JP3013110B2 - Processing method and processing apparatus for photosensitive lithographic printing plate - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a processing method and a processing apparatus for developing a photosensitive lithographic printing plate using an automatic developing machine, and more particularly to a developing method for a photosensitive lithographic printing plate having a photosensitive layer on both surfaces of a support. The present invention relates to a processing method and a processing apparatus suitable for a computer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When developing a large number of exposed photosensitive lithographic printing plates, an automatic developing machine is generally used. Development methods using an automatic developing machine include a method in which a photosensitive lithographic printing plate is transported horizontally and sprayed in a spray form while circulating and reusing the developing solution, or a developing method containing a large amount of developing solution. 2. Description of the Related Art A method of developing a photosensitive lithographic printing plate by immersing the lithographic printing plate in a processing tank while curving and transporting the lithographic printing plate is performed.

However, in such a processing method, even when processing a small number of photosensitive lithographic printing plates, it is necessary to prepare a large amount of a developing solution, and in order to use the developing solution economically, the developing solution must be re-used. In the meantime, in addition to the deterioration of the developer due to the processing, the deterioration of the developer due to the absorption of carbon dioxide gas from the air occurs, and the deteriorated developer often needs to be replaced. It is extremely troublesome.

When the photosensitive lithographic printing plate is treated with a large amount of a recyclable developer for the purpose of improving the above disadvantages,
Methods for replenishing a replenisher to keep the development process stable are known, and are disclosed in JP-A-50-144502, JP-A-55-115039, and JP-A-58-95349.
The publications are disclosed in various publications. In such a replenishment method as well, the frequency of the liquid exchange is reduced, but the liquid exchange is necessary, and the problem of replenishment accuracy and the replenishment of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate due to the difference in the type cannot be solved. Further, a replenishing device is required on top of that, and the replenishing device itself is not only expensive, but also requires adjustment and maintenance of the replenishing device.

In order to solve various problems associated with such a replenishment system and to provide a stable and economical photosensitive lithographic printing plate developing method and apparatus, the photosensitive lithographic printing plate is transported horizontally. A method in which an unused developer is supplied to the plate surface, and then the developer is passed through a developer filled in a gap between an upper guide plate and a lower guide plate which are disposed vertically close to each other to perform development (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 63/1988).
No. -23160), substantially unused in the gap between the upper guide plate and the lower guide plate disposed at a small distance vertically above and below the transport path for transporting the photosensitive lithographic printing plate horizontally. A developing method and apparatus for supplying a developing solution have been disclosed (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
-288845).

[0006]

However, in these disclosures, a photosensitive lithographic printing plate having a photosensitive layer on both sides of a support (a double-sided photosensitive lithographic printing plate) is used because a developer is supplied only from above the photosensitive lithographic printing plate. Plate cannot be processed stably, and even when a photosensitive lithographic printing plate having a width smaller than the width of the upper and lower guide plates is processed, the developer is provided over the entire width of the upper and lower guide plates. There is a problem of economy. There is also a problem with the economics of the developer. Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for developing a photosensitive lithographic printing plate capable of stably developing a double-sided printing plate without the above-mentioned problems relating to replenishment of the developing solution. It is to be. A second object of the present invention is to provide the first
Another object of the present invention is to provide a developing method and a developing apparatus for a double-sided printing plate in which the economic efficiency is further improved.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the first object of the present invention, the processing method of the present invention automatically transports a photosensitive lithographic printing plate image-exposed using an automatic developing machine. In the processing method of developing and processing, for each photosensitive lithographic printing plate to be processed, supplying substantially unused developer from both the upper side and the lower side to both the upper surface and the lower surface thereof, The developing process is carried out by holding a developing solution by passing between an upper guide plate and a lower guide plate arranged at a minute distance from each other in the vicinity of a photosensitive lithographic printing plate transport path. The processing apparatus of the present invention comprises a conveying means for conveying a photosensitive lithographic printing plate, and a photosensitive lithographic printing plate, which is processed in the course of conveyance by the conveying means, is provided on an upper surface and a lower surface of each plate. Means for supplying an unused developer,
An upper guide plate and a lower guide plate sandwiching a transfer path by the transfer means and arranged at a small distance from each other vertically close to the transfer path.

