System and method for printing scratch-off lottery tickets

Abstract

A method for producing scratch-off lottery tickets in a high speed printing line is provided, wherein the printing line includes one or more inkjet printing machines that print lottery tickets on a continuously running paper stock. One or more primer layers are applied to a surface of the paper stock in a defined game play area on each lottery ticket. With the inkjet printing machines game play indicia is printed over the primer layers in the game play area on each lottery ticket at a resolution of at least 600 dpi. The running paper stock is conveyed through the inkjet printing machines at a rate of at least 950 ft./min. The ink jet printing machines use a specially formulated dye-based ink.

Claims

1. Scratch-off lottery tickets that are ink-jet printed in a high speed printing line on a continuously running paper stock, each lottery ticket comprising: a base paper stock layer; one or more primer layers applied to a surface of the paper stock layer in a defined game play area on the lottery ticket, game play indicia ink-jet printed over the primer layers in the game play area, the game play indicia having a resolution of at least 600 dpi; an upper blocking layer applied over the game play indicia; a scratch off coating (SOC) layer applied over the upper blocking layer; graphics printed on the lottery ticket outwardly of the game play area; wherein an ink forming the game play indicia comprises an initial composition of: a solids content of no more than 10.00% by weight; a humectant content of more than 1.00% by weight; a slow-evaporating solvent content of no more than 1.00% by weight; a fast-evaporating solvent content of at least 1.00% by weight; and a water resistant polymer content of at least 5.00% by weight; and wherein the primer layer on which the game play indicia is printed comprises an initial composition of: a plastics pigment content of 15.0 to 25.0% by weight; an opaque polymer content of 8.0 to 15.0% by weight; a hydrophilic silica content of 0.50 to 1.50% by weight; a resolubility additive content of 5.0 to 15% by weight; a plasticizer content of 2.0 to 6.0% by weight; and a surfactant content of 1.0 to 3.0% by weight.

2. The scratch-off lottery tickets as in claim 1, further comprising graphics printed over the SOC layer at a resolution of at least 600 dpi.

3. The scratch-off lottery tickets as in claim 1, wherein the humectant content comprises sodium hydroxide and dimethylaminoethanol in equal amounts by weight.

4. The scratch-off lottery tickets as in claim 1, wherein the slow evaporating solvent is benzyl alcohol.

5. The scratch-off lottery tickets as in claim 1, wherein the fast-evaporating solvent is dimethylaminoethanol.

6. Scratch-off lottery tickets that are ink-jet printed in a high speed printing line on a continuously running paper stock, each lottery ticket comprising: a base paper stock layer; one or more primer layers applied to a surface of the paper stock layer in a defined game play area on the lottery ticket, game play indicia ink-jet printed over the primer layers in the game play area, the game play indicia having a resolution of at least 600 dpi; an upper blocking layer applied over the game play indicia; a scratch off coating (SOC) layer applied over the upper blocking layer; graphics printed on the lottery ticket outwardly of the game play area; wherein an ink forming the game play indicia comprises an initial composition of: a solids content of no more than 10.00% by weight; a humectant content of more than 1.00% by weight; a slow-evaporating solvent content of no more than 1.00% by weight; a fast-evaporating solvent content of at least 1.00% by weight; and a water resistant polymer content of at least 5.00% by weight; and wherein the humectant content comprises sodium hydroxide and dimethylaminoethanol in about equal amounts by weight.

7. The scratch-off lottery tickets as in claim 6, further comprising graphics printed over the SOC layer at a resolution of at least 600 dpi.

8. The scratch-off lottery tickets as in claim 6, wherein the slow evaporating solvent is benzyl alcohol.

9. The scratch-off lottery tickets as in claim 6, wherein the fast-evaporating solvent is dimethylaminoethanol.

10. The scratch-off lottery tickets as in claim 6, wherein the primer layer on which the game play indicia is printed comprises an initial composition of: a plastics pigment content of 15.0 to 25.0% by weight; an opaque polymer content of 8.0 to 15.0% by weight; a hydrophilic silica content of 0.50 to 1.50% by weight; a resolubility additive content of 5.0 to 15% by weight; a plasticizer content of 2.0 to 6.0% by weight; and a surfactant content of 1.0 to 3.0% by weight.

