Method and device for ink-jet printing
Abstract
Devices and methods for controlling the application of a substance to a substrate include the use of a gate agent that blocks the substance from the substrate or attracts the principal substance to the substrate. The device and method apply the gate agent directly to the substrate or to the intermediate surface (surface of the medium) by utilizing inkjet technology. Also, the main material can be an ink, a dye, a marking material that is not an ink, or a carrier for any other type of material. [Selection diagram] Fig. 2

Term
Projected expiry 20 August 2028.
- Priority
- Filed
- Published
- Today
- Projected expiry
25 claims: 4 independent, 21 dependent
- 1表面を有する基材と、 第1ゲート剤を噴射する手段と、 前記基材と関連付けられる第1パターンを有する第1ゲート剤層と、 主物質を塗布する手段と、 前記基材と関連付けられる第2パターンを有する主物質層と、 前記基材から印刷媒体に第2パターンを形成するように前記主物質を転写する手段と、を含んで構成され、 前記第1ゲート剤層が前記基材表面と前記主物質層との中間にある場合は、前記第1パターンと前記第2パターンは同じであり、前記主物質層が前記基材表面と前記第1ゲート剤層との中間にある場合は、前記第1パターンと前記第2パターンは異なる印刷装置。
- 2前記主物質層が前記基材表面と前記第1ゲート剤層との中間にある場合、前記第1パターンと前記第2パターンは、補完的である、請求項1に記載の印刷装置。
- 3前記基材は、印刷ブランケット、印刷プレート、印刷胴、シート、壁の平面、壁の曲面、エッチングされた表面、加工された表面、処理された表面、疎水性表面、又は、親水性表面、の少なくとも1つを含んで構成される請求項1又は2に記載の印刷装置。
- 4前記噴射する手段は、水溶液ジェットシステム、連続フローインクジェットシステム、サーマルジェットシステム、又は、圧電ジェットシステム、の少なくとも1つを含んで構成される請求項1~3のいずれか1つに記載の印刷装置。
- 5前記噴射する手段は、1つ以上のノズルを含む1つ以上のジェットカートリッジを含んで構成される請求項1~4のいずれか1つに記載の印刷装置。
- 6前記噴射する手段は、前記1つ以上のジェットカートリッジは前記第1ゲート剤を含んで構成される請求項5に記載の印刷装置。
- 7前記印刷媒体は、紙、ガラス、ニトロセルロース、織物材料、金属、プラスチック、フィルム、ゲル、プレート、回路基板、シート、又は、布地、の少なくとも1つを含んで構成される請求項1~6のいずれか1つに記載の印刷装置。
- 8前記主物質は、キャリア、平版インキ、染料、タンパク質、核酸、小分子、生物由来サンプル、調合薬、セル、生体適合性ポリマー、治療用物質、診断用物質、非インキマーキング物質、導電性材料、絶縁性材料、熱伝導性材料、無線自動識別タグ、親水性部分、親油性部分、酸化シリコン、金属、機能性ポリマー、接着剤、磁性インキ、三次元相互接続構造、光学接着剤、紫外線硬化ポリマー、ポリマー発光ダイオード用材料、水、又は、水溶性有機化合物、の少なくとも1つを含んで構成される請求項1~7のいずれか1つに記載の印刷装置。
- 9前記第1パターンが前記第2パターンと同じ場合、前記主物質は、前記噴射された第1ゲート剤層を介して前記基材に付着される、請求項1~8のいずれか1つに記載の印刷装置。
- 10前記第1パターンが前記第2パターンと異なる場合、前記噴射された第1ゲート剤層は、前記主物質を介して前記基材に付着される、請求項1~9のいずれか1つに記載の印刷装置。
- 11前記主物質を転写する手段は、媒介ローラー、ベルト、又は、ブランケット胴、の少なくとも1つを含んで構成される請求項1~10のいずれか1つに記載の印刷装置。
- 12クリーニングシステム、又は、殺菌システム、の少なくとも1つをさらに含んで構成される請求項1~11のいずれか1つに記載の印刷装置。
- 13前記クリーニングシステムは、回転ブラシ、ローラー、クリーニング液、ベルト、クリーニングウェブ、熱供給装置、空気供給装置、又は、静電装置、の少なくとも1つを含んで構成される請求項12に記載の印刷装置。
- 14前記第1ゲート剤は、潜在的多官能性を有する化合物、親水性領域を有する化合物、親油性領域を有する化合物、イオン性領域を有する化合物、付着又は結合領域を有する化合物、パラートープを有する化合物、付着性を与える特定の化学部分を有する化合物、反発性を与える特定の化学部分を有する化合物、付着性を与える特定の構造領域を有する化合物、反発性を与える特定の構造領域を有する化合物、ポロキサマー、界面活性剤、溶媒、防腐剤、カール防止剤、しわ入り防止剤、ゲート剤定着剤、保湿剤、消毒剤、殺生物剤、着色剤、芳香、ポリマー、消泡剤、塩類、無機化合物、有機化合物、水、pH調整剤、pH維持剤、受容面調整剤、平版インキ調整剤、表面張力調整剤、粘度調整剤、マレイン酸/オレフィンコポリマー、ポリエチレンイミン、ポリオキシエチレン、水溶性有機化合物、又は、チキソトロピック液体、の少なくとも1つを含む、請求項1~13のいずれか1つに記載の印刷装置。
- 15表面を有する基材上に、第1ゲート剤を、第1パターンを形成するように噴射するステップと、 前記基材に主物質を塗布するステップと、 前記基材から印刷媒体に第2パターンを形成するように前記主物質を転写するステップと、を含んで構成され、 前記第1パターンが前記第2パターンと同じ場合は、前記噴射された第1ゲート剤層は前記基材表面と前記主物質との中間にあり、そして、前記第1パターンが前記第2パターンと異なる場合は、前記主物質は前記基材表面と前記噴射された第1ゲート剤層との中間にある印刷方法。
- 16クリーニングステップ、又は、殺菌ステップ、の少なくとも1つをさらに含んで構成される請求項15に記載の印刷方法。
- 17第2ゲート剤を噴射するステップをさらに含んで構成される請求項15又は16に記載の印刷方法。
- 18前記基材は、印刷ブランケット、印刷プレート、印刷胴、シート、壁の平面、壁の曲面、エッチングされた表面、加工された表面、処理された表面、疎水性表面、又は、親水性表面、の少なくとも1つを含んで構成される請求項15~17のいずれか1つに記載の印刷方法。
- 19前記印刷媒体は、紙、ガラス、ニトロセルロース、織物材料、金属、プラスチック、フィルム、ゲル、プレート、回路基板、シート、又は、布地、の少なくとも1つを含んで構成される請求項15~18のいずれか1つに記載の印刷方法。
- 20前記主物質は、キャリア、平版インキ、染料、タンパク質、核酸、小分子、生物由来サンプル、調合薬、セル、生体適合性ポリマー、治療用物質、診断用物質、非インキマーキング物質、導電性材料、絶縁性材料、熱伝導性材料、無線自動識別タグ、親水性部分、親油性部分、酸化シリコン、金属、機能性ポリマー、接着剤、磁性インキ、三次元相互接続構造、光学接着剤、紫外線硬化ポリマー、ポリマー発光ダイオード用材料、水、又は、水溶性有機化合物、の少なくとも1つを含む、請求項15~19のいずれか1つに記載の印刷方法。
- 21前記第1パターンが前記第2パターンと同じ場合、前記主物質は、前記噴射された第1ゲート剤層を介して前記基材に付着される、請求項15~20のいずれか1つに記載の印刷方法。
- 22前記第1パターンが前記第2パターンと異なる場合、前記噴射された第1ゲート剤層は、前記主物質を介して前記基材に付着される、請求項15~20のいずれか1つに記載の印刷方法。
- 23前記主物質を転写する手段は、媒介ローラー、ベルト、又は、ブランケット胴、の少なくとも1つを含んで構成される請求項15~22のいずれか1つに記載の印刷方法。
- 24クリーニングステップ、又は、殺菌ステップの少なくとも1つをさらに含んで構成される請求項15~23のいずれか1つに記載の印刷方法。
- 25前記第1ゲート剤及び第2ゲート剤は、それぞれ単独で、潜在的多官能性を有する化合物、親水性領域を有する化合物、親油性領域を有する化合物、イオン性領域を有する化合物、付着若しくは結合領域を有する化合物、パラートープを有する化合物、付着性を与える特定の化学部分を有する化合物、反発性を与える特定の化学部分を有する化合物、付着性を与える特定の構造領域を有する化合物、反発性を与える特定の構造領域を有する化合物、ポロキサマー、界面活性剤、溶媒、防腐剤、カール防止剤、しわ入り防止剤、ゲート剤定着剤、保湿剤、消毒剤、殺生物剤、着色剤、芳香、ポリマー、消泡剤、塩類、無機化合物、有機化合物、水、pH調整剤、pH維持剤、受容面調整剤、平版インキ調整剤、表面張力調整剤、粘度調整剤、マレイン酸/オレフィンコポリマー、ポリエチレンイミン、ポリオキシエチレン、水溶性有機化合物、又は、チキソトロピック液体、の少なくとも1つを含む、請求項17に記載の印刷方法。
Independent claims25
78 paragraphs, as filed
The present invention relates to an inkjet printing apparatus and an inkjet printing method.
