Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for drying flexible tubular casings by microwaves, in particular for drying coated or uncoated food casings, and also to the use of microwaves for drying such casings. In addition, the invention relates to an integrated system for producing and drying flexible tubular casings by microwaves.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to further improve the ablation precision in terms of structuring the depressions of the basic grid of a gravure printing form and the printing behaviour of the depressions of a basic grid of an erasable and re-usable gravure printing form, by increasing the uniformity of the base of said depressions. To achieve this, the filler material that fills the erasable, re-usable printing gravure form is removed using laser beams, whose intensity profile over the cross-section of the laser beam corresponds to a pillbox profile.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for gravure painting using an enable and re-usable printing form. The starting point of said method is a gravure printing form comprising a basic grid that is designed for the maximum quality of ink that is transferred, said grid being uniformly filled in a filling process, a pattern being created by thermal ablation and the gravure printing form being erased after the printing process. The aim of the invention is to provide a method and device with which the complete removal of the filler material can be performed in a justifiable time in a reliable manner, even outside the printing press. To achieve this, the filler material and the residual ink is removed by a separate laser beam from that of the image-point transfer device.

Abstract: To develop a novel gravure printing form, which is simple to produce and is highly suitable with respect to a variation of formats, the invention discloses the use of a steel carrier sleeve in the form of a master sleeve. The initial form of said sleeve is a rectangular plate with a wall thickness of between 0.1 mm and 0.4 mm, which is given the desired hollow cylindrical form by bending, the opposing edges of the plate being permanently joined together, in particular by welding. A copper gravure layer is applied to the outer surface of the plate, a basic grid being etched into the copper gravure layer by means of a laser gravure process. The basic grid is then uniformly filled with a liquefiable substance to form the gravure printing form and the filler material is removed from the depressions of the basic grid to produce the required image.

Abstract: A printing form, specifically a re-imageable and erasable printing form, is disclosed. The printing form has an inner support layer providing mechanical stabilization, an outer dielectric functional layer serving to transfer printing ink, and conductive surface elements disposed between the support layer and the dielectric functional layer, specifically configured as electrodes, to which electrical voltages can be applied to change the surface-energy of the dielectric functional layer by area such that, depending on the voltages applied to the conductive surface elements, first ink-bearing areas and second non ink-bearing areas can be formed on the dielectric functional layer.

Abstract: A printing machine that has a plurality of form cylinders and in which an imaging device images at least two of the form cylinders. The imaging device is arranged in stationary fashion. Laser pulses are deflected onto the form cylinders by light diversion components.

Abstract: A method of producing a print, especially a multicolor print, especially for proof purposes, by controlled heating, in accordance with an image, of a surface layer one or more laser beams from a laser imaging unit and by applying the selected surface elements to a substrate. For the purpose of imaging the substrate, applied to a substrate cylinder, use is made of a tape-like transfer tape with a width which is small in relation to the substrate width, so that the gas produced during the laser imaging operation can escape to a sufficient extent because of the substrate and transfer tape being placed opposite each other over a small area. During the imaging operation this transfer tape is guided continuously through between the substrate and the laser beam or beams, close to the substrate surface, and is moved over the substrate width simultaneously and in synchronism with the movement of the laser imaging unit.

Abstract: A printing plate which can be repeatedly directly provided with an image and erased and is suitable for a wet offset printing method. The printing plate has a smooth and pore-free surface which is hydrophilic or can be hydrophilized after being provided with an image. The printing plate contains no strong microdipoles and consists of a ceramic, a glass or a metal, in particular of a metal alloy. An erasing and hydrophilizing apparatus preferably integrated in the printing press, repeatedly erases and prepares, i.e. rehydrophilizes, the printing plate for a further image-providing and printing process.

Abstract: A printing plate which can be repeatedly directly provided with an image and erased and is suitable for a wet offset printing method. The printing plate has a smooth and pore-free surface which is hydrophilic or can be hydrophilized after being provided with an image. The printing plate contains no strong microdipoles and consists of a ceramic, a glass or a metal, in particular of a metal alloy. An erasing and hydrophilizing apparatus preferably integrated in the printing press, repeatedly erases and prepares, i.e. rehydrophilizes, the printing plate for a further image-providing and printing process.

Abstract: A printing plate which can be repeatedly directly provided with an image and erased and is suitable for a wet offset printing method. The printing plate has a smooth and pore-free surface which is hydrophilic or can be hydrophilized after being provided with an image. The printing plate contains no strong microdipoles and consists of a ceramic, a glass or a metal, in particular of a metal alloy. An erasing and hydrophilizing apparatus preferably integrated in the printing press, repeatedly erases and prepares, i.e. rehydrophilizes, the printing plate for a further image-providing and printing process.

Abstract: The printing apparatus with a forme cylinder which has in its interior a first roller for winding off a printing foil which can be pulled onto the outer surface of the forme cylinder, and a second roller for winding up the printing foil which has been pulled onto the outer surface of the forme cylinder. The forme cylinder has in its outer surface a single opening for a recess into the interior of the forme cylinder. The first roller and the second roller are together arranged in the recess. The printing foil can be wound from the first roller onto the outer surface of the forme cylinder and from the outer surface onto the second roller.

Abstract: To remove hydrophobic particles from the surface of a hydrophilic printing plate, particularly when the printing plate is used in offset printing, an ionized reactive gas is conducted to the surface of the printing plate, and applied thereto, to cause the hydrophobic particles to form volatile reaction products, which are then removed by suction. The gas can be generated either in a burner, preferably supplied with an oxygen/hydrogen mixture, emitted from nozzles spaced between 10 to 50 mm from the printing plate, in which the printing plate and nozzle are relatively moved at a rate of about 20 mm/sec; or, alternatively, the ionized gas is generated in form of a plasma by a plasma generator, for example a magnetron, operating at 2.45 GHz, which plasma is conducted to the surface of the printing plate in a reaction chamber which is physically sealed with respect to the printing plate, so that the reaction with the hydrophobic particles can there occur.

Abstract: To provide an electrically controllable printing form, on which the printing image is retained even upon repeated application of printing toner or printing ink formed of toner suspended in a carrier liquid, the printing form (10) has a surface layer (12) of ferroelectric material or, if a gravure form (40), the cells (31) have a bottom (32) of ferroelectric material. The form is programmed under control of a control unit (13, 13') by an electrode (14, 14') which selectively polarizes the ferroelectric material. Upon application of electrically charged toner or ink, the ink or toner particles which are charged oppositely to the polarization of the ferroelectric layer or bottom will be retained, the equally charged particles repelled, so that, by selective positive or negative polarization, two-color printing can be effected at one pass of a printing substrate over the form.

Abstract: To apply a printed image on a printing form, a transfer tape is passed under a recording head, the transfer tape receiving, upon application of energy to the recording head, substance particles which change the surface of the printing form to have, respectively, ink accepting and ink repellent surface areas or, respectively, to fill the cells of a gravure cylinder, the transfer tape then being applied against the printing form and the substance particles therefrom being transferred to the printing form under influence of heat, or other energy, e.g. electrostatic or electromagnetic. Recording on the transfer tape, under control of an electronic control unit, can be carried out on a point-by-point or line-by-line basis at a recording speed which is slow with respect to the speed of operation of the reproducing head applying the substance particles to the printed form, so that information can be stored on the tape while a previously prepared printing form can print on the substrate.

Abstract: To prevent engagement of a thermo printing head (23), with a thermo transfer tape (22) directly against a plate cylinder having an unyielding surface, an auxiliary transfer element in ribbon, tape or belt form (24, 24', 35) is provided, which is engaged against the thermo tape, ribbon or belt (22) by a counter roller (25) of yielding material or have a yielding surface; thermally affectable material is transferred from the thermo transfer tape in accordance with image information to be printed on the auxiliary tape (24, 24') for transfer to the plate cylinder or material which is not to print is transferred on the auxiliary tape, and the remainder of the material is transferred from the thermo transfer tape on the tape cylinder (10).

Abstract: The invention relates to a surface printing press with a printed image carrier having an image thereon corresponding to the matter to be printed on paper or the like. The image on the printed image carrier is in the form of hydrophilic and hydrophobic areas. In order to be able to modify the extents and positions of these areas on the press directly and thus reduce press idle times the printed image carrier is made of a material such as polymer whose said areas may be changed over dotwise between the said hydrophilic and hydrophobic conditions by electrical effects taking place in an electrochemical process with one electrode being formed by the plate cylinder and the counter-electrode being formed by a roller bearinged for rotation in an electrolyte container. One of the two electrodes is in the form of matrix and is operated so as to produce a pattern of dots.

Abstract: Printing image carriers for surface printing which have a water accepting surface adapted to have ink accepting surface elements transferred to it by the action of heat and pressure. In order to ensure reliable transfer of such layers keeping to precisely delimited outlines the printing image carrier is of a material which is thermally insulating and whose surface accepts water. The result is the avoidance of excessively rapid conduction away of the heat input from a pressing head which would otherwise be likely to interfere with a precisely delimited transfer of an oleophilic layer or to generally prevent the application of such a layer.

Abstract: For modifying the printing image on a printing image carrier within a printing press the printing image carrier is in the form of a material with ferroelectric properties. Electrodes with or without heat sources are used to delete and write matter on the printing image carrier by polarizing and depolarizing the respective parts of the printing image carrier or the ferroelectric material. The depolarized material is hydrophobic so that it accepts the printing ink whereas the polarized parts are hydrophilic and accept water.