11. Scratch-off lottery tickets that are ink-jet printed in a high speed printing line on a continuously running paper stock, each lottery ticket comprising: a base paper stock layer; one or more primer layers applied to a surface of the paper stock layer in a defined game play area on the lottery ticket, game play indicia ink-jet printed over the primer layers in the game play area, the game play indicia having a resolution of at least 600 dpi; an upper blocking layer applied over the game play indicia; a scratch off coating (SOC) layer applied over the upper blocking layer; graphics printed on the lottery ticket outwardly of the game play area; wherein an ink forming the game play indicia comprises an initial composition of: a solids content of no more than 10.00% by weight; a humectant content of more than 1.00% by weight; a slow-evaporating solvent content of no more than 1.00% by weight; a fast-evaporating solvent content of at least 1.00% by weight; a water resistant polymer content of at least 5.00% by weight; and wherein the slow evaporating solvent is benzyl alcohol.

12. The scratch-off lottery tickets as in claim 11, further comprising graphics printed over the SOC layer at a resolution of at least 600 dpi.

13. The scratch-off lottery tickets as in claim 11, wherein the fast-evaporating solvent is dimethylaminoethanol.

14. The scratch-off lottery tickets as in claim 11, wherein the humectant content comprises sodium hydroxide and dimethylaminoethanol in equal amounts by weight.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) A full and enabling disclosure including the best mode of practicing the appended claims and directed to one of ordinary skill in the art is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification. The specification makes reference to the appended figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is an operational diagram of a lottery ticket production line that incorporates aspects of the present methodology;

(3) FIG. 2 is a front view of a scratch-off lottery ticket made in accordance with the present method; and

(4) FIG. 3 is layer view of the game play area of an exemplary scratch-off lottery ticket made in accordance with the present method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) Reference will now be made in detail to various and alternative exemplary embodiments and to the accompanying drawings, with like numerals representing substantially identical structural elements. Each example is provided by way of explanation, and not as a limitation. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure and claims. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure includes modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

(6) FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary scratch-off lottery ticket 150 that includes a game play area 152 in which the game play indicia 154 is printed. Any manner of graphics (color or non-color) 156 may be printed on the ticket 150 outward of the game play area 152. Scratch-off lottery tickets are well-known in the art and need not be described in detail herein. Generally, a lottery game embodied on the ticket 150 has a theme that is displayed and explained by the graphics 156. The graphics 156 may include any combination of artwork, indicia, and the like, that convey to a player the theme, rules, and possible prize of the game. The graphics 156 are not a limiting feature, and what the actual graphics 156 in FIG. 2 may or may not say it is not relevant to an understanding of the present invention.

(7) FIG. 2 depicts the ticket 150 after removal of a scratch-off coating (SOC) from the game play area 152 to reveal the underlying game play indicia 154, which reveals the outcome of the game. With conventional tickets, this game play indicia was typically printed at a resolution of about 240 dpi, which resulted in a less than crisp or sharp image, particularly with game indicia incorporating any sort of graphics beyond the basic letter or number fonts. Common complaints from players often included the blurry or dull appearance of the game play indicia 154. The game indicia 154 depicted in FIG. 2 is printed at a resolution of 600 dpi, as explained more fully below. This enhanced resolution provides the opportunity to greatly enhance the appearance and detail of the game play indicia 154.

(8) FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary high-speed print production line 10 for manufacturing instant scratch-off lottery tickets in accordance with aspects of the present invention. This particular print line 10 is presented for illustrative purposes only. It should be appreciated that the present method embodiments are not limited to any particular print line configuration.

(9) Referring to FIG. 1 and the layer view of FIG. 3 of a game play area 152, a paper stock substrate 114 on which the lottery tickets are to be printed is delivered to an unwind station 112, typically in the form of rolls, with the unwind station 112 including a suitable web tensioning device. The substrate 114 is then conveyed to a first printing station 116 that includes one or more printing machines (labeled 1 through 4) for applying an initial primer security layer 160 in the form of a black opaque layer to the substrate 114 in the game play area 152. Any one or combination of the printing machines 1-4 may be used to apply this layer primer layer 160.

(10) The substrate 114 is then conveyed to second printing station 118 that includes multiple printing machines 5-7 for printing a white or tinted primer layer 162 atop the black primer layer 160 (which also acts as a security layer). This layer is specially formulated for subsequent printing of the game play indicia 154 thereon, as described in greater detail below.

(11) At least the white or tinted primer layer 162 is specially formulated to support the subsequent high speed/high resolution printing of the game play indicia. The initial primer layer 160 may also have the same composition. In particular, the primer coating material comprises: a plastics pigment content of 15.0 to 25.0% by weight (e.g., Hique 2050 plastic pigment dispersion); an opaque polymer content of 8.0 to 15.0% by weight (e.g., Joncryl 633 emulsion polymer); a hydrophilic silica content of 0.50 to 1.50% by weight (e.g., Aerosil 200 silica); a resolubility additive content of 5.0 to 15% by weight to aid the primer in re-wetting on the machine without drying-in on the applicator; (e.g., SMA 1440H solution) a plasticizer content of 2.0 to 6.0% by weight (e.g., benzoate ester); a surfactant content of 1.0 to 3.0% by weight (e.g., octylphenol Ethoxylaenonionic)
It should be appreciated that the primer coating material may components in addition to those listed above.

