EP1088661B1 - Method and device for decorating individual articles - Google Patents

Method and device for decorating individual articles Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1088661B1
EP1088661B1 EP00120347A EP00120347A EP1088661B1 EP 1088661 B1 EP1088661 B1 EP 1088661B1 EP 00120347 A EP00120347 A EP 00120347A EP 00120347 A EP00120347 A EP 00120347A EP 1088661 B1 EP1088661 B1 EP 1088661B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
article
nozzles
transport
carriage
print
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 - Lifetime
Application number
EP00120347A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1088661A3 (en
EP1088661A2 (en
Inventor
Hans-Dieter Niestrath
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.)
Werner Kammann Maschinenfabrik GmbH and Co KG
Original Assignee
Werner Kammann Maschinenfabrik GmbH and Co KG
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Publication of EP1088661A2 publication Critical patent/EP1088661A2/en
Publication of EP1088661A3 publication Critical patent/EP1088661A3/en
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Publication of EP1088661B1 publication Critical patent/EP1088661B1/en
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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
    • B41J3/00—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
    • B41J3/407—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
    • B41J3/4071—Printing on disk-shaped media, e.g. CDs
    • 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
    • B41J13/00—Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, specially adapted for supporting or handling copy material in short lengths, e.g. sheets
    • B41J13/10—Sheet holders, retainers, movable guides, or stationary guides
    • B41J13/12—Sheet holders, retainers, movable guides, or stationary guides specially adapted for small cards, envelopes, or the like, e.g. credit cards, cut visiting cards
    • 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
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S101/00—Printing
    • Y10S101/37—Printing employing electrostatic force

Definitions

  • the invention relates to methods and apparatus for decorating individual objects.
  • the printing of individual objects is now done consistently using methods in which the inks are applied by means of at least one transmission element on the object to be decorated and the transmission element is designed according to the printed image to be transmitted or is provided with the printed image to be transmitted.
  • the transmission element may be z. B. to a screen printing device, in which the ink is applied by means of a doctor blade through a provided with the print template on the object.
  • the offset printing method is frequently used, in which the ink corresponding to the print image is first applied to the blanket of a cylinder and from there to the object.
  • US-A-5,915,858 discloses a method of printing CDs using a modulated laser beam, wherein an actuating mechanism is provided which moves the CD to control the relative position of the laser spot beam in an orthogonal direction opposite to that provided by a movable mirror 52 is effected, which oscillates the light beam.
  • Other possibilities for transferring the movement to the CD are two galvanometers or a linear motor, without any further details.
  • the use of inkjet printers is mentioned in connection with the discussion of the prior art and also with reference to the suitability for the printing of small batch sizes and finally as an alternative to printing by laser beam, without the interaction of the individual components even hinted would.
  • the use of a carrier as means for transporting a CD, without a drive means for this carrier or the interaction of the Components would also be mentioned.
  • the invention has for its object to modify methods and apparatus of the type described above so that the production of printed images with high quality and high throughput is possible, while the changeover times can be so short that even very small quantities can be printed economically ,
  • the holder for the object can be carried by the primary part of the linear motor.
  • This has the advantage that in the presence of multiple brackets and thus multiple transport carriages for the simultaneous treatment of multiple objects in the printing press, the movements of the individual transport carriages can be controlled independently without great effort. The latter is important because in particular in multi-color printing machines, the objects and thus the holders carrying them in the printing press through several stations and in the individual stations different speeds, residence times, etc. may be required.
  • the ability to independently control the individual brackets or carriages supporting them contributes to achieving a high throughput.
  • the reverse arrangement, in which the holder is carried by the secondary part of the linear motor should not be excluded. However, it requires a significantly higher structural and circuit complexity, if the individual carriages should be independently controllable with respect to their movements.
  • the movements of the individual carriages outside the at least one printing station and, if appropriate, existing further treatment stations can likewise be controlled as a function of a program.
  • the device shown in Figures 1 - 3 of the drawing has a transport path 10 which is provided with a rail 11 of a linear motor and two parallel guides 12 is.
  • a transport path 10 which is provided with a rail 11 of a linear motor and two parallel guides 12 is.
  • rail 11 and transport path 10 may, for example, also have the shape of a circle, an ellipse or another shape and be designed as an endless transport path running in the horizontal plane.
  • the rail 11 is associated with two transport carriages 14a, 14b as movable components of the linear motor, which are each provided with at least one receptacle 15 for an object 16 to be printed on the upper side.
  • Structure and operation of a linear motor are familiar to the expert, so that they need not be explained in detail here.
  • the invention uses the linear motor drive as a means for transporting the objects through the at least one printing station and, in particular in the case of the presence of multiple printing stations, also for bridging the distances between the printing stations and between these and possibly additional still existing handling, treatment - or control stations.
  • the primary part of the linear motor which has the three-phase winding 17, the respective transport carriages 14a, 14b form or wear, while the rail 11 with the magnet or the like.
  • the rail 11 with the magnet or the like As a secondary part is used. But it is also the reverse arrangement possible. Which of the possible arrangements is given preference is of no importance to the invention.
  • Each carriage 14a, 14b is provided on the underside with two groove-shaped recesses 19. In each of these recesses 19 engages one of the guide rails 12, which also absorb between rail 11 and slide 14 occurring transverse forces and cause a precise lateral alignment of the carriage.
  • the apparatus is provided with a central computer 18 which controls the nozzles 27 (FIG. 3) of the individual inkjet printheads 20 according to a program stored in the computer 18, the object 16 being moved along the transport path 19 during the printing process.
  • Each carriage 14a, 14b is provided with at least one non-contact sensor 22, which cooperates with a continuous measuring rail 24 of a length measuring system, which runs parallel to the transport path 10.
  • the measuring rail 24 is provided with triggering in the sensor 22 measuring points 26, which are arranged at a very small distance, for example, 1 ⁇ from each other.
  • FIG. 3 The basic structure of a print head is shown in FIG. 3.
  • the nozzles 27, from which the ink is ejected in the form of drops in the direction of the object 16 to be decorated, are arranged in rows above the object such that the distance between two adjacent nozzles 27 of a Nozzle row 29, 30 is not greater than the maximum diameter of the paint on the object from the respective droplets forming.
  • a print head 32 is provided with at least two rows of nozzles 29, 30 arranged one behind the other perpendicular to the transport direction 34 of the object, the individual nozzles 27 of these two rows being e.g. are offset by half the distance of the distance between two adjacent nozzles 27 a row transversely to the transport direction against each other.
  • the number of nozzle rows and the arrangement of the nozzles depends essentially on the quality of the printed image, which will generally be a prerequisite that a seamless printing, so the application of a closed ink application, must be possible.
  • the actuation of the example piezo-electrically driven Nozzles are frequency-controlled, resulting in a specific pulse sequence, which corresponds to the program for the printed image to be applied in the respective printing station and must be synchronized with the speed of the object and thus of the carriage during the printing process.
  • the relative adjustment of the print head to the position of the object in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction 34 coordinate axis takes place in the embodiment shown in the drawing using a camera 36, which is in the receptacle 15 of the carriage 14 object 16 with respect to its position, for example, based on his Contour or an already printed image or any registration marks detected.
  • This thus determined actual position of the object in a direction parallel to the transport direction 34 coordinate axis and in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction 34 coordinate axis is digitized and compared with a stored in the computer 18 target value.
  • a difference between the actual value and the target value is extremely small, since it can not be greater than the sum of the play which the object 16 has within the receptacle 15 and the play of the carriage 14a or 14b on the guide rails 12 It is thus normally only fractions of a millimeter. However, a precise relative alignment of object 16 and print head to each other also contributes to the quality of the printed image to be produced.
  • the relative orientation of the object transversely to its transport direction is carried out in the embodiment shown in the drawing so that those nozzles of each nozzle row 29, 30, etc. are made effective for the respective printing operation, which are above the range of the object in the respective Print station I or II is to be provided with an order from printing ink.
  • the arrangement is such that the length of the rows of nozzles is chosen slightly larger than the width of the area to be printed by the respective print head or portion of the object 16. This means that when the area of the object to be printed 16 z. B. has the maximum width 38, the length of the nozzle rows 29, 30, etc. is greater than this maximum width 38.
  • nozzles 27 of the existing nozzle rows are made effective for the printing process, which are located above the portion to be printed in the region of the width 38 thereof.
  • the effective Asked section of the nozzle rows is designated in Fig. 3 of the drawing with 38a.
  • only the nozzles within the portion 38a of the respective nozzle row for ejecting drops of paint are actuated.
  • the nozzles located outside the width 38 of the portion of the object 16 to be printed that is, the nozzles located in the end portions 40 and 41 of the respective nozzle row, do not participate in the printing process because they are rendered ineffective.
  • the relative alignment of object and print head to one another in the transport direction 34 takes place after determining the actual position of the object and comparing it with the desired position by calculating the number of pulses for the generally linear transport path, wherein the deviation of the actual number of pulses from the target Pulse number corresponds to the deviation of the actual position of the object from its desired position in the transport direction 34.
  • the number and the size of the nozzles it should be noted that the size of the dots applied by the drops of paint on the object is approximately in the size of a diameter of z. B. 30 - 50 ⁇ is.
  • the distance between two nozzles of a row should not be greater than the maximum diameter of the dot of ink formed on the object by the drop of a nozzle.
  • the number of mutually parallel rows of nozzles in the transport direction 34 results from the need, if necessary, to form a covering (closed) ink layer on the object.
  • Variable droplet sizes of the ink may possibly be achieved by ejecting two or more droplets from the same nozzle in immediate succession, in which case the speed with which the object is advanced may be reduced to zero, if necessary.
  • the decoration process proceeds in such a way that first the respective transport carriage 14a, 14b is moved with the object located thereon under the camera 36, so that the position of the object is detected.
  • the position of the object within the shot will not change thereafter, since the object z. B. is held by negative pressure in the recording.
  • the camera 36 can also be used in need of an identity check at the same time to ensure that the correct object 16 is in the receptacle 15 of the transport carriage 14a or 14b.
  • the information concerning the position and the identity of the object is transmitted via an information channel 42 to the computer 18, which controls the printhead 20 of each printing station I, II via an information channel 44 such that a section 38a of each nozzle row 29, 30, etc. is activated which corresponds to the position of the area of the respective object to be printed.
  • an information channel 42 to the computer 18, which controls the printhead 20 of each printing station I, II via an information channel 44 such that a section 38a of each nozzle row 29, 30, etc. is activated which corresponds to the position of the area of the respective object to be printed.
  • the carriage 14a of the linear motor are moved in the direction of the printing station I, wherein the operation of the linear motor via a frequency converter 43 which is connected via a line 46 to the respective carriage 14, and position and / or speed of the carriage 14a through the measuring rail 24 and sensor 22 having detected measuring system and are fed via an information channel 48 to the computer 18, in which the position or speed of the carriage 14a information is used to regulate the movement of the carriage and thus of the object 16 so that the movement with the end of the printing process, ie the operation of the nozzles 27 of the print head 20, is synchronized and so the desired printed image is formed, which will often be only a partial print image in the sense that two more or more such generally different partial printed images, each in a corresponding p Rogramm investigating printing station is applied in a particular color, to complement a generally multicolor overall printed image.
  • each print station will be assigned its own print program.
  • the conduit 46 and the information channel 48 may form parts of a control loop, by which the speed of the respective transport carriage 14a, 14b, in particular during the printing process is kept as constant as possible, as far as this can be brought into agreement with the expiration of the print program or the frequency of the print head.
  • a variable transport speed during the printing process will be applied when the color density on the object is changed. This is done via the frequency converter 43 which is turned on in the power supply of the linear motor formed by the transport carriage and rail 11, wherein the speed of the carriage is controlled by the frequency of the three-phase current. Since a separate frequency converter is provided for each transport carriage 14a or 14b, it is possible to independently control the transport carriages with respect to their speed.
  • the information channel 44 can be used simultaneously to give information from the respective print head 20 to the computer 18.
  • Such information may relate, for example, the nature of the ink, so for example, their temperature and thus their viscosity, etc.
  • a device is shown with two printing stations, which is associated with a common transport path 10. This means that after the second partial print image has been applied in the station II on the object carried by the carriage 14b, this carriage 14b must first be moved in the transport direction 34 in order to make room for the carriage 14a in the printing station II, so that the object located in this carriage can be provided with the second partial printed image.
  • this carriage 14b In multi-color printing more than two printing stations will generally be provided, wherein different colors are applied to the object in all printing stations.
  • a drying station in which the previously applied partial printed image is dried at least so far that when applying the next partial printed image, z. B. in the printing station II, no longer the risk that the colors of both partial printed images run into each other or otherwise mix with each other.
  • the measuring rail 24 Since the highest accuracy is required for the movements of the transport carriage in the printing stations, it might be sufficient to provide the measuring rail 24 only partially in the areas in which the printing stations are arranged so that the free distances between the linear transport sections or the printing stations a common means of transport can be overcome. However, in general, in particular when using a larger number of transport carriages in combination with a common rail, it will be expedient to provide a continuous measuring rail. In order to control the movement of the individual carriages over the entire length of the transport path and to be able to control them if necessary.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Dekorieren von Einzelobjekten.The invention relates to methods and apparatus for decorating individual objects.

