EP3028861A2 - Procédé de formation d'image et imprimante - Google Patents
Procédé de formation d'image et imprimante Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3028861A2 EP3028861A2 EP15186455.0A EP15186455A EP3028861A2 EP 3028861 A2 EP3028861 A2 EP 3028861A2 EP 15186455 A EP15186455 A EP 15186455A EP 3028861 A2 EP3028861 A2 EP 3028861A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- image
- sub
- curing
- recording medium
- printing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 29
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 117
- 238000007639 printing Methods 0.000 claims description 91
- 230000001678 irradiating effect Effects 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000007641 inkjet printing Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000976 ink Substances 0.000 description 109
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 20
- 239000003349 gelling agent Substances 0.000 description 7
- 238000011417 postcuring Methods 0.000 description 6
- 239000003086 colorant Substances 0.000 description 4
- 125000003158 alcohol group Chemical group 0.000 description 3
- 239000013078 crystal Substances 0.000 description 3
- FVKQALGTGOKSSK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 15-nonacosanone Chemical compound CCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCCCCC FVKQALGTGOKSSK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000003491 array Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 2
- UNRFDARCMOHDBJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N hentriacontan-16-one Chemical compound CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCCCCCC UNRFDARCMOHDBJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- DMCJFWXGXUEHFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N pentatriacontan-18-one Chemical compound CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC DMCJFWXGXUEHFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 2
- VARQGBHBYZTYLJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N tricosan-12-one Chemical compound CCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCC VARQGBHBYZTYLJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000001993 wax Substances 0.000 description 2
- JOYRKODLDBILNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethyl urethane Chemical compound CCOC(N)=O JOYRKODLDBILNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- QYKIQEUNHZKYBP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Vinyl ether Chemical compound C=COC=C QYKIQEUNHZKYBP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 150000001298 alcohols Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 239000011230 binding agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000000740 bleeding effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000012447 hatching Effects 0.000 description 1
- 150000002576 ketones Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000178 monomer Substances 0.000 description 1
- VTPOKROHHTWTML-UHFFFAOYSA-N pentacosan-13-one Chemical compound CCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCCC VTPOKROHHTWTML-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- -1 pyristone Chemical compound 0.000 description 1
- 239000002562 thickening agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- ODRZDGZUYNRFMX-UHFFFAOYSA-N tritriacontan-17-one Chemical compound CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC(=O)CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC ODRZDGZUYNRFMX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229960000834 vinyl ether Drugs 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- 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
- B41J2/21—Ink jet for multi-colour printing
- B41J2/2107—Ink jet for multi-colour printing characterised by the ink properties
- B41J2/2114—Ejecting specialized liquids, e.g. transparent or processing liquids
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
- B41J11/0015—Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form for treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing
- B41J11/002—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating
- B41J11/0021—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating using irradiation
- B41J11/00212—Controlling the irradiation means, e.g. image-based controlling of the irradiation zone or control of the duration or intensity of the irradiation
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
- B41J11/0015—Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form for treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing
- B41J11/002—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating
- B41J11/0021—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating using irradiation
- B41J11/00214—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating using irradiation using UV radiation
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
- B41J11/0015—Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form for treating before, during or after printing or for uniform coating or laminating the copy material before or after printing
- B41J11/002—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating
- B41J11/0021—Curing or drying the ink on the copy materials, e.g. by heating or irradiating using irradiation
- B41J11/00218—Constructional details of the irradiation means, e.g. radiation source attached to reciprocating print head assembly or shutter means provided on the radiation source
Definitions
- the invention relates to a method of forming an image by applying radiation curable ink onto a recording medium that is supported on a print surface.
- the invention relates to an ink jet printing method using UV curable ink.
- UV curable inks such as UV curable inks
- a special class of UV curable inks are UV curable phase change inks.
- Phase change inks are inks that are fluid at elevated temperature and solid or semi-solid at room temperature.
- An example of a UV curable phase change ink is a UV curable gelling ink.
- Phase change inks are jetted at elevated temperature. When these inks are applied onto a recording medium, they may cool down, thereby increasing the viscosity of the ink. This increase in viscosity may prevent spread of a droplet and inter-droplet smearing.
- the phase change property of the radiation curable ink may stabilize the droplets applied onto the receiving medium before they are cured.
- a phase change radiation curable ink When a phase change radiation curable ink is used for applying an image onto a receiving medium, it may not be necessary to cure immediately after the droplet has landed onto the receiving medium; there may be a time interval in between application of the droplets onto the receiving medium and curing, without droplet smearing occurring. Moreover, it may be disadvantageous to cure the droplets of the UV curable phase change ink immediately after applying them onto the recording medium, as this may prevent the ink droplets to flow, thereby preventing the droplets of forming an even ink layer on the recording medium.
- a printing apparatus configured to print images by ejecting droplets of a UV curable phase change ink are typically configured to cure the ink only a certain time interval after the ink has been deposited onto the recording medium.
- images may be applied by selectively applying droplets of a Cyan, a Magenta, a Yellow and a Black UV curable phase change ink composition, respectively.
- additional types of ink such as white ink, a metallic ink and/or a(colorless) overcoat.
- the different type of inks used to printing the image may have different rheologic behavior
- some of the ink compositions used may be non-phase change inks; i.e these inks may be fluid at elevated temperature as well as at room temperature. Hence, non-phase change inks may spread when they are applied onto the recording medium. Therefore, it may be difficult to print images using different types of ink, while maintaining good print quality.
- the image forming method according to the invention is characterized in that the image comprises a first sub-image and a second sub-image, and the method comprises the steps of:
- the invention proposes to switch between different curing strategies within the time period in which a single image is printed onto a single recording medium that is supported on the print surface.
- This has the advantage that different types of ink may be used for the first sub-image and for the second sub-image that is to cover at least a part of the first sub-image, and the curing strategy is always adapted to the type of ink being used.
- the first sub-image is printed using a first ink composition and the second sub-image is printed using a second ink composition, wherein a first one of the first ink composition and the second ink composition is a radiation curable phase change ink composition and a second one of the first ink composition and the second ink composition is a radiation curable non-phase change ink composition.
- the radiation curable phase change ink composition may be cured a certain time interval after the radiation curable phase change ink composition is applied onto the recording medium. This curing strategy is also known as post curing.
- the radiation curable non- phase change ink composition may be cured immediately after the radiation curable phase change ink composition is applied onto the recording medium.
- This curing strategy is also known as direct curing.
- the time lag between the time of printing and the time of curing differs between the first curing strategy and the second curing strategy. For example, if direct curing is applied, then the time lag between the time of printing and the time of curing is relatively small. If post curing is applied, then the time lag between the time of printing and the time of curing is relatively large.
- one of the first and second curing strategy comprises the step of curing using a first radiation source; the other of the first and second curing strategy comprises the step of curing using a second radiation source and does not comprise the step of curing using a first radiation source; and the first radiation source is positioned upstream in a direction of recording medium transport with regard to the second source of radiation.
- the recording medium is moved in a recording medium transport direction.
- the recording medium may be moved continuously or alternatively, the recording medium may be moved step-wise.
- the image applied onto the recording medium may comprise a first sub-image and a second sub-image.
- the image may be formed using a printing apparatus that comprises a first source of radiation and a second source of radiation.
- the first radiation source may be positioned upstream in a direction of recording medium transport with regard to the second source of radiation.
- the first and second sub-image may be cured using different curing strategies.
- the sub-images may be cured substantially completely by the curing strategy applied.
- the sub-image cured by the first curing means may be essentially completely cured by irradiating the first sub-image with the first curing means.
- the sub-image may be irradiated afterwards by the second radiation source, but -as the sub-image was already essentially completely cured-irradiating with the second radiation source may not result in (further) curing of the sub-image.
