JPH0348849A - Photosensitive material developing processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To apply developer to the under surface of a photosensitive material and to prevent the generation of irregularlines by supplying developer to a wire bar, arranged so as to touch at least the under surface of a photosensitive material, and rotatably applying developer controlling its quantity. CONSTITUTION:The photosensitive material such as a lithographic printing plate, which has a printed image on top and under surfaces is carried to a developer-applying part; developer in a container 30 is supplied to the wire bar 28, which is disposed below a carrying path so that the bar 28 touches the photosensitive material; the under surface of the photosensitive material is applies with developer while the bar 28 is rotated. Then, the top surface of the photosensitive material is similarly applied with the developer by the bar 28 disposed on the upper side of the carrying path. Development progresses during the carry, excessive and residual developer is squeezed out in a develop ing part, and the residual developer is removed by rinse in a rinsing part.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a photosensitive material development processing apparatus that performs development processing by applying a developer to the surface of a photosensitive material on which an image has been printed.

[Prior Art] A photosensitive material, such as a photosensitive lithographic printing plate, on which an image has been printed is conveyed within a photosensitive material development processing device, and a developer is supplied onto the plate surface for development processing.

As a supply method for supplying developer to photosensitive materials, there is a developer application method, so-called metering, in which the developer is supplied onto the plate surface, then measured to a predetermined amount using a metering device for development processing, and the developer is discarded after use. The method is JP-A No. 62-59957,
This is proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-238564.

Furthermore, as a method of supplying the developer to the photosensitive material, a method has also been proposed in which the developer is sprayed onto both the upper and lower plate surfaces using a spray pipe.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional developer application method described above, although it is possible to supply the developer to the upper surface of the photosensitive material being transported, it is not possible to supply the developer to the lower surface of the photosensitive material. The developer also fell downward due to its own weight, making it impossible to supply the developer to the bottom surface. Therefore, in the so-called metering development method, it was not possible to supply a developer to the lower surface, and therefore a photosensitive material with images printed on both sides or the lower surface could not be developed.

Furthermore, in the case of the above-mentioned spray type, since the developer cannot be sprayed uniformly onto the plate surface of the photosensitive material, there is a problem that the developer cannot be uniformly supplied onto the back side plate surface of the photosensitive material. be. If the developer cannot be uniformly supplied onto the plate surface of the photosensitive material, so-called uneven streaks occur on the plate surface of the photosensitive material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned facts, it is an object of the present invention to provide a photosensitive material development processing apparatus that can supply a predetermined amount of developer to at least the lower surface of a photosensitive material.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a photosensitive material development processing apparatus that applies a developer to the photosensitive material while conveying the photosensitive material on which an image has been printed, and processes the photosensitive material by applying a developer. a developer supply means for supplying a developer; a developer storage means for temporarily storing the developer supplied by the developer supply means; and a developer disposed in contact with at least the lower surface side of the photosensitive material and supplied from the developer storage means. The present invention is characterized by comprising a metering rotation coating means for applying the liquid onto the photosensitive material while measuring the liquid.

[Function] In the present invention having the above configuration, the developer is supplied to the developer reservoir by the developer supply means and then supplied from the developer reservoir to the metering rotary coating means.

Since the metering rotary coating means is disposed in contact with the photosensitive material being transported, it applies the developer onto the surface of the photosensitive material while metering the developer. In this case, since the developer is applied to the lower surface of the photosensitive material by the metered rotation coating means, the developer does not fall downward under its own weight.

Here, when the developer is supplied from the developer reservoir to the metered rotary coating means, the developer overflows from the developer reservoir and is supplied to the metered rotary coater.

When the developer is supplied from the developer reservoir to the metered rotary coating means, the rotary coater is disposed near the raised surface of the developer stored in the developer reservoir so that the developer is supplied to the metered rotary coater. The developer is supplied from the developer reservoir to the metering rotary coating means, and the developer is supplied to the photosensitive material.

