A plate processing line and methods for producing a flexographic printing plate. An imaging station applies image information to a first plate. A first exposure station cures the first plate. One or more of water, a solvent, and/or a thermal process is further applied to the first plate. A drying station or an after-exposure station is configured to expose the plate to further radiation. A feeding station is configured to feed the first plate cured by the exposure station and a second plate cured by a second exposure station to the processing station. A transportation cart may transport the plate between the first or second exposure stations and the processing station.
G03F 7/00 - Photomechanical, e.g. photolithographic, production of textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. printed surfaces; Materials therefor, e.g. comprising photoresists; Apparatus specially adapted therefor
Systems and methods for curing a photopolymer printing plates. A radiation source, such as an UV LED source having a radiation-emitting lateral dimension in a range 10-60 cm, is spaced from a substrate that holds the printing plate. The source and substrate are configured to move relative to one another in a movement direction that defines a leading edge of the radiation source and a trailing edge of the radiation source. A cooling air handling system directs a volume of cooling air into the gap between the radiation source and the printing plate in a direction from the trailing edge to the leading edge. The cooling air handling system may have one or more outlets attached at least one edge of the source, may be configured to only direct air from the trailing edge to the leading edge, or a combination thereof.
G03F 7/00 - Photomechanical, e.g. photolithographic, production of textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. printed surfaces; Materials therefor, e.g. comprising photoresists; Apparatus specially adapted therefor
G03F 7/038 - Macromolecular compounds which are rendered insoluble or differentially wettable
3.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MITIGATING TRAILING EDGE VOIDS IN FLEXO PRINTING
Methods, systems, and non-transitory memory media embodying computer readable instructions for minimizing voids in front of a trailing edge of a solid rendition or linework print region printed using a photocurable flexographic printing plate having a printing surface corresponding to information in an image file. At least one solid rendition or linework image region corresponding to the solid rendition or linework print region has a pattern of “on” and “off” single pixels that correspond to openings formed by an imager in a mask layer of the plate. Micro-screen openings in an edge region of the solid rendition or linework mask region are imaged with a different size than micro-screen openings in a center region of the solid rendition or linework mask region.
Systems and processes for making a flexo plate, and plates made thereby. Non-printing indicia defined by areas of presence and absence of polymer in the plate floor are readable downstream of the washing or other non-cured-polymer-removal step but do not print in the printing step. The non-printing indicia may define a repeating pattern of alphanumeric characters, non-text graphics, or a combination thereof.
ESKO Graphics imaging Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung (Germany)
Inventor
Yamamoto, Yuki
Saito, Hideo
Pascal, Thomas
Thomas, Klein
Abstract
A plate making system comprises a writing device, an exposure device, a developing device, a plate cutting device, a first transfer device, a second transfer device and a third transfer device in an integrated manner. The plate making system also comprises a control device that controls a series of plate making processes for a flexographic printing original plate performed by the writing device, the exposure device, the developing device and the plate cutting device.
A finished flexo plate with printing dots and non-printing indicia. The printing dots have an elevation above the plate floor sufficient to transfer ink to a substrate in a printing step, whereas the non-printing indicia are configured for persistent readability relative to the plate floor but have a height relative to the plate floor insufficient to transfer ink to the substrate in the printing step. The non-printing indicia define a pattern of alphanumeric characters, non-text graphics, or a combination thereof, and are disposed on the plate floor in the form of areas of presence and absence of polymer defined by structures formed of microdots, each microdot having an elevation relative to the plate floor lower than a printing height.
G06K 1/12 - Methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion otherwise than by punching
G06K 7/14 - Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by corpuscular radiation using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light
7.
