Automated process for the manufacture of flexible plates and apparatus for implementing the process
AssigneePhotomeca S.A.
InventorsMario Ferrante, Raymond Boucher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automated process, and a device for implementing the process, for preparing a printing block from a photopolymer plate which has been previously exposed to ultraviolet radiation to convert it into a printing block for flexography or typography, or dry offset. The process includes at least the steps of lowering the plate with its sensitive face down into an etching vat, and then etching the plate by the resultant effect of a reciprocating horizontal movement of plane brushes and a to-and-fro movement of the etching vat in a horizontal direction perpendicular to that of the brushes, with the plate being held in place by gravity during the etching.
Claims11
A process for preparing a printing block for flexography, typography or dry offset from a photopolymer plate having a sensitive face which is to be etched, and a back, and which has been previously exposed to ultraviolet radiation to convert the plate into a printing block, the process comprising the steps of:
- lowering the plate with its sensitive face turned downward into an etching vat, and
- etching the plate by a reciprocating horizontal movement of plane brushes, which are mounted facing upward to engage the downward facing sensitive face of the plate, and a to-and-fro movement of the etching vat in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the reciprocating horizontal movement of the brushes, wherein the plate is held in place by gravity during the etching.
An apparatus for preparing a printing block for flexography, typography or dry offset from a photopolymer plate having a sensitive face which is to be etched, and a back, and which has been previously exposed to ultraviolet radiation to convert the plate into a printing block, the apparatus comprising:
- an etching vat mounted for horizontal reciprocating movement and suitable for containing an etching liquid;
- upwardly facing plane brushes mounted for horizontal reciprocating movement in said etching vat;
- means for driving the etching vat in a horizontal reciprocating movement;
- means for driving the plane brushes in a horizontal reciprocating movement in a direction perpendicular to the movement of the vat;
- and
- means for depositing the plate under gravity on the plane brushes with the sensitive face of the plate turned toward the plane brushes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.