Endless flexible belt for a printing system
AssigneeLanda Corporation Ltd.
InventorsBenzion Landa, Sagi Abramovich, Aharon Shmaiser, Rami Keller, Itshak Ashkanazi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flexible belt is disclosed for use in a printing system. The belt comprises an endless strip which, in use, travels along a continuous path. Formations are provided along the sides of the strip which are capable of engaging with lateral tracks to place the belt under lateral tension, the lateral tracks further serving to constrain the belt to follow the continuous path.
Claims26
A method of operating a printing system comprising an image forming station, an endless flexible belt, first and second lateral guiding tracks disposed on opposite sides of the endless flexible belt, and an impression station, the method comprising:
- a. as the flexible belt is pulled through the image forming station, directing droplets of ink onto the surface of the flexible belt to form ink images thereon, wherein:
- (i) the first and second lateral guiding tracks serve to guide the flexible belt as it is pulled through the image forming station;
- (ii) lateral tension applied to the flexible belt by the first and second lateral guiding tracks maintains the belt taut and flat in a widthwise direction as the belt is pulled through the image forming station;
- b. guiding the belt so as to transport the ink images from the image-forming station to the impression station;
- and
- c. at the impression station, transferring the ink images from the belt surface to substrate,
- wherein:
- (i) in the image forming station, the belt passes over a plurality of rollers, and (ii) the image forming station comprises a plurality of print bars, each of the rollers being aligned with a different respective print bar.
A method of operating a printing system comprising an image forming station, an endless flexible belt, first and second lateral guiding tracks disposed on opposite sides of the endless flexible belt, and an impression station, the method comprising:
- a. as the flexible belt is pulled through the image forming station, directing droplets of ink onto the surface of the flexible belt to form ink images thereon, wherein:
- (i) the first and second lateral guiding tracks serve to guide the flexible belt as it is pulled through the image forming station;
- (ii) lateral tension applied to the flexible belt by the first and second lateral guiding tracks maintains the belt taut and flat in a widthwise direction as the belt is pulled through the image forming station;
- b. guiding the belt so as to transport the ink images from the image-forming station to the impression station;
- and
- c. at the impression station, transferring the ink images from the belt surface to substrate,
- wherein the belt has a degree of elasticity in a width ways direction that is greater than the elasticity of the belt in a longitudinal direction.
A printing system comprising:
- (a) an endless flexible belt;
- (b) an image forming station at which drops of ink are directed onto the surface of the endless flexible belt to form ink images thereon;
- (c) first and second lateral guiding tracks disposed on lateral opposite sides of the flexible belt at least along the image forming station;
- and
- (d) an impression station where the ink images are transferred from the belt surface to substrate,
- wherein (i) the belt is guided to transport the ink images from the image forming station to the impression station of the printing system, and (ii) at the image forming station, the first and second lateral guiding tracks both:
- guide the flexible belt as it is pulled through the image forming station;
- and
- apply lateral tension to the flexible belt from opposite lateral sides thereof so as to maintain the belt taut and flat in a widthwise direction as the belt is pulled through the image forming station,
- and wherein:
- (A) in the image forming station, the belt passes over a plurality of rollers, and (B) the image forming station comprises a plurality of print bars, each of the rollers being aligned with a different respective print bar.
A printing system of comprising:
- (a) an endless flexible belt;
- (b) an image forming station at which drops of ink are directed onto the surface of the endless flexible belt to form ink images thereon;
- (c) first and second lateral guiding tracks disposed on lateral opposite sides of the flexible belt at least along the image forming station;
- and
- (d) an impression station where the ink images are transferred from the belt surface to substrate,
- wherein (i) the belt is guided to transport the ink images from the image forming station to the impression station of the printing system, and (ii) at the image forming station, the first and second lateral guiding tracks both:
- guide the flexible belt as it is pulled through the image forming station;
- and
- apply lateral tension to the flexible belt from opposite lateral sides thereof so as to maintain the belt taut and flat in a widthwise direction as the belt is pulled through the image forming station,
- wherein the belt has a degree of elasticity in a width ways direction that is greater than the elasticity of the belt in a longitudinal direction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.