EP1839884B1 - Device for contour-exact printing of patterns on flat workpieces - Google Patents
Device for contour-exact printing of patterns on flat workpieces Download PDFInfo
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- EP1839884B1 EP1839884B1 EP07003270A EP07003270A EP1839884B1 EP 1839884 B1 EP1839884 B1 EP 1839884B1 EP 07003270 A EP07003270 A EP 07003270A EP 07003270 A EP07003270 A EP 07003270A EP 1839884 B1 EP1839884 B1 EP 1839884B1
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- contour
- printing
- station
- digital
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- 238000007639 printing Methods 0.000 title claims description 42
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 claims description 13
- 239000002023 wood Substances 0.000 claims description 10
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 10
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 6
- 238000007641 inkjet printing Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000032258 transport Effects 0.000 description 5
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000013500 data storage Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000003213 activating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000903 blocking effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011161 development Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000018109 developmental process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000011156 evaluation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001771 impaired effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000873 masking effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000284 resting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
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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
- B41J3/00—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
- B41J3/28—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for printing downwardly on flat surfaces, e.g. of books, drawings, boxes, envelopes, e.g. flat-bed ink-jet printers
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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
- B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
- B41J11/008—Controlling printhead for accurately positioning print image on printing material, e.g. with the intention to control the width of margins
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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
- B41J3/00—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
- B41J3/44—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms having dual functions or combined with, or coupled to, apparatus performing other functions
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B44—DECORATIVE ARTS
- B44F—SPECIAL DESIGNS OR PICTURES
- B44F9/00—Designs imitating natural patterns
- B44F9/02—Designs imitating natural patterns wood grain effects
Definitions
- the invention relates to a device for printing decorative images on flat workpieces according to the preamble of claim 1.
- a device for printing decorative images on flat workpieces according to the preamble of claim 1.
- a device comprises a printing station, a transport device and a pressure control.
- the printing station contains digitally controlled inking elements, and the transporting device transports the workpieces through the printing station.
- the print control interacts with a digital image data store containing the decor images in the form of digital decor image data. To print these digital decor image data from the image data memory as pixels on the workpiece, the print controller digitally controls the inking elements.
- Devices of this kind are for example from the DE 195 32 724 A1 , of the DE 100 31 030 A1 and the DE 103 23 412 A1 known.
- the decorative images are in particular images of grained wood surfaces that are printed on workpieces such as wood-based panels, furniture doors, trim strips and the like in order to produce the visual impression of a real wood surface.
- the inkjet printing method has the great advantage of increased flexibility over conventional printing by means of printing cylinders. With inkjet printing process even small lots with a variety of decorative images in a very short time succession economically printed become. Furthermore, in the ink-jet printing process, the printing of non-planar workpiece surfaces without loss of quality is easily possible.
- the present invention seeks to improve a device of the type mentioned in terms of their contour accuracy for differently shaped and in particular for tolerances in their contour dimensions workpieces.
- the printing station is thus preceded by a surveying station, which can be arranged in line directly in front of the printing station, or also spaced therefrom in a timed production process.
- Contour sensors are located in this measuring station, with the aid of which the workpiece can be measured and contour data of the workpiece determined.
- This may, for example, be such that the contour sensors are movable along the contour of the workpiece, so that a point measurement, for example by means of a light barrier, is sufficient to determine the contour coordinates of the workpiece together with the path data of the contour sensor.
- contour sensors such as light band sensors, ultrasonic sensors or digital cameras are preferably used. Even tactile sensors are conceivable.
- a single contour sensor is sufficient to measure the contour of the workpiece; It makes sense, however, to use two contour sensors, which are preferably movable in mutually orthogonal directions.
- two contour sensors which are preferably movable in mutually orthogonal directions.
- a digital line scan camera whose measurement data are incrementally linked to the motion data of the transport device during the measurement.
- the variant with line camera is particularly suitable for an arrangement in line with the printing station. since a line scan camera can be arranged, for example, on a portal arranged in front of the printing station via its transport device. In order to increase the resolution of the line scan camera, a plurality of line scan cameras, possibly with slightly offset pixel structures, can be arranged one behind the other.
- a contour sensor a digital camera, which receives the workpiece in particular over the entire surface and based on a pixel-precise evaluation digitally determines the contour data. Again, this can be done in a line layout with the print station, although a timed process is more likely to provide accuracy of the survey.
- the surveying station cooperates with the printing control of the printing station by giving the data of the contour sensors, if necessary, to the printing controller, and the printing controller then can not print pixels of the decorative image that lie outside the contour of the workpiece, while the remaining pixels are unaffected stay.
- the digital decor images are therefore usually larger than the largest flat workpiece that is to be printed, so that even the largest workpiece can be printed borderless. If it is now recognized in the surveying station that the decorative image extends beyond the contour of the workpiece, the image data is not recalculated and the decorative image is correspondingly reduced, so that no image data comes to lie more outside the contour, but the decorative image is virtually along the Cut contour of the workpiece and accordingly those inking elements of the printing station locked, the pixels would print outside the contour of the workpiece.
- each halftone dot corresponds to a pixel of the printing station - for example, a particular nozzle from a plurality of nozzles of an inkjet printhead.
- the contour data of the workpiece obtained in the surveying station are then assigned to their respective grid points.
- the result is then one virtual raster image of the workpiece before, in which for each raster point information is given whether this is inside, on or outside the contour of the workpiece.
- the individual inking elements can be controlled digitally, either so that only pixels are printed that are within the grid points corresponding to the contour data of the respective workpiece, or that only pixels are printed on or within the contour data corresponding Grid points lie.
- the finer the grid the more accurate the decorative image will be printed on the surface or contour of the workpiece.
- a recalculation of the pixels is, as mentioned above, not performed, no matter how the workpiece is formed.
- the surveying station already acquires the contour data in a digital grid, for example by means of a digital image sensor. Then, each pixel of the image sensor can be assigned to a raster point of the print grid, wherein the print control then decides in accordance with the brightness values of the pixel data obtained whether individual pixels are enabled or disabled by correspondingly activating or blocking the inking elements during printing. It is obvious that such direct assignment of digital survey data to the digital image data ensures very fast and easy signal processing and printing control.
- inkjet printing technique in which the inking elements are designed as ink nozzles
- other digital printing methods are conceivable and encompassed by the invention, for example the digital transmission of image data by means of laser on a pressure roller, as is common in laser copying machines for printing on paper is.
- FIG. 1 are purely schematically illustrated the main modules of a device according to the invention Shen for operation in line.
- a workpiece 1 to be printed with a wood decor is transported on a conveyor belt 2 resting by a printing station 3.
- a known inkjet printer is arranged, which applies a deriving from an image data storage 11 digital woodgrain decor image on the surface of the workpiece 1.
- the printing station 3 is preceded by a surveying station 4, in this case arranged a line camera 5 as a portal is and generates digital data on the contour of the workpiece 1 as a function of the traveled path of the conveyor belt 2 and outputs to a pressure controller 12.
- the print controller 12 combines the digital data received from the line camera 5 with the digital data of the decorative image from the image data memory 11, in such a way that the from the Image data memory 11 originated decor image virtually overlaid with the detected by the line camera 5 contour of the workpiece 1 and the lying outside the contour image data are cut off. This is done in realiter in the illustrated printing station 3 with a plurality of ink jet nozzles quite simply so that the respective nozzles that would print a pixel outside the contour of the workpiece 1, each switched inactive.
- FIG. 2 shows the process of the superimposition of image data with the contour data of the workpiece 1.
- a virtual grid 6 is set, whose grid points correspond to the resolution of the printing station 3; per pixel, the printing station 3 prints, so a grid point 8 of the grid 6 is present.
- the number and arrangement of the dots transverse to the direction of passage may correspond to the number and arrangement of the ink jet nozzles;
- FIG. 3 shows the schematic plan view of a first embodiment of a surveying station, unlike in FIG. 1 shown not in line with the printing station 3 is arranged, but works independently of this.
- the surveying station shown here for the workpiece 1 has a total of four contour sensors 10, which are each mounted movably on a measuring beam 9.
- a first measuring beam 9a is movable in the x-direction, while the associated contour sensor 10a can be moved along the measuring beam 9a in the y-direction.
- a second measuring beam 9b is orthogonal to this in the y-direction movable while the associated contour sensor 10b along the measuring beam 9b can be moved in the x-direction.
- a third measuring beam 9c is fixedly arranged like a fourth measuring beam 9d, and the associated contour sensors 10c and 10d can be moved along these beams 9c, 9d in the x-direction (10c) and y-direction (10d), respectively.
- the task of in FIG. 3 Measuring station shown is the detection of the workpiece outer edges of rectangular plates, ie the contour 7. per workpiece edge, a contour sensor 10 is provided. Via a positioning system, the measuring bars 9 are placed so that they are located over the workpiece edges. Then, the contour sensors 10 are moved over the edges and the edge position detected depending on the incrementally recorded path. During the measuring process, the workpiece 1 is not moved. All four edges are detected simultaneously. A height adjustability of the contour sensors 10 and / or the measuring beam 9 can be provided.
- FIG. 4 a second embodiment of a surveying station is shown.
- This exemplary embodiment uses the principle of a line camera 5, which can be moved in the manner of a portal over the workpiece 1 along the two measuring bars 9.
- This system is suitable for arbitrarily shaped workpiece geometries.
- the measured value resolution increases or decreases depending on the travel speed of the line scan camera 5.
- the Line scan camera 5 detects gray scale differences and links these with the position values of the measurement bars 9.
- FIG. 5 a third embodiment of a surveying station is shown, which is suitable for applications in the wood and furniture industry with rectangular workpiece formats, the workpieces 1 tolerance variations of previous processing steps (saw cuts) are subjected. While the workpiece 1 to be measured is conveyed into the surveying station 4, the measuring bars 9 adjust to the starting positions in accordance with the previously known coarse dimensions of the workpieces 1.
- the contour sensors 10 are formed by CCD cameras, and they are arranged on the two movable measuring bars 9a and 9b in the x-direction and y-direction movable. During the actual measurement then neither the workpiece 1 nor the contour sensors 10 are moved. The contour sensors 10 take only the respective corner areas as an image of the entire workpiece surface visible from above.
- the movable measuring bars 9a, 9b move over the workpiece to the opposite corner positions. There is a second measurement. With the light-dark analysis of the four corner point images results in the combination of the contour sensor positions with the data of the measuring bar 9, the coordinate information of the workpiece corner points. As a result, skewness of the nominally rectangular workpieces can be detected.
- the computational connection of the measured vertices with straight lines in order to calculate a virtual workpiece surface can meet the requirements in this simple case.
- FIG. 1 illustrated arrangement of the components of a device according to the invention is only an example.
- the direct assignment of the surveying station 4 to the printing station 3 on the same conveyor belt 2 is by no means mandatory for the realization of the invention.
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
- Ink Jet (AREA)
- Record Information Processing For Printing (AREA)
- Accessory Devices And Overall Control Thereof (AREA)
Description
Die Erfindung betrifft eine Vorrichtung zum Drucken von Dekorbildern auf flächige Werkstücke nach dem Oberbegriff des Anspruchs 1. Demnach umfasst eine solche Vorrichtung eine Druckstation, eine Transporteinrichtung und eine Drucksteuerung. Die Druckstation enthält digital angesteuerte Farbauftragselemente, und die Transporteinrichtung transportiert die Werkstücke durch die Druckstation. Die Drucksteuerung wirkt mit einem digitalen Bilddatenspeicher zusammen, der die Dekorbilder in Form von digitalen Dekorbild-Daten enthält. Zum Drucken von diesen digitalen Dekorbild-Daten aus dem Bilddatenspeicher als Bildpunkte auf das Werkstück steuert die Drucksteuerung die Farbauftragselemente digital an.The invention relates to a device for printing decorative images on flat workpieces according to the preamble of
Vorrichtungen dieser Art sind beispielsweise aus der
Das Tintenstrahldruckverfahren hat hierbei gegenüber dem herkömmlichen Druck mittels Druckzylindern den großen Vorteil einer erhöhten Flexibilität. Mit Tintenstrahldruckverfahren können auch kleine Lose mit unterschiedlichsten Dekorbildern in sehr kurzer zeitlicher Aufeinanderfolge wirtschaftlich bedruckt werden. Des Weiteren ist im Tintenstrahldruckverfahren das Bedrucken von nicht ebenen Werkstückoberflächen ohne Qualitätsverlust leicht möglich.The inkjet printing method has the great advantage of increased flexibility over conventional printing by means of printing cylinders. With inkjet printing process even small lots with a variety of decorative images in a very short time succession economically printed become. Furthermore, in the ink-jet printing process, the printing of non-planar workpiece surfaces without loss of quality is easily possible.
