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WO2017207006A1 - A pin system for easy mounting and disassembling printing plates - Google Patents

A pin system for easy mounting and disassembling printing plates Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2017207006A1
WO2017207006A1 PCT/DK2017/050178 DK2017050178W WO2017207006A1 WO 2017207006 A1 WO2017207006 A1 WO 2017207006A1 DK 2017050178 W DK2017050178 W DK 2017050178W WO 2017207006 A1 WO2017207006 A1 WO 2017207006A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
pin
bar
plate
pin bar
printing 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/DK2017/050178
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Soeren Joergensen
Kristian KVISTGAARD
Peter Jensen
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.)
Glunz & Jensen
Original Assignee
Glunz & Jensen
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 Glunz & Jensen filed Critical Glunz & Jensen
Publication of WO2017207006A1 publication Critical patent/WO2017207006A1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F27/00—Devices for attaching printing elements or formes to supports
    • B41F27/005—Attaching and registering printing formes to supports
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F27/00—Devices for attaching printing elements or formes to supports
    • B41F27/12—Devices for attaching printing elements or formes to supports for attaching flexible printing formes
    • B41F27/1262—Devices for attaching printing elements or formes to supports for attaching flexible printing formes without tensioning means

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to printing, and specifically to a pin bar to aid the loading and unloading of flexographic plates.
  • Flexographic plates are typically photopolymer plates that are pre-sensitized with a coating such as a Laser Ablation Mask System (LAMS) coating that is ablated by a laser in an imager during imaging.
  • LAMS Laser Ablation Mask System
  • the LAMS layer is typically highly sensitive and vulnerable before and after imaging, so that scratches may destroy the flexographic plate and make it unusable.
  • the production of flexographic printing plates from the photopolymerizable, imageable flexographic printing is performed using a multi-step process using appropriate devices for each process step.
  • a mask is written into the imageable layer.
  • the flexographic printing is then exposed to UV radiation.
  • the photopolymerizable layer is polymerized in the areas not covered by a mask while in the areas covered no polymerization occurs.
  • the remnants of the mask and the unpolymerized parts of the photopolymerizable layer are removed. This can be done using one or more solvents or thermally. When using solvents for developing the plate a drying step is typically needed.
  • the surface of the obtained flexographic printing plate is post-treated after drying, for example by exposing the surface with UVA and/or UVC radiation.
  • corresponding exposure apparatuses are used.
  • the devices for carrying out the respective steps normally required human intervention. After carrying out process step the processed flexographic printing element of the device has to be manually taken out and fed to the respective subsequent process step. Because of repeated manual intervention the production of flexographic printing plates is expensive. In order to obtain the desired relief characters, the plate is only polymerized at the points of a mask left permeable to the light.
  • a negative film plate is applied to the plate, which indeed shows the image to be printed in negative
  • the plate itself is covered by a layer that is abraded by laser engraving to create the negative of the image to be printed.
  • the exposure of the plate to light causes the polymerization of only those parts of the plate at the points of the negative film that are permeable to the light, in the case of an analogue printing plate, or at the points in which the layer of coating material has been removed in the case of a digital printing plate, thus forming the image to be printed in relief on the polymer.
  • the plate must be exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light for the necessary formation of the base ("back" exposure, i.e. of the bottom or back of the plate).
  • UV ultraviolet
  • the main exposure (i.e. of the main side of the plate) and back exposure steps take place in separate steps of the printing plate treatment process.
  • the flexographic plate undergoes other processing steps, among which the washing step, thanks to which the unpolymerized material is removed from the plate.
  • the washing step is performed successively to the exposure step of the plate and using a special washing module.
  • the operator must therefore manually move the printing plate from the exposure module to the washing module, by in general removing the plate from the exposure module and repositioning it at the entrance to the washing module.
  • the washing of the plate can be performed by means of various known techniques, by means of solvent that penetrates and dissolves the non-photopolymerized polymer or by means of water that detaches, does not dissolve, the non-photopolymerized polymer, and subsequent removal of the non- photopolymerized by means of brushes.
  • a known method of transportation through a processing unit is by use of a chain driven pin-bar system. In this method, a hole is punched at the very edge of the plate and the plate is placed onto a pin-bar wherein the pins will correspond correctly to the previously punched hole. The pin-bar is then locked in to position on the chain drive, which is in continuous motion on the right and left hand side down the length of the machine. The pin-bar is thus pulled into the processor and the plate follows the path of the pin-bar.
  • the term "pin bar" is known to those skilled in the art, and hence does not require further explanation.
  • US5361698 discloses a pin bar for flexographic printing plates, wherein the bar is provided with a plurality of protrusions for clamping a flexographic plate to the pin bar.
  • the protrusions are arranged along the length of the bar.
  • the present invention provides a pin bar for improved loading and unloading of flexographic plates to and from a processing unit.
  • the present invention provides a pin bar (1 ) for a processing unit for producing flexographic printing plates, wherein the bar is provided with a plurality of protrusions for clamping a flexographic plate to the pin bar, said protrusions arranged orthogonally along the length of the bar and each of said protrusions being configured as a pin with a rounded upper part (3) and with a cylindrical stem (2) having a cavity or groove (4) on at least one side of the pin.
  • the cavity or groove (4) is at the base of the pin. It is preferred that the pins have a height of between 5 to 15 mm.
  • the height of the cavity or groove (4) is preferably between 0.5 and 2 mm, while the height of the rounded upper part (3) preferably is between 0.5 and 2 mm.
  • the height of the cylindrical stem (2) is preferably between 5 and 10 mm.
  • FIG. 2 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of a pin.
  • a pin bar (1) for a processing unit for producing flexographic printing plates wherein the bar is provided with a plurality of protrusions for clamping a flexographic plate to the pin bar, said protrusions arranged orthogonally along the length of the bar and each of said protrusions being configured as a pin with a rounded upper part (3) and with a cylindrical stem (2) having a cavity or groove (4) on at least one side of the pin.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Photosensitive Polymer And Photoresist Processing (AREA)