- the sub-image that that is cured using the second radiation source may also be essentially completely cured, even though the sub-image was not irradiated with the first source of radiation.
- one of the first and the second sub-image may be formed using a radiation curable phase change ink.
- the sub-image formed using such ink may be cured by irradiating the sub-image using the second source of radiation but may not be irradiated using the first source of radiation.
- the other one of the first and the second sub-image may be formed using a radiation curable non-phase change ink.
- This sub-image may be cured using the first source of radiation.
- this sub-image may also be irradiated using the second source of radiation.
- the first sub-image may be printed by a first printing element and the second sub-image may be printed using a second printing element.
- the first curing means may irradiate a first irradiated area of the recording medium, whereas the second curing means may irradiate a second irradiated area of the recording medium. None of the first and second printing element may be positioned downstream with regard to the first irradiated area of the recording medium.
- sub-images applied by the first and second element can be cured-depending on the curing strategy selected- using the first radiation source. However, only one of the first and second sub-images will be cured using the first source of radiation.
- the first sub-image or the second sub-image is cured using the first source of radiation depends on the curing strategy selected. For example, if a background layer is applied as the first sub-image, the first sub-image will be cured by the first source of radiation (direct-curing). The first sub-image may be irradiated by the second source of radiation, but this will not result in further curing of the first sub-image. The second sub-image may be cured by the second source of radiation (post-curing).
- the first sub-image is a background layer that is a white background layer.
- the white background layer is applied onto the recording medium by ejecting droplets of a white UV curable non-phase change ink composition.
- the white UV curable non-phase change ink composition may be cured using direct curing.
- the colour image may be applied by ejecting droplets of a coloured UV curable phase change ink e.g. CMYK ink.
- the coloured ink may be cured using post curing.
- the method may be used for first printing a colour image directly onto the recording medium with using the first curing strategy and then printing a transparent overcoat ink layer on top of the colour image with using the second curing strategy.
- the overcoat ink layer may be e.g. a gloss-enhancing ink layer or a protective ink layer.
- the overcoat ink layer may be printed by ejecting droplets of a colourless UV curable non-phase change ink composition.
- the colourless UV curable non-phase change ink composition may be cured using direct curing.
- the colour image may be applied onto the recording medium by ejecting droplets of a coloured UV curable phase change ink e.g. CMYK ink.
- the coloured ink may be cured using post curing.
- the curing strategy is adapted to the nature of the ink used for printing the first and second sub-image, respectively.
- the second sub-image may at least partially cover the first sub-image.
- the UV curable phase change ink composition comprises a crystalline gellant.
- the gellant is a thickener. When the ink cools down after being applied onto the recording medium, the ink thickens which may control or prevent spreading of the ink on the recording medium. Therefore, the gellant may prevent colour bleeding.
- the gellant is a crystalline component, the gellant can provide phase-change characteristic to the ink and can influence the gloss of the print.
- the crystalline component may be another component of the ink composition, e.g. a binder. The crystalline component may need some time to form crystals after an ink droplet has been applied onto the recording medium.
- the presence of crystals in the ink layer may influence the gloss level of the ink layer. Therefore, it is preferred that the crystals can form in the ink layer before the ink layer is cured. Hence, post-curing may be applied for curing UV curable phase-change inks comprising a crystalline gellant.
- Non-limiting examples of crystalline gelling agents are ketones such as laurone, stearone, di-n-dodecylketone, pyristone, 15-nonacosanone, palmitone, di-n-hexadecylketone; long chain terminal alcohols, such as a C 10-C40 long chain terminal alcohol, for example a C 15 -C 30 long chain terminal alcohol, such as a C 20 -C 25 long chain terminal alcohol; or urethane waxes or vinylether waxes, such as the commercially available Vectomer ® monomers, obtainable from Sigma-Aldrich.
