AU4385000A - Printing process - Google Patents

Description

WO 00/73080 PCT/AUOO/00386 PRINTING PROCESS Technical Field The present invention relates to printing or copying machines or machines which have combined printing and 5 copying capability. Background Art It is intrinsic to the design of printing or copying machines or machines which have combined printing and copying capability that indicia typically cannot be 10 printed right to at least one edge of a sheet of paper which passes through these machines. This intrinsic design characteristic is unrelated to a margin that is typically set via a computer and its associated software which sends data to a printing machine or combined printing and coping 15 machine. A margin can typically be adjusted so that it is non existent. However, even if a margin is adjusted so that it is non existent, indicia typically cannot be printed right to at least one edge of a sheet of paper which passes through a printing machine or combined 20 printing and copying machine. Throughout this specification, for ease of reference and clarity purposes, the region of a sheet, including a sheet of paper, within which indicia typically cannot be printed due to the aforementioned design characteristics which are intrinsic 25 to printing or copying machines, or machines which have printing and copying capability, is referred to as the "void strip". The void strip typically comprises a thin strip in the order of 2-4mm wide which extends along at least one edge of a sheet of paper; although, the strip 30 may be up to 10mm wide. The width of the void strip of digital machines which have combined printing and copying capability, and analogue copying machines is typically adjustable and may be adjusted so that it is non-existent. However, manufacturers of such machines typically advise, 35 for reasons which are explained below, that a void strip is necessary. Depending on the type of machine, the void strip may extend along 1, 2, 3, or 4 edges of a sheet of paper.

