EP2862718B1 - Container handling machine for printing on containers - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a container treatment machine for printing containers, a device for printing three-dimensional objects and a method for cleaning the printing stations in a container treatment machine with the features of the preambles of claims 1 and 13, respectively.

It is known that containers such as bottles or cans can be provided with printing to identify the container contents, the printing ink being applied directly to the container at a printing station by means of a direct print head. For this purpose, the containers are transported in the container treatment machine with a transport device and printed over a large area with the direct print heads. Such a direct print head is, for example, an inkjet print head which has a plurality of nozzles (for example 500-1000) typically arranged vertically. For flat printing, there is typically a rotary movement of the container about its longitudinal axis and / or a pivoting movement of the print head. The print image itself is available as digital information in a computer control and is used for a corresponding control of the direct print head, the container receptacles and / or a swivel unit. Furthermore, the printing ink is hardened by crosslinking in a subsequent hardening device using UV or electron beams. Several printing units with different printing inks (printing inks) are provided for multi-colored printing. With such direct printing processes it is possible to provide the containers with an individual print.

The disadvantage here is that the fine nozzles of the direct print heads can occasionally become clogged by the printing ink and / or contamination, with even a single clogged nozzle resulting in a significant error in the printing. Furthermore, it is possible that scattered radiation from the curing device unintentionally hardens excess ink on the direct print head.

To this end, the DE 10 2009 058219 A1 suggest that the direct print heads are cleaned in regular cycles by means of a cleaning device. The print head to be cleaned is mechanically dabbed in a cleaning position by means of a dabbing device and / or excess printing ink is removed by means of a suction device.

The disadvantage here is that strongly dried or partially hardened ink residues have to be removed by a correspondingly strong mechanical action of the dabbing device and thus the nozzles can be damaged. Furthermore, the swabbing device can also introduce particles into non-clogged nozzles and block them.

Furthermore, from the DE 10 2006 052154 A1 known to eject printing ink from the inkjet printhead for cleaning purposes to flush the nozzles from the inside.

The disadvantage here is that this cleaning process consumes a relatively large amount of printing ink and the distribution of the ink used as cleaning fluid on the print head is not uniform. Furthermore, strongly dried or hardened ink residues on the printhead can only be removed with difficulty with this method.

From the WO 2012/147695 A1 there is known an ink jet printer and method for seamlessly printing on cans. For cleaning, the print heads are moved over a cleaning device so that the adhering printing ink can be washed off from the underside with a cleaning liquid.

the DE 10 2012 005 087 A1 discloses a device with a plurality of movable print heads on a robot arm for printing surfaces, for example three-dimensionally shaped body parts of vehicles.

the EP 1 967 372 A1 discloses a printer for three-dimensional objects in which a print carriage with print head modules is moved in the horizontal direction for maintenance and a maintenance station is moved upwards to prevent the printing ink from drying out and to clean the printing nozzles.

the US 2006/0250464 A1 apparently a method and a device for printing selected information on bottles. For maintenance, the printhead is moved over an ink drain to catch printing ink ejected from the printhead.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a cleaning device for a container treatment machine with printing stations, with which a reliable and inexpensive cleaning of the printing stations is ensured.

To solve this problem, the invention provides a container treatment machine with the features of claim 1.

When the claims generally speak of printing stations, this means in particular the printing units or printing heads, in particular direct printing heads of the printing stations. Therefore, the term direct print head is also used below for print station.

Because cleaning agent, in particular a cleaning liquid, is applied from the outside to the direct print head, it can be applied particularly uniformly to its surface are distributed and accordingly all areas of the direct print head relevant for printing are reliably cleaned by the cleaning liquid. Furthermore, by choosing the cleaning fluid, it is possible to loosen the strongly dried or hardened ink residues and thus to remove them reliably from the direct print head. In addition, no printing ink is required for cleaning, but a comparatively inexpensive cleaning fluid. The cleaning fluid flowing off the print head during cleaning is also collected by the collecting device and can be disposed of or reprocessed in an environmentally friendly manner. As a result, the consumption of cleaning fluid is particularly low and is correspondingly inexpensive.

In addition, the chemical and / or physical properties of the cleaning fluid are independent of the printing ink and can thus be adapted to an optimal cleaning process.

The container treatment machine can be arranged in a beverage processing plant. The container treatment machine can be followed by a filling system for filling a product into the container and / or a closer. The container treatment machine can, however, also be connected upstream of the filling process and / or be connected directly downstream of a container manufacturing process.

The containers can be provided to hold beverages, hygiene articles, pastes, chemical, biological and / or pharmaceutical products. In general, the container can be provided for any flowable or fillable media. The containers can consist of plastic, glass and metal, but hybrid containers with material mixtures are also conceivable.

The transport device can be designed to move, rotate and / or fixedly position the container at a predetermined printing position with respect to the direct print head during printing. The transport device can be designed to move the container vertically and / or parallel to a printing direction of the direct print head. The transport device can be designed to move the printing area on the container surface essentially perpendicular to a printing direction of the direct print head. "Printing direction of the direct print head" can mean here that this is the discharge direction of the print drops from the direct print head. The transport device can comprise container receptacles, which are optionally designed to be rotatable. The container receptacles can be moved via a moving unit during printing.

The direct print head can use an ink jet printing method in which the printing ink is delivered to the container by means of a plurality of printing nozzles. "Inkjet printing process" can mean that a sudden increase in pressure is generated in the chambers of a pressure nozzle by means of piezo or thermocouples in such a way that a small amount of printing fluid is pressed through the pressure nozzle and delivered to the container as a pressure drop. In the direct print head, a plurality of print nozzles can be arranged along a linear line, which is optionally arranged parallel to the container axis. The direct print head can have a number of print nozzles in a range from 100 to 10,000, optionally in a range from 500 to 1,000 nozzles. However, any other direct printing method is also conceivable.

The cleaning device can be connected to an inlet and / or outlet for cleaning liquid. The cleaning unit can comprise a nozzle for discharging the cleaning liquid. The cleaning device can furthermore comprise a pump and / or a valve for controlling the discharge of the cleaning liquid. The pump and / or the valve can be controllable by means of an electronic control device and / or with a machine control. The collecting device can be designed like a channel or basin. The collecting device can furthermore comprise an outflow opening which is connected to the discharge line for the cleaning liquid. The collecting device can be connected to a pump and / or a valve. As a result, the outflow of the cleaning liquid can be accelerated and / or controlled. Furthermore, the collecting device can be connected to a suction device.

