| abstract |
[PROBLEMS] To provide an ink-jet type plate making method and apparatus which can correspond to digital image data and can print different images on a plate material clearly, inexpensively and at high speed. SOLUTION: An image is formed directly on a plate material by an electrostatic ink jet method in which an oil-based ink is ejected using an electrostatic field based on a signal of image data, and a printing plate is created by fixing the image. In the plate making method, an ink tank for storing the oil-based ink, an ink circulation system for stirring the oil-based ink stored in the ink tank, and a supply of the oil-based ink to the inkjet discharge head branching from the ink circulation system By circulating the ink through the ink circulation system, the agitation of the ink stored in the ink tank and the supply of the ink to the inkjet discharge head are simultaneously performed. |