Patent ID: 7202008

Claim:
An apparatus for removing non-crosslinked photopolymer from an imaged and exposed surface of a relief image printing element, the apparatus comprising: means for supporting, and preferably transporting or rotating, the relief image printing element; means for softening and/or melting non-crosslinked photopolymer on the imaged and exposed surface of the relief image printing element; at least one thermal developing assembly, the at least one thermal developing assembly comprising: means for supplying an absorbent material that is contactable with at least a portion of the imaged and exposed surface of the relief image printing element, wherein the absorbent material is capable of removing at least a portion of the softened and/or melted non-crosslinked photopolymer; and means for causing the absorbent material to contact the at least the portion of the imaged and exposed surface of the relief image printing element; wherein said means contacting comprises backing the absorbent material with at least a portion of an endless impression belt that is supported by a plurality of rollers positioned adjacent and apart from each other; whereby, when the absorbent material contacts the at least a portion of the imaged and exposed surface of the relief image printing element, and softened and/or melted non-crosslinked photopolymer on the imaged and exposed surface of the relief image printing element is removed.