US3745235A - Method and apparatus for the production of color prints on paper - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for the production of color prints on paper Download PDF

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Publication number
US3745235A
US3745235A US00174871A US3745235DA US3745235A US 3745235 A US3745235 A US 3745235A US 00174871 A US00174871 A US 00174871A US 3745235D A US3745235D A US 3745235DA US 3745235 A US3745235 A US 3745235A
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United States
Prior art keywords
recording layers
paper
strip
laser beams
intensity
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Expired - Lifetime
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US00174871A
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English (en)
Inventor
F Bestenreiner
J Helmberger
R Wick
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Agfa Gevaert AG
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Agfa Gevaert AG
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03F—PHOTOMECHANICAL PRODUCTION OF TEXTURED OR PATTERNED SURFACES, e.g. FOR PRINTING, FOR PROCESSING OF SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; MATERIALS THEREFOR; ORIGINALS THEREFOR; APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED THEREFOR
    • G03F3/00—Colour separation; Correction of tonal value
    • G03F3/10—Checking the colour or tonal value of separation negatives or positives
    • G03F3/108—Checking the colour or tonal value of separation negatives or positives using a non-impact printing method, e.g. ink jet, using duplicating or marking methods covered by B41M5/00, e.g. by ablation or by thermographic means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
    • B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
    • B41M5/26—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used
    • B41M5/34—Multicolour thermography
    • B41M5/345—Multicolour thermography by thermal transfer of dyes or pigments
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
    • G03B27/00—Photographic printing apparatus
    • G03B27/02—Exposure apparatus for contact printing
    • G03B27/14—Details
    • G03B27/30—Details adapted to be combined with processing apparatus
    • G03B27/306—Heat development
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/46—Colour picture communication systems
    • H04N1/50—Picture reproducers
    • H04N1/506—Reproducing the colour component signals picture-sequentially, e.g. with reproducing heads spaced apart from one another in the subscanning direction

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the making of color prints on paper, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for making colored replicas of multicolored originals which are scanned, point-by-point or line-by-line, by electrooptical means serving to produce several sets of signals each of which can be used to regulate the intensity of a discrete light beam in accordance with the distribution of a particular color in the original.
  • color prints are made by resorting to an expensive, time-consuming and complicated wet treatment of costly printing material, such as a strip or sheet of paper which is coated with a layer of photosensitive silver-containing composition.
  • costly printing material such as a strip or sheet of paper which is coated with a layer of photosensitive silver-containing composition.
  • Such procedure is not suited for the making of satisfactory color prints after prolonged storage of paper which is coated with photosensitive material.
  • An object of the invention is to provide a novel method of making color prints from multicolored originals in an energy-saving manner.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide an ap paratus for making color prints from multicolored originals which is capable of producing high-quality prints in two or more colors, which can make such prints on untreated paper, and whose energy requirements are even lower than in the apparatus which is disclosed in the aforementioned copending application of Bestenreiner et al.
  • the method of the present invention is utilized for making color prints on paper, particularly on untreated paper which is absorbent and need not be provided with a layer of photosensitive material.
  • the method comprises the steps of optically scanning in a wellknown manner a multi-colored original and producing, also in a known manner, several sets of signals each of which indicates the distribution of a different color in a substantial number of minute regions of the original, utilizing each such set of signals to regulate the intensity of a discrete laser beam so that the intensity of such laser beams varies as a function of changes in distribution of the respective colors in the multicolored original, training each intensity-regulated laser beam upon a discrete recording layer whose affinity to liquids (e.g.,
  • hydrophylic or oleophylic characteristics is variable as a function of changes in the intensity of the impinging laser beam, wetting the thus obtained thermal images on the recording layers and applying pigments in respective colors to the thus wetted images, and transferring the pigments from the recording layers onto a strip of paper so that the resulting color images overlie each other and form a true and accurate replicaof the original.
  • the recording layers may consist of very thin or extremely thin coats of wax applied to flexible carriers consisting of absorbent paper or the like.
  • the coats of wax can melt in response to exposure to laser beams so as to expose certain portions of absorbent carriers which are thereupon wetted to absorb different quantities of pigments.
  • FIGURE is a diagrammatic elevational view of the portion of a printing apparatus which embodies the invention.
  • Each of the stations A, B further accommodates a lens 4 which focusses a laser beam 5 onto the exposed surface of the respective carrier 3.
  • Each laser beam 5 is intensity-regulated by an electrooptical system of known design and is directed against a mirrored wheel or drum 6 which in turn directs the beam against the respective lens 4.
  • the electrooptical system scans the multicolored originals (not shown) point-by-point and regulates the corresponding laser beam 5 in accordance with distribution of the respective color (e.g., green, red or blue) in the original.
  • the lenses 4 may consist of gallium arsenide (GaAs).
  • Each laser beam 5 is deflected line-by-line in synchronism with the scanning of the original.
  • Each of the stations A and B further accommodates a lithographic wetting unit 8 and a lithographic coloring or pigment-applying unit 9 of known design. These units are located downstream of the point where the laser beam 5 impinges against the respective carrier 3. Each carrier changes its affinity to water or fat in dependency on changes in the intensity of the respective laser beam 5. Thus, the extent of wetting and transfer of pigments by the units 8, 9 will depend on variations in affinity of the carrier portions which were exposed to the respective laser beams 5 so that the carriers transport images of the original in the respective colors.
  • Such images are transferred onto a strip or sheet 18 of preferably untreated paper which is stored in convoluted form (see the roll 17) and is advanced along the stations A and B by a conveyor including two' rollers 16 which are biased by springs against the adjacent portions of the strip 18 so that the latter bears against the carriers 3 and receives the color images therefrom.
  • the color images of the same original are superimposed upon each other so as to form thereon a multicolor image.
  • the strip 18 is thereupon severed by a device including a stationary knife 21 and a movable knife which is reciprocable by an electromagnet 19 at such intervals that the severing device forms a series of discrete prints P which are collected on a suitably configurated and inclined table 22 or an analogous receptacle.
  • Each print P carries a plurality of superimposed different color images of the same original.
  • the laser 30 which furnishes the beam 5 is preferably constructed and its main beam' 31 deflected and/or reflected in a manner as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the aforementioned copending application of Bestenreiner et al. The same applies for the regulation of intensity of the beams 5 as a function of changes in distribution of the respective colors in the original.
  • the carriers 3 are of a well-known composition which insures that their affinity to a liquid (such as water or fat) changes as a function of changes in the intensity of laser beams 5.
  • a liquid such as water or fat
  • the wax layers can be extremely thin. In some instances, it is sufficient to employ monomolecular recording layers in order to impart to portions of such layers oleophylic or hydrophylic characteristics and to thus regulate the application of color layers of any desired practical thickness.
  • the laser output which is needed to influence such extremely thin recording layers is but a very small fraction of the output required for the formation of thermal images by partial fusing, sublimation and/or chemical changes in toners and/or other types of recording layers.
  • the laser 30 employed in the apparatus of the present invention is a preferably wh t-CO laser with a constantline output of l00l,000 watts and is electrooptically controlled'by GaAs crystals. Such lasers render it possible to produce color prints at a rate unmatched by presently known printing apparatus.
  • the apparatus of the present invention can insure true and accurate reproduction of all half-tones even if the original is not provided with rasters or gratings of the type known from the art of holo grams. This is attributed to the fact that a lasr beam which is concentrated upon a minute spot exhibits an intensity profile which decreases toward the marginal portions of the spot. in dependency on the threshold value of the recording layer, the spots of such layer are influenced by the respective laser beam as a function of the intensity of the beam so that the area of each spot which is exposed to the laser beam extends through a different distance from its centrum, depending on the intensity of the beam. If the original is scanned line-by-line with a linear laser beam, there develops an autotypographic linear grating or raster. By resorting to a pulsating laser, one can obtain autotypographic points of any desired degree of fineness.
  • a method of making color prints on paper, particularly on a strip of untreated paper comprising the steps of optically scanning a multicolored original and producing several sets of signals each indicating the distribution of a different color in a substantial number of minute regions of said original; utilizing each of said sets of signals to regulate the intensity of a discrete CO laser beam so that the intensity of said beams varies as a function of changes in distribution of the respective colors in said original; training each of said intensityregulated laser beams upon a discrete moving recording layer which consists of a thin coat of wax applied to a flexible carrier and whose affinity to liquids and pigments is variable as a function of changes in the intensity of the impinging laser beam to thus produce on each of said recording layers a thermal image of the original in the respective color; wetting the thermal images on said recording layers and applying to the thus wetted images pigments in the respective colors; transferring the pigments from said recording layers onto a moving strip of paper so that the resulting color images overlie each other and form on said strip a multicolored print of the
  • Apparatus for making color prints on paper, particularly on a strip of untreated paper comprising means for furnishing a plurality of discrete laser beams whose intensities vary as a function of changes in the distribution of different colors in a multicolored original, said means comprising at least one CO laser; means for conveying across the path of said laser beams recording layers which consist of thin coats of wax ap plied to flexible carrier and whose affinity to iquids and pigments is variable as a function of changes in the intensity of the impinging laser beams whereby said laser beams produce on said recording layers thermal images of the original in the respective colors; means for wetting the thermal images on said recording layers; means for applying to wetted thermal images pigments in the respective colors; means for transporting a strip of paper lengthwise; means for transferring the pigments from said recording layers onto said strip of paper to form thereon prints each having a plurality of overlying color images; and means for severing said strip to separate said prints therefrom.
  • said conveying means comprises discrete sources of recording layers, means for transporting said recording layers from such sources across the paths of the respective laser beams, and means for collecting the thus transported recording layers subsequent to transfer of the respective color images onto said paper strip.
  • said transferring means comprises spring-biased rollers arranged to press successive increments of said paper strip against successive increments of said recording layers on said drums downstream of the respective wetting and pigment-applying means.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Electronic Switches (AREA)
  • Manufacture Or Reproduction Of Printing Formes (AREA)
  • Thermal Transfer Or Thermal Recording In General (AREA)
  • Printing Methods (AREA)
US00174871A 1970-08-31 1971-05-25 Method and apparatus for the production of color prints on paper Expired - Lifetime US3745235A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE2043140A DE2043140C3 (de) 1970-08-31 1970-08-31 Verfahren zur Herstellung einer Flachdruckform und Vorrichtung zur Durchführung des Verfahrens

