AT506620B1 - INK JET PRINTING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRINTING MULTICOLOR IMAGES - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an inkjet printing device (1) for printing multicolored images with a substantially horizontally arranged transport device (2) for moving printing parts (3) thereon in a feed direction (4) and with a print head arrangement arranged above the transport device (2) (5) This is stationary during the printing process relative to the transport device (2), wherein the printhead assembly (5) from a plurality of printheads (6) each having a plurality of nozzles in a row (26) arranged nozzles is formed. The rows of nozzles (22) have a printing area width (24) measured perpendicularly with respect to the feed direction (4), by which an entire printing area width (27) of the printing head arrangement (5) is formed corresponding to the number of print heads (6). The printhead assembly (5) is associated with an image data circuit. This image data circuit has for each of the colors to be printed in each case a buffer circuit (203) for temporarily storing the corresponding color separations of the image data of a plurality of images in their own memory banks (204).

Description

Austrian Patent Office AT 506 620 B1 2010-11-15

Description: The invention relates to an ink jet printing device and a method for printing multicolored images, according to the features of the preamble of claims 1 and 14.

There are already known ink jet printing apparatuses for printing multicolor images in which printhead assemblies composed of a plurality of printheads are used, which are assembled to an entire printing area width and are stationary during the printing operation relative to a transport means on which print parts to be printed are transported , Such a printing device is described, for example, in the document EP 1 038 689 B1.

The document US 2001/0005211 A1 describes an inkjet printer and an image data processing controller for printing multicolor images in four-color printing. In this case, a printhead attached to a printhead carriage is moved transversely to the feed direction of the print medium over this and forth. The peculiarity of the printer control is that the printhead carriage is not moved over the entire width of the print medium during each reciprocation, but rather that the required range of printhead movement is calculated individually by logically combining the digital image data of the individual pixels for individual lines , By thus avoiding moving the printhead over areas of the pixel array in which dots are not to be printed, the printing speed can be increased.

Document EP 1 201 576 A2 describes a feeding device for feeding paper sheets to a printer, copier or fax machine.

The inkjet printer for multicolor images described in the document EP 1 522 414 A1 is a large format printer with a plurality of printing stations arranged one behind the other with respect to the feed direction of the printing medium for different colors. It is provided that each of the printing stations extends over the entire width of the receiving region of the feed device. The individual colors are thus printed with a time delay according to the speed of movement of the print medium in succession. For accurate position determination of the printed media transported on the conveyor belt scanning sensors are provided for detecting attached to the conveyor belt encodings the edge region of the conveyor belt.

Especially in the application of such inkjet printing devices in connection with industrial manufacturing processes or industrial production facilities, where such ink jet printing devices are part of a continuous production process, a high reliability and reliability of these ink jet printing devices is required.

It is the object of the present invention to improve an ink jet printing apparatus and a method for printing multicolor images such that the required maintenance can be reduced. Furthermore, it is an object of the invention to provide an ink jet printing apparatus which allows use in industrial production equipment with high flexibility and high printing speed.

The object of the invention is independently solved by the ink jet printing device according to the features of claim 1. The advantage here is that in the image data circuit of the printhead assembly always sufficient image data are kept in stock, so that even short-term delays in image data transmission lead to any interruptions in the printing process.

Further advantageous embodiments of the ink jet printing device are described in claims 2 to 13.

An independent solution of the invention is also achieved by the method with the measures according to claim 14. An advantage here is a simpler control of the 1/23 Austrian Patent Office AT 506 620 B1 2010-11-15

Data processing system for the control device for carrying out the method.

Further advantageous measures of the method are described in claims 14 to 19.

For a better understanding of the invention, this will be explained in more detail with reference to the following figures.

[0024] [0024] [0024] [0024] [0024]

In a simplified schematic representation:

Fig. 1 is an overview view of the ink-jet printing apparatus;

FIG. 2 shows the underside of the print head arrangement according to FIG. 1 with the print heads arranged therein; FIG.

3 shows a section of the ink jet printing device according to FIG. 1 with the device for correcting the position of the printing parts in plan view;

4 is a block diagram of the data flow between the image processor and the printhead assembly;

5 shows a buffer circuit of the printhead arrangement according to FIG. 4 for temporarily storing image information data of a color to be printed;

6 shows a scheme for selecting the image section of an image template for printing on tiles;

7 shows a scheme for selecting an ordered sequence of different image sections from an image template for printing on tiles;

8 is a diagram of a further ordered selection of image sections from a

Original image;

9 shows a diagram of a random selection of image sections from an image template,

10 shows a diagram of a further random selection of image sections from an image template with a rotation of the image sections through 90 °;

11 is a diagram of another random selection of image excerpts from an image template with an arbitrary rotation of the image excerpts;

Fig. 12 is a diagram of an operation of the ink jet printing apparatus using a plurality of different image templates.

Introductoryly it should be noted that in the differently described embodiments, the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals or the same component names, the revelations contained in the entire description can be applied mutatis mutandis to the same parts with the same reference numerals or the same component names. Also, the location information chosen in the description, such as top, bottom, side, etc. related to the immediately described and illustrated figure and are to be transferred to the new situation mutatis mutandis when a change in position.

