JP3366428B2 - Printing plate processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing plate processing apparatus for continuously performing image recording on a printing plate, development, fixing, elution, plate surface protection and drying.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Photosensitive lithographic printing plates used for newspaper printing, use is generally a photosensitive layer formed on the support of A Le Miniumu addition to what is called the PS plate, an organic photoconductors in the photosensitive layer OPC (Organic Photocon)
There is a printing plate or the like. This OPC printing plate (hereinafter referred to as "printing plate") can directly record an image with a laser beam or the like without using a document film or the like.

In the field of newspaper printing, there is an automatic plate making apparatus which automatically carries out from the developing process to the punching / bending process for winding around the plate cylinder of a rotary press after recording an image on the printing plate. It is used. Since such an automatic plate making apparatus can continuously produce a large number of printing plates, a large number of printing plates (for example, 500 to 1000) can be produced.
(Sheets) are mounted on a predetermined mounting table (hereinafter referred to as “skid”) and loaded together with the skid, and a series of processes from image recording (printing) to punching / plate bending are performed on the printing plate, It is designed to be ejected as a state that can be mounted on a rotary press for printing, and at a printing plant that needs to make a large number of printing plates, deploy multiple automatic plate making devices,
A large number of printing plates can be created in a short time by a small number of workers.

In the automatic plate making apparatus as described above, after the image is recorded on the printing plate, in the developing and fixing step, the printing plate is heated to form a toner image, and then the photosensitive layer in the non-image area is eluted. At this time, since the progress of elution of the photosensitive layer of the printing plate is greatly affected by the temperature of the eluate, it is necessary to keep the temperature of the eluate constant. Since the printing plate is heated to a high temperature in the developing and fixing step, when the eluate is applied to the printing plate that is still heated, the temperature of the eluate changes abruptly, which causes uneven dissolution.

Therefore, in the developing and fixing step, the heated printing plate is cooled and sent to the elution section. Also,
In the elution step, the eluate is heated and held at a constant temperature.

[0006]

However, since the printing plate is heated by electric heating in the developing and fixing step, if a liquid such as water is used in the cooling step, a cooling liquid such as water used in the cooling step is used. However, in consideration of downsizing of the developing and fixing process, the printing plate is cooled by cooling air generated by a cooling fan or the like. Therefore, there is a problem that the printing plate cannot be cooled efficiently.

[0007] In the elution step, the temperature of the effluent are preserved but temperature maintenance is not performed for the rollers and guide in contact with the printing plate, Ya <br/> rollers are provided as transport means The temperature difference of the eluate due to the guide may affect the progress of elution of the printing plate.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above facts, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a printing plate processing apparatus capable of subjecting a printing plate, which has undergone the developing and fixing step, to an elution process at a uniform temperature. .

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for processing a printing plate, comprising an image recording step of forming an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive layer by imagewise exposing the printing plate, and forming the electrostatic latent image. After applying the toner to the printed printing plate, the developing and fixing step of heating the printing plate together with the toner to form a toner image corresponding to the exposed image, and the printing plate heated in the developing and fixing step to a predetermined temperature. A processing apparatus for a printing plate, comprising a cooling step of cooling, and an elution step of eluting a photosensitive layer in a non-image area of the printing plate to create a printing plate for printing, wherein the elution step is the printing A spray means for ejecting an eluate toward a plate and / or a printing plate conveying means; and an elution tank for collecting and storing the eluate ejected by the spray means,
Temperature control means for heating by a heating means while circulating the eluate in the elution tank, and the eluent in the elution tank is maintained at a predetermined temperature by the temperature control means and is preset when the printing plate is not processed. The spray means is operated at a predetermined timing to remove the eluate in the elution tank.
It is jetted to the transport means and the transport means is called the eluate in the elution tank.
And a control means for maintaining the same temperature .

A printing plate processing apparatus according to claim 2
The printing plate processing apparatus according to Item 1, wherein the cooling step is carried by the printing plate carrying means for carrying the printing plate horizontally between the developing and fixing step and the elution step, and the printing plate carrying means. wherein a cooling means for cooling by supplying a cooling water of a predetermined temperature to the printing plate surface, characterized by a kite comprising a that.

A printing plate processing apparatus according to claim 3
A printing plate processing apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the control means of the elution step, the operation of said spray means according to the progress of the printing plate processing before Symbol image recording step and the developing and fixing steps and start to features and Turkey a.

[0012]

In the printing plate processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the temperature of the eluate is kept constant by the temperature adjusting means. Further, the control means operates the spraying means at a predetermined timing to spray the eluate onto a roller or a guide which constitutes a conveying means for conveying the printing plate. By the operation of the spray means, the temperature-adjusted eluate in the elution tank adheres to the rollers and guides that come into contact with the printing plate, and the rollers and guides are heated to approximately the same temperature as the eluate in the elution tank.

Prior to the processing of the printing plate, the eluate is attached to a roller or a guide which comes into contact with the printing plate so that the roller or the guide is substantially the same as the eluate in the elution tank. When it comes in contact with a roller or guide, it is partially cooled by this roller or guide,
It is possible to prevent the elution temperature of the printing plate from being affected by the temperature of the roller or the guide, such as the elution liquid applied to the surface of the printing plate to cool. At this time, the spray means may be operated intermittently at regular intervals, or may be carried out according to the progress of processing in the processing step of the upstream printing plate. The intermittent operation and the continuous operation may be combined to more efficiently maintain the conveying means at a predetermined temperature.

In the printing plate processing apparatus according to the second aspect,
A cooling step is provided between the developing and fixing step and the elution step. In this cooling step, cooling water having a predetermined temperature is supplied to the surface of the printing plate to cool the printing plate.

When the printing plate is cooled by cooling water, it is possible to cool the printing plate to a uniform temperature in a shorter time than cooling by cooling air supplied by a cooling fan or the like.
A printing plate heated to a constant temperature in the developing and fixing step can be efficiently cooled to a desired temperature uniformly with cooling water having a predetermined temperature, and a printing plate with good quality can be produced.

Since the temperature of the printing plate sent to the next elution step is uniform, it is possible to prevent the temperature unevenness of the printing plate from affecting the temperature of the eluate.

Since this cooling step is considered to be integrated with the developing / fixing step, it was provided integrally with the device constituting the developing / fixing step. Here, by providing the cooling step separately from the developing and fixing step in an apparatus that constitutes an elution step that uses an eluate, for example, cooling with cooling water is easy and an increase in size of the apparatus can be prevented.

Further, in the printing plate processing apparatus according to the third aspect, the spraying means in the elution step is operated in accordance with the operating states of the image recording step and the developing and fixing step on the upstream printing plate, and printing is performed. Before the plate reaches the elution step, the temperature-adjusted eluate is ejected to the guides and rollers by the spraying means. In this way, by heating the rollers and guides that come into contact with the printing plate in the elution step according to the progress of the processing of the printing plate in advance to substantially the same temperature as the elution liquid, the entire area of the printing plate can be uniformly eluted without temperature unevenness. Elution treatment can be performed with a liquid, and the printing plate can be finished with good quality.

[0019]

FIG. 1 shows the appearance of a direct plate making apparatus 10 applied to this embodiment. First, a schematic structure of the direct plate making apparatus 10 will be described.

The direct plate making apparatus 10 is provided with a plate feeding / discharging unit 16 in which a plate feeding unit 12 and a plate discharging unit 14 are integrally housed, and the insertion door 12A of the plate feeding unit 12 is opened to make a large number of sheets. The skid 22 on which the printing plate 20 is mounted is loaded. A drawing unit 18 for recording an image on the printing plate 20 is provided adjacent to the plate feeding / discharging unit 16, and the drawing plates 18 on the skids 22 loaded in the plate feeding unit 12 are drawn one by one. And imagewise exposed. The printing plate 20 image-exposed by the drawing unit 18 is taken out by the plate supply / discharge unit 16 to the plate discharge unit 14 provided above the plate supply unit 12.

