EP0659569A1 - High speed printer and its uses - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a printer with a single printing motor and a single non-contact oven, characterised in that it comprises a printing width and a paper passage width (30) greater than that of a double breadth of between 18.5" (46.99 cm) and 20.5" (52.07 cm), and a selective control of the writing heads (T1, T2) either for using them as a single group for printing a centred double-breadth web or for using them as two groups of heads for jointly printing two single-breadth webs separated by a margin, the two groups of heads or each group of heads being capable of being supplied with an ink colour. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a printer with a high printing rate and the uses of such a printer. In recent years, printer manufacturers have offered continuous paper tape printing systems that allow two-color or two-sided printing.

Thus a first state of the art using two machines in tandem one for printing in black, the other in blue. The paper strip passed directly from one machine to another, generally under a raised floor. The disadvantage of such a technique is to use two printers while the proportion of jobs requiring two colors remains relatively low. Technically, the existence of a long loop of paper between the exit of one machine and the entry of the other prohibits a fine recording of the two colors, especially if the strip of paper is not stretched.

More recently two-sided approaches have been proposed which also use two printers in tandem, but arranged along axes at 90 ° so as to allow the inversion of the strip of paper by a bar at 45 °. The paper is stretched or not, the registration of the two sides presenting no excessive requirements in the case of duplex printing. This approach also has the economic disadvantage of requiring two separate machines. It should also be noted that the associated additional cost is more justified than in the two-color case by the resulting saving in paper (factor two also). On the other hand, the "L" configuration consumes floor space and is poorly integrated into the linear layout of presses, such as those encountered in industrial workshops which are used for two-sided machines. A line setting is however possible by using a more complex system with 3 turning bars without reducing the total length of the line. In the case of single-sided work, we can always go back to two separate printers and keep the same production rate in pages per minute, but this at the cost of relatively heavy handling.

Another two-sided approach is proposed in US Patent 4,796,066. Two print engines are placed in series inside a single printer (twin-engine approach). This architecture makes it possible to share certain functions common to the two engines, hence a lower cost. However, in the case of single-sided work, one of the engines remains unused and the production in pages per minute is divided by 2.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a printer with a single magnetographic printing engine with a high printing rate which makes it possible to print either double-sided a strip of paper of normal width, or to print a double-width strip of paper on the front, or to print a strip of paper of normal width in two colors.

This object is achieved by the fact that the high-speed printer has a single print engine and a single non-contact oven at a printing width and a paper passage width greater than that of a double width between 18.5 '' and 20.5 '' (46.99 cm and 52.07 cm) and selective control of the writing heads either to use them as a single group to print a centered double-width strip, or for use as two groups of heads to print two simple single width webs concomitantly separated by a margin, the two groups of heads or each group of heads being able to be supplied with an ink color.

According to another particular feature, the selective control of the heads for printing a pattern for each group of heads on a single strip takes account of the spatial offset introduced by a double strip collector device with two turning bars.

According to another particular feature, the printer comprises a device for returning without turning a simple wide strip printed with a first ink color on one side by a first group of heads to the second group of heads to allow two-color printing.

According to another particular feature, the printer comprises a return device with reversal of a single wide strip printed on a face in a C1 color by the first group of heads supplied with ink of the same color to the second group of heads to allow two-sided printing with the same color.

According to another particular feature, the selective control of the groups of heads is carried out so as to take account of the spatial offset introduced by the return device.

Another aim is to propose the use of printers with two-color or front printing to perform a four-color printing on the front. This object is achieved by the fact that two printers with two-color printing are associated in series, the second printer printing on a first side with the second group of heads and the return device without turning ensures the routing of the strip leaving the second group of heads of the second printer to the first group of heads of the second printer arranged on the left of the second printer.

A second object is to propose a use of the printer according to the invention to allow printing on a single width web of two colors on the front and back.

This object is achieved by the fact that two duplex printers are associated in series, the second printer printing on the back of the single width web with the second group of heads, the second color of the two-color pattern and the return device with flipping from the second printer ensuring the flow of the tape leaving the group of heads located on the right of the second printer towards the group of heads located on the left of the second printer to perform the printing of the pattern in the second color.

