MXPA97006026A - A print method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for providing at least one signal on the edges of a plurality of stacked sheets assembled one on top of the other to form a book or pamphlet, each respective sheet having at least one marking element individual pigmented in at least one predetermined location on at least one side of the sheet in its edge margin adjacent to the edge, the assembly of the marking elements on the individual faces of the sheets form the signal on the edges, which is characterizes because before placing the signal is separated by computer controlled means within a matrix of pixel elements and each pixel element is assigned to Cartesian coordinates in accordance with the system of X and Y coordinates with the ordinate Y corresponding to the page of a respective sheet in the stacked sheets, the X coordinates for the respective sheet corresponding to individual brand element about the loading of the sheet that is required along the ordinate and to form the signal (s)

Description

A PRINTING METHOD This invention relates to a method for providing visible marks such patterns, words, logos or signs on an edge of a large number of sheets or sheets, particularly when the sheets or sheets are assembled together in the form of books or pamphlets. The United States Patent discloses the printing of a mark on the face of each page to be assembled in a book, so that when the assembled pages are cut to size the assembled pages produce a character on the cut edges after the cut. However, the patent does not disclose a method for providing patterns or signals on the edges of the sheets or sheets of paper. A method for providing signals on the edges of a plurality of assembled sheets is described in U.S. Patent 4,823,150. In the method described therein the sheets of material (paper) are assembled in books and the signals are printed by means of a dye injection printer which places the printed marks on the cut edges assembled by dividing those edges into a grid and selecting the locations on the edges to print the signals and then identify the locations of conformity with the grid and subsequently programming the means to print the marks of conformity with the locations identified by the grid.

Said method has the disadvantage that the signals on the edges are printed in a separate operation after the books have been assembled. Even another method for providing markings on the edge of a pamphlet is shown in U.S. Patent 4,427,290 which is used in photocopiers that are specifically modified for the process. U.S. Patent 4,949,999 describes methods for placing bookmarks by placing printed symbols on the edges of the sheets. The patent further describes a method of placing (printing) the elements that make up the symbols on the individual sheets. However, the patent does not disclose a method for decomposing the symbol to be printed on the edge of a book into the elements corresponding to the paging of the sheets stacked before the actual printing process. U.S. Patent 3,817,492 illustrates a book wherein each sheet is marked on its face edge before cutting the sheet to size and by means of which the cut passes through the mark on each sheet. The patent does not describe a method for obtaining those marks by decomposing the symbol to be provided on the edge of the book within its elements before placing the marks on the sheets. In the present invention the signal or signals on the edges are formed during the printing operation for each respective sheet or sheet in the book. This has the advantage that the system is flexible, inexpensive and can be used on standard printing equipment when controlled by a microprocessor. According to the invention, there is provided a method for providing at least one signal on the edges of a plurality of stacked sheets assembled one on top of the other to form a book or pamphlet, each respective sheet having at least one mark pigmented in at least one predetermined location on at least one face of the sheet in its edge margin adjacent to that edge, the assembly of the marks on the individual faces of the sheets forming said signal on the edge where before placing said at least one signal on the edges of the leaves the signal or signals are separated by computer controlled means in an array of pixel elements and each pixel element is assigned to Cartesian coordinates in accordance with the coordinate system X and And with the ordinates Y that correspond to the pagination of a respective sheet in the stacked sheets and the X coordinate for the sheet corresponding to the individual branding elements on the face of a sheet that are required along the ordinate Y to form the signal (s). Preferably each sheet is a sheet of paper and each sheet is marked on its edge edge margin before cutting the sheet to size, the cut passing through said marks on each page. The computer-controlled media also controls the printing means to make the edge margins of the sheets.

