can be used in the same manner.

The aqueous solution of the present invention may contain an organic solvent. Examples of the organic solvent that can be contained include aliphatic hydrocarbons (hexane, heptane, “Isopar E, H, G” (manufactured by Esso Chemical Co., Ltd.) or gasoline, kerosene, etc.), and aromatic hydrocarbons (toluene). , Xylene, etc.), or halogenated hydrocarbons (methylene dichloride, ethylene dichloride, trichlene, monochlorobenzene, etc.), polar solvents such as alcohols and esters.
In addition, when the organic solvent is insoluble in water, it can be used after being solubilized in water using a surfactant or the like. When the organic solvent is contained in the aqueous solution, it is safe and flammable. In view of the above, the concentration of the solvent is preferably less than 40% by weight.

  The aqueous solution of the present invention may contain a water-soluble polymer compound. Examples of water-soluble polymer compounds include soybean polysaccharide, modified starch, gum arabic, dextrin, fibrin derivatives (eg, carboxymethylcellulose, carboxyethylcellulose, methylcellulose, etc.) and modified products thereof, pullulan, polyvinyl alcohol and derivatives thereof, polyvinylpyrrolidone, Examples include polyacrylamide and acrylamide copolymers, vinyl methyl ether / maleic anhydride copolymers, vinyl acetate / maleic anhydride copolymers, styrene / maleic anhydride copolymers, and the like.

  A well-known thing can be used for the said soybean polysaccharide, for example, there exists a brand name Soya Five (made by Fuji Oil Co., Ltd.) as a commercial item, and the thing of various grades can be used. What can be preferably used is one in which the viscosity of a 10% by mass aqueous solution is in the range of 10 to 100 mPa / sec.

As the modified starch, known ones can be used, and starch such as corn, potato, tapioca, rice and wheat is decomposed with acid or enzyme in the range of 5 to 30 glucose residues per molecule, and further in an alkali. It can be made by a method of adding oxypropylene or the like.
Two or more water-soluble polymer compounds can be used in combination. The content of the water-soluble polymer compound in the aqueous solution is preferably 0.1 to 20% by mass, more preferably 0.5 to 10% by mass.

  In addition to the above, the aqueous solution of the present invention may contain preservatives, chelate compounds, antifoaming agents, organic acids, inorganic acids, inorganic salts and the like.

  Preservatives include phenol or derivatives thereof, formalin, imidazole derivatives, sodium dehydroacetate, 4-isothiazolin-3-one derivatives, benzisothiazolin-3-one, benztriazole derivatives, amiding anidine derivatives, quaternary ammonium salts, pyridine, Derivatives such as quinoline and guanidine, diazine, triazole derivatives, oxazole, oxazine derivatives, nitrobromoalcohol-based 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3diol, 1,1-dibromo-1-nitro-2-ethanol, 1,1-dibromo-1-nitro-2-propanol and the like can be preferably used.

  Examples of the chelate compound include ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, potassium salt thereof, sodium salt thereof; diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, potassium salt thereof, sodium salt thereof; triethylenetetraminehexaacetic acid, potassium salt thereof, sodium salt thereof, hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetic acid Nitrilotriacetic acid, sodium salt; 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-diphosphonic acid, potassium salt, sodium salt; aminotri (methylenephosphonic acid), potassium salt, sodium salt And organic phosphonic acids and phosphonoalkanetricarboxylic acids. Organic amine salts are also effective in place of the sodium and potassium salts of the chelating agents.

  As the antifoaming agent, a general silicon-based self-emulsifying type, emulsifying type, or nonionic surfactant having a HLB of 5 or less can be used. Silicon antifoaming agents are preferred. Among them, emulsification dispersion type and solubilization can be used.

Examples of the organic acid include citric acid, acetic acid, succinic acid, malonic acid, salicylic acid, caprylic acid, tartaric acid, malic acid, lactic acid, levulinic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, xylenesulfonic acid, phytic acid, and organic phosphonic acid. . The organic acid can also be used in the form of its alkali metal salt or ammonium salt.

  Examples of inorganic acids and inorganic salts include phosphoric acid, metaphosphoric acid, primary ammonium phosphate, secondary ammonium phosphate, primary sodium phosphate, secondary sodium phosphate, primary potassium phosphate, secondary potassium phosphate, Examples include sodium tripolyphosphate, potassium pyrophosphate, sodium hexametaphosphate, magnesium nitrate, sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, sodium sulfate, potassium sulfate, ammonium sulfate, sodium sulfite, ammonium sulfite, sodium hydrogen sulfate, nickel sulfate and the like.

[Lithographic printing plate precursor]
First, the planographic printing plate precursor used in the present invention will be described.

<Photosensitive layer>
The lithographic printing plate precursor used in the plate making method of the present invention has a negative photosensitive layer on which the photosensitive layer in the exposed area is cured. The negative photosensitive layer is not particularly limited, but is a radically polymerizable photosensitive layer containing a hydrophobic binder polymer, a polymerization initiator and a polymerizable compound from the viewpoint of easy development and good printing durability. Is preferred. Hereinafter, the components of the photosensitive layer will be described.

(Hydrophobic binder polymer)
As the hydrophobic binder polymer that can be used in the photosensitive layer of the present invention, a water-insoluble polymer is preferably used. Furthermore, the hydrophobic binder polymer that can be used in the present invention preferably contains substantially no acid group such as a carboxyl group, a sulfone group, and a phosphoric acid group. The acid value of the binder polymer (acid content per gram of polymer) Is expressed as a chemical equivalent number) is preferably 0.3 meq / g or less, and more preferably 0.1 meq / g or less.
That is, the hydrophobic binder polymer that can be used in the present invention is preferably insoluble in water and an aqueous solution of pH 10 or higher, and the solubility of the hydrophobic binder polymer in water and an aqueous solution of pH 10 or higher is 0.5% by mass or less. Preferably, it is 0.1% by mass or less. By using such a hydrophobic binder polymer, the film strength, water resistance, and inking property of the photosensitive layer are improved, and printing durability is improved.

