JPH0640954U - Planographic printing plate processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] (Corrected) [Purpose] Lithographic printing plate that suppresses sticking of the alkaline treatment liquid to the liquid measuring tool to prevent deterioration of the liquid measuring ability over time and enables stable plate making for a long period of time. A processing device is provided. A lithographic printing plate processing apparatus for feeding an alkaline processing liquid 16 while carrying an image-formed lithographic printing plate 1 to dissolve and remove a non-image portion, wherein the alkaline processing liquid 16 is provided on at least an image forming surface. In a planographic printing plate processing apparatus having a processing liquid supply step of supplying and a processing liquid measuring step of measuring a certain amount of the alkaline processing liquid 16 on the plate by a liquid measuring tool 47 in a non-image portion alkali dissolving process, a liquid measuring device 47
A planographic printing plate processing apparatus having a liquid measuring tool lifting mechanism 71 for raising both ends and holding them in a non-contact state.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a lithographic printing plate processing apparatus that supplies an alkaline processing liquid while conveying a lithographic printing plate on which an image is formed and then measures the alkaline processing liquid on the plate with a liquid measuring tool.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Conventionally, as a non-image area removing type lithographic printing plate, a photosensitive lithographic printing plate called a PS plate and a non-image area alkali-eluting electrophotographic lithographic printing plate are known. The photosensitive lithographic printing plate comprises a hydrophilic support and a photosensitive layer containing an actinic ray-induced treatment liquid solubilizing substance or an actinic ray curing (crosslinking) substance accompanied by a chemical structure change by actinic radiation. In image formation, a silver salt photographic film original on which an image has been recorded in advance is brought into close contact with the photosensitive surface of the lithographic printing plate and exposed to light, and as a result, it corresponds to a cured portion or a non-image portion corresponding to the image portion in the final printed matter. A processing solution-solubilized portion is formed, and then the non-image area photosensitive layer is dissolved and removed by an alkali developing solution.

The non-image area alkali-eluting electrophotographic lithographic printing plate generally comprises a photoconductive layer comprising an organic photoconductive compound and an alkali-soluble binder resin provided on a conductive support. After a toner image is formed on the photoconductive layer by electrophotography, the toner is used as a resist to solubilize the non-image areas other than the toner image area with a processing liquid containing an alkaline agent, etc. to elute them, followed by a rinse treatment. After the washing liquid is supplied to wash the plate surface, it is usually treated with a protective gum for printing. These treatments are usually carried out by an automatic machine, but the treatment method adopted in the apparatus for making these non-image area alkali-removing lithographic printing plates is as follows. It is roughly divided into a new liquid waste disposal method and a disposal method residual liquid disposal method.

The first liquid circulation and reuse method is a method in which an excessive amount of the processing liquid is brought into contact with the plate surface, and then all the processed liquid is removed from the plate to circulate and reuse the liquid. A squeeze roll is generally used as the squeezing liquid, but as a liquid supply method, the treatment liquid is sprayed or showered onto the printing plate that is held between the rolls and conveyed directly or through a roll and / or a straightening plate. In addition to the above method, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-2569, a printing plate is curvedly dipped (dip method) in a processing liquid tank with a submerged guide roll, and the processing liquid is convected by a submerged shower. A method of circulating and feeding the printing plate to the plate surface, or a printing plate is conveyed between a pair of obliquely held guide plates having a large number of protrusions on the opposite surfaces, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 160443/1990. Is it the upper end face? Various application examples have heretofore been disclosed, together with a replenishing method for replenishing a replenishing solution for preventing deterioration of liquidity due to plate making, such as a method for supplying a solution from a plate.

The second new liquid disposal method is to dispose the processing liquid on the plate surface by adjusting the gap of the liquid supply slit, the wire diameter of the wire bar, etc., as disclosed in JP-A-62-238564. Before supplying, the required minimum amount is pre-weighed and a new liquid is supplied for each plate, and after the treatment promoting means is applied in the treatment process as the case may be, the treated fatigue treated liquid is solubilized non-image. This is a method of removing and discarding together with parts.