The invention also provides a method of printing signals on the edge of a sheet assembly that takes into account variations in the process of making and assembling the sheets to form a book or pamphlet. Even another aspect of the invention provides an apparatus for placing at least one signal on the edges of a stack of sheets forming a book or pamphlet, the apparatus including programmable control means which can decompose said signal into X and Y coordinates with the ordinates AND being related to the pagination of a particular sheet in the stack and, the ordinates X corresponding to the element or elements of individual mark on the face of the sheet that is required along that ordinate Y. The description will be described invention by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a book comprising an assembly of sheets or sheets having signals on an edge thereof; Fig. 2 illustrates the formation of signals in X and Y coordinates; Fig. 3 shows how the X coordinates are derived for a particular Y ordinate corresponding to a particular sheet in the assembly; Fig. 4 shows the edge margin of the sheet in Fig. 3 with marks formed thereon according to the first embodiment of the invention. Figs. 5 and 6 show how the marks of Fig. edge 7, FIG. 7 illustrates a mark with color fading at the edges according to a second embodiment of the invention, FIG. 8 illustrates the signals when the marks of conformity with the first mode on the different pages are misaligned, FIG. illustrates the signals when the marks are of the type shown in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 7, with some misalignment. FIG. 10 illustrates the signals of the type shown in FIG. 9 on one side of a sheet in accordance with the second embodiment of FIG. The invention, Fig. 11 is an edge view of a sheet, in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention, Fig. 12 is an edge view of a sheet, in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention. Fig. 13 is an edge view of a sheet printed on one side according to the second embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 14a shows typical signals that can be provided on the edges of a stack of sheets and Figs. the same signals that are altered by altering the fading in the external elements that make up the edges of the signals With reference to Fig 1, a book pasted with signals 10) is illustrated on the front edges (11) of the assembled pages of the Pasted pages or sheets forming the book In this case, for purposes of illustration only, the signs (10) comprise the word "WORD", although it could be any pattern, logo or trademark as desired With reference to Fig 2, the signals are initially decomposed into Cartesian coordinates in accordance with an XY coordinate system. This is achieved using a computer program. The image or signal is converted into a of data by scanning or keyboard input or, by any known method Signal images are converted into individual information elements (pixel) in accordance with the best method Preferably the images are treated by the computer program so that the images are classified within a file of the type of "bi-uncle map" Other suitable methods can also be used, although preferably the information files formed using other techniques are transformed in the form of "bit map" The archived images are fed into the program and they are inserted inside a matrix that separates the image in two dimensions The image elements are divided in their vertical and horizontal ordinates if the signals are printed on the front edge (11) of the book, then the ordered Y are matched with the pagination of the book or the assembled sheets If it is required to print on one side of the page or page of a book then the smaller Y corresponds to the thickness of the page and, if required print on both sides of the sheet, the smallest element Y corresponds to half the thickness of each sheet Therefore the ordinates Y can be made to correspond perfectly with the page of the book With respect to Fig 3, taking an ordered Y particular corresponds to the sheet P, then the X coordinate for the particular Y ordinate forms a data line so that all the elements (21-28) of the signals are included in the line XX 'The division of the image in the dimension X 'can be defined so that the smallest element of the image is given an arbitrary constant value, this being typically 005 mm The obtained pixel is calibrated so that its dim The measurements are proportional to the physical dimensions of the elements to be printed. This information can be transferred to an imaginary line as shown in Fig 4 and becomes thicker to a thickness B to make the elements visible. These elements (21- 28) are then used to print marks on the edge margin of at least one face of a respective sheet on page P (see Fig 5) in the course of the printing process, ie while the respective sheet is being printed from so that the width B of the elements frames the cut line or cut line (tt) of the sheet The cut or cut takes place after the book has been assembled and passes through the element marks XX 'on Each sheet In Fig 6 the sheet P is shown after trimming Alternatively, the element marks XX '(21-28) for the sheet P can be printed on the edge of the sheet so that the element marks (21-28) ) intersect with the face edge of each sheet This operation is repeated for each sheet in the book so that, when assembling the book, the marks of each edge form the signs (10) on the leading edge (11) of the book The same technique can applied additionally or alternatively to the upper edge and the lower edge of the book and therefore the book may be provided with signs on its three edges (not pasted) in the course of the normal printing operation. A controller such as a microprocessor uses the program of computer to decompose the signals into its elements XX 'with respect to the pagination of the assembly and, to determine the order of the elements for each sheet and the relative distribution to the edge margin of each sheet The program calculates the precise position of each point , taking into account several parameters such as the variations in the lengths and widths of the leaves to give an accurate distribution of the elements of the signals along