EP3251858B1 - Flüssigkeitsausstossvorrichtung, verfahren zur montage von flüssigkeitsausstossköpfen und verfahren zur herstellung einer flüssigkeitsausstossvorrichtung - Google Patents

Flüssigkeitsausstossvorrichtung, verfahren zur montage von flüssigkeitsausstossköpfen und verfahren zur herstellung einer flüssigkeitsausstossvorrichtung Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP3251858B1
EP3251858B1 EP17173100.3A EP17173100A EP3251858B1 EP 3251858 B1 EP3251858 B1 EP 3251858B1 EP 17173100 A EP17173100 A EP 17173100A EP 3251858 B1 EP3251858 B1 EP 3251858B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
liquid discharge
side positioning
conveyor
head
discharge heads
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.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
EP17173100.3A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3251858A1 (de
Inventor
Makoto Saito
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ricoh Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Ricoh Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from JP2017061105A external-priority patent/JP6931479B2/ja
Application filed by Ricoh Co Ltd filed Critical Ricoh Co Ltd
Publication of EP3251858A1 publication Critical patent/EP3251858A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3251858B1 publication Critical patent/EP3251858B1/de
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

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
    • B41J2/2132—Print quality control characterised by dot disposition, e.g. for reducing white stripes or banding
    • B41J2/2146—Print quality control characterised by dot disposition, e.g. for reducing white stripes or banding for line print heads
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J25/00—Actions or mechanisms not otherwise provided for
    • B41J25/34—Bodily-changeable print heads or carriages
    • 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
    • B41J2202/00—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet or thermal heads
    • B41J2202/01—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet heads
    • B41J2202/14—Mounting head into the printer