In order to achieve the second object of the present invention, the processing method of the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned processing method, a portion of the supplied developer which has not contributed to the development is recovered, The processing apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that, in addition to the processing apparatus described above, of the supplied developer, a portion that does not contribute to development is collected and reused. I do.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

[0010]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an automatic developing machine having an embodiment of a processing apparatus according to the present invention, wherein 1 is a developing section for performing processing according to the present invention, 2 is a rinsing section for rinsing, and 3 is a rinsing section. A rinsing / gum portion for performing a treatment or a desensitization treatment (a treatment with a gum solution), and T is a conveyance path of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate. In the developing unit 1, reference numeral 4 denotes a preheating roller for pre-heating the photosensitive lithographic printing plate fed to the developing unit 1 to a predetermined temperature, 5 denotes a pair of conveying rollers, 6 denotes a conveying roller, and 7a and 7b rub the plate surface to develop. And 8 is a squeeze roller. The preheating roller 4 is composed of a roller pair including at least one roller having a heating means provided therein, and a hollow pipe made of a metal (aluminum, iron, etc.) having a high thermal conductivity is used as the roller having the heating means provided therein. A structure in which a nichrome wire or the like is buried as a heating element inside the metal pipe and the outside of the metal pipe is covered with polyethylene, polystyrene, Teflon, or the like can be used.
Reference can be made to JP-A-80962.

On the downstream side of the pair of transport rollers 5, an upper guide plate is vertically located close to each other with the transport path T interposed therebetween and a small distance apart.
10, a lower guide plate 11 is provided, and a gap 12 is formed. Each of these guide plates has developer supply ports 13 and 14 opened near the entrances thereof, from which the developer is injected toward the transport path T. The developer supply ports 13 and 14 are formed in a slit shape over the transport width. The end of the gap 12 in the conveying width direction is closed so that the developer does not leak. Reference numerals 15 and 16 denote heat retaining means for adjusting the upper guide plate 11 and the lower guide plate 12 to predetermined temperatures.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view showing the structure of a main part in FIG. As shown in FIG.
It comprises a heater 41, a heat insulating material 42, a cover 43, and a temperature control mechanism (not shown).

The developing solution to be sent to the developing solution supply ports 13 and 14 is configured so that a concentrated developing solution is diluted with diluting water and sent as a developing solution (used solution). That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the diluting water in the diluting water tank 17 and the concentrated developing solution contained in the concentrated developing solution tank 18 are sent to the developing solution mixing tank 19, and are stirred and mixed by the stirrer 20 to be developed. The liquid is supplied to the liquid supply tank 21. 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d are metering pumps, and 23 is a solenoid valve. Developer mixing tank
A control mechanism for injecting and mixing the diluted water and the concentrated developer into the developer 19 and transferring the mixed developer from the developer mixing tank 19 to the developer supply tank 21 is disclosed in JP-A-64-81859.
No. 3, page 20, lower left column, line 20 to lower right column, line 17.

The developer supply ports 13, 14 and the metering pumps 22c, 22
A temperature control device (not shown) is provided in the conduit connecting d, so that the supplied developer is adjusted to a predetermined temperature. The upper guide plate 10 and the lower guide plate 11 are preferably formed of a hardly deformable material such as hard vinyl chloride or stainless steel. In FIG. 1 and the following drawings, * n and * n (n is a positive integer) in the same or related drawings are connected by a pipe, and solid arrows indicate photosensitive lithographic plates. The direction of the flow of the developer supplied to the printing plate
The dotted arrow indicates the direction of the flow for collecting the developer that has been supplied and has not contributed to the development.

In the water washing section 2 and the rinsing gum section 3,
24a, 24b, 31a and 31b are shower nozzles, 25 and 32 are squeeze rollers, 26 is a washing water tank, 33 is a rinsing / gumming liquid tank for storing a rinsing liquid or a desensitizing liquid (gum liquid), 2
7 and 34 are pumps.

The apparatus shown in the drawing detects the loading of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate, and preheat roller 4, transport roller 5, brush rollers 7a and 7b, squeeze roller 8, and metering pumps 22c and 22d.
And the like have a sensor and a control mechanism (not shown) for controlling them to operate at a predetermined timing.

