EP1372969A1 - Combination printer - Google Patents

Combination printer

Info

Publication number
EP1372969A1
EP1372969A1 EP02722255A EP02722255A EP1372969A1 EP 1372969 A1 EP1372969 A1 EP 1372969A1 EP 02722255 A EP02722255 A EP 02722255A EP 02722255 A EP02722255 A EP 02722255A EP 1372969 A1 EP1372969 A1 EP 1372969A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
carrier web
printing unit
printer according
unit
print media
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP02722255A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1372969B1 (en
Inventor
Johannes Lenkl
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Avery Dennison Corp
Original Assignee
Avery Dennison Corp
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 Avery Dennison Corp filed Critical Avery Dennison Corp
Publication of EP1372969A1 publication Critical patent/EP1372969A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1372969B1 publication Critical patent/EP1372969B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J15/00—Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, specially adapted for supporting or handling copy material in continuous form, e.g. webs
    • B41J15/005—Forming loops or sags in webs, e.g. for slackening a web or for compensating variations of the amount of conveyed web material (by arranging a "dancing roller" in a sag of the web material)
    • 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
    • B41J15/00—Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, specially adapted for supporting or handling copy material in continuous form, e.g. webs
    • B41J15/16—Means for tensioning or winding the web
    • B41J15/165—Means for tensioning or winding the web for tensioning continuous copy material by use of redirecting rollers or redirecting nonrevolving guides
    • 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
    • B41J3/407—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed for marking on special material
    • B41J3/4075—Tape printers; Label printers
    • 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
    • B41J3/54—Typewriters or selective printing or marking mechanisms characterised by the purpose for which they are constructed with two or more sets of type or printing elements
    • B41J3/546—Combination of different types, e.g. using a thermal transfer head and an inkjet print head

