Abstract: An apparatus and method for facilitated automatic washing and rinsing of previously used lithographic plate members having substantially flat central portions and pre-formed parallel flanged peripheral edges which comprises removing one or more used plates from a press plate drum, placing the plate on a feed fixture, longitudinally propelling the plate member, applying one or more cleaning solvents to the surface of the plates, scrubbing the surfaces of the plates, rinsing the surfaces thereof with one or more solvents, removing of excess rinse liquids from the surfaces of the plates, sealing the surfaces with a water soluble preserving substance and storing of the plate members until reuse thereof, while accommodating and preserving the peripheral pre-formed flanges of the lithographic plates as they pass through the apparatus, and recycling the cleaning solvent.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for facilitated automatic washing and rinsing of previously used lithographic plate members having substantially flat central portions and pre-formed parallel flanged peripheral edges which comprises removing one or more used plates from a press plate drum, placing the plate on a feed fixture, longitudinally propelling the plate member, applying one or more cleaning solvents to the surface of the plates, scrubbing the surfaces of the plates, rinsing the surfaces thereof with one or more solvents, removing of excess rinse liquids from the surfaces of the plates, sealing the surfaces with a water soluable preserving substance and storing of the plate members until reuse thereof, while accommodating and preserving the peripheral pre-formed flanges of the lithographic plates as they pass through the apparatus, and recycling the cleaning solvent.