Abstract: A method of forming visible image on an on-press developable lithographic printing plate is described. The plate comprises on a substrate a photosensitive layer developable with ink and/or fountain solution and capable of hardening upon exposure to a radiation. The plate is imagewise exposed with a radiation, overall treated with a discoloring agent to form visible image or enhanced visible image, and then on-press developed with ink and/or fountain solution. The formation of visible image allows easy identification or inspection of the plate by the pressman before mounting on press.

Abstract: A method of treating an on-press developable lithographic printing plate with a treating solution after imagewise exposure and before on-press development is described. The plate comprises on a substrate a photosensitive layer developable with ink and/or fountain solution and capable of hardening upon exposure to a radiation. The plate is imagewise exposed with a radiation, overall treated with a treating solution to cause at least one chemical or physical change in the photosensitive layer or on the substrate surface, and then on-press developed with ink and/or fountain solution. Such a treatment allows improvement on the performance of the imagewise exposed plate by, for example, improving the white light stability, forming visible imaging, increasing the hydrophilicity of the substrate, or increasing the developability of the photosensitive layer.

Abstract: A transfer print structure is provided. The transfer print structure comprises a substrate; a color ink layer including a functional region; and an adhesive device combining the functional region with the substrate.

Abstract: A printing blanket for fastening on a printing blanket cylinder and a method for the production thereof are disclosed. The printing blanket includes at least one inner carrier layer, a first intermediate layer designed as a woven fabric layer and an outer cover layer. The woven fabric layer includes warp threads and weft threads. The printing blanket can be fastened on a printing blanket cylinder such that the warp threads extend in the axial direction of the printing blanket cylinder and the weft threads extend in the circumferential direction of the printing blanket cylinder.

Abstract: Creating one or more printing plate segments includes exposing a printing plate segment with imaging data to form an imaged plate segment, and marking the floor of the printing plate segment or the back of the printing plate segment with one or more registration marks according to marking data. The registration marks can be within the design area defined by the imaging data marked such that the registration marks are not visible on a print made from the imaged plate segment. Printing using positioned and mounted so-marked imaged plate segments produces a print without the registration marks visible on the print. Such plate segments can be unmounted and reused with the registration marks intact.

Abstract: Use of a sleeve for flexographic printing, comprising: a base sleeve; an intermediate layer enlarging the printing length, provided on the base sleeve and having a thickness of from 2 to 20 mm; a laser-engravable layer of a radiation-cured polymer; for enlarging the repeat.

Abstract: A system for engraving flexographic printing plates, is presented. A flexographic plate (104) is mounted on an imaging drum 404. Printable areas (204, 304) on the flexographic plate are engraved by an imaging source (408) configured to engrave fine detail information. Non-printable areas (208) are engraved on the flexographic plate by a second imaging source (412, coarse imaging source) capable to engrave substantially deeper (208, 520) than the depth of engraving used for the printable areas. Synchronizing (424) between the fine imaging source and the coarse imaging source, by directing the fine and coarse sources operate simultaneously, whereby the fine source images on the printable areas and the coarse source images the non-printable areas. In addition the fine source engraves the printable data areas (704) and non-printable support areas (708) underneath the printable areas. The non-printable support areas are engraved to be substantially wider than the printable data areas.

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: An apparatus and a method for straightening a surface of a flexible media (108) mounted on an imaging drum (104) of an imaging device (100), is presented. A flexible media is mounted on an imaging drum. The flexible media is scanned by an optical displacement sensor (ODS-124) and is provided to a microprocessor (412) component which is part of the system controller (128). The microprocessor combines the data received from the ODS (404) with the data of the image to be imaged on the imaging device. The combined data is sent to the imaging head (120). The imaging head images the data on the flexible media.

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: A rubber sleeve for a printing press and a method for producing a rubber sleeve is disclosed. The rubber sleeve has a rigid support sleeve and a blanket that is wrapped around the support sleeve as well as is firmly connected to the support sleeve. The blanket has at least a two-layer structure with an inner layer embodied as a base layer and an outer layer serving as a functional layer for the printing process, where the butting edges of the blanket are connected to one another via a sealing material, which is introduced in a gap embodied between the butting edges. The sealing material is introduced in the gap embodied between the butting edges while forming a channel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of printing on a polymeric film using a gravure printing press, a method of making rollers for a gravure printing press and a set of gravure rollers. The invention enables standardised process colours such as, CYMK colours to be combined to from non-standardised process colours such as, secondary and tertiary colours via a select range of screen angles and screen rulings.

