U.S. patent application number 10/586038 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-18 for process and device for printing a substrate.
Invention is credited to Reinhard Baumann, Peer Dilling, Josef Schneider, Sabine Christiane Sirach, Robert Weiss.
Application Number | 20070240593 10/586038 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34609568 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070240593 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schneider; Josef ; et
al. |
October 18, 2007 |
Process and Device for Printing a Substrate
Abstract
The invention relates to a method and device for printing a
fabric. The printable fabric (11) is moved through at least one
printing mechanism (10) in order to print a static or non-variable
printing image. According to the invention, the printable fabric
(11) is moved through at least one printing device (12,13) which is
coupled in-line to the printing mechanism (10) in order to
individualize the static pattern with at least one dynamic or
variable printing image.
Inventors: |
Schneider; Josef; (Diedorf,
DE) ; Baumann; Reinhard; (Krailling, DE) ;
Dilling; Peer; (Friedberg, DE) ; Sirach; Sabine
Christiane; (Augsburg, DE) ; Weiss; Robert;
(Gersthofen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COHEN, PONTANI, LIEBERMAN & PAVANE
551 FIFTH AVENUE
SUITE 1210
NEW YORK
NY
10176
US
|
Family ID: |
34609568 |
Appl. No.: |
10/586038 |
Filed: |
April 30, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
April 30, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP04/04621 |
371 Date: |
December 15, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
101/228 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05K 3/125 20130101;
H05K 2203/013 20130101; B41J 11/002 20130101; H01L 51/0004
20130101; B41F 19/007 20130101; H05K 2203/161 20130101; B41J
11/0015 20130101; H05K 2203/1545 20130101; G06K 19/07749 20130101;
H05K 3/1275 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
101/228 |
International
Class: |
B41F 13/54 20060101
B41F013/54 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 15, 2004 |
DE |
10 2004 002 132.5 |
Claims
1.-18. (canceled)
19. A process for printing on a substrate, comprising the steps of:
moving the substrate through at least one printing unit and
printing a static or unchanging image onto the substrate in the at
least one printing unit, and moving the substrate through at least
one printing device installed inline with the at least one printing
unit and individualizing the static or unchanging image by adding
at least one dynamic or changing image in the at least one printing
device.
20. The process of claim 19, wherein at least the functionality
"color" is printed in the at least one printing unit used to print
the static or unchanging image.
21. The process of claim 19, wherein at least one functionality
different from the functionality "color" is printed in the at least
one printing device used to print the dynamic or changing
image.
22. The process of claim 21, wherein the functionality different
from the functionality "color" includes individual text data and/or
image data.
23. The process of claim 22, wherein the functionality different
from the functionality "color" also includes individual logistics
data in addition to the individual text data and/or image data.
24. The process of claim 21, wherein the functionality different
from the functionality "color" includes fragrances.
25. The process of claim 21, wherein the functionality different
from the functionality "color" includes varnishes.
26. The process of claim 21, wherein the functionality different
from the functionality "color" includes electrical conductors.
27. The process of claim 21, wherein the functionality different
from the functionality "color" includes semiconductor circuits.
28. The process of claim 19, wherein the at least one printing unit
for printing the static or unchanging image includes one of an
offset printing unit, a gravure printing unit, or a flexographic
printing unit.
29. The process of claim 19, wherein the at least one printing
device for printing the dynamic or changing image includes an
ink-jet printing device.
30. The process of claim 19, further comprising the step of
manually or automatically controlling the at least one printing
unit used to print the static or unchanging image and the at least
one printing device used to print the dynamic or changing image by
an open-loop or closed-loop control unit to guarantee an integrated
data flow.
31. The process of claim 19, wherein the pressrun of the static or
unchanging image is longer than the pressrun of each the at least
one dynamic or changing image added inline to the static or
unchanging image.
32. A device for printing on a substrate, the device comprising: at
least one printing unit for printing a static or unchanging image
on the substrate, and at least one printing device, installed
inline with the at least one printing unit, for individualizing the
static image by adding at least one dynamic or changing image to
the substrate.
33. The device of claim 32, wherein the at least one printing unit
used to print the static or unchanging image is one of an offset
printing unit, a gravure printing unit, or a flexographic printing
unit.
34. The device of claim 32, wherein the at least one printing
device used to print the at least one dynamic or changing image is
an ink-jet printing device.
35. The device of claim 32, wherein the at least one printing
device used to print at least one the dynamic or changing image is
based on the principle of electrophotography, magnetography,
electrocoagulation, or ionography.
36. The device of claim 32, further comprising an open-loop or
closed-loop control unit, which manually or automatically controls
the at least one printing unit used to print the static or
unchanging image and the at least one printing device used to print
the at least one dynamic or changing image to guarantee an
integrated data flow.
Description
[0001] The invention pertains to a process for printing on a
substrate according to the introductory clause of claim 1 and to a
device for implementing the process according to the introductory
clause of claim 14.
[0002] The present invention claims the priority of German Patent
Application DE 102004002132.5, to the disclosure content of which
reference is made here.
