Abstract: A system for printing an image, preferably a multicolor halftone image, onto at least one non-planar area of a surface of an object, for example a section of a body of a vehicle, includes an inkjet print head having nozzles, a robot, preferably an articulated robot, creating a primary movement, the primary movement including at least two printing paths of the inkjet print head being lateral to each other, and a device creating a secondary movement, the secondary movement being substantially perpendicular to the primary movement and causing the printing paths to laterally adjoin each other. As a result, undesired streaks between the printing paths may advantageously be reduced or prevented.

Abstract: A method for drying printing ink containing an inactive active substance enclosed before drying in a reaction-inhibited form in a transport substance, for accelerating the drying of the printing ink on a print medium, includes applying the printing ink to a print medium being dried at a reaction site by supplying energy to the printing ink, and releasing the active substance by an energy supply from the transport substance at the reaction site for activation. A printing ink includes an active substance enclosed before drying in a reaction-inhibited form in a transport substance, for accelerating the drying of the printing ink on a print medium. The active substance is releasable during the drying by an energy supply from the transport substance at the reaction site.

Abstract: A printing method in a printing press includes zonally metering a printing ink at a first viscosity with a metering device and transferring the printing ink at a second viscosity with a printing form cylinder, in which the second viscosity is greater than the first viscosity. An offset printing unit for implementing the method is also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for printing surfaces, for example of three-dimensionally shaped vehicle body parts, includes movable print heads having actuable, preferably inkjet, nozzles, and at least one printing position and one parking position into which the print heads can be moved or rotated. At least one first and one second print head have mutually different nozzle configurations, sizes or shapes. In a first mode, the first print head is in a printing position and the second print head is in a parking position, and in a second mode, the first print head is in a parking position and the second print head is in a printing position. The print heads can be on a rotation apparatus which can be on a robot arm. Surfaces of any shape, having curvatures and/or undercuts, can be printed in one or multiple colors (in image terms). A system having the apparatus is also provided.

Abstract: In a method for re-imaging a printing form that has been used for printing in a prior printing process a substrate of the printing form is cleaned globally of ink or varnish and the substrate is treated abrasively globally in order to erase a preceding printing image. The substrate to be imaged with a new printing image is treated locally in image regions with a pulsed laser beam and, in the process, a nanoscopic and hydrophobic surface structure is produced locally. The substrate is treated globally with a hydrophilicity intensifier, as a result of which the substrate becomes hydrophilic locally in the previously hydrophobic image regions. An apparatus has a corresponding erasing unit and an imaging unit with a femtosecond laser.

Abstract: A process for the permanent multicolor painting of a product, e.g. a body part, includes defining a first region, a first location within the first region and a second location within the first region but different from the first location, on the surface of the product. The surface is provided with a first release layer, at least in the first region and the first release layer is exposed to electromagnetic radiation, e.g. IR radiation, at the first location but not at the second location. The surface is provided with a first layer of paint at least at the first location. The first layer of paint is fixed, at least at the first location. Alternatively, the first release layer is applied at least at the second location but not at the first location, so that an exposure to electromagnetic energy at the first location can be omitted.

Abstract: A method for drying a printing ink (114) on a printing substrate (14) in a printing press (30), and a printing press (30). The printing substrate (14) is moved along a path (16) through the printing press (30) and printed on by at least one printing ink (114) at a first position (18) of the path (16). At a second position (124) of the path (16), in a conditioning apparatus, a treatment agent (118) is applied to the printing substrate (14) to accelerate the drying of the printing ink (114) on the printing substrate (14) and includes, in particular, an infrared absorber which has an absorption wavelength that is essentially resonant to the wavelength of the light (12) of the radiant energy source (10). The printing substrate (14) may be dried by the action of radiant energy at a chronologically later point in time, at at least one third position (116) of the path (16), by a drying device, in particular by a narrow-band radiant energy source (10).

Abstract: A method for drying printing ink containing an inactive active substance enclosed before drying in a reaction-inhibited form in a transport substance, for accelerating the drying of the printing ink on a print medium, includes applying the printing ink to a print medium being dried at a reaction site by supplying energy to the printing ink, and releasing the active substance by an energy supply from the transport substance at the reaction site for activation. A printing ink includes an active substance enclosed before drying in a reaction-inhibited form in a transport substance, for accelerating the drying of the printing ink on a print medium. The active substance is releasable during the drying by an energy supply from the transport substance at the reaction site.

Abstract: A method for drying a printing ink (114) on a printing substrate (14) in a printing press (30), and a printing press (30). The printing substrate (14) is moved along a path (16) through the printing press (30) and printed on by at least one printing ink (114) at a first position (18) of the path (16). At a second position (124) of the path (16), in a conditioning apparatus, a treatment agent (118) is applied to the printing substrate (14) to accelerate the drying of the printing ink (114) on the printing substrate (14) and includes, in particular, an infrared absorber which has an absorption wavelength that is essentially resonant to the wavelength of the light (12) of the radiant energy source (10). The printing substrate (14) may be dried by the action of radiant energy at a chronologically later point in time, at at least one third position (116) of the path (16), by a drying device, in particular by a narrow-band radiant energy source (10).

Abstract: A device for supplying radiant energy onto a printing substrate (14), including at least one radiant energy source (10) whose light (12) impinges on the printing substrate (14) on the path (16) of the printing substrate (14) through a printing press at a position (116) downstream of at least one printing nip (18) in a printing unit. The radiant energy source (10) emits light (12) having a peak-to-valley homogeneity of less than 15% in a direction transverse to the direction of the path (16) of the printing substrate (14).

Abstract: A method for applying printing ink to a printing material, includes producing ink-conducting and ink-repelling areas on an at least approximately flat surface. A plurality of areas with defined color acceptor properties are provided to produce the ink-conducting areas on the surface. The surface is brought into contact with color particles, including a subgroup of dyes, pigments, colored molecules or colored particles. At least one of the subgroups colored molecules and pigments has surface acceptor properties corresponding to the color acceptor properties of the areas. The at least one subgroup colored molecules and pigments is deposited on the areas of defined color acceptor properties of the surface corresponding to the surface acceptor property. The at least one deposited subgroup colored molecules and pigments is transferred from the surface to a printing material. A printing form, an inking unit and a printing machine are also provided.

Abstract: A method for drying a printing ink (114) on a printing substrate (14) in a printing press (40), one printing ink (114) having one color pigment being used to print on the printing substrate (14) at one position (18) of a path (16) along which the printing substrate is conveyed through the printing press (40), and, at a chronologically later point in time, at one further position (116) of the path (16), the printing substrate (14) being illuminated with light (12) from a laser light source (10) having a wavelength of between 350 nm and 700 nm, the wavelength being resonant to an absorption wavelength of the color pigment of the printing ink (114). A print unit (30) for implementing the method is described which has a laser light source (10) which emits light (12) of a wavelength of between 350 nm and 700 nm.

Abstract: A device for supplying radiant energy of a wavelength in the near infrared onto a printing substrate (14) in a planographic printing press, including at least one radiant energy source (10) whose light (12) impinges on the printing substrate (14) on the path (16) of the printing substrate (14) through the printing press at a position (116) downstream of at least one printing nip (18) in a printing unit is described which has the feature that the radiant energy source (10) emits light (12) only in a narrow band, the wavelength of the light being non-resonant to absorption wavelengths of water and preferably being between 700.00 nm and 2500.00 run. Also disclosed is a method for supplying radiant energy. By supplying energy in this frequency range while avoiding absorption resonances of water, an unwanted drying or unnecessary heating of the printing substrate are advantageously reduced while providing energy to the printing ink for its particular drying process.

Abstract: A method for drying a printing ink (114) on a printing substrate (14) in a printing press (30), and a printing press (30). The printing substrate (14) is moved along a path (16) through the printing press (30) and printed on by at least one printing ink (114) at a first position (18) of the path (16). At a second position (124) of the path (16), in a conditioning apparatus, a treatment agent (118) is applied to the printing substrate (14) to accelerate the drying of the printing ink (114) on the printing substrate (14) and includes, in particular, an infrared absorber which has an absorption wavelength that is essentially resonant to the wavelength of the light (12) of the radiant energy source (10). The printing substrate (14) may be dried by the action of radiant energy at a chronologically later point in time, at at least one third position (116) of the path (16), by a drying device, in particular by a narrow-band radiant energy source (10).

Abstract: A method for drying a printing ink (114) on a printing substrate (14) in a printing press (40), one printing ink (114) having one color pigment being used to print on the printing substrate (14) at one position (18) of a path (16) along which the printing substrate is conveyed through the printing press (40), and, at a chronologically later point in time, at one further position (116) of the path (16), the printing substrate (14) being illuminated with light (12) from a laser light source (10) having a wavelength of between 350 nm and 700 nm, the wavelength being resonant to an absorption wavelength of the color pigment of the printing ink (114). A print unit (30) for implementing the method is described which has a laser light source (10) which emits light (12) of a wavelength of between 350 nm and 700 nm.

Abstract: A device for supplying radiant energy of a wavelength in the near infrared onto a printing substrate (14) in a planographic printing press, including at least one radiant energy source (10) whose light (12) impinges on the printing substrate (14) on the path (16) of the printing substrate (14) through the printing press at a position (116) downstream of at least one printing nip (18) in a printing unit is described which has the feature that the radiant energy source (10) emits light (12) only in a narrow band, the wavelength of the light being non-resonant to absorption wavelengths of water and preferably being between 700.00 nm and 2500,00 run. Also disclosed is a method for supplying radiant energy. By supplying energy in this frequency range while avoiding absorption resonances of water, an unwanted drying or unnecessary heating of the printing substrate are advantageously reduced while providing energy to the printing ink for its particular drying process.

Abstract: A method for applying printing ink to a printing material, includes producing ink-conducting and ink-repelling areas on an at least approximately flat surface. A plurality of areas with defined color acceptor properties are provided to produce the ink-conducting areas on the surface. The surface is brought into contact with color particles, including a subgroup of dyes, pigments, colored molecules or colored particles. At least one of the subgroups colored molecules and pigments has surface acceptor properties corresponding to the color acceptor properties of the areas. The at least one subgroup colored molecules and pigments is deposited on the areas of defined color acceptor properties of the surface corresponding to the surface acceptor property. The at least one deposited subgroup colored molecules and pigments is transferred from the surface to a printing material. A printing form, an inking unit and a printing machine are also provided.