METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PRODUCING A DIRECTLY PRINTED DECORATIVE PANEL TO REDUCE MISPRINTS DUE TO PRINTING ERRORS

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a method for producing a directly printed decorative panel while reducing waste due to printing errors. Moreover, the disclosure relates to a device for producing a decorative panel which is able to detect a printing defect in a decorative image applied onto a carrier plate by means of direct printing and to sort out the decorative panel in which the printing defect occurs.

Claims

1. A method for producing a decorative panel, at least comprising the steps of a) providing a plate-shaped carrier having a surface corresponding to a multiple of the surface of the decorative panel to be produced; b) applying a decoration onto the plate-shaped carrier by means of a direct printing process; c) detecting printing defects in the applied decoration; d) marking the area of the detected printing defects by means of a marking agent; e) dividing the plate-shaped carrier provided with the decoration into panels; f) detecting possible marking agents applied in step d); and g) sorting the panels depending on the presence of a marking agent on the panel.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the decoration is applied by means of a digital printing process.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the marking agent is applied on the decorative side and/or the back side of the carrier plate.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the marking agent is an optical and/or electrically conductive marking agent.

5. A device for producing a decorative panel comprising a supply means for supplying a plate-shaped carrier to a direct printing means which is adapted to apply a decorative image onto the plate-shaped carrier, a detection means for detecting a printing defect in the decorative image applied by means of the direct printing means, a marking means for applying a marking agent onto the plate-shaped carrier and a control means, wherein the detection means and the marking means are connected to the control device such that upon detection of a printing defect in the decorative image applied by means of the direct printing means a control signal can be output from the control means to the marking means which causes the marking means to apply a marking agent onto the plate-shaped carrier in the area of the detected printing defect.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the device comprises a means for dividing a printed plate-shaped carrier into individual decorative panels.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said device comprises a detection means for detecting marking agents applied onto the decorative panels, a sorting means for sorting decorative panels and a control means, wherein the detection means and the sorting means are connected to the control device such that a control signal can be output from the control means to the sorting means which causes the sorting means to sort the decorative panels depending on marking agents applied thereon.

8. The device according to claim 5, wherein the direct printing means is a digital printing system.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the marking means is a means for applying an optical marking agent.

10. A decorative panel comprising a carrier and a decorative image applied onto the carrier by means of a direct printing process, wherein the decorative panel comprises a marking agent in an area in which the decorative image deviates from a template of the decorative image.

11. The device according to claim 6, wherein the direct printing means is a digital printing system.

12. The device according to claim 7, wherein the direct printing means is a digital printing system.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0051] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0052] Hereinafter embodiments of the disclosure will be explained in detail with reference to figures. In the figures:

[0053] FIG. 1 shows a system including a direct printing means and downstream detecting and marking means; and

[0054] FIG. 2 shows a system including a dividing means, a detection means and a sorting means.

[0055] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0057] FIG. 1 shows a device for producing a decorative panel comprising a supply means 210 for supplying a plate-shaped carrier 110 to a direct printing means 220. The direct printing means 220 may be, for example, an inkjet printing system, which is adapted to apply a decorative image onto the plate-shaped carrier 110. Downstream in the conveying direction 400 a detection means 230 for detecting a printing defect 150 in the decorative image applied by the direct printing means 220 is provided. Such a detection means may be, for example, a camera system, such as a line camera, and a corresponding analysis software, which is executed on a computer-aided control system 300. A marking means 260 for applying marking agents 160 onto the plate-shaped carrier 110 is disposed downstream of the detection means 230 in the conveying direction 400 and is connected to the control means 300 by signaling technology. Such a marking means may comprise, for example, an inkjet printhead by means of which, for example, a colored line is applied as a marking agent above and/or below the printing defect. The detection means 230 and the marking means 260 are connected in such a way to the control means 300 by signaling technology that upon detection of a printing defect 150 in the decorative image applied by means of the direct printing means 220 a control signal is output from the control means 300 to the marking means 260, which causes the marking means 260 to apply a marking agent 160 onto the plate-shaped carrier 110 in the area of the detected printing defect 150.

[0058] FIG. 2 shows a device which may be arranged downstream in the production flow of the device shown in FIG. 1 or forms an integrated device therewith. The device in this case comprises a means 270 for dividing the printed plate-shaped carrier 111 into individual decorative panels 100. Downstream of the means 270 in the conveying direction 400 a detection means 231 for detecting marking agents 160 applied to the decorative panels 100 is arranged which, for example, depending on the marking agent 160 may be configured as a camera system, a photocell or a conductivity measuring system and is connected to a computer-aided control means 310 by signaling technology. A sorting means 280 for sorting decorative panels 100 is provided which is also connected to the control means 310 by signaling technology. Herein, the detection means 231 and the sorting means 280 are connected to the control means 310 such that a control signal is output from the control means 310 to the sorting means 280 which causes the sorting means 280 to sort the decorative panels 100 depending on a marking agent 160 disposed thereon.

[0059] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.