As the hydrophobic binder polymer, as long as the performance of the lithographic printing plate of the present invention is not impaired, a conventionally known one can be used without limitation within the above range, and a linear organic polymer having a film property is preferable.
As an example of such a hydrophobic binder polymer, a polymer selected from acrylic resin, polyvinyl acetal resin, polyurethane resin, polyamide resin, epoxy resin, methacrylic resin, styrene resin, and polyester resin is preferable. Especially, an acrylic resin is preferable and a (meth) acrylic acid ester copolymer is preferable. More specifically, an alkyl (meth) acrylate or an aralkyl ester and an ester residue (—COOR) of (meth) acrylate ester may have —CH ₂ CH ₂ O— unit or —CH ₂ CH ₂ NH— unit as R. A copolymer with a (meth) acrylic acid ester containing is particularly preferred. The preferable alkyl group of the (meth) acrylic acid alkyl ester is an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and a methyl group is more preferable. Preferable (meth) acrylic acid aralkyl esters include benzyl (meth) acrylate.

Furthermore, the hydrophobic binder polymer can be provided with a crosslinking property in order to improve the film strength of the image area.
In order to impart crosslinkability to the binder polymer, a crosslinkable functional group such as an ethylenically unsaturated bond may be introduced into the main chain or side chain of the polymer. The crosslinkable functional group may be introduced by copolymerization or may be introduced by a polymer reaction.

  Here, the crosslinkable group is a group that crosslinks the polymer binder in the process of radical polymerization reaction that occurs in the photosensitive layer when the lithographic printing plate precursor is exposed. Although it will not specifically limit if it is a group of such a function, For example, an ethylenically unsaturated bond group, an amino group, an epoxy group etc. are mentioned as a functional group which can be addition-polymerized. Moreover, the functional group which can become a radical by light irradiation may be sufficient, and as such a crosslinkable group, a thiol group, a halogen group, an onium salt structure etc. are mentioned, for example. Especially, an ethylenically unsaturated bond group is preferable and the functional group represented by the following general formula (1)-(3) is especially preferable.

In the general formula (1), R ^{1 to} R ³ each independently represents a monovalent organic group, and R ¹ is preferably a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group which may have a substituent. Among them, a hydrogen atom and a methyl group are preferable because of high radical reactivity. R ² and R ³ are each independently a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an amino group, a carboxyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, a sulfo group, a nitro group, a cyano group, an optionally substituted alkyl group, or a substituted group. An aryl group that may have a group, an alkoxy group that may have a substituent, an aryloxy group that may have a substituent, an alkylamino group that may have a substituent, and a substituent An arylamino group which may have a substituent, an alkylsulfonyl group which may have a substituent, an arylsulfonyl group which may have a substituent, and the like. Among them, a hydrogen atom, a carboxyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, a substituent An alkyl group which may have a substituent and an aryl group which may have a substituent are preferable because of high radical reactivity.

X represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or N (R ¹² ) —, and R ¹² represents a hydrogen atom or a monovalent organic group. Here, examples of R ¹² include an alkyl group which may have a substituent. Among them, a hydrogen atom, a methyl group, an ethyl group, and an isopropyl group are preferable because of high radical reactivity.

  Here, examples of the substituent that can be introduced include an alkyl group, an alkenyl group, an alkynyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, a halogen atom, an amino group, an alkylamino group, an arylamino group, a carboxyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, A sulfo group, a nitro group, a cyano group, an amide group, an alkylsulfonyl group, an arylsulfonyl group and the like can be mentioned.

In the general formula (2), R ^{4 to} R ⁸ each independently represents a monovalent organic group, and R ^{4 to} R ⁸ are preferably a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an amino group, a dialkylamino group, Carboxyl group, alkoxycarbonyl group, sulfo group, nitro group, cyano group, alkyl group which may have a substituent, aryl group which may have a substituent, alkoxy group which may have a substituent, substituted An aryloxy group which may have a group, an alkylamino group which may have a substituent, an arylamino group which may have a substituent, an alkylsulfonyl group which may have a substituent, a substituent Examples thereof include an arylsulfonyl group which may have a hydrogen atom, a carboxyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an alkyl group which may have a substituent, and an aryl group which may have a substituent. .

Examples of the substituent that can be introduced are the same as those in the general formula (1). Y represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, or N (R ¹² ) —. R ¹² has the same meaning as R ¹² in general formula (1), and preferred examples are also the same.

In the general formula (3), R ⁹ preferably includes a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group which may have a substituent. Among them, a hydrogen atom or a methyl group has high radical reactivity. preferable. R ¹⁰ and R ¹¹ are each independently a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, an amino group, a dialkylamino group, a carboxyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, a sulfo group, a nitro group, a cyano group, or an alkyl group which may have a substituent. An aryl group which may have a substituent, an alkoxy group which may have a substituent, an aryloxy group which may have a substituent, an alkylamino group which may have a substituent, An arylamino group which may have, an alkylsulfonyl group which may have a substituent, an arylsulfonyl group which may have a substituent, etc. are mentioned, among them, a hydrogen atom, a carboxyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, An alkyl group which may have a substituent and an aryl group which may have a substituent are preferable because of high radical reactivity.

Here, examples of the substituent that can be introduced are the same as those in the general formula (1). Further, Z is an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, -N (R ¹³⁾ -, or a phenylene group which may have a substituent. Examples of R ¹³ include an alkyl group which may have a substituent. Among them, a methyl group, an ethyl group, and an isopropyl group are preferable because of high radical reactivity.
Among these, (meth) acrylic acid copolymers having a crosslinkable group in the side chain and polyurethane are more preferable.

  Hydrophobic binder polymers having crosslinkability include, for example, free radicals (polymerization initiation radicals or growth radicals in the polymerization process of a polymerizable compound) added to the crosslinkable functional group, and polymerization of polymerizable compounds directly between polymers. Addition polymerization through a chain forms a cross-link between polymer molecules and cures. Alternatively, atoms in the polymer (eg, hydrogen atoms on carbon atoms adjacent to the functional bridging group) are abstracted by free radicals to form polymer radicals that are bonded to each other so that crosslinking between the polymer molecules occurs. Forms and cures.

  The content of the crosslinkable group in the hydrophobic binder polymer (content of unsaturated double bond capable of radical polymerization by iodine titration) is preferably 0.1 to 10.0 mmol, more preferably 1 g per 1 g of the hydrophobic binder polymer. Is 1.0 to 7.0 mmol, most preferably 2.0 to 5.5 mmol.

  Further, it is preferable that the binder polymer is hydrophilic from the viewpoint of improving developability with respect to an aqueous solution, and it is important that the binder polymer is compatible with the polymerizable compound contained in the photosensitive layer from the viewpoint of improving printing durability. Yes, ie lipophilic. From such a viewpoint, in the present invention, it is also effective to copolymerize a hydrophilic group and a lipophilic group in a hydrophobic binder polymer in order to improve developability and printing durability. Examples of the hydrophilic group include a hydroxy group, a carboxylate group, a hydroxyethyl group, an ethyleneoxy group, a hydroxypropyl group, a polyoxyethyl group, a polyoxypropyl group, an amino group, an aminoethyl group, an aminopropyl group, and an ammonium group. And those having a hydrophilic group such as an amide group or a carboxymethyl group.

The hydrophobic binder polymer preferably has a weight average molecular weight of 5,000 or more, more preferably 10,000 to 300,000, and a number average molecular weight of 1,000 or more, preferably 2000 to 250,000. Is more preferable. The polydispersity (weight average molecular weight / number average molecular weight) is preferably 1.1 to 10.
The hydrophobic binder polymer may be any of a random polymer, a block polymer, a graft polymer, and the like, but is preferably a random polymer.

The hydrophobic binder polymer may be used alone or in combination of two or more.
The content of the hydrophobic binder polymer is 5 to 90% by mass, preferably 10 to 70% by mass, and more preferably 10 to 60% by mass with respect to the total solid content of the photosensitive layer. Within this range, good image area strength and image formability can be obtained.

(Polymerization initiator)
The polymerization initiator used in the present invention is a compound that initiates and accelerates the polymerization of a compound having a polymerizable unsaturated group by generating radicals by light or thermal energy. As such a radical generator, a known polymerization initiator or a compound having a bond having a small bond dissociation energy can be appropriately selected and used.

  Examples of the compounds that generate radicals include organic halogen compounds, carbonyl compounds, organic peroxides, azo polymerization initiators, azide compounds, metallocene compounds, hexaarylbiimidazole compounds, organic boron compounds, disulfone compounds, and oximes. Examples thereof include ester compounds and onium salt compounds.

  Specific examples of the organic halogen compound include Wakabayashi et al., “Bull Chem. Soc Japan” 42, 2924 (1969), US Pat. No. 3,905,815, Japanese Patent Publication No. 46-4605, JP 48-36281, JP 53-133428, JP 55-3070, JP 60-239736, JP 61-169835, JP 61-169837, JP 62- 58241, JP-A 62-212401, JP-A 63-70243, JP-A 63-298339, P. The compound as described in Hutt, "Journal of Heterocyclic Chemistry", 1 (No. 3) (1970) is mentioned. Of these, oxazole compounds and S-triazine compounds substituted with a trihalomethyl group are preferred.

Examples of the carbonyl compound include benzophenone, Michler ketone, 2-methylbenzophenone, 3-methylbenzophenone, 4-methylbenzophenone, 2-chlorobenzophenone, 4-bromobenzophenone, and the like.

  As the azo compound, for example, an azo compound described in JP-A-8-108621 can be used.

  Examples of the metallocene compound include JP-A-59-152396, JP-A-61-151197, JP-A-63-41484, JP-A-2-249, JP-A-2-4705, Examples include various titanocene compounds described in Kaihei 5-83588, and iron-arene complexes described in JP-A-1-152109.

  Examples of the hexaarylbiimidazole compound include the specification of JP-B-6-29285, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,479,185, 4,311,783, and 4,622,286. And various compounds described in 1. above.

  Examples of the organic boron compounds include organic borates described in JP-A No. 2002-116539 and Kunz, Martin “Rad Tech'98. Proceeding April 19-22, 1998, Chicago”, and the like. No. 157623, JP-A-6-175564, JP-A-6-175561, organoboron sulfonium complexes or organoboron oxosulfonium complexes, JP-A-6-175554, JP-A-6-175553 The organic boron iodonium complex described in JP-A-9-188710, the organic boron phosphonium complex described in JP-A-9-188710, JP-A-6-348011, JP-A-7-128785, JP-A-7-140589, JP-A-7- Japanese Patent No. 306527, JP Examples thereof include organoboron transition metal coordination complexes such as 7-292014.

  Examples of the disulfone compound include compounds described in JP-A Nos. 61-166544 and 2003-328465.

  Examples of the oxime ester compound include JCS Perkin II (1979) 1653-1660), JCSPerkin II (1979) 156-162, Journal of Photopolymer Science and Technology (1995) 202-232, and JP-A 2000-66385. And compounds described in JP 2000-80068 A.

  Examples of the onium salt compound include S.I. I. Schlesinger, Photogr. Sci. Eng. 18, 387 (1974), T .; S. Diazonium salts described in Bal et al, Polymer, 21, 423 (1980), ammonium salts described in US Pat. No. 4,069,055, JP-A-4-365049, etc., US Pat. No. 4,069 , 055, 4,069,056, phosphonium salts described in European Patent Nos. 104,143, US Pat. Nos. 339,049, 410,201, JP -150848, JP-A-2-296514, iodonium salts, European Patent Nos. 370,693, 390,214, 233,567, 297,443, and 297 442, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,933,377, 161,811, 410,201, 339,049, 4,760,013 No. 4,734,444, No. 2,833,827, German Patent No. 2,904,626, No. 3,604,580, No. 3,604,581 Or a sulfonium salt described in J. V. Crivello et al, Macromolecules, 10 (6), 1307 (1977), J. MoI. V. Crivello et al, J.A. Polymer Sci. , Polymer Chem. Ed. , 17, 1047 (1979), a selenonium salt described in C.I. S. Wen et al, Teh, Proc. Conf. Rad. Curing ASIA, p478 Tokyo, Oct (1988), and onium salts such as arsonium salts.

In the present invention, these onium salts function not as acid generators but as ionic radical polymerization initiators.
The onium salt suitably used in the present invention is an onium salt represented by the following general formulas (RI-I) to (RI-III).

In the formula (RI-I), Ar ₁₁ represents an aryl group having 20 or less carbon atoms which may have 1 to 6 substituents. From the viewpoint of stability, a perchlorate ion, a hexafluorophosphate ion, Tetrafluoroborate ions, sulfonate ions and sulfinate ions are preferred.

