Claims
- 1. A method of making a lithographic image byproviding an imaging material comprising a support and a heat- or light-sensitive coating; image-wise exposure of the coating to heat or light, thereby obtaining a latent image in said coating, the latent image consisting of a set of exposed areas in the coating and a set of non-exposed areas in the coating; development of the latent image by supplying a processing liquid to the coating and evacuating, by means of a suction device, the processing liquid together with (i) substances removed from the exposed areas without removing such substances from the non-exposed areas or (ii) substances removed from the non-exposed areas without removing such substances from the exposed areas.
- 2. A method according claim 1 wherein the suction device is a porous material that is capable of absorbing the processing liquid.
- 3. A method according claim 1 wherein the development step is carried out by means of an apparatus comprisingan elongated housing having at an end thereof an edge which surrounds an opening; a jet or spray nozzle, which is disposed in the housing and spaced from the opening, for jetting or spraying the processing liquid on the imaging material; a supply channel connected to the jet or spray nozzle for supplying the processing liquid to the jet or spray nozzle; a suction chamber surrounding the jet or spray nozzle; an evacuation channel connected to the suction chamber for maintaining a sub-pressure in the suction chamber in order to remove the processing liquid from the imaging material.
- 4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the development step is carried out by means of an apparatus comprisingan elongated housing having at an end thereof an edge which surrounds an opening; a jet or spray nozzle, which is disposed in the housing and spaced from the opening, for jetting or spraying the processing liquid on the imaging material through a portion of the opening, said portion having a perimeter; a supply channel connected to the jet or spray nozzle for supplying the processing liquid to the jet or spray nozzle; rubbing means for mechanically treating the layer(s), which are rotatably mounted and which extend from within the housing towards the opening and are disposed along said perimeter; said rubbing means and said housing defining a suction chamber; an evacuation channel connected to the suction chamber for maintaining a sub-pressure in the suction chamber in order to remove the processing liquid drawn from between the rubbing means.
- 5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the coating is not substantially ablated during the image-wise exposure.
- 6. A method according to claim 1 wherein the processing liquid is an aqueous alkaline liquid.
- 7. A method according to claim 1 further comprising a rinsing step in which water or an aqueous liquid is supplied to the image.
- 8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the steps of exposure and development are carried out while the lithographic printing plate precursor is mounted in a plate-setter or a printing press.
- 9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the support has a hydrophilic surface or is provided with a hydrophilic layer and wherein the coating is hydrophobic or is rendered hydrophobic by the exposure.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
01000248 |
Jun 2001 |
EP |
|
Parent Case Info
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/307,496, filed Jul. 24, 2001, which is incorporated by reference.
US Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
5253006 |
Takakura |
Oct 1993 |
A |
5871584 |
Tateyama et al. |
Feb 1999 |
A |
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
58023440 |
Feb 1983 |
JP |
WO 9935535 |
Jul 1999 |
WO |
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60/307496 |
Jul 2001 |
US |