IP Library › Patent Application 12353473
Patent Application
App. No. 12/353,473

INKJET-IMAGEABLE LITHOGRAPHIC PRINTING MEMBERS AND METHODS OF PREPARING AND IMAGING THEM

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
12/353,473
Abstract

Lithographic printing plates are imaged using an inkjet printer to imagewise apply a chemical or masking agent onto the plate surface. In some embodiments, the chemical causes an affinity change, thereby facilitating lithographic printing.

Claims (16)

1 - 15 . (canceled)

16 . A method of imaging a lithographic printing member, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a printing member comprising a photosensitive top layer having a first lithographic affinity and a layer thereunder having a second lithographic affinity opposite to the first lithographic affinity, the top layer comprising a material which, upon subjection to an imaging fluid, becomes crosslinkable by exposure to actinic radiation;

(b) dispensing the imaging fluid in an imagewise pattern;

(c) exposing the printing member to actinic radiation, thereby crosslinking portions of the top layer that have received imaging fluid;

(d) subjecting the printing member to a solvent, the solvent disrupting non-image, uncrosslinked portions of the top layer; and

(e) removing the non-image portions of the top layer, thereby creating an imagewise lithographic pattern on the printing member.

17 . The method of claim 16 wherein the solvent comprises an aqueous fluid.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the first lithographic affinity is hydrophilicity and the second lithographic affinity is oleophilicity.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the first lithographic affinity is oleophilicity and the second lithographic affinity is hydrophilicity.

20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the top layer comprises at least one crosslinkable moiety.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the crosslinkable moiety is selected from the group consisting of multifunctional acrylic monomer, multifunctional acrylic oligomer, multifunctional acrylic macromer, and combinations thereof.

22 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the imaging fluid comprises a multifunctional amine.

23 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the top layer comprises at least one photo-polymerizable moiety and a first component of a two-component photo-polymerization initiating system.

24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the imaging fluid comprises a second component of a two-component photo-polymerization initiating system.

25 - 95 . (canceled)