JP2006103238A - Platemaking equipment and printing plate - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide platemaking equipment which lessens platemaking operations and reduces the costs of control of a solvent and environmental preservation, and a printing plate. <P>SOLUTION: A base coated with an uncured adhesion layer, a means for forming a desired image pattern by selectively sticking to the base a liquid image-making resin constituted of a liquid resin contrary to the adhesion layer in respect to responsive characteristics to oil, and a means for concurrently curing the adhesion layer and the sticking liquid image-making resin, are provided at least in the constitution of this invention. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for selectively forming an image on a support, and more specifically, a plate making for forming an image by selectively attaching a non-grease-sensitive photosensitive resin to a grease-sensitive printing plate using an inkjet printer according to a desired image pattern. The present invention relates to an apparatus and a printing plate.

  Printing with a conventional PS plate using fountain solution is not stable in quality, and the machine frequently stops by adjusting the fountain solution. In the dampening water, IPA (isopropyl alcohol) and H liquid are mixed, and there is a problem that it is not suitable for environmental conservation. Therefore, a printing method using “silicon” was developed as an alternative to “fountain solution”. This printing method is called waterless lithographic printing because it performs lithographic printing without using fountain solution, and there are various types of photosensitive lithographic printing plates that do not require fountain solution (hereinafter referred to as waterless lithographic printing plates). Things have been proposed. Among them, a coating obtained by coating a photosensitive layer and an ink repellent layer in this order on a support has extremely excellent performance. Patent Document 1 describes a silicone rubber used as an ink repellent layer. In the case of a positive photosensitive lithographic printing plate, a photopolymerizable photosensitive composition that is cured by exposure is used as the photosensitive layer. In the printing plate forming method, first, the non-image area is cured by exposing the photosensitive layer to light adhesion at the interface with the upper silicone rubber layer, thereby firmly bonding both layers. Next, in the developing step, the image area is formed by dissolving a part of the uncured photosensitive layer composition with a developer and then removing the silicone rubber layer thereon with a physical force. On the other hand, the non-image area prevents penetration by the developer and the accompanying elution of the photosensitive layer composition, thereby forming a non-image area made of a silicone rubber layer. In this case, in the formation of the image area, particularly the formation of the highlight area halftone dot, the complete removal of the silicone rubber layer hitting the image area becomes an issue. Adhesive strength at the interface is a major governing factor.

  Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a direct-drawing waterless lithographic printing plate precursor obtained by sequentially laminating at least a heat-sensitive layer and a silicone rubber layer on a substrate as a method for realizing a plate making method without using a film. . This direct-drawing waterless lithographic printing plate precursor is characterized in that the heat-sensitive layer contains a compound having a hydrazo group in the molecule, an acid generator, and a photothermal conversion substance. The heat-sensitive layer of the thermal destruction type printing plate precursor absorbs laser light and is converted into heat energy, and the heat-sensitive layer is destroyed by the heat. Then, by finally removing this portion, the silicone rubber layer that does not deposit ink is peeled off at the same time, and an image line portion where the ink is deposited is formed. In the portion not irradiated with the laser beam, the silicone rubber layer remains together with the heat-sensitive layer, and becomes a non-image portion.

  Patent Document 3 discloses a technique of using an ink jet printing technique in a manufacturing process of a waterless lithographic printing plate. This is one of the patents that uses inkjet printing technology in the printing plate manufacturing process. This patent discloses the use of an ink jet printing apparatus that forms an image area by attaching dots of oil-sensitive liquid imaging resin that reacts with silicone according to a signal from a nozzle on an ink non-grease-sensitive material such as silicone. .

  Further, as a method using an ink jet, Patent Document 4 discloses that a primer layer soluble in a first solvent is formed on a support surface-coated with silicone, and the first solvent is firmly adhered to the primer layer. A water-insoluble, lipophilic adhesive material is selectively applied by an ink jet printer. The support is then developed in a first solvent to form the image area. The primer layer portion (non-imaged portion) where the adhesive substance is not adhered by development is removed by dissolving the primer in the first solvent, and the silicone is exposed. After this step, the primer layer is cured by exposure to actinic rays, and the adhesion with the oleophilic adhesive is strengthened to complete the printing plate.

