Method for printing a high durability and/or resolution item

• US 20060102033A1
• Filed: 12/16/2005
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SSGII, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SSGII, Inc.
• Inventors: Peterson, Chris, Trenhaile, Mike, Schmitt, Stephen E., Rosland, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,770,519 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 101/424.100
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/0015 for treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing selective coating B41J2/2114
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 11/00214 using UV radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 13/12 specially adapted for small cards, envelopes, or the like , e.g. credit cards, cut visiting cards
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 3/407 for marking on special material
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/0011 Pre-treatment or treatment during printing of the recording material, e.g. heating, irradiating after-treatment of prints B41M7/00; printers for treating or overcoating copy materials before, during or after printing B41J11/0015
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/0047 by ink-jet printing
• CPC Class Codes: B41M 5/0064 on plastics, horn, rubber, or other organic polymers

Abstract

A printer, method and printed item are provided where the printer and method print an image having a relatively high durability and/or resolution. In particular, the printer and method include a plasma treatment stage or step for treating the surface of an item prior to printing. A printer is provided that is configured to convey an item or a plurality of individuated items through a plasma treatment stage to prepare the surfaces of the item for printing. Such printer may use a non-continuous ink jet printing assembly such as a drop on demand printing assembly.

Claims

1-32. -32. (canceled)

33. A method of printing an item comprising:

providing an item having a surface for printing;

ionizing a gas to create a plasma and then directing the plasma to the surface for printing; and

printing an image on the surface with a drop on demand ink jet printer.

34. The method of printing of claim 33 wherein the step of providing an item comprises providing a plurality of items.

35. The method of printing of claim 33 wherein the steps of ionizing the gas to create a plasma and directing plasma to the surface for printing comprises:

providing an electrode head having a gas inlet and a plasma outlet;

ionizing gas input through the gas inlet to provide a plasma; and

directing the plasma through the plasma outlet toward the surface of the item.

36. The method of printing of claim 33 further comprising feeding the item onto a conveyor and conveying the item across plasma directed to the surface of the item.

37. The method of printing of claim 36 wherein the step of directing plasma comprises containing at least a portion of the plasma in an at least partially confined area when the item is conveyed across the plasma.

38. The method of printing of claim 33 further comprising the step of cleaning electrostatic charges from the surface.

39. A method of printing an item comprising:

providing an item having a surface for printing;

ionizing a gas to create a plasma and then directing plasma to the surface for printing by providing an electrode head having a gas inlet and a plasma outlet;

ionizing gas input through the gas inlet to provide a plasma; and

directing the plasma through the plasma outlet toward the surface of the item;

wherein the plasma outlet comprises a plurality of openings.

40. The method of printing of claim 39 wherein the plasma outlet comprises plurality of plasma outlets.

41. A method of printing an item comprising:

providing an item having a surface for printing;

ionizing a gas to create a plasma and then directing plasma to the surface for printing by providing an electrode head having a gas inlet and a plasma outlet;

ionizing gas input through the gas inlet to provide a plasma;

directing the plasma through the plasma outlet to the surface of the item; and

directing the plasma to a predetermined portion of the surface of item.

42. The method of printing an item of claim 41 further comprising the step of printing an image on the predetermined portion of the surface of the item.

43. A method of printing an item comprising:

providing an item having a surface for printing;

ionizing a gas to create a plasma and then directing plasma to the surface for printing;

printing an image on the surface with a curable ink; and

curing the curable ink.

44. A method of printing an item comprising:

providing an item having a surface for printing;

ionizing a gas to create a plasma and then directing the plasma to the surface for printing; and

printing an image on the surface having a resolution of at least about 150 dpi.