EP2825389B1 - Two-dimensional method for inkjet printing with printhead alignment - Google Patents

Two-dimensional method for inkjet printing with printhead alignment Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2825389B1
EP2825389B1 EP12784442.1A EP12784442A EP2825389B1 EP 2825389 B1 EP2825389 B1 EP 2825389B1 EP 12784442 A EP12784442 A EP 12784442A EP 2825389 B1 EP2825389 B1 EP 2825389B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
printing
printing module
inkjet printer
positioning
module
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EP12784442.1A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP2825389A1 (en
Inventor
Peter Weingartner
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Durst Phototechnik Digital Technology GmbH
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Durst Phototechnik Digital Technology GmbH
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Priority to EP15003629.1A priority Critical patent/EP3025868A1/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
    • B41J25/00—Actions or mechanisms not otherwise provided for
    • B41J25/001—Mechanisms for bodily moving print heads or carriages parallel to the paper surface
    • 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
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
    • B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
    • B41J2/01—Ink jet
    • 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
    • B41J25/00—Actions or mechanisms not otherwise provided for
    • B41J25/001—Mechanisms for bodily moving print heads or carriages parallel to the paper surface
    • B41J25/003—Mechanisms for bodily moving print heads or carriages parallel to the paper surface for changing the angle between a print element array axis and the printing line, e.g. for dot density changes

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method of printing the surface of a medium with ink by means of an ink jet printer.
  • Inkjet printers also called inkjet printing devices
  • Inkjet printers have at least one inkjet print head with at least one row of nozzles arranged side by side over the ink on the surface to be printed can be applied.
  • the printing takes place by the ejection of ink drops according to a predetermined optionally variable drop frequency.
  • the inkjet printhead performs a linear transverse motion, thereby printing one line.
  • the method known in the prior art to print line by line is also called scanning. For inkjet printing to date, only the scanning method is known if the printheads do not extend over the entire width of the medium to be printed.
  • the print head moves only once over the line, this is called the single scan method. If the print head moves several times over the same line, this is called the multiscan method.
  • the multiscan process allows for higher print quality, since the print is made from more than one direction (e.g., bidirectional) and thus so-called "bending problems" can be minimized.
  • a line is finished printed, the medium to be printed is moved by one line perpendicular to the transverse movement performed by the print head in a transport direction and the printing of the next line can begin.
  • monodirectional methods i. the printhead prints only in the transverse movement in one direction and moves back to the beginning of the line when it reaches the end of the line without being printed.
  • bidirectional methods in which after reaching the end of the line, the medium to be printed is shifted by one line and when returning the print head to the starting position already the next line is printed.
  • the resolution is determined by the distance of the droplets applied by the print.
  • the resolution in one dimension may differ from the resolution in the other dimension differ.
  • the resolution along the cross-motion of the printhead is determined by the speed of the printhead and the droplet ejection frequency, while the resolution in the transport direction is determined by the spacing of the nozzles in the nozzle row of the printhead. It should be noted that this resolution can be increased by tilting the nozzle row.
  • inkjet printers Compared to offset printing, the printing speeds of inkjet printers are significantly lower than those of offset printing devices, for example. To increase this printing speed, it is known to provide inkjet printers with a variety of inkjet printheads.
  • a scanning method is known in which a print head comprising a first (nozzle 1) and second (nozzle 6) end is used, wherein in a first step, the print head is moved in a Y direction during which the printing of a first surface takes place a second step, prior to printing on a second surface, positioning and aligning the printhead by rotating it about an axis of rotation by 180 degrees, and in a third step moving the printhead in the opposite Y direction while printing such that the surface which has been printed from the second end of the printhead in a first step and the area printed by the second end in a third step is adjacent to each other.
  • terminal nozzles of a printhead can naturally have different amounts of ink ejection.
  • the adjacent surfaces would be printed with different nozzles, ergo with different ink application, so that under certain circumstances, a "light-emitting deviation" is generated, which is easily perceived.
  • a problem causing the slow printing speed is the fact that in the ink jet printers known today, only one line-by-line printing method described above is realized. There are pictures in which almost every line has areas to be printed and areas not to be printed (free areas). aufweisst. If a nozzle of the printhead is led over an empty area of a line, it will not eject any ink. The resulting frequent idle periods cost a lot of time. This is especially relevant when printing patterns and / or images with characteristic lines and light or dark areas.
  • the present invention has for its object to provide a printing method for ink jet printer, with which the above-mentioned idling phases are largely avoided, whereby the printing speed can be greatly increased.
  • printing cycle summarizes those steps of the printing process which are carried out before and within a drop ejection period.
  • a drop ejection period begins immediately after a drop ejection from a nozzle and ends with the completion of the next subsequent drop ejection from the nozzle.
  • positioning does not only mean the stationary arrangement at a fixed position.
  • positioning should definitely also mean moving over a certain position.
  • orientation refers to the rotation of the nozzle row about the axis of rotation, if such rotation is necessary. If no rotation is necessary to the invention Orientation of the nozzle row is also understood to mean the rotation about 0 ° as alignment.
