METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR NON-ABLATIVE, HEAT-ACTIVATED LITHOGRAPHIC IMAGING

摘要

Methods and apparatus for lithographic imaging without ablation function by irreversibly debonding intermediate printing-plate layers, thereby rendering at least the surface layer removable by cleaning to expose, in an imagewise pattern, an underlying layer having a different affinity for ink and/or an abhesive fluid for ink. In contrast to ablation-type systems, it is unnecessary to destroy a plate layer, thereby reducing power requirements and facilitating increased imaging speeds.