In the formula (RI-II), Ar ₂₁ and Ar ₂₂ each independently represent an aryl group having 20 or less carbon atoms which may have 1 to 6 substituents, and preferred substituents include 1 to 12 alkyl groups, an alkenyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkynyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an aryl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, Halogen atom, C1-C12 alkylamino group, C1-C12 dialkylamino group, C1-C12 alkylamide group or arylamide group, carbonyl group, carboxyl group, cyano group, sulfonyl group, carbon Examples thereof include a thioalkyl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms and a thioaryl group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms. Z _21- represents a monovalent anion. Specifically, perchlorate ion, hexafluorophosphate ion, tetrafluoroborate ion, sulfonate ion, sulfinate ion, and carboxylate ion are preferable from the viewpoints of stability and reactivity.

In the formula (RI-III), R ₃₁ , R 32 and R ₃₃ are each independently an aryl group, alkyl group, alkenyl group or alkynyl group having 20 or less carbon atoms, which may have 1 to 6 substituents. Represents. Among them, an aryl group is preferable from the viewpoint of reactivity and stability. Z31- represents a monovalent anion. As specific examples, perchlorate ions, hexafluorophosphate ions, tetrafluoroborate ions, sulfonate ions, sulfinate ions, and carboxylate ions are preferable in terms of stability and reactivity. More preferred are the carboxylate ions described in JP-A No. 2001-343742, and particularly preferred are the carboxylate ions described in JP-A No. 2002-148790.

  The polymerization initiator is not limited to the above, but a triazine-based initiator, an organic halogen compound, an oxime ester compound, a diazonium salt, an iodonium salt, and a sulfonium salt are more preferable from the viewpoints of reactivity and stability.

These polymerization initiators may be used alone or in combination of two or more.
Moreover, these polymerization initiators may be added to the same layer as other components, or another layer may be provided and added thereto. These polymerization initiators are preferably from 0.1 to 50% by mass, more preferably from 0.5 to 30% by mass, particularly preferably from 0.8 to 20% by mass, based on the total solid content constituting the photosensitive layer. Can be added.

(Infrared absorber)
In the photosensitive layer of the lithographic printing plate precursor that performs imagewise exposure using a light source that emits infrared rays, an infrared absorber can be used in combination with the polymerization initiator. In general, an infrared absorber has a function of converting absorbed infrared rays into heat, and the polymerization initiator is thermally decomposed by the heat generated at this time to generate radicals. The infrared absorber used in the present invention is a dye or pigment having an absorption maximum at a wavelength of 760 to 1200 nm.

  As the dye, commercially available dyes and known dyes described in documents such as “Dye Handbook” (edited by the Society for Synthetic Organic Chemistry, published in 1970) can be used. Specifically, dyes such as azo dyes, metal complex azo dyes, pyrazolone azo dyes, naphthoquinone dyes, anthraquinone dyes, phthalocyanine dyes, carbonium dyes, quinoneimine dyes, methine dyes, cyanine dyes, squarylium dyes, pyrylium salts, metal thiolate complexes Is mentioned.

  Particularly preferred among these dyes are cyanine dyes, squarylium dyes, pyrylium salts, nickel thiolate complexes, and indolenine cyanine dyes.

  Examples of the pigment used in the present invention include commercially available pigments and color index (CI) manual, “Latest Pigment Handbook” (edited by Japan Pigment Technology Association, published in 1977), “Latest Pigment Application Technology” (CMC Publishing, 1986), “Printing Ink Technology”, CMC Publishing, 1984) can be used.

  Examples of the pigment include black pigments, yellow pigments, orange pigments, brown pigments, red pigments, purple pigments, blue pigments, green pigments, fluorescent pigments, metal powder pigments, and other polymer-bonded dyes. Specifically, insoluble azo pigments, azo lake pigments, condensed azo pigments, chelate azo pigments, phthalocyanine pigments, anthraquinone pigments, perylene and perinone pigments, thioindigo pigments, quinacridone pigments, dioxazine pigments, isoindolinone pigments , Quinophthalone pigments, dyed lake pigments, azine pigments, nitroso pigments, nitro pigments, natural pigments, fluorescent pigments, inorganic pigments, carbon black, and the like. Among these pigments, carbon black is preferable.

  The particle diameter of the pigment is preferably in the range of 0.01 to 10 μm, more preferably in the range of 0.05 to 1 μm, and particularly preferably in the range of 0.1 to 1 μm. Within this range, good stability of the pigment dispersion in the photosensitive layer coating solution and good uniformity of the photosensitive layer can be obtained.

  The addition of these infrared absorbers to the photosensitive layer is preferably made the minimum necessary amount in order to suppress side effects that inhibit the polymerization reaction.

  These infrared absorbers may be added in a proportion of 0.001 to 50% by mass, preferably 0.005 to 30% by mass, particularly preferably 0.01 to 10% by mass, based on the total solid content of the photosensitive layer. it can. Within this range, high sensitivity can be obtained without adversely affecting the uniformity and film strength of the photosensitive layer.

(Sensitizing dye)
Radical generation efficiency can also be increased by using a sensitizing dye in combination with the polymerization initiator in the photosensitive layer of a lithographic printing plate precursor that performs imagewise exposure using a light source that emits light of 250 to 420 nm. .

  Specific examples of the sensitizing dye include benzoin, benzoin methyl ether, benzoin ethyl ether, 9-fluorenone, 2-chloro-9-fluorenone, 2-methyl-9-fluorenone, 9-anthrone, and 2-bromo-9-anthrone. 2-ethyl-9-anthrone, 9,10-anthraquinone, 2-ethyl-9,10-anthraquinone, 2-t-butyl-9,10-anthraquinone, 2,6-dichloro-9,10-anthraquinone, xanthone 2-methylxanthone, 2-methoxyxanthone, thioxanthone, benzyl, dibenzalacetone, p- (dimethylamino) phenyl styryl ketone, p- (dimethylamino) phenyl p-methylstyryl ketone, benzophenone, p- (dimethylamino) ) Benzophenone (or Michalake) Emissions), p- (diethylamino) benzophenone, benzanthrone, 2,5-bis (4-diethylamino-phenyl) such as 1,3,4-oxadiazole and the like.

  These sensitizing dyes are preferably 0.1 to 50% by mass, more preferably 0.5 to 30% by mass, and particularly preferably 0.8 to 20% by mass with respect to the total solid content constituting the photosensitive layer. Can be added.

(Polymerizable compound)
The polymerizable compound used for the photosensitive layer in the present invention is an addition polymerizable compound having at least one ethylenically unsaturated double bond, and is a compound having at least one terminal ethylenically unsaturated bond, preferably two or more. To be elected. Such a compound group is widely known in the industrial field, and can be used without any particular limitation in the present invention. These have chemical forms such as monomers, prepolymers, i.e. dimers, trimers and oligomers, or mixtures thereof and copolymers thereof. Examples of monomers and copolymers thereof include unsaturated carboxylic acids (for example, acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, crotonic acid, isocrotonic acid, maleic acid, etc.), and esters and amides thereof. In this case, an ester of an unsaturated carboxylic acid and an aliphatic polyhydric alcohol compound, or an amide of an unsaturated carboxylic acid and an aliphatic polyvalent amine compound is used. In addition, an addition reaction product of an unsaturated carboxylic acid ester or amide having a nucleophilic substituent such as a hydroxyl group, amino group or mercapto group with a monofunctional or polyfunctional isocyanate or epoxy, and monofunctional or polyfunctional A dehydration condensation reaction product with a functional carboxylic acid is also preferably used. Further, an addition reaction product of an unsaturated carboxylic acid ester or amide having an electrophilic substituent such as an epoxy group or an epoxy group with a monofunctional or polyfunctional alcohol, amine or thiol, a halogen group or In addition, a substitution reaction product of an unsaturated carboxylic acid ester or amide having a leaving substituent such as a tosyloxy group and a monofunctional or polyfunctional alcohol, amine or thiol is also suitable. As another example, it is also possible to use a group of compounds substituted with unsaturated phosphonic acid, styrene, vinyl ether or the like instead of the unsaturated carboxylic acid.

(Microcapsule)
In the present invention, as a method for causing the photosensitive layer to contain the above-described photosensitive layer constituents and other constituents described later, for example, as described in JP-A Nos. 2001-277740 and 2001-277742, A part of the components can be encapsulated in microcapsules and added to the photosensitive layer. In that case, each component can be contained in any ratio in and out of the microcapsule.

  A preferable microcapsule wall used in the present invention has a three-dimensional cross-linking and has a property of swelling with a solvent. From such a viewpoint, the wall material of the microcapsule is preferably polyurea, polyurethane, polyester, polycarbonate, polyamide, and a mixture thereof, and particularly preferably polyurea and polyurethane. Moreover, you may introduce | transduce into the microcapsule wall the compound which has crosslinkable functional groups, such as an ethylenically unsaturated bond which can be introduce | transduced into said water-insoluble polymer.

  The average particle size of the microcapsules is preferably 0.01 to 3.0 μm. 0.05-2.0 micrometers is further more preferable, and 0.10-1.0 micrometer is especially preferable. Within this range, good resolution and stability over time can be obtained.

(Other photosensitive layer components)
The photosensitive layer of the present invention can further contain various additives as required.
These will be described below.

(Surfactant)
In the present invention, it is preferable to use a surfactant in the photosensitive layer in order to promote developability and improve the coated surface state. Examples of the surfactant include nonionic surfactants, anionic surfactants, cationic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, and fluorosurfactants. Surfactant may be used independently and may be used in combination of 2 or more type.

(Hydrophilic polymer)
In the present invention, a hydrophilic polymer can be contained in order to improve developability and dispersion stability of microcapsules.
Examples of the hydrophilic polymer include hydroxy group, carboxyl group, carboxylate group, hydroxyethyl group, polyoxyethyl group, hydroxypropyl group, polyoxypropyl group, amino group, aminoethyl group, aminopropyl group, ammonium group, Preferred examples include those having a hydrophilic group such as an amide group, carboxymethyl group, sulfonic acid group, and phosphoric acid group.

The hydrophilic polymer preferably has a weight average molecular weight of 5000 or more, more preferably 10,000 to 300,000. The hydrophilic polymer may be any of a random polymer, a block polymer, a graft polymer, and the like.
The content of the hydrophilic polymer in the photosensitive layer is preferably 20% by mass or less, more preferably 10% by mass or less, based on the total solid content of the photosensitive layer.

(Coloring agent)
In the present invention, a dye having a large absorption in the visible light region can be used as an image colorant. Specifically, Oil Yellow # 101, Oil Yellow # 103, Oil Pink # 312, Oil Green BG, Oil Blue BOS, Oil Blue # 603, Oil Black BY, Oil Black BS, Oil Black T-505 (orientated chemistry) Kogyo Co., Ltd.), Victoria Pure Blue, Crystal Violet (CI42555), Methyl Violet (CI42535), Ethyl Violet, Rhodamine B (CI145170B), Malachite Green (CI42000), Methylene Blue (CI522015), etc., and JP-A-62-2 And dyes described in Japanese Patent No. 293247. Also, pigments such as phthalocyanine pigments, azo pigments, carbon black, titanium oxide, etc. can be suitably used.

  These colorants are preferably added since it is easy to distinguish an image area from a non-image area after image formation. The amount added is preferably 0.01 to 10% by mass with respect to the total solid content of the image recording material.

(Bake-out agent)
In the photosensitive layer of the present invention, a compound that changes color by an acid or a radical can be added in order to form a printout image. As such a compound, for example, various dyes such as diphenylmethane, triphenylmethane, thiazine, oxazine, xanthene, anthraquinone, iminoquinone, azo, and azomethine are effectively used.

  A suitable addition amount of the dye that changes color by acid or radical is 0.01 to 15% by mass relative to the solid content of the photosensitive layer.

(Polymerization inhibitor)
In order to prevent unnecessary thermal polymerization of the radical polymerizable compound during the production or storage of the photosensitive layer, it is preferable to add a small amount of a thermal polymerization inhibitor to the photosensitive layer of the present invention.
Examples of the thermal polymerization inhibitor include hydroquinone, p-methoxyphenol, di-t-butyl-p-cresol, pyrogallol, t-butylcatechol, benzoquinone, 4,4'-thiobis (3-methyl-6-t- (Butylphenol), 2,2'-methylenebis (4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol), N-nitroso-N-phenylhydroxylamine aluminum salt are preferred.
The addition amount of the thermal polymerization inhibitor is preferably about 0.01 to about 5% by mass with respect to the total solid content of the photosensitive layer.

(Higher fatty acid derivatives, etc.)
In order to prevent polymerization inhibition by oxygen, a higher fatty acid derivative such as behenic acid or behenamide is added to the photosensitive layer of the present invention so that it is unevenly distributed on the surface of the photosensitive layer during the drying process after coating. May be. The amount of the higher fatty acid derivative added is preferably from about 0.1 to about 10% by weight based on the total solid content of the photosensitive layer.

