METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING AND/OR FIXATING A PRINT ON(TO) A SUBSTRATE IN A DEVICE FOR TRANSFER AND/OR FIXATION

Abstract

A method for transferring and/or fixating a print on(to) a substrate includes feeding a substrate through a device for transfer and/or fixation for the purpose of transferring thereto and/or fixating thereon a print, where the substrate has been provided or is provided with a number of basic colours and optional dilutions thereof, comparing the basic colours and the optional dilutions thereof of the substrate to registered verification basic colours and optional dilutions thereof, and approving or not approving the substrate on the basis thereof, and/or comparing basic colours and optional dilutions thereof of a print paper, to be fed through with the substrate with a print to be transferred and said basic colours and optional dilutions thereof to registered print basic colours and optional dilutions thereof, and approving or not approving the print paper on the basis thereof.

Claims

1. A method for transferring and/or fixating a print on(to) a substrate in a device for transfer and/or fixation, comprising: a) feeding a substrate through a device for transfer and/or fixation for the purpose of transferring thereto and/or fixating thereon a print, wherein the substrate has been provided or is provided with a number of basic colours and dilutions thereof; and at least one of: b) comparing the basic colours and the dilutions thereof of the substrate to registered verification basic colours and dilutions thereof before and/or after step a), and approving or not approving the substrate on the basis thereof, and c) comparing basic colours and dilutions thereof of a print paper, to be fed through with the substrate in step a), with a print to be transferred and said basic colours and dilutions thereof to registered print basic colours and dilutions thereof before step a), and approving or not approving the print paper on the basis thereof.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the basic colours and dilutions thereof in step a) have been or are provided on an edge, such as a longitudinal edge, transverse edge and/or end edge, of the substrate and/or wherein the basic colours and dilutions thereof in step c) are printed on an edge, such as a longitudinal edge, transverse edge and/or end edge, of the print paper.

3. The method according to claim 2, comprising the step g) of cutting away the edge of the substrate and/or the print paper with the basic colours and dilutions thereof after step a) and at least one of the steps b) and c).

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein step b) and/or step c) is performed in-line and/or repeated periodically.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein, if the respective substrate and/or print paper is not approved in respectively step b) and/or step c), at least one of the following steps is performed: d) stopping the device for transfer and/or fixation at least temporarily, and e) adjusting at least one setting of the device for transfer and/or fixation.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the following settings is adjusted in step e): a temperature of a roller of the device for transfer and/or fixation; a transfer and/or fixation duration; a pressure of a belt of the device for transfer and/or fixation.

7. The method according to claim 5, comprising the step h) of detecting at least one material property of at least one of the substrate and the print paper, such as the colour, wherein in step e) the adjustment of the at least one setting also takes place on the basis of the colour detected in step h).

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising the step, if applicable, of: f) comparing the basic colours and the optional dilutions thereof of the print paper, fed through with the substrate in step a), to registered residual print basic colours and dilutions thereof after step a).

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the registered verification and/or print and/or residual print basic colours and dilutions thereof are obtained by registering the basic colours and dilutions thereof of a verification substrate and/or verification print paper, before and/or after throughfeed through the device for transfer and/or fixation.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the steps b), c), f) and h) is performed by capturing the basic colours and dilutions thereof stated therein with at least one camera or spectrophotometer, and comparing the captured basic colours and optional dilutions thereof to corresponding registered verification and/or print and/or residual print basic colours and dilutions thereof.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein all captured basic colours and dilutions thereof are stored in a database.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein origin data, for instance a project number and/or colourway number and/or date, are further printed and/or transferred and/or fixated, for instance in an edge of the (verification) print paper and/or (verification) substrate.

13. A system for use in a method according to, claim 1, wherein at least one of the steps b), c), f) and h) is performed by capturing the basic colours and dilutions thereof stated therein with at least one camera or spectrophotometer, and comparing the captured basic colours and dilutions thereof to corresponding registered verification and/or print and/or residual print basic colours and dilutions thereof; the system comprising at least one camera or spectrophotometer for capturing determined basic colours and dilutions thereof, and a computer configured to run a computer program in which the captured basic colours and dilutions thereof are compared to corresponding registered verification and/or print and/or residual print basic colours and dilutions thereof.

14. The system according to claim 13, comprising a database in which at least one of the following data is stored: the captured basic colours and dilutions thereof; the registered verification, print or residual print basic colours and dilutions thereof; origin data; at least one setting of the device for transfer and/or fixation; measured machine data and possible variations between measured and set data, and possible variations from production data.

15. The system according to claim 13, comprising a stated device for transfer and/or fixation.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the at least one camera or spectrophotometer is disposed upstream and/or downstream of the device for transfer and/or fixation.

Description

[0078] The invention will be further elucidated with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

[0079] FIG. 1 shows schematically a system according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0080] FIG. 2 shows schematically a system according to a second embodiment of the invention; and

[0081] FIG. 3 shows schematically the steps of a method according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0082] FIG. 4 shows schematically a print on a substrate according to a method according to the invention.

