Dual-Stage Filter System for Developing Solution Resin Recovery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for treating developing solutions used in printing plates, such as those composed of photosensitive resin, face issues with the reuse of solutions due to the accumulation of photosensitive resin components, leading to reduced development performance and adherence issues, and require frequent replacement, which is costly and environmentally detrimental.

Innovation Solution

A developer system comprising a feeder, a dispersing-object-filter to flocculate photosensitive resin components, and a flocculating-object-filter to remove the flocculated components from the developing solution, allowing for efficient reuse of the solution without the need for expensive flocculants or frequent filter replacements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of substance

If a coarse filter is used to recover photosensitive resin composition, then the filter can remove flocculated resin components, but non-flocculated resin components pass through the filter and cannot be recovered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecovery of photosensitive resin compositionVSAvoidseparation efficiency of resin components

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The filter system is divided into two stages: a coarse filter for removing flocculated resin components and a fine filter for removing non-flocculated resin components. This segmentation allows each filter to specialize in removing specific types of resin components, achieving complete recovery while maintaining system simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If a fine filter is used to remove all photosensitive resin components, then separation efficiency improves, but the filter has to be frequently replaced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparation efficiency of resin componentsVSAvoidfilter replacement frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the filtration function into two stages with different filter specifications, the system achieves fine separation efficiency while the coarse filter captures the bulk of flocculated components, reducing the load on the fine filter and extending its service life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system recovers and reuses the developing solution after filtration, extending its service life and reducing the frequency of complete filter replacements. The filtered solution is returned to the developing tank for continued use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Loss of substance

If a flocculant is added to the developing solution to recover photosensitive resin composition, then recovery efficiency improves, but the flocculant is expensive and the solution cannot be reused directly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverecovery of photosensitive resin compositionVSAvoidcost and reusability of developing solution

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The developing solution performs self-cleaning through the dual-filter system without requiring external flocculants. The filters naturally separate and remove resin components from the solution, enabling direct reuse after filtration without additional chemical additives.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 system effectively removes photosensitive resin components from the developing solution, enabling its reuse and reducing environmental and manufacturing costs while maintaining printing plate quality.

Implementation Method 1

the developing solution in which a photosensitive resin composition separated from the photosensitive resin composition layer is dispersed, is passed through the dispersing-object-filter to flocculate the photosensitive resin composition dispersing in the developing solution

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlocculation: Flocculation

Implementation Method 2

a flocculating-object-filter that removes a flocculated photosensitive resin composition from the developing solution passed through the dispersing-object-filter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS8714845B2Developer, process for treating developing solution, process for producing printing plate, and filter apparatus

Publication Date: 2014.05.06 ASAHI KASEI E-MATERIALS CORPORATION

AI summary

A process for producing a printing plate, includes feeding a developing solution to an exposed photosensitive resin composition layer; passing the developing solution, in which a photosensitive resin composition is dispersed, through a dispersed-material-filter and flocculating the photosensitive resin composition dispersed in the developing solution by the dispersed-object-filter, and removing a flocculated photosensitive resin composition from the developing solution passed through the dispersed-material-filter.