Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Eastman-kodak Company

Miraclon Corporation

Imation Corporation

3m Innovative Properties Company

Kodak Polychrome Graphics, Gmbh

M Zaki Ali

Elsie Anderson Fohrenkamm

David Edgar Brown

Mahfuza B Ali

Michael B Heller

Kevin M Kidnie

Donald L Swihart

Fredrick Charles Mellema

Thomas P Klun

Joel D Oxman

Michael C Palazzotto

Dean M Moren

Jeffrey C Chang

F Andrew Ubel

David R Boston

Richard R Ollmann, Jr

Aida F Robbins

Gilbert Allan Hawkins

Eric Daniel Morrison

Thomas M Stephany

Minyu Li

Gregory L Zwadlo

Charles W Simpson

Leonard Stulc

Jiayi Zhu

Gary L Holmes

A Peter Stolt

Pao Vang

Ramnath Subramaniam

David C Bradford

Michael Heller

Jr Richard R Ollmann

David Brown

A system is for processing a photosensitive flexographic printing plate having a latent image formed by image-wise exposure of an aqueous-processable photopolymer. The system can use a first aqueous processing solution with the latent image for cleaning and then washing a resulting relief image with a second aqueous processing solution, where the second aqueous processing solution is devoid of the photopolymer. A processing solution tank is configured to combine the first used aqueous processing solution with the second used aqueous processing solution to form a combined used aqueous processing solution. A processing solution removal can include: a holding tank configured for receiving the combined used aqueous processing solution; and a conduit from the processing solution tank to the holding tank. The processing solution tank includes the combined used aqueous processing solution at less than a predefined maximum volume and having the photopolymer at less than a predefined maximum concentration.

Aqueous processing method for flexographic printing plates

A relief image is prepared by: A) imaging an imageable material to form a mask element; B) exposing a relief-forming precursor through the mask element; C) removing the mask element; and D) developing the imaged relief-forming precursor. The imageable material has, in order: (a) a transparent polymeric carrier sheet; (b) a non-ablatable light-to-heat converting having an average dry thickness of 1-5 &#x3bc;m and comprising: (i) an infrared radiation absorbing material at 0.1-5 weight %; (ii) a thermally crosslinked organic polymeric binder material; and (iii) non-thermally ablatable particles having an average particle size of 0.1-20 &#x3bc;m in an amount of 0.2-10 weight %; and (c) a non-silver halide thermally-ablatable imaging layer (IL) disposed on the LTHC layer, the IL comprising a second infrared radiation absorbing material and a UV-light absorbing material dispersed within one or more thermally-ablatable polymeric binder materials. The imageable material can be included in a relief image-forming assembly.

Relief image-forming method and assembly

An imageable material can be used to form a mask element that in turn is useful for providing relief images such as in flexographic printing plates. The imageable material has, in order: (a) a transparent polymeric carrier sheet; (b) a non-ablatable light-to-heat converting having an average dry thickness of 1-5 &#x3bc;m and comprising: (i) an infrared radiation absorbing material at 0.1-5 weight %; (ii) a thermally crosslinked organic polymeric binder material; and (iii) non-thermally ablatable particles having an average particle size of 0.1-20 &#x3bc;m in an amount of 0.2-10 weight %; and (c) a non-silver halide thermally-ablatable imaging layer (IL) disposed on the LTHC layer, the IL comprising a second infrared radiation absorbing material and a UV-light absorbing material dispersed within one or more thermally-ablatable polymeric binder materials.

Mask element precursor and relief image-forming system

A method for processing a photosensitive flexographic printing plate having an aqueous-processable photopolymer. A main processing unit is used to develop a relief image by removing unexposed photopolymer using an aqueous processing solution including a first dispersing agent while the photosensitive flexographic printing plate is being subjected to mechanical cleaning. Used aqueous processing solution containing the removed photopolymer is returned back into a processing solution tank. A secondary processing unit is used to wash the developed relief image with secondary aqueous processing solution including a second dispersing agent to remove debris from the developed relief image. Used secondary aqueous processing solution containing the removed photopolymer is directed into the processing solution tank. A portion of the aqueous processing solution from the processing solution tank is removed to keep a volume of aqueous processing solution in the processing solution tank below a predefined maximum volume.

