High volume, textured liquid transfer surface

Abstract

In-line printing and coating method achieves high coat weights (e.g, over 0.7 lb./1,000 sq.ft.) characteristic of blister seal operations and/or high gloss and high scuff resistance requirements, substantially without deleterious slinging. A high volume of coating is applied to a substrate by a coating cylinder supporting a resilient coating transfer surface consisting of an array of laser engraved coating-carrying indentations having substantially equal volumes that are uniformly distributed. An impression surface is positioned adjacent to the coating cylinder, positioned to impress a substrate between the coating transfer surface and the impression surface. A supply roll has a surface for applying liquid coating to the resilient transfer surface. The supply roll surface and the resilient transfer surface are in pressure contact, and adjacent surfaces of the supply roll and the coating cylinder rotate in the same direction. A metering member contacts the supply roll, so the load on the supply roll is metered before it is imparted to the resilient transfer surface. Resilient polymer and rubber surfaces carrying high volumes of coating are also disclosed. The cylinder supporting the resilient transfer surface can be advantageously used in other applications, for instance a roll of a keyless inker of an offset printing unit in a printing press.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.