Method of making a lithographic printing plate
| Title: | Method of making a lithographic printing plate |
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| Patent Number: | 8,232,043 |
| Publication Date: | July 31, 2012 |
| Appl. No: | 12/093153 |
| Application Filed: | November 09, 2006 |
| Abstract: | A method of making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including (i) a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, (ii) a coating on the support including a photopolymerizable layer, and, optionally, an intermediate layer between the photopolymerizable layer and the support, b) image-wise exposing the coating in a plate setter, c) optionally, heating the precursor in a preheating unit, and d) developing the precursor off-press in a gumming unit by treating the coating of the precursor with a gum solution, thereby removing the non-exposed areas of the coating from the support, wherein the coating further includes a compound capable of interacting with the support, the compound being present in the photopolymerizable layer and/or in the intermediate layer. |
| Inventors: | Williamson, Alexander (Mortsel, BE); Van Damme, Marc (Bonheiden, BE); Gries, Willi-Kurt (Mainz-Kastel, DE) |
| Assignees: | Agfa Graphics NV (Mortsel, BE) |
| Claim: | 1. A method of making a lithographic printing plate comprising the steps of: a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, a coating on the support including a photopolymerizable layer including a polymerizable monomer or oligomer including an ethylenically unsaturated compound having at least one terminal ethylenic group and a free radical polymerization initiator, and, optionally, an intermediate layer between the photopolymerizable layer and the support; b) image-wise exposing the coating by a laser in a plate setter; c) optionally, heating the precursor in a preheating unit; d) developing the precursor off-press in a gumming unit by treating the coating of the precursor with a gum solution, thereby removing the non-exposed areas of the coating from the support; wherein the coating further includes a compound capable of interacting with the support, the compound being present in the photopolymerizable layer. |
| Claim: | 2. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the compound capable of interacting with the support has an ethylenically unsaturated bond and a functional group capable of adsorbing to the support. |
| Claim: | 3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein the functional group includes a phosphate group, a phosphonate group, or a trialkoxy silane group. |
| Claim: | 4. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the gum solution has a pH-value ranging between 3 and 9. |
| Claim: | 5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the compound capable of interacting with the support is present in the photopolymerizable layer in an amount ranging between 1 wt % and 50 wt % of non-volatile components of the photopolymerizable layer, or in an amount ranging between 0.1 g/m 2 and 1.0 g/m 2 . |
| Claim: | 6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the gum solution includes a non-ionic surfactant. |
| Claim: | 7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the plate setter is coupled to the gumming unit by a mechanical plate conveying device and arranged such that the precursor is shielded from ambient light. |
| Claim: | 8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the gumming unit is provided with at least one roller for rubbing and/or brushing the coating during gum-processing. |
| Claim: | 9. A method according to claim 1 , wherein, after step (b) and before step (c), the precursor is heated in a pre-heating unit, the pre-heating unit being coupled to the plate setter and to the gumming unit by a mechanical plate conveying device and arranged such that the precursor is shielded from ambient light. |
| Claim: | 10. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the photopolymerizable layer further includes a sensitizer capable of absorbing violet light. |
| Claim: | 11. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the laser emits violet light. |
| Claim: | 12. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the photopolymerizable layer further includes a sensitizer capable of absorbing infrared light. |
| Claim: | 13. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the laser emits infrared light. |
| Claim: | 14. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the gum solution includes film-forming hydrophilic polymers or surfactants. |
| Claim: | 15. A method of making a lithographic printing plate comprising the steps of: a) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, a coating on the support including a photopolymerizable layer including a polymerizable monomer or oligomer including an ethylenically unsaturated compound having at least one terminal ethylenic group and a free radical polymerization initiator, and an intermediate layer between the photopolymerizable layer and the support; b) image-wise exposing the coating by a laser in a plate setter; c) optionally, heating the precursor in a preheating unit; d) developing the precursor off-press in a gumming unit by treating the coating of the precursor with a gum solution, thereby removing the non-exposed areas of the coating from the support; wherein the coating further includes a compound capable of interacting with the support, the compound being present in the photopolymerizable layer and in the intermediate layer. |
| Claim: | 16. A method according to claim 15 , wherein the compound capable of interacting with the support is present in the intermediate layer in an amount ranging between 50 wt % and 100 wt % of non-volatile components of the intermediate layer, or in an amount ranging between 0.005 g/m 2 and 1.50 g/m 2 . |
| Current U.S. Class: | 430/302 |
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| Other References: | Official communication issued in the International Application No. PCT/EP2006/068257, mailed on Jan. 22, 2007. cited by other Van Damme; “Method of Making a Lithographic Printing Plate”: U.S. Appl. No. 12/093,160, filed May 9, 2008. cited by other Van Damme; “Method of Making a Lithographic Printing Plate”; U.S. Appl. No. 12/093,602, filed May 14, 2008. cited by other Van Damme; “Method of Making a Lithographic Printing Plate”; U.S. Appl. No. 12/093,470, filed May 13, 2008. cited by other Williamson et al.; “Method of Making a Lithographic Printing Plate”; U.S. Appl. No. 12/093,366, filed May 12, 2008:. cited by other Gries et al.; “Method of Making a Photopolymer Printing Plate”; U.S. Appl. No. 12/093,473, filed May 13, 2008. cited by other Van Damme; “Method of Making a Lithographic Printing Plate”; U.S. Appl. No. 12/093,376, filed May 12, 2008. cited by other Van Damme; “Method of Making a Lithographic Printing Plate”; U.S. Appl. No. 12/093,600, filed May 14, 2008. cited by other |
| Assistant Examiner: | Robinson, Chanceity |
| Primary Examiner: | Kelly, Cynthia |
| Attorney, Agent or Firm: | Keating & Bennett, LLP |
| Accession Number: | edspgr.08232043 |
| Database: | USPTO Patent Grants |
| Language: | English |
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