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3745235A true US3745235A (en) 1973-07-10

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00174871A Expired - Lifetime US3745235A (en) 1970-08-31 1971-05-25 Method and apparatus for the production of color prints on paper

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US3745235A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BE (1) BE771847A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (1) CH530281A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE2043140C3 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2103837A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1307206A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4395946A (en) * 1980-09-03 1983-08-02 Crosfield Electronics Limited Rotary printing presses with inplace laser impression of printing surface
US4510523A (en) * 1980-12-26 1985-04-09 Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Two-color copying machine
US4919045A (en) * 1987-10-14 1990-04-24 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Offset printer having a press drum larger than its rubber drum
US4930417A (en) * 1988-01-29 1990-06-05 Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. Printer for simultaneously forming planographic printing surfaces and printing ink images
US5067404A (en) * 1988-02-26 1991-11-26 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Method and apparatus for printing by inking a latent thermal image
US5072671A (en) * 1988-11-09 1991-12-17 Man Roland Druckmaschinen Ag System and method to apply a printing image on a printing machine cylinder in accordance with electronically furnished image information
EP0465562A4 (en) * 1989-03-30 1992-04-08 James River Paper Company, Inc. A near infrared laser absorbing coating and method for using same in color imaging and proofing
WO1992007716A1 (en) * 1990-11-01 1992-05-14 Landsman Robert M Printing press
US5163368A (en) * 1988-08-19 1992-11-17 Presst, Inc. Printing apparatus with image error correction and ink regulation control
US5235914A (en) * 1988-08-19 1993-08-17 Presstek, Inc. Apparatus and method for imaging lithographic printing plates using spark discharges
US5237923A (en) * 1988-08-19 1993-08-24 Presstek, Inc. Apparatus and method for imaging lithographic printing plates using spark discharges
US5278023A (en) * 1992-11-16 1994-01-11 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Propellant-containing thermal transfer donor elements
US5339737A (en) * 1992-07-20 1994-08-23 Presstek, Inc. Lithographic printing plates for use with laser-discharge imaging apparatus
US5351617A (en) * 1992-07-20 1994-10-04 Presstek, Inc. Method for laser-discharge imaging a printing plate
US5353705A (en) * 1992-07-20 1994-10-11 Presstek, Inc. Lithographic printing members having secondary ablation layers for use with laser-discharge imaging apparatus
US5379698A (en) * 1992-07-20 1995-01-10 Presstek, Inc. Lithographic printing members for use with laser-discharge imaging
US5385092A (en) * 1992-07-20 1995-01-31 Presstek, Inc. Laser-driven method and apparatus for lithographic imaging
USRE35512E (en) * 1992-07-20 1997-05-20 Presstek, Inc. Lithographic printing members for use with laser-discharge imaging
US6037968A (en) * 1993-11-09 2000-03-14 Markem Corporation Scanned marking of workpieces

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2524701A1 (de) * 1975-06-04 1976-12-16 Hoechst Ag Verfahren zur herstellung von flachdruckformen mit laserstrahlen
EP0050481B1 (en) * 1980-10-16 1986-09-10 Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Multi-colour image recording device
US4427757A (en) * 1982-08-27 1984-01-24 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Tannable imaging element
DE3248178C2 (de) * 1982-12-27 1987-02-19 Forschungsgesellschaft Druckmaschinen E.V., 6000 Frankfurt Bildmäßige Beschichtung von Druckformen für den Flachdruck
DE3425086C2 (de) * 1984-07-07 1986-12-11 Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag, 6900 Heidelberg Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Erstellen von einzigen Ausfertigungen eines Druckes
DE8706120U1 (de) * 1987-04-28 1988-05-26 Grabensee, Hans, Champigny Druckmaschine mit einer wasserführenden Offsetdruckplatte mit Antioxidationsschicht

