US3738249A - Hold down mechanism for printing plate processor - Google Patents

Hold down mechanism for printing plate processor Download PDF

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Publication number
US3738249A
US3738249A US00191190A US3738249DA US3738249A US 3738249 A US3738249 A US 3738249A US 00191190 A US00191190 A US 00191190A US 3738249D A US3738249D A US 3738249DA US 3738249 A US3738249 A US 3738249A
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United States
Prior art keywords
section
printing plate
processor
hydraulic cylinder
plate
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Expired - Lifetime
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US00191190A
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English (en)
Inventor
B Schichlein
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Azoplate Corp
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Azoplate Corp
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Filing date
Publication date
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03F—PHOTOMECHANICAL PRODUCTION OF TEXTURED OR PATTERNED SURFACES, e.g. FOR PRINTING, FOR PROCESSING OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; MATERIALS THEREFOR; ORIGINALS THEREFOR; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED THEREFOR
    • G03F7/00—Photomechanical, e.g. photolithographic, production of textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. printing surfaces; Materials therefor, e.g. comprising photoresists; Apparatus specially adapted therefor
    • G03F7/26—Processing photosensitive materials; Apparatus therefor
    • G03F7/30—Imagewise removal using liquid means
    • G03F7/3042—Imagewise removal using liquid means from printing plates transported horizontally through the processing stations