  • the printhead is thus moved in both dimensions relative to the medium to be printed and essentially sweeps over only those areas which also actually need to be printed. This leads to a strong reduction of the idle phases described above and the printing speed increases many times. Moreover, it does not matter whether in fact only the print head in two dimensions or only the medium to be printed in two dimensions or a combination of the movement of print head and medium is performed. What is essential is only the free relative movement of the print head relative to the surface to be printed, so that the characteristic lines and areas of the image to be printed can be followed.
  • the printing module is designed to be rotatable about an axis, wherein the axis of rotation is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the medium to be printed in the currently to be printed position. In this way, the orientation of the nozzle row of the printhead can be adjusted by rotation of the printhead about the axis of rotation.
  • the print head moves following the characteristic lines of the image to be printed in both dimensions over the surface to be printed and with him the aforementioned axis of rotation, then the actual translational movement of the axis of rotation results in a current feed direction.
  • printing is now carried out in such a way that the nozzle row is aligned during printing in such a way that it maintains a predetermined and preferably constant angle relative to the current feed direction.
  • the ink drop density in the feed direction may of course differ from the ink drop density transversely to the feed direction.
  • the angle of the nozzle row to the feed direction determines the resolution across the feed direction.
  • the feed rate and the print frequency determine the resolution along the feed direction.
  • FIG. 1 For example, the individual steps for printing the edge region of the medium 100 are shown in the representations (SY).
  • SY the representations
  • a control unit controls the electronically deposited image of the inkjet printer.
  • the control unit calculates the optimum printing sequence for a specific image, ie the shortest printing time. This is done by, for example, in a first step, the control unit subdivides the image to be printed into fictitious subregions. In a second step, the arrangement and size of all fictitious subregions of the image is used to calculate a optimal Drucklablaufs according to the method steps a) and b) of the 1, claim considered.
  • the cross points (A1, B1, C1, D1) and the characteristic lines are determined (A1B1, B1C1, ... see FIG. 1 ).
  • the process step a) takes place at a cross point and the process step b) on the characteristic lines.
  • a print head which comprises a nozzle row 107 which maintains a predetermined angle with respect to a current feed direction.
  • the corresponding print head typically comprises at least one row of nozzles per ink color, in each case for the ink colors used.
  • the corresponding print head may be independent for several or each of these nozzle rows each one of the ink color associated angle with respect to the current feed direction can be selected. In this way, different angles - and thus resolutions - can be selected for different ink colors.
  • the printing cycles take place in accordance with a predetermined printing sequence, which deviates from the scanning method.
  • the printing of the at least part of the surface can be done by single scan and / or multiscan.
  • the printing of the at least part of the surface can be monodirectional and / or bidirectional or multidirectional.
  • the positioning and alignment of the printing module 101 according to step a) can take place at the same time or at different times.
  • the movement associated with the positioning of the printing module 101 in step a) can be performed in one, two or three dimensions.
  • the printing process for printing the at least part of the surface may be predetermined, i. the printing process can be taken from a file for a specific image, or is determined by a control unit or a computing unit.
  • control unit or the arithmetic unit divides the at least part of the surface into notional subregions and, in a second step, the parameters of all notional subregions for calculating the pressure run according to method steps a) and b) taken into account.
  • the parameters relate to an arrangement and / or a position and / or a length and / or a width of the fictitious subregions.
  • cross points for method step a) and characteristic lines for method step b) are determined according to which the printing process takes place.
  • An inkjet printer comprises a printing module 101 and a positioning device which is adapted to be able to move the printing module 101 and a medium 100 with a surface to be printed in a predetermined manner at a constant distance of the printing module 101 from the surface in two dimensions relative to each other the printing module 101 comprises at least one print head with at least one nozzle row 107, wherein at the printing module 101 means for rotation 105 of the at least one nozzle row 107 are provided about a rotation axis 103 which is perpendicular to the part of the surface to be printed and by which means 105 for rotation an alignment of the nozzle row 107 can be carried out by rotation, characterized in that the inkjet printer comprises a control unit for carrying out a method according to the invention.
  • the positioning device may comprise a linear guide system, which has at least two guide rails 201 and at least one in the direction of the guide rails provided with guide elements and movably movable crossbar 203, wherein the guide rails 201 are adapted to move the crossbar 203 in a predetermined one-dimensional and bidirectional.
  • the crossbar 203 may comprise a linear guide system comprising at least two guide rails 204 and at least one movable guide carriage 207 provided with guide elements in the running direction of the guide rails 204, wherein the guide rails 204 are adapted to the print carriage 207 relative to the one-dimensional direction of movement of the crossbar 203 in a predetermined manner to move bidirectionally into a second dimension.
  • the carriage 207 may include a linear guide system configured to bidirectionally move the print module 101 and rotation means 105 relative to the direction of movement of the crossbar 203 and print carriage 207 to a third dimension in a predetermined manner such that the height of the print module 101 is relative to the medium 100 is movable in a direction perpendicular to the medium 100 direction movable.
  • the means for rotation 105 may comprise a stepping motor.
  • the positioning device may comprise at least one conveyor belt 209 for transporting the medium 100 below the printing module 101 in at least one transport direction.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Particle Formation And Scattering Control In Inkjet Printers (AREA)