JP-A-2-236550 JP-A-11-268437 US Pat. No. 4,003,312 JP 2000-501462 A

  In the plate making process using these waterless lithographic printing plates, many development steps are necessary, and the work has not been reduced. Further, the developing method in this developing step is expensive because the main component of the processing liquid is an organic solvent, and special handling is required for its effects on the human body, danger of ignition, measures against environmental pollution, and the like. In order to solve these problems, a developer containing water as a main component is disclosed. However, since the developer containing water as a main component has a complicated structure in which an organic solvent having low water solubility is solubilized with a surfactant, the developing ability fluctuates due to a slight change in the developer composition. It has the disadvantage of being easy. Therefore, a satisfactory printing plate cannot be obtained even when developing with water or an aqueous solution of a water-soluble organic solvent as a developer. A method that does not require a development step has also been proposed, but sufficient printing durability cannot be obtained because the adhesive force between the adhering material and the support is weak.

  As described above, in the conventional plate making method using a waterless lithographic printing plate, many plate making operations are used, and various materials are used. Therefore, many costs and facilities are required for solvent management and environmental conservation. Furthermore, the obtained printing plate has a problem that the printing durability is low.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a plate making apparatus and a printing plate which require less plate making work and reduce costs for solvent management and environmental protection.

  In order to solve such a problem, a plate making apparatus according to the present invention is a liquid imaging resin comprising a base material coated with a non-cured adhesive layer, and a liquid resin whose oil sensitivity is opposite to the adhesive layer. At least a means for forming a desired image pattern on the substrate and a means for simultaneously curing the adhesive layer and the attached liquid image forming resin.

  According to this, only a required part of the surface made of the adhesive layer has a liquid imaging resin made of a liquid resin having a sensitivity characteristic to oil that is contrary to the adhesive layer, so that a development process for removing unnecessary parts is unnecessary. Therefore, it is possible to simplify the plate-making operation and reduce the plate-making cost by being freed from the processing and management of the solvent, chemicals and washing water generated by the development.

  Further, in the plate making apparatus, as shown in claim 2, the adhesive layer is oil-sensitive and the liquid resin is non-greasy.

  According to this, since the liquid imaging resin made of non-greasy liquid resin adheres only to the necessary part of the surface comprising the grease-sensitive adhesive layer, the plate making which does not require a development process to remove unnecessary non-greasy parts is achieved. This makes it possible to simplify the plate-making work and reduce the plate-making cost by being free from the processing and management of the solvent, chemicals and washing water generated by the development, and the complexity of the work by the development.

  Further, in the plate making apparatus, as shown in claim 3, the adhesive layer is non-grease sensitive and the liquid resin is oil sensitive.

  According to this, it is possible to make a plate without the need for a development process to remove unnecessary oil-sensitive parts because liquid imaging resin made of oil-sensitive liquid resin adheres only to the necessary parts of the surface made of non-grease-sensitive adhesive layer. Therefore, it is possible to simplify the plate-making work and reduce the plate-making cost by being freed from the processing and management of the solvent, chemicals and washing water generated by the development, and the complexity of the work by the development.

  Furthermore, in the plate making apparatus, as shown in claim 4, the light-sensitive adhesive layer and the liquid image-forming resin are photosensitive, and the means for curing is light sensitive to the oil-sensitive adhesive layer and the oil-sensitive liquid resin. It was set as the structure which is a means to irradiate.

  According to this, the oil-sensitive adhesive layer and the oil-sensitive liquid resin can be cured in a short time by a single means such as a lamp without using chemicals, etc., and the plate making apparatus can be miniaturized.

  Furthermore, in the plate making apparatus, as shown in claim 5, the oil-sensitive adhesive layer and the liquid image-forming resin are heat-sensitive, and the curing means is a heating means.

  According to this, it is possible to cure the oil-sensitive adhesive layer and the liquid-sensitive liquid resin in a short time without using a chemical agent or the like by a single means such as a line heater, without requiring a dark room. Can be downsized.

