Provided is a fully automatic gravure plate-making processing system capable of manufacturing a gravure plate-making roll more quickly as compared to a conventional case, achieving space saving, performing an unattended operation even in the nighttime, and reducing dust between individual processes. The fully automatic gravure plate-making processing system includes: a first industrial robot for chucking and handling an unprocessed plate-making roll; a second industrial robot for chucking and handling the unprocessed plate-making roll; a roll stock apparatus, a photosensitive film coating apparatus, a laser exposure apparatus, an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus with a drying function, a grinding wheel polishing apparatus, and a paper polishing apparatus, which serve as processing apparatus arranged in a handling area of the first industrial robot; and a degreasing apparatus, a copper plating apparatus, a developing apparatus, an etching apparatus, a resist removal apparatus, a surface hardening film forming apparatus, and an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus, which serve as processing apparatus arranged in a handling area of the second industrial robot, to thereby perform plate-making processing.

A method for providing a textured surface finish to a substrate includes providing an image having a contrast ratio; altering the image to increase the contrast ratio; determining an engraving profile for an ink transfer tool based on the contrast ratio of the image; etching the ink transfer tool in accordance with the engraving profile; coating the ink transfer tool with an ink; transferring the ink from the ink transfer tool to a substrate; applying a top coat to the substrate while the ink is set; and curing the ink and top coat on the substrate in an oven. The etching creates a plurality of wells in the ink transfer tool for holding the ink. The engraving profile is not identical to the altered image.

A method for providing a textured surface finish to a substrate includes providing an image having a contrast ratio; altering the image to increase the contrast ratio; determining an engraving profile for an ink transfer tool based on the contrast ratio of the image; etching the ink transfer tool in accordance with the engraving profile; coating the ink transfer tool with an ink; transferring the ink from the ink transfer tool to a substrate; applying a top coat to the substrate while the ink is set; and curing the ink and top coat on the substrate in an oven. The etching creates a plurality of wells in the ink transfer tool for holding the ink. The engraving profile is not identical to the altered image.

A photosensitive resin printing plate precursor includes at least a substrate and a photosensitive resin layer, the photosensitive resin layer containing: (A) a partially saponified polyvinyl acetate, (B) a polyamide having basic nitrogen, (C) a compound having an ethylenic double bond, and (D) a photopolymerization initiator; the photosensitive resin layer including at least an underlayer and a printing surface layer; the substrate, the underlayer, and the printing surface layer being included in this order; and the photosensitive resin layer containing, as the partially saponified polyvinyl acetate (A), those (A1) having an average polymerization degree of 1,200 to 2,600 in the printing surface layer and those (A2) having an average polymerization degree of 400 to 800 in the underlayer.

A cylindrical printing plate formed with high precision and used for printing on a metal can body, particularly an aluminum or aluminum alloy can body. The forming method of a printing plate forms the printing plate to be mounted on an outer periphery of a cylindrical plate cylinder, and includes a notch forming step of forming a positioning notch in a rectangular elastic material sheet in which a resin layer to be served as a plate section is formed on one surface. A cylindrical material forming step rolls the elastic material sheet in which the positioning notch is formed and overlaps both end portions of the elastic material sheet and joining them in a cylindrical shape. A plate section engraving step engraves a printing pattern on the plate section of the elastic material sheet formed into a cylinder shape.

A cylindrical printing plate formed with high precision and used for printing on a metal can body, particularly an aluminum or aluminum alloy can body. The forming method of a printing plate forms the printing plate to be mounted on an outer periphery of a cylindrical plate cylinder, and includes a notch forming step of forming a positioning notch in a rectangular elastic material sheet in which a resin layer to be served as a plate section is formed on one surface. A cylindrical material forming step rolls the elastic material sheet in which the positioning notch is formed and overlaps both end portions of the elastic material sheet and joining them in a cylindrical shape. A plate section engraving step engraves a printing pattern on the plate section of the elastic material sheet formed into a cylinder shape.

An apparatus for preparing a relief plate precursor, such as a printing plate precursor, that has to be treated. The apparatus includes a transport bar provided with at least one penetration element, preferably a plurality of penetration elements; and a plate coupling station configured for coupling a relief plate precursor to the transport bar by causing a penetration by the at least one penetration element through an unperforated area near an edge of a relief plate precursor.

An apparatus for preparing a relief plate precursor, such as a printing plate precursor, that has to be treated. The apparatus includes a transport bar provided with at least one penetration element, preferably a plurality of penetration elements; and a plate coupling station configured for coupling a relief plate precursor to the transport bar by causing a penetration by the at least one penetration element through an unperforated area near an edge of a relief plate precursor.

The present invention provides a vibration generator capable of accurately adapting to fine vibration. The vibration generator has a stationary permanent magnet, a yoke for the permanent magnet, a coil fixed to the yoke, four springs provided to the yoke, and a movable piece supported with the yoke through the four springs. The end portions of the movable piece are arranged between the respective two pairs of the projections with first gaps. The central portion of the movable piece is arranged in the through-hole with the second gaps, the second gaps having a size to allow oscillation, which is regulated by the first gaps, of the central portion of the movable piece.

The present invention provides a vibration generator capable of accurately adapting to fine vibration. The vibration generator has a stationary permanent magnet, a yoke for the permanent magnet, a coil fixed to the yoke, four springs provided to the yoke, and a movable piece supported with the yoke through the four springs. The end portions of the movable piece are arranged between the respective two pairs of the projections with first gaps. The central portion of the movable piece is arranged in the through-hole with the second gaps, the second gaps having a size to allow oscillation, which is regulated by the first gaps, of the central portion of the movable piece.