Abstract: A lithographic process comprises the steps of imagewise heating a presensitized lithographic printing plate and removing an unheated area of an image-forming layer to form a lithographic printing plate. The presensitized lithographic printing plate comprises a hydrophilic support and the image-forming layer. The image-forming layer contains a compound or a polymer having o-quinodimethane structures or precursor structures thereof. The lithographic printing plate is prepared by a reaction of the o-quinodimethane structures.

Abstract: The invention provides a lithographic printing for precursor having an imagable coating on an aluminum support, wherein the imagable coating comprises a polymeric substance comprising colorant groups, and wherein the aluminum support on which the coating is provided is anodized but not subsequently modified by means of a post-anodic treatment compound, and the coating does not comprise a colorant dye. The polymeric substance may also comprise pendent infra-red or developer dissolution inhibiting groups, and these groups may also be the colorant groups themselves.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of a negative working lithographic printing plate is disclosed. A printing plate precursor comprising a lithographic support and an image forming layer is mounted on a printing press. A liquid containing a dissolution inhibitor is image-wise dispensed on the precursor by means of ink jet printing. The precursor is developed on press by the application of fountain and ink whereby the image areas are retained and the non-image areas are removed.

Abstract: A planographic printing member precursor comprises a first component, for example a hydroxy group containing polymer, and a second component which may be a siloxane or a compound of general formula (I), wherein M represents a silicon or a titanium atom and each of R1, R2, R3 and R4 is independently selected from hydrogen or halogen atoms; a hydroxy group; an optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group; an optionally substituted alkoxy group; or an optionally substituted saturated or unsaturated cyclic or heterocyclic group. On exposure, the second component reacts with the first component to define an oleophobic/hydrophilic material in exposed areas and in non-exposed areas the second component is removed, on processing of the precursor.

Abstract: A method for preparing lithographic printing plates comprising coating a substrate with a mixture including colloidal silica, fumed alumina, polyethylenimine, a quaternary ammonium polymer and a hardener; utilizing an inkjet printer with pigmented inks to print a digital image on the coated substrate; and drying the image.

Abstract: A variable data lithographic printing device comprises surrounding a printing cylinder a photosensitive layer coater, an exposure source, optionally a developer, an inking applicator, optionally a transfer system, and optionally an eraser. During printing operation, each surface areas of the rotating cylinder continuously undergo the cycle of coating, imagewise exposure, optionally developing, inking, printing of inked images to the receiving medium, and optionally erasing processes. The developing means can be omitted if an ink and/or fountain solution developable photosensitive layer is used. In an alternative design, the cylinder is replaced with a continuous supply of a ribbon with lithographic substrate surface. In another alternative design, the cylinder and the coater are replaced with a continuous supply of a pre-sensitized ribbon comprising on a substrate a photosensitive layer.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of a negative working lithographic printing plate by means of ink jet printing is disclosed. This method uses a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a lithographic support and an image forming layer containing a polymeric binder soluble in an aqueous alkaline developer. The precursor is image-wise printed by an ink jet fluid comprising a compound capable of reducing the solubility of the binder in the aqueous alkaline developer. After development a negative working printing plate is obtained.

Abstract: At printing time, a blanket cylinder gear is meshed with a plate cylinder gear, whereby a first plate cylinder is rotatable by a drive motor. At image-recording time, the blanket cylinder gear is separated from the plate cylinder gear. In this state, a different motor drives the plate cylinder gear to rotate the first plate cylinder at low speed.

Abstract: A method for making a printing plate including a step of forming a hydrophobic image area on at least a part of a hydrophilic surface of a plate. The plate surface contains a photocatalyst and the image area is formed by using an organic compound which is decomposed and removed by the irradiation of light having a higher energy than the band gap energy of the photocatalyst.

Abstract: A method for forming a pattern, including the steps of preparing a cliché having a recess thereon corresponding to a position of a pattern, filling one of resist and ink within the recess of the cliché, affixing a substrate on which the pattern is to be formed on a loading plate, aligning the loading plate on the cliché, attaching the substrate on the loading plate to the cliché, and separating the substrate on the loading plate from the cliché.

Abstract: Positive-working thermally imageable elements, useful as printing plate precursors and having reduced ablation when thermally imaged, and methods for their preparation are disclosed. In one aspect, the elements contain a hydrophilic substrate, an underlayer, a barrier layer, and a top layer. The underlayer comprises a photothermal conversion material.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method for preparing a printing member by coating a printing cylinder with a layer comprising ultraviolet-curable silicones and curing the layer using ultraviolet radiation.