Next, the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and the processing method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

First, when the photosensitive lithographic printing plate is inserted from the left end in the drawing of the apparatus, a sensor for detecting the loading of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate, and a transport mechanism based on a detection signal from the sensor,
The preheating roller 4, the conveying roller 5, the brush rollers 7a and 7b, the squeezing roller 8 and the like are rotated by a control device (not shown) for controlling the operation of the pump and the like, and the photosensitive lithographic printing plate is conveyed rightward in the drawing. Further, the metering pumps 22c and 22d operate for a predetermined time and at a predetermined timing, and the developing solution in the developing solution supply tank 21 is supplied from the developing solution supply ports 13 and 14 to the plate surface of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate. In the photosensitive lithographic printing plate, the supplied developer is held on the plate surface by an upper guide plate 10 and a lower guide plate 11, guided, and conveyed rightward in the drawing. Since the distance between the conveying roller 5 and the squeezing roller 8 is smaller than the minimum standard size of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate, the photosensitive lithographic printing plate is pinched by at least one of them and passes through the gap 12. The photosensitive lithographic printing plate coming out of the gap portion 12 is rubbed by the brush rollers 7a and 7b, and then squeezed by the squeezing roller 8 to complete the development, and is conveyed to the rinsing portion 2, then to the rinsing gum portion 3, Each process is performed.

FIG. 3 shows an example of an automatic developing machine having an embodiment of a processing apparatus provided with a mechanism for collecting and reusing a developer supplied to a photosensitive lithographic printing plate but not contributing to development. It is a schematic block diagram. The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 has the same structure as the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 except for a lower guide plate and a mechanism for collecting and reusing the developer. In the drawing, reference numeral 50 denotes a developing unit for performing development, 51 denotes a lower guide plate, and 52 denotes a gap formed by the upper guide plate 10 and the lower guide plate 51. Lower guide plate 51
Is provided with a developer supply port 53 in the vicinity of the entrance, and in the vicinity of each of the upstream and downstream sides thereof, an unused portion for supplying to the photosensitive lithographic printing plate and collecting the portion not contributing to the development. Developer recovery ports 54 and 55 are provided, from which the developer not contributing to the development returns to the developer supply tank 56 through the pipe 57.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view showing a main part of FIG. As shown in the figure, the developer is injected into the gaps 52 from the developer supply ports 13 and 53, respectively, and the portion that has not contributed to the development flows down from the unused developer recovery ports 54 and 55 to supply the developer. It is configured to be collected in the tank 56 and reused. The developer supply ports 13 and 53 and the unused developer recovery ports 54 and 55 are slit-shaped over the transport width.
Further, the upper guide plate 10 and the lower guide plate 51 are provided with the same heat retaining means 15, 16 as the device shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a structure in which an open / close valve is provided in the unused developer collecting port 55 of the apparatus shown in FIG. That is, an open / close valve 62 is connected to an unused developer recovery port 61 provided in the vicinity of the downstream side of the developer supply port 53 provided near the entrance of the lower guide plate 60.
Is provided. The open / close valve 62 opens and closes the unused developer collection port 61 by moving in the direction of the arrow,
The control mechanism (not shown) is configured to open a portion through which the photosensitive lithographic printing plate does not pass and to collect an unused developer (the figure shows an open state).
With such a structure, even when the viscosity of the developer is low, the supply of the developer to the back surface is stabilized.

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view showing another embodiment of the developing solution supply mechanism and the upper guide plate and the lower guide plate. The structure is the same as that of FIG. 3 except for the parts shown in FIG. The apparatus shown in the figure has a structure in which a developer supply mechanism and upper and lower guide plates are separated, and the photosensitive lithographic printing plate has developer supplied to both upper and lower surfaces by developer supply nozzles 65a and 65b. Thereafter, the sheet is guided and conveyed by the upper guide plate 66 and the lower guide plate 67. Developer supply nozzles 65a, 65
The developer supplied by b and not carried into the gap between the upper guide plate 66 and the lower guide plate 67 is received by the unused developer collecting member 68 and reused.

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view showing still another embodiment of the developing solution supply mechanism and the upper guide plate and the lower guide plate.
Except for the parts shown in the figure, the configuration is the same as that of FIG.
In the apparatus shown in the figure, a developer supply mechanism and upper and lower guide plates are separated, and a developer is applied to upper and lower surfaces of a photosensitive lithographic printing plate by an upper developer supply member 70 and a lower developer supply member 71. After that, the upper guide plate 72 and the lower guide plate 73 are passed through the gap. The upper developer supply member 70 is disclosed in
The contents described in JP-A-62-238564 can be applied.
The developer supplied by the upper developer supply member 70 and the lower developer supply member 71 and not taken into the gap between the upper guide plate 66 and the lower guide plate 67 is received by the unused developer collection member 74 and re-used. It is configured to be used. Reference numeral 75 denotes a developer recovery roller.

