Title of Invention

PLATE-MAKING METHOD AND PLATE-MAKING APPARATUS FOR STENCIL PRINTING AND STENCIL PRINTING MACHINE

Abstract The present invention is a plate-making method for stencil printing in which heat-sensitive stencil plate material for stencil printing consisting of a thermoplastic resin film is melted by heating of a thermal head to perforate an ink permeable openings. Many minute recesses (14) are formed on one side of the film (12). The thermal head (10) is constituted so that the heater size thereof satisfies HM>0.6 PM and HS>0.7 PS when the arranging pitch of heaters on a main scanning side is set to PM, the length of the heaters on the main scanning side is set to HM, a feed pitch on a sub-scanning side is set to PS and the length of the heaters on the sub- scanning side is set to HS. An opposite side to the minute recess side of the film is heated by heating of the thermal head with an energy output of 35 mili-joule/mm2, so that the heated portion is melted for communication with the recesses to form ink permeable openings. It make it possible to thermally perforating individual ink permeable openings in the film independently without increasing an output of a thermal head, and it realizes stencil printing by using a stencil plate material consisting only of a thermoplastic resin film.
Full Text DESCRIPTION
Title of the Invention
PLATE-MAKING METHOD AND PLATE-MAKING APPARATUS FOR STENCIL
PRINTING AND STENCIL PRINTING MACHINE
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a thermal plate-
making for stencil printing, especially, the plate-making
method and the plate-making apparatus for ster.ril printing
and the stencil printing machine which realize plate-making
by using a stencil plate material consisting only of a
thermoplastic resin film substantially without ink-
pereable supporters, such as Japanese paper
fabric etc. In addition, the above expression of
"consisting only of a thermoplastic resin film
substantially" intends to include such a construction of
the film that antistatic coating and weld prevention
coating may be given on a surface of the film, on condition
that it have no ink-permeable supporter.
Background Art
Conventionally, a stencil sheet, which is utilized for
a stencil plate in stencil printing, generally comprises an
ink-permeable supporter and a thermoplastic resin film
which is stuck on the supporter with adhesives. The ink-
permeable supporter is made of Japanese paper or nonwoven
fabric and the like. The thermoplastic resin film is made

from polyester and the like. A thickness of the
thermoplastic resin film is 1.5 µ m to generally a
thickness of the supporter being about 30-40 µ m. Printing
is performed by taking out ink from a stencil plate which
is formed by thermally perforating the film. Said thermal
perforation is mainly performed by heating of a thermal
head, namely, said stencil sheet is inserted between the
thermal head and a platen roller, and then is heated by the
thermal head.
Respect to stencil printing performed by using such a
stencil plate made or engraved by the above mentioned
method, from before, various inconveniences or
disadvantages of using the stencil plate which is stuck the
thermoplastic resin film with adhesives, are mentioned.
Meanwhile, various improvement proposals, which constitute
a stencil plate only of a thermoplastic resin film without
supporters, are proposed. However, none of the proposals
has resulted in utilization now, and any proposals must
overcome certain technical problems. When the stencil plate
particularly is constituted only of a thermoplastic resin
film, it is hard to deal with the stencil plate if a
thickness of the film is not made to some extent thick. In
addition, it is necessary to enlarge an output force of the
thermal head in order to carry out thermally perforating at
the thick film. That caused various problems and has become

the greatest difficulty of utilization.
On the other hand, it is preferable that perforations
of the stencil plate made in stencil printing are
perforated independently for every dot, and for that, it is
desirable to make heater size as small as possible to a dot
pitch as shown in the Japanese examined patent publication
No.2732532. However, corresponding to a size of the heater
becoming snail, an influence of a heat diffusion which the
heater receives from the circumference electrodes becomes
large, thereby, a thermal efficiency of the thermal head
falls down and a life of the thermal head becomes short.
Furthermore, with respect to a thin film type thermal head,
since an exctnermic portion is dented compared with a
surrounding electrode, the stencil sheet will be supported
by high electrode sections around of the dented portion
according to the size of the heater becoming small.
Therefore, a contact state or an adhesion state between the
exothermic portion and the stencil sheet becomes bad, and
thermal efficiency falls increasingly.
Moreover, in order to solve the above-mentioned
problem about aggravation of the contact state between the
exothermic portion and the stencil sheet by the size of the
heater becoming small, the thermal head so called a
"partial glaze type" which raises only the exothermic
portion by glaze is proposed.

However, even if the thermal head is the partial glaze
type, since an upheaval of the partial glaze is very smooth,
the raising curve also turns into a straight line in
approximation. After all, it becomes not impossible to
fully solve the problem of the adhesion.
Disclosure of Invention
As mentioned above, the problem of the stencil sheet
for stencil printing and the problem of the thermal head
for stencil printing are independent respectively. The
present invention is originated that those problems should
be solved in simultaneous. Therefore, the present inventicr.
tends as provide with a method of an apparatus for plate-
making and a stencil paper printing machine can
realise a stencil plate printing by constituting the
stencil sheet(plate) only of a thermoplastic resin film, in
a stencil plate printing.
Means for Solving the Problem
First, the plate-making method for stencil printing
according to the present invention solves the technical
problems of the conventional arts, and in order to attain
the purpose of it, it is constituted as follows. Namely,
the plate-making method for stencil printing according to
the present invention which forms ink-permeable openings by
thermally fusing a heat-sensitive stencil plate material
for stencil printing which consists of an extended

Thermoplastic resin film with a predetermined thickness is
characterized in that: a tensile stress at the time of
extension is internally remained and many minute recesses
are formed on one side surface of the above film, an
opposite side surface to the minute recess side of the film
is heated by the thermal head, an energy output of the
thermal head for heating sufficiently satisfies to fuse-
penetrate a thin closing portion of the minute recess, but
it is restricted to the range which does not fuse-perforate
a thick portion except the recess portion of the film, so
that said openings are formed by the heated fused portion
communicating with the minute recess.
Two or more heaters are arranged in the main
direction at one sequence or tier on the thermal. When
a main scanning side array pitch cf the heater is set to PM
a main scanning side heater length is set to HM, a sub
scanning side delivery pitch is set to PS and a sub
scanning side heater length is set to HS, it is desirable
that a size of the heater satisfies HM>0.6PM and HS>0.7PS.
It is desirable that an impression energy of the
thermal head is below into the 35mile- joule/mm2 in this
plate-making.
Moreover, in this plate-making method, the stencil
plate material consists of an extended film in which a
tensile stress at the time of extension is remains.

Therefore, when the heated portion begins to melt, a base
of the melting portion is communicated with the minute
recess, so that the ink-permeable perforation is formed by
the remained stress.
Furthermore, in this method for stencil printing, it
is desirable that the stencil plate material is constituted
of an extended polyethylene-terephthalate (PET) film or an
extended low melting pcint film by copolymerizing
polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polybutylene
terephthalate (PBT) , and when a working temperature is set
to mºC, a melting point of the film is to set mºC and a
glass transition point is set to g°C,' it is preferable that
the templating (or impressing) is performed by P Pa of
working pressure force of 104X102 (m-t)/(m-g) or more.
The minute recess may be a penetrated hole of which a
diameter of an opening on the heated side of the film is
smaller than a diameter of an opening on the opposite side
to said heated side, and the diameter the opening on the
heated side is small not to permit ink-permeating.
Moreover, the minute recess may be a dent which
reduces the thickness of the film partially and forms a
thin closing portion.
Next, the plate-making apparatus for stencil printing
according to the present invention is constituted as
follows. Namely, the apparatus comprises a plate feed

section which feeds the heat-sensitive stencil plate
material consisting of an extended thermoplastic resin film
with a predetermined thickness, a means to form many minute
recesses on one side surface of the film, and a heating
means to form ink-permeable openings in the film by heating
the film, in which an opposite side surface to the minute
recess side of the film is heated by the heating means, a
tensile stress at the time of extension is internally
remained in said thermoplastic resin film, an energy output
of the heating means for heating sufficiently satisfies tc
fuse-penetrate a main closing portion of the minute recess,
but it is restricted to the range which does not fuse-
penetrate a thin portion except the recess portion of the
film, so that said openings are formed by the heated fused
portion communicating the minute recess.
This heating means is a thermal head on which two or
more heaters are arranged in the main scanning direction at
one sequence or tier, and when a main scanning side array
pitch of the heater is set to PM, a main scanning side
heater length is set to HM, a sub scanning side delivery
pitch is set to PS and a sub scanning side heater length is
set to HS, it is desirable that a size of the heater
satisfies HM>0.6PM and HS>0.7PS and an output energy of the
thermal head is below into the 35mili-joule /mm2.
Of course, it is also possible to constitute the

stencil printing machine equipped with the above plate-making
apparatus for stencil printing as a plate-making section.
Also, in any case of the plate-making apparatus and the stencil
printing machine, the minute recess can be made into a penetrated hole
that a diameter of an opening on the heated side of the film is smaller
than a diameter of an opening on the opposite side to said heated side,
and the diameter the opening on the heated side is small not to permit
ink-permeating.
(more utilized effects than the prior art)
The present invention makes it possible to thermally perforating
individual ink-permeable openings in the film independently without
increasing an output of a thermal head, and it realizes the stencil
printing by using the stencil plate material consisting only of a
thermoplastic resin film. Thereby, the problem about the stencil sheet
(stencil plate material) and the problem about the thermal head are
solved simultaneously.
Brief description of the drawings
Fig.l is a drawing showing a concept of the plate-making method
and the apparatus for according to the present invention.
Fig.2 is a drawing showing a front view of the array state of the
heater section of the thermal head.
Fig.3 is a drawing showing a state of the stencil plate

