Patent Grant
10668747
This patent application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 102017126985.1, filed Nov. 16, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
A printing suction system for a printer, in particular an ink printing apparatus, and a printer having at least one printing suction system, as well as a method for smoothing a recording medium by means of the printing device.
A web feed device for use in a printer is known from DE 27 21 003 A1. The web feed device is characterized by a belt drive device that imparts a transport force on a continuous paper web. The web feed device additionally has: a loading device arranged before or upstream of the drive device, as viewed in the web feed direction, which loading device may apply a tension to the web; as well as a deviation detector device.
Given this known web feed device, the loading device is arranged between a transfer device and a heated roller fixing device which transfers the developed image onto an image receiving material such as paper or other recording medium. The heated roller fixing device subsequently fuses the toner image onto the paper and fixes it. The web feed device thereby has the disadvantage that a formation of folds in the region of the transfer device may lead to disturbances in the print image.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the embodiments and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the embodiments.
The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Elements, features and components that are identical, functionally identical and have the same effect are—insofar as is not stated otherwise—respectively provided with the same reference character.
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments, including structures, systems, and methods, may be practiced without these specific details. The description and representation herein are the common means used by those experienced or skilled in the art to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuitry have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring embodiments of the disclosure.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a printing suction system for a printer which provides a smoothing of a recording medium in the printing gap.
In an exemplary embodiment, a printing suction system for a printer, in particular an ink printing apparatus, includes at least one print bar having at least one print head; and at least one suction device which is arranged in proximity to the underside of the print bar, and with this forms a gap through which is directed a recording medium that can be printed to by the print bar, wherein the suction device extends along the width of the print bar and is configured to generate a suction pressure according to a suction pressure profile along the width of the print bar for suction and smoothing of the recording medium.
In one or more exemplary embodiments described herein, the expression “in proximity to” is to be understood as follows: The suction device may be arranged precisely opposite the underside of the print bar. The suction device may, however, be displaced somewhat from this opposite position, along the transport direction of the recording medium, so that the recording medium is first directed past the suction device and subsequently is directed past the corresponding print bar. In both instances, the recording medium travels between the print bars and the suction devices.
The printing suction system has the advantage that an undulation of the recording medium which occurs before or in the printing gap may be smoothed by the suction device, and therefore an unwanted contact between the print bar and the recording medium may be counteracted.
In an exemplary embodiment, a printer having at least one such printing suction system.
In an exemplary embodiment, a method for smoothing a printable recording medium in a printer includes: providing at least one printing suction system having a print bar and a suction device, directing the recording medium through the gap formed between the print bar and the suction disturbance device, and suctioning the recording medium via the suction device such that an undulation of the recording medium can be smoothed.
Embodiments of the present disclosure combine a suction device with the print bar. The suction device can provide a defined suction profile along the width of the print bar, in order to suction a recording medium directed through between the print bar and the suction device such that an undulation of the recording medium can be smoothed, and an unwanted contact between the print bar and the recording medium due to the undulation may be prevented.
In an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, the suction pressure profile of the suction device has a continuous, constant suction pressure along the width of the print bar, or the suction pressure of the suction profile varies over the width of the print bar. A suction pressure level of the suction device that varies over the width of the print bar has the advantage that this may be specifically adapted depending on function and intended use.
In an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, the curve of the suction pressure level of the suction pressure profile is adjusted along the width of the print bar, depending on the respective undulation of the recording medium. For example, the suction pressure level may be provided depending on the degree and/or the position of the undulation along the width of the print bar. For example, in this way the suction pressure may accordingly be provided to be higher in a region with a large ripple and be provided to be accordingly smaller in a region with a smaller ripple. A respective undulation of a recording medium may thus be rendered with further precision.
According to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, the printing suction system has at least one fold formation determination device (e.g. fold formation determiner), and/or is coupled with at least external fold formation determination device, to determine the undulation of the respective recording medium to be directed through the gap of the printing suction system, and to determine a suction pressure profile for smoothing of this undulation. Such a fold formation determination device has the advantage that a possibly present undulation of the recording medium is determined depending on the respective recording medium, and this information is used. The precision of the smoothing of the recording medium may thereby be increased. Furthermore, such information may be used by one or more external fold formation determination devices, such as ambient moisture sensors, ambient temperature sensors, ambient pressure sensors, or the like.