Das Bedrucken von Einzelobjekten, beispielsweise CDs, Kreditkarten, Telefonkarten und ähnlichen Objekten, erfolgt heute durchweg unter Verwendung von Verfahren, bei denen die Druckfarben mittels wenigstens eines Übertragungselementes auf das zu dekorierende Objekt aufgebracht werden und das Übertragungsselement entsprechend dem zu übertragenden Druckbild ausgestaltet ist oder aber mit dem zu übertragenden Druckbild versehen ist. Im ersten Fall kann es sich z. B. um eine Siebdruckeinrichtung handeln, bei welcher die Druckfarbe mittels einer Rakel durch eine mit dem Druckbild versehene Schablone auf das Objekt aufgebracht wird. Im zweiten Fall wird häufig das Offset-Druckverfahren angewendet, bei welchem die dem Druckbild entsprechende Druckfarbe zunächst auf das Drucktuch eines Zylinders und von diesem auf das Objekt aufgebracht wird. Allen diesen bekannten Verfahren, die für die Übertragung der Farbe auf das Objekt einen Kontakt zwischen letzterem und dem Übertragungsmittel erfordern, ist gemeinsam, dass die Druckwerke entsprechend dem aufzubringenden Druckbild ausgebildet, also beispielsweise mit entsprechend ausgestalteten Schablonen oder Klischees versehen sein müssen. Dies hat zur Folge, dass bei einem Wechsel der zu bedruckenden Objekte und damit einem Wechsel des aufzubringenden Druckbildes das Druckwerk umzurüsten, also beispielsweise mit einer neuen Siebdruckschablone bzw. einer neuen Klischeewalzen zu versehen ist. Dieses Umrüsten nimmt insbesondere dann, wenn mehrere Druckwerke vorhanden sind, wie es z. B. beim Herstellen eines mehrfarbigen Druckbildes der Fall ist, erhebliche Zeit in Anspruch, während welcher die Produktion ruht. Außerdem erfordert das Umrüsten, also das Einstellen der Druckwerke auf das Druckbild des jeweils folgenden Loses, bei den heute üblichen Maschinen sehr gut ausgebildetes Bedienungspersonal, wenn ein Druckbild mit guter Qualität hergestellt werden soll. Die sich daraus ergebenden Probleme führen nicht zuletzt deshalb zu erheblichen Nachteilen, weil in vielen Fällen, z. B. bei CDs, Telefonkarten, Kreditkarten, häufig sehr kleine Lose zu bedrucken sind. Losgrößen von lediglich mehreren hundert CDs oder Telefonkarten sind keine Seltenheit. Gleichzeitig werden die Anforderungen an die Qualität des Druckbildes immer größer.The printing of individual objects, such as CDs, credit cards, phone cards and similar objects, is now done consistently using methods in which the inks are applied by means of at least one transmission element on the object to be decorated and the transmission element is designed according to the printed image to be transmitted or is provided with the printed image to be transmitted. In the first case, it may be z. B. to a screen printing device, in which the ink is applied by means of a doctor blade through a provided with the print template on the object. In the second case, the offset printing method is frequently used, in which the ink corresponding to the print image is first applied to the blanket of a cylinder and from there to the object. All these known methods, which require a contact between the latter and the transfer means for the transfer of the ink to the object, have in common that the printing units must be designed in accordance with the applied print image, that is, for example, with appropriately configured stencils or clichés. This has the consequence that when changing the objects to be printed and thus a change of the applied print image to convert the printing unit, So for example, to be provided with a new screen printing template or a new plate rollers. This conversion takes in particular when multiple printing units are available, as z. As in the case of producing a multi-color print image, the case takes considerable time during which the production is at rest. In addition, the retooling, so setting the printing on the printed image of the next batch, requires in the usual machines today very well-trained operators when a printed image with good quality is to be produced. The resulting problems lead, not least because of significant disadvantages, because in many cases, for. B. CDs, phone cards, credit cards, often very small lots to print. Lot sizes of only several hundred CDs or telephone cards are not uncommon. At the same time, the demands on the quality of the printed image are increasing.

