Claims
- 1. A direct-to-plate method of lithographic printing using an off-press coating apparatus, which is mechanically coupled to a plurality of on-press exposure apparatuses by transferring means (a-b), the transferring means (a-b) comprise a stacking apparatus which is mechanically coupled to the coating apparatus and to each exposure apparatus, a multi-color printing press, and an off-press cleaning apparatus, which is mechanically coupled to each color station of the multi-color printing press by transferring means (c-d), the transferring means (c-d) comprise a stacking apparatus which is mechanically coupled to the cleaning apparatus and to each color station, the method comprising the steps of:(a) making a plurality of imaging materials by applying an image-recording layer on a plurality of substrates by means of the coating apparatus; and transferring the imaging materials from the coating apparatus to the exposure apparatus by the transferring means (a-b); (b) making a plurality of printing masters having a lithographic image by exposing the image-recording layer to heat or light by means of the exposure apparatus and optionally processing the exposed image-recording layer; (c) supplying ink to the lithographic images and transferring the ink from the lithographic images to paper or another receiver material by means of the multi-color printing press; and transferring the printing masters from the multi-color printing press to the cleaning apparatus by the transferring means (c-d); (d) removing the lithographic images from the substrates in the cleaning apparatus thereby obtaining recycled substrates; (e) using the recycled substrates in a next cycle consisting of steps (a), (b) and (c) and optionally also (d) and (e).
- 2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the coating apparatus and the cleaning apparatus are integrated in a plate-making apparatus.
- 3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the cleaning apparatus is coupled to the coating apparatus by transferring means (d-a) and wherein, between steps (d) and (a), the substrate is transferred from the cleaning apparatus to the coating apparatus by said transferring means (d-a).
- 4. A method according to claim 3 wherein the transferring means (d-a) comprise a stacking apparatus which is coupled to the coating apparatus and the cleaning apparatus.
- 5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the substrates have a hydrophilic surface and wherein the image-recording layers are negative-working and comprises hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles and a hydrophilic binder.
- 6. A method according to claim 1 wherein during step (d) a cleaning liquid is supplied to the lithographic image, the cleaning liquid being an emulsion of an organic phase in an aqueous phase.
- 7. A method according to claim 6 wherein the cleaning apparatus comprises means for preparing the emulsion by mixing an organic liquid with an aqueous liquid.
- 8. A method according to claim 6 wherein the cleaning apparatus comprises means for separating the organic phase from the aqueous phase.
- 9. A direct-to-plate method of lithographic printing using an off-press coating apparatus, which is mechanically coupled to an off-press exposure apparatus by transferring means (a-b), the exposure apparatus being mechanically coupled by transferring means (b-c) to a plurality of color stations of a multi-color printing press, the transferring means (b-c) comprise a stacking apparatus which is mechanically coupled to the exposure apparatus and to each color station, and an off-press cleaning apparatus, which is mechanically coupled to each color station of the multi-color printing press by transferring means (c-d), the transferring means (c-d) comprise a stacking apparatus which is mechanically coupled to the cleaning apparatus and to each color station, the method comprising the steps of:(a) making a plurality of imaging materials by applying an image-recording layer on a plurality of substrates by means of the coating apparatus; and transferring the imaging materials from the coating apparatus to the exposure apparatus by the transferring means (a-b); (b) making a plurality of printing masters having a lithographic image by exposing the image-recording layer to heat or light by means of the exposure apparatus and optionally processing the exposed image-recording layer; and transferring the printing masters from the exposure apparatus to the multi-color printing press by the transferring means (b-c); (c) supplying ink to the lithographic image and transferring the ink from the lithographic image to paper or another receiver material by means of the multi-color printing press; and transferring the printing masters from the printing press to the cleaning apparatus by the transferring means (c-d); (d) removing the lithographic image from the substrates in the cleaning apparatus, thereby obtaining recycled substrates. (e) using the recycled substrates in a next cycle consisting of steps (a), (b) and (c) and optionally also (d) and (e).
- 10. A direct-to-plate method of lithographic printing using an off-press coating apparatus, an off-press exposure apparatus, which is integrated with the coating apparatus in the same apparatus, defined as plate-making apparatus, said plate-making apparatus being mechanically coupled by a transferring means (b-c) to a plurality of color stations of a multi-color printing press, the transferring means (b-c) comprise a stacking apparatus which is mechanically coupled to the plate-making apparatus and to each color station, and an off-press cleaning apparatus, which is mechanically coupled to each color station of the multi-color printing press by transferring means (c-d), the transferring means (c-d) comprise a stacking apparatus which is mechanically coupled to the cleaning apparatus and to each color station, the method comprising the steps of:(a) making a plurality of imaging materials by applying an image-recording layer on a plurality of substrates by means of the coating apparatus; (b) making a plurality of printing masters having a lithographic image by exposing the image-recording layer to heat or light by means of the exposure apparatus and optionally processing the exposed image-recording layer; and transferring the printing masters from the plate-making apparatus to the multi-color printing press by the transferring means (b-c); (c) supplying ink to the lithographic images and transferring the ink from the lithographic images to paper or another receiver material by means of the multi-color printing press; and transferring the printing masters from the multi-color printing press to the cleaning apparatus by the transferring means (c-d); (d) removing the lithographic images from the substrates in the cleaning apparatus thereby obtaining recycled substrates; (e) using the recycled substrates in a next cycle consisting of steps (a), (b) and (c) and optionally also (d) and (e).
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
00203968 |
Nov 2000 |
EP |
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Parent Case Info
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/252,540, filed Nov. 22, 2000, which is incorporated by reference.
US Referenced Citations (11)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0 802 457 |
Oct 1997 |
EP |
0 940 252 |
Sep 1999 |
EP |
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/252540 |
Nov 2000 |
US |