Polaroid Corporation

Presstek, Inc.

Rexham Graphics Inc.

Graphics Technology International, Inc.

Rexam Graphics, Inc.

Ernest W Ellis

Alan L Borror

Thomas E Lewis

David P Waller

Roger A Boggs

Richard L Cournoyer

Donald A McGowan

Diane M Foley

Dana R Arnold

Stephen J Telfer

James W Foley

Richard A Williams

Louis Cincotta

Patrick R Conlon

Robert Howard

Michael J Zuraw

Frederick R Kearney

Sandra E Russo-Rodriguez

Marcis M Kampe

Charles E Hammond

Hugh R MacKenzie

Faramarz Faramarzpour

Lithographic printing is performed with printing members having a hydrophilic-surfaced metal support and a polymeric layer thereover. The polymeric layer absorbs imaging radiation and is soluble in a liquid to which ink will not adhere (e.g., fountain solution). Ordinarily, the polymeric layer is mostly removable by fountain solution. In response to absorbed imaging radiation, however, it may become permanently bound to the metal support so as to resist removal, serving as an ink-carrying oleophilic layer during printing.

Wet lithographic imaging with metal-based printing members

Negative-working and positive-working lithographic plate constructions include a durable hydrophilic layer; a hard, inorganic, oleophilic layer; and a substrate, which may be metal. If a metal substrate is employed, an overlying layer provides sufficient thermal insulation to prevent substantial dissipation of heat&mdash;which is necessary to achieve ablation&mdash;into the substrate. In the case of oleophilic layers employed in negative-working embodiments, certain ceramic materials are suitable, and an intermediate tying layer may be used to anchor a hydrophilic ceramic layer to the oleophilic layer. In positive-working embodiments, the oleophilic layers may be refractory compounds doped with oleophilic material. An advantage to the latter embodiments is the ability to apply traditional means of correction following imaging.

Lithographic imaging with constructions having inorganic oleophilic layers

Lithographic printing members have protective layers formulated specifically for use with single-fluid inks, and which are removed from the printing member during the preparatory procedures that precede printing. The protective layer provides protection against handling and environmental damage, and also extends plate shelf life; performs a cleaning function, entraining debris and carrying it away as the layer itself is removed; acts as a debris-management barrier if the layer immediately beneath the protective layer is ablated during the imaging process, preventing the emergence of airborne debris that might interfere with unimaged areas and/or imaging optics; and exhibits hydrophilicity, actually accelerating plate roll-up.

Lithographic imaging and plate cleaning using single-fluid ink systems

Lithographic printing members have inorganic protective layers that may be applied by vacuum deposition. In a representative construction, a substrate and a first layer thereover have different affinities for ink and/or a liquid to which ink will not adhere; the first layer may, for example, be applied under vacuum and comprise a metal or a metallic inorganic layer. Onto this layer is deposited a material comprising, for example, a boron ceramic, and under conditions ensuring that oxygen is present at least at the interface between the boron ceramic and the first layer. The first layer may incorporate a surface layer of oxygen or may be an oxygen compound. The oxygen facilitates hydrolysis of the boron ceramic during the print 'make-ready' process.

Lithographic imaging and cleaning of printing members having boron

Lithographic printing members utilize, as an ink-accepting layer, a hard, inorganic, and generally covalent material that exhibits sufficient flexibility (at the deposition thicknesses envisioned) to accommodate flexing and bending. This layer may overlie a relatively heavy, metal plate substrate or support, resulting in a structure whose permanent layers all share the physical properties of inorganic materials. The printing member may also be provided with a protective layer that serves a variety of beneficial functions, including protection against handling and environmental damage and extension of plate shelf life, but which also is removed during the printing make-ready process.

Lithographic imaging with constructions having inorganic oleophilic

Constructions useful as lithographic printing plates include metallic inorganic layers exhibiting both hydrophilicity and substantial durability at very thin application levels. These materials ablatively absorb imaging radiation, thereby facilitating direct imaging without chemical development. They can also be used to form optical interference structures which, in addition to providing color, likewise absorb imaging radiation and ablate in response to imaging pulses.

Method for lithographic printing with thin-film imaging recording

Lithographic printing is accomplished using wet lithographic printing plates that include a protective layer providing protection against handling and environmental damage, extension of plate shelf life, and entrainment of debris generated by ablation. The layer washes away during the printing make-ready process, effectively cleaning the plate and disappearing without the need for a separate removal process.

Printing with self-cleaning, abrasion-resistant, laser-imageable

Lithographic printing constructions are removable from a permanent support, which may be a metal sheet affixable (usually by clamps) to a plate cylinder, or may instead be the permanent surface of such a cylinder. In this way, the traditional 'plate' is replaced with a thin, easily manufactured printing member, which is separated from the support following its use.

Lithographic printing system with reusable support surfaces and

To delete undesired ink-receptive areas on a wet lithographic printing construction, an oleophobic material is applied to the hydrophilic surface of the plate that has suffered contamination and/or scratching, and allowed to cure. So long as the hydrophilic surface is capable of permanently bonding the oleophobic deletion agent, the areas to which that agent has been applied will not accept ink.

Method for selectively deleting undesired ink-receptive areas on wet

Lithographic printing members include a traditional flood-exposed photopolymer layer applied to one or more layers based on certain metallic inorganic materials. The metallic inorganic material overlies a substrate, which is preferably a relatively thick metal for dimensional stability and strength, but may also be a polymeric or other material. An intermediate tying layer may anchor the metallic inorganic material to the substrate. The plate is exposed and developed in the conventional manner, with the portions of the metallic inorganic layer exposed by development serving as a hydrophilic printing surface (that is, a surface accepting fountain solution).

Wet lithographic printing constructions incorporating metallic inorganic

Unique laser ablation transfer ('LAT') imaging films presenting options of flexibility and versatility hitherto alien to this art are produced, on-demand, by toning appropriate substrate as to provide thereon an ablative discontinuous film topcoat comprising a contrast imaging amount of conventional or modified toner particulates.

On-demand production of LAT imaging films

The lithographic affinity characteristics of a material, such as a polymer, are affected--and thereby selectively modulated--through implantation of one or more metallic materials, typically in the form of ions and/or atoms (or molecules). The desired characteristics are achieved by bulk chemical modification of the material rather than by texturing or deposition of a new surface layer. In the case of a polymer system, for example, the metal impregnates the matrix, penetrating to an observable depth without substantial surface accumulation.

Method of modulating lithographic affinity and printing members made

Wet lithographic printing plates include a protective layer that provides protection against handling and environmental damage, extends plate shelf life, and entrains debris generated by ablation. The layer washes away during the printing make-ready process, effectively cleaning the plate and disappearing without the need for a separate removal process.

Self-cleaning, abrasion-resistant, laser-imageable lithographic printing

Materials that undergo self-propagating exothermic solid-solid reaction upon ignition by a heating source (e.g., a laser) are used in the fabrication of recording constructions such as lithographic printing plates, photomasks and proofing sheets. A recording construction in accordance with the invention may include at least one ignition layer comprising at least two unreacted, solid chemical species which, upon exposure to heat, combine exothermically to form a final species that is physically disrupted; and a substrate thereunder that is substantially unconsumed by heat generated by the exothermic combination. To form a lithographic printing plate, the ignition layer (or its topmost component, or a surface layer thereover) and the substrate exhibit different affinities for ink and/or an abhesive fluid for ink.

Growing community of inventors

Harvard, MA, United States of America

Ernest W Ellis