Partial printing of a substrate with edge sealed printed portions

Abstract

This invention relates to the partial printing of a substrate with a plurality of layers to form a partially printed panel. Within each printed portion, at least one layer is applied to the substrate with inexact registration in relation to a second layer. A “control layer” comprising “edge sealing strips” is printed so that, within each printed portion, each edge of the at least two layers with inexact registration is located within the edges of an overlapping edge sealing strip. The edge sealing strips may provide a visual seal or mask at the edges of printed portions, for example to enable the each printed portion to have the desired color rendering within a one-way vision control panel. The invention can comprise the physical sealing of printed portions containing gaseous or liquid fluids or particles in suspension, such as fragrances, medication, environmentally reactive materials or security printing features.

1. A panel comprising a substantially imperforate substrate and a print pattern adhered to said substrate, said print pattern being printed onto only part of said substrate and comprising at least three layers including a first layer, a second layer, and a control layer, said first layer, said second layer, and said control layer being configured and disposed such that a cross-section taken through said panel comprises two outer edges of said substrate and alternate printed portions of said substrate and unprinted portions of said substrate, each said printed portion having two outer edges, and wherein within said cross-section of said panel each of a plurality of said printed portions being constructed and arranged such that they each include a part of said first layer and a part of said second layer and a part of said control layer, said plurality of said printed portions each including two outer edges of said part of said first layer and two outer edges of said part of said second layer and two outer edges of said part of said control layer, and wherein within each of said plurality of said printed portions said part of said second layer is located between said part of said first layer and said part of said control layer, and wherein the width between said two outer edges of each of said plurality of said printed portions is less than one centimeter, and wherein said part of said control layer comprises two edge sealing strips and each of said two edge sealing strips comprises one of said two outer edges of said part of said control layer and an inner edge, and wherein one of said two outer edges of said part of said first layer and one of said two outer edges of said part of said second layer are positioned within said outer and inner edges of one of said two edge sealing strips and the other of said two outer edges of said part of said first layer and the other of said two outer edges of said part of said second layer are positioned within said outer and inner edges of the other of said two edge sealing strips. 
     
     
       2. A panel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said print pattern comprises a base layer, and wherein each of said plurality of said printed portions includes a part of said base layer having two outer edges, said part of said base layer being located on the side of said part of said first layer remote from said part of said control layer. 
     
     
       3. A panel as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the width between said two outer edges of said base layer is not less than both the width between said two outer edges of said part of said first layer and the width between said two outer edges of said part of said second layer. 
     
     
       4. A panel as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the width between said two outer edges of said base layer is greater than both the width between said two outer edges of said each of said plurality of said printed portions  part of said first layer and the width between said two outer edges of said part of said second layer. 
     
     
       5. A panel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the width between said two outer edges of each of said plurality of said printed portions is less than 5 mm. 
     
     
       6. A panel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the width between said two outer edges of each of said plurality of said printed portions is not greater than 2.7 mm. 
     
     
       7. A panel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said substantially imperforate substrate is transparent.  
     
     
       8. A panel as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the second layer is a design color layer and is seen through the transparent substrate.  
     
     
       9. A panel comprising:
   a substantially imperforate substrate; and        a print pattern disposed on said substrate, said print pattern being disposed on only part of said substrate and comprising at least three layers including a first layer, a second layer, and a control layer,        wherein said first layer, said second layer, and said control layer are configured and disposed such that at least one cross - section taken through said panel comprises      two outer edges of said substrate, and        alternate printed portions of said substrate and unprinted portions of said substrate,        wherein a plurality of said printed portions are constructed and arranged such that each of said plurality of said printed portions include      two outer edges, a width between said two outer edges being less than one centimeter,        a part of said first layer having two outer edges,        a part of said second layer having two outer edges, and        a part of said control layer having two outer edges, wherein said part of said control layer comprises two edge sealing strips, wherein each edge sealing strip comprises one of said two outer edges of said part of said control layer, wherein each edge sealing strip has an inner edge, wherein each said part of said control layer has a control width between said inner edges of said two edge sealing strips,        wherein one of said two outer edges of said part of said first layer is located within said outer and inner edges of one of said two edge sealing strips, and the other of said two outer edges of said part of said first layer is located within said outer and inner edges of the other of said two edge sealing strips,        wherein said two outer edges of said layer are located within said two outer edges of said part of said control layer, and        wherein said part of said second layer is located between said part of said first layer and said part of said control layer.          
     
     
       10. A panel as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said first layer is white.  
     
     
       11. A panel as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said first layer is black.  
     
     
       12. A panel as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said first layer is black and said second layer is white.  
     
     
       13. A panel as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said second layer is design color layer other than white.  
     
     
       14. A panel as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said second layer is a multi- color design color layer comprising a plurality of individual colors and wherein one of said individual colors is discontinuous within said control width.    
     
     
       15. A panel as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said multi- color design color layer is a four color process layer comprising individual colors of cyan, magenta, yellow and black.    
     
     
       16. A panel in  claim 15 , wherein said control layer is said black four color process layer.  
     
     
       17. A panel as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said control layer is black.  
     
     
       18. A panel as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein in at least one of said plurality of said printed portions, one of said two outer edges of said part of said second layer is within said outer and inner edges of said one of said two edge sealing strips, and the other of said two outer edges of said part of said second layer is within said outer and inner edges of said other of said two edge sealing strips.  
     
     
       19. A panel as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said first layer is of one color and said second layer is of another color, and said parts of said first and said second layers are continuous across said control width.  
     
     
       20. A panel as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said print pattern comprises a base layer, and wherein each of said plurality of said printed portions includes a part of said base layer having two outer edges, said part of said base layer being located on the side of said part of said first layer remote from said part of said control layer.  
     
     
       21. A panel as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said print pattern comprises another layer, and wherein each of said plurality of said printed portions includes a part of said another layer having two outer edges, and wherein said part of said another layer is located between said part of said first layer and said part of said base layer.  
     
     
       22. A panel as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said another layer is silver.  
     
     
       23. A panel as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein a width between said two outer edges of said base layer is at least as wide as both a width between said two outer edges of said part of said first layer and a width between said two outer edges of said part of said second layer.  
     
     
       24. A panel as claim in  claim 20 , wherein a width between said two outer edges of said base layer is greater than both a width between said two outer edges of said part of said first layer and a width between said two outer edges of said part of said second layer.  
     
     
       25. A panel as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the width between said two outer edges of each of said plurality of said printed portions is less than  5  mm.  
     
     
       26. A panel as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the width between said two outer edges of each of said plurality of said printed portions is not greater than  2 . 7  mm.  
     
     
       27. A panel as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said substantially imperforate substrate is transparent.  
     
     
       28. A panel as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said second layer comprises a retro- reflective material.    
     
     
       29. A panel as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said first layer comprises a retro- reflective material.    
     
     
       30. A panel as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said transparent substrate comprises two sides, and wherein said first layer is applied to one side of said transparent substrate and said second layer and said control layer are applied to the other side of said transparent substrate.  
     
     
       31. A panel as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein both said first layer and said second layer are translucent.  
     
     
       32. A panel as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said print pattern comprises a pattern of discrete lines.  
     
     
       33. A panel as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said edge sealing strips comprise fluid seals.  
     
     
       34. A panel as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein said first layer is absorbent, and wherein said second layer is one of a filtration layer and an information layer, and wherein a sealing layer is applied onto said control layer.  
     
     
       35. A panel comprising a substantially imperforate substrate, and a print pattern disposed on said substrate, said print pattern comprising a first layer, a second layer, and a control layer, said layers being disposed such that at least one cross- section taken through said panel comprises:      two outer edges of said substrate, and        a plurality of printed portions, the printed portions being separated by unprinted portions of said substrate, a width of each of said plurality of printed portions being less than one centimeter,        wherein some of said plurality of printed portions each comprise      at least a part of said first layer, said part of said first layer comprising first and second edges,        at least a part of said second layer, said part of said second layer comprising third and fourth edges, and        at least a part of said control layer, said part of said control layer comprising first and second edge sealing strips, wherein said first edge sealing strip one of overlaps and underlaps said first and third edges, wherein said second edge sealing strip one of overlaps and underlaps said second and fourth edges, and wherein said first and second edge sealing strips are spaced from each other.        
     
     
       36. The panel of  claim 35 , wherein the control layer further comprises one of a half- tone and a stochastic black layer, and wherein said some of said plurality of printed portions each comprise at least a part of the one of a half - tone and a stochastic black layer that extends between the first and second edge sealing strips.    
     
     
       37. A panel as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein said substantially imperforate substrate is transparent.  
     
     
       38. A panel as claimed in  claim 37 , wherein the second layer is a design color layer and is seen through the transparent substrate.