WO2018082974A1 - Système d'impression et procédé d'impression d'une image sur un élément de support imprimé sans utiliser de repères de concordance - Google Patents

Système d'impression et procédé d'impression d'une image sur un élément de support imprimé sans utiliser de repères de concordance Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2018082974A1
WO2018082974A1 PCT/EP2017/077179 EP2017077179W WO2018082974A1 WO 2018082974 A1 WO2018082974 A1 WO 2018082974A1 EP 2017077179 W EP2017077179 W EP 2017077179W WO 2018082974 A1 WO2018082974 A1 WO 2018082974A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
printed
media piece
printed media
roll
image
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2017/077179
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Catherine M.H.A. LE MAÎTRE
Christophe A. Leynadier
Luis R. SAPAICO VALERA
Original Assignee
OCE Holding B.V.
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
Application filed by OCE Holding B.V. filed Critical OCE Holding B.V.
Publication of WO2018082974A1 publication Critical patent/WO2018082974A1/fr

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
    • H04N1/00127—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
    • H04N1/00249—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a photographic apparatus, e.g. a photographic printer or a projector
    • H04N1/00251—Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture with a photographic apparatus, e.g. a photographic printer or a projector with an apparatus for taking photographic images, e.g. a camera
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
    • B41J11/008—Controlling printhead for accurately positioning print image on printing material, e.g. with the intention to control the width of margins
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J3/00—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed
    • B41J3/28—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for printing downwardly on flat surfaces, e.g. of books, drawings, boxes, envelopes, e.g. flat-bed ink-jet printers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K15/00—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers
    • G06K15/02—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using printers
    • G06K15/021—Adaptations for printing on specific media
    • G06K15/022—Adaptations for printing on specific media for printing on continuous media, e.g. tapes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
    • G06K15/00—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers
    • G06K15/02—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using printers
    • G06K15/027—Test patterns and calibration

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method for printing images on a printed media piece by means of a printing system.
  • the printed media piece comprises printed images other than registration marks at predetermined positions.
  • the printing system comprising a camera directed towards the printed images on the printed media piece and connected to a controller of the printing system, and a print engine for disposing marking material on the printed media piece in order to form images on the printed media piece.
  • the printing system may be an inkjet printing system, an electro-photographical printing system or a nano-graphical printing system.
  • the printed media piece may comprise a plurality of digital images printed on a recording material like paper, plastic, etcetera, a wall paper, a plurality of paintings, a plurality of posters or a plurality of patterns on fabrics.
  • a registration mark is a mark for finishing, for example a cut mark, a fold mark, a mark indicating where to insert a text or an image. Registration marks are printed outside the images to be printed, for example at the edges of the media piece.
  • a printed media piece may be a printed web wound on a core, i.e. a printed roll, or a printed media piece of a regular size like AO, BO, A1 , B1 , A2, B2, A3, B3, A4, B4, A5, B5, or a customized size.
  • a printed media piece When a printed media piece is delivered a customer sometimes wants to allow printing additional images on the printed media piece in order to establish special effects which add value to the printed web. Simple color printing of media pieces may be done with any printing system at high speed and low cost.
  • Final customization may be introduced as a post-treatment to add high-value to the final product. Such customization may consist in a redecoration step that must adapt to a base content of the already printed images on the printed media piece.
  • Redecoration is usually done via a modification of the original digital source file used for the originally printing on the media piece. Parts are extracted or modified and a same print is performed again on top of the printed media piece. Solutions with registration marks at predetermined positions, for example at a side of the printed media piece, exist for correctly aligning a decoration print relatively to the original printed media piece, or for indicating cutting or folding finishing actions to be applied to the printed media piece.
  • Solutions with registration marks at predetermined positions for example at a side of the printed media piece, exist for correctly aligning a decoration print relatively to the original printed media piece, or for indicating cutting or folding finishing actions to be applied to the printed media piece.
  • preparing in advance meters of print images with special effects that will perfectly match media piece content is difficult. For example, it assumes that a printed roll content perfectly matches the scheduled digital reference content and that there is no distortion of skewing along the printed roll of media.
  • a media piece may be processed which is delivered without knowing in detail what is printed on the media piece.
  • the method according to the invention comprises the steps of selecting a reference image to be checked for presence at an arbitrary position in the printed images on the printed media piece, selecting an instruction for the addition of an additional image to the reference image on the printed media piece, transferring at least one digital image captured by the camera from the printed media piece to the controller, recognizing and localizing the reference image at the arbitrary position in the printed images on the printed media piece on the basis of the at least one digital image captured by the camera from the printed media piece, deriving from a location of the localized reference image on the printed media piece and from the instruction a location of a target area on the printed media piece for printing the additional image,
  • the camera may be any vision system for capturing images from the printed web, for example a digital camera, a sensor, a captor etc.