According to another particular feature, each group of heads or the two groups of heads are supplied with an ink color.

Another object is to propose a use allowing a double-sided printing on a double width strip or two single width strips.

This object is achieved by the fact that two printers are associated in series, the two single-width strips or the double-width strip leaving the first printer being returned by a turning device before introduction into the second printer.

Another object is to propose a use of the printer to perform the printing of a two-color recto strip and of a monochrome duplex strip with different colors on the front and on the back.

This object is achieved by the fact that two printers with different ink colors are associated in series, the single wide strip leaving the left lane of the printer is turned over by a turning device before introduction into the left lane of the second printer to be printed in a different color ink.

Another object is to propose a use of the printer allowing a two-color front strip and printing on a second strip on the front and / or back with the same color.

This object is achieved by the fact that two printers, the second of which is supplied by two different ink colors, each associated with a group of heads are associated in series and, the strip leaving by the left path of the first printer being turned over in a turning device to be introduced into the left path corresponding to the first group of heads of the second printer supplied with ink of the same color as the first printer while the right strip leaving the first printer enters directly into the second printer to be printed by the second group of heads of the second printer fed by the second color.

According to another particularity, two double-width printers are associated in series by interposing between them a tape turning device to perform a double-sided printing of the tape.

According to another particular feature, two printers with two single width webs are associated in series by introducing between them a tape turning device to perform a double-sided printing of the tape.

According to another particular feature, at the output of the second printer with two single width strips there is a collector device.

• La figure 1 représente le schéma de principe du moteur magnétographique large et du four non-contact unique constituant l'imprimante selon l'invention ;
• La figure 2 représente l'utilisation de l'imprimante avec une bande de papier unique double laize ;
• La figure 3 représente utilisation de l'imprimante avec deux bandes de papier simple laize ;
• La figure 4 l'utilisation de l'imprimante pour effectuer une impression parallèle recto avec collation par translation de la bande;
• La figure 5 représente une utilisation de l'imprimante pour effectuer une impression recto-verso monochrome ;
• La figure 6 représente le schéma de principe d'utilisation de l'imprimante pour effectuer une impression bicolore au recto ;
• La figure 7 représente l'utilisation de deux imprimantes selon l'invention pour effectuer une impression grande largeur recto ;
• La figure 8 représente l'utilisation de deux imprimantes selon l'invention pour effectuer sur deux bandes papier simple laize l'impression parallèle recto en deux couleurs au recto ;
• La figure 9 représente l'utilisation de deux imprimantes selon l'invention pour effectuer sur deux bandes papier simple laize l'impression parallèle recto de deux couleurs avec collation de deux bandes ;
• La figure 10 représente l'utilisation de deux imprimantes selon l'invention pour effectuer une impression sur une bande papier double laize en impression recto-verso monochrome ;
• La figure 11 représente l'utilisation de deux imprimantes selon l'invention pour effectuer une impression recto-verso monochrome sur deux bandes de papier simple laize ;
• La figure 12 représente l'utilisation de deux imprimantes selon l'invention pour effectuer l'impression parallèle recto-verso monochrome sur deux bandes de papier simple laize avec collation.
• La figure 13 représente l'utilisation de deux imprimantes selon l'invention pour effectuer l'impression recto-verso bicolore sur une bande de papier unique simple laize avec deux couleurs au recto et au verso ;
• La figure 14 représente l'utilisation de deux imprimantes selon l'invention pour effectuer l'impression d'une bande recto bicolore, d'une bande recto et verso monochrome avec des couleurs différentes au recto et au verso sur des bandes de papier simple laize ;
• La figure 15 représente l'utilisation de deux imprimantes selon l'invention pour effectuer l'impression sur une bande papier simple laize recto bicolore, et sur l'autre bande papier simple laize un recto et un verso monochrome avec la même couleur au recto et au verso ;
• La figure 16 représente l'utilisation de deux imprimantes selon l'invention pour effectuer sur une bande papier unique simple laize une impression en quadrichromie au recto ;
• La figure 17 représente les largeurs de chemin de papier et largeur d'impression possible avec l'imprimante selon la figure 1.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will appear more clearly on reading the description below made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• Figure 1 shows the block diagram of the wide magnetographic motor and the single non-contact oven constituting the printer according to the invention;
• Figure 2 shows the use of the printer with a single double-width strip of paper;
• Figure 3 shows using the printer with two strips of single width paper;
• Figure 4 the use of the printer to perform a parallel front printing with translational collation of the strip;
• Figure 5 shows a use of the printer to perform monochrome duplex printing;
• FIG. 6 represents the diagram of principle of use of the printer to carry out a two-color printing on the front;
• FIG. 7 shows the use of two printers according to the invention for carrying out wide front printing;
• FIG. 8 represents the use of two printers according to the invention for carrying out on two single-width paper strips the parallel printing on the front in two colors on the front;
• FIG. 9 shows the use of two printers according to the invention for carrying out on two single width paper strips the parallel front printing of two colors with collation of two strips;
• FIG. 10 represents the use of two printers according to the invention for carrying out a printing on a double width paper strip in monochrome two-sided printing;
• FIG. 11 represents the use of two printers according to the invention for carrying out monochrome duplex printing on two strips of single width paper;
• FIG. 12 represents the use of two printers according to the invention for carrying out monochrome double-sided parallel printing on two strips of single width paper with collation.
• FIG. 13 represents the use of two printers according to the invention for carrying out two-color duplex printing on a single single width web of paper with two colors on the front and on the back;
• FIG. 14 represents the use of two printers according to the invention to effect the printing of a two-color recto strip, of a monochrome recto and verso strip with different colors on the recto and verso on strips of single width paper ;
• FIG. 15 shows the use of two printers according to the invention to carry out printing on a single-sided single-sided two-color paper strip, and on the other single-sided single-sided paper strip a monochrome front and back with the same color on the front and on the back side ;
• FIG. 16 represents the use of two printers according to the invention for carrying out on a single single width paper strip a four-color printing on the front;
• Figure 17 shows the paper path widths and possible printing width with the printer according to Figure 1.

