An apparatus for treating a relief plate precursor, such as a printing plate precursor, preferably with a liquid. The apparatus includes a transport system with at least one, preferably at least two transport bars; a plate coupling station configured for coupling a relief plate precursor to the transport bar; a treatment compartment configured for treating the relief plate precursor; and a plate decoupling station configured for decoupling the treated relief plate precursor from the transport bar. The transport system is configured to automatically move each transport bar, after being coupled to a relief plate precursor in the plate coupling station, from the plate coupling station through the treatment station to the plate decoupling station, and, after being decoupled from a treated relief plate precursor, from the plate decoupling station back to the plate coupling station, such that the transport bar moves in a closed loop through the apparatus.

An apparatus comprises a plate cleaner assembly. The plate cleaner assembly further comprises a frame, a roller coupled to the frame, a dry cleaning material coupled to the roller, and a spray assembly coupled to the plate cleaner assembly. The plate cleaner assembly further includes a controller coupled thereto. Moreover, the apparatus further comprises a printing plate cylinder and a printing plate coupled to the printing plate cylinder.

A viscosity control unit provides improved and efficient residual ink removal from an imaging member following the transfer of the majority of the ink from the imaging member to a substrate, and prior to the application of a subsequent ink application to the imaging member. The viscosity control unit hardens the residual ink on the imaging member to produce a hardened residual ink. By increasing the viscosity of the residual ink before it is removed by a cleaning station, the removal of the residual ink from the imaging member becomes easier and more efficient.

Disclosed herein are methods for an ink-based digital printing system, comprising providing an imaging member a reimageable surface layer disposed on a structural mounting layer, the reimageable surface layer comprising a fluorosilicone elastomer and an infrared-absorbing filler comprising carbon black, and a plurality of surface defects on the reimageable surface layer, wherein the surface defects comprises carbon black exposed through the fluorosilicone elastomer of the reimageable surface layer. The method also comprises applying a coating of rejuvenating oil comprising an amino-functional organopolysiloxane to the reimageable surface layer, whereby at least a portion of the plurality of surface defects are coated by the amino-functional organopolysiloxane, thereby rejuvenating the imaging member.

A thermal development apparatus for removing non-crosslinked polymer or monomer from a first surface of a flexographic plate comprises a moving assembly which moves the plate along a predetermined trajectory. A development operating assembly applies an absorbent material to the first surface during movement thereof, and comprises feeding means of the absorbent material and heating means for heating the first surface to a temperature sufficient to melt at least a portion of the non-crosslinked polymer/monomer. A second operating assembly comprises contact means configured to cause a contact between the absorbent material and the first surface to allow the melted polymer/monomer to be absorbed by the absorbent material. A cooling assembly cools the plate at an operating position downstream of the operating position at which the absorbent material contacts the first surface, wherein the operating positions are considered with respect to the predetermined trajectory along which the plate is moved.

A thermal development apparatus for removing non-crosslinked polymer or monomer from a surface of a flexographic plate comprises a moving assembly which moves the plate along a predetermined trajectory. The moving assembly comprises a support cylinder which includes a cylindrical body that develops around a longitudinal axis, wherein the support cylinder further includes a cover layer which partially covers an outermost surface of the cylindrical body and defines a support surface for the plate. The moving assembly also comprises a plurality of connecting pins connected, directly or indirectly, to the outermost surface of the cylindrical body at a cutoff region of the cover layer, wherein the pins are aligned parallel to the longitudinal axis and wherein, for each pin, the radial distance between the longitudinal axis and a free end of the pin is less than the radial distance between the longitudinal axis and the defined support surface.

Described herein are aluminum alloys, and methods of making the aluminum alloys, that are advantageous for use as lithographic printing plates. The aluminum alloys, and methods of making the aluminum alloys described herein provide lithographic printing plates without surface defects, but with the mechanical and physical properties currently demanded by the printing industry.

Disclosed herein are methods for an ink-based digital printing system, comprising providing an imaging member a reimageable surface layer disposed on a structural mounting layer, the reimageable surface layer comprising a fluorosilicone elastomer and an infrared-absorbing filler comprising carbon black, and a plurality of surface defects on the reimageable surface layer, wherein the surface defects comprises carbon black exposed through the fluorosilicone elastomer of the reimageable surface layer. The method also comprises applying a coating of rejuvenating oil comprising an amino-functional organopolysiloxane to the reimageable surface layer, whereby at least a portion of the plurality of surface defects are coated by the amino-functional organopolysiloxane, thereby rejuvenating the imaging member.

A system and a method for cleaning a printing cylinder or other printing equipment such as printing plates, ink pans or floors of printing units, the method comprising applying a detergent to the surface to be cleaned, after a period to allow action of the detergent, removing the detergent by rinsing, using a vapor and high velocity air stream, i.e. atomized water fog; or steam; or a combination of steam and air, which allows dislodging particles encrusted within cells of the surface of the piece of equipment to be cleaned.

An apparatus for aligning an edge, such as a leading edge of a plate, in particular a printing plate or a printing plate precursor. The apparatus includes a support configured for supporting the plate on a support surface, and to be located upstream of a treatment station. At least two movable elements are arranged to be moved by an edge, such as a leading edge, of the plate. The at least two movable elements include a first and a second movable element; a detection means configured to detect a first and second measure representative for a first and second position of the first and second movable element, respectively, at least one controllable component configured to perform an action on the plate, and a control means configured to control the at least one controllable component based on the first and second measure.