Process and apparatus for automatic measurement of density of photopolymer printing plates
A method and apparatus for measurement of density of a photosensitive printing plate (130) having a mask (132) embodying image information corresponding to an image to be printed. A density measurement system includes a first radiation source (112) spaced apart from and adjacent the plate and configured to emit radiation having a first wavelength or range of wavelengths toward the plate. A densitometer (110) spaced apart from and adjacent the plate in a fixed relationship relative to the first radiation source receives and measures an amount of the first radiation transmitted through or reflected by the plate and the mask during relative movement between the plate and the density measurement system. The densitometer readings are processed to provide an output correlating to quality of the mask. The density measurement system may be coupled to an exposure system (120,122,124) for curing the plate.
G01N 9/24 - Investigating density or specific gravity of materials; Analysing materials by determining density or specific gravity by observing the transmission of wave or particle radiation through the material
B41N 3/00 - Preparing for use or conserving printing surfaces
G03F 7/12 - Production of screen printing forms or similar printing forms, e.g. stencils
8.
UV LED RADIATION SOURCES FOR USE IN PHOTOPOLYMER EXPOSURE
A source of actinic radiation for curing printing plates. The source includes a base with a heat sink and has a length greater than its width. One or more circuit boards mounted on the base provide a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) distributed over the length of the base. A transparent or translucent cover together with the base defines an enclosure for the plurality of LEDs. The source provides the radiation at an emission angle greater than the emission angles of a single LED in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the base, in a plane containing the axis of the base or parallel to the axis of the base and perpendicular to the target illumination plane, or a combination thereof. The source may be configured to replace a fluorescent bulb. Methods and systems for bank exposure of printing plates using such sources are also described.
F21K 9/278 - Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source
F21K 9/69 - Optical arrangements integrated in the light source, e.g. for improving the colour rendering index or the light extraction - Details of refractors forming part of the light source
F21V 29/77 - Cooling arrangements characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks with fins or blades with essentially identical diverging planar fins or blades, e.g. with fan-like or star-like cross-section
F21V 23/04 - Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices the elements being switches
9.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXPOSURE OF FLEXOGRAPHIC PRINTING PLATES USING LIGHT EMITTING DIODE (LED) RADIATION SOURCES
Apparatus, method, and system for exposing a photosensitive printing plate to radiation, including a plurality of LED point sources configured to emit UV light. The plurality of LED point sources in at least one of a front side set or back side set are controllable in subsets smaller than an entirety of the collective irradiation field corresponding to the respective set. A holder receives the printing plate in a stationary position to receive incident radiation and a controller is configured to control the plurality of LED source subsets. A first LED point source subset is configured to be controlled at a first intensity differing by a factor relative to a second intensity of a second LED point source subset to give the radiation emitted by the respective set an intended degree of homogeneity.
A system for preparing a photopolymer printing plate includes exposure unit comprising a plurality of UV light emitting diodes (UV LEDs), a holder comprising a UV translucent material configured to receive the printing plate, and a controller configured to activate the plurality of UV LEDs. The UV LEDs include a plurality of stationary back UV LEDs configured to emit UV radiation toward the non-printing back side of the printing plate through the holder with the printing plate disposed in a stationary position on the holder, the plurality of stationary back UV LED sources together defining at least one back array having a collective irradiation field covering an area at least coextensive with the lateral length and lateral width of the plate.
A combined radiation and functional layer application system includes one or more radiation sources and a commonly located functional layer application unit configured to dispose a functional layer over the surface of a fixed target ahead of the radiation sources during relative motion between the target and the radiation sources/application unit. System and method embodiments include those in which the target is stationary or moving, and embodiments in which the functional layer is applied as a liquid or as a solid laminate. Embodiments relate to application of an oxygen-blocking layer of a printing plate prior to exposure to actinic radiation. Certain solid laminate embodiments include a two-roll system for positioning the laminate for cutting adjacent a trailing edge of the plate.
