JP4660364B2 - Lithographic printing plate exposure apparatus and exposure tool - Google Patents

Description

  In the present invention, a lithographic printing plate provided with an image recording layer for recording a latent image by radical photopolymerization on the surface of a flat support is subjected to an exposure treatment in a state where there is no oxygen blocking layer on the surface of the image recording layer. The present invention relates to an exposure apparatus and an exposure tool for lithographic printing plates.

  In general, in the method of preparing a lithographic printing plate, an image portion is obtained by exposing a photosensitive film of an original plate of a lithographic printing plate having a photopolymerizable photosensitive film on a support to cause a polymerization reaction by an exposure apparatus. After forming a solidified latent image, a method of removing a non-polymerized non-image part in a photosensitive film on which a latent image of a lithographic printing plate was formed with a developer to prepare a lithographic printing plate is widely performed. ing.

  In recent years, in the field of lithographic printing, an unexposed photosensitive printing plate has been supplied, and image data is computer-processed on the photosensitive printing plate to directly modulate the laser beam of the light source. A laser exposure process is performed in which the modulated laser beam is projected onto the original plate to record an image directly on the image recording layer of the original plate of the lithographic printing plate, and the latent image formed on the photosensitive lithographic printing plate is developed by an automatic processor. 2. Description of the Related Art A CTP (Computer to Plate) system that directly develops a lithographic printing plate by developing it into an image has been put into practical use.

  In addition, for use in such a CTP system, development of a laser-compatible lithographic printing plate using radical chain polymerization that enables direct exposure of laser light to enable high-sensitivity and fine exposure is in progress. .

  In the exposure process for a laser-compatible lithographic printing plate using this radical chain polymerization reaction, the image recording layer is exposed to a laser beam and polymerized by causing a radical polymerization reaction in the exposed area of the image recording layer. Harden.

  In this exposure process, oxygen in the air is a factor that hinders the radical polymerization reaction due to the action of inactivating radicals in the image recording layer generated by exposure. For this reason, the sensitivity of the lithographic printing plate is lowered because the radical polymerization reaction is hindered by oxygen in the air in the exposed area of the image recording layer, so it is difficult to increase the sensitivity to some extent.

  Therefore, in the lithographic printing plate, an overcoat layer such as PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) is formed on the image recording layer formed on the aluminum support to block oxygen in the air, and the oxygen in the air records the image. Means are taken to increase the sensitivity so as not to enter the layer.

  Further, when the lithographic printing plate is provided with an oxygen-blocking overcoat layer to increase the sensitivity, it is necessary to dissolve and remove the overcoat layer in the development step after exposure, but PVA is water-soluble. The overcoat layer dissolves in the developer in the development process and solidifies as a solid component, or the overcoat layer does not dissolve in the developer and remains as a solid component to contaminate the inside of the printing press, resulting in contamination of the printed matter. May occur.

  Conventionally, as a means for solving the above-described problems, in exposing a printing plate precursor provided with a photopolymerizable layer containing a compound having an ethylenically unsaturated bond and a photopolymerization initiator, reaction inhibition by oxygen is inhibited. In order to suppress, the overcoat layer (oxygen barrier layer) is replaced with a transparent sheet larger than the printing plate precursor, and in order to realize a dilute oxygen environment and to obtain sheet adhesion, A plate original covered with a large transparent sheet is placed on a member having a plurality of suction holes, and imagewise exposure is performed while exhausting from the suction holes to maintain sensitivity and the solid component of the overcoat layer in the developer. Means have been proposed for solving the problem that the problem remains due to the remaining (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, in the means for performing the exposure process in such a state that the printing plate precursor is covered with a large transparent sheet, the flexible transparent sheet is covered with the printing plate precursor, and the exposure process is performed through the transparent sheet. Also, there is a problem that dirt or dust adheres to the transparent sheet, or scratches or wrinkles are generated on the transparent sheet, which causes the exposure beam to be diffused to cause exposure failure.

In order to avoid this problem, it is necessary to replace with a new transparent sheet every time exposure processing is performed, resulting in increased processing costs. Furthermore, when replacing with a new transparent sheet every time the exposure process is performed, a work process of stacking the transparent sheet on the light-sensitive material surface every time the exposure process is performed is a cause of a decrease in productivity. Become.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-197655

  In view of the above-described problems, the present invention prevents the oxygen in the air from entering the image recording layer by blocking the oxygen in the air when the lithographic printing plate is subjected to an exposure treatment, so that the image of the lithographic printing plate can be obtained. It is an object of the present invention to newly provide an exposure apparatus and an exposure tool for lithographic printing plates that can be efficiently operated in a state where the recording layer is highly sensitive.

