EP3283296B1 - Procédé d'impression variable utilisant des plaques secondaires flexibles et des encres spéciales - Google Patents

Procédé d'impression variable utilisant des plaques secondaires flexibles et des encres spéciales Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3283296B1
EP3283296B1 EP16780760.1A EP16780760A EP3283296B1 EP 3283296 B1 EP3283296 B1 EP 3283296B1 EP 16780760 A EP16780760 A EP 16780760A EP 3283296 B1 EP3283296 B1 EP 3283296B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
ink
flexible secondary
plate
plates
image
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP16780760.1A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP3283296A1 (fr
EP3283296A4 (fr
Inventor
Chris Carreras
Kellie M. HEDBERG
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ball Corp
Original Assignee
Ball Corp
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Publication date
Priority claimed from US14/686,517 external-priority patent/US9555616B2/en
Application filed by Ball Corp filed Critical Ball Corp
Priority to PL16780760T priority Critical patent/PL3283296T3/pl
Publication of EP3283296A1 publication Critical patent/EP3283296A1/fr
Publication of EP3283296A4 publication Critical patent/EP3283296A4/fr
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Publication of EP3283296B1 publication Critical patent/EP3283296B1/fr
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F17/00—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for
    • B41F17/08—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for for printing on filamentary or elongated articles, or on articles with cylindrical surfaces
    • B41F17/14—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for for printing on filamentary or elongated articles, or on articles with cylindrical surfaces on articles of finite length
    • B41F17/20—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for for printing on filamentary or elongated articles, or on articles with cylindrical surfaces on articles of finite length on articles of uniform cross-section, e.g. pencils, rulers, resistors
    • B41F17/22—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for for printing on filamentary or elongated articles, or on articles with cylindrical surfaces on articles of finite length on articles of uniform cross-section, e.g. pencils, rulers, resistors by rolling contact
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F7/00—Rotary lithographic machines
    • B41F7/02—Rotary lithographic machines for offset printing
    • B41F7/04—Rotary lithographic machines for offset printing using printing units incorporating one forme cylinder, one transfer cylinder, and one impression cylinder, e.g. for printing on webs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M1/00—Inking and printing with a printer's forme
    • B41M1/06—Lithographic printing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M1/00—Inking and printing with a printer's forme
    • B41M1/26—Printing on other surfaces than ordinary paper
    • B41M1/28—Printing on other surfaces than ordinary paper on metals
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41N—PRINTING 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
    • B41N10/00—Blankets or like coverings; Coverings for wipers for intaglio printing
    • B41N10/02—Blanket structure

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to using flexible secondary plates in a printing process for cylindrical substrates. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus which use flexible secondary plates made of novel materials to decorate the exterior surface of cylindrical metallic containers and provide product differentiation in a printing process.
  • Metallic containers are frequently decorated with an image or indicia, such as a brand name, logo, product information, or design, using a lithographic printing process.
  • lithographic printing one or more printing plates (or primary plates) with image regions are attached to a plate cylinder (or press cylinder) of a decorator.
  • the decorator may include a plurality of plate cylinders.
  • the image regions of each printing plate can include both ink receiving regions and areas that do not receive ink.
  • An inker applies ink to the printing plates and the ink adheres to the ink receiving regions.
  • the decorator also has a blanket cylinder (also known as an offset cylinder, a printing cylinder, or a segment wheel). Secondary plates (or secondary transfer plates or printing blankets) are attached to the blanket cylinder.
  • a decorator (24) with a blanket cylinder (32) including transfer blankets (14) that have images (18) is described.
  • the transfer blankets may be formed of a photopolymer material
  • Decorators used in the metallic container industry typically have from 4 to 12 secondary plates on the blanket cylinder.
  • each of the one or more printing plates contacts a secondary plate and transfers a particular color of ink to the secondary plate.
  • the final lithographic image is formed on the secondary plate.
  • a cylindrical metallic container is then brought into rotational contact with one of the secondary plates of the blanket cylinder and the lithographic image is transferred from the secondary plate to the exterior surface of the cylindrical metallic container.
  • Lithographic printing methods are generally described in U.S. Patent No. 3,766,851 , U.S. Patent No. 4,384,518 , U.S. Patent No. 6,550,389 , and U.S. Patent No. 6,899,998 .
  • the methods described in these references generally only allow a single lithographic image to be produced from a single set of printing plates.
  • the methods described in these patents are only efficient for printing the same image onto a large number of cylindrical metallic containers.
  • a new set of printing plates must be installed on the plate cylinder of the decorator, resulting in downtime and decreased efficiency of a production line. Because only one image can be printed without changing the printing plates, it is economically challenging to produce small batches of decorated cylindrical metallic containers with different images.
  • Sillars generally describes a printing system with engraved images formed in flexographic regions of printing plates attached to the blanket cylinder.
  • Prior art printing blankets are comprised of several laminated layers that generally include a face portion, a first fabric layers, a compressible layer, and a second fabric layer.
  • the face portion comprises a relatively thin rubber material that is adapted to receive a maximum amount of ink from the printing plates without distorting the ink image transferred from the printing plates.
  • the material of the face portion burns or melts relatively easily when images are formed thereon, for example, by laser engraving, preventing the formation of images with fine dots on prior art printing blankets. Accordingly, images formed in the face portion of prior art blankets are not effective to transfer high quality ink images to metallic containers.
  • Treloar generally describes a blanket cylinder with secondary plates that are adapted to have inked regions and non-inked regions.
  • Other methods of providing multiple distinct images in lithographic printing processes are described in International Patent Publication No. WO 2014/006517 by Vilas Boas et al. (Vilas Boas) and International Patent Publication No. WO 2014/128200 by Grahame et al. (Grahame).
  • U.S. Patent Application Publication 2014/0210201 to Owen et al. generally describes the use of thermochromic and photochromic inks to decorate beverage cans.
  • Owen teaches the use of ink jet printing to apply the inks to the cans.
  • Inkjet printing has been found to be subject to unwanted placement or positioning of ink.
  • inkjet printing can result in a mist of ink which can interfere with the printing process, cause undesired markings on containers, or cause equipment malfunction.
  • the use of an inkjet printing process can result in the loss of up to 20% or more of potential production time due to the need for clean up, maintenance, and/or repair.
  • inkjet printing processes have been difficult to provide at high speed and while maintaining print quality without distortion.
  • inkjet print processes are general non-economical for use in the commercial container industry.
  • the commercial container industry requires an apparatus and method capable of decorating beverage containers at significant production speeds of at least several thousand cylindrical metallic containers per minute.
  • an apparatus, a method and a flexible secondary plate adapted to form a high-definition lithographic image on an exterior surface of a metallic container in a printing process according to the present invention as defined in claims 1, 7 and 14, respectively, are provided. Further preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.
  • the present process uses flexible secondary plates affixed to a blanket cylinder of a decorator to significantly enhance the image quality and detail of lithographic images printed on metallic containers.
  • a flexible secondary plate is comprised of a single layer of an ethylene propylene diene monomer.
  • the flexible secondary plate is comprised of a compound comprising at least in part a saturated chain of polymethylene.
  • the flexible secondary plates are adapted for use in a decorator that is operable to decorate at least 2,200 metallic containers per minute are provided.
  • Images are formed in the flexible secondary plate by direct laser engraving or other methods known in the art. Variable types and colors of inks are applied by inkers to one or more different portions of a printing plate to form a first image. The printing plate is then brought into rotational contact with the flexible secondary plates and transfers the various types and colors of inks to the flexible secondary plates. A container body is then moved into rotational contact with the flexible secondary plates and the inks are transferred to the exterior surface of the container body.