Description

Die vorliegende Erfindung bezieht sich auf ein Verfahren zum Bedrucken der Oberfläche eines Mediums mit Tinte mittels eines Tintenstrahldruckers. Tintenstrahldrucker (auch Inkjet-Druckeinrichtung genannt) weisen mindestens einen Inkjet Druckkopf auf mit mindestens einer Düsenreihe von nebeneinander angeordneten Düsen über die Tinte auf die zu bedruckende Oberfläche aufgebracht werden kann. Das Bedrucken findet dabei durch den Ausstoss von Tintentropfen gemäss einer vorgegebenen gegebenenfalls variablen Tropfenfrequenz statt. Während des Ausstossens führt der Inkjet-Druckkopf eine lineare Querbewegung durch wodurch eine Zeile bedruckt wird. Das im Stand der Technik bekannte Verfahren Zeilenweise zu drucken wird auch Scanverfahren genannt. Für den Tintenstrahldruck ist bis heute lediglich das Scanverfahren bekannt, wenn die Druckköpfe sich nicht über die ganze Breite des zu bedruckenden Mediums erstrecken. Fährt der Druckkopf lediglich ein Mal über die Zeile, so spricht man vom Singlescanverfahren. Fährt der Druckkopf mehrmals über dieselbe Zeile so spricht man vom Multiscanverfahren. Das Multiscanverfahren lässt eine höhere Druckqualität zu, da der Druck aus mehr als einer Richtung (z.B. bidirektional) erfolgt und somit sogenannte "Bending Probleme" minimiert werden können. Ist eine Zeile fertig bedruckt, so wird das zu bedruckende Medium um eine Zeile senkrecht zur vom Druckkopf ausgeführten Querbewegung in eine Transportrichtung bewegt und das Bedrucken der nächsten Zeile kann beginnen. Dabei gibt es monodirektionale Verfahren, d.h. der Druckkopf druckt lediglich bei der Querbewegung in eine Richtung und fährt bei Erreichen des Zeilenendes ohne zu drucken zum Zeilenanfang zurück. Es gibt aber auch bidirektionale Verfahren, bei denen nach erreichen des Zeilenendes das zu bedruckende Medium um eine Zeile verschoben wird und bei Zurückfahren des Druckkopfes in die Ausgangsposition bereits die nächste Zeile bedruckt wird.The present invention relates to a method of printing the surface of a medium with ink by means of an ink jet printer. Inkjet printers (also called inkjet printing devices) have at least one inkjet print head with at least one row of nozzles arranged side by side over the ink on the surface to be printed can be applied. The printing takes place by the ejection of ink drops according to a predetermined optionally variable drop frequency. During ejection, the inkjet printhead performs a linear transverse motion, thereby printing one line. The method known in the prior art to print line by line is also called scanning. For inkjet printing to date, only the scanning method is known if the printheads do not extend over the entire width of the medium to be printed. If the print head moves only once over the line, this is called the single scan method. If the print head moves several times over the same line, this is called the multiscan method. The multiscan process allows for higher print quality, since the print is made from more than one direction (e.g., bidirectional) and thus so-called "bending problems" can be minimized. If a line is finished printed, the medium to be printed is moved by one line perpendicular to the transverse movement performed by the print head in a transport direction and the printing of the next line can begin. There are monodirectional methods, i. the printhead prints only in the transverse movement in one direction and moves back to the beginning of the line when it reaches the end of the line without being printed. However, there are also bidirectional methods in which after reaching the end of the line, the medium to be printed is shifted by one line and when returning the print head to the starting position already the next line is printed.

Beim Tintenstrahldruck wird die Auflösung durch den Abstand der durch den Druck aufgebrachten Tröpfchen bestimmt. Im Falle des zweidimensionalen Drucks kann die Auflösung in einer Dimension sich von der Auflösung in der anderen Dimension unterscheiden. Beispielsweise wird die Auflösung entlang der Querbewegung des Druckkopfes von der Geschwindigkeit des Druckkopfes und der Tröpfchenausstossfrequenz bestimmt, während die Auflösung in Transportrichtung durch den Abstand der Düsen in der Düsenreihe des Druckkopfes bestimmt wird. Dabei sei darauf hingewiesen, dass sich diese Auflösung durch Schrägstellen der Düsenreihe erhöhen lässt.In ink-jet printing, the resolution is determined by the distance of the droplets applied by the print. In the case of two-dimensional printing, the resolution in one dimension may differ from the resolution in the other dimension differ. For example, the resolution along the cross-motion of the printhead is determined by the speed of the printhead and the droplet ejection frequency, while the resolution in the transport direction is determined by the spacing of the nozzles in the nozzle row of the printhead. It should be noted that this resolution can be increased by tilting the nozzle row.

Im Vergleich zum Offsetdruck sind die Druckgeschwindigkeiten von Tintenstrahldruckern deutlich geringer als diejenige beispielsweise von Offset-Druckeinrichtungen. Um diese Druckgeschwindigkeit zu erhöhen ist es bekannt, Tintenstrahldrucker mit einer Vielzahl von Inkjet-Druckköpfen auszustatten.Compared to offset printing, the printing speeds of inkjet printers are significantly lower than those of offset printing devices, for example. To increase this printing speed, it is known to provide inkjet printers with a variety of inkjet printheads.

Aus der US 2011/0199409 A1 ist ein Scanverfahren bekannt, bei dem ein Druckkopf umfassend ein erstes (Düse 1) und zweites (Düse 6) Ende verwendet wird, wobei in einem ersten Schritt der Druckkopf in eine Y-Richtung bewegt wird während dessen das Bedrucken einer ersten Fläche erfolgt, in einem zweiten Schritt vor dem Bedrucken einer zweiten Fläche ein Positionieren und Ausrichten des Druckkopfes durch Rotation desselben um eine Rotationsachse um 180 Grad erfolgt und in einem dritten Schritt der Druckkopf in die entgegengesetzte Y-Richtung bewegt wird während dessen gedruckt wird, derart, dass die Fläche, die vom zweiten Ende des Druckkopfes in einem ersten Schritt gedruckt wurde und die Fläche die vom zweiten Ende in einem dritten Schritt gedruckt wurde, einander angrenzen.From the US 2011/0199409 A1 a scanning method is known in which a print head comprising a first (nozzle 1) and second (nozzle 6) end is used, wherein in a first step, the print head is moved in a Y direction during which the printing of a first surface takes place a second step, prior to printing on a second surface, positioning and aligning the printhead by rotating it about an axis of rotation by 180 degrees, and in a third step moving the printhead in the opposite Y direction while printing such that the surface which has been printed from the second end of the printhead in a first step and the area printed by the second end in a third step is adjacent to each other.

Die Schrift offenbart, dass endständige Düsen eines Druckkopfes naturgemäß unterschiedliche Tintenausstoßmengen aufweisen können. Würde entgegen der Lehre der Druckschrift im Scanverfahren keine Rotation des Druckkopfes erfolgen, würden die einander angrenzenden Flächen mit unterschiedlichen Düsen bedruckt, ergo mit unterschiedlichem Tintenauftrag, sodass unter Umständen eine "lichtemittierende Abweichung" erzeugt wird, die leicht wahrgenommen wird.The document discloses that terminal nozzles of a printhead can naturally have different amounts of ink ejection. Would contrary to the teaching of the document in the scanning process no rotation of the printhead, the adjacent surfaces would be printed with different nozzles, ergo with different ink application, so that under certain circumstances, a "light-emitting deviation" is generated, which is easily perceived.

