Flexographic printing imaging with lead and trail edge strips
AssigneePMD Dies & Stereos Proprietary Limited
InventorLeon Mare Zevenbergen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of forming a digital image on a flexographic printing plate comprising: attaching a portion of photopolymer to a dimensionally stable backing sheet; attaching a lead edge strip and a trail edge strip to said dimensionally stable backing sheet to form a flexographic printing plate; securing the flexographic printing plate comprising a portion of photopolymer to an imaging cylinder by securing the lead edge strip to a lead edge lock formation and securing said trail edge strip to a trail edge lock formation; imparting an image to said portion of photopolymer; and washing said photopolymer to remove unreacted photopolymer and drying said photopolymer to form a processed flexographic printing plate.
Claims20
A method for flexographic printing comprising:
- a. attaching a portion of photopolymer to a dimensionally stable backing sheet;
- b. attaching a lead edge strip and a trail edge strip to said dimensionally stable backing sheet to form a flexographic printing plate;
- c. securing the flexographic printing plate comprising a portion of photopolymer to an imaging cylinder by securing the lead edge strip to a lead edge lock formation and securing said trail edge strip to a trail edge lock formation;
- d. imparting an image to said portion of photopolymer;
- e. washing said photopolymer to remove unreacted photopolymer and drying said photopolymer to form a processed flexographic printing plate;
- f. attaching said processed flexographic printing plate to a printing cylinder, wherein said lead edge strip is secured to a lead edge lock formation and said trail edge strip is secured to a trail edge lock formation that replicates the attachment from the imaging cylinder;
- and
- g. printing an image onto a substrate by pressing said processed flexographic printing plate to said substrate with an ink.
A method of forming a digital image on a flexographic printing plate comprising:
- a. attaching a portion of photopolymer to a dimensionally stable backing sheet;
- b. attaching a lead edge strip and a trail edge strip to said dimensionally stable backing sheet to form a flexographic printing plate;
- c. securing the flexographic printing plate comprising a portion of photopolymer to an imaging cylinder by securing the lead edge strip to a lead edge lock formation and securing said trail edge strip to a trail edge lock formation;
- d. imparting an image to said portion of photopolymer;
- and
- e. washing said photopolymer to remove unreacted photopolymer and drying said photopolymer to form a processed flexographic printing plate.
An imaging machine for imparting a digital image onto a flexographic plate comprising an imaging cylinder and an imaging laser;
- said imaging cylinder comprising a longitudinal slot substantially disposed along the length of the imaging cylinder;
- said longitudinal slot comprising therewithin a mounting formation comprising a lead edge lock formation and a trail edge lock formation;
- wherein the imaging machine is sized such that the imaging cylinder is of sufficient length to image a flexible relief printing plate having attached thereto a lead edge strip and a trail edge strip.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.