U.S. patent application number 11/047690 was filed with the patent office on 2005-07-21 for regenerative plate making and printing process, and plate making and printing apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.. Invention is credited to Ikeda, Hiroaki, Matsubara, Masahiro, Mizuho, Yuji, Tabuchi, Mitsuru, Uematsu, Takuya, Urano, Toshiyuki.
Application Number | 20050158663 11/047690 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27482242 |
Filed Date | 2005-07-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050158663 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tabuchi, Mitsuru ; et
al. |
July 21, 2005 |
Regenerative plate making and printing process, and plate making
and printing apparatus
Abstract
The regenerative plate making and printing process, and plate
making and printing apparatus of the present invention are applied
to a printing system requiring a separate developing step
independent of a printing step. In accordance with the present
invention, by repeatedly conducting (A) a photosensitive
layer-coating step of coating a photosensitive plate material onto
a substrate to prepare a photosensitive lithographic plate having a
photosensitive layer thereon; (B) an exposure step of exposing the
photosensitive layer to image light; (C) a development step of
supplying a plate-treating agent to the photosensitive layer to
form developed images thereon; (D) a printing step of supplying a
printing ink and dampening water to surfaces of the thus obtained
images to conduct printing; and (E) a substrate regeneration step
of removing the image portions from the substrate to regenerate the
substrate, on the same rotary drum or conveyer, it is possible to
considerably improve the working efficiency and stably provide
high-quality images.
Inventors: |
Tabuchi, Mitsuru;
(Hiroshima-ken, JP) ; Matsubara, Masahiro;
(Hiroshima-ken, JP) ; Ikeda, Hiroaki;
(Hiroshima-ken, JP) ; Urano, Toshiyuki;
(Kanagawa-ken, JP) ; Uematsu, Takuya;
(Kanagawa-ken, JP) ; Mizuho, Yuji; (Kanagawa-ken,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NIXON & VANDERHYE, PC
901 NORTH GLEBE ROAD, 11TH FLOOR
ARLINGTON
VA
22203
US
|
Assignee: |
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries,
Ltd.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
27482242 |
Appl. No.: |
11/047690 |
Filed: |
February 2, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11047690 |
Feb 2, 2005 |
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10323852 |
Dec 20, 2002 |
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6877428 |
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10323852 |
Dec 20, 2002 |
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PCT/JP02/04144 |
Apr 25, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
430/300 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B41C 1/1008 20130101;
G03F 7/16 20130101; G03F 7/3035 20130101; G03F 7/425 20130101; B41C
2210/262 20130101; B41N 3/006 20130101; B41C 2210/24 20130101; B41F
7/02 20130101; B41N 1/083 20130101; B41C 2210/04 20130101; B41N
3/036 20130101; B41N 3/06 20130101; G03F 7/18 20130101; G03F 7/24
20130101; B41C 2210/08 20130101; G03F 7/422 20130101; B41C 2210/22
20130101; B41P 2227/70 20130101; B41C 2210/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
430/300 |
International
Class: |
G03C 001/492 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 26, 2001 |
JP |
2001-129968 |
May 11, 2001 |
JP |
2001-141342 |
Jun 6, 2001 |
JP |
2001-170705 |
Jun 21, 2001 |
JP |
2001-187564 |
Claims
1-32. (canceled)
33. A process for producing a positive-type lithographic plate,
comprising: forming a photosensitive layer composed of a
positive-type photosensitive composition containing (P-1) a
light-heat converting material capable of converting light absorbed
from a light source for image exposure into heat and (P-2) an
alkali-soluble resin, on a surface of an aluminum substrate to
obtain a positive-type photosensitive lithographic plate having a
photosensitive layer thereon; subjecting the photosensitive layer
of the thus obtained positive-type photosensitive lithographic
plate to scanning exposure using a laser source and then
development treatment to form positive images thereon; detachably
fixing the positive-type lithographic plate on a plate cylinder of
a printing machine to print a printing material with ink; removing
the positive images formed on the surface of the aluminum substrate
while keeping the positive-type lithographic plate fixed on the
plate cylinder, to regenerate the aluminum substrate; and forming a
photosensitive layer composed of the positive-type photosensitive
composition containing the components (P-1) and (P-2) again on the
surface of the regenerated aluminum substrate, followed by
subjecting the photosensitive layer to scanning exposure using the
laser source and then development treatment again to form the
positive images thereon.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a divisional of application Ser. No.
10/323,852 filed Dec. 20, 2002, now U.S. patent which in turn
continuation of PCT/JP02/04144 filed Apr. 25, 2002 which claims the
priority of each of the following: Japanese 2001-129968 filed 26
Apr. 2001; Japanese 2001-141342 filed 11 May 2001; Japanese
2001-170705 filed 6 Jun. 2001; and Japanese 2001-187564 filed 21
Jun. 2001.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a regenerative plate making
and printing process, and a plate making and printing apparatus.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a regenerative
plate making and printing process, and a plate making and printing
apparatus which is considerably improved in working efficiency and
provides stable high-quality printed images while suppressing the
generation of stains upon printing.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Hitherto, there are known plate making processes using
lithographic printing machines, namely on-printing machine plate
making processes. For example, in Japanese Patent Application
Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 11-216835(1999) as filed by the present
applicant, there is described an improved on-printing machine plate
making process. In this on-printing machine plate making process, a
photosensitive lithographic printing plate is produced using a
lithographic printing machine having a printing section including a
plate cylinder, a blanket cylinder and an impression cylinder, by
(A) supplying a plate-treating agent to a photosensitive
lithographic printing plate fixed on the plate cylinder and exposed
to image light, from a plate-treating agent feeding roller disposed
in contact with the photosensitive lithographic printing plate; and
then (B) rotating the plate cylinder and the blanket cylinder while
keeping both the cylinders in contact with each other, so as to
apply physical stimulus to the photosensitive lithographic printing
plate, thereby forming images thereon.
[0004] The above process is characterized in that the step (B) is
conducted after causing the blanket cylinder and the impression
cylinder to be spaced apart from each other, and further stopping
delivery of papers to the impression cylinder. In such a process,
after the printing plate is produced by fixing the photosensitive
lithographic printing plate exposed to image light, on the plate
cylinder, printing procedure is successively conducted using the
thus produced printing plate. This process is intended to reduce
loss of papers and to prevent dirt or dusts from mixing in the
plate-treating agent (printing ink, dampening water, etc.).
[0005] However, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI)
No. 11-216835(1999), there is described only the developing method
using dampening water on the printing machine. Also, Japanese
Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 11-216835(1999) neither
describes nor suggests at all the regeneration of the printing
plate after printing.
[0006] In Japanese Patent No. 3122717 (equivalent to EP802457A1),
there is described the process in which a hydrophilic emulsion
capable of being converted into hydrophobic one upon irradiating
light thereto, is used as a photosensitive composition, and the
photosensitive composition is subjected to light exposure and image
development on a printing machine by a melting method. However, the
thus produced printing plate must be further improved in wear
resistance upon printing. In Japanese Patent No. 3122717, there is
described only the developing method using dampening water on a
printing machine. Also, although it is described that the printing
plate may be regenerated after printing, the Japanese Patent No.
3122717 does not describe at all a concrete method for regeneration
of the printing plate.
[0007] In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No.
9-99535(1997) (equivalent to U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,287), there is
described the on-printing machine image forming method using as a
photosensitive composition, a switching polymer whose hydrophilic
property is changeable to a hydrophobic property by irradiating a
laser thereto. However, the printing plate obtained by this method
must be further improved in wear resistance upon printing. Also, in
the above method, no development step is provided independent of
the printing step.
[0008] Further, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI)
No. 8-52949(1997) (equivalent to U.S. Pat. No. 5,816,161 and EP
693371A1), there is described the method of repeatedly erasing and
reproducing images on a printing plate within a printing machine
without removal of a plate cylinder or the printing plate. However,
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 8-52949(1997)
fails to specify the developing and printing methods at all.
[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a
regenerative plate making and printing process as well as a plate
making and printing apparatus by further improving the conventional
on-printing machine plate making methods, which are considerably
improved in working efficiency, and are capable of suppressing the
generation of the stains upon printing, thereby producing stable
high-quality images.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0010] As a result of the present inventors' earnest studies for
solving the above-mentioned problems, it has been found that in the
printing system including as an essential step, a separate
developing step independent of a printing step, the above problems
can be overcome by using the process based on such a novel concept
that respective exposure, development, printing and regeneration
steps are repeatedly conducted on a rotary drum or conveyer. The
present invention has been attained on the basis of the above
finding.
[0011] That is, in a first aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a regenerative plate making and printing process
comprising:
[0012] (A) a photosensitive layer-coating step of coating a
photosensitive plate material fed from a photosensitive plate
material-feeding mechanism onto a substrate to prepare a
photosensitive lithographic plate having a photosensitive layer
thereon;
[0013] (B) an exposure step of exposing the photosensitive layer of
the photosensitive lithographic plate to image light by an exposure
mechanism;
[0014] (C) a development step of supplying a plate-treating agent
to the image-exposed photosensitive layer from a plate-treating
agent-feeding mechanism to form images thereon;
[0015] (D) a printing step of supplying a printing ink and
dampening water to surfaces of the images obtained in the step (C),
from an inking device and a dampening device, respectively, to
conduct printing; and
[0016] (E) a substrate regeneration step of removing the image
portions from the substrate by a plate material-removing mechanism
to regenerate the substrate,
[0017] the development step (C) being conducted independent of the
printing step (D), and the steps (A) to (E) being repeated on the
same rotary drum or conveyer.
[0018] In a second aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a regenerative on-printing machine plate making and
printing apparatus comprising:
[0019] a lithographic printing machine including a plate cylinder,
a blanket cylinder, an impression cylinder, an inking device and a
dampening device;
[0020] a substrate-fixing means for fixing a substrate on the plate
cylinder;
[0021] a plate material-feeding mechanism for supplying a
photosensitive plate material onto the substrate;
[0022] an exposure mechanism for exposing a photosensitive
lithographic plate thus formed by supplying and coating the
photosensitive plate material onto the substrate, to image
light;
[0023] a plate material-removing mechanism comprising a plate
material-dissolving solution-feeding mechanism, and optionally a
plate material-stripping roller, a wash water-feeding mechanism, a
waste solution suction mechanism and an air-drying mechanism;
[0024] a casing having a slidable and openable front for
accommodating all of the components therein; and
[0025] a dust filter disposed on a ceiling portion of the
casing,
[0026] the plate cylinder, the blanket cylinder and the impression
cylinder being adjustably disposed to be spaced apart from each
other, delivery of papers to the impression cylinder being
controllably stopped, and the inking device and the dampening
device being adjustably disposed to be spaced apart from the plate
cylinder.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] FIG. 1 is a conceptual view showing an embodiment of an
apparatus for carrying out the regenerative on-printing machine
plate making and printing process of the present invention; and
[0028] FIG. 2 is a conceptual view showing an embodiment of an
apparatus for carrying out the regenerative plate making process of
the present invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0029] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are
described in detail below by referring to the accompanying
drawings. In the figures, reference numeral (1) denotes a casing;
(11) is a dust filter; (12) is an exhaust duct; (21) is a plate
cylinder; (22) is a blanket cylinder; (23) is an impression
cylinder; (3) is a substrate (lithographic plate); (31) is a
substrate-fixing means; (4) is a plate material-feeding mechanism;
(5) is an exposure mechanism; (6) is an inking device; (7) is a
dampening device; (9) is a light-heating type drying mechanism;
(80) is a plate-treating agent-feeding mechanism; (81) is a plate
material-dissolving solution-feeding mechanism; (82) is a plate
material-stripping roller; (83) is a wash water-feeding mechanism;
(84) is a waste solution suction mechanism; (85) is an air-drying
mechanism; and (86) is an anti-staining tray.
[0030] In the process according to the first aspect of the present
invention, the respective exposure, development, printing and
regeneration steps are conducted on a rotary drum or conveyer in
sequential and independent manners. That is, the present invention
is characterized in that the development step is conducted
independent of the printing step.
[0031] More specifically, the following steps (A) to (E) are
sequentially repeated on the rotary drum or conveyer:
[0032] (A) a photosensitive layer-coating step of coating a
photosensitive plate material fed from a plate material-feeding
mechanism onto a substrate to prepare a photosensitive lithographic
plate having a photosensitive layer thereon;
[0033] (B) an exposure step of exposing the photosensitive layer of
the photosensitive lithographic plate to image light by an exposure
mechanism;
[0034] (C) a development step of supplying a plate-treating agent
to the image-exposed photosensitive layer from a plate-treating
agent-feeding mechanism to form images thereon;
[0035] (D) a printing step of supplying a printing ink and
dampening water to surfaces of the images obtained in the step (C),
from an inking device and a dampening device, respectively, to
conduct printing; and
[0036] (E) a substrate regeneration step of removing the image
portions from the substrate by a plate material-removing mechanism
to regenerate the substrate.
[0037] By adopting the above plate making and printing process, the
substrate for the lithographic plate is repeatedly usable many
times. Therefore, it is possible to not only considerably reduce
printing costs, but also considerably improve the working
efficiency and suppress the generation of the stains upon printing,
thereby stably producing high-quality images.
[0038] The process and apparatus of the present invention are not
particularly restricted as long as the above steps (A) to (E) are
sequentially repeated. Among them, the steps (A) to (E) are
preferably conducted on the plate cylinder (on-printing machine)
from the standpoint of compactness of the apparatus used.
[0039] FIG. 1 shows an apparatus for carrying out the regenerative
on-printing machine plate making and printing process of the
present invention. As the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, there may be
used modified conventional lithographic printing machines including
a plate cylinder (21), a blanket cylinder (22), an impression
cylinder (23), an inking device (6) and a dampening device (7).
[0040] That is, the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 has the same
structure as conventional lithographic printing machines except
that the apparatus comprises a substrate-fixing means (31) for
fixing a substrate (3) on the plate cylinder (21); a plate
material-feeding mechanism (4) for supplying a photosensitive plate
material onto the substrate (3); a plate material-removing
mechanism comprising a light-heating type drying mechanism (9), a
plate-treating agent-feeding mechanism (80), a plate
material-dissolving solution-feeding mechanism (81), and optionally
a plate material-stripping roller (82), a wash water-feeding
mechanism (83), a waste solution suction mechanism (84) and an
air-drying mechanism (85); a casing (1) having a slidable and
openable front for accommodating all of these components therein;
and auxiliary equipment such as a dust filter (11) disposed on a
ceiling portion of the casing (1), wherein the plate cylinder (21),
the blanket cylinder (22) and the impression cylinder (23) are
adjustably disposed to be spaced apart from each other; delivery of
papers to the impression cylinder (23) is controllably stopped; and
the inking device (6) and the dampening device (7) are adjustably
disposed to be spaced apart from the plate cylinder (21). In one
preferred embodiment of the apparatus according to the present
invention as shown in FIG. 1, the casing (1) is provided at a
ceiling portion thereof with the dust filter (11).
[0041] The substrate-fixing means (31) has, for example, such a
structure that the opposite ends of the substrate (3) are inserted
into grooves formed on the plate cylinder (21) to wedge the
substrate. The plate material-feeding mechanism (4), the
plate-treating agent-feeding mechanism (80), the plate
material-dissolving solution-feeding mechanism (81) and the wash
water-feeding mechanism (83) are each constituted by a
liquid-receiving bucket and a roller partially incorporated in the
liquid-receiving bucket. The waste solution suction mechanism (84)
is constituted by a liquid-receiving bucket and a suction roller
(having substantially the same length as that of the substrate (3))
partially incorporated in the liquid-receiving bucket. The
air-drying mechanism (85) is constituted by a blowing fan or an
infrared lamp. The plate material-feeding mechanism (4), the
plate-treating agent-feeding mechanism (80), the plate
material-dissolving solution-feeding mechanism (81) and the wash
water-feeding in addition to the above roller mechanisms. Also, the
plate material-stripping roller (82) is constituted by rollers
having, for example, a suitable adhesive surface.
[0042] The plate material-feeding mechanism (4), the plate-treating
agent-feeding mechanism (80), the plate material-dissolving
solution-feeding mechanism (81), the plate material-stripping
mechanism (82), the wash water-feeding mechanism (83), the waste
solution suction mechanism (84) and the air-drying mechanism (85)
are disposed, for example, on a rack-shaped stand opposed to the
plate cylinder (21), and are vertically movable by a suitable rack
and pinion gear mechanism. This arrangement allows the mechanisms
required for the respective plate making step, printing step and
regeneration step to be disposed near the plate cylinder at each
time.
[0043] The exposure mechanism (5) is constituted by an optical
equipment capable of irradiating light having a wavelength suited
to the reaction of a composition constituting the photosensitive
plate material on the basis of the image digital data. Meanwhile,
an anti-staining tray (86) is slidably disposed between the plate
cylinder (21) and the blanket cylinder (22). Alternatively, the
anti-staining tray (86) may be disposed between the blanket
cylinder (22) and the impression cylinder (23). The sliding
mechanism of the anti-staining tray (86) may be constituted, for
example, by a suitable rack and pinion gear mechanism.
[0044] The sliding motion of the openable front of the casing (1)
is readily conducted, for example, by guide rails (not shown)
disposed on a floor. As the dust filter disposed on the ceiling
portion of the casing (1), there may be used commercially available
products. In FIG. 1, reference numeral (12) denotes an exhaust duct
provided, if required, at the bottom portion of the casing (1).
[0045] The plate cylinder (21), the blanket cylinder (22) and the
impression cylinder (23) are movable so as to be spaced apart from
each other, for example, by a suitable mechanical means such as
eccentric bushings fitted in the blanket cylinder (22) and the
impression cylinder (23). Also, an inking roller of the inking
device (6) and a dampening roller of the dampening device (7) are
movable so as to be spaced apart from the plate cylinder (21) by a
suitable mechanical means such as the cam provided on the plate
cylinder (21) and links provided on the respective rollers.
[0046] The above described means and mechanisms for modification of
lithographic printing machines will be readily constituted by one
having an ordinary skill in the art, from known and customary
techniques by referring to the teachings of the present
invention.
[0047] In the process of the present invention, after keeping the
plate cylinder (21), the blanket cylinder (22) and the impression
cylinder (23) apart from each other, and stopping delivery of
papers to the impression cylinder, at the step (A), a
photosensitive plate material composed of a photosensitive
composition is supplied from the plate material-feeding mechanism
(4) and coated onto the substrate (3) fixed on the plate cylinder
(21) to prepare a photosensitive lithographic plate; then, at the
step (B), the thus prepared photosensitive lithographic plate is
exposed to image light by the exposure mechanism (5); at the step
(C), a plate-treating agent is fed onto the thus image-exposed
photosensitive lithographic plate from the plate-treating
agent-feeding mechanism, followed by optionally applying physical
stimulus thereto, to form images thereon; then, at the step (D), a
printing ink and dampening water are supplied onto surfaces of the
images formed on the photosensitive lithographic plate, from the
inking device (6) and the dampening device (7), respectively, and
the plate cylinder (21), the blanket cylinder (22) and the
impression cylinder (23) are rotated while being kept in contact
with each other and supplying a printing paper between the blanket
cylinder (22) and the impression cylinder (23) to conduct printing;
and successively, after keeping the respective cylinders apart from
each other and stopping delivery of papers to the impression
cylinder (23) again, at the step (E), image portions formed on the
substrate (3) are removed by the plate material-removing mechanism,
thereby regenerating the substrate (3).
[0048] In the followings, the respective plate making, printing and
regeneration steps that are repeatedly conducted using the
lithographic printing machine having a printing section including
the plate cylinder (21), the blanket cylinder (22) and the
impression cylinder (23) are illustratively described.
[0049] <Plate Making Steps (A) to (C)>
[0050] As the substrate (3), there may be used, for example,
grain-treated aluminum plates. The photosensitive plate material
composition is not particularly restricted, and any compositions
conventionally known as photosensitive plate materials may be used
without particular limitations. Among them, the following
photopolymerizable compositions proposed by the present inventors
are preferred:
[0051] (1) Photopolymerizable compositions containing an
urethane-based compound as an ethylenic monomer having 4 or more
urethane bonds and 4 or more addition-polymerizable double bonds in
one molecule, and a photopolymerization initiator;
[0052] (2) photopolymerizable compositions for near-infrared laser
exposure, containing (a) an ethylenic compound, (b) cyanine-based
sensitizing dye cation and/or phthalocyanine-based sensitizing dye
having heterocyclic rings bonded to each other through a
polymethine chain, and (c) organoboron anion and/or
halomethyl-containing compound; and
[0053] (3) photopolymerizable compositions for blue violet laser
exposure, containing an ethylenically unsaturated compound, and a
hexaarylbiimidazole-based compound or a titanocene compound, and a
dialkylaminobenzene-based compound as a photopolymerization
initiator.
[0054] First, after keeping the plate cylinder (21), the blanket
cylinder (22) and the impression cylinder (23) spaced apart from
each other and stopping delivery of papers to the impression
cylinder (23), at the step (A), the photosensitive plate material
composed of a photosensitive composition is supplied from the plate
material-feeding mechanism (4) and applied onto the substrate (3)
fixed on the plate cylinder (21) to prepare a photosensitive
lithographic plate (photosensitive layer-coating step).
[0055] In the present invention, when the photosensitive layer is
formed on the substrate (3) to prepare a photosensitive
image-forming material, the obtained photosensitive image-forming
material is preferably heat-dried by irradiating a near-infrared
light having a specific wavelength using the light-heating type
drying mechanism (9) or the like.
[0056] As a preferred light source for the light-heating type
drying mechanism (9), there may be used various types of light
sources having an emission wavelength of 700 to 1,300 nm, and a
light intensity density of not more than 100 Wcm.sup.-2, preferably
not more than 50 Wcm.sup.-2, more preferably not more than 10
Wcm.sup.-2. The irradiating time is not less than 0.1 second,
preferably not less than 1 second. Examples of the preferred light
sources may include lamp light sources such as halogen lamp, xenon
lamp, high-pressure mercury lamp, low-pressure mercury lamp, extra
high-pressure mercury lamp and tungsten lamp, laser sources such as
semiconductor laser and YAG laser, or the like. Of these light
sources, the halogen lamps exhibiting an excellent near-infrared
emission effect are preferred, and the halogen lamps having an
emission peak at 1,200 nm are more preferred. Light emitted from
these light sources may be passed, if required, through a filter to
shield UV-visible regions of the emitted light.
[0057] The reason why the light sources having the above-specified
emission wavelength and light intensity density are used as the
light source of the light-heating type drying mechanism (9), is as
follows. That is, the image-forming material (e.g., lithographic
plate) tends to readily undergo deterioration of the photosensitive
layer when the light intensity density is too high during the heat
treatment thereof. When the light-irradiating time is too short, it
may be difficult to obtain a sufficient heating effect. Further, in
the case where light having a higher light intensity density is
irradiated for a short period of time, the photosensitive layer
exhibits an excessive image forming effect. As a result, the
photosensitive layer of positive type tends to suffer from lack of
photosensitive image portions, or the photosensitive layer of
negative type tends to suffer from residual of non-image portions
of the photosensitive layer.
[0058] By using the above heating method, only the photosensitive
layer is heated, so that it is possible to prevent large
temperature rise of the drum substrate for the image-forming
material, and obtain the same heating effect as achieved by
ordinary heating dryers.
[0059] The laser plate making process of the present invention may
be suitably conducted on the above lithographic printing machine as
a laser plate making apparatus which has a printing section
including the plate cylinder (21), the blanket cylinder (22) and
the impression cylinder (23), and in which the plate making,
printing and regeneration steps are repeatedly conducted. The
respective steps conducted on the above lithographic printing
machine as well as the laser plate making process according to the
present invention are explained below.
[0060] After preparing the above photosensitive lithographic plate,
at the step (B), the thus prepared photosensitive lithographic
plate is exposed to image light by the exposure mechanism (5)
(exposure step). Then, at the step (C), a plate-treating agent is
supplied onto the image-exposed photosensitive lithographic plate
from the plate-treating agent-feeding mechanism, followed by, if
required, applying physical stimulus thereto, to form images
thereon (development step).
[0061] As the plate-treating agent used in the present invention,
there may be used hydrophilizing agents (penetrating agents)
capable of penetrating into non-exposed portions to lower the
bonding strength between the substrate and the photosensitive layer
at the non-exposed portions without a printing ink or dampening
water as used in conventional processes. Examples of the
plate-treating agents may include surfactants, organic solvents,
alkali agents or the like.
[0062] In the present invention, in order to attain a constant
reproducibility of developed images in the development step (C), it
is preferred that the conditions of images formed on the
photosensitive layer are detected to control the developing
conditions on the basis of the detected data.
[0063] As the means for detecting the conditions of the images
formed on the photosensitive layer, there may be suitably used
non-contact detection means such as CCD cameras. The data detected
in the development step (C) and used for controlling the developing
conditions may include reflection absorbance values of image
portions and non-image portions at a detection wavelength in the
range of 400 to 1,300 nm.
