JPH04248566A - Plate-making device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent heat, vibration, vapor, etc., generated on a developing part from being transmitted to a plotting part, and simultaneously, to make a space for maintenance small. CONSTITUTION:A plate supplying part 12 is arranged on a side in the breadthwise direction of the plotting part 16. A development/fixation processing part 18 which carries a printing plate 14 in a direction parallel to the lengthwise direction of the plotting part 16 and carries out development processing, is arranged on the side opposite to the plate supplying part 12 and the plotting part 16. Since the plate supplying part 12 is arranged between the plotting part 16 and the development/fixation processing part 18, the heat, the vibration, the vapor, etc., generated on the development/fixation processing part 18 are not directly transmitted to the plotting part 16. On the other hand, the plotting part 16, the plate supplying part 12, and the development/fixation processing part 18 are closely arranged, so that the space for the maintenance is made small.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a plate-making apparatus, and more particularly to a direct plate-making apparatus for making a direct printing plate.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 9, a direct plate making apparatus 2 for making electrophotographic plates is conventionally used as a direct plate making apparatus for making plates for printing plates used in rotary presses for printing newspapers, etc.
There are 20. This direct plate making apparatus 220 includes a plate feeding section 224 that feeds the electrophotographic printing plate 222,
A drawing unit 226 charges the electrophotographic printing plate 222 and scans and exposes it with a laser beam while conveying it.
A developing section 228 that develops with a carrier liquid (composed of a carrier liquid and toner), a fixing section 230 that heats the electrophotographic printing plate 222 to melt and fix the toner, and a non-image area of the photoreceptor of the electrophotographic printing plate 222 is eluted. an elution part 232 that forms a positioning notch on the electrophotographic printing plate 222;
4 and a plate bending part 23 forming a folded part for hanging the plate.
6 are connected and arranged in a straight line.

The developing section 228 has a built-in conveying device driven by a motor, and the electrophotographic printing plate 222 is conveyed within the developing section 228 by this conveying device. Developing section 2
Within 28, the electrophotographic printing plate 222 is applied with a liquid developer to deposit toner on the exposed portions of the electrophotographic printing plate 222. Thereafter, unnecessary liquid developer is removed from the electrophotographic printing plate 222 by air jetted from a blower (not shown).
Furthermore, the carrier liquid adhering to the surface is evaporated by hot air from a dryer (not shown). In addition, in order to prevent unnecessary exposure of the electrophotographic printing plate 222, at least the plate feeding section 224,
The drawing section 226 and the developing section 228 are arranged in a darkroom 238.

By the way, since the developing section 228 uses a motor for driving a conveying device, a dryer, a blower, etc., vibrations generated when these motors rotate are transmitted to the adjacent drawing section 226. There is. This drawing unit 226 is equipped with precise optical components for scanning the laser beam, and due to vibrations and temperature changes,
The optical axis of the optical system may shift, and the laser beam may not be able to scan accurately, leading to a risk that the quality of the image drawn on the electrophotographic printing plate 222 may deteriorate. Furthermore, there is a possibility that the vapor of the liquid developer generated in the developing section 228 may enter the adjacent drawing section 226 and adversely affect precision parts in the drawing section.

[0005] Furthermore, since the processing sections of the plate feeding section 224, the drawing section 226, and the developing section 228 are arranged in a straight line,
A large maintenance space is required to maintain each of these processing sections.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned facts, the present invention can prevent the effects of vibrations, heat, and liquid developer vapor generated in the developing section from being applied to the drawing section. It is an object of the present invention to provide a plate-making apparatus that can reduce the maintenance space of a processing section and a developing section.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The plate making apparatus of the present invention includes a drawing section that records an image while conveying a printing plate, and a drawing section that is arranged on the side of the drawing section and that is arranged in a direction in which the printing plate is conveyed in the drawing section. a developing section that develops the printing plate while conveying the printing plate along a parallel direction; and a feeding section that is disposed between the drawing section and the developing section and transports the printing plate in the direction of the drawing section and the developing section. It is characterized by having a printing section and.

