US4297436A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for producing a multilayer printing plate
Assignee: Fujifilm Holdings Corp
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Filing: 1978-06-12
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Granted: 1981-10-27
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Expires: 1998-06-12
Abstract
Abstract A method for producing a multilayer printing plate comprising image-wise exposing and developing a light-sensitive printing plate material which comprises a support having an oleophilic surface having a hydrophilic metal layer thereon, the hydrophilic metal layer having thereon at least one silver halide emulsion layer either directly or on at least one subbing layer on the hydrophilic metal layer, to form a silver image resist image corresponding to the image-wise exposure by subjecting the printing plate material to a process including baking, removing the hydrophilic metal layer at non-resist image areas to uncover the oleophilic surface thereunder, and removing the resist image, or a method for producing a multilayer printing plate comprising image-wise exposing and developing a light-sensitive printing plate material which comprises a support having a hydrophilic surface having thereon at least one silver halide emulsion layer either directly or on at least one subbing layer on the hydrophilic surface to form a silver resist image corresponding to the image-wise exposure by subjecting the printing plate material to a process including baking, providing an oleophilic metal layer on the hydrophilic surface at the non-resist image area, and removing the resist image.
Inventors
- 👤 Kikuo Kubotera
- 👤 Masamichi Sato
- 👤 Akira Kashiwabara
- 👤 Kotaro Sato
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 12:41
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41N; B41N1/00; B41N1/04; B41N1/08; B41N1/10; G; G03; G03F; G03F7/00; G03F7/004; G03F7/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 57
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for producing a multi-layer printing plate consisting essentially of image-wise exposing and tanning developing a light-sensitive printing plate material which comprises a support with an oleophilic surface having thereon a hydrophilic metal layer having thereon at least one silver halide emulsion layer comprising a silver halide and a water-soluble binder, either directly or on at least one subbing layer on the hydrophilic metal layer to thereby form hardened silver image areas and unhardened non-silver image areas; removing the unhardened areas by washing with water; baking the hardened silver image areas to render them a water impermeable resist image, removing said hydrophilic metal layer at the non-resist image areas by etching and then removing the resist image.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for producing a multi-layer printing plate consisting essentially of image-wise exposing and tanning developing a light-sensitive printing plate material which comprises a support with an oleophilic surface having thereon a hydrophilic metal layer having thereon at least one silver halide emulsion layer comprising a silver halide and a water-soluble binder, either directly or on at least one subbing layer on the hydrophilic metal layer to thereby form hardened silver image areas and unhardened non-silver image areas; removing the unhardened areas by washing with water; baking the hardened silver image areas to render them a water impermeable resist image, removing said hydrophilic metal layer at the non-resist image areas by etching and then removing the resist image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said support having an oleophilic surface is a layer of a metal selected from the group consisting of zinc, iron, silver and brass.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said hydrophilic metal layer provided on said support having an oleophilic surface is a metal selected from the group consisting of chromium, nickel and stainless steel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the thickness of said hydrophilic metal layer provided on said support having an oleophilic surface ranges from about 0.1 to about 10μ.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 4, wherein said thickness of the hydrophilic metal layer is from about 0.2 to about 5μ.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said support having an oleophilic surface is a layer of a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, zinc, silver and brass provided on a layer of a metal other than copper, zinc, silver or brass.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 6, wherein said metal other than copper, zinc, silver or brass is iron, aluminum or stainless steel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the thickness of the layer of copper, zinc, silver or brass is from about 1 to about 30μ.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said silver halide emulsion layer comprises silver chloride, silver bromide, silver iodide, silver chlorobromide, silver chloroiodide, silver iodobromide, silver chloroiodobromide, or a mixture thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said silver halide emulsion is an emulsion containing about 90 mole% or more silver bromide and not more then about 5 mole% silver iodide, wherein the mean grain size of the silver halide grains is not more than about 3μ and wherein the weight ratio of the silver halide to the water-soluble binder of the emulsion is about 1:4 to about 6:1.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said silver halide emulsion is an emulsion containing about 90 mole% or more silver bromide and not more than about 5 mole % silver iodide, wherein the mean grain size of the silver halide grains is not more than about 0.1μ and wherein the weight ratio of the silver halide to the water-soluble binder of the emulsion is about 1:4 to about 6:1.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said silver halide emulsion is an emulsion containing about 50 mole % silver chloride and the mean grain size of the silver halide grains is not more than about 3μ, and wherein the weight ratio of the silver halide to the water-soluble binder of the emulsion is about 1:4 to about 6:1.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said silver halide emulsion layer has a thickness of about 0.3 to about 20μ.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said silver halide emulsion layer contains as a binder one or more materials selected from the group consisting of gelatin, gelatin derivatives and synthetic polymer substances.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 14, wherein said gelatin is at least one material selected from the group consisting of alkali-treated gelatin, acid-treated gelatin and enzyme-treated gelatin.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said subbing layer is a layer containing one or more materials selected from the group consisting of gelatin, gelatin derivatives and synthetic polymer substances having a dry thickness of about 0.05 to about 3μ.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said gelatin is at least one material selected from the group consisting of alkali-treated gelatin, acid-treated gelatin and enzyme-treated gelatin.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said image-wise exposure is conducted using electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength from about 290 to about 750 nm.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said baking is conducted in an oxygen-containing gas at a temperature not less than about 150° C. and not more than the softening point or deformation point of the support or the metal layer provided thereon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 19, wherein said baking is in air at about 250° C. to about 600° C. or to the softening point or deformation point of the hydrophilic metal layer when the softening point or deformation point is less than about 600° C.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 20, wherein said baking is in a mixture of gases containing about 5 to about 40 mole % oxygen.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the formation of the oleophilic metal layer at non-resist image areas is by removing the hydrophilic metal layer at the non-resist image areas to uncover the oleophilic metal layer thereunder.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 22, wherein the removal of the hydrophilic metal layer is by applying an aqueous solution containing at least one compound at a concentration of about 5 to about 70% by weight selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, ferric chloride, aluminum chloride, zinc chloride, sodium perchlorate, potassium perchlorate, cerium (IV) nitrate, cerium (IV) sulfate, ammonium cerium (IV) sulfate and ammonium cerium (IV) nitrate.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 22, wherein the removal of the hydrophilic metal layer is by ion-etching.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the removal of the resist image is by applying an aqueous solution of at least one compound at a concentration of about 10 to about 70% by weight selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium hypochlorite, potassium hypochlorite, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and hydrochloric acid.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the water used to remove the unhardened areas is at about 30° to about 60° C.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method as described in claim 1, wherein the thickness of said hydrophilic metal layer provided on said support having an oleophilic surface ranges from about 0.1 to about 10μ.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 27, wherein said subbing layer is a layer containing one or more materials selected from the group consisting of gelatin, gelatin derivatives and synthetic polymer substances having a dry thickness of about 0.05 to about 3μ.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for producing a multi-layer printing plate consisting essentially of image-wise exposing and developing a light-sensitive printing plate material which comprises a support with an oleophilic metal surface having thereon a hydrophilic metal layer having thereon at least one silver halide emulsion layer comprising a silver halide and a water soluble binder, either directly or on at least on subbing layer on the hydrophilic metal layer, fixing the developed material having a silver image, baking the thus obtained material to remove the emulsion layer at the silver image area to leave a binderless silver image at the silver image area and to form a water impermeable resist image for metal etching at the non-image area, removing the binderless silver image, removing said hydrophilic metal layer at the non-resist image areas by etching, and then removing the resist image.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
139 words
A method for producing a multi-layer printing plate consisting essentially of image-wise exposing and developing a light-sensitive printing plate material which comprises a support with an oleophilic metal surface having thereon a hydrophilic metal layer having thereon at least one silver halide emulsion layer comprising a silver halide and a water soluble binder, either directly or on at least on subbing layer on the hydrophilic metal layer, fixing the developed material having a silver image, baking the thus obtained material to remove the emulsion layer at the silver image area to leave a binderless silver image at the silver image area and to form a water impermeable resist image for metal etching at the non-image area, removing the binderless silver image, removing said hydrophilic metal layer at the non-resist image areas by etching, and then removing the resist image.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
87 words
The method of claim 29, wherein the removal of the binderless silver image is by applying an aqueous solution containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide; sodium, potassium, or ammonium peroxodisulfate, sodium ferricyanide, potassium ferricyanide, sodium dichromate, potassium dichromate, ammonium dichromate, sodium permanganate and potassium permanganate, which further comprises at least one compound selected from the group consisting of copper (II) chloride, copper (II) bromide, copper (II) nitrate, copper (II) sulfate, copper (II) citrate, iron (III) chloride and iron (III) sulfate.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 30, wherein the aqueous solution further contains at least one compound selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, lactic acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, potassium bromide, potassium chloride, sodium bromide, sodium chloride, sodium tartrate, potassium tartrate, sodium citrate and potassium citrate at a concentration of about 0.05 to about 50% by weight.