[0064] More specifically, the data detected in the development step
(C) and used for controlling the developing conditions are those
satisfying such a condition that the value obtained by dividing a
reflection absorbance A by a reflection absorbance B is not less
than 0.5, preferably not less than 3, wherein A represents a
reflection absorbance obtained by subtracting a reflection
absorbance of the substrate from the reflection absorbance of the
image portions; and B represents a reflection absorbance obtained
by subtracting the reflection absorbance of the substrate from the
reflection absorbance of the non-image portions. By using such
data, it is possible to detect the image conditions formed on the
photosensitive layer at a high accuracy. Incidentally, the upper
limit of the value obtained by dividing the reflection absorbance A
by the reflection absorbance B is not theoretically determined, but
is practically not more than 100 in the consideration of a time lag
between the actual detection and the control of the developing
conditions.
[0065] Thus, in the development step (C), the conditions of the
images formed on the photosensitive layer are detected, and the
developing conditions are controlled on the basis of the detected
data. In this case, the developing conditions to be controlled may
include at least one selected from the group consisting of a
temperature of a developing solution, a developing time, a feed
amount of the developing solution, a frequency of feed of the
developing solution, and a contact (rubbing) pressure, a contact
density and a contact frequency of the image-forming material.
[0066] In accordance with the plate making process of the present
invention, since the conditions of the images formed on the
photosensitive layer of the image-forming material are detected,
and the developing conditions are controlled on the basis of the
detected data, it is possible to always attain a constant
reproducibility of developed images in the development step (C)
independent of the change in composition of the developing solution
due to absorption of carbon dioxide gas in air.
[0067] The present invention is characterized in that the
development step (C) is provided separately from the printing step,
and in that the plate-treating agent-feeding mechanism is
disposed.
[0068] <Printing Step (D)>
[0069] After completion of the plate making step, at the step (D),
the surfaces of the images formed on the photosensitive
lithographic plate are supplied with a printing ink and dampening
water from the inking device (6) and the dampening device (7),
respectively. Then, the plate cylinder (21), the blanket cylinder
(22) and the impression cylinder (23) are rotated in contact with
each other, and at the same time a printing paper is delivered
between the blanket cylinder (22) and the impression cylinder (23)
to conduct printing thereon. Such procedures may be conducted
according to the conventionally known methods.
[0070] <Regeneration Step (E)>
[0071] After completion of the printing step, the respective
cylinders are kept to be spaced apart from each other, and the
delivery of papers to the impression cylinder (23) is stopped
again. Thereafter, at the step (E), the image portions on the
substrate (3) are removed by the plate material-removing mechanism
to regenerate the substrate. In the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the
plate material-removing mechanism includes the plate
material-dissolving solution-feeding mechanism (81), the plate
material-stripping roller (82) which may be optionally provided,
the wash water-feeding mechanism (83), the waste solution suction
mechanism (84) and the air-drying mechanism (85).
[0072] First, after the anti-staining tray (86) is disposed between
the blanket cylinder (22) and the impression cylinder (23), the
plate material-dissolving solution (for example, an aqueous alkali
solution) is supplied to the surfaces of the images formed on the
photosensitive lithographic plate fitted on the plate cylinder (21)
from the plate material-dissolving solution-feeding mechanism (81)
while rotating the plate cylinder (21). This procedure allows the
images to be dissolved in the solution, thereby regenerating the
substrate (3). If the images are not dissolved but swelled, the
swelled images are removed by means of the plate material-stripping
roller (82) by allowing the images to adhere thereto.
[0073] Then, a wash water is supplied onto the surface of the
regenerated substrate (3) from the wash water-feeding mechanism
(83). This procedure allows the plate making dissolving solution to
be removed from the surface of the substrate (3). Successively, the
residual solution still remaining on the substrate (3) is removed
by the waste solution suction mechanism (84), and then the surface
of the substrate (3) is dried by the air-drying mechanism (85).
[0074] In the present invention, after the regeneration step, the
process is returned to the plate making steps (A) to (C), which are
then repeated in the same manner. Accordingly, since the respective
plate making, printing and regeneration steps are conducted on the
printing machine, the working efficiency is considerably enhanced.
Besides, in this case, since the plate making is effected on the
substrate (3) fixed on the plate cylinder (21), a large
modification of the plate cylinder (21) is not particularly needed,
and the substrate (3) can be readily replaced with a new one at low
costs, resulting in economical advantage.
[0075] In the present invention, by conducting the plate making and
regeneration steps, and the printing step on the separate machines,
the respective steps can be effectively conducted, and the printing
machine is completely prevented from being stained with the liquids
used in the plate making and regeneration steps. Further, since the
plate making is effected on the substrate fixed on the plate fixing
drum, the substrate can be readily replaced with a new one at low
costs.
[0076] The process of the present invention can be conducted using
the laser plate making and regeneration apparatus (I) as shown in
FIG. 2, and the printing machine (II). As the printing machine
(II), there may be used conventionally known lithographic printing
machines having a printing section including a plate cylinder, a
blanket cylinder and an impression cylinder. In the laser plate
making and regeneration apparatus (I), the plate making and
regeneration steps are repeatedly conducted, whereas in the
printing machine (II), the printing step is repeatedly
conducted.
[0077] More specifically, the lithographic plate prepared in the
plate making and regeneration apparatus (I) is removed from the
plate fixing drum (21), fitted to the printing machine (II) (not
shown), and then used for printing according to the above
procedure. Then, the lithographic plate used for printing is
removed from the printing machine (II), and fixed on the plate
fixing drum (21), and then the image portions on the lithographic
plate are removed by the plate material-removing mechanism to
regenerate the substrate. After the regeneration step, the process
is returned to the plate making steps (A to C), which are then
repeated in the same manner as above.
[0078] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
respective steps are conducted under such a condition that the
whole part of the plate making apparatus is accommodated within the
casing (1) by sliding. In this embodiment of the present invention,
the casing (1) is operated as follows. That is, the apparatus
(lithographic printing machine) as shown in FIG. 1 is disposed
within a printing chamber of the casing. In the present invention,
as the photosensitive plate material, there may be used various
photosensitive compositions as described above. The casing (1) has
the effect of shielding an illuminating light that adversely
affects photosensitive compositions or the like used therein.
[0079] Also, the dust filter (11) disposed at a ceiling portion of
the casing (1) is operated as follows. That is, the above printing
chamber can be usually ventilated by providing an air intake port
near the ceiling thereof and an exhaust port near the floor. This
arrangement allows ventilating air flow to pass through the dust
filter (11) toward the opened front of the casing (1), so that
mists generated in the respective plate making, printing and
regenerating steps are efficiently removed therefrom. The removal
of the mists can be conducted more efficiently by fitting an
exhaust duct (12) to the above exhaust port.
[0080] Next, the photosensitive lithographic plate used in the
present invention is explained in detail below.
[0081] As the substrate of the lithographic plate used in the
process for production of positive-type or negative-type
lithographic plate of the present invention, there may be used a
regenerated aluminum substrate. The regenerated aluminum substrate
is produced by forming a photosensitive layer composed of a
positive-type or negative-type photosensitive composition on the
surface of the aluminum substrate to prepare a photosensitive
lithographic plate; subjecting the photosensitive layer to light
exposure and development treatment to form images thereon;
detachably fixing the photosensitive lithographic plate on the
plate cylinder of the printing machine to print on a printing
material with ink; and then removing the images formed on the
surface of the aluminum substrate while keeping the printing plate
fixed on the plate cylinder.
[0082] Examples of the aluminum plate may include those plates
composed of aluminum, or aluminum alloys containing in addition to
aluminum, silicon, copper, manganese, magnesium, chromium, zinc,
lead, bismuth, nickel or the like. The aluminum plate used as the
substrate in the present invention has a thickness of usually about
0.01 to 10 mm, preferably about 0.05 to 1 mm, and is usually
subjected to defatting treatment, surface roughening treatment
(graining treatment), death mat treatment, anodization treatment,
sealing treatment, undercoating treatment or the like.
[0083] The defatting treatment may be conducted by ordinary methods
such as a wiping, dipping or steam-washing method using a solvent;
a method of dipping or spraying with an aqueous alkali solution and
then neutralizing with an aqueous acid solution; and a dipping or
spraying method using a surfactant.
[0084] The surface roughening treatment (graining treatment) may be
conducted by ordinary methods including mechanical treatments such
as ball polishing, brush polishing, blast polishing, honing
polishing and buff polishing as well as electrolytic etching,
chemical etching or the like. Of these methods, it is preferred to
conduct the electrolytic etching treatment in an electrolyte
solution such as hydrochloric acid and nitric acid using
alternating or direct current. Further, it is more preferred to
conduct, the electrolytic etching treatment at an acid
concentration of 0.5 to 5% by weight, an applied voltage of 1 to 50
V, a current density of 10 to 200 A/dm.sup.2 and a temperature of
10 to 50.degree. C. In the present invention, the surface of the
aluminum plate obtained after the surface roughening treatment is
essentially required to exhibit an average roughness Ra of 0.3 to
1.0 .mu.m, preferably 0.4 to 0.8 .mu.m when measured according to
JIS B0601. If the average roughness Ra is out of the
above-specified range, when the image removal and regeneration of
lithographic plate are conducted while keeping the lithographic
plate fixed on the plate cylinder of the printing machine, the
removal of images from the surface of the substrate tends to become
insufficient, or the photosensitive layer formed on the regenerated
substrate tends to be deteriorated in developing property. As a
result, it may be difficult to stably form images on the substrate
again, and there may arise problems such as deteriorated wear
resistance upon printing.
[0085] The death mat-treatment may be conducted by ordinary methods
such as dipping and spraying methods using an aqueous solution of
acid such as sulfuric acid, nitric acid, hydrochloric acid,
hydrofluoric acid, phosphoric acid and chromic acid, or alkali such
as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium metasilicate,
sodium phosphate, sodium pyrophosphate, potassium phosphate and
sodium aluminate according to the requirements.
[0086] The anodization treatment may be conducted by ordinary
methods using an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid, oxalic acid,
phosphoric acid, chromic acid, malonic acid or the like as an
electrolyte solution, and the aluminum pate as an anode. Of these
methods, preferred are anodization treatments using an aqueous
solution of sulfuric acid and/or phosphoric acid as the electrolyte
solution. More preferably, the anodization treatment may be
conducted at an acid concentration of 10 to 50% by weight, an
applied voltage of 1 to 150 V, a current density of 1 to 60
A/dm.sup.2 and a temperature of 5 to 50.degree. C. for an
electrolysis time of 5 to 60 seconds. The amount of the oxide film
formed by the anodization treatment is usually 1 to 100
mg/dm.sup.2, preferably 10 to 50 mg/dm.sup.2.
[0087] The sealing treatment may be conducted by ordinary methods
such as dipping or spraying method using boiling water, steam, an
aqueous sodium silicate solution, an aqueous dichromate solution or
the like according to the requirements. Also, the undercoating
treatment may be conducted by ordinary methods such as a dipping or
spraying method using aqueous solutions of cationic quaternary
ammonium salt-containing resins, water-soluble polymers such as
polyvinylphosphonic acid, starch and cellulose, metal salts such as
zirconates and titanates, or the like.
[0088] As the aluminum substrate for the negative-type lithographic
plate, there may be suitably used those aluminum plates whose
surface is coated with a thin film layer composed of the
water-soluble polymer by the above undercoating treatment. Specific
examples of the water-soluble polymers may include homopolymers or
copolymers of hydrophilic monomers having a hydrophilic group such
as hydroxyl group, carboxyl group or salts thereof, sulfonic acid
group or salts thereof, phosphoric acid group or salts thereof,
amido group, amino group and ether group, for example,
(meth)acrylic acid ("(meth)acrylic" means "acrylic and/or
methacrylic"; this definition is similarly applicable to the
following descriptions) or derivatives thereof such as alkali salts
and amine salts, itaconic acid or derivatives thereof such as
alkali salts and amine salts, 3-vinylpropionic acid or derivatives
thereof such as alkali salts and amine salts, vinylsulfonic acid or
derivatives thereof such as alkali salts and amine salts,
2-hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-sulfoethyl(meth)acrylate,
polyoxyethylene glycol mono(meth)acrylate, acid phosphoxy
polyoxyethylene glycol mono(meth)acrylate, (meth)acrylamide,
N-methylol (meth)acrylamide, N,N-dimethylol(meth)acryla- mide,
2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, allylamine or
halogenated hydroxides thereof, vinyl alcohol or the like.
[0089] The above thin film layer composed of the water-soluble
polymer may be formed by coating or spraying an aqueous solution of
the above water-soluble polymer onto the surface of the
surface-treated aluminum substrate, or dipping the aluminum
substrate in the aqueous solution, followed by drying. The thin
film layer has a thickness of usually not more than 10 .mu.m.
[0090] The aluminum substrate used for production of the
negative-type photosensitive lithographic plate in the present
invention preferably has such a property that a gummed tape adhered
onto the surface of the aluminum substrate has a peel strength of
not more than 500 g/cm. Here, the peel strength of the gummed tape
from the aluminum substrate is measured by the following
180.degree. peel test. That is, after adhering a gummed tape
("SLION TAPE3" produced by SILIONTEC CO., LTD.) onto the surface of
the substrate at 25.degree. C., 5 kg/cm.sup.2 and 50 cm/min, the
substrate adhered with the gummed tape is fixed onto a table, and
the gummed tape adhered thereonto is peeled off in the 180.degree.
direction at a pulling speed of 30 cm/min. The peel strength is
expressed by a linear tension (g/cm) obtained by dividing a maximum
stress measured in the above peel test by a width of the gummed
tape. In the present invention, the peel strength is preferably not
more than 500 g/cm. Also, the peel strength is preferably not less
than 1 g/cm, more preferably not less than 10 g/cm. When the peel
strength of the gummed tape from the surface of the aluminum
substrate is more than the above-specified range, it tends to be
difficult to remove the negative images in the below-mentioned
regeneration step of the aluminum substrate. On the other hand,
when the peel strength is less than the above-specified range, the
obtained negative-type lithographic plate tends to be deteriorated
in wear resistance upon printing.
[0091] In the present invention, the photosensitive layer formed on
the surface of the above aluminum substrate may be constituted from
any of positive-type photosensitive compositions and negative-type
photosensitive compositions.
[0092] First, the positive-type photosensitive composition
constituting the photosensitive layer is explained.
[0093] Among the positive-type photosensitive compositions used in
the present invention, preferred are those containing the following
components (P-1) and (P-2).
[0094] (P-1): alkali-soluble resin;
[0095] (P-2): light-heat converting material capable of converting
light absorbed from a light source for image exposure into
heat.
[0096] As the alkali-soluble resin as the component (P-1)
constituting the positive-type photosensitive composition, there
may be used resins having phenolic hydroxyl group. Specific
examples of the resins having phenolic hydroxyl group may include
phenol resins such as novolak resins and resole resins, polyvinyl
phenol resins, copolymers of acrylic acid derivatives having
phenolic hydroxyl group, or the like. Of these resins, preferred
are phenol resins such as novolak resins and resole resins as well
as polyvinyl phenol resins, and more preferred are phenol resins,
and still more preferred are novolak resins.
[0097] The novolak resins are those resins produced by
polycondensing at least one of phenols such as, for example,
phenol, o-cresol, m-cresol, p-cresol, 2,5-xylenol, 3,5-xylenol,
o-ethyl phenol, m-ethyl phenol, p-ethyl phenol, propyl phenol,
n-butyl phenol, t-butyl phenol, 1-naphthol, 2-naphthol,
4,4'-biphenyl diol, bisphenol A, pyrocatechol, resorcinol,
hydroquinone, pyrogallol, 1,2,4-benzene triol and phloroglucinol
with at least one of aldehydes such as, for example, formaldehyde,
acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde, benzaldehyde and furfural
(para-formaldehyde and paraldehyde may be used instead of
formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, respectively), or ketones such as,
for example, acetone, methyl ethyl ketone and methyl isobutyl
ketone, in the presence of an acid catalyst. In the present
invention, among these novolak resins, preferred are those resins
produced by polycondensing the phenol selected from phenol,
o-cresol, m-cresol, p-cresol, 2,5-xylenol, 3,5-xylenol and
resorcinol with the aldehyde or ketone selected from formaldehyde,
acetaldehyde and propionaldehyde.
[0098] In particular, there are preferably used resins produced by
polycondensing mixed phenols containing m-cresol, p-cresol,
2,5-xylenol, 3,5-xylenol and resorcinol at a mixing molar ratio of
40 to 100:0 to 50:0 to 20:0 to 20:0 to 20, or mixed phenols
containing phenol, m-cresol and p-cresol at a mixing molar ratio of
1 to 100:0 to 70:0 to 60, with formaldehyde. Also, as described
hereinafter, the photosensitive composition of the present
invention may contain an anti-dissolving agent. In this case, there
are preferably used resins produced by polycondensing mixed phenols
containing m-cresol, p-cresol, 2,5-xylenol, 3,5-xylenol and
resorcinol at a mixing molar ratio of 70 to 100:0 to 30:0 to 20:0
to 20:0 to 20, or mixed phenols containing phenol, m-cresol and
p-cresol at a mixing molar ratio of 10 to 100:0 to 60:0 to 40, with
formaldehyde.
[0099] The above novolak resins have a weight-average molecular
weight (MW) of preferably 1,000 to 15,000, more preferably 1,500 to
10,000 (calculated as polystyrene) as measured by a gel permeation
chromatography.
[0100] The resole resins are those resins produced by the same
polycondensation process as that for the production of the novolak
resins except that an alkali catalyst is used instead of the acid
catalyst. In the production of the resole resins, the phenols and
mixing ratio thereof as well as aldehydes or ketones used therein
are preferably similar to those for the production of the novolak
resins, and the obtained resole resins have the similar
weight-average molecular weight (MW) to that of the novolak
resins.
[0101] The polyvinyl phenol resins are those resins produced by
polymerizing either one kind or two or more kinds of
hydroxystyrenes such as, for example, o-hydroxystyrene,
m-hydroxystyrene, p-hydroxystyrene, dihydroxystyrene,
trihydroxystyrene, tetrahydroxystyrene, pentahydroxystyrene,
2-(o-hydroxyphenyl)propylene, 2-(m-hydroxyphenyl)propylene and
2-(p-hydroxyphenyl)propylene (which may have a substituent group
bonded to a benzene ring such as halogen, i.e., chlorine, bromine,
iodine or fluorine, or C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkyl) in the presence of
a radical polymerization initiator or cationic polymerization
initiator. Of these polyvinyl phenol resins, preferred are polymers
of hydroxystyrenes having a C.sub.1 to C.sub.4 alkyl substituent
group bonded to the benzene ring, and more preferred are polymers
of hydroxystyrenes having unsubstituted benzene ring. The polyvinyl
phenol resins have a weight-average molecular weight (MW) of
preferably 1,000 to 100,000, more preferably 1,500 to 50,000.
[0102] Among the above alkali-soluble resins, preferred are phenol
resins containing a phenolic hydroxyl group, and more preferred are
novolak resins.
[0103] The light-heat converting materials of the component (P-2)
constituting the above positive-type photosensitive composition are
not particularly restricted as long as they are compounds capable
of converting light absorbed from a light source for image exposure
into heat. Examples of the light-heat converting materials may
include those compounds exhibiting an absorption maximum in a
near-infrared region of 600 to 1,300 nm, such as organic or
inorganic pigments, organic dyes, metals, metal oxides, metal
carbides and metal borides. Of these light-heat converting
materials, especially preferred are light-absorbing dyes.
[0104] The light-absorbing dyes have such a structure that
heteroatoms such as nitrogen, oxygen and sulfur are bonded to each
other through a polymethine chain (--CH.dbd.).sub.n and, typically,
are cyanine-based dyes in a broad sense having such a structure
that the heteroatoms constitute respective heterocyclic rings, and
the heterocyclic rings are bonded to each other through the
polymethine chain. Specific examples of the light-absorbing dyes
may include quinoline-based dyes (so-called cyanine-based dyes in a
narrow sense), indole-based dyes (so-called indocyanine-based
dyes), benzothiazole-based dyes (so-called thiocyanine-based dyes),
pyrylium-based dyes, thiopyrylium-based dyes, squalyrium-based
dyes, croconium-based dyes, azulenium-based dyes or the like as
well as so-called polymethine-based dyes having such a structure
that acyclic heteroatoms are bonded to each other through the
polymethine chain. Of these light-absorbing dyes, preferred are the
cyanine-based dyes such as quinoline-based, indole-based,
benzothiazole-based, pyrylium-based and thiopyrylium-based dyes.
Also, examples of the other light-absorbing dyes may include
diiminium-based dyes, phthalocyanine-based dyes or the like. Of
these other light-absorbing dyes, preferred are the diiminium-based
dyes.
[0105] In the present invention, among the above cyanine-based
dyes, the preferred quinoline-based dyes may include, in
particular, those represented by the following general formulae
(Ia), (Ib) and (Ic): 1
[0106] In the formulae (Ia), (Ib) and (Ic), R.sup.1 and R.sup.2
independently represent an alkyl group which may has a substituent
group(s), an alkenyl group which may has a substituent group(s), an
alkynyl group which may has a substituent group(s) or a phenyl
group which may has a substituent group(s); L.sup.1 represents a
tri-, penta-, hepta- nona- or undecamethine group which may has a
substituent group(s), in which two substituent groups on the
penta-, hepta- nona- or undecamethine group may be bonded to each
other to form a C.sub.5 to C.sub.7 cycloalkene ring; the quinoline
ring may have substituent groups whose two adjacent groups may be
bonded to each other to form a condensed benzene ring; and Xa.sup.-
represents a counter anion.
[0107] When R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 in the formulae (Ia), (Ib) thereof
therein is usually 1 to 15, preferably 1 to 10. When R.sup.1 and
R.sup.2 in the formulae (Ia), (Ib) and (Ic) are an alkenyl group or
an alkynyl group, the number of carbon atoms thereof is usually 2
to 15, preferably 2 to 10. Examples of the substituent groups of
R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 (including phenyl group) may include usually
C.sub.1 to C.sub.15, preferably a C.sub.1 to C.sub.10 alkoxy group,
a phenoxy group, hydroxy group, a phenyl group or the like.
Examples of the substituent groups of L.sup.1 may include a alkyl
group having the same number of carbon atoms as defined above, an
amino group, a halogen atom or the like, in which the number of
carbon atoms thereof is usually 1 to 15, preferably 1 to 10.
Examples of the substituent groups on the quinoline ring may
include an alkyl group having the same number of carbon atoms as
defined above, an alkoxy group having the same number of carbon
atoms as defined above, nitro group, a halogen atom or the
like.
[0108] The preferred indole-based or benzothiazole-based dyes may
include, in particular, those represented by the following general
formula (II): 2
[0109] In the formula (II), Y.sup.1 and Y.sup.2 independently
represent a dialkylmethylene group or sulfur atom; R.sup.3 and
R.sup.4 independently represent an alkyl group which may has a
substituent group(s) an alkenyl group which may has a substituent
group(s), an alkynyl group which may has a substituent group(s) or
a phenyl group which may has a substituent group(s); L.sup.2
represents a tri-, penta-, hepta- nona- or undecamethine group
which may has a substituent group(s), in which two substituent
groups on the penta-, hepta- nona- or undecamethine group may be
bonded to each other to form a C.sub.5 to C.sub.7 cycloalkene ring;
the condensed benzene ring may have substituent groups whose two
adjacent groups may be bonded to each other to form a condensed
benzene ring; and Xa.sup.- represents a counter anion.
[0110] When R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 in the formula (II) are alkyl, the
number of carbon atoms thereof is usually 1 to 15, preferably 1 to
10. When R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 in the formula (II) are an alkenyl
group or an alkynyl group, the number of carbon atoms thereof is
usually 2 to 15, preferably 2 to 10. Examples of the substituent
groups of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 (including phenyl group) may include
usually C.sub.1 to C.sub.15, preferably a C.sub.1 to C.sub.10
alkoxy group, a phenoxy group, hydroxy group, a phenyl group or the
like, in which the number of carbon atoms thereof is usually 1 to
15, preferably 1 to 10. Examples of the substituent groups of
L.sup.2 may include an alkyl group having the same number of carbon
atoms as defined above, amino group, a halogen atom or the like.
Examples of the substituent groups on the condensed benzene ring
may include an alkyl group having the same number of carbon atoms
as defined above, an alkoxy group having the same number of carbon
atoms as defined above, nitro group, a halogen atom or the
like.
