JPH08262740A - Planographic printing plate processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a planographic printing plate processor which prevents the degradation in a device function and enables stable processing over a long period of time. CONSTITUTION: This planographic printing plate processor is constituted to scrap off dissolved or solubilized non-image part image forming layer components by a blade 44 after supplying an alkaline processing liquid 6 to a planographic printing plate 1. The processor described above has at least a sensor 40 which detects the printing plate 1 during transportation, a backup roll 14 which exists approximately perpendicularly below the blade 44 and assists the transportation of the printing plate 1, a blade attaching and detaching means which makes the blade 44 freely movable to the position in contact or without contact with the back up roll 14 and a control section which operates this blade attaching and detaching means in accordance with the signal from the sensor 40.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lithographic printing plate processing apparatus for producing a printing plate by supplying an alkaline processing liquid to an image forming surface of a lithographic printing plate to dissolve and remove a non-image portion, and a plate making defect is generated. The present invention relates to a lithographic printing plate processing apparatus capable of performing stable quality processing over a long period of time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Non-image area alkali removal type lithographic printing plates are
By forming an ink-receptive image forming layer on a hydrophilic support, the relative alkali solubility of the part corresponding to the non-image part to the part corresponding to the image part in the final printed matter is changed by an operation such as image exposure. By this, the non-image area image forming layer is dissolved by the alkaline processing liquid, and a cleaning liquid (rinsing liquid)
Is supplied to clean the plate surface, and then a protective gum treatment is usually performed. These treatments are usually carried out using an automatic machine, but as the treatment method conventionally adopted in the apparatus for plate-making treatment of these planographic printing plates, there are a liquid circulation reuse method, a new liquid disposable treatment method, and a treatment process. It is roughly divided into the measurement residual liquid disposal method.

The first liquid circulation / 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 processing liquid containing the dissolved non-image area is removed from the plate for recycling and reuse.
As a liquid supply method, in addition to a method of directly supplying a treatment liquid from a sprayer or a shower onto a printing plate which is nipped by a roll and conveyed, or through a roll, a straightening plate or the like, JP-A-2-
As disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2569, etc., a method in which a printing plate is curvedly dipped (dip method) by a submerged guide roll or the like in a processing liquid tank in which a processing liquid is convected by a submerged shower or a brush, and the method is actually disclosed. As disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 160443/160443, a printing plate is conveyed between a pair of obliquely held guide plates having a large number of projections on opposite surfaces and liquid is supplied from the upper end face in the guide plate conveyance direction. Various application examples have heretofore been disclosed together with a replenisher replenishing method for suppressing the deterioration of liquidity due to the above.

The second new liquid disposable processing system supplies the processing liquid to the plate surface by adjusting the gap of the liquid supply slit, the wire diameter of the wire bar, etc., as disclosed in JP-A-62-238564. Prior to this, the minimum required amount was pre-weighed and a new solution was supplied for each plate, and if necessary, a treatment promoting means was applied during the treatment process, and the treated fatigue-treated solution was removed together with the dissolved non-image area. It is a method of discarding.

The method for discarding the residual liquid in the final processing step is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 5-78826 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-19540. In this method, the measured removal solution is circulated and reused, and the processing solution on the plate after the measurement is discarded together with the dissolved non-image part components after the processing is completed.
In order to improve the plate-making defect at the plate front part, the publication discloses a system in which after the liquid is measured, the processing liquid removed at the time of liquid measurement is circulated and re-supplied to the plate front part.

Among these methods, the liquid circulation reuse method circulates and reuses the surplus liquid, so that the apparent amount of waste liquid is small, but the processing liquid gradually increases due to the accumulation of non-image part components in the circulating processing liquid according to plate making. Fatigue and eventually causes processing failure. In addition, even though the circulating liquid itself retains the desired processing characteristics by replenishing the circulating processing liquid, if the processing liquid contains a large amount of inflowing image forming layer components, the liquid circulating system or the in-tank transport system is used. In addition to various adverse effects such as a decrease in the liquid supply amount and clogging of the liquid discharge holes of the liquid supply spray, printing is also possible due to the redeposition of image forming layer components on the printing plate support. It may result in a residual film that attracts dirt.

On the other hand, the new liquid disposable processing system can prevent the process fluctuation due to the repeated use of the processing liquid, but on the other hand, it requires a larger amount of the processing liquid as compared with the liquid circulation reuse system, and inevitably a large amount of waste liquid. Will result. Also, if the amount of liquid is reduced to supply the required minimum amount, unevenness in the supply of the treatment liquid is sometimes not evenly covered by the treatment liquid, and this tendency is strongly expressed at the top of the plate. It becomes a processing defect.

Therefore, the above-mentioned treatment process residual liquid disposal method is a treatment method which solves both drawbacks and has advantages.
In this method, since the alkaline processing liquid removed by measurement is not involved in the dissolution of the non-image area, it is circulated and reused, and by supplementing the circulating liquid with the replenishing liquid, substantially the same as the liquid disposable system. Platemaking can be performed almost always in a new liquid state, and it is unlikely to be affected by the passage of time like the processing liquid circulation reuse method. Further, since the treatment liquid is excessively supplied onto the plate, and the treatment liquid is disturbed on the plate at least once by measuring the liquid, there is no treatment defect due to unevenness of liquid supply as compared with the new liquid disposable treatment method.

[0009] Therefore, if the above treatment method is adopted, it can be stably performed for a relatively long period of time by consuming a small amount of alkaline treatment liquid, but as a problem common to the new liquid disposable treatment method, it is removed and discarded after the alkali treatment. Depending on the efficiency of removal of the dissolved image forming layer components and the alkaline processing liquid remaining on the plate, it not only has a great effect on the processing of the next step, but speeds up the liquid exchange, and if time factors are taken into consideration, plate making and printed products It could even lead to a drop in rank. In other words, a decrease in the removal efficiency of the non-image area causes an increase in the amount of the removed material mixed into the processing liquid after the next step, resulting in a decrease in the performance of the processing liquid. Also,
Even if a difference occurs depending on the removing means, the intermittent use of the processing device over time promotes the adherence of the removed material to the removing means, resulting in troubles on the device.

[0010]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a planographic printing plate processing apparatus for producing a printing plate by supplying an alkaline processing liquid to an image forming surface of a planographic printing plate to dissolve and remove non-image areas, and to provide a removing means. It is an object of the present invention to provide a lithographic printing plate processing apparatus capable of preventing non-image area removal efficiency by preventing the adhered and accumulated debris from being adhered, and performing stable processing over a long period without the occurrence of plate making defects.

[0011]

As a result of repeated studies for solving the above problems, the inventors have found that the following invention can be achieved. That is, the first invention is a planographic printing plate in which an alkaline processing liquid is supplied to the plate surface of the printing plate while the planographic printing plate is being conveyed, and then the dissolved or solubilized non-image area image forming layer component is scraped off by a blade. A printing plate processing apparatus, at least a sensor for detecting a printing plate being conveyed,
A backup roll that is located substantially vertically below the blade to assist the conveyance of the printing plate, a blade attachment / detachment unit that allows the blade to move to a non-contact position or a contact position with respect to the backup roll, and blade attachment / detachment based on a signal from a sensor. A planographic printing plate processing apparatus having a control unit for operating the means.

According to a second invention, the blade attaching / detaching means is
A blade support part having a rotation shaft that is rotatable around the blade support part that supports the blade, a bearing part that supports the rotation shaft, and a rotation position where the blade rotates the support part in contact with the backup roll. It is characterized in that it has means that can be fixed at the rotational position, a control unit that controls the rotating operation, and a unit that rotates the rotating shaft according to a signal from the control unit.

