Laser imaged seamless lithographic printing members and method of making
AssigneePresstek, Inc.
InventorsRichard A. Williams, Thomas E. Lewis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Seamless, sleeve-shaped dry and wet lithographic printing members that can be recycled after use along with methods for their manufacture and use. The members include a strong, durable, hollow cylinder or sleeve that is attached to the plate mandrel or cylinder jacket of an offset printing press or platemaking apparatus. Surrounding the sleeve is a layer of a material, preferably polymeric in nature, which is characterized by efficient, ablative absorption of laser radiation, as well as other layers that facilitate imaging and subsequent printing.
Claims25
A method of manufacturing a lithographic member comprising:
- a. providing a hollow cylinder having an affinity for ink;
- b. coating thereon a first polymeric layer characterized by ablative absorption of imaging radiation;
- c. causing the first polymeric layer to assume a solid form;
- d. coating on the first polymeric layer a second polymeric layer having an affinity for an abhesive fluid for ink and which is not characterized by ablative absorption of imaging radiation;
- and
- e. causing the second polymeric layer to assume a solid form.
A method of manufacturing a lithographic member comprising:
- a. providing a hollow cylinder;
- b. coating thereon a first polymeric layer having a selected affinity for at least one printing liquid selected from the group consisting of ink and an abhesive fluid for ink;
- c. causing the first polymeric layer to assume a solid form;
- d. coating on the first polymeric layer a second polymeric layer characterized by ablative absorption of imaging radiation;
- e. causing the second polymeric layer to assume a solid form;
- f. coating on the second polymeric layer a third polymeric layer having an affinity for the at least one liquid which differs from the affinity of the first polymeric layer;
- and
- g. causing the third polymeric layer to assume a solid form.
A method of imaging a printing member comprising:
- a. providing a seamless offset printing member comprising:
- i. a hollow cylinder having an affinity for ink;
- ii. coated thereon, a first polymeric layer characterized by ablative absorption of imaging radiation;
- iii. coated on the first polymeric layer, a second polymeric layer having an affinity for an abhesive fluid for ink and which is not characterized by ablative absorption of imaging radiation;
- and
- b. removing the first and second layers in a pattern representative of an image.
A method of imaging a printing member comprising:
- a. providing a seamless offset printing member comprising:
- i. a hollow cylinder;
- ii. coated thereon, a first polymeric layer having a selected affinity for at least one printing liquid selected from the group consisting of ink and an abhesive fluid for ink;
- iii. coated on the first polymeric layer, a second polymeric layer characterized by ablative absorption of imaging radiation;
- iv. coated on the second polymeric layer, a third polymeric layer having an affinity for the at least one liquid which differs from the affinity of the first polymeric layer;
- and
- b. imaging the offset printing member by removing the second and third layers in a pattern representative of an image.
An offset printing member comprising:
- a. a hollow cylinder having an affinity for ink;
- b. coated thereon, a first polymeric layer characterized by ablative absorption of imaging radiation;
- and
- c. coated on the first polymeric layer, a second polymeric layer having an affinity for an abhesive fluid for ink and which is not characterized by ablative absorption of imaging radiation.
An offset printing member comprising:
- a. a hollow cylinder;
- b. coated thereon, a first polymeric layer having a selected affinity for at least one printing liquid selected from the group consisting of ink and an abhesive fluid for ink;
- c. coated on the first polymeric layer, a second polymeric layer characterized by ablative absorption of imaging radiation;
- and
- d. coated on the second polymeric layer, a third polymeric layer having an affinity for the at least one liquid which differs from the affinity of the first polymeric layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.