Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus and a process for developing radiation-sensitive, exposed printing forms into printing plates is disclosed. The apparatus has a developer pan that contains a developer bath. Individual printing form runs through the developing station of this apparatus in a running-through plane. On each side of the running-through plane there is are a first pair of transport rollers, two brushing rollers with counter-rollers and a second pair of transport rollers at the end of the developing station. Guide rollers are arranged between the first pair of transport rollers and the first brushing roller with its counter-roller, on the underside of the running-through plane. A closed vessel, filled with developing solution, is connected via a developer circuit and a pump to the developer bath. The vessel contains a temperature sensor and a measuring electrode for the electric conductivity of the developing solution. The temperature sensor and the measuring electrode are connected to a computer, so too is a sensor, which is arranged underneath a feeding table for the printing forms. Data, such as formats of the printing forms, characteristic lines of the specific conductivity of the developing solution for various printing form types, set temperature values and temperature coefficients for the conductivity of the developing solution, are stored in the computer. The computer is also connected to pumps for metered feeding of developing replenisher and water into the developer bath and to a cooling device and a heating device within the developer bath.

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First Claim