The cleaning liquid can be water-based or solvent-based. The cleaning fluid can be such that it dissolves dried and / or hardened ink and / or forms a chemical bond with it.

The cleaning unit can furthermore comprise a blowing nozzle for air and / or a wiping device. The direct print head can be dried particularly well and / or freed from dry soiling through the blower nozzle. Furthermore, the blower nozzle can be connected to a line for supplying air. By means of the wiping device, dirt loosened by the cleaning liquid can be wiped off particularly well from the direct print head. Furthermore, the cleaning liquid can be distributed particularly evenly on the direct print head by means of the wiping device. The wiper device can be designed as a lip made of an elastic material, for example rubber. The wiping device can be used in combination with a suction nozzle (54) below.

The cleaning device can be designed as a protective element for the direct print head, optionally with a circumferential seal and / or a protective cap. As a result, the direct print heads can be particularly well protected from the printing ink drying out when the machine is at a standstill. The protective element can be designed to correspond to the direct print head in such a way that a hermetically sealed chamber is formed in a protected arrangement of the direct print head in the area of the print nozzles.

The cleaning device can be designed for the simultaneous cleaning of at least two superimposed direct print heads with cleaning units corresponding to these direct print heads, the cleaning units optionally being arranged in a stepped manner. In other words, several cleaning units for discharging the cleaning liquid can be arranged one above the other, so that the two direct print heads can be cleaned at the same time. This enables particularly efficient cleaning of several direct print heads. Due to the stepped design of the cleaning unit, the used cleaning fluid does not run from the upper direct print head over the lower one Direct print head, but in a collecting device arranged between the two. The cleaning device can comprise one or more collecting devices. The collecting devices can also be designed in a stepped manner corresponding to the cleaning units.

The cleaning device for cleaning can be introduced into a container receptacle on the transport device instead of a container. As a result, particularly little space is required for the cleaning device in normal operation. The cleaning device can be designed to be self-sufficient with a tank with cleaning fluid, a valve and / or with a pump. As a result, the cleaning device can be designed to be self-sufficient without supply lines to the container treatment machine.

One or more moving units is / are designed to position and / or move the printing station and the cleaning device relative to one another, the cleaning device being moved by means of the moving unit. It is conceivable that the direct print head is moved by means of the moving unit. For example, by moving the cleaning device up and down in relation to the direct print head, the cleaning liquid can be applied and distributed particularly evenly along the nozzle arrangement. Furthermore, it is thereby possible to move the wiping device and / or the blowing nozzle and / or the suction nozzle along the direct print head.

According to an exemplary embodiment not falling under the invention, the displacement unit can be designed to pivot the direct print head in a vertical cleaning direction in relation to a horizontal printing direction in such a way that the nozzles of the direct print head for cleaning are oriented essentially downwards to the center of the earth. By aligning the direct print head with the center of the earth, the ejected printing ink and / or the cleaning liquid does not flow along the direct print head, but is separated directly by gravity. Horizontal printing direction can mean here that this is the delivery direction of the print drops when printing on the container. Horizontal can also mean that this is a direction perpendicular to the direction towards the center of the earth. The vertical cleaning direction can run parallel to gravity.

The cleaning device and the direct print heads can be arranged stationary on the machine. As a result, a cleaning device can be assigned to one or more direct print heads and cleaning can take place particularly quickly and thus efficiently. Furthermore, the stationary arrangement of the direct print heads enables a particularly simple supply of the direct print heads with printing ink. The moving unit can be designed for this be to position the cleaning device sequentially one after the other on several direct print heads and to clean them. "Stationary" can mean here that the cleaning device and the direct print heads are fixedly connected to a non-movable machine part. “Stationary” can also mean that the cleaning device and the direct print heads do not move in a rotating manner with the transport device.

The cleaning device can be connected to the transport device and the direct print heads can be arranged in a stationary manner on the machine. As a result, the cleaning device can be moved sequentially one after the other to the different direct print heads for cleaning by means of the transport device. The design of the container treatment machine is therefore particularly cost-effective. The cleaning device can be arranged between two container receptacles.

The direct print heads can be connected to the transport device and the cleaning device can be arranged in a stationary manner on the machine. As a result, a plurality of direct print heads can also be moved past the cleaning device sequentially one after the other by the transport device and cleaned.

The cleaning device can be arranged on an empty segment of the transport device with container receptacles that are empty during operation. As a result, containers for printing can be transported with the transport device at the same time, and the direct print heads that are currently not printing can be cleaned as they drive past in the area of the empty segment. The empty segment can be arranged in the transport direction between an outlet and an inlet for containers. The outflow or inflow can be an outflow or inflow star.

The cleaning device and the direct print heads can be connected to the transport device so that they move along, with the direct print heads optionally being arranged in a star shape around the container receptacles. “Concomitantly” can mean that the cleaning device or the direct print heads are moved along with the container receptacles in a rotating manner by the transport device.

In addition, the object can be achieved by a device for printing three-dimensional objects, with a first printing unit, which comprises at least one first row of nozzles for ejecting ink droplets, the ink droplets being ejected to the west in a horizontal direction and the first Printing unit is arranged in a printing position during a printing mode and prints at least a first area of an object, with a cleaning unit, which is arranged in a park position during the printing mode, and a drive, which during a cleaning mode generates a relative movement between the cleaning unit and the printing unit, the relative movement taking place essentially in the vertical direction.

Furthermore, an apparatus for printing three-dimensional objects is disclosed, with a first printing unit which comprises at least one first row of nozzles for ejecting ink drops, the ink drops being ejected in the west in the horizontal direction and the first printing unit during one Printing mode is arranged in a printing position and prints at least a first area of an object, wherein a cleaning unit is arranged in a parking position during the printing mode, comprising a second printing unit which has a second row of nozzles for ejecting inks -Drops and the ink droplets are ejected in the west in the horizontal direction and wherein the second printing unit is arranged during the printing mode in a printing position substantially vertically below the printing position of the first printing unit and at least one second area printed on the object, a drive being provided, while e In a cleaning mode to generate a relative movement between the cleaning unit and the printing unit, the relative movement taking place essentially in the vertical direction, the cleaning unit being movable in the cleaning mode by the drive vertically upwards into a cleaning position is, wherein the first printing unit and / or the second printing unit in the cleaning mode can be moved horizontally into the cleaning position by a further drive, and wherein the first printing unit or the second printing unit during the cleaning Mode can be moved vertically up and down again in the cleaning position.

