JPH0580498A - Continuous plate making device for photosensitive resin plate - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To efficiently transport photosensitive resin plates having elasticity between respective processing stages and to shorten the time required for plate making of one sheet of the photosensitive resin plate relating to the continuous plate making device which processes the photosensitive resin plates continuously from developing to post exposing. CONSTITUTION:This continuous plate making device is juxtaposed with at least a developing section 10, a drying section 30 and a post exposing section 40 in a horizontal direction and has a transporting device 3 which transports the photosensitive resin plates between the respective sections at a high speed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a continuous plate making apparatus for a photosensitive resin plate, which conveys a photosensitive resin plate having a print pattern exposed in the horizontal direction while continuously passing it through a developing section or the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to a continuous plate-making apparatus for a photosensitive resin plate, which requires a short total time for all the processes for one photosensitive resin plate and can process a plurality of photosensitive resin plates at a high speed one after another. Is.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Photosensitive resin plates having elasticity have begun to be used as printing plates. However, photosensitive resin plates having elasticity are excellent in terms of operability, productivity and economic efficiency. Has greatly contributed to the expansion of application. In the above-mentioned photosensitive resin plate, the unexposed resin portion was removed by using a developer (hereinafter also referred to as a washout liquid), the plate surface was purified with a washout liquid or wash water, and the washout liquid or wash water was drained. After drying. The entire surface (including the projections and recesses) of the photosensitive resin plate having the irregularities thus formed is completely cured by post-exposure to finish it into a printing plate.

Therefore, it is necessary that the plate making apparatus for carrying out the above-mentioned processing comprises at least a developing section, a drying section and a post-exposure section, and preferably a purifying section. The developing unit may be an air jet type, a washing liquid spray type, a brush type, or the like, and the most suitable one is selected according to the type and size of the photosensitive resin plate. In the purifying section, a washing liquid or tap water is flown or sprayed on the plate surface to purify the plate surface, and after cleaning, a device for draining the washing liquid or tap water with a sponge or high pressure air is also used. Further, a hot air jet type is generally used as the drying unit, and a unit provided with a UV lamp or the like is used in the post-exposure unit according to the material of the photosensitive resin plate.

[0004]

In the conventional continuous plate making apparatus, the developing section, the (cleaning section), the drying section and the post-exposure section are provided along the conveying direction of the photosensitive resin material, and each section is connected by the conveying apparatus. Then, the transport device is configured to perform processing in each part while the photosensitive resin plate is traveling at a low speed at a constant speed.

However, since the conveying speed of the photosensitive resin plate must be determined with reference to the part having the longest processing time among the above-mentioned parts, it takes more time than necessary to pass the other parts. There is a problem in that the total time for processing one photosensitive resin plate is long and it is not efficient.

[0006] Further, in order to prevent the respective treatments from adversely affecting each other, the above-mentioned respective portions are arranged at appropriate intervals, so that the plate surface of the photosensitive resin plate is exposed to the air for a long time. As a result, the possibility of dust and dirt adhering to the plate surface increases, and plate-making defects are likely to occur.

Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to enable a single photosensitive resin plate to be efficiently passed through from a developing process to a post-exposure process in a short time, and a plurality of photosensitive resin plates can be processed in parallel in an apparatus. It is to provide a continuous plate-making device capable of processing.

[0008]

The present invention, which has achieved the above object, is a continuous plate making apparatus for a photosensitive resin plate in which at least a developing section, a drying section and a post-exposure section are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a transport device for transporting the photosensitive resin plate at a high speed while stopping or transporting the photosensitive resin plate at a low speed. It should be noted that the present invention also includes a purification unit for high-speed transportation or a purification unit for stopped or low-speed transportation between the phenomenon unit and the drying unit.

[0009]

FUNCTION AND EXAMPLE FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing a typical example of a continuous plate making apparatus according to the present invention. The continuous plate-making device 2 includes a developing section 10, a purifying section 20, and a drying section 30 from left to right in the figure.
Also, the post-exposure unit 40 is provided, and the configuration itself of each unit is the publicly known one described in the above section, but of course, various improved designs can be added. Further, a conveying device 3 for connecting the respective parts in the horizontal direction and sequentially transferring the photosensitive resin plate 1 to the respective parts is provided so as to pass through the respective parts 10, 20, 30, 40. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a transport path showing an example in which chains 3a and 3b are used as a transport device. The photosensitive resin plate has one side on the front side detachably attached to a rod-shaped fixture, and both ends of the rod-shaped fixture are detachable. A pair of chains 3a provided facing each other
The photosensitive resin plate is configured to be transferred in the direction of arrow S by being locked between the guide tools 38 provided at appropriate positions. A plate-shaped, mesh-shaped or rod-shaped photosensitive resin plate transfer guide is provided along the traveling path of the chain between the pair of chains provided facing each other.

That is, the chain 3a has guides 9b, 9 ...
And the drive sprocket 9c are stretched so as to span the endless track, and a part of the drive sprocket 9c is in contact with the standby loading table 4 for the photosensitive resin plate, and from there, the developing section 10 (along the bottom of the developing tank 11 in FIG. It is configured to move) and pass through the drying unit 30. An electric motor 6a is connected to the drive sprocket 9c via a speed reducer 5, and the electric motor 6a and the speed reducer 5 are controlled by a controller 7. Further, it is preferable that the chain 3a in the developing section 10 is configured to smoothly reach the bottom of the developing tank 11 through the curved chain guides 8, 8 so that the developing section can be protected without damaging the plate surface of the photosensitive resin plate. It can be carried in and out. Further, a drying unit 30 is provided at a position downstream of the developing unit 10 with a certain distance.

It is preferable that the speed reducer 5 uses a double clutch 51 as shown in FIG. 3, and the output of the electric motor 6a is directly transmitted to the chain 3a through the double clutch 51. Mode and output of the electric motor 6a via the speed reducer 52 to the double clutch 51
It is recommended to switch and use the low speed operation mode for transmitting to the chain 3a.

On the other hand, the other chain 9b has guides 9a, 9 ...
And the drive sprocket 9d are laid in infinite track,
The drive sprocket 9d is turned on and off by the control device 7.
It is connected to the FF-controlled electric motor 6b. Further, the chains 3a and 3b are provided with guides 9a and 9b so as to overlap each other, and a transfer rod 39 provided on the chain 3b (both ends of the fixing tool for fixing the photosensitive resin plate is removed from the guide tool 38 of the chain 3a). Then, the photosensitive resin plate is transferred from the chain 3a to the chain 3b by moving the fixing member into the post-exposure unit 40 and stopping it at a fixed position.
And carry out to the carry-out path Op.

Using the carrier device 3 having the above-mentioned structure,
An operation example when the photosensitive resin plate 1A set in the carry-in section W is processed in the continuous plate making apparatus 2 will be described in detail below. First, the plate 1A stands by at the end of the carry-in table 4, and is guided to the developing unit 10 by being locked by a guide tool 38 provided on a part of the chain 3a by the high speed movement of the chain 3a. Then, after the plate 1 is introduced into a fixed position in the developing section 10, the chain 3a is switched to a low speed operation by a command of the control device 7, and the unexposed portion is removed by the brush device 13 in the developing tank 11. Be done. When the plate 1A is introduced, the photosensitive resin plate 1B which has undergone the developing process in the developing section 10 is transferred to the drying section 30 which is the next step. That is, the horizontal distance of the transport section T ₂ formed between the developing section 10 and the drying section 40 is the same as the distance of the transport section T ₁ formed between the developing section 10 and the carry-in section W. And the guide tools 38, 38 provided on the chain 3a at the same pitch as this length.
The photosensitive resin plate can be surely transferred at high speed to the developing unit 10 and the drying unit 40 via. The low speed operation of the chain 3a is necessary because the brush device 13 is provided.
When changing the developing unit 10 to, for example, another developing solution injection type, the low speed operation may be changed to a stop operation or an intermittent operation.

Further, a cleaning section 20 is provided in the transport section T _2, and a cleaning liquid and / or tap water is jetted by an injector 21 to wash the plate surface while the plate 1B is passing therethrough. In addition, it is desirable that the plate is pressed from above and below by the water-draining rolls 22 formed of foamed resin or rubber material to perform the water-draining treatment of the plate. The passing speed of the purifying unit 20 is not limited at all.

Before carrying out the high-speed conveyance by the chain 3a, the photosensitive resin plate 1c in the drying section 30 is transferred to the post-exposure section 40 by the transfer rod 39 of the chain 3b. That is, since the carrier device 3 uses the chains 3a and 3b of two systems, these are controlled by the controller 7
Control timing by and make it work together. Incidentally transport unit T ₃ can be made shorter than the other conveying section T _1, T _2. This is because the transport system path by the chain 3b is not directly connected to the transport system path by the chain 3a, so that the transfer position of the plate 1 may be displaced even if the high-speed transport section by the chain 3a is not formed on the chain 3b side. Because there is no. Therefore, in the example of FIG.
The conveyance system path of a may be further divided into two or more, and a driving source may be provided for each to independently convey the plate at high speed while controlling the processing timing of each section. As a transport system path of the chain, it is also possible to connect the respective sections with transport sections at equal intervals.

