Method of preparing and utilizing a gravure printing master

Claim 1

A method of preparing a gravure printing master which comprises selectively exposing at least one surface of a manifold configuration to actinic radiation, said surface being transparent to said radiation, said manifold configuration comprising a waxy, frangible, cohesively weak photoresponsive imaging composition comprising a dispersion of photosensitive pigment particles in a waxy insulating binder matrix interpositioned between a donor substrate and a receiver sheet, simultaneously developing an electric field across said manifold configuration while it is exposed to said actinic radiation thereby causing said photoresponsive composition to fracture in response to said radiation along the lines defined by said selective exposure upon separating said receiver sheet from said manifold configuration, said receiver sheet having adhered to its surface in an imagewise configuration a waxy image of said photoresponsive material and said donor substrate having adhered to its surface an image complementary to that on said receiver sheet and contacting the image bearing surface of at least one of said receiver sheet and donor substrate with the surface of a uniformly etched gravure member in such a manner so as to selectively transfer portions of said image and occlude the cells of said gravure member in imagewise configuration to produce said master.

Claim 2

A method of preparing a gravure printing master which comprises selectively exposing at least one surface of a manifold configuration to actinic radiation, said surface being transparent to said radiation, said manifold configuration comprising a waxy, frangible, cohesively weak photoresponsive imaging composition comprising a dispersion of photosensitive pigment particles in a waxy insulating binder matrix interpositioned between a donor substrate and a receiver sheet, simultaneously developing an electric field across said manifold configuration while it is exposed to said actinic radiation thereby causing said photoresponsive composition to fracture in response to said radiation along the lines defined by said selective exposure upon separating said receiver sheet from said manifold configuration, said receiver sheet having adhered to its surface in an imagewise configuration a waxy image of said photoresponsive material and said donor substrate having adhered to its surface an image complementary to that on said receiver sheet and contacting the image bearing surface of at least one of said receiver sheet and donor substrate with the surface of a uniformly etched gravure member in such a manner so as to selectively transfer portions of said image and occlude the cells of said gravure member in imagewise configuration to produce said master.

Claim 7

A method of preparing a gravure printing master which comprises applying an activating solution to a waxy, frangible, cohesively weak photoresponsive imaging composition coated on the surface of a donor support substrate, said composition comprising a dispersion of photosensitive pigment particles in a waxy insulating binder matrix, placing a receiver sheet over said photoresponsive composition, exposing said photoresponsive composition to a pattern of actinic radiation through at least one surface of said donor substrate and receiver sheet while Simultaneously applying an electric field across said photoresponsive composition, said surface through which the exposure is made being transparent to said actinic radiation, separating said receiver sheet from said donor substrate whereby the exposed portion of said imaging composition is retained on one of said donor substrate and receiver sheet while the unexposed portion is retained on the other and contacting the image bearing surface of at least one of said donor substrate and receiver sheet with the surface of a uniformly etched gravure member such that a portion of the respective image is transferred to said gravure member in an imagewise manner so as to selectively occlude the cells of said gravure member to produce said master.

Claim 8

A method of preparing a gravure printing master which comprises applying an activating solution to a waxy, frangible, cohesively weak photoresponsive imaging composition coated on the surface of a donor support substrate, said composition comprising a dispersion of photosensitive pigment particles in a waxy insulating binder matrix, placing a receiver sheet over said photoresponsive composition, exposing said photoresponsive composition to a pattern of actinic radiation through at least one surface of said donor substrate and receiver sheet while Simultaneously applying an electric field across said photoresponsive composition, said surface through which the exposure is made being transparent to said actinic radiation, separating said receiver sheet from said donor substrate whereby the exposed portion of said imaging composition is retained on one of said donor substrate and receiver sheet while the unexposed portion is retained on the other and contacting the image bearing surface of at least one of said donor substrate and receiver sheet with the surface of a uniformly etched gravure member such that a portion of the respective image is transferred to said gravure member in an imagewise manner so as to selectively occlude the cells of said gravure member to produce said master.

Claim 9

A method of making multiple copies from a gravure printing master which comprises: a. selectively exposing at least one surface of a manifold configuration to actinic radiation said surface being transparent to said radiation, said manifold configuration comprising a waxy, frangible, cohesively weak photoresponsive imaging composition interpositioned between a donor substrate and a receiver sheet, b. simultaneously developing an electric field across said manifold configuration while it is exposed to said actinic radiation thereby causing the photoresponsive composition to fracture in response to said radiation, c. separating said receiver sheet from said donor substrate said receiver sheet having adhered to its surface in imagewise configuration an image of said photoresponsive material and said donor substrate having adhered to its surface an image complementary to that on said receiver sheet, d. contacting at least one of said images on said donor substrate and receiver sheet with the surface of a uniformly etched gravure member so as to transfer an imprint of said image thereto thereby selectively occluding the cells of said uniformly etched gravure member, e. developing said member with a gravure ink, f. contacting said member with a surface of a transfer sheet thereby transferring the gravure ink in imagewise configuration to said transfer sheet, and g. repeating steps (e) and (f) at least one additional time.

Claim 10

A method of making multiple copies from a gravure printing master which comprises: a. selectively exposing at least one surface of a manifold configuration to actinic radiation said surface being transparent to said radiation, said manifold configuration comprising a waxy, frangible, cohesively weak photoresponsive imaging composition interpositioned between a donor substrate and a receiver sheet, b. simultaneously developing an electric field across said manifold configuration while it is exposed to said actinic radiation thereby causing the photoresponsive composition to fracture in response to said radiation, c. separating said receiver sheet from said donor substrate said receiver sheet having adhered to its surface in imagewise configuration an image of said photoresponsive material and said donor substrate having adhered to its surface an image complementary to that on said receiver sheet, d. contacting at least one of said images on said donor substrate and receiver sheet with the surface of a uniformly etched gravure member so as to transfer an imprint of said image thereto thereby selectively occluding the cells of said uniformly etched gravure member, e. developing said member with a gravure ink, f. contacting said member with a surface of a transfer sheet thereby transferring the gravure ink in imagewise configuration to said transfer sheet, and g. repeating steps (e) and (f) at least one additional time.

Claim 11

A method of preparing a gravure printing master which comprises selectively exposing at least one surface of a manifold configuration comprising a waxy, frangible, cohesively weak photoresponsive imaging composition interpositioned between a donor substrate and a uniformly etched gravure receiver sheet to electromagnetic radiation, said surface being transparent to said radiation, simultaneously developing an electric field across said manifold configuration while it is exposed to said electromagnetic radiation thereby causing said photoresponsive composition to fracture in response to said radiation, and then separating said receiver sheet from said manifold configuration, said receiver sheet having adhered to its surface in an imagewise manner a waxy image of said photoresponsive material to produce said master.

Claim 12

A method of preparing a gravure printing master which comprises selectively exposing at least one surface of a manifold configuration comprising a waxy, frangible, cohesively weak photoresponsive imaging composition interpositioned between a donor substrate and a uniformly etched gravure receiver sheet to electromagnetic radiation, said surface being transparent to said radiation, simultaneously developing an electric field across said manifold configuration while it is exposed to said electromagnetic radiation thereby causing said photoresponsive composition to fracture in response to said radiation, and then separating said receiver sheet from said manifold configuration, said receiver sheet having adhered to its surface in an imagewise manner a waxy image of said photoresponsive material to produce said master.