PRINTING PLATE PROCESSOR

An apparatus for cleaning an element used in a printing plate processor is disclosed. The printing plate processor includes a container for containing a liquid used in performing the processing operation on the printing plate. The apparatus includes a cleaner located in the container, the cleaner being moveable to contact the element to be cleaned and an actuator coupled to the cleaner and operably configured to move the cleaner to contact the element to be cleaned. An apparatus for performing a processing operation on a printing plate is also disclosed. The apparatus includes a container operably configured to contain a liquid for use in performing the processing operation on the printing plate and a cover operably configured to cover a surface of the liquid in the container to reduce interaction between the liquid and an environment about the container, the cover defining an entrance opening operably configured to admit the printing plate into the liquid and an exit opening operably configured to permit the printing plate to be discharged from the liquid. The apparatus also includes an entrance seal operably configured to seal the entrance opening to reduce interaction between the liquid and the environment through the entrance opening and to permit the printing plate to pass through the entrance opening into the liquid and an exit seal operably configured to seal the exit opening to reduce interaction between the liquid and the environment through the exit opening and to permit the printing plate to pass through the exit opening when being discharged from the liquid. The container is operably configured to contain the liquid such that the surface of the liquid is at or below the entrance seal and the exit seal and such that substantially no head of liquid bears on the entrance and the exit seals. On décrit un appareil de nettoyage d'un élément utilisé dans un appareil de traitement de cliché. L'appareil de traitement de cliché comprend un récipient servant à contenir un liquide utilisé pour accomplir l'opération de traitement sur le cliché. L'appareil comprend un dispositif de nettoyage placé dans le récipient et pouvant être déplacé pour aller au contact de l'élément à nettoyer et un actionneur couplé au dispositif de nettoyage et configuré de manière fonctionnelle pour déplacer ce dernier et l'amener au contact de l'élément à nettoyer. On décrit également un appareil destiné à accomplir une opération de traitement sur un cliché. L'appareil comprend un