Abstract: The present invention provides an image recording material onto which images can be recorded with an infrared ray, the material comprising an infrared absorbent (A), a radical-generating agent (B) and a radically polymerizable compound (C), wherein the infrared absorbent is a cyanine dye in which at least one substituent on a nitrogen atom in a heterocyclic ring at each end forms a cyclic ring which includes a methine chain.

Abstract: A method for producing a print carrier within a printing machine includes providing on a cylinder of the printing machine a prefabricated carrier material having a contact surface, and, within the printing machine, applying an impressionable polymer to the contact surface of the prefabricated carrier material; and a device for performing the method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heat mode-compatible planographic printing plate comprising a photosensitive layer which is capable of recording with an infrared laser and formed by applying a photosensitive layer coating solution onto a hydrophilic support and then drying the photosensitive layer coating solution, the photosensitive layer coating solution being obtained by dissolving or dispersing I) an IR absorber, II) a polymerization initiator, and III) a compound having a polymerizable unsaturated group in a solvent, wherein the residual solvent in the photosensitive layer is 5% by weight or less relative to the weight of the photosensitive layer.

Abstract: A process for imaging a lithographic printing plate having a presensitizing coating. An ink jet printer is used to apply imagewise micro drops of an insolubilizing solution that insolubilizes exposed areas of the coating. The latent image is then developed. The process works with conventional, commercially available developing processors.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate has a hydrophilic substrate and an oleophilic coating. The plate is simultaneously imaged and developed by applying a solvent for the coating in an image-wise pattern using an ink jet printer. The oleophilic coating is thereby removed in those areas where the solvent has been jetted exposing the hydrophilic substrate and leaving the residual oleophilic coating in the form of the desired positive image. The residual oleophilic coating may be post treated to insolubilize and/or harden the image.

Abstract: A method of printing employing a printing plate prepared from a printing plate precursor comprising a layer A capable of being removed by water or both water and ink on a printing press comprises the steps of imagewise exposing the precursor, mounting the precursor on a plate cylinder of the printing press to fix the precursor at a fixing section on the plate cylinder, providing a water repellent area in the layer A of the precursor so that the water repellent area is provided between a portion of the layer A to be used for printing and a portion of the layer A in the fixing section not to be used for printing, supplying water or both water and ink to the resulting precursor to obtain a printing plate; and then carrying out printing while supplying water or both water and ink to the resulting printing plate.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for image formation on cylindrical surfaces of printing machines. The object of the invention is to provide a compact image formation unit with a broad application rage regarding its usage, the sequence in time and variation in time of the process steps. The invention accomplishes this by processing units mounted on slides movable separately on a common cross bar. Each slide carries at least one processing unit. The cross bar is located in a gusset area between a plate cylinder and a blanket cylinder.

Abstract: Infra-red absorbing polymers useful in imageable products and the lithographic printing field comprise infra-red absorbing groups carried as pendent groups on a polymer backbone. Certain infra-red absorbing groups may also act to insolublize the polymer in a developer, until it is imagewise exposed to infra-red radiation. The resulting heat renders the polymer soluble in the developer. Imageable products employing the infra-red absorbing polymers may include positive working lithographic printing plates.

Abstract: A method for preparing a lithographic printing plate by means of ink jet printing is disclosed. The ink jet fluid contains an oleophilizing compound having in its chemical structure a boron containing group capable of reacting with the surface of a lithographic receiver.

Abstract: A printing method is disclosed wherein a grained and anodized aluminum support is coated with an image recording layer comprising hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles. The heat-sensitive imaging material thus obtained is then image-wise exposed and processed, thereby obtaining a material having a lithographic image which consists of hydrophobic printing areas on a hydrophilic support and which is used as a printing master in a printing press. After the press run, the lithographic support is recycled by removing the hydrophobic printing areas from the hydrophilic surface of the aluminum support. The recycled support is then reused in a next cycle of coating, exposing, processing and printing. By using a grained and anodized aluminum support having a hydrophilic surface with a surface roughness, expressed as arithmetical mean center-line roughness Ra, which is less than 0.45 &mgr;m, the run length of the printing master is improved.

Abstract: A method for making a reusable printing plate in which a hydrophobic image area is formed on a hydrophilic plate surface containing a photocatalyst. The method includes the steps of carrying out a hydrophobic agent application process in which a solution containing an organic compound having a property of reacting with the plate surface by a heating process and a property of being decomposed by the action of the photocatalyst when irradiated by light having a higher energy than a band gap energy of the photocatalyst is applied on the plate surface; carrying out an image area formation process in which a part of the plate surface is subjected to a heating process to form a hydrophobic image area; and carrying out a non-image area formation process in which the organic compound applied to an area other than the hydrophobic image area on the plate surface is removed.

Abstract: An image forming method using a negative type image forming material is disclosed, and said method comprises the steps of exposing a negative type image forming material to infrared laser imagewise, which image forming material comprises a substrate and an image recording layer formed thereon, comprising (A) a radical generator, (B) a radical-polymerizable compound, (C) an infrared absorbing agent, and (D) a binder polymer; and developing the image forming material with an alkaline developing solution comprising a weak acid or a salt thereof having a dissociation constant pka of from 10 to 13.

Abstract: A lithographic printing precursor for lithographic offset printing comprises, a layer of imageable medium on a hydrophilic base. The imageable medium comprises hydrophobic polymer particles in an aqueous medium, a substance for converting light into heat, and a non-crosslinkable aqueous-soluble composition. The lithographic printing precursor may be used to make lithographic printing surfaces that obtain long run lengths on lower quality paper and in the presence of press-room chemicals. The lithographic printing precursor can be imaged and developed on-press and the imageable medium can also be sprayed onto a hydrophilic surface to create a printing surface that may be processed wholly on-press. It can also be processed in the more conventional fully off-press fashion. The hydrophilic surface can be a printing plate substrate or the printing cylinder of a printing press or a sleeve around the printing cylinder of a printing press. The cylinder can be conventional or seamless.

Abstract: A precursor for preparing a resist pattern comprises an imageable layer which includes a relatively volatile compound that can be volatilized by application of heat, wherein imaging radiation can be applied to the precursor to heat areas thereof and volatilizes said compound so that properties, for example, the ink accepting abilities of heated and non heated areas, are different.

Abstract: A direct-to-press imaging method comprises: (a) applying an imageable coating to a printing cylinder, wherein the imageable coating comprises a composition such as a thermally switchable polymer which changes affinity for a printing fluid upon exposure to imaging radiation such as infrared radiation delivered imagewise via a laser, and the imageable coating is substantially insoluble in the printing fluid; (b) imagewise exposing the imageable coating to actinic radiation to obtain an imaged coating; (c) printing a plurality of copies of an image from the imaged coating; and (d) reapplying the imageable coating as desired by repeating steps (a) through (c) at least once without substantially removing the prior imaged coating before reapplying the imageable coating.

Abstract: A lithographic printing method is disclosed which comprising the steps of providing an imaging material which comprises a support and an image-recording layer that is not removable with a single-fluid ink which comprises an ink phase and a polar phase; image-wise exposure of the image-recording layer to heat or light without substantially ablating said image-recording layer, thereby switching the affinity of the image-recording towards ink or an ink-abhesive fluid and thereby creating a printing master comprising a lithographic image which consists of unexposed areas that have affinity for one phase of said ink phase and polar phase and of exposed areas that have affinity for the other phase of said ink phase and polar phase; printing, wherein the single-fluid ink is supplied to the printing master.

Abstract: A printing plate element is disclosed, comprising a substrate and a component layer containing a first material which is water-insoluble or capable of varying from being water-soluble to being water-insoluble at a prescribed temperature of not less than 60° C. and a second material which is water-soluble and has a melting point of 60 to 300° C. A method of preparing a printing plate is also disclosed, comprising imagewise exposure of the printing plate element and removing an unexposed area of the printing plate element with aqueous solution.

Abstract: Provided is a heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate comprising a support having thereon an undercoat layer and a heat-sensitive layer in this order, with at least one of the undercoat layer and the heat-sensitive layer comprising polymer hollow microspheres having voids on the inside, or a heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate comprising a support having thereon a heat-sensitive layer, with the heat-sensitive layer comprising polymer hollow microspheres having voids on the inside.

Abstract: Provided is a planographic printing plate precursor having the advantages of good developability in printers, high sensitivity and a long press life. On a support having a hydrophilic surface with hydrophilic graft polymer chains existing therein, formed is a thermosensitive layer containing a polymer having, in the molecule, a functional group capable of interacting with the hydrophilic graft polymer and a functional group that undergoes hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity conversion through exposure to heat, acid or radiation to fabricate the planographic printing plate precursor.

Abstract: Multi-layer thermally imageable elements, useful as a lithographic printing plate precursors, are disclosed. The elements contain a top layer, an absorber layer that contains a photothermal conversion material and a hydrophilic substrate. An optional underlayer may also be present between the absorber layer and the hydrophilic substrate. The elements can be thermally imaged and processed with an aqueous alkaline developer.

Abstract: A plate-making method comprising: forming an image directly on a plate material by an electrostatic ink jet method comprising ejecting an oil ink using electrostatic field based on signals of image data; and fixing said image to manufacture a printing plate, wherein said method uses: (1) an ink circulation line having the following members a, b and c: a. an ink jet ejection head, b. an ink transportation line comprising an ink feed line for feeding said oil ink to said ink jet ejection head and an ink recovery line for recovering said oil ink from said ink jet ejection head, and c.

Abstract: A process for making thermally imageable negative working compositions comprising the steps of:

Abstract: An imaging member, such as a negative-working printing plate or on-press cylinder, can be prepared with a hydrophilic imaging layer comprised of a heat-sensitive hydrophilic charged polymer (ionomer) and an infrared radiation sensitive negatively-charged oxonol dye that has a &lgr;max of greater than 700 nm. The heat-sensitive polymer and IR dye can be formulated in water or water-miscible solvents to provide highly thermal sensitive imaging compositions. In the imaging member, the polymer reacts to provide increased hydrophobicity in areas exposed to energy that provides or generates heat. For example, heat can be supplied by laser irradiation in the IR region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The heat-sensitive polymer is considered “switchable” in response to heat, and provides a lithographic image without conventional alkaline processing.

Abstract: A method for making a printing plate including a step of forming a hydrophobic image area on at least a part of a hydrophilic surface of a plate. The plate surface contains a photocatalyst and the image area is formed by using an organic compound which is decomposed and removed by the irradiation of light having a higher energy than the band gap energy of the photocatalyst.

Abstract: A variable data lithographic printing device comprises surrounding a printing cylinder a photosensitive layer coater, an exposure source, optionally a developer, an inking applicator, optionally a transfer system, and optionally an eraser. During printing operation, each surface areas of the rotating cylinder continuously undergo the cycle of coating, imagewise exposure, optionally developing, inking, printing of inked imaging to the receiving medium, and optionally erasing processes. The developing means can be omitted if an ink and/or fountain solution developable photosensitive layer is used. In an alternative design, the cylinder is replaced with a continuous supply of a ribbon with lithographic substrate surface. In another alternative design, the cylinder and the coater are replaced with a continuous supply of a pre-sensitized ribbon comprising on a substrate a photosensitive layer.

Abstract: A printing plate is prepared by the process comprising: (a) providing a substrate; and (b) applying by ink jetting to the substrate a fluid composition comprising a cationic polymer and an anionic polymer, in non-aqueous solvent. The ionic polymers interact and adhere to the substrate, so that after drying a durable printing plate is formed, without chemical development. The printing plate of this invention is capable of extended press run length and advantageously avoids the need of chemical development.

Abstract: Thermally imageable elements useful as lithographic printing plates, and methods for forming an image using the thermally imageable elements are disclosed. The element contains a support with a hydrophilic surface, an underlayer over the hydrophilic surface, and a top layer over the underlayer. The top layer contains a polymeric material, such as a novolac resin, a resol resin, or a mixture thereof, but does not require a compound that functions as a solubility-suppressing component for the polymeric material. Consequently, the top layer is free of materials that function as solubility-suppressing components for the polymeric material. In one embodiment, the element, preferably the underlayer, absorbs infrared radiation. Following thermal exposure, the element is developed with an aqueous alkaline developer having a pH of at least 7 to about 11, typically about 10.

Abstract: A printing method for printing an ink layer on a can barrel. The method includes picking-up a bright ink containing at least one bright pigment having an average particle size of from 5 to 25 &mgr;m selected from the group consisting of aluminum flake and fine particulate coated pearl pigment from an engraving roller, feeding the picked-up ink to a printing plate directly or via a rubber roller, and applying the ink on the printing plate to a can barrel via a blanket wheel.

Abstract: The printing form, such as a printing plate or the surface of a printing cylinder, has a semiconducting surface with defined hydrophobic and hydrophilic areas corresponding to a print image to be printed with the printing form. The wetting characteristics of the printing form can be altered. To this end, the surface of the printing form is first placed into an essentially uniform chemical state with a first wetting behavior. Parts of all of the areas of the semiconductor surface are then put into a second chemical state which has a second wetting property that is different from the first.

