EP3492269A1

EP3492269A1 - A media roll comprising a main medium and a support medium

Info

Publication number: EP3492269A1
Application number: EP18206386.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Christian Tremblay; Valérie Roumier
Original assignee: Oce Holding BV
Current assignee: Canon Production Printing Holding BV
Priority date: 2017-11-29
Filing date: 2018-11-15
Publication date: 2019-06-05

Abstract

The present invention relates to a media roll (20) comprising a main medium (22) and a support medium (23a, 23b) both having different material properties wherein the main medium may be an expensive medium, the support medium may be a cheap medium and the support medium may be used as a protection layer for the main medium to reduce waste of the expensive main medium.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a media roll comprising a main medium and a support medium both having different material properties.

BACKGROUND ART

In a printing assembly, or printer, an image can be printed on a medium. This medium may be supplied using a media roll wherein the medium is wound around the media roll core. A supply unit of the printing assembly supplies the medium from the media roll to a print surface where a printing unit facing the print surface may print an image on the medium. A receipt unit of the printing assembly receives the medium from the print surface. This creates a medium web between the supply unit and the receipt unit of the printing assembly.
When wound around the media roll core, a part of the medium will be attached to the media roll core. At the supply unit of the printing assembly, the end of the medium will be attached to the medium roll core. At the receipt unit, the beginning of the medium will be attached to a receiving medium roll core. When for instance an adhesive is used to attach these parts of the medium to the media roll core, these parts cannot be used to be printed on. This may also happen when the medium of one media roll is attached to the medium of another media roll. Thus there may be a waste of medium on both sides of the medium.
During handling of the media roll the outer layer may be exposed to contamination such as dust and therefore the outer layer may become dirty. Also the outer layer may be damaged during handling of the media roll. For instance, the media roll may rub against a dirty surface when being loaded into the supply unit of a printing assembly. Thus the outer layer of the medium wound around the media roll core may serve as a protection layer for the medium wound around the media roll core which cannot be used anymore for printing resulting in a waste of medium. As the medium may serve as a protection both for the supplying media roll as the receiving media roll, there is a waste of medium on both sides of the medium.
When using an expensive medium such as a coated medium, such waste of medium will result in a substantial loss of money compared to when a cheap medium is used. It is therefore an object of the present invention to reduce the loss of money due to waste of expensive medium.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is achieved in a media roll for use in a printing assembly, the media roll comprising a media roll core, a main medium having a first material property, and a support medium having a second material property different from the first material property and wherein the main medium is attached to the support medium, the support medium is attached to a first side of the main medium and wherein the main medium and the support medium are configured to be wound around the media roll core into a rolled-up state and wherein, in the rolled-up state, the support medium forms an outer layer of the media roll. The media roll core may be, for instance, a rod or a pipe from cardboard, plastic, or metal material. An edge of a medium, which may be the combination of the main medium and the support medium, is attached to the media roll core by means of, for instance, an adhesive such as glue or tape. Also the main medium and the support medium may be attached to each other by means of an adhesive. The medium may be wound around the media roll core, the medium thus being rolled-up, forming the media roll. The main medium may have a first material property being, for instance, coated glossy paper whereas the support medium may have a second material property being, for instance, uncoated plain paper. Thus the main medium may be more expensive than the support medium. As the support medium forms the outer layer of the media roll, it serves as a protection of the main medium present on the media roll before the media roll is supplied to the supply unit of a printing assembly. The support medium may be of a material cheaper than the material of the main medium and thus, if the support medium becomes damaged or dirty during handling of the media roll, only the cheaper support medium is being wasted rather than a part of the more expensive main medium.
