Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110079158 | Method of improving print performance in flexographic printing plates - A method of making a relief image printing element from a photosensitive printing blank is provided. A photosensitive printing blank with a laser ablatable layer disposed on at least one photocurable layer is ablated with a laser to create an in situ mask. The printing blank is then exposed to at least one source of actinic radiation through the in situ mask to selectively cross link and cure portions of the photocurable layer. Diffusion of air into the at least one photocurable layer is limited during the exposing step and preferably at least one of the type, power and incident angle of illumination of the at least one source of actinic radiation is altered during the exposure step. The resulting relief image comprises a plurality of dots and a dot shape of the plurality of dots that provide optimal print performance on various substrates, including corrugated board. | 04-07-2011 |
20110081614 | Method of Improving Print Performance in Flexographic Printing Plates - A method of making a relief image printing element from a photosensitive printing blank is provided. A photosensitive printing blank with a laser ablatable layer disposed on at least one photocurable layer is ablated with a laser to create an in situ mask. The printing blank is then exposed to at least one source of actinic radiation through the in situ mask to selectively cross link and cure portions of the photocurable layer. Diffusion of air into the at least one photocurable layer is limited during the exposing step and preferably at least one of the type, power and incident angle of illumination of the at least one source of actinic radiation is altered during the exposure step. The resulting relief image comprises a plurality of dots and a dot shape of the plurality of dots is produced that is highly resistant to print fluting for printing on corrugated board. | 04-07-2011 |
20120164584 | Method of Improving Print Performance in Flexographic Printing Plates - A method of making a relief image printing element from a photosensitive Printing blank is provided. A photosensitive printing blank with a laser ablatable layer disposed on at least one photocurable layer is ablated with a laser to create an in situ mask. The printing blank is then exposed to at least one source of actinic radiation through the in situ mask to selectively cross link and cure portions of the photocurable layer. Diffusion of air into the at least one photocurable layer is limited during the exposing step and preferably at least one of the type, power and incident angle of illumination of the at least one source of actinic radiation is altered during the exposure step. The resulting relief image comprises a plurality of dots and a dot shape of the plurality of dots is produced that is highly resistant to print fluting for printing on corrugated board. | 06-28-2012 |
20120214102 | Photosensitive Resin Laminate and Thermal Processing of the Same - A method of thermally developing a photocurable printing blank to produce a relief pattern comprising a plurality of relief dots. The photocurable printing blank comprises a backing layer having at least one photocurable layer disposed thereon and a laser ablatable mask layer disposed on top of the at least one photocurable layer. The method includes the steps of (1) imaging the at least one photocurable layer by ablating the laser ablatable mask layer to create the relief pattern on the surface of the at least one photocurable layer; (2) laminating an oxygen barrier membrane to a top of the laser ablated mask layer; (3) exposing the printing blank to actinic radiation through the oxygen barrier membrane and mask layer to one or more sources of actinic radiation to selectively crosslink and cure portions of the at least one photocurable layer, wherein the at least one photocurable layer is crosslinked and cured in the portions not covered by the mask layer, thereby creating the relief pattern; (4) removing the oxygen barrier membrane from the top of the laser ablated mask layer; and (5) thermally developing the printing blank to remove the laser ablated mask layer and uncured portions of the photocurable layer and reveal the relief pattern. The presence of the oxygen barrier membrane produces printing dots having desired characteristics. The method can also be used with an analog platemaking process that uses a negative instead of an ablatable mask layer, or, in the alternative, the negative itself can be used as the oxygen barrier layer. | 08-23-2012 |
20120270156 | Photosensitive Resin Laminate and Thermal Processing of the Same - A method of developing a photocurable printing blank to produce a relief pattern comprising a plurality of relief dots. The photocurable printing blank comprises a backing layer having at least one photocurable layer disposed thereon, a barrier layer disposed on the at least one photocurable layer, and a laser ablatable mask layer disposed on top of the barrier layer. The method includes the steps of (1) imaging the at least one photocurable layer by ablating the laser ablatable mask layer to create the relief pattern on the photocurable printing blank the printing blank to actinic radiation through the barrier layer and mask layer to one or more sources of actinic radiation to selectively crosslink and cure portions of the at least one photocurable layer, wherein the at least one photocurable layer is crosslinked and cured in the portions not covered by the mask layer, thereby creating the relief pattern; (3) developing the printing blank to remove the barrier layer, the laser ablated mask layer and uncured portions of the photocurable layer and reveal the relief pattern. The presence of the barrier layer produces printing dots having desired characteristics. The method can also be used with an analog platemaking process that uses a negative instead of an ablatable mask layer. | 10-25-2012 |
20130017493 | Method for Improving Print Performance of Flexographic Printing ElementsAANM Cook; BrianAACI RoswellAAST GAAACO USAAGP Cook; Brian Roswell GA USAANM Recchia; David A.AACI SmyrnaAAST GAAACO USAAGP Recchia; David A. Smyrna GA USAANM Gotsick; TimothyAACI AcworthAAST GAAACO USAAGP Gotsick; Timothy Acworth GA US - A method of making a relief image printing element having a relief pattern comprising a plurality of relief dots, wherein the photocurable printing blank comprises a backing layer having at least one photocurable layer disposed thereon and a masking layer on the at least one photocurable layer is provided. The method comprising the steps of: a) selectively ablating the masking layer to create an overall image in the masking layer, such that the overall image comprises a sub-image, comprising a pattern of cells, in it; b) applying an oxygen barrier layer on top of the masking layer; c) exposing the printing element to actinic radiation through the oxygen barrier layer and the masking layer to selectively crosslink and cure the at least one photocurable layer, thereby creating the relief image therein and a textured surface on the printing element; and d) developing the printing blank by removing the barrier layer and the uncured portions of the photocurable layer to reveal the relief image. The method results in printing plate having improved print performance for optimal printing and a higher achievable solid ink density. | 01-17-2013 |
