Isopropyl alcohol-free catalytic fountain solution concentrate and method for introducing a catalytic agent into lithographic printing ink

Claim 2

A fountain solution concentrate for transporting a catalytic cross-linking agent to lithographic printing ink and infusing said catalytic, cross-linking agent into said ink, said fountain solution concentrate consisting essentially of water, gum, glycol and a catalytic cross-linking agent adapted to cross-link said ink upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation, infrared radiation, blowing hot air or blowing cold air.

Claim 3

The fountain solution concentrate of claim 1, wherein said gum is a natural gum.

Claim 4

The fountain solution concentrate of claim 2, wherein said natural gum is Gum Arabic.

Claim 5

The fountain solution concentrate of claim 1, wherein said glycol is propylene glycol.

Claim 6

The fountain solution concentrate of claim 1, wherein said catalytic cross-linking agent is an organic titanate compound.

Claim 7

The fountain solution concentrate of claim 5, wherein said organic titanate compound is a titanate chelate.

Claim 8

The fountain solution concentrate of claim 1, wherein said concentrate is acidic.

Claim 9

The fountain solution concentrate of claim 7, wherein said concentrate has a pH between about 3 and about 5.

Claim 10

The fountain solution concentrate of claim 8, wherein said concentrate has a pH between about 4 and about 5.

Claim 11

A fountain solution concentrate for transporting a catalytic, cross-linking agent to lithographic printing ink and infusing said catalytic, cross-linking agent into said ink, said fountain solution concentrate consisting essentially of water, gum, glycol, a catalytic cross-linking agent adapted to cross-link said ink upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation, infrared radiation, blowing hot air, blowing cold air, or any combination thereof, and one or more of the following: a tackifier, a pH adjuster, and a blending agent.

Claim 12

A fountain solution concentrate for transporting a catalytic, cross-linking agent to lithographic printing ink and infusing said catalytic, cross-linking agent into said ink, said fountain solution concentrate consisting essentially of water, gum, glycol, a catalytic cross-linking agent adapted to cross-link said ink upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation, infrared radiation, blowing hot air, blowing cold air, or any combination thereof, and one or more of the following: a tackifier, a pH adjuster, and a blending agent.

Claim 13

The fountain solution concentrate of claim 10, wherein said gum is a natural gum.

Claim 14

The fountain solution concentrate of claim 11, wherein said natural gum is Gum Arabic.

Claim 15

The fountain solution concentrate of claim 10, wherein said glycol is propylene glycol.

Claim 16

The fountain solution concentrate of claim 10, wherein said catalytic cross-linking agent is an organic titanate compound.

Claim 17

The fountain solution concentrate of claim 14, wherein said organic titanate compound is a titanate chelate.

Claim 18

The fountain solution concentrate of claim 10, wherein said concentrate is acidic.

Claim 19

The fountain solution concentrate of claim 16, wherein said concentrate has a pH between about 3 and about 5.

Claim 20

The fountain solution concentrate of claim 17, wherein said concentrate has a pH between about 4 and about 5.

Claim 21

The fountain solution concentrate of claim 10, wherein said tackifier comprises sugar.

Claim 22

The fountain solution concentrate of claim 10, wherein said pH adjuster comprises citric acid, phosphoric acid and ammonia.

Claim 23

The fountain solution concentrate of claim 10, wherein said blending agent comprises propylene glycol methyl ether.

Claim 24

A process for imparting catalytic, cross-linking qualities to ink in a lithographic printing process having a dampening system for providing a fountain solution to said process and an inking system for providing ink to said process, comprising the steps of: introducing into said dampening system a fountain solution concentrate consisting essentially of water, gum, glycol and a catalytic cross-linking agent adapted to cross-link said ink upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation, infrared radiation, blowing hot air, blowing cold air, or any combination thereof; transporting said catalytic, cross-linking agent to said ink via said fountain solution; and, infusing said catalytic, cross-linking agent into said ink.

Claim 25

A process for imparting catalytic, cross-linking qualities to ink in a lithographic printing process having a dampening system for providing a fountain solution to said process and an inking system for providing ink to said process, comprising the steps of: introducing into said dampening system a fountain solution concentrate consisting essentially of water, gum, glycol and a catalytic cross-linking agent adapted to cross-link said ink upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation, infrared radiation, blowing hot air, blowing cold air, or any combination thereof; transporting said catalytic, cross-linking agent to said ink via said fountain solution; and, infusing said catalytic, cross-linking agent into said ink.

Claim 26

The process of claim 22, wherein said catalytic, cross-linking agent is an organic titanate compound.

Claim 27

The process of claim 23, wherein said organic titanate compound is a titanate chelate.

Claim 28

The process of claim 22, further comprising the step of introducing said fountain solution concentrate into said inking system.

Claim 29

The process of claim 25, wherein said catalytic, cross-linking agent is an organic titanate compound.

Claim 30

The process of claim 26, wherein said organic titanate compound is a titanate chelate.

Claim 31

A process for imparting catalytic, cross-linking qualities to ink in a lithographic printing process having a dampening system for providing a fountain solution to said process and an inking system for providing ink to said process, comprising the steps of: introducing into said dampening system a fountain solution concentrate consisting essentially of water, gum, glycol, a catalytic cross-linking agent adapted to cross-link said ink upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation, infrared radiation, blowing hot air, blowing cold air, or any combination thereof, and one or more of the following: a tackifier, a pH adjuster and a blending agent, transporting said catalytic, cross-linking agent to said ink via said fountain solution; and, infusing said catalytic, cross-linking agent into said ink.

Claim 32

A process for imparting catalytic, cross-linking qualities to ink in a lithographic printing process having a dampening system for providing a fountain solution to said process and an inking system for providing ink to said process, comprising the steps of: introducing into said dampening system a fountain solution concentrate consisting essentially of water, gum, glycol, a catalytic cross-linking agent adapted to cross-link said ink upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation, infrared radiation, blowing hot air, blowing cold air, or any combination thereof, and one or more of the following: a tackifier, a pH adjuster and a blending agent, transporting said catalytic, cross-linking agent to said ink via said fountain solution; and, infusing said catalytic, cross-linking agent into said ink.

Claim 33

The process of claim 28, wherein said catalytic, cross-linking agent is an organic titanate compound.

Claim 34

The process of claim 29, wherein said organic titanate compound is a titanate chelate.

Claim 35

The process of claim 28, further comprising the step of introducing said fountain solution concentrate into said inking system.

Claim 36

The process of claim 31, wherein said catalytic, cross-linking agent is an organic titanate compound.

Claim 37

The process of claim 32, wherein said organic titanate compound is a titanate chelate.