US 11,813,841 B2
Washing device
Nobuyuki Sone, Haibara-gun (JP); Manabu Hashigaya, Haibara-gun (JP); Yusuke Ikeyama, Haibara-gun (JP); and Atsushi Oshima, Haibara-gun (JP)
Assigned to FUJIFILM Corporation, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by FUJIFILM Corporation, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Oct. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/508,287.
Application 17/508,287 is a continuation of application No. PCT/JP2020/015487, filed on Apr. 6, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-082795 (JP), filed on Apr. 24, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0040971 A1, Feb. 10, 2022
Int. Cl. G03F 7/30 (2006.01); B41F 35/00 (2006.01)
CPC B41F 35/001 (2013.01) 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A washing device that performs development using a washing solution while transporting an imagewise exposed flexographic printing plate precursor, the washing device comprising:
a transporting unit that transports the flexographic printing plate precursor along a go-around transport path having a curved transport passage and a linear transport passage, using a leader; and
a developing portion that performs the development by removing an unexposed portion of the flexographic printing plate precursor,
wherein the leader is provided at, among a front end of the flexographic printing plate precursor on a traveling direction side and a rear end on an opposite side of the front end, at least the front end, and
wherein the transporting unit transports the flexographic printing plate precursor using a method of winding a traction member provided at the leader, and
wherein the transporting unit uses a pair of transport chains or a pair of transport belts disposed parallel to each other, fixes the leader to the transport chains or the transport belts, and transports the flexographic printing plate precursor.