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US 8,985,019 B2Granted
Inkjet printing apparatus and method for making flexographic printing masters
AssigneeAgfa Graphics NV
InventorsEddie Daems, Luc Vanmaele
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AssigneeAgfa Graphics NV
InventorsEddie Daems, Luc Vanmaele
Estimating the term…
A method for making a flexographic printing master includes the steps of providing a flexographic printing support; applying image-wise on the flexographic printing support subsequent layers of radiation curable liquid by an inkjet printing device whereby one or more applied layers are immobilized using a curing device before one or more subsequent layers are applied, such that a relief with a top hat profile is obtained; and grinding the relief so that the height DT of a top hat segment is reduced. An imaging apparatus includes structure to perform the above method.
An imaging apparatus for making a flexographic printing master, the imaging apparatus comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
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From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.
Forme preparation: the relief or intaglio pattern being obtained by imagewise deposition of a liquid, e.g. by an ink jet
Processes for the manufacture or reproduction of printing surfaces
About 5 years 9 months of term left · ends 6 Aug 2032 (estimated)
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for making a flexographic printing master by inkjet printing and an imaging apparatus for performing the method.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of a relief dot on a flexographic printing master having a regular profile.
FIG. 2 shows a cross-section of a relief dot on a flexographic printing master having a top hat profile.
FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of an imaging apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention for making a flexographic printing master.
A method for making a flexographic printing master comprising the steps of:
a) providing a flexographic printing support (1);
b) applying image-wise on the flexographic printing support (1) subsequent layers of radiation curable liquid by an inkjet printing device (32) whereby one or more applied layers are immobilized using a curing device (39) before one or more subsequent layers are applied, such that a relief with a top hat profile is obtained; and c) grinding the relief so that the height DT of a top hat segment (23) is reduced.