US3906536A - Apparatus for processing printing plates precoated on both sides - Google Patents

Apparatus for processing printing plates precoated on both sides Download PDF

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Publication number
US3906536A
US3906536A US166414A US16641471A US3906536A US 3906536 A US3906536 A US 3906536A US 166414 A US166414 A US 166414A US 16641471 A US16641471 A US 16641471A US 3906536 A US3906536 A US 3906536A
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United States
Prior art keywords
plate
developer
pad
sides
pad means
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Expired - Lifetime
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US166414A
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English (en)
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Robert C Graham
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Individual
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Individual
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Priority to US166414A priority Critical patent/US3906536A/en
Priority to NL7209864A priority patent/NL7209864A/xx
Priority to DE19722235461 priority patent/DE2235461C3/de
Priority to AT635572A priority patent/AT319745B/de
Priority to CA147,871A priority patent/CA982387A/en
Priority to GB3527472A priority patent/GB1397977A/en
Priority to JP7548372A priority patent/JPS5520576B2/ja
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3906536A publication Critical patent/US3906536A/en
Assigned to BOATMEN'S FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF KANSAS CITY reassignment BOATMEN'S FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF KANSAS CITY SECURITY INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: FIBERGLASS ENGINEERING, INCORPORATED A KS CORPORATION
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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

