JP2003107691A - Method and device for structuring surface into hydrophilic region and hydrophobic region - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and device for structuring the surface of a printing plate 10 into a hydrophilic region and a hydrophobic region. SOLUTION: By the method and device, the surface having at least a first layer 12 preferably having polystyrene of a plate 10 is structured into a hydrophilic region and a hydrophobic region by producing a latent structure in the first layer 12 by using an auxiliary modifying device 16 to make the offset printing plate 10. A gaseous highly volatile solvent 18 as a modifying agent is selectively supplied by the modifying device 16 to at least one region of the surface which is locally limited during at least the working interval. The device of the invention is advantageously used for a printing plate exposure apparatus or the printing unit of a printing machine.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to at least one polymer having a polymer for producing a plate for offset printing.
A method of structuring a surface containing two first layers into hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions by creating a latent structure of the first layer by means of an attached denaturing device.

Further, the present invention provides that a surface containing at least a first layer having a polymer is made hydrophilic by creating a latent structure of the first layer to make a plate for offset printing. It relates to a device for structuring into hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions.

[0003]

Plates whose surface has an outer layer of a polymeric material, in particular polystyrene, styrene copolymers, etc., and an inner layer of a metallic material, for example aluminum, have already been available for a long time. Used in the graphic industry. These types of plates are usually used in offset printing from an unstructured or undifferentiated state onto hydrophilic and hydrophobic areas or partial surfaces according to the design to be printed. Structured. A widely used structuring method is to selectively act on electromagnetic energy such as a laser beam in a temporally and spatially selective manner, and then use a chemical such as a plate cleaning agent to apply the non-denaturing region of the outer layer By developing the latent structure into hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions,
The hydrophilic regions of the structure are thereby substantially formed by the exposed inner layer of the surface, whereas the modified regions of the outer layer are the hydrophobic regions of the structure,
It involves locally selectively modifying the outer layer of the surface.

A plate capable of structuring the surface to form hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions by the action of thermal laser energy followed by chemical treatment,
For example, it is disclosed in European Patent Application Publication No. 0931647A1. In this case, the surface has styrene in addition to the polymer containing carboxyl groups. further,
Anionic pigments are included at or adjacent to the surface to aid in the absorption of laser energy. EP-A-09316557A1 discloses a method for making offset printing plates. After imagewise exposing the plate to infrared light, the image areas are developed by supplying an aqueous liquid to the surface of the plate. The method described therein can especially be carried out on the plate cylinder of the printing unit or can be carried out inside the printing press.

Furthermore, German patent specification 4426012
C2, in relation to the erasable or reproducible version,
An erasing / hydrophilizing device in a printing unit is disclosed. From the nozzle, the cleaning liquid or hydrophilizing agent can be applied directly to the plate or to the associated cleaning cloth. An imaging device is provided around the circumference of the cylinder on which the plate is placed.

[0006]

Conventional methods of imaging plates, especially within a printing unit or press, rely on the effect of the imaging or structuring process to react, whether by thermal action or by thermal action. They all have in common that they are mainly based on the interaction between the surface of the plate and light. Therefore, for technical realization, a complex imaging device is required, which is often expensive and which comprises one or more light sources, in particular laser light sources. Imaging devices equipped with these types of laser light sources are associated with considerable cost both during procurement and during use.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new method and a new device for structuring a surface into hydrophilic and hydrophobic areas.

[0008]

This object is achieved according to the invention by a method of structuring a surface into hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions, which comprises the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION In order to make a plate for offset printing, a surface containing a first layer having a polymer such as polystyrene, polyimide, polysilane,
The method of the invention of structuring into hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions by generating the latent structure of the first layer by means of an attached denaturing device comprises a gaseous highly volatile solvent as denaturing agent. , Selectively supplying at least one locally defined region of the surface over at least the working time interval. In addition to the action time interval, gas pressure, flow velocity, width of flow area, etc.
The gas flow parameters are defined. The expression latent structure in the context of the present invention means a structuring comprising at least two surface regions with opposite properties. As an example thereof, a combination of properties such as hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity and lipophilicity and oleophobicity can be mentioned. The term latent structure can also mean a structure that potentially utilizes one or more additional steps, also referred to as development, to transform into at least two structures of opposite nature. .

Further, in a preferred form, the method of the present invention, wherein the surface comprises at least a first layer having polystyrene and a second layer which may be metallic or has polyester. In that, the latent structure is developed in at least one area of the surface such that the first layer is removed in areas that have not been selectively modified. The second layer preferably comprises aluminum. It is particularly advantageous that the modifying device can selectively reach each region of the surface along two dimensions in which the surface extends, continuously by translation, or at least partially parallel.

According to the invention, to make a plate for offset printing, it comprises at least two layers, the first layer having polystyrene and the second layer being metal, or The method of structuring the surface with polyester into hydrophilic and hydrophobic areas by modification of the first layer and subsequent development preferably comprises several steps. In the unstructured state, the first layer of the surface of the plate is assigned to the modifying device, for example by this arrangement such that the modifying device faces the surface. For example, the plate may be mounted on the cylinder, in particular on the plate cylinder inside the printing unit, so as to be rotatable about its axis. The denaturing device is provided by means of translation by suitable means, such as an actuator, a linear drive, a spindle drive, etc., along each of the two dimensions along which the surface extends, or at least partially parallel to each other of the surface. Areas can be reached selectively. Optionally, the barrel is equipped with a drive for causing a rotary movement about its axis. Before at least the selective regions are denatured, the structural information assigned to these regions is prepared in the denaturing device. At this time, the structural information is at least
It corresponds to the structure of the desired printed pattern. By selectively supplying denaturants to each area of the surface, potential structures are created. In the present invention, a highly volatile solvent in the form of a gas is used as a denaturing agent in this case for at least an action time interval with respect to a locally limited area of the surface. In this case, gaseous high volatility solvent include alcohols (R-OH) and / or an aldehyde (R-HO) and / or ketone (R ₁ -CO-R ₂₎ and / or ester (R ₁ -COO- R ₂ ) can be included. In the context of the present invention, R, R ₁ and R ₂ are aliphatic radicals,
In particular, it can represent a hydrocarbon chain, but can also represent an aliphatic radical or an aromatic radical further substituted with a functional group. R, R ₁ and R ₂ may be the same or different. The latent structure is developed so that the first layer is removed in at least one area of the surface, in areas that have not been selectively modified. as a result,
A developed plate is obtained which has hydrophilic and hydrophobic areas. The hydrophilic regions are formed substantially by the exposed second layer, and the hydrophobic regions are substantially formed by the action of the gaseous highly volatile solvent, the first layer of the plate. Is formed by. The method of the present invention is a simple and low cost method for making plates.

In an advantageous development of the inventive method for structuring a surface, the electromagnetic energy emitted, preferably in the form of laser radiation by a light source, is modified at least by the supply of a gaseous highly volatile solvent. Or denatured,
Or it is irradiated to a locally limited area of the surface to be modified. It may be intended to supply electromagnetic energy while the gaseous highly volatile solvent is being supplied to the locally confined area. Alternatively, it may be preferable to perform a kind of pretreatment or a kind of aftertreatment of the region to be modified with electromagnetic energy. In other words, the working time interval of the supply of the gaseous highly volatile solvent may be substantially the same as the exposure time interval of the electromagnetic energy, or it may be different. Of course, each of these intervals may have a plurality of subintervals. The energy provided to the surface by the light source has the advantage of supporting the action of the gaseous highly volatile solvent on the first layer of the surface.

In order to make a plate for offset printing,
A device of the invention for structuring a surface comprising at least a first layer having a polymer into hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions by creating a latent structure of the first layer is a modification device. Is provided with a gaseous highly volatile solvent to at least a locally defined region of the surface over at least an action time interval. The surface may be a metal with a first layer having polystyrene,
Alternatively, it preferably contains at least a second layer having polyester.

