Method and apparatus for re-imaging a previously used printing form

摘要

In a method for re-imaging a printing form that has been used for printing in a prior printing process a substrate of the printing form is cleaned globally of ink or varnish and the substrate is treated abrasively globally in order to erase a preceding printing image. The substrate to be imaged with a new printing image is treated locally in image regions with a pulsed laser beam and, in the process, a nanoscopic and hydrophobic surface structure is produced locally. The substrate is treated globally with a hydrophilicity intensifier, as a result of which the substrate becomes hydrophilic locally in the previously hydrophobic image regions. An apparatus has a corresponding erasing unit and an imaging unit with a femtosecond laser.

主权项

1. A method of re-imaging a previously used printing form, the method which comprises:
globally cleaning a substrate of the printing form of ink or varnish disposed thereon; utilizing a fluid scouring agent for abrasively treating the substrate globally in order to erase a nanotopographic structuring of a previous printing image used in a prior printing process and to transfer a surface into a defined initial state for subsequent imaging; locally treating image regions of the substrate to be imaged with a new printing image with a pulsed laser beam to thereby produce a locally defined nanoscopic and hydrophobic surface structure by creating different nanostructuring in the substrate without a substantial removal of substrate material; and treating the substrate globally with a hydrophilicity intensifier, to thereby render the substrate locally hydrophilic in previously hydrophobic image regions.