EP1740371A1

EP1740371A1 - Printable, sheet-like substrate, stack of these substrates, and a method for the production thereof

Info

Publication number: EP1740371A1
Application number: EP05714747A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jules Fischer
Original assignee: Fofitec AG
Current assignee: Fofitec AG
Priority date: 2004-04-13
Filing date: 2005-04-12
Publication date: 2007-01-10
Also published as: CH697456B1; RU2006139938A; WO2005100006A1; AU2005232791A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a printable, sheet-like substrate (50) with a partial area coating (61, 62), which locally increases the thickness of the substrate and which leads to the formation of a sloped layer in a stack. The substrate (50) is provided with a deformation (51), which also locally increases the thickness of the substrate and which reduces said sloped layer in the stack. This embodiment makes it possible to avoid, to a considerable extent, problems caused by a sloped layer, above all during a successive printing of the substrate (50) in a sheet-fed printing press. The deformation can be efficiently made between two embossing cylinders that mesh with one another in the manner of toothed wheels.

Description

DESCRIPTION TITLE

Printable, sheet-like carrier, stack of such carriers and process for their production

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a printable, sheet-shaped carrier with a partial surface application which increases its thickness locally and leads to an inclined position in the stack. The invention also relates to a stack and a method for producing such carriers.

Geometrically, the carrier can be a stackable single sheet, but also, in particular in a preform, e.g. act in a zigzag foldable endless web. It can consist of paper or film, but can also be a laminate of several layers of paper and / or film connected to one another. STATE OF THE ART

Printable, sheet-like carriers, such as pre-assembled forms based on paper, are particularly useful as modern means of communication and advertising if they are attractively enhanced with added products such as integrated cards or labels. Integrated cards or labels are created, for example, by local, partial application of additional layers of film and / or paper to the carrier, usually in conjunction with die cuts to enable them to be removed. The corresponding work steps are usually carried out on an endless web by a form manufacturer who has a so-called web finishing system. In contrast, at least part of the desired imprint is only applied in a subsequent processing step and, if appropriate, only after the continuous web has been divided into individual sheets. Now each application of a partial layer onto the carrier inevitably causes a local thickening of the latter, which can lead to an inclined position in the stack. The skew will generally occur in two dimensions. The higher the stack, the more pronounced the inclined position, since the thickenings in the stack add up. In the case of integrated cards with plasticization on both sides, the thickening can be more than twice the thickness of the carrier. While these differences in thickness in professional processing of continuous webs can usually still be managed with a continuous printer, problems with further processing steps such as separating, stacking or folding can not be ruled out even in a specialist company. Above all, however, problems arise when processing single sheets with a sheet printer which takes the sheets out of a stack magazine. Due to the inclined position of the sheets, stacking magazines can only be partially filled by sheetfed printers, which leads to significant performance losses, especially with high-performance sheetfed printers. Attempts have already been made to solve the problems mentioned by means of complex technical aids such as stacking from above or pushing up from below by means of compensation wedges, but these solutions have not become established.

One way of avoiding differences in thickness at all is to provide the support with the additional layer (s) over the entire area instead of only over the partial area. The print carrier designed in this way can be completely prefabricated. However, the additional layers give it a thickness or a basis weight and a stiffness that are required for the integrated card itself. If these requirements are high, the solution cannot be used, since sheet printers in particular can only process carriers up to a certain thickness and rigidity. Conversely, supports provided with additional layers over the entire surface, which do not cause any problems in sheetfed printers, would be too thin and too stiff for most integrated cards. Film layers, such as those required for plasticized cards, can also prevent or at least complicate subsequent printing when applied over the entire surface. Because of the full area of the additional layers and the very large amount of additional material required as a result, the full area solution is usually also not economical. It is particularly important that the additional layers are usually expensive special products such as refined foils or even multi-layer laminates. To at least partially avoid the last three disadvantages mentioned, it has also been proposed to provide a thickness compensation by applying an additional partial surface layer of inexpensive paper to the carrier. At least the problems with stiffness remain.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a printable, sheet-shaped carrier with a partial area locally increasing its thickness and leading to an inclined position in the stack, which avoids the problems explained and in particular can be printed without problems in a sheet-fed printer.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a printable, sheet-like carrier with the features of claim 1. The invention accordingly proposes to provide the carrier with a deformation that also locally increases its thickness and reduces the said inclined position in the stack.