  An exposure apparatus for a lithographic printing plate according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises a lithographic printing plate in which an image recording layer on which a latent image is recorded by radical photopolymerization is formed on the surface of a plate-like support. An exposure apparatus for a lithographic printing plate that carries out an exposure process by carrying it to an exposure position that irradiates an exposure light beam in a state where there is no oxygen blocking layer on the surface of the plate, and a conveyance path for conveying the lithographic printing plate in a gas And an exposure assisting member formed with a transparent member and a plane through which a light beam for exposure is transmitted, which is disposed at a distance from which the liquid is interposed from the surface of the planographic printing plate conveyed to the exposure position in the conveying path. Further, on the upstream side in the transport direction of the exposure assisting member on the transport path, a liquid which is inactive with respect to the planographic printing plate and can transmit the exposure light beam is filled between the exposure assisting member and the planographic printing plate. And a liquid filling means.

  With the configuration described above, when the lithographic printing plate is transported on a transport path transported in gas, the image recording layer of the lithographic printing plate is covered with a liquid and irradiated with an exposure light beam. In addition, since the image recording layer is shielded from oxygen in the air, radical polymerization reaction can proceed efficiently without causing polymerization inhibition by oxygen in the image recording layer, and it can be polymerized well to form a latent image. . Furthermore, since the lithographic printing plate is conveyed on a conveyance path for conveying in the gas, there is no need to wet the back side of the lithographic printing plate with liquid, so the image recording layer can be efficiently removed from oxygen using the minimum necessary liquid. It is possible to shut off, reduce the probability that dust is mixed in the liquid, and suppress the occurrence of exposure defects due to dust floating in the liquid.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the exposure apparatus for a lithographic printing plate according to the first aspect, the distance between the exposure auxiliary member and the lithographic printing plate is equal to or less than the thickness of the liquid layer formed on the lithographic printing plate. It is characterized by being set to.

  By configuring as described above, in addition to the operation and effect of the invention described in claim 1, only the liquid layer enters between the exposure assisting member and the lithographic printing plate, so that the liquid layer Air can be prevented from entering.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the lithographic printing plate supply apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the lithographic printing plate is placed at a position corresponding to the lower side of the exposure auxiliary member disposed on the conveyance path. A guide member for guiding the lower surface is arranged.

  By configuring as described above, in addition to the operation and effect of the invention described in claim 1 or 2, the vibration of the transported lithographic printing plate is suppressed, and is always suitable for the image recording layer of the lithographic printing plate. The exposure process can be performed in a state in which the lens is in focus.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the exposure apparatus for a lithographic printing plate according to any one of the first to third aspects, the liquid filling means is upstream in the transport direction nearest to the exposure auxiliary member on the transport path. A conveying roller that is in contact with the planographic printing plate, a liquid shower bar that flows down the liquid to the conveying roller, and a liquid that flows down from the liquid shower bar is received by the introduction guide unit, and an outer peripheral surface of the conveying roller A flow guide member configured to be introduced between the arcuate guide portions and flow between them to be guided onto the lithographic printing plate.

  By configuring as described above, in addition to the function and effect of the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the auxiliary exposure member on the transport path and the upstream side in the transport direction closest thereto are arranged. The apparatus main body can be downsized by configuring the distance between the arranged transport rollers to be shorter by the space for arranging the liquid shower bar.

  In the exposure tool according to claim 5 of the present invention, a transparent member portion is disposed through a liquid layer that blocks the surface of the object to be exposed from air with respect to the plate-shaped object to be conveyed, An exposure tool for allowing an exposure light beam to pass through a transparent member part and a liquid layer and irradiate the object to be exposed, and transporting the object to be exposed on the bottom surface of the transparent member part A liquid supply opening is disposed at a position across the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the object to be exposed at the end corresponding to the upstream side in the direction, and the liquid supplied from the outside of the transparent member portion is supplied to the liquid through the liquid supply path. It is characterized by being configured to supply from the supply opening between the bottom surface of the transparent portion of the exposure tool and the object to be exposed.

  By configuring as described above, when the object to be exposed is being transported on a transport path that is transported in the air, the surface of the object to be exposed is covered with a liquid so as to be shielded from the air. It is possible to efficiently form a latent image without the occurrence of inhibition by. Further, since the liquid supply opening is adjacent to the transparent part of the exposure tool, the liquid can be sufficiently supplied between the surface of the object to be exposed and the transparent part of the exposure tool with a small amount of liquid supply. Can be filled.

  According to the exposure apparatus and exposure tool for a lithographic printing plate of the present invention, oxygen in the air is prevented from entering the image recording layer by blocking oxygen in the air when performing exposure processing on the lithographic printing plate. Thus, there is an effect that the work can be efficiently performed with the sensitivity of the image recording layer of the lithographic printing plate being increased.

  A first embodiment relating to an exposure apparatus and exposure tool for a lithographic printing plate according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The lithographic printing plate exposure apparatus using the lithographic printing plate exposure apparatus and the exposure apparatus according to the first embodiment is a lithographic printing plate that is an object to be exposed that is transported on a transport path that transports the air. The plate 10 is configured as an exposure apparatus that performs scanning exposure.

  This exposure apparatus can be applied to a planographic printing plate 10 of a photon mode recording system or a heat mode recording system as a means for forming an image using a photoradical polymerization reaction that is generally used. This generally used lithographic printing plate 10 (radical polymerization type lithographic printing plate) utilizing a photo-radical polymerization reaction forms an anodized film on the surface of an aluminum support, and further records an image on the anodized film. A multilayer structure with layers is formed. In the planographic printing plate 10, a plate provided with a protective layer covering the surface of the image recording layer can be used. However, when the planographic printing plate 10 has a protective layer covering the surface, the protective layer is removed by means such as washing before being carried into the exposure position of the exposure apparatus.

  The image recording layer serving as an image forming means provided on the lithographic printing plate 10 is formed by exposing a photopolymerizable material with laser recording light, whereby radicals generated from the radical initiator react with the monomer, and the monomer is radicalized. Furthermore, a radical polymerization reaction that repeats the reaction with the monomer occurs continuously in a chain, so that a polymer having a large molecular structure is formed, and the portion that becomes this polymer constitutes a latent image. The portion of the image recording layer that was not exposed to the laser recording light was removed and removed by a separate development process of the planographic printing plate 10 to form an image with the polymer portion.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in this exposure apparatus, a transport roller that is a pair of nip rollers at each predetermined position before and after the exposure position in order to form a part of a transport path for transporting the planographic printing plate 10 in the atmosphere. 12 and 14 are arranged.

  Each of the transport rollers 12 and 14 is rotationally driven by a motor or the like as a drive source (not shown) while the planographic printing plate 10 is sandwiched between the transport rollers 12 and 14. The planographic printing plate 10 is configured to move and scan in the main scanning direction. These transport rollers 12 and 14 are both configured as free rollers, or only rollers that are in rolling contact with the surface of the lithographic printing plate 10 and are configured as free rollers. Besides these, the lithographic printing plate 10 is mainly used. A nip roller that is rotationally driven by a driving source for moving and scanning in the scanning direction may be mounted.

  At an exposure position set between the two sets of transport rollers 12 and 14, a predetermined distance from the surface on the image recording layer side of the transported lithographic printing plate 10 (here, set to approximately 1 mm to approximately 3 mm). An exposure assisting member 16 configured as a transparent member is disposed at the position where it is placed. Here, as a result of an actual experiment, when water is supplied onto the lithographic printing plate 10 by a liquid shower bar 26 as a liquid filling means as will be described later, the end portion of the lithographic printing plate 10 is affected by the surface tension of the water. It was confirmed that a water layer having a thickness of about 1 mm to about 3 mm spread on the surface of the lithographic printing plate 10 on the average was formed.

  Therefore, in this exposure apparatus, since only a water layer is formed between the planographic printing plate 10 and the bottom surface of the exposure assisting member 16 and air is not entered, the water by the liquid shower bar 26 as a liquid filling means is set. When the thickness of the water layer on the planographic printing plate 10 is controlled to be a predetermined thickness by adjusting the supply amount of the water, the distance equal to the predetermined thickness of the controlled water layer or the The distance between the planographic printing plate 10 and the bottom surface of the exposure assisting member 16 is set so that the distance is shorter.

  The exposure assisting member 16 is formed by forming a material such as transparent glass or plastic having a plane of an incident surface and an exit surface (bottom surface) of a laser beam into a rectangular plate shape (cuboid shape). In addition, you may comprise this exposure assistance member 16 so that it may have a function as a lens.

