LASER IMAGE ENGRAVING IN SCRATCH-OFF COATING APPLICATIONS

• Main Authors: RICH, BENNY, R, CARIDES, JAMES, J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 24.02.2000
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: AMUSEMENTS; CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; COLOUR PRINTING; GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; HUMAN NECESSITIES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; LINING MACHINES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PRINTING; PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; SPORTS; STAMPS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TRANSPORTING; TYPEWRITERS; VIDEO GAMES

A method and system for creating game cards incorporates a removable scratch-off coating to hide printed symbols. The card is constructed so that the scratch-off coating is selectively retained by the card, in the form of symbols, when the scratch-off coating is removed. The selective retention of scratch-off coating material to the card is accomplished by incorporating into the card, between the substrate and the scratch-off coating, a clear release coat laser-engraved to form symbols. A laser creates the desired symbols in the release coat. The laser may be manually controlled or computer-controlled using software and drivers for the laser assembly. When the scratch-off coating material is applied to the card during construction, it adheres directly to the substrate in the form of symbols. When a player rubs the scratch-off coating material, it releases from the release coat and remains adhered to the substrate to create the symbols. L'invention concerne un procédé et un système de fabrication de cartes de jeux portant un film à gratter éliminable servant à cacher des symboles imprimés. La carte est conçue de manière à retenir sélectivement le film à gratter, sous forme de symboles, lorsqu'on enlève ledit film. On obtient la rétention sélective du matériau du film à gratter en insérant dans la carte, entre le substrat et le film, une couche claire à éliminable gravée au laser de façon à former des symboles. Un laser crée les symboles souhaités sur le film. Le laser peut être contrôlé manuellement ou par ordinateur au moyen de logiciels et de pilotes de périphériques destinés à l'ensemble laser. Après application du matériau du film à gratter sur la carte pendant la phase de fabrication, ledit matériau adhère directement au substrat sous forme de symboles. Quand un joueur gratte le matériau du film à gratter, celui-ci se libère de la couche éliminable et reste collé au substrat de façon à créer des symboles.