RU2683767C1 - Variable printing with use of flexible secondary printed plates and special paints - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: printing equipment.SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the use of flexible secondary printing plates and specialized inks during the printing process. More specifically, the invention relates to a device and methods for using flexible secondary printing plates made from a composition, containing a saturated polymethylene chain or photopolymer material, for decorating the outer surface of cylindrical metal containers with high-definition graphics and other signs.EFFECT: provided higher image clarity.20 cl, 19 dwg

Description

Cross reference to related applications

This application is a partially continued application and claims the priority of an application for US invention No. 14/686 517, filed April 14, 2015, “Variable Printing Process Using Soft Secondary Plates and Specialty Inks,” which is a partially continued application and claims the priority of the application US Invention No. 14/301 018, filed June 10, 2014, “Printing Process Using Soft Photopolymer Plates,” which claims priority based on §119 (e) 35 U.S.C. by provisional patent application No. 61/833 799, filed June 11, 2013, “Printing Method Using Soft Photopolymer Printing Forms”. Each of these applications is included in the present description in its entirety by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the use of flexible secondary printing plates in a printing process for cylindrical substrates. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus that use flexible secondary printing plates made of new materials to decorate the outer surface of cylindrical metal containers and provide product differentiation during printing.

State of the art

Metal containers are often decorated with an image or features, such as a brand name, logo, product or graphic information using lithographic printing. In lithographic printing, one or more printing forms (or primary forms) with image areas are attached to a plate cylinder (or printing cylinder) of a machine for printing on cylinders and tubes (hereinafter referred to as a decorator). The decorator may include multiple plate cylinders. The image areas of each printing form may include ink receiving areas (hereinafter, ink) and areas that do not accept ink. The ink machine applies ink to the printing forms, and the ink adheres to the ink receiving areas. Typically, the printing forms of each plate cylinder take on a specific color of ink from the ink apparatus. The decorator also has a transfer cylinder (also known as an offset cylinder, printing cylinder or segment wheel). Secondary printing plates (or secondary printing plates obtained by the translation method, or offset blankets) are attached to the transfer cylinder.

Decorators used in the metal container industry typically have 4 to 12 secondary printing plates on the transfer cylinder. Since the plate cylinder and the transfer cylinder rotate synchronously, each of the printing plates is in contact with the secondary printing plate and transfers ink of a certain color to the secondary printing plate. When all the printing forms transferred the ink of their color and image to the secondary printing form, the final lithographic image is formed on the secondary printing form. Then, the cylindrical metal container is brought into rotational contact with one of the secondary printing forms of the transfer cylinder, and the lithographic image is transferred from the secondary printing form to the outer surface of the cylindrical metal container.

Lithographic printing methods are generally described in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,766,851, No. 4 384 518, No. 6,550,389, and No. 6 899 998, each of which is incorporated here in its entirety by reference. The methods described in these documents generally provide a single lithographic image from a single set of printing forms. Thus, the methods described in these documents are effective only for printing the same image on a large number of cylindrical metal containers. In order to print a different image on a multitude of cylindrical metal containers, a new set of printing forms must be installed on the decorating machine plate, resulting in a simple and reduced production line efficiency. Since only a single image can be printed without replacing printing plates, it is economically difficult to produce small batches of decorated cylindrical metal containers with different images.

One example of providing many different images from one set of printing plates is presented in US Pat. 5,181,471, Sillars, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. Sillars generally describes a printing system with engraved images formed in flexographic printing areas of printing plates attached to a transfer cylinder.

The offset blankets of the prior art are composed of several superimposed layers, which generally comprise a front part, a first tissue layer, a compression layer and a second tissue layer. The front part contains a relatively thin rubber material that is adapted to receive the maximum amount of ink from printing plates without distorting the color image transferred from the printing plates. However, the material of the front part burns relatively easily or melts when images are formed on it, for example, using laser engraving, preventing the formation of images by small dots on the offset blankets of the prior art. Accordingly, images formed on the front of offset blankets of the prior art are ineffective for transferring high-quality colorful images to metal containers.

Another way to obtain many different images using a single set of printing forms is described in publication WO 2014/008544 (Treloar), which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. Treloar generally describes a transfer cylinder with secondary printing forms that are adapted to have areas with ink and areas without ink. Other ways to provide many different images with lithographic printing methods are described in WO 2014/006517 (Vilas Boas et al.) And WO 2014/128200 (Grahame et al.), Each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. However, lithographic images described by Sillars, Treloar, Vilas Boas, and Grahame using these various technologies do not have enough detail to be considered high-quality, high-definition images. In addition, none of these patents or patent publications describes the use of specialized inks in the printing process or new materials used for secondary printing forms to create a high-quality image in the mass production process. The commercial industry of metal containers requires high-definition printing in individual practical applications and requires distinct graphic elements formed using specialized inks that can be efficiently printed with high resolution and detail on the outer surface of a cylindrical metal container. Such high-definition images and the use of specialized inks are necessary to differentiate products in retail outlets and to attract consumers.

Publication US 2014/0210201 to Owen et al., Which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference, generally describes the use of thermochromic and photochromic paints to decorate cans of drinks. However, Owen uses inkjet printing to paint cans. It has been found that inkjet printing does not provide the required placement or positioning of the ink. For example, inkjet printing can lead to ink mist, which can interfere with the printing process, lead to undesirable coloring of containers, or cause equipment to malfunction. In some cases, the use of inkjet printing can result in losses of up to 20% or more potential production time due to the need for cleaning, maintenance and / or repair. In addition, inkjet printing processes are difficult to carry out at high speed while supporting quality printing without distortion. Thus, inkjet printing processes are generally economically disadvantageous for the use of metal containers in the commercial industry. Conversely, the commercial metal container industry needs an apparatus and method that is capable of decorating beverage containers at a significant production rate of at least several thousand cylindrical metal containers per minute.

Accordingly, there is an unmet need for a high-definition lithographic printing method that allows multiple images to be printed on the outer surface of a cylindrical metal container using a single set of printing forms and secondary printing forms that use specialized inks and / or improved printing materials without degradation production efficiency or image quality and detail.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The currently known process uses flexible secondary printing plates attached to the transfer cylinder of a decorator machine to significantly increase the quality and detail of lithographic images printed on metal containers. One aspect of the present invention is to provide flexible secondary printing plates containing photopolymer material. In another aspect of the present invention, flexible secondary printing forms consist of a chemical compound containing at least partially a saturated polymethylene chain. In one embodiment, the saturated polymethylene chain is M-rubber. In another embodiment, the saturated polymethylene chain is a chemical compound that is a copolymer of ethylene propylene and a diene monomer. Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a decorator machine that uses at least one kind of specialized paints to form a high definition image on the outer surface of a metal container. Another aspect of the present invention is the provision of flexible secondary printing plates for use in a decorator machine that operates in such a way as to decorate at least 2200 metal containers per minute.

More specifically, in one embodiment of the present invention, the flexible secondary printing forms consist of photopolymer material. The image is transmitted to the front surface of a flexible photopolymer printing plate or is formed on it by the action of light on the photopolymer material. An image may be transmitted using a computer for processing a printing plate or a conventional printing process. The result is a flexible secondary printing form that has embossed areas that do not accumulate ink and cured areas that form accurate and detailed image areas that will accumulate ink and transfer them to the outer surface of the metal container.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the flexible secondary printing form consists, at least in part, of a chemical compound of a saturated polymethylene chain or other related material with similar physical properties. Alternatively, certain flexible plastic materials may be used for the same purpose. Images are formed on a flexible secondary printing form using direct laser engraving or other methods known in the art. The changing types and colors of ink are superimposed by means of colorful apparatuses on one or more different portions of the printing form to form a first image. The printing plate is then brought into rotational contact with the flexible secondary printing forms and transfers the various types and colors of ink to the flexible secondary printing forms. Then, the container body is moved in rotational contact with the flexible secondary printing forms and the inks are transferred to the outer surface of the container body. In some embodiments of the process, flexible secondary printing plates can also be etched or engraved on the front surface before, during, or after imaging on them to form one or more recessed areas that do not accumulate ink. In other embodiments, the varnish may also be applied to one or more portions of the outer surface of the container body using flexible secondary printing forms or using a separate coating unit. These and other advantages will be apparent from the disclosure of the invention (s) contained herein.

Another aspect of the present invention is a device, method and flexible secondary printing form for use in dry offset printing on metal containers. In one embodiment, physical relief printing plates transfer a variety of colors and types of ink to flexible secondary printing plates attached to a transfer cylinder. The physical reliefs of the flexible secondary printing forms create areas that are saturated with ink or do not contain paint on the surfaces of the printing forms that are transferred to the flexible secondary printing forms. These flexible secondary printing forms subsequently transfer ink to the outer surface of the metal container during the high-speed decorating process. In one embodiment of the invention, the flexible secondary printing forms consist of a material containing a saturated polymethylene chain. In another embodiment of the present invention, the flexible secondary printing forms consist of photopolymer material. Optionally, at least one of the flexible secondary printing forms includes an image. This image accumulates at least some of the ink from one or more printing forms and transfers them to the metal container by contact between the outer surface of the metal container and the flexible secondary printing form. In another embodiment of the present invention, each of the flexible secondary printing forms includes an image. In one embodiment of the present invention, the images on the flexible secondary printing forms are identical. In another embodiment of the present invention, the images on the flexible secondary printing forms are different from each other.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in dry offset printing, printing forms are not wetted with water. Images formed on printing plates accumulate ink from colorful devices. The printing forms then transfer their ink-wetted images to flexible secondary printing forms, which subsequently transfer the ink to a metal container. Conversely, in lithographic wet offset printing processes, printing plates are chemically treated to form areas of the image that will accumulate ink but repel water. Water and ink are then applied to the printing plates. Due to the chemical treatment of the printing forms, only the ink adheres to the images and the water repels. In addition, the ink does not adhere to areas of printing forms on which there is no image.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an innovative method of using flexible secondary printing forms in a lithographic printing process to decorate the outer surface of a metal container is provided. This includes, but is not limited to, a method generally comprising: (1) forming a first image on a predetermined portion of an upper or front portion of a flexible secondary printing form; (2) attachment with the ability to remove a flexible secondary printing form with a first image on the transfer cylinder of the decorator; (3) attaching a plurality of flexible secondary printing plates to the plate cylinder of the decorator; (4) applying ink from the ink apparatus to at least one of the plurality of printing forms; (5) transferring at least a portion of the ink from at least one of the plurality of printing forms to at least a portion of the flexible secondary printing form; and (6) transferring ink from the flexible secondary printing form to the outer surface of the metal container, wherein the metal container is decorated. Flexible secondary printing form consists of one of the chemical compounds containing a saturated chain of polymethylene, photopolymer material and flexible plastic material. In one embodiment, a flexible secondary printing form is formed from a single uniform material. In other words, a flexible secondary printing form does not consist of layers of various materials.

In one embodiment, forming a first image on a flexible secondary printing form comprises removing at least some of the material from the front of the flexible secondary printing form during direct laser engraving. In another embodiment, at least some of the face material of the flexible secondary printing plate is removed in order to form a first image in one or more direct laser engraving, mechanical or chemical etching processes, or an engraving process, an ink repelling process, a stamping process, or using a combination of one or more of these processes. In one embodiment of the invention, the first image formed on the flexible secondary printing form has a depth of from about 0.0009 inches to about 0.089 inches. In another embodiment of the invention, at least one of the materials of the front part is removed to create a raised first image with a height of from about 0.0009 inches to about 0.089 inches above the front part of the flexible secondary printing form.

The flexible secondary printing form may be of any shape and size. In one embodiment, the flexible secondary printing plate has a thickness of from about 0.004 inches to about 0.1 inches. Optionally, a flexible secondary printing form is formed from a material with a non-layered structure. Thus, in one embodiment of the invention, the flexible secondary printing form does not have layers of fabric or fabric, as well as intermediate layers, including fibers.

In one embodiment of the invention, the paint comprises a specialized paint. A specialized paint may contain one or more of the following components: thermochromic paint, photochromic paint, aromatic thermochromic paint, fluorescent paint, UV paint, infrared paint, phosphorescent paint, pressure-sensitive paint, tactile paint, heat-sensitive paint , leuco dye, and matte paint.

In one embodiment of the invention, the saturated polymethylene chain of a flexible secondary printing plate comprises M-class rubber. In another embodiment of the invention, the saturated polymethylene chain of a flexible secondary printing plate comprises triple ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM). In yet another embodiment, the flexible secondary printing plate polymethylene chain comprises a chemical compound of ethylene-propylene copolymer (EPM).

The transfer cylinder may include any number of flexible secondary printing forms. In one embodiment, 8 to 12 flexible secondary printing plates are removably attached to the transfer cylinder. In another embodiment, 6 to 24 flexible secondary printing plates are removably attached to the transfer cylinder. Optionally, the method may further comprise from about 4 to about 24 flexible secondary printing plates that are removably attached to the transfer cylinder. Each of these from about 4 to about 24 flexible secondary printing forms can have different images. Ink transferred from approximately 4 to approximately 24 flexible secondary printing forms creates 4 to 24 decorated metal containers with various images. In yet another embodiment, flexible secondary printing plates operate in a decorator to decorate up to about 2,200 metal containers per minute.

In one embodiment of the invention, the method may optionally further include attaching removably a plurality of flexible secondary printing plates to the second plate cylinder of the decorator. A second ink from a second ink apparatus is applied to at least one of the plurality of second printing plates. The second paint is a paint of a different type or color with respect to the first paint applied by the ink apparatus. At least some of the second ink is transferred from at least one of the plurality of second printing plates to at least a portion of the flexible secondary printing form. Optionally, at least some of the second ink is transferred from at least one of the plurality of second printing forms to at least a portion of the first image. In another embodiment, no part of the second ink is transferred to the first image. For example, the second printing plate may optionally include embossed areas that are aligned with the first image of the flexible secondary printing plate. These relief zones do not accept paint from colorful machines. Then, the first ink and the second ink are transferred from the flexible secondary printing form to the outer surface of the metal container. Accordingly, the metal container is decorated with at least some part of the first paint and at least some part of the second paint.

In one embodiment, a decorator machine 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 acts in such a way as to convey different types or colors of ink to flexible secondary printing plates attached to the transfer cylinder. In one embodiment of the invention, the printing forms of each cylinder from one to eight plate cylinders may optionally transmit individual images to flexible secondary printing forms.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed a device for forming a high-definition lithographic image on the outer surface of a metal container, the device operating in such a way as to create multiple lithographic images from a single set of printing forms. The device generally comprises: (1) at least one plate cylinder with a colorful apparatus; (2) gear cylinder; and (3) a support cylinder. In one embodiment of the invention, the device is operable to decorate at least 2200 metal containers per minute.

The ink apparatus operates in such a way as to transmit ink to predetermined areas of one or more printing plates attached to the circumference of at least one plate cylinder. In one embodiment, one or more printing forms consists of at least one chemical compound comprising a saturated polymethylene chain, a photopolymer material, and a flexible plastic material.

One or more flexible secondary printing plates are removably attached to the circumference of the transfer cylinder. Each of one or more flexible secondary printing forms consists of one of the components: a chemical compound containing at least partially a saturated polymethylene chain; photopolymer material; and flexible plastic material. In one embodiment of the invention, at least one of the flexible secondary printing forms has an image formed thereon. The transfer cylinder acts in such a way as to move the flexible secondary printing plates in rotational contact with one or more flexible secondary printing plates attached to the at least one plate cylinder. When the flexible secondary printing forms are in contact with the printing forms, ink is transferred from predetermined sections of one or more printing forms to at least a portion of the flexible secondary printing forms. Optionally, flexible secondary printing forms are formed from a single uniform material. Flexible secondary printing plates can be attached to the transfer cylinder using an adhesive. In one embodiment of the invention, the adhesive comprises a lining with tear-off self-adhesive material. In one embodiment, the flexible secondary printing form does not include a layer of fabric or fabric.

The supporting cylinder includes many positions adapted for the reception of metal containers. Each position is calculated in such a way as to take a metal container from the conveyor and move this metal container in contact with a flexible secondary printing plate attached to the transfer cylinder. The ink is then transferred from a flexible secondary printing form to a metal container to form a high-definition lithographic image on the outer surface of the metal container.

In one embodiment, the at least one plate cylinder comprises from about 4 to about 18 plate cylinders. Each of the plate cylinders includes a colorful apparatus that acts to transmit a different color of ink or other type of specialized ink to predetermined sections of one or more printing plates attached to each of the plate cylinders. In one embodiment, a specialized paint comprises one or more of the following components: thermochromic paint, photochromic paint, aromatic thermochromic paint, fluorescent paint, ultraviolet paint, paint in the invisible range of radiation, infrared paint, phosphorescent paint, pressure-sensitive paint, tactile paint , thermo-tactile paint, leuco dye, and matte paint. In another embodiment, the printing plates attached to the first of the printing cylinders transmit the first image to flexible secondary printing plates, which is different from the images transmitted by printing plates attached to other printing cylinders.

In one embodiment of the invention, the saturated polymethylene chain of the flexible secondary printing plates is an M-class rubber mixture. In another embodiment, the saturated polymethylene chain of the flexible secondary printing forms is a triple ethylene-propylene-diene rubber compound. In yet another embodiment, the saturated polymethylene chain of the flexible secondary printing forms is a chemical compound of an ethylene-propylene copolymer.

In one embodiment of the invention, each of one or more flexible secondary printing plates attached to the transfer cylinder has a distinct image formed thereon. Images are formed on the front of flexible secondary printing plates using one or more processes: a direct laser engraving process, mechanical or chemical etching, or an engraving process, an ink repulsion process, a stamping process, or a combination of one or more of these processes. In one embodiment of the invention, when the flexible secondary printing forms consist, at least in part, of photopolymer material, images can also be formed using the printing technology (CtP, computer-to-plate), which involves the manufacture of printing plates without any intermediate steps, a conventional printing process, or any other suitable method. Images formed on flexible secondary printing plates can have a depth of from about 0.0009 inches to about 0.089 inches. In another embodiment of the invention, the image formed on the flexible secondary printing form may have a height of from about 0.0009 inches to about 0.089 inches above the front of the flexible secondary printing form.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a flexible secondary printing form adapted so as to form a high-definition lithographic image on the outer surface of the metal container during the printing process. The flexible secondary printing form generally comprises a printed form casing of a predetermined size. The printing housing has a front part and a back part. The rear part is adapted so as to be removably attached to the transfer cylinder of the decorator. In one embodiment of the invention, at least the front of the flexible secondary printing form comprises a chemical compound consisting at least in part of a saturated polymethylene chain, a photopolymer material, and a flexible plastic material. In one embodiment, the plate body has a thickness of from about 0.04 inches to about 0.1 inches. In another embodiment of the invention, the plate body is formed from a single uniform layer. Accordingly, a flexible secondary printing form is formed from a material having no layers. In one embodiment of the invention, the plate body consists, at least in part, of a chemical compound containing a saturated polymethylene chain. In another embodiment of the invention, the plate body is formed from a single uniform layer of photopolymer material.

In one embodiment, the saturated polymethylene chain is M-rubber. In another embodiment, the saturated polymethylene chain is a triple ethylene-propylene-diene rubber compound. In yet another embodiment, the saturated polymethylene chain is an ethylene-propylene copolymer chemical compound.

In one embodiment of the invention, an image is formed on the front of a flexible secondary printing form. An image may be formed by at least one of the following methods: direct laser engraving process, mechanical etching or engraving process, ink repulsion process, and stamping process. The direct laser engraving process can cut off or otherwise remove at least some of the material from the front of the flexible secondary printing form. When the flexible secondary printing form is at least partially composed of photopolymer material, an image can also be formed using a computer for processing a printing form, a conventional printing process, or any other suitable method. The image may have a depth of from about 0.0009 inches to about 0.089 inches below the plane formed by the front. In another embodiment, the image may have a height of from about 0.0009 inches to about 0.089 inches above the plane formed by the front of the printing form.

Another aspect of the present invention is an innovative laser engraving method of a flexible printing plate obtained by a translation method to form an image adapted for printing on the outer surface of a metal container. The method generally includes, but is not limited to: (1) providing a flexible printing plate obtained by the transfer method consisting of a saturated polymethylene chain, and (2) laser engraving of the front part of the flexible printing form obtained by the transfer method to remove at least a certain amount of the front part for image formation. The back of the flexible printing plate obtained by the translation method is configured to be attached to the transfer cylinder of the decorator machine. Accordingly, when the printing plate is attached to the plate cylinder of the decorator machine, it transfers ink to the image. The outer surface of the metal container is subsequently brought into contact with the front of the flexible printing plate obtained by the translation method. In this way, at least some of the paint is transferred to the outer surface of the metal container. In one embodiment of the invention, the saturated polymethylene chain of the flexible printing plate obtained by the conversion process is one of the following materials: ethylene-propylene rubber, M-class rubber, and triple ethylene-propylene-diene rubber.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, an innovative method is provided for using a flexible secondary printing plate in a lithographic printing process to decorate the outer surface of a metal container. This includes, but is not limited to, a method generally comprising: (1) forming a first image to be printed on the outer surface of a metal container; (2) transferring the first image to a predetermined portion of the front of the flexible secondary printing form, wherein the flexible secondary printing form consists of one of the following materials: a photopolymer material, a chemical compound containing a saturated polymethylene chain, and a flexible plastic material; (3) attachment with the ability to remove a flexible secondary printing form with the first image on the transfer cylinder of the decorator; (4) attaching a plurality of printing plates to at least one plate cylinder of the decorator; (5) applying ink from the ink apparatus to at least one of a plurality of printing forms; (6) transferring at least a portion of the ink from at least one of the plurality of printing forms to at least a portion of the flexible secondary printing form; and (7) transferring ink from the flexible secondary printing form to the outer surface of the metal container, whereby the metal container is decorated.

Additionally or alternatively, the method may further comprise attaching removably from about 4 to about 24 flexible secondary printing plates to the transfer cylinder. Each of these from about 4 to about 24 flexible secondary printing forms can have different images. Ink that transfers from these from about 4 to about 24 flexible secondary printing forms creates 4-24 different images on containers from about 4 to about 24 metal containers.

In one embodiment of the invention, the front portion of the flexible secondary printing plate may be etched or engraved so as to form one or more recessed portions. In another embodiment, a second image to be printed on the outer surface of the metal container is formed on the printing forms. Then the metal container is decorated using the first image and the second image.

In one embodiment of the invention, in which the flexible secondary printing form comprises photopolymer material, transferring the first image to a predetermined portion of the front of the flexible secondary printing form generally comprises: (1) creating a film that is negative with respect to the first image; (2) the location of the negative film on a given section of the front of a flexible secondary printing form; (3) irradiation of the flexible secondary printing plate and the negative film with a light source, while the photopolymer material of the flexible secondary printing plate solidifies at predetermined locations, where the light passes through the negative film, and the photopolymer material of the flexible secondary printing plate remains unirradiated and soft at the specified locations, where light is blocked by a negative film; (4) removal of negative film with a flexible secondary printing form; and (5) placing the flexible secondary printing plate in the washing station and cleaning the flexible secondary printing plate to remove the soft, non-irradiated photopolymer material of the flexible secondary printing plate to open the transferred first image.

Additionally or alternatively, transferring the first image to a predetermined portion of the front of the flexible secondary printing form may generally comprise: (1) creating a first image; (2) removing portions of an opaque mask applied to the front of a flexible secondary printing form to form a negative image with respect to the first image; (3) irradiation of the flexible secondary printing plate with a light source, wherein the polymer material of the flexible secondary printing plate hardens at predetermined locations where the coating from the mask was removed, wherein the polymer material of the flexible secondary printing plate remains unirradiated and soft at predetermined locations where the light is blocked by the coating from the mask; and (4) removing soft, non-irradiated polymeric material from a flexible secondary printing form to open the transferred first image.

In one embodiment, the light source is an ultraviolet light source. In another embodiment, the flexible secondary printing plate and negative film are irradiated with a light source from about 0.01 minutes to about 10 minutes. In one embodiment of the invention, the washing station uses a solvent to clean the flexible secondary printing plate. In another embodiment of the invention, the washing station uses water to clean the flexible secondary printing plate.

A flexible secondary printing plate consisting of a photopolymer material can be formed from any mixture of materials that harden or form a different texture after irradiation with an ultraviolet source or visible light. In one embodiment of the invention, the flexible secondary printing form consists of one of the elastomers that are processed using a polymerization process catalyzed by light, chloroprene, cross-linked using trimethylopropane triacrylate and isoprenstyrene rubber with polyacrylate. In one embodiment of the invention, before the first image is transferred to a flexible secondary printing form, this flexible secondary printing form has a hardness from about 40 hardness units on a Scor scale (Shore A) to about 110 hardness units on a scoroscope with Shore scale. In another embodiment, the hardness of the flexible secondary printing form is from about 67 hardness units on a scoroscope with a Shore scale to about 90 hardnesses on a scleroscope with a Shore scale. In yet another embodiment, the flexible secondary printing plate has a hardness of from about 69 hardness units on a scoroscope with a Shore scale to about 81 hardnesses on a scleroscope with a Shore scale before the first image is transferred to the flexible secondary printing form. In yet another embodiment, the flexible secondary printing form has a hardness of from about 65 hardness units on a scoroscope with a Shore scale to about 73 hardness units on a scleroscope with a Shore scale before the first image is transferred to the flexible secondary printing form. In yet another embodiment, the photopolymer flexible secondary printing plate has a hardness on a scleroscope with a Shore scale between about 25 and 55. In another embodiment, at least one of the flexible secondary printing forms can have a hardness on a scleroscope with a Shore scale between about 76 and approximately 82. In yet another embodiment, at least one of the flexible secondary printing forms may have a hardness on a scleroscope with a Shore scale between approximately 68 Dinits hardness and approximately 74 units. In yet another embodiment, at least one of the flexible secondary printing forms optionally has a hardness on a scleroscope with a Shore scale of between about 62 units and about 68 units.

In one embodiment, the saturated polymethylene chain of the flexible secondary printing plate is M-class rubber. In another embodiment, the saturated polymethylene chain of the flexible secondary printing plate is a triple ethylene-propylene-diene rubber chemical compound. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the saturated polymethylene chain of the flexible secondary printing plate is an ethylene-propylene copolymer chemical compound.

In one embodiment of the invention, at least some of the face material of the flexible secondary printing plate is removed to form a first image in one or more of the following processes: direct laser engraving process, mechanical or chemical etching process, or engraving process, ink repulsion process, and a stamping process, or by a combination of one or more of these processes. In one embodiment of the invention, the first image formed on the flexible secondary printing form has a depth of from about 0.0009 inches to about 0.089 inches compared to the plane formed by the front of the printing form. In another embodiment, the first image has a height of from about 0.0009 inches to about 0.089 inches above the plane formed by the front of the printing form.

In one embodiment of the invention, the paint comprises a specialized paint. A specialized paint may contain one or more of the following components: thermochromic paint, photochromic paint, aromatic thermochromic paint, fluorescent paint, UV paint, infrared paint, phosphorescent paint, pressure-sensitive paint, tactile paint, heat-sensitive paint , leuco dye, and matte paint.

In one embodiment of the invention, each of the various images is formed at the same location on each of the flexible secondary printing forms. In another embodiment, only flexible secondary printing plates attached to the first one of the at least one plate cylinder transfer ink to different images formed on each of the flexible secondary printing forms. Printing plates attached to the second one of the at least one plate cylinder do not transfer ink to various images formed on each of the flexible secondary printing forms. Instead, printing plates attached to the second one of the at least one plate cylinder transfer ink to other predetermined areas of each of the flexible secondary printing forms.

In one embodiment, the metal container has a generally cylindrical shape. The first image is transferred to the curved outer surface of the metal container. In another embodiment, the metal container is generally cylindrical in shape and the first image is transferred onto the substantially flat outer surface of the metal container *. In yet another embodiment, the metal container is not cylindrical in shape and the first image is transferred onto the substantially flat outer surface of the metal container.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a device for forming a high-definition lithographic image on the outer surface of a metal container is disclosed. The device can act in such a way as to create many lithographic images using a single set of printing forms. The device generally comprises: (1) at least one plate cylinder with a colorful apparatus for transferring ink to predetermined sections of one or more printing plates attached around the circumference of at least one plate cylinder; (2) a transfer cylinder having one or more flexible secondary printing plates fixed to the circumference of the transfer cylinder, wherein the transfer cylinder can act so as to move the flexible secondary printing forms in rotational contact with the printing plate attached to at least to one plate cylinder, moreover, the ink is transferred from predetermined sections of the printing form to at least a portion of the flexible secondary printing forms, with each of the flexible secondary printing forms optionally selected It has formed thereon an image; and (3) a support cylinder including a plurality of positions adapted to receive metal containers, the support cylinder can be operated to receive a metal container from the conveyor and move the metal container in contact with a flexible secondary printing plate attached to the transfer cylinder, with In this case, the ink is transferred from the flexible secondary printing form to the metal container in order to form a high-definition lithographic image on the outer surface of the metal contour ynera.

In one embodiment of the invention, the flexible secondary printing forms consist of a chemical compound containing at least partially a saturated polymethylene chain. In another embodiment of the invention, the flexible secondary printing forms consist of photopolymer material. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the flexible secondary printing forms consist, at least in part, of a flexible plastic material. In another embodiment, one or more printing forms consists of one of the following chemical compounds: a saturated polymethylene chain, a photopolymer material, and a flexible plastic material. In addition, flexible secondary printing forms optionally can be formed from a single layer of material without an intermediate fabric layer. In another embodiment, flexible secondary printing forms are formed without a layer of another material.

In one embodiment, the at least one plate cylinder and the support cylinder rotate in a first direction, and the transfer cylinder rotates in the opposite second direction. In another embodiment, about 4 to about 24 flexible secondary printing plates are attached around the circumference of the transfer cylinder.

In one embodiment, each of the flexible secondary printing forms has a different image formed thereon. In one embodiment of the invention, each of the various images is formed at the same location on each of the flexible secondary printing forms. In another embodiment, only the first printing plates, which are attached to the first plate cylinder from the at least one plate cylinder, transfer ink to different images formed on each of the flexible secondary printing forms. The second printing plates, which are attached to the second plate cylinder from at least one plate cylinder, do not transfer ink to images formed on flexible secondary printing forms. The second printing forms may optionally transfer ink to other predetermined areas of each of the flexible secondary printing forms.

In one embodiment of the invention, a second image is formed on a printing plate. Ink is transferred from the second image to flexible secondary printing forms, and then to the outer surface of the metal container. In another embodiment, no image is formed on the printing forms, but the printing forms transfer ink to the flexible secondary printing forms. For example, in one embodiment of the invention, the face of the printing plate is continuously coated with ink. Continuous ink coating is transferred to each section of the front of the flexible secondary printing form, which creates contact with the front of the printing form.

In one embodiment, the metal container has a generally cylindrical shape. In yet another embodiment, the metal container does not have a cylindrical shape. In one embodiment, the ink is transferred from a flexible secondary printing form to one or more of a generally cylindrical outer surface and a non-cylindrical outer surface of the metal container.

In one embodiment of the invention, when the flexible secondary printing form consists of photopolymer material, images are generally formed on flexible secondary printing forms as follows: (1) creating a negative film of each of the various images; (2) placement of negative film on predetermined sections of flexible secondary printing forms; (3) irradiation of flexible secondary printing plates and negative film with a light source; (4) removal of negative film from flexible secondary printing forms; and (5) rinsing the flexible secondary printing plates to remove the unirradiated soft photopolymer material of the flexible secondary printing plates to expose various images. In another embodiment of the invention, images are generally formed on flexible secondary printing forms using at least one of the methods: direct laser engraving, mechanical or chemical etching, or engraving process, ink repulsion process, stamping process, and a combination of one or more of these processes.

In one embodiment of the invention, the paint comprises a specialized paint. A specialized paint may be one or more of the following types of paint: thermochromic paint, photochromic paint, aromatic thermochromic paint, fluorescent paint, UV paint, infrared paint, phosphorescent paint, pressure sensitive paint, tactile paint, thermo-tactile paint paint, leuco dye, and matte paint.

In another embodiment, the at least one plate cylinder comprises from about four to about eighteen plate cylinders. In another embodiment, the device includes approximately 8 plate cylinders. The colorful apparatus interacts in a given alignment position with each of 4-18 plate cylinders. In yet another embodiment, the first printing plates that are attached to the first of 4-18 plate cylinders have an ink receiving area aligned with different images on each of the flexible secondary printing forms and can act to transfer ink thereto. Each of the second printing plates, attached to other printing plates from among 4-18 plate cylinders, has a relief zone aligned with different images on each of the flexible secondary printing forms. Relief zones will not transfer ink to various images of flexible secondary printing forms. The ink receiving area of the first printing plates attached to the first cylinder from 4-18 plate cylinders, and the relief zones of the second printing plates attached to other printing plates from among 4-18 plate cylinders, are located in the corresponding locations on all printing plates, and have generally the same size and shape. In one embodiment of the invention, the ink receiving areas and the relief zones have a shape selected from the group consisting of a parallelogram, square, rectangle, circle, or any combination of these figures. In a more preferred embodiment, the ink receiving areas and embossed areas are generally rectangular in shape. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the ink receiving areas and the relief zones are at least slightly larger than the various images of the flexible secondary printing forms. In this method, the position of the flexible secondary printing plates on the plate cylinder can be changed by a predetermined value in the axial or radial directions from the predetermined position in order to maintain a predetermined alignment with the ink receiving areas of the first printing plates and with the relief zones of the second printing plates.

Another aspect of the present invention is the provision of a flexible secondary printing form adapted in such a way as to form a high-definition lithographic image on the outer surface of the metal container during printing. In one embodiment of the invention, the flexible secondary printing form generally comprises a printing form casing consisting of photopolymer material of a given size and hardness, the printing casing having a front part and a rear part, the back part being adapted so as to be attached to the plate cylinder of the machine decorator. In another embodiment, the flexible secondary printing form consists, at least in part, of a chemical compound containing a saturated polymethylene chain. In one embodiment, the plate body has a thickness of from about 0.04 inches to about 0.1 inches. Optionally, a flexible secondary printing form may be formed of a single material. Accordingly, in one embodiment of the invention, the flexible secondary printing form has no filaments and / or intermediate layers of various materials. In one embodiment, the metal container has a generally cylindrical body.

Optionally, the image can be formed on the front of a flexible secondary printing form by creating a negative film image. Negative film is placed on a given section of the front part. The front part and the negative film are exposed to the light source. The negative film is removed from the front, and then the flexible secondary printing plate is cleaned to remove non-irradiated soft material from the front. In one embodiment of the invention, before the image is formed on the front part, the flexible secondary printing form has a hardness from about 40 Shore A hardness units on the hardness tester to about 110 Shore hardness units. In addition, images can be formed on the front of a flexible secondary printing form using one or more of the following methods: direct laser engraving process, mechanical or chemical etching, or engraving process, ink repulsion process, stamping process, or using a combination of one or more of these processes.

Another aspect of the present invention is the provision of a method of using a decorator in a printing process to decorate the outer surface of a plurality of metal containers with various images. The method generally comprises: (1) providing a first printing plate positioned on a first plate cylinder of a decorator machine, which includes a first ink receiving area and a relief zone that will not accumulate ink; (2) providing a second printing plate positioned on a second plate cylinder of the decorator machine, which includes a second ink receiving area that aligns with a relief zone of the first printing plate; (3) providing the first flexible printing plate obtained by the translation method positioned on the transfer cylinder of the decorator, the front part of the first flexible printing form obtained by the translation method defines a first plane, the first flexible printing plate obtained by the translation method includes a first image in a first predetermined portion of a front portion; (4) providing a second flexible printing plate obtained by the translation method positioned on the transfer cylinder, the front part of the second flexible printing form obtained by the translation method defines a second plane, the second flexible printing form obtained by the translation method includes a second image on a second predetermined section of the front part; (5) applying a first ink to a first ink receiving area of a first printing plate; (6) transferring the first ink from the first printing plate to other predetermined areas of the front parts of each of the first and second flexible printing plates obtained by the translation method; (7) applying a second ink to the second ink receiving area of the second printing plate; (8) transferring the second ink from the second ink receiving area of the second printing form to a first image of a first flexible printing form obtained by a translation method and to a second image of a second flexible printing form obtained by a translation method; (9) transferring the first and second inks from the first flexible printing plate obtained by the transfer method onto the outer surface of the first metal container, where the first metal container is decorated with the first ink and the first image formed from the second ink; and (10) transferring the first and second inks from the second flexible printing plate obtained by the transfer method onto the outer surface of the second metal container, where the second metal container is decorated with the first ink and the second image formed from the second ink. In one embodiment of the invention, the first and second flexible printing plates obtained by the translation method consist of one of a chemical compound containing at least partially a saturated polymethylene chain, a photopolymer material, and a flexible plastic material. Optionally, the first and second flexible printing plates obtained by the translation method are formed from a monolithic layer of material with no intermediate layers of other materials. In one embodiment of the invention, the adhesive transfer tape on the back of the first and second flexible printing plates obtained by the translation method is used to attach the printing plates obtained by the translation method to the transfer cylinder.

In one embodiment of the invention, at least a portion of the first image has a depth that is lower than the first plane, while there are no portions of the first image protruding above the first plane. In another embodiment, at least a portion of the second image has a depth that is lower than the second plane, while there are no portions of the second image protruding above the second plane. In yet another embodiment of the invention, at least a portion of one of the images from the first and second images projects above the first and second planes.

Optionally, in another embodiment, the first predetermined portion of the first flexible printing plate obtained by the translation method and the second predetermined portion of the second flexible printing plate obtained by the translation method align with the relief zone of the first printing plate and the second ink receiving area of the second printing plate during the transfer of ink from the first and second printing plates to the first and second flexible printing plates obtained by the translation method. In yet another embodiment, the first image of the first flexible printing plate obtained by the translation method is surrounded by a relief zone that will not accept ink from the first and second printing forms. In this method, a first image formed on a metal container is surrounded by a paint-free area. In another embodiment, the second image of the second flexible printing plate obtained by the translation method comprises embossed areas that will not accept ink from the second printing form, and raised regions that will receive ink from the second printing form. Accordingly, the second image formed on the second metal container includes areas not containing paint and areas containing paint.

Optionally, the second receiving region of the second printing plate is surrounded by a region containing no ink. In addition, the embossed area of the first printing form may optionally have a shape that aligns with the shape of the second ink receiving area of the second printing form. In another embodiment, the depth of at least one of the two images, i.e. the first image on the first flexible printing form obtained by the translation method, and the second image on the second flexible printing form obtained by the translation method is from about 0.0009 inches to about 0.089 inches. In yet another embodiment, the height of at least one of the two images, i.e. the first image on the first flexible printing plate obtained by the translation method, and the second image on the second flexible printing form obtained by the translation method, is from about 0.0009 inches to about 0.089 inches above the plane defined by the surfaces receiving ink of the flexible printing forms, received by the transfer method.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first and second flexible printing plates obtained by the translation method consist of at least one elastomer which is processed using a polymerization process catalyzed by light, chloroprene, cross-linked with trimethylopropane triacrylate, and isoprenstyrene rubber with polyacrylate. In another embodiment of the invention, the saturated polymethylene chain of the first and second flexible printing plates obtained by the translation method is M-rubber. In another embodiment, the saturated polymethylene chain of the first and second flexible printing plates obtained by the transfer process is a triple ethylene-propylene-diene rubber compound. In yet another embodiment, the saturated polymethylene chain of the first and second flexible printing plates obtained by the transfer process is a chemical compound ethylene-propylene copolymer.

In one embodiment, the first paint is a different type of paint or a different color with respect to the second paint. In another embodiment, at least one of the first ink and the second ink comprises a specialized ink. A specialized paint may contain one or more of the following components: thermochromic paint, photochromic paint, aromatic thermochromic paint, fluorescent paint, UV paint, infrared paint, phosphorescent paint, pressure-sensitive paint, tactile paint, heat-sensitive paint, leuco dye, and matte paint.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method of using a flexible secondary printing form in the printing process to decorate the outer surface of a generally cylindrical container. The method includes, but is not limited to: (1) providing a first flexible secondary printing plate together with a first image formed on it, and at least a portion of the first image has a depth that is lower than the first plane defined by the front of the first flexible a secondary printing form, with no portions of the first image protruding above the first plane; (2) attaching a first flexible secondary printing plate with a first image to a transfer cylinder of a decorator machine; (3) transferring the first ink from the first printing form to at least a portion of the first flexible secondary printing form, wherein the first printing form is interconnected with the first plate cylinder of the decorator; and (4) transferring the first ink from the first flexible secondary printing form to the outer surface of the first container to form a first image on the first container. Accordingly, the first image on the first container is made using the first ink. In one embodiment of the invention, the first image formed on the first flexible secondary printing form is three-dimensional and includes predetermined areas with different depths.

Optionally, in another embodiment of the invention, the method may further include transferring the second ink from the second image on the second printing form to at least part of the first flexible secondary printing form, while the second flexible secondary printing form does not transfer the second ink to the first image, and the second flexible secondary printing form is interconnected with the second plate cylinder of the decorator. Subsequently, the first and second inks are transferred from the first flexible secondary printing form to the outer surface of the first container to form the first and second images on the first container. In this method, the first image on the first container is made using the first ink, and the second image on the first container is made using the second ink. In one embodiment of the invention, the first image formed on the first flexible secondary printing form is three-dimensional and includes predetermined sections with different depths.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first image on the first flexible secondary printing form is negative and contains relief zones that will not accept ink (or will only accept a very small amount of ink) from the first flexible secondary printing form. In another embodiment, the first image formed on the first container includes areas not containing paint.

In another embodiment, the first image on the first flexible secondary printing form comprises a combination of embossed areas that will not accept ink from the first flexible secondary printing form, and raised areas that will receive ink from the first flexible secondary printing form. In another embodiment of the invention, the first image formed on the first container includes areas not containing paint and areas containing paint.

Optionally, the method may further include: (a) providing a second flexible secondary printing form with a third image formed on it; (b) attaching a second flexible secondary printing form to the transfer cylinder; (c) transferring the first ink from the first printing form to at least a portion of the second flexible secondary printing form; (d) transferring the second ink from the second image on the second printing form to the second flexible secondary printing form, while the second printing form does not transfer the second ink to the third image; and (e) transferring the first and second inks from the second flexible secondary printing form to the outer surface of the second container to form the second and third images on the second container. Accordingly, the third image on the second container consists at least partially of the first ink, and the second image on the second container consists, at least partially, of the second ink.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first and second flexible secondary printing forms consist of one of the chemical compounds containing at least partially a saturated chain of polymethylene, photopolymer material and flexible plastic material. In another embodiment, the first and second flexible secondary printing forms consist of at least one of the elastomers that is processed using a polymerization process catalyzed by light, chloroprene, cross-linked with trimethylopropane triacrylate, and isoprenstyrene rubber with polyacrylate. In another embodiment, the saturated polymethylene chain is M-class rubber. In another embodiment, the saturated polymethylene chain is a triple ethylene-propylene-diene rubber compound. In yet another embodiment, the saturated polymethylene chain is a chemical compound of an ethylene-propylene copolymer. In addition, the first and second flexible secondary printing forms can be formed from a uniform layer of material. In another embodiment, the inner parts of the first and second flexible secondary printing forms are free of threads or fabrics.

In one embodiment, the first paint is a different type of paint or a different color with respect to the second paint. In another embodiment, at least one of the first ink and the second ink comprises a specialized ink. A specialized paint may contain one or more of the following components: thermochromic paint, photochromic paint, aromatic thermochromic paint, fluorescent paint, UV paint, infrared paint, phosphorescent paint, pressure-sensitive paint, tactile paint, heat-sensitive paint, leuco dye, and matte paint.

Another aspect of the present invention is a method for decorating the outer surface of a plurality of cylindrical metal containers in a continuous decorating process. The method comprises: (1) attaching a plurality of flexible secondary printing plates to a transfer cylinder of a decorator machine; (2) attaching a first printing plate with a first ink receiving region to the first plate cylinder of the decorator machine, wherein the first ink receiving region is aligned with a predetermined portion of each of the plurality of flexible secondary printing forms; (3) attaching a second printing plate with a second ink receiving area and a relief zone to the second plate cylinder of the decorator machine, wherein the relief zone is aligned with a predetermined portion of each of the plurality of flexible secondary printing forms; (4) applying a first ink to a first ink receiving area of a first printing plate; (5) applying a second ink to the second ink receiving area of the second printing plate; (6) transferring at least some portion of the first ink and second ink from the first and second printing forms to at least a portion of each of the plurality of flexible secondary printing forms; and (7) transferring the first ink and the second ink from the plurality of flexible secondary printing plates to the outer surface of each of the plurality of cylindrical metal containers, each of the plurality of cylindrical metal containers being decorated with a first ink and a second ink.

In one additional embodiment of the invention, each of the flexible secondary printing forms has different images formed inside at least a predetermined portion of each of the plurality of flexible secondary printing forms. In one embodiment of the invention, at least a portion of each different image formed on the flexible secondary printing forms has a depth that is lower than a plane defined by the face of each of the flexible secondary printing forms. In another embodiment, there is no part of each different image formed on the flexible secondary printing forms that projects above the plane of the front of each of the flexible secondary printing forms.

