JP2009532301A - Microlens windows and rearranged images for packaging and printing and methods of manufacturing - Google Patents

Abstract

  The microlens according to the present invention is for packaging and printing including a package (100). The package (100) of the present invention includes a main body (102) and a microlens window (104) disposed on the main body (102). The microlens window (104) displays at least one graphic image in its first part. The microlens window (104) displays the contents of the package (100) through the second portion.

Description

  This application claims the benefit of US Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 778,108, filed Apr. 3, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

  The field of the invention relates generally to packaging and printing. More particularly, the present invention relates to a microlens window having an interphased image for packaging and printing.

  Today, there are flat plastic windows for cardboard containers. Some marketers of packaged goods use transparent windows for packaging, allowing consumers to see the actual product and product level through the package window. This is done to increase the visibility of the actual product, otherwise it cannot be seen due to the packaging, i.e. the package of opaque material from which the container is made. For example, certain types of packaging for liquids, such as gable-shaped top containers, are commercially available and displayed with see-through windows made from transparent film. Windows are strategically placed on the body of the package or container to allow the consumer to see the contents through the window. These windows add the attractiveness of market trading to the container.

  Typically, these windows are heat sealed to the inner surface of the container before it is folded and filled with contents. Any feature added to the plastic window to increase its attractiveness on the market will attract more attention to the package. Although straight printing can be used on the back side of a flat plastic, the attractive appeal is not as high as a plain window.

  The microlens windows and rearranged images for packaging and printing of the present invention ("microlenses for packaging and printing") solve these and other problems and provide additional benefits. In one embodiment, microlenses for packaging and printing have new materials and utilize different technologies to create attractive and attractive products with see-through windows. The microlens of the present invention for packaging and printing has multi-dimensional printing built into the microlens window, which are manufactured as part of the package. Multi-dimensional printing has three dimensions, flipping, motion, morphing images, or any combination thereof. In the microlens of the present invention for packaging and printing, the function of the window is maintained by having a transparent see-through portion disposed in the microlens window. The eye-catching attraction increases the marketability of packages.

  Furthermore, the microlens of the present invention for packaging and printing adds security to the package because the entire system described above must be employed to produce a product with the same packaging and printing. Because it must. The microlens of the present invention for packaging and printing also has a graphic image that produces anti-counterfeiting features on the printing material. The graphic image incorporated in the microlens for packaging and printing may be varied as desired to provide additional security features to the packaged and printed product. The wave and particle structure of the light is transmitted to the consumer's eyes by the microlens of the present invention for packaging and printing, making it more difficult for unauthorized manufacturers to make identical packages.

  The microlens of the present invention for packaging and printing can be used as promotional pieces and as all kinds of packages such as soft drink carton, cereal box, dry food box, toothpaste box etc. it can. While the microlens of the present invention for packaging and printing gains the ability to attract the consumer's eyes, it adds security features to the package through an integral graphic image that cannot be replicated. Some additional exemplary microlenses for packaging and printed products include cosmetic jars, premium liqueur boxes, and over-the-counter drug boxes. Also, the microlens of the present invention for packaging and printing may be used for security cards, passports, ID cards, driver's licenses, stamp duty, currency, documents, etc. The microlenses of the present invention for packaging and printing may be sealed to containers, packages, etc. by heat sealing, bonding, or any other means. In one aspect, if it is adhered to the package, the adhesive is used to allow the user to peel off and hold some promotional tag piece. When the tag piece confirms the product as original, the security perspective is retained.

  The microlens of the present invention for packaging and printing has an optical material bonded to a graphic image that is computer rearranged to form a see-through microlens window, and benefits from the see-through performance of the microlens window For containers or any package. The system is designed by controlling the images presented to the viewer's or consumer's eyes using ray tracing techniques. The final product produced by the system creates an eye-catching and eye-catching microlens window, which adds appeal to the product through innovative design. The system can also be used for all other forms of packaging by using the microlens of the present invention for packaging and printing, multi-dimensional images, symbol patterns, and labels, boxes and containers Construct optical materials for, and further construct anti-counterfeiting ability labels. The system of the present invention can be used for all forms of printed matter, from currency to passport. The physical structure of the microlens window does not accept package changes. Light waves and particles transmitted from the microlens window are created in the optical material by the system software and transmitted to the consumer's eye, making it extremely difficult to counterfeit the visual information of the end product. Furthermore, the structure of the microlens is unique in that the lens surface is a heat seal layer.

