Correction values (1-n) according to image area ratios in ranges of a printing plate of a preceding print job corresponding to ink fountain keys (4-1-4-n) are obtained. Opening amounts (1b-nb) of the ink fountain keys (4-1-4-n) corresponding to the image of the printing plate (7) of a next print job are corrected by correction values (1-n) to obtain corrected opening amounts (1b-nb). In a state in which ink in an ink roller group (6) has been decreased by scraping and removing it by an ink scraper blade (15) and in a state in which the opening amounts of the ink fountain keys (4-1-4-n ) have been set to the corrected opening amounts (1b-nb), an ink film thickness distribution corresponding to the image of the printing plate of the next print job is formed on the ink roller group (6).

Provided is a printing method which enables formation of a high-definition printing pattern with high productivity. The printing method includes a treatment liquid application step of applying a treatment liquid, in a treatment liquid set pattern, to a pattern formation region of a printing plate in the printing plate on which a pattern has been formed; an ink application step of applying an ink, in an ink set pattern, to the pattern formation region of the printing plate to which the treatment liquid has been applied; and a transfer step of transferring the ink applied to the pattern formation region of the printing plate to a substrate. The treatment liquid is used for increasing a second diameter of the ink after application of the treatment liquid compared to a first diameter of the ink landed on the pattern formation region without application of the treatment liquid.

Provided is a printing method which enables formation of a high-definition printing pattern with high productivity. The printing method includes a treatment liquid application step of applying a treatment liquid, in a treatment liquid set pattern, to a pattern formation region of a printing plate in the printing plate on which a pattern has been formed; an ink application step of applying an ink, in an ink set pattern, to the pattern formation region of the printing plate to which the treatment liquid has been applied; and a transfer step of transferring the ink applied to the pattern formation region of the printing plate to a substrate. The treatment liquid is used for increasing a second diameter of the ink after application of the treatment liquid compared to a first diameter of the ink landed on the pattern formation region without application of the treatment liquid.

Provided is a planographic printing plate precursor including: a support; and an image recording layer formed on the support, in which the content of fine particles per unit area in a region on a plate surface on the image recording layer side from an end portion of the planographic printing plate precursor to a portion inside the end portion by 5 mm is greater than the content of the fine particles per unit area in a region other than the region by an amount of 10 mg/m.sup.2 or greater, edge stains are not generated therein, and transferring of the image recording layer is prevented even in a case where planographic printing plate precursors are stored in a stacked state. Further, provided are a method of producing the same and a printing method using the same.

The invention provides a combination of an ink reservoir and doctor blade assembly (2) and a rotatable cylinder (3) for a printing press, which form a chamber for containing ink, wherein the ink reservoir and doctor blade assembly (2) comprises a scaling assembly (203) for scaling an axial end of the chamber, or sealing a sub-chamber of the chamber from another sub-chamber of the chamber, wherein the sealing assembly (203) comprises a seal (2031) presenting a seal contour (SC) to sealingly engage a circumferential surface of the cylinder (3), and a flexible biasing device (2032) forming one or more cavities (2041-2043), and being arranged to receive a pressurized fluid in the one or more cavities (2041-2043), for biasing the seal (2031) into sealing engagement with the cylinder (3), wherein the combination is arranged according to one or both of the following alternatives (a) and (b): (a): in an axis perpendicular plane, which is perpendicular to the rotational axis of the cylinder (3) and coincides with a cross-section of the biasing device, the biasing device (2032) has a peak (2032P) or a summit (2032S) which is located within an extension (EXTSC) of the seal contour (SC) along a reference plane (RP) which coincides with the rotational axis of the cylinder (3) and which is perpendicular to a seal location plane (SLP) which coincides with the rotational axis of the cylinder (3) and a circumferential mid-point of the seal contour (SC), (b): the biasing device presents one or more surfaces which extend, in the axis perpendicular plane, in parallel with the seal location plane (SLP), and which face at least partly away from the seal location plane (SLP), and/or one or more surfaces which face partly away from the reference plane (RP), and the seal (2031) covers any such surface.

