WO2016063275A1

WO2016063275A1 - Method and system for tracking print jobs

Info

Publication number: WO2016063275A1
Application number: PCT/IL2015/051014
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hanan Yosefi; Erez ZIMMERMAN; Zevik NURI; Nadav Hollander; Avivi ORI
Original assignee: Matan Digital Printers 2001 Ltd
Current assignee: Matan Digital Printers 2001 Ltd
Priority date: 2014-10-21
Filing date: 2015-10-11
Publication date: 2016-04-28
Anticipated expiration: 2017-04-21
Also published as: IL235254A0

Abstract

A method of printing data on a back face of a media and a display image on a front face comprising the steps of: (i) providing a digital print machine comprising a first print-head carriage with at least one print head configured to print a display image on a front surface of a media and a second print head carriage with at least one print head configured to print data on a back surface of the media; (ii) running a media to be printed past first and second print head configurations and printing an image on a first side and data on a second side, and (iii) sectioning the media.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRACKING PRINT JOBS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to labeling or tagging printed work pieces.

Traditionally, printing projects have been handled sequentially. Each project came out of the printer and was then perhaps taken to another work station for future processing, such as cutting, stapling or folding.

Different projects could be followed by simply adding a note with a description to the pile. When ready for collection, the project could be boxed or wrapped and the customer's name written on the box or the wrapper or on a sticky label appended thereto. Bar codes and RFID tags have made tracking all sorts of objects more easy, and these have been applied to print jobs as well.

With traditional printing plates, one project was handled at a time, except in rare circumstances where a plate was shared by two clients with two printing projects. Digital printing was used for printing individual items or very small print runs.

Increasingly however, digital printing is becoming the standard technology for both large and small print jobs. Furthermore, printing shops often purchase a wide format printer that can print posters and the like, and then also use it for printing leaflets, brochures and other relatively small items, where, to avoid wastage, different jobs are arranged across the medium and are printed simultaneously. Increasingly, printers include cutters for sectioning. These remove margins where serial numbers, client names, bar codes and other identifying marks may previously have been printed. It becomes ever more difficult to identify a piece of printed media and to put it into the right pile so that it is delivered to a specific client.

Another problem that may occur with wall paper and the like is that it may be difficult to know which way is the right way up. Sometimes such media is hung upside down. This is also a problem with bill board poster sections, where in addition to being at risk of being hung upside down, the poster comprises a number of sections and these have to be positioned in the correct order. Ensuring that this is done without errors may be time consuming and painstaking.

Embodiments of the present invention address these and similar issues. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect is directed to a method of printing data on a back face of a media and a display image on a front face comprising the steps of:

(i) providing a digital print machine comprising a first printing means configured to print a display image on a front face of a media and a second printing means configured to print data on a back face of the media;

(ii) running a media to be printed past first and second printing means and printing an image on the first face and data on the back face, and

(iii) sectioning the media.

Typically, the first printing means comprises a first print-head carriage with at least one print head configured to print a display image.

Typically, the second printing means comprises a second print head carriage with at least one print head.

Typically, the data on the back face is printed in a same print run as a printing on the display face.

Typically, the media is supplied as roll stock.

Typically, both first and second printing means are attached to a common chassis.

Typically, the first print means comprises high resolution digital inkjet print heads in a range of colors.

Typically, the first printer means includes a plurality of high resolution print- heads configured to print a full color image.

Typically, the first printer means comprises at least Cyan, Magenta, yellow and black ink print dispensing print heads.

Typically, the second print means comprises low resolution digital inkjet print heads in a single color.

Preferably, the data on the back face is printed such that it is visible on outer surface of said work-piece rolled up with the display image on inside.

Preferably, the data on the back face includes at least one of the group consisting of a job reference, a client reference, a piece reference and a direction reference.

Preferably, the printer is a wide format digital printer. Typically, the first and second print head carriages and print heads are controlled by a common computer processor.

Optionally, the first printer means scans along a first track at one height and the second printer means scans along a second track at a lower height.

In a second aspect, the present invention is directed to providing a digital print machine comprising: a first printing means comprising a first print-head carriage with at least one print head configured to print a display image on a display face of a medium; a second printing means comprises a second print head carriage with at least one print head configured to print data on a reverse face of the medium; a forwarding means for forwarding the medium through the digital print machine and a common computer processor for controlling the first and second print head carriages, the print heads and the forwarding means wherein the first and second print head carriages reciprocate along tracks coupled to a common chassis.