(Plasticizer)
The photosensitive layer of the present invention may contain a plasticizer. Examples of the plasticizer include phthalates such as dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, diisobutyl phthalate, dioctyl phthalate, octyl capryl phthalate, dicyclohexyl phthalate, ditridecyl phthalate, butyl benzyl phthalate, diisodecyl phthalate, diallyl phthalate; Glycol esters such as glycol phthalate, ethyl phthalyl ethyl glycolate, methyl phthalyl ethyl glycolate, butyl phthalyl butyl glycolate, triethylene glycol dicaprylate; Phosphate esters such as tricresyl phosphate and triphenyl phosphate Diisobutyl adipate, dioctyl adipate, dimethyl sebacate, dibutyl sebacate, dioct Ruazereto, aliphatic dibasic acid esters such as dibutyl maleate; polyglycidyl methacrylate, triethyl citrate, glycerin triacetyl ester, butyl laurate in. The plasticizer content is preferably about 30% by mass or less based on the total solid content of the photosensitive layer.

(Inorganic fine particles)
The photosensitive layer of the present invention may contain inorganic fine particles in order to improve the cured film strength of the image area. As the inorganic fine particles, for example, silica, alumina, magnesium oxide, titanium oxide, magnesium carbonate, calcium alginate or a mixture thereof can be preferably mentioned. Even if they are not photothermally convertible, they can be used for strengthening the film, enhancing interfacial adhesion by surface roughening, and the like. The inorganic fine particles preferably have an average particle size of 5 nm to 10 μm, and more preferably 0.5 to 3 μm. Within the above range, it is possible to form a non-image portion excellent in hydrophilicity that is stably dispersed in the photosensitive layer, sufficiently retains the film strength of the photosensitive layer, and does not easily cause stains during printing.
The inorganic fine particles as described above can be easily obtained as a commercial product such as a colloidal silica dispersion.
The content of the inorganic fine particles is preferably 20% by mass or less, and more preferably 10% by mass or less, based on the total solid content of the photosensitive layer.

(Low molecular hydrophilic compound)
The photosensitive layer of the present invention can contain a hydrophilic low molecular weight compound for improving developability. Examples of the hydrophilic low-molecular compound include water-soluble organic compounds such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, tripropylene glycol and the like, and ether or ester derivatives thereof, glycerin, Polyhydroxys such as pentaerythritol, organic amines such as triethanolamine and diethanolamine monoethanolamine and salts thereof, organic sulfonic acids such as toluenesulfonic acid and benzenesulfonic acid and salts thereof, organic phosphonic acids such as phenylphosphonic acid and the like Organic carboxylic acids such as salts, tartaric acid, oxalic acid, citric acid, malic acid, lactic acid, gluconic acid, amino acids and their salts, and organic quaternary amines such as tetraethylamine hydrochloride Salt, and the like.

  In addition to the above, the photosensitive layer of the present invention can contain, for example, a cosensitizer.

<Formation of photosensitive layer>
The photosensitive layer of the present invention is formed by preparing or applying a coating solution by dispersing or dissolving the necessary components described above in a solvent. Solvents used here include ethylene dichloride, cyclohexanone, methyl ethyl ketone, methanol, ethanol, propanol, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, 1-methoxy-2-propanol, 2-methoxyethyl acetate, 1-methoxy-2-propyl acetate, dimethoxy Examples include ethane, methyl lactate, ethyl lactate, N, N-dimethylacetamide, N, N-dimethylformamide, tetramethylurea, N-methylpyrrolidone, dimethyl sulfoxide, sulfolane, γ-butyllactone, toluene, water, and the like. However, the present invention is not limited to this. These solvents are used alone or in combination. The solid content concentration of the coating solution is preferably 1 to 50% by mass.
The photosensitive layer of the present invention can be formed by preparing a plurality of coating solutions in which the same or different components are dispersed or dissolved in the same or different solvents, and repeatedly applying and drying a plurality of times.

The coating, the photosensitive layer coating amount on the support obtained after drying (solid content) may be varied according to the intended purpose, generally 0.3 to 3.0 g / m ² is preferred. Within this range, good sensitivity and good film properties of the image recording layer can be obtained.
Various methods can be used as a coating method. Examples thereof include bar coater coating, spin coating, spray coating, curtain coating, dip coating, air knife coating, blade coating, and roll coating.
<Protective layer>
The lithographic printing plate precursor according to the invention is preferably provided with a protective layer (oxygen blocking layer) on the photosensitive layer in order to block diffusion and penetration of oxygen that hinders the polymerization reaction during exposure. The protective layer used in the present invention preferably has an oxygen permeability A at 25 ° C. and 1 atm of 1.0 ≦ A ≦ 20 (mL / m ² · day). If the oxygen permeability A is less than 1.0 (mL / m 2 · day) and is extremely low, unnecessary polymerization reactions occur during production and raw storage, and unnecessary fogging and thickening of image lines occur during image exposure. The problem that occurs occurs. Conversely, when the oxygen permeability A exceeds 20 (mL / m ² · day) and is too high, the sensitivity is lowered. The oxygen permeability A is more preferably in the range of 1.5 ≦ A ≦ 12 (mL / m ² · day), more preferably 2.0 ≦ A ≦ 10.0 (mL / m ² · day). In addition to the oxygen permeability described above, the properties desired for the protective layer further do not substantially inhibit the transmission of light used for exposure, have excellent adhesion to the photosensitive layer, and are easy in the development process after exposure. It is desirable that it can be removed. The device concerning such a protective layer has been conventionally made, and is described in detail in US Pat. No. 3,458,311 and JP-B-55-49729.

As a material that can be used for the protective layer, for example, a water-soluble polymer compound having relatively excellent crystallinity is preferably used. Specifically, polyvinyl alcohol, vinyl alcohol / vinyl phthalate copolymer, vinyl acetate / vinyl are used. Examples include water-soluble polymers such as alcohol / vinyl phthalate copolymer, vinyl acetate / crotonic acid copolymer, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, acidic celluloses, gelatin, gum arabic, polyacrylic acid, and polyacrylamide. Or they can be mixed. Of these, the use of polyvinyl alcohol as the main component gives the best results in terms of basic properties such as oxygen barrier properties and development removability.
Furthermore, the protective layer in the lithographic printing plate precursor according to the invention preferably contains an inorganic stratiform compound for the purpose of improving oxygen barrier properties and photosensitive layer surface protection.
Here, the inorganic layered compound is a particle having a thin flat plate shape. For example, the following general formula A (B, C) _2-5 D ₄ O ₁₀ (OH, F, O) ₂
[However, A is any one of K, Na, and Ca, B and C are any of Fe (II), Fe (III), Mn, Al, Mg, and V, and D is Si or Al. And mica groups such as natural mica and synthetic mica, talc, teniolite, montmorillonite, saponite, hectorite, zirconium phosphate and the like represented by the formula 3MgO.4SiO.H ₂ O.

In the mica group, examples of natural mica include muscovite, soda mica, phlogopite, biotite and sericite. As the synthetic mica, fluorine phlogopite KMg ₃ (AlSi ₃ O _1
0 ) F ₂ , potassium tetrasilicon mica KMg _2.5 Si ₄ O ₁₀ ) non-swelling mica such as F ₂ , and Na tetrasilicic mica NaMg _2.5 (Si ₄ O ₁₀ ) F ₂ , Na or Li teniolite (Na, Li Swellable mica such as Mg ₂ Li (Si ₄ O ₁₀ ) F ₂ , montmorillonite Na or Li hectorite (Na, Li) _1/8 Mg _{2 /} 5Li _1/8 (Si ₄ O ₁₀ ) F ₂ Etc. Synthetic smectite is also useful.

  As for the particle diameter of the inorganic stratiform compound used in the present invention, the average major axis is 0.3 to 20 μm, preferably 0.5 to 10 μm, particularly preferably 1 to 5 μm. The average thickness of the particles is 0.1 μm or less, preferably 0.05 μm or less, particularly preferably 0.01 μm or less. For example, among inorganic layered compounds, the size of the swellable synthetic mica that is a representative compound is about 1 to 50 nm in thickness and about 1 to 20 μm in surface size.

  The protective layer coating solution thus prepared is applied onto the photosensitive layer provided on the support and dried to form a protective layer. The coating solvent can be appropriately selected in relation to the binder, but when a water-soluble polymer is used, it is preferable to use distilled water or purified water. The method for applying the protective layer is not particularly limited, and a known method such as the method described in US Pat. No. 3,458,311 or Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-49729 can be applied. . Specific examples of the protective layer include blade coating, air knife coating, gravure coating, roll coating coating, spray coating, dip coating, and bar coating.

The coating amount of the protective layer is preferably in the range of 0.05 to 10 g / m ^{2 in} terms of the coating amount after drying. When the inorganic layered compound is contained, 0.1 to 0.5 g / The range of m ² is more preferable, and when the inorganic layered compound is not contained, the range of 0.5 to 5 g / m ² is more preferable.

<Support>
The support used in the lithographic printing plate precursor according to the invention is not particularly limited as long as it is a dimensionally stable plate-like hydrophilic support. For example, paper, paper laminated with plastic (eg, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, etc.), metal plate (eg, aluminum, zinc, copper, etc.), plastic film (eg, cellulose diacetate, cellulose triacetate, cellulose propionate) Cellulose butyrate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose nitrate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyvinyl acetal, etc.), and paper or plastic films on which the above-mentioned metals are laminated or deposited. Preferable supports include a polyester film and an aluminum plate. Among these, an aluminum plate that has good dimensional stability and is relatively inexpensive is preferable.

  The thickness of the support is preferably from 0.1 to 0.6 mm, more preferably from 0.15 to 0.4 mm, and even more preferably from 0.2 to 0.3 mm.

The surface roughening treatment of the aluminum plate is performed by various methods. For example, mechanical surface roughening treatment, electrochemical surface roughening treatment (surface roughening treatment for dissolving the surface electrochemically), chemical treatment, etc. Surface roughening treatment (roughening treatment that chemically selectively dissolves the surface).
As a method for the mechanical surface roughening treatment, a known method such as a ball polishing method, a brush polishing method, a blast polishing method, or a buff polishing method can be used.
Examples of the electrochemical surface roughening treatment include a method in which an alternating current or a direct current is used in an electrolytic solution containing an acid such as hydrochloric acid or nitric acid. Another example is a method using a mixed acid as described in JP-A-54-63902.

  The surface-roughened aluminum plate is subjected to an alkali etching treatment using an aqueous solution of potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide or the like, if necessary, further neutralized, and if desired, wear resistant. In order to increase the anodic oxidation treatment.

As the electrolyte used for the anodizing treatment of the aluminum plate, various electrolytes that form a porous oxide film can be used. In general, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, oxalic acid, chromic acid or a mixed acid thereof is used. The concentration of these electrolytes is appropriately determined depending on the type of electrolyte.
The conditions for anodizing treatment vary depending on the electrolyte used, and thus cannot be specified in general. In general, however, an electrolyte concentration of 1 to 80% by mass solution, a liquid temperature of 5 to 70 ° C., a current density of 5 to 60 A / d m ² , voltage 1 to 100 V, and electrolysis time 10 seconds to 5 minutes are preferable. The amount of the anodized film formed is preferably from 1.0 to 5.0 g / m ^2, and more preferably 1.5 to 4.0 g / m ^2. Within this range, good printing durability and good scratch resistance of the non-image area of the lithographic printing plate can be obtained.

  As the support used in the present invention, the substrate having the above-mentioned surface treatment and having an anodized film may be used as it is, but for further improvement in adhesion to the upper layer, hydrophilicity, resistance to contamination, heat insulation and the like. If necessary, it contains a micropore enlargement treatment, a micropore sealing treatment, and a hydrophilic compound described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2001-253181 and 2001-322365. A surface hydrophilization treatment immersed in an aqueous solution can be selected as appropriate. Of course, these enlargement processing and sealing processing are not limited to those described above, and any conventionally known method can be performed.

  The hydrophilization treatment is described in the specifications of US Pat. Nos. 2,714,066, 3,181,461, 3,280,734, and 3,902,734. There are such alkali metal silicate methods. In this method, the support is immersed in an aqueous solution such as sodium silicate or electrolytically treated. In addition, the treatment with potassium zirconate fluoride described in JP-B 36-22063, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,276,868, 4,153,461 and 4,689, And a method of treating with polyvinylphosphonic acid as described in the specification of No. 272.

