EP2000313A2 - Method for imprinting objects - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves moving a sheet material (2) from a supply station (5) into a printing station (3). The sheet material is further moved using a transport device (18) in a transport direction (4). The sheet material to be imprinted is arranged in the transport direction in an inlet area in the printing station directly one behind the other in a row. The sheet material is moved during a printing process through the printing station. The printed design is applied using an ink jet printing device (13).

Description

The invention relates to a method for printing plate material with a printed image, in which the plate material is moved from a feed station in a printing station, in which the printed image is applied and moved out of this by means of a transport device in the transport direction.

From the EP 0 802 136 B1 or the DE 697 05 987 T2 a device and a method for decorating profile slats has become known. In this case, the plant for decorating the profile slats includes a station for separating the individual slats, to which a conveyor for further transport of the slats is subsequently arranged in the conveying direction. In the separation station, means are provided for holding a plurality of slats in a target position, in which the slats are moved apart in parallel and arranged so that their longitudinal direction is parallel to the feed direction of the conveyor. Furthermore, the separation station comprises further means for moving the target position engaging slats towards the subsequent conveyor. A guide station for the lamellae is arranged in the movement path of the lamellae moved by the conveyor in the working direction in front of the printing station, this guide station having distance-retaining guides which are suitable for interacting with the lamellae in the vicinity of their longitudinal edges. Thus, the slats slide between these guides and are forced to take their target position before entering the printing station. For positioning the individual slats, stops are additionally provided in the region of the guide station, which are adjustable from a position engaging in the transport path into a position located outside the transport path. These stops position the individual slats with respect to the position of the rotatable printing cylinder, which serves to output the ink to the surface of the individual slats. The printing of the individual slats takes place in groups of several juxtaposed slats, wherein before each implementation of the printing process a separate positioning of the slices provided for printing is necessary.

The US 5,401,012 A describes a document feeder for a copier, comprising a de-stacking device and a transport device for the individual sheets or documents. The unstacking device comprises separating rollers and conveyor rollers, the separation rollers from a stack of documents feeding them one by one to the conveyor rollers. Of these, the separated sheet is fed to the subsequent transport device, wherein in the 2 in 1 mode two documents are successively positioned edge to edge on the contact glass or platen for the subsequent reading and copying are stored on a single sheet. This is done by the separation rollers separated a first sheet from the stack and further promoted to the conveyor rollers. This promotes the first separated sheet as long as until by means of a sensor seen in the transport direction rear edge is detected. This signal triggers the unstacking of a second sheet from the stack. As soon as the sensor detects the front edge of the second sheet, seen in the transport direction, the unstacking process and the transport of the first sheet are interrupted. The position of the second sheet is maintained unchanged between the conveyor rollers until the first sheet is brought against the transport direction edge to edge with the second sheet by means of the transport device to the plant. Subsequently, the two sheets are brought edge to edge by means of the transport device to the predetermined position on the contact glass or platen. After the reading and copying process, the original documents located in the copying position are conveyed away from the reading area without any change.

From the DE 196 25 470 A1 a method and a device for conveying objects has become known, in which a plurality of objects is moved from a feed conveyor to a connecting conveyor. From the connecting conveyor, the individual objects are transferred to an accumulation conveyor in order to always have stored a sufficient number of stored objects for later separation towards a singulating conveyor. From the accumulation conveyor, the articles arranged one behind the other are transferred in isolated form at predetermined intervals to the separating conveyor.

In the DE 1 043 208 an overlapping device for sheet metal processing plants is described. For this purpose, the sheet to be stacked is transferred from a first conveyor to another, this subsequent conveyor. The transport speed of the first conveyor is selected to be higher than that of the second conveyor. When transferring the stacked sheet from the first conveyor towards the second conveyor, a plate adjustable in position is provided on the projecting end of the first conveyor belt, which projects over the inlet end of the second conveyor belt and ensures that a subsequent sheet does not abut butt the leading edge of the preceding sheet with its leading edge, but overlap the leading and trailing edges of the sheets properly. In this case, the adjustable plate is formed by means of a control device which operates in dependence on the speed of the first conveyor belt, automatically adjustable.

The present invention has for its object to provide a method for printing plate material, with which the productivity of the printing station can be increased.

This object of the invention is achieved in that the plate material to be printed is arranged in the feed direction at least in an inlet region in the printing station immediately one behind the other to a row and moved together through the printing station during the printing process, wherein the printed image is applied by means of an ink jet printing device.

The surprising advantage resulting from the combination of features of the method steps of claim 1 lies in the fact that the loading and unloading cycle in and out of the printing station for each printing operation to be performed is avoided by the plates arranged directly one behind the other to form a row. As a result, an almost endless application of the printed image over a plurality of successively arranged plates is possible. Furthermore, such a simultaneous large-area application of the printed image during the continuous printing process can be carried out, which is tuned to the longitudinal extent of the individual plates in the transport direction. This allows the print image to be easily adapted to different sizes of plates. In addition, thus a high quality of the printed image can be achieved. Furthermore, this eliminates major downtime for the application of the pressure medium between the otherwise occurring loading and unloading, whereby a drying and thus a possible sticking or clogging of the printing device, in particular the print heads, is avoided. In addition, a high output of printed plate material is advantageously achieved because it is conveyed almost continuously through the printing station and thereby printed. Thus, an even higher utilization rate is achieved with always the same print quality at such expensive and high-quality printing stations.

Furthermore, a procedure according to the features specified in claim 2 is advantageous because it is formed throughout the longitudinal extent of the sheet to be printed in spite of the individual plates and thus a printing is made possible up to the outermost edge, without causing contamination the conveyor belt underneath accompanies.

A further advantageous procedure is described in claim 3, whereby the rows of the plate material to be printed are always brought together for mutual contact, thereby creating a nearly continuous, to be printed surface by the individual plates to be printed without high mechanical complexity.

Also advantageous is a method variant according to claim 4, characterized in that a predetermined orientation of the applied print image with respect to the plate material to be printed takes place and this exactly aligned with respect to the transverse movement of the print carriage is guided through the printing area.

Furthermore, a procedure according to the features specified in claim 5 is advantageous because even higher productivity of the printing station can be achieved. As a result, the printed image can be applied in the course of the reciprocation of the printing carriage on several plates arranged side by side at the same time.

A further advantageous procedure is described in claim 6, whereby possible angular errors in the alignment between the individual rows can be compensated so that each of the individual rows can be passed through the printing station in exact parallel alignment with respect to the transport direction.

Also advantageous is a method variant according to claim 7, characterized in that an exactly predeterminable feed movement of the plate material to be printed through the printing station is achieved with respect to the transport device. Furthermore, a sufficient mutual fixing of the position of the individual plates to each other is thereby also achieved.

Furthermore, a procedure according to the features specified in claim 8 is advantageous, because characterized over the entire support surface a planar contact of the plate material achieved in the printing area. As a result, sufficient static friction of the plate material on the transport device, in particular on the conveyor belt is achieved, which is large enough to ensure accurate onward transport. In addition, it is possible to dispense with disturbing pressing devices, which are to be set to different thicknesses or thicknesses of the material to be printed.

A further advantageous procedure is described in claim 9, whereby an exact transfer and positioning of the plate material starting from the feed station to the transport device of the printing station is already achieved in the inlet region.

Also advantageous is a method variant according to claim 10, because as an exact alignment and positioning of the start of printing in the printing area with respect to the position and position of the front edge of the plate material to be printed can be achieved. As a result of this pre-positioning, the transport path, which is necessary later, is determined with high accuracy right up to the start of printing and is carried out by the transport device in the printing station.

Furthermore, a procedure according to the features specified in claim 11 is advantageous, because thereby incorrect printing of plate material is avoided and even before the occurrence of a corresponding correction is made possible by an intervention in the printing process.

A further advantageous procedure is described in claim 12 or 13, whereby the printing process is started only in the assured presence of plate material and thereby also avoid idle times and thus the productivity of the entire system is increased.

Also advantageous is a process variant according to claim 14, as this damage to the plate material can be avoided and in addition an exact alignment of the start of printing on the individual plate materials with respect to the pressure range is ensured.

Furthermore, a procedure according to the features specified in claim 15 is advantageous because it incorrect printing of plate material and thus the production of rejects secured avoided.

A further advantageous procedure is described in claim 16, whereby a new mutual alignment of the individual plate elements is made possible. In addition, thereby still mutual damage of the plate material can be avoided and it can be done faster restart the printing process.