  In this exposure apparatus, by using the exposure assisting member 16 configured as described above, even if the surface of the water layer on the planographic printing plate 10 has irregularities, the exposure assist is applied to the surface of the water layer. Since the surface of the water layer is planarized by covering the member 16 and the surface of the exposure assisting member 16 is flat, the laser beam incident on the surface of the exposure assisting member 16 is appropriately applied to the image recording layer of the planographic printing plate 10. It is possible to perform exposure processing with good focus.

  Further, as shown by an imaginary line in FIG. 1, the lower side (back side) of the lithographic printing plate 10 conveyed immediately below the exposure assisting member 16 is slidably supported on the back side of the lithographic printing plate 10 to support it. You may install the guide member 18 for keeping the space | interval between the surface of the lithographic printing plate 10 and the exposure auxiliary member 16 to a predetermined distance. When the guide member 18 is disposed, the exposure processing can be performed in a state where the vibration of the transported lithographic printing plate 10 is suppressed and the image recording layer of the lithographic printing plate 10 is always properly focused. Further, the guide member 18 may be configured to be guided by sliding contact with the lower surface of the planographic printing plate 10 or by rolling contact with a roller or the like.

  In this exposure apparatus, an irradiation head 20 which is a light beam irradiation means is provided in order to perform exposure processing via the exposure auxiliary member 16. The irradiation head 20 is configured to emit a laser beam having a predetermined wavelength such as infrared light, visible light, or ultraviolet light modulated based on digital image information. In this exposure apparatus, the recording laser beam emitted from the irradiation head 20 is reflected by the polygon mirror 22 rotated at a high speed, further reflected by the reflecting plate 24, and moved and scanned in the sub-scanning direction at the exposure position. To do.

  In this exposure apparatus, as a light beam irradiating means, a means for performing surface exposure using a spatial light modulator, or an LD array light source in which a plurality of light sources combining an optical fiber and an LD are arranged as a light source, etc. A means using a so-called multi-beam exposure that performs a plurality of recordings simultaneously can be used.

  In this exposure apparatus, a liquid shower bar 26 as a liquid supply means is disposed in the transport direction at a predetermined position between the exposure auxiliary member 16 in the transport path and the transport rollers 12 and 14 disposed on the upstream side in the transport direction. The lithographic printing plate 10 is arranged so as to correspond to a range over the entire width direction of the lithographic printing plate 10 in a direction perpendicular to the direction.

  The liquid shower bar 26 is formed in, for example, a cylindrical shape, and a large number of nozzle holes are arranged in a row at equal intervals on the peripheral side face toward the planographic printing plate 10, and supplied to the inside of the liquid shower bar 26. The liquid (here, water) is jetted from each nozzle to form a substantially uniform thin film liquid layer on the surface of the lithographic printing plate 10. The liquid sprayed from the liquid shower bar 26 and supplied onto the lithographic printing plate 10 spreads so as to wet the surface of the lithographic printing plate 10, and is a substantially uniform thin film-like liquid layer due to the surface tension of the liquid. make. At this time, as described above, the exposure apparatus adjusts the amount of water supplied by the liquid shower bar 26 to control the thickness of the water layer on the planographic printing plate 10 to a predetermined thickness.

  Thus, the substantially uniform thin film-like liquid layer formed on the lithographic printing plate 10 is conveyed together with the lithographic printing plate 10 to reach the position of the exposure auxiliary member 16, and the exposure auxiliary member 16 and the lithographic printing plate 10. And an oxygen-blocking state for exposure processing that is sufficiently filled without leaving air bubbles in the gap between the exposure auxiliary member 16 and the lithographic printing plate 10.

  The liquid used here may be a solution that can transmit a light beam for exposing the lithographic printing plate 10, is inert to the lithographic printing plate 10, and does not wet the lithographic printing plate 10. Ordinary tap water, liquid paraffin, silicon oil or the like can be used.

  The substantially uniform thin film-like liquid layer formed on the lithographic printing plate 10 is transported together with the lithographic printing plate 10 to leave the position of the exposure auxiliary member 16, and is squeezed by the transport rollers 12 and 14 on the downstream side in the transport direction. Will be dropped.

  In order to receive the liquid that has been squeezed down from the top of the planographic printing plate 10 or spilled from both sides of the planographic printing plate 10, two sets of transport rollers 12 and 14 sandwiching the exposure position are disposed below the transport path. The tray member 28 is installed so as to cover a slightly larger range including the predetermined range.