<Undercoat layer>
In the lithographic printing plate precursor according to the invention, it is preferable to provide an undercoat layer of a compound containing a polymerizable group on a support. When an undercoat layer is used, the photosensitive layer is provided on the undercoat layer. The undercoat layer reinforces the adhesion between the support and the photosensitive layer in the exposed area, and easily peels the photosensitive layer from the support in the unexposed area, thereby improving the developability.
As the undercoat layer, specifically, a silane coupling agent having an addition-polymerizable ethylenic double bond reactive group described in JP-A-10-282679, JP-A-2-304441. The phosphorus compound etc. which have the ethylenic double bond reactive group of description are mentioned suitably. Particularly preferable compounds include compounds having a polymerizable group such as a methacryl group or an allyl group and a support adsorbing group such as a sulfonic acid group, a phosphoric acid group, or a phosphoric acid ester. A compound having a hydrophilicity-imparting group such as an ethylene oxide group in addition to the polymerizable group and the support-adsorbing group can also be exemplified as a suitable compound.
The coating amount (solid content) of the undercoat layer is preferably from 0.1-100 mg / m ^2, and more preferably 1 to 30 mg / m ^2.

<Back coat layer>
After the surface treatment is performed on the support or after the undercoat layer is formed, a back coat can be provided on the back surface of the support, if necessary.
Examples of the back coat include hydrolysis and polycondensation of organic polymer compounds described in JP-A-5-45885, organometallic compounds or inorganic metal compounds described in JP-A-6-35174. A coating layer made of a metal oxide obtained in this manner is preferred. Among these, it is preferable to use silicon alkoxy compounds such as Si (OCH3) 4, Si (OC2H5) 4, Si (OC3H7) 4, Si (OC4H9) 4 because the raw materials are inexpensive and easily available.

1 is a configuration diagram of an automatic developing device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. It is a diagram which shows the relationship between the total area of the process version per month of a user, and the total amount of liquid used. It is a block diagram of the automatic developing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the automatic developing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a block diagram explaining the resource-saving superiority that the apparatus of this invention is completed by adding a slight improvement to the conventional automatic developing apparatus, (a) is the automatic developing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 3, (b). These are each block diagrams of a conventional product.

Explanation of symbols

2, 2 ', 2 "Automatic development apparatus 4 according to the present invention Photosensitive planographic printing plate (PS plate)
6 Developing Unit 10 Drying Unit 12 Side Plate 14 Insertion Port 16 Conveying Roller (Incoming Roller)
18 Rubber blade 20 Developing tank 22 Transport roller 24 Brush roller 26 Squeeze roller 27 Plate detection sensor 28 Backup roller 36 Guide roller 38 Skewer roller 40 Discharge port 46 Passage 50 Controller 51 Control ROM and RAM
52 Time measuring section 55, 55a to 55c Developer storage tank (external tank)
58, 58a to 58c Developer 60 Shield lid 62 Rubber blade 71 Developer circulation pump 73 Conductivity sensor 74 Developer supply pump 80 First circulation pipe 90 Second circulation pipe 98 Display device 99 Alarm device

Claims (13)

In the automatic development apparatus for immersion type lithographic printing plate in which the non-image portion is removed while the lithographic printing plate precursor on which the image recording layer on the support is image-exposed is immersed in a developing tank filled with a developer,
The developer is circulated between the immersion type developer tank forming a processing pass line and an external tank provided outside the processing pass line so as to keep the liquid level of the immersion type developing tank constant, and The developer amount in the external tank was adjusted so that the total developer in the developer tank and the external tank was almost 100% liquid fatigued when the developer in the developer tank and the external tank was replaced. An automatic developing apparatus for immersion type lithographic printing plates characterized by   2. The automatic development apparatus for immersion lithographic printing plates according to claim 1, wherein the main component of the developer contains 3 to 20% by mass of a surfactant and has a pH of 4 to 9.5.   The automatic developing apparatus for immersion type lithographic printing plates according to claim 2, wherein the developer component contains 1 to 10% by mass of a water-soluble resin.   2. The inside of the developing tank has a sealed structure by disposing blades in contact with the carry-in roller upstream in the transport direction and the carry-out roller downstream in the transport direction in the developer tank, respectively. The automatic development apparatus for immersion type planographic printing plates as described.   2. The non-image area of the lithographic printing plate precursor is removed by rotating the rubbing member while at least a part of at least one rubbing member is immersed in the developer. The automatic developing device for immersion type lithographic printing plates according to any one of -4.   The removal operation of the non-image part of the lithographic printing plate precursor by rotating the rubbing member is performed after 2 seconds or more have elapsed since the portion that receives the removal operation of the lithographic printing plate precursor touches the developer. An automatic developing device for immersion type lithographic printing plates according to claim 5.   7. The automatic developing device for immersion type lithographic printing plates according to claim 6, wherein the rubbing member is arranged downstream from the middle of the distance in the transport direction of the developer in the developing tank.   8. The automatic developing device for immersion type lithographic printing plates according to claim 7, wherein a spray for spraying a developer in an external tank is provided near the downstream side of the carry-in roller or the carry-out roller.   9. The automatic developing apparatus for immersion type lithographic printing plates according to claim 1, further comprising a washing unit, a drying unit, and a desensitizing unit provided downstream of the developing tank.   The development includes at least one of a heat treatment unit that heat-treats the exposed lithographic printing plate precursor and a pre-washing unit that removes the protective layer when a protective layer is present on the photosensitive layer of the lithographic printing plate precursor. The automatic developing device for immersion type lithographic printing plates according to claim 1, which is provided upstream of the tank. In the self-explanatory method for immersion type lithographic printing plate, the non-image part is removed while the lithographic printing plate precursor on which the image recording layer on the support is image-exposed is immersed in a developing tank filled with a developer.
While the developer is circulated between the immersion type development tank forming the processing pass line and the external tank provided outside the processing pass line, the liquid level of the immersion type development tank is kept constant without replenishing the development. And an automatic developing method for an immersion type lithographic printing plate, wherein the developing solution amount in the external tank is varied in accordance with the processing area per unit time.   12. The automatic development method for an immersion type lithographic printing plate according to claim 11, wherein the main component of the developer comprises 3 to 20% by weight of a surfactant and has a pH of 4 to 9.5.   13. The automatic development method for immersion type lithographic printing plates according to claim 12, wherein the developer component contains 1 to 10% by weight of a water-soluble resin.

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