Infrared Printing Plate Backcoat Surface Roughness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Infrared-sensitive planographic printing plate precursors face issues with mechanical strength and image loss due to scratching during handling and transportation, especially when stacked without insert paper, leading to adhesion and mechanical damage.

Innovation Solution

An infrared-sensitive planographic printing plate precursor with a supporting plate, a recording layer containing a water-insoluble and alkali-soluble resin, and an organic polymer layer with an arithmetic mean roughness of 0.05 to 0.40 μm, or an anodic oxide film, to prevent scratches and adhesion by controlling surface roughness and improving contact between layers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If plates are stacked without insert paper to improve productivity and eliminate manual handling, then productivity increases and manual labor is reduced, but the photosensitive layer becomes vulnerable to scratching and adhesion damage during stacking and transportation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomation of plate handlingVSAvoidmechanical damage to photosensitive layer

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a backcoat layer as an intermediary between the photosensitive layer and the supporting plate's rear face. This backcoat layer acts as a protective mediator that prevents direct contact and adhesion between the photosensitive layer and the supporting plate surface during stacking and handling, thereby eliminating the need for insert paper while protecting against mechanical damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the surface properties of the backcoat layer by controlling its arithmetic mean roughness (Ra) to be 0.05 to 0.40 μm. This parameter change in surface roughness creates optimal contact characteristics that prevent adhesion and scratching during stacking, enabling insert-paper-free handling while maintaining protection of the photosensitive layer

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If a hard coating layer is formed on the supporting plate to prevent mechanical damage, then protection against scratching is improved, but adhesion between the photosensitive layer and backcoat layer increases causing damage during handling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against mechanical damageVSAvoidadhesion between layers

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the arithmetic mean roughness (Ra) of the backcoat layer to a specific range of 0.05 to 0.40 μm. This parameter control creates a surface that is neither too smooth (which would cause adhesion) nor too rough (which would cause scratching), thereby simultaneously preventing both adhesion and mechanical damage during handling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different surface quality characteristics to different regions: the backcoat layer has a controlled roughness of 0.05 to 0.40 μm to prevent adhesion, while the supporting plate provides overall mechanical strength. This local differentiation of properties resolves the contradiction between protection and adhesion prevention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If a rough-surfaced organic polymer layer is formed to reduce damage, then protection against scratching is improved, but adhesion and scratching during feeding in auto-loader increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection against scratchingVSAvoidadhesion and scratching during feeding

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent precisely controls the arithmetic mean roughness (Ra) of the organic polymer backcoat layer to be 0.05 to 0.40 μm. This optimized roughness parameter prevents adhesion during auto-loader feeding while maintaining scratch resistance, resolving the contradiction that existed with previously rougher surfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 reduces adhesion and mechanical damage during handling and transportation, enabling the use of insert-paper-free processes in exposure devices with auto-loaders, while maintaining image quality and durability.

Implementation Method 1

an infrared absorbent absorbing light and generating heat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotothermal conversion: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

an organic polymer layer having an arithmetic mean roughness Ra in the range of 0.05 to 0.40 μm formed on a face of the supporting plate opposite to the recording layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface roughness control:

Data Source

PatentUS7306891B2Infrared-sensitive planographic printing plate precursor

Publication Date: 2007.12.11 FUJIFILM CORP

AI summary

Provided is an infrared-sensitive planographic printing plate precursor, including a supporting plate, a recording layer formed on one face of the supporting plate, the recording layer containing a water-insoluble and alkali-soluble resin and an infrared absorbent and forming an image by irradiation of infrared ray, and an organic polymer layer having an arithmetic mean roughness Ra in the range of 0.05 to 0.40 μm, or an anodic oxide film having basis weight of 0.05 to 3.0 g/m2 and an organic polymer layer formed in that order on face of the supporting plate opposite to the recording layer.