ES2418487T3 - Device and procedure for applying fluid drops - Google Patents

Abstract

Procedure for the application of drops of fluid (14, 15) for the formation of a motif (3) in at least a part of an object (2) provided at least partially with a three-dimensional structure (25), in which the object (2) by means of a feeding device (13), an application device (4) is fed, in which the object (2) provided with the three-dimensional structure (25) is passed in front of a detector device ( 19) or sensor device (20) assigned to a control device (11), in which the object (2) is classified by detecting at least a part of the surface geometry and / or the three-dimensional structure (25) by means of the detector device (19) and by means of the classification made, a motif (3) stored in an image data storage device (30) is assigned to the respective object (2) provided with the three-dimensional structure (25), and the object (2) is fed to the application device (4) where it is reacted Use an application of the fluid droplets (14, 15) correspondingly to the motif (3).

Description

Device and procedure for applying fluid drops

The invention relates to a device and a method for applying fluid drops for the formation of a motif in at least a part of an object provided at least partially with a three-dimensional structure.

The manufacturers of ceramic products, in particular tiles, require in view of the advanced printing technologies presently present a possibility of printing a desired color image depending on a contour structure of the respective ceramic product on the surface of a product of this kind. According to this, it must also be possible to reproduce, for example, marble reliefs according to the original.

A device for the multicolored printing of construction materials with irregular surface, such as for example wall cladding elements, is described in Japanese patent application JP 09 -32 34 34. In this printing system the part which is provided It will be printed first of a paint layer for rough surfaces, so that they are then transported to a position with a multiplicity of inkjet printheads (with continuous inkjet), then printing the pattern With a low viscosity ink that has a specific resistance of less than 104. However, this document does not provide indications of any kind on a directed impression of an existing relief on the part, nor can it be deduced from this document how the choice of motif should be made It will be printed.

Another procedure for the application of a decorative element on surface elements is described in DE 600 09 141 T2. Accordingly, a previously selected decorative element must be applied on surface elements so that the decoration patterns of surface elements arranged side by side are adapted to each other. This can be, for example, a grain of wood that extends over several surface elements installed side by side. A suitability of this device for printing, for example, marble reliefs on a three-dimensionally structured object, however, cannot be deduced from this document.

In addition, US 7,357,959 B2 which can be considered as the closest state of the art discloses a device for printing three-dimensional objects with an inkjet printer. In this regard, it is envisaged that the distance between the color spray nozzles and the printing base can be adjusted. Therefore, the printing device comprises a print head that can rotate at least two-dimensionally. The objects to be printed are placed on a conveyor belt and passed through it to the print head. Detectors are provided to detect the position of the leading edge of the object to be printed, the side edges as well as the height of the panel to be printed. Since the entire outer contour of the object to be printed is detected, it is guaranteed that no color reaches the conveyor belt, however, the edge sections of the object to be printed are printed correctly. When the geometry of the object to be printed is known and the object is arranged in a certain relative position with respect to the conveyor belt, it is only necessary to detect the leading edge to print the entire object correctly.

From US 5,184,152 A a printing device is known for printing a tube, a tube that is unrolled by a roller, with characteristics concerning the tube in the roller being present. A detector is provided that selects the information encoded by the roller and a signal is generated from it to correspondingly activate a microprocessor that controls the printer. This document also discloses that a thermal printer is used as a printer. In order to compensate for the differences in thickness of the material to be printed, it is provided that the print head is arranged in a support construction that can rotate around at least one, preferably around at least two axes of rotation.

The present invention is based on the objective of indicating a device and a method for printing three-dimensionally structured objects that effectively guarantee a qualitatively high quality and precise printing motive with the highest possible print speed.

This objective is respectively solved independently by a method according to claim 1 and a device according to claim 11.

With the invention, it is possible to detect and classify precisely, before printing the object, the geometry of the object by means of the detecting device, so that an efficient assignment of a printing motif is possible and a motive of Qualitatively high quality and accurate printing with the highest possible print speed. In particular, in the ceramic industry, the possibility of printing a desired image depending on a contour structure on a tile is created by the invention in relation to digital tiling. This opens up the possibility of also reproducing more complex images such as marble relief or wood grain absolutely conforming to the original. In addition to the ceramic industry, there is a wide range of application for the device, or the process according to the invention, throughout the printing industry. Thus it is conceivable an impression of wooden or plastic objects as well as a metal impression. The invention makes available for the production process a process of recognition of structures to be carried out before coloring, which includes

Exactly the relief of contours of the object to be decorated, for example a tile, and transmits it to the image reproduction system, so that the correct image can be printed exactly on the tile.

The solution now creates the advantage that an application of the motif can be made regardless of the position of the object to be coated, while the three-dimensional structure being made for the selection of the correct motif for application on the object.

An exact detection of the structure of the object with high speed allows a high production speed and can be achieved when the detector device assigned to the image data storage device or the application or delivery device has a high resolution camera for detection of at least a part of the three-dimensional structure of the object, which emits the data of the three-dimensional structure measured to the image data storage device.

For an exact detection of the three-dimensional structure it is advantageous when the high-resolution camera registers the three-dimensional structure of the object by means of a relative movement between a line camera and the three-dimensional structure or when the recording of the three-dimensional structure of the object is performed synchronously with respect to the feeding speed of the feeding device that houses the object. The last mentioned variant has the advantage that the recognition of the structure can be carried out with priority in continuous execution to the production process, that is to say in the application of the motive. Accordingly, it is advantageous when a sensor device is assigned to the feeding device for the detection of the feed rate of the three-dimensionally structured object, which an incremental transmitter can have.

Another embodiment variant that allows an improved recognition of the structure can be achieved when the sensor device has an incremental transmitter and / or the detector device assigned to the image data storage device and the application device for the detection of the feed rate. and / or supply an optical reading device for example a barcode sensor, which detects a predetermined text and / or character encoding applied to the object and lighting is preferably assigned to the optical reading device or the sensor barcodes

Especially in procedures for the production of ceramic pieces it is advantageous, for the avoidance of reading errors and for the operation without failures, when the detector and / or sensor device is arranged in a container protected against fouling and / or is provided with a Automatic cleaning device for the purpose of the reading device.