Ein die langsame Druckgeschwindigkeit verursachendes Problem ist die Tatsache, dass bei den heute bekannten Tintenstrahldruckern lediglich eine oben beschriebene zeilenweise Druckmethode verwirklicht ist. Es gibt Bilder, bei denen nahezu jede Zeile zu bedruckende Bereiche und nicht zu bedruckende Bereiche (Freibereiche) aufweisst. Wird eine Düse des Druckkopfes über einem Freibereich einer Zeile geführt, so stösst sie keine Tinte aus. Die hierdurch entstehenden häufigen Leerlaufphasen kosten viel Zeit. Dies ist vor allem dann relevant, wenn Muster und/oder Bilder mit charakteristischen Linien und hellen oder dunklen Flächen gedruckt werden sollen.A problem causing the slow printing speed is the fact that in the ink jet printers known today, only one line-by-line printing method described above is realized. There are pictures in which almost every line has areas to be printed and areas not to be printed (free areas). aufweisst. If a nozzle of the printhead is led over an empty area of a line, it will not eject any ink. The resulting frequent idle periods cost a lot of time. This is especially relevant when printing patterns and / or images with characteristic lines and light or dark areas.

Es wäre daher wünschenswert ein Verfahren zur Verfügung zu haben, mit dem die oben angesprochenen Leerlaufphasen reduziert werden können um zu höheren Druckgeschwindigkeiten zu gelangen.It would therefore be desirable to have a method with which the above-mentioned idle phases can be reduced in order to achieve higher printing speeds.

Der vorliegenden Erfindung liegt die Aufgabe zugrunde ein Druckverfahren für Tintenstrahldrucker anzugeben, mit dem die oben genannten Leerlaufphasen weitgehend vermieden werden, wodurch die Druckgeschwindigkeit stark erhöht werden kann.The present invention has for its object to provide a printing method for ink jet printer, with which the above-mentioned idling phases are largely avoided, whereby the printing speed can be greatly increased.

Die Aufgabe wird gelöst durch das Vorgehen gemäss dem Verfahren nach Anspruch 1. Die Unteransprüche beschreiben bevorzugte Varianten des vorliegenden erfinderischen Verfahrens.The object is achieved by the procedure according to the method of claim 1. The subclaims describe preferred variants of the present inventive method.

Als Druckzyklus werden im Rahmen der vorliegenden Beschreibung diejenigen Schritte des Druckverfahrens zusammengefasst welche vor und innerhalb einer Tropfenausstossperiode vorgenommen werden. Eine Tropfenausstossperiode beginnt hierbei unmittelbar nach einem Tropfenausstoss aus einer Düse und endet mit dem Abschluss des nächsten sich anschliessenden Tropfenausstosses aus der Düse.In the context of the present description, the term printing cycle summarizes those steps of the printing process which are carried out before and within a drop ejection period. A drop ejection period begins immediately after a drop ejection from a nozzle and ends with the completion of the next subsequent drop ejection from the nozzle.

Wenn im Rahmen dieser Beschreibung von Positionierung gesprochen wird, so ist damit nicht nur die ruhende Anordnung bei einer fixen Position gemeint. Im Begriff Positionierung soll durchaus auch das Hinwegbewegen über eine gewisse Position gemeint sein.If, in the context of this description, the term "positioning" is used, this does not only mean the stationary arrangement at a fixed position. The term "positioning" should definitely also mean moving over a certain position.

Wenn im Rahmen dieser Beschreibung von Ausrichtung gesprochen wird, so bezieht sich dies auf die Rotation der Düsenreihe um die Rotationsachse, falls eine solche Rotation notwendig ist. Falls keine Rotation notwendig ist um die erfindungsgemässe Orientierung der Düsenreihe zu verwirklichen wird auch die Rotation um 0° als Ausrichten bzw. Ausrichtung verstanden.When reference is made to orientation in this description, this refers to the rotation of the nozzle row about the axis of rotation, if such rotation is necessary. If no rotation is necessary to the invention Orientation of the nozzle row is also understood to mean the rotation about 0 ° as alignment.

Erfindungsgemäss wird so vorgegangen, dass das Zeilenweise bedruckten aufgegeben wird und der Druckkopf entlang charakteristischer Linien des zu druckenden Bildes oder der Figur geführt wird: Der Druckkopf wird also in beiden Dimensionen relativ zum zu bedruckenden Medium bewegt und überstreicht im Wesentlichen lediglich diejenigen Bereiche, welche auch tatsächlich bedruckt werden müssen. Dies führt zu einer starken Reduktion der oben beschriebenen Leerlaufphasen und die Druckgeschwindigkeit erhöht sich um ein Vielfaches. Dabei spielt im Übrigen keine Rolle ob in der Tat nur der Druckkopf in zwei Dimensionen oder nur das zu bedruckende Medium in zwei Dimensionen oder eine Kombination aus der Bewegung von Druckkopf und Medium durchgeführt wird. Wesentlich ist lediglich die freie Relativbewegung des Druckkopfes relativ zur zu bedruckenden Oberfläche, so dass den charakteristischen Linien und Flächen des zu druckenden Bildes gefolgt werden kann.The printhead is thus moved in both dimensions relative to the medium to be printed and essentially sweeps over only those areas which also actually need to be printed. This leads to a strong reduction of the idle phases described above and the printing speed increases many times. Moreover, it does not matter whether in fact only the print head in two dimensions or only the medium to be printed in two dimensions or a combination of the movement of print head and medium is performed. What is essential is only the free relative movement of the print head relative to the surface to be printed, so that the characteristic lines and areas of the image to be printed can be followed.

Bei diesem Vorgehen ergibt sich allerdings das Problem, dass, um eine gute Druckqualität erzielen zu können, die oben beschriebene Druckauflösung in beiden Dimensionen gesteuert und zum Beispiel konstant gehalten können werden muss. Erfindungsgemäss wird dies dadurch erreicht, dass das Druckmodul um eine Achse rotierbar ausgeführt wird, wobei die Rotationsachse im Wesentlichen senkrecht auf der Oberfläche des zu bedruckenden Mediums in der aktuell zu bedruckenden Position steht. Auf diese Weise lässt sich die Orientierung der Düsenreihe des Druckkopfes durch Rotation des Druckkopfes um die Rotationsachse einstellen.In this approach, however, the problem arises that, in order to achieve a good print quality, the above-described print resolution in both dimensions must be controlled and kept constant, for example. According to the invention, this is achieved in that the printing module is designed to be rotatable about an axis, wherein the axis of rotation is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the medium to be printed in the currently to be printed position. In this way, the orientation of the nozzle row of the printhead can be adjusted by rotation of the printhead about the axis of rotation.

Wird nun der Druckkopf den charakteristischen Linien des zu druckenden Bildes folgend in beiden Dimensionen über die zu bedruckende Oberfläche bewegt und mit ihm die erwähnte Rotationsachse, so ergibt sich durch die aktuelle Translationsbewegung der Rotationsache eine aktuelle Vorschubrichtung. Erfindungsgemäss wird nun so gedruckt, dass die Düsenreihe während des Druckens so ausgerichtet wird dass sie zur aktuellen Vorschubrichtung einen vorbestimmten und vorzugsweise konstanten Winkel einhält.If now the print head moves following the characteristic lines of the image to be printed in both dimensions over the surface to be printed and with him the aforementioned axis of rotation, then the actual translational movement of the axis of rotation results in a current feed direction. According to the invention, printing is now carried out in such a way that the nozzle row is aligned during printing in such a way that it maintains a predetermined and preferably constant angle relative to the current feed direction.

Wird der Winkel, die Druckfrequenz und die Vorschubgeschwindigkeit konstant gehalten so ist auf diese Weise garantiert, dass entlang der gedruckten Linien bzw. Bänder auch bei Richtungsänderung die Tintentropfendichte konstant bleibt. Die Tintentropfendichte in Vorschubrichtung kann sich dabei natürlich von der Tintentropfendichte quer zur Vorschubrichtung unterscheiden. Der Winkel der Düsenreihe zur Vorschubrichtung bestimmt dabei die Auflösung quer zur Vorschubrichtung. Die Vorschubgeschwindigkeit und die Druckfrequenz bestimmt demgegenüber die Auflösung entlang der Vorschubrichtung.If the angle, the print frequency and the feed rate are kept constant, it is guaranteed in this way that the ink droplet density remains constant along the printed lines or bands even when the direction changes. The ink drop density in the feed direction may of course differ from the ink drop density transversely to the feed direction. The angle of the nozzle row to the feed direction determines the resolution across the feed direction. In contrast, the feed rate and the print frequency determine the resolution along the feed direction.

Die Erfindung wird nun anhand der Figuren im Detail und beispielhaft beschrieben.

  • Figur 1 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung der Verfahrensschritte S bis Y zum Bedrucken eines Mediums gemäß dem erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren in Draufsicht.
  • Figur 2 zeigt eine perspektivische Darstellung einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Tintenstrahldruckvorrichtung.
  • Figur 3 zeigt eine perspektivische Darstellung der bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Tintenstrahldruckvorrichtung in Seitenansicht.
  • Figur 4 zeigt eine perspektivische Darstellung der bevorzugten Ausführungsform der Tintenstrahldruckvorrichtung in Draufsicht:
The invention will now be described in detail and by way of example with reference to the figures.
  • FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of the method steps S to Y for printing a medium according to the inventive method in plan view.
  • FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the ink jet printing device.
  • FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the inkjet printing device in side view.
  • FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the inkjet printing device in plan view:

In Figur 1 werden in den Darstellungen (S-Y) beispielhaft die einzelnen Schritte zum Bedrucken des Randbereichs des Mediums 100 dargestellt. In diesem Beispiel wird oft auf die Verfahrensschritte a) oder b) Bezug genommen, wobei damit die Verfahrensschritte gemäß dem 1. Anspruch gemeint sind.In FIG. 1 For example, the individual steps for printing the edge region of the medium 100 are shown in the representations (SY). In this example, reference is often made to the method steps a) or b), which means the method steps according to the first claim.

Dabei ist klar, dass eine Steuereinheit das elektronisch hinterlegte Bild den Tintenstrahldrucker steuert. Erfindungsgemäss berechnet die Steuereinheit für ein bestimmtes Bild den optimalen Druckablauf, d.h. den zeitlich kürzesten Druckablauf. Dies erfolgt dadurch, indem beispielsweise in einem ersten Schritt die Steuereinheit das zu druckende Bild in fiktive Teilbereiche unterteilt. In einem zweiten Schritt wird die Anordnung und Größe aller fiktiven Teilbereiche des Bildes zur Berechnung eines optimalen Drucklablaufs gemäß den Verfahrensschritten a) und b) des 1, Anspruchs berücksichtigt.It is clear that a control unit controls the electronically deposited image of the inkjet printer. According to the invention, the control unit calculates the optimum printing sequence for a specific image, ie the shortest printing time. This is done by, for example, in a first step, the control unit subdivides the image to be printed into fictitious subregions. In a second step, the arrangement and size of all fictitious subregions of the image is used to calculate a optimal Drucklablaufs according to the method steps a) and b) of the 1, claim considered.

