System and method to apply a printing image on a printing machine cylinder in accordance with electronically furnished image information

A method of applying a printed image on a printing form of a printing machine, in accordance with image information provided by an electronic control unit (22) comprising

• providing a carrier element (10, 19, 1504, 1602);
• providing a yielding or pressure deformable surface on said carrier element;
• and
• applying meltable substance particles which affect the surface of said carrier element with respect to affinity of, respectively, water and printing ink,
• by a thermo transfer process under control of a recording head (9, 17, 1507, 1607);
• wherein said step of applying said substance particles comprises applying said particles onto said yielding or pressure deformable surface.

A system for applying a printing image on a printing machine form (4, 18) in accordance with image information,

• wherein said printing machine form comprises a surface element having ink applying surface portions and non-inking surface portions for subsequent transfer of printing information unto a substrate (W, 1103) receiving said printed information,
• said system comprising
• a recording head (9, 17, 414, 1507, 1709);
• a reproducing means (16, 25, 424, 1926);
• an electronic control unit (22, 305, 421, 1512, 1612, 1711, 1928) coupled to said recording head;
• a movable transfer tape (10, 19, 415, 1107, 1214, 1513, 1706) having a surface including a transfer substance which is subject to change of characteristics under influence of energy applied thereto, which change of characteristics affects the affinity of, respectively, water and printing ink to the surface to which it is applied,
• said transfer tape past the recording head for transfer of said substance onto said transfer tape in accordance with said supplied image information,
• means for guiding said transfer tape past the reproducing means (16, 25, 424, 1926), said guide means further guiding said transfer tape in engagement with said printing form, with said transfer tape between the printing form and the reproducing means,
• said reproducing means applying energy in line or surface form to the transfer tape for transfer of said substance form the transfer tape directly onto the printing form.