B05C 9/12 - Apparatus or plant for applying liquid or other fluent material to surfaces by means not covered by groups , or in which the means of applying the liquid or other fluent material is not important for applying liquid or other fluent material and performing an auxiliary operation the auxiliary operation being performed after the application
B05D 1/02 - Processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials performed by spraying
B05D 3/06 - Pretreatment of surfaces to which liquids or other fluent materials are to be applied; After-treatment of applied coatings, e.g. intermediate treating of an applied coating preparatory to subsequent applications of liquids or other fluent materials by exposure to radiation
A method and system for creating a printing plate from a vector format image file having image and non-image areas. A boundary in vector coordinates is identified via a user interface that defines each image area corresponding to an image patch. The image file is raster image processed (RIPped) to create RIPped image information associated with the vector coordinates corresponding to the image patches. The RIPped image information and associated vector coordinates are processed to create RIPped image patches, register marks attached to each RIPped image patch, and the RIPped image patches with register marks and corresponding vector coordinates stored in a processing file. The system includes a computer memory, an interface for providing the image file, a user interface, and a computer processor configured to perform the method.
A plate handling system (500, 600) for transporting printing plates between workstations in a process workflow. A plurality of vacuum gripper end effectors (512) configured to grip the printing plates are mounted to a computer-controlled transporter (514) configured to translate in at least three orthogonal directions and to rotate about at least one rotational axis. At least one sensor (560) detects orientation of the plate relative to a staging location and a controller (630) causes the transporter to move based upon programmed instructions in accordance with information provided by the sensor. A mobile preparation table (1000) may be provided in the staging location. A thickness measurement system (1090) may be included in some embodiments.
Systems and methods for exposing photopolymer printing plate material located within a target area having first and second dimensions. A light source having LEDs arrayed coextensive with the first dimension moves relative to the second dimension, and emits different light intensities over the target area in at least one of the first dimension or the second dimension. The systems and methods may be used to determine exposure parameters for curing a selected plate by causing different sample units to receive different amounts of total energy exposure, exposure energy per exposure step, or a combination thereof, and visually evaluating each sample unit against a reference plate of the same type and thickness. The sample unit embodying a minimum acceptable total exposure energy and a maximum acceptable exposure energy per exposure step is then identified.
A process for constructing a printing plate by successively depositing a plurality of n layers of photopolymer on a substrate, curing each layer 1 through (n-m) using a wide area radiation source, and selectively curing layers (n-m+1) to layer n using a small area radiation source modulated in accordance with a desired image to be printed by the printing plate. Non-cured polymer is removed from layers (n-m+1) to n, and all of the layers are further cured with a detacking area radiation source. Also disclosed is a system for constructing a printing plate by additive manufacturing, including a printing assembly and means for providing relative motion between the substrate and the printing assembly. The assembly comprises one or more ink jet print heads, at least one wide area radiation source, and the small area radiation source.
B29C 64/112 - Processes of additive manufacturing using only liquids or viscous materials, e.g. depositing a continuous bead of viscous material using individual droplets, e.g. from jetting heads
B33Y 30/00 - ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING - Details thereof or accessories therefor
Photosensitive printing form for a flexographic printing method comprising visible and non-printable information, and method for preparing such a printing form
A photosensitive flexographic printing form, and process for manufacturing the same. The printing form includes a base, a first series of relief patterns having a first elevation with respect to the base in an image area of the base, and a second series of relief patterns having one or more elevations lower than the first elevation and located outside of the image area.
Systems and methods for making a flexo plate, and plates, machines, readers, and computer readable media for use therewith. In the system, a plurality of processing machines, each configured to perform one or more process steps in a workflow, includes a controller, a variable operating parameter controlled by the controller, and a reader configured to read machine-readable indicia on the flexo plate. The machine-readable indicia (e.g. bar code, RFID tag, text) is configured for persistent readability downstream of washing (and cutting) steps, without printing in the printing step. The indicia may embody information including at least a plate identifier and instructions corresponding to the at least one variable operating parameter for each of the processing machines or information corresponding to an address in computer storage where the information resides.
G06K 1/12 - Methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion otherwise than by punching
G06K 7/14 - Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by corpuscular radiation using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light
A mounting unit, or printing system including a mounting unit, for mounting printing plate segments on a carrier sheet. The mounting unit includes a base for receiving the carrier sheet, at least two cameras, a controller for positioning the cameras relative to the base, and a computer connected to the controller and cameras. The computer is configured to receive a mounting file including a printing plate segment identifier, information regarding alignment of registration marks relative to the carrier sheet; and image data corresponding to a characteristic pattern associated with each printing plate segment. The unit is configured to display a composite image depicting the image data corresponding to the characteristic patterns in a predetermined arrangement of printing plate segment locations and orientations overlaid on an image of the carrier sheet from one of the at least two cameras.
B41F 33/02 - Arrangements of indicating devices, e.g. counters
B41F 27/14 - Devices for attaching printing elements or formes to supports for attaching printing formes to intermediate supports, e.g. adapter members
B41F 33/00 - Indicating, counting, warning, control or safety devices
H04N 1/387 - Composing, repositioning or otherwise modifying originals
G03F 9/00 - Registration or positioning of originals, masks, frames, photographic sheets or textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. automatically
B41F 33/16 - Programming systems for automatic control of sequence of operations
B41F 27/00 - Devices for attaching printing elements or formes to supports
19.
System and process for mounting a printing plate on a carrier
A process for mounting a printing plate on a carrier sheet, including disposing registration indicia on the plate, placing the carrier sheet on a cutting table of a cutting system, mounting the plate to the carrier sheet, detecting absolute coordinates of the registration indicia; and cutting the carrier sheet along a cut line having absolute coordinates generated based upon the detected absolute coordinates. A related system includes the cutting system with the cutting table, a camera for detecting the registration indicia, a processor, a cutter, a controller, and a computer memory programmed with instructions for instructing the controller to detect the indicia, calculate the absolute coordinates for the cut line based upon the detected absolute coordinates and stored relative coordinates for the cut line, and cutting the carrier sheet along the cut line. Computer readable media containing such programmed instructions is also disclosed.
Apparatus and method for directly curing photopolymer printing plates, such as with UV radiation. Printing plates are cured directly by radiation, such as emitted from a high power UV laser beam. No LAMS layer or film bearing the image information is required on top of the polymer plate. The laser beam may be split into several individually-modulated beams by means of an Acousto Optical Deflector. Each individual beam is capable of curing pixels of the image that are to be transferred to the printing plate. Support shoulders for the printing details, formed by the pixels are determined by the caustic of the UV beam propagation.
A system for preparing a photopolymer printing plate includes an imager, a plate unloader configured to automatically unload the plate from the imager and deliver the plate to an exposure unit comprising a plurality of UV LEDs, and a controller configured to operate the imager, the plate unloader, and the exposure unit. The imager has a rotatable drum configured to rotate while laser beams ablate portions of an ablatable layer of the printing plate in accordance with imaging data. The UV LEDs include a back array and a front array configured to expose the front of the UV-curable plate, at least one of which is configured to emit UV radiation toward the plate during relative motion between the plate and the array.
The overall mechanism for creating the exposure may comprise a table having an outer frame 1110 that holds a transparent (e.g. glass) inner portion 1112. The upper 1120 and lower 1122 linear radiation sources (e.g. banks of LED point sources, optionally mounted inside a reflective housing) are mounted on a gantry system or carriage 1130. The radiation sources are connected to a power source, such as an electrical power cord having sufficient slack to extend the full range of motion of the carriage. Tracks (not shown) disposed on the outer frame portion provide a defined path for the gantry system or carriage to traverse. The carriage may be moved on the tracks by any drive mechanism known in the art (also coupled to the power supply and the controller), including a chain drive, a spindle drive, gear drive, or the like. The drive mechanism for the carriage may comprise one or more components mounted within the carriage, one or more components fixed to the table, or a combination thereof. A position sensor (not shown) is preferably coupled to the carriage to provide feedback to the controller regarding the precise location of the carriage at any given time. The control signal output from the controller for operating the radiation sources and for controlling motion of the carriage may be supplied via a wired or wireless connection. The controller may be mounted in a fixed location, such as connected to the table with a control signal cable attached to the sources similar to the power cable, or may be mounted in or on the carriage. The control system and drive mechanism cooperate to cause back/forth relative motion in a transverse direction between the light from the radiation sources and the plate. It should be understood that other embodiments may be devised in which the drive mechanism is configured to move the portion of the table containing the plate past stationary upper and lower linear radiation sources, as well as embodiments in which the radiation sources cover less than the full width of the plate and are movable in both the transverse and longitudinal direction to provide total plate coverage (or the plate is movable in both directions, or the plate is movable in one of the two directions and the sources are movable in the other direction to provides the full range of motion required to cover the entire plate).
A process for mounting a printing plate on a carrier sheet, including disposing registration indicia on the plate, placing the carrier sheet on a cutting table of a cutting system, mounting the plate to the carrier sheet, detecting absolute coordinates of the registration indicia; and cutting the carrier sheet along a cut line having absolute coordinates generated based upon the detected absolute coordinates. A related system includes the cutting system with the cutting table, a camera for detecting the registration indicia, a processor, a cutter, a controller, and a computer memory programmed with instructions for instructing the controller to detect the indicia, calculate the absolute coordinates for the cut line based upon the detected absolute coordinates and stored relative coordinates for the cut line, and cutting the carrier sheet along the cut line. Computer readable media containing such programmed instructions is also disclosed.
Apparatus and method for directly curing photopolymer printing plates, such as with UV radiation. Printing plates are cured directly by radiation, such as emitted from a high power UV laser beam. No LAMS layer or film bearing the image information is required on top of the polymer plate. The laser beam may be split into several individually-modulated beams by means of an Acousto Optical Deflector. Each individual beam is capable of curing pixels of the image that are to be transferred to the printing plate. Support shoulders for the printing details, formed by the pixels are determined by the caustic of the UV beam propagation.
Systems and processes for making a flexo plate, and plates made thereby. Non-printing indicia defined by areas of presence and absence of polymer in the plate floor created using microdots imaged during a LAMS layer imaging step are readable downstream of the washing or other non-cured-polymer-removal step but not to print in the printing step. The non-printing indicia may define a repeating pattern of alphanumeric characters, non-text graphics, or a combination thereof. A difference in growth of plate structures corresponding to different types of microdots may be used for characterizing processing conditions.
Systems and processes for making a flexo plate, and plates made thereby. Non-printing indicia defined by areas of presence and absence of polymer in the plate floor created using microdots imaged during a LAMS layer imaging step are readable downstream of the washing or other non-cured-polymer-removal step but not to print in the printing step. The non-printing indicia may define a repeating pattern of alphanumeric characters, non-text graphics, or a combination thereof. A difference in growth of plate structures corresponding to different types of microdots may be used for characterizing processing conditions.
G06K 1/12 - Methods or arrangements for marking the record carrier in digital fashion otherwise than by punching
G06K 7/14 - Methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers by corpuscular radiation using light without selection of wavelength, e.g. sensing reflected white light
An apparatus for back-exposing a printing plate and method for exposing a printing plate therewith. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are arranged in one or more arrays, including at least two sets of LEDs, each set having an emission spectrum different than a corresponding emission spectrum of at least one other set. One or more controllers connected to the LED array is configured to activate the array to cause the plurality of sets of LEDs to emit radiation toward the back, non-printing side of the printing plate simultaneously. Performing the method includes providing the one or more arrays spaced a pre-defined distance from the printing plate and irradiating the back, non-printing side of the printing plate with the emission spectra of the at least two sets of LEDs simultaneously.
