JPH05188585A - Photosensitive planographic printing plate processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To suppress the degradation in the efficiency of removing soluble photosensitive layer components and the deterioration in liquid characteristics by supplying a washing liquid while scanning along the removing section of a removing means. CONSTITUTION:This device has a developer supplying stage for supplying an alkaline developer to the photosensitive layer surface and solubilizing the photosensitive layer of non-exposed parts and a removing stage for removing the photosensitive layer components solubilized by the removing means 22 disposed in contact with the upper surface (photosensitive later) side of a photosensitive planographic printing plate under transportation in this order. The solubilized photosensitive layer removing part is constituted with backup rolls 20 transmitted with driving power from the solubilized photosensitive layer. A scanning type washing liquid supplying means including washing supplying nozzles 52 and nozzle scanning means 55 for supplying the washing liquid and washing the removing parts while scanning along the removing parts of the removing means 22 and scraping blades 23 for removing the removed matter sticking on the peripheral surfaces of the backup rolls 20 are provided as the washing means for washing the removed matter of the solubilized photosensitive layer adhered and deposited to the removing means 22.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is a photosensitive lithographic printing method in which an alkali developing solution is supplied to an image-exposed photosensitive lithographic printing plate to dissolve and remove the non-image area photosensitive layer, and then the plate surface is washed with a rinse solution. The present invention relates to a plate processing apparatus, which relates to a photosensitive lithographic printing plate processing apparatus capable of preventing a time-dependent change in plate processing and enabling stable plate processing for a long period of time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A photosensitive lithographic printing plate (so-called PS plate) contains an actinic ray-inducing treatment liquid solubilizing substance or an actinic ray curing (crosslinking) substance on a hydrophilic support, which undergoes a chemical structure change due to actinic rays. It is widely used in the field of heavy printing where high printing durability is required. In image formation, a silver salt photographic film original on which an image has been recorded in advance is brought into close contact with the photosensitive surface of the lithographic printing plate and exposed to light, and as a result, a treatment corresponding to the cured portion or the non-image portion corresponding to the image portion in the final printed matter. After forming a liquid-solubilized portion, the non-image area photosensitive layer is dissolved and removed by an alkaline processing liquid (alkali developer), and then a cleaning liquid (rinsing liquid) is supplied to clean the plate surface, and then the protective gum is usually treated. It These processes are usually carried out using an automatic machine, but as the processing methods conventionally used in the apparatus for plate-making photosensitive lithographic printing plates, the liquid circulation reuse method described below and the new liquid disposal It is roughly divided into treatment methods and treatment method residual liquid disposal methods.

The first liquid circulation and reuse system is a system in which an excessive amount of the processing liquid is brought into contact with the plate surface, and then all the processed liquid is removed from the plate to circulate and reuse the liquid. A squeeze roll is commonly used as the squeezing liquid, but the liquid supply method is to supply the treatment liquid directly from the spray or shower onto the printing plate that is held in a roll, or through the roll and / or straightening plate. In addition to the method, JP-A-2-256
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 9 and the like, a method of dipping the printing plate in a processing liquid tank by a submerged guide roll or the like (dip method), and convectively circulating the processing liquid by a submerged shower and supplying it to the plate surface, As disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 1-160443, a printing plate is conveyed between a pair of obliquely held guide plates having a large number of protrusions on opposite surfaces, and a liquid is supplied from the upper end surface in the guide plate conveyance direction. Various application examples have heretofore been disclosed, together with a replenisher replenishing method for preventing and suppressing liquid deterioration due to multi-plate making.

A second new liquid disposal method is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
As disclosed in JP-A-2-238564, by adjusting the gap of the liquid supply slit, the wire diameter of the wire bar, etc., the minimum necessary amount is pre-measured before the processing liquid is supplied to the plate surface, and a new liquid is prepared for each plate. Is supplied and, if necessary, a treatment promoting means is applied in the treatment process, and then the treated fatigue treatment liquid is removed and discarded together with the solubilized non-image portion.

The method for discarding the final residual amount of the processing solution is, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-59957, processing within a time when alkali development does not proceed after an excessive amount of processing solution is once supplied to the plate surface. The solution is measured in a fixed amount, the excess solution is circulated and reapplied, and the measured processing solution on the plate is discarded together with the solubilized non-image area after completion of development. JP-A-63-1635
No. 3 discloses a method of recirculating and supplying the treatment liquid removed during liquid measurement to the plate front portion after the liquid measurement, in order to improve the plate-making defect at the plate front portion.

Among these methods, the liquid circulation reuse method circulates and reuses the surplus liquid, so that the amount of waste liquid can be apparently reduced, but conventionally, the non-image area photosensitive layer is dissolved and removed by the processing liquid. Almost all of it is removed from the plate into the processing solution. Therefore, even if the processing solution itself is replenished with the solution and the desired processing characteristics are retained, it contains a large amount of inflowing photosensitive layer components. In the processing liquid, the liquid tends to adhere to the inside of the tank, the liquid circulation system, the transportation part of the processing part, etc., and there are various adverse effects such as a decrease in the liquid supply amount and clogging of the holes if a spray is used as the liquid supply method. In addition, it may cause a residual film that induces printing stains due to redeposition of the photosensitive layer composition on the printing plate support. Even if the non-image area photosensitive layer is not forcibly mechanically removed in the alkaline developing section, the photosensitive layer may be washed away from the plate together with the excessive developing solution depending on the developer formulation, the liquid supply method, the developing time, etc. There was a case to do.

On the other hand, although the new liquid waste disposal method can prevent the processing fluctuation, it requires a larger amount of the processing solution than the liquid circulation reuse method, and inevitably results in a large amount of waste solution. .. Further, if the amount of liquid is reduced to supply the required minimum amount, the processing liquid may not cover the entire surface of the plate evenly, and this tendency is strongly expressed at the plate leading edge, resulting in processing defects. Become.

