EP2007639B1 - Microlens windows and interphased images for packaging and printing and methods for manufacture - Google Patents

Microlens windows and interphased images for packaging and printing and methods for manufacture Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP2007639B1
EP2007639B1 EP07754710.7A EP07754710A EP2007639B1 EP 2007639 B1 EP2007639 B1 EP 2007639B1 EP 07754710 A EP07754710 A EP 07754710A EP 2007639 B1 EP2007639 B1 EP 2007639B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
package
microlens
window
microlens window
contents
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
EP07754710.7A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2007639A2 (en
Inventor
William M. Karszes
Jerry C. Nims
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP2007639A2 publication Critical patent/EP2007639A2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2007639B1 publication Critical patent/EP2007639B1/en
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D5/00Rigid or semi-rigid containers of polygonal cross-section, e.g. boxes, cartons or trays, formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks made of paper
    • B65D5/42Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
    • B65D5/4204Inspection openings or windows
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2203/00Decoration means, markings, information elements, contents indicators

Definitions

  • the field of the invention relates generally to packaging and printing. More particularly, the invention relates to microlens windows having interphased images for packaging and printing.
  • these windows are heat-sealed to the inner surface of the container prior to folding and filling with it with its contents.
  • any features added to the plastic window will further draw attention to the package. While straight printing can be used on the back of the flat plastic, the eye catching appeal is not as great as a plain window.
  • WO-A-96/22558 discloses a lenticular optical system in which a composite image formed by combined image strips is viewable through a lens sheet from a first angle and an object or image is viewable from a second angle.
  • Optical designs and alignment processes are disclosed which make possible the economical production of thin materials which facilitate the manufacturing and utilization of the optical system in packaging and the like.
  • US-A-7,002,748 discloses a method of producing a package from lenticular sheet having anisotropic optical properties comprising the steps of providing a body of transparent material having a pair of opposing sides and an index of refraction greater than one; forming a plurality of lenses on the first side of said pair of opposing sides in pre-selected portions of the first side; forming a pre-determined package design from the lenticular sheet, and wherein the remainder of the first side of said pair of opposing sides outside the pre-selected lens portions is generally flat and transparent.
  • the centre part of the lens can be left blank on the flat side when printing. This allows the sheet to be used in a package design, with verbiage, text or other images appearing at an angle by the viewer and the product within the package being visible from a straight on position.
  • the microlens for packaging and printing includes a new material and utilizes different techniques to create attractive and appealing products with see-through windows.
  • the present microlens for packaging and printing incorporates multi-dimensional printing incorporated into microlens windows that are then manufactured as part of the packaging.
  • the multi-dimensional printing includes three-dimensional, flipping, motion, and morphing imagery or any combination thereof.
  • the functionality of the window is maintained with the present microlens for packaging and printing by including clear see-through portions located on the microlens windows. The eye-catching appeal increases the marketability of the package.
  • the present microlens for packaging and printing adds security to the package, because the total system must be employed to manufacture the same packaged and printed products.
  • the present microlens for packaging and printing also includes graphical images that produce anti-counterfeiting characteristics for printed material.
  • the graphical images incorporated into the microlens for packaging and printing can change as desired to provide additional security features to the packaged and printed products.
  • the wave and particle structure of the light being transmitted to a consumer's eye by the present microlens for packaging and printing makes it more difficult for unauthorized producers to create the same packaging.
  • the present microlens for packaging and printing can be used for promotional pieces and for all types of packaging such as soft drink cartons, cereal boxes, dry good boxes, toothpaste boxes, etc.
  • the present microlens for packaging and printing enable the ability to catch the eye of a consumer while adding security features to the package through the integral graphical images that may not be duplicated.
  • Some additional exemplary microlens for packaging and printing products include perfume bottles, premium liquor boxes, and over-the-counter pharmaceutical boxes.
  • the present microlens for packaging and printing maybe used for security cards, passports, ID cards, driver's licenses, stamp taxes, currency, documents, and the like.
  • the present microlens for packaging and printing may be sealed to a container, package, or the like by heat sealing, gluing, or any other means of incorporation. In one aspect, if it is glued onto a package, the glue may be used to enable a user to peel and retain some promotional tag piece. The security aspect is retained as the tag piece identifies the product as original.
  • the present microlens for packaging and printing provides optical material coupled to computer interphased graphical images to produce a see-through microlens window for a container or any package benefiting from the see-through ability of the microlens window.
  • the system is designed by controlling the imagery presented to the viewer's or consumer's eyes through light ray tracing technology.
  • the final product produced by the system creates an eye-catching and eye-retaining microlens window that adds to the attractiveness of the product through innovative design.
  • the system can also be used in all other forms of packaging by using the present microlens for packaging and printing to provide multi-dimensional images, symbols patterns, and optical material for labels, boxes, and containers to provide additional levels of anti-counterfeiting capability.
  • the present system can be used for all forms of printed material from currency to passports.
  • the physical structure of the microlens window makes the packaging impervious to alteration.
  • the wave and particle of the light being transmitted from the microlens windows, created by the software of the system to the optical material, is transmitted to the eyes of a consumer and makes the fraudulent reproduction of the visual information in the end product very difficult.
  • the microlens construct is unique in of itself as the lens surface is the heat seal layer.
  • a package comprising: a body; and a microlens window located on said body, the microlens window comprising a plurality of lenticules extending from a first surface disposed about a portion of the inner surface of the body to a second surface disposed about a portion of the outer surface of the body, and at least one graphical image disposed on the first surface, whereby the microlens window displays the at least one graphical image in a first portion of said microlens window and the contents of said package through a second portion of said microlens window.
  • a method for making a package comprising: providing a package; providing a microlens window, the microlens window comprising a plurality of lenticules extending from a first surface located within the body to a second surface located outside of the package and at least one graphical image disposed on the first surface, whereby the microlens window displays the least one graphical image in a first portion of said microlens window and the contents of said package through a second portion of said microlens window; and sealing said microlens window into said package.
  • Figure 1 illustrates a front view of a package including a microlens window according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of a microlens window according to Figure 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of a microlens window according to another embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 4 illustrates a front view of the microlens window of Figure 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 5 illustrates a front view of a microlens window of Figure 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 6 illustrates a front view of the microlens window according to another embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 7 illustrates a bottom view of a microlens window according to another embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 8 illustrates a front view of a microlens window according to another embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 9 illustrates a front view of a microlens window according to another embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 10 illustrates a perspective back view of a lenticule showing 6 frames according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 11 illustrates a perspective front view of the lenticule of Figure 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 12 illustrates a perspective front view of a lenticule showing blank spots in the graphic attached to its back surface according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 13 illustrates a perspective front view of a lenticule showing parallaxed blank spots in the graphic attached to its back surface according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 14 illustrates a perspective view of a system for making packaging with microlens windows according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • Figure 15 illustrates a top view of a heated shoe of Figure 14 according to the embodiment of the invention.
  • Figure 16 illustrates a block flow diagram for the process for making a package with a microlens window according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment 100 of a package including a microlens window 104 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • the package 100 includes one or more microlens windows 104.
  • the package 100 may be a carton, box, container, or any other type of package used to contain and market a particular product, such as a liquid product.
  • Package 100 includes a body 102 that is typically made from a transparent or non-transparent material that contains the product.
  • the material may be any type of material suitable for containing the product within the package 100. For all materials a heat seal layer is included in the construct.
  • the heat seal layer for the microlens material preferably is the lens layer.
  • specific types of lens materials are used where the lens surface is produced from a clear heat seal material such as EVA, EMA, LDPE, etc.
  • Some exemplary materials are paperboard, plastic, and the like.
  • the microlens window 104 includes an outer surface 210 and an inner surface 208.
  • the outer surface 210 faces the consumer for viewing purposes and the inner surface 208 contacts the contents of the package 100.
  • the microlens window 104 is made up of a plurality 204 of cylindrical lenticules 206.
  • the lenticules 206 are spaced apart from each other by flat portions as can be seen in Figure 4 .
  • a graphical image 212 is adjacent to the inner surface 208 of the microlens window 104.
  • microlens window 300 further includes at least one or more "see-though" windows 314 that are randomly located in the interphased printed image.
  • the designed image allows the contents of the carton to be viewed through the image from the top to the bottom of the piece in a non-continuous yet aesthetically pleasing manner.
  • Microlens window 104 includes lenticules 206 that overlap graphical images 212 as further described below. Adjacent to the lenticules 206 are flat portions 402 that are clear, thus enabling a consumer to view the contents of the package 100.
  • Microlens window 300 includes lenticules 306 that overlap graphical images 312 as further described below.
  • adjacent to the lenticules 306 are flat portions 502 that are clear, thus enabling a consumer to view the contents of the package 100 as noted above.
  • microlens window 300 shows the see-through windows 314 oriented randomly in the graphical image 312 of the lenticules 306. Although only three lenticules 206 and 306 are shown in Figures 4 and 5 , respectively, as described below, any desired number of lenticules 206 and 306 may be used.
  • microlens window 600 is used in place of or in addition to the other microlens windows described above.
  • Microlens window 600 includes a plurality of lenticules 610, each lenticule includes a clear beveled edge 604 on each side of a flat portion 606 that overlaps the graphical images 608 adjacent to them as further described below. This provides a consumer with a graphical image that may change as their eyes move relative to the microlens window 600 in the direction of the arrow 610.
  • Microlens window 600 includes an outer surface 612 and an inner surface 614. In this embodiment, the outer surface 612 faces the consumer for viewing purposes and the inner surface 614 contacts the contents of the package 100.
  • microlens window 700 is used in place of or in addition to the other microlens windows described above.
  • the microlens window 700 includes shoulders 706 near the edges of the microlens window 700. Preferably, the shoulders 706 extend around a portion or the entire perimeter of the microlens window 700. The shoulders 706 enable a consumer to view the contents of the package 100 around the perimeter of the microlens window 700.
  • the microlens window 700 includes a plurality 704 of cylindrical lenticules 702. As can be seen from Figure 7 , there are graphical images 710 located adjacent to each lenticule 702.
  • microlens window 800 is used in place of or in addition to the other microlens windows described above.
  • the microlens window 800 includes a plurality of parabolic lenticules 802 and shoulders 802 located approximately at the intersections of the parabolic lenticules 802.
  • graphical images are located behind each lenticule 802 similar to those described herein.
  • the shoulders. 804 are clear flat portions.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates another embodiment of a microlens window 900 that does not include shoulders between the parabolic lenticules 902.
  • Microlens windows 800 and 900 also have inner and outer surfaces similar to those described and shown herein. Random fly's eye lens will have no image behind them thus rendering them clear as see through elements.
  • FIG. 10 an embodiment 1000 of an individual lenticule is depicted with 6 frames 1002, 1004, 1006, 1008, 1010, and 1012.
  • the following description relates to lenticule 1000, but is applicable to any of the lenticules described herein.
  • a graphical image 1014 that has been interphased according to the disclosure herein that may be attached to the back surface 1016 of the lenticule 1000.
  • a particular graphical image 1014 or graphical images are cut or sliced into segments and then interphased together to produce a finished interphased graphical image 1014 that is aligned attached to the back surface 1016 such that each segment of the interphased graphical image 1014 aligns with a particular panel 1002, 1004, 1006, 1008, 1010, and 1012.
  • the segments are interphased in a mathematical manner, such as ray tracing, so that a desired segment is directly behind a desired panel 1002, 1004, 1006, 1008, 1010, and 1012.
  • the graphical images are of the same scene, but slightly offset (parallax).
  • the left and right eyes of a consumer or viewer sees the two different offset scenes and perceives the depth of the graphical image.
  • a consumer or viewer's eyes view the same scene at any given angle, but at another angle will see another, thus perceiving the flip, morph, or zoom effects.
  • FIG. 11 an embodiment 1100 of the individual lenticule of Figure 10 is shown where panels 1112 and 1110 are blank with no graphical image attached to the back surface on these panels. Panels 1102 - 1108 do have a graphical image 1114 attached to the back surface such as to cover panels 1102 - 1108, thus producing an interphased graphical image 1114 to a viewer or consumer.
  • the blank panels 1112 and 1110 could be left blank with no graphical image 1114 attached to the back surface.
  • the graphical image 1114 could be made so as to incorporate entire blank panels for affixing adjacent to panels 1112 and 1110.
  • the lenticules 1100 may work for three-dimensional imagery as well.
  • any number of panels can be left blank, thus enabling a viewer or consumer to view the contents of the package 100 through the microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900 that incorporate these lenticules 1100.
  • an embodiment 1200 of an individual lenticule is depicted having six panels 1212 with blank spots 1214, 1216, and 1218 in the graphical image (not shown) attached to the back surface of the lenticule 1200.
  • the blank spots 1214, 1216, and 1218 may be inserted into the graphical image after the graphical image is interphased by the system's software and hardware.
  • the blank spots 1214 show up as bubble or circular blank spots 1214 and 1216, although any shape of blank spots may be used as desired.
  • Figure 13 depicts an embodiment 1300 of an individual lenticule that includes interphased blank spots 1314 annd 1316 in the graphical image (not shown) prior to attaching to the panels 1302 - 1312.
  • the blank spots 1314 and 1316 are part of the graphical image prior to interphasing, thus they appear as sliced blank spots 1314 and 1316, as shown in Figure 13 .
  • Figure 14 depicts an embodiment 1400 of a system for producing package 100 including any of the microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900.
  • System 1400 includes an upper heated tractor (conveyor) 1402 and a lower continuous conveyor 1405.
  • Figure 15 depicts an embodiment of a heated shoe 1408, showing an outer perimeter 1502 forming a cavity therebetween. The outer perimeter 1502 applies pressure to the outside perimeter of the hole in the package to bond the piece of lenticular material to the package.
  • Upper heated tractor 1402 includes pulleys 1404 that transport a belt 1406 in the direction of the arrow shown adjacent to the belt 1406.
  • the belt 1406 includes several heated shoes 1408 that are located on outer surface of the belt 1406 and move along in the same direction as the belt 1406.
  • the lower continuous conveyor 1405 includes pulleys 1410 that transport a belt 1412 in the direction as shown by the arrow located at the end of pulley 1410.
  • a stack of cartons 1428 feeds individual folded cartons 1416 onto belt 1412 that then are transported under cutting station 1430 where a piece of lenticular piece is cut from a roll of lenticular material 1426 as described herein.
  • the cut lenticular pieces are indexed, one to a carton 1416, onto the carton 1416.
  • the cut pieces of lenticular material are glued to an opening (hole) in the carton 1416 by applying a hot glue from a hot melt applicator 1422 via pipe 1424 onto the carton 1416 prior to the piece of lenticular material being placed on the carton 1416.
  • no hot melt is used.
  • Hold down bars 1418 hold the pieces in alignment until the cut piece of lenticular material and the carton 1416 enter the nip (between upper heated tractor 1402 and lower continuous conveyor 1405) where the heated shoe 1408 comes in contact with the two pieces.
  • the speeds of the upper heated tractor 1402 and lower continuous conveyor 1405 are matched so the heated shoe aligns to the outer edges of the microlens window and the hole in the carton 1416.
  • the two pieces are transported further along the upper heated tractor 1402 and lower continuous conveyor 1405 while constant pressure is exerted upwardly and downwardly by rollers 1414 as shown by the arrows. This pressure and heat bonds the lenticular material to form a container (package) with a microlens window and the package exits the end of the system 1400.
  • the belt velocity is approximately (80 feet) 24,3 per minute with five of such systems 1400.
  • the heated shoe 1408 is heated to approximately (220°F) 104.4°C.
  • heat is applied to the heated shoes 1408 by a heater, such as an electric heater located in each heated shoe 1408. Electricity is provided to the heated shoes 1408 by a commentator system in the upper heated tractor 1402. This results in approximately 400 packages 100 per minute being bonded.
  • the opacity of the microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900 may be controlled by the white backing printed on the back of the aforementioned interphased images composed in the graphical images 212, 312, 608, and 710.
  • all shoulders and flat portions should be clear or transparent. Nevertheless, if it is desired to simply have the ability to easily display the level of the contents of the package 100, then the density of the white backing material can be designed to allow the density of the material to create a darker portion in the microlens window.
  • the microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900 have a lens count of between (50 and 4,000 lens per inch)("LPI") 19.7 and 1575 lens/cm.
  • the microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900 are parabolic, spherical, aspherical, or cylindrical.
  • the material of the microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900 is an extrusion lenticular-coated substrate, such as biaxial oriented polyester, (OPET), or amorphous polyester (APET), or any other clear stable plastic film.
  • the lenticular-coated substrate is either primed or unprimed and then coated with a heat sealable polymer, such as EMA, EVA, EBA, PP plus Clarifier, PE, or any other clear heat-sealable resin.
  • EMA EMA
  • EVA EVA
  • EBA amorphous polyester
  • PE PP plus Clarifier
  • the material of the microlens window 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900 is preferably dependent on the heat sealing temperatures and residence time in the process for adding the microlens window 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900 to the body 102 of the package 100.
  • Some additional considerations when choosing the material of the microlens window 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900 include: its approval for use with the contact of food, its non-blocking ability (non- sticking under normal roll formation during extrusion coating), its non-sticking during normal handling conditions (does not collect dust and is hard to the touch when handled by the consumer), its resistance to puncture, its stability in various environmental conditions (ambient, refrigerated, or heated), and its durability to pass through all normal form fill and seal machinery creating the finished package without degradation and/or delaminating.
  • the graphical images 212, 312, 406, 506, 608, and 710 are special computer generated graphical images that are sliced up digital images and then recombined into interphased digital masters.
  • the algorithm slices up the images to match the spacing of the overlying lenticules of each microlens windows.
  • the combination of combined images and microlens windows are designed to project to the human eye information that will make the image appear three-dimensional, morphed, zoomed, or any combination thereof.
  • Inter-dispersed within the digital slices are clear slices with no printing. These clear areas are designed so when the viewer's eye hit the appropriate zones(s) the contents of the packaging, carton, box, etc can be viewed through the microlens window 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900.
  • Graphical images 212, 312, 406, 506, 608, and 710 are shown adjacent to the inner side of the microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900.
  • Adhesives may be used to connect the graphical images 212, 312, 406, 506, 608, and 710 to the microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900.
  • security cards, documents, etc. may utilize the microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900 to place images and visual information at different optical levels in the material used. This placement can be from one level to 10,000 times 100 levels.
  • the material for security cards, etc. can be used as a platform to include covert features to go along with overt anti-counterfeiting features included. Some exemplary covert features include: taggants, digital watermarks, smart chips, bar codes, magnetic strips, and all other machine-readable technologies.
  • the plastic substrate films suitable for use in this invention include any clear plastic film, particularly any optically clear film.
  • the particular film used depends, in large part, upon characteristics, such as strength, curl, thermostability, lifetime or low cost, that are desired for the end application of the lenticular-coated substrate.
  • biaxially oriented films typically give good mechanical stability but are relatively extensive while non-oriented films give less strength but are usually considerably less costly.
  • suitable plastic substrate films include but are not limited to biaxially oriented polyester film, biaxially oriented polypropylene film, non-oriented polypropylene film and non-oriented polyethylene terephthalate film.
  • Coated or pretreated plastic films, such as MELINEX 504.RTM. (ICI, Wilmington, Del.) are useful to control the degree of adhesion between the substrate film and the adhesion layer for sealing to the package 100.
  • thermoplastic lenticular resins suitable for use in this invention include any clear polymer that can be extruded.
  • the lenticular resin used to manufacture a particular lenticular-coated substrate is selected primarily based upon the end application of the lenticular-coated substrate and the resin's ease of processing, mar resistance, clarity, and cost.
  • the adhesion resin the lenticular resin must be compatible with the selected adhesion resin from a coextrusion point of view; the rheology of these two resins must match so as to enable the two resins to flow together with little or no shear.
  • Typical examples of lenticular resins include but are not limited to polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and mixtures containing these polymers.
  • Balancing layer resins suitable for use in this invention include those resins specified above for lenticular resins.
  • Subbing resins and/ or films are any clear uniform substance which meet the end use application, such as ink, gel emulsion or adhesive receptability.
  • a pretreated substrate film can be used in which the pretreatment inhibit bonding of the substrate layer to the tie layer to produce a strippable lenticular (or nonlenticular) product.
  • MELENIX 504® which is a plastic film that has been primed for solvent ink acceptance on the upper side, has been found to inhibit bonding of the substrate layer to the tie or adhesion layer.
  • Suitable tie resins used in combination with this film include ethylene methyl ethyl acrylate.
  • exposure of the upper side of the pretreated substrate film, such as MELINEX 504®, to corona treatment prior to coextrusion onto the substrate can be used to control the force of adhesion between the substrate layer and the tie layer.
  • the force of adhesion between the substrate layer (MELINEX 504®) and the tie layer (ethylene methyl ethyl acrylate) varied from about (125 g/in) 49.2g/cm to about (250 g/in) 98.4g/cm as the MELINEX 504® was exposed to 0 kW to 2.5 kW of corona treatment, respectively. Above 2.5 kW, the force of adhesion decreased and leveled off at about (200 g/in) 78.75g/cm.
  • the lenticular-coated substrate is further processed to produce a superior quality three-dimensional image.
  • registration of the print pattern to the lenticular pattern is necessary. It has now been found that exact registration of the print pattern to the lenticular pattern can be achieved by employing a chill roll that has been tooled on a modified electronic gravure engraver, such as those produced by Ohio Electronic Engraver (Dayton, Ohio), to produce the lenticular pattern of the lenticular-coated substrate in combination with printing from gravure print cylinders in which the gravure dot pattern has been engraved with line spacings identical to the chill roll lenticular pattern.
  • a modified electronic gravure engraver such as those produced by Ohio Electronic Engraver (Dayton, Ohio
  • the higher lens numbers and density of the gravure dot pattern obtainable with this process provides for a three-dimensional image superior quality, not only is the image of much higher resolution, Moiré patterns are eliminated and the colors reproduced more accurately. Further, because printing at a high dot density is possible, the thickness of the lenticular- coated substrate can be reduced while still allowing for a focused image. For instance, focused products can be produced using (16 mil) 0.4064mm lenticular-coated substrate and (180 lpi) 70.9 lens/cm; (12.5 mil) 0.3175mm lenticular-coated substrate and (220 lpi) 86.6 lens/cm; and (5 mil) 0.127mm lenticular-coated substrate and (300 lpi) 118.1 lens/cm.
  • this embodiment of the instant invention provides a process for producing a three-dimensional image which, in addition to the steps discussed above for producing the lenticular-coated substrate, calls for (A) cutting the lenticular pattern onto the chill roll with a precision gravure engraving machine such that the lenticular pattern comprises equally spaced lines; (B) color separating an image to produce a multiplicity of color-separated images; (C) for each color-separated image, engraving a gravure dot pattern with line spacings identical to the lenticular pattern onto a gravure print cylinder; and (D) printing the image onto the lower side of the substrate film.
  • a paper substrate on which the image has been printed can be utilized with the tie and lenticular layers coextruded onto it.
  • the lenticular-coated substrate can be manufactured and then used to overlay the image that has been printed on either paper, opaque plastic, or clear plastic.
  • phantom pigments can be integrated into proprietary polymer combinations to make the material photosensitive under specific light conditions.
  • Light sensitive inks can be added that can only be viewed under specific light sources.
  • the present invention further includes methods for manufacturing a microlens for packaging and printing.
  • Figure 16 illustrates an embodiment 1600 of a block flow diagram of an method for making a package having a microlens window according to the present invention.
  • a material suitable for extrusion is provided for forming the lenticular-coated substrate.
  • the lenticular-coated substrate of the microlens window 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900 is extruded.
  • the extrusion process comprises the steps of continuously advancing a plastic substrate film having an upper side and a lower side past an extrusion station; continuously coextruding a molten thermoplastic tie resin and a molten thermoplastic lenticular resin onto the upper side of the substrate film from the extrusion station to form a composite comprising a substrate layer, a tie layer and a lenticular layer such that the tie layer is superposed on the substrate film and the lenticular layer is superposed on the tie layer; and continuously advancing the composite past a chill roll to form the lenticular-coated substrate such that the lenticular layer of the composite contacts the chill roll to form a lenticular pattern.
  • the substrate film comprises an optically clear film
  • the tie resin comprises a clear adhesive polymer
  • the lenticular resin comprises a clear polymer
  • the thickness of the lenticular-coated substrate ranges from about (2.5 mils) 0.0635mm to about (20 mils) 0.508mm
  • the ratio of the thickness of the substrate layer to the sum of the thickness of the tie layer and the thickness of the lenticular layer ranges from about 0.5:1 to about 1:1
  • the ratio of the thickness of the lenticular layer to the thickness of the tie layer ranges from about 9:1 to about 4:1.
  • the graphical images 212, 312, 608, and 710 are interphased by providing the lenticular-coated substrate having a plurality of microlenses or lenticules extending in a first direction with a spacing between lenticules and having an ink-receptive surface disposed on a surface of the lenticular sheet, and providing a digital image data processing apparatus having a data storage, a data input/output interface, and raster image processing ("RIP") software, and providing an inkjet printer having a print head moved in a carriage direction by a servo, a light sensor for receiving an ambient light passing through the lenticular sheet and for generating a sensor signal in response, and a transmitter for transmitting the sensor signal to the input/output interface of the digital image processing apparatus, and a servo for moving the sensor in the carriage direction.
  • a digital image data processing apparatus having a data storage, a data input/output interface, and raster image processing ("RIP") software
  • RIP raster
  • a digital image file representing, in pixel form, an image for printing on the lenticular sheet is stored in the image data storage of the digital image processing apparatus.
  • the lenticular sheet is then fed or placed into the inkjet printer such that the lenticules extend in a direction perpendicular to the carriage direction.
  • a scan step moves the light sensor in the carriage direction to detect light through the lenticular sheet at a sequence of positions along the carriage direction and transmits corresponding sensor data to the digital image processing apparatus.
  • the digital image processing apparatus calculates a lenticule spacing data, representing an estimated value of the lenticule spacing, based on the sensor data transmitted by the scan step.
  • an image modification step generates a re-spaced digital image file based on the digital image file and the lenticule spacing data.
  • a printing step then prints an image on the lenticular sheet corresponding to the re-spaced digital image file.
  • General manufacturing steps for inter-phasing the lenticular-coated substrate are described in US. Pat. No. 6,709,080 issued 23 Mar 2004 to Nims et aL , U.S. Pat. No. 6,760,021 to Karszes et al. , U.S. Pat. No. 6,781,707 issued 24 Aug 2004 to Peters et al. , US. Pat. No.
  • the interphased graphical image 212, 312, 608, and 710 is attached to the microlens window 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900.
  • inner surfaces 208, 308, 614, and 714 are treated for ink receptivity.
  • the graphical images 212, 312, 608, and 710 are rendered into CYMK separations and printed onto the inner surfaces 208, 308, 614, and 714, respectively, of the microlens window 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900 using conventional printing devices, such as roll lithography or flexography. A final clear varnish or UV hard coating is added to the back of the print to allow for food contact.
  • General manufacturing steps for attaching the interphased graphical image to the microlens window 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900 is further described in the references mentioned above.
  • step 1610 a package 100 is provided to the system and in step 1612, the microlens window 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900 are heat sealed to the package 100. In another embodiment, these steps are undertaken using system 1400 as described above.
  • An oriented polyester is primered with a material such as Primex (TM) .
  • TM Primex
  • a 206 °C heat sealable polyethylene is extrusion coated to a total thickness of (12 mils) 0.3048mm to create a microlens window.
  • the cylindrical lens per image is package 100.
  • a zooming image is created with 12 frames. The frames are interphased with 6 clear frames and 6 image frames. The image is reverse printed on the back of the material. White pigment is added behind the image area only.
  • the piece when viewed at an off angle shows the product behind the microlens window. Curiosity as to what the consumer is viewing will drive the consumer to investigate the effect. Standard marketing data shows that once a consumer picks up a product there is an 80% chance that the consumer will buy the product.
  • the microlens window is made from the same material as in Example 1, but the lenticules are parabolic lenses with a shoulder.
  • the total thickness of the microlens window is 5 mils (0.127mm).
  • the microlens window as in either Example 2 or Example 3 is used with a three-dimensional inter-dispersed with a motion (flip) segment.
  • a multi-dimensional piece is designed with clear areas incorporated into the graphical images. Clear areas of different sizes as well as clear areas in a logo are incorporated so there is a discontinuous clear area in all portions of the microlens window.
  • the graphical images are printed on the microlens window as described herein.
  • the graphical image area in non-clear areas is composed of 12 frames.
  • the white opacity area is printed behind all non-clear areas. This product is seen through the "designed in see-through areas.”
  • the advantage is that there exists less alignment in the printing of deeper richer images, thus providing an eye-catching motion and eye-retention three-dimensional images and clear see-through images dispersed through-out the packaging.
  • microlens for packaging and printing. It should be understood that the particular embodiments described within this specification are for purposes of example and should not be construed to limit the invention. Further, it is evident that those skilled in the art may now make numerous uses and modifications of the specific embodiment described, without departing from the inventive concepts. For example, different types and numbers of microlens windows, materials for the microlens windows, and packages may be used without departing from the inventive concepts.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Wrappers (AREA)
  • Printing Methods (AREA)
  • Cartons (AREA)
  • Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)
  • Stereoscopic And Panoramic Photography (AREA)