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

The photosensitive material processing apparatus 1-0 uses a printing device (not shown) to apply a developer to a photosensitive planographic printing plate (hereinafter referred to as "28th plate") 12, which is a photosensitive material with images printed on both upper and lower surfaces. 14, a developing section 16 where the PS plate 12 is developed with a developer applied during transportation, and a PS plate 12 after development.
A washing section 18 for washing the plate 12 with water, and a finishing section 20 for applying finishing liquid to the PS plate 12.
It is equipped with These developer application section 14 and development section 1
6. A water washing section 18 and a finishing section 20 are provided in order in the photosensitive material development processing apparatus 10, and the PS plate 12 inserted into the photosensitive material development processing apparatus 10 from a pair of transport rollers 22 is shown in the first illustration (omitted). They are transported horizontally (in the six directions of arrows) and processed one after another.

A developer drainage tank 24 is provided in the developer application section 14 . The developer drain tank 24 is open at the top and has a substantially inverted mountain shape with the bottom center portion protruding downward.

A pair of transport rollers 26 is arranged above the developer drain tank 24 and on the upstream side of the transport path for the PS plate 12 . The PS plate 12 sent out from the transport roller pair 22 is inserted between the transport roller pair 26, and the PS plate 12 is transferred onto the developer drainage tank 24.
send out.

A wire parser 28 and a tub 30 are arranged below the conveyance path of the PS plate 12, which is a developer rotation coating means. Further, on the downstream side in the conveyance direction, a wire parser 28 and a tub 32 are arranged at the upper part of the conveyance path.

Wire par 28 arranged at the bottom of the conveyance path of the PS plate 12
As shown in FIG. 3, a wire 35 is spirally wound around the outer periphery of a shaft 34. This wire par 28 is connected to the drive shaft of a motor 27 via a belt 29 as shown in FIG.
7 is transmitted and rotates clockwise.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tub 30 serving as a developer storage means is formed into a box-like shape with an abbreviated cross-sectional shape and walls 30A provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction. This tub 30 is arranged so as to be inclined with respect to the horizontal so that a part of the corner is located below, and a developer storage part 30B is formed in a part of the corner to store the developer. The tip of the tub 30 is close to the outer peripheral surface of the wire par 28, and the developer stored in the developer reservoir 30B overflows from the tip and is supplied onto the wire par 28.

Furthermore, when supplying the developer from inside the developer storage section 30B to the wire par 28, by arranging the wire par 28 close to the surface of the developer in the developer storage section 30B, the surface of the developer can be transferred to the wire par 28. The developer may be supplied to the wire par by being pulled.

Also, the gap between the tip of the tub 30 and the wire par 28 is 0.1~
2.0 fight is preferred.

The developer supplied onto the wire par 28 is rotated clockwise in FIG.
It is applied to the S plate 12. The amount of application is determined by the diameter of the wire 35, and the larger the diameter of the wire 35, the larger the amount of developer that adheres between the wires 35, and therefore the amount of application.

Moreover, if the diameter of the wire 35 is small, the amount of coating is small. By changing the rotational speed of the wire par 28, that is, the rotational speed of the motor 27, the amount of developer applied can be adjusted. Furthermore, it is also possible to adjust the coating amount by reversing the direction of rotation and changing the rotation speed at the same time.

A spray vibrator 36 is arranged between the tub 30 and the transport path for the PS plate 12. The spray vibrator 36 has a plurality of discharge ports 36A opening toward a part of the corner of the tub 30 at equal intervals along the axial direction. A pipe line 40 is connected to the spray vibe 36 . This conduit 40 is a conduit '42
It is branched from. The pipe line 42 communicates with the bottom of the developer tank 44, and a developer supply pump 46 is disposed in the middle. The developer in the developer tank 44 is supplied to the spray vibe 36 by the operation of the developer supply pump 46 .

A tub 32 disposed above the conveyance path on the downstream side in the conveyance direction of the wire par 28 also has the same configuration as the tub 30, and its tip portion is disposed close to the outer peripheral surface of the wire par 28 having the same configuration. A spray vibrator 48 is also arranged above the corner of the tub 32 to face each other. This spray vibe 4
8 is in communication with the conduit 42. The developer supplied to the spray vibe 48 is supplied into the developer reservoir 32B of the tub 32, and then to the wire par 28, where it is applied onto the PS plate 12.