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1934753A (en) * 1928-07-26 1933-11-14 Wildhaber Ernest Method and means for transmitting facsimiles
US2630484A (en) * 1946-09-23 1953-03-03 Groak Josef Printing
US3135621A (en) * 1961-08-11 1964-06-02 Ibm Thermal copying process
US3570380A (en) * 1968-06-07 1971-03-16 Olivetti & Co Spa Impactless typewriter
US3654864A (en) * 1970-01-16 1972-04-11 Energy Conversion Devices Inc Printing employing materials with variable volume

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2940847A (en) * 1957-07-03 1960-06-14 None i red
FR1532256A (fr) * 1966-09-01 1968-07-12 Materiels Et D Applic Photogra Procédé pour la fabrication de clichés, installations pour la mise en oeuvre de ce procédé, et clichés obtenus
US3588439A (en) * 1967-05-12 1971-06-28 Rca Corp High resolution laser engraving apparatus

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1934753A (en) * 1928-07-26 1933-11-14 Wildhaber Ernest Method and means for transmitting facsimiles
US2630484A (en) * 1946-09-23 1953-03-03 Groak Josef Printing
US3135621A (en) * 1961-08-11 1964-06-02 Ibm Thermal copying process
US3570380A (en) * 1968-06-07 1971-03-16 Olivetti & Co Spa Impactless typewriter
US3654864A (en) * 1970-01-16 1972-04-11 Energy Conversion Devices Inc Printing employing materials with variable volume

Cited By (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4395946A (en) * 1980-09-03 1983-08-02 Crosfield Electronics Limited Rotary printing presses with inplace laser impression of printing surface
US4510523A (en) * 1980-12-26 1985-04-09 Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Two-color copying machine
US4919045A (en) * 1987-10-14 1990-04-24 Ricoh Company, Ltd. Offset printer having a press drum larger than its rubber drum
US4930417A (en) * 1988-01-29 1990-06-05 Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd. Printer for simultaneously forming planographic printing surfaces and printing ink images
US5067404A (en) * 1988-02-26 1991-11-26 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Method and apparatus for printing by inking a latent thermal image
US5163368A (en) * 1988-08-19 1992-11-17 Presst, Inc. Printing apparatus with image error correction and ink regulation control
US5235914A (en) * 1988-08-19 1993-08-17 Presstek, Inc. Apparatus and method for imaging lithographic printing plates using spark discharges
US5237923A (en) * 1988-08-19 1993-08-24 Presstek, Inc. Apparatus and method for imaging lithographic printing plates using spark discharges
US5072671A (en) * 1988-11-09 1991-12-17 Man Roland Druckmaschinen Ag System and method to apply a printing image on a printing machine cylinder in accordance with electronically furnished image information
EP0465562A4 (en) * 1989-03-30 1992-04-08 James River Paper Company, Inc. A near infrared laser absorbing coating and method for using same in color imaging and proofing
WO1992007716A1 (en) * 1990-11-01 1992-05-14 Landsman Robert M Printing press
US5339737A (en) * 1992-07-20 1994-08-23 Presstek, Inc. Lithographic printing plates for use with laser-discharge imaging apparatus
US5351617A (en) * 1992-07-20 1994-10-04 Presstek, Inc. Method for laser-discharge imaging a printing plate
US5353705A (en) * 1992-07-20 1994-10-11 Presstek, Inc. Lithographic printing members having secondary ablation layers for use with laser-discharge imaging apparatus
US5379698A (en) * 1992-07-20 1995-01-10 Presstek, Inc. Lithographic printing members for use with laser-discharge imaging
US5385092A (en) * 1992-07-20 1995-01-31 Presstek, Inc. Laser-driven method and apparatus for lithographic imaging
USRE35512E (en) * 1992-07-20 1997-05-20 Presstek, Inc. Lithographic printing members for use with laser-discharge imaging
US5278023A (en) * 1992-11-16 1994-01-11 Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company Propellant-containing thermal transfer donor elements
US6037968A (en) * 1993-11-09 2000-03-14 Markem Corporation Scanned marking of workpieces

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2043140A1 (de) 1972-03-02
DE2043140C3 (de) 1981-06-19
FR2103837A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1972-04-14
DE2043140B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1980-09-25
CH530281A (de) 1972-11-15
BE771847A (nl) 1972-02-28
GB1307206A (en) 1973-02-14

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