Patents Assigned to Quad/Graphics, Inc.
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Patent number: 11833840Abstract: Systems and methods for printing data on a substrate including a color-changeable material are provided. One system includes a processing circuit and a device including an energy source. At least a portion of a printed publication is printed on the substrate using a commercial printing press based on fixed data. The device including the energy source is configured to add variable data to the substrate. The processing circuit is configured to receive the variable data and to control the energy source to change a color of the color-changeable material based on the variable data to provide at least a portion of the printed publication. The processing circuit is configured to control the energy source to change the color of the color-changeable material in-line with a flow of the substrate through one of a printing line, a finishing line, or a packaging line of the commercial printing press.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2019Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: Quad/Graphics, Inc.Inventors: John A. Barndt, Robert H. Barton, Jr., Terrill S. Clayton, Monte J. Rose, Paul G. Volz
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Patent number: 10860904Abstract: Systems and methods relating to generated printed products are provided. One system includes a transceiver configured to transmit commands to a printing press, the commands used by the printing press to execute print operations to generate printed products. The system further includes a processing circuit configured to receive data indicating a first amount of a printed product for a print operation. The processing circuit is further configured to determine a second amount of the printed product to be printed by modifying the first amount using a characteristic of the printed product. The processing circuit is further configured to transmit, using the transceiver, a first command to the printing press configured to cause the printing press to print the second amount of the printed product. In some implementations, a plant selection system determines where to print the product based on the amount to be printed and/or characteristics of the product.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2017Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: Quad/Graphics, Inc.Inventors: George Forge, Tara Hahn, Alan Leszcynski, Marcus Lancaster, James Patzer
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Patent number: 10803481Abstract: An embodiment may involve receiving input information related to an offered product or service, two or more layouts of a print advertisement for the offered product or service, demographics of potential buyers of the offered product or service, and online behavior of the potential buyers. The information may be normalized into a predefined schema for a machine-learning-based recommendation engine operated by a computing device. The embodiment may further involve determining respective selections of the two or more layouts for the potential buyers. The machine-learning-based recommendation engine may select a layout for a potential buyer based on the offered product or service, content and organization of the layout, demographics of the potential buyer, and online behavior of the potential buyer. The embodiment may also involve transmitting, to a printing system, one or more output files representing the offered product or service, the layout, and the potential buyer.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2019Date of Patent: October 13, 2020Assignee: Quad/Graphics, Inc.Inventors: Brent Laufenberg, Joy Wilson, Eric Sherlock, Josh Friedlander, Christine Hill, Jason French, Peter Hurford, Jessie Daubner
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Publication number: 20200117411Abstract: Systems and methods relating to preparing data for use in a printing operation are provided. One method includes receiving selected records from a first data source. The selected records have been subjected to a first record characteristic updating step and the selected records comprise mail information useful for delivery of printed materials. The method further includes updating the selected records with a second record characteristic updating step. A time at which the second record characteristic updating step is performed is determined in relation to a print production schedule for the printed materials. The method further includes creating a postal pre-sort file based upon the updated selected records for use in the printing operation. The printing operation is performed on a printing device based on the pre-sorted records.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2019Publication date: April 16, 2020Applicant: Quad/Graphics, Inc.Inventors: Eric Blohm, Jeffrey S. Henke
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Patent number: 10521175Abstract: Systems and methods relating to preparing data for use in a printing operation are provided. One method includes receiving selected records from a first data source. The selected records have been subjected to a first record characteristic updating step and the selected records comprise mail information useful for delivery of printed materials. The method further includes updating the selected records with a second record characteristic updating step. A time at which the second record characteristic updating step is performed is determined in relation to a print production schedule for the printed materials. The method further includes creating a postal pre-sort file based upon the updated selected records for use in the printing operation. The printing operation is performed on a printing device based on the pre-sorted records.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2017Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Quad/Graphics, Inc.Inventors: Eric Blohm, Jeffrey S. Henke
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Publication number: 20190329568Abstract: Systems and methods for printing data on a substrate including a color-changeable material are provided. One system includes a processing circuit and a device including an energy source. At least a portion of a printed publication is printed on the substrate using a commercial printing press based on fixed data. The device including the energy source is configured to add variable data to the substrate. The processing circuit is configured to receive the variable data and to control the energy source to change a color of the color-changeable material based on the variable data to provide at least a portion of the printed publication. The processing circuit is configured to control the energy source to change the color of the color-changeable material in-line with a flow of the substrate through one of a printing line, a finishing line, or a packaging line of the commercial printing press.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2019Publication date: October 31, 2019Applicant: Quad/Graphics, Inc.Inventors: John A. Barndt, Robert H. Barton, JR., Terrill S. Clayton, Monte J. Rose, Paul G. Volz
