A method for processing a photosensitive flexographic printing plate having an aqueous-processable photopolymer. A main processing unit is used to develop a relief image by removing unexposed photopolymer using an aqueous processing solution including a first dispersing agent while the photosensitive flexographic printing plate is being subjected to mechanical cleaning. Used aqueous processing solution containing the removed photopolymer is returned back into a processing solution tank. A secondary processing unit is used to wash the developed relief image with secondary aqueous processing solution including a second dispersing agent to remove debris from the developed relief image. Used secondary aqueous processing solution containing the removed photopolymer is directed into the processing solution tank. A portion of the aqueous processing solution from the processing solution tank is removed to keep a volume of aqueous processing solution in the processing solution tank below a predefined maximum volume.

A method of producing a substrate including a resist film includes a coating step of coating a resist film on a substrate, an exposing step of exposing selectively the resist film formed in the coating step, and a developing step of developing the resist film that is selectively exposed in the exposing step and adjusting process time for development based on transition time for shifting to the developing step after the coating step.

A substrate treating apparatus includes a plurality of conveying rollers arranged in a first direction which is a horizontal direction, and configured to transfer a substrate in the first direction, the substrate being disposed on a plane formed by the first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, a developer providing nozzle configured to provide a developer onto the substrate to form a developer layer on the substrate, a sensor part for recognizing a position of the substrate, and a vertical moving part configured to move each of the conveying rollers along a third direction which is downward and perpendicular to the first and second directions.

Provided are a treatment device and a treatment method capable of easily reusing a used rinsing liquid, and reducing the amount of waste liquid. A treatment device has: a developing portion which is provided with a developing unit which performs development by removing a non-exposed portion of a flexographic printing plate precursor after imagewise exposure using a developer containing a washing solution; a rinsing portion which is provided with a rinsing liquid supply portion which supplies a rinsing liquid containing substantially only water as a component to at least a surface of the flexographic printing plate precursor after development, from which the non-exposed portion of the flexographic printing plate precursor has been removed; a developer storage portion which has a developer storage tank which stores the developer which is used for the development in the developing portion; a first liquid feeding path through which the developer after development is fed to the developer storage tank of the developer storage portion; and a second liquid feeding path different from the first liquid feeding path, through which the rinsing liquid supplied by the rinsing portion is fed to the developer storage tank of the developer storage portion, and the developing portion repeatedly uses the developer stored in the developer storage tank of the developer storage portion to perform the development.

Disclosed is a developing device for developing a substrate, comprising: a developing tank, a recovery box and a conveying unit provided right above the developing tank and configured to convey the substrate; wherein the developing tank comprises a first tank, a second tank and a third tank, which are spaced and are sequentially arranged; the recovery box comprises a first box and a second box; the first tank is communicated with the first box; as the substrate is arranged in the second tank, the second tank is communicated with the first box; as the substrate is arranged in the third tank, the third tank is communicated with the second box. The developing device can solve the technical problems of separately recovering the developers doped with different photoresist concentrations during the development of the substrate to reduce the cost of diluting the developer concentration in the recovery box.

Photopolymerizable, preferably digitally imageable photopolymerizable, flexographic printing elements having a PET support sheet of low thermal shrinkage, methods of preparing such flexographic printing elements and their use for making flexographic printing plates by imagewise exposure to light, washing out with organic solvents and drying, wherein said drying is carried out at temperatures of more than 60 C.

A method for processing a photosensitive flexographic printing plate having an aqueous-processable photopolymer. A main processing unit is used to develop a relief image by removing unexposed photopolymer using an aqueous processing solution including a first dispersing agent while the photosensitive flexographic printing plate is being subjected to mechanical cleaning. Used aqueous processing solution containing the removed photopolymer is returned back into a processing solution tank. A secondary processing unit is used to wash the developed relief image with secondary aqueous processing solution including a second dispersing agent to remove debris from the developed relief image. Used secondary aqueous processing solution containing the removed photopolymer is directed into the processing solution tank. A portion of the aqueous processing solution from the processing solution tank is removed to keep a volume of aqueous processing solution in the processing solution tank below a predefined maximum volume.

The present disclosure provides a developing apparatus, which includes a developing mechanism and a heating mechanism, and the heating mechanism includes a plurality of heating units. The plurality of heating units are provided above or below the developing mechanism, and each heating unit of the plurality of heating units is disposed independently.

A processing system includes a processing unit that processes the flexographic printing plate with a processing liquid. The processing unit includes a hollow tube having a length extending across a cross-track dimension of the flexographic printing plate. A processing liquid supply system supplies pressurized processing liquid into an interior of the hollow tube. A plurality of pressure-compensating emitters is distributed along the length of the tube which deliver processing liquid onto a surface of the flexographic printing plate, wherein processing liquid flows from the interior of the hollow tube through the pressure-compensating emitters at a controlled flow rate.

A method for processing a photosensitive flexographic printing plate having an aqueous-processable photopolymer. A main processing unit is used to develop a relief image by removing unexposed photopolymer using an aqueous processing solution including a first dispersing agent while the photosensitive flexographic printing plate is being subjected to mechanical cleaning. Used aqueous processing solution containing the removed photopolymer is returned back into a processing solution tank. A secondary processing unit is used to wash the developed relief image with secondary aqueous processing solution including a second dispersing agent to remove debris from the developed relief image. Used secondary aqueous processing solution containing the removed photopolymer is directed into the processing solution tank. A portion of the aqueous processing solution from the processing solution tank is removed to keep a volume of aqueous processing solution in the processing solution tank below a predefined maximum volume.