Definitions

  • Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a liquid discharge apparatus, a method for mounting a plurality of liquid discharge heads, and a method for producing the liquid discharge apparatus.
  • a liquid discharge apparatus that includes a conveyor to convey a medium and a plurality of liquid discharge heads arrayed in a conveyance direction of the medium.
  • JP2010-173305A discloses an inkjet recording apparatus that includes a rotary drum and four line heads disposed opposite an outer peripheral surface of the rotary drum, in which ink is discharged from the four line heads onto a sheet medium wound on the outer peripheral surface of the rotary drum, to thereby form an image.
  • each line head includes both ends fixed on a pair of pedestals, and the pair of pedestals is fixed to side plates of a body of the inkjet recording apparatus.
  • the positioning of each line head is performed by positioning the pair of pedestals relative to the side plates of the body of the inkjet recording apparatus.
  • the pair of pedestals is positioned by mounting a dummy head on the pair of pedestals, and a pair of positioning pins disposed at both ends of the dummy head is fitted in a pair of positioning holes formed at both ends of the outer peripheral surface of the drum.
  • the pair of positioning pins each is formed of a stepped pin and has a small diameter portion and a large diameter portion.
  • the small diameter portion is engaged to the positioning hole on the drum until an edge of the large diameter portion contacts the outer peripheral surface of the drum. Then, the pair of pedestals is secured to the side plates of the body of the apparatus, and the dummy head is replaced with the line head relative to the pair of pedestals.
  • JP2010-173305A is configured such that the positioning hole as a positioning reference portion disposed on the drum that serves as the conveyor is disposed individually to each line head or liquid discharge head.
  • the pair of pedestals supporting each line head is positioned by the positioning holes different from each other on the drum. Accordingly, because a positional relation between line heads depends on the positional accuracy of each positioning hole formed on the drum, the relative positional accuracy between the line heads worsens if the positional accuracy of the positioning holes is low.
  • an excellent effect is obtained in which the relative positional accuracy between the liquid discharge heads can be improved.
  • FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a general structure of an inkjet recording apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • the inkjet recording apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes, for example, a sheet supplier 100, an image forming section 200, a dryer 300, and a sheet ejector 400.
  • the image forming section 200 forms an image with ink as a liquid for image formation, on a sheet P as a recording medium supplied and fed from the sheet supplier 100.
  • the dryer 300 dries the ink adhered onto the sheet P, and the sheet ejector 400 ejects the sheet P.
  • the sheet supplier 100 includes, for example, a sheet tray 110 on which a plurality of sheets P is stacked; a sheet feeder 120 to separate and feed each sheet from the sheet tray 110, and a pair of registration rollers 130 to send the sheet P into the image forming section 200.
  • the sheet feeder 120 may employ a device using rollers and rotary members, and a device using an air-suctioning unit, or any other suitable type of sheet feeder.
  • the sheet P is sent out from the sheet tray 110 via the sheet feeder 120.
  • the pair of registration roller 130 starts to be driven at a predetermined timing, so that the sheet P is supplied to the image forming section 200.
  • the structure of the sheet supplier 100 is not limited to a particular structure, and may be any structure as long as the sheet supplier 100 can send the sheet P to the image forming section 200.
  • the image forming section 200 includes, for example, a receiving body 201 to receive the sheet P or medium supplied; a cylindrical sheet conveying drum 210 as a conveyor, to carry the sheet P fed by the receiving body 201, on an outer peripheral surface of the sheet conveying drum 210; an ink discharge device 220 to discharge ink onto the sheet P conveyed by the sheet conveying drum 210; a transfer body 202 to transfer the sheet P conveyed by the sheet conveying drum 210 to the dryer 300.
  • the leading end of the sheet P fed from the sheet supplier 100 to the image forming section 200 is held by a sheet gripper 201a disposed on the surface of the receiving body 201, and the sheet P is fed along with a surface movement of the receiving body 201.
  • the sheet P fed by the receiving body 201 is transferred to the sheet conveying drum 210 in which the receiving body 201 is disposed opposite the sheet conveying drum 210.
  • Sheet grippers 210a are also disposed on the surface of the sheet conveying drum 210, and the leading end of the sheet is held by the sheet grippers 210a.
  • a plurality of suction holes is formed in a dispersed manner on the surface of the sheet conveying drum 210, so that suction air toward an inner side of the sheet conveying drum 210 is generated in each suction hole by a suction device 211.
  • the sheet P When the sheet P reaches the sheet conveying drum 210 from the receiving body 201, the leading end of the sheet P is held by the sheet gripper 210a, and the sheet P is suctioned to the surface of the sheet conveying drum 210 due to the suction air, and is conveyed along the surface movement of the sheet conveying drum 210.
  • the ink discharge device 220 forms an image by discharging four colors of ink, that is, cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K), and includes liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K for each color.
  • the structure of the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K is not limited to any particular structure, and may be any structure as long as the heads can discharge liquid.
  • the ink discharge device 220 may include a liquid discharge head to discharge a special ink, such as white, gold, or silver, or a liquid discharge head to discharge a surface coating liquid or any other liquid that does not form an image.
  • a discharge operation of each of the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K in the ink discharge device 220 is controlled by a driving signal corresponding to image information.
  • a driving signal corresponding to image information When the sheet P fed by the sheet conveying drum 210 passes through an area opposite the ink discharge device 220, each color ink is discharged from each of the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K, so that an image corresponding to the image information is formed.
  • the structure of the image forming section 200 is not limited to any particular structure as long as the image forming section 200 can discharge liquid onto the sheet P, to form an image on the sheet P.
  • the drier 300 includes, for example, a drying device 301 to dry the ink adhered on the sheet P in the image forming section 200; and a feed device 302 to convey the sheet P conveyed from the image forming section 200.
  • the sheet P fed from the image forming section 200 is received by the feed device 302, and is fed to pass the drying device 301, and is transferred to the sheet ejector 400.