US-A-5,915,858 offenbart ein Verfahren zum Bedrucken von CDs unter Verwendung eines modulierten Laserstrahls, wobei ein Betätigungsmechanismus vorgesehen ist, der die CD bewegt, um die relative Position des Laser-Punktstrahls in einer orthogonalen Richtung zu steuern, die entgegengesetzt ist zu der, die durch einen bewegbaren Spiegel 52 bewirkt wird, welcher den Lichtstrahl oszilliert. Als andere Möglichkeiten für die Übertragung der Bewegung auf die CD werden zwei Galvanometer oder ein Linearmotor genannt, ohne dass weitere Einzelheiten dazu angegeben wären. Die Verwendung von Inkjet-Druckern wird im Zusammenhang mit der Erörterung des Standes der Technik und auch unter Hinweis auf die Eignung für das Bedrucken von kleinen Losgrössen und schließlich auch als Alternative zum Bedrucken mittels Laserstrahl erwähnt, ohne dass das Zusammenwirken der einzelnen Komponenten auch nur angedeutet würde. Schließlich offenbart US-A-5,915,858 im Zusammenhang mit einem Laserdrucker die Verwendung eines Trägers als Mittel für den Transport einer CD, ohne dass ein Antriebsmittel für diesen Träger oder das Zusammenwirken der Komponenten auch erwähnt wäre. US-A-5,915,858 discloses a method of printing CDs using a modulated laser beam, wherein an actuating mechanism is provided which moves the CD to control the relative position of the laser spot beam in an orthogonal direction opposite to that provided by a movable mirror 52 is effected, which oscillates the light beam. Other possibilities for transferring the movement to the CD are two galvanometers or a linear motor, without any further details. The use of inkjet printers is mentioned in connection with the discussion of the prior art and also with reference to the suitability for the printing of small batch sizes and finally as an alternative to printing by laser beam, without the interaction of the individual components even hinted would. Finally revealed US-A-5,915,858 in the context of a laser printer, the use of a carrier as means for transporting a CD, without a drive means for this carrier or the interaction of the Components would also be mentioned.

Der Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde, Verfahren und Vorrichtung der einleitend beschriebenen Art so zu modifizieren, dass die Herstellung von Druckbildern mit hoher Qualität und hoher Durchsatzleistung möglich ist, wobei gleichzeitig die Umrüstzeiten so kurz sein können, dass auch sehr kleine Stückzahlen wirtschaftlich bedruckt werden können.The invention has for its object to modify methods and apparatus of the type described above so that the production of printed images with high quality and high throughput is possible, while the changeover times can be so short that even very small quantities can be printed economically ,

Die Lösung dieser Aufgabe lässt sich dahingehend zusammenfassen, dass für das Bedrucken insbesondere von Einzelobjekten Verfahren angewendet wird, bei welchem das zu bedruckende Objekt entlang einer Transportbahn durch wenigstens eine Druckstation hindurchbewegt wird, die mit einem Druckkopf versehen ist, der in Abhängigkeit von einem digitale Bildinformationen enthaltenden Programm steuerbar ist, und die einzelnen Düsen mittels Impulssteuerung entsprechend diesem Programm betätigt werden. Dieses Verfahren, bei dem es sich um das Inkjet-Verfahren in Kombination mit einem digitale Bildinformationen enthaltenden Programm für das Bedrucken von Einzelobjekten handeln kann, ermöglicht das Herstellen von Druckbildern, auch mehrfarbigen Druckbildern, mit sehr guter Qualität. Darüber hinaus ist auch eine hohe Durchsatzleistung erzielbar. Letzteres ist auch darauf zurückzuführen, dass das Bedrucken des Objektes während des ohnehin notwendigen Transports durch die Druckmaschine erfolgen kann. Die Verwendung eines Linearmotors trägt zum Erreichen einer guten Druckbildqualität in erheblichem Maße bei, da der Linearmotor eine genaue Koordinierung von Transportgeschwindigkeit und Bedruckungsvorgang in der jeweiligen Druckstation ermöglicht.The solution to this problem can be summarized in that for the printing of particular objects method is applied, in which the object to be printed along a transport path through at least one printing station is moved, which is provided with a print head, in response to a digital image information containing program is controlled, and the individual nozzles are actuated by means of pulse control in accordance with this program. This process, which can be the inkjet process in combination with a digital image information containing program for printing on individual objects, makes it possible to produce print images, even multicolor print images, with very good quality. In addition, a high throughput can be achieved. The latter is also due to the fact that the printing of the object during the anyway necessary transport can be done by the printing press. The use of a linear motor contributes to the achievement of a good print image quality to a considerable extent, since the linear motor allows accurate coordination of transport speed and printing process in each printing station.

Bei Anwendung der Erfindung erfolgt somit das Aufbringen der Dekoration berührungslos, so dass es bei einer Änderung der Dekoration bzw. des aufzubringenden Druckbildes lediglich erforderlich ist, das Programm für die Steuerung des jeweiligen Druckkopfes bzw. der Bebilderungseinheit auszuwechseln. Es ist auch ohne weiteres möglich, das Programm von einem Objekt zum folgenden Objekt zu ändern, wobei diese Änderung ebenfalls programmiert sein kann, so dass z. B. die Möglichkeit besteht, beispielsweise Kreditkarten mit einem einheitlichen Dekor zu bedrucken, jedoch die Kartennummer und den Namen des Karteninhabers von Karte zu Karte zu ändern. Bei Änderung des kompletten Programmes, also beispielsweise bei Übergang von einem Los zu einem anderen, genügt es, dass die Bedienungsperson einen Programmträger gegen einen anderen auswechselt, so dass Probedrucke, wenn überhaupt, nur in ganz geringer Anzahl erforderlich sein werden, bevor die normale Produktion beginnen kann.When applying the invention thus applying the decoration takes place without contact, so that it is only necessary to change the program for the control of the respective print head or the imaging unit with a change in the decoration or the applied print image. It is also readily possible to change the program from one object to the next object, this change can also be programmed so that z. For example, it is possible, for example, to print credit cards with a uniform decor, but to change the card number and the name of the cardholder from card to card. When changing the complete program, so for example when moving from one lot to another, it is sufficient that the operator replaces a program carrier for another, so that proofs, if any, will be required only in very small numbers before the normal production can start.

Da die Bewegungen des zu bedruckenden Objektes einerseits und der Ablauf des Druckprogrammes in der jeweiligen Druckstation andererseits synchronisiert sein müssen, ist es vorteilhaft, so vorzugehen, dass die Transportbewegung des Objektes bzw. der dieses tragenden Halterung in Ahängigkeit vom Ablauf des Programmes gesteuert wird, da dies im allgemeinen bezüglich der Gestaltung des Programmes eine größere Flexibilität ermöglicht, z. B. derart, dass die Bewegung des Objekts während des Bedruckungsvorgangs verlangsamt oder beschleunigt oder das Objekt zum Stillstand gebracht wird, um auf einen bestimmten kleinen Bereich mehr Farbe in Form von mehreren aufeinanderfolgenden Farbtröpfchen bzw. von dichter angeordneten Ladungspunkten aufzubringen.Since the movements of the object to be printed on the one hand and the flow of the print program must be synchronized in the respective printing station on the other hand, it is advantageous to proceed so that the transport movement of the object or the holder carrying this is controlled in dependence on the program, since this generally allows greater flexibility in the design of the program, e.g. B. such that the movement of the object during the printing process is slowed or accelerated or the object is brought to a standstill to apply to a certain small area more color in the form of several successive color droplets or more densely arranged charge points.

Es kann aber auch so verfahren werden, dass beispielsweise das Objekt mit einer konstanten Geschwindigkeit transportiert wird und das Programm in der Druckstation in Abhängigkeit von der Bewegung des Objektes abgerufen wird.But it can also be moved so that, for example, the object is transported at a constant speed and the program is called in the printing station in response to the movement of the object.

Die Halterung für das Objekt kann vom Primärteil des Linearmotors getragen werden. Dies hat den Vorteil, dass bei Vorhandensein mehrerer Halterungen und somit mehrerer Transportschlitten für die gleichzeitige Behandlung mehrerer Objekte in der Druckmaschine die Bewegungen der einzelnen Transportschlitten ohne großen Aufwand unabhängig voneinander gesteuert werden können. Letzteres ist deshalb von Bedeutung, weil insbesondere bei Mehrfarben-Druckmaschinen die Objekte und damit auch die sie tragenden Halterungen in der Druckmaschine mehrere Stationen durchlaufen und in den einzelnen Stationen unterschiedliche Geschwindigkeiten, Verweilzeiten usw. erforderlich sein können. Die Möglichkeit, die einzelnen Halterungen bzw. die sie tragenden Schlitten bezüglich ihrer Bewegungen unabhängig voneinander zu steuern, trägt zur Erzielung einer großen Durchsatzleistung bei. Zwar soll die umgekehrte Anordnung, bei welcher die Halterung vom Sekundärteil des Linearmotors getragen wird, nicht ausgeschlossen sein. Sie erfordert jedoch einen merklich höheren baulichen und schaltungstechnischen Aufwand, wenn die einzelnen Schlitten bezüglich ihrer Bewegungen unabhängig voneinander steuerbar sein sollen. Die Bewegungen der einzelnen Schlitten außerhalb der wenigstens einen Druckstation und gegebenenfalls vorhandener weiterer Behandlungsstationen können ebenfalls in Abhängigkeit von einem Programm gesteuert werden.The holder for the object can be carried by the primary part of the linear motor. This has the advantage that in the presence of multiple brackets and thus multiple transport carriages for the simultaneous treatment of multiple objects in the printing press, the movements of the individual transport carriages can be controlled independently without great effort. The latter is important because in particular in multi-color printing machines, the objects and thus the holders carrying them in the printing press through several stations and in the individual stations different speeds, residence times, etc. may be required. The ability to independently control the individual brackets or carriages supporting them contributes to achieving a high throughput. Although the reverse arrangement, in which the holder is carried by the secondary part of the linear motor, should not be excluded. However, it requires a significantly higher structural and circuit complexity, if the individual carriages should be independently controllable with respect to their movements. The movements of the individual carriages outside the at least one printing station and, if appropriate, existing further treatment stations can likewise be controlled as a function of a program.

In der Zeichnung ist ein derzeit bevorzugtes Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung dargestellt. Es zeigen:

Fig. 1
eine Schemadarstellung der wesentlichen Teile einer Vorrichtung zum Dekorieren von Einzelobjekten unter Verwendung eines Inkjet-Kopfes,
Fig. 2
die Transportbahn mit dem Linearmotor in perspektivischer Ansicht,
Fig. 3
eine Schemadarstellung eines Inkjet-Druckkopfes mit zugeordnetem Objekt.
In the drawing, a presently preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. Show it:
Fig. 1
a schematic representation of the essential parts of a device for decorating individual objects using an inkjet head,
Fig. 2
the transport path with the linear motor in perspective view,
Fig. 3
a schematic representation of an inkjet printhead with associated object.

Die in den Figuren 1 - 3 der Zeichnung dargestellte Vorrichtung weist eine Transportbahn 10 auf, die mit einer Schiene 11 eines Linearmotors und zwei dazu parallelen Führungen 12 versehen ist. Bei dem Ausführungsbeispiel gemäß Fig. 1 ist lediglich ein endlicher linearer Schienenabschnitt vorhanden, dem zwei Druckstationen I und II zugeordnet sind. Abweichend von der in Fig. 1 dargestellten Ausführung können Schiene 11 und Transportbahn 10 beispielsweise auch die Form eines Kreises, einer Ellipse oder auch eine andere Form aufweisen und als in horizontaler Ebene verlaufende endlose Transportbahn ausgebildet sein.The device shown in Figures 1 - 3 of the drawing has a transport path 10 which is provided with a rail 11 of a linear motor and two parallel guides 12 is. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, only a finite linear rail section is present, the two printing stations I and II are assigned. Notwithstanding the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, rail 11 and transport path 10 may, for example, also have the shape of a circle, an ellipse or another shape and be designed as an endless transport path running in the horizontal plane.

Bei dem Ausführungsbeispiel gemäß Zeichnung sind der Schiene 11 zwei Transportschlitten 14a, 14b als bewegliche Komponenten des Linearmotors zugeordnet, die oberseitig jeweils mit wenigstens einer Aufnahme 15 für ein zu bedruckendes Objekt 16 versehen sind. Aufbau und Wirkungsweise eines Linearmotors sind dem Fachmann geläufig, so dass sie hier nicht näher erläutert zu werden brauchen. Die Erfindung benutzt den Linearmotor-Antrieb als Mittel für den Transport der Objekte durch die wenigstens eine Druckstation und, insbesondere im Falle des Vorhandenseins mehrerer Druckstationen, auch zur Überbrückung der Abstände zwischen den Druckstationen und zwischen diesen und ggf. zusätzlicher noch vorhandener Handhabungs-, Behandlungs- oder Kontrollstationen.In the embodiment according to the drawing, the rail 11 is associated with two transport carriages 14a, 14b as movable components of the linear motor, which are each provided with at least one receptacle 15 for an object 16 to be printed on the upper side. Structure and operation of a linear motor are familiar to the expert, so that they need not be explained in detail here. The invention uses the linear motor drive as a means for transporting the objects through the at least one printing station and, in particular in the case of the presence of multiple printing stations, also for bridging the distances between the printing stations and between these and possibly additional still existing handling, treatment - or control stations.

Normalerweise wird das Primärteil des Linearmotors, welches die Drehstromwicklung 17 aufweist, den jeweiligen Transportschlitten 14a, 14b bilden bzw. tragen, während die Schiene 11 mit den Magneten oder dgl. als Sekundärteil dient. Es ist aber auch die umgekehrte Anordnung möglich. Welcher von den möglichen Anordnungen der Vorzug gegeben wird, ist für die Erfindung ohne grundsätzliche Bedeutung.Normally, the primary part of the linear motor, which has the three-phase winding 17, the respective transport carriages 14a, 14b form or wear, while the rail 11 with the magnet or the like. As a secondary part is used. But it is also the reverse arrangement possible. Which of the possible arrangements is given preference is of no importance to the invention.

Jeder Schlitten 14a, 14b ist unterseitig mit zwei nutförmigen Ausnehmungen 19 versehen. In jede dieser Ausnehmungen 19 greift eine der Führungsleisten 12 ein, die auch zwischen Schiene 11 und Schlitten 14 auftretende Querkräfte aufnehmen und eine präzise seitliche Ausrichtung des Schlittens bewirken.Each carriage 14a, 14b is provided on the underside with two groove-shaped recesses 19. In each of these recesses 19 engages one of the guide rails 12, which also absorb between rail 11 and slide 14 occurring transverse forces and cause a precise lateral alignment of the carriage.

Das Bedrucken der Objekte 16 erfolgt bei der Ausführung gemäß den Fig. 1 - 3 mittels des Inkjet-Verfahrens. Dazu ist die Vorrichtung mit einem zentralen Rechner 18 versehen, der die Düsen 27 (Fig. 3) der einzelnen Inkjet-Druckköpfe 20 gemäß einem im Rechner 18 gespeicherten Programm steuert, wobei das Objekt 16 während des Druckvorganges entlang der Transportbahn 19 bewegt wird. Jeder Schlitten 14a, 14b ist mit wenigstens einem berührungslos arbeitenden Sensor 22 versehen, der mit einer durchgehenden Meßschiene 24 eines Längenmeßsystems zusammenwirkt, die parallel zur Transportbahn 10 verläuft. Die Meßschiene 24 ist mit in dem Sensor 22 Impulse auslösenden Meßpunkten 26 versehen, die in einem sehr geringen Abstand von beispielsweise 1 µ voneinander angeordnet sind.The printing of the objects 16 takes place in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1-3 by means of the inkjet method. For this purpose, the apparatus is provided with a central computer 18 which controls the nozzles 27 (FIG. 3) of the individual inkjet printheads 20 according to a program stored in the computer 18, the object 16 being moved along the transport path 19 during the printing process. Each carriage 14a, 14b is provided with at least one non-contact sensor 22, which cooperates with a continuous measuring rail 24 of a length measuring system, which runs parallel to the transport path 10. The measuring rail 24 is provided with triggering in the sensor 22 measuring points 26, which are arranged at a very small distance, for example, 1 μ from each other.