Description

    CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
  • This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/778,108, filed 03 April 2006 .
  • FIELD OF THE INVENTION
  • The field of the invention relates generally to packaging and printing. More particularly, the invention relates to microlens windows having interphased images for packaging and printing.
  • BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
  • Today, flat plastic windows exist for paperboard containers. Some marketers of packaged goods use these transparent windows in their packaging to enable a consumer to see the actual product and the level of the product through the window of the packaging. This is done to increase visibility of the actual product that would otherwise be unviewable due to the packaging's non-transparent material of which the packaging or container is made. For example, certain packaging for liquid, such as gable-top containers, and the like, may be marketed and displayed with see- through windows made from a transparent film. The window is located strategically on the package or container body to enable a consumer to see the materials through the window. These windows add marketing appeal to the container.
  • Typically, these windows are heat-sealed to the inner surface of the container prior to folding and filling with it with its contents. To further this market appeal, any features added to the plastic window will further draw attention to the package. While straight printing can be used on the back of the flat plastic, the eye catching appeal is not as great as a plain window.
  • WO-A-96/22558 discloses a lenticular optical system in which a composite image formed by combined image strips is viewable through a lens sheet from a first angle and an object or image is viewable from a second angle. Optical designs and alignment processes are disclosed which make possible the economical production of thin materials which facilitate the manufacturing and utilization of the optical system in packaging and the like.
  • US-A-7,002,748 discloses a method of producing a package from lenticular sheet having anisotropic optical properties comprising the steps of providing a body of transparent material having a pair of opposing sides and an index of refraction greater than one; forming a plurality of lenses on the first side of said pair of opposing sides in pre-selected portions of the first side; forming a pre-determined package design from the lenticular sheet, and wherein the remainder of the first side of said pair of opposing sides outside the pre-selected lens portions is generally flat and transparent. The centre part of the lens can be left blank on the flat side when printing. This allows the sheet to be used in a package design, with verbiage, text or other images appearing at an angle by the viewer and the product within the package being visible from a straight on position.
  • SUMMARY
  • These and other problems are overcome and additional benefits are provided by the present Microlens Windows and Interphased Images for Packaging and Printing ("microlens for packaging and printing"). In one embodiment, the microlens for packaging and printing includes a new material and utilizes different techniques to create attractive and appealing products with see-through windows. The present microlens for packaging and printing incorporates multi-dimensional printing incorporated into microlens windows that are then manufactured as part of the packaging. The multi-dimensional printing includes three-dimensional, flipping, motion, and morphing imagery or any combination thereof. The functionality of the window is maintained with the present microlens for packaging and printing by including clear see-through portions located on the microlens windows. The eye-catching appeal increases the marketability of the package.
  • Moreover, the present microlens for packaging and printing adds security to the package, because the total system must be employed to manufacture the same packaged and printed products. The present microlens for packaging and printing also includes graphical images that produce anti-counterfeiting characteristics for printed material. The graphical images incorporated into the microlens for packaging and printing can change as desired to provide additional security features to the packaged and printed products. The wave and particle structure of the light being transmitted to a consumer's eye by the present microlens for packaging and printing makes it more difficult for unauthorized producers to create the same packaging.
  • The present microlens for packaging and printing can be used for promotional pieces and for all types of packaging such as soft drink cartons, cereal boxes, dry good boxes, toothpaste boxes, etc. The present microlens for packaging and printing enable the ability to catch the eye of a consumer while adding security features to the package through the integral graphical images that may not be duplicated. Some additional exemplary microlens for packaging and printing products include perfume bottles, premium liquor boxes, and over-the-counter pharmaceutical boxes. Also, the present microlens for packaging and printing maybe used for security cards, passports, ID cards, driver's licenses, stamp taxes, currency, documents, and the like. The present microlens for packaging and printing may be sealed to a container, package, or the like by heat sealing, gluing, or any other means of incorporation. In one aspect, if it is glued onto a package, the glue may be used to enable a user to peel and retain some promotional tag piece. The security aspect is retained as the tag piece identifies the product as original.
  • The present microlens for packaging and printing provides optical material coupled to computer interphased graphical images to produce a see-through microlens window for a container or any package benefiting from the see-through ability of the microlens window. The system is designed by controlling the imagery presented to the viewer's or consumer's eyes through light ray tracing technology. The final product produced by the system creates an eye-catching and eye-retaining microlens window that adds to the attractiveness of the product through innovative design. The system can also be used in all other forms of packaging by using the present microlens for packaging and printing to provide multi-dimensional images, symbols patterns, and optical material for labels, boxes, and containers to provide additional levels of anti-counterfeiting capability. The present system can be used for all forms of printed material from currency to passports. The physical structure of the microlens window makes the packaging impervious to alteration. The wave and particle of the light being transmitted from the microlens windows, created by the software of the system to the optical material, is transmitted to the eyes of a consumer and makes the fraudulent reproduction of the visual information in the end product very difficult. Additionally, the microlens construct is unique in of itself as the lens surface is the heat seal layer.
  • In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a package comprising: a body; and a microlens window located on said body, the microlens window comprising a plurality of lenticules extending from a first surface disposed about a portion of the inner surface of the body to a second surface disposed about a portion of the outer surface of the body, and at least one graphical image disposed on the first surface, whereby the microlens window displays the at least one graphical image in a first portion of said microlens window and the contents of said package through a second portion of said microlens window.
  • In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for making a package comprising: providing a package; providing a microlens window, the microlens window comprising a plurality of lenticules extending from a first surface located within the body to a second surface located outside of the package and at least one graphical image disposed on the first surface, whereby the microlens window displays the least one graphical image in a first portion of said microlens window and the contents of said package through a second portion of said microlens window; and sealing said microlens window into said package.
  • BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • Figure 1 illustrates a front view of a package including a microlens window according to an embodiment of the present invention;
  • Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of a microlens window according to Figure 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention;
  • Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of a microlens window according to another embodiment of the present invention;
  • Figure 4 illustrates a front view of the microlens window of Figure 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention;
  • Figure 5 illustrates a front view of a microlens window of Figure 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention;
  • Figure 6 illustrates a front view of the microlens window according to another embodiment of the present invention;
  • Figure 7 illustrates a bottom view of a microlens window according to another embodiment of the present invention;
  • Figure 8 illustrates a front view of a microlens window according to another embodiment of the present invention;
  • Figure 9 illustrates a front view of a microlens window according to another embodiment of the present invention; and
  • Figure 10 illustrates a perspective back view of a lenticule showing 6 frames according to an embodiment of the present invention;
  • Figure 11 illustrates a perspective front view of the lenticule of Figure 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention;
  • Figure 12 illustrates a perspective front view of a lenticule showing blank spots in the graphic attached to its back surface according to an embodiment of the present invention;
  • Figure 13 illustrates a perspective front view of a lenticule showing parallaxed blank spots in the graphic attached to its back surface according to an embodiment of the present invention;
  • Figure 14 illustrates a perspective view of a system for making packaging with microlens windows according to an embodiment of the present invention;
  • Figure 15 illustrates a top view of a heated shoe of Figure 14 according to the embodiment of the invention; and
  • Figure 16 illustrates a block flow diagram for the process for making a package with a microlens window according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
  • In the drawings, like or similar elements are designated with identical reference numerals throughout the several views and figures thereof, and various depicted elements may not be drawn necessarily to scale. Figure 1 illustrates an embodiment 100 of a package including a microlens window 104 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The package 100 includes one or more microlens windows 104. The package 100 may be a carton, box, container, or any other type of package used to contain and market a particular product, such as a liquid product. Package 100 includes a body 102 that is typically made from a transparent or non-transparent material that contains the product. The material may be any type of material suitable for containing the product within the package 100. For all materials a heat seal layer is included in the construct. The heat seal layer for the microlens material preferably is the lens layer. In one embodiment, specific types of lens materials are used where the lens surface is produced from a clear heat seal material such as EVA, EMA, LDPE, etc. Some exemplary materials are paperboard, plastic, and the like.
  • Turning to Figure 2, an embodiment of the microlens window 104 is shown. The microlens window 104 includes an outer surface 210 and an inner surface 208. In this embodiment, the outer surface 210 faces the consumer for viewing purposes and the inner surface 208 contacts the contents of the package 100. As can be seen, the microlens window 104 is made up of a plurality 204 of cylindrical lenticules 206. The lenticules 206 are spaced apart from each other by flat portions as can be seen in Figure 4. A graphical image 212, as discussed further below, is adjacent to the inner surface 208 of the microlens window 104.
  • Referring to Figure 3, another embodiment 300 of a microlens window is shown. The microlens window 300 further includes at least one or more "see-though" windows 314 that are randomly located in the interphased printed image. The designed image allows the contents of the carton to be viewed through the image from the top to the bottom of the piece in a non-continuous yet aesthetically pleasing manner.
  • In Figure 4, a front view of the microlens window 104 is shown. Microlens window 104 includes lenticules 206 that overlap graphical images 212 as further described below. Adjacent to the lenticules 206 are flat portions 402 that are clear, thus enabling a consumer to view the contents of the package 100.
  • In Figure 5, a front view of the microlens window 300 is shown. Microlens window 300 includes lenticules 306 that overlap graphical images 312 as further described below. In addition, adjacent to the lenticules 306 are flat portions 502 that are clear, thus enabling a consumer to view the contents of the package 100 as noted above. Moreover, microlens window 300 shows the see-through windows 314 oriented randomly in the graphical image 312 of the lenticules 306. Although only three lenticules 206 and 306 are shown in Figures 4 and 5, respectively, as described below, any desired number of lenticules 206 and 306 may be used.
  • In Figure 6, another embodiment 600 of a microlens window is shown. In this embodiment, microlens window 600 is used in place of or in addition to the other microlens windows described above. Microlens window 600 includes a plurality of lenticules 610, each lenticule includes a clear beveled edge 604 on each side of a flat portion 606 that overlaps the graphical images 608 adjacent to them as further described below. This provides a consumer with a graphical image that may change as their eyes move relative to the microlens window 600 in the direction of the arrow 610. Microlens window 600 includes an outer surface 612 and an inner surface 614. In this embodiment, the outer surface 612 faces the consumer for viewing purposes and the inner surface 614 contacts the contents of the package 100.