Finally, a process variant according to claim 17 is advantageous because on the one hand, no further plate material is fed incorrectly and in addition the printing process started can be properly terminated, thereby reject is avoided.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings.

Fig. 1

eine Anlage zur Durchführung des erfindungsgemässen Verfahrens zum Bedrucken von Plattenmaterial, in Seitenansicht und stark vereinfachter schematischer Darstellung;

Fig. 2

die Anlage nach Fig. 1 in Draufsicht und stark vereinfachter schematischer Darstellung;

Fig. 3

eine weitere Anordnungsmöglichkeit des Plattenmaterials auf einer Anlage zum Bedrucken desselben, in Draufsicht und stark vereinfachter schematischer Darstellung.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a system for carrying out the inventive method for printing plate material, in side view and greatly simplified schematic representation;

Fig. 2

the plant after Fig. 1 in plan view and highly simplified schematic representation;

Fig. 3

another arrangement possibility of the plate material on a system for printing the same, in plan view and highly simplified schematic representation.

By way of introduction, it should be noted that in the differently described embodiments, the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals or the same component names, wherein the disclosures contained in the entire description can be analogously applied to the same parts with the same reference numerals or component names. Also, the location information selected in the description, such as above, below, laterally, etc. referred to the immediately described and illustrated figure and are to be transferred to a new position in a change in position. Furthermore, individual features or combinations of features from the illustrated and described different embodiments may also represent separate, inventive or inventive solutions.

The embodiments show possible embodiments of Appendix 1 and the implementation of the method for printing plate-shaped objects, it being noted at this point that the invention is not limited to the specifically illustrated embodiments thereof, but rather various combinations of the individual embodiments are possible with each other and this possibility of variation is due to the teaching of technical action by objective invention in the skill of those skilled in this technical field. So are all conceivable embodiments, which are possible by combinations of individual details of the illustrated and described embodiment variant, includes the scope of protection.

In the Fig. 1 and 2 is shown schematically simplified system 1 for printing on different plate-shaped objects, in particular plates or plate material 2 shown.

The plant 1 comprises a printing station 3, one of these upstream in the transport direction 4 feed station 5 and the printing station 3 upstream in the transport direction 4 downstream receiving or discharge station 6. The feed station 5 can also be referred to as inlet table and the discharge station 6 as outlet side table ,

The feed station 5 forms a support plane 7 for the plate material 2, which is preferably aligned mostly parallel to a contact surface 8 of the system 1. The riot level 8 may be, for example, a flat hall floor or the like. The support plane 7 preferably extends in the same plane through the printing station 3 and the discharge station 6 therethrough. In this embodiment shown here, the feed station 5 comprises a support or table frame 9, on which at least one or more support elements 10 are arranged or supported. This or these support elements 10 are formed in the present embodiment by support rollers and define at their from the Furthermore, the feed station 5 comprises a transport device or additional drive means 11 for the transport of the plate material in the transport direction 4. These are formed in the present embodiment by drive rollers 12, which transport the plate material. 2 effect in the transport direction 4. For better clarity, the representation of drive devices cooperating with the drive means 11 has been dispensed with, whereby these can be freely selected from the general state of the art. Instead of the drive rollers 12, or the drive means 11 may also be formed by drive wheels, conveyor belts or the like.

The laying of the individual plates or the plate material 2 on the support plane 5 forming the support plane 7 can be done manually and mechanically supported.

The printing station 3 is formed in the present embodiment for applying the printed image by an ink jet printing device 13 with one or more printheads 14. But there would be other known printing devices for performing the method possible. The one or more printheads 14 are arranged in a known manner in a print carriage 15. The print carriage 15 with the printhead or printheads 14 arranged thereon is moved back and forth in the orthogonal direction with respect to the transport direction 4 over the plate material 2 to be printed, thereby applying the desired print image to the plate material 2. For this purpose, the printing carriage 15 is guided movably mounted on a support arm 16 shown in simplified form.