plate which is perforated by making the heater of the
position which expresses "1" of a number according to this
plate-making method generate heat, and above mentioned
process is performed by means of the plate-making method
according to the present invention.
Fig.4 is a drawing showing a concept about the
structure of the stencil sheet used for the plate-making
method and apparatus according to the present invention.
Fig.5 is a drawing showing a concept about the
structure of the stencil sheet used for the plate-making
method and apparatus according to the present invention.
Fig. 6 is a drawing showing an example of a composition
for forming minute recesses in the stencil sheet.
Fig.7 is a drawing showing an example of a composition.
for forming minute recesses in the stencil sheet.
Fig. 3 is a. drawing showing an example of a composition
for forming minute recesses in the stencil sheet.
Fig.9 is a drawing showing an example of a composition
for forming minute recesses in the stencil sheet.
Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention
Referring to Fig.l to Fig. 9, embodiments of the
plate-making method and the apparatus for stencil printing
and the stencil printing machine according to the present
invention will be described hereunder. Fig.l is an outline

drawing illustrating the plate-making method for stencil
printing according to the present invention. In Fig.l, the
numeral 10 designates a thermal head, and the numeral 11
designates a platen roller. A stencil sheet 12 consisting
of an extended polyethylene-terephthalate (PET) film is
sent to the right-side from the left-side in the direction
of an arrow of Fig.l. Although Fig.l is an enlarged
sectional view, an actual size of each composition, for
example a thickness of the stencil sheet 12 is about
several µ m, and a length of a heater section 13 of the
thermal head 10 is about 10 µ m to 20 and several µ m in a
several sheet direction. Moreover, although the platen
rather. It is partially shown in Fig.l, it is a rubber
roller which has a diameter about 20mm.
In addition, other thermoplastic resin usable as the
film is mentioned, for example, polyethylene-terephthalate
resin, polyethylene resin, polyvinyl chloride resin,
polyvinylidene chloride resin, poly methyl pentene resin,
polypropylene resin, polyethylene-naphthalate resin,
polyvinyl alcohol resin, nylon 6. When using especially a
polyester film, it is preferable to use the above
polyethylene-terephthalate (PET) film, a polyethylene-
terephthalate (PET) film with 20% or less of crystallinity,
an extended low melting point film by copolymerizing
polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polybutylene

terephthalate (PBT), or a low melting point film by
copolymerizing polyethylene terephthalate (PET) with 20% or
less of crystallinity and polybutylene(PBT).
Many minute or micro recesses 14 are formed on one
side surface of the stencil sheet 12 by random arrangement.
Said side is in contact with the platen roller 11. Fig.l
shows a state where the thermal head 10 is electrified so
that a portion of the stencil sheet 12, which is in contact
with the heater section 13, is perforated. The stencil
sheet 12 is penetrated by fusing a bottom of the minute
recess 14, and an ink permeable opening is formed. Thus,
the ink permeable opening can be formed in a desired part
to make plate of controlling an electrification to the
heater section 18 of the thermal head 11, whether ON or OFF.
Thus, since the minute recesses 14 are formed on the
one side surface of the film stencil sheet 12, when the
stencil sheet 12 is heated and perforated from an opposite
side of it, it will become possible to form ink-permeable
openings by fusing and penetrating only the bottom portion
of the recess 14, without penetrating all the thickness of
the film.
A density in which the minute recess 14 is formed can
be changed according to desired resolution. As for the
density of the recesses 14, it is suitable that a rate of
opening becomes about 5-30% per 1 dot, to bring beautiful

printing, and prevent . a back projection and a strike-
through. That is, the area of the film which is in contact
with one heater section 13 of the thermal head 10 is
equivalent to 1 dot of a matrix and it must to arrange at
least one minute recess 14 in the area.
Moreover, although an array of the minute recess 14
may be regular, it is preferable that the array is
irregular within fixed limits responding to a desired rate
of opening so as to prevent a phenomenon of "moire". The
phenomenon of "moire" means that a shade of ink appears in
the shape of stripes on a print sheet. In the case of any,
the average pitch of the minute recess 14 is set finer than
the array pitch of the heater section 18 of the thermal
head 10.
Fig. 2 is a plan view showing an array state of the
heater section of the thermal head. Two or more heaters are
arranged to main scanning direction at the single tier, and
the main scanning side array pitch of the heater is PM, the
main scanning side heater length of it is HM, the sub
scanning side delivery pitch of it is PS, and the sub
scanning side heater length is HS. In this case, the main
scanning side heater length is longer than 0.6 times of the
main scanning side array pitch, and the sub scanning side
heater length is longer than 0.7 times of the sub scanning
side array pitch.' Even if the heater size becomes such

large size, a perforation does not become large in
connection with it. It is the reason that the plate-making
is performed in use a stencil sheet material consisting
only of a thermoplastic resin film which have the many
minute recesses on one side surface of it, and the output
energy of the thermal head for heating sufficiently
satisfies to fuse a thin closing portion of the minute
recess, but it is restricted to the range which does not
fuse-perforate a thick portion except the recess portion of
the film. If a perforation equal to the heater size is
formed carried out like the conventional plate-making
recess of the conventional stencil, a diameter of the
perforation becomes large in connection with the hearer-
size becoming large, finally, the perforation is
communicated with the next perforation. In such case, even
if the "O" character is printed, the character may be
smeared away like "●.".
The output energy of the thermal head is below 35mili
joule/mm2 at the time of plate-making. The above
perforations are independent altogether since they are
formed using the recesses. Fig.3 shows a state of the
stencil plate which is perforated by making the heater of a
position which expresses "1" of a number according to this
plate-making method generate heat. Some perforations which
are perforated by heating of the thermal head are smeared