Therefore, the above-mentioned treatment process metering residual liquid disposal method is a treatment method which has both advantages and has advantages.
In this method, the alkali developing solution is supplied to the plate and then immediately weighed leaving the amount of the solution necessary for development, and therefore, the weighed removal solution contains almost no non-image area photosensitive layer components, and further alkali development is performed. By the minimum required supply consumption and the replenisher solution replenishment commensurate with it, the fatigue deterioration over time due to the decrease in alkalinity due to the absorption and dissolution of carbon dioxide in the air over time is suppressed, and substantially the same as the liquid disposable method. In addition, plate making can be performed almost always in a new liquid state, and it is unlikely to be affected by the passage of time like the process liquid circulation reuse method. Further, even if there is a portion where the developing solution is not supplied onto the plate, the developing solution is spread by the solution measuring tool before the start of development, so that the uneven processing is reduced.

Therefore, if the above alkali developing system is adopted,
At least the development process can be performed stably over a relatively long period of time by consuming a small amount of alkali developing solution, but a common problem with the new solution disposal method is that the solubilized photosensitive layer component is removed after development and discarded. Also, depending on the removal means and removal efficiency of the alkaline developer remaining on the plate, not only the rinsing process in the next step has a great influence, but also a factor of time may be taken into account, which may cause deterioration of the plate making and printing quality. .. In other words,
A decrease in the removal efficiency regardless of the removing means means an increase in the amount of the removed substance mixed into the treatment liquid after the next step, and the function of the circulation system is deteriorated due to the insoluble substance of the treatment liquid in the removed substance. Further, even if a difference occurs depending on the removing means, when the treating device is intermittently used over time, the adherence of the removed matter to the treating means causes mechanical destruction of the hydrophilic layer of the printing plate non-image area (that is, formation of the ink receiving portion). )
Will result in.

As the removing means, an air knife, a brush roll, a molton roll, a squeeze roll, a scraping blade, etc. are known. A considerable removal efficiency can be expected by using these inner air knives and brush rolls, but there is a possibility of reattachment due to scattering of the removed substances and dropping of the removed substances from the peripheral area. A strong adherent film is formed on the contact area, which lowers the removal efficiency and complicates roll cleaning and maintenance. The squeeze roll and the scraping blade can suppress or prevent the contamination of the peripheral part due to the drop of the removal efficiency with time and the scattering, and the scraping blade (especially the rubber blade) can be used as the squeeze roll as compared with the above three kinds of removing means. Compared with the above, the reduction of the removal efficiency due to the increase in the viscosity of the removed matter is suppressed, but the accumulation of the removed matter at the contact portion with the lower plate conveyance assisting means is still a time problem, and some means for removing the removed matter is required. Need to take.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, an alkali developing solution is supplied while a photosensitive lithographic printing plate subjected to image exposure is fed to dissolve and remove the non-image area photosensitive layer, and then the plate surface is washed with a rinse solution. The invention relates to a photosensitive lithographic printing plate processing apparatus for producing a printing plate by preventing alkaline development defects such as residual film and developing the entire surface of the plate uniformly, as well as improving the removal efficiency of the solubilized photosensitive layer component. Stable development processing can be performed over a long period of time by suppressing the deterioration and the deterioration of liquidity caused by mixing into the circulating reuse processing liquid, and the replacement frequency of the processing liquid is reduced to reduce the waste liquid and the burden of maintenance management. It is to provide a processing device that enables a process for reducing the amount of the removal. More specifically, by removing the removal material attached to the removal means used for the dissolution removal of the non-image area photosensitive layer, the removal efficiency decreases with time and plate making and Photosensitive lithographic printing to maintain printing quality And to provide a processing apparatus.

[0012]

As a result of repeated studies to solve the above problems, an alkali developing solution was supplied while the image-wise exposed photosensitive lithographic printing plate was being conveyed to dissolve and remove the non-image area photosensitive layer. After that, in a photosensitive lithographic printing plate processing apparatus for cleaning the plate surface with a rinse liquid, a developing solution supply step of supplying an alkaline developing solution to the photosensitive layer surface to solubilize the non-image area photosensitive layer, and a conveyed photosensitive material A removing step of removing the solubilized photosensitive layer component by a removing means disposed in contact with the upper surface (photosensitive layer) side of the lithographic printing plate was provided in this order, and the photosensitive lithographic printing plate passed through the removing step. After that, while supplying the cleaning liquid while scanning the cleaning liquid supply tool along the removal site of the removing means,
It was achieved by a photosensitive lithographic printing plate processing apparatus having a scanning type cleaning liquid supply means for cleaning and removing the photosensitive layer component adhering to the removed portion.

[0013]

In the processing apparatus of the present invention, in the developing solution supplying step, the alkaline developing solution is supplied to the surface of the photosensitive layer, and the alkaline developing solution consumed near the solubilized photosensitive layer and consumed due to the solubilization of the photosensitive layer is exhausted. With the intention of separating it from the one that is not relatively fatigued, preferably the alkaline developer on the plate is subsequently weighed in the developer weighing step, and the excess amount is measured by leaving the fatigued alkaline developer near the photosensitive layer interface. By circulating the removing solution to the developing solution supply step and reusing it, the removing solution can be supplied more stably than the new disposal method and the consumption of the actual alkaline developing solution can be suppressed.

The printing plate supplied with the alkali developing solution is subjected to a removing process to remove and solubilize the solubilized photosensitive layer components on the plate and the fatigued alkaline developing solution by the removing means. As a result, it is possible to prevent the solubilized photosensitive layer components from mixing into the circulating developer as well as the tired alkaline developer, and to suppress the fatigue of the circulating developer as compared with the liquid circulation reuse method.

