EP0594097A1 - Erasable printing forms - Google Patents

Erasable printing forms Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0594097A1
EP0594097A1 EP93116766A EP93116766A EP0594097A1 EP 0594097 A1 EP0594097 A1 EP 0594097A1 EP 93116766 A EP93116766 A EP 93116766A EP 93116766 A EP93116766 A EP 93116766A EP 0594097 A1 EP0594097 A1 EP 0594097A1
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EP
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Prior art keywords
printing form
printing
ferroelectric
outer layer
ceramic
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Granted
Application number
EP93116766A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0594097B1 (en
Inventor
Alfred Dr. Hirt
Barbara Dr. Nüssel
Robert Weiss
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Manroland AG
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MAN Roland Druckmaschinen AG
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Publication of EP0594097A1 publication Critical patent/EP0594097A1/en
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Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41CPROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES
    • B41C1/00Forme preparation
    • B41C1/10Forme preparation for lithographic printing; Master sheets for transferring a lithographic image to the forme
    • B41C1/1058Forme preparation for lithographic printing; Master sheets for transferring a lithographic image to the forme by providing a magnetic pattern, a ferroelectric pattern or a semiconductive pattern, e.g. by electrophotography
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41NPRINTING PLATES OR FOILS; MATERIALS FOR SURFACES USED IN PRINTING MACHINES FOR PRINTING, INKING, DAMPING, OR THE LIKE; PREPARING SUCH SURFACES FOR USE AND CONSERVING THEM
    • B41N1/00Printing plates or foils; Materials therefor
    • B41N1/006Printing plates or foils; Materials therefor made entirely of inorganic materials other than natural stone or metals, e.g. ceramics, carbide materials, ferroelectric materials

