Printers are now being used to print on porous print media, such as textiles, in addition to traditional print media, such as paper. Some printers capable of printing on porous print media are not capable of printing on non-porous print media. Other printers can be converted to print on either type of print media. These printers have the advantage of versatility and can save money on equipment costs. However, the conversion process can be lengthy, difficult, and can require special tools. For commercial printers, in particular, these drawbacks can make converting from one print media type to another cost prohibitive due to money lost while the printer is out of service during the conversion. Thus, there is a need for a printer capable of printing on non-porous and porous print media that can be rapidly converted for printing on either type of print media.
Reference will now be made to certain examples, and specific language will be used herein to describe the same. Examples discussed herein set forth a printer and a printer accessory that can enable printing on porous print media. The printer and printer accessory facilitate rapid conversion from a non-porous print media set-up to a porous print media set-up. In particular examples, the conversion is accomplished without tools.
Specifically, a printer accessory can comprise a base having a top surface and a bottom surface, and an ink absorber having a thickness, the ink absorber resting on the top surface and including an absorbent material to retain excess ink from a printing operation. The accessory also includes print media supports connected to the base and extending beyond the thickness of the ink absorber, wherein when print media is present, the print media spans the print media supports without contacting the ink absorber. In this embodiment, an attachment clip connected to the base is also present having a resiliently flexible portion to releasably secure the printer accessory to a printer.
In another example, a printer system can comprise a plurality of printer accessories for printing on print media, the printer accessories including attachment clips that resiliently flex. The system also includes a printer with attachment catches that engage and flex the attachment clips of the plurality of printer accessories when the plurality of printer accessories are secured to the printer, as well as a movable stop that also resiliently flexes to indicate a gap between any two of the plurality of printer accessories secured to the printer.
Furthermore, a method of using a printer for printing on porous print media in accordance with the principles herein comprises positioning a first printer accessory proximate to a first stop of a printer, and engaging a resiliently flexible attachment clip of the first printer accessory with a first attachment catch of the printer. Additionally, the method comprises positioning a second printer accessory proximate to accessory movable stop of the printer, and engaging a resiliently flexible attachment clip of the second printer accessory with a second attachment catch of the printer, wherein a movable stop of the printer has a resiliently flexible member which indicates a gap between the first printer accessory and the second printer accessory. The method also comprises minimizing the gap between the first printer accessory and the second printer accessory.
With these general embodiments set forth above, it is noted that when describing the printer accessory, or the related system or method, each of these descriptions are considered applicable to the other, whether or not they are explicitly discussed in the context of that embodiment. For example, in discussing the printer accessory per se, the system and/or method embodiments are also included in such discussions, and vice versa.
Also, it is noted that various modifications and combinations can be derived from the present disclosure and illustrations, and as such, the following figures should not be considered limiting.
Illustrated in
In accordance with one example of the present disclosure, a printer accessory 10 for printing on porous print media comprises a base 20, an ink absorber 30, print media supports 40, and attachment clips 50. The base comprises a top surface 22 and a bottom surface 24. The ink absorber rests on the top surface of the base. The bottom surface of the base contacts or interfaces with a surface of the printer, such as a surface of the print platen 80.
Printing on porous media, such as textiles and other porous substrates, often results in excess ink dripping through the porous media, which can create a mess if not contained. In one example, the ink absorber 30 comprises an absorbent material to retain excess ink from a printing operation. A typical absorbent material, such as foam or sponge material, expands upon receiving and holding liquid. Thus, the ink absorber has a thickness 32 that varies depending on the amount of ink contained in the absorbent material. For example, a “dry” ink absorber containing no ink typically has a thickness that is less than a “wet” ink absorber that contains ink. In a particular example, ink absorber retainers 34, 36 are used to maintain the ink absorber on the top surface of the base.