The printing plate 20 used in the direct plate making apparatus 10 is an OPC printing plate in which a photosensitive layer using an organic photoconductor is formed on one surface of an aluminum support. For example, the size of two vertical pages of newspaper (width dimension 398 mm
× longitudinal dimension 1120 mm) or the like is used.

On the skid 22, a large number (for example, 5 sheets) of the printing plate 20 with the surface on the photosensitive layer side facing downward are provided.
(00 to 1000 sheets) are laminated to prevent the photosensitive layer from being unnecessarily exposed during storage or transportation. In the plate supply unit 12, the back surface side of the printing plate 20 is adsorbed and taken out from above the skid 22, and then the printing plate 20 is inverted and sent to the drawing unit 18 with the photosensitive layer facing upward. ing. In the drawing unit 18, the printing plate 20 is uniformly charged and then scanned and exposed with a laser beam having a predetermined wavelength to form an electrostatic latent image.

On the other hand, the plate fixing / discharging section 16 includes a developing / fixing section 24.
Are arranged adjacent to each other, and the printing plate 20 after image exposure is fed to the developing and fixing section 24. An elution unit 26, a drying unit 28, and a standby unit 30 are arranged downstream of the developing and fixing unit 24. Further, the punching section 32 and the plate bending section 34 are sequentially arranged adjacent to the standby section 30.

The printing plate 20 after image exposure is
When the developing unit 36 of the developing and fixing unit 24 provided as the developing and fixing process of the printing plate 20 removes the excess toner after the charged toner is uniformly applied to the surface, the fixing unit 38 heats the lamp. For example, by heating means such as 100
It is heated to a predetermined temperature of ° C or higher. Since the toner applied to the printing plate 20 in the developing unit 36 is charged, this toner adheres according to the electrostatic latent image formed on the printing plate 20. By heating this toner, the toner is formed into a film and fixed on the surface of the printing plate 20, and a toner image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the printing plate 20. In the fixing unit 38, the end surface treatment is performed so that the toner remaining on the peripheral portion of the printing plate 20 does not stain the printed matter.

The printing plate 20 on which the toner image has been formed is then sent to the elution section 26, and an elution solution of the photosensitive layer such as an alkaline solution is applied to the surface thereof to etch the photosensitive layer of the non-image area. After that, it is sent to the standby unit 30 where the surface is cleaned, a gum solution for protecting the printing plate is applied, and a drying process is performed.

In the standby section 30, the printing plate 20 sent from the drying section 28 is sent to the punch section 32 at a predetermined timing. In the punch section 32, punch holes and notches serving as positioning references for mounting on a rotary press for newspaper printing are formed at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the printing plate 20. Further, the plate bending section 34 adjacent to the punch section 32 performs a plate bending process for hooking when it is mounted on a rotary press, and the printing plate 20 after the punching and the plate bending process is completed from the plate bending section 34 to the stocker 40. Is discharged, and is sequentially stacked and stored. The printing plate 20 accommodated in the stocker 40 is then carried to a printing step, mounted on the plate cylinder of a rotary press for newspaper printing, and used as a printing plate for printing processing.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of direct plate making apparatuses 10 are connected in parallel to the image signal processing section 42 and the printing control system 44 to make a large number of printing plates in a short time. It constitutes the system 46. The image signal processing unit 42 stores and processes the image signal transmitted and input by an image communication unit such as a telephone line, and outputs the image signal to the direct plate making apparatus 10. . Also,
The print control system 44 outputs a processing instruction to each of the plurality of direct plate-making devices 10 and accumulates the image signal in the image signal processing unit 42 so that the plate can be smoothly processed according to the image-processed image signal. It is like this.

Further, the plate making system 46 has an elution
There is provided a replenisher for each treatment liquid used in the elution unit 26 including the steps of washing, gum solution application and drying, and a treatment liquid preparation device 50 for preparing the replenisher. This treatment liquid preparation device 50
And the elution section 26 of each direct plate making apparatus 10 are connected by a pipe group 48, and for diluting with a stock solution of a processing solution and / or a replenishing solution prepared by a single processing solution preparation apparatus 50. The water and the water are supplied to the elution section 26 of the plurality of direct plate making apparatuses 10.

Now, the elution section 26 of the direct plate making apparatus 10 and the processing solution preparation apparatus 50 for supplying the stock solution of each processing solution, the stock solution of the replenishing solution and the water to the elution section 26 will be described with reference to the drawings. .

FIG. 3 shows a schematic structure of the elution section 26. In the elution section 26, a cooling tank 102, an elution tank 104, a water washing tank 106, and a gum solution tank 108 are arranged in the casing 100 along the transport direction of the printing plate 20 (direction of arrow A in the figure).
Are continuously arranged, and the cooling tank 102 and the elution tank 10 are arranged.
4. The water washing tank 106 and the gum solution tank 108 are responsible for the cooling step, the elution step, the water washing step, and the plate surface protection (desensitizing treatment) step of the printing plate 20. That is, the elution portion 2 of this embodiment
Reference numeral 6 is an integrated process of cooling the printing plate 20, elution process, washing process and plate surface protection process.

Cooling tank 102, elution tank 104, washing tank 10
6 and the gum solution tank 108 include inner lids 110A, 110B, 110 in a cover 100A that covers the upper portion of the casing 100.
It is provided so as to be closed by C and 110D. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, each tank (in FIG. 6, the eluent tank 104 is shown as an example) has a substantially triangular shape such that one side wall gradually approaches the other side wall toward the bottom. A communication port 11 is formed in each of the tank walls so that the printing plate 20 can pass between the tanks adjacent to each other.
2 is formed to prevent the liquid in each tank from entering the adjacent tank.

As described above, the printing plate 2 is provided in the elution section 26.
A drying unit 28 is connected to the transport direction of 0 or to the downstream side (see also FIG. 3), and a developing and fixing unit 24 is disposed to the upstream side of the elution unit 26. The elution portion 26 is heated by the fixing portion 38 of the developing and fixing portion 24 (for example, heated to 100 ° C. or higher) to form a toner film into a printing plate 20.
Is sent.

As the eluent for removing the photoconductive layer in the non-image area after the toner image is formed, any solvent can be used, but an alkaline solvent is more preferable. The alkaline solvent mentioned here is an aqueous solution containing an alkaline compound, an organic solvent containing an alkaline compound, or a mixture of an aqueous solution containing an alkaline compound and an organic solvent.

Examples of the alkaline compound include sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium silicate, potassium silicate, sodium metasilicate, potassium metasilicate, sodium phosphate, potassium phosphate, ammonia and monomethanolamine, diethanolamine, and triethanolamine. Mention may be made of any organic and inorganic alkaline compound such as ethanolamine.

The concentration of the organic solvent in the stock solution of the eluate and the concentration of the organic solvent in the stock solution of the eluate replenisher may be the same or different.

In this case, if the concentration of the organic solvent in the eluate stock solution and the concentration of the organic solvent in the eluate replenisher stock solution are equal,
The eluate stock solution and the eluate replenisher stock solution can be made common, but when these concentrations are different, the eluate stock solution and the dilution water are used to supply a new solution to the elution tank 104, and the printing plate 20 When replenishing during processing, it is necessary to use a stock solution of elution replenisher and dilution water. In this example, the concentration of the organic solvent in the stock solution of the eluate and the concentration of the organic solvent in the stock solution of the eluate supplement are different.

Usually, in the developing and fixing section 24, the printing plate 20 after the fixing process is cooled by a cooling means such as a fan, and the printing plate 20 is sent to the elution section 26 after being cooled. However, in the direct plate making apparatus 10 applied to this embodiment, the developing and fixing unit 24
After the fixing process, the printing plate 20 is sent to the elution unit 26 without being cooled, and the printing plate 20 is cooled in a cooling process provided in the elution unit 26.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the cooling tank 102 of the elution section 26, a conveying path is formed by two pairs of conveying rollers 114 and a guide plate 116 arranged between the conveying roller pairs 114. Has been done. In addition, the guide plate 116
Above the above, a plurality of spray pipes 11 for ejecting water of a predetermined temperature toward the printing plate 20 passing through the inside of the cooling tank 102.
8 is provided so that the water ejected from the spray pipe 118 is collected in the cooling tank 102.

