Abstract: In one example, a printing process includes: forming a first latent image on a photoconductor (24); applying a first LEP ink (30) to the photoconductor to develop the first latent image into a first ink image; forming a second latent image having a first part on the first ink image and a second part on the photoconductor; and applying a second LEP ink (32, 34, 36) to the first ink image and to the photoconductor to develop the second latent image into a second ink image and form a composite on the photoconductor in which some of the second ink image overlaps some of the first ink image.

Abstract: A processing apparatus for a lithographic printing plate, which has a photosensitive material coated thereon and has an image formed with an FM screen or a high definition AM screen, by a developing part and a rinsing part in this order, in which a concavo-convex part or grooves are provided on a lower roller of a pair of feeding roller at a feeding port of the rinsing part.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photosensitive material processing apparatus in which a photosensitive material is processed with a processing solution. Reliable liquid displacement in the vicinity of the surface of a photosensitive material, and uniform temperature adjustment can be performed. Also, damage or a transport deficiency, caused by a corner of the material coming into a through hole when a conveyance path of the photosensitive material is formed can be prevented. When pre-washing processing is carried out prior to development processing using a developer, processing unevenness in which an overcoat layer partially remains can be prevented. An operation of mounting and removing conveyance rollers disposed in a pair is facilitated and a proper nipping force can be imparted between a conveyance roller pair. Mounting of a replenisher case filled with a replenisher is facilitated and a replenisher is kept from remaining in piping or in a replenisher case.

Abstract: The invention relates to the application of a uniform film of a fluid to the surface of a flat workpiece as it is being conveyed through a workstation. The invention is specifically directed to the development of lithographic printing plates and comprises the application of the thin film of developer solution to each plate in a controlled manner using a wire-wound coating device and a unique manner of metering and feeding fresh fluid to the wire-wound device. Specifically, the fluid is gently fed onto the wire-wound device by simple volumetric displacement and overflow from the inside of a hollow tube onto the wire and the flow is controlled by sensing the beginning and end of each workpiece or plate. The hollow tube may be the wire-wound component or it may be a tube mounted above the wire-wound component. The spent developer is rinsed and sent to waste. According to the invention, only fresh developer solution is applied at a uniform film thickness, thereby achieving uniform image development.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a method and apparatus for efficiently processing workpieces which are developed using a liquid developer. According to the invention a first set of workpieces is obtained from an imaging station, a second set of workpieces is obtained from a workpiece collection device, and the workpieces from the first and second sets are aligned in a contiguous arrangement, with the workpieces from the first set preferably being interspersed with those from the second set. Developer is then applied to the group of contiguous workpleces, thereby reducing the amount of overrun or overspray of developer that would otherwise result from individual processing of workpieces. The invention is particularly well-suited for use in preparing lithographic printing plates.

Abstract: A developer unit for a wet-type color image forming apparatus. The developer unit includes a developer bath filled with a liquid developing agent to a predetermined depth, and a developing roller that develops an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoreceptor to correspond to an original image by supplying the liquid developing agent while being partially immersed in the liquid developing agent. The developer unit further includes a cleaning roller that cleans the surface of the developing roller, a depositing roller that deposits the liquid developing agent onto the cleaned surface of the developing roller, and a metering roller that adjusts the thickness and concentration of the liquid developing agent deposited onto the surface of the developing roller by the depositing roller to suitable levels to develop the electrostatic latent image. The developer unit also includes a developer cartridge that supplies the liquid developing agent into the developer bath.

Abstract: The invention relates to the application of a uniform film of a fluid to the surface of a flat workpiece as it is being conveyed through a workstation. The invention is specifically directed to the development of lithographic printing plates and comprises the application of the thin film of developer solution to each plate in a controlled manner using a wire-wound coating device and a unique manner of metering and feeding fresh fluid to the wire-wound device. Specifically, the fluid is gently fed onto the wire-wound device by simple volumetric displacement and overflow from the inside of a hollow tube onto the wire and the flow is controlled by sensing the beginning and end of each workpiece or plate. The hollow tube may be the wire-wound component or it may be a tube mounted above the wire-wound component.

Abstract: A method of processing material in which the material is held on the outside periphery of a drum and processing solution is applied at least twice to the sensitized surface of the material as the drum rotates. The total volume of solution applied is less than 300 ml/sqm of material being processed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing identification (ID) cards using a photosensitive imaging system employing microcapsules is described. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, ID cards are produced by translating an image containing identifying indicia into a latent image on an appropriate photosensitive donor sheet, pressure developing the latent image, forming a full color print of the image on a developer sheet, laminating an ID card substrate in registration with the image to the developer sheet and die cutting the laminated article to produce an ID card. Self-contained imaging systems can also be used to produce identification cards. The image preferably includes unique information useful in identifying the card holder such as a photograph, fingerprint, signature, description, name, etc. The identifying indicia may be combined with non-variable information including background printing, card issuer data, logos, security features, etc.