The advantages achieved by the invention are first of all to be seen in the fact that no additional material is required for the additional thickening of the carrier. As a result, the beam does not become heavier and, if the deformation is carried out appropriately, also not stiffer. On the other hand, the deformation e.g. are rotatively attached very efficiently to an endless web, possibly even in the same pass in which the partial area application and / or a punching leading to the thickening to be compensated is also applied. The invention enables the use of attached and / or partially integrated cards or labels even where this has so far failed due to the thickening caused thereby.

According to a first preferred embodiment, the deformation is carried out in such a way that it comprises deformations on both sides of the carrier.

There is a great deal of freedom with regard to the design of the deformation. However, care should be taken to ensure that the deformation does not recede due to the elastic properties of the material or that the regression is within tolerable limits. The deformation must also be natural be stable against the compressive forces exerted on the individual carriers in the stack. Finally, it should be ensured that the deformations in the stack of adjacent beams do not come together. All of these requirements can best be achieved through a large number of rather small individual deformations.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the deformation also comprises a basic pattern which is repeated at least in one direction (for example the running direction in the case of an endless web) and which is more preferably designed alternately on both sides in the mentioned direction, preferably at least in sections without spaces.

An easy-to-implement basic pattern, by means of which lateral thrust forces are also avoided during further processing, comprises a curved, in particular an angularly curved line. This basic pattern can also ensure that the deformations in the stack of adjacent supports do not come into contact with one another, at least when adjacent supports are rotated relative to one another by 180 ° with respect to the deformation.

In a further preferred embodiment, the deformation is arranged at least partially in the edge region of the carrier because it is the least disturbing there. The deformation is particularly effective if it is arranged circumferentially in a frame-shaped zone, in particular close again along the edge region of the carrier. Sagging parts in the stack are most effectively avoided,

The or part of the deformation can also be arranged adjacent to the partial application. There it helps to avoid or reduce mutual hooking, snagging or blocking of the application edges when unstacking or de-stacking carriers according to the invention and protects the application edges against mechanical damage.

In many applications, the order contains adhesive layers. Under pressure, the adhesive may "bleed" on the application edges and contaminate the Carrier with glue around the order. This can also be counteracted by arranging deformations adjacent to the order. Mutual interlocking of carriers according to the invention when unstacking or de-stacking is further complicated by the use of rounded deformations.

The deformation can also include an ornament, in particular in the form of a logo, coat of arms or some other mark.

The partial surface application which increases the thickness of the support locally and leads to an inclined position in the stack can be a substrate layer, in particular bonded to it with an adhesive layer, such as e.g. is the case with attached or partially integrated cards or labels. However, the application could also be a coating, in particular if it has a greater layer thickness.

The invention also relates to a stack of printable, sheet-like, format-identical and edge-flush supports of the type according to the invention, in which stack the deformations of adjacent supports are so different and / or offset and / or rotated and / or arranged that the deformations are not come to lie in one another.

Finally, the subject of the invention is also a method for producing printable, sheet-like carriers of the type according to the invention, in which the deformation is carried out in a rotary manner in the passage between two embossing cylinders which intermesh in the manner of gearwheels. The

Embossing cylinders can in this case be magnetic cylinders, on each of which at least one sheet metal provided with an embossing relief corresponding to the deformation to be embossed is magnetically fixed. The embossed relief is preferably provided with rounded edges.

