JPH03107856A - Processing device for photosensitive planographic printing plate - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the human errors which can arise at the time of charging processing agents and to allow stable processing by providing a device for automatically charging the mother liquor of the processing agents to be repeatedly used. CONSTITUTION:Fixed delivery pumps 13a, 13b operate for a specified period of time to charge a specified volume of a developing soln. into a developing soln. tank 7 in a developing section 1 when a start switch 16 is turned on. A pump 14b then operates to circulate and stir the developing soln. in a developing soln. tank 7. A fixed delivery pump 23 operates for a specified period of time and feeds a specified volume of water into a washing tank 22 and thereafter, a pump 25 operates to circulate washing water when a start switch 16 is closed in a washing section 2. Fixed delivery pumps 34a, 34b operate for a specified period of time as well to charge a specified volume of rinsing liquid or desensitizing liquid into a rinssing gum liquid tank 33 and thereafter, a pump 36 operates to circulate and start these liquids in a rinse gum section 3. The human errors are eliminated in this way and the stable processing is executed.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a processing device for photosensitive lithographic printing plates (hereinafter referred to as "rPS plates"), and more specifically, for producing lithographic printing plates from image-exposed PS plates. The present invention relates to a device for preparing a processing liquid for a processing device used for processing.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in the process of creating a lithographic printing plate from an image-exposed PS plate using an automatic processor, the repeatedly used processing solution is manually transferred from a concentrated processing agent to the tank of the automatic processor. It has been practiced to prepare the mixture internally (mix it and store it in a designated tank). However, this method has a problem in that the quality of the finished printing plate varies due to human factors such as mixing errors.

There is also the problem of inefficiency, as workers have to do the above preparation work all the time.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

The present invention aims to solve the above technical problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a PS plate processing device that can eliminate human errors that may occur when adding a processing agent and perform stable processing. It is. Another object of the present invention is to provide a PS plate processing device that can be highly efficient by simplifying the preparation work.

[Means for solving problems]

The above object is achieved by a PS plate processing apparatus characterized by having a device for automatically charging a processing agent mother liquor that is used repeatedly. Here, "processing agent mother liquor" means a charged processing liquid used for processing.

Hereinafter, the content of the present invention will be explained in detail based on examples.

In addition, in the following drawings, the same components are given the same numbers.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an example of a processing apparatus incorporating a device for automatically charging a processing agent mother liquor according to the present invention.

In the figure, 1 is a developing section that performs development processing using a developer that is repeatedly used, 2 is a washing section that performs water washing, 3 is a rinse/gum section that performs processing with a rinsing solution or desensitization, and PS is a PS plate. Or its transportation route.

In the developing section 1, 5 is a concentrated developer tank for storing a concentrated developer, 6 is a dilution water tank for storing its diluted water, 7 is a developer tank for storing a repeatedly used developer, and 8.9 is a developer tank for storing a repeatedly used developer. A shower nozzle that supplies a repeatedly used developing solution to the plate surface 28; 10 a heater that heats the repeatedly used developing solution; 11 a liquid temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the developing solution; a heater control unit 13a that controls the operation of the heater 10 so that the temperature of the developer is adjusted to a preset temperature according to the signal;
13b is a metering pump for sending the concentrated developer in the concentrated developer tank 5 and the diluted water in the diluted water tank 6 to the developer tank 7; 14a and 14b are the shower nozzles 8 for transporting the developer in the developer tank 7; Pump to send to .9,
15 is a control unit that controls the pump 14b, the metering pumps 13a and 13b, and the heater control unit 12; 16 is the control unit 1;
5 and a start switch for operating control sections 26 and 37, which will be described later. In the figure, *l and *1 are connected by piping.

In the washing section 2, 21 is a washing water supply tank, 22 is a washing water tank for storing washing water to be repeatedly used, 23 is a metering pump for sending the water in the washing water supply tank 21 to the washing water tank 22, and 24 is a The shower nozzle 25 is a pump for sending the flush water in the flush water tank 22 to the shower nozzle 24, and 26 is a control unit that controls the pump 25 and the metering pump 23.

In the rinse/gum section 3, 31 is a concentrated rinse/gum liquid tank containing a concentrated rinse liquid or a concentrated nonfatting liquid; 32;
33 is a rinse/gum liquid tank for storing a repeatedly used rinse liquid or desensitizing liquid; 34a and 34b are concentrated liquid and diluted water tanks in the concentrated rinse/gum liquid tank 31, respectively. 35 metering pump for sending the water in 32 to the rinse gum liquid tank 33;
36 is a shower nozzle, 36 is a pump for sending the rinsing liquid or desensitizing liquid in the rinsing gum liquid tank 33 to the shower nozzle 35, and 37 is the pump 36 and metering pump 34a.
, 34b.

Next, the operation of this device will be explained.

First, the concentrated developer tank 5 is filled with a concentrated developer, the concentrated rinse/gum solution tank 31 is filled with a concentrated rinsing liquid or a concentrated desensitizing liquid, the washing water supply tank 21 and the dilution water tank 6.3.
Add water to 2 in advance.

Next, by inserting the start key 16, the metering pump L3a113b operates for a certain period of time in the developing section l, and a certain amount of developer is charged into the developer tank 7.

When the metering pumps 13a and 13b stop, the pump 14b is activated to circulate and stir the developer in the developer tank 7. At the same time, the heater control section 12 operates, and the heater 1
0 and the liquid temperature sensor 11 to adjust the temperature of the developer to a preset temperature.

