Abstract: The temperature of a portion that belongs to a stencil and is located in the vicinity of a portion retaining a printing paste is increased to reduce the viscosity of printing paste that adheres to the portion retaining the printing paste, thereby allowing the printing paste to be easily separated from the retaining portion for the achievement of easy printing on an object on which a print is to be formed.

Abstract: A stencil printing apparatus for printing according to the input supplied from the host machine which prepares a master for covering the open part of the plate cylinder by switching the mode when the information that there is no continuous next plate preparation image data is detected, and as the result the spoilage due to drying of the open part of the plate cylinder after printing is prevented during the printing of the next plate.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method for preparing a lithographic printing plate, comprising the step of dispensing in a predetermined pattern a hydrophobic or hydrophobizing composition onto a receiving element comprising on a support a layer comprising hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles dispersed in a hardened hydrophilic binder.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of making a laser imaged printing plate. First, a solid, uncured printing plate is modified with both a UV absorber and an IR absorber. This is most conveniently done by constructing a multilayer slip film comprising at least two layers wherein at least one layer comprises a strong UV absorber, and wherein at least one other layer comprises an IR absorber having high absorptivity. The multilayer slip film is already adapted for use with a printing plate and is applied in the usual fashion to the surface of the uncured printing plate. The printing plate with the multilayer slip film can be stored for a time, or used immediately, as the printer's needs dictate. In use, the multilayer slip film is ablated from the photopolymer using an IR laser operating at a selected wavelength to create an in situ negative. The resulting negative can be subjected to typical UV flood exposure and development.

Abstract: An imaging device for forming an image on a printing form, includes an imaging head containing a multiplicity of mutually parallel conductive pins separated from one another by an insulating material, a voltage source for a high-frequency alternating voltage, and a multiplicity of electronic switches, respectively, connected at one end thereof to one of the conductive pins, and at the other end thereof to the voltage source. Also disclosed are a method of operating the imaging device, and a printing form whereon the imaging method is performed.

Abstract: Stencil sheets which are inhibited from extension when printing of a large number of copies and from getting creases so that originals can be faithfully reproduced and sharp prints can be obtained are described. A stencil sheet can include a laminate of a thermoplastic resin film and a porous support mainly compose of synthetic fibers, and have a wet tensile strength in the longitudinal direction of 200 gf/cm or more, preferably 300 gf/cm or more and a breaking strength under shear in the longitudinal direction of 400 gf/cm2 or more, preferably 600 gf/cm2 or more. The thermoplastic resin film can have a thickness of 0.1-10 &mgr;m.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method for making a negative working non-ablative imaging material, suitable for making a lithographic printing plate, including the steps of applying a dry powder containing at least a compound capable of converting light into heat and an organic compound on a surface of a non-electrically charged metal support, characterized in that the amount of organic compound in the powder ranges from 51 to 95% by weight.

Abstract: A method for preparing a substrate for a planographic printing member is disclosed. A liquid that contains water; a soluble alkali metal silicate, preferably sodium silicate; and a dispersed particulate material is coated on a support, to produce a hydrophilic layer on the support. A layer of image material may be coated over the hydrophilic layer to produce a planographic printing member. In one embodiment the liquid contains a mixture of two particulate materials, preferably alumina and titanium dioxide. The substrate has a surface roughness of about 0.1 &mgr;m to 2 &mgr;m. The substrate is suitable for preparing a planographic printing member processable to a resolution of 10 &mgr;m or less and in which the dots having a roundness of less than 2 are formed.

Abstract: Provided is a lithographic printing plate comprising a support substrate having disposed thereon an ablative-absorbing layer and, optionally, a durable, ink-accepting surface layer that is not ablative-absorbing. The ablative-absorbing layer may contain a high weight per cent of an organic sulfonic acid component. The printing plate may further comprise a hydrophilic polymeric layer interposed between the ablative-absorbing layer and the substrate. The printing plate also comprises a primer layer underlying the ablative-absorbing layer with an adhesion-promoting agent, such as a zirconium compound, 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: According to the present invention there is provided a method for making a lithographic printing plate including the steps of dispensing in a predetermined pattern a latex of particles of a hydrophobic polymer onto an optionally modified hydrophilic surface of a lithographic base, characterized in that the hydrophobic polymer and the optionally modified hydrophilic surface of the lithographic base have mutually reactive groups.

Abstract: A dampening unit of a planographic printing machine has a pan roller, a transfer roller, and a dampening unit roller. The transfer roller is held in bearing contact against the dampening unit roller with a regulating force such as, in particular, a spring force FF. The transfer roller, together with the pan roller, is pivotable about a pivot axis that is offset relative to the roller axis of the pan roller, and/or the pivot axis lies essentially on a tangential line running through a circumferential contact point which is formed by the transfer roller together with the dampening unit roller.

Abstract: When a solid ink printing master plate is constructed by liquefying by heating an ink composition which exists as a solid at room temperature, imparting some jet energy thereto thereby jetting out ink droplets, and then fixing the thus spattering ink droplets onto a substrate, the adhesion strength between the ink composition and the substrate is controlled to 25 g/mm2 or more.

Abstract: A printing method and system which includes at least one printing apparatus is provided. Each printing apparatus includes a printing member for selectively receiving ink into an ink receptive portion, the ink receptive portion includes a plurality of ink receptive dots forming a pattern in a desired resolution and an ink repelling portion, the ink repelling portion includes the entire area of the printing member except the ink receptive dots. Each printing apparatus includes at least one printing unit, preferably but not necessarily an ink-jet printing unit, the printing unit for applying ink onto the printing member in accordance with a pattern representing an image to be printed, thereby forming an ink image on a portion of the ink receptive dots, and a transfer system for transferring the ink image onto a printing substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed is a screen mask for screen printing including a positive pattern section and a negative pattern section with a mask material (emulsion film) formed on the negative pattern section, for transferring a printing ink to a substrate via openings of a mesh disposed at the positive pattern section, wherein a plating layer is selectively formed on the mesh of the negative pattern section so that the negative pattern section has a mesh opening ratio which is smaller than an opening ratio of the positive pattern section, and a width of a gap, which is formed on the substrate by the negative pattern section, is made to be not more than 40 &mgr;m.

Abstract: Lithographic printing is performed with printing members having a hydrophilic-surfaced metal support and a polymeric layer thereover. The polymeric layer absorbs imaging radiation and is soluble in a liquid to which ink will not adhere (e.g., fountain solution). Ordinarily, the polymeric layer is mostly removable by fountain solution. In response to absorbed imaging radiation, however, it may become permanently bound to the metal support so as to resist removal, serving as an ink-carrying oleophilic layer during printing.

Abstract: A stencil capable of accurately transferring a picture with a plurality of colors by a person without skill. This stencil includes a plurality of die seal papers from which parts of a picture are die-cut at different positions from each other as cutting die portions which are associated with each other to form a completed picture. The bottom faces of the die seal papers are adhesive faces. The die seal papers are bonded and fixed to each other in the required ranges of the base portions thereof. After the lower die seal paper is put on an object to color the object via the cutting die portion, the lower die seal paper is peeled from the object and cut away from the base portion thereof to form a polychrome picture.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing electronic components using intaglio transfer printing for improving printing yield. Intaglio 1 having a dual releasing layer structure is used. In this structure, first releasing layer 2 is formed on the surface of intaglio 1 by chemical absorption, and second releasing layer 3 is formed on the first releasing layer by physical adsorption. This structure allows intaglio 1 to have stable releasing ability, thereby improving the printing yield. In addition, because second releasing layer 3 can be added as required, the printing yield is not decreased even when the intaglio is repeatedly used for printing. Furthermore, the dual releasing layer structure can improve durability of the releasing ability of intaglio 1. As a result, patterns for electronic components can be formed on substrates at an excellent yield.

Abstract: A lithographic imaging member is prepared by applying an ink jetable fluid to a fluid-receiving element that includes a clay-containing fluid-receiving surface layer. This layer also includes a water-soluble binder and a silane hardening agent. The applied fluid is an aqueous solution of a silane having multiple hydroxy, alkoxy or acetoxy groups that is readily absorbed in the clay-containing surface, and dried to provide an oleophilic image.

Abstract: A fluid dampening system for a printing machine has a frame and a printing roll on the frame for holding a circular printing plate. A fluid reservoir is on the frame and a fountain roll is on the frame and is partially immersed in the fluid reservoir. A second roll is on the frame and is normally in surface contact with the fountain roll. A third roll is on the frame and is normally in surface contact with the fountain roll. A plurality of additional rolls are on the frame sequentially in surface contact with each other and with the third roll and the printing roll so that when all of the aforesaid rolls are rotated and in surface contact with each other, fluid will be transferred from the surface of the fountain roll to the surface of the third roll and sequentially on the surface of the additional rolls to the surface of the printing roll.

Abstract: The invention relates to a tape holding case housing a supply of image receiving tape and includes an angled surface to bend the surface of the tape approximately 90°, the angled surface being provided upstream of the printing position of the tape. The tape holding case also includes a casing that is designed to attach the tape holding case to an identically shaped tape holding case.