Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag

Bernd Vosseler

Bernard Beier

Uwe Ernst

Gerald Erik Hauptmann

Tobias M&uuml;ller

Martin Gutfleisch

Martin Forrer

Andreas Rupprecht

Harald Latzel

Eckhard Langenbach

Uwe Albrecht

Peter Goos

Mathias Schlörholz

Bernhard Beier

Hans-Joerg Heimbeck

An image-recording device for generating image spots () by n individually controllable light sources (), which each have a distance s, i being=1 . . . n, to an object line (), in a projection line () of the object line () on a printing form (), which moves with a velocity component v normally to the direction defined by the projection line () and tangentially to the surface of the printing form. The image-recording device is distinguished by the triggering device () having an assigned time-delay device (), which delays the tripping instant of the triggering device for each light source () as a function of the particular distance s. The image-recording device may advantageously by used in direct imaging print units or printing-form exposure units.

Image-recording device for generating a number of image spots in projection line

Reusable printing forms and thermal image setting on the printing forms is optimized in terms of performance. A method for manufacturing the printing form, in particular a rewritable printing form, having a thermally insulating layer, is distinguished by the fact that the thermally insulating layer is produced by the configuration of individual layers to form a layer sequence as a multilayer system. A printing form which is manufactured by the method according to the invention can have images set on it with a low power image setting device, as it is possible to effectively prevent heat from dissipating in an undesirably pronounced manner, for example into a metallic carrier.

Method for manufacturing a printing form and printing form with thermally insulating layer

In a method for imaging a lithographic printing form, subareas of a surface of the lithographic printing form which are covered by amphiphilic molecules, are exposed to electromagnetic radiation. Following the exposure and before printing from the lithographic printing form, the subareas are treated with at least one complex-forming substance, so that a lithographic printing area structured into hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions is obtained.

Method for imaging a lithographic printing form

Imageable printing forms are irradiated by radiant energy corresponding to the image information, the energy being absorbed in the printing form. The energy coupled in this manner is available for patterning the printing form surface. A printing form having a plurality of substantially planar functional zones, which have at least one informational zone that is modifiable in accordance with image information and an absorption zone for absorbing energy from a radiation is distinguished in that a buffer zone is provided which differs at least partially from the absorption zone, receives energy from the absorption zone, and releases energy to the informational zone.

Printing form having a plurality of planar functional zones

A method for imaging a printing form is particularly suited for a printing form exposer or a printing unit of a press. A plurality of light sources produce image points in a row on the printing form whose spacing is greater than the minimum image point spacing. A first partial row of image points is produced with a first subset of the light sources and a second partial row is produced with a second subset. During a number of imaging steps, at least some of the image points of in each case one of the subsets is placed along the row in positions between image points of the respective partial row, produced in a previous imaging step, and in which, after the number of imaging steps, in a further imaging step, image points of the first subset are placed along the row at positions between image points of the second partial row from the preceding imaging step.

Method and apparatus for imaging a printing form

An individually drivable array of single stripe laser diodes is proposed for imaging printing plates. An imaging optics is used to produce n image points which have a spatial interval l between adjacent points. An interleaving raster scan line method is indicated, which, given proper selection of the increment, enables each dot to be exposed exactly once.

Compact multibeam laser light source and interleaving raster scan

A method for printing an image on a printing substrate, a number of portions of fluid printing ink being produced on a printing ink carrier () through energy input by a number of image spots () of an array () of individually controllable VCSEL light sources, and the fluid printing ink being transferred to the printing substrate. A device for inputting energy () to a printing-ink carrier (), includes a number () of individually controllable laser light sources which have a modular design consisting of subarrays () and are disposed in an array (), and further includes printing-ink carrier () with which is associated an axis of rotation () and on the surface of which can be produced a number of image spots () of the laser light sources. The subarrays of laser light sources are VCSEL bars (), and rows of image spots () of the VCSEL bars are inclined with respect to the axis of rotation ().

Method for printing an image on a printing substrate and device for inputting energy to a printing-ink carrier

A device for recording images on a printing form (), having at least one laser diode bar (), which includes a number of laser diodes () whose image spots () lie disjunctly in an image field (), and having an array () of microlenses () positioned in the emission region () of the light radiated by the laser diode bar, one microlens () being assigned to each optical path () of a laser diode (). The device is distinguished in that at least one first laser diode () and one second laser diode () are densely positioned on the laser diode bar () in such a way that the first optical path () of the first laser diode () and the second optical path () of the second laser diode () run through a first microlens () of the array. The device can be used, in particular, in a print unit or a printing press and, at a given width of the laser diode bar, makes it possible to provide a greatest possible number of imaging channels ().

Imaging device for printing form

An imaging method for a printing form (32) is described, with one or more laser diode bars (10) with n individually controllable laser diodes (12) each of which are assigned to one imaging channel, in which the laser diodes (12) of a laser diode bar (10) are divided into a main field (14) of m and into an auxiliary field (16) of (n-m) laser diodes (12) in such a way that an imaging channel (44) in the auxiliary field (16) with a matching feed that can be activated is assigned to each imaging channel (44) in the main field (14) that cannot be activated. In order to create a row (40) of m printing dots (38) on a setting line (36) at even distances a by means of the imaging channels (44), printing dots (38) are set by the main field (14) at a first time, and by the auxiliary field (16) at least at a second time. The imaging channels (44) are shifted relative to the printing form (32) parallel to the setting line (36) between the imaging times. Also, a method for the determination of the largest possible main field (14) with imaging channels (44) that under the circumstances cannot be activated is provided.

Imaging method for printing forms

A device for spotwise imaging printing surfaces includes a laser light source producing at least one laser beam movable relative to a printing surface, the laser beam defining an image spot on the printing surface, the laser beam having a laser power. A laser control varies the laser power or an exposure time as a function of a distance of the laser light source from the image spot.

Laser imaging with variable printing spot size

A device for recording images on a printing form, including an array of light sources and imaging optics for generating (n&times;m) imaging spots on a printing form, which is distinguished by the array of light sources including an array of mutually independently controllable VCSEL light sources. One specific imaging spot may be formed on the printing form by combining the light emitted by a subarray of the VCSEL light sources. Due to the advantageous beam properties of VCSEL light sources, such as the small divergence and negligible astigmatism, the device for recording images on printing forms is especially advantageous for use in a printing-form imaging unit or in a print unit.

Image-recording device for a printing form, having an array of VCSEL light sources

Compact multibeam laser light source and interleaving raster scan line method for exposing printing plates

A process for producing a printing form includes forming a multiplicity of blind holes opening into a surface of a spatial or three-dimensional structure of the printing form, the blind holes serving for receiving a medium therein, and providing a propellant in the printing form for assisting in expelling the medium from the blind holes. A printing form produced by the process is also provided.

Printing form and process for producing the printing form

A method and a device for imaging a printing form ( ) via at least two imaging modules ( ) which each have at least one light source are disclosed for avoiding the banding effect that an imaging in a transition region ( ). The two imaging modules ( ) are provided in such a manner that a number of at least partially not-simply connected printing dots are produced in the transition region ( ) by the first imaging module ( ) and the complementary, not-simply connected printing dots are produced in the transition region ( ) by the second imaging module ( ).

Banding-reduced imaging of a printing form

An image-recording device for a printing form ( ), including an array of light sources ( ) and a downstream microoptics ( ), which generates a virtual intermediate image ( ) of the light sources ( ), which is distinguished by the microoptics ( ) having a downstream optical system ( ) of a convex mirror ( ) and of a concave mirror ( ) having a common center of curvature, a combination of the Offner type, which produces a real image ( ) of the virtual intermediate images ( ). By employing a monolithic structure ( ) of the optical system ( ) of a convex mirror ( ) and of a concave mirror ( ), a more compact, space-saving design is able to achieved. The image-recording device according to the present invention may be utilized to special advantage for a printing form ( ) in a plate-exposure unit or in a print unit of a printing press.

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Heidelberg, Germany

Bernd Vosseler