APPARATUS FOR TREATING PRINTING PLATES WITH A LIQUID

Abstract: An apparatus for treating printing plates (72) with a liquid contained in a vessel (1) above which the printing plates (72) to be treated are conveyed. The vessel (1) is divided into a num­ ber of separate basins (3, 4, 5), in each of which a number of rotatable brushes (11, 12, 13) immersed in the liquid is provid­ ed. The brushes (11, 12, 13) are rotatably driven to treat the printing plates (72) with the liquid. The dividing walls (7, 8) be­ tween the basins (3, 4, 5) decrease in height against the direc­ tion of movement of the conveyor (36), so that liquid flows from one basin (3; 4) into the next basin (4; 5). By drawing used polluted liquid from the last basin (5) and by supplying clean fresh liquid to the first basin (3) the last treatment is always executed with fresh clean liquid so that a constant quality of treatment is achieved.

Description: Apparatus for treating printing plates with a liquid. The present invention concerns an apparatus for treating printing plates with a liquid, the apparatus comprising: a vessel containing the liquid; at least two rotatable brushes immersed at least partially in the liquid; and means for conveying the printing plates to be treated along the brushes. Such an apparatus is know from the German utility model no. 73 41 639. In this know apparatus the printing plate to be treated contacts the liquid contained in the vessel, of which liquid the quality steadily decreases as a consequence of the use of the active contents of the liquid and the polution of the liquid by particles washed out of the plates to be treated. Consequently this liquid has to be changed regularly. As a result thereof the quality of the liquid varies considerably so that it is possible that the plate to be treated is treated with a liquid, which is used and polluted considerably and that pollutions stay back on the plate thus treated. The quality of the delivered plates thus varies considerably. The aim of the invention is to provide an apparatus for treating printing plates with a liquid wherein the plates continue to be delivered clean and with a constant quality. According to the present invention this aim is reached because above the vessel open at the top a conveyor is provided for conveying the printing plates to be treated; that the vessel is divided into at least two basins by at least one wall provided in the vessel and extending in the direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the conveyor; that means are provided for making the liquid move from a basin into the basin being next in the direction opposite the direction of movement of the conveyor; and that means are provided for supplying liquid to the basin being most upstream and for drawing liquid from the basin being most downstream. By supplying fresh liquid to the basin most upstream the last treatment of the plates continues to be executed with clean liquid so that the plates continue to be delivered clean. Further an embodiment of the invention will be described referring to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings are: Figure 1: a perspective view partially broken away of an apparatus according to the present invention; and Figure 2: a perspective view of a clamp used in the apparatus according to the present invention. The apparatus according to the present invention comprises a tray 1 situated on legs 2. A vessel comprising three basins 3, 4, 5 is applied in the tray, in which basins liquid 6 is contained. The basins are separated mutually by separation walls 7, 8, extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tray 1, wherein the seperation wall 7 between the first basin 3 and the middle basin 4 is higher than the separation wall 8 between the middle basin 4 and the last basin 5. A supply pipe 9 is connected with the first basin 3, through which supply line liquid is supplied by means of a pump, which is not depicted in the drawings. The liquid thus supplied fills the basin 3 until the liquid flows over the separation wall 7 into the middle basin 4. This basin too is being filled until the liquid flows over the separation wall 8 into the last basin 5. A drainpipe 10 is connected with the last basin 5 through which drainpipe the used liquid is drained from the last basin 5, however a predetermined liquid level is maintained in the last basin 5. In the first basin 3 is a group of three, in the middle basin is a group of four and in the last basin 5 is a group of three rotatable cilindrical brushes 11, 12, 13 fitted, of which the shaft extends horizontally, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tray 1. Each of the brushes 11, 12, 13 is rigidly fixed on to a shaft 14 rotatably journalled in the tray 1. The mutual distances of the brushes are chosen so that the hairs of adjacent brushes mesh. Under the tray 1 an electric motor 16 is fitted, on the driveshaft 17 of which a sprocket 18 is fixed. A chain 19 is applied around the sprocket 18, zig-zag