Above the elution tank 104, four pairs of conveying rollers 114 are arranged, and the conveying roller pair 1 on the upstream side is arranged.
A guide plate 116 is arranged between the two, and a guide plate 116 and a brush roller 120 are arranged between the conveying roller pair 114 in the central portion, and horizontally conveys the printing plate 20 sent from the cooling tank 102. It is like this.

Further, a pair of conveying rollers 114 adjacent to each other.
A plurality of spray pipes 122 are arranged between them. These spray pipes 122 have an elution tank 104.
The eluate stored in the inside is supplied, and the eluate is jetted toward the surface of the printing plate 20 being conveyed, and a portion of the photosensitive layer of the printing plate 20 on which toner is not attached The (non-image part) is eluted. At this time, the brush roller 120 applies the eluted photosensitive layer to the printing plate 2
It has the role of removing from the surface of 0. The eluate ejected from the spray pipe 122 is again collected in the elution tank 104.

In the washing tank 106, there are two pairs of conveying rollers.
14, a guide plate 116 and a brush roller 124 are arranged between the pair of transport rollers 114 to form a transport path for horizontally transporting the printing plate 20. Also,
A spray pipe 126 is arranged between the pair of transport rollers 114 so as to sandwich the transport path for the printing plate 20. When the washing water stored in the washing tank 106 is supplied to the spray pipe 126, the washing water is jetted toward the front and back surfaces of the printing plate 20 to wash off the eluate from the front and back surfaces of the printing plate 20. It is like this. Also brush roller 12
4 serves to remove the remaining eluted photosensitive layer which should be removed from the surface of the printing plate 20.

Two pairs of conveying rollers 114 are arranged in the gum solution tank 108, and a spray pipe 128 is provided between the conveying roller pairs 114. When the gum solution stored in the gum solution tank 108 is supplied, the spray pipe 128 sprays the gum solution toward the surface of the printing plate 20 to apply the gum solution. This gum solution protects the surface of the printing plate 20 (desensitizing treatment). In addition, the downstream conveying roller pair 114 is used for the printing plate 2
It also has the role of removing excess gum solution from 0.

A plurality of flower-shaped transport rollers 130 are provided along the transport direction of the printing plate 20 in the drying chamber of the drying unit 28 for drying the printing plate 20 after the plate surface protection treatment, and the most downstream is A pair of conveying rollers 132 is arranged to convey the printing plate 20 horizontally. Further, a plurality of outlet pipes 134 are vertically arranged between the respective rollers. These blowing pipes 134 are provided in the drying chamber 2
The drying air having a predetermined temperature generated by a drying air generating unit composed of a heater and a fan (not shown) disposed below 8A is supplied through the chamber 136. For this reason, the printing plate 20 transported in the drying chamber 28A is subjected to a drying process on the front and back surfaces by the drying air blown from the blowout pipes 134. The printing plate 20 that has undergone the drying process is sent from the drying unit 28 to the standby unit 30.

The transport roller 130 comprises a roller body having protrusions formed at regular intervals from the outer periphery of the disk-shaped disc toward the outer side in the radial direction. The protrusion partly contacts the printing plate 20 and conveys the printing plate 20, and the contact area between the printing plate 20 and the roller is small, and the drying air is uniformly supplied to the front and back surfaces of the printing plate 20. You can do it.

A shutter 138 is provided on the drying section 28 side of the gum solution tank 108, and when the printing plate 20 is not processed, the drying air from the drying section 28 is introduced into the gum solution tank 108 by the shutter 138. It prevents it from entering and promoting the evaporation of water in the gum solution. Also,
A blade 140 is provided on the upper roller of the upstream conveying roller pair 114 of each of the cooling tank 102, the elution tank 104, the water washing tank 106, and the gum solution tank 108, and the rotation of the conveying roller pair 114 causes the inside of each tank. It prevents the processing liquid from being taken out to the upstream side. In addition, the cooling tank 102
The blade 142 is inserted into the insertion opening 112 on the developing and fixing unit 24 side of
Is provided to prevent the cooling water ejected from the spray pipe 118 from scattering into the upstream developing and fixing unit 24.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic system diagram of the elution section 26. A pipe group 48 communicates with the elution portion 26 and a treatment liquid preparation tank 50. In this piping group 48,
The pipe 48A for cooling and dilution water, the pipe 48B for the eluent stock solution initially stored in the elution tank 104, the pipe 48C for the replenisher stock solution for the eluate and the pipe 48D for the gum solution stock solution are formed, and these are They are respectively connected to the connection ports 144A, 144B, 144C, 144D in the elution section 26.

One end of a pipe 146 is connected to a connection port 144A to which a pipe 48A for cooling water and dilution water is connected. This pipe 146 is connected to the pipes 146A, 146B, 1
It is branched into 46C and 146D.

A cooling water pump 148 is arranged in the middle of the branched pipe 146A, and a spray pipe 118 is connected to the tip of the cooling water pump 148. Therefore, by the operation of the cooling water pump 148, the spray pipe 118 in the cooling tank 102 is sucked as cooling water from the treatment liquid preparation tank 50. The pipe 146A is provided with an orifice 150 for adjusting the flow rate. For example, the absorption amount of cooling water is adjusted to be 4 liters / minute, and the treatment liquid preparation device 5 is provided.
The printing plate 20 heated and sent from the developing / fixing unit 24 by the cooling water having a substantially constant temperature and jet amount supplied from 0.
Is cooled to a constant temperature of about 40 ° C.

The cooling temperature of the printing plate 20 in the cooling tank 102 can be set by the amount and temperature of the cooling water jetted from the spray pipe 118, the transport speed of the printing plate 20 in the cooling tank 102, and the like. . Further, the cooling water ejected from the spray pipe 118 and collected in the cooling tank 102 is discharged as drainage through a pipe 152 connected to the bottom of the cooling tank 102.

The pipe 14 branched from the pipe 146
A dilution water metering pump 154 is provided at an intermediate portion of 6B. In addition, the dilution water metering pump 1 for this pipe 146B
On the secondary side of 54, a pipe 48B for the above-mentioned stock solution of eluate
A pipe 156 connected to a connection port 144B connected to
Connection port 14 to which the pipe 48C for the elution replenisher stock solution is connected
The pipe 158 connected to 4C is connected to the elution tank 104.
Has an opening at the top. An eluate stock solution metering pump 160 and an eluate replenishing stock solution metering pump 162 are provided at the respective intermediate portions of the pipes 156 and 158.

Therefore, the eluate stock solution can be sucked from the treatment liquid preparation device 50 and supplied to the elution tank 104 by the operation of the eluate stock solution metering pump 160. If the elution tank 104 is empty before starting the treatment, the dilution water metering pump 1
By operating 54 and the eluent stock solution metering pump 160, the eluate stock solution and the diluting water for diluting the eluate stock solution from the treatment liquid preparation device 50 are in a predetermined ratio (for example, 1: 1).
Can be used as a starting solution for the treatment. After starting the process, the printing plate 2 detected by the detection sensor 226.
Depending on the amount of 0 (for example, the number of sheets), the dilution water metering pump 154
And the elution replenishing stock solution quantitative pump 162 is operated to supply the elution replenishing solution stock solution and the diluting water for diluting the elution replenishing solution stock solution from the treatment solution preparation device 50 to the elution tank 104 at a predetermined ratio (for example, 1: 1). Will be replenished.

