Abstract: The invention provides a method for printing a material onto a substrate with a relief printing form made from a photosensitive element. The method includes forming an in-situ mask having a line screen resolution equal to or greater than 250 lines per inch on the photosensitive element, exposing the element to actinic radiation through the in-situ mask in an environment having an inert gas and a concentration of oxygen between 190,000 and 100 ppm, and treating the exposed element to form a relief structure having a plurality of raised surfaces with a line screen resolution equal to or greater than 250 lines per inch. Printing is accomplished by applying an imaging material to the plurality of raised surfaces and contacting to transfer the imaging material to the substrate. The method is suitable for printing high resolution graphic images, as well as for forming a uniform layer of imaging material on the substrate.

Abstract: A method of concentrating waste liquid from a plate-making process for a photosensitive planographic printing plate precursor, including: subjecting, in a single development processing bath of an automatic developing machine, a photosensitive planographic printing plate precursor, having a radical polymerizable image recording layer on a support, after exposure simultaneously to a development process and a desensitization process using a developer liquid that contains from 1 to 10% by mass of a surfactant having a phenyl or naphthyl group and an ethylene oxide or propylene oxide group, and has a content of an organic solvent having a boiling point of from 100° C. to 300° C. of 2% by mass or less; evaporatively concentrating plate-making process waste liquid produced by the processes using a waste liquid concentrating apparatus so as to have a volume of from 1/2 to 1/10; and producing reclaimed water by condensing water vapor separated in the evaporative concentration.

Abstract: A printing form is for use in relief printing, in particular flexographic printing. The printing form is configured as a single or multilayered cylindrical layer structure having at least a first layer having a vulcanizate based on at least one elastomer. The first layer is extruded.

Abstract: A pattern transcription apparatus comprises a cliché including a concave portion, a convex portion and a printing stopper, the printing stopper formed in the concave portion; and a blanket, on which a resist material layer is coated, rotatable on the cliché, wherein edges of the printing stopper protruding from the printing stopper to have a height greater than a top surface of the convex portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to an aluminum alloy strip for the production of printing plate carriers comprising water-based coatings, wherein the aluminum alloy strip has a thickness of at most 0.5 mm. The object is to propose an aluminum alloy strip for the production of printing plate carriers comprising at least one water-based coating so that punctiform coating faults are prevented. The object is achieved for an aluminum alloy strip in that the aluminum alloy strip, in a longitudinal polished section prepared using water as a lubricant, has etch figures with a cubic etching, of which the longitudinal extent is at most 15 mm.

Abstract: Printing blankets having non-extensible backing plies such as, for example, metalback blankets, are provided which have a construction that is adapted to be mountable onto blanket cylinders having a gap containing a conventional single reel rod lock-up mechanism. The blankets include first and second relief areas positioned such that when the blankets are mounted onto a blanket cylinder, the relief areas substantially align with the point at which the lead and trail ends of the blankets are inserted into a gap in the blanket cylinder to secure the ends in the lock-up mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention provides a photosensitive letterpress printing original plate provided with a heat sensitive mask layer having high light blocking effect and durability yet prepared as a thin film. A photosensitive letterpress printing original plate including at least (A) a supporting member, (B) a photosensitive resin layer, and (C) a heat sensitive mask layer that are successively laminated, wherein the heat sensitive mask layer (C) contains carbon black and, as a dispersion binder therefor, a butyral resin as well as polyamide containing polar group selected from the group consisting of polyamide containing a tertiary amine group, polyamide containing a quaternary ammonium salt group, polyamide containing an ether group and polyamide containing a sulfonic group.

Abstract: A printing plate making apparatus which scans a recording medium by light beam in a predetermined pixel pitch, thereby engraving a surface of the recording medium to make a printing plate, wherein an upper surface of a convex portion of light power of the light beam engraving all or part of an adjacent region which is adjacent to a convex portion which is to be left in a convex shape on a surface of the recording medium is set to an threshold engraving energy or less, and light power of light beam in a vicinity region in vicinity of outer side of a region defined as the adjacent region is brought higher than light power in the adjacent region.

Abstract: A compressible printing sleeve carrier for use in offset lithography which is formed from a composite fiber-reinforced compressible polymer is provided. The printing sleeve carrier is formed by coating reinforcing filaments with a compressible polymer and winding the filaments around a mandrel to form a hollow cylindrical base, where the first portion of the base adjacent the inner surface contains the wound reinforcing filaments coated with the compressible polymer and the second portion of the base adjacent the outer surface contains the compressible polymer.

Abstract: A printing blanket is provided which may include a printable surface ply, a compressible ply, one or more reinforcing fabric plies, and a non-extensible backing layer comprising a polymeric material. The printing blanket has first and seconds ends which are adapted to be inserted into the gap of a printing blanket cylinder, where each of the first and second ends may include a relief area formed by removing or molding a portion of the blanket or by removing or molding a portion of the non-extensible backing layer such that the blanket may be mounted in a wide variety of printing presses using a number of different lock-up mechanisms.

Abstract: In accordance with at least one exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure provides advantages and alternatives over the prior art by providing a printing blanket containing a printing surface and a multi-ply woven fabric. The multi-ply woven fabric contains at least two woven plies, each of the woven plies having warp yarns in the warp direction and weft yarns in a weft direction perpendicular to the warp direction interwoven with the warp yarns. The woven plies are integrated through combined portions formed by interlacing warps and wefts among different woven plies within the multi-ply woven fabric.

Abstract: An apparatus for curing a printing plate made of or having photo-curable material, a method of curing such a printing plate, and a printing plate cured by the method. One embodiment of the method includes curing a printing plate made of or having photo-curable material thereon. The method includes producing light energy on part of the printing plate using a light exposure unit, including relative motion between the light energy and the plate in a transverse direction at a changeable period of repetition, such that curing can produce printing features on the plate that can be switched to have either flat tops or round tops according to the period of repetition.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for forming an anilox roll. The method includes supplying a cylinder of the anilox roll that has an outer surface to be tooled, supplying at least a laser source and laser engraving the outer surface of the anilox roll with a laser spot that is formed by a laser source for obtaining a tooled anilox roll, and applying an optical guide in the light path of the laser for enabling the laser spot to move reciprocally on the outer surface to be tooled.

Abstract: In a printing press having a transfer cylinder for transferring a freshly printed substrate, an anti-marking device is provided. The anti-marking device comprises a flexible jacket comprised of fluoropolymer to engage the freshly printed substrate as it is transferred over the transfer cylinder, the anti-marking device removably attached with free play to the transfer cylinder. In an embodiment, a base cover is installed on the transfer cylinder between the anti-marking device and the transfer cylinder.

Abstract: A film transfer device guides a transfer film at least partly around a transfer cylinder having a channel. As a result of entrainment of the transfer film by an edge region of the channel during indexing, considerable impairment to web tension occurs, requiring an indexing speed to be reduced so as not to cause damage to the film. In order to increase an indexing frequency, in one region, i.e. more precisely in an edge region of the channel of the transfer cylinder, a coating is provided having such a nature that it at least reduces an adhesion of a rear side of the transfer film to the edge region of the channel, i.e. to the transfer cylinder in this case. In this way, the film slides better off the edge region of the channel and a higher indexing speed can be achieved.

Abstract: A printing device using thermal roll imprinting and a patterned plate according to the present invention includes: a first supply roll continuously supplying a patterning film; a heating roll and a first sub-roll imprinting a first pattern in the patterning film supplied from the first supply roll by pressing the patterning film from both sides thereof to form a patterning plate; an imprinting mask provided with an original pattern to be imprinted to the patterning film and mounted on the surface of the heating roll; a first recovery roll recovering the patterned plate; a rotatable inking roll inking the first pattern imprinted to the patterned plate; a doctor blade forming a second; a blanket roll forming a third pattern; and a second sub-roll forming a fourth pattern by pressing a printing film and printing the third pattern of the blanket roll to the printing film.

Abstract: The lithographic printing plate support includes an aluminum plate and an anodized film formed on the aluminum plate and micropores extend in the anodized film in a depth direction from its surface opposite from the aluminum plate. Each of the micropores includes a large-diameter portion having a predetermined shape and a small-diameter portion having a predetermined shape. The lithographic printing plate support has excellent scratch resistance and is capable of obtaining a presensitized plate which exhibits excellent on-press developability and enables a lithographic printing plate formed therefrom to have a long press life, and excellent deinking ability in continued printing and after suspended printing.

Abstract: A multilayered structure is for use as one of a printing blanket and a printing plate for relief printing including flexographic printing. The multilayered structure has a first layer including a vulcanizate based on at least one elastomer and at least one further layer adhesively connected to the first layer in such a manner that the first layer is peelable or strippable from the further layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a flexographic plate having a uniform thickness comprises providing a thermoset layer having at least one uneven side; providing a thermoplastic layer having a first and a second side; attaching the first side of the thermoplastic layer to the uneven side of the thermoset layer thereby forming a flexographic plate; and calendering the flexographic plate via a series of heated pairs of rollers thereby creating a flexographic plate with a uniform thickness.

