Adjustable single / double-sided inkjet plotter and method of use

Abstract

The application discloses a kind of adjustable single-double-sided inkjet printer and its using method, including first printing platform and second printing platform, printing head is respectively arranged above first printing platform and second printing platform, and driving roller and inner adjusting part are arranged between first printing platform and second printing platform;The inner adjusting part includes a auxiliary driving roller and the main tension roller being arranged between driving roller and auxiliary driving roller.This application uses driving roller to provide power for the whole inkjet printer, then uses main tension roller and auxiliary driving roller cooperation, so that the application can be suitable for different types of flexible printing substrate, also can be tensioned by main tension roller, auxiliary driving roller is to ensure the progress of printing on the other side, so that the printing precision of different elastic flexible printing substrate can be guaranteed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to an adjustable single- or double-sided inkjet printer and its usage method. Background Technology

[0002] For duplex printers, the main challenge is achieving proper alignment. Currently, there are two main operating methods to ensure alignment: one is for materials with almost no elasticity, where rotating both drive rollers at the same speed is sufficient; the other is for materials with elasticity, where intelligent control is often used to improve accuracy, employing techniques such as temporary material storage to maximize print quality. However, it's important to note that elasticity is a relative concept, and existing duplex printers haven't truly solved the problem of printing accuracy with varying degrees of elasticity. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the aforementioned problems, this application proposes an adjustable single / double-sided inkjet printer, comprising a first printing platform and a second printing platform. Print heads are respectively positioned above the first and second printing platforms. A primary power roller and an internal adjustment mechanism are disposed between the first and second printing platforms. The internal adjustment mechanism includes an auxiliary power roller and a secondary power roller positioned between the primary and auxiliary power rollers. This application uses the primary power roller to provide power to the entire inkjet printer. By utilizing the cooperation of the secondary and auxiliary power rollers, this application can be used with flexible printing substrates of varying elasticity. The primary power roller also provides tension adjustment, while the auxiliary power roller ensures the printing progress on the other side, thereby guaranteeing printing accuracy for substrates with different elasticities.

[0004] Preferably, the first printing platform is positioned above the second printing platform, a first material roller is provided on one side of the first printing platform, and a second material roller is provided on one side of the second printing platform, with the first and second material rollers located on the same side; a first auxiliary tension roller is provided between the first material roller and the first printing platform, and a second auxiliary tension roller is provided between the second material roller and the second printing platform.

[0005] Preferably, the second material roller serves as the feeding roller for the printing substrate in double-sided printing. The printing substrate passes sequentially through the second material roller, the second auxiliary tension roller, the second printing platform, the main force roller, the main force roller, the auxiliary force roller, the first printing platform, and the first auxiliary tension roller, and is finally retrieved by the first material roller.

[0006] Preferably, it further includes a third roller disposed on the other side of the first printing platform relative to the first roller; and a fourth roller disposed on the other side of the second printing platform relative to the second roller.

[0007] Preferably, the third and / or fourth rollers serve as the feed rollers for the substrate in single-sided printing. The substrate passes sequentially through the corresponding auxiliary or primary power roller, the first or second printing platform, the first or second auxiliary tension roller, and is finally retracted by the corresponding first or second roller. This application can achieve double-sided printing, or it can utilize the additional third and fourth rollers to achieve single-sided printing with vertically arranged rollers, and these rollers are arranged separately so that the upper and lower layers do not affect each other.

[0008] Preferably, the first printing platform includes a first plane and first auxiliary guide wheels respectively disposed on both sides of the first plane;

[0009] The second printing platform includes a second plane and second auxiliary guide wheels respectively disposed on both sides of the second plane.

[0010] Preferably, the main driving roller is configured as a tension-free guide roller and the auxiliary driving roller is configured as a non-powered guide roller, so that precise double-sided printing can be performed on the inelastic flexible printing substrate during double-sided printing.

[0011] Preferably, the main tension roller and the auxiliary power roller are configured in a coordinated manner so that after the substrate on the second printing platform has completed single-sided printing during double-sided printing, the main tension roller controls the tension introduced to the auxiliary power roller, and the auxiliary power roller controls the speed introduced to the second printing platform, enabling precise double-sided printing for elastic flexible substrates. During the printing process, the tension of the main tension roller and the rotation speed of the auxiliary power roller are coordinated so that the auxiliary power roller introduces the substrate into the second printing platform at an appropriate speed. The operation process of this application includes two extreme states. One is for inelastic flexible substrates, in which case the main tension roller and the auxiliary power roller do not need to provide tension and power; they are essentially guide rollers that provide guidance. The other is for highly elastic flexible substrates such as films. For such substrates, the main tension roller needs to adjust the substrate between the two power rollers, while the auxiliary power roller orderly delivers the substrate to the next printing platform for inkjet printing.

[0012] On the other hand, this application also proposes a method for using an adjustable single- and double-sided inkjet printer, comprising the following steps:

[0013] Determine the printing method. If printing on one side only:

[0014] The third and / or fourth rollers are used as the feed rollers for the printing substrate in single-sided printing. The printing substrate passes through the corresponding auxiliary or main rollers, the first or second printing platform, the first or second auxiliary tension roller, and is then finally retracted by the corresponding first or second roller.

[0015] If double-sided printing is to be performed, the control should be based on the elasticity of the substrate being printed:

[0016] For inelastic flexible materials, the main drive roller and auxiliary drive roller are set up as guide rollers;

[0017] For flexible materials, the auxiliary power roller adjusts its speed according to the printing progress, and the main power roller adjusts the amount of substrate to be printed between the auxiliary power roller and the main power roller, as well as between the main power roller and the main power roller, by adjusting the tension, so as to keep it at a relatively uniform level.

[0018] Preferably, the first auxiliary tension roller and the auxiliary power roller are configured to ensure that the substrate on the first printing platform is in a stable state suitable for printing; the second auxiliary tension roller and the main power roller are configured to ensure that the substrate on the second printing platform is in a stable state suitable for printing.

[0019] This application can bring the following beneficial effects:

[0020] 1. This application uses a main power roller to provide power to the entire inkjet printer. Then, by using the main power roller and the auxiliary power roller in combination, this application can be used for flexible printing substrates with different elasticities. The main power roller can also provide tension adjustment, while the auxiliary power roller ensures the printing progress on the other side, thus ensuring the printing accuracy of printing substrates with different elasticities.

[0021] 2. This application can achieve double-sided printing, or it can use a third and fourth material roller to achieve single-sided printing with vertical arrangement, and it adopts a separated arrangement so that the upper and lower layers do not affect each other.

[0022] 3. The operation process of this application includes two extreme states. One is for flexible printing substrates with no elasticity. In this case, the main tension roller and the auxiliary power roller do not need to provide tension and power. Essentially, they are just guide rollers that provide guidance. The other is for flexible printing substrates with extremely high elasticity, such as films. For printing substrates of this type, the main tension roller is needed to adjust the printing substrate between the two power rollers, while the auxiliary power roller orderly sends the printing substrate to the next printing platform for inkjet printing. Attached Figure Description

[0023] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of this application and form part of this application, illustrate exemplary embodiments and are used to explain this application, but do not constitute an undue limitation of this application. In the drawings:

[0024] Figure 1 This is a diagram illustrating double-sided printing.

[0025] Figure 2This is a schematic diagram of single-sided printing.

[0026] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating double-sided printing by skipping the auxiliary power roller. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To clearly illustrate the technical features of this solution, the following detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, will be provided.

