Method of making a flexographic printing plate
AssigneeMacDermid Graphics Solutions, LLC
InventorsRyan W. Vest, Kyle P. Baldwin, Laurie A. Bryant
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of producing a flexographic printing plate using a continuous liquid interphase is provided herein. This method allows for significantly reduced production times and fewer preparation steps compared to standard non-continuous techniques and results in less waste than typical methods for preparing flexographic printing plates. The printing plate provided by using continuous liquid interphase production results in a printing plate with desirable elastomeric elongation, desirable hardness, plate thickness in the range of 0.030 inches to 0.250 inches, and comprises printing dots with desirable characteristics.
Claims14
A continuous liquid interphase method of making a flexographic printing plate comprising:
- a) providing a photocurable composition in a reservoir, wherein the photocurable composition comprises:
- i) polyurethane acrylate resin, methacrylate resin, epoxy acrylate resin, styrenic block copolymers and combinations thereof;
- ii) a photoinitiator;
- iii) a polymerization inhibitor;
- wherein the reservoir contains a transparent bottom, and wherein actinic radiation is capable of shining through the transparent bottom;
- and
- b) providing a carrier plate, wherein the carrier plate provides a surface on which the printing plate is formed, wherein the carrier plate initially contacts the photocurable composition in the reservoir and wherein the reservoir is below the carrier plate;
- c) providing actinic radiation beneath the transparent bottom of the reservoir, wherein the radiation crosslinks and cures areas of the photocurable composition in the reservoir near the transparent bottom;
- and
- d) the carrier plate subsequently moves away from the reservoir containing the crosslinked and cured photocurable composition while the actinic radiation continuously crosslinks and cures the photocurable composition to form a flexographic printing plate, wherein the reservoir containing the composition remains stationary relative to the carrier plate, and wherein the flexographic printing plate is continuously formed near the transparent bottom while being simultaneously removed from the reservoir on the carrier plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.