Abstract: The present invention relates to a printing plate, a fabricating method thereof, a regenerating method of a printing plate and a printing press. A printing plate, on which an image is formed by light having a wavelength equal to or shorter than that of visible light and which is able to be made ready for printing without a wet development process and to be regenerated for reuse, includes: a substrate (1); a photosensitive layer (3), formed on a surface of said substrate (1) and including a photocatalyst that responds to light having a wavelength equal to or shorter than that of visible light; and an intermediate layer (2), interposed between said substrate (1) and said photosensitive layer (3) and including a semiconductor or an electric conductor.

Abstract: A printing plate has a photosensitive layer (3) including a photocatalyst formed on a strip-shaped windable substrate (1) with or without another layer (2) interposed so that the printing plate is wound into a roll shape. An unused portion is extracted from the printing plate roll (8A) each time of replacement of a printing plate and an image can be formed on the unused portion whereupon printing plate replacement is realized without regenerating of the printing plate.

Abstract: A method for making a printing plate including a step of forming a hydrophobic image area on at least a part of a hydrophilic surface of a plate. The plate surface contains a photocatalyst and the image area is formed by using an organic compound which is decomposed and removed by the irradiation of light having a higher energy than the band gap energy of the photocatalyst.

Abstract: A layered formation, possibly used as a printing plate that is to be mounted to a printing press when performing printing, has a photocatalystic layer including a photocatalyst so that the surface of the photocatalyst layer is rapidly hydrophilized by irradiating with light having a lower irradiating energy. The layered formation or a printing plate includes an intermediate layer having two or more kinds of oxide semiconductors or a solid acid between a substrate and the photocatalyst layer.

Abstract: A printing press, and an apparatus and a process for regenerating a printing plate can repetitiously reuse the same printing plate and shorten time for decomposition of image areas formed by a hydrophobic organic compound under irradiation with activating light to delete the image areas. A process for regenerating a printing plate including a photosensitive layer, formed on the surface of a substrate, having a photocatalyst exhibits hydrophilicity responsive to activating light having energy higher than photocatalyst's a band-gap energy, and one or more hydrophobic image areas, formed on the surface of the photosensitive layer and operable to hold ink, comprises the steps of: removing ink remaining on the printing plate; hydrophilizing the surface of the printing plate by irradiating with the activating light and by heating the printing plate to delete the hydrophobic image areas; and applying an organic compound onto the printing plate.

Abstract: A method for making a printing plate including a step of forming a hydrophobic image area on at least a part of a hydrophilic surface of a plate. The plate surface contains a photocatalyst and the image area is formed by using an organic compound which is decomposed and removed by the irradiation of light having a higher energy than the band gap energy of the photocatalyst.

Abstract: A method for making a reusable printing plate in which a hydrophobic image area is formed on a hydrophilic plate surface containing a photocatalyst. The method includes the steps of carrying out a hydrophobic agent application process in which a solution containing an organic compound having a property of reacting with the plate surface by a heating process and a property of being decomposed by the action of the photocatalyst when irradiated by light having a higher energy than a band gap energy of the photocatalyst is applied on the plate surface; carrying out an image area formation process in which a part of the plate surface is subjected to a heating process to form a hydrophobic image area; and carrying out a non-image area formation process in which the organic compound applied to an area other than the hydrophobic image area on the plate surface is removed.

Abstract: A method for making a printing plate including a step of forming a hydrophobic image area on at least a part of a hydrophilic surface of a plate. The plate surface contains a photocatalyst and the image area is formed by using an organic compound which is decomposed and removed by the irradiation of light having a higher energy than the band gap energy of the photocatalyst.

Abstract: A coating fluid for printing plates which can be suitably used to make printing plates that permit images to be written in response to input digital data and that can be easily regenerated and reused. This coating fluid for printing plates comprises at least a carrier liquid, thermoplastic resin particles and an IR absorber, and the IR absorber has a decomposition starting temperature higher than the melt starting temperature of the thermoplastic resin particles.

Abstract: Disclosed are a printing plate precursor, a fabrication process of the printing plate precursor, a fabrication process of a printing plate, a regeneration process of the printing plate, a printing press, and a coating formulation for the printing plate precursor. According to the present invention, a printing plate can be fabricated directly from digital data, and sufficient image quality can be obtained without a developing step, i.e., a developer. To permit repeated use of the precursor, the precursor has a surface, which contains a photocatalyst and is capable of showing hydrophilicity when exposed to activating light having energy higher than band gap energy of the photocatalyst.

Abstract: A fine particle dispersion consisting essentially of a carrier liquid and fine particles dispersed in the carrier liquid. The fine particles consist essentially of resin or both resin and a coloring material, and have an average particle diameter falling within a range of between 0.5 &mgr;m and 20 &mgr;m. Inorganic fine particles are attached to or contained in mainly the surface layer of the fine particle.

Abstract: A method for making a reusable printing plate in which a hydrophobic image area is formed on a hydrophilic plate surface containing a photocatalyst. The method includes the steps of carrying out a hydrophobic agent application process in which a solution containing an organic compound having a property of reacting with the plate surface by a heating process and a property of being decomposed by the action of the photocatalyst when irradiated by light having a higher energy than a band gap energy of the photocatalyst is applied on the plate surface; carrying out an image area formation process in which a part of the plate surface is subjected to a heating process to form a hydrophobic image area; and carrying out a non-image area formation process in which the organic compound applied to an area other than the hydrophobic image area on the plate surface is removed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid toner composition prepared by dispersing toner particles consisting essentially of a colorant and a resin in a carrier liquid, the resultant composition forming an electrorheological fluid.

Abstract: A method for making a printing plate including a step of forming a hydrophobic image area on at least a part of a hydrophilic surface of a plate. The plate surface contains a photocatalyst and the image area is formed by using an organic compound which is decomposed and removed by the irradiation of light having a higher energy than the band gap energy of the photocatalyst.

Abstract: A printer and a restoration method for a printing plate which can be reused, while coping with digitization of printing processes is provided. On a substrate serving as a hydrophilic surface mounted beforehand onto a plate cylinder, a toner image portion formed on the surface of a photosensitive material is adhered and fixed directly or via an intermediate body to thereby form an image area. In thus way, the substrate is divided into a hydrophobic image area having at least a 50° or higher contact angle with water and a non-image area having an ink repulsion property, to thereby form a printing plate. After completion of printing, the ink and wetting solution adhered to the surface of the printing plate are cleaned by a cleaning apparatus, and image area on the surface of the printing plate is then removed by a chemical treatment solution supply roller, to thereby restore the printing plate to the initial condition so that this can be reused.

Abstract: A pigment composition for liquid toner comprising a carbon black, a resin and non-aqueous solvent, the carbon black and the resin being dissolved and dispersed in the non-aqueous solvent, and any one of (1) carbon black having a grit content of not more than 10 ppm and an ash content of not more than 0.1% by weight, (2) such carbon black that a value obtained by dividing a total amount of oxygen calculated from a composition of volatile components in carbon black at 1,500.degree. C. by a specific surface area thereof, lies in the range of 0.20 to 0.40 mg/m.sup.2, and (3) such carbon black that when extracted with monochlorobenzene, the content of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in the extract is not more than 30 ppm, being used as the carbon black. The composition is produced by kneading the pigment and the resin together, freeze-pulverizing the mixture and then dissolving and dispersing the resultant particles in the non-aqueous solvent.

Abstract: To provide an electrophotographic printer which can satisfy regulations for exhaust gas emission easily, a printer is provided with a circulation line for taking out and returning gas generated in a casing of the printer, and a heat exchanger, for cooling the gas and for recovering solvent, is provided midway on the circulation line. The heat exchanger lowers a concentration of the gas. A detection sensor detects a temperature and humidity of the gas in the casing and a heater, provided downstream of the heat exchanger, adjusts a humidity of the gas which is then returned into the casing, upon receiving an output of the detection sensor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid toner composition, comprising an ethylene-based copolymer resin, an ethylene-based copolymer resin, an electrically insulating liquid material, and a surfactant represented by general formula given below ##STR1## where R is an alkyl group or an alkylaryl group, n, which represents ad adduct ethyleneoxide mole number, is an integer of 4 to 13, and R' is H or R(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n group.