The device for printing three-dimensional objects advantageously makes it possible to effectively clean a printing unit for printing objects in the horizontal direction with little effort. For this purpose, the device for printing three-dimensional objects has, in particular, a drive which generates the advantageous relative movement in an essentially vertical direction. The at least one drive can therefore either move the cleaning unit, the printing unit or both. According to a preferred embodiment, the cleaning unit is moved from a parking position, which is located outside the printing area for the object to be printed, in a vertical direction upwards into a position adjacent to the printing unit. According to a further preferred embodiment, the printing unit is alternatively moved from the printing position in the vertical downward into a position adjacent to the cleaning unit. According to a further preferred embodiment, it can also be provided that the cleaning unit and / or the printing unit are also moved horizontally.

The drive can be provided as a single drive or, alternatively, as a plurality of drives. The drive is preferably an electric or pneumatic linear unit, spindle drive, belt drive or a combination thereof.

A preferred development of the device for printing three-dimensional objects is characterized in that a second printing unit is provided which comprises at least one second row of nozzles for ejecting ink droplets, the ink droplets being ejected essentially in the horizontal direction and the second printing unit is arranged during the printing mode in a printing position essentially vertically above the printing position of the first printing unit and prints at least a second area of the object. Likewise, during the printing mode, the second printing unit can be arranged in a printing position essentially vertically below the printing position of the first printing unit.

It can furthermore also be provided that a third printing unit is provided which prints a third area of the object which closes a gap between the first and the second area. This so-called stitching makes it possible to print even larger objects without gaps using several print heads with a limited print width.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the device for printing three-dimensional objects, it is provided that the drive moves the cleaning unit vertically upwards into a cleaning position in the cleaning mode. The space in front of the print heads, which is freely accessible outside of the print mode, is used in an advantageous manner. The cleaning unit thus moves from the bottom up to a position at which the object was previously in the print mode and thus in the cleaning mode reaches a position from which it can clean the row of nozzles of the print head.

Another preferred development of the device for printing three-dimensional objects can be characterized in that a further drive moves the first printing unit and / or the second printing unit horizontally into the cleaning position in the cleaning mode. In this way it is z. B. possible, by successive or simultaneous movements in the vertical or horizontal direction of the cleaning unit and the print heads to bring them in relative positions to each other, so that the cleaning unit with its cleaning elements is arranged directly opposite the respective nozzles of the print heads , or that the nozzles are in the effective area of the cleaning elements.

Another advantageous development of the device for printing three-dimensional objects can be characterized in that the first printing unit or the second printing unit is moved vertically upwards and downwards again during the cleaning mode in the cleaning position. In this way, for example, a cleaning element of the Cleaning unit such as a wiper, in particular a rubber lip, are guided along the print head and clean it from ink.

Another preferred development of the device for printing three-dimensional objects can be characterized in that the first printing unit and the second printing unit each have a front plate with a receiving opening and a nozzle plate, the nozzle plate in the receiving opening of the Front panel is sunk. The advantage of this embodiment of the invention is that when a wiper of the cleaning unit is passed over the front panel, the nozzle plate is not touched by the wiper. Thus, only the face of the faceplate is cleaned by the wiper. Damage to the sensitive nozzles can be prevented in this way. The nozzle plate is preferably about 0.1-0.5 mm, particularly preferably about 0.2 mm, countersunk.

A further advantageous development of the device for printing three-dimensional objects can be characterized in that the cleaning unit, as cleaning elements, has a wiper for wiping the front panels, a spray nozzle for spraying the front panels and nozzle plates with a cleaning liquid, a suction nozzle for sucking off the cleaning liquid and a tub for collecting the cleaning liquid. The wiper is preferably made of ink-resistant rubber and has a non-stick coating (EPDM and Teflon). The spray nozzle can be a hollow cone nozzle, flat jet nozzle, full cone nozzle, atomizer nozzles and other nozzles.

Another advantageous embodiment of the device for printing three-dimensional objects can be characterized in that the front panels each have a drip edge, the drip edge being arranged or formed in the vertical direction at the lower end of the respective front panel. This has the advantage that ink can be moved downwards with the wiper on the front plate of the print head and forms drops of ink on the drip edge at the lower end of the front plate, which are detached from the front plate. Such drops of ink can for example be caught in the tub of the cleaning unit and transported away from there.

Another advantageous development of the device for printing three-dimensional objects can be characterized in that the cleaning unit has at least one cover plate for covering a nozzle plate during a rest mode. The covering of a nozzle plate of an inkjet printhead is usually referred to as capping. The cleaning unit advantageously has at least one cover plate, preferably even two cover plates, around one or even both print heads during the Rest mode to effectively protect against dehydration. The two cover plates can preferably be arranged offset in the horizontal direction.

In addition, a system or machine for conveying three-dimensional objects, preferably a bottle filling system, can be characterized in that a device as described above is provided, the device being integrated into a conveyor line of the system or machine.

The device can be integrated very easily and easily into the system or machine, since no swivel mechanism as in the prior art needs to be provided.

The device for printing three-dimensional objects can be the container treatment machine for printing containers.

In addition, the invention with claim 13 provides a method for cleaning direct print heads in a container treatment machine, wherein in normal operation the container is printed in particular with a direct print and in a cleaning operation at least one direct print head is cleaned with a cleaning device, characterized in that in cleaning operation For example, a cleaning liquid is applied to the direct print head by means of a cleaning unit and the used cleaning liquid and / or the contamination is conveyed away by a collecting device.

Because the cleaning liquid is applied to the direct print head with the cleaning unit during cleaning operation, the surfaces to be cleaned can be cleaned particularly evenly and, on the other hand, dried or hardened ink residues can be loosened and removed particularly well. Furthermore, the use of cleaning fluid means that less printing ink is used, which means that cleaning is less costly. The collecting device ensures that the used cleaning liquid does not flow off via further direct print heads, which would otherwise contaminate them. Furthermore, the cleaning liquid collected with the collecting device can be disposed of or processed in an environmentally friendly manner.

The method can be used in a container treatment machine according to at least one of claims 1-12 or a device for printing three-dimensional objects.

In the cleaning mode, the cleaning device can wipe the direct print head and / or blow it off with air, with the direct print head optionally ejecting printing ink. Wiping off dirt or ink residues that are difficult to dissolve can be removed particularly well. Furthermore, dry particles can be blown off with the air or the direct pressure head can be dried after cleaning. If the direct print head ejects printing ink during cleaning, dirt in the print nozzle can be pushed out by means of the printing ink, whereby the direct print head is cleaned particularly reliably.

