Abstract: A locking device for clamping plates, such as printing plates, in place includes a housing. A jaw is in the housing with a plurality of sets of clamp members mounted in the jaw. Each of the clamp members has rounded clamp surfaces. Spacers separate the sets of clamp members from each other. A fixed stop member is located at one end of the jaw and an actuating member is movably mounted at the other end of the jaw. When the actuating member is manipulated to move further into the jaw the spacers press against the clamp members to displace a clamp member of each set into its clamping or locking position with the plate clamped between the inside jaw and a wall of the housing.

Abstract: A capped printing plate making machine is used for making flexographic capped printing plates. The machine includes a pair of troughs for applying two layers of photopolymerizable resin materials simultaneously. The troughs are so designed that actuation of one trough to permit its material to be applied automatically results in the other trough being positioned and opened for the application of its material.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed which will rapidly provide a uniform layer of photopolymerizable material for a printing plate. A regulated flow of liquid photopolymerizable resin is supplied from an external reservoir into a manifold which is approximately C-shaped in cross-section and has one at least partially open side face. A gate is disposed before the open side face of the manifold and this gate is vertically adjustable so that together the gate and open side face define an orifice slot or passageway from which a uniform curtain of the resin may flow onto a platemaking surface. The manifold member has a downward projecting wedge shaped lip which acts as a doctor blade on the liquid resin layer deposited as the manifold is moved across the plate-making surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed which will rapidly provide a uniform layer of photopolymerizable material for a printing plate. A regulated flow of liquid photopolymerizable resin is supplied from an external reservoir into a manifold which is approximately C-shaped in cross-section and has one at least partially open side face. A gate is disposed before the open side face of the manifold and this gate is vertically adjustable so that together the gate and open side face define an orifice slot or passageway from which a uniform curtain of the resin may flow onto a platemaking surface. The manifold member has a downward projecting wedge shaped lip which acts as a doctor blade on the liquid resin layer deposited as the manifold is moved across the plate-making surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed which will rapidly provide uniform layers of two liquid photopolymerizable materials for a capped (i.e., two layer) printing plate. The apparatus comprises a dual manifold which spans the plate-forming area of a surface and which is moved in tandem transversely in order to provide two overlapping layers of liquid photopolymerizable materials.