Variable Image Printing Synchronization for Lottery Tickets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing game tickets face challenges in ensuring synchronization of game data and graphics, leading to errors and increased costs due to non-conforming tickets, and are limited by the need for multiple imaging heads and separate printing units for different colors, which restricts production efficiency and introduces risks of registration issues.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a continuous strip of ticket substrate where game information and play data are printed using a variable image printing system, with a common control system to correlate and synchronize the data, allowing simultaneous printing of multi-color images and eliminating the need for additional hardware or re-manufacturing due to synchronization errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate printing units and multiple imaging heads are used for different colors, then color printing capability is achieved, but device complexity and production efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple color printing capabilities into a single imaging head by integrating multiple inkjet print heads (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) that can print different colors simultaneously or sequentially on the same ticket. This merging approach maintains full-color printing capability while reducing the number of separate printing units and imaging heads required, thereby decreasing device complexity and improving production efficiency.
2Ease of operation
If separate printing units are used for game data and graphics, then printing flexibility is maintained, but synchronization accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the printing of game data and graphics into a single printing pass using one imaging head that can handle multiple colors. This ensures that game data and graphics are printed simultaneously on the same ticket substrate, eliminating registration issues and synchronization errors that occur when using separate printing units. The single imaging head approach maintains printing flexibility while achieving precise synchronization.
3Productivity
If conventional printing press with printing rollers is used, then high speed production is achieved, but flexibility in printing variable game data is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical printing press with printing rollers with an inkjet-based variable image printing system. This substitution enables high-speed production while providing the flexibility to print variable game data and graphics on each ticket. The inkjet system can dynamically adjust printing content for each ticket without requiring physical plate changes or mechanical reconfiguration, thereby maintaining productivity while significantly enhancing adaptability.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple imaging heads are used for different colors, then full color printing is achieved, but production efficiency and time are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous printing of all colors in a single pass through one imaging head that contains multiple inkjet print heads for different colors. This continuous action approach eliminates the need for sequential printing by multiple separate imaging heads, maintaining full-color printing capability while significantly improving production speed and efficiency. The system prints cyan, magenta, yellow, and black ink simultaneously or in rapid succession on each ticket without stopping or repositioning the substrate between color layers.
Data Source
AI summary
In a row of lottery tickets each ticket has variable image printing game data printed onto a base layer on a substrate and a series of covering layers including at least one sealing layer and at least one scratch-off layer. Simultaneously game information is printed as a multi-color digital image for each ticket using a variable image printing system. The game information graphics can indicate different values for different ones of the tickets. The tickets in the row can be of different series for sale to different retailers. The printing system automatically correlates the game data and game information to ensure no registration errors thus allowing much improved variability and allowing the game to take into account both game data and game information in determining a winning ticket.