Abstract: It is an object to manufacture a printing plate for an anastatic printing method that performs printing by transferring ink applied to convexities of a printing image to a printing medium. Holes on a surface of a porous sheet having plural three-dimensionally communicated holes are blocked by a coating layer. A printing image composed of concavities and convexities are formed on the sheet by driving a TPH while interposing and carrying the sheet between a TPH3 and a platen roller. Since the concavities are easily formed by fusing and contracting the sheet having open-cell foams by heating, plate-making is simple. Since surfaces of the convexities are covered by the coating layer, ink does not permeate inside even when the ink is applied for printing and it is possible to accurately adjust an amount of ink, thereby achieving a high-quality print matter.

Abstract: An intaglio printing plate includes a substrate and a photosensitive resin film provided on the substrate. The photosensitive resin film includes a plurality of concave patterns whose depths increase as aperture widths increase.

Abstract: A letterpress printing plate, made of a material having flexibility, includes a plurality of raised parts to applying ink to, the raised parts including a raised part for solid shade, and a buildup part formed at a backside position of the raised part for solid shade with respect to the printing plate.

Abstract: A relief printing plate has a convex part, wherein a top surface of the convex part, which touches a substrate, comprises a resin layer having an affinity for an ink liquid including an organic light emitting material and the convex part or a convex part forming layer including the convex part, which supports the resin layer, comprises an ink repellent layer which has non-affinity for the ink.

Abstract: There is provided an intaglio plate 1 excellent in surface strength, in which a pattern of grooves can be formed with a high dimensional accuracy, and further, a scrape hardly occurs, by laminating a binder layer 4 on a surface of a glass base board 2 having grooves 3 therein, and further, laminating a DLC layer on the surface of the binder layer 4.

Abstract: A transfer plate, particularly a blanket plate, for a transfer cylinder, with a plate-like support, where a blanket being used for ink transfer is applied to a first side of the plate-like support, and where a film is applied to a second side of the plate-like support that is opposite from the first side, via which film a packing height of the transfer plate on a transfer cylinder can be predetermined. The film is applied to the second side of the plate-like support in such a way that a surface of the support covered by the film on the second side is smaller than a surface of the support covered by the blanket on the first side.

Abstract: In the present invention, disclosed is a support for a printing plate material possessing an aluminum plate having been subjected to at least a surface-roughening treatment and an anodizing treatment, wherein the support has a roughened surface having a center-line average roughness Ra of from 0.25 ?m to 0.50 ?m, and a skewness Rsk of from ?0.8 to 0, and an objective is to provide a support for a printing plate material exhibiting excellent resistance to blanket contamination with no deterioration of printing ability, and also to provide a printing plate material exhibiting excellent resistance to blanket contamination, even though the support is employed for an on-press development type printing plate material.

Abstract: In a print area provided on a peripheral surface of a gravure roll, a plurality of cells are defined by printing-direction walls and perpendicular walls, and each perpendicular wall has a plurality of cuts. In a center portion of the print area, most intersections of the printing-direction walls and the perpendicular walls are defined by T-shaped intersections where the perpendicular walls do not cross the printing-direction walls, but meet the printing-direction walls in a T-shaped arrangement. Preferably, round chamfers are provided at corners where a portion of each printing-direction wall and a portion of each perpendicular wall intersect, and at leading ends of the perpendicular walls pointing toward the cuts.

Abstract: A print plate includes a surface including a central region and a peripheral region surrounding the central region, a panel print section and an alignment print section. The panel print section includes a plurality of panel spacer recesses disposed in the central region. The alignment print section includes a plurality of alignment spacer recesses disposed in the peripheral region. The alignment spacer recesses are spaced apart from each other.

Abstract: A structure and method of using a reusable master printing plate is described. In one embodiment, the method uses an electric field to control a series of microvalves. The microvalves control a fluid flow that raises or lowers selected regions on a flexible printing surface to create a desired relief pattern. After creating the relief pattern, the pattern is fixed and used for printing. After completion of printing, the relief pattern is removed from the master printing plate and the printing plate may be reused by applying a new pattern.

Abstract: A structure and method of using a reusable master printing plate is described. In one embodiment, the viscosity of an electrorheological fluid is adjusted using an electric field to control its flow and create the desired relief pattern in a flexible printed surface. After creating the relief pattern, the pattern is fixed and used for printing. After completion of printing, the relief pattern is removed from the master printing plate and the printing plate may be reused by applying a new pattern.

Abstract: A printing plate has a substrate, an array of cells on the substrate, wherein each cell corresponds to an element of a print image, a deformable polymer material localized into the cells such that each cell is at least partially formed from the deformable polymer material, a reservoir corresponding to each cell to collect the deformable polymer material as needed when the deformable polymer material is one of either melted or softened, and a heater to cause the deformable polymer material to either melt or soften.

Abstract: A printing plate has a substrate and a heat decomposable polymer layer arranged adjacent to the substrate, the decomposable polymer having defined regions within the polymer layer to form a printing pattern. The printing plate may be used in a printing system. The printing plate is formed in a process by providing a substrate, coating the substrate with a heat decomposable polymer to form a plate, and forming a printing pattern in the heat decomposable polymer by selectively decomposing regions of the heat decomposable polymer.

Abstract: Printing plates for all-over printing of large areas by the intaglio printing process, a method for producing the printing plates and data carriers, in particular bank notes, with large-area printed images produced by the intaglio printing process area proposed. Flawless inking is ensured by providing partitions in the engraving of the printing plate which rise up vertically from the base of the engraved area and have at least a height of 50% of the engraving depth. The partitions largely prevent ink from being wiped out of the engraved areas when ink is wiped off the printing plate surface. This permits a large printed area to be covered all over with ink layers on a data carrier. By special arrangement and design of the partitions one can also produce fine structures in the printing area which area recognizable only with magnifying aids depending on the selected distances between the partitions.

Abstract: A method of making a relief image printing plate by means of application of successive layers of polymer on a composite structure using inkjets. Relief depth (Need explanation in description of invention) is able to be minimized by building required press undercut thickness by applying the inkjetted polymer on the surface of a pre-manufactured composite structure of at least two layers; one an elastic polymeric material and one providing dimensional stability. An article—a relief image printing plate made by means of application of successive layers of polymer on a composite structure using inkjets in which a compressible layer is between the print layer and a dimensionally stable layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved compressible flexographic printing plate that uses a compressible layer comprising a polyurethane (meth)acrylate resin and microspheres. The process of the invention produces a chemically fused printing plate that eliminates the need for an adhesive to secure the compressible layer to the back of the printing plate.

Abstract: A printing device system, a patterning method and a method of fabricating an LCD device are disclosed, the printing device system comprising a printing plate provided with protruding and groove patterns, wherein hydrophobic layers are formed in the groove patterns, to prevent a defective pattern even though a blanket being swollen due to a solvent included in a pattern material is in contact with the groove patterns of the printing plate.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the manufacture of diagnostic test media used for measuring the concentration of analytes in a sample fluid. More specifically, the disclosure relates to using a method of microcontact printing or microtransfer molding for the manufacture of diagnostic test media.

Abstract: Flexographic printing plates are produced by means of direct laser engraving by a process in which the starting material used is a flexographic printing element, the relief-forming layer of which has a combination of a substantially hydrophobic, elastomeric binder and an inert plasticizer. Flexographic printing plates obtainable by this process are used for flexographic printing with water-based or alcohol-based printing inks.

Abstract: A printing plate comprises a plurality of protrusions onto which a pattern material is transcribed, and a plurality of embossing patterns disposed on the protrusions.

Abstract: A data carrier printed by line intaglio having a halftone image represented by irregular line structures in the manner of an engraving. The line structures are superimposed at least partly by fine structures rendered in positive or negative representation. Methods are provided for generating and processing irregular line structures as digital image data on a computer following individual specifications by an operator. The line structures are transferred to a line intaglio printing plate. The digital image data is used for controlling an engraving apparatus. In the alternative, other printing processes may be involved wherein the digital image data is superimposed at least partly with fine structures rendered in positive or negative representation.

Abstract: A method for producing a security document having printed image 1 produced by steel intaglio printing and embossed microstructures 2 of an order of magnitude of less than 100 microns is carried out by one printing plate 8 on which both the steel intaglio structures and the microstructures are present. The parts of the microstructures closest to printing plate surface 9 are located 20 to 100 microns below the printing plate surface so that they are not touched and destroyed by the wiping cylinder. Alternative methods for producing a steel intaglio printing plate with integrated microstructures are provided. The microstructures can be used for embossing a diffractive relief or a blind embossing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a transcription plate for forming orientation layer by coating printed orientation agent onto a substrate. The transcription plate comprises a base film and photosensitive resin plate, such as an APR layer, wherein a number of dots are arranged on the photosensitive resin plate in a regular fashion, and an arrangement of outer dots disposed outside of an active area of the transcription plate is denser than that of inner dots disposed within an active area of the transcription plate. The transcription plate enables the thickness of the orientation layer along the edge outside of the active layer of the transcription plate to be formed with the uniform thickness. Therefore, a uniform image property can be obtained by uniform rubbing. Further, because such phenomenon as conglomeration of the orientation agent does not occur, non-uniformity of cell gaps, which is caused by the superposition on the sealing line, can be solved.