The lithographic printing technology and the gravure printing technology have been continuously improved and improved for many years. The basic principle of lithographic printing involves transferring ink from a surface that has both an ink receiving area and an ink repelling area. In offset printing, intermediate transfer of ink is performed. For example, in an offset lithographic printing press, ink is transferred from a plate cylinder to a rubber blanket cylinder, and an image is transferred from the blanket cylinder to a surface (for example, a paper web). In gravure printing, a plate cylinder with a concave recess for ink comes into contact with the paper web, and charging promotes the transfer of ink to paper.
Early lithographic printing techniques used reliefs of images to be printed that were formed on the plate so that the ink adhered only to the raised areas. The current printing process for lithographic printing utilizes the principles of materials science. For example, the printed image is etched onto a hydrophilic plate so that the printed portion is hydrophobic. If this plate is moistened with water before applying the ink, the oil-based ink adheres only by the dampening water process).
<p> Traditionally, all of these printing techniques have similar problems in that the same image is printed over and over again. This is because the plates used in conventional lithographic printing each have a fixed (ie, invariant) image, such as a relief image or an etched hydrophobic image. Also, in gravure printing, a fixed image is used by the concave ink dents engraved on the plate cylinder. It is quite expensive to make a plate used in a lithographic printing press or a plate cylinder or plate cylinder sleeve used in a gravure printing machine. Therefore, it is not cost-effective to perform a job of printing a small number of copies (that is, a short-term job) on a lithographic printing machine or a gravure printing machine. Also, with the exception of high-cost, low-speed but improved printing presses with inkjet heads, conventional lithographic and gravure presses have variable data (eg, invoices, financial statements, targeted advertisements, etc.). Not used for printing. Usually, short-term jobs and / or jobs that require variability are often performed by laser printers (electrostatic toner, etc.) and / or inkjet printers.</p><p> Conventionally, publications such as books and magazines are printed through a printing process including many post-pressing processes (post-processing processes). For example, in a magazine, a page or group of pages is printed 5,000 times. After this, the next page or group of pages is printed 5,000 times. The above process is repeated for each page or group of pages until all pages of the magazine are printed. Then, the printed page or group of pages is sent to a post-process, plate-collected and cut, and becomes a final product. Such a conventional work flow is time and work intensive. If variable images (ie, images that change page by page or page group) can be printed with the image quality and speed of lithographic printing, the magazines are printed in consecutive page (or page group) order, and the completed magazine is printed as is. It will come out of the plane. This will dramatically increase the speed of magazine printing and significantly reduce the cost of magazine printing.</p><p> Inkjet printing technology includes a printer with variable functions. Inkjet technology includes the so-called drop on demand system such as thermal method (that is, bubble jet (registered trademark) method) and piezoelectric method, and continuous flow system. system). In a drop-on-demand system, tiny ink droplets are ejected (ie, sprayed) onto the page. In a thermal jet printer, ink is vaporized by a heat source to generate bubbles. A droplet is formed by the expansion of the bubble, and the droplet is ejected (discharged) from the print head. In the piezoelectric method, a piezo crystal element located behind the ink tank is used. The AC potential is used to vibrate the crystal element. A drop of ink is drawn in by the reciprocating motion of the crystal element, and this ink is sprayed onto the paper. In a continuous flow system, ink is continuously flowed from a nozzle, deposition is controlled by an electric field, and the ink ejected from the ink head is directed in the direction of drainage to stop printing. By selectively controlling the electric field, the ink is deposited on the print medium at the required position.</p><p> The quality of high-speed color inkjet printing is usually orders of magnitude lower than the quality of offset lithographic and gravure printing. Moreover, even the fastest inkjet printers are usually much slower than lithographic or gravure printing. In conventional inkjet printing, the effect of applying water-based ink to paper is also a problem. Water-based inks can cause the paper to absorb excessive moisture, causing wrinkles and wrinkles on the printed web, and inadvertent exposure to moisture can easily damage the web. is there. In order to suppress this phenomenon, special papers and coatings are used in inkjet printers. Such papers are often much more expensive than the web papers used in traditional industrial printing.</p><p> Further, when the inkjet technique is used for color printing, the coating area of the ink and the amount of water absorbed are increased. This is because four color processes are used to generate the color image. The four color treatments include coloring the page by adjusting the amount of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black (ie, CMYK) inks applied. Therefore, depending on the page portion, the ink layers of all four colors may overlap in order to obtain a desired color. In addition, the dots formed by the inkjet printer may spread, resulting in a blurred image. Moreover, the inks used in inkjet printers are much more expensive than the inks used in conventional lithographic and gravure printing. Due to this economic factor alone, inkjet technology is rarely used for commercial printing applications, especially for long-term applications.</p><p> At present, there is a limit to high-speed variable printing of laser printing. This is because its production rate is still very low compared to offset printing and gravure printing, and its material cost (eg toner, etc.) is very high compared to the price of commercially available offset ink or gravure ink. It is due to its high price. Laser color printing is also difficult to use for magazines and other bookbinding publications, as cracks often occur when the printed page is folded.</p><p> Printing techniques are known to be useful in the manufacture of other products, such as electrical components, including transistors and other devices. Furthermore, the markings or other markings are printed on a substrate other than paper, such as a plastic film, a metal substrate. Although it is possible to use the above-mentioned technique for printing a paper substrate as this printing technique, this technique still has the same drawbacks. In other cases, flexographic printing, which requires pre-printing of the plate, such as lithographic printing, is used.</p>
<p> According to one aspect, the printing apparatus comprises a substrate having a surface, means for injecting a first gate agent, a first gate agent layer having a first pattern associated with the substrate, and means for applying a main substance. , A main material layer having a second pattern associated with the substrate and means for transferring the main material from the substrate to the print medium to form a second pattern. When the first gate agent layer is between the base material surface and the main material layer, the first pattern and the second pattern are the same, and the main material layer is between the base material surface and the first gate agent layer. If it is, the first pattern and the second pattern are different.</p><p> According to another aspect, the printing method includes a step of injecting a first gate agent layer having a first pattern onto a substrate having a surface, a step of applying a main substance to the substrate, and a printing medium from the substrate. Includes a step of transferring the main substance to form a second pattern. When the first gate agent layer is between the base material surface and the main material layer, the first pattern and the second pattern are the same, and the main material layer is between the base material surface and the first gate agent layer. If it is, the first pattern and the second pattern are different.</p><p> Further features of the device and method for controlling the application of the main substance to the substrate, their essence, and various effects will be clarified by the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.</p>
<figref num="1">It is a side view of the printing system of the prior art.</figref><figref num="2">It is a side view of one Embodiment of the apparatus which controls the application | coating of a main substance to a base material.</figref><figref num="3">It is a side view of one Embodiment of the apparatus which controls the application | coating of a main substance to a base material.</figref><figref num="4">It is a top view of the pattern surface which was ejected from one or more inkjet cartridges using a gate agent, and the letter "A" was printed.</figref><figref num="5">It is a top view of the pattern surface having the lithographic ink associated with the gate agent of FIG.</figref><figref num="6">It is sectional drawing along the line 6-6 of FIG.</figref><figref num="7">It is a side view of one Embodiment of the apparatus which controls the application | coating of a substance to a base material.</figref><figref num="8">It is a figure which shows the example of the output which can be realized according to the apparatus shown in FIG.</figref>
One aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a high-speed variable printing method using a gating agent temporarily applied to a substrate. This method involves supplying a substrate and applying a gate agent composition capable of spraying onto the substrate to form an image on the substrate. The gate composition contains 0.05 to 3% by weight of a nonionic composition having a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance between about 15 and 30. The gate composition may also contain up to about 8% by weight of the viscosity modifier so that its viscosity is in the range of about 1 to about 14 centipores (mPa · s). The rest of the gate agent composition is composed of water. The gate agent composition does not contain an identifiable amount of dye, pigment, or other colorant, and the gate agent has a surface tension of less than about 40 dynes / cm (0.04 N / m).
