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CPC Definition - Subclass B41N

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Last Updated Version: 2019.08
B41N
PRINTING PLATES OR FOILS (photosensitive material G03); MATERIALS FOR SURFACES USED IN PRINTING MACHINES FOR PRINTING, INKING, DAMPING, OR THE LIKE; PREPARING SUCH SURFACES FOR USE AND CONSERVING THEM
Definition statement

This place covers:

  • Printing plates or foils
  • Materials for surfaces used in printing machines for printing, inking, damping, or the like.
  • Preparing such surfaces for use and conserving them.
References
Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Processes for the manufacture or reproduction of printing surfaces

B41C

Printing machines or presses

B41F

Photography; cinematography; electrography; holography

G03

Printing plates or foils; Materials therefor
Definition statement

This place covers:

Substrates for printing plates or foils.

Treatment of such plates or foils.

{made of aluminium or aluminium alloys or having such surface layers (B41N 1/086 takes precedence)}
References
Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Alloys based on aluminium as such

C22C 21/00

Stencils; Stencil materials; Carriers therefor (stencilling apparatus for office or other commercial use B41L 13/00)
References
Informative references

Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:

Forme preparation for stencil-printing or silk-screen printing

B41C 1/14

{characterised by the adhesive means}
Definition statement

This place covers:

Stencils, stencil materials or carriers therefor, wherein the adhesive means is between different layers.

Preparing for use and conserving printing surfaces
Definition statement

This place covers:

Pre-treatment of printing plates.

After-treatment of printing plates.

Treatment of both imaged and non-imaged printing plates.

{Cleaning, washing, rinsing or reclaiming of printing formes other than intaglio formes (B41N 3/06 takes precedence)}
Definition statement

This place covers:

The regeneration of printing plates.

Chemical or electrical pretreatment
Relationships with other classification places

Usually the hydrophilic coating of the substrate is classified in B41N 3/03 and its hierarchical lower subgroups (see the table in the definition statement of the subgroup B41C 1/10). However, if an application claims a conventional method for making lithographic printing plates having a highly unusual hydrophilic layer, then the appropriate classification entry is B41C 1/1016, since B41N 3/03 does not relate to the preparation of printing plates per se.

Damping; Neutralising or similar differentiation treatments for lithographic printing formes; {Gumming or finishing solutions, fountain solutions, correction or deletion fluids, or on-press development (treatment of materials containing silver salts G03F 7/063; developers per se for processing photosensitive materials G03F 7/32)}
Definition statement

This place covers:

Developing with dampening water, also the composition of the dampening liquids.

The compositions of fountain solutions and gumming solutions.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Processing photosensitive materials

G03F 7/26

Liquid compositions for imagewise removal of photosensitive materials using liquid means, e.g. developers

G03F 7/32

Mounting boards; {Sleeves} Make-ready devices, e.g. underlays, overlays; Attaching by chemical means, e.g. vulcanising
Definition statement

This place covers:

  • Mounting boards.
  • Sleeves.
  • Make-ready devices, e.g. underlays, overlays.
  • Attaching by chemical means, e.g. vulcanising.
  • Attaching the printing formes on the cylinder.
References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Devices for attaching printing elements or formes to supports (i.e. mechanical aspects of the fastenings as such)

B41F 27/00

Devices for attaching coverings or make-ready devices; Guiding devices for coverings (i.e. mechanical aspects of the fastenings as such)

B41F 30/00

Shells for rollers of printing machines
Definition statement

This place covers:

Shells for rollers of printing machines, which are not printing cylinders or blankets.

References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Damping rollers (i.e. mechanical aspects as such)

B41F 7/26

Construction of inking rollers

B41F 31/26

Special rules of classification

When classifying in this group or in its subgroups and if the invention lies in a specific layer, an Indexing Code (a hierarchical subgroup of B41N 2207/00) shall be given to specify said layer (e.g. backlayer, intermediate layer, cover layer, etc.).

Blankets or like coverings; Coverings for wipers for intaglio printing (wipers for intaglio printing B41F 9/08)
References
Limiting references

This place does not cover:

Transfer cylinders; Offset cylinders

B41F 13/193

Blanket structure
Definition statement

This place covers:

Inventions relating to e.g. monolayer blankets, blankets having a special support, blankets having a surface of specific smoothness, etc.

multi-layer
Definition statement

This place covers:

Multilayer printing blankets (two or more layers).

Special rules of classification

When classifying in this subgroup and if the invention lies in a specific layer, an Indexing Code (a hierarchical subgroup of B41N 2210/00) shall be given to specify said layer (e.g. backlayer, intermediate layer, cover layer, etc.).

Stereotype mats
Definition statement

This place covers:

Molded matrices or mats of papier-mâché or similar material for casting the stereotype printing plates from hot metal.