Device and method for transporting substrated in a printing machine
AssigneeMGI Digital Technology
InventorEdmond ABERGEL
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The object of the present invention is to propose a novel device and a novel method to allow the transportation of printable substrates precisely, suited to substrates of various types, sizes and thicknesses. Furthermore, the invention is suited to printing machines that involve no contact with the substrate, such as inkjet printing machines.
Claims17
Substrate transport system in a printing machine comprising a printing station, along a transport path from at least one entry store supplying printable substrates to at least one exit store receiving the substrates, comprising:
- 1. an entry store for storing the printable substrate,
- 2. an optional transport system for the substrate from the entry store to the suction table,
- 3. a fixed suction table under the printing station for maintaining the substrates flat on said table,
- 4. a mobile gripping means gripping a front part of the substrate along the transport path,
- 5. a guide means for guiding the gripping means along the transport path,
- 6. a motorisation means ensuring moving of the gripping means along the guide means,
- 7. an optional transport system for the printed substrate from the suction table to the exit store,
- 8. an exit store for storing the printed substrate,
- whereby the substrate transport system is adapted to move each substrate so as to move it on the fixed suction table along the transport path and characterised in that the transverse dimension of the suction table is at least equivalent to the transverse dimension of the substrate.
Method for transport of substrates along a transport path, characterised in that it comprises the following steps:
- a) storing the printable substrate in an entry store,
- b) moving and maintaining the substrate flat on a fixed suction table,
- c) positioning of the gripping means by said motorisation means in an area near the entry store,
- d) following detection of the front transversal edge of the substrate relative to the direction of moving, gripping by the gripping means of at least an edge of the substrate near the front part of said substrate, said gripping means dragging the substrate on the fixed suction table through the printing station,
- e) releasing by the substrate gripping means when the position of the said substrate is in an area near the exit store of the printing machine,
- f) storing of the printed substrate in the exit store,
- g) return of the gripping means in an area near the entry store.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.