Method of developing photosensitive planographic printing plate

1. A method of developing a photosensitive planographic printing plate which has been exposed to an infrared light beam with an alkaline developer containing at least one saccharide selected from non-reducing sugars and at least one base, the photosensitive planographic printing plate including a support having a surface which has been subjected to hydrophilic treatment having disposed thereon a recording layer formed by applying to the support a positive photosensitive composition for an infrared laser, the positive photosensitive composition including:

(A) at least one alkali aqueous solution-soluble polymer compound having at least one functional group selected from (a-1) a phenolic hydroxyl group, (a-2) a sulfoneamide group, and (a-3) an active imide group; either

(B) a compound that lowers the solubility of the at least one alkali aqueous solution-soluble polymer compound because of its compatibility with the alkali aqueous solution-soluble polymer compound in an alkali aqueous solution, with the solubility-decreasing action being reduced by heat; and (C) a compound that generates heat by absorbing light, provided that (B) and (C) are different; or

(BC) a compound that (i) lowers the solubility of the at least one alkali aqueous solution-soluble polymer compound because of its compatibility with the alkali aqueous solution-soluble polymer compound in an alkali aqueous solution, with the solubility-decreasing action being reduced by heat, and (ii) generates heat by absorbing light; and

(D) a cyclic acid anhydride,

wherein the photosensitive planographic printing plate is immersed in the developer while being conveyed, and development is accelerated by brushing the immersed photosensitive planographic printing plate with a brush member produced by winding, around a peripheral surface of an axially rotating roller, a brushing band composed of a sheet-like substrate containing a hairy material woven therein; and

wherein the alkaline developer further contains at least one compound selected from the group consisting of compounds represented by formula (IA) or formula (IIA) and salts thereof:

wherein R 1 and R 2 each represent a hydrocarbon group having 4 to 30 carbon atoms, and m, n and p each represent an integer of 1 to 10.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the substrate is fabric.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hairy material is natural fiber or artificial fiber, a breadth D of the hairy material is 1 to 10,000 denier/hair, a length of the hairy material is 1 to 35 mm, and a density P of the hairy material formed as a brushing band is 1,000 to 200,000 denier/cm 2 , wherein p=D×number of hairy material per unit area (number/cm 2 ).

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the hairy material is natural fiber or artificial fiber, a breadth D of the hairy material is 1 to 10,000 denier/hair, a length of the hairy material is 1 to 35 mm, and a density P of the hairy material formed as a brushing band is 1,000 to 200,000 denier/cm 2 , wherein P=D×number of hairy material per unit area (number/cm 2 ).

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the relation of the breadth of the hairy material (denier/hair) to the length L (mm) of the hairy material is such that 1≦L≦7.5×(log D+(2/3)).

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the relation of the breadth of the hairy material (denier/hair) to the length L (mm) of the hairy material is such that 1≦L≦7.5×(log D+(2/3)).

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the material of the hairy material is metal fiber, a hair diameter R of the hairy material is from 10 to 200 μm/hair, a length of the hairy material is 1 to 30 mm, and a density P of the hairy material formed as a brushing band is from 0.05 to 7.0 mm 2 /cm 2 , wherein P=sectional area per one hairy material (mm 2 /hair)×number of hairy material per unit area (number/cm 2 ).

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein the material of the hairy material is metal fiber, a hair diameter R of the hairy material is from 10 to 200 μm/hair, a length of the hairy material is 1 to 30 mm, and a density P of the hairy material formed as a brushing band is from 0.05 to 7.0 mm 2 /cm 2 , wherein P=sectional area per one hairy material (mm 2 /hair)×number of hairy material per unit area (number/cm 2 ).

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the relation of the hair diameter R of the hairy material (μm/hair) to the length L (mm) of the hairy material is such that 1≦L≦0.1R+10.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the relation of the hair diameter R of the hairy material (μm/hair) to the length L (mm) of the hairy material is such that 1≦L≦0.1R+10.