EP1372969B1 - Combination printer - Google Patents

Combination printer Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1372969B1
EP1372969B1 EP02722255.3A EP02722255A EP1372969B1 EP 1372969 B1 EP1372969 B1 EP 1372969B1 EP 02722255 A EP02722255 A EP 02722255A EP 1372969 B1 EP1372969 B1 EP 1372969B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
carrier web
print media
printer according
unit
printing units
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
EP02722255.3A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1372969A1 (en
Inventor
Johannes Lenkl
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.)
Avery Dennison Corp
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Avery Dennison Corp
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Publication of EP1372969A1 publication Critical patent/EP1372969A1/en
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    • 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
    • B41J15/00—Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, specially adapted for supporting or handling copy material in continuous form, e.g. webs
    • B41J15/005—Forming loops or sags in webs, e.g. for slackening a web or for compensating variations of the amount of conveyed web material (by arranging a "dancing roller" in a sag of the web material)
    • 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
    • B41J15/00—Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, specially adapted for supporting or handling copy material in continuous form, e.g. webs
    • B41J15/16—Means for tensioning or winding the web
    • B41J15/165—Means for tensioning or winding the web for tensioning continuous copy material by use of redirecting rollers or redirecting nonrevolving guides
    • 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
    • B41J3/4075—Tape printers; Label printers
    • 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
    • B41J3/54—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed with two or more sets of type or printing elements
    • B41J3/546—Combination of different types, e.g. using a thermal transfer head and an inkjet print head