In addition to the developer tank 44, a developer stock tank 44A and a dilution water tank 44B are provided.
The developer stock solution and dilution water enter a mixing device 45 through pipes 42A and 42B and are mixed therein by pumps 46A and 46B, respectively. The developer stock solution and dilution water are each supplied to the mixing device 45 by pumps 46A and 46B as needed, and mixed to obtain a necessary developer. Further, the mixing device 45 includes a conduit 47
The developer tank 44 is connected to the developer tank 44 by the developer tank 44, and the developer from the mixing device 45 is supplied to the developer tank 44.

Further, one end of a conduit 58 is communicated with the bottom of the developer drainage tank 24 . A valve 60 is disposed in the middle of this conduit 58. By opening this valve 60, the developer drain tank 2
4 is discharged to a waste liquid tank 62.

Flower-shaped rollers 64 and 66 are arranged in the developing section 16. These flower-shaped rollers 64 and 66 support the PS plate 12 from below and guide it to a pair of transport rollers 67 disposed on the exit side of the developing section 16. While being guided by the flower-shaped rollers 64 and 66, the development of the PS plate 12 coated with the developer progresses.
The photosensitive layer is swollen or dissolved by the developer.

Further, a drain tank 61 is provided in the developing section 16, and one end of a pipe line 63 is communicated with the bottom of the drain tank 61. A valve 65 is arranged in the middle of this conduit 63. By opening the valve 65, the developer accumulated in the developer drain tank 61 is discharged to the waste liquid tank 59.

The water washing section 18 has a water washing p! 70 are provided.

Above this washing tank 70, a pair of conveyance rollers 72 is arranged on the upstream side of the conveyance path for the 23rd plate 12, and a pair of conveyance rollers 90 is arranged on the downstream side. These conveying roller pairs 72 and 90 are rotated by the driving force of a driving means (not shown), and the 23rd plate 12 is rotated.
is transported from the transport roller pair 72 to the transport roller pair 90.

Between the pair of conveying rollers 72 and the pair of conveying rollers 90 are 23 plates 1.
A spray pipe 74 is disposed above the conveyance path No. 2, and a spray vibrator 76 is disposed below the conveyance path. These spray vibes 74 and 76 are provided with discharge ports at equal intervals along the axial direction, and the supplied washing water is
It is discharged onto the plate surface of the plate 12.

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

A wash water supply pump 80 is disposed in the middle of this pipe 78, and when the wash water supply pump 80 operates, the wash water stored at the bottom of the wash tank 70 is supplied to the spray pipe 74.
．． 76.

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 the pipe 84, and when the valve 86 is opened, the washing water in the washing tank 70 is discharged to the waste liquid tank 88.

The finishing section 20 is equipped with a finishing tank 92. A finishing liquid is stored at the bottom of the finishing tank 92.

Above the finishing tank 92, two pairs of conveying rollers 96 and 98 are arranged along the conveying direction of the 23rd printing plate 12. These conveying roller pairs 96 and 98 are supported by a pair of side plates (not shown), and are rotated by the driving force of a driving means (not shown). The 23rd printing plate 12 sent out from the conveying roller pair 90 is inserted into the conveying roller pair 96 .
Sent to 8th.

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 transport path for the 23rd plate 12, and the spray vibrator 102 is located below the transport path. The spray vibrator 100, 102 has a plurality of discharge ports opening toward the pair of transport rollers 96, 98, and are provided at equal intervals along the axial direction. The spray vibrator 100, 102 has a pipe line 1 whose one end communicates with the bottom of the finishing tank 92.
It is connected to 04. A supply pump 106 is disposed in the middle of the conduit 104, and the operation of the supply pump 106 supplies the finishing liquid 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 112 is located in the middle of the pipe line 110.
When the valve 112 is opened, the finishing liquid in the finishing tank 92 is discharged to the waste liquid tank 114.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

The 23rd printing 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 transport rollers 22, then inserted between a pair of transport rollers 26, and then inserted into the developer coating section 14.

