US3771428A - Apparatus for processing two sides of a printing plate - Google Patents

Apparatus for processing two sides of a printing plate Download PDF

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Publication number
US3771428A
US3771428A US00191191A US3771428DA US3771428A US 3771428 A US3771428 A US 3771428A US 00191191 A US00191191 A US 00191191A US 3771428D A US3771428D A US 3771428DA US 3771428 A US3771428 A US 3771428A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
plate
accordance
cleaning
sides
developer
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Expired - Lifetime
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US00191191A
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English (en)
Inventor
E Horner
E Gaisner
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Azoplate Corp
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Azoplate Corp
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Publication date
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Publication of US3771428A publication Critical patent/US3771428A/en
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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
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03D—APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING EXPOSED PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIALS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03D3/00—Liquid processing apparatus involving immersion; Washing apparatus involving immersion
    • G03D3/08—Liquid processing apparatus involving immersion; Washing apparatus involving immersion having progressive mechanical movement of exposed material
    • G03D3/13—Liquid processing apparatus involving immersion; Washing apparatus involving immersion having progressive mechanical movement of exposed material for long films or prints in the shape of strips, e.g. fed by roller assembly
    • G03D3/132—Liquid processing apparatus involving immersion; Washing apparatus involving immersion having progressive mechanical movement of exposed material for long films or prints in the shape of strips, e.g. fed by roller assembly fed by roller assembly

