JP3560808B2 - Package and loading method of sheet-shaped aluminum lithographic printing plate - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a lithographic printing plate package using aluminum as a support, and more particularly to a package and a loading method capable of being loaded into an exposure apparatus (for example, an output device for scanning exposure) in a bright room.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A lithographic printing plate using an aluminum plate as a support (hereinafter, referred to as an aluminum printing plate) is generally supplied in a sheet form, and is packaged in a set of 20 to 50 sheets. Aluminum printing plates are heavier than printing plates that use paper or plastic as a support, and emphasis is placed on increasing the strength of the packaging.
In general, cardboard is used as the package. To prevent deformation of the package due to the weight of the aluminum printing plate, the frame (side plate) that joins the bottom plate and the cover plate has a cardboard sheet of 3 to 7 layers. Those having a thickness of 2 cm or more are used.
[0003]
However, the above-mentioned conventional package has not completely prevented distortion or deformation during transportation. Therefore, the packed aluminum printing plate was rubbed with the interleaving paper (paper inserted between the aluminum printing plates), and the photosensitive surface was scratched or covered. In particular, a lithographic printing plate utilizing a silver complex salt diffusion transfer method having a physical development nucleus and a silver halide emulsion layer on an aluminum support has a serious problem due to its influence.
[0004]
On the other hand, in recent years, a scanning type exposure output device (hereinafter, referred to as a plate setter) using various lasers and LEDs has become widespread, and a CTP (computer to plate) system using the same has been attracting attention. It realizes color printing using a lithographic printing plate for exposure.
As a lithographic printing plate for scanning exposure, a silver salt printing plate using a paper or a plastic film as a support has been conventionally known. In recent years, a plate using an aluminum plate as a support has been developed (the aluminum silver plate). Salt printing plate).
[0005]
The plate setter includes a type in which aluminum printing plates are directly loaded on a drum one by one and a type in which a plurality of aluminum printing plates are loaded at a time using a cassette.
[0006]
In the latter type of loading using a cassette, the work of removing the aluminum printing plate from the product package and refilling it into a dedicated cassette had to be performed in a dark room. This refilling in the darkroom is an extremely nervous operation (it must be done carefully so as not to damage the aluminum printing plate), greatly reducing the work efficiency. In addition, it was necessary to set up a separate dark room. Therefore, a package that can be loaded into a dedicated cassette in a bright room has been desired.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an aluminum printing plate package in which distortion and deformation of the package during transportation and handling are completely prevented.
In particular, the present invention is to provide a packaging body in which an aluminum printing plate can be loaded in a state of a product packaging body in a dedicated cassette of a plate setter, and further, an aluminum printing plate that can be loaded in a dedicated cassette under a light room. This is to provide a plate package.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The above object of the present invention has been basically achieved by the following constitutions.
(1) A package of a sheet-shaped lithographic printing plate using an aluminum plate as a support, wherein the package is for loading the lithographic printing plate into an exposure apparatus in a state in which the lithographic printing plate is stored, and And a lid for closing the upper surface of the storage box, wherein the storage box is formed by a press board.
[0009]
(2) A package of a sheet-shaped lithographic printing plate using an aluminum plate as a support, wherein the package is for loading the lithographic printing plate into an exposure apparatus in a state where the lithographic printing plate is stored, and And a lid for closing the upper surface of the storage box, wherein a frame portion of the storage box is formed of a rectangular foam. Printed packaging.
[0011]
As described above, the conventional aluminum printing plate package is made of corrugated cardboard, but the weight of the aluminum printing plate (15 to 30 kg for a package of 20 to 50 sheet aluminum printing plates) is large. The strength of the cardboard was increased by increasing the thickness of the cardboard. However, it has not been possible to sufficiently protect the aluminum printing plate against impacts caused by dropping or vibration during transportation and handling. In addition, it is not designed to be loaded into a dedicated cassette of a plate setter in a bright room, and there are many problems in manufacturing a package for loading in a bright room.
[0012]
One of the problems is that conventional cardboard packages are bulky, and to load them into cassettes in the form of product packages, the size of the cassettes must be increased accordingly, resulting in an enlarged plate setter. There is a problem that leads to the conversion.
[0013]
The second problem is that the clearance between the inner surface of the storage box and the aluminum printing plate cannot be kept constant.