Abstract: Device for producing flexographic printing sleeves starting from photopolymerizable sleeves comprising at least a clean-out unit, a drying unit, and a post-exposure unit, wherein the flexographic printing sleeves are transported within the apparatus by means of a transport device, wherein the sleeves are mounted dually translationally in the longitudinal direction in the transport device, and a method for the production of flexographic printing sleeves using said device.

Abstract: A method of imaging a printing plate and curing the printing plate made of or having photo-curable material that includes an ablatable mask. In one embodiment, the method comprises imaging the ablatable mask with a first portion of imaging data to produce a partially imaged uncured plate. Imaging data includes the first portion and a second portion of imaging data. The method includes curing the partially imaged uncured plate using UV with a first set of parameters to produce a partially cured plate with a partially ablated mask thereon, the curing arranged for producing flat tops, imaging the partially ablated mask on the partially cured plate with the second portion of imaging data to produce a totally imaged partially cured plate, and curing the totally imaged partially cured plate with a second set of one or more curing parameters to produce a totally cured plate to produce round tops.

Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of loading and unloading of plates to and from an imager. The apparatus includes a loading area holding one single or a plurality of plates and an unloading area holding a single plate, the areas arranged vertically. The plate includes ultraviolet curable material. The apparatus includes a control system configured when in operation to control the automated loading and unloading and the apparatus elements therefor. One fully automatic version includes automatic loading from a stack or set of plate magazines and in the case that the plate includes a protective sheet thereon, includes removing the protective sheet from the plate. Some versions also include one or more ultraviolet sources to irradiate the flexographic plates with ultraviolet radiation during the automated loading and/or unloading. The ultraviolet sources are controlled by the same control system.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a process and an apparatus for treating a photosensitive element to form a relief structure suitable for flexographic printing plate. The apparatus comprises an enclosure, a conveyor, a heatable roller with absorbent material conducted over it, and a roller that can significantly smooth or uniformly roughen the relief structure of the flexographic printing plate. Previously selectively cured photosensitive elements are developed by means of the heatable roller by blotting with the absorbent material, and the resulting relief structure is made uniform by way of a smoothing or roughening roller. The flexographic plates produced by the method and apparatus are especially suited to processes that require substantially smoothed or uniformly roughened printing plate surfaces, which are capable of producing better quality printing.

Abstract: An ink form roller in a printing press is provided including a core, a first layer surrounding part of the core, and a second layer surrounding part of the first layer, the second layer having a durometer hardness greater than the first layer. In addition, an ink form roller in a printing press is provided including a core, and a layer surrounding the core, the layer having a hardness between about 25 Shore A durometer and about 40 Shore A durometer, the layer having an outer surface, the outer surface having a surface roughness of about 30 micro-inches or less. Methods are also provided.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a method for making a cylindrically-shaped element, and particularly a cylindrically-shaped element for use as a base sleeve for printing or as a support for a print form. The method includes wrapping a sheet of a material having a first end and a second end to bring the second end adjacent the first end to form a base sleeve having an axial seam of the first and second ends. The first end has a non-linear edge having an amplitude. Portions between the first end and the second end overlap and form the axial seam. The method can include applying an imageable material adjacent an exterior surface of the base sleeve that covers at least a portion of the axial seam.

Abstract: A printing blanket is provided which includes a reinforcing layer formed from a polymeric fabric reinforcing material which softens and flows at a temperature less than that used in the final curing step of forming the blanket or a polymeric reinforcing material having a thickness of between about 0.003 inches and 0.010 inches. The reinforcing layer provides a smooth surface to support an outer print surface layer and provides improved print performance while enabling a reduction in the overall thickness of the reinforcing layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a curable jettable fluid for making a flexographic printing master characterized in that the jettable fluid comprises a monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomer, a polyalkylene glycol di(meth)acrylate monomer of which the polyalkylene glycol chain has a MW of at least 300 and at least 1 wt. % of a difunctional (meth)acrylate monomer according to Formula I) or (II), wherein k and m in Formula (I) is an integer ranging from 0 to 5, l in Formula (I) is an integer ranging from 1 to 20, n in Formula (II) is 1, 2, 3 or 4, R in Formula (I) and (II) is H or CH3, and R? in Formula (II) is H or an alkyl group.

Abstract: A method of forming a contact printing stamp, including creating a stamp material in a plurality of recessed regions formed in an exposed end-region of a multilayer thin film structure. The stamp material having a printing surface adapted to transfer a transfer material.

Abstract: A pattern transcription apparatus comprises a cliché including a concave portion, a convex portion and a printing stopper, the printing stopper formed on a bottom surface of the concave portion; and a blanket, on which a resist material layer is coated, rotatable on the cliché, wherein a surface energy density of the blanket is greater than a surface energy density of the printing stopper and is smaller than a surface energy of the cliché.

Abstract: A metal-backed printing blanket includes the following layers: a printing layer, a metal foil and a cover layer bonded to the surface of the metal foil that faces away from the printing layer. The cover layer is irreversibly bonded to the metal foil by a chemically-curing adhesive.

Abstract: An optical imaging apparatus (80) for direct engraving of flexographic plates (52) includes at least two laser sources (43), each emitting laser beams (44). A mirror or prism (45) is placed in front of each of the laser sources to alter an optical path of each of the laser beams. The laser beams cut the flexographic plate at different depths and cut out chunks (65) of the flexographic plate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a curable jettable fluid for making a flexographic printing master comprising a cyclic monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomer and a difunctional (meth)acrylate monomer characterized in that the fluid further comprises a copolymerizable plasticizing monomer preferably selected from the group consisting of diallyl phthalate and a low Tg monomer, of which the corresponding homopolymer has a glass transition temperature (Tg) below ?15° C.

Abstract: Provided are an ink composition for a printing method, in which the ink composition is applied to a printing blanket, a portion of a coating film is removed using a cliche, and then the coating film remaining on the printing blanket is transferred to an object to be printed, in which the ink composition before printing satisfies the following [Equation 1] [INKST?BNK?c] and the ink coating film on the printing blanket satisfies the following [Equation 2] [BNK?c?INKSE?SUBSE] immediately before the removal of the portion of the ink coating film from the printing blanket using the cliche, and a printing method using the same.

Abstract: Printers, methods, and apparatus to form an image on a substrate are disclosed. An example apparatus (100) to form an image on a print substrate includes an applicator (104) to apply a first material (1 10), an ink developer (106) to apply a plurality of ink particles (1 12), and a transfer cylinder (108) to transfer the ink particles (1 12) and the first material (110) to a print substrate (102) to form an image and a coating.

Abstract: Disclosed is a block copolymer composition for flexographic printing plates, which is capable of providing a flexographic printing plate that has much more excellent wear resistance than conventional flexographic printing plates, while maintaining sufficient rubber elasticity. The block copolymer composition for flexographic printing plates comprises a block copolymer A and a block copolymer B, each of which is an aromatic vinyl-conjugated diene-aromatic vinyl block copolymer having a specific structure, wherein a content of the aromatic vinyl monomer unit in the block copolymer A is 41% or more.

Abstract: A method and a system of preparing a flexographic printing form, and a preparation table used in the method and system, involves placing printing plates in a plate magazine and delivering the printing plates in a predetermined order from the plate magazine to the preparation table. The printing plates are transported by a transporter, such as a conveyor belt, on the preparation table and further to a printing sleeve or a printing cylinder. During transportation, the printing plates are exposed on the backsides to a light source. The printing sleeve is rotated with a speed adapted to the speed of the transporter in such a way that the printing plates are placed staggered in two or more lanes on the printing sleeve. The printing plates placed on the printing sleeve are then imaged, e.g. by laser ablation.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for thermally developing a photosensitive element. The thermal development method includes heating the photosensitive element to a temperature sufficient to cause a portion of a composition layer in the element to liquefy, soften, or melt; supporting a development medium with a non-rotating surface to provide contact of the development medium with the heated photosensitive element; and providing relative movement between the development medium and the non-rotating surface.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a curable jettable fluid for making a flexographic printing master characterized in that the jettable fluid has a viscosity measured at jetting temperature of less than 15 mPa·s and comprises at least 50 wt. % of a mixture of a cyclic monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomer, a monofunctional urethane acrylate oligomer and a difunctional (meth)acrylate monomer.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a flexographic printing member includes a laser for forming a relief image that consists of both fine-featured regions and coarse-featured regions; and leveling a top most surface of at least one of the coarse-featured regions with the laser.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a curable jettable fluid for making a flexographic printing master comprising an initiator, a cyclic monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomer and a difunctional (meth)acrylate monomer characterized in that the initiator is an oligomer, a polymer or a copolymerizable compound.

