VERTICAL PRINTER APPARATUS

Abstract

A vertical printer apparatus is described. The apparatus includes a base and a printhead unit support frame extending substantially vertically above the base. A support frame actuator is configured to move the printhead unit support frame relative to the base along a longitudinal axis. A printhead unit is mounted to the printhead unit support frame and a printhead unit actuator is configured to move the printhead unit relative to the printhead unit support frame along a vertical axis that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The apparatus includes a workpiece support frame fixedly mounted to the base and configured to support a workpiece so that the normal of the workpiece is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal and vertical axes. The workpiece support frame comprises at least one mounting unit for temporarily fixing the workpiece to the workpiece support frame.

Claims

1. A vertical printer apparatus comprising: a base; a printhead unit support frame extending substantially vertically above the base; a frame actuator configured to move the printhead unit support frame relative to the base along a longitudinal axis; a printhead unit mounted to the printhead unit support frame; a printhead unit actuator configured to move the printhead unit relative to the printhead unit support frame along a vertical axis that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and a workpiece support frame fixedly mounted to the base and configured to support a removable workpiece so that the normal of the workpiece is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal and vertical axes, wherein the workpiece support frame comprises at least one mounting unit for temporarily fixing the removable workpiece to the workpiece support frame.

2. The vertical printer apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base comprises at least one rail that extends along the longitudinal axis.

3. The vertical printer apparatus of claim 1, wherein the printhead unit support frame is movably mounted to the base.

4. The vertical printer apparatus of claim 1, wherein the printhead unit comprises one or more printheads.

5. The vertical printer apparatus of claim 1, wherein an upper part of the printhead unit support frame is movably mounted to the workpiece support frame.

6. The vertical printer apparatus of claim 1, wherein each mounting unit comprises a vacuum suction cup connectable to a vacuum generator.

7. The vertical printer apparatus of claim 1, wherein the workpiece support frame comprises a bottom support for supporting a bottom edge of the removable workpiece.

8. The vertical printer apparatus of claim 7, wherein the bottom support includes a plurality of rollers.

9. The vertical printer apparatus of claim 7, wherein the bottom support is formed in a plurality of sections, each section comprising an actuator configured to move the section relative to the base along the vertical axis.

10. The vertical printer apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a controller configured to lower each bottom support section when the printhead unit is substantially aligned with the bottom support section along the longitudinal axis, and to subsequently raise each bottom support section when the printhead unit is no longer substantially aligned with the bottom support section.

11. The combination of the vertical printer apparatus of claim 1 and a removable workpiece, wherein the workpiece is a jig or mount configured to hold one or more items.

12. A method of using a vertical printer apparatus comprising: a base; a printhead unit support frame extending substantially vertically above the base and configured to move relative to the base along a longitudinal axis; a printhead unit mounted to the printhead unit support frame and configured to move relative to the printhead unit support frame along a vertical axis that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and a workpiece support frame fixedly mounted to the base, the workpiece support frame comprising at least one mounting unit; the method comprising: using the workpiece support frame to support a removable workpiece so that the normal of the workpiece is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal and vertical axes, wherein the workpiece is temporarily fixed to the workpiece support frame by the at least one mounting unit; and using the printhead unit to print the removable workpiece.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising removing the printed workpiece from the workpiece support frame.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising moving the printhead unit support frame relative to the base along the longitudinal axis when the workpiece is being printed.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the workpiece support frame comprises a bottom support for supporting a bottom edge of the removable workpiece, the bottom support being formed in a plurality of sections, and wherein the method further comprises lowering each bottom support section when the printhead unit is substantially aligned with the bottom support section along the longitudinal axis, and subsequently raising each bottom support section when the printhead unit is no longer substantially aligned with the bottom support section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0035] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a vertical printer apparatus according to the present invention;

[0036] FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of part of the vertical printer apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0037] FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of a bottom support of the vertical printer apparatus of FIG. 1 formed as a plurality of sections; and

[0038] FIGS. 4 to 6 are schematic front views showing how the support sections of FIG. 3 are lowered sequentially.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a vertical printer apparatus 1 includes a base 2 and a printhead unit support frame 4 extending substantially vertically above the base 2. The base 2 can includes a pair of parallel rails or tracks, only one of which is visible in FIG. 1. The base 2 is constructed to be positioned on a horizontal surface such as a floor, for example.

[0040] The printhead unit support frame 4 is movably mounted to the base 2. A support frame actuator 6 is positioned at a bottom part of the printhead unit support frame 4 and is configured to move the printhead unit support frame backwards and forwards along the parallel rails or tracks (i.e., relative to the base 2 along a longitudinal axis 8).

[0041] A printhead unit 10 with any suitable number of inkjet type printheads is mounted to the printhead unit support frame 4 and is moved up and down along the printhead unit support frame by a printhead unit actuator 12 (i.e., along a vertical axis 14 that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis).

[0042] A workpiece support frame 16 is fixedly mounted to the base 2 and is configured to support a workpiece W (FIG. 2) so that the normal of the workpiece is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal and vertical axes. An upper part of the printhead unit support frame 4 is movably mounted to the workpiece support frame 16 so that the printhead unit support frame is properly supported at both its upper and lower parts. The workpiece support frame 16 remains stationary and fixed relative to the base 2 and the printhead unit support frame 4 therefore moves along the longitudinal axis 8 relative to both the workpiece support frame 16 and the base 2. Supporting the upper part of the printhead unit support frame 4 improves the rigidity of the apparatus and prevents unwanted movement of the printhead unit 10 during the printing process. This maintains the quality of the printed design or image.

[0043] The workpiece support frame 16 comprises a plurality of mounting units in the form of vacuum suction cups 18, but it will be understood that other types of mounting unit can also be used. The position of each vacuum suction cup 18 can be adjusted so that different sizes of workpiece can be accommodated and temporarily held securely during the printing process. For example, each vacuum suction cup 18 can be adjustably positioned on the workpiece support frame 16 so that it can move along the longitudinal axis and/or vertical axis. It may also move along the transverse axis if necessary. Each vacuum suction cup 18 is connected to a vacuum generator (not shown) using a suitable hose. The vacuum suction cups 18 and the vacuum generator (not shown) are part of a vacuum assembly that includes other fittings, valves and regulators for controlling the vacuum. FIG. 2 shows how the workpiece W is installed with its rear surface in contact with the vacuum suction cups 18 (only one of which is shown for simplicity). The vacuum generator can be turned on to securely hold the workpiece W relative to the workpiece support frame 16 during the printing process. When the printing process is complete, the vacuum generator can be turned off so that the workpiece W is released and can be removed.

[0044] During the printing process, the printhead unit support frame 4 will normally be moved in one direction along the longitudinal axis 8e.g., from a first end of the base towards a second, opposite, end of the base or from left to right as shown in FIG. 1with the printhead unit 19 being moved up and down relative to the base 2 along the vertical axis 14. For example, during the printing process, the printhead unit support frame 4 may be indexedi.e., moved a pre-defined distance along the longitudinal axisand the printhead unit 10 is moved in an upward direction from the bottom of the printhead unit support frame to print part of the design or image. The printhead unit support frame 4 is then indexed and the printhead unit 10 is moved in a downward direction towards the bottom of the printhead unit support frame to print the next part of the design or image. This indexing of the printhead unit support frame 4 and the subsequent movement of the printhead unit 10 is repeated until the printing process is complete. The printhead unit actuator 12 and the support frame actuator 6 allow the printhead unit 10 to move in a plane that is defined by the longitudinal and vertical axes and is parallel to the plane of the workpiece W when positioned in the apparatus.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 2, the printhead unit 10 May also be movable along a transverse axis 20 that is perpendicular to the longitudinal and vertical axes 8, 14 so that the distance between the printhead unit 10 and the workpiece W (or the workpiece support frame 16) can be adjusted. The printhead unit 10 is movable along the transverse axis 20 relative to the printhead unit support frame 4.

[0046] The workpiece support frame 16 includes a bottom support 22 for supporting the bottom edge of the workpiece. This can provide proper support for a workpiece that may be made from a dense or heavy rigid or semi-rigid material, for example.

[0047] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the bottom support 22 is formed in a plurality of sections 22a, 22b and 22c. Each support section includes a plurality of rollers 24. The rollers 24 make it easier to install a workpiece W from one end of the apparatus. The leading end of the workpiece W can be placed on the bottom support 22 and the workpiece can then be pushed forward on the rollers 24 until it is properly positioned on the workpiece support frame 16. Each support section 22a, 22b and 22c includes an actuator (not shown) configured to move the section along the vertical axis 14. A controller (not shown) is configured to lower each support section 22a, 22b and 22c when the printhead unit 10 is substantially aligned with the bottom support section along the longitudinal axis 8, and to raise each support section when the printhead unit 10 has moved past it. This means that the support sections 22a, 22b and 22c are sequentially lowered and raised as the printhead unit support frame 4 moves along the longitudinal axis 8 during the printing processsee FIGS. 4 to 6. Lowering the support sections 22a, 22b and 22c removes any potential obstruction to the printhead unit 10 and allows the printhead unit to print the design or image along the bottom edge of the workpiece W.