JPH0612454B2 - Photosensitive material developing device - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a photosensitive material developing apparatus for developing an exposed photosensitive material with a developing solution, and particularly to a photosensitive material most suitable for producing a planographic plate for printing. The present invention relates to a developing device.

[Background Art and Matters to be Solved] In an automatic developing machine that processes a large number of lithographic printing plates, the photosensitive material is conveyed while being sandwiched by a plurality of pairs of rollers, and the developing solution is applied to the exposed surface of the photosensitive material during the conveyance. Then, the development work is performed. This developing solution is applied to the exposed surface of the light-sensitive material by spraying or the like, and the exposed area or the unexposed area is dissolved or swollen and then rubbed with a brush to be removed.

By heating this developing solution, the developing efficiency can be improved. However, when the temperature of the developing solution rises, the components eluted from the photosensitive layer of the photosensitive material consume the effective components in the developing solution, which causes fatigue deterioration to a large extent. The degree of deterioration due to fatigue over time due to the decrease in alkalinity due to the neutralization reaction due to absorption of carbon dioxide gas is also large.

For this reason, it is conceivable that the developing solution after development is used as a disposable system and is not reused, but the amount of the developing solution used is large and not economical. There is also known a means for reducing the amount of the developer used and rubbing the photosensitive material with a brush or a sponge to remove the non-image area, but there is a problem that the development is insufficient and stains are likely to occur during printing.

In view of the above facts, the present invention provides a photosensitive material developing device capable of eliminating development by a fatigued liquid, improving development efficiency by heating, performing stable development, and reducing consumption of disposable developer. The purpose is to obtain.

[Summary and Action of the Invention] In the photosensitive material developing device according to the present invention, a supply of more developer than the amount necessary for the development processing of the photosensitive material is supplied from the developer tank to wet the entire exposed surface of the photosensitive material. Means and
The developer adhering to the exposed surface is weighed, and the excess amount of the developer remaining on the exposed surface by the minimum amount necessary for development processing is weighed by the weighing means for returning to the developer tank and the weighing means. A developing area for developing the photosensitive material with the developing solution left on the exposed surface, and heating for heating the developing solution provided on the photosensitive material by contacting the lower surface of the photosensitive material provided in the developing area. Means, and a removing means for removing the used developer after being used for development from the surface of the photosensitive material,
It is characterized by having.

In the photosensitive material developing apparatus of the present invention, the exposed surface of the photosensitive material is supplied with a larger amount of developing solution than the amount required for the development processing, and the entire exposed surface is wetted.

The developer adhering to the exposed surface is measured and left by the metering means in a minimum amount necessary for the development process, and the surplus is returned to the developer tank.

In this way, since the developing solution spreads to every corner of the exposed surface,
No exposed portion of the developing solution is generated on the exposed surface due to lack of the developing solution. Further, since the excess developer removed from the exposed surface by the measuring means is not heated yet and does not cause fatigue due to the development process, it can be returned to the developer tank and reused.

In the developing area, the developing process is performed with the minimum amount of developing solution required for the developing process. In the developing area, the developer attached to the exposed surface of the photosensitive material is heated by the heating means,
The developing effect of the developer is enhanced.

The developing solution used for development in the developing area has a high degree of fatigue due to development fatigue and contact with air, and is therefore removed from the surface of the photosensitive material by the removing means and discarded.

In this way, the developing solution that is circulated does not cause fatigue, and a developing solution that does not cause fatigue is always supplied to the photosensitive material before heating, so that stable development is performed. Further, since the amount of the developer used for development and thrown away is the minimum amount necessary for the development process, the consumption of the developer in the photosensitive material developing device is extremely small.

Embodiment of the Invention FIG. 1 shows a developing device to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

In this developing device, the printing plate 10 is sent in the direction of arrow A after exposure to perform a developing operation.

Printing plate 1 sandwiched by a pair of guide rollers 12 and sent
0 is automatically developed through the first area 14, the second area 16, and the third area 18.

In the first area 14, the pair of guide rollers 20 is connected to the printing plate 10.
The wire bar 2 which sandwiches and sends out, and constitutes the weighing means.
2 and the guide roller 24 with which it abuts
It is configured to hold 0.

In the first area 14, the spray 26 is arranged immediately after the guide roller 20, and the developer 30 in the stock tank 28 is connected to the pipe 32 and the pump 34 provided in the pipe 32.
Is supplied to the exposed surface of the printing plate 10.

A tray 36 is disposed below the first area 14 to store the developer removed from the printing plate 10 passing through the first area 14 and to remove the developer via the pipe 38 and the pipe 40 via the pipe 32. The developing solution is circulated and supplied to the spray 26. When the developer is an aqueous solution of alkali metal silicate having a high pH, SiO ₂ / M ₂
The molar ratio of O (where M represents an alkali metal) is preferably 1.2 or less from the viewpoint of developability.