Abstract: A printing system is provided which ensures easy formation of a plate and regeneration of the plate for continued use. The press plate used in a the printing system to form an image using a water-based ink is characterized in that, (I) prior to formation of a latent image, the surface forming the latent image exhibits extra ink-repellency to the ink to be used; (2) the press plate allows a water soluble material forming the latent image to be deposited thereon; (3) the latent image can be formed by allowing the water soluble material to be deposited on the press plate surface; and (4) the press plate can be regenerated as a plate which allows a new latent image to be formed by washing the press plate with water and drying it, upon completion of ensuing processes of development and transfer.

Abstract: A process for preparing an ink-jet system printing plate, wherein in a planographic printing plate precursor having an image receiving layer containing zinc oxide and a binder resin on a water-resistant support, the surface of the image receiving layer has a water-contact angle of 50° or more, and image formation is carried out according to a hot melt type ink-jet system by heat melting an ink composition that is solid at ordinary temperature and spraying the droplets of the ink composition in a heat melt state from a nozzle onto the image receiving layer, and a nonimage area of the image receiving layer is then subjected to a desensitizing treatment by a chemical reaction to prepare a planographic printing plate.

Abstract: An imaging member, such as a negative-working printing plate or on-press cylinder, can be prepared with a hydrophilic imaging layer comprised of a heat-sensitive hydrophilic polymer having ionic moieties and an infrared radiation sensitive dye having multiple sulfo groups. The heat-sensitive polymer and IR dye can be formulated in water or water-miscible solvents to provide highly thermal sensitive imaging compositions. In the imaging member, the polymer reacts to provide increased hydrophobicity in areas exposed to energy that provides or generates heat. For example, heat can be supplied by laser irradiation in the IR region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The heat-sensitive polymer is considered “switchable” in response to heat, and provides a lithographic image without wet processing.

Abstract: A process for preparing an ink-jet system printing plate, wherein an image is formed according to a hot melt type ink-jet system by heat-melting an ink composition that is solid at ordinary temperature, spraying droplets of the ink composition in a hot melt state from nozzles onto an intermediate transferrer to form an image, and contact-transferring the image on the intermediate transferrer to an image receiving layer of a planographic printing plate precursor, the image receiving layer being provided on a water-resistive support and containing zinc oxide and a binder resin, and thereafter, a nonimage area of the image receiving layer is desensitized by chemical reaction treatment to prepare a planographic printing plate.

Abstract: A method of controlling the resolution of an image formed on a substrate comprises: (a) providing a substrate; (b) applying an image to the substrate by ink jetting onto the substrate a fluid composition comprising at least one surfactant, wherein the spreading of the fluid composition on the substrate in the presence of the surfactant is less than the spreading of the fluid composition on the substrate in the absence of the surfactant. The invention reduces the dot spreading which otherwise occurs when a substrate is imaged via ink jetting to prepare a printing plate.

Abstract: A process for imaging a lithographic printing plate having a coating containing diazo resins. An ink jet printer is used to apply micro drops of a basic chemical solution that insolubilizes the affected areas of the coating to a developing solution. The latent image may be cured by heating the plate for a short period, and is then developed. The process works with conventional, commercially available lithographic plates and developers.

Abstract: A printer includes a printer carrier having a surface for receiving ink for transfer printing onto a carrier material, such as paper. Areas of the surface print carrier are ink attracting and others are made ink repelling. The ink repelling areas are formed by providing the surface with a layer of a substance in a solid phase, such as water in the form of ice. The ice layer repels the ink as it is applied so that the ink is only held on the surface of the print carrier at the areas that are ice free. The ice layer is formed by cooling the surface using a cooling mechanism to form a coating of frost due to condensation. A surface tension reducer for water is coated on the surface prior to cooling the surface. A laser or other radiation emitter structures the ice layer to form the print image.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a heat sensitive imaging element comprising on a lithographic base with a hydrophilic surface an image forming layer including thermoplastic particles of a homopolymer or a copolymer of styrene and a hydrophilic polymer containing carboxyl groups, characterized in that said imaging element further contains an anionic IR-cyanine dye being present in said image forming layer or a layer adjacent thereto.

Abstract: There is provided a lithographic plate material which can be desensitized by distilled water or a fountain solution used for other lithographic plates, without desensitizing using an etching solution, and with less scumming in non-image portions of the print. The lithographic plate material has an image-receptive layer formed on a support and containing polyvinyl alcohol cross-linked by tetra alkoxy silane hydroxylate, titanium oxide microparticles, and silica having an average particle size of 1 nm to 100 nm. The image-receptive layer has a surface with an arithmetic mean roughness of not less than 0.40 &mgr;m and less than 1.20 &mgr;m, a contact angle of less than 50 degrees with distilled water at room temperature, and ink-receptiveness for hot-melt and lipophilic ink.