Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of sheet feed units each for feeding a sheet, a single pair of registration rollers provided at the upstream side of the image formation site where an image is formed on the sheet with respect to the direction of sheet conveyance, for conveying the sheet in accordance with the timing of forming the image on the sheet, and a plurality pair of loop forming rollers provided in correspondence with the plurality of sheet feed units respectively at the upstream side of the pair of registration rollers with respect to the direction of sheet conveyance. Each of the plurality pair of loop forming rollers is controlled in a manner such that a loop is formed between each of the plurality pair of loop forming rollers and the pair of registration rollers.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a process and apparatus for developing photopolymer plates which are useful for flexographic printing on account of their rubber-like elasticity, capability for development by water washing, and good ink resistance. The process and apparatus are designed to circulate by force the washout solution during the development operation in order to minimize the aggregation of photopolymer particles suspending in the washout solution and to completely catch scum which occurs when the unexposed part of the polymer plate is rubbed off in the washout solution.