Guide roll for use in printing lenticular materials

Details Guide roll for use in printing lenticular materials Guide roll for use in printing lenticular materials

1999-09-07

2001-08-21

Colilla, Daniel J. (Department: 2854)

Printing

Multicolor

Rotary machines

C101S219000, C101S481000, C101S485000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06276269

ABSTRACT:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the printing of lenticular materials, and more particularly, to a guide such as an idler roll or impression roll installed on a printing press and formed for use in guiding a sheet of lenticular material through the printing press. The guide roll eliminates lateral movement of the lenticular material as it moves through the press so, and other possible distortion of the web, to enhance the quality of the resulting printed materials.
In U.S. patent application Ser, No. 09/082,715, now U.S. pat. No. 5,967,032, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference, there is described a printing process for flexographic printing of a thin sheet lenticular material. As noted therein at page 3, lines 21-23, “the quality of a printing operation has been found to be best controlled by meticulously controlling the alignment of the film, printing plates, and lens material prior to the start of printing”. Once a printing operation has begun, it is important to maintain the alignment so meticulously established during the set-up phase of the process. As described in the co-pending application, alignment aids are incorporated in the printed materials to aid the printer in maintaining alignment
One cause of misalignment during a press run is lateral shifting of the web of lenticular material as it moves through the press. As is well-known in the art, the web of material traverses between an idler roll and an impression roll at each station along the press where a color is printed on the flat side of the web. Even minute sideways movement of the web which occurs, for example, due to vibrations, can significantly effect print quality. Another cause of run misalignment results from tension on the web as it moves through the press. The web material is plastic and is deformable by forces exerted on the web. The printing plates mounted on the press to print the images viewed through the lenticular material are produced using prepress materials whose dimensions conform to those of the unstressed lenticular material. Distortions in the web dimensions, as the web runs through the press, therefore also results in distortions in the printed product.
The present invention offers a solution to these problems which is both cost effective and readily implemented, so to further help produce high quality printed materials.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Among the several objects of the present invention may be noted the provision of a guide roll for use on a printing press used in flexographic printing or the like to print images on a flat side of a web of lenticular lens material, the opposite side of web, on which lenticules are formed, bearing against the guide roll as the web is pulled through the press;
the provision of such a guide roll to be either the idler roll or impression roll between which the web of lenticular material is drawn as it moves through the press;
the provision of such a guide roll having at least one, and preferably a series or band of grooves formed on its outer surface, the grooves comprising flutes extending circumferentially about the roll;
the provision of such a guide roll in which the band of grooves corresponds in width to the width of the web of lenticular material drawn through the press;
the provision of such a guide roll in which the size of the grooves is such that one or more lenticules fit within the grooves so to prevent lateral movement of the web as the web is pulled through the press and maintain an alignment between the web and printing press established prior to a print run;
the provision of such a guide roll in which the grooves further prevent distortion of the web resulting from forces exerted on the web to draw it through the press;
the provision of such a printing press to have a plurality of print stations at which a color is printed on the web, each station having an associated guide roll, each guide roll having the grooves;
the provision of such lenticular material be of different sizes and have different numbers of lenticules with a separate guide roll, or set of guide rolls, being available for each separate material used;
the provision of such grooves to be of different patterns so that the grooves extend entirely across a guide roll, or are formed in bands spaced at intervals across the guide roll;
the provision of such a guide roll in which the surface area of the roll adjacent the grooves is appropriately contoured so as not to interfere with the fit of lenticules in the grooves; and,
the provision of such a guide roll, or set of guide rolls, which are readily installed on a press to further help produce a high quality printed product.
In accordance with the invention, generally stated, at least one guide roll is for use on a printing press used to print an image on a flat surface of a web of a lenticular lens material. The opposite side of the web has a series of lenticules formed on it which extend parallel of each other longitudinally of the web and generally across the web. The surface on which the lenticules are formed is drawn across a guide roll as the web of material is pulled through the press. The guide roll has at least one, and preferably a band of circumferentially extending grooves formed on its outer surface, the width of the band corresponding to the width of the lenticular material. The grooves are each sized so one or more lenticules fit in them. As the web is drawn across the guide roll, the grooves prevent lateral movement of the web with respect to the press and distortion of the web due to forces exerted on it. This helps maintain a printing alignment established between the printing press and the web prior to a print run and results in a high quality printed product. The guide roll can be either the idler roll or impression roll depending upon the particular application. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4566162 (1986-01-01), Brands
patent: 5421259 (1995-06-01), Shiba et al.
patent: 5601020 (1997-02-01), Dawley et al.
patent: 5927198 (1999-07-01), Tada
patent: 5967032 (1999-10-01), Bravenec et al.

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