EP1390202B1 - Method for the production of a printing plate which may be directly laser engraved and printing plate produced by said method - Google Patents

Method for the production of a printing plate which may be directly laser engraved and printing plate produced by said method Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1390202B1
EP1390202B1 EP02730270A EP02730270A EP1390202B1 EP 1390202 B1 EP1390202 B1 EP 1390202B1 EP 02730270 A EP02730270 A EP 02730270A EP 02730270 A EP02730270 A EP 02730270A EP 1390202 B1 EP1390202 B1 EP 1390202B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
elastomer layer
printing plate
plate
printing
film
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EP02730270A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1390202A1 (en
Inventor
Heinz Lorig
Stephan Lorig
Klaus Langerbeins
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Sonderhoff Chemicals GmbH
Polywest Kunststofftechnik Saueressig und Partner GmbH and Co KG
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Sonderhoff Chemicals GmbH
Polywest Kunststofftechnik Saueressig und Partner GmbH and Co KG
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41N—PRINTING PLATES OR FOILS; MATERIALS FOR SURFACES USED IN PRINTING MACHINES FOR PRINTING, INKING, DAMPING, OR THE LIKE; PREPARING SUCH SURFACES FOR USE AND CONSERVING THEM
    • B41N1/00—Printing plates or foils; Materials therefor
    • B41N1/04—Printing plates or foils; Materials therefor metallic
    • B41N1/06—Printing plates or foils; Materials therefor metallic for relief printing or intaglio printing

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method for producing a directly laser-engravable printing plate, in particular for flexographic printing.
  • the invention is further directed to a directly laser-engravable printing plate, in particular for flexographic printing, which has a lower support film or plate and an elastomer layer of silicone polymer, silicone fluoropolymer or silicone rubber applied thereto.
  • flexographic printing plate-shaped printing plates are used in addition to continuous printing plates, which may be, for example, rubber tables or photopolymer printing plates, which are often prepared for high-quality flexographic printing with the "Computer to Plate” method for printing.
  • continuous printing plates which may be, for example, rubber tables or photopolymer printing plates, which are often prepared for high-quality flexographic printing with the "Computer to Plate” method for printing.
  • plate printing plates these are mounted on printing plates or cylinders on which they are either glued or held magnetically by means of adhesive tapes or films - so-called “tapes" - when the inserted film or sheet of ferromagnetic material, such as e.g. Tinplate exists and magnetic cylinders or sleeves are used on which the tinplate sheet tightly applies.
  • vacuum cylinders to hold the pressure plate by means of negative pressure to this.
  • the known photopolymeric plates which are made of liquid photopolymers, have the disadvantage that their surface only after the plate exposure receives its final hardness required for printing and the surface quality can thus vary before the exposure. As a result, irregularities in the plate surface often reduce the print quality. A mechanical post-processing of the photopolymer plates to smooth their surface after exposure is not possible, as this would be the high-pressure parts, the plate would be damaged again.
  • a method for producing a seamless printing plate in which the elastomer layer is formed by a cold-curing silicone polymer or silicone fluoropolymer, which is applied to the cylindrical outer surface of a carrier by Rotationsg tell compiler and directly after curing in a particularly advantageous manner can be engraved with a working laser.
  • the elastomer layer consists of a thermosetting one-component or two-component silicone polymer is known from DE 197 56 327.
  • a plate printing forme is known, for their production, first a layer of a curable elastomer is applied to a carrier with a cylindrical surface by Rotationsg tell compiler as in the two aforementioned publications, then hardens the elastomer layer and the resulting The printing block blank is then ground and then separated along a section line running essentially parallel to the axial direction of the carrier, whereupon the printing plate produced in this way can be removed from the lateral surface of the carrier.
  • printing plates of the highest quality can be produced, which can be engraved directly after their completion with a working laser and meet the highest quality requirements for printing accuracy.
  • DE 199 42 216 discloses a method for producing a laser-engravable printing plate.
  • an elastomeric layer of silicone polymers is applied to a flat support film.
  • the elastomer layer is aftertreated to form a flat surface, wherein a cover sheet is applied to the elastomer layer as a protection against mechanical damage before the aftertreatment.
  • DE 199 42 216 proposes the use of an additional, thin upper layer.
  • the application of the additional top layer represents an additional process step.
  • the object of the invention is to provide a method for producing a directly laser-engravable printing plate, in which the ink absorption is improved in subsequent printing in a simple manner.
  • an elastomer layer of silicone polymer, silicone fluoropolymer or silicone rubber is applied to a first approximately horizontally oriented lower support sheet or plate and then post-treated to form a flat surface.
  • the aftertreatment takes place in a particularly advantageous manner at least partially with a Kalibriereinrich-device with a calender nip through which the printing plate is transported in the not yet cured state of its elastomer layer.
  • the production of the directly laser-engravable printing plate does not take place on a cylindrical outer surface, but the silicone polymer, silicone fluoropolymer or silicone rubber used to form an elastomer layer is applied to the flat support foil or plate.
  • the job can be done in strips, which are applied transversely to the longitudinal direction of the support film from a gun, which moves relative to the support film from one to the other longitudinal edge and back.
  • the elastomer layer is provided with a covering film on its surface before it is hardened.
  • the cover sheet effectively prevents the elastomeric material used from adhering to the calendering roll or to a calendering squeegee instead of which it is used, which otherwise can lead to errors in the production of the printing plate.
  • the covering film has a roughened and / or profiled surface on its underside facing the elastomer layer, which then presses into the still soft elastomer layer and forms a correspondingly roughened and / or profiled surface after the covering film has been removed from the then exposed printing side of the elastomer layer , as desired or required for ink absorption during later printing.
  • the particularly advantageous after-treatment step in a calibration device with calender gap ensures that the not yet cured elastomer layer is deformed or rolled in a particularly simple and fast manner over the entire width of the printing plate to the desired thickness of the printing plate.
  • the calibration device expediently consists essentially of a lower, exactly flat pressure strip and a parallel arranged above this, also highly accurate calender roll, which is very precisely adjustable in their distance from the pressure strip.
  • the thickness of the printing plates according to the invention can be set by calendering the not yet cured elastomer layer with very high accuracy to the desired level, the achievable accuracy depends only on the precision, are made with the calender roll and pressure strip and with the let the two main components of the calibration set in their distance from each other.
  • the cover film is expediently applied to the elastomer layer before the calendering process and can be removed again after the elastomer layer has hardened.
  • the elastomer layer can be ground after its hardening on the surface or subjected to high-speed milling, if extremely high demands are placed on the surface finish. In this case, the grinding or milling can always be done immediately after the application of the elastomer on the support sheet or plate and its curing.
  • the support film or plate may be provided on its upper side facing the elastomer layer with a lamination of a compressible intermediate layer.
  • a compressible intermediate layer it is possible, in particular for printing plates which are to be used for the direct printing of corrugated cardboard and other materials having an irregular surface, to set the desired compressibility of the entire printing plate at a predetermined printing height during printing.
  • the elastomer layer can be arranged directly on the lamination, ie without first on this an intermediate layer of a film or the like, to arrange, whereby the compressibility of the laminated on the support film interlayer is completely available during later printing , so is not lowered by an approximately interposed foil.
  • the compressible intermediate layer is able to reliably compensate even inaccuracies in the surface of the elastomer layer, which are in the 1/10 mm range, since their compressibility is not reduced by an additional intermediate layer of a film.
  • the cover film used to cover the elastomer layer which has been removed from the elastomer layer after it has hardened, subsequently as a support film for a subsequently produced printing plate.
  • the cover film is pretreated prior to its use as a carrier film with a primer (solvent).
  • the invention provides a directly laser-engravable printing plate, in particular for flexographic printing with a lower support film or plate and an elastomer layer of silicone polymer, silicone fluoropolymer or silicone rubber applied thereto, wherein the elastomer layer is processed by means of a calendering gap calibrating device, through which the printing plate before Hardening of the elastomer layer is transported.
  • the support film or plate may preferably be provided on its upper side facing the elastomer layer with a lamination of a compressible intermediate layer on which the elastomer layer is arranged directly.
  • the apparatus 10 shown schematically in FIG. 1 serves to produce a directly laser-engravable printing plate 11, which consists essentially of a lower support film 12 and an elastomer layer 13 arranged thereon of a silicone polymer, silicone fluoropolymer or silicone rubber.
  • the materials forming the elastomer layer may preferably be those known from the earlier patent DE 196 25 749 C2 or DE 197 56 327 A1.
  • the support film 12 is provided at its upper side 14 with a lamination 15 made of an elastic foam material on which the elastomer layer 13 directly, i. is arranged without interposition of a film or other intermediate layer.
  • the elastomer layer 13 has a greater thickness and is applied directly to the primer-pretreated upper side 14 of the carrier film 12.
  • the production of the printing plate according to the invention is carried out continuously in the plane.
  • the carrier film 12 is first unwound from a supply roll 16 and placed horizontally on a first conveyor belt 17.
  • a extending over the width of the support film and the conveyor belt guide roller 18 ensures that the support film comes to rest wrinkle-free on the conveyor belt 17.
  • the elastomer layer 13 forming silicone polymer, silicone fluoropolymer or the silicone rubber is then applied directly to the lamination of the support sheet 12 with the aid of a mixing and dosing head 19, which is operated here with little excess material and the elastomer layer 13 has a slightly uneven surface 20 immediately after its application.
  • the not yet cured elastomer layer is covered during further transport of the printing plate blank thus produced by the conveyor belt 17 with a cover 21, which has a roughened surface on its underside 22. This consisting of lower support film 12, lamination 15, elastomer layer 13 and top cover 21, sandwich-like structure then runs from the first
  • the calender roll can be adjusted with high precision by means of a setting device 28 shown greatly simplified, so that the thickness of the calender gap can be adjusted with an accuracy of up to 1/100 mm over the entire width of the support film.
  • the calibrated as described above pressure plate passes from the calendering gap 23 on a second conveyor belt 29, on which the elastomeric layer hardens, which depending on the type of elastomer material used by complementary devices, such as radiant heaters or the like. can be favored, which are not shown in Fig. 1, however.
  • the cover film 21 is pulled off from the top of the elastomer layer 13 and wound on a roll 30.
  • the roughened underside 22 of the cover leaves in the cured elastomer layer a corresponding structure that holds the ink during the later printing with the printing plate particularly well and a clean Transmission of the printed image on the surface to be printed ensures.
  • the wound onto the roll cover 30 can either be used again to cover the not yet cured elastomer layer before passing the pressure plate by the calibration or serve as a support film 12, to which they are first pretreated at their top with a suitable primer and then optionally with the Lamination 15 is provided before it is wound up on a carrier supply roll.
  • the elastomer layer 13 is applied directly to the support sheet, i. a soft elastic lamination on der.Tragfolie is not provided in this embodiment. 4, after its passage through the calibrating device according to FIG. 1 and curing of the elastomer layer and removal of the covering film, the surface is reground, thus achieving a highly accurate surface with a thickness deviation in the 1/100 mm range.
  • the pressure plate is machined on its surface by means of a high-speed grinding wheel 31, which can achieve the desired accuracy in only a single pass at a correspondingly low material removal.