In an embodiment, a first support medium is attached to a first side of the main medium and a second support medium is attached to a second side of the main medium and wherein, in the rolled-up state, the first support medium forms an outer layer of the media roll and the second support medium forms an inner layer of the media roll. As the first support medium forms the outer layer of the media roll, it serves as a protection of the main medium present on the media roll before the media roll is supplied to the supply unit of a printing assembly. As the second support medium forms the inner layer of the media roll when supplied to the supply unit of a printing assembly, the second support medium will be transported through the printing assembly after the main medium and thus may become the outer layer of the media roll at the receipt unit of the printing assembly. Thus the second support medium may serve as a protection of the main medium present on the media roll after the media roll has been transported through the printing unit and rolled-up at the receipt unit of the printing assembly. Furthermore as the support medium is being transported after the main medium is being transported, the support medium may still be attached to the media roll core at the supply unit of the printing assembly or being gripped by pinch rollers in the printing assembly thereby keeping tension on the main medium enabling the edge of the main medium being kept straight and thus be more effective in printing
In an aspect of the invention a printing assembly for printing an image on a medium is provided, the printing assembly comprising a print surface receiving the medium, a printing unit facing the print surface for printing on the medium, a supply unit supplying the medium to the print surface, a receipt unit receiving the medium from the print surface, a transport system for transporting the medium between the supply unit and the receipt unit, a detection means for detecting a transition between a main medium and a support medium of a media roll which are attached to each other and both wound on the media roll, and a control unit for controlling at least the supply unit and the receipt unit depending on the detected transition between the main medium and the support medium wherein the control unit is configured to control the supply unit and receipt unit enabling the transition between the main medium and the support medium to be positioned at a predetermined position relative to the printing unit. The print surface may be an area within the printing assembly wherein the printing unit may print an image towards the printing surface. The printing unit may be a print head assembly comprising for instance one or more inkjet print heads. The supply unit may provide a means to position a media roll according to the invention comprising a medium onto which the printing assembly may still print an image. The receipt unit may provide a means to position a media roll core that may receive a medium from a media roll according to the invention onto which the printing assembly may have printed an image. The transport system may comprise a means such as, for instance, transport rollers to be able to transport the medium of the media roll core according to the invention through the printing assembly. The detection means may, for instance, be an optical light sensor suitable for detecting the transition between the main medium and the support medium. The control unit may be, for instance, a computer. By detecting the transition between the main medium and the support medium, and positioning said transition at a predetermined position, the printing assembly may print an image on the medium from the detected transition to the end of the medium and thus making optimal use of the medium.
In an embodiment, the printing unit is configured to print a primary image on the main medium. Such a primary image may comprise, for instance, multiple images such as pages for a magazine, pages for a book, a series of posters, flyers, or banners.
In an embodiment, the printing unit is configured to print a secondary image on the support medium. Such a secondary image may comprise multiple images such as, for instance, an overview or thumbnails of the primary images printed on the main medium. Alternatively, the secondary image may be a test image or test pattern.
In an aspect of the invention a method of supplying a media roll is provided, wherein the media roll comprises a main medium and a support medium attached to each other and both wound on the media roll, in a printing assembly, wherein the printing assembly comprises a supply unit and a receipt unit, comprises the steps of placing the media roll into a supply unit of the printing assembly, engaging a leading edge of the medium with a transport system of the printing assembly for enabling the printing assembly to transport the medium from supply unit, over the print surface, to the receipt unit, leading a medium of the media roll from the supply unit to a print surface of the printing assembly providing a web of a main medium of the media roll between the supply unit and the print surface, detecting a transition between the support medium and the main medium of the media roll, and positioning the main medium relative to the printing unit. The supply unit may provide a means to position a media roll according to the invention comprising a medium onto which the printing assembly may still print an image. The receipt unit may provide a means to position a media roll core that may receive a medium from a media roll according to the invention onto which the printing assembly may have printed an image. The leading edge may be an edge of the medium that is being led into the printing assembly via the transport system. The transport system may comprise a means such as, for instance, transport rollers to be able to transport the medium of the media roll core according to the invention through the printing assembly. The print surface may be an area within the printing assembly wherein the printing unit may print an image towards the printing surface. By engaging the leading edge of the medium with the transport system, detecting the transition between the support medium and the main medium, and positioning of the main medium relative to the printing unit based upon the detected transition or medium edges ensures optimal usage of the medium.
In an embodiment, the leading edge of the medium is the leading edge of the support medium. By engaging the leading edge of the support medium with the transport system the main medium attached to the support medium will be transported through the printing assembly without having to engage an edge of the main medium and thus reducing hassle with the main medium and as such reducing the risk of damaging the main medium.