After the removing step, the solubilized photosensitive layer component remaining on the plate is washed and removed by the rinsing liquid circulating in the next step. In the removal process, most of the solubilized photosensitive layer components are removed, so the cleaning load due to rinsing is reduced.
However, if the rinsing process is continued without changing the liquid, the photosensitive layer components and the like will be accumulated in the rinsing liquid. Therefore, after the photosensitive lithographic printing plate has passed through the removing step, the cleaning treatment liquid is supplied to the removing portion of the removing means and washed while scanning the cleaning liquid supply tool along the removing portion of the removing means. This prevents adhesion of the removed photosensitive layer components and sticking of the removed material due to intermittent use of the plate-making device, and of course, if a circulating rinse liquid is used as the cleaning liquid, the amount used for cleaning becomes an unused rinse liquid. By replenishing it by replenishing it, not only the accumulation of the photosensitive layer component in the circulating rinse solution is suppressed but also the solution used for cleaning the removing means reduces the sticking of the solubilized photosensitive layer component to the waste system.

In view of cleaning efficiency, in order to uniformly supply a minimum amount of liquid without impairing the liquid pressure, the shower tube most commonly adopted as the liquid supply system of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate processing apparatus. Then, it is necessary to narrow the discharge hole interval and reduce the hole diameter. In such a shower tube, in particular, when the processing liquid in which the removed substance such as the photosensitive layer component is mixed is supplied, the discharge hole is likely to be clogged, and when it is used as the cleaning means of the removing means, cleaning failure due to poor liquid supply is induced. In some cases, if the cleaning liquid supply means is of a scanning type, even if a part of the discharge port is clogged, the liquid can be uniformly supplied over the entire scanning length as long as the liquid is discharged.

As described above, when the photosensitive lithographic printing plate processing apparatus of the present invention is used for plate making of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate, the replenishment developer is replenished and the removed substances removed in the removing step are appropriately out of the system. Only by discarding, it is possible to perform stable plate making process for a long period of time with each processing solution and mechanism.

[0018]

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, based on the processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1,
The details of each step in the photosensitive lithographic printing plate processing apparatus according to the present invention and the action inherent or directed to them will be described. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the present description and the examples without departing from the gist of the invention.

A photosensitive lithographic printing plate (hereinafter abbreviated as a printing plate) 1 image-exposed through an exposure device (not shown) is conveyed by being sandwiched between a pair of conveying rolls in the direction of the arrow in FIG. Dissolved photosensitive layer removal waste zone (removal process)
B, rinse treatment zone C, and protective gum solution coating zone D
After that, automatic plate making is performed.

The development processing zone A comprises a developing solution supply section including a developing solution supply means for carrying out a developing solution supply step and a developing solution measuring section including a developing solution measurement means for carrying out a developing solution metering step in this order. The supply of the alkali developing solution is stored in the circulating developing solution storage tank 3 provided below these, and the developing solution measured and removed in the developing solution measuring step is circulated and supplied again to the developing solution supplying step by the circulation means. It is supposed to be done.

Printing plate 1 carried into development processing zone A
Is conveyed to the developing solution supply section by a pair of conveying rollers 10 to which a driving force is transmitted by a driving means (not shown), and is sandwiched by a developing solution supply roller 11a and a lower guide roller 11b for urging the supply of the alkaline developing solution. It is carried out to the removing step B via the solubilizing section transport guide roll 12 and the developer measuring section transport guide roll 13. The developing solution supply unit is composed of a developing solution supply roll 11a, a lower guide roll 11b, a straightening plate 28 and a developing solution supply pipe 27, which are arranged obliquely above and rearward of the conveying direction of the developing solution supply roll 11a.

Conveying roll pair 10, developing solution supplying roll 11
The a and the lower guide roll 11b have a hollow rotating shaft wound with an alkali resistant rubber having a rubber hardness of about 25 to 40 degrees, and are supported by a pair of side plates (not shown) and held by a bearing, and the upper part of the bearing is not shown. Both ends of the roll are pressed by the pressing mechanism. The current plate 28 has a hook-shaped cross section in the transport direction and is installed parallel to the developer supply roll 11a. A developing solution supply pipe 27 is arranged along this straightening plate 28, and a plurality of discharge holes are provided in the developing solution supply pipe 27 at regular intervals in the axial direction, and the straightening plate 28 is opened in the bending direction. There is. In order to make the alkali developer coating thickness uniform in the plate width direction and to make the final adjustment of the alkali developer supply amount, the gap between the liquid-flowing leading end of the straightening plate 28 and the developer supply roll 11a is set to 0.3 to. The thickness is adjusted to 1.5 mm, and the alkaline developer 16 is excessively supplied to form a pool of the alkaline developer 16 between the flow straightening plate 28 and the developer supply roll 11a.

The alkaline developing solution 16 is a circulating developing solution storage tank 3
Stored in the circulation developer storage tank 3 and branched from a conduit 110 communicating with the bottom of the circulating developer storage tank 3, and by operation of the liquid supply pump 92, a filter, a valve 102, a pipe 111, not shown,
Further, it is supplied to the rectifying plate 28 via the developing solution supply pipe 27, rectified and supplied to the printing plate 1 via the developing solution supply roll 11a. Printing plate 1 fed with alkaline developer 16 by developer supply roll 11a and conveyed
Is a non-image area photosensitive layer in the processing area from the skewer roll 17, the conveyance guide roll 12 to which the driving force is transmitted by a driving means (not shown), and the skewer roll 18 to the developer measuring section. Solubilized.