- ketones such as laurone, stearone, di-n-dodecylketone, pyristone, 15-nonacosanone, palmitone, di-n-hexadecylketone
- long chain terminal alcohols such as a C 10-C40 long chain terminal alcohol, for example a C 15 -C 30 long chain terminal alcohol,
- a printer that is capable of performing the image forming method described above with high efficiency comprises:
- the switching between two different cure strategies can be performed in a very short time, simply by switching the first radiation source on and off.
- the direct cure strategy is active in which each dot is cured immediately after it has been printed.
- a dot that has just been printed will not be cured before it receives radiation from the second radiation source, so that a post cure strategy is applied. It is possible but not necessary to switch off the second radiation source when the direct cure strategy is to be applied.
- Another printer that is also useful for carrying out the method described above with high efficiency comprises:
- the at least one of the first and second printing elements may comprise page-wide print heads that are stationary relative to the print surface on which the recording medium is advanced.
- the radiation sources may be configured as lamps that also extend over the entire width of the recording medium.
- Each of the first and second radiation sources may either be configured as a single lamp adapted to irradiate a complete line or a plurality of lines on the recording medium, or may be formed by plurality of lamps, e.g. UV-emitting LEDs, that are arranged for irradiating individual pixel positions. In the latter case, at least the lamps of the first radiation source may be controlled independently of one another.
- At least one of the first and second printing elements may comprise print heads that are disposed on a common carriage that travels in a main scanning direction across the print surface. Then, the radiation sources may be either stationary or arranged to travel together with the carriage.
- a printer according to the invention in which the first radiation source is adapted to be switched on and off individually for each pixel position may also be used for performing a printing method in which the different cure strategies are not applied to different sub-images that are superposed one upon the other, but to different pixel positions, so that the printed image can be divided into areas which differ in their gloss.
- a printed image e.g. a four colour image, may be defined not only by four bitmaps, one for each colour, but also by a fifth bitmap that specifies the cure strategy and hence the gloss for each pixel.
- Fig. 1 shows an ink jet printer 10 having a print surface 12 that supports a sheet of a recording medium 14.
- the recording medium 14 is advanced over the print surface 12 in a sub-scanning direction x.
- a print head carriage 16 is slidable along a rail 18 that extends across the entire width of the recording medium 14.
- the carriage 16 is driven to move back and forth in a main scanning direction y normal to the sub-scanning direction x and carries a number of print heads (symbolized by linear nozzle arrays in the drawing) with which inks of different colours may be expelled onto the recording medium 14 in order to print an image.
- a curing system 20 for curing droplets of liquid ink that have been applied onto the recording medium 14 by means of the print heads is configured as a UV lamp that extends over the entire width of the recording medium 14 and is disposed downstream of the rail 18 in the sub-scanning direction x.
- the recording medium 14 is a transparent sheet (symbolized by hatching in the area of the sheet in which no image has been formed as yet).
- One of the print heads on the carriage 16 is provided for printing with white ink in order to form a white background layer 22 on the recording medium.
- Other print heads on the carriage 16 are used for printing with coloured inks (e.g. UV-curable phase change inks in the colours cyan, magenta, yellow and black) so as to print a colour image 24 on top of the white background layer.
- the nozzle arrays of the print heads extend in the sub-scanning direction x, so that a swath of several pixel lines is printed during each pass of the carriage 16 across the recording medium. In the situation illustrated in Fig.
- the lamp constituting the curing system 20 is directed onto the swath of white background 22 that is just being printed, as has been indicated by a dashed line in Fig. 2 .
- the ultraviolet light is collimated such that it will irradiate the swath of the background 22 evenly over the entire width of the recording medium 14 in the main scanning direction y and also evenly over the width of the swath in the sub-scanning direction x.
- Fig. 3 illustrates the situation during this pass, with the carriage 16 moving towards the viewer.
