Abstract: A printing unit having at least one press unit, the, or each, press unit having at least one form cylinder, a transfer cylinder, an inking unit and preferably a damping unit, and having at least one imaging device for imaging and/or de-imaging a rewritable and erasable printing form positioned on the form cylinder. The inking unit, if appropriate together with the damping unit, can be pivoted with respect to a form cylinder from a printing position into a rest position. The imaging device can be pivoted with respect to the form cylinder from an imaging position into a rest position. The imaging device is pivoted into a rest position when the inking unit and, if appropriate, damping unit is pivoted into the printing position and, when the imaging device is pivoted into the imaging position, the inking unit and, if appropriate, the damping unit is pivoted into a rest position.

Abstract: A system for driving the damping roller in rotary printing machines. The system has a driving mechanism for the damping roller, while the plate cylinder is being driven separately by an individual driving mechanism, for realizing the delta mode of operation. In this mode of operation, the driving mechanism of the damping roller can be disengaged through a switchable transmission from the driving gear train and connected with the individual driving mechanism of the plate cylinder.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for accurate reproduction of high-quality halftone images comprising microdots by means of lithographic plate materials which comprise a heat-sensitive positive-working coating that requires wet processing. Such microdots have a dot size ?25 ?m and may be obtained by stochastic screening or by amplitude-modulated screening at a ruling of not less than 150 lpi. It has been established that the “physical right exposure energy density” (physical REED) lies in the range from CP to 1.5*CP, wherein the physical REED is defined as the energy density at which the physical area on the plate, occupied by a microdot corresponding to a 50% halftone in the image data, coincides with the 50% target value; and wherein CP is the clearing point of the plate which is defined as the minimum energy density that is required to obtain, after processing, a dissolution of 95% of the coating.

Abstract: A printing apparatus for direct printing comprises an image bearing printing surface (10) that comprises a plurality of cells (12) for storing ink; a means for loading ink into the cells; a means for imaging direction on a substrate (55) by affecting ink properties in a first group of cells to form ink affinity to the substrate; a means for unloading ink by affecting ink properties in a second group of cells to nullify ink affinity to the substrate; and a means for collecting the unloaded ink from the second group of cells.

Abstract: A printing plate material having an aluminum support on which an image forming layer is provided, wherein a wireless IC tag is provided on a part of the printing plate material.

Abstract: A process for the offset printing of a receiving medium with a functional pattern comprising in any order the steps of: applying a printing ink to a printing plate and wetting the printing plate with an aqueous fountain medium containing a solution or a dispersion containing at least one moiety having at least colouring, pH-indicating, whitening, fluorescent, phosphorescent, X-ray phosphor or conductive properties.

Abstract: A direct printing lithography system for jet-printing a photoresist on a layer in the form of a desired circuit pattern is disclosed. The system includes a computer system for containing a programmed circuit pattern and generating printing signals and a jet printing head for receiving the printing signals from the computer system and printing the photoresist on the layer in the form of the programmed circuit pattern. A direct printing lithography method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed are a process of correcting a planographic printing plate with an image, and a correction solution for correcting the planographic printing plate; the process comprising the steps of scraping stains at the non-image portions or undesired images at the image portions in the planographic printing plate off, and then covering the scraped portions with hydrophilic film.

Abstract: Piling due to ink, paper fibers and/or clay fillers occurs frequently during an offset printing process, resulting in the deterioration in print quality and lost manual time due to the necessity to clean the equipment. It has been experimentally found that small quantities of certain high molecular weight polyethylene oxide polymers can alleviate this serious problem. However, the overall effectiveness will depend on the concentration of the total make-up of component in the fountain solution.

Abstract: A self-dampening ink composition and methods for lithographic printing using a single fluid lithographic ink are provided in the invention in which the composition comprises glycerol in an amount greater than 0 to about 10 percent by weight, a nonionic surfactant with an HLB value of about 8 to about 20 in an amount from about 0.25 to about 2 percent by weight, and water in an amount of about 20 to about 50 percent by weight.

Abstract: A method of developing a laser sensitive lithographic printing plate with ink and/or fountain solution is described. The printing member comprises on a substrate a photosensitive layer soluble or dispersible in ink and/or fountain solution and capable of hardening upon exposure to a laser. The plate is exposed with a laser and deactivated under a safe light or in the dark, and then on-press developed with ink and/or fountain solution preferably under white light. Alternatively, the plate is developed with ink and/or fountain solution or the likes off press, and then mounted on press for lithographic printing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lithographic printing plate precursor and a lithographic printing method using the lithographic printing plate precursor, which is capable of an image recording by infrared laser scanning and an on-press development and excellent in fine line reproducibility and press life while maintaining good on-press developing properties, the lithographic printing plate precursor comprising: a support; and an image recording layer capable of being removed by a printing ink and/or a fountain solution, in which the image recording layer comprises an infrared absorber and a graft polymer having a specific graft chain.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to radiation-curable ink formulations, and particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a family of radiation-curable ink formulations specifically for lithographic printing applications. The inventive ink formulations are based on multifunctional acrylate resins formed by the reaction of acrylate monomers and oligomers with ?-keto esters (e.g., acetoacetates), ?-diketones (e.g., 2,4-pentanedione), ?-keto amides (e.g., acetoacetanilide, acetoacetamide), and/or other ?-dicarbonyl compounds that can participate in Michael addition reactions.

Abstract: A printing plate material including: a plastic support; a hydrophilic layer on the plastic support; and a back layer on the plastic support, being provided on the opposite side to the hydrophilic layer, wherein the back layer includes a matting agent, and a distribution width of a projection amount of the matting agent is 1 to 20%.

Abstract: Disclosed is a printing process employing a printing plate material obtained by providing, on a support, a coating solution for an image formation layer capable of forming an image by heating, the process comprising the steps of imagewise heating the printing plate material, and then carrying out printing supplying printing ink and a dampening solution to the heated printing plate material, wherein the acid base property of the coating solution is the reverse of that of the dampening solution.

Abstract: A method of preparing a fountain solution, a system for blending two or more concentrate components of a fountain solution, concentrate compositions, and articles of manufacture or kits comprising the concentrate compositions are provided. The method comprises combining at least two fluid concentrates that comprise the components of the fountain solution at effective proportions with water to produce the fountain solution composition containing a predetermined concentration of ingredients. In one embodiment, the method comprises combining an acidic film-forming polymer concentrate and a surface tension reducing (wetting) concentrate with water to form the fountain solution. The method preferably utilizes a proportioning pump for metering amounts of the component concentrates of the fountain solution into a water flow.

Abstract: In a method and system to generate a print image on a carrier material, the surface of a print substrate is covered with at least one of an ink-repelling and an ink-attracting layer. In a structuring process, ink-attracting regions and ink-repelling regions are generated corresponding to a structure of the print image to be printed. An ink-attracting carrier substance is applied which can be an ink or other carrier substance on the print substrate surface that adheres to the ink-attracting regions and is not accepted by the ink-repelling regions. The carrier substance is fixed and subsequently the fixed carrier substance is inked with ink at least once. The applied ink is transferred to the carrier material. Before a new structuring process, the print substrate surface is cleaned and newly covered.

Abstract: Method of on-press developing a thermosensitive lithographic printing member with ink and/or fountain solution is described. The printing member comprises on a substrate a thermosensitive layer soluble or dispersible in ink and/or fountain solution and capable of hardening upon exposure to an infrared radiation. The printing member can be a pre-coated plate or can be prepared on press by coating a thermosensitive layer onto a substrate that is a sheet material or a seamless sleeve mounted on a plate cylinder or is the surface of a plate cylinder of the lithographic press.

