Method for preparing a printing form using vibrational energy

1. A method for preparing a relief printing form from a photosensitive element having an exterior surface and comprising a layer of a photopolymerizable composition capable of being partially liquefied, comprising the steps of:

(a) heating the exterior surface of the photosensitive element to a temperature sufficient to cause a portion of the layer to liquefy, forming liquefied material; and

(b) removing at least a portion of the liquefied material; wherein the heating step is performed using vibrational energy to induce frictional heating, the vibrational energy being generated from a vibrational assembly comprising a vibrating horn coupled to a transducer, the vibrating horn supporting a development medium into contact with the exterior surface of the photosensitive element, and wherein the removing step comprises separating the development medium from the photosensitive element.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the vibrational energy has a frequency between 20 hertz and 100 kilohertz.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing movement between the vibrating assembly and the photosensitive element.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the vibrating horn induces frictional heating of at least a portion of the photopolymerizable layer at a first zone of contact.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising traversing the vibrating horn from the first zone of contact to one or more additional zones of contact.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the vibrating horn directly or indirectly contacts the exterior surface at a first contact zone to provide the frictional heating at a first set of conditions comprising an amplitude of the vibrational energy, a time of contact between the vibrating horn and the exterior surface, and a pressure of the vibrating horn on the exterior surface.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising changing the frictional energy induced at the first contact zone by changing one or more of the conditions of the first set of conditions.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the vibrating horn contacts at one or more additional contact zones, and the frictional energy induced at each of the one or more contact zones can be the same or different as the frictional energy induced at the first contact zone.

9. The method of claim 6 further comprising changing the frictional energy by changing one or more of the conditions selected from the group consisting of the amplitude, the contact time, and the pressure.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising repeating the steps of heating and removing at least once more.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing additional heating of the exterior surface selected from the group consisting of conduction, convection, and radiation.