Der grundsätzliche Aufbau eines Druckkopfes ergibt sich aus Fig. 3. Die Düsen 27, aus welchen die Druckfarbe in Tropfenform in Richtung auf das zu dekorierende Objekt 16 ausgestoßen wird, sind reihenförmig oberhalb des Objekts angeordnet derart, dass der Abstand zwischen zwei benachbarten Düsen 27 einer Düsenreihe 29, 30 nicht größer ist als der maximale Durchmesser des auf dem Objekt aus dem jeweiligen Tropfen sich bildenden Farbauftrags. Im allgemeinen ist ein derartiger Druckkopf 32 mit wenigstens zwei senkrecht zur Transportrichtung 34 des Objektes hintereinander liegenden Düsenreihen 29, 30 versehen, wobei die einzelnen Düsen 27 dieser beiden Reihen z.B. um das halbe Maß des Abstandes zwischen zwei benachbarten Düsen 27 einer Reihe quer zur Transportrichtung gegeneinander versetzt angeordnet sind. Es können auch mehr als zwei Düsenreihen vorgesehen sein. Die Anzahl der Düsenreihen und die Anordnung der Düsen hängt im wesentlichen ab von der Qualität des Druckbildes, wobei im allgemeinen Voraussetzung sein wird, dass ein lückenloses Bedrucken, also das Aufbringen eines geschlossenen Farbauftrages, möglich sein muss.The basic structure of a print head is shown in FIG. 3. The nozzles 27, from which the ink is ejected in the form of drops in the direction of the object 16 to be decorated, are arranged in rows above the object such that the distance between two adjacent nozzles 27 of a Nozzle row 29, 30 is not greater than the maximum diameter of the paint on the object from the respective droplets forming. In general, such a print head 32 is provided with at least two rows of nozzles 29, 30 arranged one behind the other perpendicular to the transport direction 34 of the object, the individual nozzles 27 of these two rows being e.g. are offset by half the distance of the distance between two adjacent nozzles 27 a row transversely to the transport direction against each other. It can also be provided more than two rows of nozzles. The number of nozzle rows and the arrangement of the nozzles depends essentially on the quality of the printed image, which will generally be a prerequisite that a seamless printing, so the application of a closed ink application, must be possible.

Die Betätigung der beispielsweise piezo-elektrisch angesteuerten Düsen erfolgt frequenzgesteuert, wobei sich eine bestimmte Impulsfolge ergibt, die dem Programm für das in der jeweiligen Druckstation aufzubringende Druckbild entspricht und mit der Geschwindigkeit des Objektes und damit des Schlittens beim Bedruckungsvorgang synchronisiert sein muss.The actuation of the example piezo-electrically driven Nozzles are frequency-controlled, resulting in a specific pulse sequence, which corresponds to the program for the printed image to be applied in the respective printing station and must be synchronized with the speed of the object and thus of the carriage during the printing process.

Die Synchronisation der Betätigung der Düsen 27 des Druckkopfes einerseits und der Bewegung des Schlittens 14a bzw. 14b andererseits erfolgt über den Rechner 18, der nach dem in ihm gespeicherten Programm die Betätigung der einzelnen Düsen zur Erzielung eines gegebenenfallls flächendeckenden Druckauftrages und die Bewegung des Objektes koordiniert. Die Steuerung der Geschwindigkeit des Schlittens erfolgt über die Frequenz des Drehstromes für den Linearmotor.The synchronization of the operation of the nozzles 27 of the print head on the one hand and the movement of the carriage 14a and 14b on the other hand via the computer 18, which coordinates the operation of the individual nozzles to achieve a given case-wide print job and the movement of the object according to the program stored in it , The control of the speed of the carriage via the frequency of the three-phase current for the linear motor.

Die relative Anpassung des Druckkopfes an die Position des Objektes in der senkrecht zur Transportrichtung 34 verlaufenden Koordinatenachse erfolgt bei dem in der Zeichnung dargestellten Ausführungsbeispiel unter Verwendung einer Kamera 36, welche das in der Aufnahme 15 des Schlittens 14 befindliche Objekt 16 hinsichtlich seiner Position beispielsweise anhand seiner Kontur oder eines bereits aufgedruckten Bildes oder irgendwelcher Passermarken erfaßt. Diese so ermittelte Ist-Position des Objektes in einer zur Transportrichtung 34 parallelen Koordinaten-Achse und in einer zur Transportrichtung 34 senkrechten Koordinaten-Achse wird digitalisiert und mit einem im Rechner 18 gespeicherten Soll-Wert verglichen. Eine Differenz zwischen Ist-Wert und Soll-Wert ist außerordentlich gering, da sie nicht größer sein kann als die Summe aus dem Spiel, welches das Objekt 16 innerhalb der Aufnahme 15 hat, und dem Spiel des Schlittens 14a bzw. 14b auf den Führungsleisten 12. Sie beträgt somit normalerweise nur Bruchteile von Millimetern. Jedoch trägt eine präzise relative Ausrichtung von Objekt 16 und Druckkopf zueinander ebenfalls zur Qualität des herzustellenden Druckbildes bei.The relative adjustment of the print head to the position of the object in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction 34 coordinate axis takes place in the embodiment shown in the drawing using a camera 36, which is in the receptacle 15 of the carriage 14 object 16 with respect to its position, for example, based on his Contour or an already printed image or any registration marks detected. This thus determined actual position of the object in a direction parallel to the transport direction 34 coordinate axis and in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction 34 coordinate axis is digitized and compared with a stored in the computer 18 target value. A difference between the actual value and the target value is extremely small, since it can not be greater than the sum of the play which the object 16 has within the receptacle 15 and the play of the carriage 14a or 14b on the guide rails 12 It is thus normally only fractions of a millimeter. However, a precise relative alignment of object 16 and print head to each other also contributes to the quality of the printed image to be produced.

Die relative Ausrichtung des Objektes quer zu seiner Transportrichtung wird bei dem in der Zeichnung dargestellten Ausführungsbeispiel so durchgeführt, dass jene Düsen jeder Düsenreihe 29, 30 usw. für den jeweiligen Druckvorgang wirksam gestellt werden, die oberhalb des Bereiches des Objektes liegen, der in der jeweiligen Druckstation I bzw. II mit einem Auftrag aus Druckfarbe zu versehen ist. Dazu ist die Anordnung so getroffen, dass die Länge der Düsenreihen etwas größer gewählt ist als die Breite des durch den jeweiligen Druckkopf zu bedruckenden Bereiches oder Abschnitts des Objektes 16. Dies bedeutet, dass, wenn der zu bedruckende Bereich des Objektes 16 z. B. die maximale Breite 38 aufweist, die Länge der Düsenreihen 29, 30 usw. größer ist als diese maximale Breite 38. Es wird dann so vorgegangen, dass, nachdem über Kamera 36 und Rechner 18 die Ist-Position des Objektes 16 und damit auch die Position des zu bedruckenden Abschnitts festgestellt worden sind, jene Düsen 27 der vorhandenen Düsenreihen für den Bedruckungsvorgang wirksam gestellt werden, die sich oberhalb des zu bedruckenden Abschnittes im Bereich der Breite 38 desselben befinden. Der wirksam gestellte Abschnitt der Düssenreihen ist in Fig. 3 der Zeichnung mit 38a bezeichnet. Beim jeweiligen Bedruckungsvorgang werden nur die Düsen innerhalb des Abschnittes 38a der jeweiligen Düsenreihe zum Ausstoß von Farbtropfen betätigt. Die außerhalb der Breite 38 des zu bedruckenden Abschnittes des Objektes 16 liegenden Düsen, das sind die in den Endabschnitten 40 und 41 der jeweiligen Düsenreihe befindlichen Düsen, nehmen an dem Druckvorgang nicht teil, da sie unwirksam gestellt sind.The relative orientation of the object transversely to its transport direction is carried out in the embodiment shown in the drawing so that those nozzles of each nozzle row 29, 30, etc. are made effective for the respective printing operation, which are above the range of the object in the respective Print station I or II is to be provided with an order from printing ink. For this purpose, the arrangement is such that the length of the rows of nozzles is chosen slightly larger than the width of the area to be printed by the respective print head or portion of the object 16. This means that when the area of the object to be printed 16 z. B. has the maximum width 38, the length of the nozzle rows 29, 30, etc. is greater than this maximum width 38. It is then proceeded so that, after camera 36 and computer 18, the actual position of the object 16 and thus the position of the portion to be printed have been determined, those nozzles 27 of the existing nozzle rows are made effective for the printing process, which are located above the portion to be printed in the region of the width 38 thereof. The effective Asked section of the nozzle rows is designated in Fig. 3 of the drawing with 38a. In the respective printing operation, only the nozzles within the portion 38a of the respective nozzle row for ejecting drops of paint are actuated. The nozzles located outside the width 38 of the portion of the object 16 to be printed, that is, the nozzles located in the end portions 40 and 41 of the respective nozzle row, do not participate in the printing process because they are rendered ineffective.

