US3836709A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process and apparatus for preparing printing plates using a photocured image
Assignee: WR Grace and Co Conn
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Filing: 1972-04-12
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Granted: 1974-09-17
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Expires: 1992-04-12
Abstract
Abstract A printing plate is prepared by subjecting a uniform coating of the photocurable composition on a support layer to a beam of laser radiation, varying in a controlled manner the point at which the laser beam impinges on the coating so that a predetermined pattern of cured photocurable composition is formed, and thereafter removing the uncured portions of the photocurable composition.
Inventors
- 👤 J Hutchison
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:05
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/20; G03F7/2051; G03F7/2053; G03F7/2055; B; B41; B41B; B41B19/00; H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/0073; H05K3/0082; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S430/00; Y10S430/146
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which a collimator and beam expander is positioned between the laser and the modulator to receive, collimate, and expand the beam of actinic radiation generated by the laser.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which a lens system is positioned to receive the minor beam of oriented and modulated actinic laser radiation which has passed through the transparency and focus it on the photomultiplier tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the first amplifier is a video amplifier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the master clock emits a ninth electrical signal, the ninth electrical signal passing to and activating a means for transporting the first transparency and a second transparency to position the second transparency substantially perpendicular to the minor beam of oriented and modulated actinic laser radiation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the laser is an argon ion laser, a krypton ion laser, a helium cadmium-laser, or a pulsed nitrogen laser.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
464 words
A process for preparing a polymeric printing plate from a plate comprising a coating of a photocurable composition and a support layer, the photocurable composition being coated on and supported by the support layer, the printing plate having an image thereon corresponding to an image on a transparency, the process comprising: a. generating a beam of actinic laser radiation having an intensity sufficient to cure the photocurable composition; b. modulating the beam of actinic laser radiation in a controlled manner; c. orienting the beam of modulated actinic laser radiation in a controlled manner; d. focusing the beam of oriented and modulated actinic laser radiation on a predetermined plane; e. dividing the beam of focused, oriented, and modulated actinic laser radiation into; i. a major beam of focused, oriented, and modulated actinic laser radiation, the major beam of focused, oriented, and modulated actinic laser radiation being focused on the coating of photocurable composition positioned in the predetermined plane to cure exposed portions of the photocurable composition; and ii. a minor beam of oriented and modulated actinic laser radiation, the minor beam of oriented and modulated laser radiation being deflected from the path of the major beam of focused, oriented, and modulated actinic laser radiation; f. passing the minor beam of oriented and modulated actinic laser radiation through transparent portions of the transparency; g. converting the minor beam of oriented and modulated actinic laser radiation which has passed through the transparency into a first electrical signal; h. amplifying the first electrical signal to produce a second amplified electric signal and passing the second amplified signal to a modulator to control the modulator, the modulator controlling modulation of the beam of actinic laser radiation; i. passing a third electrical signal from a master clock to a vertical sweep generator, the third electrical signal controlling the vertical sweep generator and causing the vertical sweep generator to emit a fourth electrical signal; j. amplifying the fourth electrical signal and passing the resulting fifth amplified electrical signal to a vertical sweep deflector to control the vertical sweep deflector, the vertical sweep deflector controlling a vertical sweep pattern of the beam of modulated actinic laser radiation; k. passing a sixth electrical signal from the master clock to a horizontal sweep generator, the sixth electrical signal controlling the horizontal sweep generator and causing the horizontal sweep generator to emit a seventh electrical signal; l. amplifying the seventh electrical signal and passing the resulting eighth amplified electrical signal to a horizontal sweep deflector to control the horizontal sweep deflector, the horizontal sweep deflector controlling a horizontal sweep pattern of the beam of modulated actinic laser radiation; and m. removing uncured portions of the photocurable composition from the support layer, and leaving the cured portions of the photocurable composition adhering to the support layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 7 in which the beam of actinic laser radiation is collimated and expanded before bEing modulated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 7 in the laser beam has a wave length of 3,000-4,000A.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The process of claim 7 in which a photomultiplier tube is used to convert the minor beam of oriented and modulated actinic laser radiation which has passed through the transparency into the first electric signal.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
426 words