To make a plate for offset printing,
At least two layers, a first layer having polystyrene,
And a surface comprising a second layer, which may be metallic or has a polyester, is structured into hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions by selective modification of the first layer and subsequent development. An advantageous embodiment of the device of the invention is that the denaturing device is
It is characterized by supplying a gaseous highly volatile solvent to a locally limited area of the surface of the plate. Generally, the device may include or be connected to a control unit. The structural information assigned by the control unit is prepared in the denaturing device before each of the at least selective regions is denatured. Furthermore, means are provided for producing relative movement between the modifying device and the surface of the plate, for example by means of actuators, spindle drives, servomotors, linear motors and the like. It is particularly advantageous for the denaturing device to reach at least two locally defined surface areas in parallel in time and space. This allows the parallel processing to reduce the time taken to denature each region across the surface.

In a further advantageous development of the device according to the invention for structuring, a light source, preferably a laser light source,
At least one locally defined surface area, in particular
It is further contemplated to irradiate the locally limited surface area to be modified with electromagnetic energy. Of course, a means for producing relative motion between the light source and the surface, which is similar or identical to the means for producing relative motion between the modifier and the surface, is optionally provided, whereby electromagnetic energy and the modifier are Both can reach locally limited surface areas to be modified.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the gaseous highly volatile solvent is ethanol (C ₂ H ₅ —OH) and / or 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone and / or 3 - butoxy-2-propanol and / or ethanal (C ₂ H ₅ -HO) and / or acetone (CH ₃ -CO-CH ₃₎ and / or contains acetic acid ester _{(CH 3 -COO-C 2 H} 5) There is.

The device according to the invention for structuring a surface can advantageously be used in a plate exposure device or printing unit, a so-called direct imaging printing unit. A printing machine according to the invention, which typically comprises a paper feed device, one or more printing units and a paper ejection device for processing sheets, or a web changer for processing paper webs. A printing machine according to the invention including a container, at least one printing unit, a dryer and a folding device comprises at least one printing unit having at least one inventive device for structuring a surface. It is characterized by

The advantages, advantageous embodiments and developments of the present invention will now be further described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows, in four partial views, a schematic representation of an advantageous embodiment of the inventive method for structuring a surface. FIG. 1A shows a plate 10 having a first layer 12 and a second layer 14. In connection with the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and the subsequent figures, the first layer 12
May be referred to as the outer layer and the second layer 14 may be referred to as the inner layer. The plate 10 may, in addition to these layers on the surface, contain further layers deeply or may be placed on a support, whether the plate is flat or curved. Are not substantially important to the method of the invention. The first layer 12 comprises polystyrene. In the context of the present invention, not only substantially pure polystyrene but also styrene copolymers containing, for example, carboxyl groups are understood to be polystyrene. The second layer 14 may be metallic and preferably comprises aluminum. Other materials which have been found to be advantageous include those which include polyester. Without limiting the generality of the initial state of the surface structure, the method of the present invention assumes that the first layer 12 is unstructured, as shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1 (a). And

In FIG. 1B, the first layer is formed on the second layer 14.
It is shown how the plate 10 with the layers 12 of 10 is arranged with respect to the denaturing device 16. Denaturing device 16
From there, a gaseous highly volatile solvent 18 containing the aforementioned substances is supplied to the area of the plate 10, while being locally confined, for example by an outlet nozzle. It is also conceivable that the gaseous highly volatile solvent 18 is supplied to the surface of the plate 10 by a flexible pipe such as a hose. The modified surface 110 is created by the action of the gaseous selective solvent 18. A first translational direction in which the denaturing device 16 is movable relative to the plate 10 such that the plate can reach each region of the surface selectively along two dimensions in which it extends. 112 and the second translation direction 114 are illustrated by double arrows. The modification device 16 is preferably connected to the control unit 118 by means of a connection for exchanging data and / or control signals 116, which may be partially wireless. By the control unit 118, at least before each selective area has denatured,
The structural information assigned to the area to be denatured is prepared by the denaturing device 16.