Typically, the medium is fed back on itself by the forwarding means such that the first print head carriage scans over the display face of the medium and the second print head carriage scans over the reverse face of the medium and all print heads print from above.

Typically, the digital print machine is a wide format digital printer.

Preferably, the first printing means scans along a first track at one height and the second printing means scans along a second track at a lower height.

Optionally, the first printing means is a polychromatic printing means for printing in full color and the second printing means is monochrome.

Preferably, the digital print machine further comprises a cutter wherein the common computer processor further controls the cutter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, purely by way of example, to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention; the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a digital printer configured to print a high resolution full colour image on a front face of a media and further comprising a low resolution monochrome printer configured to print data onto a back face of the media;

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of the data that may be printed on the back face of the media;

Fig. 3 is a functional block diagram of the digital printer of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a flowchart of a method for printing data on the back surface of an image.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A problem that may occur with random patterned wall paper and the like is that it may be difficult to know which way is the right way up. Sometimes such media is inadvertently hung upside down. This is also a problem with bill board poster sections, where in addition to being at risk of being hung upside down, the poster comprises a number of sections and these have to be positioned in the correct order. Ensuring that this is done without errors may be time consuming and painstaking.

With reference to Fig. 1, a schematic side view of a digital printer 10 having a high resolution printing means 12 configured to print a high resolution full color image on a front face 14 of a media 16 and further comprising a second print means 18 configured to print data onto a back face 20 of the media 16.

The high resolution printing means 12 may be a full color ink jet printing arrangement comprising a carriage 22 with a plurality of inkjet print heads 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d which typically includes cyan, magenta and yellow inkjet print heads, and generally also includes a black inkjet head. These colors should not be construed as limiting. The inkjet printer may include different color inks. Secondary colors such as red, green and blue are provided. Silver and gold inks and white ink may be provided.

The second print means 18 may be a dot matrix printer or an inkjet printer. Typically it will be a low resolution monochrome printer. Typically it will include a carriage 26 and an inkjet print head 28 configured to print a first color, typically black or blue ink. Occasionally it may include a second inkjet print head configured to print a second color, which may be useful when printing onto colored media of the first color.

Whereas the first print means is configured to enable high resolution color printing and is generally state of the art, the second print means is selected for its low cost and reliability.

It is useful for the high resolution printing means 12 configured to print the high resolution full color image on the front face 14 of the media 16 to operate at around 120 cm from the floor so that the operator can see that everything is operating correctly and so that the carriage 22 and inkjet print heads 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d are easily accessible. To keep the digital printer 10 relatively compact and to minimize its 'footprint', usefully the second print means 18 is positioned on another level, typically below but occasionally above the first, high resolution printing means 12. The media 16 may be threaded around a roller arrangement 27 to enable it to be moved past both the high resolution printing means 12 configured to print the high resolution full color image on the front face 14 of the media 16 and past the second print means. The high resolution printing means 12 and the second print means 18 both scan back and forth along tracks that are fixed to a common chassis 28, as are the rollers 27.

With reference to Fig. 2, the data 30 on the back face 20 may include a job reference 32, which can be a code number, for example, a client reference 34 such as the client's name, a piece reference 36, typically a code number, and a direction reference 38, such as an arrow showing the top of the image. This may be important where the work-piece is a wall hanging with an abstract design, or a marble effect and the like, or part of a large poster or other application where this is a danger that the work-piece will inadvertently be hung upside down. Some or all of the data may be encoded as an automatic identification and data capture (AIDC, a Universal Product Code, bar code 40 or a 2d code, such as commonly read by smart-phones, for example.

Usefully, for work-pieces such as posters and wall paper that are typically stored and transited rolled up, the data 30 may be printed close to the outer edge of the work- piece such that it is visible on outer surface of said work-piece rolled up with the display image on inside.