  • the drying device 301 a drying process is applied to the ink on the sheet P, so that an aqueous content, such as moisture, in the ink is evaporated, the ink is fixed on the sheet P, and a curl of the sheet P is improved.
  • the sheet ejector 400 includes, for example, a plurality of sheet ejection trays 410 on which the plurality of sheets P is stacked.
  • the sheet P fed from the dryer 300 is sequentially stacked and held on any of the sheet ejection trays 410.
  • the structure of the sheet ejector 400 is not limited to any particular structure, as long as the sheet ejector can eject the sheet P.
  • the inkjet recording apparatus 1 includes the sheet supplier 100, the image forming section 200, the dryer 300, and the sheet ejector 400; however, other functional units may be added optionally.
  • a pretreatment device to perform a pretreatment process can be added between the sheet supplier 100 and the image forming section 200.
  • a post-treatment device to perform a post-treatment process can be added between the dryer 300 and the sheet ejector 400.
  • the pre-treatment device for example, there is a device to coat a treatment liquid onto the sheet P to suppress bleeding due to reaction with ink; however, details of the pre-treatment process are not limited, in particular.
  • a post-treatment device for example, there is a device to reverse and refeed a sheet on which the image is formed in the image forming section 200, form an image on both sides of the sheet, and bind the plurality of sheets on each of which the image is formed.
  • the details of the post-treatment are not limited in particular.
  • the liquid discharge apparatus is illustrated with the example of the inkjet recording apparatus.
  • the liquid discharge apparatus is not limited to an apparatus that includes a liquid discharge head to discharge liquid to a dried surface of a sheet medium and render a meaningful image, such as letters or a figure, visible by the discharged liquid.
  • the liquid discharge apparatus may form a pattern or an image having no meaning in itself.
  • Materials for the sheet medium are not limited to any particular materials, and may be any materials onto which liquid can be adhered even temporarily, such as paper, thread, fiber, fabrics, leather, metals, plastics, glass, wood, and ceramics.
  • the materials for the sheet medium may be materials used for, for example, film products, clothes for clothing, construction materials, such as wall paper and floor materials, and leather goods.
  • the term "medium” includes any material on which liquid can be adhered even temporarily.
  • the liquid discharge apparatus may include devices for supplying, feeding, conveying, and ejecting the medium on which liquid can be adhered, a pre-treatment device, and a post-treatment device.
  • liquid may be any substance having a viscosity or surface tension dischargeable from the head, and is not limited to any particular substance; however, the liquid may preferably have a viscosity of 30 mPa ⁇ s or smaller at a normal temperature and pressure, or under heating or cooling.
  • examples of the liquid include a solution, suspension liquid, or emulsion including solvent such as water or an organic solvent, colorant such as a dye or pigment polymeriszable compounds, resins, functionality imparting material such as surfactant, biocompatible material such as DNA, amino acid, protein, and calcium, edible material such as a natural colorant.
  • solvent such as water or an organic solvent
  • colorant such as a dye or pigment polymeriszable compounds
  • resins functionality imparting material such as surfactant, biocompatible material such as DNA, amino acid, protein, and calcium
  • edible material such as a natural colorant.
  • Those materials are used for, for example, inkjet ink or a surface treatment liquid.
  • the liquid discharge apparatus may be an apparatus in which a liquid discharge head and a medium, on which liquid can adhere, move relatively, but is not limited to this.
  • the liquid discharge apparatus may be a serial-type apparatus in which the liquid discharge head is moved relative to the medium or a line-type device in which the liquid discharge head is not moved relative to the medium.
  • the liquid discharge head is a functional component to discharge or inject liquid from a discharge hole(s) or nozzle(s).
  • discharging energy generator to discharge the liquid include a piezoelectric actuator (such as a layered-type piezoelectric element and thin-film type piezoelectric element); a thermal actuator using electro-thermal conversion element such as heat-generating resistor; and an electrostatic actuator including a diaphragm and opposed electrodes.
  • the discharging energy generator for use is not limited to any particular type.
  • the plurality of liquid discharge heads is arrayed in a width direction of the sheet P, that is, a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the sheet P, to thereby form a long liquid discharge head or a line head. If not specified otherwise, the liquid discharge head means the line head.
  • FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a structure of the image forming section 200.
  • the leading end of the sheet P is held by the sheet gripper 201a disposed on the surface of the receiving body 201.
  • the sheet P is fed along with the surface movement of the receiving body 201 and is transferred to the sheet conveying drum 210.
  • the sheet P transferred to the sheet conveying drum 210 is carried on the surface of the sheet conveying drum 210 with the leading end held by the sheet gripper 201a disposed on the sheet conveying drum 210, and is conveyed along with a rotation of the sheet conveying drum 210.
  • the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K discharge the different color inks, to thereby form an image corresponding to the image information on the sheet P.
  • each of the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y and 220K is a line-type liquid discharge head with a length covering the length of the sheet P in the width direction, that is, the length of the sheet P in the main scanning direction, and discharges ink onto the sheet P.
  • the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K are disposed radially about the rotary axis of the sheet conveying drum 210.
  • the accuracy in the positional relation between the liquid discharge heads is low, the positional relation between the color inks discharged from the liquid discharge heads onto the sheet P worsens, so that a problem, such as color shift, may occur.
  • examples of the relative positional relation between the liquid discharge heads include relative positions of the liquid discharge heads in the main scanning direction, relative positions of the liquid discharge heads in the sub-scanning direction, a distance of each liquid discharge head from the surface of the sheet conveying drum 210, and a parallelism of each liquid discharge head to the rotary axis of the sheet conveying drum 210.
  • the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K are positioned relative to the sheet conveying drum 210 as follows, to thereby secure the relative positional accuracy between the liquid discharge heads.
  • the sheet conveying drum 210 is provided with a plurality of common positioning references (or conveyor-side positioning portions) at different positions in the main scanning direction, that is, the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the sheet conveying drum 210, and a direction of the rotary axis of the sheet conveying drum 210.
  • the plurality of common positioning references in the present embodiment is defined by a pair of drum-side positioning reference holes 212 formed of two positioning reference holes.
  • the two positioning reference holes are aligned in the rotary axis direction of the sheet conveying drum 210 and disposed at both ends on the outer surface in the rotary axis direction of the sheet conveying drum 210.
  • each of the pair of drum-side positioning reference holes 212 is disposed near each end in the sheet width direction of the sheet conveying drum 210.
  • Each of the pair of drum-side positioning reference holes 212 includes an opening open upwards in a rotary position of the sheet conveying drum 210 illustrated in FIG. 2 .
  • a plurality of head-side positioning references or head-side positioning portions is disposed at different positions in the main scanning direction.
  • the plurality of head-side positioning references in the present embodiment is formed of a pair of head-side positioning reference holes 221C, 221M, 221Y, and 221K, as two positioning reference holes.
  • the two positioning reference holes are aligned in the rotary axis direction of the sheet conveying drum 210 and disposed at both end areas in the rotary axis direction of the sheet conveying drum 210 on the nozzle plate of each of the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K.
  • each of the head-side positioning reference holes 221 is disposed near each end in the sheet width direction of the sheet conveying drum 210, that is, near each end in the longitudinal direction of each of the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K.
  • each of the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K is positioned relative to the sheet conveying drum 210 in the present embodiment, positioning of one of the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K disposed most upstream in the rotary direction of the sheet conveying drum 210 is performed first, and positioning of the others is performed sequentially.
  • the order to perform positioning the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K is arbitrary and is not limited to the above-described order in the present embodiment.
  • each of the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K is temporarily held on a base 290.
  • the base 290 includes through holes at positions corresponding to the head-side positioning reference holes 221.
  • the sheet conveying drum 210 is rotated such that the pair of drum-side positioning reference holes 212 on the sheet conveying drum 210 are disposed at a predetermined rotary position (or a rotary angle position) to perform the positioning process of the first liquid discharge head 220C (i.e., moving step).
  • a reference pin 230 serving as a positioning reference is inserted through the drum-side positioning reference hole 212 on the sheet conveying drum 210, and with the reference pin 230 passing through the through-hole of the base 290, another end of the reference pin 230 is inserted through the head-side positioning reference hole 221C on the liquid discharge head 220C.
  • the liquid discharge head 220C is positioned at a position regulated by the reference pins 230 engaged with the drum-side positioning reference holes 212 on the sheet conveying drum 210.
  • the liquid discharge head 220C is positioned at a position defined by the drum-side positioning reference holes 212 and the reference pins 230 relative to the sheet conveying drum 210.
  • the thus-positioned liquid discharge head 220C is secured to the base 290 that supports the liquid discharge head 220C (i.e., securing step).
  • the sheet conveying drum 210 is rotated and stopped such that the pair of drum-side positioning reference holes 212 on the sheet conveying drum 210 is placed at a predetermined rotary position (or a rotary angle position) to perform the positioning process of the second liquid discharge head 220M.
  • the liquid discharge head 220M is positioned at a position regulated by the drum-side positioning reference holes 212 and the reference pins 230 on the sheet conveying drum 210. Then, the thus-positioned liquid discharge head 220M is secured relative to the base 290 that supports the liquid discharge head 220M.
  • the position in the main scanning direction, the position in the sub-scanning direction, the distance from the surface of the sheet conveying drum 210, and the parallelism to the rotary axis of the sheet conveying drum 210 with respect to each of the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K are defined by the common drum-side positioning reference holes 212 and the reference pins 230 on the sheet conveying drum 210.
  • FIG. 6 is a plan view of a main part of the liquid discharge head 220C viewed from above.
  • the base 290 is omitted for explanation in FIG. 6 .
  • the drum-side positioning reference holes 212 are placed at positions corresponding to the head-side positioning reference holes 221C.
  • the liquid discharge head 220C is positioned with the drum-side positioning reference holes 212 set as a reference.
  • liquid discharge head 220C is mounted and secured to the base 290, and the sheet conveying drum 210 is rotated.
  • the liquid discharge head 220M is also mounted and secured to the base 290 similarly.
  • the reference pin 230 is used, but the method is not limited to this.
  • the positioning of the drum-side positioning reference holes 212 and the head-side positioning reference holes 221 can be performed using a non-contact laser measuring device or by checking with eyes. Namely, as long as the drum-side positioning reference holes 212 can be viewed with eyes via the head-side positioning reference holes 221, an effect of the present embodiment can be obtained.
  • the method of mounting the plurality of liquid discharge heads includes the moving step in which the pair of drum-side positioning reference holes 212 (or the conveyor-side positioning portions) disposed on the sheet conveying drum 210 (or the conveyor) to convey the sheet P (or the medium) is moved to a position corresponding to the pair of head-side positioning reference holes 221 (or the head-side positioning portions) disposed on each of the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K; and the securing step to engage the reference pins 230 (rod-shaped members) into the drum-side positioning reference holes 212 and the head-side positioning reference holes 221 to position the drum-side positioning reference holes 212 and the head-side positioning reference holes 221, so that the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K are secured to a body of the inkjet recording apparatus 1 (the base 290 in the present embodiment).
  • the moving step and the securing step are performed on each of the liquid discharge heads 220C, 2
  • the liquid discharge apparatus includes the sheet conveying drum 210 (the conveyor) to feed the sheet P (the medium); and the plurality of liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K disposed along the conveyance direction of the sheet P.
  • Each liquid discharge head includes the head-side positioning reference holes 221 (the head-side positioning portions), and the sheet conveying drum 210 includes the drum-side positioning reference holes 212 (the conveyor-side positioning portions).
