EP0025878B1 - Apparatus and method for drying ink printed on a print medium in a printing system - Google Patents

Apparatus and method for drying ink printed on a print medium in a printing system Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0025878B1
EP0025878B1 EP80104964A EP80104964A EP0025878B1 EP 0025878 B1 EP0025878 B1 EP 0025878B1 EP 80104964 A EP80104964 A EP 80104964A EP 80104964 A EP80104964 A EP 80104964A EP 0025878 B1 EP0025878 B1 EP 0025878B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sheet
print
drum
drying
accordance
Prior art date
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Expired
Application number
EP80104964A
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0025878A1 (en
Inventor
John William Irwin
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JP Morgan Delaware
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International Business Machines Corp
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
    • B41F23/00—Devices for treating the surfaces of sheets, webs, or other articles in connection with printing
    • B41F23/04—Devices for treating the surfaces of sheets, webs, or other articles in connection with printing by heat drying, by cooling, by applying powders
    • B41F23/044—Drying sheets, e.g. between two printing stations
    • B41F23/0443—Drying sheets, e.g. between two printing stations after printing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
    • B41J11/0015—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form for treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
    • B41J11/0015—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form for treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing
    • B41J11/002—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
    • B41J11/0015—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form for treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing
    • B41J11/002—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating
    • B41J11/0021—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating using irradiation
    • B41J11/00216—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating using irradiation using infrared [IR] radiation or microwaves
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
    • B41J11/0015—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form for treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing
    • B41J11/002—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating
    • B41J11/0024—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating using conduction means, e.g. by using a heated platen

Definitions

  • This invention relates to apparatuses and methods for drying ink printed on a sheet in a printing system having electronic signals representative of print data to be printed.
  • the liquid In printing with a liquid on a sheet, the liquid must be dried before the sheet may be further handled.
  • the speed with which the printed sheet dries depends upon the ability of the sheet to absorb the liquid and the areal density of the liquid applied to the sheet. If the sheet does not readily absorb the liquid, or if a large quantity of liquid is applied to a small area of the sheet, the procedure of allowing the sheet to dry passively before handling it is either unreliable or too time-consuming.
  • US-A-3,835,777 and US-A-3,958,509 disclose adjustment of the flow of ink to a printing press in response to sensing of the density of the image.
  • a patch of the printed document is monitored with a densitometer.
  • the signals from the densitometer are analyzed by a computer and used to gate the flow of ink to the press.
  • a lithographic plate is scanned to determine the density.
  • the print density information is then electronically analyzed and used to adjust the flow of ink to various print zones in the printing area.
  • US-A-3,717,722 shows an array of ink nozzles for printing a pattern on cloth. The velocity of flow to the nozzles is adjusted automatically in accordance with the speed of the web under the nozzles; to maintain the same intensity of printed image on the cloth.
  • US-A-4,050,075 shows adjustment of the ink flow or of the manner in which the ink is deposited on the print medium to compensate for changes in relative movement between ink jet and print medium.
  • a detector monitors the density of the ink on a printed copy to determine whether a roller has produced a smudge of a portion of the ink on the copy.
  • a smudge detected by the densitometer produces an error signal, indicative of insufficient curing of the ink on a copy, which is applied to a control to provide a larger output power from a lamp to improve the curing of the ink on subsequent printed copies.
  • the copy tested for curing effectiveness has already been dried and smudged. Whilst this may be satisfactory for a run of identical copies, it provides no solution to the problem of drying a succession of sheets with different printed data thereon.
  • the invention seeks to control the drying operation as a function of print data to be printed on individual sheets for efficient energy use and rapid operation of the printing apparatus.
  • the invention also seeks efficiently to dry print images by controlling the detachment of sheet material from the drum as print parameters vary.
  • apparatus for drying ink printed on a sheet in a printer system having electronic signals representative of print data to be printed is characterised by means for determining from the electronic signals the density of print data for the sheet as a print parameter related to the drying of the ink printed on the sheet, and means responsive to the determining means to control drying of the ink printed on the sheet in accordance with the print data density on the sheet.
  • the drying control may be modified in accordance with other print parameters that are detected, such as the drying characteristics of the ink and ambient humidity.
  • the invention extends to a method of drying ink printed on a sheet in a printing system having electronic signals representative of print data to be printed, characterised by the steps of:
  • a copier system 15 (Fig. 1) includes a printer with a sheet feed and drum transport assembly 17, a sheet exit assembly 465 and at least one ink dryer 464.
  • the printer may be of the ink jet type having ink jet nozzles (not shown) carried by an array transport system 250.
  • Copier system 15 provides control and sequencing for (1) sheet feed and drum transport assembly 17, (2) array transport system 250 and (3) exit assembly 465 and dryer 464.
  • system 15 provides for detection of various print parameters relating to the drying of the ink printed on a sheet 11.
  • the print parameters that are detected include print data density, ambient humidity and characteristics of the ink. These detected print parameters are used by system 15 efficiently to control drying of the ink printed on a sheet which constitutes the print medium. Such drying may be accomplished by one or more of the following:-
  • the ink jet nozzles may be driven by input data from a document-scanning system that includes a scanner and a source organizer to feed a data memory in which the image data is stored before being applied to the ink jet arrays.
  • a document-scanning system is described in US 4,069,486, and GB 1,566,826.
  • Single flexible sheets 11 are fed to the rotary drum 10 from bin 12 by conveying belts 13.
  • Conveying belts 13 are entrained around driven roll 20 and idle roll 21.
  • a vacuum plenum 22 within the belts 13 is connected by conduit 23 to a vacuum source (not shown).
  • a solenoid 29 operates a mechanical paper gate 28 (Fig. 2) of assembly 17 in the sheet path between paper guides 26a and 27 to prevent any sheet from proceeding to drum 10 until that sheet is released.
  • Drum 10 is driven in a load mode and in a print mode by a drum motor and servo assembly 62 (Fig. 1).
  • a load mode includes both loading of a sheet and unloading of a previous sheet, if any.
  • the print drum surface velocity is plotted against time in the upper curve of Fig. 6. Initially the velocity is zero and continues in the portion 73 of the curve to be zero until the load mode is called for, when the drum is accelerated to load velocity in the portion 70 of the curve. With the drum revolving at load velocity, a first sheet is loaded onto the drum, having been released by the gate 28 and becomes loaded during the LOAD period indicated. The drum is then accelerated during the ACCEL period in the portion 74 of the curve, until it has reached print velocity.
  • Printing occurs during the PRINT period in the portion 72 of the curve, whereafter the drum is decelerated during the DECEL period in the portion 75 of the curve, until it has reached load velocity as indicated by the portion 71 of the curve.
  • a start unload signal initiates unloading of the first sheet from the drum and subsequent loading of a second sheet on the drum after release by the gate 28.
  • the UNL unload period of the first sheet and the LOAD period of the second sheet overlap to some extent. The steps listed above are then repeated for the second and subsequent sheets.
  • vacuum control 19 is coupled to drum 10, with conduits to provide both vacuum and pressurized air. Specifically, control 19 is effective to provide leading-edge and trailing-edge vacuum, as well as pressurized air. Vacuum control 19, servo assembly 62 and other details of the sheet feed and drum transport are described in detail in DE 28036988 and FR 2379458.
  • the exit belt linear velocity is plotted against time in the lower curve of Fig. 6, which shows the time relationship with the drum velocity.
  • the exit belts 468 are accelerated from zero velocity to load speed which continues in the portion 484a of the curve, because the belts are maintained at load speed during printing of a first sheet as there is no sheet to be dried at that time.
  • the belts 468 After the first sheet has been printed, it is unloaded from the drum onto the belts 468 driven at load speed corresponding to drum surface velocity.
  • the belts 468 start to decelerate from load speed along the portion 486 of the curve until they reach a desired drying velocity, for example, one of the velocities represented by portions 487a, 487b, 487c and 487d of the curve.
  • the printed sheet Whilst the belt is moving at the selected velocity, the printed sheet is held against the lower run 468a of the belts by vacuum applied to vacuum plenum 22a (Fig. 2) and passes between the run 468a and dryer 464 to be dried. When the sheet reaches the end of the run 468a, it is detached from the belts to be received in bin 14 (Fig. 1). After the second sheet is printed, the belts are accelerated along the portion 488 to the curve until they reach load speed again at portion 484b of the curve, ready for the unloading of the second sheet.
  • microwave dryer 466 (Fig. 7) may be provided instead of, or in addition to, thermal dryer 464, which may be a hot platen, hot roll or lamp.
  • the operation is repeated as often as necessary.
  • a programmable microprocessor 300 (Fig. 3A) has its outputs connected by output bus 100 to output ports 110, 111, 112, 113 and 114, as well as output port 470 (Fig. 2).
  • Input ports 104, 105, 106 and 107 are connected by input bus 102 to the processor 300.
  • Output port 111 supplied signals over lines 84a, 131 a and 146a to the drum motor and servo assembly 62, from which signals are supplied over lines 116 and 210 to input port 104.
  • Output port 112 provides signals over lines 194 and 196 to a TPT servo assembly 264 (Fig. 1) forming part of the array transport system 250.
  • the assembly 264 in turn provides input signals over lines 202, 204, 206 and 208 to input port 105. Selected inputs and outputs of input port 107 and output port 114 are coupled to an operator's panel 245 (Fig. 8) which includes display 230 ten-key pad 243A, start key 30A, and stop-reset key 241 A.
  • the output port 113 supplies signals over lines 124, 150, 152, 158, 160 and 170 to vacuum control 19 (Fig. 19). Input signals are supplied over lines 220 and 222 to input port 106, and additional input signals are supplied over line 212 to input port 104.
  • the output port 113 also supplies an open gate signal from the microprocessor 300 on line 120 to a solenoid (not shown) to open the gate 28 (Fig. 1). Input signals from the start key 30A, the stop-reset key 241 A and the ten-key pad 243A are supplied over lines 30, 241 and 243, respectively, to the input port 107.
  • Output port 111 is coupled by line 84a to an accelerate-to-load-speed circuit 84.
  • Circuit 84 produces an acceleration waveform to drive motor 60 of assembly 62 from stop to load speed.
  • the output from circuit 84 is applied over a line 90a to a switch 90, which in the absence of a signal over line 98 from a load-speed detector circuit 91, is in a one state. In this one state, the output of circuit 84 over line 90a is applied over line 90c through a power amplifier 92 to motor 60.
  • Amplifier 92 is effective to convert the voltage input signal to a drive current.
  • motor 60 accelerates drum 10 from stop to load speed as shown in the portion 70 of the upper curve of Fig. 6.
  • Motor 60 is coupled to a tachometer 95 which provides a signal to the load-speed detector circuit 91 and to a load-speed servo circuit 96.
  • Circuit 91 is switched into operation when the pulse rate from tachometer 95 is within a specified percentage of the desired load speed.
  • circuit 91 is effective to change switch 90 from a one state to a zero state.
  • switch 90 connects the output of load-speed servo circuit 96 over line 90b to line 90c.
  • switch 90 switches back to its one state. Accordingly, when actuated to the zero state, switch 90 applies the output of load-speed servo circuit 96 to power amplifier 92.
  • a signal is supplied over the drum-at-speed line 212 to port 104 to microprocessor 300.
  • Tachometer 95 provides an input signal on line 116, which occurs once per drum revolution and indicates a specific rotational position of drum 10. More frequent pulses are produced by tachometer 95 on tach line 210, which are also applied to input port 104.
  • Output port 111 is coupled by line 131a to an accelerate-to-print-speed circuit 131, which produces an acceleration waveform to drive motor 60 from load speed to print speed.
  • the output from circuit 131 is applied over line 134a to a switch 134, which in the absence of a signal over a line 139a, is in a one state. In this one state, the output of circuit 131 over line 134a is applied over line 90c through the power amplifier 92 to motor 60.
  • motor 60 accelerates drum 10 from load speed to print speed, as shown in portion 74 of the upper curve of Fig. 6.
  • Tachometer 95 provides a signal to a print speed detector circuit 138 and to a print speed servo circuit 140.
  • Circuit 138 is switched into operation when the pulse rate from tachometer 95 is within a specified percentage of the desired print speed.
  • circuit 138 is effective to provide an output over line 139 to an AND circuit 141.
  • the other input to AND circuit 141 is from an inverter 142 supplied with a signal from output port 111 over line 146a when deceleration to load speed is called for.
  • the AND circuit 141 passes the signal on line 139 from detector circuit 138 to line 139a to change switch 134 from a one state to a zero state.
  • switch 134 When in the zero state, switch 134 connects the output of print speed servo circuit 140 over line 134b to line 90c and power amplifier 92.
  • the drum 10 of the system is, brought to print speed, as shown in portion 72 of the upper curve in Fig. 6, and printing may begin.
  • a signal to this effect is supplied to the microprocessor 300.
  • the line 146a from output port 111 is also connected to a decelerate-to-load-speed circuit 146, whose output is connected by line 90a to switch 90.
  • the circuit 146 is effective, through switch 90, to provide a deceleration waveform to amplifier 92.
  • the signal on line 146a is effective by way of inverter 142 to block AND circuit 141, so that no signal is applied from detector circuit 138 to switch 134. In this manner, motor 60 and drum 10 are decelerated to load speed, as shown in the portion 75 of the upper curve of Fig. 6.
  • Load-speed detector circuit 91 and load-speed servo circuit 96 then function in the manner previously described to take over the drive of motor 60.
  • Microprocessor 300 (Fig. 4) has additional input ports 346 and 348 and additional output ports 342, 344 and 450 connected to buses 100 and 102 respectively.
  • Output port 342 supplies enabling and reset signals from the microprocessor 300 over lines 350, 352 and 354 to leading-edge wetness counter 358 and page wetness counter 360, both of which output data relate to print density (one of the print parameters).
  • the micro- processor 300 provides a first inch enabling signal 384 (Fig. 5) on line 350 from output port 342 to counter 358.
  • the signal 384 indicates the time of the leading first inch of sheet 11 and is repeated for every revolution of drum 10.
  • the microprocessor 300 through the port 342 provides on line 354 to counter 360 a print-time enabling signal 386 (Fig.
  • the tachometer 95 provides to the microprocessor 300 through the input port 104 an index pulse 382 (Fig. 5) on line 116, which occurs just prior to the leading edges of signals 384 and 386, which are coincident with the leading edge of sheet 11 as it travels under the print arrays of transport system 250 (Fig. 1).
  • Count signals are also applied to counters 358 and 360 by way of lines 380 from a read only storage or memory 378.
  • Address data for memory 378 is provided by way of lines 374 from a print memory 372, which is as described in US 4,068,486.
  • Print memory 372 also supplies data by way of lines 374 to the remainder of system 15.
  • the data on lines 374 is applied as eight-bit parallel address bytes from which a direct indication at the print data density or blackness of the print may be derived. At each address, each one bit is considered a black bit, and the memory 378 sums within each address the number of black bits.
  • the output on lines 380 is a direct indication of the count of the black bits and is applied to page counter 360 and leading-edge counter 358.
  • the outputs of counters 358 and 360 are applied by way of lines 362 and 366, and input ports 346 and 348, respectively, to the input bus 102 to micro-processor 300.
  • Counters 358 and 360 are reset after print time signal 386 on line 354 has gone down by a reset signal from output port 342 of micro- processor 300 on line 352.
  • the low orders output of counters 358 and 360 output ports 344 and 450 (Fig. 7) provides control and driving signals for a power control 460 for dryers 464 and 466.
  • the amount of energy supplied by dryer 464 is controlled by data provided by the microprocessor in accordance with detected print parameters, including signals from input ports 346 and 348, which data is provided through output port 450 on lines 452a and applied through a digital-to- analog converter 454, the analog output of which is applied by line 456 to amplifier 460a.
  • the analog signal on line 456 is gated through amplifier 460a by an enable signal on line 356a from output port 344 to produce on line 462 an energizing signal for thermal dryer 464.
  • the duration of energization of microwave dryer 466 is controlled by data provided by the microprocessor 300 in accordance with detected print parameters, including signals from input ports 346 and 348 (Fig. 4), which data is provided through output port 450 on lines 452b to a read only store or memory 460b in the form of four address bits.
  • An enable signal is applied to memory 460b from the output port 344 of microprocessor 300 by way of line 356b.
  • clock signals are applied by way of a counter 460c to memory 460b, which may be a conventional 256xl read-only memory in which data stored provides a look-up table to convert a four-bit binary value on lines 452b into a proportional time signal on line 462a to dryer 466.
  • Memory 460b requires eight bits of address, four bits of which are supplied through lines 42b. The remaining four bits of address are cycled through by counter 460c. In this way the signal on line 462a is active to energise the dryer 466 for N/16 of the time, where N is the value on lines 452b. By variation of the value N, the duration of the active state of microwave dryer 466 may be varied as desired.
  • the ambient humidity is detected by a dry-bulb detector 388 (Fig. 9) and a wet-bulb detector 404.
  • system 15 efficiently controls the drying of ink printed on sheet 11.
  • Signals from detectors 388 and 404 are fed to respective amplifiers 390 and 406 whose outputs on lines 394 and 408, respectively, are fed to analog-to- digital converters 392 and 410.