Abstract: A printing relief plate, within a screen tint region, includes main halftone dot convexities, halftone dot convexities, and other halftone dot convexities, in which the heights of printing surfaces of the halftone dot convexities to which ink is applied differ from each other in a plurality of halftone dot convexity height levels.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system (21) for transferring data to disk-like data storage media (23, 23?), which system comprises a pick-up (22, 22?) which is at least partially in the form of an inner cylinder and is intended to arrange the data storage media—the side of which that is intended to receive data faces the cylinder axis (29) of the pick-up—and a transfer head (30) which can be rotated about this cylinder axis and has at least two transfer means (24, 24?) for transferring the data to the data storage medium (23), wherein the pick-up (22, 22?) and the transfer head (30) can also be moved relative to one another in the direction of the cylinder axis (29), and the at least two transfer means (24, 24?) comprise a respective array of light sources in order to transfer the data using multi-beam technology.

Abstract: A method for making a flexographic printing master includes the steps of providing a flexographic printing support: applying image-wise on the flexographic printing support subsequent layers of radiation curable liquid by an inkjet printing device whereby one or more applied layers are immobilized using a curing device before one or more subsequent layers are applied, such that a relief with a top hat profile is obtained; and grinding the relief so that the height DT of a top hat segment is reduced. An imaging apparatus includes structure to perform the above method.

Abstract: A method for making a flexographic printing master includes the steps of providing a flexographic printing support; providing an inkjet printing device; applying a mesa relief on the flexographic printing support with the inkjet printing device; and applying an image relief with the inkjet printing device on the mesa relief. A method for making a flexographic printing master includes the imaging apparatus.

Abstract: In order to propose a dry process technique of producing a printing roll having safe and beauty concave portions for printing image area without discharging environmental contaminating substance and a new technique for improving quality of printed matters, this invention is to provide a printing roll with DLC film layer in which laser beam-engraved grooves as concave portions for printing image area are formed on a carbide cermet spray coating formed on a surface of a roll substrate, and a method wherein a carbide cermet spray coating is formed on a surface of a roll substrate roughened by a blast treatment, the surface of the carbide cermet spray coating is ground or ground-polished, then a DLC film is formed on the ground or ground-polished surface and thereafter laser beam-engraved grooves are formed on the surface of the DLC film as a concave portion for printing image area.

Abstract: A workpiece 70 is set to holding rotating means and then liquid-state photosensitive resin 10 is supplied to a resin applying smoothing unit 150 to mold the workpiece 70 into a uniform thickness while rotating the workpiece 70 and applying the liquid-state photosensitive resin 10 to the outer periphery of the workpiece 70 by the resin applying smoothing unit 150. Moreover, while rotating the workpiece 70, liquid-state photosensitive resin, it is exposed by high-intensity ultraviolet light 30 and thereby, the surface of the photo-cured photosensitive resin is shaped to remove an unnecessary resin layer. Then, laser carving is performed by an infrared laser beam 40 to perform post-treatment.

Abstract: A cylindrically-shaped tube fitting over a cylindrically-shaped base body rotatable around an axis of rotation. The tube has a cylindrically-shaped inner surface defining a hollow region, a cylindrically-shaped outer surface, a first end, and a second end. The base body is arranged to fit either a sleeve or the tube. The outer surface includes vacuum grooves or a plate clamping system or both, and arranged to secure a flexible sheet of material around the outer surface of the tube.

Abstract: Present invention provides an image print sheet printable in high accuracy without reducing productivity. After a lenticular sheet 101 and a reception layer sheet 102 on which a detection pattern 103 is printed are inserted in an attachment apparatus 110 from insertion openings, the optical density is measured repeatedly by a density sensor 111 while rotating and parallel-moving the lenticular sheet 101. When the maximum density is measured, the reception layer sheet 102 is attached to the lenticular sheet 101. In this way, an image print sheet 100 having the detection pattern 103 parallel to the longitudinal direction of convex parts 101a and coinciding with the vertexes of the convex parts 101a is produced. When printing on the image print sheet 100, the detection pattern is detected by a photo-sensor, an azimuth adjustment and a print start position determination will be performed. Consequently, printing with high accuracy is available.

