METHOD FOR DIGITALLY PRINTING A PROFILED STRIP

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for digitally printing a profiled strip (6), comprising a plurality of digital print heads (3) which can be oriented relative to a conveyor (1) conveying the profiled strip (6) past the print heads (3) in the longitudinal direction. In order to create advantageous guiding conditions, it is proposed that the conveyor (1) has a plurality of conveying members (2) guided in a circulating path, that the circulating path forms a conveying section with a straight guiding section (5) for the conveying members (2), and that the conveying members (2) are provided with a receptacle for the profiled strip (6) which holds the profiled strip (6) in a manner fixed against displacement during the movement of the members along the straight guiding section (5).

Claims

1. A device for digitally printing a profiled strip, said device comprising: a plurality of digital print heads oriented relative to a conveyor conveying the profiled strip past the print heads in a longitudinal direction; wherein the conveyor has a plurality of conveying members guided in a circulating path; and wherein the circulating path forms a conveying section with a straight guiding section guiding the conveying members; and where the conveying members are provided with a receptacle receiving and holding the profiled strip fixed against displacement during movement of the conveying members along the straight guiding section.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor is configured to convey the profiled strip with a maximum length has a straight guiding section with a length corresponding to at least twice the maximum length of the profiled strip.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the receptacles of the conveying members have spikes projecting against the profiled strip.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the receptacles of the conveying members have suction holders.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the receptacles of the conveying members have grippers.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor is associated with an alignment device having an alignment stop engaging a longitudinal side of the profiled strip and having an actuator pressing the profiled strip against the alignment stop.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the alignment stop extends along a takeover area of the straight guiding section, and wherein, on an outlet side of the takeover area, a device opposite the conveying members with respect to the profiled strip presses the profiled strip against the receptacles of the conveying members.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the takeover area of the straight guiding section is connected on a side opposite the alignment stop to a cross conveyor conveying the profiled strips to be printed.

9. The device according to claim 7, wherein the alignment stop or the actuator associated therewith comprises a running belt.

10. The device according to claim 7, wherein the alignment stop or the actuator associated therewith has a slide rail.

11. The device according to claim 2, wherein the conveyor is associated with an alignment device having an alignment stop engaging a longitudinal side of the profiled strip and having an actuator pressing the profiled strip against the alignment stop.

12. The device according to claim 8, wherein the alignment stop or the actuator associated therewith comprises a running belt.

13. The device according to claim 8, wherein the alignment stop or the actuator associated therewith has a slide rail.

14. The device according to claim 2, wherein the conveyor is associated with an alignment device having an alignment stop engaging a longitudinal side of the profiled strip and having an actuator pressing the profiled strip against the alignment stop.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the alignment stop extends along a takeover area of the straight guiding section, and wherein, on an outlet side of the takeover area, a device opposite the conveying members with respect to the profiled strip presses the profiled strip against the receptacles of the conveying members.

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the takeover area of the straight guiding section is connected on a side opposite the alignment stop to a cross conveyor conveying the profiled strips to be printed.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the alignment stop or the actuator associated therewith comprises a running belt.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the alignment stop or the actuator associated therewith has a slide rail.

19. The device according to claim 17, wherein the alignment stop or the actuator associated therewith comprises a running belt.

20. The device according to claim 18, wherein the alignment stop or the actuator associated therewith has a slide rail.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] In the drawing, the subject matter of the invention is shown by way of example, wherein:

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a device according to the invention for digitally printing a profiled strip,

[0017] FIG. 2 shows this device in the takeover area in a top view on a larger scale,

[0018] FIG. 3 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment variant of a device according to the invention in the takeover area on a larger scale,

[0019] FIG. 4 shows a top view of the device according to FIG. 3, and

[0020] FIGS. 5 and 6 show a further embodiment of a device according to the invention in a representation corresponding to FIGS. 3 and 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] According to FIGS. 1 and 2, the device for digitally printing a profiled strip has a conveyor 1 which has conveying members 2 guided in a circulating path, which accommodate the profiled strips to be printed in receptacles in a manner fixed against displacement. These receptacles may be provided with spikes projecting towards the profiled strips for holding them in a thrust-resistant manner. However, it is also possible to equip the receptacles with suction holders or mechanical grippers in order to be able to connect the profiled strips to the conveying members 2 in such a way that they cannot slide. The aligned profiled strips are moved in the longitudinal direction along a conveying path past print heads 3 of a digital printing device 4 and are printed in the process. For this purpose, the print heads 3 must be appropriately aligned with respect to the conveyor 1. For the straight guidance of the profiled strips, the conveying section of the conveyor 1 forms a straight guiding section 5 for the conveying members 2, so that the aligned profiled strips taken over from the conveying members 2 can be moved past the print heads 3 in the position taken over and held in their alignment by the shear-resistant holding device in the receptacles of the conveying members 2.

[0022] For the alignment of the profiled strips 6 to be printed, a cross conveyor 7 is provided according to FIG. 2, which adjoins the straight guiding section 5 of the conveyor 1 in a takeover area. On the side of the straight guiding section 5 opposite the cross conveyor 7, an alignment stop 8 is provided for one longitudinal side of the profiled strips 6. The profiled strips 6, which are pushed onto the conveying members 2 by means of the cross conveyor 7 in the transfer region, are pressed against the alignment stop 8 with the aid of an adjusting drive 9 and are thus aligned in the longitudinal direction with respect to the alignment stop 8. In this aligned position, each profiled strip 6 is acted upon by means of a device 10 for pressing the profiled strip 6 against the receptacles of the conveying members 2, so that, for example, when spikes are provided in the receptacles, the profiled strips 6 are pressed onto these spikes with the effect that the profiled strips 6 are held positively relative to the conveying members 2 by the spikes penetrating the wooden valuable material of the profiled strips 6. The profiled strips 6, aligned in this manner over their underside, can then be printed on the clamp-free sides before the profiled strips 6 are released again from the conveying members 2 following the printing device 4.

[0023] In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, both the alignment stop 8 and the actuator 9 are formed by a running belt 11 and 12, respectively, which entails a support of the conveying of the profiled strips 6 in the takeover area of the conveying section of the conveyor 1. Similarly, the device 10 for pressing the profiled strips 6 against the conveying members 2 may also comprise a running belt.

[0024] In contrast to the design of the device according to FIGS. 1 and 2, in the design according to FIGS. 3 and 4 the alignment stop 8 is formed by a slide rail 13. The actuator 9 for pressing the profiled strips 6 against the alignment stop 8 is omitted in these illustrations for reasons of clarity, but may likewise comprise a slide rail. The device 10 for pressing the profiled strip 6 against the conveying members 2 comprises a pressure shoe 15, with the aid of which the play-free contact of the profiled strips 6 against the receptacles of the conveying members 2 is ensured.

[0025] A further possibility for providing an embodiment of a device according to the invention for digitally printing a profiled strip 6 is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In this exemplary embodiment, the alignment stop 8 is formed by a slide rail 13, while the actuator 9 is constructed from individual pressure bodies 16 which press the profiled strip 6 against the slide rail 13. The device 10 is formed by a pressure shoe 15, which is arranged in the immediate takeover area of the conveyor 1 and is preferably operated in a clocked manner in order to be able to apply greater pressing forces.