  • In Figure 7, another embodiment 700 of a microlens window is shown. In this embodiment, microlens window 700 is used in place of or in addition to the other microlens windows described above. The microlens window 700 includes shoulders 706 near the edges of the microlens window 700. Preferably, the shoulders 706 extend around a portion or the entire perimeter of the microlens window 700. The shoulders 706 enable a consumer to view the contents of the package 100 around the perimeter of the microlens window 700. The microlens window 700 includes a plurality 704 of cylindrical lenticules 702. As can be seen from Figure 7, there are graphical images 710 located adjacent to each lenticule 702. In this embodiment, there are clear flat portions 708 located between each lenticule 702. Similar to the shoulders 706, there are no graphical images located adjacent to the flat portions 708 of the microlens window 700. Flat portions 708 and shoulders 706 enable clear viewing of the contents of the package 100 while displaying the graphical images 710 through lenticules 702 to a consumer as they view the package 100.
  • In Figure 8, another embodiment 800 of a microlens window is shown. In this embodiment, microlens window 800 is used in place of or in addition to the other microlens windows described above. The microlens window 800 includes a plurality of parabolic lenticules 802 and shoulders 802 located approximately at the intersections of the parabolic lenticules 802. Preferably, graphical images are located behind each lenticule 802 similar to those described herein. In this embodiment, the shoulders. 804 are clear flat portions. Preferably, there are no graphical images located behind the shoulders 804 of the microlens window 800. Shoulders 804 enable clear viewing of the contents of the package 100 while displaying the graphical images through lenticules 802 to a consumer as they view the package 100. Figure 9 illustrates another embodiment of a microlens window 900 that does not include shoulders between the parabolic lenticules 902. Microlens windows 800 and 900 also have inner and outer surfaces similar to those described and shown herein. Random fly's eye lens will have no image behind them thus rendering them clear as see through elements.
  • Turning to Figure 10, an embodiment 1000 of an individual lenticule is depicted with 6 frames 1002, 1004, 1006, 1008, 1010, and 1012. The following description relates to lenticule 1000, but is applicable to any of the lenticules described herein. Also shown is a graphical image 1014 that has been interphased according to the disclosure herein that may be attached to the back surface 1016 of the lenticule 1000. As described herein, different views of a particular graphical image 1014 or graphical images are cut or sliced into segments and then interphased together to produce a finished interphased graphical image 1014 that is aligned attached to the back surface 1016 such that each segment of the interphased graphical image 1014 aligns with a particular panel 1002, 1004, 1006, 1008, 1010, and 1012. The segments are interphased in a mathematical manner, such as ray tracing, so that a desired segment is directly behind a desired panel 1002, 1004, 1006, 1008, 1010, and 1012. For three-dimensional graphical images, the graphical images are of the same scene, but slightly offset (parallax). The left and right eyes of a consumer or viewer sees the two different offset scenes and perceives the depth of the graphical image. In the case of flips, morphs, etc., a consumer or viewer's eyes view the same scene at any given angle, but at another angle will see another, thus perceiving the flip, morph, or zoom effects.
  • Referring to Figure 11, an embodiment 1100 of the individual lenticule of Figure 10 is shown where panels 1112 and 1110 are blank with no graphical image attached to the back surface on these panels. Panels 1102 - 1108 do have a graphical image 1114 attached to the back surface such as to cover panels 1102 - 1108, thus producing an interphased graphical image 1114 to a viewer or consumer. In the flip, morph, or zoom effect, the blank panels 1112 and 1110 could be left blank with no graphical image 1114 attached to the back surface. In another aspect, the graphical image 1114 could be made so as to incorporate entire blank panels for affixing adjacent to panels 1112 and 1110. In addition, the lenticules 1100 may work for three-dimensional imagery as well. Depending on the desired effect, any number of panels can be left blank, thus enabling a viewer or consumer to view the contents of the package 100 through the microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900 that incorporate these lenticules 1100.
  • In Figure 12, an embodiment 1200 of an individual lenticule is depicted having six panels 1212 with blank spots 1214, 1216, and 1218 in the graphical image (not shown) attached to the back surface of the lenticule 1200. The blank spots 1214, 1216, and 1218 may be inserted into the graphical image after the graphical image is interphased by the system's software and hardware. Thus, the blank spots 1214 show up as bubble or circular blank spots 1214 and 1216, although any shape of blank spots may be used as desired.
  • Figure 13 depicts an embodiment 1300 of an individual lenticule that includes interphased blank spots 1314 annd 1316 in the graphical image (not shown) prior to attaching to the panels 1302 - 1312. In this embodiment, the blank spots 1314 and 1316 are part of the graphical image prior to interphasing, thus they appear as sliced blank spots 1314 and 1316, as shown in Figure 13.
  • Figure 14 depicts an embodiment 1400 of a system for producing package 100 including any of the microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900. System 1400 includes an upper heated tractor (conveyor) 1402 and a lower continuous conveyor 1405. Figure 15 depicts an embodiment of a heated shoe 1408, showing an outer perimeter 1502 forming a cavity therebetween. The outer perimeter 1502 applies pressure to the outside perimeter of the hole in the package to bond the piece of lenticular material to the package. In this embodiment, one system 1400 is shown, but any number of conveyors can be used in the process. Upper heated tractor 1402 includes pulleys 1404 that transport a belt 1406 in the direction of the arrow shown adjacent to the belt 1406. The belt 1406 includes several heated shoes 1408 that are located on outer surface of the belt 1406 and move along in the same direction as the belt 1406. The lower continuous conveyor 1405 includes pulleys 1410 that transport a belt 1412 in the direction as shown by the arrow located at the end of pulley 1410.
  • A stack of cartons 1428 feeds individual folded cartons 1416 onto belt 1412 that then are transported under cutting station 1430 where a piece of lenticular piece is cut from a roll of lenticular material 1426 as described herein. The cut lenticular pieces are indexed, one to a carton 1416, onto the carton 1416. In one embodiment, the cut pieces of lenticular material are glued to an opening (hole) in the carton 1416 by applying a hot glue from a hot melt applicator 1422 via pipe 1424 onto the carton 1416 prior to the piece of lenticular material being placed on the carton 1416. In another embodiment, if the cut piece of lenticular material is being applied by hot lamination, then no hot melt is used. Hold down bars 1418 hold the pieces in alignment until the cut piece of lenticular material and the carton 1416 enter the nip (between upper heated tractor 1402 and lower continuous conveyor 1405) where the heated shoe 1408 comes in contact with the two pieces. The speeds of the upper heated tractor 1402 and lower continuous conveyor 1405 are matched so the heated shoe aligns to the outer edges of the microlens window and the hole in the carton 1416. The two pieces are transported further along the upper heated tractor 1402 and lower continuous conveyor 1405 while constant pressure is exerted upwardly and downwardly by rollers 1414 as shown by the arrows. This pressure and heat bonds the lenticular material to form a container (package) with a microlens window and the package exits the end of the system 1400. In one embodiment, the belt velocity is approximately (80 feet) 24,3 per minute with five of such systems 1400. In this embodiment, the heated shoe 1408 is heated to approximately (220°F) 104.4°C. In this embodiment, heat is applied to the heated shoes 1408 by a heater, such as an electric heater located in each heated shoe 1408. Electricity is provided to the heated shoes 1408 by a commentator system in the upper heated tractor 1402. This results in approximately 400 packages 100 per minute being bonded.
  • The opacity of the microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900 may be controlled by the white backing printed on the back of the aforementioned interphased images composed in the graphical images 212, 312, 608, and 710. Preferably, all shoulders and flat portions should be clear or transparent. Nevertheless, if it is desired to simply have the ability to easily display the level of the contents of the package 100, then the density of the white backing material can be designed to allow the density of the material to create a darker portion in the microlens window.
  • In one embodiment, the microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900 have a lens count of between (50 and 4,000 lens per inch)("LPI") 19.7 and 1575 lens/cm. Preferably, the microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900 are parabolic, spherical, aspherical, or cylindrical.
  • Preferably, the material of the microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900 is an extrusion lenticular-coated substrate, such as biaxial oriented polyester, (OPET), or amorphous polyester (APET), or any other clear stable plastic film. The lenticular-coated substrate is either primed or unprimed and then coated with a heat sealable polymer, such as EMA, EVA, EBA, PP plus Clarifier, PE, or any other clear heat-sealable resin. During the extrusion coating process the film has microlenses embossed into the surface creating a micro-optical lens array.
  • The material of the microlens window 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900 is preferably dependent on the heat sealing temperatures and residence time in the process for adding the microlens window 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900 to the body 102 of the package 100. Some additional considerations when choosing the material of the microlens window 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900 include: its approval for use with the contact of food, its non-blocking ability (non- sticking under normal roll formation during extrusion coating), its non-sticking during normal handling conditions (does not collect dust and is hard to the touch when handled by the consumer), its resistance to puncture, its stability in various environmental conditions (ambient, refrigerated, or heated), and its durability to pass through all normal form fill and seal machinery creating the finished package without degradation and/or delaminating.
  • The graphical images 212, 312, 406, 506, 608, and 710 are special computer generated graphical images that are sliced up digital images and then recombined into interphased digital masters. The algorithm slices up the images to match the spacing of the overlying lenticules of each microlens windows. The combination of combined images and microlens windows are designed to project to the human eye information that will make the image appear three-dimensional, morphed, zoomed, or any combination thereof. Inter-dispersed within the digital slices are clear slices with no printing. These clear areas are designed so when the viewer's eye hit the appropriate zones(s) the contents of the packaging, carton, box, etc can be viewed through the microlens window 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900.
  • Graphical images 212, 312, 406, 506, 608, and 710 are shown adjacent to the inner side of the microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900. Adhesives may be used to connect the graphical images 212, 312, 406, 506, 608, and 710 to the microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900.
  • In yet a further aspect of the present invention, security cards, documents, etc. may utilize the microlens windows 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900 to place images and visual information at different optical levels in the material used. This placement can be from one level to 10,000 times 100 levels. The material for security cards, etc., can be used as a platform to include covert features to go along with overt anti-counterfeiting features included. Some exemplary covert features include: taggants, digital watermarks, smart chips, bar codes, magnetic strips, and all other machine-readable technologies.
  • The plastic substrate films suitable for use in this invention include any clear plastic film, particularly any optically clear film. The particular film used depends, in large part, upon characteristics, such as strength, curl, thermostability, lifetime or low cost, that are desired for the end application of the lenticular-coated substrate. For instance, biaxially oriented films typically give good mechanical stability but are relatively extensive while non-oriented films give less strength but are usually considerably less costly. Typical examples of suitable plastic substrate films include but are not limited to biaxially oriented polyester film, biaxially oriented polypropylene film, non-oriented polypropylene film and non-oriented polyethylene terephthalate film. Coated or pretreated plastic films, such as MELINEX 504.RTM. (ICI, Wilmington, Del.) are useful to control the degree of adhesion between the substrate film and the adhesion layer for sealing to the package 100.
