Patent ID: 6224273
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: G03F

Abstract:
An apparatus for manufacturing flexible printing blocks for producing printed matter by flexography, typography, or dry offset printing, comprisinga suspension tank comprising brush means for removing particle developed from the printing blocks by a developer solution, agitation means for agitating the developer solution in the suspension tank at a rate effective to produce an engraving bath of the particles suspended in the developer solution, and a level pie adapted to withdraw the engraving bath so as to maintain a fixed level of the developer solution in the suspension tank, anda separation system positioned below the fixed level comprisinga collection tank containing a filtered engraving bath,means for automatically adding water to the collection tank in amount effective to maintain the filtered engraving bath at a level above a preselected minimum,pump means for pumping filtered engraving bath from the collection tank to the suspension tank, anda filtration unit positioned above the filtered engraving bath comprising a strip of filter material adapted to remove the suspended particles from the engraving bath, the strip being supported on an open mesh, endless belt defining a depression of an active filter zone, a float buoyant in the engraving bath and affixed to a pivotally mounted lever which permits the float to rest upon the strip in the active filter zone while the filter material in the active filter zone is clean and to float in engraving bath while the filter material in the active filter zone is saturated, and means for moving the strip to replace saturated filter material with clean filter material in the active filter zone while the float is above a preselected high level limit.