the cutting edge tt 'The elements that make up the signals are then printed to form marks on a printing side of each sheet along their respective edge margins. The printing operation can be controlled by the controller using the derived XY coordinates before When the assembled pages are pasted, the marks on the faces of each sheet form signals on the front edge of the book In accordance with the requirements of the user the component program can process the pixels to obtain their shades assigned to reduce the failures of desalmeamiento due to the production tolerances According to a second embodiment of the invention, the elements (21-28) that make up the signals are preferably printed so that the marks have a high density of pigment in their centers and vanish at least one little to its edges, as shown in Fig 7 The fading scale of the p can be selected to suit the manufacturing tolerances in the overall process. These tolerances can be accumulated in the actual printing process., the properties of the paper, the assembly process and the trimming process The narrower the tolerances, the lower the required reduction in pigmentation In the case of a book like the one shown in Fig 1, there are large variations in the alignments of the marks on the edges of the leaves, the signals become blurred as shown in Fig 8 However, the degree of blur can be controlled by using marks with deliberate degrees of pigmentation fading to mask the production variations. This will be discussed in detail below By using elements of the type shown in Fig 7 for each group of the elements assigned to the particular lines XX 'on the particular faces of the sheets (see Fig 10) it is possible to produce a desired and controlled fuzzy character, such as shown in FIG. 9. Through the third embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 11, other masking means are illustrated. Variations in the alignment of the sheet or sheet The marks that correspond to particular elements of the signals are placed in different widths (see Fig 11) on the front face (f) and the back face (f) of each sheet In accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention as shown in FIG. 12, the marks are offset along the axis XX 'on the front face (f) and the back face (f) of each sheet The density of pigmentation in the marks vary for a given point on the edge of the sheet when viewed through the edges of the sheets assembled as a result of the amount of ink (i) on the leaf edges The consecutive elements that make up the signs and that have different widths or are offset can be printed on the front and back side of each sheet (ff) as shown in the third and fourth modes illustrated in Figs 11 and 12 or on one side only of consecutive sheets Also, it is possible to apply the marks to all the sheets or only to some sheets Through this specification, the word "printing" implies that it covers all techniques to provide a visible mark on a support and the word "ink" implies that covers all the pigmented marks that make up the visible mark By printing on both sides of the pages of a book or pamphlet it is possible, through the use of shading of different density and / or different colors, to print on the pages of odd numbers messages or logos other than those on even-numbered pages and to give an impression that interacts with the reader that manipulates the pages. For example, a first message such as the name or logo of a signature could be printed on the leading edge of the pages with odd number and a second message, such as a phone number, could be printed on the leading edge of even-numbered pages. If the book or pamphlet is flexed in the right direction, the first message becomes visible in a denser form than the second message because a greater part of the edge portion of the odd number pages becomes visible. Inverse, when the leading edge of the book or pamphlet is flexed in the left direction, the second message becomes visible in a denser way than the first message When making a first message in a heavier print or in a different color than the second message, it is possible to provide two overlapping messages, the first message that dominates the second message According to the wishes of the user the program processes the pixels in order to obtain the necessary shading to ameliorate the faults in the adjustment as previously discussed. preferred to achieve those shading is by algorithmic calculations The margin pixels, that is, the pixels that form the margins (bord portions) e) of the element to be processed are corrected by a part in accordance with variable parameters and, on the other hand, according to the calculation Each margin pixel is corrected by applying a classification (shading) in relation to its neighboring pixels. Therefore, each margin pixel is corrected by horizontal scanning, then vertical scanning and finally by scanning through its diagonals, ie four scans to determine the level of shading desired In general, this process is done at a speed determined by the capacity of the processor and takes only fractions of a second For example for a black motif on a white background As shown in Fig 14a, the user can select a classification to make the edge pixels of a shadow lighter inwards as shown in Fig. 14b (internal shading). Alternatively the user can make the margin pixels of a darker shade that fades outward to add shaded matter as shown in Fig. 14c (shadows) external) or, better yet, shade the edges in both directions, see Fig. 14d. In other words, the internal shading of the margin pixels can be used to reduce the visible surface (or a proportion of it) and the external shading of the margin pixels can be used to increase the visible surface and, in combination, give a reproduction precise of the original. As previously described, the matrix of each motif or signal is divided into horizontal layers so that each stratum (line X, Fig. 4) for a particular page contains a sequence of data to be sent. The user of the program can also define the width of the signal that appears theoretically on the page and the width of the signal that is removed with the cuts (see Fig. 6). The width of each stratum is then defined to obtain a sequence or group of elements of width B (see Fig. 5). In