  In the drawings, similar or similar elements are provided with the same reference numerals throughout the drawings, and the illustrated elements are not necessarily drawn to scale. FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of a package 100 having a microlens window 104 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The package 100 has one or more microlens windows 104. Package 100 is a carton, box, container, or any other type of package that is used to contain and market a particular product, such as a liquid product. The package 100 has a body 102, which is typically made of a transparent or opaque material that contains the product. This material is any type of material suitable for containing the product in the package 100. In all materials, a heat seal layer is included in the structure. The heat seal layer for the microlens material is preferably a lens layer. In one embodiment, a specific type of lens material is used and the lens surface is made of a transparent heat seal material such as EVA, EMA, LDPE. Some exemplary materials are cardboard, plastic, and the like.

  Referring now to FIG. 2, an embodiment of the microlens window 104 is shown. The microlens window 104 has an outer surface 210 and an inner surface 208. In this embodiment, the outer surface 210 faces the consumer for viewing purposes, and the inner surface 208 contacts the contents of the package 100. As shown, the microlens window 104 is made up of a plurality 204 of cylindrical lenticulars 206. The lenticulars 206 are spaced from each other by flat portions as shown in FIG. The graphic image 212 is adjacent to the inner surface 208 of the microlens window 104, as will be described in detail later.

  Referring to FIG. 3, a microlens window 300 according to another embodiment is shown. The microlens window 300 further includes at least one or more “see-through” windows 314 that are randomly placed at the reordered printed image. The designed image allows the contents of the carton to be viewed through the image from the top to the bottom of the piece in a discontinuous but aesthetically pleasing manner.

  FIG. 4 shows a front view of the microlens window 104. The microlens window 104 has a lenticular 206 that overlaps the graphic image 212, as will be described in detail later. The flat portion 402 adjacent to the lenticular 206 is transparent so that the consumer can see the contents of the package 100.

  FIG. 5 shows a front view of the microlens window 300. As will be described in detail later, the microlens window 300 has a lenticular 306 that overlaps the graphic image 312. In addition, the flat portion 502 adjacent to the lenticular 306 is transparent so that the consumer can see the contents of the package 100 as described above. Further, the microlens window 300 shows a see-through window 314 that is randomly oriented within the graphic image 312 of the lenticular 306. Although only three lenticulars 206, 306 are shown in each of FIGS. 4 and 5, any desired number of lenticulars 206, 306 may be used, as described below.

  FIG. 6 shows a microlens window 600 according to another embodiment. In this embodiment, the microlens window 600 is used instead of or in addition to the other microlens windows described above. The microlens window 600 has a plurality of lenticulars 610, each lenticular 610 having a transparent diagonal edge 604 on either side of the flat portion 606, as will be described in detail later, adjacent graphic images 608. Overlapping. Thus, when the consumer's eyes move in the direction of arrow 610 with respect to the microlens window 600, the graphic image provided to the consumer changes. The microlens window 600 has an outer surface 612 and an inner surface 614. In this embodiment, the outer surface 612 faces the consumer for viewing purposes and the inner surface 614 contacts the contents of the package 100.

  FIG. 7 shows a microlens window 700 according to another embodiment. In this embodiment, the microlens window 700 is used in place of or in addition to the other microlens windows described above. Microlens window 700 has a shoulder 706 near the edge of microlens window 700. Preferably, the shoulder 706 extends around a portion of the microlens window 700 or around the entire circumference. The shoulder 706 allows the consumer to see the contents of the package 100 around the microlens window 700. The microlens window 700 has a plurality of 704 cylindrical lenticulars 702. As shown in FIG. 7, a graphic image 710 is arranged adjacent to each lenticular 702. In this embodiment, a transparent flat portion 708 is disposed between each lenticular 702. Similar to the shoulder 706, there is no graphic image located adjacent to the flat portion 708 of the microlens window 700. The flat portion 708 and shoulder 706 allow the contents of the package 100 to be clearly viewed and the graphic image 710 is displayed to the consumer through the lenticular 702 when the consumer views the package 100.

  FIG. 8 shows a microlens window 800 according to another embodiment. In this embodiment, the microlens window 800 is used in place of or in addition to the other microlens windows described above. The microlens window 800 includes a plurality of paraboloidal lenticulars 802 and a shoulder 804 disposed substantially at the intersection of the paraboloidal lenticulars 802. Preferably, the graphic images are arranged on the back side of each lenticular 802, like the images described above. In this embodiment, the shoulder 804 is a transparent and flat part. Preferably, there is no graphic image located behind the shoulder 804 of the microlens window 800. The shoulder 804 allows the contents of the package 100 to be clearly visible and displays a graphic image through the lenticular 802 to the consumer when the consumer views the package 100. FIG. 9 shows a microlens window 900 according to another embodiment that does not have a shoulder between paraboloid lenticulars 902. Further, the microlens windows 800 and 900 have the same inner surface and outer surface as the microlens window described above. A lens in the form of a random fly's eye does not have an image on its back side and is therefore transparent like a see-through element.

  Referring now to FIG. 10, an embodiment of an individual lenticular 1000 having six frames 1002, 1004, 1006, 1008, 1010, 1012 is shown. The following description relates to the lenticular 1000, but is applicable to any of the lenticulars described above. Also shown is a graphic image 1014 that is rearranged according to the disclosure herein, and the graphic image 1014 is attached to the back surface 1016 of the lenticular 1000. A single rearranged graphic image that has been cut, i.e. sliced into a plurality of segments, rearranged from each other, and completed, as described herein. This graphic image 1014 is attached to the back surface 1016 such that each segment is aligned with a particular panel (frame) 1002, 1004, 1006, 1008, 1010, 1012. The segments are reordered in a mathematical manner such as ray tracing so that the desired segment is located directly behind the desired panel 1002, 1004, 1006, 1008, 1010, 1012. In the case of a three-dimensional graphic image, a plurality of graphic images are the same scene, but are slightly shifted from each other (parallax). The left or right eye of the consumer or viewer sees two different scenes and recognizes the depth of the graphic image. In the case of flip, morph, etc., the consumer's or viewer's eyes see the same scene at any given angle, but at a different angle, another image is seen, and therefore flip, morph Or recognize the effect of zooming.

  Referring to FIG. 11, the individual lenticular embodiment 1100 of FIG. 10 is shown, where panels 1112 and 1110 are blank and there are no graphic images attached to the back side of these panels. Panels 1102-1108 have a graphic image 1114 attached to the back side of cover panels 1102-1108, etc., thus forming a reordered graphic image for the viewer or consumer. For flip, morph, or zoom effects, the blank panel 1112, 1110 remains blank and the graphic image 1114 is not attached to the back side. In another aspect, the graphic image 1114 may be made to incorporate an entire blank panel for fixing adjacent to the panel 1112, 1110. In addition, the lenticular 1100 may work for 3D images. Depending on the desired effect, any number of panels can be left blank so that the viewer or consumer can view the contents of the package 100 into the microlens windows 104,300,600,700,800 incorporating the lenticular 1100. , 900 can be viewed.

  In FIG. 12, an individual lenticular embodiment 1200 with six panels 1212 is shown, with blank spots 1214, 1216, 1218 provided on a graphic image (not shown) attached to the back side of the lenticular 1200. . The blank spots 1214, 1216, 1218 are inserted into the graphic image after the graphic image is rearranged by the system software and hardware. Thus, although the blank spot 1214 is shown as a bubble or circular blank spot 1214, 1216, any shaped blank spot may be used as desired.

  FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of an individual lenticular 1300 that includes rearranged blank spots 1314, 1316 in the graphic image (not shown) prior to attaching the graphic image (not shown) to the panels 1302-1312. In this embodiment, the blank spots 1314, 1316 are part of the graphic image before being reordered, and thus appear as sliced blank spots 1314, 1316, as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 14 illustrates an embodiment of a system 1400 for producing a package 100 having optional microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, 900. The system 1400 includes an upper heated tractor (conveyor) 1402 and a lower continuous conveyor 1405. FIG. 15 shows an embodiment of a heated shoe 1408 and shows an outer perimeter 1502 that forms a cavity. The outer periphery 1502 applies pressure to the hollow outer periphery of the package, causing the pieces of lenticular material to adhere to the package. In this embodiment, one system 1400 is shown, but any number of conveyors may be used in the process. The upper heated tractor 1402 has a pulley 1404 that conveys the belt 1406 in the direction of the arrow shown adjacent thereto. The belt 1406 has several heated shoes 1408 disposed on its outer surface and moves along the same direction as the belt 1406. The lower continuous conveyor 1405 has a pulley 1410 that conveys the belt 1412 in the direction indicated by the arrow disposed at the end of the pulley 1410.

  From the stacked cartons 1428, individual folded cartons 1416 are fed onto a belt 1412 and then conveyed under a cutting station 1430 where a piece of lenticular piece is cut from a roll of lenticular material 1426. . The cut lenticular pieces are indexed one by one on the carton 1416. In one embodiment, a high temperature adhesive is applied from a hot melt applicator 1422 via a pipe 1424 onto a carton 1416 and a piece of lenticular material is placed on the carton 1416 to remove a piece of lenticular material. It is adhered to the opening (hole) of the carton 1416. In another embodiment, hot melt is not used when a piece of lenticular material is hot-laminated. The hold down bar 1418 holds the pieces in alignment until the lenticular material pieces and cartons 1416 enter the nip between the upper heated tractor 1402 and the lower continuous conveyor 1405, and the heated shoe 1408 contacts the two pieces at the nip. The speeds of the upper heated tractor 1402 and the lower continuous conveyor 1405 match, and the heated shoe aligns with the outer edge of the microlens window and the hole in the carton 1416. In addition, the two pieces are conveyed along the upper heated tractor 1402 and the lower continuous conveyor 1405 and a constant pressure is exerted by rollers 1414 from the upper and lower sides as indicated by the arrows. This pressure and heating causes the lenticular material to adhere to form a container (package) with a microlens window, and the package is ejected from the end of the system 1400. In one embodiment, the belt speed is approximately 2.4 m / min (80 ft / min) and includes five such systems 1400. In this embodiment, heated shoe 1408 is heated to approximately 104.4 ° C. (220 ° F.). In this embodiment, heat is applied to the heated shoe 1408 by a heater, such as an electrical heater disposed on each heated shoe 1408. Electricity is supplied to the heated shoe 1408 by the commentator system of the upper heated tractor 1402. As a result, approximately 400 packages 100 are bonded per minute.

  The opacity of the microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, 900 is not due to the graphic images 212, 312, 608, 710 but the white backing printed on the back side of the above-mentioned spaced images. Be controlled. Preferably, all shoulders and flats should be clear or transparent. Nevertheless, if one simply wants the ability to easily display the level of the contents of the package 100, the density of the white backing material will allow the material density to make dark areas in the microlens window. It is good to design.

  In one embodiment, the microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, 900 have 50 to 4,000 lenses (“LPI”) per 25.4 mm. Preferably, the microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, 900 have a parabolic surface, a spherical surface, an aspherical surface, or a cylindrical surface.

  Preferably, the material of the microlens window 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, 900 is an extruded substrate coated with lenticular, such as biaxially oriented polyester, or amorphous polyester (APEI), or any other Transparent and stable plastic film. The lenticular coated substrate is primed or unprimed and then is heat-sealable with a polymer such as EMA, EVA, EBA, PP with added clarifier, PE, or a transparent heat-sealable resin. Coating. During the extrusion coating process, the film has microlenses embossed on the surface forming the micro-optical lens array.

  The material of the microlens window 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, 900 is preferably heat sealed during the process for adding the microlens window 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, 900 to the body 102 of the package 100. Depends on temperature and residence time. Some additional considerations when selecting materials for the microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, 900 include approvals that can be used to contact food, the ability to not stick (usually during extrusion coating) Non-adhesive under normal roll formation), non-adhesive during normal handling conditions (does not collect dust and is hard to touch when handled by consumers), resistance to perforation, stability in various environmental conditions Qualities (atmosphere, freezing, or heating) and durability through all normal forms of filling and sealing machines to produce a finished package without degradation and / or delamination.

  Graphic images 212, 312, 406, 506, 608, and 710 are special computer-generated graphic images that are divided into digital images and then recombined into a reordered digital master. The algorithm divides the image and matches the spacing of the lenticulars located above each microlens window. The combined image and microlens window combination is designed to project image information that appears to the human eye as three-dimensional, morphing, zooming, or any combination thereof. Disperse unprinted transparent slices in the digital slice. These transparent areas allow the contents of packages, cartons, boxes, etc. to be viewed through the microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, 900 when the viewer's eyes hit the appropriate areas. Designed.

  Graphic images 212, 312, 406, 506, 608, 710 are shown adjacent to the inside of the microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, 900. Adhesive is used to bond the graphic images 212, 312, 406, 506, 608, 710 to the microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, 900.