Definitions

  • the invention relates to methods for producing an erasable printing form, methods for erasing the printing form, the printing form itself and its use as a coating on a roller.
  • a photopolymer is applied to a hydrophilic (water-accepting) surface of the printing form, which is first exposed and then developed imagewise.
  • hydrophobic (ink-accepting) image areas remain on the printing form surface while the photopolymer is removed at the non-image areas.
  • the development step again exposes the surface of the material forming the printing form at the non-image points.
  • the printing form is, for example, a roughened aluminum plate on which an aluminum oxide (Al2O3) layer has been applied anodically.
  • Al2O3 aluminum oxide
  • the aluminum oxide layer has a porous surface, which favors the adhesion of a hydrophobic coating and also stores dampening solution in the pores and thus improves the hydrophilic properties.
  • this aluminum oxide layer has the disadvantage that it is very difficult to remove a polymer layer applied to it if the printing form is to be used several times.
  • deep cleaning agents In order to clean the capillaries present in the surface of the aluminum oxide layer in such a way that they do not contain any residues that interfere with a subsequent printing process, deep cleaning agents must be used in a long-term cleaning process, which may also attack the aluminum oxide layer and reduce its service life.
  • a printing form is known from DE 36 33 758 A1 on which hydrophobic and hydrophilic areas can be displayed and which Contains material with ferroelectric properties that can be locally polarized and depolarized or brought into the three different polarization states (positively or negatively polarized or depolarized).
  • the printing form is polarized in that an electrical direct voltage is applied to an electrode and an electrically conductive layer underneath the ferroelectric material serves as the counter electrode.
  • the printing form can be depolarized again by an AC voltage, the frequency of which is far above the resonance frequency of the ferroelectric, or by heating to a temperature above the Curie temperature, or polarized again uniformly by subsequent application of a DC voltage.
  • barium titanate whose Curie temperature is 120 ° C. can be used as the ferroelectric material.
  • other materials with ferroelectric properties can also be used, for example a composite material with hydrophobic properties, such as soft plastic mats, in which ferroelectric microcrystallites are enclosed.
  • a disadvantage of the previously known methods for making printing forms with ferroelectric properties reusable for the offset process is, however, that either a current source and a counter electrode have to be brought up to the printing form or that a heat source is required. In order to avoid unnecessarily high electrical voltages, the ferroelectric layers must be thin.
  • the invention provides a use of the layer with strong microdipoles as a coating of a roller in a dampening unit or an inking unit.
  • An advantage of the invention is that the hydrophilicity of the hydrophilized areas is still retained even after more than 10,000 cylinder revolutions and that detachment of the material applied for masking the ink-accepting image areas during the printing process does not change the printed image, since the base material that comes to light when detached the printing form is hydrophobic. Even deliberate removal of the material applied to mark the ink-accepting image areas with solvents, such as Acetone, does not affect the printed image. However, if the material masking the image areas is retained, the hydrophilic areas can be refreshed at any time or can be continuously hydrophilized by additives in the dampening solution.
  • a particular advantage of using a ferroelectric layer as a layer with strong microdipoles is that it can be permanently polarized and that hydrophilizing agents can be specifically bound in polarized areas. Since the non-polarized areas are hydrophobic, the coating does not have to be resistant to circulation. Nevertheless, ferroelectric layers can also be coated to produce the image areas. In the case of polarized material, the coating can also be refreshed at any time.
  • the surface of the outer layer is very smooth, which can be achieved by polishing with a fine-grain polishing agent, and if it is pore-free.
  • the hydrophilizing agent in the printing form according to the invention is held on the smooth, non-porous surface with strong electrostatic forces.
  • a material that contains strong microdipoles is used to produce the printing form.
  • the electrical fields of the disordered (non-polarized), yet effective microdipoles are sufficient to bind hydrophilizing substances so tightly to the surface that a hydrophilic layer that is difficult to remove during the printing process is formed. It is not necessary to apply an electrical field from the outside. Since only the microdipoles are necessary for adhesion, the material as a whole does not necessarily have to be polarizable, i.e. for example, be ferroelectric; it is sufficient that it has sufficiently strong microdipoles.
  • Such a material, but not a ferromagnetic material is, for example, aluminum titanate.
  • ferroelectric materials have strong microdipoles, for example barium titanate, lead zirconium titanates or, as a plastic material, polyvinylidene fluoride, which is a ferroelectric polymer.
  • the outer layer of the printing form does not have to consist exclusively of a ferroelectric; it is rather sufficient if ferroelectric microcrystallites are embedded in a soft plastic material or a composite with non-ferroelectric material, e.g. Form glasses, hard plastics or ceramics.
  • a sintered ceramic is preferably suitable as the ceramic, but dense ceramic layers produced by thermal spraying processes are also suitable. Overall, materials that are non-porous and have a smooth surface are suitable.
  • the outer layer is given a smooth surface, for example, by being polished with a polishing agent with a grain size of less than 20 ⁇ m.
  • an erasable printing form is produced in that, by rubbing with a hydrophilizing agent, the non-image areas of a hydrophobic printing form imaged at the image areas with a covering material are hydrophilized with a layer according to the invention with strong microdipoles will.
  • the hydrophilizing agent is preferably a plate cleaner customary in offset technology.
  • plate cleaners are known for example from SU 42 97 485 A or from DE 31 17 358 A1 and DE 34 01 159 A1.
  • the plate cleaners contain, for example, orthophosphoric acid, silicates, non-ionic surfactants and long-chain hydrocarbons. Such plate cleaners have so far only been used for cleaning pre-coated aluminum offset printing plates.
  • a plate cleaner is applied as a hydrophilizing agent to the non-image parts of a printing form containing strong microdipoles, it becomes hydrophilic and its hydrophilicity is maintained during an entire printing process. This also applies to long print runs, for example, when more than 10,000 cylinder revolutions.
  • the surface of the printing form has a low sensitivity to fluctuations in the pH of the dampening solution. Pure tap water can even be used without any additives, e.g. use as dampening solution.
  • the image areas are deleted by removing any cover material that may still be present at the image points and by reversing the hydrophilization of the non-image areas.
  • the process of hydrophilizing the surface of the printing surface to produce the non-image areas can easily be reversed by treatment with a non-polar solvent.
  • the solvents for liquid toners known from electrophotography are suitable, which essentially consist of a mixture of long-chain, branched aliphatic, liquid, i.e. isoparaffinic, hydrocarbons.
  • a reversibly hydrophilizable and hydrophobizable surface of a printing form is created which is erasable and thus reusable.
  • highly polished printing forms made of ferroelectric material are often reusable.
  • a printing form is prepared for the printing process by imagewise covering material on the hydrophobic, ink-accepting surface of the outer layer is applied. All methods are suitable for this, in which a material application to the surface takes place for image differentiation.
  • the cover material is preferably itself hydrophobic. Examples of this include processes such as thermal transfer, ink jet coating, electrostatic toner transfer, in which thermoplastic layers, inks that accept ink through heat input, or charged toner particles are transferred and then fixed by attachment to electrically charged surfaces, and also application of photopolymers with subsequent image-differentiated layer removal during development .
  • the non-imaged portions of the surface are then hydrophilized by the hydrophilizing agent.
  • a special property of the ferroelectric layer is that its surface is initially hydrophobic before it is treated.
  • the image unit therefore only has to prevent the hydrophilizing agent from covering the image areas for the hydrophilization process, which is unique for each printing process.
  • the printing form is hydrophilized by the hydrophilizing agent, e.g. a plate cleaner, is sprayed onto the outer layer from nozzles.
  • the hydrophilizing agent is rubbed on the outer layer.
  • a hydrophilizing agent for example as an additive to the fountain solution, can also be applied to the printing form during the production run in order to improve the print quality.
  • the printing form as a whole can be cleaned with a solvent, for example acetone, and returned to its original hydrophobic state using a non-polar solvent, for example an isoparaffinic hydrocarbon.
  • a solvent for example acetone
  • a non-polar solvent for example an isoparaffinic hydrocarbon
  • the printing form is either designed as a plate that can be clamped onto a forme cylinder or as a cylindrical sleeve of a channelless forme cylinder.
  • the printing form has a particularly long service life due to the hard, abrasion-resistant ceramic surface.
  • An erasable printing form which has strong microdipoles at least in its outer layer, can also be produced for the dry offset printing process, cover material being applied imagewise and non-image areas subsequently being rendered oleophobic by an oleophobic medium.
  • an oleophobic medium e.g. a liquid silicone.
  • the ability to deposit electrically active substances on a ferroelectric layer also permits applications in which the effect of the top layer on a surface is decisive for the surface properties.
  • These are e.g. Surface properties such as surface tension, stickiness or adhesion, which can be controlled within certain limits by targeted attachment and possibly. can be made regenerable.
  • the effect of the dampening solution on dampening unit rollers or that of the printing ink on the inking unit rollers can also be controlled.
  • the printing form preferably surrounds the Entire lateral surface of the forme cylinder so that it does not have a clamping channel.
  • the properties of the dampening solution for example its pH value, can fluctuate over a wide range without reducing the print quality.