In an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, the at least one fold formation determination device is configured to directly and/or indirectly detect at least one undulation of the recording medium to determine fold formation information. Instead of determining the undulation via measurement of the surface profile of the recording medium, for example, a moisture of the recording medium or a moisture distribution of the recording medium along the width of the print bar may be detected, and from this, an undulation of the recording medium may be concluded.
In an exemplary embodiment according to the disclosure, the at least one fold formation determination device is configured to retrieve, from a memory device, at least one item of fold formation information that is stored in advance for the recording medium, based on which the undulation of the recording medium can be determined directly or indirectly. For example, an undulation of the recording medium may be predicted using a print image to be produced on the recording medium, which the print image is stored in the memory device. For example, an ink quantity distribution may be determined based on the print image and may be used to predict an undulation that is hereby caused and to determine a suitable suction pressure profile, and said suction pressure profile is to be applied onto the recording medium upon passing through the printing gap of the printing suction system.
According to an embodiment, the fold formation information is, for example, the degree of moisture of the recording medium, the degree of ambient humidity, the ambient pressure, the density of the recording medium, the thickness of the recording medium, the width of the recording medium, the ambient temperature, a material fraction of the recording medium, a height deviation from an ideal line of the recording medium, a print image to be applied onto the recording medium, or a printing ink distribution on the recording medium. However, the disclosure is not limited to these examples of a fold formation information.
In an exemplary embodiment according to the disclosure, at least one fold formation determination device is configured to measure a surface contour of the recording medium, in particular by means of infrared, ultrasound, or laser. However, the disclosure is not limited to the cited examples for measurement of the surface contour.
In an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, the suction pressure profile is calculated based on the established undulation of the recording medium, or is stored so that it can be retrieved from a memory device. For example, characteristic curves for suction profiles may be stored in advance in a memory device and subsequently be retrieved, and a suction pressure profile may possibly be interpolated therefrom.
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments, including structures, systems, and methods, may be practiced without these specific details. The description and representation herein are the common means used by those experienced or skilled in the art to most effectively convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, and circuitry have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring embodiments of the disclosure.
Initially shown in
A side view of the printer 1 whose print bars 2 have no additional suction device is shown in
As is depicted in
The different print bars 2 are thereby used for printing with inks of different color, for example.
For printing to the recording medium 5, the respective print bar 2 has one or, as is shown in
To transport the recording medium 5 along the print group 3, a transport device 4 is provided which, for example, has multiple transport rollers 9, for example roll saddle rollers, as is indicated in
Fold formation may occur in the recording medium 5 while the recording medium 5 is transported along the print group 3, for example if the recording medium 5 experiences tensile forces of unequal magnitude in the transport direction due to the transport rollers 9.
Such a fold formation in the recording medium 5 may lead to an unwanted contact between the recording medium 5 and a respective print head 6 of the print bar 2. Such a contacting of the recording medium 5 with the print head 6 may thereby result in damage to the print head 6, and cause a print image disturbance with permanent and variable nozzle failures. Furthermore, in such an instance it is necessary to exchange the print head 6 in order to reestablish a suitable print quality.
In particular, the folding or undulation 14 that arises in the fold formation may contact the nozzle plate of the print head 6, for example if the fold or ripple is created precisely at the moment below the nozzle plate of the print head 6 and contacts said nozzle plate. A Teflon layer, for example provided on the nozzle plate, may thereby be damaged. In this instance, exchanging the print head 6 is likewise necessary.
The print heads may be countersunk into the print bar. However, the print heads may also protrude from the print bar. The fold formation or undulation 14 in the recording medium thereby makes contact with at most one respective present print head protector. Although the print heads are in most instances protected by this protective measure, the recording medium is destroyed by the fold formation. Print image disturbances likewise occur, such that the print image must be generated again. Furthermore, the printing process is interrupted.
Until now, there has existed no solution to this problem of fold formation in a recording medium 5. Instead of this, for example in the event of different papers as recording media 5, these sporadically contact the print bar 2 and the nozzle plate of the print head 6, or if present, a print head protector of the print bar 2, for example depending on parameters such as the paper moisture and the print image and the print utilization that are connected therewith.
Shown in
Given the printing suction system 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, the respective print bar 2 of the print group 3 is coupled or combined with a suction device 11 in order to counteract a fold formation and smooth an undulation of the recording medium 5 having one or more ripples 14. In an exemplary embodiment, the suction device 11 includes processor circuitry that is configured to generate a suction pressure (e.g. negative pressure). In an aspect, the suction device 11 is additionally or alternatively configured to generate a blowing force (e.g. positive pressure). The suction device 11 can be, for example, a pump (e.g. pneumatic pump), vacuum, blower, fan, or other device configured to move air or other gases.
In an exemplary embodiment, the suction device 11 is arranged opposite the print bar 2, and in particular, opposite the underside of the print bar 2, and with this forms a gap 15 (as shown in
However, in an exemplary embodiment, the suction device 11 is alternative (or additionally) arranged just before the print bar 5, as considered in the transport direction of the recording medium 5. In comparison to the depicted exemplary embodiments in
The actual printing gap 12 is formed between the top side of the recording medium 5 and the opposite underside of the print bar 2. In
In an exemplary embodiment, the recording medium 5 to be printed to is provided so that it can be directed through the formed printing gap 12, between the print bar 2 and the suction device 11. In an exemplary embodiment, the print bar 2, with its associated suction device 11, forms the printing suction system 10 according to the disclosure.
In the printer 1 shown in
In an exemplary embodiment, in
In an exemplary embodiment, the recording medium 5 is, for example, comprised of or has paper, paper towel or tissue paper, fabric, cardboard, paperboard, plastic film, and/or metal foil. However, the disclosure is not limited to the cited examples for a recording medium 5. Any material, or any material combination, may be used as a recording medium 5 that is suitable to be printed to by the respective printing suction system 10 and to be suctioned by the suction device 11 of the respective printing suction system 10 in order to counteract a fold formation, or to smooth a possibly present undulation.
As was previously described with regard to
Such an undulation of the recording medium 5 due to fold formation is indicated in the view in
As is shown in
In an exemplary embodiment, in operation, the recording medium 5 is directed through the gap 15 between the underside of the print bar 2 and the top side of the associated suction device 11 of the respective printing suction system 10, and may hereby be printed to on its top side by the print bar 2 and its at least one print head 6, depending on a desired print image.
In
In an exemplary embodiment, in addition to tensile forces of different magnitudes on the recording medium 5 in the transport direction T, due to the transport device 4 and its transport rollers 9, fold formation factors also influence a fold formation (and therefore undulation) in the recording medium 5, for example, the moisture of the recording medium 2, the ambient humidity, the external or ambient pressure, the density of the recording medium 2, the thickness of the recording medium 2, the width of the recording medium 5, the material or the material combination of the recording medium 2 (for example a wood fraction of the recording medium), the print image, etc.
Shown in
In an exemplary embodiment, in order to smooth the undulation produced by the fold formation in the width or Y-direction of the recording medium 5, the respective printing suction system 10 includes a suction device 11. In an exemplary embodiment, the suction device 11 is configured to apply a suction pressure profile in the width or Y-direction to a recording medium 5 directed through between the print bar 2 and the suction device 11 to smooth the undulation.
In an exemplary embodiment, as is shown in
In this way, the curve of the suction pressure level, and therefore the shape of the suction pressure profile, may be adapted as needed along the width of the print bar 2 to an established undulation of a recording medium 5 in order to smooth its undulation if, in operation of the printer 1, the recording medium 5 is transported through the gap 15 between the print bar 2 and the suction device 11.
According to embodiments of the disclosure, the wavy (non-smooth) recording medium 5, depicted schematically in
In an exemplary embodiment, the suction pressure profile of the suction device 11 is configured, as is indicated with arrows P1, P2, and P3 in
In an exemplary embodiment, to determine a fold formation (and an undulation connected therewith) of a recording medium 5 in the width or Y-direction, the printing suction system 10 includes at least one fold formation determination device 13, as is indicated with a dashed line in
In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in
However, according to the disclosure, the fold formation determination device 13 is not limited to this arrangement indicated in
In an exemplary embodiment, the fold formation determination device 13, 13′ is configured to determine the undulation of the respective recording medium 5 (e.g. to measure at least one fold formation information, and/or to retrieve at least one fold formation information from a memory device (not shown), which fold formation information is stored in advance for the recording medium 5). The memory device may thereby be part of the fold formation determination device 13 or 13′, or be a separate device/component and communicatively coupled with the fold formation determination device 13, 13′.
In an exemplary embodiment, based on the at least one item of fold formation information, the fold formation determination device 13 or 13′ is configured to: determine an undulation or an undulation profile of the recording medium 5; retrieve an undulation or an undulation profile from the memory device, which undulation or an undulation profile of the recording medium 5 is to be expected for the at least one fold formation information; and/or interpolate an undulation or an undulation profile.
In an exemplary embodiment, on the basis of the determined undulation or an undulation profile of the recording medium 5, a suction pressure profile is subsequently determined for the suction device 11 of the printing suction system 10. In an exemplary embodiment, the suction pressure profile is configured such that it smooths the established undulation of the recording medium 5, at least smooths such that the recording medium 5 is within the tolerance range for the printing gap 12 of the printing suction system 10. In an exemplary embodiment, the suction device 11 is activated based on the suction pressure profile to smooth (e.g. sufficiently smooth) the recording medium 5.
In an exemplary embodiment, the suction pressure profile is, for example, calculated or stored in advance for an associated undulation or an undulation profile of the recording medium, so as to be retrievable, and may, if applicable, be interpolated.
In an exemplary embodiment, the fold formation information includes, for example, the degree of moisture of the recording medium 5, the degree of ambient humidity, the external or ambient pressure, the density of the recording medium, the thickness of the recording medium, the width of the recording medium 5, the ambient temperature, a material fraction (for example wood fraction) of the recording medium 5, a print image, the print utilization, and/or other characteristic and/or condition as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The disclosure is not limited to the aforementioned examples of a fold formation information. Any other information that is suitable to directly and/or indirectly determine or predict an undulation or an undulation profile of a recording medium 5 may be determined as fold formation information.
In an exemplary embodiment, the suction device 11 described with regard to
In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in
In this way, the undulation formation of the recording medium 5 may be minimized in printing operation. This advantageously reduces the recording medium contact and print image disturbances connected therewith, as well as the occurrence of recording medium dust at this location. Furthermore, print head damage may be avoided, and the print head lifespan and the print quality may thereby be increased, for example given ARA or post-stream processing.
An additional advantage is that recording medium contact at the underside of the print bar and the nozzle plate of the print heads is reduced. Furthermore, the print quality and/or the stability of the print quality of the printer in inkjet printers may be increased. Moreover, a cost reduction may be achieved by increasing the print head lifespan and due to smaller downtimes of the printer.
Although the present disclosure has been entirely described in the preceding using preferred exemplary embodiments, it is not limited to these, but rather can be modified in various ways. In particular, the embodiments described in the preceding can also be combined with one another, in particular individual features hereof.
The aforementioned description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the disclosure that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the art, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, and without departing from the general concept of the present disclosure. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings and guidance.
References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an exemplary embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.
The exemplary embodiments described herein are provided for illustrative purposes, and are not limiting. Other exemplary embodiments are possible, and modifications may be made to the exemplary embodiments. Therefore, the specification is not meant to limit the disclosure. Rather, the scope of the disclosure is defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
Embodiments may be implemented in hardware (e.g., circuits), firmware, software, or any combination thereof. Embodiments may also be implemented as instructions stored on a machine-readable medium, which may be read and executed by one or more processors. A machine-readable medium may include any mechanism for storing or transmitting information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computer). For example, a machine-readable medium may include read only memory (ROM); random access memory (RAM); magnetic disk storage media; optical storage media; flash memory devices; electrical, optical, acoustical or other forms of propagated signals (e.g., carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, etc.), and others. Further, firmware, software, routines, instructions may be described herein as performing certain actions. However, it should be appreciated that such descriptions are merely for convenience and that such actions in fact results from computing devices, processors, controllers, or other devices executing the firmware, software, routines, instructions, etc. Further, any of the implementation variations may be carried out by a general purpose computer.
For the purposes of this discussion, the term “processor circuitry” shall be understood to be circuit(s), processor(s), logic, or a combination thereof. A circuit includes an analog circuit, a digital circuit, state machine logic, other structural electronic hardware, or a combination thereof. A processor includes a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), central processing unit (CPU), application-specific instruction set processor (ASIP), graphics and/or image processor, multi-core processor, or other hardware processor. The processor may be “hard-coded” with instructions to perform corresponding function(s) according to aspects described herein. Alternatively, the processor may access an internal and/or external memory to retrieve instructions stored in the memory, which when executed by the processor, perform the corresponding function(s) associated with the processor, and/or one or more functions and/or operations related to the operation of a component having the processor included therein.
In one or more of the exemplary embodiments described herein, the memory is any well-known volatile and/or non-volatile memory, including, for example, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), flash memory, a magnetic storage media, an optical disc, erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), and programmable read only memory (PROM). The memory can be non-removable, removable, or a combination of both.
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