Method and apparatus for developing printing plates in press

Abstract

A printing apparatus for making a plate by recording and developing images thereon, and thereafter printing the images by feeding inks to the plate. The printing apparatus includes a cylinder for supporting the plate mounted peripherally thereof, a cylinder rotating mechanism for rotating the cylinder, an image recorder for recording the images on the plate mounted on the cylinder, and a developing device for developing the plate mounted on the cylinder. The developing device includes a developing roller reciprocable between an applying position for contacting the plate to apply a developer to the plate mounted peripherally of the cylinder, and a retracted position spaced from the applying position, and a squeeze roller reciprocable between a squeezing position for contacting the plate to squeeze the developer applied by the developing roller off the plate mounted peripherally of the cylinder, and a retracted position spaced from the squeezing position. With this printing apparatus, the image recorder records the images on the plate rotating as mounted on the cylinder, and then the developing roller is placed in contact with the plate rotating as mounted on the cylinder to apply the developer thereto. Subsequently, the squeeze roller is placed in contact with the plate rotating as mounted on the cylinder to remove the developer therefrom.