  • the drum-side positioning reference holes 212 and the head-side positioning reference holes 221 are positioning members to define the positional relation between the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K and the sheet conveying drum 210.
  • the drum-side positioning reference holes 212 are placed at positions corresponding to the plurality of head-side positioning reference holes 221 of each of the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K by movement of the sheet conveying drum 210 in the conveyance direction.
  • the positional relation means, for example, relative positions, distances, attitudes, and angles between the plurality of liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K and the sheet conveying drum 210. More specifically, distances between the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K in the conveyance direction, relative positions of the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K in the sheet width direction, and the parallelism between the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K, the distance from each of the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K and the surface of the sheet conveying drum 210, and the parallelism of each of the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K relative to the rotary axis of the sheet conveying drum 210 are included, but not limited.
  • the positioning member to define the positional relation may be a mark, dent, hole
  • the expression that the conveyor-side positioning portions are placed at positions corresponding to the head-side positioning portions does not necessarily mean that the conveyor-side positioning portions are disposed below the head-side positioning portions.
  • the expression means that the conveyor-side positioning portions and the head-side positioning portions are in a state in which the conveyor-side positioning portions and the head-side positioning portions can be referred or used to define the positional relation between the liquid discharge head 220 and the sheet conveying drum 210.
  • FIG. 7 illustrates exemplary shapes of a pair of head-side positioning reference holes 221 disposed on each of the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K, and of a pair of drum-side positioning reference holes 212 disposed on the sheet conveying drum 210 in the second embodiment.
  • any of the pair of head-side positioning reference holes 221 disposed on each of the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K has a shape and dimensions matched with the shape and the outer diameter of the reference pin 230 that fits in the head-side positioning reference holes 221.
  • one drum-side positioning reference hole 212a includes a shape and dimensions matched with the shape of the outer diameter of the reference pin 230 that fits in the one drum-side positioning reference hole 212a.
  • the other drum-side positioning reference hole 212b has a longer slit shape in the main scanning direction and the reference pin 230 inserted to the other drum-side positioning reference hole 212b is movable in the main scanning direction.
  • the head-side positioning reference holes 221 on the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K can be positioned relative to the drum-side positioning reference holes 212 on the sheet conveying drum 210, with the drum-side positioning reference hole 212a on the sheet conveying drum 210 as a main reference and with the drum-side positioning reference hole 212b as an auxiliary reference.
  • the pair of drum-side positioning reference holes 212 on the sheet conveying drum 210 has a shape and dimensions matched with the shape and the outer diameter of the reference pin 230 that fits in the head-side positioning reference holes 221.
  • the pair of head-side positioning reference holes 221 disposed on each of the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K includes one head-side positioning reference hole 221a having a shape and dimensions matched with the shape of the outer diameter of the reference pin 230 that fits in the one head-side positioning reference hole 221a.
  • the other head-side positioning reference hole 221b has a longer slit shape in the main scanning direction and the reference pin 230 inserted to the other head-side positioning reference hole 221b is movable in the main scanning direction.
  • the head-side positioning reference holes 221 on each of the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K can be positioned relative to the drum-side positioning reference holes 212 on the sheet conveying drum 210, with the drum-side positioning reference hole 212a on each of the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K as a main reference and with the head-side positioning reference hole 212b as an auxiliary reference.
  • the drum-side positioning reference hole 212 may be a through-hole, a not-through-groove, or a dent, as long as the drum-side positioning reference hole 212 has a shape into which the rod-shaped reference pin 230 can be entered.
  • the head-side positioning reference hole 221 can be a through-hole, a not-through-groove, or a dent.
  • the head-side positioning reference hole 221 is preferably a through-hole, such that the drum-side positioning reference hole 212 of the sheet conveying drum 210 can be viewed from above the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K. In this case, operability is improved.
  • the rod-shaped reference pin 230 is not necessary for positioning.
  • the positioning may be performed by emitting a light beam of a laser measuring device from the head-side positioning reference hole 221 as a light transmissive portion to the drum-side positioning reference hole 212 and by measuring relative positions between the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K and the sheet conveying drum 210. Otherwise, the positioning may be performed using any other different method.
  • a through-hole, glass, film, and mirror may be used, and as long as the positional relation can be finally defined, any structure and method may be used. If a mirror is used, a radiation position of the laser beam can be variable.
  • any of the head-side positioning reference holes 221C, 221M, 221Y, and 221K disposed on each of the liquid discharge heads 220C, 220M, 220Y, and 220K is positioned relative to the common drum-side positioning reference holes 212 on the sheet conveying drum 210.
  • the positional accuracy of the drum-side positional reference holes for each liquid discharge head affects the relative positional accuracy between the liquid discharge heads.
  • any pair of the head-side positioning reference holes 221C, 221M, 221Y, and 221K of each of the liquid discharge heads is positioned relative to the common drum-side positioning reference holes 212 on the sheet conveying drum 210, the positional accuracy between the drum-side positioning reference holes for each of the liquid discharge heads does not affect the relative positional accuracy between the liquid discharge heads, contrary to the former structure.
  • a liquid discharge apparatus includes a conveyor to convey a medium and a plurality of liquid discharge heads arrayed in a conveyance direction of the medium.
  • Each of the plurality of liquid discharge heads includes head-side positioning portions and the conveyor includes conveyor-side positioning portions.
  • the head-side positioning portions and the conveyor-side positioning portions are positioning portions to define a positional relation between the liquid discharge heads and the conveyor.
