EP0202270B1 - System for the control of an ink jet printing head and flexible workshop provided therewith - Google Patents

System for the control of an ink jet printing head and flexible workshop provided therewith Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0202270B1
EP0202270B1 EP19850905631 EP85905631A EP0202270B1 EP 0202270 B1 EP0202270 B1 EP 0202270B1 EP 19850905631 EP19850905631 EP 19850905631 EP 85905631 A EP85905631 A EP 85905631A EP 0202270 B1 EP0202270 B1 EP 0202270B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
printing
bus
printing head
control
flexible
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP19850905631
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0202270A1 (en
Inventor
Jean-Claude Millet
Luc Regnault
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Markem Imaje SAS
Original Assignee
Imaje SA
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Publication date
Application filed by Imaje SA filed Critical Imaje SA
Publication of EP0202270A1 publication Critical patent/EP0202270A1/en
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Publication of EP0202270B1 publication Critical patent/EP0202270B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method for controlling an ink jet print head. It also concerns any flexible workshop equipped according to this process.
  • inkjet technique allows a wide variety of printing characters, both in terms of the fineness of the characters as well as in terms of color or number of jets. In addition, it allows to mark practically any type of support whatever its shape, its nature or its size.
  • the present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks and relates to a control method which makes it possible to associate a theoretically infinite number of independent writing heads and to program them from a single entry point or not.
  • an inkjet type print head control system characterized in that it consists of “printing subsystems” (M) consisting of a “power supply unit »Electrical (CE), at least one" print head “(T) provided with its own calculation unit (T c ), a bus ensuring the connection between the printing subsystems ( M) on the one hand, between the "power supply” (M) and the “print heads” (T) on the other hand, and finally between a console (30) for controlling the system and an external computer (40).
  • M printing subsystems
  • the invention also relates to any flexible printing workshop using a plurality of such printing subsystems.
  • the method according to the invention illustrated by means of FIGS. 1 and 2, consists in creating subsystems called “printing subsystems” in the following description and referenced (M) generally with or without index .
  • Each of these printing subsystems (M) essentially consists of a "power supply unit” (CE) ensuring the electrical and ink supply of at least one "print head” (T) which has its own calculation unit (T c ).
  • FIG 1 there is shown by way of non-limiting example, three types of such printing subsystems (M).
  • M1 has a single head (T).
  • M2 has two heads (T).
  • M3 has three heads (T).
  • the printheads (T) may have identical or different characteristics relating in particular to the size and fineness of the characters, the color and the number of associated jets in the same head ...
  • Bus 10 connects the assembly defined above to a control console 30 consisting for example of a keyboard 31, itself connected by said bus to an I / O input / output interface module 32, associated with an external computer. 40 says host computer.
  • a control console 30 consisting for example of a keyboard 31, itself connected by said bus to an I / O input / output interface module 32, associated with an external computer. 40 says host computer.
  • Each of the devices controlled by the bus 10 is provided in a known manner with a bus interface circuit (not shown).
  • FIG. 1 shows a video camera 50 intended for reading the printed characters directly and a laser reader 51 capable of reading a bar code.
  • Plugs 60, 61 placed at the input and at the output make it possible to close and tune the impedance of the bus 10.
  • the present invention has numerous applications, in particular whenever it is necessary to group together by one, two or three, the printheads on the same lines of products to be marked or on different lines. It allows a relatively large spacing between the different marking modules.

Abstract

The method for the control of a printing head comprises the formation of printing subsystems (M1, M2, M3) each comprised of a supply block (CE) to which are associated, within the subsystem in question, one, two or three heads (T) provided with a proper computation unit and having similar or different characteristics. A bus (10) interconnects on one hand said subsystems, and on the other hand the supply blocks (CE) and the heads (T). The bus (10) also connects the assembly to a control console (30) which is itself connected with a host computer (40). It may also connect the assembly optionally to external information means such as a video camera (50) or a laser reader (51). The invention may be applied to the installation of flexible printing workshops.

