Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to signal encoding for flexographic printing plates. One aspect is a flexographic, photopolymer printing plate having transparent layers to allow encoded signal printed or laser ablated thereon to be detectable from both sides of the printing plate. Another aspect is a flexographic, photopolymer printing plate having an encoded signal formed in a photocured layer. Still another aspect is a system for tracking such printing plates, including managing location, print impression count, location tracking, etc. Other aspects are described as well.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method configured for curing non-reactive photopolymer collected by an absorbent blotting material during thermal processing of flexographic printing elements. Uncured non-reacted portions of the photopolymer are removed by contacting the one or more layers of photopolymer with the web of absorbent blotting material at an elevated temperature to soften or liquefy the uncured non-reacted portions of the one or more layers of photopolymer and absorb the softened or liquefied uncured non-reacted portions into the absorbent web of absorbent blotting material. The web of absorbent blotter material containing the absorbed softened or liquefied non-reacted portions of the photopolymer is exposed to actinic radiation from the one or more UV light sources to crosslink and cure the softened or liquefied non-reacted portions of the photopolymer.

Abstract: A method of producing a photocured structure comprising a backing layer for coupling to a relief image printing plate or as an integral all-in-one structure comprising a backing layer and a relief image printing layer. The photocured structure may be formed using a continuous liquid interphase method or three-dimensional plating to selectively crosslink and cure a photocurable composition. The backing layer may comprise a lattice or series of openings of the lattice where the placement and density of the openings is controlled.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method configured for curing non-reactive photopolymer collected by an absorbent blotting material during thermal processing of flexographic printing elements. Uncured non-reacted portions of the photopolymer are removed by contacting the one or more layers of photopolymer with the web of absorbent blotting material at an elevated temperature to soften or liquefy the uncured non-reacted portions of the one or more layers of photopolymer and absorb the softened or liquefied uncured non-reacted portions into the absorbent web of absorbent blotting material. The web of absorbent blotter material containing the absorbed softened or liquefied non-reacted portions of the photopolymer is exposed to actinic radiation from the one or more UV light sources to crosslink and cure the softened or liquefied non-reacted portions of the photopolymer.

Abstract: A method of producing a granulated product from photopolymer printing plate materials. The method includes the steps of (a) sorting the photopolymer printing plate materials based on an identifiable property, wherein the photopolymer printing plate materials comprise one or more photopolymer layers; (b) grinding the photopolymer printing plate materials to particles; and (c) screening the particles to remove particles above a certain size and create the granulated product.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a thermal developing assembly that is configured to reduce (or eliminate) the reactivity of contaminants and/or unreacted photosensitive material associated with forming a relief image on a photosensitive printing element during thermal development. The thermal developing assembly is configured to reduce (or eliminate) the reactivity of a byproduct associated with forming a relief image on a photosensitive printing element, the byproduct including but not limited to, contaminants within vapors (e.g., fumes), contaminants within condensate, unreacted photosensitive material, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to signal encoding for flexographic printing plates. One aspect is a flexographic, photopolymer printing plate having transparent layers to allow encoded signal printed or laser ablated thereon to be detectable from both sides of the printing plate. Another aspect is a flexographic, photopolymer printing plate having an encoded signal formed in a photocured layer. Still another aspect is a system for tracking such printing plates, including managing location, print impression count, location tracking, etc. Other aspects are described as well.

Abstract: A method of producing a photocured structure comprising a backing layer for coupling to a relief image printing plate or as an integral all-in-one structure comprising a backing layer and a relief image printing layer. The photocured structure may be formed using a continuous liquid interphase method or three-dimensional plating to selectively crosslink and cure a photocurable composition. The backing layer may comprise a lattice or series of openings of the lattice where the placement and density of the openings is controlled.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a thermal developing assembly that is configured to reduce (or eliminate) the reactivity of contaminants and/or unreacted photosensitive material associated with forming a relief image on a photosensitive printing element during thermal development. The thermal developing assembly is configured to reduce (or eliminate) the reactivity of a byproduct associated with forming a relief image on a photosensitive printing element, the byproduct including but not limited to, contaminants within vapors (e.g., fumes), contaminants within condensate, unreacted photosensitive material, and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method of producing a relief image or mold from a liquid photopolymer resin, said method comprising the steps of: a) placing an image film onto an exposure glass; b) placing a cover film over the image film and drawing a vacuum c) placing substrate material on a bottom glass d) casting a liquid photopolymer resin layer onto the substrate material; d) laminating a flexible polyester sheet onto a backside of the liquid photopolymer resin layer as the liquid photopolymer resin layer is being cast onto the substrate material; and e) exposing the liquid photopolymer resin layer through the image film to selectively crosslink and cure the photopolymerizable resin layer and form a cured relief image, wherein said depth of the cured relief image is less than the height of the cast liquid photopolymerizable resin.

Abstract: A method of producing a flexographic printing plate using a continuous liquid interphase is provided herein. This method allows for significantly reduced production times and fewer preparation steps compared to standard non-continuous techniques and results in less waste than typical methods for preparing flexographic printing plates. The printing plate provided by using continuous liquid interphase production results in a printing plate with desirable elastomeric elongation, desirable hardness, plate thickness in the range of 0.030 inches to 0.250 inches, and comprises printing dots with desirable characteristics.