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a printer for printing on print media arranged on a carrier web, in particular labels and the like, which has at least one thermal transfer printing unit.
  • Such printers are used, among other things, for printing labels with product information, such as in the case of items of clothing with the size, price, etc.
  • the thermal transfer printers used for this usually work only with a single thermal transfer film, so that such labels can only be printed with one color. Therefore, in order to use colored labels, it is necessary to provide these labels with a colored print in a previous step, one or more data fields being left free for the print by the thermal transfer printer. These labels are then fed to the thermal transfer printer to print the desired data.
  • Such an approach proves to be disadvantageous in several ways. First of all, due to the colored and separate printing of the labels on the thermal transfer printing, both transport journeys and storage space are necessary. In addition, a flexible design that refers to current occasions is difficult.
  • thermal transfer printers which use several differently colored thermal transfer foils.
  • such printers are disproportionately expensive in terms of the consumable in the form of the transfer foils, since on the one hand the foil itself is expensive, but on the other hand the consumption of thermal transfer foil is high.
  • multi-color inkjet printers are also known in practice.
  • such printers are not suitable for printing on print media which must be provided with current data shortly before they are output, as is the case, for example, with labels. Due to the long drying time of the ink, such printers can only output a printing medium with a long time delay. Alternatively, suitable drying agents must be provided for such printers.
  • the ink jet printing unit can process a different color than the thermal transfer printing unit, it is possible in a simple manner to print a printing medium, such as a label, with a with a two-tone print. Since the ink jet printing unit is arranged upstream of the thermal transfer printing unit, there is still the possibility of being able to dry the ink applied to the individual printing medium before it is fed to the thermal transfer printing unit. In addition, the arrangement of the inkjet printing unit in the conveying direction of the print media carrier web in front of the thermal transfer printing unit can dry the ink applied to the printing medium. This makes it possible to process print media that have to be printed with current data shortly before they are issued, since this can be done by the thermal transfer printing unit.
  • the time to complete an image created with an ink jet printing unit is significantly longer compared to the image completion time of a thermal transfer printing unit due to the need to dry the applied ink.
  • a buffer unit between the two printing units to compensate for the different processing times or feed speeds of Thermal transfer printing unit and inkjet printing unit is provided.
  • the buffer unit is formed by a dancer arm resting on the print media carrier web.
  • a carrier web loop can be formed between the inkjet printing unit and the thermal transfer printing unit, the length of which can change as a result of the pivoting of the dancer arm and can thus compensate for the different feed speeds or processing times between the inkjet printing unit and the thermal transfer printing unit despite the carrier web being continuously present.
  • the slower inkjet printing unit can use one or already print several print media as a supply, the carrier web being able to provide a balance between the two printing units due to the dancer arm.
  • the dancer arm is elastically biased, for example by a spring means in an initial position, in particular in the feed direction of the carrier web to the dancer arm.
  • the carrier web conveyed by a conveying device can be picked up, even though the thermal transfer printing unit does not output a label and thus the section of the carrier web present between the dancer arm and the thermal transfer printing unit is not conveyed.
  • the dancer arm is provided at its free end with a roller for guiding the print media carrier web with low friction.
  • the buffer unit can be formed by at least two conveyor rollers spaced apart from one another on the transport path of the print media carrier web and by at least one sensor for detecting the position of the print media carrier web arranged between the two conveyor rollers.
  • the two independently operable conveyor rollers can then, depending on the position of the carrier web detected by the sensor, cause further carrier webs to be fed into the area between the two conveyor rollers in such a way that the first conveyor roller in the conveying direction of the carrier web is driven, whereas those behind in the conveying direction the second conveyor roller lying on the first conveyor roller is stopped or stopped.
  • the second conveyor roller can then be put into operation to pull off the carrier web in the region between the two conveyor rollers, whereas the first conveyor roller remains stopped.
  • both conveyor rollers can also be driven at the same time.
  • the position of the ink jet printing unit can be adjusted in the direction parallel to the printing media carrier web. Due to the adjustability of the inkjet printing unit parallel to the print media carrier web, the position of the inkjet printing unit can be precisely adjusted to the print media carrier web, which is necessary for clean printing. This can be done, for example, in that the inkjet printing unit is held on a vertical wall of a housing of the printer, which has at least one, preferably two horizontal slits running parallel to one another, along which the inkjet printing unit is slidably mounted.
  • inkjet printing units are preferably provided for differently colored inks, which are arranged one behind the other and spaced apart along the transport path of the print media carrier web.
  • Each of the inkjet printing units can pick up or process one of the following colors: yellow, blue, green or red.
  • the inkjet printing units are at the same distance from one another, which preferably essentially corresponds to the distance between the print media on the print media carrier web. It is also possible that the distance between the inkjet printing units corresponds to a single or a multiple of the length of a print medium on the print medium carrier web. This is particularly advantageous if the print media have a relatively short length and the print heads of the inkjet printing units are relatively thick or long. In such a case, it would not be possible to position a printing medium between two printing units during the decommissioning phase of the printer according to the invention. Therefore, in such an embodiment, a plurality of print media can be arranged between two inkjet printing units.
  • the conveying path of the printing medium carrier web is below the inkjet printing unit runs horizontally.
  • a different orientation of the print media carrier web is of course also conceivable, in particular if it is ensured that the ink used can run on the print medium after it has been applied.
  • the unprinted print media carrier web For space-saving feeding of the unprinted print media carrier web, it is furthermore advantageous if it is wound on an unwinding roll which is arranged upstream of the inkjet printing unit.
  • a drying unit is connected downstream of the inkjet printing unit.
  • the drying unit can be a UV drying unit.
  • a dispensing unit for dispensing individual printing media detached from the printing media carrier web by the dispensing unit is arranged downstream of the transfer printing unit.
  • a take-up roll for the empty print media carrier web is arranged downstream of the dispensing unit.
  • a particularly favorable and space-saving design for the conveying path of the print media carrier web can be achieved in that the conveying path of this carrier web runs essentially Z-shaped from the ink jet printing unit to the thermal transfer printing unit.
  • the print media conveying path can be transported along the conveying path by the printer using specially provided conveying devices.
  • a particularly space-saving solution can be achieved if the inkjet printing unit and / or the thermal transfer printing unit are each provided with at least one conveying device.
  • a printer according to the invention is shown schematically in the single drawing figure.
  • the printer according to the invention is used for printing on print media in the form of labels.
  • the labels are arranged on a print media or label carrier web E in the conveying direction of this carrier web E at the same distance from one another.
  • the label carrier web E is drawn off from an unwinding roller 20 which is arranged outside a housing 10 of the printer in the upper left region of this printer 10 and which is rotatably and interchangeably arranged on a horizontal axis (not shown). From the unwinding roll 20, the label carrier web E is first led into the interior of the housing 10 on a conveyor path F of the label web E, which is essentially horizontal in this area, to a total of 4 inkjet printing units 30.
  • the 4 inkjet printing units 30, each of which applies a different color to the labels, are arranged at the same distance from one another on a vertical wall 10a of the printer housing 10. This distance is determined by the distance between the labels on the label carrier web E. It is dimensioned such that when the printer is stopped there is a label between two successive inkjet printing units, so that outside of a printing operation the gaps between two successive labels are arranged exactly below each inkjet printing unit 30.
  • a drying unit 40 Downstream of the 4 inkjet printing units 30 there is a drying unit 40, which in the present case is formed by a UV drying unit.
  • a conveyor roller 50 On the right below the drying unit 40, a conveyor roller 50 is provided, which serves to drive the label carrier web E.
  • This carrier web E is deflected on the conveyor roller 50 by approximately 180 ° and runs into a buffer area which comprises a buffer unit 60.
  • the buffer unit 60 is formed by a dancer arm 62 which is rotatably mounted about an axis 64 mounted on the housing 10 with a horizontal orientation.
  • the dancer arm 62 is supported by a biasing spring 66 in the feed direction of the label carrier web E to the buffer unit 60, i.e. biased towards the left.
  • the dancer arm 62 has a roller 68 in order to deflect the label carrier web E in the direction of a thermal transfer printing unit 70 over an angle of approximately 1 35 °.
  • the conveyor path F for the label carrier web E forms an essentially Z-shaped path from the unwinding roll 20 to the thermal transfer printing unit 70.
  • the labels printed in color by the inkjet printing units 30 are provided with a thermal transfer printing, for which the thermal transfer printing unit 70 has a thermal transfer film (not shown).
  • the thermal transfer printing unit 70 also has a dispensing unit, not shown, which is capable of detaching a single label from the label carrier web E and outputting it from the printer via a dispensing edge.
  • the label carrier web E which has been freed from the labels, is guided by the thermal transfer printing unit 70 to a take-up roll 80, which is interchangeably mounted on a horizontal axis, not shown, within the housing 10 of the printer.
  • Unwinding roll 20 for the label carrier web E attached to the printer.
  • a corresponding length of web is then drawn off the unwinding roller 20, so that the z-shaped conveying path F within the printer is completely occupied with the label carrier web E up to the dispensing edge of the dispensing unit of the thermal transfer printing unit 70.
  • the 3 inkjet printing units 30 following upstream of the first inkjet printing unit 30 are then adjusted in their position such that a label is located between two successive inkjet printing units 30.
  • the first labels that is to say the label which is drawn on the label carrier web E upstream of the first ink jet printing unit 30 in the conveying direction of the label carrier web E, can then be drawn and printed under this printing unit 30.
  • the label is conveyed on to the subsequent inkjet printing unit 30 and is also printed there. This also applies to the two other inkjet printing units 30. While the first label to be printed travels through the 4 inkjet printing units 30, further labels follow, which are then also printed in succession by the 4 inkjet printing units 30.
  • the label carrier web E provided with printed labels is conveyed further through the conveyor roller 50 into the buffer area.
  • the label carrier web E thus conveyed can be conveyed evenly from the conveying roller 50 into the buffer area.
  • the deflection path of the dancer arm 62 can be determined by a sensor (not shown further) and, if necessary, the conveyor roller 50 can be stopped as soon as the buffer area is “filled”.
  • the conveyor device (not shown further) of the thermal transfer printing unit 70 conveys the label carrier web E in the direction of the thermal transfer printing unit 70. This makes the dancer arm 62 pulled to the right, so that the buffer area in turn has space for receiving further labels printed by the inkjet printing units 30.

Landscapes

  • Ink Jet (AREA)
  • Handling Of Continuous Sheets Of Paper (AREA)
  • Printers Characterized By Their Purpose (AREA)
  • Controlling Rewinding, Feeding, Winding, Or Abnormalities Of Webs (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a printer for printing print media arranged on a support track (E), in particular, labels and similar, comprising at least one thermo-transfer printer unit (70). Furthermore at least one ink-jet printer unit (30) is provided upstream of the thermo-transfer printer unit (70).