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a printer for printing on a carrier web arranged print media, in particular labels and the like, which has at least one thermal transfer printing unit, according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • Such printers are used inter alia to print labels with product information, such as in the case of garments with size, price, etc.
  • the thermal transfer printers used for this work normally only with a single thermal transfer film, so that such labels can be printed with only one color. Therefore, to use colored labels, it is necessary to provide these labels with a colored print in a previous step, leaving one or more data fields free for printing by the thermal transfer printer. Subsequently, these labels are fed to the thermal transfer printer for printing the respective desired data.
  • thermal transfer printers are known to use several different colored thermal transfer films.
  • such printers are disproportionately expensive in terms of the consumable in the form of transfer films, since on the one hand, the film itself is expensive, but on the other hand, the consumption of thermal transfer film is high.
  • multi-color ink jet printers are also known in practice.
  • such printers are not suitable for printing on print media that need to be provided with current data just before their release, as is the case for example with labels. Due to the long drying time of the ink, such printers can only spend a print medium with a high time delay.
  • desiccants suitable for such printers must be provided.
  • Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10337912 discloses a two-color printer for printing two-color labels.
  • This printer has a first printing station in the form of an ink jet printing unit and a second printing station in the form of a thermal transfer printing unit arranged downstream of the first printing station. A change in the position of the first and / or second printing station is not mentioned there.
  • the EP Patent Application 0 928 698 discloses a multi-color printer including a transfer printing unit and an ink-jet printing unit.
  • the ink jet printing unit is arranged downstream of the thermal transfer printing unit.
  • the ink jet printing unit is provided on a carriage which is held on guide axes extending transversely to the conveyance path of the print medium carrier web for escaping movement in the axial direction of the axes.
  • the axes are in turn attached to the frame of the printer.
  • the inkjet printing units can process colors other than the thermal transfer printing unit, there is a simple way of having a printing medium, such as a label, with one to provide multi-colored imprint. Further, since the ink-jet printing units are disposed upstream of the thermal transfer printing unit, it is possible to allow the ink applied to the single printing medium to dry before being supplied to the thermal transfer printing unit. In addition, by arranging the ink jet printing units in the conveying direction of the printing medium carrier web in front of the thermal transfer printing unit, the ink applied to the printing medium can be dried. This makes it possible to process print media that have to be printed with current data shortly before their output, as this can be done by the thermal transfer printing unit.
  • the inkjet printing units can be set in their positions in the direction parallel to the print media carrier web.
  • the adjustability of the ink jet printing units in parallel with the print media carrier web allows the positions of the ink jet printing units to be precisely adjusted to the print media carrier web, which is required for clean printing. This can be done, for example, by the fact that the ink jet printing units is held on a vertical wall of a housing of the printer, which has at least one, preferably two mutually parallel horizontal slots along which the ink jet printing units are slidably mounted.
  • the time for completing an image formed with the ink jet printing units is significantly longer due to the requirement of drying the applied ink than the image completion time of a thermal transfer printing unit.
  • a buffer unit to compensate for the different processing times or Feed rates of thermal transfer printing unit and ink jet printing units is provided.
  • the buffer unit can be formed by a dancer arm resting against the print media carrier web.
  • This makes it possible to form a carrier web loop between the inkjet printing units and the thermal transfer printing unit whose length can change due to the pivoting of the dancer arm and thus can compensate for the different feed rates or processing times between the inkjet printing units and thermal transfer printing unit despite continuously present carrier web ,
  • the slower ink jet printing units may be on or Several print media already print as a supply, the carrier web can provide a balance between the two types of printing units due to the dancer arm.
  • the dancer arm being elastically biased into a starting position, for example by a spring means, in particular in the feed direction of the carrier web to the dancer arm.
  • the carrier web conveyed by a conveyor can be accommodated, although the thermal transfer printing unit does not output a label and thus does not convey the section of the carrier web present between dancer arm and thermal transfer printing unit.
  • the dancer arm is provided at its free end with a roller for low-friction guidance of the print media carrier web.
  • the buffer unit can be formed by at least two spaced apart on the transport path of the print media carrier web conveyor rollers and by at least one sensor for detecting the position of the arranged between the two conveyor rollers print media carrier web.
  • the two independently drivable conveying rollers can then cause the feed of further carrier web into the region between the two conveying rollers in such a way that the first conveying roller in the conveying direction of the carrier web is driven, whereas the one behind in the conveying direction the first conveyor roller lying second conveyor roller stopped or stopped.
  • the second conveyor roller can then be put into operation, whereas the first conveyor roller remains stopped.
  • both conveyor rollers can be driven simultaneously.
  • ink-jet printing units are preferably provided for differently colored inks, which are arranged one behind the other and spaced apart along the transport path of the print medium carrier web.
  • Each of the inkjet printing units can receive or process one of the following colors: yellow, blue, green or red.
  • the inkjet printing units have an equal distance from each other, which preferably corresponds substantially to the spacing of the print media on the print media carrier web. It is also possible that the distance between the ink jet printing units corresponds to a single or multiple times the length of a printing medium on the print medium carrier web. This is particularly advantageous when the print media have a relatively short length and the print heads of the inkjet printing units are relatively thick or long. In such a case, a positioning of a printing medium between two printing units during the shutdown phase of the printer according to the invention could not be realized. Thus, in such an embodiment, multiple print media may be disposed between two ink jet printing units.
  • the conveying path of the print media carrier web under the inkjet printing units runs horizontally.
  • another orientation of the print media carrier web is conceivable, in particular if it is ensured that the ink used after application to the printing medium can not run.
  • a drying unit connects downstream of the inkjet printing units.
  • the drying unit may be a UV drying unit.
  • a dispensing unit is arranged for dispensing individual print media detached from the print media carrier web by the dispensing unit.
  • a take-up roll for the empty print media carrier web is arranged downstream of the dispensing unit.
  • a particularly favorable and space-saving design for the conveying path of the print media carrier web can be achieved in that the conveying path of this carrier web from the inkjet printing units to the thermal transfer printing unit is substantially Z-shaped.
  • the print media conveying path can be transported by the printer along the conveying path with conveying devices provided for this purpose.
  • conveying devices provided for this purpose.
  • a particularly space-saving solution can be achieved if the inkjet printing units and / or the thermal transfer printing unit are each provided with at least one conveyor.
  • a printer according to the invention is shown schematically.
  • the printer according to the invention is used for printing on print media in the form of labels.
  • the labels are arranged on a print media or label carrier web E in the conveying direction of this carrier web E at the same distance from one another.
  • the label carrier web E is withdrawn from an unwinding roll 20 which is arranged outside a housing 10 of the printer in the upper left region of this printer 10 and which is arranged rotatably and interchangeably on a horizontal axis (not shown). From the unwinding roll 20, the label carrier web E is first fed into the interior of the housing 10 on a conveying path F of the label web E which extends essentially horizontally in this region to a total of 4 inkjet printing units 30.
  • the four ink-jet printing units 30, each of which applies a different color to the labels, are arranged equidistantly to each other on a vertical wall 10a of the printer body 10. This distance is determined by the distance of the labels on the label carrier web E. It is dimensioned such that when the printer is stopped, there is a label between each successive inkjet printing units, so that, outside of a printing operation, the spaces between two successive labels are located just below each inkjet printing unit 30.
  • each two mutually parallel Horizontal slits 32 are provided along which the respective ink jet printing unit 30 along the conveying path F of the label carrier web E can be reversibly moved and set again.
  • a drying unit 40 Downstream of the four inkjet printing units 30, a drying unit 40 is provided, which in the present case is formed by a UV drying unit. Right below the drying unit 40, a conveyor roller 50 is provided which serves to drive the label carrier web E. This carrier web E is deflected at the conveying roller 50 by approximately 180 ° and enters a buffer area which comprises a buffer unit 60.
  • the buffer unit 60 is formed by a dancer arm 62, which is rotatably mounted about an axis 64 mounted on the housing 10 with a horizontal orientation.
  • the dancer arm 62 is biased by a biasing spring 66 in the feed direction of the label carrier web E to the buffer unit 60, i. biased towards the left.
  • the dancer arm 62 has a roller 68 for deflecting the label carrier web E in the direction of a thermal transfer printing unit 70 through an angle of approximately 135 °.
  • the conveying path F for the label carrier web E forms from the unwinding roll 20 to the thermal transfer printing unit 70 a substantially Z-shaped path.
  • the labels printed in color by the ink jet printing units 30 are provided with a thermal transfer imprint for which the thermal transfer printing unit 70 has a thermal transfer sheet (not shown).
  • the thermal transfer printing unit 70 also has a dispensing unit (not shown) that is capable of detaching a single label from the label carrier web E and dispensing it from the printer via a dispensing edge.
  • the liberated from the label label carrier web E is guided by the thermal transfer printing unit 70 to a take-up reel 80 which is mounted interchangeably on a horizontal axis, not shown, within the housing 10 of the printer.
  • the first labels ie the label which can be drawn and printed on the label carrier web E upstream of the first inkjet printing unit 30 in the conveying direction of the label carrier web E, can be pulled under this printing unit 30.
  • the label is conveyed to the subsequent ink jet printing unit 30 where it is also printed. This also applies to the other two inkjet printing units 30. While the first label to be printed passes through the 4 inkjet printing units 30, further labels follow, which are then also successively printed by the 4 inkjet printing units 30.
  • the label carrier web E provided with printed labels is conveyed further through the conveying roller 50 into the buffer area.
  • the label carrier web E thus conveyed can be conveyed uniformly from the conveyor roller 50 into the buffer area.
  • the deflection of the dancer arm 62 can be determined and optionally the conveyor roller 50 are stopped when the buffer area is "filled".
  • the thermal print unit 70 prints a label printed by the ink jet printing units 30 and dispenses it by means of the dispensing unit
  • the non-illustrated conveyor of the thermal transfer printing unit 70 conveys the label substrate E toward the thermal transfer printing unit 70.
  • the dancer arm 62 pulled to the right so that the buffer area in turn has room for receiving further printed by the inkjet printing units 30 labels.
  • the thermal transfer printing unit 70 further labels may then be printed by the ink jet printing units 30 or it may be waited until the dancer arm 62 is at a predetermined position, ie, a position to the right of the assumes the position shown in the single figure, which indicates that the buffer area has "run empty". This can in turn be detected by the mentioned or an additional sensor.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft einen Drucker zum Bedrucken von auf einer Trägerbahn angeordneten Druckmedien, insbesondere Etiketten und dergleichen, der wenigstens eine Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit aufweist, gemäß dem Oberbegriff des Anspruchs 1.The invention relates to a printer for printing on a carrier web arranged print media, in particular labels and the like, which has at least one thermal transfer printing unit, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Derartige Drucker werden unter anderem zum Bedrucken von Etiketten mit Produktinformationen, wie beispielsweise im Falle von Kleidungsstücken mit der Größe, dem Preis usw. verwendet. Die hierfür eingesetzten Thermotransfer-Drucker arbeiten normalerweise nur mit einer einzigen Thermotransferfolie, so dass derartige Etiketten lediglich mit einer Farbe bedruckt werden können. Um daher farbige Etiketten zu benutzen, ist es notwendig, diese Etiketten in einem vorausgehenden Schritt mit einem farbigen Aufdruck zu versehen, wobei ein oder mehrere Datenfelder für den Aufdruck durch den Thermotransfer-Drucker frei bleiben. Anschließend werden diese Etiketten dem Thermotransfer-Drucker zum Aufdrucken der jeweils gewünschten Daten zugeführt.Such printers are used inter alia to print labels with product information, such as in the case of garments with size, price, etc. The thermal transfer printers used for this work normally only with a single thermal transfer film, so that such labels can be printed with only one color. Therefore, to use colored labels, it is necessary to provide these labels with a colored print in a previous step, leaving one or more data fields free for printing by the thermal transfer printer. Subsequently, these labels are fed to the thermal transfer printer for printing the respective desired data.

Eine derartige Vorgehensweise erweist sich in mehrfacher Hinsicht als nachteilig. So sind zunächst durch die von dem Thermotransferdruck räumlich und zeitlich getrennte, farbige Bedruckung der Etiketten sowohl Transportfahrten als auch Lagerraum notwendig. Darüber hinaus ist eine flexible Gestaltung, die auf aktuelle Anlässe Bezug nimmt, nur schwer möglich.Such a procedure proves to be disadvantageous in several respects. Thus, by the thermal transfer printing spatially and temporally separated, colored printing of the labels both transport and storage space are necessary. In addition, a flexible design, which refers to current events, difficult.

Zwar sind in der Praxis auch Thermotransfer-Drucker bekannt, die mehrere unterschiedlich farbige Thermotransferfolien verwenden. Jedoch sind derartige Drucker hinsichtlich des Verbrauchsmaterials in Form der Transferfolien unverhältnismäßig teuer, da zum einen die Folie selber teuer ist, aber zum anderen auch der Verbrauch an Thermotransferfolie hoch ist.Although in practice thermal transfer printers are known to use several different colored thermal transfer films. However, such printers are disproportionately expensive in terms of the consumable in the form of transfer films, since on the one hand, the film itself is expensive, but on the other hand, the consumption of thermal transfer film is high.

Schließlich sind auch in der Praxis mehrfarbige Tintenstrahldrucker bekannt. Derartige Drucker eignen sich jedoch nicht zum Bedrucken von Druckmedien, die kurz vor ihrer Ausgabe noch mit aktuellen Daten versehen werden müssen, wie dies beispielsweise bei Etiketten der Fall ist. Aufgrund der langen Trocknungszeit der Tinte können derartige Drucker nur mit einer hohen zeitlichen Verzögerung ein Druckmedium ausgeben. Alternativ muss für derartige Drucker geeignete Trocknungsmittel vorgesehen werden.Finally, multi-color ink jet printers are also known in practice. However, such printers are not suitable for printing on print media that need to be provided with current data just before their release, as is the case for example with labels. Due to the long drying time of the ink, such printers can only spend a print medium with a high time delay. Alternatively, desiccants suitable for such printers must be provided.

Aus der Zusammenfassung der JP-Patentanmeldung mit der Veröffentlichungsnummer 10337912 geht ein Zwei-Farben-Drucker zum Bedrucken von zweifarbigen Etiketten hervor. Dieser Drucker besitzt eine erste Druckstation in Form einer Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit sowie eine stromabwärts zu der ersten Druckstation angeordnete zweite Druckstation in Form einer Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit. Eine Veränderung der Position der ersten und/oder zweiten Druckstation ist dort nicht erwähnt.The abstract of Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10337912 discloses a two-color printer for printing two-color labels. This printer has a first printing station in the form of an ink jet printing unit and a second printing station in the form of a thermal transfer printing unit arranged downstream of the first printing station. A change in the position of the first and / or second printing station is not mentioned there.

Die EP-Patentanmeldung 0 928 698 offenbart einen Mehrfarben-Drucker, der eine Transferdruckeinheit sowie eine Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit enthält. Die Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit ist dabei stromabwärts der Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit angeordnet. Die Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit ist an einem Schlitten vorgesehen, welcher auf quer zum Förderweg der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn verlaufende Führungsachsen für eine Geleitbewegung in Axialrichtung der Achsen gehalten ist. Die Achsen sind wiederrum an dem Rahmen des Druckers befestigt.The EP Patent Application 0 928 698 discloses a multi-color printer including a transfer printing unit and an ink-jet printing unit. The ink jet printing unit is arranged downstream of the thermal transfer printing unit. The ink jet printing unit is provided on a carriage which is held on guide axes extending transversely to the conveyance path of the print medium carrier web for escaping movement in the axial direction of the axes. The axes are in turn attached to the frame of the printer.

Es ist Aufgabe der vorliegenden Erfindung, einen Drucker der eingangs genannten Art bereitzustellen, der es erlaubt, unterschiedlich große bzw. lange Druckmedien verarbeiten zu können.It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer of the type mentioned, which allows to process different sized or long print media.

Die vorstehende Aufgabe wird durch die Merkmale des Anspruchs 1 gelöst. In den sich daran anschließenden Ansprüchen 2 bis 18 finden sich vorteilhafte Ausgestaltungen hierzu.The above object is solved by the features of claim 1. In the subsequent claims 2 to 18 are advantageous embodiments of this.

Durch die Tatsache, dass die Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten andere Farben verarbeiten können, als die Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit besteht auf einfache Weise die Möglichkeit, ein Druckmedium, wie beispielsweise ein Etikett, mit einem mehrfarbigen Aufdruck zu versehen. Da die Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten stromaufwärts der Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit angeordnet ist, besteht weiterhin die Möglichkeit, die auf das einzelne Druckmedium aufgebrachte Tinte vor dem Zuführen zu der Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit trocknen zu können. Darüber hinaus kann durch die Anordnung der Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten in Förderrichtung der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn vor der Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit die auf das Druckmedium aufgebrachte Tinte trocknen. Hierdurch besteht die Möglichkeit, Druckmedien zu verarbeiten, die kurz vor deren Ausgabe noch mit aktuellen Daten bedruckt werden müssen, da dies durch die Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit erfolgen kann.Due to the fact that the inkjet printing units can process colors other than the thermal transfer printing unit, there is a simple way of having a printing medium, such as a label, with one to provide multi-colored imprint. Further, since the ink-jet printing units are disposed upstream of the thermal transfer printing unit, it is possible to allow the ink applied to the single printing medium to dry before being supplied to the thermal transfer printing unit. In addition, by arranging the ink jet printing units in the conveying direction of the printing medium carrier web in front of the thermal transfer printing unit, the ink applied to the printing medium can be dried. This makes it possible to process print media that have to be printed with current data shortly before their output, as this can be done by the thermal transfer printing unit.

