Abstract: The invention relates to a developer concentrate which comprises water, at least one agent which is alkaline in water and an amphoteric surfactant and additionally at least one anionic surfactant, at least one complexing agent, at least one aminoalcohol and at least one N-alkoxylated mono- or polyfunctional amine. A ready-to-use developer can be prepared from this concentrate by dilution with tap water advantageously in the ratio of from 1:0.5 to 1:10, preferably in the ratio of from 1:2 to 1:6. The developer or the replenisher is preferably used in the production of printing plates.

Abstract: A positive-working, radiation-sensitive recording material capable of being used for the production of planographic printing plates, comprising: an aluminum support and a radiation-sensitive layer coated thereon, whereinthe aluminum support has been grained in nitric acid, then cleaned in sulfuric acid, anodized in sulfuric acid, and subsequently hydrophilized with a compound comprising at least one unit with a phosphonic acid or phosphonate group; andthe radiation-sensitive layer comprisesa) a radiation-sensitive 1,2-naphthoquinone-2-diazide-4- or -5-sulfonic acid ester of a polycondensate having phenolic hydroxy groups, said polycondensate being obtained by reacting a phenolic compound with an aldehyde or ketone,b) a novolak or a polycondensation product obtained by reacting a polyphenol with an aldehyde or ketone, as an alkali-soluble resin,c) a vinyl-type polymer comprising at least one unit having a lateral hydroxyphenyl group,d) a clathrate-forming compound,e) a low-molecular weight compound which compr

Abstract: The invention describes a photopolymerizable recording material which comprises a photopolymerizable layer and a cover layer. The cover layer comprises a polymer which possesses low permeability to atmospheric oxygen and is soluble in water, and a water-soluble dye which absorbs light in the region from 300 to 700 nm and within this range has a non-absorbent region corresponding to the emission range of the copying light source.The material can be sensitized for various spectral regions, for example, for UV light, visible light or laser light and has a higher resolving power than a corresponding material which does not contain a dye in the cover layer, while its photosensitivity remains unchanged or is only slightly reduced.

Abstract: A laser exposure apparatus utilizing a laser, beam divider, modulator, beam expander, beam combiner, polygonal mirror and also a scanner lens, path-folding mirror and a reference mask. The laser beam is divided in the beam divider into a writing beam and a reference beam, both of which are brought together by means of two path-folding mirrors and a beam combiner. The writing beam is then guided through an exposure slit onto a printing form by a path-folding mirror. One additional exposure device is disposed upstream and/or downstream of the exposure slot, and in the direction of conveyance of the printing form. Only one of the additional exposure devices is switched on during operation, so that either a preexposure or an afterexposure is accomplished in addition to the laser main exposure of the printing form.

Abstract: A preexposure device having a linear LED arrangement for preexposing printing forms over their full area. The linear LED arrangement comprises at least two rows of LED modules which are offset with respect to one another. Each module is made up of a plurality of light-emitting diodes. The linear LED arrangement is disposed within a housing which is closed off at the bottom by means of a light scattering plate.

Abstract: An aftertreatment apparatus and method for printing plates which have been imagewise exposed having an exposure station and a heating station which are arranged one behind the other in the direction of conveyance of the printing plates along a conveyance track. The exposure station contains a linear LED arrangement which in turn has at least two rows of LED modules which are offset with respect to one another. The LED modules are made up of a plurality of light-emitting diodes. The housing of the heating station is thermally insulated on three sides and is open at the bottom in the direction of a reflector table over which the printing plates are passed.

Abstract: A photopolymerizable recording material is diclosed comprising a base material, a photopolymerizable layer and a cover layer which comprises a water-soluble polymer which is substantially impermeable to atmospheric oxygen, and a polymer which binds atmospheric oxygen and is virtually completely soluble in water at 20.degree. C. The material displays reduced sensitivity to atmospheric oxygen, even on prolonged storage and at elevated ambient temperatures and elevated atmospheric humidity.

Abstract: A photopolymerizable mixture is described which comprises a polymeric binder, a compound which is polymerizable by free radicals and has at least one polymerizable group and a photoreducible dye and a dicyclopentadienyl bis(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)-titanium or -zirconium as photoinitiator. The mixture is suitable for producing printing plates and photoresists and is distinguished by particularly high photosensitivity, in particular in the visible region of the spectrum, and by very good thermal stability. It can be imaged in particular with laser radiation in the visible region.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a multicolored proof, using a radiation-sensitive recording material which comprises a temporary, sheet-shaped layer support, a thermally transferable layer containing a colorant in one primary color and a radiation-sensitive layer. The process comprises the steps of: a) exposing the recording material imagewise b)developing the exposed layer with an aqueous-alkaline solution to uncover the thermally transferable image areas, and c) contacting the coated side of the recording material with an image receptor and transferring the transferable image areas to the image receptor, with the application of heat and pressure, to produce a partial image in the first primary color. The above-described process steps are repeated at least once, using a radiation-sensitive recording material which contains a colorant in another primary color in its thermally transferable layer.

Abstract: A developer concentrate is described which is used by diluting with tap water to give a read-to-use developer for negative-working exposed reproduction layers on a base. The developer concentrate is a mixture which includes water, an organic solvent, an alkali agent, an anionic surfactant, an n-alkanoic acid and/or its salts, an emulsifier, an alkali-metal salt of an oligomeric phosphate and/or of N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediaminetriacetic acid as complexing agent and also a tris(hydroxyalkyl) aminomethane as buffering substance. The developer concentrate according to the present invention exhibits, in particular, the advantage that it is stable as a concentrate, i.e., exhibits no phase separations, precipitates or turbidities, etc. . . . , and can be diluted without difficulties to produce the ready-to-use developer. The latter is also stable and exhibits optimum developer properties, in particular for reproduction layers with overcoat.

Abstract: A developer concentrate is described which is used by diluting with tap water to give a ready-to-use developer for negative-working exposed reproduction layers on a base. The developer concentrate is a mixture which includes water, an organic solvent, an alkali agent, an anionic surfactant, an n-alkanoic acid and/or its salts, an emulsifier, a buffering substance and, as a complexing agent, an alkali-metal salt of an oligomeric phosphate and/or of N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamino-triacetic acid. The developer concentrate according to the present invention exhibits, in particular, the advantage that it is stable as a concentrate, i.e, exhibits no phase separations, precipitates or turbidities, etc., and can be diluted without difficulties to produce the ready-to-use developer. The latter is also stable and exhibits optimum developer properties.

Abstract: An aftertreatment apparatus, for printing plates which have been exposed imagewise comprises an exposure station and a heat station which are disposed one behind the other in the direction of conveyance of the printing plates along a conveyor track through the aftertreatment apparatus. The exposure station contains a regulable radiation source for the total area exposure of the printing plates. The housing of the exposure station has an exposure aperture 13 which faces downwardly and which is covered by a filter disc. The housing of the heat station is thermally insulated at three sides and is open downwards in the direction of a reflector table across which the printing plates are fed.

Abstract: A photopolymerizable mixture is described, which contains a polymeric binder; an acrylate or alkacrylate of a polyhydric alcohol possessing at least one photooxidizable group; a compound or a combination of compounds being capable of initiating the polymerization of the ester under the action of light in the spectral region of 450 nm to 650 nm; and at least one compound which absorbs light in the region below 450 nm or which upon exposure forms a compound absorbing light in said region, whereby the optical density of the exposed mixture in this region is at least 2.0 at a layer thickness of 2 .mu.m. The mixture is useful for the production of masters or intermediate masters for reprographic layers being sensitive to light in the UV region, exposure of the mixture itself being performed with visible light.

Abstract: A photopolymerizable mixture is disclosed that comprises,a) a polymeric binder,b) an acrylate or alkacrylate of a polyhydric alcohol containing one or more urea groups and one or more urethane groups,c) a photoreducible dye as photoinitiator,d) a trihalomethyl compound which can be cleaved by irradiation, ande) an acridine or phenazine compound which is active as a photoinitiator.The mixture is suitable for the production of printing plates and photoresists and is distinguished by an increased shelf life.

Abstract: A radiation-polymerizable mixture is described which comprisesa) a saturated polyurethane containing carboxyl groups and repeating urea groups as binder,b) a radical-polymerizable compound containing at least one terminal olefinic double bond and having a boiling point above 100.degree. C. at normal pressure, andc) a compound or combination of compounds capable of initiating the polymerization of compound (b) on exposure to actinic radiation.The mixture can be developed with purely aqueous developers and yields lithographic printing plates with high photosensitivity, low stickiness and high print runs.

Abstract: A photopolymerizable mixture is described which comprises a polymeric binder, a free-radically polymerizable compound having at least one polymerizable group, a photoreducible dye, a trihalomethyl compound which can be cleaved by radiation and a metallocene compound as photoinitiators. The mixture is suitable for use in the production of printing plates and photoresists and is characterized by a particularly high photosensitivity, especially in the visible spectral region. The mixture can therefore be used for the production of images, in particular by means of laser radiation in the visible region.

Abstract: A negative-working radiation-sensitive mixture comprising a binder and a polymer containing 1,2,3-thiadiazole groups is disclosed. The binder is a polyfunctional compound having functional groups that react with ketene. The polymer is a compound obtained by polymerization of a compound of the general formula I ##STR1## in which R is a polymerizable group. If the polymer is a copolymer containing comonomers having functional groups capable of reacting with ketene, the binder can be omitted. The negative-working radiation-sensitive mixture is particularly suitable for UV, electron beam and X-ray lithography.