Gerade bei Dekorbildern, die eine gemaserte Holzoberfläche darstellen, ist jedoch ein randloses Bedrucken der Werkstückoberflächen notwendig, um den gewünschten optischen Eindruck einer Echtholz-Oberfläche zu erzeugen. Schon kleinste Bildränder auf dem Werkstück in der Größenordnung von 0,1 Millimeter bis 0,15 Millimeter, was in etwa der optischen Auflösung des menschlichen Auges in 0,5 Meter bis 1 Meter Abstand entspricht, sind wahrnehmbar und beeinträchtigen somit den gewünschten optischen Eindruck nachhaltig. Dementsprechend druckt man aus Sicherheitsgründen üblicherweise ein Dekorbild auf die Werkstückoberfläche, das etwas größer ist als diese. Allerdings muss dann die Außenkante des flächigen Werkstückes durch beispielsweise Abkleben geschützt werden, damit der Tintenstrahldrucker die Kante nicht unabsichtlich mit dem über die Kontur des Werkstückes hinausgehenden Dekorbild bedruckt. Denn in einem solchen Fall wird nicht nur die Werkstückkante optisch beeinträchtigt, sondern es entsteht auch Overspray, der sich beispielsweise auf der Transporteinrichtung niederschlägt und im Übrigen einen unnötigen Mehrverbrauch an Druckfarbe verursacht.Especially with decor images that represent a grained wood surface, however, a borderless printing of the workpiece surfaces is necessary to produce the desired visual impression of a real wood surface. Even the smallest image edges on the workpiece in the order of 0.1 millimeters to 0.15 millimeters, which corresponds approximately to the optical resolution of the human eye in 0.5 meters to 1 meter distance, are noticeable and thus affect the desired visual impression sustainable , Accordingly, for security reasons, a decorative image is usually printed on the workpiece surface, which is slightly larger than this. However, then the outer edge of the flat workpiece must be protected by, for example, masking, so that the inkjet printer does not print the edge unintentionally with the beyond the contour of the workpiece decor image. Because in such a case, not only the workpiece edge is visually impaired, but it also creates overspray, which is reflected for example on the transport device and incidentally causes unnecessary consumption of ink.
Ausgehend von diesem Stand der Technik liegt der vorliegenden Erfindung die Aufgabe zugrunde, eine Vorrichtung der eingangs genannten Art hinsichtlich ihrer Konturgenauigkeit für unterschiedlich geformte und insbesondere für in ihren Konturabmessungen toleranzbehaftete Werkstücke zu verbessern.Based on this prior art, the present invention seeks to improve a device of the type mentioned in terms of their contour accuracy for differently shaped and in particular for tolerances in their contour dimensions workpieces.
Gelöst ist diese Aufgabe durch eine Vorrichtung mit den Merkmalen des Anspruchs 1. Weitere Ausgestaltungen und bevorzugte Weiterbildungen der Erfindung finden sich in den Ansprüchen 2 bis 12.This object is achieved by a device having the features of
Gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung wird der Druckstation also eine Vermessungsstation vorgeschaltet, die in Linie direkt vor der Druckstation angeordnet sein kann, oder in einem getakteten Produktionsprozess auch davon beabstandet.According to the present invention, the printing station is thus preceded by a surveying station, which can be arranged in line directly in front of the printing station, or also spaced therefrom in a timed production process.
In dieser Vermessungsstation befinden sich Kontursensoren, mit deren Hilfe das Werkstück vermessen und Konturdaten des Werkstücks ermittelt werden. Dies kann beispielsweise so aussehen, dass die Kontursensoren entlang der Kontur des Werkstücks beweglich sind, so dass eine Punktmessung beispielsweise mittels einer Lichtschranke ausreicht, um zusammen mit den Wegdaten des Kontursensors die Konturkoordinaten des Werkstücks zu ermitteln. Anstelle einer solchen einfachen Lichtschranke werden allerdings bevorzugt Kontursensoren wie Lichtbandsensoren, Ultraschallsensoren oder Digitalkameras verwendet. Auch taktile Sensoren sind denkbar.Contour sensors are located in this measuring station, with the aid of which the workpiece can be measured and contour data of the workpiece determined. This may, for example, be such that the contour sensors are movable along the contour of the workpiece, so that a point measurement, for example by means of a light barrier, is sufficient to determine the contour coordinates of the workpiece together with the path data of the contour sensor. However, instead of such a simple light barrier, contour sensors such as light band sensors, ultrasonic sensors or digital cameras are preferably used. Even tactile sensors are conceivable.
Im Prinzip reicht ein einziger Kontursensor aus, um die Kontur des Werkstücks zu vermessen; sinnvollerweise werden jedoch zwei Kontursensoren verwendet, die vorzugsweise in zueinander orthogonalen Richtungen beweglich sind. Soweit lediglich rechteckige Werkstücke bearbeitet werden sollen, wie es in der Holz- und Möbelindustrie der Regelfall ist, wird es ausreichen, lediglich die genaue Lage der Ecken der Werkstücke zu vermessen, um eventuelle Schiefwinkligkeiten, insbesondere eine Trapezform oder Toleranzschwankungen eines Sägeschnitts zu erkennen.In principle, a single contour sensor is sufficient to measure the contour of the workpiece; It makes sense, however, to use two contour sensors, which are preferably movable in mutually orthogonal directions. As far as only rectangular workpieces are to be processed, as is the rule in the wood and furniture industry, it will be sufficient to measure only the exact location of the corners of the workpieces to detect any skewness, especially a trapezoidal shape or tolerance variations of a saw cut.