away black. Thus, since each perforation can be formed
independently without making the heater size small, a large
size' heater with sufficient thermal efficiency also with
little influence of thermal diffusion can be adopted. If
the heater size can furthermore be enlarged, a contact
nature between the film and the heater can be improved by
fully taking advantage of the effect of raising by the
heater (heating element) of the partial glaze type, and a
thermal efficiency will become still better. Especially,
since the heater size in the sub scanning direction is
enlarged, the merit, (improvement of the contact nature by
raising; of using the partial glate type becomes large.
Fig 4 is a sectional perspective view showing the
stencil sheet 12 in which the minute recess is a penetrated
hole, but said hole is small not to permit ink permeability.
Although an opening 21 on a surface 20 which is heated at
the time of plate-making is so small not to permit ink
permeability, an opening 23 on a surface 22 of an opposite
side may be larger than it, and may be large so that the
ink enter into the minute recess 14. In addition, Fig. 3
shows a situation that the minute recess 14 is formed in
the shape of a dent with a thin bottom 24.
Moreover, when the minute recess 14 is formed in the
shape of the dent, it is preferable that the thickness of
the thin bottom 24 is about 80% or less of the thickness of

the film, but said the thickness rate depends on material
of the film. In addition, a residual stress may be occurred
at the time of the extension of the film, and said stress
may concentrates on the minute recess of the surface to
urge opening, in that case, it is effective also in the
recess of about 20% of the depth of the film thickness. On
the other hand, when little residual stress is occurred at
the time of the extension of the film, it is necessary to
make the depth of the recess deep (for the thickness of the
thin bottom to be thin), in that case, it is preferable
that the thickness of the thin bottom is about 2 µ m or less.
Following experiments were carried out in order to
search for the proper heater size of the thermal head and
plate-making energy of the thermal head. The used film is
an extended low melting point film by copolymerization with
a. thickness of 6 µ m of PET and PBT. Photo etching with a
depth of 18 µ m is performed to a surface of a stainless
steel board with the thickness of 0.2mm, thereby, such
templating material can be obtained that has many circular
minute projections having a diameter of 40 µ m and a height
of 18 µ m, and arranged in 30 µ m pitch each other's. Each
above-mentioned film was put on said templating material,
respectively, and was passed through between a pair of iron
rollers with the diameter of 100mm and the length of 200mm
length. The working temperature is set to 25 °C , and the

working pressure between rollers is set to 200 million Pa
(2t/mm2) . The thermal head used in experiments is as
follows.
Thermal head A: 400DPI of partial glaze, the heater
size in the main scanning direction is 30 µ m and the
heater size in the sub scanning direction is 40 µ m.
Thermal head B: 400DPI of partial glaze, the heater size in
the main scanning direction is 30 µ m and the heater size
in the sub scanning direction is 80 µ m. Thermal head C:
400DPI of partial glaze, the heater size in the main
scanning direction is 47 µ m and the heater size in the
sub scanning direction is 80µ m. Thermal head D: 400DPI of
partial glaze, the heater size in the main scanning
direction is 47 µ m and the heater size in the sub
scanning direction is 100 µ m. The plate-making tests were
carried out according to such conditions that the repeat
period per line was set to 2mSec(s), the printing pulse
width was set to 500 µ Sec, and the output energy was set to
10-35mili-joule/mm2. Table 1 shows the experimental result.
In this case, said output energy means an energy consumed
by 1 time of the pulse, per 1mm2 of the heater of the
thermal head. When an applied voltage of the heater is set
to V(bolt), an electric resistance of the heater is set to
R (ohm), the main scanning direction length of the heater
is set to HM (mm), the sub scanning direction length of the

heater is set to HS (mm) , a pulse width is set to T (Sec)
and an energy per 1mm2 is set to E(joule), said joule E is
expressed with E=T (V2/R)/(HM • HS) .

[Table 1]



In the above evaluation, X mark, ▼ mark, Omark and
© mark are given based on each state after plate-making.
The X mark means an unclear perforation. Namely, after
plate-making, any of perforations by heating of the thermal
head could not make ink permeate.
'The ▼ mark means that the perforations by heating of
the thermal head could make ink permeate but the number of
perforations is not enough.
The C mark means that the perforations by heating of
the termal head were clear, but. the number of the
perforations is eno.ugh after plate-making.
The © mark means clear perforation. Namely, after
plate-making, the perforations by heating of the thermal
head were clear and make ink permeate.
The above O also means that some perforations were
occurred in part besides the recesses by an excessive
energy. Namely, that considers as an excessive perforating.
Tne above T mark also means that some perforations
were occurred in wide part besides the recesses by an
excessive energy, and some of them were connected each
other. Namely, that considers as an excessive perforating.
The above X mark also means that some perforations