In one embodiment of the invention, the second printing plate transfers the image with a second ink to each of the plurality of flexible secondary printing forms. The image is then transferred from flexible secondary printing plates to each of a plurality of cylindrical metal containers. In this method, each of the plurality of cylindrical metal containers is decorated using an image from a second printing plate and a second ink, as well as using one of the various images of the flexible secondary printing plates and the first ink.

In one embodiment of the invention, the flexible secondary printing forms consist of a uniform layer. The homogeneous layer may be one of the compounds containing, at least in part, a saturated chain of polymethylene, photopolymer material and flexible plastic material. In one embodiment of the invention, at least one of the flexible secondary printing forms consists of at least one of the elastomers that is processed using a polymerization process catalyzed by light, chloroprene, cross-linked using trimethylopropane triacrylate, and isoprenstyrene rubber with polyacrylate. In another embodiment, the saturated polymethylene chain is M-class rubber. In another embodiment, the saturated polymethylene chain is a chemical compound of triple ethylene propylene diene rubber. In yet another embodiment, the saturated polymethylene chain is a chemical compound of an ethylene-propylene copolymer. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the flexible secondary printing forms are free of threads.

In another embodiment, the first ink apparatus imposes a first ink on a first printing form, and the second ink apparatus imposes a second ink on a second printing form. In one embodiment, the first paint is a different type of paint or a different color with respect to the second paint. In another embodiment, at least one of the first ink and the second ink comprises a specialized ink. A specialized paint may contain one or more of the following components: thermochromic paint, photochromic paint, aromatic thermochromic paint, fluorescent paint, UV paint, infrared paint, phosphorescent paint, pressure-sensitive paint, tactile paint, heat-sensitive paint, adhesive dye and matte paint.

In yet another embodiment, the decorator machine comprises additional printing plates attached to additional plate cylinders. In one embodiment of the invention, the additional plate cylinders comprise from four to eighteen plate cylinders. Each of these four to eighteen plate cylinders can act in such a way as to overprint with additional colors or types on a plurality of flexible secondary printing plates fixed to the transfer cylinder.

One aspect of the present invention is a decorator machine for decorating the outer surface of a plurality of metal containers with various images. The decorator machine includes, but is not limited to: (1) a first plate cylinder, which includes a first printing plate with a first ink receiving area; (2) a first ink apparatus located in a predetermined position with respect to the first plate cylinder, a first ink apparatus is for applying a first ink to a first ink receiving area of a first printing form; (3) a second plate cylinder, which includes a second printing plate with a second ink receiving area; (4) a second ink apparatus located at a predetermined position with respect to the second plate cylinder, a second ink apparatus is for applying a second ink to the second ink receiving region of the second printing mold; (5) the transfer cylinder with the first flexible printing plate obtained by the translation method consists, at least in part, of a chemical compound including a saturated polymethylene chain, the transfer cylinder is aligned in a predetermined position with respect to the first and second plate cylinders, as a result wherein the first flexible printing form obtained by the translation method receives the first ink from the first printing form and the first * flexible printing form obtained by the translation method receives the second ink from the second printing form we; (6) a support cylinder aligned in a predetermined position with respect to the transfer cylinder, wherein the support cylinder includes a plurality of positions for receiving metal containers and holding metal containers in a predetermined position with respect to the first printing plate obtained by the transfer method of the transfer cylinder, the supporting cylinder may act in such a way as to move the metal containers in contact with a flexible printing plate obtained by the translation method in order to transfer the first and second colors from a flexible printing plate obtained by the method of translation, to metal containers. In one embodiment of the invention, the flexible printing plate obtained by the translation method is made of uniform material. In another embodiment, the flexible printing plate obtained by the transfer method is free of tissue layer. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the flexible printing plate obtained by the translation method does not have any threads.

In one embodiment of the invention, the flexible printing plate obtained by the translation method further comprises a front portion defining a first plane. The first image is formed on the first predetermined portion of the front. At least a portion of the first image has a depth that is lower than the first plane. In one embodiment, there are no portions of the first image that extend above the first plane. Optionally, in another embodiment of the invention, the first flexible printing plate obtained by the translation method is formed from a single layer of material.

In another embodiment of the invention, the transfer cylinder further includes a second flexible printing plate obtained by a transfer method, consisting at least in part of a chemical compound comprising a saturated polymethylene chain. In one embodiment of the invention, the second flexible printing plate obtained by the translation method further comprises a front portion defining a second plane. Optionally, a second image is formed on a second predetermined portion of the front portion. At least a portion of the additional second image has a depth that is lower than the second plane. In one embodiment of the invention, there are no parts of the second image protruding above the second plane. In one embodiment, each of the images from the first image of the first flexible printing plate obtained by the translation method and the second image of the second flexible printing plate obtained by the translation method has a depth of from about 0.0009 inches to about 0.089 inches below the first and second planes. Alternatively, at least one of the first image of the first flexible printing form obtained by the translation method and the second image of the second flexible printing form obtained by the translation method may have a height of from about 0.0009 inches to about 0.089 inches above first and second planes.

In another embodiment, the first printing form further comprises a relief zone that does not accept the first ink from the first ink apparatus. The relief zone is aligned with the first image of the first flexible printing form obtained by the translation method, and the second image of the second flexible printing form obtained by the translation method. The second ink receiving area of the second printing plate is also aligned with the first and second images of the first and second flexible printing plates obtained by the translation method. Optionally, the second ink receiving area of the second printing form may be surrounded by an ink-free area. In one embodiment, the first predetermined portion of the first flexible printing plate obtained by the translation method and the second predetermined portion of the second flexible printing plate obtained by the translation method align with the relief region of the first printing plate and the second ink receiving area of the second printing plate. In this method, during the transfer of ink from the first and second printing plates to the first and second flexible printing plates obtained by the translation method, the first ink is not transferred to the first and second images formed on the first and second flexible printing plates obtained by the translation method.

In one embodiment of the invention, an adhesive transfer tape on the back of the first and second flexible printing plates obtained by the translation method is used to attach the first and second printing plates obtained by the translation method to the transfer cylinder.

In another embodiment, the first image of the first flexible printing plate obtained by the translation method is surrounded by a relief zone that will not accept ink from the first and second printing forms. Accordingly, a first image formed on metal containers is surrounded by a paint-free area.

Optionally, in another embodiment of the invention, the second image of the second flexible printing plate obtained by the translation method includes relief zones that will not receive a second ink from the second printing form, and raised areas that will receive a second ink from the second printing form. Accordingly, the second image formed on the metal containers includes areas that do not contain paint, and areas containing paint.

In one embodiment of the invention, the saturated polymethylene chain of at least one flexible printing plate obtained by the translation method, among the first and second such printing plates, is an M-class rubber. In another embodiment of the invention, the saturated polymethylene chain of at least one flexible printing plate obtained by the translation method, of the first and second such printing plates, is a chemical compound triple ethylene-propylene-diene rubber. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the saturated polymethylene chain of at least one flexible printing plate obtained by the conversion process, of the first and second such printing plates, is an ethylene-propylene copolymer chemical compound.

In one embodiment, the first paint is a different type of paint or a different color with respect to the second paint. In another embodiment of the invention, at least one of the first and second inks comprises a specialized ink. A specialized paint may contain one or more of the following components: thermochromic paint, photochromic paint, aromatic thermochromic paint, fluorescent paint, ultraviolet paint, invisible paint, infrared paint, phosphorescent paint, pressure-sensitive paint, tactile paint, thermo-tactile paint, leuco dye and matte paint.

The essence of the present invention is not intended, and should not be construed, as representing the full size and scope of the present invention. In addition, the references made herein to “the present invention” or its aspects should not be construed in such a way that they mean certain embodiments of the present invention and should not be construed as limiting all embodiments of the invention to this specific description. The present invention is formulated with various levels of detail in the Summary of the Invention, as well as in the attached drawings and in the Detailed Description of the Invention, and no limitations are imposed on the scope of the present invention by including or not including elements, components, etc. in this Summary. Additional aspects of the present invention will be more apparent from the Detailed Description, especially when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

These and other advantages will be apparent from the presented description of the invention. The above-described embodiments of the invention, tasks and configurations are not complete or exhaustive. It should be appreciated that in other embodiments of the invention, it is possible to use individually or in combination one or more of the features set forth above or described below. Furthermore, the Summary of the Invention is not intended to be construed as representing an exhaustive scope of the present invention. The present invention is formulated with various levels of detail in the section "Summary of the invention", as well as in the attached drawings and in the detailed description of the invention, and no restrictions on the scope of the present invention are not expected by including or not including elements, components, etc. in this section "Summary of the invention." Additional aspects of the present invention will be more apparent from the detailed description, especially when they are discussed in conjunction with the drawings.

Although “metal can”, “metal containers”, and / or “cylindrical metal containers” are generally referred to herein, it should be appreciated that the present method can be used to decorate containers of any shape or other manufacturing products, including generally cylindrical surfaces and non-cylindrical surfaces (including flat surfaces) made of metal or other materials.

The phrase “specialized paints” as used herein may include, but is not limited to, one or more of the colors or types of the following inks: thermochromic ink, photochromic ink, flavored thermochromic ink, fluorescent ink, ultraviolet ink, invisible ink, infrared ink , phosphorescent paint, pressure-sensitive paint, tactile paint, thermo-tactile paint, leuco dye, matte paint, and any other type of paint, dye or varnish that changes The current appearance, color, phase, and / or texture in response to a change in temperature, or the effect of light, or pressure.

As used herein, “thermochromic ink” may include, but is not limited to, any ink of a first predetermined color that may reversibly or irreversibly change to a second and / or third predetermined color in response to a change in temperature.

As used herein, “photochromic paint” may include, but is not limited to, any paint of a first predetermined color that may reversibly or irreversibly change to a second and / or third predetermined color in response to exposure to light with different wavelengths.

“Flavored thermochromic paint”, by way of illustration only, includes, but is not limited to, any paint of any color that gives off a given flavor in response to a change in temperature.

As used herein, “fluorescent dye” may include, but is not limited to, any dye that absorbs ultraviolet energy (light) at different wavelengths, and in response emits longer wavelengths of the visible spectrum, creating visible light ( or “glow”) of a given color. Fluorescent colors glow under the influence of invisible radiation and create a "daylight glow."

In the context used here, the term "phosphorescent paint" includes, but is not limited to, any paint that absorbs light with different wavelengths and in response creates light with a given color. Phosphorescent paints create light in the same way as fluorescent paints, however, phosphorescent paints continue to emit light or “glow” after “charging” from the light source, even if the light source is removed. Phosphorescent paints are also known as "paint that glows in the dark."

As used herein, the term “invisible paint” includes, but is not limited to, any paint that contains phosphorus that absorbs ultraviolet radiation and emits visible light in response.

As used herein, the term “pressure sensitive ink” may include, but is not limited to, any ink of a first predetermined color, which may change to a second and / or third predetermined color after applying a predetermined pressure. Pressure sensitive paint may include capsules containing paints of various colors. When a pressure of a predetermined value is applied to the pressure-sensitive paint, the capsules break and various colors of paint are released from the mixture of capsules, changing the color of said pressure-sensitive paint.

As used herein, “matte paint” may include, but is not limited to, any paint of any given color that has an outer coating that scatters more light rays (or has less “gloss”) when applied to the substrate, than other nematic paints (or “glossy” paints), which reflect more light in the form of parallel rays.

References to “lithographic printing” or aspects of such printing need not be construed as limiting the present invention to a particular printing method or type. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be used in other printing processes, such as offset printing, dry offset printing, gravure printing, intaglio printing, screen printing and inkjet printing.

In the context used here, a flexible secondary printing form may consist of a photopolymer material, a composition comprising at least partially a saturated polymethylene chain, various forms of flexible plastic materials, or any other related materials with similar physical properties. The flexible secondary printing plate can be of any size or shape, and can be round or in the form of a sleeve adapted to fit around the circumference of the transfer cylinder.

The phrases “photopolymer printing plates”, “flexible photopolymer printing plates”, “flexible photopolymer material” and “flexible photopolymer offset blanks” can be used interchangeably and generally refer to printing forms or offset blanks including photopolymer material. Thus, the flexible photopolymer printing plate can be a photopolymer printing plate, which is a digital printing plate, a conventional analog printing plate, or a cylinder coated with a photopolymer material.

The term “a” or “an” refers to one or more objects. Thus, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more”, and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein.

“Including”, “comprising” or “having”, as well as their variations in this description, include the inclusion of elements listed hereinafter, and their equivalents, as well as additional elements. Accordingly, the terms “including,” “comprising,” or “having,” and their variations may be used interchangeably.

It should be understood that the term "funds" should be interpreted in the broadest interpretation in accordance with US Patent Law, Section 112 (f).

Accordingly, a claim including the term "agent" should encompass all structures, materials or actions set forth herein, as well as all their equivalents, as disclosed in the description of the invention, abstract, drawings and claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are included in the description and form part of this description, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the essence of the invention above and the detailed description of the drawings below, serve to explain the principles of these embodiments of the invention. In certain examples, details that are not necessary to understand the disclosure of the invention, or that interpret other details that are difficult to read, may be omitted. Of course, it should be appreciated that the present invention is not necessarily limited to the specific embodiments of the invention illustrated here. In addition, it should be appreciated that the drawings are not necessarily to scale.

FIG. 1A is a plan view of an engraved or etched print plate in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a sectional elevational view of the printing plate shown in FIG. 1A along line 1B;

FIG. 2A is a plan view of a relief form in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a vertical sectional view of the printing form shown in FIG. 2A, along line 2B;

FIG. 3A is a plan view of a flexible secondary printing plate before an image is formed on it;

FIG. 3B is a vertical side view of the flexible secondary printing form shown in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A is a plan view of a flexible secondary printing plate together with an image formed thereon, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a plan view of a flexible secondary printing plate together with a second image formed thereon, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional elevational view of the flexible secondary printing plate shown in FIG. 4B along line 4C;

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of one embodiment of a decorator of the present invention using flexible secondary printing forms to decorate metal containers;

FIG. 6A is a photograph of a flexible secondary printing plate consisting of a photopolymer material with an image formed thereon, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 6B is an enlarged photograph of an image formed on the flexible secondary printing form shown in FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7A is a photograph of a metal container decorated in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention using the flexible secondary printing plate shown in FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7B is an enlarged photograph of the metal can shown in FIG. 7A;

FIG. 8 is a photograph of another flexible secondary printing form consisting of a photopolymer material with images formed thereon, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a photograph of a metal container decorated in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention using the flexible secondary printing form shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10A is an enlarged photograph of a first image formed on the metal container shown in FIG. 9 using the flexible secondary printing form shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10B is a second enlarged photograph of a second image formed on the metal container shown in FIG. 9 using the flexible secondary printing form shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a photograph of another flexible secondary printing form consisting of a photopolymer material with images formed thereon, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a photograph of a metal container decorated in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention using the flexible secondary printing form shown in FIG. eleven;

FIG. 13 is a photograph of another flexible secondary printing form consisting of a photopolymer material with images formed thereon, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 14A-14B are photographs of a metal container decorated in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention using the flexible secondary printing form shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15A-15B are photographs of a flexible secondary printing form containing a chemical compound including a saturated polymethylene chain with images formed thereon, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 16A-16C are photographs of a metal container decorated using the flexible secondary printing form shown in FIG. 15, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17A is a photograph of the front of the offset web from the prior art with images formed thereon;

FIG. 17B is a photograph of the edge of the offset web of the prior art shown in FIG. 17A showing the layers of the offset web of the prior art;

FIG. 17C is a schematic vertical side view showing the layers of a blanket of the prior art;

FIG. 18A-18B are photographs of a metal container decorated using a prior art offset web shown in FIG. 17; and

FIG. 19A-19B are photographs of another metal container decorated using a different prior art offset web.

To facilitate understanding of one embodiment of the present invention, the following list of components and the corresponding numbering are set forth in the drawings:

Number Component

2 - printing form,

4 - front part,

6 - back

8 - paint receiving area,

10 - area that does not contain paint,

12 - relief zone

14 is a flexible secondary printing form,

16 - the area of the paint,

18 is an image

20 - relief zone

22 - raster plot

24 - decorator machine,

26 - plate cylinder,

28 - colorful apparatus,

30 - rollers,

32 - transfer cylinder

33 is a general image

34 is a metal container

36 - conveyor

38 - reference cylinder

40 - socket for a metal container,

42 - drive

44 - surface of the container,

46 - area that does not contain paint,

48 - varnishing unit,

50 - curing unit,

52 - flexible secondary printing form of photopolymer material,

54 is an image on a flexible secondary printing form,

56 is an image on a flexible secondary printing form,

58 - the area of the paint,

60 is a first portion of a paint receiving area,

62 is a second portion of a paint receiving area,

64 is a third portion of the ink receiving area,

65 is a fourth portion of a paint receiving area,

66 - decorated metal container,

68 - image,

70 - flexible secondary printing form of photopolymer material,

72 - a print of black ink,

74 - image of a dog,

76 is an image of a feline animal,

78 - decorated metal container,

80 - flexible secondary printing form of photopolymer material,

82 - substrate material,

84 is an image of a building,

88 - decorated metal container,

90 - flexible secondary printing form from a composition with a saturated chain of polymethylene,

94 is the first image

96 is a second image,

98 - depth scale,

100 - decorated metal container,

102 - base coverage

106 - offset web, consisting of well-known materials,

108 is an image formed on the front of the offset web. known from the prior art,

110 - front part,

112 - the first tissue layer,

114 - compression layer,

116 - the second tissue layer,

118 - paper lining,

120 - decorated metal container,

122 - decorated metal container,

124 is an image transferred onto a container from an offset web known in the art.

Detailed description

The present invention has significant advantages in a wide range of fields of activity. The intention of the applicant is that this description and the attached claims are consistent with the scope of protection, in accordance with the scope and essence of the invention, and disclosed, despite the possible occurrence of language restrictions imposed by the requirements for specific disclosed examples. In order to familiarize oneself with the invention of those skilled in the art that are most closely related to the present invention, a preferred embodiment of the invention is described herein, which illustrates the best mode contemplated for practicing the invention described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, which form part of the description. An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described in detail without attempting to describe all the various forms and modifications in which the invention can be implemented. Essentially, the embodiments of the invention described herein are illustrative, and as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, can be modified in numerous ways, while remaining within the scope and spirit of the present invention.

Although the following text provides a detailed description of numerous different embodiments of the invention, it should be appreciated that the detailed description is to be construed as indicative only and does not describe every possible embodiment of the invention, since a description of each possible embodiment of the invention would be impractical, if not impossible. . Numerous alternative embodiments of the invention can be implemented using either existing technology or technology developed after the filing date of this application, which will still fall within the scope of the claims. To the extent that any term cited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent so that it is consistent with its single meaning, this is done only for the purpose of clarity, and not in order to confuse the reader, and does not imply that such a term as cited in the claims, by way of limitation, subtext, or otherwise refers to this single meaning.

In FIG. 1A and 1B illustrate a printing plate 2A. The printing plate 2A has a front portion 4 and a rear portion 6. One or more ink receiving areas 8 adapted to receive ink are formed on the front portion 4 by any method known to those skilled in the art. The ink receiving regions 8 are adapted to transfer ink onto a flexible secondary printing plate 14 (illustrated in FIGS. 3-4). The ink receiving areas 8 of the printing form 2A transfer a single tone, image, type of ink or text onto the flexible secondary printing form 14 during the printing process.

One or more regions 10 without ink may be formed on the printing plate 2A. Ink-free areas 10 can be formed by engraving, milling, etching and / or removing selected portions from the front 4 of the printing form 2A to form lower portions on the front. Additionally or alternatively, ink-free areas 10 can be treated so that they are hydrophilic to prevent ink from adhering to the printing form 2A, as is known to those skilled in the art. Ink-free regions 10 will not accept or transfer ink onto a flexible secondary printing plate 14. Although the ink-free region 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1A as rectangular, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that an ink-free area 10 of any shape, such as a circle, square, or star, an irregular shape and / or a combination of these shapes can be formed on the printed form 2A. The size and location of the ink-free area 10 may also vary. The printing form 2A may have a common content with other printing forms 2 used in the printing process to form the final image, which will be transferred first to a flexible secondary printing form, and then to a metal container 34. In addition, in one embodiment of the invention, the size, the location and shape of the ink receiving area 8A within the ink-free area 10 is aligned with the size, location and shape of the images 18 formed on the flexible secondary printing form 14. Correspondingly Naturally, the ink receiving region 8A will transfer ink to images 18 formed on the flexible secondary printing plate 14. In one embodiment of the invention, the ink receiving region 8A is larger in all directions of measurement up to about 0.5 inches compared to images 18 formed on the flexible secondary printing forms 14.

Printing plates 2B may also be formed with a relief zone 12, as illustrated in FIG. 2A and 2B. The relief zone 12 may be formed by removing a portion on the front portion 4 of the printing form 2B. Additionally or alternatively, the embossed area 12 may be formed or processed so that it is hydrophilic to prevent ink from sticking to the printing form 2B. The relief zone 12 will not accept ink, and therefore will not transfer ink to flexible secondary printing forms 14. The size, location and shape of the relief zone 12 can align with the size, location and shape of the ink-free area 10 of the printing form 2A, as illustrated in FIG. 1A and 1B. In one embodiment, the size, location, and shape of the embossed area 12 aligns with the size, location, and shape of the ink receiving area 8A of the printing plate 2A. In other words, the embossed area 12 is formed at substantially the same location in the printing form 2B, where the ink receiving region 8A of the printing form 2A. However, during operation, the printing plate 2A does not come in contact with the printing plate 2B, since they are attached to the various plate cylinders 26B, 26A of the decorator 24. In addition, in another embodiment of the invention, the size, location and shape of the relief zone 12 aligns with the size, location and the shape of the images 18 formed on the flexible secondary printing forms 14. Accordingly, the embossed area 12 will not transfer ink to the images 18 formed on the flexible secondary printing forms 14. In one embodiment, it is According to the invention, the relief zone 12 is larger in all dimensions to approximately 0.5 inches compared to images 18 formed on flexible secondary printing forms 14.

More than one relief zone 12 may be formed on each printing plate 2. Additionally or alternatively, the printing forms 2 may include both relief zones 12 and ink-free areas 10. In one embodiment of the invention, one or more printing forms 2 include a front portion 4 containing photopolymer material. Images, ink-free areas 10, and embossed areas 12 may be formed on the front of a printing plate 2 containing photopolymer material, as described below with reference to FIG. 3 and 4.

After one or more ink receiving areas 8, ink-free areas 10 and / or embossed areas 12 are formed on the printing plate 2, this printing plate 2 is attached to the printing cylinder 26 of the decorator 24, discussed below in connection with FIG. . 5. Optionally, more than one ink color, and one or more specialized inks can be used with the corresponding ink apparatus 28 during the printing process to form the final image. Each individual ink color and type of specialized ink is superimposed using different plate cylinders 26. The printing forms 2 of each plate cylinder 26 will accept only one color or type of specialized ink from the ink unit 28, interconnected with each plate cylinder 26. As specialists will take into account in the art, decorator 24 may include from about four plate cylinders 26 to about eighteen plate cylinders 26. Each plate cylinder 26 decorator 24 can operate in such a way as to transfer an image containing various colors or type of ink to the flexible secondary printing forms 14 of the transfer cylinder 32.

FIG. 3A and 3B illustrate a flexible secondary printing plate 14 before an image is formed on the front portion 4 of the printing plate. In one embodiment, the flexible secondary printing plate 14 consists of a single material. Another method was previously indicated in which the flexible secondary printing plate 14 is a homogeneous structure that is not formed from a laminate (or layers) of various materials. In one embodiment, the flexible secondary printing plate 14 is tissue free. In another embodiment, the flexible secondary printing plate 14 does not contain yarns within a single material of the flexible secondary printing form 14. Conversely, the offset blankets of the prior art (shown in FIGS. 17A-17C) are composite materials containing several layers, with each layer contains various materials. Although the flexible secondary printing plate 14, which is illustrated in FIG. 3A and 3B is generally rectangular in shape, flexible secondary printing plates 14 may be offered with various sizes and shapes that are suitable for use with the present invention. In one embodiment of the present invention, the flexible secondary printing plate 14 has a thickness of from about 0.04 inches to about 0.01 inches. In another embodiment, the thickness of the flexible secondary printing form is from about 0.060 inches to about 0.090 inches. In another embodiment, the thickness of the flexible secondary printing plate is about 0.05 inches. In yet another embodiment, the thickness of the flexible secondary printing plate is about 0.0725 inches. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, flexible secondary printing plates of any other suitable thickness can also be used with the present invention. Optionally, flexible secondary printing forms may include lavsan film lining. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that linings of other materials may be used with flexible secondary printing forms 14, or the liner may not be used at all. In addition, adhesive transfer tape or adhesive sticker * may be added to the back 6 of the flexible secondary printing plate 14.

In one aspect of the present invention, the flexible secondary printing plate 14 may consist, at least in part, of a saturated polymethylene chain compound, or other similar materials with similar physical properties. A flexible secondary printing plate 14, consisting of a saturated polymethylene chain compound, has a hardness between approximately 67 Shore hardness units on a hardness tester and approximately 90 Shore hardness units. In another embodiment, the flexible secondary printing plate 14, consisting of a saturated polymethylene chain compound, has a hardness between approximately 70 Shore hardness units on a hardness tester and approximately 74 Shore hardness units, and in a more preferred embodiment, approximately 72 units Shore hardness on a hardness tester.

In one embodiment of the invention, the saturated polymethylene chain of the flexible secondary printing plate 14 comprises at least partially M-class rubber. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that M-Class rubber is a rubber of the ASTM standard D-1418 rubber. In another embodiment, the saturated polymethylene chain of the flexible secondary plate 14 contains, at least in part, a chemical compound triple ethylene-propylene-diene rubber, known to those skilled in the art, as rubber based on a copolymer of ethylene, propylene and a diene monomer (EPDM ) EPDM rubber is a durable synthetic rubber. In yet another embodiment, the saturated polymethylene chain of the flexible secondary plate 14 contains, at least in part, an ethylene-propylene copolymer chemical compound known to those skilled in the art as EPM and / or EPM rubber. In another aspect of the present invention, at least the front portion 4 of the flexible secondary printing plate 14 may consist of flexible plastic materials.

In another aspect of the present invention, the flexible secondary printing plate 14 may consist of photopolymer material. Suitable flexible photopolymer printing plates are commercially available from a variety of sources, as is known to those skilled in the art. Examples of flexible photopolymer printing plates used for high quality printing on flexible packaging are Cyrel® NOWS and Cyrel® DPR printing plates manufactured by DuPont ™ and described in the source: “DuPont ™ Cyrel® NOWS, Rugged, High-Performance Analog Plate,” ( high-definition analogue printing plate resistant to external factors) available at: http://www2.dupont.com/Packaging_Graphics/en_US/assets/downloads/pdf/Cyrel_NOWS.pdf and “DuPont ™ Cyrel® DPR, Robust Digital Plate for Highest Quality Printing, ”available at: http://www2.dupont.com/Packaging_Graphics/en_US/assets/downloads/pdf/DP_Cyrel_DS_DPR_us_low.pdf, which are included here throughout th its entirety by reference. Other examples of flexible secondary printing plates consisting of photopolymer material are described in the source: “DuPont ™ Cyrel® DFR: High Durometer Digital Plate, available at: http://www.dupont.com/content /dam/assets/products-and-services/printing-package-printing/PG/assets/NA/PDS-NA0031-EN-Cyrel_FAST_DFR-p.pdf, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Other Flexible Secondary Printing Forms described on the website: http://www.dupont.com/products-and-services/printing-package-printing/flexographic-platemaking-systems/brands/cyrel/products/sub-products/cyrel-dsp.html, which is included here in its entirety by reference.

In one embodiment of the invention, flexible photopolymer printing plates have a hardness of from about 40 hardness units on a Shore A scleroscope (Shore A) to about 110 hardnesses on a Shore scale scleroscope. In a preferred embodiment, the hardness of flexible photopolymer printing plates is from about 60 hardness units on a scoroscope with a Shore scale to about 100 hardnesses on a scleroscope with a Shore scale. In another preferred embodiment, the hardness of flexible photopolymer printing plates is from about 50 hardness units on a scoroscope with a Shore scale to about 90 hardnesses on a scleroscope with a Shore scale. Optionally, the hardness can range from approximately 67 hardness units on a scoroscope with a Shore scale to about 90 hardness units on a scleroscope with a Shore scale. One more preferred flexible photopolymer printing plate has a hardness of between about 71 hardness units on a Shore scale scleroscope and about 81 hardness on a Shore scale scleroscope. Another preferred flexible photopolymer printing plate has a hardness of between about 64 hardness units on a Shore scale scleroscope and about 74 hardness on a Shore scale scleroscope. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the flexible photopolymer printing plate has a hardness on a scleroscope with a Shore scale of between about 25 and 55 units. Optionally, at least one flexible secondary printing plate consisting of photopolymer material may have a hardness between about 76 hardness units on a scoroscope with a Shore scale and about 82 hardness points on a scleroscope with a Shore scale. In another embodiment of the invention, the at least one flexible secondary printing plate, consisting of photopolymer material, can have a hardness between about 68 hardness units on a scoroscope with a Shore scale and about 74 hardness points on a scleroscope with a Shore scale. In yet another embodiment, the at least one flexible secondary printing plate consisting of photopolymer material may have a hardness on a scleroscope with a Shore scale of between about 62 hardness units and about 68 units. However, flexible secondary printing plates consisting of photopolymer material that are harder or softer can be used with the method of the present invention. In one embodiment, the hardness of flexible photopolymer printing plates is measured after the printing plates and the image formed thereon have cured, as described below.

Flexible photopolymer printing plate can be made of any photocurable material, whether it is made of polymer or not. One example is UV curable material. Another example is a material that cures with light of a different wavelength, which optionally represents ultraviolet radiation. Although many such printing plates are currently made from polymeric compounds, the present invention can be applied to printing plates made from any material and chemical compound that can be cured by light with a desired wavelength. In one embodiment, the photopolymer printing plate consists of elastomers that are cured using a light catalyzed polymerization process. In another embodiment, the photopolymer printing plate consists of chloroprene cross-linked with trimethylopropane triacrylate. In yet another embodiment, the photopolymer printing plate consists of isoprene-styrene rubber with polyacrylate. Other embodiments of the invention may use flexible photopolymer printing plates consisting of other suitable light curing materials known to those skilled in the art or developed in the future.

Flexible photopolymer printing forms were originally used to create high-resolution graphics on flexible plastic packaging (such as soft plastic bags for vegetables and agricultural products), labels, stickers, folding cardboard boxes, and fabric wrapping materials. In the industry of metal containers, the use of flexible photopolymer printing plates is unknown due to significant problems associated with high-speed printing on the outer surface of the metal substrate. More specifically, metal container manufacturing equipment works with some of the fastest, if not the fastest, production lines in the container industry. Due to the high speeds of the production lines, decorating technologies or processes that may work in other industries, or with containers formed from other materials, do not necessarily operate at the high speeds required for production lines manufacturing metal containers.

In FIG. 4A-4C illustrate flexible secondary printing plates 14 with images 18 formed thereon 18. The front parts 4 of the flexible secondary printing forms 14A, 14B include ink receiving areas 16. In one embodiment, the ink receiving areas 16 define a plane. The ink receiving regions 8 of the printing plates 2, which are in contact with the ink receiving regions 16, will transfer at least some of the ink to the ink receiving regions of the flexible secondary printing forms 14. The word “BALL” is formed on the flexible secondary printing form 14A. The image 18B of the sports shirt is formed on another flexible secondary printing form 14B. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the images 18A, 18B has a depth that is lower than the plane of the ink receiving area 16. In the above other method, in one embodiment of the invention, no portions of the images 18A, 18B protrude above the plane defined by the ink receiving areas 16.

The process of forming the image 18, which should be printed on the outer surface of the metal container, on the flexible secondary printing forms 14 depends on the material of this flexible secondary printing form. When the flexible secondary printing plates 14 are composed, at least in part, of a saturated polymethylene chain compound, an image 18 is formed on (or transferred to) the flexible secondary printing plate 14 by any process known to those skilled in the art (or developed in the future) including, without limitation, a direct laser engraving (DLE) process, mechanical or chemical etching or an engraving process, a paint repelling process, a stamping process, or a combination of these otsessov.

In direct laser engraving (DLE), a portion of the material containing the saturated polymethylene chain of the flexible secondary printing plate 14 is cut off or otherwise removed using a laser. The time required to form the image 18 on the flexible secondary printing form 14 varies depending on the size and complexity of the image, the depth and shading of the image, as well as the composition of the flexible secondary printing form. In one embodiment of the invention, the processing time required to image 18 in a chemical compound containing a saturated polymethylene chain using a direct laser engraving (DLE) process is from about 10 minutes to about 3 hours.

A flexible secondary printing plate 14 may be mounted on a cylindrical surface (not illustrated) while the image 18 is formed using a direct laser engraving (DLE) process. The cylindrical surface has a radius of curvature approximately equal to the radius of curvature of the transfer cylinder 32 of decorator 24 (illustrated in FIG. 5). Imaging 18 in a material containing a saturated polymethylene chain using a direct laser engraving (DLE) process is similar to using laser engraving and a cutting system such as an Epilog laser to burn an image in a substrate. However, the DLE process offers higher image resolution and the ability to control the height of the screened dots that make up image 18 (this height is known as “dot deck height”). Conversely, offset blankets of the prior art, such as offset blankets shown in FIG. 17, easy to melt. As a result, prior art offset webs do not allow the formation of images with thin dots that need to be formed on such a web, such as those formed using a flexible secondary web 14 containing at least partially a saturated polymethylene chain.

In the etching or engraving process, predetermined portions of the material containing the saturated polymethylene chain of the flexible secondary printing plate 14 are removed to form the image 18. In the process of mechanical etching or engraving, a tool is used to remove the predetermined portions of the flexible secondary printing plate material 14. The tool may include a cutting tool, a rotating interchangeable cutting insert, an abrasive tool, an inkjet tool, or any other type of tool that can work to remove a predetermined amount of material from the face 4 of the flexible secondary printing plate 14. The inkjet tool can direct the high pressure flow onto the front part 4 of the flexible secondary printing plate 14. The high-pressure stream of the inkjet tool may include at least one of the components: gas, liquid, and solid o, selected so as to remove rubber from the front portion 4 of the flexible secondary printing plate 14. Optionally, the tool may heat up to a predetermined temperature when the image 18 is formed on the flexible secondary printing form 14.

In the process of chemical etching or engraving, a chemical reagent is used to remove predetermined sections of the material of the flexible secondary printing plate 14. The protective material may be superimposed on the material of the flexible secondary printing plate 14 to ensure that the chemical reagent only contacts and removes predetermined portions of the material containing the saturated polymethylene chain to form the image 18. The protective material is selected so as to adhere to the material, while it must be neutral with respect to the chemical reagent in order to protect areas of the material that are not image areas that contain a saturated polymethylene chain. In one embodiment of the invention, the protective material may be applied to the entire front surface 4 of the flexible secondary printing plate 14. Then, the protective material is selectively removed from the areas forming the image 18. In another embodiment of the invention, the protective material is applied only to areas that are not image areas the front part 4 of the flexible secondary printing form 14. Then the chemical reagent is applied to the front part 4 and is in contact with areas of the image that are not protected by a protective ma erialom. After a predetermined period of time, the chemical reagent is removed or neutralized and the protective material is removed from the flexible secondary printing plate 14. Optionally, the flexible secondary printing plate 14 can be at least partially immersed in the bath with the chemical reagent. In another embodiment, the protective material is not used and the chemical reagent is selectively applied to predetermined sections of the material containing the saturated polymethylene chain of the flexible secondary printing plate 14.

When the image 18 is formed using the ink repulsion process, predetermined portions of the flexible secondary printing plate 14 are adapted so that they are susceptible or repellent with respect to the ink. In one embodiment, a chemical reagent or material that repels or attracts ink is superimposed on predetermined portions of the flexible secondary printing plate 14 to form an image 18. In another embodiment, before the image 18 is formed on the flexible secondary printing form 14, on the front part 4 of the printing form is coated, which repels or attracts the ink. Targeted areas of the coating are selectively removed from the flexible secondary printing plate 14 to form an image 18. An image formed using the ink repulsion process consists of areas that attract ink and other areas that repel ink. In one embodiment, image 18 may include areas that attract (or repel) at least one type of paint and repel (or attract) at least one other type of paint.

In the stamping process, an image 18 is first formed on the surface of the base material. The base material may comprise metal, plastic, photopolymer material, or any other suitable material. A material containing a saturated polymethylene chain of the front portion 4 of the flexible secondary printing plate 14 is stamped against the image on the main material for a predetermined period of time in order to transfer the image from the main material to the flexible secondary printing form 14. Then, the flexible secondary printing form 14 is removed from the main material . The rubber of the flexible secondary printing plate 14, and / or the main material, can be heated before the flexible secondary printing form 14 is stamped on the main material. In one embodiment of the invention, the flexible secondary printing plate 14 and the base material are heated to a temperature of approximately 310 ° F. In another embodiment, the flexible secondary printing plate 14 and the base material are pressed together at a pressure of approximately 1000 psi.

After the image 18 is formed on the flexible secondary printing plate 14, this printing plate can be cleaned using any suitable method to remove product residues from the front 4. In one embodiment, the invention uses a flexible secondary printing plate 14 to remove product residues. compressed gas. In another embodiment, product residues are removed from the flexible secondary plate 14 using a liquid, such as water or a solvent.

When the image 18 is formed on the front portion 4 of the flexible secondary printing plate 14, this front portion 4 may have embossed areas 20 that will not accept ink and a region of the image 18 that will accept ink. The image 18 formed on the flexible secondary printing form 14 may be three-dimensional and has different depths on the front 4. As described above, in one embodiment of the invention, the ink receiving areas 16 of the front 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 area 16. In other words, in one embodiment of the invention, no parts of the image 18 protrude above the plane defined by the ink receiving area 16. In one embodiment of the invention, the image 18, or portions of this image, can have a depth of from about 0.0009 inches to about 0.089 inches with respect to the plane of the face 4. In a more preferred embodiment, the depth of the image 18, or the inner portions of the image 18, ranges from about 0.001 inches to about 0.084 inches.

When the flexible secondary printing plates 14 are composed, at least in part, of the photopolymer material, images 18A, 18B are formed from the irradiated and hardened material of the flexible photopolymer printing plates using the direct CTP (computer-to-plate, computer-to-plate) process exposure to a printing plate, a conventional process for irradiating a printing plate, or any other suitable method. A segment of the mylar film is usually used as a lining for a flexible photopolymer printing plate 14, although other materials known to those skilled in the art can also be used as a lining. An image 18 is formed, which should be printed on the outer surface of the metal container.

In the traditional process of irradiating the printing plate, a negative film of the image is created 18. A negative film is placed on a given portion of the front portion 4 of the flexible photopolymer printing plate 14. Then a flexible photopolymer printing form with a negative film is placed on an irradiating device that irradiates the flexible photopolymer printing plate and the negative film by the source Sveta. The negative film acts as a negative mask that blocks some part of the light and prevents the light of the front part 4 from reaching the flexible photopolymer printing plate 14. The emitted light passes through the transparent regions of the negative film and the material of the flexible photopolymer printing plate 14 solidifies. The duration of exposure to a source of ultraviolet light may range from about 0.01 minutes to about 10 minutes.

The material of the front part 4 of the flexible photopolymer printing plate 14 hardens in those areas where light passes through the negative film and falls on the front part 4. Areas of the flexible photopolymer printing plate 14 that are not coated with the negative film are also irradiated with light and harden. The material of the front part 4 of the flexible photopolymer printing plate 14, located under the areas of the negative film that block the light, or some part of the light, remain unirradiated and soft.

Using the CTP direct exposure process for printing plates, the image 18 is transferred directly to the flexible photopolymer printing plate 14 in a digital image forming apparatus. The digital imaging device cuts off or otherwise removes portions of the opaque mask covering the front portion 4 of the flexible photopolymer printing plate 14 to form a negative image 18. Then, the flexible photopolymer printing plate 14 is placed in an irradiating device that irradiates the flexible photopolymer printing plate 14 with a light source . The irradiating device may be the same or similar to the irradiating device used in the traditional irradiation process of the printing plate described above. Areas of the coating mask that have not been removed, at least in part, block light and prevent light (or reduce the amount of light reaching the material) from reaching the front portion 4 of the flexible photopolymer printing plate 14. Photopolymer material of the flexible photopolymer printing plate 14 under the remaining portions of the coating mask remains unirradiated and soft. The light from the irradiating device contacts the polymeric material of the flexible photopolymer printing plate 14 in the image regions where the coating mask has been removed and cures the material of the flexible photopolymer printing plate 14. The duration of exposure to the ultraviolet light source can range from about 0.01 minutes to about 10 minutes. An example of the CTP direct exposure process for printing forms is described in Advancing Flexography, The Technical Path Forward, written by Ray Bodwell and Jan Scharfenberg, which is available on the website: http://www2.dupont.com/Packaging_Graphics/en_US/assets/downloads/pdf/AdvFlexo_Brochure.pdf, and which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Examples of suitable digital imaging devices are described in the “Cyrel ™ Digital flex plate Imagers (CDI)” (Digital Imaging Devices “Cyrel ™”) available at: http://www2.dupont.com/Packaging_Graphics/en_GB/assets /downloads/pdf/CDI_family_English.pdf, and which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

As soon as the image 18 is transferred onto the flexible photopolymer printing plate 14 using the CTP direct exposure process for printing plates, or the traditional process of irradiating the printing plate, the soft unirradiated polymer material on the front portion 4 of the flexible photopolymer printing plate 14 is removed. In one embodiment of the invention, the flexible photopolymer printing plate 14 is placed in a washing station. Non-irradiated soft polymeric material on the non-irradiated areas of the front portion 4 of the flexible photopolymer printing plate 14 is removed by washing and wiping the front portion 4. The washing station may include either water or a solvent such as Cyrel Nutre-Clean. It should be borne in mind that other solutions and solvents can also be used in washing stations. In another embodiment of the invention, the non-irradiated polymer material is removed from the face 4 by a post-treatment device that does not use solvents and / or other liquids. The post-processing device may use thermal energy and a developer roller to remove non-irradiated polymer material. After removal of the soft, non-irradiated polymeric material, the flexible photopolymer printing plate 14 can be exposed to light for a second time to complete polymerization and to ensure that all areas of the flexible photopolymer printing plate 14 are cured and also to achieve maximum wear resistance.

When the unirradiated soft polymeric material on the regions of the front part 4 of the flexible photopolymer printing plate 14 has been removed, the front part 4 will have relief zones 20 that will not accept ink and hardened regions forming images 18 that can accept ink. The image 18 formed on the flexible photopolymer printing plate 14 can be three-dimensional and have different depths on the front part 4, depending on the amount of light that passes through the negative film or protective coating. Image 18, or portions of image 18, have a depth of from about 0.0009 inches to about 0.089 inches. In a more preferred embodiment, the depth of the image 18, or the depth of the inner portions of the image 18, is in the range from about 0.001 inches to about 0.084 inches.

In some embodiments, the flexible photopolymer printing plates 14 can also be etched or engraved on the face 4 before, during, or after the hardening process to form one or more additional recessed portions. Etched or engraved areas may be formed using a laser or any other means known to those skilled in the art.

Both for flexible secondary printing plates 14 consisting of a saturated polymethylene chain and for printing plates 14 consisting of a photopolymer material, images 18 have a maximum thickness equal to the initial thickness of the flexible secondary printing plate 14. For example, as illustrated in cross-sectional elevation view in FIG. 4C, in one embodiment of the invention, the flexible secondary printing plate 14B consists of a single material from the front 4 to the back 6. On the contrary, in the offset blankets 106 of the prior art, which are illustrated in FIG. 17A-17C, the image depth is limited only by the outer layer of the laminate of the offset web. Thus, flexible secondary printing plates 14, consisting of a compound containing at least partially a saturated polymethylene chain, or consisting of photopolymer material, offer more options for image formation compared to offset blankets of the prior art.

The images 18 may be surrounded by embossed zones 20. When the flexible secondary printing plate 14 consists, at least in part, of the photopolymer material, the embossed zones 20 comprise portions of the photopolymer material that have not been irradiated and therefore remain soft. The unirradiated soft material of the flexible photopolymer printing plates is substantially removed to form the embossed areas 20. The size, location and shape of the embossed area 20 formed on the flexible secondary printing forms 14 may align in size, location and shape with the ink-free area 10 form 2A illustrated in FIG. 1A and the bump zone 12 of the printing form 2B illustrated in FIG. 2A.

In one embodiment of the invention, the size, location and shape of the image 18 formed on the flexible secondary printing forms 14 aligns with the size, location and shape of the ink receiving area 8A of the printing form 2A illustrated in FIG. 1. In other words, when flexible secondary printing plates 14 are attached to the transfer cylinder 32 of the decorator 24 and the printing plate 2A is attached to the plate cylinder 26A, the ink receiving area 8A will contact and transfer at least some of the ink onto the image 18 on one of the flexible secondary printing forms 14.

In addition, the size, location and shape of the image 18 formed on the flexible secondary printing forms 14 may optionally align with the size, location and shape of the relief zone 12 of the printing form 2B illustrated in FIG. 2. Accordingly, when the printing plate 2B is attached to the plate cylinder 26B of the decorator 24, the embossed area 12 will not contact and transfer ink to the image 18 of the flexible secondary printing forms 14.

The embossed areas 20 of the flexible secondary printing plates 14 will not accept ink from the printing plates 4 and can be used to create specific undecorated areas (or areas free from ink) on a metal container. Image 18 may include a relief zone 20C that will not accept ink, and may also include shielded areas 22 that receive less ink than other portions of the image, as illustrated in FIG. 4B. Although FIG. 4A, 4B and 4C illustrate images 18 surrounded by embossed areas 20, it will be appreciated that image 18 may be formed on a flexible secondary printing plate 14 that does not have a relief area surrounding image 18, as shown in FIG. 6A and 6B. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embossed area 20 may be of any desired size and shape, with more than one embossed area 20 being formed on the flexible secondary printing form 14.

After the image 18 has been formed on the front portion 4 of the flexible secondary printing plate 14, an adhesive transfer tape or adhesive sticker * can be added to the polyester portion or other lining on the back part 6 of the flexible secondary printing form 14. A suitable adhesive sticker is available from a wide variety commercial suppliers. In one embodiment of the invention, the thickness of the adhesive sticker is about 2.0 mils (or about 0.002 inches). In another embodiment, the thickness of the adhesive sticker is about 15 mils (or about 0.015 inches). A flexible secondary printing plate 14 with an adhesive side on the rear portion 6 in this case is attached to the transfer cylinder 32 of the decorator 24.

Although in FIG. 1-4 this is not illustrated, experts in the art will take into account that one or more printing forms 2 and / or flexible secondary printing forms 14 may have print registration areas that are used to track the registration of various colors or specialized inks, printed by various printing forms 2, 14 to form an image on a metal container. For example, print registration areas may be provided on printing forms 2 and / or flexible secondary printing forms 14 in order to track the location and alignment of printed contents on metal containers.

In FIG. 5 illustrates a decorator 24 using flexible secondary printing forms 14 and specialized inks to form a plurality of images 18 on metal containers 34. The decorator 24 includes at least one plate cylinder 26. It should be appreciated that the machine the decorator 24 may have any number of plate cylinders 26. In one embodiment, the machine 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 plate 2 can be a sleeve or cylinder that is wrapped around the circumference of the plate cylinder 26. The plate cylinders 26 act in such a way as to rotate in the first direction. Colorful devices 28 with rollers 30 interact with each plate cylinder 26. The rollers 30 of each of the colorful devices 28 transfer one ink color or type of specialized ink to the ink receiving areas 8 of the printing plates 2.

As discussed above, specialized paints include, but are not limited to, the following paints: thermochromic paint, photochromic paint, aromatic thermochromic paint, fluorescent paint, ultraviolet paint, paint in the invisible range of radiation, infrared paint, phosphorescent paint, pressure-sensitive paint , tactile paint, thermo-tactile paint, leuco dye, matte paint, and any other type of paint, dye or varnish that changes the appearance, color, and / or texture in response to cheating Ia temperature, or exposure to light, or pressure. Specialized paints and methods for their use are disclosed in the following documents: US Pat. 4,889,560 U.S. Pat. 5,502,476, U.S. Pat. 5,591,255, US Pat. 5,919,839, U.S. Pat. 6,139,779 US Pat. 6,174,937, US Pat. 6,196,675 US Pat. 6,309,453, US Pat. 6,494,950 U.S. Pat. 7,810,922 U.S. Pat. 8,409,698, published U.S. patent application 2012/0238675, published U.S. patent application 2013/0075675, published U.S. patent application 2013/0105743, published U.S. patent application 2013/0231242, published U.S. patent application 2012/0315412, published U.S. patent application 2013/0315412 0340885, published U.S. patent application 2014/0039091, published U.S. patent application 2014/0072442, published U.S. patent application 2014/0187668, published U.S. patent application 2014/0210201, published U.S. patent application 2014/0212654, published U.S. patent application 2014/0122651, them International Publication No. WO 2014/096088, which are incorporated herein in their entireties by reference.

A first ink color or type of specialized ink can be applied to the printing forms 2A of the first plate cylinder 26A, and a second ink color or type of specialized ink can be applied to the printing forms 2B of the second plate cylinder 26B. More paint colors and types of specialty paint can be used if additional plate cylinders 26 are provided. In one embodiment, the decorator 24 includes 4 to 18 plate cylinders 26 and 4 to 18 ink units 28, each of which it can work in such a way as to impose different colors of ink or type of specialized ink on a given section of printing form 2. In a more preferred embodiment of the invention, the machine decorator 24 VK It includes from 6 to 18 plate cylinders and from 6 to 18 inks 28, each of which can work in such a way as to impose a different ink color or type of specialized ink on a given section of the printing form 2.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the printing plates 2B of the second plate cylinder 26B include the general contents, an “Please Recycle” image 33 in the ink receiving areas 8 that will be transferred to all flexible secondary printing plates 14. However, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, printing plates 2B should not include an image. For example, printing plates 2B can transfer ink to flexible secondary printing forms 14 without transferring the image to flexible secondary printing forms 14. In other words, printing forms 2 can transfer ink without words or other characters to flexible secondary printing forms 14. The first and second printing cylinders 26A, 26B may include printing plates 2 with one or more embossed areas 12 and ink free areas 10.

In one embodiment of the invention, the embossed zone 12 may be formed in the same position of all of the printing plates 2B secured to the second plate cylinder 26B. Another portion of the printing forms 2B forms an ink receiving area 8, which may include an image 33. In one embodiment of the invention, an image 33 formed on the ink receiving area 8 of the printing form 2B may include text. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, an image 33 containing the letters “Please Recycle” is formed on the ink receiving area 8 of the printing plates 2B. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other text or images may be formed on the ink receiving area 8 of the printing plates 2B.

The embossed areas 12 formed on the printing plates 2B do not accept ink from the ink machines 28B and do not transfer the ink to the flexible secondary printing forms 14. The ink receiving area 8 of the printing forms 2B will accept and can transfer the ink to the flexible secondary printing forms 14. Continuing this for example, printing plates 2A mounted on the first plate cylinder 26A may include a ink receiving area 8A. The ink receiving region 8 may be formed at a predetermined position of the printing plates 2A, as a result of which the ink placed on the ink receiving region 8A will be transferred to all images 18 of the flexible secondary printing plates 14, which are in contact with the ink receiving region 8A of the front of the printing plate 4 2A.

In one embodiment of the invention, the ink receiving area 8A of the printing plates 2A is aligned with the embossed area 12 of the printing plates 2B. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that during operation of decorator 24, the printing plates 2A mounted on the first plate cylinder 26A do not come in contact with the printing plates 2B attached to the plate cylinder 26B. In another embodiment, the ink receiving area 8A of the printing plates 2A is aligned with images 18 formed on the flexible secondary printing plates 14. Accordingly, during the operation of the decorator 24, portions of the ink receiving area 8A of the printing plates 2A that are in contact with the flexible secondary printing forms 14, will transfer at least some of the ink to the flexible secondary printing forms 14. Optionally, the ink receiving area 8A of the printing forms 2A and the relief zone 12 of the printing plates pm 2B may be larger than images 18 of flexible secondary printing plates 14 by a predetermined amount.

Additionally or alternatively, one or more printing forms 2 can transfer different ink colors and types of specialized inks to the same location of the flexible secondary printing forms 14. Thus, different ink colors and types of specialized inks can be transferred from one or more printing forms 2 to the same location of the flexible secondary printing plates 14 in overlapping layers.

Decorator 24 also includes a transfer cylinder 32 to which one or more flexible secondary printing plates 14 are attached. Optionally, in one embodiment of the invention, the position of the flexible secondary printing plates 14 on the transfer cylinder 32 can be changed by a predetermined amount as in axially and radially, as well as align with the ink receiving region 8A of the printing plate 2A. Additionally or alternatively, one or more flexible secondary printing forms 14 may be a sleeve or cylinder of photopolymer material, or a sleeve from a saturated polymethylene chain compound that wraps around the circumference of a transfer cylinder 32.

The transfer cylinder 32 rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction of rotation of the plate cylinders 26. Each of the flexible secondary printing plates 14 may have different images 18 formed thereon. For example, the flexible secondary printing plates 14 illustrated in FIG. 5 include a sports shirt image 18B formed thereon, an asterisk image 18C, an “X” image 18D, and a lightning flash image 18E.

Images 18 on flexible secondary printing plates 14 can be formed at locations corresponding to or aligned with the relief areas 12 of the printing plates 2B and ink receiving areas 8A of the printing plates 2A. Images 18 on flexible secondary printing plates 14 may be negatives (formed by embossed areas 20 that will not accept ink) leaving areas without ink on the decorated metal container 34. Alternatively, images 18 may be positive images that will be receive ink when the images 18 are in contact with one or more ink receiving areas 8 of the printing plates 2, which receive ink from the ink apparatus. Examples of a positive image 94 and negative 96 of the same image that are transferred to a metal container 100 using a flexible secondary printing plate 90 consisting at least in part of a chemical compound including a saturated polymethylene chain are provided in FIG. 16A-16C.

For a flexible secondary printing plate 14 formed at least partially from photopolymer material, the positive part of the image is formed using irradiated, hardened areas of the flexible secondary printing forms 14. The positive parts of the image formed on the flexible secondary printing form 14, which is formed by at least partially, from a compound containing a saturated chain of polymethylene, are parts of the front surface 4 of the flexible secondary printing plate 14, which is not removed during the forming process image, or areas adapted to attract paint. Images 18 may also include combinations of negative and positive areas. Those skilled in the art will understand that the positive part of the image will overlay ink on the metal container 34, and the negative image means there is no ink in the printed or positive part of the image.

The plate cylinders 26 rotate in the first direction, and the transfer cylinder 32 rotates synchronously in the second direction opposite to the first direction to bring the printing plates 2 into contact with the flexible secondary printing forms 14. The ink is transferred to the ink receiving area 16 and the image 18 of the flexible secondary printing forms 14, which are in contact with the ink-coated ink receiving regions 8, 8A of the printing forms 2. The main image is developed on the ink-coated printing forms 2, and a secondary image is created using flexible secondary printing forms 14. The flexible secondary printing forms 14 may have ink receiving areas 16 that are common to all flexible secondary printing forms 14. Areas in which images 18 are formed on flexible secondary printing forms 14, such as images 18A, 18B illustrated in FIG. 4A and 4B will create special areas with ink for each flexible secondary printing plate 14. The process is similar to the operation of the ink pad and rubber stamp, where only the raised portions of the rubber stamp collect ink from the ink pad and transfer the ink to the substrate as an image. The embossed areas 20 of the flexible secondary printing plates 14, if present, will not accept ink from printing plates 2. Only images 18 and / or the ink receiving area 16 of the flexible secondary printing plates 14 will receive ink from printing plates 2 and transfer this ink to the surface metal containers 34. By using flexible secondary printing plates 14 with various images 18 formed thereon, completely different images 18 will be printed on each of the metal containers 34. As a result, A variety of lithographic images are created from a single set of printing plates 2 on the plate cylinders 26 of the decorator 24. The process uses high-resolution solid and screened images 18 formed on flexible secondary printing forms 14, as a result of which specialized ink is transferred to metal containers 34.

In operation, the metal container 34 is conveyed to the support cylinder 38 by a conveyor 36 or other means from a location or storage facility 42. The support cylinder 38 has a plurality of holding positions 40 adapted to receive and hold the metal container 34 in a predetermined position aligned with the flexible secondary printing forms 14. The holding positions 40 can hold the metal containers 34 in a stationary position, and can also rotate the metal containers 34 around the longitudinal axis of each container. When the transfer cylinder 32 rotates in the second direction, the flexible secondary printing plates 14 rotate with a predetermined alignment with the printing plates 2 attached to the printing cylinders 26. The flexible secondary printing plates 14 receive at least some of the ink by contacting the printing plates 2A 2B of each of the plate cylinders 26A, 26B.

The transfer cylinder 32 continues to rotate in the second direction, and the support cylinder 38 rotates synchronously in the first direction to bring the outer surface 44 of the metal container 34 into rotational contact with the ink-containing flexible secondary printing plate 14 attached to the transfer cylinder 32. Then, the ink is transferred from the flexible secondary printing plate 14 onto the outer surface 44 of the metal container 34. Although in FIG. 5 illustrates a support cylinder 38, it should be appreciated that other means can be used to support the metal containers 34 and bring their outer surface 44 into contact with the flexible secondary printing forms 14, such as a mandrel or conveyor belt.

After the paint is transferred to the metal container 34, optionally, the varnish applying unit 48 may apply an upper layer of varnish to the metal container 34. The topcoat may contain specialized paint. If necessary, the paint and / or topcoat can be cured using the curing unit 50 by any method known to those skilled in the art. In one embodiment, the curing unit 50 may use one or more of the following means: thermal energy, ultraviolet energy, and an electron beam to cure the paint and / or topcoat on the metal container 34.

In FIG. 5 also illustrates two decorated metal containers 34A, 34B. Each of the decorated metal containers 34 includes a general “Please Recycle” image 33 that is transferred from the printing plate 2B. The container 34A includes a separate content - an image of a sports T-shirt 18B, and the container 34B includes a separate asterisk image 18C. In one embodiment, each of the images 18B, 18C is formed from a first ink that is transferred from the ink receiving area 8A of the printing plates 2A attached to the first plate cylinder 26A. A common image 33 on each container 34A, 34B is formed from a second ink, which is transferred from the printing plates 2B attached to the second plate cylinder 26B. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that at least one of the first and second ink may contain a specialized ink, as described above.

Decorating machines 24 used in the commercial metal container industry generally have a transfer cylinder 32 with attached individual flexible secondary printing plates 14 in an amount of between about 4 and 12. When each of the flexible secondary printing plates 14 in an amount of between about 4 and 12 has the individual image 18 formed on it, the decorator 24 can create from 4 to 12 different lithographic images without replacing the printing forms 2. The present invention will work with the transfer nym cylinder 32 with any number of secondary flexible printing plates 14 that are attached along its circumference. For example, in one embodiment of the invention, the transfer cylinder 32 includes from about 4 to 24 different flexible secondary printing plates 14. Furthermore, although the flexible secondary printing plates 14 are illustrated in FIG. 5, as separate secondary printing forms, in some embodiments of the invention, the transfer cylinder 32 may have one continuous web of photopolymer material or a compound containing at least partially a saturated polymethylene chain attached around the circumference of the cylinder, and the continuous web has many formed on individual images 18. In another embodiment of the invention, one or more flexible secondary printing forms 14, which are composed, at least in part, of saturated oh polymethylene chain, and one or more flexible printing plates secondary 14 consisting, at least partially, of a photopolymer material, may be attached to the transfer cylinder 32 at the same time. Each of the flexible secondary printing plates 14 may have one or more different images formed thereon 18. In another embodiment of the invention, printing plates 2 formed from a compound including a saturated polymethylene chain or soft photopolymer material may be attached to one or more plate cylinders 26. Each of the printing plates 2, consisting of a saturated chain of polymethylene, or photopolymer printing plates 2 can have one or more areas 8 for receiving ink, areas 10 without ink, and relief GOVERNMENTAL zones 12, 33 which form the image.

In FIG. 6A provides a photograph of a flexible secondary printing plate 14F consisting of photopolymer material. The flexible secondary printing form 14F includes an image 18 of a sports t-shirt with the number “92” formed on it in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 6B is an enlarged photograph of the image 18 shown in FIG. 6A. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 6A and 6B, image 18 is not surrounded by a relief zone.

In FIG. 7A provides a photograph of a generally cylindrical metal container 34F decorated in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention using the flexible secondary printing plate 14F shown in FIG. 6A. FIG. 7B is an enlarged portion of the photograph in FIG. 7A. The photograph shows a generally cylindrical metal container 34F decorated with a sports t-shirt image 18, which includes the number "92" formed in a portion 46 that does not contain the paint (or negative portion) of the decorated container. Other numbers, forms, words, or design options may also be formed to decorate the substrate using the present invention.

In FIG. 8 provides a photograph of another flexible secondary printing plate 52 with two images 54, 55 formed thereon, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. Flexible secondary printing plate 52 consists of a photopolymer material. More specifically, the flexible secondary printing form 52 includes an image 54 of the face of a child and an image 56 of a portrait of a female face. The flexible secondary printing plate 52 was photographed after receiving at least two different inks from the printing forms 2. Inks were subsequently transferred to a metal container 34. Accordingly, the ink receiving area 58 of the flexible secondary printing form 52 includes portions 60, 62, 64 and 65, which includes dried ink received from the printing plates 2 of the decorator 24. The first portion 60 of the ink receiving area includes dried blue ink containing inverted letters and a blue recycling symbol. The second section 62 includes blue paint containing the inverted letters and numbers “16oz”. The third section 64 includes a square filled with blue paint and white paint with inverted letters making up the word “Ball” (ball). The fourth section 65 includes inverted letters of white paint containing the inscription: “eat. drink. imagine. "

In FIG. 9 is a photograph of a generally cylindrical metal container 66 decorated in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention using the flexible secondary printing plate 14 shown in FIG. 8. To be more precise, the metal container 66 includes images 54, 56 of the child’s face and part of the woman’s face that are transferred from the flexible secondary printing form 52. The metal container 34G also includes the negative image 68, which contains the text “ TEST IMAGE 12 FACES. ”A negative image 68 is formed on the metal container 66 with letters containing a relief zone in part of the canvas 52. The relief zone does not accept ink from any of the printing forms 2. However, the relief zone that forms the image 66 is invisible in the photograph of the flexible secondary printing plate 52 shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10A, 10B provide enlarged photographs of the first image 54 of the baby’s face and the second image 56 of the part of the woman’s face formed on the metal container 66 shown in FIG. 9. In addition, a portion of the recycle symbol consisting of blue ink transferred from the first portion 60 of the ink receiving area 58 of the flexible secondary printing plate 52 can be seen in FIG. 10A.

In FIG. 11 provides another photograph of a flexible secondary printing plate 70 consisting of photopolymer material. The flexible secondary printing plate 70 does not have a backing layer or an adhesive layer. More specifically, the photograph in FIG. 11 was removed from the back through the back 6 of the flexible secondary printing plate 70. This illustrates that the flexible secondary printing forms of the present invention can be formed from a monolithic material, in contrast to the offset web of the prior art (illustrated in Fig. 17A, 17B ) A black print 72 was placed under the flexible secondary printing plate 70 (against the front of the flexible secondary printing form) to provide contrast for the photograph. The black print 72 does not form part of the present invention and is not used with the flexible secondary printing plate 70 during the decoration of the containers.

Two images 74, 76 were formed on the front of the flexible secondary printing plate 70. The first image 74 represents a dog, and the second image 76 represents a feline. Images 74, 76 are inverted in the photograph of FIG. 11, since, as mentioned above, the photograph was taken from the rear portion 6 of the flexible secondary printing plate 70.

In FIG. 12 provides a photograph of a metal container 78, decorated using the flexible secondary printing plate 70 shown in FIG. 11. The metal container 78 includes images 74, 76 formed using ink received from images 74, 76 of the flexible secondary printing plate 70.

In FIG. 13 provides another photograph of a flexible secondary printing plate 80 consisting of photopolymer material. A plurality of images are formed on the front portion 4 of the flexible secondary printing plate 80. Lining material 82 was attached to the back of a flexible secondary printing plate 80 for contrast. Lining material 82 is not part of the present invention and is not used with flexible secondary printing plate 80 during the decoration of metal containers. One image of 84 buildings and the silhouette of the city are formed in three different sizes.

In FIG. 14A, 14B, photographs of a metal container 88 decorated with the flexible secondary printing plate 80 shown in FIG. 13. More specifically, the images 84A, 84B, 84C shown are formed on the outer surface of the metal containers using ink received from the flexible secondary printing plate 80.

In FIG. 15A, 15B, two different photographs of a flexible secondary printing plate 90 are provided, consisting of a compound including, at least in part, a saturated polymethylene chain. Two images 94, 96 of the same woman were formed on the front part 4 of the flexible secondary printing plate 90. Image 94 is a negative of image 96.

A scale of 98 depths has also been formed on the front portion 4 of the flexible secondary printing plate 90. The depth scale 98 shows the relative depth of the rubber material that has been removed from the front portion 4. The amount of rubber material removed from the front portion 4 increases from a very small amount of material removed close to the depth 98 scale section 98A to a large amount of material removed nearby from section 98B of a scale of 98 depths. Accordingly, the portion 98A (which is difficult to distinguish in the photographs of FIGS. 15A, 15B) is almost parallel to the plane formed by the front portion 4, and will receive and transfer more ink than the portion 98B of the depth scale 98.

In FIG. 16A through 16C, photographs of a metal container 100 decorated with the flexible secondary printing plate 90 shown in FIG. 15. The metal container 100 includes a base coat 102, the white paint of which is particularly visible in the portion of the metal container 100 shown in FIG. 16C, in conjunction with section 98B of the depth scale 98. In other words, the white ink of the basecoat 102 is most clearly visible on the parts of the metal container 100 that have received little or no ink from the flexible secondary printing plate 90. The metal container 100 has been decorated with black ink received from the image ink receiving area 16 , 96 of a flexible secondary printing plate 90, which is in contact with the outer surface of the metal container 100.

In FIG. 17A and 17B show photographs of a blanket 106 of the prior art consisting of known materials. FIG. 17A is a plan view of the blanket 106. Images including an image of a woman 108 were formed on the front of the blanket 106. As shown in FIG. 17B, which is an angled view of the offset web 106 from the side end, the blanket 106 consists of several layers of different materials, in contrast to the flexible secondary printing forms of the present invention, shown, for example, in vertical section in FIG. 4C. Some prior art offset blankets are formed of four or more layers.

The offset web 106 generally comprises a face 110, a first fabric layer 112, a compression layer 114, and a second fabric layer 116. The paper substrate 118 covering the adhesive material is also shown elongated from under the second fabric layer 116 for clarity. A schematic vertical elevation of the layers 110, 112, 114 and 116 of the blanket 106 is shown in FIG. 17C.

The front portion 110 comprises a relatively thin rubber material that is different from the material of flexible secondary printing plates containing a saturated polymethylene chain according to the present invention. In one prior art blanket 106, the face 110 comprises rubber based on nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR). Those skilled in the art will recognize that NBR belongs to the family of unsaturated copolymers of 2-propanenitrile and various butadiene monomers (1,2-butadiene and 1,3-butadiene). Butadiene-nitrile rubber is also known as Buna-N, Perbunan, butadiene-acrylonitrile rubber Nipol, Krynac and Europren.

What is more significant, the material of the front 110 melts relatively easily and does not allow the formation of high-resolution images, which are required to create a high-definition lithographic image on a metal container. Furthermore, in comparison with the uniform flexible secondary printing forms 14, 52, 70, 80 and 90, the known offset web 106 shown in FIG. 17, consists of several different materials located in separate layers 110-116. Since the face 110 is relatively thin, the depth of the image that can be formed in the offset web 106 is limited compared to the uniform flexible secondary printing forms of the present invention. In other words, the relative fineness of the face 110 limits the depth of the material that can be removed from the offset web 106 to form images.

Layers of a well-known offset web are described in the work “Offset Printing Cloth”, “Blanket for Offset Printing,” (hereinafter “Offset Printing”, “Offset Printing”), available at: http://www.offsetprintingtechnology.com/sub -categories / blanket-for-offset-printing / (last visited April 7, 2016), which is incorporated here in its entirety by reference. According to the work “Offset printing”, “The surface structure, profile and hardness of the offset web are extremely important and make a significant contribution to the technical characteristics of printing using offset web ... Development of a suitable rubber chemical compound for the printing surface of the offset web used for high-quality offset printing is a challenge. The difficulty lies in the conflict between the chemical and mechanical requirements that may occur during the printing operation. "

In FIG. 18 shows photographs of a metal container 120 decorated using the offset web shown in FIG. 17. Image 108 in FIG. 18B includes conspicuous points and fewer details than the high resolution and detail images 54, 56 of FIG. 10 and images 94, 96 in FIG. 16 created using the flexible secondary printing forms of the present invention.

Photographs of another metal container 122 decorated using a prior art offset web are provided in FIG. 19. The images 124 formed on the container 122 also lack the amount of detail and clarity of the images created using the flexible secondary printing forms of the present invention.

The description of the present invention has been presented for the purpose of illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting to the invention in relation to the disclosed form. Many modifications and changes will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The embodiments described and shown in the figures have been selected and described to best explain the principles of the invention, their practical application, and also to enable those skilled in the art to understand the invention.

While various embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it is obvious that modifications and changes to these embodiments of the invention will be made by those skilled in the art. However, it should be clearly understood that such modifications and changes are within the scope and essence of the present invention, which are formulated in the following claims. In addition, the invention (s) described herein is capable of other embodiments of the invention and is practicable or practicable in various ways. In addition, it should be understood that phraseology and terminology is used here for the purpose of description, and should not be construed as limiting. The use of the terms “including”, “comprising” or “having” and their variations here means covering the elements listed hereinafter and their equivalents, as well as additional elements.

Claims (36)

1. The method of using a flexible secondary printing form in the printing process for decorating the outer surface of a metal container, characterized in that form the first image on a given section of the front part of a flexible secondary printing form by removing at least part of the material of the specified front part in the process of laser engraving, while the specified front part consists of a saturated chain of polymethylene; a removable flexible secondary printing form with a first image is attached to the transfer cylinder of the decorator machine; attach the printing form to the plate cylinder of the decorator; apply ink from a colorful apparatus to a printing plate; transferring at least a portion of said ink from said printing form to at least a portion of a flexible secondary printing form; and transferring the specified ink with a flexible secondary printing form to the outer surface of the metal container, while the metal container is decorated. 2. The method according to p. 1, in which a flexible secondary printing form is formed from a material with a non-layered structure. 3. The method according to claim 1, in which the flexible secondary printing form consists of a single layer of material containing a saturated chain of polymethylene. 4. The method according to claim 1, in which the paint contains one of the following colors: thermochromic paint, photochromic paint, aromatic thermochromic paint, fluorescent paint, ultraviolet paint, invisible paint, infrared paint, phosphorescent paint, pressure-sensitive paint, tactile paint, thermosetting paint, leuco dye and matte paint. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said saturated polymethylene chain is M-class rubber, or ethylene-propylene-diene monomer, or ethylene-propylene rubber. 6. The method according to claim 1, in which the flexible secondary printing form consists of ethylene-propylene-diene monomer. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first image formed on the flexible secondary printing form has a depth of from about 0.0009 inches to about 0.089 inches. 8. The method according to p. 1, in which when forming the first image, a flexible secondary printing form is attached to a cylindrical surface. 9. The method according to p. 1, in which additionally: attaching a second printing plate to a second plate cylinder of the decorator machine, the second printing plate including a relief region that is aligned with the first image of the flexible secondary printing plate; applying a second ink from a second ink apparatus to said second printing form, wherein the second ink is a different type or color of ink with respect to said ink applied by said ink apparatus; transferring at least a portion of the second ink from the second form to the second part of the specified flexible secondary printing form, while the specified second printing form does not transfer the second ink to the specified first image of the flexible secondary printing form; and transferring said ink and said second ink from a flexible secondary printing form onto the outer surface of the metal container, wherein said first image contains at least a portion of said ink. 10. A device for forming a lithographic image with high definition on the outer surface of a metal container, containing: a printing plate attached around the circumference to the specified plate cylinder, a colorful machine designed to transfer ink to a printing plate, transfer cylinder a flexible secondary printing plate attached to said transfer cylinder, wherein the flexible secondary printing form has a front portion consisting of a saturated polymethylene chain that includes an image formed by a laser engraving process, wherein the transfer cylinder is configured to introduce said flexible secondary printing the form in contact with the specified printing form, so that the ink is transferred from the printing form to the image of the flexible secondary printing form, and a support cylinder configured to bring a metal container into contact with a flexible secondary printing plate attached to the transfer cylinder, the ink being transferred from the flexible secondary printing form to a metal container to form the indicated lithographic image with high definition on the outer surface. 11. The device according to p. 10, in which a flexible secondary printing form is formed from a material with a non-layered structure. 12. The device according to claim 11, in which the flexible secondary printing form consists of a single layer of material containing a saturated chain of polymethylene. 13. The device according to p. 10, in which when forming the first image, a flexible secondary printing form is attached to a cylindrical surface. 14. The device according to p. 10, which is a decorator for dry offset-lithographic printing. 15. The device according to claim 10, in which the saturated polymethylene chain is (i) M-class rubber, or (ii) ethylene-propylene-diene monomer, or (iii) ethylene-propylene rubber. 16. A flexible secondary printing form for forming a lithographic image with high definition on the outer surface of a metal container during printing, containing a printed form casing of a predetermined size, wherein said casing, formed from a single layer of material, contains a saturated polymethylene chain and has a front part and a rear part, while the back part is removably attached to the transfer cylinder of the decorator machine, and on the said front part an image is formed by removing a portion of the material containing the saturated polymethylene chain. 17. The flexible secondary printing form of claim 16, wherein the saturated polymethylene chain is M-class rubber, or ethylene-propylene-diene monomer, or ethylene-propylene rubber. 18. The flexible secondary printing form according to claim 16, in which the flexible secondary printing form is formed from a material with a non-layered structure. 19. The flexible secondary printing form according to claim 16, wherein an image is formed on the front face of the flexible secondary printing form using direct laser engraving. 20. The flexible secondary printing form according to claim 17, wherein the flexible secondary printing form consists of an ethylene-propylene-diene monomer.

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