FIG. 8 shows the lower developer supply member 71 in FIG.
It is a perspective view of. As shown in the figure, the developing solution is supplied to the photosensitive lithographic printing plate P from a plurality of developing solution supply holes 77 provided in the conveying width direction on a guide plate 76 provided below the photosensitive lithographic printing plate P to be conveyed. It is designed to squirt to the lower surface. Reference numeral 78 denotes a developing solution supply pipe for sending the developing solution to the developing solution supply hole 77, and reference numeral 79 denotes a plate-like member that guides the unused developing solution collecting member 74 to collect and reuse the developing solution that has not contributed to the development.

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view showing still another embodiment of the developing solution supply mechanism and the upper and lower guide plates. The developer supply mechanism connected to the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 is the same as that shown in FIG. In the device shown in FIG.
The developer is supplied to both sides of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate transported in a downward direction from an upper developer supply port 81 and a lower developer supply port 82 having slit-shaped openings each extending over the transport width, and then transported. The direction is changed to the horizontal direction, and the photosensitive lithographic printing plate passes through the gap between the upper guide plate 83 and the lower guide plate 84. The developer supplied to the photosensitive lithographic printing plate and not contributing to the development is received by an unused developer recovery member 85 and reused.

FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view showing still another embodiment of a developing solution supply mechanism and a mechanism for recovering the supply which has not contributed to the development, and the other parts are the same as FIG. . The apparatus shown in the figure has a structure in which an unused developer collecting port 55 is removed from a lower guide plate 51 shown in FIG. In the figure, 10 is an upper guide plate, 13 is an upper developer supply port, 87 is a lower guide plate, 88 is a developer supply port, and 54 is an unused developer recovery port.

Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described.

The distance between the upper guide plate and the lower guide plate is 5 mm
Or less, more preferably 3 mm or less.

A means for maintaining the upper guide plate and the lower guide plate at a predetermined temperature is provided.

The supply amount of the developing solution is 70 to 700 ml per 1 m ^{2 on} one side of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate to be processed, more preferably, 70 to 700 ml.
90 to 500 ml, more preferably 100 to 300 l.

The developer is supplied from a developer supply port provided in the upper guide plate and the lower guide plate.

The upper guide plate and the lower guide plate are detachable.

The automatic developing machine according to the present invention has a mechanism for preheating the photosensitive lithographic printing plate.

In the method of the present invention, the viscosity of the developer is 5 to 10,000 cps, more preferably 30 to 5000 cps. As the thickener, for example, those described in JP-A-1-177541 can be applied.

The photosensitive lithographic printing plate to which the present invention is applied includes, for example, a negative-working photosensitive lithographic printing plate having a photosensitive layer using a diazo compound as a photosensitive component on an anodized aluminum support. A positive-type photosensitive lithographic printing plate using an o-quinonediazide compound as a component, a photoconductive layer is provided on a support as described above, and a toner image is formed by an electrophotographic method. Lithographic printing materials from which the photoconductive layer can be removed are included, and the developer includes a developer containing an alkali silicate having a pH of 12 to 13.5, an organic solvent, a surfactant, an inorganic reducing agent, a chelating agent, and the like. Is done.

More specifically, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-175757
JP-A-62-2, page 5, lower left column, line 18 to page 7, upper right column, line 11
No. 4263, No. 62-24264, No. 62-25761, No. 62-35351,
62-73271, 62-75535, 62-89060, 62-125
357, 62-133460, 62-159148, 62-168160
No., 62-175757, 62-175758, 63-200154,
JP-A 63-205658 discloses a photosensitive lithographic printing plate and a developer thereof as described in each publication, for example, an electrophotographic photosensitive lithographic printing plate as described in JP-A-58-25477. Included.

Further, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-149043,
JP-A-1-150142, JP-A-1-154157, JP-A-1-154
No. 158, etc., having a constitution in which a silicone layer is laminated on a substrate as a photosensitive layer and an ink repellent layer, and a developing solution thereof are included.

Next, examples of the method of the present invention will be described.

Example 1 A JIS-1050 aluminum plate having a thickness of 0.24 mm was immersed in a 2% aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide to perform a degreasing treatment. After anodizing and washing well, perform anodizing treatment in dilute sulfuric acid solution.
An oxide film of 5 g / m ² was formed on both sides of the aluminum plate. The thus treated aluminum plate is washed with water and dried, and then a photosensitive solution having the following composition is applied to both front and back surfaces to a dry weight of 2.5 g / m ^2, and dried to obtain a positive photosensitive lithographic printing plate. Obtained.

(Photosensitive solution) Pyrogallol acetone resin naphthoquinone-1,2-diazide (2) -5-sulfonic acid ester (synthesized by the method described in Example 1 of JP-B-43-28403) … 1 part by weight m, p-cresol-formaldehyde resin …… 2 parts by weight tert-butylphenol-formaldehyde resin …… 0.3 parts by weight Oil Blue No. 603 (trade name, manufactured by Orient Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., dye)…… 0.03 weight Part Crystal violet (manufactured by BASF, dye)…… 0.03 parts by weight Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether…… 20 parts by weight A large number of positive photosensitive lithographic printing plates thus obtained are prepared, and a transparent positive film is adhered to 2 kW. Exposure was performed for 60 seconds from a distance of 70 cm using a metal halide lamp.

On the other hand, a JIS-1050 aluminum plate having a thickness of 0.24 mm is immersed in a 20% aqueous sodium phosphate solution to be degreased, and both surfaces thereof are electrochemically roughened in a dilute hydrochloric acid solution. 1.5 g after anodizing in solution
/ M ² oxide film was formed on both sides of the aluminum plate. The aluminum plate thus treated is further immersed in an aqueous solution of sodium metasilicate to perform a pore-sealing treatment, washed with water, and dried. Then, a photosensitive solution having the following composition is dried on both the front and back surfaces with a dry weight of 2.0 g / m ^2. Apply so that
After drying, a negative photosensitive lithographic printing plate was obtained.

(Photosensitive solution) Hexafluorophosphate of a condensate of p-diazodiphenylamine and paraformaldehyde: 1 part by weight N- (4-hydroxyphenyl) methacrylamide copolymer (JP-B-57-43890) ... described in Example 1) ... 10 parts by weight Victoria Pure Blue BOH (trade name, dye, manufactured by Hodogaya Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.) ... 0.2 parts by weight ethylene glycol monomethyl ether ... 100 parts by weight A large number of the prepared negative-type photosensitive lithographic printing plates were prepared, and a transparent negative film was adhered thereto and exposed to a 2 kW metal halide lamp from a distance of 70 cm for 30 seconds.

A developer SD-32 (manufactured by Konica Corporation, common negative / positive developer) is charged into the concentrated developer tank 18 of the automatic developing machine shown in FIG. And supplied to the upper and lower surfaces of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate to be processed from the developer supply ports 13 and 14. The supply amount of the developer is 200 ml on the upper surface and 200 ml on the lower surface per 1 m ^{2 of the} photosensitive lithographic printing plate to be processed.
It was made to become. The size of the upper and lower guide plates was 1200 mm in the width direction, 300 mm in the transport direction, and 3 mm in the gap between the upper and lower guide plates. The developer temperature to the developer supply port 13,
The temperature of the upper guide plate 10 and the lower guide plate 11 was adjusted to 27 ° C. by the heater 41 so that the temperature became 14 ° C. in FIG. In addition, preheating roller 4
Was adjusted to 40 ° C.

The transport speed of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate is determined by the developing time.
It was set to be 20 seconds.

The washing water tank 26 is filled with 15 liters of water, and the rinsing / gumming solution tank 33 is filled with gum solution SGW-2 (manufactured by Konica Corporation).
A 10-fold dilution was charged.

Under these conditions, a large number of negative photosensitive lithographic printing plates and positive photosensitive lithographic printing plates of 500 mm × 400 mm were processed. A quality printing plate was obtained.

Comparative Example 1 An experiment was conducted in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the supply of the developing solution from the lower developing solution supply port 14 was stopped. As a result, the lower surface of the plate became defective. .

Example 2 A developing solution SDP-12 (manufactured by Konica Corporation,
The same experiment as in Example 1 was performed except that the positive photosensitive lithographic printing plate developer was charged and only the above-described positive photosensitive lithographic printing plate was treated. A high quality printing plate was obtained in the same manner as in Example 1.