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an apparatus for processing printing plates and, more particularly, to an apparatus for holding two sections of a printing plate processing apparatus in closed relationship.
  • Conventional offset printing plates usually comprise a thin sheet of aluminum coated with a light-sensitive layer which contains, among other things, one or more resins.
  • Such sensitized printing plates may be made ready for printing by the platemaker by various manual techniques. For example, the platemaker either purchases the raw aluminum and then treats it in various fashions, known to the industry, to prepare it for coating with one of several commercially available lightsensitive emulsions, or he purchases the aluminum pre pared for such coating. The coatings are then applied to the aluminum carrier in one of several known ways and the coating is then dried. These presensitized plates are then ready for use in printing by the printer. Alternately, the platemaker may purchase a preprepared, precoated plate conventionally known as a presensitized offset printing plate.
  • the presensitized offset printing plate is thereafter exposed, through a stencil, to a source of strong actinic light, for example, a carbon arc.
  • a source of strong actinic light for example, a carbon arc.
  • the light-sensitive coating when subjected to such light, is converted in such a manner that, after development, the image areas are retained on the plate surface and the non-image areas are removed or vice versa.
  • the exposed printing plate may then be developed by what is known as the hand developing process.
  • the plate is first rubbed with a sponge or the like saturated with a developing agent to rub the developing agent into the surface of the plate.
  • the plate may be fixed and/or washed and finally, a coating of material, such as gum arabic, is applied to the surface of the plate to protect the image-free areas.
  • the plate is then ready for the printing press.
  • this hand-developing process for producing aprinting plate involves the following procedure: From a typewritten setup or makeup, equivalent to the material to be printed and provided in any desired manner, including typed articles, pictures of various kinds of art work of different sizes, and the like, all assembled onto a suitable cardboard or other support, a master is prepared in the conventional manner. The image of the master is then transferred onto the sensitized printing plate, as previously described, by a suitable exposure technique.
  • the printing member thus'prepared is then subjected to a developing operation utilizing the chemistry prescribed by the manufacturer of the printing plate.
  • This chemistry is worked into the exposed coating by hand-rubbing, for example, with a sponge, until the non-image areas are subtracted or removed from the carrier leaving an exact replica of the image on the plate carrier. Obviously, in the alternate process, the image areas may be removed leaving the non-image areas on the carrier plate.
  • the printing member is then fixed and/or washed and a solution of gum arabic or a similar solution, is applied to the plate surface, resulting in a printing plate which is ready for the printing press.
  • the apparatus of the present invention is applicable to any of a variety of printing plate processing apparati, and particularly to printing plate developing apparatus where developing fluid is supplied to the apparatus under pressure
  • the invention is best adapted for use in conjunction with a processing apparatus in which the plate travels in a straight line path through the machine, starting with an exposed plate and ending with a dried plate ready for use by the printer.
  • processing apparatus generically includes a developing section, which is supplied with a developing fluid under pressure, a washing section, a lacquering or gunning section and adrying section.
  • the developer section generally includes a pre-soak station, in which developer fluid is sprayed under pressure onto the exposed surface of the plate in order to develop the plate and permit removed coating to flow free of the plate, a cleaning section where moving brushes and additional developer spray clean the surface of residual unwanted portions of the coating, and a scrubbing section where moving pads, supplied with additional developing fluid under pressure, remove the last traces of unwanted coating from the plate.
  • a second or third application of developing fluid may be applied if required.
  • Following the developing section may be a similar section where a fixing solution is applied to the plate. The plate then enters a washing section where it is washed free of any residual developing and fixing fluids.
  • the plate then passes to a lacquering or gumming section where a protective coating, such as gum arabic, is applied. Finally, the plate passes to a drying section where the plate is dried and discharged as a completed plate ready for the printing press.
  • a protective coating such as gum arabic
  • processing apparatus of the character described above, or any one or more components thereof is divided into a lower fixed section and an upper pivotal section along a plane parallel to the path of the plate member passing through the apparatus.
  • printing plate processing apparatus is thus divided into an upper and a lower section and the upper section is pivotally connected to the lower section, it is necessary that the operating units, that is, the top and bottom sections of the processing apparatus, be held in a precise position relative to one another and that any movement of the top and bottom sections relative to one another during the operation of the unit be avoided.
  • One way of properly positioning the two sections of the apparatus and attaining a good locking relationship between the .two is by employing screw-type jacks to open and close the top.
  • the present invention therefore provides a simple and positive means for latching the two sections of the processing apparatus together during operation. By positively locking the two sections together during operation, accidental opening by the operator is avoided while the machine is in operation and possible accidents are prevented.
  • an exposed printing plate is fed into the machine for processing.
  • the plate actuates an electrical limit switch which, in turn, supplies power to the driven rollers of the processing apparatus which feed the plate through the processing apparatus.
  • power is supplied to the developer fluid pump which supplies the developer fluid to the developing section of the processing apparatus.
  • the developer pump is thus started immediately and operates at a hydraulic pressure of approximately 50 psi. By appropriately bleeding off or bypassing a part of the developer fluid under pressure, this fluid may be utilized to actuate a small hydraulic cylinder assembly.
  • the hydraulic cylinder assembly is, in turn, attached to an appropriate latch means.
  • the latch means is pivoted adjacent its center on the lower stationery section of the processing equipment, the piston rod of the piston cylinder assembly is pivotally attached to the lower end of the latch means and the cylinder body is pivotally attached to this same stationery lower section of the apparatus.
  • the piston rod As the piston rod is extended under influence of the hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic cylinder assembly, it causes the latching mechanism to rotate about its pivot and a slot in the upper end of the latching means locks onto a stud fixedly attached to the upper pivoted section of the processing apparatus.
  • the upper pivoted section of the processing apparatus is securely locked to the lower stationery section of the processing apparatus the instant the machine is put into operation.
  • the processing apparatus is mounted on a base comprising legs 2 and 4 and cross support 6.
  • the lower section 8 of the processing apparatus is fixedly mounted on top of legs 2 and 4 and an upper section 10 is pivotally mounted to lower section 8 through fixed support plates 12 and pivot means 14 mounted in the sections of plates 12 which extend above the lower section 8.
  • Operatively mounted within lower section 8 of the processing apparatus are driven rollers 16 which transport the plate through the processing apparatus.
  • Mounted in the upper section 10 of the processing apparatus are idler rollers 18 which are in intimate contact with the plate passing through the processing apparatus and are therefore driven by such contact with the plate being processed.
  • a developer fluid reservoir 20 Mounted on cross member 6 of the frame of the apparatus is a developer fluid reservoir 20. Developer fluid is drawn from reservoir 20 through line 22 by means of developer fluid pump 24. Developer fluid pump 24 then forces the developer fluid through line 26 under pressure. Developer fluid line 26 is connected to a conventional T-joint 28. From T-joint 28, branch line 30 carries developer fluid to the developer section (not shown) of the processing apparatus. Also, leading from T-joint 28 is branch line 32 which carries developer fluid to a small hydraulic cylinder assembly, generally designated as 34.
  • the hydraulic cylinder assembly 34 consists of a conventional cylinder 36 to receive pressurized fluid from branch line 32, a piston (not shown) disposed in cylinder 36 and a piston rod 38 connected to the piston.
  • the piston is also provided with a conventional return spring (not shown).
  • the cylinder 36 of hydraulicpiston assembly 34 is pivotally mounted on the lower section 8 of the processing apparatus through pivot means 40. Also mounted on lower section 8 of the processing apparatus is a latch means of arm 42. Latch means 42 is pivotally mounted adjacent its center through pivot means 44. The free end of piston rod 38 is pivotally connected to the lower end of latch means 42 through pivot means 46.
  • Mounted on the upper section 10 of the processing apparatus is a latching or holddown stud 48. Holdlatching stud 48 cooperativelyengages slot 50 formed in the upper end of latching arm 42.
  • Limit switch 52 supplies electrical power to the processing apparatus, including, power to the driven rollers 16 and the developer fluid pump 24.
  • the developer fluid pump causes fluid pressure to build up in lines 26, 30 and 32.
  • the fluid pressure through line 32 actuates the piston of the hydraulic cylinder assembly 34 to extend piston rod 38.
  • the piston rod 38 As the piston rod 38 is extended, it, in turn, pivots the latchingarm 42, thereby locking the upper section 10 of the processing apparatus to the lower section 8.
  • the upper section of the processing apparatus is securely locked to the lower section 8 the instant the machine is put into operation.
  • the processing apparatus When the processing apparatus completes its operation, it is either manually or automatically turned off thus, resulting in a reduction of the fluid pressure in the developer fluid lines 26, 30 and 32.
  • the piston is then retracted by means of the spring return mounted in the cylinder 36, thereby unlocking the upper section 10 of the processing apparatus so that the machine can now be opened if desired for inspection, service or the like.
  • the holddown arm 42 can be automatically actuated by means other than the hydraulic cylinder.
  • a solenoid operated mechanism could be utilized which would be operative when the limit switch 52 turns on the power.
  • solenoid operated mechanisms are both expensive and much more complicated than the hydraulic system of the present apparatus.
  • the hydraulic system of the present apparatus therefore, has the additional advantage of being highly reliable, reasonable in cost and utilizes fluid pressure which is readily available as a result of the operation of the developer section of the processing apparatus.
  • a printing plate processor having a lower fixed section and an upper pivotal section, divided along a plane coincident with the path of travel of a printing plate therethrough, and a processing fluid source; the improvement, comprising, latch means mounted on one of said sections for releasably holding said upper section in a closed position against said lower section; hydraulic cylinder means, operatively connected to said latch means for moving said latch means into and out of holding engagement with that one of said sections which does not carry said latch means; and pressurized fluid supply means for supplying pressurized processing fluid from said processing fluid source to said hydraulic cylinder means.
  • the latch means comprises a latching arm pivotally mounted on the lower section of the processor and having a notch formed adjacent its upper end and a latching stud mounted on the upper section of the processor for engaging said notch of said latching arm.
  • processing fluid is printing plate developer fluid.
  • the pressurized fluid supply means is a pump for supplying processing fluid to both the processor and the hydraulic cylinder means.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Manufacture Or Reproduction Of Printing Formes (AREA)
  • Photosensitive Polymer And Photoresist Processing (AREA)
  • Supply, Installation And Extraction Of Printed Sheets Or Plates (AREA)
US00191190A 1971-10-21 1971-10-21 Hold down mechanism for printing plate processor Expired - Lifetime US3738249A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US19119071A 1971-10-21 1971-10-21