this way, as previously described, during the initial stages of the binding, the cutout line of the book will pass through the ink zone and not to the side. For any element, each sequence or group of data is sent to its correct place for each page that includes text, with the exception that any sequence of data that is related to the edge motif is placed in the margin of the page. This allows high precision as the elements of the motif are placed and printed with the text All imposition corrections for printing can be applied automatically without error. When printing on more than one outer edge of the book, care must be taken that the data composing the signals are sequenced in the correct order. For example, if a book will be provided with messages on its three unbound edges, and if those Messages are to be read when the book is placed horizontally on its back cover, the data that make up the signs on the bottom edge of the pages with odd numbers and the data that comprise the signals on the top edge of the pages with even numbers they should be sequenced in the direction of the reading, ie from left to right However, the data comprising the signals on the upper edge of the pages with odd numbers and the data comprising the signals on the lower edge of the sheets with numbers pairs must be sequenced in the opposite direction to the reading direction, ie from right to left The computer program or simultaneously in all three matrices (upper, lower and anterior edge) and for each page or stratum gives three streams of data that relate to the exact positions of the elements of the motifs along each edge of the page, the sequential order of each data stream being determined as explained above In the program each color is produced independently by layers or similar techniques as required. Each group of data for each stratum can be sent as needed the color per page, particularly or all at the same time towards different points such as screens, disks, printers, modulators or, towards a computer program editor (software) or simply be integrated with other data and the final transfer to a printer.

Claims (15)

1. CLAIMS 1. A method for providing at least one signal on the edges of a plurality of stacked sheets assembled one on top of the other to form a book or pamphlet, each respective sheet having at least one pigmented mark in at least one location predetermined on at least one face of the sheet in its edge margin adjacent to the edge, the assembly of the marks on the individual faces of the sheets, forming the signal on the edge, characterized in that before placing said at least one signal on the edges of the leaves the signal or signals are separated by computer controlled means within a matrix of pixel elements and each pixel element is assigned to Cartesian coordinates in accordance with the system of X and Y coordinates with the ordinates Y corresponding to the pagination of a respective sheet in the stacked sheets and, the X coordinates for the respective sheet corresponding to indi-branded elements viduales on the face of a sheet that are required along the ordinate Y to form the or signals. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the computer controlled means also controls the printing means for marking the edge margins of the sheets. 3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each sheet is marked on its face edge margin before cutting the sheet to size, said cut passing through the marks on each sheet. 4. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each mark on each sheet is formed with a pigmented central area, fading to at least one edge thereof. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the marks assembled on each sheet have a minimum width at the edge and a predetermined location so that, when the sheets are assembled as desired, the aligned marks form the signal and the misalignment in these marks is compensated for by the adjacent marks that have different widths, even when their nominal widths are the same. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the assembled marks on each page have a nominal width at the edge and a predetermined location, so that, when the sheets are assembled as desired, the aligned marks form the signal and the marks on alternate sheets are set off from those on adjacent sheets. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the sheets are formed from a material based on cellulose, preferably paper 8. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein each sheet is marked only on a side adjacent said edge 9 A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a plurality of signals are formed on the edges of the sheets 10 A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the ordinate element Y corresponds to the thickness of each sheet for printing on one side of each sheet of the stack or half the thickness of each sheet when printed on both sides of the sheets. sheets in the stack 11 A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the ordinate elements X are of 005 mm. A method as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 7, or 9 to 11, when dependent on claim 7, wherein each sheet is marked on both sides adjacent to said edge, the markings on one face differing in shading density or color or shape of the markings on the another face so that when the sheets are flexed in opposite directions different signals are seen the signals combining over the edge of the book or pamphlet 13. A book or pamphlet of stacked sheets having at least one sign on the unbound edges thereof, the signal being made by a method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12. 14. Apparatus for placing at least a signal on the edges of a stack of sheets forming a book or pamphlet, the apparatus including programmable control means that can decompose the signal into the X and Y coordinates with the ordinates Y corresponding to the paging of a particular sheet in the stack and the X coordinates corresponding to the individual mark element required along that ordinate Y. 15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the control means also control the printing means that print the elements on. the face side of each sheet in an edge margin thereof.