Ebenso ist es jedoch auch möglich, als Kantensensor eine digitale Zeilenkamera zu verwenden, deren Messdaten mit den Bewegungsdaten der Transporteinrichtung beim Vermessen inkremental verknüpft werden. Während die oben beschriebenen Möglichkeiten von entlang der Kontur des Werkstücks beweglichen Kontursensoren eher für einen getakteten Betrieb der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung geeignet ist und die Vermessungsstation völlig unabhängig von der Druckstation sein kann, eignet sich die Ausführungsvariante mit Zeilenkamera insbesondere für eine Anordnung in Linie mit der Druckstation, da eine Zeilenkamera beispielsweise auf einen vor der Druckstation über deren Transporteinrichtung angeordneten Portal angeordnet werden kann. Um die Auflösung der Zeilenkamera zu erhöhen, können mehrere Zeilenkameras, gegebenenfalls mit etwas gegeneinander versetzten Pixelstrukturen, hintereinander angeordnet werden.However, it is also possible to use as an edge sensor a digital line scan camera whose measurement data are incrementally linked to the motion data of the transport device during the measurement. While the above-described possibilities of contour sensors movable along the contour of the workpiece are more suitable for timed operation of the device according to the invention and the surveying station can be completely independent of the printing station, the variant with line camera is particularly suitable for an arrangement in line with the printing station. since a line scan camera can be arranged, for example, on a portal arranged in front of the printing station via its transport device. In order to increase the resolution of the line scan camera, a plurality of line scan cameras, possibly with slightly offset pixel structures, can be arranged one behind the other.
Alternativ ist es auch möglich, als Kontursensor eine digitale Kamera zu verwenden, die das Werkstück insbesondere ganzflächig aufnimmt und anhand einer pixelgenauen Auswertung die Konturdaten digital ermittelt. Auch dies kann in einer Linienanordnung mit der Druckstation durchgeführt werden, wobei sich allerdings ein getakteter Prozess eher anbietet, um die Genauigkeit der Vermessung zu gewährleisten.Alternatively, it is also possible to use as a contour sensor a digital camera, which receives the workpiece in particular over the entire surface and based on a pixel-precise evaluation digitally determines the contour data. Again, this can be done in a line layout with the print station, although a timed process is more likely to provide accuracy of the survey.
Die Vermessungsstation wirkt nun erfindungsgemäß mit der Drucksteuerung der Druckstation zusammen, indem sie die Daten der Kontursensoren gegebenenfalls aufbereitet an die Drucksteuerung gibt, und die Drucksteuerung dann Bildpunkte des Dekorbildes, die außerhalb der Kontur des Werkstücks liegen, nicht drucken lässt, während die restlichen Bildpunkte unbeeinflusst bleiben.According to the invention, the surveying station cooperates with the printing control of the printing station by giving the data of the contour sensors, if necessary, to the printing controller, and the printing controller then can not print pixels of the decorative image that lie outside the contour of the workpiece, while the remaining pixels are unaffected stay.
Nach der vorliegenden Erfindung sind die digitalen Dekorbilder also üblicherweise größer als das größte flächige Werkstück, das bedruckt werden soll, so dass auch das größte Werkstück randlos bedruckt werden kann. Wenn nun in der Vermessungsstation erkannt wird, dass das Dekorbild über die Kontur des Werkstücks hinausreicht, werden nicht etwa die Bilddaten neu berechnet und das Dekorbild entsprechend verkleinert, so dass keine Bilddaten mehr außerhalb der Kontur zu liegen kommen, sondern das Dekorbild wird virtuell entlang der Kontur des Werkstücks abgeschnitten und dementsprechend diejenigen Farbauftragselemente der Druckstation gesperrt, die Bildpunkte außerhalb der Kontur des Werkstückes drucken würden.According to the present invention, the digital decor images are therefore usually larger than the largest flat workpiece that is to be printed, so that even the largest workpiece can be printed borderless. If it is now recognized in the surveying station that the decorative image extends beyond the contour of the workpiece, the image data is not recalculated and the decorative image is correspondingly reduced, so that no image data comes to lie more outside the contour, but the decorative image is virtually along the Cut contour of the workpiece and accordingly those inking elements of the printing station locked, the pixels would print outside the contour of the workpiece.