In another embodiment, the device controlling the application of the substance to the substrate comprises the use of a gate agent that blocks (blocks) the substance from the substrate. The device includes a cartridge and a gate agent contained within the cartridge. The gate composition comprises a nonionic surfactant, a viscosity control agent, and water.
The devices and methods disclosed herein apply the gate agent directly to the substrate or to the intermediate surface by utilizing injection techniques. Any agent that blocks the application of ink as desired is available. The embodiments disclosed herein include the use of one or more compositions having the properties of either (or both) or both of the block and the transcription aid composition, and thus the gate agent. Is referred to below as having one or both of the above functions with respect to the principal substance. Specifically, the gate agent blocks the transcription of all, nearly all, or part of the main substance. The gate agent can, or additionally, assist in the transcription of all, nearly all, or part of the main substance, or block one part of the main substance and the other part. It is possible to assist transcription.
Next, looking at the figure, FIG. 1 shows a conventional offset lithographic printing press 100. In the conventional lithographic printing process, the image to be printed is etched on the hydrophilic plate 102 to form a hydrophobic portion to which the ink adheres. The hydrophilic plate 102 is attached to the plate cylinder 104 and rotates to pass through the wetting system 106 and the ink system 108. The wetting system 106 includes a water supply device 107, and the ink system 108 includes an ink supply device 109. The hydrophilic portion of the hydrophilic plate 102 is moistened by the wetting system 106. By using an oil-based ink, the ink adheres only to the hydrophobic portion of the plate 102.
When the blanket cylinder 110 is used, the ink image is transferred from the plate cylinder 104 to the blanket cylinder 110. This ink image is then transferred to the web 112 (eg, paper) between the blanket cylinder 110 and the impression cylinder 114. Image transfer to the web 112 using the impression cylinder 114 is performed by pressing the printed image and the web 112 with substantially equal pressure or force. When a rubber blanket is used as an intermediary between the plate cylinder 104 and the web 112, this process is commonly referred to as "offset printing". Since the plate 102 is etched and attached to the plate cylinder 104, lithographic printing is used when printing the same image many times. Planographic printing is desirable in that it provides high quality output. By arranging four printing machines in succession, magazine-quality four-color image printing becomes possible.
FIG. 2 shows a printing press 200 having an ink system 202, a plate 204, a wetting system 206, a plate cylinder 208, a blanket cylinder 210, and an impression cylinder 212, as is well known in the lithographic printing industry. Plate 204 is entirely hydrophilic (eg, standard anodized aluminum lithographic plate). However, the wetting system 106 in FIG. 1 has been replaced by the aqueous jet system 214 and the cleaning system 216 in FIG.
The aqueous jet system 214 is placed in front of the wetting system 206 and has a series of inkjet cartridges (eg, bubble jet® cartridges, thermal cartridges, piezoelectric cartridges, continuous flow cartridges, etc.). The cartridge has a large number of holes. As a general example, inkjet cartridges have 600 pixels per inch and are often arranged in two rows, 300 pixels per inch.
The aqueous jet system 214 is used to inject an aqueous solution (eg, water, ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, or a combination thereof). In certain embodiments of the present disclosure, the aqueous solution contains one or more surfactants (eg, Surfynol® from Air Products & Chemicals). This type of surfactant has a hydrophilic group at one end of each molecule and a lipophilic group at the other end. By adding one or more surfactants to the aqueous solution, the surface tension properties of the aqueous solution can be improved and also help to attract lipophilic solutions such as slab inks.
It is possible to place the aqueous solution on the hydrophilic plate using the aqueous solution jet of the aqueous solution jet system 214, much like placing ink droplets on a sheet of paper using an inkjet. In certain embodiments, the aqueous solution is ejected through a conventional inkjet nozzle (ie, head). Such inkjet nozzles include, for example, inkjet nozzles of known print cartridge units manufactured by HP, Lexmark, Spectra, Canon and the like. In certain embodiments, the aqueous jet system 214 supports a variety of print speeds and output resolutions. An example of a jet cartridge or jet head is disclosed in Murakami et al. US Patent No. 7,240,998. Continuous systems include systems marketed by Kodak under the trade name Versamark.
The aqueous jet system 214 is used to "print" or inject all or part of the printed image onto the plate cylinder 208. For example, an image controller can receive image data from a data system. This image data represents a printed image or a printed negative image. This image data includes variable image data that changes relatively frequently (eg, varies from page to page), semi-fixed image data that changes infrequently (eg, varies from page to page), immutable fixed image data, and , Variable / semi-fixed / fixed image data combinations are included. Part or all of the image data is stored as binary data, bitmap data, page description code, or a combination thereof. For example, in some embodiments, a page description language (PDL) such as PostScript or Printer Command Language (PCL) is used to define and interpret the image data. Then, the data system electronically controls the aqueous solution jet system 214 to print an image (or a negative image thereof) represented by a part or all of various types of image data on the plate cylinder 208 with the aqueous solution.
In certain embodiments of the present disclosure, a vacuum or heat source 215 is located next to or near the aqueous jet system 214. In certain embodiments, the vacuum or heat source 215 is incorporated in the aqueous jet system 214. The vacuum source or heat source 215 is printed on the plate 204 or plate cylinder 208 and then blown, dried, or heated to the size of each aqueous solution droplet placed by the aqueous solution jet system 214. Is used to reduce the size of. Alternatively, any treatment conditions (including ambient conditions such as humidity) can be manipulated to influence the formation of aqueous droplets. The function of controlling the size of the aqueous solution droplets can improve the quality of the printed image. The positive image on the plate body 208 is represented by the fountain solution poured by the wetting system 206, and the plate body 208 is wetted in the same manner as a general planographic plate. The ink from the ink system 202 adheres to the image region supplied by the jet system 214.
After the plate cylinder 208 makes one revolution and transfers the image to the blanket cylinder 210, the plate cylinder passes through the cleaning system 216 to remove residual ink and / or aqueous solution, which causes the plate cylinder 208 to make the next rotation. A new image print can be made by the aqueous jet system 214 (or after a predetermined rotation). The cleaning system 216 removes rotating brushes, rollers containing cleaning fluids, belts, cleaning webs treated with cleaning fluids, devices that supply heat and / or air, electrostatic devices, or residual ink and / or aqueous solutions. It is configured to include other means suitable for removal from the plate body 208. In one embodiment, the blanket cylinder 210 is also provided with a cleaning system similar to the cleaning system 216, after the image is transferred to the web 218, the residue is removed from the blanket cylinder 210. This solubility also helps to clean the variable image from the plate cylinder 208, as in some embodiments it contains a liquid that can be somewhat soluble in the dampening water used in lithographic printing.
In certain embodiments, the plate cylinder 208 has all of the fixed data for a particular printing job etched onto the plate 204 by conventional lithographic printing techniques. Then, using the aqueous solution jet system 214, only the variable portion of the job represented by the variable or semi-fixed image data can be imaged on the specific portion of the plate 204.
In other embodiments, the plate 204 is not used. Instead, as is known in the art, the surface of the plate cylinder 208 is physically or chemically treated or milled to allow the aqueous solution from the aqueous solution jet system 214 to adhere. .. Further, the plate cylinder 208 is physically or chemically treated or milled to include fixed data and to be attached with an aqueous solution so that variable data can be taken in. In these and other embodiments of the present disclosure, the blanket barrel 210 may be completely removed and the image transferred directly to the web 218, if desired.
In certain embodiments, one or more of the plate 204, the plate cylinder 208, and the blanket cylinder 210 may be customized or designed according to the various properties of the aqueous jet system 214 or the aqueous solution. For example, as is known in the art, only solutions ejected from printheads of a particular resolution or dot size by subjecting one or more of the plates and bodies to a special treatment or milling process. It is also possible to make it adhere. It is also possible to apply special treatment to the plate and body so that only a specific type of aqueous solution is attached and the other type of aqueous solution is repelled. For example, it is possible to attach only a solution having a specific volume, specific gravity, viscosity, or other desired properties to the plate and body to repel solutions outside the desired conditions. This makes it possible, for example, to prevent foreign matter from being mixed in, and to use one aqueous solution in the printing process and another aqueous solution (those having different physical properties) in the cleaning process. In other embodiments, conventional, general purpose plates and barrels are used.
In one embodiment, the aqueous jet system prints or injects an aqueous solution, a gate agent, or a functional agent with potential polyfunctionality (polyfunctional potential) onto a patterned substrate. In one embodiment, for example, the gate agent has a potential bifunctionality (bifunctional potential), but as used herein, the number of functionalities may be any number. For example, the gate agent comprises one or more compounds each having a potential polyfunctionality (polyfunctionality potential) or a plurality of compounds each having a potential monofunctionality (monofunctionality potential). Potential functionality (functionality potential) or functionality includes, for example, hydrophilic regions, lipophilic regions, ionic regions and other compounds known in the art that impart adhesion or resilience to the compound. Includes functional compound moieties due to specific chemical and / or structural regions of. In this embodiment, the first functionality imparts adhesion to the patterned substrate and the second functionality imparts adhesion to one or more main substances to be applied.
In another embodiment, the gate agent may comprise two or more polyfunctional compounds, in which case the various polyfunctional compounds have at least one functionality in common with the other polyfunctional compounds, and , Has at least one functionality different from other polyfunctional compounds. In this example, the first polyfunctional compound and the second polyfunctional compound are printed on a similar pattern substrate, respectively, but of the first polyfunctional compound and the second polyfunctional compound. The second functionality has different properties regarding whether the main substance can adhere to the first or second polyfunctional compound, because the main substance reacts with only one kind of functionality. it is conceivable that. In another embodiment, compounds having potential monofunctionality (monofunctional potential) interact with each other and have polyfunctionality as in the case of a single polyfunctional compound (complexes). ) Is formed. In the present embodiment, the monofunctional compound may be included in a single composition deposited on the substrate at one time, or may be included in a separate composition deposited at the same time, or a group. It may be contained in a separated gate agent which is continuously deposited on the material.
One example of a polyfunctional compound intended herein includes a compound having a first functional group that is hydrophilic and a second functional group that is lipophilic. The gate agent is sprayed onto a substrate having a hydrophilic or lipophilic surface and is used to represent the desired pattern. As a result, the same type of functional group is bonded between the surface and the gate agent, the gate agent is attached to the surface, and the opposite functional group of the gate agent is repelled by the surface, so that the gate agent adhered to the surface. A pattern is formed.
It has the same kind of functionality (eg, hydrophilic or lipophilic) or is selectively attracted to the second functionality of the gate agent without being attracted to the surface, and the substrate (everywhere). A second composition (eg, the main substance) that is repelled by the exposed surface of (eg, coated with dampening water or liquid) or incapable of adhering to the exposed surface of the substrate is sprayed. It can be applied to the surface using dipping, spraying, brushing, rolling, or any other method known to those of skill in the art. The addition of the main substance forms a pattern of the main substance corresponding to the pattern of the gate agent, so that only the main substance is attached to the surface by the second functionality of the gate agent. In addition, after application of the base material, one or more additional steps (eg, cleaning steps) are performed so that the base material is not the other region of the substrate, but the second functional group of the gate agent. It adheres reliably only to the site. After this, the main material is transferred directly to a second substrate (eg, an intermediate (mediating) roller (eg, blanket body) that transfers the image to the printing medium) or directly to the printing medium, thereby achieving high accuracy. A clean desired print image can be formed. In this way, the selected pattern is sprayed onto the substrate with a gate agent to which the main material is attached later, then transferred and fixed permanently or temporarily on the print medium. ..
Examples of polyfunctional compounds intended herein include polymers having at least a hydrophilic portion and a lipophilic portion, such as poloxamers or ethoxylated acetylene diols. A suitable poloxamer for use is the chemical formula HO (CH).<sub>2</sub>CH<sub>2</sub>O)<sub>x</sub>(CH<sub>2</sub>CHCH<sub>3</sub>O)<sub>y</sub>(CH<sub>2</sub>CH<sub>2</sub>O)<sub>z</sub>It can be represented by H, where x, y and z represent integers in the range 2 to 130, especially taking values from 15 to 100. Also, x and z take the same value, but they are selected independently of y. Among these, poloxamer 188 (x = 75, y = 30 and z = 75) can be used, which is referred to by BASF as Lutrol® F 68 (or Pluronic® F 68). It is available under the product name. Poloxamer 185 (x = 19, y = 30 and z = 19) is also available, which is available from ISP under the trade name Lubrajel® WA. Poloxamer 235 (x = 27, y = 39 and z = 27) is also available, which is available from BASF under the trade name Pluronic® F 85. Poloxamer 238 (x = 97, = 39 and z = 97) is also available, which is from BASF, Pluronic® F. It is available under the trade name 88. Another particular surfactant in this type is a poly (ethylene oxide) -poly (propylene oxide) -poly (ethylene oxide) block copolymer known as Pluronic® 123 from BASF. Other possible compounds include ethoxylates such as polyethyleneimine ethoxylates. In addition, BASF's Pluronic® 127 (Poloxamer 407) triblock copolymers (x = 106, y = 70 and z = 106), known under the trade name, can be used. Further, to give a few examples, poloxamers 101, 108, 124, 181, 182, 184, 217, 231, 234, 237, 282, 288, 331, 333, 334, 335, 338, 401, 402, and 403. , Each may be included in the gate agent. Suitable ethoxylated acetylene diols are 3,5-dimethyl-1-hexin-3-ol (Air Products Surfynol® 61) and / or 2,4,7,9-tetra-. Methyl-5-decine-4,7-diol (Air) In particular, Product's Surfynol® 104) and Air Product's Surfynol® 400 Series Surfactants (Surfynol® 420,440,465, and 485) are included. Surfynol® 400 Series Surfactants have varying amounts of 2,4,7,9-tetra-methyl-5-dicine-4,7-diol (Air Product's Surfynol® 104). It is produced by reacting ethylene oxide, a nonionic molecule with a hydrophilic moiety between two symmetric hydrophobic groups. In addition, suitable surfactants are OSi Specialties, Inc (Danbury, Conn., Previously Union Carbide Organo Silicon Products, Systems and Includes SILWET 7200, a siloxane block polymer available from Services. Other suitable gate agent components are maleic acid / olefin copolymers, BASF's Sokalan®. Other surfactants include polyethyleneimine (PEI) with a molecular weight of about 1200, ethoxylated PEI with a molecular weight of about 50,000, hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), polyoxyalkylene ether, poly (oxyethylene) cetyl. Ethers (eg, Brij® 56 or Brij® 58 from Atlas Chemicals) may be included. Other possible compounds may contain a hydrophilic group at one end of each molecule and a lipophilic group at the other end of each molecule.
A further intended further example of a polyfunctional compound is a substance relating to the formation of a self-assembled monolayer, which is functionalized to receive fine particles at one end and the other end adheres to a substrate, such as a pattern surface. For example, alkylsiloxanes, fatty acids on oxide materials, alkanethiolates, alkylcarboxylic acid salts, etc.) are included. In the present disclosure, other similar polyfunctional compounds known to those of skill in the art are intended to provide suitable functionality. Further, the gate agent intended in the present disclosure may include, for example, water, a water-soluble organic compound, or a combination thereof, in addition to one or more polyfunctional compounds.
Suitable water-soluble organic compounds are alcohols (eg, methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, n-propyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, n-butyl alcohol, sec-butyl alcohol, or tert-butyl alcohol), amides (eg, dimethylformamide or). Dimethylacetamide), carboxylic acids, esters (eg ethyl acetate, ethyl lactate, and ethylene carbonate), ethers (eg tetrahydrofuran, or dioxane), glycerin, glycols, glycol esters, glycol ethers, ketones (eg acetone, diacetones). Alcohol or methyl ethyl ketone), lactam (eg N-isopropylcaprolactam, or N-ethylvalerolactam), lactone (eg butyrolactone), organic sulfide (organic sulfide), sulfone (eg dimethyl sulfone), organic sulfoxide (eg dimethyl sulfone) , Dimethyl sulfoxide, or tetramethylene sulfoxide), and derivatives thereof, and mixtures thereof.
In addition, the intended components of the gate agent are solvents, preservatives, gate agent fixers, viscosity regulators, moisturizers (eg propylene glycol), biodeposits (biosides), colorants, aromas, surfactants. Includes agents, polymers, foaming agents, defoaming agents, salts, inorganic compounds, organic compounds, water, pH regulators, and any combination thereof. Some examples of the main substances intended herein include lithographic inks, dyes, colorants and the like.
Some examples of viscosity modifying agents include propylene glycol, cellulosic materials (eg, CMC), xanthan gum, or BASF's Joncryl® 60, Joncryl®. Includes Trademarks) 52, Joncryl® 61, Joncryl® 678, and Joncryl® 682. The gate agent also includes a thixotropy solution whose viscosity changes with pressure or stirring. Diffusion can also be suppressed by increasing the surface tension of the gate agent. Surface tension modifiers include, in particular, poloxamer (eg, Pluronic® from BASF) or Surfynols® from Air Product. In addition, the gate composition can be other agents (eg, anti-curl agents, anti-wrinkle agents, fixing agents for blocking agents, litho ink modifiers, receiving surface). It can contain modifiers), disinfectants, biocides (biocides), pH regulators, and pH preservatives).
The print mediums considered include any material to which the main material can adhere, including paper, glass, nitrocellulose, fabrics, textile materials, metals, plastics, films, gels, and combinations thereof.
In the embodiments disclosed herein, the gate agent comprises 0.05 to 3% by weight of one or more nonionic surfactants, such as, for example, poloxamers, ethoxylated acetylene diols or other ethoxylated surfactants. Can include. Such surfactants contain both hydrophilic and lipophilic groups and have a hydrophilic-lipophilic balance between about 15 and 30. Desirably, the nonionic surfactant may contain 10-80% polyoxyethylene. The rest of the gate composition may contain water.
The gate composition may include a viscosity modifier to achieve viscosities in the range of 1 to 14 centipores (cP). More preferably, the viscosity is set to 2-8 cP, most preferably 3-5 cP. In certain embodiments, the gate agent composition may further comprise a surface tension modifier that suppresses diffusion. Desirably, the surface tension is set to less than 40 dynes / cm (0.04 N / m), and more preferably less than 35 dynes / cm (0.035 N / m) can be achieved. Surface tension modifiers include, among other things, poloxamers (eg, BASF's Pluronic®) or Air Product's Surfynols®, (registered trademarks) (eg, Surfynol® 400 Series Surfactants). Can include.
In one embodiment, the gate agent is from about 1% to about 50%, or from about 2% to about 40%, or from about 4% to about 25%, or from about 5% to about 20%, or About 20% polyethyleneimine ethoxylate, about 50% to about 99%, or about 60% to about 98%, or about 75% to 96%, about 80% to about 95%, or about 80% Water, and optionally polyethylene glycol 400, selectively polyvinylpyrrolidone, and / or selectively propylene glycol. In addition, the gate agent has viscosities in the range of about 1 to about 14 cm poise, or about 2 to about 8 cm poise, or about 2.5 to about 4 cm poise for liquid systems that can be applied by spraying or spraying. Can be done. For various other coating techniques, the viscosity is higher and can be up to 1000 cm poise.
As is clear from the above, by using a block copolymer surfactant having various properties for an imaging cylinder having various physical characteristics, it is possible to selectively form a lipophilic surface and a hydrophilic surface on the imaging cylinder. Become. The physical bond between the surfactant and the surface of the imaging barrel allows the imaging barrel to be used over and over again with the same image, or selectively changing the image at any number of rotations of the imaging barrel. You can also. By utilizing the physical characteristics of the imaging cylinder and block copolymer surfactants, it is possible to realize an image system that is durable, variable, and has the quality of known lithographic printing technology. Further, by using the gate agent intended herein to which the main material is applied, without the desire to theoretically bind the main material (eg, ink, etc.), the peeling of the main material can be achieved by conventional printing systems. It is believed that it can be significantly minimized compared to.
In other embodiments, the gate agent formulation comprises a lithographic ink conditioner. A lithographic ink conditioner alters the properties of one or more of the underlying blocked ink or other main material. Flat plate ink modifiers may include, in particular, magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate, mineral oil, liquid asphalt, combustion plate oil, flush oil, cobalt, soybean oil, and lump rosin.
In yet another embodiment, the gate agent composition comprises a receptive surface modifier. Adhesive surface (eg, paper) modifiers assist in the transfer of blocked ink or other major material to the adherent surface. The receptive surface modifier may include, for example, a spraying agent such as metal powder and cork powder, to name a few. Other examples of surface conditioning compounds include polyethyleneimine and ethoxylated polyethyleneimine (10-80% ethoxylated).
As mentioned above, the gate agent is applied to the plate cylinder or directly to the blanket cylinder using one or more jet heads. The ink is then applied to the plate cylinder or blanket cylinder in a non-selective manner. After this, the ink is transferred from the image area on the plate cylinder or blanket cylinder to the paper web. When the gate agent and ink are applied directly to the blanket cylinder, it is not necessary to use the plate cylinder. Fixed print jobs (especially short-term, but not limited to), or variable or customizable print jobs of any size (eg, target mailing, customer statement, wallpaper, customized packaging). Can be beneficial for specific printing applications, including paper).
The gate agent is, for example, using inkjet or other precision controllable spraying or coating techniques, selective direct injection onto the substrate, selective injection onto the intermediate surface (surface of the medium), Alternatively, it is applied in a hydrous liquid state by selective direct spraying onto the main substance. Hydrous liquids are usually of low viscosity and tend to suppress the formation of obstacles, which is advantageous for use in inkjet heads. However, the gate agent may be applied in a form other than the water-containing liquid by using inkjet technology. Examples are UV curing systems and non-aqueous siloxane systems. Further, the gate agent is not limited to a liquid, and may be used in a solid state (for example, a thin film, a paste, a gel, a foam, or a matrix). The gate agent can be configured to include a powdered solid, which is charged to suppress or assist the application of the main substance, or is held in place by electrostatic charges of opposite polarity.
In one example, a liquid gate agent, which is a solvent, is applied to the plate by one or more inkjet heads, which is then ejected by depositing a powder ink colorant dispersible in the solvent over the entire surface of the plate. Liquid ink is formed on the spot in the area. The powder in the non-injection region is removed (eg, by flipping the plate and dropping the powder directly below, or by air pressure, centrifugal force, etc.), which results in an ink region and a non-ink region. .. In this case, the solvent is sprayed onto the image region to form a liquid ink in this region, and the electrostatic charge is removed to remove the powder in the non-wet region (non-wet region). In either case, the generated image is then applied to a substrate (eg, a paper web).
Any of the systems of the present disclosure can be modified to form different sized gate agent droplets. For example, an HP inkjet head can be used to obtain a droplet size of approximately 14 picolitres (pl) at resolutions up to 1200 dots per inch (dpi). On the other hand, the Xaar inkjet head is capable of ejecting 3pl at 360dpi, but it is also capable of ejecting 6pl, 9pl, and 12pl droplets. The resolution of the formed image region can be controlled by appropriately selecting the inkjet head used for applying the gate agent. The system described herein can be modified to allow the formation of different sized gate agent droplets. In general, along with a compatible droplet size, a higher resolution grid (in other words, a grid of 300 dpi or higher) improves the interaction of the main material, such as ink, with the block, or transfer and / or collection. To do. Also, as the grid dpi increases, the most effective droplet size generally decreases. Larger size droplets are more susceptible to forced wetting (forced wetting) in the image area. This forced wetting is due to the coalescence of adjacent ejected droplets as the image is transferred between surfaces (eg, the pressing (nip) region between the plate and blanket) and prints. This causes a decrease in image quality due to a decrease in density. This forced wetting can be minimized by adding or removing one or more components and / or changing or adjusting one or more physical properties of the gate agent. For example, while slightly reducing the amount of surfactant can suppress ghosting, the use, addition, and / or substitution of other surfactants also improves image quality. be able to. Alternatively, it has the opposite polarity to the charge of the gate agent applied to the body. It is also possible to apply electrostatic charges to the body. The electrostatic attraction obtained thereby suppresses or eliminates forced wetting.
A further option is to regulate / control the temperature of one or more process parameters. For example, the temperature at which the gate agent is applied to the surface may be increased in order to improve the adhesive force of the gate agent and facilitate the preparation. Alternatively, or in addition, during the application of the gate agent, the surface is first heated to control adhesion, droplet shape / size, etc., and / or, if the gate agent is applied, the number of processes. At that point, the surface may be cooled (or heated) to increase the viscosity of the gate agent, thereby reducing the spread of the gate agent to non-wet areas.
Another example of an apparatus that can be used to implement this embodiment is shown in FIG. The printing press 310 may include a main material coating system 312, a pattern surface 314, a pattern surface cylinder 316, a blanket cylinder 318, and an impression cylinder 320, as is well known in the lithographic printing industry. The pattern surface 314 may be coated with polysiloxane or another coating that prevents ink transfer. In addition, a cleaning system 322 for the removal of excess and / or old gate agents and main or other contaminants is included (in this case, shown on both the pattern surface cylinder 316 and the blanket cylinder 318). However, more or less cases are possible). An aqueous jet system 324 similar to that described above for gate coating is shown in association with the pattern surface cylinder 316, but its arrangement is variable.
The operation of the printing press 310 is similar to that of the other embodiments described herein. For example, the gate agent is applied to the pattern surface 314 of the pattern surface cylinder 316 by the aqueous jet system 324. Subsequently, the main material is applied to the pattern surface 314 via the application system 312. When the pattern surface 314 comes into contact with the surface of the blanket body 318, the main material is carried on the surface until it is transferred there and further deposited on the substrate 326. It is also considered that the blanket body 318 can be removed from the device, so that the main material is transferred directly from the pattern surface 314 to the substrate 326. Alternatively, additional rollers including an additional aqueous jet system 324, coating system 312, and cleaning system 322 can be added as desired.
FIG. 4 shows a hydrophilic pattern surface 410 of a pattern surface cylinder 412 having the letter A 414 printed on the surface using a gate agent ejected from one or more ink jet heads, for example an aluminum surface. Shown. Since no substance is attached to the rest of the pattern surface 410, it is possible to attract or attach other aqueous substances. In FIG. 5, the pattern surface (not shown) is prepared for printing, for example, a main substance such as lipophilic ink 516, and a hydrophilic fountain. Primed by fluid) 518. The wettable powder 518 functions as a blocking agent that prevents ink from adhering to the remaining portion of the pattern surface that is not printed by the gate agent. In addition, the wetting solutions considered herein promote solubilization of the gate agent, thereby facilitating the removal of the gate agent after transfer of the main substance (eg, ink). However, the gate agent attracts the ink through its lipophilic portion, so that the surface of the letter "A" is covered with the ink. FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the undercoated pattern surface 610 of the plate cylinder 612. The ink 616 is attached to the gate agent 614, and the wetting liquid 618 fills the space between them, creating a continuous surface of ink and wetting liquid on the pattern surface. Ink between the pattern surface and the new surface with a slight crevice due to contact between the primed pattern surface and the printing material (not shown) or intervening roller, belt, or other surface. Can be transferred.
In certain applications, high speed variable printing systems and gate agents are used to block or assist the application of the main material, specifically whether to remove or block the main material in the image area or non-image area. Alternatively, applying the main substance in the image area or non-image area, removing the auxiliary agent in the non-image area, preventing the application of the main substance in a specific area or the entire area, the gate agent or the main substance. Changing the physical or chemical properties of the gate agent or main material (eg, the viscosity or surface tension of the gate agent or main material) to affect the application of, any combination described above, or any other Block or assist the application of the main substance by appropriate methods.
In still other embodiments, the amount of the main substance applied to the substrate varies with the use of the gate agent in the form of a barrier or blocking agent having barrier properties. In this embodiment, the application of the base material to the substrate is completely or partially blocked, so that the subject material is the substrate at an intermediate level within the range of the barrier or blocking agent having barrier properties. The result is a density gradient of the main material on the substrate according to the main material application at the desired intermediate level.
Further embodiments include a gate agent that is selectively added to the main material on the surface or other substrate after or before application of the main material to the surface. For example, the gate agent contains a material that is dispersed therein and has an antiaffinity with the main substance used in a particular embodiment. The gate agent is then applied to the surface in the non-image region and is absorbed inside the surface or adhered or retained on the surface together with the material dispersed in the gate agent. The surface passes in the vicinity of the subsequent surface (which has the main material placed on it). Since the material dispersed in the gate agent prevents the main material from adhering to the non-image region, the main material is transferred to the former surface only in the region not containing the gate agent.
Protective negative images printed using an aqueous jet system and printing by changing the properties of the gate and printing medium (eg, using bond paper, glossy paper, or using various coating techniques). It is possible to create a favorable interaction with the medium. For example, when sharpness of an image is required, it is advisable to select a gate agent that is not absorbed by the print medium at all. However, even in the part covered with the aqueous solution from the aqueous solution jet system, if a certain amount of ink transfer is desired, a certain amount of ink can be obtained from the covered part by using a printing medium that rapidly absorbs the aqueous solution. Can be transferred. It also increases the viscosity and / or surface tension of the gate agent and supports it so that the boundary between the non-image region and the image region is maintained. Diffusion can be suppressed by using an agent) or by adopting a system for each of the non-image region and the image region, whereby the quality can be improved. In particular, by controlling the viscosity of the gate agent from 1 to 14 cP, flooding, that is, forced wetting that eliminates the image or jagged edges and lines, is prevented and the occurrence of ghosts is minimized. Ghosts occur when the ink moves to the non-image area of the cylinder, or when residual ink or gate agent remains on the cylinder from the previous print. It is important that the viscosity of the gate agent is kept below 14 cP so that the gate agent is released from the jet head. Scientific properties of other chemicals and / or materials can be used to suppress or eliminate this effect. The gate agent also includes a thixotropy solution whose viscosity changes with pressure or stirring. Diffusion can also be suppressed by controlling the surface tension of the gate agent.
Furthermore, by using a block copolymer surfactant having various properties in an imaging cylinder having various physical characteristics, it becomes possible to selectively form a lipophilic surface and a hydrophilic surface on the imaging cylinder. The physical bond between the surfactant and the surface of the imaging barrel allows the imaging barrel to be used over and over again with the same image, or selectively alters the image at any number of rotations of the imaging barrel. You can also do it. By utilizing the physical characteristics of the imaging cylinder and block copolymer surfactants, it is possible to realize an image system that is durable, variable, and has the quality of known lithographic printing technology.
Another variable treatment is the treatment of the base material itself. In the case of a paper base material, a conventional coated paper having an appropriate size, weight, brightness (whiteness) and the like is used. It is coated with one or more coating agents (eg, clay), which delays or suppresses the absorption of the main substance and / or the gate agent. In the case of other substrates (eg, printing blankets, printing plates, printing cylinders, circuit boards, plastic sheets, films, fabrics or other sheets, flat or curved walls, or other members, etc.), this base. The surface of the part of the material to which the main material is applied is appropriately pre-prepared, physically or chemically treated, machined, textured or, as needed or requested. , It may be modified in another way, thereby assisting or blocking the transfer of a portion of the main substance as desired.
