Apparatus for washing out photopolymer printing plates by means of solvents, drying the printing plates and recovering the solvents

US5163235A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Horst Hoffmann · Pentling, DE
• Norbert Holl · Germering, DE
• Rolf Schwan · Nastätten, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 3, 1991
• Grant date: Nov 17, 1992
• Expiry date: May 3, 2011

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B41P2235/30
• WIPO field: Textile and paper machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An apparatus for washing out photopolymer printing plates by means of solvents, drying the printing plates and recovering the solvents, a conventional washout station and a conventional drying station being connected to a solvent recovery means integrated in the drying station, which consists of the following parts: PA1 a hermetically sealing drying chamber for the printing plates, having an adjustable hood (15) and stationary panel (16), with panel heaters (18a, 18b) inserted in the hood and panel, PA1 a system which is connected to the interior space formed when the drying chamber is closed and which consists of a heat exchanger (25) for cooling the solvent vapor/air mixture, formed by drying the printing plates in the drying chamber, and condensation of the solvents, PA1 a solvent separator (26) for separating off the liquefied solvents, PA1 a vacuum pump (27) and a buffer vessel (33) for sucking up the solvent vapor/air mixture and compressing the solvent vapor/air mixture, PA1 a heat exchanger (28) for increasing the temperature of the air circulating in the system, two three-way valves (31, 32) and connecting pipelines from the drying chamber via the individual units and back…