Abstract: A method of preparing a flexographic printing member includes forming a relief image that consists of both fine-featured regions and coarse-featured regions; and leveling a top most surface of at least one of the coarse-featured regions by means of laser engravings.

Abstract: A clean running flexographic relief image printing element and a method of making the same is described. The relief image printing element comprises (a) a backing layer; (b) a floor layer disposed on the backing layer and comprising a photopolymer containing a silicone monomer or silicone oil, wherein the cured floor layer has a surface energy of between about 18 to about 25 dynes/cm; (c) a cap layer disposed on the floor layer and comprising a photocurable composition that is capable of being imagewise exposed to actinic radiation to create a relief image therein, wherein the cap layer has a surface energy of between about 30 and about 40 dynes/cm; and (d) a removable cover sheet. The differential of surface energies between the floor layer and the cap layer increases how clean the plate will print over time.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cliché, and it particularly relates to a cliché with a partition formed thereon for controlling a blanket and the partition to be parallel with each other by the partition when a partition is protrusively formed on the cliché and the blanket is not combined with the cliché according to a predetermined method, controlling functional ink disposed between the blanket and the cliché to be transferred while not spreading so that it may be transferred to a substrate in a shape to be patterned when the blanket does not contact the cliché, and an electronic printing device and method using the same.

Abstract: An apparatus for and a method of loading and unloading of plates to and from an imager. The apparatus includes a loading area holding one single or a plurality of plates and an unloading area holding a single plate, the areas arranged vertically. The plate includes ultraviolet curable material. The apparatus includes a control system configured when in operation to control the automated loading and unloading and the apparatus elements therefor. One fully automatic version includes automatic loading from a stack or set of plate magazines and in the case that the plate includes a protective sheet thereon, includes removing the protective sheet from the plate. Some versions also include one or more ultraviolet sources to irradiate the flexographic plates with ultraviolet radiation during the automated loading and/or unloading. The ultraviolet sources are controlled by the same control system.

Abstract: A printing blanket unit for a printing blanket cylinder of a rotary printing press includes a printing blanket defining a transverse direction and having two mutually parallel side edges extending in the transverse direction. One of the side edges defines a leading side edge and the other one of the side edges defines a trailing side edge referred to the rotation of the printing blanket cylinder. The printing blanket has a top side and defines a longitudinal direction running perpendicular to the transverse direction. The top side of the printing blanket has a groove therein running in the longitudinal direction of the printing blanket.

Abstract: A method of making a photopolymer sleeve blank for use in flexographic printing is provided which includes providing a base sleeve, applying a cushion layer over the base sleeve, applying an optional barrier layer over the cushion layer, and applying a photopolymer layer over the barrier or cushion layer. The method provides a sleeve blank having an integral cushion layer and eliminates the need for a back exposure step.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for thermally developing a photosensitive element. The thermal development method includes heating the photosensitive element to a temperature sufficient to cause a portion of a composition layer in the element to liquefy, soften, or melt; supporting a development medium with a non-rotating surface to provide contact of the development medium with the heated photosensitive element; and providing relative movement between the development medium and the non-rotating surface.

Abstract: A printing plate has a substrate, an array of cells on the substrate, wherein each cell corresponds to an element of a print image, a deformable polymer material localized into the cells such that each cell is at least partially formed from the deformable polymer material, a reservoir corresponding to each cell to collect the deformable polymer material as needed when the deformable polymer material is one of either melted or softened, and a heater to cause the deformable polymer material to either melt or soften.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method and apparatus for exposing a cylindrical print sleeve. The method and apparatus can accommodate exposing various cylindrical print sleeves having different sleeve lengths and/or diameters. The apparatus includes a sleeve support for supporting the cylindrical print sleeve at one end, a plurality of light tubes supported in a longitudinal orientation, and a means for positioning the light tubes along one of a plurality of concentric rails to form a substantially circular wall of light tubes about the print sleeve.

Abstract: A resin composition for laser engraving that comprises (Component A) an epoxy resin; (Component B) an epoxy resin curing agent; and (Component C) a silica, Component B comprising an amine curing agent having an amine value of no greater than 0.01 eq/g or an acid anhydride curing agent having an acid anhydride value of no greater than 0.0050 eq/g.