The method for discarding the residual liquid in the final processing step is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-59957, etc., and within a time when alkaline development does not proceed after an excessive amount of the processing liquid is once supplied to the plate surface. The processing solution is metered in a fixed amount, the surplus solution is circulated and recoated, and the metered processing solution on the plate is discarded together with the solubilized non-image area after the development is completed, as disclosed in JP-A-63-163353. Is a method to circulate and re-supply the treatment liquid removed during liquid measurement to the plate front part after the liquid measurement, in order to improve plate making defects at the plate front part. Further, in JP-A-2-93474, the technology disclosed in JP-A-62-59957 and JP-A-63-163353 is improved or applied as a method for processing an electrophotographic lithographic printing plate. A method is disclosed.

Of these methods, the liquid circulation reuse method circulates and reuses the surplus liquid, so that the amount of waste liquid can be apparently reduced, but conventionally, the non-image part is dissolved and removed by the treatment liquid during the process. Almost all of this is removed from the plate into the processing solution, so even if the processing solution itself has the desired processing characteristics by supplementing the processing solution, etc. The liquid adheres to the inside of the tank, the liquid circulation system, and the transporting part of the processing section, which has various adverse effects such as a decrease in the liquid supply amount and clogging of the liquid discharge holes, as well as reattachment to the printing plate support for printing. May cause dirt.

On the other hand, the new liquid disposal method can prevent process fluctuation with time as compared with the liquid circulation reuse method, but requires a larger amount of processing liquid and inevitably produces a large amount of waste liquid. Will result. In addition, if the amount of liquid is reduced in order to supply the required minimum amount, the processing liquid may not cover the entire surface of the plate evenly, and this tendency is strongly manifested in the plate leading edge, resulting in processing defects. Become.

[0009] Therefore, the above-mentioned treatment process residual liquid disposal method is a treatment method that has both advantages and has advantages. In this method, since the processing liquid is supplied to the plate immediately after measurement, leaving the amount of liquid required for processing, the measurement removal liquid contains almost no non-image part components, and the minimum amount required for processing. By supplying and consuming water and replenishing liquid in proportion to it, fatigue deterioration over time due to a decrease in alkalinity due to absorption and dissolution of carbon dioxide in the air over time is suppressed, and practically almost the same time as the liquid disposable method. The plate can be made in this state, and it is unlikely to be affected by the passage of time like the processing liquid circulation reuse method. Further, even if there is a portion where the treatment liquid is not supplied onto the plate as a result, the liquid is spread by the liquid measuring tool, so that the unevenness of the treatment is reduced.

Therefore, in this treatment process residual liquid disposal method, liquid measurement plays one of the most important roles. However, if the liquid metering tool lower assisting means for guiding and holding the printing plate in a fixed position so that the liquid metering is optimally performed and the liquid metering tool are left in contact even after the plate making process. However, some solubilized non-image area components and alkaline processing liquid remain in the contact area between the liquid measuring tool and the lower assisting means of the liquid measuring tool. Not only will it be impossible to ensure liquid metering, but the transportation of printing plates will also be hindered. Further, the shape of the substantial liquid measuring portion of the liquid measuring tool that comes into contact with the surface of the printing plate is changed by this adhered substance, and as a result, the solubilized non-image area is peeled off and mixed in the processing liquid, and the circulating processing liquid is subjected to plate making over time. Promotes fatigue. Therefore, before the treatment liquid adheres to the liquid measuring device, the liquid measuring device may be washed on the spot or removed, but the maintenance management becomes complicated and the treatment of the cleaning drainage becomes a problem.

[0011]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 The present invention is a planographic printing plate processing apparatus that supplies an alkaline processing liquid while carrying an image-formed planographic printing plate to dissolve and remove non-image areas. Regarding the lithographic printing plate processing device, which has a process liquid supply process to supply and a process liquid metering process to measure a certain amount of alkaline process liquid on the plate with a liquid meter in the non-image part alkali dissolution process It is an object of the present invention to provide a lithographic printing plate processing apparatus which suppresses the fixation of a liquid and a dissolved non-image part component and enables highly accurate and smooth liquid measurement over a long period of time.

[0012]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 As a result of studies to solve the above-mentioned problems, a planographic printing plate processing apparatus that dissolves and removes a non-image portion by supplying an alkaline processing liquid while conveying a planographic printing plate on which an image is formed, In the lithographic printing plate processing device, which has a processing solution supplying step of supplying the alkaline processing solution and a processing solution measuring step of measuring a constant amount of the alkaline processing solution on the plate by the solution measuring tool in the non-image area alkaline dissolution process, This was achieved by a lithographic printing plate processing apparatus having a liquid measuring tool lifting mechanism that lifts both ends of the measuring tool and holds them in a non-contact state.