The 23rd plate 12 inserted into the developer applying section 14 is overflowed by the developer temporarily supplied into the developer storage section 30A of the tub 30 by the spray pipe 36, and the wire par 2
After the developing solution is once supplied to the plate 8, the developer is applied to the back side of the 23rd plate 12.

Alternatively, the developer may be supplied to the wire par 28 by pulling the developer supplied to the developer reservoir 30B to the wire par.

When the 23rd plate 12 is further conveyed, the tub 32 is pressed...
The developer supplied by the vibrator 36 is once supplied from the developer reservoir 32B of the tub 32 to the wire par 28, and then the developer is applied to the surface side of the PS plate.

The 23rd plate 12 coated with the developer in the developer application section 14 is conveyed to the development section 16 .

The 23rd plate 12 inserted into the developing section 16 is inserted into the flower-shaped opening 64.
．． At 66, the back side is supported and conveyed.

During this transportation, development progresses and the photosensitive layer of the PS plate 12 becomes swollen or soluble.

In this state, the photosensitive layer is inserted into a pair of transport rollers 67, and so-called developer scum, in which the photosensitive layer is swollen or dissolved, and excess developer are squeezed out. The PS plate 12 that has passed between the transport roller pair 67 is inserted between the transport roller pair 72 of the washing section 18 . The PS plate 12 sent out from the transport roller pair 72 is transported toward between the transport roller pair 90. During this conveyance, washing water is supplied to both the front and back surfaces by spray vibrators 74 and 76 to remove development residue. Washing water is squeezed from the PS plate 12 in this state by a pair of transport rollers 90.

The PS plate 12 sent out from the transport roller pair 90 is inserted between the transport roller pair 96. The PS plate 12 inserted into the transport roller pair 96 is transported in a substantially horizontal direction and inserted between the transport roller pair 98. During this conveyance, finishing liquid 108 is supplied to both upper and lower surfaces of the PS plate 12 by spray vibrators 100 and 102. spray pipe 100
．． The PS plate 12 coated with the Finitsinda liquid by the roller pair 98 is transferred to the photosensitive material processing device 1 by
0 and transported to a drying device (not shown).

In this example, the wire bar 2 is used as the metering rotation coating means.
8 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the roller may have grooves on its outer peripheral surface, and the amount of developer supplied to the PS plate 12 can be adjusted depending on the size of the grooves. The metering rotation coating means may be any type of metering rotation coating means that can be used, or any other type of metering rotation coating means may be used as long as it can apply a predetermined amount of the developer onto the surface of the PS plate 12.

In addition, the viscosity of the developer used in this example is 2 to 500C.
P is used.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the developer is supplied from the developer storage means to the metered rotation coating means by overflowing, and the metered rotation coating means is brought close to the surface of the developer so that the developer is metered and rotated. Although an example has been shown in which the material is supplied by being pulled to the coating means, the present invention is not limited to this, and other methods of supply may be used.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, in the present invention, the developer supplied by the developer supply means is supplied to the measuring rotary coating means through the developer storage means, and this lightweight rotary coating means coats at least one of the photosensitive materials. The developing solution can be uniformly applied to the lower surface side, and an excellent effect is obtained in that no streaks occur on the plate surface.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a photosensitive material processing apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of FIG. 1 showing the relationship between the tub and the wire bar, and FIG. It is a perspective view showing the relationship with a wire bar. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Photosensitive material development processing device, 12... Photosensitive lithographic printing plate (PS plate), 14... Developer application part, 28... Twin bar 30.32... Bucket, 30B, 32B. ...Developer storage section, 36.48...Spray pipe.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A photosensitive material development processing apparatus that applies a developer to and processes a photosensitive material on which an image has been printed while conveying it, comprising a developer supplying means for supplying the developer and a developer supplying means for supplying the developer. A developer storage means for temporarily storing the supplied developer is disposed in contact with at least the lower surface side of the photosensitive material, and the developer supplied from the developer storage means is applied onto the photosensitive material while being measured. 1. A photosensitive material development processing apparatus comprising: a metering rotary coating means.