Abstract

There is provided a pin bar for holding flexographic printing plates. The bar has an array of pins for clamping a flexographic plate to the pin bar. The pins are arranged orthogonally along the length of the bar and each of the pins have a rounded upper part and with a cylindric stem having a cavity or groove on at least one side of the pin.

Description

A pin system for easy mounting and disassembling printing plates
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to printing, and specifically to a pin bar to aid the loading and unloading of flexographic plates.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Flexographic plates are typically photopolymer plates that are pre-sensitized with a coating such as a Laser Ablation Mask System (LAMS) coating that is ablated by a laser in an imager during imaging. The LAMS layer is typically highly sensitive and vulnerable before and after imaging, so that scratches may destroy the flexographic plate and make it unusable.
The production of flexographic printing plates from the photopolymerizable, imageable flexographic printing is performed using a multi-step process using appropriate devices for each process step. First, a mask is written into the imageable layer. The flexographic printing is then exposed to UV radiation. The photopolymerizable layer is polymerized in the areas not covered by a mask while in the areas covered no polymerization occurs. After exposure, the remnants of the mask and the unpolymerized parts of the photopolymerizable layer are removed. This can be done using one or more solvents or thermally. When using solvents for developing the plate a drying step is typically needed.
Often, the surface of the obtained flexographic printing plate is post-treated after drying, for example by exposing the surface with UVA and/or UVC radiation. For this, in turn corresponding exposure apparatuses are used. The devices for carrying out the respective steps normally required human intervention. After carrying out process step the processed flexographic printing element of the device has to be manually taken out and fed to the respective subsequent process step. Because of repeated manual intervention the production of flexographic printing plates is expensive. In order to obtain the desired relief characters, the plate is only polymerized at the points of a mask left permeable to the light. In the case of the so-called analogue printing plates, a negative film plate is applied to the plate, which indeed shows the image to be printed in negative, while in the case of the so-called digital printing plates, the plate itself is covered by a layer that is abraded by laser engraving to create the negative of the image to be printed. The exposure of the plate to light causes the polymerization of only those parts of the plate at the points of the negative film that are permeable to the light, in the case of an analogue printing plate, or at the points in which the layer of coating material has been removed in the case of a digital printing plate, thus forming the image to be printed in relief on the polymer.
In any case, the plate must be exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light for the necessary formation of the base ("back" exposure, i.e. of the bottom or back of the plate). In general, with the known apparatuses of the prior art, the main exposure (i.e. of the main side of the plate) and back exposure steps take place in separate steps of the printing plate treatment process.
Subsequently to the exposure step, the flexographic plate undergoes other processing steps, among which the washing step, thanks to which the unpolymerized material is removed from the plate.
According to what is known in the state of the art, the washing step is performed successively to the exposure step of the plate and using a special washing module. The operator must therefore manually move the printing plate from the exposure module to the washing module, by in general removing the plate from the exposure module and repositioning it at the entrance to the washing module.
The washing of the plate can be performed by means of various known techniques, by means of solvent that penetrates and dissolves the non-photopolymerized polymer or by means of water that detaches, does not dissolve, the non-photopolymerized polymer, and subsequent removal of the non- photopolymerized by means of brushes. A known method of transportation through a processing unit is by use ofa chain driven pin-bar system. In this method, a hole is punched at the very edge of the plate and the plate is placed onto a pin-bar wherein the pins will correspond correctly to the previously punched hole. The pin-bar is then locked in to position on the chain drive, which is in continuous motion on the right and left hand side down the length of the machine. The pin-bar is thus pulled into the processor and the plate follows the path of the pin-bar. The term "pin bar" is known to those skilled in the art, and hence does not require further explanation.
US5361698 discloses a pin bar for flexographic printing plates, wherein the bar is provided with a plurality of protrusions for clamping a flexographic plate to the pin bar. The protrusions are arranged along the length of the bar. There is an incentive to reduce the amount of handling to automate the process of loading and unloading of plates undergoing the above process. In this respect an improved pin bar is required.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a pin bar for improved loading and unloading of flexographic plates to and from a processing unit. Specifically, the present invention provides a pin bar (1 ) for a processing unit for producing flexographic printing plates, wherein the bar is provided with a plurality of protrusions for clamping a flexographic plate to the pin bar, said protrusions arranged orthogonally along the length of the bar and each of said protrusions being configured as a pin with a rounded upper part (3) and with a cylindrical stem (2) having a cavity or groove (4) on at least one side of the pin.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the cavity or groove (4) is at the base of the pin. It is preferred that the pins have a height of between 5 to 15 mm. The height of the cavity or groove (4) is preferably between 0.5 and 2 mm, while the height of the rounded upper part (3) preferably is between 0.5 and 2 mm. The height of the cylindrical stem (2) is preferably between 5 and 10 mm. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the pin bar.
FIG. 2 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of a pin.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT
Wth reference to the figures, there is shown a pin bar (1) for a processing unit for producing flexographic printing plates, wherein the bar is provided with a plurality of protrusions for clamping a flexographic plate to the pin bar, said protrusions arranged orthogonally along the length of the bar and each of said protrusions being configured as a pin with a rounded upper part (3) and with a cylindrical stem (2) having a cavity or groove (4) on at least one side of the pin.

Claims

1. Pin bar (1) for a processing unit for producing flexographic printing plates, wherein the bar is provided with a plurality of protrusions for clamping a flexographic plate to the pin bar, said protrusions arranged orthogonally along the length of the bar and each of said protrusions being configured as a pin with a rounded upper part (3) and with a cylindrical stem (2) having a cavity or groove (4) on at least one side of the pin.
2. Pin bar according to claim 1 , wherein the cavity or groove (4) is at the base of the pin.
3. Pin bar according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pins have a height of between 5 to 15 mm.
4. Pin bar according to any one of the claims 1-3, wherein the height of the cavity or groove (4) is between 0.5 and 2 mm.
5. Pin bar according to any one of the claims 1-4, wherein the height of the rounded upper part (3) is between 0.5 and 2 mm.
6. Pin bar according to any one of the claims 1-5, wherein the height of the cylindrical stem (2) is between 5 and 10 mm.
7. Pin bar according to any one of the claims 1-6, wherein the diameter of the pins ranges between 1.5 and 5 mm, preferably between 2 and 3 mm.
8. Pin bar according to any one of the claims 1-6, wherein the pin bar is made from a material selected from metal, plastic, and ceramic.
PCT/DK2017/050178 2016-05-31 2017-05-31 A pin system for easy mounting and disassembling printing plates Ceased WO2017207006A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DKPA201670385 2016-05-31
DKPA201670385 2016-05-31

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2017207006A1 true WO2017207006A1 (en) 2017-12-07

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/DK2017/050178 Ceased WO2017207006A1 (en) 2016-05-31 2017-05-31 A pin system for easy mounting and disassembling printing plates

Country Status (1)

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WO (1) WO2017207006A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2020208145A1 (en) * 2019-04-11 2020-10-15 Xeikon Prepress N.V. Apparatus and method for treating a relief printing plate precursor with liquid

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4809609A (en) * 1984-09-19 1989-03-07 Sakata Shokai, Ltd. Method of directly mounting a printing plate on plate cylinder and the plate cylinder and register pins used in said method
WO1991001885A1 (en) * 1989-07-26 1991-02-21 Tecflex Limited Registration bars
US5361698A (en) * 1992-02-21 1994-11-08 Man Roland Druckmaschinen Ag Device for clamping a printing plate onto a plate cylinder
JPH07287402A (en) * 1994-04-15 1995-10-31 Mitsubishi Paper Mills Ltd Pin bar for plate making
US5562039A (en) * 1995-09-05 1996-10-08 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Method for mounting a flexible printing plate onto a printing cylinder
CA2924672A1 (en) * 2013-09-30 2015-04-02 Flint Group Germany Gmbh Device and method for the in-line production of flexographic printing plates

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4809609A (en) * 1984-09-19 1989-03-07 Sakata Shokai, Ltd. Method of directly mounting a printing plate on plate cylinder and the plate cylinder and register pins used in said method
WO1991001885A1 (en) * 1989-07-26 1991-02-21 Tecflex Limited Registration bars
US5361698A (en) * 1992-02-21 1994-11-08 Man Roland Druckmaschinen Ag Device for clamping a printing plate onto a plate cylinder
JPH07287402A (en) * 1994-04-15 1995-10-31 Mitsubishi Paper Mills Ltd Pin bar for plate making
US5562039A (en) * 1995-09-05 1996-10-08 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Method for mounting a flexible printing plate onto a printing cylinder
CA2924672A1 (en) * 2013-09-30 2015-04-02 Flint Group Germany Gmbh Device and method for the in-line production of flexographic printing plates

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2020208145A1 (en) * 2019-04-11 2020-10-15 Xeikon Prepress N.V. Apparatus and method for treating a relief printing plate precursor with liquid
NL2022926B1 (en) * 2019-04-11 2020-10-20 Xeikon Prepress Nv Apparatus and method for treating a relief precursor with liquid
US12023907B2 (en) 2019-04-11 2024-07-02 Xsys Prepress N.V. Apparatus and method for treating a relief printing plate precursor with liquid

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