Additional advantages can also be achieved because the three-dimensionally structured object to be printed has a length of 100 cm to 200 cm and a width of 50 cm to 150 cm, with a preferred proportion of the length with respect to the width of 140 cm with with respect to 80 cm or 200 cm with respect to 150 cm and / or the detector device has a CCD matrix that detects the three-dimensional structure in an optoelectronic manner and a single electronic evaluation system with an optoelectronic recording device for example an evaluation microcontroller and / or the detector device has an optical measuring device that detects at least a part of the surface geometry and / or the relief of the three-dimensionally structured object by triangulation of light rays.

However, it is advantageous above all the correct recognition of the position of the objects or in which position the objects of the application or supply device are fed, since the parts that are found in a wrong way can be quickly recognized and can eventually be correctly oriented in the course of continuous transport or activation of the application or delivery device at the position of the object can be determined. This is advantageous when the image elements preferably have at least one polygon of a centering and / or orientation marking, with a variable number of lines of code that are inside this polygon, arranged at a certain angle! with respect to a side edge and for example the angle! of the lines of code arranged inside the polygon is in the range of 20º to 70º, and preferably amounts to 45º.

Other advantages of the invention result from the other claims of the device.

The process according to the invention allows a guided, rapid machining of the individual objects with the avoidance of defective products or with a considerable reduction of the defective products. Other advantageous measures are described in the other claims of the process.

Other convenient features of the invention are indicated in the dependent claims.

The invention is explained in more detail by means of embodiments shown in the drawing. Sample:

Figure 1 a device according to the invention for the application of fluid drops for formation

of a motif on a three-dimensionally structured object in schematic representation

very simplified and side view;

figure 2 a part of the device according to figure 1 in schematic diagrammatic representation very

simplified;

Figure 3 an object with an encoding applied thereon in a simplified diagrammatic representation seen from below;

Figure 4 a block diagram of the joint operation of the detector device with an image data storage in simplified schematic representation;

Fig. 5 a block diagram of the joint operation of the sensor device and the detector device with the control device in a simplified schematic representation;

Figure 6 an object with a three-dimensional structure and the delivery device assigned to it for

fluid drops and the sensor device or detector device 19 for reading a coding

of text and / or characters in very simplified schematic representation;

Figure 7 the representation of an object with a motif applied on a three-dimensional structure of the object in plan view and simplified schematic representation;

Figure 8 shows the object according to Figure 7 with a coding applied on the lower side in side view and a simplified schematic representation;

Figure 9 the object according to Figure 7 and 8 in very simplified schematic representation and viewed from below.

In an introductory manner, it is argued that the equal parts in the differently described embodiments are provided with the same reference number or the same designations of parts, the disclosures contained in the entire description according to the meaning being applicable to equal parts with reference numbers equals or denominations of equal pieces. Also, the position indications selected in the description, such as, for example, upper, lower, lateral, etc. they refer to the figure immediately described and represented and must be applied in a modification of the position according to the direction of the new position.

All indications with respect to ranges of values in the present description are to be understood so that they together comprise any and all partial ranges thereof, for example, the indication from 1 to 10 is to be understood so that they are understood together all partial intervals, starting from the lower limit 1 and the upper limit 10, that is to say all the partial intervals start with a lower limit of 1 or higher and end at an upper limit of 10 or lower, for example from 1 to 1.7 , or from 3.2 to 8.1 or from 5.5 to 10.

The embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the invention comprises a device 1, with which a motif 3 can be applied on a surface of an object 2.

To this end, the device 1 for generating the motif 3 has a supply device 4, by means of which a motif is applied on at least a part 5 of a surface 6 of the object 2, such as for example a wood grain, a Stone veining, an ornament or any graphic element or ornaments. Object 2 may be formed in this respect by an MDF plate, melamine plate, a piece of glass, plywood, veneer, ceramics, piece in green, tile, plastic plate, cardboard or the like. The object 2 is placed in a positioning device 7 for example as one or more axes 7 or a feeding device 8, for example a double belt transport device. This positioning device 7 can be used for example in the ceramic industry for the transport of for example ceramic blanks designated as green pieces, before they are fed to the cooking process, or by already cooked tiles. The double belt transport device 8 has two belts that extend in the transport direction (arrow 9) that can be driven by a motor 10, for example an asynchronous motor that can be regulated for example by a frequency converter.

For the control of the device 1, a control device 11 is provided which can also comprise an image data processing and / or recognition device 12 integrated or linked with it, for example, via a bus system for a motive 3.

Along the positioning device 7 configured as a feeding device 13 is provided the supply device 4 for the application of the motif 3 by supplying drops of fluid 14, 15 by means of a fluid mixed with inorganic particles and / or pigments. To this supply device 4, another supply device 4 may be subordinated in the direction of transport (arrow 9). Also this subordinate supply device 4 is preferably provided with one, however, several supply devices 16, and can be emitted with these delivery devices 4 also drops 14, 15 of a fluid mixed with inorganic particles and / or pigments. Thus, the pigments can be different and, specifically, according to the colors selected, such as white, cyano, magenta, etc., so that monochromatic or multichromatic drops can be emitted for the manufacture of a monochromatic or multichromatic image or motif 3. For this purpose, the object 2 is fed by means of the feeding device 13 to the supply devices 4 or is passed between them.

Instead of the double-belt transport device, conveyor roller tracks, a conveyor belt or multi-axis coordination tables with corresponding elements for securing the objects 2, for example by means of means, can also be provided in differently configured objects. of emptiness.

For positioning the object 2 in the area of the supply devices 4, the object 2 can be fixed parallel to the plane that runs along the support surface formed by the support surface of the band or belt in the two spatial directions 17, 18, or it can also be moved with corresponding configuration of the positioning device 7. Particularly the movement is carried out in the forward direction (arrow 9) and because of this the object 2 moves between the supply devices 4.

If an object 2 that is at least partially provided with a three-dimensionally structured surface 6 or a relief must now be printed with the device 1, before applying the motif by applying the individual fluid droplets 14, 15 of fluids provided with pigments and / or particles, the printing data necessary for the application of the fluid droplets 14, 15 on the surface 6 of the object 2 for the delivery device 4 from the processing device and / or image data recognition must be selected 12 or an image data store. To this end, a detector device 19 or a sensor device 20 is superordinate to the delivery device 4.

With the detecting device 19, at least part 5 of the surface 6 of the object 2 provided with a three-dimensional structure or a relief can be explored, on which the motif 2 must be applied by supplying the drops 14, 15 of fluids. Regardless of this, however, it is also possible instead or in addition to the aforementioned exploration of the structure or of the relief to explore or scan a coding 21 applied on the object 2.

This coding 21 can be arranged on the surface 6 of the object 2, for example the upper side 23 opposite to a support surface 22 of the positioning device 7 or the lower side 24 directed to the support surface 22 and can be configured for example according to the illustration in figure 3.

For this it is also possible that when the coding 21 is arranged on the lower side 24 (as shown in Figure 2) the detector device 19 is arranged, as is also shown in Figure 2, below the surface of support 22 of the double belt transport device 8.

Depending on which point of the object 2 the coding 21 is arranged, for example on the upper side 23 or the lower side 24 or the side surfaces, the detector device 19 may be arranged at one or more points along the positioning device 7 or of the feeding device 13. Especially when at least a part of a three-dimensional structure 25 or of the relief of the object 2 and additionally applied codings 21 must be read or scanned or scanned or scanned, the detecting devices 19 can be used respectively and / or sensor devices 20 in different technical embodiments that are best suited for the respective purpose.

In accordance with the invention, the control device 11 has a detector device 19 assigned to the image data processing and / or recognition device 12 or to the delivery device 4 for the detection of at least a part of the structure 25 or of the relief of object 2, which controls the impression of object 2 with motif 3 depending on structure 25 or relief.

The delivery device 4 can be, for example, an inkjet printing device for industrial applications with several printheads for the supply of drops 14, 15 of a fluid. The objects to be printed 2, for example the tiles or the ceramic pieces not yet cooked, can be passed continuously in the delivery device 4.

The control device 11 and the image data processing and / or recognition device 12 are connected through control conduits 26 with the supply devices 4 as well as the motor 10 of the positioning device 7 or the transport device of double strap 8, the application devices 4 or their supply devices 16 and the detecting devices 19 or sensing devices 20 through control conduits 26.

Logically, the control conduits 26 can be configured in all the embodiments described respectively separately for each device, however, it is also naturally also possible to provide a bus system between the control device 11 and the other devices in particular the device for positioning 7 or motor 11 of the image data processing and / or recognition device 12 and delivery devices 16 or application devices 4, the detecting devices 19 and the sensing devices 20, 27.

For this bus system and the corresponding bus controllers, the most different devices and systems known in the state of the art can be used.

It is also possible to use the most different international protocols for the interfaces between the individual devices and the control device 11 or the image data processing and / or recognition device

12.

The control device 11 also regulates and controls the feeding of the objects to be printed 2, which for example in the ceramic industry are transported by means of a conventional belt drive system, which can be aligned in +/- 0.5 mm accuracy compared to application devices 4.

The drive is preferably an asynchronous motor whose regulation can be carried out through a frequency converter, which in turn is connected to the control device 11 through control ducts

26. The speed of the tape, and consequently also the feeding speed of the objects 2, is determined with a sensor device 27 for example an incremental transmitter.

Logically it is also possible to use any other device instead of an intermediate transmitter for the sensor device 27 and monitor, control or preferably regulate the speed of the belt or the transport speed of the objects 2 with the positioning device 7 or feeding device 13. The transport speed of the objects 2 such as the feeding speed or the relative speed between the supply devices 16 and the objects 2 has to be considered correspondingly for the accuracy of the exploration of the motif 3 or of the coding 21 by means of the detector device 19 or sensor device or the accuracy of this scan. The higher the accuracy of the feeding or relative speed between the objects 2 and the supply devices 16, the higher the accuracy of the determination of the motif 3 or of the coding 21 and conversely the accuracy of the applied motif 3 on the objects 2 or their concordance with a relief 25 on the object 2. Therefore, in this context it is also possible to use a speed measuring device for example the sensor device 20, with which it can be monitored, in particular controlled by semi-automatic or completely automatic way the existing structure on the surface of the objects 2 for the exact determination of the forward movement or the relative movement between the object 2 and the delivery devices 16 at different points preferably, for example directly in the area of the device supply 16 for the drops of fluid 14, 15 on the surface of the object 2. For this purpose it is suitable employ the use of a laser measuring device that takes advantage of the unevenness or a three-dimensional structure 25 on the surface of the object 2 for the determination of the speed of the object 2.

The accuracy of the speed measurement is advantageously smaller than 1% with respect to the nominal speed or the relative speed between the object 2 and the supply devices 16. Also the sensor device 27 supplies the measurement signal through of control lines 26 to the control device 11.

A correspondingly exact prior positioning of the objects 2 in the positioning device 7 or the double belt transport device 8 and / or the bearing surface 22 at least in the spatial direction 18 or a spatial direction 29 ( Z axis), that is to say, transversely to the transport direction (arrow 9) of the feeding device 13 and to the vertical direction towards the bearing surface 22, that is in the direction of the Z axis.

It is convenient according to this when the object 2, in particular when it comes to tiles or pieces in green, is oriented and positioned in the positioning device 7 or the support surface 22 with an accuracy of +/- 1 mm in at least one of the two spatial directions 18, 28. For the establishment and determination or assignment of the correct motif 3 to be applied with the delivery devices 16 on the surface 6 of the object 2 and preferably especially for the adaptation of the motif which is going to applied on the true relief 25 of the object 2, it is now advantageously possible to explore or detect with the detector device 19 all the relief 25 on the surface 6 of the object 2 which should then be printed with the motif 3 adapted to this relief 25.

However, it is also possible, independently of this, to perform only an approximate scan or to scan and detect only individual parts of this relief 25 that are sufficient to establish what kind or type of relief 25 it is from a previously established library and to assign this relief 25 then the corresponding motive 3 prepared according to the data correspondingly.

If all the relief 25 is detected, it is naturally possible to calculate, by means of the detected data, independently of specifications assigned in a correspondingly exact manner, with a corresponding software a reason according to corresponding basic specifications for example in the processing and / or recognition device of image data 12 and take it as a basis for the control of the application device 4 or its delivery devices 16.

If all the relief 25 or the height profile is detected with the detector device 19, for example a high resolution camera can be used. With this camera or a corresponding laser scanning device, the entire surface of the object 2 can be measured in the continuous execution or in the intermittent execution of the object 2 under the detector device 19. The corresponding data can be transmitted to the control device 11 and / or the image processing and / or image recognition device 12. Logically, it is also possible to transfer these data through these mentioned devices into a separate computer that calculates the corresponding accurate relief from this data acquired from the detector device 19. makes the control data available for the following work processes.

With the use of a high resolution camera you can measure objects in one piece with an order of magnitude

for example 200 cm x 150 cm or continuous tracks of objects with a width of for example 200 cm or more. If, for example, a high resolution line camera is used, then the relief 25 is determined synchronously with respect to the transport speed of the object 2 or with respect to the relative speed between the object 2 and the detecting device 19. The relief 25 is made up of the registered lines of the control device 11 or the image data processing and / or recognition device 12. Next, the reason 3 or printing reason corresponding to this relief 25 from a bank is consulted of image data that is stored in the control device 11 or the image data processing and / or recognition device 12 or other computer assigned thereto and is transferred to the control device 11 for activation of the delivery devices 4. If object 2 is now fed to supply devices 16 or application devices 4, it is activated correspondingly to control data d the control device 11 the respective supply device 16 for the supply of the corresponding drops of fluid 14 and 15 of fluids mixed with pigments or different preferred particles to thereby manufacture the motif 3, as this is known for example in the devices Inkjet printing known for industrial applications.

In determining or establishing or sweeping the path of the three-dimensional structure 25 or the relief, these data can also be consulted to determine the orientation of the three-dimensional structure 25 of the object 2 with respect to a theoretical position that can be predefined and depending on the position of the three-dimensional structure 25 or of the relief and thereby of the object 2 some corresponding input signals can be generated for the control device 11.

Likewise, tactile scanning procedures can be used, such as the tactile incision procedure, so that a profilometer can be used, for example.

With these input signals it is now possible for the control device 11 to activate the application device 4

or its supply devices 16 so that also in a position not exactly oriented of the object 2 for example with one of its longitudinal axes not parallel to the transport direction (arrow 9) the motif 3 is applied in the desired orientation with respect to to the three-dimensional structure 25 or to the relief. Such a mode of procedure can increase the speed of the application of the motif 3 and it is possible, for example, also to reduce separate guidance devices for objects 2 or orientation devices such as positioning axes or robots for the exact orientation of the position of the object 2 in the positioning device 7

or the feeding device 13. The control device 11 thus obtains from the image data storage device 30 assigned thereto the necessary data for the application device 4, the supply devices 16 assigned thereto, which by means of The signals of the detector device 19 are determined or scanned, the at least one part of the three-dimensional structure 25 or the relief of the object 2 and / or the orientation of the object 2 in at least two different spatial directions 17, 18 are established or selected . Input signals that characterize structure 25 and the actual orientation of structure 25 are generated by the detector device 19

or of object 2 with respect to a theoretical position. With this it is possible for the control device 11, based on these input signals, to control an orientation of the objects 2 in a desired theoretical position with corresponding adjustment means and / or control the application device 4 or its delivery devices 16 for the application of the drops of fluid 14, 15 on the object 2 in a manner corresponding to the predetermined motif 3, selected due to the determination of the three-dimensional structure 25 and possibly the position of the object 2.

The amounts of data generated in this regard are very large, however almost any number of structures can be recognized in this way and many different motifs 3 can be printed exactly as well. In case of objects 2 with a low degree of reflection, a corresponding illumination may be necessary for the safe recognition of the relief.

Since currently there are on the market presses for tiles, which can press several tiles, preferably 6 or 12 tiles at the same time, many different structures have to be expected in a corresponding production process.

It is advantageous now in particular in the application of motifs 3 on tiles or pieces in green, however logically also for all other purposes of use in which the most different motifs 3 must be applied on objects 2 according to a chaotic system, provide a coding 21 in the object 2 which is explored before the application of the motif 3 on the object 2 to assign to the respective relief 25 the corresponding motif 3 or activate the application devices 4 or supply devices 16 for the supply of the corresponding drops of fluid 14 and 15.

The coding 21 can be configured in this respect in a discretionary manner or present in the most different forms. Thus it is possible, for example, to use a barcode known to the state of the art, for example, also a three-dimensional barcode for the coding of individual objects 2, so that the correct motives 3 can be assigned completely automatically to them. Logically, this barcode can be applied at each discretionary point of the object, for example in any area on which motif 3 is subsequently applied.

Preferably, in square objects 2 the coding 21 is arranged on the lower side 24 of the object 2 or the lateral surfaces that join the upper and lower sides.

Logically, it is also possible that the barcode or coding 21 is invisible under daylight or artificial light normally used. An encoding 21 of this type can therefore also be arranged in the area of the visible side of the object 2 directed to the observer during the intended use, so that this encoding 21 can also be read later with special light, for example light infrared or UV or with other optical wave procedure. This is especially advantageous when several individual objects 2 are joined together to give a large overall motif and one of these objects 2 is damaged or broken, so that the correspondingly correct object 2 can be manufactured exactly thereafter.

Electronic components that do not require their own energy source, such as microchips or so-called RFIDs, can also be embedded in object 2 or they may be arranged on it with normal use also in parts of the surface not visible to the observer.

As shown in Figure 3, on objects 2 for example, those which are manufactured by corresponding procedures such as pressing, injection molding, stamping or the like, it is also possible to provide a three-dimensional coding 21. This is recommended among other things in the manufacture of green parts in the ceramic industry, since the parts are manufactured multiple times there by means of a pressing procedure and in the course of this pressing procedure it can be introduced under pressure or stamped or molded into the suitable site also the coding 21 as an identification characteristic for the object 2 or the relief 25 applied thereon.

While for reading two-dimensionally applied barcodes all reading devices known in the state of the art can be used, such as are used in industrial production or in the preparation of goods, there is also the provision of three-dimensional encodings. possibility of configuring the detector device 19 for optoelectronic scanning of the height profile of the coding 21 as a laser measuring device, which for example operates according to an optical triangulation procedure, in which the emission beam is reflected by the object of measurement 2.

A detector device 19 of this type which is configured as a laser measuring device, for example, is especially suitable for scanning codings 21 such as are shown, for example, in Figures 3 and 9. During the scanning of a coding 21 of This type evaluates the emission beam reflected by object 2 in a CCD matrix 29, and a signal proportional to the measurement distance is generated. In this case, the detector device 19 formed by the laser measuring device (as shown in Figure 2) registers the coding 21 applied or pressure-introduced two-dimensionally at the base of the ceramic piece or piece in green or tile or on the lower side 24 of object 2.

The object 2 provided with the coding 21 or the piece in green or the tile is passed, for the exploration of the coding 21 represented for example in Figure 3 which can be arranged on the lower side 24 of the object 2, by the device detector 19 that explores from below the structure of the coding 21 synchronously with respect to the transport speed of the object 2.

The reason 3 corresponding to the coding 21 (which is unmistakably assigned to the three-dimensional structure 25 or to the relief of the object 2) is consulted from the image data processing and / or recognition device 12 and / or a storage of Image data 30 and is transferred to the delivery devices 19 for the procedure and an impression is finally made with the respective motif 3.

The coding 21 can, for example, have lines of code 31 that correspondingly to its distance and / or its thickness allow, as with a mono or multidimensional barcode, an unmistakable identification of the object 2 or of the structure 25 arranged on this or the relief of object 2.

Advantageously, however, it is possible, in addition to the code lines 31, to also provide a centering marking 32 such as in the desired chaos one or more direction markings 33 and 34. With the centering marking 32 it is possible to define the position of the lateral edges 35 to 38 of object 2, so that by scanning the centering marking 32, the position of these lateral edges 35 to 38 can be determined and eventually modified in comparison to a desired theoretical position for example of the feeding device (arrow 9). With the additional address markings 33 and 34 it is possible in the arrangement described especially below also to additionally identify any of these side edges 35 to 38. During the feeding of the object 2 to the application device 4 it is possible with the use of the markings of address 33, 34 and centering marking 32 recognize and identify the front front side 39 of object 2 in the feed direction (arrow 9).

The front front side 39 thus forms that with which the object 2 first enters the area of the application device 4.

In detail this coding 21 can now be structured so that a center point 41 of the centering mark 32 formed by a square 42 is arranged at the diagonal cut-off point 40 of the object 2 represented in broken lines. This centering mark 32 it is constituted by a square with lateral edges 43 -46 of which the lateral edges 44 and 46 are oriented parallel to a longitudinal central axis 47 that runs through the central point 41 and respectively are arranged at the same distance and distanced from

this longitudinal central axis 47.

The lateral edges 43 and 45 that run perpendicularly to these lateral edges 44 and 46 are in turn arranged at the same distance x from a transverse central axis 48 of the object 2, which in turn runs through the central point 41. The longitudinal central axis 47 and the transverse central axis 48 are disposed respectively at the same distance boa from the lateral edges 35, 37 or 36, 38 of the object 2.

Within the centering marking 32 are the lines of code 31 that are oriented in an inclined manner with respect to the longitudinal central axis 47 for example with an angle of less than 45 °. These lines of code 31 or their number and eventually thickness form a code marking, for example in the sense of a bar code, allowing the travel of these lines of code 31 in an inclined manner with respect to the lateral edges 43 to 46 of centering marking 32 an exact recognition and distinction thereof in a simple manner.

If this centering marking 32 is now explored with the sensing or sensor device 19, 20, both the position of the center point 41 of the object 2 and the type of object 2 can be determined and with it the motive 3 belonging to this object 2, so that the correct reason belonging to object 2 can be selected or determined from the image data processing and / or recognition device 12 or the image storage 30 for activation of the application device 4.

When it is now treated in the case of object 2 of a square or rectangular piece, in which it is ensured by mechanical guidance directions that it can only be fed with one of the lateral edges 35 or 37 as the front side 39 to the application device 4 , it may be completely sufficient to carry out the coding 21 as described above.

However, if any position of the object 2 must also be possible for feeding the application device 4, it is advantageous when with the coding 21 it can also be recognized, which of the lateral edges 35 to 38 forms the front side 39 in the feed with the positioning device 7 or the feeding device 13 on the support surface 22. It is now possible that in addition to the centering marking 32 two directional markings 33 and 34 may be arranged. of squares that, however, are no longer arranged at the center point 41 but in the centering mark

32. A side length 49 of the direction marking 33 is greater than the side length 2x of the centering mark 32 and a side length 50 of the direction marking 34 is greater than the side length 49 of the direction marking 33.

To now allow a unique recognition of the respective lateral edges 35 to 38 of the object 2, the direction marking 33 is oriented so that the lateral edges 51 and 52 are at an equal low distance 55 from the lateral edges 46 and 45 of centering marking 32. Due to this, the address marking 33 formed by a square is arranged offset with respect to the code marking 32, the center point of this address marking 33 formed by the square being displaced in the present example of orientation towards the lateral edge 36 of the object 2. The other direction marking 34, which is also formed by a square, is now arranged offset with respect to the central point of the direction marking 33, in which the sides that run parallel to the side edges 52 and 53 of the direction marking 33 are again arranged at low distance 55 from the marking n of direction 34, while the lateral edges of the direction marking 34 which run parallel to the lateral edges 51 and 54 in turn have a distance from these greater than the distance 55.

In this way, a sequence and distance other than the individual side edges 43-46, 51-54 of the direction marking 34 are obtained in the coding path 21 through the reading zone of the detector and / or sensor device 19, 20 , 33 and centering marking 32 and these side edges and specifically the side edge 44 act as well as the side edge 54 and the side edge running parallel to this of the direction marking 34 as the bars of a code bars that are uniquely differentiated from the succession and distances of the side edges 46 and 51 or from the side edge of the direction marking 34 which runs parallel to the side shelf 51, as well as in the direction of the other two side edges 36 and 37 of object 2.

