Disposable Cliche Reverse Offset Printing for Fine Patterns

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional reverse offset printing methods require a complex and time-consuming cliche washing process, increasing printing costs and reducing efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A method using a disposable cliche formed by closely contacting a cliche-forming film to a concavely patterned hard mold, coating an elastic blanket cylinder with ink or resin, and compressing it to the disposable cliche to transfer the pattern, eliminating the need for cliche washing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a hard cliche is used in conventional reverse offset printing, then fine patterns can be formed on hard substrates, but the cliche requires washing and drying between printings which complicates the process and increases time consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefine pattern formationVSAvoidcliche washing and drying time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a disposable cliche made from a flexible film that can be easily discarded after use. This eliminates the need for time-consuming washing and drying processes associated with hard cliches, while still enabling fine pattern formation through the film's ability to conform to the substrate and elastic blanket interface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the material parameter of the cliche from rigid (hard cliche) to flexible (film-based disposable cliche). This parameter change allows the cliche to be easily removed and replaced without washing, while the flexible nature maintains the fine pattern formation capability through conformal contact

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If a hard cliche is used in conventional reverse offset printing, then fine patterns can be formed, but the washing and drying process increases operational complexity and cost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefine pattern formationVSAvoidcliche washing and drying process

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By using a disposable film-based cliche, the patent eliminates the complex washing and drying infrastructure required for hard cliches. The flexible film can be simply discarded and replaced, significantly reducing operational complexity and associated costs while preserving fine pattern formation capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Productivity

If a disposable cliche is used, then the printing process is simplified and accelerated, but the cliche must be continuously formed on the elastic blanket surface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprinting process speedVSAvoidcliche formation process

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-forming the cliche pattern on a flexible film before the printing process. This allows the cliche to be ready for immediate use without requiring complex on-demand formation mechanisms during printing, thus maintaining high productivity while simplifying the overall system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a flexible film as a copy or replica of the cliche pattern that can be easily applied to and removed from the elastic blanket. This copying approach enables rapid replacement without complex formation processes, enhancing productivity while keeping the system relatively simple

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach simplifies and accelerates the printing process, reducing costs by allowing easy exchange of the disposable cliche and eliminating the need for cliche washing, while maintaining the ability to form fine patterns on various substrates like metal or glass.

Implementation Method 1

an elastic blanket acting as an intermediating function is coated with an ink, then unnecessary portions are taken off using a concavely patterned cliche, and then the ink remaining on the elastic blanket is printed onto the substrate

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOffset printing transfer:

Implementation Method 2

a hole for air inhalation is formed in the hard mold, and an air is sucked in through the hole to vacuum-contact the cliche-forming film to the hard mold

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVacuum contact: Vacuum

Data Source

PatentUS9365025B2Method for forming fine patterns on a substrate with a disposable cliche

Publication Date: 2016.06.14 LG CHEM LTD

AI summary

A method for forming fine patterns includes (S1) closely contacting a cliche-forming film to a hard mold concavely patterned, thereby making a disposable cliche; (S2) coating an elastic blanket cylinder with ink or resin; (S3) compressing the elastic blanket cylinder to the disposable cliche to remove ink or resin on a surface of the elastic blanket cylinder at a portion contacting with a relatively protruded embossed portion of the disposable cliche; and (S4) transcribing ink or resin remaining on the surface of the elastic blanket cylinder to a substrate. This method allows simple and fast works and greatly reduces costs by adopting a disposable cliche that may be easily installed and removed. Also, this method may be effectively utilized to form a fine pattern of an electronic device or a display device such as color filter and electrode.