Abstract: A metal pattern of the present invention is a metal pattern (13?) formed on a surface of a substrate by etching, and a monomolecular film containing fluorinated alkyl chains (CF3(CF2)n—, where n represents an integer) is formed on a surface of a metal film composing the metal pattern (13?), and a masking film (18) is formed by penetration of a molecule having a mercapto group (—SH) or a disulfide (—SS—) group into interstices between molecules composing the monomolecular film.

Abstract: A print substrate-contacting element having an ink-repellent coating on a surface of a microstructured carrier is described, the coating including at least one derivative of an amphiphilic organic compound whose polar region has an acidic character. A method for coating a surface of a microstructured carrier of a print substrate-contacting element is distinguished by the application of an amount of substance, which includes at least one derivative of an amphiphilic organic compound whose polar region has an acidic character, by treating the surface with an alcoholic solution of the amount of substance. The print substrate-contacting element can very advantageously be the surface of a back-pressure cylinder in a print substrate-processing machine, in particular in a printing press. The coating method can be carried out in a print substrate-processing machine.

Abstract: A printing sleeve (10) has a first printing sleeve portion (10A) with a first and a second end. At least one of the ends of the first printing sleeve portion has a plurality of projections (16) and notches (18). A second printing sleeve portion (10B) has a first and second end, and least one of the ends has a plurality of projections and notches. The plurality of projections and notches of the first printing sleeve portion interlocks with the plurality of projections and notches of the second printing sleeve portion.

Abstract: Described herein are novel thermally reactive near-infrared absorbing acetal copolymers that undergo chemical and physical changes upon exposure to near-infrared radiation. Also described are the methods of preparation of the novel acetal copolymers starting either with vinyl-alcohol polymers or with acetal copolymers. Also described are the methods of use of the new near-infrared absorbing acetal copolymers in coatings used in lithographic offset printing plates that can be directly imaged with near-infrared laser imaging devices in computer-to-plate and digital offset printing technologies. The novel acetal copolymers are also useful in photoresist applications, rapid prototyping of printed circuit boards and chemical sensor development.

Abstract: A color pattern formed substrate comprising a transparent substrate; a bank having an ink-repellent property on the transparent substrate; and colored layers resulted from color inks that are formed in the openings of the bank is disclosed. A surface layer portion of the bank has a better ink-repellent property than a lower layer portion thereof. The contact angle between the surface layer portion and a color ink is 30 degrees or greater.

Abstract: A method to obtain a lithographic printing master comprising the steps of: a) image-wise or information-wise exposing to radiation a thermal negative-working lithographic printing precursor comprising: i) a hydrophilic lithographic base; and ii) a radiation sensitive coating on a surface of said hydrophilic lithographic base, said coating comprising: (1) hydrophilic polymer particles; (2) hydrophobic polymer particles; and (3) a converter substance capable of converting radiation into heat; and b) developing said exposed thermal negative-working lithographic printing precursor with an aqueous medium in order to remove the unexposed areas of said coating. The hydrophilic polymer particles are made by polymerization of at least one hydrophilic monomer and the hydrophobic polymer particles are made by polymerization of at least one hydrophobic monomer.

Abstract: To provide a lithographic printing plate precursor capable of obtaining a plenty of sheets of good printed matters with practical energy dosage, which is excellent in on-press developing property and press life, and capable of reducing pollution of fountain solution, and provide a lithographic printing method. The lithographic printing plate precursor comprises a support having provided thereon an image-recording layer, which lithographic printing plate precursor is mounted on a printing press and imagewise exposed, or mounted on the printing press after imagewise exposure, and then developed by feeding printing ink and/or a fountain solution, wherein at least a part of the unexposed part of the image-recording layer is not dissolved in the printing ink, the fountain solution or both of them, and removed by falling out of film, and the invention provides a lithographic printing method using the same.

Abstract: A printing plate for an offset printing is provide. it includes a substrate and a plurality of concave printing plate patterns formed on the substrate. At least one auxiliary pattern is located on a bottom of at least one of the concave printing plate patterns and away from a side face of the concave printing plate pattern. Thereby, even if a plurality of inside void parts occur in a function pattern, an area thereof is small and each inside void part is isolated.

Abstract: A lithographic printing plate precursor which is capable of being on-machine developed by supplying at least one of an ink and a fountain solution and comprises a hydrophilic support having provided thereon an image-forming layer containing the following components (1) to (3), wherein the image-forming layer further contains a filler: (1) an infrared absorbing agent; (2) a compound capable of generating an acid or a radical; and (3) a compound capable of undergoing addition polymerization with the acid or radical.

Abstract: A positive planographic printing plate precursor includes a support having disposed thereon a lower thermosensitive layer containing a water-insoluble but alkali-soluble polymer compound and an upper thermosensitive layer containing a water-insoluble but alkali-soluble polymer compound, with alkali-solubility increasing under heat, wherein (i) both the upper thermosensitive layer and the lower thermosensitive layer contain an IR absorbing dye, with the ratio of the IR absorbing dye concentration in the upper thermosensitive layer to the IR absorbing dye concentration in the lower thermosensitive layer is 1.6 to 10.0, and/or (ii) the upper thermosensitive layer and the lower thermosensitive layer contain different IR absorbing dyes, and/or (iii) at least one of the upper thermosensitive layer and the lower thermosensitive layer contains an IR absorbent having, in one molecule, at least two chromophoric groups that absorb IR light, with the chromophoric groups bonding to each other via a covalent bond.

Abstract: A method of producing an element for contacting printing material, such as an impression cylinder jacket, includes generating a micro-structured surface on a carrier, preferably on an aluminum plate, by electrolytic oxidizing, i.e. anodizing aluminum, and coating the micro-structured surface by a sol-gel process. An element for contacting printing material includes an anodization layer and a sol-gel layer. A machine for processing printing material, in particular a printing press or a sheet-processing rotary printing press for lithographic offset printing, includes an element for contacting the printing material.

Abstract: A planographic printing plate precursor comprises a support and two or more positive recording layers which are formed on the support, contain a resin and an infrared absorbing agent and exhibit an increase in solubility in an aqueous alkali solution by exposure to infrared laser light, wherein the positive recording layer closest to the support among these two or more positive recording layers contains at least two types of resins among which at least one type forms a dispersion phase. It is preferable that the dispersion phase be formed of (1) a high-polymer compound incompatible with a high-polymer matrix or (2) a granular polymer selected from a microcapsule and a latex, and contains an infrared absorbing agent and an acid generator.

Abstract: A lithographic printing process which comprises the steps of: imagewise exposing to infrared light a presensitized lithographic plate which comprises a hydrophilic support and a removable image-forming layer containing an infrared absorbing agent having the absorption maximum within an infrared region and a dye precursor having substantially no absorption within a visible region to change the dye precursor to a visible dye having an absorption within a visible region within the exposed area, and to make the image-forming layer irremovable within the exposed area; removing the image-forming layer within the unexposed area of the lithographic plate mounted on a cylinder of a printing press; and then printing an image with the lithographic plate mounted on the cylinder of the printing press. The other processes are also disclosed.

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: 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: There is prepared a printing plate on which a material being hydrophilic due to light energy at a first temperature and being hydrophobic at a second temperature due to heat energy which is lower than the first temperature is provided. First, the whole surface of the printing plate is forcibly made either one of hydrophobic or hydrophilic. Next, a region having the other nature out of hydrophobic and hydrophilic is formed so as to correspond to an image to be printed. Then, ink is supplied onto the region having hydrophobic nature to conduct offset printing.

Abstract: In a method and device to generate a print image on a carrier material, a surface of a print carrier is coated with a layer which is one of ink-repelling and ink-attracting. In the structuring process, ink-attracting regions and ink-repelling regions are generated. Ink that adheres to the ink-attracting regions and that is not absorbed by the ink-repelling regions is applied on the surface. The applied ink is transferred onto the carrier material. Before a new structure process on the same surface of the print carrier, the surface is cleaned and recoated with said layer. Before the application of said layer, a wetting-aiding substance is applied with a molecular layer thickness. A surfactant with hydrophilic molecule sections is used as the wetting-aiding substance.

Abstract: A printing plate material product, is provided with a printing plate material including a substrate and a image forming layer provided on the substrate; and a wireless memory tag mounted on a part of the printing plate material and including a semiconductor memory and an antenna coil through which data is written in or read from the semiconductor memory. The semiconductor memory stores product data written in at the time of the manufacturing process of the printing plate material product.

Abstract: A printing form (10) having a surface (12) of pure silicon or of a silicon ceramic, which bears a pattern composed of hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions, the hydrophilic regions having a first chemical state and the hydrophobic regions having a second chemical state that differs from the first chemical state, in hydrophobic regions, the surface (12) having silicon atoms, to which at least one organic terminal group is attached in each instance. The organic terminal group may be, in particular, an unsubstituted or halogenated aryl terminal group or alkyl terminal group and be attached via an Si—C, Si—O—C or Si—O—Si—C bond. Also a method for modifying the wetting properties of the printing form, the surface (12) being brought into a first chemical state having a first wetting property, and a portion of all regions of the surface (12) being brought into a second chemical state having a second wetting property by modifying the chemical terminal groups of the surface (12).

Abstract: An image forming material, a lithographic printing plate precursor and a lithographic printing method, in which a color image with good visibility is obtained by laser exposure, are provided, wherein the image forming material and the lithographic printing plate precursor each comprising a support and a layer comprising a compound represented by formula (1) which changes from a colorless state to a colored state by the effect of heat; and a lithographic printing method comprising on-press development using the lithographic printing plate precursor:

Abstract: An alkaline developing solution for development of a heat-sensitive presensitized plate of positive-working mode for use in making a lithographic printing plate, which developing solution comprises a linear-type alkyleneoxide adduct and a branched-type alkyleneoxide adduct; a method for preparing a lithographic printing plate comprising the steps of light-exposing to infrared radiation, a heat-sensitive presensitized plate of positive-working mode for use in making a lithographic printing plate, said presensitized plate having an image recording layer which comprises an IR-absorbing dye on a substrate, and developing the light-exposed plate with the above alkaline developing solution.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive composition which forms an image without the removal of material, which does not require any developing treatment after the stage of exposure to heat and comprises: (a) a switchable polymer, (b) an IR absorber, (c) a triazine compound, and (d) a novolak resin. Negative lithographic plate comprising a substrate coated with the said composition. A method for obtaining a negative image on a substrate coated with a composition which is first hydrophobic and then lipophilic after exposure to heat, without the removal of material, the said negative image being obtained by applying a small quantity of energy to the said composition.

Abstract: The present invention includes a method of preparing an inkjet ink imaged lithographic printing plate by imagewise applying an acidic inkjet ink onto a substrate coated with an inkjet ink reactive coating composition which is acid-catalyzed, to produce an imaged coated substrate wherein the inkjet ink imaged regions are more insoluble than non-imaged regions. Then the imaged and non-imaged regions of the imaged coated substrate are contacted with a developer or fountain solution to selectively remove the coating from the soluble non-imaged regions. The present invention also includes an inkjet ink imaged lithographic printing plate which is prepared by the method of the invention.

Abstract: A method of printing is disclosed which comprises the steps of (i) providing a lithographic printing plate precursor comprising a support and a heat- or light-sensitive coating; (ii) image-wise exposure of the coating to heat or light; (iii) prior to step (ii) or (iv), mounting the lithographic printing plate precursor in a printing unit of a printing press, said printing unit comprising a dampening system and an inking system; (iv) development by supplying a processing liquid to the coating by means of the dampening system, thereby obtaining a lithographic printing plate; (v) printing by supplying single-fluid ink or driographic ink to the lithographic printing plate by means of the inking system. This method allows on-press processing of printing plate materials that require wet processing.

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: The present invention concerns an original method of copying a printing plate. Said plate, intended for wet offset printing, comprises a base substrate and a photosensitive layer which is soluble in a solvent. As is conventional, said method comprises selectively eliminating said photosensitive layer at suitable locations and is characterized in that said selective elimination comprises: depositing droplets of said solvent at said suitable locations; and rinsing the plate to evacuate the deposited solvent, which by then is charged with the photosensitive layer eliminated from said locations and is inactive.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the preparation of a printing plate comprises inkjet printing an oleophilic image on a surface of a support by applying to the support an aqueous solution or aqueous colloidal dispersion of an oleophilising compound on the surface of the support and drying the applied solution or dispersion, such that on drying the area of the surface to which the solution or dispersion was applied becomes lithographic ink-accepting, characterised in that the oleophilising compound has the chemical structure MO2C—(CHR)1—(CHR?)m—(CHR?)n—CO2M or MO2C—(CHR)1—(CHR?)m—(CHR?)n—SO3M wherein each M is the same or different and is independently selected from H or a cation; each of 1, m and n independently is 0 or 1, provided that 1+m+n=at least 1; each of R, R? and R? independently is —H, —B or -L-B; L is a linking group selected from alkylene, alkyleneoxy, thio, sulfonyl, sulfinyl, sulfoxyl, amido, alkylamido, oxyamido, alkylcarbamoyl carbamoyl, sulfonylamido, aminosulfonyl, aminosufonylam

Abstract: Disclosed are a printing plate material capable of being developed on a printing press and its manufacturing method which comprises the steps of subjecting an aluminum plate to electrolytic surface roughening treatment, subjecting the electrolytic surface roughened aluminum plate to etching treatment in an aqueous alkali solution, subjecting the resulting aluminum plate to anodization treatment, whereby an aluminum support is obtained, and providing on the aluminum support an image formation layer which contains thermoplastic particles and a light-to-heat conversion dye and changes in color due to infrared laser exposure.

