Method and apparatus for printing on non-planar beds
AssigneeElectronics for Imaging, Inc.
InventorsMarco Serafini, Ernesto Propersi Sterbiati
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A printer includes a convex printing bed that is configured to hold a medium. A printer carriage is operable to swipe back and forth across the medium along a linear axis. A set of printing heads jet ink on the medium. The set of printing heads is secured to and moved along the linear axis by the carriage. At least two rails support the print carriage and to guide the print carriage along the linear axis as the carriage swipes back and forth across the medium. The shape of the convex bed generates tension across the medium such that an increase in width of the medium, due to swelling of the medium when printed, is pulled to the sides by the shape of the convex bed to limit creasing and bulging of the medium.
Claims18
A printer, comprising:
- a curved printing bed configured to hold a medium;
- a carriage operable to swipe back and forth across the medium along a linear axis,
- wherein the printing bed is curved along the linear axis such that the carriage swipes back and forth across a curved portion of the printing bed;
- a set of printing heads for jetting ink on the medium, wherein the set of printing heads is secured to and moved along the linear axis by the carriage;
- and
- at least two rails supporting the print carriage and arranged to guide the print carriage along the linear axis as the carriage swipes back and forth across the medium while the printing heads are jetting ink;
- wherein the shape of the curved bed generates tension across the medium;
- and
- wherein the shape of the curved bed pulls to the sides of the curved bed an increase in width of the medium due to swelling of the medium when printed to limit creasing and bulging of the medium.
A printing method, comprising:
- passing a medium along a curved printing bed;
- swiping a carriage back and forth across the medium along a linear axis, wherein the printing bed is curved along the linear axis such that the carriage swipes back and forth across a curved portion of the printing bed;
- jetting ink on the medium with a set of printing heads, wherein the set of printing heads is secured to and moved along the linear axis by the carriage while the printing heads are jetting ink;
- and
- supporting the print carriage are at least two rails that are arranged to guide the print carriage along the linear axis as the carriage swipes back and forth across the medium;
- wherein the shape of the curved bed generates tension across the medium;
- and
- wherein the shape of the curved bed pulls to the sides of the curved bed an increase in width of the medium due to swelling of the medium when printed to limit creasing and bulging of the medium.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.