With reference to Fig. 3, functionally, the digital printer 10 of Fig. 1 consists of a processor 42 coupled to both the high resolution printing means 12 configured to print on the front face 14 of the media 16 and the second print means 18 configured to print data onto the back face 20 of the media 16. Where the print means is an inkjet printer, the processor controls the carriage 22 and the plurality of inkjet print heads 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d of the high resolution printing means 12 and the carriage 26 and inkjet print head(s) 28 of the second print means 18. The common processor also controls the motor of the roller arrangement 27 that forwards the media 16 through the digital printer 10. It may also control UV lights 43, 44 positioned to cure the ink applied to the front face 14 and / or the back face 20, where an UV curable ink is used. In consequence of the computer control using the same processor, it is possible for different portions of the front and back faces to be printed at the same time. The high resolution printing means 12 and the second print means 18 need not be positioned opposite each other to apply ink to the same region of the media 16 at the same time, but rather, one or other may be positioned elsewhere, the computer processor ensuring that the printed image on the front face 14 and the data on the back face 20 of the finished work-piece are correctly aligned.

Furthermore, the processor 40 may control widthwise cutters 46 and lengthwise cutters 48 for sectioning the media.

By processor 40, a single or number of processors working together are contemplated. The processors may be application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), Application-specific standard products (ASSPs) or industry standard integrated circuits such as the 7400 or the 4000 series.

The processor may be a SoC (system-on-chip), including microprocessors, memory blocks including ROM, RAM, EEPROM, flash memory and other large building blocks. What is important is that the first and second printing means operate in tandem so that the position of the data printed on the back face of the media is correctly aligned with the image printed on the front face. Typically, the processor also controls cutters.

With reference to Fig. 4 a flowchart of a method for printing data on the back surface of an image is shown. The method consists of the steps of: (i) providing a digital print machine comprising a first print means configured to print a color display image on a front surface of a media and a second print means configured to print monochrome low resolution data on a back surface of the media;

(ii) running a media to be printed past first and second print head configurations and printing an image on a first side and data on a second side, and

(iii) sectioning the media.

All parts are computer controlled using a common processor and the first and second printing means.

Thus persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and includes both combinations and sub combinations of the various features described hereinabove as well as variations and modifications thereof, which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description.

In the claims, the word "comprise", and variations thereof such as "comprises", "comprising" and the like indicate that the components listed are included, but not generally to the exclusion of other components.

Claims

1. A method of creating an identifiable work piece comprising the steps of:

(i) providing a digital print machine comprising a first printing means configured to print a display image on a front face of a media and a second printing means configured to print identification data on a back face of the media such that both first and second printing means are both controlled by a common control processor;

(ii) applying identification data to the back face of a media using the second printing means;

(iii) printing a display image on the front face of the media, and

(iv) sectioning the media, wherein

the common control processor controls the forwarding of the media and aligns the first printing means to print the display image in alignment with the identification data on the back face.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first printing means comprises a first print-head carriage with at least one print head configured to print a display image.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second printing means comprises a second print head carriage with at least one print head.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the data on the back face is printed in a same print run as a printing on the display face.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the media is supplied as roll stock.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein both first and second printing means are attached to a common chassis.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first print means comprises high resolution digital inkjet print heads in a range of colors.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the second print means comprises low resolution digital inkjet print heads in a single color.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the data on the back face is printed such that it is visible on outer surface of said work-piece rolled up with the display image on inside.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the data on the back face includes at least one of the group consisting of a job reference, a client reference, a piece reference and a direction reference.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the printer is a wide format digital printer.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the first printer means includes a plurality of high resolution print-heads configured to print a full color image.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the first printer means comprises at least Cyan, Magenta, yellow and black ink print dispensing print heads.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second print head carriages and print heads are controlled by a common computer processor.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the first printer means scans along a first track at one height and the second printer means scans along a second track at a lower height.

16. A digital print machine comprising:

a first printing means comprising a first print-head carriage with at least one print head configured to print a display image on a display face of a medium;

a second printing means comprises a second print head carriage with at least one print head configured to print data on a reverse face of the medium;

a forwarding means for forwarding the medium through the digital print machine and a common computer processor for controlling the first and second print head carriages, the print heads and the forwarding means wherein the first and second print head carriages reciprocate along tracks coupled to a common chassis.

17. The digital print machine of claim 16, wherein the medium is fed back on itself by the forwarding means such that the first print head carriage scans over the display face of the medium and the second print head carriage scans over the reverse face of the medium and all print heads print from above.

18. The digital print machine of claim 16, being a wide format digital printer.

19. The digital print machine of claim 16, wherein the first printing means scans along a first track at one height and the second printing means scans along a second track at a lower height.

20. The digital print machine of claim 16, wherein the first printing means is a polychromatic printing means for printing in full color and the second printing means is monochrome.

21. The digital print machine of claim 16 further comprising a cutter wherein the common computer processor further controls the cutter.