  Further, in the plate making apparatus, as shown in claim 6, the means for forming a desired image pattern with the liquid resin is an ink jet recording means comprising one or a plurality of nozzles.

  According to this, the means for forming a desired image pattern with a liquid resin is an ink jet recording means comprising one or a plurality of nozzles. According to this, the liquid resin can be easily and selectively adhered to the printing plate in dot units by the rasterized image signal, and the printing plate can be produced with a simple apparatus.

  Moreover, this invention is a printing plate made with the plate-making apparatus in any one of Claims 1-6.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a plate-making apparatus and a printing plate that require less plate-making work and reduce the cost of solvent management and environmental protection.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows a printing plate used in the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a printing plate, 2 is a base material, and 3 is a grease-sensitive adhesive layer. Until the plate making is performed by the plate making apparatus, a protective film may be provided in order to prevent dust from adhering to or scratching the surface of the oil-sensitive adhesive layer 3 of the printing plate 1. Therefore, prior to the plate making operation, the protective film is peeled off and loaded into the plate making apparatus.

  On the other hand, FIG. 2 shows a plate making process using a printing plate 1 having a photosensitive and oil-sensitive adhesive layer 3. In the plate making, liquid image forming resin is ejected as droplets 5 on a pixel basis by using nozzles 4 on the printing plate 1. The liquid image forming resin 6 attached to the oil-sensitive adhesive layer 3 of the printing plate 1 becomes a thin layer and adheres to the oil-sensitive adhesive layer 3. At this time, the liquid image-forming resin 6 attached to the oil-sensitive adhesive layer 3 is still in an uncured state, so that they are in close contact with each other. Furthermore, the oil-sensitive adhesive layer 3 has a higher viscosity than the attached liquid image-forming resin 6 and the oil-sensitive adhesive layer 3 is oil-sensitive, while the attached liquid image-forming resin 6 is non-greasy and therefore has an attached liquid. The image forming resin 6 has a small spread and a size close to the diameter of the droplet state.

  Next, the printing plate 1 is irradiated with an ultraviolet lamp 7. The liquid image forming resin 6 attached as a thin layer due to the ultraviolet light emitted from the ultraviolet lamp 7 is cured by light weight and adheres to the oil sensitive adhesive layer 3.

  Next, the liquid imaging resin used in the present invention will be described in detail. The liquid imaging resin used in the present invention must be non-greasy and photosensitive, and is a photosensitive silicone resin in which an acryloyl group, a cinnamoyl group, an azide group or the like is introduced as a photosensitive group in the silicone resin. Etc. can be used. Furthermore, the liquid image-forming resin has a composition such as a photopolymerization initiator, a colorant, and an auxiliary agent in addition to the photosensitive silicone resin that is a photopolymerizable resin. As for the auxiliary agent, the photosensitive silicone resin generates radicals under the influence of heat, etc. even when it is not exposed to light, and may cause a gelation phenomenon called dark reaction, and a polymerization inhibitor to prevent dark reaction. Is added. Other antifoaming agents are also added. Further, the liquid image forming resin used in the present invention needs to be finished to a liquid having a relatively low viscosity in order to be ejected by an ink jet recording head. In order to discharge from the ink jet recording head as a stable droplet without generating satellite or the like, the viscosity of the liquid image forming resin needs to be 30 cps or less, preferably 20 to 8 cps. Therefore, the viscosity is adjusted by adding a low-viscosity oligomer called a reactive diluent, a monomer, a solvent, or the like.

  However, when using a liquid imaging resin, a member through which the liquid imaging resin passes, or a recording head heating means, or when a recording head with a larger ejection force is used, the viscosity is a value that exceeds this range. It is possible to take Furthermore, in order to prevent the liquid imaging resin from spreading when attached to the oil-sensitive adhesive layer, it is desirable to adjust the contact angle with respect to the oil-sensitive adhesive layer to 90 ° or less and 30 ° or more. Therefore, a necessary amount of surfactant is added. By adding a surfactant, it is possible to adjust the contact angle of the liquid imaging resin to the oil-sensitive adhesive layer to 90 ° to 30 °.

