Printing zone specially adapted for textile printing media
US6361230B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 30, 1999 |
| Grant date | Mar 26, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 30, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB41J11/002
- WIPO fieldTextile and paper machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The method and apparatus of the present invention increases the precision for controlling diverse printing substrates during printing operation while ink is emitted from an ink jet print head to form patterns upon the printing media substrate. The present invention addresses several long-standing obstacles to high quality printed output upon many nontraditional print media, including media handling for nonbacked, unsupported, fibrous print media. The print media traverses the engine in a complex pathway in the preferred embodiment; including, continually advancing from a powered media supply roll through a cross-web tensioning area, an idler pulley, then over a full-web media advance grit roller, through a unique “open web” printing zone—where the media is briefly suspended during application of ink, over an idler pulley, through a forced heating zone (preferably dual-sided), and then over another idler pulley, and finally onto a take-up spool which is biased against the force created by the powered media supply spool. The engine of the present invention utilizes this open-web printing zone, dual forced air heating of both sides of freshly printed media, and a con…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.