CPE Package Printing, Labeling & Identification 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which printing process transfers ink from an engraved cylinder directly to the substrate?
- Flexography
- Offset lithography
- Gravure (Correct answer)
- Screen printing
Correct answer: Gravure
Gravure printing uses an engraved cylinder where ink fills recessed cells and is transferred directly to the substrate under pressure.
Question 2: Which GS1 barcode is most commonly used on retail consumer goods packages in the US?
- Code 128
- QR Code
- PDF417
- UPC-A (Correct answer)
Correct answer: UPC-A
UPC-A is the standard 12-digit barcode used by GS1 for retail point-of-sale scanning of consumer goods at checkout.
Question 3: What is the mandatory blank space surrounding a barcode that allows accurate scanner reading?
- Quiet zone (Correct answer)
- Bleed area
- Registration mark
- Crop mark
Correct answer: Quiet zone
The quiet zone is the required clear space surrounding a barcode symbol that allows the scanner to identify the start and end of the code without interference.
Question 4: Which FDA regulation section governs inks used in food-contact packaging in the United States?
- 29 CFR 1910
- 21 CFR Part 110
- 40 CFR Part 180
- 21 CFR Part 175 (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 21 CFR Part 175
21 CFR Part 175 covers indirect food additives including adhesives and coatings, and governs inks used in food-contact packaging applications.
Question 5: What does RFID stand for in packaging identification systems?
- Remote Field Interface Device
- Radio Frequency Identification (Correct answer)
- Regulated Frequency Input Data
- Rapid Frequency Interrogation Device
Correct answer: Radio Frequency Identification
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags attached to objects, including packages, without line-of-sight scanning.
Question 6: In flexographic printing, what is the primary function of the anilox roll?
- Register color alignment between stations
- Apply varnish directly to the substrate
- Transfer the printed image to the film
- Meter and deliver a consistent ink volume to the plate (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Meter and deliver a consistent ink volume to the plate
The anilox roll is a key flexographic component that uses engraved cells to meter a precise, controlled volume of ink and transfer it uniformly to the printing plate.
Question 7: Which label type uses a silicone coating on the face stock itself instead of a separate release liner?
- Wet-glue label
- Pressure-sensitive label with liner
- Shrink sleeve label
- Linerless label (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Linerless label
Linerless labels apply a silicone release coating directly to the face stock, eliminating the need for a separate release liner and reducing material waste.
CPE Package Printing, Labeling & Identification 1
Which printing process transfers ink from an engraved cylinder directly to the substrate?