Especially for the manufacture of ceramic pieces or objects 2 manufactured by a pressing procedure, the coding 21 can be generated with a press punch, which has introduced this structure into the base of the punch, on the lower side of the object 2. The cover of The punch of the press punch generates in this respect at the same time the relief 25 to be printed. With this method of procedure which is advantageous especially in the production of ceramic pieces such as pieces in green or tiles, all possible tile sizes can be processed, however, the minimum tile size must however be raised to 60 mm x 60 mm. A structure of 1 mm in height difference can be resolved with a 1 V measurement signal sufficiently accurately. The scanning frequency of the detector or sensor device 19, 20 is preferably greater than 2 kHz. The measuring range of the sensor is between 5 and 15 mm, for example 10 mm, the accuracy of scanning contour lines is 0.0 to 0.2 mm, preferably 0.1 mm. This variant of application of the coding is almost independent of the degree of reflection of the surface of the object 2. The tolerance of structure of the punch is in 5% of the standard values, being able to realize this with presses in particular presses

of tiles according to the state of the art.

The supply or application devices 16, 4 shown can be configured as a single-step installation, in which case the delivery devices 16 are fixedly arranged. This can be used to print an object 2 to be printed throughout the maximum printing width continuously with the desired colors as well as, if necessary, additionally with the WHITE color and / or a transparent color layer and / or a protective layer.

Logically, the application device 4 can also be configured for the application of fluid droplet scanning 14, 15, so that with various delivery devices 16 different colors can be applied, as well as possibly the WHITE color and / or transparent layers and / or protective, however, the delivery device (s) 16 or printheads only extend over a part of the width of the object 2 to be printed and respectively the color is applied as lines during a transverse movement to the longitudinal direction of the object 2 to be printed and intermittently the object 2 to be printed moves forward, after each transverse advance of the application device 4 by its width, with the feeding device 13 in a pre-adjustable extension in the transport direction (arrow 9 in figure 2).

In addition, it is also possible to use a delivery device 16 with which the ink droplets 14, 15 after the latter exit are diverted by an electromagnetic field so that they affect the correct point of the object 2 to be printed. In the case of the object 2 to be printed, it may be different materials, for example materials such as paper, plastic, metal, textile, wood and the like or non-woven materials, meshes and the like or it can, however, also be printed plate-shaped material and band-shaped material of the aforementioned materials. In particular it is possible to print material in the form of a plate or pieces or sheets of wood, for example also with a wooden structure other than this wood, ceramic ceramic pieces as a baked item or as a piece in green, natural stones or other natural materials such as mats , meshes, nonwoven or leather materials and other construction materials such as for example plasterboard, plaster pieces or the like. These objects 2 can be formed of extruded wood masses, ceramic masses (pieces in green or cooked), of the most different materials such as metal, non-ferrous metals, plastics and the like. In addition, different manufacturing processes are conceivable for objects 2, such as for example injection molding, extrusion, blow molding, deep drawing, casting and also various processes with chip removal, such as for example milling.

Against a fouling of the objective of the detector and / or sensor device 19, 20, 27, a cleaning device is inserted by inserting a transparent lens with a pre-blown cleaning apparatus using filtered air.

By means of this configuration of the coding 21, a completely automatic exact orientation of an object 2 can now be carried out, for example of the longitudinal central axis 47 or of the transverse central axis 48 parallel to the transport direction (arrow 9) by means of a robot or elements of correspondingly arranged orientation and a modification of the position of the object 2 can also be performed respectively, so that the front side 39 necessary for the application of the motif 3 first enters the area of the application device 4.

On the other hand it is now possible, however, to also place the objects 2 in any position on the positioning device 7 or the feeding device 13 and by means of corresponding activation of the device or application devices 4 the application of the motif 3 can be adapted exactly the respective position of the object 2. Logically it is also possible, in the case of objects 2 that do not have straight lateral edges 35-38, to establish by means of the coding arrangement 21 the longitudinal central axis 47 and the transverse central axis 48 and thereby cover also objects 2 with any contour with the desired motif 3 with position accuracy or apply this.

It is advantageous in this coding 21, as shown in Figure 3, when a groove depth amounts to 0.5 to 4 mm, preferably 1 mm and a groove width and / or a distance between the side edges 42 46 and 51 to 54 of the centering marking 32 and the direction marking 33, 34 or the side edges of the direction marking 33, 34 running parallel to the direction marking 33, 34 has 1 to 5 mm, preferably 1.5 to 2.5 mm. The height tolerance of the structure should preferably amount to +/- 0.1 mm. The distance of the lines of code 31 can be selected in a discretionary manner, for example, between 2 and 6 mm, preferably 4 mm. A tolerance of these lines of code 31 should be between +/- 0.1 and +/- 0.5 mm, preferably +/- 0.25 mm. Also a distance of lines of variable structure is possible.

With the centered orientation, then, when additional address markings 33 and 34 are not provided, no address dependence during the application of the motives 3.

With a corresponding arrangement and configuration of the coding 21 it is therefore possible to achieve a centering accuracy of the object 2 with respect to the coding 21 for example of +/- 0.1 to 1 mm, preferably +/- 0.5 mm with with respect to centering mark 32, that is the internal square.

Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of a part of the control device 11 and the image data storage and recognition device 12 of an exemplary device 1 for printing objects 2 as shown for example in the Figures 1, 2 and 6.

The electronic evaluation system belonging to the control device 11 is constituted by an evaluation microcontroller 56 with analog / digital converter, by interface components 57 for the construction of an interface for example proprietary RS-485, as well as an input for the pulses of the sensor device 27 or the incremental transmitter for measuring the speed of the band. The evaluation microcontroller 56 scans the analog starting signal of the CCD matrix 29 with a scan rate greater than 2 kHz, preferably greater than 4 kHz.

With an increase in the edge of the signal that through an exact defined number of scan values is greater than an adjustable threshold value, the evaluation microcontroller 56 begins with the evaluation of the structure, evaluating the distance traveled by the object 2nd of the tile by means of the encoder signal. If this distance traveled is as long as the code dial start zone, then it starts from a structure start.