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 present invention relates to a cliche for offset printing for forming a mesh pattern, and more specifically, to a cliche for offset printing comprising a mash pattern with a plurality of intersection units, wherein the plurality of intersection units are formed in a curved shape with a radius of curvature 0.6 to 4 times that of a mesh line width. When the cliche for offset printing of the present invention is used, line width reductions generated around the intersection units during mesh pattern printing may be reduced. As a result, when a final product is manufactured by using the cliche for printing of the present invention, the surface resistance properties of the product may be improved.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for bending a printing plate is disclosed. A bending machine, in particular for the bending of printing plates which are used in printing machines, includes a pressure pad, which exerts the required clamping force on the printing plate during the bending operation, and which is movable in relation to a holding-down plate, so that a uniform clamping force acts on the printing plate over the entire length of the pressure pad.

Abstract: An ink-jet platemaking method is provided which takes advantage of the high convenience and high productivity characteristic of platemaking by ink-jet printing and which mitigates or improves the liquid gathering caused by droplet coalescence and printing durability, which have been problematic in platemaking by ink-jet printing. The ink-jet platemaking method comprises: using an ink for platemaking comprising water, one or more water-soluble organic solvents, and fine resin particles; adhering the ink for platemaking to a heated printing plate material; and volatilizing the solvent contained in the platemaking ink to dry the ink and thereby form an image. The ink-jet platemaking method is characterized in that the fine resin particles have a minimum film-forming temperature (MFT (water)) of 40° C. or higher, the ink for platemaking contains a water-soluble organic solvent (A) which lowers the MFT of the fine resin particles by 5° C.

Abstract: Optimum transfer of an optically discernible image from an ink supply to a substrate is effected. In one embodiment, a three dimensional image is created on the surface of an ink transfer medium layer. The height at a specific location of the three dimensional image corresponds to the ink volume to be transferred to that specific location in the printed image, allowing the color intensity to change throughout the printed image.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for thermally developing a flexographic printing element to reveal a relief image on the surface and a method of using the apparatus to develop a flexographic printing element. The apparatus typically comprises means for softening or melting a crosslinked photopolymer on the imaged and exposed surface of the flexographic printing element; at least one roll that is contactable with the imaged surface of the flexographic printing element and capable of moving over at least a portion of the imaged surface of the flexographic printing element to remove the softened or melted non-crosslinked photopolymer on the imaged and exposed surface of the flexographic printing element; and means for maintaining contact between the at least one roll and the imaged and exposed surface of the flexographic printing element. A layer of resilient compressible material is positioned between the flexographic printing element and a supporting conveying means.

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: According to one embodiment, a template is provided. The template includes an unevenness provided on a first major surface. A side wall of the unevenness has a trench aligned in a depth direction of the unevenness.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a refurbished cylinder roller and a process for refurbishing cylinder rollers for use in printing machines. More particularly, the present invention also relates to a process for refurbishing metallic gravure cylinder rollers by replacing the worn outer plating layers with an extruded and thermally cured electrically conductive polymer material, and thereafter electroplating new outer plating layers thereon, the new plating layers including a new printing image formed therein.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a printing plate includes forming first trenches having a first depth into an insulative substrate, forming an organic film over the insulative substrate including the first trenches, and forming second trenches having a width smaller than that of the first trenches into the organic film, the second trenches formed at positions corresponding to the first trenches by selectively removing the organic film.

Abstract: A method for imaging a printing form, in particular within a press, is disclosed. A printing form having a rewritable surface being provided, and an imaging material being applied to the surface of the printing form in order to provide a permanent and erasable image. During imaging, in a first step the imaging material is sprayed onto the surface with a relatively low resolution in an image data-oriented manner, and in a second step the imaging material sprayed onto the surface being exposed on the surface with a relatively high resolution in an image data-oriented manner.

Abstract: A printing surface includes a substrate having latching electrodes on a first surface, a spacer layer on the first surface of the substrate, the spacer layer patterned to form wells such that the latching electrodes reside in the wells, a deformable membrane, the membrane having conductive regions, on the spacer layer to enclose the wells, each enclosed well and its associated region of the membrane forming a pixel membrane, and actuation circuitry to actuate the electrodes to cause selected ones of the pixel membranes to remain in a deflected state when the pixel membranes receive an impulse to return to an undeflected state.