Bei der Berechnung des optimalen Druckablaufs werden die Kreuzpunkte (A1, B1, C1, D1) und die charakteristischen Linien ermittelt(A1B1, B1C1,... siehe Figur 1). Der Verfahrensschritt a) erfolgt an einem Kreuzpunkt und der Verfahrensschritt b) an den charakteristischen Linien.In the calculation of the optimal printing process, the cross points (A1, B1, C1, D1) and the characteristic lines are determined (A1B1, B1C1, ... see FIG. 1 ). The process step a) takes place at a cross point and the process step b) on the characteristic lines.

Figur 1 enthält die einzelnen Verfahrensschritte S bis Y die nun im Detail offenbart werden sollen
Darstellung S:

  • Das Druckmodul 101 wird in einem ersten Verfahrensschritt a) von einer Parkposition zu einem Punkt A1 positioniert und ausgerichtet.
Darstellung T:
  • In einem Verfahrensschritt b) wird das Druckmodul 101 von einem Punkt A1 bis zu einem Punkt B1 entlang der charakteristisch (gestrichelten) Linie A1B1 in einer Linearbewegung geführt während dessen der Randbereich bedruckt wird.
  • In der Position B1 wird das Druckmodul 101 gemäß dem Verfahrensschritt a) derart ausgerichtet, dass in einem weiteren Verfahrensschritt b) der Randbereich entlang der charakteristischen Linie B1C1 bedruckt Werden kann.
FIG. 1 contains the individual process steps S to Y which will now be disclosed in detail
Representation S:
  • The printing module 101 is positioned and aligned in a first method step a) from a parking position to a point A1.
Representation T:
  • In a method step b), the printing module 101 is guided from a point A1 to a point B1 along the characteristic (dashed) line A1B1 in a linear movement during which the edge region is printed.
  • In position B1, the printing module 101 is aligned in accordance with method step a) such that in a further method step b) the edge region along the characteristic line B1C1 can be printed.

Bei den Darstellungen gemäss U bis Y wird in analoger Weise zum Schritt T vorgegangen.In the representations according to U to Y, the procedure is analogous to step T.

In der Beschreibung wurde bisher ein Druckkopf offenbart, welcher eine Düsenreihe 107 umfasst die hinsichtlich einer aktuellen Vorschubrichtung einen vorbestimmten Winkel einhält.In the description, a print head has hitherto been disclosed which comprises a nozzle row 107 which maintains a predetermined angle with respect to a current feed direction.

Beim mehrfarbigen Druck umfasst der entsprechende Druckkopf jedoch typischerweise jeweils für die eingesetzten Tintenfarben zumindest eine Düsenreihe pro Tintenfarbe. Gemäss einer besonders bevorzugten Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung kann für mehrere oder jeder dieser Düsenreihen unabhängig voneinander ein der Tintenfarbe zugeordneter Winkel bezüglich der aktuellen Vorschubrichtung gewählt werden. Auf diese Weise lassen sich unterschiedliche Winkel - und damit Auflösungen - für unterschiedliche Tintenfarben wählen.In the case of multicolor printing, however, the corresponding print head typically comprises at least one row of nozzles per ink color, in each case for the ink colors used. According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention may be independent for several or each of these nozzle rows each one of the ink color associated angle with respect to the current feed direction can be selected. In this way, different angles - and thus resolutions - can be selected for different ink colors.

Es wurde ein Verfahren zum Bedrucken von zumindest einem Teil der Oberfläche eines Mediums 100 mit einem Tintenstrahldrucker durch Ausführen einer Vielzahl von Druckzyklen offenbart, wobei der Tintenstrahldrucker ein Druckmodul 101 mit zumindest einem Druckkopf mit zumindest einer Düsenreihe 107 umfasst, und ein Druckzyklus jeweils folgende Schritte umfasst:

  1. a) Positionieren und Ausrichten des Druckmoduls 101 vor dem Bedrucken, wobei die Ausrichtung durch Rotation des Druckmoduls 101 um eine Rotationsachse 103 erfolgt, die senkrecht auf dem zu bedruckenden Teil der Oberfläche steht.
  2. b) Positionieren der Rotationsachse 103 während dem Bedrucken des Teils der Oberfläche durch Ausstoss von Tintentropfen, wobei die im Schritt b) mit der Positionierung verbundenen Translationsbewegung der Rotationsachse 103 eine aktuelle Vorschubrichtung definiert und das Druckmodul 101 wird jeweils im Schritt a) eines Druckzykluses durch Rotation um die genannte Rotationsachse 103 derart ausgerichtet, dass die zumindest eine Düsenreihe 107 des zumindest einen Druckkopfs beim Schritt b) bezüglich der Vorschubrichtung einen vorbestimmten und vorzugsweise konstanten Winkel aufweist.
A method has been disclosed for printing at least a portion of the surface of a medium 100 with an inkjet printer by performing a plurality of printing cycles, the inkjet printer comprising a printing module 101 having at least one printhead having at least one nozzle row 107, and a printing cycle each comprising the following steps :
  1. a) Positioning and alignment of the printing module 101 before printing, wherein the alignment is effected by rotation of the printing module 101 about an axis of rotation 103 which is perpendicular to the part of the surface to be printed.
  2. b) Positioning the rotation axis 103 during the printing of the part of the surface by ejecting ink droplets, wherein the translational movement of the rotation axis 103 associated with the positioning in step b) defines a current feed direction and the print module 101 is respectively rotated in step a) of a printing cycle aligned about said rotation axis 103 such that the at least one nozzle row 107 of the at least one print head in step b) with respect to the feed direction has a predetermined and preferably constant angle.

Im erfindungsgemäßen Verfahren erfolgen die Druckzyklen gemäß einem vorbestimmten Druckablauf, welcher vom Scanverfahren abweicht.In the method according to the invention, the printing cycles take place in accordance with a predetermined printing sequence, which deviates from the scanning method.

Das Bedrucken des zumindest einen Teils der Oberfläche kann im Singlescanverfahren und/oder im Multiscanverfahren erfolgen.The printing of the at least part of the surface can be done by single scan and / or multiscan.

