US 6,148,724 A · Selective flexographic printing

Abstract

A web of paper is printed with selective non-variable information and vastly different variable information on portions of the paper web which are ultimately separated into discrete documents. At least one ion deposition print unit and a number of flexographic print units are utilized, as well as a data source containing at least the variable information, and first and second computers. Data is read from the data source with the first computer and in response to the read data the ion deposition print unit is controlled with the first computer to print variable information on the paper web. Form lag commands are provided from the first computer to the second computer. In response to the lag commands the flexographic print units are independently controlled by the second computer to operatively engage and disengage the paper web and thereby print non-variable information from at least one of the flexographic units on each discrete document portion of the paper web. Ink applied with the flexographic units is typically UV cured. Video inspection takes place after application of the variable and non-variable information.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method of printing a web of paper to produce discrete documents with selective non-variable information and vastly different variable information on portions of the paper web ultimately to be separated into discrete documents having a variable number of pages per document, utilizing at least one ion deposition print unit and a plurality of flexographic print units, a data source containing at least the variable information, and first and second computers, comprising the steps of:

(a) reading data from the data source with the first computer;
(b) in response to the read data from the data source, controlling the ion deposition print unit with the first computer to print variable information on the paper web;
(c) providing form lag commands from the first computer to the second computer;
and
(d) in response to the form lag commands, independently controlling the flexographic print units with the second computer to operatively engage and disengage the paper web and thereby print non-variable information from at least one of the flexographic units on each discrete document portion of the paper web, and to produce documents with variable numbers of pages;
and
wherein steps (a) through (d) are practiced at a web speed of at least about 330 feet per minute.

4 more elements

A printing system for substantially simultaneously printing a web of paper to produce discrete documents with non-variable information and vastly different variable information on portions of the paper web ultimately to be separated into discrete documents, comprising:

a paper web unwind unit;
at least one ion deposition print unit operatively connected to the paper web unwind unit;
a plurality of flexographic print units located on the opposite side of the ion deposition print unit from the paper unwind unit, and operatively connected to the paper unwind unit;
a paper web handling unit on the opposite side of said flexographic print units from said ion deposition print unit;
a data source containing at least the variable information;
first and second computers, the first computer for reading data from said data source;
and
interconnections between said first computer and said ion deposition print unit and said second computer, and between said second computer and said flexographic print units, effecting, in response to the read data from the data source, control of the ion deposition print unit with the first computer to print variable information on the paper web;
providing form lag commands from said first computer to said second computer;
and in response to the form lag commands, independently controlling said flexographic print units with said second computer to operatively engage and disengage the paper web.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Selective flexographic printing

Life of this patent

Selective flexographic printing

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19