Abstract: A method for forming plate characters in a half-tone gravure platemaking process being characterized in that a laser beam moved so that the laser beam is intermittently irradiated onto a light sensitive material and a plate character is formed on the light-sensitive material by exposure. The character thus formed is made up with a character frame portion and a character fill portion surrounded by the character frame portion, the character frame portion being formed by a plurality of intermittently arranged groove-form cells each having a predetermined length and a width which can prevent flow of ink when ink is applied by wiping the plate surface with a doctor, and the character fill portion being formed by dot-form cells which have a shadow-portion dot percentage.

Abstract: A method for forming plate characters in a half-tone gravure platemaking process in which a laser beam intermittently irradiates a photosensitive material, thus forming plate characters therein as a result of exposure by the laser beam. The outline portion of each character is made up of continuous groove-form cells and inner portion of the character (the filled portion) is made up of independent dot-form cells corresponding to the dot percentage of a shadow portion or with island-form projections to the extent that ink flow (running) does not occur when the cells are filled with ink as a result of the plate surface being wiped by a doctor blade. The outline portion of each character is made up of groove-form cells having a narrow width without causing ink flow (running) when the cells are filled with ink as a result of the plate surface being wiped by a doctor blade.

Abstract: A light-sensitive recording material for the production of intaglio printing plates comprises a photopolymerizable and/or photocrosslinkable material which is soluble or dispersible in a developer liquid and on exposure to actinic light is rendered insoluble or no longer dispersible in this developer liquid and which, at least in a surface zone of the surface of the layer which forms the later surface of the printing plate, contains finely divided abrasive particles whose average particle size is within the range from 0.1 to 6 .mu.m, which have a hardness of >4.0 on the Mohs hardness scale, the surface of the layer which forms the later surface of the printing plate has a peak-to-valley height of <2 .mu.m, and the photocrosslinkable and/or photopolymerizable material contains a reaction product of a cycloaliphatic epoxy with acrylic acid or methacrylic acid.

Abstract: Orifices, cavities or spaces which are formed when printing plates are mounted on a plate cylinder are closed and/or sealed by means of a pasty, photocurable sealing or closing compound consisting of one or more photopolymerizable, ethylenically unsaturated low molecular weight compounds (a), one or more polymeric binder (b) which are compatible with the said compounds of component (a), one or more photopolymerization initiators (c) and one or more finely divided oxidic fillers (d) which, when mixed with components (a) to (c), give mixtures which are transparent to long-wavelength UV light. After it has been applied, this sealing or closing compound is cured by exposure and can then be mechanically processed. The process is particularly suitable for closing and/or sealing orifices, cavities or spaces in gravure printing plates mounted on plate cylinders.

Abstract: Method of preparing a contoured plate by selectively hardening a photopolymer plate in a zone which is adjacent the lower surface of the plate and increases continuously in thickness from one portion of the plate to another by a first exposure of the upper surface of the plate to a quantity of light energy which increases continuously per unit area of the surface from said one portion of the plate to the other. Discrete portions of the upper surface of the plate are masked in the portions on which it is desired to form a recessed design, and the non-masked portions of the plate are hardened by a second exposure of its upper surface to light energy, so that the masked portions remain unhardened from their upper surface to the upper region of said hardened zone. The unhardened portions are removed to provide a recessed design in the upper surface of the plate. The design varies continuously in depth independently of the width of the design.

Abstract: For the seamless and firm joining of the end and/or lateral areas of thermoplastically processible photosensitive layers, the end and/or lateral areas of one or more solvent-free and unsupported thermoplastically processible photosensitive layers are overlapped avoiding bubbles and with displacement of the air between the end and/or lateral areas, the total layer material is then heated under pressure and with joining of the overlapping end and/or lateral areas, and the resulting continuously joined photosensitive layer is then aftertreated and smoothed with shaping to exact size.

Abstract: For coating printing cylinders or sleeves with a seamless, smooth photosensitive layer, two or more strata of a thin, prefabricated, essentially solvent-free, unsupported, thermoplastically processible, solid, photosensitive layer are applied to the printing cylinder or the sleeve, without bubbles and with displacement of the air between the individual strata, and the total photosensitive layer material is then heated under pressure and with joining or fusion of the individual strata to form a single, continuous photosensitive layer, and the surface of the resulting photosensitive layer is aftertreated to shape it exactly to size and is smoothed, with formation of an exactly cylindrical shape.

Abstract: A multicolor half-tone image of an original object is formed on preformed plastic containers or other recipient surface by printing such image while wet from an offset blanket cylinder on which the image is formed by overlying a plurality of one-color half-tone images.

Abstract: Radiation sensitive compositions are image-wise exposed and developed to form an image which is then heated to improve its strength as a lithographic printing image or etch resist. The heating is carried out in the presence of a heat sensitive dye which undergoes a color change at a temperature of at least 180.degree. C. so as to obtain an indication of whether or not the heating has been adequate. The dye may be an integral component of the composition or it may be applied to the image, after development, in combination with a substance capable of forming a shield against contaminating residues produced during the heating step.

Abstract: A method of forming an image with photographic likeness on a chocolate material is disclosed. The image is "developed" on the chocolate material by means of an edible developer.

Abstract: The invention concerns a printing sleeve made from a cylindrical supporting surface 4 upon which a knitted fabric 2" is applied as a gas-permeable means, providing a sheet of a thermoplastic elastomeric compositions thereupon, and applying a pressure difference and heat so as to press the sheet upon the surface and to obtain a fusion of the sheet with the fabric.

Abstract: Gravure printing plates comprising a plastic printing layer applied on a printing plate base are produced by a method wherein a solid photosensitive layer (L) firmly bonded on the printing plate base is exposed imagewise to actinic light, and the exposed layer is washed out with a developer and then subjected to thermal hardening to form the plastic printing layer. In this process, the photosensitive layer (L) employed contains, as the photosensitive component, a compound possessing two or more aromatic and/or heteroaromatic o-nitrocarbinol ester groups, and a compound which effects crosslinking and possesses two or more reactive groups which are capable of reacting with --COOH groups under the action of heat to form a covalent chemical bond.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gravure screen and method of making the same and particularly to a gravure screen and method of making the same in which in the case that a gravure printing plate is made using a planographic or relief half-tone positive, the gravure screen is combined with the half-tone positive.Transparent or opaque lines of the gravure screen in accordance with the present invention are formed by irregular patterns, and the presence of this irregularity does not cause to form a moire pattern even if the gravure screen is combined with the planographic or relief half-tone positive formed by regularly aligned dot patterns.It is therefore possible to combine the gravure screen of the present invention with a half-tone positive of any screen angle, and a gravure printing plate can be made by only one gravure screen even in a plurality of half-tone positives having different angles.

Abstract: Gravure printing plates which are highly abrasion-resistant and scratch-resistant can be produced rapidly and simply from a photosensitive recording material by exposing the latter through a photographic positive, washing out the unexposed areas and drying the resulting gravure printing plate, if the photosensitive recording material employed, which comprises a photopolymerizable and/or photocrosslinkable layer (L) applied to a dimensionally stable base, contains finely divided, hard, abrasive particles in the layer (L), the surface of this layer, which subsequently constitutes the surface of the printing plate, has a peak-to-valley height of <2 .mu.m, and the materials of this layer are chosen so that, after exposure and development, it has a Vickers hardness of not less than 10 N/mm.sup.2, measured under load.

Abstract: A process is described for preparing relief images, in which a light-sensitive material composed of a support and a light-sensitive layer which contains as essential constituents(a) a compound which has at least one C-O-C bond which is cleavable by acid,(b) a compound which forms a strong acid on irradiation and(c) a binder which is insoluble in water and soluble in aqueous-alkaline solutions is imagewise irradiated, warmed to an elevated temperature, cooled down and then irradiated over its entire area, whereafter those parts of the layer which have not been imagewise irradiated are then washed out by developing. The process makes it possible to prepare positive or negative copies by means of the same light-sensitive material in a simple way.

Abstract: The present invention describes a light-sensitive copying material comprising a support and a light-sensitive layer which contains from 0.01 to 10 percent by weight of a non-ionic ester which is obtained by reacting a perfluoro-carboxylic acid with a polyalkylene glycol or of an ether which is obtained by reacting a highly fluorinated or a perfluorinated alkanol with a polyalkylene glycol. By the addition of the fluorinated compound, a more uniform coating is achieved, even when one solvent alone is used for the coating solution.

Abstract: A photopolymerizable composition of matter useful for photopolymeric printing surfaces is disclosed. Printing surfaces prepared from the composition are strong and wear well, resist solvents and abrasives, and are suitable for intaglio or gravure printing.

Abstract: A reusable gravure printing plate or cylinder blank which can be readily processed into a printing plate or cylinder carrying an image to be printed. The blank comprises a non-etchable, wear-resistant layer, as of chromium, overlying at least the surface of a base, and a multiplicity of minute dot-like etchable portions, as of copper, which are of equal size and uniform placement, and which are formed at least in and isolated from each other by the non-etchable layer. The etchable portions are formed flush with the non-etchable layer. For preparation of a gravure printing plate or cylinder from this blank an etching operation is performed on the blank through a prepared etching resist, as with the use of a ferric chloride solution. The etchant forms ink-retaining cells in the etchable portions of the blank.