Um nun unterschiedlich große bzw. lange Druckmedien mit ein und demselben Drucker verarbeiten zu können, ist erfindungsgemäß vorgesehen, dass die Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten in Richtung parallel zu der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn in ihren Positionen einstellbar sind.In order to be able to process differently sized or long print media with one and the same printer, it is provided according to the invention that the inkjet printing units can be set in their positions in the direction parallel to the print media carrier web.

Durch die Einstellbarkeit der Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten parallel zur Druckmedien Trägerbahn lassen sich die Positionen der Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten präzise zu der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn justieren, was für einen sauberen Druck erforderlich ist. Dies kann beispielsweise dadurch erfolgen, dass die Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten an einer Vertikalwand eines Gehäuses des Druckers gehalten ist, welche wenigstens eine, vorzugsweise zwei parallel zueinander verlaufenden Horizontalschlitze aufweist, entlang denen die Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten verschiebbar gelagert sind.The adjustability of the ink jet printing units in parallel with the print media carrier web allows the positions of the ink jet printing units to be precisely adjusted to the print media carrier web, which is required for clean printing. This can be done, for example, by the fact that the ink jet printing units is held on a vertical wall of a housing of the printer, which has at least one, preferably two mutually parallel horizontal slots along which the ink jet printing units are slidably mounted.

Die Zeit für die Fertigstellung eines mit den Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten erstellten Bildes ist aufgrund des Erfordernisses des Trocknens der aufgebrachten Tinte gegenüber der Bildfertigstellungszeit einer Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit deutlich länger. Um bei einer kontinuierlich durch den Drucker geführten Druckmedien-Trägerbahn eine unabhängige Arbeitsweise sowohl der Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten als auch der Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit zu gewährleisten, ist es weiterhin von Vorteil, wenn zwischen den beiden Arten an Druckeinheiten eine Puffereinheit zum Ausgleich der unterschiedlichen Bearbeitungszeiten bzw. Vorschubgeschwindigkeiten von Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit und Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten vorgesehen ist.The time for completing an image formed with the ink jet printing units is significantly longer due to the requirement of drying the applied ink than the image completion time of a thermal transfer printing unit. In order to ensure an independent operation of both the ink jet printing units and the thermal transfer printing unit in a continuous guided through the printer media carrier web, it is also advantageous if between the two types of printing units a buffer unit to compensate for the different processing times or Feed rates of thermal transfer printing unit and ink jet printing units is provided.

Für die Puffereinheit können unterschiedliche Lösungen vorgesehen werden. So besteht zunächst beispielsweise die Möglichkeit, dass die Puffereinheit durch einen an der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn anliegenden Tänzerarm gebildet ist. Hierdurch lässt sich zwischen den Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten und der Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit eine Trägerbahnschlaufe bilden, deren Länge sich infolge der Schwenkbarkeit des Tänzerarms verändern kann und damit die unterschiedlichen Vorschubgeschwindigkeiten bzw. Bearbeitungszeiten zwischen den Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten und Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit trotz kontinuierlich vorliegender Trägerbahn ausgleichen kann. Ist beispielsweise kein Etikett auszugeben oder von der Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit zu bedrucken, so können die langsameren Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten ein oder mehrere Druckmedien als Vorrat bereits bedrucken, wobei die Trägerbahn aufgrund des Tänzerarmes einen Ausgleich zwischen den beiden Arten an Druckeinheiten bereitstellen kann. Dies kann dadurch erfolgen, dass der Tänzerarm insbesondere in Zuführrichtung der Trägerbahn zu dem Tänzerarm beispielsweise durch ein Federmittel in eine Ausgangsstellung elastisch vorgespannt ist. Hierdurch kann die von einer Fördereinrichtung geförderte Trägerbahn aufgenommen werden, obwohl die Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit kein Etikett ausgibt und damit auch nicht der zwischen Tänzerarm und Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit vorhandene Abschnitt der Trägerbahn gefördert wird.Different solutions can be provided for the buffer unit. For example, it is initially possible for the buffer unit to be formed by a dancer arm resting against the print media carrier web. This makes it possible to form a carrier web loop between the inkjet printing units and the thermal transfer printing unit whose length can change due to the pivoting of the dancer arm and thus can compensate for the different feed rates or processing times between the inkjet printing units and thermal transfer printing unit despite continuously present carrier web , For example, if no label is to be printed or printed by the thermal transfer printing unit, the slower ink jet printing units may be on or Several print media already print as a supply, the carrier web can provide a balance between the two types of printing units due to the dancer arm. This can be done by the dancer arm being elastically biased into a starting position, for example by a spring means, in particular in the feed direction of the carrier web to the dancer arm. As a result, the carrier web conveyed by a conveyor can be accommodated, although the thermal transfer printing unit does not output a label and thus does not convey the section of the carrier web present between dancer arm and thermal transfer printing unit.

Um eine reibungsarme Führung der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn an dem Tänzerarm zu erzielen, ist weiterhin von Vorteil, wenn der Tänzerarm an seinem freien Ende mit einer Rolle zum reibungsarmen Führen der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn versehen ist.To achieve a low-friction guidance of the print media carrier web on the dancer arm is also advantageous if the dancer arm is provided at its free end with a roller for low-friction guidance of the print media carrier web.

