Apparatus and method for thermally developing flexographic printing elements

An apparatus for exposing and developing a flexographic printing element, the apparatus comprising:

• means for supporting, and preferably rotating, a printing element;
• means for exposing a surface of the printing element to actinic radiation to selectively crosslink and cure a portion of the surface of the printing element;
• and
• means for thermally developing the exposed surface of the printing element comprising:
• a) means for softening or melting non-crosslinked photopolymer on the exposed surface of the printing element;
• b) at least one element that is contactable with the surface of the printing element and capable of moving across at least a portion of the length of the printing element to remove the softened or melted non-crosslinked photopolymer;
• and
• c) means for maintaining contact between the at least one contactable element and the printing element.

A method of exposing and developing a flexographic printing element, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) supporting and rotating the printing element on a support;
• b) exposing a surface of the printing element to one or more sources of actinic radiation to crosslink and cure selected portions of the surface of the printing element;
• c) melting or softening non-crosslinked polymer on the exposed surface of the printing element;
• d) causing contact between the surface of the printing element and at least one contactable element;
• and
• e) moving the at least one contactable element against the printing element as the printing element rotates in a first direction and simultaneously moving the at least one contactable element across at least a portion of the length of the printing element to remove non-crosslinked photopolymer from the exposed surface of the printing element.

An apparatus for exposing and developing a flexographic printing element, comprising:

• a) means for supporting, and preferably rotating the printing element;
• and
• b) at least one reciprocating carriage capable of traversing the length of the printing element wherein the at least one reciprocating carriage has mounted thereon:
• i) means for exposing a surface of the printing element to actinic radiation to selectively crosslink and cure the surface of the printing element;
• and
• ii) at least one element that is contactable with the surface of the printing element and capable of removing non-crosslinked photopolymer on the exposed surface of the printing element.