An apparatus useful for preparing a photoinsolubilized photocured printing plate from a plate comprising a support layer and a photocurable composition coated on and supported by the support layer, the apparatus comprising: a. a laser to generate a beam of actinic laser radiation; b. a modulator positioned to receive and modulate the beam of actinic laser radiation; c. a means for orienting the modulated beam of actinic laser radiation positioned to receive and orient the modulated beam of actinic laser radiation, the means for orienting the modulated beam of actinic laser radiation comprising a vertical sweep deflector and a horizontal sweep deflector; d. a first means for focusing the oriented and modulated beam of actinic laser radiation positioned to receive the oriented and modulated beam of actinic laser radiation and focus it on a first predetermined plane; e. a partially reflecting mirror interposed between the means for focusing the oriented and modulated beam of actinic laser radiation and the first predetermined plane positioned to divide the focused, oriented, and modulated beam of actinic laser radiation into; i. a major beam of focused oriented and modulated actinic laser radiation focused on the first predetermined plane; and ii. a minor beam of oriented and modulated actinic laser radiation deflected from the path of the major focused, oriented, and modulated beam of actinic laser radiation; f. a first support positioned to hold the plate comprising the photocurable composition and the support layer with the photocurable composition in the first predetermined plane; g. a second support positioned to hold a document to be reproduced in and substantially perpendicular to the path of the minor beam of oriented and modulated actinic laser radiation so that the minor beam of oriented and modulated actinic laser radiation can impinge on and be reflected from the surface of the document to be reproduced; h. a second means for focusing the reflected minor beam of oriented and modulated actinic laser radiation on a second predetermined plane; i. a photomultiplier tube positioned in the second predetermined plane to receive the reflected minor beam of focused, oriented, and modulated actinic laser radiation and emit a first electrical signal in response to the beam of reflected, focused, oriented, and modulated actinic laser radiation; j. a first amplifier positioned to receive the first electrical signal from the photomultiplier tube and emit a second amplified electric signal in response to the first electric signal, the second amplified electrical signal passing to and controlling the modulator; k. a master clock to emit a third electrical signal and a fourth electrical signal;
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claiM 11 in which a collimator and beam expander is positioned between the laser and the modulator to receive, collimate, and expand the beam of actinic radiation generated by the laser.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 11 in which the first amplifier is a video amplifier.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 11 in which the second and third amplifiers are video amplifiers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 11 in which the laser is an argon ion laser, a krypton ion laser, a pulsed nitrogen laser, or a helium cadmium laser.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
476 words
A process for preparing a polymeric printing plate from a plate comprising a coating of a photocurable composition and a support layer, the photocurable composition being coated on and supported by the support layer, the printing plate having an image thereon corresponding to an image on a document, the process comprising; a. generating a beam of actinic laser radiation having an intensity sufficient to cure the photocurable composition; b. modulating the beam of actinic laser radiation in a controlled manner; c. orienting the beam of modulated actinic laser radiation in a controlled manner; d. focusing the beam of oriented and modulated actinic laser radiation on a predetermined plane; e. dividing the beam of focused, oriented, and modulated actinic laser radiation into; i. a major beam of focused, oriented, and modulated actinic laser radiation, the major beam of focused, oriented, and modulated actinic laser radiation being focused on the coating of photocurable composition positioned in the predetermined plane to cure exposed portions of the photocurable composition; and ii. a minor beam of oriented and modulated actinic laser radiation, the minor beam of oriented and modulated laser radiation being deflected from the path of major beam of focused, oriented, and modulated actinic laser radiation; f. impinging the minor beam of oriented and modulated actinic laser radiation on the surface of the document and reflecting the minor beam of oriented and modulated actinic laser radiation from the surface; g. converting the minor beam of oriented and modulated actinic laser radiation reflected from the document into a first electrical signal; h. amplifying the first electrical signal to produce a second amplified electric signal and passing the second amplified signal to a modulator to control the modulator, the modulator controlling modulation of the beam of actinic laser radiation; i. passing a third electrical signal from a master clock to a vertical sweep generator, the third electrical signal controlling the vertical sweep generator and causing the vertical sweep generator to emit a fourth electrical signal; j. amplifying the fourth electrical signal and passing the resulting fifth amplified electrical signal to a vertical sweep deflector to control the vertical sweep deflector, the vertical sweep deflector controlling a vertical sweep pattern of the beam of modulated actinic laser radiation; k. passing a sixth electrical signal from the master clock to a horizontal sweep generator, the sixth electrical signal controlling the horizontal sweep generator and causing the horizontal sweep generator to emit a seventh electrical signal; l. amplifying the seventh electrical signal and passing the resulting eighth amplified electrical signal to a horizontal sweep deflector to control the horizontal sweep deflector, the horizontal sweep deflector controlling a horizontal sweep pattern of the beam of modulated actinic laser radiation; and m. removing uncured portions of the photocurable composition from the support layer, and leaving the cured portions of the photocurable composition adhering to the support layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 16 in which the beam of actinic laser radiation is collimated and expanded before being modulated.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 16 in the laser beam has a wave length of 3,000-4,000A.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
356 words
A process for preparing a polymeric printing plate from a plate comprisIng a coating of a photocurable composition and a support layer, the photocurable composition being coated on and supported by the support layer, the printing plate having an image thereon corresponding to an image on a document, the process comprising: a. generating a beam of actinic laser radiation having an intensity sufficient to cure the photocurable composition; b. modulating the beam of actinic laser radiation in a controlled manner; c. orienting the beam of modulated actinic laser radiation in a controlled manner; d. focusing the beam of oriented and modulated actinic laser radiation on the coating of photocurable composition to cure exposed portions of the photocurable composition; e. using a television vidicon tube to convert the image on the document into a first electrical signal; f. amplifying the first electrical signal to produce a second amplified electric signal and passing the second amplified signal to a modulator to control the modulator, the modulator controlling modulation of the beam of actinic laser radiation, g. passing a third electrical signal from a master clock to a vertical sweep generator, the third electrical signal controlling the vertical sweep generator and causing the vertical sweep generator to emit a fourth electrical signal; h. amplifying the fourth electrical signal and passing the resulting fifth amplified electrical signal to a vertical sweep deflector to control the vertical sweep deflector, the vertical sweep deflector controlling a vertical sweep pattern of the beam of modulated actinic laser radiation; i. passing a sixth electrical signal from the master clock to a horizontal sweep generator, the sixth electrical signal controlling the horizontal sweep generator and causing the horizontal sweep generator to emit a seventh electrical signal; j. amplifying the seventh electrical signal and passing the resulting eighth amplified electrical signal to a horizontal sweep deflector to control the horizontal sweep deflector, the horizontal sweep deflector controlling a horizontal sweep pattern of the beam of modulated actinic laser radiation; and k. removing uncured portions of the photocurable composition from the support layer, and leaving the cured portions of the photocurable composition adhering to the support layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 19 in which the beam of actinic laser radiation is collimated and expanded before being modulated.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 19 in the laser beam has a wave length of 3,000-4,000A.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
381 words
A process for preparing a photocured image on a support layer from a coating of a photocurable composition on the support layer, the process comprising: a. generating a beam of actinic laser radiation having an intensity sufficient to cure the photocurable composition; b. modulating the beam of actinic laser radiation in a controlled manner; c. orienting the beam of modulated actinic laser radiation in a controlled manner; d. focusing the beam of oriented and modulated actinic laser radiation on a predetermined plane; e. dividing the beam of focused, oriented, and modulated actinic laser radiation into; i. a major beam of focused, oriented, and modulated actinic laser radiation, the major beam of focused, oriented, and modulated actinic laser radiation being focused on the coating of photocurable composition positioned in the predetermined plane to cure exposed portions of the photocurable composition; and ii. a minor beam of oriented and modulated actinic laser radiation, the minor beam of oriented and modulated laser radiation being deflected from the path of major beam of focused, oriented, and modulated actinic laser radiation; f. impinging the minor beam of oriented and modulated actinic laser radiation on the surface of the document and reflecting the minor beam of oriented and modulated actinic laser radiation from the surface; g. converting the minor beam of oriented and modulated actInic laser radiation reflected from the document into a first electrical signal; h. amplifying the first electrical signal to produce a second amplified electric signal and passing the second amplified signal to a modulator to control the modulator, the modulator controlling modulation of the beam of actinic laser radiation; i. passing a third electrical signal from a master clock to a vertical sweep generator, the third electrical signal controlling the vertical sweep generator and causing the vertical sweep generator to emit a fourth electrical signal; j. amplifying the fourth electrical signal and passing the resulting fifth amplified electrical signal to a vertical sweep deflector to control the vertical sweep deflector, the vertical sweep deflector controlling a vertical sweep pattern of the beam of modulated actinic laser radiation; k. passing a sixth electrical signal from the master clock to a horizontal sweep generator, the sixth electrical signal controlling the horizontal sweep generator and causing the horizontal sweep generator to emit a seventh electrical signal;
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-16 | 1978-03-18 | 1978-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-16 | 1982-03-18 | 1982-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-16 | 1986-03-18 | 1986-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |