Abstract: A laser imageable flexographic printing plate precursor comprises a thermoset elastomeric upper layer that is at least partially ablatable and comprises a radiation sensitive compound, and a non-ablatable elastomeric underlayer. This flexographic printing plate precursor can be imaged to provide a printing plate that is primarily useful for “high quality” printing because the resulting relief image is generally not greater than 600 ?m and has an extremely even “floor”. The imaged flexographic printing plate also can have a high visual contrast between the imaged areas and the non-imaged background areas.

Abstract: Single coatings onto non-absorbent substrates on which aqueous inkjet inks are jetted with subsequent application of heat or other forms of energy to further cross-link the coating onto the substrate and to fuse the inkjet ink image to give good quality water resistance colored reproductions. Optionally a protective layer is applied on the ink-jet printed image.

Abstract: Single coatings onto non-absorbent substrates on which aqueous ink jet inks are jetted with subsequent application of heat, without the use of reactive species in the ink and in the media used as a substrate coating. The heating rapidly drives the water of the ink into the coating, with the rest of the water from the ink being lost by evaporation. The material is then subject to immediate application of a sealing lacquer, which is preferably water-based and which may be dried and possibly cross-linked by heat to give a very resistant surface.

Abstract: A non-photosensitive flexographic liquid or paste precursor comprising a mixture of acrylate oligomers and acrylic or methacrylate monomers, infrared absorbing material, fillers and heat decomposable peroxide, which when heated forms a non-thermoplastic elastomeric solid material in the form of a flexographic printing blank engravable by infrared laser ablation.

Abstract: A single manufacturing pass for manufacturing a multilayered self-organized coating onto a substrate to provide all of the functions usually provided in multiple-pass coatings for manufacturing an infrared imageable offset lithographic printing plate; and a process whereby two or more polymeric materials that cannot usually co-exist in solution may be dissolved in suitably dilute solvent mixtures which, when coated onto a substrate and the solvents evaporated, deposit a continuous graduation of polymeric mixtures vertical to the substrate, caused by the self-assembly process.

Abstract: A method of producing ink-jet printed images with high resistance to physical and chemical damage on plastic surfaces, by coating the plastic object with an inkjet receptive layer comprising a mixture of hydrophilic polymers and UV curable pre-polymers deposited from an emulsion, ink-jetting an image onto the coating using ink-jet ink comprising a colorant and aqueous carrier, warming the printed surface to drive part of the water in the ink into the surface coating and to evaporate the other part of the water, UV curing the dried surface and over-coating the UV cured surface with lacquer or with lamination material.

Abstract: A laser imageable flexographic printing plate precursor comprises a thermoset elastomeric upper layer that is at least partially ablatable and comprises a radiation sensitive compound, and a non-ablatable elastomeric underlayer. This flexographic printing plate precursor can be imaged to provide a printing plate that is primarily useful for “high quality” printing because the resulting relief image is generally not greater than 600 ?m and has an extremely even “floor”. The imaged flexographic printing plate also can have a high visual contrast between the imaged areas and the non-imaged background areas.

Abstract: Single coatings onto non-absorbent substrates on which aqueous ink jet inks are jetted with subsequent application of heat, without the use of reactive species in the ink and in the media used as a substrate coating. The heating rapidly drives the water of the ink into the coating, with the rest of the water from the ink being lost by evaporation. The material is then subject to immediate application of a sealing lacquer, which is preferably water-based and which may be dried and possibly cross-linked by heat to give a very resistant surface.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing an accurately positioned white layer to serve as an undercoat for inkjet process colors imaging on a substrate, by accurately ink jetting a colorless loosely-bonded frame onto the substrate, thereby defining an area to be imaged, ink jetting or spraying a white layer, the white layer at least partially overlapping the frame and covering the area defined by the frame.