[0008]

[Operation] In the plate making apparatus of the present invention, the printing plate is conveyed to the drawing section by, for example, a conveyor device in the plate feeding section. An image is drawn on the printing plate conveyed to the drawing section while being conveyed therein. The drawn printing plate is conveyed by a plate feeding section to a developing section by, for example, a conveyor device. The printing plate conveyed to the developing section is developed while being conveyed in this developing section.

Here, in the plate making apparatus of the present invention, since the plate feeding section is arranged between the drawing section and the developing section, the influence of vibrations, heat, developer vapor, etc. generated in the developing section can be avoided. It is not directly transmitted to the drawing section. In addition, the drawing section and the developing section are parallel to each other in the conveying direction of the printing plate, and are arranged in parallel via the plate feeding section, so the installation space for the drawing section, developing section, and plate feeding section is in a straight line. It does not become long. Therefore, the space required for maintenance of the drawing section, the developing section, and the plate feeding section can be reduced.

0010

[Embodiment] [First Embodiment] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

The printing plate 14 used in this embodiment is a thin plate-shaped electrophotographic printing plate, and is made of an aluminum plate with a photoconductive photosensitive layer formed on one side. , for example, an organic conductive photoreceptor is used. This printing plate 14 has a thickness of about 0.3 mm, and its planar dimensions are 400 mm x 1100 m, which is a vertical 2-page version for newspaper printing.
It is about m.

As shown in FIG. 1, a direct plate making apparatus 10 to which the present invention is applied includes a plate feeding section 12, a drawing section 16 for recording an image on a printing plate 14, and a developing and fixing process for the printed printing plate 14. A developing and fixing processing section 18 for performing elution processing, an elution processing section 22 that performs elution processing on the fixed printing plate 14, a preparation position section 118 that positions the printing plate 14 that has been subjected to elution processing, and a printing plate 14 that has undergone elution processing. A puncher section 24 that forms a notch for positioning and a plate bending section 26 that bends the printing plate 14 for printing are provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, the drawing section 16 is connected to the printing plate 14.
, a charger 34 that charges the printing plate 14 , an exposure section 36 that draws images on the image area of the charged printing plate 14 , and clamping claws (not shown) that discharge the printing plate 14 . The conveyor table 32 can be moved in the direction of arrow A and in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2 by a drive device (not shown). Note that, on this conveyance table 32, the printing plate 14 is placed with its longitudinal direction along the conveyance direction of the conveyance table 32. A charger 34 is fixedly arranged above the drawing section 16, and this charger 34 positively charges the photoconductive photosensitive layer of the plate material 14.

An exposure section 36 is arranged on the side of the charger 34 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. The exposure section 36 is equipped with a semiconductor laser and a scanning optical system (not shown) that scans the laser beam, and irradiates the image area of the photoconductive photosensitive layer of the charged printing plate 14 with the laser beam to form an image. Perform scanning exposure.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plate supply section 12 is arranged on the side of the drawing section 16 in the direction of arrow B in FIG. A processing section 18 is arranged.

As shown in FIG. 3, the developing and fixing processing section 18 is provided with a mounting table 56 on the opposite side of the arrow A in FIG. A skid 58 is arranged. Note that the mounting table 56 is equipped with a conveyor device (not shown), which conveys the printing plate 14 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 5, as shown in FIG.