  In yet another aspect of the present invention, security cards, documents, etc. utilize microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, 900 to place image and visual information at different optical levels of the materials used. . This arrangement is possible from one level to 10,000 × 100 levels. Materials for security cards and the like are used as platforms and include hidden features and overt anti-counterfeit features. Some exemplary hidden features include identification additives, digital watermarks, smart chips, barcodes, magnetic strips, and any other machine-readable technology.

  Suitable plastic substrate films for use in the present invention include any transparent plastic film, particularly any optically transparent film. The particular film used will depend to a large extent on the properties, which are desirable for the end use of the lenticular coated substrate, for example strength, curl, thermal stability, lifetime, or low cost. is there. For example, biaxially stretched films typically provide good mechanical stability, but are relatively expensive, while unstretched films provide only low strength but are usually much less expensive. Representative examples of suitable plastic substrate films include, but are not limited to, for example, biaxially stretched polyester films, biaxially stretched polypropylene films, unstretched polypropylene films, and unstretched polyethylene terephthalate films. A coated or pretreated plastic film, such as MELINEX 504.RTM (ICI, Wilmington, Del.), Controls the degree of adhesion between the substrate film and the adhesive layer to seal the package 100. Useful for.

  Thermoplastic lenticular resins suitable for use in the present invention include any transparent polymer that is extrudable. The lenticular resin used in the manufacture of a specific substrate coated with lenticular is selected primarily based on the end use of the substrate coated with lenticular and the ease of processing of the resin, surface damage resistance, transparency, and cost. The Like the adhesive resin, the lenticular resin must be compatible with the selected adhesive resin from a coextrusion point of view, and the rheology of these two resins is consistent and 2 The two resins must be able to flow together with little or no shear. Representative examples of lenticular resins include, but are not limited to, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polystyrene, vinyl chloride, and mixtures containing these polymers. Balance layer resins suitable for use in the present invention include the resins specified above as lenticular resins. The primer resin and / or film is any transparent and homogeneous material that satisfies the end use, for example, acceptability of ink, gel emulsion or adhesive.

  In addition, a pretreated substrate film can be used, which prevents the substrate layer from adhering to the bonding layer and produces a peelable lenticular (or non-lenticular) product. For example, MELENIX 504® is a plastic film primed to receive solvent ink on the top and has been found to prevent the substrate layer from adhering to the bonding or adhesive layer. Suitable binder resins for use in combination with this film include ethylene methyl ethyl acrylate. In addition, the upper side of a pre-treated substrate film, such as MELINEX 504®, can be subjected to corona treatment and then co-extruded onto the substrate to control the adhesion between the substrate layer and the bonding layer. Can be used for For example, the adhesion between the substrate layer (MELINEX 504®) and the tie layer (ethylene methyl ethyl acrylate) is such that when MELINEX 504® is exposed to a corona treatment of 0 kW to 2.5 kW, Each varies from about 125 g / 25.4 mm to about 250 g / 25.4 mm. Beyond 2.5 kW, the adhesive force decreases and becomes constant at about 200 g / 25.4 mm.

  In another embodiment of the invention, the lenticular coated substrate is further processed to produce a superior quality 3D image. In order to produce a high quality 3D image, it is necessary to align the printed pattern with the lenticular pattern. Accurate alignment of the printed pattern to the lenticular pattern is achieved by employing a cooling roll equipped with a modified electronic gravure printing press, such as manufactured by Ohio Electronic Engraver (Dayton, Ohio). The lenticular pattern of the substrate coated with lenticular was found to be combined with printing from the gravure printing cylinder, where the gravure dot pattern was engraved with the same line spacing as the lenticular pattern of the cooling roll. It is rare. The electronic notch provides a high accuracy consistent with the tool accuracy for the chill roll and the print cylinder, thus providing an accurate alignment of the print pattern with respect to the lenticular pattern. High alignment accuracy is obtained by cutting all cylinders of the same machine with a line spacing that is kept constant with respect to the accuracy of the electron, so there are few lenticular patterns to allow inaccurate alignment It is not necessary to employ the number of lenses (for example, 80 to 120 per 25.4 mm). Further, gravure printing is employed rather than lithographic or other conventional printing means, so printing of 180 dots / 25.4 mm, preferably about 200-500 dots / 25.4 mm is possible. The large number of lenses and density of gravure dot patterns obtained in this process provide superior quality 3D images, eliminating much higher resolution images as well as moiré patterns and more accurate color reproduction Is done. Furthermore, printing with high dot density is possible, thus reducing the thickness of the lenticular coated substrate and still allowing focused images. For example, the focused product is a substrate coated at 0.4 mm (16 mils) to form 180 lenticulars per 25.4 mm, and 0.32 mm to form 220 lenticulars per 25.4 mm. (12.5 mil) coated substrate, or by using 0.12 mm (5 mil) coated substrate to form 300 lenticulars per 25.4 mm.

