CN102481792A

CN102481792A - Device and method for ink-jet printing on surfaces exhibiting reliefs or recesses

Info

Publication number: CN102481792A
Application number: CN2011800022575A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 温琴佐·帕伦博
Original assignee: Projecta Engineering SRL
Current assignee: Projecta Engineering SRL
Priority date: 2010-02-02
Filing date: 2011-02-01
Publication date: 2012-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 2031-02-01
Also published as: CN102481792B8; EP2424733A2; ITRE20100006A1; BRPI1105240A2; IT1398100B1; CN102481792B; SM201000074B; SM201000074A; WO2011095865A3; EP2424733B1; BRPI1105240B1; ES2881532T3; WO2011095865A2; HK1170199A1

Abstract

An ink-jet device (20) exhibits at least a group of printing heads (21, 22, 23) which are independent of one another, where each head (21, 22, 23) comprises a plurality of ejector nozzles (25) of ink, aligned to form a line of action (26), a direction of the ink jets (27) issued from the nozzles (25) being perpendicular to the line of action (26), the lines of action (26) of the heads being arranged, in a plan view, parallel to one another. The surface (10) to be printed is moved in relation to the printing device (20), in a transversal direction with respect to the direction of the lines of action (26), internally of a field of action of the device (20).,Each head (21, 22, 23) is assigned a respective strip of action (F21, F22, F23) on the surface (10), such that together the heads of the group interest a whole transversal dimension of the surface (10) to be printed on, and each head (21, 22, 23) is arranged with such an inclination that the respective line of action (26) is orientated practically parallel to a mean line of inclination of a transversal profile of the portion (10) of surface subjected to the strip of action (F21, F22, F23) of the head. The method enables printing on surfaces by means of an ink-jet printing device, in particular for ceramic tiles or other modular elements exhibiting reliefs or recesses having heights or depths which are of a relatively large entity, providing results which up to now have not been obtained.

Description

The device and method that is used for ink jet printing on surface with protuberance or recess

Technical field

The present invention relates to be used for surface having protuberance or recess---especially wait to decorate the surface what have at least one zone that is how much arcuation transverse areas, this geometry arcuation is substantially circular arc, ellipse or arc person parabolic arc---carry out the apparatus and method of ink jet printing.

Application commonly used of the present invention is other similar modular component that are used for ceramic tile or can combine with brick.

More briefly, the present invention is applicable to the decoration of the visible surface with protuberance or recess usually, this protuberance or recess even can have the very big thickness or the degree of depth.

Background technology

Ink discharge device has been used a period of time, is included in the ceramic tile Application for Field, and ink discharge device comprises one or more print heads; These print heads are formed by a plurality of nozzles along at least one line location, and this at least one line is generally straight line, and the nozzle ejection is from the controlled injection stream of the prepared Chinese ink droplet of reservoir or print cartridge collection.

Print head is controlled by electronic processors, and this electronic processors transmits a series of print order according to image that goes for and the relative position between print head and the surface to be printed to a plurality of nozzles, and starting nozzle does not perhaps work nozzle.

During printing process; Print head all has the series of spray nozzles at least according to lines of action alignment, and surface to be printed translation below print head, for example; Through being placed on, this surface makes surface translation below print head on the conveyer belt; In conveyer belt, when this surface has the horizontal attitude perpendicular to the direction of injection stream, this surface remains in the horizontal plane, is horizontal direction along the alignment direction with respect to nozzle and advances simultaneously; Surface to be printed is all passed in the zone of action of nozzle and is made printing equipment on whole useful surface, to print.

Under the situation of colored printing; Use several print heads continuously; Each print head constitutes the definite color that is used for required final image; And above-mentioned printing process is by nose heave multiple the carrying out of the different printing that is used for colored printing, each print head by software program according to automatically the controlling of the final image that will obtain.

Have in the situation of protuberance or recess on surface to be printed, technical problem occurs.If protuberance or recess have the quite large-scale thickness or the degree of depth; Then the prepared Chinese ink droplet is mapped to the surface with visibly different gradient between each point; Thereby cause the different-effect of image aspect scope, shape and density that produces from the teeth outwards through droplet, finally cause quality to one's disappointment and be difficult to accept.

This technical problem is through eliminating according to enclose described device of claim and ink jet printing method.

Summary of the invention

Utilize the described apparatus and method that are used for ink jet printing of claim to exempt this problem.

