Printing – Special article machines – Bed and platen
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-21
2001-12-11
Colilla, Daniel J. (Department: 2854)
Printing
Special article machines
Bed and platen
C101S035000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06327973
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a support to hold a carton while printing on the carton. More particularly, this invention relates to a support that is inserted into a carton to hold the carton while printing on the carton.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Carton blanks for contact lens containers are shipped from the carton supplier with most of the necessary information printed on them, with blank areas on the cartons for receipt of variable information, such as, the lot number, barcodes, design (e.g., power), and expiration date of the product. Carton blanks are often supplied having pre-glued areas, e.g. the lid or side flaps. The pre-glued areas of the carton have two layers of paper, and therefore, these areas of the carton are not flat. Further, fold lines in the carton, which form the edges at the intersection of two surfaces cause the surfaces of the carton to be irregular. Attempts to print on the flat blanks can result in illegible printed information.
One solution is not to print on the carton and to add additional information by adding an adhesive label to the carton; however, adhesive labels are expensive. Another alternative is to emboss areas of the carton which do not overlap when the carton is flat; however, that limits the areas which can be printed on, and cannot readily be used to print some kinds of information, e.g. barcodes.
There is a need for an apparatus to remedy the problem of printing on a partially pre-glued carton so that legible print can be added to the carton.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a support for a partially pre-glued carton, said support comprising:
a flat portion which can be inserted into the partially pre-glued carton and which is used to support at least one surface of said carton during printing.
In the preferred embodiment said flat portion further comprises holes in said flat portion, wherein a vacuum source is attached to said holes in said flat portion.
This invention further provides a method of printing on a partially pre-glued carton comprising the steps of:
inserting a support into a partially pre-glued carton; and printing on said carton.
The support provides a flat portion which holds the surface of the carton flat so that legible print can be added to one or more surfaces of the carton. This invention can be used to add information, particularly variable information to cartons, particularly contact lens cartons by the contact lens manufacturer in a cost-effective way.
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Dolan David
Duis Donnie J.
Colilla Daniel J.
Johnson & Johnson Vision Products Inc.
Kiernan Anne B.
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