Abstract: Solubility transitions rather than ablation mechanisms facilitate selective removal of the imaging layer of a lithographic plate, which allows for imaging with low-power lasers that need not impart ablation-inducing energy levels.

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: A heat-sensitive composition which forms an image without the removal of material, which does not require any developing treatment after the stage of exposure to heat and comprises: (a) a switchable polymer, (b) an IR absorber, (c) a triazine compound, and (d) a novolak resin. Negative lithographic plate comprising a substrate coated with the said composition. A method for obtaining a negative image on a substrate coated with a composition which is first hydrophilic and then lipophilic after exposure to heat, without the removal of material, the said negative image being obtained by applying a small quantity of energy to the said composition.

Abstract: Improved resolution plates based on hydrophilic organic coated substrates, where a hydrophobic layer is present during inkjet imaging and where after heating to fuse the inkjet image, the hydrophobic layer does not irreversibly fuse into the organic coating, but can be removed by aqueous washing to restore the hydrophilic nature of the plate surface.

Abstract: The invention relates to the development of lithographic printing plates and comprises the application of a thin film of developer solution to each plate in a controlled manner using a jetting printhead. Sensors and control means activate and deactivate the jetting printhead in response to the presence or absence of a plate. The developer is allowed to dwell on the plate as it is conveyed across a support structure for a sufficient time to allow for percolation into and/or dissolution of the soluble areas of the coating and is then washed off and sent to waste.

Abstract: The plate-making printing press is constructed by installing a plate-making apparatus in a printing press that supplies ink and dampening water to a printing plate and performs printing on a medium. In order to realize a high-precision plate-making operation, the printing press is equipped with a target disposed on the printing cylinder and a sensor for detecting the target and provided on the writing device, and the zero point of the encoder is corrected. Furthermore, at the time of plate-making, the adjustment mechanism is operated so that the printing cylinder is returned to the position of the point of origin.

Abstract: A method for forming an image by imaging and developing a multi-layer imageable element, in which the developer is fresh developer and the developer is not reused, is disclosed. Much smaller variation in dot percentage is obtained when each imaged imageable element is developed in fresh developer than when the developer is reused to develop additional imaged imageable elements. The method is especially suited to the formation of images using stochastic screening. Either a solvent based developer or a high pH developer may be used.

Abstract: A rotary printing machine having a plurality of printing-unit cylinders mounted one above another on a side wall, their axes lying in a plane inclined with respect to the plane of the printing-material web. An image-setting device is arranged wholly within the range of the obtuse angle which is formed by the plane of inclination of the cylinders and the plane of the printing-material web.

Abstract: The present invention provides a processless printing plate precursor including a thermally sensitive layer applied onto a substrate. The thermally sensitive layer includes polycyanoacrylate particles having a major dimension between about 50 and about 500 nm, and a mean major dimension of no greater than about 350 nm. The printing plate precursor may be exposed to radiation and may then be developed “on press” with a suitable fountain solution.

Abstract: A method for preparing a lithographic printing plate is disclosed, and said method comprises the steps of imagewise light-exposing to infrared radiation, a presensitized plate for use in making a lithographic printing plate, said presensitized plate having an image-forming layer which comprises an IR-absorbing agent, and developing the light-exposed plate with an alkaline liquid developer comprising a polyhydric alcohol-type alkylene oxide adduct.

Abstract: A printing plate is prepared for the insertion of images by applying an ink accepting layer and an ink repelling layer to it. A developing fluid is sprayed onto the ink repelling layer by an ink jet printing group. The developing fluid is sprayed in the image to be printer and the ink repelling layer is etched or dissolved in the sprayed area. The etched or dissolved areas of the ink repelling layer are removed. The method is particularly adapted for use with a waterless printing plate having an ink repelling layer of silicon.

