JPH02275457A - Method and device for photosensitive material development processing - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To coat the plate surface of a photosensitive material uniformly with a developer by metering and applying a specific amount of the developer on the plate surface of the photosensitive material, then supplying the developer to the conveyance-directional head part of the plate surface of the photosensitive material, and developing the photosensitive material. CONSTITUTION:A PS plate (photosensitive lithographic printing plate) 12 which is inserted into a development part 14 is carried almost horizontally and the wire bar 30 of a fountain wire bar 24 coats the reverse surface side of the PS plate 12 with the developer by the specific amount. When the PS plate is further conveyed, the wire bar 30 coats the top surface side with the developer by the specific amount. When the PS plate 12 which is coated with the developer has its head part positioned below the developer supply port of a developer coating device, a solenoid valve 37 is opened to supply the developer to a spray pipe 33 and the developer which is spouted out of a discharge port is supplied from a developer supply port to the head part of the PS plate 12. Consequently, the coating amount of the developer from the head part and intermediate part to the tail side of the PS plate 12 becomes uniform.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for developing a photosensitive material, in which a photosensitive material on which an image has been printed is conveyed through a developing section and developed by applying a developer.

[Prior Art] A photosensitive material on which an image has been printed (for example, a photosensitive lithographic printing plate, etc.) is transported through a photosensitive material development processing apparatus, and a developer is supplied to the plate surface for development processing.

As a method of supplying a developer onto the plate surface, there is a metering method in which a sufficient amount of developer is applied to the plate surface of a photosensitive material for development.

A wire bar or the like is arranged in the developing section of this metering-type photosensitive material development processing apparatus, and the wire bar supplies a predetermined amount of developer to the surface of the photosensitive material being conveyed through the developing section, thereby developing it. .

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above-mentioned developing method, as shown in FIG. There is a problem in that the amount of the developer is smaller than the amount of the developer, and the developer cannot be uniformly applied onto the plate surface of the photosensitive material, resulting in poor development at the leading end of the photosensitive material. This is because the developer applied to the tip is bent toward the wire bar side, reducing the amount of developer at the tip.

In consideration of the above-mentioned facts, the present invention aims to provide a method and apparatus for developing a photosensitive material that can uniformly apply a developer onto the plate surface of the photosensitive material.

[Means and effects for solving the problem] The invention as claimed in claim (1), after measuring and applying a predetermined amount of developer onto the plate surface of the photosensitive material, further applies the method to the leading end of the plate surface of the photosensitive material in the conveyance direction. It is characterized by supplying a developer to develop the photosensitive material.

According to the invention of claim (1), the developer is measured and applied onto the plate surface of the photosensitive material being transported through the developing section, and then the developer is applied to the leading end portion of the photosensitive material in the transport direction. As a result, there is no difference in the amount of developer applied to the leading end of the photosensitive material and from the middle to the trailing end, thereby preventing poor development at the leading end.

The invention of claim (2) provides a measuring and applying means for measuring and applying a predetermined amount of developer onto the plate surface of the photosensitive material, and a measuring and applying means for measuring and applying a predetermined amount of developer onto the plate surface of the photosensitive material to which the developer is supplied and applied. The developer includes a developer leading end supply means for supplying a developer to the leading end in the transport direction.

According to the invention of claim (2), a predetermined amount of developer is applied by the measuring/applying means onto the plate surface of the photosensitive material being conveyed through the developing section. Further, a developer is applied to the leading end of the photosensitive material in the transport direction by a developer leading end supplying means. As a result, there is no difference in the amount of developer applied to the leading end of the photosensitive material and from the middle to the trailing end, thereby preventing poor development at the leading end.

[Embodiment] First Embodiment FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a photosensitive material development processing apparatus 10 according to the present invention.