  • the method comprises the step of moving the camera relative to the printed media piece while capturing the at least one digital image from the printed media piece.
  • the camera may move while the printed media piece is in rest or the printed media piece may move while the camera is in rest.
  • the method comprises the step of moving the print engine relative to the printed media piece while printing the scheduled additional image in the target area on the printed media piece.
  • the print engine may move while the printed media piece is in rest or the printed media piece may move while the print head is in rest.
  • the printed media piece is a printed roll
  • the printing system is a roll-to-roll printing system and the method comprises the step of feeding the printed roll from a feeder of the roll-to-roll printing system to the print engine of the roll- to-roll system in a feed direction relative to said print engine and receiving the printed roll on a receiver of the roll-to-roll system after the printed roll traversed the print engine, and the camera is positioned between the feeder and the print engine.
  • the method comprises the steps of, in case that part of the target area has passed the print engine at the moment that the controller has completed the recognizing and localizing of the reference image at the arbitrary position on the printed roll, partially rewinding the printed roll on the feeder and, after partially rewinding the printed roll, again unwinding the printed roll from the feeder in order to allow printing of the additional image in the target area on the printed roll by the print engine.
  • the printing system is a flatbed printer comprising a flat bed, a gantry movable in a first direction over the flat bed, and a print head attached to the gantry, the print head movable in a second direction along the gantry, the method comprising the step of positioning the printed media piece on the flat bed as to be captured by the camera.
  • the additional image is a modification of the reference image which modification is at least determined by the instruction.
  • the modification of the reference image may be an image adaptation by changing an image pattern, a colour and/or a shape of the reference image or be adding an image pattern, a colour and/or a shape to the reference image.
  • the target area has at least one out of a size, orientation, shape, color, texture, a font and a text in common with the reference image.
  • the additional image could be any digital image the user desires to print on top of the target area. Therefore the additional image does not necessarily have some image property in common with the reference image.
  • the target area comprises at least a part of the reference image localized on the printed media piece.
  • the printed reference image on the printed media piece is overprinted with the additional image in order to decorate the printed reference image.
  • the additional image is printed on top of the printed reference image on the printed media piece with an offset with respect to the printed reference image. The offset value is then specified in the instruction according to the invention.
  • the method comprises the steps of adapting the additional image to a difference between the target area and the reference image before printing the additional image on the printed media piece with respect to at least one of a size, an orientation, an intentional skewing and an intentional perspective distortion.
  • the controller is configured to adapt the additional image, according to the differences between the target area and the reference image.
  • the target area may be a different version of the reference image.
  • the difference can be of size, orientation, skewing or perspective.
  • the method comprises the step of adapting the additional image before printing the additional image on the printed media piece to a
  • the printed media piece is one out of a wall paper, a painting, a poster, a pattern on fabrics and a rigid board.
  • the method comprises the step of uniquely adapting the additional image for each recognized and localized reference image on the printed media piece. According to a further embodiment the method comprises the step of uniquely personalizing the additional image for each recognized and localized reference image on the printed media piece.
  • the method comprises the steps of selecting the reference image from a digital image repository in digital storage connected to or part of the controller and selecting the instruction from a digital list of instructions in digital storage connected to or part of the controller.
  • the reference image is obtained by taking a picture of a part of a printed media piece.
  • the invention also relates to a printing system for printing images on a printed media piece comprising printed images other than registration marks at predetermined positions, the printing system comprising a print engine for disposing marking material on the printed media piece, a controller for controlling the printing of an additional image on the printed media piece, a camera directed towards the printed media piece, connected to the controller and configured to transfer at least one digital image taken from the printed media piece to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to select a reference image, the reference image intended to be checked for presence at an arbitrary position in the printed images on the printed media piece, and to select an instruction for the addition of the additional image to the reference image, to recognize and localize the reference image at the arbitrary position in the printed images on the printed media piece on the basis of the at least one digital image taken from the printed media piece, to derive from the instruction and a location of the localized reference image on the printed media piece a location of a target area on the printed media piece for printing the additional image, to schedule the additional image for printing on the printed media piece in the target area, and to
  • the camera is movable relative to the printed media piece.
  • the print engine is movable relative to the printed media piece.
  • the printed media piece is a printed roll and the printing system is a roll-to-roll printing system comprising a feeder for feeding the printed roll to the print engine in a feed direction relative to said print engine and a receiver for receiving the printed roll after the printed roll has traversed the print engine, and the camera is positioned between the feeder and the print engine.