  • An apparatus for simultaneously processing two sides of an offset printing plate including a developer solution dispenser for dispensing developer solution onto two sides of the plate, a developer section, a washing section, a gumming section and transport rollers for propelling the plates through the apparatus.
  • the improvement lies primarily in the developer section which includes two free-floating pads of a soft material mounted in a manner to receive a plate between them and reciprocatable transversely to the direction of plate travel.
  • This invention relates to anapparatus for simultaneously processing two sides of a printing plate, for example a planographic printing plate as is used in the lithographic printing process. It has long been known I I in the lithographic industry that a subtractive presensicustomer exposes one side at a time or, in suitable equipment, both sides simultaneously through a master to a source of strong light such as a carbon arc, 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 After development, for example by rubbing a developing agent into the surface of the plate by means of a sponge, 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 a developing operation using the chemistry prescribed by the manufacturer of the printing member.
  • This chemistry is worked into the-exposed coating by hand rubbing, for example 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.
  • the present invention overcomes the difficulties associated with the conventional hand developing of a two-sidedplate by providing an enclosed developer apparatus which includes a receiving station for receiving a printing plate, a continuous transport system, a dispensing station in which developer is applied onto two sides of the plate simultaneously and evenly over the complete surface of the two sides, a rubbing or scrubbing station wherein two slightly curved, free floating velour type cloth coated pieces of rubber are mounted one above and one below the plate in a manner such as to facilitate easy entrance of the plate between the two scrubbing devices, the two scrubbing devices being mounted for reciprocation transversely across the surface of the plate in directions opposite to each other. When no plate is in the developing system, the two scrubbing devices rub against each other.
  • developer Prior to entering the scrubbing unit, developer is applied onto both sides ofthe plate. Developer is also introduced into the opening or nip between the scrubbing pads. By reciprocating the slightly curved, floatingpads in directions opposite to each other and by introducing developer into the nip of the scrubbing pads, the removed coating which would eventually foul the scrubbingpads is effectively and continuously scrubbed and washed away.
  • Nip rolls carry the plate into the develop- I ing apparatus and nip rolls removed excess developerfrom the plate and carry it into a washing station which; washes the top and bottom of the plateeffectively with or without mechanical scrubbing action.
  • Another pair of nip rolls removes excess water from'the plate and passes the plate into a gumming station where a gum. solution is applied to both surfaces of the plate and, which, in turn, is metered by a pair of soft rubber;
  • the plate then passes into a drying station where warm air is blown onto the top and bottom of the plate before it exits from the apparatus.
  • the apparatus according to the present invention provides a uniform and even processing on the top and bottom of the plate without scratching or otherwise damaging the image. Also, by including means for recirculating the developer. it is continuously filtered and used to exhaustion. resulting in additional savings to the user.
  • FIG. I is a schematic view of the apparatus of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a detail view of the scrubbing or rubbing apparatus.
  • a planographic printing plate sensitized on both sides and imaged on both sides by exposure to a desired master. is inserted into the apparatus at the point of the arrow 2.
  • two plates. each sensitized and exposed only on one side thereof may be inserted back to back into the apparatus.
  • the inserted plate passes over the trigger mechanism 4 and thus actuates the entire apparatus.
  • the plate then passes through a pair of feed rolls 6. then through a first pair of shielded developer dispensers 8. and through a second pair of developer dispensers 10. which introduces developer into the free-floating reciprocating scrubber pads 14 and 16 respectively.
  • the upper pad 14 is mounted on the upper reciprocator shaft I8 and the lower scrubber pad is mounted on the lower reciprocator shaft 20.
  • the upper scrubber pad is guided at its lower end in its transverse reciprocating movement by the guide 22 and the lower scrubber pad is guided in its transverse reciprocating movement by the guide 24. Both of the guides 22 and 24 cooperate with fixed guide means on the frame of the apparatus. not shown.
  • the plate After passing through the scrubber pads. the plate passes between a third pair of developer dispensers 26 which remove any residual coating which may still adhere to the surface. The plate then passes between the developer transport-squeegee rolls 28 which remove excess developer and propel the plate or plate assembly between the water wash tubes 30 to the rinse transport-squeegee rolls 32. This pair of rolls now assumes the propulsion of the plate or plate assembly and passes it between the gum dispensing tubes 34 to the gum applicator transport-squeegee rolls 36. These rolls. in turn. pass the plate between a pair of air-drying tubes 38 to the exit rolls 40., which guide the now developed. rinsed. gummed. and dried planographic printing plate or plate assembly out of the apparatus in condition for mounting on a press.
  • a plate 42 is shown as it passes between the upper and lower scrubber pads I4 and 16 respectively.
  • the pads 14 and I6 are free-floating. being secured to the upper and lower shafts l8 and 20. respectively. and travel freely at their unsecured ends by means of the guides 22 and 24.
  • These pads may be made of any desired soft material which does not harm the surface of the plate and. as noted above. velour-covered rubber has been found to give good results.
  • the scrubbing pads I4 and I6 are curved away from each other at the leading edges 44 and 46. respectively, the leading edges being those edges through which the plate 42 first passes as it travels from left to right, as shown in FIG. 2.
  • the upper and lower reciprocator developer sprays 10 introduce sprays into the entrance nip of the scrubber pads 14 and 16 so that the removed coating is effectively and continuously washed away.
  • the upper and lower developer dispensers 26 remove any residual coating which may still adhere to the plate surface prior to the entry of the plate into the developer transportsqueegee rolls.
  • the scrubbing pads 14 and 16 are reciprocated. by means not shown in the drawings. in directions opposite to each other.
  • the entire apparatus is enclosed in a housing.
  • the operating conditions of the scrubber or rubbing means may be Widely varied depending. for example. upon the plate size. plate travel speed. and the like.
  • the pad reciprocation rate may be in the range of 300 to 400 strokes per minute. with 350 strokes per minute providing excellent results.
  • the pad stroke may be in the range of l to 3 inches and a stroke or travel of 1.25 inches has been found to give excellent results.
  • the plate travel speed may be'in the range of 24 to 60 inches per minute. with a speed of 36 inches per minute providing excellent results.
  • the total pad contact area per plate side is approximately square inches for a processor accommodating 32-inch plates. and square inches per plate side for a processor accommodating 48-inch plates. but the pad to plate contact area is. of course. relative to the plate size.
  • the length of the pad contact with the plate may be in the range of 2 to 4 inches or more. and a length of about 2.5 inches has been found to give excellent re- I sults.
  • the pressure of the pad contact with the plate may be in the range of about 0.08 to 0.3 psi or more and a pressure of about 0.12 psi has been found to give excellent results. This pressure results in a total pressure of 10.8 pounds per plate side in an apparatus for processing 32-inch plates and l5.6 pounds per plate side in an apparatus for processing 48-inch plates.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Photosensitive Polymer And Photoresist Processing (AREA)
  • Photographic Processing Devices Using Wet Methods (AREA)
  • Cleaning In General (AREA)
  • Printing Plates And Materials Therefor (AREA)
  • Manufacture Or Reproduction Of Printing Formes (AREA)
US166414A 1971-07-27 1971-07-27 Apparatus for processing printing plates precoated on both sides Expired - Lifetime US3906536A (en)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US166414A US3906536A (en) 1971-07-27 1971-07-27 Apparatus for processing printing plates precoated on both sides
NL7209864A NL7209864A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-07-27 1972-07-17
DE19722235461 DE2235461C3 (de) 1971-07-27 1972-07-20 Zum Behandeln einer belichteten lichtempfindlichen Flachdruckplatte dienende Vorrichtung
AT635572A AT319745B (de) 1971-07-27 1972-07-24 Vorrichtung zum Behandeln von belichteten Flachdruckplatten
CA147,871A CA982387A (en) 1971-07-27 1972-07-25 Apparatus for processing printing plates precoated on both sides
GB3527472A GB1397977A (en) 1971-07-27 1972-07-27 Apparatus and process for treating an exposed light-sensitive planographic printing plate
JP7548372A JPS5520576B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-07-27 1972-07-27

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US166414A US3906536A (en) 1971-07-27 1971-07-27 Apparatus for processing printing plates precoated on both sides

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3906536A true US3906536A (en) 1975-09-16

Family

ID=22603206

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US166414A Expired - Lifetime US3906536A (en) 1971-07-27 1971-07-27 Apparatus for processing printing plates precoated on both sides