In FIG. 1 (c), a potential formed on the surface of and / or inside the first layer 12 of the plate 10 by the modifying device 16 and formed by a number of modified surfaces 110. The structure is shown. The action of the gaseous highly volatile solvent is directed at the first layer 12 of the plate 10, but in addition to the first layer 12 to the second layer 14 of the plate 10.
Increasing the adhesion of the can also be achieved in addition. The latent structure corresponds to the hydrophobic component of the image-related structuring, i.e. including the ink-bearing hydrophobic areas on the surface of the plate in offset printing.

To develop the latent structure of plate 10,
The first layer 12 is removed in at least one area of the surface, in areas that have not been selectively modified. The unmodified first layer 12 can be removed by using, for example, a cleaning liquid or a common plate cleaning agent. Since the method of the present invention modifies the first layer 12, a large number of modified surfaces 110 remain on the plate, whereas the second layer 1
2 is exposed. The second layer 14 is given the function of a hydrophilic region in offset printing. The structuring of hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions provided by the method of the present invention is schematically illustrated in Figure 1 (d).

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention with an advantageous development of an additional light source. A plate 10 is shown with a first layer 12 and a second layer 14. The plate 10 is arranged so as to face the denaturing device 16. The denaturing device 16 supplies the gaseous highly volatile solvent 18 to the region of the plate 10 selectively locally and temporally and spatially. A modified surface 110 results on the plate 10. The denaturing device 16 can be moved relative to the plate 10 in a first translation direction 112 and a second translation direction 114. The modification device 16 is associated with a light source 20, which is preferably a laser light source, which emits in particular in the infrared wavelength range. A light beam 22 illuminates at least the area of the plate 10 which is modified by the action of the gaseous highly volatile solvent 18 and thereby the modified surface 1
10 is generated.

FIG. 3 schematically shows two arrangements of embodiments of the apparatus according to the invention inside a plate exposure device or printing unit. In FIG. 3A, the first
An arrangement is shown which is preferably embodied in a printing unit in which the plate 10 with the layers 12 and 14 of FIG. The barrel 30 is rotatable about its axis 32 in a rotation direction 34. The first layer 12 of the plate 10 is substantially parallel to the cylinder 30 along the translation direction 36.
A modification device 16 is provided which is movable relative to the shaft 32 of the. The denaturing device 16 can combine rotational and translational movements to reach any point on the surface of the plate 10. FIG. 3B shows an embodiment having a so-called indrum structure. In other words, since the plate 10 including the first layer 12 and the second layer 14 is placed in a concave shape,
The attached modification device 16 on the shaft 38 is
The direction of translation 36 substantially parallel to the direction determined by
To any point on the surface of the plate 10 by moving in the direction of rotation 34 about the axis defined by the shaft 38.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing two embodiments of the apparatus of the present invention for simultaneously modifying two or more regions of the first layer of the surface. FIG. 4A shows a plurality of denaturing devices 1.
6, here by way of example, without limitation of generality, seven denaturing devices 16 are shown, these denaturing devices being
First layer 12 and second layer 14 resting on torso 30
Attached to face the first layer 12 of the plate 10. The body 30 rotates about its axis 32 in the direction of rotation 3
It can be rotated to 4. These multiple denaturing devices 16
It is designed as an integrated denaturing device 40. In other words, this embodiment of the device according to the invention comprises, in a modular fashion, a plurality of modifying devices 16 for supplying a gaseous highly volatile solvent to locally defined areas of the surface of the plate 10. It includes an integrated denaturing device 40.
In FIG. 4 (b), in an alternative embodiment of the device according to the invention, a plurality of modifying devices 1, here four, arranged to face the plate 10 resting on the cylinder 30.
It is shown that 6 may be provided. Edition 10
The denaturing device 16 reaches each partial area of the entire surface of
According to the image, a gaseous highly volatile solvent is supplied. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, at least two of the surfaces of the plate 10 are
It is possible, at least in part, to denature two regions in parallel or simultaneously.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing, in four partial views, a preferred embodiment of the method of the invention for structuring a surface.