A pipe 44 is connected to the pipe 38 via a valve 42, and the developer in the tray 36 is returned to the stock tank 28 at the end of the work. A heater 46 is provided in the stock tank 28 to maintain the developer 30 at a predetermined temperature.

The wire bar 22 has a structure in which a wire 50 having a predetermined diameter is spirally and tightly wound around a shaft 48, and a gap formed between the outer periphery of the wire 50 and the guide roller 24 is applied to the printing plate 10. It is designed to measure the developer. That is, the wire bar 22 and the guide roller 24
In the printing plate 10 which is sandwiched between and sent to the second area 16, only a predetermined amount of the developing solution (the liquid film is 300 μm or less) remains by the measuring means, and the remaining developing solution is removed. It is designed to be dropped and fall into the tray 36.

The first area 14 has a length such that the developing solution applied onto the printing plate 10 does not start developing the exposed surface of the printing plate 10 before reaching the wire bar 22.
The length of the developing solution applied to the exposed surface of 0 is such that it spreads over the entire area of the printing plate 10 in the width direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1). On the other hand, the reduced amount of the stock tank 28 is sent from the replenishment water tank 100 to the stock tank 28 via the pump 98, and is made to have a predetermined concentration together with the replenishment developer sent from the replenishment developer tank 112 through the pump 110.

In the second zone 16, the printing plate 10 sent from the first zone 14
Is guided by the guide roller 52 and placed on the guide plate 54, placed on the guide plate 58 through the guide roller 56, and further fed to the pair of squeeze rollers 60.

A tray 62 is arranged below the guide roller 52 and the guide plate 54, and a tray 64 is arranged below the squeeze roller 60. These trays 6
Pipes 66 and 68 are connected to 2 and 64, respectively. By opening valves 70 and 72, the developing solution stored in these trays 62 and 64 can be discharged.

Brush rollers 74, 76 capable of moving up and down are arranged above the guide plates 54, 58, and approach the guide plates 54, 58 as necessary and rotate to rotate the printing plates on these guide plates 54, 58. The non-image portion after the development can be removed by rubbing 10. These brush rollers 74 and 76 may be provided as needed.

Sprays 78 and 80 are arranged on the upstream sides of the brush rollers 74 and 76, respectively, and the brush rollers 7 and 80 are provided as necessary.
4,76 can be washed.

Further, a spray 82 is provided upstream of the squeeze roller 60 so that the squeeze roller 60 can be washed.

FIG. 2 shows details of the guide plate 54.
Below the guide plate 54, a plurality of heaters 55 are arranged in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the printing plate 10. These heaters 55 are guide plates 54
This is for heating the developing solution applied to the printing plate 10 moving above, and is intended to improve the developing efficiency. The developer is heated to 25 to 35 ° C. by the heater 55. When heated in this way, the developing solution is concentrated by evaporation, but since the developing solution in the second area 16 is disposed of, there is no problem even if scale occurs due to concentration by evaporation after development because it is after development. . Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to heat at 40 to 50 ° C., and the developing efficiency can be further improved.

The heater 55 has a small specific heat when the printing plate 10 to be sent is an aluminum planographic plate, so that the temperature can be easily increased.

The guide plate 54 has a wavy portion 54 near the end in the width direction.
The depth of the unevenness is gradually increased toward the end in the width direction. For this reason, it is taken into consideration that the developing solution falling from the printing plate 10 does not surely move in the width direction of the guide plate 54 and drop, and adhere to the heater 55.

Instead of the heater 55, a lattice heater, a panel heater, a high frequency heater, an electromagnetic induction heater, a ceramics heater, or the like can be used. When the heater is arranged above the printing plate 10 in this manner, a far infrared heater can be provided slightly apart from the printing plate 10.

The guide plate 58 portion shown in FIG. 1 may have the same structure as the guide plate 54 and may be provided with a heater.

The printing plate 10 sent from the squeeze roller 60 to the third area 18 reaches the third area 18 and is subjected to finishing processing after development. In the third area 18, the printing plate 1 is placed between the pair of guide rollers 84 and 86.
0 is conveyed, and a spray nozzle 88 is arranged in the middle of this conveying path so that the printing plate 10 passing therethrough can be finished.

The trays 90 and 92 are arranged below the third area 18. The tray 90 is connected to the stock tank 116 via a pipe 94 and a valve 96.

A pipe 106 is connected to the tray 92 through a valve 104 and a pump 118 to a stock tank 116. The pump 118 also sends the finishing agent in the stock tank 116 to the spray nozzle 88 via the valve 113 and the pipe 111.

The stock tank 28 is connected to a pipe 114 from a replenishment developer tank 112 having a pump 110 in the middle.

Further, in each of the above-mentioned configurations, the guide roller and the squeeze roller facing the conveying path of the printing plate 10 are rotated by receiving a driving force from a driving means (not shown).

The operation of this embodiment will be described below.

The exposed printing plate 10 is conveyed in the direction of arrow A and reaches the first area 14 via the guide rollers 12 and 20. In this first area 14, the developer 30 is applied by the spray 26, but this developer 30 does not develop the exposed surface of the printing plate 10 due to the short length of the first area 14, and most of it is It is removed by the wire bar 22. Therefore, the developer 30 after the removal is applied again from the spray 26 to the printing plate 10 through the pipe 38, the pump 40, and the pipe 32, but development fatigue does not occur.

Since the circulating developing solution 30 has a small contact area with the atmosphere, fatigue with time due to absorption of carbon dioxide gas is small.

The wire bar 22 may be rotated, and the weighing operation is properly performed even when the wire bar 22 is stopped.

Further, since the length of the first area 14 is such that the developer 30 applied from the spray 26 spreads over the entire area of the printing plate 10, the printing plate 10 after being sent out from the wire bar 22. A uniform developing solution 30 with the wire bar 22 being weighed is applied over the entire surface thereof.

When the end of the printing plate 10 is detected by a sensor (not shown), the supply of the developing solution from the spray nozzle 26 is stopped.

The printing plate 10 reaching the second area 16 is a squeeze roller 60.
Development gradually progresses by the time.

The time to reach the squeeze roller 60 can be adjusted by the rotation speed of each guide roller.

Particularly, since the heater 55 is arranged on the guide plate 54 to heat the developer, the developing effect is high. At the same time, the heated developer is very tired, but this second area 1
The developer of No. 6 is a disposable one, so there is no problem.

In this embodiment, since the guide roller 56 is provided in the middle portion, the developer is removed to some extent by the guide roller 56 and drops into the tray 62. The dropped developer is discharged through the pipe 66 and the valve 70.

The printing plate 10 that has proceeded further is reliably removed by the squeeze roller 60 and falls into the tray 64. The dropped developer is discharged through the pipe 68 and the valve 72.

Since the squeeze roller 60 is maintained in a clean state by the purified water from the shower 82 which is sprayed as necessary or constantly, reliable removal of the developing solution is guaranteed, and the printing plate having no residual developing solution in the third area 18 is guaranteed. 10 will be sent.

The developer discharged through the pipes 66 and 68 is fatigued by the developing process, but since these are discarded, the tired developer is not circulated to the spray 26 again.

In this way, in the second area 16, stable development is performed by the developer which is applied in the first area 14 and in which the fatigue is not generated, and the developer is accurately measured by the wire bar 22. Development is performed.

The printing plate 10 delivered from the squeeze roller 60 to reach the third area 18 is treated with a finishing agent by the spray nozzle 88, and the coating agent is removed by the guide roller 86 and delivered, and the developing process is completed.

If necessary, desensitizing treatment and water washing treatment are performed in the third area 18 portion.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the photosensitive material developing device according to the present invention supplies a larger amount of developing solution than the amount necessary for the development processing of the photosensitive material from the developing solution tank to cover the entire exposed surface of the photosensitive material. A supply means for wetting and measuring the developer adhering to the exposed surface,
Excessive amount of the developing solution, which is left on the exposed surface by the minimum amount necessary for the developing process, is returned to the developing solution tank by measuring means, and the developing solution measured by the measuring means and left on the exposed surface is exposed to light. A developing area for developing the material, a heating means provided in the developing area for heating the developer applied to the photosensitive material by contacting the lower surface of the photosensitive material, and a used area after the developing operation. Since the developing solution is removed from the surface of the photosensitive material, there is no development by a fatigued solution, the developing effect is improved, and stable development is always performed. It has an excellent effect that the consumption amount can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view showing an embodiment of a photosensitive material developing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a relationship between a guide plate and a heater. 10 ... Printing plate, 14 ... First area, 16 ... Second area, 18 ... Third area, 22 ... Wire bar, 24 ... Guide roller, 26 ... Spray, 28 ... Stock tank, 30 ... Developer, 55 ... Heater, 60 ... Squeeze roller.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A supply means for supplying more developer than a necessary amount for developing the photosensitive material from a developer tank to wet the entire exposed surface of the photosensitive material, and a developer attached to the exposed surface. Weighing means for weighing and leaving the excess amount of the developer on the exposed surface by the minimum amount necessary for the development process, and the developer left on the exposed surface by the weighing means. A developing area for developing the photosensitive material, a heating means provided in the developing area for heating a developing solution applied to the photosensitive material by contacting a lower surface of the photosensitive material, and after being used for development And a removing means for removing the used developing solution from the surface of the photosensitive material.