Patent US1251982A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent EP0101266A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0101266A2
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EP
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Printing method and apparatus
Assignee: Milliken Research Corp
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Filing: 1983-08-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-08-05
Abstract
Abstract A printing system incorporates a re-usables image-carrying printing surface. A material which forms a thin hydrophobic layer is arranged by various techniques over a substantially hydrophilic printing surface in a configuration which defines the desired latent image in terms of exposed, contiguous hydrophilic and hydrophobic areas. Depending upon the configuration of the layers, either an aqueous, or oleo ink may be used to develop and print an image. If desired, the layer configuration may be replaced by a different configuration without substantial interruption to the printing process. No photo-induced chemical reaction or latent image developing steps are required at any time. In a typical apparatus, the hydrophilic surface of a printing roll (10) is cleaned (12-16) and coated with a hydrophobic material (20-24), and the hydrophobic material is physically removed from selected areas: by a computer-addressable spark discharge (26-30), laser or other device to form a latent image. A fountain liquid is subsequently applied (40), followed by an ink (50), and the ink image is transferred to a substrate to be printed either directly (8) with the help of a pressure roll (6) or indirectly (8A) through an offset roll (6).
Inventors
- 👤 Iii Franklin Sadler Love
- 👤 Robert Charles Arnott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 16:15
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41C; B41C1/00; B41C1/10; B41C1/1008; B41C1/1033; B41C1/1066; B41M; B41M1/00; B41M1/06; B41N; B41N1/00; B41N1/12; B41N1/14; B41M5/00; B41M5/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
An image-carrying printing element comprising a support provided with a hydrophilic surface, and a hydrophobic layer having an image-related configuration superposed over the support, characterised in that the support (10, 11, 92, 104, 110) is composed of intrinsically hydrophilic material, that the hydrophilic layer (100, 106, 112) is in direct contact with a hydrophilic surface of the support and that the hydrophilic surface is exposed in the complement of the said configuration (102, 108, 116) to an extent sufficient to confer hydrophilic properties on the exposed area.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
An image-carrying printing element comprising a support provided with a hydrophilic surface, and a hydrophobic layer having an image-related configuration superposed over the support, characterised in that the support (10, 11, 92, 104, 110) is composed of intrinsically hydrophilic material, that the hydrophilic layer (100, 106, 112) is in direct contact with a hydrophilic surface of the support and that the hydrophilic surface is exposed in the complement of the said configuration (102, 108, 116) to an extent sufficient to confer hydrophilic properties on the exposed area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A printing element according to claim 1, characterised in that the support (11, 104) is composed of a hydrophilic metal, preferably stainless steel or aluminum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
A printing element according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the hydrophobic material (100, 106, 112) is non-polymerisable and non-light-sensitive, and is preferably selected from carboxylic acids, carboxylic acid salts, carboxylic acid anhydrides, and polymers, or from hexadecanoic acid, octadecanoic acid, polyvinyl butyral, and acrylic resin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A printing element according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the element (10, 11) is a planographic printing plate, roll or cylinder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A printing element according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the element is a gravure printing plate or cylinder (104).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A printing element according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the element is a printing screen (92, 110) and the support comprises a mesh composed of an intrinsically hydrophilic material.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
49 words
A method of preparing a printing element, characterised in that a layer of substantially hydrophobic material is arranged in an image-related configuration on the hydrophilic surface of a support, and that the complement of the said configuration is rendered substantially hydrophilic relative to the area of the said configuration.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
49 words
A method of preparing a printing element, characterised in that a layer of substantially hydrophobic material is arranged in an image-related configuration on the hydrophilic surface of a support, and that the complement of the said configuration is rendered substantially hydrophilic relative to the area of the said configuration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
A method according to claim 7, characterised in that a substantially uniform layer of the hydrophobic material is applied to the surface of the support and that the hydrophobic material is then removed from the said complement of the image-related configuration by physical ablation to an extent sufficient to render the complementary areas substantially hydrophilic, while retaining the hydrophobic material within the said configuration in substantially unchanged condition.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 8, characterised in that the hydrophobic material is substantially removed by an electric discharge, beam of electromagnetic energy or jet of heated fluid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
10 . A method according to claim 7, characterised in that the hydrophobic material is non-polymerisable and non-light-sensitive, and is preferably selected from carboxylic acids, carboxylic acid salts, carboxylic acid anhydrides, and polymers, or from hexadecanoic acid, octadecanoic acid, polyvinyl butyral, and acrylic resin.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
45 words
A method according to any of claims 7 to 10 , characterised in that the hydrophobic material is applied directly to a clean surface of an intrinsically hydrophilic support, preferably of stainless steel or aluminum, without the interposition of any layer of another hydrophilic material.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
35 words
A method according to any of claims 7 to 11, characterised in that the hydrophobic material is arranged in a computer-addressable manner or with the interposition of a mask or stencil determining the image-related configuration.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
79 words
A method according to any of claims 7 to 12, characterised in that, after an ink image has been formed on the prepared printing element and transferred to a substrate surface to be printed, the surface of the element is. cleaned to expose the intrinsically hydrophilic material thereof, a second layer of substantially hydrophobic material is arranged as aforesaid, a second ink image is formed and transferred to a further substrate surface, and that the operations are cyclically repeated.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
37 words
A method according to any of claims 7 to 13, characterised in that the hydrophilic substrate is a planographic plate or roll substrate and the hydrophobic layer is applied in a self-limiting, for example substantially monomolecular, thickness.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
