PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS

Classification Context

Section:: PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Class:: 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.

Filing statistics

IPC B41 recorded 379,092 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023, summed across its 10 subclasses. Annual filings grew from 28,147 in 2013 to 32,422 in 2023 (+15%), peaking at 41,133 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class B41 are SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION (14,672 applications), CANON (14,153 applications) and RICOH COMPANY (8,049 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

In class comparison

B41 comprises 10 subclasses with filings; the largest is B41J with 52.8% of the class's 379,092 applications between 2013 and 2023.

Subclasses of class B41 by patent applications, 2013–2023
Rank	Subclass	Title	Applications	Share
1	B41J, Typewriters; Selective Printing Mechanisms, i.e. Mechanisms Printing Otherwise Than From a Forme; Correction of Typographical Errors	Typewriters; Selective Printing Mechanisms, i.e. Mechanisms Printing Otherwise Than From a Forme; Correction of Typographical Errors	200,339	52.8%
2	B41F, Printing Machines or Presses	Printing Machines or Presses	101,976	26.9%
3	B41M, Printing, Duplicating, Marking, or Copying Processes; Colour Printing	Printing, Duplicating, Marking, or Copying Processes; Colour Printing	51,201	13.5%
4	B41K, Stamps; Stamping or Numbering Apparatus or Devices	Stamps; Stamping or Numbering Apparatus or Devices	11,667	3.1%
5	B41C, Processes for the Manufacture or Reproduction of Printing Surfaces	Processes for the Manufacture or Reproduction of Printing Surfaces	6,318	1.7%
6	B41N, Printing Plates or Foils; Materials for Surfaces Used in Printing Machines for Printing, Inking, Damping, or the Like; Preparing Such Surfaces for Use or Conserving Them	Printing Plates or Foils; Materials for Surfaces Used in Printing Machines for Printing, Inking, Damping, or the Like; Preparing Such Surfaces for Use or Conserving Them	5,288	1.4%
7	B41G, Apparatus for Bronze Printing, Line Printing, or for Bordering or Edging Sheets or Like Articles; Auxiliary Apparatus for Perforating in Conjunction With Printing	Apparatus for Bronze Printing, Line Printing, or for Bordering or Edging Sheets or Like Articles; Auxiliary Apparatus for Perforating in Conjunction With Printing	1,131	0.3%
8	B41L, Apparatus or Devices for Manifolding, Duplicating or Printing for Office or Other Commercial Purposes; Addressing Machines or Like Series-Printing Machines	Apparatus or Devices for Manifolding, Duplicating or Printing for Office or Other Commercial Purposes; Addressing Machines or Like Series-Printing Machines	963	0.3%
9	B41B, Machines or Accessories for Making, Setting, or Distributing Type; Type; Photographic or Photoelectronic Composing Devices	Machines or Accessories for Making, Setting, or Distributing Type; Type; Photographic or Photoelectronic Composing Devices	118	0.0%
10	B41D, Apparatus for the Mechanical Reproduction of Printing Surfaces for Stereotype Printing; Shaping Elastic or Deformable Material to Form Printing Surfaces	Apparatus for the Mechanical Reproduction of Printing Surfaces for Stereotype Printing; Shaping Elastic or Deformable Material to Form Printing Surfaces	91	0.0%

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

Related Keywords

CUTTING sheets or webs in connection with printing, manifolding, stamping or typewritingJUSTIFYING of printtypewriters for JUSTIFYINGPRINTINGapparatus for PRINTING and issuing ticketsSEVERING of sheets or webs in connection with printing, manifolding, stamping or typewriting

10 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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B41B MACHINES OR ACCESSORIES FOR MAKING, SETTING, OR DISTRIBUTING TYPE; TYPE; PHOTOGRAPHIC OR PHOTOELECTRONIC COMPOSING DEVICES
B41C PROCESSES FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES
B41D APPARATUS FOR THE MECHANICAL REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES FOR STEREOTYPE PRINTING; SHAPING ELASTIC OR DEFORMABLE MATERIAL TO FORM PRINTING SURFACES
B41F PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
B41G APPARATUS FOR BRONZE PRINTING, LINE PRINTING, OR FOR BORDERING OR EDGING SHEETS OR LIKE ARTICLES; AUXILIARY APPARATUS FOR PERFORATING IN CONJUNCTION WITH PRINTING
B41J TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
B41K STAMPS; STAMPING OR NUMBERING APPARATUS OR DEVICES
B41L APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR MANIFOLDING, DUPLICATING OR PRINTING FOR OFFICE OR OTHER COMMERCIAL PURPOSES; ADDRESSING MACHINES OR LIKE SERIES-PRINTING MACHINES
B41M PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
B41N PRINTING PLATES OR FOILS; MATERIALS FOR SURFACES USED IN PRINTING MACHINES FOR PRINTING, INKING, DAMPING, OR THE LIKE; PREPARING SUCH SURFACES FOR USE OR CONSERVING THEM

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filings, 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