2 is a schematic diagram showing an embodiment of the device of the invention with an advantageous development of an additional light source, FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing two arrangements of each embodiment inside a plate exposure device or a printing unit.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing two embodiments of a device of the present invention for simultaneously modifying two or more regions of a first layer of a surface.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 plate 12 first layer 14 second layer 16 modifier 18 gaseous highly volatile solvent 20 light source 22 light beam 30 barrel 32 axis 34 rotation direction 36 translation direction 38 shaft 40 integrated modifier 110 modified Surface 112 First translation direction 114 Second translation direction 116 Connection 118 for conversion of data and / or control signals Control unit

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (71) Applicant 390009232             Kurfuersten-Anlage             52-60, Heidelberg, Fede             ral Republish of Ger             many (72) Inventor Jurgen Kreuzkemper             Federal Republic of Germany 74889 Shinsheim             -Hofenheim im Krumen 27 (72) Inventor Gotthard Schmidt             Federal Republic of Germany 69254 Marschzo             Nnnweg 22 F term (reference) 2H025 AB03 AD01 AD03 BH03 DA30                       DA36 DA37 FA17                 2H096 AA06 BA20 DA03 EA27 GA08                       GA17                 2H114 AA04 BA01 EA01 GA04

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. At least a first layer (1) comprising a polymer for producing a plate (10) for offset printing.
In a method of structuring the surface containing 2) into hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions by creating a latent structure of the first layer (12) by means of an attached denaturing device (16). As a modifier, a gaseous highly volatile solvent (1
8) at least over the working time interval,
A method for structuring a surface, characterized in that it selectively feeds at least one locally defined area of the surface. 2. At least a first layer (12), wherein the first layer (12) comprises polystyrene and the second layer (14) is a metal or comprises polyester. A method according to claim 1, wherein the surface comprising the second layer (14) is structured such that the first layer (12) is removed in the areas which have not been selectively modified. A method of structuring a surface, characterized by developing a latent structure in at least one region of said surface. 3. The modifying device (16) is capable of selectively reaching a region of the surface continuously or at least partially in parallel along the two dimensions in which the surface extends. A method of structuring a surface according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the denaturing device (16) is translated. 4. A method of structuring a surface according to claim 1, wherein at least a locally defined area of the surface is irradiated with electromagnetic energy. 5. The method of structuring a surface according to claim 1, wherein electromagnetic energy is applied during the supply of the gaseous highly volatile solvent. 6. At least a first layer (1) comprising a polymer for producing a plate (10) for offset printing.
A device for structuring a surface containing 2) into hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions by creating a latent structure of the first layer (12), the denaturing device (16) comprising: Device for structuring a surface, characterized by supplying a highly volatile solvent (18) in a gaseous state to a locally defined area of the surface over at least an action time interval. 7. The surface of claim 6, wherein the surface comprises at least a first layer (12) comprising polystyrene and a second layer (14) comprising metal or polyester. A device for structuring surfaces. 8. Structured surface according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the modifying device (16) reaches at least two locally defined regions of the surface in parallel in time and space. Device to do. 9. An apparatus for structuring a surface according to claim 6, 7 or 8 wherein the light source (20) irradiates the electromagnetic energy to at least a locally defined area of the surface. 10. The surface according to claim 6, wherein the control unit (118) prepares assigned structural information in the denaturing device at the latest before denaturing each selective area. Structured device. 11. A gaseous highly volatile solvent (18) is an alcohol (R-OH) and / or an aldehyde (R-).
HO) and / or ketones (R ₁ —CO—R ₂ ) and / or esters (R ₁ —COO—R ₂ ) are included to structure the surface according to any one of claims 6 to 10. apparatus. 12. The gaseous highly volatile solvent (18) is ethanol (C ₂ H ₅ —OH) and / or 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone and / or 3-butoxy-2-propanol. and / or ethanal (C ₂ H ₅ -HO) and / or acetone (CH ₃ -C
O-CH ₃₎ and / or acetic ester (CH ₃ -CO
Device for structuring a surface according to any one of the O-C ₂ H ₅₎ 6 to claim contain 11. 13. At least one of claims 6 to 12.
A plate exposure device comprising the apparatus according to any one of 1. 14. At least one of claims 6 to 12.
A printing unit comprising the apparatus according to any one of 1. 15. A printing press comprising at least one printing unit according to claim 15.