  Accordingly, this embodiment of the present invention includes the step of generating a three-dimensional image, and in addition to the above-described steps of producing a lenticular coated substrate, (A) using a precision gravure plate making machine A step of engraving a lenticular pattern with a simple line on a cooling roll, (B) a step of color-coding an image to create a plurality of color-coded images, and (C) for each color-coded image, the same as the lenticular pattern A step of engraving a gravure dot pattern having a line interval on a gravure printing cylinder and a step (D) of printing an image on the lower surface of the substrate film are required. Alternatively, a paper substrate with an image printed thereon may be utilized with a tie layer and a lenticular layer coextruded thereon. In addition, a lenticular coated substrate is manufactured and then used to overlay an image printed on either paper, opaque plastic, or transparent plastic.

  In addition, when printing for all other forms of packaging and printing alongside see-through cartons, phantom dyes are incorporated into the owner's polymer combination to create a material that is light sensitive under specific light conditions. You can make it. Photosensitive ink may be added that is only visible under a specific light source.

  In addition to the above-described aspects of the microlens embodiments of the present invention for packaging and printing, the present invention further includes a method for manufacturing microlenses for packaging and printing.

  FIG. 16 is a block flow diagram of an embodiment 1600 illustrating a method of manufacturing a package having a microlens window according to the present invention. In step 1602, a material suitable for extrusion is prepared to form a lenticular coated substrate. In step 1604, a substrate coated with the lenticular of the microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, 900 is extruded. Preferably, the extrusion step comprises a step of continuously advancing a plastic substrate film having an upper side and a lower side through the extrusion station, a molten plastic binder resin, and a molten thermoplastic lenticular resin. From the substrate layer, the bonding layer, and the lenticular layer so that the bonding layer is superimposed on the substrate film and the lenticular layer is superimposed on the bonding layer. A lenticular-coated substrate by forming a composite comprising: and continuously advancing the composite through a chill roll to bring the lenticular layer of the composite into contact with the chill roll to form a lenticular pattern. Forming.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the substrate film comprises an optically transparent film, the binding resin comprises a transparent adhesive polymer, the lenticular resin comprises a transparent polymer, and the thickness of the substrate coated with the lenticular. Is about 0.06 to 0.508 mm (about 2.5 to 20 mils), and the ratio of the thickness of the substrate layer to the sum of the thickness of the bonding layer and the thickness of the lenticular layer is about 0.5: The ratio of the lenticular layer thickness to the bonding layer thickness ranges from about 9: 1 to about 4: 1. The general manufacturing process for lenticular coated substrates was issued in U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,351 issued to Karszes on Nov. 8, 1994, and issued to Karszes on May 9, 2000. U.S. Pat. No. 6,060,003, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

  In step 1606, providing a lenticular coated substrate having a plurality of microlenses extending in a first direction and spaced apart from each other, i.e., a lenticular and an ink receiving surface disposed on a surface of the lenticular sheet; A digital image data processing apparatus having a data storage device, a data input / output interface, and raster image processing software ("REP") is prepared, an ink jet printer having a print head that moves in a carriage direction by a servo, and a lenticular sheet Prepare an optical sensor that accepts ambient light passing through and generates a sensor signal in response, a transmitter that transmits the sensor signal to the input / output interface of the digital image processing device, and a servo that moves the sensor in the carriage direction. By, sort the graphic image 212,312,608,710.

