JPH086259A - Photosensitive material processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce an amount of rinse water and to enhance rinse efficiency and to reduce fatigue of a rubber solution by feeding rinse water removed by a measuring means again onto a developed surface and onto the rear surface of the photo-sensitive material. CONSTITUTION:The rinse water is successively supplied onto the developed surface of the photosensitive material having passed through a developing section and a prescribed amount of the rinse water is left by the measuring means on this surface and the left water is removed. The rinse water removed by the measuring means is again supplied onto the developed surface and the removed water is supplied onto the rear side of the photosensitive material. In this apparatus, a mechanism for supplying the rinse water has the measuring means comprising a wire bar 51 and a guide roller 52, and a supply amount is controlled, preferably, to 150-500ml/m<2>. The rinse water removed by the measuring means is used again as the rinse water. Further, the water removed with a pair of squeezing rollers 56 and recovered through a receiver set below in a prerinse 57 is supplied through a pump 58 from a rear side spray 59 to the rear side of a printing plate PS.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a photosensitive material processing apparatus for supplying a processing solution while carrying a sheet-shaped photosensitive material such as a photosensitive lithographic printing plate to perform development, washing with water, gum processing and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A photosensitive material that has undergone development processing is guided and conveyed to a rinsing section, where rinsing processing is performed by supplying rinsing water prepared in a rinsing water tank to the rinsing section. The shower circulation system in which the water used for washing is returned to the washing water tank and used again for washing is widely used. In this method, it has been pointed out that fatigue of the gum increases because the developing solution is brought into the wash water, and it is common to perform a filter treatment or the like.

The method of disposing of the rinse water reduces the fatigue of the gum, but requires a large amount of rinse water, which is problematic in terms of resource saving and prevention of pollution. Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-273765 discloses a method in which washing water is accumulated in a saucer arranged below and the back surface of the photosensitive material is washed only by washing water in the saucer drawn up by a roller. Insufficient cleaning and gum fatigue.

Further, in the publication, a guide blade is arranged on the upstream side of the conveying roller when the washing water in the lower tray is pumped up and washed by the conveying roller provided on the back side of the photosensitive material. As a result, an improvement measure is disclosed that prevents the wash water from flowing down along the peripheral surface of the transport roller, and makes it possible to pump new wash water. However, in this method, not only is the cleaning of the back surface of the photosensitive material insufficient, but since the blade becomes dirty, dirt on the blade adheres to the surface of the transport roller, which transfers to the back surface of the photosensitive material and is brought into the gum solution. It is feared that this may cause fatigue of the gum solution.

[0005]

As described above, the conventional rinsing method in the processing apparatus has various problems, and in view of this point, the present invention reduces the amount of rinsing water, improves cleaning efficiency, and gum solution fatigue. It is an object of the present invention to clarify an improved processing device aiming at reduction of

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A light-sensitive material processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises means for continuously supplying wash water to the developed surface of a light-sensitive material that has passed through a developing section, and the supplied wash water for the surface. A tank having a metering means for leaving a predetermined amount and a means for removing water left by the predetermined amount, and a circulating means for supplying the washing water removed by the metering means to the developed surface again, and the removal Having means for supplying the water removed by the means to the back surface of the photosensitive material, means for supplying washing water to the developed surface of the photosensitive material that has passed through the developing section,
A tank having a measuring means for leaving a predetermined amount of the supplied wash water on the surface and a removing means for removing the water left by the predetermined amount is provided, and the wash water removed by the measuring means is reused on the back surface of the photosensitive material. Alternatively, it has a means for supplying the cleaning water of the roller, a means for supplying the cleaning water to the developed surface of the photosensitive material which has passed through the developing section, and a measuring means for leaving the supplied cleaning water on the surface by a predetermined amount. And a means for removing the water remaining by the predetermined amount, and using the washing water removed by the measuring means as supplementary dilution water for the gum solution.

[0007]

Specific Structure of the Invention Next, a specific structure of the present invention will be described in detail. Prior to this, an example of a photosensitive material processing apparatus to which the present invention can be applied will be schematically described with reference to FIG.
The processing apparatus shown in FIG. 5 has an insertion portion A into which a photosensitive lithographic printing plate (hereinafter, abbreviated as printing plate) to be processed is inserted.
It is composed of a developing section B for developing, a rinsing section C for rinsing, a rinsing section D for rinsing, and a drying section E. The area of the inserted printing plate, the driving state of the transport system, and the treatment liquid. It includes various sensors that detect the amount and supply state of the, and a mechanism that controls the operation according to the detection information of the sensor.

In the figure, the symbol PS indicates a printing plate or its transport path. In the insertion portion A, an insertion table 1 for guiding the insertion of the printing plate PS into the apparatus, an optical sensor 2 for detecting the printing plate PS to be inserted by reflected light, and the inserted printing plate P.
A nip transport roller 3A for nipting S by a pair of rollers to take it in and carrying it into the apparatus is provided.

The optical sensor 2 is a printing plate PS to be inserted.
Is detected, and the operation of various mechanisms is automatically controlled by the detected information. For example, by arranging a large number of optical sensors 2 at right angles to the insertion direction of the printing plate PS at equal intervals, the width of the printing plate PS is detected by reflected light, and the detection information and the conveyance speed are used for insertion. Printing plate PS
Area can be calculated, and the supply of the replenishment processing liquid and the rinse liquid can be controlled by this calculation information. The automatic developing machine to which the present invention is applied can be implemented with a mode in which a fixed amount of replenisher is replenished per unit time regardless of the total area of the inserted printing plate PS.

The printing plate PS sent to the developing section B by the nip conveying roller 3A is guided by the conveying roller 4, the nip conveying rollers 3B and 3C, etc., and slightly in the processing tank 5 in which the developing treatment liquid is stored. It is conveyed in a curved state, and is immersed in the course of the conveyance. In the processing tank 5, processing liquid discharge nozzles 6A and 6B (the processing liquid circulated by the magnet pump 7 is used) for the purpose of promoting and stabilizing the development processing, and a brush for rubbing the surface of the printing plate PS. A roller 8 and a pressing roller 9, and a heater 10 for maintaining the temperature of the developing solution within a predetermined temperature range are arranged.

Reference numerals 11 to 13 are bellows pumps, respectively, and the bellows pump 11 is provided with a bellows pump 12 for returning the overflowed processing liquid to the processing tank 5.
Is used to supply the concentrated replenisher solution prepared in the replenisher tank 14 to the treatment tank 5, and the bellows pump 13 is used to supply the diluted water prepared in the tank 15 to the treatment tank 5. It Reference numeral 16 is a tank for a concentrated rinse replenisher used in a rinse section D described later, and 17 is a waste tank for the development processing solution.

In the rinsing section C, the rinsing water prepared in the rinsing water tank 20 is supplied by the magnet pump 21, and the printing plate PS located between the nip conveying rollers 3E and 3F is supplied through the nozzles 22 and 23 for discharging the rinsing water. The water washing process is performed by discharging the water onto the printing plate.

In the rinsing section D, the rinsing liquid prepared in the rinsing liquid tank 30 is supplied by the magnet pump 31, and the rinsing liquid discharge nozzles 32 and 33 are used to supply the rinsing liquid between the nip conveying rollers 3G and 3H. A rinsing process is performed by discharging the ink onto the plate surface.

As described above, the concentrated rinse replenisher is prepared in the tank 16, is supplied to the rinse solution tank 30 by the bellows pump 34, and is diluted by the dilution water prepared in the tank 15 and supplied by the bellows pump 35. Mixed and diluted. The automatic developing machine to which the present invention is applied also includes a mode in which a concentrated rinse replenisher and diluted water are mixed and diluted and then supplied to the rinse tank 30.

In the drying section E, the nozzles 40.4 are formed on the plate surface of the printing plate PS being conveyed by the nip conveying roller 3I.
The drying process is performed by blowing heated dry air ejected from No. 1 onto the plate surface, and all the steps of the developing process are completed. The automatic processor described above shows an example of an apparatus to which the present invention is applicable, and from the insertion section A to the drying section E within a range that does not impede the application of the present invention described below. The design of each mechanism can be changed.

Next, how the present invention is applied to the above-mentioned automatic processor will be described. FIG. 1 shows an example of an apparatus according to the present invention, and in the above, FIG.
The part of the apparatus that performs the developing process described in 1) is omitted, and the process parts after the washing part C are shown.

The printing plate PS which has completed the developing process is guided by the guide roller 50 and is taken up by the pre-rinse portion.
The printing plate PS fed to the pre-rinse portion by the guide roller 50 is horizontally held while being held between the wire bar 51 and the guide roller 52 with which the wire bar 51 abuts. Spray 53 in front of wire bar 51
Is arranged, and the washing water in the pre-rinsing tank 54 is supplied to the exposed surface of the printing plate PS by the pump 55.

The rinsing water removed by the wire bar 51 is returned to the pre-rinse tank 54 for reuse. The deficiency at this time is supplied to the pre-rinse tank 54 by a wash water supply mechanism (not shown). The pump 55 may be operated continuously, but it is preferable that the pump 55 is operated only when the printing plate passes in conjunction with the printing plate detection sensor.

The wire bar 51 has a structure in which a wire having a predetermined diameter is spirally and tightly wound around a shaft, and only a predetermined amount of washing water remains between the wire gap and the printing plate PS. It serves as a measuring means for washing water. The remaining rinsing water is removed by the pair of squeezing rollers 56, and is guided to the recovery pre-rinse tank 57 through a receiver provided in the lower part.

The liquid in the recovery pre-rinse tank 57 is pumped by the pump 58.
And is supplied to the back surface of the printing plate PS from the back surface spray 59 via. Like the pump 55, the pump 58 is preferably operated intermittently.

The back surface spray 59 is located in front of the spray 53, and when the washing water is supplied from the spray 53, the liquid supplied to the back surface of the printing plate has been removed by the blade 60. The wash water of is not polluted. The liquid that has washed the back surface of the printing plate passes through a receiver provided in the lower part, and again collects the pre-rinse tank 57.
Returned to and used cyclically. The washing water overflowing from the recovery pre-rinse tank 57 is discarded through the guide pipe 61 to the waste liquid tank.

