EP2308682B1 - Method for generating a printing characteristic on a substrate of a printed product - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method having the features of the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method having the features of the preamble of claim 3.

Printed products are increasingly being designed individually and therefore provided with unique features such as personalized information. There is therefore an increasing interest in technology, which makes it possible to provide printed products with such features and thereby enhance their value.

The JP 2007/313876 describes a method in which by means of a laser information in a laminate of a product is as it were "inscribed", wherein the laminate comprises an initially clear color or lacquer layer which is colored by the laser radiation. A disadvantage of this solution appears the fact that only an upper layer of the laminate can be treated, which is naturally prone to damage during transport of the product, and that only a previously clear layer can be treated, while in the printing instead mostly pigmented substances are used ,

The DE 10 2005 031 572 A1 discloses a method for printing and post-treating an imprint, wherein at least one imprint is produced on a printing substrate and by means of a first short-wave UV emitter, the imprint is polymerized only superficially and selectively according to an image and by means of a second long-wavelength UV emitter in depth , In this way, the gloss level of the imprint can be changed according to the picture. A disadvantage of this solution appears the necessary, space-consuming and energy-demanding parallel use of two and also mutually different radiation sources.

In the DE 19822605 A1 is a method in the production of coated printing papers described in which are introduced with a carbon dioxide laser markers in a paper layer, which can also be covered and then to shine through.

In the WO 2004/069551 A method is described in which plastic substrates are inkjet printed while the surface of the substrate is provided with a still wet chemically crosslinkable layer and then a second protective layer is applied. With this method, the durability of inkjet images on plastic substrates is generally to be improved.

Furthermore, it is from the US 2007/0231525 It is known to produce film graphics in that adhesive is applied to a substrate in the form as it has the later to be applied thereto film. The writing of additional printing information in the adhesive layer is not addressed in this document.

Against this background, it is an object of the present invention to provide a comparison with the prior art improved method, which allows it in a simple manner, ie in particular with little expensive means, durable, ie in particular wear-resistant or protected, printing technology features to produce on printed substrates, which are at least partially coated with films, preferably metal foils. It is also a further or alternative object of the present invention to provide a device that is improved over the prior art for performing the method.

These objects are achieved according to the invention by a method having the features of claim 1 and by a device having the features of claim 3. Advantageous developments of the invention will become apparent from the accompanying dependent claims and from the description and the accompanying drawings.

An inventive method for producing a printing technology feature on a substrate of a printed product, wherein in a first step, a first layer is produced by applying an adhesive and in a second step on the surface of the first layer, at least in sections, a second layer in the form of a film or film transfer layer is applied, characterized in that in an intermediate step in the adhesive at least partially specifically a printing technology underlying characteristic information is transferred by the fact that the adhesive by an information-bearing electromagnetic radiation or particle radiation before applying the film or film transfer layer at least partially is cured or dried.

The provision according to the invention of the pretreatment in the intermediate step before the second step makes it possible to produce permanent, ie in particular wear-resistant or protected, printing technology features on substrates in a simple manner. The features are produced substantially in cooperation of the curing of the adhesive with the overlap by the film in the second step, wherein the visual impression of the feature or its specific functionality is revealed or provided. Such a feature produced according to the invention may preferably form an electrically conductive structure realized in cold foil (eg memory, circuit, antenna) or a forgery-proof random pattern (eg for the authenticity / manipulation test).

A refinement of the method according to the invention which is advantageous and therefore preferred with respect to fast 2D structure generation can be distinguished by the fact that LED radiation (eg by means of a so-called array) generates LED radiation transmitted through information or electromagnetic radiation (eg scanning) or by a mask guided radiation is used.

In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, the rapid achievement of an effective surface modification takes place in that the information-carrying, electromagnetic radiation causes hardening or drying.