  Next, a digital image file representing an image to be printed on the lenticular sheet in a pixel form is stored in an image data storage device of the digital image processing apparatus. Next, the lenticular sheet is supplied into the ink jet printer and arranged so that the lenticular extends in a direction perpendicular to the carriage direction. Next, a scanning process is performed, the optical sensor is moved in the carriage direction, light passing through the lenticular sheet is detected by a sequence of positions along the carriage direction, and sensor data corresponding thereto is transmitted to the digital image processing apparatus. Next, the digital image processing apparatus calculates lenticular interval data representing an estimated value of the lenticular interval based on the sensor data transmitted by the scanning process. Next, an image correction process is performed to create a digital image file with the interval corrected based on the digital image file and the lenticular interval data. Next, a printing process is performed, and an image corresponding to the digital image file whose interval is corrected is printed on the lenticular sheet. The general manufacturing process for arranging lenticular coated substrates is described in US Pat. No. 6,709,080 issued to Ninas et al. On Mar. 23, 2004, US Pat. No. 6,760, issued to Karszes et al. No. 021, US Pat. No. 6,781,707 issued to Peters et al. On August 24, 2004, US Pat. No. 7,019,865 issued to Nims et al. On March 28, 2006, 2001 US patent application Ser. No. 09 / 988,382 (currently abandoned) filed by Nims et al. On Nov. 19, 19th, and US patent application Ser. No. 10 / filed by Karszes et al. No. 025,835 (currently abandoned), all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

  In step 1608, the rearranged graphic images 212, 312, 608, 710 are attached to the microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, 900. Preferably, the inner surfaces 208, 308, 614, 714 are treated to receive ink. The graphic images 212, 312, 608, 710 are separated by CYMK and each of the microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, 900 is separated using a conventional printing device, such as roll lithography or flexographic printing Print on the inner surfaces 208, 308, 614, 714. Finally, a transparent varnish or UV hard coating is added to the back side of the print to allow food contact. The general manufacturing process for attaching the rearranged graphic images to the microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, 900 is further disclosed in the above-mentioned references.

  In step 1610, the package 100 is supplied to the system, and in step 1612, the microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, 900 are heat sealed to the package 100. In other embodiments, these steps are performed using the system 1400 described above.

  Some examples of the present microlens for packaging and printing are described below.

[Example 1]
The stretched polyester is primed with a material such as Primex®. 206 ° C. heat sealable polyethylene is coated by extrusion to a total thickness of 0.3 mm (12 mils) to create a microlens window. Package 100 has a cylindrical lens for one image. Twelve frames are created in the zoom image. Twelve frames are six transparent frames and six image frames arranged alternately. The image is printed in reverse on the back side of the material. Add white pigment only to the back of the image area. As the consumer walks by the cardboard box, they notice a separate movement due to the zoom effect. The piece when viewed from a different angle shows the product behind the microlens window. Curiosity about what the consumer sees encourages the consumer to examine the effect. Standard market transaction data indicates that once a consumer picks up a product, the probability that the consumer will buy the product is 80%.

[Example 2]
The microlens window is made of the same material as in Example 1, but the lenticular is a parabolic lens with a shoulder. The total thickness of the microlens window is 0.13 mm (5 mil).

Example 3
A microlens window similar to either Example 2 or Example 3 is used with a three-dimensional segment with distributed motion (flip).

Example 4
Design a transparent area embedded in a graphic image in a multidimensional piece. The transparent areas of different dimensions and the transparent areas in the logo are incorporated so that there are discontinuous transparent areas in all parts of the microlens window. A graphic image is printed on the microlens window as described above. The non-transparent graphic image area is composed of 12 frames. A white opaque area is printed behind all non-transparent areas. This product is seen through a “designed see-through area”. The advantage is that there is less alignment in the printing of deeper and darker images and therefore eye-catching, eye-catching 3D images and clear see-through images are distributed throughout the package.

  The microlens for packaging and printing has been described above. It should be understood that the specific embodiments disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting the invention. Furthermore, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous uses and modifications can be made to the specific embodiments disclosed without departing from the inventive concept. For example, different types and numbers of microlens windows, materials for the microlens windows, and packages can be used without departing from the inventive concept.