On the other hand, a pipe 16 is provided at the bottom of the elution tank 104.
4 is open at one end, and the pipe 164 is branched into pipes 164A, 164B, 164C at an intermediate portion.
A circulation pump 16 is provided in the middle of the branched pipe 164A.
6 and a filter 168 are provided, and the other end is connected to the spray pipe 122 described above. Therefore, the eluate in the elution tank 104 is supplied to the spray pipe 122 and ejected by the operation of the circulation pump 166. In addition, the temperature control pump 170 is provided in the middle of the branched pipe 164B.
A heating heater 172 is provided, and the other end is opened at the upper part of the elution tank 104. Therefore, the eluate in the elution tank 104 is circulated through the heater 172 by the operation of the temperature control pump 170. At this time, the eluate is heated by the heater 172 to maintain the eluate in the elution tank 104 at a predetermined temperature.

In this embodiment, the temperature of the eluate is set to 35
While maintaining the temperature at ± 0 ° C (± 0.5 ° C), the heater 1
The capacity of 72 is such that the eluate at 15 ° C. can be heated to this predetermined temperature in about 23 minutes, and the circulating pump 166 supplies the spray pipe 122 with the conveying roller pair 114 and the brush roller. 120 is ejected toward the guide plate 116 and the like, so that the conveying roller pair 114, the brush roller 120, the guide plate 116 and the like can be kept at substantially the same temperature as the eluent.

The tip end of the branched pipe 164C is further branched and provided with a drainage solenoid valve 174A and a waste liquid solenoid valve 174B.
The liquid in 04 can be discharged as waste liquid or waste water.

A pipe 146C branched from the pipe 146 is opened at the upper part of the washing tank 106. This piping 1
A water supply metering pump 176 is provided at an intermediate portion of 46C, and by operating the water supply metering pump 176, water can be sucked and supplied from the treatment liquid preparation device 50 into the water washing tank 106 as water to be rinsed.

At the bottom of the washing tank 106, one end of a pipe 178 whose middle portion is branched into pipes 178A and 178B is opened. The tip of one of the branched pipes 178B is further branched to a solenoid valve 18 for drainage.
OA and a solenoid valve 180B for waste liquid are provided so that the water in the washing tank 106 can be discharged as waste liquid or waste water.

The pipe 17 branched from the pipe 178
The circulation pump 182 and the filter 18 are provided in the middle portion of 8A.
4 is provided, and the other end is connected to the spray pipe 126. Therefore, the water in the washing tank 106 is supplied to the spray pipe 126 by the operation of the circulation pump 182.

The pipe 14 branched from the pipe 146
A dilution water metering pump 186 is provided in the middle of 6D,
On the discharge side of the dilution water metering pump 186, a connection port 144D is provided.
The pipe 188 is connected to the gum solution tank 108 and opens at the upper part of the gum solution tank 108. A gum stock solution metering pump 190 is provided in an intermediate portion of the pipe 188, and the gum solution stock solution and the gum solution stock solution are predetermined from the processing solution preparation device 50 by the operation of the gum stock solution metering pump 190 and the dilution water metering pump 186. The water to be diluted in the ratio can be sucked and supplied or replenished to the gum solution tank 108.

At the bottom of the gum solution tank 108, a pipe 19 is provided.
One end of 2 is open. The pipe 192 is branched at an intermediate portion, and one circulation pipe 192A is provided with a circulation pump 194 at an intermediate portion, and the other end is connected to the spray pipe 12
Connected to eight. Therefore, the gum solution in the gum solution tank 108 is supplied to the spray pipe 128 by the operation of the circulation pump 194.

The other branched pipe 192B is
Solenoid valve 1 for drainage with the tip further branched
96A, solenoid valve for waste liquid 196B, 196C
Is provided so that the liquid in the gum liquid tank 108 can be discharged as drainage or waste liquid. The secondary side of the solenoid valve 196C is opened in the waste liquid tank 198, and the gum liquid in the gum liquid tank 108 is stored in the waste liquid tank 198.
It can be discharged inside.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, overflow pipes 200A, 200B are provided in the elution tank 104, the water washing tank 106 and the gum solution tank 108, respectively.
One end of 200C is opened. As shown in FIG. 4, the other ends of the overflow pipes 200A, 200B, and 200C are respectively provided with waste liquid solenoid valves 174B and 174B.
180B and 196C are respectively connected to the secondary side, and the excess liquid in the elution tank 104, the water washing tank 106 and the gum solution tank 108 is discharged as a waste liquid.

On the other hand, the elution section 26 is provided with a connection port 202 for connecting a pipe for washing water. This connection port 2
Two pipes 204 and 206 are connected to 02,
One of the pipes 204 has a hose 2 for cleaning the inside of the device at the tip.
A valve 208 to which 04A is connected is provided, and the inside of the apparatus can be cleaned by opening the valve 208 and using the cleaning hose 204A.

A washing pump 210 is provided in the middle of the pipe 206, and the other end is branched so that the elution tank 1 is provided.
04, the washing tank 106, and the gum solution tank 108. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the elution tank 10
4. In the washing tank 106 and the gum solution tank 108, cleaning pipes 212, 21 are formed in a loop along the upper part of each tank wall.
4, 216 are provided, and these cleaning pipes 21
2, 214, 216 are even connected to the pipe 206. A large number of ejection holes (not shown) are provided in each of the cleaning pipes 212, 214, and 216.
The washing water supplied by the operation of 10 is jetted into the tank through the jet holes to wash the tank wall.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic block diagram for controlling the operation of the elution section 26. The elution unit 26 is provided with a control unit 220. The control unit 220 controls the operations from the plate feeding / discharging unit 16 to the punching unit 32 and the plate bending unit 34 of the direct plate making apparatus 10 in order to control the operation. The controller 16 is connected to a control unit (not shown).

The control unit 220 includes a cooling water pump 148, a dilution water metering pump 154,
186, eluate stock solution constant quantity pump 160, elution supplement stock solution constant quantity pump 162, circulation pumps 166, 182, 194,
Temperature control pump 170, heater 172, solenoid valves 174A, 174B, 180A, 180B, 196A
~ C, water supply metering pump 176, gum stock solution metering pump 19
0 and the washing pump 210 are connected. Further, the control unit 220 includes the elution tank 104 and the washing tank 1.
06 and the liquid level sensors 222A, 222B, 222C provided in the gum solution tank 108, and the temperature sensor 22 for detecting the temperature of the eluate provided in the elution tank 104, respectively.
4. A plate detection sensor 226 that is provided outside the developing and fixing unit 24 of the cooling tank 102 and detects passage of the printing plate 20 is connected.

The liquid level sensors 222A to 222C detect the lower limit level "L" and the upper limit level "H" of the liquid in each tank. For example, an electrode type sensor is used to detect the "L" level. When the electrode to be turned on is switched from on to off, it is detected that the liquid level has reached the lower limit level “L”,
"H" level detection It is detected that the liquid level has reached "H" when the electrode is switched from OFF to ON. In the control unit 220, the liquid level sensors 222A to 222C are used for the elution tank 104 and the washing tank 10.
6 and the amount of the eluate in the gum solution tank 108, the washing water, and the gum solution at the start of processing are controlled.

Further, the control unit 220 includes
Conveying roller pair 114 and brush roller 12 in the elution section 26
A drive motor 228 that drives 0, 124, etc., and a shutter motor 230 that drives the shutter 138 to open and close are connected. In addition, the gum solution tank 108 has a pair of conveying rollers.
An air cylinder 232 is provided for separating the upper roller of 14 from the lower roller, and a limit switch (not shown) in the air cylinder 232 and an air pump 234 for driving the air cylinder 232 are connected to the control unit 220. ing.

As a result, the control unit 22
0 means that the shutter 138 is used when the printing plate 20 is not processed.
Is closed to prevent the inflow of dry air from the drying section 28, and the air cylinder 232 is driven to drive the gum solution tank 10.
The upper and lower rollers of the conveyance roller pair 114 in the No. 8 are separated from each other to prevent the conveyance roller pair 114 from being fixed by the gum solution.