According to a third invention, the blade attaching / detaching means is
It is characterized in that it has a blade support part for supporting the blade and means for connecting to the blade support part and being vertically movable.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the control section of the processing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects of the invention, the blade attaching / detaching means is operated after a certain period of time when the head of the lithographic printing plate passes the blade to set the contact position. It is characterized in that the rear end of the lithographic printing plate is controlled to be in a non-contact position after a certain time passes.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is the control section of the processing apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, in which the trailing edge of the lithographic printing plate is kept constant after the blade has passed the blade for a certain period of time and has reached the non-contact position. It is characterized in that control is performed to carry out the number of blades detaching / attaching operations.

[0016]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the alkaline processing liquid is supplied to the printing plate image forming surface by the alkaline processing liquid supply mechanism in the alkaline processing liquid supplying step, and the image dissolved in the non-image area removing step The forming layer component and the alkaline processing liquid on the plate are scraped off by a blade which is a non-image area removing means, and the blade-removed material is preferably discarded. As a means for removing the dissolved non-image area image forming layer component, the blade is more excellent in removability than other general removing means, but if curling or the like of the plate material causes a conveyance failure, or the removed material is a blade. If it remains on the scraping site, the scraping efficiency will decrease and the removed material will be transferred to the next plate.
Rinsing failure is likely to occur. Therefore, by the blade attaching / detaching means, the blade is attached / detached to / from the backup roll in a non-contact position or a contact position on the basis of a signal from the sensor associated with the passage of the plate material. The adhered removed matter can be removed, the removal efficiency of the removed matter is reduced, and scraping failure such as retransfer of the removed matter is prevented, and stable plate making is possible for a long period of time.

According to the second aspect of the invention, it is possible to fix the blade at any rotation position around the blade support portion that supports the blade, and the blade attachment / detachment is controlled by the rotation operation.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the blade supporting portion for supporting the blade can be moved up and down, and the blade attachment / detachment is controlled by the vertical movement.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, the leading edge of the lithographic printing plate is moved to the contact position by operating the blade attaching / detaching means after a certain period of time after passing the blade, and the trailing edge of the lithographic printing plate is set to the non-contact position after a certain period of passing. Since the control is performed, the leading edge of the lithographic printing plate can be prevented from being defectively conveyed due to being caught by the blade, and the abrasion due to the blade coming into contact with the backup roll can be reduced, which can suppress the occurrence of scraping failure caused by the abrasion. .

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, since the rear end of the lithographic printing plate is moved to the non-contact position after a certain period of time after passing through the blade, the blade attaching / detaching operation is carried out for a certain number of times, so that the removal of the adhering to the blade is eliminated. In order to promote the detachment of objects,
It can be reliably removed. Further, as the number of times of blade attaching / detaching operations increases, the removed matter removal efficiency becomes higher.

[0021]

【Example】

Embodiment 1 Hereinafter, based on the processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1, each step in the planographic printing plate processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described, and the details of the action possessed or aimed at will be described. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the present description and examples as long as the gist thereof is not exceeded.

An image-formed lithographic printing plate (hereinafter abbreviated as printing plate) 1 provided with an image portion which is a resist in an alkaline processing liquid through an image forming apparatus (not shown) is conveyed in the direction of arrow in FIG. The non-image portion is removed through the alkaline treatment liquid supplying step and the non-image portion removing step, and the plate is further subjected to a rinse treatment step and a protective gum solution coating / drying step (not shown).

The alkaline processing liquid supply step comprises an alkaline processing liquid supply unit comprising a processing liquid supply mechanism including a processing liquid supply means for supplying the alkaline processing liquid in accordance with a transfer process, and a processing liquid for measuring the alkaline processing liquid. The alkaline processing liquid metering unit including the metering means is arranged in this order. The alkaline processing liquid is supplied from the circulating alkaline processing liquid storage tank 3 provided below these, and the excess alkaline processing liquid measured and removed by the alkaline processing liquid supply unit is supplied to the processing liquid. The circulation means constituting the mechanism is circulated and supplied again to the treatment liquid supply means.