The edge increases and the following distances traveled without signal breaks in the area of the valid edge increases establish the coding 21 read. If the encoding 21 read is in the valid code space, then the structure has been correctly recognized. Depending on the recognized structure, the evaluation microcontroller 56 communicates to the application device 4 the encoding 21 read through the components of the interface 57. The application device 4 requests based on the encoding 21 read the correct reason 3 from storage of image data 30. A printer driver 58 stores the encodings 21 obtained by the detector device 19 in a circular memory and requests after each image emission in a directed manner the following reason 26 from the storage of image data 30 for the Image processing An accumulation of images of for example 6 to 20 discretionary images is possible.

The path between the detector device 19 and application device 4 is provided with a protective housing. This prevents objects 2 whose encodings 21 have already been recognized from the tape being taken and therefore the necessary order is not respected, which would result in a system failure.

Figure 5 shows the joint actuation of the sensor device 27 and of the CCD matrix 29 with the control device 11 for an exact control of the position of the object 2 between the CCD matrix 29 and the application device 4. The feeding device 13 , or the sensor device 27 provides for this the clock signal.

As a result, the circulation time of the object 2 under the CCD matrix 29 is continuously recorded. This has the purpose that in case of a modification of the circulation time of the object 2 below the CCD matrix 29 an accumulation of objects can be established 2 below the application device 4 for the fluid or between the CCD matrix 29 and the application device 4 for the fluid or the fluid droplets 14, 15. In this way the reading accuracy of the coding 21 can also be increased by CCD matrix 29. This is especially when controlling the feed rate or the relative speed between the application device 4 and the object 2 not separately with a sensor device 20.

Figure 6 shows a representation of an exemplary embodiment of an encoding 21 formed by a text and / or character encoding 59 on an object 2. In the case of text and / or character encoding 59 it is a question of a barcode (industry standard EAN-8 format) that is detected by a sensor device 20 for example a barcode scanner 60. The barcode scanner 60 supplies the signal through a control conduit 26 to the control device 11. The coding 21 is located on a lateral surface 61 that joins the lower side 24 with the upper side 23 of the object 2. The upper side 23 of the object 2 has a structure 25, that is to say a relief.

A delivery device 16 (by way of a movable example (arrow)) applies drops of fluid 14 and / or 15 on the three-dimensional structure 25 or the structured surface of the object 2. This supply device 6 can move in one direction, by example transversely to the central longitudinal axis 47 of the object 2. In this case, the object 2 is moved longitudinally (arrow 9) under the delivery or application device 16, 4 outwards and thereby provides a line feed. However, it is also possible, however, as an alternative that the supply or application device 16, 4 can move in the direction of the two axes and the object 2 remains motionless during the application procedure.

Figures 7 to 9 show a representation in plan, front and bottom view of an exemplary object 2 with coding 21 on the lower side 24 and the motif 3 applied on the three-dimensional structure 25 or the relief 25 on the surface 23 of the object 2. The coding 21 is manufactured during the manufacture of the object 2, as described for example by means of figure 3, by means of an introduction under pressure. The more internal centering marking 32 of the coding 21 is arranged centrally at the cut-off point of the diagonals 40 in the object 2.

The exemplary embodiments show possible variants of embodiment of the device 1 for the generation of a motif 3 on an object 2, mentioning at this point that the invention is not limited to the specially represented embodiments thereof.

For reasons of order it is finally indicated that for the better understanding of the structure of the device 1 for the generation of the three-dimensional structure 2, this or its components have been partially represented not to scale and / or in an enlarged and / or reduced way .

The objective on which independent inventive solutions are based can be deduced from the description.

List of reference numbers

one

device for printing

2

object

3

reason

4

application device

5

part

6

surface

7

positioning device

8

double belt transport device

9

arrow

10

engine

eleven

control device

12

image data processing and / or recognition device

13

feeding device

14

fluid drops

fifteen

fluid drops

16

supply device

17

spatial direction

18

spatial direction

19

detector device

twenty

sensor device

twenty-one

coding

22

support surface

2. 3

surface

24

lower side

25

structure

26

control duct

27

sensor device

28

spatial direction

29

CCD matrix

30

image data storage

31

lines of code

32

centering dial

33

address dialing

3. 4

address dialing

35

side edge

36

side edge

37

side edge

38

side edge

39

front side

40

diagonal

41

central point

42

square

43

side edge

44

side edge

Four. Five

side edge

46

side edge

47

longitudinal central axis

(continuation)

48 central transverse axis 49 side length 5 50 side length

51 side edge 52 side edge 53 side edge 54 side edge

10 55 distance

56 evaluation microcontroller 57 interface component 58 printer driver 59 text and / or character encoding

15 60 barcode scanner

61 lateral surface

Claims (34)

1. Procedure for the application of drops of fluid (14, 15) for the formation of a motif (3) in at least a part of an object (2) provided at least partially with a three-dimensional structure (25), in which the object (2) by means of a feeding device (13) is fed to an application device (4), in which the object (2) provided with the three-dimensional structure (25) is passed in front of a detector device (19) or sensor device (20) assigned to a control device (11), in which the object (2) is classified by a detection of at least a part of the surface geometry and / or the three-dimensional structure (25) by means of the detector device (19) and by means of the classification made, a motif (3) stored in a data storage device is assigned image (30) to the respective object (2) provided with the three-dimensional structure (25), and the object (2) is fed to the application device (4) where an application of the fluid droplets (14, 15) is made corresponding to the motive (3).

2.

 Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the feed rate of the three-dimensionally structured object (2) is detected by means of the detector or sensor device (19, 20) assigned to the feeding device (13).

3.

Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a signal input device assigned to the image data storage device (30) or to the application device (4) has an optical reading device that detects a text and / or data encoding. default characters (59) applied to object (2).

Four.

 Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the three-dimensionally structured object (2) is illuminated during the detection of the surface geometry and / or the three-dimensional structure (25).

5.

Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the surface geometry and / or the three-dimensional structure (25) is detected optoelectronically by means of triangulation of light rays.

6.

Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the surface geometry and / or the three-dimensional structure (25) is detected with an accuracy of 0.1 µm for a measuring range of 1 V / mm.