Description of drawings

Introduce the present invention in detail by accompanying drawing below, this accompanying drawing illustrates nonexcludability embodiment through example, and in the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is surface to be printed and the schematic cross-section of print head in vertical transversal plane (perpendicular to the direction A that moves each other between surface and the device);

Fig. 2 is the schematic plan of observing from Fig. 1 top;

Fig. 3 is the detailed top view of observing from like the printing equipment device Fig. 1, that have four groups of print heads top;

Fig. 4 is the stereogram of bottom part of the device of Fig. 3.

The specific embodiment

Method of the present invention is used for printing on the surface that has protuberance or recess 10, is used in particular for ceramic tile or other modular component that similarly can combine with brick.

Said method is applicable to printing on surface 10 usually, and surface 10 has the constant lateral contour of maintenance when making edge, cross section and this surface and the parallel direction of advance A of relative motion between the device moves; Typical case is the object surfaces that obtains through extruding.

The present invention is generally used for the visible surface of decoration ceramic tile, and this surface is called as structurized, promptly is provided with recess or protuberance, has the zone that at least one is how much arcuation lateral contours, and preferably, how much arcs are circular arc, elliptic arc or parabolic arc.

Obviously, the present invention also is applicable to and decorates the surface with other physics or chemical property.

With reference to accompanying drawing, 10 represent surface to be printed on the whole, and surface to be printed for example is brick B, and printing equipment of the present invention acts on brick B.

As shown in Fig. 1, the surface 10 that illustrates has the first end points 10a and the second end points 10b in cross section: surface to be printed is the surface that is limited between a 10a and the 10b.This surface comprises straight substantially zone 11 and convex zone 12, and the cross section in convex zone 12 is arcuation how much; With respect to through some 10a and for the tangent straight line (not illustrating in the drawings) in convex zone 12, between flat region 11 and convex zone 12, concave regions is arranged.

Obviously, the present invention be applicable to this paper in more than the enterprising line operate of surface configuration different surface described, this surface promptly is the surface with non-constant cross section, this cross section has the protuberance and/or the recess of relevant scale.

Said method comprises uses the ink-jet printing apparatus 20 with at least one group of

separate print head

21,22,23; In this at least one group of print head; Each print head comprises a plurality of injection nozzles 25 that can spray the injection stream 27 of prepared Chinese ink droplet, and said nozzle alignment is to form position 26.By the direction of the ink jet stream 27 of nozzle 25 ejection perpendicular to position 26; And according to the vertical view (see figure 2), the position 26 of

different printing head

21,22,23 is arranged to parallel to each other and interlaced with each other so that end regions is parallel to each other, be positioned at side each other in twos.

In the example of Fig. 2, print head 22 is positioned at the intermediate lateral position between

print head

21 and 23; Print head 21 has end sections 21b, and end sections 21b is parallel to the end sections 22a of print head 22 and in the end sections 22a side of print head 22; End sections 21b has the second end part 22b, and the second end part 22b is parallel to the end sections 23a of print head 23 and in the end sections 23a side of print head 23.

Mobile device is set so that to be printed surperficial 10 move, this mobile device is designated as and makes the surface longitudinally direction of advance (A) (direction with respect to position 26 is horizontal) is inner mobile in the zone of action of device 20 with respect to printing equipment 20.For example, mobile device is limited conveyer belt, the horizontal horizontal conveyer belt 41 of this conveyer belt for brick B (and therefore making its surface 10) is moved in the zone of action of device 20.

Said method is included as each

print head

21,22,23 and distributes the zone of action of the correspondence on the surface 10---and this zone of action makes this

group print head

21,22,23 have influence on to be printed surperficial 10 whole lateral dimension on the part of the injection stream 27 of discharging from print head.

At length; As shown in Fig. 1 and 2; Print head 21 has effect band F21; Effect band F21 goes up along the indefinite length expansion at longitudinal direction (the parallel direction of direction A of advancing with respect to device 20 with surface 10), and the width (size in transversal plane) of effect band has influence on the part of the width (size in transversal plane) on surface 10; Likewise, print head 22 has effect band F22 and print head 23 has effect band F23; Said three effect bands complement each other and have influence on together whole to be printed surperficial 10, and can be not overlapped.

In effect band separately, each print head is ejected into the micro jet flow 27 (in Fig. 2, representing visually than actual big gray circles with size) of prepared Chinese ink among its effect band F21, F22, the F23.Acting nozzle 25 has with drawing in Fig. 2 * small circle represent that and the little empty circle of inoperative nozzle 25 usefulness is represented.

Usually, the length of the position 26 of print head is not utilized to avoid overlapping in the end regions of print head between the nozzle fully.

Said method comprises at least one that each

print head

21,22,23 that is in tilted layout makes in print head; Distance between the point on injection nozzle 25 and its surface of being impacted 10 is different: in other words, different from the length of the ink jet stream 27 of print head; In addition; Each position 26 laterally is being oriented such that with respect to horizontal plane each position 26 is parallel to average tilt line (R22, R23) substantially in the perpendicular (as shown in Fig. 1), and this average tilt line is the average tilt line of horizontal profile for the part that influenced by

print head

21,22,23 self-acting band F21, F22, F23 with surface 10.

For example, as shown in Fig. 1:

When corresponding effect band F21 in the part on surface (zone 11)---profile of this part in transversal plane be level or level substantially---on when moving, the position 26 of print head 21 is arranged with zero inclination angle;

On the other hand; The position 26 of print head 22 tilts with respect to horizontal line and is parallel to straight line R22 (imaginary), the mean pitch of (imagination) line that surface profile in the part that the gradient representative of straight line R22 and the effect band F22 that produced by print head 22 influence 10 is tangent;

The position 26 of print head 23 also tilts with respect to horizontal line and is parallel to straight line R23 (imaginary), the mean pitch of (imagination) line that surface in the part that the gradient representative of straight line R23 and the effect band F23 that produced by print head 23 influence 10 is tangent.

Surf zone 12 with curved profile cross section is shared by at least two effect bands (F22, F23) in succession.

Described method makes it possible to print from the teeth outwards through ink discharge device; Obtain also to be beyond one's reach so far effect, wherein said surface is in particular has projection or relatively large protuberance or the ceramic tile of recess or the surface of other modular component of the corresponding degree of depth.

This is because can be with other mode of phase region and all be mapped on surperficial 10 the different lateral part with angle (that is vertically) of the best or best basically angle by the ink jet stream 27 of

print head

21,22,23 ejection.

Fig. 3 and 4 illustrates the embodiment of the printing equipment 20 that comprises four groups of G1, G2, G3,

G4 print head

21,22,23 patterns, and each group G has above with reference to the described characteristic of Fig. 1 and 2, especially so that can enough four kinds of various colors print.

Device 20 has scaffold 3, and support frame 3 has the fixing level board 30 of the upper surface layout that is parallel to conveyer belt 41 substantially.

All

print heads

21,22,23 of four groups of G are fixed on the surface of plate 30.

Every group of G is by forming like the

print head

21,22,23 with reference to the interaction arrangement shown in Fig. 1 and 2; Promptly; Briefly; Make each print head comprise alignment forming a plurality of injection nozzles 25 of position 26, perpendicular to position 26, and be arranged to be parallel to each other and interlaced with each other to have that two two places are parallel to each other and in lateral ends zone each other according to the position 26 of vertical view print head by the direction of the ink jet stream 27 of nozzle 25 ejections.

The opening part of

print head

21,22,23 in plate 30 is fixed to plate 30, this opening can make print head with its nozzle 25 faced downwards be emerging on the lower surface of plate 30.

The print head 21 of four groups of G aligns each other on longitudinal direction (being parallel to direction A) and is fixed on the standing part 31 of plate 30.

The print head 22 of four groups of G is aliging each other on the horizontal transverse direction and is being fixed on the moveable part 32 that separates with standing part 31 (this part is represented with a series of level of intersecting and vertical curve in Fig. 3) of plate; Likewise, the print head 23 of four groups of G is aliging each other on the horizontal transverse direction and is being fixed on the moveable part 33 that separates with standing part 31 (this part is represented with a series of that intersect and 45 ° the line of tilting in Fig. 3) of plate.

Part 32 is limited on the standing part 31 swinging around the horizontal cross rotation that is limited pin 42 (being parallel to direction of advance A) through joint pin 42; Likewise, part 33 is limited on the standing part 31 swinging around the horizontal longitudinal rotating shaft line (being parallel to direction of advance A) that is limited pin 43 through joint pin 43.

The gradient that can change the part 32 of plate is positioned at four print heads 22 on the same plate portion 32 with layout; Make four print heads 22 respectively have gradient to observe print head 22 described criterions about Fig. 1; Promptly; Separately position 26 (as shown in Fig. 1) in horizontal perpendicular is oriented with respect to horizontal plane is parallel to the average tilt line substantially, this average tilt line is the average tilt line of the lateral contour that receives the part that print head 22 self-acting band F22 influence on surface 10.

The situation of the part 33 of plate also is so, and the gradient that can change part 33 is with four print heads 23 of positioned on same plate portion 33, and these four print heads 23 respectively have the gradient of observing about the above-mentioned criterion of print head 22.

Surface 10 is in order to make each surperficial cross section below of every group of

G print head

21,22,23 of entering effect continuously with respect to the motion of device 20.

Obviously, can make the present invention and manyly have the modification of practical application character and can not break away from scope like the invention idea in the following claim among this paper.

Claims

1. method that is used for ink jet printing comprises:

Ink-jet printing apparatus (20) is set; Said ink-jet printing apparatus (20) has at least one group of separate print head (21,22,23); Wherein each print head (21,22,23) comprises alignment forming a plurality of ink jet nozzles (25) of position (26), from the direction of the ink jet stream (27) of said nozzle (25) ejection substantially perpendicular to said position (26);

Make to have the influence that the object of treating decoration surface (10) receives the effect of said printing equipment (20), the said decoration surface (10) of treating has protuberance and/or recess,

Make surface to be printed (10) direction of advance (A) vertical with the direction of said position (26), in the zone of action of said device (20), move with respect to said printing equipment (20) edge;

For each print head (21,22,23) distributes the effect band (F21, F22, F23) of the correspondence on the said surface (10), make said group said print head have influence on whole lateral dimensions on said surface to be printed (10) together;

Arrange said print head (21,22,23) obliquely; Make in said print head (21,22,23) at least one; The a plurality of of said injection nozzle (25) and said surface (10) treat that a plurality of distances between the shock point are different, and corresponding position (26) is oriented the average tilt line of the lateral contour of the part that the said effect band (F21, F22, F23) that receives said print head that is basically parallel to said surface (10) influences.

2. method according to claim 1; It is characterized in that; Had by the said object of the function influence of said printing equipment (20) and wait to decorate surface (10); The said decoration surface (10) of treating has at least one zone, and said at least one regional profile is horizontal and is arc how much that said how much arcs are preferably circular arc, elliptic arc or parabolic arc.

3. method according to claim 2, wherein, the said zone of curved profile is shared by at least two effect bands (F21, F22, F23) in succession.

4. method according to claim 1, wherein, the mean pitch (R22, R23) of said effect band (F21, F22, F23) is confirmed by the line of two end points of the lateral cross section profile that connects said surface (10).

5. ink-jet printing apparatus that is used to realize the described method of aforementioned claim; Said ink-jet printing apparatus is operated on the object on the surface with band protuberance or recess; Said object activated to move along said direction of advance (A) with respect to said device; It is characterized in that said device comprises:

The print head (21,22,23) that at least one group (G1, G2, G3, G4) is separate; Wherein each print head (21,22,23) comprises a plurality of nozzles (25) that are used to spray prepared Chinese ink; Said a plurality of nozzle (25) alignment to be forming position (26), by the direction of the said ink jet stream (27) of said nozzle (25) ejection perpendicular to said position (26);

Each print head (21,22,23) has effect band (F21, F22, F23) separately on said surface to be printed (10), make said group said print head (21,22,23) have influence on whole lateral dimensions on said surface to be printed (10) together,

Said print head (21,22,23) is orientated at least one that makes in said print head (21,22,23) obliquely; A plurality of distances between a plurality of points on said injection nozzle (25) and the said surface of being impacted (10) are different, and corresponding position (26) is oriented the average tilt line that is basically parallel to the said surface (10) that the said effect band (F21, F22, F23) that receives said print head influences.

6. device according to claim 5; It is characterized in that; Said print head (21,22,23) is can basis directed with the gradient that changes with respect to the rotation that the said direction of advance (A) of said device parallels with said surface (10), makes corresponding position (26) be oriented almost to be parallel to the average tilt line on the said surface (10) of said effect band (F21, F22, the F23) influence that receives said print head.

7. device according to claim 5 is characterized in that, said print head (21,22,23) is relative to each other staggered, and is parallel to each other and in lateral ends zone each other to have two two places.