A characteristic point of this apparatus is that the mechanism for supplying the washing water has a measuring means for the washing water which is composed of the wire bar 51 and the guide roller 52, and the supply amount is
50 to 1000 ml / m ² , preferably 150
The control is to be up to 500 ml / m ² . In addition, the rinsing water removed by the measuring means is used again as rinsing water. At this time, the shortage of flush water may be newly replenished. Furthermore, a pair of aperture rollers 5
The point is that the liquid removed in 6 and recovered in the recovery pre-rinsing tank 57 through the receiver provided in the lower part is supplied from the back surface spray 59 to the back surface of the printing plate PS via the pump 58.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tip of the blade 60 for scraping the washing water supplied to the back surface of the printing plate PS contacts the back surface of the printing plate PS at a position higher than the nip position of the measuring roller, It is effective in efficiently measuring the wash water supplied through the spray 53 to the upper surface of the printing plate PS, and the angle (α) formed by the nip position between the blade tip and the measuring roller with the horizontal line is larger than 0 degree and 5 It is preferably not more than a degree.

Next, the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 will be described. A characteristic point of this embodiment is that a means for supplying the washing water removed by the measuring means composed of the wire bar 51 and the guide roller 52 as the washing water for the back surface of the printing plate PS or the roller is prepared. is there.

This apparatus is basically the same as the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, but in the apparatus shown in FIG.
In the apparatus shown in FIG. 3, the washing water whose back surface has been washed is returned to the recovery pre-rinsing tank 57 for reuse, and the liquid used to wash the front surface of the printing plate PS is returned to the pre-rinsing tank 54. Liquid is sprayed with roller 58 by a pump 58.
2 to the squeeze roller 56 in the pre-rinse section.

The pump 58 is preferably operated when the printing plate PS has not passed the squeeze roller 56. Further, like the pump 55, it is preferable that the operation is intermittent. The liquid that has washed the squeezing roller 56 is discarded through the receiving / conduit 61A provided in the lower portion.
In this embodiment, the structure of the spray for cleaning the back surface of the printing plate PS (spray 59 in FIG. 2) is omitted, but the same effect can be obtained by providing the mechanism for cleaning the roller.

Next, the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 will be described. A feature of this embodiment is that a means for using the washing water removed by the measuring means as supplementary dilution water for the gum solution is prepared. This device is basically the same as the device shown in FIG. 1, but differs in the following points.

The liquid in the recovery pre-rinse tank 54 is pumped by the pump 63.
And is supplied to the gum tank 65 through the nozzle 64 as dilution water for the gum replenisher. At the same time, the gum stock solution is stored in tank 6.
6 is metered by a pump 67, and is supplied to a gum tank 65 through a nozzle 68.

The back surface spray 59 supplies the circulating water tank 57 liquid through the pump 58 for cleaning the back surface of the printing plate PS. The liquid in the circulating water tank 57 may be a liquid not stored in the gum tank 65 among the liquids stored in the recovery pre-rinse tank 54. Tap water may be newly introduced into the tank from the tap water tank 69, for example. Good. Also, both may be mixed and may be supplemented appropriately.

The printing plate to be treated by the present invention may be any one, but it is effective when the following planographic printing plate and developing solution are used in view of achieving the object of the present invention. As the support used in the printing plate,
A flexible plate that can be set in a normal planographic printing plate and one that can withstand a load applied at the time of printing are preferable, and examples thereof include metal plates of aluminum, magnesium, zinc, chromium, iron, copper, nickel, and alloy plates of these metals. Further, a metal plate coated with chromium, zinc, copper, nickel, aluminum, iron, or the like by plating or vapor deposition may be used. Of these, the preferred support is aluminum or its alloy.

The support is subjected to degreasing treatment, graining treatment, anodizing treatment, etc., which are commonly used in this technical field. At least the graining treatment and the anodizing treatment are carried out in this order. It is preferable to use the body.

As a graining treatment method carried out for improving the adhesion to the photosensitive layer and improving the water retention,
There are a so-called mechanical surface-roughening method for mechanically roughening the surface and a so-called electrochemical surface-roughening method for electrochemically roughening the surface. Examples of the mechanical surface roughening method include ball polishing, brush polishing, blast polishing, buff polishing and the like. The electrochemical surface-roughening method includes, for example, a method of electrolytically treating the support with an alternating current or a direct current in an electrolytic solution containing hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, or the like. The support can be grained by using any one of these methods or a combination of two or more methods.

Since smut is generated on the surface of the support obtained by the graining treatment as described above, it is generally necessary to appropriately perform washing with water or alkali etching to remove the smut. preferable. Examples of such a treatment include the alkaline etching method described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 48-28123 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 53-53.
Examples thereof include a treatment method such as a sulfuric acid desmutting method described in 12739.

The support usually has abrasion resistance, chemical resistance,
An oxide film is formed by anodic oxidation in order to improve water retention. In this anodic oxidation, generally, a method of electrolyzing with an aqueous solution containing sulfuric acid and / or phosphoric acid or the like at a concentration of 10 to 50% at a current density of 1 to 10 A / dm ² is preferably used. Patent No. 1,41
There are a method of electrolyzing in sulfuric acid at a high current density described in 2,768, a method of electrolyzing using phosphoric acid described in US Pat. No. 3,511,661, and the like.

After the anodizing treatment, the support is preferably subjected to a pore-sealing treatment with hot water or the like, or a surface treatment such as immersion in an aqueous solution of potassium fluorozirconate.

Next, a printing plate is obtained by coating a photosensitive layer made of a photosensitive composition on the surface-treated support. The photosensitive substance used in this photosensitive layer is not particularly limited, and various substances generally used for printing plates, for example, the following various substances are used.

