Printed item having an image with a high durability and/or resolution

• US 7,341,340 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2004
• Issued: 03/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SSGII, Inc.
• Original Assignee: SSGII, Inc.
• Inventors: Peterson, Chris, Schmitt, Stephen E., Rosland, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Do; An H.
• Application Number:
  US11/009,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20050099486A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 347/101, 347105-107
• US Class Current: 347/107
• 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 13/12 specially adapted for small cards, envelopes, or the like , e.g. credit cards, cut visiting cards
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/00 Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/20 characterised by a particular use or purpose

Abstract

A printed device is provided with an image printed thereon, having a relatively high durability and/or resolution. A printer and method are also provided to produce a high durability image by treating an item to be printed with plasma. In particular, a printer is provided that is configured to convey a plurality of individuated items through a plasma treatment stage to prepare the surfaces of the item for printing. More specifically such printer may use a non-continuous ink jet printing assembly such as a drop on demand printing assembly.

Claims

1. A printed item comprising:

a surface; and

an image printed on the surface of the item by a non-contact ink printing technique,

wherein the image is comprises a bar code readable after at least about 250 Taber cycles.

2. The printed item of claim 1 wherein the image is readable after at least about 300 Taber cycles.

3. The printed item of claim 2 wherein the image is readable after at least about 500 Taber cycles.

4. The printed item of claim 2 wherein the printed item comprises a plurality of individuated items each of the plurality of items having an image printed thereon, wherein the image is readable after about 300 Taber cycles.

5. The printed item of claim 1 wherein the image comprises an image printed on the surface of the item by a drop on demand ink jet printer.

6. The printed item of claim 1 wherein the image is printed with a curable ink.

7. The printed item of claim 1 wherein the image has a resolution of at least about 150 dpi.

8. The printed item of claim 1 wherein the surface comprises a plastic.

9. A printed item comprising:

a surface; and

an image containing individuated data deposited on the surface of the item with a non contact printing technique;

wherein the image comprises a scannable code readable after at least about 250 Taber cycles.

10. The printed item of claim 9 wherein the image is readable after at least about 300 Taber cycles.

11. The printed item of claim 10 wherein the image is readable after at least about 500 Taber cycles.

12. The printed item of claim 9 wherein the image has a resolution of at least about 150 dpi.