# US 7,884,953 B1 · High resolution ink-jet printing on edibles and products made > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,884,953 B1 - Document ID: US7884953B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 09/587,108 - Filed: 2000-06-02 - Granted: 2011-02-08 - Earliest claimed: 2000-06-02 - Assignees: Mars, Incorporated - Inventors: Neil A. Willcocks; Arun Shastry; Thomas M. Collins; Alfred V. Camporini; James M. Suttle - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7884953B1 ## CPC - C09D 11/32: characterised by colouring agents - A23G 3/0097: {Decorating sweetmeats or confectionery} - A23G 3/28: Apparatus for decorating sweetmeats or confectionery - A23L 5/42: Addition of dyes or pigments, e.g. in combination with optical brighteners - A23L 5/43: using naturally occurring organic dyes or pigments, their artificial duplicates or their derivatives - A23P 20/15: Apparatus or processes for coating with liquid or semi-liquid products - B41J 3/407: for marking on special material - B41M 5/0047: {by ink-jet printing} - C09D 11/02: Printing inks (C09D11/30 takes precedence) - C09D 11/30: Inkjet printing inks - C09D 11/36: based on non-aqueous solvents - G06F 3/12: Digital output to print unit {, e.g. line printer, chain printer} - H04N 1/00188: {Printing, e.g. prints or reprints (H04N1/0019, H04N1/00196 take precedence)} - B41M 5/52: Macromolecular coatings - B41M 5/5227: {characterised by organic non-macromolecular additives, e.g. UV-absorbers, plasticisers, surfactants} - C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D) - A23G: COCOA; COCOA PRODUCTS, e.g. CHOCOLATE; SUBSTITUTES FOR COCOA OR COCOA PRODUCTS; CONFECTIONERY; CHEWING GUM; ICE-CREAM; PREPARATION THEREOF - A23L: FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF (preservation thereof A23B) - A23P: SHAPING OR WORKING OF FOODSTUFFS, NOT FULLY COVERED BY A SINGLE OTHER SUBCLASS - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - B41M: PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING, (correction of typographical errors B41J; processes for applying transfer pictures or the like B44C1/16; fluid media for correction of typographical errors by coating C09D10/00; printing textiles D06P) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract Disclosed are methods of printing high resolution images on edible substrates with dispersed pigmented inks using a drop-on-demand ink-jet printer. Dispersed pigmented white inks useful with the inventive methods are also disclosed. White images having a resolution greater than 200 dpi can be printed on chocolate using the methods and inks disclosed herein. The inventive methods and inks may also be integrated with a consumer-driven site vending or e-commerce application in which the consumer provides the image to be printed and edibles bearing the printed image are prepared for rapid turnaround. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for enabling a consumer to submit custom image data for printing of a custom image directly on a non-planar surface of each one of a plurality of sugar shell candies or jellybeans comprising: a computer, adapted to communicate with a consumer's computer and enable the consumer's computer to communicate custom image data over a network; a drop-on-demand ink jet printer having a reservoir for holding dispersed pigmented inks which is integrated with a print head and adapted to receive the custom image data from the computer and print directly on a non-planar surface of each one of said plurality of sugar shell candies or jellybeans a high quality image having a resolution greater than 200 dpi that corresponds to the received custom image data in the manufacture of personalized sugar shell candies or jellybeans; and a conveyor for holding and conveying said plurality of sugar shell candies or jellybeans transiently past a print head at an angle perpendicular to the print head of the ink jet printer during printing in a single pass to obtain a printed image having resolution greater than 200 dpi. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein the network is the Internet and the consumer's computer is a client computer operable to run Web browser software adapted to send and receive Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) forms over the World Wide Web. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein the network is a local area network. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein the drop-on-demand ink-jet printer prints on the sugar shell candy or jellybean said plurality of sugar shell candies or jellybeans using a dispersed pigment food-grade ink. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A system according to claim 4, wherein the printed image has a resolution between 300 dpi and 1200 dpi. ### Claim 6 A method for use on a system for enabling a consumer to submit a custom image data for printing of a custom image directly on a non-planar surface of each one of a plurality of sugar shell candies or jellybeans, the system including a computer structured to communicate over a network with a consumer's computer, and a drop-on-demand ink-jet printer having a reservoir for holding dispersed pigmented inks which is integrated with a print head and adapted to communicate with the computer, the method comprising: (a) the computer enabling the consumer's computer to receive custom image data from the consumer and communicate that custom image data over the network to the computer; (b) the computer receiving the communicated custom image data over the network from the consumer's computer; (c) the drop-on-demand ink-jet printer receiving the custom image data from the computer and printing directly on the non-planar surface of each one of said plurality of sugar shell candies or jellybeans a high quality image having a resolution greater than 200 dpi that corresponds to the received custom image data in the manufacture of personalized sugar shell candies or jellybeans; and (d) a conveyor for holding and conveying said plurality of sugar shell candies or jellybeans transiently past a print head at an angle perpendicular to the print head of the drop-on-demand ink jet printer during printing in a single pass to obtain a printed image having resolution greater than 200 dpi. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A method according to claim 6, wherein the network is the Internet and the consumer's computer is a client computer, step (a) being executed by operations of Web browser software operating on the consumer's computer and adapted to send and receive Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) forms to and from the computer over the World Wide Web. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) A method according to claim 6, wherein the network is a local area network. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) A method according to claim 6, wherein in step (c) the ink-jet printer prints on said plurality of sugar shell candies or jellybeans using a dispersed pigment food-grade ink. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A method according to claim 9, wherein the printed image has a resolution between 300 dpi and 1200 dpi. ### Claim 11 A system for enabling a consumer to submit, over the Internet, custom image data for printing of a custom image directly on a non-planar surface of each one of a plurality of sugar shell candies or jellybeans, comprising: a server computer, adapted to communicate with a client computer and enable the client computer to receive custom image data from the consumer and communicate the custom image data over the Internet to the server computer, the server computer being adapted to receive the transmitted custom image data over the Internet; a drop-on-demand ink jet printer having a reservoir for holding dispersed pigmented inks which is integrated with a print head and adapted to receive the custom image data from the server computer and print directly on a non-planar surface of each one of a plurality of sugar shell candies or jellybeans a high quality image having a resolution of greater than 200 dpi that corresponds to the received custom image data in the manufacture of personalized sugar shell candies or jellybeans; and a conveyor for holding and conveying said plurality of sugar shell candies or jellybeans transiently past a print head at an angle perpendicular to the print head of the drop-on-demand ink jet printer during printing in a single pass to obtain a printed image having resolution greater than 200 dpi. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A system according to claim 11, wherein the client computer is operable to run Web browser software adapted to send and receive Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) forms over the World Wide Web. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) A system according to claim 11, wherein the drop-on-demand ink-jet printer prints directly on said plurality of sugar shell candies or jellybeans using a dispersed pigment food-grade ink. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A system according to claim 13, wherein the printed image has a resolution between 300 dpi and 1200 dpi. ### Claim 15 A system for custom manufacturing decorated sugar shell candies or jellybeans on the basis of instructions of a consumer, the system comprising: a server computer adapted to: communicate over a network with a client computer of the consumer, receive over the network, from the client computer, custom image data submitted to the client computer by the consumer, and communicate the received custom image data to a drop-on-demand ink jet printer having a reservoir for holding dispersed pigmented inks which is integrated with a print head and adapted to cause printing directly on a non-planar surface of each one of a plurality of sugar shell candies or jellybeans of a high quality image having a resolution of greater than 200 dpi that corresponds with the received custom image data in the manufacture of personalized sugar shell candies or jellybeans, said plurality of sugar shell candies or jellybeans being held and conveyed on a conveyor transiently past a print head at an angle perpendicular to the print head of the drop-on-demand ink jet printer during printing in a single pass to obtain a printed image having resolution greater than 200 dpi. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A system according to claim 15, wherein the network is the Internet and the client computer is operable to run Web browser software adapted to send and receive Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) forms over the World Wide Web. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) A system according to claim 15, wherein the network is a local area network. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) A system according to claim 15, wherein the drop-on-demand ink-jet printer prints directly on the sugar shell candies or jellybeans using a dispersed pigment food-grade ink. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A system according to claim 18, wherein the printed image has a resolution between 300 dpi and 1200 dpi. ### Claim 20 A method on a server computer on a network for facilitating custom manufacturing of decorated sugar shell candies or jellybeans on the basis of instructions of a consumer, the method comprising: communicating over the network with a client computer of the consumer, receiving over the network, from the client computer, custom image data submitted to the client computer by the consumer, and communicating the received custom image data to a drop-on-demand ink-jet printer having a reservoir for holding dispersed pigmented inks which is integrated with a print head to cause printing directly on a non-planar surface of each one of a plurality of sugar shell candies or jellybeans of a high quality image having a resolution greater than 200 dpi that corresponds with the received custom image data in the manufacture of personalized sugar shell candies or jellybeans, wherein said plurality of sugar shell candies or jellybeans is held and conveyed on a conveyor transiently past a print head at an angle perpendicular to the print head of the drop-on-demand ink jet printer during printing in a single pass to obtain a printed image having resolution greater than 200 dpi. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A method according to claim 20, wherein the network is the Internet and the client computer is operable to run Web browser software adapted to send and receive Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) forms over the World Wide Web. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) A method according to claim 20, wherein the network is a local area network. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) A method according to claim 20, wherein the drop-on-demand ink-jet printer prints directly on the confectionery product sugar shell candies or jellybeans using a dispersed pigment food-grade ink. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) A method according to claim 23, wherein the printed image has a resolution between 300 dpi and 1200 dpi. ### Claim 25 A computer-readable medium storing executable code adapted to control a server computer on a network to perform a method for facilitating custom manufacturing of decorated sugar shell candies or jellybeans on the basis of instructions of a consumer, the method comprising: communicating over the network with a client computer of the consumer, receiving over the network, from the client computer, custom image data submitted to the client computer by the consumer, and communicating the received custom image data to a drop-on-demand ink jet printer having a reservoir for holding dispersed pigmented inks which is integrated with a print head to cause printing directly on a non-planar surface of each one of a plurality of sugar shell candies or jellybeans of a high quality image having a resolution of greater than 200 dpi that corresponds with the received custom image data in the manufacture of personalized sugar shell candies or jellybeans and wherein said plurality of sugar shell candies or jellybeans is held and conveyed on a conveyor transiently past a print head at an angle perpendicular to the print head of the drop-on-demand ink jet printer during printing in a single pass to obtain a printed image having resolution greater than 200 dpi. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) A computer-readable medium according to claim 25, wherein the network is the Internet and the client computer is operable to run Web browser software adapted to send and receive Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) forms over the World Wide Web. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) A computer-readable medium according to claim 25, wherein the network is a local area network. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) A computer-readable medium according to claim 25, wherein the drop-on-demand ink-jet printer prints directly on the sugar shell candies or jellybeans using a dispersed pigment food-grade ink. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) A computer-readable medium according to claim 28, wherein the printed image has a resolution between 300 dpi and 1200 dpi. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein the custom image data is a personalized message. ### Claim 31 (depends on 6) A method according to claim 6, wherein the custom image data is a personalized message. ### Claim 32 (depends on 11) A system according to claim 11, wherein the custom image data is a personalized message. ### Claim 33 (depends on 15) A system according to claim 15, wherein the custom image data is a personalized message. ### Claim 34 (depends on 20) A method according to claim 20, wherein the custom image data is a personalized message. ### Claim 35 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, further comprising an image processor adapted to process the custom image data and to allow the consumer to preview options for decoration of said plurality of sugar shell candies or jellybeans. ### Claim 36 (depends on 6) A method according to claim 6, wherein the system comprises an image processor adapted to process the custom image data and to allow the consumer to preview options for decoration of said plurality of sugar shell candies or jellybeans, the method further comprising processing the custom image data according to selection by the consumer and permitting preview by the consumer of the custom image on the sugar shell candies or jellybeans. ### Claim 37 (depends on 11) A system according to claim 11, further comprising an image processor adapted to process the custom image data and to allow the consumer to preview options for decoration of said plurality of sugar shell candies or jellybeans. ### Claim 38 (depends on 15) A system according to claim 15, wherein the server computer is adapted to process the custom image data according to selection by the consumer and permit preview by the consumer of the image on the sugar shell candies or jellybeans. ### Claim 39 (depends on 20) A method according to claim 20, further comprising processing the custom image data according to selection by the consumer and permitting preview by the consumer of the image on the sugar shell candies or jellybeans.