Method and apparatus for weighted random pattern printing on absorbent article components
AssigneeThe Procter & Gamble Company
InventorJohn Andrew Strasemeier
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for inkjet printing including printing graphics on an absorbent article component, comprising the steps of: providing one or more printheads; providing a substrate extending in a machine direction, the substrate comprising a first surface and an opposing second surface and defining a width in a cross direction; advancing the substrate in the machine direction past the one or more printheads; ejecting one or more inks from the one or more printheads onto the first surface of the substrate to define a graphic of a plurality of images, each of the plurality of images not being identical to another; wherein the distribution of each of the plurality of images printed on the substrate are not all equal to each other.
Claims20
A method for the weighted probability printing of graphics on an absorbent article component, comprising the steps of:
- Providing a printing system comprising one or more printheads;
- providing a substrate extending in a machine direction, the substrate comprising a first surface, an opposing second surface, and a plurality of component sections along its length each of which being transformable into a component on an individual absorbent article;
- advancing the substrate in the machine direction past the one or more printheads;
- ejecting one or more inks from the one or more printheads onto the first surface of the substrate to define a graphic of a plurality of images, each of the plurality of images not being identical to another;
- wherein each image is loaded to the printing system and assigned a unique number corresponding to that image, said numbers being listed in a random order and distribution according to a desired probability of being printed;
- wherein instructions are provided to the one or more printheads to print each of the plurality of images in said particular probability, the sum of the probabilities equaling 100%;
- wherein the distribution of each of the plurality of images printed on the substrate are not all equal to each other on a per component section basis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.