[0013]

[Action]

 In the planographic printing plate processing apparatus of the present invention, the alkaline developing solution is supplied to the image forming surface in the alkaline processing solution supplying step and is consumed by the solubilization of the non-image area in the vicinity of the solubilized non-image area, resulting in fatigue. In order to separate the alkaline treatment liquid that has undergone relatively fatigue from that which has not undergone comparative fatigue, the alkaline treatment liquid on the plate is then weighed in the treatment liquid metering process, leaving the fatigue alkaline treatment liquid at the interface of the image forming surface. Therefore, the excess amount of the measured removal liquid can be recycled to the alkaline treatment liquid supply process and reused, so that the consumption of the actual alkaline treatment liquid can be suppressed more than that of the new treatment method.

The liquid measuring device has a liquid measuring device elevating mechanism that raises both ends of the liquid measuring device so that the dissolved non-image part component or the alkaline treatment liquid is in a non-contact state at least before the dissolved non-image part component or the alkaline treatment liquid is fixed to the liquid measuring device. Hold. As a result, even if a small amount of the non-image part component or the alkaline treatment liquid dissolved in the liquid measuring device remains, at least the fixing of the liquid measuring device is prevented. Further, even if the sticking is formed at the substantial liquid measuring portion of the liquid measuring tool that comes into contact with the surface of the printing plate, the amount of the sticking component is obviously smaller than that in the case of holding it in the contact state, and the deterioration of the liquid measuring function can be suppressed.

As described above, when the planographic printing plate processing apparatus of the present invention is used for plate making of a planographic printing plate, it is replenished with a replenisher for an alkaline processing solution and further solubilized with a fatigue alkaline processing solution remaining on the plate. By discarding the non-image areas that have been removed from the system, it is possible to suppress plateau of the alkaline processing liquid that is circulated and reused, and especially to suppress stable deterioration of the liquid metering function over time, enabling stable plate-making processing for a long period of time. Becomes

[0016]

【Example】

 The details of each step in the planographic printing plate processing apparatus according to the present invention and the action inherent or directed to them will be described below with reference to the processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the present description and the examples as long as the gist thereof is not exceeded.

The planographic printing plate processing apparatus according to the present invention basically comprises a processing liquid supplying step and a processing liquid measuring step. As shown in FIG. 1, the treatment liquid supply step is performed from the treatment liquid supply roll 11a, the lower guide roll 11b, and the straightening plate 28 and the treatment liquid supply pipe 27 which are disposed obliquely above and rearward of the conveyance of the treatment liquid supply roll 11a. It is configured. The pair of transport rolls 10, the treatment liquid supply roll 11a, and the lower guide roll 11b are supported by a pair of side plates arranged inside the processing apparatus main body so as to face each other and supported by bearings. The straightening vane 28 has a hook-like cross section in the transport direction and is installed in parallel on the treatment liquid supply roll 11a so that a pool of the alkaline treatment liquid 16 is formed between the straightening vane 28 treatment liquid supply roll 11a. The printing plate 1 carried into the treatment liquid supply step is nipped and conveyed by the conveyance roll pair 10 to which the driving force is transmitted by a driving means (not shown), and the alkaline treatment liquid is supplied from the treatment liquid supply pipe 27 to the treatment liquid supply roll 27. It is supplied onto the printing plate 1 via 11a and conveyed to the treatment liquid measuring step.

The treatment liquid measuring step is composed of a liquid measuring tool 47 and a backup roll 13 to which a driving force is transmitted by a driving means (not shown). The printing plate 1 to which the alkaline processing liquid is supplied is brought into contact with the liquid measuring tool 47 by its own weight, and the alkaline processing liquid on the plate is measured in a fixed amount and is conveyed to the next step. The liquid measuring tool 47 is adapted to transmit the rotational drive by the back-up roll 13 or by sliding contact with the translation printing plate 1. As the liquid measuring tool 47, a wire bar in which the wire 50 is densely wound around the rotating shaft 51 is predominantly used.

