B41 PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
Description
Class B41 encompasses mechanical and electromechanical devices and processes for producing printed matter, including traditional printing machines, typewriters, and stamping equipment. The scope covers printing technologies such as letterpress, offset, gravure, and flexographic printing systems, along with associated machinery for ink application, paper handling, and finishing operations. Also included are lining machines for applying lines or patterns to surfaces and manual or automatic stamping devices for impression marking. This classification excludes digital printing systems and electronic typewriters, which are typically addressed in other sections of the IPC system.
Of 11 combined children, 10 exist in both systems.
1 codes are CPC-only extensions.
9 shared codes have differing titles between IPC and CPC.
Child Classifications
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- B41B MACHINES OR ACCESSORIES FOR MAKING, SETTING, OR DISTRIBUTING TYPE; TYPE; PHOTOGRAPHIC OR PHOTOELECTRIC COMPOSING DEVICES (photographic devices in general G03) heading IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- B41C PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES (photomechanical processes for producing printing surfaces G03F; photoelectrical processes for producing printing surfaces G03G) heading +2 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- B41D APPARATUS FOR THE MECHANICAL REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES FOR STEREOTYPE PRINTING; SHAPING ELASTIC OR DEFORMABLE MATERIAL TO FORM PRINTING SURFACES ( marking or engraving metal by the action of a high concentration of electric current B23H9/06; type, machines or accessories for making, setting, or distributing type B41B; processes for the manufacture or reproduction of printing surfaces B41C; machines or apparatus for engraving in general, or for embossing B44B3/00, B44B5/00; chemical etching of metal C23F1/00; electrolytic etching C25F3/00; photomechanical reprodcution G03F) heading IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- B41F PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES (manifolding devices or office printing machines B41L) heading IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- B41G APPARATUS FOR BRONZE PRINTING, LINE PRINTING, OR FOR BORDERING OR EDGING SHEETS OR LIKE ARTICLES; AUXILIARY FOR PERFORATING IN CONJUNCTION WITH PRINTING (perforating in general B26D; production of decorations B44C; perforating in conjunction with sheet or web delivery B65H35/00; folding or unfolding thin material, e.g. sheets, webs, B65H45/00, B65H47/00) heading IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- B41J TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS heading +2 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- B41K STAMPS; STAMPING OR NUMBERING APPARATUS OR DEVICES (marking meat A22C17/10; embossing combined with printing B41F19/00; selective printing mechanisms B41J; embossing decorations or marks B44B5/00; marking or coding completed packages B65B61/26; ticket printing and issuing, fare registering, nonprinting aspects of franking apparatus G07B) heading IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- B41L APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR MANIFOLDING, DUPLICATING OR PRINTING FOR OFFICE OR OTHER COMMERCIAL PURPOSES; ADDRESSING MACHINES OR LIKE SERIES-PRINTING MACHINES (printing presses or machines for industrial purposes B41F; stamps, stamping or numbering devices B41K) heading IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- B41M PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING, (correction of typographical errors B41J; processes for applying transfer pictures or the like B44C1/16; fluid media for correction of typographical errors by coating C09D10/00; printing textiles D06P) heading +1 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- 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 heading +2 CPC IPC+CPC Available in IPC and CPC
- B41P INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO PRINTING, LINING MACHINES, TYPEWRITERS, AND TO STAMPS heading +11 CPC CPC only CPC only
Top Applicants
Top Applicants (IPC)
2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION 14,672
- CANON 14,153
- RICOH COMPANY 8,049
- SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION JP 8,044
- HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY US 7,312
- BROTHER INDUSTRIES 6,887
- KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS 5,463
- CANON JP 5,001
- KONICA MINOLTA CORPORATION 4,512
- BROTHER INDUSTRIES JP 3,681
Top Applicants (CPC)
2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION 8,446
- SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION JP 8,438
- HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY US 7,828
- CANON JP 5,419
- CANON 4,156
- BROTHER INDUSTRIES JP 3,763
- BROTHER INDUSTRIES 2,779
- RICOH COMPANY JP 2,717
- FUJIFILM JP 2,423
- RICOH COMPANY 1,739