Abstract

Es ist bekannt, Druckformen, die eine Aluminiumschicht und oberhalb der Aluminiumschicht eine durch ein elektrochemisches Verfahren aufgebrachte Aluminiumoxid-Schicht aufweisen, durch ein Hydrophiliermittel zu reinigen. Es ist ebenfalls bekannt, Druckformen mit ferroelektrischen Materialien zu verwenden. Dabei werden die ferroelektrischen Materialien polarisiert oder depolarisiert, um sie entweder als Bild- oder als Nicht-Bildstellen für den Druckprozeß zu verwenden. Gemäß der Erfindung wird die äußere Schicht einer Druckform aus einem Material hergestellt, das starke Mikrodipole enthält, vorzugsweise aus einem Ferroelektrikum, insbesondere aus einer ferrolektrischen Keramik. Beim Naßoffset-Druckverfahren werden durch das Hydrophiliermittel werden die nicht-druckenden Bereiche der Druckform hydrophiliert, und sie bleiben während des ganzen Druckprozesses erhalten. Als Hydrophiliermittel lassen sich Plattenreiniger einsetzen. Durch ein unpolares Lösungsmittel läßt sich die Druckform löschen. Durch erneutes Hydrophilieren nicht-druckender Bereiche läßt sie sich wieder verwenden.It is known to clean printing forms which have an aluminum layer and, above the aluminum layer, an aluminum oxide layer applied by an electrochemical process, by means of a hydrophilizing agent. It is also known to use printing forms with ferroelectric materials. The ferroelectric materials are polarized or depolarized in order to use them either as image or as non-image points for the printing process. According to the invention, the outer layer of a printing form is produced from a material which contains strong microdipoles, preferably from a ferroelectric, in particular from a ferrolectric ceramic. In the wet offset printing process, the non-printing areas of the printing form are hydrophilized by the hydrophilizing agent and they are retained during the entire printing process. Plate cleaners can be used as hydrophilizing agents. The printing form can be erased using a non-polar solvent. It can be used again by hydrophilizing non-printing areas again.

Description

Die Erfindung bezieht sich auf Verfahren zur Herstellung einer löschbaren Druckform, Verfahren um Löschen der Druckform, die Druckform selbst sowie ihre Verwendung als Beschichtung einer Walze.The invention relates to methods for producing an erasable printing form, methods for erasing the printing form, the printing form itself and its use as a coating on a roller.

Bei den heute üblichen Offset-Verfahren, die ein Feuchtmittel zum Befeuchten der Druckform verwenden, wird auf eine hydrophile (wasserannehmende) Oberfläche der Druckform ein Photopolymer aufgebracht, das zunächst belichtet wird und anschließend bildmäßig entwickelt wird. Dabei verbleiben entsprechend einem zu druckenden Bild hydrophobe (farbannehmende) Bildstellen auf der Druckform-Oberfläche zurück, während das Photopolymer an den Nicht-Bildstellen entfernt wird. An den Nicht-Bildstellen wird durch den Entwicklungsschritt wieder die Oberfläche des die Druckform bildenden Materials freigelegt. Die Druckform stellt beispielsweise eine aufgerauhte Aluminiumplatte dar, auf der anodisch eine Aluminiumoxid (Al₂O₃)-Schicht aufgebracht worden ist. Die Aluminiumoxid-Schicht hat eine poröse Oberfläche, die die Haftung einer hydrophoben Beschichtung begünstigt und außerdem Feuchtmittel in den Poren speichert und damit die hydrophilen Eigenschaften verbessert.In the offset processes which are customary today and which use a dampening solution for moistening the printing form, a photopolymer is applied to a hydrophilic (water-accepting) surface of the printing form, which is first exposed and then developed imagewise. In accordance with an image to be printed, hydrophobic (ink-accepting) image areas remain on the printing form surface while the photopolymer is removed at the non-image areas. The development step again exposes the surface of the material forming the printing form at the non-image points. The printing form is, for example, a roughened aluminum plate on which an aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) layer has been applied anodically. The aluminum oxide layer has a porous surface, which favors the adhesion of a hydrophobic coating and also stores dampening solution in the pores and thus improves the hydrophilic properties.

Diese Aluminiumoxid-Schicht hat jedoch den Nachteil, daß sich eine auf ihr aufgebrachte Polymerschicht nur sehr schwierig wieder entfernen läßt, wenn die Druckform mehrfach genutzt werden soll. Um die in der Oberfläche der Aluminiumoxid-Schicht vorhandenen Kapillaren so zu reinigen, daß sie keine für einen nachfolgenden Druckprozeß störende Rückstände enthalten, müssen in einem langdauernden Reinigungsprozeß tiefenwirksame Reiniger verwendet werden, die unter Umständen auch die Aluminiumoxid-Schicht angreifen und deren Lebensdauer herabsetzen.However, this aluminum oxide layer has the disadvantage that it is very difficult to remove a polymer layer applied to it if the printing form is to be used several times. In order to clean the capillaries present in the surface of the aluminum oxide layer in such a way that they do not contain any residues that interfere with a subsequent printing process, deep cleaning agents must be used in a long-term cleaning process, which may also attack the aluminum oxide layer and reduce its service life.

Andererseits ist aus der DE 36 33 758 A1 eine Druckform bekannt, auf der hydrophobe und hydrophile Bereiche darstellbar sind und die ein Material mit ferroelektrischen Eigenschaften enthält, das örtlich polarisierbar und depolarisierbar ist oder in die drei verschiedenen Polarisationszustände (positiv oder negativ polarisiert oder depolarisiert) gebracht werden kann. Die Druckform wird dadurch polarisiert, daß eine elektrische Gleichspannung an einer Elektrode anliegt und als Gegenelektrode eine elektrisch leitfähige Schicht unterhalb des ferroelektrischen Materials dient.On the other hand, a printing form is known from DE 36 33 758 A1 on which hydrophobic and hydrophilic areas can be displayed and which Contains material with ferroelectric properties that can be locally polarized and depolarized or brought into the three different polarization states (positively or negatively polarized or depolarized). The printing form is polarized in that an electrical direct voltage is applied to an electrode and an electrically conductive layer underneath the ferroelectric material serves as the counter electrode.