Abstract: Water-based mixtures that can be applied to substrates to produce infra-red sensitive layers with hydrophilic surfaces, which may be switched by image-wise exposure in an infrared imaging plate-setter to give oleophilic printing areas, for producing processless offset lithographic printing plates.

Abstract: Single coatings onto non-absorbent substrates on which aqueous inkjet inks are jetted with subsequent application of heat or other forms of energy to further cross-link the coating onto the substrate and to fuse the ink-jet ink image to give good quality water resistant colored reproductions. Optionally a protective layer is applied on the ink-jet printed image.

Abstract: Improved resolution plates based on hydrophilic organic coated substrates, where a hydrophobic layer is present during inkjet imaging and where after heating to fuse the inkjet image, the hydrophobic layer does not irreversibly fuse into the organic coating, but can be removed by aqueous washing to restore the hydrophilic nature of the plate surface.

Abstract: A method of preparing offset lithographic plates using specially formulated aqueous ink jet inks is described. The inks may either be pigment based and provide oleophilic images on specially formulated hydrophilic plate surfaces, or may contain chemical switches which provide the image on the plate by causing its surface to switch from hydrophilic to oleophilic or vice-versa.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for digitally building up flexographic plates by ink jetting plate pre-cursor material onto a substrate via an offset blanket and forming the plates by successively polymerizing the ink jet fluid.

Abstract: Apparatus, including a printing system, press, press components, and printing members for lithographic printing and other similar processes, is disclosed. The printing system for imaging printing members includes a plurality of infra red laser diodes coupled to a respective optical fiber for providing an output light beam, and a stationary telecentric lens assembly, that operates to image a printing member by exposure from ablative infra-red radiation. The printing members include a first substrate layer, with a second radiation absorbing layer over this first layer, for supporting an image ablated onto the printing member. A third surface coating layer is over the second layer. The third layer is substantially abdhesive to ink while the second layer has an affinity for ink opposite that of the third layer. Methods for imaging with the apparatus and for imaging the printing members are also disclosed.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing an accurately positioned white layer to serve as an undercoat for inkjet process colors imaging on a substrate, by accurately ink jetting a colorless loosely-bonded frame onto the substrate, thereby defining an area to be imaged, ink jetting or spraying a white layer, the white layer at least partially overlapping the frame and covering the area defined by the frame.

Abstract: A plateless process for offset lithographic printing using an inexpensive imaging system and using the surface of a lithographic printing cylinder itself as a plate substrate. The process enables production of a simple and inexpensive offset lithographic printing plate for use in an offset printing system, with the plate being produced by coating the substrate of the printing plate with a photosensitive liquid coating, and sealing the coated substrate with a release coating, coated on a protective film.

Abstract: A single manufacturing pass for manufacturing a multilayered self-organized coating onto a substrate to provide all of the functions usually provided in multiple-pass coatings for manufacturing an infrared imageable offset lithographic printing plate; and a process whereby two or more polymeric materials that cannot usually co-exist in solution may be dissolved in suitably dilute solvent mixtures which, when coated onto a substrate and the solvents evaporated, deposit a continuous graduation of polymeric mixtures vertical to the substrate, caused by the self-assembly process.

Abstract: Improved resolution plates based on hydrophilic organic coated substrates, where a hydrophobic layer is present during inkjet imaging and where after heating to fuse the inkjet image, the hydrophobic layer does not irreversibly fuse into the organic coating, but can be removed by aqueous washing to restore the hydrophilic nature of the plate surface.

Abstract: A method of producing ink-jet printed images with high resistance to physical and chemical damage on plastic surfaces, by coating the plastic object with an inkjet receptive layer comprising a mixture of hydrophilic polymers and UV curable pre-polymers deposited from an emulsion, ink-jetting an image onto the coating using ink-jet ink comprising a colorant and aqueous carrier, warming the printed surface to drive part of the water in the ink into the surface coating and to evaporate the other part of the water, UV curing the dried surface and over-coating the UV cured surface with lacquer or with lamination material.