Thermal development apparatus of flexographic plates

A thermal development apparatus for removing non-crosslinked polymer or monomer from a first surface of a flexographic plate, wherein the apparatus comprises:

• a moving assembly defining a support surface for a second surface of the flexographic plate opposite the first surface, wherein the moving assembly moves the flexographic plate along a predetermined movement trajectory;
• at least one cylinder configured to apply an absorbent material to the first surface of the flexographic plate during the movement thereof;
• a heating cylinder configured to heat the first surface of the flexographic plate to a temperature sufficient to melt at least a portion of the non-crosslinked polymer/monomer, wherein the absorbent material is fed so as to partially envelop the heating cylinder;
• a pushing unit configured to act on the heating cylinder to cause a contact between the absorbent material and the first surface of the flexographic plate so that the melted polymer/monomer is removed by the absorbent material;
• wherein the pushing unit comprises at least one pair of pneumatic actuators operatively connected to the heating cylinder,
• wherein each of the actuators comprises a cylinder supplied with pressurized air and a rod movable with respect to the cylinder,
• wherein the pushing unit further comprises a pressure regulating device configured to adjust a value of air pressure in the cylinder of each of the actuators, and a connecting mechanism that operatively connects the actuators to the heating cylinder, the connecting mechanism defining a trajectory along which the heating cylinder is moved,
• wherein corresponding to an initial pressure value the actuators push the heating cylinder from a non-operating position to an operating position on the flexographic plate,
• wherein the regulating device allows the initial pressure value to be varied so as to vary the operating position, thus causing a consequent variation in the pressure applied by the heating cylinder on the flexographic plate,
• the apparatus further comprising a support frame comprising a pair of opposing sidewalls, the connecting mechanism comprising a pair of connecting levers hinged to the opposing sidewalls so as to rotate with respect to the sidewalls about a rotation axis parallel to a rotation axis of the heating cylinder, and
• wherein each of the levers has a substantially L-shaped configuration, wherein a first arm extends from the rotation axis of the heating cylinder to a first end connected to an end of the rod of the corresponding actuator, and wherein a second arm shorter than the first arm extends between the rotation axis of the heating cylinder and a second end rotatably supporting a corresponding end of the heating cylinder.