Abstract: A device as well as method for deactivating without developing an exposed lithographic printing plate is disclosed. The device comprises a structure for providing a deactivating agent that is capable of deactivating without developing the plate. The plate comprises on a substrate a photosensitive layer capable of hardening (for negative plate) or solubilization (for positive plate) upon exposure to a radiation, and becoming incapable of or having reduced rate of hardening or solubilization after contacting with a deactivating agent. The deactivated plate is safe or has better stability at room lighting, and can be handled under room lighting before and during development. The development can be on press with ink and/or fountain solution or off press with a liquid developer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a blanket for a printing roller which can enhance adhesive force to an printing liquid and a method for fabricating the same. The blanket for a printing roller includes a base film, a buffer portion formed on a backside of the base film, and a printing mold formed on an entire surface of the base film to have methylic resin such that the printing mold has adhesivity to a surface thereof.

Abstract: A method for producing a printing cylinder or a printing cylinder sleeve includes providing a plurality of cylindrical discs with an essentially cylindrical outside surface and respectively one central opening for positioning the cylindrical discs around a core, and machining the essentially cylindrical outside surfaces so that the cylindrical discs form a printing cylinder surface when mounted on the core. Prior to positioning the cylindrical discs around the core, the method includes machining at least one of the cylindrical discs to form at least one contact surface. The contact surface is machined precisely so that during the installation of the respective cylindrical disc around the core, the contact surface comes to rest parallel against a complementary formed surface of an adjacent element of the printing cylinder or printing cylinder sleeve. The method further includes positioning the cylindrical discs around the core and alternately joining the cylindrical discs.

Abstract: Unlike related art in which a variety of recycling aluminum materials are directly inputted into a pre-rolling melting furnace, the present invention provides the step of melting used planographic printing plates roughened by hydrochloric acid-based electrolysis in another melting furnace into a recycled metal ingot having a predetermined shape and weight and the step of using the results obtained by analyzing the recycled metal ingot to determine the mix proportions of the recycled metal ingot, the fresh metal ingot, and the trace metal master alloy to be inputted into the pre-rolling melting furnace. As a result, the amount of CO2 produced at the time of manufacture can be greatly reduced, and an aluminum plate having an aluminum purity of 99.0% or higher, which is required in a hydrochloric acid-based electrolytic roughening, can be manufactured.

Abstract: An optical imaging head for direct engraving of flexographic printing plates, comprising: at least two groups of radiation sources, each group comprising at least one radiation source, wherein the radiation sources within each group emit radiation having the same intensity and spot size, different from the intensity and spot size of radiation sources in the other groups, said groups of radiation sources operating simultaneously.

Abstract: A printing plate suitable for retaining ink in an imagewise fashion on a main surface thereof defines an array of pixel-sized cavities. Each cavity has associated therewith a quantity of a light-induced shape-memory polymer. When a cavity is exposed with energy, such as from an imaging laser, the quantity of polymer changes shape and/or position, thereby allowing a relatively greater quantity of ink to be retained in the cavity. The printing plate is then inked, to from a transferable image. The apparatus as a whole enables a gravure-like printing plate to be repeatedly imaged using digital image data.

Abstract: At stamp manufacturing blank printing plate (3) and inked porous base plate are brought to contact for the moment of creation of printing pattern. Blank stamping member for pre-inked stamp consisting from blank printing plate (3), made from porous thermo-plastic material, printing plate's case (1) and porous base plate (2), filled by ink. Printing plate is attached to the case, but separated from the inked base plate by air clearance, due to what the printing plate is free from ink up to the creation of printing pattern onto its surface, whereas supporting elements (5) are used, that prevent the said air clearance to collapse spontaneously. When the stamping member is compressed in flash moulding machine, the printing plate is pressed against the inked base plate and become inked.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for forming a relief structure by thermally developing a photosensitive element containing a composition layer capable of being partially liquefied. During thermal development, the photosensitive element is supported on a base member having an exterior surface that is textured. The textures for the exterior surface include a particular surface roughness and/or patterns.

Abstract: A method includes exposing a plate on a support surface of an imager using one or more laser beams, the exposing while there is a metallic screen structure located on the support surface between the plate and the support surface such that the amount of back-reflected radiation is reduced compared to the plate being placed directly on the support structure with no screen between the plate and support surface. An apparatus includes the combination of a base material having the support surface and the metallic screen structure thereon.

Abstract: An improved relief printing plate and method for producing said plate is disclosed. Disabling a pattern of halftone pixels associated with the trailing edge of a full tone image feature reduces the likelihood that a trailing edge inking void will be present when the relief plate is inked by a printing press.