For inks or other major substances, the type, physical properties, and / or chemical composition can be selected or modified to achieve the desired effect. For example, by controlling the surface tension of the ink, it is possible to suppress bleeding between colors and see-through of the back of the paper. In yet another example, one or more inks used for waterless printing are used with the gate agent to be ejected (the latter is water-soluble or water-insoluble), which allows ink transfer from the plate to the paper. Can be blocked or promoted. When a waterless printing ink is used together with a water-soluble gate agent, the composition of the gate agent is adjusted in consideration of the lipophilicity of the ink. As a result, the gate agent has a molecular structure that attracts and / or repels the ink as needed or as desired. Alternatively, the gate agent that is jetted and first applied to the hydrophilic plate includes one or more hydrophilic compositions that bind to the plate and one or more other compositions that bind or repel ink molecules. And are included.
Further, in a further example, at least one phase change of the gate agent and the main substance is used to suppress or promote the blocking, or transcription or recovery of the substance. For example, when the gate agent is selectively sprayed onto the surface of a plate or the like and the main substance is applied to the surface having the coated gate agent, the portion of the main substance that comes into contact with the sprayed gate agent becomes Turns into a gel or solid. Alternatively, the main substance is applied to the plate indiscriminately (in other words, non-selectively), after which the gate agent is selectively applied to the non-imaged portion of the plate (in other words, the non-image area). When (injected), the main substance in the injection region changes to a gel or solid. Furthermore, it is possible to use a gate agent composed of two (or more) components. Here, these components are individually and selectively applied continuously (individually sprayed), and when these components are applied at the same position, they are epochiki at this position. Reacts similar or identical to systems and other chemical bonds (eg, covalent bonds, ionic bonds, etc.) and physical interactions (eg, hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces, etc.), which is beneficial. Gate characteristics (gating) characteristic) is further improved. The main substance (ink, etc.) may be applied before or after the application of one or more components of the gate agent. In any of the above examples, the substrate (paper web, etc.) is imaged by the plate.
FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 shows a lithographic printing press 1000 known in the art (eg, ink system 1002, plate cylinder 1006, blanket cylinder 1008, impression cylinder 1010, etc.). However, a coating system 1016 and an aqueous solution jet system 1014 are provided on the upstream side of the lithographic printing press 1000. In an embodiment as shown in FIG. 7, a standard lithographic plate is capable of etching fixed information of any job or sufficient ink adhesion. In one embodiment, a portion of the plate is reserved for variable information (eg, plate 1100 includes variable image boxes 1102 and 1104, as shown in FIG. 8). The portion of the lithographic plate corresponding to the variable image box is formed so that the ink adheres to the entire variable image box (ie, when the variable image box portion of the lithographic plate passes through the ink system, it covers the entire square portion. Ink adheres). In other embodiments, the ink can adhere to the entire plate and the water soluble jet system can provide a blocking fluid over the entire web 1012.
To generate a variable image, a negative image of the variable image is gated directly onto the web 1012 by the aqueous jet system 1014. Prior to the web 1012 reaching the aqueous jet system 1014, the web 1012 is, in certain embodiments, coated to prevent absorption of the gate agent. In other embodiments, the web 1012 is uncoated so that the gate agent applied by the aqueous jet system 1014 can coat the entire surface of the web 1012. Therefore, when the part where the variable image of the web 1012 is printed comes into contact with the part of the blanket cylinder 1008 that transfers the ink for the variable image, the web 1012 is only printed on the part that is not printed by the aqueous jet system 1014. The ink will selectively adhere. On a standard lithographic press, the same image (for example, a solid square) Rectangle)) is printed repeatedly. However, a negative image is first printed on the web 1012 by the aqueous jet system 1014, and then a variable image is generated on the web 1012 by selectively adhering the square solid ink of the blanket body 1008. The coating system 1016 is capable of coating the entire surface. The coating system 1016 can also be a suitable alternative for coating the web 1012 to reduce the absorption capacity of the gate agent. For example, the coating system 1016 includes a sprayer that sprays the appropriate solution onto the web 1012. This solution suppresses the absorption of all or part of the gate agent by Web 1012.
In any of the above embodiments, the combination of blanket barrel and plate barrel can be replaced with a single imaging barrel and vice versa. In addition, one or more aqueous jet systems, cleaning systems, stripping systems, vacuum or heating systems in embodiments may be electronically controlled via a data system.
Furthermore, the image quality and the compression characteristics of the nip roller can be controlled by changing the nip pressure of the roller that applies the main substance to the substrate and the compression characteristics of the roller. In addition, a roll or body having a textured surface is used to control the application of the main substance to the substrate, if desired. Furthermore, or in addition, the amount of ink transferred to each cell can be controlled by adjusting the volume of droplets of gated liquid, thereby affecting grayscale.
A further addition is to regulate or control the temperature of one or more processing parameters. For example, when the gate agent is applied to the surface, the adhesiveness can be improved and the application can be facilitated by raising the temperature of the gate agent. Alternatively or additionally, the stickiness, droplet shape or size, etc. may be controlled by first heating the surface during gate application. Alternatively, at some point during the process after coating the gate agent, the surface may be cooled to increase the viscosity of the gate agent and prevent the gate agent from diffusing into the non-wet region.
It is possible to further use a plurality of different liquids, each of which is individually applied by a separate injection device. When these liquids are applied together, the injector produces a gate agent with improved tackiness, viscosity, or at least one of the other desired properties. This liquid can be applied at different or the same temperature, pressure, flow rate, etc.
In yet another embodiment, the gate agent alone is selectively applied using two or more arrays or inkjet heads, or the gate solution is selectively applied to one or more regions on the surface. Applying, and additionally, applying ink to one or more remaining areas on the surface. In this case, one or more arrays, respectively, are removable or switchable while the printing press is running, or of subsequent jobs (eg, if local customization is required). It is reconfigurable (in terms of positioning).
Since the ink tack changes for each printing unit, the gate agent characteristics can be continuously changed for each unit to effectively optimize the ink transfer by each unit. Yet another modification involves the use of phase change materials to establish the printed surface.
In yet another embodiment, the gate agent used to control the application of the main substance to the substrate is a combination of a blocking agent and an auxiliary agent. In one example, the main material is placed on the surface and, in the non-image area, is covered with a blocking agent that prevents the main material from being applied to the substrate. In the image area, the main substance is covered with an adjunct. This auxiliary agent tends to bind to the main substance, which assists application on the substrate. Alternatively, the gate agent may be placed on the surface and covered with the main substance. In one example, a lipophilic blocking agent is selectively placed in the non-image area of the surface and a hydrophilic auxiliary agent is selectively placed in the image area of the surface. The main material is then placed on the upper surface of the layer formed by both gate agents. Both layers of gate agent formed at uniform height on the surface impede movement between the main material and the auxiliary agent. As the surface moves closer to the substrate, the blocking agent prevents the main substance from being applied to the substrate, while the auxiliary agent allows the main substance to be applied to the substrate.
In another embodiment, the surface is a lithographic plate, a plate cylinder, or the like, and a part of these is used to control the application of the main substance to the base material by applying the variable-shaped main substance to the base material. To do. In this embodiment, variable semiotics, coding, addressing, numbering, or any other tagging technique is used on a portion of the first surface reserved for control of the main material application. The main material is first placed on the first surface without distinction. The blocking agent is selectively applied to the substrate in an area before the substrate passes near the first surface for application of the main material. This coating area is the area corresponding to the secured portion of the first surface that later moves in the vicinity of the substrate, and the blocking agent is applied so that the main substance is applied in a desired shape or image. In a more general embodiment, the substrate moves to the vicinity of one or more surfaces on which similar or different principal substances are placed, where the blocking agent and / or auxiliary agent is applied to the surface within the secured portion. Is selectively transferred to the substrate. In certain embodiments, the magnetic ink is transferred from one of these surfaces to a substrate (eg, a paper web). Also, one or more non-magnetic inks may be transferred from the same surface or may be transferred from one or more additional surfaces. When the magnetic ink is applied to the paper web in a desired shape at the secured portion, a gate agent can be used to block or assist the application, which is described above. Any technique for using blocking agents and auxiliaries can be used. As a result, a paper web with magnetic ink markings (eg, MICR markings, or other coded information) that is modified from print to print is printed. In one embodiment, a coded RFID circuit is used as part of the variable printing process. This eliminates the need for later print programming.
In yet another embodiment, the gate agent is selectively applied to the receiving surface by one or more jet heads and attracts or attracts an intermediate solution (eg, a conventional fountain solution). , Block. This dampening solution is applied indiscriminately to the receiving surface, but is gated by a gate agent. Therefore, the wetting solution selectively adheres to the receiving surface prior to the application of the ink. In this embodiment, the gate solution is formulated to interact with the dampening solution and to control the dampening solution, in this respect as opposed to controlling the ink. There is. In another embodiment, the dampening solution is neutralized or degraded, or the dampening solution can be selectively removed from the receiving surface. More generally, these embodiments include the use of a wetting solution that is applied indiscriminately and a gate agent that is selectively applied with the ink, in which case the area where the wetting solution is retained. Is controlled by a gate agent.
As mentioned above, the gate agent can contain one or more surfactants and the temperature so that suitable droplet size and viscosity properties are obtained to produce a high quality image. Control or vacuum control is performed. However, image quality causes a phenomenon known to those skilled in the art as ghosting, which is a particularly serious problem when successive images differ.
Ghosting can be reduced by firmly removing the ink or any gate agent in the image and non-image areas between successive prints. For any of the cleaning systems described above, cleaning the plate cylinder at all times after applying the ink as described above is one way to keep the plate cylinder clean. Also, the composition of the gate agent can be modified to promote more complete cleaning by the cleaning system and reduce ghosting.
Another method of reducing the occurrence of ghosts is to suppress the movement of ink from the image region to the non-image region on the plate cylinder. The ink is attracted to the image area, the lipophilic solution is accurately applied to the image area, and the movement of the ink from the image area is suppressed. The oleophobic solution is accurately applied to the non-image region of the plate cylinder, alone or in combination with the lipophilic solution, and the movement of ink to the non-image region of the plate cylinder is suppressed.
When the concept of performing variable printing job processing and fixed printing job processing is used as in the present disclosure, one of its advantages is the proper velocity associated with the conventional lithographic printing press. .. However, in reality, as compared to a conventional lithographic printing press, the printing speed is limited by the speed at which the image region can be formed, that is, it depends on the method of forming the image region. This type of method is described herein and also includes gate agent application for the formation of image regions. The gate agent can be a lipophilic solution or a hydrophilic solution, or another solution to which an electrostatic charge has been applied. Further, the gate agent itself may be an electrostatic charge applied to a part of the body. The operating speed of the printing press is limited by the maximum speed at which any of the gate agents described above can be applied to one or more cylinders of the printing press.
Droplet ejection from the cartridge is considered to be a momentary event so that the inkjet cartridge corresponds to the most used operating conditions in normal inkjet printing, and this momentary event causes the substrate of interest. An ink spot of a predetermined size is formed on the ink spot. However, in reality, droplet ejection from an inkjet cartridge is not a momentary event, but is actually a transient event with early, middle, and telophase. When the target substrate is moving at high speed, the ink droplets collide with the substrate, and an ink spot having a tail extending in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the substrate is formed. .. This phenomenon, known as tailing, is a direct result of the transient nature of droplet formation. The tailing that occurs during high-speed printing raises concerns about print quality and can limit the effective speed of the press. However, when a gate agent is used with a particular jet cartridge, it is possible to suppress or mitigate the tailing of the ejected droplets, thereby eliminating this phenomenon, which is a factor limiting the maximum printing speed. It has been found to be done.
The devices and methods of the present disclosure also relate to other industries and other technologies (eg, textiles, pharmaceuticals, biomedicine, and especially electronics). Variable and customizable graphics or text, or main material with enhanced sealing properties or water or fire resistant main material, is selectively applied to the textile web and used, for example, in the manufacture of clothing or rugs. Be done. In the pharmaceutical industry, the main substance can be a formulation material, a therapeutic substance, a diagnostic substance, or a marking substance other than an ink, or a carrier for any other type of substance. In biomedical applications, for example, the main substance is a biological material or biocompatible polymer. In electronics applications, the main material can be a conductive or electrically insulating material that is applied to one or more layers of the substrate. Other electronics applications include the manufacture of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags that are attached to products. Selective application of the main substance to the substrate can also be beneficial to other industries. For example, the main substance is a thermally conductive or insulating material that is selectively applied to the components of a product (eg, a heat exchanger, a cooking pot, or a highly insulating coffee mug). In addition, the main material may be a material with enhanced absorbency, reflectivity, or radioactivity, and some or all of these properties may be useful for other products. This is the case, for example, when the main substance is selectively applied to a component of an oven, lamp, or sunglasses. Furthermore, the main material can be used in customizable packaging films or holograms (subject to selective filling of bend pits prior to image generation). In addition, the technique is applicable to the manufacture of fuel cells, where the main material may include functional polymers, adhesives, and three-dimensional (3-D) interconnect structures. In the manufacture of micro-optics, the main material can be an optical adhesive or a UV-curing polymer. A further application is display manufacturing, in which case the main material is a material for polymer light emitting diodes.
Further, as a specific application, the apparatus and high speed variable printing method of the present disclosure can be used in many lithographic printing applications. For example, the devices and methods of the present disclosure are ideal for high quality one-to-one marketing applications such as direct mail, advertising, statements, invoices and the like. Other uses suitable for the devices and methods of the present disclosure include printing personalized books, periodicals, publications, posters, displays and the like. The high-speed variable printing system and the high-speed variable printing method in the present disclosure can also speed up the post-pressing process (for example, bookbinding and finishing) of the above-mentioned products.
Moreover, the following example presents disclosure, but of course should not be construed as a limitation of any scope.
Example 1. The gate agent formulation useful in the present disclosure was formulated as follows. 8wt% Sokalan® Maleic Acid / Olefin Copolymer (95% Active) 1wt% SILWET 7200 siloxane Block Copolymer 91wt% water
Example 2. The second gate agent formulation useful in the present disclosure was formulated as follows. 30wt% PEG200 1wt% Sufynol® 400 Series 1wt% Pluronic® 68wt% water
Example 3. A third gate formulation useful in the present disclosure was formulated as follows. 15wt% Joncry® 50 10wt% isopropyl alcohol 1wt% SILWET 7200 siloxane Block Copolymer 30wt% PEG200 44wt% water
All of the formulations in Example 1-3 were useful as gate agents, resulting in variable prints with minimal ghosting, tailing, flooding, or background color.
The above is merely for exemplifying the principles of the devices and methods of the present disclosure, and it is clear that those skilled in the art can make various modifications without departing from the scope and principles of the devices and methods of the present disclosure. There will be. For example, the order of some steps in the described procedure is not definitive and can be changed as needed. Also, different steps can be performed by different techniques.
Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure include the best embodiments described herein and known to the inventor who puts the disclosure into practical use. Variations on these preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification. The inventor considers the skilled worker to adopt the appropriate variation, and the inventor intends that the present disclosure may be practiced in a manner other than that specifically described herein. Accordingly, this disclosure includes, to the extent permitted by applicable law, all modifications and equivalents detailed in the claims attached herein. Moreover, the present disclosure includes any combination of all possible variations of the above components, unless otherwise indicated herein or where the context is clearly inconsistent.
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194 members in 10 offices
Priority claims34
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Numbers
- Publication
- 2010536615
- Publication, DOCDB
- 2010536615
- Publication, EPODOC
- JP2010536615
- Application
- 2010521871
- Application, DOCDB
- 2010521871
- Application, EPODOC
- JP20100521871
Titles2
- Japanese
- インクジェット印刷装置及びインクジェット印刷方法
- English
- Inkjet printing equipment and inkjet printing method
Classification
- CPC, 12
- C09D7/63
- B41M5/00
- B41M1/06
- B41M1/10
- C08K5/17
- C09D11/54
- C09D7/67
- B82B3/00
- C09D5/00
- B41J2/0057
- B41J2/01
- B41J11/0015
- IPC, 3
- B41C1 10
- B41M5 00
- C09D7 63
Designated states4
- Regional, 4
- Zimbabwe
- Turkmenistan
- Türkiye
- Togo