Furthermore, the printing station 3 also comprises a printing table 17 and a transport device 18, which is formed in the present embodiment by a conveyor belt 19. The transport device 18 also forms on the side facing away from the support plane 8 side another support plane 20, which is preferably arranged or aligned in the same position or position with respect to the support plane 7 of the feed station 5. As a result, a planar transition from the feed station 5 to the printing station 3 is achieved. Again, the sake of clarity on the presentation of the drive device for the transport device 18 was omitted, here only the drive movement has been represented by an arrow in the region of the upstream deflection for the conveyor belt 19.

For mutual positional fixation of the plate material 2 to be printed on the transport device 18, in particular in a printing area 21 formed by the print carriage 15 or the print heads 14, the conveyor belt 19 may have openings or apertures 22 which communicate with a vacuum chamber (not shown) in the print table 17 in connection or open there. Through these openings or openings 22 and the negative pressure built there, it is possible, at least during the passage of the same through the printing area 21 with respect to the conveyor belt 19 to support the plate material 2 relative thereto thereto. As a result, a planar support of the plate material 2 is achieved at least in the pressure region 21 and thus a planar alignment with respect to the support plane 20. This mutual position fixing by the suction is usually practiced over the entire longitudinal extent of the transport device 18 seen in the transport direction 4.

Furthermore, in the Fig. 1 Simplified shown that at the beginning of the print carriage 15 and the frontmost in the transport direction 4 printhead 14, a print start 23 is arranged or formed, which is represented by a dashed line and represents the beginning of the print area 21. The upstream end of the printing area 21 represents a printing end 24 and the end of the printed image.

Subsequent to the printing station 3, the removal station 6 is arranged upstream as seen in the transport direction 4, which is designed here as a storage or receiving table 25 with freely selectable support means. These can in turn be formed by support elements 10, as they have been previously described for the feed station 5. The removal station 6 in turn forms by the support elements 10 on the side facing away from the support plane 8 side of a support plane 26, which is also preferably arranged or aligned in the same position or position with respect to the two previously described support planes 7 and 20 respectively.

The plant 1 described here is used to carry out a method for printing the plate material 2, in which the plate material 2 is moved from the feed station 5 in the printing station 3. In the printing station 3, at least one or more printed images are applied to the plate material 2 and in the course of the printing process or after completion the same by means of the transport device 18 in the transport direction 4 moves. In the present embodiment, the further transport or the transfer to the discharge station 6 takes place.

Plate material 2 is here understood to mean plate-shaped objects which, in a plate thickness 27, have spaced-apart side surfaces 28, 29 and end surfaces 30, 31 extending therebetween. In this plate format shown here form the two opposite end faces 30 which are aligned in a parallel direction with respect to the transport direction 4, longitudinal side edges of the plate material 2 from. The transversely or orthogonally extending end faces 31 are shorter with respect to the end faces 30 and represent transverse edges of the plate material 2. The plate material 2, for example, by billboards, furniture panels, partitions, wood panels, coated panels of a wood material, pressboard, hardboard, etc. formed be, which has a greater thickness or strength between the side surfaces compared to paper, cardboard or cardboard.

In an inlet region 32 in the printing station 3, the printing carriage 15 or the printheads 14 seen in the transport direction 4, or one or more pressing devices 33 upstream of which the transferred from the feed station 5 to the transport device 18 of the printing station 3 or further moved plate material 2 this, in particular to the conveyor belt 19, press in the direction of this. This pressing device 33 may be formed by one or more pressure rollers, which exert a sufficient contact pressure in the vertical direction with respect to the side surfaces 28, 29 towards the transport device 18. Furthermore, at least one but preferably a plurality of stop elements 34 are arranged or provided in the inlet region 32 between the pressing device 33 and the pressure beginning 23 of the pressure region 21 shown schematically. This is the pressing device 33 seen with respect to the transport direction 4, arranged upstream.

Furthermore, at least one, preferably several detection devices 35 are arranged or provided in the inlet region 32 of the printing station 3. This detection device 35 may be formed for example by a sensor which detects whether intended for printing plate material 2 is located in the inlet region 32 of the printing station 3 and / or whether the plate material 2 is also correctly aligned or geiaden. This detection device Seen in transport device 4, the pressing device 33 can be located downstream of the transport device 4, that is, it can be arranged between it and the stop element 34. Regardless of this, it would also be possible to arrange the detection device 35 in the region of the stop element 34 in order to be able to determine whether the plate material 2 is in proper contact with the stop element 34. But it would also be possible to arrange several of these detection devices 35 seen in transport device 4 one behind the other, not only to determine the presence of the plate material 2, but also the proper system of the same or detect the stop elements 34.

In this process provided here, the sheet material to be printed 2 in the transport direction 4 at least in the inlet region 32 in the printing station 3 immediately after one another to a series 36 - see Fig. 2 - Arranged and moved together through the printing station 3 during the printing process. Under immediately successively arranged plate material 2 is understood here that arranged in the transport direction 4 or aligned plate material 2 is brought to the mutually facing end faces 31 for mutual contact. Here, the end faces 31 are aligned transversely with respect to the transport direction 4 and, as described above, represent the shorter transverse sides of the plate material 2.

Before the beginning of the printing process, the plate material 2 is now placed on the feed station 5 and moved or pushed manually under the pressing device 33 and / or automatically along the support plane 7. Furthermore, in this initial position before the start of printing or the stop elements 34 in a position or position in which they engage in the transport path of the plate material to be printed 2 and thus represent a defined attachment point for the located in the inlet region 32 plate material 2 or form. Starting from the pressing device 33, the plate material 2 is further moved to rest against the stop element 34 in the transport direction 4. This can be done by the transport device 18.

To form the row 36 of the plate material 2, a further plate 2 is placed on the feed station 5 and is still in the transport direction 4 seen from the abutting element 34 adjacent plate material 2 at a distance 39, as in the other possible, parallel to the first row 36 arranged further rows 37, 38 of the plate material 2 is shown.

The plate material 2 arranged in the inlet region 32 and positioned by the stop element or elements 34 is detected by the detection device (s) 35 in the row (s) 36 to 38 and outputs a first signal when present. As a signal here can be understood an electrical, optical or any other signal, wherein the forwarding and processing of the signal can be carried out in a known manner. This first signal, which detects the presence of the plate material 2 in at least one of the rows 36 to 38 and further, optionally causes the interposition of a control device not shown here, that the stop element 34 of this series 36 to 38 of the plate material 2 of the in the transport path engaging position is adjusted or shifted in the transport path releasing position. Again, for the sake of clarity, the representation of connecting lines, control devices and adjusting devices for the stop element 34 was again omitted.

If a plurality of juxtaposed in the transport direction 4 rows 36 to 38 provided from the plate material 2 for printing in the printing station 3, a corresponding detection device 35 is provided in each of the individual rows 36 to 38, which for each of the rows 36 to 38 separated from each other the proper Presence of the plate material 2 and optionally also determine the presence or the stop of the plate material 2 to the respective stop elements 34 or detect. If the presence of each of the detection devices 35 in the individual rows 36 to 38 is properly detected or detected, each of the detection devices 35 again outputs a first signal and thereby at the same time each of the respective row 36 to 38 associated stop element 34 of the in the Adjusted transport path engaging position in the transport path releasing position. Thus, the plate material 2 is further moved from the predetermined position on the one or more stop elements 34 in the printing area 21 by the transport device 18 in the feed or transport direction 4. The stop element 34 may be formed by a single continuously formed component as well as by a plurality of separate components.

The printing area 21 begins in the transport direction 4 as seen in the Fig. 1 shown in dotted lines print start 23 to which the plate material to be printed 2 is further moved by the transport device 18. From the beginning of printing 23, the plate material 2 in a conventional manner in a stop and go movement through the printing station 3 and thus passed through the printing area 21 and printed with the orthogonal to the transport direction 4 extending print carriage 15.

During which the plate material 2 is printed in the row or rows 36 to 38, further plate material 2 is placed on the supply station 5 manually and / or automatically. To achieve a perfect printing result or the proper arrangement of the printed image on the plate material 2 to be printed and successively arranged series 36 to 38 of the plate material 2 in the feed station 5 is aligned parallel to the transport direction 4. To achieve a nearly to complete gap-free installation of the mutually facing end faces 31, the further plate material 2 is further moved in the feed station 5 at a transport speed to the printing station 3, which is selected higher with respect to the transport speed of the transport device 18 in the printing station 3. In the Fig. 2 is the higher speed in the feed station 5 with a longer arrow "v ₁ " and simplified in the printing station 3 with a shorter arrow "v ₂ ".