1) Photocrosslinking-type photosensitive resin composition The photosensitive component in the photocrosslinking-type photosensitive resin composition is composed of a photosensitive resin having an unsaturated double bond in the molecule. For example, US Pat. No. 030,208, No. 3,4
No. 35,237 and No. 3,622,320, etc., the photosensitive group in the polymer main chain is used as a photosensitive group.

[0038]

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Examples thereof include a photosensitive resin containing, and polyvinyl cinnamate having a photosensitive group on the side chain of the polymer.

2) Photopolymerizable Photosensitive Resin Composition A photopolymerizable composition containing an addition polymerizable unsaturated compound, which comprises a monomer having a double bond or a monomer having a double bond. A typical example of such a composition comprising a polymer binder is disclosed in, for example, US Pat. No. 2,760,8.
No. 63 and No. 2,791,504.

As an example, a composition containing methyl methacrylate, a composition containing methyl methacrylate and polymethyl methacrylate, a composition containing methyl methacrylate, polymethyl methacrylate and polyethylene glycol methacrylate monomers, methyl methacrylate, an alkyd resin. A photopolymerizable composition such as a composition containing a polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate monomer is used.
This photopolymerization type photosensitive resin composition includes a photopolymerization initiator usually known in this technical field (for example, benzoin derivative such as benzoin methyl ether, benzophenone derivative such as benzophenone, thioxanthone derivative, anthraquinone derivative, acridone derivative, etc. ) Is added.

3) Photosensitive Composition Containing Diazo Compound The diazo compound in the photosensitive composition is, for example, preferably a diazo resin represented by a condensate of an aromatic diazonium salt and formaldehyde or acetaldehyde. Particularly preferably, a salt of a condensate of p-diazophenylamine and formaldehyde or acetaldehyde,
For example, a diazo resin inorganic salt which is a reaction product of hexafluoroborophosphate, tetrafluoroborate, perchlorate or periodate and the condensate, and US Pat.
Examples thereof include a diazo resin organic salt, which is a reaction product of the condensate and a sulfonic acid, as described in Japanese Patent No. 300,309. Furthermore, diazo resins are preferably used with binders. As the binder, various polymer compounds can be used, but preferably, a monomer having an aromatic hydroxyl group as described in JP-A-54-98613, such as N- (4 -Hydroxyphenyl) acrylamide, N- (4-hydroxyphenyl) methacrylamide, o-, m-, or p-hydroxystyrene, o-, m-, or p-hydroxyphenylmethacrylate and the like with other monomers Copolymers, polymers containing hydroxyethyl acrylate units or hydroxyethyl methacrylate units as main repeating units as described in US Pat. No. 4,123,276, natural resins such as shellac and rosin, polyvinyl Alcohol, US Pat. No. 3,75
1,257, including linear polyurethane resins, phthalated resins of polyvinyl alcohol, epoxy resins condensed from bisphenol A and epichlorohydrin, cellulose derivatives such as cellulose acetate and cellulose acetate phthalate. It

4) Photosensitive composition containing o-quinonediazide compound In a photosensitive composition containing an o-quinonediazide compound, it is preferable to use an o-quinonediazide compound and an alkali-soluble resin in combination. Examples of the o-quinonediazide compound include ester compounds of o-naphthoquinonediazidesulfonic acid and a polycondensation resin of phenols and aldehydes or ketones.

Examples of the phenols include monohydric phenols such as phenol, o-cresol, m-cresol, p-cresol, 3,5-xylenol, carvacrol and thymol, and dihydric compounds such as catechol, resorcinol and hydroquinone. Examples include trihydric phenols such as phenol, pyrogallol, and phloroglucin. Examples of the aldehyde include formaldehyde, benzaldehyde, acetaldehyde, crotonaldehyde, furfural and the like. Preferred of these are formaldehyde and benzaldehyde. Examples of the ketone include acetone and methyl ethyl ketone.

Specific examples of the polycondensation resin include phenol / formaldehyde resin, m-cresol / formaldehyde resin, m- and p-mixed cresol / formaldehyde resin, resorcin / benzaldehyde resin, pyrogallol / acetone resin and the like. To be OH of phenols of the o-naphthoquinonediazide compound
The condensation rate of o-naphthoquinonediazide sulfonic acid with respect to the group (reaction rate with respect to one OH group) is preferably 15 to 80%, and more preferably 20 to 45%. Further o
-As a quinonediazide compound, JP-A-58-4345
The compounds described in JP-A-1 can also be used.

Of the above o-quinonediazide compounds,
An o-quinone diazide ester compound obtained by reacting 1,2-benzoquinone diazide sulfonyl chloride or 1,2-naphthoquinone diazide sulfonyl chloride with pyrogallol-acetone condensation resin or 2,3,4-trihydroxybenzophenone is particularly preferable. As the o-quinonediazide compound used in the present invention, the above compounds may be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds.

The proportion of the o-quinonediazide compound in the photosensitive composition is preferably 6 to 60% by weight, and particularly preferably 10 to 50% by weight. Examples of the alkali-soluble resin include novolac resins, vinyl polymers having a phenolic hydroxyl group, and condensation resins of polyhydric phenols and aldehydes or ketones described in JP-A-55-57841.

Examples of the novolac resin include phenol / formaldehyde resin, cresol / formaldehyde resin, phenol / cresol / formaldehyde copolymer resin as described in JP-A-55-57841, JP-A-55- Examples thereof include copolymer resins of p-substituted phenol and phenol or cresol and formaldehyde as described in 127553.

The novolak resin preferably has a number average molecular weight Mn of 3.00 × (polystyrene standard).
10 ^{2 to} 7.50 × 10 ³ , weight average molecular weight Mw of 1.00 × 10 ^{3 to} 3.00 × 10 ⁴ , and more preferably Mn of 5.00 × 10 ^{2 to} 4.00 × 10 ³ , M.
w is 3.00 × 10 ^{3 to} 2.00 × 10 ⁴ .
The above novolak resins may be used alone or in combination of two or more.

The proportion of the novolak resin in the photosensitive composition is preferably 5 to 95% by weight. The vinyl copolymer having a phenolic hydroxyl group that is preferably used is a polymer having a unit having the phenolic hydroxyl group in the molecular structure.

The proportion of the vinyl polymer in the photosensitive composition is preferably 0.5 to 70% by weight.
As the vinyl polymer, the above polymers may be used alone or in combination of two or more kinds. It can also be used in combination with other polymer compounds.

A printout material capable of forming a visible image upon exposure can be added to the photosensitive composition.
The printout material comprises an organic dye which changes its color tone by interacting with a compound which forms an acid or a free radical upon exposure. Examples of the compound which forms an acid or a free radical upon exposure include, for example, JP-A-50- Three
O-naphthoquinonediazide-4 described in Japanese Patent No. 6209
-Sulfonic acid halogenide, o-naphthoquinonediazide-4-sulfonic acid chloride described in JP-A-53-36223 and phenols having an electron-withdrawing substituent, or an ester compound or amide compound of aniline acid, JP-A-55-77742, JP-A-5
Examples thereof include halomethylvinyloxadiazole compounds and diazonium salts described in JP-A No. 7-148784.

The photosensitive composition may contain, for example, p-tert-butylphenolformaldehyde resin or pn-octylphenolformaldehyde resin, or these resins may be o-quinonediazide in order to improve the oil sensitivity of the photosensitive composition. It is also possible to add a resin which is partially esterified with a compound. By dissolving each of these components in a solvent and coating and drying on the surface of the support, a photosensitive layer is provided and a printing plate can be produced.

As a coating method used for coating the surface of the support with the photosensitive composition, there are conventionally known methods such as spin coating, wire bar coating, dip coating, air knife coating, roll coating, blade coating and curtain coating. Coating or the like is used. At this time, the coating amount varies depending on the application, but for example, a coating amount of 0.05 to 5.0 g / m ² as a solid content is preferable. In using the printing plate thus obtained, a conventionally used method can be applied. For example, a transparent original image having a line image, a halftone dot image or the like is exposed in close contact with the photosensitive surface, and then this is exposed. The relief image is obtained by removing the photosensitive layer in the non-image area with an appropriate developing solution. As a light source suitable for exposure, a mercury lamp, a metal halide lamp, a xenon lamp, a chemical lamp, a carbon arc lamp or the like is used, and a developer used for the development is preferably an alkaline aqueous solution, for example, sodium silicate or potassium silicate. , Aqueous solutions of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, tribasic sodium phosphate, dibasic sodium phosphate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate and the like. The concentration of the alkaline aqueous solution at this time varies depending on the type of the photosensitive composition and the alkali, but is generally in the range of 0.1 to 10% by weight, and the acid-alkaline aqueous solution may contain a surfactant or alcohol if necessary. It is also possible to add an organic solvent such as 0.1 to 20% by weight.

The negative-type and positive-type developers used in the present invention contain an alkaline agent, an organic solvent, an anionic surfactant, a water-soluble reducing agent and a nonionic surfactant and / or a cationic surfactant. contains.

The alkaline agent used in the developer of the present invention includes sodium silicate, potassium silicate, sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, sodium triphosphate, dibasic sodium phosphate, dibasic potassium phosphate and dibasic sodium phosphate. Inorganic alkaline agents such as potassium phosphate, ammonium triphosphate, dibasic ammonium phosphate, sodium metasilicate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, ammonium carbonate, mono-, di- or triethanolamine and Organic alkali agents such as tetraalkylammonium hydroxide and organic ammonium silicates are useful. Of these, alkali silicates are most preferred. The content of the alkaline agent in the developing solution is preferably used in the range of 0.05 to 20% by weight, and more preferably,
It is 0.1 to 10% by weight.

The organic solvent used in the developer of the present invention preferably has a solubility in water at 20 ° C. of 10% by weight or less. Examples of such an organic solvent include ethyl acetate, propyl acetate and acetic acid. Butyl,
Carboxylic esters such as amyl acetate, benzyl acetate, ethylene glycol monobutyl acetate, butyl lactate, butyl levulinate; ketones such as ethyl butyl ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone, cyclohexane; ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, ethylene glycol benzyl monophenyl Alcohols such as ether, benzyl alcohol, ethylphenylcarbinol, n-amyl alcohol, methylamyl alcohol; alkyl-substituted aromatic hydrocarbons such as xylene, halogenated hydrocarbons such as methylene dichloride, ethylene dichloride and monochlorobenzine. and so on. One or more of these organic solvents may be used. Among these organic solvents, ethylene glycol monophenyl ether, ethylene glycol benzyl ether and benzyl alcohol are particularly preferable. The content is generally 0.000.
1% to 20% by weight is preferred.