Definitions

  • Some printing plates are available with such a subtractive coating on two sides thereof.
  • the customer exposes one side at a time or, in suitable equipment, both sides simultaneously, through a master, to a source of strong actinic light such as a carbon are, for example.
  • the light-sensitive coating when subjected to such a 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.
  • the plate may be fixed and/or washed and finally a coating of gum arabic or similar material is applied to the surface of the plate to protect the imagefree areas thereof.
  • the plate is then ready for the printing press.
  • a master is prepared in the conventional manner.
  • the image of the master is then transferred onto, the sensitized printing member, such as is described above, by a suitable exposure means.
  • the printing member thus prepared is then subjected to adeveloping operation using the chemistry prescribed by the manufacturer of the printing member.
  • This chemistry is worked into the exposed coating by hand rubbing, forexample with a sponge, and the nonimage areas are subtracted or removed from the carrier leaving an exact replica of the image on the plate carrier.
  • 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 press.
  • some plates have a lightsensitive coating on two sides of the carrier or support, thus resulting in advantages to the printer who is then able to print two different jobs from a single printing member. This means that each side of the printing member must be exposed, as described above, and each side must be hand developed and processed in a sink, as described above.
  • the present invention overcomes the difficulties associated with the conventional hand development of such plates by providing an enclosed developer apparatus which includes a receiving station for receiving a printing plate, a continuous transport system, a developing station inwhich the developer is applied to both sides of the plate simultaneously and evenly over the complete surface of .both sides, including a pre-soak section to soften the coating, a rubbing o'r scrubbing section consisting of a free-floating assembly of a set of cleaning brushes and a set of velour type cloth coated scrubber pads mounted one above and one below the plate in sucha manner as to facilitate easy entrance of the plate between the cleaning brushes and scrubber pads.
  • the entire cleaning and scrubbing assembly is further capable of a reciprocating movement trave'rsely across the surface of the plate,-each half in a direction opposite to the other.
  • the top and bottom cleaning and scrubbing devices rub against each other.
  • Attached to the end of the assembly are .furthermore squeegee means which contact the following transport-squeegee rollers for reasons described below.
  • the developer Prior to entering the cleaning and scrubbing section as just described, the developer is applied onto both sides of the plate in a unique pre-soak chamber. While the plate is being moved forward through the pre-soak' chamber, the coating on the non-image areas is softened, enabling the following cleaning and scrubbing as sembly to effectively clean or remove all unwanted coating even in the smallest areas. This assures a highest quality image. Developer is further applied to the plate continuously in the cleaning and scrubbing section, both through the actual cleaning brushes and between the scrubber pads.
  • the pre-soak chamber is of such a length that at the speed of travel of the plate, the coating in the non-, image areas will be thoroughly softened prior to entering the cleaning and scrubbing section.
  • the developer in this chamber is continuously recirculated and refiltered, thus any material dissolved away in this station is automatically removed from the system.
  • the plate is continuously supplied with additional developer, as described above, in order to obtain maximum developing efficiency.
  • This developer is also continuously recirculated and continuously filtered in order to keep the developer clean at all times.
  • the developer which is forced in under pressure from both sides adds to the developing action by the hydraulic forces created.
  • These hydraulic forces are also used in conjunction with a weight on the top floating half of the cleaning and scrubbing section to regulate the desired work force exerted by the brushes and pads on the plate surface to attain optimum development.
  • a further benefit of these hydraulic forces which are applied to both sides of the plate resides in helping keep the plate in the center line of travel.”
  • the preferred arrangement of the cleaning brushes is a whisk broom arrangement providing spacings in be tween the tufts which are mounted at an angleto the plate surface.
  • This type of arrangement offers optimum cleaning efficiency with a minimum of hang up since the spacing of thetufts allows removed material to be washed away continuously by the developer being supplied as the coating is removed.
  • the slanting angle of the tufts offers a minimum of resistance in the direction of plate travel without losing the cleaning efficiency of the brush.
  • the reciprocating action as mentioned above, is a further aid in accomplishing optimum development,
  • FIG. 1 is a view in elevation, partially in section, of one embodiment of the apparatus of the invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lower developing section shown in FIG. 1.
  • the apparatus comprises the left upper side plate 2 and left lower side plate 4, which side plates support the infeed rollers 6 and 8, respectively, between which a plate 10 may be passed or transported into the apparatus.
  • the apparatus Upon entering the apparatus, the left upper side plate 2 and left lower side plate 4, which side plates support the infeed rollers 6 and 8, respectively, between which a plate 10 may be passed or transported into the apparatus.
  • pre-soak assembly 12 which is formed of the upper and lower plates 14 and 16, respectively, and which are mounted on the presoak assembly mounting plates 18 and 20, respectively.
  • a liquid developer is passed into the chamber formed by the plates 14 and 16 through the developer supply conduits 22 and 24 which are connected to a suitable source of developer under pressure, now shown.
  • the plate 10 Upon exiting from the. pre-soak assembly, the plate 10 is passed between a pair of reciprocatable cleaning brushes 26 and 28 which are reciprocated by the shafts 30 and 32 respectively. These brushes rub against each other when no plate is between them and the bristles 34 of the brushes are inclined in the direction of plate travel.
  • the developer also is supplied between the tufts of the brushes, through the orifices 36, which orifices are supplied by the conduits 38 and 40 respectively, which are connected to a suitable source of developer under pressure, not shown.
  • the pressure of the cleaning brushes 26 and 28 against a plate passed between them may be varied by adding one or more weights 42 to the top supporting bracket 44 of the cleaning brushes.
  • Also secured to the upper bracket 44 and the lower bracket 46 are a pair of scrubber pads 48 and 50 respectively, which reciprocate together with the brackets 44 and 46 and the cleaning brushes 26 and 28 secured thereto.
  • These scrubber pads are covered with a suitable soft material such as velour, for example.
  • the scrubber pads are secured to the brackets 44 and 46 by means of appropriate mounting brackets 52 and 56 and 54 and 58, between which the pads 48 and 50 are connected. Developer is supplied between the scrubber pads through the conduits 64 and 66 which are connected to a suitable source developer under pressure, not shown.
  • the plate Upon exiting from the reciprocating scrubber pads, the plate passes between the squeegee rollers 68 and 70 respectively. If any coating particles remain on the sutface of the plate they usually will attach themselves to the surface of the squeegee rollers since these rollers are covered with a material such as synthetic rubber, for example, which has a greater affinity for the particles of the coating than does the metal of the plate. Particles adhering to the squeegee rollers 68 and 70 are removed by the cleaning pads 72 and 74 respectively, which are secured to the brackets 44 and 46, respectively, by the mountings 76 and 78 respectively.
  • the cleaning pads 72 and 74 reciprocate together with the scrubber pads and cleaning brushes and thus traverse the surface of the squeegee rollers, effectively cleaning them.
  • the squeegee rollers are mounted in the right upper side plate 79 and right lower side plate 80.
  • FIG. 2 a fragmentary perspective view of the lower section of the presoak assembly, cleaning brushes, and scrubber pads is shown.
  • the lower plate 16 of the pre-soak assembly has a raised side bar 82 at the right-hand side thereof which cooperates with a similar side bar on the upper plate 14, shown in FIG. 1, so that when the apparatus is closed a chamber is formed between the plates 14 and 16.
  • the developer contacts a printing plate between the plates 14 and 16 in the chamber formed. Developer is supplied between the plates 14 and 16 through the orifices 84 in the lower plate and through corresponding orifices in the upper plate 14. Also shown in FIG.
  • the apparatus is constructed so that the upper section is pivoted at the right-hand end thereof and thus may be openedfiand closed in a clam shell fashion. When closed, the pre-soak assembly, cleaning assembly, brush assembly, and scrubber pad assembly appear as shown in FIG. 1.
  • the lower rollers 8 and 70 may be driven in order to transport a plate through the apparatus.
  • Apparatus for processing two sides of a printing plate comprising; a pre-soak chamber having an inlet and outlet adapted to maintain a body of developer in continuous contact with both sides of a printing plate and having a length such that the coating, on the areas of said plate which are to be removed, is softened during the passage of said plate through said pre-soak chamber, and a pair of cleaning and scrubbing means forming an entrance end and a discharge end, mounted directly opposite one another adjacent'the outlet of said pre-soak chamber, adapted to contact both sides of said plate and subject both sides of said plate to identical mechanical action and including means for contin- 4.
  • Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein the pair of brush means are reciprocatable in opposite directions.
  • the cleaning and scrubbing means includes complementary upper and lower sections and said upper section is free-floating, whereby the pressure applied to a plate passing therebetween is proportional to the weight of said upper section.
  • Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 which additionally includes squeegee roller means mounted adjacent the discharge end of the. cleaning and scrubbing means and having a greater affinity for loose coating material than does the plate being processed.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Photosensitive Polymer And Photoresist Processing (AREA)
US00191191A 1971-10-21 1971-10-21 Apparatus for processing two sides of a printing plate Expired - Lifetime US3771428A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US19119171A 1971-10-21 1971-10-21

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3771428A true US3771428A (en) 1973-11-13

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00191191A Expired - Lifetime US3771428A (en) 1971-10-21 1971-10-21 Apparatus for processing two sides of a printing plate

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US3771428A (de)
JP (1) JPS5544374B2 (de)
AT (1) AT338293B (de)
AU (1) AU457166B2 (de)
CA (1) CA999180A (de)
CH (1) CH543385A (de)
GB (1) GB1415310A (de)
YU (1) YU34744B (de)
ZA (1) ZA727486B (de)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3916426A (en) * 1974-07-01 1975-10-28 Polychrome Corp Apparatus for developing offset printing plates
US3936853A (en) * 1974-06-06 1976-02-03 Mart Milam E Developer apparatus for lithographic plate processing system
US4166689A (en) * 1976-07-23 1979-09-04 Agfa-Gevaert, A.G. Apparatus for wet treatment of carriers of photosensitive material
US4367940A (en) * 1980-06-16 1983-01-11 Mart Milam E Chemical application and developer apparatus for lithographic plate processor
US4796042A (en) * 1987-07-31 1989-01-03 Hoechst Celanese Corp. Printing plate processor having recirculating water wash reclamation
US5879497A (en) * 1995-09-06 1999-03-09 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Alignment device and rubbing cloth for alignment with respect to liquid crystal display device-use substrate, and method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2530502C2 (de) * 1974-07-22 1985-07-18 American Hoechst Corp., Bridgewater, N.J. Verfahren zum gleichzeitigen Entwickeln und Konservieren von Druckplatten sowie dafür geeignete Behandlungslösung
JPS52106201U (de) * 1976-02-05 1977-08-12
JPS5930913Y2 (ja) * 1976-02-18 1984-09-03 三印刷機械株式会社 感光性樹脂版用洗い出し機
JPS54136002U (de) * 1978-03-13 1979-09-20
JPS54151401U (de) * 1978-04-13 1979-10-22
JPS5563541U (de) * 1978-10-25 1980-04-30