Umgekehrt läßt sich die Druckform durch eine Wechselspannung, deren Frequenz weit oberhalb der Resonanzfrequenz des Ferroelektrikums liegt, oder durch Erwärmung auf eine Temperatur oberhalb der Curie-Temperatur wieder depolarisieren oder durch anschließendes Anlegen einer Gleichspannung wieder einheitlich polarisieren. Als ferroelektrisches Material läßt sich beispielsweise Bariumtitanat verwenden, dessen Curie-Temperatur bei 120°C liegt. Anstelle des Bariumtitanats können auch andere Materialien mit ferroelektrischen Eigenschaften benutzt werden, beispielsweise ein Verbundmaterial mit hydrophoben Eigenschaften, wie weichplastische Matten, in denen ferroelektrische Mikrokristallite eingeschlossen sind.Conversely, the printing form can be depolarized again by an AC voltage, the frequency of which is far above the resonance frequency of the ferroelectric, or by heating to a temperature above the Curie temperature, or polarized again uniformly by subsequent application of a DC voltage. For example, barium titanate whose Curie temperature is 120 ° C. can be used as the ferroelectric material. Instead of the barium titanate, other materials with ferroelectric properties can also be used, for example a composite material with hydrophobic properties, such as soft plastic mats, in which ferroelectric microcrystallites are enclosed.

Nachteilhaft an den bisher bekannten Verfahren, um Druckformen mit ferroelektrischen Eigenschaften für den Offset-Prozeß wieder verwendbar zu machen, ist jedoch, daß entweder eine Stromquelle und eine Gegenelektrode an die Druckform herangeführt werden müssen oder daß eine Wärmequelle benötigt wird. Um unnötig hohe elektrische Spannungen zu vermeiden, müssen die ferroelektrischen Schichten dünn sein.A disadvantage of the previously known methods for making printing forms with ferroelectric properties reusable for the offset process is, however, that either a current source and a counter electrode have to be brought up to the printing form or that a heat source is required. In order to avoid unnecessarily high electrical voltages, the ferroelectric layers must be thin.

Es ist die Aufgabe der Erfindung, Verfahren zur Herstellung einer löschbaren Druckform zu schaffen, die sich auf einfache Weise für ein Offset-Druckverfahren wiederverwendbar machen läßt.It is the object of the invention to provide methods for producing an erasable printing form which can be easily reused for an offset printing process.

Die Aufgabe wird, wie in den Patentansprüchen 1 und 8 angegeben, für das Naßoffset- bzw. das Trockenoffset-Druckverfahren gelöst.The object is, as stated in claims 1 and 8, solved for the wet offset and dry offset printing processes.

Es ist außerdem die Aufgabe der Erfindung, die löschbare Druckform zur Verwendung bei den oben genannten Verfahren zu schaffen.It is also an object of the invention to provide the erasable printing form for use in the above methods.

Diese Aufgabe wird, wie in Patentanspruch 11 angegeben, gelöst.This object is, as stated in claim 11, solved.

Gemäß Patentanspruch 16 schafft die Erfindung eine Verwendung der Schicht mit starken Mikrodipolen als Beschichtung einer Walze in einem Feuchtwerk oder einem Farbwerk.According to claim 16, the invention provides a use of the layer with strong microdipoles as a coating of a roller in a dampening unit or an inking unit.

Vorteilhaft an der Erfindung ist, daß die die Hydrophilie der hydrophilierten Bereiche auch nach mehr als 10.000 Zylinderumdrehungen noch erhalten ist und daß ein Ablösen des zur Maskierung der farbannehmenden Bildbereiche aufgebrachten Materials während des Druckvorganges das Druckbild nicht verändert, da das beim Ablösen zu Tage tretende Grundmaterial der Druckform hydrophob ist. Selbst ein absichtliches Entfernen des zur Markierung der farbannehmenden Bildbereiche aufgebrachten Materials mit Lösungsmitteln, wie z.B. Aceton, beeinflußt das Druckbild nicht. Bleibt das die Bildbereiche maskierende Material jedoch erhalten, so können die hydrophilen Bereiche jederzeit aufgefrischt werden oder durch Zusätze im Feuchtmittel kontinuierlich hydrophiliert werden. Ein besonderer Vorteil bei der Verwendung einer ferroelektrischen Schicht als Schicht mit starken Mikrodipolen besteht darin, daß sie permanent polarisiert werden kann und daß in polarisierten Bereichen gezielt Hydrophiliermittel gebunden werden kann. Da die nichtpolarisierten Bereiche hydrophob sind, muß die Beschichtung nicht auflagenbeständig sein. Dennoch lassen sich auch ferroelektrische Schichten zur Erzeugung der Bildbereiche beschichten. Bei polarisiertem Material kann auch die Beschichtung jederzeit wieder aufgefrischt werden.An advantage of the invention is that the hydrophilicity of the hydrophilized areas is still retained even after more than 10,000 cylinder revolutions and that detachment of the material applied for masking the ink-accepting image areas during the printing process does not change the printed image, since the base material that comes to light when detached the printing form is hydrophobic. Even deliberate removal of the material applied to mark the ink-accepting image areas with solvents, such as Acetone, does not affect the printed image. However, if the material masking the image areas is retained, the hydrophilic areas can be refreshed at any time or can be continuously hydrophilized by additives in the dampening solution. A particular advantage of using a ferroelectric layer as a layer with strong microdipoles is that it can be permanently polarized and that hydrophilizing agents can be specifically bound in polarized areas. Since the non-polarized areas are hydrophobic, the coating does not have to be resistant to circulation. Nevertheless, ferroelectric layers can also be coated to produce the image areas. In the case of polarized material, the coating can also be refreshed at any time.

Besonders vorteilhaft ist es, wenn die Oberfläche der äußeren Schicht sehr glatt ist, was sich durch Polieren mit einem feinkörnigen Poliermittel erreichen läßt, und wenn sie porenfrei ist. Im Gegensatz zu den bekannten Druckplatten mit poröser Oberfläche wird das Hydrophiliermittel bei der erfindungsgemäßen Druckform mit starken elektrostatischen Kräften auf der glatten, porenfreien Oberfläche gehalten.It is particularly advantageous if the surface of the outer layer is very smooth, which can be achieved by polishing with a fine-grain polishing agent, and if it is pore-free. In contrast to the known printing plates with a porous surface, the hydrophilizing agent in the printing form according to the invention is held on the smooth, non-porous surface with strong electrostatic forces.

Nachstehend wird die Erfindung anhand von Ausführungsbeispielen näher erläutert. Für die Herstellung der Druckform wird ein Material verwendet, das starke Mikrodipole enthält. Die elektrischen Felder der ungeordneten (nicht-polarisierten), aber dennoch wirksamen Mikrodipole reichen aus, um hydrophilierend wirkende Substanzen so fest an die Oberfläche zu binden, daß eine während des Druckprozesses nur schwer abtragbare hydrophile Schicht gebildet wird. Es ist nicht notwendig, von außen ein elektrisches Feld anzulegen. Da nur die Mikrodipole zur Haftung nötig sind, muß das Material als ganzes nicht unbedingt polarisierbar, d.h. zum Beispiel ferroelektrisch, sein; es genügt, daß es ausreichend starke Mikrodipole hat.The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments. A material that contains strong microdipoles is used to produce the printing form. The electrical fields of the disordered (non-polarized), yet effective microdipoles are sufficient to bind hydrophilizing substances so tightly to the surface that a hydrophilic layer that is difficult to remove during the printing process is formed. It is not necessary to apply an electrical field from the outside. Since only the microdipoles are necessary for adhesion, the material as a whole does not necessarily have to be polarizable, i.e. for example, be ferroelectric; it is sufficient that it has sufficiently strong microdipoles.

Ein derartiges, aber nicht ferrolektrisches Material ist beispielsweise Aluminiumtitanat. Insbesondere weisen aber ferroelektrische Materialien starke Mikrodipole auf, beispielsweise Bariumtitanat, Bleizirkontitanate oder als Plastikmaterial Polyvinylidenfluorid, das ein ferroelektrisches Polymer ist. Die äußere Schicht der Druckform muß nicht ausschließlich aus einem Ferroelektrikum bestehen; es reicht vielmehr aus, wenn ferroelektrische Mikrokristallite in einem weichplastischen Material eingelagert sind oder einen Verbund mit nicht-ferroelektrischem Material, wie z.B. Gläsern, Hartkunststoffen oder Keramik, bilden. Als Keramik eignet sich vorzugsweise eine gesinterte Keramik, aber auch über thermische Spritzverfahren hergestellte, dichte Keramikschichten sind geeignet. Insgesamt eignen sich Materialien, die porenfrei sind und eine glatte Oberfläche aufweisen. Die äußere Schicht erhält beispielsweise dadurch eine glatte Oberfläche, daß sie mit einem Poliermittel mit einer Körnigkeit von weniger als 20 µm poliert ist.Such a material, but not a ferromagnetic material, is, for example, aluminum titanate. In particular, however, ferroelectric materials have strong microdipoles, for example barium titanate, lead zirconium titanates or, as a plastic material, polyvinylidene fluoride, which is a ferroelectric polymer. The outer layer of the printing form does not have to consist exclusively of a ferroelectric; it is rather sufficient if ferroelectric microcrystallites are embedded in a soft plastic material or a composite with non-ferroelectric material, e.g. Form glasses, hard plastics or ceramics. A sintered ceramic is preferably suitable as the ceramic, but dense ceramic layers produced by thermal spraying processes are also suitable. Overall, materials that are non-porous and have a smooth surface are suitable. The outer layer is given a smooth surface, for example, by being polished with a polishing agent with a grain size of less than 20 μm.

Für das Naßoffset-Druckverfahren wird eine löschbare Druckform hergestellt, indem durch das Abreiben mit einem Hydrophiliermittel die Nicht-Bildstellen einer an den Bildstellen mit einem Abdeckmaterial bebilderten, hydrophoben Druckform mit einer erfindungsgemäßen Schicht mit starken Mikrodipolen hydrophiliert werden. Das Hydrophiliermittel ist vorzugsweise ein in der Offsettechnik üblicher Plattenreiniger. Derartige Plattenreiniger sind beispielsweise aus der SU 42 97 485 A oder aus der DE 31 17 358 A1 und der DE 34 01 159 A1 bekannt. Die Plattenreiniger enthalten z.B. Orthophosphorsäure, Silikate, nichtionische Tenside und langkettige Kohlenwasserstoffe. Derartige Plattenreiniger wurden bislang nur für die Reinigung von vorbeschichteten AluminiumOffsetdruckplatten verwendet.For the wet offset printing process, an erasable printing form is produced in that, by rubbing with a hydrophilizing agent, the non-image areas of a hydrophobic printing form imaged at the image areas with a covering material are hydrophilized with a layer according to the invention with strong microdipoles will. The hydrophilizing agent is preferably a plate cleaner customary in offset technology. Such plate cleaners are known for example from SU 42 97 485 A or from DE 31 17 358 A1 and DE 34 01 159 A1. The plate cleaners contain, for example, orthophosphoric acid, silicates, non-ionic surfactants and long-chain hydrocarbons. Such plate cleaners have so far only been used for cleaning pre-coated aluminum offset printing plates.

Wenn ein derartiger Plattenreiniger jedoch als Hydrophiliermittel auf die Nicht-Bildteile einer starke Mikrodipole enthaltenden Druckform aufgebracht wird, so wird diese hydrophil, und ihre Hydrophilie bleibt während eines ganzen Druckprozesses erhalten. Dies gilt auch für hohe Druckauflagen, beispielsweise bei mehr als 10.000 Zylinderumdrehungen. Die Oberfläche der Druckform weist eine geringe Empfindlichkeit gegenüber Schwankungen des pH-Wertes des Feuchtmittels auf. Es läßt sich sogar reines Leitungswasser ohne jegliche Zusätze wie z.B. als Feuchtmittel verwenden.However, if such a plate cleaner is applied as a hydrophilizing agent to the non-image parts of a printing form containing strong microdipoles, it becomes hydrophilic and its hydrophilicity is maintained during an entire printing process. This also applies to long print runs, for example, when more than 10,000 cylinder revolutions. The surface of the printing form has a low sensitivity to fluctuations in the pH of the dampening solution. Pure tap water can even be used without any additives, e.g. use as dampening solution.

