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EP0542774A1 - Element d'imprimerie - Google Patents

Element d'imprimerie

Info

Publication number
EP0542774A1
EP0542774A1 EP19910913356 EP91913356A EP0542774A1 EP 0542774 A1 EP0542774 A1 EP 0542774A1 EP 19910913356 EP19910913356 EP 19910913356 EP 91913356 A EP91913356 A EP 91913356A EP 0542774 A1 EP0542774 A1 EP 0542774A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
photopolymer
light
sensitive layer
printing member
secondary light
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP19910913356
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Geoffrey David Clinton
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Zed Instruments Ltd
Original Assignee
Zed Instruments Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Zed Instruments Ltd filed Critical Zed Instruments Ltd
Publication of EP0542774A1 publication Critical patent/EP0542774A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03F—PHOTOMECHANICAL PRODUCTION OF TEXTURED OR PATTERNED SURFACES, e.g. FOR PRINTING, FOR PROCESSING OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; MATERIALS THEREFOR; ORIGINALS THEREFOR; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED THEREFOR
    • G03F7/00—Photomechanical, e.g. photolithographic, production of textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. printing surfaces; Materials therefor, e.g. comprising photoresists; Apparatus specially adapted therefor
    • G03F7/20—Exposure; Apparatus therefor
    • G03F7/24—Curved surfaces
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03F—PHOTOMECHANICAL PRODUCTION OF TEXTURED OR PATTERNED SURFACES, e.g. FOR PRINTING, FOR PROCESSING OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; MATERIALS THEREFOR; ORIGINALS THEREFOR; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED THEREFOR
    • G03F7/00—Photomechanical, e.g. photolithographic, production of textured or patterned surfaces, e.g. printing surfaces; Materials therefor, e.g. comprising photoresists; Apparatus specially adapted therefor
    • G03F7/004—Photosensitive materials
    • G03F7/09—Photosensitive materials characterised by structural details, e.g. supports, auxiliary layers
    • G03F7/095—Photosensitive materials characterised by structural details, e.g. supports, auxiliary layers having more than one photosensitive layer
    • G03F7/0952—Photosensitive materials characterised by structural details, e.g. supports, auxiliary layers having more than one photosensitive layer comprising silver halide or silver salt based image forming systems, e.g. for camera speed exposure

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the preparation of printing cylinders or other printing members, and in particular to printing cylinders incorporating a photopolymer surface.
  • Printing cylinders are commonly prepared by controlled exposure of a photosensitive medium on the cylinder surface.
  • a photosensitive medium For example, in screen printing a screen typically made of a perforated cylindrical nickel sleeve is coated with a photosensitive lacquer covering the entire screen and filling all the perforations. Portions of the photo-sensitive lacquer are then exposed to ultraviolet light through a photographic negative and are subsequently developed. In the development process, where the lacquer has not been exposed to the ultraviolet light it is removed to open the perforations in the screen, producing the required pattern of ink transmitting areas.
  • EP-A-197601 discloses a method of preparing a printing roller in which the photopolymer medium is covered by a light-sensitive intermediate layer. In a first stage, a patterning film is applied to the roller and the intermediate layer is exposed through that film. The intermediate layer is then developed before a subsequent stage in which the photopolymer layer is exposed through the intermediate layer.
  • the intermediate layer in such a system is seamless, and is fixed in register with respect to the photopolymer medium, it potentially offers considerable advantages in preparing cylinders for such uses as the printing of continuous patterns.
  • many of these potential advantages have been obviated by problems associated with the patterning film used to expose the intermediate layer in the first stage.
  • problems associated with the patterning film used to expose the intermediate layer in the first stage As described in the above cited application, if the patterning film is positioned on the cylinder with abutting edges then light tends to be scattered or reflected at the edges, resulting in incomplete light transmission and a resulting discontinuity in the exposed pattern.
  • the film is positioned with its edges overlapping that also changes the effective' density of the negative, and hence the amount of light transmitted in the overlapping region and may also cause physical distortion of the light- sensitive media.
  • a process for preparing a printing member incorporating a photopolymer as the light-sensitive medium comprises providing the photopolymer with a secondary light-sensitive layer, exposing the secondary light-sensitive layer with a digitally modulated light source which is scanned with respect to the member, developing the secondary light- sensitive layer, and subsequently exposing the photopolymer through the developed secondary light layer.
  • directly digitally modulated light sources have previously been used for such purposes as preparing perforated cylindrical nickel printing sleeves, it has not previously been thought possible to use such techniques with photopolymers of the type used for flexographic processes. In general, such media cannot be exposed at the wavelengths and intensities normally available . from directly modulated sources such as lasers.
  • directly modulated sources such as lasers.
  • the present inventors have found that by combining the use of a modulated light source with the provision of an intermediate light-sensitive layer digitally controlled exposure of the photopolymer is possible in a manner which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art systems requiring the use of a patterning film.
  • exposing the intermediate layer while modulating a scanned light source with appropriate digital data it is possible to generate a perfectly continuous pattern with no discontinuities.
  • the method is therefore particularly advantageous for the production of continuous image rollers for packing, decorative, wall covering and similar products.
  • a pattern formed from multiple repeat units may be formed from a single digital original, removing the need for step and repeat photographic methods.
  • the cylinder can be produced more quickly using a single integrated process with fewer handling steps.
  • the secondary light-sensitive layer is a photographic emulsion or a photo-resist. More preferably the layer is a lithographic photographic emulsion for bright light or yellow light working.
  • Figure 1 is a cross section through a printing cylinder
  • Figure 2 is a diagram showing the cylinder installed in an exposing unit
  • Figures 3A to 3G are diagrams illustrating schematically the different steps of one example of the process.
  • the printing cylinder comprises a metal cylinder 1 coated uniformly on its surface with a photopolymer 2.
  • the photopolymer may, for example, be that manufactured by Dupont as CYREL type HLS.
  • the photopolymer may be applied in a conventional fashion using apparatus such as that commercially available from Stork Limited and sold under the trade name SEAMEX SLEEVES.
  • the cylinder is subsequently coated with a secondary photosensitive layer 3 which, in this first example, is a photographic emulsion of the rapid access type designed for lithography arid which is suitable for either bright light work or yellow light working.
  • the exposing unit is generally similar to the rotary colour output scanners widely used in the industry and commercially available from manufacturers such as Hell or Dai Nippon.
  • the exposing head incorporates a low power light source 5.
  • the output of the light source 5 is modulated via a digitally controlled electro-optic or acousto-optic modulator to produce the desired image on the photographic emulsion.
  • multiple exposure heads may be used.
  • the cylinder is removed and processed in a modified photopolymer exposure unit.
  • the modifications by comparison with a conventional photopolymer processor, consist of the addition of an in-line photographic processor which develops, fixes, hardens and dries the image in the photosensitive layer 3 on the surface of the photopolymer.
  • Subsequent stages in the exposure and processing of the cylinder are then carried out conventionally, using an ultraviolet light source to expose the photopolymer through " the developed secondary photosensitive layer 3.
  • the unexposed areas of the photopolymer are then washed out and the cylinder dried.
  • the emulsion which as in the embodiment discussed above, is a lithographic photographic emulsion for bright light or yellow light working, is not applied directly to the photopolymer but instead is applied to a transparent substrate which, in this example, is a tube 6 of clear plastics material such as polyvinylidene chloride.
  • the tube of plastic is pre-stressed in manufacture to enable it to shrink on the application of heat.
  • the cylinder is subsequently removed from the bath and the emulsion coated on the substrate dried in a forced air flow.
  • the cylinder is then mounted in an exposing unit 4' and exposed in the same manner as described above in relation to Figure 2.
  • the exposed cylinder is then placed in a secondary development station 8 to develop and fix the photographic emulsion as shown in Figure 3E.
  • the photopolymer 2 is exposed through the developed photographic emulsion.
  • the plastics substrate 6 bearing the emulsion is then cut away from the cylinder and the cylinder with the exposed photopolymer placed in a photopolymer development and fixing station 10 for processing in a conventional fashion.
  • the plastics tube should be shrink-fitted" to the cylinder prior to the application of the photographic emulsion
  • the emulsion may be applied to the plastics tube before it is fitted to the cylinder.
  • the secondary photosensitive layer is a photo-resist of the type commonly used with gravure cylinders.
  • the photo-resist is coated on the photopolymer 2 using techniques such as ring coating, or bar coating, or any of a number of other techniques commonly used in applying photo-resist to gravure cylinders.
  • the coated cylinder is then exposed in a similar process to that described above, but using a higher power light source such as an Ar ion laser.
  • the exposing machine may incorporate a digitally modulated - laser exposure head. A suitable head would be similar to that produced by "Think Laboratories" for their Laser Stream product.
  • the secondary photosensitive layer is then developed, and the photopolymer exposed, as described above.
  • the chemistry of the development process is modified as appropriate to the particular photo-resist used.
  • the present invention may be used, for example, for flexographic printing processes. Such processes commonly use photopolymers produced by BASF, DUPONT, and others. However hitherto it has not been possible to produce images in continuous form.
  • the invention may also be used for gravure processes which at present use photopolymer in sheet form.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Printing Plates And Materials Therefor (AREA)
  • Manufacture Or Reproduction Of Printing Formes (AREA)
  • Photosensitive Polymer And Photoresist Processing (AREA)
  • Branch Pipes, Bends, And The Like (AREA)

Abstract

Un élément d'imprimerie tel qu'un cylindre métallique (1) comporte un photopolymère (2) comme moyen photosensible. Selon un procédé de préparation de l'élément d'imprimerie, on recouvre le photopolymère (2) d'une couche photosensible (3) secondaire. Dans un exemple, il s'agit d'une émulsion photographique d'un type utilisé fréquemment en lithographie. La couche photosensible secondaire est exposée à une source lumineuse à modulation numérique. On explore la source lumineuse par rapport à l'élément d'imprimerie. Ensuite, on développe la couche photosensible secondaire et on expose le photopolymère à travers la couche photosensible secondaire développée.
EP19910913356 1990-07-27 1991-07-23 Element d'imprimerie Withdrawn EP0542774A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB909016488A GB9016488D0 (en) 1990-07-27 1990-07-27 Printing cylinder
GB9016488 1990-07-27

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0542774A1 true EP0542774A1 (fr) 1993-05-26

Family

ID=10679741

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19910913356 Withdrawn EP0542774A1 (fr) 1990-07-27 1991-07-23 Element d'imprimerie

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0542774A1 (fr)
JP (1) JPH05509177A (fr)
GB (1) GB9016488D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1992002859A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6916596B2 (en) 1993-06-25 2005-07-12 Michael Wen-Chein Yang Laser imaged printing plates
NL9402239A (nl) * 1994-12-29 1996-08-01 Raytech Sprl Werkwijze voor het aanbrengen van een patroon aan een oppervlak van een niet-vlak, in het bijzonder cilindrisch, substraat.
US5654125A (en) * 1995-05-01 1997-08-05 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Laser apparatus and process of use
DE19536805A1 (de) * 1995-10-02 1997-04-03 Basf Lacke & Farben Zur Herstellung von Flexodruckplatten durch digitale Informationsübertragung geeignetes mehrschichtiges Aufzeichnungselement
EP0785474A1 (fr) * 1996-01-16 1997-07-23 Schablonentechnik Kufstein Aktiengesellschaft Procédé et appareil pour la fabrication de plaques pour l'impression flexographique
US5846691A (en) 1996-07-08 1998-12-08 Polyfibron Technologies, Inc. Composite relief image printing plates and methods for preparing same
US6312872B1 (en) 1997-10-24 2001-11-06 Macdermid Graphic Arts Composite relief image printing plates
FR2763888B1 (fr) * 1997-05-28 1999-07-16 Rollin Sa Manchon perfectionne pour cylindre de machine d'impression ou analogue et procede de mise en place de ce manchon
NL1013626C2 (nl) * 1999-11-19 2001-05-22 Av Flexologic Bv Werkwijze en inrichting voor het aanbrengen van een reliÙf op een van een fotopolymere laag voorziene flexodrukplaat en een daarvoor geschikte flexodrukplaat.
JP2002023348A (ja) * 2000-07-11 2002-01-23 Asahi Kasei Corp スリーブ状感光性樹脂印刷版の製造方法
US20050170287A1 (en) * 2004-01-30 2005-08-04 Kanga Rustom S. Photosensitive printing sleeves and method of forming the same
WO2015120195A1 (fr) * 2014-02-05 2015-08-13 Hps Technologies Inc. Plaques d'impression flexographique perforées et leurs procédés de fabrication et d'utilisation

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2726329A1 (de) * 1976-06-11 1977-12-22 Zed Instr Ltd Kopierverfahren
GB1529590A (en) * 1977-10-07 1978-10-25 Leathley Publications Ltd Manufacture of printing rollers
JPS56117241A (en) * 1980-02-22 1981-09-14 Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd Photosensitive lithographic printing plate
US4705729A (en) * 1984-11-19 1987-11-10 Hewlett-Packard Company Method for photochemically enhancing resolution in photolithography processes
NL8500992A (nl) * 1985-04-03 1986-11-03 Stork Screens Bv Werkwijze voor het vormen van een gedessineerde fotopolymeerbekleding op een drukwals alsmede drukwals met gedessineerde fotopolymeerbekleding.
DE3621376A1 (de) * 1986-06-26 1988-01-07 Hoechst Ag Strahlungsempfindliches aufzeichnungsmaterial
NL8802928A (nl) * 1988-11-28 1990-06-18 Stork Screens Bv Werkwijze en inrichting voor het vormen van een weerstandspatroon op een cylindrisch voorwerp alsmede een onder toepassing van een dergelijk weerstandspatroon verkregen geetste metalen cylinder.

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO9202859A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPH05509177A (ja) 1993-12-16
WO1992002859A1 (fr) 1992-02-20
GB9016488D0 (en) 1990-09-12

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