JP2915541B2 - Lithographic printing plate developing equipment - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a lithographic printing plate developing apparatus for developing a lithographic printing plate.

<Background of the Invention> Since a lithographic printing plate is formed of an aluminum support and has a certain rigidity, development in which a processing liquid is applied or sprayed while being transferred in a horizontal state is generally performed.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional developing device. A swellable developing solution is sprayed on the lithographic printing plate, on which the film image has been exposed by a metal halide lamp or the like, in the shower section A. Thereby, the photosensitive layer in the non-image portion of the lithographic printing plate swells or dissolves. Then, the photosensitive layer swollen by the rotation of the brush is peeled or promoted to dissolve. Thereafter, washing with water is performed in the pre-rinse section B, gum solution application for surface protection is performed in the finisher section C, and drying is performed in the drying section D to complete a series of operations.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> As described above, since the lithographic printing plate developing apparatus performs the development while transporting the lithographic printing plate horizontally, there is a problem that the occupied area increases.

For this reason, a developing device in which the lithographic printing plate is fixed and the processing liquid application unit moves is conceivable, but there is a drawback that the structure becomes complicated, and realization is not easy.

Further, when supplying the lithographic printing plate to the developing device or when taking out the lithographic printing plate after processing, it is necessary to take the lithographic printing plate horizontally in and out, so that a large space is required around the developing device.

When the lithographic printing plate is handled horizontally, it may be bent, which is inconvenient to handle. In addition, it is extremely difficult to apply the developer evenly over the entire surface of the lithographic printing plate. For this reason, a shower system in which a developer is poured down like a shower is often used. However, it was not possible to completely prevent the occurrence of development unevenness, and it was inevitable that a bleeding plate would occur. In addition, immersion development in which a lithographic printing plate is penetrated into a developer is also performed. However, the structure of the developing device is complicated, and there is a disadvantage that the scale is increased.

Further, in any of the developing methods, since the amount of the developer used at one time is large, the developer is collected in a tank, collected and reused. For this reason, the developer becomes fatigued, and replenishment of the developer, exchange of mother liquor, mixing, developer sensitivity control work, and the like are required, or a developer replenishing apparatus E (FIG. 4) is required. Therefore, there is a problem that the operation or the device for maintaining the concentration of the developer becomes complicated.

In particular, there is a great demand for small machines for users with a small number of processed sheets.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and an object of the present invention is to realize a lithographic printing plate developing apparatus which can easily handle a lithographic printing plate and occupies a small area.

<Means for Solving the Problems> The present invention for solving the above problems includes a printing plate holding unit having a holding surface for holding a lithographic printing plate substantially vertically, and a lithographic plate held by the holding surface in a stationary state. A lithographic printing plate has a slit opening formed so as to cover the entire width of the printing plate in the horizontal direction, and the slit opening is formed on the surface of the stationary lithographic printing plate held by the holding surface. And a squeeze roller for squeezing the developer on the surface of the lithographic printing plate while moving along the surface of the lithographic printing plate in a stationary state held by the holding surface. It is characterized by the following.

<Operation> In the lithographic printing plate developing apparatus of the present invention, a slit opening formed so as to cover the entire width of the lithographic printing plate in the horizontal direction is provided, and the lithographic printing plate is held substantially vertically with respect to the surface of the lithographic printing plate in a stationary state. Then, a developer is supplied from the slit opening over the entire width of the planographic printing plate in the horizontal direction. The processing by the squeeze roller is also performed by moving the squeeze roller with respect to the stationary planographic printing plate. Therefore,
Since the lithographic printing plate in the developing device is held substantially vertically and does not move, the floor area occupied by the developing device can be small, and the device can be extremely small. In addition, since the developer is supplied from the slit opening, the developer can be uniformly supplied without excess or shortage over the entire width of the planographic printing plate in the horizontal direction, and the amount of the developer used can be minimized. it can. Furthermore, the replacement of the lithographic printing plate on the holding surface of the developing device is
Since only the lithographic printing plate is placed or removed from the holding surface, the working space around the developing device can be reduced.

<Example> Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an AA 'section of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view.