[0083] The same elements are designated in the figures with the same reference numerals.

[0084] FIG. 1 shows in highly simplified and schematic manner a system according to a first embodiment of the invention. The system comprises a device for transfer and/or fixation 1, such as for instance a calender. Disposed in this case in the vicinity of respectively an infeed and outfeed of the device for transfer and/or fixation 1 is respectively a first camera 2 and a second camera 3.

[0085] First camera 2 is pointed at a substrate 4. Substrate 4 comprises a print applied thereto and a number of basic colours and dilutions thereof which are applied to an edge of substrate 4. The edge with the basic colours and dilutions thereof can for instance be one of the two longitudinal edges, which longitudinal edge can for instance be cut away if so desired. The print and the basic colours and dilutions thereof are applied to a side of substrate 4 directed toward first camera 2. The print and the basic colours and dilutions thereof can for instance be printed on substrate 4 by printing. The print and the basic colours and dilutions thereof are fixated on substrate 4 in the device for transfer and/or fixation 1. The first camera 2 captures the basic colours and dilutions thereof of substrate 4 prior to throughfeed of substrate 4 through the device for transfer and/or fixation 1. The basic colours and dilutions thereof captured by first camera 2 are compared to registered verification basic colours-before and dilutions thereof. If no variation is found between the captured basic colours and dilutions thereof and the registered verification basic colours-before and dilutions thereof, or if a possible variation is smaller than a maximum permitted variation, substrate 4 can be approved and the process can be continued uninterrupted. If a variation is found between the captured basic colours and dilutions thereof and the registered verification basic colours-before and dilutions thereof, or if a possible variation is greater than a maximum permitted variation, substrate 4 cannot be approved. If substrate 4 is not approved at the start of or during the process, it can be decided to respectively not feed this rejected substrate 4 through the device for transfer and/or fixation 1 or not feed it through any further.

[0086] Second camera 3 is likewise pointed at substrate 4 and captures the basic colours and dilutions thereof of substrate 4 after throughfeed of substrate 4 through the device for transfer and/or fixation 1. In other words, second camera 3 captures the fixated basic colours and dilutions thereof of substrate 4. The basic colours and dilutions thereof captured by second camera 3 are compared to registered verification basic colours-after and dilutions thereof. If no variation is found between the captured basic colours and dilutions thereof and the registered verification basic colours-after and dilutions thereof, or if a possible variation is smaller than a maximum permitted variation, substrate 4 can be approved and the process can be continued uninterrupted. If a variation is found between the captured basic colours and dilutions thereof and the registered verification basic colours-after and dilutions thereof, or if a possible variation is greater than a maximum permitted variation, substrate 4 cannot be approved. If substrate 4 is not approved, a setting of the device for transfer and/or fixation 1 can for instance be adjusted, such as for instance a temperature of a roller of the device for transfer and/or fixation and/or a transfer and/or fixation duration and/or a pressure of a belt of the device for transfer and/or fixation. If it is expected that the variation cannot be solved quickly, the device for transfer and/or fixation 1 can be stopped at least temporarily. Adjusting the at least one setting and/or stopping the device for transfer and/or fixation 1 can for instance be carried out by an operator or automatically.

[0087] As shown in FIG. 1, the system further comprises a database 5. Any desired type of data is stored in database 5, which data can for instance be used for setting the device for transfer and/or fixation 1 and/or for carrying out the described comparisons.

[0088] In this embodiment first camera 2 and second camera 3 are disposed in-line in the process and are preferably configured to capture the basic colours and dilutions thereof periodically, for instance every second, wherein a comparison can also take place each time. Regularly capturing and comparing the basic colours and dilutions thereof enables rapid intervention if a variation is ascertained. Wastage of substrate and/or energy can in this way be prevented or at least limited as far as possible.

[0089] FIG. 2 shows in highly simplified and schematic manner a system according to a second embodiment of the invention. Only the differences with the system of FIG. 1 will be described here. For a further description of the system reference is made to the description associated with FIG. 1.

[0090] The system according to the second embodiment comprises a first camera 2 which is here also disposed in the vicinity of the infeed of the device for transfer and/or fixation 1, but which is here pointed at a print paper 10. Print paper 10 comprises a print applied thereto, and a number of basic colours and dilutions thereof which are applied to an edge of the print paper 10. The edge with the basic colours and dilutions thereof can for instance be one of the two longitudinal edges. The print and the basic colours and dilutions thereof are applied to a side of print paper 10 directed toward first camera 2. The print and the basic colours and dilutions thereof can for instance be printed on print paper 10 by printing. The print and the basic colours and dilutions thereof are transferred to and fixated on substrate 4 in the device for transfer and/or fixation 1. The basic colours and dilutions thereof captured by first camera 2 are compared to registered print basic colours and dilutions thereof. If no variation is found between the captured basic colours and dilutions thereof and the registered print basic colours and dilutions thereof, or if a possible variation is smaller than a maximum permitted variation, print paper 10 can be approved and the process can be continued uninterrupted. If a variation is found between the captured basic colours and dilutions thereof and the registered print basic colours and dilutions thereof, or if a possible variation is greater than a maximum permitted variation, print paper 10 cannot be approved. If print paper 10 is not approved, it can for instance be decided not to feed this rejected print paper 10 through the device for transfer and/or fixation 1, or not to feed it through any further.

