B41F PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
Introduced: September 1968
Last revised: January 1985
Classification Context
- Section:
- PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- Class:
- PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- Subclass:
- PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
Description
B41F encompasses mechanical and electromechanical apparatus for applying ink or other marking substances to substrates during printing operations. This subclass covers printing presses of various types, including letterpress, lithographic, flexographic, gravure, and screen printing machines, as well as their essential components such as inking systems, feed mechanisms, and impression devices. The classification includes both traditional sheet-fed and web-fed press designs, along with auxiliary equipment directly integrated into the printing process. Related printing technologies using different application methods—such as digital printing, inkjet, or electrostatic printing—are classified elsewhere (B41J and other sections).
Additional Content
Glossary
Printing The production of printed material by the application of ink or colour to a substrate (print media), typically paper. Offset print or offset printing using an intermediate element, most commonly a blanket cylinder, for transfer in one step of the whole inked print image on the printing element, most commonly on a printing plate, onto the surface of the substrate to be printed upon Rotary machines using at least one printing plate in cylindrical form Forme form formes A printing component, usually a block or plate used to apply ink to the print media
Limiting references
Apparatus or devices for printing for office or other commercial purposes
Related Keywords
20 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- B41F 1/00 Platen presses, i.e. presses in which printing is effected by at least one essentially-flat pressure-applying member co-operating with a flat type-bed
- B41F 11/00 Rotary presses or machines having forme cylinders carrying a plurality of printing surfaces, or for performing letterpress, lithographic, or intaglio processes selectively or in combination
- B41F 13/00 Common details of rotary presses or machines
- B41F 15/00 Screen printers
- B41F 16/00 Transfer printing apparatus
- B41F 17/00 Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for
- B41F 19/00 Apparatus or machines for carrying out printing operations combined with other operations
- B41F 21/00 Devices for conveying sheets through printing apparatus or machines
- B41F 22/00 Means preventing smudging of machine parts or printed articles
- B41F 23/00 Devices for treating the surfaces of sheets, webs or other articles in connection with printing
- B41F 25/00 Devices for pressing sheets or webs against cylinders, e.g. for smoothing purposes
- B41F 27/00 Devices for attaching printing elements or formes to supports
- B41F 3/00 Cylinder presses, i.e. presses essentially comprising at least one cylinder co-operating with at least one flat type-bed
- B41F 30/00 Devices for attaching coverings or make-ready devices; Guiding devices for coverings
- B41F 31/00 Inking arrangements or devices
- B41F 33/00 Indicating, counting, warning, control or safety devices
- B41F 35/00 Cleaning arrangements or devices
- B41F 5/00 Rotary letterpress machines
- B41F 7/00 Rotary lithographic machines
- B41F 9/00 Rotary intaglio printing presses
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