Flexographic printing members are prepared from a flexographic printing plate precursor consisting essentially of: backing film, water- or water-dispersible photosensitive layer, and cover sheet in contact with the photosensitive layer. The cover sheet is removed and a mask element is laminated directly in contact with the photosensitive layer. Exposure through the mask element provides exposed regions and non-exposed regions. The non-exposed regions are removed with an aqueous developer having: a) a Csaturated or unsaturated fatty acid (or alkali metal salt) at 0.25-2.0 weight %, and at least 85 weight % of a Cmono- or poly-unsaturated fatty acid (or alkali metal salt); b) an aminopolycarboxylic acid (or alkali metal salt) at 0.05-0.30 weight %; c) a buffer at 05-0.60 weight %; and d) water. The photosensitive layer has a controlled release of 5-500 g/cm using ASTM D-3330 Method D, between its front imaging surface and the mask element.

Method for preparing flexographic printing plates

A structured surface is formed with the method of the present invention. The method of making this structured surface includes the steps of applying an ablatable radiation sensitive coating on the major surface of the substrate, and exposing the ablatable radiation sensitive coating to radiation such that exposed portions of the ablatable radiation sensitive coating ablate from the substrate to form a structured surface. The structured surface then includes a substrate and a pattern of structures framed by at least one separation bank. The method may also include the steps of depositing a flowable material on to the structures and the separation bank to form a pattern of flowable material in the structures.

Method of forming a structured surface using ablatable radiation sensitive material

A processing solution is used to provide flexographic relief printing plates. This solution includes diisopropylbenzene, and one or more organic co-solvents, at least one of which is an aliphatic dibasic acid ester. The processing solution may also include one or more alcohols as co-solvents.

Flexographic processing solution and method of use

A processing solution (or developer) has been designed for use to washout non-polymerized photopolymer compositions to prepare flexographic printing plates having flexographic relief images. This processing solution includes one or more esters of monobasic carboxylic acids represented by one or both of Structures (I) and (II) defined herein and one or more aliphatic or aromatic alcohols.

Flexographic processing solution and use

The present invention involves a method for making a relief image. A film that includes a carrier sheet and an imageable material is used to form a mask image that is opaque to a curing radiation. In one embodiment, the mask image is formed on the carrier sheet while in another embodiment, the mask image is formed on a receptor sheet. The mask image is then transferred to a photosensitive material, such as a flexographic printing plate precursor. The resulting assembly is exposed to the curing radiation resulting in exposed and unexposed areas of the photosensitive material. The carrier sheet or the receptor sheet may be removed from the mask image either before or after exposure to the curing radiation. Finally, the photosensitive material and mask image assembly is developed with a suitable developer to form a relief image.

Method of producing a relief image for printing

Polymer-containing solution can be purified and the solvent reused by subjecting the solution to microfiltration using tubular filters having an average pore diameter of less than 1 &#x3bc;m and a filtration pressure of at least 0.35 MPa. This method is particularly useful for reclaiming and reusing solvents that are used in the development or chemical washout of flexographic printing plates.

Polymer-containing solvent purifying process

A method of providing connectivity to a microsized device, the method includes the steps of providing an ablative base material having at least a top surface; providing a die having a first and second surface and having bonding pads at least upon the first surface; placing the die with the at least first surface of the die contacting the at least first surface of the ablative base material; and ablating a channel in the ablative material proximate to the die.

Connecting microsized devices using ablative films

An opaque matrix that defines transparent apertures may be formed on a lenticular lens by applying an infrared radiation sensitive material to the flat surface of the lenticular lens, projecting infrared radiation through the lenticular lens onto the infrared radiation sensitive material to create exposed and unexposed areas of the infrared radiation sensitive material, and removing the exposed areas of the infrared radiation sensitive material from the flat surface of the lenticular lens. The infrared radiation sensitive material includes an infrared absorbing dye and a colorant. The infrared radiation sensitive material may also include a binder. A barrier layer may be disposed between the flat surface of the lenticular lens and the infrared radiation sensitive material. The barrier layer may include a binder, an infrared absorbing dye, and a crosslinking agent. The resulting lenticular lens may be used in a rear projection television screen or monitor.

Methods for producing a black matrix on a lenticular lens

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Mendota Heights, MN, United States of America

M Zaki Ali