To avoid problems, particularly in the case of endless webs, the deformation in the direction of the passage is preferably applied in sections spaced apart from one another in the method according to the invention. BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE FIGURES The invention is to be explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments in connection with the drawing. 1 shows a plan view of a printable, sheet-shaped carrier in the form of a form with an integrated card according to the prior art;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the form of Fig. 1; 3 shows a side view of a stack of forms according to FIGS. 1 and 2;

Figure 4 in supervision an endless web of forms;

5 a side view of an endless web according to FIG. 4 stacked in a zigzag.

6 shows a side view of a stack of printable, sheet-like carriers according to the invention in the form of forms with an integrated card;

7 three forms according to the invention with integrated card in supervision;

Figure 8 shows one of the forms of Figure 7 in section (1-1);

9 shows a form according to FIG. 7 with additional deformations adjacent to the integrated card;

Fig. 10 shows an apparatus for producing sheet-like supports according to the invention e.g. 7 and 8 in the endless process; and

11 shows an endless web of forms according to FIG. 7 with deformation sections spaced apart from one another.

The representations in the figures are predominantly schematic. In the side views, the layer thicknesses are sometimes exaggerated. WAYS OF IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION FIGS. 1-5 first represent the state of the art and serve to illustrate the problem of the inclined position of stacked, sheet-like supports with partial-surface applications, which was founded by the prior art and to be overcome by the invention. Paper forms with integrated cards are shown in FIGS. 1-5 as examples of carriers with partial-area orders which cause an inclined position in the stack. With these, the orders leading to the inclination in the stack are formed by so-called application of foil and multilayer laminates. Other examples where basically the same problem occurs, especially those with self-adhesive labels, Hesse specify themselves in large numbers.

Fig. 1 shows a form 10 with an integrated card 20 in supervision. While Form 10 e.g. A4 format, the integrated card 20 could e.g. Have credit card format. In this respect, the integrated card 20 only covers a relatively small, limited part of the form area.

Fig. 2 shows the form 10 of Fig. 1 in a side view. In the area of the integrated card 20, the form 10 is provided with facings 21 and 22 on the front and back. The application 21 on the front side consists of a film layer 21.1 which is glued on by means of a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 21.2. The

Application 22 on the back also includes a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer 22.1 and a film layer 22.2, as well as a peeling layer 22.3 and a carrier layer 22.4. In this multi-layer structure, the integrated card 20 is produced by a circumferential stamping 23, which is carried out from the front of the form to the shell layer 22.3. Due to the special properties of the peel layer 22.3, the card 20 can be detached from the multilayer composite, the peel layer 22.3 remaining on the carrier layer 22.4 and the card 20 not being tacky. The detached card 20 is plasticized on both sides by the two film layers 21.1 and 22.2.

By integrating the card 20 into the form 10 and including the paper material of the form 10 in its layer structure, the local thickening caused by the card 20 is advantageously minimized compared to, for example, attached cards. With the usual layer thicknesses for the applications of the type mentioned However, the total thickness of the form 10 in the area of the integrated card 20 can still be well three times the layer thickness of the paper material. With a typical basis weight of the paper material between 80-120 g / m ² , for example, this can be around 300 μm.

Stacking forms 10 in the manner of FIGS. 1 and 2 on top of one another results in a situation with an inclined position, as shown in FIG. 3. For the sake of simplicity, the integrated cards 20 are only indicated by the attachments 21 and 22, which, however, are not further detailed in themselves. From Fig. 3 it can be seen that the higher the stack, the more unfavorable the conditions regarding the inclined position of the forms. It is clear that when processing such stacks e.g. problems in a sheetfed printer.