Das Bedrucken des zumindest einen Teils der Oberfläche kann monodirektional und/oder bidirektional oder multidirektional erfolgen.The printing of the at least part of the surface can be monodirectional and / or bidirectional or multidirectional.

Die Positionierung und Ausrichtung des Druckmoduls 101 gemäß Schritt a) kann zeitgleich oder zeitlich getrennt erfolgt.The positioning and alignment of the printing module 101 according to step a) can take place at the same time or at different times.

Die im Schritt a) mit der Positionierung des Druckmoduls 101 verbundenen Bewegung kann ein-, zwei- oder dreidimensional durchgeführt werden.The movement associated with the positioning of the printing module 101 in step a) can be performed in one, two or three dimensions.

Der Druckablauf zum Bedrucken des zumindest einen Teils der Oberfläche kann vorgegeben sein, d.h. der Druckablauf ist für ein bestimmtes Bild aus einer Datei entnehmbar, oder wird durch eine Steuereinheit bzw. einer Recheneinheit ermittelt.The printing process for printing the at least part of the surface may be predetermined, i. the printing process can be taken from a file for a specific image, or is determined by a control unit or a computing unit.

Die Steuereinheit bzw. die Recheneinheit unterteilt zur Festlegung der Druckreihenfolge (= Druckverlauf) in einem ersten Schritt das zumindest eine Teil der Oberfläche in fiktive Teilbereiche und in einem zweiten Schritt werden die Parameter aller fiktiven Teilbereiche für die Berechnung des Drucklablaufs gemäß den Verfahrensschritten a) und b) berücksichtigt.In order to determine the printing sequence (= pressure curve), the control unit or the arithmetic unit divides the at least part of the surface into notional subregions and, in a second step, the parameters of all notional subregions for calculating the pressure run according to method steps a) and b) taken into account.

Die Parameter betreffen dabei eine Anordnung und/oder eine Position und/oder eine Länge und/oder eine Breite der fiktiven Teilbereiche.The parameters relate to an arrangement and / or a position and / or a length and / or a width of the fictitious subregions.

Bei der Berechnung des Druckablaufs werden Kreuzpunkte für den Verfahrensschritt a) und charakteristische Linien für den Verfahrensschritt b) ermittelt gemäß denen der Druckablauf erfolgt.When calculating the printing process, cross points for method step a) and characteristic lines for method step b) are determined according to which the printing process takes place.

Ein erfindungsgemässer Tintenstrahldrucker umfasst ein Druckmodul 101 und eine Positionierungseinrichtung, welche dazu ausgelegt ist, das Druckmodul 101 und ein Medium 100 mit einer zu bedruckenden Oberfläche in vorbestimmter Weise bei konstantem Abstand des Druckmoduls 101 von der Oberfläche in zwei Dimensionen relativ zueinander bewegen zu können, wobei das Druckmodul 101 mindestens einen Druckkopf mit zumindest einer Düsenreihe 107 umfasst, wobei am Druckmodul 101 Mittel zur Rotation 105 der zumindest einen Düsenreihe 107 um eine Rotationsachse 103 vorgesehen sind, die senkrecht auf dem zu bedruckenden Teil der Oberfläche steht und durch welche Mittel zur Rotation 105 eine Ausrichtung der Düsenreihe 107 durch Rotation durchgeführt werden kann dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Tintenstrahldrucker eine Steuerungseinheit zum Durchführen eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens umfasst.An inkjet printer according to the invention comprises a printing module 101 and a positioning device which is adapted to be able to move the printing module 101 and a medium 100 with a surface to be printed in a predetermined manner at a constant distance of the printing module 101 from the surface in two dimensions relative to each other the printing module 101 comprises at least one print head with at least one nozzle row 107, wherein at the printing module 101 means for rotation 105 of the at least one nozzle row 107 are provided about a rotation axis 103 which is perpendicular to the part of the surface to be printed and by which means 105 for rotation an alignment of the nozzle row 107 can be carried out by rotation, characterized in that the inkjet printer comprises a control unit for carrying out a method according to the invention.

Die Positionierungseinrichtung kann ein Linearführungssystem umfassen, welches mindestens zwei Führungsschienen 201 und mindesten einen in Laufrichtung der Führungsschienen mit Führungselementen versehenen und beweglich führbaren Querbalken 203 aufweist, wobei die Führungsschienen 201 dazu ausgelegt sind den Querbalken 203 in vorbestimmter Weise eindimensional und bidirektional zu bewegen.The positioning device may comprise a linear guide system, which has at least two guide rails 201 and at least one in the direction of the guide rails provided with guide elements and movably movable crossbar 203, wherein the guide rails 201 are adapted to move the crossbar 203 in a predetermined one-dimensional and bidirectional.

Der Querbalken 203 kann ein Linearführungssystem umfassen, welches mindestens zwei Führungsschienen 204 und mindestens ein in Laufrichtung der Führungsschienen 204 mit Führungselementen versehenen beweglich führbaren Druckschlitten 207 aufweist, wobei die Führungsschienen 204 dazu ausgelegt sind den Druckschlitten 207 relativ zur eindimensionalen Bewegungsrichtung des Querbalkens 203 in vorbestimmter Weise in eine zweite Dimension bidirektional bewegen zu können.The crossbar 203 may comprise a linear guide system comprising at least two guide rails 204 and at least one movable guide carriage 207 provided with guide elements in the running direction of the guide rails 204, wherein the guide rails 204 are adapted to the print carriage 207 relative to the one-dimensional direction of movement of the crossbar 203 in a predetermined manner to move bidirectionally into a second dimension.