[0028] This application discloses an adjustable single-sided and double-sided inkjet printer, such as Figures 1-3 As shown, an adjustable single- or double-sided inkjet printer includes a first printing platform 1 and a second printing platform 2. A print head 3 is respectively arranged above the first printing platform 1 and the second printing platform 2. A drive roller 4 and an internal adjustment component are arranged between the first printing platform 1 and the second printing platform 2. The internal adjustment component includes an auxiliary drive roller 5 and a drive roller 6 arranged between the drive roller 4 and the auxiliary drive roller 5.

[0029] The first printing platform 1 is positioned above the second printing platform 2. A first material roller 7 is positioned on one side of the first printing platform 1, and a second material roller 8 is positioned on one side of the second printing platform 2. The first material roller 7 and the second material roller 8 are located on the same side. A first auxiliary tension roller 9 is positioned between the first material roller 7 and the first printing platform 1, and a second auxiliary tension roller 10 is positioned between the second material roller 8 and the second printing platform 2.

[0030] It should be noted that the flexible printing substrate mentioned in this application actually means that the printing substrate can be bent and wrapped, such as various roll materials; the elasticity mentioned in this application actually means the extensibility or stretchability of the printing substrate after being subjected to external force.

[0031] This application can perform double-sided printing. In this case, the second material roller 8 is used as the feeding roller for the printing substrate of double-sided printing. The printing substrate passes through the second material roller 8, the second auxiliary tension roller 10, the second printing platform 2, the main force roller 4, the main force roller 6, the auxiliary force roller 5, the first printing platform 1, and the first auxiliary tension roller 9 in sequence, and is finally retrieved by the first material roller 7.

[0032] When performing double-sided printing, the first receiving roller 7 can be a regular receiving roller or a structure in which the receiving roller is set as an air-expanding roller and placed on two support rollers.

[0033] This application can perform single-sided printing and also includes a third roller 11 disposed on the other side of the first printing platform 1 relative to the first roller 7; and a fourth roller 12 disposed on the other side of the second printing platform 2 relative to the second roller 8.

[0034] When feeding materials for single-sided printing, the third and fourth feeding rollers 11 and 12 can be ordinary feeding rollers or the rollers can be placed on the two support rollers; the first and second receiving rollers 7 and 8 can be ordinary receiving rollers or the receiving rollers can be set as air-expanded rollers and placed on the two support rollers.

[0035] The upper part uses the third material roller 11 as the feeding roller for the printing substrate of single-sided printing. The printing substrate passes through the corresponding auxiliary power roller 5, the first printing platform 1, and the first auxiliary tension roller 9 in sequence, and is finally retracted by the corresponding first material roller 7. Similarly, the fourth material roller 12 can also be used as the feeding roller for the printing substrate of single-sided printing. The printing substrate passes through the corresponding main power roller 4, the second printing platform 2, and the second auxiliary tension roller 10 in sequence, and is finally retracted by the corresponding second material roller 8.

[0036] The first printing platform 1 includes a first plane 13 and first auxiliary guide wheels 14 respectively disposed on both sides of the first plane 13;

[0037] The second printing platform 2 includes a second plane 15 and second auxiliary guide wheels 16 respectively disposed on both sides of the second plane 15.

[0038] The main power roller 6 is configured as a tension-free guide roller, and the auxiliary power roller 5 is configured as a non-powered guide roller, so that the substrate can be accurately printed on both sides during double-sided printing.

[0039] The main drive roller 6 and the auxiliary drive roller 5 are configured to work together so that, during double-sided printing, after the substrate on the second printing platform 2 has completed single-sided printing, the main drive roller 6 controls the tension introduced to the auxiliary drive roller 5, and the auxiliary drive roller 5 controls the speed introduced to the second printing platform 2, thus performing precise double-sided printing on the substrate. During the printing process, the tension of the main drive roller 6 and the rotation speed of the auxiliary drive roller 5 are configured to allow the auxiliary drive roller 5 to introduce the substrate into the second printing platform 2 at an appropriate speed.

[0040] In practical use, a method for operating an adjustable single- and double-sided inkjet printer includes the following steps:

[0041] Determine the printing method. If printing on one side only:

[0042] The third material roller 11 is used as the feeding roller for the printing substrate of single-sided printing. The printing substrate passes through the corresponding auxiliary power roller 5, the first printing platform 1, and the first auxiliary tension roller 9 in sequence, and is finally retracted by the corresponding first material roller 7.

[0043] The fourth material roller 12 is used as the feeding roller for the printing substrate in single-sided printing. The printing substrate passes through the corresponding main power roller 4, the second printing platform 2, and the second auxiliary tension roller 10 in sequence, and is finally retracted by the corresponding second material roller 8.

[0044] If double-sided printing is to be performed, the control should be based on the elasticity of the substrate being printed:

[0045] like Figure 3 As shown, for inelastic printing substrates, the main force roller 6 and auxiliary force roller 5 are set as guide rollers (which is actually equivalent to not setting the main force roller 6 and auxiliary force roller 5 but replacing them with guide rollers, so the printing substrate can also be left unset on them).

[0046] For flexible printing substrates, the auxiliary power roller 5 adjusts its rotation speed according to the printing progress, and the main power roller 6 adjusts the tension to manage the amount of printing substrate between the auxiliary power roller 5 and the main power roller 6, as well as between the main power roller 4 and the main power roller 6, so as to maintain a relatively uniform distribution.

[0047] The first auxiliary tension roller 9 and the auxiliary power roller 5 are configured to ensure that the substrate on the first printing platform 1 is in a stable state suitable for printing; the second auxiliary tension roller 10 and the main power roller 4 are configured to ensure that the substrate on the second printing platform 2 is in a stable state suitable for printing.

[0048] In practical use, if it is used on a material that has no elasticity, that is, no stretching, it is actually a single active roller. Since the printing substrate has no elasticity, the upper and lower rollers can move synchronously to ensure the reliability of printing.

[0049] For materials with high elasticity, i.e., high tensile strength, such as films or film-like materials, this method involves feeding the material from the second roller 8. First, the second auxiliary tension roller 10 and the main force roller 4 are used to ensure the printing stability of the substrate on the second printing platform 2. Then, the material enters between the main force roller 4 and the main force roller 6. The auxiliary force roller 5 and the main force roller 6 are then used to ensure that the substrate between the main force roller 6 and the auxiliary force roller 5 is evenly distributed, i.e., the tension on both sides is basically equal, so that the substrate on both sides of the main force roller 6 can exist stably. Then, the material enters between the auxiliary force roller 5 and the first auxiliary tension roller 9 to ensure the printing stability of the substrate on the first printing platform 1. Finally, the first roller 7 is retracted.

[0050] For the substrate with centered elasticity, the second feed roller 8 feeds the substrate. First, the second auxiliary tension roller 10 and the main force roller 4 are used to ensure the printing stability of the substrate on the second printing platform 2. Then, the substrate enters between the main force roller 4 and the main force roller 6. Then, the auxiliary force roller 5 and the main force roller 6 are used to ensure that the main force roller 4 and the main force roller 6 are in the first tension state, and the main force roller 6 and the auxiliary force roller 5 are in the second tension state. The first tension is greater than the second tension, so that the substrate on both sides of the main force roller 6 can be stably maintained and supplied. Then, the substrate enters between the auxiliary force roller 5 and the first auxiliary tension roller 9 to ensure the printing stability of the substrate on the first printing platform 1. Finally, the first feed roller 7 is retracted.

[0051] In use, the above are merely embodiments of this application and are not intended to limit this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the scope of the claims of this application.

Claims

1. An adjustable single-sided and double-sided inkjet printer, characterized in that: It includes a first printing platform and a second printing platform, with a print head respectively disposed above the first printing platform and the second printing platform, and a main power roller and an internal adjustment component disposed between the first printing platform and the second printing platform; the internal adjustment component includes an auxiliary power roller and a main power roller disposed between the main power roller and the auxiliary power roller. The main force roller and the auxiliary force roller are configured to work together so that after the substrate on the second printing platform has completed single-sided printing during double-sided printing, the main force roller controls the tension introduced to the auxiliary force roller, and the auxiliary force roller controls the speed introduced to the second printing platform, thus enabling precise double-sided printing of flexible substrates. During the printing process, the tension of the main drive roller and the rotation speed of the auxiliary drive roller are set in a coordinated manner so that the auxiliary drive roller guides the printing substrate into the second printing platform at an appropriate speed. When performing double-sided printing, the flexibility of the substrate should be considered: For non-flexible applications, the main drive roller and auxiliary drive roller are configured as guide rollers. For flexible materials, the auxiliary power roller adjusts its speed according to the printing progress, and the main power roller adjusts the tension to control the amount of printed substrate between the auxiliary power roller and the main power roller, as well as between the main power roller and the main power roller, so as to keep it at a relatively uniform level. The printing substrate located between the main force roller and the auxiliary force roller is in a first tension state, while the printing substrate between the main force roller and the auxiliary force roller is in a second tension state, with the first tension being greater than the second tension.

2. The adjustable single / double-sided inkjet printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first printing platform is positioned above the second printing platform. A first material roller is positioned on one side of the first printing platform, and a second material roller is positioned on one side of the second printing platform. The first material roller and the second material roller are located on the same side. A first auxiliary tension roller is positioned between the first material roller and the first printing platform, and a second auxiliary tension roller is positioned between the second material roller and the second printing platform.

3. An adjustable single / double-sided inkjet printer according to claim 2, characterized in that: The second material roller serves as the feeding roller for the printing substrate in double-sided printing. The printing substrate passes sequentially through the second material roller, the second auxiliary tension roller, the second printing platform, the main force roller, the auxiliary force roller, the first printing platform, and the first auxiliary tension roller, and is finally retrieved by the first material roller.

4. An adjustable single / double-sided inkjet printer according to claim 2, characterized in that: It also includes a third roller disposed on the other side of the first printing platform relative to the first roller; and a fourth roller disposed on the other side of the second printing platform relative to the second roller.

5. An adjustable single / double-sided inkjet printer according to claim 4, characterized in that: The third and / or fourth rollers serve as the feed rollers for the printing substrate in single-sided printing. The printing substrate passes sequentially through the corresponding auxiliary or main power roller, the first or second printing platform, the first or second auxiliary tension roller, and is finally retracted by the corresponding first or third roller.

6. An adjustable single / double-sided inkjet printer according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first printing platform includes a first plane and first auxiliary guide wheels respectively disposed on both sides of the first plane; The second printing platform includes a second plane and second auxiliary guide wheels respectively disposed on both sides of the second plane.

7. An adjustable single / double-sided inkjet printer according to claim 3, characterized in that: The main power roller is configured as a tension-free guide roller, and the auxiliary power roller is configured as a non-powered guide roller, so that precise double-sided printing can be performed on inflexible printing substrates during double-sided printing.

8. A method of using the adjustable inkjet printer as described in claim 5, characterized in that: Includes the following steps: Determine the printing method. If printing on one side only: The third and / or fourth rollers are used as the feed rollers for the printing substrate in single-sided printing. The printing substrate passes through the corresponding auxiliary or main power roller, the first or second printing platform, the first or second auxiliary tension roller, and is finally retracted by the corresponding first or third roller.

9. The method of using an adjustable single / double-sided inkjet printer according to claim 8, characterized in that: The first auxiliary tension roller and the auxiliary power roller are configured together to ensure that the substrate on the first printing platform is in a stable state suitable for printing; the second auxiliary tension roller and the main power roller are configured together to ensure that the substrate on the second printing platform is in a stable state suitable for printing.

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