Auf diese Art und Weise wird verhindert, dass über den Rand der flächigen Werkstücke hinaus gedruckt wird; die Dekorbilder werden also kantengenau auf die Werkstücke aufgebracht. Gleichwohl ist keine zeitaufwendige Neuberechnung der Dekorbild-Daten aus dem Bilddatenspeicher notwendig. Ferner sind Bildverzerrungen ausgeschlossen.In this way it is prevented that is printed over the edge of the flat workpieces out; The decor images are thus applied edge exact on the workpieces. Nevertheless, no time-consuming recalculation of the decorative image data from the image data storage is necessary. Furthermore, image distortions are excluded.
Die Zusammenarbeit der erfindungsgemäßen Vermessungsstation mit der Drucksteuerung erfolgt vorzugsweise so, dass die Drucksteuerung ein virtuelles Raster über das zu bedruckende Werkstück legt, wobei jeder Rasterpunkt einem Bildpunkt der Druckstation entspricht - beispielsweise einer bestimmten Düse aus einer Vielzahl von Düsen eines Tintenstrahl-Druckkopfes. Die in der Vermessungsstation gewonnenen Konturdaten des Werkstücks werden dann ihren jeweiligen Rasterpunkten zugeordnet. Im Ergebnis liegt dann also ein virtuelles Rasterbild des Werkstücks vor, bei dem für jeden Rasterpunkt eine Information gegeben ist, ob dieser innerhalb, auf oder außerhalb der Kontur des Werkstücks liegt. Dementsprechend können dann die einzelnen Farbauftragselemente digital angesteuert werden, und zwar entweder so, dass nur Bildpunkte gedruckt werden, die innerhalb der den Konturdaten des jeweiligen Werkstücks entsprechenden Rasterpunkten liegen, oder aber dass nur Bildpunkte gedruckt werden, die auf den oder innerhalb der den Konturdaten entsprechenden Rasterpunkten liegen. Je feiner das Raster ist, umso genauer wird dann das Dekorbild an die Oberfläche bzw. Kontur des Werkstücks angepasst aufgedruckt. Eine Neuberechnung der Bildpunkte wird, wie oben bereits erwähnt, nicht durchgeführt, egal wie das Werkstück geformt ist.The cooperation of the surveying station according to the invention with the pressure control is preferably carried out so that the print control lays a virtual grid over the workpiece to be printed, each halftone dot corresponds to a pixel of the printing station - for example, a particular nozzle from a plurality of nozzles of an inkjet printhead. The contour data of the workpiece obtained in the surveying station are then assigned to their respective grid points. The result is then one virtual raster image of the workpiece before, in which for each raster point information is given whether this is inside, on or outside the contour of the workpiece. Accordingly, then the individual inking elements can be controlled digitally, either so that only pixels are printed that are within the grid points corresponding to the contour data of the respective workpiece, or that only pixels are printed on or within the contour data corresponding Grid points lie. The finer the grid, the more accurate the decorative image will be printed on the surface or contour of the workpiece. A recalculation of the pixels is, as mentioned above, not performed, no matter how the workpiece is formed.
Besonders vorteilhaft ist es, wenn die Vermessungsstation die Konturdaten bereits in einem digitalen Raster aufnimmt, beispielsweise mittels eines digitalen Bildsensors. Dann kann jedes Pixel des Bildsensors einem Rasterpunkt des Druckrasters zugeordnet werden, wobei dann die Drucksteuerung entsprechend der Helligkeitswerte der erhaltenen Pixeldaten entscheidet, ob einzelne Bildpunkte durch entsprechendes Ansteuern bzw. Sperren der Farbauftragselemente beim Druck freigegeben oder gesperrt werden. Es liegt auf der Hand, dass eine solche direkte Zuordnung von digitalen Vermessungsdaten zu den digitalen Bilddaten eine sehr schnelle und einfache Signalverarbeitung und Drucksteuerung sicherstellt.It is particularly advantageous if the surveying station already acquires the contour data in a digital grid, for example by means of a digital image sensor. Then, each pixel of the image sensor can be assigned to a raster point of the print grid, wherein the print control then decides in accordance with the brightness values of the pixel data obtained whether individual pixels are enabled or disabled by correspondingly activating or blocking the inking elements during printing. It is obvious that such direct assignment of digital survey data to the digital image data ensures very fast and easy signal processing and printing control.
