Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for lithographic printing whereby the dampening water input from a non-contact source is conveyed to the printing plate as an admixture in the ink by the inking train of rollers and adjuncts thereof having at least four inked roller nips between a dampening water input receiving roller and each inking form roller, the latter thereby also functioning as dampening form rollers.

Abstract: A direct-to-press imaging system for use in lithographic printing wherein a master-image printing cylinder is used with separate application of ink and water onto its surface to enable repetitive conveyance of image-formatted ink films onto substrates for printing purposes. The imaging system includes a master-image printing cylinder adapted for receiving a hydrohilic coating layer on its surface and a device for laying down a uniform layer of hydrophilic material on the surface of this cylinder. An apparatus is also provided for applying oleophilic materials in image-formatted patterns on top of the layer of hydrophilic material on the master-image printing cylinder to form a printing structure having separate hydrohilic and oleophilic areas of the format to be printed.

Abstract: An ultrasonic printing fluid input apparatus and method for use in a lithographic printing press. The system has a rotatable roller 20 having at least an oleophilic and hydrophobic surface and a source 100 of printing fluid. A metering blade 62 for applying a thin film of printing fluid to the surface of the metering roller 20 has at least one device 63 for imparting ultrasonic vibrations to the metering blade 62 such that a thickness of the thin film of printing fluid is a function of the amplitude of ultrasonic vibrations. A control 65 for varying the amplitude of ultrasonic vibrations is connected to the device 63 for imparting ultrasonic vibrations. A fixed end of the metering blade 62 is attached to a stationary support 42 via a decoupling material 65. An printing fluid removal device 73 is also provided for substantially removing a return printing fluid film on the oleophilic and hydrophobic surface of the metering roller 20.

Abstract: A roller 14 for use with a surface-scraping doctor blade to meter a fluid applied to an outer surface of the roller 14. The roller 14 has the following elements: a substantially cylindrical core 101 having a core surface; a coating 105 of a polymer material 102 on the core surface, the coating 105 having a predetermined thickness and having a predetermined percent by volume of substantially hard wear-resistant particles 103, the coating 105 also having a surface which is the outer surface of the roller 14; a plurality of cells 104 in the coating 105, each of the cells 104 having at least one cell wall oriented substantially perpendicular to the outer surface of the roller 14 and having an open end at the outer surface of the roller 14. A method for the manufacture of the roller 14 and a method for using the roller 14 are disclosed.

Abstract: A direct-to-press imaging system for use in lithographic printing wherein a master-image printing cylinder is used with separate application of ink and water onto its surface to enable repetitive conveyance of image-formatted ink films onto substrates for printing purposes. The imaging system inlcudes a master-image printing cylinder adapted for receiving a hydrophilic coating layer on its surface and a device for laying down a uniform layer of hydrophilic material on the surface of this cylinder. An apparatus is also provided for applying oleophilic materials in image-formatted patterns on top of the layer of hydrophilic material on the master-image printing cylinder to form a printing structure having separate hydrophilic and oleophilic areas of the format to be printed.

Abstract: Method and ultrasonic ink metering system for applying ink to a roller 14 in a printing press; the system comprising: an ink supply 20 containing ink; means 22 for pressurizing said ink in said ink supply 20; at least one ink metering device 10 having an internal passageway 30, said internal passageway 30 having an input 32 connected to said ink supply 20 and having an output 36, said metering device 10 also having a nozzle 34 connected to said output 36 of said internal passageway 30 l; at least one piezoelectric transducer 26 attached to said nozzle 34; and variable means 24 for operating said at least one piezoelectric transducer 34 in a power input range; wherein at least the power input of operation of said at least one piezoelectric transducer 34 determines the quantity of ink applied to the roller 14.

Abstract: A direct-to-press imaging system for use in lithographic printing wherein a master-image printing cylinder is used with separate application of ink and water onto its surface to enable repetitive conveyance of image-formatted ink films onto substrates for printing purposes. The imaging system includes a master-image printing cylinder adapted for receiving a hydrophilic coating layer on its surface and a device for laying down a uniform layer of hydrophilic material on the surface of this cylinder. An apparatus is also provided for applying oleophilic material in image-formatted patterns on top of the layer of hydrophilic material on the master-image printing cylinder to form a printing structure having separate hydrophilic and oleophilic areas of the format to be printed.

Abstract: An inking roller or ink metering roller comprised of a base roller, a substantially continuous hard and wear-resistant microporous ceramic coated layer bonded to the base roller and an interdiffused and immobilized oleophilic and hydrophobic essentially organic polymeric based material affixed to the surfaces and interstices of the microporous layer.

Abstract: An inking roller or ink metering roller comprised of a base roller, a substantially continuous hard and wear-resistant microporous ceramic coated layer bonded to the base roller and an interdiffused and immobilized oleophilic and hydrophobic essentially organic polymeric based material affixed to the surfaces and interstices of the microporous layer.

Abstract: An ultrasonic printing fluid input apparatus and method for use in a keyless lithographic printing press. The system has a rotatable metering roller 20 having at least an olephilic and hydrophobic surface and a source 100 of printing fluid. A metering blade 62 for applying a thin film of printing fluid to the surface of the metering roller 20 has at least one device 63 for imparting ultrasonic vibrations to the metering blade 62 such that a thickness of the thin film of printing fluid is a function of the amplitude of ultrasonic vibrations. A control 65 for varying the amplitude of ultrasonic vibrations is connected to the device 63 for imparting ultrasonic vibrations. A fixed end of the metering blade 62 is attached to a stationary support 42 via a decoupling material 65. A printing fluid removal device 73 is also provided for substantially removing a return printing fluid film on the oleophilic and hydrophobic surface of the metering roller 20.

Abstract: A dampening system for a lithographic printing press is provided in which the source of water is separate from the dampener rollers and all the dampener rollers have surfaces that possess both oleophilic and hydrophobic properties.

Abstract: An inking roller or ink metering roller comprised of a base roller, a substantially continuous hard and wear-resistant microporous ceramic coated layer bonded to the base roller and an interdiffused and immobilized oleophilic and hydrophobic essentially organic polymeric based material affixed to the surfaces and interstices of the microporous layer. The material may be a titanate coupling agent or a silane coupling agent.

Abstract: A system for the continuous and automatic supply of a mixture of ink and dampening fluid to a lithographic press. The ink and dampening fluid are mixed and then pumped to the press fountain. The fluid mixture is sampled downstream from the mixing location and a signal is sent to control feed of ink and dampening fluid to the mixing location to ensure that the desired ratio of ink to water is maintained.

Abstract: An ink metering roller of an engraved aluminum base having a substantially continuous anodized surface layer of aluminum oxide ranging from about 1 to 3 microns in thickness and a layer of copper plate deposited directly onto the anodized surface.

Abstract: A convenient, foldable game board for holding game cards for Bingo and similar games, wherein the cards are temporarily adhered to the board and can be peeled off and removed or replaced by the player. Various means are disclosed for peelably adhering the cards to the board. These include tacky substances applied to the board or applied to the cards, non-tacky liquid substances which migrate to the surface of the board to provide temporary adhesion and non-tacky latently adhesive coacting material pairs.

Abstract: A keyless inking system for lithographic printing presses wherein an ink/water mixture is contained in an ink pan having a tray portion within which an ink roller is mounted whereby ink/water mixture enters the tray portion on one side and is drawn by the ink roller to the other side of the tray in the nip between the ink roller and a celled metering roller thereby delivering an excess of the mixture to the celled metering roller, the balance of the mixture being conveyed over a weir into a reservoir for continuous mixing and recirculation back to the pan, and wherein the excess ink/water mixture on the metering roller is continuously scraped off by means of a doctor blade and wherein the metered portion of the ink/water mixture remaining in the metering roller's cells is delivered in part into the inking train of a more-or-less conventional lithographic printing press.

Abstract: A device for measuring the water content in small samples of an ink-water mixture. The sample is used as the dielectric for a capacitor cell which includes inner and outer concentric electrodes. The ink sample fills a gap between the electrodes, thereby controlling the total capacitance of the cell. The cell is connected as part of an oscillator circuit, the output frequency of which varies in a known manner with the dielectric constant of the ink mixture, which in turn is determined by the mixture's water content. A display is provided which varies with the frequency of the output signal, thereby indicating the sample's water content. A mechanism is provided for conveniently removing the inner electrode so that a sample can be introduced, and then returning the inner electrode so that the sample floods the gap between the two electrodes.

Abstract: A convenient, foldable game board for holding game cards for Bingo and similar games, wherein the cards are temporarily adhered to the board and can be peeled off and removed or replaced by the player. Various means are disclosed for peelably adhering the cards to the board. These include tacky substances applied to the board or applied to the cards, non-tacky liquid substances which migrate to the surface of the board to provide temporary adhesion and non-tacky latently adhesive coacting material pairs.

Abstract: A process of producing a long wearing printing press ink metering roller having an engraved base roller, a layer of hardened electroless nickel on the outer surface of the base roller and a final layer of copper covering the layer of electroless nickel.

Abstract: An ink metering roller comprised of a base roller, a substantially continuous layer of oleophilic/hydrophobic material bonded on the outer surface of the base roller and a continuous outer microporous ceramic layer bonded to the oleophilic/hydrophobic layer, the ceramic layer forming the outermost layer of the base roller.