  • the controller in case of part of the target area has passed the print engine at the moment that the controller has completed the recognizing and localizing of the reference image at the arbitrary position on the printed roll, the controller is configured to partially rewind the printed roll on the feeder and, after partially rewinding the printed roll, to again unwind the printed roll from the feeder in order to allow printing of the additional image in the target area on the printed roll by the print engine.
  • the printing system is a flatbed printer comprising a flat bed, a gantry movable in a first direction over the flat bed, and a print head attached to the gantry and movable in a second direction along the gantry, and the printed media piece is positioned on the flat bed as to be captured by the camera.
  • the camera is attached to the gantry.
  • the camera is attached to a ceiling above the flat bed, the camera having a reach of the whole flat bed area.
  • the camera is attached to a pole, the camera having a reach of the whole flat bed area.
  • the invention also relates to a non-transitory recording medium comprising computer- executable program code configured to instruct a controller of a printing system according to the invention and to instruct a computer to perform a method according to the invention.
  • Fig. 1 schematically shows a first printing system according to the invention
  • Fig. 2 schematically shows a second printing system according to the invention
  • Fig. 3 schematically shows printed images on a printed roll
  • Fig. 4 schematically shows printed images on a printed media piece laid on a flatbed surface of the second printing system according to the invention
  • Fig. 5 schematically shows a first list of reference images according to the invention and a second list of additional images according to the invention
  • Fig. 6 schematically shows a combination list of reference images, additional images and instructions according to the invention
  • Fig. 7 schematically shows an end result of application of the combination list of Fig. 3 to the print process according to the invention
  • Fig. 8 - 9 show a flow diagram of a first embodiment of the method according to the invention.
  • Fig. 10 shows a flow diagram of a second embodiment of the method according to the invention.
  • Fig. 1 1 shows an example of a decorated printed image.
  • Fig. 1 shows schematically shows a first printing system according to the invention.
  • the printing system is a roll-to-roll printing system 100 connected to a network N.
  • the roll-to- roll printing system 100 is available for a user working with one of the workstations 8A - 8C and intending to send a digital image from one of the workstations 8A - 8C to a controller 13 inside of the roll-to-roll printing system 100.
  • the roll-to-roll printing system 100 is connected to the network N via wired or wireless connecting means 6 and suited for receiving digital images from the workstations 8A - 8C.
  • the network N may be wireless.
  • the printed media piece according to the invention is a printed web 9.
  • the roll-to-roll printing system 100 comprises a feeder for feeding the printed web 9 to the print engine 18 in a feed direction relative to a print engine 18.
  • the printed web 9 comprises printed images other than registration marks.
  • the feeder comprises an input holder 1 a for the printed web 9.
  • the printed web 9 may be unwound towards a print engine 18. Additional images may be printed upon the unwound printed web 9 by the print engine 18.
  • the part of the printed web 9 which has passed along the print engine 18 is rewound on a receiver for receiving the printed web
  • the receiver comprises an output holder 3d arranged to form a printed media output roll 3.
  • the roll-to-roll printing system 100 comprises a user interface 16 wherein the user interface 16 is configured to set a reference image.
  • the reference image is intended to be checked for presence in the printed images on the printed web 9.
  • the reference image may be at an arbitrary position in the printed images on the printed web 9. This is in contrast with the use of well known registration marks at predetermined positions.
  • an instruction is set for the addition of the additional image to the reference image on the printed web 9.
  • the user interface of the roll-to-roll printing system 100 may also be remotely located, for example in one of the computers 8A, 8B, 8C.
  • a camera 10 is positioned between the feeder 1 a and the print engine 18.
  • the camera 10 is directed towards the printed web 9 and connected to the controller 13.
  • the camera 10 is configured to transfer at least one digital image taken from the printed web to the controller 13.
  • a reach of the camera 10 is at least the entire width of the printed web 9 perpendicular to the feeding direction of the printed web 9 from feeder 1 a towards print engine 18.
  • the reach of the camera 10 is also known as a field of view of the camera
  • the camera 10 is disjointed from the print engine 18 in order to have the reach of at least the entire width of the printed web 9.
  • the camera 10 may be replaced by at least one captor and/or sensor, which captor and/or sensor are capable of executing the same task as the camera 10.
  • the camera 10 may be of the type RGB or RGB-D.
  • the camera 10 is enabled to register a reference image, which is part of the printed images on the printed web 9.
  • a reference image detected by the registering actions of the camera 10 is processed by an image processing software component stored in the controller 13 in order to detect the shape, the position and the size of the reference image in the printed images on the printed web 9.
  • Properties of the reference image in the printed images on the printed web 9, like width, length, area size and contour may be derived from the registration by the camera 10.
