Device and method for transporting substrates in a printing machine
AssigneeMGI Digital Technology
InventorEdmond Abergel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The object of the present invention is to propose a novel device and a novel method to allow the transportation of printable substrates precisely, suited to substrates of various types, sizes and thicknesses. Furthermore, the invention is suited to printing machines that involve no contact with the substrate, such as inkjet printing machines.
Claims19
Substrate transport system in a printing machine comprising a printing station, along a transport path from at least one entry store supplying printable substrates to at least one exit store receiving the substrates, comprising:
- at least one substrate;
- an entry store for storing the substrate,
- a fixed suction table under the printing station for maintaining the substrate flat on the fixed suction table,
- a mobile gripping means gripping a front part of the substrate along the transport path,
- a guide means for guiding the gripping means along the transport path,
- a motorization means ensuring moving of the gripping means along the guide means,
- an exit store for storing the printed substrate,
- whereby the substrate transport system moves the substrate relative to and in direct contact with the fixed suction table along the transport path as the fixed suction table maintains the substrate flat and characterized in that the transverse dimension of the fixed suction table is at least equivalent to the transverse dimension of the substrate.
Method for transport of substrates in a transport system in a printing machine comprising a printing station along a transport path, from an entry store to an exit store, said transport system comprising a fixed suction table under the printing station, a mobile gripping means and a motorization means of the gripping means, characterized in that it comprises the following steps:
- a) storing a printable substrate in the entry store,
- b) moving and maintaining the substrate flat on the fixed suction table as the substrate moves relative to and in direct contact with the fixed suction table along a transport path, wherein the transverse dimension of the fixed suction table is at least equivalent to the transverse dimension of the substrate,
- c) positioning of the gripping means by said motorization means in an area near the entry store,
- d) following detection, by detection means, of a front transversal edge of the substrate relative to the direction of moving, gripping by the gripping means of at least an edge of the substrate near the front part of said substrate, said gripping means dragging the substrate on the fixed suction table through the printing station,
- e) releasing by the gripping means when the position of the said substrate is in an area near the exit store of the printing machine,
- f) storing of the printed substrate in the exit store, and
- g) return of the gripping means in an area near the entry store.
Use of a method for transport of printable substrates in a printing machine for transporting the substrate and inkjet printing, the inkjet printing being performed without contact with the substrate during its transport wherein the method for transport of printable substrates in a transport system in the printing machine comprising a printing station along a transport path, from an entry store to an exit store, the transport system comprising a fixed suction table under the printing station, a mobile gripping means and a motorization means of the gripping means, and wherein the method comprises the following steps:
- storing the substrate in the entry store,
- moving and maintaining the substrate flat on the fixed suction table as the substrate moves relative to and in direct contact with the fixed suction table along a transport path, wherein the transverse dimension of the fixed suction table is at least equivalent to the transverse dimension of the substrate,
- positioning of the gripping means by said motorization means in an area near the entry store,
- following detection, by detection means, of a front transversal edge of the substrate relative to the direction of moving, gripping by the gripping means of at least an edge of the substrate near the front part of said substrate, said gripping means dragging the substrate on the fixed suction table through the printing station,
- releasing by the gripping means when the position of the said substrate is in an area near the exit store of the printing machine,
- storing of the printed substrate in the exit store, and
- return of the gripping means in an area near the entry store.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.