Brush Washing Device for Flexographic Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing devices for flexographic printing plate precursors face challenges in preventing development scum adhesion, achieving development uniformity, and maintaining development speed simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A washing device that transports the flexographic printing plate precursor along a predetermined path while immersed in a washing solution, using a brush that rotates and revolves to remove unexposed portions, and includes a mechanism to prevent development scum adhesion by efficiently discharging it from the brush.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a rotating brush is used for development, then development speed is improved, but development uniformity deteriorates due to different circumferential speeds at center and outer edge
Solution Approach 1:
The brush is made to both rotate and revolve, transforming from a simple rotational motion to a complex dynamic motion pattern. This allows different parts of the brush to contact different regions of the printing plate with optimized contact time and pressure, achieving both high speed and uniformity
Solution Approach 2:
The brush motion is extended from one-dimensional rotation to two-dimensional movement by adding revolution around the plate surface. This dimensional change enables comprehensive coverage of the plate surface while maintaining uniform development conditions across different regions
2Productivity
If the brush rotates quickly to increase development speed, then productivity is improved, but development scum adhesion worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous revolution of the brush ensures uninterrupted contact with the plate surface and continuous discharge of development scum. This prevents scum accumulation and adhesion while maintaining high development speed throughout the process
Solution Approach 2:
The high-speed rotation that causes scum adhesion is converted into a benefit by adding revolution motion. The centrifugal force generated by rotation now aids in discharging scum outward, transforming the harmful adhesion effect into a useful discharge mechanism
3Device complexity
If the brush is caused to rotate only, then device complexity is reduced, but developer supply sufficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The dual motion of rotation and revolution creates dynamic variations in brush contact with the plate, ensuring continuous renewal of developer supply. The revolutionary motion brings fresh developer from the bulk solution to the brush surface, maintaining supply sufficiency without excessive mechanical complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents development scum adhesion, ensures development uniformity, and enhances development speed, achieving a balance between these factors that was previously unattainable.
Implementation Method 1
a brush 41 which rotates while a central axis of the brush 41 revolves
Implementation Method 2
development is performed by washing out an uncured resin, which is an unexposed portion, with a brush or the like while applying the aqueous developer
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
Provided are a washing device and a washing method that achieve prevention of development scum adhesion, development uniformity, and development speed at the same time. This washing device performs development using a washing solution while transporting the flexographic printing plate precursor after imagewise exposure. The washing device includes a transport unit that transports the flexographic printing plate precursor along a predetermined transport path and a development unit that performs development on the flexographic printing plate precursor. The development unit includes a brush which is used for the development and a driving unit which controls rotation of the brush around a rotation axis and movement of the brush. The brush removes an unexposed portion of the flexographic printing plate precursor to perform the development, and the rotation axis of the brush is a fixed axis passing through one point in the brush. The driving unit rotates the brush in a state in which the rotation axis of the brush passes through a surface of the flexographic printing plate precursor, and moves the rotation axis of the brush in at least one direction intersecting the rotation axis.