Description

Kombi-DruckerCombined printer
Die Erfindung betrifft einen Drucker zum Bedrucken von auf einer Trägerbahn angeordneten Druckmedien, insbesondere Etiketten und dergleichen, der wenigstens eine Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit aufweist.The invention relates to a printer for printing on print media arranged on a carrier web, in particular labels and the like, which has at least one thermal transfer printing unit.
Derartige Drucker werden unter anderem zum Bedrucken von Etiketten mit Produktinformationen, wie beispielsweise im Falle von Kleidungsstücken mit der Größe, dem Preis usw. verwendet. Die hierfür eingesetzten Thermotransfer-Drucker arbeiten normalerweise nur mit einer einzigen Thermotransferfolie, so daß derartige Etiketten lediglich mit einer Farbe bedruckt werden können. Um daher farbige Etiketten zu benutzen, ist es notwendig, diese Etiketten in einem vorausgehenden Schritt mit einem farbigen Aufdruck zu versehen, wobei ein oder mehrere Datenfelder für den Aufdruck durch den Thermotransfer-Drucker frei bleiben. Anschließend werden diese Etiketten dem Thermotransfer-Drucker zum Aufdrucken der jeweils gewünschten Daten zugeführt. Eine derartige Vorgehensweise erweist sich in mehrfacher Hinsicht als nachteilig. So sind zunächst durch die von dem Thermotransferdruck räumlich und zeitlich getrennte, farbige Bedruckung der Etiketten sowohl Transportfahrten als auch Lagerraum notwendig. Darüber hinaus ist eine flexible Gestaltung, die auf aktuelle Anlässe Bezug nimmt, nur schwer möglich.Such printers are used, among other things, for printing labels with product information, such as in the case of items of clothing with the size, price, etc. The thermal transfer printers used for this usually work only with a single thermal transfer film, so that such labels can only be printed with one color. Therefore, in order to use colored labels, it is necessary to provide these labels with a colored print in a previous step, one or more data fields being left free for the print by the thermal transfer printer. These labels are then fed to the thermal transfer printer to print the desired data. Such an approach proves to be disadvantageous in several ways. First of all, due to the colored and separate printing of the labels on the thermal transfer printing, both transport journeys and storage space are necessary. In addition, a flexible design that refers to current occasions is difficult.
Zwar sind in der Praxis auch Thermotransfer-Drucker bekannt, die mehrere unterschiedlich farbige Thermotransferfolien verwenden. Jedoch sind derartige Drucker hinsichtlich des Verbrauchsmaterials in Form der Transferfolien unverhältnismäßig teuer, da zum einen die Folie selber teuer ist, aber zum anderen auch der Verbrauch an Thermotransferfolie hoch ist.In practice, thermal transfer printers are also known which use several differently colored thermal transfer foils. However, such printers are disproportionately expensive in terms of the consumable in the form of the transfer foils, since on the one hand the foil itself is expensive, but on the other hand the consumption of thermal transfer foil is high.
Schließlich sind auch in der Praxis mehrfarbige Tintenstrahldrucker bekannt. Derartige Drucker eignen sich jedoch nicht zum Bedrucken von Druckmedien, die kurz vor ihrer Ausgabe noch mit aktuellen Daten versehen werden müssen, wie dies beispielsweise bei Etiketten der Fall ist. Aufgrund der langen Trocknungszeit der Tinte können derartige Drucker nur mit einer hohen zeitlichen Verzögerung ein Druckmedium ausgeben. Alternativ muß für derartige Drucker geeignete Trocknungsmittel vorgesehen werden.Finally, multi-color inkjet printers are also known in practice. However, such printers are not suitable for printing on print media which must be provided with current data shortly before they are output, as is the case, for example, with labels. Due to the long drying time of the ink, such printers can only output a printing medium with a long time delay. Alternatively, suitable drying agents must be provided for such printers.
Es ist daher Aufgabe der vorliegenden Erfindung, einen Drucker der eingangs genannten Art bereitzustellen, der die Erstellung von farbigen Druckmedien in Verbindung mit einem Thermotransfer-Druckverfahren ermöglicht.It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a printer of the type mentioned at the outset which enables the creation of colored print media in conjunction with a thermal transfer printing process.
Die vorstehende Aufgabe wird durch die Merkmale des Anspruchs 1 gelöst. In den sich daran anschließenden Ansprüchen 2 bis 1 9 finden sich vorteilhafte Ausgestaltungen hierzu.The above object is achieved by the features of claim 1. In the following claims 2 to 1 9 there are advantageous embodiments.
Durch die Tatsache, daß die Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit eine andere Farbe verarbeiten kann, als die Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit besteht auf einfache Weise die Möglichkeit, ein Druckmedium, wie beispielsweise ein Etikett, mit einem wenig- stens zweifarbigen Aufdruck zu versehen. Da die Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit stromaufwärts der Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit angeordnet ist, besteht weiterhin die Möglichkeit, die auf das einzelne Druckmedium aufgebrachte Tinte vor dem Zuführen zu der Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit trocknen zu können. Darüber hinaus kann durch die Anordnung der Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit in Förderrichtung der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn vor der Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit die auf das Druckmedium aufgebrachte Tinte trocknen. Hierdurch besteht die Möglichkeit, Druckmedien zu verarbeiten, die kurz vor deren Ausgabe noch mit aktuellen Daten bedruckt werden müssen, da dies durch die Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit erfolgen kann.Due to the fact that the ink jet printing unit can process a different color than the thermal transfer printing unit, it is possible in a simple manner to print a printing medium, such as a label, with a with a two-tone print. Since the ink jet printing unit is arranged upstream of the thermal transfer printing unit, there is still the possibility of being able to dry the ink applied to the individual printing medium before it is fed to the thermal transfer printing unit. In addition, the arrangement of the inkjet printing unit in the conveying direction of the print media carrier web in front of the thermal transfer printing unit can dry the ink applied to the printing medium. This makes it possible to process print media that have to be printed with current data shortly before they are issued, since this can be done by the thermal transfer printing unit.