The invention provides a combination of an ink reservoir and doctor blade assembly (2) and a rotatable cylinder (3) for a printing press, which form a chamber for containing ink, wherein the ink reservoir and doctor blade assembly (2) comprises a scaling assembly (203) for scaling an axial end of the chamber, or sealing a sub-chamber of the chamber from another sub-chamber of the chamber, wherein the sealing assembly (203) comprises a seal (2031) presenting a seal contour (SC) to sealingly engage a circumferential surface of the cylinder (3), and a flexible biasing device (2032) forming one or more cavities (2041-2043), and being arranged to receive a pressurized fluid in the one or more cavities (2041-2043), for biasing the seal (2031) into sealing engagement with the cylinder (3), wherein the combination is arranged according to one or both of the following alternatives (a) and (b): (a): in an axis perpendicular plane, which is perpendicular to the rotational axis of the cylinder (3) and coincides with a cross-section of the biasing device, the biasing device (2032) has a peak (2032P) or a summit (2032S) which is located within an extension (EXTSC) of the seal contour (SC) along a reference plane (RP) which coincides with the rotational axis of the cylinder (3) and which is perpendicular to a seal location plane (SLP) which coincides with the rotational axis of the cylinder (3) and a circumferential mid-point of the seal contour (SC), (b): the biasing device presents one or more surfaces which extend, in the axis perpendicular plane, in parallel with the seal location plane (SLP), and which face at least partly away from the seal location plane (SLP), and/or one or more surfaces which face partly away from the reference plane (RP), and the seal (2031) covers any such surface.

Provided is a planographic printing plate precursor including: a support; and an image recording layer formed on the support, in which a region on the plate surface on the image recording layer side from an end portion of the planographic printing plate precursor to a portion inside the end portion by 5 mm contains a polymer containing a functional group represented by the following Formula (A), and the content of the polymer per unit area in the region is greater than the content of the polymer per unit area in a region other than the above-described region by an amount of 10 mg/m.sup.2 or greater.
Si(X).sub.m(R.sup.3).sub.n(A)

Provided is a planographic printing plate precursor including: a support; and an image recording layer formed on the support, in which a region on the plate surface on the image recording layer side from an end portion of the planographic printing plate precursor to a portion inside the end portion by 5 mm contains a polymer containing a functional group represented by the following Formula (A), and the content of the polymer per unit area in the region is greater than the content of the polymer per unit area in a region other than the above-described region by an amount of 10 mg/m.sup.2 or greater.
Si(X).sub.m(R.sup.3).sub.n(A)

Improved pliable print rollers for high speed drink can printing machines increase the pliable roller life five- to ten-fold at comparable ink thickness and machine speed. The improved performance results from the selection of materials utilized including a combination of elastomers, and in some case an essentially oil-free composition, and an associated manufacturing process not previously utilized to create pliable print rollers for high speed drink can printing machines. In particular a particular embodiment, the composition includes a combination of elastomers (e.g., 75% polyisoprene and 25% polybutadiene), a filler (e.g., silica), a curing agent (e.g., peroxided), and other additives (e.g., pigment, antioxidant, antiozonant) with little or no oil added as a softener. An illustrative composition including 150 parts by weight contains 100 parts elastomer, 35 parts filler, 4 parts curing agent, and 11 parts other additives (i.e., zero parts oil softener).

Improved pliable print rollers for high speed drink can printing machines increase the pliable roller life five- to ten-fold at comparable ink thickness and machine speed. The improved performance results from the selection of materials utilized including a combination of elastomers, and in some case an essentially oil-free composition, and an associated manufacturing process not previously utilized to create pliable print rollers for high speed drink can printing machines. In particular a particular embodiment, the composition includes a combination of elastomers (e.g., 75% polyisoprene and 25% polybutadiene), a filler (e.g., silica), a curing agent (e.g., peroxided), and other additives (e.g., pigment, antioxidant, antiozonant) with little or no oil added as a softener. An illustrative composition including 150 parts by weight contains 100 parts elastomer, 35 parts filler, 4 parts curing agent, and 11 parts other additives (i.e., zero parts oil softener).