Abstract: A method for producing a pattern of hydrophilic (34) and hydrophobic (32) regions on a printing form (30) is presented which, in a first, essentially unpatterned state, features a polymer material containing imide groups, for example, polybenzene diimide or polyamide imide. The method includes a chemical treatment of the surface with an oxidizing agent subsequent in time to a locally selective exposure with UV light. Optionally, the locally selective exposure can be preceded by a large-area chemical treatment of the surface with a strong base. The printing form (30) can be restored to the first state by a large-area chemical treatment of the surface with a strong acid. The patterned printing form (30) is suitable for use in offset printing.

Abstract: A recording head moving mechanism has a pair of guide rails fixed to a support member, and a ball screw extending parallel to the guide rails. The ball screw is rotatable by a motor to move a recording head parallel to an axis of a plate cylinder. At an image-recording time, the recording head records an image while being moved at a constant speed by the moving mechanism through a moving region between a recording start position and a recording finish position. After recording the image, the recording head is moved to a retreat position.

Abstract: A direct-to-press imaging method comprises: (a) applying an imageable coating to a printing cylinder, wherein the imageable coating comprises a composition such as a thermally switchable polymer which changes affinity for a printing fluid upon exposure to imaging radiation such as infrared radiation delivered imagewise via a laser, and the imageable coating is substantially insoluble in the printing fluid; (b) imagewise exposing the imageable coating to actinic radiation to obtain an imaged coating; (c) printing a plurality of copies of an image from the imaged coating; and (d) reapplying the imageable coating as desired by repeating steps (a) through (c) at least once without substantially removing the prior imaged coating before reapplying the imageable coating.

Abstract: A lithographic printing method forming a uniform layer of a hydrophobic substance on the entire surface of a printing plate precursor having a titanium dioxide-containing surface layer, by irradiating the surface of the precursor with active light to form imagewise hydrophilic areas to make a printing plate, said active light is far-ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 250 to 320 nm.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for printing, comprising the steps of: a) developing an image forming surface of a planographic printing plate; b) after the developing, hydrophilizing a portion of a vicinity of an edge of the image forming surface; c) after the hydrophilizing, adhering ink to the image forming surface; and d) transferring the ink to a printing target.

Abstract: The invention relates to the development of lithographic printing plates and comprises the application of a thin film of developer solution to each plate in a controlled manner using a jetting printhead. Sensors and control means activate and deactivate the jetting printhead in response to the presence or absence of a plate. The developer is allowed to dwell on the plate as it is conveyed across a support structure for a sufficient time to allow for percolation into and/or dissolution of the soluble areas of the coating and is then washed off and sent to waste.

Abstract: Photosensitive compositions comprising a phenol resin having a urea bond in the main chain, planographic printing plate precursors containing the photosensitive compositions, and methods for preparing planographic printing plates using the planographic printing plate precursors are disclosed. Planographic printing plates that exhibit good durability, good exposure visual image property, and good solvent resistance; particularly superior resistance to washing oil used in UV ink printing; and superior baking property are produced.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of producing images on a series of master plates that are suitable for use as printing plates for the reproduction of multiple copies of composite images from said plates. The master plates are supported with a predetermined alignment relative to each other before mounting on a printing press. Counterpart raster lines of images on the master plates are recorded simultaneously or substantially simultaneously using preferably an ink jet printer so that the counterpart raster lines are printed in alignment.

Abstract: A method of producing a pattern-formed structure, comprising: preparing a substrate for a pattern-formed structure having a characteristic-modifiable layer whose characteristic at a surface thereof can be modified by the action of photocatalyst; preparing a photocatalyst-containing-layer side substrate having a photocatalyst-containing layer formed on a base material, the photocatalyst-containing layer containing photocatalyst; arranging the substrate for a pattern-formed structure and the photocatalyst-containing-layer side substrate such that the characteristic-modifiable layer faces the photocatalyst-containing layer with a clearance of no larger than 200 &mgr;m therebetween; and irradiating energy to the characteristic-modifiable layer from a predetermined direction, and modifying characteristic of a surface of the characteristic-modifiable layer, thereby forming a pattern at the characteristic-modifiable layer.

Abstract: The invention provides a negative image-recording material for heat-mode exposure systems, which comprises (A) an IR absorbent including cyanine dye having a substituent that contains an atom having an atomic weight of at least 28 such as halogen atom, or a substituent that contains a non-covalent electron pair such as carbonyl group, (B) a radical generator and (C) a radically-polymerable compound, and which is imagewise exposed to IR rays for image formation thereon.

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.