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  • Printing Plates And Materials Therefor (AREA)
  • Manufacture Or Reproduction Of Printing Formes (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the production of a printing plate (11) which may be directly laser engraved, in particular for flexographic printing, wherein a support film (12) is laid out at least approximately horizontally, and an elastomer layer (13) applied made from silicone polymer, fluorosilicone polymer or silicone rubber which is then treated to form a planar surface. The treatment is preferably carried out with a sizing device (24) which forms a calender gap (23), through which the printing plate (11) is transported with the elastomer layer (13) thereon still in an unhardened state. It is thus possible to produce printing plates in a continuous method with very high precision.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren zum Herstellen einer direkt lasergravierbaren Druckplatte insbesondere für den Flexodruck. Die Erfindung ist ferner auf eine direkt lasergravierbare Druckplatte insbesondere für den Flexodruck gerichtet, die eine untere Tragfolie oder -platte und eine auf dieser aufgetragene Elastomerschicht aus Silikonpolymer, Silikonfluorpolymer oder Silikonkautschuk aufweist.The invention relates to a method for producing a directly laser-engravable printing plate, in particular for flexographic printing. The invention is further directed to a directly laser-engravable printing plate, in particular for flexographic printing, which has a lower support film or plate and an elastomer layer of silicone polymer, silicone fluoropolymer or silicone rubber applied thereto.

Im Flexodruck werden neben Endlosdruckformen auch plattenförmige Druckformen eingesetzt, bei denen es sich beispielsweise um Gummiklischees oder um Fotopolymerdruckplatten handeln kann, die für den hochqualitativen Flexodruck häufig mit dem "Computer to Plate"-Verfahren für den Druck vorbereitet werden. Für das Drucken mit den Plattendruckformen werden diese auf Klischeehülsen oder Formatzylindern montiert, auf denen sie entweder mit Hilfe von Klebebändern oder Folien - sogenannte "Tapes" - aufgeklebt werden oder magnetisch gehalten werden, wenn die eingesetzte Tragfolie oder -platte aus ferromagnetischem Material wie z.B. Weißblech besteht und Magnetzylinder oder -hülsen zum Einsatz kommen, an denen sich die Weißblechfolie dicht anlegt. Es ist bei Einsatz von Vakuumzylindern auch möglich; die Druckplatte mittels Unterdruck an diesen zu halten.In flexographic printing plate-shaped printing plates are used in addition to continuous printing plates, which may be, for example, rubber tables or photopolymer printing plates, which are often prepared for high-quality flexographic printing with the "Computer to Plate" method for printing. For printing with plate printing plates, these are mounted on printing plates or cylinders on which they are either glued or held magnetically by means of adhesive tapes or films - so-called "tapes" - when the inserted film or sheet of ferromagnetic material, such as e.g. Tinplate exists and magnetic cylinders or sleeves are used on which the tinplate sheet tightly applies. It is also possible with the use of vacuum cylinders; to hold the pressure plate by means of negative pressure to this.

Die bekannten fotopolymeren Platten, die aus flüssigen Fotopolymeren hergestellt werden, haben den Nachteil, daß ihre Oberfläche erst nach der Plattenbelichtung ihre für das Drucken erforderliche Endhärte erhält und die Oberflächenqualität somit vor der Belichtung variieren kann. Dies führt dazu, daß häufig Unebenheiten in der Plattenoberfläche die Druckqualität herabsetzen. Eine mechanische Nachbearbeitung der fotopolymeren Platten zur Glättung ihrer Oberfläche nach der Belichtung ist nicht möglich, da hierdurch die hochstehenden, druckenden Teile die Platte wieder beschädigt werden würden.The known photopolymeric plates, which are made of liquid photopolymers, have the disadvantage that their surface only after the plate exposure receives its final hardness required for printing and the surface quality can thus vary before the exposure. As a result, irregularities in the plate surface often reduce the print quality. A mechanical post-processing of the photopolymer plates to smooth their surface after exposure is not possible, as this would be the high-pressure parts, the plate would be damaged again.

Aus der DE 196 25 749 C2 ist ein Verfahren zum Herstellen einer nahtlosen Druckform bekannt, bei der die Elastomerschicht von einem kalthärtenden Silikonpolymer oder Silikonfluorpolymer gebildet wird, das im Rotationsgießverfahren auf die zylindrische Mantelfläche eines Trägers aufgetragen wird und nach dem Aushärten in besonders vorteilhafter Weise direkt mit einem Arbeitslaser gravierbar ist. Eine ähnliche Form, bei der die Elastomerschicht aus einem heißhärtenden Einkomponenten- oder Zweikomponenten-Silikonpolymer besteht, ist aus der DE 197 56 327 bekannt.From DE 196 25 749 C2 a method for producing a seamless printing plate is known, in which the elastomer layer is formed by a cold-curing silicone polymer or silicone fluoropolymer, which is applied to the cylindrical outer surface of a carrier by Rotationsgießverfahren and directly after curing in a particularly advantageous manner can be engraved with a working laser. A similar form in which the elastomer layer consists of a thermosetting one-component or two-component silicone polymer is known from DE 197 56 327.

Aus der älteren, nicht vorveröffentlichten DE 100 23 560 A1 ist eine Plattendruckform bekannt, zu deren Herstellung zunächst eine Schicht eines aushärtbaren Elastomers auf einen Träger mit zylindrischer Mantelfläche im Rotationsgießverfahren wie bei den beiden vorgenannten Druckschriften aufgetragen wird, die Elastomerschicht anschließend aushärtet und der so entstandene Druckformrohling danach geschliffen und dann entlang einer im wesentlichen parallel zur Achsrichtung des Trägers verlaufenden Schnittlinie aufgetrennt wird, woraufhin die derart fertig erzeugte Druckplatte von der Mantelfläche des Trägers abgenommen werden kann. Mit diesem Verfahren können Druckplatten höchster Qualität erzeugt werden, die nach ihrer Fertigstellung direkt mit einem Arbeitslaser gravierbar sind und höchsten Qualitätsanforderungen an die Druckgenauigkeit gerecht werden.From the older, non-prepublished DE 100 23 560 A1 a plate printing forme is known, for their production, first a layer of a curable elastomer is applied to a carrier with a cylindrical surface by Rotationsgießverfahren as in the two aforementioned publications, then hardens the elastomer layer and the resulting The printing block blank is then ground and then separated along a section line running essentially parallel to the axial direction of the carrier, whereupon the printing plate produced in this way can be removed from the lateral surface of the carrier. With this method, printing plates of the highest quality can be produced, which can be engraved directly after their completion with a working laser and meet the highest quality requirements for printing accuracy.

Als nachteilig bei dem bekannten Verfahren hat es sich erwiesen, daß die Länge der damit erzeugbaren Drucktücher vom Umfang des verwendeten zylindrischen Trägers festgelegt und somit nicht beliebig groß ist und daß der Zeitaufwand für die Fertigstellung der einzelnen Druckplatten vergleichsweise groß ist. Insbesondere der zur Erreichung der geforderten Oberflächengüte nach dem Aushärten des Elastomermaterials erfolgende Schleif- oder Fräsvorgang dauert bei dem bekannten Verfahren verhältnismäßig lang, da beim Schleifen im allgemeinen mehrere Schleifdurchgänge erforderlich sind, um Oberflächengenauigkeiten im 1/100 mm-Bereich und eine hohe Oberflächengüte zu erreichen.A disadvantage of the known method, it has been found that the length of the blankets produced therewith determined by the scope of the cylindrical support used and thus is not arbitrarily large and that the time required for the completion of the individual printing plates is relatively large. In particular, the grinding or milling process which takes place after the curing of the elastomeric material to achieve the required surface quality takes a relatively long time in the known method, since several grinding passes are generally required during grinding in order to achieve surface accuracies in the 1/100 mm range and a high surface quality ,

Die DE 199 42 216 offenbart ein Verfahren zum Herstellen einer lasergravierbaren Druckplatte. Bei dem Verfahren wird auf eine flache Tragfolie eine Elastomerschicht aus Silikonpolymeren aufgetragen. Danach wird die Elastomerschicht zur Bildung einer ebenen Oberfläche nachbehandelt, wobei vor der Nachbehandlung eine Deckfolie als Schutz gegen mechanische Beschädigungen auf die Elastomerschicht aufgebracht wird.DE 199 42 216 discloses a method for producing a laser-engravable printing plate. In the process, an elastomeric layer of silicone polymers is applied to a flat support film. Thereafter, the elastomer layer is aftertreated to form a flat surface, wherein a cover sheet is applied to the elastomer layer as a protection against mechanical damage before the aftertreatment.

Um Parameter wie Farbübertrag und Rauhigkeit zu beeinflussen, schlägt die DE 199 42 216 die Verwendung einer zusätzlichen, dünnen Oberschicht vor. Das Aufbringen der zusätzlichen Oberschicht stellt einen zusätzlichen Verfahrensschritt dar.In order to influence parameters such as color transfer and roughness, DE 199 42 216 proposes the use of an additional, thin upper layer. The application of the additional top layer represents an additional process step.

Aufgabe der Erfindung ist es, ein Verfahren zum Herstellen einer direkt lasergravierbaren Druckplatte anzugeben, bei dem in einfacher Weise die Farbaufnahme beim späteren Drucken verbessert wird.The object of the invention is to provide a method for producing a directly laser-engravable printing plate, in which the ink absorption is improved in subsequent printing in a simple manner.

Die der Erfindung zugrunde liegende Aufgabe wird durch die Angabe eines Verfahrens gemäß Anspruch 1 gelöst. Dabei wird auf eine zunächst annähernd horizontal ausgelegte untere Tragfolie oder -platte eine Elastomerschicht aus Silikonpolymer, Silikonfluorpolymer oder Silikonkautschuk aufgetragen und anschließend zur Bildung einer ebenen Oberfläche nachbehandelt. Die Nachbehandlung erfolgt dabei in besonders vorteilhafter Weise mindestens teilweise mit einer Kalibriereinrich-tung mit einem Kalanderspalt, durch den die Druckplatte im noch nicht ausgehärteten Zustand ihrer Elastomerschicht transportiert wird.The object underlying the invention is achieved by the specification of a method according to claim 1. In this case, an elastomer layer of silicone polymer, silicone fluoropolymer or silicone rubber is applied to a first approximately horizontally oriented lower support sheet or plate and then post-treated to form a flat surface. The aftertreatment takes place in a particularly advantageous manner at least partially with a Kalibriereinrich-device with a calender nip through which the printing plate is transported in the not yet cured state of its elastomer layer.

Erfindungsgemäß erfolgt die Herstellung der direkt lasergravierbaren Druckplatte nicht auf einer zylindrischen Mantelfläche, sondern das zur Bildung einer Elastomerschicht eingesetzte Silikonpolymer, Silikonfluorpolymer oder der Silikonkautschuk wird auf die eben liegende Tragfolie oder -platte aufgetragen. Der Auftrag kann dabei in Streifen erfolgen, die quer zur Längsrichtung der Tragfolie von einem Auftragskopf aufgetragen werden, der sich relativ zur Tragfolie von dessen einer zur anderen Längskante und zurück bewegt. Für eine Produktion von Druckplatten im großen Maßstab ist es besonders zweckmäßig, einen sich über die Breite der beispielsweise von einer großen Rolle abgewickelten Tragfolie erstreckenden Auftragskopf vorzusehen, durch den das Elastomer über die gesamte Breite der Tragfolie aufgetragen wird, während sich diese relativ zum Auftragskopf bewegt, beispielsweise unter diesem hindurchgezogen wird. Durch diese besonders vorteilhafte Verfahrensweise ist es möglich, Druckplatten in praktisch beliebiger Länge herzustellen, die nur durch die Länge der Tragfolie begrenzt wird, auf der die Elastomerschicht aufgetragen wird.According to the invention, the production of the directly laser-engravable printing plate does not take place on a cylindrical outer surface, but the silicone polymer, silicone fluoropolymer or silicone rubber used to form an elastomer layer is applied to the flat support foil or plate. The job can be done in strips, which are applied transversely to the longitudinal direction of the support film from a gun, which moves relative to the support film from one to the other longitudinal edge and back. For large-scale production of printing plates, it is particularly desirable to provide an applicator head extending across the width of the carrier sheet unwound, for example, from a large roll, through which the elastomer is applied across the entire width of the carrier sheet as it moves relative to the applicator head , for example, is pulled under this. By this particularly advantageous procedure, it is possible to produce printing plates in virtually any length, which is limited only by the length of the support film on which the elastomer layer is applied.

Erfindungsgemäß wird die Elastomerschicht vor ihrem Erhärten an ihrer Oberfläche mit einer Abdeckfolie versehen. Die Abdeckfolie verhindert wirksam, daß das eingesetzte Elastomermaterial an der Kalanderwalze oder einem anstelle derer zum Einsatz kommenden Kalanderrakel anhaftet, was andernfalls zu Fehlern in der Produktion der Druckplatte führen kann. Die Abdeckfolie weist dabei an ihrer der Elastomerschicht zugewandten Unterseite eine angerauhte und/oder profilierte Oberfläche auf, die sich dann in die noch weiche Elastomerschicht eindrückt und nach dem Abziehen der Abdeckfolie an der dann freigelegten Druckseite der Elastomerschicht eine entsprechend angerauhte und/oder profilierte Oberfläche ausbildet, wie sie für die Farbaufnahme beim späteren Drucken gewünscht bzw. gefordert wird.According to the invention, the elastomer layer is provided with a covering film on its surface before it is hardened. The cover sheet effectively prevents the elastomeric material used from adhering to the calendering roll or to a calendering squeegee instead of which it is used, which otherwise can lead to errors in the production of the printing plate. In this case, the covering film has a roughened and / or profiled surface on its underside facing the elastomer layer, which then presses into the still soft elastomer layer and forms a correspondingly roughened and / or profiled surface after the covering film has been removed from the then exposed printing side of the elastomer layer , as desired or required for ink absorption during later printing.

Der besonders vorteilhafte Nachbehandlungsschritt in einer Kalibriereinrichtung mit Kalanderspalt sorgt dafür, daß die noch nicht ausgehärtete Elastomerschicht in besonders einfacher und schneller Weise über die gesamte Breite der Druckplatte auf die gewünschte Dicke der Druckplatte verformt oder ausgewalzt wird. Die Kalibriereinrichtung besteht zweckmäßig im wesentlichen aus einer unteren, genau ebenen Andruckleiste und einer parallel über dieser angeordneten, ebenfalls hochgenauen Kalanderwalze, die in ihrem Abstand von der Andruckleiste sehr exakt einstellbar ist. Mit einer solchen Kalibriereinrichtung läßt sich die Dicke der erfindungsgemäß hergestellten Druckplatten durch Kalandrieren der noch nicht ausgehärteten Elastomerschicht mit sehr hoher Genauigkeit auf das gewünschte Maß einstellen, wobei die erreichbare Genauigkeit lediglich von der Präzision abhängt, mit der Kalanderwalze und Andruckleiste gefertigt sind und mit der sich die beiden Hauptbestandteile der Kalibriereinrichtung in ihrem Abstand voneinander einstellen lassen.The particularly advantageous after-treatment step in a calibration device with calender gap ensures that the not yet cured elastomer layer is deformed or rolled in a particularly simple and fast manner over the entire width of the printing plate to the desired thickness of the printing plate. The calibration device expediently consists essentially of a lower, exactly flat pressure strip and a parallel arranged above this, also highly accurate calender roll, which is very precisely adjustable in their distance from the pressure strip. With such a calibration device, the thickness of the printing plates according to the invention can be set by calendering the not yet cured elastomer layer with very high accuracy to the desired level, the achievable accuracy depends only on the precision, are made with the calender roll and pressure strip and with the let the two main components of the calibration set in their distance from each other.

Die Abdeckfolie wird zweckmäßig vor dem Kalandriervorgang auf die Elastomerschicht aufgebracht und kann nach dem Aushärten der Elastomerschicht von dieser wieder abgezogen werden.The cover film is expediently applied to the elastomer layer before the calendering process and can be removed again after the elastomer layer has hardened.

Die Elastomerschicht kann nach ihrem Aushärten an ihrer Oberfläche geschliffen oder einer Hochgeschwindigkeits-Fräsbearbeitung unterworfen werden, wenn außergewöhnlich hohe Anforderungen an die Oberflächengüte gestellt werden. Dabei kann das Schleifen bzw. Fräsen grundsätzlich unmittelbar nach dem Auftrag des Elastomers auf der Tragfolie oder -platte und seinem Aushärten erfolgen. Besonders vorteilhaft ist es aber, die Elastomerschicht zunächst mittels der Kalibriereinrichtung zu kalandrieren und dadurch schon vor dem Schleifen bzw. Fräsen eine sehr gleichmäßige Dicke der Druckplatte zu erhalten, deren Dickenabweichungen nur im 1/10 mm-Bereich liegen oder sogar noch erheblich darunter liegen. Es hat sich gezeigt, daß allein durch den Kalandriervorgang Genauigkeiten von unter 1/20 mm erreichbar sind. Die Genauigkeit der Druckplatte kann dann in lediglich einem Schleifdurchgang auf die geforderte, hohe Genauigkeit beispielsweise im 1/100 mm-Bereich fertiggestellt werden.The elastomer layer can be ground after its hardening on the surface or subjected to high-speed milling, if extremely high demands are placed on the surface finish. In this case, the grinding or milling can always be done immediately after the application of the elastomer on the support sheet or plate and its curing. However, it is particularly advantageous first to calender the elastomer layer by means of the calibrating device and thereby even before grinding or milling to obtain a very uniform thickness of the printing plate whose thickness deviations are only in the 1/10 mm range or even significantly lower. It has been shown that accuracies of less than 1/20 mm can be achieved solely by the calendering process. The accuracy of the printing plate can then be completed in only one grinding pass to the required, high accuracy, for example in 1/100 mm range.

In besonders vorteilhafter Weiterbildung der Erfindung kann die Tragfolie oder -platte an ihrer der Elastomerschicht zugewandten Oberseite mit einer Kaschierung aus einer kompressiblen Zwischenschicht versehen sein. Mit einer solchen kompressiblen Zwischenschicht ist es insbesondere bei Druckplatten, die für den Direktdruck von Wellpappe und anderen Materialien mit unregelmäßiger Oberfläche eingesetzt werden sollen, möglich, die für die beim Druck gewünschte Kompressibilität der gesamten Druckplatte bei vorgegebener Druckhöhe einzustellen. Anders als bei den bislang bekannten Druckplatten kann hierbei die Elastomerschicht unmittelbar auf der Kaschierung angeordnet werden, d.h. ohne auf dieser zunächst eine Zwischenlage aus einer Folie od.dgl, anzuordnen, wodurch die Kompressibilität der an der Tragfolie aufkaschierten Zwischenschicht beim späteren Druck vollständig zur Verfügung steht, also nicht durch eine etwa zwischengelegte Folie herabgesetzt wird. Es hat sich gezeigt, daß die entsprechend hergestellte Druckplatte, bei der die Elastomerschicht unmittelbar auf der an der Tragfolie ankaschierten kompressiblen Zwischenschicht aufgebracht und anschließend mit der Kalibriereinrichtung auf die gewünschte Dicke kalandiert wird, auch bei hohen Genauigkeitsanforderungen an die Oberfläche der Elastomerschicht anschließend nicht mehr nachbearbeitet werden muß, sondern schon nach dem Durchgang der Druckplatte durch den Kalanderspalt und dem Abziehen der Abdeckfolie nach dem Aushärten der Elastomerschicht und Schneiden der Platte auf die gewünschte Größe diese sofort mit einem Laser graviert werden kann. Dies ist offenbar darauf zurückzuführen, daß die kompressible Zwischenschicht in der Lage ist, auch noch Ungenauigkeiten in der Oberfläche der Elastomerschicht zuverlässig auszugleichen, die im 1/10 mm-Bereich liegen, da ihre Kompressibilität nicht durch eine zusätzliche Zwischenlage einer Folie herabgesetzt wird.In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the support film or plate may be provided on its upper side facing the elastomer layer with a lamination of a compressible intermediate layer. With such a compressible intermediate layer, it is possible, in particular for printing plates which are to be used for the direct printing of corrugated cardboard and other materials having an irregular surface, to set the desired compressibility of the entire printing plate at a predetermined printing height during printing. Unlike in the previously known printing plates in this case the elastomer layer can be arranged directly on the lamination, ie without first on this an intermediate layer of a film or the like, to arrange, whereby the compressibility of the laminated on the support film interlayer is completely available during later printing , so is not lowered by an approximately interposed foil. It has been found that the correspondingly produced printing plate, in which the elastomer layer is applied directly to the laminated on the support film compressible intermediate layer and then calendered with the calibration to the desired thickness, then no longer post-processed even with high accuracy requirements for the surface of the elastomer layer must be, but already after the passage of the printing plate through the calender nip and peeling off the cover after curing of the elastomer layer and cutting the plate to the desired size this can be immediately engraved with a laser. This is apparently due to the fact that the compressible intermediate layer is able to reliably compensate even inaccuracies in the surface of the elastomer layer, which are in the 1/10 mm range, since their compressibility is not reduced by an additional intermediate layer of a film.

Als besonders vorteilhaft und ökonomisch hat es sich erwiesen, die zum Abdecken der Elastomerschicht eingesetzte, nach deren Aushärten von der Elastomerschicht wieder abgezogene Abdeckfolie anschließend als Tragfolie für eine nachfolgend produzierte Druckplatte zu verwenden. Um eine besonders gute Haftung der Elastomerschicht an der Tragfolie zu erhalten, wird die Abdeckfolie vor ihrer Verwendung als Tragfolie mit einem Primer (Lösungsmittel) vorbehandelt.It has proved to be particularly advantageous and economical to use the cover film used to cover the elastomer layer, which has been removed from the elastomer layer after it has hardened, subsequently as a support film for a subsequently produced printing plate. In order to obtain a particularly good adhesion of the elastomer layer to the carrier film, the cover film is pretreated prior to its use as a carrier film with a primer (solvent).

Mit der Erfindung wird eine direkt lasergravierbare Druckplatte insbesondere für den Flexodruck mit einer unteren Tragfolie oder -platte und einer auf dieser aufgetragenen Elastomerschicht aus Silikonpolymer, Silikonfluorpolymer oder Silikonkautschuk geschaffen, wobei die Elastomerschicht mittels einer Kalibriereinrichtung mit Kalanderspalt bearbeitet ist, durch den die Druckplatte vor dem Erhärten der Elastomerschicht transportiert wird. Die Tragfolie oder -platte kann an ihrer der Elastomerschicht zugewandten Oberseite vorzugsweise mit einer Kaschierung aus einer kompressiblen Zwischenschicht versehen sein, auf der die Elastomerschicht unmittelbar angeordnet ist.The invention provides a directly laser-engravable printing plate, in particular for flexographic printing with a lower support film or plate and an elastomer layer of silicone polymer, silicone fluoropolymer or silicone rubber applied thereto, wherein the elastomer layer is processed by means of a calendering gap calibrating device, through which the printing plate before Hardening of the elastomer layer is transported. The support film or plate may preferably be provided on its upper side facing the elastomer layer with a lamination of a compressible intermediate layer on which the elastomer layer is arranged directly.

Weitere Merkmale und Vorteile der Erfindung ergeben sich aus der nachfolgenden Beschreibung und der Zeichnung, worin eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform der Erfindung an einem Beispiel näher erläutert ist. Es zeigt:

Fig. 1
eine Vorrichtung zur Durchführung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens für die Herstellung einer erfindungsgemäßen Druckplatte in einer schematischen Seitenansicht;
Fig. 2
eine vergrößerte Einzelheit II der mit der Vorrichtung nach Fig. 1 hergestellten Druckplatte vor deren Durchlauf durch die Kalibriereinrichtung im Schnitt;
Fig. 3
den Gegenstand der Fig. 2 nach Durchgang durch die Kalibriereinrichtung gemäß einer Einzelheit III in Fig. 1; und
Fig. 4
eine zweite Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Druckplatte bei deren Nachbearbeitung mittels eines Schleifwerkzeuges in einem Längsschnitt.
Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the drawing, wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail by way of example. It shows:
Fig. 1
a device for carrying out the method according to the invention for the production of a printing plate according to the invention in a schematic side view;
Fig. 2
an enlarged detail II of the printing plate produced with the apparatus of Figure 1 prior to their passage through the calibration device in section.
Fig. 3
the article of Figure 2 after passing through the calibration device according to a detail III in Fig. 1. and
Fig. 4
a second embodiment of a printing plate according to the invention in their post-processing by means of a grinding tool in a longitudinal section.

Die in Fig. 1 schematisch dargestellte Vorrichtung 10 dient zur Herstellung einer direkt lasergravierbaren Druckplatte 11, die im wesentlichen aus einer unteren Tragfolie 12 und einer auf dieser angeordneten Elastomerschicht 13 aus einem Silikonpolymer, Silikonfluorpolymer oder Silikonkautschuk besteht. Die die Elastomerschicht bildenden Werkstoffe können dabei bevorzugt solche sein, wie sie aus der älteren Patentschrift DE 196 25 749 C2 oder der DE 197 56 327 A1 bekannt sind.The apparatus 10 shown schematically in FIG. 1 serves to produce a directly laser-engravable printing plate 11, which consists essentially of a lower support film 12 and an elastomer layer 13 arranged thereon of a silicone polymer, silicone fluoropolymer or silicone rubber. The materials forming the elastomer layer may preferably be those known from the earlier patent DE 196 25 749 C2 or DE 197 56 327 A1.

Bei der in den Fig. 1 bis 3 dargestellten Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Druckplatte ist die Tragfolie 12 an ihrer Oberseite 14 mit einer Kaschierung 15 aus einem elastischen Schaummaterial versehen, auf der die Elastomerschicht 13 unmittelbar, d.h. ohne Zwischenlage einer Folie oder sonstigen Zwischenschicht angeordnet ist. Bei der in Fig. 4 dargestellten Ausführungsform der Druckplatte weist die Elastomerschicht 13 eine größere Dicke auf und ist direkt auf die mit einem Primer vorbehandelte Oberseite 14 der Tragfolie 12 aufgetragen.In the embodiment of the printing plate according to the invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the support film 12 is provided at its upper side 14 with a lamination 15 made of an elastic foam material on which the elastomer layer 13 directly, i. is arranged without interposition of a film or other intermediate layer. In the embodiment of the printing plate illustrated in FIG. 4, the elastomer layer 13 has a greater thickness and is applied directly to the primer-pretreated upper side 14 of the carrier film 12.

Wie sich aus Fig. 1 ergibt, erfolgt die Herstellung der erfindungsgemäßen Druckplatte kontinuierlich in der Ebene. Hierzu wird die Tragfolie 12 zunächst von einer Vorratsrolle 16 abgewickelt und horizontal auf einem ersten Förderband 17 abgelegt. Eine sich über die Breite der Tragfolie und des Förderbandes erstreckende Führungswalze 18 sorgt dabei dafür, daß die Tragfolie faltenfrei auf dem Förderband 17 zu liegen kommt.As is apparent from Fig. 1, the production of the printing plate according to the invention is carried out continuously in the plane. For this purpose, the carrier film 12 is first unwound from a supply roll 16 and placed horizontally on a first conveyor belt 17. A extending over the width of the support film and the conveyor belt guide roller 18 ensures that the support film comes to rest wrinkle-free on the conveyor belt 17.

Auf die bereits mit der Kaschierung 15 versehene Tragfolie 12 wird anschließend mit Hilfe eines Misch- und Dosierkopfes 19 das die Elastomerschicht 13 bildende Silikonpolymer, Silikonfluorpolymer oder der Silikonkautschuck direkt auf die Kaschierung der Tragfolie 12 aufgetragen, wobei hier mit geringem Materialüberschuß gearbeitet wird und die Elastomerschicht 13 unmittelbar nach ihrem Auftrag noch eine etwas ungleichmä-ßige Oberfläche 20 aufweist. Die noch nicht ausgehärtete Elastomerschicht wird beim Weitertransport des so erzeugten Druckplattenrohlings durch das Förderband 17 mit einer Abdeckfolie 21 abgedeckt, die an ihrer Unterseite 22 eine angerauhte Oberfläche aufweist. Dieser aus unterer Tragfolie 12, Kaschierung 15, Elastomerschicht 13 und oberer Abdeckfolie 21 bestehende, sandwichartige Aufbau läuft anschließend vom erstenOn the already provided with the lamination 15 support sheet 12, the elastomer layer 13 forming silicone polymer, silicone fluoropolymer or the silicone rubber is then applied directly to the lamination of the support sheet 12 with the aid of a mixing and dosing head 19, which is operated here with little excess material and the elastomer layer 13 has a slightly uneven surface 20 immediately after its application. The not yet cured elastomer layer is covered during further transport of the printing plate blank thus produced by the conveyor belt 17 with a cover 21, which has a roughened surface on its underside 22. This consisting of lower support film 12, lamination 15, elastomer layer 13 and top cover 21, sandwich-like structure then runs from the first

Förderband 17 ab und weiter durch einen Kalanderspalt 23 einer Kalibriereinrichtung 24, die im wesentlichen aus einer unteren Andruckleiste 25 mit ballig ausgestalteter, hochgenauer und vorzugsweise polierter Oberfläche 26 und einer Kalanderwalze 27 besteht, die genau parallel zur Andruckleiste 25 oberhalb von dieser angeordnet ist und sich genau wie diese über die gesamte Breite der Tragfolie 12 erstreckt. Die Kalanderwalze kann in ihrer Höhe mittels einer stark vereinfacht dargestellten Einstelleinrichtung 28 hochgenau eingestellt werden, so daß die Dicke des Kalanderspalts mit einer Genauigkeit von bis zu 1/100 mm über die gesamte Breite der Tragfolie einjustiert werden kann.Conveyor belt 17 from and on through a calendering gap 23 of a calibration device 24, which consists essentially of a lower pressure bar 25 with crowned ausgestalteter, highly accurate and preferably polished surface 26 and a calender roll 27 which is exactly parallel to the pressure bar 25 above this and arranged just as it extends over the entire width of the support sheet 12. The calender roll can be adjusted with high precision by means of a setting device 28 shown greatly simplified, so that the thickness of the calender gap can be adjusted with an accuracy of up to 1/100 mm over the entire width of the support film.

Beim Durchgang der sandwichartig aufgebauten Druckplatte wird die zuvor ungleichmäßige Oberfläche 20 der noch nicht ausgehärteten Elastomerschicht geglättet und überschüssiges Material seitlich weggedrückt, so daß die Druckplatte nach ihrem Durchgang durch die Kalibriereinrichtung eine über die gesamte Breite weitestgehend gleichmäßige Dicke mit nur sehr geringfügigen Dickenabweichungen aufweist, die in einer Größenordnung von unter 1/10 mm liegen.During the passage of the pressure plate sandwiched the previously uneven surface 20 of the not yet cured elastomer layer is smoothed and excess material laterally pushed away, so that the pressure plate after its passage through the calibrator over the entire width largely uniform thickness with only very small variations in thickness, the in the order of less than 1/10 mm.

Die wie vorstehend beschrieben kalibrierte Druckplatte gelangt aus dem Kalanderspalt 23 auf ein zweites Förderband 29, auf dem die Elastomerschicht aushärtet, was je nach Art des eingesetzten Elastomerwerkstoffes durch ergänzende Einrichtungen, beispielsweise Heizstrahler od.dgl. begünstigt werden kann, die jedoch in Fig. 1 nicht dargestellt sind. Nach dem Aushärten der Elastomerschicht wird die Abdeckfolie 21 von der Oberseite der Elastomerschicht 13 abgezogen und auf einer Rolle 30 aufgewickelt. Dabei hinterläßt die angerauhte Unterseite 22 der Abdeckfolie in der ausgehärteten Elastomerschicht eine entsprechende Struktur, die beim späteren Drucken mit der Druckplatte die Druckfarbe besonders gut hält und eine saubere Übertragung des Druckbildes auf die zu bedruckende Fläche sicherstellt. Die auf die Rolle 30 aufgewickelte Abdeckfolie kann entweder erneut zum Abdecken der noch nicht ausgehärteten Elastomerschicht vor Durchgang der Druckplatte durch die Kalibriereinrichtung eingesetzt werden oder auch als Tragfolie 12 dienen, wozu sie zunächst an ihrer Oberseite mit einem geeigneten Primer vorbehandelt und dann ggf. mit der Kaschierung 15 versehen wird, bevor sie auf eine Tragfolienvorratsrolle aufgewickelt wird.The calibrated as described above pressure plate passes from the calendering gap 23 on a second conveyor belt 29, on which the elastomeric layer hardens, which depending on the type of elastomer material used by complementary devices, such as radiant heaters or the like. can be favored, which are not shown in Fig. 1, however. After curing of the elastomer layer, the cover film 21 is pulled off from the top of the elastomer layer 13 and wound on a roll 30. The roughened underside 22 of the cover leaves in the cured elastomer layer a corresponding structure that holds the ink during the later printing with the printing plate particularly well and a clean Transmission of the printed image on the surface to be printed ensures. The wound onto the roll cover 30 can either be used again to cover the not yet cured elastomer layer before passing the pressure plate by the calibration or serve as a support film 12, to which they are first pretreated at their top with a suitable primer and then optionally with the Lamination 15 is provided before it is wound up on a carrier supply roll.

Bei der in Fig. 4 dargestellten Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Druckplatte ist die Elastomerschicht 13 unmittelbar auf die Tragfolie aufgebracht, d.h. eine weichelastische Kaschierung auf der.Tragfolie ist bei diesem Ausführungsbeispiel nicht vorgesehen. Die Druckplatte nach Fig. 4 wird nach ihrem Durchgang durch die Kalibriereinrichtung gemäß Fig. 1 und Aushärten der Elastomerschicht sowie Abziehen der Abdeckfolie an ihrer Oberfläche nachgeschliffen, womit eine hochgenaue Oberfläche mit einer Dickenabweichung im 1/100 mm-Bereich erreicht wird. Hierzu wird die Druckplatte an ihrer Oberfläche mittels einer schnelldrehenden Schleifscheibe 31 bearbeitet, die in nur lediglich einem Arbeitsdurchgang bei entsprechend geringem Materialabtrag die gewünschte Genauigkeit erzielen läßt.In the embodiment of the printing plate according to the invention shown in Fig. 4, the elastomer layer 13 is applied directly to the support sheet, i. a soft elastic lamination on der.Tragfolie is not provided in this embodiment. 4, after its passage through the calibrating device according to FIG. 1 and curing of the elastomer layer and removal of the covering film, the surface is reground, thus achieving a highly accurate surface with a thickness deviation in the 1/100 mm range. For this purpose, the pressure plate is machined on its surface by means of a high-speed grinding wheel 31, which can achieve the desired accuracy in only a single pass at a correspondingly low material removal.

Man erkennt, daß es auf die beschriebene Weise möglich ist, eine direkt lasergravierbare Druckplatte in praktisch jedem beliebigen Format herzustellen, indem eine horizontal ausgelegte Tragfolie in einem kontinuierlichen Verfahren in einer Ebene mit der Elastomerschicht versehen wird. Erst nach der vollständigen, vorstehend beschriebenen Bearbeitung werden aus dem praktisch endlosen, aus der Fertigungseinrichtung kommenden Druckplattenstreifen die einzelnen Druckplatten in ihre gewünschten Größe geschnitten.It can be seen that it is possible in the manner described to produce a directly laser-engravable printing plate in virtually any format by a horizontally oriented support sheet is provided in a continuous process in a plane with the elastomer layer. Only after the complete processing described above, the individual printing plates are cut to their desired size from the virtually endless, coming from the production facility printing plate strips.

Die Erfindung ist nicht auf die dargestellten und beschriebenen Ausführungsbeispiele beschränkt, sondern es sind verschiedene Änderungen und Ergänzungen denkbar, ohne den Rahmen der Erfindung zu verlassen. So ist es im Einzelfall möglich, auf die Kalibrierung der noch nicht ausgehärteten Druckplatte im Kalanderspalt zu verzichten und die Oberfläche der ausgehärteten Elastomerschicht ausschließlich durch Schleifen und/oder hochtouriges Fräsen zu bearbeiten.The invention is not limited to the illustrated and described embodiments, but various changes and additions are conceivable without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, it is possible in individual cases, to dispense with the calibration of the not yet cured printing plate in the calender nip and to edit the surface of the cured elastomer layer exclusively by grinding and / or high speed milling.

Claims (9)

  1. Method for producing a directly laser engraved printing plate (11), in particular for flexographic printing, in which an elastomer layer (13) of silicone polymer, fluorosilicone polymer or silicon rubber is applied to an at least approximately horizontally designed lower support film or plate (12), and is aftertreated afterwards for forming an even surface, characterised in that the elastomer layer (13) is provided with a cover film (21) at its surface (20) before its curing, which film comprises a roughened and/or profiled surface at its bottom side (22) facing the elastomer layer (13).
  2. Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the aftertreatment takes place at least partially by means of a calibration device (24) with a calender gap (23), through which the printing plate (11) is transported in the still uncured state of its elastomer layer (13)
  3. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that the cover film (21) is applied to the elastomer layer (13) before the calendaring process and is again removed therefrom after the curing of the elastomer layer (13).
  4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the elastomer layer (13) is sanded after its curing and removal of the cover film (21).
  5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the support film or plate (12) is provided with a lamination (15) of a compressible intermediate layer at its upper side (14) facing the elastomer layer (13)
  6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the cover film (21) is used as a support film (12) for a successively produced printing plate (11) after its removal from the cured elastomer layer (13).
  7. Method according to claim 6, characterised in that the cover film (21) is pretreated with a primer before its use as a support film (12).
  8. Directly laser engraved printing plate (11), in particular for flexographic printing, with a lower support film or plate (12) and an elastomer layer (13) of silicone polymer, fluorosilicone polymer or silicon rubber applied thereto, which can be obtained according to a method whereby the elastomer layer (13) is processed by means of a of a calibration device (24) with a calender gap (23), through which the printing plate (11) is transported before the curing of the elastomer layer, characterised in that the elastomer layer (13) is provided with a cover film (21) before its curing at its surface (20) and before the transport of the printing plate through the calender gap (23), which film comprises a roughened and/or profiled surface at its bottom side (22) facing the elastomer layer (13).
  9. Printing plate according to claim 8, characterised in that the support film (12) or plate is provided with a lamination (15) of a compressible intermediate layer at the upper side (14) facing the elastomer layer (13), on which the elastomer layer (13) is directly arranged.
EP02730270A 2001-05-28 2002-05-22 Method for the production of a printing plate which may be directly laser engraved and printing plate produced by said method Expired - Lifetime EP1390202B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

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DE10126067A DE10126067A1 (en) 2001-05-28 2001-05-28 Process for producing a directly laser-engravable printing plate and printing plate produced according to the process
DE10126067 2001-05-28
PCT/EP2002/005611 WO2002096648A1 (en) 2001-05-28 2002-05-22 Method for the production of a printing plate which may be directly laser engraved and printing plate produced by said method

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EP1390202B1 true EP1390202B1 (en) 2006-04-05

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EP1762397A1 (en) * 2005-09-12 2007-03-14 Folex Coating GmbH Multilayered compressible printing form
DE102009003817A1 (en) 2009-04-23 2010-10-28 Contitech Elastomer-Beschichtungen Gmbh Multilayer sheet-shaped or pressure-plate for flexographic and high-pressure printing with a laser engraving

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DE3833650A1 (en) * 1988-10-04 1990-04-05 Basf Ag CONTINUOUS METHOD FOR PRODUCING A LIGHT-SENSITIVE RECORDING ELEMENT
US5804353A (en) * 1992-05-11 1998-09-08 E. I. Dupont De Nemours And Company Lasers engravable multilayer flexographic printing element
DE19625749C2 (en) 1996-06-27 1998-12-17 Polywest Kunststofftechnik Process for producing a seamless printing form for rotary letterpress printing
DE19942216C2 (en) * 1999-09-03 2003-04-24 Basf Drucksysteme Gmbh Silicone rubber and iron-containing, inorganic solids and / or soot-containing recording material for the production of relief printing plates by means of laser engraving, process for the production of relief printing plates and the relief printing plate produced therewith
DE10023560A1 (en) 2000-05-15 2002-01-03 Polywest Kunststofftechnik Method for producing a printing plate, in particular for high pressure, and printing plate for high pressure

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DE10126067A1 (en) 2002-12-05

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