  • Digital signals from converters 392 and 410 are applied through input ports 400 and 402 to input bus 102 and then to microprocessor 300, for use by the latter in controlling drying.
  • An ink bottle 414 (Fig. 10) has external bands 416, 417,418 and 420, any of which may project or not project to provide a code to indicate the drying characteristics or specifications of the ink contained in the bottle.
  • Bands 416, 417, 418 and 420 correspond to binary weights 1, 2, 4 and 8, respectively.
  • microswitches 424, 426, 428 and 430 respectively which control the potential on weighted lines 436, 438, 440 and 442, respectively, by connecting or not connecting to ground line 432 individual weighted lines, each of which is connected through a resistor to a voltage source 434.
  • the weighted lines are coupled through input port 444 to the input bus 102 of microprocessor 300.
  • bottle 414 provides drying level information corresponding to the binary value of 13, because the bottle has projecting ridges on bands 416, 418 and 420. It will be understood that bottle 414 with associated ridges may be entirely moulded of plastics material.
  • Block diagram shows the physical implementation of part of the microprocessor 300, busses and input and output ports.
  • Micro- processor 300 has, as well as output data bus 100 and input data bus 102, an eight-bit address bus 306 and a control strobe line 370.
  • Address bus 306 allows microprocessor 300 to address up to 256 input and output ports.
  • Typical output ports are in the form of latches, such as four bit latches 334 and 338 and eight bit or paired four bit latches 336 and 340.
  • Typical input ports are in the form of AND gates 318, 320 and 322.
  • Signals on the address bus 306 are decoded by gated decoder 314 by a control strobe on line 370 and the gated decoded address signal used to set the appropriate latches of the output port in accordance with data information on the bus 100. Signals on the address bus 306 are also decoded by decoder 312 and the decoded address signal used to enable the appropriate AND gates of the input port, so that data information is supplied to the bus 102.
  • a gated decoder 316 is provided to control the addressing range of an extended address functions decode block 332.
  • a power-on reset latch 324 is provided that is set whenever the power is brought up on system 15 by master power on switch 80. Latch 324 resets all the output ports of micro- processor 300 when the latch 324 is reset by way of line 224.
  • microprocessor 300 may be an I/O processor used with the IBM Series I computer.
  • the operation starts with an initialization sequence (section 5) to start system 15.
  • a master power-on switch 80 (Fig. 3B), is actuated and INIT (section 5.1) is accessed.
  • the first operation is a reset signal in line 224 applied to POWER ON RESET (POR) latch 324 (Fig. 11).
  • a COPY REQUEST flag is also reset.
  • turning on the MAIN POWER RELAY brings up line 201 (Fig. 3A).
  • the code drops through another entry, INIT1 (section 5.2) which is entered after handling an error, such as a jam. This is the location the code would enter after a jam has been cleared.
  • a reset signal is. produced from output port 344 (Fig.
  • thermal dryer 464 on line 356a to turn off thermal dryer 464.
  • One reason for turning off thermal dryer 464 is that in the event of an error, with system 15 having to be opened up to take a sheet 11 out, it would be unsafe to have the dryer in a heated state.
  • output port 470 (Fig. 2) produces on lines 472 a signal to cause variable-speed motor 478 to run at full speed so that the belts 468 travel at the same linear velocity as the load velocity of the drum 10.
  • PROFILE COMPLETE FLAG (section 5.2) is reset. This is a software flag that is turned on after a successful profile of the system is made. This is effective to force the profile routine (section 21) to be run during the initializing phase. Also reset is LOAD ADJUST FLAG, another software flag that will be set when paper 11 has been successfully loaded on drum 10. Meanwhile, a nominal load time of 152, corresponding to 214 degrees of rotation of the drum 10, is set into variable CALCLOAD. If the HEAD UP FLAG is off, then a subroutine called INKUP is run. INKUP (section 6.5) brings up all of the pressures in the ink lines and checks all of the levels in the ink system. If this is successful, the HEAD UP FLAG is set, with return to the main program flow.
  • the initialize routine (section 5.2) then turns off the NOT READY LIGHT, and the system proceeds to the IDLE routine (section 8) unless the COPY REQUEST flag is on. If this is an error-handling case, the RETRY routine (section 5.3) is executed, and an error light is illuminated in display 230. The operator may then clear the jam, and he has two options. In the first option, he may actuate the reset key 241 which cancels the remaining copy run and causes a return to IDLE, (section 8). As a second option, the operator may actuate the start key 30 or master power-on switch 80 after clearing the jam. The code at STARTIT (section 9) is then executed. The run is continued, and the required additional number of copies are made so that the total number is correct.
  • the IDLE routine (section 8) waits for the operator to request copies from system 15. This is the normal idle state of system 15. As the first step, the COPIES COMPLETE flag is set to zero, and the NO USE TIMER is reset to zero. A DOUNTIL loop is then entered and continued until there is a closure of start key 30 or a closure of reset key 241 or until any ERROR FLAG comes on or COVER INTERLOCK OPEN is set. Ten-key pad 243 is then integrated, which means that the system takes several successive samples for noise rejection. If the samples are the same, then the switch on pad 243 is actually closed. Thereafter, display 230 is updated with anything that has been keyed in.
  • a COPY REQUEST flag is set and remains on until the run is completed successfully.
  • the DONE FLAG is cleared until the last copy is run.
  • energizing signals are applied by way of vacuum motor line 226 (Fig. 3B) and transport motor line 228 from output port 114.
  • Digital signals from output port 450 (Fig. 7) are applied by way of lines 452a to DAC 454, which produces a resultant analog signal on line 456.
  • This analog signal is applied to power control 460, which controls thermal dryer 464 to a preheat value so that dryer 464 starts to warm up.
  • output port 470 produces on lines 472 a full speed signal which is effective to set speed control 474, so belt 468 runs at the same linear velocity as the load velocity of the drum 10, as shown in portion 70 of the upper curve in Fig. 6.
  • output port 344 (Fig. 7) provides a signal on line 356a to gate the amplifier 460a of power control 460, so that the previously generated signal on line 456 is applied by control 460 over line 462 to dryer 464 to start dryer warmup. If the PROFILE COMPLETE FLAG is off (it will always be off for the first copy of the day), the PROFILE routine (section 21) is called in order to characterize system 15 and to determine the existing running values of the critical parameters during a nonprinting cycle. These actual running values provide a profile and they are stored and used during the subsequent printing cycles.
  • the PROFILE routine calls a subroutine STP2LOAD (section 6.9) to bring drum 10 up to load velocity with a minimum of checking, since this is not a critical part of the cycling. It will be understood that the status here is non-critical, as the routine indicates that TIMER is to be set to 45 milliseconds. TIMER is loaded with a constant representing 45 milliseconds, and there is a countdown once every 125 microseconds which produces a delay of 45 milliseconds. In the next step of the listing, a signal is raised on line 84a (Fig. 3A) to the accelerate to load speed circuit. This accelerates the drum 10 from stop'to load speed. A DOUNTIL loop is then performed until the TIMER counts down by MSTIMER (section 6.2) to zero or until a DRUM AT SPEED signal is applied to input port 104 by way of line 212 (Fig. 3A).
  • the program After each call of MSTIMER, the program responds to the value of TIME and the DRUM AT SPEED line 212. Two events can bring the program out of this DOUNTIL loop. The first event is that TIMER reaches zero before drum 10 has reached load speed, which indicates that there is a defective drum. In that event, ERROR FLAG 2 is set, and an error-handling routine is called. In the second event, the DRUM AT SPEED line 212 (Fig. 3A) provides a signal before TIMER equals zero, which indicates that the drum has accelerated in a satisfactory manner. In the second event, the program returns to the caller, and the PROFILE routine is returned to.
  • CKLDVEL check load velocity
  • TIMER is set to a value of one second representing more than the time of one revolution of drum 10, and another DOUNTIL loop is executed until TIMER is at zero or an INDEX FLAG is seen.
  • MSTIMER section 6.2
  • GETPULS section 6.3
  • INDEX FLAG is first reset, and the signal on tachometer line 210 is received as is INDEX PULSE on line 116 to input port 104. If the INDEX PULSE, is on, the INDEX FLAG is set, and then the TACH COUNT is zeroed to prevent accumulative errors. If the INDEX PULSE is not on, then TACHOMETER readings are compared, and if the TACHOMETER reading is the same as the last sample, then the program returns to the caller. If the TACHOMETER reading is different, then TACH COUNT is incremented, and there is a return to the main program. It will be understood that, on the average, GETPULS must be called at least once during each tach pulse so that none of these pulses are missed.
