DIGITAL CLICHÉ PAD PRINTING SYSTEM AND METHOD
First Claim
1. A digital cliché
- pad printing media comprising;
a substantially non-elastic support member;
a curable material applied thereto in a desired pattern so as to define void spaces that define an image, the material applied so as to subsequently cure to form a cliché
, the cliché
having a top surface,wherein an ink is applied to the cliché and
fills the void space, and the ink is wiped from the top surface, and wherein the ink is transferred from the void spaces to a pad for subsequent transfer to an object.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A digital cliché pad printing system includes a conveyor for conveying a substantially non-elastic support medium, a material deposition jetting device for depositing a curable material onto the support in a desired pattern, the desired pattern having at least one void space, means for curing the material in the desired pattern, the cured material defining a cliché having a top surface, an ink delivery system for depositing ink in the at least one void space and for wiping ink from the top surface and a pad configured to contact the cliché to transfer ink from the void space to the pad the pad also configured to move into contact with an object to which the ink is transferred. A digital cliché media and method are also disclosed.
14 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A digital cliché
- pad printing media comprising;
a substantially non-elastic support member; a curable material applied thereto in a desired pattern so as to define void spaces that define an image, the material applied so as to subsequently cure to form a cliché
, the cliché
having a top surface,wherein an ink is applied to the cliché and
fills the void space, and the ink is wiped from the top surface, and wherein the ink is transferred from the void spaces to a pad for subsequent transfer to an object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- pad printing media comprising;
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7. A digital cliché
- pad printing system comprising;
a conveyor for conveying a substantially non-elastic support member; a deposition device for depositing a curable material onto the support in a desired pattern, the desired pattern having at least one void space; means for curing the curable material in the desired pattern, the cured material defining a cliché
having a top surface;an ink delivery system for depositing ink in the at least one void space and for wiping ink from the top surface; and a pad configured to contact the cliché and
transfer ink from the void space to the pad, the pad further configured to move into contact with an object to which the ink is transferred. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- pad printing system comprising;
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14. A method for pad printing comprising the steps of:
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depositing a curable fluid onto a substantially non-elastic support member, the material deposited in a desired pattern defining at least one void space; curing the material to define a cliché
having a top surface;filling the at least one void space with an ink; contacting a printing pad with the cliché
to transfer the ink form the void space to the printing pad; andcontacting the printing pad with an object to transfer the ink from the printing pad to the object. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification