Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
In a process for preparing flexographic photopolymerizable elements which comprises passing into the nip of a calender a mass of a hot photopolymerizable composition comprising an elastomeric binder, an ethylenically unsaturated compound having at least one terminal ethylenic group, and a photoinitiator or photoinitiator system, and, while hot, calendering the photopolymerizable composition between a support and a multilayer cover element to form a photopolymerizable layer therebetween, the improvement wherein the multilayer cover element consists essentially of a flexible cover film and a layer of an elastomeric composition and optionally between the flexible cover film and the layer of elastomeric composition a flexible polymeric film, the layer of elastomeric composition being adjacent to the photopolymerizable layer and being photosensitive or becoming photosensitive during or after calendering by contact with the photopolymerizable layer, said layer of elastomeric composition comprising an elastomeric polymeric binder and optionally a second polymeric binder and a nonmigratory dye or pigment and, in addition, when said layer of elastomeric composition is photosensitive one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomeric compounds and/or photoinitiator or initiator system.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
In a process for preparing flexographic photopolymerizable elements which comprises passing into the nip of a calender a mass of a hot photopolymerizable composition comprising an elastomeric binder, an ethylenically unsaturated compound having at least one terminal ethylenic group, and a photoinitiator or photoinitiator system, and, while hot, calendering the photopolymerizable composition between a support and a multilayer cover element to form a photopolymerizable layer therebetween, the improvement wherein the multilayer cover element consists essentially of a flexible cover film and a layer of an elastomeric composition and optionally between the flexible cover film and the layer of elastomeric composition a flexible polymeric film, the layer of elastomeric composition being adjacent to the photopolymerizable layer and being photosensitive or becoming photosensitive during or after calendering by contact with the photopolymerizable layer, said layer of elastomeric composition comprising an elastomeric polymeric binder and optionally a second polymeric binder and a nonmigratory dye or pigment and, in addition, when said layer of elastomeric composition is photosensitive one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomeric compounds and/or photoinitiator or initiator system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the mass of photopolymerizable composition is passed into the calender nip by an extruder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the mass of photopolymerizable composition is passed into the calender nip as a hot melt from a mixing mill.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein calendering occurs between two flexible supports, one of which is subsequently removed from the photopolymerizable layer, and the multilayer cover element is laminated to the photopolymerizable layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein calendering occurs between two flexible sheets, one of which is subsequently removed from the photopolymerizable layer, and the multilayer cover element and photopolymerizable layer are pressed into contact.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the elastomeric layer in the multilayer cover element is a photopolymerizable elastomeric layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the flexible cover film in the multilayer cover element is a film bearing a silicone subbing layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the flexible polymeric film is a polyamide film.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the elastomeric composition in the multilayer cover element comprises an elastomeric block copolymer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 9 wherein the block copolymer is a polystyrene-isoprene-polystyrene block copolymer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 9 wherein the block copolymer is a polystyrene-polybutadiene-polystyrene block copolymer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the photopolymerizable composition is passed into the nip of the calendar by extruding at a temperature in the range of about 130° to 200° C.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the elastomeric binder of the photopolymerizable composition is an elastomeric block copolymer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process according to claim 13 wherein the ethylenically unsaturated compound has two terminal ethylenic groups.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process according to claim 14 wherein the ethylenically unsaturated compound is hexamethylene glycol diacrylate, hexamethylene glycol dimethacrylate or a mixture of both.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein a colorant is present in the photopolymerizable layer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process according to claim 16 wherein a nonmigrating dye or pigment is present in the layer of elastomeric composition of the multilayer cover element which provides a contrasting color with the colorant in the photopolymerizable layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process according to claim 1 wherein the flexible polymeric film is present in the multilayer cover element between the flexible cover film and the layer of elastomeric composition.