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WO2001009679A1 - Procede de production de photomasques - Google Patents

Procede de production de photomasques Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2001009679A1
WO2001009679A1 PCT/IL2000/000461 IL0000461W WO0109679A1 WO 2001009679 A1 WO2001009679 A1 WO 2001009679A1 IL 0000461 W IL0000461 W IL 0000461W WO 0109679 A1 WO0109679 A1 WO 0109679A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
film
ablated
flexography
laser
plates
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.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/IL2000/000461
Other languages
English (en)
Other versions
WO2001009679B1 (fr
Inventor
Yosef Kamir
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.)
Kodak IL Ltd
Original Assignee
Kodak IL 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 Kodak IL Ltd filed Critical Kodak IL Ltd
Publication of WO2001009679A1 publication Critical patent/WO2001009679A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Publication of WO2001009679B1 publication Critical patent/WO2001009679B1/fr
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • G03F1/00—Originals for photomechanical production of textured or patterned surfaces, e.g., masks, photo-masks, reticles; Mask blanks or pellicles therefor; Containers specially adapted therefor; Preparation thereof
    • G03F1/68—Preparation processes not covered by groups G03F1/20 - G03F1/50
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41C—PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES
    • B41C1/00—Forme preparation
    • B41C1/02—Engraving; Heads therefor
    • B41C1/04—Engraving; Heads therefor using heads controlled by an electric information signal
    • B41C1/05—Heat-generating engraving heads, e.g. laser beam, electron beam
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
    • B41M5/24—Ablative recording, e.g. by burning marks; Spark recording

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a novel processless method of producing photomasks, in particular a method of producing photomasks using a laser plotter.
  • Flexography is one of the four major methods of printing used today.
  • the printing plates have a raised surface that accepts the ink, the background being the recessed surface.
  • Digitally imaged flexography plates consist of a polyester base coated with a thick layer of photosensitive material which polymerizes upon exposure to UV light, as disclosed in US Patent No. 5,262,275 to Fan. The photosensitive material is blocked by a black UV-opaque, infrared-sensitive overlayer.
  • a plate setter equipped with an infrared laser ablates away the black layer in the image areas.
  • the remaining unablated black layer acts as a mask for the non-image areas during the UV exposure of the thick photosensitive layer.
  • the UV exposure causes the polymers to become cross-linked in the photosensitive layer in the image areas that have been exposed by ablation. After UV exposure the remaining black layer and the unpolymerized material of the non-image areas are washed away.
  • the photosensitive material in the flexography plate must be thick to create the surface height differential necessary for flexography. Therefore, the black overlayer needs a correspondingly high optical density in order to withstand the high exposure power of the UV source necessary to cure the thick layer of photosensitive material. Because of this high optical density, approximately 2 to 4 joules/cm 2 are required to ablate the black overlayer so as to create the image.
  • Digital flexography plates are imaged on a laser plotter (or plate setter) for this purpose, such as the Lotem Flexo commercially available from Scitex Corporation, Herzliya, Israel. Plotters of this type are quite expensive and it would be desirable to be able to use the plotter for additional purposes, so as to justify its cost.
  • US Patent No. 3,314,075 to Becker discloses a system for recording data at high density employing a film having a black coating and a laser arranged to project modulated thermal energy onto the film and cause the removal of bits of the coating. Becker describes various techniques for producing coated films of this type. The Becker film is designed for microfilm applications with the preferred exposure being UV. UV is an inefficient method of ablation as compared to modern IR sources.
  • a processless method for producing photomasks using a laser plotter comprising the steps of: preparing a black-coated film; ablating said film on the laser plotter, in accordance with image information supplied from an image data source; and illuminating said ablated film for purposes of retrieving said image information.
  • exposed conventional negative film which is completely blackened by silver deposits and has been conventionally processed is placed in the plotter, preferably a Lotem Flexo, by way of example, and imaged by ablating away the silver The resulting film needs no further processing. (Alternatively, positive film, which is already black may be processed and imaged without exposure.) .
  • the ablated exposed film is useful as a mask for any type of printing plate which uses film as an intermediate material, including preparation of offset plates, silk screens, PCBs (printed circuit boards), or even conventional flexography plates. Additionally, the ablated exposed film may then be used for other purposes, making the laser plotter even more economical
  • the film can be used either to inspect the image visually or to produce a proof color copy such as a Cromalin by using four separation films, as known in the art Once the image has been inspected and approved, the more expensive digitally imaged flexography plate may be produced
  • the process of ablation in the laser plotter has been shown to create cells of a depth of approximately 8 to 12 microns in the ablated exposed film. These cells can be used as gravure cells and the ablated exposed film may then function as a short run polymer gravure plate
  • Fig 1 is a flow chart showing the prior art method of imaging digital flexography plates
  • Fig 2 is a flow chart showing the method of the present invention for imaging exposed film
  • Figs 3a-b show, respectively, an image and a cross-sectional drawing of the gravure cells produced in negative film exposures
  • a digital flexography plate is provided The digital flexography plate is comprised of three layers a base of a flexible material, a photosensitive polymer layer which is cross-linked upon exposure to UV light, and an infrared (IR)-sensitive, UV-opaque black layer (available, for example, as type Cyrel, DPH-45 by DuPont, Germany)
  • digital flexography plate 10 is placed in a laser plotter for exposure at a specific wavelength and laser power, generally to IR light, so as to cause ablation of the black layer in the areas which are to be imaged
  • the wavelength may be 830nm with an exposure power of 500mW
  • the ablation of the black layer exposes the photosensitive polymer layer so that after exposure to U V light in block 14, the exposed areas of the photosensitive layer become cross-linked
  • the plate is then processed to wash away uncross-
  • Fig 2 there is shown a flow chart of the method of the present invention for imaging exposed film used for proofing the data to be exposed on the flexography plate
  • exposed and processed conventional negative film for example Kodak, Rochester, NY, USA, Catalog #3650363
  • the film is placed in a laser plotter for ablation, in block 26
  • the laser plotter used here is the same laser plotter that will be used later for exposing the flexography plate
  • Ablation is done, according to image data 8, at a wavelength of 830 nm and a laser power of 500 mW, by way of example
  • the resulting ablated exposed film may then be used for any of three possible uses
  • a Cromalin image (block 30) may be created, as known in the art, from the film for proof-reading, if desired Creating a Cromalin (color proofing device made by Dupont) requires preparation of four separation films (cyan, magenta, yellow and black) making up the image data, which means that the process of blocks 24 and 26 must be repeated four times
  • a digital flexography plate 32 may be placed in the plotter and ablated according to image data 8 as in block 26, as described in Fig 1 Blocks 32 and 26 in Fig 2 are identical to blocks 10 and 12 in Fig 1 , respectively Block 26 may therefore be followed by blocks 14, 16 and 20 of Fig 1, without the need to proofread as in block 18, Fig. 1.
  • the laser plotter is used, therefore, for both the proofing step and for
  • the processes demonstrated in blocks 24 and 26 of Fig. 2 can be used in applications other than proofing and exposing flexography plates.
  • the exposed film 24 ablated by the plotter in block 26 may be used as a photomask for various printing processes, as shown in block 36 It may be used to produce offset plates, screens for screen printing or conventional flexography plates, as known in the art. Also, it could be used for PCB layout fabrication, which requires film as a photomask. It may be used in any printing process which uses a photomask This represents a flexible exploitation of the original plotter used mainly to expose flexography plates.
  • the use of film with a matte surface is advantageous in the masking process
  • the process of ablation performed by laser plotter 26 creates an ablation depth of approximately 8-12 microns which can then be used as cells for holding ink in the gravure printing process
  • the ablated exposed film is used as an inexpensive short run polymer processless gravure plate
  • Fig 3a there is shown a negative film exposure in which the plotter ablates the imaged areas 42, creating areas on the film which are shown in white, corresponding to the image.
  • the non-imaged areas 44 are shown in black.
  • Kodak Film #3650363 Kodak Corp , Rochester, NY, USA
  • Fig. 3b is a cross-sectional drawing corresponding to Fig. 3a, showing the imaged areas 42 which are recessed (ablated) and act as ink cells for the gravure printing process, as known in the art.
  • Areas 44 are the non-imaged areas which are not ablated.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
  • Manufacture Or Reproduction Of Printing Formes (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé sans développement, bon marché, qui met en oeuvre un traceur à laser pour produire des photomasques pouvant être utilisés dans d'autres procédés de pré-presse, tels que la préparation de plaques offset ou d'écrans de soie. Le procédé offre d'autres usages pour des traceurs chers, et convient pour les corrections d'épreuve de pré-presse destinées à des clichés flexographiques à images numériques. Dans une forme de réalisation préférée, un film négatif classique exposé, complètement noirci par dépôts d'argent et traité de façon classique, est placé dans un traceur à laser et les images reproduites par ablation de l'argent, le film résultant ne nécessitant aucun autre traitement. Dans une variante, un film positif, déjà noir, peut être traité et ses images reproduites sans exposition. Le film exposé soumis à ablation peut être employé comme masque pour tout type de planche d'impression utilisant un film comme matériel intermédiaire, notamment pour la préparation de plaques offset, d'écrans de soie, de cartes à circuit imprimé, ou même de clichés flexographiques classiques. De plus, le film exposé soumis à ablation peut ensuite être utilisé pour d'autres usages, ce qui rend le traceur à laser encore plus économique. Le film peut être utilisé pour un contrôle visuel de l'image ou pour la production d'un tirage d'essai en couleur.
PCT/IL2000/000461 1999-08-02 2000-08-02 Procede de production de photomasques Ceased WO2001009679A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IL13120299A IL131202A0 (en) 1999-08-02 1999-08-02 Method for proof-reading printing plates
IL131202 1999-08-02

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2001009679A1 true WO2001009679A1 (fr) 2001-02-08
WO2001009679B1 WO2001009679B1 (fr) 2002-05-30

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/IL2000/000461 Ceased WO2001009679A1 (fr) 1999-08-02 2000-08-02 Procede de production de photomasques

Country Status (2)

Country Link
IL (1) IL131202A0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2001009679A1 (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6794107B2 (en) 2002-10-28 2004-09-21 Kodak Polychrome Graphics Llc Thermal generation of a mask for flexography
US6893796B2 (en) 2002-08-20 2005-05-17 Kodak Polychrome Graphics Llc Flexographic element having an integral thermally bleachable mask layer
EP1335245A3 (fr) * 2002-01-28 2005-08-24 Lintec Corporation Film de masquage, procédé de fabrication d'un film de masquage, ainsi qu'un procédé pour réaliser une plaque d'impression à base de résine photosensible en utilisant ce masque
WO2005101130A1 (fr) 2004-04-10 2005-10-27 Eastman Kodak Company Procede de fabrication d'un hologramme
EP2562599A2 (fr) 2009-01-29 2013-02-27 Digiflex Ltd. Procédé de production d'un photomasque sur une surface photopolymérique
US9332777B2 (en) 2007-03-15 2016-05-10 Dsm Ip Assets B.V. Carotenoid compositions containing modified gum acacia

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3314073A (en) * 1964-10-20 1967-04-11 Prec Instr Company Laser recorder with vaporizable film
GB2036369A (en) * 1978-12-13 1980-06-25 Ornsby Co Ltd Sub-titling Cinematograph Films
US4651313A (en) * 1982-09-16 1987-03-17 Moshe Guez Method and apparatus for writing information on processed photographic film
US5262275A (en) * 1992-08-07 1993-11-16 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Flexographic printing element having an IR ablatable layer and process for making a flexographic printing plate
EP0767408A1 (fr) * 1995-10-02 1997-04-09 BASF Lacke und Farben AG Procédé pour la production des plaques d'impression en creux
WO1997042547A1 (fr) * 1996-05-02 1997-11-13 Windi Winderlich Gmbh Procede et dispositif pour la fabrication de films de composition exposes pour la photocomposition

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3314073A (en) * 1964-10-20 1967-04-11 Prec Instr Company Laser recorder with vaporizable film
GB2036369A (en) * 1978-12-13 1980-06-25 Ornsby Co Ltd Sub-titling Cinematograph Films
US4651313A (en) * 1982-09-16 1987-03-17 Moshe Guez Method and apparatus for writing information on processed photographic film
US5262275A (en) * 1992-08-07 1993-11-16 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Flexographic printing element having an IR ablatable layer and process for making a flexographic printing plate
EP0767408A1 (fr) * 1995-10-02 1997-04-09 BASF Lacke und Farben AG Procédé pour la production des plaques d'impression en creux
WO1997042547A1 (fr) * 1996-05-02 1997-11-13 Windi Winderlich Gmbh Procede et dispositif pour la fabrication de films de composition exposes pour la photocomposition

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1335245A3 (fr) * 2002-01-28 2005-08-24 Lintec Corporation Film de masquage, procédé de fabrication d'un film de masquage, ainsi qu'un procédé pour réaliser une plaque d'impression à base de résine photosensible en utilisant ce masque
US6893796B2 (en) 2002-08-20 2005-05-17 Kodak Polychrome Graphics Llc Flexographic element having an integral thermally bleachable mask layer
US6794107B2 (en) 2002-10-28 2004-09-21 Kodak Polychrome Graphics Llc Thermal generation of a mask for flexography
WO2005101130A1 (fr) 2004-04-10 2005-10-27 Eastman Kodak Company Procede de fabrication d'un hologramme
US9332777B2 (en) 2007-03-15 2016-05-10 Dsm Ip Assets B.V. Carotenoid compositions containing modified gum acacia
EP2562599A2 (fr) 2009-01-29 2013-02-27 Digiflex Ltd. Procédé de production d'un photomasque sur une surface photopolymérique
US9513551B2 (en) 2009-01-29 2016-12-06 Digiflex Ltd. Process for producing a photomask on a photopolymeric surface

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IL131202A0 (en) 2001-01-28
WO2001009679B1 (fr) 2002-05-30

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