Neben der bevorzugten Tintenstrahl-Drucktechnik, bei der die Farbauftragselemente als Farbdüsen ausgestaltet sind, sind weitere digitale Druckverfahren denkbar und von der Erfindung umfasst, beispielsweise die digitale Übertragung von Bilddaten mittels Laser auf eine Druckwalze, wie es bei Laser-Kopiergeräten zum Bedrucken von Papier üblich ist.In addition to the preferred inkjet printing technique in which the inking elements are designed as ink nozzles, other digital printing methods are conceivable and encompassed by the invention, for example the digital transmission of image data by means of laser on a pressure roller, as is common in laser copying machines for printing on paper is.
Die Verwendung der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zum Bedrucken von Werkstückoberflächen mit Dekorbildern von Holzmaserungen ist die bevorzugte Anwendung der vorliegenden Erfindung; jedoch ist die Erfindung darauf nicht beschränkt. Es ist vielmehr denkbar, unterschiedlichste Dekorbilder auf Werkstücke mit der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung zu drucken.The use of the device according to the invention for printing workpiece surfaces with decor images of wood grains is the preferred application of the present invention; however, the invention is not limited thereto. It is rather conceivable to print a wide variety of decorative images on workpieces with the device according to the invention.
Ein Ausführungsbeispiel der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung wird im Folgenden mit unterschiedlichen Ausgestaltungen anhand der beigefügten Zeichnungen näher beschrieben und erläutert. Es zeigen:
- Figur 1:
- eine perspektivische Schemazeichnung einer erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung;
- Figur 2:
- eine schematische Darstellung der Arbeitsweise der Konturerkennung;
- Figur 3:
- ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel für eine separate Vermessungsstation, schematisch;
- Figur 4:
- ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel für eine separate Vermessungsstation, schematisch;
- Figur 5:
- ein drittes Ausführungsbeispiel für eine separate Vermessungsstation, schematisch.
- FIG. 1:
- a perspective schematic drawing of a device according to the invention;
- FIG. 2:
- a schematic representation of the operation of contour detection;
- FIG. 3:
- a first embodiment of a separate surveying station, schematically;
- FIG. 4:
- a second embodiment of a separate surveying station, schematically;
- FIG. 5:
- a third embodiment of a separate surveying station, schematically.
In
Wie die beiden Schaubilder der
In
Die Aufgabe der in
In
In
Abschließend darf nochmals erwähnt werden, dass die in
Claims (12)
- Device for printing decorative images onto flat workpieces, comprising a printing station (3) having digitally controlled colour-application elements, a transport device (2) for transporting the workpieces (1) through the printing station (3), and a print controller (12) which co-operates with a digital image data memory (11) and digitally controls the colour-application elements for printing digital decorative image data from the image data memory (11) as image points onto the workpiece (1), there being arranged upstream of the printing station (3) a measurement station (4) which receives contour data of the workpiece (1) by means of contour sensors (10) and co-operates with the print controller (12) in such a way that image points of the decorative image located outside the contour (7) of the workpiece (1) are not printed,
characterised in that
the digital image data memory (11) contains digital decorative images which are larger than the largest flat workpiece to be printed, and the measurement station (4) further co-operates with the print controller (12) in such a way that the remaining image points not located outside the contour (7) of the workpiece remain unaffected. - Device according to claim 1,
characterised in that
the printing station (3) comprises a print head having a plurality of colour-application elements in the form of colour nozzles. - Device according to claim 2,
characterised in that
the print head is an ink-jet printer. - Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 3,
characterised in that
the print controller (12) is so arranged that it positions a virtual grid (6) over each workpiece (1) to be printed, each grid point (8) corresponding to an image point of the printing station (3), and it allocates the contour data measured in the measurement station (4) to their respective grid points (8). - Device according to claim 4,
characterised in that
the print controller (12) is so arranged that only image points located within the grid points (8) corresponding to the contour data of the respective workpiece (1) are printed. - Device according to claim 4,
characterised in that
the print controller (12) is so arranged that only image points located on or within the grid points (8) corresponding to the contour data of the respective workpiece (1) are printed. - Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 6,
characterised in that
the measurement station (4) contains a digital camera (5, 10). - Device according to claim 7,
