Printed item

• US 20060102035A1
• Filed: 12/16/2005
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SSGII, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SSGII, Inc.
• Inventors: Peterson, Chris, Trenhaile, Mike, Schmitt, Stephen E., Rosland, Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/305,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20060102035A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 101/425
• 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

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A printed item comprising:

a surface; and

an image printed on the surface of the item wherein the image is printed by;

conveying the item through a plasma treatment stage;

treating the surface of the item at the treatment stage by directing a plasma from a plasma source to the surface;

conveying the item to a printing stage; and

printing the image with a printing element comprising a drop on demand ink jet printhead.

22. The printed item of claim 21 wherein the image is printed with a curable ink, wherein the item is conveyed to a curing stage and the curable ink is cured after the printing stage.

23. The printed item of claim 22 wherein the image is printed with a UV curable ink.

24. The printed item of claim 21 wherein the printing element has a resolution of at least about 150 dpi.

25. The printed item of claim 21 wherein the surface comprises a plastic

26. A plurality of individuated printed items:

wherein each of said items comprises;

a surface; and

an image printed on the surface of the item, wherein the surface of each of the individuated items is printed by;

conveying the item through a plasma treatment stage;

treating the surface of the item at the treatment stage by directing a plasma from a plasma source to the surface;

conveying the item to a printing stage; and

printing the image with at least one ink jet printhead.

27. The plurality of individuated items of claim 26 wherein said image printed on the surface of one of the plurality of printed items is unique from the other images printed on the other items of the plurality of individuated items.

28. The plurality of individuated items of claim 26 wherein the surface of each of the plurality of printed items comprises a plastic.

29. The printed item of claim 28 wherein the printing element has a resolution of at least about 150 dpi.

30. A printed item comprising:

a surface; and

an image printed on the surface of the item wherein the image is printed by;

conveying the item through a plasma treatment stage;

treating the surface of the item at the plasma treatment stage by directing a plasma from a plasma source to the surface;

conveying the item to a printing stage;

printing the image with a curable ink;

conveying the item to a curing stage; and

curing the ink on the surface of the item.

31. The printed item of claim 30 wherein the surface comprises a plastic.

32. A printed item comprising:

a surface; and

an image printed on the surface of the item wherein the image is printed by;

conveying the item through a plasma treatment stage;

treating the surface of the item at the plasma treatment stage by directing a plasma from a plasma source to the surface;

conveying the item to a printing stage;

printing the image with a printing element having a resolution of at least about 150 dpi.

33-44. -44. (canceled)