Forms of the type of Figures 1-3 are typically manufactured in a continuous form. A section of an endless web 11 with several such forms 10 and lateral perforations 13 which can be separated by means of longitudinal perforations 12 is shown in FIG. 4. Cross perforations 14 are also provided between the individual forms 10 in order to be able to separate the forms 10 if necessary. Through the transverse perforations 14, however, the endless web 11 can also be folded in a zigzag, as shown in FIG. 5. This basically results in the same skew problems as when stacking single sheets.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of a stack of printable, sheet-like carriers according to the invention, again in the form of forms 50 with an integrated card 60. As in FIG. 3, the integrated cards 60 are here again only by front and back attachments 61 and 62 indicated, which are not further detailed in themselves. In contrast to the forms according to FIG. 3, the forms 50 according to the invention from FIG. 6 are provided with deformations 51 which also locally increase their thickness. As a result of these deformations, the inclined position in the stack is advantageously avoided or at least substantially reduced, and this is done entirely without the application of any additional material.

The shape of the deformation to reduce or avoid an inclined position in the stack is in itself arbitrary, the type, size and placement of the orders or Spreads on the sheet-shaped carrier plays a role. In principle, it should be avoided that deformations of carriers adjacent to one another in the stack can interlock and come to lie one within the other, thereby completely or partially nullifying the desired effect.

It is also advantageous to carry out the deformation with deformations of the sheet-like support toward its two sides, as is also shown in FIG. 6. In order to achieve the desired compensating effect, the deformations in this case need only be designed to be half as pronounced on each side as in the case of deformations towards only one side.

FIG. 7 shows three forms 50 according to the invention with an integrated card 60 in supervision, which are provided with a preferred deformation 52. The deformation 52 is carried out in the form of a repeating basic pattern all around in a kind of frame-shaped zone in the edge region of the forms.

The basic pattern consists of an angular or arrowhead-like curved line 53 of narrow width, and is alternately formed on both sides without gaps, as can be seen in the sectional representation of FIG. 8.

In the upper and lower forms, the arrowheads 53 point upward. In the middle form, they are opposite, i.e. directed downwards. This advantageously ensures that the deformations of the three forms 50 cannot interlock when they are stacked on one another. It goes without saying that such an opposite orientation in each case also makes sense and is preferred for stacks with more than just three forms or carriers.

A corresponding effect can in turn be achieved with a large number of patterns and the invention should therefore not be understood as being restricted to the basic pattern 53 shown. However, the basic pattern 53 shown has yet another advantage that should be mentioned: it is namely mirror-symmetrical with respect to an axis aligned in its repetition direction (for example along the section line II). The forms 50 are processed further in this direction, which is not the case with their A4 format adopted with a sheetfed printer is unlikely, the symmetry of the basic pattern 53 on the transport rollers of the printer will not cause the form to swirl or skew. A negative influence of the deformation on the further processing of the forms 50 can thus be avoided from the outset by a suitable choice of the basic pattern or the deformation. The deformation could also be used to convey information, in particular advertising information.

In the forms 50 shown in FIG. 7, the deformation 52 is applied all around, as mentioned. This has the advantage that a thickness compensation is achieved on all four sides or along all four edges of the forms 50. Would you e.g. Applying deformations only along the two long sides, which might already be sufficient for many applications, could cause the forms 50 to sag to a certain extent along their transverse sides and thereby cause e.g. problems with stacking in their longitudinal direction.

As is also the case with the forms 50 shown in FIG. 7, it is preferred to arrange the deformation on all sides as far as possible with a certain, if only a small, distance A from the edges. As a result, the edges come to lie freely in the stack at a certain distance a, as can be seen in FIG. 6, and therefore cannot get caught on one another, which in turn is advantageous for stacking.

