Abstract: A composition that is photopolymerizable upon absorption of light and/or heat, the composition including a binder, a polymerizable compound, a sensitizer, and a photoinitiator, characterized in that the composition includes, with respect to its non-volatile compounds, at least about 0.01 wt. % of a polythiol compound, and wherein the composition when coated on a support has a sensitivity of about 150 ?J/cm2 or higher, in combination with a high hardness.

Abstract: A method of on-press developing a lithographic printing plate with ink and/or fountain solution involving the utilization of a plate holder for transferring the exposed plate from the imager to the lithographic press is described. The plate comprises on a substrate a photosensitive layer capable of hardening or solubilization upon exposure to a laser, and the non-hardened or solubilized areas of the photosensitive layer are soluble or dispersible in ink and/or fountain solution. The plate is exposed with the laser on an imager and placed in a plate holder to transfer to the press for development with ink and/or fountain solution and lithographic printing. The plate holder is preferably light-tight so that the plate in the plate holder is shielded from the room light.

Abstract: Reusable printing forms and thermal image setting on the printing forms is optimized in terms of performance. A method for manufacturing the printing form, in particular a rewritable printing form, having a thermally insulating layer, is distinguished by the fact that the thermally insulating layer is produced by the configuration of individual layers to form a layer sequence as a multilayer system. A printing form which is manufactured by the method according to the invention can have images set on it with a low power image setting device, as it is possible to effectively prevent heat from dissipating in an undesirably pronounced manner, for example into a metallic carrier.

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: 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.

Abstract: A method for preparing a lithographic web during manufacturing by incorporating a cleaning device cleaning device capable of being in contact with one or more web rollers. The cleaning device including a cleaning applicator to apply the cleaning solution such that the cleaning solution connected to the cleaning applicator, and a controller to move the applicator from an operational mode to a self-cleaning mode.

Abstract: The present application describes a template with feature profiles that have multiple sidewall angles. The multiple sidewall angles facilitate control over critical dimensions and reduce issues related to template release.

Abstract: Excellent development of planographic printing plates can be achieved by exposing an imaged, negative working, photopolymerizable coating to a high pressure stream of essentially untreated tap water, whereby the water completely removes only the less cohesive and adhesive (e.g., partially polymerized) regions to the substrate, thereby directly producing a printing plate having an image pattern of highly cohesive and adhesive, oleophilic regions of the coating and hydrophilic regions of the substrate. The coating removal mechanism appears to be due entirely to ablation. The high pressure stream is preferably delivered to the plate through at least one nozzle having a discharge pressure greater than about 200 psi. Each nozzle preferably has a spray pattern that impinges the plate over a substantially rectangular region of the plate, and the nozzle and plate translate relative to each other.

Abstract: An imprinting method is disclosed that, in embodiment, includes contacting first and second spaced target regions of an imprintable medium on a substrate with first and second templates respectively to form respective first and second imprints in the medium and separating the first and second templates from the imprinted medium.

Abstract: A printing form and method for imaging a printing form, in particular a printing sleeve or printing plate, is disclosed. The printing form, having a printing form carrier and a polymer layer which is applied to the printing form carrier, can be imaged and can be erased, it being possible for the polymer layer to be applied by a photocatalytic route and/or a photochemical route, and it being possible for the polymer layer to be erased by the action of electromagnetic radiation and/or by the action of heat and/or by the action of at least one solvent and/or by abrasive removal.

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: A method for bonding slider row bars for photolithography process includes steps of: (1) forming a holding device having a sticky surface; (2) providing a plurality of slider row bars each of which has a first surface for forming air bearing surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and attaching the slider row bars on the holding device with the first surfaces of the slider row bars facing to the sticky surface; (3) heating the holding device with the slider row bars attached thereon and pressing the second surfaces of the slider row bars to push the slider row bars into the sticky surface; (4) bonding the slider row bars together by an encapsulating glue to form a slider row bar assembly; (5) providing a carrier and bonding the carrier to the second surfaces of the slider row bars; and (6) removing the holding device. The invention also discloses a method for manufacturing sliders.

Abstract: A platemaking method for a lithographic printing plate, comprises: imagewise exposing a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising: a hydrophilic substrate; and a negative image recording layer containing a water-insoluble polymer; and removing a non-exposed area of the image recording layer with an aqueous solution, wherein a temperature of the aqueous solution is higher than a glass transition temperature (Tg) of the water-insoluble polymer.

Abstract: A system and method of monitoring a print manufacturing process which may include a raster image processor for imaging proofs, plates and press sheets for a printing press based on raster and vector data and generating a two-dimensional barcode where the data is translated into a homogenous messaging format, a plate imager for imaging a printing plate based on the data received from the raster image processor wherein the printing plate also comprises a two-dimensional barcode, a computer-to-plate device capable of transmitting the data from the raster image processor to the plate imager where the two-dimensional barcode is utilized to monitor the printing plate during the print manufacturing process and/or to image replacement printing plates.

Abstract: This invention is related to a manufacturing method of a printing plate by using a free-seal, free-quantity liquid photopolymer sachet and an apparatus thereof. Using this technology, the liquid photopolymer sachet is no longer to be limited by quantity with 3 dimensions—width, length and thickness. It is now very free, easy and convenient to use liquid photopolymer resin in a bag to make a printing plate at any width and length with any thickness you want.

Abstract: Lithographic printing plate precursor comprising (a) a lithographic substrate with a hydrophilic surface and (b) a radiation-sensitive coating on the hydrophilic surface comprising (i) one or more types of monomers and/or oligomers and/or polymers, each comprising at least one ethylenically unsaturated group accessible to a free radical polymerization, (ii) at least one sensitizer, and at least one coinitiator capable of forming free radicals together with the sensitizer (ii); characterized in that the at least one sensitizer is an oligomeric or polymeric compound comprising the following structural unit (Formula (I)), wherein ?1 is an aromatic or heteroaromatic unit or a combination of the two so that a conjugated n-system is present between the two groups Z in structure (I), each Z independently represents a heteroatom, each R1 and R2 is independently selected from a halogen atom, an alkyl, aryl, alkylaryl or aralkyl group, a group —NR3R4 and a group —OR5, each R3, R4 and R5 is independently selected from a

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a planographic printing plate and a dummy plate for planographic printing in a CTP plate-making system, the method including: taking one product out of a pile of multiple planographic printing plate precursors piled up on a base substrate and a pile of multiple dummy plate precursors for planographic printing piled up on another base substrate, distinguishing the kind of the one product, exposing the one product to an infrared ray when the one product is a planographic printing plate precursor, and developing the one product when the one product is other than the base substrate, wherein the base substrate surface, the planographic printing plate precursor, and the dummy plate precursor for planographic printing each have a different absorption maximum in a range of 350 to 700 nm and an absorbance at the absorption maximum of 0.2 or more.

Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of providing a lithographic printing plate precursor including a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer, and a coating provided on the hydrophilic surface or the hydrophilic layer, wherein the coating includes an image recording layer including hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles and wherein the image recording layer or an optional other layer of the coating further includes an infrared light absorbing agent; image-wise exposing the precursor to infrared light having an energy density of 190 mJ/cm2 or less; developing the exposed precursor by removing unexposed areas in a processing liquid; baking the plate thus obtained by keeping the plate at a temperature above the glass transition temperature of the thermoplastic particles during a period between 5 seconds and 2 minutes.

Abstract: A printing apparatus adapted for printing wide line width and narrow line width patterns with one printing plate when fabricating a liquid crystal display device is disclosed. The printing apparatus includes a printing roll having target pattern forming material spread thereon, a printing substrate have at least one pair of adjacent printing plate patterns and at least one barrier rib pattern therebetween, and a target substrate. The printing substrate is configured to receive target pattern forming material from the printing roll and the target substrate is configured to receive target pattern forming material remaining on the printing roll following transfer of target forming material to the printing substrate.

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: An apparatus and related method for preparing a lithographic web during manufacturing by incorporating a cleaning device cleaning device capable of being in contact with one or more web rollers. The cleaning device including a cleaning applicator to apply the cleaning solution such that the cleaning solution connected to the cleaning applicator, and a controller to move the applicator from an operational mode to a self-cleaning mode.

Abstract: The invention pertains to an apparatus and a process for forming a printing form from a photosensitive element having a cylindrical support, and in particular, to an apparatus and a process for thermally treating the photosensitive element to form a relief pattern and particularly to form a cylindrically-shaped flexographic printing form. The apparatus and process includes supporting the cylindrical support to accommodate thermal treating of photosensitive elements with various sizes of the cylindrical support.

Abstract: Single layer IR-sensitive negative-working imageable elements include thermally coalesceable core-shell particles without a polymeric binder in an imageable layer. Thermal imaging causes coalescence of the particles in imaged regions while non-imaged regions can be removed with plain water or an aqueous solution containing an acidic polymer.

Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of (i) providing a negative-working, heat-sensitive lithographic printing plate precursor including a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer and a coating provided thereon, the coating including an image-recording layer which includes hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles, a binder, and an infrared absorbing dye, wherein the hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles have an average particle diameter, measured by Photon Correlation Spectroscopy, of more than 10 nm and less than 40 nm, and the amount of the IR-dye, without taking into account an optional counter ion, is more than 0.

Abstract: In a lithographic printing process a substrate is moved, in the scanning direction, relative to a patterned beam of radiation being projected onto it during a scanning exposure of a pattern feature. An image of the pattern feature is blurred in the scanning direction. The effect of the blurring is used to reduce a difference of critical dimension between similar horizontal and vertical features. The effect on critical dimension may obtained by providing an amount of anamorphic magnification to the projection system.

Abstract: An apparatus for creating a uniform imaging surface on a flexographic plate or flexographic sleeve (14) mounted on a drum (16) and comprises a light source; a transparent drum (22); and a lens system (12) for focusing a beam from the light source through the transparent drum onto the flexographic plate or sleeve.

Abstract: In a lithographic printing plate and method of manufacture, an interleaf is permanently integrated to the bottom surface of the plate substrate. A thin, flexible, water and solvent insoluble film is adhered to and covers the bottom surface of the coated and cured sheet before the sheet is cut into plates. The interleaf has a lesser thickness than the thickness of the substrate. A preferred method comprises the steps of selecting a wound coil of aluminum sheet, unwinding the coil and advancing the sheet through a coating station at which a liquid coating of radiation imageable material is applied to the top surface of the sheet, curing the material to form a cured coating adhered to the top surface of the sheet, laminating a polymeric film to the bottom surface of the sheet, and advancing the laminated sheet to a cutting device where individual plates are cut from the sheet.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive negative-working lithographic printing plate precursor includes a support having a hydrophilic surface or which is provided with a hydrophilic layer and a coating provided thereon, the coating including an image-recording layer which includes hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles wherein the hydrophobic thermoplastic polymer particles include a polyester and have an average particle diameter from 18 nm to 50 nm.

Abstract: A system for exposing a flexographic printing plate with light includes a light-providing subsystem and a reflector around the light-providing subsystem. The reflector includes a body and a plurality of miniature mirrors on an interior of the body arranged to reflect light generated by the light-providing subsystem to exit the reflector at angles integrated between 0 degrees and a selected angle, such as 30 degrees. As a result, the shoulder angles of features on the flexographic printing plate are controlled within a selected range of angles, such as 0 to 30 degrees.

Abstract: The electric conductivity of the developer is measured every constant period, a development replenisher is replenished every constant time as a time lapse replenisher in an amount based on a set value of a time lapse replenishment rate, a development replenisher is replenished every processing of a constant area of a photosensitive lithographic printing plate precursor(s) as a processing replenisher in an amount based on a set value of a processing replenishment rate, a calculated value of electric conductivity is calculated from the amounts of the time lapse replenisher and the processing replenisher, the set values of the time lapse replenishment rate and the processing replenishment rate are increased or decreased according to the result of the comparison of the calculated value with the measured value, and the value of the difference between the calculated value and the measured value is displayed as a degree of a developer activity.

Abstract: A method for checking a correctness of impositions and correct mutual register of the print pages at a front side and a rear side of different types of printed matters using a check print apparatus comprising two co-operating printers. The method includes preparing impositions in a control unit of the front side and the rear side of a print original to be made, printing a plurality of print pages having a first imposition of the front side of the paper, printing a plurality of print pages having a second imposition on the rear side of the paper with the page in position turned 180°, checking that the first and second impositions of the front and rear sides coincide, correcting the first and second impositions using the control unit when the checking step determines the first and second impositions do not coincide, and preparing a print original with the first and second impositions coinciding.

Abstract: An imprinting method is provided that, according to an embodiment, involves contacting an imprintable medium on a substrate with a template to define an imprint area in the medium, removing at least some of any imprintable medium present outside the imprint area, and separating the template from the medium.

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: Disclosed are a printing method and apparatus which utilizes surface modification of a substrate on which an indicia pattern is to be created.

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 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.

Abstract: A method for making a lithographic printing plate includes the steps of a) providing an aqueous fluid containing at least 2 weight % of a fluorosurfactant based on the total weight of the aqueous fluid wherein the fluorosurfactant has a phosphorous containing group capable of reacting with the surface of a lithographic printing plate precursor; and b) jetting the aqueous fluid on the surface of a lithographic printing plate precursor.

Abstract: An imprint lithography apparatus includes an imprint template operably connected to an imprint actuator. The imprint actuator is actuatable to displace the template along an imprint axis to bring the template into contact with an imprintable medium. The template is connected to the actuator via a bearing configured to permit substantially unrestricted displacement of the actuator relative to the template along an axis substantially perpendicular to the imprint axis during release of the template from the imprintable medium.

Abstract: Excellent development of photosensitive coatings on planographic printing plates is achieved by directing a dynamic flow of fresh alkaline developer solution that impinges on a target area of the coating extending the width of the plate and floods the target area with a turbulent flow. At sufficient volumetric flow rate, the developer solution at the target area is constantly displaced during the development time, whereby no boundary layer forms on and travels with the plate during the development time and thus the target area is always in contact with fresh developer solution.

Abstract: According to the present invention, the droop height is set to 25 to 70 ?m, a knife having an acute angle of 70° or more is used as the lower knife, and the level difference angle of the lower knife is set to 5° or less. Thereby, it is possible to prevent stain from being formed on a planographic printing plate, while securing the predetermined droop height. At the same time, it is possible to suppress the generation of a burr, and to prevent a flaw from being caused at the time when the planographic printing plates are stacked.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining the alignment of printing plate (14) mounted on an imaging drum (12), and applying an image to a printing plate while maintaining registration and alignment between the image and a reference edge (15) of the printing plate include mounting the printing plate on a plate-making machine (10) and then determining the locations of at least two points on the reference edge. The locations of two or more points are used to determine a transformation that is applied to image data to yield transformed image data (27). The transformed image data is used to image the printing plate. A method and apparatus for determining the locations of the points using backlighting avoids errors encountered in illuminating from the top.

Abstract: A printing plate for reversed relief offset printing ensures the prevention of the internal omission of a desired pattern without increasing the depths of depressions of the plate. The printing plate comprises a base material having depressions and a non-depressed part on a surface thereof, and ink repellent layers that cover inner surfaces of the depressions, respectively. The depressions of the base material whose inner surfaces are respectively covered with the ink repellent layers have a plan shape that defines a desired pattern. The non-depressed part of the base material is formed in such a way that a part of an ink film corresponding to the non-depressed part can be transferred to the printing plate in a process of reversed relief offset printing. The parts of the ink film corresponding to the depressions are not transferred to the printing plate due to the repelling action of the ink repellent layers.

Abstract: In a letterpress printing form, at least one region at a floor of the printing form is formed between printing elements to reduce a likelihood that printing ink drops which may form at a floor between the printing elements could detach from the floor and result in an undesired ink deposit on a surface being printed.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor, which is on-press developable by supplying an oily ink and an aqueous component, includes an image forming layer that has, in an exposed area thereof at 25° C., a water content change rate of 2.0 mass % or less when relative humidity is changed from 30% to 50%.

Abstract: There are provided an ink composition including a polymerization initiator, a polymerizable monomer and a phosphoric acid group-containing polymer having a weight-average molecular weight in a range of 10,000 to 30,000; an inkjet recording method using the ink composition; a printed material recorded by the inkjet recording method; a method of producing a planographic printing plate using the ink composition; and a planographic printing plate obtained by the method of producing a planographic printing plate.

Abstract: Process for the production of flexographic printing plates by means of direct laser engraving, in which the particulate and gaseous degradation products formed in the course of the engraving are taken up by means of a suction apparatus, and the waste gas stream laden with the degradation products is purified by means of a combination of at least one solids filter and at least one oxidatively operating purification stage.

Abstract: A laser imageable flexographic printing plate precursor comprises a thermoset elastomeric upper layer that is at least partially ablatable and comprises a radiation sensitive compound, and a non-ablatable elastomeric underlayer. This flexographic printing plate precursor can be imaged to provide a printing plate that is primarily useful for “high quality” printing because the resulting relief image is generally not greater than 600 ?m and has an extremely even “floor”. The imaged flexographic printing plate also can have a high visual contrast between the imaged areas and the non-imaged background areas.

Abstract: It is possible to perform even pattern transfer with a high throughput.

Abstract: An image fixing device inductively injects thermal energy into a rotating printing form of a press for fixing an image formed on the rotating printing form by means of a digital imaging system. The fixing device has at least one inductor with at least one induction loop, a high-frequency part that forms a tuned circuit with the inductor, and a supply part that can be coupled to the inductor by means of supply lines suitable for high frequency. The inductor loop is in an elongated form aligned parallel to the circumferential direction of the rotating printing form, with the effect that the zone of energy transfer and therefore the heating zone can be configured specifically in terms of its spread in the printing form, so that a high flux density can be introduced zonally into the printing form at the point which is to be heated.

Abstract: Disclosed is a conductive composition which can be used to form an aqueous conductive ink with increased conductivity. The aqueous conductive composition contains conductive particles, preferably silver, an anionic wetting agent and a styrene-acrylic copolymer. The composition is highly conductive and requires reduced drying energy. In addition, it may be applied to low cost substrates by high speed printing processes.