Form for printing and a method of manufacturing such form

• US 6,616,974 B1
• Filed: 11/08/1999
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ernest Sonderhoff GmbH & Co. K.G., Polywest Kunststofftechnik Saueressig & Partner GmbH & Co. K.G.
• Original Assignee: Polywest Kunststofftechnik Saueressig & Partner GmbH & KG
• Inventors: Langerbeins, Klaus, Lorig, Heinz, Link, Alfred Ernst, Richard, Jörg
• Primary Examiner(s): Beck, Shrive P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FLETCHER III, WILLIAM P
• Application Number:
  US09/367,941
• Time in Patent Office: 1,401 Days
• Field of Search: 427/554-556, 427/277, 427/355-356, 427/358, 427/372.2, 427/374.1, 427/374.4, 427/385.5, 427/387, 427/388.1, 428/446, 428/447, 428/450, 428/906, 492/16, 492/17, 492/18, 492/28, 492/30, 101/375, 101/395, 101/401.1, 101/483, 430/306, 430/945
• US Class Current: 427/271
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/0228 the movement of the objects being rotative B05B13/0242 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/002 the substrate being rotated
• CPC Class Codes: B05D 1/26 performed by applying the liquid or other fluent material from an outlet device in contact with, or almost in contact with, the surface
• CPC Class Codes: B41C 1/00 Forme preparation
• CPC Class Codes: B41C 1/02 Engraving; Heads therefor recording on record carriers, heads therefor G11B
• CPC Class Codes: B41C 1/18 Curved printing formes or printing cylinders B41C1/10, B41C1/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B41N 1/22 made of other substances

Abstract

The invention relates to a form for the rotary machine printing, coating or imprinting of web-shaped materials and a method of producing the form wherein at a carrier having a cylindrical surface area an elastomer layer is attached which after curing at the outer circumference thereof is machined and engaged to result in a cylindrical shape. Furthermore the invention is characterized in that the elastomer layer is formed of a hot cure single-constituent or two-constituent silicone polymer.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing and using a form for flexographic printing, the method comprising the following steps:

providing a carrier having a cylindrical outer surface;

coating the cylindrical outer surface of the carrier with an elastomer layer comprising a hot cure material, the hot cure material being at least one of a one-component and a two-component silicone polymer;

applying heat to the elastomer layer;

curing the outer surface of the elastomer layer through said application of heat;

machining the outer surface of the elastomer layer;

engraving the outer surface of the elastomer layer; and

using the resulting form in a flexographic printing process.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the machining step provides the elastomer layer with a cylindrical shape.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the coating step further comprises coating the cylindrical outer surface of the carrier with an elastomer layer comprising a hot cure material when the elastomer is in a liquid state.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the elastomer is a one-component silicone polymer and the coating step is carried out with a single-constituent dosing device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the elastomer is a two-component silicone polymer, and the coating step is carried out with a multiple-constituent dosing device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the coating step is carried out by rotating the carrier and depositing liquid elastomer on the rotating carrier.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the liquid elastomer is applied to the outer surface of the rotating carrier in a helical pattern.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the coating step further comprises coating the cylindrical outer surface of the carrier with an elastomer layer by mold casting the elastomer onto the cylindrical outer surface of the carrier.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the heat is applied to the elastomer layer as the elastomer is coated onto the carrier.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the heat is radiated heat.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of cooling the carrier.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the heat is applied to the elastomer layer after it has been coated onto the carrier.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the heat is radiated heat.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of cooling the carrier.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the machining step comprises grinding.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the elastomer layer further comprises at least one filler.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the filler comprises a mineral filler.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the carrier comprises a sleeve of plastic material.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the sleeve comprises a plurality of layers, at least one of the layers comprising a foam.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the sleeve comprises a plurality of layers, at least one of layers comprising a casting compound.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the carrier comprises a metal cylinder, the metal being selected from the group consisting of nickel, aluminum and steel.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the engraving step comprises laser engraving.

23. The method of claim 1 further comprising rotating the carrier.

24. The method of claim 1, comprising the following additional steps:

rotating the carrier,

coating the cylindrical outer surface of the carrier with a liquid elastomer material as the carrier is rotating.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the elastomer material comprises in weight percent:

26. A method of manufacturing and using a form for flexographic printing, the method comprising the following steps:

providing a carrier having a cylindrical outer surface;

coating the cylindrical outer surface of the carrier with an elastomer layer comprising a hot cure material when the elastomer is in a liquid state, the hot cure material being at least one of a one-component and a two-component silicone polymer;

applying heat to the elastomer layer as the elastomer layer is coated onto the carrier;

curing the outer surface of the elastomer layer through said application of heat;

machining the outer surface of the elastomer layer;

engraving the outer surface of the elastomer layer; and

using the resulting form in a flexographic printing process.

27. A method of manufacturing and using a form for flexographic printing, the method comprising the following steps:

providing a carrier having a cylindrical outer surface;

coating the cylindrical outer surface of the carrier with an elastomer layer comprising a hot cure material when the elastomer is in a liquid state, the hot cure material at least one of a one-component and a two-component silicone polymer;

applying heat to the elastomer layer after the elastomer layer has been coated onto the carrier;

curing the outer surface of the elastomer layer through said application of heat;

machining the outer surface of the elastomer layer;

engraving the outer surface of the elastomer layer; and

using the resulting form in a flexographic printing process.