The printing plate 1 is conveyed to an alkaline treatment liquid supply section by a conveying means (not shown), and an alkaline treatment liquid supply roll 10a and a lower guide roll 10b for promoting the supply of the alkaline treatment liquid, and a pair of other alkaline treatment liquid supply rolls. It is sandwiched by 11a and the lower guide roll 11b, and is carried out to the non-image part removing step via the alkaline processing liquid metering part transport guide roll 12. The alkaline processing liquid supply unit includes alkaline processing liquid supply rolls 10a and 11
a, the lower guide rolls 10b and 11b, and the straightening plates 41 and 42 disposed obliquely above and backward of the conveying of the alkaline processing liquid supply rolls 10a and 11a, and the alkaline processing liquid supply pipes 30 and 31 as the processing liquid supply means. Has been done.

Alkaline treatment liquid supply rolls 10a and 1
The 1a and the lower guide rolls 10b and 11b are supported by a pair of side plates (not shown) and supported by bearings, and both ends of the rolls are pressed by a pressing mechanism (not shown) above the bearings. The straightening vanes 41 and 42 have hook-like cross sections in the transport direction and are installed parallel to the alkaline supply rolls 10a and 11a. Alkaline treatment liquid supply pipes 30 and 31 are arranged along the straightening plates 41 and 42, and a plurality of discharge holes are provided in the alkaline treatment liquid supply pipes 30 and 31 in the axial direction at regular intervals. And 4
It is opened in the direction opposite to the opening of No. 2. In order to make the alkaline treatment liquid coating thickness uniform in the plate width direction and to make the final adjustment of the alkaline treatment liquid supply amount, the liquid flow-down front ends of the straightening plates 41 and 42 and the alkaline treatment liquid supply rolls 10a and 11a, respectively. The gap is adjusted to 0.3 to 1.5 mm, and the alkaline treatment liquid 6 is excessively supplied to the rectifying plate 41.
And 42, and alkaline processing liquid supply rolls 10a and 1
A liquid pool is formed between 1a and 1a.

The alkaline treatment liquid 6 is stored in the circulating alkaline treatment liquid storage tank 3, is branched from a pipe line 88 communicating with the bottom of the circulating alkaline treatment liquid storage tank 3, and is operated by the liquid feed pump 70. Filter (not shown), piping 8
2, the valves 50 and 51, and the alkaline processing liquid supply pipes 30 and 31 to supply the current to the rectifying plates 41 and 42, respectively, to be rectified and supplied to the printing plate 1 through the alkaline processing liquid supply rolls 10a and 11a. It has become. Printing plate 1 to which alkaline processing liquid 6 is supplied and conveyed by alkaline processing liquid supply rolls 10a and 11a
Is a non-image area image formation in the processing area from the lower guide rolls 10b and 11b to which the driving force is transmitted by a driving means (not shown) and the skewered rolls 20 and 21 to the alkaline processing liquid measuring unit. The layers are set to dissolve.

The printing plate 1 in which the dissolution of the non-image area image forming layer has been completed is composed of a liquid measuring tool 25 as a processing liquid measuring means and a transport guide roll 12 to which a driving force is transmitted by a driving means (not shown). When reaching the alkaline treatment liquid measuring section, the excessive alkaline treatment liquid on the plate is weighed to a constant amount on the plate while being in contact with the liquid measuring tool 25, and is conveyed to the next step. The liquid measuring tool 25 is rotatably supported by a pair of side plates (not shown) and held by bearings, and rotational drive is transmitted by the transport guide rolls 12 or by sliding contact with the translation printing plate 1. Liquid measuring tool 2
No. 5 has a shape that makes uniform contact with the plate surface in all rotation directions and prevents the peeling of the dissolved image forming layer components from sliding contact during liquid measurement. A wire bar is preferably used because of its simplicity, liquid measurement accuracy, and the like.

A part of the alkaline processing liquid 6 which is excessively supplied in the alkaline processing liquid supplying step is discharged from both ends of the printing plate 1 in the process of dissolving the non-image area image forming layer to the alkaline processing liquid measuring section. It flows down to the circulating alkaline treatment liquid storage tank 3. The surplus liquid and the measured removal liquid that have flowed down before the liquid measurement hardly undergoes alkaline treatment fatigue, and are mixed with the stored alkaline treatment liquid 6 and circulated for reuse.