  • the PROFILE routine calls GETPULS the first time it is going to correct the OLDTACH flag and may make one erroneous count. However, after that, the first time an index signal is detected on line 116, locking into the correct count occurs, and thereafter the correct count is kept. If the program comes out of the DOUNTIL and TIMER is not zero, then the index is working correctly.
  • LD2PRT section 6.10
  • the acceleration between these velocities, as shown in portion 74 of the upper curve of Fig. 6, is a critical parameter of system 15.
  • TIMER is set at 700 milliseconds as a safety timeout. Accordingly, when this routine returns to the main program, whatever is left in TIMER is a measure of how long drum 10 actually took to get up to print speed. This residual of elapsed time is arithmetically converted in the processor 300 and is stored as ACCTIM (accelerate time), which is an existing running value of a critical parameter determined during this non-printing profile cycle.
  • ACCTIM acceleration time
  • TIMER is set at 33 milliseconds, which is one millisecond more than the time taken for a full revolution of drum 10 at print velocity.
  • the routines MSTIMER and GETPULS are called in the manner previously described, and a DOUNTIL loop is performed also in the manner previously described.
  • the results determine whether the index pulse is occurring properly at the desired high speed.
  • print velocity CKPRTVEL (section 6.12) is checked. This routine times the interval between two successive index pulses to ensure correct print speed.
  • CKPRTVEL (section 6.12) is similar to CKLDVEL (section 6.11).
  • the resolution is not quite the same, so that instead of timing eight tachometer pulses on line 210, the timing is from index to index- which comprises 256 tach pulses.
  • the next step involves drum deceleration to load speed.
  • This subroutine determines (1) how long it takes to decelerate and (2) how far around the surface the drum 10 moves during deceleration. For reasons later to be described, the distance value is preferable to that of time and is accomplished by starting deceleration at the same time as the index signal on line 116 (Fig. 3A). The routine then determines how many revolutions plus how many TACH COUNTS it takes to decelerate drum 10 until the DRUM AT SPEED signal on line 212 again occurs, indicating that the drum is at load speed. These two measurements are important in determining whether there may be an optimal point of deceleration during actual printing.
  • deceleration begin at such a time that the end of deceleration coincides with the optimum time for paper removal. Specifically this is accomplished by using the index signal on line 116 as a reference for deceleration, with the OVERFLOW COUNT (a number in a register in microprocessor 300) set to zero.
  • a signal is raised on the line 146a to decelerate to load speed circuit 146 (Fig. 3A), which causes drum 10 to decelerate to load velocity.
  • TIMER is set to one second, as a safety timeout to prevent hangup.
  • DOUNTIL is looped until the DRUM AT SPEED signal appears on line 212 or TIMER is zero.
  • OVERFLOW COUNT tracks the number of drum revolutions (which is the number of index signals seen on line 116).
  • TACH COUNT the fractional part of the drum revolution is calculated, so that there is a precise indication of the drum position when the DRUM AT SPEED signal is received. In this manner, at the time of the DRUM AT SPEED signal, the revolutions in the OVERFLOW COUNTER are known, as well as the TACH COUNT, and calculation may now take place.
  • PLSTART is the desired place where the deceleration should be started during the print cycle
  • PLREVS is the desired number of index pulses that should be seen during the course of the deceleration.
  • the DRUM AT SPEED signal should come up 109° from the index signal on line 116. which is the optimum deceleration.
  • a signal to apply leading edge puff should come up on line 152 at 80° from the index signal on line 116 during that last rotation of drum 10.
  • the reference point is the point from which deceleration should take place in order to reach load speed at the proper position. It will be understood that after profiling and in using the stored critical parameters, if the print cycle has not reached this reference point, it is important that the cycle continue at the higher print speed until it reaches the reference point-and only then should deceleration take place. This is to be compared with undesirably starting deceleration before the reference point and then rotating at the slower load speed until a proper release point is reached. The preferable operation is performed in the PROFILE routine by considering whether TACH COUNT is greater than 77 or less than 77.
  • TACH COUNT is greater than 77, then 77 is subtracted from 77. Otherwise, the TACH COUNT is subtracted from 77, the result complemented, and one added to the OVERFLOW COUNTER. The result is then stored in PLSTART and the revolutions in PLREVS. In this manner, the point at which to start deceleration in order to optimize printing is now known.
  • CKLDVEL (section 6.11) is now called to check whether load speed servo circuit 96 functions properly to maintain the drum at load speed. Drum profiling has now been completed, and all of the drum critical parameters have now been obtained.
  • Routine PR03 (section 21.1) may be entered in two ways. In the first way entry is on the intial profile of the day. In the second way, entry occurs when the cabinet of system 15 has been opened or when transport 254 has been moved away from its end stops. Opening the cabinet produces a signal on interlocks line 222 (Fig. 3A) to input port 106. Moving transport 254 away from the end stops prevents transport sensors (not shown) supplying a TPT HOME or TPT AWAY signal on line 204 or 206 to input port 105. Such a signal would indicate end of travel. During operation, either the opening of the cabinet or the transport being away from the stops is detected in routine STARTIT (section 9) and transport 254 is placed at one end or the other before printing starts.
  • HDLY home delay
  • ADLY away delay
  • a critical operating parameter is defined for purposes herein as a selected one of the many operating parameters of system 15 that determines or is otherwise material to the performance of the system.
  • a profile taken of a critical parameter is defined for purposes herein as a measurement of the actual value of a critical parameter preferably taken (1) during the start of operation (or restart after an error) and (2) during a nonprinting cycle. During such a nonprinting cycle, system 15 is fully functional, but sheet 11 is not moved and no ink is applied. It will be understood that only critical parameters are measured during the non- printing cycle.
  • the STARTIT routine (section 9) is now entered, and the PROFILE COMPLETE FLAG is first tested. Depending on the manner in which STARTIT has been reached from the program flow as shown in the listing, a profile may or may not be performed in the manner previously described. Thereafter, the routine determines whether both the sensors supplying signals to TPT HOME and TPT AWAY lines 204, 206 are off-in which case PR03 (section 21.1) is called. RETRY COUNT and COPIES COMPLETE are then set to zero.
  • the PICK routine (section 10), is now executed to remove paper 11 from input bin 12. It can be seen that the correct paper bin is selected for input of sheets 11.
  • a CLOCK PICKER command to PAPER PICKER provides a wait of 65 milliseconds until there is a pull back. This command is then dropped, and at that time a finger shoots forward and pushes a single sheet of paper into the feed. After waiting 130 milliseconds, the paper should be under a paper entry sensor which supplies a signal on line 234, (Fig. 3B) to input port 107. If that line is not high, there is a picker failure, which causes the RETRY COUNT to be incremented. This is tried eight times and, if it is still not successful, the ERROR FLAG 4 is set and the routine jumps to ERROR.
  • the routine waits 250 milliseconds for paper 11 to move down the path into proximity of paper gate 28 (Fig. 2) where a paper gate sensor provides a signal on paper gate line 236 (Fig. 3B) to input port 107, which signal indicates the presence of paper 11.
  • the gate sensor is checked, and if it is off, ERROR FLAG 4 is set, which indicates a jam in the input, since the paper reached the entry but did not reach the gate 28. If no ERROR FLAGS have been raised, then a sheet is at the gate, ready to be loaded on the drum 10.
  • the LOAD routine (section 11), follows; in this routine, the vacuum on the trailing edge ports in the drum is turned off by a DROP T.E. VACUUM signal on line 170, (Fig. 3A). These ports are to be closed so that there is additional vacuum on the leading edge ports of the drum.
  • the index position of drum 10 is to be located, as the drum has been turning and the index has not been tracked. Accordingly, the DOUNTIL loop is executed, calling GETPULS (section 6.3) until an index signal appears on line 116. In this way, the index position is found and TACH COUNT is initialized.
  • the LOAD ADJUST FLAG is set whenever a successful load has been accomplished. It indicates that the time required for the paper to get to the correct paper position on rotating drum 10 has been determined. If that flag is reset, it indicates that a calculation has not yet been made. Accordingly, it is necessary to set a tachometer count of 152 (related to a nominal load time), corresponding to 214° of drum rotation, into a TEMP register, which is one of the program registers in microprocessor 300. In conventional copier systems, that load time would be the constant load time for the system. This time is calculated to be an effective safe time in which to open the paper gate of sheet feed and transport assembly 17. This safe time is not necessarily optimum, but is calculated to get the paper safely on drum 10.
