Printing system and method including printing roll having elastically deformable and compressible thick inner layer

US11820125B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY · US

Inventors

• Kara A. Meyers · Oakdale, US
• Shawn C. Dodds · Windom, US
• Mikhail L. Pekurovsky · Bloomington, US
• Tyler J. Rattray · Minneapolis, US
• James N. Dobbs · Woodbury, US
• Samad Javid · Woodbury, US
• Matthew S. Stay · Minneapolis, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 13, 2020
• Grant date: Nov 21, 2023
• Expiry date: Jul 30, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B41N1/22
• WIPO field: Textile and paper machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A printing system (200) including a printing roll (220) is provided. The printing roll (220) includes an elastically deformable and compressible inner layer (224) and a thin outer shell (222) to cover the inner layer (224). The thin outer shell (222) includes a pattern of raised print features (223) to receive ink material thereon. The inner layer (224) is softer and thicker than the thin outer shell (222), and optionally, the thin outer shell (222) is removable from the inner layer (224). The inner layer (224) of the printing roll (220) has a thickness, a compression force deflection value and an elastically-deformable compressibility such that the raised print features (223) of the printing roll (220) do not slide or deform with respect to the printed web (2) in an amount to generate a substantially visible dot gain.