Packaging assembly for printing plates

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging assembly for printing plates and a method for packing the printing plates including a packaging container having a base, and at least one printing plate positioned in the container adjacent the base, wherein an interface having a coefficient of friction of less than 0.30 is disposed between the plate and the base.

1 . A packaging assembly for printing plates comprising:
 a packaging container having a base; and   at least one printing plate positioned in the container adjacent the base;   wherein an interface having a coefficient of friction of less than 0.30 is disposed between the plate and the base.   
   
   
       2 . The packaging assembly of  claim 1  wherein the interface comprises a carrier. 
   
   
       3 . The packaging assembly of  claim 2  wherein the carrier comprises a foil-like member selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyolefins, polyurethanes, polyamides, polystyrenes, polycarbonates, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       4 . The packaging assembly of  claim 2  wherein the carrier comprises a self-support film of a fluoropolymer. 
   
   
       5 . The packaging assembly of  claim 2  wherein the carrier comprises a planar surface having a coating of a material selected from the group consisting of a silicone, a silicone-containing material, a fluorinated polymer, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       6 . The packaging assembly of  claim 2  wherein the carrier has a thickness between 0.1 and 0.5 mm. 
   
   
       7 . The packaging assembly of  claim 2  wherein the carrier has a planar surface contiguous with the plate. 
   
   
       8 . The packaging assembly of  claim 2  wherein the carrier has a planar surface contiguous with the base. 
   
   
       9 . The packaging assembly of  claim 1  wherein the interface comprises an interior surface of the base. 
   
   
       10 . The packaging assembly of  claim 1  wherein the interface comprises a coating on the base. 
   
   
       11 . The packaging assembly of  claim 10  wherein the coating comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a silicone, a silicone-containing material, a fluorinated polymer, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       12 . The packaging assembly of  claim 1  wherein the interface comprises a layer secured to the base and forming an interior surface of the base. 
   
   
       13 . The packaging assembly of  claim 1  further comprising an intermediate layer disposed between the base and the interface. 
   
   
       14 . The packaging assembly of  claim 1  further comprising an intermediate layer disposed between the plate and the interface. 
   
   
       15 . The packaging assembly of  claim 1  comprising two or more plates arranged as a stack, and having an intermediate layer disposed between each of the plates. 
   
   
       16 . The packaging assembly of  claim 13 - 15  wherein the intermediate layer comprises a sheet of a foam material. 
   
   
       17 . The packaging assembly of  claim 1  wherein the coefficient of friction is between 0 and 0.25. 
   
   
       18 . The packaging assembly of  claim 1  wherein the coefficient of friction is between 0 and 0.20. 
   
   
       19 . The packaging assembly of  claim 1  wherein the coefficient of friction is between 0.04 and 0.25. 
   
   
       20 . The packaging assembly of  claim 1  wherein the printing plate comprises a photopolymerizable layer adjacent a support, the photopolymerizable layer having a thickness between 0.6 and 7 mm. 
   
   
       21 . A method for packing a printing plate comprising:
 providing a packaging container having a base;   positioning at least one printing plate in the container adjacent the base; and   disposing an interface having a coefficient of friction of less than 0.30 between the plate and the base.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the interface is a carrier. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the carrier comprises a foil-like member selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyolefins, polyurethanes, polyamides, polystyrenes, polycarbonates, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the carrier comprises a planar surface having a coating of a material selected from the group consisting of a silicone, a silicone-containing material, a fluorinated polymer, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the carrier is a self-supporting film of a fluoropolymer. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 21  wherein disposing the interface comprises securing a carrier to the base forming an interior surface of the base. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the base has an interior surface and disposing the interface comprises coating the interior surface with a material selected from the group consisting of a silicone, a silicone-containing material, a fluorinated polymer, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising disposing an intermediate layer between the base and the interface, or between the plate and the interface. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the coefficient of friction is between 0 and 0.25.