In an embodiment, the leading edge of the support medium is attached to a trailing edge of a medium of a second media roll. By attaching the leading edge of the support medium to a medium of a second media roll already present in the printing assembly, the support medium and the main medium will be transported through the printing assembly by means of the medium of the second media roll and thus reduces the hassle of having to engage the leading edge of the support medium with the transport system of the printing assembly. The trailing edge of a medium is the edge of the medium that is transported as last through the printing assembly when the medium is being wound onto a receiving media roll core at the receipt unit of the printing assembly.
In an embodiment, the leading edge of the medium is the leading edge of the main medium. By engaging the leading edge of the main medium with the transport system the support medium attached to the support medium will be transported through the printing assembly by means of the main medium being transported through the printing system and thus the support medium may form an outer layer of the media roll when wound around the media roll core into a rolled-up state at the receipt unit of the printing assembly and as such protect the main medium and the images printed on said main medium. Furthermore as the support medium is being transported after the main medium is being transported, the support medium may still be attached to the media roll core at the supply unit of the printing assembly or being gripped by pinch rollers in the printing assembly thereby keeping tension on the main medium enabling the edge of the main medium being kept straight and thus be more effective in printing
In an embodiment, the leading edge of the main medium is attached to a trailing edge of a medium of a second media roll. By attaching the leading edge of the main medium to a medium of a second media roll already present in the printing assembly, the main medium and the support medium may be transported through the printing assembly by means of the medium of the second media roll and thus reduces the hassle of having to engage the leading edge of the main medium with the transport system of the printing assembly.
In an embodiment, the method of supplying a media roll further comprises the steps of unwinding the media roll, detecting a transition between the support medium and the main medium, detecting a trailing edge of the main medium, determining the length of the main medium between the support medium and the trailing edge of the main medium, and rewinding the media roll. By determining the length of the main medium, the image to be printed can be adjusted to the total length of the main medium available and thus an optimal usage of the main medium can be achieved. This may be done either when the media roll has just been supplied into the printing assembly to determine the total length of the main medium, or this may be done when already an image is printed on a part of the main medium to determine the available length left to be printed. Depending upon the total length to be detected, this step may require the main medium to be wound up at the receipt unit to enable detection of the trailing edge of the main medium and then rewinding of the main medium at the supply unit to position or re-position the main medium relative to the printing unit. Alternatively the total length of the entire medium, being the total length of the main medium and the total length of the support medium combined, may be determined.
In an embodiment, the method of supplying a media roll further comprises the steps of unwinding the media roll, detecting a leading edge of the main medium, detecting a transition between the support medium and the main medium, determining the length of the main medium between the leading edge of the main medium and the support medium, and rewinding the media roll. By determining the length of the main medium, the image to be printed can be adjusted to the total length of the main medium available and thus an optimal usage of the main medium can be achieved. This may be done either when the media roll has just been supplied into the printing assembly to determine the total length of the main medium, or this may be done when already an image is printed on a part of the main medium to determine the available length left to be printed. Depending upon the total length to be detected, this step may require the main medium to be wound up at the receipt unit to enable detection of the transition between the support medium and the main medium and then rewinding of the main medium at the supply unit to position or re-position the main medium relative to the printing unit. Alternatively the total length of the entire medium, being the total length of the main medium and the total length of the support medium combined, may be determined.
In an embodiment, the method of supplying a media roll further comprises the steps of unwinding the media roll, detecting a first transition between a first support medium and the main medium, detecting a second transition between the main medium and a second support medium, determining the length of the main medium between the first support medium and the second support medium, and rewinding the media roll placed into the supply unit. By determining the length of the main medium, the image to be printed can be adjusted to the total length of the main medium available and thus an optimal usage of the main medium can be achieved. This may be done either when the media roll has just been supplied into the printing assembly to determine the total length of the main medium, or this may be done when already an image is printed on a part of the main medium to determine the available length left to be printed. Depending upon the total length to be detected, this step may require the main medium to be wound up at the receipt unit to enable detection of the transition between the first support medium and the main medium and/or the transition between the second support medium and the main medium and then rewinding of the main medium at the supply unit to position or re-position the main medium relative to the printing unit. Alternatively the total length of the entire medium, being the total length of the main medium and the total length of the support medium combined, may be determined.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1: is a schematic perspective view of a printing assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention
Figs. 2A-2C: show a schematic representation of a media roll according to the present invention
Fig. 3: is a schematic representation of a printing assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention
Figs. 4A-4E: show a schematic representation of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention
Figs. 5A-5F: show a schematic representation of a method according to an embodiment of the present invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fig. 1 shows a roll-to-roll printing system 51 connected to a network N. The roll-to-roll printing system 51 is available for a user working with one of workstations 8A - 8C and intending to send a digital image from one of the workstations 8A - 8C to a control unit 13 inside of the roll-to-roll printing system 51. The roll-to-roll printing system 51 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 roll-to-roll printing system 51 comprises one input holder for one input roll 1 and one output holder for one output roll 3. The roll-to-roll printing system 51 comprises a user interface unit 16 suitable for displaying the digital image queue according to the invention by means of digital images to be printed, a digital representation of the input roll 1 and a digital representation of the output roll 3.
