In-line printing production of three dimensional image products incorporating lenticular transparent material
First Claim
1. A method of producing in a single in-line process a printed image suitable for creating an illusion of depth in the perception of a viewer of the image, comprising the steps of:
- providing an opaque web to an in-line printing process;
providing a transparent web to the in-line printing process, said transparent web having a lenticular surface on one side and a flat surface on an opposing underside;
transporting said transparent web to a first printer unit of said in-line printing process at a pre-selected speed;
printing an image on said flat surface of said transparent web, said image being compatible for viewing when viewed through said lenticular surface of said transparent web;
applying an opaque material to cover the entire flat underside surface of said transparent web upon which said image is printed subsequent to the step of printing the image on said flat underside surface of said transparent web;
setting said image on said flat surface of said transparent web in a heat setting means of said in-line printing process, said transparent web advancing through said heat setting means at said pre-selected speed;
advancing said webs through a laminating means of said in-line printing process at said pre-selected speed and laminating said webs together, with said opaque web located beneath said transparent web and forming a final image which is visible when viewed through the lenticular surface;
advancing said laminated webs through a plow tower means for folding said opaque web into portions with said transparent web sandwiched therebetween;
advancing said laminated webs at said pre-selected speed into a cutting means of said in-line printing process, which cutting means cuts said laminated webs into sheets;
conveying said laminated sheets to a stacking means of said in-line printing process for stacking of said laminated sheets; and
said final image printed on said flat surface of said transparent web creating the illusion of depth in said final image when viewed through the lenticular surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a method of producing in a single in-line process a printed image suitable for creating an illusion of depth in the perception of a viewer of the image, comprising the steps of:
(1) providing an opaque web to an in-line printing process,
(2) providing a transparent web to the in-line printing process, the transparent web having a lenticular surface on one side and a flat surface on an opposing side,
(3) transporting either the opaque web or the transparent web to a first printer unit of the in-line printing process at a preselected speed and printing a line-formed image on the opaque web or the flat surface of the transparent web, the line-formed image being compatible for viewing when viewed through the lenticular surface of the transparent web, and
(4) setting the image on either the opaque web or flat surface of the transparent web in a heat setting unit of the in-line printing process.
In one embodiment of the present invention, only a transparent lenticular web is advanced through the in-line printing system and the line formed image is printed on a flat underside of the lenticular web. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a dual line formed image is printed on the flat surface of the transparent lenticular web, on the opaque web, or both, to form a final image which changes as the angle at which the image is viewed through the lenticular surface changes. Novel printed products manufactured in accordance with the above methods are also provided.
79 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of producing in a single in-line process a printed image suitable for creating an illusion of depth in the perception of a viewer of the image, comprising the steps of:
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providing an opaque web to an in-line printing process; providing a transparent web to the in-line printing process, said transparent web having a lenticular surface on one side and a flat surface on an opposing underside; transporting said transparent web to a first printer unit of said in-line printing process at a pre-selected speed; printing an image on said flat surface of said transparent web, said image being compatible for viewing when viewed through said lenticular surface of said transparent web; applying an opaque material to cover the entire flat underside surface of said transparent web upon which said image is printed subsequent to the step of printing the image on said flat underside surface of said transparent web; setting said image on said flat surface of said transparent web in a heat setting means of said in-line printing process, said transparent web advancing through said heat setting means at said pre-selected speed; advancing said webs through a laminating means of said in-line printing process at said pre-selected speed and laminating said webs together, with said opaque web located beneath said transparent web and forming a final image which is visible when viewed through the lenticular surface; advancing said laminated webs through a plow tower means for folding said opaque web into portions with said transparent web sandwiched therebetween; advancing said laminated webs at said pre-selected speed into a cutting means of said in-line printing process, which cutting means cuts said laminated webs into sheets; conveying said laminated sheets to a stacking means of said in-line printing process for stacking of said laminated sheets; and said final image printed on said flat surface of said transparent web creating the illusion of depth in said final image when viewed through the lenticular surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of producing in a single in-line printing process a printed image suitable for creating an illusion of depth in the perception of a viewer of the image, comprising the steps of:
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providing a transparent web to an in-line printing process, the transparent web having a lenticular surface on one side and a flat surface on an opposing underside; transporting the transparent web to a first printer unit of said in-line printing process at a pre-selected speed; printing an image on the flat surface of the web, the image being compatible for viewing when viewed through the lenticular surface; applying an opaque coating to the flat surface of the web subsequent to the step of printing an image on the flat surface of the web; applying an opaque web material to the flat surface of the transparent web subsequent to the step of applying an opaque coating to the flat surface of the transparent web; setting the image in a heat setting means of said in-line printing process, the transparent web advancing through the heat setting means at said pre-selected speed; advancing the web at the pre-selected speed into a cutting means of said in-line printing process which cuts the web into individual units; conveying said individual units to a stacking means for stacking said individual units; and the printed image on the flat surface of the web creating an illusion of depth when viewed through the lenticular surface of the web. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification