Overcoat printing and servicing
AssigneeHP Scitex Ltd.
InventorsAlex Veis, Ron Tuttnauer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In certain examples described herein, a depositing mechanism performs an overcoat depositing operation. The depositing mechanism comprises a plurality of print head arrays. Each print head array is arrangeable in a deposit position to deposit an overcoat layer onto a substrate and a service position to enable servicing to be performed. In certain cases, an array controller causes at least one print head array of the plurality of print head arrays to be moved periodically from the deposit position to the service position according to a predefined servicing sequence during an ongoing overcoat depositing operation performed by the depositing mechanism.
Claims18
An apparatus comprising:
- a depositing mechanism to perform an overcoat depositing operation, the depositing mechanism comprising a plurality of print head arrays each being arrangeable in a deposit position to deposit an overcoat layer onto a substrate and a service position to enable servicing to be performed;
- and
- an array controller to cause a first print head array of the plurality of print head arrays to be moved periodically from the deposit position to the service position according to a predefined servicing sequence during an ongoing overcoat depositing operation performed by the depositing mechanism;
- wherein the array controller moves the first print head array from the deposit position to the service position based on a predefined service interval over which the first print head array is able to deposit an overcoat fluid to form the overcoat layer without clogging occurring;
- and
- wherein the predefined servicing sequence has the first print head array active at the deposit position for twice as long a period of time as the first print head is being serviced at the service position.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising a set of computer-readable instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method of controlling a plurality of print head arrays each being arrangeable in a deposit position to deposit an overcoat fluid onto a substrate and a service position to enable servicing to be performed, the method comprising:
- causing the first print head array to be moved from the deposit position to the service position according to a periodic servicing sequence, the periodic servicing sequence determined by a period of time at which the first print head array deposits the overcoat fluid without becoming clogged;
- causing the second print head array to be moved from the service position to the print position to deposit the overcoat fluid whilst a servicing operation is performed on the first print head array;
- and
- wherein the first print head array is active at the print position and inactive at the service position for equal amounts of time.
A method of operating a plurality of print head arrays including at least a first print head array and a second print head array, each of the plurality of print head arrays being arrangeable independently in a print position to print an overcoat fluid onto a print medium and in a service position to enable servicing to be performed, the method comprising:
- moving the first print head array from the print position to the service position according to a periodic servicing sequence;
- moving the second print head array from the service position to the print position to print the overcoat fluid whilst a servicing operation is performed on the first print head array;
- and
- and
- wherein one from the set of “A” and “B” occurs, where “A” is that the first print head array is active at the print position and inactive at the service position for equal amounts of time, and “B” is that the first print head array active at the print position for twice as long a period of time as the first print head is being serviced at the service position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.