US 12,455,506 B2
Process and apparatus for feeding a flexographic printing plate processor
Thomas Klein, Wolfenbuettel (DE); Pascal Thomas, Hamburg (DE); and Wolfgang Sievers, Kremperheide (DE)
Assigned to Esko-Graphics Imaging GmbH, Itzehoe (DE)
Appl. No. 18/270,292
Filed by Esko-Graphics Imaging GmbH, Itzehoe (DE)
PCT Filed Dec. 23, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/087442
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jun. 29, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/144291, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 7, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/132,029, filed on Dec. 30, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0118623 A1, Apr. 11, 2024
Int. Cl. G03F 7/20 (2006.01); G03F 7/00 (2006.01); G03F 7/16 (2006.01)
CPC G03F 7/2055 (2013.01) [G03F 7/168 (2013.01); G03F 7/2037 (2013.01); G03F 7/70725 (2013.01); G03F 7/70833 (2013.01); G03F 7/7085 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A plate processing line for producing a flexographic printing plate comprising:
an imaging station configured to apply image information to a first plate;
a first exposure station configured to expose the first plate to radiation to cure the first plate;
a processing station configured to process the first plate by applying one or more of water, a solvent, and/or a thermal process to the first plate;
at least one further station selected from a group consisting of a drying station configured to dry the first plate and an after-exposure station configured to expose the first plate to further radiation; and
a feeding station configured to feed the first plate cured by the first exposure station from the first exposure station directly to the processing station, wherein the feeding station is further configured to feed a second plate cured by a second exposure station from the second exposure station directly to the processing station.