METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR APPLYING SURFACE TREATMENTS TO PHOTOSENSITIVE PRINTING ELEMENTS DURING THERMAL DEVELOPMENT

摘要

The present invention is directed to a method and an apparatus for applying a surface treatment composition to a photosensitive printing element (15) during thermal processing. A photosensitive printing element (15) is contacted with a web of absorbent material (30) that is capable of absorbing material that is melted or softened from an imaged and exposed surface of a photosensitive printing element (15). The web of absorbent material (30) is coated with a surface treatment composition to transfer the surface treatment composition from the web of absorbent material (30) to the imaged and exposed surface of the photosensitive printing element (15). Applying the surface treatment composition during thermal processing provides for more complete and more uniform coverage of the surface treatment composition on the photosensitive printing element (15).