Man Roland Druckmaschinen Ag

Man Technologie Gmbh

Matthias Niemitz

Gerhard Kossmehl

Detlef Kabbeck-Kupijai

Hartmut Fuhrmann

Wolfgang Scheer

An offset litho or other surface printing press has a printing image carrier with image areas defined by water repelling and water-wettable properties. In order to make possible a reconfiguration of the image directly in the press the printing image carrier is in the form of an electrically conducting substrate, as for example nickel, M which is coated with a polymer to define such areas. The deposition of the polymer is controlled electrochemically with the plate cylinder acting as one electrode and the opposite electrode being in the form of a roller able to rotate in an electrolyte container. One of the two electrodes is in the form of matrix and is activated in a manner in conformity with a pattern of halftone dots corresponding to the desired image. Dependent on whether the polymer is hydrophobic or hydrophilic, the ink accepting areas or either the coated or non-coated parts of the substrate.

Method of producing a printing image carrier

The invention relates to a surface printing press with a printed image carrier having an image thereon corresponding to the matter to be printed on paper or the like. The image on the printed image carrier is in the form of hydrophilic and hydrophobic areas. In order to be able to modify the extents and positions of these areas on the press directly and thus reduce press idle times the printed image carrier is made of a material such as polymer whose said areas may be changed over dotwise between the said hydrophilic and hydrophobic conditions by electrical effects taking place in an electrochemical process with one electrode being formed by the plate cylinder and the counter-electrode being formed by a roller bearinged for rotation in an electrolyte container. One of the two electrodes is in the form of matrix and is operated so as to produce a pattern of dots.

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Berlin, Germany

Matthias Niemitz