around each of the sprocket 15 around a chain tension device 20 and around guide wheels 21. Rotation of the electric motor will make any of the brushes 11, 12, 13 rotate and so that adjacent brushes rotate in opposite directions. Further in the tray is a suction nozzle 22 which extends over the full width of the tray 1 on which suction nozzle 22 a suction pipe 23 is connected. A cap 24 comprising a head wall 25 and a top wall 26 is provided over the tray 1. Against the inner side of the head wall 25 a nozzle 27 extending over the full width of the cap 24 is provided for spraying warm air, and against the lower side of the top wall 26 two nozzles 28 extending over the full width of the cap 24 are provided for spraying warm air. The nozzles 27, 28 are both connected to a air supply line to supply warm air: Above the suction nozzle 22 a rotatable drum 30 is provided, of which the shaft is parallel to the shafts of the brushes 11, 12, 13. The shaft 31 of the drum 30 is journalled in side walls of the tray 1 which have been extended in the upper direction. Further a sprocket 32 is fixed on to the shaft 31, around which sprocket a chain 33 is applied, which chain further is applied around a sprocket 34 provided on the drive shaft 17 of the electric motor 16, so that the drum 30 is driven by the electric motor. Two drums 35 are rotatably provided above eachother above the last basin 5 on the other side of the tray 1, of which drums the shafts extend parallel to the shaft of the drum 30. An endless belt 36 is applied around the drums 30, 35 and pairs of hooks 37 to be described later are provided on the belt 35, the hooks of each pair being directly opposite eachother on the sides of the belt 35. Direct above the lower part of the belt 36 a press plate 60 extending horizontally is provided. Above the last basin 5 the side walls of the tray 1 are extended in the upward direction so that they for a part of a L-shaped duct 38 which connects with the cap 24 and the tray 1. Further above the drums 35 a shaft 39 extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tray 1 is provided. On this shaft 39 a sprocket 40 is provided which is driven through a chain 42 which is applied around the sprocket 40 and a sprocket 41 provided on the drive shaft 17 of the motor 16. On both sides of the belt two sprockets 43 are provided on the shaft 39 and there between a freely rotatable conducting drum 44 is provided. In the bend of the L-shaped duct 38 two shafts 45, 46 and near the end of the duct 38 a shaft 47 are all provided perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tray 1. Sprockets 48 are adapted under respective ends of the shafts 45, 46 and 47. Two chains 49 are applied around the sprockets 43 and around the sprockets 48, and on the chain 49 pairs of hooks 50 are provided with equal mutual distances, which will be described afterwards. In the horizontal part of the L-shaped duct 38 a belt 53 applied around two drums 51, 52 is provided, in which the drum 52 is fixed rigidly on a shaft 54. Further a sprocket 55 is provided on the shaft 54, which sprocket is driven by means of a chain 56 and a sprocket 57 fixed rigidly on the shaft 47. Further a guide plate 58 is applied near the bend of the L-shaped duct and at the end of the L-shaped duct a guide plate 59 is applied. Subsequently the fixation of the plates to be treated will be described referring to figure 2. A clamp 61 is fixed to the plate 72 to be treated. The clamp 61 comprises a plate of resiliant material bended to form two clamp jaws 62, 63 which are urged resiliantly to eachother. The clamp jaws comprise each a row of teeth 64, 65 which engage the plate 72 to be clamped and to be processed. From each end of the clamp jaw 62 a tongue 66 entends to the other clamping jaw. Each of these tongues 66 comprises a hole through which extends a shaft 62. On this shaft 67 a brace 68 is rigidly provided, while on each end of the shaft 67 a operating knob 69 is provided. By turning the operating knob 69 the brace urges the clamping jaws from eachother to allow to insert or to remove a plate between the row of teeth 64, 65. Further a shaft 70 extends between the clamping jaws 62, 63 unto both sides of the clamping jaws 62, 63. Finally the operation of the apparatus according to the present invention will be described. A printing plate 72 to be treated is clamped between the rows of teeth 64, 65. Then the shaft 70 of the clamp 61 is hooked behind a pair of hooks provided on the belt 36, so that the clamp 61 and the plate 72 to be treated are drawn into the apparatus, wherein the plate 72 is supported by the guide plate 71. Then the plate 72 is processed by the rotating brushes 13 to a processing by the liquid 6, during which processing the plate 72 is conveyed slowly by the belt 30. By the pressure exerted by the brushes 13 to the plate 72 the plate 72 is pressed against the belt and against the pressing plate 60. The plate 72 is further being conveyed alongside the brushes 12 in a basin 4 and subsequently