A device according to the invention for carrying out one of the methods is characterized by a first module having a first printing and / or coating unit for applying the adhesive in the first step, a second module arranged downstream in the transport direction of the substrate and having a second printing and / or coating unit for applying the film or film transfer layer in the second step and an intermediate module arranged in the transport direction of the substrate between the first and the second module with an information transfer unit for irradiating the adhesive in the intermediate step.

Within the scope of the invention, a printing material processing machine - e.g. a printing machine, in particular a sheet-fed rotary lithographic printing press, or e.g. a print finishing machine - to be seen, which is characterized by at least one as described above with reference to the invention device.

The described invention and the described, advantageous developments of the invention are also in combination with each other advantageous developments of the invention. Preferably, for example, as a first medium, a cold foil adhesive, as a second medium, a cold foil transfer layer and for transmitting the information electromagnetic radiation, which partially cures the adhesive.

The invention as such as well as structurally and / or functionally advantageous developments of the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings with reference to at least one preferred embodiment. In the drawings, corresponding elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

The drawings show:

Fig. 1

a flowchart of a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention; and

Fig. 2a-b

in each case a printing material processing machine with a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a flowchart of a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention for generating a printing feature on a substrate of a printed product with two steps and an intermediate step. The printing technology feature 1 is preferably a visual, ie a visible with the naked eye feature, or also preferably a functional, ie another function such as the electrical conductivity mediating feature. As substrates 2 come paper, cardboard, foil, plates or sheets into consideration. The printed product 3 itself can be a flat good, for example a brochure, a label or a packaging provided with text, image, pattern and / or other information, preferably printed by the rotation method.

In method step A (first step), a first layer 4 is produced by applying an adhesive 5 to the substrate 2 merely provided or already precoated in a preliminary step VS. The first layer 4 may be screened or unscreened and its thickness is preferably in the micrometer or even sub-micron range. The application of the adhesive 5 is preferably carried out by rotation, for example in lithographic offset printing. As an adhesive adhesive is preferably used for the Kaltfolientransverfahren.

In method step B (second step), the surface 6 of the first layer 4 is treated at least in sections by applying a second layer 7 to the substrate 2 or to the substrate 2 already provided with the adhesive 5 in the first step by applying a film or film transfer layer 8 is produced. The second layer 7 may be screened or unscreened and its thickness is also preferably in the micrometer or even sub-micron range. The application of the second medium 8 is also preferably carried out in A rotating basis. The second medium 8 is a foil or film transfer layer, for example a cold foil or a cold foil transfer layer.

Method step ZS takes place as an intermediate step, ie, temporally after method step A and before method step B. In this case, the surface 6 of the first layer 4 is pretreated at least in sections, by selectively transferring the information underlying the printing technology feature 1 into the adhesive 5. As underlying information, for example, text, image or pattern information or information about the topography of a functional, technical printing feature, such as location and shape of electrically conductive structures can be transmitted. The transmission of the information preferably takes place by means of electromagnetic radiation 10, such as laser radiation, LED radiation, ie radiation generated by a light-emitting diode, or by a mask, for example with so-called light sheds (switchable shutter matrix) or light modulators, guided radiation. The irradiation 10 of the first layer 4 or of the adhesive 5 causes its curing or drying. The layer or adhesive curing may preferably be only partial, preferably only near-surface, curing. Accordingly, drying may preferably be only partial drying. The electromagnetic radiation may be radiation in the ultraviolet (UV, preferably for curing), visible or infrared (IR, preferably for drying) spectral range. As an alternative or in addition to the use of electromagnetic radiation, the transmission of the information can also take place by means of particle radiation 11, for example when using electron radiation or plasma.

Since the step ZS essential to the invention takes place before the second step B, the surface 6 changed in step ZS is covered by the aftertreatment in step B with the film or film transfer layer 8 and advantageously permanently protected from change / wear by this aftertreatment and the introduced information permanently fixed.

The following application for the process according to the invention may be mentioned as an example: In step A, UV-curable cold foil adhesive 5 is applied over the entire area to the substrate 2. In step ZS, the topography of a printed conductor structure is transferred into the adhesive 5 as negative with UV radiation and a switchable mask or with a scanning UV laser system. As a result, the adhesive 5 is partially cured locally according to the structure. In step B, coating material 8 (cold foil transfer layer) is brought into contact with the adhesive 5 in the cold foil transfer process. At the points locally locally hardened according to the negative, the adhesive 5 does not take on any transfer material, so that the conductor track structure in the transfer material is reflected positively. The result is a printed conductor structure made of electrically conductive cold foil transfer material on the substrate. The switchable mask or the scanning system also makes it possible in an advantageous manner to change the printed conductor structure from printed product to printed product, to individualize it or to design it as a unique feature.

FIG. 2a shows a section of a printing material as a substrate-processing machine 12, preferably a printing press, with a device 13 for generating a printing-technical feature 1 on a substrate 2 of a printed product 3 with two modules and an intermediate module.

The printing press 12 has a first module 13a with a first printing and / or coating unit 14a, preferably a first printing unit, for carrying out the first step A (preferably full-tone inking), a second module 15a with a second downstream in the direction of transport of the substrate 2 Printing and / or coating unit 16a, preferably a second printing unit, for carrying out the second step B (paint or varnish application) and an intermediate module ZM arranged in the transport direction of the substrate 2 between the first and the second module 13a and 15a with a Information transfer unit 17 for performing the intermediate step ZS. The use of the intermediate module ZM advantageously enables information-dependent drying / curing or partial drying / partial curing of the adhesive 5, preferably by means of UV radiation or IR radiation, thereby producing a latent image. In other words, the intermediate module ZM allows "writing" the information into the first layer 4 or "imaging" the first layer 4 with the information. During the subsequent application of the second layer 7, there is therefore a corresponding, information-dependent adhesion and repulsion of the film or film transfer layer 8 on the adhesive 5, so that the "inscribed" or "imaged" information in the film or film transfer layer 8 becomes visible (keyword: so-called "drip-off effect" or "beading"). Alternatively, during the subsequent application of the second layer 7 as a result of a locally altered cleavage effect, the previously latent image becomes visible (keyword: so-called "overprinting").

The printing machine 12 has according to FIG. 2b According to the invention, in addition, a first module 13b with a first printing and / or coating unit 14b, preferably a first printing unit for the areal or imagewise rastered, page-sized or only partial adhesive application, for performing the first step A (adhesive application), an in Transport direction of the substrate 2 downstream second module 15b with a second printing and / or coating unit 16b, preferably a printing unit for cold foil transfer, for performing the second step (film transfer layer order) and in the transport direction of the substrate 2 between the first and the second module 13b and 15b arranged intermediate module ZM with an information transfer unit 17 for performing the intermediate step ZS. The use of the intermediate module ZM advantageously enables information-dependent curing or partial curing of the adhesive 5, preferably by means of UV radiation when using UV-curing adhesive, and thereby produces a latent adhesive image. In other words, the intermediate module ZM allows the "writing" of the information into the adhesive layer 4 or the "imaging" of the adhesive layer 4 with the information. As a result, the adhesive has 5 points which are more or less tacky than their surroundings and therefore detach less or no transfer layer from the carrier layer. During the subsequent application of the film transfer layer 7 comes Therefore, it is a corresponding, information-dependent transfer of the transfer layer 7, so that the "registered" or "imaged" information in the transfer layer 7 is visible or, for example, as a conductor, functionally effective. If the adhesive application A takes place only in sections in the form of a coarse pattern, the information transfer ZS can be limited to the same sections and therefore produce a fine structuring in a shorter time and with less energy.

In principle, the described methods and devices according to the invention allow, by means of the intermediate step ZS or of the intermediate module ZW, to provide the printing product 3 to be produced with a printing-unique feature 1, i. the feature 1 can be changed during the production of a series of printed products 3 (print job), so that different features 1 are produced on different printed products 3. In other words, according to the invention, the printed products 3 can be modified or varied with one another, for example, individualized or personalized. The feature 1 may be, for example, a counterfeit-proof random pattern which varies from print product to print product.

For the variation of the printing technology feature 1 (one-dimensional or two-dimensional) segment-switchable intermediate modules ZM can be used based on the following technologies: Radiation sources, such as UV, IR or Light sources, heating elements, electron or ion sources.

The respective intermediate module ZM in the FIGS. 2a-b For example, as an alternative to the illustrated position (cylinder leading to the substrate to the first module 13a-b), cylinder leading to the substrate may also be positioned to the second module 15a-b. Also alternatively, between these two cylinders instead of only one and three substrate leading cylinder may be provided and the intermediate module ZM be positioned at the middle of the three cylinders. A further alternative would be the positioning of the intermediate module ZM within a transparent cylinder between the two substrate-guiding cylinders to the first and second module.

The described method and apparatus of the present invention are useful in both conventional printing processes (e.g., gravure, lithographic / lithographic, letterpress / flexo, gravure / screen) and non-impact (e.g., inkjet, toner) printing. They are also available in round / flat (ie cylinder / flatbed), round / round or flat / flat printing, sheetfed or webfed, single or multi-color printing and / or internal / external (ie in a press). Print finishing machine or as a separate finishing machine) can be used.

As electromagnetic information transmission units 17 can laser, one or two-dimensional so-called laser arrays, conventional light sources with light modulators (punctiform or galvanometer scanner, one or two-dimensional so-called "DMD / digital micromirror device" mirror arrays), light-emitting diodes (LED) and / or one-dimensional or two-dimensional so-called LED arrays are used.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 Printing characteristic 2 substratum 3 print product 4 First shift 5 Glue 6 surface 7 Second shift 8th Foil or film transfer layer 10 EM radiation 11 particle 12 press 13 contraption 13a-d First module 14a-d First printing coating unit 15a-d Second module 16a-d Second printing coating / structuring unit 17 Information transmission unit VS preliminary step A First step B Second step ZS intermediate step ZM intermediate module

Claims (4)

1. Method for creating a graphic arts feature on a substrate of a printed product
   wherein

   - in a first step (A) a first layer (4) is created on the substrate (2) by applying a glue (5), and

   - in a second step (B), a second layer (7) in the form of a foil or foil transfer layer (8) is applied at least to sections of the surface (6) of the first layer (4)

   characterized in
   that in an intermediate step (ZS), information on which the graphic arts feature (1) is based is transferred into the glue (5) at least in sections in a targeted way by at least partially hardening or drying the glue prior to the application of the foil or foil transfer layer by electromagnetic radiation or particle radiation that carries the information.
2. Method according to claim 2,
   characterized in
   that laser radiation, LED radiation, or radiation guided through a screen is used as the electromagnetic radiation (10) that carries the information.
3. Device for implementing a method according to one of Claims 1 to 2,
   characterized by
   a first module (13a-d) including a first printing and/or coating unit (14a-d) for applying the glue in the first step (A), a second module (15a-d) arranged downstream in the direction of transport of the substrate (2) and including a second printing and/or coating unit for applying the foil or foil transfer layer in the second step (B), and an intermediate module (ZM) arranged between the first module (13a-d) and the second module (15a-d) in the direction of transport of the substrate (2) and including an information transfer unit (17) for irradiating the glue in the intermediate step (ZS), the intermediate module (ZM) designed to transfer information on which the graphic arts feature (1) is based into the glue (5) at least in sections in a targeted way prior to the application of the foil or foil transfer layer by at least partially hardening or drying the glue by an electromagnetic radiation or particle radiation that carries the information.
4. Machine processing printing material, for example printing press, in particular sheet-processing rotary printing press for lithographic offset printing, or machine for the further processing of printed products,
   characterized by
   a device according to claim 3.

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