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Providing or correcting a flexographic printing member

A technology of offset printing and offset printing, applied in the field of laser-engravable offset printing sleeve precursor, seamless offset printing sleeve, to achieve cost-effective effect

Inactive Publication Date: 2011-08-31
EASTMAN KODAK CO
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Once this precursor has been received and received from the precursor manufacturer, any subsequent damage to the material is no longer the responsibility of the manufacturer, and the shop or printer (or user) must bear the cost (loss) if it becomes unusable

Method used

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  • Providing or correcting a flexographic printing member
  • Providing or correcting a flexographic printing member

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

Embodiment approach

[0041] As mentioned above, the present invention can be used in several ways. For example, it can be used to alter or modify a flexographic printing plate precursor or flexographic printing sleeve precursor before it is imaged for the first time. This would be necessary, for example, if during processing of the unimaged precursor the surface suffered damage such that the user needed to correct the damage. Damage can be in the form of scratches, any missing parts or holes in the surface of the plate. Additionally, in these embodiments, the present invention can be used to effect changes, corrections or addition of new laser-engraveable or printable areas in already laser-engraved flexographic printing plates or sleeves.

[0042] The following representative aspects of the invention are not meant to be limiting:

[0043] 1) Correction of damage, defects or holes in the cured flexographic printing plate precursor prior to initial laser-engraving.

[0044] 2) Addition of additi...

Embodiment 1

[0090] A curable laser-engravable offset composition was prepared using the components shown in Table I below:

[0091] Table I

[0092]

[0093] Composition samples were cured in a mold at 60°C for 1 hour. A 6 cm x 6 cm solid sample was laser-exposed ten times using a Thermoflex drum (1 W diode) to provide a laser-engraved offset image. A drop of the laser-engravable offset composition of Table I was placed on a small area (portion) of the printing plate image and cured between two mirror-polished aluminum plates at 60°C for 1 hour. The printing plate was then placed again on the Thermoflex drum and exposed ten more times, providing an image in a small cured area. This demonstrates the use of the present invention to provide laser-imageable areas on previously laser-engraved flexographic printing plates.

Embodiment 2

[0095] Another curable laser-engravable offset composition was prepared using the components of Table II below.

[0096] Table II

[0097]

[0098] Composition samples were cured in a mold at 60°C for 1 hour. A 6 cm x 6 cm solid sample was cut diagonally into two parts. A sample of the laser-engraveable offset composition of Table II was applied to the edge (seam) of two adjacent sheets, and the two sheets were brought into contact. Two adjoining sheets with the composition on the seam were cured at 60° C. for 1 hour between two mirror polished aluminum plates sandwiched together. The cured printing flexographic printing plate precursor was then cooled to room temperature and manually polished using a commercial "fine" abrasive scratch remover. The seamless flexographic printing plate precursor was then laser-exposed twenty times using a Thermoflex drum (1 W diode), providing a laser-engraved flexographic image on the seamless flexographic printing plate. This demonstra...

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PUM

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Abstract

An uncured laser-engraveable composition can be applied in liquid form, as one or more portions to either: a) a laser-engraveable layer of a laser-engraveable flexographic printing precursor (plate or sleeve), or b) a printing surface of a laser-engraved flexographic printing plate or laser-engraved flexographic printing sleeve. The applied laser-engraveable composition portions can become (for example, by curing) integral parts of the laser-engraveable surface or printing surface so that the applied composition portions can be partially or entirely laser-engraved if desired. This method can be used to provide seamless flexographic sleeves. In addition, it can be used to correct or repair defects, to overwrite an image, or to provide a new laser-engraveable surface in a flexographic printing plate or printing sleeve.

Description

technical field [0001] This invention relates to offset printing. In particular, it relates to methods of providing laser-engraveable flexographic printing plate precursors and laser-engraveable flexographic printing sleeve precursors. It also relates to methods of correcting or providing additional image areas on already laser-engraved flexographic printing plates or sleeves. Additionally, the present invention provides seamless offset printing sleeves. Background technique [0002] Offset printing plates are known for printing images on rough (eg corrugated) or smooth surfaces such as packaging materials, plastic films, wallpapers and fabrics. This method is mainly used in the packaging industry, where the printing plate should be soft enough and gentle enough to touch to print on uneven substrates, such as corrugated cardboard, and flexible materials, such as polypropylene film. For offset printing, a flexographic plate with an embossed image is typically wound on a cy...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(China)
IPC IPC(8): B41C1/05B41N3/00
CPCB41N3/006B41C1/05
Inventor Y·Y·平托D·艾薇儿
Owner EASTMAN KODAK CO