along the brushes 11 in the basin 3. By supplying fresh processing liquid to the basin 3 the processing executed by the brushes 11 in the basin 3 continues to take place with clean liquid, so that the last washing process of the plate takes place with clean liquid. The liquid considerably polluted and used in the first basin is supplied to the middle basin 4, where the plates 72 are being adapted to a first processing. From the middle basin 4 the liquid which increases to be polluted is supplied to the last basin 5, where the plates are being subjected to a first washing treatment. After the washing treatment the plate 72 is conveyed along the suction nozzle 22, where the liquid adhering to the plate 72 is being sucked off. The belt 30 then leads the plate 72 along three consecutive nozzles which spray warm air to the plate 30 to dry the plate 72. Caused by a slightly faster speed of the chains 49 than that of the belt 36 the hooks 50 provided on the chains 49 engage the shaft 70 of the clamp 61 and remove this from the hooks 37 provided on the belt 36. Thus the clamp 61 with the plate 72 arranged therein is conveyed into the L-shaped duct 38 by the conducting hooks 50 fixed on the chains 49, after which the plate to be treated returns to a horizontal movement and gets to rest on the belt 53. Because the chains 49 move slightly faster than the belt 53 the shaft 70 is being removed from the hooks 50 and the clamp will rest on the belt 53 as well. In the proximity of the belt 53 a (not depicted) heating element can be provided to cause a last drying of the plate. The belt 53 moves the plate outwardly until the guide plate 59 where the plate 72 can be grasped and the clamp 60 can be removed from the plate.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Apparatus for treating printing plates with a liquid, comprising: - a vessel containing the liquid; - at least two rotatable brushes submerged at least partially in the liquid; and - means for conveying the printing plates to be treated along the brushes; characterized in, - that above the vessel open at the top a conveyor is provided for conveying the printing plates to be treated; - that the vessel is separated into at least two basins by a wall provided in the vessel which wall extends in the direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the conveyor; - that means are provided for making the liquid move from the basin into the next basin in the direction being opposite to the direction of movement of the conveyor; and - that means are provided for supplying liquid to the upstream basin and for drawing liquid from the downstream basin. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the height of the walls provided in the vessel decreases in the direction, being opposite to the direction of movement of the conveyor. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 charactarized in that at least two brushes are provided in each basin, of which the direction of rotation is opposite to each other. 4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the brush hairs of adjacent brushes mesh. 5. Apparatus according to one of the preceeding claims characterized in that the brushes oscillate in the direction being perpendicular to the direction of movement ut the conveyor. 6. Apparatus according to one of the preceeding claims, chara#terized in that in the direction of movement of the conveyor downstream of the vessel a suction apparatus has been provided. 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that downstream of the suction apparatus a dryer using warm air has been provided. 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the dryer using warm air comprises at least one nozzle for spraying warm air. 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that two nozzles are provided above the belt. 10. Apparatus according to one of the preceeding claims, characterized in that a furthçr conveyor has been provided for conveying the plates to be treated to an after dryer. 11. Apparatus according to one of the preceeding claims, characterized in that the conveyor is a belt conveyor. 12. Apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the further conveyor comprises two conveying chains. 13. Apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the belt conveyor and the conveyor chain both comprise hooks fixed on equal distances. 14. Apparatus according to claim 13, characterized in that the plates to be treated are engaged by clamps engagable by the hooks. 15. Apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in that the clamps comprise a shaft engagable with the hooks, which shaft extends through a plate bended unto two clamping jaws. 16. Apparatus according to claim 15, characterized in that the clamps comprise a brace extending through the plate forming the clamping jaws, which brace comprises at least one handle.

Inventors: VAN DER HORST, HANS
Applicants: ANDERSON & VREELAND B.V.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: G03F7
IPC codes: G03F7