FIG. 9 shows a form in accordance with FIG. 7 with additional deformations 54 adjacent to the integrated card 60. These also keep the forms 50 in the stack at a distance in the area of the integrated cards 60 and contribute to the mutual interlocking of integrated cards 60 of adjacent forms 50 to avoid. If necessary, it is sufficient to provide deformations 54 not on all sides as in FIG. 9 but only along the front edge of the integrated cards 60 in the direction of the stacking. The deformations 54 additionally reduce the pressure exerted on the cards 60 in the stack and also help to avoid that

Pressure-sensitive adhesive layers of the integrated card, such as layers 21.2 or 22.1 of FIG. 2, can bleed out on the edge. This could lead to mutual sticking of forms in the stack. The deformation proposed by the invention can be applied in a variety of ways, but in particular by embossing using an embossing stamp. Embossing can be carried out with only one stamp against an elastically resilient counter surface, or also with two stamps designed as a patrix and die. Embossing can also be carried out using the lifting method or rotatively, on single sheets or on an endless web, such as that according to FIG. 4.

Fig. 10 shows a preferred device 70 for producing carriers according to the invention e.g. in the form of forms 50 according to FIGS. 7 and 8, in which the deformation is carried out rotatively in the passage between two embossing cylinders 71 and 72 which engage in the manner of gearwheels. The device is particularly suitable for processing endless webs, e.g. that of Fig. 4.

10, the embossing cylinders 71 and 72 are designed as superficially smooth magnetic cylinders, on each of which two with the one to be embossed

Deformation provided stamping plates 73, 74 and 75, 76 are magnetically fixed. The embossed sheets are generally relatively thin sheets which are slightly flexible around the magnetic cylinders, on which only the "teeth" causing the deformation protrude, in particular in the form of narrow burrs. By the "teeth" of the embossing plates 73 and 76 or 74 and 75 meshing in pairs, they are

Embossed sheets are particularly well fixed on the magnetic cylinders. The embossing plates can additionally be fixed in their position by means of circumferential structures which engage outside of the carrier width or the endless web. The “teeth” of the embossing plates are also rounded, and their ends, which are not visible in FIG. 10, are also to be rounded. The rounded shape prevents damage to the carrier during embossing. The rounded shape is also advantageous for avoiding the mutual interlocking of carriers according to the invention when de-stacking or de-stacking, as already mentioned. The diameter of the magnetic cylinders 71 and 72 of FIG. 9 and the run-off length of the individual embossing plates 73, 74, 75 and 76 on them is further preferably selected such that a form 50, for example of the A4 format, can be embossed in particular in the longitudinal direction for each embossing plate. Two forms 50 can then be embossed per revolution of the magnetic cylinders 71 and 72. By opposing alignment of the embossing patterns of the two embossing plates 73 and 74 or 75 and 76 on each Magnetic cylinders 71 and 72 can then be achieved in a very simple manner in that the embossing patterns of successively embossed forms 50 are each oriented in opposite directions to one another, as was explained and preferred with reference to FIG. 7.

The deformation according to the invention can be applied to the carrier or form before or after the partial surface application which increases its thickness locally and leads to an inclined position in the stack. However, it can also be carried out as a process step in the manufacture of carriers or forms. When producing forms 10 according to FIG. 2 on a web finishing system, the device 70 of FIG. 10 could be integrated into such a system. It would even be possible, e.g. to form a cutting burr (not shown) on the two embossing plates 73 and 74 of FIG. 10 and to use this cutting burr to carry out the punching 23 mentioned together with FIG. 2 together with the deformation according to the invention.

On web finishing systems, the endless web is often moved by so-called tractors, which engage in the peripheral perforations of the web with rotating pins. The device of FIG. 10 can also have such tractors. The tractors are driven according to the pitch circle of the embossing cylinders, so that the endless web is transported with them in the register. Now the "teeth" of the embossing cylinder protrude beyond this pitch circle. This creates a further positive guidance in relation to the endless track, which is not in the register with the tractors and which can cause the edge perforation to be torn out of the tractors. This phenomenon can be effectively eliminated by providing breaks in the series of deformations along the endless path. The deformations are therefore applied in the direction of passage only in sections spaced apart from one another with relaxation gaps arranged in between, as is shown in FIG. 11. In FIG. 11, one of the deformation sections is denoted by 55 and one of the chip removal gaps by 56. In the relaxation gaps 56, the endless path is only guided by the tractors, that is to say without any interference from the deformation tools. Deformation lengths of 75 mm alternating with interruptions of around 20 mm have proven to be suitable in practice. Interruptions in the series of deformations in the direction of travel are also appropriate for web guides by means of web tensioning without perforation at the edges of the endless web, in order to avoid secondary effects such as web breakage due to web tension that is too high or loose webs with wrinkles or a lateral course.

