In-line printing and stepwise processing of a band of material

The method for in-line printing and processing of successive portions of a band material extending along a transport path, comprising:

• printing onto each of the portions in a printing position along the transport path;
• processing each of the portions in a processing position along the transport path;
• and
• stepwise advancing at least a section of the band material at least one time over a predetermined distance along the transport path for transferring at least one of the portions from the printing position or the processing position, to the processing position or, respectively, the printing position;
• wherein printing onto each of the portions further comprises:
• incrementally generating successive portions of a printing to be printed by a printing member and incrementally advancing each respective one of the portions in accordance with the formation of incremental portions of the printing such that the printing is formed, wherein the incremental advancements during printing occur between stepwise advancements of the band material over the predetermined distance, the incremental advancements being smaller than the stepwise advancements;
• and
• each printed portion is advanced over a remaining portion of the predetermined distance after having been printed, wherein the advancement of the portions in accordance with the incremental formation of the printing, is controlled by a print advancing drive associated to a printing station including the printing position, and wherein the advancement of at least one portion over the remaining portion of the predetermined distance after having been printed is carried out by a feeder structure associated to a processing station including the processing position for feeding a next portion to be processed to the processing position.

A system for in-line printing and processing of successive portions of a band material, comprising:

• a transport path for transporting band material extending along the transport path;
• a printing structure including a printing member along the transport path;
• a processing structure along the transport path;
• and
• an advancing structure for stepwise advancing at least one portion of the band material at least one time over a predetermined distance along the transport path such that at least one portion of the band material is transferred from the printing structure or the processing structure, to the processing structure or, respectively, the printing structure;
• wherein the printing member is adapted for incrementally printing successive portions of a printing;
• and the advancing structure is adapted for incrementally advancing at least one portion of the band material relative to the printing member in accordance with the incremental formation of the printing such that the printing is formed, wherein the incremental advancements during printing occur between stepwise advancements of the band material over the predetermined distance, the incremental advancements being smaller than the stepwise advancements, and for subsequently advancing at least one printed portion over a remaining portion of the predetermined distance after having been printed.

A system for in-line printing and processing of successive portions of a band material, comprising:

• a transport path for transporting band material extending along the transport path;
• a printing structure including a printing member along the transport path;
• a processing structure along the transport path;
• and
• an advancing structure for stepwise advancing at least one portion of the band material at least one time over a predetermined distance along the transport path such that at least one portion of the band material is transferred from the printing structure or the processing structure, to the processing structure or, respectively, the printing structure;
• wherein the printing member is adapted for incrementally printing successive portions of a printing;
• and the advancing structure is adapted for incrementally advancing at least one portion of the band material relative to the printing member in accordance with the incremental formation of the printing such that the printing is formed, wherein the incremental advancements during printing occur between stepwise advancements of the band material over the predetermined distance, the incremental advancements being smaller than the stepwise advancements such that the printing is formed, and for subsequently advancing at least one printed portion over a remaining portion of the predetermined distance after having been printed, wherein the advancing structure includes a print advancing drive for incrementally advancing at least one portion in accordance with the incremental formation of the printing, such that the printing is formed, and a feeder structure, separate from the print advancing drive, for advancing at least one portion over the remaining portion of the predetermined distance after having been printed.

A printer for printing on a band of material, comprising:

• a transport path extending through the printer for advancing band material through the printer,
• a printing member in a position along the transport path for printing onto band material extending along the transport path, and
• a control means for controlling the printing member, wherein the printing member is adapted for incrementally generating successive portions of a printing to be printed;
• further comprising a print advancing drive adapted for incrementally advancing each respective one of the portions relative to the printing member in accordance with the incremental formation of the printing, such that the printing is formed, the print advancing drive allowing advancement of the band material along the transport path under control of a means other than the advancing structure.