Abstract: The method and apparatus supplies processing solution directly to the surface of a web of sensitized material by means of a movable applicator. The web and applicator are moved relative to each other to enable good mixing of the solution on the surface. The movable applicators can be moved in and out of contact with the material as required so that the process can be varied.

Abstract: A wax coating device for a wet type electrophotographic color printer is capable of preventing the coating operation when printed matter is not supposed to be wax-coated. The wax coating device includes: a coating roller rotatably disposed so as to be partially immersed in the wax of a wax tank; a pressing roller disposed so as to be in tight contact with the coating roller for pressing the printed matter passing between the pressing and coating rollers against the coating roller; a pressing roller spacer for permitting the printed matter to pass between the pressing and coating rollers by spacing the pressing roller apart from the coating roller; and a coating prevention section for preventing contact of printed matter with the coating roller when the printed matter passes between the spaced pressing and coating rollers by being selectively advanced between and withdrawn from the pressing and coating rollers in accordance with the operation of the pressing roller spacer.

Abstract: Photosensitive material which is a silver halide photosensitive material optimally used for copies of a color film original and the like is coated with developing solution from the nozzle holes of a spray tank. A chamber provided with an internal cavity is disposed on the opposite side of the transporting path to the spray tank with the transporting path sandwiched therebetween. The upper portion of the chamber is covered with a heating plate. The heating plate is pierced with a plurality of suction holes which penetrate from the inside of the chamber to the outside thereof. The unexposed surface of the photosensitive material is suctioned through the suction holes and the heating plate heats the photosensitive material as well as guides the photosensitive material. Downstream of the heating plate on the photosensitive material transporting path D, transporting rollers are disposed for transporting the photosensitive material and for squeezing out developing solution from the photosensitive material.

Abstract: An automatic processor for a silver halide light sensitive photographic material is disclosed. The automatic processor comprises at least two reservoirs storing partial processing compositions separately, and a supply means to supply each of said partial compositions to said silver halide light-sensitive photographic material after mixing said partial compositions.

Abstract: Photographic processing apparatus comprises a combination of a surface processing stage and a replenishable tank processing stage. This allows advantage to be taken of the low quantities of processing solution that are characteristic of surface processing and the total immersion that is characteristic of tank processing.

Abstract: Photographic material is processed in a sequence of stages by the application of solution to an upper surface thereof as the material is carried on endless belts beneath respective coated roller arrangements. Each roller arrangement is movably mounted in a slot so that the point along the stage at which the solution is applied to the photographic material can be varied, thereby to vary the time for which the material is subject to the processing treatment.

Abstract: According to the invention, only the surface where washing is necessary can be washed with a simple configuration, and a high humidity adhesion property of the heat developing photosensitive material after the heat developing processing can be eliminated regardless of the degree of the humidity. A pair of guiding rollers are provided above a water washing roller. The guiding rollers are provided such that the lowermost points are below the uppermost point of the water washing roller. The water washing roller rotates while rubbing the lower surface of a film. Washing water is taken out toward the transported film by the water washing roller by the high speed rotation thereof (400 rpm) so as to form a flow on the upstream side with respect to the contacting portion with the film at the uppermost point.

Abstract: A method for processing a photographic material can be carried out by surface application. A device for processing a silver halide photographic material comprises a means for measuring the surface temperature of the material. This device affords more efficient and more reproducible processing.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material, the apparatus having plural processes of at least a developing process, a bleaching process and a fixing process, comprises a supplying device to supply a processing solution to a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material in at least one process of the plural processes, whereby a point of the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is supplied with the processing solution during a supplying time, wherein the point of the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is processed during a processing time in the process and the supplying time is not longer than 70% of the processing time; and a heater to heat the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material in such a manner that a surface temperature of the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material when the silver halide photographic light-sensitive material is supplied with the processing solution by the supplying device is 40.degree.

Abstract: A printing plate processor for processing a printing plate having a substrate, a hydrophilic layer over the substrate and a processable ink-receiving layer over the hydrophilic layer includes a structure for receiving processing fluid and a roller partially submerged in the processing fluid. The roller is rotated so that processing fluid coats the roller and is carried by surface tension around the roller, and the printing plate is moved into a processing region with the rotating roller but spaced from the roller a distance selected so that the turbulence of the processing fluid engaging the ink-receiving layer causes portions of the ink-receiving layer to be removed by the processing fluid carried on the roller.