  • a detected reference image in the printed images on the printed web 10 may have an arbitrary position in the printed images on the printed web 9.
  • the detected reference image may have an arbitrary shape and an arbitrary size.
  • the size of the detected printed reference image may be different from the size of the digital reference image stored in memory on the controller 13.
  • the camera 10 is connected via a wired or wireless (not shown) network connection with the controller 13.
  • the camera 10 is calibrated with respect to a focal length, an optical center, a pixel ratio and radial and tangential distortions.
  • the camera may be for example set to 4K (UHD) resolution.
  • Determining the position of a reference image on the printed web 9 may be for example established up to 0.1 mm in average.
  • a precision of determining a position and a location of the camera optical center above the paper path depends on the camera specifications, lenses to be used, a camera position and illumination.
  • a shape, position and size of a reference image on the printed web 9 are derived from the digital image with the image processing component.
  • the shape, position and size of the reference image on the printed web 9 are stored in a memory 17 of the controller 13 for determining the target area according to the invention and for scheduling the additional image for printing on the printed web 9.
  • the controller 13 controls the printing process and data transfer between the controller 13 and the user interface 16.
  • the controller 13 comprises the digital storage 17 for storing reference images as well as additional images to be added to the printed web 9.
  • the controller 13 comprises a scheduler 19 for scheduling the additional images for addition to the printed web 9 at a correct location.
  • the controller 13 is configured to recognize and localize the reference image in the printed images on the printed web 9 on the basis of the at least one digital image taken from the printed web 9 by the camera 10.
  • the controller 13 derives from the instruction and a location of the localized reference image on the printed web 9 a location of a target area on the printed web 9 for printing the additional image.
  • the controller 13 schedules the additional image for printing on the printed web 9 in the target area, and activates the print engine 18 to print the scheduled additional image in the target area on the printed web 9.
  • the roll-to-roll printing system 100 processes at least part of media of the printed web 9.
  • Media material may be paper, textile, transparent sheet material, plastic or any other kind of material or substrate suitable for winding up on the input roll 1.
  • Individual additional images will be printed on the printed web 9 taken from the input roll 1 .
  • the individual additional images are printed by the print engine 18 of the roll-to-roll printing system 100 according to the scheduling by the controller 13.
  • the printed web 9 of the input roll 1 is guided along a paper path 5 from the input holder 1 a to the output holder 3d of the output roll 3.
  • the print engine 18 is ejecting or adhering marking material on the printed web 9 to form the printed additional images.
  • the printed web 9 is guided to and wound up on the output holder 3d of the output roll 3.
  • the roll-to-roll printing system 100 in Fig. 1 comprises one input holder and one output holder.
  • roll-to-roll printing systems comprising a plurality of input holders and/or a plurality of output holders may be envisioned as printing systems according to the invention and may be envisioned to be configured for executing the method according to the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 schematically shows a second printing system according to the invention.
  • the printing system is a flat bed printing system 200 connected to a network N comprising a number of workstations 8B, 8C, which may be personal computers or other devices for preparing image data for prints to be printed. These workstations have access to the network N for transferring print jobs comprising the image data to a print controller 8A that is configured to execute the method of the invention.
  • the print controller 8A may be part of the printing system 200 connected to a controller of the printing system 200 via a connection 6.
  • the printing system 200 further comprises a print head 18 attached to an armature 7 for applying colorants, for example cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), black (K) and white (W) colorant, or varnish to printed media pieces 91 , 92 of flat print media placed on a flatbed surface 2 in order to obtain printed media pieces decorated with additional images according to the method of the invention.
  • the armature 7 may a gantry above the flat bed surface 2 as shown in Fig. 2 or a robot arm (not shown) moving in a plurality of directions over the flat bed surface 2.
  • the flatbed surface 2 is the surface of the flatbed which is at least partially printable by the print head 18.
  • a first printed media piece 93 has already been printed upon, while the other printed media pieces 91 , 92 are not provided with any additional images yet.
  • the print head 18 reciprocally scans the flatbed surface 2 in the second direction X along the gantry 7 perpendicular to a first direction Y of the gantry 7 over the flatbed surface 2 along guiding parts 1 1. During printing of an additional image on the printed media pieces 91 , 92, the printed media pieces 91 , 92 are not moved on the flatbed surface 2. This way of working is advantageous for rigid print media.
  • a print head which is as wide as the flatbed surface may also be envisaged within the scope of the invention. Such a print head may be moveable in at least one direction over the flatbed surface 2.
  • a camera 10 is attached to the gantry 7 in such a way that is does not hamper the movement of the print head 18 along the gantry 7.
