# US 10,369,815 B2 · Inkjet printing device with removable flat substrate support device

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- Number: US 10,369,815 B2
- Document ID: US10369815B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/769,760
- Filed: 2016-10-20
- Published: 2018-08-16
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-10-23
- Assignees: Agfa NV
- Applicants: Agfa NV
- Inventors: Tom Cloots
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10369815B2

## CPC

- B41J 11/0085: {Using suction for maintaining printing material flat (on rotatable drums B41J13/226)}
- B41J 3/28: for printing downwardly on flat surfaces, e.g. of books, drawings, boxes {, envelopes, e.g. flat-bed ink-jet printers}
- B41J 3/407: for marking on special material
- B41J 3/4078: {Printing on textile}
- B41J 11/001: {Handling wide copy materials}
- B41J 11/00214: {using UV radiation}
- B41J 11/00216: {using infrared [IR] radiation or microwaves}
- B41J 11/005: {Guides in the printing zone, e.g. guides for preventing contact of conveyed sheets with printhead}
- B41J 11/007: {Conveyor belts or like feeding devices}
- B41J 11/06: Flat page-size platens {or smaller flat platens having a greater size than line-size platens (B41J11/0085 takes precedence)}
- B41J 13/02: Rollers (roller platens B41J11/04)
- D06P 3/32: leather {skins}
- B41M 5/0047: {by ink-jet printing}
- B41M 5/0076: {on wooden surfaces, leather, linoleum, skin, or flowers}
- B41M 7/0081: {using electromagnetic radiation or waves, e.g. ultraviolet radiation, electron beams}
- B41M 7/009: {using thermal means, e.g. infrared radiation, heat}
- B65G 49/061: {Lifting, gripping, or carrying means, for one or more sheets forming independent means of transport, e.g. suction cups, transport frames (suction means as load-engaging elements attached to the lifting or lowering gear of cranes B66C1/02; suction cups for attaching purposes F16B47/00; suction cups on gripping heads B25J15/0616; suction cups in general B65G47/91; suction cups combined with cutting means on vertical conveyors C03B33/00 - C03B33/10; devices for turning sheets B65G49/067; suspending devices B65G49/066)}
- B65G 49/064: {in a horizontal position (B65G49/066 takes precedence)}
- B65G 2249/04: Arrangements of vacuum systems or suction cups
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- D06P: DYEING OR PRINTING TEXTILES; DYEING LEATHER, FURS OR SOLID MACROMOLECULAR SUBSTANCES IN ANY FORM
- B41M: PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING, (correction of typographical errors B41J; processes for applying transfer pictures or the like B44C1/16; fluid media for correction of typographical errors by coating C09D10/00; printing textiles D06P)
- B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D)

## Abstract

An inkjet printing device includes a vacuum flatbed table configured to support large and flat substrates with applied vacuum power and while printing, in a hold down area, against the vacuum flatbed table; a removable flat substrate support device configured to support large and flat substrates while printing; and a vacuum belt connected to a plurality of pulleys and wrapped around the vacuum flatbed table; wherein the vacuum flatbed table is configured for coupling the removable flat substrate support device stationary to the vacuum flatbed table by applied vacuum power; and the vacuum belt is sandwiched between the removable flat substrate support device and the vacuum flatbed table.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An inkjet printing device comprising:
a vacuum flatbed table that supports and holds a flat substrate by vacuum during printing and within a hold down area having a surface area between 3 m2 and 50 m2;
a removable flat substrate support that supports the flat substrate during printing within a contact area have a surface area between 3 m2 and 50 m2; and
a vacuum belt connected to a plurality of pulleys and wrapped around the vacuum flatbed table; wherein
the vacuum flatbed table holds the removable flat substrate support stationary to the vacuum flatbed table by vacuum;
the vacuum belt is located between the removable flat substrate support and the vacuum flatbed table and carries the removable flat substrate support thereon; and
the removable flat substrate support includes:
a temperature regulator that heats and/or cools the flat substrate; and/or
a curing device that immobilizes a jetted ink layer on the flat substrate; and/or
a thermal insulation material that reduces a temperature transfer from the flat substrate to the vacuum flatbed table, or from the vacuum flatbed table to the flat substrate.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The inkjet printing device according to claim 1, wherein the removable flat substrate support includes:
a humidity regulator that humidifies and/or dehumidifies the flat substrate using a liquid.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The inkjet printing device according to claim 1, wherein the removable flat substrate support includes:
idler rollers that support the flat substrate.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The inkjet printing device according to claim 1, wherein the removable flat substrate support includes:
a plurality of ball transports that position the flat substrate; wherein
the flat substrate has a density between 750 kg/m3 and 20,000 kg/m3.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The inkjet printing device according to claim 1, wherein the removable flat substrate support includes a plug-and-play device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The inkjet printing device according to claim 1, wherein the inkjet printing device is a flexible substrate inkjet printing device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The inkjet printing device according to claim 6, wherein the inkjet printing device is a leather inkjet printing device.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The inkjet printing device according to claim 7, wherein the flat substrate supported by the removable flat substrate support is leather, but not artificial leather.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A method of using the inkjet printing device according to claim 8, the method comprising the steps of:
inkjet printing on the leather with the inkjet printing device to produce inkjet printed leather; and
using the inkjet printed leather to manufacture upholstery, clothing, or shoes.