Patent · US Active

Preparation of flexographic printing plates using ink jet recording

US7875321B2 · kind B2 · utility

5Cited by
16References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 10, 2003
Grant dateJan 25, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 28, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB41C1/003
  • WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Upon a substrate subsequent layers of elastic ink are jetted using an ink jet printing system. Each layer is immobilised by a immobilisation step before jetting the following layer.A printing relief is gradually formed to obtain a flexographic printing plate allowing accurate control over the relief and slopes of the printing plates.Use can be made of different inks or immobilisation step to obtain different layer characteristics.Inks can be immobilised using UV curing.The recorded relief of the layers can be measured and corrections can be applied using a feed-back loop.A rejuvenation process for printing plates can be constructed using the described method.An elastic base layer can be provided on the substrate to provide better plate characteristics.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.