Ebenso kann die Puffereinheit durch mindestens zwei an dem Transportweg der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn beabstandet zueinander angeordnete Förderwalzen sowie durch wenigstens einen Sensor zum Erfassen der Position der zwischen den beiden Förderwalzen angeordneten Druckmedien-Trägerbahn gebildet sein. Die beiden unabhängig voneinander antreibbaren Förderwalzen können dann je nach erfasster Position der Trägerbahn durch den Sensor die Zuführung von weiterer Trägerbahn in den Bereich zwischen den beiden Förderwalzen in der Weise bewirken, dass die in Förderrichtung der Trägerbahn erste Förderwalze angetrieben wird, wogegen die in Förderrichtung hinter der ersten Förderwalze liegende zweite Förderwalze angehalten bzw. gestoppt bleibt. Zum Abziehen der Trägerbahn im Bereich zwischen den beiden Förderwalzen kann dann die zweite Förderwalze in Betrieb genommen werden, wogegen die erste Förderwalze gestoppt bleibt. Selbstverständlich können auch beide Förderwalzen zeitgleich angetrieben werden.Likewise, the buffer unit can be formed by at least two spaced apart on the transport path of the print media carrier web conveyor rollers and by at least one sensor for detecting the position of the arranged between the two conveyor rollers print media carrier web. Depending on the detected position of the carrier web by the sensor, the two independently drivable conveying rollers can then cause the feed of further carrier web into the region between the two conveying rollers in such a way that the first conveying roller in the conveying direction of the carrier web is driven, whereas the one behind in the conveying direction the first conveyor roller lying second conveyor roller stopped or stopped. To remove the carrier web in the area between the two conveyor rollers, the second conveyor roller can then be put into operation, whereas the first conveyor roller remains stopped. Of course, both conveyor rollers can be driven simultaneously.

Um einen mehrfarbigen Tintenstrahlaufdruck zu erhalten, hat es sich weiterhin als vorteilhaft erwiesen, wenn 4 Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten vorzugsweise für verschieden farbige Tinten vorgesehen sind, die entlang des Transportweges der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn hintereinander und beabstandet zueinander angeordnet sind. Hierbei kann jede der Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten eine der folgenden Farben aufnehmen bzw. verarbeiten: Gelb, Blau, Grün oder Rot.In order to obtain a multicolor ink-jet imprint, it has furthermore proven to be advantageous if 4 ink-jet printing units are preferably provided for differently colored inks, which are arranged one behind the other and spaced apart along the transport path of the print medium carrier web. Each of the inkjet printing units can receive or process one of the following colors: yellow, blue, green or red.

Dabei ist es von Vorteil, wenn die Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten einen gleichen Abstand zueinander aufweisen, der vorzugsweise im Wesentlichen dem Abstand der Druckmedien auf der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn entspricht. Ebenso ist es möglich, dass der Abstand zwischen den Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten dem Einfachen oder Vielfachen der Länge eines Druckmediums auf der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn entspricht. Dies ist insbesondere dann von Vorteil, wenn die Druckmedien eine verhältnismäßig kurze Länge aufweisen und die Druckköpfe der Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten verhältnismäßig dick bzw. lang sind. In einem solchen Fall ließe sich eine Positionierung eines Druckmedium zwischen zwei Druckeinheiten während der Außerbetriebsphase des erfindungsgemäßen Druckers nicht realisieren. Daher können bei einer solchen Ausgestaltung mehrere Druckmedien zwischen zwei Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten angeordnet sein.It is advantageous if the inkjet printing units have an equal distance from each other, which preferably corresponds substantially to the spacing of the print media on the print media carrier web. It is also possible that the distance between the ink jet printing units corresponds to a single or multiple times the length of a printing medium on the print medium carrier web. This is particularly advantageous when the print media have a relatively short length and the print heads of the inkjet printing units are relatively thick or long. In such a case, a positioning of a printing medium between two printing units during the shutdown phase of the printer according to the invention could not be realized. Thus, in such an embodiment, multiple print media may be disposed between two ink jet printing units.

Um ein Verlaufen der durch die Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten aufgebrachten Farbtinte auf den Druckmedien zu vermeiden, ist es weiterhin von Vorteil, wenn der Förderweg der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn unter den Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten horizontal verläuft. Selbstverständlich ist auch eine andere Ausrichtung der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn denkbar, insbesondere wenn sichergestellt ist, dass die verwendete Tinte nach dem Aufbringen auf dem Druckmedium nicht verlaufen kann.In order to avoid a bleeding of the ink applied by the inkjet printing units on the print media, it is also advantageous if the conveying path of the print media carrier web under the inkjet printing units runs horizontally. Of course, another orientation of the print media carrier web is conceivable, in particular if it is ensured that the ink used after application to the printing medium can not run.

Zum platzsparenden Zuführen der unbedruckten Druckmedien-Trägerbahn ist es weiterhin von Vorteil, wenn diese auf eine Abwickelrolle aufgewickelt ist, die stromaufwärts der Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten angeordnet ist.For space-saving feeding of the unprinted print medium carrier web, it is also advantageous if this is wound onto a supply reel, which is arranged upstream of the inkjet printing units.

Um eine möglichst schnelle Trocknung der Tinte zu erzielen, ist es weiterhin von Vorteil, wenn sich stromabwärts der Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten eine Trocknungseinheit anschließt. Hierbei kann die Trocknungseinheit eine UV-Trocknungseinheit sein.To achieve the fastest possible drying of the ink, it is also advantageous if downstream of the inkjet printing units, a drying unit connects. Here, the drying unit may be a UV drying unit.

Um ein leichtes Spenden der einzelnen bedruckten Druckmedien zu erzielen, ist weiterhin vorgesehen, dass sich stromabwärts der Transfer-Druckeinheit eine Spendeeinheit zum Spenden einzelner durch die Spendeeinheit von der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn abgelöster Druckmedien angeordnet ist. Um die leere Trägerbahn Platz sparend aufnehmen zu können, ist es weiterhin von Vorteil, wenn stromabwärts der Spendeeinheit eine Aufwickelrolle für die leere Druckmedien Trägerbahn angeordnet ist.In order to achieve easy dispensing of the individual printed print media, it is further provided that downstream of the transfer printing unit a dispensing unit is arranged for dispensing individual print media detached from the print media carrier web by the dispensing unit. In order to be able to record the empty carrier web in a space-saving manner, it is furthermore advantageous if a take-up roll for the empty print media carrier web is arranged downstream of the dispensing unit.

Eine besonders günstige und Platz sparende Ausgestaltung für den Förderweg der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn lässt sich dadurch erzielen, dass der Förderweg dieser Trägerbahn von den Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten zu der Thermotransfer Druckeinheit im Wesentlichen z-förmig verläuft.A particularly favorable and space-saving design for the conveying path of the print media carrier web can be achieved in that the conveying path of this carrier web from the inkjet printing units to the thermal transfer printing unit is substantially Z-shaped.

Grundsätzlich kann die Druckmedien-Förderbahn mit eigens hierfür vorgesehenen Fördereinrichtungen durch den Drucker entlang des Förderweges transportiert werden. Eine besonders Platz sparende Lösung lässt sich dadurch erzielen, wenn die Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten und/oder die Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit jeweils mit mindestens einer Fördereinrichtung versehen sind.In principle, the print media conveying path can be transported by the printer along the conveying path with conveying devices provided for this purpose. A particularly space-saving solution can be achieved if the inkjet printing units and / or the thermal transfer printing unit are each provided with at least one conveyor.

Weitere vorteilhafte Ausgestaltungen sowie ein Ausführungsbeispiel werden nachstehend anhand der beigefügten Zeichnungsfigur erläutert. In diesem Zusammenhang ist zu bemerken, daß sich die bei dieser Beschreibung verwendeten Begriffe "links", "rechts", "unten" und "oben" auf die Zeichnungsfiguren mit normal lesbarer Figurenbezeichnung beziehen.Further advantageous embodiments and an embodiment will be explained below with reference to the accompanying drawing figure. In this connection, it should be noted that the terms "left," "right," "bottom," and "top" used in this specification refer to the drawing figures having a normally legible figure designation.

In der einzigen Zeichnungsfigur ist schematisch ein erfindungsgemäßer Drucker wiedergegeben. Dererfindungsgemäße Druckerdient zum Bedrucken von Druckmedien in Form von Etiketten. Die Etiketten sind auf einer Druckmedien- bzw. Etiketten-Trägerbahn E in Förderrichtung dieser Trägerbahn E mit gleichem Abstand zueinander angeordnet. Die Etiketten-Trägerbahn E wird von einer außerhalb eines Gehäuses 10 des Druckers im linken oberen Bereich dieses Druckers 10 angeordneten Abwickelrolle 20 abgezogen, die auf einer nicht weiter dargestellten Horizontalachse drehbar sowie austauschbar angeordnet ist. Von der Abwickelrolle 20 wird die Etiketten-Trägerbahn E in das Innere des Gehäuses 10 auf einem in diesem Bereich wesentlichen horizontal verlaufenden Förderweg F der Etikettenbahn E zunächst zu insgesamt 4 Tintenstrahldruckeinheiten 30 geführt.In the single drawing figure, a printer according to the invention is shown schematically. The printer according to the invention is used for printing on print media in the form of labels. The labels are arranged on a print media or label carrier web E in the conveying direction of this carrier web E at the same distance from one another. The label carrier web E is withdrawn from an unwinding roll 20 which is arranged outside a housing 10 of the printer in the upper left region of this printer 10 and which is arranged rotatably and interchangeably on a horizontal axis (not shown). From the unwinding roll 20, the label carrier web E is first fed into the interior of the housing 10 on a conveying path F of the label web E which extends essentially horizontally in this region to a total of 4 inkjet printing units 30.

Die 4 Tintenstrahldruckeinheiten 30, von denen jede eine andere Farbe auf die Etiketten aufträgt, sind im gleichen Abstand zueinander an einer Vertikalwand 10a des Druckergehäuses 10 angeordnet. Dieser Abstand wird durch den Abstand der Etiketten auf der Etiketten-Trägerbahn E bestimmt. Er ist dabei so bemessen, daß sich bei angehaltenem Drucker jeweils ein Etikett zwischen zwei aufeinander folgenden Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten befindet, sodaßaußerhalbeines Druckbetriebes die Zwischenräume zwischen zwei aufeinanderfolgenden Etiketten genau unterhalb jeder Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit 30 angeordnet sind.The four ink-jet printing units 30, each of which applies a different color to the labels, are arranged equidistantly to each other on a vertical wall 10a of the printer body 10. This distance is determined by the distance of the labels on the label carrier web E. It is dimensioned such that when the printer is stopped, there is a label between each successive inkjet printing units, so that, outside of a printing operation, the spaces between two successive labels are located just below each inkjet printing unit 30.

Um die Position der Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten 30 und damit den Abstand zwischen diesen einstellen zu können, ist in der Vertikalwand 100 für die stromaufwärts nach der ersten Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit 30 befindlichen Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten 30 jeweils zwei parallel zueinander verlaufende Horizontalschlitze 32 vorgesehen, entlang denen die jeweilige Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit 30 entlang des Förderweges F der Etiketten-Trägerbahn E reversibel verschoben und wieder festgelegt werden können.In order to adjust the position of the ink jet printing units 30 and thus the distance between them, in the vertical wall 100 for the upstream of the first ink jet printing unit 30 located ink jet printing units 30 are each two mutually parallel Horizontal slits 32 are provided along which the respective ink jet printing unit 30 along the conveying path F of the label carrier web E can be reversibly moved and set again.

Stromabwärts der 4 Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten 30 ist eine Trocknungseinheit 40 vorgesehen, die im vorliegenden Fall durch eine UV-Trocknungseinheit gebildet ist. Rechts unterhalb der Trocknungseinheit 40 ist eine Förderwalze 50 vorgesehen, die zum Antrieb der Etiketten-Trägerbahn E dient. Diese Trägerbahn E wird an der Förderwalze 50 um cirka 180° umgelenkt und läuft in einen Pufferbereich ein, der eine Puffereinheit 60 umfaßt. Die Puffereinheit 60 ist durch einen Tänzerarm 62 gebildet, der um eine an dem Gehäuse 10 mit horizontaler Ausrichtung gelagerten Achse 64 drehbar gelagert ist. Der Tänzerarm 62 ist durch eine Vorspannfeder 66 in Zuführrichtung der Etiketten-Trägerbahn E zu der Puffereinheit 60, d.h. in Richtung nach links vorgespannt. An seinem freien Ende weist der Tänzerarm 62 eine Rolle 68 auf, um die Etiketten-Trägerbahn E in Richtung auf eine Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit 70 über einen Winkel von ca. 135° umzulenken. Der Förderweg F für die Etiketten-Trägerbahn E bildet von der Abwickelrolle 20 zu der Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit 70 einen im wesentlichen Z-förmigen Weg.Downstream of the four inkjet printing units 30, a drying unit 40 is provided, which in the present case is formed by a UV drying unit. Right below the drying unit 40, a conveyor roller 50 is provided which serves to drive the label carrier web E. This carrier web E is deflected at the conveying roller 50 by approximately 180 ° and enters a buffer area which comprises a buffer unit 60. The buffer unit 60 is formed by a dancer arm 62, which is rotatably mounted about an axis 64 mounted on the housing 10 with a horizontal orientation. The dancer arm 62 is biased by a biasing spring 66 in the feed direction of the label carrier web E to the buffer unit 60, i. biased towards the left. At its free end, the dancer arm 62 has a roller 68 for deflecting the label carrier web E in the direction of a thermal transfer printing unit 70 through an angle of approximately 135 °. The conveying path F for the label carrier web E forms from the unwinding roll 20 to the thermal transfer printing unit 70 a substantially Z-shaped path.