- the UV lamp forming the curing system 22 is shifted to another position, so that the light beam (dashed line) irradiates and cures another swath of the colour image 24 that had been printed a number of passes (five in this example) earlier.
- the coloured ink that is deposited on the white background 22 in the pass of the carriage shown in Fig. 3 will be cured only with a considerable time delay, which, in this example, corresponds to five passes of the carriage.
- This curing strategy is called "post cure”.
- the white background layer 22 forms a first sub-image of the image to be printed, and the colour image 24 forms a second sub-image.
- the method described above it is possible to use different curing strategies for the different sub-images. More particularly, direct cure is used for curing the white background image. This permits to use a white ink that tends to spread relatively fast, but spreading will be stopped in time because each dot is cured immediately after it has been printed.
- the inks used for the colour image 24 may be of a type that tends to spread more slowly, such as a radiation curable phase change ink, so that a post cure strategy is more appropriate.
- Fig. 4 shows an example of a printer 28 according to the invention with which the method described above can be performed even more efficiently.
- Like or equivalent parts are designated by the same reference numerals as in Figs. 1 - 3 .
- a first printing element 30 is stationary relative to the print surface 12 and extends over the entire width of the recording medium 14.
- the first printing element 30 comprises a plurality of page-wide print heads suitable for printing in different colours.
- a second printing element 32 is disposed downstream of the first printing element 30 in the direction x and has essentially the same configuration as the first printing element 30.
- a curing system comprises a first radiation source 34 arranged between the first and second printing elements 30, 32, and a second radiation source 36 arranged downstream of the second printing element 32 and at a certain distance from the latter.
- a print head controller 38 and a curing control system 40 have been shown schematically in Fig. 4 .
- one of the print heads of the first printing element 30 is used for white ink, so as to print the first sub-image, in the form of the white background.
- the radiation sources 34 and 36 extend over the entire width of the recording medium 14.
- the first radiation source 34 is constituted by a linear array of UV-emitting LEDs, arranged in positions (in the direction y) that correspond to the positions of the nozzles of the print heads in the first printing element 30.
- the second radiation source 36 may be formed by a single lamp that evenly irradiates a stripe-shaped area that extends across the entire width of the recording medium.
- the recording medium 14 is advanced continuously, with a uniform speed, in the direction x. As soon as a white pixel line that has been printed by the first printing element 30 leaves the position underneath this printing element and reaches the position underneath the first radiation source 34, it will be cured with ultraviolet light. Thus, a direct cure strategy is applied to the first sub-image (white background).
- the print heads of the second printing element 32 are used for printing the colour image 24 (second sub-image) on top of the white background.
- This sub-image will then be cured with the second radiation source 36.
- the second printing element 32 and the second radiation source 36 there is a larger time lag between printing and curing, so that a post cure strategy is applied to the second sub-image.
- the printer 28 shown in Fig. 4 is also versatile for a number of other applications. For example, when an entire image on the recording medium 14 is to be printed with inks for which direct cure is appropriate, this can be done with the first printing element 30 and the first radiation source 34 whereas the second printing element 32 and the second radiation source 36 are left idle. Conversely, when post cure is to be applied to the entire image, the first printing element 30 and the first radiation source 34 may be left idle.
- the radiation sources 34, 36 will be switched on and off as required under the control of the curing control system 40, so that it is also possible to apply different curing strategies to different parts of the recording medium.
- the printer can also be used for another application, in which the print data supplied to the print head controller 38 do not just specify the colour in which each pixel is to be printed but also specify one of two different gloss values for each pixel, one of these gloss values being attainable by using the direct cure strategy and the other gloss value being attainable by using the post cure strategy. Then, the print head controller 38 will control the print heads of the first printing element 30 and, via the curing control system 40, the LEDs of the first radiation source 34 for printing each image area with the desired colour and the desired gloss.
- the print heads of the second printing element 32 may also be used for printing pixels for which post cure is to be applied.
- the print heads of the second printing element 32 may be offset in the direction y by one half pixel position, and, when direct cure is not required for any part of the image, both printing elements 30, 32 may be used in combination for printing with increased resolution, at least in the direction y.
- the print heads of the two printing elements 30, 32 may be timed such that an increased resolution in x direction is achieved for a given printing speed, or the printing speed can be doubled for a given resolution.
- Fig. 5 is a schematic top plan view of a reciprocating print head carriage 42 of another example of a printer according to the invention.
- Five print heads 44 e.g. one for each of the colours W (white), C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow) and K (black) are mounted side by side on the carriage 42 and form a row that extends in the main scanning direction y.
- a first radiation source 34' for direct cure e.g. in the form of a UV lamp, is arranged at the left end of the row of print heads in Fig. 5 .
- a second radiation source 36' for post cure is arranged at the opposite end of the row of print heads but is mounted on a cantilever 46 so as to offset from the print heads 44 in the direction x.
- additional radiation sources 34" and 36" may be arranged symmetrically with respect to the first and second radiation sources 34', 36'.
- the print heads 44 and all the radiation sources 34', 36', 34" and 36" will be controlled by the print head controller 38 and the curing control system 40 similarly as in Fig. 4 .
- Fig. 6 illustrates a first pass in which the carriage 42 moves to the right.
- One of the print heads 44 is used for printing with white ink, and the first radiation source 34' is switched on for direct cure.
- Fig. 7 illustrates the second pass, where the carriage 42 moves to the left and the other four print heads 44 are used for printing pixels of the colour image 24.
- the first radiation source 34' may be switched off, but it may also be left active, because it will irradiate only the white background layer that has been cured already.
- the second radiation source 36' is active in the return pass shown in Fig. 7 , but since it is offset in the direction x, it does not cure the pixels that have been printed in this pass, but it rather cures pixels that have been printed one or more passes earlier. Thus, post cure is applied to the pixels of the colour image.
- the white background may cover only a part of the area of the recording medium 14 while inks for which post cure should be applied are printed directly onto the surface of the recording medium in other parts of the area (these parts belonging to the second sub-image). Then the first radiation source 34' will switched on and off during the first pass ( Fig. 6 ) depending upon the type of ink, and post cure will be applied continuously in the second pass.
- the printer shown in Figs. 5 to 7 may also be used for other purposes.
- the lamps of the first radiation source 34' may be switched on and off individually for each pixel while the carriage 42 travels to the right in Fig. 6 , so as to apply direct cure selectively only to certain parts of the swath that is printed in this pass.
- direct cure may not only be applied to white ink but also to ink in any other colour.
- the additional radiation sources 34" and 36" shown in Fig. 5 permit, for example, to apply either direct cure only or post cure only in a (more efficient) single pass mode.
- Fig. 8 illustrates an example where the printer with the carriage 42 is used to perform a method according to the invention in which the first sub-image to be printed is a colour image 24' for which post cure is applied, and the second sub-image is a layer 22' of transparent clear ink that is printed on top of the colour image 24' for enhanced gloss.
- the print heads 44 for coloured ink are used for printing the colour image 24'.
- the radiation sources 34' and 34" are switched off, so that no direct cure is performed.
- the radiation sources 34' and 34" (which are both in line with the print heads 44) are both switched on, and the print head for clear ink is used for printing the layer 22'.
- the radiation source 34" reaches a pixel of the colour image 24' that has been printed in one of the preceding two passes, it will post cure this pixel.
- a dot of clear ink will be printed on top of the cured dot of the first sub-image (the surfaces of cured layers are again symbolized by bold lines).
- the dot of clear ink will be cured immediately (direct cure) by means of the radiation source 34'.
- the clear layer 22' may also be applied in two passes and in the second pass (the fourth pass of the entire cycle), when the carriage 42 travels again from right to left, the radiation source 34' may be switched off and the radiation source 34" will be switched on for direct cure.