The photosensitive material development processing apparatus 10 includes a printing device (not shown),
A developing section 14 for developing a photosensitive lithographic printing plate (hereinafter referred to as "28 plate") 12, which is a photosensitive material with images printed on both upper and lower surfaces, and a water washing section for washing the PS plate 12 after development with water. 16, and a finishing section 18 for applying finishing liquid to the 28 plate 12. These developing section 14, washing section 16, and finishing section 18
are provided in this order, and the PS plate 12 with images printed on both upper and lower surfaces is transported and processed in a substantially horizontal direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of conveying rollers 20 is arranged on the side where the PS plate 12 is inserted into the developing section 14. The transport roller pair 20 is rotated by a driving means (not shown), the PS plate 12 is inserted between the transport roller pair 20, and the developing section 14
send it off to The developing section 14 is equipped with a drain tank 22 . The drain tank 22 is open at the top and has a substantially inverted mountain shape with the bottom central portion protruding downward.

A fountain wire par 24 is disposed above the drain tank 22 and below the transport path on the insertion side of the PS plate 12, and is supported by a pair of side plates (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 2, this fountain wire cover 24 includes a developer storage tank 28 in which a developer is stored, and a developer located above the developer storage tank 28 and stored in the developer storage tank 28. A wire purifier 30 applies the solution to the lower surface side of the PS plate 12, and a developer tank 44 collects the excess solution after coating.
It is formed by a collection tank 29 for returning to the water.

As shown in FIG.
The opening 2 has a box shape that is long along the width direction of 2, has a chevron-shaped upper part, and opens upward along the longitudinal direction.
6 is formed. Half to three quarters of the outer circumference of the wire par 30 is inserted into the opening 26.

The wire par 30 is attached to the shaft 3 as shown in FIG.
A wire 34 is spirally wound around the outer periphery of 2. This wire par 30 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 1 by the driving force of a driving means (not shown), and
23 plate 1 by attaching the developer solution in between the windings of the wire 34.
Apply to the bottom surface of 2. The amount of application is determined by the diameter of the wire 34, and the larger the diameter of the wire, the greater the amount of developer that adheres between the wires, and therefore the greater the amount of application.

Moreover, if the diameter of the wire 34 is small, the amount of coating is small. Further, the amount of coating can be set by the rotation direction and/or rotation speed of the wire par.

Also above the fountain wire par 24, the wire par 3
0 is placed. This wire par 30 is 23rd edition 12
is disposed above the conveyance path, and is positioned so as to be in contact with the upper surface of the 23rd printing plate 12 sent out from the conveyance roller pair 20.

A developer guide plate 36 having an L-shaped cross section is arranged diagonally above the wire par 30 between the upper roller of the pair of transport rollers 20 and the wire par 30. This developer guide plate 36 is arranged parallel to the wire par 30 so that one end edge of the lower side of the letter 5 shape is close to the outer periphery of the wire par 30. This developer guide plate 36 is formed long along the width direction of the 23rd printing plate 12, and the spray pipe 38 is opposed to it.

The spray pipe 38 has a plurality of discharge ports opening toward a part of the corner of the developer guide plate 36 at equal intervals along the axial direction. A conduit 40 is connected to the spray pipe 38 . This conduit 40 is branched from a conduit 42. The pipe line 42 communicates with the bottom of the developer tank 44, and a developer supply pump 46 is disposed in the middle. By the operation of this developer supply pump 46, the spray pipe 3
A developing solution is supplied to 8.

Further, a pipe line 48 branched from the pipe line 42 is connected to the developer storage tank 2.
8, and the developer is supplied from the developer tank 44 by the operation of the developer supply pump 46. The developer recovery tank 29 is connected to a pipe line 41 . This conduit 41
is in communication with the upper part of the developer tank 44.

The developer supplied to the spray pipe 38 is guided by the developer guide plate 36 and supplied to the wire parser 30, where it is set in a predetermined amount and applied onto the 28 plate 12.

On the downstream side of the wire par 30, a developer coating device 31 serving as a developer tip supply means is provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, this developer application device 31 is formed of a trailing side wall having an inclined surface and a vertical side wall. Spray pipe 3 is installed between these side walls.
3 are arranged. This spray pipe 33 is the conduit 4
A pipe line 35 branched from 2 is connected to supply the developer. Further, a solenoid valve 37 is disposed in the middle of the conduit 35. Like the spray pipe 38, the spray pipe 33 has a plurality of developer discharge ports formed at appropriate intervals along the axial direction, and discharges the developer onto the inclined surface of the downstream side wall.