It is a front view of a package having a microlens window according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the microlens window of FIG. 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a microlens window according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a front view of the microlens window of FIG. 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a front view of the microlens window of FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a front view of a microlens window according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a bottom view of a microlens window according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a front view of a microlens window according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a front view of a microlens window according to another embodiment of the present invention. It is the perspective view which looked at the lenticular by embodiment of this invention which has six frames from the back side. FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of the lenticular of FIG. 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the perspective view which looked at the lenticular by embodiment of this invention which has a blank spot in the graphic image attached to the back surface from the front. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a lenticular according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front, having a plurality of blank spots provided with parallax in a graphic image attached to the back surface. 1 is a perspective view of a system for manufacturing a package having a microlens window according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. FIG. 15 is a plan view illustrating the heated shoe of FIG. 14 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process for manufacturing a package having a microlens window according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Claims (26)

The body,
A microlens window disposed in the main body,
The package wherein the microlens window displays at least one graphic image on a first portion of the microlens window and displays the contents of the package through a second portion of the microlens window.   The microlens window is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of biaxially stretched polyester, biaxially stretched polyethylene terephthalate (OPET), amorphous polyester (APET), and a transparent and stable plastic film. Package described in.   The package of claim 1, wherein the microlens window has a substrate coated with a lenticular.   The package of claim 3, wherein the coating is a heat sealable polymer.   The package of claim 4, wherein the heat-sealable polymer is selected from the group consisting of EMA, EVA, EBA, PP with clarifier, and a transparent heat-sealable resin. The at least one graphic image has an outer surface sealed to the body and an inner surface in contact with the contents;
The package of claim 1, wherein the at least one graphic image is printed on the inner surface.   The package of claim 1, wherein the microlens window further comprises at least one see-through window disposed on the outer surface, the see-through window allowing the contents to be viewed therethrough.   The package of claim 1, wherein the microlens window further comprises a plurality of lenticulars.   9. The package of claim 8, wherein the plurality of lenticulars is selected from the group consisting of parabolic, spherical, aspherical, and cylindrical lenticulars. And a flat transparent portion located between the plurality of lenticulars,
9. The package of claim 8, wherein the at least one graphic image is not between the flat transparent portion and the content to allow viewing of the content through the flat transparent portion. The microlens window further has a flat and transparent shoulder disposed around it,
2. The at least one graphic image is not between the flat and transparent shoulder and the content to allow the content to be viewed through the flat and transparent shoulder. Package. The microlens window further comprises at least one flat lenticular between two transparent diagonal edges,
The at least one graphic image is not between the two diagonal edges and the content to allow the content to be viewed through the two transparent diagonal edges. Package described in.   The package of claim 8, wherein the plurality of lenticulars has from about 50 to about 4,000 lenses per 25.4 mm.   The package of claim 6, wherein the inner surface further comprises a food-safe coating.   The package of claim 1, wherein the at least one graphic image is rearranged to form a three-dimensional image.   The package is selected from the group consisting of cartons, boxes, containers, soft drink cartons, cereal boxes, dry food boxes, toothpaste boxes, cosmetic jars, premium liqueur boxes, and over-the-counter drug boxes. The package according to claim 1.   The package of claim 1, wherein the microlens window comprises a transparent thermoplastic material. Preparing the package;
Preparing a microlens window;
Sealing the microlens window into the package.   The method of manufacturing a package according to claim 18, wherein the step of preparing a microlens window further comprises a step of extruding a thermoplastic material to create a lenticular substrate having a plurality of lenticulars.   The step of preparing a microlens window further comprises rearranging at least one graphic image on the microlens window and interposing the rearranged image between the plurality of lenticulars and the interior of the package. The method for manufacturing a package according to claim 19, comprising:   20. The method of manufacturing a package according to claim 19, wherein the step of preparing a microlens window further comprises coating the surface of the microlens window with a transparent hard coating.   The method of manufacturing a package according to claim 18, wherein the sealing step includes a step of sealing the microlens window to the package. A package manufacturing method comprising:
Providing a first heated conveyor having a first belt having a plurality of heated shoes;
Providing a second conveyor having a second belt, wherein the first belt and the second belt substantially overlap and are at least one of the plurality of heated shoes. Forming a nip between the belt and the second belt and moving in a common direction;
Placing a container having an opening on the second belt before the nip;
Placing a piece of lenticular material over the opening;
Contacting the piece of lenticular material with the opening in the nip.   24. The step of placing a piece of lenticular material over the opening comprises applying a hot melt around the opening prior to placing the piece of lenticular material over the opening. Package manufacturing method.   24. The method for manufacturing a package according to claim 23, wherein the step of arranging a container on the second belt further includes a step of arranging a plurality of containers on the second belt in a continuous supply process.   24. The method of manufacturing a package of claim 23, wherein the step of placing the piece of lenticular material further comprises cutting a continuous roll of lenticular material into the piece of lenticular material.

Images