The skid 58 is provided with a trapezoidal block 62 on a flat base 60, and is movable by casters 64 attached to the base 60. A plurality of printing plates 14 are placed one on top of the other on both slopes of the trapezoidal block 62 of this skid 58 with the photoreceptor layer side facing. As shown in FIG. 4, protrusions 66 are provided at both ends of the base 60 in the direction of arrow B and in the direction opposite to arrow B in FIG. It is said to be used for

On the other hand, the plate feeding section 12 is equipped with belt conveyors 68, 70, 72 for conveying the printing plates 14, and a suction cup 74 for sucking the printing plates 14 placed on the skid 58. The belt conveyor 68 is arranged horizontally above the plate feeding section 12, and as shown by the imaginary line in FIG.
The developing and fixing processing section 18 side is lowered around the center. Further, the belt conveyors 70 and 72 are moved downwardly toward the side of the belt conveyor 68 in the direction of the arrow B in FIG.
They are arranged spaced apart in the direction and in the opposite direction of arrow A, and are shown in FIG.
The side in the direction of arrow B is inclined downward.

The suction cup 74 is disposed between the belt conveyor 70 and the belt conveyor 72, and can move forward and backward in the direction of arrow B and the opposite direction of arrow B in FIG. 3 by a drive mechanism (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 4, the suction cup 74 has a plurality of printing plates 1 placed on the skid 58 and facing the suction cup 74.
It has the role of attracting the printing plate 14 on the uppermost layer of the plate 4 and housing its lower end into the support angle 78. A separation bar 80 disposed on the developing and fixing processing section 18 side of the support angle 78 is capable of rising along the belt conveyors 70 and 72, and its lower end is the intermediate and upper end of the printing plate 14 accommodated in the support angle 78. It has the role of moving parts from skid 58 to belt conveyors 70, 72.

As shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 1, the printing plate 14 is conveyed in the direction along the arrow A direction and the counter-arrow A direction in FIG. The width dimension of the development and fixing processing section 18 (dimension in the direction of arrow B and opposite arrow B in FIG. 1) is the width dimension of the printing plate 14 (dimension 400
mm).

The developing and fixing processing section 18 includes a developing section 38, a squeezing section 40, a drying section 42, a fixing section 44, and a conveyance device (driven by a motor or the like) that conveys the printing plate 14 at a constant speed.
(not shown) is provided.

The developing section 38 is arranged upstream of the developing and fixing section 18, and applies liquid developer to the printing plate 14 to make the electrostatic latent image on the printing plate 14 visible. The liquid developer used here generally includes a carrier liquid, a colorant that forms toner particles, a polymer that provides fixation properties for the colorant, and a dispersion agent that promotes the dispersion of toner particles and works to stabilize the dispersion. It consists of a charge control agent that controls the polarity and charge amount of toner particles. Note that the development in the developing section 38 is performed by reversal development, in which the positively charged printing plate 14 is developed with toner having a positive charge. Although this example uses reversal development, it is also possible to select normal development in which the printing plate 14 is developed with toner having a negative charge.

A squeeze section 40 is arranged downstream of the developing section 38 in the conveying direction of the printing plate 14 (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1). The squeeze section 40 is equipped with a blower (not shown) that removes unnecessary liquid developer adhering to the printing plate 14 by jetting air.

On the downstream side of the squeeze unit 40 in the transport direction of the printing plate 14 (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1), the printing plate 14 from which unnecessary liquid developer has been removed is heated with hot air from a dryer (not shown). A drying section 42 for drying is arranged.

Note that the drawing section 16 and plate feeding section 12 are located upstream of the drying section 42 of the developing and fixing processing section 18 (on the side opposite to the direction of arrow A in FIG. This prevents unnecessary exposure.

A fixing section 44 is arranged downstream of the drying section 42 in the conveying direction of the printing plate 14 (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1). The fixing unit 44 includes a plurality of heating lamps (not shown) that heat and fix the toner image on the printing plate 14.

A cooling unit 46 is disposed downstream of the fixing unit 44 in the conveyance direction of the printing plate 14 (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1), and blows air to the printing plate 14 heated in the fixing unit 44 to cool it. ing.