  • the conveyor-side positioning portions are placed at positions corresponding to the plurality of head-side positioning portions by movement of the conveyor in the conveyance direction.
  • the head-side positioning portions disposed on each of the liquid discharge heads are positioned relative to the conveyor-side positioning portions disposed on the conveyor, to position each liquid discharge head relative to the conveyor.
  • the positional accuracy between the positioning portions for each of the liquid discharge heads disposed on the conveyor does not affect the relative positional accuracy between the liquid discharge heads.
  • the high-accuracy positioning portions can be disposed on the conveyor relatively easily. Accordingly, a high degree of relative positional accuracy between the liquid discharge heads (i.e., the positional accuracy relative to the conveyor) can be easily obtained, and a high degree of relative adhesion positions of liquid discharged from the liquid discharge heads can be easily obtained.
  • the relative positional accuracy between the liquid discharge heads means, concerning the positional accuracy at which the head-side positioning portions disposed on each of the liquid discharge heads are positioned relative to the conveyor-side positioning portions disposed on the conveyor, the positional accuracy between the liquid discharge heads on the position in the main scanning direction, the position in the sub-scanning direction, the distance to the surface of the conveyor, the parallelism relative to the surface of the conveyor, and the parallelism relative to the direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the conveyor.
  • a high degree of positioning accuracy can be obtained by positioning the liquid discharge heads relative to common positioning portions, that is, the conveyor-side positioning portions disposed on the conveyor.
  • a high degree of positioning accuracy can be obtained by controlling the conveyance position of the conveyor with a higher accuracy and by positioning the liquid discharge heads relative to the conveyor-side positioning portions common to the liquid discharge heads.
  • a liquid discharge apparatus can be achieved that is capable of improving the accuracy of relative adhesion positions of liquid discharged from the liquid discharge heads.
  • the conveyor is a cylindrical conveying drum, and the conveyor-side positioning portions are placed at the positions corresponding to the plurality of the head-side positioning portions by rotation of the conveying drum.
  • At least one of the conveyor-side positioning portions and the head-side positioning portions is a hole or cutout that is longer in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the conveyor.
  • the plurality of head-side positioning portions can be positioned relative to the conveyor-side positioning portions on the conveyor.
  • the head-side positioning portions are through-holes, and when the conveyor-side positioning portions are placed at positions corresponding to the through-holes, rod-shaped members are engageable with the conveyor-side positioning portions via the through-holes.
  • the head-side positioning portions are light transmissive portions through which light permeates, and when the conveyor-side positioning portions are placed at positions corresponding to the light transmissive portions, the light reaches the conveyor-side positioning portions through the light transmissive portions.
  • the positioning of the liquid discharge heads can be performed using, e.g., laser beams or the view by human eyes.
  • a method of mounting a plurality of liquid discharge heads includes a moving step to move conveyor-side positioning portions disposed on a conveyor that conveys a medium, to positions corresponding to head-side positioning portions disposed on each of the liquid discharge heads; and a securing step to engage rod-shaped members to the conveyor-side positioning portions and the head-side positioning portions to position the conveyor-side positioning portions and the head-side positioning portions to secure each of the liquid discharge heads with a body of a liquid discharge apparatus.
  • the moving step and the securing step are performed on each of the plurality of liquid discharge heads.
  • each liquid discharge head can be positioned relative to the conveyor.
  • the positional accuracy between the individual positioning portions for each of the liquid discharge heads disposed on the conveyor does not affect the relative positional accuracy between the liquid discharge heads.
  • the high-accuracy positioning portions can be disposed on the conveyor relatively easily. Accordingly, a high degree of relative positional accuracy between the liquid discharge heads (i.e., the positional accuracy relative to the conveyor) can be easily obtained, and a high degree of relative adhesion positions of liquid discharged from the plurality of liquid discharge heads can be easily obtained.
  • the relative positional accuracy between the liquid discharge heads means, concerning the positional accuracy when the head-side positioning portions disposed on each of the liquid discharge heads are positioned relative to the conveyor-side positioning portion disposed on the conveyor, the positional accuracy between the liquid discharge heads on the positions in the main scanning direction, the positions in the sub-scanning direction, the distance to the surface of the conveyor, the parallelism relative to the surface of the conveyor, and the parallelism relative to the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction of the conveyor.
  • a high degree of positioning accuracy can be obtained by positioning each liquid discharge head relative to the common positioning portions between the liquid discharge heads that are the conveyor-side positioning portions disposed on the conveyor.
  • a method of mounting a plurality of liquid discharge heads includes a moving step to move conveyor-side positioning portions disposed on a conveyor that conveys a medium, to positions corresponding to head-side positioning portions disposed on each of the liquid discharge heads; and a securing step to match the conveyor-side positioning portion with the head-side positioning portion using a laser beam to secure each of the liquid discharge heads with a body of a liquid discharge device.
  • the moving step and the securing step are performed on each of the plurality of liquid discharge heads.
  • a high degree of relative positional accuracy between the liquid discharge heads i.e., the positional accuracy relative to the conveyor
  • a high degree of accuracy of relative adhesion positions of the liquid discharged from the liquid discharge heads can be easily obtained.
  • a method of producing a liquid discharge apparatus includes the method of mounting the plurality of liquid discharge heads as described in any of the aspects F and G.
  • a high degree of relative positional accuracy between the liquid discharge heads i.e., the positional accuracy relative to the conveyor
  • a high degree of accuracy of relative adhesion positions of the liquid discharged from the liquid discharge heads can be easily obtained.
  • the liquid discharge apparatus capable of discharging the liquid from the liquid discharge heads with a high degree of accuracy of relative adhesion positions, can be produced.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Quality & Reliability (AREA)
  • Ink Jet (AREA)