  Further, a liquid circulation conduit 30 is installed between the tray member 28 and the liquid shower bar 26. A filter 34, a pump 36, and a heater 38 are disposed in the middle of the pipe member 32 constituting the series of liquid circulation pipes 30.

  The liquid circulation pipe 30 sends the liquid introduced from the liquid inlet opening on the bottom surface of the tray member 28 to the filter 34 through the pipe member 32 and then sends it to the pump 36. The pump 36 pressurizes the liquid sucked from the filter 34 side, sends it to the heater 38, heats it to a predetermined temperature, supplies it to the liquid shower bar 26, and injects it from the nozzle of the liquid shower bar 26 at a predetermined flow rate. Constitutes a series of liquid circulation systems.

  In this exposure apparatus, the liquid sprayed from the nozzle of the liquid shower bar 26 is on the lower side (back side) of the lithographic printing plate 10, which is directly under the liquid receiving position where it hits the lithographic printing plate 10, and on the back side of the lithographic printing plate 10. A guide roller 40 is mounted to prevent vibration caused by the liquid jetted from the nozzle hitting the planographic printing plate 10 by rolling and supporting. When the guide roller 40 is arranged in this way, vibrations of the planographic printing plate 10 are suppressed when receiving the liquid ejected from the nozzles of the liquid shower bar 26, and image recording of the planographic printing plate 10 is performed. It is possible to perform exposure processing in a state where the layer is always properly focused.

  Further, in this exposure apparatus, a dryer 39 that blows hot air to dry the surface of the lithographic printing plate 10 is disposed at a position close to the downstream side in the transport direction from the transport rollers 12 and 14 disposed on the downstream side in the transport direction. To do.

  Next, the lithographic printing plate exposure operation in the lithographic printing plate exposure apparatus according to the first embodiment configured as described above will be described.

  In this lithographic printing plate exposure apparatus, a lithographic printing plate precursor (not shown) is supplied onto a conveyance path connected to the exposure apparatus by a supply means.

  The planographic printing plate 10 conveyed on the conveyance path is conveyed between the pair of conveyance rollers 12 and 14 arranged on the upstream side of the conveyance path and conveyed from the nozzle under the liquid shower bar 26. The jetted liquid is supplied onto the surface of the lithographic printing plate 10 to form a thin film of liquid on the surface of the lithographic printing plate 10.

  The planographic printing plate 10 is further conveyed and reaches an exposure position below the exposure auxiliary member 16. At this time, the liquid layer on the lithographic printing plate 10 is stretched by the exposure assisting member 16 so that the gap space between the lithographic printing plate 10 and the exposure assisting member 16 is filled with liquid, and air bubbles Etc. are not present.

  In this exposure apparatus, the lithographic printing plate 10 is modulated and emitted from the irradiation head 20 based on digital image information while moving and scanning in the main scanning direction from the front end to the rear end of the exposure position where the exposure auxiliary member 16 is located. The recording laser beam is reflected by the polygon mirror 22 rotated at a high speed and further reflected by the reflecting plate 24 to form an image on the image recording layer of the planographic printing plate 10 while moving and scanning in the sub-scanning direction at the exposure position. Then, exposure is performed to record a two-dimensional image (latent image).

  In this exposure apparatus, the image recording layer of the planographic printing plate 10 is covered with the liquid while the planographic printing plate 10 is transported from the exposure position where the auxiliary exposure member 16 is located to the position of the transport rollers 12 and 14 on the downstream side in the transport direction. Thus, the state of being blocked from oxygen in the air is maintained, and in the image recording layer, the radical polymerization reaction can proceed efficiently without causing inhibition of polymerization by oxygen, and the latent image can be formed by good polymerization.

  The lithographic printing plate 10 exposed at the exposure position of the exposure auxiliary member 16 in this way has its surface liquid squeezed down by the transport rollers 12 and 14, and hot air blown from the dryer 39 on the downstream side in the transport direction. And dried to the next processing step.

  The lithographic printing plate 10 on which the latent image is formed in this way is then completed as a lithographic printing plate 10 on which an image is formed by development processing. The planographic printing plate 10 on which an image has been formed in this manner is mounted on a printing machine (not shown) and used for printing.

  In this exposure apparatus, a thin liquid film is formed on the image recording layer of the lithographic printing plate 10 only within a predetermined range before and after the exposure position with respect to the lithographic printing plate 10 being conveyed on the conveyance path for conveying in the atmosphere. Since scanning exposure is performed in a state where a liquid film is formed and oxygen is blocked, the amount of liquid used for blocking oxygen during the exposure process can be reduced to a minimum necessary amount.

  In this exposure apparatus, a small amount of liquid used to block oxygen during the exposure process is circulated and used while removing dust mixed in the liquid using the filter 34 and the pump 36 of the liquid circulation system. With a very small amount of liquid, the portion necessary for the exposure process of the lithographic printing plate 10 can be reliably exposed to oxygen and satisfactorily exposed.

  In this exposure apparatus, the liquid from which dust is removed by passing through the filter 34 of the liquid circulation system is supplied to the image recording layer of the lithographic printing plate 10, so that exposure processing is performed so as not to cause image defects due to dust floating in the liquid. can do.

  In this exposure apparatus, exposure is performed by irradiating a recording laser beam from above at an exposure position on a planographic printing plate 10 that is transported in the atmosphere with the image recording layer facing upward. Since the processing can be performed, the irradiation head 20, the polygon mirror 22, the reflection plate 24, and the like constituting the exposure unit are arranged at a position higher than the liquid on the planographic printing plate 10 and the liquid shower bar 26 that causes the liquid to flow down. Even if there is a leak or a liquid leak occurs, it is possible to prevent the exposure unit from being soiled with liquid.

  Next, a second embodiment relating to an exposure apparatus and exposure tool for planographic printing plates according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the lithographic printing plate exposure apparatus according to the second embodiment, a means for supplying a liquid onto the lithographic printing plate 10 to the exposure auxiliary member 16 is integrally formed.

  In the exposure apparatus according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 3, a pair of transport rollers 12 and 14 that are nip rollers are disposed before and after the exposure position on the transport path for transporting the planographic printing plate 10 in the atmosphere. An exposure assisting member 16 having a liquid supply means, which is an exposure tool, is disposed on the exposure position of the transport path by a predetermined distance.

  The exposure assisting member 16 provided with the liquid supply means as the exposure tool is made of a material such as transparent glass or plastic. For example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a rectangular member body 16A, An end face side member 16B in the longitudinal direction, one end face member 16C in the short side direction, and a connection end member 16D for connection to the tube member 32 are provided.

  In the member main body 16A, a U-shaped liquid introduction groove 17A is formed in an end surface portion in the longitudinal direction corresponding to the upstream side in the transport direction. Further, the member main body 16A has an end portion 17B that contacts the side of the liquid guide groove 17A adjacent to the lithographic printing plate 10 side having a protruding amount that is more liquid than the end portion 17C of the liquid guide groove 17A that contacts the side separated from the planographic printing plate 10. It is formed so as to be shortened by the width of the supply opening.

  An end face formed in a rectangular parallelepiped having the same length as the longitudinal direction of the member main body 16A and the same width as the thickness of the member main body 16A is formed on the end portion 17C of the member main body 16A corresponding to the side away from the planographic printing plate 10 of the liquid introduction groove 17A. The side member 16B is fixed so as to be kept airtight.

  The end surface member 16B is fixed to one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the member main body 16A to which the end surface side member 16B is fixed so as to keep airtightness. Further, the connection end member 16D is fixed to the other end portion in the longitudinal direction of the member main body 16A fixed to the end surface side member 16B so as to keep airtightness.

  A pipe port portion of the pipe member 32 is fixed to the connection end member 16D. The connection end member 16D is configured so that the tube port of the tube member 32 having one end fixed to the connection end member 16D communicates with the liquid introduction groove 17A while being fixed to the member main body 16A.

  In the exposure assisting member 16 having the liquid supply means as the exposure tool configured as described above, the liquid introduction groove 17A communicating with the tube opening of the tube member 32 includes the end portion 17B of the member main body 16A and the end surface side member 16B. In combination with the liquid supply opening formed between the two, a liquid supply path communicating in a bowl shape is formed.

  The exposure assisting member 16, which is an exposure tool, applies an appropriate amount of liquid (here, water) fed from the tube member 32 onto the planographic printing plate 10 through the liquid supply groove 17A of the liquid supply path through the liquid supply opening. Has the ability to flow down.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the exposure apparatus for a lithographic printing plate provided with the exposure assisting member 16 that is this exposure tool, a guide roller 40 is disposed below the conveyance path that is directly below the exposure assisting member 16, The planographic printing plate 10 is configured to guide the lower side of the planographic printing plate 10.