  • the camera 10 is directed towards the flatbed surface 2 and connected to the controller 8A.
  • the camera 10 is configured to transfer at least one digital image taken from the printed media pieces laid down on the flatbed surface 2 to the controller 8A.
  • a reach of the camera 10 is at least the entire width of the flatbed surface 2 in the X direction.
  • the reach of the camera 10 is also known as a field of view of the camera 10.
  • the camera 10 is disjointed from the print head 18, although an embodiment of the printing system wherein the camera is attached to the print head 18 is included in the scope of the invention. Specifications of the camera as mentioned for the first embodiment of the printing system 100 in Fig. 1 are also applicable to the camera 10 of the printing system 200 in Fig 2. According to an alternative embodiment the camera is attached to a ceiling above the flatbed surface 2 or attached to a pole ending above the flatbed surface 2.
  • a user interface of the printing system 200 may be remotely located, for example in one of the computers 8A, 8B, 8C.
  • Fig. 3 schematically shows printed images 33, 34, 39 on printed rolls 300, 310 loaded in the first printing system 100 according to the invention.
  • a first printed roll 300 - shown in Fig 3(a) - comprises the printed images 33, 34, 39 from one edge 31 of the first printed roll 300 to another edge 32 of the first printed roll 300 in a width direction indicated by a double arrow W.
  • the printed images 33, 34, 39 are printed from edge-to-edge leaving no space for registering marks.
  • a second printed roll 310 - shown in Fig. 3(b) - comprises the printed images 33, 34, 39 leaving some white space 37 at one edge 35 of the second printed roll 310, at another edge 36 of the second printed roll 310 and between neighbouring printed images of the printed images 33, 34, 39.
  • the white space 37 may contain registration marks like cut marks 38 which are outside of the printed images 33, 34, 39.
  • Fig. 4 schematically shows printed images 41 , 42, 43 on a printed media piece 44, 45, 46 respectively laid on the flatbed surface 2 of the second printing system 200 according to the invention.
  • the printed media pieces 44, 45, 46 shown in Fig 4(a) comprise the printed images 41 , 42, 43 from one edge of the media piece to an opposite edge of the media piece.
  • the printed images 41 , 42, 43 are printed from edge-to-edge leaving no space for registering marks.
  • the printed media pieces 44, 45, 46 shown in Fig. 4(b) comprise the printed images 41 , 42, 43 leaving some white space 47 at edges of the media pieces 44, 45, 46
  • the white space 47 may contain registration marks like the cut marks 48 which are outside of the printed images 41 , 42, 43.
  • Fig. 5 shows a first list 51 of reference images 51 1 - 515 with identifiers R1 - R5 respectively according to the invention which is stored in memory of the controller 13, 8A and a second list 52 of additional images 521 - 525 with identifiers A1 - A5 respectively according to the invention which is stored in memory of the controller 13, 8A.
  • Fig. 6 shows a table 61 comprising a first column 61 1 of identifiers R1 - R5 of the reference images and a second column 612 of identifiers A1 - A5 of the additional images corresponding to the reference images and a third column 613 of instructions how to add an additional image to a corresponding printed reference image which is detected by the camera 10.
  • an offset parameter as for example specified in a combination R1 - A1 in the table 631 , a rotation parameter as for example specified in a combination R3 - A3 in the table 61 , and a first scale parameter named "ScaleRef" as for example specified in a combination R3 - A3 in the table 61 , determine how the additional image is printed and overlaid on the detected reference image on the printed media piece 9, 91 , 92, 93.
  • the controller 13 also has per detected reference image a second scale parameter, for example named "ScaleDetectedlmage", determining a proportion between the size of the detected reference image on the printed media piece and the size of the reference image in memory in the first list 51.
  • the offset parameter, the rotation parameter and the first and second scale parameters are used to determine the target area on the printed media piece where the additional image is going to be printed.
  • the instruction also comprises an orientation of the additional image, an intentional skewing of the additional image and an intentional perspective distortion of the additional image.
  • an orientation of the additional image as for example specified in the combination R3 - A3 in the table 61
  • a mirroring of the additional image may be part of the instruction.
  • the instruction 613 comprises a type of print of the additional image, for example Overlay print".
  • Overlay print also known as a "bring to front” specification
  • the additional image may also be printed according to a "send to back" specification in which the originally detected reference image on the printed media piece is still visible in the end result when the additional image has been printed.
  • More complex recipes may be implemented in the instruction 613 for applying special effects to the detected reference images. For example a random color or a random special visual effect may be applied for filling a reference image for a unique product result. Such a special visual effect may be established with gloss variations, varnish or a relief texture. More complexity may be added to detect reference images and print additional images of various size and orientation, for example by scaling or rotating the additional image.
