EP4197802A1 - Industrielles tintenstrahldruckverfahren - Google Patents
Industrielles tintenstrahldruckverfahren Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP4197802A1 EP4197802A1 EP21215958.6A EP21215958A EP4197802A1 EP 4197802 A1 EP4197802 A1 EP 4197802A1 EP 21215958 A EP21215958 A EP 21215958A EP 4197802 A1 EP4197802 A1 EP 4197802A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- stack
- substrate
- inkjet
- pallet
- fork
- 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.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 238000007641 inkjet printing Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 58
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 33
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 104
- 238000007639 printing Methods 0.000 claims description 35
- 238000001035 drying Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 abstract description 11
- 230000002708 enhancing effect Effects 0.000 abstract 1
- 239000000976 ink Substances 0.000 description 41
- 239000000049 pigment Substances 0.000 description 16
- 238000001723 curing Methods 0.000 description 15
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 11
- 239000000178 monomer Substances 0.000 description 8
- 239000003999 initiator Substances 0.000 description 7
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 7
- GWEVSGVZZGPLCZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Titan oxide Chemical compound O=[Ti]=O GWEVSGVZZGPLCZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 6
- 241001479434 Agfa Species 0.000 description 5
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 238000003032 molecular docking Methods 0.000 description 4
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 description 4
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- XEKOWRVHYACXOJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethyl acetate Chemical compound CCOC(C)=O XEKOWRVHYACXOJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- SJRJJKPEHAURKC-UHFFFAOYSA-N N-Methylmorpholine Chemical compound CN1CCOCC1 SJRJJKPEHAURKC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 239000000919 ceramic Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000003086 colorant Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000002904 solvent Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000004408 titanium dioxide Substances 0.000 description 3
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000003848 UV Light-Curing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 150000001252 acrylic acid derivatives Chemical class 0.000 description 2
- 239000006260 foam Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000012949 free radical photoinitiator Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000011261 inert gas Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 2
- QSHDDOUJBYECFT-UHFFFAOYSA-N mercury Chemical compound [Hg] QSHDDOUJBYECFT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229910052753 mercury Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000003960 organic solvent Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000000123 paper Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000006116 polymerization reaction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000012463 white pigment Substances 0.000 description 2
- KJSGODDTWRXQRH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl benzoate Chemical compound CN(C)CCOC(=O)C1=CC=CC=C1 KJSGODDTWRXQRH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229920000114 Corrugated plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- HBBGRARXTFLTSG-UHFFFAOYSA-N Lithium ion Chemical compound [Li+] HBBGRARXTFLTSG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 206010034972 Photosensitivity reaction Diseases 0.000 description 1
- NIXOWILDQLNWCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N acrylic acid group Chemical group C(C=C)(=O)O NIXOWILDQLNWCW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000000654 additive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000001412 amines Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- RWZYAGGXGHYGMB-UHFFFAOYSA-N anthranilic acid Chemical class NC1=CC=CC=C1C(O)=O RWZYAGGXGHYGMB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000000149 argon plasma sintering Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000004982 aromatic amines Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000002457 bidirectional effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000006229 carbon black Substances 0.000 description 1
- 125000004985 dialkyl amino alkyl group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 239000012470 diluted sample Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002270 dispersing agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002296 dynamic light scattering Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000001704 evaporation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008020 evaporation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001747 exhibiting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005562 fading Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012478 homogenous sample Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003112 inhibitor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000001023 inorganic pigment Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000010985 leather Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910001416 lithium ion Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 1