The workstations 8A - 8C may be replaced by mobile devices like tablets, notebooks, laptops, etc.
The control unit 13 comprises a construction module 17 for constructing a composed digital image representing the digital image queue according to the invention and configured to be shown on the user interface unit 16. The control unit 17 comprises a scheduler 19 for scheduling the digital images submitted to the roll-to-roll printing system 51 in the digital image queue according to the invention. The digital image queue is stored in digital storage 7 in the control unit 13. The control unit 13 comprises a controller 15 for controlling the printing process and data transfer between the control unit 13 and the user interface unit 16.
In another embodiment the control unit of the roll-to-roll printing system 51 is integrated in one of the workstations 8A - 8C. In this embodiment the composed digital image is constructed at the one of the workstation 8A - 8C wired or wireless connected to roll-to-roll printing system 51. In another embodiment a user interface is provided as a network web site or intranet site that is accessible with a browser on a client computer.
The control unit 13 is suited to store a set of digital images, to check whether or not the digital images can be printed and to submit a digital image to a print unit 18 of the roll-to-roll printing system 51 in order to be printed on the input roll 1. Image data of a digital image are stored in digital storage 7 contained in the control unit 13 at least for the time period that the digital image is printed by the print unit 18. Image data may be composed and also stored in memory of at least one of the workstations 8A - 8C.
The roll-to-roll printing system 51 processes at least part of media of the input roll 1. The wound media has a length which is defined as a largest dimension of the media when unrolled. 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. The input roll 1 is placed in an input holder shown as a white circle in the centre of the input roll 1 in Fig 1. A side view of the input roll 1 comprises a part 1a of the core of the input roll 1 and a side part 1b of the media of the input roll 1.
Individual digital images will be printed on media 9 given out of the input roll 1. The individual digital images are printed by the print unit 18 of the roll-to-roll printing system 51 according to the digital image queue. The media 9 of the input roll 1 is guided along the print unit 18. The printed media 9 is guided to and wound up on the core 3d of the output roll 3 on an output holder. The output holder is shown as a white circle in the centre of the output roll 3 in Fig. 1.
Fig. 2A shows a media roll 20 comprising a media roll core 21, a main medium 22, and a support medium 23a being attached to the main medium 22. The media roll core may be, for instance, a rod or a pipe from cardboard, plastic, or metal material. The support medium is represented by the diagonal line pattern shaded part 23a. In Fig. 2A it can be seen that the medium, being the combination of the main medium 22 and the support medium 23a, is wound around the media roll core 21 with a first side of the medium being slightly unwounded. The support medium 23a may form an outer layer of the medium wound around the media roll core 21.
Fig. 2B shows a media roll 20 comprising a media roll core 21, a main medium 22, and a support medium 23b being attached to the main medium 22. The media roll core may be, for instance, a rod or a pipe from cardboard, plastic, or metal material . The support medium is represented by the dashed line 23b. In Fig. 2B it can be seen that the medium, being the combination of the main medium 22 and the support medium 23b, is wound around the media roll core 21 with a first side of the medium being slightly unwounded. The support medium 23b may form an inner layer of the medium wound around the media roll core 21.
Fig. 2C shows a media roll 20 comprising a media roll core 21, a main medium 22, a first support medium 23a being attached to a first side of the main medium 22, and a second support medium 23b being attached to a second side of the main medium 22. The media roll core may be, for instance, a rod or a pipe from cardboard, plastic, or metal material . The first support medium is represented by the diagonal line pattern shaded part 23a. The second support medium is represented by the dashed line 23b. In Fig. 2C it can be seen that the medium, being the combination of the main medium 22 and the support medium 23a, is wound around the media roll core 21 with a first side of the medium being slightly unwounded. The first support medium 23a may form an outer layer of the medium wound around the media roll core 21 and the second support medium 23b may form an inner layer of the medium wound around the media roll core 21.
Fig. 3 shows a part of the printing assembly 30 comprising a printing unit 31 facing a print surface 32, a supply unit 24a, a receipt unit 24b, a transport system comprising a first set of transporting rolls 34a, a second set of transporting rolls 34b, and detection means 33. One or more of these elements may be connected, wired and/or wireless, to a control unit not shown in Fig. 3. The printing unit 31 may comprise one or more print heads suitable for ejecting ink droplets 35. Further, it can be seen that a first media roll core 21a is placed on the supply unit 24a. The media roll core 21a comprising a second support medium 23b and a main medium 22. The main medium 22 is transported via transporting rolls 34a, 34b over the print surface 32 and is attached to a first support medium 23a. The first support medium 23a is attached to a second media roll core 21b and wound around the second media roll core 21b. The detection means 33 may detect a transition between the first support medium 23a and the main medium 22 and/or a transition between the main medium 22 and the second support medium 23b. The printing unit 31 may eject ink droplets 35 towards the print surface 32 thereby creating an image on the main medium 22 and/or the support media 23a, 23b.
Figs. 4A to 4F show a schematic representation of a method of supplying a media roll according to an embodiment of the invention comprising the steps of engaging the leading edge of the first support medium with transporting rolls 34a and 34b, the medium being transported into a media transport direction Y over the print surface towards the receipt unit 24b where the medium is rolled-up after the print unit has printed an image on the main medium 22.
Fig. 4A shows a printing assembly 30 wherein the leading edge of a first support medium 23a is being lead from a media roll supplied onto the supply unit 24a in media transport direction Y to a first set of transporting rolls 34a.
In a next step as shown in Fig. 4B, after the leading edge of the first support medium 23a has been engaged with the first set of transporting rolls 34a, the leading edge will be further lead over the print surface, engaged with a second set of transporting rolls 34b, and attached to a second medium roll core 21b which has been supplied onto the receipt unit 24b. During the transportation of the first support medium 23a into media transport direction Y over the print surface 32, detection means 33 may detect a transition between the first support medium 23a and the main medium 22.
Fig. 4B shows a printing assembly 30 wherein the leading edge of a first support medium 23a has been engaged with the transporting system via transporting rolls 34a and 34b in media transport direction Y and attached to a second medium roll core 21b. This creates a medium web between the first medium roll core 21a and the second medium roll core 21b. The transition between the first support medium 23a and the main medium 22 may be position at one side of the print surface 32, for instance as shown in Fig. 4B at the second set of transporting rolls 34b.
In a next step as shown in Fig. 4C, after the main medium 22 has been position on the print surface 32, the ejection of ink from the printing unit 31 to create a primary image on the main medium 22 is be started.
Fig. 4C shows a printing assembly 30 wherein the transition between the first support medium 23a and the main medium has been positioned at one side of the print surface 32 and the printing unit 31 has started ejection of ink droplets 35 towards the print surface 32 thereby creating a primary image onto the main medium 22. During ejection of the ink droplets 35 and the creation of a primary image on the main medium 22, the medium may be further transported into media transport direction Y to create a primary image on the entire surface of main medium 22.
Alternatively, transportation is temporarily halted to create a part of the primary image on a part of the main medium 22 situated at the print surface 32, ejection of ink droplets is paused after creating the part of the primary image on said part of the main medium 22, the medium being transported further into media transport direction Y, transportation being temporarily halted again to create another part of the primary image on another part of the main medium 22 while the ejection of ink droplets is continued.
In a next step as shown in Fig. 4D, during transportation of the medium into media transport direction Y the detection means 33 may detect a transition between the main medium 22 and the second support medium 23b.
Fig. 4D shows a printing assembly 30 wherein the medium is being transported further with respect to the situation as depicted in Fig. 4C into media transport direction Y while a primary image is created on the main medium 22 and the transition between the main medium 22 and the second support medium 23b is being detected by the detection means 33. Ejection of ink droplets 35 may stop as soon as the second support medium 23b is situated on top of print surface 32 or ejection of the ink droplets 35 may continue to create a secondary image on the second support medium 23 and ejection of ink droplets 35 may then stop after the trailing edge of the second support unit passed the print surface 32 in media transport direction Y. In a next step as shown in Fig. 4E, after the ejection of ink droplets 35 has stopped, the medium is transported further into media transport direction Y and wound around the second media roll core 21b.
Fig. 4E shows a printing assembly 30 wherein the medium is being transported further with respect to the situation as depicted in Fig. 4D into media transport direction Y after a primary image has been created on the main medium 22, and optionally a secondary image has been created on the second support medium 23b, the ejection of ink droplets 35 has stopped, and the medium is being wound around the media roll core 21b.
After the medium is being wound around the media roll core 21b, the rolled-up media roll resulting from this winding is being protected by the second support medium 21b that forms the outer layer of the media roll. If a secondary image was created on the second support medium, this secondary image may be visible on the outer layer of the media roll.
Figs. 5A to 5F show a schematic representation of a method of supplying a media roll according to an embodiment of the invention comprising the steps of unwinding a media roll supplied in the supply unit 24a, transporting the medium of said roll into media transport direction Y onto a second media roll core 21b while in the meantime detecting a transition between a first support medium and a main medium and a transition between a second support medium and the main medium, thereby determining the total length of the main medium, and rewinding the medium onto a first media roll core 21a by transporting the medium into a media transport direction Z before an image is created on the medium.
Fig. 5A shows a printing assembly 30 wherein the leading edge of a first support medium 23a is being lead from a media roll supplied onto the supply unit 24a in media transport direction Y to a first set of transporting rolls 34a.
In a next step as shown in Fig. 5B, after the leading edge of the first support medium 23a has been engaged with the first set of transporting rolls 34a, the leading edge will be further lead over the print surface and engaged with a second set of transporting rolls 34b.
Fig. 5B shows a printing assembly 30 wherein the leading edge of the first support medium 23a is engaged with the second set of transporting rolls 34b and the detection means 33 detects a transition between the first support medium 23a and the main medium 22 while the medium is being transported in media transport direction Y.
In a next step as shown in Fig. 5C, the medium is transported further with respect to the situation as depicted in Fig. 5B into media transport direction Y until a transition between the main medium 22 and a second support medium 23b is detected by detection means 33.
Fig. 5C shows a printing assembly 30 wherein the transition between the main medium 22 and the second support medium 23b is detected by detection means 33 while the medium is being transported into media transport direction Y. After said transition is detected, a control unit not shown such as a computer may determine the total length of the main medium, and the medium will be rewound onto media roll core 24a as shown in Fig. 5D.
Fig. 5D shows a printing assembly 30 wherein the transition between the main medium 22 and the second support medium 23b has been detected by detection means 33, the total length of the main medium has been determined, and the medium is being rewound onto media roll core 24a by transporting the medium into media transport direction Z. During the transportation of the medium in media transport direction Z, the transition between the first support medium 23a and the main medium 22 will be positioned at a side of the print surface 32 as shown in Fig. 5E.
Fig. 5E shows a printing assembly 30 wherein the transition between the first support medium 23a and the main medium 22 is being positioned at a side of the print surface 32 while the medium is being transported into media transport direction Z. In a next step as shown in Fig. 5F, after said transition is being positioned, the printing unit 31 may eject ink droplets to start printing a primary image on the main medium 22 and the medium may be transported into media transport direction Y again.
Fig. 5F shows a printing assembly 30 wherein the transition between the first support medium 23a and the main medium 22 has been positioned at a side of the print surface 32 and the printing unit 31 is ejecting ink droplets 35 creating a primary image on the main medium 22 while the medium is being transported into media transport direction Y again.
