EP1593495A2 - Method for drying flexographic printing plates by irradiation in the absence of circulating hot air and apparatus for said method - Google Patents
Method for drying flexographic printing plates by irradiation in the absence of circulating hot air and apparatus for said method Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1593495A2 EP1593495A2 EP05366002A EP05366002A EP1593495A2 EP 1593495 A2 EP1593495 A2 EP 1593495A2 EP 05366002 A EP05366002 A EP 05366002A EP 05366002 A EP05366002 A EP 05366002A EP 1593495 A2 EP1593495 A2 EP 1593495A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- radiation
- solvent
- enclosure
- plates
- drying
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 19
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 15
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 21
- 239000002904 solvent Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 238000003795 desorption Methods 0.000 claims description 12
- 238000000605 extraction Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 11
- 239000011148 porous material Substances 0.000 description 4
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000005012 migration Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000013508 migration Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 239000000470 constituent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000916 dilatatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000010339 dilation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005284 excitation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000035515 penetration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000704 physical effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000009834 vaporization Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008016 vaporization Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005406 washing Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41C—PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES
- B41C1/00—Forme preparation
- B41C1/02—Engraving; Heads therefor
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41C—PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES
- B41C1/00—Forme preparation
- B41C1/02—Engraving; Heads therefor
- B41C1/04—Engraving; Heads therefor using heads controlled by an electric information signal
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41C—PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES
- B41C1/00—Forme preparation
- B41C1/02—Engraving; Heads therefor
- B41C1/04—Engraving; Heads therefor using heads controlled by an electric information signal
- B41C1/05—Heat-generating engraving heads, e.g. laser beam, electron beam
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F26—DRYING
- F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
- F26B3/00—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat
- F26B3/28—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat by radiation, e.g. from the sun
- F26B3/30—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat by radiation, e.g. from the sun from infrared-emitting elements
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F26—DRYING
- F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
- F26B3/00—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat
- F26B3/32—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat by development of heat within the materials or objects to be dried, e.g. by fermentation or other microbiological action
- F26B3/34—Drying solid materials or objects by processes involving the application of heat by development of heat within the materials or objects to be dried, e.g. by fermentation or other microbiological action by using electrical effects
- F26B3/347—Electromagnetic heating, e.g. induction heating or heating using microwave energy
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a new drying-desorption process flexographic plates.
- the object of the invention is to seek to eliminate the tightening of pores in order to accelerate the desorption of the solvent and to optimize the duration of the process.
- the inventive idea was to perform plate drying tests using means or sources of energy other than air flow hot to bring to the plate the energy necessary for the desorption of the solvent that it contains by different physicochemical mechanisms.
- the invention relates to a method for drying-desorbing of flexo-engraving plates, said plates being previously etched and then washed with a suitable solvent, then placed in a drying chamber, characterized in that it consists, after the steps of engraving and washing, to expose the plates placed in the enclosure to action at least one radiation in the absence of hot air circulation, in order to promote the desorption of the solvent.
- This radiation consists of infrared irradiation and / or microwave radiation.
- the extraction time can be further reduced by combining a length given to an optimal pressure of the chamber determined according to the plate material.
- the invention also relates to an enclosure for drying-desorption of flexo-engraving plates, characterized in that it comprises means to subject plates placed inside the enclosure to at least one radiation and implement said method, and characterized in that it does not has no means for circulating hot drying air.
- Optimum wavelength ⁇ and pressure can be determined for each type of plate in order to obtain a drying time reduced for a given application.
- the heating Conventional hot air is replaced by microwave radiation.
- Microwave frequencies have a considerable depth of penetration in the constituent polymeric materials of the plates and they penetrate both by all sides of the material.
- Optimal parameters, frequency and drying pressure, can be determined for each type of plate.
- the device also makes it possible to eliminate post manipulation. insolation by setting certain parameters.
- the device is neither expensive nor cumbersome, because the powers put in game will be weak.