Abstract: A method for photographic processing of an exposed photosensitive film wherein a plurality of photographic processing elements comprising a carrier layer and a photographic processing layer containing photographic processing material are brought into contact, consecutively, with the exposed photosensitive film whereby a visible image is formed in the film. Each photographic processing element is initially brought into contact with the photosensitive film with the application of pressure and the processing element and the film are allowed to remain in contact with each other for a required period of time, during which at least one, and preferably a plurality of, additional pressure applications are carried out.

Abstract: A light-tight, temperature controlled system, controlled by a controller, for processing a photographic film housed in a film cartridge detachably secured upon a spool caddy having a plurality of processing spools mounted thereon, includes: means for rotating a spiral shaped wall about a rotational axis, the spool caddy being detachably mounted upon the rotating means in a predetermined positional alignment; means for combining an emulsion side of the film with processing webs from the processing spools along the spiral shaped wall for preset dwell times by sequentially in a preset order removing and replacing each of the processing spools and the film cartridge from and to the spool caddy, unwinding and rewinding the processing webs from and to the processing spools, and unwinding and rewinding the film from and to the film cartridge; and means for securing the processing spools and the film cartridge along a channel formed by the spiral shaped wall while the emulsion side of the film is being sequentially c

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus of applying a solution of a predetermined viscosity to photosensitive material to form a protective coating on the photosensitive material. The method and apparatus can be used in a photographic processing device, and the apparatus can be built into an existing or new photographic processor or added on as an accessory. The method and apparatus is utilized to apply a viscous solution to at least one surface of processed photosensitize materials prior to drying in a manner that allows the solution to be uniformly applied to the at least one surface at a specific layer thickness. The viscous solution after drying functions as a protective coating which can protect the processed photosensitize material against scratches and moisture.

Abstract: The apparatus for coating a photosensitive material (M) with a processing liquid comprises an activator coating mechanism (43) for metering a constant amount of activator to apply the metered activator to the photosensitive surface of the photosensitive material fed by the pair of introduction rollers. The activator is supplied form a plurality of discharge holes (121) bored in a pipe (122) and is once received by a receiving portion (124). The activator is diffused horizontally and flows downwardly through a plurality of openings (123) bored at the bottom of the receiving portion onto a coating roller (125). The activator is diffused again at the contact between the coating roller and a diffusion film (126) and is coated to the photosensitive material by the coating roller.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a coating apparatus having a removable coating module for applying a protective coating to at least one surface of a photosensitive material. The coating apparatus can be a stand-alone unit and can be added to an existing or new photographic processor. The coating product can be a solution having a predetermined viscosity which is applied to at least one surface of the photosensitive material prior to drying in a manner that allows the solution to be uniformly applied to the at least one surface at a specific layer thickness. The viscous solution after drying functions as a protective coating which can protect the processed photosensitive material against scratches and moisture. The removable coating module facilitates maintenance and cleaning after the viscous solution has been consumed.

Abstract: A method for processing a photosensitive material characterized in that an exposed photosensitive material is subjected to dip coating with a processing solution, according to which there are no problems encountered in plate making by the conventional dip developing method and coating developing method, rapid processing can be attained, maintenance is easy, less waste processing solution is produced, and lithographic printing plates on which uniform print images can be formed from the top end portion thereof by silver complex diffusion transfer process, and an apparatus used for the processing.

Abstract: Described herein is processing apparatus in which processing solution can be applied in precise quantities to the sensitive surface of a photographic material. The apparatus includes at least one processing stage in which an endless belt is utilized to support the material and to guide it through the processing stage. Applicator devices are positioned above the surface of the belt for applying processing solution to the material. The applicator device can include an upper roller and two lower rollers confined in a cage, with the upper roller forcing the lower rollers apart inside the cage. A metering means is positioned to allow processing solution to flow onto the upper roller and then down onto lower rollers, with the lower rollers (44, 46) applying processing solution to the material.

Abstract: Processing with a particularly economical use of chemicals is achieved with a device for the wet-chemical processing of a photographic material, in which at least one processing stage comprises a rack having a plurality of rotatable rollers which are in contact with the layer surface of the material, at least one roller being encased over 30.degree. to 300.degree. of its circumference in such a manner that processing fluid located in the space between the roller and the casing cannot fully escape.

Abstract: A film cleaning apparatus has a container (32) in which a film (22) is exposed to mercury. This may be achieved by immersing the film in a mercury bath (34), exposing the film to mercury pressure jets (44,46) or a combination of both. The mercury effects removal of contamination such as dust particles and grease from the surface of the film.