Example 3 A developing solution SDN-21 (manufactured by Konica Corp.)
The negative photosensitive lithographic printing plate is charged with a negative photosensitive lithographic printing plate developer, diluted 4 times with water, and then supplied to the surface of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate to be processed. The same experiment as in Example 1 was performed except that only the treatment was performed. As in Example 1, a high-quality printing plate was obtained.

Embodiment 4 The developing solution is stored in the concentrated developing solution tank 18 of the automatic developing machine shown in FIG.
SD-32 (manufactured by Konica Corporation, common negative / positive developer) to which hydroxyethylcellulose was added as a thickener was charged, and diluted 6 times with water in a developer mixing tank 19. , 53 to the upper and lower sides of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate being processed. The amount of hydroxyethylcellulose added was such that the viscosity of the developer when diluted 6 times with water was 30 cps. The supply amount of the developer is 1 m ^{2 of the} photosensitive lithographic printing plate to be processed.
The contact surface was adjusted to 200 ml on the upper surface and 200 ml on the lower surface. The size of the upper and lower guide plates was 1200 mm in the width direction, 300 mm in the transport direction, and 3 mm in the gap between the upper and lower guide plates.

The temperature of the developing solution is set at 27 in the developing solution supply ports 13 and 53.
℃ to adjust with a heater not shown,
The temperature of the upper guide plate 10 and the lower guide plate 51 was adjusted to 27 ° C. by the heater 41. In addition, the temperature of the preheating roller 4 is set to 40 ° C.
Was adjusted to The transport speed of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate was set so that the developing time was 20 seconds.

The washing water tank 26 is filled with 15 liters of water, and the rinsing / gumming solution tank 33 is filled with gum solution SGW-2 (manufactured by Konica Corporation).
A 10-fold dilution was charged.

Under these conditions, a large number of the negative photosensitive lithographic printing plates and the positive photosensitive lithographic printing plates of 500 mm × 400 mm were processed. A quality printing plate was obtained.

Comparative Example 2 The same experiment as in Example 4 was performed, except that the developer was not recovered from the unused developer recovery ports 54 and 55.

As a result, a high-quality printing plate was obtained in the same manner as in Example 4. However, the amount of the developing solution required was about three times that of Example 4.

Comparative Example 3 An experiment was conducted in the same manner as in Example 4 except that the supply of the developing solution from the developing solution supply port 53 was stopped. As a result, the lower surface of the plate was defective.

Example 5 A concentrated developer tank 18 was charged with a developer SDP-12 (manufactured by Konica Corporation).
The same experiment as in Example 4 was carried out except that hydroxyethyl cellulose was added as a thickener to a positive photosensitive lithographic printing plate developer, and only the positive photosensitive lithographic printing plate described above was treated. . A high quality printing plate was obtained in the same manner as in Example 4.

Example 6 A developing solution SDP-21 (manufactured by Konica Corp.)
Negative-type photosensitive lithographic printing plate developer) to which hydroxyethylcellulose is added as a thickener is charged, diluted with water four-fold, and then supplied to the plate surface of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate to be processed. The same experiment as in Example 4 was conducted except that only the negative type photosensitive lithographic printing plate described above was treated. A high quality printing plate was obtained in the same manner as in Example 4.

Example 7 The same experiment as in Example 4 was carried out by replacing the upper and lower guide plates of the automatic developing machine with those shown in FIG. 5 (the size of the upper and lower guide plates and the gap were the same as those of the fourth embodiment). went. However, no thickener was added to the developer. As in Example 1, a high-quality printing plate was obtained.

Example 8 Example 4 was repeated except that the developer supply mechanism and the upper and lower guide plates of the automatic developing machine were replaced with those shown in FIG. 6 (the size of the upper and lower guide plates and the gap are the same as those of the fourth embodiment). As a result, a high-quality printing plate was obtained in the same manner as in Example 4.

Example 9 Example 9 was repeated except that the parts of the developer supply mechanism and the upper and lower guide plates of the automatic developing machine were replaced with those shown in FIG. 7 (the size of the upper and lower guide plates and the gap are the same as those of the fourth embodiment). When the same experiment as in Example 4 was performed, a high-quality printing plate was obtained as in Example 4.

Example 10 Example 10 was repeated except that the developing solution supply mechanism and the upper and lower guide plates of the automatic developing machine were replaced with those shown in FIG. 9 (the size of the upper and lower guide plates and the gap were the same as those of the fourth embodiment). When the same experiment as in Example 4 was performed, a high-quality printing plate was obtained as in Example 4.

Example 11 The developer supply mechanism and the upper and lower guide plates of the automatic developing machine
The same experiment as in Example 4 was performed except that the one shown in FIG. 10 was used (the size of the vertical guide and the gap were the same as those in Example 4), and a high-quality printing plate was obtained in the same manner as in Example 4. Was done.
However, about 1.3 times as much developer as in Example 4 was required.

[0064]

According to the first and third aspects of the present invention,
It is possible to stably process a photosensitive lithographic printing plate having a photosensitive layer on both sides of a support, and according to the present invention according to claims 2 and 4, in addition to the above effects, furthermore, the consumption of a developing solution It is possible to reduce the cost and improve the economic efficiency.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 and 3 are schematic structural views of an automatic developing machine having an embodiment of the processing apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a main part in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a main part in FIG. FIGS. 5 to 7, 9 and 10 are partial sectional views showing an embodiment of the processing apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a view of the lower developer supply member in FIG. It is a perspective view.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1) Developing section 2) Rinse section 3) Rinse and gum section 10, 66, 72, 83 Upper guide plate 11, 51, 60, 67, 73, 84, 87 Lower guide plate 13, 14, 52, 53 , 88 ‥ Developer supply port 17 ‥ Dilution water tank 18 ‥ Concentrated developer tank 19 ‥ Developer mixing tank 21, 56 ‥ Developer supply tank 54, 55, 61 ‥ Unused developer collection ports 65a, 65b ‥ Developer Supply nozzle 68, 74, 85 ‥ Unused developer collection member 70 現 像 Upper developer supply member 71 ‥ Lower developer supply member 81 ‥ Upper developer supply port 82 ‥ Lower developer supply port T: transport path

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-2-52355 (JP, A) JP-A-2-52356 (JP, A) JP-A-63-85549 (JP, A) 22921 (JP, B1) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G03F ^7/ 00-7/42

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A processing method for automatically transporting and developing a photosensitive lithographic printing plate which has been image-exposed using an automatic developing machine, comprising the steps of: An upper guide that supplies substantially unused developer from both the upper side and the lower side to both the lower side, respectively, and that is arranged at a small distance from each other in the vicinity of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate transport path. The developer is retained by passing between the plate and the lower guide plate , and the developing activity of the retained developer is reduced .
A method for processing a photosensitive lithographic printing plate, wherein a developing treatment is performed while providing a means for maintaining the lithographic printing plate. 2. A processing method for automatically transporting and developing a photosensitive lithographic printing plate image-exposed using an automatic developing machine, comprising the steps of: An upper guide that supplies substantially unused developer from both the upper side and the lower side to both the lower side, respectively, and that is arranged at a small distance from each other in the vicinity of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate transport path. The developer is retained by passing between the plate and the lower guide plate , and the developing activity of the retained developer is reduced .
A method for processing a photosensitive lithographic printing plate, comprising: performing a development process while providing a means for maintaining ; and recovering a portion of the supplied developer that has not contributed to development and reusing it for development. . 3. Conveying means for conveying a photosensitive lithographic printing plate,
Means for supplying substantially unused developer to the upper surface and the lower surface of each photosensitive lithographic printing plate to be processed in the course of transportation by the transportation means; scissors, and have a top guide plate and the lower guide plate arranged at a small distance from each other vertically in close proximity to the conveyance path,且
And a means for maintaining the developing activity of the developer . 4. A conveying means for conveying a photosensitive lithographic printing plate,
Means for supplying substantially unused developer to the upper surface and the lower surface of each photosensitive lithographic printing plate to be processed in the course of transportation by the transportation means; scissors, and the upper guide plate is arranged at a small distance from each other vertically in proximity to the transport path and a lower guide plate, the current developer
An apparatus for processing a photosensitive lithographic printing plate, comprising: means for maintaining image activity; and means for collecting and reusing a portion of the supplied developer that does not contribute to development. 5. The processing apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising means for independently supplying a developer to the upper surface and the lower surface of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate.