Vertical plate processor

Apparatus for developig an offset printing plate, comprising:

• a tank containing a developing solution, said tank being open at the top to provide both inlet and outlet means for said plate;
• an upper pair and a lower pair of transport rollers for transporting said plate between said rollers and out of said developing solution, said transport rollers being mounted in said tank;
• a pair of rotatable applicator brushes located intermediate said upper and lower pair of transport rollers and adapted to receive said plate therebetween, said brushes being rotated to scrub the developing solution over the plate surfaces as the plate is transported between said applicator brushes, said transport rollers and said applicator brushes being mounted with each pair substantially vertically above the other for guiding said plate in a vertical path in said tank;
• means for separating said transport rollers and said applicator brushes from a first position whereby said rollers and brushes contact said plate to a second position whereby one roller of each pair of said transport rollers and applicator brushes is separated from the other roller of that same pair by a predetermined amount to permit said plate to be inserted down between said transport rollers for automatically delivering said plate up out of said tank.

Apparatus for developing an offset printing plate, comprising:

• a tank containing a developing solution, said tank being open at the top to provide both inlet and outlet means for said plate;
• an upper pair of lower pair of transport rollers for transporting said plate between said rollers and out of said developing solution, said transport rollers being mounted in said tank;
• a pair of rotatable applicator brushes located intermediate said upper and lower pair of transport rollers and adapted to receive said plate therebetween, said brushes being rotated to scrub the developing solution over the plate surfaces as the plate is transported between said applicator brushes, said transport rollers and said applicator brushes being mounted with each pair substantially vertically above the other for guiding said plate in a vertical path in said tank;
• drive means for rotating said applicator brushes and for rotating said transport rollers for automatically transporting said plate in said tank;
• and
• switch means connected tor activating said drive means, and time delay means electrically connected between said switch means and said drive means to provide a measured dwell time for said plate in said developing solution before said plate is driven up out of said tank.