Die Zeit für die Fertigstellung eines mit einer Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit erstellten Bildes ist aufgrund des Erfordernisses des Trocknens der aufgebrachten Tinte gegenüber der Bildfertigstellungszeit einer Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit deutlich länger. Um bei einer kontinuierlich durch den Drucker geführten Druckmedien- Trägerbahn eine unabhängige Arbeitsweise sowohl der Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit als auch der Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit zu gewährleisten, ist es weiterhin von Vorteil, wenn zwischen den beiden Druckeinheiten eine Puffereinheit zum Ausgleich der unterschiedlichen Bearbeitungszeiten bzw. Vorschubgeschwindigkeiten von Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit und Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit vorgesehen ist.The time to complete an image created with an ink jet printing unit is significantly longer compared to the image completion time of a thermal transfer printing unit due to the need to dry the applied ink. In order to ensure that both the inkjet printing unit and the thermal transfer printing unit work independently in a continuous print media carrier web, it is also advantageous if a buffer unit between the two printing units to compensate for the different processing times or feed speeds of Thermal transfer printing unit and inkjet printing unit is provided.
Für die Puffereinheit können unterschiedliche Lösungen vorgesehen werden. So besteht zunächst beispielsweise die Möglichkeit, daß die Puffereinheit durch einen an der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn anliegenden Tänzerarm gebildet ist. Hierdurch läßt sich zwischen der Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit und der Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit eine Trägerbahnschlaufe bilden, deren Länge sich infolge der Schwenkbarkeit des Tänzerarms verändern kann und damitdie unterschiedlichen Vorschubgeschwindigkeiten bzw. Bearbeitungszeiten zwischen Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit und Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit trotz kontinuierlich vorliegender Trägerbahn ausgleichen kann. Ist beispielsweise kein Etikett auszugeben oder von der Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit zu bedrucken, so kann die langsamere Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit ein oder mehrere Druckmedien als Vorrat bereits bedrucken, wobei die Trägerbahn aufgrund des Tänzerarmes einen Ausgleich zwischen den beiden Druckeinheiten bereitstellen kann. Dies kann dadurch erfolgen, daß der Tänzerarm insbesondere in Zuführrichtung der Trägerbahn zu dem Tänzerarm beispielsweise durch ein Federmittel in eine Ausgangsstellung elastisch vorgespannt ist. Hierdurch kann die von einer Fördereinrichtung geförderte Trägerbahn aufgenommen werden, obwohl die Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit kein Etikett ausgibt und damit auch nicht der zwischen Tänzerarm und Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit vorhandene Abschnitt der Trägerbahn gefördert wird.Different solutions can be provided for the buffer unit. For example, there is first the possibility that the buffer unit is formed by a dancer arm resting on the print media carrier web. As a result, a carrier web loop can be formed between the inkjet printing unit and the thermal transfer printing unit, the length of which can change as a result of the pivoting of the dancer arm and can thus compensate for the different feed speeds or processing times between the inkjet printing unit and the thermal transfer printing unit despite the carrier web being continuously present. For example, if there is no label to be output or the thermal transfer printing unit to print on, the slower inkjet printing unit can use one or already print several print media as a supply, the carrier web being able to provide a balance between the two printing units due to the dancer arm. This can be done in that the dancer arm is elastically biased, for example by a spring means in an initial position, in particular in the feed direction of the carrier web to the dancer arm. As a result, the carrier web conveyed by a conveying device can be picked up, even though the thermal transfer printing unit does not output a label and thus the section of the carrier web present between the dancer arm and the thermal transfer printing unit is not conveyed.
Um eine reibungsarme Führung der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn an dem Tänzerarm zu erzielen, ist weiterhin von Vorteil, wenn der Tänzerarm an seinem freien Ende mit einer Rolle zum reibungsarmen Führen der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn versehen ist.In order to achieve low-friction guidance of the print media carrier web on the dancer arm, it is also advantageous if the dancer arm is provided at its free end with a roller for guiding the print media carrier web with low friction.
Ebenso kann die Puffereinheit durch mindestens zwei an dem Transportweg der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn beabstandetzueinanderangeordnete Förderwalzen sowie durch wenigstens einen Sensor zum Erfassen der Position der zwischen den beiden Förderwalzen angeordneten Druckmedien-Trägerbahn gebildet sein. Die beiden unabhängig voneinander antreibbaren Förderwalzen können dann je nach erfaßter Position der Trägerbahn durch den Sensor die Zuführung von weiterer Trägerbahn in den Bereich zwischen den beiden Förderwalzen in der Weise bewirken, daß die in Förderrichtung der Trägerbahn erste Förderwalze angetrieben wird, wogegen die in Förderrichtung hinter der ersten Förderwalze liegende zweite Förderwalze angehalten bzw. gestoppt bleibt. Zum Abziehen der Trägerbahn im Bereich zwischen den beiden Förderwalzen kann dann die zweite Förderwalze in Betrieb genommen werden, wogegen die erste Förderwalze gestoppt bleibt. Selbstverständlich können auch beide Förderwalzen zeitgleich angetrieben werden.Likewise, the buffer unit can be formed by at least two conveyor rollers spaced apart from one another on the transport path of the print media carrier web and by at least one sensor for detecting the position of the print media carrier web arranged between the two conveyor rollers. The two independently operable conveyor rollers can then, depending on the position of the carrier web detected by the sensor, cause further carrier webs to be fed into the area between the two conveyor rollers in such a way that the first conveyor roller in the conveying direction of the carrier web is driven, whereas those behind in the conveying direction the second conveyor roller lying on the first conveyor roller is stopped or stopped. The second conveyor roller can then be put into operation to pull off the carrier web in the region between the two conveyor rollers, whereas the first conveyor roller remains stopped. Of course, both conveyor rollers can also be driven at the same time.
Um unterschiedlich große bzw. lange Druckmedien mit ein und demselben Drucker verarbeiten zu können, ist es von Vorteil, wenn die Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit in Richtung parallel zu der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn in ihrer Position einstellbar ist. Durch die Einstellbarkeit der Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit parallel zur Druckmedien- Trägerbahn läßt sich die Position der Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit präzise zu der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn justieren, was für einen sauberen Druck erforderlich ist. Dies kann beispielsweise dadurch erfolgen, daß die Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit an einer Vertikalwand eines Gehäuses des Druckers gehalten ist, welche wenigstens eine, vorzugsweise zwei parallel zueinander verlaufenden Horizontalschlitze aufweist, entlang denen die Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit verschiebbar gelagert ist.In order to be able to process printing media of different sizes or lengths with one and the same printer, it is advantageous if the position of the ink jet printing unit can be adjusted in the direction parallel to the printing media carrier web. Due to the adjustability of the inkjet printing unit parallel to the print media carrier web, the position of the inkjet printing unit can be precisely adjusted to the print media carrier web, which is necessary for clean printing. This can be done, for example, in that the inkjet printing unit is held on a vertical wall of a housing of the printer, which has at least one, preferably two horizontal slits running parallel to one another, along which the inkjet printing unit is slidably mounted.
Um einen mehrfarbigen Tintenstrahlaufdruck zu erhalten, hat es sich weiterhin als vorteilhaft erwiesen, wenn mehrere, insbesondere 4 Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten vorzugsweise für verschieden farbige Tinten vorgesehen sind, die entlang des Transportweges der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn hintereinander und beabstandet zueinander angeordnet sind. Hierbei kann jede derTintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten eine der folgenden Farben aufnehmen bzw. verarbeiten: Gelb, Blau, Grün oder Rot.In order to obtain a multicolored inkjet print, it has furthermore proven to be advantageous if several, in particular 4, inkjet printing units are preferably provided for differently colored inks, which are arranged one behind the other and spaced apart along the transport path of the print media carrier web. Each of the inkjet printing units can pick up or process one of the following colors: yellow, blue, green or red.
Dabei ist es von Vorteil, wenn die Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten einen gleichen Abstand zueinander aufweisen, der vorzugsweise im wesentlichen dem Abstand der Druckmedien auf der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn entspricht. Ebenso ist es möglich, daßder Abstand zwischen den Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten dem Einfachen oder Vielfachen der Länge eines Druckmediums auf der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn entspricht. Dies ist insbesondere dann von Vorteil, wenn die Druckmedien eine verhältnismäßig kurze Länge aufweisen und die Druckköpfe der Tintenstrahl- Druckeinheiten verhältnismäßig dick bzw. lang sind. In einem solchen Fall ließe sich eine Positionierung eines Druckmedium zwischen zwei Druckeinheiten während der Außerbetriebsphase des erfindungsgemäßen Druckers nicht realisieren. Daher können bei einer solchen Ausgestaltung mehrere Druckmedien zwischen zwei Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten angeordnet sein.It is advantageous if the inkjet printing units are at the same distance from one another, which preferably essentially corresponds to the distance between the print media on the print media carrier web. It is also possible that the distance between the inkjet printing units corresponds to a single or a multiple of the length of a print medium on the print medium carrier web. This is particularly advantageous if the print media have a relatively short length and the print heads of the inkjet printing units are relatively thick or long. In such a case, it would not be possible to position a printing medium between two printing units during the decommissioning phase of the printer according to the invention. Therefore, in such an embodiment, a plurality of print media can be arranged between two inkjet printing units.
Um ein Verlaufen der durch die Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit aufgebrachten Farbtinte auf den Druckmedien zu vermeiden, ist es weiterhin von Vorteil, wenn der Förderweg der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn unter der Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit horizontal verläuft. Selbstverständlich ist auch eine andere Ausrichtung der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn denkbar, insbesondere wenn sichergestellt ist, daß die verwendete Tinte nach dem Aufbringen auf dem Druckmedium verlaufen kann.In order to prevent the color ink applied by the inkjet printing unit from running on the printing media, it is furthermore advantageous if the conveying path of the printing medium carrier web is below the inkjet printing unit runs horizontally. A different orientation of the print media carrier web is of course also conceivable, in particular if it is ensured that the ink used can run on the print medium after it has been applied.
Zum platzsparenden Zuführen der unbedruckten Druckmedien-Trägerbahn ist es weiterhin von Vorteil, wenn diese auf eine Abwickelrolle aufgewickelt ist, die stromaufwärts der Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit angeordnet ist.For space-saving feeding of the unprinted print media carrier web, it is furthermore advantageous if it is wound on an unwinding roll which is arranged upstream of the inkjet printing unit.
Um eine möglichst schnelle Trocknung der Tinte zu erzielen, ist es weiterhin von Vorteil, wenn sich stromabwärts der Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit eine Trocknungseinheit anschließt. Hierbei kann die Trocknungseinheit eine UV-Trocknungseinheit sein.In order to achieve the fastest possible drying of the ink, it is also advantageous if a drying unit is connected downstream of the inkjet printing unit. The drying unit can be a UV drying unit.
Um ein leichtes Spenden der einzelnen bedruckten Druckmedien zu erzielen, ist weiterhin vorgesehen, daß sich stromabwärts der Transfer-Druckeinheit eine Spendeeinheit zum Spenden einzelner durch die Spendeeinheit von der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn abgelöster Druckmedien angeordnet ist. Um die leere Trägerbahn Platz sparend aufnehmen zu können, ist es weiterhin von Vorteil, wenn stromabwärts der Spendeeinheit eine Aufwickelrolle für die leere Druckmedien- Trägerbahn angeordnet ist.In order to achieve easy dispensing of the individual printed printing media, it is further provided that a dispensing unit for dispensing individual printing media detached from the printing media carrier web by the dispensing unit is arranged downstream of the transfer printing unit. In order to be able to take up the empty carrier web in a space-saving manner, it is also advantageous if a take-up roll for the empty print media carrier web is arranged downstream of the dispensing unit.
Eine besonders günstige und Platz sparende Ausgestaltung für den Förderweg der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn läßt sich dadurch erzielen, daß der Förderweg dieser Trägerbahn von der Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit zu der Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit im wesentlichen z-förmig verläuft.A particularly favorable and space-saving design for the conveying path of the print media carrier web can be achieved in that the conveying path of this carrier web runs essentially Z-shaped from the ink jet printing unit to the thermal transfer printing unit.