A subset of the direct print heads can print in normal operation and at the same time another subset of the direct print heads can be cleaned in cleaning operation. As a result, the normal printing operation does not have to be interrupted during cleaning and printing can continue with a constant flow rate.

Fig. 1

eine Darstellung eines ersten Ausführungsbeispiels einer Behälterbehandlungsmaschine zur Bedruckung von Behältern in einer seitlichen Ansicht;

Fig. 2

eine Darstellung einer Reinigungsvorrichtung in einer perspektivischen Ansicht;

Fig. 3

eine Darstellung eines Direktdruckkopfs und einer Reinigungsvorrichtung des ersten Ausführungsbeispiels in einer seitlichen Detailansicht;

Fig. 4

eine Darstellung einer Reinigungsvorrichtung zur gleichzeitigen Reinigung von zwei übereinander angeordneten Direktdruckköpfen in einer seitlichen Detailansicht;

Fig. 5

eine Darstellung einer zweiten Ausführungsform einer Behälterbehandlungsmaschine zur Bedruckung von Behältern in einer seitlichen Ansicht;

Fig. 6

eine Darstellung einer dritten Ausführungsform einer Behälterbehandlungsmaschine zur Bedruckung von Behältern in einer seitlichen Ansicht, die nicht unter die Erfindung fällt;

Fig. 7

eine vierte Ausführungsform einer Behälterbehandlungsmaschine zur Bedruckung von Behältern in einer Draufsicht;

Fig. 8

eine fünfte Ausführungsform einer Behälterbehandlungsmaschine zur Bedruckung von Behältern in einer Draufsicht; und

Fig. 9

eine Darstellung einer sechsten Ausführungsform einer Behälterbehandlungsmaschine zur Bedruckung von Behältern in einer Draufsicht.

Fig. 10

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer siebten Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung im Druck-Modus;

Fig. 11

eine schematische Seitenansicht der siebten Ausführungsform aus Figur 1 im Reinigungs-Modus; und

Fig. 12

ebenfalls eine schematische Seitenansicht der siebten Ausführungsform aus Figur 1 im Reinigungs-Modus.

Further features and advantages of the invention are explained below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. It shows:

Fig. 1

a representation of a first embodiment of a container treatment machine for printing containers in a side view;

Fig. 2

a representation of a cleaning device in a perspective view;

Fig. 3

a representation of a direct print head and a cleaning device of the first embodiment in a detailed side view;

Fig. 4

a representation of a cleaning device for the simultaneous cleaning of two superimposed direct print heads in a detailed side view;

Fig. 5

a representation of a second embodiment of a container treatment machine for printing containers in a side view;

Fig. 6

a representation of a third embodiment of a container treatment machine for printing containers in a side view, which does not fall under the invention;

Fig. 7

a fourth embodiment of a container treatment machine for printing containers in a plan view;

Fig. 8

a fifth embodiment of a container treatment machine for printing containers in a plan view; and

Fig. 9

a representation of a sixth embodiment of a container treatment machine for printing containers in a plan view.

Fig. 10

a schematic side view of a seventh embodiment of the device according to the invention in print mode;

Fig. 11

a schematic side view of the seventh embodiment Figure 1 in cleaning mode; and

Fig. 12

also a schematic side view of the seventh embodiment Figure 1 in cleaning mode.

In Fig. 1 a first embodiment of a container treatment machine 1 for printing containers 2 is shown in a side view. A transport device 3 designed as a carousel can be seen, which receives the containers 2 in the container receptacles 9 and guides them past the stationary direct print head 6 for printing. Furthermore, the cleaning device 5 can be seen, which, as follows with reference to FIG Fig. 1-3 described in more detail, is provided for cleaning the direct print head 6.

The carousel 3 is driven by means of a geared motor or a direct drive (not shown here) in such a way that it rotates about the axis of rotation A. The containers 2 are placed in the container receptacles 9 via an inlet star, also not shown here, and received on the bottom and on the neck (not shown here). The container receptacles 9 are also designed to be rotatable via gear motors or direct drives, so that the containers 2 can be rotated about their longitudinal axes.

The direct print head 6 is designed as an ink jet print head. However, any other digital direct printing technique is also conceivable. The direct print head shown here has, on the side facing the carousel axis A, a plurality of print nozzles 61 in a linear line (for example 500) which can apply print droplets to the container surface. By simultaneously rotating the container 2 about its longitudinal axis, a two-dimensional print can be created.

It can also be seen that the direct print head 6 is fixedly connected to the machine base 4 via the holder 7. The machine base 4 is also stationary via an underframe connected to a system floor (not shown here), consequently the machine base 4 does not rotate with the carousel 3.

Furthermore, the direct print head 6 can be moved via a first moving unit 8 essentially perpendicular to the axis of rotation A of the carousel. In this way, on the one hand, the printing distance can be adapted to different container diameters and, on the other hand, the direct print head 6 can be moved into a cleaning position (see FIG Fig. 3 ).

It can also be seen that the cleaning device 5 is attached to the holder 7 via a second moving unit 10. This can be moved up and down essentially parallel to the axis of rotation A of the carousel 3. The structure of the cleaning device 5 is illustrated below with reference to FIG Fig. 2 explained in more detail. Both the direct print head 6 and the cleaning device 5 are connected to the holder 7 via corresponding supply lines. These lines are designed to be flexible.

In Fig. 2 a representation of a cleaning device 5 is shown in a perspective view. It can be seen that the cleaning device 5 has an essentially L-shaped housing, the cleaning unit 51, the blower nozzle 56, the wiping device 55 and the suction device 54 being integrated into the leg that runs vertically during the cleaning operation. The collecting device 52 is arranged below the cleaning unit 51 in the area of the housing 50 which runs essentially horizontally during the cleaning operation. The collecting device 52 comprises a basin-like (funnel-shaped) element 52b, which guides the dripping cleaning liquid into the drain 52a. As a result, the used cleaning fluid can be disposed of or processed in an environmentally friendly manner.

Furthermore, the cleaning device 5 is supplied with cleaning liquid and air by means of the supply line 53 and the used cleaning liquid and the dirt residues sucked in by the suction device 54 are removed.