characterised in that
the camera consists of at least one digital line-scan camera (5), the measured data of which are linked incrementally with movement data of the transport device (2) during measurement. - Device according to either one of claims 7 and 8,
characterised in that
the digital camera (5, 10) co-operates with the print controller (12) in such a way that each pixel of the camera is allocated to a grid point (8) of the print controller (12). - Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 9,
characterised in that
the measurement station (4) comprises at least one edge sensor (1) arranged so as to be movable relative to the workpiece (1) along the contour thereof. - Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 9,
characterised in that
the measurement station (4) comprises edge sensors (10), especially digital cameras, arranged at at least two corners of rectangular workpieces (1). - Device according to at least one of claims 1 to 11,
characterised in that
the decorative images depict wood surfaces.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE200610014644 DE102006014644A1 (en) | 2006-03-30 | 2006-03-30 | Device for contour-accurate printing of decorative images on flat workpieces |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP1839884A1 EP1839884A1 (en) | 2007-10-03 |
EP1839884B1 true EP1839884B1 (en) | 2012-10-24 |
Family
ID=38196588
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP07003270A Active EP1839884B1 (en) | 2006-03-30 | 2007-02-16 | Device for contour-exact printing of patterns on flat workpieces |
Country Status (2)
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EP (1) | EP1839884B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE102006014644A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
ITMI20061227A1 (en) | 2006-06-26 | 2007-12-27 | Dante Frati | PROCEDURE FOR PRINTING SURFACES OF FLAT BASE ELEMENTS |
DE102009011486B4 (en) * | 2009-03-06 | 2012-08-02 | Frank Landwehr | Furniture front with printed decor |
PL2452829T5 (en) * | 2010-11-10 | 2018-06-29 | Flooring Technologies Ltd. | Method for attaching a finish to a wooden material board |
CN103917376B (en) | 2011-07-05 | 2016-12-21 | 惠普工业印刷有限公司 | Printer and the method for printing |
DE102013101693B9 (en) * | 2013-02-20 | 2015-11-12 | Notion Systems GmbH | Surface treatment device |
JP6224476B2 (en) * | 2014-02-07 | 2017-11-01 | ローランドディー.ジー.株式会社 | Printing apparatus and printing method |
CN104525424B (en) * | 2015-01-04 | 2018-02-13 | 成都思达特电器有限公司 | A kind of optical measuring apparatus for coating robot coats' path setting |
CN111132849B (en) | 2017-09-26 | 2021-11-26 | 惠普印迪格公司 | Scraping structure, generation method thereof, storage resource and system |
DE102018003096A1 (en) | 2018-04-17 | 2019-10-17 | Burkhard Büstgens | Drop-on-demand - coating of surfaces |
IT201800006225A1 (en) * | 2018-06-12 | 2019-12-12 | METHOD AND MACHINE FOR THE SURFACE DECORATION OF A BASIC ARTICLE OF THE CERAMIC PROCESSING INDUSTRY | |
AT526342B1 (en) | 2022-09-27 | 2024-02-15 | Inkatronic Gmbh | Device and method for printing objects |
Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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DE19929316A1 (en) * | 1999-06-25 | 2000-12-28 | Eastman Kodak Co | Ink jet printer for producing photographic prints, has edge detection sensor, and devices for applying digital masks to printed and coated images to prevent printing and coating beyond paper edges |
Family Cites Families (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE4309750C2 (en) * | 1993-03-26 | 1995-08-24 | F & O Elektronic Systems Gmbh | Process for printing labels |
DE19532724A1 (en) * | 1995-09-05 | 1997-03-06 | Tampoprint Gmbh | Multi-color printing device |
DE10031030B4 (en) * | 2000-06-26 | 2005-08-04 | Bauer, Jörg R. | Method and device for producing flat components with a predetermined surface appearance and planar component, in particular front panel of a kitchen element |
JP3998990B2 (en) * | 2002-02-04 | 2007-10-31 | 永大産業株式会社 | Defect repair equipment for wooden materials |
JP2003244586A (en) * | 2002-02-21 | 2003-08-29 | Canon Inc | Image processing equipment, its control method, image processing system and control program |
KR100990448B1 (en) * | 2002-04-03 | 2010-10-29 | 메이소나이트 코오포레이션 | Method for creating an image on an article |
DE10323412B4 (en) * | 2003-05-23 | 2007-07-05 | Bauer, Jörg R. | Method and device for producing a component having a surface of predetermined appearance |
-
2006
- 2006-03-30 DE DE200610014644 patent/DE102006014644A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2007
- 2007-02-16 EP EP07003270A patent/EP1839884B1/en active Active
Patent Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE19929316A1 (en) * | 1999-06-25 | 2000-12-28 | Eastman Kodak Co | Ink jet printer for producing photographic prints, has edge detection sensor, and devices for applying digital masks to printed and coated images to prevent printing and coating beyond paper edges |
Also Published As
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DE102006014644A1 (en) | 2007-10-04 |
EP1839884A1 (en) | 2007-10-03 |
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