Printing master comprising strain gauges

• US 6,131,512 A
• Filed: 02/01/1999
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert N.V.
• Original Assignee: Agfa-Gevaert N.V.
• Inventors: Verlinden, Bart, Van Hunsel, Johan
• Primary Examiner(s): Funk, Stephen R.
• Application Number:
  US09/241,294
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 101/368, 101/378, 101/382.1, 101/389.1, 101/415.1, 101/485, 101/486, 101/DIG. 36, 33/617-621
• US Class Current: 101/368
• CPC Class Codes: B41N 1/00 Printing plates or foils; Materials therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B41N 1/08 for lithographic printing B41N1/003, B41N3/03 take precedence; compositions of the image-forming layer B41C1/10

Abstract

A printing master 12 is described which includes a printing element and a base 33, characterized in that base 33 is provided with one or more strain gauges 31 and electric connections for measuring electric resistance. In a preferred embodiment, the printing element is a plate having a printing surface 35, of which the back side 37 is laminated to base 33. The printing master 12 may have an optional adhesive layer 36 and/or protective layer 32. The registration of the printing master can be adjusted conveniently and accurately by measuring the resistance of the strain gauges.

Claims

1. A printing master comprising an element with a printing surface and a base, characterized in that said base is provided with one or more strain gauges and with means for electrically connecting said strain gauges to a device for measuring electric resistance.

2. A printing master according to claim 1 wherein the base is a metallic base.

3. A printing master according to claim 1 wherein the base is made of a composite material comprising fibres and a resin matrix.

4. A printing master according to any of the previous claims wherein the strain gauges and the means for electrically connecting said strain gauges to a device for measuring electric resistance are embedded in a protective layer.

5. A printing master according to claim 4 wherein the protective layer consists of the same material as the base.

6. A printing master according to claim 1 wherein the element is a printing plate of which a side opposite to the printing surface is in close contact with the base.

7. A printing master according to claim 6 wherein an adhesive layer is present between the side opposite to the printing surface of the printing plate and the base.

8. A printing master according to claim 7 wherein the strain gauges and the means for electrically connecting said strain gauges to a device for measuring electric resistance are embedded in the adhesive layer.

9. A printing master according to claim 7 or 8 wherein the printing plate comprises a flexible support.

10. A method for making a printing master provided with strain gauges, comprising in any order steps comprising

mounting a base on a cylinder of a printing press, said base being provided with one or more strain gauges and with means for electrically connecting said strain gauges to a device for measuring electric resistance;

and

providing said base with a printing element, wherein the providing of the base with a printing element is carried out by coating the base with a layer, said layer having a printing surface after image-wise exposure and optional processing.

11. A method according to claim 10 wherein the printing element is a printing plate comprising a flexible support.

12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the printing element is image-wise exposed on-press.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the printing element exposed on-press requires no processing step and is ready for use immediately after exposure.

14. A printing method comprising

(i) making a printing master according to a method as defined in any one of claims 10, 11, 12, or 13 while the base is mounted on said cylinder;

(ii) bringing said printing master in contact with a printing ink and optionally with a dampening liquid;

(iii) printing;

(iv) separating the printing element from the base;

(v) repeating steps (i) to (iv).