The elution processing section 22 is disposed downstream of the cooling section 46 in the conveying direction of the printing plate 14 (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1). The elution processing section 22 includes an elution process that applies an alkaline solution to the printing plate 14 to elute the photoconductive photoreceptor layer in the non-image area of the printing plate 14 (i.e., the non-image area other than the area where the toner image is formed). section 48, squeeze section 50 for removing excess alkaline solution adhering to the printing plate 14, squeezed printing plate 1;
a water washing section 52 that washes the plate 14 with water to remove the alkaline solution; a gum solution application section 54 that applies a gum solution to the washed printing plate 14;
Drying section 114 that dries the printing plate 14 coated with gum liquid
and a conveying device (not shown) for conveying the printing plate 14.

A preparation position section 118 is arranged downstream of the elution processing section 22 in the conveyance direction of the printing plate 14 (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1), and the printing plate 14 after the elution processing is placed in this preparation position section. 118. The preparation position 118 is equipped with a conveyor device (not shown), which can convey the printing plate 14 in the opposite direction of arrow B in FIG. Note that the preparation position section 118 may be provided with a plate inspection device equipped with a CCD sensor or the like and capable of pattern recognition.

A puncher section 2 is located downstream of the preparation position section 118 in the conveying direction of the printing plate 14 (on the side opposite to the direction of arrow B in FIG. 1).
4 is placed. The puncher section 24 is equipped with a punch (not shown) that forms a hole in the printing plate 14 as a positioning part for positioning when printing the plate.

A plate bending part 26 is arranged downstream of the puncher part 24 in the conveying direction of the printing plate 14 (on the side opposite to the direction of arrow B in FIG. 1). A folding device (not shown) is provided for folding both ends to a predetermined dimension.

Note that the preparation position section 118 and the puncher section 2
4 and the width dimension of the plate bending part 26 (dimensions in the direction of arrow A and counter-arrow A in FIG. 1) are the length dimension of the printing plate 14 (dimension 1100 m).
m).

The operation of this embodiment will be explained below. First of all,
The case where the unexposed printing plate 14 is supplied from the skid 58 to the drawing section 16 will be explained.

The unexposed printing plate 14 placed against the skid 58 has its uppermost printing plate 14 suctioned by the suction plate 74, and its lower end is housed in the support angle 78. In this state, the printing plate 14 is transferred to the belt conveyors 70 and 72 by raising the separation bar 80. The belt conveyor 70 is then tilted and the belt conveyors 70, 7
2 and the belt conveyor 68 are operated, and the printing plate 14 is placed in the middle of the belt conveyor 68. Before or after this delivery, after the belt conveyor 68 is returned to a horizontal state, the printing plate 14 is transported to the transport table 32 of the drawing section 16.

As shown in FIG. 2, the conveyor table 32 on which the printing plate 14 is placed is moved to the exposure section 36 by a drive device (not shown).
direction (direction of arrow A in FIG. 2). During this movement, the photoconductive photosensitive layer 30 of the printing plate 14 on the conveyor table 32 is positively charged by the charger 34 . After being charged, the printing plate 14, which is positioned directly below the exposure unit 36 while the conveyor 32 moves in the opposite direction to the above-mentioned direction (in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 2) by a drive device (not shown), is exposed to the document emitted by the semiconductor laser. A laser beam corresponding to the image is irradiated onto the surface of the photoconductive photosensitive layer 30 . As a result, the incident area where the laser beam is incident becomes conductive, and positive charges move from the surface of the incident area of the photoconductive photosensitive layer 30, forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to image information. .

After drawing the image, the conveyance table 32 is moved by a drive device (not shown) in the opposite direction to that described above (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2) and returned to its original position. As shown in FIG. 1, the printing plate 14 processed in the drawing section 16 is ejected from the drawing section 16 to the plate supply section 12 with the end portions held by clamping claws (not shown), and then conveyed to the belt conveyor 68 of the plate supply section 12. The image is transported to the mounting table 56 of the developing and fixing processing section 18 by the following steps. The printing plate 14 conveyed to the mounting table 56 is conveyed in the direction of arrow A in FIG.
8.