Grundsätzlich kann die Druckmedien-Förderbahn mit eigens hierfür vorgesehenen Fördereinrichtungen durch den Drucker entlang des Förderweges transportiert werden. Eine besonders Platz sparende Lösung läßt sich dadurch erzielen, wenn die Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit und/oder die Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit jeweils mit mindestens einer Fördereinrichtung versehen sind. Weitere vorteilhafte Ausgestaltungen sowie ein Ausführungsbeispiel werden nachstehend anhand der beigefügten Zeichnungsfigur erläutert. In diesem Zusammenhang ist zu bemerken, daß sich die bei dieser Beschreibung verwendeten Begriffe "links", "rechts", "unten" und "oben" auf die Zeichnungsfiguren mit normal lesbarer Figurenbezeichnung beziehen.In principle, the print media conveying path can be transported along the conveying path by the printer using specially provided conveying devices. A particularly space-saving solution can be achieved if the inkjet printing unit and / or the thermal transfer printing unit are each provided with at least one conveying device. Further advantageous configurations and an exemplary embodiment are explained below with reference to the attached drawing figure. In this context, it should be noted that the terms "left", "right", "bottom" and "top" used in this description refer to the drawing figures with normally legible figure designations.
In der einzigen Zeichnungsfigur ist schematisch ein erfindungsgemäßer Drucker wiedergegeben. Der erfindungsgemäße Druckerdient zum Bedrucken von Druckmedien in Form von Etiketten. Die Etiketten sind auf einer Druckmedien- bzw. Etiketten-Trägerbahn E in Förderrichtung dieser Trägerbahn E mit gleichem Abstand zueinander angeordnet. Die Etiketten-Trägerbahn E wird von einer außerhalb eines Gehäuses 10 des Druckers im linken oberen Bereich dieses Druckers 10 angeordneten Abwickelrolle 20 abgezogen, die auf einer nicht weiter dargestellten Horizontalachse drehbar sowie austauschbar angeordnet ist. Von der Abwickelrolle 20 wird die Etiketten-Trägerbahn E in das Innere des Gehäuses 10 auf einem in diesem Bereich wesentlichen horizontal verlaufenden Förderweg F der Etikettenbahn E zunächst zu insgesamt 4 Tintenstrahldruckeinheiten 30 geführt.A printer according to the invention is shown schematically in the single drawing figure. The printer according to the invention is used for printing on print media in the form of labels. The labels are arranged on a print media or label carrier web E in the conveying direction of this carrier web E at the same distance from one another. The label carrier web E is drawn off from an unwinding roller 20 which is arranged outside a housing 10 of the printer in the upper left region of this printer 10 and which is rotatably and interchangeably arranged on a horizontal axis (not shown). From the unwinding roll 20, the label carrier web E is first led into the interior of the housing 10 on a conveyor path F of the label web E, which is essentially horizontal in this area, to a total of 4 inkjet printing units 30.
Die 4 Tintenstrahldruckeinheiten 30, von denen jede eine andere Farbe auf die Etiketten aufträgt, sind im gleichen Abstand zueinander an einer Vertikalwand 10a des Druckergehäuses 10 angeordnet. Dieser Abstand wird durch den Abstand der Etiketten auf der Etiketten-Trägerbahn E bestimmt. Er ist dabei so bemessen, daß sich bei angehaltenem Drucker jeweils ein Etikett zwischen zwei aufeinander folgenden Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten befindet, sodaßaußerhalb eines Druckbetriebes die Zwischenräume zwischen zwei aufeinanderfolgenden Etiketten genau unterhalb jeder Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit 30 angeordnet sind.The 4 inkjet printing units 30, each of which applies a different color to the labels, are arranged at the same distance from one another on a vertical wall 10a of the printer housing 10. This distance is determined by the distance between the labels on the label carrier web E. It is dimensioned such that when the printer is stopped there is a label between two successive inkjet printing units, so that outside of a printing operation the gaps between two successive labels are arranged exactly below each inkjet printing unit 30.
Um die Position der Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten 30 und damit den Abstand zwischen diesen einstellen zu können, ist in der Vertikalwand 100 für die stromaufwärts nach der ersten Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit 30 befindlichen Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten 30 jeweils zwei parallel zueinander verlaufende Horizontalschlitze 32 vorgesehen, entlang denen die jeweilige Tintenstrahl- Druckeinheit 30 entlang des Förderweges F der Etiketten-Trägerbahn E reversibel verschoben und wieder festgelegt werden können.In order to be able to adjust the position of the inkjet printing units 30 and thus the distance between them, there are two in the vertical wall 100 for the inkjet printing units 30 located upstream after the first inkjet printing unit 30, each running parallel to one another Horizontal slots 32 are provided, along which the respective inkjet printing unit 30 can be reversibly shifted and fixed again along the conveying path F of the label carrier web E.
Stromabwärts der 4 Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten 30 ist eine Trocknungseinheit 40 vorgesehen, die im vorliegenden Fall durch eine UV-Trocknungseinheit gebildet ist. Rechts unterhalb der Trocknungseinheit 40 ist eine Förderwalze 50 vorgesehen, die zum Antrieb der Etiketten-Trägerbahn E dient. Diese Trägerbahn E wird an der Förderwalze 50 um cirka 1 80° umgelenkt und läuft in einen Pufferbereich ein, der eine Puffereinheit 60 umfaßt. Die Puffereinheit 60 ist durch einen Tänzerarm 62 gebildet, der um eine an dem Gehäuse 10 mit horizontaler Ausrichtung gelagerten Achse 64 drehbar gelagert ist. Der Tänzerarm 62 ist durch eine Vorspannfeder 66 in Zuführrichtung der Etiketten-Trägerbahn E zu der Puffereinheit 60, d.h. in Richtung nach links vorgespannt. An seinem freien Ende weist der Tänzerarm 62 eine Rolle 68 auf, um die Etiketten-Trägerbahn E in Richtung auf eine Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit 70 über einen Winkel von ca. 1 35 ° umzulenken. Der Förderweg F für die Etiketten-Trägerbahn E bildet von der Abwickelrolle 20 zu der Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit 70 einen im wesentlichen Z-förmigen Weg.Downstream of the 4 inkjet printing units 30 there is a drying unit 40, which in the present case is formed by a UV drying unit. On the right below the drying unit 40, a conveyor roller 50 is provided, which serves to drive the label carrier web E. This carrier web E is deflected on the conveyor roller 50 by approximately 180 ° and runs into a buffer area which comprises a buffer unit 60. The buffer unit 60 is formed by a dancer arm 62 which is rotatably mounted about an axis 64 mounted on the housing 10 with a horizontal orientation. The dancer arm 62 is supported by a biasing spring 66 in the feed direction of the label carrier web E to the buffer unit 60, i.e. biased towards the left. At its free end, the dancer arm 62 has a roller 68 in order to deflect the label carrier web E in the direction of a thermal transfer printing unit 70 over an angle of approximately 1 35 °. The conveyor path F for the label carrier web E forms an essentially Z-shaped path from the unwinding roll 20 to the thermal transfer printing unit 70.
