Abstract: A print media roll holder includes a multi-diameter core adapter for mounting print media rolls of different core sizes. The roll holder comprises a ring-shaped frame having a base portion provided with a guide rack which is used for positional adjustment. The multi-diameter core adapter is pivotally mounted inside the ring-shaped frame on two opposing lateral pins inserted through the frame and through the core adapter for 180 degree rotation in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction depending on the size of core being used. The guide rack is part of a rack and pinion gear system used to vary the spacing between the roll holders in a reciprocal linear fashion.

Abstract: Device and method for the automatic register setting of printings printed by plate cylinders in a rotary machine using inks of a plurality of colors. The printing machine particularly comprises a succession of printing units, at least one pulse generator, two pull rollers located downstream of the printing units, a combination of plate cylinders and compensating rollers to correct some register errors, scanning heads each located near and downstream to the respective printing units. Each printing unit particularly includes one of the plate cylinders as well as one of the pressing cylinders. Each pressing cylinder is controlled by a control unit.

Abstract: Provided is a lithographic printing plate comprising a support substrate having disposed thereon a hydrophilic layer interposed between the substrate and an ink-accepting ablative-absorbing surface layer. The ink-accepting surface layer comprising a one or more polymers and a sensitizer characterized by absorption of laser radiation. The printing plate may also comprise a primer layer underlying the ink-accepting surface layer with an adhesion-promoting agent present in the primer layer. Also provided are methods of preparing such lithographic printing plates, and methods of preparing imaged lithographic printing plates from such lithographic printing plates by imagewise exposure to a laser and a subsequent cleaning step with water or with a cleaning solution.

Abstract: Screen printing is performed by using a pressure squeegee, a main squeegee, and a scraper squeegee. Since a screen is pressed by the pressure squeegee in advance, an angle between the main squeegee and the screen is kept constant. After printing is finished by the main squeegee, the scraper squeegee scrapes a remaining ink.

Abstract: A method of printing a print material on a surface of an object by placing the print material on a surface of a print mask having a plurality of holes, positioning the print mask relative to the object such that the print mask is near, and substantially parallel, to the surface of the object, moving at least one of a squeegee and a first combination of the print mask and the object relative to the other of the squeegee and the first combination, in a print direction along the surface of the print mask, while locally pressing, with the squeegee, the print mask against the surface of the object and pressing, with the squeegee, the print material along the surface of the print mask, so that a portion of the print material is printed on the surface of the object through the holes of the print mask, the method including the steps of locally pressing, with a mask-press member, the print mask against the surface of the object, at a position distant from the squeegee by a predetermined distance which assures that the

Abstract: A support for a lithographic printing plate obtained by performing surface graining and anodizing of an aluminum alloy plate, wherein the foregoing aluminum alloy plate contains specific contents of Fe, Si, Cu, Ti, Zn and Mg, with the balance being Al and incidental impurities. The presensitized plate obtained from this support for a lithographic printing plate is excellent in press life and in resistance to dot ink stain when processed into a lithographic printing plate. Preferably, the support for a lithographic printing plate, with regard to the surface of the support, has a center line average roughness Ra in the range of 0.2-0.6 &mgr;m, a maximum height Rmax in the range of 3.0-6.0 &mgr;m, a ten-point mean roughness Rz in the range of 2.0-5.5 &mgr;m, a center line peak height Rp in the range of 1.0-3.0 &mgr;m, a center line valley depth Rv in the range of 2.0-3.5 &mgr;m, a mean spacing Sm in the range of 40-70 &mgr;m, an average inclination &Dgr;a in the range of 6.0-12.