It can also be seen that a circumferential sealing edge 57 is formed on the cleaning device 5. This consists of a soft rubber seal. When the machine is at a standstill, the cleaning device 5 can be moved and brought into contact with the direct print head 6. This results in a closed chamber around the nozzles 61, so that they are protected from drying out and soiling.

the Fig. 3 shows a representation of the direct print head 6 and the cleaning device 5 of the first embodiment in a detailed side view. The direct print head 6 cleaned with the cleaning device 5. The cleaning device 5 is used in the cleaning mode as follows:
First, when the cleaning operation starts, the direct print head 6 is moved to the left in the direction of the arrow by means of the first moving unit 8. Furthermore, the cleaning device 5 is positioned upwards in front of the nozzles 61 via the second moving unit 10. Then the print head is moved to the right by means of the moving unit 8 to the distance required for the cleaning process to the cleaning unit.

The actual cleaning is now carried out using the Fig. 2 cleaning unit 51 shown (designed as a nozzle) sprays the cleaning liquid onto the pressure nozzles 61 and their adjacent areas. By moving the cleaning device 5 up or down by means of the second travel unit 10 or by moving the print head up or down, the cleaning liquid is distributed evenly along the height of the direct print head 6.

The used cleaning fluid flows into Fig. 3 down and is different from the one in the Fig. 2 The collecting device 52 shown is caught and discharged.

In addition, the surface of the nozzle plate 61 and / or the housing of the direct print head 6 can be wiped with the wiping device 55 and thus hard-to-dissolve and / or hardened printing ink constituents can be mechanically removed therefrom.

To dry the direct print head 6, air is expelled from the blower nozzle 56 and at the same time the cleaning device 5 or the print head is moved up and down. The liquid components thus detached from the direct print head 6 are then sucked in with the suction device 54. In addition, dry dirt can also be blown off.

In the Fig. 4 a representation of a cleaning device 5 for the simultaneous cleaning of two superimposed direct print heads 6a and 6b is shown in a detailed side view. This differs from the first embodiment only in the additional direct print head 6a and the design of the cleaning device 5.

The direct print heads 6a, 6b can be moved separately from one another by means of the two moving units 8a and 8b and print areas lying one above the other on the in the Fig. 1 Container 2 shown can thus be printed at the same time.

The cleaning device 5 in the Fig. 4 differs from that in the Fig. 2 shown in that it has two sections 5a and 5b arranged one above the other is trained. Each of the two sections 5a and 5b can, except for the housing, like the cleaning device 5 in FIG Fig. 2 formed and integrated in a common housing.

The section 5a has the cleaning unit 51a, with which cleaning liquid can be sprayed onto the direct print head 6a. The used cleaning liquid then flows off downwards and is collected in the collecting device 52a, so that it does not flow off via the second direct print head 6b located underneath. It can also be seen that the second section 5b can include the cleaning unit 51b with which the direct print head 6b can be sprayed with cleaning fluid. The used cleaning liquid which now runs off is collected by the collecting device 52b.

With the cleaning unit 5 designed in this way, the two direct print heads 6a and 6b arranged one above the other can be cleaned at the same time.

In the Fig. 5 a representation of a second embodiment of a container treatment machine 1 for printing containers 2 is shown in a side view. This differs essentially from the first embodiment in that the cleaning device 5 is connected to the transport device 3 (also designed as a carousel) so that it moves along. As a result, further direct print heads 6 (not shown here) can be cleaned sequentially one after the other with the cleaning device 5.

The direct print head 6 can be moved both perpendicularly and parallel to the axis of rotation A with the first and second moving units 8, 10. As a result, the direct print head 6 can be moved into a printing position or into a cleaning position.

The cleaning device 5 also comprises a cleaning unit 51 and a collecting device 52, which are similar to FIG Fig. 2 are arranged in an L-shape to one another. As a result, the direct print head 6 can be sprayed with cleaning liquid and the used cleaning liquid can be collected. It can also be seen that the cleaning device 5 is designed as an insert for the container receptacle 9 and has a storage tank (not shown here) with a pump. As a result, the cleaning device 5 can do without supply lines to the carousel 3. However, an embodiment is also conceivable in which the cleaning device 5 is inserted into a container receptacle 9 and connected to supply lines. It is also conceivable that at least one container receptacle 9 has a plug connection for supplying the cleaning device 5.

During cleaning, the transport device 3 is moved in such a way that the cleaning device 5 is arranged opposite the direct print head 6. Then the Move the direct print head 6 in the horizontal direction with the first traversing unit 8 so that there is a favorable distance for cleaning. Furthermore, the direct print head 6 is moved up and down with the second travel unit 10, so that the direct print head 6 can be wetted with cleaning liquid over the entire surface as possible in the vertical direction.

The one in the Fig. 5 As shown in the second exemplary embodiment, it is possible to clean all direct print heads 6 with a single cleaning device 5. As a result, the container treatment machine 1 is designed to be particularly cost-effective.

In the Fig. 6 is a representation of a third embodiment of a container treatment machine 1 shown in a side view, which does not fall under the invention. The third embodiment is essentially different from that in FIG Fig. 5 second exemplary embodiment shown in that the direct print heads 6a and 6b, which are arranged one above the other during printing, can be swiveled jointly by a swivel unit 11 or by a swivel unit per print head from a substantially horizontal printing direction D into a vertical cleaning direction R.

It can also be seen that the containers 2 are received in the container receptacles 9 by means of the transport device 3. The transport device 3 is also designed here as a carousel and rotates about an axis of rotation (not shown here) with respect to the machine base 4.

During printing, the two direct print heads 6a and 6b are arranged one above the other in a printing position not shown here. The two direct print heads 6a and 6b emit ink droplets in the direction of the printing direction D onto the container 2. Because two direct print heads 6a and 6b are arranged one above the other here, two print sections on the container can be printed at the same time.

Furthermore, in Fig. 6 it can be seen that the direct print heads 6a and 6b are stationary, that is to say stationary with the machine base 4.

For cleaning, the direct print heads 6a and 6b are moved as far away as possible from the edge of the carousel 3 via the moving device 8. The direct print heads 6a and 6b are connected via the pivoting device 11 to a base plate 12, which at the same time serves to cover the cleaning device 5 in normal operation (printing operation).

During cleaning, the direct print heads 6a and 6b are swiveled by 90 ° by means of the swivel device 11 in such a way that the print nozzles 61a and 61b are oriented downwards in the direction of the cleaning direction R.