  • CALCLOAD is a variable defining a critical parameter that is a predetermined calculated time stored in memory. A wait then ensues until TACH COUNT equals the value loaded in the TEMP register. Until that time of equality, GETPULS is called, which tracks tachometer 95. When that time of equality arrives (TACH COUNT equalling the value in TEMP), a pulse is produced on open- gate solenoid line 120 to open the paper gate 28 in assembly 17, starting paper 11 towards drum 10. The drum continues to be tracked by the next DOUNTIL until TACH COUNT equals 113. Accordingly, GETPULS is called to update the TACH COUNT.
  • TEMP register is set to the TACH COUNT because, as long as the paper still has not reached the sensor, TEMP is updated with TACH COUNT for every pass through this loop.
  • the last updated value of the TEMP register remains in that register, which provides an indication of time time paper 11 arrived. This allows the determination of a new CALCLOAD that defines the actual running value of a parameter related to the drum position at the time of paper release.
  • CALCLOAD is now loaded into TEMP 2, and CORRECT is set to a desired tach count, which is the count at which the paper should have arrived at the sensor.
  • TEMP is less than CORRECT, the paper arrived early, and TEMP2 is added to half the difference between CORRECT (the time it should have arrived at the sensor) and TEMP (the time it actually arrived at the sensor). The difference is halved because the correction is applied in a direction to cause the paper to arrive late. If the arrival is too late, paper 11 will not stick on drum 10, because the vacuum ports of the drum will be uncovered. Only half the error is added in order to scale it so that the correction does not inadvertently become too great, resulting in the vacuum ports remaining uncovered after the paper arrives.
  • CALCLOAD is updated with TEMP2 less than correction factor of TEMP minus CORRECT. That is to say, the paper gate 28 in assembly 17 is opened earlier (by the full amount of the error) in the next loading. If the paper arrives late it tends to uncover the vacuum ports. It is important to correct this quickly by the full error amount, so that the vacuum ports can be safely covered. In both cases, the corrections are stored as variable CALCLOAD.
  • the LOAD ADJUST FLAG is set, since the time to open the paper gate has now been adjusted. It will be understood that the foregoing adjustment of the paper arrival time is accomplished at load time. It is not done during profiling, since it is not desired that paper actually be moved through system 15 into output bin 14 during profiling. Thus, paper is not moved during the profile process; instead this self-adjustment feature for the paper operates during the first copy cycle, i.e., the first time paper is moved through system 15. In this manner, a feedback adjustment of the paper position is provided during the actual copying process, rather than prior to the actual copying process.
  • the drop trailing edge vacuum signal on line 170 is then dropped, causing vacuum to be directed to the trailing edge ports, so that the trailing edge of the paper 11 will be attracted when the paper reaches that point.
  • the open gate solenoid signal on line 120 is also droppped, and an accelerate to print speed signal applied on line 131 a to circuit 131 so that drum 10 accelerates up to print speed.
  • the signal applied through port 470 (Fig. 2), lines 472, adder 473 and 475 to set the controller 474 to control the speed of the exit belts 468, is derived from a location memory in which one of a series of values can be set, corresponding to load speed (portion 484a of the lower curve of Fig. 6) and drying velocities (portions 487a, 487b, 487c and 487d of the lower curve of Fig. 6).
  • This variable value DV is initially set to load speed, because during printing of the first sheet 11, there is no printed sheet to be carried by the belts 468, which are driven at load speed so as to be ready to receive the first printed sheet.
  • a new value DV is selected and set in memory, so that when the first sheet has been printed and has been detached from the drum 10 onto the belts 468 at load speed, the velocity of the belts 468 can be changed to the selected new value DV while the second sheet is being printed.
  • the original value DV of load speed is then set in memory.
  • the belts 468 are accelerated to load speed, set by the new value DV, and the sheet detached from the drum 10 onto the belts 468.
  • a new value DV is set and thereafter the belts are decelerated to the selected drying velocity.
  • TIMER is loaded with the interval between start of acceleration of drum 10 to print speed and start of transport 254 from stop 290 to 292, which ensures that the drum reaches print velocity just before the transport reaches the edge of the paper. This is accomplished by loading TIMER with HDLY, if the transport is on the home end, or ADLY if the transport is at the away end.
  • ACCEL section 13
  • a DOUNTIL loop is executed until TIMER equals zero.
  • GETPULS section 6.3
  • MSTIMER section 6.2
  • transport 254 is at rest and may now begin its acceleration.
  • a signal is supplied from output port 112 (Fig. 3A) to TPT move home line 194 or TPT move away line 196.
  • TIMER is set to 250 milliseconds, which is a safety delay to ensure against system errors or malfunctions.
  • Another DOUNTIL loop is then executed until sensor signals on both lines 204 and 206 are off, or, in the case of a malfunction, until TIMER is counted down to zero. If TIMER counted down, then ERROR FLAG 5 is set and the system jumps to ERROR, because start of print has not been reached within an allowable time. If TIMER had not counted to zero, drum 10 is up to speed as previously described, transport 254 is at the edge of paper 11, and system 15 is ready to print. It will be noted that the system detects whether paper 11 has fallen off the drum 10 during drum acceleration.
  • the paper on drum 10 is checked by way of a photosensor signal on paper on drum line 240 coupled to input port 107. If paper 11 is still on drum 10, then the PRINT routine (section 14) is called, or else an ERROR FLAG 4 is set, which indicates loss of paper, and system 15 jumps to ERROR.
  • a subroutine LOADKK (Section 7) is called, which is shown in the flowchart as block 508.
  • This subroutine LOADKK takes the signals indicating the code on ink bottle 414 (Fig. 10) from input port 444, to indicate the drying characteristics of the ink being used.
  • This code is set into temporary register TEMPA.
  • the numeric value of TEMPA represents an ink drying time from ink application until moisture content drops below a predetermined threshold.
  • the dry bulb temperature sensor 388 (Fig. 9) and the wet-bulb temperature from sensor 404, provide signals through ports 400 and 402 that are stored in temporary registered TEMPO and TEMPR, respectively. Using these temperature values, the relative humidity is found through well-known tables associated with sling psychrometers. The output of this table lookup is placed in TEMPB. All of these parameters are used to calculate a proper drying constant Kd, which may vary for differing inks and for differing ambient humidity conditions. As described in section 7, the ink drying constant in TEMPA is multiplied by the relative humidity in TEMPB and is scaled by Factor Kx.
  • Kd is less than one and indicates the estimated amount of print drying on a single revolution of drum 10.
  • the drying constant Ks is related to the amount of drying that occurs during deceleration.
  • the number of revolutions of drum 10 performed by the drum during deceleration is found by dividing DECTIM, which was obtained during profiling, by the period of drum rotation at print velocity.
  • the resultant number of revolutions is then multiplied by Kd to produce Ks. This value of Ks is used to predict how much drying should occur during this period of slowdown before sheet 11 exits from drum 10.
  • TEMPP and TEMPL which are to be used in the calculation of page wetness (PGW) and leading edge wetness (LEW) are set to zero, as shown by block 510 (Fig. 12).
  • ALLOW DECEL FLAG is reset to zero, as shown by block 512 which indicates that deceleration is not allowed until sheet 11 has been dried sufficiently to ensure that it detaches properly from drum 10.
  • the thermal dryer 464 is set to preheat power as shown by block 514 by signals through port 450 (Fig. 7), lines 452, digital to analog converter 454 and power control 460.
  • a COUNT routine (section 6.13) is called, to increment a count of COPIES COMPLETE that was earlier zeroed.
  • COPIES COMPLETE equals COPIER REQUESTED, a done flag is set, so that no more sheets of paper 11 are fed. It will be understood that a revolution counter is included in the registers of microprocessor 300 and used as a microcoded counter register.
  • the INDEX FLAG is tested in decision diamond 532 to determine whether a full page revolution of drum 10 has been accomplished, as determined by a signal on line 116 (Fig. 3A) from tachometer 95. If a full drum revolution has been made, the INDEX FLAG has been set by index pulse 382 (Fig. 5) on line 116, and block 534 is entered.
  • page counter 360 (Fig. 4), which contains the current wet count, applied by way of lines 366 through input port 348 to COUNTERP, is transferred to register TEMPQ. On the prior pass through GETWET, TEMPP was set with the previous wetness count from COUNTERP.
  • the amount of wetness that is accumulated on the drum in the last revolution of drum 10 is the value of the present wetness count in TEMPQ minus the value of the previous wetness count in TEMPP. This difference value is calculated and saved as new value in TEMPQ.
  • Register TEMPP is set with the new wetness count from COUNTERP, thereby initializing it for the next calculation.
  • signals 384 and 385 (Fig. 5) are applied from output port 342 (Fig. 4) by way of lines 350 and 354 to counters 358 and 360. The leading edges of these signals are effective to enable the counters.