In consideration of the case where the circulating developer is deteriorated due to deterioration or the like, it is possible to normally hold it above the conveying guide roll 12 by a holding mechanism (not shown) at least at a position not in contact with the surface of the alkaline developer. The solubilization accelerator 15 is attached. As the solubilization promoting tool 15, a wire bar in which a thick wire is wound around a hollow rotating shaft at intervals can be used. When used, the plate is brought into contact with the plate surface by its own weight, and if necessary, the valve 103 is opened to open the developing solution. By supplying the alkaline developer 16 onto the plate from the supply tool 53, the solubilization of the photosensitive layer can be promoted. Solubilization accelerator 1
The same effect can be obtained by using a roll having a spiral or vertical and horizontal grooves on the sliding contact surface or a brush roll to which the driving force is transmitted by the driving means, in addition to the wire bar.

The printing plate 1 in which the solubilization of the photosensitive layer has been completed is
The developing solution measuring tool 47 and the transport guide roll 13 to which the driving force is transmitted by a driving means (not shown) reach the developing solution measuring section, which is in contact with the measuring part (sliding surface) of the developing solution measuring tool 47. With this measuring means, the excess alkaline developer remaining on the plate is weighed to a fixed amount and conveyed to the next step. The developer measuring tool 47 is rotatably supported by a pair of side plates (not shown) and held by bearings, and the rotational drive is transmitted by the transport guide rolls 13 or by sliding contact with the translating printing plate 1. The developer measuring tool 47 has a shape that makes uniform contact with the surface of the plate in all rotation directions and prevents sliding contact peeling of the solubilized photosensitive layer component during solution measurement.
A wire bar in which a wire 50 having a specific diameter is densely wound around a rotating shaft 51 is used from the viewpoints of easy adjustment of the measured liquid amount and suppression of separation and outflow of the solubilized photosensitive layer component.

A portion of the alkaline developer 16 excessively supplied in the developing solution supplying step is stored in the circulating developing solution from both ends of the printing plate 1 in the photosensitive layer swelling and solubilizing step in the developing solution metering step. It flows down to the liquid tank 3. The surplus liquid and the measuring removal liquid that have flowed down before the developing liquid measuring step have hardly undergone development processing fatigue and are reused by being circulated. A liquid guide plate 75 is disposed below the photosensitive layer solubilizing portion, and the excess alkali developer 16 that has flowed down is removed by the alkali developing solution 16 in the measuring step.
Along with the liquid guide plate 75, a circulating developer storage tank 3 is provided through a liquid drop hole 78 provided at the lowest point of the center of the liquid guide plate 75.
Alkaline developer 16 stored in the bath
And the effect of suppressing the dissolution of carbon dioxide in the air into the alkaline developer 16 and the evaporation of the volatile components of the alkaline developer, etc. A hole slightly larger than the pin 85 is opened at one end of the liquid guide plate 75, and the liquid guide plate 75 is inserted into the pin 85 and lightly fixed.

The reduced amount of plate making use of the alkaline developer 16 stored in the circulating developing solution storage tank 3 is the circulating developing solution storage tank 3.
It is sensed by a sensor (not shown) mounted therein, and is discharged from the replenisher reservoir 94 through the replenisher pump 94, the electromagnetic valve 100, and the pipe 122, and the developer metering device 47 is replenished with the developer. While being wet-washed with the liquid 19, it is made to flow down from the transport guide roll 13 and finally replenished with the liquid level in the circulating developer storage tank 3, and is mixed and provided for circulation of the developer.

The alkaline developing solution 16 stored in the circulating developing solution storage tank 3 is discharged from the bottom of the circulating developing solution storage tank 3 via the pipe line 110 by the operation of the circulation pump 93 and below the stored liquid surface. The liquid is discharged to the outlet and circulated in the circulating developer storage tank 3, and is heated to a specific temperature by the heater 70. A valve 105 is disposed at the bottom of the circulating developer storage tank 3 so as to branch from the pipe line 110. When the alkaline developer 16 or the like is discharged by liquid exchange cleaning of the circulating developer storage tank 3, When the valve 105 is opened, the removed waste liquid is discarded in the secondary storage tank 9 through the pipe 113.

Printing plate 1 carried out from the developer measuring step
Is conveyed to the solubilized photosensitive layer removal discard zone B, and the solubilized photosensitive layer component in the non-image area is removed by the removing means in the removing step. The solubilized photosensitive layer removal discard zone B is a cleaning liquid while scanning along the removing means for the solubilized photosensitive layer removing portion including the removing means for performing the removing step, and the removed substances accumulated in the removing means in the removing step. It is composed of a scanning type cleaning liquid supply means for supplying and cleaning the cleaning liquid, and a storage tank for storing the removal waste liquid.

The solubilized photosensitive layer removing section is composed of a removing means 22 for removing the solubilized photosensitive layer component and a backup roll 20 to which a driving force is transmitted by a driving means (not shown). In addition, as a cleaning unit for cleaning the solubilized photosensitive layer removed matter attached and deposited on the removing unit 22, a cleaning liquid supply nozzle for supplying a cleaning liquid while scanning along the removal site of the removing unit 22 to clean the removal site. A scanning type cleaning liquid supply unit including the nozzle 52 and the nozzle scanning unit 55, and a scraping blade 23 for removing the removed substance adhering to the peripheral surface of the backup roll 20 are attached.

A rubber blade is advantageously used as the removing means 22. The blade member has a rubber hardness of 50 to 50.
A synthetic rubber of 65 degrees is good, and at least an elastic material having a smooth contact surface with the plate is arranged along the conveyance path of the printing plate, and is brought into contact with the peripheral surface of the backup roll 20 by a blade holding mechanism (not shown) to convey. The solubilized photosensitive layer is removed by bringing the plate surface and the blade into sliding contact with each other. In addition, the backup roll 20
Is a metal roll whose surface is not deformed by the contact pressure of the removing means 22, and is a hollow roll for improving workability such as exchange cleaning. A driving force generator (not shown) for driving the backup roll 20 drives the backup roll 20 alone at a peripheral speed equal to or higher than the plate conveying speed.