The organic solvent is an excellent additive for improving the developability for both negative type and positive type printing plates.

The anionic surfactants used in the present invention include higher alcohol (C ₈ -C ₂₂ ) sulfate ester salts [eg, sodium salt of lauryl alcohol sulfate, sodium salt of octyl alcohol sulfate, lauryl alcohol sulfate]. Ammonium salt, "Teabol B-81" (trade name, manufactured by Shell Chemical Co., Ltd., secondary sodium alkyl sulfate, etc.), aliphatic alcohol phosphate ester salts (for example,
Cetyl alcohol phosphate sodium salt, etc., alkylaryl sulfonates (eg, dodecylbenzine sulfonic acid sodium salt, isopropylnaphthalene sulfonic acid sodium salt, dinaphthalene disulfonic acid sodium salt, metanitrobenzene sulfonic acid sodium salt, etc. ), Alkylamide sulfonates (for example, compounds represented by the following chemical formula 1, dibasic aliphatic ester sulfonates (for example, sodium sulfosuccinate dioctyl ester, sodium sulfosuccinate dihexyl ester, etc.)). Of these, alkylnaphthalene sulfonates are particularly preferably used.

[0060]

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The concentration of the above-mentioned anionic surfactant is preferably 0.2 to 10% by weight, particularly preferably 1 to 5% by weight. Further, the developer used in the present invention preferably contains a water-soluble reducing agent, and the water-soluble reducing agent includes organic and inorganic reducing agents.

The above-mentioned meaning of "water-soluble reducing agent" includes water-soluble reducing agent, and the water-soluble reducing agent also contains 0.1 to 10% by weight, more preferably 0.1% by weight or less. It is contained in the range of 5 to 5% by weight. Furthermore, the developer used in the present invention preferably contains a nonionic and / or cationic surfactant.

As the nonionic surfactant, various compounds can be used, but they can be roughly classified into polyethylene glycol compounds and polyhydric alcohol compounds, and polyethylene glycol compounds are more preferably used. It Among them, the oxyethylene unit has a repeating structure of 3 or more and has an HLB value (Hydrophi).
A non-ionic surfactant having a le-Lipophile Balance) of 5 or more, and more preferably 10 to 20 is suitable.

The amount of these nonionic surfactants added is preferably 0.001 to 1.0% by weight, more preferably 0.01 to 1.0% by weight. The weight average molecular weight of these nonionic surfactants is
300 to 50,000 is preferable, and 50 is particularly preferable.
It is in the range of 0 to 5000. In the present invention, the above-mentioned nonionic surfactant may be used alone,
Two or more kinds may be used in combination. On the other hand, as the cationic surfactant used in the present invention, there are various compounds, and examples thereof include organic amine compounds and quaternary ammonium salt compounds.

Among these compounds, a water-soluble quaternary ammonium salt cationic surfactant is particularly effective, and examples thereof include alkyltrimethylammonium salt, alkyldimethylbenzylammonium salt, and ethylene oxide-added ammonium salt. be able to. Also,
A polymer having a cation component as a repeating unit is also generally a cationic surfactant and is effective in achieving the object of the present invention. In particular, a polymer containing a quaternary ammonium salt obtained by copolymerizing with a lipophilic monomer can be preferably used.

The amount of the above cationic surfactant added is preferably 0.001 to 5 as in the case of the nonionic surfactant.
%, More preferably 0.01 to 1.0% by weight. The weight average molecular weight is 300 to 50,000.
It is in the range of 0, particularly preferably in the range of 500 to 5,000. These cationic surfactants are used alone, but two or more kinds may be used in combination.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the effect of the present invention can be obtained even when a nonionic surfactant and a cationic surfactant are used in combination. The developer used in the present invention includes
The following additives can be added to further improve the developability.

For example, neutral salts such as NaCl, KCl and KBr described in JP-A-58-75152, JP-A-58-58
190952, chelating agents such as EDTA and NTA, and [Co (NH ₃
) ₆ ] Cl ₃ and other complexes, JP-A-50-5132
Sodium alkyl phthalene sulfonate described in No. 4, N
-Anionic or amphoteric surfactants such as tetradecyl-N, N-dihydroxyethylbetaine, JP-A-55-9
Cationic polymers such as quaternary methyl chloride of p-dimethylaminomethyl oristyrene described in 5946, and amphoteric polymers such as a copolymer of vinylbenzyltrimethylammonium chloride and sodium acrylate described in JP-A-56-142528. Electrolyte, JP-A-57
Reducing inorganic salt described in JP-A-192952, JP-A-58-5
Inorganic lithium compounds such as lithium chloride described in 9444, organic lithium compounds such as lithium benzoate described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 50-34442, organometallic surfactants containing Si, Ti, etc. described in JP-A-59-75255, Examples thereof include organic boron compounds described in JP-A-59-84241.

The image forming layer of the printing plate to which the present invention can be applied contains a photosensitive substance, and its physical and chemical properties are changed by exposure as a photosensitive substance or subsequent development treatment. For example, one that causes a difference in solubility in a developing solution by exposure, one that causes a difference in adhesive force between molecules before and after exposure, one that causes a difference in affinity for water and oil due to exposure or development treatment, and one that uses an electrophotographic method. Those which can form an image portion, and those having a multilayer structure described in JP-A-55-166645 are included.

