US3589289A — Printing members and methods for graphic composit…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 132 words

A composing member for use in a process for transferring an image of indicia to be reproduced, comprising a support having a multicellular nonmetallic printing surface formed of uniformly distributed cells opening onto said surface, each of said cells being filled completely with a composing element of solid material substantially nonabsorbing of nearinfrared radiation having a wave length in the range of from 7,500 to 30,000 Angstroms, said composing elements being adapted to withstand repeated exposure to fluid ink and the wiping action of a doctor blade, but being selectively removable intact from individual cells under the influence of localized heat treatment initiated by the application of near-infrared radiation, whereby said composing elements can be removed from selected cells to define imaged areas in said surface corresponding to indicia to be reproduced.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 132 words

A composing member for use in a process for transferring an image of indicia to be reproduced, comprising a support having a multicellular nonmetallic printing surface formed of uniformly distributed cells opening onto said surface, each of said cells being filled completely with a composing element of solid material substantially nonabsorbing of nearinfrared radiation having a wave length in the range of from 7,500 to 30,000 Angstroms, said composing elements being adapted to withstand repeated exposure to fluid ink and the wiping action of a doctor blade, but being selectively removable intact from individual cells under the influence of localized heat treatment initiated by the application of near-infrared radiation, whereby said composing elements can be removed from selected cells to define imaged areas in said surface corresponding to indicia to be reproduced.

Claim 3

Independent Claim 109 words

The method of making a printing plate for reproducing indicia, comprising, providing a support having a multicellular nonmetallic printing surface formed on uniformly distributed cells opening onto said surface, filling each of said cells completely with a composing element of solid material which is capable of withstanding repeated exposure to a fluid ink and the wiping action of a doctor blade, but which is selectively removable intact from individual cells under the influence of localized treatment initiated by the application of external agents, and removing composing elements intact from selected cells to define imaged area corresponding to indicia to be reproduced whereby the emptied cells are accessible for inking.

Claim 4

Independent Claim 109 words

The method of making a printing plate for reproducing indicia, comprising, providing a support having a multicellular nonmetallic printing surface formed on uniformly distributed cells opening onto said surface, filling each of said cells completely with a composing element of solid material which is capable of withstanding repeated exposure to a fluid ink and the wiping action of a doctor blade, but which is selectively removable intact from individual cells under the influence of localized treatment initiated by the application of external agents, and removing composing elements intact from selected cells to define imaged area corresponding to indicia to be reproduced whereby the emptied cells are accessible for inking.

Claim 5

Independent Claim 137 words

The method of making a printing plate for reproducing indicia comprising, providing a support having a multicellular nonmetallic printing surface formed of uniformly distributed cells opening onto said surface, each of said cells being filled completely with a composing element of solid material which is capable of withstanding repeated exposure to fluid ink and the wiping action of a doctor blade, but which is selectively removable intact from an individuAl cell under the influence of localized treatment initiated by the application of external agents, bonding selected composing elements to a layer of thermoplastic material which, when heated to an activated temperature, has a specific adhesive affinity for said elements and removing said bonded composing elements from selected cells to define imaged areas corresponding to indicia to be reproduced, whereby the cells thus emptied are accessible for inking.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 137 words

The method of making a printing plate for reproducing indicia comprising, providing a support having a multicellular nonmetallic printing surface formed of uniformly distributed cells opening onto said surface, each of said cells being filled completely with a composing element of solid material which is capable of withstanding repeated exposure to fluid ink and the wiping action of a doctor blade, but which is selectively removable intact from an individuAl cell under the influence of localized treatment initiated by the application of external agents, bonding selected composing elements to a layer of thermoplastic material which, when heated to an activated temperature, has a specific adhesive affinity for said elements and removing said bonded composing elements from selected cells to define imaged areas corresponding to indicia to be reproduced, whereby the cells thus emptied are accessible for inking.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 166 words

The method of making a printing plate for reproducing indicia comprising, providing a support having a multicellular nonmetallic printing surface formed of uniformly distributed cells opening onto said surface, each of said cells being filled with a composing element of solid material which is capable of withstanding repeated exposure to a fluid ink and the wiping action of a doctor blade, but which is selectively removable from individual cells under the influence of localized treatment initiated by the application of external agents, providing a layer of thermoplastic material which when heated to an activated temperature has a specific affinity for said composing elements, raising selected areas of said layer of thermoplastic material to an activated temperature by localized heat treatment initiated by the application of infrared radiation, bonding composing elements from selected cells to said layer of thermoplastic material, and removing composing elements from said selected cells to define imaged areas corresponding to indicia to be reproduced, whereby the cells thus emptied are accessible for inking.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 166 words

The method of making a printing plate for reproducing indicia comprising, providing a support having a multicellular nonmetallic printing surface formed of uniformly distributed cells opening onto said surface, each of said cells being filled with a composing element of solid material which is capable of withstanding repeated exposure to a fluid ink and the wiping action of a doctor blade, but which is selectively removable from individual cells under the influence of localized treatment initiated by the application of external agents, providing a layer of thermoplastic material which when heated to an activated temperature has a specific affinity for said composing elements, raising selected areas of said layer of thermoplastic material to an activated temperature by localized heat treatment initiated by the application of infrared radiation, bonding composing elements from selected cells to said layer of thermoplastic material, and removing composing elements from said selected cells to define imaged areas corresponding to indicia to be reproduced, whereby the cells thus emptied are accessible for inking.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 123 words

The method of making a relief printing member, which comprises, providing a composing member comprising a nonmetallic support having a multicellular composing surface formed of substantially uniformly distributed cells opening onto said surface, each of said cells being completely filled with an indicia-composing element of solid material substantially nonabsorbing of near-infrared radiation having a wave length in the range of from 7,500 to 30,000 Angstroms which is selectively removable intact from individual cells, providing a stream of polymer-containing thermoplastic material, and bonding an array of composing elements from selected cells of said composing member to the surface of said stratum to form a discontinuous raised image consisting of a multiplicity of spaced, minute, protuberances uniformly distributed over the areas defined by said image.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 123 words

The method of making a relief printing member, which comprises, providing a composing member comprising a nonmetallic support having a multicellular composing surface formed of substantially uniformly distributed cells opening onto said surface, each of said cells being completely filled with an indicia-composing element of solid material substantially nonabsorbing of near-infrared radiation having a wave length in the range of from 7,500 to 30,000 Angstroms which is selectively removable intact from individual cells, providing a stream of polymer-containing thermoplastic material, and bonding an array of composing elements from selected cells of said composing member to the surface of said stratum to form a discontinuous raised image consisting of a multiplicity of spaced, minute, protuberances uniformly distributed over the areas defined by said image.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 41 words

A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein each of said cells is filled with a solid material having a specific bonding affinity for a thermoplastic material under the influence of localized heat treatment initiated by the application of infrared radiation.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 114 words

The method of making a relief printing member, which comprises providing a composing member comprising a support having a multicellular composing surface formed of substantially uniformly distributed cells opening onto said surface, filling selected cells with indicia-composing elements of solid material which are removable from said cells under the influence of localized treatment, to form an arrayment of indicia-composing elements defining an image to be printed, providing a stratum, transferring said arrayment from the filled cells to the surface of the stratum, and simultaneously bonding each individual element to said stratum to form a discontinuous raised image consisting of a multiplicity of spaced, minute protuberances uniformly distributed over the area defined by said image.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 114 words

The method of making a relief printing member, which comprises providing a composing member comprising a support having a multicellular composing surface formed of substantially uniformly distributed cells opening onto said surface, filling selected cells with indicia-composing elements of solid material which are removable from said cells under the influence of localized treatment, to form an arrayment of indicia-composing elements defining an image to be printed, providing a stratum, transferring said arrayment from the filled cells to the surface of the stratum, and simultaneously bonding each individual element to said stratum to form a discontinuous raised image consisting of a multiplicity of spaced, minute protuberances uniformly distributed over the area defined by said image.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 121 words

The method of making a relief printing member, which comprises providing a recording medium having opposed record and printing faces, said printing face having thereon a coating of polymer-containing thermoplastic material which is solid below 40*C., recording on said record face graphic representations that are infrared absorbent, applying to the surface of said printing face, at least in areas opposite the graphic representations on Said record face, a monolayer of discrete particles of solid material each having essentially the same dimensions and shape, and subjecting the recording medium to infrared radiation for a period of time sufficient to bond said particles to said thermoplastic coating and form a discontinuous raised image corresponding to the graphic representations of the opposed record face.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 121 words

The method of making a relief printing member, which comprises providing a recording medium having opposed record and printing faces, said printing face having thereon a coating of polymer-containing thermoplastic material which is solid below 40*C., recording on said record face graphic representations that are infrared absorbent, applying to the surface of said printing face, at least in areas opposite the graphic representations on Said record face, a monolayer of discrete particles of solid material each having essentially the same dimensions and shape, and subjecting the recording medium to infrared radiation for a period of time sufficient to bond said particles to said thermoplastic coating and form a discontinuous raised image corresponding to the graphic representations of the opposed record face.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 25 words

A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein said recording medium comprises a web, one face of which is coated with a film-forming thermoplastic material.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 19 words

A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein said recording medium comprises an original sheet of thin, lightweight paper.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 17 words

A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein said recording medium comprises a heat-transmitting synthetic polymeric film.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 240 words

A composing unit for use in a thermographic process comprising, in combination, a support having a multicellular printing surface formed of uniformly distributed cells opening onto said surface, indicia-composing elements of solid near-infrared transmitting material filling each of said cells, each of said elements being adapted to withstand repeated exposure to a fluid ink and the wiping action of a doctor blade without dislodgment from said cells, but each being selectively removable intact from individual cells under the influence of localized treatment, a heat transfer original sheet having an indicia-receiving surface, a substantially infrared transparent coating on the back of said sheet comprising a polymer-containing thermoplastic material having a latent specific affinity for the solid material filling said cells said support and said original sheet being assembled with said coating of thermoplastic material operatively associated with said indicia-composing elements in said cells, whereby infrared-absorbent indicia placed on said original sheet can be heated preferentially to raise the temperature of the thermoplastic material to an active state in areas directly underlying said indicia, so that, upon separation of the original sheet from the multicellular surface, composing elements from cells defining imaged areas corresponding to the indicia to be reproduced are selectively removed from the multicellular surface and are bonded to the coating on said original sheet which is thereby adapted to function as a relief printing member and whereby said support is thereby adapted to function as an intaglio printing member.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 240 words

A composing unit for use in a thermographic process comprising, in combination, a support having a multicellular printing surface formed of uniformly distributed cells opening onto said surface, indicia-composing elements of solid near-infrared transmitting material filling each of said cells, each of said elements being adapted to withstand repeated exposure to a fluid ink and the wiping action of a doctor blade without dislodgment from said cells, but each being selectively removable intact from individual cells under the influence of localized treatment, a heat transfer original sheet having an indicia-receiving surface, a substantially infrared transparent coating on the back of said sheet comprising a polymer-containing thermoplastic material having a latent specific affinity for the solid material filling said cells said support and said original sheet being assembled with said coating of thermoplastic material operatively associated with said indicia-composing elements in said cells, whereby infrared-absorbent indicia placed on said original sheet can be heated preferentially to raise the temperature of the thermoplastic material to an active state in areas directly underlying said indicia, so that, upon separation of the original sheet from the multicellular surface, composing elements from cells defining imaged areas corresponding to the indicia to be reproduced are selectively removed from the multicellular surface and are bonded to the coating on said original sheet which is thereby adapted to function as a relief printing member and whereby said support is thereby adapted to function as an intaglio printing member.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 27 words

The composing unit of claim 12, wherein the solid material of said composing elements is a composition having a specified bonding affinity for a heat-softened thermoplastic material.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 18 words

The composing unit of claim 2, wherein the solid material of said composing elements is a meltable resin.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 18 words

The composing unit of claim 12, wherein the solid material of said composing elements is a fused plastisol.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 19 words

The composing unit of claim 12, wherein the solid material of said composing elements is a cross-linked thermoset polymer.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 23 words

The composing unit of claim 12, wherein the solid material of said composing elements consists of a mixture of thermoplastic and thermosetting materials.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 15 words

The composing unit of claim 12, wherein said support is formed of a synthetic plastic.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 13 words

The composing unit of claim 12, wherein said support is a polypropylene sheet.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 85 words

The composing member of claim 12, wherein said multicellular surface contains in the range of from 10,000 to 160,000 individual cells per square inch substantially uniformly distributed over said surface, all said cells being of substantially the same depth and having a depth in the range of from about 10 to 50 microns, and wherein said cells are substantially uniformly separated from each other by the cell walls of the composing member with a separation in the range of from about 2 to 20 microns.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 18 words

The composing member of claim 12, wherein all of the cells have substantially the same shape and Dimensions.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 27 words

The composing unit of claim 12, wherein said original sheet comprises a sheet of thin, lightweight paper coated on one side with a film-forming, polymer-containing, thermoplastic material.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 29 words

The composing unit of claim 12, wherein said original sheet comprises a heat-resistant, near-infrared-transmitting, synthetic polymeric film coated on one side with a coating of film-forming, polymer-containing, thermoplastic material.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 21 words

The composing unit of claim 12, wherein said coating has a thickness in the range of about 0.05 to 2.0 mils.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 282 words

The composing unit of claim 12, wherein said thermoplastic material has an activation temperature above 50* C. 26, The method of composing indicia to be reproduced, comprising, providing a composing member comprising a support including a cellular printing surface formed of a multiplicity of uniformly distributed cells opening onto said surface, each of said cells being filled with an indicia-composing element of solid near-infrared-transmitting material which is capable of withstanding repeated exposure to a fluid ink and the wiping action of a doctor blade, but which is selectively removable intact from individual cells under the influence of localized treatment, providing an original sheet having an indicia-receiving surface, the back of said sheet being provided with a coating of a polymer-containing, thermoplastic material, said coating being adapted to bond, in areas underlying indicia placed upon said receiving surface, to the exposed surface of indicia composing elements filling the cells of the composing member, when the coated surface of the original sheet is placed in contact with the cellular printing surface of the composing member under the influence of localized heat and pressure, recording indicia on the receiving surface of said original sheet to produce graphic representations highly absorptive of infrared rays, superposing the indicia-bearing original sheet and the composing member, exposing the superposed original sheet and composing member to infrared radiation to activate said coating in areas underlying said indicia, and separating the original sheet from the composing member to thereby remove composing elements from selected cells defining imaged areas corresponding to the indicia to be reproduced, whereby said composing member is adapted to function as an intaglio printing member and said original sheet is adapted to function as a relief printing member.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 30 words

A method in accordance with claim 26, wherein said indicia-bearing original sheet is exposed to an infrared source producing radiation in the range of from about 10,000 to 20,000 angstroms.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1974-06-28	1974-12-28	1975-06-29	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1978-06-28	1978-12-28	1979-06-29	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1982-06-28	1982-12-28	1983-06-29	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Printing members and methods for graphic composition

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