A nozzle scanning means 55, which is a scanning-type cleaning liquid supply means, is fixed in parallel to the removing means 22 by a holding mechanism (not shown) in front of the removing means 22 in the conveying direction. The cleaning liquid supply nozzle 52 is fixed to the portion and the cleaning liquid supply passage 117 is connected to the cleaning liquid supply nozzle 52 so that the cleaning liquid supply nozzle 52 is reciprocally scanned in parallel with the removed portion of the removing means 22. Movable length of nozzle scanning means 55, that is, cleaning liquid supply nozzle 52
The scanning length is set to be longer than the effective removal length in the width direction of the removing means 22.

As shown in FIG. 2, the nozzle scanning means 55
Speed controllers 73 and 74 are attached to both ends of the. Compressed air is used for scanning the cleaning liquid supply nozzle 52, and the compressor 81 to the valve 123 and the pressure reducing valve 1 are used.
Compressed air is supplied to either one of both ends of the nozzle scanning means 55 via the 25, the pipe 126, and the switching valve 24. Further, the cleaning of the removing means 22 is branched from the pipe line 118 communicating with the bottom of the rinsing liquid storage tank 5 of the rinse treatment zone C, and the liquid delivery pump 95 and the electromagnetic valve 10 are branched.
By supplying the circulating rinse liquid 36 from the cleaning liquid supply nozzle 52 to the contact portion between the removing unit 22 and the backup roll 20 through the pipe 1 and the pipe 117, the removing unit 22 and the backup roll 20 can be cleaned. There is.

The control of the scanning cleaning is such that the printing plate 1 passes under the removing means 22 by the operation control means 21 from the printing plate passage detecting means (not shown) and the set conveying speed, which is in front of the conveying roll pair 10 in the conveying direction. The operation control means 21 operates the switching valve 24 a predetermined time after the trailing edge of the printing plate 1 has passed through the removing means 22, and the compressed air passes through the pipe 130 (or 131) and the scanning speed control mechanism 7 is calculated.
The cleaning liquid supply nozzle 52 mounted on the nozzle scanning means 55 is controlled to scan by speed control by 3 (or 74).

Operation control means 21 and nozzle scanning means 55
Thus, the cleaning liquid supply nozzle 52 starts scanning from both ends of the scanning. Cleaning liquid supply nozzle 5
When scanning of No. 2 is started from the scanning speed control mechanism 73 side, the nozzle 52 is scanned by the compressed air from the pipe 130 in the direction of the scanning speed control mechanism 74, and at the same time the electromagnetic valve 101 is opened to remove the removing means. Circulating rinse 36 in 22
Is being supplied. When the nozzle 52 approaches one end, the operation control means 21 switches the switching valve 24 by detecting the sensor 89, and compressed air is supplied to the nozzle scanning means 55 via the pipe 131 and the scanning speed control mechanism 74.
It is designed to scan in the opposite direction. Similarly, when the cleaning liquid supply nozzle 52 is scanned from the scanning speed control mechanism 74 side, the nozzle 52 is scanned in the direction of the scanning speed control mechanism 73 by the compressed air from the pipe 131, and when the nozzle 52 approaches one end, the sensor is detected. 88 controls the operation control means 21.
By this, the switching valve 24 is switched to perform reverse scanning. When the cleaning is completed, the cleaning liquid supply nozzle 52 is stopped at any one end of the nozzle scanning means 55, and at the same time, the electromagnetic valve 101 is opened to stop the liquid supply.

The solubilized photosensitive layer components adhering to the peripheral surface of the backup roll 20 are also removed by this washing operation, but in order to keep the backup roll 20 clean, a scraping member fixed below the backup roll 20 by a holding mechanism (not shown) is used. The cleaning blade 23 is provided, and the backup cleaning roller 20 is cleaned by scraping off the removal cleaning component that adheres to the backup roller 20, so that the adhesion of the solubilized photosensitive layer component to the back surface of the printing plate 1 is suppressed. There is. The blade member of the scraping blade 23 is the printing plate 1.
A metal thin plate such as phosphor bronze or stainless for spring material is advantageously used because it does not come into direct contact with the plate, does not damage the plate surface, and has abrasion resistance.

The removed waste liquid primary storage tank 4 is integrally molded with the circulating developer storage tank 3 and is partitioned by a process separation plate 77 which is fixed by a pin 87 and is removable. The connecting pipe 90 is detachable, the pipe head is several cm higher than the inner bottom surface of the removal waste liquid primary storage tank 4, and the valve 104 is normally opened to remove it at the solubilized photosensitive layer removing portion. The removed material is temporarily stored in the removal waste liquid primary storage tank 4 and then overflows to be discarded in the removal waste liquid secondary storage tank 9 through the connecting pipe 90, the valve 104, and the pipe 114. Is becoming

The printing plate 1 having passed through the removing means 22 is conveyed to the rinsing zone C via the roll 25. The rinse treatment zone C is provided with a circulating rinse solution storage tank 5, and above the storage tank 5, three pairs of rolls 30, 31, and 32 are arranged in order along the transport path of the printing plate 1. It is arranged. These roll pairs 30, 31, and 32 are rotatably supported by a pair of side plates (not shown) and held by bearings. Both ends of the rolls are pressed by a pressing mechanism (not shown) above the bearings and a driving means (not shown) is driven. It is designed to be rotated by force. The rinse treatment is performed by the circulating rinse liquid 36 stored in the circulating rinse liquid storage tank 5.
The first rinse zone for supplying and rinsing and the second rinse zone for supplying and rinsing an unused rinse liquid are performed.

The printing plate 1 carried out from the solubilized photosensitive layer removing and discarding zone B is nipped by the carrier roll pair 30 and carried into the first rinse zone. The first rinse zone includes a pair of conveying rolls 30 and a pair of first squeezing rolls 31, two circulating rinse liquid supply pipes 37 and 38 arranged above the pair, and two roll cleaning pipes 57 arranged below the same. 58 and a skewer roll 34.