7.

 Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the three-dimensionally structured object (2) to be printed is provided with a predetermined coding (21).

8.

Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the coding (21) is generated by means of a press punch on the object (2).

9.

 Method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the coding (21) is arranged independently of the three-dimensional structure, on which the motif (3) is applied with the drops of fluid (14, 15), on a lateral surface arranged in angle from a side surface with the motif (3) to be printed or facing or opposite it.

10.

 Method according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that any individual coding (21) is assigned a motif (3).

eleven.

 Device for carrying out a method according to one of claims 1 to 10, for the application of fluid droplets (14, 15) for forming a motif (3) in at least a part (5) of an object (2) ) at least partially provided with a three-dimensional structure (25), in which the device has an application or delivery device (4, 16) for fluid drops (14, 15) on the object (2) corresponding to the reason

(3) stored in an image data storage device (30), a feeding device (13) for feeding the object (2) to the application or supply device (4, 16) and a control device ( 5) for the control of the feeding device (4), the image data storage device (30) and the application or supply device (4, 16), in which the control device (11) has a detector device (19) assigned to the image data storage device (30) and to the application or delivery device (4, 16), which is configured by detecting at least a part (5) of the surface geometry and / or the three-dimensional structure (25) of the object (2) for the classification of the object (2), and the control device (11) controls the application of the drops of fluid (14, 15) on the object (2) fed by means of the feeding device (13) to the application device or supply (4, 16) corresponding to the motif (3) stored in the image data storage device (30) depending on the classification of the object (2). 12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that the detection device (19) assigned to the image data storage device (30) and the application or delivery device (4, 16) has a high resolution camera for detection at least one part (5) of the three-dimensional structure (25) of the object (2) that issues the data of the three-dimensional structure (25) measured to the image data storage device (30). 13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the high resolution camera registers the three-dimensional structure (25) of the object (2) by means of a relative movement between a line camera and the structure three-dimensional (25). 14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the registration of the three-dimensional structure of the object (2) is performed synchronously with respect to the feeding speed of the feeding device (13) that houses the object (2).

fifteen.

 Device according to one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that a sensing device (27) is assigned to the feeding device (13) for detecting the feeding speed of the three-dimensionally structured object (2).

16.

 Device according to one of claims 11 to 15, characterized in that the detector and / or sensor device (19, 20, 27) is arranged in a container protected against fouling and / or is provided with an automatic cleaning device for the purpose of reading device

17.

 Device according to one of claims 11 to 16, characterized in that the three-dimensionally structured object (2) to be printed has a length of 100 cm to 200 cm and a width of 50 cm to 150 cm, with a preferred proportion of the length with with respect to the width of 140 cm with respect to 80 cm or 200 cm with respect to 150 cm.

18.

 Device according to one of claims 11 to 17, characterized in that the detector device (19) has a CCD matrix (29) that optoelectronically detects the three-dimensional structure (25) and an electronic evaluation system connected with an optoelectronic scanning device, for example an evaluation microcontroller (56).

19.

 Device according to claim 18, characterized in that the detector device (19) has an optical measuring device, which detects at least a part of the surface geometry and / or the relief of the three-dimensionally structured object (2) by triangulation of light rays .

twenty.

 Device according to one of claims 11 to 19, characterized in that the three-dimensionally structured object (2) is provided with a predetermined coding (21) that is detected by the detector device (19) and is evaluated by the control device (11).

twenty-one.

 Device according to claim 20, characterized in that the coding (21) has a geometric image code with predetermined geometric and possibly three-dimensionally structured image elements, corresponding to a motif (3) stored in the image data storage device (30). ).

22

 Device according to claim 21, characterized in that the image elements preferably have at least one polygon of a centering and / or direction marking (32, 33, 34) with a variable number of lines of code (31) which are located in the interior of this polygon, arranged with a certain angle (!) with respect to a lateral edge (42-46).

2. 3.

 Device according to claim 22, characterized in that the angle! of the lines of code (31) arranged inside the polygon is in the range of 20º to 70º, and preferably amounts to 45º.

24.

 Device according to one of claims 20 to 23, characterized in that the coding has several image elements arranged in different positions on one or several surfaces such as for example lateral surfaces (61), upper side (23), lower side (24) of the object (2), geometric predetermines or having a centering code (59) for a unique determination of the spatial orientation of the object (2).

25.

 Device according to one of claims 20 to 23, characterized in that the coding (21) is performed asymmetrically with respect to at least one main axis of the coding (21), such as longitudinal or transverse central axis (47, 48), central point (46), for a unique determination of the orientation of the three-dimensional object (2).

26.

 Device according to one of claims 20 to 25, characterized in that at least a part of the coding (21) is arranged in a manner centered on the object (2).

27.

 Device according to one of claims 20 to 26, characterized in that two arranged portions of the coding (21) are configured as centering marking (32) and are oriented centrally at the central point (41) of the object (2) formed by the diagonals.

28.

 Device according to claim 27, characterized in that the coding (21) further comprises centering marking (32) additionally one or more address markings (33, 34).

29.

 Device according to claim 28, characterized in that the centering marking (32) is formed by a square (43) and the direction markings are configured by squares with a lateral length (50) greater than the lateral length (49) of the marking centering (32) and address markings (33, 34) overlap the centering marking (32) as a whole.

30

 Device according to one of claims 20 to 29, characterized in that the direction marking (34) has a side length that is greater than the side length (50) of the other direction marking (33) and overlaps the direction marking (33 ) In its whole.

31. Device according to one of claims 20 to 30, characterized in that the permitted deviation of the 5 nominal dimensions of the coding (21) is 5% with respect to the nominal dimension.

32

 Device according to one of claims 11 to 31, characterized in that the application or delivery device (4, 16) is formed by an ink jet printing device with several print heads.

33.

 Device according to one of claims 11 to 32, characterized in that the detector device (19) and the

application and / or delivery device (4, 16) are arranged one behind the other in the transport direction 10 (arrow 9) of the feeding device (13). 34. Device according to one of claims 11 to 33, characterized in that the detector or sensor device (19, 20) and the supply device (4) are arranged in a space protected from outside against access.