Patents Assigned to Quad/Graphic, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8291799
    Abstract: A method of trimming printed media comprises selecting printed media to be positioned on a conveyor based on predetermined delivery sequence data, positioning the printed media on the conveyor, receiving size data representative of at least one dimension of the printed media to be trimmed, and electronically controlling a trimmer based on the received size data to adjust a location at which the printed media is to be trimmed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Quad/Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Graushar, John C. Geres, Patrick A. Millikin, David F. Christofferson, Michael J. Krchma, Greg Goss, Charles E. Schulz, Robert Kazmierczak, Richard W. Schneider, Jonathan F. Thames
  • Patent number: 8120811
    Abstract: A system for adding data to a printed publication comprises a data source for providing the data, a processing circuit, and an energy source. The processing circuit is configured to retrieve the data from the data source and to control the energy source to at least partially ablate the printed publication based on the data. The data may be fixed and/or variable data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Quad/Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Graushar, John A. Barndt, Robert H. Barton, Jr., Terrill Scott Clayton
  • Patent number: 8065034
    Abstract: A method of conveying a printed product on a conveying device toward a printer for printing. The thickness of the printed product is monitored, and the height of the printer is adjusted based on the thickness of the printed product. Indicia is printed on the printed product with the printer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Quad/Graphics, Inc.
    Inventor: John C. Geres
  • Patent number: 8028981
    Abstract: A method of delivering signatures to a finishing line includes generating an assembly order. The assembly order is provided to a controller that is operatively associated with a feeder that comprises a print-on-demand printer. Paper is provided to the print-on-demand printer. The controller controls printing on a signature with the print-on-demand printer according to the assembly order. The controller controls feeding the signature to a first pocket on the finishing line and delivering the signature from the first pocket to the finishing line according to the assembly order. The controller controls printing on an additional signature with the print-on-demand printer according to the assembly order. The controller controls feeding the additional signature to the first pocket, and delivering the additional signature from the first pocket to the finishing line according to the assembly order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Quad/Graphics, Inc.
    Inventor: William T. Graushar
  • Publication number: 20110037214
    Abstract: A system is provided for printing and assembling printed products. The system includes a binding line and a plurality of pockets for delivering signatures to the binding line. A personalization line is associated with one of the plurality of pockets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
    Inventors: William T. Graushar, John C. Geres, David F. Christofferson
  • Publication number: 20100269651
    Abstract: A method of trimming printed media, having a first dimension, a first edge parallel to the direction of the first dimension, and a second dimension substantially perpendicular to the first dimension, includes selecting printed media to be positioned on a conveyor based on predetermined delivery sequence data, positioning the printed media along a path on the conveyor, abutting the printed media with a stop to position the first edge of the printed media at a location along the path, receiving size data representative of the second dimension of the printed media to be trimmed, and electronically controlling at least one of the stop and a trimming device to adjust a distance between the stop and the trimming device, in a direction substantially parallel with the path, based on the received size data to adjust a location along the second dimension at which the printed media is to be trimmed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
    Inventors: William T. Graushar, John C. Geres, Patrick A. Millikin, David F. Christofferson, Michael J. Krchma, Greg Goss, Charles E. Schulz, Robert Kazmierczak, Richard W. Schneider, Jonathan F. Thames
  • Publication number: 20100243746
    Abstract: A method includes applying coded personal information for an individual on a rear surface of a card, printing personal information for the individual on a printed product, and adhering the rear surface of the card to an exterior surface of the printed product. The printed product can be mailed without protective packaging covering the card.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
    Inventors: Keith R. Nettesheim, Mark A. Scroggins
  • Publication number: 20100244352
    Abstract: A method of printing and assembling a printed product including unrolling a continuous web of paper from a roll on a printing line, printing non-personalized information on the paper on the printing line, printing personalized information on the paper on a finishing line, performing at least one paper conversion step after printing the personalized information to create a personalized signature on the finishing line, and feeding the personalized signature into a pocket on the finishing line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: Quad/Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Graushar, John C. Geres
  • Publication number: 20100188702
    Abstract: A method for producing a printable work comprises determining an electronic template of the printable work including a fixed portion with predetermined content and a customizable portion. A form accessible via a network is provided to allow a user to associate customized content with the customizable portion from the user accessing the form via a network customized content for the customizable portion. Customized content is received from the user and, together with the predetermined content of the fixed portion, defines a customized version of the printable work. The customized version of the printable work is printed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Henke, Jeffrey D. Brekke
  • Publication number: 20100188677
    Abstract: A method of conveying a printed product on a conveying device toward a printer for printing. The thickness of the printed product is monitored, and the height of the printer is adjusted based on the thickness of the printed product. Indicia is printed on the printed product with the printer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
    Inventor: John C. Geres
  • Patent number: 7715041
    Abstract: A method for producing a content data file for a desired print job including a plurality of customized versions of a printable work includes the step of receiving an electronic template of the printable work including a common portion and a customizable portion. A form accessible via a network is developed to allow each of a plurality of users to associate a corresponding customized content with the customizable portion via the network. The corresponding customized content together with the template defines a corresponding customized version of the printable work. A desired number of copies is associated with each customized version of the printable work, and the customized versions of the printable work and the corresponding desired number of copies are aggregated to produce a content data file for the desired print job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Quad/Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Henke, Jeffrey D. Brekke
  • Patent number: 7693601
    Abstract: A method comprising providing printed products to form a first mail stream on a printing line, providing printed products to form a second mail stream on a printing line, and placing printed product from the second mail stream onto a printed product of the first mail stream to create the combined mail stream in the sequence of a master mailing list.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Quad/Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Graushar, John C. Geres, Steven S. Jost
  • Publication number: 20100059917
    Abstract: A method of delivering signatures to a finishing line includes generating an assembly order. The assembly order is provided to a controller that is operatively associated with a feeder that comprises a print-on-demand printer. Paper is provided to the print-on-demand printer. The controller controls printing on a signature with the print-on-demand printer according to the assembly order. The controller controls feeding the signature to a first pocket on the finishing line and delivering the signature from the first pocket to the finishing line according to the assembly order. The controller controls printing on an additional signature with the print-on-demand printer according to the assembly order. The controller controls feeding the additional signature to the first pocket, and delivering the additional signature from the first pocket to the finishing line according to the assembly order.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
    Inventor: William T. Graushar
  • Patent number: 7506813
    Abstract: A plurality of resonators are embedded in a base material for use in applications in the printing industry. The base material including the resonators can be used in printing press applications, finishing applications, packaging applications, distribution applications, and downstream applications. The base material can include paper, ink, coatings, polymers, composites, adhesives, metal, or a combination of any of these materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Quad/Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: David F. Christofferson, Edward J. Anderson, John C. Geres, William T. Graushar
  • Patent number: 7500662
    Abstract: A finishing line including at least one buffer operable to receive printed products and deliver the printed products to the same or different finishing line. The buffer allows the finishing process to continue operating while one section of the finishing line is being repaired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Quad/Graphics, Inc.
    Inventor: William T. Graushar
  • Patent number: 7477964
    Abstract: A method including assembling printed products to form a first mail stream on a finishing line, providing a second mail stream of printed products to the finishing line, and combining the first and second mail streams on the finishing line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Quad/Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: William Graushar, John Geres
  • Patent number: 7475523
    Abstract: A process to merge a plurality of streams of printed products. The process includes merging a first stream of printed products with a second stream of printed products according to a predetermined order that is recipient-based, and packaging selected printed products from the first stream while the printed products of the first stream are being merged with the second stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Quad/Graphics, Inc.
    Inventors: William T. Graushar, Eric Blohm
  • Publication number: 20090000440
    Abstract: A method of trimming printed media comprises selecting printed media to be positioned on a conveyor based on predetermined delivery sequence data, positioning the printed media on the conveyor, receiving size data representative of at least one dimension of the printed media to be trimmed, and electronically controlling a trimmer based on the received size data to adjust a location at which the printed media is to be trimmed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
    Inventors: William T. Graushar, John C. Geres, Patrick A. Millikin, David F. Christofferson, Michael J. Krchma, Greg Goss, Charles E. Schulz, Robert Kazmierczak, Richard W. Schneider, Jonathan F. Thames
  • Publication number: 20080147233
    Abstract: A method comprising providing printed products to form a first mail stream on a printing line, providing printed products to form a second mail stream on a printing line, and placing printed product from the second mail stream onto a printed product of the first mail stream to create the combined mail stream in the sequence of a master mailing list.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
    Inventors: William T. Graushar, John C. Geres, Steven S. Jost
  • Publication number: 20080093788
    Abstract: A method for assembling a book on a finishing line. The method includes generating a book assembly order of signatures, providing a feeder associated with a printer operable to print at least one of the signatures, providing multiple feeders each having at least one respective signature of the remaining signatures loaded therein, providing a controller in communication with the feeder associated with the printer and the multiple feeders, and controlling with the controller the delivery of the signatures to the finishing line based upon the assembly order such that when the controller signals to the feeder associated with the printer to deliver the one of the signatures to the finishing line, the printer prints the one of the signatures and the feeder associated with the printer delivers the one of the signatures to the finishing line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.
    Inventor: William Graushar