In der Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit 70 werden die durch die Tintenstrahl- Druckeinheiten 30 farbig bedruckten Etiketten mit einem Thermotranferaufdruck versehen, für den die Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit 70 eine nicht weiter dargestellte Thermotransferfolie aufweist. Die Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit 70 besitzt darüber hinaus noch eine nicht weiter dargestellte Spendeeinheit, die in der Lage ist, ein einzelnes Etikett von der Etiketten-Trägerbahn E abzulösen und aus dem Drucker über eine Spendekante auszugeben. Die von den Etiketten befreite Etiketten- Trägerbahn E wird von der Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit 70 zu einer Aufwickelrolle 80 geführt, die an einer nicht weiter dargestellten Horizontalachse innerhalb des Gehäuses 10 des Druckers austauschbar gelagert ist.In the thermal transfer printing unit 70, the labels printed in color by the inkjet printing units 30 are provided with a thermal transfer printing, for which the thermal transfer printing unit 70 has a thermal transfer film (not shown). The thermal transfer printing unit 70 also has a dispensing unit, not shown, which is capable of detaching a single label from the label carrier web E and outputting it from the printer via a dispensing edge. The label carrier web E, which has been freed from the labels, is guided by the thermal transfer printing unit 70 to a take-up roll 80, which is interchangeably mounted on a horizontal axis, not shown, within the housing 10 of the printer.
Zum farbigen Bedrucken der Etiketten wird zunächst eine volle, unbedruckte Abwickelrolle 20 für die Etiketten-Trägerbahn E an dem Drucker angebracht. Anschließend wird eine entsprechende Bahnlänge von der Abwickelrolle 20 abgezogen, so daß der z-förmige Förderweg F innerhalb des Druckers vollständig bis zu der Spendekante der Spendeeinheit der Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit 70 mit der Etiketten-Trägerbahn E besetzt ist. Gegebenenfalls werden dann die 3 stromaufwärts der ersten Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit 30 folgenden Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten 30 in ihrer Position so justiert, daß sich jeweils ein Etikett zwischen zwei aufein- derfolgenden Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten 30 befindet. Daraufhin können die ersten Etiketten, d.h. das jenige Etikett, das sich auf der Etiketten-Trägerbahn E stromaufwärts der in Förderrichtung der Etiketten-Trägerbahn E ersten Tintenstrahl- Druckeinheit 30 unter diese Druckeinheit 30 gezogen und bedruckt werden. Nach dem Druckvorgang in der ersten Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit 30 wird das Etikett zu der nachfolgenden Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit 30 weitergefördert und dort ebenfalls bedruckt. Dies gilt ebenso für die beiden übrigen Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten 30. Während das erste zu bedruckende Etikett durch die 4 Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten 30 hindurchwandert, folgen weitere Etiketten nach, die dann ebenfalls nacheinander von den 4 Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten 30 bedruckt werden.To print the labels in color, a full, unprinted one is first used Unwinding roll 20 for the label carrier web E attached to the printer. A corresponding length of web is then drawn off the unwinding roller 20, so that the z-shaped conveying path F within the printer is completely occupied with the label carrier web E up to the dispensing edge of the dispensing unit of the thermal transfer printing unit 70. If necessary, the 3 inkjet printing units 30 following upstream of the first inkjet printing unit 30 are then adjusted in their position such that a label is located between two successive inkjet printing units 30. The first labels, that is to say the label which is drawn on the label carrier web E upstream of the first ink jet printing unit 30 in the conveying direction of the label carrier web E, can then be drawn and printed under this printing unit 30. After the printing process in the first inkjet printing unit 30, the label is conveyed on to the subsequent inkjet printing unit 30 and is also printed there. This also applies to the two other inkjet printing units 30. While the first label to be printed travels through the 4 inkjet printing units 30, further labels follow, which are then also printed in succession by the 4 inkjet printing units 30.
Nach Durchlauf durch die Trocknungseinheit 40 wird die mit bedruckten Etiketten versehene Etiketten-Trägerbahn E durch die Förderwalze 50 in den Pufferbereich weitergefördert. In Folge der Vorspannung des Tänzerarmes 62 nach links kann die so geförderte Etiketten-Trägerbahn E gleichmäßig von der Förderwalze 50 in den Pufferbereich eingefördert werden. Durch eine nicht weiter dargestellten Sensor kann der Auslenkweg des Tänzerarmes 62 festgestellt werden und gegebenenfalls die Förderwalze 50 angehalten werden, sobald der Pufferbereich "gefüllt" ist.After passing through the drying unit 40, the label carrier web E provided with printed labels is conveyed further through the conveyor roller 50 into the buffer area. As a result of the pretensioning of the dancer arm 62 to the left, the label carrier web E thus conveyed can be conveyed evenly from the conveying roller 50 into the buffer area. The deflection path of the dancer arm 62 can be determined by a sensor (not shown further) and, if necessary, the conveyor roller 50 can be stopped as soon as the buffer area is “filled”.
Wird nun durch die Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit 70 ein durch die Tintenstrahl- Druckeinheiten 30 bedrucktes Etikett mit einem Thermotransferaufdruck versehen und mittels der Spendeeinheit gespendet, so fördert die nicht weiter dargestellte Fördereinrichtung der Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit 70 die Etiketten-Trägerbahn E in Richtung der Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit 70. Hierdurch wird der Tänzerarm 62 nach rechts gezogen, so daß der Pufferbereich wiederum Raum für die Aufnahme weiterer durch die Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten 30 bedruckter Etiketten besitzt. Unmittelbar nach der Ausgabe eines Etiketts durch die Spendeeinheit der Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit 70 können dann weitere Etiketten durch die Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten 30 bedruckt werden oder aber es kann solange gewartet werden, bis der Tänzerarm 62 eine vorbestimmte Position, d.h. eine Position rechts von der in der einzigen Figur dargestellten Position einnimmt, die kennzeichnet, daß der Pufferbereich "leergelaufen" ist. Dies kann wiederum durch den erwähnten oder einen zusätzlichen Sensor erfaßt werden. If the thermal transfer printing unit 70 now provides a label printed by the inkjet printing units 30 with a thermal transfer print and is dispensed by means of the dispensing unit, the conveyor device (not shown further) of the thermal transfer printing unit 70 conveys the label carrier web E in the direction of the thermal transfer printing unit 70. This makes the dancer arm 62 pulled to the right, so that the buffer area in turn has space for receiving further labels printed by the inkjet printing units 30. Immediately after a label has been issued by the dispensing unit of the thermal transfer printing unit 70, further labels can then be printed by the inkjet printing units 30 or it can be waited until the dancer arm 62 reaches a predetermined position, ie a position to the right of that in the occupies a single position shown, which indicates that the buffer area is "empty". This can in turn be detected by the sensor mentioned or by an additional sensor.

