Synthetic resin printing plate and method of making same

Abstract

Abstract A molded synthetic resin printing plate and method of making the same in which a matrix of a thermosetting synthetic resin first is formed using as a die the engraving of the matter to be printed. Next, a plate of thermoplastic synthetic resin is formed in the matrix under the action of heat and pressure. Before stripping of the plate and while the plate is still in the matrix, the back of the plate is milled to provide a plate having a thickness suitable for use on existing rotary printing press saddles. After milling, the plate is stripped from the mold and is assembled in a hemicylindrical female mold member with a heated hemicylindrical male mold member and a wet blanket and the mold is clamped. After a short period of time the entire assembly is cooled, the mold is disassembled and the plate is removed. In this way there is produced a synthetic resin printing plate conforming to the shape of the printing press saddle and from which plate high fidelity reproductions of the original can be printed directly. Because the plate conforms to the curvature of the press saddle the tendency present in semiflexible flat plates to straighten is obviated. In this manner a hard surfaced, semiflexible plate can be attached to the printing press saddle conveniently and securely merely by using double-backed adhesive tape or spray glues.

Inventors

• 👤 Richard T Wall

Bibliographic Details