In these figures, 1 is a lithographic printing plate, 2 is a part of a housing of a developing device, and a holding surface for holding the lithographic printing plate 1 substantially vertically, and 3a and 3b hold the lithographic printing plate 1. A holding claw for holding at a predetermined position, 4 is a squeeze roller for squeezing the surface of the lithographic printing plate 1, 5 is a squeeze roller 4
Reference numeral 6 denotes a brush roller for rubbing off the swollen photosensitive resin layer in the non-image area of the lithographic printing plate 1 with a brush provided on the surface. Reference numeral 7 denotes a roller shaft of the brush roller 6. The squeeze roller 4 and the brush roller 6 are configured to be movable by a drive unit (not shown) so that the entire surface of the lithographic printing plate 1 is processed while rotating about the respective shafts 5 and 7. . 8a is a developer tank for storing the developer, 8b is a water tank for storing water for washing, 8c is a gum solution tank for storing the gum solution, 9a is a pump for sucking up the developer, 9b is a pump for sucking water, 9c Is a pump for sucking gum solution, 10a is a chamber for temporarily storing a developer, 10b
Is a chamber for temporarily storing water, 10c is a chamber for once storing a gas liquid, 11a is a slit for feeding a developer, 11b is a slit for feeding water, and 11c is a slit for feeding a gum solution. A slit opening 12a is formed so as to cover the entire width of the planographic printing plate 1 in the horizontal direction, and a slit opening for discharging the developing solution from the slit 11a to the planographic printing plate 1, and 12b is a full width of the planographic printing plate 1 in the horizontal direction. Is formed so as to cover the entire width of the planographic printing plate 1 in the horizontal direction, and the slit opening 12c is formed to cover the entire width of the planographic printing plate 1 in the horizontal direction. These are slit openings that discharge to the lithographic printing plate 1.

The operation of the apparatus according to the present embodiment configured as described above is as follows. The description will be made according to the order of the development processing.

[Loading of lithographic printing plate] The lithographic printing plate 1 that has been exposed from the film by an exposure device (not shown) is placed on the holding surface 2 so as to be placed on the holding claws 3a and 3b of the developing device of this embodiment. Put it like that.

In this case, since the lithographic printing plate 1 is handled in a substantially vertical state, bending and the like hardly occur.

[Developer coating process] The developer in the developing tank 8a is pumped out by the pump 9a,
Once pushed into the chamber 10a. When the liquid supply by the pump is further continued, the inside of the slit 11a is uniformly raised in the left and right directions, and the developer is uniformly discharged from the slit opening 12a.

Then, the developer is uniformly applied to the entire surface from the upper end to the lower end of the lithographic printing plate 1.

In this case, the developer drops from the upper end to the lower end of the lithographic printing plate 1 while wetting the surface of the lithographic printing plate 1, so that the amount of the developer used can be minimized.

Then, the squeeze roller 4 rotates left and right while rotating so as to perform a squeezing process on the entire surface of the lithographic printing plate 1 so that the developer applied on the surface of the lithographic printing plate 1 becomes more uniform.

In order to prevent uneven development caused by liquid dripping due to excessive supply of liquid, the new liquid is applied and used up, and the supply amount is set so as not to collect and circulate excess developer. In this case, the used developer is collected below the lithographic printing plate 1 and then discarded.

In addition, the viscosity of the developer and the inclination angle of the holding surface 2 are selected so that the coating amounts are equal on the upper side and the lower side of the lithographic printing plate 1 and in consideration of the flowing speed.

By this processing, the photosensitive resin in the non-image area of the lithographic printing plate 1 swells.

[Rubbing and Rinsing Treatment] The cleaning water in the water tank 8b is pumped out by the pump 9b and is once pushed into the chamber 10b. Further, when the water supply by the pump 9b is continued, the inside of the slit 11b rises left and right uniformly, and the washing water is uniformly discharged from the slit opening 12b. In this state, the brush roller 6 is moved right and left while rotating, and the entire surface of the lithographic printing plate 1 is rubbed.

By the rotation of the brush roller 12 and the spraying of the washing water, the swollen photosensitive resin layer in the non-image area is scraped off.

The washing water and the rubbed-off photosensitive resin are collected under the lithographic printing plate 1 and then discarded.

[Gumming Treatment] The lithographic printing plate 1 having been subjected to the water washing treatment is subjected to gumming treatment by applying a gum solution to protect the hydrophilicity of the non-image area and the image area.

The gum solution in the gum solution tank 8c is pumped out by the pump 9c and is once pushed into the chamber 10c. Further, when the liquid supply by the pump is continued, the inside of the slit 11c rises uniformly in the left and right direction, and the gum solution is uniformly discharged from the slit opening 12c.

Then, the gum solution is uniformly applied to the entire surface from the upper end to the lower end of the lithographic printing plate 1.