The invention represented in FIG. 1 consists of a printing engine, for example a single magnetographic one with a large width and a single non-contact oven. Preferably, the print engine must have a total width of oversized paper passage compared to the conventional double-width engine and preferably this width should be greater than or equal to 18.5 '' and preferably with a value lying at 20.5 '' as we will see below.

The invention by way of example for a magnetographic engine also applies to any other engine whatever the technology such as electrophotographic laser or LED, ionographic, thermal, inkjet, etc.

This print engine will include a set of writing heads which will be able to function as a single group of width corresponding to a double-width strip as will be seen with FIG. 2, or else as two groups of independent heads each corresponding to the width a strip of single width paper, each head group being able to be associated with an ink supply of different colors C1, C2. It should be noted that the number of writing heads depends on a number of printing positions dictated by the density of dots and the printing width. Thus the writing heads must cover a width corresponding to a double-width strip represented by the reference 18 in FIG. 17 and must be able to be selectively controlled as two groups of independent heads with an intermediate zone 13, FIG. 17 not printed when the printer is used with a single width paper strip feed.

FIG. 2 represents the printing engine conventionally used with a double width paper strip and in this case the two groups of writing heads T1, T2 are selected for printing in the area 18 and the areas 16 and 17 of the heads a'writing correspond to the areas at the two ends of the printing device which are not used because they are surplus in the case considered of a single double-width strip.