  • the flexible secondary plates may also be etched or engraved on the face before, during, or after an image is formed thereon to form one or more recessed portions that do not receive ink.
  • a varnish may also be applied to one or more portions of the exterior surface of the container body by the flexible secondary plates or by a separate varnishing unit.
  • an apparatus, method, and flexible secondary plate for use in dry offset printing of metallic containers are provided,
  • printing plates with a physical relief transfer multiple colors or types of inks to flexible secondary plates affixed to a blanket cylinder.
  • the physical reliefs of the printing plates create inked and uninked regions on the surfaces of the printing plates that are transferred to the flexible secondary plates.
  • the flexible secondary plates subsequently transfer the ink to an exterior surface of a metallic container in a high speed decorating process.
  • the image receives at least some ink from one or more of the printing plates and is transferred to a metallic container by contact between the exterior surface of the metallic container and the flexible secondary plate.
  • the images on the flexible secondary plates are identical. In another embodiment, the images on the flexible secondary plates are each different.
  • the printing plates are not dampened with water.
  • the images formed on the printing plates receive ink from inkers.
  • the printing plates then transfer their inked images to the flexible secondary plates which subsequently transfer the ink to a metallic container.
  • the printing plates are chemically treated to form image areas that will accept ink but repel water. Water and ink are then applied to the printing plates. Because of the chemical treatment of the printing plates, only the ink adheres to the images and the water is repelled. Additionally, the ink does not adhere to the non-image areas of the printing plates.
  • forming the first image on the flexible secondary plate comprises removing at least some of a material of the face portion of the flexible secondary plate in a direct laser engraving process. In another embodiment, at least some of the material of the face portion of the flexible secondary plate is removed to form the first image in one or more of a direct laser engraving process, a mechanical or chemical etching or engraving process, an ink repelling process, a pressure forming process, or by a combination of one or more processes. In one embodiment, the first image formed on the flexible secondary plate has a depth of from about 0,002286 mm to about 2,2606 mm (from about 0.0009 inch to about 0.089 inch).
  • At least some of the material of the face portion is removed to produce a raised first image with a height of from about 0,002286 mm to about 2,2606 mm (from about 0.0009 inch to about 0.089 inch) above the face portion of the flexible secondary plate.
  • the flexible secondary plate may be of any shape or size.
  • the flexible secondary plate is from about 1.016 mm to about 2.54 mm (0.04 inch to about 0.1 inch) thick.
  • the flexible secondary plate is formed of a non-laminated material.
  • the flexible secondary plate is devoid of clothe or fabric layers and intermediate layers including threads.
  • the ink comprises a specialty ink.
  • the specialty ink may comprise one or more of a thermochromic ink, a photochromic ink, a scented thermochromic ink, a fluorescent ink, a UV ink, a black light ink, an infrared ink, a phosphorescent ink, a pressure sensitive ink, a tactile ink, a thermo-tactile ink, a leuco dye, and a matte ink.
  • the saturated chain of polymethylene of the flexible secondary plate comprises an ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) compound.
  • EPDM ethylene propylene diene monomer
  • the blanket cylinder may include any number of flexible secondary plates. In one embodiment, from 8 to 12 flexible secondary plates are removably affixed to the blanket cylinder. In another embodiment, from 6 to 24 flexible secondary plates are removably affixed to the blanket cylinder.
  • the method may further comprise removably affixing from about 4 to about 24 flexible secondary plates onto the blanket cylinder. Each of the about 4 to the about 24 flexible secondary plates may have different images. Ink transferred from the about 4 to the about 24 flexible secondary plates produces 4 to 24 decorated metallic containers with different images. In still another embodiment, the flexible secondary plates are operable in a decorator to decorate up to about 2,200 metallic containers per minute.
  • the method may optionally further include removably attaching a plurality of second printing plates to a second plate cylinder of the decorator.
  • a second ink from a second inker is applied to at least one of the plurality of second printing plates.
  • the second ink is a different type or color of ink than the first ink applied by the inker.
  • At least some of the second ink is transferred from the at least one of the plurality of second printing plates to at least a portion of the flexible secondary plate.
  • at least some of the second ink is transferred from the at least one of the plurality of second printing plates to at least a portion of the first image.
  • none of the second ink is transferred to the first image.
  • the second printing plates may optionally include relief areas that align with the first image of the flexible secondary plate.
  • the relief areas do not receive ink from the inkers.
  • the first ink and the second ink are then transferred from the flexible secondary plate to the exterior surface of the metallic container. Accordingly, the metallic container is decorated with at least some of the first ink and at least some of the second ink.
  • the decorator may include from four to eighteen plate cylinders with printing plates attached thereto. In another embodiment, the decorator includes about eight plate cylinders. Each of the plate cylinders is operable to transfer a different type or color of ink to the flexible secondary plates affixed to the blanket cylinder. In one embodiment, the printing plates of each of the one to eight plate cylinders may optionally transfer unique images to the flexible secondary plates.
  • An apparatus for forming a high-definition lithographic image on an exterior surface of a metallic container is disclosed, the apparatus is operable to create multiple lithographic images from a single set of printing plates.
  • the apparatus generally comprises: (1) at least one plate cylinder with an inker; (2) a blanket cylinder; and (3) a support cylinder.
  • the apparatus is operable to decorate at least 2,200 metallic containers per minute.
  • the inker is operable to transfer an ink to predetermined portions of one or more printing plates attached to a circumference of the at least one plate cylinder.
  • one or more of the printing plates are comprised of at least one of a compound comprising a saturated chain of polymethylene, a photopolymer material, and a pliable plastic material.
  • One or more flexible secondary plates are removably affixed to a circumference of the blanket cylinder.
  • the blanket cylinder is operable to move the flexible secondary plates into rotational contact with the one or more printing plates attached to the at least one plate cylinder.
  • ink is transferred from the predetermined portions of the one or more printing plates to at least a portion of the flexible secondary plates.
  • the flexible secondary plates may be affixed to the blanket cylinder with an adhesive.
  • the adhesive includes a peel-off backing material.
  • the flexible secondary plate does not include a clothe or fabric layer.
  • the support cylinder includes a plurality of stations adapted to receive metallic containers. Each station is operable to receive a metallic container from a conveyor and move the metallic container into contact with a flexible secondary plate affixed to the blanket cylinder. Ink is then transferred from the flexible secondary plate to the metallic container to form the high-definition lithographic image on the exterior surface of the metallic container.
  • the at least one plate cylinder comprises from about 4 to about 18 plate cylinders.
  • Each of the plate cylinders includes an inker operable to transfer a different color of ink or a different type of specialty ink to predetermined portions of one or more printing plates attached to each of the plate cylinders.
  • the specialty ink comprises one or more of a thermochromic ink, a photochromic ink, a scented thermochromic ink, a fluorescent ink, a UV ink, a black light ink, an infrared ink, a phosphorescent ink, a pressure sensitive ink, a tactile ink, a thermo-tactile ink, a leuco dye, and a matte ink.
  • the printing plates attached to a first of the plate cylinders transfer a first image to the flexible secondary plates that is different than images transferred by the printing plates attached to the other plate cylinders.
  • the saturated chain of polymethylene of the flexible secondary plates is an ethylene propylene diene monomer compound.
  • each of the one or more flexible secondary plates affixed to the blanket cylinder has a distinct image formed thereon.
  • the images are formed on the face portion of the flexible secondary plates by one or more of: a direct laser engraving process; a mechanical or chemical etching or engraving process; an ink repelling process; a pressure forming process; or by a combination of one or more processes.
  • the flexible secondary plate comprises a plate body of a predetermined size.
  • the plate body has a face portion and a back portion.
  • the back portion is adapted to be removably attached to a blanket cylinder of a decorator.
  • the plate body is from about 1.016 mm to about 2.54 mm (0.04 inch to about 0.1 inch) thick.
  • the plate body is formed of a single homogeneous layer.
  • the flexible secondary plate is formed of a non-laminated material.
  • plate body is comprised of a single homogeneous layer of an ethylene propylene diene monomer.
  • an image is formed on the face portion of the flexible secondary plate.
  • the image may be formed by at least one of a direct laser engraving process, a mechanical etching or engraving process, an ink repelling process, and a pressure forming process.
  • the direct laser engraving process may ablate or otherwise remove at least some material from the face portion of the flexible secondary plate.
  • the printing plate 2A has a face portion 4 and a back portion 6.
  • One or more ink receiving regions 8 adapted to receive ink are formed in the face portion 4 by any means known to those of skill in the art.
  • the ink receiving regions 8 are adapted to transfer ink to a flexible secondary plate 14 (illustrated in Figs. 3-4 ).
  • the ink receiving regions 8 of the printing plate 2A transfer a single tone, image, type of ink, or text to the flexible secondary plate 14 during a printing process.
  • non-ink regions 10 may be formed in the printing plate 2A.
  • the non-ink regions 10 may be formed by engraving, cutting, etching, and/or removing selected portions from the face portion 4 of the printing plate 2A to form depressions in the face portion. Additionally or alternatively, non-ink regions 10 may be treated to be hydrophilic to prevent ink from adhering to the printing plate 2A as is known by those of skill in the art.
  • the non-ink regions 10 will not receive or transfer ink to the flexible secondary plate 14.
  • the non-ink region 10 illustrated in Fig. 1A is rectangular, one skilled in the art will recognize that any shape of non-ink region 10 can be formed on the printing plate 2A, such as a circle, square, or star, an irregular shape and/or combinations thereof.
  • the size and the location of the non-ink region 10 may also be varied.
  • the printing plate 2A may have a common content with the other printing plates 2 used in the printing process to form a final image that will be transferred first to the flexible secondary plate and then to a metallic container 34.
  • the size, location, and shape of the ink receiving region 8A within the non-ink region 10 aligns with the size, location, and shape of images 18 formed on the flexible secondary plates 14. Accordingly, the ink receiving region 8A will transfer ink to the images 18 formed on the flexible secondary plates 14.
  • the ink receiving region 8A is up to about 12.7 mm (0.5 inches) larger in all dimensions than the images 18 formed on the flexible secondary plates 14.
  • Printing plates 2B may also be formed with a relief area 12, as illustrated in Figs. 2A and 2B .
  • the relief area 12 can be formed by removing a portion of the face portion 4 of the plate 2B. Additionally or alternatively, the relief area 12 can be formed or treated to be hydrophilic to prevent ink from adhering to the printing plate 2B. The relief area 12 will not accept ink and therefore will not transfer ink to the flexible secondary plates 14.
  • the size, location, and shape of the relief area 12 may align with the size, location, and shape of the non-ink region 10 of the printing plate 2A illustrated in Figs. 1A and 1B .
  • the size, location, and shape of the relief area 12 aligns with the size, location, and shape of the ink receiving region 8A of the printing plate 2A. Said another way, the relief area 12 is formed in substantially the same location of printing plate 2B as the ink receiving region 8A of printing plate 2A. However, in operation, printing plate 2A does not contact printing plate 2B as they are affixed to different plate cylinders 26B, 26A of decorator 24. Further, in another embodiment, the size, location, and shape of the relief area 12 aligns with the size, location, and shape of images 18 formed on the flexible secondary plates 14. Accordingly, the relief area 12 will not transfer ink to the images 18 formed on the flexible secondary plates 14. In one embodiment, the relief area 12 is up to about 12.7 mm (0.5 inches) larger in all dimensions than the images 18 formed on the flexible secondary plates 14.
  • printing plates 2 may include both relief areas 12 and non-ink regions 10.
  • One or more of the printing plates 2 include a face portion 4 comprising a photopolymer material. Images, non-ink regions 10, and relief areas 12 may be formed on the face portion 4 of a printing plate 2 comprising the photopolymer material as described below in conjunction with Figs. 3 and 4 .
  • the plate 2 is attached to a plate cylinder 26 of a decorator 24, discussed below in conjunction with Fig. 5 .
  • a decorator 24 may include from about four plate cylinders 26 to about eighteen plate cylinders 26.
  • Each plate cylinder 26 of the decorator 24 is operable to transfer an image comprising a different color or type of ink to the flexible secondary plates 14 of the blanket cylinder 32.
  • Figs. 3A and 3B illustrate a flexible secondary plate 14 before an image has been formed on the face portion 4 of the plate.
  • the flexible secondary plate 14 is comprised of a single material. Said another way, the flexible secondary plate is a homogeneous structure that is not formed of a laminate (or layers) of different materials.
  • the flexible secondary plate 14 is devoid of fabrics.
  • the flexible secondary plate is devoid of threads within the single material of the flexible secondary plate 14.
  • prior art printing blankets shown in Figs. 17A-17C
  • prior art printing blankets are a composite comprised of several layers, each layer comprising different materials.
  • the flexible secondary plate 14 has a thickness of about 1.016 mm to about 2.54 mm (0.04 inch to about 0.1 inch). In another embodiment, the thickness of the flexible secondary plate is from about 1.524 mm to about 2.286 mm (0.060 inch to about 0.090 inch). In another embodiment, the flexible secondary plate is about 1.27 mm (0.05 inch) thick. In still another embodiment, the flexible secondary plate is about 1.8415 mm (0.0725 inch) thick. As will be appreciated by those of skill in the art, flexible secondary plates of any other suitable thicknesses may also be used with the present invention.
  • the flexible secondary plates may include a Mylar backing.
  • backings of other materials, or no backing may be used with the flexible secondary plates 14.
  • an adhesive transfer tape or adhesive stickyback may be added to the back portion 6 of the flexible secondary plate 14.
  • the flexible secondary plate 14 comprised of the composition of a saturated chain of polymethylene has a hardness of between about 67 Shore A durometers and about 90 Shore A durometers. In another embodiment, the flexible secondary plate 14 comprised of the composition of a saturated chain of polymethylene has a hardness of between about 70 Shore A durometers and about 74 Shore A durometers, and in a more preferred embodiment, about 72 Shore A durometers.
  • the saturated chain of polymethylene of the flexible secondary plate 14 comprises at least in part an ethylene propylene diene monomer compound, known to those of skill in the art as EPDM rubber.
  • EPDM rubber is a durable, synthetic rubber.
  • the face portions 4 of the flexible secondary plates 14A, 14B include ink receiving regions 16.
  • the ink receiving regions 16 define a plane.
  • Ink receiving regions 8 of printing plates 2 that contact the ink receiving regions 16 will transfer at least some ink to the ink receiving regions of the flexible secondary plates 14.
  • An image 18A of the word "BALL" is formed on the flexible secondary plate 14A.
  • An image 18B of a sports jersey is formed on the other flexible secondary plate 14B.
  • at least a portion of the images 18A, 18B has a depth that is lower than the plane of the ink receiving region 16. Said another way, in one embodiment, no portion of the images 18A, 18B projects above the plane defined by the ink receiving regions 16.
  • the process of forming the image 18 to be printed onto the exterior surface of the metallic container on the flexible secondary plates 14 depends on the material of the flexible secondary plate.
  • the flexible secondary plates 14 are comprised at least partially of a composition of a saturated chain of polymethylene
  • the image 18 is formed on (or transferred to) the flexible secondary plate 14 by any process known to one of skill in the art (or developed in the future) including, without limitation, a direct laser engraving (DLE) process, a mechanical or chemical etching or engraving process, an ink repelling process, a pressure forming process, or by a combination of processes.
  • DLE direct laser engraving
  • a portion of the material comprising a saturated chain of polymethylene of the flexible secondary plate 14 is ablated, or otherwise removed, by a laser.
  • the time required to form the image 18 on the flexible secondary plate 14 varies based on the size and complexity of the image, the depth and shading of the image, and also upon the composition of the flexible secondary plate.
  • the processing time required to form the image 18 in the composition comprising a saturated chain of polymethylene using the DLE process is from approximately 10 minutes to approximately 3 hours.
  • the flexible secondary plate 14 may be affixed to a cylindrical surface (not illustrated) while the image 18 is formed using the DLE process.
  • the cylindrical surface has a radius of curvature approximately equal to the radius of curvature of the blanket cylinder 32 of the decorator 24 (illustrated in Fig. 5 ).
  • Forming the image 18 in the material comprising a saturated chain of polymethylene using the DLE process is similar to using a laser engraving and cutting system, such as an Epilog laser to burn an image in a substrate.
  • the DLE process offers higher image resolutions and the ability to control the height of screened dots that compose the image 18 (known as the "dot deck height").
  • prior art printing blankets such as the blankets shown in Fig. 17 , melt easily. Because of this, prior art printing blankets do not allow fine dot images to be formed thereon such as those formed by use of a flexible secondary blanket 14 comprising at least in part a saturated chain of polymethylene.
  • a tool is used to remove the predetermined portions of the material of the flexible secondary plate 14.
  • the tool may include a cutting tool, a rotating bit, an abrasive tool, a fluid tool, or any other type of tool operable to remove a predetermined amount of material from the face portion 4 of the flexible secondary plate 14.
  • the fluid tool may direct a high pressure stream into the face portion 4 of the flexible secondary plate 14.
  • the high pressure stream of the fluid tool can include at least one of a gas, a liquid, and a solid selected to remove the rubber from the face portion 4 of the flexible secondary plate 14.
  • the tool may be heated to a predetermined temperature as the image 18 is formed on the flexible secondary plate 14.
  • a chemical is used to remove the predetermined portions of the material of the flexible secondary plate 14.
  • a masking material may be applied to the material of the flexible secondary plate 14 to ensure that the chemical only contacts and removes the predetermined portions of the material comprising a saturated chain of polymethylene to form the image 18.
  • the masking material is selected to adhere to the material and is inert with respect to the chemical to protect non-image areas of the material comprising a saturated chain of polymethylene.
  • the masking material may be applied to the entire face portion 4 of the flexible secondary plate 14. The masking material is then selectively removed from the areas forming the image 18. In another embodiment, the masking material is only applied to non-image areas on the face portion 4 of the flexible secondary plate 14.
  • the chemical is then applied to the face portion 4 and contacts the image areas not protected by the masking material. After a predetermined amount of time, the chemical is removed or neutralized and the masking material is removed from the flexible secondary plate 14.
  • the flexible secondary plate 14 may be at least partially immersed in a bath of the chemical. In another embodiment, no masking material is used and the chemical is selectively applied to the predetermined portions of the material comprising a saturated chain of polymethylene of the flexible secondary plate 14.
  • predetermined portions of the flexible secondary plate 14 are adapted to be receptive or repellant to ink.
  • a chemical or a material that repels or attracts ink is applied to predetermined portions of the flexible secondary plate 14 to form the image 18.
  • the face portion 4 of the plate before the image 18 is formed on the flexible secondary plate 14, the face portion 4 of the plate includes a coating that repels or attracts ink. Predetermined portions of the coating are selectively removed from the flexible secondary plate 14 to form the image 18.
  • the image formed using the ink repelling process is comprised of areas that attract ink and other areas that repel ink.
  • the image 18 may include areas that attract (or repel) at least one type of ink and repel (or attract) at least one other type of ink.
  • the image 18 is first formed on a surface of a master material.
  • the master material may comprise a metal, a plastic, a photopolymer material, or any other suitable material.
  • the material comprising a saturated chain of polymethylene of the face portion 4 of the flexible secondary plate 14 is pressed against the image on the master material for a predetermined amount of time to transfer the image from the master material to the flexible secondary plate 14.
  • the flexible secondary plate 14 with the image 18 is then removed from the master material.
  • the rubber of the flexible secondary plate 14 and/or the master material may be heated before the flexible secondary plate 14 is pressed against master material.
  • the flexible secondary plate 14 and the master material are heated to a temperature of approximately 310°F.
  • the flexible secondary plate 14 and the master material are pressed together at a pressure of approximately 1,000 psi.
  • the flexible secondary plate 14 may be cleaned by any suitable method to remove debris from the face portion 4.
  • a pressurized gas is used to remove the debris from the flexible secondary plate 14.
  • the debris is removed from the flexible secondary plate 14 with a liquid, such as water or a solvent.
  • the face portion 4 may have relief areas 20 that will not receive ink and images 18 that can receive ink.
  • the image 18 formed on the flexible secondary plate 14 can be three dimensional and have different depths in the face portion 4.
  • the ink receiving regions 16 of the face portion 4 define a plane. At least a portion of the image 18 has a depth that is lower than the plane defined by the ink receiving region 16. Said another way, in one embodiment, no portion of the image 18 projects above the plane defined by the ink receiving region 16.
  • the image 18, or portions of the image may have a depth of about 0,002286 mm to about 2,2606 mm (of about 0.0009 inch to about 0.089 inch) in relation to the plane of the face portion 4.
  • the depth of the image 18, or within portions of an image 18, is from approximately 0.0254 mm to approximately 2.1336 mm (approximately 0.001 inch to approximately 0.084 inch)
  • the images 18 have a maximum thickness equal to the original thickness of the flexible secondary plate 14.
  • the flexible secondary plate 14B is comprised of a single material from the face portion 4 to the back portion 6.
  • the image depth is limited to only an exterior layer of the laminate material of the blanket.
  • flexible secondary plates 14 comprised of a composition comprising at least in part a saturated chain of polymethylene offer more options for forming images than prior art printing blankets.
  • the size, location, and shape of the image 18 formed on the flexible secondary plates 14 aligns with the size, location, and shape of the ink receiving region 8A of the printing plate 2A illustrated in Fig. 1 . Said another way, when the flexible secondary plates 14 are affixed to a blanket cylinder 32 of a decorator 24 and the printing plate 2A is affixed to plate cylinder 26A, the ink receiving region 8A will contact, and transfer at least some ink to, an image 18 on one of the flexible secondary plates 14.
  • the size, location, and shape of the image 18 formed on the flexible secondary plates 14 may optionally align with the size, location, and shape of the relief region 12 of the printing plate 2B illustrated in Fig. 2 . Accordingly, when the printing plate 2B is affixed to a plate cylinder 26B of the decorator 24, the relief region 12 will not contact, and will not transfer ink to, the images 18 on the flexible secondary plates 14.
  • the relief areas 20 of the flexible secondary plates 14 will not accept ink from the printing plates 4 and may be used to create unique, undecorated areas (or non-inked areas) on the metallic container.
  • the image 18 can include a relief area 20C that will not receive ink and can also include screened areas 22 that receive less ink than other portions of the image as illustrated in Fig. 4B .
  • Figs. 4A, 4B, and 4C illustrate images 18 surrounded by relief areas 20, it should be understood that an image 18 may be formed on the flexible secondary plate 14 with no relief area surrounding the image 18, as shown in Figs 6A and 6B .
