Lamination device method for flexographic plate manufacturing
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsGregory L. Zwadlo, Peter A. Stolt, Christopher G. Staudt, Christopher M. Muir, Bradley S. Bush, Randy E. Armbruster
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pre-press flexographic plate laminator for laminating a masking film onto a pre-press flexographic printing plate. The apparatus can be used to apply a balanced, non-distorting force to a flexographic printing plate and masking film with an optimized lamination force to achieve optical contact while minimizing lateral film distortion.
Claims11
A pre-press flexographic plate laminator for laminating a masking film onto a pre-press flexographic printing plate, the apparatus comprising:
- a support gantry independently supporting a carriage, including one or more lamination flexure plates, to minimize lateral distortion to a flexographic printing plate and masking film during lamination;
- a lamination roller attached to the carriage, independently supported by the gantry, forming a nip with a vacuum table to apply a balanced, non-distorting optimized lamination force (FL) to the flexographic printing plate and the masking film to achieve optical contact between the flexographic printing plate and the masking film;
- and
- a plow adjacent the nip to remove a cover sheet from the pre-laminate flexographic printing plate while applying the masking film;
- a center screw attached to the gantry to move the lamination roller along two side rails exposing the pre-laminated sheet to a uniform lamination force.
A pre-press flexographic plate laminator for laminating a masking film onto a pre-press flexographic printing plate, the apparatus comprising:
- a support carriage to minimize lateral distortion to a flexographic printing plate and masking film during lamination, the carriage including adjustable plate-dependent weights attached on each side of the carriage;
- a lamination roller independently supported by the carriage, the lamination roller forming a nip with a vacuum table, the lamination roller to apply a balanced, non-distorting optimized lamination force (FL) to the flexographic printing plate and the masking film to achieve optical contact between the flexographic printing plate and the masking film during lamination;
- and
- a plow adjacent the nip to remove the cover sheet from the pre-laminate flexographic printing plate while applying the masking film.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.