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3738249A true US3738249A (en) 1973-06-12

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ID=22704478

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00191190A Expired - Lifetime US3738249A (en) 1971-10-21 1971-10-21 Hold down mechanism for printing plate processor

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US3738249A (de)
JP (1) JPS5544375B2 (de)
AT (1) AT330210B (de)
CA (1) CA983304A (de)
DE (1) DE2250278C3 (de)
ES (1) ES407805A1 (de)
GB (1) GB1402919A (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4678310A (en) * 1984-10-11 1987-07-07 Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft Device for treating printing plates with a fluid
EP0301157A1 (de) 1987-07-31 1989-02-01 Hoechst Celanese Corporation Druckplattenverarbeitungsgerät mit einer Einrichtung für die Spülwasserrückgewinnung

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5655706Y2 (de) * 1978-12-15 1981-12-25
JPS6249155U (de) * 1985-09-14 1987-03-26

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2737254A (en) * 1952-07-25 1956-03-06 Gen Motors Corp Power operated hood mechanism
US3199153A (en) * 1963-11-29 1965-08-10 Weinstein Albert Garage door operators
US3272552A (en) * 1964-01-15 1966-09-13 Heil Co Latch and tailgate operating mechanism for truck bodies
US3440944A (en) * 1964-02-15 1969-04-29 Keuffel & Esser Co Process and apparatus for the development of photocopying material

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2737254A (en) * 1952-07-25 1956-03-06 Gen Motors Corp Power operated hood mechanism
US3199153A (en) * 1963-11-29 1965-08-10 Weinstein Albert Garage door operators
US3272552A (en) * 1964-01-15 1966-09-13 Heil Co Latch and tailgate operating mechanism for truck bodies
US3440944A (en) * 1964-02-15 1969-04-29 Keuffel & Esser Co Process and apparatus for the development of photocopying material

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4678310A (en) * 1984-10-11 1987-07-07 Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft Device for treating printing plates with a fluid
EP0301157A1 (de) 1987-07-31 1989-02-01 Hoechst Celanese Corporation Druckplattenverarbeitungsgerät mit einer Einrichtung für die Spülwasserrückgewinnung

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS4850805A (de) 1973-07-17
CA983304A (en) 1976-02-10
ES407805A1 (es) 1975-10-16
DE2250278B2 (de) 1977-11-10
DE2250278A1 (de) 1973-04-26
JPS5544375B2 (de) 1980-11-12
DE2250278C3 (de) 1978-07-06
GB1402919A (en) 1975-08-13
ATA891872A (de) 1975-09-15
AT330210B (de) 1976-06-25

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