  On the other hand, the oil-sensitive adhesive layer is generally called a primer, and has a role of firmly adhering non-greasy liquid imaging resin adhering to the primer, and the surface after curing becomes oil-sensitive and promotes adhesion of printing ink. Have a role. The oil-sensitive adhesive layer used in the present invention needs to be firmly adhered to the photosensitive silicone resin or the like that is the liquid imaging resin, or an unsaturated monomer such as ethylene glycol diacrylate, polyethylene glycol diacrylate, or glycidyl acrylate, What added the reaction initiator to the oligomer is used.

  Furthermore, a pigment may be added as a colorant to facilitate plate inspection after plate making. Since the light absorption property of the pigment changes depending on the hue, it greatly affects the curability of the photosensitive resin. Therefore, a pigment that has good visibility and does not lower the curability as much as possible must be selected. Depending on the pigment, the storage stability of the photosensitive resin may be hindered and gelation may occur, so care should be taken and other monomer resistance should be taken into consideration.

  FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a plate making apparatus using a printing plate according to the present invention. The plate making apparatus is provided with a printing plate 8, a conveying unit composed of a feed roller 9 and a conveying roller 10 that conveys the printing plate 8, a slider 11 that moves across the printing plate 8 that is moved by the conveying unit, and a magnet 12. A linear motor 14 composed of a linear guide 13, a scale 15 received even in the vicinity of the linear motor 14 to detect position information and movement information of the slider 11, and a linear encoder provided on the slider 11 for detecting the scale 15 16, a recording head 17 that is provided in the slider 11 and includes a plurality of nozzles that incorporate liquid imaging resin and discharges the liquid imaging resin, and a nozzle array width that is provided integrally with the recording head 17. An ultraviolet lamp 18 and a condensing guide (cover) that cures the liquid imaging resin and the grease-sensitive adhesive layer discharged to the printing plate 8 with a wide irradiation width. ) Composed of 19 fixing device 20 consisting of.

  In the plate making apparatus configured as described above, the printing plate 8 is inserted into the feed roller 9 with the drawing surface up as preparation for plate making. When plate making is started, the feed roller 9 and the transport roller 10 are operated to feed the printing plate 8, and when the leading end of the printing plate 8 passes through the feed roller 9 and reaches a predetermined position, the feed roller 9 and the transport roller 10 The conveyance part which stops becomes. Next, the linear motor 14 operates and the slider 11 moves across the printing plate 8. When the linear encoder 16 provided on the slider 11 reads the scale 15 and detects that the slider 11 has reached a predetermined position on the printing plate 8, the recording head 17 provided on the slider 11 rasterizes the page unit for printing. The liquid imaging resin starts to be ejected by the drawing signal, and the liquid imaging resin is adhered to the non-image area where the printing oil-based ink does not adhere in the printing process. When the printing plate 8 reaches the fixing device 20 with the intermittent feeding of the printing plate 8, the liquid image forming resin adhered to the printing plate 8 is emitted from the ultraviolet lamp 18 and collected by the light collecting cover 19 in the direction of the printing plate 8. It is exposed to the ultraviolet light and cured together with the oil-sensitive adhesive layer by photopolymerization.

  In this way, the linear encoder 16 reads the scale 15 as the slider 11 of the linear motor 14 moves, and the recording head 17 moves from one end to the other end of the printing plate 8 in accordance with the read position information. Resin is sequentially attached, and then the liquid image forming resin and the oil-sensitive adhesive layer are cured by the fixing device 20. When the slider 11 moves to the other end of the printing plate 8 and the adhesion of the liquid image forming resin is completed to a predetermined position, the linear motor 14 reverses and the slider 11 returns to the original position along the linear guide 13. During the operation of returning the slider 11 to the original position, the liquid ink blocking material is not discharged by the recording head 17, and only the transport unit is operated, and the new portion of the printing plate 8 is moved by the feed roller 9 and the transport roller 10. Set under the recording head 17. When the setting of the printing plate 8 is finished, the transport unit composed of the feed roller 9 and the transport roller 10 is stopped again. Then, the recording head 17 provided on the slider 11 again moves from one end to the other end of the printing plate 8 along the linear guide 13 of the linear motor 14, and the liquid imaging resin is attached as in the previous time. In this way, the liquid image forming resin is repeatedly attached by the recording head 17 mounted on the slider 11 while intermittently feeding the printing plate 8 by the transport unit. In this way, a non-image area is formed by the liquid image-forming resin that has been cured according to the information specified at the precise position.