15: A method according to any of claims 7 to 13, characterised in that the hydrophilic substrate is a gravure plate or cylinder.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
16 . A method according to any of claims 7 to 13, characterised in that the hydrophilic substrate is a mesh of substantially hydrophilic material and that the hydrophobic material does not occlude the openings in the mesh.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
72 words
Apparatus for preparing a printing element according to claim 1, characterised by cleaning means (12-16, 62) for cleaning the surface of a hydrophilic printing element substrate, imaging means (20-30, 20-60, 64-70) for forming a layer of hydrophobic material in an image-related configuration directly on the cleaned surface of the printing element substrate, and a conveyor (10, 90, 97-99) arranged to convey a hydrophilic printing element surface successively past all the said devices.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus according to claim 17, characterised in that the imaging means comprises an applicator (20, 64) for applying a substantially uniform layer of hydrophobic material on the cleaned hydrophilic surface, and physical ablation means (26-30, 60, - 70) adapted to remove hydrophilic material from an image-related area of the surface of the coated printing element.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
76 words
Apparatus according to claim 17 or 18 for producing a print on a substrate surface to be printed, characterised by an applicator (50) arranged on the path of the conveyor for applying ink to the surface of the image-carrying printing element, impression means (4, 6) for bringing the substrate surface to be printed into contact with the inked printing element, and control means (80) for operating the conveyor and the said devices in a cyclical manner.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
Apparatus according to any of claims 16 to 18, characterised in that the conveyor is a printing roll, or cylinder (10), the periphery of which either constitutes or carries (11) the hydrophilic printing element substrate, and the said devices are arranged in succession around the periphery of the roll or cylinder.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to any of claims 17 to 19, characterised in that the printing element substrate is a hydrophilic screen mesh (92, 110), mounted on a cylindrical frame (90) and supported for rotation on rollers (97, 99).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 18 characterised in that the physical ablation means comprises an electrical spark discharge device (30), laser (60) or heated fluid jet.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
111 words
A printing apparatus comprising: (a) a hydrophilic ink image transfer surface; (b) cleaning means to render said hydrophilic surface clean and dry; (c) means for arranging a hydrophobic and oleophilic layer of material over said surface in an image-related configuration to form a latent image on said surface; (d) means for forming an ink image corresponding to said latent image; (e) means for transferring said ink image to a substrate surface; (f) means for bringing the transfer surface into operable association with means (b), (c), (d) and (e); and (g) means for controlling the operation and actuation of each of the above said means in a desired mode of cyclic operation.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
111 words
A printing apparatus comprising: (a) a hydrophilic ink image transfer surface; (b) cleaning means to render said hydrophilic surface clean and dry; (c) means for arranging a hydrophobic and oleophilic layer of material over said surface in an image-related configuration to form a latent image on said surface; (d) means for forming an ink image corresponding to said latent image; (e) means for transferring said ink image to a substrate surface; (f) means for bringing the transfer surface into operable association with means (b), (c), (d) and (e); and (g) means for controlling the operation and actuation of each of the above said means in a desired mode of cyclic operation.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
281 words
A method for automatically printing sequentially a first and a second full-sized image on a substrate surface using an image-carrying printing surface having a single printing surface, comprising the steps of: (a) providing the printing surface with a substantially clean surface composed of a first material which is intrinsicaly substantially hydrophilic; (b) forming a first latent image by arranging a thin layer of a second material in a first image-related configuration in direct contact with said surface to provide hydrophobic and oleophilic areas which define said latent image over said printing surface; (c) forming a first ink image, correlating with said first latent image, over said printing surface; (d) positioning a first substrate surface in operative relationship with said ink image carried by said printing surface; (e) transferring said ink image from said printing surfac eto said first substrate surface; (f) cleaning said printing surface carrying said ink image and exposing thereby said intrinscially substantially hydrophilic material; (g) forming a second latent image on said printing surface by arranging another thin layer of said second material in direct contact with said surface in a second configuration, to provide hydrophobic and oleophilic areas which define said second latent image over said printing surface; (h) forming a second ink image, correlating with said second latent image, over said printing surface; (i) positioning a second substrate surface in operative relationship with said second ink image carried by said printing surface; and (j) transferring said ink image from said printing surface to said second substrate surface; and (k) automatically moving said printing surface through steps (b) to (j) while repeating steps (c), (d) and (e), and steps (h), (i) and (j) as often as desired.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
281 words
A method for automatically printing sequentially a first and a second full-sized image on a substrate surface using an image-carrying printing surface having a single printing surface, comprising the steps of: (a) providing the printing surface with a substantially clean surface composed of a first material which is intrinsicaly substantially hydrophilic; (b) forming a first latent image by arranging a thin layer of a second material in a first image-related configuration in direct contact with said surface to provide hydrophobic and oleophilic areas which define said latent image over said printing surface; (c) forming a first ink image, correlating with said first latent image, over said printing surface; (d) positioning a first substrate surface in operative relationship with said ink image carried by said printing surface; (e) transferring said ink image from said printing surfac eto said first substrate surface; (f) cleaning said printing surface carrying said ink image and exposing thereby said intrinscially substantially hydrophilic material; (g) forming a second latent image on said printing surface by arranging another thin layer of said second material in direct contact with said surface in a second configuration, to provide hydrophobic and oleophilic areas which define said second latent image over said printing surface; (h) forming a second ink image, correlating with said second latent image, over said printing surface; (i) positioning a second substrate surface in operative relationship with said second ink image carried by said printing surface; and (j) transferring said ink image from said printing surface to said second substrate surface; and (k) automatically moving said printing surface through steps (b) to (j) while repeating steps (c), (d) and (e), and steps (h), (i) and (j) as often as desired.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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