The invention pertains to a process for printing on a substrate according to the introductory clause of claim 1 and to a device for implementing the process according to the introductory clause of claim 14.
The present invention claims the priority of German Patent Application DE 102004002132.5, to the disclosure content of which reference is made here.
To print on a substrate, the procedure according to the state of the art is to move the substrate through at least one printing unit of a printing press, where an individual ink of a certain color is applied to the substrate in the one printing unit or in each of them. The printing units of the printing press produce a static, i.e., unchanging, image on the substrate over the entire course of the pressrun. The article in question can be, for example, an advertising brochure. If these types of printed products, which are produced by printing a static image on each copy of the entire run, are to be individualized by providing them with, for example, personal address data, the procedure according to the state of the art is to send the substrates provided with the static image in the printing press to a separate printing device, where they are individualized offline. Accordingly, at least one dynamic or changing image, namely, personal address data, is added to the static print image by a process which is offline with respect to that by which static image is produced. The production of static print images individualized with dynamic or changing print images in this way is both complicated and expensive.
Against this background, the present invention is based on the problem of creating a novel process for printing on a substrate.
This problem is solved by a process for printing on a substrate according to claim 1. According to the invention, the substrate is moved through at least one printing device installed inline with the printing unit or with each printing unit, preferably installed downstream from it, so that the static or unchanging image can be individualized by the addition of at least one dynamic or changing image.
In accordance with the present invention, it is proposed that, after the static or unchanging image has been produced on the substrate, the substrate, for the purpose of individualizing it, is moved inline through at least one printing device installed upstream or downstream from the printing unit serving to produce the static image. According to the present invention, the process of individualizing the static image by adding one or more dynamic images to it is thus carried out inline and therefore in a single workflow. As a result, these types of printed articles can be produced more quickly, more easily, and more cheaply.
According to an advantageous elaboration of the invention, at least the functionality “color” is printed in the printing unit or in each of the printing units used to print the static or unchanging image, whereas at least one functionality different from the functionality “color” is printed in the printing device or in each of the printing devices used to print the dynamic or changing image.
The functionality different from the functionality “color” preferably consists of individual text data and/or fragrances and/or varnishes and/or electric conductors and/or semiconductor circuits.
An especially preferred embodiment of the process according to the invention is one in which image information from three different data streams is printed inline in a single workflow. The first data stream in this case consists of the static or unchanging image data; the second data stream consists of the dynamic or changing text and/or image data serving to individualize and/or partially to individualize the substrate; and the third data stream consists of the dynamic or changing logistics data.
The device according to the invention for implementing the inventive process has at least one printing unit for printing a static or unchanging image and at least one printing device for individualizing the static image by adding at least one dynamic or changing image, installed inline with the printing unit or with each printing unit, preferably installed downstream from it. To ensure an integrated data flow, the device according to the invention preferably includes an open-loop or closed-loop control unit, which controls the printing unit or each printing unit used to print the static or unchanging image and the printing device or each printing device used to print the dynamic or changing image.
Preferred elaborations of the invention can be derived from the subclaims and from the following description.
An exemplary embodiment of the invention, to which the invention is not to be considered limited, is explained in greater detail below:
The present invention is described in greater detail below with reference to
The device according to the invention of
After the substrate has left the printing unit 10, it carries the static or unchanging image. The static image is then individualized by the addition of dynamic or changing images in the printing devices 12 and 13. It can be derived from
The printing unit 10 or each printing unit for printing the static or unchanging image is preferably designed as an offset printing unit or as a gravure printing unit or as a flexographic printing unit. The printing unit 10 shown in
In the exemplary embodiment according to
In a concrete exemplary embodiment, it will be assumed that an advertising flyer of an automobile manufacturer is to be printed on the substrate 11. To produce the advertising flyer, it is possible to operate with the help of the present device according to the invention and to use the process according to the invention in such a way that first a static or unchanging image is printed on the substrate 11 in the printing unit 10 to obtain the total number of copies N desired. After this static or unchanging image has been produced in the printing unit 10, the static or unchanging image is partially individualized in the printing device 12, in that a partial quantity n of the total pressrun N of the flyer is individualized by the addition of an individual or dynamic image. This can be, for example, an image of an actual motor vehicle made by the automobile manufacturer. After the static or unchanging image has been partially individualized in the printing device 12, the final individualization is accomplished inline in the printing device 13, in which personal address data are printed.
In an especially preferred embodiment, dynamic or changing logistics data, e.g., logistics codes and/or postage stamps, are also printed. In this case, image data from three different data streams are printed inline in one workflow, namely, a static or unchanging image, the dynamic or changing text and/or image data serving to individualize and/or partially to individualize the flyer, and dynamic or changing logistics data.
In this case, the dynamic or changing images printed in the printing devices 12 and 13 are preferably combined in such a way that the image printed for partial individualization in the printing device 12 is coordinated with the individual address data printed in the printing device 13. As a result, target group-oriented prospectuses and advertising materials can be produced rapidly at low cost.
As previously mentioned, a static or unchanging image is produced in the printing unit 10 on all copies of the flyer to be produced. In the downstream printing device 12, the static image produced in the printing unit 10 is partially individualized inline by the addition of a first dynamic image aimed at a first customer group, such as customers in the age range of 20-40 years. An automobile manufacturer, therefore, can use the printing device 12 to print an image of, for example, the newest sports car model onto the section of the static image to be individualized and thus target customers who are between 20 and 40 years of age. After this partial individualization, the corresponding customer-specific address data are printed on the flyer in the printing device 13. From the total run N of the flyer produced in the printing unit 10, therefore, a partially individualized flyer with a run of n is produced in the printing device 12. This flyer is then given its final individualization by the addition of individual customer data in the printing device 13. If desired, individual logistics data can also be printed inline. Such data can consist of a logistics code and a postage stamp.
Once the flyers have been printed out for all of the customers in the database between 20 and 40 years of age, the present invention makes it possible for the automobile manufacturer to use the printing device 12 partially to individualize the static image produced in the printing unit 10 by adding an image of the newest luxury model and thus to target a customer group of independent persons between 50 and 60 years old. The printing device 13 is then used to produce the final individualization of the printed article by adding the individual address data.
As can be seen in
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2004 002 132.5 | Jan 2004 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP04/04621 | 4/30/2004 | WO | 12/15/2006 |