Further, the control unit 220 includes
A liquid level sensor 236 for detecting the amount of liquid in the waste liquid tank 198 is connected, and the liquid level sensor 236 prevents the waste liquid tank 198 from overflowing with the discharged gum liquid.

Next, the treatment liquid preparation device 50 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. As shown in FIG. 8, the treatment liquid preparation device 50 includes a water supply tank 52, an eluate stock solution tank 54, an eluate replenisher stock solution tank 56, and a gum solution stock solution tank 58, and as shown in FIG. Are accommodated in the casing 60. Upper lids 62A and 62B are provided on the upper portion of the casing 60 so that the upper portion inside the casing 60 can be opened. The upper lid 62A or the upper lid 62B is opened to make an eluate stock solution, an elution replenisher stock solution, and a gum solution. A cartridge 64A for containing the stock solution,
It is possible to mount 64B and 64C (both see FIG. 8) and take out empty cartridges 64A to 64C.

As shown in FIG. 8, the cartridge 64
A to C are attached to cartridge receivers 66A, 66B, and 66C provided on the upper portions of the eluate stock solution tank 54, the eluate replenisher stock solution tank 56, and the gum solution stock solution tank 58, respectively. 66A
˜C is provided with a knife edge 68 for breaking the packing (not shown) of each of the cartridges 64A to 64C to discharge the liquid therein. Therefore, the liquid in the cartridges 64A to 64C is discharged by the operation of the handles 70A, 70B, 70C (see FIG. 7) protruding from the casing 60, and the eluate stock solution tank 54, the elution replenisher stock solution tank 56 and the gum solution stock solution are discharged. It can be stocked in the tank 58.

A water supply tank 52, an eluate stock solution tank 54,
The ends of the pipes 72, 74, 76 and 78 are opened at the bottoms of the elution replenisher stock solution tank 56 and the gum solution stock solution tank 58, respectively. The other ends of these pipes 72 to 78 are
Depending on the number of the direct plate making devices 10, a predetermined number (6 in this embodiment, as an example) is branched and the ends are branched to the connection port 80.

As shown in FIG. 7, these connection ports 8
0 can be connected from the outside of the casing 60, and the pipe group 48 connected to the elution part 26 of the direct plate making apparatus 10 is connected to each connection port 80. That is, the connection port 8 of the pipe 72
The pipe 48A for dilution water is connected to the connection port 80 of the pipe 74 at 0.
The pipe 48B for the undiluted liquid is connected to the connection port 8 of the pipe 76.
A pipe 48C for the stock solution of the eluate replenisher is connected to 0, and a pipe 48D for the stock solution of the gum liquid is connected to the connection port 80 of the pipe 78 (all are not shown). By suctioning from the elution section 26 with these pipes 48A to 48D connected, the corresponding water, eluate stock solution, elution replenisher stock solution and gum solution stock solution are supplied to the elution section 26.

In this case, since the eluate stock solution and the eluate replenisher stock solution have different compositions, the eluate stock solution cannot be used as the eluent replenisher solution stock solution for replenishing the eluate. It can be used not only as a gum solution stock solution stored in the solution tank 108 but also as a stock solution for supplementing the gum solution according to the treatment. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, one end of the pipe 80 is connected to the middle portion of the pipe 72 of the water supply tank 52, and the other end is connected to the water supply tank 52.
It is opened at the top of. A circulation pump 82 and a heater 84 are provided in the middle of the pipe 80. The circulation pump 82 and the heater 84 are connected to the control unit 86. A temperature sensor 88 provided in the water supply tank 52 is connected to the control unit 86. As a result, the control unit 86 heats the water in the water supply tank 52 while circulating it and maintains it at a predetermined temperature.

In this embodiment, this water supply tank 52
By maintaining the temperature of the water in the container at a preset constant temperature of 25 ° C to 30 ° C, the water maintained at this temperature can be supplied to each tank of the elution unit 26 as dilution water. There is.

At the upper part of the water supply tank 52, a pipe 90
Is open at one end. In the middle of this pipe 90,
A solenoid valve 92 is provided and a connection port 90A at the other end
A pipe (not shown) for supplying tap water from the outside is connected to the.

Liquid level sensors 94A, 94B, and 94 are provided in the water supply tank 52, the eluate stock solution tank 54, the eluate replenisher stock solution tank 56, and the gum solution stock solution tank 58, respectively.
C and 94D are provided and connected to the control unit 86. As the liquid level sensors 94A to 94D, for example, electrode type sensors are applicable, and the liquid level upper limit alarm level "HA", upper limit level "H", intermediate level "M", lower limit level "L" and lower limit alarm. The level "LA" can be detected. An operation panel 96 is connected to the control unit 86. As shown in FIG. 7, the operation panel 96 is attached to the casing 60, and the operation of the treatment liquid preparation apparatus 50 from outside the machine and the operation display to the outside of the machine are possible.

Therefore, in the control unit 86, when the electrodes for detecting the "L" level are switched from ON to OFF, the liquid level of the eluate stock solution, the elution replenisher stock solution and the gum solution stock solution is the lower limit level "L". Is detected, a display prompting replenishment is displayed on the operation panel 96, for example, and when the liquid level drops below the lower limit alarm level “LA” and the electrode detecting the lower limit alarm level “LA” is turned off, an alarm is issued. It is supposed to be emitted. The liquid level sensor 94A provided in the water supply tank 52 detects the upper limit level “H”, the intermediate level “M”, and the lower limit level “L”, and the liquid level in the water supply tank 52 is equal to or lower than the intermediate level “M”. That is, when the electrode for detecting the “M” level is switched from on to off, the solenoid valve 92 is opened to supply water,
When the electrode for detecting the upper limit level "H" is switched from OFF to ON, the water supply is stopped and the water of the intermediate level "M" or higher is always stored. At this time, the water in the water supply tank 52 is always maintained at a predetermined temperature.

Pipes 74, 7 from the stock solution stock solution tank 54, the stock solution stock solution 56 of the dissolution solution and the stock solution tank 58 of the gum solution.
The drain valves 2 and 6 are branched at the middle part.
50A and a waste liquid valve 250B are provided, and the liquid in each tank can be discharged as drainage or waste liquid. This valve operation is performed when cleaning the inside of the tank,
First, the waste liquid valve 250B is opened to drain the liquid in each tank, and then the cleaning liquid is used for cleaning. At this time, in the first washing, the eluate stock solution, the eluate replenisher stock solution,
Since a large amount of gum solution remains, the waste liquid valve 250B may be opened to discharge the washed water as a waste liquid, and then the washed water may be discharged by opening the drain valve 250A.

Further, the pipe 7 connected to the water supply tank 52
2 is provided with a drain valve 252 which is branched at an intermediate portion, and draining is possible by opening the drain valve 252.

On the other hand, an overflow pipe 254 is provided above each of the water supply tank 52, the eluate stock solution tank 54, the elution replenisher stock solution tank 56, and the gum solution stock solution tank 58.
One end of each of A, 254B, 254C, and 254D is opened, and the other end of each of A, 254B, 254C, and 254D is connected to the secondary side of the drain valve 252 or the waste liquid valve 250B, and the excess liquid in each tank is drained. Alternatively, it is discharged as waste liquid so that it does not overflow.

A pipe 258 having a waste liquid pump 98 and a waste liquid valve 256 in the middle is branched into the pipe 78 of the gum solution stock solution tank 58. This waste liquid pump 9
8 is connected to the control unit 86, and by opening the waste liquid valve 256 and operating the switch on the operation panel 96, the gum liquid having a lower fluidity than the water in the gum liquid stock solution tank 58 is forcibly forced. It can be discharged.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, the control unit 86 of the treatment liquid preparation apparatus 50 and the control unit 220 of the elution section 26 of each direct plate making apparatus 10 are connected to each other, and the control unit 220 is connected.
From the treatment liquid preparation device 50 to the liquid level sensors 94A and 9A.
4B and 94D, the remaining amount of the water, the eluate stock solution, the elution replenisher stock solution and the gum solution stock solution in the water supply tank 52, the eluate stock solution tank 54, the elution replenisher stock solution tank 56, and the gum solution stock solution tank 58 are input. It is supposed to be done.