Further, the photosensitive resin plate 1D which has been subjected to the post-exposure processing in the post-exposure section 40 is transferred from the post-exposure section 40 to the carry-out section Op by driving the chain 3b. Although a chain is used as the means for conveying the photosensitive resin plate in the above embodiment, the conveying means is not limited to this, and a pair of conveying rollers as shown in FIG.
35, 35 ... And a plate-shaped setter 36 may be used, or a mesh-shaped or flat-belt-shaped endless belt (not shown) may be used.

(Example 1) A2 size photosensitive resin plate (Cosmolite manufactured by Toyobo Co., Ltd.) was conveyed at a high speed (1800 mm / min) and a low speed (1.5 mm) by the apparatus of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. / min) treatment experiment was performed. The horizontal length of each process unit is 600 mm, and the transport units T ₁ and T ₂ are
The length was 500 mm and T ₃ was 150 mm, and the high-speed conveyance was cycled for 15 seconds and the low-speed conveyance was cycled for 780 seconds. At this time, the plate-making time required for the entire process from loading to unloading was 40 minutes per photosensitive resin plate.

On the other hand, in order to process each part at a constant speed by the conventional apparatus, it is necessary to set the conveying speed to 35 mm / min, and the plate-making time required to process one plate in all steps is about 55. It was found that it took about 40% more time than the embodiment of the present invention.

Further, in the apparatus of the present invention, since the processing in each part is applied to the photosensitive resin plate moving at a low speed, there is no occurrence of processing unevenness.

As the photosensitive resin plate applied to the apparatus of the present invention, for example, a polyamide photosensitive resin containing polyvinyl as an essential component which dissolves or swells in water, an alkaline aqueous solution or an alcohol washout solution, polyvinyl alcohol is essential. Polyvinyl alcohol-based photosensitive resin as a component, polyester-based photosensitive resin as a low molecular unsaturated group-containing polyester as an essential component, acrylic photosensitive resin as an acrylic low molecular weight polymer as an essential component, and polyurethane as an essential component Polyurethane-based photosensitive resin and the like.

Recently, as a photosensitive flexographic plate, one which can be developed in an aqueous washout solution has been proposed in view of toxicity and safety, and a conjugated diene hydrocarbon and an α, β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or The salt as an essential component, those containing a copolymer containing a monoolefinic unsaturated compound in it, a conjugated diene hydrocarbon polymer, or a conjugated diene hydrocarbon and a monoolefinic unsaturated compound Photosensitive elastomer composition containing copolymer, hydrophilic polymer, non-gaseous ethylenically unsaturated compound, α, β
-A hydrophobic oligomer having an ethylenically unsaturated group, an elastomer, a substance containing a water-swelling substance, and the like. It should be noted that in each of these, a photopolymerizable unsaturated monomer, a photosensitizer, and the like are added to impart photocurability.

[0022]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION Since the present invention is constituted as described above, it is possible to shorten the plate-making processing time per photosensitive resin plate, and moreover, to process a plurality of plates in parallel in the apparatus. You can also do it. In addition, since the transportation time in the non-processed portion is short, it is less likely that dust or dirt will adhere during transportation, and it is possible to prevent a plate making defect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall explanatory view showing an embodiment of a continuous plate making apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an example of a carrying device used in the device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a speed reducer used in the device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective explanatory view showing another conveying means of the conveying device applied to the device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,1A to 1D Photosensitive resin plate 3 Conveying device 3a, 3b Chain 6a, 6b Electric motor 10 Developing unit 20 Purifying unit 30 Drying unit 40 Post-exposure unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A continuous plate making apparatus for a photosensitive resin plate in which at least a developing section, a drying section and a post-exposure section are arranged in parallel in a horizontal direction, wherein the photosensitive resin plate is stopped or conveyed at a low speed in each section, A continuous plate making apparatus for a photosensitive resin plate, characterized in that it is provided with a conveying device for conveying the photosensitive resin plate at a high speed between the above respective parts. 2. A purifying unit for washing and draining the photosensitive resin plate is provided between the developing unit and the drying unit, and the purifying unit is also configured to be stopped or conveyed at a low speed. A continuous plate-making apparatus for the photosensitive resin plate as described in 1.