A reduction amount of the plate making use of the alkaline processing liquid 6 stored in the circulating alkaline processing liquid storage tank 3 is a level sensor 46 mounted in the circulating alkaline processing liquid storage tank 3.
The replenishing alkaline processing liquid 8 stored in the replenishing liquid reserving tank 7 under the control of the replenishing liquid replenishing control mechanism (not shown) is circulated through the replenishing pump 72, the valve 52, and the pipe 87. The tank 3 is replenished, mixed and used as an alkaline treatment liquid for recycling and reuse.

The alkaline treatment liquid 6 stored in the circulating alkaline treatment liquid storage tank 3 is arranged below the stored liquid surface from the bottom of the circulating alkaline treatment liquid storage tank 3 through the pipe 80 by the operation of the circulation pump 71. It is discharged to the discharge port and heated to a specific temperature by the heater 47 while circulating in the circulating alkaline processing liquid storage tank 3. A valve 53 connected to a pipe line 81 branched from a pipe line 88 is arranged at the bottom of the circulating alkaline treatment liquid storage tank 3 and is used to clean the circulating alkaline treatment liquid storage tank 3 by liquid exchange cleaning. When the processing liquid 6 and the like are discharged, the valve 53 is opened to be discarded in the removed waste liquid secondary storage tank 9.

The printing plate 1 carried out from the alkaline processing liquid measuring section is conveyed to the non-image area removing step, and the non-image area is removed by the non-image area removing means. The non-image part removal process is
A pre-removal treatment liquid supply unit including a treatment liquid supply nozzle 32, a liquid metering roll 26, and a liquid supply roll 13a, a blade 44 as a removing unit, a backup roll 14, and a backup roll cleaning blade 4 in order from the upstream side of the printing plate conveyance.
5, a non-image part removing unit, a cleaning / removing liquid supply unit including a cleaning / removing liquid supply nozzle 43 for cleaning the blade 44, a processing liquid supply nozzle 33, a liquid measuring roll 27, and a liquid supply roll 15a. It is composed of a treatment liquid supply unit and a removal waste liquid primary storage tank 4.

Prior to the scraping and removal by the blade 44, the pre-removal treatment liquid supply unit for supplying the treatment liquid to the plate surface includes a pipe 100, a valve 54, a pipe 84, and a treatment liquid supply from a treatment liquid storage source (not shown). Nozzle 32 and liquid measuring roll 26
And is supplied to the printing plate 1 via the liquid supply roll 13a. The printing plate 1 to which the processing liquid is supplied by the liquid supply roll 13a is conveyed to the non-image part removing portion via the lower conveyance guide roll 13b to which the driving force is transmitted by the driving means (not shown).

Similarly, in the post-removal treatment liquid supply unit, the treatment liquid is supplied from a treatment liquid storage source (not shown) through the pipe 101, the valve 55, the pipe 85, the treatment liquid supply nozzle 33, and the liquid measuring roll 27. It is supplied and is supplied to the printing plate 1 from which the non-image portion is removed via the liquid supply roll 15a. Printing plate 1 to which the processing liquid is supplied by the liquid supply roll 15a
Is conveyed to the rinse treatment step (not shown) via the lower conveyance guide roll 15b to which the driving force is transmitted by the driving means (not shown).

The non-image portion removing portion removes the melted non-image portion, the blade 44, the blade holder 64 for holding the blade 44, the backup roll 14 to which the driving force is transmitted by a driving means (not shown), and the backup roll cleaning. It is composed of a blade 45. The blade 44 is
It is clamped and fixed by the blade holder 64. The blade 44 is made of an elastic material, and is in contact with the peripheral surface of the backup roll 14 and is conveyed to the plate surface and the blade 44.
The non-image portion that has been melted is removed by slidingly contacting and. The backup roll 14 is a smooth metal roll that is not deformed by the contact pressure of the blade 44, and is a hollow roll for improving workability such as exchange cleaning.

The backup roll 14 adheres to the peripheral surface,
In order to clean the melted non-image area image forming layer, the peripheral surface of the backup roll 14 and the backup roll cleaning blade 45 are brought into sliding contact with each other. A driving force generator (not shown) that drives the backup roll 14 drives the backup roll 14 independently at a peripheral speed higher than the plate transport speed.

The cleaning / removing liquid supply means including the cleaning / removing liquid supply nozzle 43 for cleaning the blade 44 is provided with a nozzle scanning means 65 fixed in parallel to the blade 44 immediately before the blade 44 by a holding mechanism (not shown). The cleaning / removing liquid supply nozzle 43 is fixed to the movable portion. For cleaning the scraped portion of the blade 44, the nozzle scanning means 65 scans the cleaning / removal liquid supply nozzle 43 in parallel with the blade 44, and cleans it from a storage source (not shown) through the pipe line 102, the valve 56, and the pipe line 86. The treatment liquid is supplied from the tip of the removal liquid supply nozzle 43 to the contact portion between the blade 44 and the backup roll 14 to clean the blade 44 and the backup roll 14.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the blade attaching / detaching means includes a blade attaching / detaching mechanism 62, a blade holder 64 holding and fixing the blade 44, and a rotary shaft for connecting and supporting the blade attaching / detaching tool 64 to the blade attaching / detaching mechanism 62. It is composed of 60a and a connecting member 66. Further, a positioning bolt 61 that can fix the blade 44 at an arbitrary position and a fixing plate 63 that fixes the positioning bolt 61 are arranged.

The blade holder 64 is connected to the rotary shaft 60a and the rotary shaft 60b, and the rotary shaft 60a is attached to the side plate 6.
8a, the rotary shaft 60b is supported by the side plate 68b, and is held by the bearing 67. The blade attaching / detaching mechanism 62 is held by the side plate 68a, and the connecting / disconnecting member 66 is rotationally moved about the rotating shaft 60 as a fulcrum by the expansion / contraction operation, and the rotating shaft 60 is rotated to remove / attach the blade 44. . In the blade attaching / detaching operation, the blade attaching / detaching means is operated after a lapse of a predetermined time of the leading edge of the printing plate 1 passing under the blade 44 by a control unit (not shown) based on the printing plate passage detection sensor 40 and the set conveyance speed, and the blade 4 is removed.
4 and the printing plate 1 are in the contact position, and the rear end of the printing plate 1 passes under the blade 44, and after a certain time, the blade attaching / detaching means is operated to control the blade 44 and the printing plate 1 to the non-contact position. ing.

In order to arbitrarily set the contact pressure between the blade 44 and the printing plate 1, it is possible to adjust the contact pressure by tightening the positioning bolt 61, and the positioning bolt 61 is abutted against the fixing plate 63 so that the blade 44 can be pressed. The printing plate 1 comes to the contact position.

Further, in a control unit (not shown), based on a signal from the printing plate passage detection sensor 40, the blade 44 and the backup roll 14 are not in contact with each other after a certain time after the trailing edge of the printing plate 1 passes under the blade 44. After the contact position, by performing a control for performing the blade detaching operation a certain number of times, the detachment of the removed matter attached to the blade 44 is promoted,
Easy to remove. The number of times of blade attaching / detaching operation is preferably 2 to 10 times, although it depends on the time interval (processing) of the printing plate. Further, as the number of times of blade attaching / detaching operations increases, the removed matter removal efficiency becomes higher.

Example 2 In the processing apparatus used in Example 1, an example in which the blade attaching / detaching means is changed to the blade attaching / detaching shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 will be described. The means for moving the blade 44 up and down to remove it is a blade elevating mechanism 92, a blade holder 64 that holds and fixes the blade 44, and a support shaft 9 that connects and supports the blade holder 64 to the blade elevating mechanism 92.
0, a holder 91 for raising and lowering the support shaft 90, and a raising / lowering positioning bolt 93 are installed one each on the side plates 68a, 68b (not shown).

