Patent US4833486A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4833486A
Expired / Lapsed
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Ink jet image transfer lithographic
Assignee: Ricoh Printing Systems America Inc
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Filing: 1987-07-08
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Granted: 1989-05-23
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Expires: 2007-07-08
Abstract
Abstract An ink jet image transfer lithographic apparatus is coupled to a source for supplying graphics and textual material to an ink jet printhead. The ink jet printhead melts a hydrophobic solid ink and sprays the ink onto a lithographic plate in a predetermined pattern. The solid ink solidifies upon contact with the plate. The plate is then mounted in a lithographic press for lithographic printing. As an alternative, the ink jet printhead may be mounted in a lithographic press for imaging a lithographic plate mounted in the lithographic press or for spraying ink directly onto the plate cylinder of the press. A succession of lithographic plates may be provided around the plate cylinder of the lithographic press and each plate discarded after use, leaving a clean plate on the plate cylinder.
Inventors
- 👤 Samuel D. Zerillo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 16:58
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41C; B41C1/00; B41C1/10; B41C1/1066
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
An apparatus for producing lithographic plates comprising: a source of solid hydrophobic true ink; a printhead connected to the source of hydrophobic ink to dispense the hydrophobic ink onto a lithographic plate by melting the ink and spraying droplets of the melted ink onto the plate in a predetermined pattern, wherein the ink solidifies essentially upon contact with the plate; and means coupled to the printhead for receiving information containing the predetermined pattern, and for controlling the spray of droplets from the printhead in response to such received information.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
89 words
An apparatus for producing lithographic plates comprising: a source of solid hydrophobic true ink; a printhead connected to the source of hydrophobic ink to dispense the hydrophobic ink onto a lithographic plate by melting the ink and spraying droplets of the melted ink onto the plate in a predetermined pattern, wherein the ink solidifies essentially upon contact with the plate; and means coupled to the printhead for receiving information containing the predetermined pattern, and for controlling the spray of droplets from the printhead in response to such received information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: information source means for providing the pattern to be printed by the printhead on the plate; and communication means coupling the information source means and the receiving means for providing pattern information from the information source means to the printhead.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the information source means comprises a computer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the printhead comprises an ink jet printhead and wherein the ink is melted inside the printhead.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the printhead comprises a plurality of ink jets.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ink comprises at least one natural wax.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the natural wax is contained in an approximate weight range from 0.5 to 97.0 percent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the ink further comprises oleic acid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the information containing the predetermined pattern is capable of being electronically stored.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ink comprises a mixture of natural waxes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ink comprises a natural wax in combination with a synthetic wax.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ink comprises at least one natural wax selected from the group of waxes consisting of Japan wax, candelilla wax, carnauba wax and mixtures thereof and has a viscosity of about 9 centipoise when discharged from the printhead apparatus at a temperature of about 110° C.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ink is a clear, meltable hydrophobic substance.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of making a lithographic plate comprising the step of dispensing solid hydrophobic true ink from a printhead onto a lithographic plate in a predetermined pattern by melting the ink in the printhead and spraying droplets of the melted ink onto the plate in the predetermined pattern, wherein the ink solidifies essentially upon contact with the plate.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of making a lithographic plate comprising the step of dispensing solid hydrophobic true ink from a printhead onto a lithographic plate in a predetermined pattern by melting the ink in the printhead and spraying droplets of the melted ink onto the plate in the predetermined pattern, wherein the ink solidifies essentially upon contact with the plate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of: inputting the predetermined pattern into an information source means for indicating the pattern to be printed on the plate; and communicating the predetermined pattern to the printhead.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the information source means comprises a computer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the printhead comprises an ink jet printhead and wherein the ink is melted in a reservoir in the printhead prior to use.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the printhead comprises a plurality of ink jets.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the ink comprises at least one natural wax.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the ink comprises a mixture of natural waxes.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the ink comprises a natural wax in combination with a synthetic wax.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the ink comprises at least one natural wax selected from the group of waxes consisting of Japan wax, candelilla wax, carnauba wax and mixtures thereof and has a viscosity of about 9 centipoise when discharged from the printhead at a temperature of about 110° C.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the natural wax is contained in the ink in an approximate weight range from 0.5 to 97.0 percent.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the ink further comprises oleic acid.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the ink is a clear, meltable hydrophobic substance.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of producing lithographic copies comprising: inputting a predetermined pattern into an information source for indicating the pattern to be printed on the lithographic copies; communicating the predetermined pattern to a printhead; dispensing solid hydrophobic true ink from the printhead onto a lithographic plate by melting the ink in the printhead and spraying droplets of the melted ink onto the plate in the predetermined pattern, wherein said ink solidifies essentially upon contact with said plate; mounting the lithographic plate onto a lithographic printing press; and printing the copies by running the press.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of producing lithographic copies comprising: inputting a predetermined pattern into an information source for indicating the pattern to be printed on the lithographic copies; communicating the predetermined pattern to a printhead; dispensing solid hydrophobic true ink from the printhead onto a lithographic plate by melting the ink in the printhead and spraying droplets of the melted ink onto the plate in the predetermined pattern, wherein said ink solidifies essentially upon contact with said plate; mounting the lithographic plate onto a lithographic printing press; and printing the copies by running the press.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the information source comprises a computer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the printhead comprises an ink jet printhead and wherein the ink is melted in a reservoir in the printhead prior to use.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 28 wherein the printhead comprises a plurality of ink jets.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 26 wherein the ink comprises at least one natural wax.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
111 words
An apparatus for producing lithographic copies comprising: a lithographic printing press having a lithographic plate surface; a source of solid hydrophobic true ink; a printhead mounted on the printing press and connected to the source of hydrophobic ink to dispense the hydrophobic ink by melting the ink and spraying droplets of the melted ink onto the plate surface in a predetermined pattern, wherein the ink solidifies essentially upon contact with the plate surface; an information source for determining the pattern to be printed by the printhead on the plate surface; and communication means coupling the information source and the printhead for providing pattern information from the information source to the printhead.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
111 words
An apparatus for producing lithographic copies comprising: a lithographic printing press having a lithographic plate surface; a source of solid hydrophobic true ink; a printhead mounted on the printing press and connected to the source of hydrophobic ink to dispense the hydrophobic ink by melting the ink and spraying droplets of the melted ink onto the plate surface in a predetermined pattern, wherein the ink solidifies essentially upon contact with the plate surface; an information source for determining the pattern to be printed by the printhead on the plate surface; and communication means coupling the information source and the printhead for providing pattern information from the information source to the printhead.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the information source comprises a computer.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the printhead comprises an ink jet printhead and wherein the ink is melted inside the printhead.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the printhead comprises a plurality of ink jets.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the plate surface comprises at least one lithographic plate mounted in the printing press.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the plate surface comprises a series of lithographic plates each removably mounted in the printing means, only one plate of the series being in position to receive the ink at one time.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the plate comprises a paper plate having a high clay content.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the plate comprises an aluminum plate.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the plate surface comprises a plate cylinder having a hydrophilic surface.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the ink comprises at least one natural wax.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the plate surface may be cleaned and re-used.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-05-22 | 1992-11-21 | 1993-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-05-22 | 1996-11-21 | 1997-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-05-22 | 2000-11-21 | 2001-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |