Digital Printing for Serialized Codes on Packaging Substrates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current industrial printing technologies face limitations in printing speed, quality, and versatility for serialized codes, particularly in high-speed production lines, leading to constraints on production line efficiency, print quality, and application flexibility, with existing technologies being unsuitable for all packaging materials and serialization types.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing digital printers to pre-print unique serialized codes on substrates, which are then scanned and merged with product-related information, allowing for high-quality printing and analysis, enabling efficient serialization and tracking across various applications and materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If traditional industrial printing technologies (TIJ, CIJ, TTO, Laser) are used for serialized codes, then printing speed can be increased, but print quality deteriorates and code readability becomes unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses digital printing to create high-quality printed masters that are then transferred to the substrate through a transfer medium. This copying approach allows the original high-resolution digital image to be reproduced without the quality degradation that occurs with direct high-speed industrial printing methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a transfer medium as an intermediary between the digital printer and the substrate. This intermediary enables the transfer of high-quality printed images at high speeds without directly contacting the substrate with the print head, thus maintaining both quality and speed.
2Productivity
If production line speed is increased for final printing, then productivity improves, but serialized code quality becomes insufficient for reliable scanning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs the critical high-quality printing of serialized codes in advance using digital printing technology, before the substrate enters the high-speed production line. This preliminary action ensures code quality is established at a slower, more controlled printing stage, while subsequent high-speed processes only handle transfer and application.
3Manufacturing precision
If digital printing is used for pre-printing serialized codes, then print quality and flexibility improve, but equipment size and integration complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the digital printing process from the main production line and positions it as a separate pre-printing station. This extraction allows the digital printer to operate independently with optimized quality settings while the production line maintains its high-speed operation, reducing integration complexity.
4Productivity
If high-speed industrial printing is used, then productivity increases, but variable printing costs increase due to frequent maintenance and material replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses digital printing to create printed masters that can be reproduced indefinitely without wear. Unlike traditional methods that require physical ribbons, ink cartridges, or laser components that degrade with use, the digital master files remain constant and can be replicated without maintenance, eliminating downtime for material replacement.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to method and system for providing series of serialized unique information on a substrate together with product related information. The method comprising: providing the series of serialized unique information from a batch of serialized unique information, using a printer device (30) able of printing from a digital-based image directly on the substrate in a first instance; storing information about the serialized unique information to a data storage device (20); printing the product related information on the substrate; and analysing the printed serialized unique information and product related information on the substrate.