Figure 3 shows the same print engine used to print two strips of single width paper separated by a margin. In this use, the write heads are controlled as two groups of selectable heads T1, T2, independently and separated by a space of unused write heads 13 which delimits the margin between the two strips. In this case, for this type of use, the paper passage (figure 17) must be at least 18.5 '' (46.99 cm) to allow the passage of the two 8.5 '' strips (21, 59 cm) and the possibility of having two margins of 0.5 '' (1.27 cm) at the edge of the paper paths and a margin of 0.5 '' (1.27 cm) between the two strips. If, on the contrary, it is a continuous support with side bands 8.5 '' (21.59 cm) paper strips will require a paper passage of at least 20.5 '' (52.07 cm) which breaks down as follows: twice 8 , 5 '' (21.59 cm) for the pages themselves, 4 times 0.5 '' (1.27 cm) for the two pairs of lateral drive bands, 2 times 0.5 '' (1, 27 cm) from the edge of the paper path and 0.5 '' (1.27 cm) of margin between the two strips. The advantage of such a printer is that it makes it possible to offer the possibility of printing double width or single width strips on the same printer. This may be of interest in that it saves a downstream shaping operation to separate two single width from the printing of a double and where we can operate at a high rate. In addition, the two single width bands, because both provided with two lateral drive bands, can be used directly on other standard shaping devices, which would not be the case with the two half bands obtained from '' a single double width strip cut in the middle, which would each have only one lateral drive strip and, moreover, located on different sides.

FIG. 4 represents the use of the printer according to the invention for printing using two groups of heads T1, T2 selectively controlled two strips of single width paper 30, 31 in recto parallel printing. The second strip 31 which circulates on the right path of the printer is translated by a translation device constituted by a first turning bar 40 and a second turning bar 41 so as to collate the two strips 30 and 31. Each of the print heads T1, T2 is controlled with a well-defined offset to allow temporary compensation for the spatial offset resulting from the two-bar translation system. The possibility of working in stretched bands inside the collation printer thus obtained allows excellent control of the register.

Economically by sharing almost all of the ancillary functions of the printer, the cost of the collector function is greatly reduced compared to that of the state of the art which is generally made up of as many personalization printers as of strips to be superimposed.

Furthermore, in the solution of the invention, the rate expressed in pages per unit of time remains strictly the same.

FIG. 5 shows how the printer of the invention can be easily used for double-sided printing of a single width web by associating with the printer controlled according to two groups of printer heads a double turning device and direction reversal consisting, by way of illustrative but non-limiting example, of a first turning bar 50 causing the strip 30R leaving the left path of the printer to pass transversely below the latter and a second turning bar 51 which causes the strip to return parallel and in the opposite direction along the right path. A roller 52 then changes down the direction of the web and a second roller 53 again changes the direction of the printing web to make it move parallel to the path. Finally, a last roller 54 makes it possible to bring the strip 30 to enter the second path of the printer situated on the right to allow printing by the second group of heads T2 on the back side 30V of the strip which leaves printed on its back on the right side of the printer. Here too, the use of a well-defined offset between the commands of the heads of the two halves of the writing station makes it possible to guarantee the register and this all the better since the strip can be extended. Compared to the state of the art, the printer proposed therefore allows extremely flexible use without any modification of the production rate on the page.

Finally, in the case of the use of the printer for two-color printing, the invention can be used as shown in FIG. 6 by associating with each group of writing heads T1, T2 a respective supply with colored ink. different C1, C2. The printer is then fed by a single wide strip which enters via the left path of the printer to pass under the head gourd T1 and after having passed through a return device without turning, the strip is again printed by the second group of heads T2 of the printer supplied to it by the second ink color C2. In this case of use, the inking box of the print engine is partitioned in the middle and provisions have been made to supply independently each of the two half boxes thus obtained. In this use, the rate expressed in pages per unit of time is of course divided by two, but it is not the same pages because the two-color constitutes where it is commercially important significant added value which justifies the decrease in rate . The return device without turning, by way of illustrative but nonlimiting example, consists of a first turning bar 60 for bringing the paper strip of the left path transversely to the directions of travel of the printer. Then a downward deflection bar 61 brings this strip vertically and a deflection bar 62 puts the horizontal strip in an opposite direction going from right to left, another reversal bar 63 replaces the strip parallel to the straight path and below this in the direction of the second printing unit T2. Finally, a last bar 64 modifies the direction of the strip to bring its front face towards the second group of printheads.

The use of two print engines makes it possible to offer both duplex printing and / or two-color printing where known approaches would have required four print engines. Thus, FIG. 7 represents how two printers of the previous type placed in line make it possible to print two colors on the same double-width paper strip by simply interposing between the two print motors 1A, 1B a deflection roller 42 downwards and a deflection roller 43 towards the inlet of the second print engine.

This same printer constituted by two print engines 1A, 1B provided that each of the two groups of heads T1, T2, T'1, T'2 is selectively controlled and that each of the engines is supplied with ink of different colors will allow printing on two strips of single-sided single-sided paper with two colors on the front as shown in Figure 8. Similarly, the same printer using two print engines 1A and 1B will allow the printing in parallel of two strips of single width paper with two colors on the front and the collation of the two strips using a collation device constituted by the inversion rollers 40, 41 as shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 10 shows how two printing motors 1A, 1B described above make it possible to print double-sided on a double width web by inserting between the two motors a turning device of the strip constituted by way of illustrative but nonlimiting example by a turning bar 70, a change of direction bar 71 orienting the strip downwards, a change of direction bar 72 orienting the strip horizontally, a second reversal 73 and a direction change bar 74 orienting the strip towards the entry of the second motor 1B.

FIG. 11 represents the use of the same architecture for the printing of two strips of single width paper in parallel in monochrome duplex printing. Thus, the invention has the same practical advantage as that already mentioned in the case of two-color printing.

FIG. 12 shows how, by adding to a device such as that of FIG. 11, a lateral translation device constituted by two 45 ° turning bars, 40, 41, it is possible to obtain a collector with two bands, each band being personalized both on the front and back.

FIG. 13 shows in schematic form how two printers of the type of those described in FIG. 5 can be adapted to allow two-color and double-sided printing of a single wide strip. A first printer of the type of FIG. 5 is associated with a second printer of the same type but in which the input and output paths have been reversed. That is to say the entry path of the second printer 1B being done from the right opposite the second group of writing heads T'2 of the second printer and the return device with reversal ensuring the return with reversal from the right path to the left path so that the strip arrives on its reverse side opposite the first group of heads T'1 located on the left path of the second printer 1B. In this device, the first print engine 1A is supplied with a color ink C1 and the second print engine 1B is supplied with a color ink C2 and thus the single width web is printed in two colors C1, C2 on each of its two faces.

FIG. 14 also illustrates the great flexibility of use offered by the printer of the invention when it is combined with another printer of the same type for printing in parallel both a single web strip in two-color front and a single web double-sided width each side of which is monochrome but of different color. To do this, we take a first printer engine 1A whose groups of heads T1, T2 are supplied with ink of color C1 and in which two simple width strips 30R, 31R pass, the left strip being turned over before introduction into the second printer motor by a conventional turning device constituted by way of non-limiting illustration of a turning bar 70, a turning bar down 71, a horizontal turning bar 72, a second turning bar 73 and a deflection bar 74 towards the entry of the left channel of the second printer 1B. For the straight path of the strip 31R passes at the output of the first printer 1A simply on a change of direction bar 42 and under a second change of direction bar 43 to enter the right path of the second printer 1B of which the two groups of heads T'1 and T'2 are supplied with ink C2 of a different color.

The variant of FIG. 15 corresponds to the architecture of FIG. 14 with, simply for the second printer engine, a double inking tray thanks to which the group of heads T'1 is supplied with an ink of color C1 identical to l ink supply of the first printer engine 1A and the second group of heads T'2 of the second printer engine 1B is supplied with an ink of different color C2.

With this version, the same color is obtained on both sides of the double-sided strip printed on the left side of the printer, the other strip being always two-color on the front.

Finally, FIG. 16 represents an architecture in which two printer engines of the type of FIG. 6 are used with a partitioned inking box to allow continuous printing of four-color images from two ink colors C1, C2 contained in the inking boxes of the first motor 1A and of the other two ink colors C3, C4 placed in the second motor 1B. The ink C1 being used to supply the first group of write heads T1 of the first motor 1A, the ink C2 the second group of heads T2 of the first motor 1A which receives the strip after it has passed into the first group head and in the return device without turning. The strip exits through the right path of the first 1A motor to enter the right lane of the second motor 1B which will print the front side with colored ink C3 supplying the second group T'2 of the second motor 1B. Then the ribbon after passing through a return device without turning returns to the left track of the second motor 1B and the color ink C4 is printed using the first group of heads T'2 of the second motor. Thus, one can realize the multiple possibilities offered by this new type of printer engine in combination with return devices with flipping or return without flipping or snack.

Any modifications within the reach of those skilled in the art are also part of the spirit of the invention.

Claims (17)

Printer with a single print engine and single non-contact oven, characterized in that it has a printing width and a paper passage width greater than that of a double width of between 18.5 '' (46, 99 cm) and 20.5 '' (52.07 cm) and a selective command of the writing heads either to use them as a single group to print a centered double-width strip, or to use them as two groups of heads ( T1, T2) to simultaneously print two single width strips separated by a margin (13), the two groups of heads (T1, T2) or each group of heads being able to be supplied with an ink color (C1). Printer according to Claim 1, characterized in that the selective control of the heads for printing a pattern by each group of heads on a single strip takes account of the spatial offset introduced by a double strip collector device with two turning bars (40, 41; Figure 4). Printer according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises a return device without turning (60 to 64; Figure 6) of a single width strip printed with a first ink color (C1; Figure 6) on one side by a first group of heads (T1) to the second group of heads (T2) supplied with another ink color (C2) to allow two-color printing. Printer according to Claim 1, characterized in that it includes a return device with turning (50 to 54; Figure 5) of a single wide strip printed on one side in a color (C1; Figure 6) by the first group of heads (T1) to the second group of heads (T2) supplied with ink of the same color (C1) to allow two-sided printing with the same color. Printer according to claim 3 or 4 characterized in that the selective control of the groups of heads is carried out so as to take account of the spatial offset introduced by the deflection device. Printer according to claim 3 characterized in that two printers (1A, 1B) with two-color printing are associated in series, the second printer (1B) printing on a first side with the second group of heads (T'2) and the return device without turning (60B to 64B) ensures the conveyance of the tape leaving the second group of heads (T'2) of the second printer towards the first group of heads (T '1) of the second printer arranged on the left of the second printer. Printer according to Claim 4, characterized in that two double-sided printers are associated in series, the second printer printing on the back of the single width web with the second group of heads (T'2), the second color (C2) of the two-color pattern and the return device with turning (50B to 54B; Figure 13) of the second printer (1B) ensuring the routing of the tape leaving the group of heads (T'2) located on the right of the printer towards the group heads (T'1) located on the left of the printer (1B) to print the motif in the second color (C1) on the front side of the strip. Printer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each group of heads or both groups of heads are supplied with an ink color. Printer according to claim 1, characterized in that two printers are associated in series, the two single-width strips (FIG. 11) or the double-width strip (FIG. 10) leaving the first printer (1A) being turned over by a turning device ( 70 0 74) before introduction into the second printer. Printer according to claim 1 characterized in that two printers with different ink colors are associated in series, the single wide strip leaving the left track of the first printer (1A) being turned over by a turning device (70 to 74 ; Figure 14) before introduction into the left lane of the second printer (1B) to be printed in a different color ink. Printer according to claim 1 characterized in that two printers are associated in series and the second of which is supplied by two different ink colors (C1, C2), each associated with a group of heads (T'1, T'2) , the strip exiting through the left path of the first printer being turned over in a turning device (70 to 73) to be introduced into the left path corresponding to the first group of heads (T'1) of the second printer (1B) supplied with ink (C1) of the same color as the first printer (1A) while the right strip leaving the first printer (1A) goes directly into the second printer (1B) to be printed by the second group of heads (T'2) of the second printer (AB) supplied by the second color (C2). Printer according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the print engine is of the magnetographic type. Printer according to one of claims 1 to 11 characterized in that the print engine is of the electrophotographic type. Printer according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the print engine is of the ionographic type. Printer according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the print engine is of the thermal type. Printer according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the print engine is of the inkjet type. Printer according to one of Claims 6 to 11, characterized in that a first motor is of a type corresponding to one of Claims 13 to 16 and the second motor of another type corresponds to one of Claims 13 to 16.

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