A method for processing a lithographic printing plate, comprising includes development with an alkaline solution and gumming with a first gum solution and subsequently with a second gum solution, wherein both gum solutions are provided in a cascade configuration whereby the second gum solution overflows into the first gum solution.

An apparatus for processing a lithographic printing plate material includes a development unit including a development cavity, the cavity including a bottom plate, a cover plate and sidewalls which together define a volume which is closed with the exception of an entry aperture which allows a plate material to enter the cavity and an exit aperture which allows a plate material to leave the cavity; wherein the cover plate is provided with at least one protruding element at the side facing the development unit.

A method for processing a lithographic printing plate material includes treating the plate material with an alkaline development solution, and treating the plate material with an aqueous liquid whereby the aqueous liquid is sprayed to both the front side and the backside of the plate material.

A method for processing a lithographic printing plate includes development with an alkaline solution and gumming with a first gum solution and subsequently with a second gum solution, wherein both gum solutions are provided in a cascade configuration wherein the second gum solution overflows into the first gum solution and wherein the plate material includes an aluminium support having a hydrophilic surface which includes more than 2.0 g/m.sup.2 of aluminum oxide.

A method for processing a lithographic printing plate includes development with an alkaline solution and gumming with a first gum solution and subsequently with a second gum solution, wherein both gum solutions are provided in a cascade configuration whereby the second gum solution overflows into the first gum solution and wherein the gum solution(s) include a nitrate salt.

A substrate having a film of a coating liquid containing metal is held by a spin chuck, the film having been exposed in a predetermined pattern. A slit nozzle supplies a development liquid to a surface to be processed of the substrate supported by the spin chuck. A cleaning liquid for removing or dissolving metal is supplied by a cleaning nozzle to the surface to be processed of the substrate to which the development liquid has been supplied.

The present invention relates to a feeding assembly (1) for automatically loading a flexographic plate (5) in a treatment station (7). The assembly according to the invention comprises a punching unit of said plate (5), handling means (5) for moving the flexographic plate from a loading surface to said punching unit and from said punching unit to a housing site in which a pin bar (14) which can be connected to said plate (5) is arranged. According to the invention, the handling means are configured to connect the plate (5) to said bar automatically and to move the bar, at the end of such a connection, to a predetermined position in which it can be coupled to a treatment system (77) of said treatment station.

Disclosed is a negative developing method including a puddle-forming step, a diluting step, and a surface drying step. In the puddle-forming step, developer containing an organic solvent is supplied to a resist film formed on a surface of the substrate and keeping a puddle of the developer on the resist film. In the diluting step, a concentration of a dissolution product dissolved in the developer on the resist film is diluted by additionally supplying the developer containing the organic solvent to the resist film after the puddle-forming step. In the surface drying step, the surface of the substrate is dried by rotating the substrate after the diluting step.

A device for producing flexographic printing plates starting from digitally imagable flexographic printing elements, with which at least the method steps of reverse exposure, main exposure, development using washout media, drying, and aftertreatment can be carried out in automated form, the device comprising at least two different transport devices with which the flexographic printing elements or plates, respectively, are transported through the device. A method for producing flexographic printing plates using said device.

A developing device includes a spraying assembly and a concentration regulating assembly. A developing method usable in the developing device includes: spraying developing agents by a spraying assembly onto respective developing regions on a substrate to be developed; and spraying a regulating liquid by a concentration regulating assembly onto a target developing region on the substrate to be developed to change concentration of the developing agents.