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Patent number: 10445767Abstract: An embodiment may involve receiving input information related to an offered product or service, two or more layouts of a print advertisement for the offered product or service, demographics of potential buyers of the offered product or service, and online behavior of the potential buyers. The information may be normalized into a predefined schema for a machine-learning-based recommendation engine operated by a computing device. The embodiment may further involve determining respective selections of the two or more layouts for the potential buyers. The machine-learning-based recommendation engine may select a layout for a potential buyer based on the offered product or service, content and organization of the layout, demographics of the potential buyer, and online behavior of the potential buyer. The embodiment may also involve transmitting, to a printing system, one or more output files representing the offered product or service, the layout, and the potential buyer.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2016Date of Patent: October 15, 2019Assignee: Quad/Graphics, Inc.Inventors: Brent Laufenberg, Joy Wilson, Eric Sherlock, Josh Friedlander, Christine Hill, Jason French, Peter Hurford, Jessie Daubner
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Publication number: 20190235814Abstract: A computing system for building an infrastructure of actionable elements related to different printed items has a memory which stores identifying information for different printed items to be printed for different customers. A processing circuit receives image files for the different printed items, identifies potentially actionable elements in the image file and stores the identified potentially actionable elements. The processing circuit receives via a customer interface portal a selection of a discovery mechanism for discovering the printed item and at least one of the identified potentially actionable elements. The selected actionable element provides access to content which is supplemental to content printed on the printed item. Each supplemental content has a different brand creative.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2019Publication date: August 1, 2019Applicant: Quad/Graphics, Inc.Inventors: Gary Lundberg, Matthew T. Kammerait, Monte Rose, William A. Bear
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Patent number: 10296273Abstract: A computing system and method for delivering actionable elements related to a multi-page printed piece comprises a network interface circuit, a memory and a processing circuit. The memory is configured to store identifying information for a plurality of different multi-page printed pieces and associated actionable elements for each printed piece. The processing circuit is configured to receive via the network interface circuit a request for actionable elements for the multi-page printed piece, the request having input information. The processing circuit is further configured to compare the input information in the request to the identifying information stored in the memory, retrieve the actionable elements for different pages of the multi-page printed piece from the memory based on the comparison, and send the retrieved actionable elements via the network interface circuit.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2015Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: Quad/Graphics, Inc.Inventors: Gary Lundberg, Matthew T. Kammerait, Monte Rose, William A. Bear
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Patent number: 10286682Abstract: Systems and methods for printing data on a substrate including a color-changeable material are provided. One system includes a processing circuit and a device including an energy source. At least a portion of a printed publication is printed on the substrate using a commercial printing press based on fixed data. The device including the energy source is configured to add variable data to the substrate. The processing circuit is configured to receive the variable data and to control the energy source to change a color of the color-changeable material based on the variable data to provide at least a portion of the printed publication. The processing circuit is configured to control the energy source to change the color of the color-changeable material in-line with a flow of the substrate through one of a printing line, a finishing line, or a packaging line of the commercial printing press.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2016Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.Inventors: John Barndt, Robert H. Barton, Jr., Terrill S. Clayton, Monte J. Rose, Paul G. Volz
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Publication number: 20180082158Abstract: Systems and methods relating to generated printed products are provided. One system includes a transceiver configured to transmit commands to a printing press, the commands used by the printing press to execute print operations to generate printed products. The system further includes a processing circuit configured to receive data indicating a first amount of a printed product for a print operation. The processing circuit is further configured to determine a second amount of the printed product to be printed by modifying the first amount using a characteristic of the printed product. The processing circuit is further configured to transmit, using the transceiver, a first command to the printing press configured to cause the printing press to print the second amount of the printed product. In some implementations, a plant selection system determines where to print the product based on the amount to be printed and/or characteristics of the product.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2017Publication date: March 22, 2018Applicant: Quad/Graphics, Inc.Inventors: George Forge, Tara Hahn, Al Leszcynski, Marcus Lancaster, James Patzer
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Publication number: 20170161001Abstract: Systems and methods relating to preparing data for use in a printing operation are provided. One method includes receiving selected records from a first data source. The selected records have been subjected to a first record characteristic updating step and the selected records comprise mail information useful for delivery of printed materials. The method further includes updating the selected records with a second record characteristic updating step. A time at which the second record characteristic updating step is performed is determined in relation to a print production schedule for the printed materials. The method further includes creating a postal pre-sort file based upon the updated selected records for use in the printing operation. The printing operation is performed on a printing device based on the pre-sorted records.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2017Publication date: June 8, 2017Applicant: Quad/Graphics, Inc.Inventors: Eric Blohm, Jeffrey S. Henke
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Patent number: 9607249Abstract: Systems and methods for adding data to a printed publication are provided. One method includes receiving variable data and controlling an energy source to at least partially ablate the printed publication based on the variable data. The printed publication is printed on the substrate using the commercial printing press based on fixed data. Controlling the energy source to at least partially ablate the printed publication includes, after the printed publication has been printed on the substrate by the commercial printing press based on the fixed data, controlling the energy source to remove a portion of the printed publication based on the variable data.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2015Date of Patent: March 28, 2017Assignee: Quad/Graphics, Inc.Inventors: William T. Graushar, John A. Barndt, Robert H. Barton, Jr., Terrill Scott Clayton
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Patent number: 9575705Abstract: Systems and methods relating to preparing data for use in a printing operation are provided. One method includes receiving selected records from a first data source. The selected records have been subjected to a first record characteristic updating step and the selected records comprise mail information useful for delivery of printed materials. The method further includes updating the selected records with a second record characteristic updating step. A time at which the second record characteristic updating step is performed is determined in relation to a print production schedule for the printed materials. The method further includes creating a postal pre-sort file based upon the updated selected records for use in the printing operation. The printing operation is performed on a printing device based on the pre-sorted records.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2015Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.Inventors: Eric Blohm, Jeffrey S. Henke
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Publication number: 20170021638Abstract: Systems and methods for printing data on a substrate including a color-changeable material are provided. One system includes a processing circuit and a device including an energy source. At least a portion of a printed publication is printed on the substrate using a commercial printing press based on fixed data. The device including the energy source is configured to add variable data to the substrate. The processing circuit is configured to receive the variable data and to control the energy source to change a color of the color-changeable material based on the variable data to provide at least a portion of the printed publication. The processing circuit is configured to control the energy source to change the color of the color-changeable material in-line with a flow of the substrate through one of a printing line, a finishing line, or a packaging line of the commercial printing press.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2016Publication date: January 26, 2017Applicant: Quad/Graphics, Inc.Inventors: John Barndt, Robert H. Barton, JR., Terrill S. Clayton, Monte J. Rose, Paul G. Volz
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Patent number: 9460373Abstract: Systems and methods for printing data on a substrate including a color-changeable material are provided. One system includes a processing circuit and a device including an energy source. At least a portion of a printed publication is printed on the substrate using a commercial printing press based on fixed data. The device including the energy source is configured to add variable data to the substrate. The processing circuit is configured to receive the variable data and to control the energy source to change a color of the color-changeable material based on the variable data to provide at least a portion of the printed publication. The processing circuit is configured to control the energy source to change the color of the color-changeable material in-line with a flow of the substrate through one of a printing line, a finishing line, or a packaging line of the commercial printing press.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2015Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.Inventors: John Barndt, Robert H. Barton, Jr., Terrill S. Clayton, Monte J. Rose, Paul G. Volz
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Patent number: 9211692Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 27, 2009Date of Patent: December 15, 2015Assignee: Quad/Graphics, Inc.Inventors: William T. Graushar, John C. Geres
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Publication number: 20150262048Abstract: Systems and methods for printing data on a substrate including a color-changeable material are provided. One system includes a processing circuit and a device including an energy source. At least a portion of a printed publication is printed on the substrate using a commercial printing press based on fixed data. The device including the energy source is configured to add variable data to the substrate. The processing circuit is configured to receive the variable data and to control the energy source to change a color of the color-changeable material based on the variable data to provide at least a portion of the printed publication. The processing circuit is configured to control the energy source to change the color of the color-changeable material in-line with a flow of the substrate through one of a printing line, a finishing line, or a packaging line of the commercial printing press.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2015Publication date: September 17, 2015Applicant: QUAD/GRAPHICS, INC.Inventors: John Barndt, Robert H. Barton, JR., Terrill S. Clayton, Monte J. Rose, Paul G. Volz
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Patent number: D756780Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2014Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: Quad/Graphics, Inc.Inventors: Bill Grove, Todd Kelley, Timothy J. Fox
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Patent number: D756781Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2014Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: Quad/Graphics, Inc.Inventors: Bill Grove, Todd Kelley, Timothy J. Fox