As shown in FIG. 2, bearings 74 and 73 are attached to both ends of the liquid measuring tool 47 and the backup roll 13, respectively, and the entire device is opposed to each other along a conveying direction inside the device (not shown). The support grooves 81 mounted on the pair of side plates 2 arranged in parallel are suspended and supported so as to overlap. Further, a liquid measuring tool elevating mechanism 71 is arranged above the bearing 74, and is in contact with the bearing 74 by a pressing head 132 inserted into the lower end of a rod 79 that controls the lowering of the bearing 74.

As shown in FIG. 3, the bearing 74 is formed with an oval perforation that allows the liquid measuring tool 47 to freely move up and down even when it is supported and fixed in the support groove 81. . Rails 74a and 74b are provided in the vertical direction in the bore of the bearing 74, and the rails 74a and 74b are engaged with the circumferential grooves at both ends of the liquid measuring tool 47 to prevent the liquid measuring tool 47 from being displaced except in the vertical direction and to be held. It is supposed to be. A notch 133 is formed on one side of the upper part of the bearing 74, and the main body of the liquid measuring tool 47 can be attached and detached even when the bearing 74 is supported by the support groove 81.

As shown in FIG. 4, the liquid metering tool elevating / lowering control section that controls the elevating / lowering operation of the liquid metering tool elevating / lowering mechanisms 71 and 71 ′ is controlled by the switching valves 155 and 156 and the elevating / lowering operation control mechanism 153. It is configured. Compressed air supply pipes 162 and 163 are respectively connected to the lower end and the lower end of the liquid measuring tool elevating mechanism 71 from a switching valve 155. Similarly, the switching valve 156 is connected to the lower end and the upper end of the liquid measuring device elevating mechanism 71 '. Air supply pipes 166 and 167 are respectively connected to the pipes. A lifting operation control mechanism 153 is connected to the switching valves 155 and 156 through wirings 148 and 149, and an exhaust port in the switching valves 155 and 156 is selected by the lifting operation control mechanism 153. Compressed air is supplied to one of the air supply pipes.

The compressed air is branched from a compressed air supply source (not shown) via the pressure reducing valve 143 and supplied to the switching valves 155 and 156. When the elevating operation control mechanism 153 opens the respective exhaust ports to the air supply pipes 163 and 167 connected to the switching valves 155 and 156, the inside of the liquid measuring tool elevating mechanisms 71 and 71 'are shown by the inflow of compressed air. The empty piston is lowered and the bearings 74 and 74 'are pushed down. The liquid measuring tool 47 is supported by both bearings 74 and 74 ′, descends, and comes into contact with the back-up roll 13 to measure the liquid.

On the other hand, when the switching valves 155 and 156 are switched and the compressed air is exhausted to the air supply pipes 162 and 166, the pistons (not shown) inside the liquid measuring tool elevating mechanisms 71 and 71 ′ are moved up and down, and the bearings. The pressure on 74 and 74 'is released. As shown in FIG. 5, an elastic member 139 is mounted and fixed between the bearing 74 supporting the liquid measuring tool 47 and the bearing 73 supporting the backup roll 13. The bearing 74 is pushed up as the liquid metering tool elevating mechanism 71 is released from the bearing 74, and the liquid metering tool 47 is supported by the bearing 74 and separated from the backup roll 13 and held in a non-contact state. ing.

The main body of the liquid-measuring-equipment lifting mechanism 71 is arranged on the pair of inner frames 24 that constitute the processing device by the liquid-measuring-tool lifting mechanism holding plate 26. The liquid measuring tool lifting mechanism holding plate 26 is rotatably fixed by a holding plate turning fixing means 135. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, by rotating the lever 136a attached to the holding plate rotation fixing means 135 in the counterclockwise direction, the tightening by the holding plate rotation fixing means 135 is released, The liquid-measuring-equipment elevating mechanism holding plate 26a is rotated together with the liquid-measuring-equipment elevating mechanism 71a so as to be substantially parallel to the planographic printing plate transport plane, so that the bearing 74 can be removed from the support groove 81. In order to fix the liquid measuring tool elevating mechanism 71 on the bearing 74, the liquid measuring tool elevating mechanism holding plate 26 is pressed against the positioning pin 75 and fixed by the holding plate rotation fixing means 135, so that it is always held at a fixed position. It is supposed to be done.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. The printing plate 1 on which an image has been formed via an exposure device (not shown) is inserted into the conveying roll pair 10, and then is sandwiched by the treating liquid supply unit 11a and the lower guide roll 11b and printed while being conveyed. The alkaline processing liquid 16 is supplied onto the plate 1. The alkaline processing liquid 16 is discharged from the processing liquid supply pipe 27 to the rectifying plate 28, rectified by the rectifying plate 28, and supplied to the processing liquid supply roll 11a. As a result, the alkaline processing liquid 16 is uniformly supplied onto the printing plate 1, and processing defects due to defective processing liquid supply are prevented.

