Abstract: A color ink-jet printer having a heating blower system for evaporating ink carriers from the print medium after ink-jet printing. A preheat drive roller engages the medium and draws it to a print zone. The drive roller is heated and preheats the medium before it reaches the print zone. At the print zone, a print heater heats the underside of the medium via radiant and convective heat transfer through an opening pattern formed in a print zone heater screen. The amount of heat energy is variable, depending on the type of the print medium. A crossflow fan at the exit side of the print zone direct an airflow at the print zone in order to cause turbulence at the medium surface being printed and further accelerate evaporation of the ink carriers from the medium. An exhaust fan and duct system exhausts air and ink carrier vapor away from the print zone and out of the printer housing.

Abstract: A method of applying printing ink to cylindrical objects includes coating the external surfaces of cylindrical objects with migration-preventing plastic material which has an affinity for ink, and advancing the coated objects continuously, in series, one after the other, through an ink application zone wherein printing inks are transferred from a flexible carrier onto the coated surfaces of the objects. The ink sublimes in the heat, and the carrier is under tension during contact with selected portions of coated surfaces of the cylindrical objects which roll along the carrier during passage through an ink application zone. At least the carrier is heated above the sublimation temperature of the printing ink, and a temperature gradient is established in the plastic coats from the inside to the outside prior to, or not later than upon, entry of objects into the ink application zone. To this end, the ink application zone immediately adjoints a production line for the objects.

Abstract: An impasto pattern representing a desired character or mark is formed on a stretchable support, typically sportswear fabric by extruding a high viscosity liquid silicone rubber composition to the support through a nozzle of a robotic applicator having a picture drawing function to form a predetermined pattern of impasto extrudate on the support, and curing the extrudate.

Abstract: A color ink-jet printer having a heating blower system for evaporating ink carriers from the print medium after ink-jet printing. A preheat drive roller engages the medium and draws it to a print zone. The drive roller is heated and preheats the medium before it reaches the print zone. At the print zone, a print heater heats the underside of the medium via radiant and convective heat transfer through an opening pattern formed in a print zone heater screen. The amount of heat energy is variable, depending on the type of the print medium. A crossflow fan at the exit side of the print zone direct an airflow at the print zone in order to cause turbulence at the medium surface being printed and further accelerate evaporation of the ink carriers from the medium. An exhaust fan and duct system exhausts air and ink carrier vapor away from the print zone and out of the printer housing.

Abstract: A flexographic apparatus including a plate having a relief pattern for printing on a substrate to be printed is provided with a temperature control, preferably embedded within a stage for supporting the substrate to be printed. The substrate to be printed may be controlled at a temperature above 30.degree. C. Patterned organic polymer films and inorganic oxide films can be formed.

Abstract: A device for increasing heat transmission to the cooling cylinders in rotary-offset machines in order to cool a web of printed and dried stock. One or more charging electrodes are positioned where the web comes into contact with the cooling cylinders.

Abstract: Printing onto a cable jacket in which while the cable moves along a passline in "in-line" production, a longitudinally extending band of the jacket is treated with an oxidizing gas flame to provide an oxidized surface and a jet printer prints a legend onto the surface. The method is of particular use when the jacket is formed from materials, e.g. polyethylene to which ink does not normally adhere readily.

Abstract: Disclosed is a printing process which comprises applying in imagewise fashion to a substrate an ink composition which comprises an aqueous liquid vehicle, a colorant, and an ionic compound at least partially ionizable in the liquid vehicle, said ink composition having a conductivity of at least about 10 milliSiemens per centimeter, and subsequently exposing the substrate to microwave radiation, thereby drying the images on the substrate.

Abstract: An adaptive dryer for a printing system obtains values representing mass of ink and/or area coverage of ink on each page to be printed prior to drying and based on the determined mass-area coverage varies one or both of feed rate of the pages through the dryer and temperature of the dryer to more closely adapt the drying parameters of the dryer with the particular drying criterion each page requires for optimal quality, highest average throughput and minimal heating power requirements.

Abstract: A process for producing a window glass with a thin film thereon, which comprises coating a coating solution on a glass substrate by flexographic printing and then baking the coated glass substrate to form a thin film.

Abstract: A silk screen printing process onto a support with a reduced ink absorption including, after each silk screen printing phase onto a support to be submitted to silk screen printing, at least a first heating phase of the support and at least a second forced cooling phase of said support, the second phase being immediately successive to the first phase. The process is carried out by a plant (1) including, after each printing station (2), a heating station (5) acting onto the silk-screened support (14) and a cooling station (6) active onto the same support (14) to be submitted to silk screen printing.

Abstract: A method of highly accurate printing using a web offset press, particularly suited for stereographic printing. Consistent reproductions of a composite image are produced on a paper web, and registry between the image and an embossed screen is maintained, by preshrinking (e.g., reducing the moisture content of) the paper prior to printing the composite image on the paper web. Preshrinking the paper prevents the subsequent ink drying operation from causing shrinkage of the paper and concomitant variations in the image, permitting inline formation of a screen in accurate registry with the image.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process and apparatus for cleaning the rubber blankets of a rotary offset printing press while the web is running. The cleaning agent used to remove ink and paper residue from the rubber blanket is partially transferred to the web and passed to the dryer. At an advanced stage of the printing run, where we can observe a rise and subsequent drop in the ink residue curve paralleled by a corresponding curve for the cleaning solution load, undesirably high fume release levels may occur. These fume levels may, on one hand, be controlled via the cleaning program. On the other hand, it is possible to adjust these fume levels by influencing the fume release through the application of a suitable agent to the web surface. The application of this material will inhibit the fume release and alter the component moieties in the fumes while additionally permitting the released components to be sealed off. The material utilized is predominantly water.

Abstract: A machine for silk-screen printing, in particular for multi-color printing, comprises a plurality of support tables for supporting an article to be printed, which are intermittently sliding and can be positioned in correspondence to fixed stations; the machine comprises furthermore a plurality of printing heads which can be associated with the framework of the machine in such a way as to be interchangeable at any one of the fixed stations.

Abstract: A printer comprising a temperature control (A) that sets a recording medium (10) conducted through the printer under motor drive approximately uniformly to a predetermined temperature, comprising a thermal writer (B) that generates a latent character image on the recording medium (10) by local heat application controlled character-dependent, and comprising a developer (C) in which the latent character image is developed by condensation of a color vapor or by color application.

Abstract: A continuous drier for drying a printed web on web-fed rotary printing presses operates during ongoing printing and blanket washing processes with control of the gaseous and vaporous constituents of the ink, solvent, and burner gases. An infrared beam path is installed in the drier to measure concentrations of gas vapors in the drier by an extinction method. The continuous drier process is thus controlled according to the rate of evaporation of volatile constituents. The infrared extinction measurement yields spectral measurements of vapors released by the printing ink during the printing process, or of solvent constituents released during the blanket cleaning process, each according to their characteristic band position and intensity. During the transition from printing to blanket washing, the user obtains an instant picture, based on the band intensities, of the current vapor concentrations.

Abstract: To obviate local differences in heat expansion in the ink duct, ink metering means and ductor roller, and to temper the printing ink, stabilize the ink-damping agent emulsion and protect the ductor roller from corrosion, the ink duct includes a heat insulating material secured to underside of the duct body and a mid-section portion of the duct body side facing the ductor roller is supplied with a warm air flow from the printing press, boosted by a plurality of fans.

Abstract: A process for producing decorative sheets having an embossed pattern corresponding to a printed pattern layer, the process including the steps of: (a) forming a printed pattern layer on a base paper of the decorative sheet by use of a printing ink containing (i) a curing agent or a polymerization catalyst and (ii) a curable rein, the curing or catalytic action of the curing agent and polymerization catalyst being blocked and thereby inactivated, the printing ink being liquid repellant; (b) releasing the blocked state of the curing agent or polymerization catalyst thereby curing the curable resin in the printed pattern layer; (c) coating the whole surface of the printed pattern layer with a coating agent for formation of a top coating layer; and (d) solidifying the coating agent thereby forming the top coating layer of which the portions corresponding to the liquid repellant printed pattern layer are concaved.

Abstract: A device for facilitating sublistatic printing which includes an elastic member for covering an arcuate article surface to be imprinted in a stretched condition, holding a sublistatic transfer sheet against the article surface, and exerting a uniform pressure against the transfer sheet and article surface to achieve intimate contact therebetween; and an installing apparatus, one form of which includes a frame, band receiving means supported by the frame, two operating arms rotatably mounted to the frame, an article receiving member carried by the frame, and means associated with the arms to hold the elastic member. The arms are selectively movable from an elastic member receiving position to a transfer sheet receiving position to an article surface covering position. The elastic member is stretched prior to placement around the article surface to be imprinted and is provided with appropriate means to be releasably secured around the article.