Fig. 1 shows an overview of the ink jet printing apparatus 1 with schematically and simplified illustrated individual components.

The inkjet printing device 1 has a substantially horizontally arranged transport device 2 for moving thereon to be printed printing parts 3 in a feed direction 4 (in Fig. 1 from left to right) on. Above the transport device 2 is a printhead assembly 5 with printheads 6, through which the printing parts 3 moved beneath are printed with ink.

The transport device 2 is preferably formed by an endless conveyor belt 7, which is guided or driven via at least two guide rollers 8. The moving in the direction of feed 4 upper portion of the conveyor belt 7 is supported by one or more guide plates 9 on its underside. In that the conveyor belt 7 is slidably pulled over the horizontal and 2/23 Austrian Patent Office AT 506 620 B1 2010-11-15 aligned guide plates 9, a correspondingly uniform horizontal movement of the printing parts 3 in the feed direction 4 is achieved.

The printhead assembly 5 has for each color a plurality of printheads 6, so that the entire width of the printing medium or the printing parts can be printed at once, without the printhead assembly 5 must move in relation to the feed direction 4 lateral direction. That the printhead assembly 5 is fixedly disposed in the lateral direction. By vertically aligned guides 10, the printhead assembly 5 can be lowered in the direction of the conveyor belt 7 or removed by lifting them.

To control the printheads 6 of the printhead assembly 5, the image data of an image to be printed is converted by an image processor 11 into control signals for the printheads 6. In addition, a control device 12 is provided for controlling the entire inkjet printing device. The control device 12 has software for controlling the inkjet printing device, as well as the image computer 11 has software for image data processing.

According to this embodiment, the printing of color images with the colors cyan, magenta, yellow and check or black is provided and the printheads 6 and the printhead assembly 5 from respective tanks 13 are supplied with ink.

The ink jet printing apparatus 1 may of course be equipped for a number other than four different colors.

The inkjet printing device 1 further comprises a nozzle rinsing device 14 which can be moved after raising the printhead assembly 5 from a parking position under the printhead assembly 5 (shown in phantom). In order to solve any blockage of nozzles of the print heads 6, ink is pressed through all the nozzles and is collected by the nozzle rinsing device 14.

Preferably, in the region of the lower portion of the conveyor belt 7 which is moved counter to the feed direction 4, a cleaning device 15 for cleaning the conveyor belt 7 is arranged. This ink residues that have come on the conveyor belt 7 can be removed. The cleaning with the cleaning device 15 can be done for example by stripping or sucking not yet dried ink residues. The cleaning effect can be further assisted by spraying the conveyor belt with a cleaning agent and thereby dissolving dried ink residues.

By a sensor 16, the vertical position of an upper side 17 of the printing part 3 and the thickness of the printing part is detected so that by the control device 12, the vertical position of the printhead assembly 5 and the distance of the printhead assembly 5 from the top 17 of the printing part. 3 can be set automatically. A further sensor 18 which is also arranged upstream of the input device of the transport device 2 of the printhead assembly 5, is provided to detect a leading edge 19 of a printing part 3, so that the printing process of the printhead assembly 5 can be started in a timely manner.

In the entrance area of the transport device 2 is also a device 20 for correcting the position of the printing parts 3, by which the orientation of the printing parts 3 is placed on the conveyor belt 7 in a defined position. Alternatively, a camera 21 may be provided, through which in conjunction with an automatic image recognition, the position and the orientation of the printing part 3 lying on the conveyor belt 7 is detected and this information is taken into account in the calculation of the image data by the image computer 11.

2 shows the underside of the printhead assembly 5 according to FIG. 1, with the printheads 6 arranged therein.

Each of the print heads 6 has a nozzle row 22 formed by a plurality of juxtaposed and linearly aligned nozzles with a nozzle row length 23. The print heads 6 or their rows of nozzles 22 are arranged obliquely with respect to the feed direction 4, so that each of the nozzle rows 22 has a printing area width 24 of the nozzle row 22 measured perpendicular to the feed direction 4 Thus, by using printheads 6 with a low resolution or a low density of nozzles in the nozzle row 22, a significantly higher resolution can be achieved with respect to the direction perpendicular to the feed direction 4 direction.

Without limiting the generality, nine printheads 6 in the described embodiment are assembled to form one printhead module 25 (for reasons of clarity, only one such printhead module 25 is shown in FIG. 2). Several such printhead modules 25 (in the described embodiment, four printhead modules 25) together form a printhead row 26 for printing each one of the colors to be printed. The print heads 6 are arranged so that the print area widths 24 of the nozzle rows 22 of two adjacent rows of nozzles 22 adjoin each other gaplessly, so that a total print area width 27 of the print head row 26 corresponding to the number of print heads 6 results.

For each of the colors to be printed, a print head row 26 is provided. According to this exemplary embodiment, printing head rows 26 are arranged one behind the other with respect to the feed direction 4 and thus the nozzles of the printing head rows 26 extend over a printing area length 28.

In the described embodiment, piezo-inkjet printheads are preferably used for the printheads 6 and can thus print area widths 27 are achieved by more than 50 cm, with resolutions in the range of 200 to 800 dpi are possible.

In the event that the inkjet printing device is used as part of a continuous production process, it is provided that for the duration of the cleaning cycle while the conveyor belt 7 is stopped, further incoming printing parts 3 are diverted in a buffer 113 (FIG. 1), from which they are removed again after the end of the cleaning cycle and fed to the transport device 2. In any case, it is possible with the nozzle rinsing device 14 to carry out the cleaning cycle in less than 5 min. The introduction of this measure is carried out automatically by the control device 12 by controlling the latch 113. It is also provided in particular that the control device 11 influences the production process, of which the inkjet printing device 1 forms a part, as, for example, the speed of the preceding or downstream conveyor belts for the printing parts 3 can be reduced or, if necessary, increased by the control device 12. The control device 12 can also assume the function of an overall control device of such a production system.

Fig. 3 shows a detail of the ink jet printing apparatus 1 according to FIG. 1 with the device 20 for position correction of the printing parts 3 in plan view.

The device 20 can be used for aligning printing parts 3, which have at least two mutually parallel side edges. This is the case, for example, when 3 ceramic tiles 151 are used with the usually rectangular shape as printing parts. The device 20 for position correction of the printing parts 3 has a left and a right guide rail 152, 153, which are arranged obliquely with respect to the feed direction 4, so that a distance 154 between the guide rails 152, 153 gradually decreases until it at the narrowest point of the guide rails 152, 153 is equal to a width 155 of the printing parts 3 or tiles 151. A printing part 3 or a tile 151, which is initially placed obliquely on the conveyor belt 7 in the input area of the transport device 2, enters in the transport direction through the conveyor belt 7 4 is moved, in contact with one of the guide rails 152, 153 and its position is gradually changed such that the side edges of the tile 151 are finally aligned parallel to the feed direction 4. The guide rails 152, 153 are held at a small distance above the conveyor belt (FIG. 1) and can be adjusted via two adjusting carriages 156, 157, on which they are slidably mounted, the distance 154 between and the inclination of the guide rails 152, 153. 4/23 Austrian Patent Office AT 506 620 B1 2010-11-15 [0046] Hereinafter, the operation of the above-described ink jet printing apparatus 1 will be explained in more detail. It is assumed that the printing parts 3 to be printed are formed by tiles 151. For a description of the operation, reference is also made to FIGS. 4 and 5. A device or a system, as described here, due to its possibility of use as part of a continuous production process or a continuous production line in the episode as "Synchronized Inline Printing System" (SIPS), or "thirst SIPS Synchronized Inline Printing System ".

Due to the selected arrangement of many relatively low-resolution printheads 6 in the manner described in Fig. 2 to a printhead assembly 5 to obtain a large area distributed total print head with relatively high resolution. The printhead assembly 5, as described in FIG. 2, is divided into four printhead rows 26 for the four colors used. As a result, in the case of relatively short tiles 151, a plurality of tiles 151 may be located under the printhead assembly 5 at the same time. In addition, even a print head row 26 with respect to the smallest tiles 151 is also so large that two tiles 151 can be located at the same time under a print head row 26, whereby two sub-pictures belonging to different tiles 151 are simultaneously printed by this print head row 26. The controller 12 of the ink-jet printing apparatus 1 is therefore designed to enable the simultaneous printing of different color separations of a plurality of tiles 151 and the simultaneous printing of two different tiles 151 and two images for a color separation, respectively.

According to a first embodiment of the control of the ink-jet printing apparatus 1, image data transmission is provided between the image calculator 11 and the printheads 6 with entangled color channels. In this case, an entire image or the complete image data in the image computer 11 is processed so that the entire image information is sent over a high bit rate transmission link in the form of packets. The individual color channels are arranged byte by byte in a sequential order. There is thus a transmission path 201 between the image computer 11 and the printhead arrangement 5 (see FIGS. 1 and 4). Since fewer hardware components are required, this variant has the advantage of a lower susceptibility to errors. Another advantage is that simpler transmission protocols for data transmission between the image processor 11 and the printhead assembly 5 are possible, as well as that the control by the controller 12 can be made easier.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the data flow between the image processor 11 and the printhead assembly 5. For reasons of clarity, only one of the four printhead rows 26 is shown, or an image data circuit of the printhead assembly.

The images or image data for the individual tiles 151 are requested by the control device 12, which controls the printing process, and transmitted by the image computer 11 via the transmission path 201. The transmission path 201 is preferably realized by a fiber optic data transmission line. An image consists of four color separations, which are interlaced byte by byte. The corresponding image information data packets are split into four color separations in a data transmission circuit 202 and buffered in buffer circuits 203. In this case, the individual color separations for images are written separately into separate memory banks 204 (FIG. 5) of the buffer circuit 203. FIG. 5 shows by way of example a block diagram of one of the buffer circuits 203 according to FIG. 4. In the buffer circuits 203, up to seven images (for seven tiles) can be temporarily stored and output one after the other. The memory banks 204 thus operate as a dynamic ring buffer which outputs written images on a corresponding input signal or start signal.

In addition, the buffer circuit 203 still fulfills the following further tasks. The buffer circuit 203 controls the data flow between incoming print data and data output to the print head. Furthermore, it causes the release of the data flow from the image processor 11. However, the buffer circuit 203 also ensures that the memory banks 204 (FIG. 5) are stored in the memory banks 204 (FIG. 5) for cases in which No ink is to be ejected through the nozzles of the print heads 6, so-called zero information is inserted in the stored data. "Zero" or "zero information" is required on the one hand for spaces between two successive tiles 151 and on the other hand for those periods when a tile 151 is not completely below the print heads 6 of a print head row 26 and therefore due to the inclination of the print heads 6 only those Nozzles eject ink which are located above an upper surface 17 of a tile 151.

The buffer circuit 203 also provides for the management of the printing scenarios, either either only one tile 151 under a print head row 26 or on the other hand, for certain periods, two tiles 151 can be located simultaneously under a print head row 26.

For the manner in which images are buffered for the printing of tiles 151 in the buffer circuit 203, two scenarios can be distinguished. In the first case, the print job for printing a plurality of tiles 151 includes only tiles 151 that are the same size or the same length. In the second scenario, it is provided that tiles 151 of different lengths are printed.

The scenario for a print job with tiles 151 of always the same tile length will now be described. In this case, the image computer 11 notifies the control device 12, which controls the printing process, the tile length or the corresponding number of data packets per tile 151. When starting the print job, seven images are first loaded into the memory banks 204 of the buffer circuits 203. These images are requested by the control device via the transmission path 201 and the data transmission circuit 202 from the image computer 11 and the buffer circuits 203 of the individual color separations passed on. As long as no tile on the conveyor belt 7 is moved up from the input area of the transport device 2 forth to the printhead assembly 5, the system is initially in a waiting phase. As soon as a first tile 151 passes the start sensor or the sensor 18, a counter 205 starts a counter, which finally triggers the printing process through the individual print head rows 26 or color channels. If the first counter of the toll 205 at the first detected tile 151 reaches a count of the track equivalent of the mounting location of the sensor 18 to the first printhead row 26 (in Fig. 1, the print head row 26 for C = cyan), the output of this color separation or the corresponding data is started from the cyan color buffer circuit 203. This process is analogous to the other three colors. Through a printhead interface 206, the image data is distributed to the printheads 6 of the print head modules 25 of the corresponding printhead row 26.

The shorter the incoming tiles 151 are, the more often a counter of the counter 205 is started by the sensor 18 before the complete output of an image is completed. Since at the shortest tiles 151 a total of six tiles under the printhead assembly can be, the counter 205 includes seven counters, which are each started for one of the detected by the sensor 18 tiles 151 successively. If the individual counters of the counter 205 reach the counter readings at which the individual colors are output, the latter issues the output of the data from the memory banks 204 of the buffer circuits 203.

If the counters of the counter 205 reach a maximum counter reading, they are reset again and remain in this state until a new start is triggered by the sensor 18. This type of control of the ink-jet printing apparatus 1 enables the tiles 151 to arrive at the printhead assembly 5 at different relative distances from each other.

Due to the inclination of the print heads 6 with respect to the feed direction 4 (FIG. 2), a correspondingly complex organization of the output of the data from the memory banks 204 of the buffer circuits 203 is required. In addition to the arrangement of the print heads 6 within a print head row 26, the image data must be re-sorted by the image processor 11. It is also provided that of the image computer 11 only payload data sent sent 6/23 Austrian Patent Office AT 506 620 B1 2010-11-15, i. only for those nozzles of the printheads 6 and for those pixels where actually an ink ejection can take place. This has the advantage that the capacity of the transmission path 201 can be utilized to the maximum.

First, the control of the printhead assembly 5 in the event that a maximum of one tile 151 is under a print head row 26 is described. In this case, the distance between the incoming tiles 151 to each other is so great that in no case two tiles 151 are simultaneously under a print head row 26.

For each ejection process of inks by a printhead 6, the information must first be made available for all nozzles of a nozzle row 22, whether an ink ejection should take place through this nozzle ("one") or whether no ink ejection should take place ("zero"). ). Because of the oblique orientation of the print heads 6 within a print head row 26, it is necessary that upon entry of a flow 151 under a print head row 26, the individual print heads 6 is initially loaded only successively for each triggering operation of ink ejection with payload. For those nozzles of a nozzle row 22, which are not located above the upper side 17 of the tile 151, "zero" is to be provided as information. With increasing entry of the tile 151 under the print head row 26 thus decreases the number of "zeros" and in return to the number of image information to be printed. The buffer circuits 203 autonomously recognize that they must first output "zeroes" and then payloads from the memory bank 204 currently being printed on each load cycle of a printhead 6 until the tile 151 has completely entered a printhead row 26. The number of "zeros" decreases and the number of useful bits increases until only more useful bits are loaded into the print heads. When the tile 151 leaves a print head row 26, the same process is performed in reverse order.

In the following description of the control of the printhead assembly 5, it is assumed that two tiles 151 can also be located at the same time under a print head row 26 in phases. In this case, the distance between the incoming tiles to each other is so small that it also happens that two tiles 151 are advanced simultaneously under a print head row 26. In this case, the information provided to a print head 6 simultaneously contains the information of a first image for printing the first tile 151 and the information of a second image of the second tile 151. If now the first tile 151 begins to leave the print head row 26, then the Buffer circuit 203 after the payload, the already mentioned zero bits, whose number increases from tripping to tripping operation. If the next tile 151 now passes under the print head row 26 before the first tile 151 has left the print head row 26, the buffer circuit 203 successively loads the print heads 6 for a triggering operation for ejecting ink: data from the memory bank 204 n, for the tile 151, which runs out of the print head row 26 and whose currently processed color separation is almost completely printed; Zero bits for the consideration of the distance between the tiles 151; Database from the memory bank 204 n + 1 for the second, running under the print head row 26 tile 151th

In this case, image information of two images are simultaneously read out from two different memory banks 204 (n and n + 1) of the buffer circuit 203 and printed by the print heads 6 of the respective print head row 26.

It is also taken into account by the buffer circuit 203 that a different number of zero bits are to be inserted from the selected resolution when entering the tiles 151 or between two successive tiles 151 (with a small tile spacing). It can be printed in resolution levels of 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and 800 DPI.

The operation described above is for all four colors, but can also be applied for a different number of colors. The number of print head rows 26 and the number of buffer circuits 203 must be changed accordingly. The printing process for printing an image on a tile 151 thus proceeds as follows for the individual colors. When the counter of the counter 205 assigned to the tile 151 reaches the count for "printing cyan", the printing operation for cyan is started. When the counter of the counter 205 reaches the "Magenta" count, the printing operation for magenta is started, etc. The threshold counts for the output of the respective colors are notified from the image processor 11 to the electronics of the printhead assembly 5 and stored there.

The scenario for a print job with tiles 151, each having a different tile length, will now be described. In such a case, the system requires two sensors with which the tiles 151 are detected. The first sensor 16 arranged in the entrance area of the transport device 2 detects the tiles 151 and measures their length. Depending on the measured length, the control device 12, which controls the printing process, requests the number of data packets matching the measured tile 151 from the image computer 11. The image calculator 11 calculates an image of appropriate size and sends it to the data transmission circuit 202. When the tile 151 reaches the second sensor 18, which functions as a so-called start sensor, a counter of the counter 205 is started. The beginning of pressing a color-abstract through the corresponding Druckkopfreihe 26 is in turn after reaching the corresponding threshold count for the corresponding color or Druckkopfreihe 26, as already described above, triggered.

According to a second embodiment of the operation of the ink-jet printing apparatus 1, image data transmission is provided between the image processor 11 and the printheads 6 with separate color channels. In this case, four different color separations are held in the image computer 11 and can be requested by the control device 12, which controls the image data processing system, if necessary. Again, two different variants are possible, on the one hand the use of a single transmission path 201 between the image processor 11 and the printhead assembly 5 or on the other hand the use of four parallel transmission links 201 for each of the color separations.

In the case of using a single link 201, the separate color separations are requested by the controller 12 as soon as the tile 151 is below the corresponding print head row 26. In this case, the data for the individual color separations of a plurality of tiles 151 in the image computer 11 are buffered and must be uniquely assigned. It happens here that the last color separation of the first tile 151 is only requested when the first color separation, for example the sixth tile 151, is already pressed. The advantage of this variant is that a smaller number of memory banks 204 is required for the ring buffer per color, and the data for the individual colors are only requested if they are also printed directly.

In the case of the variant of four parallel transmission links 201 corresponding interface cards are necessary in the image calculator 11 for each color separation. The system works in this variant with separate physical channels for the individual color separations.

The ink jet printing apparatus 1 is preferably provided for printing ceramic tiles 151 with images. Since in the printing of the tiles 151 remaining edges would interfere with the visual impression, it is provided that when generating the image data for driving the printhead assembly 5 by the image computer, the corresponding image section is selected such that it prints at least slightly beyond the edges of the tiles 151 becomes. In the calculation of the image information data by the image processor 11, however, the shrinkage of the tiles 151 present as blanks can also be taken into account in the determination of the size of the image detail to be printed.

However, the image computer 11 also permits the division of an image covering the surface of many tiles 151 and the printing of the partial cutouts to a corresponding number of tiles 151. After suitable composition of the individual tiles 151, each with a partial cutout can thus easily very large Overall pictures are produced. 8/23 Austrian Patent Office AT 506 620 B1 2010-11-15

This is possible in particular without the costly production of artwork.

Another example of the many possible applications is the production of differently patterned tiles 151. This is achieved by reproducing from an image template, which reproduces, for example, the grain of a stone structure or a fractured surface of a stone, by the image computer 11 at random Image detail is determined and used as a basis for generating the printed image on the tile 151. However, each of these image frames randomly selected by the image calculator 11 is used only to print on a single tile 151, so that each of the tiles 151 has an individual appearance and compositionally random patterns are not recognizable in the overall image obtained. The reproduced pattern of the stone structure thereby gives a very natural impression in its entirety.

However, the image computer 11 also allows the consideration of a, deviating from a flat top surface 17 surface structure, which may contain, for example, depressions. The surface structure of the surface 17 may be taken into account by the image processor 11 insofar as it is provided that a selected motif, for example only in the region of depressions of the tile 151, is printed.

For the transmission of the data from the image processor 11 to the printhead assembly 5 is particularly provided that over the transmission path 201 between 30 MB / s and 70 MB / s, preferably 50 MB / s, can be transmitted. Particularly advantageous is the transmission of the data from the image processor 11 over the transmission path 201 with a transfer rate of 50 or more than 50 MB / s (megabytes / second) proves to perform. Thus, during operation of the ink-jet printing apparatus 1, it is possible for the feeding of the printing parts 3 by the transporting means 3 to take place at a speed of up to 70 m / min (meter / minute). In particular, it is provided that the movement of the pressure parts can take place at a variable speed of up to 70 m / min.

As described above, for the printing of rectangular tiles 151, the device 20 is provided for the position correction of the printing parts 3, by means of which the tiles 151 can be brought into a defined position. However, the inkjet printing device 1 also allows the printing of printing parts 3 any outer contour or shape, as well as orientation. For this purpose, it is provided that the camera 21 records an image of the printing part 3 lying on the conveyor belt 7 in the entrance area of the transport device 2. This image is transmitted from the camera 21 to the control device 12 and determined by means of software for automatic image recognition, the contour of the printing part 3. The contour of the printing part 3 is finally transmitted to the image computer 11. This takes into account the shape and orientation of the printing part by transforming the motif to be printed or the corresponding image data, i. Location and orientation are adjusted.

To increase the performance of the inkjet printing device 1 can also be provided that more computers of a network for calculating image data for print jobs are connected to the image computer 11. It is particularly advantageous if the control device 12, which may itself be structured by a computer, and the image computer 11 part of a client-server architecture of a computer network, wherein in the computer network more client computer for the calculation of image data in addition the image calculator 11 are available. This makes it possible for print jobs to be prepared or calculated for later use during ongoing printing by the additional client computers.

Various operations of printing tiles 151 with the ink jet printing apparatus 1 will now be described in more detail with reference to the following FIGS.

With the inkjet device 1 according to the invention, it is possible that during the printing on-the-fly from a larger image file either by an orderly process or Random- / Random principle (in both cases, several modes are possible) automatically different sections so printed If possible, every printed design (eg a tile) has a different pattern and is therefore best modeled on nature. In this case, "on-the-fly" means that the image data processing of an image file to be printed can take place in such a way that the print heads 6 of the print head arrangement 5 are already printing the first part of the image, the calculation of the image data for controlling the print head arrangement for another one Part of the image or image data is still in progress. The image data processing thus takes place in this sense in real time.

FIG. 6 shows the production of a series of tiles 151 with a decorative motif in a symbolically simplified representation. For this purpose, an image section 252 is selected by the operator from an image template 251 with the aid of the software of the image data processing of the image computer 11 (FIG. 1). For example, the digital image of a fracture surface of a stone or a stone structure is used as the image template 251. The size of this image template 251 corresponds for example to a real size of about 1 m × 2 m side length and thus allows the selection of a suitable image detail 252 of a size corresponding to the tiles 151. In the simplest procedure, the same image detail 252 is applied to a preselected number of tiles 151 by the ink jet printing apparatus 1. The row of tiles 151 is shown in Fig. 6 in the finished printed state, from the ink jet printing device 1, expiring. The tiles 151 are each printed with the same image detail 252 - symbolized by the letter A -.

Fig. 7 shows the printing of a series of tiles 151 with an ordered selection of image sections 252 from the image template 251. In the embodiment of the image template 251 twelve adjacent image sections 252 - symbolized by the numbers "1" to "12 "- selected. Each twelve tiles 151 can thus each be individually printed with a different image detail 252, whereby a corresponding variety of differently shaped tiles 151 is achieved.

FIG. 8 shows a further example of the selection of individually different image sections 252 from an image template 251 for printing or decorating tiles 151. In this case, first a first image section 252 is selected from the image template 251. In addition, a distance 253 and a distance 254 in the X and Y directions are selected. A second image section 255 is then obtained by shifting the boundaries of the first image section 252 in the X or Y direction by the corresponding distance 253 in the X direction and the distance 254 in the Y direction, respectively. By further shifting the boundaries of the image section 255 by distances 253, 254 in the X or Y direction, a third image section 256 or a fourth image section 257 is finally obtained. This procedure for the selection of image sections 252 can be continued at least until the boundaries of the image template 251 are reached. The set of all these image sections 251, 255, 256, etc., are held by the image processor 11 and are available for printing on a corresponding number of tiles 151.

Examples of the random selection of image sections 252 from an image template 251 are shown in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11.

In the method according to FIG. 9, first a first image section 252 is selected, whereupon a reliable value pair is determined for the distances 253, 254, in dependence of which the second image section 255 is then determined. With further, random value pairs for the distances 253, 254 for displacement in the X or Y direction, the further image sections 256, 257, etc. are then determined.

10, it is additionally provided that, in addition to a random selection of the distances 253 or 254, a random rotation of the boundary lines of the second image section 255 or the following image sections 256, 257, etc., is also possible in the selection process for the image sections 252 90 ° takes place.

According to the selection method as shown symbolically in FIG. 11, to determine the further image sections 255, 256, 257, etc., starting from a first image section 10/23 Austrian Patent Office AT 506 620 B1 2010-11-15 252, both offset by randomly selected distances 253, 254 in the X and Y directions, respectively, and reliably selected rotation through any angle in the XY plane.

The selection methods of image sections 252 described in accordance with FIGS. 7 to 11 thus permit the production of differently patterned tiles 151, so that each of these has the most individual possible appearance and thus a very natural impression can be achieved.

As an additional possibility for variation of the operation of the inkjet printing device, it can also be provided that by the control device 12 or the image computer 11, the individual image sections 252, 255, 256, etc. from the sequence of image sections 252 (FIGS. 7 to 11) a value of a percentage frequency (hA, hB, etc.) can be assigned. As a result, with a large number of produced tiles 151, those with a print corresponding to the image detail 252 "A" with a frequency hA and those with an image detail 255 "B" with a percentage frequency hB in the amount of the printed tiles 151 can be included are (Figure 11).

A further variation possibility for operating the inkjet printing device 1 for producing tiles 151 as differently as possible provided with decorative motifs is described with reference to FIG. In addition to a sequence of image sections 252, 254, 255, etc. of a first image template 251 (A, B, C, D, etc.), an image processor 11 or a further client computer forms one with the image computer 11 or the control device 12 in FIG Compound computer network from a second image template 258 a further sequence of image sections 259, 260, 261, 262, etc. (Ο, P, Q, R, etc.) calculated. Thus, a first print job with the image sections 252, 255, 256, etc. (A, B, C, D) of the first image template 251 and a second print job with the image sections 259, 260, 261, etc . (Ο, P, Q, R, etc.) generated by the image calculator 11 and held ready for printing on tiles 151. As a further possibility of variation it can be provided that a random mixing of image sections 252, 255, etc. of the first print job with the image sections 259, 260, etc. of the second print job takes place. During the current printing operation with the ink-jet printing apparatus 1, the control unit 12 randomly selects the data of image sections from the different image templates 251, 258 and uses them to print the tiles 151.

With the inkjet printing apparatus 1 but also the accurate printing of tiles 151 is possible with a relief-like surface structure with an image section corresponding to this surface structure. For this purpose, the printing part 3 or the tile 151 is identified with the camera 21 arranged in the entrance area of the transport device 2 of the inkjet printing device 1 (FIG. Alternatively, the detection of the tile 151 can also take place, for example, by means of a marking attached to the underside of the tile 151 with a code and the detection of this code by a suitable sensor (not shown). The control device 12 then causes the image processor 11 to make the image corresponding to the tile 151 or its surface structure available for printing. By detecting the nature of the tile 151 as well as its orientation with the camera 21, it can be ensured in the sequence that parts of the corresponding image corresponding to an elevation also at the corresponding raised location of the tile 151 and parts of the image that a depression be printed on a corresponding recessed location of the tile 151. By providing a code on the printing parts 3 or the tiles 151 or by detecting and identifying with the camera 21, it is possible that different tiles 151, which are provided with different surface structures, can be processed in a common print job. Depending on which type of tile 151 is detected or detected by the camera 20, the corresponding image is kept ready for printing by the control device 12 or the image computer 11 and the print heads of the print head arrangement 5 are activated with the corresponding control signals. For the sake of order, it should finally be pointed out that in order to better understand the structure of the inkjet printing device, these or their components have been shown partially unevenly and / or enlarged and / or reduced in size.

REFERENCE IDENTIFICATION 1 Ink jet printing device 108 Line 2 Transporting device 109 Pump 3 Printing part 110 Ink cleaning device 4 Feed direction 5 Printhead assembly 111 Tank 113 Buffer 6 Printhead 7 Conveyor belt 8 Guide roller 151 Tile 9 Guide plate 152 Guide rail 10 Guide 153 Guide rail 154 Distance 11 Image calculator 155 Width 12 Control device 13 Tank 156 Adjusting carriage 14 Nozzle rinsing device 157 Positioning carriage 15 Cleaning device 201 Transmission path 16 Sensor 202 Data transmission circuit 17 Top 203 Buffer circuit 18 Sensor 204 Memory bank 19 Front edge 205 Counter 20 Device 206 Printhead interface 21 Camera 22 Number of nozzles 251 Image template 23 Number of nozzle rows 252 Image section 24 Print area width 253 Distance 25 Print head module 254 Distance 255 Image section 26 Print head row 27 Print area width 256 Image section 28 Print area length 257 Bi Sampling 258 Sampling 259 Sections 260 Sections 261 Sections 262 Sections 12/23

Claims (19)

Austrian Patent Office AT 506 620 B1 2010-11-15 Claims 1. Ink-jet printing apparatus (1) for printing multicolored images with a substantially horizontally arranged transport device (2) for moving printing parts (3) lying thereon in a feed direction (4) and a print head arrangement (5) arranged above the transport device (2) which is stationary during the printing process relative to the transport device (2), the print head arrangement (5) being composed of a plurality of print heads (6) each having a plurality of nozzles in a nozzle row (22). and wherein the rows of nozzles (22) have a printing area width (24) measured perpendicular to the feed direction (4), by which an entire printing area width (27) of the print head arrangement (5) is formed corresponding to the number of print heads (6) , characterized in that the printhead assembly (5) is associated with an image data circuit where each of the buffer circuits (203) has a plurality of memory banks (204) for latching the respective color separations of the image data of has multiple images. Second ink jet printing apparatus (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that an image processor connected to the image data circuit via a transmission path (201) image computer (11) for generating the color separations from the image data of the images to be printed is formed. 3. The inkjet printing apparatus (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the transmission path (201) for transmitting data in the range of at least 50 MB / s (megabytes / second) is formed. 4. The inkjet printing apparatus (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the transmission path (201) is formed by a fiber-optic data transmission line. 5. ink-jet printing device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that for each of the colors to be printed perpendicular to the feed direction (4) extending Druckkopfreihe (26) is formed, wherein the Druckkopfreihen (26) by side by side arranged printheads (6) are formed, and wherein the Druckkopfreihe (26) with respect to the feed direction (4) are arranged one behind the other. 6. The inkjet printing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the image data circuit has a counter (205) with a plurality of counters and at an input-side region of the transport device (2), a sensor (18) for detecting a leading edge (19 ) of the pressure part (3) is provided and the sensor (18) is signal-connected to the counter (205). 7. The inkjet printing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in the input-side region of the transport device (2) a sensor (16) for detecting a vertical position of an upper side (17) of the pressure member (3) is arranged. 8. ink-jet printing device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that in the input-side region of the transport device (2) means (20) for correcting the position of the printing parts (3) is arranged. Inkjet printing device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the device (20) for position correction has a left and a right guide strip (152, 153), wherein the guide strips (152, 153) with respect to the feed direction (4) arranged obliquely and wherein a distance (154) between the guide rails (152, 153) gradually decreases with respect to the feed direction (4). 13/23 Austrian Patent Office AT 506 620 B1 2010-11-15 10. The inkjet printing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the nozzle rows (22) with respect to the feed direction (4) are arranged obliquely. 11. The inkjet printing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that in the input-side region of the transport device (2) a camera (21) for recording images of the printing parts (3) is arranged. 12. The inkjet printing device (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that a control device (12) or the image computer (11) is formed with a software for automatic image recognition. 13. The inkjet printing device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that an external computer with the control device (12) or the image computer (11) for processing image data is connected to for print jobs. 14. A method for printing multicolored images with an inkjet printing device (1), in particular according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that a) separate images of several images of the image data are calculated and b) these in their own memory banks (204) of respective buffer circuits (203) corresponding to one color are stored and c) when passing a leading edge (19) of a printing part (3) on a sensor (18) a counter of a counter (205) is started and d) when passing a leading edge (19) a further pressure part (3) on the sensor (18) another counter of the counter (205) is started and e) upon reaching a count, the track equivalent of the mounting location of the sensor (18) to a first Druckkopfreihe (26) of the first Corresponds to color, the output of the corresponding color separation from the buffer circuit (203) is started to the print heads (6) of the print head row (26), and f) Step e) is repeated for all other colors. 15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the color separations of the image data in an image computer (11) are calculated and these are transmitted over a transmission path (201) in the form of byte by byte successively arranged in repeating order packets to the buffer circuits (203). 16. The method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that in the calculation of the color separations of the image data in the image computer (11) to be printed image section (252) is selected, which projects slightly beyond an outer edge of the printing part (3) to be printed. 17. The method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that in the calculation of the color separations of the image data in the image computer (11) a control device (12) or the image computer (11) a randomly determined image detail (252) from an image template (251,258 ) selects. 18. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 17, characterized in that in the calculation of the color separations of the image data, an external computer is used. 19. The method according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that for generating differently patterned tiles (151) or printing parts (3) a first sequence of randomly determined image sections (252, 254, 255, etc.) of a first image template ( 251) and a second sequence of randomly determined image excerpts (259, 260, 261, 262, etc.) of a second image template (258) and a mixing of the first sequence of image segments (252, 254, 255, etc.) the second sequence of image sections (259, 260, 261, 262, etc.) takes place. For this 9 sheets drawings 14/23