[0111] The preferred pyrylium-based and thiopyrylium-based dyes may
include, in particular, those represented by the following general
formulae (IIIa), (IIIb) or (IIIc): 3
[0112] In the formulae (IIIa), (IIIb) or (IIIc), Z.sup.1 and
Z.sup.2 independently represent oxygen atom or sulfur atom;
R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 independently represent
hydrogen atom or an alkyl group, or R.sup.5 and R.sup.6, and
R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 may be respectively bonded to each other to
form a C.sub.5 to C.sub.7 cycloalkene ring; L.sup.3 represents a
mono-, tri-, penta- or heptamethine group which has a substituent
group(s), in which two substituent groups on the penta- or
heptamethine group may be bonded to each other to form a C.sub.5 to
C.sub.7 cycloalkene ring; the pyrylium ring and the thiopyrylium
ring may have substituent groups whose two adjacent groups may be
bonded to each other to form a condensed benzene ring; and Xa.sup.-
represents a counter anion.
[0113] When R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7 and R.sup.8 in the formulae
(IIIa), (IIIb) or (IIIc) are an alkyl group, the number of carbon
atoms contained therein is usually 1 to 15, preferably 1 to 10.
Examples of the substituent groups of L.sup.3 may include an alkyl
group having the same number of carbon atoms as defined above,
amino group, a halogen atom or the like. Examples of the
substituent groups on the pyrylium ring and the thiopyrylium ring
may include an aryl group such as a phenyl group and a naphthyl
group.
[0114] The preferred polymethine-based dyes may include, in
particular, those represented by the following general formula
(IV): 4
[0115] In the formula (IV), R.sup.9, R.sup.10, R.sup.11 and
R.sup.12 independently represent an alkyl group; R.sup.13 and
R.sup.14 independently represent an aryl group which has a
substituent group(s), a furyl group or thienyl; L.sup.4 represents
a mono-, tri-, penta- or heptamethine group which has a substituent
group(s), in which two substituent groups on the penta- or
heptamethine group may be bonded to each other to form a C.sub.5 to
C.sub.7 cycloalkene ring; the quinone ring and the benzene ring may
have substituent groups; and Xa.sup.- represents a counter
anion.
[0116] The alkyl group as R.sup.9, R.sup.10, R.sup.11 and R.sup.12
in the formula (IV) has usually 1 to 15, preferably 1 to 10 carbon
atoms. When R.sup.13 and R.sup.14 are an aryl group, the number of
carbon atoms contained therein is usually 6 to 20, preferably 6 to
15. Specific examples of R.sup.13 and R.sup.14 may include a phenyl
group, a 1-naphthyl group, a 2-naphthyl group, a 2-furyl group, a
3-furyl group, a 2-thienyl group, a 3-thienyl group or the like,
and examples of the substituent groups thereof may include an alkyl
group having the same number of carbon atoms as defined above, an
alkoxy group having the same number of carbon atoms as defined
above, a dialkylamino group, hydroxy group, a halogen atom or the
like. Examples of the substituent groups of L.sup.4 may include an
alkyl group having the same number of carbon atoms as defined
above, amino group, a halogen atom or the like. Examples of the
substituent groups on the quinone ring and the benzene ring may
include an alkyl group having the same number of carbon atoms as
defined above, an alkoxy group having the same number of carbon
atoms as defined above, nitro group, a halogen atom or the
like.
[0117] The preferred diiminium-based dyes may include, in
particular, those having at least one N,N-diaryliminium salt
skeleton which are represented by the following general formulae
(Va) or (Vb): 5
[0118] In the formulae (Va) and (Vb), R.sup.15, R.sup.16, R.sup.17
and R.sup.18 independently represent hydrogen atom, a halogen atom,
an alkyl group which may has a substituent group(s), an alkenyl
group which may has a substituent group(s), an alkynyl group which
may has a substituent group(s) or an alkoxy group which may has a
substituent group(s); R.sup.19 and R.sup.20 independently represent
an alkyl group which may has a substituent group(s), an alkenyl
group which may has a substituent group(s), an alkynyl group which
may has a substituent group(s), an alkoxy group which may has a
substituent group(s), an acyloxy group which may has a substituent
group(s) or a phenyl group which may has a substituent group(s);
the benzene ring and the iminoquinone ring may have substituent
groups; and Xa.sup.- represents a counter anion. Meanwhile, in the
formula (Vb), the electron bonds shown by a dotted line indicates
the condition of resonance with other electron bonds.
[0119] When R.sup.15, R.sup.16, R.sup.17, R.sup.18, R.sup.19 and
R.sup.20 in the formulae (Va) and (Vb) is an alkyl group or an
alkoxy group, the number of carbon atoms thereof is usually 1 to
15, preferably 1 to 10. When R.sup.15, R.sup.16, R.sup.17,
R.sup.18, R.sup.19 and R.sup.20 in the formulae (Va) and (Vb) are
an alkenyl group or an alkynyl group, the number of carbon atoms
thereof is usually 2 to 15, preferably 2 to 10. Examples of the
substituent groups of R.sup.15, R.sup.16, R.sup.17, R.sup.18,
R.sup.19 and R.sup.20 may include an alkyl group having the same
number of carbon atoms as defined above, an alkoxy group having the
same number of carbon atoms as defined above, a carboxyl group, an
acyloxy group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, hydroxy group, amino group,
an alkylamino group, a halogenated alkyl group, a halogen atom or
the like. Examples of the substituent groups on the benzene ring
and the iminoquinone ring may include alkyl having the same number
of carbon atoms as defined above, alkoxy having the same number of
carbon atoms as defined above, an acyl group, nitro group, a
halogen atom or the like.
[0120] Among these diiminium-based dyes, especially preferred are
those in which R.sup.15, R.sup.16, R.sup.17, R.sup.18, R.sup.19 and
R.sup.20 in the general formulae (Va) and (Vb) are all an alkyl
group, or R.sup.15, R.sup.16, R.sup.17 and R.sup.18 are an alkyl
group and R.sup.19 and R.sup.20 are a phenyl group substituted with
a dialkylamino group.
[0121] Examples of the counter anion Xa.sup.- in the general
formulae (Ia to Ic), (II), (IIIa to IIIc), (IV) and (Va and Vb) may
include inorganic acid anions such as Cl.sup.-, Br.sup.-, I.sup.-,
ClO.sub.4.sup.-, PF.sub.6.sup.-, SbF.sub.6.sup.-, AsF.sub.6.sup.-,
and inorganic boric acid anions such as BF.sub.4.sup.- and
BCl.sub.4.sup.-; and organic acid anions such as benzenesulfonic
acid, toluenesulfonic acid, naphthalenesulfonic acid, acetic acid,
and anions of organic boric acid having an organic group such as
methyl group, ethyl group, propyl group, butyl group, phenyl group,
methoxyphenyl group, naphthyl group, fluorophenyl group,
difluorophenyl group, pentafluorophenyl group, thienyl group and
pyrroryl group.
[0122] The polymethine chain represented by L.sup.1, L.sup.2,
L.sup.3 and L.sup.4 in the general formulae (Ia to Ic), (II), (IIIa
to IIIc) and (IV) may have as a substituent group bonded thereto, a
barbituric acid anion or thiobarbituric acid anion represented by
the following general formula (VI), or as a moiety inserted
thereinto, a squaric acid anion or thiosquaric acid anion
represented by the following general formula (VII), or a croconic
acid anion or thiocroconic acid anion represented by the following
general formula (VIII), to form an internal salt. 6
[0123] In the formulae (VI), (VII) and (VIII), Z.sup.3, Z.sup.4,
Z.sup.5, Z.sup.6, Z.sup.7 and Z.sup.8 independently represent
oxygen atom or sulfur atom; and R.sup.35 and R.sup.36 independently
represent hydrogen atom, an alkyl group which may has a
unsubstituent group(s), an alkenyl group which may has a
unsubstituent group(s), an alkoxy group which may has a
unsubstituent group(s) or a phenyl group which may has a
unsubstituent group(s).
[0124] When R.sup.35 and R.sup.36 in the formula (VI) are an alkyl
group or an alkoxy group, the number of carbon atoms thereof is
usually 1 to 15, preferably 1 to 5. When R.sup.35 and R.sup.36 in
the formula (VI) are an alkenyl group, the number of carbon atoms
thereof is usually 2 to 15, preferably 2 to 5. R.sup.35 and
R.sup.36 are preferably an alkyl group. Specific examples of the
alkyl group may include methyl group, ethyl group, propyl group,
butyl group or the like.
[0125] The phthalocyanine-based dyes have such a basic structure
that heterocyclic rings are bonded to each other through an
azapolymethine chain, and the preferred phthalocyanine-based dyes
are those represented by the following general formula (IX): 7
[0126] In the formula (IX), R.sup.21 and R.sup.22 independently
represent an alkoxy group, a thioalkoxy group, an aryloxy group, a
thioaryloxy group, an alkylamino group, an arylamino group, halogen
atom or hydrogen; M represents Zn, Cu, Ni, SnCl.sub.2, AlCl or
hydrogen atom; and two adjacent substituent groups bonded to the
benzene ring may be bonded to each other to form a condensed
ring.
[0127] When R.sup.21 and R.sup.22 in the formula (IX) are an alkoxy
group, a thioalkoxy group or an alkylamino group, the number of
carbon atoms thereof is usually 1 to 10, preferably 1 to 4.
Examples of the alkoxy group, a thioalkoxy group and an alkylamino
group may include a phenoxy group, a thiophenoxy group, a
phenylamino group or the like. Also, M is preferably Zn or
SnCl.sub.2.
[0128] Among the cyanine-based dyes such as quinoline-based dyes
represented by the general formulae (Ia to Ic), indole-based or
benzothiazole-based dyes represented by the general formula (II)
and pyrilium-based or thiopyrilium-based dyes represented by the
general formulae (IIIa to IIIc), the polymethine-based dyes
represented by the general formula (IV), the diiminium-based dyes
represented by the general formulae (Va and Vb) and the
phthalocyanine-based dyes represented by the general formula (IX),
preferred are the cyanine-based dyes such as quinoline-based dyes
represented by the general formulae (Ia to Ic), indole-based or
benzothiazole-based dyes represented by the general formula (II),
pyrilium-based or thiopyrilium-based dyes represented by the
general formulae (IIIa to IIIc), the polymethine-based dyes
represented by the general formula (IV) and the diiminium-based
dyes represented by the general formulae (Va and Vb), and more
preferred are the indole-based or benzothiazole-based cyanine dyes
represented by the general formula (II).
[0129] Specific examples of the cyanine-based dyes such as
quinoline-based dyes represented by the general formulae (Ia to
Ic), indole-based or benzothiazole-based dyes represented by the
general formula (II) and pyrilium-based or thiopyrilium-based dyes
represented by the general formulae (IIIa to IIIc), the
polymethine-based dyes represented by the general formula (IV) and
the diiminium-based dyes represented by the general formulae (Va
and Vb) may include those represented by the following formulae:
8910111213141516
[0130] In the present invention, the content of the alkali-soluble
resin as the component (P-1) of the positive-type photosensitive
composition is preferably 50 to 99% by weight, more preferably 60
to 98% by weight, still more preferably 70 to 97% by weight. Also,
the content of the light-heat converting material as the component
(P-2) of the positive-type photosensitive composition is preferably
0.5 to 30% by weight, more preferably 1 to 20% by weight, still
more preferably 2 to 10% by weight.
[0131] In addition, for the purpose of increasing the difference in
dissolvability to the alkali developing solution between image
portion and non-image portion, the above positive-type
photosensitive composition may contain an anti-dissolving
(solubility-suppressing) agent as the component (P-3) which is not
decomposed by infrared light. Examples of the anti-dissolving agent
may include sulfonic acid esters, phosphoric acid esters, aromatic
carboxylic acid esters, aromatic disulfones, carboxylic anhydrides,
aromatic ketones, aromatic aldehydes, aromatic amines, aromatic
ethers and compounds having a triarylmethane skeleton as described
in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) Nos.
10-268512(1998) and 11-288089(1999); acid-developable dyes having a
lactone skeleton, N,N-diarylamido skeleton or diarylmethylimino
skeleton as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open
(KOKAI) No. 11-190903(1999); base-developable dyes having a lactone
skeleton, thiolactone skeleton or sulfolactone skeleton as
described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No.
11-143076(1999); or the like.
[0132] In addition, as the anti-dissolving agent, there may also
used nonionic surfactants such as polyethylene glycols,
polyethylene glycol polypropylene glycol block copolymers,
polyethylene glycol alkyl ethers, polyethylene glycol polypropylene
glycol alkyl ethers, polyethylene glycol alkyl phenyl ethers,
polyethylene glycol fatty acid esters, polyethylene glycol alkyl
amines, polyethylene glycol alkylamino ethers, glycerin fatty acid
esters and polyethylene oxide adducts thereof, sorbitan fatty acid
esters and polyethylene oxide adducts thereof, sorbitol fatty acid
esters and polyethylene oxide adducts thereof, pentaerythritol
fatty acid esters and polyethylene oxide adducts thereof, and
polyglycerin fatty acid esters.
[0133] In the present invention, the content of the anti-dissolving
agent (P-3) in the above positive-type photosensitive composition
is preferably not more than 50% by weight, more preferably 0.01 to
30% by weight, still more preferably 0.1 to 20% by weight.
[0134] Further, the above positive-type photosensitive composition
may also contain as a component (P-4), an organic acid or an
anhydride thereof having a pKa value of preferably not less than 2
for the purposes of improving developing properties such as
under-developing property. As the organic acid or anhydride
thereof, there may be used, for example, those described in
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) Nos. 60-88942(1985),
63-276048(1988) and 2-96754(1990), etc. Specific examples of the
organic acid or anhydride thereof may include aliphatic saturated
carboxylic acids such as glyceric acid, methylmalonic acid,
dimethylmalonic acid, propylmalonic acid, succinic acid, malic
acid, mesotartaric acid, glutaric acid, .beta.-methylglutaric acid,
.beta.,.beta.-dimethylglutaric acid, .beta.-ethylglutaric acid,
.beta.,.beta.-diethylglutaric acid, .beta.-propylglutaric acid,
.beta.,.beta.-methylpropylglutaric acid, pimelic acid, suberic acid
and sebacic acid; aliphatic unsaturated carboxylic acids such as
maleic acid, fumaric acid and glutaconic acid; carbocyclic
saturated carboxylic acids such as 1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylic
acid, 1,3-cyclobutanedicarboxylic acid,
1,l-cyclopentanedicarboxylic acid, 1,2-cyclopentanedicarboxylic
acid, 1,1-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid, 1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic
acid, 1,3-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid and
1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid; carbocyclic unsaturated
carboxylic acids such as 1,2-cyclohexenedicarboxy- lic acid,
2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 3,4-dimethylbenzoic acid,
3,4-dimethoxybenzoic acid, 3,5-dimethoxybenzoic acid, p-toluic
acid, 2-hydroxy-p-toluic acid, 2-hydroxy-m-toluic acid,
2-hydroxy-o-toluic acid, mandelic acid, gallic acid, phthalic acid,
isophthalic acid and terephthalic acid; merudoramic acid; ascorbic
acid; and acid anhydrides such as succinic anhydride, glutaric
anhydride, maleic anhydride, cyclohexenedicarboxylic anhydride,
cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride and phthalic anhydride.
[0135] In the present invention, the content of the organic acid or
anhydride thereof (P-4) in the above positive-type photosensitive
composition is preferably not more than 30% by weight, more
preferably not more than 20% by weight, still more preferably not
more than 10% by weight.
[0136] In addition, the above positive-type photosensitive
composition may also contain a colorant component (P-5) such as
pigments and dyes. Examples of the colorant component (P-5) may
include Victoria Pure Blue (42595), Crystal Violet (42555), Crystal
Violet Lactone, Auramine O (41000), Catiron Brilliant Flavin (basic
13), Rhodamine 6GCP (45160), Rhodamine B (45170), Safranine OK
70:100 (50240), Erioglaucine X (42080), Fast Black HB (26150), No.
120/Lionol Yellow (21090), Lionol Yellow GRO (21090), Simular Fast
Yellow 8GF (21105), Benzidine Yellow 4T-564D (21095), Simular Fast
Red 4015 (12355), Lionol Red B4401 (15850), Fastgen Blue-TGR-L
(74160), Lionol Blue SM (26150) or the like. Here, numerals in the
parentheses indicate the color indices (C.I.).
[0137] The content of the colorant component (P-5) in the
positive-type photosensitive composition of the present invention
is preferably not more than 50% by weight, more preferably 0.5 to
30% by weight, still more preferably 2 to 20% by weight.
[0138] Further, when the above phenolic hydroxy-containing phenol
resin is used as the alkali-soluble resin, the positive-type
photosensitive composition may also contain a cross-linking agent
as a component (P-6) having a function of cross-linking the phenol
resin in order to impart a good chemical resistance and printing
resistance (wear resistance upon printing) to the positive images
by cross-linking the phenol resin by heating after exposure and
development treatments. Typical examples of the cross-linking agent
may include amino compounds having at least two functional groups
selected from methylol group, alkoxymethyl group obtained by
alcoholic condensation modification of the methylol group, and
acetoxymethyl group. Specific examples of the cross-linking agent
may include melamine derivatives such as methoxymethylated melamine
(produced by Mitsui Sytec Co., Ltd.; Cymel 300 series (1), etc.);
benzoguanamine derivatives such as methyl/ethyl mixed alkoxylated
benzoguanamine resins (produced by Mitsui Sytec Co., Ltd.; Cymel
1100 series (2), etc.); glycol uril derivatives such as
tetramethylol glycol uril resins (tetramethylol glycol uril resins
produced by Mitsui Sytec Co., Ltd.; Cymel 1100 series (3), etc.);
urea resin derivatives; resole resins; or the like.
[0139] In the present invention, the content of the cross-linking
agent (P-6) in the positive-type photosensitive composition is
preferably not more than 20% by weight, more preferably not more
than 10% by weight, still more preferably not more than 5% by
weight.
[0140] The above positive-type photosensitive composition may
contain a nonionic, anionic or amphoteric surfactant as a component
(P-7) for the purposes of enhancing the sensitivity or improving
the developing property. Further, the positive-type photosensitive
composition may also contain various additives ordinarily used in
the photosensitive composition such as coating modifiers, adhesion
modifiers, sensitivity modifiers, sensitizers, development
modifiers or the like in an amount of not more than 20% by weight,
preferably not more than 10% by weight.
[0141] Examples of the nonionic surfactants may include
polyethylene glycols such as polyethylene glycol and polyethylene
glycol polypropylene glycol block copolymers; polyethylene glycol
alkyl ethers such as polyethylene glycol cetyl ether, polyethylene
glycol stearyl ether, polyethylene glycol oleyl ether and
polyethylene glycol behenyl ether; polyethylene glycol
polypropylene glycol alkyl ethers such as polyethylene glycol
polypropylene glycol cetyl ether and polyethylene glycol
polypropylene glycol decyl tetradecyl ether; polyethylene glycol
alkylphenyl ethers such as polyethylene glycol octylphenyl ether
and polyethylene glycol nonylphenyl ether; polyethylene glycol
fatty acid esters such as ethylene glycol monostearate, ethylene
glycol distearate, diethylene glycol stearate, polyethylene glycol
distearate, polyethylene glycol monolaurate, polyethylene glycol
monostearate and polyethylene glycol monooleate; glycerin fatty
acid esters and polyethylene oxide adducts thereof such as glyceryl
monomyristate, glyceryl monostearate, glyceryl monoisostearate,
glyceryl distearate, glyceryl monooleate and glyceryl dioleate;
polyglycerin fatty acid esters; pentaerythritol fatty acid esters
and polyethylene oxide adducts thereof such as pentaerythritol
monostearate, pentaerythritol tristearate, pentaerythritol
monooleate and pentaerythritol trioleate; sorbitan fatty acid
esters and polyethylene oxide adducts thereof such as sorbitan
monopalmitate, sorbitan monostearate, sorbitan tristearate,
sorbitan monooleate and sorbitan trioleate; sorbitol fatty acid
esters and polyethylene oxide adducts thereof such as sorbitol
monolaurate, sorbitol tetrastearate, sorbitol hexastearate and
sorbitol tetraoleate; polyethylene glycol alkyl amines;
polyethylene glycol alkylaminoethers; polyethylene oxide adducts of
castor oil; polyethylene oxide adducts of lanolin; or the like.
[0142] Examples of the anionic surfactants may include higher fatty
acid salts such as sodium laurate, sodium stearate and sodium
oleate; alkylsulfonic acid salts such as sodium laurylsulfonate;
alkylbenzenesulfonic acid salts such as sodium
dodecylbenzenesulfonate; alkylnaphthalenesulfonic acid salts such
as sodium isopropylnaphthalenesulfonate; alkyldiphenylethersulfonic
acid salts such as sodium alkyldiphenylethersulfonate;
polyoxyethylenealkylethersulfonic acid salts such as sodium
polyoxyethylenelaurylethersulfonate; salts of alkylsulfuric acid
esters such as sodium laurylsulfate and sodium stearylsulfate;
salts of higher alcohol sulfuric acid esters such as sodium octyl
alcohol sulfate, sodium lauryl alcohol sulfate and ammonium lauryl
alcohol sulfate; salts of aliphatic alcohol sulfuric acid esters
such as sodium acetyl alcohol sulfate;
polyoxyethylenealkylethersulfuric acid salts such as sodium
polyoxyethylenelaurylethersulfate, ammonium
polyoxyethylenelaurylethersulfate and triethanolamine
polyoxyethylenelaurylethersulfate;
polyoxyethylenealkylphenylethersulfuri- c acid salts such as sodium
polyoxyethylenenonylphenylethersulfate; salts of alkylphosphoric
acid esters such as sodium laurylphosphate and sodium
stearylphosphate; polyoxyethylenealkyletherphosphoric acid salts
such as sodium polyoxyethylenelauryletherphosphate and sodium
polyoxyethylenestearyletherphosphate;
polyoxyethylenealkylphenyletherphos- phoric acid salts such as
sodium polyoxyethylenenonylphenyletherphosphate; sulfosuccinic
acids; unsaturated fatty acid sulfated oils; taurine salts; salts
of castor oil sulfuric acid esters; or the like.
[0143] Examples of the amphoteric surfactants may include
betaine-type compounds such as
N-lauryl-N,N-dimethyl-N-carboxymethyl ammonium,
N-stearyl-N,N-dimethyl-N-carboxymethyl ammonium,
N-lauryl-N,N-dihydroxyet- hyl-N-carboxymethyl ammonium and
N-lauryl-N,N,N-tris(carboxymethyl)ammoniu- m; imidazolium salts
such as 2-alkyl-N-carboxymethyl-N-hydroxyethyl imidazolium;
imidazolines such as imidazoline-N-sodium ethyl sulfonate and
imdazoline-N-sodium ethyl sulfate; aminocarboxylic acids;
aminosulfuric acid esters; or the like.
[0144] The content of the above surfactant in the positive-type
photosensitive composition of the present invention is preferably
0.001 to 5% by weight, more preferably 0.002 to 3% by weight, still
more preferably 0.005 to 1% by weight.
[0145] Further, the positive-type photosensitive composition may
contain various additives ordinarily used in the photosensitive
composition such as coating modifiers, adhesion modifiers,
sensitivity modifiers, sensitizers, development modifiers or the
like in an amount of not more than 20% by weight, preferably not
more than 10% by weight.
[0146] Meanwhile, the above positive-type photosensitive
composition contain no compounds exhibiting a sensitivity to
ultraviolet light such as onium salts, diazonium salts and
quinonediazido-containing compounds and, therefore, shows
substantially no sensitivity to ultraviolet light. Here, the
expression "substantially no sensitivity to ultraviolet light"
means that the composition has substantially no significant
difference in solubility to alkali developing solution between
before and after irradiation with a light having a wavelength of
360 to 450 nm, namely the composition shows substantially no
practical image forming property upon the irradiation of such
light.
[0147] Next, the negative-type photosensitive composition
constituting the photosensitive layer is explained.
[0148] Among the negative-type photosensitive compositions used in
the present invention, preferred are photopolymerizable
compositions containing the following components (N-1) to
(N-4):
[0149] (N-1) a high-molecular binder;
[0150] (N-2) an ethylenically unsaturated compound;
[0151] (N-3) a sensitizer; and
[0152] (N-4) a photopolymerization initiator.
[0153] The high-molecular binder (N-1) constituting the
photopolymerizable composition of the present invention has a
function as a binder for the ethylenically unsaturated compound
(N-2), the sensitizer (N-3), the photopolymerization initiator
(N-4) and the like. Examples of the high-molecular binder may
include homopolymers or copolymers of (meth)acrylic acid,
(meth)acrylic acid esters, (meth)acrylonitrile, (meth)acrylamide,
maleic acid, styrene, vinyl acetate, vinylidene chloride and
maleimide, as well as polyimides, polyesters, polyethers,
polyurethane, polyvinyl butyral, polyvinyl pyrrolidone,
polyethylene oxide and acetyl cellulose. Of these high-molecular
binders, carboxyl-containing polymers are preferred from the
standpoint of alkali developing property. Specifically, among these
carboxyl-containing polymers, more preferred are copolymers of
(meth)acrylic acid and (meth)acrylic acid (C.sub.1 to C.sub.10)
alkyl ester, or copolymers of these components with styrene as a
comonomer thereof. Such carboxyl-containing polymers preferably
have an acid number of 10 to 250 and a weight-average molecular
weight of 5,000 to 1,000,000.
[0154] Further, the high-molecular binders are suitably compounds
having an ethylenically unsaturated bond at a side chain thereof.
The ethylenically unsaturated bond is preferably represented by the
following general formula (XIIa), (XIIb) or (XIIc): 17
[0155] In the formulae (XIIa), (XIIb) and (XIIc), R.sup.36
represents hydrogen atom or methyl group; R.sup.37, R.sup.38,
R.sup.39, R.sup.40 and R.sup.41 independently represent hydrogen
atom, a halogen atom, amino group, a dialkylamino group, carboxyl
group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, sulfo group, nitro group, cyano
group, an alkyl group which may has a substituent group(s), an
alkoxy group which may has a substituent group(s), an alkylmino
group which may has a substituent group(s), an alkylsulfonyl group
which may has a substituent group(s), an aryl group which may has a
substituent group(s), an aryloxy group which may has a substituent
group(s), an arylamino group which may has a substituent group(s)
or an arylsulfonyl group which may has a substituent group(s); and
Z.sup.9 represents oxygen atom, sulfur atom, imino group or
alkylimino group.
[0156] Examples of the substituent groups of the an alkyl group, an
alkoxy group, an alkylamino group, an alkylsulfonyl group, aryl
group, aryloxy group, arylamino group and an arylsulfonyl group as
R.sup.37 to R.sup.41 may include an alkyl group, an alkoxy group,
an alkylthio group, amino group, a dialkylamino group, nitro group,
cyano group, phenyl group and a halogen atom.
[0157] The high-molecular binder having the ethylenically
unsaturated bond represented by the above formula (XIIa) on a side
chain thereof may be produced by reacting about 5 to 90 mol %,
preferably about 30 to 70 mol % of carboxyl groups contained in the
carboxyl-containing polymer, with an aliphatic epoxy-containing
unsaturated compound such as allyl glycidyl ether,
glycidyl(meth)acrylate, .alpha.-ethylglycidyl(meth)acrylate,
glycidyl crotonate, glycidyl isocrotonate, crotonyl glycidyl ether,
itaconic acid monoalkyl monoglycidyl ester, fumaric acid monoalkyl
monoglycidyl ester and maleic acid monoalkyl monoglycidyl ester, or
an alicyclic epoxy-containing unsaturated compound such as
3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl(meth)acrylate,
2,3-epoxycyclopentylmethyl(meth)- acrylate,
7,8-epoxy[tricyclo[5.2.1.0]dec-2-yl](meth)acrylate and
7,8-epoxy[tricyclo[5.2.1.0]dec-2-yl]oxymethyl(meth)acrylate, at a
temperature of about 80 to 120.degree. C. for a period of about 1
to 50 hours.
[0158] Also, the high-molecular binder having the ethylenically
unsaturated bond represented by the above formula (XIIb) on a side
chain thereof may be produced by copolymerizing a compound having
at least two kinds of unsaturated groups, such as
allyl(meth)acrylate, 3-allyloxy-2-hydroxypropyl(meth)acrylate,
cinnamyl (meth)acrylate, crotonyl(meth)acrylate, methally
(meth)acrylate and N,N-diallyl(meth)acrylamide, with an unsaturated
carboxylic acid such as (meth)acrylic acid or with an unsaturated
carboxylic acid ester, such that the content of the former compound
having at least two kinds of unsaturated groups based on a total
amount of the obtained copolymer is about 10 to 90 mol %,
preferably about 30 to 80 mol %. In addition, the high-molecular
binder having the ethylenically unsaturated bond represented by the
above formula (XIIc) on a side chain thereof may be produced by
copolymerizing a compound having at least two kinds of unsaturated
groups, such as vinyl(meth)acrylate, 1-chlorovinyl(meth)acryl- ate,
2-phenylvinyl(meth)acrylate, 1-propenyl(meth)acrylate, vinyl
crotonate and vinyl(meth)acrylamide, with an unsaturated carboxylic
acid such as (meth)acrylic acid or with an unsaturated carboxylic
acid ester, such that the content of the former compound having at
least two kinds of unsaturated groups based on a total amount of
the obtained copolymer is about 10 to 90 mol %, preferably about 30
to 80 mol %.
[0159] Of these high-molecular binders, preferred are
alkali-soluble resins; more preferred are carboxyl-containing
vinyl-based resins; and still more preferred are those resins
having an ethylenically unsaturated bond on a side chain
thereof.
[0160] The ethylenically unsaturated compounds as the component
(N-2) of the negative-type photosensitive composition of the
present invention are compounds containing at least one radical
polymerizable ethylenically unsaturated bond in a molecule which
are addition-polymerized, and in some cases cross-linked and cured,
by the effect of a photopolymerization initiation system containing
the below-mentioned photopolymerization initiator (N-4) when
irradiating active rays to the composition.
[0161] As the ethylenically unsaturated compounds, there may be
used those compounds having one ethylenically unsaturated bond in a
molecule, for example, unsaturated carboxylic acids such as
(meth)acrylic acid, crotonic acid, isocrotonic acid, maleic acid,
itaconic acid and citraconic acid or alkyl esters thereof, as well
as (meth)acrylonitrile, (meth)acrylamide, styrene or the like.
However, from the standpoints of good polymerizability and
cross-linking property as well as increased difference of
solubility in developing solution between exposed and non-exposed
portions, there are preferably used compounds having two or more
ethylenically unsaturated bonds in a molecule. Of these compounds,
more preferred are acrylate compounds having unsaturated bonds
derived from (meth)acryloyloxy groups.
[0162] Typical examples of the compounds having two or more
ethylenically unsaturated bonds in a molecule may include esters of
unsaturated carboxylic acids and polyhydroxy compounds;
(meth)acryloyloxy-containing phosphates; urethane (meth)acrylates
of hydroxy(meth)acrylate compounds and polyisocyanate compounds;
epoxy(meth)acrylates of (meth)acrylic acid or hydroxy(meth)acrylate
compounds and polyepoxy compounds; or the like.
[0163] The esters of unsaturated carboxylic acids and polyhydroxy
compounds may be reaction products obtained, for example, by
reacting the above unsaturated carboxylic acid with an aliphatic
polyhydroxy compound such as ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol,
triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, propylene glycol,
tripropylene glycol, trimethylene glycol, tetramethylene glycol,
neopentyl glycol, hexamethylene glycol, nonamethylene glycol,
trimethylol ethane, tetramethylol ethane, trimethylol propane,
glycerol, pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol, sorbitol, ethylene
oxide adducts thereof and propylene oxide adducts thereof as well
as diethanol amine, triethanol amine, etc. Specific examples of the
esters of unsaturated carboxylic acids and polyhydroxy compounds
may include ethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, diethylene glycol
di(meth)acrylate, triethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate,
tetraethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, propylene glycol
di(meth)acrylate, tripropylene glycol di(meth)acrylate,
tetramethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, neopentyl glycol
di(meth)acrylate, hexamethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate,
nonamethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, trimethylolethane
tri(meth)acrylate, tetramethylolethane tri(meth)acrylate,
trimethylolpropane di(meth)acrylate, trimethylolpropane
tri(meth)acrylate, trimethylolpropane ethylene oxide-added
tri(meth)acrylate, glycerol di(meth)acrylate, glycerol
tri(meth)acrylate, glycerol propylene oxide-added
tri(meth)acrylate, pentaerythritol di(meth)acrylate,
pentaerythritol tri(meth)acrylate, pentaerythritol
tetra(meth)acrylate, dipentaerythritol di(meth)acrylate,
dipentaerythritol tri(meth)acrylate, dipentaerythritol
tetra(meth)acrylate, dipentaerythritol penta(meth)acrylate,
dipentaerythritol hexa(meth)acrylate, sorbitol tri(meth)acrylate,
sorbitol tetra(meth)acrylate, sorbitol penta(meth)acrylate,
sorbitol hexa(meth)acrylate, and similar crotonates, isocrotonates,
maleates, itaconates and citraconates, which are of the same
sorts.
[0164] Examples of the further suitable esters may include reaction
products obtained by reacting the above unsaturated carboxylic acid
with an aromatic polyhydroxy compound such as hydroquinone,
resorcin, pyrogallol, bisphenol F and bisphenol A, e.g.,
hydroquinone di(meth)acrylate, resorcin di(meth)acrylate,
pyrogallol tri(meth)acrylate, etc.; reaction products obtained by
reacting the above unsaturated carboxylic acid with a heterocyclic
polyhydroxy compound such as tris(2-hydroxyethyl)isocyanurate,
e.g., di(meth)acrylate or tri(meth)acrylate of
tris(2-hydroxyethyl)isocyanurate; reaction products obtained by
reacting an unsaturated carboxylic acid, a polycarboxylic acid and
a polyhydroxy compound with each other, e.g., condensates of
(meth)acrylic acid, phthalic acid and ethylene glycol, condensates
of (meth)acrylic acid, maleic acid and diethylene glycol,
condensates of (meth)acrylic acid, terephthalic acid and
pentaerythritol, condensates of (meth)acrylic acid, adipic acid,
butane diol and glycerin, or the like.
[0165] The (meth)acryloyloxy-containing phosphates are not
particularly restricted as long as they are phosphate compounds
having a (meth)acryloyloxy group. Of these phosphate compounds,
preferred are those represented by the following general formula
(Ia) or (Ib): 18
[0166] In the formulae (Ia) and (Ib), R.sup.42 represents hydrogen
atom or methyl group; n is an integer of 1 to 25; and m is 1, 2 or
3.
[0167] The n is preferably 1 to 10, more preferably 1 to 4.
Specific examples of the phosphates represented by the formula (Ia)
or (Ib) wherein n lies within the above-specified range, may
include (meth)acryloyloxyethyl phosphate,
bis[(meth)acryloyloxyethyl]phosphate, (meth)acryloyloxy ethylene
glycol phosphate or the like. These phosphates may be used alone or
in the form of a mixture of any two or more thereof.
[0168] Examples of the urethane(meth)acrylates may include reaction
products obtained by reacting a hydroxy(meth)acrylate such as
hydroxymethyl(meth)acrylate, hydroxyethyl(meth)acrylate, glycerol
di(meth)acrylate, pentaerythritol tri(meth)acrylate and
tetramethylolethane tri(meth)acrylate, with a polyisocyanate
compound selected from aliphatic polyisocyanates such as
hexamethylene diisocyanate, 2,4,4-trimethylhexamethylene
diisocyanate, lysine methyl ester diisocyanate, lysine methyl ester
triisocyanate, dimeric acid diisocyanate,
1,6,11-undecatriisocyanate, 1,3,6-hexamethylene triisocyanate and
1,8-diisocyanate-4-isocyanate methyl octane; alicyclic
polyisocyanates such as cyclohexane diisocyanate,
dimethylcyclohexane diisocyanate,
4,4'-methylenebis(cyclohexylisocyanate), isophorone diisocyanate
and bicycloheptane triisocyanate; aromatic polyisocyanates such as
p-phenylene diisocyanate, 2,4-tolylene diisocyanate, 2,6-tolylene
diisocyanate, xylylene diisocyanate, tetramethylxylylene
diisocyanate, 4,4'-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, tolidine
diisocyanate, 1,5-naphthalene diisocyanate,
tris(isocyanatephenylmethane) and tris(isocyanatephenyl)thi-
ophosphate; heterocyclic polyisocyanates such as isocyanurate; or
the like.
[0169] Of these urethane(meth)acrylates, preferred are those
compounds having 4 or more urethane bonds [--NH--CO--O--] and 4 or
more (meth)acryloyloxy groups in a molecule thereof. Such
urethane(meth)acrylate compounds may be produced, for example, by
reacting (i) a compound having 4 or more, preferably 6 or more
isocyanate groups in a molecule, e.g., a compound (i-1) obtained by
reacting a compound having 4 or more hydroxyl group in a molecule,
such as pentaerythritol and polyglycerin, with a diisocyanate
compound such as hexamethylene diisocyanate, trimethylhexamethylene
diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate and tolylene diisocyanate; a
compound (i-2) obtained by reacting a compound having 2 or more
hydroxyl groups in a molecule, such as ethylene glycol, with a
compound having 3 or more isocyanate groups in a molecule, such as
buret-type compounds, e.g., "DURANETE 24A-100", "DURANETE
22A-75PX", "DURANETE 21S-75E" and "DURANETE 18H-70B" (all produced
by Asahi Kasei Kogyo Co., Ltd.), and adduct-type compounds, e.g.,
"DURANETE P-301-75E", "DURANETE E-402-90T" and "DURANETE E-405-80T"
(all produced by Asahi Kasei Kogyo Co., Ltd.); and a compound (i-3)
obtained by polymerizing or copolymerizing isocyanate
ethyl(meth)acrylate or the like (specific examples of the compound
(i) may include "DURANETE ME20-100" produced by Asahi Kasei Kogyo
Co., Ltd.), with (ii) a compound having one or more hydroxyl groups
and 2 or more, preferably 3 or more (meth)acryloyloxy groups in a
molecule, such as pentaerythritol di(meth)acrylate, pentaerythritol
tri(meth)acrylate, dipentaerythritol di(meth)acrylate,
dipentaerythritol tri(meth)acrylate, dipentaerythritol
tetra(meth)acrylate and dipentaerythritol penta(meth)acrylate.
[0170] The compound (i) has a molecular weight of preferably 500 to
200,000, more preferably 1,000 to 150,000. The above
urethane(meth)acrylates have a molecular weight of preferably 600
to 150,000, and contain preferably 6 or more, more preferably 8 or
more urethane bonds, and preferably 6 or more, more preferably 8 or
more (meth)acryloyloxy groups in a molecule.
[0171] Meanwhile, such urethane(meth)acrylates may be produced, for
example, by reacting the above compounds (i) and (ii) with each
other in an organic solvent such as toluene and ethyl acetate under
such a condition the molar ratio of isocyanate group in the
compound (i) to hydroxyl group in the compound (ii) is {fraction
(1/10)} to {fraction (10/1)}, if required in the presence of a
catalyst composed of dilauric acid n-butyl tin, at a temperature of
10 to 150.degree. C. for a period of about 5 minutes to 3
hours.
[0172] In the present invention, of these urethane (meth)acrylates,
especially preferred are those represented by the following general
formula (II): 19
[0173] In the formula (II), Ra represents a group having a repeated
structure of an alkyleneoxy group or an aryleneoxy group and 4 to
20 oxy group capable of bonding to Rb; Rb and Rc independently
represent a C.sub.1 to C.sub.10 alkylene group; Rd represents an
organic residue having a 1 to 10 (meth)acryloyloxy group; Ra, Rb,
Rc and Rd may have a substituent group(s); x is an integer of 4 to
20; y is an integer of 0 to 15; and z is an integer of 1 to 15.
[0174] Examples of the repeated structure of alkyleneoxy groups of
Ra in the formula (II) may include those derived from propylene
triol, glycerin, pentaerythritol or the like. Also, examples of the
repeated structure of aryleneoxy groups of Ra in the formula (II)
may include those derived from pyrogallol, 1,3,5-benzene triol or
the like. The alkylene groups of Rb and Rc respectively have
preferably 1 to 5 carbon atoms; the (meth)acryloyloxy group of Rd
has preferably 1 to 7 carbon atoms; and x is preferably 4 to 15, y
is preferably 1 to 10, and z is preferably 1 to 10.
[0175] More preferably, Ra is represented by the following formula
wherein k is an integer of 2 to 10; Rb and Rc independently
represent dimethylene group, monomethyldimethylene group or
trimethylene group; and Rd is represented by the following formula.
20
[0176] (wherein Q represents --C(.dbd.O)--CH.dbd.CH.sub.2)
[0177] Also, specific examples of the epoxy(meth)acrylates may
include reaction products obtained by reacting (meth)acrylic acid
or the above hydroxy(meth)acrylate compound with a polyepoxy
compound, e.g., aliphatic polyepoxy compounds such as
(poly)ethylene glycol polyglycidyl ether, (poly)propylene glycol
polyglycidyl ether, (poly)tetramethylene glycol polyglycidyl ether,
(poly)pentamethylene glycol polyglycidyl ether, (poly)neopentyl
glycol polyglycidyl ether, (poly)hexamethylene glycol polyglycidyl
ether, (poly)trimethylolpropane polyglycidyl ether, (poly)glycerol
polyglycidyl ether and (poly)sorbitol polyglycidyl ether; aromatic
polyepoxy compounds such as phenol novolak polyepoxy compounds,
brominated phenol novolak polyepoxy compounds, (o-, m- or p-)cresol
novolak polyepoxy compounds, bisphenol A polyepoxy compounds and
bisphenol F polyepoxy compounds; and heterocyclic polyepoxy
compounds such as sorbitan polyglycidyl ether, triglycidyl
isocyanurate and triglycidyl tris(2-hyroxyethyl)isocyanurate; or
the like.
[0178] In addition to the above compounds, as the other
ethylenically unsaturated compounds, there may be used, for
example, (meth)acrylamides such as ethylenebis(meth)acrylamide;
allyl esters such as diallyl phthalate; vinyl-containing compounds
such as divinyl phthalate; or the like. These ethylenically
unsaturated compounds may be used alone or in the form of a mixture
of any two or more thereof.
[0179] Of the above-mentioned ethylenically unsaturated compounds
(N-2), preferred are ester(meth)acrylates,
(meth)acryloyloxy-containing phosphates and urethane
(meth)acrylates, and more preferred are
(meth)acryloyloxy-containing phosphates and
urethane(meth)acrylates. The content of the
(meth)acryloyloxy-containing phosphates is preferably 1 to 60% by
weight, more preferably 2 to 40% by weight based on the total
weight of the ethylenically unsaturated compounds (N-2). Also, the
content of the urethane(meth)acrylates is preferably 0.5 to 50% by
weight, more preferably 2 to 40% by weight based on the total
weight of the ethylenically unsaturated compounds (N-2).
[0180] The sensitizer as the component (N-3) of the negative-type
photosensitive composition are preferably light-absorbing dyes
which are capable of efficiently absorbing blue ultraviolet light
with a wavelength region of 350 to 1,300 nm, especially 350 to 420
nm as well as near-infrared light with a wavelength region of 600
to 1,300 nm, and have a sensitizing function for transmitting the
light excitation energy to the below-mentioned photopolymerization
initiator (N-4) to decompose the photopolymerization initiator, and
generating active radicals inducing the polymerization of the above
ethylenically unsaturated compound (N-2).
[0181] Of the above light absorbing dyes, as dyes capable of
absorbing near-infrared light with a wavelength region of 600 to
1,300 nm, there may be used the same light-absorbing dyes as
exemplified as to the light-heat converting material (P-2) of the
positive-type photosensitive composition. Of these light-absorbing
dyes, preferred are the cyanine-based dyes such as quinoline-based
dyes represented by the general formulae (Ia) to (Ic), indole-based
or benzothiazole-based dyes represented by the general formula (II)
and pyrylium-based or thiopyrylium-based dyes represented by the
general formulae (IIIa) to (IIIc), the polymethine-based dyes
represented by the general formula (IV), and the
phthalocyanine-based dyes represented by the general formula (IX),
and more preferred are the indole-based or benzothiazole-based
cyanine dyes represented by the general formula (II).
[0182] As the light absorbing dyes capable of absorbing
blue-ultraviolet light with a wavelength region of 350 to 420 nm,
there may be preferably used dialkylaminobenzene-based compounds.
Of these compounds, preferred are dialkylaminobenzophenone-based
compounds as well as such dialkylaminobenzene-based compounds
having a heterocyclic substituent group which is bonded to the
p-position carbon atom of the benzene ring relative to the amino
group bonded thereto.
[0183] The dialkylaminobenzophenone-based compounds are preferably
those compounds represented by the following general formula (Xa):
21
[0184] In the formula (Xa), R.sup.23, R.sup.24, R.sup.25 and
R.sup.26 independently represent an alkyl group; and R.sup.27,
R.sup.28, R.sup.29 and R.sup.30 independently represent an alkyl
group or hydrogen atom wherein R.sup.23 and R.sup.24, R.sup.25 and
R.sup.26, R.sup.23 and R.sup.27, R.sup.24 and R.sup.28, R.sup.25
and R.sup.29, and R.sup.26 and R.sup.30 may respectively form a
nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring.
[0185] The alkyl group as R.sup.23, R.sup.24, R.sup.25 and R.sup.26
as well as R.sup.27, R.sup.28, R.sup.29 and R.sup.30 in the formula
(Xa) preferably has 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Also, The
nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring formed by these groups is
preferably a 5- or 6-membered ring, more preferably a 6-membered
ring.
[0186] Specific examples of the compounds represented by the
general formula (Xa) may include 4,4'-bis(dimethylamino)
benzophenone, 4,4'-bis(diethylamino) benzophenone, and compounds
having the following structural formulae: 22
[0187] Further, in the dialkylaminobenzene-based compounds, the
heterocyclic substituent group bonded to the p-position carbon atom
of the benzene ring relative to the amino group bonded thereto is
preferably a 5- or 6-membered ring containing nitrogen atom, oxygen
atom or sulfur atom, more preferably a 5-membered ring having a
condensed benzene ring. The more preferred
dialkylaminobenzene-based compounds may include those compounds
represented by the following general formula (Xb): 23
[0188] In the formula (Xb), R.sup.31 and R.sup.32 independently
represent alkyl; R.sup.33 and R.sup.34 independently represent an
alkyl group or hydrogen atom; R.sup.31 and R.sup.32, R.sup.31 and
R.sup.33, and R.sup.32 and R.sup.34 may respectively form a
nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring; and Y.sup.3 represents
oxygen atom, sulfur atom, a dialkylmethylene group, imino group or
an alkylimino group; and the condensed benzene ring bonded to the
heterocyclic ring containing Y.sup.3 may have a substituent
group(s).
[0189] The alkyl group as R.sup.31, R.sup.32, R.sup.33 and R.sup.34
in the formula (Xb) preferably has 1 to 6 carbon atoms. Also, The
nitrogen-containing heterocyclic ring formed by these groups is
preferably a 5- or 6-membered ring, more preferably a 6-membered
ring. When Y.sup.3 is the dialkylmethylene group, each alkyl group
thereof preferably has 1 to 6 carbon atoms, and when Y.sup.3 is an
alkylimino group, the alkyl group thereof preferably has 1 to 6
carbon atoms.
[0190] Specific examples of the compounds represented by the
general formula (Xb) may include
[0191] 2-(p-dimethylaminophenyl)benzoxazole,
[0192] 2-(p-diethylaminophenyl)benzoxazole,
[0193] 2-(p-dimethylaminophenyl)benzo[4,5]benzoxazole,
[0194] 2-(p-dimethylaminophenyl)benzo[6,7]benzoxazole,
[0195] 2-(p-dimethylaminophenyl)benzothiazole,
[0196] 2-(p-diethylaminophenyl)benzothiazole,
[0197] 2-(p-dimethylaminophenyl)benzoimidazole,
[0198] 2-(p-diethylaminophenyl)benzoimidazole,
[0199] 2-(p-dimethylaminophenyl)-3,3-dimethyl-3H-indole,
[0200] 2-(p-diethylaminophenyl)-3,3-dimethyl-3H-indole, and
[0201] compounds having the following structural formula: 24
[0202] Examples of the dialkylaminobenzene-based compounds having a
heterocyclic substituent group which is bonded to the p-position
carbon atom of the benzene ring relative to the amino group bonded
thereto, other than those represented by the general formula (Xb),
may include
[0203] 2-(p-dimethylaminophenyl)pyridine,
[0204] 2-(p-diethylaminophenyl)pyridine,
[0205] 2-(p-dimethylaminophenyl)quinoline,
[0206] 2-(p-diethylaminophenyl)quinoline,
[0207] 2-(p-dimethylaminophenyl)pyrimidine,
[0208] 2-(p-diethylaminophenyl)pyrimidine,
[0209] 2,5-bis(p-diethylaminophenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole,
[0210] 2,5-bis(p-diethylaminophenyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole or the
like.
[0211] Further, as the sensitizers there may be used
triphenylmethane-based leuco dyes as described in U.S. Pat. No.
3,479,185, such as leuco crystal violet and leuco malachite green;
photoreducing dyes such as erythrosin and eosin Y; aminophenyl
ketones described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,549,367, and 3,652,275 such
as Michler's ketone and aminostyryl ketone; .beta.-diketones as
described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,844,790; imidanones as described in
U.S. Pat. No. 4,162,162; coumarin-based dyes as described in
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) Nos. 6-301208(1994),
8-129258(1994), 8-129259(1994), 8-146605(1994) and 8-211605(1994);
ketocoumarin-based dyes as described in Japanese Patent Application
Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 52-112681(1977); aminostyrene derivatives or
aminophenyl butadiene derivatives as described in Japanese Patent
Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) No. 59-56403(1984); aminophenyl
heterocyclic compounds as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,594,310;
durolysine heterocyclic compounds as described in U.S. Pat. No.
4,966,830; pyromethene-based dyes as described in Japanese Patent
Application Laid-Open (KOKAI) Nos. 5-241338(1993), 7-5685(1995) and
10-144242(1998); or the like.
[0212] Also, the photopolymerization initiator as the component
(N-4) of the negative-type photosensitive composition is a radical
generator capable of generating active radicals when the
composition is irradiated with light under the coexistence of the
above sensitizer (N-3). Typical examples of the photopolymerization
initiator may include halomethylated s-triazine derivatives,
halomethylated 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives, hexaarylbiimidazole
derivatives, titanocene derivatives, organoboric acid salts, diaryl
iodium salts, carbonyl compounds, organic peroxides or the like. Of
these photopolymerization initiators, preferred are halomethylated
s-triazine derivatives, hexaarylbiimidazole derivatives and
organoboric acid salts.
[0213] The halomethylated s-triazine derivatives are preferably
those derivatives having at least one mono-, di- or
tri-halogen-substituted methyl group bonded to the s-triazine ring,
more preferably those compounds represented by the following
general formula (X): 25
[0214] In the formula (X), R.sup.35 represents hydrogen atom, a
halogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group; W represents an aryl
group which may has a substituent group(s) or a heterocyclic group;
X is halogen atom; and r is an integer of 0 to 2.
[0215] Specific examples of the halomethylated s-triazine
derivatives may include
2-methyl-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-s-triazine,
2-n-propyl-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-s-triazine,
2-(.alpha.,.alpha.,.beta.-
-trichloroethyl)-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-s-triazine,
2-phenyl-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-s-triazine,
2-(p-methoxyphenyl)-4,6-bis- (trichloromethyl)-s-triazine,
2-(3,4-epoxyphenyl)-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)- -s-triazine,
2-(p-chlorophenyl)-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-s-triazine,
2-[1-(p-methoxyphenyl)-2,4-butadienyl]-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-s-triazin-
e, 2-styryl-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-s-triazine,
2-(p-methoxystyryl)-4,6-b- is(trichloromethyl)-s-triazine,
2-(p-i-propyloxystyryl)-4,6-bis(trichlorom- ethyl)-s-triazine,
2-(p-tolyl)-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-s-triazine,
2-(p-methoxynaphthyl)-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-s-triazine,
2-(p-ethoxynaphthyl)-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-s-triazine,
2-(p-ethoxycarbonylnaphthyl)-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-s-triazine,
2-phthylthio-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-s-triazine,
2-benzylthio-4,6-bis(tr- ichloromethyl)-s-triazine,
2-methyl-4,6-bis(tribromomethyl)-s-triazine,
2-methoxy-4,6-bis(tribromomethyl)-s-triazine or the like. Of these
halomethylated s-triazine derivatives, preferred are
2-methyl-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-s-triazine,
2-phenyl-4,6-bis(trichlorom- ethyl)-s-triazine,
2-(p-methoxyphenyl)-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-s-triazine- ,
2-(3,4-epoxyphenyl)-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-s-triazine,
2-[1-(p-methoxyphenyl)-2,4-butadienyl]-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-s-triazin-
e, 2-(p-methoxystyryl)-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-s-triazine,
2-(p-i-propyloxystyryl)-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-s-triazine and the
like.
[0216] Specific examples of the halomethylated 1,3,4-oxadiazole
derivatives may include
2-(p-methoxyphenyl)-5-trichloromethyl-1,3,4-oxadi- azole,
2-(p-methoxystyryl)-5-trichloromethyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole,
2-(o-benzofuryl)-5-trichloromethyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole,
2-[.beta.-(o-benzofuryl)vinyl]-5-trichloromethyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole
or the like.
[0217] Specific examples of the hexaarylbiimidazole derivatives may
include 2,2'-bis(o-methoxyphenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetraphenylbiimidazole,
2,2'-bis(p-methoxyphenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetraphenylbiimidazole,
2,2'-bis(o-chlorophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetraphenylbiimidazole,
2,2'-bis(o-fluorophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetraphenylbiimidazole,
2,2'-bis(o-chlorophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetra(p-methylphenyl)biimidazole,
2,2'-bis(o-chlorophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetra(p-methoxyphenyl)biimidazole,
2,2'-bis(o-chlorophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetra(m,m-dimethoxyphenyl)biimidazole,
2,2'-bis(o-chlorophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetra(p-ethoxycarbonylphenyl)biimidazo-
le,
2,2'-bis(o-bromophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetra(p-chloro-p-methoxyphenyl)biimi-
dazole,
2,2'-bis(o-chlorophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetra(p-chlorophenyl)biimidazol-
e, 2,2'-bis(o-chlorophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetra(o-,
p-dichlorophenyl)biimidazo- le,
2,2'-bis(o-chlorophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetra(p-fluorophenyl)biimidazole,
2,2'-bis(o-chlorophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetra(o,p-dibromophenyl)biimidazole,
2,2'-bis(o, p-dichlorophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetra(o,
p-dichlorophenyl)biimida- zole,
2,2'-bis(o-bromophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetra(o,
p-dichlorophenyl)biimidaz- ole,
2,2'-bis(o-bromophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetra(p-iodophenyl)biimidazole,
2,2'-bis(o-bromophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetra(o-chloro-p-methoxyphenyl)biimidaz-
ole,
2,2'-bis(o-chlorophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetra(p-chloronaphthyl)biimidazole
or the like. Of these hexaarylbiimidazole derivatives, preferred
are hexaphenylbiimidazole derivatives; more preferred are those in
which the hydrogen atom of the o-position of each benzene ring
bonded to the 2- and 2'-positions of the imidazole rings is
substituted with halogen; still more preferred are those in which
the benzene rings bonded to the 4, 4', 5 and 5'-positions of the
imidazole rings are unsubstituted, or hydrogen atoms of the benzene
rings bonded to the 4, 4', 5 and 5'-positions of the imidazole
rings are substituted with a halogen atom or an alkoxycarbonyl
group.
[0218] Specific examples of the titanocene derivatives may include
dicyclopentadienyl titanium dichloride, dicyclopentadienyl titanium
biphenyl, dicyclopentadienyl titanium bis(2,4-difluorophenyl),
dicyclopentadienyl titanium bis(2,6-difluorophenyl),
dicyclopentadienyl titanium bis(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl),
dicyclopentadienyl titanium bis(2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl),
dicyclopentadienyl titanium bis(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl),
di(methylcyclopentadienyl)titanium bis(2,4-difluorophenyl),
di(methylcyclopentadienyl)titanium bis(2,6-difluorophenyl),
di(methylcyclopentadienyl)titanium bis(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl),
di(methylcyclopentadienyl)titanium bis(2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl),
di(methylcyclopentadienyl)titanium
bis(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl), dicyclopentadienyl titanium
bis[2,6-difluoro-3-(1-pyrroryl)phenyl] or the like. Of these
titanocene derivatives, preferred are those derivatives having a
dicyclopentadienyl structure and a biphenyl structure; and more
preferred are those derivatives having a biphenyl ring whose
o-position is substituted with halogen.
[0219] Further, the above organoboric acid salts are preferably
represented by the following general formula (XI): 26
[0220] In the formula (XI), R.sup.37, R.sup.38, R.sup.39 and
R.sup.40 independently represent an alkyl group which may has a
substituent group(s), an alkenyl group which may has a substituent
group(s), an alkynyl group which may has a substituent group(s), an
aryl group which may has a substituent group(s) or a heterocyclic
group, wherein these groups may be bonded to each other to form a
ring structure and at least one of these groups is an alkyl group
which may has a substituent group(s); and Xb.sup.+ is a counter
cation.
[0221] The alkyl groups as R.sup.37, R.sup.38, R.sup.39 and
R.sup.40 in the formula (XI) have usually 1 to 15, preferably 1 to
5 carbon atoms. The alkenyl group or alkynyl group as R.sup.37,
R.sup.38, R.sup.39 and R.sup.40 in the formula (XI) have usually 2
to 15, preferably 2 to 5 carbon atoms. The aryl group as R.sup.37,
R.sup.38, R.sup.39 and R.sup.40 in the formula (XI) have usually 6
to 20, preferably 6 to 15 carbon atoms. The heterocyclic group as
R.sup.37, R.sup.38, R.sup.39 and R.sup.40 in the formula (XI) have
usually 4 to 20, preferably 4 to 15 carbon atoms. Examples of
substituent groups of R.sup.37, R.sup.38, R.sup.39 and R.sup.40 in
the formula (XI) may include a halogen atom, an alkyl group, an
alkoxy group, a trifluoromethyl group, a trimethylsilyl group or
the like.
[0222] Specific examples of organoboron anions of the organoboric
acid salts represented by the formula (XI) may include
n-butyl-methyl-diphenyl boron anion, n-butyl-triphenyl boron anion,
n-butyl-tris(2,4,6-trimethylp- henyl)boron anion,
n-butyl-tris(p-methoxyphenyl)boron anion,
n-butyl-tris(p-fluorophenyl)boron anion,
n-butyl-tris(m-fluorophenyl)boro- n anion,
n-butyl-tris(3-fluoro-4-methylphenyl)boron anion,
n-butyl-tris(2,6-difluorophenyl)boron anion,
n-butyl-tris(2,4,6-trifluoro- phenyl)boron anion,
n-butyl-tris(2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl)boron anion,
n-butyl-tris(p-chlorophenyl)boron anion,
n-butyl-tris(trifluorophenyl)bor- on anion,
n-butyl-tris(2,6-difluoro-3-pyrrorylphenyl)boron anion or the
like.
[0223] Examples of the counter cation Xb.sup.+ may include alkali
metal cations, onium cations such as ammonium cation, phosphonium
cation, sulfonium cation and iodonium cation as well as pyrylium
cation, thiapyrylium cation, indolium cation or the like. Of these,
preferred are organoammonium cations such as tetraalkyl ammonium
cation. Further, in the present invention, as the method of
allowing the organoboric acid salts as the photopolymerization
initiator (N-4) to exist in the photosensitive composition, there
may be used the ordinary method of blending a salt of the
organoboron cation of the organoboric acid salt and an
appropriately selected counter cation therein as well as the method
of blending a salt formed from organoboron cation of the
organoboric acid salt and dye cation of the sensitizer (N-3)
therein.
[0224] In the present invention, the contents of the alkali-soluble
resin (N-1), the ethylenically unsaturated compound (N-2), the
sensitizer (N-3) and the polymerization initiator (N-4) in the
negative-type photosensitive composition are as follows. That is,
the content of the alkali-soluble resin (N-1) is preferably 10 to
400 parts by weight, more preferably 20 to 200 parts by weight
based on 100 parts by weight of the ethylenically unsaturated
compound (N-2). The content of the sensitizer (N-3) is preferably
0.01 to 20 parts by weight, more preferably 0.05 to 10 parts by
weight based on 100 parts by weight of the ethylenically
unsaturated compound (N-2). The content of the photopolymerization
initiator (N-4) is preferably 0.1 to 80 parts by weight, more
preferably 0.5 to 60 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight
of the ethylenically unsaturated compound (N-2).
[0225] In addition, the negative-type photosensitive composition
may contain a hydrogen-donating compound (N-5) for the purpose of
improving a photopolymerization initiating capability thereof.
Examples of the hydrogen-donating compound may include
mercapto-containing compounds such as 2-mercaptobenzothiazole,
2-mercaptobenzoimidazole, 2-mercaptobenzoxazole,
3-mercapto-1,2,4-triazole, 2-mercapto-4(3H)-quinaz- oline,
.beta.-mercaptonaphthalene, ethylene glycol dithiopropionate,
trimethylolpropane tristhiopropionate and pentaerythritol
tetrakisthiopropionate; polyfunctional thiol compounds such as
hexane dithiol, trimethylolpropane tristhioglyconate and
pentaerythritol tetrakisthiopropionate; aromatic ring-containing
amino acids or derivatives thereof such as N,N-dialkylaminobenzoic
acid ester, N-phenyl glycin or its derivatives including its salts,
e.g., ammonium salts and sodium salts, and its esters, and phenyl
alanine or its derivatives including its salts, e.g., ammonium
salts or sodium salts, and its esters; or the like. Of these
hydrogen-donating compounds, preferred are mercapto-containing
compounds, and N-phenyl glycin or its derivatives including its
salts, e.g., ammonium salts and sodium salts, and its esters.
[0226] In the present invention, the content of the
hydrogen-donating compound (N-5) in the negative-type
photosensitive composition is preferably 0.1 to 50 parts by weight,
more preferably 0.5 to 30 parts by weight based on 100 parts by
weight of the ethylenically unsaturated compound (N-2).
[0227] Also, the negative-type photosensitive composition may
contain an amine compound (N-6) in order to impart a good keeping
stability thereto. As the amine compound, there may be used
aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic amines. The amine compounds may be
in the form of not only monoamines but also polyamines such as
diamines or triamines, and in the form of primary, secondary or
tertiary amines. Of these amine compounds, preferred are those
amine compounds having a pKb value of not more than 7.
[0228] Specific examples of the amine compounds may include
aliphatic amines which may be substituted with hydroxyl or phenyl,
such as butyl amine, dibutyl amine, tributyl amine, amyl amine,
diamyl amine, triamyl amine, hexyl amine, dihexyl amine, trihexyl
amine, allyl amine, diallyl amine, triallyl amine, triethanol
amine, benzyl amine, dibenzyl amine and tribenzyl amine. Of these
amine compounds, preferred are tribenzyl amine.
[0229] In the present invention, the content of the amine compound
(N-6) in the negative-type photosensitive composition is preferably
0.1 to 20 parts by weight, more preferably 0.5 to 10 parts by
weight based on 100 parts by weight of the ethylenically
unsaturated compound (N-2).
[0230] Further, the negative-type photosensitive composition may
contain various additives, for example, a thermal polymerization
inhibitor such as hydroquinone, p-methoxy phenol and
2,6-di-t-butyl-p-cresol in an amount of not more than 2 parts by
weight based on 100 parts by weight of the ethylenically
unsaturated compound (N-2); a colorant composed of organic or
inorganic dyes and pigments in an amount of not more than 20 parts
by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the ethylenically
unsaturated compound (N-2); a plasticizer such as dioctyl
phthalate, didodecyl phthalate and tricresyl phosphate in an amount
of not more than 40 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of
the ethylenically unsaturated compound (N-2); a sensitivity
modifier such as tertiary amines and thiols, a coating modifier
such as fluorine-based surfactants and a development accelerator,
respectively, in an amount of not more than 10 parts by weight
based on 100 parts by weight of the ethylenically unsaturated
compound (N-2); and a dye precursor in an amount of not more than
30 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the
ethylenically unsaturated compound (N-2).
[0231] In the present invention, the above photosensitive
composition may be used in the form of a solution or a dispersion
prepared by dissolving or dispersing the respective components in a
suitable solvent. The thus obtained solution or dispersion is
coated on the surface of the aluminum substrate, heated and then
dried to form a photosensitive layer composed of the photosensitive
composition on the surface of the aluminum substrate, thereby
obtaining a photosensitive lithographic plate.
[0232] The solvent used above is not particularly restricted as
long as it has a sufficient solubility in the components used in
the photosensitive composition as well as a good coating property.
Examples of the solvent may include cellosolve-based solvents such
as methyl cellosolve, ethyl cellosolve, methyl cellosolve acetate
and ethyl cellosolve acetate; propylene glycol-based solvents such
as propylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monoethyl
ether, propylene glycol monobutyl ether, propylene glycol
monomethyl ether acetate, propylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate,
propylene glycol monobutyl ether acetate and dipropylene glycol
dimethyl ether; ester-based solvents such as butyl acetate, amyl
acetate, ethyl butyrate, butyl butyrate, diethyl oxalate, ethyl
pyruvate, ethyl-2-hydroxybutyrate, ethyl acetoacetate, methyl
lactate, ethyl lactate and methyl 3-methoxypropionate;
alcohol-based solvents such as heptanol, hexanol, diacetone alcohol
and furfuryl alcohol; ketone-based solvents such as cyclohexanone
and methyl amyl ketone; high-polar solvents such as
dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide and N-methyl pyrrolidone;
mixed solvents thereof; the above solvents containing aromatic
hydrocarbons; or the like. The weight ratio of the solvent used to
the whole components of the photosensitive composition is usually
in the range of about 1:1 to 20:1.
[0233] The coating of the photosensitive composition onto the
aluminum substrate may be conducted by conventionally known methods
such as, for example, rotation coating, wire bar coating, dip
coating, air knife coating, roll coating, blade coating, curtain
coating or the like. The coating amount of the photosensitive
composition may vary depending upon applications or uses thereof,
and the dry thickness of the obtained coating film is usually 0.3
to 7 .mu.m, preferably 0.5 to 5 .mu.m, more preferably 1 to 3
.mu.m. The drying temperature used for forming the coating film is,
for example, about 60 to 170.degree. C., preferably about 70 to
150.degree. C., and the drying time is, for example, about 5
seconds to 10 minutes, preferably about 10 seconds to 5
minutes.
[0234] Meanwhile, in the negative-type photosensitive lithographic
plate of the present invention, an oxygen-shielding layer may be
formed on the photosensitive layer composed of the photosensitive
composition which is formed on the surface of the aluminum
substrate, in order to prevent the photopolymerizable composition
from undergoing a polymerization-inhibitin- g effect by oxygen.
[0235] The oxygen-shielding layer may be constituted from
water-soluble polymers which are soluble in water, or a mixed
solvent composed of water and alcohol such as methanol, ethanol,
propanol and isononyl alcohol or a water-miscible organic solvent
such as tetrahydrofuran. Specific examples of the water-soluble
polymers may include polyvinyl alcohol and its derivatives
including partially acetalated products, products modified with
cations such as quaternary ammonium salts and products modified
with anions such as sodium sulfonate, as well as polyvinyl
pyrrolidone, polyethylene oxide, methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl
cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose or the
like.
[0236] Among these water-soluble polymers used in the
oxygen-shielding layer, polyvinyl alcohol and its derivatives are
preferred from the standpoint of good oxygen-shielding property,
and further such polyvinyl alcohol and its derivatives having a
saponification degree of not less than 70 mol %, preferably not
less than 80 mol % and a weight-average molecular weight of 2,000
to 500,000, preferably 4,000 to 100,000 are more preferred.
[0237] Also, the above oxygen-shielding layer may contain the
polyvinyl alcohol or its derivatives in an amount of preferably not
less than 30% by weight, more preferably 40 to 100% by weight.
Further, in order to enhance adhesion to the photosensitive layer,
the preferred oxygen-shielding layer may also contain vinyl
pyrrolidone-based polymers such as polyvinyl pyrrolidone and vinyl
pyrrolidone-vinyl acetate copolymer, acrylic polymer emulsions,
diisocyanate compounds, p-toluenesulfonic acid, hydroxyacetic acid
or the like. Of these compounds, preferred are vinyl
pyrrolidone-based polymers. In this case, the oxygen-shielding
layer of the present invention may contain the vinyl
pyrrolidone-based polymers in an amount of preferably 0.1 to 70% by
weight, more preferably 5 to 60% by weight.
[0238] Further, the oxygen-shielding layer may preferably contain
organic acids such as succinic acid or organic acid salts such as
ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid from the standpoint of good
keeping property, as well as various additives, e.g., nonionic
surfactants such as polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ether, anionic
surfactants such as sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, cationic
surfactants such as alkyltrimethyl ammonium chloride, defoaming
agents, dyes, plasticizers, pH controllers or the like. The total
content of these organic acids, organic acid salts and additives is
preferably not more than 10% by weight, more preferably not more
than 5% by weight.
[0239] The above oxygen-shielding layer may be formed by coating
its composition in the form of an aqueous solution or a solution in
mixed solvent of water and water-miscible organic solvent by the
same method as used for production of the above photosensitive
layer. The coating amount of the oxygen-shielding layer is
preferably 1 to 10 g/m.sup.2, more preferably 1.5 to 7 g/m.sup.2
(calculated as the dry basis weight).
[0240] The apparatus of the present invention may be suitably
applied to methods using the above photosensitive plate material
composed of the above positive-type or negative-type photosensitive
composition, but may also be applied to methods using other
photosensitive plate materials. The other photosensitive plate
materials may include various conventionally known photosensitive
plate materials (polymers) capable of forming image patterns having
ink-receiving regions and ink-repelling regions (water-receiving
regions) by irradiating multi-beam laser from the exposure
mechanism (5). Such photosensitive plate materials (polymers) may
be dissolved in suitable solvents upon use.
[0241] The photosensitive layer of the photosensitive lithographic
plate which is formed by coating the above photosensitive
composition on the surface of the substrate, is subjected to
scanning exposure to light emitted from the laser source, and then
developed with an alkali developing solution to obtain a
lithographic plate having images thereon.
[0242] As the laser sources, there may be used, for example, HeNe
laser, argon ion laser, YAG laser, HeCd laser, semiconductor laser,
ruby laser or the like. Of these laser sources, preferred are laser
sources capable of emitting laser light in blue ultraviolet region
with a wavelength of 400 to 420 nm, and laser sources capable of
emitting laser light in near-infrared region with a wavelength of
600 to 1,300 nm. Specific examples of these laser sources may
include indium gallium nitride semiconductor laser emitting laser
light with a wavelength of 410 nm as the former type laser, and the
semiconductor laser emitting laser light with a wavelength of 1,064
nm and YAG laser emitting laser light with a wavelength of 830 nm
as the latter type laser, though not particularly limited
thereto.
[0243] Also, although the scanning exposure method is not
particularly restricted, examples of the scanning exposure method
may include plane scanning exposure method, outer surface drum
scanning exposure method, inner surface drum scanning exposure
method or the like. The output light intensity in the former
wavelength range of 400 to 420 nm is usually 1 to 100 mW,
preferably 3 to 70 mW, and the output light intensity in the latter
wavelength range of 600 to 1,300 nm is usually 0.1 to 100 mW,
preferably 0.5 to 70 mW; the beam spot diameter in both the former
and latter wavelength ranges is usually 2 to 30 .mu.m, preferably 4
to 20 .mu.m; and the scanning speed in the former wavelength range
is usually 50 to 500 m/sec, preferably 100 to 400 m/sec, and the
scanning speed in the latter wavelength range is usually 0.1 to 500
m/sec, preferably 0.3 to 400 m/sec. In addition, the scanning
exposure may be conducted such that the laser exposure amount on
the photosensitive layer is usually 1 to 100 .mu.J/cm.sup.2,
preferably 5 to 50 .mu.J/cm.sup.2 in the former wavelength range,
and usually 1 to 200 mJ/cm.sup.2, preferably 5 to 150 mJ/cm.sup.2
in the latter wavelength range.
[0244] The development treatment after the above laser scanning
exposure may be conducted using an alkali developing solution. As
the alkali developing solution, there may used, for example, an
aqueous solution containing about 0.1 to 5% by weight of an
inorganic alkali salt such as sodium silicate, potassium silicate,
lithium silicate, ammonium silicate, sodium metasilicate, potassium
metasilicate, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium
hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, potassium
carbonate, sodium secondary phosphate, sodium tertiary phosphate,
ammonium secondary phosphate, ammonium tertiary phosphate, sodium
borate, potassium borate and ammonium borate, or an organic amine
compound such as monomethyl amine, dimethyl amine, trimethyl amine,
monoethyl amine, diethyl amine, triethyl amine, monoisopropyl
amine, diisopropyl amine, monobutyl amine, monoethanol amine,
diethanol amine, triethanol amine, monoisopropanol amine and
diisopropanol amine.
[0245] Among them, preferred alkali developing solutions usable for
production of the positive-type lithographic plate are those
containing an alkali metal silicate as an inorganic alkali salt
such as sodium silicate and potassium silicate. Further, it is
preferred that the alkali developing solution contains the alkali
metal silicate in an amount of 0.1 to 5% by weight (calculated as
silicon dioxide), and the molar ratio ([SiO.sub.2]/[M]) of silicon
dioxide ([SiO.sub.2]) to alkali metal ([M]) is 0.1 to 1.5, and it
is more preferred that the alkali developing solution contains the
alkali metal silicate in an amount of 0.2 to 3% by weight
(calculated as silicon dioxide), and the molar ratio
([SiO.sub.2]/[M]) of silicon dioxide ([SiO.sub.2]) to alkali metal
([M]) is 0.2 to 1.0.
[0246] Also, the alkali developing solution may preferably contain
a nonionic, anionic, cationic or amphoteric surfactant in order to
attain stable broader developing conditions.
[0247] Specific examples of the nonionic surfactant may include
alcohols such as cetanol, stearyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol,
ethylene glycol and glycerin; polyethylene glycols such as
polyethylene glycol and polyethylene glycol polypropylene glycol
block copolymer; polyethylene glycol alkyl ethers such as
polyethylene glycol cetyl ether, polyethylene glycol stearyl ether,
polyethylene glycol oleyl ether and polyethylene glycol behenyl
ether; polyethylene glycol polypropylene glycol alkyl ethers such
as polyethylene glycol polypropylene glycol cetyl ether and
polyethylene glycol polypropylene glycol decyltetradecyl ether;
polyethylene glycol alkylphenyl ethers such as polyethylene glycol
octylphenyl ether and polyethylene glycol nonylphenyl ether;
polyethylene glycol fatty acid esters such as ethylene glycol
monostearate, ethylene glycol distearate, diethylene glycol
stearate, polyethylene glycol distearate, polyethylene glycol
monolaurate, polyethylene glycol monostearate and polyethylene
glycol monooleate; glycerin fatty acid esters and polyethylene
oxide adducts thereof such as glyceryl monomyristate, glyceryl
monostearate, glyceryl monoisostearate, glyceryl distearate,
glyceryl monooleate and glyceryl dioleate; pentaerythritol fatty
acid esters and polyethylene oxide adducts thereof such as
pentaerythritol monostearate, pentaerythritol tristearate,
pentaerythritol monooleate and pentaerythritol trioleate; sorbitan
fatty acid esters and polyethylene oxide adducts thereof such as
sorbitan monopalmitate, sorbitan monostearate, sorbitan
tristearate, sorbitan monooleate and sorbitan trioleate; sorbitol
fatty acid esters and polyethylene oxide adducts thereof such as
sorbitol monolaurate, sorbitol tetrastearate, sorbitol hexastearate
and sorbitol tetraoleate; polyethylene glycol alkyl amines;
polyethylene glycol alkylamino ethers; polyethylene oxide adducts
of castor oil; polyethylene oxide adducts of lanolin; or the like.
Of these nonionic surfactants, preferred are alcohols, polyethylene
glycol polypropylene glycol alkyl ethers and polyethylene glycol
alkylphenyl ethers.
[0248] Specific examples of the anionic surfactant may include
higher fatty acid salts such as sodium laurate, sodium stearate and
sodium oleate; alkylsulfonic acid salts such as sodium
laurylsulfonate; alkylbenzenesulfonic acid salts such as sodium
dodecylbenzenesulfonate; alkylnaphthalenesulofonic acid salts such
as sodium isopropylnaphthalenesulfonate; alkyl diphenyl ether
disulfonic acid salts such as sodium alkyl diphenyl ether
disulfonate; polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfonic acid salts such
as sodium polyoxyethylene lauryl ether sulfonate; salts of alkyl
sulfuric acid esters such as sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium
stearyl sulfate; salts of higher alcohol sulfuric acid esters such
as sodium octyl alcohol sulfate, sodium lauryl alcohol sulfate and
ammonium lauryl alcohol sulfate; salts of aliphatic alcohol
sulfuric acid esters such as sodium acetyl alcohol sulfate;
polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfuric acid salts such as sodium
polyoxyethylene lauryl ether sulfate, ammonium polyoxyethylene
lauryl ether sulfate and triethanolamine polyoxyethylene lauryl
ether sulfate; polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ether sulfuric acid
salts such as sodium polyoxyethylene nonylphenyl ether sulfate;
salts of alkyl phosphoric acid esters such as sodium lauryl
phosphate and sodium stearyl phosphate; polyoxyethylene alkyl ether
phosphoric acid salts such as sodium polyoxyethylene lauryl ether
phosphate and sodium polyoxyethylene stearyl ether phosphate;
polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ether phosphoric acid salts such as
sodium polyoxyethylene nonylphenyl ether phosphate; sulfosuccinic
acids; unsaturated fatty acid sulfated oils; taurine salts; salts
of castor oil sulfuric acid ester; or the like. Of these anionic
surfactants, preferred are alkylbenzenesulfonic acid salts,
alkylnaphthalenesulfonic acid salts and salts of alkyl phosphoric
acid esters.
[0249] Specific examples of the cationic surfactant may include
quaternary ammonium salts such as lauryltrimethylammonium chloride,
cetyltrimethylammonium chloride, stearyltrimethylammonium chloride,
behenyltrimethylammonium chloride, distearyldimethylammonium
chloride and lanolin-derived quaternary ammonium salts; imidazoline
derivatives such as 2-octadecyl-hydroxyethyl-2-imidazoline; amine
salts such as N,N-diethylstearamide-methylamine hydrochloride and
polyoxyethylene stearylamine; or the like. Of these cationic
surfactants, preferred are quaternary ammonium salts.
[0250] Specific examples of the amphoteric surfactant may include
betaine-type compounds such as
N-lauryl-N,N-dimethyl-N-carboxymethyl ammonium,
N-stearyl-N,N-dimethyl-N-carboxymethyl ammonium,
N-lauryl-N,N-dihydroxyethyl-N-carboxymethyl ammonium and
N-lauryl-N,N,N-tris(carboxymethyl)ammonium; imidazolium salts such
as 2-alkyl-N-carboxymethyl-N-hydroxyethyl imidazolium; imidazolines
such as imidazoline-N-sodium ethyl sulfonate and
imidazoline-N-sodium ethyl sulfate; aminocarboxylic acids;
aminosulfuric acid esters; or the like. Of these amphoteric
surfactants, preferred are betaine-type compounds.
[0251] Among the above surfactants, preferred are nonionic
surfactants, anionic surfactants and amphoteric surfactants, and
more preferred are amphoteric surfactants, especially betaine-type
compounds. The content of the above surfactant in the alkali
developing solution is preferably 0.0001 to 20% by weight, more
preferably 0.0005 to 10% by weight, still more preferably 0.001 to
5% by weight.
[0252] Further, the alkali developing solution may also contain, if
required, various additives including water-soluble organic
solvents such as polyhydric alcohols, aromatic alcohols and
alicyclic alcohols; water softeners such as polyphosphates,
aminopolycarboxylic acid salts and organosulfonic acid salts;
reducing agents such as phenol compounds, amine compounds,
sulfites, phosphites and thiophosphates; chelating agents such as
organophosphonic acids, phosphonoalkanetricarboxylic acids and
salts thereof; pH controllers such as alkali-soluble mercapto
compounds or thioether compounds, inorganic acids, organic acids
and salts thereof; defoaming agents such as organosilane compounds;
or the like. The content of these additives in the alkali
developing solution is preferably 0.001 to 5% by weight, more
preferably 0.005 to 3% by weight. Also, the alkali developing
solution preferably has a pH value of not less than 10.
[0253] Meanwhile, the development treatment may be usually
conducted by conventionally known methods, e.g., by dipping the
photosensitive lithographic plate in the developing solution or by
spraying the developing solution onto the photosensitive
lithographic plate. The development treatment may be usually
conducted at a temperature of preferably about 10 to 50.degree. C.,
more preferably about 15 to 45.degree. C. for a period of about 5
seconds to 10 minutes. In this case, the oxygen-shielding layer may
be previously removed with water, or may be removed upon the
development treatment.
[0254] As the development method, there may be used a so-called
penetration development method of impregnating a penetrant such as
the above alkali developing solution, the above surfactant or
water-soluble organic solvent added to the alkali developing
solution as well as a solution containing these materials into the
exposed photosensitive layer, followed by, if required, applying
physical stimulus thereto, to swell and dissolve non-image
portions, thereby removing the non-image portions from the surface
of the substrate as described in Japanese Patent Application
Laid-Open (KOAKI) No. 11-10827(1999), or a so-called printing
development method of fitting a photosensitive lithographic plate
onto a plate cylinder of a printing machine, supplying an printing
ink to the photosensitive layer, and transferring the ink together
with non-image portions to a blanket cylinder by using an
adhesiveness of the ink to release the non-image portions from the
surface of the substrate as described in Japanese Patent
Application Laid-Open (KOAKI) No. 10-333321(1998).
[0255] After the lithographic plate on which images are formed by
the above development treatment is used for printing, the image
portions are removed to regenerate the printing plate. In such a
regeneration procedure, the images are removed using a release
agent to regenerate the aluminum substrate. In the present
invention, it is important that an aqueous alkali solution having a
pH value of not less than 10, preferably 11 to 14, is used as the
release agent for removing the images. When the pH value of the
release agent is less than 10, the photosensitive layer may fail to
be sufficiently removed, resulting in residual photosensitive layer
on the surface of the substrate. In addition, when a photosensitive
layer is formed again on the surface of the substrate after the
removal treatment, the difference in hydrophilic property between
the image and non-image portions on the substrate becomes
considerably large, thereby causing such a tendency that the
obtained prints undergo uneven image concentration.
[0256] The above release agent is in the form of an aqueous
solution containing at least an alkali agent, preferably an aqueous
solution containing a nonionic, anionic or amphoteric surfactant in
addition to the alkali agent, more preferably an aqueous solution
containing a water-soluble organic solvent in addition to the
alkali agent and the surfactant. The above alkali agent largely
contributes to release of the photosensitive images, whereas the
surfactant and the water-soluble organic solvent have a function
for swelling the photosensitive layer and allowing the alkali agent
to be penetrated thereinto.
[0257] As the alkali agent contained in the release agent, there
may be used, for example, an alkali developing solution composed of
an aqueous solution containing an inorganic alkali salt such as
sodium silicate, potassium silicate, lithium silicate, ammonium
silicate, sodium metasilicate, potassium metasilicate, sodium
hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, sodium
carbonate, sodium hydrogen carbonate, potassium carbonate, sodium
secondary phosphate, sodium tertiary phosphate, ammonium secondary
phosphate, ammonium tertiary phosphate, sodium borate, potassium
borate and ammonium borate, or an organoamine compound such as
monomethyl amine, dimethyl amine, trimethyl amine, monoethyl amine,
diethyl amine, triethyl amine, monoisopropyl amine, diisopropyl
amine, monobutyl amine, monoethanol amine, diethanol amine,
triethanol amine, monoisopropanol amine and diisopropanol amine in
an amount of usually 0.01 to 20% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 10%
by weight, more preferably 0.1 to 5% by weight. Of these alkali
agents, preferred are organoamine compounds such as triethanol
amine and diethanol amine.
[0258] As the surfactant contained in the release agent, there may
be used various anionic, nonionic, cationic and amphoteric
surfactants. Examples of the anionic surfactants may include fatty
acid salts such as sodium laurylsulfate (Emal 0), sodium higher
alcohol sulfate (Emal 40 Paste), triethanolamine laurylsulfate
(Emal TD), ammonium laurylsulfate (Emal AD.25R), sodium
dodecylbenzenesulfonate (Neoberex No. 25); alkylsulfuric acid ester
salts; and alkylbenzenesulfonic acid salts.
[0259] Examples of the anionic surfactants may include
alkylnaphthalenesulfonic acid salts such as sodium
alkylnaphthalenesulfonate (Berex NB.L), sodium
dialkylsulfosuccinate (Berex OT.P), sodium alkyl diphenyl ether
disulfonate (Berex SS.L), potassium alkylphosphonate
(Electrostripper F), sodium polyoxyethylene lauryl ether sulfate
(Emal 20C), triethanolamine polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate
(Emal 20T) and polyoxyethylene alkyl aryl ether (Levenol WZ);
alkylsulfosuccinic acid salts; and alkyl diphenyl ether disulfonic
acid salts. Examples of the further anionic surfactants may include
naphthalenesulfonic acid formalin condensates such as a sodium salt
of .beta.-naphthalenesulfonic acid formalin condensate (Demol N), a
sodium salt of special aromatic sulfonic acid formalin condensate
(Demol MS), special polycarboxylic acid type high molecular weight
surfactant (Demol EP); other special polycarboxylic acid type high
molecular weight surfactants; or the like.
[0260] Examples of the nonionic surfactants may include
polyoxyethylene alkyl ethers and polyoxyethylene alkyl aryl ethers
such as polyoxyethylene lauryl ether (Emalgen 104P),
polyoxyethylene cetyl ether (Emalgen 210P), polyoxyethylene stearyl
ether (Emalgen 306P), polyoxyethylene oleyl ether, polyoxyethylene
higher alcohol ethers and polyoxyethylene nonylphenyl ether
(Emalgen 903). As the nonionic surfactants, there may also be used
polyoxyethylene derivatives such as polyoxyethylene derivatives
(Emalgen A-60), sorbitan monolaurate (Reodol SP.L10), sorbitan
monolaurate (Reodol Super SP.L10) and sorbitan distearate (Emazole
S.20); oxyethylene oxypropylene block copolymers; and sorbitan
fatty acid esters.
[0261] Examples of the further nonionic surfactants may include
polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters such as polyoxyethylene
sorbitan monolaurate (Reodol TW-L120), polyoxyethylene sorbitol
tetraoleate (Reodol 430) and glycerol monostearate; polyoxyethylene
sorbitol fatty acid esters; and glycerin fatty acid esters.
Further, as the still other nonionic surfactants, there may also be
used polyoxyethylene fatty acid esters such as polyethylene glycol
monolaurate (Emanone 1112), polyoxyethylene alkylamine (Amito 105)
and alkyl alkanol amide (Aminone PK.02S); polyoxyethylene alkyl
amines; and alkyl alkanol amines.
[0262] Examples of the anionic surfactants and the amphoteric
surfactants may include alkyl amines, quaternary ammonium salts,
alkyl betaines and amine oxides such as stearyl amine acetate
(Acetamine 86), lauryltrimethyl ammonium chloride (Coatamine 24P),
cetyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (Coatamine 60W), distearyldimethyl
ammonium chloride (Coatamine D86R), alkylbenzyldimethyl ammonium
chloride (Samizole C), lauryl betaine (Anhitol 24B), lauryldimethyl
amine oxide (Anhitol 20N) and laurylcarboxymethylhydroxyethyl
imidazolium betaine (Anhitol 20Y). Meanwhile, the names in
parentheses after the respective surfactants indicate tradenames of
commercially available products all produced by Kao Co., Ltd.
[0263] Also, as the water-soluble organic solvent added to the
release agent solution, there may be used water-soluble organic
solvents such as isopropyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, ethyl
cellosolve, butyl cellosolve, phenyl cellosolve, propyl glycol and
diacetone alcohol. The total amount of the surfactant and
water-soluble organic solvent added to the release agent is usually
0.01 to 50% by weight, preferably 0.1 to 20% by weight, more
preferably 0.1 to 10% by weight.
[0264] The release step may be usually conducted by conventionally
known methods such as dipping the photosensitive lithographic plate
in the above release agent solution or coating the release agent
solution onto the photosensitive lithographic plate. Such
procedures may be usually conducted at a temperature of preferably
about 10 to 50.degree. C., more preferably about 15 to 45.degree.
C. for a period of about 5 seconds to 10 minutes.
[0265] In an alternate release method, a penetrant such as the
above alkali developing solution, the above surfactant and
water-soluble organic solvent added to the alkali developing
solution and a solution containing these materials is impregnated
into the photosensitive layer after printing, followed by, if
required, applying physical stimulus thereto.
[0266] In the present invention, after the aluminum substrate is
regenerated by removing images therefrom by using the above release
agent, a photosensitive layer is formed again on the surface of the
regenerated aluminum substrate to reproduce a photosensitive
lithographic plate. In accordance with the present invention, by
using the above-mentioned compounds as the release agent for
removing image portions of the lithographic plate after printing,
it is possible to readily and surely remove the image portions, and
prevent the residual printing ink remaining onto the image portions
of the lithographic plate from adhering to non-image portions again
upon the release treatment, thereby still maintaining a hydrophilic
property of the non-image portions. As a result, the photosensitive
lithographic plate can be further effectively prevented from being
stained with the printing ink upon the regeneration treatment.
Accordingly, when the regenerated photosensitive lithographic plate
is subjected to printing, non-image portions thereof can be kept
free from adhesion of ink, thereby obtaining high-quality
prints.
EXAMPLES
[0267] The present invention is described in more detail by the
following examples, but these examples are not intended to limit
the scope of the present invention thereto.
Example 1
[0268] <Production of Substrate>
[0269] An aluminum plate having a thickness of 0.24 mm was
degreased in a 5 wt. % sodium hydroxide aqueous solution at
60.degree. C. for one minute, and then subjected to electrolytic
etching treatment in a 0.5 mol/liter hydrochloric acid aqueous
solution at a temperature of 25.degree. C. and a current density of
60 A/dm.sup.2 for 30 seconds. Successively, the thus treated
aluminum plate was subjected to death mat treatment in a 5 wt. %
sodium hydroxide aqueous solution at 60.degree. C. for 10 seconds,
and then anodized in a 20 wt. % sulfuric acid aqueous solution at a
temperature of 20.degree. C. and a current density of 3 A/dm.sup.2
for one minute. Further, the aluminum plate was subjected to hot
water sealing treatment using a 80.degree. C. hot water for 20
seconds, thereby obtaining a substrate.
[0270] <Preparation of Photosensitive Plate Material Composed of
Positive-Type Photosensitive Composition>
[0271] A component (a) comprising 3 parts by weight of an
indole-based dye represented by the following chemical formula (I),
and a component (b) comprising 100 parts by weight of a novolak
resin being obtained by polycondensing mixed phenols containing
phenol, m-cresol and p-cresol at a molar mixing ratio of 50:30:20
with formaldehyde and having a weight-average molecular weight of
9,400 ("SK-188" produced by Sumitomo Dures Co., Ltd.), 3 parts by
weight of Crystal Violet Lactone, and 10 parts by weight of an
ester compound (weight-average molecular weight: 3,000) represented
by the following chemical formula (II) were dissolved in 1,000
parts by weight of propylene glycol monomethyl ether to prepare a
photosensitive plate material composed of a positive-type
photosensitive composition. 27
[0272] <On-Printing Machine Plate Making, Printing and
Regeneration Steps>
[0273] The respective steps were conducted using an apparatus of
the same type as shown in FIG. 1 which was arranged in a printing
chamber. The casing (1) was slid and opened to accommodate a whole
part of the plate making apparatus therein. The printing chamber
was ventilated as follows. That is, an exhaust duct (12) was fitted
to an exhaust port provided near floor so as to discharge air
supplied from an air intake port provided near a ceiling portion of
the casing and introduced through a dust filter (11) and an opened
front wall of the casing (1) into an inside thereof, from the
exhaust port to the exhaust duct (12). Then, the respective plate
making, printing and regeneration steps were conducted by the
following methods.
[0274] First, a plate cylinder (21), a blanket cylinder (22) and an
impression cylinder (23) were kept apart from each other, and
delivery of papers to the impression cylinder (23) was stopped.
Thereafter, the photosensitive plate material composed of the
positive-type photosensitive composition was supplied from a plate
material-feeding mechanism (4) and coated onto the substrate (3)
fixed on the plate cylinder (21), and then dried by hot air at
100.degree. C. for 2 minutes, thereby preparing a positive-type
photosensitive lithographic plate having thereon a positive-type
photosensitive composition layer in a coating amount of 2.4
g/m.sup.2 (step A).
[0275] Next, by using an exposure mechanism (5) having a
semiconductor laser light source with an emission wavelength of 830
nm (manufactured by Applied Techno Co., Ltd.; 40 mW) capable of
scanning exposure with a laser beam spot having a spot diameter of
20 .mu.m at a scanning speed of 40 m/min, the thus obtained
photosensitive lithographic plate was subjected to various exposure
energies for 200 lines of 1 to 99% halftone dot images (step B).
Thereafter, a plate-treating agent composed of an alkali developing
solution (8 times-diluted solution of "DP-4" produced by Fuji Photo
Film Co., Ltd.) was supplied from a plate-treating agent-feeding
mechanism (80) onto the image-exposed photosensitive lithographic
plate, and contacted therewith at 28.degree. C. for 30 seconds, and
then the photosensitive lithographic plate was washed with water to
form images thereon (step C). The alkali developing solution and
the wash water were supplied by temporarily keeping an inking
roller of an inking device (6) and a dampening roller of a
dampening device (7) away from the plate cylinder and temporarily
using a plate material-dissolving solution-feeding mechanism (81)
of the below-mentioned plate material-removing mechanism and a wash
water-feeding mechanism (83). Namely, the below-mentioned plate
material-dissolving solution-feeding mechanism (81) was temporarily
used as an alkali-developing solution-feeding mechanism. As a
result of such procedures, there was obtained a printing plate on
which 1 to 99% halftone dot images were reproduced. It was
confirmed that the sensitivity of the printing plate was 150
mJcm.sup.-2 when calculated as exposure energy for reproducing 3%
halftone dot images.
[0276] After completion of the plate making steps (A) to (C), the
printing ink and the dampening water were supplied onto the surface
of the images formed on the photosensitive lithographic plate from
the inking device (6) and the dampening device (7), respectively.
Successively, while rotating the plate cylinder (21), the blanket
cylinder (22) and the impression cylinder (23) while keeping in
contact with each other and delivering printing papers between the
blanket cylinder (22) and the impression cylinder (23), 10,000
copies of prints were produced (step D). As the printing ink and
the dampening water, there were used a process ink "HIGH ECHO
MAGENTA" produced by Toyo Ink Co., Ltd., and "ASTRON NO. 1 MARK II"
produced by Nikken Kagaku Co., Ltd., respectively.
[0277] After completion of the printing step (step D), the
respective cylinders were kept apart from each other and the
delivery of papers to the impression cylinder (23) was stopped
again. Then, the image portions formed on the substrate (3) were
removed by the plate material-removing mechanism according to the
following procedure to regenerate the substrate (step E).
[0278] First, after disposing an anti-staining tray (86) between
the blanket cylinder (22) and the impression cylinder (23), while
rotating the plate cylinder (21), a plate material-dissolving
solution composed of propylene glycol monomethyl ether was supplied
from the plate material-dissolving solution-feeding mechanism (81)
onto the surface of the images formed on the photosensitive
lithographic plate fixed on the plate cylinder (21). This procedure
allowed the images to be dissolved, thereby regenerating the
substrate (3).
[0279] Then, the wash water was supplied from the wash
water-feeding mechanism (83) onto the surface of the thus
regenerated substrate (3). As a result of this procedure, the plate
material-dissolving solution remaining on the surface of the
substrate (3) was removed. Further, after residual liquid still
remaining on the surface of the substrate (3) was removed by a
waste solution suction mechanism (84), the surface of the substrate
(3) was dried by an air-drying mechanism (85).
[0280] After completion of the regeneration step (step E), the
process was returned to the above plate making and printing steps
(A) to (D), and these steps were repeatedly conducted. As a result,
it was confirmed that the sensitivity of the regenerated printing
plate was the same as that before regeneration, i.e., 150
mJcm.sup.-2, and, therefore, the same high-quality prints as those
obtained using the printing plate before regeneration were
produced.
[0281] Meanwhile, when the thus obtained positive-type
photosensitive lithographic plate was allowed to stand for 10 hours
under the condition of irradiating with light having a light
intensity of 400 lux from a while fluorescent lamp (36 W white
fluorescent lamp "NEOLUMISUPER FLR40S-W/M/36" manufactured by
Mitsubishi Denki Co., Ltd.), and then subjected to the same
development treatment as above, it was confirmed that substantially
no lack of coating film was caused, and the photosensitive
lithographic plate showed a good handling property under the white
fluorescent lamp.
Example 2
[0282] <Production of Substrate>
[0283] An aluminum plate having a thickness of 0.24 mm was
degreased in a 5 wt. % sodium hydroxide aqueous solution at
60.degree. C. for one minute, and then subjected to electrolytic
etching treatment in a 0.5 mol/liter hydrochloric acid aqueous
solution at a temperature of 25.degree. C. and a current density of
60 A/dm.sup.2 for 30 seconds. Successively, the thus treated
aluminum plate was subjected to death mat treatment in a 5 wt. %
sodium hydroxide aqueous solution at 60.degree. C. for 10 seconds,
and then anodized in a 20 wt. % sulfuric acid aqueous solution at a
temperature of 20.degree. C. and a current density of 3 A/dm.sup.2
for one minute. Further, the aluminum plate was subjected to hot
water sealing treatment using a 80.degree. C. hot water for 20
seconds, thereby obtaining an aluminum substrate for lithographic
plate. The thus obtained aluminum substrate had an average
roughness Ra of 0.60 .mu.m when measured by a surface roughness
meter ("SE-3DH" manufactured by Kosaka Kenkyusho Co., Ltd.).
[0284] <Preparation of Positive-Type Photosensitive Plate
Material>
[0285] 3 parts by weight of the indole-based dye illustrated in
(II-9) above as the light-heat converting material (A), 100 parts
by weight of a novolak resin being obtained by polycondensing mixed
phenols containing phenol, m-cresol and p-cresol at a molar mixing
ratio of 50:30:20 with formaldehyde and having a weight-average
molecular weight of 9,400 as the alkali-soluble resin (B), and 3
parts by weight of Crystal Violet Lactone were mixed in 1,000 parts
by weight of methyl cellosolve under stirring at room temperature
to prepare a coating solution. The thus prepared coating solution
was coated onto the surface of the above-obtained aluminum
substrate using a wire bar, and then dried at 100.degree. C. for 2
minutes to produce a positive-type photosensitive lithographic
plate having a photosensitive layer with a dry thickness of 2.4
.mu.m thereon (step A).
[0286] <Plate Making, Printing and Regeneration Steps>
[0287] Next, by using an exposure apparatus having a semiconductor
laser light source with an emission wavelength of 830 nm ("Trend
Setter 3244T" manufactured by Creo Co., Ltd.), the thus obtained
photosensitive lithographic plate was subjected to scanning
exposure with various exposure energies for 200 lines of 1 to 99%
halftone dot images (step B). Then, the photosensitive lithographic
plate was immersed in an alkali developing solution (8
times-diluted solution of "DP-4" produced by Fuji Photo Film Co.,
Ltd.) at 28.degree. C. for 30 seconds, and then washed with water
to produce a positive-type lithographic plate on which 1 to 99%
halftone dot images were reproduced (step C). It was confirmed that
the sensitivity of the obtained printing plate was 150 mJ/cm.sup.2
when calculated as exposure energy for reproducing 3% halftone dot
images.
[0288] Successively, the positive-type lithographic plate thus
subjected to exposure energy of 150 mJ/cm.sup.2 and then to the
development treatment was detachably fixed onto a plate cylinder of
a lithographic printing machine having the substantially same
structure as that shown in FIG. 1 ("DIA F-2" manufactured by
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Co., Ltd.). Then, a dampening water
("ASTRON NO. 1 MARK II" produced by Nikken Kagaku Co., Ltd.) and a
printing ink ("HIGH ECHO MAGENTA" produced by Toyo Ink Co., Ltd.)
were supplied onto the surface of the positive-type lithographic
plate from a dampening water feeding mechanism and an ink feeding
mechanism, respectively, whereby 10,000 copies of prints were
produced (step D).
[0289] After completion of the printing, the printing ink remaining
on the lithographic plate was washed off while keeping the
lithographic plate fixed on the plate cylinder of the lithographic
printing machine. Then, propylene glycol monomethyl ether as an
image removing agent was applied onto the surface of the
lithographic plate by a roller of an image removing mechanism to
dissolve the positive images, and the surface of the lithographic
plate was wiped off with gauze to remove the positive images, and
then washed with water to regenerate the aluminum substrate (step
E). Thereafter, the coating solution composed of the same
positive-type photosensitive composition as used above was coated
again on the thus regenerated aluminum substrate by a roller of a
photosensitive composition solution coating mechanism, and then
heat-dried to form a photosensitive layer thereon, thereby
producing a positive-type photosensitive lithographic plate (step
A). Successively, using the exposure mechanism, the photosensitive
layer was subjected to scanning exposure with a laser source (step
B), and the same developing solution as used above was supplied
onto the photosensitive layer from the plate-treating agent-feeding
mechanism (80) by a roller of a developing mechanism to subject the
photosensitive layer to development treatment, thereby producing a
positive-type lithographic plate having positive images thereon
(step C).
[0290] As a result, it was confirmed that the sensitivity of the
positive-type lithographic plate was the same as that before
regeneration, i.e., 150 mJ/cm.sup.2 when calculated as exposure
energy for reproducing 3% halftone dot images. Further, the
positive-type lithographic plate thus subjected to exposure energy
of 150 mJ/cm.sup.2 and then the development treatment was used to
produce 10,000 copies of prints by the same method as above,
thereby obtaining high-quality prints.
[0291] Meanwhile, when the thus obtained positive-type
photosensitive lithographic plate produced using the regenerated
aluminum substrate was allowed to stand for 10 hours under the
condition of irradiating with light having a light intensity of 400
lux from a while fluorescent lamp (36 W white fluorescent lamp
"NEOLUMISUPER FLR40S-W/M/36" manufactured by Mitsubishi Denki Co.,
Ltd.), and then subjected to the same development treatment as
above, it was confirmed that substantially no lack of coating film
was caused, and the photosensitive lithographic plate showed a good
safe light property under the white fluorescent lamp.
Example 3
[0292] <Preparation of Positive-Type Photosensitive Lithographic
Plate>
[0293] The coating solution as prepared in Example 2 was coated
onto the surface of the same aluminum substrate as produced in
Example 2 by the using a wire bar. While rotating the plate
cylinder at a peripheral speed of 2 m/min, air at 25.degree. C. was
blown to the rotating aluminum substrate from a blower "MF930-BC"
(manufactured by Oriental Motor Co., Ltd.) disposed at the position
spaced by 25 cm apart therefrom for 5 minutes to form a
photosensitive layer thereon. In this case, the photosensitive
plate material layer coated on the aluminum substrate was
heat-dried for 2 minutes by a light-heating-type drying mechanism
including two halogen lamps (manufactured by Ushio Denki Co., Ltd.;
output: 1,000 W; emission efficiency: 85%; emitted light peak:
1,200 nm; irradiation area: 250 mm.times.60 mm) disposed at the
position spaced by 3 cm from the surface of the plate cylinder. The
halogen lamps were arranged such that the major axis (250 mm) of
the rectangular irradiation plane was parallel with an axis of the
plate cylinder, and the minor axis (60 mm) thereof extended in the
circumferential direction of the plate cylinder. As a result of
such a heat-drying procedure, there was obtained a positive-type
photosensitive lithographic plate having a photosensitive layer
with a dry thickness of 2.4 .mu.m thereon. The irradiated light
intensity density upon the heat-drying was 5.7 W/cm.sup.2 when
calculated from the specification of the lamp.
[0294] <Plate Making and Printing Steps>
[0295] Successively, the above positive-type photosensitive
lithographic plate was subjected to image exposure and then
development treatment by the same method as in Example 2. In the
development treatment, the exposed positive-type photosensitive
lithographic plate was fixed on an aluminum cylinder having a
diameter of 10 cm at room temperature of 25.degree. C. such that
the photosensitive layer formed thereon faced outward. Also, an
image detector (high-speed high-performance color image sensor
manufactured by Kiehen Co., Ltd.; a sensor constituted by a CCD
camera "CV-070" and a monitor built-in controller "CV-750") was
disposed at the position spaced by 20 cm apart from the
photosensitive layer. The image detector was set such that signals
were generated when the value obtained by dividing a reflection
absorbance (reflection absorbance A) obtained by subtracting a
reflection absorbance on the aluminum substrate from that of image
portions including 200 lines of 50% halftone dot images, by a
reflection absorbance (reflection absorbance B) obtained by
subtracting the reflection absorbance on the aluminum substrate
from that of the non-image portions, reached 5 or more.
[0296] Next, while observing the exposed portion of the
photosensitive layer by the image detector, the aluminum cylinder
was rotated at 100 rpm. The rotating aluminum cylinder was
contacted with a rubber roller with a diameter of 4 cm which was
partially immersed in a developing solution composed of an aqueous
solution containing 0.5% by weight of an anionic surfactant ("Perex
NBL" produced by Kao Co., Ltd.) and 0.7% by weight of sodium
carbonate, to allow the rubber roller to rotate together with the
aluminum cylinder, thereby supplying the alkali developing solution
at 25.degree. C. After the elapse of 60 seconds from the initiation
of feeding the alkali developing solution, the value of the
reflection absorbance A/the reflection absorbance B of the
developed halftone dot images exceeded 5, so that signals were
generated from the image detector. After confirming the generation
of signals, the rubber roller for feeding the developing solution
was released from the aluminum cylinder, and then water was sprayed
on the aluminum cylinder to wash off the alkali developing solution
therefrom. As a result, extremely high-quality photosensitive layer
images were formed on the substrate. Successively, using the above
exposed printing plate, 1,000 copies of prints were produced by the
same method as in Example 2, thereby obtaining high-quality
prints.
[0297] <Regeneration, Plate Making and Printing Steps>
[0298] Next, after completion of the printing, an aqueous solution
containing 10% by weight of 2-phenoxyethanol and 3% by weight of
diethanol was applied onto the surface of the printing plate to
dissolve the images formed thereon. The surface of the printing
plate was wiped off with gauze to remove the images, and then
washed with water to regenerate the aluminum substrate. Thereafter,
the photosensitive composition coating solution as used above was
coated again on the thus regenerated aluminum substrate by the same
method as in Example 2, and then heated by lamps to produce a
positive-type photosensitive lithographic plate. Successively, the
thus produced positive-type photosensitive lithographic plate was
subjected to laser exposure and then development treatment by the
same method as above to form images thereon, thereby producing a
positive-type printing plate. The thus obtained positive-type
printing plate was used to produce 10,000 copies of prints, thereby
obtaining high-quality prints.
Example 4
[0299] <Production of Substrate>
[0300] An aluminum plate having a thickness of 0.24 mm was
degreased in a 5 wt. % sodium hydroxide aqueous solution at
60.degree. C. for one minute, and then subjected to electrolytic
etching treatment in a 0.5 mol/liter hydrochloric acid aqueous
solution at a temperature of 25.degree. C. and a current density of
60 A/dm.sup.2 for 30 seconds. Next, the thus treated aluminum plate
was subjected to death mat treatment in a 5 wt. % sodium hydroxide
aqueous solution at 60.degree. C. for 10 seconds, and then anodized
in a 20 wt. % sulfuric acid aqueous solution at a temperature of
20.degree. C. and a current density of 3 A/dm.sup.2 for one minute.
Further, the aluminum plate was subjected to hot water sealing
treatment using a 80.degree. C. hot water for 20 seconds, thereby
obtaining an aluminum plate for a substrate of a lithographic
plate. The thus obtained aluminum plate had an average roughness Ra
of 0.60 .mu.m when measured by a surface roughness meter ("SE-3DH"
manufactured by Kosaka Kenkyusho Co., Ltd.).
[0301] <Preparation of Positive-Type Photosensitive Plate
Material>
[0302] The thus obtained aluminum substrate was detachably fixed
onto a plate cylinder of a lithographic printing machine having the
substantially same structure as that shown in FIG. 1 ("LITHOGRAPHIC
PRINTING MACHINE DIA F-2" manufactured by Mitsubishi Heavy
Industries, Co., Ltd.). Then, 100 parts by weight of a novolak
resin (MW: 9,400) prepared by polycondensing mixed phenols
containing phenol, m-cresol and p-cresol at a molar mixing ratio of
50:30:20 with formaldehyde as the alkali-soluble resin (P-1), 3
parts by weight of the indole-based dye illustrated in (II-9) above
as the light-heat converting material (P-2), and 3 parts by weight
of Crystal Violet Lactone as the colorant component (P-5) were
mixed in 1,000 parts by weight of methyl cellosolve under stirring
at room temperature to prepare a coating solution. The thus
prepared coating solution was coated onto the surface of the
above-obtained aluminum substrate using a wire bar, and then dried
at 100.degree. C. for 2 minutes to produce a positive-type
photosensitive lithographic plate having a photosensitive layer
with a dry thickness of 2.4 .mu.m thereon (step A).
[0303] <Plate Making, Printing and Regeneration Steps>
[0304] Next, by using an exposure apparatus having a semiconductor
laser light source with an emission wavelength of 830 nm
(manufactured by Applied Techno Co., Ltd.; maximum output: 30 mW),
the thus obtained positive-type photosensitive lithographic plate
was subjected to scanning exposure for thin line images by
irradiation of beam spot focussed to a diameter of 20 .mu.m with
various exposure energies (step B). Then, the photosensitive
lithographic plate was immersed in the below-mentioned alkali
developing solution (7) supplied from the plate-treating
agent-feeding mechanism (80) at 28.degree. C. for 30 seconds, and
then washed with water to produce a positive-type lithographic
plate on which thin line images were reproduced (step C). It was
confirmed that the sensitivity of the positive-type lithographic
plate was 150 mJ/cm.sup.2 when calculated from minimum exposure
energy for reproducing the thin line images.
[0305] Then, a dampening water ("ASTRON NO. 1 MARK II" produced by
Nikken Kagaku Co., Ltd.) and a printing ink ("HIGH ECHO MAGENTA"
produced by Toyo Ink Co., Ltd.) were supplied onto the surface of
the positive-type lithographic plate from a dampening water feeding
mechanism and an ink feeding mechanism, respectively, whereby
10,000 copies of prints were produced (step D).
[0306] After completion of the printing, the printing ink remaining
on the lithographic plate was washed off while keeping the
lithographic plate fixed on the plate cylinder of the lithographic
printing machine. Then, propylene glycol monomethyl ether as an
image removing agent was applied onto the surface of the
lithographic plate by a roller of an image removing mechanism to
dissolve the positive images, and the surface of the lithographic
plate was wiped off with gauze to remove the positive images, and
then washed with water to regenerate the aluminum substrate (step
E). Thereafter, the coating solution composed of the same
positive-type photosensitive composition as used above was coated
again on the thus regenerated aluminum substrate by a roller of a
photosensitive composition solution coating mechanism, and then
heat-dried to form a photosensitive layer thereon, thereby
producing a positive-type photosensitive lithographic plate (step
A). Successively, using the exposure mechanism, the photosensitive
layer was subjected to scanning exposure for thin line images
different from those of the previous exposure by a laser source
(step B), and the following alkali developing solutions (1) to (7)
were respectively supplied on the photosensitive layer by a roller
of a development mechanism (plate-treating agent-feeding mechanism)
to subject the photosensitive layer to development treatment,
thereby producing a positive-type lithographic plate having
positive images thereon (step C).
[0307] Next, the thus obtained positive-type lithographic plate was
used to conduct printing by the same method as above. When the
1,000th print was visually observed to examine the adhesion of ink
onto non-image portions thereof, it was confirmed that no ink
adhesion was caused on the non-image portions of the lithographic
plate in the case where the alkali developing solutions (1) to (7)
were used.
[0308] Successively, the lithographic plate was regenerated using
the respective alkali developing solutions (1) to (7) by the same
method as above except that different thin line images were formed
thereon at each time, the number of copies of prints produced was
reduced to just 1,000 for each printing, and the printing procedure
was repeated 8 times. As a result, it was conformed that when the
alkali developing solutions (1) and (2) were used, no ink adhesion
onto the non-image portions was recognized even upon the 8th
regeneration procedure, and when the alkali developing solutions
(3) to (7) were used, only slight ink adhesion onto the non-image
portions was observed at the 8th regeneration procedure.
[0309] The above treatments were conducted using the following
alkali developing solutions (1) to (7) each having a pH value of
not less than 11.
[0310] (1) Aqueous solution containing 1.0% by weight of sodium
silicate (SiO.sub.2/Na.sub.2O=3/1; and so forth on), 1.0% by weight
of sodium hydroxide and 0.01% by weight of betaine-type amphoteric
surfactant ("Anhitol 24B" produced by Kao Co., Ltd.)
([SiO.sub.2]/[M]=0.37)
[0311] (2) Aqueous solution containing 1.0% by weight of sodium
silicate, 1.0% by weight of sodium hydroxide and 0.01% by weight of
betaine-type amphoteric surfactant ("Anhitol 86B" produced by Kao
Co., Ltd.) ([SiO.sub.2]/[M]=0.37)
[0312] (3) Aqueous solution containing 1.0% by weight of sodium
silicate, 1.0% by weight of sodium hydroxide and 0.01% by weight of
polyoxyalkylene-type nonionic surfactant ("Emalgen A-60" produced
by Kao Co., Ltd.) ([SiO.sub.2]/[M]=0.37)
[0313] (4) Aqueous solution containing 1.0% by weight of sodium
silicate, 1.0% by weight of sodium hydroxide and 0.01% by weight of
polyoxyalkylene-type nonionic surfactant ("Emalgen PP-150" produced
by Kao Co., Ltd.) ([SiO.sub.2]/[M]=0.37)
[0314] (5) Aqueous solution containing 1.0% by weight of sodium
silicate, 1.0% by weight of sodium hydroxide and 0.01% by weight of
sodium sulfonate-type anionic surfactant ("Perex NBL" produced by
Kao Co., Ltd.) ([SiO.sub.2]/[M]=0.37)
[0315] (6) Aqueous solution containing 1.0% by weight of sodium
silicate, 1.0% by weight of sodium hydroxide and 0.01% by weight of
sodium sulfonate-type anionic surfactant ("Perex SS-H" produced by
Kao Co., Ltd.) ([SiO.sub.2]/[M]=0.37)
[0316] (7) Aqueous solution containing 1.0% by weight of sodium
silicate, 1.0% by weight of sodium hydroxide and 0.01% by weight of
quaternary ammonium salt-type cationic surfactant ("Coatamine 24P"
produced by Kao Co., Ltd.) ([SiO.sub.2]/[M]=0.37)
Example 5
[0317] <Production of Substrate>
[0318] An aluminum plate having a thickness of 0.2 mm was degreased
with a 3 wt. % sodium hydroxide aqueous solution, and then
subjected to electrolytic etching treatment in a 18 g/liter nitric
acid bath at a current density of 80 A/dm.sup.2 for 15 seconds.
Successively, the thus treated aluminum plate was subjected to
death mat treatment in a 1 wt. % sodium hydroxide aqueous solution
at 50.degree. C. for 5 seconds, neutralized with a 10 wt. % nitric
acid aqueous solution at 25.degree. C. for 5 seconds, washed with
water, and then anodized in a 30 wt. % sulfuric acid aqueous
solution at a current density of 10 A/dm.sup.2 for 16 seconds.
Further, the aluminum plate was washed with water and then dried to
produce a hydrophilic substrate. It was confirmed that the amount
of anodic oxide film formed on the substrate was 2.1 g/m.sup.2.
[0319] <Preparation of Photosensitive Plate Material Composed of
Photopolymerizable Composition>
[0320] A sensitizing dye, a radical generator, a high-molecular
binder and an ethylenically unsaturated monomer represented by the
following chemical formulae were blended with propylene glycol
monomethyl ether as a coating solvent at a mixing ratio shown in
Table 1, thereby preparing a photosensitive plate material composed
of a photopolymerizable composition.
1 TABLE 1 Components Weight part Sensitizing dye 5 Radical
generator 5 High-molecular binder 50 Ethylenically Compound 1 15
unsaturated monomer Compound 2 5 Compound 3 15 Compound 4 10
Coating solvent 1,000 [Sensitizing dye] 28 [Radical generator] 29
[High-molecular binder] 30
[0321] Numerals indicate molar ratios.
[0322] Weight-average molecular weight: 200,000
[0323] [Ethylenically unsaturated monomer] 31
[0324] Mixture of compound in which R.sup.41 to R.sup.46 are
acryloyl group and compound in which R.sup.41 to R.sup.45 are
acryloyl group and R.sup.46 is hydroxyl group. 32
[0325] 1:1 mixture of compound in which n is 1 and compound in
which n is 2.
[0326] <On-Printing Machine Plate Making Printing and
Regeneration Steps>
[0327] The respective steps were conducted using an apparatus of
the same type as shown in FIG. 1 which was arranged in a printing
chamber. The casing (1) was slid and opened to accommodate a whole
part of the plate making apparatus therein. The printing chamber
was ventilated as follows. That is, an exhaust duct (12) was fitted
to an exhaust port provided near floor so as to discharge air
supplied from an air intake port provided near a ceiling portion of
the casing and introduced through a dust filter (11) and an opened
front wall of the casing (1) into an inside thereof, from the
exhaust port to the exhaust duct (12). Then, the respective plate
making (steps A to C), printing (step D) and regeneration (step E)
were conducted by the following methods.
[0328] First, a plate cylinder (21), a blanket cylinder (22) and an
impression cylinder (23) were kept apart from each other, and
delivery of papers to the impression cylinder (23) was stopped.
Thereafter, the photosensitive plate material composed of the
photopolymerizable composition was supplied from a plate
material-feeding mechanism (4) and coated onto the substrate (3)
fixed on the plate cylinder (21), and then dried by blowing thereto
hot air at 100.degree. C. for 2 minutes, thereby preparing a
photosensitive lithographic plate having thereon a photosensitive
layer with a thickness of 1 .mu.m (step A).
[0329] Next, by using a semiconductor laser (5) with an emission
wavelength of 830 nm as an exposure mechanism (manufactured by
Applied Techno Co., Ltd.; 30 mW), the photosensitive lithographic
plate was exposed to light of spiral line images. More
specifically, while rotating the plate cylinder (21) and moving the
semiconductor laser (5) parallel with the axial direction of the
plate cylinder (21) while keeping the distance between the plate
cylinder (21) and the semiconductor layer (5) constant, laser light
focused to beam spot having a spot diameter of 20 .mu.m was
irradiated onto the photosensitive lithographic plate at a scanning
speed of 40 m/min (step B). Thereafter, a plate-treating agent
composed of a 0.5 wt. % sodium carbonate aqueous solution was
supplied from a plate-treating agent-feeding mechanism (80) onto
the image-exposed photosensitive lithographic plate to swell and
dissolve non-exposed portions of the photosensitive layer. The
non-exposed portions were washed off with water to form images on
the photosensitive lithographic plate (step C). The sodium
carbonate aqueous solution and the wash water were supplied by
temporarily keeping an inking roller of an inking device (6) and a
dampening roller of a dampening device (7) away from the plate
cylinder and temporarily using a plate material-dissolving
solution-feeding mechanism (81) of the below-mentioned plate
material-removing mechanism and a wash water-feeding mechanism
(83). Namely, the below-mentioned plate material-dissolving
solution-feeding mechanism (81) was temporarily used as an sodium
carbonate aqueous solution feeding mechanism.
[0330] After completion of the plate making step (steps A to C),
the printing ink and the dampening water (10.degree. C.) were
supplied onto the surface of images formed on the photosensitive
lithographic plate from the inking device (6) and the dampening
device (7), respectively. Successively, while rotating the plate
cylinder (21), the blanket cylinder (22) and the impression
cylinder (23) at 470 revolutions per hour while being kept in
contact with each other and delivering printing papers between the
blanket cylinder (22) and the impression cylinder (23), 3,000
copies of prints were produced (step D). As the printing ink and
the dampening water, there were used "HIGH ECHO KURENAI" produced
by Toyo Ink Co., Ltd., and "ASTRON NO. 1 MARK II" produced by
Nikken Kagaku Co., Ltd. (concentration: 1% by weight; pH: 5),
respectively.
[0331] After completion of the printing step (step D), the
respective cylinders were kept apart from each other and the
delivery of papers to the impression cylinder (23) was stopped
again. Then, the image portions formed on the substrate (3) were
removed by a pate material removing mechanism according to the
following procedure to regenerate the substrate (step E).
[0332] First, after disposing an anti-staining tray (86) between
the blanket cylinder (22) and the impression cylinder (23), while
rotating the plate cylinder (21), a plate material-dissolving
solution composed of a negative lithographic plate-developing
solution (aqueous solution containing 10% by weight of
2-phenoxyethanol and 3% by weight of diethanolamine) was supplied
from the plate material-dissolving solution-feeding mechanism (81)
onto the surface of the images formed on the photosensitive
lithographic plate fixed on the plate cylinder (21). Then, physical
stimulus was applied to the images by a plate material-stripping
roller (82) to remove the images from the substrate (3).
[0333] Then, the wash water was supplied from the wash
water-feeding mechanism (83) onto the surface of the thus
regenerated substrate (3). As a result of this procedure, the plate
material-dissolving solution remaining on the surface of the
substrate (3) was removed. Further, after residual liquid still
remaining on the surface of the substrate (3) was removed by a
waste solution suction mechanism (84), the surface of the substrate
(3) was dried by an air-drying mechanism (85).
[0334] After completion of the regeneration step (step E), the
process was returned to the above plate making and printing steps
(steps A to D), and these steps were repeatedly conducted. As a
result, it was confirmed that prints having the same clear spiral
line images as those obtained using the printing plate before
regeneration were produced.
Example 6
[0335] <Production of Substrate>
[0336] An aluminum plate having a thickness of 0.2 mm was degreased
with a 3 wt. % sodium hydroxide aqueous solution, and then
subjected to electrolytic etching treatment in a 18 g/liter
hydrochloric acid bath at a temperature of 25.degree. C. and a
current density of 80 A/dm.sup.2 for 15 seconds. Successively, the
thus treated aluminum plate was subjected to death mat treatment in
a 1 wt. % sodium hydroxide aqueous solution at 50.degree. C. for 5
seconds, neutralized with a 10 wt. % hydrochloric acid aqueous
solution at 25.degree. C. for 5 seconds, washed with water, and
then anodized in a 30 wt. % sulfuric acid bath at a temperature of
30.degree. C. and a current density of 10 A/dm.sup.2 for 16
seconds. Further, the aluminum plate was washed with water and then
dried to produce an aluminum substrate having an anodic oxide film
in an amount of 21 mg/dm.sup.2.
[0337] The thus obtained aluminum substrate was subjected to peel
test to measure a peel strength of a gummed tape adhered onto the
surface thereof by the following method. As a result, it was
conformed that the gummed tape peel strength was 300 g/cm.
[0338] Gummed Tape Peel Strength:
[0339] After adhering a gummed tape ("SLION TAPE3" produced by
SLIONTEC CO., LTD.) onto the surface of the aluminum substrate at
25.degree. C., 5 kg/cm.sup.2 and 50 cm/min, the aluminum substrate
adhered with the gummed tape was fixed onto a table, and the gummed
tape adhered thereonto was peeled off in the 180.degree. direction
at a pulling speed of 30 cm/min (180.degree. peel test). The gummed
tape peel strength was expressed by a linear tension (g/cm)
obtained by dividing a maximum stress measured in the above peel
test by a width of the gummed tape.
[0340] <Production of Negative-Type Photosensitive Lithographic
Plate>
[0341] Successively, the following ethylenically unsaturated
compound (A), sensitizing dye (B), photopolymerization initiator
(C), high-molecular binder (D) and other component were mixed in
1,090 parts by weight of cyclohexanone while stirring at room
temperature, thereby preparing a coating solution. The thus
prepared coating solution was applied onto the surface of the
above-obtained aluminum substrate using a bar coater in a dry
coating amount of 2 g/m.sup.2, and then dried to form a
photosensitive layer composed of the photopolymerizable composition
thereon. Further, a mixed aqueous solution containing 95% by weight
of polyvinyl alcohol and 5% by weight of polyvinyl pyrrolidone was
applied onto the photosensitive layer using a bar coater in a dry
coating amount of 3 g/m.sup.2 to form an oxygen-shielding layer
thereon, thereby producing a negative-type photosensitive
lithographic plate.
[0342] (A) Ethylenically Unsaturated Compound:
[0343] Compound (A-1) shown below: 25 parts by weight
[0344] Compound (A-2) shown below: 5 parts by weight
[0345] Compound (A-3) shown below: 25 parts by weight 33
[0346] (B) Sensitizer:
[0347] Compound (B-1) shown below: 2 parts by weight 34
[0348] (C) Photopolymerization Initiator:
[0349] 2-(p-methoxyphenyl)-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-s-triazine
(C-1): 5 parts by weight
[0350] (D) High-Molecular Binder:
[0351] Reaction product obtained by reacting a copolymer of
methacrylate (80 mol %) and methacrylic acid (20 mol %) with
3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl- acrylate (60 mol % of carboxyl groups of
the methacrylic acid components was reacted; acid number: 60;
weight-average molecular weight: 75,000) (D-1): 45 parts by weight
Other component:
[0352] Pigment (ethyl violet): 5 parts by weight
[0353] <Plate Making, Printing and Regeneration Steps>
[0354] Next, by using an exposure apparatus having a semiconductor
laser light source with an emission wavelength of 830 nm ("Trend
Setter 3244T" manufactured by Creo Co., Ltd.), the thus obtained
negative-type photosensitive lithographic plate was subjected to
scanning exposure with various exposure energies. Then, the
photosensitive lithographic plate was immersed in a developing
solution composed of 0.8% by weight of sodium carbonate and 3% by
weight of an anionic surfactant ("Perex NBL" produced by Kao Co.,
Ltd.) at 25.degree. C. for 30 seconds, and then washed with water
to produce a negative-type lithographic plate on which scanning
line images were reproduced. It was confirmed that the sensitivity
of the obtained printing plate was 100 mJ/cm.sup.2 when calculated
from minimum exposure energy for reproducing the scanning line
images.
[0355] Successively, the negative-type lithographic plate thus
exposed to minimum exposure energy of 100 mJ/cm.sup.2 and then to
the development treatment was detachably fixed onto a plate
cylinder of a lithographic printing machine having the same
structure as shown in FIG. 1 ("DIA F-2" manufactured by Mitsubishi
Heavy Industries, Co., Ltd.). Then, a dampening water ("ASTRON NO.
1 MARK II" produced by Nikken Kagaku Co., Ltd.) and a printing ink
("HIGH ECHO MAGENTA" produced by Toyo Ink Co., Ltd.) were supplied
onto the surface of the negative-type lithographic plate from a
dampening water feeding mechanism and an ink feeding mechanism,
respectively, whereby 10,000 copies of prints were produced.
[0356] After completion of the printing, the printing ink remaining
on the lithographic plate was washed off while keeping the
lithographic plate fixed on the plate cylinder of the lithographic
printing machine. Then, an image removing agent composed of a
negative-type lithographic plate-developing solution (aqueous
solution containing 10% by weight of 2-phenoxyethanol and 3% by
weight of diethanolamine) and 10% by weight of aluminum hydroxide
particles dispersed therein was applied onto the surface of the
lithographic plate by a roller of an image removing mechanism, and
the surface of images formed on the lithographic plate was brushed
and then wiped off with gauze to remove the images therefrom.
Further, the lithographic plate was washed with water to regenerate
the aluminum substrate (step E). Thereafter, the coating solution
composed of the same photopolymerizable composition as used above
was coated again on the thus regenerated aluminum substrate by a
roller of a photopolymerizable composition solution coating
mechanism, and then heat-dried to form a photosensitive layer
thereon, thereby producing a negative-type photosensitive
lithographic plate (step A). Successively, using the exposure
mechanism, the photosensitive layer was subjected to scanning
exposure with a laser source by the same method as in Example 2
(step B), and the same developing solution as used above was
supplied on the photosensitive layer by a roller of a developing
mechanism (plate-treating agent-feeding mechanism) to subject the
photosensitive layer to development treatment, thereby producing a
negative-type lithographic plate having negative images thereon
(step C).
[0357] As a result, it was confirmed that the sensitivity of the
negative-type lithographic plate was the same as that before
regeneration, i.e., 100 mJ/cm.sup.2 when calculated as minimum
exposure energy for reproducing the scanning line images. Further,
the positive-type lithographic plate thus subjected to exposure
energy of 100 mJ/cm.sup.2 and then the development treatment was
used to produce 10,000 copies of prints by the same method as
above, thereby obtaining high-quality prints (step D).
[0358] Meanwhile, the degree of residual line images remaining on
the regenerated aluminum substrate was visually observed, and
evaluated according to the following ranks. As a result, it was
confirmed that the degree of residual line images on the
regenerated aluminum substrate was the rank A.
[0359] A: line image residual rate of less than 1%
[0360] B: line image residual rate of from 1% to less than 10%
[0361] C: line image residual rate of from 10% to less than 70%
[0362] D: line image residual rate of not more than 70%
[0363] Also, when the thus obtained negative-type photosensitive
lithographic plate produced using the regenerated aluminum
substrate was allowed to stand for 10 minutes under the condition
of irradiating with light having a light intensity of 400 lux from
a white fluorescent lamp (36 W white fluorescent lamp "NEOLUMISUPER
FLR40S-W/M/36" manufactured by Mitsubishi Electric Co., Ltd.), and
then subjected to the same development treatment as above, it was
confirmed that the photosensitive layer was completely dissolved
and, therefore, the photosensitive lithographic plate showed a good
safe light property under the white fluorescent lamp.
Example 7
[0364] An aluminum substrate was produced by the same method as
defined in Example 6 except that the electrolytic etching was
conducted using nitric acid instead of hydrochloric acid, and after
anodization, the aluminum plate was immersed in a 50 ppm
carboxymethyl cellulose aqueous solution for 5 seconds and then
dried to form a hydrophilic polymer thin layer having a thickness
of 0.01 .mu.m on the surface thereof. Further, using the thus
produced aluminum substrate, the same procedure as defined in
Example 6 was conducted except that a coating solution prepared by
mixing the following components (A) to (D) as well as the following
other component in a mixture of 1,090 parts by weight of
cyclohexanone and 100 parts by weight of methyl cellosolve while
stirring at room temperature was applied onto the aluminum
substrate without forming the oxygen-shielding layer thereon to
produce a negative-type photosensitive lithographic plate, and the
thus produced negative-type photosensitive lithographic plate was
subjected to laser scanning exposure, and fixed on the plate
cylinder of the lithographic printing machine to produce 100 copies
of prints.
[0365] (A) Ethylenically Unsaturated Compound:
[0366] Dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate (A-4): 50 parts by weight
[0367] Acrylate urethane oligomer ("Ebecryl 8301" produced by
Radcure Co., Ltd.) (A-5): 10 parts by weight
[0368] (B) Sensitizer:
[0369] Compound (B-2) shown below: 2 parts by weight 35
[0370] (C) Photopolymerization Initiator:
[0371] Organoboric acid salt of n-butyl-tris(m-fluorophenyl) boron
anion and tetramethyl ammonium cation (C-2): 5 parts by weight
[0372] (D) High-Molecular Binder:
[0373] Polymethylmethacrylate (weight-average molecular weight:
30,000) (D-2): 40 parts by weight
[0374] Other Component:
[0375] Pigment (ethyl violet): 5 parts by weight
[0376] It was confirmed that the gummed tape peel strength from the
surface of the aluminum substrate was 300 g/cm, and the sensitivity
of the negative-type photosensitive lithographic plate was 150
mJ/cm.sup.2. Also, it was confirmed that the degree of residual
line images on the aluminum substrate regenerated after printing
was the rank A, and the sensitivity of the negative-type
lithographic plate produced using the regenerated aluminum
substrate was the same as that before the regeneration, i.e., 150
mJ/cm.sup.2. Then, the negative-type lithographic plate exposed to
the exposure energy of 150 mJ/cm.sup.2 and subjected to the
printing development was used to produce 10,000 copies of prints.
As a result, it was confirmed that the obtained prints had a high
quality. In addition, it was confirmed that the negative-type
photosensitive lithographic plate produced using the regenerated
aluminum substrate also exhibited a good safe light property under
a white fluorescent lamp.
Example 8
[0377] An aluminum substrate was produced by the same method as
defined in Example 6 except that after anodization, the aluminum
plate was immersed in a 50 ppm carboxymethyl cellulose aqueous
solution for 5 seconds and then dried to form a hydrophilic polymer
thin layer having a thickness of 0.01 .mu.m on the surface thereof.
Further, using the thus produced aluminum substrate, the same
procedure as defined in Example 6 was conducted except that a
coating solution prepared by mixing the following components (A) to
(D) as well as the following other component in 1,090 parts by
weight of cyclohexanone while stirring at room temperature was
applied onto the aluminum substrate without forming an
oxygen-shielding layer thereon.
[0378] (A) Ethylenically Unsaturated Compound:
[0379] Compound (A-6) shown below: 11 parts by weight
[0380] Compound (A-7) shown below: 24 parts by weight (A-6)
[0381] 1:1 mixture of: 36
[0382] (B) Sensitizer:
[0383] Compound (B-1) shown above: 2 parts by weight
[0384] (C) Photopolymerization Initiator:
[0385] Compound (C-1) shown above: 5 parts by weight
[0386] (D) High-Molecular Binder:
[0387] Copolymer of vinyl methacrylate (40 mol %), methacrylic acid
(15 mol %), acrylonitrile (15 mol %) and 3-allyoxy-2-hydroxypropyl
methacrylate (30 mol %) (weight-average molecular weight: 200,000)
(D-3): 45 parts by weight
[0388] (F) Amine Compound
[0389] Tribenzylamine (F-1): 5 parts by weight
[0390] Other Component:
[0391] Pigment (ethyl violet): 5 parts by weight
[0392] It was confirmed that the gummed tape peel strength from the
surface of the aluminum substrate was 300 g/cm, and the sensitivity
of the negative-type photosensitive lithographic plate was 150
mJ/cm.sup.2. Also, it was confirmed that the degree of residual
line images on the aluminum substrate regenerated after printing
was the rank A, and the sensitivity of the negative-type
lithographic plate produced using the regenerated aluminum
substrate was the same as that before the regeneration, i.e., 150
mJ/cm.sup.2. Then, the negative-type lithographic plate exposed to
the exposure energy of 150 mJ/cm.sup.2 and subjected to the
development treatment was used to produce 10,000 copies of prints.
As a result, it was confirmed that the obtained prints had a high
quality. In addition, it was confirmed that the negative-type
photosensitive lithographic plate produced using the regenerated
aluminum substrate also exhibited a good safe light property under
a white fluorescent lamp.
Example 9
[0393] The same procedure as defined in Example 7 was conducted
except that the following reaction products were used as the
high-molecular binder (D).
[0394] (D) High-Molecular Binder:
[0395] Reaction product obtained by reacting a copolymer of methyl
methacrylate (50 mol %), isobutyl methacrylate (30 mol %) and
methacrylic acid (20 mol %) with 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl
methacrylate (50 mol % of carboxyl groups of the methacrylic acid
components was reacted) (D-4): 25 parts by weight
[0396] Reaction product obtained by reacting a copolymer of styrene
(63 mol %) and acrylic acid (37 mol %) with
3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl methacrylate (50 mol % of carboxyl groups
of the acrylic acid components was reacted) (D-5): 25 parts by
weight
[0397] It was confirmed that the sensitivity of the negative-type
photosensitive lithographic plate was 100 mJ/cm.sup.2, the degree
of residual line images on the aluminum substrate regenerated after
printing was the rank A, and the sensitivity of the negative-type
lithographic plate produced using the regenerated aluminum
substrate was the same as that before the regeneration, i.e., 100
mJ/cm.sup.2. Then, the negative-type lithographic plate exposed to
the exposure energy of 100 mJ/cm.sup.2 and subjected to the
development treatment was used to produce 10,000 copies of prints.
As a result, it was confirmed that the obtained prints had a high
quality. In addition, it was confirmed that the negative-type
photosensitive lithographic plate produced using the regenerated
aluminum substrate also exhibited a good safe light property under
a white fluorescent lamp.
Example 10
[0398] The same procedure as defined in Example 8 was conducted
except that the high-molecular binder (D) was replaced with that
used in Example 9. It was confirmed that the sensitivity of the
negative-type photosensitive lithographic plate was 120
mJ/cm.sup.2, the degree of residual line images on the aluminum
substrate regenerated after printing was the rank A, and the
sensitivity of the negative-type lithographic plate produced using
the regenerated aluminum substrate was the same as that before the
regeneration, i.e., 120 mJ/cm.sup.2. Then, the negative-type
lithographic plate exposed to the exposure energy of 120
mJ/cm.sup.2 and subjected to the development treatment was used to
produce 10,000 copies of prints. As a result, it was confirmed that
the obtained prints had a high quality. In addition, it was
confirmed that the negative-type photosensitive lithographic plate
produced using the regenerated aluminum substrate also exhibited a
good safe light property under a white fluorescent lamp.
Example 11
[0399] The same procedure as defined in Example 6 was conducted
except that the aluminum substrate was anodized using phosphoric
acid instead of hydrochloric acid, and was formed thereon with an
oxide film in an amount of 18 mg/dm.sup.2. It was confirmed that
the gummed tape peel strength from the surface of the aluminum
substrate was 1,000 g/cm, the sensitivity of the negative-type
photosensitive lithographic plate was 100 mJ/cm.sup.2, and the
degree of residual line images on the aluminum substrate
regenerated after printing was the rank C.
Example 12
[0400] <Production of Substrate>
[0401] The same procedure as defined in Example 6 was conducted to
produce a negative-type photosensitive lithographic plate except
that the coating solution was prepared by mixing the following
components (A) to (D) as well as the following other component in a
mixture of 400 parts by weight of propylene glycol monomethyl ether
acetate and 740 parts by weight of cyclohexanone while stirring at
room temperature.
[0402] (A) Ethylenically Unsaturated Compound:
[0403] Compound (A-1) shown above: 22 parts by weight
[0404] Compound (A-6) shown above: 11 parts by weight
[0405] Compound (A-7) shown above: 22 parts by weight
[0406] (B) Sensitizer:
[0407] 4,4'-bis(diethylamino)benzophenone (B-3): 9 parts by
weight
[0408] (C) Photopolymerization Initiator:
[0409] 2,2'-bis(o-chlorophenyl)-4,4',5,5'-tetraphenylbiimidazole
(C-3): 15 parts by weight
[0410] (D) High-Molecular Binder:
[0411] Reaction product obtained by reacting a copolymer of methyl
methacrylate (80 mol %) and methacrylic acid (20 mol %) with
3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethylacrylate (50 mol % of carboxyl groups of
the methacrylic acid components was reacted; acid number: 53;
weight-average molecular weight: 70,000) (D-6): 45 parts by
weight
[0412] (E) Hydrogen-Donating Compound:
[0413] 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (E-1): 5 parts by weight
N-phenylglycine benzylester (E-2): 5 parts by weight
[0414] (F) Amine Compound:
[0415] Tribenzylamine (F-1): 3 parts by weight
[0416] Other Component:
[0417] Pigment (copper phthalocyanine): 4 parts by weight
[0418] Dispersant ("Disper BYK 161" produced by BYK Chemie Co.,
Ltd.): 2 parts by weight
[0419] Surfactant ("Emalgen 104P" manufactured by Kao Co., Ltd.): 2
parts by weight
[0420] Surfactant ("S-381" manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.):
0.3 part by weight
[0421] Next, by using a violet laser exposure apparatus with an
emission wavelength of 410 nm ("Cobalt 8" manufactured by
Escher-Grad Co., Ltd.), the thus obtained negative-type
photosensitive lithographic plate was subjected to scanning
exposure with various exposure energies. Then, the photosensitive
lithographic plate was immersed in a developing solution composed
of an aqueous solution containing 0.7% by weight of sodium
carbonate and 0.5% by weight of an anionic surfactant ("Perex NBL"
produced by Kao Co., Ltd.) at 28.degree. C. for 30 seconds, and
then washed with water to produce a negative-type lithographic
plate on which scanning line images were reproduced. It was
confirmed that the sensitivity of the obtained negative-type
lithographic plate was 20 .mu.J/cm.sup.2 when calculated from
minimum exposure energy for reproducing the scanning line
images.
[0422] Then, the subsequent procedure was conducted by the same
method as defined in Example 6 except that the negative-type
lithographic plate exposed to exposure energy of 20 .mu.J/cm.sup.2
and then subjected to the development treatment was used therein.
As a result, it was confirmed that the degree of residual line
images remaining on the aluminum substrate regenerated after
printing was the rank A, and the sensitivity of the negative-type
lithographic plate produced using the regenerated aluminum
substrate was the same as that before the regeneration, i.e., 20
.mu.J/cm.sup.2. Then, the negative-type lithographic plate exposed
to the exposure energy of 20 .mu.J/cm.sup.2 and subjected to the
development treatment was used to produce 10,000 copies of prints.
As a result, it was confirmed that the obtained prints had a high
quality.
[0423] Meanwhile, after the thus obtained negative-type
photosensitive lithographic plate produced using the regenerated
aluminum substrate was allowed to stand for 30 minutes under the
condition of irradiating with light having a light intensity of 470
lux from a 40W yellow fluorescent lamp (40 W yellow fluorescent
lamp "NEOLUMISUPER FLR40S-Y/M" manufactured by Mitsubishi Denki
Co., Ltd.), and then subjected to the same development treatment as
above, it was confirmed that the photosensitive layer was
completely dissolved and, therefore, the photosensitive
lithographic plate exhibited a good safe light property under the
yellow fluorescent lamp.
Example 13
[0424] The aluminum substrate produced by the same method as in
Example 4 was detachably fixed onto a plate cylinder of a
lithographic printing machine having the substantially same
structure as that shown in FIG. 1. Then, the alkali-soluble resin
(N-1), ethylenically unsaturated compound (N-2), sensitizer (N-3),
photopolymerization initiator (N-4) and other component mentioned
below were mixed in 1,090 parts by weight of cyclohexanone while
stirring at room temperature to prepare a coating solution. The
thus prepared coating solution was coated onto the surface of the
aluminum substrate using a wire bar in a dry coating amount of 2
g/m.sup.2, and then dried at 80.degree. C. for 2 minutes by hot air
to form a photosensitive layer composed of a photopolymerizable
photosensitive composition thereon. Further, a mixed aqueous
solution containing 95% by weight of polyvinyl alcohol and 5% by
weight of polyvinyl pyrrolidone was applied onto the photosensitive
layer using a wire bar in a dry coating amount of 3 g/m.sup.2, and
then dried at 80.degree. C. for 2 minutes by hot air to form an
oxygen-shielding layer thereon, thereby producing a negative-type
photosensitive lithographic plate (step A).
[0425] (N-1) Alkali-Soluble Resin:
[0426] Reaction product obtained by reacting a copolymer of methyl
methacrylate (80 mol %) and methacrylic acid (20 mol %) with
3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethylacrylate (60 mol % of carboxyl groups of
the methacrylic acid components was reacted; acid number: 60;
weight-average molecular weight: 75,000): 45 parts by weight
[0427] (N-2) Ethylenically Unsaturated Compound:
[0428] Compound (1) shown below: 25 parts by weight
[0429] Compound (2) shown below: 5 parts by weight
[0430] Compound (3) shown below: 25 parts by weight
[0431] (N-3) Sensitizer:
[0432] Compound (4) shown below: 2 parts by weight 37
[0433] (N-4) Photopolymerization Initiator:
[0434] 2-(p-methoxyphenyl)-4,6-bis(trichloromethyl)-s-triazine
(C-1): 5 parts by weight
[0435] Other Component:
[0436] Pigment (ethyl violet): 5 parts by weight
[0437] The thus obtained negative-type photosensitive lithographic
plate was subjected to scanning line image exposure with various
exposure energies by the same method as in Example 4 (step B).
Then, the negative-type photosensitive lithographic plate was
immersed in a developing solution composed of an aqueous solution
containing 0.8% by weight of sodium carbonate and 3% by weight of
an anionic surfactant ("Perex NBL" produced by Kao Co., Ltd.) which
was supplied from a plate-treating agent-feeding mechanism, at
25.degree. C. for 30 seconds, and then washed with water to produce
a negative-type lithographic plate on which the line images were
reproduced (step C). It was confirmed that the sensitivity of the
obtained negative-type lithographic plate was 100 mJ/cm.sup.2 when
calculated from minimum exposure energy for reproducing the line
images.
[0438] Next, 10,000 copies of prints were produced by the same
method as in Example 4 (step D). After completion of the printing,
the printing ink remaining on the lithographic plate was washed off
while keeping the lithographic plate fixed on the plate cylinder of
the lithographic printing machine. Then, propylene glycol
monomethyl ether as an image removing agent was applied onto the
surface of the lithographic plate by a roller of an image removing
mechanism, and the surface of images formed on the lithographic
plate was brushed and wiped off with gauze to remove the images
therefrom. Further, the lithographic plate was washed with water to
regenerate the aluminum substrate (step E). Thereafter, the coating
solution composed of the same photopolymerizable photosensitive
composition as used above was coated again on the thus regenerated
aluminum substrate by a roller of a photosensitive composition
solution coating mechanism, and then heat-dried to form a
photosensitive layer thereon, thereby producing a negative-type
photosensitive lithographic plate (step A). Successively, using the
exposure mechanism, the photosensitive layer was subjected to
scanning line image exposure by a laser source (step B), and the
same alkali developing solution as used above was supplied onto the
photosensitive layer by a roller of a development mechanism to
subject the photosensitive layer to development treatment, thereby
producing a negative-type lithographic plate having negative images
thereon.
[0439] Next, the thus obtained negative-type lithographic plate was
used to produce 10,000 copies of prints by the same method as
above. When the negative-type lithographic plate was visually
observed to examine the adhesion of ink onto non-image portions
thereof due to line afterimages of the previous photosensitive
layer, it was confirmed that no ink adhesion was caused on the
non-image portions.
[0440] As described above, in accordance with the present
invention, the following effects and advantages can be attained.
Namely, according to the present invention, there is provided a
regenerative plate making and printing process and plate making and
printing apparatus which can further improve the conventional
on-printing machine plate making methods, can show a considerably
excellent working efficiency, can prevent the occurrence of stains
upon printing, and can stably produce high-quality images.
[0441] Further, according to the present invention, there is
provided a regenerative on-printing machine plate making and
printing apparatus which is improved such that mists are prevented
from being generated in the respective plate making, printing and
regeneration steps, and inappropriate illuminating light is blocked
therefrom, thereby enabling various photosensitive plate materials
to be applicable thereto. Therefore, such a regenerative
on-printing machine plate making and printing apparatus can
considerably contribute to enhancement of the working
efficiency.
[0442] Industrial Applicability
[0443] As discussed above, the regenerative plate making and
printing process and plate making and printing apparatus of the
present invention can considerably improve the working efficiency
of a printing system requiring a separate developing step
independent of a printing step and, therefore, is useful to produce
much higher-quality prints and suitable for regenerative
on-printing machine plate making and printing procedures.
* * * * *