Plastic product and method for applying an imprint to a plastic product

Abstract

A plastic product comprises a print area, the print area of ​​which is printed using a digital direct printing process, wherein colorless UV ink is used as the printing medium. A method for applying a print to such a plastic product comprises the steps of: (a) providing the plastic product with a plastic body having a print area, and (b) printing a print image by directly applying a printing medium in a digital printing process, wherein the printing medium is a fluorescent printing medium.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The application relates to a plastic product comprising a printing field, and a method for applying a print to a plastic product. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Plastic products are widely used because they are lightweight, inexpensive to manufacture, robust, and therefore practical. Plastic products and packaging are indispensable in various applications, including the storage of chemicals for construction purposes, such as silicone and acrylic, and in the medical field, such as disposable syringes, disposable pipette tips, PCR component plates, and containers for the same, among others.

[0003] For tracking and identification, information can be attached to the plastic components, e.g., labels with relevant information and codes. However, the components are often small, a product may consist of several individual components, and / or there is no position on the component where a label can be attached without disrupting its use by the end customer. The end customer is generally not interested in information identifying the component's supply chain. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Based on this, the object of the invention is to provide a plastic product and a method for its production which is marked with tracing information, whereby the end customer does not readily perceive this information. TECHNICAL SOLUTION

[0005] The invention provides a plastic product comprising a printing field, wherein an imprint is applied to the printing field by means of a digital direct printing process, wherein UV paint or UV ink (colorless fluorescent ink) is used as the printing medium.

[0006] Direct application is characterized by the fact that the (treated or untreated) plastic surface of the plastic product serves as the carrier for the printing medium.

[0007] In particular, the imprint comprises at least one product code and / or brand information for tracking the manufacturing data and / or the supply chain of the product.

[0008] By means of the invention, a discreet marking with product codes and brand information can be applied to the plastic products, through which the entire supply chain can be tracked (product traceability).

[0009] Colorless, fluorescent UV ink is only visible under UV light and is therefore generally undetectable to the end user. UV ink is colorless under normal lighting conditions and fluoresces bluish under black light. Depending on the solvent, the ink can exhibit good adhesion properties on a wide variety of substrates, including plastic or various coatings underlying the print (e.g., visible prints / labels). In a production line, the UV print can be applied to the plastic product, for example, during label printing.

[0010] The UV print is readable under UV light, even on dark substrates or glossy coatings. The print can be highly durable. The quality of the print can withstand even harsh environmental conditions, such as the use of the plastic product in a laboratory autoclave.

[0011] The imprint to ensure complete traceability can be a barcode, a QR code, or similar.

[0012] Detection is achieved, for example, by a scanner and a black light tube designed for UV ink. These are used at points within the production line or in the logistics chain where the code is checked for readability or read. Codes used to store information in UV print can, for example, be scanned before the components of a multi-component product are assembled.

[0013] The information stored in the imprint is linked to the imprint in a database, for example, so that a clear identification of properties (such as production batch, batch, brand, component type, etc.) of the plastic product is possible.

[0014] In particular, a digital direct printing process, such as pad, laser, and / or inkjet printing, can be used. The process can be selected so that the resolution and reproducibility are sufficient even for smaller print areas.

[0015] The plastic product can be a cartridge for holding filling material, a tray for holding sample cups, a pipette tip, a plastic packaging, or similar.

[0016] However, the technology could be used for all kinds of other plastic products, such as cosmetics, pharmaceutical products, processed food containers and other consumer goods. (a) A method according to the invention for applying a print to a plastic product comprises the steps of: (b) providing the plastic product with a plastic body having a printing field, and (c) printing a print image by directly applying a printing medium to the printing field in a digital printing process, wherein the printing medium comprises fluorescent UV ink or UV paint.

[0017] UV ink encompasses all printing media that are invisible under visible light, but emit visible light under UV light, e.g., through fluorescence. Thus, the term "UV ink" also includes corresponding toners. The UV ink is generally colorless, but it may have a coloration tailored to the substrate such that it is not visible under visible light, or the print is not readable without UV radiation. Thus, the term "colorless" in the context of this invention is intended to also encompass variants in which the UV ink is colored but does not provide sufficient contrast to the background and is therefore only visible and readable under UV illumination. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERS

[0018] Further features and advantages of the invention will become clear from the following description with reference to the figures. They show: Fig. 1a a side view of a container for pipette tips; Fig. 1b a top view of the lid of the container Fig. 1a ; Fig. 2a a side view of a container for pipette tips with UV illumination; Fig. 2b a top view of the lid of the container Fig. 2a . DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0019] In the Figur 1a A container 1 for pipette tips is shown in a side view. The container 1 has a receptacle 10 and a lid 11. A tray 2 with openings for pipette tips 3 is inserted into the receptacle.

[0020] A UV light source 4 is arranged within a production or analysis station. This can illuminate the lid 11 from above. Also arranged above the lid 11 is a recording device (e.g., a camera) 5 for recording in the visible light spectrum, which captures at least a predetermined area 110 (indicated by dashed lines) of the lid surface. This area can be labeled using UV paint or UV ink.

[0021] Since the UV illumination 4 in the Figuren 1a und 1b is switched off, the camera 5 records the area 110 as an "unlabeled" area.

[0022] In the Figur 2a The same container 1 for pipette tips is shown in a side view.

[0023] The UV illumination 4 arranged in the production or analysis station is now switched on and irradiates at least the area 110 of the lid surface 11. Since the UV illumination 4 in the Figuren 2a und 2bis switched on, camera 5 captures area 110 as a "labeled" area, meaning camera 5 captures the visible light emitted by the UV ink / UV paint. Various information such as batch number, date of manufacture, etc., can be indicated in field 110.

[0024] In particular, the arrangement can also be provided in such a way that an area of ​​the tray 2 or the holder 10 labeled with UV paint or UV ink can be detected.

[0025] In this way, information about individual components such as holder 10, lid 11, tray 2, etc., can be attached to the components without being visible to the consumer without a UV light source. The information can relate to the component's manufacturing, logistics, etc.

Claims

1. A plastic product comprising a printing field, wherein an imprint is applied to the printing field by means of a digital direct printing process, wherein colorless UV ink or colorless UV ink is used as the printing medium.

2. A plastic product according to claim 1, wherein the imprint comprises at least one product code and / or brand information for tracking the manufacturing data and / or the supply chain of the product.

3. Plastic product according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plastic product is a cartridge for holding filling material, a tray for holding sample cups, a pipette tip, a plastic packaging, or the like.

4. Plastic product according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the digital direct printing process comprises a pad printing, laser printing and / or inkjet printing process.

5. A method for applying a print to a plastic product, comprising the steps of: a) providing the plastic product with a plastic body having a printing field, and b) printing a print image by directly applying a printing medium in a digital printing process, wherein the printing medium is a fluorescent printing medium.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein step b) comprises the use of a digital direct printing process, in particular a laser, pad and / or inkjet printing process.

7. A method for reading an imprint of a plastic product according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising irradiating the imprint with UV light and detecting the visible light emitted by the imprint.

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