[0070]

EXAMPLES Next, the present invention will be described through examples. Example 1 The apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 was used. The operating conditions of the pre-rinse part are as follows: the supply amount of washing water from the spray 53 is 250 ml / m ² , the scraping amount by the wire bar 51 is about 200 ml / m ² , the supply amount from the spray 59 is 250 ml / m ² , The supplement amount of tap water to the pre-rinse tank 54 was set to 50 ml / m ² . still,
The angle of the blade 60 was 3 degrees. Under the above conditions, the washing process of the printing plate PS having undergone the development treatment was performed, and the results shown in Table 1 were obtained by the following evaluation methods.

Evaluation Method As an evaluation of the deterioration of the gum solution, the number of gum removed was examined. As processing conditions, Kodak Step Tablet N
o. The pattern is exposed on the printing plate KM (trade name, manufactured by Konica Co., Ltd.) with an exposure amount corresponding to clear 3 steps in 2 and processed by the automatic processor after processing a large number of the above by the method described above, and gumming. A printed plate was obtained. The printing plate sample thus obtained was printed on a "Heidelberg GTO" printing machine (trade name,
Printing was performed with a printing machine manufactured by Heidelberg Co., Ltd., and the number of gums removed during printing was evaluated. When deteriorated gum is used, there may be some greenish areas on the gum surface visually, but when comparing the number of gum removed, it is possible to evaluate because the more gum removed, the more gum removed. Is. Further, the amount of waste water for washing water indicates the amount discharged as waste water washing water to the outside of the machine.

Comparative Example 1 In the above-mentioned Example 1, the pre-rinse portion was of a normal circulating water washing system as shown in FIG. The volume of the washing water tank 20 was set to 18 liters. However, the amount of washing water supplied from the spray 53 was 250 ml / m ² for each of the front surface and the back surface of the printing plate PS, and 50 ml / m ^{2 of} fresh tap water was supplied to the pre-rinsing tank.

Comparative Example 2 In the above-described Example 1, the pre-rinse portion was formed by a normal new liquid developing method. That is, 250 ml / m ² of fresh tap water was supplied from the sprayer 53 to both sides of the printing plate PS, and the water after washing was discarded. Example 1
The results shown in Table 1 were obtained by the evaluation method described above.

[0074]

[Table 1]

From the above results, it has been proved that the apparatus according to the present invention can reduce the amount of washing water while obtaining the same effect as in the case of supplying fresh washing water.

Example 2 The apparatus shown in FIG. 3 was used. The operation conditions of the pre-rinse part are as follows: the amount of washing water supplied from the spray 53 is 200 ml / m ² , and the amount of scraping by the wire bar 51 is about 1
The amount supplied from the spray 62 was 50 ml / m ² and 150 ml / m ² . The angle of the blade 60 was 4 degrees. Under the above conditions, the washing process of the printing plate PS having undergone the development treatment was performed, and the results shown in Table 2 were obtained by the evaluation method described in Example 1.

Comparative Example 3 In Example 2, the pre-rinse portion was subjected to a normal circulating water washing method. The tank volume was 18 liters. However, the amount of washing water supplied from the spray 53 should be 200 on the surface of the printing plate PS.
Milliliters / m ² , back to 150 ml / m ²
And The amount of fresh water supplied to the pre-rinse tank was 200 ml / m ² . Under the above conditions, the washing process of the printing plate PS having undergone the development treatment was performed, and the results shown in Table 2 were obtained by the evaluation method described in Example 1.

COMPARATIVE EXAMPLE 4 In Example 2, the pre-rinse portion was changed to a normal new liquid washing system, and the washing water supply amount from the spray 53 was 200 ml / m ² on the front side of the printing plate PS and 150 ml / m ^{2 on the} back side. After washing with water, the washing water was discarded. Under the above conditions, the washing process of the printing plate PS having undergone the development treatment was performed, and the results shown in Table 2 were obtained by the evaluation method described in Example 1.

Example 3 The apparatus shown in FIG. 3 was used. However, the supply of washing water to the spray 62 is stopped, and this is guided to a spray (corresponding to the spray 59 in FIG. 1) newly arranged in the preceding stage of the blade, and this spray and the spray 53 cause the back surface of the printing plate PS and It was changed to supply flush water to the surface. still,
The developing method was a shower developing method instead of the immersion method as shown in FIG. The other operating conditions of the pre-rinse portion were set in the same manner as in Example 2. Under the above conditions, the washing process of the printing plate PS having undergone the development treatment was performed, and the results shown in Table 2 were obtained by the evaluation method described in Example 1.

Comparative Example 5 In Example 3, a washing step of the printing plate PS having undergone the development treatment was performed under the same conditions as in Comparative Example 3 for the pre-rinse portion, and the evaluation method described in Example 1 was used. The results shown in 2 were obtained.

Comparative Example 6 Under the same conditions as in Comparative Example 4, except that the pre-rinse portion had the same structure as in Comparative Example 4, the printing plate PS having undergone the development treatment was washed with water, and the evaluation method described in Example 1 was used. The results shown in 2 were obtained.

