B41D APPARATUS FOR THE MECHANICAL REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES FOR STEREOTYPE PRINTING; SHAPING ELASTIC OR DEFORMABLE MATERIAL TO FORM PRINTING SURFACES
Introduced: September 1968
Classification Context
- Section:
- PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- Class:
- PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- Subclass:
- APPARATUS FOR THE MECHANICAL REPRODUCTION OF PRINTING SURFACES FOR STEREOTYPE PRINTING; SHAPING ELASTIC OR DEFORMABLE MATERIAL TO FORM PRINTING SURFACES
Description
B41D covers mechanical systems for creating and reproducing printing surfaces used in stereotype printing processes, as well as techniques for shaping elastic or deformable materials into functional printing surfaces. This includes apparatus for molding, casting, or forming printing plates from various substrates, and machinery for duplicating existing printing surfaces through mechanical means. The classification encompasses both the equipment and processes involved in stereotype plate production, a traditional printing technology where a solid printing form is created from a mold or pattern. Related printing technologies and surface preparation methods are addressed in adjacent B41 subclasses, while B41D specifically focuses on the mechanical fabrication and reproduction stages rather than the actual printing operation itself.
Filing statistics
IPC subclass B41D recorded 91 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings declined from 8 in 2013 to 2 in 2023 (-75%), peaking at 30 applications in 2015. 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
B41D ranks 10th of 10 subclasses with filings in B41, with 91 applications between 2013 and 2023, 0.0% of the class.
| 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 | 91 | 0.0% |
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
Related Keywords
5 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
Navigate with arrow keys, Enter to open
- B41D 1/00 Preparing or treating stereotype matrices
- B41D 3/00 Casting stereotype plates; Machines, moulds, or devices therefor
- B41D 5/00 Working, treating, or handling stereotype plates
- B41D 7/00 Shaping elastic or deformable material, e.g. rubber, plastics material, to form printing surfaces
- B41D 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class B41, 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