Abstract: Methods for fabricating stamps and systems for patterning a substrate, and devices resulting from those methods are provided.

Abstract: Systems and methods for high-speed variable printing are provided. Ink jet technology and lithographic systems may be combined in such a way to create a fully variable and high-quality print system. At least one area of a plate is reserved for variable information to be printed. The plate may already comprises static information to be printed. Ink is then applied to the at least one area of the plate reserved for the variable information. An aqueous solution is applied to a web to produce a negative image of the variable information, and a positive image of the variable information is transferred in ink to the web. The systems and methods described herein may be used to create high-quality one-to-one marketing applications.

Abstract: A system comprises an electrophotographic subsystem, a transfer subsystem, an imaging member, and an inking subsystem. The electrophotographic subsystem comprises a photoreceptor, a charging subsystem, an exposure subsystem, and a development subsystem. In operation, the photoreceptor is charged areawise. An exposure pattern is formed by the exposure subsystem on the surface of the charged photoreceptor to thereby write a latent charge image onto the photoreceptor surface. The image is developed with an image defining material, such as a dampening fluid. The image defining material forms a negative pattern of the image to be printed. This negative image is then transferred to the reimageable surface. The negative image is then developed with ink. The inked image may be transferred to a substrate.

Abstract: A method of patterning a substrate is disclosed. An ink material is chemisorbed to at least one region of a stamp and the chemisorbed ink material is transferred to a receptor substrate. The ink material has greater chemical affinity for the receptor substrate than for the at least one region of the stamp. A method of forming the stamp is also disclosed, as are the stamp and a patterning system.

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: A method of lithographic printing is disclosed which comprises the steps of unwinding a web of a flexible lithographic base from a supply spool, the lithographic base having a hydrophilic surface, wrapping the lithographic base around a cylinder of a printing press, applying on the lithographic base an image-recording layer which is removable in a single-fluid ink or can be rendered removable in a single-fluid ink by exposure to heat or light, image-wise exposing the image-recording layer to heat or light, processing the image-recording layer by supplying single-fluid ink, thereby obtaining a printing master, printing by supplying single-fluid ink to the printing master which is mounted on a plate cylinder of the printing press; and removing the printing master from the plate cylinder, preferably by winding up on an uptake spool.

Abstract: A method of lithographic printing is disclosed which comprises the steps of unwinding a web of an imaging material from a supply spool, the imaging material comprising (1) a flexible lithographic base having a hydrophilic surface and (2) an image-recording layer which is removable in a single-fluid ink or can be rendered removable in a single-fluid ink by exposure to heat or light, wrapping the imaging material around a cylinder of a printing press, image-wise exposing the image-recording layer to heat or light, processing the image-recording layer by supplying single-fluid ink, thereby obtaining a printing master, printing by supplying single-fluid ink to the printing master which is mounted on a plate cylinder of the printing press, removing the printing master from the plate cylinder, preferably by winding up on an uptake spool.

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 lithographic printing plate precursor comprises an electrochemically grained aluminium substrate, the grained surface of which is coated with a layer of gel-like amorphous colloidal oxides and hydroxides of aluminium and their hydrates incorporating metallic aluminium and inter-metallic aluminium alloys—generally at a level of below 5%—this layer being produced during the electrochemical graining process. The layer is typically present in an amount of from 0.1-20 g/m2 and at a layer thickness of 0.1-4.0 &mgr;m, the particle sizes in the said layer generally falling in the range of from 10 to 2000nm. Methods are disclosed for the preparation of said precursors via the electrochemical graining of aluminium substrates. The invention provides lithographic printing plate precursors which may be imagewise exposed by means of a high intensity laser beam to provide printing plates showing high durability on press and giving images which show good resolution and are free from background staining.

Abstract: Lithographic printing members have protective layers formulated specifically for use with single-fluid inks, and which are removed from the printing member during the preparatory procedures that precede printing. The protective layer provides protection against handling and environmental damage, and also extends plate shelf life; performs a cleaning function, entraining debris and carrying it away as the layer itself is removed; acts as a debris-management barrier if the layer immediately beneath the protective layer is ablated during the imaging process, preventing the emergence of airborne debris that might interfere with unimaged areas and/or imaging optics; and exhibits hydrophilicity, actually accelerating plate roll-up.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a precursor of waterless planographic printing plates, in which at least a photosensitive layer and a silicone rubber layer are laminated on a substrate in this order, characterized in that said photosensitive layer contains a quinonediazide group-containing polyurethane resin and furthermore, preferably, contains a light-heat converting material.The present invention can provide a precursor of waterless planographic printing plates, which is improved in both image reproducibility and printing durability, and which can be applied to both the method of obtaining a waterless planographic printing plate by ordinary image exposure and the method of obtaining a waterless planographic printing plate by laser irradiation.

Abstract: This invention discloses a negative-working on-press developable lithographic printing plate utilizing a non-hydrophilic solid particulate dispersion in the photosensitive layer to enhance on-press developability and non-tackiness of lithographic printing plate. The photosensitive layer is capable of being softened and dispersed by ink, and the plate can be developed on a printing press equipped with ink and fountain solution during regular press operation. Incorporation of non-hydrophilic particles can improve on-press developability or reduce tackiness without sacrificing other properties.

Abstract: A negative waterless plate contains a sheet substrate; a radiation sensitive imaging layer composed of a diazido naphthaquinone ester or amide compound, such as diazido naphthaquinone sulfonate of a phenolic resin, and a polyurethane prepared by reacting a di-isocyanate and a diol; and a silicone layer. The planographic printing plate is imagewise exposed to actinic radiation through a negative original to form exposed areas of the imaged layer which are soluble or dispersible in a developer liquid. After imaging exposure, the developer liquid is applied which penetrates the silicone layer and dissolves the areas exposed to the radiation. The coating areas not exposed by the radiation remain intact. During this development procedure, areas of the silicone layer overlying the exposed areas are removed along with the underlying soluble areas to produce an imaged planographic printing plate having uncovered ink receptive areas and complimentary ink repellent areas of the silicone layer.

Abstract: There is described a method of preparing water-less lithographic plate which comprises imagewise exposing a lithographic plate coated with a photosensitive composition, processing the exposed plate in an aqueous based developing liquid to remove those areas of the photosensitive composition which are removable by the developing liquid, drying the plate and coating the plate with an ink releasing coating composition which adheres to those areas of the plate from which the photosensitive composition has been removed, but which does not adhere to those areas of the plate from which the photosensitive composition which has not been removed, further treating the plate to cure or fix the ink-releasing composition thus providing ink-receptive areas of the plate which are those areas of the plate from which the photosensitive composition which has not been removed in the developing liquid and ink-releasing areas of the plate which are covered with the cured ink-releasing composition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inking a "waterless" planographic printing plate utilizes an ink application unit and a separating agent application unit. These two units supply conventional ink and a separating agent either directly or indirectly to the planographic printing plate.

Abstract: A method for producing an erasable printing form by making the outer layer of the printing form from a material containing strong micro-dipoles, preferably a ferroelectric material, in particular a ferroelectric ceramic. In wet offset printing, the non-printing areas of the printing form are rendered hydrophilic by a hydrophilizing agent and they are maintained during the entire printing process. Plate cleaners can, for example, be used as the hydrophilizing agents. The printing form can be erased by a nonpolar solvent and can be reused again by rendering the non-printing areas hydrophilic again.

Abstract: Rapid thermosetting, low VOC web offset lithographic inks are prepared in the instant invention from solid resin, drying oil alkyds, bodied drying oil, vegetable oil, fatty acids, multifunctional unsaturated polyester, reducing agents and transition metal salts of organic acids. The aqueous lithographic fountain solution contains hydroperoxides or peroxides which promote free radical polymerization of the ink in contact therewith. The metal salts of organic acids function as crosslinking agents in combination with excess carboxylic acid functionality of the ink. Optionally, the reducing agent and the organic hydroperoxide or peroxide may be interchanged.

Abstract: The present invention provides a processing composition which is used for lithographic printing plate where silver image is used as ink receptive area for enhancing ink receptivity of the silver image. This composition contains an organic compound having two or more mercapto groups or thion groups and, in combination therewith, an aromatic sulfonic acid formalin condensate, an anionic surfactant having a polyoxyethylene group, an aromatic carboxylic acid, a hydrosulfite compound, a water-soluble polymer having a carboxyl group and having a number-average molecular weight of about 20,000 or less, a hydroxyaryl fatty acid, or an organic disulfide compound. If this composition additionally contains an oxidizing agent, it can further improve printing endurance of the printing plate.

Abstract: A wet laid watermark of uncoated paper is simulated by the use of a resin or resin-plasticizer mixture dissolved in a slow evaporating, high boiling solvent. A sufficient quantity of the low viscosity solution is printed onto an uncoated paper sheet of stationery grade by a standard flexographic press to penetrate the paper fiber and deposit a non-tacky solid having a refractive index which closely approximates that of cellulose. The resulting image of the print is visible to both faces of the paper sheet.

Abstract: A recording paper characterized by comprising a substrate coated with a layer finely divided by micro-cracks of irregular form into numerous lamellae. This paper quickly fixes the coloring matter of ink by capturing it with the lamellae and also quickly absorbs the solvent of ink through the micro-cracks into the substrate.

Abstract: Printed materials such as tickets, lottery forms, cards and contest forms, bearing a hidden message which is revealable by scratching off a covering opaque layer, are prepared by printing the message on the substrate, lithographing a protective layer such as a clear varnish or a pigmented varnish-ink over the hidden message, and then lithographing a hiding coat over the applied protective layer. The protective layer formulation and the hiding coat layer are both based upon compatible, preferably the same, film forming resin systems, and are deposited from a common solvent. The protective layer may provide a clear, colorless transparent film through which the message may be viewed, or a colored see-through layer, so that it constitutes one color layer also for the printing of other areas of the substrate.

Abstract: A novel ink formulation, especially useful in Driography printing, is disclosed. The ink formulation comprises a basic planographic printing ink vehicle, a pigment, a modifying varnish and a flow control agent to provide an ink, especially suitable for use in Driography, which exhibits desirable hangling-viscosities under ambient conditions, improved rheological properties under severe press-operating conditions, and provides printings having sharp delineation, fidelity and excellent reproducibility in depth of color tones in long press runs. The basic printing ink vehicle may be a vehicle designed for either sheet-fed or heat-set printing systems. The novel ink formulation is designed to have a high viscosity and avoid becoming pseudoplastic in its behavior at higher press temperatures, which generally can range from about 85.degree. F. to 125.degree. F., and preferably, avoids becoming pseudoplastic at temperatures up to about 140.degree. F. or more.

Abstract: An aqueous nonblinding lithographic plate finisher suitable for machine operation is provided which comprises an essentially cold-water soluble dextrin or polyvinyl pyrrolidone as hydrophilic polymer with a nonionic surfactant or mixture thereof having a hydrophile-lipophile balance between about 12 and 18, a humectant and a salt.

Abstract: A liquid composition for development of latent electrostatic images formed on an offset master for use in the production of multiple copies by offset duplication, in which the developer composition is formulated to contain a fatty acid amine, aromatic amine, heterocyclic amine or other aliphatic amine containing from 3 to 18 carbon atoms in the aliphatic group to obviate the undesirable effects from treatment of the imaged surface with a conversion solution.