In Abhängigkeit von der jeweiligen Position, die die Objekte in der Aufnahme einnehmen, kann es erforderlich sein, dass bei jedem Druckvorgang die Abschnitte 38a, 40 und 41 der jeweiligen Düsenreihe neu einzustellen sind. Im Ergebnis bedeutet dies, dass der Abschnitt 38a der wirksam gestellten Düsen 27 jeder Reihe in Abhängigkeit von der Lage des Objektes seitlich, also quer zur Transportrichtung 34, verschoben wird, um ihn an so die Lage des zu bedruckenden Abschnitts des Objekts anzupassen.Depending on the respective position that the objects occupy in the receptacle, it may be necessary to readjust the sections 38a, 40 and 41 of the respective nozzle row during each printing operation. As a result, this means that the section 38a of the active nozzles 27 of each row is displaced laterally, ie transversely to the transporting direction 34, depending on the position of the object, in order to position it in such a way adjust the position of the section of the object to be printed.

Die relative Ausrichtung von Objekt und Druckkopf zueinander in Transportrichtung 34 erfolgt nach Feststellung der Ist-Position des Objektes und Vergleich derselben mit der Soll-Position durch Errechnen der Impulszahl für den im allgemeinen linearen Transportweg, wobei die Abweichung der Ist-Impulszahl von der Soll-Impulszahl der Abweichung von Ist-Position des Objektes von seiner Soll-Position in Transportrichtung 34 entspricht. Hinsichtlich der Anzahl und der Größe der Düsen sei bemerkt, dass die Größe der durch die Farbtropfen auf dem Objekt aufgebrachten Punkte etwa in der Größe eines Durchmessers von z. B. 30 - 50 µ liegt. Der Abstand zwischen zwei Düsen einer Reihe sollte nicht größer sein als der maximale Durchmesser des auf dem Objekt durch den Tropfen einer Düse gebildeten Punkt aus Druckfarbe. Die Anzahl der zueinander parallelen Düsenreihen in Transportrichtung 34 ergibt sich aus der Notwendigkeit, im Bedarfsfall eine deckende (geschlossene) Farbschicht auf dem Objekt zu bilden. Variable Tropfengrößen der Druckfarbe können ggf. dadurch erreicht werden, dass aus derselben Düse unmittelbar nacheinander zwei oder mehr Tropfen ausgestoßen werden, wobei dann ggf. die Geschwindigkeit, mit welcher das Objekt vorbewegt wird, ggf. bis auf Null reduziert wird.The relative alignment of object and print head to one another in the transport direction 34 takes place after determining the actual position of the object and comparing it with the desired position by calculating the number of pulses for the generally linear transport path, wherein the deviation of the actual number of pulses from the target Pulse number corresponds to the deviation of the actual position of the object from its desired position in the transport direction 34. With regard to the number and the size of the nozzles, it should be noted that the size of the dots applied by the drops of paint on the object is approximately in the size of a diameter of z. B. 30 - 50 μ is. The distance between two nozzles of a row should not be greater than the maximum diameter of the dot of ink formed on the object by the drop of a nozzle. The number of mutually parallel rows of nozzles in the transport direction 34 results from the need, if necessary, to form a covering (closed) ink layer on the object. Variable droplet sizes of the ink may possibly be achieved by ejecting two or more droplets from the same nozzle in immediate succession, in which case the speed with which the object is advanced may be reduced to zero, if necessary.

Im allgemeinen arbeiten alle Düsen einer Reihe und eines Druckkopfes mit der gleichen Druckfarbe.In general, all the nozzles of a row and a printhead work with the same printing ink.

Im einzelnen läuft das Dekorationsverfahren in der Weise ab, dass zunächst der jeweilige Transportschlitten 14a, 14b mit dem darauf befindlichen Objekt unter die Kamera 36 bewegt wird, damit die Position des Objektes festgestellt wird. Die Position des Objekts innerhalb der Aufnahme wird sich danach nicht mehr ändern, da das Objekt z. B. durch Unterdruck in der Aufnahme gehalten wird. Die Kamera 36 kann im Bedarsfall gleichzeitig auch dazu benutzt werden, eine Identitätskontrolle durchzuführen um sicherzustellen, dass sich das richtige Objekt 16 in der Aufnahme 15 des Transportschlittens 14a bzw. 14b befindet.Specifically, the decoration process proceeds in such a way that first the respective transport carriage 14a, 14b is moved with the object located thereon under the camera 36, so that the position of the object is detected. The position of the object within the shot will not change thereafter, since the object z. B. is held by negative pressure in the recording. The camera 36 can also be used in need of an identity check at the same time to ensure that the correct object 16 is in the receptacle 15 of the transport carriage 14a or 14b.

Die die Position und die Identität des Objektes betreffenden Informationen werden über einen Informationskanal 42 zum Rechner 18 übertragen, welcher über einen Informationskanal 44 den Druckkopf 20 jeder Druckstation I, II ansteuert derart, dass ein Abschnitt 38a jeder Düsenreihe 29, 30 usw. wirksam gestellt wird, welcher der Position des zu bedruckenden Bereiches des jeweiligen Objektes entspricht. Gleichzeitig kann z. B. der Schlitten 14a des Linearmotors in Richtung auf die Druckstation I bewegt werden, wobei die Betätigung des Linearmotors über einen Frequenzumwandler 43 geschieht, der über eine Leitung 46 mit dem jeweiligen Schlitten 14 verbunden ist, und Position und/oder Geschwindigkeit des Schlittens 14a durch das Meßschiene 24 und Sensor 22 aufweisende Meßsystem erfaßt und über einen Informationskanal 48 dem Rechner 18 zugeführt werden, in welchem die Position bzw. Geschwindigkeit des Schlittens 14a betreffenden Informationen dazu benutzt werden, die Bewegung des Schlittens und damit des Objektes 16 so zu regeln, dass die Bewegung mit dem Ablauf des Druckvorganges, also der Betätigung der Düsen 27 des Druckkopfes 20, synchronisiert ist und so das gewünschte Druckbild entsteht, bei welchem es sich häufig nur um ein Teil-Druckbild in dem Sinne handeln wird, das sich zwei mehr oder mehr solcher im allgemeinen unterschiedlicher Teil-Druckbilder, von denen jedes in einer entsprechend programmierten Druckstation in einer bestimmten Farbe aufgebracht wird, zu einem im allgemeinen mehrfarbigen Gesamt-Druckbild ergänzen. Somit wird normalerweise jeder Druckstation ein eigenes Druckprogramm zugeordnet sein.The information concerning the position and the identity of the object is transmitted via an information channel 42 to the computer 18, which controls the printhead 20 of each printing station I, II via an information channel 44 such that a section 38a of each nozzle row 29, 30, etc. is activated which corresponds to the position of the area of the respective object to be printed. At the same time z. B. the carriage 14a of the linear motor are moved in the direction of the printing station I, wherein the operation of the linear motor via a frequency converter 43 which is connected via a line 46 to the respective carriage 14, and position and / or speed of the carriage 14a through the measuring rail 24 and sensor 22 having detected measuring system and are fed via an information channel 48 to the computer 18, in which the position or speed of the carriage 14a information is used to regulate the movement of the carriage and thus of the object 16 so that the movement with the end of the printing process, ie the operation of the nozzles 27 of the print head 20, is synchronized and so the desired printed image is formed, which will often be only a partial print image in the sense that two more or more such generally different partial printed images, each in a corresponding p Rogrammierten printing station is applied in a particular color, to complement a generally multicolor overall printed image. Thus, normally each print station will be assigned its own print program.