Alternatively, the printing unit 31 may already create a primary image or a part of a primary image on the main medium in between the steps shown in Fig. 5B and 5C. After the printing unit 31 has created the primary image or a part of the primary image on the main medium, the medium may be transported into media transport direction Y without the printing unit 31 ejecting ink droplets until a transition between the main medium and the second support medium is detected. A control unit not shown may then determine the remaining length of the main medium between said transition and the created image. The medium may then be transported into media transport direction Z as shown in Fig. 5D until an edge of the created image is positioned at for instance the second set of transporting rolls 34b and the printing unit 31 may continue creating a primary image or a part of a primary image on the remainder of the main medium.
Detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. In particular, features presented and described in separate dependent claims may be applied in combination and any advantageous combination of such claims is herewith disclosed.
Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. The terms "a" or "an", as used herein, are defined as one or more than one.
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

A media roll for use in a printing assembly, the media roll comprising
a media roll core;
a main medium having a first material property; and
a support medium having a second material property different from the first material property;
wherein the main medium is attached to the support medium; and
wherein the support medium is attached to a first side of the main medium; and
wherein the main medium and the support medium are configured to be wound around the media roll core into a rolled-up state; and
wherein, in the rolled-up state, the support medium forms an outer layer of the media roll.
A media roll according to claim 1, wherein a first support medium is attached to a first side of the main medium; and
wherein a second support medium is attached to a second side of the main medium; and
wherein, in the rolled-up state, the first support medium forms an outer layer of the media roll and the second support medium forms an inner layer of the media roll.
A printing assembly for printing an image on a medium, the printing assembly comprising
a print surface receiving the medium;
a printing unit facing the print surface for printing on the medium;
a supply unit supplying the medium to the print surface;
a receipt unit receiving the medium from the print surface;
a transport system for transporting the medium between the supply unit and the receipt unit;
a detection means for detecting a transition between a main medium and a support medium of a media roll which are attached to each other and both wound on the media roll; and
a control unit for controlling at least the supply unit and the receipt unit depending on the detected transition between the main medium and the support medium; and wherein the control unit is configured to control the supply unit and receipt unit enabling the transition between the main medium and the support medium to be positioned at a predetermined position relative to the printing unit.
A printing assembly according to claim 3, wherein the printing unit is configured to print a primary image on the main medium.
A printing assembly according to claim 4, wherein the printing unit is configured to print a secondary image on the support medium.
A method of supplying a media roll, wherein the media roll comprises a main medium and a support medium attached to each other and both wound on the media roll, in a printing assembly, wherein the printing assembly comprises a supply unit and a receipt unit;
wherein the method comprises the steps of
placing the media roll into a supply unit of the printing assembly;
engaging a leading edge of the medium with a transport system of the printing assembly for enabling the printing assembly to transport the medium from supply unit, over the print surface, to the receipt unit;
leading a medium of the media roll from the supply unit to a print surface of the printing assembly providing a web of a main medium of the media roll between the supply unit and the print surface;
detecting a transition between the support medium and the main medium of the media roll; and
positioning the main medium relative to the printing unit
A method of supplying a media roll according to claim 6, wherein the leading edge of the medium is the leading edge of the support medium.
A method of supplying a media roll according to claim 7, wherein the leading edge of the support medium is being attached to a medium of a second media roll.
A method of supplying a media roll according to claim 6, wherein the leading edge of the medium is the leading edge of the main medium.
A method of supplying a media roll according to claim 9, wherein the leading edge of the main medium is being attached to a medium of a second media roll.
A method of supplying a media roll according to claim 7, wherein the method further comprises the steps of
unwinding the media roll,
detecting a transition between the support medium and the main medium,
detecting a trailing edge of the main medium,
determining the length of the main medium between the support medium and the trailing edge of the main medium, and
rewinding the media roll.
A method of supplying a media roll according to claim 6, wherein the method further comprises the steps of
unwinding the media roll,
detecting a leading edge of the main medium,
detecting a transition between the support medium and the main medium,
determining the length of the main medium between the leading edge of the main medium and the support medium, and
rewinding the media roll.
A method of supplying a media roll according to claim 6, wherein the method further comprises the steps of
unwinding the media roll,
detecting a first transition between a first support medium and the main medium,
detecting a second transition between the main medium and a second support medium,
determining the length of the main medium between the first support medium and the second support medium, and
rewinding the media roll placed.