  • a relief area 20 can be of any desired size or shape and more than one relief area 20 may be formed on the flexible secondary plate 14.
  • an adhesive transfer tape or adhesive stickyback may be added to the Mylar portion or other backing on the back portion 6 of the flexible secondary plate 14.
  • Suitable adhesive stickyback is available from a variety of commercial suppliers. In one embodiment, the adhesive stickyback is about 2.0 mil (or about 0.002 inch) thick. In another embodiment, the adhesive stickyback is about 15 mil (or about 0.015 inch) thick.
  • the flexible secondary plate 14 with the stickyback on the back portion 6 is then attached to the blanket cylinder 32 of the decorator 24.
  • one or more of the printing plates 2 and/or the flexible secondary plates 14 may have print registration areas that are used to monitor the registration of different colors or specialty inks printed by different plates 2, 14 to form an image on the metallic container.
  • print registration areas may be provided on the printing plates 2 and/or the flexible secondary plates 14 to monitor the location and alignment of print content on metallic containers.
  • the decorator 24 includes at least one plate cylinder 26. It will be appreciated that the decorator 24 may have any number of plate cylinders 26. In one embodiment, the decorator 24 includes from about four plate cylinders 26 to about eighteen plate cylinders 26.
  • One or more printing plates 2 are attached to each of the plate cylinders 26. Additionally or alternatively, the printing plate 2 can be a sleeve or cylinder that wraps around a circumference of the plate cylinder 26.
  • the plate cylinders 26 are operable to rotate in a first direction.
  • Inkers 28 with rollers 30 are associated with each plate cylinder 26. The rollers 30 of each inker 28 transfer one color of ink or type of specialty ink to the ink receiving regions 8 of the printing plates 2.
  • specialty inks include, but are not limited to, a thermochromic ink, a photochromic ink, a scented thermochromic ink, a fluorescent ink, a UV ink, a glow-in-the-dark ink, a black light ink, an infrared ink, a phosphorescent ink, a pressure sensitive ink, a tactile ink, a tactile thermochromic ink, a leuco dye, a matte ink, and any other type of ink, dye, or varnish that changes appearance, color, and/or texture in response to temperature changes or exposure to light or pressure.
  • Specialty inks and methods of using them are disclosed in U.S. Patent No.
  • Patent Application Publication 2013/0105743 U.S. Patent Application Publication 2013/0231242 , U.S. Patent Application Publication 2012/0315412 , U.S. Patent Application Publication 2013/0340885 , U.S. Patent Application Publication 2014/0039091 , U.S. Patent Application Publication 2014/0072442 , U.S. Patent Application Publication 2014/0187668 , U.S. Patent Application Publication 2014/0210201 , U.S. Patent Application Publication 2014/0212654 , U.S. Patent Application Publication 2014/0272161 , and International Publication No. WO 2014/096088 .
  • a first color of ink or type of specialty ink may be applied to the printing plates 2A of the first plate cylinder 26A and a second color of ink or type of specialty ink may be applied to the printing plates 2B of the second plate cylinder 26B. More colors of ink and types of specialty ink may be used if additional plate cylinders 26 are provided.
  • the decorator 24 includes from 4 to 18 plate cylinders 26 and from 4 to 18 inkers 28 each operable to apply a different color of ink or type of specialty ink to a predetermined portion of a printing plate 2.
  • the decorator 24 includes from 6 to 18 plate cylinders and from 6 to 18 inkers each operable to apply a different color of ink or type of specialty ink to a predetermined portion of a printing plate 2.
  • the printing plates 2B of the second plate cylinder 26B include common content, an image 33 in the form of the letters "Please Recycle,” in ink receiving regions 8 that will be transferred to all of the flexible secondary plates 14.
  • the printing plates 2B do not have to include an image.
  • the printing plates 2B can transfer ink to the flexible secondary plates 14 without transferring an image to the flexible secondary plates 14. Said another way, printing plates 2 may transfer ink without words or other indicia to the flexible secondary plates 14.
  • the first and second plate cylinder 26A, 26B can include printing plates 2 with one or more relief areas 12 and non-ink regions 10.
  • a relief area 12 may be formed in the same location of all of the printing plates 2B affixed to the second plate cylinder 26B. Another portion of the printing plates 2B forms an ink receiving region 8 that may include the image 33.
  • the image 33 formed on the ink receiving region 8 of printing plates 2B may include text. For example, as illustrated in Fig. 5 , an image 33 comprising the letters "Please Recycle" is formed on the ink receiving region 8 of printing plates 2B. It will be appreciated by one of skill in the art that other text or images may be formed on the ink receiving region 8 of printing plates 2B.
  • the relief areas 12 formed in the printing plates 2B do not receive ink from the inkers 28B and will not transfer ink to the flexible secondary plates 14.
  • the ink receiving region 8 of the printing plates 2B will receive and may transfer ink to the flexible secondary plates 14.
  • printing plates 2A affixed to the first plate cylinder 26A may include an ink receiving region 8A.
  • Ink receiving region 8A may be formed on a predetermined position of the printing plates 2A such that ink placed on region 8A will be transferred to all images 18 of the flexible secondary plates 14 that contact the ink receiving region 8A of the face portion 4 of the printing plates 2A.
  • the ink receiving region 8A of printing plates 2A aligns with the relief area 12 of printing plates 2B.
  • the printing plates 2A affixed to plate cylinder 26A do not contact the printing plates 2B affixed to plate cylinder 26B.
  • the ink receiving region 8A of printing plates 2A aligns with images 18 formed on the flexible secondary plates 14. Accordingly, during operation of the decorator 24, portions of the ink receiving region 8A of printing plates 2A that contact the flexible secondary plates 14 will transfer at least some ink to the flexible secondary plates 14.
  • the ink receiving region 8A of printing plates 2A and the relief area 12 of printing plates 2B may be larger than the images 18 of the flexible secondary plates 14 by a predetermined amount.
  • one or more printing plates 2 can transfer different colors of ink and types of specialty ink to the same location of the flexible secondary plates 14.
  • different colors of ink and types of specialty ink may be transferred from one or more printing plates 2 to the same location of the flexible secondary plates 14 in overlapping layers.
  • the decorator 24 also includes a blanket cylinder 32 to which one or more flexible secondary plates 14 are attached.
  • the position of the flexible secondary plates 14 on the blanket cylinder 32 may be varied by up to a predetermined amount both axially and radially and still align with the ink receiving region 8A of printing plate 2A.
  • Each flexible secondary plate 14 may have a different image 18 formed thereon.
  • the flexible secondary plates 14 illustrated in Fig. 5 include an image 18B of a sports jersey, an image 18C of a star, an image 18D of an "X,” and an image 18E of a lightning bolt formed thereon.
  • the images 18 on the flexible secondary plates 14 can be formed in locations corresponding to, or aligning with, the relief areas 12 of the printing plates 2B and the ink receiving regions 8A of the printing plates 2A.
  • the images 18 of the flexible secondary plates 14 may be negatives (formed by relief areas 20 that will not receive ink) that leave non-inked areas on the decorated metallic container 34.
  • the images 18 may be positives that will receive ink when the images 18 contact one or more ink receiving regions 8 of the printing plates 2 that have received ink from an inker 28. Examples of a positive image 94 and a negative of the same image 96 transferred to a metallic container 100 using a flexible secondary plate 90 comprised at least in part of a composition including a saturated chain of polymethylene are provided in Figs. 16A - 16C .
  • the plate cylinders 26 rotate in the first direction and the blanket cylinder 32 rotates in the second opposite direction in unison to bring the printing plates 2 into contact with the flexible secondary plates 14.