  • the estimated page wetness has previously been set into register PGW, and this estimated page wetness is multiplied by the drying factor Kd and register PGW set accordingly as shown in block 538. In this manner there is an adjustment of the accumulated page wetness for the amount of drying that is occurring during each revolution of drum 10.
  • the incremental wetness count of register TEMPQ is added to the adjusted accumulated page wetness from PGW, and this new value is set in register PGW, before return.
  • Block 546 is now entered and the contents of leading edge counter 358, which contains the current leading edge wetness count, applied by lines 362 through input port 346 to COUNTERL, is transferred to register TEMPM.
  • leading edge counter 358 which contains the current leading edge wetness count, applied by lines 362 through input port 346 to COUNTERL, is transferred to register TEMPM.
  • TEMPL was set with the previous count from COUNTERL. Accordingly, the amount of leading edge wetness that is accumulated is the present count in TEMPM minus the previous count in TEMPL. This difference is calculated and saved as a new count in TEMPM.
  • Register TEMPL is set with the new count from COUNTERL, thereby initializing it for the next calculation.
  • the estimated leading edge wetness has been previously set into register LEW, and this is multiplied by the drying factor Kd and register LEW set accordingly, as shown in block 548.
  • the incremental wetness count of register TEMPM is added to the adjusted accumulated leading edge wetness count from LEW, and this new value is set in register LEW, before return.
  • an adjustment in the accumulated count of leading edge wetness is made during the latest revolution.
  • thermal dryer 464 When using a thermal dryer 464, it is only necessary that, after sheet 11 has passed the dryer, the dryer be maintained in its warm state. Accordingly, a signal through port 450 on lines 452 is applied to digital to analog converter 454. to power control 460 to maintain thermal dryer 464 in its warm state.
  • the SLOWUP routine is now entered to stop transport 254 and to decelerate drum 10.
  • This routine uses two variables of the profile specifically PLREVS and PLSTART.
  • PLREVS is the number of index pulses during drum deceleration-which was set to end at 109°.
  • PLSTART is the number of tachometer output pulses required to start decelerating from print to load velocity.
  • PLREVS is loaded into COUNT
  • PLSTART is loaded into COMPARE.
  • a DOUNTIL loop is performed until (1) TACH COUNT equals PLSTART. (2) either TPT HOME line 204 (Fig. 3A) or TPT AWAY line 206 is up, and (3) ALLOW DECEL FLAG is on.
  • the ALLOW DECEL FLAG has been reset, and thus the DOUNTIL loop is executed at least once.
  • the system thus waits for the following three events to occur: (1) for the array transport 250 to reach either home or away end so that deceleration of the transport may begin, (2) for the correct count on tach line 210, (Fig. 3A), so that deceleration of drum 10 may be started, and (3) for sheet 11 to dry enough for the ALLOW DECEL FLAG to be set.
  • a GETPULS routine (section 6.3) is called to increment TACH COUNT until all- three of these events occur.
  • TACH COUNT equals COMPARE (PLSTART having been loaded into COMPARE) and ALLOW DECEL FLAG is on
  • the micro- processor 300 issues a signal through port 111 (Fig. 3A) on line 146a to the decelerate to load speed circuit 146. From the profiling, this is the time that has been determined as optimum for beginning of deceleration of drum 10. Thereafter, if INDEX FLAG (set from index line 116) is on, as shown in block 560 (Fig. 15), there is a decrement in COUNT, and subroutine DRYUP, (section 19.1) is called. Subroutine DRYUP tracks the wetness while waiting for deceleration of drum 10 to occur.
  • the next DOUNTIL calls GETPULS (section 6.3) and at each index pulse on line 116, COUNT is decremented.
  • the COUNT is at zero and drum 10 is on the last revolution. During this last revolution, it is desired to puff the leading edge of paper sheet 11. Accordingly, a DROP L.E. VACUUM signal is applied to line 150 (Fig. 3A) through output port 113.
  • the GETDET subroutine (section 20) is called to determine the wetness of the leading edge of sheet 11, as the leading edge may have dried to some degree in the previous subroutine DRYUP.
  • Three table-look-up tables (Fig. 14) are provided, to correct the detach time in relation to beam strength and corona.
  • Beam strength of paper is its bending stiffness. If flexed, a paper sheet will try to return to its flat condition. When the paper is wet, it loses beam strength. Corona refers to the charge on the paper that causes it to stick to the drum.
  • a power table (PTABLE) 588
  • VTABLE velocity table
  • detach timing table 580 consist of a detach timing table 580.
  • LEW is modified, as shown in block 572, by multiplying its value by Ks, which provides the scale for slowdown time.
  • Ks which provides the scale for slowdown time.
  • the most significant four binary bits in LEW are placed in register TEMPA (block 574), thus rounding the count, and a table look-up is performed (block 576) using the contents of TEMPA as an index into the detach timing table 580.
  • a value is found that determines the tachometer count for start of detach. As shown in block 576, this value is stored as the detach count in register DTC.
  • the overall page wetness is then scaled for the slowdown in block 578, PGW being multiplied by Ks to scale overall page wetness.
  • the most significant five binary bits in PGW are placed in register TEMPA (block 582), so that the value in PGW is rounded to proper length for table indexing.
  • a table look-up is then performed (block 584) the rounded value of PGW in TEMPA being used as an index to determine a value of dryer power from table 588, which value is set into register DP.
  • the contents of DP are applied through port 450 (Fig. 7) along lines 452 to the digital to analog converter 454, whose output on line 456 is to power control 460, is effective to begin to increase thermal dryer power to the proper drying level, if a dryer on thermal signal is up on line 356a.
  • a table look-up is performed, using the rounded value of PGW in TEMPA as an index in VTABLE 586.
  • the resultant velocity value is stored in register DV to be used later for controlling belts 468, after which a return is made.
  • RECALC routine (section 15.1) is executed when line 212 comes up.
  • the data in TACH COUNT (the count at which the signal occurred on line 212) is set into register now.
  • Line 212 should have come up at 109°, if nothing in system 15 had changed with time and if everything had been correctly calculated.
  • TACH COUNT set into register NOW equals 77, equivalent to 109°, no further calculations are performed. If the count in NOW is greater than 77, this indicates that drum 10 has arrived late at load speed, and routine LATE is called (section 15.2). In this routine, there is a slight change in parameters to perform a feedback function.
  • routine EARLY (section 15.3) is called. After these calculations, a DONE FLAG is checked and, if it is set, the system calls LASTOUT (section 16) which indicates that the last sheet 11 has been run, and the copy is tracked to output bin 14. System 15 returns to IDLE routine (section 8). If the DONE FLAG is not set, system 15 goes to the NEXT routine (section 12) which loads the next sheet 11 on drum 10 for a multiple-copy run.
  • the LATE routine (section 15.2) indicates that drum 10 did not reach speed quite soon enough. Accordingly, PLSTART and PLREVS are loaded so that they can be adjusted. It will be understood that arriving late is more critical than arriving early, since a late arrival may cause difficulty with the detachment of sheet 11. On the other hand, an early arrival means that the time to detach the sheet is lengthened. Thus, in the LATE routine, the entire error is subtracted from the existing values of PLSTART and PLREVS. A new PLSTART is calculated, and if a borrow is required, PLREVS is decremented. Following these calculations, parameters PLREVS and PLSTART are stored.
  • LASTOUT routine (section 16), is performed. A time of 370 milliseconds is required for sheet 11 to be detached from drum 10.
  • an output from register DV through port 470 (Fig. 2) is provided on lines 472 to speed controller 474 thereby to control speed of motor 478.
  • exit belts 468 stabilize at one of the drying speeds indicated by portion 487a to d of the lower curve of Fig. 6. This is the last sheet of a multiple run, and it is important to determine when sheet 11 moves past dryer 464 and/or 466, so that the increase in velocity does not take place before the copy has been completely dried.
  • a delay time is calculated equal to 4500/(DV), where 4500 is a constant that yields a delay sufficient to allow an eight-and-one-half-inch sheet to pass the dryer for any value of DV.
  • both the thermal dryer 464 and the microwave dryer 466 are turned off, as shown in block 516 (Fig. 13), when the signals on lines 356a (Fig. 7) and 356b from port 344 are turned off.
  • the exit motor 478 is increased in velocity to load speed, as shown in block 518 (Fig. 13), when an appropriate signal is applied to line 472 (Fig. 2) through port 470.
  • system 15 goes to NEXT (section 12) which is the routine that loads paper. As previously described, a new sheet 11 is then loaded, and a new print cycle in initiated.
  • the ERROR FLAGS are listed in section 22 and need not be described in detail. It is understood that after an ERROR FLAG has been set, the ERROR ROUTINE is executed as set forth in section 23. At this time dryers 464 and 466 are turned off for safety reasons.
  • PROFILE COMPLETE flag is reset, thereby producing a new profiling.
  • a sensor may be changed in position, or other changes may be made to copier system 15 which requires a new profiling.
  • print belts 601 forming a horizontal flat bed may be used instead of drum 10. With load belts 600 and exit belts 602 in juxtaposition with print belts 601 a flat horizontal transport assembly is formed. It will be understood that the-belts 600, 601 and 602 are segmented belts similar to belts 13 and 468 (Fig. 1). Conveying belts 600 are entrained around driving roll 600a and idle roll 600b, belts 601 are entrained around driving roll 601 a and idle roll 601b; and belts 602 are entrained around driving roll 602a and idle roll 602b. Rolls 600a, 601 a and 602a are driven by driving motors 608, 610 and 612, respectively.
  • sheet 11 remains flat for the entire pass, which includes the pass under array heads 605, and the entire printing is done in only one pass.
  • sheet 11 comes out of a conventional paper picker, it arrives at gate 615, where it waits until it is loaded on load belts 600.
  • the print belts 601 provide the same function as drum 10, and printing is accomplished in a single pass, thus requiring a substantial number of array heads 605.
  • Motor 608 is controlled in a manner similar to the motor driving roll 20 (Fig. 1).
  • Motor 610 driving roll 601 a is controlled in a manner similar to the motor and servo assembly 62 (Fig. 3A) to provide desired loading, printing and unloading speeds in accordance with print parameters.
  • the unloading speed of sheet 11 from print belts 601 may be varied, to ensure drying.
  • sheet 11 When sufficiently dry, sheet 11 is then unloaded from print belts 601 and transferred to exit belts 602 driven by stepping motor 612.
  • a thermal dryer 606 is disposed above belts 602, and sheet 11 is transported between the belts and the dryer. Motor 612 and dryer 606 are energized and controlled in manner similar to that used for motor 478 and dryer 464 (Figs. 2 and 7).
  • Figs. 18 to 22 illustrate differing dryer configurations.
  • rolls 464a and 464b are hot rolls, whose energisation is controlled by a power control similar to control 460 (Fig. 7).
  • the exit belts are segmented, with a forward section 468b and a rearward section 468c.
  • the thermal dryer is a hot platen 464c having extended heat transfer surfaces spaced from belt run 468a. Again, the energisation of the platen is controlled by a power control similar to that in control 460.
  • Fig. 18 illustrate differing dryer configurations.
  • rolls 464a and 464b are hot rolls, whose energisation is controlled by a power control similar to control 460 (Fig. 7).
  • the exit belts are segmented, with a forward section 468b and a rearward section 468c.
  • the thermal dryer is a hot platen 464c having extended heat transfer surfaces spaced from belt run 468a. Again, the energisation of the
  • Fig. 20 heat is produced by a fan 461 blowing over heating elements 464d, with the drying heat then being directed through a conduit 461a a over exit belt 468.
  • Energisation of the elements is controlled by a power control similar to control 460.
  • Fig. 21 illustrates wave guide 466a of a microwave dryer, which transmits the microwave energy from a magnetron to the exit belt 468 energisation of the dryer is timed by a power control similar to that in control 460.
  • Fig. 22 shows the combination of both a thermal dryer 464 and a microwave dryer 466 for the purpose of combining both types of heating as previously explained.
  • This listing consists of the high level description of the code for a rotary drum printer coupled to a flatbed scanner.
  • the actions dynamically to sense paper wetness and modify machine information accordingly have been added to an original code set identified by codes preceding new program statements.
  • the code will support either a thermal dryer (a hot platen or heat lamp), or a microwave dryer. Only one of these dryer types would normally be installed at a time. However, a microwave dryer being more power efficient could be installed followed by a thermal dryer such that when the limiting power of the microwave dryer has been reached, the thermal dryer will take over the additional load with a further option of slowing the progress of the paper past the dryer to decrease the power requirement for a given wetness.
  • a thermal dryer a hot platen or heat lamp
  • microwave dryer being more power efficient could be installed followed by a thermal dryer such that when the limiting power of the microwave dryer has been reached, the thermal dryer will take over the additional load with a further option of slowing the progress of the paper past the dryer to decrease the power requirement for a given wetness.
  • This routine calls a series of diagnostic tests which are not pertinent to this disclosure except that some of the tests print out the results of the profile measurements for examination by the machine service personnel.
  • DOUNTIL (TIMER) equals zero or (HOME SENSOR) is on CALL ⁇ MSTIMER > END DOUNTIL IF (TIMER) equals zero, then set (ERROR FLAG 5) and GOTO ⁇ ERROR> -else, transport has reached home end ok. drop (MOVE HOME) command to transport RETURN
  • ⁇ TPTAWAY> This routine returns transport to the away end with minimum checking. set (TIMER) to 8 seconds IF (AWAY SENSOR) is on, then RETURN else, set (MOVE AWAY) command to transport DOUNTIL (TIMER) equals zero or (AWAY SENSOR) is on CALL ⁇ MSTIMER> END DOUNTIL IF (TIMER) equals zero, set (ERROR FLAG 5) and GOTO ⁇ ERROR> -else, transport has reached away end ok drop (MOVE AWAY) command to transport RETURN
  • ⁇ LD2PRT> This routine accelerates the drum from load speed to print speed with a safety timeout. set (TIMER) to 700 msec. drop (ACCEL TO LOAD SPEED) and/or (LOAD SPEED) raise (PRINT SPEED) DOUNTIL (TIMER) equals zero or (DRUM AT SPEED) signal CALL ⁇ MSTIMER> END DOUNTIL IF (TIMER) equals zero, then set (ERROR FLAG 2) and GOTO ⁇ ERROR> -else, drum accelerated ok RETURN
  • ⁇ CKLDVEL> This routine uses a timed loop to check the elapsed time for 8 tach transitions. set (COUNT) to zero set (LOOP) to zero set (TACHOMETER) into (NOW) DOUNTIL (TACHOMETER) is not equal to (NOW) input (TACHOMETER) END DOUNTIL DOUNTIL (COUNT) equals 8 (using timed program loop) set (TACHOMETER) into (NOW) sample (TACHOMETER) till (NOW) is not equal to (TACHOMETER) while incrementing (LOOP) for each sample increment (COUNT) IF (LOOP) is less than maximum or more than minimum, RETURN else, set (ERROR FLAG 2) and GOTO ⁇ ERROR>
  • DOUNTIL (INDEX PULSE) set (COUNT) equal zero input (INDEX PULSE) END DOUNTIL DOUNTIL (INDEX PULSE) (using timed program loop) input (INDEX PULSE) increment (COUNT) ENDDOUNTIL IF (COUNT) is less than maximum or more than minimum, RETURN else, set (ERROR FLAG 2) and GOTO ERROR
  • Each numeric value of the code designates a range of drying time where drying time is defined as the time from application of ink until it will no longer offset or smear and until the moisture content is reduced below a threshold.
  • TEMPR to (WETBULB TEMPERATURE) input
  • TEMPB relative humidity correction and set into (TEMPB)
  • the relative humidity can be derived from the difference of the wet and dry bulb temperatures in relation to the dry bulb temperature. This can be derived by table look up or calculated by algorithm.
  • NEXT ⁇ NEXT> If (LOAD ADJUST FLAG) is off, set (TEMP) to 152 (214 degrees) ⁇ else, load (TEMP) with (CALCLOAD) DOUNTIL (TACH COUNT) equals (TEMP) CALL ⁇ GETPULS > END DOUNTIL Pick (GATE SOLENOID) -this action starts the paper onto the printing drum DOUNTIL (TACH COUNT) equals 113 (160 degrees) CALL ⁇ GETPULS> -IF (PAPER ON DRUM SENSOR) is off, then set (TEMP) to (TACH COUNT) -When the paper reaches the sensor, we will quit updating (TEMP) and leave it containing the count at which the paper reached the sensor.
  • PRINT ⁇ PRINT> IF (DRUM AT SPEED) is off, then set (ERROR FLAG 6) and GOTO ⁇ ERROR> *** CALL ⁇ * RSTWET * > (initializes the wetness counters and constants) Output (PRINTER ON) command. (ungutter the head) Set (REVOLUTION COUNTER) to zero CALL ⁇ COUNT> (counts copies printed, sets (DONE FLAG) if last.) It takes 224 revolutions to print an 8.5x 1 1 inch page. During the printing, certain values of the revolution counter are recognized to sequence the next sheet into the feed and/or the last sheet out of the feed in a multiple copy run.