Abstract: Densities of detecting patches also called control scales printed on prints in a first print job are used to control the feed rate of dampening water in a second print job following the first print job. Specifically, densities of detecting patches on the prints obtained from the first print job are measured, and a feed rate of dampening water is calculated from the densities of the detecting patches. A base feed rate of dampening water is calculated based on the feed rate calculated and a humidity and temperature occurring when the first print job is performed. A proper feed rate of dampening water is calculated based on the base feed rate and a humidity and temperature occurring when the second print job is performed.

Abstract: A process is provided for obtaining or refreshing the illustration of a printing form, preferably in wet-offset printing. Instead of clearing the illustration over the entire area, the printing form is acted on during the production. For this, a processing agent can act on the printing form in different areas for images. A processing agent preferably acts over the entire area of the printing form, in which case the layer of ink located on the printing form leads to a locally different intensity of the action, corresponding to the illustration of the printing form. Photocatalytic effects are preferably used. A hydrophilization of non-image areas is brought about by irradiation in the presence of water molecules. Since printing ink containing little water lies on the image areas, hydrophilization cannot occur on the image areas. Thus, in spite of the entire-area action on the printing form, an image-related refreshing or obtaining of the illustration is automatically achieved.

Abstract: Lithographic fountain solutions containing a surfactant-effective quantity of at least one reaction product comprising the following reactants: (A) at least one compound of formula I R1(X)3 ??(I) wherein each X group is a halogen atom or one X group is a halogen atom and two X groups represent an epoxy oxygen atom, which is attached to two adjacent carbon atoms in the R1 group to form an epoxy group, and R1 is an alkanetriyl group containing from 3 to 10 carbon atoms; and (B) at least one compound having formula II R2X(AO)nY ??(II) wherein R2 is a substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated, organic group having from 1 to 36 carbon atoms; X is —O—, —S—, or NR3— where R3 is hydrogen or a C1–C18 alkyl group; each AO group is independently an ethyleneoxy, 1,2-propyleneoxy, or 1,2-butyleneoxy group, n is a number of from 0 to 200; and Y is hydrogen, or Y can be a mercapto group or an amino group or a C1–C6 alkylamino group in place of a terminal —OH group, provided that when Y is mercapto or an ami

Abstract: A wet offset printing form has a top layer containing a photocatalytically and thermally modifiable material. The material can be brought photocatalytically into a hydrophilic state by irradiation with light and into a lipophilic state by heating. The hydrophilic state forms a surface that can be illustrated and the lipophilic state forms an illustrated surface. The top layer of the wet offset printing form may contain absorption centers for irradiation, especially for laser radiation in the NIR range, with which heating of the top layer in the pattern of an image is brought about.

Abstract: A copper clad metal printing plate can be coated with an azide-containing photoresist comprising a polyformal resin together with a modified polyformal resin that has up to 100% of its hydroxyl groups converted to carboxyl groups, an organo azide and a photosensitive dye that absorbs light at the frequency of a patterning laser and converts it to heat energy. This de-crosslinks the resin that has been exposed to the laser light. Preferably the photoresist is flood exposed with ultraviolet light prior to laser exposure. The photoresist becomes soluble in the laser-exposed areas, exposing the underlying copper after development. The printing plates are completed by etching away the copper in the exposed areas, removing the remaining photoresist, thereby providing a patterned copper layer on the printing plate.

Abstract: A patterning method for micro-contact printing involves the steps of: applying a resin on a master having projected patterns, hardening the resin and thereafter removing the hardened resin from the master to make a stamp of the resin; applying a molecular ink including hydrophobic molecules dispersed in a solvent on the stamp; forming micro-contact printed patterns of the hydrophobic molecular layer on a substrate by means of the stamp on which the molecular ink is applied; dipping the substrate with micro-contact printed patterns in a hydrophilic molecule solution dispersed in a solvent to give chemical modification to the areas of the surface of the substrate around the micro-contact printed patterns, the solution including hydrophilic molecules having a chain length shorter than the chain length of hydrophobic molecules included in the molecular ink is used as the hydrophilic molecule solution.

