Patent ID: 6851365

Claim:
A method of producing multicolor printing using printing plates provided digitally with images and/or print including: providing a printing forme cylinder adapted for receiving printing plates; providing a registration system for said printing plates; removing printing plates used in a previous printing task from said printing forme cylinder; providing a printing plate neutralizing device useable to remove images and print from said previously used printing plates; locating said printing plate neutralizing device separate from said printing forme cylinder; conducting said previously used printing plates from said printing forme cylinder to said printing plate neutralizing device; neutralizing said previously used printing plates in said printing plate neutralizing device by removing used images and print from said previously used printing plates; applying a coating to said previously used and neutralized printing plates; providing a printing plate exposure and development unit; securing said neutralized and coated printing plates in proper registration in said exposure and development unit using said registration system; providing new images and print to said neutralized and coated printing plates in said exposure and development unit; developing said new images and print applied to said neutralized and coated printing plates in said exposure and development unit; returning said neutralized and coated printing plates provided with said new images and print to said printing forme cylinder; and re-applying said neutralized and coated printing plates with said new images and print to said printing forme cylinder.