Riesograph - what is it, materials and technology

In this article you will find answers to the following questions: "Rizograf - what is this?", "How does it work?". In addition, we will tell you what are its advantages over other similar technology. We will also consider the types of this equipment, the principle of operation and the main manufacturers of such devices.

So, the risograph - what is it? It is an apparatus that is able to replicate different documents like leaflets, business cards and other similar products. It should be noted right away that the xerox and the risograph should not be confused. And if the first is an ordinary copying machine, then such complex equipment as a risograph can easily replicate a huge number of copies, and with such volumes the copier simply can not cope.

In addition, the use of such devices can significantly save on printing and abandon the costly offset equipment. This is only true if your individual circulation does not exceed 5000 copies.

Advantages of the risograph

Rizograf - what is this for modern printing? This device can easily transfer the image to paper of almost any density, except for some types of solid-state cardboard.

Screen printing allows you to get a colorful and natural picture, and at the same time and easily readable text, with the smallest size. And all this - in a relatively short time and at a relatively low price.

Types of equipment

Rizografy differ from each other by a set of technical characteristics and a method of scanning replicable products. In total, there are two main types of this type of equipment.

Types of risographs:

• Drum . Here the original layout is scrolled through the technical block. Data in the process is read and then transferred to the desired paper. It is rather difficult to work with such a device due to its finicky, because it requires a perfectly smooth paper.
• Tablet . In this case, screen printing takes place by means of a glass where the original layout is attached (by analogy with a copier), and below it there is a moving block for reading data.

There are a couple of industrial species, but they are mostly stationary and very large, so we will not consider them.

Next we will try to answer the question: "Riesography - what is it?". That is, we will analyze the principle of the operation of the equipment and what is ultimately obtained at the output.

The principle of the risograph

In appearance, this equipment is very similar to a massive Xerox, but in its essence the risograph is something between a typographic offset machine and a copier. The device reads data from the original layout and afterwards produces a printed form on a special duplicate (film for the risograph). And further from this film the image is transferred already on the necessary carrier.

In general, the principle of the device is quite simple. We place the original layout in the special department, then on the control panel we select the necessary criteria (density, color, number of copies, etc.), and in a few seconds the first copy will be ready. Paper, as well as in a copier, is fed with a convenient tray, and the finished copies are placed in another compartment at the rear of the device.

Master Layout

The original layout is an ordinary source from which you need to make copies. It can depict everything from the ordinary text to the picturesque landscape. The digital unit detects the source and converts it into an electrical type streaming signal, which then goes to the area where the duplicate is made, that is, the master film. The latter looks like a thin paper tape, where a polymer coating is applied on both sides . The film itself is wound on a roll and is used as an expendable material during operation. On the polymer coating, the risograph makes a burn, which exactly corresponds to the duplicated image.

After that, the processed length of the film is cut (in accordance with the dimensions of the original layout) and fixed on a special drum, made on a mesh structure. Then the paint is applied to the mesh and spreads over the master film. That is, in the final analysis, we get on the sheet of paper the image that was burnt on the polymers in the backup.

In order to make the required number of copies, the drum starts to move, and the sheets from the tray, passing through the pressure roller, contact the master film tightly and exit on the other side with the finished image. And so on until you get the right number of copies (or the paint does not end).

To scan another original layout, you need to remove the unnecessary film from the drum and start the duplication process again. In addition, to change the color palette of the layout you will need to replace the cylinder (for each color there is a separate drum).

The rest of the replication procedure takes place automatically. The operator needs only to look at the control path and from time to time adjust the flow (increase / decrease the color saturation, move the image to the other edge, etc.).

Main characteristics of the device

So, the risograph - what is it? This device, capable of replicating booklets, leaflets and other printing products at a speed of 120 impressions per minute. All possible problems that can not be called critical, such as a jammed sheet or other minor malfunctions, can be easily eliminated manually. The device has a convenient cover, under which you can see all the main parts responsible for the supply of material.

The device easily copes with paper of almost any density with a minimum limitation of 60 g / m ² . For example, the risograph Riso showed itself perfectly, working with thick sheets of density of 220 g / m ² . Also, the device has a built-in ability to select the appropriate landscape: vertical, horizontal, text and photo. In addition, on some models there is a scaling functional with a resolution of 400 dpi.

Quality of impressions

Separately it is worth noting that the quality of the image on the copy will be slightly worse than the original. If you look closely, the images will consist of very small denticles, which are made with holes from the master film.

For the same reason, the color of the impression can be uneven, and if the paper does not differ in quality, then the pattern is likely to have a fleecy texture. The only thing that brightens the shortcomings of such equipment as a risograph is the price per print (the cost of one print is ridiculously small) and the efficiency of printing.

Layouts

Consider in more detail the original layouts, because their quality directly affects the output. It is best to choose an image applied only on one side of the sheet, because as during the manufacturing of the master-film, the picture may be enlarged from the layout, so the prints are doomed to mediocre quality in advance.

Do not deal with too dark originals, on which there are a lot of colors. Quite often it happens that because of the abundance of colors, and therefore, the additional load on the drum, the copies begin to stick to the cylinder, and the output will get a blurred and poor-quality picture. A vivid example of such an incorrect layout is white text on a black background and too large color photographs.

It is also superfluous to note that all models should have fields, each of which - at least 10 mm. This is due to the fact that printing to the edges on the risograph is impossible, because the sheets will stick to the cylinder, and the prints will be lost, and this is fraught with marriage for the entire print run.

Manufacturers of risographs

Recently craftsmen from the Middle Kingdom began to supply the copying market with their equipment. Quality, of course, leaves much to be desired, so it is highly discouraging to have an affair with it, except to purchase such an apparatus for small office needs. Choosing a risograph (the price varies depending on the capabilities of the model) is best from a well-known brand.

World producers of risographs:

• Duplo (from 150 000 rubles);
• Riso (from 100 000 rubles);
• Ricoh (from 60 000 rubles).

Choosing any model from one of these companies, you can be sure of both the reliability of the equipment itself and as a copy.

Application

The optimal use of this type of equipment is the creation of copies of a large-scale replication. The printer for these purposes clearly does not fit - too long, and professional offset printing equipment - too expensive.

Most often, the rhizograph is used to replicate such products, where the sharpness of the image is not critical. The best option is a copy with one or two small pictures and text.

The risograph will be useful for:

• Business cards;
• Brochures;
• Leaflets;
• Labels;
• Blanks for documents and folders.