Platemaking method and platemaking apparatus
First Claim
1. A platemaking method for making a printing plate by scanning and engraving a surface of an image recording material with a laser beam emitted from a laser source and modulated according to an image signal, comprising:
- a first engraving step for irradiating the recording material at a first pixel pitch with a laser beam having a first beam diameter, thereby to engrave the image recording material to a first depth; and
a second engraving step for irradiating the image recording material at a second pixel pitch larger than said first pixel pitch with a laser beam having a second beam diameter larger than said first beam diameter, thereby to engrave the image recording material to a second depth greater than said first depth.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A flexo direct printing plate is engraved in two processes. One is a precision engraving process for irradiating the flexo direct printing plate at a precision engraving pixel pitch with a precision engraving beam having a small diameter, to engrave the plate to a maximum depth. The other is a coarse engraving process for irradiating the flexo direct printing plate at a coarse engraving pixel pitch larger than the precision engraving pixel pitch, with a coarse engraving beam having a large diameter, to engrave the plate to a relief depth.
28 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A platemaking method for making a printing plate by scanning and engraving a surface of an image recording material with a laser beam emitted from a laser source and modulated according to an image signal, comprising:
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a first engraving step for irradiating the recording material at a first pixel pitch with a laser beam having a first beam diameter, thereby to engrave the image recording material to a first depth; and
a second engraving step for irradiating the image recording material at a second pixel pitch larger than said first pixel pitch with a laser beam having a second beam diameter larger than said first beam diameter, thereby to engrave the image recording material to a second depth greater than said first depth. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A platemaking method for making a printing plate by scanning and engraving a surface of an image recording material with a laser beam emitted from a laser source and modulated according to an image signal, comprising:
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a first engraving step for irradiating the recording material at a first pixel pitch with a laser beam having a first beam diameter, thereby to engrave the image recording material to a first depth; and
a second engraving step for irradiating the image recording material at a second pixel pitch smaller than said first pixel pitch with a laser beam having a second beam diameter smaller than said first beam diameter, thereby to engrave the image recording material to a second depth less than said first depth. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A platemaking apparatus for making a printing plate by scanning and engraving a surface of an image recording material with a laser beam emitted from a laser source, comprising:
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a modulator for modulating the laser beam emitted from said laser source;
a recording drum for supporting the recording material as mounted peripherally thereof;
a rotary motor for rotating said recording drum;
a recording head movable parallel to an axis of said recording drum for irradiating the image recording material mounted peripherally of said recording drum, with the laser beam emitted from said laser source;
a moving motor for moving said recording head parallel to the axis of said recording drum;
a beam diameter changing mechanism for changing a beam diameter of the laser beam emitted from said recording head; and
a controller for controlling said modulator, said rotary motor, said moving motor and said beam diameter changing mechanism, to irradiate the image recording material at a first pixel pitch with a laser beam having a first beam diameter, thereby to engrave the image recording material to a first depth, and thereafter to irradiate the image recording material at a second pixel pitch larger than said first pixel pitch with a laser beam having a second beam diameter larger than said first beam diameter, thereby to engrave the image recording material to a second depth greater than said first depth. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A platemaking apparatus for making a printing plate by scanning and engraving a surface of an image recording material with a laser beam emitted from a laser source, comprising:
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a modulator for modulating the laser beam emitted from said laser source;
a recording drum for supporting the recording material as mounted peripherally thereof;
a rotary motor for rotating said recording drum;
a recording head movable parallel to an axis of said recording drum for irradiating the image recording material mounted peripherally of said recording drum, with the laser beam emitted from said laser source;
a moving motor for moving said recording head parallel to the axis of said recording drum;
a beam diameter changing mechanism for changing a beam diameter of the laser beam emitted from said recording head; and
a controller for controlling said modulator, said rotary motor, said moving motor and said beam diameter changing mechanism, to irradiate the image recording material at a first pixel pitch with a laser beam having a first beam diameter, thereby to engrave the image recording material to a first depth, and thereafter to irradiate the image recording material at a second pixel pitch smaller than said first pixel pitch with a laser beam having a second beam diameter smaller than said first beam diameter, thereby to engrave the image recording material to a second depth greater than said first depth. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification