Electrophotographic process for producing printing plate and plate making machine

Abstract

A process for producing a printing plate and a printing plate making machine are disclosed. The process involves providing an electrophotographic plate making material which includes a base having a low conductive layer thereon. The material is electrically charged and imagewise exposed. The imagewise exposed material is subjected to liquid toner development with a toner containing a solvent. The solvent is then substantially removed by heating the material to a temperature sufficient to cause the evaporation of the solvent. The material is then moved to a substantially isolated fixing area and again heated in order to fix a toner image on the plate making material. The process can be quickly and easily carried out and eliminates the danger of the explosion of solvent vapors.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.