A processing system 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 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.

Provided are a washout processor and a washing method in which a device configuration is small and processing such as development can be stably performed on a flexographic printing plate precursor. There is provided a washout processor that performs development using a washing solution while transporting an imagewise exposed flexographic printing plate precursor, the washout processor having a leader that fixes both of a leading end and a trailing end of the flexographic printing plate precursor and a tension applying unit that applies tension to the flexographic printing plate precursor.

Provided are a washing device and a washing method that achieve prevention of development scum adhesion, development uniformity, and development speed at the same time. This washing device performs development using a washing solution while transporting the flexographic printing plate precursor after imagewise exposure. The washing device includes a transport unit that transports the flexographic printing plate precursor along a predetermined transport path and a development unit that performs development on the flexographic printing plate precursor. The development unit includes a brush which is used for the development and a driving unit which controls rotation of the brush around a rotation axis and movement of the brush. The brush removes an unexposed portion of the flexographic printing plate precursor to perform the development, and the rotation axis of the brush is a fixed axis passing through one point in the brush. The driving unit rotates the brush in a state in which the rotation axis of the brush passes through a surface of the flexographic printing plate precursor, and moves the rotation axis of the brush in at least one direction intersecting the rotation axis.

The invention provides a waterless offset lithographic printing plate precursor that is mountable on a magnet type printing cylinder and has high durability and halftone dot reproducibility. The waterless offset lithographic printing plate precursor contains at least a heat-sensitive layer and a silicone rubber layer disposed on a substrate, the substrate being of a ferromagnet material.

The invention provides a dyeing solution for lithographic printing plates and a dyeing method for waterless lithographic printing plates that show stable plate inspection characteristics with little decrease in dye concentration and less dyeing unevenness even when used for bulk plate processing. The dyeing method for waterless lithographic printing plates is designed so that when used to dye an image area formed on a waterless lithographic printing plate with a dyeing solution containing an organic solvent, the relation of |β−α|<5 (cal/cm.sup.3).sup.1/2 is held wherein β is the SP value of the polymer compound included in the image area and α is the SP value of the organic solvent. The dyeing solution for lithographic printing plates contains (a) a dye, (b) a specific anionic surface active agent, and (c) an organic solvent containing at least one selected from ethers and alcohols.

A developer composition for a water-developable photosensitive flexographic printing original plate is disclosed, containing (a) a nonionic surfactant composed of monoalkyl ether and/or monoalkyl ester of polyethylene glycol, wherein a number of carbon atoms of the alkyl group therein is 8 to 19, and wherein an HLB value thereof is 11 to 16; and (b) one or more anionic surfactants selected from the group consisting of oleic acid metal salt, lauric acid metal salt, dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid metal salt and lauryl sulfate metal salt, wherein a content ratio of (a):(b) is 25:75 to 75:25 (mass ratio), and wherein a brushing friction coefficient on a surface of a printing original plate is 0.60 to 0.75[−], when measured in an aqueous developer containing 1% by mass of the developer composition and 99% by mass of water.

Provided is a conveying type washing device capable of achieving both maintainability and productivity. This conveying type washing device develops a flexographic printing plate precursor after imagewise exposure using a washing solution. The conveying type washing device has a conveying unit that conveys the flexographic printing plate precursor through a conveying path including a curved conveying path, and a development unit that develops the flexographic printing plate precursor in a state in which the flexographic printing plate precursor is immersed in the washing solution by the conveying unit and conveyed.

A system is for processing a photosensitive flexographic printing plate having a latent image formed by image-wise exposure of an aqueous-processable photopolymer. The system can use a first aqueous processing solution with the latent image for cleaning and then washing a resulting relief image with a second aqueous processing solution, where the second aqueous processing solution is devoid of the photopolymer. A processing solution tank is configured to combine the first used aqueous processing solution with the second used aqueous processing solution to form a combined used aqueous processing solution. A processing solution removal can include: a holding tank configured for receiving the combined used aqueous processing solution; and a conduit from the processing solution tank to the holding tank. The processing solution tank includes the combined used aqueous processing solution at less than a predefined maximum volume and having the photopolymer at less than a predefined maximum concentration.

A substrate processing apparatus includes a film processing unit configured to perform a preset processing including formation of a resist film on a front surface of a substrate; and a carry-in/out unit configured to perform a carry-in/carry-out of the substrate into/from the film processing unit. The film processing unit includes a resist film forming unit configured to form the resist film on the front surface of the substrate; a film removing unit configured to supply, to a rear surface film formed on a rear surface of the substrate opposite to the front surface, a processing liquid configured to remove the rear surface film; and a foreign substance removing unit configured to move a brush along the rear surface of the substrate, while keeping the brush in contact with the rear surface of the substrate after being processed by the film removing unit.