  • Ink is transferred to the ink receiving regions 16 and images 18 of the flexible secondary plates 14 that contact the inked ink receiving regions 8, 8A of the printing plates 2.
  • the main image exposure occurs on the inked printing plates 2 and a secondary image is produced by the flexible secondary plates 14.
  • the flexible secondary plates 14 may have ink receiving regions 16 that are common for all of the flexible secondary plates 14.
  • the areas where images 18 are formed on the flexible secondary plates, such as the images 18A, 18B illustrated in Figs. 4A and 4B will create unique inked areas for each flexible secondary plate 14.
  • the process is similar to a stamp ink pad and rubber stamp where only the raised portion of the rubber stamp collects ink from the ink pad and transfers the ink to a substrate as an image.
  • Relief areas 20, if present, of the flexible secondary plates 14 will not receive ink from the printing plates 2. Only the images 18 and/or the ink receiving regions 16 of the flexible secondary plates 14 will receive ink from the printing plates 2 and transfer the ink onto the surface of the metallic containers 34.
  • By using flexible secondary plates 14 with different images 18 formed thereon a completely different image 18 will be printed on each metallic container 34. This results in multiple lithographic images being produced from a single set of printing plates 2 on the plate cylinders 26 of the decorator 24.
  • the process uses high-definition solid and screened images 18 formed on the flexible secondary plates 14 resulting in unique ink transfer to metallic containers 34.
  • a metallic container 34 is fed to a support cylinder 38 by a conveyor 36 or other means from a storage location or facility 42.
  • the support cylinder 38 has a plurality of stations 40 adapted to receive and hold a metallic container 34 in a predetermined position aligned with the flexible secondary plates 14.
  • the stations 40 can hold the metallic containers 34 in a stationary position and can also rotate the metallic containers 34 about each container's longitudinal axis.
  • the flexible secondary plates 14 rotate into a predetermined alignment with respect to the printing plates 2 affixed to the plate cylinders 26.
  • the flexible secondary plates 14 receive at least some ink by contacting printing plates 2A, 2B of each plate cylinder 26A, 26B.
  • the blanket cylinder 32 continues to rotate in the second direction and the support cylinder 38 rotates in unison in the first direction to bring an exterior surface 44 of the metallic container 34 into rotational contact with an inked flexible secondary plate 14 attached to the blanket cylinder 32.
  • the ink is then transferred from the flexible secondary plate 14 to the exterior surface 44 of the metallic container 34.
  • a support cylinder 38 is illustrated in Fig. 5 , it should be understood that other means of supporting the metallic containers 34 and bringing the exterior surface 44 of them into contact with the flexible secondary plates 14 may be used, such as a mandrel wheel or a conveyor belt.
  • a varnish unit 48 may optionally apply an over varnish to the metallic container 34.
  • the over varnish may comprise a specialty ink. If necessary, the ink and /or the over varnish may be cured by a curing unit 50 by any method known to those of skill in the art. In one embodiment, the curing unit 50 may use one or more of thermal energy, ultraviolet energy, and an electron beam to cure the ink and/or the over varnish on the metallic container 34.
  • the decorated metallic containers 34 each include a common image 33 of "Please Recycle" which is transferred from the printing plate 2B.
  • Container 34A includes unique content
  • the image 18B of a sports jersey and container 34B includes a unique image 18C of a star.
  • the images 18B, 18C are each formed of a first ink received from the ink receiving area 8A of printing plates 2A affixed to the first plate cylinder 26A.
  • the common image 33 on each container 34A, 34B is formed of a second ink received from the printing plates 2B affixed to the second plate cylinder 26B. It will be appreciated by one of skill in the art that at least one of the first ink and the second ink may comprise a specialty ink as described herein.
  • Decorators 24 used in the commercial metallic container industry generally have blanket cylinders 32 with between about 4 to 12 individual flexible secondary plates 14 attached. When each of the 4 to 12 individual flexible secondary plates 14 has a unique image 18 formed thereon, the decorator 24 can produce from 4 to 12 different lithographic images without changing the printing plates 2.
  • the present invention will work with a blanket cylinder 32 with any number of flexible secondary plates 14 attached to its circumference.
  • the blanket cylinder 32 includes from about 4 to 24 different flexible secondary plates 14.
  • Each of the flexible secondary plates 14 may have one or more different images 18 formed thereon.
  • a photograph of a flexible secondary plate 14F comprised of a photopolymer material is provided.
  • the flexible secondary plate 14F includes an image 18 of a sports jersey with the number "92" formed thereon .
  • Fig. 6B is an enlarged photograph of the image 18 of Fig. 6A .
  • the image 18 is not surrounded by a relief area.
  • FIG. 7A a photograph of a generally cylindrical metallic container 34F decorated with the flexible secondary plate 14F shown in Fig. 6A is provided.
  • Fig. 7B is an enlarged portion of the photograph of Fig. 7A .
  • the photographs show a generally cylindrical metallic container 34F decorated with an image 18 of a sports jersey which includes the number "92" formed in a non-inked portion 46 (or negative) of the decoration.
  • Other numbers, shapes, words, or designs could be formed to decorate a substrate.
  • the flexible secondary plate 52 is comprised of a photopolymer material. More specifically, the flexible secondary plate 52 includes an image 54 of a face of a child and an image 56 of a portion of a woman's face. The flexible secondary plate 52 was photographed after receiving at least two different inks from printing plates 2. The inks were subsequently transferred to a metallic container 34. Accordingly, the ink receiving region 58 of the flexible secondary plate 52 includes portions 60, 62, 64, and 65 that include dried ink received from printing plates 2 of a decorator 24. The first portion 60 includes dried blue ink comprising inverted letters and a blue recycle symbol.
  • the second portion 62 includes blue ink comprising inverted letters and numbers comprising "16oz”.
  • the third portion 64 includes a square filled with blue ink and white ink of inverted letters comprising "Ball”.
  • the fourth portion 65 includes white ink of inverted letters comprising "eat. drink. imagine.”
  • a photograph of a generally cylindrical metallic container 66 decorated using the flexible secondary plate 52 of Fig. 8 is shown. More specifically, the metallic container 66 includes images 54, 56 of the face of the child and the portion of the woman's face transferred from the flexible secondary plate 52.
  • the metallic container 34G also includes a negative image 68 comprising in part the text "TEST IMAGE 12 FACES.”
  • the negative image 68 is formed on the metallic container 66 by letters comprising a relief area in a portion of blanket 52. The relief area do not receive ink from any printing plates 2. However, the relief area that formed image 66 is not visible in the photograph of flexible secondary plate 52 photographed in Fig. 8 .
  • Figs. 10A, 10B provide enlarged photographs of the first image 54 of the child's face and the second image 56 of the portion of the woman's face formed on the metallic container 66 shown in Fig. 9 .
  • a portion of the recycle symbol comprised of blue ink transferred from the first portion 60 of the ink receiving 58 of flexible secondary plate 52 is visible in Fig. 10A .
  • FIG. 11 another photograph of a flexible secondary plate 70 comprised of a photopolymer material is provided.
  • the flexible secondary plate 70 is devoid of a backing or adhesive layer. More specifically, the photograph of Fig. 11 was taken from the back through the back portion 6 of the flexible secondary plate 70.
  • the flexible secondary plates may be formed of a monolithic material in contrast to prior art printing blankets (illustrated in Figs. 17A, 17B ).
  • a black sheet 72 was placed under the flexible secondary plate 70 (against the face portion of the flexible secondary plate) to provide contrast for the photograph.
  • the black sheet 72 forms no part of the present invention and is not used with the flexible secondary plate 70 during the decoration of containers.
  • Two images 74, 76 have been formed on the face portion of the flexible secondary plate 70.
  • the first image 74 is of a dog and the second image 76 is of a feline.
  • the images 74, 76 are reversed in the photograph of Fig. 11 because, as mentioned above, the photograph is taken from the back portion 6 of the flexible secondary plate 70.
  • a photograph of a metallic container 78 decorated using the flexible secondary plate 70 of Fig. 11 is provided.
  • the metallic container 78 includes images 74, 76 formed by ink received from the images 74, 76 of flexible secondary plate 70.
  • FIG. 13 still another photograph of a flexible secondary plate 80 comprised of a photopolymer material is provided.
  • a variety of images have been formed on a face portion 4 of the flexible secondary plate 80.
  • a backing material 82 has been affixed to the back portion of the flexible secondary plate 80 for contrast.
  • the backing material 82 is not part of the present invention and is not used with the flexible secondary plate 80 during decoration of metallic containers.
  • One image 84 of a building and city skyline are formed in three different sizes.
  • FIGs. 14A, 14B photographs of a metallic container 88 decorated using the flexible secondary plate 80 of Fig. 13 are provided. More specifically, the images 84A, 84B, 84C are shown formed on the exterior surface of the metallic container by ink received from flexible secondary plate 80.
  • a flexible secondary plate 90 comprised of a composition including at least in part a saturated chain of polymethylene are provided.
  • Two images 94, 96 of the same woman have been formed on a face portion 4 of the flexible secondary plate 90.
  • Image 94 is a negative of image 96.
  • a depth scale 98 has also been formed in the face portion 4 of the flexible secondary plate 90.
  • the depth scale 98 shows a relative depth of rubber material that has been removed from the face portion 4.
  • the amount of rubber material removed from the face portion 4 increases from very little material removed proximate to portion 98A of depth scale 98 to a large amount of material removed proximate to portion 98B of depth scale 98.
  • portion 98A (which is difficult to distinguish in the photographs of Figs. 15A , 15B ) is about parallel to a plane formed by the face portion 4 and will receive and transfer a larger amount of ink than portion 98B of depth scale 98.
  • the metallic container 100 includes a base coat 102 of white ink which is most visible on the portion of the metallic container 100 shown in Fig. 16C associated with depth scale portion 98B. Said another way, the white ink of the base coat 102 is most visible on portions of the metallic container 100 that received little or no ink from the flexible secondary plate 90.
  • the metallic container 100 has been decorated by black ink received from ink receiving regions 16 and images 94, 96 of the flexible secondary plate 90 that contacted the exterior surface of the metallic container 100.
  • FIG. 17A is a top plan view of the printing blanket 106. Images, including an image 108 of a woman, have been formed in the face portion of the printing blanket 106. As shown in Fig. 17B , which is an angled side elevation view of the printing blanket 106, printing blanket 106 is comprised of several layers of different materials in contrast to the flexible secondary plates, shown, for example, in the cross-sectional side elevation view of Fig. 4C . Some prior art printing blankets are formed of four or more layers.
  • the printing blanket 106 generally comprises a face portion 110, a first fabric layer 112, a compressible layer 114, and a second fabric layer 116.
  • a paper backing 118 covering an adhesive material is also shown pulled away from the second fabric layer 116 for clarity.
  • a schematic side elevation view of the layers 110, 112, 114, and 116 of the printing blanket 106 is provided in Fig. 17C .
  • the face portion 110 comprises a relatively thin rubber material that is different than the material of the flexible secondary plates comprising a saturated chain of polymethlene of the present invention.
  • the face portion 110 comprises Nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR).
  • NBR is a family of unsaturated copolymers of 2-propenenitrile and various butadiene monomers (1,2-butadiene and 1,3-butadiene).
  • NBR is also known as Buna-N, Perbunan, acrylonitrile butadiene rubber, Nipol, Krynac and Europrene.
  • the material of the face portion 110 melts relatively easily and does not enable the formation of fine dot images requires to produce a high-definition lithographic image on a metallic container.
  • the prior art printing blanket 106 of Fig. 17 is comprised of several different materials arranged in discrete layers 110 - 116.
  • the face portion 110 is relatively thin, the depth of an image that may be formed in the printing blanket 106 is limited compared to the homogeneous flexible secondary plates of the present invention. Said another way, the comparative thinness of the face portion 110 limits the depth of material that may be removed from the printing blanket 106 to form images.
  • Offset Printing Blanket for Offset Printing
  • the offset blanket surface structure, profile, and hardness are extremely important and contribute significantly to the printing performance of an offset blanket.... It is not an easy task to develop a suitable rubber compound for the printing surface of an offset blanket utilized for high quality offset printing. The difficulty is due to the conflicting chemical and mechanical requirements which can be found during the printing operation.”
  • FIG. 18 photographs of a metallic container 120 decorated using the printing blanket 106 of Fig. 17 are provided.
  • the image 108 in Fig. 18B includes notable dots and less detail compared to the high resolution and detail of images 54, 56 of Fig. 10 and images 94, 96 of Fig. 16 produced used flexible secondary plates described herein.
  • Photographs of another metallic container 122 decorated with a prior art printing blanket are provided in Fig. 19 .
  • Images 124 formed on the container 122 also do not have the amount of detail and clarity of images produced using flexible secondary plates of the present invention.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Printing Methods (AREA)
  • Inks, Pencil-Leads, Or Crayons (AREA)
  • Manufacture Or Reproduction Of Printing Formes (AREA)
  • Printing Plates And Materials Therefor (AREA)
  • Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)

Claims (15)

  1. Installation (24) de formation d'une image lithographique de haute définition sur une surface extérieure d'un récipient (34) métallique, comprenant :
    au moins un cylindre (26) de plaque ayant un encreur (28), l'encreur pouvant fonctionner pour transférer une encre à des parties déterminées à l'avance d'une ou plusieurs plaques (2) offset fixées à une circonférence de au moins un cylindre de plaque ;
    un cylindre (32) de blanchet ayant une ou plusieurs plaques (14) secondaires souples, fixées à une circonférence du cylindre de blanchet, le cylindre de blanchet pouvant fonctionner pour mettre les plaques secondaires souples en contact de rotation avec la une ou les plusieurs plaques offset fixées au au moins un cylindre de plaque, l'encre étant transférée des parties déterminées à l'avance de la une ou plusieurs plaques offset à au moins une partie des plaques secondaires souples, dans laquelle les plaques secondaires souples sont constituées d'une couche unique d'un monomère d'éthylène propylène diène et dans laquelle une image (18) est formée sur chaque plaque secondaire souple ;
    un cylindre (38) de support ayant une pluralité de postes (40) propre à recevoir des récipients métalliques, ce cylindre de support pouvant fonctionner pour recevoir le récipient métallique d'un convoyeur (36) et pour mettre le récipient métallique en contact avec une plaque secondaire souple, fixée au cylindre de blanchet, l'encre étant transférée de la plaque secondaire souple au récipient métallique, pour former une image lithographique de haute définition sur la surface extérieure du récipient métallique.
  2. Installation suivant la revendication 1, dans laquelle le au moins un cylindre de plaque comprend de 6 à 18 cylindres de plaque.
  3. Installation suivant la revendication 2, dans laquelle chacun des cylindres de plaque a un encreur pouvant fonctionner pour transférer une couleur différente d'encre ou une encre de spécialité différente à des parties déterminées à l'avance d'une ou plusieurs plaques offset fixées à chacun des cylindres de plaque.
  4. Installation suivant la revendication 1, dans laquelle chacune de la une ou des plusieurs plaques secondaires souples, fixées au cylindre de blanchet a une image distincte formée par gravure laser directe et dans laquelle au moins un peu d'une partie (4) de face comprenant le monomère d'éthylène propylène diène de la une ou des plusieurs plaques secondaires souples est éliminé pendant la gravure laser directe.
  5. Installation suivant la revendication 1, dans laquelle les plaques secondaires souples sont formées d'un matériau non stratifié.
  6. Installation suivant la revendication 1, dans laquelle les plaques secondaires souples sont fixées à une surface cylindrique, lorsque les images y sont formées.
  7. Procédé d'utilisation d'une plaque (14) secondaire souple dans une opération d'impression pour décorer une surface extérieure d'un récipient (34) métallique, dans lequel :
    on forme une première image (18) sur une partie déterminée à l'avance d'une partie (4) de face de la plaque secondaire souple, la plaque secondaire souple étant constituée d'une couche unique d'un monomère d'éthylène propylène diène ;
    on fixe de manière amovible la plaque secondaire souple ayant la première image sur un cylindre (32) de blanchet d'un décorateur (24) ;
    on fixe une plaque (2) offset à un cylindre (26) de plaque du décorateur ;
    on applique une encre à partir d'un encreur (28) à la plaque offset ;
    on transfère au moins un peu de l'encre de la plaque offset à au moins une partie de la plaque secondaire souple et
    on transfère l'encre de la plaque secondaire souple à la surface extérieure du récipient métallique, le récipient métallique étant décoré.
  8. Procédé suivant la revendication 7, dans lequel former la première image sur la plaque secondaire souple comprend éliminer au moins un peu de matière de la partie de face de la plaque secondaire souple dans une opération de gravure laser directe.
  9. Procédé suivant la revendication 7, dans lequel l'encre est une encre de spécialité comprenant au moins l'une d'une encre thermochrome, d'une encre photochrome, d'une encre thermochrome parfumée, d'une encre fluorescente, d'une encre UV, d'une encre à lumière noire, d'une encre infra-rouge, d'une encre phosphorescente, d'une encre autoadhérente, d'une encre tactile, d'une encre thermotactile, d'un leucocolorant et d'une encre matte.
  10. Procédé suivant la revendication 7, dans lequel on fixe la plaque secondaire souple à une surface cylindrique lorsque la première image est formée.
  11. Procédé suivant la revendication 7, dans lequel la première image formée sur la plaque secondaire souple a une profondeur d'environ 0,002286 mm à environ 2,2606 mm (d'environ 0,0009 pouce à environ 0,089 pouce).
  12. Procédé suivant la revendication 7, dans lequel en outre :
    on fixe de manière amovible de 4 à 12 plaques secondaires souples au cylindre de blanchet, les 4 à 12 plaques secondaires souples ayant chacune des images différentes, et dans lequel l'encre transférée des 4 à 12 plaques secondaires souples produit de 4 à 12 images différentes.
  13. Procédé suivant la revendication 7, dans lequel en outre :
    on applique une deuxième encre à partir d'un deuxième encreur à une deuxième plaque offset fixée à un deuxième cylindre de plaque, la deuxième encre étant d'un type différent ou d'une couleur d'encre différente de l'encre appliquée par l'encreur ;
    on transfère au moins un peu de la deuxième encre de la deuxième plaque offset à une deuxième partie de la plaque secondaire souple et dans lequel la deuxième plaque offset ne transfère pas la deuxième encre à la première image de la plaque secondaire souple et
    on transfère l'encre et la deuxième encre de la plaque secondaire souple à la surface extérieure du récipient métallique, la première image ayant au moins un peu de l'encre.
  14. Plaque (14) secondaire souple, propre à former une image lithographique de haute définition sur la surface extérieure d'un récipient (34) métallique dans une opération d'impression, la plaque secondaire souple comprenant :
    un corps de plaque d'une dimension déterminée à l'avance, le corps de plaque ayant une partie (4) de face et une partie (6) arrière, la partie arrière étant conçue pour être fixée de manière amovible à un cylindre (32) de blanchet d'un décorateur (24) caractérisé en ce que le corps de plaque est constitué d'une couche homogène unique de monomère d'éthylène propylène diène.
  15. Plaque secondaire souple suivant la revendication 14, dans laquelle la plaque secondaire souple est formée d'un matériau non stratifié et dans laquelle au moins un peu de la partie de face comprenant le monomère d'éthylène propylène diène est éliminé par gravure laser directe pour former une image.
EP16780760.1A 2015-04-14 2016-04-14 Procédé d'impression variable utilisant des plaques secondaires flexibles et des encres spéciales Active EP3283296B1 (fr)

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US14/686,517 US9555616B2 (en) 2013-06-11 2015-04-14 Variable printing process using soft secondary plates and specialty inks
PCT/US2016/027576 WO2016168488A1 (fr) 2015-04-14 2016-04-14 Procédé d'impression variable utilisant des plaques secondaires flexibles et des encres spéciales

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CN (1) CN107428154B (fr)
AU (1) AU2016248085B2 (fr)
BR (1) BR112017017554B1 (fr)
CA (1) CA2981189C (fr)
CL (1) CL2017002570A1 (fr)
CO (1) CO2017011427A2 (fr)
ES (1) ES2883409T3 (fr)
MX (1) MX2017011874A (fr)
PL (1) PL3283296T3 (fr)
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GB201620917D0 (en) * 2016-12-08 2017-01-25 Crown Packaging Technology Inc Forming a texture in a can surface decoration
JP7096083B2 (ja) * 2018-06-26 2022-07-05 東洋製罐株式会社 連続印刷システム
JP2020001212A (ja) * 2018-06-26 2020-01-09 東洋製罐株式会社 印刷装置
JP2022039737A (ja) * 2020-08-28 2022-03-10 東洋製罐株式会社 印刷装置、印刷方法及び缶体
RU210075U1 (ru) * 2021-08-03 2022-03-28 Акционерное общество "Информационные спутниковые системы" имени академика М.Ф. Решетнёва" Устройство заправки системы терморегулирования космического аппарата
WO2023043433A1 (fr) * 2021-09-14 2023-03-23 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P Températures indiquées par un colorant thermochromique
DE102021128652B4 (de) * 2021-11-03 2024-01-18 Ardagh Metal Packaging Europe Gmbh Drucksystem und Verfahren zum Bedrucken eines Objekts
CN114211870B (zh) * 2021-12-13 2024-02-06 浦江莱迪恩斯服饰有限公司 一种丝绒面料纺织布平面印花装置及其使用方法

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KR101827177B1 (ko) * 2013-06-12 2018-03-22 가부시키가이샤 킨요샤 플렉소그래픽 인쇄용 판재

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EP3283296A1 (fr) 2018-02-21
BR112017017554B1 (pt) 2022-09-13
AU2016248085B2 (en) 2018-12-20
WO2016168488A1 (fr) 2016-10-20
CA2981189A1 (fr) 2016-10-20
RU2683767C1 (ru) 2019-04-01
CN107428154A (zh) 2017-12-01
BR112017017554A2 (pt) 2018-05-08
PL3283296T3 (pl) 2021-09-27
CA2981189C (fr) 2019-09-17
CO2017011427A2 (es) 2018-01-16
MX2017011874A (es) 2017-12-04
JP2018512301A (ja) 2018-05-17
AU2016248085A1 (en) 2017-08-31
JP6492191B2 (ja) 2019-03-27
CN107428154B (zh) 2019-12-03
CL2017002570A1 (es) 2018-03-16
ES2883409T3 (es) 2021-12-07
EP3283296A4 (fr) 2018-10-24

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