Nowadays, with the rapid development of network technology, electronic color separation machines, laser imagesetters, plate printing machines, etc. that are still widely used will soon become history. We briefly introduce some of the prepress equipment as follows:
Vertical/horizontal/ceiling plate-making cameras
It is an optical machine that takes pictures of originals into negatives for plate-making. It consists of a chassis (or hanger), a mirror box, a manuscript holder, a light source and other components. The primary use of this equipment has been replaced by electronic color separation machines.
Electronic color separation machine
It is a device designed based on the principle of electronic color separation and uses photoelectric scanning and electronic computing technology to replace cameras for image plate making. At present, this kind of machine has been completely replaced by two new technologies: the first is laser phototypesetting technology; the second is CTP direct plate making technology.
Planar scanner
It is mainly composed of four major parts: optical system, photoelectric conversion system (charge-coupled device CCD), electronic system and mechanical system. Advantages: fast scanning speed, easy to use; strong adaptability to originals, and low price. The disadvantages are: the dynamic range of density is low; the ability to express dark parts of the image is poor; the effect of scanning transmission originals is not ideal; the resolution and clarity are not as good as drum scanners.
The drum scanner
is developed from the electronic color separation machine. Its core technology is the photomultiplier tube PMT and analog/digital (A/D) converter, including Scanning roller, scanning light source, scanning head system. Its advantages are: using a photomultiplier tube (PMT) as the optical signal receiver, it has high sensitivity to light, so it has a large density response range, good performance in dark tones of the image, and high resolution. The disadvantages are: it is not as convenient as a flat scanner, the scanning speed is slower, and the price is high.
Laser imagesetter
is a device that outputs high-precision, high-resolution images and text on film or photo paper. It accurately and meticulously scans the layout text, images and graphic content produced by the pre-press system onto the photosensitive film, then develops the film and prints it in large quantities on the printing press after plate making. Imagesetters are generally divided into three types: capstan type, outer drum type and inner drum type (also the most expensive). Although they are currently widely used, they will soon be replaced by CTP direct plate making technology.
Single-color round flattened lithographic offset proofing machine
It is mainly used to verify the quality of offset printing plates and faithfully reflect the true situation of the manuscript's pattern, screen and tone levels. It is used for offset printing proofing. In addition, it can also be used for small batch printing, and is widely used in precise printing of instrument signs, glass, wood, rubber and plastics, etc. At present, some applications have been replaced by digital proofing machines.
Film developing machine
Also known as film processing machine, it refers to the equipment for developing printing film (also known as film). It is often sold and used in conjunction with laser imagesetters; it is often used in medicine. Used for processing medical films such as X-ray, CT and MPI; the two have the same principle but slightly different structures. With the popularization of CTP technology, its application in the printing field will be greatly reduced.
Duplicating machines
are mainly used for duplicating printed film (film), and can be divided into light rooms and dark rooms. With the promotion and application of CTP, this type of equipment is in its twilight years.
Duplicate machine
It is actually a simple duplicating machine, which is rarely seen on the market.
Resin plate making machine
Mainly used for making solid or liquid resin plates. Nowadays, it is commonly used in seal and plate making on self-adhesive printing machines and coding printing machines. Plate making process: exposure → washing → drying.
Flexible plate making machine
It is mainly used to make flexographic plates (also called aniline plates). The plate making principle is similar to that of a resin plate making machine. The plate making process is: back exposure → main exposure → washing → drying → detackification. It is matched with a liquid medicine recovery machine. This machine is often used by carton factories, plastic packaging factories, stickers, label printing factories, etc.
Plate drying machine
The drying machine can be used for letterpress plate making. The letterpress plate making process flow is: plate preparation → printing → etching → whole plate → proofing. Plate preparation: Select a suitable copper plate or zinc plate, cut it to the required size, and remove oil stains, oxide films, scars, water stains, blisters, etc. on the plate surface.
The removal method can be to use light, soft charcoal without knots or cracks, and grind it. The ground surface also produces extremely fine streaks, which can increase the adsorption of photosensitive fluid. The ground metal plate is placed in a drying machine to spread chromium glue photosensitive liquid. After the photosensitive liquid is dried, it can be used for printing. Before PS plates became popular, plate drying machines could also coat PS plates in small batches for users' own use, but they have basically withdrawn from the market.
Plate printing machine
A contact exposure imaging device mainly used to make printing plates (PS plates, screen plates, etc.), using pressure to make the original plate and the photosensitive plate closely fit , so that the image on the original plate can be accurately printed on the photosensitive plate through photochemical reaction. Plate-making machines can be divided into two types: single-sided plate-making machines and flip-type double-sided plate-making machines (also known as double-back). The current JB/T 9108-1999 plate-making machine industry standard was mainly drafted by the former Jiangsu Taixing Instrument Factory . At present, part of its market has been replaced by CTP, but it will still be one of the necessary plate making equipment for small and medium-sized printing companies in the future.
CTP system
It not only means installing a CTP plate making machine, but also includes many additional devices and equipment that enable the digital workflow to run. It is the current prepress field One of the fastest growing and most influential high-tech technologies. CTP technology includes plates, corresponding output devices and corresponding workflows. With the development of computer technology, laser technology, electronic technology, mechanical processing technology and new materials, as well as the further reduction of the cost of CTP plates, CTP technology has entered a mature application period and will completely replace traditional prepress plate making technology in the future. .
Continuous exposure machine
A device that can perform continuous and repeated contact exposure on the printing plate. It is mainly used for printing small-sized, high-precision printing plates such as stamps and trademarks. Currently, domestic sales are very small.
Developing machine
refers to a machine that can automatically develop, wash, glue (optional) and dry the plate (PS plate or CTP plate). There are two types of developing machines: spray type (now basically eliminated) and immersion tank type. They are mainly used in conjunction with plate makers and CTP platesetters.
Baking machine
Baking machine is an auxiliary equipment for pre-coated photosensitive lithographic plate making. It can improve the wear resistance, solvent resistance and resistance of the graphic parts of pre-coated photosensitive lithographic plates. Corrosion resistance, greatly improve the printing durability of the printing plate (note: generally it can be increased by 2-5 times), greatly reduce the consumption of printing plates and plate change time, especially suitable for ultra-long prints, and also a must-have for iron printing can factories One of the plate making equipment.
Plate retention machine
The used plate (PS plate or CTP plate) can be fully automatically corrected, ink washed, washed, glued, dried and then stored for easy reuse. Used during printing, it saves the cost and time of re-making plates.
Punching machine
There are two types of punching machines: manual and automatic. They are generally used for punching and positioning PS or CTP plates of multi-color printing machines. The photoelectric positioning PS plate pneumatic punching machine can greatly reduce the time of paper passing and plate making (also called plate alignment), improve production efficiency, and reduce the labor intensity of operators. It is an indispensable auxiliary equipment for commercial printing of multi-color machines.