Apparatus for thermal processing of flexographic printing elements

1. An apparatus for thermally processing a relief image printing element, wherein the relief image printing element comprises at least one photopolymer layer, and wherein the relief image printing element is selectively exposed to actinic radiation to crosslink portions of the at least one photopolymer layer, while portions of the at least one photopolymer layer are not exposed to actinic radiation and are not crosslinked, the apparatus comprising:

a) means for supporting the relief image printing element;

b) heating means for melting or softening non-crosslinked portions of the at least one photopolymer layer;

c) at least one rotatable roll that is capable of bringing a blotting material into contact with the at least one photopolymer layer to remove the melted or softened non-crosslinked portions of the at least one photopolymer layer, wherein a nip is formed between the means for supporting the relief image printing element and the at least one rotatable roll, wherein as the at least one rotatable roll rotates against the printing element, melted or softened non-crosslinked portions of the at least one photopolymer layer are transferred from the printing element to the blotting material;

d) a scraping means arranged adjacent to the at least one rotatable roll, for removing non-crosslinked photopolymer remaining on a surface of the at least one rotatable roll after step a).

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the blotting material is supplied to the at least one rotatable roll from a supply roll of the blotting material, wherein the blotting material is fed from the supply roll and around an outer surface of the at least one rotatable roll, wherein the blotting material initially contacts the at least one rotatable roll at a point prior to the nip and separates from the at least one rotatable roll at a point after the nip.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a take-up roll, wherein the blotting material containing melted or softened non-crosslinked portions of the at least one photopolymer layer is rewound for disposal.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the scraping means is arranged at a point after the blotting material separates from the at least one rotatable roll and before a point where the blotting material initially contacts the at least one rotatable roll.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the heating means for melting or softening non-crosslinked portions of the at least one photopolymer layer comprises a supplemental heater arranged adjacent to the at least one rotatable roll.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one rotatable roll is maintained at a temperature of between about 120 and about 200° C.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the scraping means comprises a doctor blade.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the doctor blade is removably coupled to a blade holder, and wherein the blade holder supports the doctor blade to position a leading edge of the doctor blade to contact the surface of the at least one rotatable roll.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the doctor blade is arranged at an angle of less than about 90° relative to the at least one rotatable roll.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the blotting material is selected from the group consisting of screen mesh, woven fabric, non-woven fabric, and paper.

11. An apparatus for thermally processing a relief image printing element, wherein the relief image printing element comprises at least one photopolymer layer, and wherein the relief image printing element is selectively exposed to actinic radiation to crosslink portions of the at least one photopolymer layer, while portions of the at least one photopolymer layer are not exposed to actinic radiation and are not crosslinked, the apparatus comprising:

a) means for supporting the relief image printing element;

b) heating means for melting or softening non-crosslinked portions of the at least one photopolymer layer;

c) at least one rotatable roll arranged adjacent to the means for support the relief image printing element to remove melted or softened non-crosslinked portions of the at least one photopolymer layer, wherein a nip is formed between the means for supporting the relief image printing element and the at least one rotatable roll, wherein as the at least one rotatable roll rotates against the relief image printing element, melted or softened non-crosslinked portions of the at least one photopolymer layer are transferred from the relief image printing element to a surface of the at least one rotatable roll;

d) a scraping means, arranged adjacent to the at least one rotatable roll at a point after the nip, for scraping the transferred melted or softened non-crosslinked portions of the at least one photopolymer layer from the surface of the at least one rotatable roll; and

e) a waste container arranged to contain the non-crosslinked photopolymer scraped from the surface of the at least one rotatable roll.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one rotatable roll is maintained at a temperature of between about 120 and about 200° C.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11 , further comprising a supplemental heater arranged adjacent to the conveyor and the hot roll to further soften non-crosslinked portions of the at least one photopolymer layer.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the scraping means comprises a doctor blade.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the doctor blade is removably coupled to a blade holder, and wherein the blade holder supports the doctor blade to position a leading edge of the doctor blade to contact the surface of the at least one rotatable roll.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the doctor blade is arranged at an angle of less than about 90° relative to the at least one roll.