In this control unit 220, for example, the remaining amount of water in the water supply tank 52 of the treatment liquid preparation device 50, the undiluted solution of the undiluted liquid solution tank 54, and the undiluted solution of the undiluted gum solution in the undiluted gum solution tank 58. Is it possible to prepare a predetermined amount of the eluent and gum solution to be newly charged as a start solution after the washing operation in the elution section 26 (the amount that needs to be put into the elution tank 104 and the gum solution tank 108 first)? It is designed to judge whether or not.

This determination is made when, for example, the liquid level of any of the water supply tank 52, the eluate stock solution tank 54, and the gum solution stock solution tank 58 is equal to or lower than the third predetermined level "LA" level. Even if an instruction signal for preparing a new liquid is input from the control unit (not shown) of the plate discharge unit 16, the elution tank 10
4. Prohibition of preparation of new liquid in the gum solution tank 108, that is, eluate stock solution quantitative pump 160, gum solution stock solution quantitative pump 190
Also, the operation of the dilution water metering pumps 160, 186 is prohibited.

In the control unit 220,
When a command signal for preparing a new liquid is input from a control unit (not shown) of the plate supply / drainage unit 16, whichever liquid level of the water supply tank 52, the eluate stock solution tank 54, and the gum solution stock solution tank 58 has a fourth predetermined level. Only when it is confirmed that the level is the intermediate level “M” level or higher, the operation of the eluate stock solution metering pump 160, the gum solution stock solution metering pump 190, and the dilution water metering pumps 160, 186 is permitted. When any one of the liquid surface levels is equal to or lower than the “L” level, the control unit of the plate supply / drainage unit 16 is instructed to add the corresponding liquid. Further, when it is confirmed that the remaining amount of each liquid in the treatment liquid preparation device 50 is equal to or more than a predetermined amount (“M” level or more),
Eluent stock solution metering pump 160 and dilution water metering pump 154
Or, the gum solution stock solution metering pump 190 and the dilution water metering pump 186 are made operable, and the elution tank 104 and the gum solution tank 108 are
The start solution can be prepared in.

In this embodiment, as an example, the elution tank 104 of the elution unit 26 and the eluate stock solution tank 5 of the treatment liquid preparation device 50 are used.
4, the amount of new liquid (start liquid) stored in the elution tank 104 is 20 liters (the liquid level sensor 222A is “H”).
The amount of the level detected), the amount of the undiluted solution in the undiluted solution tank 54 of the treatment liquid preparation device 50 is 20 liters when the liquid level is "M" level, and the liquid level is "H" level. It is set to 30 liters at a time and 10 liters at the "L" level. As a result, the eluate is prepared by diluting the stock solution of the eluate with the same amount of water. Therefore, when the starting solution of the eluate is prepared in the elution tank 104 of the elution unit 26, the eluate of the treatment liquid preparation device 50 is prepared. When the liquid level of the undiluted solution in the undiluted solution tank 54 is always "M" level (20 liters) or more, the starting solution of the eluate of the direct plate making apparatus 10 can be prepared, Stock solution tank 54 to elution tank 1
When the liquid level is sent to 04 and the liquid level of the eluent stock solution in the eluate stock solution tank 54 becomes equal to or lower than the “L” level, a new eluate stock solution is instructed to be put into the eluate stock solution tank 54. When the eluate stock solution is not charged into the eluate stock solution tank 54 and the liquid level of the eluate stock solution becomes "LA" or less, an alarm is issued and the solution sending is automatically stopped.

When the liquid level of the undiluted solution in the undiluted solution tank 54 exceeds the “H” level,
The introduction of a new eluate stock solution into the eluate stock solution tank 54 is prohibited.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. In this plate making system 46, an image signal for producing a printing plate is inputted to the image signal processing section 42, and when the processing of this image signal is completed, the direct plate making apparatus 10 for making the plate making by the print control system 44 is selected. , And designates the processing content (for example, the number of plate making) to the designated direct plate making apparatus 10 and transfers the image signal from the image signal processing unit 42. At this time. The printing plate 20 is preliminarily loaded in each of the direct plate-making devices 10, and each processing unit is in a state capable of plate-making processing of the printing plate 20.

Further, in the treatment liquid preparation device 50, the circulation pump 82 and the heater 84 are operated to circulate the water in the water supply tank 52 while heating the water, thereby circulating the water at a substantially constant temperature (for example, 30 ° C.).
° C), and when the remaining amount of water, the eluent replenisher stock solution, and the gum solution undiluted solution stored by suction from the direct plate making apparatus 10 becomes small, replenishment is urged, and the elution part of all direct plate making apparatus 10 is always maintained. No. 26 can be replenished with the stock solution of the eluate replenishing solution, water (cooling water, diluting water, and washing water) and the stock solution of gum solution.

In the direct plate making apparatus 10, the image signal from the image signal processing unit 42 and the print control system 44,
When the processing contents are instructed and input, the plate making process is started. At this time, in the elution section 26, the circulation pump 166 is intermittently operated to eject the eluate heated to a constant temperature from the spray pipe 122 to cause the conveying roller pair 114, the guide plate 116, and the brush roller 120 to fall within a predetermined temperature range. To maintain. After this, the printing plate 20 in the direct plate-making device 10
The circulating pump 166 is continuously operated at a predetermined timing in accordance with the progress of the process of 1.
6. The brush roller 120 reaches the same temperature as the eluate in the elution tank 104.

First, the printing plate 20 is taken out from the skid 22 loaded in the plate supply unit 12, and the printing plate 20 is supplied to the drawing unit 18. In the drawing unit 18, the photosensitive layer of the printing plate 20 is uniformly charged, and then a laser beam is irradiated according to the image signal to remove the charge according to the image signal to form an electrostatic latent image. The printing plate 20 on which the electrostatic latent image is formed is taken out from the drawing unit 18 to the plate discharging unit 14, and the plate discharging unit 14
Is sent to the developing unit 36 of the developing / fixing unit 24.

In the developing section 36, the charged toner is uniformly applied to the surface of the printing plate 20, and the toner is attached according to the exposed image. After that, in the fixing unit 38, the toner adhering to the printing plate 20 together with the printing plate 20 is heated to a predetermined temperature of, for example, 100 ° C. by a heat source such as a halogen lamp to form the toner into a film to form the printing plate 20. It is fixed and a toner image is formed.

The printing plate 20 for which the fixing process has been completed is sent to the elution section 26 at a high temperature. In the elution section 26, the cooling plate 102, the elution tank 104, and the washing tank 10 are conveyed while the printing plate 20 is conveyed by the conveying roller pair 114 at a constant speed.
6. The gum solution tank 108 is conveyed in order. At this time, when the plate detection sensor 226 detects the passage of the printing plate 20, the cooling water pump 148 operates and the cooling water pump 148 operates at a predetermined temperature (for example, about 30 ° C.) stored in the water supply tank 52 of the treatment liquid preparation device 50. Water is sucked and supplied to the spray pipe 118.
As a result, the water is sprayed from the spray pipe 118 to the printing plate 20 passing through the cooling tank 102 and cooled to, for example, 40 ° C.

Since the cooling plate 102 cools the printing plate 20 with water, it can be cooled efficiently in a short time, and the printing plate 20 is kept constant in its entire area without causing temperature unevenness. Can be at temperature. Further, since the temperature of the cooling water is constant, the temperature of the cooling water is not affected by the working environment, and the printing plate 20
Can always be cooled to a constant temperature.

In the next elution tank 104, the eluate is heated by the heater 172 while being circulated by the temperature control pump 170 and maintained at a constant temperature (for example, 35 ° C.), and the circulation pump 166 is operated to operate the spray pipe 122. The eluate heated to a constant temperature in the elution tank 104 is ejected to convey the conveying roller pair 114, the guide plate 115, and the brush roller 12.
Since 0 is maintained at substantially the same temperature as the eluent, the printing plate 20 conveyed in the elution tank 104 is conveyed by the conveyance roller pair 11
4 and the guide plate 116 and the like do not cause temperature unevenness. Therefore, the printing plate 20 transported in the elution tank 104 is provided with an eluate at a constant temperature (for example, 35 ° C. ± 0.5 ° C.) to elute the photosensitive layer in the non-image area, and the temperature of the eluate is increased. The dissolution state does not change due to unevenness.

On the other hand, in the elution tank 104, the replenisher is replenished according to the processing of the printing plate 20. At this time, the eluate replenisher stock solution quantitative pump 162 and the dilution water metering pump 154 are operated at a predetermined ratio to suck water and the eluate undiluted solution from the water supply tank 52 and the eluate undiluted solution tank 54 in the treatment solution preparation device 50. However, since the water in the water supply tank 52 is heated to a predetermined temperature in advance, the temperature of the eluent in the elution tank 104 may change depending on the newly supplied water and the stock solution of the eluent. Therefore, the temperature control of the eluate in the elution tank 104 is extremely easy.

In the next washing tank 106, the spray pipe 1
The front and back surfaces of the printing plate 20 are washed with water ejected from the plate 26 to completely remove the eluate from the printing plate 20. Further, in the gum solution tank 108, the gum solution ejected from the spray pipe 128 is uniformly applied to the surface of the printing plate 20. After that, the printing plate 20 is conveyed through the drying unit 28, and after the gum liquid on the front and back surfaces is dried by the drying air, the standby unit 30
Sent to.

The shutter 138 provided between the elution unit 26 and the drying unit 28 is, for example, the plate detection sensor 2
26 has passed a predetermined time after the rear end of the printing plate 20 has passed, the rear end of the printing plate 20 has been sent out from the gum solution tank 108, and is operated to operate in the gum solution tank 108 from the drying section 28. I try not to let in dry air. The operation timing of the shutter 138 is not limited to this, and may be any timing as long as the shutter 138 does not interfere with the passage of the printing plate 20.

The printing plate 20 thus processed
After the punch holes and the notches are formed at predetermined positions in the punch section 32 and the plate bending section 34 and the bending processing is performed, the sheet is discharged to the stocker 40 and accommodated therein.

Here, in the direct plate making apparatus 10, for example, the processing amount of the printing plate 20 reaches 5000 sheets or one month from the processing time after the new liquid (start liquid) is initially charged. When the treatment is performed with the same eluent as described above, the eluate or gum solution in the tank is discharged to wash the inside of each tank, and then a new eluate or the like is added again. Next, the cleaning work of the elution part 26 is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First Step 30 of this Flowchart
In Nos. 0 and 302, it is determined whether either the processing amount of the printing plate 20 after exchanging the eluent and a new processing is started or the processing time after the new liquid is initially charged reaches a predetermined value. Have confirmed. If an affirmative judgment is made in any step here, the process moves to the next step 304 and a display indicating that the time to exchange the eluent has been reached is displayed. In addition, this display is
Instead of displaying by the elution unit 26, a display unit (for example, the display panel 18 provided in the drawing unit 18 shown in FIG. 1 is provided in the apparatus via a control unit (not shown) provided in the plate supply / discharge unit 16.
You may make it display by A).

Here, when an instruction for cleaning and replacement of the eluate (preparation of a new solution) is input from the control unit of the plate supply / drainage unit 16 (confirmed in step 306), the process proceeds to step 308 and the processing liquid preparation apparatus is operated. It is confirmed whether the amounts of the eluate stock solution and the gum solution stock solution stored in the 50 stock solution stock solution tank 54 and the gum solution stock solution tank 58 are sufficient (confirmed in step 310).

At this time, the liquid level sensor 9 provided in the water supply tank 52, the eluate stock solution tank 54, and the gum solution stock solution tank 58.
When the detection level by 4A, 94B, or 94D is detected as the liquid level of any of water, the eluate stock solution, and the gum solution stock solution being lower than the “L” level, the elution tank 104 and the washing tank 106.
And in order to obtain a predetermined new liquid in the gum liquid tank 108,
Eluate stock solution and gum solution stock solution, respectively
4. Instructed to add gum solution undiluted solution tank 58,
Water is supplied to the water supply tank 52. When the stock solution of the eluate and the stock solution of the gum solution each reach the “M” level, the elution tank 10
4. The liquid is sent to the gum solution tank 108 and the washing tank 106,
When the level becomes "L" level or less, it is instructed to put each stock solution into each stock solution tank. Further, when the liquid level becomes equal to or lower than the “LA” level, an alarm is issued, and the operation of the eluate stock solution metering pump 160, the gum solution stock solution metering pump 190, and the dilution water metering pumps 154 and 186 is prohibited.

Further, the water supply tank 5 of the treatment liquid preparation device 50.
2. When the liquid level of each of the eluate stock solution tank 54 and the gum solution stock solution tank 58 is the “M” level,
The elution tank 104, the water rinsing tank 106, and the gum solution tank 108 of the elution unit 26 can send liquid for preparing a new liquid. Further, when there is no problem in replenishing the processing solution to the elution section 26 of the other direct plate making apparatus 10, it is necessary to add the stock solution of the eluate or the gum solution in the processing solution preparation apparatus 50 (“L” level or less). Is output to the control unit of the plate feeding / discharging unit 16 to prompt addition (step 312), and the cartridge 64
After A and 64B are loaded, it is confirmed that the eluate stock solution or the gum solution stock solution has been added (step 314).

Eluate stock solution tank 5 of treatment liquid preparation device 50
4. Eluate stock solution stored in gum solution stock solution tank 58,
When the amount of undiluted gum solution is sufficient ("M" level or higher)
First, the cleaning operation of the elution section 26 is started.

In this cleaning operation, first, in step 316, the solenoid valves 174B, 180B, 196C are opened to remove the eluate in the elution tank 104, the wash water in the washing tank 106, and the gum solution in the gum solution tank 108 as waste liquid. Discharge as.
At this time, the printing plate 20 is washed in the washing water in the washing tank 106.
Since it contains the eluate adhering to, it is first discharged as waste liquid. The gum solution is initially discharged into the waste liquid tank 198.

Next, after a fixed time sufficient to discharge the processing liquid in each tank, in step 318, the solenoid valves 174B, 180B and 196C are closed and the cleaning pump 210 is operated to operate the elution tank 104. The cleaning water is supplied to the cleaning pipes 212, 214, and 216 provided in each of the water washing tank 106 and the gum solution tank 108, and the cleaning water is jetted and stored in each tank (step 3).
20). The cleaning liquid ejected from the cleaning pipes 212, 214, 216 wash away the processing liquid adhering to the respective tank walls.

Next, the liquid level sensors 222A, 22B, 222
When it is confirmed by C that the amount of wash water supplied to each tank reaches a predetermined value (for example, upper limit level “H”) (step 322), in step 324,
Circulation pumps 166, 182, 194 and drive motor 22
8 to activate the spray pipes 122, 126, 12
Cleaning water is spouted from No. 8 to clean the conveying roller pair 114, the guide plate 116, and the brush rollers 120 and 124.

In the next step 326, the solenoid valves 174B, 180B and 196B are opened to discharge the wash water as waste liquid. At this time, the solenoid valve 180
Instead of B, the solenoid valve 180A may be opened and the cleaning water in the cleaning tank 106 may be discharged as drainage.