The printing plate 1 in which the non-image area is solubilized by the alkaline processing liquid reaches the processing liquid measuring unit composed of the processing liquid measuring device 47 and the backup roll 13, and is urged from the back surface by the back-up roll 13. The surface of the printing plate 1 which moves in parallel while being brought into contact with the liquid measuring tool 47 freely, and the excess amount of the alkaline treatment liquid remaining on the printing plate 1 is measured in a constant amount. As a result, the liquid measuring tool 47 rotatably and freely contacts the surface of the translation printing plate 1, so that peeling of the solubilized non-image portion due to the liquid measuring tool measuring defect is suppressed. Further, the fatigue alkaline treatment liquid at the interface of the image forming layer of the printing plate 1 is left on the printing plate 1, and the metering removal liquid which is not relatively fatigued is circulated in the alkaline treatment liquid circulation system to consume the alkaline treatment liquid 16. And plate-making fatigue can be suppressed.

Bearings 74 and 73 are attached to both ends of the liquid measuring tool 47 and the backup roll 13 via elastic members 139, and a liquid measuring tool elevating mechanism 71 is arranged above the bearing 74. When the rod 79 attached to the liquid measuring tool elevating mechanism 71 is pulled up by compressed air, the elastic member 139 automatically raises the liquid measuring tool 47 along with the bearing 74 along the support groove 81 and is supported by the bearing 74. It is kept out of contact with the backup roll. This prevents the liquid measuring tool 47 and the backup roll 13 from sticking to each other due to the drying of the alkaline treatment liquid.

The liquid measuring tool lifting mechanism 71 is held by a liquid measuring tool lifting mechanism holding plate 26, and the liquid measuring tool lifting mechanism holding plate 26 is rotatably fixed by a holding plate rotating fixing means 135. By rotating the lever 136 attached to the holding plate rotation fixing means 135 in the counterclockwise direction, the liquid measuring tool lifting mechanism holding plate 26, together with the liquid measuring tool lifting mechanism 71, is substantially parallel to the planographic printing plate transport plane. The bearing 74 can be removed upward from the support groove 81. Further, a notch 133 is formed on one side of the upper portion of the bearing 74, so that the main body of the liquid measuring tool 47 can be attached and detached even when the bearing 74 is supported by the support groove 81.

[0029]

[Effect of device]

 As described above, when the planographic printing plate processing apparatus of the present invention is used for making a planographic printing plate, it suppresses the adhesion of the alkaline processing liquid to the liquid measuring tool and prevents the liquid measuring function from attenuating with time. It brings excellent results that enable stable plate making process for a long time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a roll arrangement in a planographic printing plate processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a liquid measuring tool elevating mechanism in the planographic printing plate processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a liquid measuring tool and a bearing in the planographic printing plate processing apparatus of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a liquid metering tool elevation control mechanism in the planographic printing plate processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the liquid measuring tool in a non-contact state in the planographic printing plate processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a rotating state of a liquid metering lifting mechanism in the planographic printing plate processing apparatus of the invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 13 Backup Roll 26 Liquid Measuring Tool Lifting Mechanism Holding Plate 47 Liquid Measuring Tool 71, 71 'Liquid Measuring Tool Lifting Mechanism 73, 74, 71' Bearing 81 Support Groove 133 Notch

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A lithographic printing plate processing apparatus for feeding an alkaline processing liquid while carrying an image-formed lithographic printing plate to dissolve and remove a non-image portion, wherein the alkaline processing liquid is supplied to at least an image forming surface. In the lithographic printing plate processing equipment, which has a processing liquid supply process and a processing liquid metering process that measures a certain amount of alkaline processing liquid on the plate with a liquid meter in the alkali dissolution process of non-image area, raise both ends of the liquid measuring device. A planographic printing plate processing apparatus having a liquid measuring tool lifting mechanism for holding the liquid measuring tool in a non-contact state.