With the device according to FIG. 10, an ornament can also be impressed into the carrier in the same operation, either as part of the deformation according to the invention or in addition to it. Ornaments are usually produced using a dimensionally stable patrix and a corresponding dimensionally stable matrix, whereby almost every relief can be embossed. There are restrictions in this regard with the thin, flexible stamping sheets 73-76 according to FIG. 10, on each of which only raised structures of small surface area can be formed. Structures raised on only one side, e.g. Lines of fonts can still be created with the embossing sheets 73-76 by a raised structure on one of the embossing sheets (as a patrix) engaging between two raised structures (as a matrix) on the opposite embossing sheet, as is the case with the interlocking "teeth" of the Embossing plates 73-76 in Fig. 10 is the case.

If an ornament only needs to be co-embossed as required, the embossing plates 73-76 can be provided with recesses into which the sub-plates producing the desired ornament can be inserted if necessary.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS 10 Form 11 Endless web 12 Longitudinal perforations 13 Edge perforations 14 Cross perforations 20 Integrated card

21 frontside application

22 reverse application

21.1 Film layer

21.2 PSA layer

22.1 PSA layer

22.2 Film layer

22.3 Peel layer

22.4 backing layer

23 punching

50 form

51 Deformation

52 Deformation

53 basic patterns, angled or arrow-shaped curved line

54 additional deformations

55 deformation sections

56 relaxation gaps

60 integrated card

61 front-side application

62 reverse application

70 device

71 embossing cylinders, magnetic cylinders

72 embossing cylinders, magnetic cylinders

73 embossing plate

74 embossing plate

75 embossing plate

76 embossing plate

A Edge distance a Distance between the edges of the form

Claims

1. Printable, sheet-like carrier with a locally increasing its thickness locally and in the stack leading to an inclined position, characterized in that it is provided with a likewise locally increasing its thickness and reducing the said inclined position in the stack.

2. Carrier according to claim 1, characterized in that the deformation comprises deformations on both sides.

3. Carrier according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the deformation comprises a basic pattern which is repeated at least in one direction.

4. Trägefnach claim 3, characterized in that the basic pattern in the direction mentioned, preferably at least in sections without gaps, is alternately embossed on both sides.

5. Carrier according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the basic pattern comprises a line, in particular a curved line.

6. Carrier according to one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the deformation comprises deformations arranged in its edge region and / or adjacent to the partial surface application.

7. Carrier according to one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the deformation comprises circumferentially arranged deformations in at least one frame-shaped zone.

8. Carrier according to one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the

Deformation includes an ornament, especially in the form of a logo, coat of arms or other characteristics.

9. Carrier according to one of claims 1-8, characterized in that the locally increasing its thickness and in the stack leading to an inclined partial application comprises a substrate layer connected in particular with an adhesive layer to it.

10. A stack of printable, sheet-like, format-identical and flush-mounted supports according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the deformations of adjacent supports are so different and / or offset and / or rotated and / or arranged that the deformations don't come to rest in each other.

11. A method for producing printable, sheet-like carrier according to one of claims 1-9, characterized in that the deformation is carried out rotatively in the passage between two embossing cylinders which intermesh in the manner of gearwheels.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that the embossing cylinders are magnetic cylinders, on each of which at least one sheet provided with an embossing relief corresponding to the respective embossing relief is magnetically fixed.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the embossed relief is provided with rounded edges.

14. The method according to any one of claims 11 - 13, characterized in that the deformation is applied in the passage direction in spaced sections.