Abstract: A reimageable printing member such as for use in flexography, includes a layer having a multiplicity of holes, wherein the holes include therein a dimension change material and a printing material upon the dimension change material. Thus, the holes house vertically expandable units, the top portion of which is capable of protruding out of an opening of the hole at a top surface of the layer. Each of the holes may be individually addressed to provide a stimulus that initiates a change in dimension in the dimension change material. In this manner, selected ones of the units may be made to print a corresponding portion of an image on an image receiving substrate brought into contact with the printing member.

Abstract: Described herein is a method for providing a metal-back printing blanket with self-adhesive plastic sheet, made to adhere to the metal layer of the printing blanket with adhesive of the PSA (Pressure Sensitive Adhesive) type, comprising a step of sealing one or more edges of the plastic sheet via application of an adhesive tape on said edges.

Abstract: An image transfer sheet includes a withstand voltage layer provided on a surface of a release layer where an image is formed and transferred, and a conductive compressive layer laid on the withstand voltage layer by way of a conductive support layer. The release layer is formed of a fluororesin or an elastomer, and its surface tension is 20 mN/m or less. The release layer has a thickness of 0.01 mm or more. The withstand voltage layer preferably has a thickness of 0.2 mm or more, a volume electrical resistivity within a range of 105 ?-cm through 109 ?-cm at room temperature, and a matrix hardness of 80 JIS-A or less. Further, the conductive compressive layer preferably has a volume electrical resistivity of 104 ?-cm or less at room temperature, and a porosity of 30 to 70%. In addition, the support layer has a volume electrical resistivity similar to that of the conductive compressive layer, and can comprise woven cloth regulated by conductive fibers.

Abstract: A process for producing a laser engravable printing substrate, comprising the step of forming a layer of photosensitive resin composition on a cylindrical support or sheeted support and the step of irradiating the formed layer of photosensitive resin composition with light to thereby provide a layer of cured photosensitive resin of 50 ?m to 50 mm thickness, wherein the light for irradiation of the photosensitive resin composition layer contains a ray of 200 to 450 nm wavelength and wherein the light illuminance on the surface of the photosensitive resin composition layer is in the range of 20 mW/cm2 to 2 W/cm2 when measured with the use of UV meter (trade name “UV-M02” manufactured by Ohku Seisakusho) and filter (trade name “UV-35-APR Filter” manufactured by Ohku Seisakusho) and in the range of 3 mW/cm2 to 2 W/cm2 when measured with the use of the above UV meter and filter (trade name “UV-25 Filter” manufactured by Ohku Seisakusho).

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for producing a high-resolution surface pattern on a substrate and a multi-layer body produced by means of that process and an apparatus for carrying out the process. A printing substance is applied in pattern form to the substrate by means of a printing process. For fine structuring of the surface pattern, prior to application of the printing substance, a microscopic surface structure with a plurality of grooves is replicated into the surface of the substrate. The fine structuring of the surface pattern is determined by the respective locally applied application amount of printing substance and the respective local relief parameters of the microscopic surface structure in particular orientation direction and profile shape.

Abstract: An apparatus for imaging a media is able to accommodate, in an imaging position, a drum for loading flat sheets of media or a mandrel for loading sleeve media. The apparatus includes a storage position for locating the drum or mandrel when not in use and provides mechanisms for safe transport of the drum or mandrel between the storage and imaging positions.

Abstract: A variable cutoff cylinder alignment apparatus is provided. The variable cutoff cylinder alignment apparatus includes a plate cylinder support box for supporting an exchangeable variable cutoff plate cylinder, a blanket cylinder support box for supporting an exchangeable variable cutoff blanket cylinder and an alignment stop adapted to align the blanket cylinder support box and the plate cylinder support box. The plate cylinder support box supports an exchangeable plate cam and the blanket cylinder support box includes a blanket cam. The exchangeable plate cam is capable of contacting the stop and the exchangeable blanket cam is capable of contacting the plate support box to align the blanket cylinder support box and the plate cylinder support box. The plate cylinder support box and the blanket cylinder support box are capable of aligning cylinders of different sized cutoffs. A variable cutoff offset printing press and a method of aligning printing cylinders during a cutoff change are also provided.

Abstract: A method for cutting flexographic plates (10) while plate imaging process is performed is described. The method includes mounting a flexographic plate (10) on an imaging drum (30); imaging at least one graphical element or piece (11) on the flexographic plate; cutting the graphical piece using the imaging device (31); and removing at least one graphical piece from the imaging device drum.