[0091] The system according to the second embodiment further comprises a second camera 3 which is here also disposed in the vicinity of the outfeed of the device for transfer and/or fixation 1, and which is here also pointed at substrate 4. The second camera captures the basic colours and dilutions thereof of substrate 4 after throughfeed of substrate 4 through the device for transfer and/or fixation 1, just as in the first embodiment, and the further comparison which is carried out is also the same as that of the first embodiment, for which reason it will not be further elucidated here but the above stated reference will suffice.

[0092] The system according to the second embodiment further comprises a third camera 1 which is disposed in the vicinity of the outfeed of the device for transfer and/or fixation 1 and which is pointed at print paper 10. Third camera 11 captures the residues of the basic colours and dilutions thereof of print paper 10 after throughfeed of print paper 10 through the device for transfer and/or fixation 1. The residues of basic colours and dilutions thereof captured by third camera 11 are compared to registered residual print basic colours and dilutions thereof. If no variation is found between the captured basic colours and dilutions thereof and the registered residual print basic colours and dilutions thereof, or if a possible variation is smaller than a maximum permitted variation, the print paper 10 used can be approved and the process can be continued uninterrupted because this is an indication that the transfer from print paper 10 has taken place properly. If a variation is found between the captured residues of basic colours and dilutions thereof and the registered residual print basic colours and dilutions thereof, or if a possible variation is greater than a maximum permitted variation, the print paper 10 used cannot be approved because this is an indication that the transfer to substrate 4 has not taken place properly. If print paper 10 is not approved, a setting of the device for transfer and/or fixation 1 can for instance be adjusted, such as for instance a temperature of a roller of the device for transfer and/or fixation and/or a transfer and/or fixation duration and/or a pressure of a belt of the device for transfer and/or fixation. If it is expected that the variation cannot be solved quickly, the device for transfer and/or fixation 1 can be stopped at least temporarily. Adjusting the at least one setting and/or stopping the device for transfer and/or fixation 1 can for instance be carried out by an operator or automatically.

[0093] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention. In this embodiment the method comprises a first step 101 of comparing basic colours and the optional dilutions thereof of a substrate to registered verification basic colours-before and optional dilutions thereof, and approving or not approving the substrate on the basis thereof. If the substrate is approved, a second step 102 can be performed and/or continued, which second step 102 comprises of feeding the substrate through a device for transfer and/or fixation for the purpose of transferring thereto and/or fixating thereon a print. In a third step 103 the basic colours and the optional dilutions thereof of the substrate after throughfeed through the device for transfer and/or fixation are compared to registered verification basic colours-after and optional dilutions thereof, and the substrate is approved or is not approved on the basis thereof. As soon as a possible variation in the basic colours and dilutions thereof is ascertained in step 101 and/or step 103, step 102 can if desired be stopped temporarily, or at least one setting of the device for transfer and/or fixation can be adjusted while step 102 is or is not continued.

[0094] It will be apparent to the skilled person that the method according to FIG. 3 can comprise any desired alternative or additional step. It can thus alternatively be the case in step 101 that the basic colours and optional dilutions thereof of a print paper are compared to registered print basic colours and optional dilutions thereof. Alternatively or additionally to step 103, it can be the case that the basic colours and optional dilutions thereof of a print paper used are compared to registered residual print basic colours and optional dilutions thereof.

[0095] FIG. 4 shows a schematic configuration of a print as can be applied to a substrate. Substrate 20 is provided with a complex print 21, in this case represented as an image of a bordered cube with a lightning bolt, although in practice it can take any form, and in practice the border can be absent. Printed in the edge of substrate 20, at a distance from print 21, are a number of surfaces 22a, 22b and 22c having a different basic colour, which can be compared to verification basic colours in the method according to the invention. It will be apparent that, in the case that the method is applied for transfer, the print paper can be provided with a similar configuration.

[0096] It will be apparent to the skilled person that the substrate described in the foregoing can for instance be a final or intermediate product, but that the substrate can also be a trial print prior to making a final or intermediate product. In that case a portion of the print paper and/or substrate intended for the final or intermediate product can for this purpose be cut off for the purpose of the method.

[0097] Although the invention is elucidated above on the basis of a number of specific examples and embodiments, the invention is not limited thereto. The invention instead also covers the subject matter defined by the following claims.