Abstract: A printing plate is made in accordance with a particular method and is used in a printing process wherein it is effective to produce a substantially continuous tone printing effect. A negative screen having an overall pattern defined by rows of closely spaced substantially square-shaped areas is exposed two times on an image carrier. An image screen pattern is developed on the image carrier wherein each of the two exposures of the overall pattern on the negative screen is effected at an angle of 30.degree. with respect to each other. A unique printing screen pattern is obtained which is then used for printing a reproduced image.

Abstract: An improved method of making a half-tone gravure printing plate in which a planographic or relief half-tone positive and a gravure screen are printed on a photosensitive resist forming material. In the method, the lowering of the quality of printed matter resulting from formation of moire pattern can be prevented and an error caused by the reproduction step between a new half-tone positive and an original half-tone positive can be corrected.

Abstract: Sleeve for a printing cylinder, said sleeve comprising a thin-walled cylindrical sieve, for instance a non-designed (plain-mesh) screen functioning as a support element, upon the outer face of which a photopolymer sheet is directly attached, said sheet being hardenable under the influence of radiation.

Abstract: A process for producing novel resinous gravure printing plates comprises coating on a printing substrate such as a cylinder a radiation-curable resin coating composition containing in a specific ratio a soluble polyamide resin and a radiation-polymerizable monomer or the like dissolved in a solvent, curing the coated film by irradiation with actinic rays, and engraving the resulting cured film. As a result, a novel resinous gravure printing plate having excellent engraving property, printing durability, and solvent resistance is produced.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed which will rapidly provide uniform layers of two liquid photopolymerizable materials for a capped (i.e., two layer) printing plate. The apparatus comprises a dual manifold which spans the plate-forming area of a surface and which is moved in tandem transversely in order to provide two overlapping layers of liquid photopolymerizable materials.

Abstract: According to this process, a plurality of translucent monochrome supports of different colors are prepared. Each support is constituted by a transparent film coated on one side with a coloring matter. Then an elementary pattern is made by a selective scraping with a tool. By superimposing the engraved monochrome supports a final image is obtained by transparency which is the synthesis of the elementary patterns. The process lends itself particularly well to three-color or four-color printing.

Abstract: Method of photopolymerization to produce vinyl based polymers and copolymers in the presence of a catalyst in the form of complex metal chelates.

Abstract: A photopolymerizable composition of matter useful for photopolymeric printing surfaces is disclosed. Printing surfaces prepared from the composition are strong and wear well, resist solvents and abrasives, and are suitable for intaglio or gravure printing.

Abstract: A process is provided for making a relief printing form which is at least partially cylindrical from a liquid photopolymerizable molding material. In accordance with the process, a molding material is spread over the internal surface of the cylindrical wall by centrifugal force and hardened in the desired places with ultraviolet light to form an image corresponding to a printing design. The nonhardened portions of the molding material are then removed. The cylindrical wall is a transparent cylindrical tube. An exchangeable image-bearing film is placed on the inside of the tube.Photopolymerizing radiation of the printing form material is effected during rotation of the transparent cylindrial tube. An exchangeable image-bearing film is placed on the inside of the tube. Photopolymerizing radiation of the printing form material is effected during rotation of the transparent cylinder by means of one or more radiation sources distributed around the circumference of the transparent cylinder.

Abstract: By providing a molded or extruded plastic base cylinder or plate with a surface coating of an etchable metal, a low cost printing media is achieved for use in intaglio or gravure printing. The plastic base cylinder may be machined to a low tolerance diameter before being substantially uniformly plated with an etchable metal such as copper or nickel about its entire outer peripheral surface, thereby assuring uniform balance and concentricity. The plated surface is then engraved or etched with the information to be printed, resulting in a low cost printing cylinder for use in intaglio or rotogravure printing. In one embodiment, the cylinder incorporates a substantially uniform diameter shafting bore along its central axis in order to provide for mounting the cylinder on a shaft or other fixture, while another embodiment provides for accurately disposed and engaging lugs which rotationally drive the cylinder.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in a light-sensitive recording material comprising a support and a light-sensitive layer including a diazonium salt polycondensation product composed of recurrent units of the general types(A--N.sub.2 X) and (B)which are connected with each other by bivalent intermediate members derived from a condensable carbonyl compound and wherein A is the radical of a diazonium salt which comprises at least two isocyclic or heterocyclic aromatic rings and which in at least one position of its molecule is capable of condensation with formaldehyde in an acid medium, B is the radical of a compound free of diazonium groups which in at least one position of its molecule is capable of condensation with formaldehyde in an acid medium, and X is the anion of the diazonium salt, the improvement that the light-sensitive layer additionally contains about 6 to 20 parts by weight of amine resin per part by weight of the polycondensation product.

Abstract: There is provided a process for preparing a photosensitive plate for printing which comprises providing a heat-depositable fine powder having a constant directional size of 0.5-40.mu. onto the surface of a photosensitive plate for printing at a ratio of 0.005-0.5 g. of the said powder per m.sup.2 of the said plate to uniformly disperse and adhere the said powder onto the said surface, while preheating the right side (side on which powder adheres) and/or the reverse side of the said plate upon providing said powder or before or after providing, and subsequently contacting the right side of the said plate with a heating roll having a high releasing surface, whereby the said fine powder is fused and fixed on onto the surface of the said plate.

Abstract: There is provided a process for the production of a photosensitive plate for printing which comprises providing a given amount of a fine powder having a constant directional size of 0.5-40 .mu. from a dust supplier directly or via a distributor to a cyclone, feeding the said powder together with a small volume of air from the bottom of said cyclone, uniformly dispersing and adhering the so flowed fine powder onto the surface of a continuously running photosensitive plate for printing.

Abstract: Relief printing plates are described in which the raised printing areas are concave or dished. This gives, on printing, a more even ink distribution over the image area. Photographic methods for producing such plates are described.

Abstract: A printing plate is made in accordance with a particular method and is used in a printing process wherein it is effective to produce a substantially continuous tone printing effect. A negative screen having an overall pattern defined by rows of closely spaced substantially square-shaped areas is exposed a plurality of times on an image carrier. An image screen pattern is developed on the image carrier wherein each of the plurality of exposures of the overall pattern on the negative screen is effected at a different angle with respect to each other. A unique printing screen pattern is obtained which is then used for printing a reproduced image.

Abstract: A photopolymer intaglio printing plate comprising a support member and a photopolymer layer provided thereon, said layer having concave portions of a constant depth as ink cells and the lowermost part of each of the concave portions reaching to the surface of the support member so that the surface of the support member is exposed to air at least as a point at said lowermost part, prepared by subjecting a photosensitive plate comprising the support member and a layer of a photopolymerizable composition provided thereon to exposure through a halftone negative or positive film to such an extent that the photopolymerizable composition at the exposed parts is cured down to the bottom of the photopolymerizable composition layer but the photopolymerizable composition at the non-exposed part having a minimum area remains uncured at the lowermost part corresponding to the center of the said non-exposed part and washing out completely the photopolymerizable composition at the non-exposed parts.

Abstract: A plastic surface-printing method which comprises the steps of drawing an image on a plastic surface by an ink composition containing a coloring material; enclosing the printed plastic surface in a cover wherein there is placed a flash discharge tube; causing the flash discharge tube to emit light beams to irradiate heat pulses on the printed plastic surface; applying pressure on the printed plastic surface due to the expansion of air in the cover resulting from the application of heat pulses; and fixing an inked image on the plastic surface.

Abstract: Photopolymeric printing plates that have been imaged and etched are hardened by drying to remove surface moisture and are slowly and evenly heated while circulating warm air over the plate to prevent hot spots and remove vaporized material. Letter press type plates are heated up to 120.degree. C. to 150.degree. C., and intaglio type plates are heated to 200.degree. C. to 220.degree. C. Intaglio plates are also preferably coated with a thin layer of a fluorotelomer material before the heating is completed.

Abstract: A light-sensitive printing plate with a coating layer with an uneven pattern removable during development provided on the surface thereof, which can be brought into intimate contact with an original image in a short period of time by vacuum adhesion. The light-sensitive printing plate is produced by taking up a coating solution from a coating solution pan by a gravure roll, scraping away excess coating solution adhering to the gravure roll by a doctor blade, transferring the coating solution still retained on the gravure roll to a coating roll made of rubber with a fine uneven pattern on the surface thereof which is turning in the same direction and at the same speed as the gravure roll, and transferring the coating solution thus transferred to the coating roll to a support running at the same speed and in the same direction as the coating roll.