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US85426A (en) * 1868-12-29 Improved machine for coloring paper
US930700A (en) * 1908-08-11 1909-08-10 F F Slocomb & Company Inc Attachment to leather-seasoning machines.
US1561953A (en) * 1919-11-15 1925-11-17 Ernest J Sweetland Method of and apparatus for developing films
US2677320A (en) * 1946-12-23 1954-05-04 John S Swift Co Inc Developing head for phtolithographic plate treating machines
US3488116A (en) * 1967-03-16 1970-01-06 Dick Co Ab Developer mechanism for photocopy machine
US3552293A (en) * 1968-08-30 1971-01-05 Eastman Kodak Co Web processing device
US3608464A (en) * 1968-05-14 1971-09-28 Western Litho Plate & Supply Apparatus for developing lithographic plates
US3682078A (en) * 1968-07-18 1972-08-08 Western Litho Plate & Supply Apparatus for post-exposure treatment of lithographic plates

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US85426A (en) * 1868-12-29 Improved machine for coloring paper
US930700A (en) * 1908-08-11 1909-08-10 F F Slocomb & Company Inc Attachment to leather-seasoning machines.
US1561953A (en) * 1919-11-15 1925-11-17 Ernest J Sweetland Method of and apparatus for developing films
US2677320A (en) * 1946-12-23 1954-05-04 John S Swift Co Inc Developing head for phtolithographic plate treating machines
US3488116A (en) * 1967-03-16 1970-01-06 Dick Co Ab Developer mechanism for photocopy machine
US3608464A (en) * 1968-05-14 1971-09-28 Western Litho Plate & Supply Apparatus for developing lithographic plates
US3682078A (en) * 1968-07-18 1972-08-08 Western Litho Plate & Supply Apparatus for post-exposure treatment of lithographic plates
US3552293A (en) * 1968-08-30 1971-01-05 Eastman Kodak Co Web processing device

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3936853A (en) * 1974-06-06 1976-02-03 Mart Milam E Developer apparatus for lithographic plate processing system
US3916426A (en) * 1974-07-01 1975-10-28 Polychrome Corp Apparatus for developing offset printing plates
US4166689A (en) * 1976-07-23 1979-09-04 Agfa-Gevaert, A.G. Apparatus for wet treatment of carriers of photosensitive material
US4367940A (en) * 1980-06-16 1983-01-11 Mart Milam E Chemical application and developer apparatus for lithographic plate processor
US4796042A (en) * 1987-07-31 1989-01-03 Hoechst Celanese Corp. Printing plate processor having recirculating water wash reclamation
EP0301157A1 (de) 1987-07-31 1989-02-01 Hoechst Celanese Corporation Druckplattenverarbeitungsgerät mit einer Einrichtung für die Spülwasserrückgewinnung
US5879497A (en) * 1995-09-06 1999-03-09 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Alignment device and rubbing cloth for alignment with respect to liquid crystal display device-use substrate, and method for manufacturing a liquid crystal display device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH543385A (de) 1973-10-31
AU4789672A (en) 1974-04-26
JPS5544374B2 (de) 1980-11-12
GB1415310A (en) 1975-11-26
AT338293B (de) 1977-08-10
AU457166B2 (en) 1975-01-16
DE2250235B2 (de) 1975-09-18
YU34744B (en) 1979-12-31
ATA891972A (de) 1976-12-15
ZA727486B (en) 1973-09-26
YU260772A (en) 1979-04-30
CA999180A (en) 1976-11-02
JPS4850804A (de) 1973-07-17
DE2250235A1 (de) 1973-04-26

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