  When such a series of steps is completed, the production of the printing plate 8 is completed, and the printing plate 8 is set on a normal rotary press, and a necessary number of copies are printed.

  In the plate making apparatus shown in FIG. 3, the liquid imaging resin is discharged by the recording head 17 only when the recording head 17 provided in the slider 11 moves in one direction. It is also possible to discharge the image forming resin.

  As is apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a printing plate in which a grease-sensitive adhesive layer is applied to a base material, and a liquid imaging resin composed of a non-grease-sensitive liquid resin is selectively attached to the printing plate. By providing at least means for forming an image pattern and thereafter means for curing the oil-sensitive adhesive layer and the adhered liquid image-forming resin, the non-grease-sensitive liquid resin is applied only to a necessary portion of the surface comprising the oil-sensitive adhesive layer. Since the liquid image forming resin adheres, it is possible to make the plate making process unnecessary to remove the unnecessary non-greasy part, and the complexity of the development work and the treatment and management of the solvent, chemicals and washing water generated by the development. Thus, it is possible to simplify the plate making operation and reduce the plate making cost.

  Furthermore, in order to form an ink jet recording means comprising one or a plurality of nozzles with a liquid resin, a desired image pattern can be easily and selectively adhered to the printing plate in dot units by a rasterized image signal. Printing plates can be produced with simple equipment.

  Furthermore, it uses a light sensitive adhesive layer and liquid imaging resin, and irradiates and cures sensitive light to the light sensitive adhesive layer and the liquid sensitive resin such as a lamp. The plate-making apparatus can be miniaturized by curing the oil-sensitive adhesive layer and the oil-sensitive liquid resin in a short time without using the material.

  Furthermore, if a heat-sensitive and oil-sensitive adhesive layer and liquid imaging resin are used, a dark room is not required, and a single means such as a line heater does not use chemicals and is non-contact, and the oil-sensitive adhesive can be obtained in a short time. The layer and the oil-sensitive liquid resin can be cured, and the plate making apparatus can be miniaturized.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a plate-making apparatus and a printing plate that require less plate-making work and reduce the cost of solvent management and environmental protection.

The figure which shows schematic structure of the waterless planographic printing plate used for this invention Schematic drawing of water making lithographic printing plate according to the present invention Schematic configuration diagram of a waterless lithographic printing plate making apparatus according to the present invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 8 Printing plate 2 Base material 3 Grease-sensitive adhesive layer 6 Liquid imaging resin 7 Ultraviolet lamp

Claims (7)

  A base material coated with a non-cured adhesive layer and a liquid imaging resin composed of a liquid resin whose oil sensitivity is opposite to that of the adhesive layer are selectively attached to the base material to form a desired image pattern. And a means for simultaneously curing the adhesive layer and the attached liquid image-forming resin.   The plate making apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer is oil-sensitive and the liquid resin is non-grease-sensitive.   The plate making apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive layer is non-grease sensitive and the liquid resin is oil sensitive.   The oil-sensitive adhesive layer and the liquid imaging resin are photosensitive, and the means for curing is means for irradiating light having sensitivity to the oil-sensitive adhesive layer and the oil-sensitive liquid resin. The plate making apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.   The plate making apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the oil-sensitive adhesive layer and the liquid image-forming resin are heat-sensitive, and the curing unit is a heating unit.   The plate making apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the means for forming a desired image pattern with the liquid resin is an ink jet recording means having one or a plurality of nozzles. A printing plate made by the plate making apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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