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3906536A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS5520576B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
AT (1) AT319745B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CA (1) CA982387A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1397977A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL7209864A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4081577A (en) * 1973-12-26 1978-03-28 American Hoechst Corporation Pulsed spray of fluids
FR2391493A1 (fr) * 1977-05-16 1978-12-15 Svecia Silkscreen Maskiner Ab Appareil pour fabriquer ou traiter un stencil destine a une machine d'impression par serigraphie
US4190345A (en) * 1978-07-14 1980-02-26 Scott Paper Company Lithographic plate processing apparatus
US4215927A (en) * 1979-04-13 1980-08-05 Scott Paper Company Lithographic plate processing apparatus
EP0033511A1 (en) * 1980-01-30 1981-08-12 E.I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Film processor
US4652106A (en) * 1984-02-13 1987-03-24 Ajax International Machinery & Metal Works A/S Process and apparatus for developing including use of sound transducers
US4845019A (en) * 1986-06-06 1989-07-04 Visicon Laboratories, Inc. Method for exposing and developing photosensitive materials
US4853727A (en) * 1987-10-09 1989-08-01 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Process and device for treating a photographic recording material
EP0536775A1 (en) * 1991-10-11 1993-04-14 Konica Corporation Processing method for light-sensitive lithographic printing plates and processing device thereof
US20050249494A1 (en) * 2002-06-19 2005-11-10 Earle Anthony X Photographic processor

Families Citing this family (4)

* 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
JPS54162302U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1978-05-03 1979-11-13
USH1263H (en) 1989-02-07 1993-12-07 Konica Corporation Image forming method and apparatus
US5436118A (en) * 1994-03-31 1995-07-25 Eastman Kodak Company Method of processing silver halide photographic elements using a low volume thin tank processing system

Citations (7)

* 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
US1439734A (en) * 1922-09-02 1922-12-26 Kleinert I B Rubber Co Powder puff
US2677320A (en) * 1946-12-23 1954-05-04 John S Swift Co Inc Developing head for phtolithographic plate treating machines
US3039429A (en) * 1957-04-26 1962-06-19 Swift & Co Swabbing device for treating leather
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
US3682079A (en) * 1969-04-09 1972-08-08 Edward A Casson Jr Automatic lithographic plate developing machine

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS4314088Y1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1964-07-10 1968-06-14
JPS4221692Y1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1964-10-17 1967-12-13
JPS4512821Y1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1966-06-23 1970-06-03

Patent Citations (7)

* 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
US1439734A (en) * 1922-09-02 1922-12-26 Kleinert I B Rubber Co Powder puff
US2677320A (en) * 1946-12-23 1954-05-04 John S Swift Co Inc Developing head for phtolithographic plate treating machines
US3039429A (en) * 1957-04-26 1962-06-19 Swift & Co Swabbing device for treating leather
US3608464A (en) * 1968-05-14 1971-09-28 Western Litho Plate & Supply Apparatus for developing lithographic plates
US3552293A (en) * 1968-08-30 1971-01-05 Eastman Kodak Co Web processing device
US3682079A (en) * 1969-04-09 1972-08-08 Edward A Casson Jr Automatic lithographic plate developing machine

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4081577A (en) * 1973-12-26 1978-03-28 American Hoechst Corporation Pulsed spray of fluids
FR2391493A1 (fr) * 1977-05-16 1978-12-15 Svecia Silkscreen Maskiner Ab Appareil pour fabriquer ou traiter un stencil destine a une machine d'impression par serigraphie
US4190345A (en) * 1978-07-14 1980-02-26 Scott Paper Company Lithographic plate processing apparatus
US4215927A (en) * 1979-04-13 1980-08-05 Scott Paper Company Lithographic plate processing apparatus
EP0033511A1 (en) * 1980-01-30 1981-08-12 E.I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Film processor
US4652106A (en) * 1984-02-13 1987-03-24 Ajax International Machinery & Metal Works A/S Process and apparatus for developing including use of sound transducers
US4845019A (en) * 1986-06-06 1989-07-04 Visicon Laboratories, Inc. Method for exposing and developing photosensitive materials
US4853727A (en) * 1987-10-09 1989-08-01 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Process and device for treating a photographic recording material
EP0311063A3 (de) * 1987-10-09 1991-03-06 Du Pont De Nemours (Deutschland) Gmbh Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Behandeln eines photographischen Aufzeichnungsmaterials
EP0536775A1 (en) * 1991-10-11 1993-04-14 Konica Corporation Processing method for light-sensitive lithographic printing plates and processing device thereof
US20050249494A1 (en) * 2002-06-19 2005-11-10 Earle Anthony X Photographic processor

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA982387A (en) 1976-01-27
AT319745B (de) 1975-01-10
JPS5520576B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1980-06-03
DE2235461A1 (de) 1973-02-08
GB1397977A (en) 1975-06-18
NL7209864A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-01-30
DE2235461B2 (de) 1976-12-16
JPS4876605A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-10-15

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: BOATMEN S FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF KANSAS CITY

Free format text: SECURITY INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:FIBERGLASS ENGINEERING, INCORPORATED A KS CORPORATION;REEL/FRAME:006040/0992

Effective date: 19920305