The invention relates to an exposure apparatus (1) for exposing plate-shaped materials (2). The plate-shaped material (2) has a first side (3) and a second side (4) that lies opposite the first side (3). The exposure apparatus (1) comprises a first exposure unit (10) and a conveyor unit (30), wherein the first exposure unit (10) comprises at least one segment with a light source and has an embodiment so as to be rotatable about an axis (14), and the first exposure unit (10) and the conveyor unit (30) are configured in such a way that the first side (3) of the plate-shaped material (2) is supplied for an exposure in a first position (11) of the exposure unit (10) and the second side (4) of the plate-shaped material (2) is supplied for an exposure in a second position (12) of the exposure unit (10).

Further aspects of the invention relate to methods for exposing plate-shaped material and a printing plate that was produced from a plate-shaped material according to any one of the methods.

The invention relates to an exposure apparatus (1) for exposing plate-shaped materials (2). The plate-shaped material (2) has a first side (3) and a second side (4) that lies opposite the first side (3). The exposure apparatus (1) comprises a first exposure unit (10) and a conveyor unit (30), wherein the first exposure unit (10) comprises at least one segment with a light source and has an embodiment so as to be rotatable about an axis (14), and the first exposure unit (10) and the conveyor unit (30) are configured in such a way that the first side (3) of the plate-shaped material (2) is supplied for an exposure in a first position (11) of the exposure unit (10) and the second side (4) of the plate-shaped material (2) is supplied for an exposure in a second position (12) of the exposure unit (10).

Further aspects of the invention relate to methods for exposing plate-shaped material and a printing plate that was produced from a plate-shaped material according to any one of the methods.

Systems and processes for making a flexo plate, and plates made thereby. Non-printing indicia defined by areas of presence and absence of polymer in the plate floor created using microdots imaged during a LAMS layer imaging step are readable downstream of the washing or other non-cured-polymer-removal step but not to print in the printing step. The non-printing indicia may define a repeating pattern of alphanumeric characters, non-text graphics, or a combination thereof. A difference in growth of plate structures corresponding to different types of microdots may be used for characterizing processing conditions.

Systems and processes for making a flexo plate, and plates made thereby. Non-printing indicia defined by areas of presence and absence of polymer in the plate floor created using microdots imaged during a LAMS layer imaging step are readable downstream of the washing or other non-cured-polymer-removal step but not to print in the printing step. The non-printing indicia may define a repeating pattern of alphanumeric characters, non-text graphics, or a combination thereof. A difference in growth of plate structures corresponding to different types of microdots may be used for characterizing processing conditions.

The present invention is to provide a flexographic printing plate having excellent ink uniformity in an image area, particularly, in a solid portion regardless of a printing speed, a method for manufacturing the flexographic printing plate, and a flexographic printing plate precursor used in the manufacturing of the flexographic printing plate. The flexographic printing plate of the present invention is a flexographic printing plate having a relief layer provided with a non-image area, and an image area having an uneven structure formed on the surface, in which a concave portion constituting the uneven structure is formed of at least one of a plurality of grooves having a fixed width extending in one direction or a plurality of hole groups constituted of a plurality of bottomed holes having the same diameter scattered in the one direction, a depth of the concave portion is 2 to 20 m, each of the plurality of grooves and the plurality of hole groups is arranged in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the one direction, and the grooves and the bottomed holes respectively have two or more kinds of widths and diameters.

The present invention is to provide a flexographic printing plate having excellent ink uniformity in an image area, particularly, in a solid portion regardless of a printing speed, a method for manufacturing the flexographic printing plate, and a flexographic printing plate precursor used in the manufacturing of the flexographic printing plate. The flexographic printing plate of the present invention is a flexographic printing plate having a relief layer provided with a non-image area, and an image area having an uneven structure formed on the surface, in which a concave portion constituting the uneven structure is formed of at least one of a plurality of grooves having a fixed width extending in one direction or a plurality of hole groups constituted of a plurality of bottomed holes having the same diameter scattered in the one direction, a depth of the concave portion is 2 to 20 m, each of the plurality of grooves and the plurality of hole groups is arranged in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the one direction, and the grooves and the bottomed holes respectively have two or more kinds of widths and diameters.

Described herein are an apparatus and a method for direct engraving an elastomeric printing plate or sleeve by multiple laser beams simultaneously. In one embodiment, an elastomeric printing plate or sleeve is positioned on an imaging drum for direct engraving. The imaging drum is rotatable around its longitudinal axis. Such rotation defines a circumferential direction, also called the transverse direction. The axis of rotation defines an axial direction, also called the longitudinal direction. The printing plate or sleeve has an body and a surface made of an elastomer (made of polymer or rubber). A drive mechanism provides relative motion between a plurality of laser beams and the plate or sleeve in both the transverse and longitudinal directions.

Described herein are an apparatus and a method for direct engraving an elastomeric printing plate or sleeve by multiple laser beams simultaneously. In one embodiment, an elastomeric printing plate or sleeve is positioned on an imaging drum for direct engraving. The imaging drum is rotatable around its longitudinal axis. Such rotation defines a circumferential direction, also called the transverse direction. The axis of rotation defines an axial direction, also called the longitudinal direction. The printing plate or sleeve has an body and a surface made of an elastomer (made of polymer or rubber). A drive mechanism provides relative motion between a plurality of laser beams and the plate or sleeve in both the transverse and longitudinal directions.

A device for imprinting cans comprises a plurality of ink cartridges that supply ink to a plurality of printing plates; the printing plates communicate with transfer blankets fixed to a drum, the transfer blankets move ink from the printing plates and apply it to cans; each transfer blanket includes a different art in low relief which produces an image on cans in addition to the image produced by printing plates; the device is preferably a rotary dry offset printer.

A device for imprinting cans comprises a plurality of ink cartridges that supply ink to a plurality of printing plates; the printing plates communicate with transfer blankets fixed to a drum, the transfer blankets move ink from the printing plates and apply it to cans; each transfer blanket includes a different art in low relief which produces an image on cans in addition to the image produced by printing plates; the device is preferably a rotary dry offset printer.