(12) From the second printing station, the substrate 114 is then conveyed to a secure imaging station 120, which includes one or more inkjet printing machines 8-9 for printing the game play indicia 154 atop the primer layer 162 in the game play area 152. Suitable printing machines 8-9 for this purpose are commercially available from Kodak under the PROSPER S-series line. A specially formulated ink is used in the inkjet printing machines 8-9 to print the game play indicia on each ticket at a 600 dpi resolution and conveyance rate of the substrate 114 of at least 950 ft./min. Suitable inks for this purpose have been specially formulated for the Assignee (Scientific Games International, Inc.) of this patent application by Kodak as the PROSPER S-series part #6080040 Spot Black ink. In general, suitable inks include have the following characteristics: a solids content of no more than 10.00% by weight (determined by gravimetric solids technique); a humectant content of at least 1.00% by weight (e.g., sodium hydroxide and dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE), 0.5% each by weight); a slow-evaporating solvent content of no more than 1.00% by weight (e.g., benzyl alcohol) (a slow-evaporating solvent for the present purposes evaporates slower than water, which has an evaporation rate of 0.3600 as compared to the reference standard evaporation rate of 1.000 for n-butyl acetate); a fast-evaporating solvent content of at least 1.00% by weight (e.g., additional DMAEevaporation rate of 0.4800); a water resistant polymer content of at least 5.00% by weight (e.g., Eastek 1400 polymer dispersion).

(13) From the secure imaging station 120, the running stock 114 is conveyed through an E-Beam clear coating station 122 wherein a protective, energy curable coating 164 is applied by machine 10 over the game play indicia 154 in the game play area 152. This coating 164 also serves as a release layer that facilitates removal of the subsequently applied upper blocking layer 166 and scratch-off material layer 168.

(14) The running substrate 114 is then conveyed through a security coatings station 124 wherein the printing machines 11-13 apply the upper blocking security layer 166 (e.g., a black blocking layer) atop the release layer 164 and over the game play indicia 154. The machines also apply the scratch-off coating layer 168 atop the upper blocking layer 166.

(15) The substrate 14 is then conveyed through an additional printing station 26 wherein a combination of printing machines 14 through 20 are used to print the game graphics 156 outward of the game play area 152, as discussed above. In addition graphics 156 may be printed over the scratch-off coating layer 168, as depicted in FIG. 3. Printing machines 14 through 20 may also be inkjet printing machines configured as described above for printing multi-colored graphics at a 600 dpi resolution and at a conveying rate of the substrate 114 of at least 950 ft./min.

(16) The running substrate 114 is then conveyed through an application machine 30 that applies a gloss coat over the entire lottery ticket.

(17) From the gloss coat station 128, the substrate 114 is conveyed through a perforation station 130 wherein a perforating machine defines perforation lines in the substrate 114 transverse to the longitudinal travelling direction of the substrate 114. As is well understood, the perforation line defines a separation line between adjacent ends of interconnected tickets.

(18) The perforated running substrate 114 is then conveyed through an RTM (Real Time Marking) station 132 where press personnel watch/inspect the web substrate while printing for quality control issues.

(19) The substrate 114 is then conveyed through a Lead Press station 134, which includes the main press console. This is the station where a lead press operator essentially controls the entire press operation.

(20) Finally, the substrate 114 is brought to a rewind station 136 wherein the perforated substrate 114 with multiple rows of lottery tickets printed thereon is wound back into a roll package.

(21) It should be appreciated that, desirably, the running paper substrate 114 is conveyed through the entirety of the production line 100 at the conveyance rate of at least 950 ft./min.

(22) From the rewind station 136, the ticket rolls are eventually transported to additional processing stations wherein the substrate 114 is unwound and conveyed through a slitter for separating the individual rows of interconnected and perforated tickets. The individual rows of tickets are then conveyed through a folding station wherein the tickets are folded in a Z-pattern into individual packs prior to being wrapped and sealed.

(23) The material particularly shown and described above is not meant to be limiting, but instead serves to show and teach various exemplary implementations of the present subject matter. As set forth in the attached claims, the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and sub-combinations of various features discussed herein, along with such variations and modifications as would occur to a person of skill in the art.