Abstract
Description
La présente invention concerne un nouveau procédé de séchage-désorption des plaques de flexogravure.The present invention relates to a new drying-desorption process flexographic plates.
Le procédé actuellement employé pour le séchage et la désorption des plaques de flexogravure préalablement gravées, puis lavées, consiste à chauffer les plaques par un courant d'air chaud circulant dans une enceinte, et à évacuer le solvant arrivant en surface desdites plaques. Il en résulte que cette surface est refroidie par la chaleur latente de vaporisation du solvant et que le séchage en surface, ainsi que le refroidissement qui l'accompagne, resserrent les pores du matériau constitutif de la plaque, ralentissant ainsi la désorption, c'est-à-dire la migration du solvant vers la surface de la plaque.The process currently used for the drying and desorption of Flexographic plates previously engraved, then washed, consist of heating the plates by a current of hot air circulating in an enclosure, and to evacuate the solvent arriving at the surface of said plates. As a result, this surface is cooled by the latent heat of vaporization of the solvent and that the drying in surface, and the accompanying cooling, tighten the pores of the material constituting the plate, thus slowing down the desorption, i.e. the solvent migration to the surface of the plate.
En outre, une étape de post insolation est nécessaire pour achever le séchage.In addition, a post-insolation step is necessary to complete the drying.
Le but de l'invention est de chercher à supprimer le resserrement des pores afin d'accélérer la désorption du solvant et d'optimiser la durée du procédé.The object of the invention is to seek to eliminate the tightening of pores in order to accelerate the desorption of the solvent and to optimize the duration of the process.
La vitesse de séchage et de désorption des plaques de flexogravure est limitée par la vitesse de migration du solvant dans le polymère de la plaque. Pour réaliser un gain de temps important sur ce plan, il faut s'affranchir des moyens conventionnels de séchage et utiliser des techniques impliquant des processus physiques différents pour la désorption, le séchage n'étant que le départ du solvant arrivé en surface.The speed of drying and desorption of the flexo-flexure plates is limited by the migration speed of the solvent in the polymer of the plate. For to save a lot of time on this plan, we must overcome the means conventional drying and use techniques involving processes different physical properties for desorption, since drying is only the beginning of solvent arrived at the surface.
L'idée inventive a consisté à réaliser des essais de séchage de plaques en utilisant des moyens ou des sources d'énergie autres que le courant d'air chaud pour apporter à la plaque l'énergie nécessaire à la désorption du solvant qu'elle contient par des mécanismes physico-chimiques différents.The inventive idea was to perform plate drying tests using means or sources of energy other than air flow hot to bring to the plate the energy necessary for the desorption of the solvent that it contains by different physicochemical mechanisms.
Ce but est atteint par l'invention qui concerne un procédé pour le séchage-désorption de plaques de flexogravure, lesdites plaques étant préalablement gravées puis lavées par un solvant approprié, puis placées dans une enceinte de séchage, caractérisé en ce qu'il consiste, après les étapes de gravure et de lavage, à exposer les plaques placées dans l'enceinte à l'action d'au moins un rayonnement en l'absence de circulation d'air chaud, afin de favoriser la désorption du solvant.This object is achieved by the invention which relates to a method for drying-desorbing of flexo-engraving plates, said plates being previously etched and then washed with a suitable solvent, then placed in a drying chamber, characterized in that it consists, after the steps of engraving and washing, to expose the plates placed in the enclosure to action at least one radiation in the absence of hot air circulation, in order to promote the desorption of the solvent.
Ce rayonnement consiste en une irradiation infrarouge et/ou un rayonnement hyperfréquence. This radiation consists of infrared irradiation and / or microwave radiation.
Le temps d'extraction peut être en outre réduit en combinant une longueur d'onde donnée à une pression optimale de l'enceinte déterminable en fonction du matériau de la plaque.The extraction time can be further reduced by combining a length given to an optimal pressure of the chamber determined according to the plate material.
L'invention concerne également une enceinte pour le séchage-désorption de plaques de flexogravure, caractérisée en ce qu'elle comporte des moyens pour soumettre des plaques placées à l'intérieur de l'enceinte à au moins un rayonnement et mettre en oeuvre ledit procédé, et caractérisée en ce qu'elle ne comporte pas de moyens pour faire circuler de l'air chaud de séchage.The invention also relates to an enclosure for drying-desorption of flexo-engraving plates, characterized in that it comprises means to subject plates placed inside the enclosure to at least one radiation and implement said method, and characterized in that it does not has no means for circulating hot drying air.
On comprendra mieux l'invention à l'aide de la description ci-après.The invention will be better understood from the following description.
Selon une première variante du procédé selon l'invention, le chauffage conventionnel à air chaud est remplacé par un flux de rayonnement infra-rouge de longueur d'onde λ.According to a first variant of the method according to the invention, the heating Conventional hot air is replaced by an infra-red radiation flow wavelength λ.
Une irradiation infrarouge, de longueur d'onde λ adaptée au matériau est peu influencée par le mouvement de l'air, elle agit sur le matériau, pas seulement en surface, mais jusqu'à une certaine profondeur parfaitement déterminable. Le résultat n'entraíne donc pas le resserrement des pores de la surface mais une dilatation de ceux-ci jusqu'à une certaine profondeur, favorisant ainsi la désorption du solvant dans l'épaisseur du matériau.Infrared irradiation, wavelength λ adapted to the material is little influenced by the movement of the air, it acts on the material, not only on the surface, but up to a certain depth perfectly determinable. The result does not result in the tightening of the pores of the surface but a dilation of these to a certain depth, thus favoring the desorption of the solvent in the thickness of the material.
Une longueur d'onde λ et une pression optimales peuvent être déterminées pour chaque type de plaque afin d'obtenir un temps de séchage réduit pour une application donnée.Optimum wavelength λ and pressure can be determined for each type of plate in order to obtain a drying time reduced for a given application.
Selon une deuxième variante du procédé selon l'invention, le chauffage conventionnel à air chaud est remplacé par un rayonnement hyperfréquence.According to a second variant of the method according to the invention, the heating Conventional hot air is replaced by microwave radiation.
Les hyperfréquences ont une profondeur de pénétration considérable dans les matériaux polymères constitutifs des plaques et ils pénètrent à la fois par toutes les faces du matériau.Microwave frequencies have a considerable depth of penetration in the constituent polymeric materials of the plates and they penetrate both by all sides of the material.
L'excitation des molécules polaires ou polarisables, se fait donc dans tout le volume du matériau, entraínant un gradient inverse de température qui a pour effet de dilater les pores et d'expulser mécaniquement le solvant de l'intérieur vers l'extérieur du matériau. Il en résulte d'une part, une grande rapidité de désorption et d'autre part une économie importante d'énergie car le solvant peut sortir du matériau à l'état liquide et peut souvent être évacué sans avoir à être totalement vaporisé à la surface du matériau. The excitation of the polar or polarizable molecules, is therefore done in all the volume of the material, resulting in an inverse temperature gradient which has the effect of effect of dilating the pores and mechanically expelling the solvent from the inside towards the outside of the material. As a result, on the one hand, a high speed of desorption and on the other hand a significant saving of energy because the solvent can out of the material in the liquid state and can often be evacuated without having to be totally vaporized on the surface of the material.
L'effet sera double car les hyperfréquences agiront aussi bien sur les molécules de solvant que sur celles du polymère.The effect will be twofold because the microwaves will act as well on the solvent molecules than on those of the polymer.
Les dimensions de plaques de flexogravure, ainsi que les quantités de solvant à évacuer permettent d'envisager des puissances hyperfréquences faibles, donc des dispositifs peu encombrants et peu onéreux.The dimensions of flexo-engraving plates, as well as the quantities of solvent to evacuate allow to consider microwave powers low, therefore space-saving devices and inexpensive.
Des paramètres optimaux, fréquence et pression de séchage, peuvent être déterminés pour chaque type de plaque.Optimal parameters, frequency and drying pressure, can be determined for each type of plate.
Selon une autre variante, on peut encore diminuer le temps de séchage en combinant les actions d'une irradiation infrarouge et d'un rayonnement hyperfréquence.According to another variant, it is possible to further reduce the drying time by combining the actions of infrared irradiation and radiation microwave.
On peut également envisager de soumettre les plaques à d'autres types de rayonnement.It can also be considered to subject the plates to other types of radiation.
Le procédé selon l'invention entraíne une grande simplification du système actuel et génère un gain sur le prix et sur l'encombrement, en particulier par la suppression du dispositif à air chaud, le refroidissement des lampes pouvant être résolu différemment.The process according to the invention entails a great simplification of the current system and generates a gain in price and overcrowding, in particular by removing the hot air device, cooling the lamps that can be solved differently.
Le dispositif permet, par ailleurs, de supprimer la manipulation de post insolation par le réglage de certains paramètres.The device also makes it possible to eliminate post manipulation. insolation by setting certain parameters.
Le dispositif n'est ni onéreux, ni encombrant, car les puissances mises en jeu seront faibles.The device is neither expensive nor cumbersome, because the powers put in game will be weak.
Claims (6)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR0404872A FR2869831B1 (en) | 2004-05-06 | 2004-05-06 | METHOD OF DRYING-DESORPING FLEXOGRAVIDE PLATES BY EXPOSURE TO RADIATION IN THE ABSENCE OF HOT AIR CIRCULATION, AND ENCLOSURE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE METHOD |
| FR0404872 | 2004-05-06 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| EP1593495A2 true EP1593495A2 (en) | 2005-11-09 |
| EP1593495A3 EP1593495A3 (en) | 2006-05-31 |
Family
ID=34942747
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP05366002A Withdrawn EP1593495A3 (en) | 2004-05-06 | 2005-05-03 | Method for drying flexographic printing plates by irradiation in the absence of circulating hot air and apparatus for said method |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP1593495A3 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2869831B1 (en) |
Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR1585782A (en) * | 1967-10-10 | 1970-01-30 | ||
| US4384011A (en) * | 1980-09-19 | 1983-05-17 | Dai Nippon Insatsu Kabushiki Kaisha | Process for producing gravure printing plates |
| US5262275A (en) * | 1992-08-07 | 1993-11-16 | E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company | Flexographic printing element having an IR ablatable layer and process for making a flexographic printing plate |
| WO1996038698A1 (en) * | 1995-06-02 | 1996-12-05 | Napp Systems, Inc. | Method for reducing the level of diluent in diluent-containing resins using microwave energy |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3771234A (en) * | 1969-09-09 | 1973-11-13 | Exxon Research Engineering Co | Microwave drying process for synthetic polymers |
| JPH03233885A (en) * | 1989-11-28 | 1991-10-17 | Mita Ind Co Ltd | Heat treating unit and drying method for functional thin film using it |
-
2004
- 2004-05-06 FR FR0404872A patent/FR2869831B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2005
- 2005-05-03 EP EP05366002A patent/EP1593495A3/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR1585782A (en) * | 1967-10-10 | 1970-01-30 | ||
| US4384011A (en) * | 1980-09-19 | 1983-05-17 | Dai Nippon Insatsu Kabushiki Kaisha | Process for producing gravure printing plates |
| US5262275A (en) * | 1992-08-07 | 1993-11-16 | E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company | Flexographic printing element having an IR ablatable layer and process for making a flexographic printing plate |
| WO1996038698A1 (en) * | 1995-06-02 | 1996-12-05 | Napp Systems, Inc. | Method for reducing the level of diluent in diluent-containing resins using microwave energy |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| FR2869831A1 (en) | 2005-11-11 |
| EP1593495A3 (en) | 2006-05-31 |
| FR2869831B1 (en) | 2006-06-30 |
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