The gap between the downstream side wall and the vertically formed side wall is close to each other at the lower part, and a developer supply port is formed. This developer supply port is close to the upper surface of the 23rd plate 12 being transported. It is desirable that the distance between the developer supply port and the 23rd plate 12 be as close as possible, and it is preferable that the distance be close enough that the conveyance of the 23rd plate 12 is not hindered. The developer is supplied only to the leading end of the 23rd plate 12 from this supply port.

This supply is performed by setting the time during which the leading end of the 23rd printing plate 12 is located at the lower part of the developer supply port depending on the conveyance speed of the 23rd printing plate 12 being transported. This is done by opening the solenoid valve 37 when the position is reached.

For this supply, a detector for detecting the tip of the 23rd plate 12 may be disposed in the middle of the transport path of the 23rd plate 12, and the electromagnetic valve 37 may be activated by detection by this detector.

A flower-shaped roller 39 is located at the lower part of the downstream side of the developer application device 31.
is located. This flower-shaped roller 39 is rotated by the driving force of a drive means (not shown), and supports the lower surface of the 23rd printing plate 12 being transported, thereby causing the same to be transported. In this case PS version 1
2 is coated with developer, but since it is supported by a flower-shaped roller, the contact area is small. Furthermore, a skewer-shaped roller 66 is arranged downstream of the flower-shaped roller 39. This skewer-shaped roller 66 is arranged below the conveyance path of the 23rd printing plate 12, and is sent out from the conveyance roller pair 20.
It supports the lower surface of the 28 plate 12 that is coated with a developer and transported.

A squeeze roller pair 68 is arranged between the developing section 14 and the washing section 16. Between the squeeze rollers, a 28 plate 12 is sent out from a pair of transport rollers 20 and has both upper and lower surfaces coated with a predetermined amount of developer. As a result, developer residue and excess developer adhering to the surface of the 28 plate 12 are squeezed out.

Further, one end of a pipe line 52 is communicated with the bottom of the developer tank 44 . In the middle of this pipe line 52, a circulation pump 54,
A heat exchanger 56 is arranged.

The other end is again communicated with the developer tank 44.

By the operation of the circulation pump 54, the developer in the developer tank 44 is circulated and heated to a predetermined temperature.

Further, one end of a pipe line 58 is communicated with the bottom of the drain tank 22 . A valve 60 is disposed in the middle of this conduit 58. By opening this valve 60, the developer in the drain tank 22 is discharged to the waste tank 62.

The washing section 16 is equipped with a washing tank 70, and above the washing tank 70, a pair of brush rollers 72 are arranged on the upstream side of the transport path for the 28-plate 12. These brush rollers 72 are driven by the driving force of a driving means (not shown), and the 28-plate 12
rotates in the forward direction relative to the transport direction. This rotation removes development residues (photosensitive layer swollen or dissolved by the developer) adhering to the surface of the 28 plate 12, thereby promoting development.

Further, the brush roller 72 is in contact with the upper and lower rollers of the squeeze roller pair 68, respectively. Therefore, the brush roller 72 rubs the surface of the 28 plate 12 and simultaneously rubs the surface of the squeeze roller pair 68.

A spray pipe 74 is arranged above the contact portion between the upper roller of the squeeze roller pair 68 and the upper brush roller. Also, a spray pipe 7 is installed below the contact area between the lower roller of the squeeze roller pair and the lower brush roller.
6 are arranged.

These spray pipes 74 and 76 are provided with discharge ports at regular intervals along the axial direction, and discharge the supplied washing water to the squeeze roller pair 68 and the brush roller 72.

The spray pipes 74 , 76 communicate at one end with a conduit 78 that communicates with the bottom of the washing tank 70 .

A flush water supply pump 80 and a filter 81 are disposed in the middle of this pipe 78, and the flush water supply pump 80
As a result of this operation, the flushing water 82 contained in the bottom of the flushing tank 76 is supplied to the spray pipes 74,76. The filter 81 removes developer residue washed off from the 28 plate 12 and prevents clogging of the spray holes.

Further, one end of a pipe line 84 is connected to the bottom of the washing tank 70 . A valve 86 is disposed in the middle of this pipe 84, and when the valve 86 is opened, the flush water 82 in the flush tank 70 is discharged to the waste liquid tank 88.

