Direct engraving of flexographic printing plates
US8365662B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 17, 2010 |
| Grant date | Feb 5, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 20, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41C1/05
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A system for engraving flexographic printing plates, is presented. A flexographic plate (104) is mounted on an imaging drum 404. Printable areas (204, 304) on the flexographic plate are engraved by an imaging source (408) configured to engrave fine detail information. Non-printable areas (208) are engraved on the flexographic plate by a second imaging source (412, coarse imaging source) capable to engrave substantially deeper (208, 520) than the depth of engraving used for the printable areas. Synchronizing (424) between the fine imaging source and the coarse imaging source, by directing the fine and coarse sources operate simultaneously, whereby the fine source images on the printable areas and the coarse source images the non-printable areas. In addition the fine source engraves the printable data areas (704) and non-printable support areas (708) underneath the printable areas. The non-printable support areas are engraved to be substantially wider than the printable data areas.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.