In the development and fixing section 18 , the printing plate 14 is moved to a development section 38 where positively charged toner particles in a liquid developer adhere to exposed portions of the photoconductive photosensitive layer 30 . The area to which the toner particles are attached becomes lipophilic. When the printing plate 14 reaches the squeeze section 40, unnecessary liquid developer is squeezed from the printing plate 14 in the squeeze section 40, and then it is dried in a drying section 42. Furthermore, since the drawing section 16 is separated from the developing and fixing processing section 18 by the plate supplying section 12, the motors that drive the conveyance device, blower, dryer (not shown), etc. in the developing and fixing processing section 18 rotate. The generated vibrations are not directly transmitted to the drawing section 16. In addition, the vapor of the liquid developer generated in the development and fixing processing section 18 is transferred to the drawing section 16.
There is little risk of it entering.

The plate 14 that has been subjected to the development process is then transferred to the fixing section 44.
transported to. In this fixing section 44, the toner image is fixed on the printing plate 14 by heat from a heating lamp.

After fixing, the printing plate 14 is conveyed to the elution processing section 22. In the elution processing section 22, the photoconductive photoreceptor layer of the printing plate 14 to which the toner image is not attached is eluted by an alkaline solution in the elution section 48. After the elution treatment, the printing plate 14 is squeezed with an alkaline solution in a squeeze section 50. The squeezed printing plate 14 is conveyed to the washing section 52,
The alkaline solution adhering to the surface is completely removed.

When the printing plate 14 reaches the gum liquid application area 54, the printing plate 14 is coated with gum liquid to protect the surface of the non-image area. When the printing plate 14 after the gum treatment is conveyed and reaches the drying section 114, the gum liquid adhering to the printing plate 14 is dried by hot air from a dryer 116.

The printing plate 14 processed in the elution processing section 20 is
Thereafter, it is positioned in the preparation position section 118, and plate inspection work is performed.

The printing plate 14 that has been subjected to plate inspection is sent to the puncher section 24, where a punch (not shown) forms a notch for positioning during printing.

The printing plate 14 in which positioning notches have been formed by the puncher section 24 is bent at both longitudinal ends by a predetermined length by a bending device (not shown) of the plate bending section 26.

The plate making process for the printing plate 14 is thus completed. In this way, in the direct plate making apparatus 10, the drawing section 16 is separated from the developing and fixing section 18 by the plate feeding section 12, so that vibrations generated in the developing and fixing section 18 are directly transmitted to this drawing section 16. Never. therefore,
Prevents misalignment of the optical axis of precision optical components such as a semiconductor laser in the drawing section 16 and a scanning optical system (not shown) that scans the laser beam due to vibrations generated in the development and fixing processing section 18, as well as misalignment of focus. A high quality image can be drawn on the printing plate 14. Furthermore, since there is less possibility that the vapor of the liquid developer generated in the development and fixing processing section 18 will enter the drawing section 16, the scanning optical system (not shown) in the drawing section 16 is reduced.
This reduces the risk of damaging precision optical parts such as liquid developer vapor.

Furthermore, the drawing section 16 and the developing and fixing processing section 1
8 are arranged in parallel via the plate feeding section 12 and are concentrated in one place, so the space for maintaining them can be reduced. [Second Embodiment] FIG. 5 shows a direct plate making apparatus 10 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

In the direct plate making apparatus 10 of the second embodiment, a direction changing section 170 is provided between the developing and fixing processing section 18 and the elution processing section 22. As shown in FIG. 6, this direction changing unit 170 includes a plurality of cylindrical rollers 176 provided above a rotating table 174 that is rotated in the direction of arrow D in FIG. 6 by a rotating means 172 such as a motor. These rollers 176 are rotated by a motor (not shown) and can transport the printing plate 14 on the rollers 176 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the rollers 176.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, the elution processing section 22
, preparation position section 118, puncher section 24 and plate bending section 2
The width of 6 in the direction of arrow B and the direction opposite to arrow B in FIG. 5 corresponds to the longitudinal dimension of the printing plate 14 (dimension 1100 mm).

When the printing plate 14 that has undergone the elution process is transported and placed on the roller 176, the rotary table 174 is rotated in the direction of arrow D in FIG.
direction and the opposite direction of arrow B. Furthermore, the printing plate 14 is
The sheet is conveyed in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 5 by the rotation of the roller 176, and is positioned at the preparation position 118, where plate inspection work and the like are performed. Thereafter, the printing plate 14 is sent to the puncher section 24, and a notch for positioning during printing is formed by a punch (not shown). The printing plate 14 in which the notch for positioning has been formed by the puncher section 24 is bent by a not-illustrated folding device of the plate bending section 26 to a predetermined length at both ends of the printing plate 14, and the plate-making process is completed.

In the direct plate making apparatus 10 of the second embodiment, the development and fixing processing section 18 and the elution processing section 22 are separated by the direction changing section 170, so the development and fixation processing section 18 and the elution processing section 22 are The conveyance speed of the plate 14 can be changed. Further, the width of the elution processing section 22, the preparation position section 118, the puncher section 24, and the plate bending section 26 in the direction of arrow B and the direction of counter-arrow B in FIG.
100mm), it is compatible with the fixed 4-page version (
A printing plate (width 800 mm x length 1100 mm) is placed in the elution processing section 22.
It is also possible to insert the sample midway through the elution process. [Third Embodiment] FIG. 7 shows a direct plate making apparatus 10 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

In the direct plate making apparatus 10 of the third embodiment, a direction changing section 120 is arranged on the side of the developing and fixing section 18 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. This direction conversion unit 120 includes
A plurality of rollers 124 are pivotally supported on the upper part of the box-shaped mounting table 122, and these rollers 124 are rotated by a motor (not shown) to transport the printing plate 14 in the direction opposite to arrow B in FIG. An elution processing section 22, a preparation position section 118, a puncher section 24, and a plate bending section 26 are arranged in this order on the side opposite to the arrow B in FIG. 8 of this direction changing section 120. In addition,
The width of the elution processing section 22 in the third embodiment (direction of arrow A and counter-arrow A in FIG. 7) is the dimension in the longitudinal direction of the printing plate 14 (dimension 1
100mm).

[0052] The direct plate making apparatus 10 of the third embodiment has the following features:
Since it is bent at right angles in the middle, it can be installed in spaces where long dimensions cannot be accommodated.

[0053]

As explained above, since the plate-making apparatus of the present invention has the above structure, it is possible to prevent the drawing section from being influenced by vibrations, heat, and vapor of liquid developer generated in the developing section, and also to This has the excellent effect of reducing the maintenance space of the printing unit, drawing unit, and developing unit.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a layout diagram showing each processing section of a direct plate making apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the drawing unit corresponding to the bottom view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing part of a drawing section, a plate feeding section, a skid, and a developing and fixing processing section.

4 is a side view showing a drawing section, a plate feeding section, a skid, and a developing and fixing processing section corresponding to the left side view of FIG. 1; FIG.

FIG. 5 is a layout diagram of each processing section of a direct plate making apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a direction changing section of a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a layout diagram showing each processing section of a direct plate making apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a direction changing section of a third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a layout diagram showing each processing section of a conventional direct plate making apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Direct plate making equipment 12 Plate supply department 14 Printing version 16 Drawing section 38 Developing section

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A drawing section that records an image while conveying a printing plate; a developing section that develops the printing plate while conveying the printing plate along a direction parallel to the conveying direction of the printing plate in the drawing section; A plate-making apparatus comprising: a plate feeding section disposed between the drawing section and the developing section and transporting the printing plate toward the drawing section and toward the developing section.