On the downstream side of the 28 plates 12 in the water washing section 16, a pair of conveying rollers 9 is provided.
0 is placed. The pair of transport rollers 90 are rotated by the driving force of a drive means (not shown), and nip and transport the 28 plates 12.

The finishing section 18 is equipped with a finishing tank 92. A finishing liquid 94 is stored at the bottom of the finishing tank 92 .

Two pairs of conveying rollers 96 and 98 are arranged above the finishing tank 92 along the conveying direction of the 28 plate 12. These conveyance roller pairs 96 and 98 are pivotally supported by a pair of side plates (not shown), and are rotated by the driving force of a driving means (not shown). The 28th printing plate 12 sent out from the transport roller pair 90 is inserted into the transport roller pair 96 .
8 and transported.

A spray pipe 100, 102 is arranged between the transport roller pair 96 and the transport roller pair 98. The spray pipe 100 is located above the conveyance path of the 28 plate 12, and the spray pipe 102 is located below the conveyance path. The spray pipe 100.102 has a plurality of discharge ports opening toward the conveyance roller 96.98 and are provided at equal intervals along the axial direction.The spray pipe 100.102 is -
A conduit 10 whose end communicates with the bottom of the finishing tank 92
It is connected to 4. A supply pump 106 is disposed in the middle of this conduit 104, and the operation of this supply pump 106 supplies the finishing liquid 108 in the finishing tank 92 to the spray vibrator 100, 102.

Further, one end of a conduit 110 is communicated with the bottom of the finishing tank 92. A valve 1 is located in the middle of this pipe line 110.
When the valve 112 is opened, the finishing liquid 108 in the finishing tank 92 is discharged to the waste liquid tank 114.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

The 23rd plate 12, on which images have been printed on both upper and lower surfaces by a printing device (not shown), is inserted into a pair of conveying rollers 20 and then into a developing section 14. The 23rd plate 12 inserted into the developing section 14 is conveyed substantially horizontally and sent onto the fountain wire par 24.

A predetermined amount of developer 24 is applied to the lower surface side of the 23rd printing plate 12 by the wire parr 30 of the fountain wire parr 24 .

When further conveyed, a predetermined amount of developer is applied to the upper surface side by the wire parr 30. In this case, spray vibe 3
The developer discharged from the developer guide plate 36 is guided by the developer guide plate 36 and dripped onto the wire par 30 from one lower edge of the L-shape.

Excess developer solution after coating is collected in a recovery tank 29, returned to the developer tank 44 via a pipe line 41, and is reused.

28 plate I2 coated with developer by Wire Parr 30
When the tip portion of the developer coating device is located below the developer supply port, the electromagnetic valve 37 opens, and the developer is supplied to the spray pipe 33 and discharged from the discharge port. The developer discharged from the discharge port is supplied to the tip of the 23rd plate 12 from the developer supply port. As a result, the amount of developer applied from the leading end and intermediate portion of the 23rd printing plate 12 to the downstream side becomes uniform. Therefore, it is possible to prevent poor development at the leading end of the 23rd plate 12, and to perform a good development process.

The 23rd plate 12, the tip of which has been coated with developer by the developer coating device 31, is guided by a flower-shaped roller 39 and a skewer-shaped roller 68 and further conveyed. During this conveyance, the upper and lower surfaces of the 23rd plate 12 are coated with a predetermined amount. The photosensitive layer is swollen or dissolved by the developer.

In this state, it is inserted between the pair of squeeze rollers 68, and so-called developer scum, in which the photosensitive layer is swollen or dissolved, and excess developer are squeezed out. Passed between squeeze roller pair 68 2
The third printing plate 12 is further inserted between the brush rollers 72 and rubbed on both upper and lower surfaces to remove development residue and promote development.

As described above, in this embodiment, it is possible to apply the necessary minimum amount of developer to both the upper and lower surfaces of the 23rd printing plate 12, and it is possible to reliably develop both the upper and lower surfaces.

In addition, developer debris and developer are attached to the outer peripheral surface of the squeeze roller pair 68 that squeezes developer debris and surplus developer from the 23rd plate 12 coated with developer, but the brush roller 72 is applied to the outer circumferential surface while supplying washing water. The developer scraps and excess developer are scraped off and cleaned.

