Abstract: A shallow relief non-bottoming printing plate is disclosed having a polymerized layer of less than about 0.020 inch and which includes a plurality of dispersed particles sufficient to create small protuberances in non-image or background areas to prevent bottoming. Photopolymerizable elements, as well as processing techniques, are also disclosed for making such printing plates.

Abstract: A cushioned printing plate laminate comprising a face layer of plain gum compound on the front of which are formed raised printing elements, and a cushioned layer of foamed gum compound on the back of the face layer. The laminate may include a face layer and a cushion layer simultaneously cured along with the cushion layer being foamed as an incident to the curing.

Abstract: An improved gravure printing method and apparatus is disclosed which is particularly useful in gravure printing operations which involve both tonal work and line work. The tonal work image on the gravure printing surface is engraved to form a multiplicity of varying depth ink wells separated by a grid of doctor-blade supports spaced to provide a high degree of resolution of the tonal work. The line work image of the gravure printing surface is engraved to form a multiplicity of ink wells all similar in depth and shallower in depth than at least some of the ink wells in the tonal work. These ink wells are separated by a grid of doctor-blade supports spaced with a centerline-to-centerline spacing substantially greater than the spacing of the doctor-blade supports for the tonal work to provide only a small number of intersections between the doctor-blade supports and the edges of the printed line work, thereby improving the continuity and smoothness of the edges of the printed line work.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for effecting sublimation printing of a substrate wherein a matrix comprising the design to be printed is electrostatically charged in a given polarity and then a fine disperse dye powder, oppositely charged, is brought into contact with said matrix wherein the charged matrix attracts the oppositely charged dye particles to effect coating of the matrix with the dye, after which the coated matrix is moved into registry with the substrate to be printed, and specifically in overlying relation with respect to a surface of the substrate that has been coated with a dye receptive coating, after which the matrix is brought into pressurized contact with the coated surface of the substrate to cause sublimation of the dye pattern into said coated substrate surface.

Abstract: A method of printing a raised ink image on a substrate for use as a hectographic or spirit duplicating master or the like involving forming a printing plate having a raised image area thereon, the latter having a plurality of regularly spaced, screen-like depressions therein for increasing the amount of the ink carried by the raised image area. The plate is mounted on the plate roll of a rotary press and ink is applied to the plate. The plate and the sustrate are then brought into printing engagement with one another and a raised ink image is transferred to the substrate.Apparatus for carrying out the above-described method and details of the printing plate are also disclosed.

Abstract: A pattern plate for use in printing has an etched sheet of magnesium laminated to a self-supporting, dimensionally stable, all-plastic base structure of adhesive ethylene/carboxylic acid copolymer layer and poly(ethylene terephthalate) sheet. The magnesium sheet is preferably of minimal thickness corresponding to the maximum depth of etch, e.g. 30 mils, and is bonded to the adhesive ethylene/carboxylic acid copolymer layer, e.g. ethylene/acrylic acid copolymer layer, which is bonded to the poly(ethylene terephthalate) sheet.

Abstract: Polymers, such as butadiene copolymers and isoprene copolymers, having pendant unsaturated tetra-aliphatic quaternary nitrogen moieties, such as those derived from acrylic esters and acrylamides are useful as water-soluble or inherently water-dispersible curable coatings such as protective and/or decorative coatings, paper coatings, textile fiber coatings, printing plates, photo-curable imagable materials useful as photo-resists, lithographic plates, etc., and the like. Such coatings are curable with light, with high energy radiation and with heat in the presence of free radical catalysts to form insoluble, crosslinked coatings.

Abstract: A printing plate comprising a support, reliefs formed thereon as an image area, and from about 20 to about 4,000/cm.sup.2 small projections thereon in non-image areas, the height of the reliefs being at least 0.05 mm larger than that of the small projections, and a method for making a printing plate which comprises:A. superimposing a photosensitive resin layer having a thickness of at least 0.06 mm on a support, which is at least semi-transparent to actinic light, in intimate contact therewith;B. exposing the resulting assembly to actinic light through an image-bearing transparency from the side of the photosensitive resin layer;C. exposing the assembly to actinic light through a dot-image-bearing transparency having a transparent halftone dot area in a proportion of 1 to 40% from the side of the support to thereby form reliefs on the support, as image areas, and a number of small projections having a height of at least 0.

Abstract: The construction of a flexographic printing mat specially shaped to enhance its snug and continued engagement over its full length to a magnetic base cylinder. The flexographic printing mat is made of shim stock steel and is preformed with inverted V-shapes lying parallel to and closely adjacent both of its ends to form closely spaced apart cylinder engaging lines at each end of the mat. The spaced apart line contacts of the mat with the magnetic cylinder act to concentrate the gripping power of the cylinder to securely hold the mat and including its leading and trailing ends to the cylinder.

