Method and multibeam scanning device for the ablation of flexo printing plates by laser engraving

A multibeam scanning device for the ablation of a surface on a drum by laser engraving with a multi-spot array, the drum being rotatable about an axis of rotation, the device comprising:

• a number of laser fiber exits disposed beside one another;
• an AOM array having a number of AOMs corresponding to said number of said laser fiber exits, said AOM array connected to said laser fiber exits, said AOMs receiving laser beams emerging from said laser fiber exits, said AOM array dividing up each of the laser beams into at least two partial beams each modulated independently of one another;
• an optical system for imaging said laser fiber exits at the surface on the drum, said optical system disposed downstream of said AOM array with respect to a travel direction of the laser beams;
• and
• said laser fiber exits, said AOM array, and said optical system forming a multi-spot array and being moveable together in a direction of the axis of rotation of the drum while the surface is scanned by said AOM array in a circumferential direction of the drum.

A multibeam scanning device for the ablation of at least one of film and printing plates, the printing plates including flexo printing plates, disposed on a surface of a rotating drum by laser engraving with a multi-spot array, the drum being rotatable about an axis of rotation, the device comprising:

• a number of laser fiber exits disposed beside one another;
• an AOM array having a number of AOMs corresponding to said number of said laser fiber exits, said AOM array optically connected to said laser fiber exits, said AOMs receiving laser beams emerging from said laser fiber exits, said AOM array dividing up each of the laser beams into at least two partial beams each modulated independently of one another;
• an optical system disposed downstream of said AOM array with respect to a travel direction of the laser beams for imaging said laser fiber exits on the film and printing plate;
• and
• said fiber exits, said optical AOM array, and said optical system forming a multi-spot array and being moveable together in a direction of the axis of rotation of the drum while one of the film and printing plate is scanned by said AOM array in a circumferential direction of the drum.