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
Introduced: September 1968
Classification Context
- Section:
- PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- Class:
- PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- Subclass:
- 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
Description
B41N encompasses printing plates, foils, and specialized surface materials used in printing machinery, covering lithographic stones, metallic plates, photopolymer surfaces, and rubber rollers designed for printing, inking, damping, or related functions. This class includes methods for preparing these surfaces (such as graining, coating, or chemical treatment) and their conservation or maintenance to preserve functionality. The scope extends to materials selection, composition specifications, and surface modification techniques that enhance performance in offset, relief, or intaglio printing processes. Adjacent classes address printing machinery design itself (B41F) and typewriter mechanisms (B41K), whereas B41N focuses specifically on the substrate and interface components.
Related Keywords
7 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- B41N 1/00 Printing plates or foils; Materials therefor
- B41N 10/00 Blankets or like coverings; Coverings for wipers for intaglio printing
- B41N 11/00 Stereotype mats
- B41N 3/00 Preparing for use or conserving printing surfaces
- B41N 6/00 Mounting boards; Make-ready devices, e.g. underlays, overlays; Attaching by chemical means, e.g. vulcanising
- B41N 7/00 Shells for rollers of printing machines
- B41N 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