Direct engraving of flexographic printing plates

• US 8,365,662 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2010
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Miraclon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Aviel, David, Siman-Tov, Alon, Perry, Lior
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, ANTHONY H
• Application Number:
  US12/781,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20110277649A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 101/401.1
• US Class Current: 101/401.1
• CPC Class Codes: B41C 1/05 Heat-generating engraving heads, e.g. laser beam, electron beam

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.

Claims

1. A system for engraving flexographic printing plates, comprising:

first imaging source adapted to engrave printable areas of a flexographic plate;

second imaging source adapted to engrave non-printable areas of said flexographic plate wherein the depth of engraving of said non-printable areas are substantially deeper than the depth of said printable areas;

a controller configured to synchronize between said first imaging source and said second imaging source wherein said controller directs said first imaging source to engrave said printable areas and said second imaging source to engrave said non-printable areas; and

wherein said controller directs said first imaging source to engrave said printable areas and engrave non-printable areas underneath said printable areas.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein said non-printable areas are substantially wider than said printable areas.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein said first imaging source is positioned at a distance from said second imaging source wherein said non-printable areas are minimally affected by engraving of said second imaging source.