An improved apparatus and method for forming images comprising Braille, raised print, regular print, or a combination is described. The architecture for the printing of Braille dots using marking material such as UV gel ink. The UV gel ink is deposited on a drum that has an array of closely packed raised features like mesas that are cup-shaped. The mesas on drum are filled with the UV gel ink and transferred to paper or another substrate. Partial curing can occur on the drum and the dots can be fully cured after transfer to the substrate. The mesas are shaped so that the dots take on a final shape consistent with usual Braille features.

A device 1 for imprinting cans 8 comprises a plurality of ink cartridges 2a-2f that supply ink to a plurality of printing plates 3a-3f; the printing plates 2a-2f communicate with transfer blankets 5a-5l fixed to drum 6, the transfer blankets 5a-5l move ink from the printing plates 2a-2f and apply it to cans 8; each transfer blanket 2a-2f includes a different art in low relief (FIG. 15) which produces an image on cans 8 in addition to the image produced by printing plates 2a-2f; the device 1 is preferably a rotary dry offset printer. A method of printing cans comprising forming a relief image in a transfer blanket with a laser is also disclosed.

A device 1 for imprinting cans 8 comprises a plurality of ink cartridges 2a-2f that supply ink to a plurality of printing plates 3a-3f; the printing plates 2a-2f communicate with transfer blankets 5a-5l fixed to drum 6, the transfer blankets 5a-5l move ink from the printing plates 2a-2f and apply it to cans 8; each transfer blanket 2a-2f includes a different art in low relief (FIG. 15) which produces an image on cans 8 in addition to the image produced by printing plates 2a-2f; the device 1 is preferably a rotary dry offset printer. A method of printing cans comprising forming a relief image in a transfer blanket with a laser is also disclosed.

An object of the present invention is to provide a flexographic printing plate precursor for laser engraving which makes it possible to obtain a flexographic printing plate having excellent solid quality and a wide printing pressure latitude and a flexographic printing plate which is obtained by laser-engraving the flexographic printing plate precursor for laser engraving. A flexographic printing plate precursor for laser engraving of the present invention includes a first resin layer, a second resin layer, and a support in this order, in which a thickness of the first resin layer is equal to or less than 0.03 mm, and a ratio of a dynamic hardness of the first resin layer to a dynamic hardness of the second resin layer is equal to or less than 0.9.

An object of the present invention is to provide a flexographic printing plate precursor for laser engraving which makes it possible to obtain a flexographic printing plate having excellent solid quality and a wide printing pressure latitude and a flexographic printing plate which is obtained by laser-engraving the flexographic printing plate precursor for laser engraving. A flexographic printing plate precursor for laser engraving of the present invention includes a first resin layer, a second resin layer, and a support in this order, in which a thickness of the first resin layer is equal to or less than 0.03 mm, and a ratio of a dynamic hardness of the first resin layer to a dynamic hardness of the second resin layer is equal to or less than 0.9.

A plate making system comprises a writing device, an exposure device, a developing device, a plate cutting device, a first transfer device, a second transfer device and a third transfer device in an integrated manner. The plate making system also comprises a control device that controls a series of plate making processes for a flexographic printing original plate performed by the writing device, the exposure device, the developing device and the plate cutting device.

The present invention relates to a device for printing cans with different print patterns in the same production sequence, without it being necessary to interrupt the production. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a process for producing cans, which uses a printing device, the can produced by the device and process, and a transfer blanket that is a graphic means that influences the final print patterns of the cans to be printed.

The present invention relates to a device for printing cans with different print patterns in the same production sequence, without it being necessary to interrupt the production. Another objective of the present invention is to provide a process for producing cans, which uses a printing device, the can produced by the device and process, and a transfer blanket that is a graphic means that influences the final print patterns of the cans to be printed.

Provided is a method for manufacturing a sleeve printing plate capable of forming an image pattern which applies printing on an object to be printed by laser engraving without generating cracks and chippings in a printing plate made of a photosensitive resin. The method for manufacturing a sleeve printing plate by making a printing plate made of a photosensitive resin surround an outer peripheral surface of a circular cylindrical sleeve body and forming an image pattern on the printing plate by laser engraving includes the steps of: washing and cooling the printing plate with water; applying heating treatment to the printing plate at a predetermined temperature; and applying heat radiation treatment to the printing plate after the heating treatment.

An object of the present invention is to provide a flexographic printing plate precursor in which reproducibility of microcells is improved in a case of being made into a flexographic printing plate, and durability of independent dots is improved, and a manufacturing method of a flexographic printing plate using the flexographic printing plate precursor. The flexographic printing plate precursor of the present invention includes, in the following order, a support, a photosensitive resin layer, and an infrared ablation layer, in which the photosensitive resin layer contains a photopolymerization initiator represented by Formula (1) and a photopolymerization initiator represented by Formula (2).