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WO1998013205A1 - Tireuse heliographique commandee par ordinateur et procede correspondant - Google Patents

Tireuse heliographique commandee par ordinateur et procede correspondant Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1998013205A1
WO1998013205A1 PCT/US1996/015236 US9615236W WO9813205A1 WO 1998013205 A1 WO1998013205 A1 WO 1998013205A1 US 9615236 W US9615236 W US 9615236W WO 9813205 A1 WO9813205 A1 WO 9813205A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
diazo
image
substrate
imaging
imaging device
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1996/015236
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Norman Sweet
Patrick Rich
Richard Folcik
Original Assignee
Precision Coatings, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Precision Coatings, Inc. filed Critical Precision Coatings, Inc.
Priority to AU73692/96A priority Critical patent/AU7369296A/en
Priority to PCT/US1996/015236 priority patent/WO1998013205A1/fr
Publication of WO1998013205A1 publication Critical patent/WO1998013205A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J3/00—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
    • B41J3/407—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
    • G03C1/00—Photosensitive materials
    • G03C1/52—Compositions containing diazo compounds as photosensitive substances

Definitions

  • This invention concerns the field of computerized printing systems, and, more particularly, to such a system employing a diazo imaging process.
  • the diazo imaging process is a standard technique often used to produce large, low cost reproductions, such as blueprints employed in manufacturing and construction industries.
  • the process produces a positive image.
  • Diazo compounds are formed by the reaction of aniline (an aromatic amine) with nitrous acid.
  • Diazo salts when combined with a coupler (typically, various phenols and coal tar derivatives) in an alkaline environment, will form an azo dye .
  • the a"zo dye is highly colored and can vary in hue, depending upon the particular components involved.
  • the diazo process which produces the azo compound is light sensitive. Hence, exposure of the diazo salt mixture to ultraviolet light prevents the formation of an azo dye. Diazo imaging relies on this ultraviolet light sensitivity.
  • the diazo salt and coupler are mixed with an acid to prevent the coupling reaction from taking place. Paper or other substrate coated with this sensitized material is exposed to ultraviolet light through a mask consisting of a transparent or translucent drawing or other image which prevents exposure of the coated substrate to the ultraviolet in specific areas. In areas where the light is not blocked, the light decomposes the diazo so that it becomes incapable of compounding into an azo dye. However, in the areas blocked by the mask, a latent image of sensitized diazo material is formed. This latent image is then exposed to ammonia vapor to neutralize the acid, thus permitting the coupling reaction to go forward to form the azo dye. Thus, the latent image on the substrate will form a visible image created by the azo dye.
  • the substrate carrying the latent image thereon must be guarded from accidental exposure thereto.
  • subsequent handling and development of the latent imaged substrate are necessarily performed under dark room conditions; that is, the only light which is permitted to come into contact with the substrate having the latent image thereon is light completely free of ultraviolet light, referred to as "yellow light".
  • the diazo process since the latent image must be exposed to ammonia vapors for development, the diazo process carries the inherent problem of handling the dangerous ammonia vapors; typically, they are either vented out to the roof of the building or are absorbed by a filter.
  • Ink jet printers which provide a relatively inexpensive way of rendering computer images into high quality, hard copy, have come into very widespread use in recent years.
  • All ink jet printers include a reservoir or cartridge containing the printing ink which is delivered to a nozzle located in the print head of the printer.
  • the ink is under pressure, and is subjected to an AC electric current which causes it to vibrate and break up into tiny ink droplets as it exits the small orifice of the ink nozzle.
  • the ink droplets are subjected to a charge voltage as they leave the nozzle. By varying the applied voltage, the charge carried by the droplets can accordingly be varied.
  • the droplets then pass between two deflector plates which are maintained at a constant potential, thus causing a droplet to deflect toward one of the plates by an amount proportional to the charge carried by the droplet.
  • the charged and deflected droplets then impinge on the moving paper in a pattern which varies as the charge varies. In this way, both printed and graphic images can be created.
  • Inks suitable for use in ink jet printers typically include a pigment, dye or combination of pigments, a carrier or solvent, and a resin binder to help the printed image adhered to the paper.
  • Other components such as conductivity agents, humectants, defoamers, surfactants, corrosion inhibitors, plasticizors and viscosity modifying agents may be added to improve and enhance various characteristics of the ink.
  • Ink compositions suitable for use in ink jet printers which are capable of producing a latent image for subsequent development into a visible image are disclosed and described in U.S. Patent No. 5,395,432.
  • This patent discloses various formulations for "invisible inks" which may be used in an ink jet printer to produce a "secure image” invisible to the eye, and which is revealed only after it is subjected to a developing agent, such as heat.
  • a developing agent such as heat
  • the images produced with the inks disclosed in the '432 patent are not suitable for use as intermediate screens or masks in printing processes because they do not exhibit particularly good image density and opaqueness to ultraviolet light.
  • the system includes a computer activated imager
  • the solution can be disposed in the ink reservoir.
  • the ribbon can be impregnated with the solution.
  • a substrate having a coating disposed thereon formed of a second diazo imaging substance is imprinted by the imager with a pattern of the solution containing the first diazo compound. This will react with the second diazo compound in the coating to produce a visible diazo image pattern on the substrate.
  • the first diazo substance carried by the ink is a solution of ammonium hydroxide, or any compound capable of developing a diazo image, hereafter referred to as the "developing agent", and the second diazo imaging substance carried by the coating includes a diazo compound, a coupler, and an acid.
  • the substrate is typical "diazo paper" which carries the diazo compound, coupler, and acid. Due to the presence of the acid, "the diazo compound is prevented from reacting with the coupler. However, as soon as the developing agent is imprinted onto the diazo paper, the action of the developing agent will neutralize the acid, and permit the diazo coupling reaction to go forward, thus producing a visible diazo image on the paper.
  • the first diazo imaging substance carried by the solution, itself, and the second diazo imaging substance carried by the paper includes a coupler.
  • the diazo salt is always separated from the coupler until actual imprinting of the substrate. Therefore, no acid needs to be combined with the diazo salts, and no ammonia vapors or solution are needed to enable the coupling reaction, but the coating itself may contain additional compounds to accelerate the coupling reaction.
  • This particular embodiment has the dual advantages of eliminating the hazardous ammonia vapors and the necessity of venting or absorbing them, and eliminating the requirement that printing be carried out under yellow safe lights. Since the paper is not coated with the light sensitive diazo mixture, it requires no special handling, and the process may be carried out under natural light.
  • the first diazo imaging substance carried by the solution is the coupler solution
  • the second diazo imaging substance carried by the paper is the diazo salt.
  • the imager may be supplied with a formulation containing a diazo compound, a coupler, and an acid.
  • a formulation containing a diazo compound, a coupler, and an acid This can be used to imprint plain paper and produce a latent diazo image.
  • the latent diazo image must be subsequently developed by using ammonia vapors in a conventional manner.
  • this embodiment has the advantage of using plain, rather than coated paper which is not only considerably cheaper than diazo paper, but is also much easier to handle because it is not light sensitive. Furthermore, no light is required to create the image since only the digital output image from the computer is applied to the paper or film.
  • a developed diazo/coupler solution is used in the ink reservoir or carrier so that, when applied to paper or film from an imager, the fully developed solution provides its own image on the substrate. No further development is required.
  • the method of the present invention contemplates using an ink jet printer (or other computer activated imager) having a reservoir filled with a solution containing a first diazo imaging substance to imprint an image onto a substrate coated with a second diazo imaging substance to form a visible diazo image pattern on the substrate.
  • the first diazo imaging substance can include: an ammonium hydroxide solution or any compound capable of developing a diazo image,- a mixture of diazo compound; a coupler, and an acid; the diazo compound without any coupler or acid; or simply the coupler, itself.
  • the second diazo imaging substance coated on the paper may be any of these components depending on the nature of the first imaging substance.
  • the method further contemplates the step of imprinting the plain paper of a solution containing a diazo compound, a coupler, and acid to form a latent image on the plain paper, and subsequently exposing the imaged paper to ammonia vapors to form a visible diazo image thereon.
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view of the diazo printing system of the present invention with certain hidden structures therein shown in phantom;
  • Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a coated substrate useful in practicing the present invention.
  • Figure 3 is a perspective view of a substrate being imprinted according method of the present invention
  • Figure 4 illustrates a further step in an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 10 a system 10 for imprinting a substrate 18 with a diazo image.
  • This system 10 includes a conventional ink jet printer 12 which includes an internally disposed reservoir or cartridge 14 for containing a supply of printing ink 16.
  • the ink jet printer 12 also includes numerous additional elements, such as ink nozzle, charging plates, charge electrode, etc. which are not considered germane to the practice of the present invention and are not depicted in Figure 1.
  • the type of ink jet printer depicted in the drawings is entirely conventional in construction and considered to be well within the knowledge of one skilled in the art.
  • Ink "jet printer 12 also contains a supply of paper (or other printing substrate) 18 which is disposed in a paper supply tray 17. As can be seen more clearly in Figure 2, the paper 18 is multi- layer and has a base 18a with a coating 18b disposed thereon.
  • FIG. 3 depicts the system 10 of the present invention in operation with a sheet of paper 18 emerging from a paper slot 19 and having an image 20 appearing thereon.
  • Image 20 is produced by the reaction between the second diazo imaging substance in coating 18b and the first imaging substance in the printing ink 16 which has been imprinted onto the coated paper 18 by operation of ink jet printer 12.
  • the first diazo substance may variously include: an ammonium hydroxide solution; a diazo solution (without coupler and without acid) ; or the coupler (without the diazo salts) .
  • coating 18b of paper 18 will include a diazo compound including diazo salts, coupler, and an acid.
  • paper 18 can be conventional diazo paper. The reaction between the ammonium hydroxide in the ink 16 will cause an image to appear on the diazo paper as the paper 18 emerges from the ink jet printer 12.
  • the paper 18 has a coating 18b which includes a coupler.
  • the diazo salt and the coupler By separating the diazo salt and the coupler in this manner, these two substances cannot react until they are brought together by the act of imprinting the ink onto the paper. Thus, no acid needs to be used to suppress the coupling reaction and, consequently, no ammonia vapors are necessary to neutralize the acid so that the coupling reaction can go forward.
  • this embodiment possesses the advantage that the coupler coated paper is not light sensitive and can be handled in a normal manner. Hence, the printing process can be carried out under normal white light.
  • plain, uncoated paper is employed, and an ink containing a diazo compound, a coupler, and acid is used in the ink jet printer or other imaging device to imprint the plain paper with a latent diazo image 29, as can be seen by examining Figure 4.
  • Figure 4 depicts the additional step of development which must be performed with this embodiment.
  • the latent image 29 is exposed to ammonia vapors 32 to develop into a visible diazo image 30. While this embodiment has the advantage of using plain paper, it does require this additional development step.
  • the ink containing the first diazo imaging substance will also normally contain other components and, most particularly a carrier or solvent (such as water, various alcohols, other organic solvents, etc.) which will vary depending upon the particular diazo imaging substance used.
  • a carrier or solvent such as water, various alcohols, other organic solvents, etc.
  • resin binder to help adherence of the ink to the substrate, as is conventional and well known in the a-rt of formulating inks suitable for use ink jet printers.
  • Other components may also be present, such as one or more conductivity agents, defoamers, surfactants, corrosion inhibitors, plasticizors, thickeners, drying agents, etc .
  • a diazo printing system and method which employs an ink jet printer including a cartridge filled with an ink having a first diazo imaging substance.
  • the ink is imprinted upon to a substrate which is coated with a second diazo imaging substance to form a visible diazo image thereon.
  • the resultant image as is characteristic of images produced by diazo printing, has high optical density and is highly opaque to ultraviolet light.
  • the system of the present invention is particularly useful for producing intermediate screens and masks on transparent or translucent substrates. Due to the high quality of the diazo image produced, these intermediate masks and screens can be used in such high quality printing processes as silk screening, lithography, photo-lithography, etc.
  • the system is also particularly useful for printing outside signage since the diazo image is particularly resistant to degradation caused by ultraviolet light.
  • the system and method of the present invention have the particular advantage of employing an ink jet printer so that the system is easy to interface with computer based CAD and graphic design systems.
  • the ink jet printer, impact printer or plotter is already designed to print computer generated and digitally stored images, it is possible to use the present system to create a visible diazo image directly from a design displayed on or stored in a computer.
  • the present invention can be used as an integral part of a computerized, integrated production system for printing high quality art works and graphic designs.

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  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Materials Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Ink Jet Recording Methods And Recording Media Thereof (AREA)

Abstract

Cette invention se rapporte à un système (10) et à un procédé d'impression d'images diazoïques sur imprimante ou traceur d'ordinateur. La cartouche (14) de l'imprimante (12) à jet d'encre ou du traceur est remplie d'encre (16) ou un ruban faisant office de film de transfert est imprégné de ladite encre qui contient une première substance pour impression héliographique (telle qu'un mélange de sels diazoïques, d'un agent de couplage et d'un acide, ou une solution d'hydroxyde d'ammonium, ou des sels diazoïques seuls ou un agent de couplage seul). L'invention se rapporte à un substrat (18) enduit d'une seconde substance pour impression héliographique (sélectionnée pour réagir avec la première substance pour impression héliographique de façon à produire une image visible). L'imprimante ou le traceur sert ensuite à imprimer une image sur le substrat enduit. La réaction entre les deux substances pour impression héliographique permet d'obtenir une image héliographique visible. Cette invention est particulièrement adaptée à la fabrication d'écrans et de masques intermédiaires dans un environnement de production graphique informatisé, ainsi qu'à la fabrication d'articles de signalisation d'extérieur.
PCT/US1996/015236 1996-09-24 1996-09-24 Tireuse heliographique commandee par ordinateur et procede correspondant WO1998013205A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU73692/96A AU7369296A (en) 1996-09-24 1996-09-24 Computer activated diazo printing system and method
PCT/US1996/015236 WO1998013205A1 (fr) 1996-09-24 1996-09-24 Tireuse heliographique commandee par ordinateur et procede correspondant

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US1996/015236 WO1998013205A1 (fr) 1996-09-24 1996-09-24 Tireuse heliographique commandee par ordinateur et procede correspondant

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1998013205A1 true WO1998013205A1 (fr) 1998-04-02

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ID=22255844

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1996/015236 WO1998013205A1 (fr) 1996-09-24 1996-09-24 Tireuse heliographique commandee par ordinateur et procede correspondant

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU7369296A (fr)
WO (1) WO1998013205A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6523471B2 (en) * 2000-05-08 2003-02-25 Pisces-Print Imaging Sciences, Inc. Chemical imaging of a lithographic printing plate
CN104772993A (zh) * 2015-03-31 2015-07-15 泉州市旭丰图文制模有限公司 菲林打印输出机

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3063050A (en) * 1958-12-17 1962-11-06 Texas Instruments Inc Inkless recording method
US3373438A (en) * 1966-01-03 1968-03-12 Pitney Bowes Inc Jet printer
US3870435A (en) * 1969-07-09 1975-03-11 Pilot Pen Co Ltd Visual recording method and means
US4258367A (en) * 1979-03-29 1981-03-24 Whittaker Corporation Light sensitive jet inks
US4382262A (en) * 1981-03-23 1983-05-03 Joseph Savit Multicolor jet printing

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3063050A (en) * 1958-12-17 1962-11-06 Texas Instruments Inc Inkless recording method
US3373438A (en) * 1966-01-03 1968-03-12 Pitney Bowes Inc Jet printer
US3870435A (en) * 1969-07-09 1975-03-11 Pilot Pen Co Ltd Visual recording method and means
US4258367A (en) * 1979-03-29 1981-03-24 Whittaker Corporation Light sensitive jet inks
US4382262A (en) * 1981-03-23 1983-05-03 Joseph Savit Multicolor jet printing

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6523471B2 (en) * 2000-05-08 2003-02-25 Pisces-Print Imaging Sciences, Inc. Chemical imaging of a lithographic printing plate
CN104772993A (zh) * 2015-03-31 2015-07-15 泉州市旭丰图文制模有限公司 菲林打印输出机

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU7369296A (en) 1998-04-17

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