[0082]

[Table 2]

From the above results, it has been proved that the apparatus according to the present invention can reduce the amount of washing water while obtaining the same effect as in the case of supplying fresh washing water.

Example 4 Using the apparatus shown in FIG. 4, the printing plate PS treated by the immersion development method shown in FIG. 5 was washed with water. The operating conditions of the pre-rinse part were set as follows. The supply amount of washing water from the spray 53 is 250 ml / m ² , the scraping amount by the wire bar 51 is about 200 ml / m ² ,
Supply amount from spray 59 is 250 ml / m
² , the amount of washing water supplied from the recovery pre-rinsing tank 54 to the circulating water tank 57 was 50 ml / m ² , and the portion that could not be used up by the washing water in the pre-rinsing tank 54 was discarded.

Under the above conditions, the printing plate PS having undergone the development treatment was washed with water, and the results shown in Table 3 were obtained by the evaluation method described in Example 1. The angle of the blade 60 was 4 degrees.

Comparative Example 7 In Example 4, the structure of the pre-rinse section was a normal circulating water washing system with a tank volume of 18 liters. However, spray 5
The supply amount of washing water from 3.59 was both 250 ml / m ^2, and the supply amount of fresh tap water to the pre-rinse tank 54 was 210 ml / m ² . Under the above conditions,
The washing process of the printing plate PS after the development treatment was carried out, and the results shown in Table 3 were obtained by the evaluation method described in Example 1.

Comparative Example 8 In Example 4, the structure of the pre-rinse portion was a normal new liquid washing method. That is, 250 ml / m ² of fresh tap water is discharged from each of the sprays 53 and 59,
The water after washing with water was discarded without being reused.

Under the above conditions, the printing plate PS having undergone the development treatment was washed with water, and the results shown in Table 3 were obtained by the evaluation method described in Example 1.

[0089]

[Table 3]

From the above results, it has been proved that the apparatus according to the present invention can reduce the amount of washing water while obtaining the same effect as in the case of supplying fresh washing water.

[0091]

According to the apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the amount of washing water while obtaining the same effect as in the case of supplying fresh washing water, and the above-mentioned problems are solved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a pre-rinse section showing an embodiment of an apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a wire bar and a blade portion of the same device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a pre-rinse section showing another example of the apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a pre-rinse section showing still another example of the apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a conventional device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A-insertion part B-developing part C-washing part D-rinsing part E-drying part PS-printing plate (photosensitive planographic printing plate) 1-insertion table 2-optical sensor 3A-nip conveying roller 3B-nip conveying roller 3C -Nip conveying roller 3D-Nip conveying roller 3E-Nip conveying roller 3F-Nip conveying roller 3G-Nip conveying roller 3H-Nip conveying roller 3I-Nip conveying roller 4-Conveying roller 5-Processing tank 6A-Processing liquid discharge nozzle 6B- Treatment liquid discharge nozzle 7-Magnet pump 8-Brush roller 9-Holding roller 10-Heater 11-Bellows pump 12-Bellows pump 13-Bellows pump 14-Replenisher tank 15-Diluting water tank 16-Rinse replenisher tank 17-Waste liquid Tank 20-Washing water tank 21-Magnet pump 22-Washing water discharge nozzle 23-Washing Discharge nozzle 30-Rinse liquid tank 31-Magnet pump 32-Rinse liquid discharge nozzle 33-Rinse liquid discharge nozzle 34-Bellows pump 35 Bellows pump 40-Dry air jet nozzle 41-Dry air jet nozzle 50-Guide roller 51-Wire bar 52 -Guide roller 53-Spray 54-Pre-rinse tank 55-Pump 56-Squeezing roller pair 57-Recovery pre-rinse tank 58-Pump 59-Back spray 60-Blade 61-Discharge pipe 61A-Discharge pipe 62-Roller cleaning spray 63-Pump 64 -Nozzle 65-Gum tank 66-Gum stock solution storage tank 67-Pump 68-Nozzle 69-Tap water tank

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Toshitsugu 1 Sakura-cho, Hino-shi, Tokyo Konica stock company (72) Inventor Akio Kasakura 1000 Kamoshida-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa (72) Inventor Kenshi Kaneda 1000 Kamoshida-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Sanryo Kasei Co., Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A means for continuously supplying washing water to the developed surface of a photosensitive material which has passed through a developing section, a metering means for leaving a predetermined amount of the supplied washing water on the surface, and a remaining amount for the predetermined amount. A circulating means for supplying the washing water removed by the measuring means to the developed surface again, and a means for supplying the water removed by the removing means to the back surface of the photosensitive material An apparatus for processing a photosensitive material, comprising: 2. A means for continuously supplying washing water to the developed surface of the photosensitive material which has passed through the developing section, a measuring means for leaving the supplied washing water on the surface by a predetermined amount, and a means for leaving the predetermined amount. An apparatus for processing a light-sensitive material, comprising a tank having a water removing means, and means for supplying the wash water removed by the measuring means again as wash water for the back surface of the light-sensitive material or the roller. 3. A means for continuously supplying washing water to the developed surface of the light-sensitive material which has passed through the developing section, a metering means for leaving a predetermined amount of the supplied washing water on the surface, and a remaining amount for the predetermined amount. An apparatus for processing a light-sensitive material, comprising: a tank having a means for removing water, and means for using the washing water removed by the measuring means as supplementary dilution water for the gum solution.