Insert molded print product on demand
First Claim
1. A high speed molding process having particular ability to produce objects with color images formed on one surface thereof, the process comprising the steps of:
- generating digital data for printing onto a print medium to form a plurality of color images;
providing a print medium composed of a substrate and a coating on the substrate, the coating being adapted to retain printing inks and formulated to be releasable from the substrate after a molding process;
providing a digitally controlled color printer having multiple print heads for dispensing printing inks of different colors;
supplying the generated digital data to the digitally controlled color printer;
feeding the print medium through the printer and past the print heads such that the print heads are operated under control of the generated digital data to print the plurality of color images on one side of the coating;
placing a selected portion of the print medium, containing at least one color image, inside a mold;
adding molding material to the mold, such that the printed side of the selected portion of the print medium contacts the molding material; and
forming a molded object such that the printed side of the at least one of the selected portion of the print medium is visible on the molded object.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and process for high speed molding to place printed images, particularly printed color images, on molded objects using a print medium composed of a substrate carrying a coating, the coating being adapted to retain printing inks and formulated to be releasable from the substrate after a molding process. Alternatively, the coating may be formulated to adhere to the substrate after the molding process. The portion of the print medium placed inside may be separated into segments or left in a continuous strip prior to placement in the mold. Images may also be placed on objects by printing directly on the surface of a mold, causing ink from the image to bond to the object formed upon closing the mold and injecting molded material into the mold cavity.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1. A high speed molding process having particular ability to produce objects with color images formed on one surface thereof, the process comprising the steps of:
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generating digital data for printing onto a print medium to form a plurality of color images;
providing a print medium composed of a substrate and a coating on the substrate, the coating being adapted to retain printing inks and formulated to be releasable from the substrate after a molding process;
providing a digitally controlled color printer having multiple print heads for dispensing printing inks of different colors;
supplying the generated digital data to the digitally controlled color printer;
feeding the print medium through the printer and past the print heads such that the print heads are operated under control of the generated digital data to print the plurality of color images on one side of the coating;
placing a selected portion of the print medium, containing at least one color image, inside a mold;
adding molding material to the mold, such that the printed side of the selected portion of the print medium contacts the molding material; and
forming a molded object such that the printed side of the at least one of the selected portion of the print medium is visible on the molded object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system for high speed molding of objects with color images formed on one surface thereof through the intermediary of a print medium, the print medium being composed of a substrate and a coating on the substrate, the coating being adapted to retain printing inks and formulated to be releasable from the substrate after a molding process, the system comprising:
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a digital data generating station, wherein the digital data represents at least one color image;
a digitally controlled color printer having a plurality of print heads;
a printing controller connected to the digital data generating station to receive the digital data and for supplying the digital data to the print heads in the form of printer control signals;
a pathway for feeding the print medium through the printer and past the print heads while operating the print heads under control of the printer control signals to print the color images on the coating; and
a mold configured to receive a selected portion of the print medium, whereby after molding material is placed in the mold, a decorated molded object is formed. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A high speed molding process having particular ability to produce objects with color images formed on one surface thereof, the process comprising the steps of:
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generating digital data for printing onto a print medium to form a plurality of color images;
providing a print medium composed of a substrate and a coating on the substrate, the coating being adapted to retain printing inks and formulated to adhere to the substrate after a molding process;
providing a digitally controlled color printer having multiple print heads for dispensing printing inks of different colors;
supplying the generated digital data to the digitally controlled color printer;
feeding the print medium through the printer and past the print heads such that the print heads are operated under control of the generated digital data to print the plurality of color images on one side of the coating;
placing a selected portion of the print medium, containing at least one color image, inside a mold;
adding molding material to the mold, such that the printed side of the selected portion of the print medium contacts the molding material; and
forming a molded object such that the printed side of the selected portion of the print medium is visible on the molded object. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A system for high speed molding of objects with color images formed on one surface thereof through the intermediary of a print medium, the print medium being composed of a substrate and a coating on the substrate, the coating being adapted to retain printing inks and formulated to be releasable from the substrate after a molding process, the system comprising:
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a digital data generating station, wherein the digital data represents at least one color image;
a digitally controlled color printer having a plurality of print heads;
a printing controller connected to the digital data generating station to receive the digital data and for supplying the digital data to the print heads in the form of printer control signals;
a pathway for feeding the print medium through the printer and past the print heads while operating the print heads under control of the printer control signals to print the color images on the coating; and
a mold configured to receive a selected portion of the print medium, whereby after molding material is placed in the mold, a decorated molded object is formed. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A high speed molding process having particular ability to produce objects with color images formed on one surface thereof by placing printed color images directly on a mold, the process comprising the steps of:
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generating digital data representing a plurality of color images to form the plurality of color images;
providing a digitally controlled color printer having a plurality of print heads for dispensing printing inks of respectively different colors that is capable of printing directly on molds;
supplying the generated digital data to the printer;
positioning the ink jet heads to a desired location relative to the mold;
firing of the ink jet heads;
adding molding material to the mold, such that the color image contacts the molding material; and
forming a molded object such that the color image is visible on the molded object.
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Specification