The circulating rinse liquid supply pipes 37 and 38 and the roll cleaning pipes 57 and 58 are provided with a plurality of discharge holes at regular intervals along the axial direction.
And 38 are vertically downward, and the roll cleaning pipes 57 and 58 are opened toward the contact portions of the transport roll pair 30 and the first squeezing roll pair 31, respectively. The circulation rinse liquid supply pipes 37 and 38 are connected at one end to a pipe line 118 which is connected to the bottom portion of the circulation rinse liquid storage tank 5. The liquid supply pumps 96 and 97 are branched from the pipe 118, respectively, and the circulation rinse liquid 36 stored in the circulation rinse liquid storage tank 5 is respectively illustrated by the operation of the liquid supply pumps 96 and 97. It is adapted to be supplied to the circulating rinse liquid supply pipes 37 and 38 through a non-use filter, a valve (not shown), and pipes 115 and 116.

The circulating rinse liquid 36 is the circulating rinse liquid supply pipe 3
7 and 38 are directly supplied to the printing plate 1, so that the printing plate 1
Solubilized photosensitive layer components remaining on top and circulating rinse liquid 3
For the purpose of preventing 6 from scattering outside the first rinse zone, a cover 82 above the first rinse zone and covering the entire zone is attached and fixed by a fixing mechanism (not shown).

The printing plate 1 from which the circulating rinse liquid 36 on the plate surface has been removed by the first squeeze roll pair 31 is carried into the second rinse zone. The second rinse zone includes a plurality of spray guns 33 arranged in a row above the transport surface of the printing plate 1 in the transport direction, a skewer roll 35 disposed below the spray guns 33, a roll cleaning pipe 59, and a second squeeze roll. It is composed of a pair 32.

An unused rinsing liquid storage tank for supplying a spray gun (not shown) is arranged above the discharge hole of the spray gun 33, and the printing plate 1 includes two squeezing roll pairs 31 and 32 by the operation of a sensor (not shown). Unused rinse liquid is discharged together with compressed air for a certain period of time passing between
The solubilized photosensitive layer components and the circulating rinse liquid 36 remaining on the printing plate 1 are washed away. The rinse liquid squeezed by the second pair of squeezing rolls 32 serves as a replenisher for the circulating rinse liquid 36 as it is. In addition, a mist of the unused rinse liquid is generated during the operation of the spray gun 33, and there is a concern that it may be scattered out of the system to contaminate each part. Therefore, a shade 83 is provided in the spray gun 33, and a circulating rinse liquid storage tank 5 is provided. Is provided with removable storage tank separating plates 67 and 68 which are inserted and held in a pair of storage tank side plates (not shown).

The roll cleaning pipe 59 is provided with a plurality of discharge holes at regular intervals along the axial direction, and is opened toward the contact portion of the second squeezing roll pair 32. One end of the roll cleaning pipes 57, 58, and 59 is a circulating rinse liquid storage tank 5
The circulating rinse liquid 3 stored in the circulating rinse liquid storage tank 5 is operated by the operation of the liquid feed pumps (not shown) that are connected to the pipeline 118 that is connected to the bottom portion and are branched and connected.
6 is discharged to the transfer roll pair 30 and the squeezing rolls 31 and 32 through a filter, a valve, and a pipe (not shown), respectively, and the rear surface of the printing plate 1 (the surface opposite to the surface on which the photosensitive layer is provided) while passing through the rinse processing zone C. Alkaline developer attached to 1
6 etc. are cleaned.

The solubilized photosensitive layer component may promote foaming, and foaming easily occurs on the surface of the circulating rinse liquid storage tank 5 in the circulating rinse liquid storage tank 5. Is equipped with defoaming agent supply pipes 62, 63, 64, and 65 for promoting defoaming. Antifoam supply pipes 62, 63, 64, and 6
5, a plurality of discharge holes are provided at regular intervals along the axial direction, the defoaming agent supply pipe 62 is located at the rear in the transport direction, and the defoaming agent supply pipe 63 is located at the front and rear (two directions) in the transport direction. Foam agent supply pipe 6
The holes 4 and 65 are formed in a diagonally downward direction on the front side in the conveying direction.
The defoaming agent is stored in a defoaming agent storage tank (not shown), and the defoaming agent mixed liquid injected and mixed in a pipe line (not shown) connected to the bottom of the circulation rinse solution storage tank 5 is the defoaming agent. Supply pipe 6
2, 63, 64, and 65.

The circulating rinse liquid 36 stored in the circulating rinse liquid storage tank 5 is consumed for cleaning the removing means 22, but the unused rinse liquid is supplied from the spray gun 33 to the circulating rinse liquid storage tank 5. Therefore, in order to prevent overflow, the rinse liquid escape port 8 is provided on the side of the removed waste liquid primary storage tank 4 side.
0 is arranged so that the circulating rinse liquid of a predetermined amount or more is finally discharged to the removal waste liquid secondary storage tank 9.

A heater 7 is further provided in the circulating rinse liquid storage tank 5.
2 is arranged so that the liquid temperature of the circulating rinse liquid 36 is kept constant. Further, one end of a pipe line 118 communicates with the bottom of the circulating rinse liquid storage tank 5. This pipeline 11
A valve 106 is arranged in the middle of 8, and the circulation rinse liquid 36 in the circulation rinse liquid storage tank 5 is discharged to the removed waste liquid secondary storage tank 9 by opening the valve 106.