WO 00/73080 PCT/AUOO/00386 -2 Copying machines are typically either lens/light copiers or digital copiers. Desk top and Network printers are typically digital. Void strips are necessary in lens/light copiers and 5 digital printers and/or copiers for the following reasons. A drum of the printing and/or copying machine onto which an image is to be projected is charged. The charge remains where a shadow of the projected image falls and dissipates where light of the projected image falls, in 10 proportion to the intensity of the projected light. The drum rotates past toner which is charged oppositely to the drum resulting in toner covering each portion of the surface of the drum in proportion to the amount of charge thereon. Paper is then typically passed between the 15 charged drum and another charged object to result in the toner being pulled toward the paper. This results in the image being replicated with the use of toner. After toner has been transferred to the paper upon which the image is to be printed, it is passed through a 20 fusing unit. The fusing unit typically comprises two counter rotating rollers which are used to apply both pressure and heat to the paper for the purpose of permanently setting the image onto the paper. The pressure and heat results in the toner melting. Toner is 25 typically not applied to a leading edge of the sheet of paper which first enters between the rollers to avoid the tendency of the leading edge sticking to one of the rollers and wrapping around such a roller. In addition to the requirement that toner is not 30 applied to the leading edge of a sheet of paper it is typically a requirement of digital machines and not lens/light machines that toner does not spill over the edges of a sheet of paper and fall down into the printing and/or copying machine. For this reason, digital printing 35 and/or copying machines typically have a void strip which extends entirely around the outside edges of a 'sheet of paper. Depending on the particular printing and/or copying WO 00/73080 PCT/AU0O/00386 -3 machine, a void strip may be as great as 10mm in width and typically extends along the entire length of either side of a sheet of paper if the strip runs along a longitudinal side of a sheet of paper or the width of a sheet of paper 5 if the strip runs transversely to the longitudinal axis of the sheet of paper, at either end of the sheet of paper. It is therefore desirable to provide a process and/or printed sheet which makes use of this inherent design limitation of printing and/or copying machines. 10 Summary of the Invention In a first aspect, the present invention provides a process of printing a sheet comprising the step of producing indicia within a predetermined region of the sheet which corresponds to either a void region of a 15 printing or copying machine, or a machine having printing and copying capability, or a region which is wholly within the void region. The process may further comprise the steps of passing the sheet through the machine in which process additional 20 indicia are not produced within the predetermined region of the sheet but may be produced outside the predetermined region in a further region. The step of producing indicia within the predetermined region of a sheet may be performed either 25 before the step of passing the sheet throughout the machine or after the step of passing the sheet through the machine. The process of producing indicia within the predetermined region may comprise the step of producing 30 sheets with an offset printing machine. Alternatively, the process of producing indicia within the predetermined region may comprise the steps of: (a) orientating the sheet relative to another printing or copying machine, or another machine 35 having printing and copying capability so that the predetermined region does not correspond to the void region of the other machine upon transferal of indicia onto the sheet, and so WO 00/73080 PCT/AU0O/00386 -4 that the predetermined region does correspond to the void region of the machine; and (b) passing the sheet through the other machine so that indicia is produced within the 5 predetermined region of the sheet which corresponds to the void region of the machine. In a second aspect, the present invention provides a process of printing a sheet comprising the steps of: (a) providing a sheet comprising indicia within a 10 predetermined region of the sheet, the predetermined region corresponding to either a void region of a printing or copying machine, or machine having printing and copying capability, or a region which is wholly within the void region; and 15 (b) passing the sheet through the machine. In this process it will be appreciated that additional indicia are not produced within the predetermined region of the sheet but may be produced outside the predetermined region in a further region. 20 Indeed, further indicia will generally be copied or printed in the further region in this process. The step of passing the sheet through the machine may be preceded by the step of orientating the sheet relative to the machine for passage of the sheet through the 25 machine so that the predetermined region is either equivalent to or wholly within the void region of the machine upon transferal of indicia onto the sheet. The void region may comprise a void strip which extends along at least one edge of the sheet. 30 In the case where the void strip extends along one edge of the sheet and not an edge that is opposite said one edge, the step of passing the sheet through the machine is preferably preceded by the step of orientating the sheet relative to the machine. 35 In a third aspect, the present invention provides a sheet comprising indicia within a predetermined region of the sheet, the predetermined region corresponding to either a void region of a printing or copying machine, or WO 00/73080 PCT/AUOO/00386 -5 a machine having printing and copying capability, or a region which is wholly within the void region, the sheet being arranged for passage through the machine so that, when appropriately orientated relative to the machine, the 5 predetermined region is either equivalent to or wholly within the void region of the machine upon transferal of indicia onto the sheet so that indicia is not produced within the predetermined region of the sheet, by the machine. 10 The further region of the sheet may be substantially blank. The sheet may be a sheet of paper. Indicia may include any one or more of the following: text, a symbol, a picture, a logo, a trademark, a 15 letterhead or a portion thereof, advertising material. The phrase "void region" when used throughout the description and claims refers to a region of a printing or copying machine, or a machine having printing and copying capability, in which the machine is designed not to print 20 due to intrinsic design characteristics of the machine. The void region is unrelated to a margin which may be produced on a sheet, by such a machine. The location and dimensions of a margin are controlled by software that is associated with a computer which is arranged to 25 communicate with the machine. In the claims which follow and the preceding summary of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the words "comprise", "comprises" or 30 "comprising" are used in the sense of "including"; that is, the features specified may be associated with further features in various embodiments of the invention. Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the present invention will 35 now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a copy produced on an A4 sheet of paper from a lens/light copying machine with the WO 00/73080 PCT/AU0O/00386 -6 lid of the copying machine left open and without placing an original upon the copying surface of the copying machine; Figure 2 is a schematic flow diagram of one example 5 of a process of the present invention which can be used to print matter such as text, symbols, or pictures in a void strip of a sheet of paper; Figure 3a is a plan view of an A4 sheet of paper which has passed through a first step of the two stage 10 process of Figure 2; and Figure 3b is a plan view of a copy taken with a digital copying machine in a similar manner to that described above in relation to Figure 1. Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention 15 Referring to Figure 1 a white strip 10 extends along the length of a longitudinal edge of a sheet 12 while the remainder the sheet is black. Because Figure 1 represents a copy taken from a lens/light copying machine with the lid open and without anything placed upon the copying 20 surface of the copying machine, the copying machine cannot detect any difference in intensity of reflected light which is reflected from the copying surface of the copier and the copying machine therefore produces a completely black image. If the copying machine were capable of 25 printing to the outside edges of a sheet of paper onto which the image is printed a photocopied sheet of paper produced in this way would be entirely black. However, referring to Figure 1 an image is not produced in a void strip 10. The copied sheet of paper of which Figure 1 is 30 representative was passed between a drum and another charged object of the photocopying machine during its passage through such a machine such that the void strip 10 was substantially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the drum. The sheet then passed between a pair of rollers of 35 a fusing unit of such a photocopier, the longitudinal edge of the sheet of paper along which the void strip 10 extends entering the rollers first. If the copying machine produced an image over the WO 00/73080 PCT/AUOO/00386 -7 entire sheet toner in the strip 10, when melted upon its passage between the rollers, would be inclined to stick to one of the rollers and wrap around such a roller. For this reason it is important that toner is not deposited in 5 the strip 10. If matter such as text, symbols or pictures is produced on an A4 sheet in the region which corresponds to the void strip 10, prior to passing an otherwise blank A4 sheet through a copying machine, and the blank A4 sheet is 10 passed appropriately through the copying machine such that the region which includes the matter corresponds to the void strip 10, an image can be photocopied onto the A4 sheet without interfering with matter previously printed or copied onto the A4 sheet within the void strip 10. 15 One way of producing matter within the void strip 10 is to produce A4 sheets of paper via an offset printing device. Referring to Figure 2, sheets of paper larger than A4 sheets are fed into the offset printing device 13 to enable matter such as text, symbols or pictures to be 20 printed on the larger sheets of paper at a location which corresponds with an outside edge of an A4 sheet of paper prior to the larger sheets of paper being down to A4 size sheets of paper. The A4 size sheets of paper are then fed into a copying or printing machine, or a machine having 25 copying and printing capability 15, to enable other matter such text, symbols or pictures to be copied or printed onto an area of the A4 sheets which does not correspond to the void strip 10. Alternatively, matter could be printed or copied onto a sheet of paper by a printing and/or 30 copying machine, along a longitudinal edge of a sheet which is opposite the void strip 10 and the same sheet of paper could then be appropriately orientated and fed back through the printing and/or copying machine such that the matter printed or copied onto the sheet on the first pass 35 through the machine is not interfered with on a second pass through. Referring to Figure 3a, a sheet of paper 16 has the word "advertising" 18 printed along the edge of the sheet WO 00/73080 PCT/AU00/00386 16 so that it is positioned within a void strip (not shown) of the sheet 16. Referring to Figure 3b, if the sheet 16 is then passed through a digital copying machine with the lid of the copying machine left open and without 5 placing an original upon the copying surface of the copying machine, a black image is produced on the sheet of paper over all but a void strip 20 which appears as a clear band that extends approximately 2mm inside outside edges of the sheet 16. The word "advertising" is 10 representative of matter such as text, symbols, pictures, trademarks, logos, a letterhead, or advertising material which could be printed or photocopied onto the sheet 16 in the void strip 20. Matter can therefore be printed or copied onto the sheet 16 without interfering with matter 15 previously printed or copied onto the sheet 16, within the void strip 20. By printing or copying onto a sheet of paper within the void strips 10 and 20, blank sheets of paper with matter printed along the edges, in the outside, for 20 example, 2 - 10mm of a sheet of paper, can be used for advertising. Persons or organisations using this advertising space could pay for such space in a number of different ways. For example, they may subsidise the cost of either the paper or printing and/or copying machine, or 25 pay directly for exposure through the copies the printing and/or copying machine produces. The above described process of producing indicia within the void strip 10 or 20 may be used for different sized sheets of paper and may also be used for different 30 types of printing and/or copying machines which produce void strips of varying width along different edges of a sheet of paper. Industrial Applicability The present invention is useful in the application of 35 indicia to sheets to be printed or copied.

Claims (18)

1. A process of printing a sheet comprising the step of producing indicia within a predetermined region of the sheet which corresponds to either a void region 5 of a printing or copying machine, or a machine having printing and copying capability, or a region which is wholly within the void region.

2. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the process further comprises the step of passing the sheet 10 through the machine.

3. A process as claimed in claim 2 wherein the step of producing indicia within the predetermined region of a sheet is performed before the step of passing the sheet through the machine. 15

4. A process as claimed in claim 2 wherein the step of producing indicia within the predetermined region of a sheet is performed after the step of passing the sheet through the machine.

5. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding 20 claims wherein the process of producing indicia within the predetermined region comprises the step of producing sheets with an offset printing machine.

6. A process as claimed in any one of claims 1-4 wherein the process of producing indicia within the 25 predetermined region comprises the steps of: (a) orientating the sheet relative to another printing or copying machine, or another machine having printing and copying capability so that the predetermined region does not correspond to 30 the void region of the other machine upon transferal of indicia onto the sheet and so that the predetermined region does correspond to the void region of the machine; and (b) passing the sheet through other the machine so 35 that indicia is produced within the predetermined region of the sheet which corresponds to the void region of the machine.

7. A process of printing a sheet comprising the steps WO 00/73080 PCT/AUOO/00386 - 10 of: (a) providing a sheet comprising indicia within a predetermined region of the sheet, the predetermined region corresponding to either a 5 void region of a printing or copying machine, or a machine having printing and copying capability, or a region which is wholly within the void region; and (b) passing the sheet through the machine. 10

8. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the void region comprises a void strip which extends along at least one edge of the sheet.

9. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the void region comprises a void strip 15 which extends along one edge of the sheet and not an edge that is opposite said one edge.

10. A process as claimed in claim 9 wherein the step of passing the sheet through the machine is preceded by the step of orientating the sheet relative to the 20 machine for passage of the sheet through the machine so that the predetermined region is either equivalent to or wholly within the void region of the machine upon transferal of indicia onto the sheet.

11. A sheet comprising indicia within a predetermined 25 region of the sheet, the predetermined region corresponding to either a void region of a printing or copying machine, or a machine having printing and copying capability, or a region which is wholly within the void region, the sheet being arranged for 30 passage through the machine so that, when appropriately orientated relative to the machine, the predetermined region is either equivalent to or wholly within the void region of the machine upon transferal of indicia onto the sheet so that indicia 35 is not produced within the predetermined region of the sheet, by the machine.

12. A sheet as claimed in claim 11 wherein a further region of the sheet that is other than the WO 00/73080 PCT/AUOO/00386 - 11 predetermined region is substantially blank.

13. A process as claimed in any one of claims 1-10 wherein the sheet is a sheet of paper.

14. A sheet as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12 wherein 5 the sheet is a sheet of paper.

15. A process of printing a sheet as claimed in any one of claims 1-10, and claim 13 wherein the indicia includes any one or more of the following: text, a symbol, a picture, a logo, a trademark, a letterhead 10 or portion thereof, advertising material.

16. A sheet as claimed in any one of claims 11-12, and claim 14 wherein the indicia includes any one or more of the following: text, a symbol, a picture, a logo, a trademark, a letterhead or portion thereof, 15 advertising material.

17. A process of printing a sheet substantially as herein described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

18. A sheet substantially as herein described with 20 reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.