In der Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit 70 werden die durch die Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten 30 farbig bedruckten Etiketten mit einem Thermotranferaufdruck versehen, für den die Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit 70 eine nicht weiter dargestellte Thermotransferfolie aufweist. Die Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit 70 besitzt darüber hinaus noch eine nicht weiter dargestellte Spendeeinheit, die in der Lage ist, ein einzelnes Etikett von der Etiketten-Trägerbahn E abzulösen und aus dem Drucker über eine Spendekante auszugeben. Die von den Etiketten befreite Etiketten-Trägerbahn E wird von der Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit 70 zu einer Aufwickelrolle 80 geführt, die an einer nicht weiter dargestellten Horizontalachse innerhalb des Gehäuses 10 des Druckers austauschbar gelagert ist.In the thermal transfer printing unit 70, the labels printed in color by the ink jet printing units 30 are provided with a thermal transfer imprint for which the thermal transfer printing unit 70 has a thermal transfer sheet (not shown). The thermal transfer printing unit 70 also has a dispensing unit (not shown) that is capable of detaching a single label from the label carrier web E and dispensing it from the printer via a dispensing edge. The liberated from the label label carrier web E is guided by the thermal transfer printing unit 70 to a take-up reel 80 which is mounted interchangeably on a horizontal axis, not shown, within the housing 10 of the printer.

Zum farbigen Bedrucken der Etiketten wird zunächst eine volle, unbedruckte Abwickelrolle 20 für die Etiketten-Trägerbahn E an dem Drucker angebracht. Anschließend wird eine entsprechende Bahnlänge von der Abwickelrolle 20 abgezogen, so daß der z-förmige Förderweg F innerhalb des Druckers vollständig bis zu der Spendekante der Spendeeinheit der Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit 70 mit der Etiketten-Trägerbahn E besetzt ist. Gegebenenfalls werden dann die 3 stromaufwärts der ersten Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit 30 folgenden, Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten 30 in ihrer Position so justiert, daß sich jeweils ein Etikett zwischen zwei aufeinderfolgenden Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten 30 befindet. Daraufhin können die ersten Etiketten, d.h. das jenige Etikett, das sich auf der Etiketten-Trägerbahn E stromaufwärts der in Förderrichtung der Etiketten-Trägerbahn E ersten Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit 30 unter diese Druckeinheit 30 gezogen und bedruckt werden. Nach dem Druckvorgang in der ersten Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit 30 wird das Etikett zu der nachfolgenden Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit 30 weitergefördert und dort ebenfalls bedruckt. Dies gilt ebenso für die beiden übrigen Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten 30. Während das erste zu bedruckende Etikett durch die 4 Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten 30 hindurchwandert, folgen weitere Etiketten nach, die dann ebenfalls nacheinander von den 4 Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten 30 bedruckt werden.For colored printing of the labels is first a full, unprinted Unwinding roll 20 for the label carrier web E attached to the printer. Subsequently, a corresponding web length is withdrawn from the unwinding roll 20, so that the z-shaped conveying path F within the printer is completely occupied up to the dispensing edge of the dispensing unit of the thermal transfer printing unit 70 with the label carrier web E. Optionally, the ink jet printing units 30 following upstream of the first ink jet printing unit 30 are then adjusted in position so that there is a label between each of two successive ink jet printing units 30. Thereupon, the first labels, ie the label which can be drawn and printed on the label carrier web E upstream of the first inkjet printing unit 30 in the conveying direction of the label carrier web E, can be pulled under this printing unit 30. After the printing operation in the first ink jet printing unit 30, the label is conveyed to the subsequent ink jet printing unit 30 where it is also printed. This also applies to the other two inkjet printing units 30. While the first label to be printed passes through the 4 inkjet printing units 30, further labels follow, which are then also successively printed by the 4 inkjet printing units 30.

Nach Durchlauf durch die Trocknungseinheit 40 wird die mit bedruckten Etiketten versehene Etiketten-Trägerbahn E durch die Förderwalze 50 in den Pufferbereich weitergefördert. In Folge der Vorspannung des Tänzerarmes 62 nach links kann die so geförderte Etiketten-Trägerbahn E gleichmäßig von der Förderwalze 50 in den Pufferbereich eingefördert werden. Durch eine nicht weiter dargestellten Sensor kann der Auslenkweg des Tänzerarmes 62 festgestellt werden und gegebenenfalls die Förderwalze 50 angehalten werden, sobald der Pufferbereich "gefüllt" ist.After passing through the drying unit 40, the label carrier web E provided with printed labels is conveyed further through the conveying roller 50 into the buffer area. As a result of the bias of the dancer arm 62 to the left, the label carrier web E thus conveyed can be conveyed uniformly from the conveyor roller 50 into the buffer area. By a sensor, not shown, the deflection of the dancer arm 62 can be determined and optionally the conveyor roller 50 are stopped when the buffer area is "filled".