Printing plate 1 having passed through the second squeeze roll pair 32
The protective gum solution is applied in the protective gum solution application zone D as required, and is carried out to the next step (protective gum drying step, etc., not shown). The protective gum solution application zone D comprises a protective gum solution primary storage tank 6 and a protective gum solution supply mechanism,
The protective gum solution supply mechanism includes a liquid supply roll 40, a lower guide roll 41, a measuring roll 43, a protective gum solution supply pipe 45, and a liquid supply roll cleaning pipe 60. The liquid supply roll 40, the lower guide roll 41, and the measuring roll 43 are
The liquid supply roll 4 is pivotally supported by a pair of side plates (not shown).
Both ends of the 0 and lower guide rolls 41 are pressed by a pressure mechanism (not shown) on the upper part of the bearings, and are rotationally driven by the driving force of a driving unit (not shown) so that the printing plate 1 is conveyed. The measuring roll 43 has a peripheral surface finished to a specific roughness,
It comes in pressure contact with and is rotated and measured.

The protective gum liquid supply pipe 45 is arranged above the contact portion of the liquid supply roll 40 and the measuring roll 43, and the liquid supply roll cleaning pipe 60 is arranged above the liquid supply roll 40. The protective gum solution supply pipe 45 and the supply roll cleaning tube 60 are provided with a plurality of discharge holes at regular intervals along the axial direction, and the contact part of the liquid supply roll 40 and the measuring roll 43 below the protective gum solution supply pipe 45 vertically. In addition, the liquid supply roll cleaning pipe is opened obliquely downward and forward in the transport direction. One end of the protective gum solution supply pipe 45 is connected to a conduit 121 that communicates with the bottom of the protective gum solution storage tank 8. In the middle of this pipe 121, the liquid feed pump 9
8 is arranged, and the protective gum solution 46 in the protective gum solution storage tank 8 is supplied to the protective gum solution supply pipe 45 by the operation of the liquid sending pump. A cleaning liquid is supplied to the liquid supply roll cleaning pipe 60 from a cleaning liquid supply system (not shown), and the liquid supply roll 40, the lower guide roll 41, and the measuring roll 43 are cleaned.

At the bottom of the protective gum solution primary storage tank 6, a conduit 1 is provided.
One end of 19 is communicated. A valve 107 is arranged in the middle of the pipeline 119, and the protective gum solution 4 in the protective gum solution primary storage tank 6 is opened by opening the valve 107.
6 and the cleaning liquid are discharged to the removal waste liquid secondary storage tank 9. In addition, the protective gum solution 46 in the protective gum solution primary storage tank 6 is released by opening the valve 108 disposed in the middle of the pipe 120 branched from the pipeline communicating with the bottom of the protective gum solution primary storage tank 6 as necessary. , Protective gum solution storage tank 8
It is circulated to.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The printing plate 1 which has been image-exposed through an exposure device (not shown) is inserted into the transport roll pair 10 and then nipped by the developer supply unit developer supply roll 11a and the lower guide roll 11b. The alkaline developer 16 is supplied onto the printing plate 1. Alkaline developer 16
Is discharged from the developing solution supply pipe 27 to the rectifying plate 28, rectified by the rectifying plate 28, and supplied to the developing solution supply roll 11a. As a result, the alkaline developer 16 is uniformly supplied onto the printing plate 1, and development defects due to poor developer supply are prevented.

The printing plate 1 to which the alkaline developing solution 16 is supplied by the developing solution supply roll 11a passes through the skewer roll 17, the conveyance guide roll 12, and the skewer roll 18 and reaches the developing solution measuring section. That is, the photosensitive layer in the non-image area is solubilized while being conveyed in the solubilizing section in the photosensitive layer. In the solubilizing portion of the photosensitive layer, the alkali developing solution 16 flows over the printing plate 1 during the process of solubilizing the non-image area to further homogenize the coating film thickness of the alkali developing solution 16. Substitution of the solubilized species in the portion to be solubilized is activated, and uniform development processing can be performed over the entire surface of the printing plate 1.

The printing plate 1 on which the solubilization of the non-image area photosensitive layer has been completed reaches the developing solution measuring section composed of the developing solution measuring tool 47 and the transport guide roll 13, and comes into contact with the developing solution measuring tool 47. On the other hand, the excess alkaline developer remaining on the printing plate 1 is weighed in a fixed amount. As a result, the fatigue alkali developing solution at the interface of the photosensitive layer of the printing plate 1 is left on the printing plate 1, and the excess alkali developing solution which is not relatively fatigued is circulated to the alkali developing solution circulation system. The consumption of 16 can be suppressed.

Printing plate 1 carried out from the developer measuring step
Is conveyed to the solubilized photosensitive layer removal discard zone B, and the solubilized photosensitive layer is removed by sliding the plate surface conveyed to the removing means 22 that is pressed and contacted with the rotating backup roll 20 peripheral surface. The removed material removed in the removal step is temporarily stored in the removal waste liquid primary storage tank 4 and then discharged to the removal waste liquid secondary storage tank 9. The removed product is mainly a solubilized photosensitive layer component and a fatigue alkali developing solution having a poor development accelerating action. Therefore, poor development and alkali developing solution 16 due to performance deterioration due to incorporation into the alkali developing solution 16
It is possible to considerably suppress the increase in the replacement frequency of the.

Further, in front of the removing means 22 in the conveying direction,
A nozzle scanning unit 55 fixed in parallel to the removing unit 22 by a holding mechanism (not shown) is provided, and the cleaning liquid supply nozzle 52 is fixed to the movable portion thereof. The cleaning of the removed portion of the removing device 22 is performed by scanning the cleaning liquid supply nozzle 52 in parallel with the removing device 22 by the nozzle scanning device 55, and from the bottom of the rinse treatment zone C circulating rinse liquid storage tank 5 through the circulating rinse liquid supplying device. Cleaning liquid supply nozzle 52
The circulating rinse liquid 36 is supplied from the tip to the contact portion between the removing means 22 and the backup roll 20 to wash the removing means 22 and the backup roll 20.