[0003] To print on a substrate, the procedure according to the
state of the art is to move the substrate through at least one
printing unit of a printing press, where an individual ink of a
certain color is applied to the substrate in the one printing unit
or in each of them. The printing units of the printing press
produce a static, i.e., unchanging, image on the substrate over the
entire course of the pressrun. The article in question can be, for
example, an advertising brochure. If these types of printed
products, which are produced by printing a static image on each
copy of the entire run, are to be individualized by providing them
with, for example, personal address data, the procedure according
to the state of the art is to send the substrates provided with the
static image in the printing press to a separate printing device,
where they are individualized offline. Accordingly, at least one
dynamic or changing image, namely, personal address data, is added
to the static print image by a process which is offline with
respect to that by which static image is produced. The production
of static print images individualized with dynamic or changing
print images in this way is both complicated and expensive.
[0004] Against this background, the present invention is based on
the problem of creating a novel process for printing on a
substrate.
[0005] This problem is solved by a process for printing on a
substrate according to claim 1. According to the invention, the
substrate is moved through at least one printing device installed
inline with the printing unit or with each printing unit,
preferably installed downstream from it, so that the static or
unchanging image can be individualized by the addition of at least
one dynamic or changing image.
[0006] In accordance with the present invention, it is proposed
that, after the static or unchanging image has been produced on the
substrate, the substrate, for the purpose of individualizing it, is
moved inline through at least one printing device installed
upstream or downstream from the printing unit serving to produce
the static image. According to the present invention, the process
of individualizing the static image by adding one or more dynamic
images to it is thus carried out inline and therefore in a single
workflow. As a result, these types of printed articles can be
produced more quickly, more easily, and more cheaply.
[0007] According to an advantageous elaboration of the invention,
at least the functionality "color" is printed in the printing unit
or in each of the printing units used to print the static or
unchanging image, whereas at least one functionality different from
the functionality "color" is printed in the printing device or in
each of the printing devices used to print the dynamic or changing
image.
[0008] The functionality different from the functionality "color"
preferably consists of individual text data and/or fragrances
and/or varnishes and/or electric conductors and/or semiconductor
circuits.
[0009] An especially preferred embodiment of the process according
to the invention is one in which image information from three
different data streams is printed inline in a single workflow. The
first data stream in this case consists of the static or unchanging
image data; the second data stream consists of the dynamic or
changing text and/or image data serving to individualize and/or
partially to individualize the substrate; and the third data stream
consists of the dynamic or changing logistics data.
[0010] The device according to the invention for implementing the
inventive process has at least one printing unit for printing a
static or unchanging image and at least one printing device for
individualizing the static image by adding at least one dynamic or
changing image, installed inline with the printing unit or with
each printing unit, preferably installed downstream from it. To
ensure an integrated data flow, the device according to the
invention preferably includes an open-loop or closed-loop control
unit, which controls the printing unit or each printing unit used
to print the static or unchanging image and the printing device or
each printing device used to print the dynamic or changing
image.
[0011] Preferred elaborations of the invention can be derived from
the subclaims and from the following description.
[0012] An exemplary embodiment of the invention, to which the
invention is not to be considered limited, is explained in greater
detail below:
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a device according to
the invention for implementing the process for printing on a
substrate according to the invention.
[0014] The present invention is described in greater detail below
with reference to FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 1 shows in schematic form a system diagram of an
inventive device 10 for printing a substrate, where, in the
exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, the device comprises a printing
unit 10 for printing a static or unchanging image on a substrate
11. Although only one of these printing units 10 is shown in FIG.
1, it is obvious that several of these units 10 can be set up in a
row. To produce the static or unchanging image on the substrate 11,
one process color is applied in each of the printing units 10 used
to produce the static or unchanging image. In the case of an
autotypic combination printing process, this means that, as a rule,
four printing units will be set up in a row to produce or to print
the static or unchanging image, where each of these four printing
units prints one of the four process colors, i.e., either black,
cyan, magenta, or yellow.
[0016] The device according to the invention of FIG. 1 comprises
not only the printing unit 10 for printing the static or unchanging
image but also two printing devices 12, 13, installed downstream
from the printing unit 10. These printing devices are used to
individualize the static or unchanging image printed in the
printing unit 10 by adding a dynamic or changing image to it. Thus
it can be derived from FIG. 1 that the substrate 11 to be printed
moves for printing in the direction of the arrow 14 first through
the printing unit 10 and then through the printing devices 12 and
13.
[0017] After the substrate has left the printing unit 10, it
carries the static or unchanging image. The static image is then
individualized by the addition of dynamic or changing images in the
printing devices 12 and 13. It can be derived from FIG. 1 that each
of the printing devices 12 and 13 individualizes the static image
by adding a dynamic or changing image to different sections or
areas. Although two printing devices 12 and 13 for individualizing
the static image by adding dynamic images are shown in FIG. 1, it
is obvious that only one such printing device or more than two such
printing devices could be installed inline with the printing unit
or with each printing unit used to produce the static image.
[0018] The printing unit 10 or each printing unit for printing the
static or unchanging image is preferably designed as an offset
printing unit or as a gravure printing unit or as a flexographic
printing unit. The printing unit 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a digital
offset printing unit, like the ones sold by the applicant under the
product name DICOweb. The printing devices 12 and 13 for printing
the dynamic or changing image are preferably ink-jet printing
devices. In place of such ink-jet printing devices, it would also
be possible to use dynamic printing devices which are based on the
principle of electrophotography, magnetography, electrocoagulation,
or ionography.
[0019] In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, as
previously mentioned, a static or unchanging image is applied to
the substrate 11 in the printing unit 10, where the functionality
"color" is printed to obtain the static or unchanging image. In the
two printing devices 12 and 13 installed downstream from the
printing unit 10, the static image is individualized by the
addition of one or more dynamic or changing images, which represent
a functionality different from the functionality "color". For
example, the printing devices 12 and 13 can print, as their
functionality, individual text data and/or individual image data
and/or individual logistics data and/or fragrances and/or varnishes
and/or electrical conductors and/or semiconductor circuits.
[0020] In a concrete exemplary embodiment, it will be assumed that
an advertising flyer of an automobile manufacturer is to be printed
on the substrate 11. To produce the advertising flyer, it is
possible to operate with the help of the present device according
to the invention and to use the process according to the invention
in such a way that first a static or unchanging image is printed on
the substrate 11 in the printing unit 10 to obtain the total number
of copies N desired. After this static or unchanging image has been
produced in the printing unit 10, the static or unchanging image is
partially individualized in the printing device 12, in that a
partial quantity n of the total pressrun N of the flyer is
individualized by the addition of an individual or dynamic image.
This can be, for example, an image of an actual motor vehicle made
by the automobile manufacturer. After the static or unchanging
image has been partially individualized in the printing device 12,
the final individualization is accomplished inline in the printing
device 13, in which personal address data are printed.
[0021] In an especially preferred embodiment, dynamic or changing
logistics data, e.g., logistics codes and/or postage stamps, are
also printed. In this case, image data from three different data
streams are printed inline in one workflow, namely, a static or
unchanging image, the dynamic or changing text and/or image data
serving to individualize and/or partially to individualize the
flyer, and dynamic or changing logistics data.
[0022] In this case, the dynamic or changing images printed in the
printing devices 12 and 13 are preferably combined in such a way
that the image printed for partial individualization in the
printing device 12 is coordinated with the individual address data
printed in the printing device 13. As a result, target
group-oriented prospectuses and advertising materials can be
produced rapidly at low cost.
[0023] As previously mentioned, a static or unchanging image is
produced in the printing unit 10 on all copies of the flyer to be
produced. In the downstream printing device 12, the static image
produced in the printing unit 10 is partially individualized inline
by the addition of a first dynamic image aimed at a first customer
group, such as customers in the age range of 20-40 years. An
automobile manufacturer, therefore, can use the printing device 12
to print an image of, for example, the newest sports car model onto
the section of the static image to be individualized and thus
target customers who are between 20 and 40 years of age. After this
partial individualization, the corresponding customer-specific
address data are printed on the flyer in the printing device 13.
From the total run N of the flyer produced in the printing unit 10,
therefore, a partially individualized flyer with a run of n is
produced in the printing device 12. This flyer is then given its
final individualization by the addition of individual customer data
in the printing device 13. If desired, individual logistics data
can also be printed inline. Such data can consist of a logistics
code and a postage stamp.
[0024] Once the flyers have been printed out for all of the
customers in the database between 20 and 40 years of age, the
present invention makes it possible for the automobile manufacturer
to use the printing device 12 partially to individualize the static
image produced in the printing unit 10 by adding an image of the
newest luxury model and thus to target a customer group of
independent persons between 50 and 60 years old. The printing
device 13 is then used to produce the final individualization of
the printed article by adding the individual address data.
[0025] As can be seen in FIG. 1, a common open-loop or closed-loop
control unit 15 is assigned to the printing unit 10 and to the
printing devices 12 and 13 integrated inline with the printing unit
10. The common open-loop or closed-loop control unit 15 thus serves
to control all of the integrated inline printing units 10 and
printing devices 12 and 13. As a result, it is possible to
establish an integrated data or information stream. In the
exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1, this means that, first, data 16 for
the static or unchanging image to be printed in the printing unit
10 and data 17 for the dynamic or changing images to be printed in
the printing devices 12 and 13 are sent to a printing setup system
18, which then transmits the final printing setup data to the
open-loop or closed-loop control unit 15. All of the data required
to produce the individualized printed articles are accordingly
brought together in a single workflow. This opens up completely new
possibilities for the production of printed articles. The data 17
comprise preferably individual text and/or image data 19 and
individual logistics data 20.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
[0026] 10 printing unit [0027] 11 substrate [0028] 12 printing
device [0029] 13 printing device [0030] 14 arrow [0031] 15 control
unit [0032] 16 data [0033] 17 data [0034] 18 printing setup system
[0035] 19 data [0036] 20 data
* * * * *