Printing Plate Precursor Outermost Layer Anti-Adhesion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing planographic printing plate precursors face issues with multiple-plate feeding, convex portion falling, scratches, and development delays when interleaving paper is eliminated, with previous techniques failing to provide comprehensive solutions for these problems.

Innovation Solution

A printing plate precursor with a polymer layer on the printing surface side and a particle layer on the opposite side, where the particles have a modulus of elasticity of 0.1 GPa or more, and specific Bekk smoothness and thickness conditions are met to prevent multiple-plate feeding, convex portion falling, and development delays.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If interleaving paper is used to prevent adhesion and scratches, then protection during lamination is improved, but cost increases and disposal treatment is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection during laminationVSAvoidcost and disposal treatment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a specific outermost layer structure with controlled surface energy and roughness as an intermediary between the printing plate precursor and the laminate environment. This layer acts as a protective interface that prevents adhesion and scratches during handling without requiring separate interleaving paper, thereby eliminating disposal treatment costs while maintaining protection reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the disposable interleaving paper with a permanent, integrated outermost layer that is part of the printing plate precursor structure. This layer provides ongoing protection throughout the plate's lifecycle without needing to be removed or replaced, reducing both material costs and disposal requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Ease of manufacture

If interleaving paper is removed to reduce cost, then cost and disposal treatment are improved, but multiple-plate feeding and adhesion problems occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecost and disposal treatmentVSAvoidlamination stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the surface energy and roughness parameters of the outermost layer to achieve optimal balance. By controlling surface energy to be 20-50 mN/m and surface roughness Ra to be 0.03-0.50 μm, the layer provides sufficient protection during lamination while preventing excessive adhesion that would cause multiple-plate feeding problems, thus maintaining reliability without interleaving paper

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If outermost layer surface is made rough to prevent multiple-plate feeding, then multiple-plate feeding is prevented, but convex portions may fall off and cause scratches

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemultiple-plate feeding preventionVSAvoidconvex portion falling and scratches
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the surface roughness parameter Ra to a specific range of 0.03-0.50 μm, which provides sufficient surface irregularity to prevent multiple-plate feeding while maintaining the structural integrity of convex portions. This controlled roughness prevents both adhesion issues and convex portion detachment, eliminating scratches without requiring interleving paper

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Object-affected harmful factors

If protective layer thickness is increased to prevent scratches, then scratch resistance is improved, but Bekk smoothness decreases and development delays occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescratch resistanceVSAvoiddevelopment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the protective layer thickness to 0.01-2.0 μm and controls the Bekk smoothness to 500-2000 seconds, achieving a balance where the layer is thick enough to provide scratch resistance during handling but thin enough to allow proper development. The controlled surface roughness and thickness ensure that development solutions can penetrate effectively without excessive delay while maintaining scratch protection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3858636B1Printing plate precursor, and method for making a printing plate
Publication Date: 2024.09.18 FUJIFILM CORP
  • EP3858636B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3858636B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3858636B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present invention provides a printing plate precursor including a layer which includes a polymer and is provided on a printing surface side of an aluminum support, and a layer which includes particles and is provided on a side opposite to the printing surface side, in which a modulus of elasticity of the particles is 0.1 GPa or more, and in a case where a Bekk smoothness of an outermost layer surface on the side opposite to the printing surface side is denoted by b second, a specific expression (1) is satisfied; a printing plate precursor laminate; a method for making a printing plate; and a printing method.