Abstract: Permanent white indicia are applied to a polymeric surface, preferably of a black, heat-recoverable marker sleeve for wire or cable, using an ink composition comprising a pigment that is thermally stable at a temperature of at least about 350.degree. C., preferably titanium dioxide and a binder, such as nitrocellulose, and then heating the surface to permatize the mark. The marked article passes MIL-STD-202 in mark permanence.

Abstract: A straight line flexographic printing method and machine having a plurality of in-line liquid application stations, at least one of which is an upstream ink image-printing stations for printing ink images on a succession of cardboard copy sheets, and at least one of which is a final downstream liquid-application station which may be a coating application station for printing a protective, and/or aesthetic coating over selected portions of, or over the entire ink image-printed surface of each cardboard copy sheet. The present method and apparatus involves the placement of a forced hot air drying station between each of the liquid application stations to evaporate volatile solvent/diluent from the ink images applied at each inking or coating station before the application of additional ink images or coatings thereover at the next downstream liquid application station.

Abstract: The method for cooling a hot web by passing it across a rotating thermally conductive chill roller having a circulating coolant therein. In accordance with this invention, one introduces as a coolant to the chill roller a liquid refrigerant at a temperature and pressure permitting the refrigerant to exist in liquid form, the temperature being also above the dew point of the ambient atmosphere. Likewise, the boiling point of the refrigerant at the desired temperature and pressure is low enough to cause heat to be absorbed by the chill roller substantially by vaporization of the liquid refrigerant. One then withdraws refrigerant vapor from the chill roller, and typically refrigerates it to reform the liquid phase for return to the chill roller. Typically, chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants are preferred.

Abstract: A molded article of a thermoplastic resin is printed by impressing characters, symbols or figures on a thermoplastic resin molding. These characters or the like are first printed upon a resin molding. A high-temperature compressed gas is then directed against the printed surface of the molding so that the temperature and pressure of said gas is between 100.degree. to 300.degree. C. and 0.05 to 5 kg/cm.sup.2, respectively.

Abstract: An article having a surface comprising an olefin polymer is marked with indicia using an ink comprising a binder capable of substantially complete cure at a temperature of about 100.degree. to 300.degree. C. for less than about 10 minutes and then heated to cure the binder. The indicia are permanent, e.g. are resistant to being rubbed off and are solvent resistant. Heat-recoverable marker sleeves having such permanent indicia are particularly useful for marking wires, e.g. in aircraft harnessing.

Abstract: A process for printing in which a layer of ink on an ink transfer pad is cured at the interface between the ink layer and the pad and left substantially uncured at the outer surface to provide a tacky surface for contact of the ink layer with a printable substrate. The partially cured ink layer is thus easily transferred from the ink transfer pad to the printable substrate by bringing the tacky surface into contact with the substrate. Inks which contain an oxygen-inhibited resin such as acrylates and unsaturated polyesters, and which are treated with long wavelength ultraviolet light, selectively cure at the interface of the ink layer and the transfer pad.

Abstract: Directly printable tape comprising a polymeric film backing having a low adhesion backsize coating on one major surface thereof and a pressure-sensitive adhesive on the other major surface thereof. The low adhesion backsize coating comprises a mixture of a low adhesion backsize compound and an ink adhesion promoter. Also, a method of printing on the low adhesion backsize coating and an ink composition. The ink comprises a conventional flexographic ink composition containing an ink adhesion promoter. The tape is heated to a temperature sufficiently high to soften the backsize coating but not so high as to distort the polymeric backing or degrade the adhesive, with the ink being applied while the backsize coating is in a softened state.

Abstract: A thermographic machine for relief printing enables one to treat a printed paper comprising several settings and to cut laterally and transversely. The printed paper is placed by the printing press on the conveyor of the cutting device. Circular knives slit the printed paper longitudinally. Lateral guides separate the strips of paper before the powdering. The strips are powdered and then go under a heat generator of pulsated hot gas. After cooling, the strips are conveyed to a transverse cutter, which cuts the strips into cards.