The cleaning of photosensitive resin printing plates is not unfamiliar to everyone, but if handled improperly, he may cause huge losses to the printing company. This article will introduce to you the proper cleaning and storage of this printing plate. method.
Before installation
First, let us take a look at the situation of the printing plate before it was installed on the printing press. When the plates are brand new, they all look very clean, but most of the plates will have some developer left on them. These developers must be removed. We can use some ethanol to clean the surface of the plate. .
This cleaning must be done before the plate is mounted on the plate sleeve or drum. After the plates have been installed and the plate sleeves or cylinders are ready for printing on the machine, the operator should also clean the surface of the plates again to avoid the oil on the hands of the installer and onto the plates. . This helps to reduce waste of materials during the debugging process.
During the printing process
Once the plate is installed on the press and the ink is completed, you must avoid the use of cleaning fluids that are compatible with the ink. This principle is very suitable for water, solvents and UV inks. In general, these plates do not require the use of powerful cleaning agents, and we must be very careful when cleaning the plates, taking care not to penetrate the plates to the edge of the plates, so as not to affect their normal production.
After printing
After the printing plate has completed the task of printing on the machine, you can clean it in two ways, one is manual cleaning and the other is using automatic cleaning equipment. According to the different ways of storing plates, their cleaning methods are also different. If the plates need to be stored separately, they will be placed on a complete plane, which helps protect the plates from being damaged during processing; if the plates are to be stored with the plate sleeve, then we They can be placed on a stable stand so that the plate can be fully cleaned while ensuring the safety of the sleeve.
Water-based inks can be washed off with a mild detergent. If we use water during the cleaning process, check that the pH of the water does not exceed the upper limit set by the ink supplier (usually between 8.5 and 9.5). If the pH is too low, the ink will not dissolve. In addition, we can also use alcohol and soft bristles to clean stubborn ink particles on the plate. After cleaning the plates, we can put them under a blower or fan to dry naturally. You should never use cloth to wipe the plates, so their residual fiber can cause problems with the plate the next time it is used.
Solvent and UV inks can be cleaned with a solvent or a compatible solvent compatible with the ink, but the amount of solvent must be controlled. If necessary, we can clean the plate with a dust-free cloth and a soft brush, and avoid using powerful cleaning agents such as acetone and esters. In addition, you must pay extra attention during the drying of the plate to avoid the solvent remaining on the plate.
Today, with the rapid transfer of printing presses, the printing industry still has to rely on manual cleaning of large numbers of printing plates. However, as technology continues to advance, we can achieve a simpler and cleaner plate cleaning process with automated plate cleaners. At present, there are some plate cleaners available on the market for us to choose. No matter what the characteristics of these devices are, their ultimate goal is the same, that is, the lowest cost, the highest efficiency and the best printing. quality.
Jan Willem Boers, president of Polymount International, the world's leading supplier of fully automatic plate washers, introduced us to current trends in technology. He said: “Since I remembered, my mother has been washing dishes in the dishwasher. So I don’t understand why so many companies are willing to pay workers to clean plates. In today’s world where everyone is pursuing efficiency and reducing costs, many companies are looking for a completely new way of cleaning plates. The way not only to bring them as clean as possible printing plates, but also to help them increase production efficiency. Any printer hopes to get as many prints as possible on expensive printing plates. And this goal is only This can only be achieved by increasing the cleanliness of the printing plate and reducing the interference of human factors on the drying process of the printing plate.In addition, manual cleaning of the printing plate will discharge large amounts of solvent into the environment, which is inconsistent with the current theme of the printing industry - green and environmental protection ."
Flat storage
Whether it is laid flat or stored with a sticker sleeve, we always adhere to one principle when storing printing plates – away from areas that are easily oxidized and exposed to direct UV light.
When we keep the plates separately, we must use sliding trays. At the same time, we also need to avoid the use of sliding trays or packaging materials containing lubricants. These anti-slip agents may remain or penetrate the surface of the printing plate and affect the transfer of the ink at the next printing.
When storing plates in this way, be sure to keep the plates horizontal. In other words, the so-called flat storage is to keep the surface of the printing plate really flat. Plates stored in an unbalanced or unsafe environment are more prone to long-term damage. In addition, you should avoid stacking the plates too high because too much pressure can damage the surface of the plate, affecting the follow-up. The print quality. It is best to choose a drawer storage system. All plates must be completely dry before being placed in the storage system.
Store with sticker sleeve
Placing the plate on a plate sleeve or roller protects the plate from environmental damage. When wrapping these plates with plastic film, you should try to avoid using excessive force. If the package is too tight, It may cause defects on the plate surface, such as creases. Also, try to avoid the use of reel material containing lubricants as this may cause contamination of the plate surface.
It must be remembered that every plate manufacturer will make a technical data sheet for their products. These documents provide us with many issues that need to be taken care of when using and processing plates, so do not ignore them. exist.
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