Abstract: Security documents (e.g. passports, currency, event tickets, and the like) are encoded to convey machine-readable multi-bit binary information (e.g., a digital watermark), usually in a manner not alerting human viewers that such information is present. The documents can be provided with overt or subliminal calibration patterns. When a document incorporating such a pattern is scanned (e.g. by a photocopier), the pattern facilitates detection of the encoded information notwithstanding possible scaling or rotation of the scan data. The calibration pattern can serve as a carrier for the watermark information, or the watermark can be encoded independently. In one embodiment, the watermark and the calibration pattern are formed on the document by an intaglio process, with or without ink. A photocopier responsive to such markings can take predetermined action if reproduction of a security document is attempted.

Abstract: A method of screening a continuous tone image into a halftone representation for a flexographic printing operation can compensate for characteristic printing problems in highlight areas by selectively placing non-printing dots proximate highlight dots. The non-printing dots raise the printing relief floor in the highlight areas providing additional support for marginally printable image features.

Abstract: A photogravure printing press includes plurality of cells defined by printing-direction walls and substantially perpendicular walls formed in each of image areas on the circumferential surface of a gravure roll. A plurality of substantially perpendicular cuts are formed in each of the substantially perpendicular walls. In the central portion of the image area, each of the substantially perpendicular cuts is formed so as to have a gap greater than the width of each of the printing-direction walls and the substantially perpendicular walls.

Abstract: An inkjet printer is used to apply an ink that is substantially opaque to actinic radiation in at least one wavelength region effective to cure the photosensitive printing plate to the edges and corners, of a printing plate after the plate has been trimmed (i.e., cut) to a suitable size and shape for mounting on a printing sleeve or cylinder. Use of inkjet printing allows for the cut surfaces of the plate to quickly and accurately be coated with a UV-opaque ink and prevents, or substantially eliminates, undesirable curing of cut surfaces of a photosensitive printing plate. The ink covers the photocurable surfaces exposed by the cutting process and prevents the cut surfaces of the printing plate from undesirably curing until proper exposure and development of the printing plate.

Abstract: An adhesive-backed lenticular lens may be applied over an image. The image may be generated by transferring from an ink source to a ink transfer print plate having a regular pattern of raised and recessed areas or may be applied by a stamp having an image formed by raised and recessed areas in a regular pattern.

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: A method is provided for reducing UV exposure to edges of a printing plate which occurs when the printing plate is subjected to UV illumination. The method involves a spray head comprising one or more spray nozzles for spraying edge masking material toward the printing plate and a controller connected to control relative movement between the spray head and the printing plate. The method comprises receiving, at the controller, information related to the locations of the edges of the printing plate. In response to the information received at the controller, the controller provides controlled relative movement between the spray head and the printing plate causes the spray nozzles to spray edge masking material onto the edges of the printing plate. The method may be performed by a variety of apparatus.

Abstract: A data medium having a printed image is created by the intaglio printing process. The printed image has at least one first ink area with a first ink layer thickness and at least one second ink area with a second ink layer thickness adjacent to the first ink area, such that the ink layer thicknesses are different. The first and second ink areas are separated by a sharp border line invisible on examination with the naked eye, and the ink layer thickness of both ink areas passes through a minimum in the region of the border line.

Abstract: A litho printing press comprising one or more litho ink printing stations, each of which has paste-type, oil-based litho ink applicating means for depositing said oil-based litho ink onto a printing plate, an adjacent first rotatable cylinder called the plate cylinder on which is clamped a non-planar, laminate multiple layer flexible printing plate which receives said oil-based litho ink from the ink applicator means in a nip therebetween, and at least a second rotatable cylinder called the impression cylinder over which passes the substrate to be printed upon in a nip between the substrate and either the plate cylinder or another and intermediate rotatable cylinder called the blanket cylinder. This results in elimination of dampener and the dampening solution. The non-planar multiple layer flexible printing plate has an outermost layer for receiving the litho ink after it has been adhesively secured in the pre-press department of the printing plant to an innermost layer of a different material.