  • the additional image may have a size, an orientation, a shape, a color, a texture, a font and/or a text in common with the reference image.
  • Fig. 7 shows an end result 72 on the printed web from the combinations 71 of reference images and additional images according to table 61 of Fig. 6.
  • the result 72 shows how the additional image is printed upon the printed web at the determined target area.
  • a target area of the additional image ("filled star") which is first shown in end result 72 may comprise only a part of the reference image localized on the printed media piece 9, 91 , 92 ,93 because of the offset values (30,0) - being different from the offset values (0,0) - as defined in the corresponding instruction.
  • the third end result and a fourth end result shown in list 72 comprise a text which is defined by the corresponding additional images A4, A3 respectively.
  • the controller 13, 8A may be configured to uniquely adapt the additional images A4, A3 for each recognized and localized reference image on the printed web 9, 91 , 92, 93. For example another font may be substituted in the text image before printing the additional image. Such a font may be added to the instruction 613.
  • the controller 13, 8A may also be configured to uniquely personalize the additional image for each recognized and localized reference image on the printed media piece 9, 91 , 92, 93.
  • a text image like the images A4, A3 may be derived from a list of phrases or a list of words, which is input to the instruction 613.
  • the fifth end result shown in list 72 comprises a blue colored diamond which is defined by the corresponding additional image A5.
  • the controller 13, 8A may recognize and localize the reference image R4 in the printed images 34, 42 in Fig. 3 and 4 respectively.
  • the printed images 34, 42 will be decorated with blue diamonds replacing the printed white colored reference images R4 in the printed images 34, 42 according to the fifth instruction in the third list 613 in Fig. 6, namely Overlay print ; Offset (0,0) ; ScaleRef (0, 0) ; Rot (0)".
  • the additional image A5 is adapted before printing the additional image A5 on the printed media piece 9, 91 , 92, 93 to a predetermined or randomly selected color.
  • a predetermined or randomly selected color For example, if an instruction 613 is listed as Overlay print ; Offset (0,0) ; ScaleRef (0, 0) ; Rot (0): Color (RandomColor())" for the combination A5- R4, a decorated printed image 42 as shown in Fig. 1 1 may be achieved.
  • Fig. 8 shows a flow diagram of a first embodiment of the method according to the invention.
  • the first embodiment is suitable for printing an additional image A1-A5 on the printed media piece 9, 91 , 92, 93 by means of the printing system 100, 200.
  • the printed media piece 9, 91 , 92, 93 may comprise printed images 33, 34, 39, 41 , 42, 43 other than registration marks 38, 48.
  • the method starts in a starting point A.
  • a reference image R1 -R5 is selected from the first list 21 to be checked for presence on the printed media piece 9, 91 , 92, 93 by means of the user interface 16 of the printing system 100 or automatically by the controller 13, 8A of the printing system 100, 200.
  • an additional image A1-A5 is selected from the second list 22 for the addition of the additional image A1 -A5 to the reference image R1 -R5 by means of the user interface 16 of the printing system 100 or automatically by the controller 13, 8A of the printing system 100, 200.
  • an instruction 613 is selected of how to add the additional image A1- A5 to a reference image R1 -R5 upon detection of the reference image R1 -R5 in the printed images 33, 34, 39, 41 , 42, 43 on the printed media piece 9, 91 , 92 ,93 by means of the camera 10.
  • a fourth step S4 it is checked if there are more reference images R1-R5 to be selected from the first list 21 which are intended to be detected on the printed media piece 9, 91 , 92, 93. If so, the method returns to the first step S1 . If not so, the method proceeds to a fifth step S5.
  • the printed media piece 9, 91 , 92, 93 is started to be moved relative to the print engine 18 in a direction towards the print engine 18.
  • the printed media piece 9, i.e. the printed roll is fed from the feeder 1 a of the printing system 100 to the print engine 18 of the printing system 100 in a feed direction relative to said print engine 18.
  • the printed roll 9 is received on a receiver of the printing system 100 after the printed web of the roll 9 has traversed the print engine 18.
  • the gantry 7 with the print head 18 is moved towards the printed media piece 91 , 92, 93 lying on the flat bed surface 2.
  • the method proceeds to a continuous loop with a starting point L1 1 and an end point L12 as long as the printed media piece 9, 91 , 92, 93 is moved relative to the print engine 18.
  • the method proceeds to an end point B.
  • a camera trajectory CT is started which is further elucidated in Fig. 9.
  • the camera 10 is positioned between the feeder 1 a and the print engine 18, directed towards the printed web 9 and connected to the controller 13 of the printing system 100.
  • the camera 10 is set on in order to register the fed printed web 9.
