Selective Inking Cylinder Coating for Intaglio Print Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing intaglio printing systems face limitations in achieving precise ink transfer due to the soft and resilient nature of chablon plates, leading to high ink consumption and contamination issues with continuous inking rollers.
Innovation Solution
An inking system featuring a selective inking cylinder with a coating that is selectively structured to exhibit ink-repellent portions, allowing for precise ink transfer to intaglio printing mediums via an ink collecting cylinder or chablon cylinder, reducing ink consumption and preventing contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If chablon plates with relief portions are used for selective ink transfer, then ink transfer to engraved areas is achieved, but ink consumption is high and contamination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the surface energy parameter of the coating by selectively removing the ink-repellent coating in correspondence with the intaglio engraving. This creates a parameter difference between the coating surface (ink-repellent) and the exposed substrate (ink-receptive), enabling precise ink transfer only to the engraved areas without the high ink consumption associated with traditional relief plates
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical relief structure (chablon plates with raised portions) with a chemical/coating-based solution. Instead of using physical height differences to control ink transfer, the system uses selective removal of an ink-repellent coating to create chemically distinct surfaces, thereby substituting a mechanical system with a coating chemistry system that reduces ink waste
2Productivity
If continuous inking rollers are used to supply ink, then continuous inking is achieved, but contamination issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by creating a coating with spatially varying properties: ink-repellent in non-engraved areas and ink-receptive in engraved areas. This local differentiation allows the same coating surface to perform both functions - preventing contamination in non-printing areas while enabling ink transfer in printing areas, thus resolving the contamination issue while maintaining inking continuity
3Adaptability or versatility
If soft and resilient chablon plates are used, then flexibility is achieved, but manufacturing precision for ink transfer is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite structure consisting of a substrate (which can be soft and resilient like the chablon plate) combined with an ink-repellent coating layer. The coating layer provides the precise geometric definition needed for accurate ink transfer, while the substrate maintains flexibility. This composite approach allows the system to enjoy both the adaptability of flexible plates and the manufacturing precision of precisely defined ink transfer areas
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
The solution enables accurate and efficient ink transfer directly to engraved areas, reducing ink waste and maintaining print quality while allowing for easy maintenance access.
Implementation Method 1
the selective inking plate comprises a base and a coating formed on the base, which coating is selectively removed, especially laser-ablated, to expose the underlying base at the locations where ink is to be selectively transferred
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2
AI summary
There are described various embodiments of an inking system for inking an intaglio printing cylinder (8) of an intaglio printing press (1I; 1II; 1III; 1IV; 1V), which intaglio printing cylinder carries one or more intaglio printing mediums (8a, 8b, 8c) that are inked by means of a plurality of inking devices (95; 95*; 95**; 905; 905*). The inking system is designed to perform a selective transfer of ink to the one or more intaglio printing mediums by means of a selective inking cylinder (98; 98*; 98**) provided in at least one of the inking devices, preferably in each of the inking devices. More precisely, the selective inking cylinder carries a selective inking plate (90a) receiving ink supplied by an associated inking unit (96/96a/97; 96*/96a*/97*; 96**/96a**; 906/906a/910/915; 906*/906a*/910*/915*), which selective inking plate comprises a coating (900) that is selectively structured to exhibit ink-repellent portions (910) and perform selective transfer of ink at locations (920) corresponding to engraved areas of the one or more intaglio printing mediums that are to be inked with the ink supplied by the associated inking unit. The selective transfer of ink to the one or more intaglio printing mediums is performed indirectly from the selective inking cylinder to the one or more intaglio printing mediums via an ink collecting cylinder (9) and/or via a chablon cylinder (99*; 99**) carrying a chablon plate (99a) comprising relief portions (99A) corresponding to engraved areas of the one or more intaglio printing mediums that are to be inked with the ink supplied by the associated inking unit.