Napp Systems, Inc.

Other

Macdermid Graphics Solutions, LLC

Macdermid Printing Solutions, LLC

David H Roberts

Geoffrey Yuxin Hu

Gregory E Mueller

Yuxin Hu

Donald Cerney

Maria Teresa A Castillo

Reny R Paguio

Gary T Markhart

Elizabeth Olsen

Maria Teresa Castillo

Mitch G Male

The present invention is directed to a method of selectively pre-exposing a photosensitive printing element prior to imagewise exposure in order to remove oxygen from the photosensitive layer prior to imagewise exposure. The invention is usable in a computer-to-plate process to produce flexographic relief image printing elements.

Method of pre-exposing relief image printing plate

This invention pertains to a system for thermally treating a photosensitive element to form a relief structure suitable for flexographic printing. The system of the invention comprises a plurality of consecutively arranged blotting stations for removing uncured photopolymer from the imaged surface of the photosensitive printing element. The flexographic plates produced in the apparatus of the invention are especially suited for use in printing newspapers and other publications.

Apparatus for the rapid development of photosensitive printing elements

The present invention relates to an aqueous primer composition for use in manufacturing flexographic printing plates. The aqueous primer composition comprises a polyurethane, a copolymer, a layered silicate, and optionally a surfactant and/or a dye or pigment. The use of the layered silicate as a filler in the primer composition produces an improved primer composition with a stronger water/solvent resistance and less delamination.

High performance water-based primer

A process of producing a relief image printing plate, the process comprising the steps of providing a photosensitive printing element, quenching dissolved oxygen in the photosensitive resin layer by pre-exposing the photosensitive layer to one or more sources of actinic radiation, wherein the range of wavelengths spanned by the one or more sources of actinic radiation differs by no more than about 20 nm, and imagewise exposing the photosensitive resin layer to actinic radiation to crosslink and cure the photosensitive resin layer. The photosensitive composition typically comprises at least one photoinitiator that is present in the photosensitive composition in an amount sufficient to provide an optical density in the photosensitive composition of between about 0.05 and 0.43 at a wavelength used to pre-expose the photosensitive composition.

Method for bump exposing relief image printing plates

An improved digitally imageable relief printing element having an increased direct-cure imaging speed upon exposure to lasers and other digital sources of actinic radiation. The printing elements of the invention comprise a reflective layer beneath a photosensitive resin layer so that instead of being absorbed by the reflective layer, photons of actinic radiation are reflected back up into the photosensitive layer, thereby speeding up the curing rate of the printing element.

Highly reflective substrates for the digital processing of photopolymer printing plates

In accordance with the present invention, there are provided high performance, photoimageable resin compositions for flexographic printing, having excellent physical properties, e.g., resilience, hardness, toughness, and the like, as well as increased rates of cure upon exposure to radiation. In a further aspect of the invention, there are provided printing plates prepared employing invention compositions, wherein said printing plates are characterized as having excellent exposure sensitivity, the capability of rapidly curing upon exposure, excellent retention of fine details, and excellent colorless performance. Moreover, printing plates prepared employing invention compositions have good flexibility, excellent washout properties, and retain such properties over extended periods of storage. In another aspect of the invention, there are provided methods for the preparation of formulations comprising said compositions and methods for use thereof.

High performance, photoimageable resin compositions and printing plates prepared therefrom

In accordance with the present invention, there are provided high performance, photoimageable resin compositions for flexographic printing, having excellent physical properties, e.g., resilience, hardness, toughness, and the like, as well as increased rates of cure upon exposure to radiation. In a further aspect of the invention, there are provided printing plates prepared employing invention compositions, wherein said printing plates are characterized as having excellent exposure sensitivity, the capability of rapidly curing upon exposure, excellent retention of fine details, and excellent colorloss performance. Moreover, printing plates prepared employing invention compositions have good flexibility, excellent washout properties, and retain such properties over extended periods of storage. In another aspect of the invention, there are provided methods for the preparation of formulations comprising said compositions and methods for use thereof.

In accordance with the present invention, there are provided highly sensitive, water-developable photoreactive resin compositions useful for the preparation of printing plates. Due to the high sensitivity of invention resin compositions, they are particularly useful for preparation of digitally imaged printing plates. Printing plates prepared employing invention compositions are characterized as having excellent exposure sensitivity, the capability of rapidly curing upon exposure, excellent retention of fine details, and excellent colorless performance. Moreover, printing plates prepared employing invention compositions have good clarity and flexibility, excellent washout properties, and retain such properties over extended periods of storage. Once photopolymerized, printing plates of the invention have excellent physical properties, enabling their use in many very demanding flexographic applications.

Highly sensitive water-developable photoreactive resin compositions and

In accordance with the present invention, water-developable photopolymerizable compositions useful for the preparation of durable printing plates capable of providing very high levels of resolution have been developed. Printing plates prepared employing invention compositions, once photopolymerized, have excellent physical properties, enabling their use in many very demanding applications, e.g., commercial letterpress and newspaper printing. Such applications require the photopolymerized resin to provide a sharp image and good durability after curing. Photopolymerization of invention resin yields a product with excellent physical characteristics, acceptable by letterpress printing standards. In addition, photopolymerization of invention composition provides a product which demonstrates sufficient toughness to be used for extended printing runs as required in such areas as metal decorating, newspaper, plastic packaging, business forms, and the like.

Growing community of inventors

Carlsbad, CA, United States of America

David H Roberts