20130040243 | Laminated Flexographic Printing Sleeves and Methods of Making the Same - A method of tailoring the shape of a plurality of relief dots created in a photosensitive printing blank during a digital platemaking process is provided. The photosensitive printing blank comprises a laser ablatable mask layer disposed on at least one photocurable layer which is mountable on a printing sleeve. The method comprises the steps of (1) placing a barrier layer on top of the laser ablatable mask layer; (2) laser ablating the laser ablatable mask layer to create an in situ negative in the laser ablatable layer; (3) exposing the at least one photocurable layer to actinic radiation through the in situ negative; (4) removing the harrier layer; and (5) developing the imaged and exposed photosensitive printing blank to reveal the relief image therein, the relief image comprising the plurality of relief dots. The presence of the barrier layer produces printing dots having desired geometric characteristics. | 02-14-2013 |
20130189625 | Laminating Apparatus and Method of Using the Same - An apparatus for laminating a film to a substrate and a method of using the same is described. The apparatus comprises a) a heated laminating roller and a second roller, wherein said heated laminating roller and said second roller are opposably mounted and form a nip; b) a drive mechanism for rotating the heated laminating roller and second roller; c) a film supply roller adapted to support a roll of film and supply the film over an outer surface of the heated laminating roller and into the nip, wherein the film is contactable with a top surface of the substrate at a point where the substrate advances through the nip; and d) a splitter bar in contact with the film supplied from the supply roller, wherein the position of the splitter bar controls a wrap angle between the film and the heated laminating roller. | 07-25-2013 |
20130209939 | Integrated Membrane Lamination and UV Exposure System and Method of Using the Same - A combined laminating and exposing apparatus for exposing a photosensitive printing blank to actinic radiation in a printing plate manufacturing system and a method of using the same are disclosed. The photosensitive printing blank comprises a backing layer, at least one photocurable layer disposed on the backing layer, and a laser ablatable mask layer disposed on the at least one photocurable layer, wherein the laser ablatable mask layer is laser ablated to create an in situ negative in the laser ablatable mask layer. The exposing apparatus comprises: (a) a laminating apparatus for laminating an oxygen barrier layer to a top of the laser ablated mask layer; (b) a conveyor; (c) a first exposing device for imagewise exposing the at least one photocurable layer to actinic radiation, and (d) a second exposing device for exposing the at least one photocurable layer to actinic radiation through the backing layer. | 08-15-2013 |
20140004466 | Photosensitive Resin Laminate and Thermal Processing of the Same | 01-02-2014 |
20140101915 | Loading/Unloading System for Printing Plates - An apparatus for transferring a relief image printing blank between stations of a printing element manufacturing process and a method of using the same is described. The apparatus comprises a cylindrical mandrel for supporting the relief image printing element which includes means for securing the relief image printing blank to the mandrel. The mandrel is capable of transferring the relief image printing blank into and/or out of various stations of the printing element manufacturing process. | 04-17-2014 |
20140141378 | Photosensitive Resin Laminate and Thermal Processing of the Same - A method of thermally developing a photocurable printing blank to produce a relief pattern comprising a plurality of relief dots. The photocurable printing blank comprises a backing layer having at least one photocurable layer disposed thereon and a laser ablatable mask layer disposed on top of the at least one photocurable layer. The method includes the steps of (1) imaging the at least one photocurable layer by ablating the laser ablatable mask layer to create the relief pattern on the surface of the at least one photocurable layer; (2) laminating an oxygen barrier membrane to a top of the laser ablated mask layer; (3) exposing the printing blank to actinic radiation through the oxygen barrier membrane and mask layer to one or more sources of actinic radiation to selectively crosslink and cure portions of the at least one photocurable layer, wherein the at least one photocurable layer is crosslinked and cured in the portions not covered by the mask layer, thereby creating the relief pattern; (4) removing the oxygen barrier membrane from the top of the laser ablated mask layer; and (5) thermally developing the printing blank to remove the laser ablated mask layer and uncured portions of the photocurable layer and reveal the relief pattern. The presence of the oxygen barrier membrane produces printing dots having desired characteristics. The method can also be used with an analog platemaking process that uses a negative instead of an ablatable mask layer, or, in the alternative, the negative itself can be used as the oxygen barrier layer. | 05-22-2014 |
20140174666 | Laminating Apparatus and Method of Using the Same - An apparatus for laminating a film to a substrate and a method of using the same is described. The apparatus comprises a) a heated laminating roller and a second roller, wherein said heated laminating roller and said second roller are opposably mounted and form a nip; b) a drive mechanism for rotating the heated laminating roller and second roller; c) a film supply roller adapted to support a roll of film and supply the film over an outer surface of the heated laminating roller and into the nip, wherein the film is contactable with a top surface of the substrate at a point where the substrate advances through the nip; and d) a splitter bar in contact with the film supplied from the supply roller, wherein the position of the splitter bar controls a wrap angle between the film and the heated laminating roller. | 06-26-2014 |