That is, the aluminum printing plate is loaded into a cassette in a state of a product package, then conveyed to a plate setter and output to form a printed image. When the clearance between the inner surface of the storage box and the aluminum printing plate increases, the displacement of the aluminum printing plate in the storage box increases, and as a result, the displacement of the aluminum printing plate transported into the plate setter occurs. This causes a problem that the image forming position is shifted. In addition, when loading in a bright room, with the lid of the package removed, if the clearance between the inner surface of the storage box and the aluminum printing plate becomes large, light will easily enter and the aluminum printing plate will be exposed. A problem of causing fogging occurs. On the other hand, if the clearance is too small, the packing work of the aluminum printing plate and the removal of the aluminum printing plate in the plate setter will be hindered.
[0014]
Therefore, the clearance needs to be small and constant. In addition, it is necessary to maintain the clearance constant with respect to the surrounding environment, particularly, changes in humidity.
[0015]
The present inventor has assumed that the function as a package of a sheet-shaped aluminum printing plate, that is, the package has a strength enough to withstand the weight of aluminum and that the package is lightweight, Repeated research based on the concept of a function for room loading, that is, compact, high dimensional accuracy during processing, no deformation (stretching, warping) due to humidity, etc. and no adverse effect on the performance of aluminum printing plate Was. It is also important to dispose of used packages as combustibles.
[0016]
As a result of the research, the present inventors have found that the above performance can be obtained by using a press board for the storage box portion of the package and using a rectangular foam for the frame portion of the storage box, and have reached the present invention .
[0017]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The press board used in the present invention is a board made by laminating thin wet sheets made of plant fibers as raw materials, drying and pressing. This follows the definition in the paper processing field. The pressboard used in the present invention is preferably made of wood pulp as a raw material, particularly preferably softwood kraft pulp. Generally, a press board for electric insulation is known, but the present invention can be used regardless of electric insulation performance.
The press board forms at least a frame of the storage box.
[0018]
Various foams are used as the foam used for the frame portion of the storage box. Typical examples include plastic resin foams such as polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, polyisocyanurate, melamine-based resins, and phenol-based resins. "Publication / porous body technology and application development" (issued on April 15, 1997) in the list of published patent publications P300 to P374. In addition, a wood foam described in JP-A-4-106128 can be used.
[0019]
The foaming ratio of the foam is selected in an appropriate range depending on the hardness of the resin. However, since the package of the present invention requires relatively high strength, generally, the foaming ratio is preferably 10 or less, In particular, the expansion ratio is 2 to 6. By using these foams, there is an advantage that the weight can be significantly reduced without significantly lowering the strength as compared with ordinary resins. Among the foams, a polystyrene foam is particularly preferably used.
[0020]
In addition, since the package of the present invention needs to have a light-shielding property, it is preferable that a black pigment such as carbon black is kneaded in the resin before molding the foam.
[0021]
In the present invention, in addition to the above-mentioned foaming body, a hollow rectangular molded body in which kraft paper is spirally stacked and wound is used for the frame portion of the storage box. This hollow rectangular shaped body is the same as a rectangular paper core conventionally used for winding a web such as paper, cloth, plastic film and thin metal foil, and can be produced by a method known in the art. . The hollow rectangular molded body needs to have a thickness of about 2 to 4 mm excluding the hollow part.
[0021]
In a preferred embodiment of the package according to the present invention, the lid is further characterized in order to maintain the strength during transportation. That is, in order to maintain the strength of the package when the package is turned half way down and the lid is down, the thickness of the lid of the aluminum printing plate where the gravity is applied is made thicker than the other portions. Further, in order to reduce the backlash of the stored aluminum printing plate, the lid is configured to press a part of the aluminum printing plate, preferably substantially the entire surface.
[0022]
Hereinafter, the package of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the package of the present invention. 1 is a storage box, 2 is a lid, 3 is an aluminum printing plate, 4 is a light shielding sheet, and 5 is a sealing tape.
[0023]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the storage box 1. The storage box 1 includes a bottom portion 11 and a frame 12 forming four side surfaces. The four frames 12 are joined at corners. As shown in FIG. 3, the joint has at least one frame having an L-shaped notch. FIG. 3a is a perspective view of an embodiment in which only one frame has a notch, and FIG. 3b is an embodiment in which both frames have a notch. By providing this notch, the light shielding at the joint is completed. The joint is bonded with an adhesive or a double-sided adhesive tape.
[0024]
The frame 12 has a rectangular (elongated rectangular) shape as shown in the figure, and is made of a hollow rectangular molded body formed by winding the above-mentioned press board, foam, or kraft paper in a spiral shape. The thickness of the frame 12 is preferably 20 mm or less. A suitable range is selected for this thickness depending on the material used. For example, about 2 to 10 mm is appropriate for a press board, about 5 to 20 mm for a foam, and about 10 to 20 mm for a hollow rectangular molded body. The height of the frame 12 is appropriately selected according to the thickness and the number of aluminum printing plates to be packed and the thickness of the central portion of the lid 2.
[0025]
As the material of the frame 12, the above-mentioned foam is preferable in terms of the weight, strength, workability, dimensional accuracy, the degree of influence of the surrounding environment conditions, and the like. Most preferably, it is a polystyrene foam, in which a black pigment is previously kneaded into a resin.
[0026]
The bottom portion 11 forming the storage box 1 is made of cardboard, press board, paperboard, foam, resin, or the like. Corrugated board is preferably used in terms of cost, disposability, and workability. From the viewpoint of strength, A flute or AB flute (double-sided corrugated cardboard) using a reinforced medium is particularly preferable. Here, the strengthened shin is also referred to as SCP shin and is made using 100% semi-chemical pulp. The details are described in “Introduction to Cardboard Packaging Technology” issued by Nippo Co., Ltd. (issued March 20, 1985).
[0027]
FIG. 4 (cross-sectional view) shows a preferred embodiment of the bottom portion 11. On the corrugated cardboard (AB flute) 11a, a film having a thickness of about 100 μm such as a thermoplastic resin, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or the like, into which carbon black has been kneaded for providing light shielding and moisture proofing properties, is attached. . As the thermoplastic resin, PET having good sticking processability is preferable.
[0028]
Since the dimensional accuracy of the storage box 1 needs to be 1 mm or less with respect to the design dimension, the attachment of the frame 12 and the bottom portion 11 is carried out by using a sticking jig such as a wooden frame and an automatic sticking device. At the joint between the frame 12 and the bottom portion 11, a cold glue material as a strong adhesive and a strong double-sided adhesive tape are selected so as to withstand vibration and weight during transportation of the package. Preferably, a black pigment is contained in the paste material and the base material of the double-sided adhesive tape in order to cope with light-shielding at the joint.
[0029]
The upper surface of the storage box 1 is open, and the open upper surface is closed by the lid 2. A cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the lid 2 is shown in FIGS. The thickness of the portion corresponding to almost the entire storage portion (open portion) of the aluminum printing plate of the storage box 1, that is, the portion 2b is thickened. As a result, the weight of the aluminum printing plate can be endured even when the package is turned over during transportation as described above. It is preferable to adjust the thickness of the portion 2b so that the aluminum printing plate 3 is lightly pressed.
[0030]
It is preferable that the portion 2b has a size corresponding to the open upper surface of the storage box 1 and is designed to fit into the storage portion of the storage box. Further, when the size of the aluminum printing plate to be stored is relatively small, 2b is partially formed as shown in FIG. 6 (bottom view) even if it is not provided so as to correspond to the entire upper surface of the aluminum printing plate. There may be. Even in this case, 2b needs to be fitted into the storage section of the storage box in terms of light shielding properties.
It is preferable to fit the lid 2b in a state of being in contact with the inner surface of the storage section of the storage box 1, and the clearance between the two is at most 2 mm.
[0031]
The material of the lid 2 is preferably cardboard. 2a uses A flute (FIG. 5a) or AB flute (double-sided corrugated cardboard, FIG. 5b). 2b is preferably formed by laminating two or more corrugated cardboard sheets, for example, an AB flute (double-sided corrugated cardboard), a tri-wall (three laminated), or a honeycomb in order to impart strength. １５15 mm is appropriate. FIG. 5A shows an embodiment using a honeycomb, and FIG. 5B shows an embodiment using an AB flute.
[0032]
The package of the present invention can be loaded into a dedicated cassette of the platesetter with the lid removed. In order to load under a light room, the photosensitive surface of the aluminum printing plate must be protected from light. Whether the aluminum printing plate has the photosensitive surface facing down or up must be adjusted according to the plate setter to be used, but when loading with the photosensitive surface facing up, the light shielding sheet 4 is essential. Needless to say, it is preferable to insert a light-shielding sheet also when loading with the photosensitive surface facing down. The light-shielding sheet 4 is preferably made of a material having a certain degree of rigidity so as not to break or wrinkle during transportation. One obtained by laminating a thermoplastic resin (eg, polyethylene) in which carbon black is kneaded on one or both sides of paper is used.