- CRVGTESFCCXCTH-UHFFFAOYSA-N methyl diethanolamine Chemical compound OCCN(C)CCO CRVGTESFCCXCTH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000012860 organic pigment Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011087 paperboard Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000036211 photosensitivity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000010526 radical polymerization reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000003254 radicals Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000000523 sample Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004062 sedimentation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011090 solid board Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003068 static effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004094 surface-active agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000003510 tertiary aliphatic amines Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- YRHRIQCWCFGUEQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N thioxanthen-9-one Chemical compound C1=CC=C2C(=O)C3=CC=CC=C3SC2=C1 YRHRIQCWCFGUEQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000002966 varnish Substances 0.000 description 1
- 125000000391 vinyl group Chemical group [H]C([*])=C([H])[H] 0.000 description 1
- 229920002554 vinyl polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000011800 void material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002023 wood Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
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
- B41J25/00—Actions or mechanisms not otherwise provided for
- B41J25/304—Bodily-movable mechanisms for print heads or carriages movable towards or from paper surface
- B41J25/308—Bodily-movable mechanisms for print heads or carriages movable towards or from paper surface with print gap adjustment mechanisms
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
- B41J11/0035—Handling copy materials differing in thickness
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H1/00—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated
- B65H1/04—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated adapted to support articles substantially horizontally, e.g. for separation from top of pile
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H1/00—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated
- B65H1/08—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated with means for advancing the articles to present the articles to the separating device
- B65H1/14—Supports or magazines for piles from which articles are to be separated with means for advancing the articles to present the articles to the separating device comprising positively-acting mechanical devices
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H31/00—Pile receivers
- B65H31/04—Pile receivers with movable end support arranged to recede as pile accumulates
- B65H31/08—Pile receivers with movable end support arranged to recede as pile accumulates the articles being piled one above another
- B65H31/10—Pile receivers with movable end support arranged to recede as pile accumulates the articles being piled one above another and applied at the top of the pile
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H31/00—Pile receivers
- B65H31/30—Arrangements for removing completed piles
- B65H31/3054—Arrangements for removing completed piles by moving the surface supporting the lowermost article of the pile, e.g. by using belts or rollers
- B65H31/3063—Arrangements for removing completed piles by moving the surface supporting the lowermost article of the pile, e.g. by using belts or rollers by special supports like carriages, containers, trays, compartments, plates or bars, e.g. moved in a closed loop
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
- B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
- B65H2301/42—Piling, depiling, handling piles
- B65H2301/422—Handling piles, sets or stacks of articles
- B65H2301/4225—Handling piles, sets or stacks of articles in or on special supports
- B65H2301/42256—Pallets; Skids; Platforms with feet, i.e. handled together with the stack
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
- B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
- B65H2301/42—Piling, depiling, handling piles
- B65H2301/422—Handling piles, sets or stacks of articles
- B65H2301/4226—Delivering, advancing piles
- B65H2301/42264—Delivering, advancing piles by moving the surface supporting the lowermost article of the pile, e.g. conveyor, carriage
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
- B65H2511/10—Size; Dimensions
- B65H2511/13—Thickness
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
- B65H2801/00—Application field
- B65H2801/03—Image reproduction devices
- B65H2801/15—Digital printing machines
Definitions
- the invention is related to an industrial inkjet printing method with an automatic board feeder.
- an automatic board feeder is added to the inkjet printing devices.
- Said feeder take from a pallet of substrates a substrate one by one to the input (side) of an inkjet printing device.
- By clamping means or suction cups on said feeder a substrate on top of the stack are taken and transported to said input of the inkjet printing device.
- An example of such automatic board feeder at an inkjet printing device is the MediaMaster TM from manufacturer EFI TM .
- the feeder is for example put in front of VUTEK TM GS3200 which is such a wide-format inkjet printing device.
- the Jeti Tauro TM H3300 UHS LED can print up to 600 m2/ h wherein the predecessor was only able to print up to 300 m2/h.
- the printing speed was doubled in less than 5 years.
- the time to accurately grab the substrate at the top of the stack shall be taken less time so substrates can be applied faster in the inkjet printing device.
- the operator of the inkjet printing device (P) may selecting the paper type on a console whereby the thickness of a single substrate is known because it is stored in memory and accessible by the console.
- Said thickness is in the embodiment used for a) determining and adapting the print gap height which is the shortest distance between the nozzle plate of an inkjet-head in the inkjet-head-module (305) and the printing side (300) of the inkjet printing device; and b) for lifting up the stack (199, ST1) with a distance equal or substantially equal to the thickness.
- the thickness of a substrate is mostly determined by a micrometre or thickness gauge but from the weight per m 2 and dimensions of the substrate it may also be determined.
- the thickness of a substrate may be determined by reading content from an identification code on the stack or the pallet which carries the stack.
- the pallet (P1) with the stack (199, ST1) is docked at the input (side) of the inkjet printing device (P).
- the transport of the pallet (PL1) is hereby done by a powered pallet jack over a floor (10) of the production site.
- An example of a powered pallet jack is a Raymond TM 8210 which is powered with a lithium-ion battery, thus an electric pallet jack. Said pallet jack is thus driven, preferably rolled to said input (200, I) over the floor (10).
- Such pallet jack has typically one or more forks (101, F1) which carries the pallet (PL1) preferably a EUR-pallet as specified by the European Pallet Association (EPAL).
- EPAL European Pallet Association
- the substrates are accurately docked, also called inserted, in the inkjet printing device (P) e.g. in a borderless inkjet printing method to avoid ink spoiling in the printing side (300).
- the embodiment comprises therefor an aligning-step to align an upright-side of the stack (199, ST1) with the input (200, I) by controlling the pallet jack (100, PJ1) for example at an alignment means (230) at the input (200, I).
- the application-step (APPL p ) and lifting-down-step (LIFT F2 ) of the other fork (501, F2) are performed during the repeating-step (1009, REPEAT) to speed up even more the production instead of before the repeating-step (1009, REPEAT).
- the one or more inkjet inks are jetted by one or more inkjet-heads ejecting small droplets in a controlled manner through nozzles onto the substrate moving relative to the inkjet-head(s).
- the inkjet-head(s) are part of one or more inkjet-head-modules.
- a preferred inkjet-head for the inkjet printing device is a piezoelectric head. Piezoelectric inkjet printing is based on the movement of a piezoelectric ceramic transducer when a voltage is applied thereto. The application of a voltage changes the shape of the piezoelectric ceramic transducer in the inkjet-head creating a void, which is then filled with inkjet ink or liquid. When the voltage is again removed, the ceramic expands to its original shape, ejecting a drop of ink from the inkjet-head.
- a preferred piezoelectric inkjet-head is a so-called through-flow piezoelectric drop-on-demand inkjet-head.
- through-flow inkjet-heads the reliability is enhanced and thus a more efficient and economical method of manufacturing high quality printed substrates is obtained.
- the inkjet printing method according to the present invention is not restricted to piezoelectric inkjet printing.
- Other inkjet-heads can be used and include various types, such as a continuous type inkjet-head.
- the inkjet-head normally scans back and forth in a transversal direction across the moving substrate (940, S), known as a multi-pass printing mode. Sometimes the inkjet-head does not print on the way back. Bidirectional printing is preferred for obtaining a high areal throughput.
- Another preferred printing method is by a "single pass printing process", which can be performed by using page wide inkjet-heads or multiple staggered inkjet-heads that cover the entire width of the substrate (940, S).
- the inkjet-heads usually remain stationary and the substrate is transported under the inkjet-heads.
- a single pass inkjet printing method used for printing the substrate (940, S).
- An advantage of using a multi-pass printing mode is that the liquid UV curable inkjet ink is cured in a consecutive passes, rather than in a single pass that would require a curing device with a high UV output.
- the inkjet-head lifetime is also larger for multi pass printing. While in single pass printing one side shooter is sufficient to replace the whole inkjet-head, in multi pass printing side (300) shooters and even failings can be tolerated. Also the cost of a multi-pass printer is usually much lower, especially for large format substrates.
- Suitable curing means include a heat radiation means like a hot air dryer, an oven, or an infrared light source, such as an infrared laser, one or more infrared laser diodes or infrared LEDs.
- An effective infrared radiation source for aqueous inkjet inks has an emission maximum between 0.8 and 2.5 ⁇ m, preferably between 0.8 and 1.5 ⁇ m.
- Such an infrared radiation source is sometimes called a NIR dryer.
- UV curable pigmented inkjet inks are used, then curing is usually performed by ultraviolet radiation alone. If so-called hybrid UV curable pigmented inkjet inks containing also water or organic solvents are used, then the curing device preferably further also includes curing means used for aqueous or solvent based pigmented inkjet inks.
- the curing device may be arranged in combination with the inkjet-head of the inkjet printer, travelling therewith so that the inkjet ink is exposed to curing radiation very shortly after been jetted.
- any ultraviolet light source as long as part of the emitted light can be absorbed by the photo-initiator or photo-initiator system, may be employed as a radiation source, such as a high or low pressure mercury lamp, a cold cathode tube, a black light, an ultraviolet LED, an ultraviolet laser, and a flash light.
- the preferred source is one exhibiting a relatively long wavelength UV-contribution having a dominant wavelength of 300-400 nm.
- a UV-A light source is preferred due to the reduced light scattering therewith resulting in more efficient interior curing.
- UV radiation is generally classed as UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C as follows: UV-A: 400 nm to 320 nm; UV-B: 320 nm to 290 nm; UV-C: 290 nm to 100 nm.
- the first UV-source can be selected to be rich in UV-C, in particular in the range of 260 nm-200 nm.
- the second UV-source can then be rich in UV-A, e.g. a gallium-doped lamp, or a different lamp high in both UV-A and UV-B.
- the use of two UV-sources has been found to have advantages such as a fast curing speed and a high curing degree.
- the UV curing is performed using UV LEDs having an emission wavelength higher than 360 nm.
- the inkjet printer may include one or more oxygen depletion units.
- the oxygen depletion units place a blanket of nitrogen or other relatively inert gas (e.g. CO 2 ), with adjustable position and adjustable inert gas concentration, in order to reduce the oxygen concentration in the curing environment. Residual oxygen levels are usually maintained as low as 200 ppm, but are generally in the range of 200 ppm to 1200 ppm.
- an image is printed on the substrate by jetting droplets where after the droplets are dried or cured, and optionally the printed image is varnished with inkjet technology.
- the input (side) (200, I) of an inkjet printing device (P) is where a substrate for printing is inserted in / applied on the inkjet printing device (P).
- the sheet-separating may comprising one or more of the following steps
- the transporting is preferably performed by a picking system (220) which comprises clamping means or suction cups to pick the substrate on top of the stack and transport it to the input.
- the picking system (220) preferably comprises a row or array of suction cups with auto on/off valves.
- the suction cups are quick release suction cups and optionally the picking system (220) comprises suction cup (level) compensators.
- the picking system (220) may comprise means to adapt the positions of the suction cups in said row or said array for aligning them according the dimensions of the substrate (940, S). If the dimensions are known said means may automatically change said positions of the suction cups.
- more than one powered pallet jack may be docking.
- the input (200, I) or picking system (220) is able to control multiple substrates for printing simultaneously.
- the input (200, I) comprises one or more movable stack guides for supporting and aligning one or more upright-sides and/or one or more upright-corners of the stack (199, ST1).
- said movable stack guides are moved by a powered means according the dimensions of the substrate (940, S).
- the inkjet printing device (P) has also an output (side) (400, O) where the printed substrate (960) is removed from the inkjet printing device (P).
- the substrate After printing the substrate is removed from the output (400, O) towards an other stack (599, ST2).
- the specific lifting down makes that the other stack becomes an orderly pile of printed substrates which may be easily stored in a magazine or easily handled in a post printing process such as cutting or folding.
- the application-step is preferably a transporting-step and more preferably performed by a picking system (420) which comprises clamping means or suction cups to pick the substrate from the output and transport it to the top of the other stack.
- the picking system (420) preferably comprises a row or array of suction cups with auto on/off valves.
- the suction cups are quick release suction cups and optionally the picking system (420) comprises suction cup (level) compensators.
- the picking system (420) may comprise means to adapt the positions of the suction cups in said row or said array for aligning them according the dimensions of the substrate (940, S). If the dimensions are known said means may automatically change said positions of the suction cups.
- the application-step (APPL p ) in said preferred embodiment comprises one or more of the following steps:
- more than one powered pallet jack may be docking.
- the output (200, I) or picking system (420) is able to control multiple printed substrates simultaneously.
- the output (400, O) comprises one or more movable stack guides for supporting and aligning one or more upright-sides and/or one or more upright-corners of the stack (199, ST1).
- said movable stack guides are moved by a powered means according the dimensions of the substrate (940, S).
- the inkjet inks that are printed as droplets on the substrate (940, S) preferably contain a colorant.
- the colorant may be a dye, but is preferably a pigment.
- a colour pigment is less susceptible to light fading.
- the pigmented inkjet inks may be selected from aqueous pigmented inkjet inks, solvent based pigmented inkjet inks and radiation curable pigmented inkjet inks.
- the one or more pigmented inkjet inks are preferably radiation curable inkjet inks, most preferably UV curable inkjet inks.
- the pigmented inkjet inks preferably contain organic colour pigments as they allow for obtaining a high colour gamut on the substrate (940, S).
- Organic colour pigments as they allow for obtaining a high colour gamut on the substrate (940, S).
- Carbon black and titanium dioxide are inorganic pigments, which can be advantageously used in the present invention for composing black respectively white pigmented inkjet inks.
- An organic colour pigment may be chosen from those disclosed by HERBST, Willy, et al. Industrial Organic Pigments, Production, Properties, Applications. 3rd edition. Wiley - VCH , 2004. ISBN 3527305769 . Suitable colour pigments are disclosed in paragraphs [0128] to [0138] of WO 2008/074548 (AGFA GRAPHICS).
- the pigmented inkjet inks form a CMYK(W) or CRYK(W) inkjet ink set.
- Pigment particles in inkjet inks should be sufficiently small to permit free flow of the ink through the inkjet-printing device, especially at the ejecting nozzles. It is also desirable to use small particles for maximum colour strength and to slow down sedimentation.
- the numeric average pigment particle size of an organic colour pigment and an inorganic black pigment is preferably between 0.050 and 1 ⁇ m, more preferably between 0.070 and 0.300 ⁇ m and most preferably between 0.080 and 0.200 ⁇ m.
- the determination of the numeric average particle diameter is best performed by photon correlation spectroscopy at a wavelength of 633 nm with a 4mW HeNe laser on a diluted sample of the pigmented inkjet ink.
- a suitable particle size analyzer used was a Malvern TM nano-S available from Goffin-Meyvis.
- a sample can, for example, be prepared by addition of one drop of ink to a cuvette containing 1.5 mL ethyl acetate and mixed until a homogenous sample was obtained.
- the measured particle size is the average value of 3 consecutive measurements consisting of 6 runs of 20 seconds.
- a white pigment preferably has a numeric average pigment particle size larger than 180 nm in order to have a strong opacifying capability.
- Suitable white pigments are given by Table 2 in [0116] of WO 2008/074548 (AGFA GRAPHICS ) .
- the white pigment is preferably a pigment with a refractive index greater than 1.60.
- the white pigments may be employed singly or in combination.
- titanium dioxide is used as pigment with a refractive index greater than 1.60.
- Suitable titanium dioxide pigments are those disclosed in [0117] and in [0118] of WO 2008/074548 (AGFA GRAPHICS ).
- polymerizable compounds and at least one photoinitiator is present in the inkjet ink.
- the polymerizable compound may be any monomer or oligomer found in the Polymer Handbook Vol 1 + 2, 4th edition, edited by J. BRANDRUP et al., Wiley-Interscience, 1999 .
- An oligomer in the present invention is understood to contain 2 to 8 repeating monomeric units.
- Preferred monomers and oligomers are those listed in [0106] to [0115] in EP 1911814 A (AGFA) .
- a monomer or oligomer capable of free radical polymerization is used as polymerizable compound.
- a combination of monomers, oligomers and/or prepolymers may also be used.
- the monomers, oligomers and/or prepolymers may possess different degrees of functionality, and a mixture including combinations of mono-, di-, tri-and higher functionality monomers, oligomers and/or prepolymers may be used.
- an amount of at least 60 to 100 wt% of monofunctional polymerizable compounds is used in the UV curable pigmented inkjet ink with the wt% based on the total weight of the inkjet ink.
- the viscosity of the radiation curable inkjet inks can be adjusted by varying the amount of specific monomers and oligomers.
- the UV curable inkjet ink contains one or more photoinitiators, preferably one or more free radical photoinitiators.
- a free radical photoinitiator is a chemical compound that initiates polymerization of monomers and oligomers when exposed to actinic radiation by the formation of a free radical.
- Suitable photo-initiators are disclosed in CRIVELLO, J.V., et al. VOLUME III: Photoinitiators for Free Radical Cationic . 2nd edition. Edited by BRADLEY, G.. London,UK: John Wiley and Sons Ltd, 1998. p.287-294 .
- the inkjet inks are most preferably UV LED curable pigmented inkjet inks. Such inkjet inks allow for reliable and cost-effective inkjet printing.
- the one or more photoinitiators include an acylphosphine oxide photoinitiator and a thioxanthone photoinitiator.
- an acylphosphine oxide photoinitiator and a thioxanthone photoinitiator.
- UV LEDs are more economical in operating the inkjet printing than mercury lamps.
- the UV curable inkjet ink may additionally contain co-initiators.
- co-initiators can be categorized in three groups: (1) tertiary aliphatic amines, such as methyldiethanolamine and N-methylmorpholine; (2) aromatic amines such as 2-(dimethylamino)ethylbenzoate; and (3) (meth)acrylated amines such as dialkylamino alkyl(meth)acrylates and N-morpholinoalkyl-(meth)acrylates.
- the preferred co-initiators are aminobenzoates.
- a preferred amount of photoinitiator and co-initiator is 0.1 to 30 wt%, and most preferably 5 to 10 wt% of the total weight of the UV curable inkjet ink.
- the one or more pigmented inkjet inks may contain further additives such as surfactants, polymerization inhibitors and dispersants for the colour pigments.
- Powered pallet jacks also known as electric pallet trucks are motorized to allow lifting and moving of heavier and stacked pallets. Some contain a platform for the user to stand while moving pallets.
- the powered pallet jack is generally moved by a throttle on the handle to move forward or in reverse and steered by swinging the handle in the intended direction.
- Said pallet jacks comprises one or more forks were on a load is carried such as a pallet with a stack of substrates.
- Preferably moving such pallet jack comprises
- the lifting-up of the fork (101, F1) is controlled wireless via an operator system of the inkjet printing device (P).
- a preferred embodiment comprises after docking , more preferably after the alignment-step (1005, ALIGN), the sequential steps:
- the measuring of said height may be performed by one or more sensors at the input (200, I) or on the pallet jack (100, PJ1).
- the distance for transporting (1007, TRANSs) the substrate (940, S) towards the input (200, I) becomes smaller thus shorter production times can be achieved.
- Said sensors may also be used to determine the number of substrates on the stack. Said number may be visualized on the console of the inkjet printing device (P).
- the aligning-step (1005, ALIGN) may be performed by projection of parallel lines on the floor (10) with a laser light unit at the input (200, I) and checking if the stack is within said parallel lines when the pallet is docked.
- the distance between the parallel lines may be adapted if the dimensions of the stack are known e.g. by reading an identification code on the pallet or the stack.
- a stack contains a plurality of equal dimensioned substrates of the same substrate-type.
- the substrate may be selected from the group consisting of folding carton, acrylic plates, honeycomb board, corrugated board, foam, medium density fibreboard, solid board, rigid paper board, fluted core board, plastics, foam board, corrugated plastic, leather panels, carpet, vinyl, veneer, wood.
- the substrate preferably comprises an inkjet acceptance layer.
- the stack or the pallet which carries the stack contains one or more identification codes that are used to receive content about the substrate of a stack.
- An upright side of the stack preferably comprises said identification code for example on a label glued on said upright side. If the identification code is read for example the thickness of a single substrate can be received but also other content can be received:
- An identification code may include alphanumerical data, such as a name and/or numbers, but preferably it is a machine readable identification code.
- the identification code is preferably machine readable as this generally speeds up the manufacturing process and/or the logistic process as it allows for faster identification without errors.
- Preferred 2D codes include a barcode, a QR code, a datamatrix code, a cool-data-matrix code, an aztec code, an upcode, a trillcode, a quickmark code, a shot code, a mcode, a beetagg and the like.
- One or more identification codes may be after reading also be inkjet printed together next to the image on the substrate for additional control of the printing process.
- the identification code is preferably read when the powered pallet jack (100, PJ1) is docked.
- An identification code reader such as a smartphone with an QR-code app, is hereby constructed at the input (200, I) of the inkjet printing device.
- the received content of the identification code is preferably used to control the powered pallet jack for better alignment of the pallet or stack. Said received content may contain for this the dimensions of the pallet or the stack.
- the received content of the identification code is preferably used to control the inkjet printing device. Said received content may contain for this the thickness of a single substrate to adapt the print gap height or a customer information to adapt the print queue list with only print jobs of said customer or prevent print jobs which are not for said customer.
- the received content of the identification code is may contain the substrate-type of the substrates on the stack. Said content may be used to control the inkjet printing device such as adapting the print mode, adapting the print speed, adapting the curing / drying parameters.
- the received content may also be used for warehouse stock controlling.
- the received content of the identification code contains the dimensions of a single substrate on the stack, then said content may be used to adapt the alignment of the clamping means or suction cups of a picking system (220, 420) at the input (200, I) and/or output (400, O).
- the image may consist of a single colour or it may include multiple colours such as black, white, cyan, magenta, yellow, red, orange, violet, blue, green and brown.
- the image may be purely decorative, but it may also contain alphanumerical data or other type of information, such as a logo or a pictogram.
- Figure 2 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention: a system that is capable to doing the steps: determining (1001, DETERM) the thickness of a single substrate of a stack (199, ST1); adapting (1002, ADAPT) a print gap height of an inkjet-head-module (305) of an inkjet printing device (P) according the thickness; carrying (1003, CARRY PL1 ) the stack (199, ST1) on a pallet (PL1) with a fork (101, F1) of a powered pallet jack (100, PJ1); moving (1004, MOVE PJ1 ) the pallet jack (100, PJ1) on a floor (10) to an input (200, I) of the inkjet printing device (P); aligning (1005, ALIGN) an upright-side of the stack (199, ST1) with the input (200, I) by controlling the pallet jack (100, PJ1); lifting up (1006, LlFT F1 ) the fork (101, F1) with a distance substantially equal to the
- the powered pallet jack (100, PJ1) rolls the docket pallet (101) with the stack (199, ST1) from a storage location (299) having a plurality of pallets carrying a stack (920) with unprinted substrates. Said pallet jack (100, PJ1) is guided over the floor (10). The stack (199, ST1) carried on a fork (101) of the pallet jack (100, PJ1) is aligned against an alignment means (230) at the input (I, 200). After printing the empty pallet (PL1) is stored by guiding the pallet jack (100, PJ1) over the floor (10) to another storage location (199) having empty pallets (900).
- a substrate (940, S) is taken from the top of the stack (199, ST1) with a picking system (220) and transported against an other alignment means (235) at the input (I, 200) as illustrated by an arrow.
- an image is printed on a substrate by an inkjet-head-module (305) which is capable of printing white (W), cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), black (K) and varnish (V).
- the substrate is transported on a vacuum belt system (310).
- the arrow near the vacuum belt illustrates the direction of conveying.
- a printed substrate is taken with another picking system for transporting to the other stack (599) which is carried on another pallet (PL2) from the other location (199).
- the pallet (PL2) itself is carried on a fork (501) of another powered pallet jack (500) which is docked at the output (500, O).
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Ink Jet (AREA)
Priority Applications (1)
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EP21215958.6A EP4197802A1 (de) | 2021-12-20 | 2021-12-20 | Industrielles tintenstrahldruckverfahren |
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EP21215958.6A EP4197802A1 (de) | 2021-12-20 | 2021-12-20 | Industrielles tintenstrahldruckverfahren |
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2021
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