Abstract: An offset printing method of the present disclosure brings a blanket roller from above into contact with a plate held on a plate table traveling on guide rails on a mount, and then brings the blanket roller into contact with a print target held on a print target table traveling on the guide rails, to thereby perform transfer of a print pattern from the plate to the blanket roller and re-transfer of the print pattern from the blanket roller to the print target. The method further includes the steps of: causing a plate to be held on an alignment stage provided on an upper portion of the plate table and also causing a print target to be held on an alignment stage provided on an upper portion of the print target table; and correcting a position of the plate by the alignment stage of the plate table and also correcting a position of the print target by the alignment stage of the print target table.

Abstract: An ink return blade 17, an ink filling blade 18, and an ink removal blade 19 are disposed in order at a retreat height that is higher by a predetermined dimension than the plate 10 retained in the plate table 11, and are supported by a supporting frame 20 at a predetermined position on a pedestal 8 of an offset printing apparatus. Separate elevating/lowering actuators 21, 22, 23 are provided for each blade 17, 18, 19. When the plate table 11 that retains the plate 10 is driven in one direction, after ink from an ink pool 25 on the plate 10 is filled into the plate 10 by the ink filling blade 18, and excess ink is removed by the ink removal blade 19. Therefore the plate 10 with a suitable amount of inking thereon can be supplied for printing operations. Thereafter, when the plate table 11 is driven in the opposite direction, the ink return blade 17 is brought into contact with the plate 10, and the ink pool 25 is returned to an initial position.