The cleaning device 5 here comprises two cleaning units 51a and 51b or two collecting devices 52a and 52b, which correspond to the direct print heads 6a and 6b during cleaning. This makes it possible to spray the direct print heads 6a and 6b at the same time and to collect and discharge the used cleaning liquid with the collecting devices 52a and 52b. The two collecting devices 52a and 52b can also be designed together as a collecting device (for example a channel). The print heads 6a and 6b can be moved horizontally individually or together, or the cleaning device 5 itself is completely moved or individual parts of the cleaning device 5, for example only nozzle 61a and 61b, can be moved.

Furthermore, the printing nozzles 61a and 61b eject printing ink during the cleaning process, as a result of which they are cleaned particularly well. Because the nozzles 61a and 61b are oriented downwards, that is to say in the direction of gravity, during the cleaning process, the ejected printing ink does not reach other areas of the direct print heads 6a and 6b.

In the Fig. 7 a representation of a fourth embodiment of a container treatment machine 1 is shown in a plan view. It can be seen that in the container treatment machine 1, the containers 2 are placed in the container receptacles 9b via the inlet star 13 on the transport device 3, which is designed as a carousel, and are transported along the transport path S. The direct print heads 6b, which are connected to the transport device 3, are used for printing. The transport device 3, which is designed as a carousel, continues to rotate about the axis of rotation A continuously or in a clocked manner. Furthermore, the printed containers 2 are then removed from the discharge star 14. Alternatively, several carousels can be directly lined up along a transport direction without transfer stars. In the area of the empty segment L (in the transport direction between the discharge star 14 and the inlet star 13) the container receptacles 9a are empty and the non-active direct print head 6a can be cleaned here by the cleaning device 5, which is arranged in a stationary manner. For this purpose, the cleaning device 5 is moved in the direction of the axis of rotation A to the direct print head 6a so that it is directly opposite it.

Because the cleaning device 5 cleans the inactive direct print head 6a in the area of the empty segment, the printing operation of the container 2 does not have to be interrupted during cleaning.

In this embodiment, it is also conceivable that each print head is assigned a cleaning device that rotates along with it. In the Fig. 8 a representation of a fifth embodiment of a container treatment machine 1 for printing containers 2 is shown. Here is the Transport device 3 is also designed as a carousel that rotates about axis of rotation A. The container receptacles 9, the direct print heads 6 and the cleaning device 5 are connected to the carousel 3 while running. In the case of the empty container receptacle 9 shown here, it is possible to move the cleaning device 5 along the double arrow for cleaning. The cleaning device 5 also has cleaning units (not shown here) and collecting devices for the cleaning liquid.

the Fig. 9 shows a sixth embodiment of a container treatment machine 1 for printing containers 2 in a plan view. The transport device 3, which is designed as a carousel and rotates about the axis of rotation A, can be seen. The container receptacles 9 with which the containers 2 are transported are formed on the carousel 3. It can also be seen that the direct print heads 6a-6d are connected to the carousel 3 via a moving unit. The direct print heads 6a-6d have different printing colors here.

For printing, the containers 2 are rotated about their longitudinal axis in the container receptacles 9 via drives. At the same time, a specific direct print head 6d can be positioned on the container 2 via the moving unit 15 in order to print it with a specific printing ink. Then the moving unit 15 moves a further one of the direct print heads 6a-6d to the container 2 and the printing is carried out with a further printing ink.

The cleaning device 5 with a cleaning unit 51 for discharging the cleaning liquid and a collecting device 52 for conveying away the used cleaning liquid is located on the carousel 3 between two container receptacles 9.

The cleaning device 5 is used as follows: a direct pressure head 6b that is currently not required is moved to the cleaning device 5. The direct print head to be cleaned is then sprayed with cleaning fluid by means of the cleaning device 5. At the same time, the cleaning device 5 can be moved up and down (parallel to the axis of rotation A). As a result, the direct print head 6b to be cleaned is wetted as uniformly as possible with the cleaning liquid. The cleaning liquid running off is then collected with the collecting device 52 and discharged.

The ones in the Figures 5-9 The cleaning devices 5 shown are essentially like those in FIG Fig. 2 cleaning device 5 shown is formed. They can accordingly also comprise a blow nozzle 56, a wiping device 55 and a suction device 54. Furthermore, the cleaning device 5 can be designed as a protective element for a direct print head 6 when the machine 1 is at a standstill.

In Figure 10 a machine with a device 1 for inkjet printing of a three-dimensional object 2 is shown. The object 2, e.g. B. a hollow body such as a bottle or other container is arranged on a slide 9 and is together with the slide 9 on a conveyor line 3, z. B. a carousel moved.

In Figure 10 Also shown as printing units are a first print head 6a and a second print head 6b, with which areas on the surface of the object 2 are printed. The object 2 is aligned vertically, ie its longitudinal axis B extends essentially parallel to a Y-direction (vertical) and the two print heads 6a and 6b are aligned essentially horizontally, ie the drops 67 ejected by them move essentially parallel to an X-direction (horizontal). Each print head 6a and 6b has an ink supply (not shown).

The first print head 6a prints an area 2b on the surface of the object 2 and the second print head 6b prints an area 2a. The two areas do not adjoin one another directly, but are spaced apart from one another vertically due to the construction of the print heads 6a and 6b. An in Figure 10 The third printhead, not shown, is therefore (with respect to the image plane) behind the two printheads 6a and 6b and prints the surface of the object 2 in an area 2c, which closes the gaps between the areas 2a and 2b and partially overlaps them (so-called Stitching).

During a print mode, the two print heads 6a and 6b are in a print position P1 adjacent to the conveying path 3, so that the nozzles 61a and 61b of the two print heads are arranged at a print distance from the surface of the object 2. The object 2 rotates about its axis B so that it is not necessary to move the print heads 6a and 6b during printing. As soon as the printing of the object 2 has been completed, it is moved on with the object carrier 9 on the conveyor line 3 and a subsequent object is moved into the printing area in front of the print heads 6a and 6b.

For ejecting the ink droplets 67, the two print heads 6a and 6b each have front plates 64a and 64b with receiving openings 65a and 65b, in which nozzle plates 63a and 63b are integrated. The nozzle plates in turn have rows of nozzles 62a and 62b. In the example shown, the rows of nozzles extend essentially parallel to the vertical Y. It can also be seen that the nozzle plates 63a and 63b with the rows of nozzles 62a and 62b are countersunk in the respective front plate 64a or 64b, ie a little further from the horizontal X Surface of the object 2 are spaced apart than the surface of the respective front plate 64a or 64b. One advantage that results from this submerged integration is described in more detail below.