This further transport of the plate material 2 in the feed station 5 by the drive means 12 described above, such as the drive roller 12 or drive rollers 12. By this higher selected feed or transport speed of the plate material 2 in the feed station 5 is in the Fig. 2 simplified shown distance 39 between the successively arranged in the row 38 plates 2 so long until this distance 39 is completely eliminated, as shown between the two plate materials 2 in the series 36. This impact on the butt of the plate material 2 must be effected at the latest by that position 40 in the inlet region 32, which is characterized by a dashed line in the region of the pressing device 33. In this position 40, another detection device 41 can also be arranged or provided at each of the individual rows 36 to 38.

Should still be in the range of position 40, a gap between the in a row 36 to 38 successively arranged plate material 2 detected by one of the two detection devices 41 and / or 35, the drive means 11 - in the present case, the drive rollers 12 - the supply station 5 is turned off and the respective row 33 to 38 associated stop member 34 in the in the transport path protruding blocking position adjusted. The plate materials 2 still in print are further printed until the end of the printing process and thus the completion of the printed image.

Characterized in that no further plate material 2 is brought from the feed station 5 into the inlet region 32 during the completion of the printing process, is detected or detected by the detection device 35 and / or 41 that no corresponding plate material 2 is in the inlet region 32 and The stop elements 34 which have not yet projected into the transport path up to this time are adjusted into the position projecting into the transport path of the plate material 2. Subsequently, the plate material 2 is further moved by one or all provided for printing rows 36 to 38 in turn up to the one or more stop elements 34. If the presence and the correct position of the plate material 2 are reported or detected by the detection devices 35 and / or 41 in the rows 36 to 38 provided for printing, a new printing process begins, in which the individual stop elements 34 are again moved into position, in which they do not protrude into the transport path of the plate material 2.

From the representation in the Fig. 2 It can be seen that the plate material 2 forms a plurality of juxtaposed rows 36 to 38. It is possible that the individual plates 2 abut each other in the area of the longer end faces 30 either abutting one another or, as shown in FIG Fig. 2 is shown, between these guide elements 42 are arranged. As a result, the individual rows 36 to 38 of the plate material 2 in the transverse direction with respect to the transport direction 4 are spaced from each other. To adapt to different widths of the material to be printed, the guide elements 42 are formed in the orthogonal direction with respect to the transport direction 4 adjustable. It should be noted that the number of rows 36 to 38 has been chosen by way of example only for a plurality of possible rows and this is not limited to the rows 36 to 38 shown here.

Due to the direct succession of the plate material 2 can by the detection device 35 and / or detected by an optionally the pressure region 21 directly upstream further detection device 43, the beginning and the end of each of the individual plates 2, whereby the exact longitudinal extent of the plates 2 can be determined. As a result, it is possible to set up or position the arrangement of the printed image and, associated therewith, the printing process on each of the individual plates 2 precisely. Thus, dimensional tolerances and differences in length of the individual plates 2 can be compensated and corrected with regard to the printed image to be applied.

The adjustment of the stop elements 34 in that position in which they protrude or intervene in the transport path of the respective row 36 to 38 of the plate material 2, but can also be programmed and triggered in parallel with the processing of the printing process or by an operator of the Appendix 1 deliberately brought about to counteract a possible sum error by length tolerances of the plate material 2. This possibility can also be used to guide one or more plates 2, which are not the same length, individually or in parallel through the printing station 3, wherein after each of the individual plates 2, the stop element 34 is triggered by one of the detection devices 35 and / or. or 41 is adjusted in the engaged position in the transport path.

In the Fig. 3 is shown a further and possibly independent embodiment of the system 1, wherein in turn for the same parts the same reference numerals or component designations as in the preceding Fig. 1 and 2 be used. In order to avoid unnecessary repetition, the detailed description in the previous ones will be used Fig. 1 and 2 referred or referred.

It is shown in simplified form that the plate material 2 in a long and narrow formation in the transverse format, ie with the shorter end face 31 in parallel alignment with respect to the transport direction 4 is moved through the printing station 3 and printed seamlessly. By taking advantage of the full printing width by printing in landscape format, the productivity of the printing machine or system 1 is also increased. In this case, then lie the longer end faces 30 butt to each other shock and it can be carried out the same procedure as previously described.

