The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 19, 2004
Filed:
Mar. 25, 2002
Rustom Sam Kanga, Marietta, GA (US);
Daniel Rosen, Acworth, GA (US);
MacDermid Graphic Arts, Inc., Atlanta, GA (US);
Abstract
A laser imageable flexographic printing plate and a method of making the laser imageable flexographic printing plate using a collapsible UV cross-linkable material comprising a UV-curable elastomer, an IR dye, and microspheres is disclosed. The collapsible UV cross-linkable material is mixed together and then extruded to form a printing plate. An IR laser is used to collapse and melt the collapsible UV cross-linkable material to form a relief image on the printing plate. The printing plate is thereafter UV cured by face exposure to crosslink and cure the formed relief image. The invention addresses a market need for eliminating chemical processing of printing plates, thus going from plate to press much more quickly. The printing plate may also contain a thin layer of a high-density non-collapsible UV-curable elastomer between the collapsible layer and the cover sheet of the plate which acts as the print surface in the final plate.