were occurred in wide part besides the recesses by an
excessive energy, and all of them were connected each other
Namely, that considers as an excessive perforating.
When the main, scanning side array pitch of the heater
is set to PM, the main scanning side heater length is set
to HM, the sub scanning side delivery pitch is set to PS
and the sub scanning side heater length is set to HS, it
can be understood that the plate-making in which the
thermal head C and D filling the condition formula of the
heater "HM>0.6PM and HS>0.7PS" is used is excellent
compared with the plate-making in which the thermal head A
and 'B not filling the above condition formula is used.
Moreover, when the plate-making, energy is carried out more
than the 30mili- joule/mm2, the whole film is fuse-
penetrated to become indistinct plate-making.
Next, a method for forming the minute 14 on the
stencil sheet 12 which consists of a thermoplastic resin
film, is described hereunder. A templating or embossing of
the film is performed by forcing projections on one side
surface of the film. For example, a file-like thing to
which many particles of diamond are adhered, can be also
used to be forced against the thermoplastic resin film with
a predetermined thickness. It is generally difficult to
force the projection on a thin film-like sheet so as to
form a penetrated hole. In that case, usually, a layer of

pellicle state remains on the opposite side of a projection
forcing side (namely, it becoming a dent which forms a thin
bottom), or it is forced only against the grade in which an
opening about a crack (a small opening of the grade which
does not permit ink permeability) is formed slightly. If it
is processed using this property, the suitable minute
recess will be formed on a processing side. Consequently,
even if the minute recess reaches the surface of the
opposite side, the opening will not become the extent that
ink permeability is permitted.
Fig.6 and 7 shows an embodiment for forming the minute
recesses 14. Templating Rollers 32, 32 and supporting
rollers 35, 36 are arranged so that they counter mutually,
the. surface of the templating rollers 32, 33 have uneven
surfaces to wnich many particles are adhered, the surface
of the supporting rollers 35, 36 have smooth surfaces. The
thermoplastic resin film 12 with a fixed thickness is
inserted between the rollers 32 and 35 or between rollers
33 and 36 that are both rotating. The minute recesses 14
are formed on the side surface of the thermoplastic resin
film which is contact with the templating rollers 32 or 33
by templating, and the shape of each recess becomes the
same as the shape of each particle.
As sown in Fig. 7, when the recesses are formed the
templating roller 33 to which the particles 31 having

comparatively round noses are adhered, the minute recess 14
does not reach even the opposite side surface of the film.
On the other hand, as sown in Fig. 6, when the recesses 14
are formed the templating roller 32 to which the particles
31 having a comparatively sharpened nose, the minute recess
14 may reach the opposite side surface of the film. However,
in such case, the recess 14 does not become as large as an
ink-permeable opening.
Furthermore, Fig.8 and 9 shows an embodiment for
forming the minute recesses 14 on a polyester film sheet.
In Fig.8, a pair of rollers 30 and' 31 are arranged so that
they counter mutually. One roller 31 is used as a
templating roller, and minute projections are formed on a
peripheral face perimeter of the roller 31. Another roller
30 is a supporting roller with a smooth peripheral face.
The templating is performed by inserting the thermoplastic
resin film 12 with a fixed thickness between the templating
roller 31 and the supporting roller 30 which rotate in the
direction of an arrow. Working conditions shall fulfill
above-mentioned conditions.
Fig. 9 shows a concept of an alternative method and
apparatus for producing the stencil plate material. A metal
belt 134 is built over between rollers 135 and 136 which
rotate and drive. The metal belt 134 has minute projections
133 on the peripheral face perimeter of it. Moreover, a

supporting roller 37, which has a smooth peripheral facing
the roller 135, is arranged. The templating processing is
performed by inserting the thermoplastic resin film 12 with
a fixed thickness between the metal belt 134 and the
supporting roller 137. Working conditions shall fulfill
above-mentioned conditions.
One example for forming the minute projections 132 on
the roller 131 of Fig.8 is shown below. After carrying out
plasma jet flame coating of the ceramic to the material
face (peripheral face) of the metal roller, the face of the
metal roller can be ground, and many minute projections 132
can be further formed by laser engraving. A pitch of the
minute projection 132 is preferable to 100 µ m or less,
more preferable to 30 µ m or less. A depth of laser
engraving is set to 3-40 µ m, the minute projections 132 of
70 - 200 of height of film thickness are formed on the
roller 131, thus the roller 131 is made as a templating
roller.
The 1st advantage using a roller as a templating body
is that surface hardening is easy compared with the case
where it considers as a belt. In other words, the belt
coated by ceramic is difficult to use due to a lack of
flexibility, however, in the case of the roller,
flexibility is not required. The 2nd advantage using a
roller as an embossing body is that highly precise endless

processing is easy. It is difficult to carry out endless
processing welding of the belt so that the surface micro-
processing pattern continues.
One example for forming the minute projections 133 on
the metal belt 134 of Fig. 9 will be described as follows.
Many minute projections 133 can be formed in the metal
plate with a thickness of 0.lmm - 0.5mm by photo etching.
Also in this case, a pitch of the minute projection 133 is
preferable to 100 µ m or less, more preferable 30 µ m or
less. A depth of said photo etching is set to 3-40 µ m, the
minute projections 33 of 70% - 200% of height of film
thickness are formed on the belt 134/ thus the belt 134 is
made as a templatingng belt.
An advantage using the belt as a templating body is
chat it can be easily made a long size body compared with
the case where it considers as a roller. If it becomes a
long size body, the following two points are advantages.
For the 1st point, since the stencil sheet processing area
increases per 1 round of the belt, the film processing of
the amount of the purposes can be performed by a few of
repeats, wear of the minute projections of the part
decreases and the life of the belt becomes long. For the
2nd' point, since the film after processing can be in
contact with the belt in a long time, heat setting can
fully be performed in the meantime. On the other hand, a