Abstract: An improved thermal development apparatus is used to remove uncured photopolymer from the imaged surface of a flexographic printing element. The apparatus typically comprises one or more heatable rolls that are contactable with an imaged surface of a flexographic printing element; and means for maintaining contact between the one or more heatable rolls and the imaged surface of the flexographic printing element. The one or more heatable rolls are heated and is moved over at least a portion of the imaged surface of the flexographic printing element, and non-crosslinked polymer on the imaged surface of the flexographic printing element is melted and removed by the one or more heatable rolls.

Abstract: A process and system for making an image replication element from a photosensitive printing element by digital photopolymerization are provided. The process includes forming a desired printing image on a photopolymer layer by digital light processing without the use of either a mask layer or a laser.

Abstract: A seamless printing sleeve comprising a hollow cylindrical base and a seamless imageable surface as its outermost layer is described. The imageable surface acts as an integral flexographic printing surface. Preferably the printing sleeve comprises an intermediate photopolymer or resilient polymer layer between the outer surface of the base and the imageable surface. Also, preferably the base is uniformly transparent or translucent to actinic radiation.

Abstract: A flexographic printing plate mounting sheet is provided which improves the printing accuracy by its high level of thickness accuracy and ease of installation in the correct position, which makes it possible to peel a flexographic printing plate off without damaging a foamed substrate, and which maintains appropriate cushioning properties. The foamed substrate of the flexographic printing plate mounting sheet has an adhesive layer on one side and a polyethylene terephthalate film on the other side. The polyethylene terephthalate film has on its remaining side an adhesive layer that is protected by release paper. The foamed substrate and the polyethylene terephthalate film are unitarily formed. The foamed substrate is made of urethane foam having a density of 0.3 to 0.6 g/cm3. The polyethylene terephthalate film is 12 to 50 ?m in thickness.

Abstract: A foam cushion tape comprising a compressible polyurethane foam layer having a first side and an opposite second side; a composite reinforcing film comprising an anchoring layer and a reinforcing layer, wherein the second aide of the polyurethane foam is disposed on the anchoring layer of the reinforcing film; a first adhesive disposed on the first side of the compressible polyurethane foam; and a second adhesive disposed an the reinforcing layer of the composite reinforcing film. The anchoring layer comprises at least one non-olefinio polymer, such as polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), polyurethane, nylon, or the like. A method for the manufacture of thin, foam cushion tapes for flexographic printing is provided, comprising casting a curable polyurethane foam composition directly onto the anchoring layer of a composite reinforcing film having a first anchoring layer and a second reinforcing layer, followed by curing the foam composition to form a compressible polyurethane foam.

Abstract: A blanket cylinder has a rotational axis and a concave surface, concentric to the axis and extending over a printing width of the cylinder, for receiving a flat rubber blanket made of elastically deformable material. The cylinder has a recess concentric to the axis, extending over the printing width, and a film fitted in the recess The film has an outside surface which forms the concave surface of the blanket cylinder.

Abstract: An optical scanning system and method for laser engraving a plurality of data subrasters into a substrate to form a raster of engraved data defining an image on the substrate. Each subraster has a length dimension and a width dimension. The system includes a transport assembly having an objective lens and a mirror, the mirror capable of reflecting a substantially collimated scanning beam incident thereon in a direction transverse to an axis of the incident beam such that it is directed to the objective lens. The objective lens is capable of focusing the scanning beam on the substrate to engrave a set of data in the width dimension of the subraster and the objective lens and mirror combination is capable of moving along the axis of the incident beam to allow subsequent engraving of other sets of data in the width dimension until a complete subraster is formed along its length dimension.

Abstract: Novel printing surfaces for off-set printing blankets are provided having a resilience of less than about 40% and an average surface roughness of less than about 0.5 microns. Such low-resilience printing surfaces have been found to transfer up to greater than 90% of the ink applied thereto and can be used to transfer ink on a wide variety of substrates.

Abstract: Flexographic printing plates are produced by means of direct laser engraving by a process in which the starting material used is a flexographic printing element which has a relief-forming layer comprising a combination of a styrene/butadiene block copolymer and 20-40% by weight of a plasticizer. Flexographic printing plates obtainable by this process are used for flexographic printing with water-based or alcohol-based printing inks.