Abstract: An original pattern plate obtained by the use of a photo-sensitive resin composition comprising:(A) an unsaturated polyester having an acid value of from 10 to 40 and having not less than 50% by mole of unsaturated acids in the acid component,(B) a photo-polymerizable, ethylenically unsaturated compound which essentially contains a compound having a photo-polymerizable, ethylenically unsaturated linkage and at least one hydroxyl group,(C) a melamine compound of the formula:(C.sub.3 H.sub.6-(m+n) N.sub.6)(CH.sub.2 OH).sub.m (CH.sub.2 OR).sub.nwherein R is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, m is from 0 to 6, n is from 0 to 6 and m+n is from 1.5 to 6, or its condensate having an average condensation degree of not more than 4,(D) a photo-polymerization initiator, and(E) a thermal polymerization inhibitor,the weight proportion of the components (A), (B) and (C) satisfying the relationships of the following equations: 1/5.ltoreq.B/(A+B).ltoreq.3/5 and 1/50.ltoreq.C/(A+B+C).ltoreq.

Abstract: Negative and positive films for use in multi-color printing are prepared by a process which utilizes crystals and interstices therebetween in color-separation negatives for multi-color printing without the use of half-tone screens. Exposure through masks of controlled density ranges relative to the color-separation negatives and positives prepared from the color original result in final negatives and positives as well as duplication negatives and positives which can be utilized in the multi-color printing process.

Abstract: A method of production of photopolymer printing plates particularly characterized in the transfer procedure. In the method, an electrostatic latent image of original material is produced on a photoconductive medium, the image is developed by application of toner particles, and the toner image is transferred onto photopolymer printing plates having photosensitive resin layer or containing polymerizable monomer through linear pressure of line contact. The toner image thus transferred is then exposed to light without being fixed, plate portions defined by the toner image being subsequently removed together with the toner particles.

Abstract: A method for producing rotary or flat screens having large amounts of open space per unit area comprises plating a master roll or plate having a pattern of conductive metal and non-conductive areas on its surface with a plurality of separate coats of metal coating on the conductive areas to build up a plurality of spaced projecting metal parts having a required thickness, applying a non-electrically-conductive resin onto the entire surface of the metal coating between each plating step, and removing in each step only the portions of the applied resin on the top of each projecting metal part. This is accomplished while the resin is in an undried state with a non-metallic roll or flat plate having a receptivity to the resin to expose the surface of the metal coating formed by plating.

Abstract: By providing a molded or extruded plastic base cylinder or plate with a surface coating of an etchable metal, a low cost printing media is achieved for use in intaglio or gravure printing. The plastic base cylinder may be machined to a low tolerance diameter before being substantially uniformly plated with an etchable metal such as copper or nickel about its entire outer peripheral surface, thereby assuring uniform balance and concentricity. The plated surface is then engraved or etched with the information to be printed, resulting in a low cost printing cylinder for use in intaglio or rotogravure printing. In one embodiment, the cylinder incorporates a substantially uniform diameter shafting bore along its central axis in order to provide for mounting the cylinder on a shaft or other fixture, while another embodiment provides for accurately disposed and engaging lugs which rotationally drive the cylinder.

Abstract: Substituted dioxolanes are provided having the formula ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are H or a phenyl group substituted with up to 5 substituents of lower alkyl or nitro, with the proviso that at least one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is a phenyl group having an orthonitro substituent; and R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are each H or lower alkyl. These dioxolanes, as well as appropriate dioxanes, are used to intercalate a polyoxymethylene polymer to make such a polymer having thermally stable but photochemically sensitive and degradable random linkages ##STR2## in the chain where n is 0 or 1, R.sup.3 and R.sup.4 are H or lower alkyl and at least one of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 is a phenyl group with an orthonitro substituent. By exposing a film of the polymer to light through a transparency followed by heating or a heated treatment with base, a relief image of the copy on the transparency is obtained.

Abstract: A plate making method for gravure printing which method is easy to carry out and excellent in the tone reproducibility of highlight portion. The method of the invention comprises the steps of: A. exposing a photosensitive material to light source through a gravure screen having desired number of transparent lines; B. exposing the photosensitive material to light through a tint screen and continuous tone positive; C. further exposing the photosensitive material to light through only the continuous tone positive; and D. treating the exposed photosensitive material with succeeding plate making steps such as transferring, developing and etching, in which the order of the above exposing steps A, B and C is not fixed.

Abstract: Sleeve for a printing cylinder, said sleeve comprising a thin-walled cylindrical sieve, for instance a non-designed (plain-mesh) screen functioning as a support element, upon the outer face of which a photopolymer sheet is directly attached, said sheet being hardenable under the influence of radiation.