When the discharge of the washing water in each tank is completed after a certain time has passed, the solenoid valve 174
After closing B, 180B, and 196B (step 328), the washing pump 210 is operated to wash the elution tank 104, the water washing tank 106, and the gum solution tank 108 again with the washing water (step 330). After the amount of the cleaning water reaches a predetermined amount, the operation of the cleaning pump 210 is stopped (steps 332 and 334), and then in step 336, the circulation pumps 166, 182, 194 and the drive motor 228 are operated for a certain period of time. , Conveying roller pair 114, guide plate 11
6. The brush rollers 120 and 124 are cleaned for a certain period of time.

When the operations of the circulation pumps 166, 182, 194 and the drive motor 228 are stopped, in step 338, the solenoid valves 174A, 180A, 196A are opened to drain the wash water in the respective tanks.

The completion of the drainage is confirmed by opening the solenoid valves 174A, 180A, 196A for drainage, and after passing a time preset as being sufficient for draining all the washing water, respectively. Level sensor 222 in which the liquid level of the washing water in the tank is the first predetermined level
A, 222B, 222C are detected by detecting that the level is below the "L" level. That is, when the drainage is started and a predetermined time has passed, the liquid level sensor 22
If 2A, 222B, 222C have not detected the wash water, it is determined that the wash water has been drained.

When the drainage of the washing water is completed, the solenoid valves 174A, 180A and 196A are closed (step 340), and then the supply of the eluate stock solution, the gum solution stock solution and water is started. During the cleaning with the cleaning water, the valve 20
8 is opened, the washing water is spouted from the hose 204A,
The inside of the cooling tank 102 may be cleaned, and
Using this hose 204A, the elution tank 104 and the water washing tank 10
6. The details of the gum solution tank 108 may be washed. Further, in this flowchart, the cleaning may be performed twice with the cleaning water, and the cleaning with the cleaning water may be performed three times or more.

Next, at step 342, the eluate stock solution constant amount pump 160 and the dilution water constant amount pump 154 are operated,
The eluate stock solution and water are supplied into the elution tank 104 at a predetermined ratio. Further, in the water washing tank 106, water is supplied by operating the water supply metering pump 176, and in the gum solution tank 108, the gum solution stock solution metering pump 190 and the diluting water metering pump 186 are operated to prepare a gum solution stock solution having a predetermined ratio. And supply water for dilution.
At step 344, the liquid level sensors 222A, 222B,
Each liquid level is measured by 222C, and it is confirmed that the upper limit level “H”, which is the second predetermined level, has been reached. The upper limit level "H" is detected when the electrode for detecting the "H" level is switched from OFF to ON.

When it is detected that the respective liquid surface levels have reached the “H” level, the eluate stock solution and dilution water, washing water,
Circulation pump 16
6, 182, 194 are operated for a fixed time. As a result, the eluate stock solution and the diluting water are mixed in the elution tank 104 to prepare the eluate, and the gum solution stock solution and the diluting water are mixed in the gum solution tank 108 to complete the preparation of the gum solution. At this time, the temperature control pump 170 and the heater 172 are operated to bring the eluate to a predetermined temperature, so that the printing plate 20 can be processed.

Here, since the water supplied to the elution tank 104 for diluting the eluate has a predetermined temperature in the treatment liquid preparation device 50, the newly supplied elution tank 104 is supplied.
It is extremely easy to heat the eluate therein to a temperature suitable for treating the printing plate 20.

Further, since the cleaning work is started after confirming that the processing solution preparation device 50 has sufficient water, the eluate stock solution, and the gum solution stock solution, after the automatic cleaning of the processing tank of the processing device, it is continued. To prepare the starting solution.

The remaining amount of the water, the eluate stock solution, and the gum stock solution in the treatment liquid preparation device 50 is not confirmed prior to the cleaning work, but the elution part 26 is cleaned first. You may confirm from.

By automatically cleaning the inside of the elution section 26 in this manner, the cleaning work manually performed is simplified and the maintainability of the apparatus is improved. Further, since it is not necessary for the operator who operates the plate making system 46 to perform the cleaning work of the elution section 26, when a plurality of direct plate making apparatuses 10 are operated in parallel, the plate making work by another direct plate making apparatus 10 is performed. It is possible to perform more efficient plate making work.

It should be noted that this embodiment shows an example of the present invention and does not limit the structure of the present invention. For example, in this embodiment, the elution section 26 is provided with a cooling step, an elution step,
Although the water washing step and the plate surface protection step were integrally formed, they may be divided into a plurality of devices if the order of each step is the same,
Further, the drying section 28 may be completely separated.

[0122]

As it has been described above, in the printing plate of the dissolution apparatus of the present embodiment, since the substantially the same temperature as the eluent roller and guide forming the conveying means, roller printing plate child Ya It is possible to prevent partial temperature unevenness due to the temperature of the guide.

Further, in the printing plate treating apparatus of the present invention, the cooling process of the printing plate fixed by heating is provided integrally with the elution process to cool the printing plate with cooling water. For this reason,
The printing plate can be cooled to a uniform constant temperature, and it has an excellent effect of preventing changes in the elution state due to temperature unevenness of the printing plate.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a direct plate making apparatus applied to this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printing system using the direct plate making apparatus of this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of an elution section of a direct plate making apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a schematic piping system diagram of an elution section.

FIG. 5 is a schematic block diagram showing a control unit of an elution unit.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of an elution tank in an elution section.

FIG. 7 is an external perspective view of a treatment liquid preparation apparatus applied to this example.

FIG. 8 is a system diagram showing a schematic configuration of a treatment liquid preparation device.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of an automatic cleaning process in the elution unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Direct plate making machine (automatic plate making machine) 18 Drawing unit (image recording process) 20 printing plates 24 Development and fixing section (Development and fixing process) 26 Elution part 102 Cooling tank (cooling process) 104 Elution tank (elution process) 114 Conveying roller pair (conveying means) 116 Guide plate (conveying means) 118 Spray pipe (cooling means) 122 Spray pipe (spray means) 166 Circulation pump (spray means) 170 Temperature control pump (temperature control means) 172 heating heater (temperature control means) 220 Control unit (control means)

Continuation of front page (56) Reference JP-A-4-237057 (JP, A) JP-A-6-43700 (JP, A) JP-A-4-344658 (JP, A) JP-A-4-338978 (JP , A) JP-A-4-450 (JP, A) Actual development 5-59461 (JP, U) Actual development 5-66655 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB) Name) G03F 7/30 501 G03G 13/26

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image recording step of imagewise exposing a printing plate to form an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive layer, and applying toner to the printing plate on which the electrostatic latent image is formed, and then printing plate together with the toner. And a developing and fixing step of forming a toner image according to an exposed image by heating the cooling plate, a cooling step of cooling the printing plate heated in the developing and fixing step to a predetermined temperature, and a photosensitive layer of a non-image portion of the printing plate. And an elution step of making a printing plate for printing by elution of the eluate, wherein the elution step ejects an eluate toward the printing plate and / or the conveying means of the printing plate. Spraying means, an elution tank for collecting and storing the eluate ejected by the spraying means, a temperature adjusting means for heating the eluate in the elution tank by a heating means while circulating the eluate, and a temperature adjusting means. Dissolution in the elution tank by The eluate in the elution tank is maintained by maintaining the liquid at a predetermined temperature and operating the spraying device at a predetermined timing when the printing plate is not processed.
Is ejected to the above-mentioned transfer means to transfer the transfer means to the elution liquid in the elution tank.
And a control means for holding the temperature at substantially the same temperature as the above . 2. The cooling step comprises : a printing plate carrying means for carrying the printing plate horizontally between the developing and fixing step and the elution step; and a surface of the printing plate carried by the printing plate carrying means. a cooling means for cooling by supplying a cooling water of a predetermined temperature, printing plate processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the kite comprising a. Wherein the control means of the elution step, before Symbol image recording step and claims in accordance with the progress of the printing plate processing in the developing and fixing steps wherein the Turkey to start operation of said spray means The printing plate processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.