This invention relates to the treatment of solutions used in a printing process, and in particular, though not exclusively, to the treatment of dampening or fountain solutions used in lithographic printing.

The fountain solution is the Iiquid which is applied to the printing plate of a lithographic press so as to desensitise the background or non- image areas on the latter, i.e. only those areas that are not to be receptive to ink. It commonly consists of water, to which other substances are usually added for various purposes. In this connection it is conventional to add one or more wetting agents, for example long and short chain alcohols (notably isopropyl alcohol), fatty acid esters, glycol and butanol esters, and a large variety of surfactants. Most of these agents emit volatile organic compounds, which as long been recognised in the printing industry has a major disadvantage, mainly for safety and environmental reasons. Other disadvantages are also well known.

Various ways to reduce or eliminate the use of chemical additives so as to reduce these drawbacks, especially the emission of volatile organic compounds, have been proposed. One of these proposals involves the direct injection of electromagnetic radiation at a radio frequency (typically around 43 KHz) into the solution, via an injector which is coupled to an RF generator by means of a tuned cable.

In this last-mentioned proposal, the injector transmits the RF signals into the fountain solution by means of a conductor which is in direct contact with the Iiquid to be treated.

According to the invention in a first aspect, in a method for treating a fountain solution in a printing process by applying electromagnetic radiation to a Iiquid consisting of the fountain solution itself and/or water for inclusion in the solution, the radiation is applied through an antenna immersed in the Iiquid, contact between the Iiquid and electrically conductive elements of the antenna being absent.

In a second aspect, the invention provides apparatus for treating a fountain solution in a printing process, comprising electromagnetic radiation generating means and at least one antenna connected electrically to the generating means for receiving and retransmitting radiation generated by the latter, the antenna comprising a coil impedance-matched to the generating means and a layer of insulating material impervious and inert to the said Iiquid, the said layer sealing within it all electrically-conductive elements of the antenna.

The apparatus typically operates by broadcasting a wide band of frequencies (for example both audio and radio frequencies) into either the water that is to be used in making and/or mixing the fountain solution, or into the solution itself, or both.

The radiation is preferably applied in successive steps of different frequencies over a predetermined period of time, so that a wide frequency band (e.g. 50 Hz to 1 1 KHz) is covered, after which the process may be restarted.

The invention is suitable for use in any printing apparatus in which water or an aqueous solution is used for desensitising the non-image areas. In the context of lithographic printing, it is suitable for use with dampening systems of any type that uses either water or an

aqueous fountain solution. These systems include "contact" systems in which the solution is applied mechanically to the plate, e.g. through a set of rollers, either in continuous flow or with the use of a vibrating feed roller or a cloth-covered roller; and "non-contact" systems in which the solution is sprayed or atomised on to the plate.

The invention eliminates the possibility of electrochemical corrosion in the press generally, and in its fountain solution mixing, storage and circulation systems in particular, that would arise where any component of the press in contact with the solution is of a metal such that an electromotive force is set up between such components and a conductive element of the RF injector, where the latter is also in direct contact with the solution. Under such circumstances either the injector element or the other component is very likely to become a sacrificial electrode.

The invention has been shown to produce a significant reduction in the amount of wetting agents required, and also a noticeable reduction in mineral contamination. This improvement manifests itself as a reduction in the deposition of water-receptive minerals, such as the carbonates of calcium and magnesium, on the blankets and the ink and damping rollers of the press.

A further improvement afforded by the invention is that many species of micro-organism, and organisms such as algae and fungi, are rendered moribund in the treated aqueous solution. This reduces the likelihood of blockages in the circulation system, and enables downtime for cleaning to be reduced.

Moreover, under some circumstances the invention is thought to have a lethal effect on certain micro-organisms and other organisms.

Where the fountain solution is applied by a non-contact (spray) type of system, the method and apparatus of the invention inhibits blocking of the fine holes in the spray nozzles by water-hardening agents.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of non¬ limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 shows diagrammatically part of a printing press equipped with apparatus according to the invention; and

Figure 2 shows an antenna of such an apparatus.

In Figure 1 , a lithographic press has a fountain solution tank 10 connected through flow and return pipes 12 to a fountain solution pan 14, in which a pan roller 16 is in contact with the solution 18 so as to pick up the solution and deliver it, via other suitable rollers not shown, to the plate (not shown) of the press.

An antenna 20 is submerged in the fountain solution 18 in the tank 10. The antenna is connected through a coaxial cable 22 to a control unit 24. Alternatively or in addition, an antenna 20 may be mounted in the pan 14 so as to be submerged in the solution 18 in the pan, being then connected to the unit 24 through a coaxial cable 28.

The control unit 24 can take any suitable form. Here, it comprises a signal generator 30 for producing electrical signals over a range of

frequencies, which preferably includes both audio and radio frequencies. The signal generator 30 is controlled by a timing circuit 32 which causes the signal generator to give a signal at a set frequency for a period of time, then another signal at another set frequency for a second period, and so on. The output of the signal generator is connected through suitable circuitry 34 (e.g. an amplifier) to an output coil indicated at 36, which delivers the output signals to the cable 22 and/or 28.

The design of a suitable control unit 24 is within the skill of any person competent in electronic design, and need not be described any further here.

Figure 2 shows a typical construction of an antenna 20. It consists essentially of a wire coil 40 connected between the core wire 42 and conductive braid 44 of the coaxial cable 22. The number of turns in the coil 40 depends on the frequencies employed, and it is impedance-matched to the output coil 36 of the control unit 24.

A layer of a suitable shrinkable polymer which is impervious and chemically inert to the solution 18 is applied around the coil 40 and its electrical connections 44, 46, and is heat-shrunk so as to form a sheath 48 which seals ail the electrically-conductive elements of the antenna within the sheath, so that no conductive element can make contact with the fountain solution.

In operation, the solution 18 is treated by applying electromagnetic radiation, in the form of the output signals from the coil 36, to the solution via the coil 40 of the antenna 20, which receives these output signals and retransmits them into the fountain solution through

its sheath 48, giving the results described earlier herein. In a typical operating sequence, the control unit 24 is so arranged that the signals are transmitted in a cycle consisting of a succession of transmissions (steps), each of 4.5 seconds. Each step is at a frequency 25 Hz higher than the previous step. The cycle starts at a frequency of 50 Hz, and ends at 1 1 KHz, whereupon the unit 24 reverts to 50 Hz and a new cycle begins.

It will of course be understood that any desired variation may be made to the operating sequence. For example, there may be a pause of any desired duration between each step and the next, and between each cycle and the next; the period of each step can have any desired value; this period may be varied within a cycle, e.g. by having different periods at higher frequencies than at Iower frequencies; the frequency difference between one step and the next may be similarly varied; the cycle may be one of decreasing, rather than increasing, frequency; and so on.

There may be a number of signal generators, each working at a different set frequency. Each of these may be associated with its own antenna, so that there is at least one antenna for each frequency used.

The antenna (or at least one antenna) may be located at any desired point in the fountain solution system. For example, instead of, or as well as, an antenna immersed in the mixed solution, there may be an antenna in a water supply tank from which water is taken, to be mixed with other substances so as to form the fountain solution.