Der Druckschlitten 207 kann ein Linearführungssystem umfassen das dazu ausgelegt ist, das Druckmodul 101 und die Mittel zur Rotation 105 relativ zur Bewegungsrichtung des Querbalkens 203 und des Druckschlittens 207 in vorbestimmter Weise in eine dritte Dimension bidirektional bewegen zu können, sodass die Höhe des Druckmoduls 101 relativ zum Medium 100 in einer zum Medium 100 senkrechten Richtung beweglich veränderbar ist.The carriage 207 may include a linear guide system configured to bidirectionally move the print module 101 and rotation means 105 relative to the direction of movement of the crossbar 203 and print carriage 207 to a third dimension in a predetermined manner such that the height of the print module 101 is relative to the medium 100 is movable in a direction perpendicular to the medium 100 direction movable.

Die Mittel zur Rotation 105 können einen Schrittmotor umfassen.The means for rotation 105 may comprise a stepping motor.

Die Positionierungseinrichtung kann zumindest einen Transportband 209 zum Transportieren des Mediums 100 unterhalb des Druckmoduls 101 in zumindest eine Transportrichtung umfassen.The positioning device may comprise at least one conveyor belt 209 for transporting the medium 100 below the printing module 101 in at least one transport direction.

Claims (13)

  1. Method for printing at least one part of the surface of a medium (100) with an inkjet printer by performing a plurality of printing cycles, wherein the inkjet printer comprises a printing module (101) with at least one printhead with at least one row of nozzles (107), and wherein each printing cycle comprises the following steps:
    a) positioning and aligning the printing module (101) prior to printing, wherein the alignment is performed by rotation of the printing module (101) around a rotation axis (103) that is vertical to the part of the surface to be printed,
    b) positioning the rotation axis (103) during printing of the part of the surface by expulsion of ink drops,
    wherein the translation movement of the rotation axis (103) associated in step b) with the positioning process defines a current direction of travel, and wherein the printing module (101) is aligned in step a) of a printing cycle through rotation around said rotation axis (103) in such a manner that the at least one row of nozzles (107) of the at least one printhead has in step b) a predetermined and preferably constant angle in respect of the direction of travel,
    wherein the printing cycles take place according to a predetermined printing workflow that is different from the scanning technique and the method is characterized in that the printing process for printing the at least one part of the surface for a particular image can be retrieved from a file or it can be determined by a control unit or a processing unit, and the control unit or processing unit in a first step divides the at least one part of the surface into virtual portions and in a second step, the parameters of all virtual portions are taken into account for computing the printing process according to the method steps a) and b).
  2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the printing of the at least one part of the surface can be done by using the single scanning technique and/or the multi-scanning technique.
  3. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the printing of the at least one part of the surface takes place mono-directionally and/or bi-directionally or multi-directionally.
  4. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the positioning and alignment of the printing module (101) according to step a) take place simultaneously or at different times.
  5. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movement associated in step a) with the positioning of the printing module (101) is performed in one, two or three dimensions.
  6. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the parameters relate to an arrangement and/or a position and/or a length and/or a width of the virtual portions.
  7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that for computing the printing process, intersection points for the method step a) and characteristic lines for the method step b) are determined, according to which the printing process is accomplished.
  8. Inkjet printer comprising a printing module (101) and a positioning device which is designed in such a way to be able to move the printing module (101) and a medium (100) with a surface to be printed in two dimensions relative to one another in a predetermined manner at a constant distance of the printing module (101) from the surface, wherein the printing module (101) has at least one printhead with at least one row of nozzles (107), wherein on the printing module (101) means (105) are provided for rotating the at least one row of nozzles (107) around a rotation axis (103) and which is vertical to the portion of the surface to be printed and through which rotating means (105) an alignment of the row of nozzles (107) can be performed by rotation, characterized in that the inkjet printer comprises a control unit for executing a method according to one of the claims 1 to 7.
  9. Inkjet printer according to claim 8, characterized in that the positioning device includes a linear guide system that has at least two guide rails (201) and at least one crossbar (203) provided with guide elements in the travel direction of the guide rails and that can be driven in motion, wherein the guide rails (201) are designed for moving the crossbar (203) in a predetermined manner one-dimensionally and bidirectionally.
  10. Inkjet printer according to claim 9, characterized in that the crossbar (203) includes a linear guide system that has at least two guide rails (204) and at least one print carriage (207) provided with guide elements in the travel direction of the guide rails (204) and that can be driven in motion, wherein the guide rails (204) are designed for moving the print carriage (207) relatively to the one-dimensional direction of movement of the crossbar (203) in a predetermined manner bi-directionally in a second dimension.
  11. Inkjet printer according to claim 10, characterized in that the print carriage (207) includes a linear guide system that is designed to be able to move the printing module (101) and the rotating means (105) relatively to the direction of movement of the crossbar (203) and of the print carriage (207) in a predetermined manner bi-directionally in a third dimension, so that the height of the printing module (101) relative to the medium (100) is movably adjustable in a direction vertical to the medium (100).
  12. Inkjet printer according to claim 8 to 11, characterized in that the rotating means (105) include a stepping motor.
  13. Inkjet printer according to claim 8, characterized in that the positioning device includes at least one transport belt (209) to transport the medium (100) below the printing module (101) in at least one direction of transport.
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EP2825389A1 (en) 2015-01-21
CA2888547C (en) 2018-09-04
CN104023989B (en) 2017-11-03
WO2014060066A1 (en) 2014-04-24
IN2015DN02003A (en) 2015-08-14
EP3025868A1 (en) 2016-06-01
ES2565531T3 (en) 2016-04-05
BR112015008230B1 (en) 2021-06-29
US20150029262A1 (en) 2015-01-29
MX361474B (en) 2018-12-05
IL237624B (en) 2019-09-26
IL237624A0 (en) 2015-04-30
WO2014060005A1 (en) 2014-04-24
BR112015008230A2 (en) 2017-07-04
CN104023989A (en) 2014-09-03
MX2015004926A (en) 2015-07-21

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