Abstract: A conditioner composition for a printing plate with metallic non-print areas on the printing surface contains a polymeric or oligomeric component. The polymeric component adheres to the metal (particularly, aluminum) surface of the non-print area(s) of the printing member, and has a hydrophilic portion. The conditioned printing plate is particularly useful for printing single fluid inks having an emulsified hydrophilic fluid phase.

Abstract: A positive-working printing plate precursor for wet lithographic printing is disclosed which comprises a support having a hydrophilic surface and a coating comprising a first layer closest to the support, said first layer containing an oleophilic phenolic resin soluble in an aqueous alkaline developer, and a second layer containing an amphyphilic polymer, wherein (a) the second layer is capable of preventing the aqueous alkaline developer from penetrating into the first layer to an extent that substantially no dissolution of unexposed coating occurs upon immersion in the aqueous alkaline developer during a time period t2; (b) and wherein said capability of the second layer of preventing the aqueous alkaline developer from penetrating into the first layer is reduced upon exposure to heat or light to an extent that substantially complete dissolution of exposed coating occurs upon immersion in the aqueous alkaline developer during a time period t1; wherein t2>t1 and t2?t1 is at least 10 seconds; and wherein t

Abstract: A method for reducing start up blinding in no-process lithographic printing plates is disclosed. An imageable element, comprising an imageable layer over a substrate, is thermally imaged. The imageable layer comprises a thermally sensitive polymer that comprises quaternary ammonium salts of carboxylic acids. Following imaging, the surface of the imaged imageable is contacted with an aqueous solution comprising 0.05 wt % to about 5 wt % of an added organic acid having a pKa of about 1 to about 6. This reduces the amount of waste produced by the printing process by reducing the number of unusable sheets produced during the “make ready” process.

Abstract: A planographic printing apparatus and method is provided for single fluid lithographic printing using a plate cylinder having a generally neutral pH hydrophilic material in the non-image areas.

Abstract: A lithographic printing method of supplying emulsion ink to a lithographic printing plate via a form roller, and disrupting emulsion on the form roller. The degree of the emulsion's disruption before printing has started is different from the degree of disruption after printing has started. The duration of an idling mode can be shortened with the added advantage of reducing the development of waste paper right after the start of printing.

Abstract: Humidifying solution for offset printing sheets and method and device for its preparation. The solution is formed by between 95% and 97% of water and between 3% and 5% of an additive which contains sodium citrate, acetic acid, citric acid and sodium benzoate, characterized because the aforementioned additive contains between 0.0% and 0.5% in weight of sodium hexametaphosphate, between 0.0% and 1.5% in weight of ascorbic acid, between 0.0% and 1.0% in weight of preventol, between 0.0% and 1.0% in weight of sodium benzoate, between 0.0% and 1.0% in weight of citric acid, between 2% and 10% in weight of glycerin, between 0.0% and 0.1% in weight of limonal, between 50% and 75% in weight of sorbitol, between 1% and 2% in weight of acetic acid, between 3% and 7% in weight of citric acid, between 0.0 and 1.0% in weight of sodium oleate and between 15% and 30% in weight of osmotic water.

Abstract: A variable data lithographic printing device comprises surrounding a printing cylinder a photosensitive layer coater, an exposure source, optionally a developer, an inking applicator, optionally a transfer system, and optionally an eraser. During printing operation, each surface areas of the rotating cylinder continuously undergo the cycle of coating, imagewise exposure, optionally developing, inking, printing of inked images to the receiving medium, and optionally erasing processes. The developing means can be omitted if an ink and/or fountain solution developable photosensitive layer is used. In an alternative design, the cylinder is replaced with a continuous supply of a ribbon with lithographic substrate surface. In another alternative design, the cylinder and the coater are replaced with a continuous supply of a pre-sensitized ribbon comprising on a substrate a photosensitive layer.

Abstract: A direct-to-press imaging method comprises:

Abstract: A method of printing employing a printing plate prepared from a printing plate precursor comprising a layer A capable of being removed by water or both water and ink on a printing press comprises the steps of imagewise exposing the precursor, mounting the precursor on a plate cylinder of the printing press to fix the precursor at a fixing section on the plate cylinder, providing a water repellent area in the layer A of the precursor so that the water repellent area is provided between a portion of the layer A to be used for printing and a portion of the layer A in the fixing section not to be used for printing, supplying water or both water and ink to the resulting precursor to obtain a printing plate; and then carrying out printing while supplying water or both water and ink to the resulting printing plate.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor which comprises a support having a hydrophilic surface having provided thereon in order of a layer containing a latex (layer A) and an ink-receptive layer (layer B) whose solubility at least either in water or in an aqueous solution is converted by heat, wherein at least one layer of either layer A or layer B contains a light/heat converting agent.

Abstract: A dampening water composition for a lithographic printing plate including at least one compound represented by formula (I) and at least one compound represented by formula (II): wherein R1 represents an alkyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms, R2 represents methyl group or a hydrogen atom, and n is an integer ranging from 1 to 3; wherein R3 and R4 are each independently methyl group, ethyl group, or isopropyl group; a lithographic printing process for producing printed matters using a soybean oil ink in combination with the above dampening water composition.

Abstract: Disclosed is a planographic printing plate precursor comprising a support, and provided thereon, an image forming layer, a first outermost layer on the image forming layer side and a second outermost layer on the side of the support opposite the first outermost layer, the first and second outermost layers containing a lubricant component, which is manufactured either by a method comprising the steps of preparing a planographic printing plate precursor comprising a support and provided thereon, an image forming layer so that only the first outermost layer contains a lubricant component and winding the resulting precursor in the roll form, or by a method comprising the steps of preparing a planographic printing plate precursor comprising a support and provided thereon, an image forming layer so that only the second outermost layer contains a lubricant component and winding the resulting precursor in the roll form.

Abstract: Method of on-press developing a thermosensitive lithographic printing member with ink and/or fountain solution is described. The printing member comprises on a substrate a thermosensitive layer soluble or dispersible in ink and/or fountain solution and capable of hardening upon exposure to an infrared radiation. The printing member can be a pre-coated plate or can be prepared on press by coating a thermosensitive layer onto a substrate that is a sheet material or a seamless sleeve mounted on a plate cylinder or is the surface of a plate cylinder of the lithographic press.

Abstract: Multi-layer thermally imageable elements, useful as a lithographic printing plate precursors, are disclosed. The elements contain a top layer, an absorber layer that contains a photothermal conversion material and a hydrophilic substrate. An optional underlayer may also be present between the absorber layer and the hydrophilic substrate. The elements can be thermally imaged and processed with an aqueous alkaline developer.

Abstract: There is disclosed a dampening composition for lithographic printing which comprises a (poly) propylene glycol alkyl ether and an ethylene oxide adduct of acetylene glycol.

Abstract: A dampening water composition for a lithographic printing plate including at least one compound represented by formula (I) and at least one compound represented by formula (II): 1

Abstract: A variable data lithographic printing device comprises surrounding a printing cylinder a photosensitive layer coater, an exposure source, optionally a developer, an inking applicator, optionally a transfer system, and optionally an eraser. During printing operation, each surface areas of the rotating cylinder continuously undergo the cycle of coating, imagewise exposure, optionally developing, inking, printing of inked imaging to the receiving medium, and optionally erasing processes. The developing means can be omitted if an ink and/or fountain solution developable photosensitive layer is used. In an alternative design, the cylinder is replaced with a continuous supply of a ribbon with lithographic substrate surface. In another alternative design, the cylinder and the coater are replaced with a continuous supply of a pre-sensitized ribbon comprising on a substrate a photosensitive layer.

Abstract: There is provided improvement of a light-heat conversion in a light-stimulated writing method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lithographic printing plate comprising on a roughened substrate a substantially conformal photosensitive layer and a substantially conformal overcoat. The photosensitive layer is substantially conformally coated on the roughened substrate surface and the overcoat is substantially conformally coated on the photosensitive layer surface so that the surface of the overcoat has peaks and valleys substantially corresponding to the major peaks and valleys of the substrate microscopic surface. The lithographic plate of such a configuration can provide no or low tackiness and excellent block resistance, while allowing excellent press durability. For on-press developable lithographic plate, such a plate configuration also allows excellent on-press developability.

Abstract: A method of printing an image with a printing plate prepared from a printing plate precursor, which comprises a support having thereon an image forming layer A containing a water-soluble material, the method comprising the steps of: (a) imagewise exposing the layer A of the printing plate precursor so as to form an unexposed portion and an exposed portion; (b) supplying an emulsion ink containing an oil-based ink and water onto the layer A so that the unexposed portion is removed from the layer A so as to form a non image portion and the exposed portion remains in the layer A so as to form an image portion to give the printing plate, wherein the image portion is lyophilic and the non image portion is hydrophilic; and (c) printing the image on the printing plate to an image receiving material while further supplying the emulsion ink.

Abstract: An imaging member is composed of a hydrophilic imaging layer having a hydrophilic heat-sensitive polymer containing heat-activatable thiosulfate groups, and optionally a photothermal conversion material. Upon application of energy that generates heat, such as from IR irradiation, the polymer is crosslinked and rendered more hydrophobic. The imaging layer is disposed on an interlayer on a support, which interlayer comprises a Group IVB element (such as titanium, hafnium or zirconium) compound for improved mechanical and imaging properties. The exposed imaging member can be contacted with a lithographic printing ink and used for printing with or without post-imaging wet processing. This imaging member is particularly useful for direct write imaging using IR lasers or thermal printing heads.

Abstract: An imageable lithographic printing plate has a substrate with an aluminum base and a quantity of alumina particles embedded and retained in the aluminum base. The quantity of embedded and retained particles is relatively high thereby increasing the hydrophilicity of the base. The regions of the aluminum base between the embedded particles may optionally be anodized. The substrate has a coating which is imageable by absorbing the selective imaging radiation.

Abstract: Disclosed are a lithographic dampening solution and a method for dampening a lithographic plate. The solution comprises an aqueous solution of a gum, which may be a corn-hull-derived hemicellulose or the enzyme digestion product of a hemicellulose. The method generally comprises dampening a lithographic plate with the disclosed dampening solution.

Abstract: A monitoring method of a developing solution for lithographic printing plates, which comprises, when a large number of lithographic printing plates are processed by use of an automatic developing processor, adding a tracing substance stable under alkaline conditions to light-sensitive layers of the lithographic printing plates, or one or both of the developing solution which has been provided at the beginning of development and a development replenisher, and then measuring the amount of said tracing substance in the developing solution during development, thereby judging processing ability of the developing solution.

Abstract: This patent describes a method of imaging a printing plate comprising on a substrate a photosensitive layer and a top laser ablatable mask layer. The method includes imagewise exposing the plate with an infrared laser to remove the mask layer in the exposed areas, overall exposing the plate with an actinic light to harden or solubilize the photosensitive layer in the areas where the mask layer has been removed, and further exposing the plate with the infrared laser radiation in the laser non-exposed areas to remove the remaining mask layer. The fully exposed plate can be developed to bare the substrate in the non-hardened or solubilized areas of the photosensitive layer.

Abstract: A metal substrate is treated with a plurality of rotating brushes and a slurry of particulate material such that the treated surface is capable of absorbing incident infrared laser radiation. The substrate is itself capable of being visibly imaged by selective writing with an infrared laser. The substrate is coated with an ablatable coating which is transparent to the imaging infrared laser radiation. Selective exposure to infrared laser radiation ablates this coating in the laser exposed areas as a result of the absorption of infrared radiation by the substrate. The substrate can be anodized after rotary brush graining and still retain its ability to be imaged and ablate a coating. The coated article can be imaged in a computer-to-plate infrared laser imaging device. Depending on the specific coating and substrate selection, the imaged article can be used in a conventional lithographic printing process or in a dryographic printing process.