Eastman-kodak Company

Moshe Marom

Kalman Shamir

Ilan Levi

Murray Figov

Eynat Matzner

Ruizheng Wang

Raffi Lender

Negative-Working Lithographic Printing Plate Precursors can be provided with desired contrast coloration after imaging using a coloring fluid that includes a water-insoluble colorant that is soluble in a water-insoluble fatty alcohol. The coloring fluid provides an optical density change in the exposed regions of at least ODthat is greater than the original optical density of those regions, OD. The coloring fluid can be applied immediately after imaging and before processing, or it can be applied as part of the developer or processing solution, or it can be applied after processing. The coloring fluid can also be applied to imaged precursors that are designed for either off-press or on-press development.

Preparation of lithographic printing plates

A development device () for printing plates () includes a straight transport unit () adapted to transport printing plates inside the development device in a straight transport path (), an immersed transport unit () adapted to transport printing plates inside the development device in an immersed path (), and a switching element () adapted to switch between the straight transport unit () and the immersed transport unit ().

Plate developer with a configurable transport path

Lithographic printing plates can be obtained by contacting infrared radiation-imaged negative-working lithographic printing plate precursors with a processing solution having a pH less than 9 and comprising a UV photoinitiator. After this processing, the lithographic printing plate is floodwise exposed with UV radiation. Providing a UV-photoinitiator in the processing solution followed by UV exposure can increase imaging sensitivity and printing plate run-length, and reduce print background.

Method of providing lithographic printing plates

A color contrast image in imaged lithographic printing precursors can be obtained by contacting the imaged precursor with a coloration solution containing a colorless form of a photochromic compound. Residual amounts of this compound attached to the oleophilic surface of the imaged precursor can be changed to its colored form when exposed to UV light. The coloration solution can be an alkaline or acidic developer or an alkaline or acidic solution used separately after development. The coloration solution can also be a gum solution.

Developers and method of coloring lithographic printing members

An apparatus for detecting developer liquid () level in a plate developer section tank () includes a reflective surface () installed on at least on one edge of the developer tank; a light emitter () which emits light onto the reflective surface; a light detector () adapted to detect reflected light from the reflective surface, wherein the light emitter and the light detector are positioned relative to the reflective surface such that the emitted light from the light emitter is deflected by the developer liquid hitting the reflective surface at 90 degrees.

Developer liquid level sensor

An apparatus designed to minimize carbonization of developer liquid within a printing plate developer device (). The apparatus includes, at least one open tank () containing developer waste () positioned in proximity to plate developer tank () inside the developer device, and a replenishment element (). The replenishment element is configured to replenish the at least one open tank with a developer waste. The developer waste and the air trapped () in proximity to the printing plate developer tank will generate a carbonization reaction.

Minimize carbonization of developer liquid

An apparatus for preventing printing plate deformation () in a plate processor device comprising a plate transport means () comprising a motor () and plurality of rollers (). A one way coupler () connects the motor () and the plurality of rollers (). Identifying means identifies the slower rollers and decouples the slower rollers from the motor.

Plate transport speed control system

An apparatus for reusing developer liquid in a plate processor device includes: a new developer liquid container (); a work in progress developer liquid tank () for plate processing is filled with developer liquid () from the new developer liquid container (); a waste developer liquid container () configured to receive spilled over developer liquid () from the work in progress developer liquid tank (); and replenish means configured to replenish the waste developer liquid () from the waste developer liquid container () back according to the conductivity level of the waste developer liquid.

Growing community of inventors

Kfar Saba, Israel

Moshe Marom