As a result, the adhered deposition of the removed photosensitive layer components and the fixation due to intermittent use of the plate-making apparatus can be prevented, and the circulating rinse liquid 36 can also be exposed to light by supplementing the unused rinse liquid with the cleaning use amount. Not only the accumulation of layer components is suppressed, but also the viscous solubilized photosensitive layer components are fixed to the waste system by the circulating rinse liquid 36 used for cleaning the removal site. Further, for the scanning cleaning, the cleaning liquid is directly applied to the removed portion of the removing means corresponding to the scanning section, and the entire area can be uniformly supplied.

The printing plate 1 that has passed through the removing means 22 is conveyed to the rinse treatment zone C, is sandwiched by the pair of conveying rolls 30 and is conveyed into the first rinse zone. In the first rinse zone, the two circulating rinse liquid supply pipes 3 arranged above are arranged by the time the printing plate 1 is nipped by the first squeezing roll pair 31.
The circulating rinse solution 36 is directly discharged from 7 and 38 onto the surface of the photosensitive layer of the printing plate 1 to rinse the solubilized photosensitive layer components and the fatigue alkali developing solution slightly remaining on the printing plate 1, and at the same time, to arrange them under the same. The back surface of the printing plate 1 is also cleaned by the circulating rinse liquid 36 from the two roll cleaning pipes 57 and 58.

The printing plate 1 from which the circulating rinse liquid 36 has been removed by the first squeeze roll pair 31 is carried into the second rinsing zone, and a plurality of printing plates 1 are arranged above the printing plate 1 carrying surface in a row in the carrying direction. The spray gun 33 supplies unused rinsing liquid together with compressed air for a certain period of time during which the printing plate 1 passes between the two pairs of squeezing rolls 31 and 32, and the solubilized photosensitive layer components remaining on the printing plate 1 are removed. The contained circulating rinse liquid 36 is washed away. Even if the rinsing failure is induced in the first rinsing zone by the action of the compressed air and the unused rinsing liquid, the rinsing can be performed to the details of the surface of the printing plate 1, and the second squeezing roll pair 32 squeezes the rinsing liquid. The rinsed liquid is directly used as a replenisher for the circulating rinse liquid 36.

Printing plate 1 having passed through the second squeeze roll pair 32
In the protective gum solution application zone D, the protective gum solution is applied as required. The protective gum solution storage tank 8 is supplied to the protective gum solution supply pipe 45 and discharged by the operation of the liquid supply pump 98 connected to the conduit 121 communicating with the bottom portion of the protective gum solution storage tank 8. The liquefied protective gum liquid 46 is supplied onto the printing plate 1 and at the same time as the liquid supply roll 4
0 and the lower guide roll 41 conveys while squeezing, and carries out to a protective gum drying step (not shown).

[0060]

As described above, according to the present invention, an alkali developing solution is supplied while the photosensitive lithographic printing plate subjected to image exposure is conveyed to dissolve and remove the non-image area photosensitive layer, and then the plate surface is rinsed with a rinse solution. A photosensitive lithographic printing plate processing apparatus for washing, in which an alkali developing solution is supplied to the plate surface in a developing solution supplying step, and the alkaline developing solution flows on the plate in the photosensitive layer solubilizing step Further, it promotes the development and suppresses the development failure due to poor liquid supply, and in the solubilized photosensitive layer removing step, the removed material consisting of the solubilized photosensitive layer component and the fatigue alkali developing solution is removed from the plate by a removing means. It is characterized by removal.

As for the consumption of the alkali developing solution, the developing replenishing solution is replenished and the surplus portion not involved in the development is circulated and reused, and the fatigue alkaline developing solution is removed and discarded together with the solubilized photosensitive layer. The frequency of liquid exchange can be significantly reduced by consuming the alkaline developing solution close to the minimum required. Further, since the cleaning part of the removing means is cleaned by the scanning type cleaning means, it is possible to clean and remove the removed matter adhering to the vicinity of the removing part with a relatively small amount of cleaning liquid, and also to dispose of it together, reducing the burden of waste liquid and maintenance management. You can get the excellent effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional configuration diagram showing a photosensitive lithographic printing plate processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional configuration diagram showing a scanning type cleaning liquid supply means for scanning and discharging compressed air and cleaning liquid in the photosensitive lithographic printing plate processing device removing step.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A development processing zone B solubilized photosensitive layer removal disposal zone C rinse processing zone D protective gum solution coating zone 1 photosensitive lithographic printing plate 3 circulating developer storage tank 4 removal waste liquid primary storage tank 7 replenishment liquid storage tank 9 removal waste liquid Secondary storage tank 14 Printing plate passage detection means 16 Alkali developer 20 Backup roll 21 Operation control means 22 Removal means 36 Circulating rinse liquid 52 Cleaning liquid supply nozzle 55 Nozzle scanning means

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A photosensitive lithographic printing plate processing apparatus which conveys an image-exposed photosensitive lithographic printing plate while supplying an alkali developing solution to dissolve and remove a non-image area photosensitive layer, and then rinses the plate surface with a rinse liquid. And a developing solution supplying step of solubilizing the non-image area photosensitive layer by supplying an alkaline developing solution to the photosensitive layer surface,
The photosensitive lithographic printing plate has a removing step for removing the solubilized photosensitive layer component by a removing means disposed in contact with the upper surface side of the photosensitive lithographic printing plate, and the photosensitive lithographic printing plate passes through the removing step. After that, the photosensitive lithographic printing plate processing apparatus further comprises a scanning-type cleaning liquid supply unit that supplies the cleaning liquid while scanning along the removal site of the removal unit. 2. The photosensitive lithographic printing plate processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the removing means is a rubber blade and has a discarding step of discarding the removed material discharged in the removing step and the cleaning use liquid after cleaning. 3. A circulating rinse solution is used as a cleaning solution,
3. The photosensitive lithographic printing plate processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a circulating rinse liquid supply unit that supplies a circulating rinse liquid to the scanning type cleaning liquid supply unit.