Therefore, there is no need to specially clean the squeeze roller pair 68, making maintenance easier.

A developing solution is applied to both the upper and lower surfaces, and the developed 23rd plate 12 is sent out from the washing section 16 by a pair of transport rollers 90. The 23rd plate 12 sent out from the transport roller pair 90 is inserted between the transport roller pair 96. The 23rd printing plate 12 inserted into the pair of conveying rollers 96 is conveyed in a substantially horizontal direction and inserted between the pair of conveying rollers 98 . During this conveyance, finishing liquid 108 is supplied to both upper and lower surfaces of the 23rd plate 12 by spray vibrators 100 and 102. spray pipe 10
The 23rd printing plate 12 coated with the finishing liquid 108 of 0.102 is sent out of the photosensitive material processing apparatus 10 by a pair of conveying rollers 98 and conveyed to a drying apparatus (not shown).

Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be explained. As shown in FIG. A shaping roller 116 is provided. The axis of this skewer-shaped roller 116 is a spray pipe 118, and the spray pipe 1
18 is provided with a plurality of developer discharge ports at equal intervals along the axial direction. The developer discharge port is open toward the wire bar 30, and the supplied developer is exposed to the wire bar 30.
It is discharged towards.

The spray pipe 118 is a pipe line 12 branched from the pipe line 42.
0 and is connected to a developer tank 44 through a pipe line 42,
A solenoid valve 117 is disposed in the middle. The timing at which the developer is discharged to the wire parr 30 is when the tip of the 28 plate 12 being conveyed is positioned below the wire parr 30, the solenoid valve 117 is opened, and the developer is discharged. The discharge timing of this developer is set by the conveyance speed of the 28 plate 12, which is the time during which the tip of the 28 plate 12 is positioned below the wire par 30. The discharge timing of this developer is determined by disposing a detector near the wire par 30, and opening the electromagnetic valve 117 based on the result of detecting that the tip of the 28 plate 12 being conveyed is located below the wire par 30. It's okay.

According to the second embodiment, when the 28 plate 12 is positioned below the wire par 30, the solenoid valve 117 is opened and the developer is supplied to the spray pipe 118.

The developer supplied to the spray pipe 118 is discharged toward the wire par 30 from the developer discharge port. As a result, the developer is applied to the leading end of the 28 plate 12. By applying the developer to the leading edge of the 28 plate 12, there is no difference in the amount of developer applied from the front edge of the 28 plate 12 to the middle to rear edge, and the developer can be uniformly supplied to the 28 plate 12. Therefore, it is possible to prevent poor development at the leading end of the 28 plate 12, and good development processing can be performed without causing uneven development.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the inventions of claims (1) and (2), after measuring and applying a predetermined amount of developer onto the plate surface of the photosensitive material, the plate surface of the photosensitive material is further transported. Since the developing solution is supplied to the leading edge of the photosensitive material to develop the photosensitive material, it is possible to uniformly apply the developer onto the plate surface of the photosensitive material, resulting in an excellent development process. It will be done.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a first embodiment of a photosensitive material development processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a fountain ear bar, and FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a PS plate showing the state of application of a conventional developer. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Photosensitive material development processing device, 12... PS plate, 14... Developing section, 30... Wire par 33... Spray pipe, 31... Developer coating device, 116... Skewer Type roller, 118...Spray pipe.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A method for developing a photosensitive material in which a photosensitive material on which an image has been printed is conveyed through a developing section and developed by applying a developer, the method comprising measuring and applying a predetermined amount of the developer onto the plate surface of the photosensitive material. A method for developing a photosensitive material, which comprises further supplying a developer to the leading edge of the plate surface of the photosensitive material in the transport direction to develop the photosensitive material after coating. (2) A photosensitive material development processing apparatus that coats and develops a photosensitive material on which an image has been printed while conveying it through a developing section, and which measures and processes a predetermined amount of the developer onto the plate surface of the photosensitive material. It is characterized by having a measuring/applying means for coating, and a developer leading end supplying means for supplying the developer to the leading end in the transport direction of the plate surface of the photosensitive material to which the developer has been supplied by the measuring/applying means. Photosensitive material processing equipment.