Die Leitung 46 und der Informationskanal 48 können Teile eines Regelkreises bilden, durch den die Geschwindigkeit des jeweiligen Transportschlittens 14a, 14b insbesondere während des Druckvorganges möglichst konstant gehalten wird, soweit dies mit dem Ablauf des Druckprogrammes bzw. der Frequenz des Druckkopfes in Übereinstimmung gebracht werden kann. Eine variable Transportgeschwindigkeit während des Bedruckungsvorganges wird dann angewandt werden, wenn die Farbdichte auf dem Objekt verändert wird. Dies geschieht über den Frequenzumwandler 43, der in die Energiezufuhr des von Transportschlitten und Schiene 11 gebildeten Linearmotors eingeschaltet ist, wobei die Geschwindigkeit des Schlittens über die Frequenz des Drehstromes geregelt wird. Da für jeden Transportschlitten 14a bzw. 14b ein eigener Frequenzumwandler vorgesehen ist, besteht die Möglichkeit, die Transportschlitten unabhängig voneinander bezüglich ihrer Geschwindigkeit zu steuern bzw. zu regeln.The conduit 46 and the information channel 48 may form parts of a control loop, by which the speed of the respective transport carriage 14a, 14b, in particular during the printing process is kept as constant as possible, as far as this can be brought into agreement with the expiration of the print program or the frequency of the print head. A variable transport speed during the printing process will be applied when the color density on the object is changed. This is done via the frequency converter 43 which is turned on in the power supply of the linear motor formed by the transport carriage and rail 11, wherein the speed of the carriage is controlled by the frequency of the three-phase current. Since a separate frequency converter is provided for each transport carriage 14a or 14b, it is possible to independently control the transport carriages with respect to their speed.

Der Informationskanal 44 kann dabei gleichzeitig dazu benutzt werden, Informationen vom jeweiligen Druckkopf 20 zum Rechner 18 zu geben. Derartige Informationen können beispielsweise die Beschaffenheit der Druckfarbe betreffen, also beispielsweise deren Temperatur und damit auch deren Viskosität usw.The information channel 44 can be used simultaneously to give information from the respective print head 20 to the computer 18. Such information may relate, for example, the nature of the ink, so for example, their temperature and thus their viscosity, etc.

In den Fig. 1 und 2 ist eine Vorrichtung mit zwei Druckstationen dargestellt, denen eine gemeinsame Transportbahn 10 zugeordnet ist. Dies bedeutet, dass, nachdem das zweite Teil-Druckbild in der Station II auf den vom Schlitten 14b getragenen Objekt aufgebracht worden ist, dieser Schlitten 14b zunächst in Transportrichtung 34 weiterbewegt werden muss, um Platz für den Schlitten 14a in der Druckstation II zu schaffen, damit das in diesem Schlitten befindliche Objekt mit dem zweiten Teil-Druckbild versehen werden kann. Beim Mehrfarbendruck werden im allgemeinen mehr als zwei Druckstationen vorgesehen sein, wobei in allen Druckstationen unterschiedliche Farben auf das Objekt aufgebracht werden.In Figs. 1 and 2, a device is shown with two printing stations, which is associated with a common transport path 10. This means that after the second partial print image has been applied in the station II on the object carried by the carriage 14b, this carriage 14b must first be moved in the transport direction 34 in order to make room for the carriage 14a in the printing station II, so that the object located in this carriage can be provided with the second partial printed image. In multi-color printing more than two printing stations will generally be provided, wherein different colors are applied to the object in all printing stations.

In Transportrichtung 34 hinter zumindest einer der Druckstationen kann eine in der Zeichnung nicht dargestellte Trocknungsstation vorgesehen sein, in welcher das vorher aufgebrachte Teil-Druckbild zumindest so weit getrocknet wird, dass beim Aufbringen des nächsten Teil-Druckbildes, z. B. in der Druckstation II, nicht mehr die Gefahr besteht, dass die Farben beider Teil-Druckbilder ineinanderlaufen oder sonstwie sich miteinander vermischen.In the transport direction 34 behind at least one of the printing stations, a drying station, not shown in the drawing be provided, in which the previously applied partial printed image is dried at least so far that when applying the next partial printed image, z. B. in the printing station II, no longer the risk that the colors of both partial printed images run into each other or otherwise mix with each other.

Es wird im allgemeinen zweckmäßig sein, abweichend von der Darstellung der Fig. 1 und eine Transportbahn mit Schiene 11 und Führungen 12 vorzusehen, die endlos ist, also beispielsweise zwei in einem Abstand nebeinanderliegende, parallele lineare Abschnitte aufweist, die an ihren beiden Enden z. B. durch jeweils einen halbkreisförmigen Abschnitt mit Schiene 11 und Führungen 12 miteinander verbunden sind. Es ist möglich, eine beliebige Anzahl, also auch mehr als zwei Schlitten einer solchen Transportbahn zuzuordnen, die frei programmierbar und unabhängig voneinander bewegt werden können beispielsweise derart, dass ein kurzzeitiger Stillstand für das Eingeben des zu bedruckenden Objektes 16 in die Aufnahme und das Herausnehmen des bedruckten Objektes aus der Aufnahme, Langsamlauf für irgendwelche Behandlungsvorgänge und das bereits erwähnte Durchlaufen der Druckstationen mit ggf. konstanter Geschwindigkeit vorgesehen sind. Bei letzterem kommt es, wie bereits erwähnt, auf eine genaue Synchronisierung mit der Betätigung der Düsen des Druckkopfes an.It will be generally useful to deviate from the illustration of FIG. 1 and provide a transport path with rail 11 and guides 12 which is endless, that is, for example, two spaced apart at a distance, having parallel linear sections, which at its two ends z. B. by a respective semicircular portion with rail 11 and guides 12 are interconnected. It is possible to assign any number, including more than two slides such a transport path, which can be moved freely programmable and independently, for example, such that a brief stop for entering the object to be printed 16 in the recording and removing the printed object from the recording, slow speed for any treatment operations and the already mentioned passing through the printing stations are provided with possibly constant speed. In the case of the latter, as already mentioned, exact synchronization with the actuation of the nozzles of the print head occurs.

Da die höchste Genauigkeit für die Bewegungen der Transportschlitten in den Druckstationen erforderlich ist, könnte es ausreichen, die Meßschiene 24 lediglich abschnittsweise in den Bereichen vorzusehen, in denen die Druckstationen angeordnet sind, so dass die freien Strecken zwischen den linearen Transportabschnitten bzw. den Druckstationen durch ein übliches Transportmittel überwunden werden können. Es wird jedoch im allgemeinen insbesondere bei Verwendung einer größeren Anzahl von Transportschlitten in Kombination mit einer gemeinsamen Schiene zweckmäßig sein, eine durchgehende Meßschiene vorzusehen, um die Bewegung der einzelnen Schlitten über die gesamte Länge der Transportbahn kontrollieren und im Bedarfsfall steuern zu können.Since the highest accuracy is required for the movements of the transport carriage in the printing stations, it might be sufficient to provide the measuring rail 24 only partially in the areas in which the printing stations are arranged so that the free distances between the linear transport sections or the printing stations a common means of transport can be overcome. However, in general, in particular when using a larger number of transport carriages in combination with a common rail, it will be expedient to provide a continuous measuring rail. In order to control the movement of the individual carriages over the entire length of the transport path and to be able to control them if necessary.

Wenngleich in den vorstehend beschriebenen und in der Zeichnung schematisch dargestellten Ausführungsbeispielen es immer um das Dekorieren von CDs geht, können auch andere Objekte unter Anwendung der Lehre gemäß der Erfindung bedruckt bzw. dekoriert werden. So besteht die Möglichkeit, Hohlkörper aus Kunststoff, beispielsweise Flaschen, unter Verwendung eines Inkjet-Kopfes zu dekorieren. Dies hätte bei derartigen Objekten, die relativ leicht verformbar sind, den Vorteil, dass keine besonderen Maßnahmen getroffen werden müssen, um dem Objekt während des Bedruckungsvorganges die nötige Steifigkeit zu geben. Dazu ist es beispielsweise bei Anwendung üblicher Druckverfahren, beispielsweise des Siebdruck- oder des Offset-Druckverfahrens erforderlich, die Hohlkörper während des Bedruckungsvorganges unter inneren Überdruck zu setzen, damit sie unter der Einwirkung des durch die Siebdruckschablone oder den Offset-Druckzylinder keine unzulässigen Verformungen erfahren. Diese Gefahr besteht bei dem kontaktlosen Bedrucken gemäß der Erfindung nicht, so dass es auch insoweit gegenüber dem Stand der Technik merkliche Vorteile aufweist.Although in the embodiments described above and schematically illustrated in the drawings, it is always about the decoration of CDs, other objects can be printed or decorated using the teaching according to the invention. Thus, it is possible to decorate hollow bodies made of plastic, for example bottles, using an inkjet head. This would have the advantage in such objects that are relatively easily deformable, that no special measures must be taken to give the object during the printing process the necessary rigidity. For this, it is necessary, for example when using conventional printing methods, for example the screen printing or offset printing method, to set the hollow bodies during the printing process under internal overpressure, so that they do not undergo any undue deformations under the action of the screen printing stencil or the offset printing cylinder. This danger does not exist in the contactless printing according to the invention, so that it also has considerable advantages over the prior art insofar.