A method for mounting one or more printing plate segments on a carrier sheet. The method comprises importing a file into a computer associated with a mounting unit. For each printing plate segment, the file includes a printing plate segment identifier, information regarding alignment of registration marks relative to the carrier sheet; and image data corresponding to a characteristic pattern associated with each printing plate segment. A composite image depicting the image data corresponding to the characteristic patterns is then displayed on a display in the predetermined arrangement of one or more printing plate segment locations and orientations. A mounting unit and a printing system and computer readable media programmed with instructions for performing the method are also described.
B41F 27/00 - Devices for attaching printing elements or formes to supports
B41F 33/00 - Indicating, counting, warning, control or safety devices
H04N 1/387 - Composing, repositioning or otherwise modifying originals
B41F 33/02 - Arrangements of indicating devices, e.g. counters
B41F 27/14 - Devices for attaching printing elements or formes to supports for attaching printing formes to intermediate supports, e.g. adapter members
G03F 9/00 - Registration or positioning of originals, masks, frames, photographic sheets or textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. automatically
B41F 33/16 - Programming systems for automatic control of sequence of operations
29.
Process and apparatus for controlled exposure of flexographic printing plates and adjusting the floor thereof
A method and apparatus to expose photosensitive printing plates with a predetermined radiation density from the main side (top) and a predetermined radiation density from the back side (bottom). The method comprises executing the main exposure with a time delay after the back exposure. The time delay between back exposure and main exposure is optimized to create smaller stable single dot elements on the photosensitive printing plate after processing and smaller single element dot sizes printed on the print substrate. The plate floor may be adjusted by performing a back-side-only exposure prior to executing the combined back and main exposure with the time delay.
An apparatus comprises: (a) a rotatable drum configured to have a UV-curable printing plate with an ablatable layer thereon, placed thereon; (b) at least one laser beam to image the plate on the drum by ablating some of the ablatable layer according to image data to form an imaged plate; (c) an unloading area onto which a plate is movable when unloaded; and (d) a plurality of UV LEDs configured to apply UV radiation to the back of the UV-curable plate or to both the front and back of the UV-curable plate during or after the unloading of the imaged plate.
Described herein are an apparatus and a method for direct engraving an elastomeric printing plate or sleeve by multiple laser beams simultaneously. In one embodiment, an elastomeric printing plate or sleeve is positioned on an imaging drum for direct engraving. The imaging drum is rotatable around its longitudinal axis. Such rotation defines a circumferential direction, also called the transverse direction. The axis of rotation defines an axial direction, also called the longitudinal direction. The printing plate or sleeve has an body and a surface made of an elastomer (made of polymer or rubber). A drive mechanism provides relative motion between a plurality of laser beams and the plate or sleeve in both the transverse and longitudinal directions.
An apparatus comprises: (a) a rotatable drum configured to have a UV-curable printing plate with an ablatable layer thereon, placed thereon; (b) at least one laser beam to image the plate on the drum by ablating some of the ablatable layer according to image data to form an imaged plate; (c) an unloading area onto which a plate is movable when unloaded; and (d) a plurality of UV LEDs configured to apply UV radiation to the back of the UV-curable plate or to both the front and back of the UV-curable plate during or after the unloading of the imaged plate.
Described herein are an apparatus and a method for direct engraving an elastomeric printing plate by multiple laser beams simultaneously. In one embodiment, an elastomeric printing plate or sleeve is positioned on an imaging drum for direct engraving. The imaging drum is rotatable around its longitudinal axis. Such rotation defines a circumferential direction, also called the transverse direction. The axis of rotation defines an axial direction, also called the longitudinal direction. The printing plate has an body and a surface made of an elastomer (made of polymer or rubber). A drive mechanism provides relative motion between a plurality of laser beams and the plate in both the transverse and longitudinal directions.
An apparatus for and a method of loading and unloading of plates to and from an imager. The apparatus includes a loading area holding one single or a plurality of plates and an unloading area holding a single plate, the areas arranged vertically. The plate includes ultraviolet curable material. The apparatus includes a control system configured when in operation to control the automated loading and unloading and the apparatus elements therefor. One fully automatic version includes automatic loading from a stack or set of plate magazines and in the case that the plate includes a protective sheet thereon, includes removing the protective sheet from the plate. Some versions also include one or more ultraviolet sources to irradiate the flexographic plates with ultraviolet radiation during the automated loading and/or unloading. The ultraviolet sources are controlled by the same control system.
