Method and apparatus for printing images on a web of packaging material
First Claim
1. A method of printing a plurality of digital images of graphic designs on a web of packaging material for a flowable food product, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a web of packaging material having an exterior surface and a flowable food contact surface;
generating an electronically storable and retrievable preselected digital image of a graphic design to be printed on the web of packaging material, the preselected digital image of a graphic design capable of being substituted for by another of the plurality of digital images of graphic designs, the plurality of digital images of graphic designs generated at a computer site;
transferring the preselected digital image of a graphic design to an inkjet printer at a printing site at a predetermined time;
passing the web of packaging material through the printing site at a predetermined rate; and
jetting an ink through an inkjet printhead directly onto the exterior surface of the web of packaging material, at substantially the predetermined time, to print the preselected digital image of a graphic design directly onto the exterior surface as the web of packaging material passes through the printing site at the predetermined rate thereby creating a printed web of packaging material;
whereby the step of transferring the digital image of a graphic design to a printing site is substantially contemporaneous with the step of jetting an ink through an inkjet printhead to print the preselected digital image of a graphic design directly onto the surface of the web of packaging material allowing for the substitution of the preselected digital image of a graphic design with another of the plurality of digital images of graphic designs without altering the predetermined rate of passing the web of packaging through the printing site.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for printing digital graphic images directly onto a web of packaging material. First, an electronically storable and retrievable digital image is generated. Next, the digital image is transferred to a printing site. Finally, the digital image is digitally printed directly onto the web of packaging material at the printing site. The ink can be provided as a UV-reactive ink, in which instance the UV-reactive ink, after the step of printing, can be cured by exposure to UV light. The present invention allows for full color digital graphic images to be printed directly onto the surface of a web of packaging material. The web of packaging material may be a plastic material, a laminated fiberboard material or the like.
68 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of printing a plurality of digital images of graphic designs on a web of packaging material for a flowable food product, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a web of packaging material having an exterior surface and a flowable food contact surface; generating an electronically storable and retrievable preselected digital image of a graphic design to be printed on the web of packaging material, the preselected digital image of a graphic design capable of being substituted for by another of the plurality of digital images of graphic designs, the plurality of digital images of graphic designs generated at a computer site; transferring the preselected digital image of a graphic design to an inkjet printer at a printing site at a predetermined time; passing the web of packaging material through the printing site at a predetermined rate; and jetting an ink through an inkjet printhead directly onto the exterior surface of the web of packaging material, at substantially the predetermined time, to print the preselected digital image of a graphic design directly onto the exterior surface as the web of packaging material passes through the printing site at the predetermined rate thereby creating a printed web of packaging material; whereby the step of transferring the digital image of a graphic design to a printing site is substantially contemporaneous with the step of jetting an ink through an inkjet printhead to print the preselected digital image of a graphic design directly onto the surface of the web of packaging material allowing for the substitution of the preselected digital image of a graphic design with another of the plurality of digital images of graphic designs without altering the predetermined rate of passing the web of packaging through the printing site. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for printing a plurality of digital images of graphic designs on a web of packaging material, the apparatus comprising:
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means for generating an electronically storable and retrievable preselected digital image of a graphic design to be printed on the packaging, the preselected digital image of a graphic design capable of being substituted for by another of the plurality of digital images of graphic designs, the plurality of digital images of graphic designs generated at a computer site; means for transferring the digital image of a graphic design to a printing site; means for conveying the web of packaging material through the printing site; an inkjet printhead for jetting an UV-reactive ink onto a surface of the web of packaging material to print the digital image of a graphic design onto the surface of the web of packaging material as the web of packaging material moves through the printing site at the predetermined rate thereby creating a web of packaging material with an indelible graphic design thereon, the inkjet printhead, means for transferring the digital image and means for conveying the web of packaging material cooperate with one another, wherein the digital image is transferred to the printing site and to the printhead contemporaneously with conveying the web material to the print site; and means for curing the UV-reactive ink through exposing the UV-reactive ink to UV light; whereby the step of transferring the digital image of a graphic design to a printing site is substantially contemporaneously with the step of jetting an ink through an inkjet printhead to print the preselected digital image of a graphic design directly onto the surface of the web of packaging material allowing for the substitution of the preselected digital image of a graphic design with another of the plurality of digital images of graphic designs without altering the predetermined rate of conveying the web of packaging material through the printing site. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus for printing a digital color image of graphic design on a web of packaging material, the apparatus comprising:
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means for conveying the web of packaging material; a first inkjet printhead for printing a first color UV reactive ink directly onto the surface of the web of packaging material; a second inkjet printhead for printing a second color UV reactive ink directly onto the surface of the web of packaging material; means for transferring a color digital to the first and second printheads substantially contemporaneously with conveying the web of packaging material to the printheads; and a curing device for curing the first and second UV reactive inks through exposure to UV radiation; whereby a color digital image of a graphic design is printed on the web of packaging material. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification