Patent ID: 6745693
Filing Date: 2004-06-08
Classification: B41C,B41M,B41N,B41P,G03F

Abstract:
A variable data lithographic printing device comprising:(a) a substrate ribbon supply means for passing a substrate ribbon through one or more rollers with one end unwinding from a roll of unused ribbon and the other end winding up to a roll of used ribbon, said ribbon having a lithographic substrate surface; (b) a coating means for depositing a photosensitive layer on the substrate ribbon surface; wherein said photosensitive layer is capable of hardening upon exposure to an actinic radiation and exhibits an affinity or aversion substantially opposite to the affinity or aversion of said ribbon surface to at least one printing liquid selected from the group consisting of ink and an abhesive fluid for ink; (c) an exposure means for exposing the photosensitive layer on the ribbon with the actinic radiation according to digital imaging information to form hardened areas in the exposed areas and non-hardened areas in the non-exposed areas; (d) an inking means for applying ink or both fountain solution and ink to the ribbon to form inked images; (e) wherein the means (b) to (d) are mounted proximate the passage of the ribbon and sequentially arranged along the moving direction of the ribbon; and each means of (b) to (d) completes its designed function to the ribbon surface areas in the designed printing width which pass by said means in each single pass during printing operation.