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 29, wherein the removal of the binderless silver image is attained at the same time as the removal of the hydrophilic metal layer thereunder.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method of claim 32, wherein the removal of the binderless silver image and the hydrophilic metal layer thereunder is by applying an aqueous solution containing at least one compound selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, iron (III) chloride, aluminum chloride, zinc chloride, sodium perchlorate, potassium perchlorate, cerium (IV) nitrate, cerium (IV) sulfate, ammonium cerium (IV) sulfate and ammonium cerium (IV) nitrate at a concentration of about 5 to 70% by weight.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 29, wherein said support having an oleophilic surface is a layer of a metal selected from the group consisting of zinc, iron, silver and brass.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 29, wherein said hydrophilic metal layer provided on said support having an oleophilic surface is a metal selected from the group consisting of chromium, nickel and stainless steel.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 29, wherein said gelatin is at least one material selected from the group consisting of alkali-treated gelatin, acid-treated gelatin and enzyme-treated gelatin.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 36, wherein said image-wise exposure is conducted using electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength from about 290 to about 750 nm.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 36, wherein said baking is conducted in an oxygen-containing gas at a temperature not less than about 150° C. and not more than the softening point or deformation point of the support or the metal layer provided thereon.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 29, wherein said baking is in air at about 250° C. to about 600° C. or to the softening point or deformation point of the hydrophilic metal layer when the softening point or deformation point is less than about 600° C.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 39, wherein said baking is in a mixture of gases containing about 5 to about 40 mole % oxygen.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 39, wherein said silver halide emulsion is an emulsion containing about 90 mole% or more silver bromide and not more than about 5 mole % silver iodide, wherein the mean grain size of the silver halide grains is not more than about 0.1μ and wherein the weight ratio of the silver halide to the water-soluble binder of the emulsion is about 1:4 to about 6:1.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 39, wherein said silver halide emulsion is an emulsion containing about 50 mole % silver chloride and the mean grain size of the silver halide grains is not more than about 3μ, and wherein the weight ratio of the silver halide to the water-soluble binder of the emulsion is about 1:4 to about 6:1.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 39, wherein said silver halide emulsion layer has a thickness of about 0.3 to about 20μ.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 39, wherein said silver halide emulsion layer contains as a binder one or more materials selected from the group consisting of gelatin, gelatin derivatives and synthetic polymer substances.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 44, wherein said gelatin is at least one material selected from the group consisting of alkali-treated gelatin, acid-treated gelatin and enzyme-treated gelatin.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 29, wherein said thickness of the hydrophilic metal layer is from about 0.2 to about 5μ.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 46, wherein said support having an oleophilic surface is a layer of a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, zinc, silver and brass provided on a layer of a metal other than copper, zinc, silver or brass.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 47, wherein said metal other than copper, zinc, silver or brass is iron, aluminum or stainless steel.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 47, wherein the thickness of the layer of copper, zinc, silver or brass is from about 1 to about 30μ.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 49 wherein said silver halide emulsion layer comprises silver chloride, silver bromide, silver iodide, silver chlorobromide, silver chloroiodide, silver iodobromide, silver chloroiodobromide, or a mixture thereof.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 50, wherein said silver halide emulsion is an emulsion containing about 90 mol% or more silver bromide and not more than about 5 mole% silver iodide, wherein the mean grain size of the silver halide grains is not more than about 3μ and wherein the weight ratio of the silver halide to the water-soluble binder of the emulsion is about 1:4 to about 6:1.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 29, wherein the formation of the oleophilic metal layer at non-resist image areas is by removing the hydrophilic metal layer at the non-resist image areas to uncover the oleophilic metal layer thereunder.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 52, wherein the removal of the hydrophilic metal layer is by applying an aqueous solution containing at least one compound at a concentration of about 5 to about 70% by weight selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, ferric chloride, aluminum chloride, zinc chloride, sodium perchlorate, potassium perchlorate, cerium (IV) nitrate, cerium (IV) sulfate, ammonium cerium (IV) sulfate and ammonium cerium (IV) nitrate.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 52, wherein the removal of the hydrophilic metal layer is by ion-etching.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 29, wherein the removal of the resist image is by applying an aqueous solution of at least one compound at a concentration of about 10 to about 70% by weight selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium hypochlorite, potassium hypochlorite, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and hydrochloric acid.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-10-26 | 1985-04-27 | 1985-10-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-10-26 | 1989-04-27 | 1989-10-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-10-26 | 1993-04-27 | 1993-10-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |