IMAGING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MAKING FLEXOGRAPHIC PRINTING MASTERS
A method for making a flexographic printing master includes a first step of providing a flexographic printing support; a second step of applying image wise with a first resolution a layer of a radiation curable liquid partially covering the printing side of the support; a third step of flood exposing the applied radiation curable layer to fully cure the layer; and a fourth step of image wise laser engraving the cured layer with a second resolution which is higher than the resolution of the second step. An imaging apparatus can perform the above method.
1 - 15 . (canceled)
16 . A method for making a flexographic printing master comprising:
a first step of providing a flexographic printing support;
a second step of applying image-wise, at a first resolution, a layer of a radiation curable liquid partially covering a printing side of the flexographic printing support;
a third step of flood exposing the layer of radiation curable liquid to fully cure the layer of the radiation curable liquid; and
a fourth step of image-wise laser engraving the cured layer of the radiation curable liquid at a second resolution which is higher than the first resolution.
17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the radiation curable liquid is applied in the second step by spraying or inkjet printing.
18 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the flexographic printing support includes an elastomeric floor.
19 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the flexographic printing support includes an elastomeric floor.
20 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the flexographic printing support is a sleeve.
21 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the flexographic printing support is a sleeve.
22 . The method according to claim 19 , wherein the flexographic printing support is a sleeve.
23 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the second step is performed at least twice.
24 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the second step is performed at least twice.
25 . The method according to claim 23 , wherein different compositions of the radiation curable liquid are used when performing the second step at least twice.
26 . The method according to claim 24 , wherein different compositions of the radiation curable liquid are used when performing the second step at least twice.
27 . The method according to claim 23 , further comprising an intermediate step of curing the radiation curable liquid before performing the second step again.
28 . The method according to claim 24 , further comprising an intermediate step of curing the radiation curable liquid before performing the second step again.
29 . The method according to claim 25 , further comprising an intermediate step of curing the radiation curable liquid before performing the second step again.
30 . The method according to claim 26 , further comprising an intermediate step of curing the radiation curable liquid before performing the second step again.
31 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the flexographic printing support has a different color than the cured layer of the radiation curable liquid.
32 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the flexographic printing support has a different color than the cured layer of the radiation curable liquid.
33 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the first through fourth steps are performed on a flexographic printing press.
34 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein the first through fourth steps are performed on a flexographic printing press.
35 . An imaging apparatus for making a flexographic printing master, the apparatus comprising:
a device to image-wise spray or inkjet print a radiation curable liquid onto a flexographic printing support;
a device to cure the radiation curable liquid; and
a device to image-wise laser engrave the cured radiation curable liquid.
36 . The imaging apparatus according to claim 35 , further comprising a drum arranged to hold the flexographic printing support.
37 . The imaging apparatus according to claim 35 , wherein the device to cure the radiation curable liquid includes a plurality of UV light emitting diodes.
38 . The imaging apparatus according to claim 35 , further comprising an oxygen depletion unit.
39 . A flexographic printing press comprising:
the imaging apparatus according to claim 35 .
40 . A method of enhancing a resolution of a flexographic printing master comprising the steps of:
image-wise inkjet printing a radiation curable liquid on a flexographic printing support to produce a flexographic printing master; and
image-wise laser engraving the radiation curable liquid.