Claims (7)

  1. Flüssigkeitsausstoßvorrichtung (1), umfassend:
    einen Förderer (210) zum Fördern eines Mediums (P); und
    eine Vielzahl von Flüssigkeitsausstoßköpfen (220), die in einer Förderrichtung des Mediums (P) angeordnet sind, wobei die Flüssigkeitsausstoßköpfe parallel zueinander sind, bei Betrachtung in der Förderrichtung überlappen und die Breite des Mediums in einer zu der Förderrichtung senkrechten Richtung abdecken, wobei:
    jeder der Vielzahl von Flüssigkeitsausstoßköpfen (220) kopfseitige Positionierabschnitte (221) beinhaltet und der Förderer (210) fördererseitige Positionierabschnitte (212) beinhaltet; und
    die kopfseitigen Positionierabschnitte (221) und die fördererseitigen Positionierabschnitte (212) Positionierabschnitte sind, um eine Positionsbeziehung zwischen dem Förderer (210) und jedem der Vielzahl von Flüssigkeitsausstoßköpfen (220) zu definieren; dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
    die fördererseitigen Positionierabschnitte (212) in Übereinstimmung mit den kopfseitigen Positionierabschnitten (221) von jedem der Vielzahl von Flüssigkeitsausstoßköpfen (220) durch Bewegung des Förderers (210) in der Fördererrichtung positioniert werden können, sodass die relative Position des Förderers und jedes der Vielzahl von Flüssigkeitsausstoßköpfen (220) mit einem stabförmigen Element (230) oder einem Laserstrahl unter Verwendung der gemeinsamen fördererseitigen Positionierabschnitte eingestellt werden kann.
  2. Flüssigkeitsausstoßvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 1, wobei der Förderer (210) eine zylindrische Fördertrommel ist und die fördererseitigen Positionierabschnitte (212) den kopfseitigen Positionierabschnitten (221) von jedem der Vielzahl von Flüssigkeitsausstoßköpfen (220) durch Drehung der Fördertrommel entsprechen.
  3. Flüssigkeitsausstoßvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei mindestens einer der fördererseitigen Positionierabschnitte (212) und der kopfseitigen Positionierabschnitte (221) ein Loch oder Ausschnitt ist, der nicht länger in einer zu der Förderrichtung senkrechten Richtung ist.
  4. Flüssigkeitsausstoßvorrichtung (1) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, wobei die kopfseitigen Positionierabschnitte (221) Durchgangslöcher sind und wenn die fördererseitigen Positionierabschnitte (212) an den Durchgangslöchern entsprechenden Positionen platziert sind, stabförmige Elemente (230) mit den fördererseitigen Positionierabschnitten (212) über die Durchgangslöcher in Eingriff bringbar sind.
  5. Flüssigkeitsausstoßvorrichtung (1) nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, wobei die kopfseitigen Positionierabschnitte (221) lichtdurchlässige Abschnitte sind, durch die Licht dringt, und wenn die fördererseitigen Positionierabschnitte (212) an den lichtdurchlässigen Abschnitten entsprechenden Positionen platziert sind, das Licht für die fördererseitigen Positionierabschnitte (212) durch die lichtdurchlässigen Abschnitte durchlässig ist.
  6. Verfahren des Montierens einer Vielzahl von Flüssigkeitsausstoßköpfen (220) zum Ausstoßen von Flüssigkeit zu einem Medium (P), wobei die Flüssigkeitsausstoßköpfe parallel zueinander sind, bei Betrachtung in der Förderrichtung überlappen und die Breite des Mediums in einer zu der Förderrichtung senkrechten Richtung abdecken, wobei das Verfahren gekennzeichnet ist durch:
    einen Bewegungsschritt zum Bewegen eines fördererseitigen Positionierabschnitts (212), der an einem Förderer angeordnet ist, der das Medium (P) fördert, zu einer Position, die einem kopfseitigen Positionierabschnitt an einem der Vielzahl von Flüssigkeitsausstoßköpfen (220) entspricht;
    einen Befestigungsschritt zum Positionieren des Förderers und des einen der Vielzahl von Flüssigkeitsausstoßköpfen (220), um den einen der Vielzahl von Flüssigkeitsausstoßköpfen (220) an einem Körper einer Flüssigkeitsausstoßvorrichtung (1) zu befestigen; und
    eine Wiederholungsschritt zum Durchführen des Bewegungsschritts und des Befestigungsschritts für jeden der Vielzahl von Flüssigkeitsausstoßköpfen (220);
    wobei der Befestigungsschritt unter Verwendung eines stabförmigen Elements (230) oder eines Laserstrahls durchgeführt wird, um die relativen Positionen des Förderers und jedes der Vielzahl von Flüssigkeitsausstoßköpfen (220) unter Verwendung der gemeinsamen fördererseitigen Positionierabschnitte einzustellen.
  7. Verfahren des Herstellens der Flüssigkeitsausstoßvorrichtung (1) unter Verwendung des Verfahrens des Montierens der Vielzahl von Flüssigkeitsausstoßköpfen (220) nach Anspruch 6.
EP17173100.3A 2016-05-31 2017-05-26 Flüssigkeitsausstossvorrichtung, verfahren zur montage von flüssigkeitsausstossköpfen und verfahren zur herstellung einer flüssigkeitsausstossvorrichtung Expired - Fee Related EP3251858B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2016108248 2016-05-31
JP2017061105A JP6931479B2 (ja) 2016-05-31 2017-03-27 液体を吐出する装置、複数の液体吐出ヘッドの取り付け方法および液体を吐出する装置の製造方法

