Method of producing a printed sheet output or a printed web of a printing press
View Patent ↗A method of producing a printed sheet output of a printing press uses an aqueous solution, an ink, and an input sheet. The method applies aqueous solution to the input sheet to form a non-image area and an image area thereon, and contacts the non-image and image areas of the input sheet with ink. Ink is transferred substantially only to the image area to produce the printed sheet output of the printing press. A method of producing a printed web of a printing press is also disclosed.
1. A method of producing a printed sheet output of a printing press using an aqueous solution, an ink, and an input sheet, the method comprising the steps of:
selectively applying aqueous solution to the input sheet to form a non-image area and an image area thereon, wherein the non-image and image areas are undefined until the aqueous solution is applied; and
contacting the non-image area having the aqueous solution and the image area of the input sheet with ink whereby ink is transferred substantially only to the image area to produce the printed sheet output of the printing press, wherein the aqueous solution in the non-image area substantially blocks transfer of the ink to the non-image area.
2. The method of claim 1 , further including the step of applying a coating on the input sheet before the step of applying the aqueous solution to the input sheet.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the coating inhibits the input sheet from absorbing at least some of the aqueous solution.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of receiving image data before the applying step, wherein the non-image area is based at least in part on the image data.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the applying step includes the step of printing the aqueous solution on the input sheet.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the printing step is performed using at least one jet nozzle.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the applying step comprises the step of jetting the aqueous solution on the input sheet.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the jetting step is performed using at least one ink jet head.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous solution includes ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, or both.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous solution includes a surfactant.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the aqueous solution comprises a gel.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the input sheet comprises paper.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method comprises the further step of applying ink to a cylinder before the contacting step.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the cylinder is a plate cylinder.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the cylinder is a blanket cylinder.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method comprises the further step of applying ink to an endless belt before the contacting step.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method comprises the further step of applying ink to a printing plate before the contacting step.
18. A method of producing a printed web of a printing press using an aqueous solution, an ink, and an input web to produce a printed output web of the printing press, the method comprising the steps of:
selectively applying aqueous solution to the input web to form a non-image area and an image area thereon, wherein the non-image and image areas are undefined until the aqueous solution is applied; and
contacting the non-image area having the aqueous solution and the image area of the input web with ink whereby ink is transferred substantially only to the image area to produce the printed output web of the printing press, wherein the aqueous solution in the non-image area substantially blocks transfer of the ink to the non-image area.
19. The method of claim 18 , further including the step of applying a coating on the input web before the step of applying the aqueous solution to the input web.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the coating inhibits the input web from absorbing at least some of the aqueous solution.
21. The method of claim 18 , further comprising the step of receiving image data before the applying step, wherein the non-image area is based at least in part on the image data.
22. The method of claim 18 , wherein the applying step comprises the step of printing the aqueous solution on the input web.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the printing step is performed using at least one jet nozzle.
24. The method of claim 18 , wherein the applying step comprises the step of jetting the aqueous solution on the input web.
25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the jetting step is performed using at least one ink jet head.
26. The method of claim 18 , wherein the aqueous solution includes ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, or both.
27. The method of claim 18 , wherein the aqueous solution includes a surfactant.
28. The method of claim 18 , wherein the aqueous solution comprises a gel.
29. The method of claim 18 , wherein the input web comprises paper.
30. The method of claim 18 , wherein the method comprises the further step of applying the ink to a cylinder before the contacting step.
31. The method of claim 30 , wherein the cylinder is a plate cylinder.
32. The method of claim 30 , wherein the cylinder is a blanket cylinder.
33. The method of claim 18 , wherein the method comprises the further step of applying ink to an endless belt before the contacting step.
34. The method of claim 18 , wherein the method comprises the further step of applying ink to a printing plate before the contacting step.