An apparatus comprises: (a) a rotatable drum configured to have a UV-curable printing plate with an ablatable layer thereon, placed thereon; (b) at least one laser beam to image the plate on the drum by ablating some of the ablatable layer according to image data to form an imaged plate; (c) an unloading area onto which a plate is movable when unloaded; and (d) a plurality of UV LEDs configured to cure UV-curable material on at least an imaged portion of the plate during the imaging process, such that imaging of one part of the plate and curing of an imaged portion of the plate occur simultaneously. In another embodiment, the plurality of LEDs are to apply UV radiation to the back of the UV-curable plate or to both the front and back of the UV-curable plate during or after the unloading of the imaged plate.
A method of imaging a printing plate and curing the printing plate made of or having photo-curable material that includes an ablatable mask. In one embodiment, the method comprises imaging the ablatable mask with a first portion of imaging data to produce a partially imaged uncured plate. Imaging data includes the first portion and a second portion of imaging data. The method includes curing the partially imaged uncured plate using UV with a first set of parameters to produce a partially cured plate with a partially ablated mask thereon, the curing arranged for producing flat tops, imaging the partially ablated mask on the partially cured plate with the second portion of imaging data to produce a totally imaged partially cured plate, and curing the totally imaged partially cured plate with a second set of one or more curing parameters to produce a totally cured plate to produce round tops.
Creating one or more printing plate segments includes exposing a printing plate segment with imaging data to form an imaged plate segment, and marking the floor of the printing plate segment or the back of the printing plate segment with one or more registration marks according to marking data. The registration marks can be within the design area defined by the imaging data marked such that the registration marks are not visible on a print made from the imaged plate segment. Printing using positioned and mounted so-marked imaged plate segments produces a print without the registration marks visible on the print. Such plate segments can be unmounted and reused with the registration marks intact.
An apparatus for curing a printing plate made of or having photo-curable material, a method of curing such a printing plate, and a printing plate cured by the method. One embodiment of the method includes curing a printing plate made of or having photo-curable material thereon. The method includes producing light energy on part of the printing plate using a light exposure unit, including relative motion between the light energy and the plate in a transverse direction at a changeable period of repetition, such that curing can produce printing features on the plate that can be switched to have either flat tops or round tops according to the period of repetition.
An apparatus for curing a printing plate made of or having photo-curable material, a method of curing such a printing plate, and a printing plate cured by the method. One embodiment of the method includes curing a printing plate made of or having photo-curable material thereon. The method includes producing light energy on part of the printing plate using a light exposure unit capable of generating at least a first illumination intensity and a second illumination intensity, such that curing can produce printing features on the plate that can be switched to have either flat tops or round tops according to the illumination intensity output by the light exposure unit.
An apparatus, a method, and a plate made by the method, e.g., using the apparatus. The apparatus includes a light tunnel of light reflective walls with polygonal cross-section like a kaleidoscope, and a light source, located at one end to produce light radiation to the inside of the light tunnel towards the other end. Light entering the light tunnel towards an inner reflective surface of a wall is reflected off the inner reflective surface so that it can emerge from the other end to cure a plate having photo-curable material thereon.
An apparatus for and a method of loading and unloading of plates to and from an imager. The apparatus includes a loading area holding one single or a plurality of plates and an unloading area holding a single plate, the areas arranged vertically. The plate includes ultraviolet curable material. The apparatus includes a control system configured when in operation to control the automated loading and unloading and the apparatus elements therefor. One fully automatic version includes automatic loading from a stack or set of plate magazines and in the case that the plate includes a protective sheet thereon, includes removing the protective sheet from the plate. Some versions also include one or more ultraviolet sources to irradiate the flexographic plates with ultraviolet radiation during the automated loading and/or unloading. The ultraviolet sources are controlled by the same control system.