  • DOUNTIL REVOLUTION COUNTER
  • CASE REVOLUTION COUNTER
  • COVER INTERLOCKS COVER INTERLOCKS
  • -Set DONE FLAG
  • REVOLUTION COUNTER if (COVER INTERLOCK) open (REVOLUTION COUNTER) equals 206 -IF (DONE FLAG) is off, then output (COCK PICKER) command (REVOLUTION COUNTER) equals 208 -Drop (COCK PICKER) command (REVOLUTION COUNTER) equals 212
  • DOUNTIL (COUNT) equals zero CALL ⁇ GETPULS> IF (INDEX FLAG) is on, then decrement (COUNT) END DOUNTIL when we reach here, we are on the proper revolution to puff the paper, so at 90 degrees we will puff.
  • DO turn off (LEADING EDGE VACUUM) *** CALL ⁇ * GETDET * > calculate detach correction for wetness *** DOUNTIL (TACH COUNT) equals (DTC) (detach time with wetness correction) CALL ⁇ GETPULS > END DOUNTIL DO set the (PUFFER SOLENOID) on DOUNTIL (DRUM AT SPEED) signal CALL ⁇ GETPULS> END DOUNTIL
  • PROFILE ⁇ PROFILE> CALL ⁇ STP2LOAD> (brings drum to load velocity with minimum checking)
  • CALL ⁇ CKLDVEL> uses program loop to time a series of tach pulses) set (TIMER) to 257 msec.
  • DOUNTIL (TIMER) is zero or (INDEX FLAG) is on CALL ⁇ MSTIMER> CALL ⁇ GETPULS > (sets (INDEX FLAG) if index located) END DOUNTIL IF (TIMER) is zero, then set (ERROR FLAG 2) and GOTO ⁇ ERROR> else, the index sensor is working ok so proceed do CALL ⁇ LD2PRT> (brings drum to print velocity with minimum checking) the (timer) contents upon return are a measure of the time required for the acceleration of the drum from load to print velocity, this time is in the form of the remainder of the maximum time allowed for this acceleration. DO conver (TIMER) residual to elapsed time.
  • DOUNTIL (TIMER) is zero or (INDEX FLAG) is on CALL ⁇ MSTIMER > CALL ⁇ GETPULS > END DOUNTIL IF (TIMER) is zero, then set (ERROR FLAG 2) and GOTO ⁇ ERROR> else, index sensor works ok at high velocity so proceed.
  • CALL ⁇ CKPTVEL> (uses program loop to time several tach pulses to insure correct print velocity.)
  • DOUNTIL (INDEX FLAG) is on CALL ⁇ GETPULS> END DOUNTIL We now are at the drum index point.
  • PREVS is a count of the drum indexes that should be passed during the deceleration.
  • PPLSTART is the tachometer count at which the deceleration should start to end exactly at 109 degrees.
  • DO (TIMER) Complement ((TIMER)-one second) this derives elapsed time for the deceleration.
  • ERROR ⁇ ERROR> This routine displays the error number in the (COPIES REQUESTED) display and shuts down all machine functions. If the error code is 12 (ink empty), the machine will not restart until shut down and refilled. For all other errors, upon the first depression of the reset key after the error, the error indication is reset. If the (START KEY) is then depressed, the copy run will continue to completion with adjustment made for copies lost in a jam situation. If the (RESET KEY) is depressed a second time prior to depression of the (START KEY), the copy run is abandoned.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • Accessory Devices And Overall Control Thereof (AREA)
  • Supply, Installation And Extraction Of Printed Sheets Or Plates (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Handling Of Sheets (AREA)
  • Handling Of Cut Paper (AREA)
  • Controlling Sheets Or Webs (AREA)
EP80104964A 1979-09-20 1980-08-21 Apparatus and method for drying ink printed on a print medium in a printing system Expired EP0025878B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US7748079A 1979-09-20 1979-09-20
US77480 1979-09-20

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0025878A1 EP0025878A1 (en) 1981-04-01
EP0025878B1 true EP0025878B1 (en) 1984-03-21

Family

ID=22138301

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP80104964A Expired EP0025878B1 (en) 1979-09-20 1980-08-21 Apparatus and method for drying ink printed on a print medium in a printing system

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0025878B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS5646762A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
AU (1) AU533235B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BR (1) BR8005975A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CA (1) CA1156739A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE3067145D1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
ES (1) ES495181A0 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Families Citing this family (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS6129236Y2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1979-04-13 1986-08-29
JPS5673244U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1979-11-10 1981-06-16
JPS58188683A (ja) * 1982-04-30 1983-11-04 Canon Inc 記録装置
JPS5876014A (ja) * 1982-10-04 1983-05-09 三菱農機株式会社 コンバインにおける扱深さ調節装置
JP2590822B2 (ja) * 1986-06-06 1997-03-12 セイコーエプソン株式会社 インクジエツト記録装置
FR2602719A1 (fr) * 1986-07-28 1988-02-19 Ecamo Sa Dispositif microondes destine a la fusion de poudre thermogravure pour impression en relief
JP2771548B2 (ja) * 1987-09-11 1998-07-02 キヤノン株式会社 インクジェット記録装置
DD277884A1 (de) * 1988-12-12 1990-04-18 Polygraph Leipzig Einrichtung zur steuerung von trocknern
DD277883A1 (de) * 1988-12-12 1990-04-18 Polygraph Leipzig Trockner fuer rollenrotationsdruckmaschinen
DE3901165A1 (de) * 1989-01-17 1990-08-02 Heidelberger Druckmasch Ag Einrichtung zum trocknen von farben auf papier
EP0385417B1 (en) * 1989-02-28 1994-06-01 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha An ink jet recording apparatus
JPH03106384U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1990-02-20 1991-11-01
US5784090A (en) * 1993-04-30 1998-07-21 Hewlett-Packard Company Use of densitometer for adaptive control of printer heater output to optimize drying time for different print media
US5414453A (en) * 1993-04-30 1995-05-09 Hewlett-Packard Company Use of a densitometer for adaptive control of printhead-to-media distance in ink jet printers
JP3703325B2 (ja) * 1997-12-26 2005-10-05 キヤノン株式会社 画像形成方法及び画像形成装置
DE102006041721A1 (de) 2006-06-09 2007-12-13 Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag Verfahren zur Ermittlung von Betriebsparametern einer Druckmaschine
DE102011121689B4 (de) 2011-01-13 2025-05-22 Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Ermittlung des Härtungsgrades von Druckfarben
US9731517B1 (en) 2016-07-29 2017-08-15 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. Printing device dryer setting
CN111524302B (zh) * 2020-04-03 2022-08-09 南阳柯丽尔科技有限公司 排纸器的固定机构及自助柜员机

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US2676416A (en) * 1951-03-16 1954-04-27 Raytheon Mfg Co Apparatus for selective drying
AT231938B (de) * 1961-10-27 1964-02-25 Heberlein & Co Ag Filmdruckanlage
US3237685A (en) * 1961-11-29 1966-03-01 Dow Chemical Co Fluid heated roll
FR2086751A5 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) * 1970-04-08 1971-12-31 Leguen Georges
US3946501A (en) * 1971-02-10 1976-03-30 E. T. Marler Ltd. Drying apparatus
US3894343A (en) * 1972-06-15 1975-07-15 Thermogenics Of New York Ink curing and drying apparatus
US3835777A (en) * 1973-01-16 1974-09-17 Harris Intertype Corp Ink density control system
US3958509A (en) * 1974-06-13 1976-05-25 Harris Corporation Image scan and ink control system
US4033263A (en) * 1974-12-12 1977-07-05 Harris Corporation Wide range power control for electric discharge lamp and press using the same
JPS5926473B2 (ja) * 1975-11-01 1984-06-27 ニホンシヤシンインサツ カブシキガイシヤ インサツブツノ インキカンソウホウホウ
SE423064B (sv) * 1975-11-26 1982-04-13 Svecia Silkscreen Maskiner Ab Torkanleggning
US4168579A (en) * 1976-11-19 1979-09-25 Ericsson Sylve J D Drying apparatus incorporating an air-moistening device
FR2382339A1 (fr) * 1977-03-04 1978-09-29 Roland Emballages Procede et dispositif pour le sechage de supports d'impression, de contre-collage ou analogues
JPS54107735A (en) * 1978-02-10 1979-08-23 Ricoh Co Ltd Ink jet recorder

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU533235B2 (en) 1983-11-10
EP0025878A1 (en) 1981-04-01
ES8105635A1 (es) 1981-06-16
JPS5646762A (en) 1981-04-28
BR8005975A (pt) 1981-03-31
DE3067145D1 (en) 1984-04-26
CA1156739A (en) 1983-11-08
JPS6233959B2 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1987-07-23
AU6084880A (en) 1981-03-26
ES495181A0 (es) 1981-06-16

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