Method and apparatus for lenticular printing
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for making a lenticular product from a plurality of sheet materials, comprising:
- (a) a first plate having a plurality of lens grooves and a plurality of registration pins or guides; and
(b) a second plate mounted for alignment relative to said first plate, whereby said first plate and said second plate can be movably positioned for contact with each other.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for forming a lenticular optical system is provided in which a composite image is viewable through a molded lens from a first angle and an object or image placed at a preselected distance beneath the composite image is viewable from a second angle. The apparatus of the present invention provides for registration of the lenticular lenses with the printed image when the lenses are formed.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. An apparatus for making a lenticular product from a plurality of sheet materials, comprising:
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(a) a first plate having a plurality of lens grooves and a plurality of registration pins or guides; and
(b) a second plate mounted for alignment relative to said first plate, whereby said first plate and said second plate can be movably positioned for contact with each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of forming a lenticular product from a plurality of sheet materials, comprising the steps of:
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(a) placing a first sheet material on a first plate of a lenticular forming die, said first plate having a plurality of lens grooves and a plurality of registration pins or guides;
(b) placing a second sheet material over at least a portion of said first sheet material on said first plate, said second sheet material having a plurality of registration holes and an image printed on one side, said second sheet placed on said first plate such that said registration pins or guides are received into said second sheet registration holes;
(c) contacting a second plate of said lenticular forming die with said first plate; and
(d) heating said first sheet and said second sheet to a sufficient temperature for a period of time to fuse said first sheet with said second sheet and to form a plurality of lenticular lenses on said first sheet. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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25. A method of forming a lenticular product from a sheet material, comprising the steps of:
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(a) placing a first sheet material on a first plate of a lenticular forming die, said first sheet material having an image printed on one side and a plurality of registration holes, said first plate having a plurality of lens grooves and a plurality of registration pins or guides, said first sheet material placed onto said first plate such that said registration pins or guides are received into said registration holes;
(b) contacting a second plate of said lenticular forming die with said first plate; and
(c) heating said first sheet to a sufficient temperature for a period of time to form a plurality of lenticular lenses on said first sheet.
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40. A lenticular product manufactured by a method comprising:
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(a) placing a first sheet material on a first plate of a lenticular forming die, said first plate having a plurality of lens grooves and a plurality of registration pins or guides;
(b) placing a second sheet material over at least a portion of said first sheet material on said first plate, said second sheet material having a plurality of registration holes and an image printed on one side, said second sheet placed on said first plate such that said registration pins or guides are received into said second sheet registration holes;
(c) contacting a second plate of said lenticular forming die with said first plate; and
(d) heating said first sheet and said second sheet to a sufficient temperature for a period of time to fuse said first sheet with said second sheet and to form a plurality of lenticular lenses on said first sheet.
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41. An apparatus for making a lenticular product from a plurality of sheet materials, comprising:
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a plurality of pin cavities under said plurality of registration pins or guides for correspondingly receiving said plurality of registration pins or guides;
a biasing means is provided in said pin cavities behind said registration pins or guides, wherein said second plate further comprises a plurality of apertures for receiving said registration pins or guides;
a heating element in operative relationship with an element selected from the group consisting of said first plate, said second plate, or both said first plate and said second plate;
a cooling element in operative relationship with an element selected from the group consisting of said first plate, said second plate, or both said first plate and said second plate; and
wherein said first plate or said second plate comprises either beryllium copper or chrome plated steel and wherein said first plate further comprises a plurality of substantially flat areas adjacent to selected portions of said lens grooves.
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Specification