Abstract:
A printing plate for monotype prints includes a viscoelastic gel composition having a viscoelastic polymer selected from a hydrogenated poly-isoprene/butadiene polymer, poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene), poly(styrene-butadiene)n, poly(styrene-isoprene-styrene), poly(styrene-isoprene)n, poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene)n, poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene)n, poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene), poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene)n, poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene)n, polystyrene, polybutylene, poly(ethylene-propylene), poly(ethylene-butylene), polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane and silicone, and a combination thereof, and a plasticizing oil. The viscoelastic gel composition has a smooth surface and is formed as a sheet and shaped for use as a printing plate. A method for using the elastomeric gel printing plates of the present invention is also provided.
Abstract:
An apparatus for preparing a printing cylinder includes providing an image bearing printing surface comprising a plurality of cells; applying a filling material into the cells; fixing the filling material in a first group of cells in a first pattern; and removing the filling material from a second group of cells.
Abstract:
Apparatus and methods for controlling application of a substance to a substrate involve the use of a functional agent that blocks the substance from or attracts the principal substance to the substrate. The apparatus and methods may utilize ink jet technology to apply the functional agent directly to the substrate or to an intermediate surface. The principal substance may be an ink, a dye, a marking substance other than an ink, or a carrier for any other type of substance.
Abstract:
An apparatus for curing a printing plate made of or having photo-curable material, a method of curing such a printing plate, and a printing plate cured by the method. One embodiment of the method includes curing a printing plate made of or having photo-curable material thereon. The method includes producing light energy on part of the printing plate using a light exposure unit, including relative motion between the light energy and the plate in a transverse direction at a changeable period of repetition, such that curing can produce printing features on the plate that can be switched to have either flat tops or round tops according to the period of repetition.
Abstract:
The invention provides a method for making a printing form having a relief surface on a floor from a photosensitive element. The method involves generating a polymerization rate curve for the photosensitive element from a step exposure test by measuring a cure response, such as floor thickness or one or more relief image characteristic/s, of the element relative to an energy density of a source of actinic radiation. The method exposes a photosensitive element to the source of actinic radiation based on energy density that accounts for changes in intensity of lamps used for the source of actinic radiation.
Abstract:
A multi-ink marking structure for a hand stamp is made. A unitary foam member is provided and has a front surface, a rear surface and peripheral edges extending between the front surface and the rear surface. Selected locations of the foam member are sealed to form a barrier which extends at least substantially between the front surface and the rear surface and which divides the foam member into first and second regions adapted to store first and second inks, respectively. The barrier remains permanently connected to the first and second regions of the foam member. The barrier is adapted to prevent migration of inks between the first and the second regions. Print patterns are defined at the front surface.
Abstract:
A method is provided to produce a mold for casting in and curing of a curable material for flexo plate production, the method comprising the steps of: providing a substrate having at least one of a layer of ablative material and a supporting layer of non-ablative material; selectively performing at least one of laser ablation on the layer of ablative material and additively building up an image relief on non-ablated areas to produce the mold; filling the mold with a curable material; curing the curable material to form a flexo-plate; and then removing the flexo-plate from the mold.
Abstract:
A method and a test form for equalizing exposure heads of an exposer recording printing originals onto a recording material with exposure heads, with regard to the area coverage recorded. Each head contains a laser module generating a laser beam and focusing it onto the material. Each head records a recording band, the laser beams sweeping over the recording material in a main scanning direction while the heads are moved along the material in a secondary scanning direction. A test exposure is carried out, in which each head records a test form having test areas and a background area in its recording band. The area coverage recorded of the background area is compared visually with area coverages recorded of test areas of an adjacent test form and, from differences thereof in adjacent test forms, corrective values for the laser power of the laser modules in the exposure heads are calculated.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus of producing images on a series of master plates that are suitable for use as printing plates for the reproduction of multiple copies of composite images from said plates. The master plates are supported with a predetermined alignment relative to each other before mounting on a printing press. Counterpart raster lines of images on the master plates are recorded simultaneously or substantially simultaneously using preferably an ink jet printer so that the counterpart raster lines are printed in alignment.
Abstract:
Relieved pattern of a resin original pattern plate, which does not exhibit fluidity at transferring temperature and possesses elastic modulus no smaller than 10 kg/cm.sup.2, preferably no smaller than 100 kg/cm.sup.2, is transferred onto thermoplastic resin material having fluidity at the transferring temperature (ASTM D1238, load 21.6 kg) of at least 0.01 dg/min, preferably at least 0.1 dg/min, by pressing the thermoplastic resin material to the original pattern plate under a pressure condition where elastic deformation of the original pattern plate is kept within 10%. The resin original pattern plate is prepared by controlling the photopolymerizable resin composition to adjust its cross-linkability and then photo-polymerizing, whereby the resulting resin original pattern plate possesses an elastic modulus of 10 kg/cm.sup.2 or higher at transferring temperature. The photo-polymerizable resin composition includes, as its major ingredients, either polymer, polyfunctional monomer (10- 90% by weight, preferably 30- 70% by weight, and having viscosity of at least 10.sup.3 poise at transferring temperature), photo-sensitizer and thermal polymerization inhibitor, or cross-linkable polymer (having at least 1000 molecular weight and double bonds at least one for each 1000 molecular weight), monomer (5- 50% by weight, preferably 10- 40% by weight), photosensitizer and thermal polymerization inhibitor.
Abstract translation:在转印温度下不具有流动性并且不小于10kg / cm 2,优选不小于100kg / cm 2的弹性模量的树脂原版图案的缓冲图案转印到在转印温度下具有流动性的热塑性树脂材料上 (ASTM D1238,负荷21.6kg)为至少0.01dg / min,优选至少0.1dg / min,通过在原始图案板的弹性变形保持在其内的压力条件下将热塑性树脂材料压制到原始图案板上 10%。 通过控制可光聚合的树脂组合物来调节其交联性,然后进行光聚合,制备树脂原始图案板,由此得到的树脂原始图案板在转印温度下的弹性模量为10kg / cm 2以上。 可光聚合树脂组合物包括聚合物,多官能单体(10-90重量%,优选30-70重量%,转印温度下粘度至少为103泊)的主要成分,光敏剂 和热聚合抑制剂或可交联聚合物(每1000个分子量具有至少1000个分子量和双键至少一个),单体(5-50重量%,优选10-40重量%),光敏剂和 热聚合抑制剂。