PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING

Introduced: September 1968

Classification Context

Section:: PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Class:: PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
Subclass:: PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING

Description

B41M covers printing and duplicating technologies that produce images or text on substrates through various mechanical and chemical processes. This subclass encompasses traditional printing methods (relief, intaglio, lithography), marking systems, copying technologies, and color printing techniques. It includes processes for applying inks, dyes, or other colorants to create visible marks, including electrostatic copying, thermal printing, and specialty marking applications. Related image formation technologies are classified elsewhere, such as in B41J for inkjet printing or G03 for photographic/electrostatic processes.

Related Keywords

making FACSIMILE copies of documentscopying MANUSCRIPTSprocesses for printing ornamental PATTERN(S)PRINTING processesprocesses for printing in RESIST

6 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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B41M 1/00 Inking and printing with a printer's forme
B41M 3/00 Printing processes to produce particular kinds of printed work, e.g. patterns
B41M 5/00 Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
B41M 7/00 After-treatment of printed works, e.g. heating, irradiating
B41M 9/00 Processes wherein make-ready devices are used
B41M 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