  • The thermoplastic lenticular resins suitable for use in this invention include any clear polymer that can be extruded. The lenticular resin used to manufacture a particular lenticular-coated substrate is selected primarily based upon the end application of the lenticular-coated substrate and the resin's ease of processing, mar resistance, clarity, and cost. As with the adhesion resin, the lenticular resin must be compatible with the selected adhesion resin from a coextrusion point of view; the rheology of these two resins must match so as to enable the two resins to flow together with little or no shear. Typical examples of lenticular resins include but are not limited to polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, and mixtures containing these polymers. Balancing layer resins suitable for use in this invention include those resins specified above for lenticular resins. Subbing resins and/ or films are any clear uniform substance which meet the end use application, such as ink, gel emulsion or adhesive receptability.
  • Additionally, a pretreated substrate film can be used in which the pretreatment inhibit bonding of the substrate layer to the tie layer to produce a strippable lenticular (or nonlenticular) product. For instance, MELENIX 504®, which is a plastic film that has been primed for solvent ink acceptance on the upper side, has been found to inhibit bonding of the substrate layer to the tie or adhesion layer. Suitable tie resins used in combination with this film include ethylene methyl ethyl acrylate. Furthermore, exposure of the upper side of the pretreated substrate film, such as MELINEX 504®, to corona treatment prior to coextrusion onto the substrate can be used to control the force of adhesion between the substrate layer and the tie layer. For example, the force of adhesion between the substrate layer (MELINEX 504®) and the tie layer (ethylene methyl ethyl acrylate) varied from about (125 g/in) 49.2g/cm to about (250 g/in) 98.4g/cm as the MELINEX 504® was exposed to 0 kW to 2.5 kW of corona treatment, respectively. Above 2.5 kW, the force of adhesion decreased and leveled off at about (200 g/in) 78.75g/cm.
  • In another embodiment of the instant invention, the lenticular-coated substrate is further processed to produce a superior quality three-dimensional image. In order to manufacture quality three-dimensional imagery, registration of the print pattern to the lenticular pattern is necessary. It has now been found that exact registration of the print pattern to the lenticular pattern can be achieved by employing a chill roll that has been tooled on a modified electronic gravure engraver, such as those produced by Ohio Electronic Engraver (Dayton, Ohio), to produce the lenticular pattern of the lenticular-coated substrate in combination with printing from gravure print cylinders in which the gravure dot pattern has been engraved with line spacings identical to the chill roll lenticular pattern. Because electronic engraving allows a high degree of accuracy in matching the tooling accuracy for the chill roll and the print cylinders, exact registration of the print pattern to the lenticular pattern can be obtained. Because of the high registration accuracy obtainable by cutting all cylinders on the same machine with line spacings held constant relative to the accuracy of the electronics, it is not necessary to use low lense numbers for the lenticular pattern, e.g., (80 to 120 lpi) 31.5 to 47.2 lens/cm, to allow for inexact registration. Furthermore, because gravure printing rather than lithographic or other conventional printing means are employed, printing at greater than (180 dots/in) 70.9 dots/cm, preferably greater than about (200-500 dots/in) 78.8-196.8 dots/cm is possible. The higher lens numbers and density of the gravure dot pattern obtainable with this process provides for a three-dimensional image superior quality, not only is the image of much higher resolution, Moiré patterns are eliminated and the colors reproduced more accurately. Further, because printing at a high dot density is possible, the thickness of the lenticular- coated substrate can be reduced while still allowing for a focused image. For instance, focused products can be produced using (16 mil) 0.4064mm lenticular-coated substrate and (180 lpi) 70.9 lens/cm; (12.5 mil) 0.3175mm lenticular-coated substrate and (220 lpi) 86.6 lens/cm; and (5 mil) 0.127mm lenticular-coated substrate and (300 lpi) 118.1 lens/cm.
  • Thus, this embodiment of the instant invention provides a process for producing a three-dimensional image which, in addition to the steps discussed above for producing the lenticular-coated substrate, calls for (A) cutting the lenticular pattern onto the chill roll with a precision gravure engraving machine such that the lenticular pattern comprises equally spaced lines; (B) color separating an image to produce a multiplicity of color-separated images; (C) for each color-separated image, engraving a gravure dot pattern with line spacings identical to the lenticular pattern onto a gravure print cylinder; and (D) printing the image onto the lower side of the substrate film. Alternatively, a paper substrate on which the image has been printed can be utilized with the tie and lenticular layers coextruded onto it. Additionally, the lenticular-coated substrate can be manufactured and then used to overlay the image that has been printed on either paper, opaque plastic, or clear plastic.
  • In addition, in printing for all other forms of packaging and printing beside the see through cartons, phantom pigments can be integrated into proprietary polymer combinations to make the material photosensitive under specific light conditions. Light sensitive inks can be added that can only be viewed under specific light sources.
  • In addition to the aforementioned aspects and embodiments of the present microlens for packaging and printing, the present invention further includes methods for manufacturing a microlens for packaging and printing.
  • Figure 16 illustrates an embodiment 1600 of a block flow diagram of an method for making a package having a microlens window according to the present invention. In step 1602, a material suitable for extrusion is provided for forming the lenticular-coated substrate. In step 1604, the lenticular-coated substrate of the microlens window 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900 is extruded. Preferably the extrusion process comprises the steps of continuously advancing a plastic substrate film having an upper side and a lower side past an extrusion station; continuously coextruding a molten thermoplastic tie resin and a molten thermoplastic lenticular resin onto the upper side of the substrate film from the extrusion station to form a composite comprising a substrate layer, a tie layer and a lenticular layer such that the tie layer is superposed on the substrate film and the lenticular layer is superposed on the tie layer; and continuously advancing the composite past a chill roll to form the lenticular-coated substrate such that the lenticular layer of the composite contacts the chill roll to form a lenticular pattern.
  • According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the substrate film comprises an optically clear film, the tie resin comprises a clear adhesive polymer, the lenticular resin comprises a clear polymer, the thickness of the lenticular-coated substrate ranges from about (2.5 mils) 0.0635mm to about (20 mils) 0.508mm, the ratio of the thickness of the substrate layer to the sum of the thickness of the tie layer and the thickness of the lenticular layer ranges from about 0.5:1 to about 1:1, and the ratio of the thickness of the lenticular layer to the thickness of the tie layer ranges from about 9:1 to about 4:1. General manufacturing steps for fabricating the lenticular-coated substrate are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,351 issued 08 Nov 1994 to Karszes and US. Pat. No. 6,060,003 issued 09 May 2000 to Karszes , which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
  • In step 1606, the graphical images 212, 312, 608, and 710 are interphased by providing the lenticular-coated substrate having a plurality of microlenses or lenticules extending in a first direction with a spacing between lenticules and having an ink-receptive surface disposed on a surface of the lenticular sheet, and providing a digital image data processing apparatus having a data storage, a data input/output interface, and raster image processing ("RIP") software, and providing an inkjet printer having a print head moved in a carriage direction by a servo, a light sensor for receiving an ambient light passing through the lenticular sheet and for generating a sensor signal in response, and a transmitter for transmitting the sensor signal to the input/output interface of the digital image processing apparatus, and a servo for moving the sensor in the carriage direction.
  • Next, a digital image file representing, in pixel form, an image for printing on the lenticular sheet is stored in the image data storage of the digital image processing apparatus. The lenticular sheet is then fed or placed into the inkjet printer such that the lenticules extend in a direction perpendicular to the carriage direction. Next a scan step moves the light sensor in the carriage direction to detect light through the lenticular sheet at a sequence of positions along the carriage direction and transmits corresponding sensor data to the digital image processing apparatus. The digital image processing apparatus then calculates a lenticule spacing data, representing an estimated value of the lenticule spacing, based on the sensor data transmitted by the scan step. Next an image modification step generates a re-spaced digital image file based on the digital image file and the lenticule spacing data. A printing step then prints an image on the lenticular sheet corresponding to the re-spaced digital image file. General manufacturing steps for inter-phasing the lenticular-coated substrate are described in US. Pat. No. 6,709,080 issued 23 Mar 2004 to Nims et aL , U.S. Pat. No. 6,760,021 to Karszes et al. , U.S. Pat. No. 6,781,707 issued 24 Aug 2004 to Peters et al. , US. Pat. No. 7,019,865 issued 28 Mar 2006 to Nims et aL , U.S. Pat. App. No. 09/988,382 filed 19 Nov 2001 to Nims et al. , now abandoned, and US. Pat. App. No. 10/025,835 filed 26 Dec 2001 by Karszes et al. , now abandoned, which are all incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
  • In step 1608, the interphased graphical image 212, 312, 608, and 710 is attached to the microlens window 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900. Preferably, inner surfaces 208, 308, 614, and 714 are treated for ink receptivity. The graphical images 212, 312, 608, and 710 are rendered into CYMK separations and printed onto the inner surfaces 208, 308, 614, and 714, respectively, of the microlens window 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900 using conventional printing devices, such as roll lithography or flexography. A final clear varnish or UV hard coating is added to the back of the print to allow for food contact. General manufacturing steps for attaching the interphased graphical image to the microlens window 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900 is further described in the references mentioned above.
  • In step 1610, a package 100 is provided to the system and in step 1612, the microlens window 104, 300, 600, 700, 800, and 900 are heat sealed to the package 100. In another embodiment, these steps are undertaken using system 1400 as described above.
  • Some examples of the present microlens for packaging and printing are provided below.
  • EXAMPLE 1
  • An oriented polyester is primered with a material such as Primex(™). A 206 °C heat sealable polyethylene is extrusion coated to a total thickness of (12 mils) 0.3048mm to create a microlens window. The cylindrical lens per image is package 100. A zooming image is created with 12 frames. The frames are interphased with 6 clear frames and 6 image frames. The image is reverse printed on the back of the material. White pigment is added behind the image area only. As a consumer walks by the carton, distinct motion due to the zooming effect is noted. The piece when viewed at an off angle shows the product behind the microlens window. Curiosity as to what the consumer is viewing will drive the consumer to investigate the effect. Standard marketing data shows that once a consumer picks up a product there is an 80% chance that the consumer will buy the product.
  • EXAMPLE 2
  • The microlens window is made from the same material as in Example 1, but the lenticules are parabolic lenses with a shoulder. The total thickness of the microlens window is 5 mils (0.127mm).
  • EXAMPLE 3
  • The microlens window as in either Example 2 or Example 3 is used with a three-dimensional inter-dispersed with a motion (flip) segment.
  • EXAMPLE 4
  • A multi-dimensional piece is designed with clear areas incorporated into the graphical images. Clear areas of different sizes as well as clear areas in a logo are incorporated so there is a discontinuous clear area in all portions of the microlens window. The graphical images are printed on the microlens window as described herein. The graphical image area in non-clear areas is composed of 12 frames. The white opacity area is printed behind all non-clear areas. This product is seen through the "designed in see-through areas." The advantage is that there exists less alignment in the printing of deeper richer images, thus providing an eye-catching motion and eye-retention three-dimensional images and clear see-through images dispersed through-out the packaging.
  • There has been described a microlens for packaging and printing. It should be understood that the particular embodiments described within this specification are for purposes of example and should not be construed to limit the invention. Further, it is evident that those skilled in the art may now make numerous uses and modifications of the specific embodiment described, without departing from the inventive concepts. For example, different types and numbers of microlens windows, materials for the microlens windows, and packages may be used without departing from the inventive concepts.