  In the lithographic printing plate exposure apparatus provided with the exposure tool shown in FIG. 3, the image recording layer of the lithographic printing plate 10 conveyed by the conveying rollers 12 and 14 and the guide roller 40 during the exposure process. On the upper side, an appropriate amount of liquid is caused to flow substantially uniformly over the entire length in the width direction of the planographic printing plate 10 from the liquid supply opening on the upstream side in the transport direction of the exposure assisting member 16.

  Then, the liquid flowing down from the liquid supply opening of the exposure assisting member 16 is coupled between the image recording layer of the planographic printing plate 10 and the entire lower surface of the exposure assisting member 16 in combination with the transport operation of the planographic printing plate 10. Filled and filled to prevent air bubbles from entering. In the exposure assisting member 16 having the liquid supply means as the exposure tool, the liquid flows down from the liquid supply opening on the upstream side in the transport direction of the exposure assisting member 16, so that the liquid is immediately exposed to the lithographic printing plate 10 and the exposure assisting member. Since it spreads and fills quickly with the entire lower surface of the member 16, the liquid can be efficiently filled between the planographic printing plate 10 and the exposure assisting member 16 with a relatively small amount of liquid.

  At this time, the liquid supplied onto the lithographic printing plate 10 spreads between the transport rollers 12 and 14 on the upstream side in the transport direction from the exposure position and the transport rollers 12 and 14 on the downstream side in the transport direction from the exposure position. Thus, it is in a layered state due to surface tension.

  In this lithographic printing plate exposure apparatus, a digital image is emitted from the irradiation head while moving and scanning in the main scanning direction by the transport rollers 12 and 14 in a state where the liquid is filled between the exposure auxiliary member 16 and the lithographic printing plate 10. The recording laser beam modulated and emitted based on the information is reflected by a polygon mirror rotated at high speed, and further reflected by a reflecting plate 24, so that the lithographic printing is performed while moving and scanning in the sub-scanning direction at the exposure position. An image is formed on the image recording layer of the plate 10 and exposed to record a two-dimensional image (latent image).

  At this time, the image recording layer of the lithographic printing plate 10 is maintained in a state where it is covered with liquid and shielded from oxygen in the air, so that the radicals can be efficiently produced without causing polymerization inhibition by oxygen in the image recording layer. A latent image can be formed by proceeding a polymerization reaction and polymerizing well.

  Note that the configurations, operations, and effects of the second embodiment other than those described above are the same as those of the first embodiment described above, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  Next, a third embodiment of the exposure apparatus for planographic printing plates according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the exposure apparatus according to the third embodiment, the liquid is supplied onto the lithographic printing plate 10 by using the transport roller 12 closest to the upstream side in the transport direction from the exposure position on the transport path.

  Therefore, the liquid is made to flow down from the liquid shower bar 26 on the outer peripheral surface on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the vertical line passing through the center of the transport roller 12 in the transport roller 12 closest to the upstream side in the transport direction from the exposure position. To do.

  In this exposure apparatus, a flow-down guide member 15 that guides the liquid so as to flow on the average along the outer peripheral surface of the transport roller 12 closest to the upstream side in the transport direction from the exposure position is installed.

  The flow-down guide member 15 includes an arcuate guide portion 15A disposed at a predetermined interval with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the transport roller 12, and a substantially radial direction of the transport roller 12 from the upper end portion of the arc-shaped guide portion 15A. And a discharge guide portion 15C extending in parallel to the surface of the planographic printing plate 10 from the lower end portion of the arcuate guide portion 15A.

  Further, in order to receive the liquid flowing down from the liquid shower bar 26 in combination with the introduction guide portion 15B of the flow guide member 15 at a portion of the transport roller 12, a predetermined interval from the introduction guide portion 15B is provided. The auxiliary flow guide member 19 is disposed so as to extend in the tangential direction of the transport roller 12 in a state of opening and facing.

  In the exposure apparatus according to the third embodiment configured as described above, the liquid that has flowed down from the liquid shower bar 26 is received by the introduction guide portion 15B and the auxiliary flow-down guide member 19, and the outer peripheral surface of the transport roller 12 and the circular arc shape. It introduce | transduces between 15 A of guide parts, and flows between these along the outer peripheral surface of the conveyance roller 12, and guides it on the planographic printing plate 10. FIG. Thus, the liquid guided onto the lithographic printing plate 10 is guided by the discharge guide portion 15C and supplied on the average on the image recording layer of the lithographic printing plate 10, and is stored in a layered state having a predetermined thickness. Filled between the exposure auxiliary member 16 and the lower surface of the exposure auxiliary member 16, spread between the conveying rollers 12 and 14 disposed upstream and downstream in the conveying direction from the exposure position, and accumulated in a layered state by surface tension. It becomes.