Wird nun durch die Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit 70 ein durch die Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten 30 bedrucktes Etikett mit einem Thermotransferaufdruck versehen und mittels der Spendeeinheit gespendet, so fördert die nicht weiter dargestellte Fördereinrichtung der Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit 70 die Etiketten-Trägerbahn E in Richtung der Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit 70. Hierdurch wird der Tänzerarm 62 nach rechts gezogen, so daß der Pufferbereich wiederum Raum für die Aufnahme weiterer durch die Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten 30 bedruckter Etiketten besitzt. Unmittelbar nach der Ausgabe eines Etiketts durch die Spendeeinheit, der Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit 70 können dann weitere Etiketten durch die Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten 30 bedruckt werden oder aber es kann solange gewartet werden, bis der Tänzerarm, 62 eine vorbestimmte Position, d.h. eine Position rechts von der in der einzigen Figur dargestellten Position einnimmt, die kennzeichnet, daß der Pufferbereich "leergelaufen" ist. Dies kann wiederum durch den erwähnten oder einen zusätzlichen Sensor erfaßt werden.Now, if the thermal print unit 70 prints a label printed by the ink jet printing units 30 and dispenses it by means of the dispensing unit, the non-illustrated conveyor of the thermal transfer printing unit 70 conveys the label substrate E toward the thermal transfer printing unit 70. As a result, the dancer arm 62 pulled to the right, so that the buffer area in turn has room for receiving further printed by the inkjet printing units 30 labels. Immediately after a label is dispensed by the dispensing unit, the thermal transfer printing unit 70, further labels may then be printed by the ink jet printing units 30 or it may be waited until the dancer arm 62 is at a predetermined position, ie, a position to the right of the assumes the position shown in the single figure, which indicates that the buffer area has "run empty". This can in turn be detected by the mentioned or an additional sensor.

Claims (18)

  1. A printer for printing on print media, in particular labels and the like, which are arranged on a carrier web (E), comprising a thermal transfer printing unit (70), wherein an inkjet printing unit (30) is provided upstream of the thermal transfer printing unit (70),
    characterised in that the printer comprises at least one thermal transfer printing unit (70) and that several inkjet printing units (30) are provided which are arranged one after the other and in a spaced relationship along the conveying path (F) of the print media carrier web (E) and that the positions of the inkjet printing units (30) are adjustable in a direction parallel to the print media carrier web (E) along the conveying path (F) of the print media carrier web (E).
  2. The printer according to Claim 1,
    characterised in that a buffer unit (60) is provided between the inkjet printing units (30) and the thermal transfer printing unit (70) for compensating the different feed rates of the thermal transfer printing unit (70) and the inkjet printing units (30).
  3. The printer according to Claim 2,
    characterised in that the buffer unit (60) is formed by a dancer arm (62) which is in contact with the print media carrier web (E).
  4. The printer according to Claim 3,
    characterised in that the dancer arm (62) is biased into an initial position by means of a resilient biasing element (66).
  5. The printer according to Claim 3 or 4,
    characterised in that the dancer arm (62) is provided with a roller (68) at its free end for low-friction guidance of the print media carrier web (E).
  6. The printer according to Claim 2,
    characterised in that the buffer unit is formed by at least two feed rolls which are arranged at a distance from one another at the transport path of the print media carrier web (E) as well by at least one sensor for sensing the position of the print media carrier web (E) which is arranged between the two feed rolls.
  7. The printer according to one of Claims 1 to 6,
    characterised in that the inkjet printing units (30) are held at a vertical wall (10a) which comprises at least one, preferably two, parallel horizontal slots (32) which extend parallel to each other, along which the inkjet printing units (30) are movably supported.
  8. The printer according to one of Claims 1 to 7,
    characterised in that four inkjet printing units (30), preferably for differently coloured inks, are provided.
  9. The printer according to Claim 8,
    characterised in that the distances between the individual inkjet printing units (30) are identical.
  10. The printer according to Claim 8 or 9,
    characterised in that the distance between the inkjet printing units (30) corresponds to the single or multiple length of a print medium on the print media carrier web (E).
  11. The printer according to one of Claims 1 to 10,
    characterised in that the conveying path (F) of the print media carrier web (E) extends horizontally below the inkjet printing units (30).
  12. The printer according to one of Claims 1 to 11,
    characterised in that the unprinted print media carrier web (E) is wound on an unwinding roll (20) which is arranged upstream of the inkjet printing units (30).
  13. The printer according to one of Claims 1 to 12,
    characterised in that a drying unit (40) is arranged downstream of the and adjoining the inkjet printing units (30).
  14. The printer according to Claim 13,
    characterised in that the drying unit is a UV drying unit (40).
  15. The printer according to one of Claims 1 to 14,
    characterised in that a dispensing unit for dispensing individual print media which are peeled off the media carrier web (E) by the dispensing unit is arranged downstream of the thermal transfer printing unit (70).
  16. The printer according to Claim 15,
    characterised in that a winding roll (80) for the blank print media carrier web (E) is arranged upstream of the dispensing unit.
  17. The printer according to one of Claims 1 to 16,
    characterised in that the conveying path (F) of the print media carrier web (E) extends Z-shaped from the inkjet printing units (30) to the thermal transfer printing unit (70).
  18. The printer according to one of Claims 1 to 17,
    characterised in that the inkjet printing units (30) and/or the thermal transfer printing unit (70) are provided with at least one conveyor apparatus for the transport of the print media carrier web (E).
EP02722255.3A 2001-03-20 2002-03-20 Combination printer Expired - Lifetime EP1372969B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE10113558A DE10113558B4 (en) 2001-03-20 2001-03-20 Combined printer
DE10113558 2001-03-20
PCT/EP2002/003125 WO2002074546A1 (en) 2001-03-20 2002-03-20 Combination printer

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1372969A1 EP1372969A1 (en) 2004-01-02
EP1372969B1 true EP1372969B1 (en) 2014-08-13

Family

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EP02722255.3A Expired - Lifetime EP1372969B1 (en) 2001-03-20 2002-03-20 Combination printer

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US (1) US20030090557A1 (en)
EP (1) EP1372969B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2004524190A (en)
DE (1) DE10113558B4 (en)
ES (1) ES2510616T3 (en)
WO (1) WO2002074546A1 (en)

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DE10113558B4 (en) 2005-09-22
DE10113558A1 (en) 2002-10-02
WO2002074546A1 (en) 2002-09-26
US20030090557A1 (en) 2003-05-15
ES2510616T3 (en) 2014-10-21
JP2004524190A (en) 2004-08-12
EP1372969A1 (en) 2004-01-02

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