In Figure 10 it is also shown that the two print heads 6a and 6b each have a drive 8a and 8b, respectively. By means of these two drives, the print heads 6a and 6b, as from a comparison of the three Figures 10-12 can be seen to be moved both in the horizontal X and in the vertical Y.

Furthermore, in Figure 10 It is shown that each print head 6a and 6b has a respective drip edge 66a or 66b on the underside of its respective front plate 64a or 64b. These dripping edges can, for. B. be designed as sharp, protruding edges or as so-called noses. The function and the resulting advantages of the respective drip edges are explained in more detail below.

In the lower area of the Figure 10 a cleaning unit 5, or an automatic cleaning system, is shown, which is used to clean the two print heads 6a and 6b. During the print mode, the cleaning unit 5 is in the in Figure 10 recognizable parking position P2 arranged. This parking position P2 is preferably located below the conveying path 7 and offset in the horizontal X to the position P1 of the two print heads 6a and 6b.

The cleaning unit 5 has a wiper 55, preferably a rubber lip, a suction nozzle 54 and a spray nozzle 51 as cleaning elements Spraying the front plates 64a and 64b and the nozzle plates 63a and 63b with a cleaning liquid (which preferably contains a solvent for hardened ink) and the suction nozzle is used to suck off the sprayed cleaning liquid from the nozzle plates 63a and 63b (and to dry the front plates 64a and 64b). The cleaning liquid can be fed to the cleaning unit 5 via a hose connection 53 (not shown). Likewise, the suctioned cleaning liquid can be carried away from the cleaning unit 5 together with the cleaned-off ink via a hose connection, also not shown. A bypass bore 59 can be provided between the suction nozzle 54 and the wiper 55, which has the advantage that ink adhering to the wiper can be sucked off and carried away from the cleaning unit 5. The bypass bore 59 can open under, over or also into the wiper 55.

The cleaning unit 5 also has two cover plates 58a and 58b, which serve to close the two print heads 6a and 6b during the idle mode (alternatively: so-called capping mode) and thereby prevent the nozzles 61a and 61b clogged with drying ink. The capping mode is a sub-mode of the cleaning mode.

Finally, the cleaning unit 5 has a collecting trough 52. As can be seen, in particular, in FIG Figure 10 Hose connection, not shown, are led away from the cleaning unit 5. Alternatively, it is possible to remove the collecting trough 52 from the cleaning unit 5, to empty it and, preferably, to reinsert it in a cleaned manner.

The cleaning unit 5 also has a drive 10 which allows the cleaning unit 5 to be moved at least in the vertical Y. It can optionally be provided that the drive 10 can also move the cleaning unit 5 in the horizontal X.

After the end of the print mode and after the initiation of the cleaning mode, there is no longer an object 2 or an object carrier 9 in front of the rows of nozzles 62a and 62b of the two print heads 6a and 6b. Interfering elements of the conveyor line 3 are also moved out of the area in front of the print heads 6a and 6b. It is thus possible to move the cleaning unit 5 upwards from below in the vertical Y and to bring it essentially to the position in which the object 3 was previously. Alternatively, it is also possible to move the two print heads 6a and 6b downward in the vertical Y into a position adjacent to the cleaning unit 5. Again, as an alternative, it is possible to move both the cleaning unit 5 and the two print heads 6a and 6b by means of their respective drives in the vertical Y and to bring them into a mutually adjacent position. However, all three technical solutions are based on a vertical relative movement R1 (cf. Figure 11 ) between the two print heads 6a and 6b and the cleaning unit 5. Again, alternatively, it is possible to move the cleaning unit 5 from below into a sufficient free space between the two print heads 6a and 6b and the conveying path 3. In this case, the object 2 can remain in front of the print heads 6a and 6b. If necessary, the two print heads are previously moved away from the conveyor line 3 in the horizontal X in order to create sufficient free space.

In Figure 11 the cleaning unit 5 is shown in a cleaning position P4. The two print heads 6a and 6b are also shown in the cleaning position P3. It is in Figure 11 It can also be seen that the second print head 6b was moved in the horizontal X by means of its drive 8b, so that the second nozzle plate 63b is covered by the cover plate 58b (so-called capping mode).

The first print head 6a, on the other hand, is not in a capping mode and becomes as from a comparison of FIG Figures 11 and 12 is shown, now subjected to a movement R2 essentially in the vertical Y.

In Figure 11 a control unit 16 is also shown, which is connected to the two print heads 6a and 6b, the cleaning unit 5 and the three drives 8a, 8b and 10 via control interfaces. The control unit 16 starts and stops the printing mode and the cleaning mode, starts and stops the three drives 19, 20 and 31 in order to move the two print heads 6a and 6b and the cleaning unit 5 into their respective positions P1 to P4 and starts and stops the nozzles 54 and 51 arranged on the cleaning unit 5. In addition, the control unit 16 can also start and stop the ejection of ink drops. This enables what is known as purge, with ink droplets 67 being ejected solely for the purpose of cleaning the nozzles 61a and 61b and removing gas bubbles from the ink supply.

In Figure 12 the first print head 6a is shown in an upper position, in which it has reached by the up and down movement R2. By moving the print head 6a, the surface of the first front plate 64a is cleaned with the wiper 55 and drops of ink and cleaning liquid 68 drip off at the drip edge 66a into a shaft or channel 69 of the cleaning unit 5 and from there down into the Trough 52. The shaft 69 is located inside the cleaning unit 5 and in the horizontal X behind the cover plate 58b. The in Figure 12 A recognizable movement R2 of the first print head 6a is started and stopped by the control unit 16.

The control unit 16 can also determine the speed and duration of the cleaning process (e.g. how fast and how often the wiper 55 is guided over the front panels 64a and 64b), the amount of cleaning liquid sprayed on and the duration of the action time of the cleaning liquid, e.g. the ink used and / or the previous printing process.

Spraying with nozzle 51 and purgen are optional steps of the cleaning mode. When spraying, there is a short burst of about 1 second, after which the cleaning liquid takes effect and the purge begins.

The cleaning liquid can be sprayed on when using water-based and UV inks. Since UV inks may dry out due to scattered UV light, it is preferable to spray preventively, i.e. spray. H. even before a nozzle failure is recorded.

The second print head 5 is cleaned by moving the second print head 5 up and down in accordance with the cleaning of the first print head. The first printhead is moved out of the way for this, i. H. preferably moved further upwards so that the second print head can reach the effective area of the cleaning elements 51, 54 and 55.

It goes without saying that the features mentioned in the exemplary embodiments described above are not restricted to these special combinations and are possible in any other combinations.

Claims (16)

1. Container handling machine (1) for printing onto containers (2) with a transport device (3) optionally configured as a carousel for transporting said containers (2), with at least one printing station (6) and with at least one cleaning device (5) for cleaning said printing station (6),
   characterized in that

   said at least one cleaning device (5) can be moved to a cleaning position for cleaning said printing station,

   in that said cleaning unit (5) is configured and oriented such that it cleans said printing stations disposed substantially in a horizontal direction of printing, wherein the direction of printing is a direction in which print droplets are dispensed from the direct printing head,and

   in that one or more movement units (8) is/are adapted to position and/or move said printing station (6) and said cleaning device (5) relative to each other, wherein said cleaning device is moved by said movement unit.
2. Container handling machine (1) according to claim 1, where said cleaning unit (5) comprises a dispensing device for cleaning fluid, and/or a blow nozzle (56) for air/cleaning fluid and/or a wiping device (55) and/or an extraction device (54) and/or a collection device (for cleaning fluid and/or printing agent residue or contaminant).
3. Container handling machine (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 2, where said cleaning device (5) is in a specific position configured as a protective element for said printing station, optionally with a circumferential seal and/or a protective cap.
4. Container handling machine (1) according to at least one of the claims 1-3, where said cleaning device (5) is configured for simultaneously cleaning at least two printing stations disposed above each other using cleaning units (51a, 51b) corresponding to said printing stations, where said cleaning units (51a, 51b) are optionally disposed in a step-like manner.
5. Container handling machine (1) according to at least one of the claims 1-4, where said cleaning device (5) can for cleaning be inserted into a container receptacle (9) in place of a container (2) at said transport device (3).
6. Container handling machine (1) according to at least one of the claims 1-6,

   where said cleaning device (5) and said printing stations (6) are arranged in a stationary manner at said machine (1)
   or

   where said cleaning device (5) is connected to said transport device (3) running along with it and said printing stations (6) are arranged in a stationary manner at said machine (1)
   or

   where said printing stations (6) are connected to said transport device (3) running along with it and said cleaning device (5) is arranged in a stationary manner at said machine (1) and in particular said cleaning device (5) is arranged at an empty segment (L) of said transport device (3) with container receptacles (9a) that are empty during operations,
   or

   where said cleaning device (5) and said printing stations are connected to said transport device (3) running along with it, where said printing stations (6) are optionally arranged in a star-like manner around said container receptacles (9).
7. Container handling machine (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims with a second printing station (6b) that is in a printing position (P1) arranged substantially vertically below said first printing station (6b) and prints onto at least one second area (2b) of said container (2).
8. Container handling machine (1) according to claim 7, where a movement unit (8a, 8b) in the cleaning mode moves said first printing station (6a) and/or said second printing station (6b) horizontally to a cleaning position (P3).
9. Container handling machine (1) according to claim 7 or 8, where said first printing station (6a) or said second printing station (6b) is during said cleaning mode moved vertically up and back down again.
10. Container handling machine (1) according to at least one of the claims 7 to 9, where said first printing station (6a) and said second printing station (6b) each comprise a front plate (64a, 64b) with a receiving opening (65a, 65b) and a nozzle plate (63a, 63b), where said nozzle plate (63a, 63b) is recessed in said receiving opening (65a, 65b) of said front plate (64a, 64b).
11. Container handling machine (1) according to claim 10, where said front plates (64a, 64b) each comprise a drip edge (66a, 66b), where said drip edge (66a, 66b) is disposed or formed in the vertical direction at the lower end of said respective front plate (64a, 64b).
12. Container handling machine (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims,

    where said printing station (6a) comprises at least a first nozzle row (62a) for ejecting ink droplets (67), where said ink droplets (67) are ejected substantially in the horizontal direction (X) and where said first printing station (6a) is during a printing mode disposed in a printing position (P1) and prints onto at least one first area (2a) of a container (2), where said cleaning device (5) is during a printing mode disposed in a stand-by position (P2),

    comprising a further printing station (6b) comprising at least a second nozzle row (62b) for ejecting ink droplets (67) and said ink drops (67) are ejected substantially in the horizontal direction (X) and where said further printing station (6b) is during said printing mode disposed in a printing position (P1) substantially vertically below said printing position (P1) of said first printing station (6a) and prints onto at least one second area (2b) of said container (2),

    where a movement unit (10) is provided to generate a relative motion (R1) during a cleaning mode between said cleaning device (5) and said printing station (6a), where said relative motion occurs substantially in the vertical direction (Y),

    where said cleaning device (5) can in said cleaning mode be moved by said movement unit (10) vertically upwardly to a cleaning position (P4),

    where said printing station (6a) and/or said further printing station (6b) can in said cleaning mode be moved by a further movement unit (8a, 8b) horizontally to said cleaning position (P3), and

    where said printing station (6a) or said further printing station (6b) can during said cleaning mode be moved in said cleaning position (P3) vertically up and back down (R2) again.
13. Method for cleaning printing stations (6) in a container handling machine (1), wherein said containers (2) are imprinted in a normal operation mode and at least one printing station (6) is in a cleaning operation mode cleaned with a cleaning device (5),

    wherein a cleaning agent is in the cleaning operation mode applied by a cleaning unit (51) onto said printing stations (6) and the spent cleaning agent and/or contaminant is/are discharged from a collection device (52),

    characterized in that

    said at least one cleaning device (5) is moved to a cleaning position in order to clean the printing station (6),

    in that in the cleaning operation mode said printing stations are disposed substantially horizontal and said cleaning unit (5) is oriented such that it cleans said printing stations disposed substantially in a horizontal direction of printing, wherein the direction of printing is a direction in which print droplets are dispensed from the direct printing head, and

    in that said printing station (6) and said cleaning device (5) is positioned and/or moved relative to each other with one or more movement units, wherein said cleaning device is moved with said movement unit.
14. Method according to claim 13, wherein said cleaning device (5) in said cleaning operation mode wipes off and/or blows clear and/or sucks clear said printing stations (6), where said printing station (6) optionally ejects ink.
15. Method according to claim 14, wherein a subset of said printing stations (6b) is printing in the normal operation mode, while a different subset of said printing stations (6a) is cleaned in the cleaning operation mode.
16. Method according to one of the claims 13 to 15, characterized in that said cleaning device (5) is during printing operations held in a waiting position beyond the print area and is in the cleaning operation mode joined with said printing stations in said cleaning position and can there assume a protective function.

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