Ink absorber retainers 34 are typically, for example, fasteners such as buttons, snaps, screws, bolts, nuts, or any other suitable fastener. In other examples, ink absorber retainers include hook and loop fasteners, adhesive, tape, straps, cords, clips, or any other suitable device for maintaining an ink absorber on the top surface of the base. The ink absorber retainers can allow the ink absorber to be replaced, for instance, when it is sufficiently full of ink. In some embodiments, the ink absorber retainers are permanently or removably attached to the base. In a particular example, the ink absorber retainer are permanently attached to the base by a shank that separates a head from the base by a distance roughly equal to the thickness of the ink absorber. The ink absorber can include a hole sized to allow the head of the ink absorber retainer to pass through the thickness of the absorbent material, but that does not allow the head to easily pass back through the hole, thus securing the ink absorber on the top surface of the base. Ink absorber retainers are located in any desirable location to maintain the ink absorber on the top surface of the base.
On the other hand, in another particular example, ink absorber retainers 36 are used to prevent the ink absorber from bowing or curling up at an edge of the ink absorber. As illustrated in the figure, this is done without fasteners by creating a barrier that limits deflection of the ink absorber. In a specific aspect, the ink absorber retainers are connected to the print media supports 40.
The print media supports 40 are connected to the base 20 and extend beyond the thickness 32 of the ink absorber 30. The print media supports are designed to provide that when porous print media is present, i.e. during a printing operation, the porous print media spans the print media supports without substantially contacting, if at all, the ink absorber. Thus, the print media supports are designed to such that they extend beyond the thickness of the ink absorber when the ink absorber is completely saturated with ink, in order to account for the greatest possible ink absorber thickness. Preventing contact between the porous print media and the ink absorber minimizes ink smearing on a back side of the porous print media, which minimizes ink mess and improves print quality.
In the example illustrated, the attachment clips 50 secure the printer accessory 10 to the printer. In a specific aspect, the attachment clips are connected to the base 20 and have a resiliently flexible portion to releasably secure the printer accessory to the printer, such as to print platen 80. In a particular aspect, the printer includes attachment catches 82 that engage and flex the attachment clips of the printer accessory when the printer accessory is secured to the printer. Causing the attachment clips to flex creates a force in the resiliently flexible portion sufficient to secure the printer accessory to the printer. Thus, the resiliently flexible portions of the attachment clips secure the printer accessory to the printer without the need of separate fasteners. As shown in the figure, the attachment catches of the printer are coupled to, or combined with, the print platen of the printer. In a particular aspect, the resiliently flexible portion of the attachment clips forms a cantilever spring, which is connected at one end, i.e. to the base, and has a free end that is deflected, i.e. by the printer and attachment catches. As shown in the figure, the cantilever spring of the attachment clips comprises angled or bent geometrical features. In other words, a cantilever spring need not be only a straight or linear member.
In the example shown, the printer accessory includes multiple attachment clips 50. Alternatively, a printer accessory includes a single attachment clip having a resiliently flexible portion and a different attachment device that does not flex in an appreciable manner.
Also shown in the figure, the attachment clip 50 includes handles 60 attached to the attachment clip that enhances maneuverability of the resiliently flexible portion of the attachment clip. Thus, handles can be useful in securing or removing printer accessories from the printer.
Additionally, the printer accessory includes a stop tab 62. The stop tab interfaces with a printer stop of the printer for positioning the printer accessory on the printer. In one example, the stop tab is attached to the attachment clip 50. In a particular aspect, the stop tab is attached to the handle. In a more particular aspect, the stop tab is incorporated into the handle, as shown in the figure.
As illustrated further by the example shown in
When the printer accessory is not secured to the printer, a media edge guide 70 can be secured to the printer by coupling with the attachment catches 82 of the printer 12. The media edge guide is used to guide print media across the printer during a printing operation. In the example shown, the printer accessory 10 is configured to support the media edge guide when the printer accessory is secured to the printer so that the media edge guide can guide porous print media on the printer accessory during a printing operation. In one example, the printer accessory includes attachment catches 42, similar to those of the printer, which engage attachment features 72 of the media edge guide when the media edge guide is secured to the printer accessory. The attachment features of the media edge guide are configured to engage with the attachment catches of the printer accessory. In one aspect, the attachment features of the media edge guide are resiliently flexible, similar to the attachment clips. In another aspect, the attachment features of the media edge guide are rigid with no appreciable deflection in use. In a particular example for rigid attachment features, a threaded bolt 74 is used to press against the attachment catch of the printer accessory. This puts the media edge guide in tension to secure it to the printer accessory.
