Systems and methods for printing a flexible web and printing compositions

A printing system for printing a heat-shrinkable web, comprising:

• a transport apparatus adapted to transport a heat shrinkable flexible web along a process direction, the heat-shrinkable flexible web having a total free shrink at 185° F. of at least 20% as measured by ASTM D2732;
• first and second individually controllable ink jet imager units offset from one another along the process direction wherein each of the first ink jet imager unit and the second ink jet imager unit includes a first portion operable to print on a first portion of the web and a second portion operable to print on the second portion of the web wherein each of the first portion and second portion of the first and second ink jet imager units is stationary along the process direction and the lateral direction and wherein the first ink jet imager unit includes printheads that print on the web at a first print resolution and the second ink jet imager unit includes printheads that print on the web at a second print resolution different than the first print resolution;
• a first closed-loop control system that controls web handling and a distance of at least one of the printheads from the web;
• a second closed-loop control system responsive to web temperature that controls print drying without substantial shrinking of the web;
• and
• a third closed-loop control system that controls registration between the first ink jet imager unit and the second ink jet imager unit.

A printing system for printing a heat-shrinkable web, comprising:

• a transport apparatus adapted to transport a flexible heat-shrinkable web along a process direction, the heat-shrinkable flexible web having a total free shrink at 185° F. of at least 20% as measured by ASTM D2732;
• first and second individually controllable ink jet imager units offset from one another along the process direction wherein each of the first ink jet imager unit and the second ink jet imager unit includes a first portion operable to print on a first portion of the web and a second portion operable to print on the second portion of the web wherein each of the first portion and second portion of the first and second ink jet imager units is stationary along the process direction and the lateral direction;
• at least one dryer operable to dry print on the web without substantial shrinking of the web;
• a first closed-loop control system responsive to an indication of web temperature that controls the at least one dryer;
• and
• a second closed-loop control system that controls registration between the first ink jet imager unit and the second ink jet imager unit.

A printing system for printing a heat-shrinkable web, comprising:

• a transport apparatus adapted to transport a flexible heat-shrinkable web along a process direction, the heat-shrinkable flexible web having a total free shrink at 185° F. of at least 20% as measured by ASTM D2732;
• first and second individually controllable ink jet imager units offset from one another along the process direction wherein each of the first ink jet imager unit and the second ink jet imager unit includes a first portion operable to print on a first portion of the web and a second portion operable to print on the second portion of the web wherein each of the first portion and second portion of the first and second ink jet imager units is stationary along the process direction and the lateral direction and wherein the first ink jet imager unit prints on the web at a first print resolution and the second ink jet imager unit prints on the web at a second print resolution different than the first print resolution;
• at least one dryer operable to dry print on the web without substantial shrinking of the web;
• a first closed-loop control system responsive to an indication of web temperature that controls the at least one dryer;
• and
• a second closed-loop control system that controls registration between the first ink jet imager unit and the second ink jet imager unit wherein the second closed-loop control system is adapted to register first content printed by the first portion of the first ink jet imager unit with content printed by the first portion of the second ink jet imager unit, register content printed by the second portion of the first ink jet imager unit with content printed by the second portion of the second ink jet imager unit, independently control the first portion and the second portion of the first ink jet imager unit, and independently control the first portion and the second portion of the ink jet second imager unit.