Printing method and system
AssigneeLanda Corporation Ltd.
InventorsBenzion Landa, Zohar Goldenstein, Tomer Schindler, Ronen Lalezar
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of printing includes, applying to an intermediate transfer member (ITM) (44), one or more fluids that include at least a printing fluid for forming an image on the ITM (44). At least part of the image is transferred from the ITM (44) to a target substrate (50). Residues of the one or more fluids that were not transferred to the target substrate (50) and remained on the ITM (44), are transferred from the ITM (44) to one or more rotatable elements (112), and the residues are removed from the one or more rotatable elements (112).
Claims20
A method of printing, comprising:
- moving an intermediate transfer member (ITM) that is placed over one or more rollers, by rotating the one or more rollers;
- applying to the ITM one or more fluids comprising at least a printing fluid for forming an image on the ITM;
- transferring at least part of the image from the ITM to a target substrate;
- engaging between (i) one or more rotatable elements positioned on a first side of the ITM, and (ii) one or more additional rotatable elements positioned on a second side of the ITM, opposite the first side, wherein both the one or more rotatable elements and the one or more additional rotatable elements are different from the one or more rollers that rotate the ITM, and wherein at least a first rotatable element of the rotatable elements and at least a second rotatable element of the additional rotatable elements are facing one another;
- transferring, from the ITM to the one or more rotatable elements, residues of the one or more fluids that were not transferred to the target substrate and remained on the ITM;
- and
- removing the residues from the one or more rotatable elements.
A printing system, comprising:
- one or more stations, which are configured to apply, to an intermediate transfer member (ITM), one or more fluids comprising at least a printing fluid so as to form an image on the ITM;
- an image transfer station comprising one or more rollers configured to be rotated for moving the ITM, the image transfer station is configured to transfer at least part of the image from the ITM to a target substrate;
- an ITM cleaning station (ICLS) comprising (a) one or more rotatable elements positioned on a first side of the ITM and (b) one or more additional rotatable elements positioned on a second side of the ITM, opposite the first side, wherein both the one or more rotatable elements and the one or more additional rotatable elements are different from the one or more rollers of the image transfer station, and wherein at least a first rotatable element of the rotatable elements and at least a second rotatable element of the additional rotatable elements are facing one another, wherein the ICLS is configured to:
- (i) transfer, from the ITM to the one or more rotatable elements, residues of the one or more fluids that were not transferred to the target substrate and remained on the ITM, and (ii) remove the residues from the one or more rotatable elements;
- and
- a processor, which is configured to control the ICLS to engage between the first and second rotatable elements for transferring the residues.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.