tarrying out endless processing welding of the belt needs
advanced welding technology. However, since it is not
necessary to form minute projections in the joint portion
of the stencil plate and the stencil plate when producing
the stencil sheet with which the length per edition was
decided, if it is made for the welding part to serve as the
joint portion, it will become unnecessary to consider as
endless processing welding, and the problem will be solved.
In addition, when the working temperature is set to
t °C , the melting point of the film is set to m°C and the
glass transition point of the film is set to g °C , the
templating can be performed by P Pa of working pressure
force of 104x10 or more so that a aseable stencil
sheet is obtained. That is cleared through the experiment.
In accordance with the conveyance path of the stencil
sheet 12, anyone of the compositions of Fig. 9 or Fig. 10
is arranged and then the composition of Fig.l is arranged,
thereby, a series of plate-making apparatus are composed.
Moreover, this stencil printing machine according to the
present invention can also consist of building this plate-
making apparatus into the stencil printing machine as a
plate-making section.
With the plate-making method for stencil printing
performed as mentioned above, since the stencil sheet
consists of only thermoplastic resin film, a lamination

with a supporter becomes unnecessary. Therefore, an
inconvenience due to have the supporter is removed. For
example, the lamination process becomes unnecessary.
Adhesives become unnecessary. A bad influence to print
qualities, such as "deformation of ink-permeating opening"
etc. which adhesives bring to plate-making, is lost. A bad
influence in which a fiber of a supporter enters in an
opening of a perforated film, and produces, like "graze of
printing" is lost. Although it will become the cause which
produces curls if different-kind of materials are stuck,
such a property that is easy to curl is removed. In the
case of the lamination structure, ink which had been
absorbed by the supporter was useless, but in the case of a
structure only with a film, such futility of the ink is
lost because the film is not equipped with any supporter
having a thickness about 20 to 30 times the thickness of
the film.
Moreover, in the case of the conventional supporter
lamination composition, although the thickness of the film
itself was about 1.5 µ m, but in the case of the structure
only with the film according to the present invention, it
is possible to actually handle the film since the film has
a certain amount of thickness, for example 4 to 5 µ m
(thickness grade of the cassette tape for sound) or more
responding to a hardness of a material quality more. If

another word is carried out, when the thickness of the
stencil sheet is the thickness of only the film (about 1.5 µ
m) in the case of lamination structure, the stencil plate
itself will be too thin and it will be hard to deal with it.
In the present invention, since the thickness of the film
itself is not as thin as the thickness in the conventional
supporter lamination composition,, it can effectively
prevent back projection and carrying out a strike-through
caused by transferring of superfluous ink to a print sheet.
In the case of the conventional lamination stencil
sheet, since the thermoplastic resin film with a thickness
of about 1.5 µ m is perforated by heating of the thermal
head, thermoplastic resin film with a thickness of 4-5 µ m
or more can not be perforated by heating of the same
thermal head due to insufficiency of the out put of the
thermal head. Moreover, if the output of the thermal head
is enlarged, high heat energy gets across to a platen
roller; thereby a bad influence attains the platen roller,
and is not preferable for a life of the thermal head itself.
However, by the method for plate-making according to the
present invention, although it is based also on a kind of
fiJ.m material, a certain amount of thickness is given at
least so as to easily handle it and the heat energy which
is required in perforating does not become large compared
with the conventional case. The. reason is that many minute

recesses are occurred on one side of the film. Thereby, an
ink-permeating opening can be obtained from the opposite
side only by fusing the film to the grade which
communicates with the. minute recess in the part to
perforate.
Conventionally, in the case of a stencil sheet only
with a thermoplastic resin film, it is difficult to deal
with the stencil sheet if the thickness of the film is not
made to some extent thick, it is necessary to enlarge the
output of the thermal head for thermally perforating. This
is the greatest problem of utilization. According to the
present invention, it becomes possible to thermally
perforate the ink-permeating opening to the film without
increasing of the output of the thermal head, and it can
solve this problem.
It is preferable that the heat energy transmitted to
the platen roller, which counters the thermal head on both
sides of the thin thermoplastic resin film, is small as
much as possible. As for this, It becomes possible to make
the energy transmitted from the thermal head to the platen
small enough since the output of the thermal head becomes
small and the minute recess forms a heat insulation air
space.
In particular, since the thermoplastic resin film is
extended and an internal tensile stress at the time of the