Claims

ANSPRÜCHE EXPECTATIONS
1 . Drucker zum Bedrucken von auf einer Trägerbahn (E) angeordneten Druckmedien, insbesondere Etiketten und dgl., mit wenigstens einer Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit (70), dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß stromaufwärts der Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit (70) mindestens eine Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit (30) vorgesehen ist.1 . Printer for printing on print media arranged on a carrier web (E), in particular labels and the like, with at least one thermal transfer printing unit (70), characterized in that at least one ink jet printing unit (30) is provided upstream of the thermal transfer printing unit (70) is.
2. Drucker nach Anspruch 1 , dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß zwischen der Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit (30) und der Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit (70) eine Puffereinheit (60) zum Ausgleich der unterschiedlichen Vorschubgeschwindigkeiten von Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit (70) undTintenstrahl-Druckeinheit (30) vorgesehen ist.2. Printer according to claim 1, characterized in that between the ink jet printing unit (30) and the thermal transfer printing unit (70), a buffer unit (60) to compensate for the different feed speeds of the thermal transfer printing unit (70) and the ink jet printing unit (30) is provided.
3. Drucker nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Puffereinheit (60) durch einen an der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn (E) anliegenden Tänzerarm (62) gebildet ist.3. Printer according to claim 2, characterized in that the buffer unit (60) is formed by a dancer arm (62) resting on the print media carrier web (E).
4. Drucker nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Tänzerarm (62) mittels einem elastischen Vorspannelement (66) in eine Ausgangsstellung vorgespannt ist.4. Printer according to claim 3, characterized in that the dancer arm (62) is biased into an initial position by means of an elastic biasing element (66).
5. Drucker nach Anspruch 3 oder 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Tänzerarm (62) an seinem freien Ende mit einer Rolle (68) zum reibungsarmen Führen der Druckmedium-Trägerbahn (E) versehen ist.5. Printer according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the dancer arm (62) is provided at its free end with a roller (68) for low-friction guidance of the print medium carrier web (E).
6. Drucker nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Puffereinheit aus mindestens zwei an dem Transportweg der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn (E) beabstandet zueinander angeordneten Förderwalzen sowie durch wenigstens einen Sensor zum Erfassen der Position der zwischen den beiden Förderwalzen angeordneten Druckmedien-Trägerbahn (E) gebildet ist.6. Printer according to claim 2, characterized in that the buffer unit from at least two on the transport path of the print media carrier web (E) spaced apart arranged conveyor rollers and is formed by at least one sensor for detecting the position of the print media carrier web (E) arranged between the two conveyor rollers.
7. Drucker nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Position der Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten (30) in Richtung parallel zu der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn (E) einstellbar ist.7. Printer according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the position of the inkjet printing units (30) in the direction parallel to the print media carrier web (E) is adjustable.
8. Drucker nach Anspruch 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit (30) an einer Vertikalwand (10a) gehalten ist, welche wenigstens einen, vorzugsweise zwei parallel zueinander verlaufende Horizontalschlitze (32) aufweist, entlang denen die Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit (30) verschiebbar gelagert ist.8. Printer according to claim 7, characterized in that the inkjet printing unit (30) is held on a vertical wall (10a) which has at least one, preferably two parallel horizontal slots (32), along which the inkjet printing unit (30th ) is slidably mounted.
9. Drucker nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß mehrere, insbesondere 4 Tintenstrahl- Druckeinheiten (30) vorzugsweise für verschieden farbige Tinten vorgesehen sind, die entlang des Förderweges (F) der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn (E) hintereinander und beabstandet zueinander angeordnet sind.9. Printer according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that several, in particular 4 inkjet printing units (30) are preferably provided for differently colored inks, which are arranged one behind the other and spaced along the conveying path (F) of the print media carrier web (E) are arranged to each other.
10. Drucker nach Anspruch 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Abstand zwischen den einzelnen Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheiten (30) identisch ist.10. Printer according to claim 9, characterized in that the distance between the individual inkjet printing units (30) is identical.
1 1 . Drucker nach Anspruch 9 oder 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Abstand zwischen den Tintenstrahl- Druckeinheiten (30) dem Einfachen oder Vielfachen der Länge eines Druckmediums auf der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn (E) entspricht.1 1. Printer according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the distance between the inkjet printing units (30) corresponds to the single or multiple of the length of a printing medium on the printing medium carrier web (E).
1 2. Drucker nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 1 1 , dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Förderweg (F) der Druckmedien-Träger- bahn (E) unter der Tintentenstrahl-Druckeinheit (30) horizontal verläuft.1 2. Printer according to one of claims 1 to 1 1, characterized in that the conveying path (F) of the print media carrier web (E) runs horizontally under the ink jet printing unit (30).
1 3. Drucker nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 1 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die unbedruckte Druckmedien-Trägerbahn (E) auf eine Abwickelrolle (20) aufgewickelt ist, die stromaufwärts der Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit (30) angeordnet ist.1 3. Printer according to one of claims 1 to 1 2, characterized in that the unprinted print media carrier web (E) is wound on an unwinding roll (20) which is arranged upstream of the inkjet printing unit (30).
14. Drucker nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 1 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß sich stromabwärts der Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit (30) eine Trocknungseinheit (40) anschließt.14. Printer according to one of claims 1 to 1 3, characterized in that a drying unit (40) is connected downstream of the inkjet printing unit (30).
1 5. Drucker nach Anspruch 14, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daßdieTrocknungseinheit eine UV-Trocknungseinheit (40) ist.A printer according to claim 14, characterized in that the drying unit is a UV drying unit (40).
1 6. Drucker nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 14, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß sich stromabwärts der Thermotransfer- Druckeinheit (70) eine Spendeeinheit zum Spenden einzelner durch die Spendeeinheit von der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn (F) abgelöster Druckmedien angeordnet ist.1 6. Printer according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that downstream of the thermal transfer printing unit (70) there is a dispensing unit for dispensing individual printing media detached from the printing medium carrier web (F) by the dispensing unit.
1 7. Drucker nach Anspruch 1 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß stromabwärts der Spendeeinheit eine Aufwickelrolle (80) für die leere Druckmedien-Trägerbahn (E) angeordnet ist.1 7. Printer according to claim 1 6, characterized in that a winding roller (80) for the empty print media carrier web (E) is arranged downstream of the dispensing unit.
1 8. Drucker nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 17, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß der Förderweg (F) der Druckmedien-Trägerbahn (E) von der Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit (30) zu der Thermotransfer- Druckeinheit (70) Z-förmig verläuft. 1 8. Printer according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the conveying path (F) of the print media carrier web (E) from the ink jet printing unit (30) to the thermal transfer printing unit (70) is Z-shaped.
9. Drucker nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 1 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Tintenstrahl-Druckeinheit (30) und/oder die Thermotransfer-Druckeinheit (70) mitmindestenseinerFördereinrichtung für den Transport der Druckmedien-Förderbahn (E) versehen ist. 9. Printer according to one of claims 1 to 1 8, characterized in that the inkjet printing unit (30) and / or the thermal transfer printing unit (70) is provided with at least one conveyor device for the transport of the print media conveyor path (E).
EP02722255.3A 2001-03-20 2002-03-20 Combination printer Expired - Lifetime EP1372969B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE10113558 2001-03-20
DE10113558A DE10113558B4 (en) 2001-03-20 2001-03-20 Combined printer
PCT/EP2002/003125 WO2002074546A1 (en) 2001-03-20 2002-03-20 Combination printer

Publications (2)

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EP1372969A1 true EP1372969A1 (en) 2004-01-02
EP1372969B1 EP1372969B1 (en) 2014-08-13

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EP02722255.3A Expired - Lifetime EP1372969B1 (en) 2001-03-20 2002-03-20 Combination printer

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US (1) US20030090557A1 (en)
EP (1) EP1372969B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2004524190A (en)
DE (1) DE10113558B4 (en)
ES (1) ES2510616T3 (en)
WO (1) WO2002074546A1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20030090557A1 (en) 2003-05-15
ES2510616T3 (en) 2014-10-21
EP1372969B1 (en) 2014-08-13
WO2002074546A1 (en) 2002-09-26
DE10113558B4 (en) 2005-09-22
DE10113558A1 (en) 2002-10-02
JP2004524190A (en) 2004-08-12

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