A system for exposing a flexographic printing plate with light includes a light-providing subsystem and a reflector around the light-providing subsystem. The reflector includes a body and a plurality of miniature mirrors on an interior of the body arranged to reflect light generated by the light-providing subsystem to exit the reflector at angles integrated between 0 degrees and a selected angle, such as 30 degrees. As a result, the shoulder angles of features on the flexographic printing plate are controlled within a selected range of angles, such as 0 to 30 degrees.
Particular embodiments include method embodiments and apparatus embodiments. One method embodiment comprises: placing a printing plate on an imaging device; imaging the plate according to imaging data; and applying UV radiation using a plurality of UV emitting LEDs during the process of imaging of the printing plate. In one embodiment, the plate initially has ablatable material, and wherein the imaging includes ablating ablatable material on the plate according to the imaging data to form an ablated plate, and wherein the applying the UV radiation includes exposing the ablated plate to UV radiation to cure the plate. In one embodiment, the imaging device is an external drum imager that includes a drum that rotates during imaging.
B41M 5/00 - Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
G03F 7/00 - Photomechanical, e.g. photolithographic, production of textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. printed surfaces; Materials therefor, e.g. comprising photoresists; Apparatus specially adapted therefor
44.
Method and apparatus to clamp and release flexible plates onto an imaging cylinder
A clamping device, a cylinder including a clamping device, and a method for clamping a plate onto the outer surface of the cylinder. The clamping device includes a base body extending in the axial direction and fixed to, or incorporated into the cylinder. The clamping device also includes a clamping element extending in the axial direction. The clamping device also includes a lifting bar located in the interior of the base body and coupled to the clamping element by at least one guiding shaft. The lifting bar being movable in a first radial direction to move the clamping element away from the outer surface of the cylinder to form a gap between the outer surface and the clamping element. The lifting bar also is movable in the radial direction opposite the first radial direction to close the gap formed between the outer surface of the cylinder and the clamping element. The clamping device also includes a mechanism to impart and maintain compressive force between the clamping element and the outer surface of the cylinder such that any gap formed is maintained closed unless forcibly opened. The apparatus is arranged such that when the gap is formed by moving the lifting bar in the first radial direction, the edge of a flexible plate can be placed in the gap, and such that when the gap is closed, the plate is maintained clamped onto the outer edge of the cylinder.
Images are transferred to printing plates by illuminating light-responsive materials with patterns corresponding to the images to be printed. The present invention provides for the transferring of an image by the combined flux from two or more beams of light. Particular embodiments ablate the mask printing plates for CTP systems by the combined illumination from a first, broad beam and a plurality of controllable, pulsed beams that co-illuminate the plate with the first beam. The resulting system and method is less expensive than the prior art and produces a printing plate more efficiently and with improved productivity than the prior art.
B41J 2/455 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of radiation to a printing material or impression-transfer material using arrays of radiation sources using laser arrays
B23K 26/00 - Working by laser beam, e.g. welding, cutting or boring
46.
Stitching prevention in multibeam imaging for exposing printing plates
A method of exposing imaging data onto a sensitized medium including exposing K sets of N of tracks on to the medium according to a corresponding part of imaging data, each successive set being a pixel distance apart in a fast scan direction. The method further includes exposing L sets of N tracks onto the medium with an offset of M pixels in a slow scan direction substantially perpendicular to the fast scan direction, according to a second corresponding part of imaging data. The method includes repeating alternately exposing K sets and L sets of N tracks until the complete medium is exposed along the fast scan direction. During or after the alternately exposing K sets and L sets, there is progression in the slow scan direction such that after exposing the complete length of N tracks of exposed pixels, the next N tracks match along the medium at the start of the next N tracks.
B41J 2/447 - Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by selective application of radiation to a printing material or impression-transfer material using arrays of radiation sources
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