Wenn vorstehend davon die Rede ist, dass die Objekte "dekoriert" werden, soll damit keine Beschränkung verbunden sein. Vielmehr ist der Begriff "Dekoration" im weitesten Sinne zu verstehen, beispielsweise auch derart, dass nicht nur Bilder, sondern irgendwelche Beschreibungen oder sonstigen Texte, Zahlen oder dgl. unter den Begriff "Dekoration" fallen.If it is mentioned above that the objects are "decorated", it should be connected to no restriction. Rather, the term "decoration" in the broadest sense to understand, for example, such that not only pictures, but any descriptions or other texts, numbers or the like. Under the term "decoration" fall.

Claims (25)

  1. A process for decorating an individual article (16) in which the printing ink is applied from nozzles (27) in dot form to the article carried by a holder (15) in dependence on a program which contains digitised image information and individual ink dots supplement each other at least to provide a partial print image and the holder (15) carrying the article (16) to be printed upon is moved along a transport path (10) through at least one print station (I, II) which is provided with a print head (20) having the nozzles which are controllable in dependence on the program, and at least a part of the nozzles (27) is actuated during transport of the article in accordance with the program and the holder (15) for the article (16) is transported along the transport path (10) using a linear motor (11; 14a, 14b) having a primary portion and a secondary portion and co-ordination of the actuation of the nozzles (27) and the movement of the holder (15) is effected by way of a computer (18).
  2. A process according to claim 1 characterised in that the program for controlling the print head (20) is called up in dependence on the transport movement of the article (16).
  3. A process according to claim 1 characterised in that the transport movement of the article (16) is regulated during the printing operation in dependence on the execution of the program for controlling the print head (20).
  4. A process according to claim 1 characterised in that the holder (15) is carried by a transport carriage (14a, 14b) which is part of the linear motor.
  5. A process according to claim 4 characterised in that the holder (15) is carried by the primary portion of the linear motor.
  6. A process according to claim 4 characterised in that the holder (15) is carried by the secondary portion of the linear motor.
  7. A process according to claim 1 characterised in that the nozzles (27) of the print head (20) are arranged in row form transversely with respect to the transport direction (34) and the nozzles (27) of at least one row (29, 30) of nozzles (27) extend over a length which is no less than the width (38) of the region of the article (16) that is to be provided with the decoration transversely with respect to the transport direction (34) thereof.
  8. A process according to claim 1 characterised in that the position of the article (16; 116) disposed on the transport carriage (14a, 14b) is detected and the actual position ascertained in that way is compared in a computer to a stored reference position and in dependence on the result of that comparison the print head (20) is moved transversely with respect to the transport direction (34) of the article (16) in order to adapt the position thereof to the actual position of the article.
  9. A process according to claim 1 characterised in that the position of the article (16) disposed on the transport carriage is detected and the actual position ascertained in that way is compared in a computer (18) to a stored reference position and the length of the at least one row of nozzles (27) of the print head (20) is greater than the greatest width (38) of the portion of the article (16), that is to be decorated, transversely with respect to the transport direction (34) thereof and in dependence on the result of the comparison between the actual position and the reference position of the article those nozzles (27) of the at least one row (29, 30) of nozzles (27), that correspond to the respective position of the article (16), are rendered operative.
  10. A process according to claim 1 characterised in that a length measuring system (24) is arranged along at least a part of the transport path (10) of the at least one carriage (14a, 14b), which length measuring system is read by a sensor (22) which is mounted to the carriage (14a, 14b) carrying the article in order thus to detect the position and/or the speed of the carriage.
  11. A process according to claim 10 characterised in that pulses which are fed to a computer are triggered by the incremental length measuring system in the sensor (22).
  12. A process according to claim 11 characterised in that the spacing of the pulse generators (26) for triggering the pulses from each other in the length measuring system (24) is not more than 1µ.
  13. A process according to claim 1 characterized in that the article (16) is successively printed upon in at least two print stations (I, II) which are arranged at a spacing in succession in the direction of movement (34) of the article.
  14. A process according to claim 13 characterised in that the printing ink is dried on the article after passing through a print station (I, II) before the article is printed upon again in a following print station.
  15. A process according to claim 1 characterised in that the transport movements of the at least one transport carriage (14a, 14b) carrying the article (16) are controlled at least outside the print station (I, II) at least in part in dependence on a program.
  16. Apparatus for decorating an individual article (16) using a process in which the printing ink is applied from nozzles (27) in dot form to the carried article (16) in dependence on a program which contains digitised image information and individual dots supplement each other at least to provide a partial print image and there is at least one print station (I, II) and there is at least one transport path (10) along which the article to be printed upon which is carried by a holder is transported through the at least one print station (I, II) and the at least one print station (I, II) is provided with at least one print head (20) which is controllable by the program and the individual nozzles (27) of which are actuable by means of pulse control in accordance with the program and the apparatus is provided with a linear motor (11; 14a, 14b) having a primary portion and a secondary portion for transport of the articles (16) along the transport path (10) and there is provided a computer for co-ordination of the actuation of the nozzles (27) and the movement of the holder (15).
  17. Apparatus according to claim 16 characterised in that the holder (15) is carried by a carriage (14a, 14b) which has the primary portion of the linear motor.
  18. Apparatus according to claim 16 characterised in that the holder is carried by a carriage which has the secondary portion of the linear motor.
  19. Apparatus according to claim 16 characterised in that the print head (20) is arranged movably transversely with respect to the transport path (10) in order to adapt the position of the print head (20) to the actual position of the article (16) to be printed upon.
  20. Apparatus according to claim 16 characterised in that the nozzles (27) of the print head (20) are arranged in rows extending transversely with respect to the transport direction (34) of the transport carriage (14a, 14b) and the extent of at least one of said rows (20, 30) is greater than the width (38) of the region of the article (16), that is to be printed upon, transversely to the direction of movement (34) thereof and in dependence on the actual position of the article those nozzles (27) of the respective row (29, 30) of nozzles (27), that correspond to the respective position of the region of the article which is to be printed upon, are rendered operative.
  21. Apparatus according to claim 16 characterised in that arranged along at least a portion of the transport path (10) of the at least one carriage (14a, 14b) of the linear motor is a length measuring system (24) which is read by a sensor (22) which is mounted to the carriage (14a, 14b) carrying the article (16) in order in that way to establish the position of the carriage.
  22. Apparatus according to claim 21 characterised in that the spacing of the pulse generators (26) triggering pulses in the sensor (22; 122) in the length measuring system (24) is less than 1µ.
  23. Apparatus according to claim 16 characterised in that at least two print stations (I, II) are arranged in succession at a spacing in the direction of movement (34) of the carriage (14a, 14b).
  24. Apparatus according to claim 16 characterised in that a plurality of rows (29, 30) of nozzles (27) are arranged in succession in the transport direction (34) in at least one print station (I, II) and the nozzles or openings of the individual rows of nozzles are arranged in displaced relationship with respect to the nozzles or openings of at least one other row transversely with respect to the transport direction.
  25. Apparatus according to claim 16 characterised in that arranged downstream of at least one print station (I, II) in the transport direction (34) of the articles to be printed upon is a station in which the printing ink applied to the respective article (16) is dried.
EP00120347A 1999-09-30 2000-09-16 Method and device for decorating individual articles Expired - Lifetime EP1088661B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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DE19946823 1999-09-30
DE19946823A DE19946823A1 (en) 1999-09-30 1999-09-30 Method and device for decorating individual objects

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EP1088661A3 EP1088661A3 (en) 2001-11-21
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DE50014563D1 (en) 2007-09-27
DE19946823A1 (en) 2001-04-05
US6536346B2 (en) 2003-03-25
EP1088661A3 (en) 2001-11-21
EP1088661A2 (en) 2001-04-04
US20020012556A1 (en) 2002-01-31
US6478485B1 (en) 2002-11-12

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