A lithographic printing plate precursor including an image recording layer containing an infrared absorber represented by Formula I, on a support, and a method of producing a lithographic printing plate and a lithographic printing method using the lithographic printing plate precursor. ##STR00001##

An apparatus for treating a relief precursor such as a printing plate precursor, with a liquid includes a treatment compartment with treatment means configured to treat a relief plate precursor with a liquid and to remove pieces from the relief precursor, and a liquid collection system configured to receive liquid and removed pieces from the treatment means. The liquid collection system is configured to separate pieces having dimensions larger than predefined minimum dimensions from the liquid and to allow at least some of said pieces to be dissolved at least partially in the liquid at least when the liquid is in a static state after or before a treatment of the relief precursor with the treatment means.

A plate handling system (500, 600) for transporting printing plates between workstations in a process workflow. A plurality of vacuum gripper end effectors (512) configured to grip the printing plates are mounted to a computer-controlled transporter (514) configured to translate in at least three orthogonal directions and to rotate about at least one rotational axis. At least one sensor (560) detects orientation of the plate relative to a staging location and a controller (630) causes the transporter to move based upon programmed instructions in accordance with information provided by the sensor. A mobile preparation table (1000) may be provided in the staging location. A thickness measurement system (1090) may be included in some embodiments.

A processing system and a device manufacturing method that can perform manufacturing of an electronic device without stopping the entire manufacturing system, even when the processing state actually implemented on a sheet substrate by a processing device differs from the target processing state. A processing system for sequentially conveying a long, flexible sheet substrate along a length direction to each of a first through a third processing device to form a predetermined pattern on the sheet substrate, wherein the first through the third processing devices implement a predetermined process relating to the sheet substrate according to setting conditions set to each processing device, and when at least one from among the states of the actual processing implemented on the sheet substrate by each of the first through the third processing devices exhibits a processing error relative to a target processing state, changes other setting conditions, separate from the setting conditions exhibiting the processing error, according to the processing error.

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.

A developing device and a developing method of substrate are provided. The developing device comprises: a conveying platform and a spraying mechanism disposed above the conveying platform; the spraying mechanism comprising a spraying pipe; a plurality of first nozzles and a plurality of second nozzles disposed on the spraying pipe. The conveying platform is used for conveying a substrate, and tilting the substrate with respect to the horizontal direction during a conveying process. The first nozzles are used for spraying a chemical solution onto the substrate continuously; the second nozzles are used for starting or ending spraying the chemical solution onto the substrate according to a predetermined spray density.

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.

Provided is a washing device that has a small device configuration, is excellent in maintainability, and further has a high productivity. The washing device performs development using a washing solution while transporting an imagewise exposed flexographic printing plate precursor. The washing device has a transporting unit that transports the flexographic printing plate precursor along a transport path having a curved transport passage and a linear transport passage, using a leader and a developing portion that performs development by removing an unexposed portion of the flexographic printing plate precursor. The transporting unit transports the flexographic printing plate precursor using a winding transmission method or transports the flexographic printing plate precursor using a method of winding a traction member provided at the leader.

Provided is a washing device that has a small device configuration, is excellent in maintainability, and further has a high productivity. The washing device performs development using a washing solution while transporting an imagewise exposed flexographic printing plate precursor. The washing device has a transporting unit that transports the flexographic printing plate precursor along a transport path having a curved transport passage and a linear transport passage, using a leader and a developing portion that performs development by removing an unexposed portion of the flexographic printing plate precursor. The transporting unit transports the flexographic printing plate precursor using a winding transmission method or transports the flexographic printing plate precursor using a method of winding a traction member provided at the leader.

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.