extension remains in the film, a crack occurs only by a
thermal fusion of a' few portions, and an opening which
arrives at the minute recess of the neighborhood of it is
formed. Therefore, it is not necessary to heat until a
melting part arrives at the minute recess, and the output
of the thermal head can be still miniaturized. Thus, in
order to carry out the internal remains of the tensile
stress at the time of the extension, it is necessary that a
mechanical processing, such as a mold pressing processing
which forms the minute recess, must be performed below at
the melting point temperature of thermoplastic resin. In
addition, it is preferable that the working temperature is
higher than the giass-transition-point temperature of
thermoplastic resin, in order to form the recess by the
fewer working pressure force, preventing the crack of the
film.
Moreover, the plate-making method of the present
invention can be performed using by the plate-making
apparatus for stencil printing. The thermoplastic resin
film with uniform predetermined thickness is supplied in
the apparatus, and the recesses are formed on one side
surface of the fed film. Then, an opposite side surface of
the film is heated by the thermal head generating a low
energy heat so that an ink permeable opening is formed to
make plate. A series of these operations may be performed

by independent plate-making apparatus, and may be performed
within the stencil printing machine equipped with such
plate-making apparatus as the plate-making section.
(Industrially applicability)
The plate-making method and apparatus for stencil
printing and the stencil printing machine are utilized in a
technical field of stencil printing.

WE CLAIM
1. A plate-making method for stencil printing in which a
heat-sensitive stencil plate material for stencil printing
consisting of an extended thermoplastic resin film with a
predetermined thickness is fused or melted by heating of a
thermal head to perforate an ink-permeable openings,
characterized in that:
a tensile stress at the time of extension is
internally remains and many minute recesses are formed on
one side surface of the above film,
an opposite side surface to the minute recess side of
the film is heated by the thermal head,
an energy output of the thermal head for heating
sufficiently satisfies to fuse-penetrate a thin closing
portion of the minute recess, but it is restricted to the
range which does not fuse-perforate a thick portion except
the recess portion of the film, so that said openings are
formed by the heated fused portion communicating with the
minute recess.
2. A plate-making method for stencil printing according
to the claim 1,
wherein two or more heaters are arranged in a main
scanning direction at one sequence ox tier on the thermal
head,
When a main scanning side array pitch of the heater is

set to PM, a main scanning side heater length is set to HM,
a sub scanning side delivery pitch is set to PS and a sub
scanning side heater length is set to HS, the heater size
satisfies HM>0.6PM and HS>0.7PS.
3. A plate-making method for stencil printing according to
the claim 1 or claim 2,
wherein an impression energy of the thermal head is
below into the 35mili- joule/mm2.
4. A plate-making method for stencil printing according to
anyone of the claim 1 to claim 3,
wherein said stencil plate material is constituted of
an extended polyethylene-terephthalate (PET) film or an
extended low melting point film by copolymerizing
polyethylene terephthalate(PET) and polybutylene
terephthalate (PBT) ,
Many minute recesses are formed on one side surface of
the film by templating,
when the working temperature is set to t °C , the
melting point of the film is set to m ºC and the glass
transition point is set to g °C , said templating is
performed by P Pa of working pressure force of 104xl02 (m-t)/
(m-g) or more.
5. A plate-making method for stencil printing according to
anyone of the claim 1 to claim 4,
wherein said recess is a penetrated hole having

openings on both sides of the film,
a diameter of an opening on the heated side of the
film is smaller than a diameter of an opening on the
opposite side to said heated side, but is small not to
permit ink-permeating.
6. A plate-making method for stencil printing according to
anyone of the claim 1 to claim 4,
wherein said minute recess is a dent which reduces a
thickness of said the film partially and forms a closing
thin portion.
7. A plate-making apparatus for stencil printing
comprising:
a plate feed section which feeds the heat-sensitive
stencil plate consisting of an extended thermoplastic resin
film with a predetermined thickness,
and a heating means to form ink-permeable openings in
the film by heating the film, in which an opposite side
surface to the minute recess side of the film is heated by
the heating means,
said heating means is a thermal head,
a tensile stress at the time of extension is
internally remains in said thermoplastic resin film,
an energy output of the thermal head for heating
sufficiently satisfies to fuse-penetrate a thin closing
portion of the minute recess, but it is restricted to the

range which does not fuse-perforate a thick portion except
the recess portion of the film, so that said openings are
formed by the heated fused portion communicating the minute
recess.
8. A plate-making apparatus for stencil printing according
to the claim 7,
wherein said heating means is a thermal head on which
two or more heaters' are arranged in the main scanning
direction at one sequence or tier,
when a main scanning side array pitch of the heater is
set to PM, a main scanning side heater length is set to HM,
a sub scanning side delivery pitch is set to PS and a sub
scanning side heater length is set to KS, the heater size
satisfies HM>0.6PM and HS>0.7PS.
9. A plate-making apparatus for stencil printing according
to the claim 7 or 8,
wherein an impression energy of the thermal head is
below into the 35mili-joule/mm2
10. A plate-making apparatus for stencil printing according
to anyone of the claim 7 to 9,
wherein the minute recess can be made into a
penetrated hole that a diameter of an opening on the heated
side of the film is smaller than a diameter of an opening
on the opposite side to said heated side,
the diameter the opening on the heated side is small

not to permit ink-permeating.
11. A plate-making apparatus for stencil printing according
to anyone of the claim 7 to 9,
wherein said minute recess is a dent which reduces a
thickness of said the film partially and forms a closing
thin portion.
12. A stencil printing machine comprising:
a plate feed section which feeds the heat-sensitive
stencil plate consisting of an extended thermoplastic resin
film with a predetermined thickness,
and a heating means to form ink-permeable openings in
the film by heating the film, in which an opposite side
surface to the minute recess side of the film is heated by
the heating means,
said heating means is a thermal head,
a tensile stress at the time of extension is
internally remains in said thermoplastic resin film,
an energy output of the thermal head for heating
sufficiently satisfies to fuse-penetrate a thin closing
portion of the minute recess, but it is restricted to the
range which does not fuse-perforate a thick portion except
the recess portion of the film, so that said openings are
formed by the heated fused portion communicating the minute
recess.
13. A stencil printing machine according to the claim 12,

wherein two or more heaters are arranged in the main
scanning direction at one sequence or tier on said thermal
head,
when a main scanning side array pitch of the heater is
set to PM, a main scanning side heater length is set to HM,
a sub scanning side delivery pitch is set to PS and a sub
scanning side heater length is 'set to HS, the heater size
satisfies HM>0.6PM and HS>0.7PS.
14. A stencil printing machine according to the claim 12 or
13,
wherein an impression energy of the thermal head is
below into the 35mili-joule/mm2.
15 . A stencil printing machine according to anyone of the
claim 12 to 14,
wherein the minute recess is a penetrated hole that a
diameter of an opening on the heated side of the film is
smaller than a diameter of an opening on the opposite side
to said heated side,
the diameter the opening on the heated side is small
not to permit ink-permeating.
16. A stencil printing machine according to anyone of the
claim 12 to 14,
wherein said minute recess is a dent which reduces a
thickness of said the film partially and forms a closing
thin portion.

17. A plate-making apparatus for stencil printing according
to the claim 7 or 8 including;
a means to form many minute recesses on one side
surface of the film.
18. A stencil printing machine according to the claim 12 or
13 including;
a means to form many minute recesses on one side
surface of the film.

The present invention is a plate-making method for stencil printing in which heat-
sensitive stencil plate material for stencil printing consisting of a thermoplastic resin film
is melted by heating of a thermal head to perforate an ink permeable openings. Many
minute recesses (14) are formed on one side of the film (12). The thermal head (10) is
constituted so that the heater size thereof satisfies HM>0.6 PM and HS>0.7 PS when
the arranging pitch of heaters on a main scanning side is set to PM, the length of the
heaters on the main scanning side is set to HM, a feed pitch on a sub-scanning side is
set to PS and the length of the heaters on the sub-scanning side is set to HS. An
opposite side to the minute recess side of the film is heated by heating of the thermal
head with an energy output of 35 mili-joule/mm2, so that the heated portion is melted
for communication with the recesses to form ink permeable openings. It make it
possible to thermally perforating individual ink permeable openings in the film
independently without increasing an output of a thermal head, and it realizes stencil
printing by using a stencil plate material consisting only of a thermoplastic resin film.

Documents:

261-CAL-2000-FORM-27-1.1.pdf

261-KOLNP-2004-CORRESPONDENCE.pdf

261-KOLNP-2004-FORM 27.pdf

261-KOLNP-2004-FORM-27.pdf

261-kolnp-2004-granted-abstract.pdf

261-kolnp-2004-granted-claims.pdf

261-kolnp-2004-granted-correspondence.pdf

261-kolnp-2004-granted-description (complete).pdf

261-kolnp-2004-granted-drawings.pdf

261-kolnp-2004-granted-examination report.pdf

261-kolnp-2004-granted-form 1.pdf

261-kolnp-2004-granted-form 18.pdf

261-kolnp-2004-granted-form 2.pdf

261-kolnp-2004-granted-form 3.pdf

261-kolnp-2004-granted-form 5.pdf

261-kolnp-2004-granted-pa.pdf

261-kolnp-2004-granted-reply to examination report.pdf

261-kolnp-2004-granted-specification.pdf

261-kolnp-2004-granted-translated copy of priority document.pdf


Patent Number 228064
Indian Patent Application Number 261/KOLNP/2004
PG Journal Number 05/2009
Publication Date 30-Jan-2009
Grant Date 28-Jan-2009
Date of Filing 26-Feb-2004
Name of Patentee DUPLO SEIKO CORPORATION
Applicant Address 353, OAZA KOUDAI, KOKAWA-CHO NAGA-GUN, WAKAYAMA 649-6551
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 SUGIYAMA, YOSIHIDE C/O DUPLO SEIKO CORPORATION, 353, OAZA KOUDAI, KOKAWA-CHO, NAGA-GUN, WAKAYAMA 649-6551
2 OKAGAITO, YASUNARI C/O DUPLO SEIKO CORPORATION, 353, OAZA KOUDAI, KOKAWA-CHO, NAGA-GUN, WAKAYAMA 649-6551
PCT International Classification Number B41L 13/02
PCT International Application Number PCT/JP2002/007698
PCT International Filing date 2002-07-30
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 004568/2002 2002-01-11 Japan
2 234856/2001 2001-08-02 Japan