  • the camera 10 is positioned on the gantry 7 such that it does not hamper a movement of the print head 18 along the gantry 7.
  • the camera 10 is directed towards the flat bed surface 2 and connected to the controller 8A of the flat bed printer 200.
  • the camera 10 is set on in order to register the printed media pieces 91 , 92, 93.
  • the camera trajectory CT starts in a starting point C. From the starting point C the camera trajectory CT proceeds to a sixth step S6.
  • the camera 10 is capturing a digital image from the printed media piece 9, 91 , 92, 93.
  • a seventh step S7 the digital image captured by the camera 10 from the printed media piece 9, 91 , 92, 93 is transferred to the controller 13, 8A and stored in memory of the controller 13, 8A.
  • the controller 13, 8A checks if a reference image R1-R5 intended to be searched for according to the first step S1 is comprised in the printed images 33, 34, 39, 41 , 42, 43 on the printed media piece 9, 91 , 92, 93 on the basis of the digital image captured by the camera 10 from the printed media piece 9, 91 , 92 ,93.
  • the controller 13, 8A may also use earlier preceding captured digital images, for example, if the printed reference image R1 -R5 on the printed media piece 9, 91 , 92, 93 is larger than the camera view of one captured image.
  • the check is done with image recognition software for pattern recognition in digital images which is well known from the prior art.
  • Parallel versions of the software or multi-threaded software may be installed at the controller 13, 8A in order to detect more than one selected reference images R1 -R5 in parallel.
  • a determination of the location of the detected reference image R1 -R5 in the printed images 33, 34, 39, 41 , 42, 43 on the printed media piece 9, 91 , 92, 93 is done by the controller 13, 8A based on the time moment that the digital image was captured and the position of the printed media piece 9, 91 , 92, 93 with respect to the camera 10 and with respect to the print engine 18 at that time moment. If the controller 13, 8A recognizes and localizes the reference image R1 -R5, the corresponding additional image A1-A5 selected in the second step S2 is fetched from memory of the controller 13, 8A. The method proceeds to a ninth step S9. If no reference image is detected, the method returns to the sixth step S6 at the beginning L1 1 of the loop.
  • a location of a target area in the printed images 33, 34, 39, 41 , 42, 43 on the printed media piece 9, 91 , 92, 93 for printing the additional image A1-A5 selected in step S2 is derived from the location of the localized reference image R1 -R5 in the printed images 33, 34, 39, 41 , 42, 43 on the printed media piece 9, 91 , 92, 93 and from the instruction 613 set in the third step S3. If needed, the fetched additional image A1 -A5 is adapted according to the corresponding instruction 613.
  • a tenth step S10 the additional image A1 -A5 is scheduled for printing on the printed media piece 9, 91 , 92, 93 in the target area on the printed media piece 9, 91 , 92, 93.
  • Fig. 10 shows a flow diagram of a second embodiment of the method according to the invention with respect to the roll-to-roll printing system 100 according to the invention. This second embodiment is executed in case part of the target area has passed the print engine 18 at the moment that the controller 13 has recognized and localized the reference image R1 -R8 in the eighth step S8 according to Fig. 9.
  • the second embodiment also has the steps S1 - S1 1 of the first embodiment and the following additional steps S10A - S10C between the tenth step S10 and the tenth step S1 1 according to Fig. 9.
  • a first additional step S10A it is checked if part of the target area has passed the print engine 18 at the moment that the controller 13 has derived the location of the target area in the ninth step S9 according to Fig. 9. If so, the method proceeds to the second additional step S10B. If not so, the method proceeds to the eleventh step S1 1 of Fig. 9.
  • feeding of the printed web of the roll 9 towards the print engine 18 is stopped and the printed web of the roll 9 is partially rewound on the feeder 1 a.
  • the degree of unwinding is determined in that the detected reference image is completely positioned before the print engine 18 in the paper path 5.
  • the method proceeds to the eleventh step S1 1 according to Fig. 9.
  • the camera 10 may stop with transferring captured images to the controller 13 or the controller 13 may stop analyzing transferred digital images during rewinding of the printed web of roll 9 and even until the detected reference image has again passed the camera 10.
  • Manual winding and/or unwinding - for example via a pedal - is also taken into account when determining offsets of winding and/or rewinding. By doing so, the printing system 100 always knows exactly a position of the printed web of roll 9 at the camera point of view.
  • a mechanical control of unwinding and rewinding is programmed in the controller 13 and may be dynamically configurable via printer extensions via a suitable API. By doing so, the mechanical control is not hidden in the printer embedded software but is accessible from the printer extensions via requests by means of the user interface 16 of the printing system 100.
  • a position of the printed web i.e. for which distance the printed roll has been unwound and/or rewound, is continuously measured by the controller 13.
  • the gantry 7 may have moved over the media piece 91 , 92, 93 and detects the reference image R1 -R5 afterwards.
  • the controller 8A is configured to move the gantry 7 back in the direction opposite to the Y direction towards and over the media piece 91 , 92, 93, and, if necessary, also along the gantry 7 in the X direction again in order to allow printing of the corresponding additional image A1 -A5 on the printed media piece 91 , 92, 93.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Accessory Devices And Overall Control Thereof (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un système d'impression et un procédé d'impression d'images sur un élément de support imprimé (9,91, 92, 93) au moyen d'un système d'impression (100, 200). L'élément de support imprimé (9,91, 92, 93) comprend des images imprimées (33, 34, 39 41, 42, 43) autres que des repères de concordance au niveau de positions prédéterminées. Le système d'impression comprend une caméra (10) dirigée vers les images imprimées sur l'élément de support imprimé (9,91, 92, 93) et reliée à un dispositif de commande (13, 8A) du système d'impression (100, 200), et un moteur d'impression (18) pour disposer un matériau de repérage sur l'élément de support imprimé (9,91, 92, 93) afin de former des images sur l'élément de support imprimé (9,91, 92, 93). Le procédé comprend les étapes consistant à sélectionner une image de référence (R1-R5) dont il convient de vérifier la présence au niveau d'une position arbitraire dans les images imprimées (33, 34, 39, 41, 42, 43) sur l'élément de support imprimé (9,91, 92, 93), à sélectionner une instruction (613) relative à l'ajout d'une image supplémentaire (A1-A5) à l'image de référence (R1-R5) sur l'élément de support imprimé, à transférer au moins une image numérique capturée par la caméra (10) depuis l'élément de support imprimé (9,91, 92, 93) vers le dispositif de commande (13, 8A), à reconnaître et à localiser l'image de référence au niveau de la position arbitraire dans les images imprimées sur l'élément de support imprimé (9, 91, 92, 93) sur la base de la ou des images numériques capturées par la caméra (10) à partir de l'élément de support imprimé (9,91, 92, 93), à dériver, à partir d'un emplacement de l'image de référence localisée (R1-R5) sur l'élément de support imprimé (9,91, 92, 93) et à partir de l'instruction (613), un emplacement d'une zone cible sur l'élément de support imprimé (9, 91, 92, 93) pour imprimer l'image supplémentaire (A1-A5), à planifier l'image supplémentaire (A1-A5) en vue de son impression sur l'élément de support imprimé (9,91, 92,93) dans la zone cible sur l'élément de support imprimé (9, 91, 92, 93), et à activer le moteur d'impression (18) pour imprimer l'image supplémentaire (A1-A5) planifiée dans la zone cible sur l'élément de support imprimé (9,91, 92, 93).
PCT/EP2017/077179 2016-11-01 2017-10-24 Système d'impression et procédé d'impression d'une image sur un élément de support imprimé sans utiliser de repères de concordance WO2018082974A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP16196702 2016-11-01
EP16196702.1 2016-11-01

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Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2002076082A1 (fr) * 2001-03-18 2002-09-26 Ink Jet Technology Ltd. Appareil photographique portable disposant d'une fonction de balayage et d'impression
US20080240753A1 (en) * 2007-03-30 2008-10-02 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Image recording device and image recording method
US20140182470A1 (en) * 2012-12-31 2014-07-03 Goss International Americas, Inc. Web control to reduce waste and method
US20160107468A1 (en) * 2013-06-26 2016-04-21 Oce-Technologies B.V. Method for generating prints on a flatbed printer, apparatus therefor and a computer program therefor
EP3085544A1 (fr) * 2015-04-24 2016-10-26 OCE-Technologies B.V. Procede d'impression sur un objet multimedia dans un systeme d'impression a lit plat

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2002076082A1 (fr) * 2001-03-18 2002-09-26 Ink Jet Technology Ltd. Appareil photographique portable disposant d'une fonction de balayage et d'impression
US20080240753A1 (en) * 2007-03-30 2008-10-02 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Image recording device and image recording method
US20140182470A1 (en) * 2012-12-31 2014-07-03 Goss International Americas, Inc. Web control to reduce waste and method
US20160107468A1 (en) * 2013-06-26 2016-04-21 Oce-Technologies B.V. Method for generating prints on a flatbed printer, apparatus therefor and a computer program therefor
EP3085544A1 (fr) * 2015-04-24 2016-10-26 OCE-Technologies B.V. Procede d'impression sur un objet multimedia dans un systeme d'impression a lit plat

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