Abstract: A method of producing a flexographic printing plate using a continuous liquid interphase is provided herein. This method allows for significantly reduced production times and fewer preparation steps compared to standard non-continuous techniques and results in less waste than typical methods for preparing flexographic printing plates. The printing plate provided by using continuous liquid interphase production results in a printing plate with desirable elastomeric elongation, desirable hardness, plate thickness in the range of 0.030 inches to 0.250 inches, and comprises printing dots with desirable characteristics.

Abstract: A method of selectively exposing a liquid photopolymer printing blank to actinic radiation to create a relief image printing plate and a liquid platemaking exposure system. The method includes: (1) positioning a programmable screen programmed with an image file of a desired image between the top glass and an upper source of actinic radiation; (2) exposing the layer of liquid photopolymer to actinic radiation from the upper source of actinic radiation through the programmable screen to crosslink and cure at least a portion of the liquid photopolymer adjacent to the backing sheet and create a floor layer therein; and (3) imagewise exposing the layer of liquid photopolymer to actinic radiation from a lower source of actinic radiation through a negative of the relief image to crosslink and cure selective portions of the liquid photopolymer on the floor layer and create the relief image therein.

Abstract: A method of producing a flexographic printing plate using a continuous liquid interphase is provided herein. This method allows for significantly reduced production times and fewer preparation steps compared to standard non-continuous techniques and results in less waste than typical methods for preparing flexographic printing plates. The printing plate provided by using continuous liquid interphase production results in a printing plate with desirable elastomeric elongation, desirable hardness, plate thickness in the range of 0.030 inches to 0.250 inches, and comprises printing dots with desirable characteristics.

Abstract: A method of producing a relief image or mold from a liquid photopolymer resin, said method comprising the steps of: a) placing an image film onto an exposure glass; b) placing a cover film over the image film and drawing a vacuum c) placing substrate material on a bottom glass d) casting a liquid photopolymer resin layer onto the substrate material; d) laminating a flexible polyester sheet onto a backside of the liquid photopolymer resin layer as the liquid photopolymer resin layer is being cast onto the substrate material; and e) exposing the liquid photopolymer resin layer through the image film to selectively crosslink and cure the photopolymerizable resin layer and form a cured relief image, wherein said depth of the cured relief image is less than the height of the cast liquid photopolymerizable resin.

Abstract: A method of creating a custom relief image printing element from at least one raw photocurable material and at least one lamination layer supplied by a manufacturer is described. The manufacturer provides a menu of raw photocurable materials and a menu of lamination layers and wherein the customer selects at least one raw photocurable material from the menu of raw photocurable materials and selects at least one lamination layer from the menu of lamination layers. The method includes the steps of: a) laminating the selected at least one raw photocurable material to the selected at least one lamination layer at a customer's location to create a photocurable printing blank; and thereafter b) imagewise exposing the at least one photocurable printing blank to actinic radiation at the customer's location to crosslink and cure portions of the at least one photocurable material and create a relief image therein. A lamination system is also described.

Abstract: A method of making a relief image printing element from a photosensitive printing blank is provided. A photosensitive printing blank with a laser ablatable layer disposed on at least one photocurable layer is ablated with a laser to create an in situ mask. The printing blank is then exposed to at least one source of actinic radiation through the in situ mask to selectively cross link and cure portions of the photo curable layer. Diffusion of oxygen into the at least one photocurable layer is limited during the exposing step and preferably at least one of the type, power and incident angle of illumination of the at least one source of actinic radiation is altered during the exposure step. The resulting relief image comprises dots and a dot shape that provide optimal print performance on various substrates, including corrugated board.

Abstract: A method of making a relief image printing element from a photosensitive printing blank is provided. A photosensitive printing blank with a laser ablatable layer disposed on at least one photocurable layer is ablated with a laser to create an in situ mask. The printing blank is then exposed to at least one source of actinic radiation through the in situ mask to selectively cross link and cure portions of the photocurable layer. Diffusion of air into the at least one photocurable layer is limited during the exposing step and preferably at least one of the type, power and incident angle of illumination of the at least one source of actinic radiation is altered during the exposure step. The resulting relief image comprises a plurality of dots and a dot shape of the plurality of dots that provide optimal print performance on various substrates, including corrugated board.

Abstract: A method of producing a flexographic printing plate using a continuous liquid interphase is provided herein. This method allows for significantly reduced production times and fewer preparation steps compared to standard non-continuous techniques and results in less waste than typical methods for preparing flexographic printing plates. The printing plate provided by using continuous liquid interphase production results in a printing plate with desirable elastomeric elongation, desirable hardness, plate thickness in the range of 0.030 inches to 0.250 inches, and comprises printing dots with desirable characteristics.

Abstract: A carrier sheet for providing support to a photocurable printing blank as the photocurable printing blank is conveyed through a plurality of laminating rollers that laminate an oxygen barrier layer to a top surface of the photocurable printing blank. The carrier sheet includes a heat resistant dimensionally-stable backing layer; and a resilient layer mounted on the heat resistant dimensionally-stable backing layer.