Abstract: A novel printing master and method for producing the same as disclosed, which comprises coating a suitable substrate with an uncured silicone gum, followed by the adherence thereto of a particulate image pattern. Resultant curing of the gum converts the gum to a tough elastomeric ink releasable film, thereby fixing the integral particles to the film while in intimate contact therewith. After curing, substantially all of the deposited particles are removed from the elastomer film, thereby revealing a "porous" image in the ink releasable film, of surprising ink receptive characteristics. The porous image thus is formed by contact of the integral particles of varying geometric shapes and sizes with the uncured silicone gum, thereby creating "impressions" of the particles in the gum which are then permanently stabilized in the gum by curing of the gum to an elastomeric film.

Abstract: A printing process is provided whereby a resilient image having a relief of from about 4 to 50 microns is formed on the surface of a hard, non-resilient substrate to form a printing member. The printing member is then contacted with a gravure donor member having disposed therein a liquid developer wherein said developer resides within cells from about 4 to 50 microns below the surface of the contact plane at a depth such that the developer contacts the image but not the non-imaged areas of the master so that said contacting selectively transfers said developer to said resilient image but not to the non-imaged areas, and the printing member is then contacted with a receiver sheet to transfer the developed image.

Abstract: A process for preparing a resilient foamed imaged printing master is provided. The process comprises depositing a conversion imaging fluid in image configuration on a printing master, said conversion fluid comprising an expandable polymer containing an encapsulated blowing agent and activating said blowing agent to expand said polymer and form a resilient foamed developed image.

Abstract: An engraving blanket which comprises an engraveable layer of live resilient rubber material vulcanized at one face to a face of a base layer of nonhard, nonresilient rubber material. Talcum powder is evenly dispersed between the vulcanized faces of the two layers to control the degree of adhesion between the two. This permits selected portions of the engraveable layer to be cut out and stripped from the base layer to produce a printing design and yet provides sufficient adhesion to keep the layers together during use of the blanket.

Abstract: The invention relates to relief plates for flexographic printing comprising a relatively soft elastomeric base (U) having a modulus of elasticity of from 10 to 200 kg/cm.sup.2 and a thickness of from 0.5 to 6 mm and, firmly bonded thereto, a thin, relatively hard, difficultly soluble intermediate layer Z having a modulus of elasticity of from 1 .times. 10.sup.3 to 2.1 .times. 10.sup.6 kg/cm.sup.2 and a thickness of from 5 to 500 .mu. and, firmly bonded to said intermediate layer Z, a relief layer P' consisting of a photocrosslinked elastomeric mixture having a modulus of elasticity of from 30 to 2000 kg/cm.sup.2 and a thickness of from 200 to 300 .mu., the modulus of elasticity of the photocrosslinked relief layer P' being the same as or higher than that of the base U and the neutral surface of the relief plate lying in or near the intermediate layer Z. The invention also relates to photosensitive laminates for the production of such plates.

Abstract: An intaglio printing process utilizing a printing plate consisting of a precise engraving element which is adapted from a gravure printing plate. This printing plate is applied on the plate cylinder and printed with very stiff and viscous ink as used for engraving intaglio printing. Ink of various colors may be applied separately on different portions of the gravure plate surface by rollers. After inking, surplus ink can be wiped of by a wiping roller. Printing paper is introduced between the plate cylinder and impression cylinder for printing.

Abstract: A printing plate and saddle are provided for a press roll wherein the printing plate, at each end, has a series of sheer-forms which define slits and indented formations, the slit-edge of the formation being engageable with radial face means on the saddle which are tensioned apart, there being keeper blades or elements overhanging the leading and trailing edges of the plate. Preferably, a blade release member is associated with at least one of the keeper blades to facilitate installation and removal of the plate.

Abstract: A support for use in preparing a printing plate using a liquid photosensitive resin. The support includes a flexible self-supporting base plate and an adhesive layer thereon for applying a layer of a photosensitive resin. The adhesive layer is a layer of a cross-linked polyester-polyurethane resin formed by reacting (A) a linear polyester-polyurethane resin with (B) a polyfunctional isocyanate on the surface of the base plate.This invention relates to a flexible support for use in preparing a printing plate consisting of the support and a layer of a liquid photosensitive resin applied in situ to the support and solidified upon exposure, especially to a support including an adhesive layer for firmly bonding the solidified photosensitive resin layer to the support.