PRODUCTION SYSTEM, PROCESS AND MODULAR FRAGRANCE UNIT FOR PROCESSING AND/OR FINISHING A PRINT SUBSTRATE

Abstract

A modular production system for processing and/or finishing a print substrate, with a plurality of modular units, is characterized in that the modular units comprise a modular fragrance unit, which is designed to apply a fragrance to the print substrate. Furthermore, a method is disclosed for processing and/or finishing a print substrate. Finally, a modular fragrance unit for processing and/or finishing a print substrate is disclosed.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A modular production system, in particular a modular production printing system, for processing and/or finishing a print substrate, comprising a plurality of modular units, characterized in that the modular units comprise a modular fragrance unit, which is designed to apply a fragrance to the print substrate, and wherein the modular fragrance unit comprises a tank device for storing the fragrance.

18. The production system according to claim 17, characterized in that the modular fragrance unit is designed as a separate modular unit.

19. The production system according to claim 17, characterized in that the modular fragrance unit is arranged downstream of a modular printing unit for printing the print substrate.

20. The production system according to claim 17, characterized in that the modular fragrance unit is designed such that it is used as a rewetting unit for the print substrate.

21. The production system according to claim 17, characterized in that the modular fragrance unit has at least one contact roller, which is designed to apply the fragrance to the print substrate, wherein the modular fragrance unit can comprise one or a plurality of wetting rollers, which is/are designed to wet the at least one contact roller with the fragrance.

22. The production system according to claim 17, characterized in that the modular fragrance unit comprises a liquid bath, which provides the fragrance in liquid form.

23. The production system according to claim 17, characterized in that the modular fragrance unit comprises a spraying device, which is designed to spray the print substrate with the fragrance.

24. The production system according to claim 17, characterized in that the tank device comprises a magazine of a plurality of tank containers.

25. The production system according to claim 17, characterized in that the modular fragrance unit comprises a cleaning device.

26. A method for processing and/or finishing of a print substrate, in particular with a production system, preferably having a production system comprising a plurality of modular units according to claim 17, characterized in that, after the print substrate has been printed by means of a modular printing unit, a fragrance is applied to the print substrate using a modular fragrance unit, wherein the modular fragrance unit comprises a tank device for storing the fragrance.

27. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that the fragrance is applied to the print substrate by the modular fragrance unit by means of a print head, preferably by means of a print head according to inkjet printing technology.

28. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that the fragrance is mixed into a preferably odor-free ink, wherein the ink is printed on the print substrate.

29. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that the modular fragrance unit comprises a separate printing unit, preferably a printing unit in accordance with offset printing technology, wherein the printing unit uses a moistening agent during operation, wherein the fragrance is mixed into the moistening agent.

30. The method according to claim 26, characterized in that the fragrance is applied to the print substrate by the modular fragrance unit by means of silk screen printing.

31. A modular fragrance unit for processing and/or finishing a print substrate, in particular for carrying out a method according to claim 26, comprising means for applying a fragrance to the print substrate.

Description

[0040] FIG. shows a schematic view of a modular production printing system as a production system according to one exemplary embodiment of the invention.

[0041] The only FIGURE shows a modular production printing system 1 comprised of a plurality of modular units for processing and/or finishing a print substrate. The print substrate can be any printed product and/or a component of a printed product, which is produced by the processing process chain of the production printing system 1 or is finished by processing/finishing. In the simplest case, it could be paper, which is transported as print substrate via the individual modular units of the production printing system 1. Depending on the modular unit, the print substrate undergoes a corresponding processing or finishing.

[0042] The production printing system 1 comprises a modular printing unit 2, a modular fragrance unit 3, a modular folding and hole punching unit 4, and a modular stapling unit 5. The modular printing unit is used to print the print substrate with text or image content. This may also comprise the application of various coatings to the print substrate. Further modular units can be coupled to the production system 1 or—if necessary—also be exchanged or completely removed.

[0043] Due to the modular embodiment of the production printing system, further and/or alternative modular units are also conceivable, for instance a brochure finisher and the like. Also, the arrangement of the modular fragrance unit 2 in accordance with the invention within the scope of the production printing system 1 can vary. In particular, by virtue of the installation as a separate modular fragrance unit, it can be arranged—in principle—anywhere in the processing process chain.

[0044] The modular fragrance unit 2 is used to apply a fragrance to the print substrate. In the process, the modular fragrance unit 2 has a tank device 6 with a plurality of tank containers 7, 8, 9 and 10, in order to store a plurality of different fragrances. The fragrance is applied to the print substrate via application means 11. The application means 11 can comprise various rollers and/or a liquid bath, which is/are designed to provide the print substrate with the fragrance. Moreover, a spraying device as application means 11 is also conceivable.

[0045] Since the fragrance is applied to the print substrate in liquid and/or gaseous form, in particular as an aerosol, a print substrate is produced with a fragrance in which the scent is virtually “invisible”. Rubbing is not necessary, as is the case with an applied scented coating, which contains microcapsulated aromatic substances.

[0046] The tank device 6 is used to supply the application means 11. Furthermore, the modular fragrance unit 3 comprises a cleaning device 12. The cleaning device 12 is used to clean the application means 11, so that the fragrance—depending on the application—can be changed. Hence, the modular fragrance unit 3 may, if necessary, be filled and operated with different fragrances. A simple changing of the fragrances for the modular fragrance unit 3 is guaranteed.

[0047] After the print substrate has been provided with a fragrance, the print substrate provided with a fragrance (scented) may be transported within the scope of the print production system 1 to further modular units and further processed or finished there. However, it is also conceivable that the modular fragrance unit 3 is arranged elsewhere, for example at the last point of the processing process chain. It is advantageous when the process of scenting takes place after the actual printing process of the modular printing unit 2. However, due to the modular implementation it is also possible to arrange the modular fragrance unit 3 upstream of the modular printing unit 2.

[0048] Regarding further advantageous embodiments of the production system in accordance with the invention and of the method in accordance with the invention, to avoid repetition, reference is made to the general part of the description and the attached claims.

[0049] Finally, express reference is made to the fact that the previously described exemplary embodiments of the device in accordance with the invention serve only the purpose of discussing the claimed teaching, but do not limit said teaching to the exemplary embodiments.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0050] 1 production printing system [0051] 2 modular printing unit [0052] 3 modular fragrance unit [0053] 4 modular folding and hole [0054] punching unit [0055] 5 modular stapling unit [0056] 6 tank device [0057] 7 tank container [0058] 8 tank container [0059] 9 tank container [0060] 10 tank container [0061] 11 application means [0062] 12 cleaning device