In the flush section 2, when the start switch 16 is closed, the metering pump 23 operates for a certain period of time to fill the flush water tank 22 with a fixed amount of water, and then the pump 25 operates to circulate the flush water. Similarly, in the rinse/gum section 3, the metering pumps 34a, 34b are operated for a certain period of time to charge a certain amount of rinse liquid or desensitizing liquid into the rinse/gum liquid tank 33, and then the pump 36 is operated to discharge these liquids. Circulate and stir.

Therefore, the operator can prepare the automatic developing machine simply by turning on the start switch 16, and work efficiency is greatly improved.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing another example of the processing apparatus of the present invention. The figure shows only the developing section.

In this device, instead of operating metering pumps 13a and 13b for a certain period of time to charge a certain amount of developer as in the device shown in FIG. By detecting the liquid level of the developing solution and stopping the metering pumps 13a and 13b, a fixed amount of the developing solution is charged. That is, as the amount of developer charged in the developer tank 41 increases, the level of the developer changes to 70-) switch 4.
2 to stop the metering pumps 13a and 13b. The mixing ratio of the concentrated developer and the dilution water is adjusted by the ratio of the discharge amounts of the metering pumps 13a and 13b. 40 is a developing section, and 43 is a control section that controls the pump 14b, metering pumps 13a, 13b, and heater control section 12. Note that this method can also be applied to the water washing section and the rinse/gum section.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing another example of the processing apparatus used in the present invention. The figure shows only the developing section. This apparatus is characterized in that fixed amounts of concentrated developer and dilution water are measured by measuring tanks 51 and 52, respectively. That is, when the start switch 16 is turned on, the electromagnetic valves 53a and 53b open, and the concentrated developer and dilution water are injected into the measuring tanks 51 and 52, respectively. Eventually, the liquid level reaches the float switches 54a, 54b.
When pushed up, the solenoid valves 53a and 53b close, the pumps 14c and 14d operate, and the developer is charged into the developer tank 7. Note that depending on the type of pumps 14c and 14d, it is necessary to provide a solenoid valve in the piping section between them and the metering tanks 51, 52. The concentrated developer tank 5 and the measuring tank 51 are filled with concentrated developer, and the dilution water tank 6 and the measuring tank 52 are always filled with water (except when the measuring tanks 5 and 52 are used for preparation). Solenoid valve 53a,
This is preferable from the viewpoint of preventing malfunction of the float switches 53b and float switches 54a and 54b and clogging of the pumps 1.4c and 14d and various parts of the piping. 50 is a developing section, 55 is a pump 14b, 14c, 1.4d and a heater control section 1
This is a control section that performs control of step 2.

Note that this method can also be applied to the water washing section and the rinse/gum section.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing another example of the device according to the present invention. In the figure, only the main parts of the developing section are shown. A feature of this device is that the developer tank 61 also serves as a metering tank. That is, when the start switch 16 is turned on, the pump 14e is activated and the concentrated developer is supplied into the developer tank 61.

Eventually, when the liquid level of the concentrated developer pushes up the float switch 62a, the pump 14e stops (the dashed line A shows the liquid level at this time), and at the same time, the solenoid valve 63 opens and water is supplied until it pushes up the float switch 62b. (The dashed line B indicates the liquid level at this time), and the preparation work is completed.

A control section 64 controls the pumps 14b, 14e, the heater control section 12, and the electromagnetic valve 63. Note that this method can also be applied to the water washing section and the rinse/gum section.

The effects of the present invention are even greater when the charging device of the present invention is compatible with a processing agent preparation method in which a concentrated liquid is diluted with water to obtain a processing agent mother liquor. Furthermore, in the processing apparatus of the present invention, the apparatus for automatically charging the processing agent mother liquor may be built in the processing apparatus or may be installed outside the processing apparatus (automatic developing machine); It is preferable to do this from the viewpoint of simplifying the preparation work, saving space of the apparatus, etc.1゜Furthermore, the processing apparatus of the present invention automatically enters the operating state after the preparation according to the present invention has been carried out. It is preferable to have such a control mechanism from the viewpoint of simplifying the work. Furthermore, in the processing apparatus of the present invention, mixing for preparing the processing agent mother liquor is performed in the tank of the processing apparatus (automatic developing machine),
It is preferable to have a structure in which the concentrated liquid and dilution water are separately supplied into the tank from the viewpoint of downsizing the apparatus.

The PS plate treated with the processing apparatus of the present invention includes, for example, a diazo compound on an aluminum support. -PS having a photosensitive layer containing a quinonediazide compound as a photosensitive component
The processing agent includes, for example, a developing solution, washing water, rinsing solution, desensitizing solution, and the like.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, human errors that may occur when charging a processing agent mother liquor into a PS plate processing device are eliminated, and the operation of charging the processing agent mother liquor is simplified and highly efficient.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 4 are cross-sectional views showing embodiments of the present invention. 1.40.50: Developing section 2: Washing section 3: Rinse/gum section 5: Concentrated developer tank 6.32: Dilution water tank 7.41, 61: Developer tank 10: Heater ll + liquid temperature sensor 12.1 .5.26.
37.43.55.64: Control unit 1.3a, 13b,
23.34a, 34b = Metering pump 14a = 14e: Pump 16: Start switch 21: Washing water supply tank 22: Washing water tank 31: Concentrated rinse/gum liquid tank 33: Rinse/gum liquid tank

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A photosensitive lithographic printing plate processing device, comprising a device for automatically charging a processing agent mother liquor that is used repeatedly.