Description

L'invention concerne un procédé de commande de tête d'impression à jet d'encre. Elle concerne également tout atelier flexible équipé selon ce procédé.The invention relates to a method for controlling an ink jet print head. It also concerns any flexible workshop equipped according to this process.

La technique dit du jet d'encre permet une grande variété de caractères d'impression, tant sur le plan de la finesse des caractères que sur celui de la couleur ou du nombre de jets. De plus, elle permet de marquer pratiquement tout type de support quelque soit sa forme, sa nature ou sa dimension.The so-called inkjet technique allows a wide variety of printing characters, both in terms of the fineness of the characters as well as in terms of color or number of jets. In addition, it allows to mark practically any type of support whatever its shape, its nature or its size.

Cependant, un gros problème se pose dès lors que l'on veut commander à distance une ou plusieurs têtes d'impression. On peut alors avoir recours à un procédé de commande centralisée dont la structure de mise en oeuvre peut être qualifiée d'arborescente. Un tel procédé conduit à des installations extrêmement lourdes, coûteuses et difficiles à piloter.However, a big problem arises when one wants to control one or more printheads remotely. We can then have recourse to a centralized control method whose implementation structure can be described as tree-like. Such a process leads to extremely heavy, expensive and difficult to control installations.

La présente invention a pour but de pallier ces inconvénients et concerne un procédé de commande qui permet d'associer un nombre théoriquement infini de têtes d'écriture indépendantes et de les programmer à partir d'un point d'entrée unique ou non.The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks and relates to a control method which makes it possible to associate a theoretically infinite number of independent writing heads and to program them from a single entry point or not.

Elle concerne plus précisément un système de commande de tête d'impression du type à jet d'encre, caractérisé en ce qu'il est constitué de «sous-systèmes d'impression» (M) constitués d'un «bloc d'alimentation» électrique (CE), d'au moins une «tête d'impression» (T) dotée d'une unité de calcul (Tc) qui lui est propre, un bus assurant la liaison entre les sous-systèmes d'impression (M) d'une part, entre le «bloc d'alimentation» (M) et les «têtes d'impression» (T) d'autre part, et enfin entre une console (30) de commande du système et un calculateur extérieur (40).More specifically, it relates to an inkjet type print head control system, characterized in that it consists of “printing subsystems” (M) consisting of a “power supply unit »Electrical (CE), at least one" print head "(T) provided with its own calculation unit (T c ), a bus ensuring the connection between the printing subsystems ( M) on the one hand, between the "power supply" (M) and the "print heads" (T) on the other hand, and finally between a console (30) for controlling the system and an external computer (40).

L'invention concerne également tout atelier flexible d'impression mettant en oeuvre une pluralité de tels sous-systèmes d'impression.The invention also relates to any flexible printing workshop using a plurality of such printing subsystems.

L'invention sera mieux comprise à l'aide des explications qui vont suivre et des figures jointes parmi lesquelles:

  • la figure 1 illustre schématiquement une architecture de moyens mettant en oeuvre un procédé conforme à l'invention;
  • la figure 2 illustre un bus tel qu'utilisé conformément à l'invention.
The invention will be better understood with the aid of the explanations which follow and of the appended figures among which:
  • Figure 1 schematically illustrates an architecture of means implementing a method according to the invention;
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a bus as used in accordance with the invention.

Le procédé conforme à l'invention illustré au moyen des figures 1 et 2, consiste à créer des sous-systèmes dit «sous-systèmes d'impression» dans la suite de la description et référencé (M) de manière générale avec ou sans indice. Chacun de ces sous-systèmes d'impression (M) est essentiellement constitué d'un «bloc d'alimentation» (CE) assurant l'alimentation électrique et en encre d'au moins une «tête d'impression» (T) qui est dotée d'une unité de calcul (Tc) qui lui est propre.The method according to the invention illustrated by means of FIGS. 1 and 2, consists in creating subsystems called "printing subsystems" in the following description and referenced (M) generally with or without index . Each of these printing subsystems (M) essentially consists of a "power supply unit" (CE) ensuring the electrical and ink supply of at least one "print head" (T) which has its own calculation unit (T c ).

Dans la figure 1, on a représenté à titre d'exemple non limitatif, trois types de tels sous-systèmes d'impression (M). L'un référencé (M1) comporte une seule tête (T). L'autre référencé (M2) comporte deux têtes (T). Le troisième référencé (M3) comporte trois têtes (T).In Figure 1, there is shown by way of non-limiting example, three types of such printing subsystems (M). The one referenced (M1) has a single head (T). The other referenced (M2) has two heads (T). The third referenced (M3) has three heads (T).

Au sein même d'un sous-système d'impression (M), les têtes d'impression (T) peuvent présenter des caractéristiques identiques ou différentes portant notamment sur la taille et la finesse des caractères, sur la couleur et sur le nombre de jets associées dans la même tête...Even within a printing subsystem (M), the printheads (T) may have identical or different characteristics relating in particular to the size and fineness of the characters, the color and the number of associated jets in the same head ...

La liaison entre les sous-systèmes (M) d'une part, «le bloc d'alimentation et les têtes d'impression» d'autre part, est assurée au moyen d'un bus 10. Ce dernier est d'un type classique à deux torsades 11 et 12, l'une dite «paire donnée» et l'autre «paire mise sous tension», blindées dans une gaine 13.The connection between the subsystems (M) on the one hand, “the power supply and the print heads” on the other hand, is ensured by means of a bus 10. The latter is of a type classic with two twists 11 and 12, one called "given pair" and the other "energized pair", shielded in a sheath 13.

Il est possible de réaliser ainsi des ateliers flexibles d'impression et d'adapter le nombre et les caractéristiques de chaque sous-système d'impression (M) aux applications considérées. Ces sous-systèmes reliés entre eux en série par le bus 10, peuvent être espacés les uns des autres sur des distances pouvant aller jusqu'à 500 mètres.It is thus possible to carry out flexible printing workshops and to adapt the number and characteristics of each printing subsystem (M) to the applications considered. These subsystems connected together in series by bus 10, can be spaced from each other over distances of up to 500 meters.

Le bus 10 relie l'ensemble défini précédemment à une console de commande 30 constituée par exemple d'un clavier 31, lui-même relié par ledit bus à un module 32 d'interface entrée-sortie E/S, associé à un calculateur extérieur 40 dit ordinateur hôte. Chacun des dispositifs commandés par le bus 10 est doté de manière connue d'un circuit d'interface bus (non représenté).Bus 10 connects the assembly defined above to a control console 30 consisting for example of a keyboard 31, itself connected by said bus to an I / O input / output interface module 32, associated with an external computer. 40 says host computer. Each of the devices controlled by the bus 10 is provided in a known manner with a bus interface circuit (not shown).

Comme le montre la figure 1, dans le cadre de variantes de réalisation, en série avec les moyens de commande (console 30 - ordinateur 40) et les sous-systèmes d'impression (M), peuvent être montés des moyens d'informations autres que les moyens d'impression et qui peuvent réagir sur eux. Par exemple on a représenté sur la figure 1, une caméra vidéo 50, destinée à lire directement les caractères imprimés et un lecteur Laser 51 capable de lire un code barres.As shown in FIG. 1, within the framework of alternative embodiments, in series with the control means (console 30 - computer 40) and the printing subsystems (M), other information means can be mounted as the print media and who can react on them. For example, FIG. 1 shows a video camera 50 intended for reading the printed characters directly and a laser reader 51 capable of reading a bar code.

Des bouchons 60, 61 placés à l'entrée et à la sortie permettent de fermer et d'accorder l'impédance du bus 10.Plugs 60, 61 placed at the input and at the output make it possible to close and tune the impedance of the bus 10.

La présente invention présente de nombreuses applications notamment chaque fois où il convient de regrouper par une, deux ou trois, les têtes d'impression sur les mêmes lignes de produits à marquer ou sur des lignes différentes. Elle permet un espacement relativement important entre les différents modules de marquage.The present invention has numerous applications, in particular whenever it is necessary to group together by one, two or three, the printheads on the same lines of products to be marked or on different lines. It allows a relatively large spacing between the different marking modules.

Claims (6)

1. System for controlling a printing head of the ink jet type, characterized in that it includes «printing sub-systems» (M) formed of an electrical «supply block» (CE) at least one «printing head» (T), equipped with a computing unit (Tc) which is proper thereto, a bus providing the connection between the printing sub-systems (M) on the one hand, between the «supply block» (M) and the «printing heads» (T) on the other hand, and finally between a control console (30) of the system and an external computer (40).
2. A flexible printing work shop with a system for controlling a printing head according to claim 1, characterized in that the printing sub-systems (M) are connected together in series, said bus (10) also providing the connection to the console (30) and to the external computer (40).
3. A flexible work shop according to claim 2, characterized in that the printing sub-systems (M) are equipped with one to three printing heads (T) having different characteristics.
4. A flexible work shop according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that information means are implemented in series on the bus (10).
5. A flexible work shop according to claim 4, characterized in that these information means are formed by a video camera (50) capable of reading the printed characters directly.
6. A flexible work shop according to claim 4, characterized in that these information means are formed by a laser reader (51) capable of reading a bar code.
EP19850905631 1984-11-15 1985-11-07 System for the control of an ink jet printing head and flexible workshop provided therewith Expired EP0202270B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8417828 1984-11-15
FR8417828A FR2573011B1 (en) 1984-11-15 1984-11-15 METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN INK JET PRINTHEAD AND A FLEXIBLE WORKSHOP THEREOF

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0202270A1 EP0202270A1 (en) 1986-11-26
EP0202270B1 true EP0202270B1 (en) 1989-06-14

Family

ID=9309849

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19850905631 Expired EP0202270B1 (en) 1984-11-15 1985-11-07 System for the control of an ink jet printing head and flexible workshop provided therewith

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0202270B1 (en)
JP (1) JPS62500780A (en)
AU (1) AU579209B2 (en)
CA (1) CA1264983A (en)
DE (1) DE3571006D1 (en)
FR (1) FR2573011B1 (en)
WO (1) WO1986002884A1 (en)

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3409129A (en) * 1963-06-24 1968-11-05 Upjohn Co Label scanning device and process
DE2143571A1 (en) * 1971-08-31 1973-03-15 Siemens Ag INKJET WRITING DEVICE, WITH A WRITING HEAD MOVABLE IN LINE DIRECTION
GB1566341A (en) * 1976-01-14 1980-04-30 Pitney Bowes Inc Micro computerized postage meter
US4084195A (en) * 1976-12-30 1978-04-11 International Business Machines Corporation Image data remapping system
US4231061A (en) * 1979-04-09 1980-10-28 Samuel Freeman Instant color slide recorder of CRT image
US4289411A (en) * 1979-11-08 1981-09-15 International Business Machines Corporation Multilingual ink jet printer
EP0036295A3 (en) * 1980-03-14 1981-10-07 Printos B.V. Hand-held printing apparatus
US4314282A (en) * 1980-04-14 1982-02-02 Xerox Corporation Multifunction graphic engine based on an oscillating scanner

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU579209B2 (en) 1988-11-17
JPS62500780A (en) 1987-04-02
EP0202270A1 (en) 1986-11-26
CA1264983A (en) 1990-01-30
AU5068585A (en) 1986-06-03
DE3571006D1 (en) 1989-07-20
WO1986002884A1 (en) 1986-05-22
FR2573011A1 (en) 1986-05-16
FR2573011B1 (en) 1988-03-11

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