  In the case of such a configuration, a space for allowing the liquid to flow down from the liquid shower bar 26 is not provided between the exposure assisting member 16 and the transport roller 12 disposed immediately upstream of the transport direction. Therefore, the exposure apparatus can be reduced in size by arranging the exposure auxiliary member 16 and the transport rollers 12 and 14 close to each other. Further, in this exposure apparatus, the flow guide member 15 is provided for the transport roller 12 from which the liquid flows down from the liquid shower bar 26, so that the liquid that has flowed back reflects and adheres to the surface of the exposure auxiliary member 16. Can be prevented.

  Since the configuration, operation, and effects of the third embodiment other than those described above are the same as those of the first embodiment described above, description thereof is omitted.

1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an exposure apparatus for a lithographic printing plate according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing, in partial cross section, an exposure apparatus for a lithographic printing plate according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the exposure apparatus for lithographic printing plates concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention in a partial cross section. It is a perspective view which takes out and shows the exposure tool used for the exposure apparatus for lithographic printing plates concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a disassembled perspective view which takes out and shows the exposure tool used for the exposure apparatus for lithographic printing plates concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the exposure apparatus for lithographic printing plates concerning 3rd Embodiment of this invention in a partial cross section. It is an enlarged schematic block diagram which takes out the principal part of the exposure apparatus for lithographic printing plates concerning 3rd Embodiment of this invention, and shows it in a partial cross section.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Planographic printing plate 12 Conveyance roller 15 Flow guide member 15A Guide part 15B Introduction guide part 15C Discharge guide part 16 Exposure auxiliary member 16A Member main body 16B End face side member 16C End face member 16D Connection end member 17A Liquid guide groove 18 Guide member 19 Guide member 26 Liquid shower bar 28 Dish member 30 Liquid circulation line 32 Pipe member 34 Filter 36 Pump 38 Heater 40 Guide roller

Claims (5)

A lithographic printing plate in which an image recording layer on which a latent image is recorded by radical photopolymerization is formed on the surface of a plate-like support is irradiated with a light beam for exposure in the absence of an oxygen blocking layer on the surface of the image recording layer. An exposure apparatus for a lithographic printing plate that carries into an exposure position to perform exposure processing,
A transport path for transporting the lithographic printing plate in gas;
An exposure assist member in which a transparent member is provided with a flat surface through which a light beam for exposure is transmitted, which is arranged with a space for interposing a liquid from the surface of the planographic printing plate conveyed to the exposure position in the conveyance path. When,
On the upstream side in the transport direction of the exposure auxiliary member on the transport path, a liquid that is inert with respect to the lithographic printing plate and can transmit the light beam for exposure is interposed between the exposure auxiliary member and the lithographic printing plate. A liquid filling means for filling,
An exposure apparatus for lithographic printing plates, comprising: 2. The exposure apparatus for a lithographic printing plate according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the exposure auxiliary member and the lithographic printing plate is set to be equal to or less than a thickness of a liquid layer formed on the lithographic printing plate. . 3. The lithographic printing according to claim 1, wherein a guide member for guiding a lower surface of the lithographic printing plate is disposed at a position corresponding to a lower side of the exposure assisting member disposed on the conveyance path. Plate exposure equipment. The liquid filling means;
A transport roller disposed on the upstream side in the transport direction closest to the exposure auxiliary member on the transport path and in contact with the planographic printing plate;
A liquid shower bar for flowing liquid to the transport roller;
The liquid that has flowed down from the liquid shower bar is received by the introduction guide portion, introduced between the outer peripheral surface of the transport roller and the arc-shaped guide portion, and flows between these to be guided onto the lithographic printing plate. A flow guide member
The exposure apparatus for lithographic printing plates according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the exposure apparatus comprises: A transparent member portion is arranged on a transported flat plate-like object through a liquid layer that shields the surface of the object to be exposed from air, and the light beam for exposure is transferred to the transparent member portion and the liquid. An exposure tool for irradiating the object to be exposed through the layer of
A liquid supply opening is disposed at a position across the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the object to be exposed at the end corresponding to the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the object to be exposed on the bottom surface of the transparent member part,
The liquid fed from the outside of the transparent member portion is supplied from the liquid supply opening through the liquid supply path between the bottom surface of the transparent portion of the exposure tool and the object to be exposed. An exposure tool characterized by the above.

Images