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 is configured to move the flexographic plate along a predetermined trajectory;
• a development operating assembly configured to apply an absorbent material to the first surface of the flexographic plate during the movement thereof, wherein the development operating unit comprises:
• feeding means of the absorbent material;
• heating means for heating the first surface of the flexographic plate to a temperature sufficient to melt at least a portion of the non-crosslinked polymer/monomer;
• contact means for causing a contact between the absorbent material and the first surface of the flexographic plate to allow the melted polymer/monomer to be absorbed by the absorbent material;
• and
• a cooling assembly for cooling the flexographic plate at a second operating position downstream of a first operating position at which the absorbent material contacts the first surface of the flexographic plate, wherein the first and second operating positions are considered with respect to the predetermined trajectory along which the flexographic plate is moved;
• wherein the cooling assembly comprises:
• at least one cooling element movable between a first reference position and a second reference position corresponding, respectively, to a contact and non-contact condition with the first surface of the flexographic plate;
• and
• displacement means for moving, directly or indirectly, the at least one cooling element between the first and second reference positions.