Encoding signals on flexographic printing plates to enable tracking and management
AssigneesDigimarc Corporation, MacDermid Graphics Solutions, LLC
InventorsJay Kelly Sperry, Ryan W. Vest
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates generally to signal encoding for flexographic printing plates. One aspect is a flexographic, photopolymer printing plate having transparent layers to allow encoded signal printed or laser ablated thereon to be detectable from both sides of the printing plate. Another aspect is a flexographic, photopolymer printing plate having an encoded signal formed in a photocured layer. Still another aspect is a system for tracking such printing plates, including managing location, print impression count, location tracking, etc. Other aspects are described as well.
Claims26
A flexographic, photopolymer printing plate having a plurality of transparent layers, the plurality of transparent layers including a support layer and a photocurable layer, in which the support layer and the photocurable layer each comprise a bottom side and a top side, with the top side of the support layer being adjacently arranged with the bottom layer of the photocurable layer, the flexographic, photopolymer printing plate further comprising an encoded signal printed with UV curable ink or laser ablated therein, the encoded signal arranged in a pattern on the bottom side of the support layer, the encoded signal comprising an orientation signal component and a plural-bit message component, in which the plural-bit message component is detectable from imagery representing the pattern captured through the top side of the photocurable layer and detectable from imagery representing the pattern captured from the bottom side of the support layer.
A flexographic, photopolymer printing plate having a plurality of transparent layers, the plurality of transparent layers including a support layer and a photocured layer, in which the support layer and the photocured layer each comprise a bottom side and a top side, with the top side of the support layer being adjacently arranged with the bottom layer of the photocured layer, the flexographic, photopolymer printing plate further comprising an encoded signal carried with raised image elements in the photocured layer, the encoded signal arranged in a pattern and comprising an orientation signal component and a plural-bit message component, in which the plural-bit message component is detectable from imagery representing the pattern captured through the top side of the photocured layer and detectable front imagery representing the pattern captured from the bottom side of the support layer.
A flexographic, photopolymer printing plate having a plurality of transparent layers, the plurality of transparent layers including a support layer and a photocurable layer, in which the support layer and the photocurable layer each comprise a bottom side and a top side, with the top side of the support layer being adjacently arranged with the bottom layer of the photocurable layer, the flexographic, photopolymer printing plate further comprising an encoded signal printed with UV curable ink or laser ablated therein, the encoded signal arranged in a pattern on the top side of the support layer, the encoded signal comprising an orientation signal component and a plural-bit message component, in which the plural-bit message component is detectable from imagery representing the pattern captured through the top side of the photocurable layer and detectable from imagery representing the pattern captured from the bottom side of the support layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.