Die Löschung der Bildbereiche erfolgt durch Ablösen von eventuell noch vorhandenem Abdeckmaterial an den Bildstellen und durch Rückgängigmachung der Hydrophilierung der Nicht-Bildbereiche. Der Prozeß der Hydrophilierung der Oberfläche der Druckfläche zur Erzeugung der Nicht-Bildstellen läßt sich leicht durch Behandlung mit einem unpolaren Lösungsmittel wieder rückgängig machen. Hierfür eignen sich beispielsweise die aus der Elektrophotographie bekannten Lösungsmittel für Flüssigtoner, die im wesentlichen eine Mischung langkettiger, verzweigter aliphatischer, flüssiger, d.h. isoparaffinischer, Kohlenwasserstoffe sind. Auf diese Weise wird eine reversibel hydrophilier- und hydrophobierbare Oberfläche einer Druckform geschaffen, die löschbar und somit wiederverwendbar ist. Insbesondere hochpolierte Druckformen aus ferroelektrischem Material sind oft wiederverwendbar.The image areas are deleted by removing any cover material that may still be present at the image points and by reversing the hydrophilization of the non-image areas. The process of hydrophilizing the surface of the printing surface to produce the non-image areas can easily be reversed by treatment with a non-polar solvent. For this purpose, for example, the solvents for liquid toners known from electrophotography are suitable, which essentially consist of a mixture of long-chain, branched aliphatic, liquid, i.e. isoparaffinic, hydrocarbons. In this way, a reversibly hydrophilizable and hydrophobizable surface of a printing form is created which is erasable and thus reusable. In particular, highly polished printing forms made of ferroelectric material are often reusable.

Eine Druckform wird für den Druckprozeß vorbereitet, indem bildmäßig Abdeckmaterial auf die hydrophobe, farbannehmende Oberfläche der äußeren Schicht aufgebracht wird. Hierzu eignen sich alle Verfahren, bei denen zur Bilddifferenzierung ein Materialauftrag auf die Oberfläche stattfindet. Das Abdeckmaterial ist vorzugsweise selbst hydrophob. Beispiele hierfür sind Verfahren wie Thermotransfer, Tintenstrahlbeschichtung, elektrostatischer Tonertransfer, bei denen thermoplastische Schichten, durch Wärmeeintrag farbannehmende Tinten aus Tintendüsen oder geladene Tonerpartikel durch Anlagerung an elektrisch geladenen Oberflächen übertragen und anschließend fixiert werden, sowie auch Aufbringung von Photopolymeren mit anschließendem bilddifferenzierten Schichtabtrag bei der Entwicklung. Anschließend werden die nichtbebilderten Anteile der Oberfläche durch das Hydrophiliermittel hydrophiliert.A printing form is prepared for the printing process by imagewise covering material on the hydrophobic, ink-accepting surface of the outer layer is applied. All methods are suitable for this, in which a material application to the surface takes place for image differentiation. The cover material is preferably itself hydrophobic. Examples of this include processes such as thermal transfer, ink jet coating, electrostatic toner transfer, in which thermoplastic layers, inks that accept ink through heat input, or charged toner particles are transferred and then fixed by attachment to electrically charged surfaces, and also application of photopolymers with subsequent image-differentiated layer removal during development . The non-imaged portions of the surface are then hydrophilized by the hydrophilizing agent.

Eine besondere Eigenschaft der ferroelektrischen Schicht ist es, daß ihre Oberfläche, bevor sie behandelt wird, zunächst hydrophob ist. Die Bildeinheit muß daher nur für den je Druckprozeß einmaligen Vorgang der Hydrophilierung die Belegung der Bildbereiche mit dem Hydrophiliermittel verhindern. Die Druckform wird hydrophiliert, indem das Hydrophiliermittel, z.B. ein Plattenreiniger, aus Düsen auf die äußere Schicht aufgesprüht wird. Bei einem anderen Verfahren wird das Hydrophiliermittel auf der äußeren Schicht verrieben. Darüber hinaus kann jedoch auch während des Fortdrucks ein Hydrophiliermittel, beispielsweise als Zusatz zum Feuchtmittel, auf die Druckform aufgebracht werden, um die Druckqualität zu verbessern.A special property of the ferroelectric layer is that its surface is initially hydrophobic before it is treated. The image unit therefore only has to prevent the hydrophilizing agent from covering the image areas for the hydrophilization process, which is unique for each printing process. The printing form is hydrophilized by the hydrophilizing agent, e.g. a plate cleaner, is sprayed onto the outer layer from nozzles. In another method, the hydrophilizing agent is rubbed on the outer layer. In addition, however, a hydrophilizing agent, for example as an additive to the fountain solution, can also be applied to the printing form during the production run in order to improve the print quality.

Selbst wenn die Bildschicht während des Drucks teilweise abgetragen werden sollte, beispielsweise infolge mangelnder Auflagenbeständigkeit oder absichtlich durch ein Lösungsmittel wie Aceton, bleibt dies ohne Einfluß auf das Druckbild. Nach Beendigung des Druckprozesses läßt sich die Druckform als ganze mit einem Lösungsmittel, z.B. Aceton, reinigen und mittels eines unpolaren Lösungsmittels, z.B. eines isoparaffinischen Kohlenwasserstoffs, wieder in den hydrophoben Ursprungszustand zurückversetzen. Die Reinigung läßt sich vollziehen, ohne die Druckform aus der Druckmaschine auszubauen. Sie läßt sich beispielsweise mit den gleichen Reinigungsgeräten durchführen, die auch zum Waschen des Gummituchzylinders dienen.Even if the image layer should be partially removed during printing, for example as a result of poor circulation resistance or deliberately by a solvent such as acetone, this has no effect on the printed image. After the printing process has ended, the printing form as a whole can be cleaned with a solvent, for example acetone, and returned to its original hydrophobic state using a non-polar solvent, for example an isoparaffinic hydrocarbon. The cleaning can be carried out without removing the printing form from the printing press. It can be carried out, for example, with the same cleaning devices that are also used to wash the blanket cylinder.