- Fig. 9 shows a top plan view of another example of an ink yet printer 48 according to the invention.
- the printer has a reciprocating print head carriage 16'.
- the first radiation source is formed by two UV lamps 50 which are disposed at opposite ends of the rail 18 and have respective optical systems for collimating and focussing the light to be emitted towards the end faces of the carriage 16'.
- Fig. 10 is a front view and shows that the carriage 16' has inclined mirrors 52 for deflecting the light onto the surface of the recording medium 14.
- the optical systems of the lamps 50 may be adjusted automatically to correct the focus when the focal length varies during the travel of the carriage 16'.
- Figs. 11 to 13 show another embodiment of a printer 54 according to the invention.
- This printer has again the reciprocating print head carriage 16 movable along rail 18.
- a curing system 20' is formed by another carriage 56 that moves along another rail 58 in parallel with the rail 18.
- the carriage 56 carries first and second radiation sources 58 and 60 that may be switched on and off individually.
- the carriage 56 has a light deflection system 62 that is constituted by prisms, mirrors and the like and is arranged to deflect the light from the first radiation source 58 to a position underneath the track of the print head carriage 16' and the light of the second radiation source 60 to a position further downstream in the sub-scanning direction x.
- a light deflection system 62 that is constituted by prisms, mirrors and the like and is arranged to deflect the light from the first radiation source 58 to a position underneath the track of the print head carriage 16' and the light of the second radiation source 60 to a position further downstream in the sub-scanning direction x.
- the carriage 56 of the curing system trails behind the print head carriage 16.
- the carriage 56 trails behind again.
- direct cure is to be applied to the pixels being printed
- the first radiation source 58 is switched on, and, via the light deflection system 62, will always irradiate the part of the recording medium 14 where pixels have just been printed.
- post cure it to be applied to the pixels being printed
- the first radiation source 58 is switched off, so that no direct cure is performed.
- the second radiation source 60 will be switched on (or may be left active all the time), so that post cure will be performed several passes of the carriage 16 later, when the part of the recording medium 14 on which the pixels have been printed has reached the position where the light from the second radiation source 60 hits the recording medium.
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Toxicology (AREA)
- Ink Jet (AREA)
- Printers Characterized By Their Purpose (AREA)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP15186455.0A EP3028861A3 (fr) | 2014-10-01 | 2015-09-23 | Procédé de formation d'image et imprimante |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP14187229 | 2014-10-01 | ||
EP15186455.0A EP3028861A3 (fr) | 2014-10-01 | 2015-09-23 | Procédé de formation d'image et imprimante |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP3028861A2 true EP3028861A2 (fr) | 2016-06-08 |
EP3028861A3 EP3028861A3 (fr) | 2016-08-31 |
Family
ID=51660349
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP15186455.0A Withdrawn EP3028861A3 (fr) | 2014-10-01 | 2015-09-23 | Procédé de formation d'image et imprimante |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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EP (1) | EP3028861A3 (fr) |
Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2018171865A (ja) * | 2017-03-31 | 2018-11-08 | ブラザー工業株式会社 | 画像形成装置 |
WO2019175089A1 (fr) * | 2018-03-15 | 2019-09-19 | Muehlbauer GmbH & Co. KG | Dispositif et procédé d'impression d'un support de données |
JP2020185737A (ja) * | 2019-05-16 | 2020-11-19 | 株式会社ミマキエンジニアリング | インクジェットプリンタ |
WO2020230846A1 (fr) * | 2019-05-16 | 2020-11-19 | 株式会社ミマキエンジニアリング | Imprimante à jet d'encre et procédé de commande d'imprimante à jet d'encre |
JP2020185738A (ja) * | 2019-05-16 | 2020-11-19 | 株式会社ミマキエンジニアリング | インクジェットプリンタおよびインクジェットプリンタの制御方法 |
JP2021079613A (ja) * | 2019-11-19 | 2021-05-27 | 株式会社ミマキエンジニアリング | インクジェットプリンタおよびインクジェットプリンタの制御方法 |
JP2021112868A (ja) * | 2020-01-20 | 2021-08-05 | 株式会社ミマキエンジニアリング | インクジェットプリンタおよびインクジェットプリンタの制御方法 |
US11794508B2 (en) | 2018-02-20 | 2023-10-24 | Muehlbauer GmbH & Co. KG | Device and method for recording information in a data carrier |
EP4410558A1 (fr) * | 2023-02-03 | 2024-08-07 | Canon Production Printing Holding B.V. | Procédé de fonctionnement d'un appareil d'impression, appareil d'impression et produit logiciel |
EP4410560A1 (fr) * | 2023-02-03 | 2024-08-07 | Canon Production Printing Holding B.V. | Procédé de fonctionnement d'un appareil d'impression, appareil d'impression et produit logiciel |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6726317B2 (en) * | 1999-09-03 | 2004-04-27 | L&P Property Management Company | Method and apparatus for ink jet printing |
JP5560659B2 (ja) * | 2009-10-28 | 2014-07-30 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | 印刷装置 |
JP2011093181A (ja) * | 2009-10-29 | 2011-05-12 | Seiko Epson Corp | インクジェット記録装置のキャリッジ装置およびこれを備えたインクジェット記録装置 |
JP6061082B2 (ja) * | 2013-01-28 | 2017-01-18 | セイコーエプソン株式会社 | 記録装置 |
-
2015
- 2015-09-23 EP EP15186455.0A patent/EP3028861A3/fr not_active Withdrawn
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
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None |
Cited By (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP2018171865A (ja) * | 2017-03-31 | 2018-11-08 | ブラザー工業株式会社 | 画像形成装置 |
US11794508B2 (en) | 2018-02-20 | 2023-10-24 | Muehlbauer GmbH & Co. KG | Device and method for recording information in a data carrier |
WO2019175089A1 (fr) * | 2018-03-15 | 2019-09-19 | Muehlbauer GmbH & Co. KG | Dispositif et procédé d'impression d'un support de données |
JP2020185737A (ja) * | 2019-05-16 | 2020-11-19 | 株式会社ミマキエンジニアリング | インクジェットプリンタ |
WO2020230846A1 (fr) * | 2019-05-16 | 2020-11-19 | 株式会社ミマキエンジニアリング | Imprimante à jet d'encre et procédé de commande d'imprimante à jet d'encre |
JP2020185738A (ja) * | 2019-05-16 | 2020-11-19 | 株式会社ミマキエンジニアリング | インクジェットプリンタおよびインクジェットプリンタの制御方法 |
JP2021079613A (ja) * | 2019-11-19 | 2021-05-27 | 株式会社ミマキエンジニアリング | インクジェットプリンタおよびインクジェットプリンタの制御方法 |
JP2021112868A (ja) * | 2020-01-20 | 2021-08-05 | 株式会社ミマキエンジニアリング | インクジェットプリンタおよびインクジェットプリンタの制御方法 |
JP7312119B2 (ja) | 2020-01-20 | 2023-07-20 | 株式会社ミマキエンジニアリング | インクジェットプリンタおよびインクジェットプリンタの制御方法 |
EP4410558A1 (fr) * | 2023-02-03 | 2024-08-07 | Canon Production Printing Holding B.V. | Procédé de fonctionnement d'un appareil d'impression, appareil d'impression et produit logiciel |
EP4410560A1 (fr) * | 2023-02-03 | 2024-08-07 | Canon Production Printing Holding B.V. | Procédé de fonctionnement d'un appareil d'impression, appareil d'impression et produit logiciel |
WO2024160569A1 (fr) * | 2023-02-03 | 2024-08-08 | Canon Production Printing Holding B.V. | Procédé de fonctionnement d'un appareil d'impression, appareil d'impression et produit logiciel |
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