The blade elevating mechanism 92 elevates and lowers the holder 91, and the support shaft 9 connected and supported by the blade holder 64.
By raising and lowering 0, the blade 44 and the printing plate 1 are brought into a contact position or a non-contact position. still,
The vertical movement of the blade is controlled by the controller (not shown) based on the printing plate passage detection sensor 40 and the set conveyance speed.
4 After the leading edge of the printing plate 1 has passed underneath, the blade elevating mechanism 92 is operated to bring the blade 44 into contact with the printing plate 1, and the trailing edge of the printing plate 1 passes under the blade 44 after a certain time and then the blade moves up and down. The mechanism 92 is operated and raised to control the blade 44 and the printing plate 1 to the non-contact position.

In the apparatus of this embodiment, in order to arbitrarily set the contact pressure between the blade 44 and the printing plate 1, the contact pressure can be adjusted by the tightening condition of the elevation positioning bolt 93, and when the elevation positioning bolt 93 is tightened. The contact pressure between the blade 44 and the printing plate 1 becomes weak, and conversely, when the elevation positioning bolt 93 is loosened, the blade 44 and the printing plate 1
The contact pressure with becomes stronger.

[0044]

As described above, in the planographic printing plate processing apparatus of the present invention, in the removal step of the components of the non-image area image forming layer dissolved by the alkaline processing liquid, the adhered deposits of the removed substances adhered to the removing means are fixed. To prevent non-image area removal efficiency, to prevent plate-making process defects, and to obtain a good printing plate without scumming during printing. It has the excellent effect that is possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional schematic configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a lithographic printing plate processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the blade attaching / detaching mechanism used in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of the blade attaching / detaching mechanism used in the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the blade lifting mechanism used in the second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic front view of the blade lifting mechanism used in the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Lithographic printing plate 3 Circulating alkaline treatment liquid storage tank 4 Removal waste liquid primary storage tank 6 Alkaline treatment liquid 10a, 11a, 13a, 15a Supply roll 14 Backup roll 25 Liquid measuring tool 26, 27 Liquid measuring roll 32, 33 Treatment liquid Supply nozzle 44 Blade 45 Backup roll cleaning blade 62 Blade attachment / detachment mechanism 64 Blade holder 92 Blade lifting mechanism

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A lithographic printing plate processing apparatus which, while conveying a lithographic printing plate, supplies an alkaline processing liquid to the plate surface of the printing plate and then scrapes and removes the dissolved or solubilized non-image area image forming layer component with a blade. And at least a sensor that detects the printing plate being conveyed, a backup roll that is positioned substantially vertically below the blade and assists in the conveyance of the printing plate, and the blade can be moved to a non-contact position or a contact position with respect to the backup roll. A lithographic printing plate processing apparatus comprising: a blade attaching / detaching means, and a controller for operating the blade attaching / detaching means based on a signal from a sensor. 2. The blade attaching / detaching means has a blade supporting portion having a rotating shaft rotatable about a blade supporting portion supporting the blade, a bearing portion supporting the rotating shaft, and the blade rotating the supporting portion. A means which can be fixed at an arbitrary rotational position including a rotational position in contact with the backup roll, a control unit which controls the rotating operation, and a unit which rotates the rotating shaft according to a signal from the control unit. 1. The planographic printing plate processing apparatus according to 1. 3. The blade attaching / detaching means is connected to the blade supporting portion for supporting the blade, and the blade supporting portion,
The planographic printing plate processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a unit that can move up and down. 4. In the control unit, the head of the lithographic printing plate is moved to a contact position by operating the blade attaching / detaching means after a certain period of time after passing the blade, and the rear end of the lithographic printing plate is set to a non-contact position after a certain period of passing. The planographic printing plate processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the following control is performed. 5. The control unit is configured to perform a control for performing a blade attaching / detaching operation a certain number of times after the trailing edge of the planographic printing plate has passed through the blade and has reached a non-contact position after a certain time. The lithographic printing plate processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.