Abstract: Novel printing surfaces for off-set printing blankets are provided having a resilience of less than about 40% and an average surface roughness of less than about 0.5 microns. Such low-resilience printing surfaces have been found to transfer up to greater than 90% of the ink applied thereto and can be used to transfer ink on a wide variety of substrates.

Abstract: An inking plate for a rotary printing machine mounting on a cylinder is provided. The inking plate is formed of at least a base plate (11) and a PVC composition material of at least one layer (15; 27) deposited on said base plate (11) over a majority of the surface of the base plate (11). The surface of the deposited material is designed to be cut so as to define relief surfaces (16) having limits corresponding to the outlines of surfaces to be inked. The cutting of the deposited material occurs when the base plate (11) is held in a cylindrical form so as to permit mounting on the cylinder without substantial deformation, from an as-cut state, of the base plate (11) or the deposited material.

Abstract: A process for the production of flexographic printing plates by laser engraving, in which the recording layer of a crosslinkable, laser-engravable flexographic printing element is crosslinked by the combination of a full-area crosslinking step with a crosslinking step which only acts at the surface, and a printing relief is engraved into the crosslinked recording layer by means of a laser, and flexographic printing plates obtainable by the process.

Abstract: An adhesive tape for flexographic printing including a first adhesive layer, a substrate on the first adhesive layer, and a second adhesive layer on the substrate. The substrate preferably includes a polymeric film layer and a foam layer, wherein the topography of the first and second adhesive layers is substantially independent of the topography of the polymeric film layer. The polymeric film is preferably substantially smooth, and at least one of the first and second adhesive layers is preferably substantially continuous and includes a regular pattern of permanent grooves. The grooves preferably have a depth of about 4 &mgr;m to about 200 &mgr;m, and a width of about 4 &mgr;m to about 200 &mgr;m.

Abstract: Security documents (e.g. passports, currency, event tickets, and the like) are encoded to convey machine-readable multi-bit binary information (e.g., a digital watermark), usually in a manner not alerting human viewers that such information is present. The documents can be provided with overt or subliminal calibration patterns. When a document incorporating such a pattern is scanned (e.g. by a photocopier), the pattern facilitates detection of the encoded information notwithstanding possible scaling or rotation of the scan data. The calibration pattern can serve as a carrier for the watermark information, or the watermark can be encoded independently. In one embodiment, the watermark and the calibration pattern are formed on the document by an intaglio process, with or without ink. A photocopier responsive to such markings can take predetermined action if reproduction of a security document is attempted.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for producing a novel flexographic printing sleeve which is readily axially mountable on and dismountable from a complementary shaped printing cylinder. The subject method comprises providing an apparatus for receiving a sprayed curable polymeric material and for forming the flexographic printing sleeve. Then, the curable polymeric material is sprayed onto the apparatus and a flexographic printing sleeve is formed. The sleeve has a substantially unitary, non-laminated construction which is self-supporting. The cross-sectional inner and outer diameter of the flexographic printing sleeve is expandable by introducing a relatively low pressure fluid between the inner surface of the printing body sleeve and the outer cylindrically-shaped wall of the printing cylinder. The flexographic printing sleeve is contractible from its expanded position by releasing the low pressure fluid.

Abstract: A ready-to-image gravure sleeve is supplied with a resist layer applied over the copper. The sleeve is loaded on a mandrel in an imaging device and imaged directly using an imagewise controllable radiation source. In subsequent processing steps the resist is developed and subjected to a chemical etch to form the gravure image in the copper.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coating device for a rotary printing machine, especially a sheet printing machine. The aim of the invention is to provide a coating device whose set up time, in particular, is reduced on account of the design thereof and which can be used in a universal manner. The inventive coating device for a rotary printing machine is provided with a printing cylinder (11), a rubber blanket cylinder (9) and a plate cylinder (8) with at least one associated inker unit (15). The inking cylinders (16) of the inker unit can be moved towards and moved away from the plate cylinder. Plate clamping devices are arranged on the periphery of the plate cylinder (8) for fixing a flexible layered body (17) which comprises a supporting layer (18) that can be fixed in the plate clamping devices and at least one compressible rubber layer (19) fixed on top of the supporting layer, in addition to an outer rubber layer (20) fixed on top of the rubber layer.

Abstract: A very low percentage dot screen is formed on a flexographic plate which prevents the severe compression normally found adjacent to zero percent areas of the flexographic plate. The dot screen reduces dot gain by distributing the compressive force of the flexographic printing plate on the printing surface. The total area of the dot screen is kept to a very low percentage of the total surface area being printed so that it will not alter perceived color.