Abstract: Provided are methods of imaging a wet positive working lithographic printing member comprising the steps of providing a positive working printing member comprising a substrate, a hydrophilic layer, an infrared-absorbing layer, and, optionally, an ink-accepting surface layer; exposing the printing member to infrared layer imaging in an imagewise pattern removing by ablation not greater than 10% by weight, and most preferably none of the infrared-absorbing layer and optional ink-accepting surface layer; and removing with water the laser-exposed areas of the infrared-absorbing layer and optional ink-accepting surface layer to reveal the underlying hydrophilic layer. These methods are advantageous in reducing airborne debris and vapors during laser imaging, in increasing the speed of laser imaging, and in providing excellent cleanability and image quality. The printing member may further comprise a primer layer underlying the infrared-absorbing layer with an adhesion-promoting agent present in the primer layer.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor comprises an electrochemically grained aluminium substrate, the grained surface of which is coated with a layer of gel-like amorphous colloidal oxides and hydroxides of aluminium and their hydrates incorporating metallic aluminium and inter-metallic aluminium alloys—generally at a level of below 5%—this layer being produced during the electrochemical graining process. The layer is typically present in an amount of from 0.1-20 g/m2 and at a layer thickness of 0.1-4.0 &mgr;m, the particle sizes in the said layer generally falling in the range of from 10 to 2000 nm. Methods are disclosed for the preparation of said precursors via the electrochemical graining of aluminium substrates. The invention provides lithographic printing plate precursors which may be imagewise exposed by means of a high intensity laser beam to provide printing plates showing high durability on press and giving images which show good resolution and are free from background staining.

Abstract: A direct-to-plate method of lithographic printing is disclosed which enables to recycle the lithographic substrate of the printing master. The method comprises the steps of (a) making a negative-working imaging material by coating on a hydrophilic substrate a coating solution comprising hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles and a hydrophilic binder; (b) making a printing master having ink-accepting areas by image-wise exposing the imaging material; (c) applying ink and fountain solution to the printing master; (d) removing the ink-accepting areas from the printing master by supplying an amide and preferably also an alkanolamine. The above steps are preferably carried out on-press.

Abstract: A direct-to-plate method of lithographic printing is disclosed which enables to recycle the lithographic substrate of the printing master. The method comprises the steps of (a) making a negative-working imaging material by coating on a hydrophilic substrate a coating solution comprising hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles and a hydrophilic binder; (b) making a printing master having ink-accepting areas by image-wise exposing the imaging material; (c) applying ink and fountain solution to the printing master; (d) removing the ink-accepting areas from the printing master by supplying a aliphatic or aromatic compound having a structure comprising at least 6 carbon atoms. The above steps are preferably carried out on-press.

Abstract: Lithographic plate constructions include imaging layers having dispersed therein a radiation-scattering material and a radiation-absorbing material, both of which cooperate to increase the overall absorption of radiation in that layer. The radiation-scattering material may be in particulate form, the particles reflecting the imaging radiation from their surfaces. The use of particulate scattering material within the imaging layer creates a highly porous matrix that favors deep penetration of the imaging radiation and mechanical locking of the imaging layer to one or both adjacent layers. The scattering material may also be chosen also for its ability to chemically bind with an adjacent layer to increase intercoat adhesion.

Abstract: A stencil printing machine of the present invention has an inner press roller (47) arranged in the inside of a printing drum (16), an inner press mechanism (20) for shifting the inner press roller (47) between a pressure position (B) and a standby position and for adjusting a pressure power of the inner press roller (47) at the pressure position (B). At the pressure position (B), the inner press roller (47) presses the inner peripheral surface of a screen (19) forming a peripheral wall of the printing drum (16). At the standby position, the inner press roller (47) is separated from the inner peripheral surface. During printing, the inner press roller (47) is positioned at the pressure position (B) at which the inner press roller (47) presses the inner peripheral surface of the screen (19). The inner press mechanism (20) has an ink supply unit (38) arranged at the inside of the printing drum (16) in order to shift the inner press roller (47) between the pressure position (B) and the standby position.

Abstract: An improved offset printing press has a single plate blanket image (PBI) cylinder for holding an image formed on a thin film printing plate affixed thereto. The plate may be from 0.5 to 25 microns thick and has a thin layer of ink repelling material coated thereon. The plate is imaged, after being affixed to the PBI cylinder, by ablating selective portions of the ink repelling coating. The PBI cylinder is constructed to hold the printing plate by vacuum techniques, and apparatus to load and unload the plate is associated with the PBI cylinder. Because of the thinness of the printing plate, the PBI cylinder is a compliant surface, capable of printing on an inelastic media covered impression cylinder. In addition, unique inking apparatus is provided to transfer ink to the imaged printing plate. Variations of the press include a four color press utilizing a single PBI cylinder.

Abstract: A method for preparing a lithographic plate which can react with an imaging fluid to form an image, including providing a hydrophilic support; forming a fluid-receiving layer that includes a water-soluble material which is chemically reactive with the imaging fluid; imagewise applying the imaging fluid to the fluid-receiving layer; and drying or curing the applied fluid to form an image in the fluid-receiving layer.

Abstract: A method of computer-to-cylinder lithographic printing, comprising: loading a plate material on a rotative plate cylinder of a lithographic printing apparatus; rotating the plate cylinder having loaded thereon the plate material; forming an image directly onto the plate material by an inkjet image-recording process which comprises ejecting an oil-based ink from a recording head having a plurality of ejecting channels, based on image data signals, utilizing an electrostatic field, to prepare a printing plate; subsequently performing lithographic printing with the thus prepared printing plate, wherein the recording head is driven so that every n'th channel thereof is actuated in a common phase, and wherein the plate cylinder is rotated to give a surface rotational speed V (mm/sec) of the plate material as represented by the following formula: V=25.4×(f×n)/N wherein N represents a recording resolution (dots/25.

Abstract: An ergonomic keyboard having a mount and a plurality of keys arranged in a plurality of unbroken adjacent rows is provided. Each row is comprised of an arcuate portion, a left portion, and a right portion. The left and right portions extend tangentially from the left and right sides of the arcuate portion, respectively. The arcuate portion, of each row is convex to the user side of the keyboard, and at least two keys in each arcuate portion are elongated. Alphanumeric indicia on the keys can be arranged in the QWERTY pattern.

Abstract: A direct-to-plate method of lithographic printing is disclosed which enables to recycle the lithographic substrate of the printing master. The method comprises the steps of (a) making a negative-working imaging material by coating on a hydrophilic substrate a coating solution comprising hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles and a hydrophilic binder; (b) making a printing master having ink-accepting areas by image-wise exposing the imaging material; (c) applying ink and fountain solution to the printing master; (d) removing the ink-accepting areas from the printing master by supplying an alcohol and preferably also an alkanolamine. The above steps are preferably carried out on-press.

Abstract: A method for dampening a rotating planographic printing form via an ink applicator roller for indirectly dampening the planographic printing form and via a connecting roller in engagement with the ink applicator roller and engaged by a dampener roller for dampening the planographic printing form, includes, during dampening, rotating the dampener roller at a circumferential speed differing from the circumferential speed of the planographic printing form; a dampening unit for performing the method; and a planographic printing machine including the dampening unit.

Abstract: A substrate for an electron source, the substrate including a plurality of electron emission devices each including a pair of opposing electrodes. The substrate is prepared using an intaglio plate having recessed portions corresponding to a pattern of the electrodes, the depth of the recessed portions being in the range from 4 &mgr;m to 15 &mgr;m, filling the recessed portions with ink, pressing a blanket against the intaglio plate so that the ink is transferred from the inside of the recessed portions onto the blanket, and bringing the blanket into contact with the substrate so that the ink is transferred from the blanket onto the substrate thereby forming the electrode pattern.

Abstract: A method for preparing a lithographic printing plate by means of ink jet is disclosed. The ink jet fluid contains an oleophilizing compound as defined in the description. Preferred compounds are 8-hydroxyquinolines, 7-hydroxybenzimidazoles, and 7-hydroxybenztriazoles.