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3251858A1 EP3251858A1 (de) 2017-12-06
EP3251858B1 true EP3251858B1 (de) 2018-11-21

Family

ID=58778976

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP17173100.3A Expired - Fee Related EP3251858B1 (de) 2016-05-31 2017-05-26 Flüssigkeitsausstossvorrichtung, verfahren zur montage von flüssigkeitsausstossköpfen und verfahren zur herstellung einer flüssigkeitsausstossvorrichtung

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP3251858B1 (de)

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5245364A (en) * 1988-12-30 1993-09-14 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Image recording apparatus
US7216970B2 (en) * 2005-05-12 2007-05-15 Xerox Corporation Mounting assembly for a print head of an ink jet printer
US20090026265A1 (en) * 2007-07-25 2009-01-29 Grosse Jason C Determining a position of a print carriage
JP2010173305A (ja) 2009-02-02 2010-08-12 Fujifilm Corp インクジェット記録装置
US8931877B1 (en) * 2013-07-18 2015-01-13 Xerox Corporation Method and apparatus for controlling printhead motion with a friction track ball

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
None *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP3251858A1 (de) 2017-12-06

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US10987917B2 (en) Machine arrangement with printing unit for the sequential processing of sheet-type substrates
US9227429B1 (en) Indirect aqueous inkjet printer with media conveyor that facilitates media stripping in a transfer nip
CN107548358B (zh) 具有多个用于单张纸的加工站的机器结构和用于运行机器结构的方法
US10118411B2 (en) Drying device and printing apparatus
US20170334217A1 (en) Drying device and printing apparatus
US10723119B2 (en) Dryer, printer, and treatment liquid applicator
JP2004313829A (ja) ニス塗布方法、ニス塗布装置および印刷機
US20160137447A1 (en) Conveyor mechanism and a method for adjusting a conveyor mechanism
JP2016215632A (ja) 水性インクジェットプリンタ内の印刷ゾーンにおける印刷ヘッドの凝縮を低減するためのシステム及び方法
CN108698414B (zh) 印刷总成以及用于运行印刷总成的方法
WO2016047192A1 (ja) 画像読取装置及び印刷装置
EP3964464B1 (de) Bogenförderer, bogenheizer, flüssigkeitsausstossgerät und drucker
EP3251858B1 (de) Flüssigkeitsausstossvorrichtung, verfahren zur montage von flüssigkeitsausstossköpfen und verfahren zur herstellung einer flüssigkeitsausstossvorrichtung
JP7392310B2 (ja) ヘッドユニット、印刷装置
JP7342537B2 (ja) 液体を吐出する装置
JP6931479B2 (ja) 液体を吐出する装置、複数の液体吐出ヘッドの取り付け方法および液体を吐出する装置の製造方法
US11535040B2 (en) Liquid discharge apparatus, inspection method, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium
US20230241886A1 (en) Liquid discharge apparatus
JP2019055509A (ja) 液体吐出ヘッド取り付け構造、液体吐出ユニットおよび液体を吐出する装置
US11802016B2 (en) Sheet guide, sheet conveyor, liquid discharge apparatus, and printer
JP2018183977A (ja) 液体吐出装置
US11731442B2 (en) Discharge unit and liquid discharge apparatus with rotation control
US20220396072A1 (en) Liquid discharge apparatus and liquid discharge method
JP2019209594A (ja) 搬送装置、液体を吐出する装置
JP7424062B2 (ja) 液体を吐出する装置

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20170526

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: BA ME

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: EXAMINATION IS IN PROGRESS

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20180413

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20180531

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE PATENT HAS BEEN GRANTED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602017000970

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: REF

Ref document number: 1067088

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20181215

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MP

Effective date: 20181121

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MK05

Ref document number: 1067088

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20181121

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181121

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181121

Ref country code: IS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20190321

Ref country code: BG

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20190221

Ref country code: NO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20190221

Ref country code: LT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181121

Ref country code: HR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181121

Ref country code: LV

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181121

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181121

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181121

Ref country code: RS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181121

Ref country code: AL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181121

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20190222

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181121

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20190321

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181121

Ref country code: PL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181121

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181121

Ref country code: CZ

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181121

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 602017000970

Country of ref document: DE

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181121

Ref country code: SM

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181121

Ref country code: EE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181121

Ref country code: RO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181121

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20190822

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181121

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MC

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181121

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: BE

Ref legal event code: MM

Effective date: 20190531

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20190526

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: TR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181121

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20190526

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20190531

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20200520

Year of fee payment: 4

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20200522

Year of fee payment: 4

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20200531

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20200531

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: CY

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181121

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181121

Ref country code: HU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT; INVALID AB INITIO

Effective date: 20170526

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 602017000970

Country of ref document: DE

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20210526

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20211201

Ref country code: GB

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20210526

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20210531

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20181121