PLASTIC PRODUCT AND A METHOD FOR APPLYING AN IMPRINT TO A PLASTIC PRODUCT

Abstract

A plastic product includes a printing field, wherein an imprint is applied to the printing field by a digital direct printing process, wherein UV ink or UV color is used as the printing medium. A method for applying an imprint to a plastic product includes: (a) providing the plastic product having a plastic body and a printing field provided on the plastic body, and (b) printing a printed image by direct application of a printing agent in a digital printing process, wherein the printing agent is a fluorescent printing agent.

Claims

1. A plastic product comprising a printing field, wherein an imprint is applied to the printing field by a digital direct printing process, wherein the printing medium comprises UV ink or UV color.

2. The plastic product according to claim 1, wherein the imprint comprises at least one product code and/or brand information for tracking the manufacturing data and/or information on the supply chain of the product.

3. The plastic product according to claim 1, wherein the plastic product is a cartridge for receiving filling material, a tray for holding sample wells, a pipette tip, or a plastic package.

4. The plastic product according to claim 1, wherein the digital direct printing process comprises a laser printing process, a pad printing process and/or an inkjet printing process.

5. A method for applying an imprint to a plastic product, the method comprising: (a) providing the plastic product having a plastic body and a printing field provided on the plastic body, and (b) printing a printed image by direct application of a printing agent in a digital printing process, wherein the printing agent comprises a fluorescent printing agent.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein step (b) comprises the use of a digital direct printing process.

7. A method for reading an imprint provided on a plastic product according claim 1, comprising irradiating the imprint with ultraviolet (UV) light and detecting the visible light emitted by the imprint.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1a a side view of a container for pipette tips;

[0021] FIG. 1b a top view of a lid of the container of FIG. 1a;

[0022] FIG. 2a a side view of a container for pipette tips with UV illumination;

[0023] FIG. 2b a top view of a lid of the container of FIG. 2a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] FIG. 1a shows a container 1 for pipette tips in a side view. The container 1 comprises a receptacle 10 and a lid 11. A tray 2 with openings for receiving and holding pipette tips 3 is inserted into the receptacle 10.

[0025] A UV light source 4 is arranged within a production or analysis station. The UV light source may illuminate the lid 11 from above. Also above the lid 11 there is a detector (e.g. digital camera) 5 for recording pictures in the visible light spectrum. The detector 5 covers at least a predetermined area 110 (indicated by dashed lines) of the lid surface. This area 110 may be labeled using UV color or UV ink.

[0026] Since the UV light source 4 is switched off in FIGS. 1a and 1b, the camera 5 detects/records the area 110 as an unlabeled area.

[0027] The same container 1 for pipette tips is shown in a side view in FIG. 2a.

[0028] The UV light source 4 arranged in the production or analysis station is now switched on and irradiates at least the area 110 of the lid surface 11. Since in FIGS. 2a and 2b the UV light source 4 is switched on, the camera 5 detects and records the area 110 as a labeled area, i.e. the camera 5 detects/records the visible light emitted by the UV ink/UV color. Various information such as lot number, date of manufacture, etc., may be written in the area 110.

[0029] In particular, the components 10, 11, 2 may be arranged in such a way that an area of the tray 2 or an area of the receptacle 10 labeled with UV color or UV ink may be detected.

[0030] In this way, information about the individual components such as the receptacle 10, the lid 11, the tray 2, etc., may be attached to the components without them being visible to the consumer without a UV light source 4. The information may relate to details about manufacturing, logistics, etc., of the component.

CONCLUSION

[0031] The disclosure set forth above may encompass multiple distinct examples with independent utility. Although each of these has been disclosed in its preferred form(s), the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense, because numerous variations are possible. To the extent that section headings are used within this disclosure, such headings are for organizational purposes only. The subject matter of the disclosure includes all novel and nonobvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions, and/or properties disclosed herein. The following claims particularly point out certain combinations and subcombinations regarded as novel and nonobvious. Other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements, and/or properties may be claimed in applications claiming priority from this or a related application. Such claims, whether broader, narrower, equal, or different in scope to the original claims, also are regarded as included within the subject matter of the present disclosure.