In this case, since the gum solution falls from the upper end of the planographic printing plate 1 to the lower end while wetting the surface of the planographic printing plate 1, the usage amount of the gum solution is minimized.

Then, the squeeze roller 4 rotates left and right while rotating so that the entire surface of the lithographic printing plate 1 is squeezed so that the gum solution applied to the surface of the lithographic printing plate 1 becomes more uniform.

In order to prevent uneven coating and fatigue of the liquid, the new liquid is applied and used up, and the supply amount is set so as not to collect and circulate excess gas liquid. In this case, the used gum solution is discarded after being collected below the lithographic printing plate 1.

[Discharge] The lithographic printing plate 1 on which the above-described development processes have been completed is removed from the developing device. However, since the lithographic printing plate 1 is handled in a substantially vertical state, bending and the like hardly occur.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

Since each processing is performed while the lithographic printing plate 1 is held substantially vertically, the floor occupied area of the apparatus can be reduced and space can be saved.

In particular, since the lithographic printing plate 1 is fixed in a substantially vertical state and the squeeze roller 4 and the brush roller 6 move, the floor occupation area can be minimized.

While the lithographic printing plate 1 is held substantially vertically, the processing liquid is discharged to the surface of the lithographic printing plate 1 from the slit opening covering the entire width of the lithographic printing plate 1 in the horizontal direction. Minimal volume is required. Therefore, it becomes possible to perform new solution development (disposable). This allows
There is no need for a replenishment or replacement of the mother liquor, mixing, developer sensitivity control work, or a developer replenishment control device.

The angle at which the lithographic printing plate 1 is conveyed is desirably inclined at an angle of 60 ° to 85 ° from the horizontal plane. In addition, it was confirmed that the inclination from the horizontal plane was preferably around 75 ° in view of the installation floor area and the ease of handling of the lithographic printing plate 1.

Alternatively, the squeeze roller 4 and the brush roller 6 may be kept horizontal and move up and down.

<Effects of the Invention> As described above in detail, in the present invention, a lithographic printing plate in a stationary state, which is provided substantially vertically, is provided with a slit opening formed so as to cover the entire horizontal width of the lithographic printing plate. The developer is supplied to the surface from the slit opening over the entire width of the planographic printing plate in the horizontal direction. Also,
The processing by the squeeze roller is also performed by moving the squeeze roller with respect to the stationary planographic printing plate. Therefore, according to the present invention, the planographic printing plate in the developing device is held substantially vertically and does not move, so that the floor occupying area of the developing device can be small, and the device can be extremely small.
In addition, since the developer is supplied from the slit opening, the developer can be uniformly supplied without excess or shortage over the entire width of the planographic printing plate in the horizontal direction, and the amount of the developer used can be minimized. it can. Furthermore, since the replacement of the lithographic printing plate on the holding surface of the developing device simply involves mounting or removing the lithographic printing plate toward the holding surface, the working space around the developing device can be reduced. In addition, since the lithographic printing plate is handled in a state of being set substantially vertically, there is no possibility that the lithographic printing plate will be bent or bent. Therefore, the operation becomes easy. In addition, there is an effect that maintenance such as handling of each roller and processing of a developer is facilitated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of a lithographic printing plate developing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section AA 'of the lithographic printing plate developing apparatus of the embodiment shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the planographic printing plate developing apparatus of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory view for explaining a conventional planographic printing plate developing apparatus. 1 lithographic printing plate, 2 holding surface 3a, 3b holding claw, 4 squeeze roller 5 roller shaft, 6 brush roller 7 roller shaft, 8a developer tank 8b ... Water tank, 8c ... Gum solution tank 9a, 9b, 9c ... Pump 10a, 10b, 10c ... Chamber 11a, 11b, 11c ... Slit 12a, 12b, 12c ... Slit opening

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Shigeru Mizuo 1 Konica Co., Ltd., Sakura-cho, Hino-shi, Tokyo (56) References JP-A-52-113806 (JP, A) JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G03F 7/00, 7/30

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A printing plate holding means having a holding surface for holding a lithographic printing plate substantially vertically, and formed so as to cover the entire horizontal width of the lithographic printing plate in a stationary state held by the holding surface. A developer supply unit having a slit opening above the lithographic printing plate and supplying a developer from the slit opening to the surface of the stationary lithographic printing plate held by the holding surface; A squeezing roller for squeezing a developer on the surface of the lithographic printing plate while moving along the surface of the lithographic printing plate in a stationary state held by the surface;