For the sake of order, it should finally be pointed out that for better understanding the structure of the system 1 these or their components were shown partially unassembled and / or enlarged and / or reduced.

The problem underlying the independent inventive solutions can be taken from the description.

Above all, the individual in the Fig. 1, 2 ; 3 shown embodiments form the subject of independent solutions according to the invention. The relevant tasks and solutions according to the invention can be found in the detailed descriptions of these figures.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

investment

2

board material

3

printing station

4

transport direction

5

feeding station

6

removal station

7

support plane

8th

standing plane

9

table support

10

support element

11

drive means

12

drive roller

13

Ink jet printer

14

printhead

15

carriage

16

Beam

17

printing table

18

transport device

19

conveyor belt

20

support plane

21

pressure range

22

perforation

23

print start

24

print end

25

Shooting table

26

support plane

27

panel thickness

28

side surface

29

side surface

30

face

31

face

32

intake area

33

pressure device

34

stop element

35

detection device

36

line

37

line

38

line

39

distance

40

position

41

detection device

42

guide element

43

detection device

Claims (17)

Method for printing plate material (2) with a printed image, in which the plate material (2) is moved from a feed station (5) into a printing station (3), in which the printed image is applied and from there by means of a transport device (18) in the transport direction (4) is further moved, characterized in that the plate material to be printed (2) in the transport direction (4) at least in an inlet region (32) in the printing station (3) immediately after one another to a row (36-38) and during the printing process is moved together through the printing station (3), wherein the print image by means of an inkjet printing device (13) is applied. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that in the transport direction (4) immediately after one another to a row (36-38) arranged plate material (2) is brought to mutually facing end faces (31) for mutual contact. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the plate material (2) to be printed is moved further in the feed station (5) at a transport speed to the printing station (3), which with respect to the transport speed of the transport device (18) in the printing station (3). to be higher. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the row (36-38) of the plate material (2) to be printed and successively arranged is aligned parallel to the transport direction (4) in the feed station (5). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the feed station (5) with respect to the feed direction (4) several juxtaposed and parallel aligned rows (36-38) of plate material (2) are arranged. A method according to claim 5, characterized in that the rows (36-38) of the plate material (2) in the transverse direction with respect to the transport direction (4) are arranged spaced from each other. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sheet material (2) to be printed during the passage through the printing station (3) relative to the transport device (18) is held stationary relative thereto. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that the plate material to be printed (2) on the transport device (18) is sucked by applying a negative pressure thereto. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the printing plate material (2) by means of a in the inlet region (32) of the printing station (3) arranged pressing device (33) is pressed against the transport device (18). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the row (s) (36-38) of the sheet material (2) to be printed in the inlet region (32) in the printing station (3) is assigned at least one stop element (34) which differs from a in the transport of the plate material (2) engaging position is adjustable in a position releasing the transport path. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the row (36-38) to be printed of plate material (2) in the inlet region (32) in the printing station (3), in particular in the region of the stop element (34), at least one detection device (35, 41) is assigned and from this the presence of the plate material (2) is determined. A method according to claim 11, characterized in that in the presence of a row (36-38) of the plate material (2) from the detection device (35, 41), a first signal is output, and thereby the stop element (34) of this series (36-38) of the plate material (2) is adjusted by the engaging in the transport path position in the transport path releasing position. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the transport direction (4) juxtaposed rows (36-38) of plate material (2) of each of the individual rows (36-38) associated detection device (35, 41) each one the first signal is output and thereby at the same time each of the respective row (36-38) associated stop element (34) is adjusted from the position engaging in the transport path in the position releasing the transport path. A method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that after the adjustment of the stop or the stop elements (34), the plate material (2) in a printing area (21) of the printing station (3) is conveyed. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the absence of the plate material (2) in a row (36-38) from the detection device (35, 41), a further signal is output and thereby that of this series (36-38) associated stop element (34) is adjusted by the transport path releasing position in the engaging in the transport path position. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the engaging in the transport path position of the stop or elements (34) of the transport of the plate material to be printed (2) in the feed station (5) is interrupted. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the engaging in the transport path position of the stop or elements (34) which is still in the printing station (5) located plate material (2) is further printed until the complete application of the printed image.

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