Die Druckform ist entweder eine auf einen Formzylinder aufspannbare Platte oder als zylindrische Hülse eines kanallosen Formzylinders ausgebildet.The printing form is either designed as a plate that can be clamped onto a forme cylinder or as a cylindrical sleeve of a channelless forme cylinder.

Wenn das Ferroelektrikum aus gesinterter Keramik besteht oder in eine harte Keramik eingebettet ist, so hat die Druckform wegen der harten, abriebfesten Keramikoberfläche eine besonders lange Lebensdauer.If the ferroelectric material consists of sintered ceramic or is embedded in a hard ceramic, the printing form has a particularly long service life due to the hard, abrasion-resistant ceramic surface.

Eine löschbare Druckform, die wenigstens in ihrer äußeren Schicht starke Mikrodipole aufweist, läßt sich auch für das Trockenoffset-Druckverfahren herstellen, wobei bildmäßig Abdeckmaterial aufgebracht wird und Nicht-Bildbereiche anschließend durch ein oleophobes Medium oleophob gemacht werden. Als oleophobes Medium eignet sich z.B. ein flüssiges Silikon.An erasable printing form, which has strong microdipoles at least in its outer layer, can also be produced for the dry offset printing process, cover material being applied imagewise and non-image areas subsequently being rendered oleophobic by an oleophobic medium. As an oleophobic medium, e.g. a liquid silicone.

Die Fähigkeit zur Ablagerung von elektrisch aktiven Substanzen auf einer ferroelektrischen Schicht gestattet neben deren Verwendung als löschbare Druckform auch Anwendungen, bei denen die Wirkung der obersten Schicht auf einer Oberfläche für die Oberflächeneigenschaften maßgebend sind. Dies sind z.B. Oberflächeneigenschaften wie Oberflächenspannung, Klebrigkeit oder Haftung, die durch gezielte Anlagerung in bestimmten Grenzen steuerbar und u.U. regenerierbar gemacht werden können. In einer Druckmaschine läßt sich dadurch auch die Wirkung des Feuchtmittels auf Feuchtwerkswalzen oder die der Druckfarbe auf die Farbwerkswalzen steuern.In addition to their use as an erasable printing form, the ability to deposit electrically active substances on a ferroelectric layer also permits applications in which the effect of the top layer on a surface is decisive for the surface properties. These are e.g. Surface properties such as surface tension, stickiness or adhesion, which can be controlled within certain limits by targeted attachment and possibly. can be made regenerable. In a printing press, the effect of the dampening solution on dampening unit rollers or that of the printing ink on the inking unit rollers can also be controlled.

Gemäß der Erfindung läßt sich demnach eine Druckform herstellen, die auf einfache Weise bebilderbar und wieder löschbar ist, ohne sie aus der Druckmaschine herausnehmen zu müssen. Eine gute Haftfähigkeit der Bildstellen ist ohne Bedeutung, weil die Oberfläche des ferroelektrischen Materials ohne jede Behandlung hydrophob, d.h. farbannehmend, ist. Die durch das Hydrophiliermittel wasserfreundlichen Nicht-Bildstellen weisen eine hohe Auflagenbeständigkeit auf. Die Druckform umgibt vorzugsweise die ganze Mantelfläche des Formzylinders, so daß dieser keinen Spannkanal aufweist. Die Eigenschaften des Feuchtmittels, beispielsweise sein pH-Wert, können in weiten Bereichen schwanken, ohne die Druckqualität zu verschlechtern.According to the invention, it is accordingly possible to produce a printing form which can be easily imaged and erased again without having to remove it from the printing press. Good adhesion of the image areas is irrelevant because the surface of the ferroelectric material is hydrophobic, ie, it accepts ink, without any treatment. The non-image areas which are water-friendly due to the hydrophilizing agent have a high resistance to circulation. The printing form preferably surrounds the Entire lateral surface of the forme cylinder so that it does not have a clamping channel. The properties of the dampening solution, for example its pH value, can fluctuate over a wide range without reducing the print quality.

Claims (16)