[0033]
The light-shielding sheet is usually set to the same size as the aluminum printing plate, but is preferably larger than the size of the aluminum printing plate and slightly smaller than the inner size of the storage box, so that the clearance between the light-shielding sheet and the storage box is reduced. This can prevent the exposure of the photosensitive surface of the aluminum printing plate due to the displacement of the light shielding sheet. Also, if the clearance between the aluminum printing plate stored in the storage box and the inner surface of the storage box is large, light enters from the clearance when loading the cassette and enters between the stacked aluminum printing plate sheets. Therefore, the edge of the aluminum printing plate is covered. Therefore, the clearance is preferably set to 2 mm or less. This clearance must be kept constant in order to smoothly store the aluminum printing plate in the storage box and take out the aluminum printing plate in the plate setter.
[0034]
Therefore, the frame 12 on the side surface of the storage box and the bottom surface portion 11 are attached so that dimensional accuracy is obtained. The point is that the frame 12 of the storage box is made of a material that suppresses expansion and contraction and warpage due to changes in temperature and humidity. The hollow rectangular molded body formed by spirally winding the above-described press board, foam, and kraft paper in a spiral shape satisfies these performances, and is lightweight and strong.
[0035]
In order to further ensure the light-shielding properties of the storage box and the lid, it is preferable that the outer peripheral surface or the inner wall surface be laminated with a thermoplastic resin (polyethylene, PET, or the like) in which carbon black is kneaded (as described above, the frame). When a resin foam is used for the portion, carbon black may be previously kneaded in the resin). Furthermore, it is preferable to laminate with a composite with an aluminum foil in order to make it less affected by humidity.
[0036]
In the present invention, in the method of loading the package into the dedicated cassette of the platesetter, the lid of the package may be removed before loading the cassette as described above, or the lid may be removed after loading the cassette. In the former method, when the package is distorted by carrying or the like before the cassette is loaded after the lid is removed, the clearance temporarily increases, and there is a risk that light may enter. Therefore, the latter method is preferable in terms of light shielding properties. However, the latter method causes inconvenience in cutting the sealing tape 5. That is, it is preferable that all four sides of the joint between the storage box 1 and the lid 2 be taped over the entire area from the viewpoint of light shielding properties and strength. Therefore, cutting with a cutter knife or the like is necessary. Before loading into the cassette, it can be cut with a cutter knife along the junction between the storage box 1 and the lid 2, but after loading into the cassette, the position of the junction between the storage box 1 and the lid 2 is changed. It cannot be cut because it is hidden in the cassette.
[0037]
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, when the storage box 1 is covered with the lid 2, a part of the upper surface of the frame portion 12 of the storage box 1 is exposed. That is, the outer dimension of the upper surface component 2a of the lid 2 is made smaller by about 3 to 10 mm than the outer dimension of the storage box 1 to provide a step y. The sealing tape 5 stuck on all four sides along the tangent line between the lid 2 and the storage box 1 in the step y portion can be cut from above with a cutter knife, and the lid 2 can be removed.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
By using the package of the present invention, distortion and deformation during transportation are eliminated, and the aluminum printing plate can be supplied to the user in a normal state. In particular, there is a great advantage that a bright room can be loaded into the platesetter.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a package of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a storage box portion of the package of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where frames are joined to each other. FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the lid of the package of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the lid part. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the relationship between the lid of the package of the present invention and the storage box. Description】
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Storage box 2 Lid 3 Aluminum printing plate 4 Light shielding sheet 5 Sealing tape 11 Frame part

Claims (4)

A package of a sheet-shaped lithographic printing plate using an aluminum plate as a support, wherein the package is for loading the lithographic printing plate in an exposure apparatus in a state where the lithographic printing plate is stored, and stores the lithographic printing plate. A package for a sheet-shaped aluminum lithographic printing plate, comprising: a storage box having an open top surface; and a lid for closing the upper surface of the storage box, wherein the storage box is formed of a press board. A package of a sheet-shaped lithographic printing plate using an aluminum plate as a support, wherein the package is for loading the lithographic printing plate in an exposure apparatus in a state where the lithographic printing plate is stored, and stores the lithographic printing plate. A sheet-shaped aluminum lithographic printing plate comprising: a storage box having an open top surface; and a lid for closing the upper surface of the storage box, wherein a frame portion of the storage box is formed of a rectangular foam. Packing body. The package according to claim 2, wherein the foam is a foam having an expansion ratio of 2 to 6 times. The package of a sheet-like aluminum lithographic printing plate according to claim 2, wherein the foam is a resin into which a black pigment is kneaded.

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