Claims (27)

  1. A package (100) comprising:
    a body (102); and
    a microlens window (104) located on said body (102), the microlens window (104) comprising a plurality (204) of lenticules (206) extending from a first surface disposed about a portion of the inner surface of the body (102) to a second surface disposed about a portion of the outer surface of the body (102), and at least one graphical image (212) disposed on the first surface, characterised in that the microlens window (104) displays the at least one graphical image (212) in a first portion of said microlens window (104) while displaying the contents of said package (100) through a second portion of said microlens window (104).
  2. The package of claim 1, wherein said microlens window (104) comprises a material is selected from the group consisting of biaxial oriented polyester, biaxial oriented polyethylene terephthlate (OPET), amorphous polyester (APET), and clear stable plastic films.
  3. The package of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said microlens window (104) comprises:
    a lenticular- coated substrate.
  4. The package of claim 3, wherein said coating is a heat sealable polymer.
  5. The package of claim 4, wherein said heat sealable polymer is selected from the group consisting of EMA, EVA, EBA, PP plus Clarifier, PE, and clear heat-sealable resins.
  6. The package of any of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one graphical image (212) comprises:
    an outer surface that seals with said body (102) and an inner surface that contacts said contents, wherein said at least one graphical image (212) is printed on said inner surface.
  7. The package of claim 6, wherein said inner surface further comprises a food safe coating.
  8. The package of any of the preceding claims, wherein said microlens window (104) further comprises:
    at least one see-through window (314) located on said outer surface for enabling viewing of said contents through said see-through window (314).
  9. The package of claim 1, wherein said plurality (204) of lenticules (206) is selected from the group consisting of parabolic, spherical, aspherical, and cylindrical lenticules (206).
  10. The package of claim 1 or claim 8, further comprising:
    flat clear portions (502) interposed between said plurality (204) of lenticules (206), wherein said at least one graphical image (212) is not interposed between said flat clear portion (502) and said contents for enabling viewing of said contents there through.
  11. The package of any of claims 1, 9 and 10, wherein said plurality (204) of lenticules (206) have a lens count of from (about 50 to about 4,000 lenses per inch) about 19.7 to about 1575 lenses per cm.
  12. The package of any of the preceding claims, wherein said microlens window (104) further comprises:
    a flat clear shoulder (706) located around the perimeter of said microlens window (104), wherein said at least one graphical image (212) is not interposed between said flat clear shoulder (706) and said contents for enabling viewing of said contents there through.
  13. The package of any of the preceding claims, wherein said microlens window (104) further comprises:
    at least one flat lenticule (206) between two clear beveled edges (604), wherein said at least one graphical image (212) is not interposed between said two beveled edges (604) and said contents for enabling viewing of said contents there through.
  14. The package of any of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one graphical image (212) is interphased to provide three-dimensional images.
  15. The package of any of the preceding claims, wherein said microlens window (104) comprises a transparent thermoplastic material.
  16. The package of claim 1 wherein said package (100) is selected from the group consisting of cartons, boxes, containers, soft drink cartons, cereal boxes, dry good boxes, toothpaste boxes, perfume bottles, premium liquor boxes, and over-the-counter pharmaceutical boxes.
  17. The package of claim 1, wherein the one graphical image (212) is displayed as the contents are viewable.
  18. The package of claim 1, wherein the at least one graphical image (212) and contents are portions of a security document, and the at least one graphic image (212) is projected at a different optical level from the contents.
  19. The package of claim 1, wherein the at least one graphical image (212) includes at least one window (314).
  20. A method for making a package comprising:
    providing a package (100);
    providing a microlens window (104), the microlens window (104) comprising a plurality (204) of lenticules (206) extending from a first surface located within the body (102) to a second surface located outside of the package (100) and at least one graphical image (212) disposed on the first surface, whereby the microlens window (104) displays the least one graphical image (212) in a first portion of said microlens window (104) while displaying the contents of said package (100) through a second portion of said microlens window (104); and
    sealing said microlens window (104) into said package (100).
  21. The method for making a package of claim 20 wherein said providing said microlens window (104) further comprises:
    Extruding a thermoplastic material to create a lenticular substrate having a plurality (204) of lenticules (206).
  22. The method for making a package of claim 21 wherein said providing said microlens window (104) further comprises:
    interphasing at least one graphical image (212) onto said microlens window (104) to provide the interphased images are interposed between said plurality (204) of lenticules (206) and the interior of said package (100).
  23. The method for making a package of claim 21 wherein said providing said microlens window (104) further comprises:
    coating a surface of said microlens window (104) with a clear hard coating.
  24. The method for making a package of claim 20 wherein said sealing comprises: sealing said microlens window (104) to said package.
  25. The method of claim 20 wherein the one graphical image (212) is displayed as the contents are viewable.
  26. The method of claim 20, wherein the at least one graphical image (212) and contents are portions of a security document, and the at least one graphic image (212) is projected at a different optical level from the contents.
  27. The method of claim 20, wherein the at least one graphical image (212) includes at least one window (314).
EP07754710.7A 2006-04-03 2007-04-02 Microlens windows and interphased images for packaging and printing and methods for manufacture Expired - Fee Related EP2007639B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US78810806P 2006-04-03 2006-04-03
PCT/US2007/008227 WO2007117408A2 (en) 2006-04-03 2007-04-02 Microlens windows and interphased images for packaging and printing and methods for maufacture

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2007639A2 EP2007639A2 (en) 2008-12-31
EP2007639B1 true EP2007639B1 (en) 2013-10-16

Family

ID=38521149

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP07754710.7A Expired - Fee Related EP2007639B1 (en) 2006-04-03 2007-04-02 Microlens windows and interphased images for packaging and printing and methods for manufacture

Country Status (10)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2007639B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2009532301A (en)
CN (1) CN101522536B (en)
AU (1) AU2007235494B2 (en)
BR (1) BRPI0709794A2 (en)
CA (1) CA2647739C (en)
MX (1) MX2008012764A (en)
NZ (1) NZ571742A (en)
RU (1) RU2412096C2 (en)
WO (1) WO2007117408A2 (en)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP5334160B2 (en) * 2008-08-08 2013-11-06 Necエナジーデバイス株式会社 Battery pack with nameplate
EP2431300A1 (en) 2010-09-16 2012-03-21 Philip Morris Products S.A. Container having transparent optical element
CN103237735B (en) * 2010-12-03 2015-04-22 目立康株式会社 Packaged product and method for manufacturing packaged product
GB201205243D0 (en) 2012-03-26 2012-05-09 Kraft Foods R & D Inc Packaging and method of opening
GB2511559B (en) 2013-03-07 2018-11-14 Mondelez Uk R&D Ltd Improved Packaging and Method of Forming Packaging
GB2511560B (en) 2013-03-07 2018-11-14 Mondelez Uk R&D Ltd Improved Packaging and Method of Forming Packaging
GB2545165A (en) * 2015-11-24 2017-06-14 Kraft Foods R&D Inc Packaging
JPWO2021075281A1 (en) * 2019-10-15 2021-04-22

Family Cites Families (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH0378662U (en) * 1989-12-04 1991-08-09
WO1993013929A1 (en) 1992-01-15 1993-07-22 Karszes William M Method of making lenticular plastics and products therefrom
CN2224082Y (en) * 1994-01-27 1996-04-10 苏州大学科教仪器厂 Microlens decorative material
WO1996009154A1 (en) 1994-09-23 1996-03-28 Karszes William M Method of making lenticular plastics
US5642226A (en) * 1995-01-18 1997-06-24 Rosenthal; Bruce A. Lenticular optical system
JP3627304B2 (en) * 1995-08-22 2005-03-09 大日本印刷株式会社 Ionizing radiation curable resin composition for optical articles, optical article and surface light source
DE29516891U1 (en) * 1995-10-25 1995-12-14 Walz, Dieter, 64658 Fürth Container acting as a magnifying glass
CN1126970C (en) * 1996-01-17 2003-11-05 布鲁斯·A·罗森塔尔 Lenticular optical system
DE29615645U1 (en) * 1996-09-07 1996-10-24 Hammers, Hans, 20354 Hamburg CD packaging
JPH1149175A (en) * 1997-08-01 1999-02-23 Toppan Printing Co Ltd Container formed with lenticular display
US7001654B2 (en) * 2001-03-07 2006-02-21 Ccl Label, Inc. Lenticular label manufacture
US6781761B2 (en) * 2002-08-29 2004-08-24 Mark A. Raymond Lenticular lens system and method for use in producing images with clear-walled containers
US20040182917A1 (en) * 2003-01-16 2004-09-23 International Paper Company Box with lenticular lens insert
US7002748B1 (en) * 2003-02-21 2006-02-21 Conley Kenneth E Method of producing a package from a sheet having lenticular lens in pre-selected areas
JP2005066953A (en) * 2003-08-21 2005-03-17 Kuraray Co Ltd Manufacturing method of lenticular lens sheet and lenticular lens sheet
JP4637511B2 (en) * 2004-06-23 2011-02-23 則司 大石 Scanning stereoscopic image capturing device
JP4580805B2 (en) * 2005-04-04 2010-11-17 大日本印刷株式会社 Light converging sheet, surface light source device, transmissive display device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2007117408A2 (en) 2007-10-18
AU2007235494B2 (en) 2012-11-29
MX2008012764A (en) 2008-11-14
RU2412096C2 (en) 2011-02-20
WO2007117408A3 (en) 2007-11-29
RU2008143345A (en) 2010-05-10
CA2647739A1 (en) 2007-10-18
AU2007235494A1 (en) 2007-10-18
EP2007639A2 (en) 2008-12-31
BRPI0709794A2 (en) 2011-07-26
JP2009532301A (en) 2009-09-10
CN101522536A (en) 2009-09-02
NZ571742A (en) 2011-08-26
CA2647739C (en) 2014-06-17
CN101522536B (en) 2013-05-15

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US7927448B2 (en) Microlens windows and interphased images for packaging and printing and methods for manufacture
EP2007639B1 (en) Microlens windows and interphased images for packaging and printing and methods for manufacture
US6494491B1 (en) Object with an optical effect
US8248702B2 (en) Thin film high definition dimensional image display device and methods of making same
US7465369B2 (en) Method of fabricating containers with integral lenticular systems and inner label inserts
US6424467B1 (en) High definition lenticular lens
US8964297B2 (en) Thin film high definition dimensional image display device and methods of making same
US7480100B1 (en) Lenticular devices using sets of lenses to display paired sets of interlaces of images
US20100018644A1 (en) Method and assembly for personalized three-dimensional products
CN105723439A (en) Label for identifying genuine article using plurality of nanostructures and three-dimensional lens
EP1767381B1 (en) Article with optical effect
JP2020131043A (en) Transparent jigsaw puzzle
US20070281134A1 (en) Coated rigid plastic packaging materials with holographic image applied at press speed
JP6467848B2 (en) Packaging container and method for manufacturing packaging container

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20081027

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: AL BA HR MK RS

RBV Designated contracting states (corrected)

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT

RTI1 Title (correction)

Free format text: MICROLENS WINDOWS AND INTERPHASED IMAGES FOR PACKAGING AND PRINTING AND METHODS FOR MANUFACTURE

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20111028

DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE FR GB IT

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602007033359

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20131212

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 602007033359

Country of ref document: DE

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20131016

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20140717

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 602007033359

Country of ref document: DE

Effective date: 20140717

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: PLFP

Year of fee payment: 10

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20160427

Year of fee payment: 10

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20160426

Year of fee payment: 10

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20160427

Year of fee payment: 10

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 602007033359

Country of ref document: DE

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20170402

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

Effective date: 20171229

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20171103

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20170502

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20170402