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US3751164A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Automated apparatus for photocomposing

Assignee: WR Grace and Co
•
Filing: 1971-04-12
•
Granted: 1973-08-07
•
Expires: 1991-04-12
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Abstract

Abstract The disclosed invention is for an automated photocomposing apparatus. The apparatus includes (A) means for storing and supplying severed support sheets; (B) means for dispensing and leveling a liquid photocurable composition on a support sheet; (C) a housing having at one end an actinic light source and at the other end a support adapted to receive thereon a supported liquid photocurable composition which on exposure to actinic light through an image bearing transparency becomes selectively insolubilized in the exposed portions thereof; (D) a conveyor means for transferring photoexposed sheets from a horizontally disposed position to a vertically disposed position; (E) an etching bath energized by ultrasonic energy; (F) a washing bath; (G) an air drying station disposed adjacent the washing bath; and (H) a horizontally disposed photocuring station for finally curing the processed plate. A plurality of conveying means transfer sheets from location (A) to location (H) in automated sequence. The invention is especially useful in preparing a developable printing plate from a liquid photocurable composition.

Inventors

  • 👤 W Miller
  • 👤 G Litschi
  • 👤 W Bixler

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 03:26
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/16; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/48; G03B17/50; G03F7/20; G03F7/2002; G03F7/2012

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 which includes dispensing means for dispensing a liquid photocurable composition to said sheet; and leveling means for leveling the dispensed liquid composition to a substantially uniform thickness.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 35 words
The apparatus of claim 1 which includes an etching bath energized by ultrasonic energy, a water spray bath for cleaning the etched printing plate, and an air dryer for drying the water washed printing plate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 40 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein a system is included which continuously monitors the concentration of the solvent or detergent in the etching bath and as required, replenishes depleted solvent or detergent thereby maintaining a desired, substantially constant bath concentration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a vertical posterior photocuring unit is included at step (D), said unit having shutter means disposed intermediate an actinic radiation means and said plate to control the time of exposure of projected radiation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 28 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the timer automatically regulates the opening period of the shutters for a period of time of about 0.1 to about 60 seconds.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 68 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the liquid photocurable composition is received from a supply system which includes a positive displacement pump; a reservoir for storing a supply of liquid photocurable composition; transport means connecting said pump, reservoir, and dispenser; and an automatic control valve means disposed along said transport means for regulating flow and for providing a metered quantity of liquid photocurable composition at desired time intervals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 30 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherEin the reservoir is heated and equipped with an agitator, degassing vacuum means, recycle lines, and means for re-supplying liquid photocurable composition to the system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said leveling means is a doctor blade.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a static electricity eliminator is disposed in said frame to eliminate static electricity between the transparency and the surface of the liquid photocurable composition layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 67 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the etching bath is energized by means of ultrasonic energy, a liquid is maintained in the bath at a temperature sufficient to keep the non-image area of the plate in the liquid or molten phase, and means for energizing the bath by ultrasonic energy to a degree necessary to cause cavitation and removal of substantially all of the unexposed non-image area.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 21 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the ultrasonic energy level of the bath varies between about 18 to about 40 kilocycles.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 40 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the exposure station includes a frame network adapted to support at one end thereof an actinic light source and at the other end a platform adapted to receive thereon a sheet supported photocurable composition.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2734436A Cited
US2279686A Cited
US2580779A Cited
US2830899A Cited
US2945760A Cited
US3088610A Cited
US3529529A Cited
US3520606A Cited
US3559555A Cited
US3597080A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1976-08-06 1977-02-05 1977-08-07 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1980-08-06 1981-02-05 1981-08-07 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1984-08-06 1985-02-05 1985-08-07 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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