Laser engraving of photopolymer printing plates
AssigneeMark/Trece Inc.
InventorDonald G. McCaughey, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for laser engraving photopolymer printing plates is provided. Prior to the laser engraving step (30), the photopolymer material is totally cured, followed by removal of a release layer disposed on the material. The laser engraving step (30) which follows removal of the release layer produces a plurality of tacky particulates (120) which adhere to the surface layer of the photopolymer material (100) adjacent the ablated regions (110). The particulates (120) are removed in a solvent washing step (40) to provide clean sharp edges (115) adjacent the ablated regions (110). Subsequent to removal of the photopolymer residue (120) the engraved printing plate is finished, by either chemical or light finishing methods.
Claims18
A method for laser engraving of a photopolymer printing plate, comprising the steps of:
- a. exposing an entire rear surface of said printing plate to ultraviolet light for curing a backing layer thereof;
- b. exposing an entire front surface of said printing plate to ultraviolet light for curing an upper layer thereof;
- c. removing a release layer from said photopolymer printing plate;
- d. laser engraving a particular pattern in said front surface of said photopolymer printing plate;
- and,
- e. removing surface tack and hardening said front surface of said photopolymer printing plate.
A method for laser engraving of a photopolymer printing plate, comprising the steps of:
- a. curing said photopolymer printing plate to provide at least an entire upper surface layer of photopolymer cured to a predetermined depth;
- b. removing a release layer from said photopolymer printing plate;
- c. laser engraving a particular pattern in said upper surface of said photopolymer printing plate;
- and,
- d. removing photopolymer residue from said upper surface of said photopolymer printing plate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.