Verfahren zur Herstellung einer löschbaren Druckform für das Naßoffset-Druckverfahren, die wenigstens in ihrer äußeren Schicht starke Mikrodipole aufweist und deren Oberfläche hydrophob ist, auf die bildmäßig Abdeckmaterial aufgebracht wird und dern Nicht-Bildbereiche anschließend durch ein Hydrophiliermittel hydrophiliert werden.Process for the production of an erasable printing form for the wet offset printing process, which has strong microdipoles at least in its outer layer and whose surface is hydrophobic, onto which image-covering material is applied and whose non-image areas are subsequently hydrophilized by a hydrophilizing agent. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß hydrophobes Abdeckmaterial aufgebracht wird.A method according to claim 1, characterized in that hydrophobic covering material is applied. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Abdeckmaterial durch Thermotransfer, Tintenstrahlbeschichtung, statischem Tonertransfer oder durch Aufbringung von Photopolymeren mit anschließendem bilddifferenziertem Schichtabtrag bei der Entwicklung aufgebracht wird.A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the covering material is applied during development by thermal transfer, ink jet coating, static toner transfer or by applying photopolymers with subsequent image-differentiated layer removal. Verfahren zum Drucken mit einer nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3 hergestellten Druckform, wobei während des Fortdruckes Hydrophiliermittel auf die Druckform aufgebracht wird.A method of printing with a printing form produced according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein hydrophilizing agent is applied to the printing form during production. Verfahren nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß ein Zusatz des Feuchtmittels als Hydrophiliermittel verwendet wird.A method according to claim 4, characterized in that an addition of the dampening solution is used as a hydrophilizing agent. Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Hydrophiliermittel auf der äußeren Schicht der Druckform verrieben oder aus Düsen auf die äußere Schicht gesprüht wird.Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the hydrophilizing agent is triturated on the outer layer of the printing form or sprayed onto the outer layer from nozzles. Verfahren zum Löschen einer nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3 hergestellten Druckform, wobei die Druckform durch ein Lösungsmittel, insbesondere Aceton, gereinigt wird und ein unpolares Lösungsmittel auf die Druckform aufgebracht wird, durch das die Druckform wieder hydrophob wird.Method for deleting a printing form produced according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the printing form is cleaned by a solvent, in particular acetone, and an apolar solvent is applied to the printing form, by means of which the printing form becomes hydrophobic again. Verfahren zum Löschen der Druckform nach Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß als unpolares Lösungsmittel ein isoporaffinischer Kohlenwasserstoff verwendet wird.Process for erasing the printing form according to claim 7, characterized in that an isoporaffinic hydrocarbon is used as the non-polar solvent. Verfahren zur Herstellung einer löschbaren Druckform für das Trockenoffset-Druckverfahren, die wenigstens in ihrer äußeren Schicht starke Mikrodipole aufweist, wobei bildmäßig Abdeckmaterial aufgebracht wird und Nicht-Bildbereiche anschließend durch ein oleophobes Medium oleophob gemacht werden.Process for producing an erasable printing form for the dry offset printing process, which has strong microdipoles at least in its outer layer, masking material being applied imagewise and non-image areas subsequently being rendered oleophobic by an oleophobic medium. Verfahren nach Anspruch 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß als oleophobes Medium ein flüssiges Silikon eingesetzt wird.A method according to claim 9, characterized in that a liquid silicone is used as the oleophobic medium. Druckform mit starken Mikrodipolen zur Verwendung in einem Verfahren nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 10.Printing form with strong microdipoles for use in a method according to one of claims 1 to 10. Druckform nach Anspruch 11, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die äußere Schicht eine polierte Oberfläche hat, die mit einem Poliermittel mit einer Körnigkeit von weniger als 20 µm poliert ist.Printing form according to claim 11, characterized in that the outer layer has a polished surface which is polished with a polishing agent with a grain size of less than 20 µm. Druckform nach Anspruch 11 oder 12, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die äußere Schicht porenfrei ist.Printing form according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the outer layer is pore-free. Druckform nach einem der Ansprüche 11 bis 13, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß sie wenigstens in ihrer äußeren Schicht ein Ferrolektrikum, insbesondere Bariumtitanat oder ein Bleizirkontitanat, oder ein ferroelektrisches Polymer, insbesondere Polyvinylidenfluorid, enthält oder aus einer ferroelektrischen Keramik, insbesondere einer gesinterten oder nach einem thermischen Spritzgußverfahren hergestellten Keramik, oder aus einem weichplastischen Material oder Glas oder Hartkunststoff oder Keramik und jeweils darin eingelagerten ferroelektrischen Mikrokristalliten besteht oder daß sie ein nichtferroelektrisches Titanat, insbesondere Aluminiumtitanat, enthält.Printing form according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that it contains, at least in its outer layer, a ferroelectric, in particular barium titanate or a lead zirconium titanate, or a ferroelectric polymer, in particular polyvinylidene fluoride, or of a ferroelectric ceramic, in particular a sintered or after a thermal one Injection molding process ceramic, or consists of a soft plastic material or glass or hard plastic or ceramic and in each case embedded ferroelectric microcrystallites or that it contains a nonferroelectric titanate, especially aluminum titanate. Druckform nach einem der Ansprüche 11 bis 14, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß sie als eine auf einen Formzylinder aufspannbare Platte oder als zylindrische Hülse eines Formzylinders ausgebildet ist.Printing form according to one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that it is designed as a plate which can be clamped onto a form cylinder or as a cylindrical sleeve of a form cylinder. Verwendung einer Schicht mit starken Mikrodipolen, die vorzugsweise ain Ferroelektrikum, insbesondere Bariumtitanat oder ein Bleizirkontitanat, oder ein ferroelektrisches Polymer, insbesondere Polyvinylidenfluorid, enthält oder aus einer ferroelektrischen Keramik, insbesondere einer gesinterten oder nach einem thermischen Spritzgußverfahren hergestellten Keramik, oder aus einem weichplastischen Material oder Glas oder Hartkunststoff oder Keramik und jeweils darin eingelagerten ferroelektrischen Mikrokristalliten besteht oder ein nichtferroelektrisches Titanat, insbesondere Aluminiumtitanat, enthält, als Beschichtung einer Walze in einem Feuchtwerk oder einem Farbwerk.Use of a layer with strong microdipoles, which preferably contains a ferroelectric, in particular barium titanate or a lead zirconium titanate, or a ferroelectric polymer, in particular polyvinylidene fluoride, or from a ferroelectric ceramic, in particular a ceramic sintered or produced by a thermal injection molding process, or from a soft plastic material or Glass or hard plastic or ceramic and each of them contains ferroelectric microcrystallites or contains a nonferroelectric titanate, in particular aluminum titanate, as a coating on a roller in a dampening unit or an inking unit.
EP93116766A 1992-10-20 1993-10-18 Erasable printing forms Expired - Lifetime EP0594097B1 (en)

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US5816161A (en) * 1994-07-22 1998-10-06 Man Roland Druckmaschinen Ag Erasable printing plate having a smooth pore free metallic surface
US6016750A (en) * 1994-07-22 2000-01-25 Man Roland Druckmaschinen Ag Erasable printing plate and a process and apparatus for erasing and regenerating the printing plate
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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US5555809A (en) 1996-09-17
DE59306781D1 (en) 1997-07-24
EP0594097B1 (en) 1997-06-18
CA2108862A1 (en) 1994-04-21
DE4235242C1 (en) 1993-11-11
JPH06191004A (en) 1994-07-12
US5454318A (en) 1995-10-03
CA2108862C (en) 1998-12-08

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