Systems and methods for high speed variable printing
Systems and methods for high-speed variable printing are provided. Ink jet technology and lithographic systems may be combined in such a way to create a fully variable and high-quality print system. An aqueous solution is applied to a cylinder to produce a first negative image. A positive image in ink is transferred to a print medium. Residue ink and aqueous solution is then cleaned from the cylinder and aqueous solution is applied to the cylinder to produce a second negative image. The systems and methods described herein may be used to create high-quality one-to-one marketing applications.
1 . A method for variable printing comprising:
applying an aqueous solution to a cylinder to produce a first negative image;
applying ink to the cylinder; and
transferring a positive image in ink to a print medium.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
cleaning residue ink and aqueous solution from the cylinder; and
applying the aqueous solution to the cylinder to produce a second negative image.
3 . The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving image data before applying the aqueous solution to the cylinder, wherein the first negative image is based at least in part on the image data.
4 . The method of claim 2 wherein cleaning the residue ink and aqueous solution from the cylinder comprises cleaning the residue ink and aqueous solution after each revolution of the cylinder.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein applying the aqueous solution to the cylinder to produce the first negative image comprises printing the aqueous solution onto the cylinder.
6 . The method of claim 5 wherein the printing is performed using at least one jet nozzle.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein applying the aqueous solution to the cylinder to produce the first negative image comprises jetting the aqueous solution onto the cylinder.
8 . The method of claim 7 wherein the jetting is performed using at least one ink jet head.
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the aqueous solution comprises one or more of water, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol.
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein the aqueous solution comprises a surfactant.
11 . The method of claim 1 further comprising heating at least part of the first negative image after applying the aqueous solution to the cylinder.
12 . The method of claim 1 further comprising drying at least part of the first negative image after applying the aqueous solution to the cylinder.
13 . The method of claim 2 wherein cleaning residue ink and aqueous solution from the cylinder comprises applying a cleaning solution to the cylinder.
14 . The method of claim 2 wherein the first negative image and the second negative image are different images.
15 . A system for variable printing comprising:
an aqueous jet system to apply an aqueous solution to a cylinder to produce a first negative image;
an inking system to apply ink to the cylinder; and
an impression cylinder to transfer a positive image in ink to a print medium.
16 . The system of claim 15 further comprising:
a cleaning system to clean residue ink and aqueous solution from the cylinder.
17 . The system of claim 15 wherein the aqueous jet system is configured to receive image data, wherein the first negative image is based at least in part on the image data.
18 . The system of claim 16 wherein the cleaning system is configured to clean the residue ink and aqueous solution from the cylinder after each revolution of the cylinder.
19 . The system of claim 15 wherein the aqueous jet system is configured to apply ink to the cylinder by printing the aqueous solution onto the cylinder.
20 . The system of claim 19 wherein the aqueous jet system comprises at least one jet nozzle.
21 . The system of claim 19 wherein the aqueous jet system comprises at least one ink jet head.
22 . The system of claim 15 wherein the aqueous solution comprises one or more of water, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol.
23 . The system of claim 15 wherein the aqueous solution comprises a surfactant.
24 . The system of claim 23 wherein the surfactant is a silicone-based surfactant and the surface of the cylinder comprises a silicone layer.
25 . The system of claim 24 wherein the cylinder is part of a waterless printing system.
26 . The system of claim 15 further comprising a heating unit to heat at least part of the negative image after the aqueous jet system applies the aqueous solution to the cylinder.
27 . The system of claim 15 further comprising a vacuum unit to dry at least part of the negative image after the aqueous jet system applies the aqueous solution to the cylinder.
28 . The system of claim 16 wherein the cleaning system is configured to apply a cleaning solution to the cylinder.
29 . The system of claim 15 wherein the aqueous jet system is further configured to apply the aqueous solution to the cylinder to produce a second negative image, wherein the first negative image and the second negative image are different images.
30 . A system for variable printing comprising:
means for applying an aqueous solution to a cylinder to produce a first negative image;
means for applying ink to the cylinder; and
means for transferring a positive image in ink to a print medium.
31 . The system of claim 30 further comprising:
means for cleaning residue ink and aqueous solution from the cylinder; and
means for applying the aqueous solution to the cylinder to produce a second negative image.
32 . The system of claim 30 further comprising means for receiving image data before applying the aqueous solution to the cylinder, wherein the first negative image is based at least in part on the image data.
33 . The system of claim 31 wherein the means for cleaning the residue ink and aqueous solution from the cylinder comprises means for cleaning the residue ink and aqueous solution after each revolution of the cylinder.
34 . The system of claim 30 wherein the means for applying the aqueous solution to the cylinder to produce the first negative image comprises means for printing the aqueous solution onto the cylinder.
35 . The system of claim 34 wherein the means for printing comprises at least one jet nozzle.
36 . The system of claim 30 wherein the means for applying the aqueous solution to the cylinder to produce the first negative image comprises means for jetting the aqueous solution onto the cylinder.
37 . The system of claim 36 wherein the means for jetting comprises at least one ink jet head.
38 . The system of claim 30 wherein the aqueous solution comprises one or more of water, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol.
39 . The system of claim 30 wherein the aqueous solution comprises a surfactant.
40 . The system of claim 39 wherein the surfactant is a silicone-based surfactant and the surface of the cylinder comprises a silicone layer.
41 . The system of claim 40 wherein the cylinder is part of a waterless printing system.
42 . The system of claim 30 further comprising means for heating at least part of the negative image after applying the aqueous solution to the cylinder.
43 . The system of claim 30 further comprising means for drying at least part of the negative image after applying the aqueous solution to the cylinder.
44 . The system of claim 31 wherein the means for cleaning residue ink and aqueous solution from the cylinder comprises means for applying a cleaning solution to the cylinder.
45 . The system of claim 31 wherein the first negative image and the second negative image are different images.