In a specific example, the attachment catches of printer accessory are coupled to the print media supports 40 of the printer accessory. In a particular aspect, the attachment catches of the printer accessory are located from the top of the print media supports at a distance 2 similar to a distance 4 from the top surface of the printer to the attachment catch of the printer. The print media supports are also spaced at a distance 6 similar to a distance 8 across the top of the printer. In this way, the printer and the printer accessory provide similar attachment interfaces for the media edge guide. Thus, the media edge guide is interchangeable between the printer and the printer accessory. As a result, the media edge guide can couple with the attachment catches of the printer when the printer accessory is not secured to the printer. The media edge guide can also couple with the attachment catches of the printer accessory when the printer accessory is secured to the printer. Thus, converting from printing on non-porous print media to porous print media when the media edge guide is secured to the printer comprises removing the media edge guide from the printer, securing the printer accessory to the printer, and securing the media edge guide to the printer accessory.
Referring to
In an alternate example, shown at 210 in
Referring to
With the printer accessory 411 proximate to the movable stop 486, the resiliently flexible member of the movable stop exerts a force on stop tab 462 and indicates the gap between printer accessories 411 and 410. Once the gap has been indicated by the movable stop, a user can position the printer accessories to minimize or eliminate the gap.
Illustrated in
Also shown in this example, an ink absorber 530 rests on a top surface 522 of the base 520. The printer accessory 510 includes ink absorber retainers 532, 534 to maintain the ink absorber on the top surface of the base. Print media supports 540 are connected to the base and extend beyond a thickness of the ink absorber.
The printer system in this example further includes a supply of porous print media fed from a roll 592. The print media is directed past a first wrinkle reducer 570, around a first guide roller 571, across print media supports 540, over a curing plate 598, around a second guide roller 572, past a second wrinkle reducer 573, and stored on a roll 594. The curing plate is part of a curing system that cures the ink printed on the porous print media after printing in order to fix the ink in the porous print media. As shown in the figure, when the porous print media is present, the porous print media spans the print media supports without contacting the ink absorber.
In this example, the first wrinkle reducer 570 and the second wrinkle reducer 573 are rollers that put tension into the porous print media to reduce, minimize, or eliminate wrinkles from the porous print media. The first and second wrinkle reducers move in directions 574, 576, respectively, to put tension in the porous print media. In a particular example, the wrinkle reducers are located at a fixed position to put the porous print media in tension. In another particular example, the wrinkle reducers apply a predetermined force to the porous print media to put the porous print media in tension.
Another example of the printer system 500 includes a print head that delivers ink to the print media. In this case, converting between printing on porous and non-porous print media includes moving the print head to provide clearance for the printer accessory to be installed or removed. Once the printer accessory has been installed or removed, the print head is moved into position for printing over the printer accessory or print platen, as the case may be.
In a related embodiment, and to reiterate to some degree, a method of using a printer for printing on porous print media in accordance with the principles herein is shown in
In one aspect, the method further comprises positioning a porous print media over the first printer accessory. In another aspect, the method comprises positioning a roller to tension the porous print media sufficient to remove wrinkles from the porous print media. In yet another aspect, the step of positioning a print head of the printer into a printing position relative to the porous print media over the first printer accessory is carried out. In still another aspect, the method further comprises initiating a printing operation on the porous print media.
While the forgoing examples are illustrative of the principles and concepts discussed herein, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be made without the exercise of inventive faculty, and without departing from those principles and concepts. Accordingly, it is not intended that the principles and concepts be limited, except as by the claims set forth below.