MACHINE AND METHOD FOR SINGLE-PASS DIGITAL PRINTING ON GLASS

Abstract

The invention relates to a machine and method for single-pass digital printing on glass (1).

The machine comprises: a support structure (2) for securing the sheet of glass (1); and a printing bridge (3) which, during printing, can move along the longitudinal X axis of the support structure (2), said bridge supporting digital printing means (33) with print bars (100, 100, 100) comprising successive printing heads (10, 10, 10), as well as supporting a scanner (32) for capturing data relating to the positions of defects (X, Y).

Claims

1. Machine for single-pass digital printing on glass (1) characterised in that it comprises: a. a support structure (2) comprising means configured for the positioning and automatic securing of a glass sheet (1) during printing, and means configured for the transport (4) of said glass sheet, b. a printing bridge (3) configured to move along the longitudinal X axis of the support structure (2) and located on said supporting structure, and c. digital printing means (33) of the glass sheet, supported by said bridge (3) configured to perform the printing on the glass sheet (1) when said bridge (3) moves on the glass sheet secured to said structure support (2); said printing means comprising at least one printing bar (100), said printing bar comprising successive printing heads (10), and said successive printing heads (10) of each printing bar (100) being fed by ink of the same colour.

2. Digital printing machine, according to claim 1, characterised in that said digital printing means (33) cover the entire width of said glass.

3. Digital printing machine, according to any of preceding claims, characterised in that said digital printing means (33) further comprise devices for emitting radiation for drying the ink.

4. Digital printing machine, according to claim anterior, characterised in that said devices for emitting drying radiation are of laser technology or infrared lamps.

5. Digital printing machine, according to any of preceding claims, characterised in that said printing heads (10, 10) are of the type of DROP-ON-DEMAND technology.

6. Digital printing machine, according to any of preceding claims, characterised in that it is configured to continuously print on the glass sheet (1) during the linear and continuous movement of the bridge (3), and in that it further comprises: a. Graphic assistance means (33) configured to automatically detect and capture the data of printing defect position (X, Y) on the glass sheet (1) and configured to send said data, and b. A central data processing and control unit comprising: i. A module configured to receive and store the position data of the pattern (X, Y) and its colours (C(X,Y)) to be printed on the glass sheet (1), ii. A module configured to receive and store the position data of the printing defects (X, Y) and their corresponding colours (C(X,Y)) on the glass sheet (1), iii. A module configured to send printing signals to the heads (10,10, 10) of the printing means (33) as a function of the position data (X, Y) of the pattern, of defect data (X, Y) and colour data (C(X,Y), C(X,Y)) to be printed on the glass sheet (1), and iv. A software configured to process said data of said modules.

7. Digital printing machine, according to claims 3 and 6, characterised in that said module configured to send printing signals is also configured to send activation signals of said devices for emitting radiation for drying the ink.

8. Digital printing machine, according to any of claim 6 or 7, characterised in that it further comprises artificial vision means configured for automatically capturing the data of the outer perimeter (X, f(X)) of the glass sheet (1) and configured for sending said data (X, f(X)) to the central processing and control unit, and in that said central processing and control unit further comprises a module configured to receive said data from the outer perimeter of the glass sheet.

9. Method for single-passed digital printing on glass executed by any of the machines of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises: a. A step of feeding, positioning and securing the glass sheet (1) in the printing plane, and b. A step of complete and continuous movement of the printing bridge (3) on the statically secured glass sheet, with simultaneous printing of the printing heads (10, 10, 10) that print a selected pattern on the glass, printing only the heads of the printing bars that are placed on the glass (1) as a function of the position data (X, Y) of the figure to be printed and colour data (C(X,Y)).

10. Method for digital printing according to claim anterior characterised in that it further comprises: a. a step of detecting the position data of the printing defects (X, Y) on the glass sheet (1), and b. at least one step of complete and continuous movement of the printing bridge on the fixed glass, with simultaneous and selective printing of the printing heads that print on the defect positions (X, Y) detected on the glass.

11. Method for digital printing according to any of claim 9 or 10, characterised in that said digital printing step occurs simultaneously with a step of drying the ink by emitting radiation for drying the ink.

12. Method for digital printing on glass, according to any of claims 9 through 11, characterised in that it further comprises a step of final tempering for the vitrification of the ink.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The following figures are included in order to facilitate the understanding of the invention:

[0030] FIG. 1: perspective view of the printing machine object of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 2: bottom plan view of the bridge with the printing and scanning means.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0032] Next, a preferred embodiment of the machine object of the present invention is detailed.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a single-passed digital printing machine on glass with a support structure (2) having automatic positioning means for the positioning and securing (not shown) of a glass sheet (1) and with transport means, (4) by belts, of the glass sheet when printing is not occurring. The printing bridge (3) moves along the guides (31) supported on the sides of the support structure (2) in the X direction (longitudinal axis of the machine) and supports digital printing means (33) and a scanner (32) for detecting the defect positions (X, Y) on the X and Y axes of the machine.

[0034] As seen in FIG. 2, the bridge (3) supports digital printing means (33) of the glass sheet (1) with six printing bars (for example references 100, 100 and 100 in FIG. 2) parallel in their lower part, which occupy the entire effective width (between the lateral guides (31)) of the bridge (3). Each bar has a succession of printing heads (for example, references 10, 10 and 10 in FIG. 2) that incorporate DROP-ON-DEMAND technology.