Method and device for transferring printing ink

Method of transferring printing ink from said intermediate carrier to a printing-ink receiver, the method which comprises:

• providing an intermediate carrier with an outer elastic layer containing an ink-repelling, liquid separating agent;
• applying printing ink in an at least partially liquid state to the intermediate carrier;
• driving the ink-repelling, liquid separating agent to a surface of the outer elastic layer and supplying the ink-repelling, liquid separating agent between the intermediate carrier and printing ink by pressing the intermediate carrier and said printing-ink receiver against one another, the printing-ink receiver being selected from the group consisting of a further intermediate carrier and a substrate;
• and
• reducing an adhesion of the printing ink to the intermediate carrier with the ink-repelling, liquid separating agent at one time at least before and during a transfer to the printing-ink receiver.

Device for transferring printing ink, comprising:

• an intermediate carrier having an exterior surface;
• an inking unit adjoining said intermediate carrier and transferring solid printing ink in a granular state from said inking unit to said intermediate carrier;
• a printing ink receiver selected from the group consisting of a further intermediate carrier and a substrate, said printing ink receiver adjoining said intermediate carrier for receiving the printing ink from said intermediate carrier;
• at least one laser device disposed distally outside said exterior surface of said intermediate carrier for concentrating radiation on one of said intermediate carrier and said printing-ink receiver, said at least one laser device melting directly, with the radiation, the printing-ink substantially only at a side of the printing-ink facing away from said intermediate carrier before transferring the solid printing ink to said printing-ink receiver, the solid printing-ink adhering to said intermediate carrier in a granular state, said exterior surface extending between said inking unit and said printing-ink receiver;
• and
• a control device connected to said at least one laser device for generating control signals, said control signals corresponding to a distribution of the printing-ink on said printing-ink receiver.

Device for transferring printing ink from an inking unit of a printing press to a substrate being transported through the printing press, comprising:

• a first intermediate carrier having a porous jacket permeable to an ink-repelling, liquid separating agent;
• said inking unit adjoining said first intermediate carrier and transferring printing ink in a granular state from said inking unit onto said porous jacket of said first intermediate carrier;
• a second intermediate carrier adjoining said first intermediate carrier and transferring the printing ink from said first intermediate carrier to said second intermediate carrier, said second intermediate carrier having an outer elastic layer storing the ink-repelling, liquid separating agent;
• a printing ink receiver selected from the group consisting of a further intermediate carrier and a substrate, said printing ink receiver adjoining said second intermediate carrier for receiving the printing ink from said second intermediate carrier;
• a first heat source disposed between said inking unit and said second intermediate carrier and opposite said first intermediate carrier;
• and
• a second heat source disposed opposite said second intermediate carrier.

Printing press, comprising:

• a plurality of inking units;
• a plurality of first intermediate carriers;
• a second intermediate carrier, each of said first intermediate carriers, respectively, adjoining one of said inking units and said second intermediate carrier, said second intermediate carrier adjoining all of said first intermediate carriers and a substrate transported through the printing press;
• and
• a plurality of heat sources melting solid printing-ink substantially only at a side of the printing-ink facing away from said respective first intermediate carriers and said second intermediate carrier, the solid printing-ink adhering in a granular state to said first intermediate carriers, said heat sources disposed opposite respective surfaces of said first intermediate carriers and said second intermediate carrier, said surfaces of said first intermediate carriers, respectively, extending between said inking units and said second intermediate carrier, and said surface of said second intermediate carrier extending between at least one of said first intermediate carriers and the substrate.

Printing press, comprising:

• a plurality of inking units;
• a plurality of first intermediate carriers;
• a second intermediate carrier, each of said first intermediate carriers, respectively, adjoining one of said inking units and said second intermediate carrier, said second intermediate carrier adjoining all of said first intermediate carriers and a substrate transported through the printing press, said second intermediate carrier being permeable to an ink-repelling, liquid separating agent at a side of said second intermediate carrier facing a printing ink disposed on said second intermediate carrier;
• a plurality of heat sources for melting the printing-ink substantially only at a side of the printing-ink facing away from said respective first intermediate carriers, the printing-ink adhering in a granular state to said first intermediate carriers, said plurality of heat sources, respectively, disposed distally outside said first intermediate carriers and opposite to surfaces of said first intermediate carriers, said surfaces of said first intermediate carriers, respectively, extending between said inking units and said second intermediate carrier.

Printing press, comprising:

• a plurality of inking units;
• a first intermediate carrier;
• a second intermediate carrier, each of said plurality of inking units adjoining said first intermediate carrier and said second intermediate carrier, said second intermediate carrier adjoining said first intermediate carrier and a substrate transported through the printing press;
• a first heat source melting solid printing-ink substantially only at a side of the printing-ink facing away from said first intermediate carrier, the printing-ink adhering in a granular state to said first intermediate carrier, said first heat source disposed opposite a surface of said first intermediate carrier;
• and
• a second heat source disposed opposite a surface of said second intermediate carrier, said surface of said first intermediate carrier extending between one of said inking units and said second intermediate carrier, and said surface of said second intermediate carrier extending between said first intermediate carrier and the substrate.

Printing press, comprising:

• a plurality of inking units;
• a first intermediate carrier;
• and
• a second intermediate carrier, each of said plurality of inking units adjoining said first intermediate carrier and said second intermediate carrier, said second intermediate carrier adjoining said first intermediate carrier and a substrate transported through the printing press for transferring printing-ink from said first intermediate carrier to said second intermediate carrier, the printing-ink adhering in a granular state to said first intermediate carrier, said first intermediate carrier having at least one property selected from the group consisting of permeability to an ink-repelling, liquid separating agent and a storage capacity for the ink-repelling, liquid separating agent, and said second intermediate carrier being permeable to the ink-repelling, liquid separating agent at a side of said second intermediate carrier facing a printing ink disposed on said second intermediate carrier.