Inkjet printing methods, controllers, and inkjet printing equipment for glass windows
By printing ink dams onto curved glass and controlling the movement of the printhead, the problems of jagged edges or defects during printing were solved, achieving high-quality printing results and cost optimization.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Patents(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- SHENZHEN INJETE ADDITIVE TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2024-08-13
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-30
AI Technical Summary
In existing technologies, inkjet printing processes have difficulty precisely controlling the ink coverage on curved glass, often resulting in jagged edges or defects during printing, and thus incurring high costs.
By forming an ink dam at the edge of the printing area and filling the outside of the dam with flush ink using the reciprocating movement of the printhead, combined with surface contour data information to control the movement of the printhead, the ink is ensured to be evenly distributed. The ink dam is then partially cured by a UV light source to block the ink flow.
It improves the flatness of the inner edge of the glass window, reduces the occurrence of jagged edges or defects, lowers production costs, and improves printing quality.
Smart Images
Figure CN118927847B_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of surface treatment, and in particular to a method, controller and inkjet printing equipment for printing ink on glass windows. Background Technology
[0002] The glass cover of electronic devices such as mobile phones and tablets is coated with ink around its perimeter, and the area without ink coating is the visible area.
[0003] Currently, inks for glass covers are generally produced using screen printing, pad printing, or inkjet printing processes. In existing technologies, some glass panels have curved surfaces, while screen printing and pad printing are generally designed for flat products; therefore, these processes are unsuitable for curved glass. If inkjet printing is used, the large printheads of current inkjet printing tools make it difficult to control the precise coverage of the ink during printing. Consequently, jagged edges or defects often appear on the ink during inkjet printing, requiring secondary processing for finishing. Therefore, the cost is relatively high. Summary of the Invention
[0004] The main objective of this invention is to propose a method for printing ink on glass windows, aiming to solve the problem of reducing jagged edges or defects during printing.
[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention proposes a method for printing ink on glass windows, comprising:
[0006] The printhead of the inkjet printer is moved according to the position information of the printing area to form an ink dam at the edge of the printing area.
[0007] Curing the ink dam;
[0008] The nozzle is controlled to reciprocate to fill the outside of the ink dam with ink that is flush with the ink dam.
[0009] Furthermore, controlling the reciprocating movement of the printhead to fill the outside of the ink dam with ink flush with the ink dam includes:
[0010] Obtain surface data information of the surface contour of the printing area;
[0011] Based on the surface data information of the surface profile, the printhead is controlled to move along a preset printing path to fill the outside of the ink dam with ink flush with the ink dam.
[0012] Further, controlling the printhead to move along a preset printing path based on the surface data information of the surface contour, so as to fill the outside of the ink dam with ink flush with the ink dam, includes:
[0013] Based on the surface data information of the surface profile, the nozzle is controlled to maintain a constant distance from the surface to be sprayed of the pre-designed irregular product;
[0014] The printhead is controlled to move at a constant speed along a preset printing path.
[0015] Furthermore, controlling the nozzle to maintain a constant distance from the surface to be sprayed surface of the pre-designed irregular product based on the surface data information of the surface contour includes:
[0016] Based on the surface data information of the surface profile, a preset distance is determined between the nozzle and the surface to be sprayed of the preset irregular product;
[0017] Obtain multiple surface contour coordinates corresponding to the surface contour, and each contour coordinate includes coordinate information corresponding to different positions of the pre-shaped product;
[0018] Based on preset conversion rules, the multiple surface contour coordinates are converted into corresponding trajectory paths according to the preset distance.
[0019] Furthermore, controlling the printhead to move at a constant speed along a preset printing path includes:
[0020] When the printing area contains surface data information of surface contours containing straight lines and curves;
[0021] The distance between the straight line and the printhead and the distance between the curve and the printhead are calculated. The speed of the printhead movement is determined based on the distance between the straight line and the printhead and the distance between the curve and the printhead, so as to control the printhead to move at a constant speed along a preset printing path.
[0022] Furthermore, after all the steps have been performed, the following is also included:
[0023] Detect whether there is a blank area between two parallel printing paths;
[0024] If so, the printhead is controlled to perform a second printing process to fill the blank area in the two parallel printing trajectory segments.
[0025] Furthermore, after all the steps have been performed, the following is also included:
[0026] Detect whether the ink in the printing area has jagged edges or defects;
[0027] If so, ink is re-sprayed through the printhead into the printing area.
[0028] Further, the curing of the ink dam includes:
[0029] The ink dam is cured to 15% to 30% of its full curing using a UV light source.
[0030] Furthermore, the present invention also proposes a printing press controller, wherein the controller stores a computer program, and when the computer program is executed by the controller, it implements the ink spraying method for glass window ink as described in any of the above technical solutions.
[0031] Furthermore, the present invention also proposes an inkjet printing apparatus, including a controller, which, when executed, implements the inkjet printing method for glass windows as described in any of the above technical solutions.
[0032] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: By using the printhead of an inkjet printer to spray an ink dam at the edge of the printing area, the ink dam prevents the ink sprayed within the printing area from moving towards the inner edge of the printing area, thus improving the flatness of the inner edge of the glass window. Furthermore, the ink sprayed on the printing area fuses with the ink dam during curing, reducing the occurrence of jagged edges or defects. Attached Figure Description
[0033] Figure 1 A schematic diagram illustrating the steps of an embodiment of the inkjet printing method for glass windows according to the present invention;
[0034] Figure 2 A detailed schematic diagram of step S3 provided in an embodiment of the inkjet printing method for a glass window according to the present invention;
[0035] Figure 3 A detailed schematic diagram of step S32 provided in an embodiment of the inkjet printing method for a glass window according to the present invention;
[0036] Figure 4 A detailed schematic diagram of step S321 provided in an embodiment of the inkjet printing method for a glass window according to the present invention;
[0037] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of steps S41 and S42 provided for an embodiment of the inkjet printing method for a glass window according to the present invention;
[0038] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of steps S51 and S52 provided in an embodiment of the inkjet printing method for a glass window according to the present invention.
[0039] The realization of the objective, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation
[0040] The solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.
[0041] It should be noted that all directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in the embodiments of the present invention are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly.
[0042] It should also be noted that when a component is described as "fixed to" or "set on" another component, it can be directly on the other component or there may be an intervening component present. When a component is described as "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or there may be an intervening component present.
[0043] Furthermore, the use of terms such as "first" and "second" in this invention is for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. Additionally, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but only on the basis of being achievable by those skilled in the art. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, such a combination of technical solutions should be considered non-existent and not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.
[0044] The main objective of this invention is to propose a method for printing ink on glass windows, aiming to solve the problem of reducing jagged edges or defects during printing.
[0045] To achieve the above objectives, such as Figure 1 As shown, the present invention proposes a method for printing ink on glass windows, comprising the following steps (S1, S2 and S3):
[0046] Step S1: Control the printhead movement of the inkjet printer according to the position information of the printing area to form an ink dam at the edge of the printing area. Specifically, the printer controller controls the printhead movement of the inkjet printer according to the position information of the printing area to form an ink dam at the edge of the printing area. The printer controller can be a computer, microprocessor, or microcontroller. The printing area is the area where the glass window is located. By spraying ink into the printing area, the glass window is formed. For example, the printing area is the periphery of the glass cover of electronic devices such as mobile phones and tablets. The area without ink spraying is the visible area, thus forming the glass window. The glass window can look clean when the device is closed and maintain a good visual experience when the device is open.
[0047] As one implementation method, inkjet printers employ inkjet printing (IJP) technology. The printhead of an inkjet printer can precisely control its movement based on the positional information of the printing area. This precise control ensures the formation of ink dams and the uniform distribution of ink during the printing process, thereby achieving the desired printing effect and quality. Furthermore, inkjet printing technology typically provides high-resolution printing results, enabling the printing of more detail when printing on glass windows.
[0048] In one implementation, an ink dam is formed at the inner edge of the printing area. After curing, the ink dam located at the inner edge of the printing area can prevent ink on the outside of the ink dam from flowing to the inner edge of the printing area, thereby improving the flatness of the inner edge of the glass window.
[0049] Furthermore, the width of the printing area, the distance between the ink dam shape and the inner edge of the printing area, and the height of the ink dam can all be adjusted according to user needs. In one embodiment, the printing area is located around the perimeter of the glass surface, with a width of 1.5mm to 2.5mm, the distance between the ink dam shape and the inner edge of the printing area is 0.2mm to 0.4mm, and the height of the ink dam is 0.2mm to 0.5mm. The distance between the ink dam shape and the inner edge of the printing area can be adjusted according to the width of the printing area. A wider printing area requires a larger distance to maintain the aesthetics of the glass window. Similarly, the distance between the ink dam shape and the inner edge of the printing area can also be adjusted according to the height of the ink dam. A higher ink dam makes it easier for the ink on the dam to spread towards the inner edge of the printing area; therefore, the distance between the ink dam shape and the inner edge of the printing area is increased. In one specific embodiment, the printing area is on the periphery of the glass surface, with a width of 2 mm, the ink dam shape is 0.3 mm from the inner edge of the printing area, and the height of the ink dam is 0.3 mm.
[0050] In one implementation, the glass surface to be printed is fixed on a preset fixture. After the fixture moves to the printing station, the printhead of the inkjet printer is moved by the position information of the printing area to form an ink dam at the edge of the printing area.
[0051] Step S2: Curing the Ink Dam. As one implementation, the ink dam can be formed using thermosetting inks or UV (ultraviolet) inks. Thermosetting inks can be rapidly cured after printing by heat treatment, such as baking in an oven or using infrared lamps. UV inks are cured by irradiation with a UV light source, such as a UV LED (ultraviolet light-emitting diode) or a UV mercury lamp. Further, the ink dam is cured to 15% to 30% of its full curing using a UV light source. Specifically, the UV light source is a UV LED, which is more energy efficient than a UV mercury lamp and consumes less power. UV LEDs also have a longer lifespan, reducing the frequency of light source replacement and maintenance costs. Furthermore, UV LEDs can be started and stopped instantly without preheating time, which helps improve production efficiency. In addition, UV LEDs can provide highly uniform ultraviolet light output and can precisely control light intensity and beam shape to adapt to different processing requirements and material properties. The UV light source outputs energy from 800 mJ to 1200 mJ, the UV light source irradiates the ink dam for 0.1 s to 0.2 s, and the curing time of the ink dam is 5 minutes to 10 minutes. The degree of curing of the ink dam is controlled by adjusting the UV light source output energy, the irradiation time, and the curing time, resulting in a curing degree of 15% to 30% of complete curing. In the ink dam at the 15% to 30% complete curing stage, the ink remains in a semi-dry state, does not easily flow, maintains the shape of the ink dam, and easily blends with the ink printed within the dam. In one specific embodiment, the UV light source outputs energy of 1000 mJ, and the UV light source irradiates the ink dam for 0.15 s.
[0052] Step S3: Control the printhead to reciprocate, filling the outer side of the ink dam with ink flush with the ink dam. Specifically, the printing press controller controls the printhead to reciprocate, filling the outer side of the ink dam with ink flush with the ink dam. The number of reciprocating movements of the printhead can be adjusted according to the height of the ink dam; the higher the ink dam, the more times the printhead reciprocates, filling the outer side of the ink dam with ink flush with the ink dam. As one implementation, the ink filled on the outer side of the ink dam is the same ink used for the ink dam, to better blend with the ink dam. It should be noted that when printing ink on the outer side of the ink dam, the ink dam can prevent the ink on the outer side of the ink dam from moving towards the inner edge of the printing area, and the ink dam can provide adhesion for the ink on the outer side of the ink dam, making the ink on the outer side of the ink dam flush with the ink dam. At the same time, the ink on the outer side of the ink dam can flow out through the outer side of the glass surface, thereby maintaining flush with the dam.
[0053] Furthermore, such as Figure 2 As shown, step S3 includes the following steps (S31 and S32):
[0054] Step S31: Obtain surface data information of the surface contour of the printing area. Specifically, the surface data information of the surface contour of the printing area is obtained through sensors, scanners, or other measuring devices. The surface data information of the surface contour may include data such as the height, curvature, and flatness of the printing area to plan the preset printing path.
[0055] Step S32: Control the printhead to move along a preset printing path according to the surface data information of the surface contour, so as to fill the outside of the ink dam with ink flush with the ink dam. Specifically, the preset printing path is planned according to the surface data information of the surface contour of the printing area. Since the inner edge of the printing area has been printed with ink dam, the preset printing path is planned along the ink dam and is located outside the ink dam.
[0056] Furthermore, such as Figure 3 As shown, step S32 includes the following steps (S321 and S322):
[0057] Step S321: Based on the surface data information of the surface contour, control the printhead to maintain a constant distance from the surface to be printed on the pre-designed irregular product. Specifically, the pre-designed irregular product is curved glass, and the surface to be printed on the pre-designed irregular product is the surface where the printing area is located. Maintaining a constant distance between the printhead and the surface to be printed on the pre-designed irregular product ensures that the ink is evenly distributed across the entire surface, avoiding problems such as uneven ink distribution or missed printing due to inconsistent distance.
[0058] Step S322: Control the printhead to move at a constant speed along the preset printing path. This constant speed ensures that the ink is evenly distributed throughout the printing process. Because the speed is constant, the ink flow rate is also consistent, avoiding ink density differences or missed areas caused by uneven speed.
[0059] Furthermore, such as Figure 4 As shown, step S321 includes the following steps (S3211, S3212, and S3213):
[0060] Step S3211: Determine the preset distance between the printhead and the surface to be printed on the irregularly shaped product based on the surface data information of the surface profile. Specifically, the surface data information of the surface profile may include data such as the height, curvature, and flatness of the printing area. Since the glass surface to be printed is fixed on a preset fixture, the distance between the fixture and the printhead can be obtained in advance after the fixture moves to the printing station. Then, based on the distance information between the fixture and the printhead and the surface data information of the glass surface profile, the preset distance between the printhead and the surface to be printed on the irregularly shaped product is determined. After determining the preset distance between the printhead and the surface to be printed on the irregularly shaped product, a constant distance can be maintained between the printhead and the surface to be printed on the irregularly shaped product.
[0061] Step S3212: Obtain multiple surface contour coordinates corresponding to the surface contour, where each contour coordinate includes coordinate information corresponding to different positions of the irregularly shaped product. Specifically, since the glass surface to be printed is fixed on a preset fixture, after the fixture moves to the printing station, the coordinates of the fixture can be obtained in advance, and multiple surface contour coordinates corresponding to the surface contour can be determined through the coordinates of the fixture.
[0062] Step S3213: Based on preset conversion rules and according to preset distances, convert multiple surface contour coordinates into corresponding trajectory paths. Specifically, after determining multiple surface contour coordinates, smoothly connect the multiple surface contour coordinate points to form a continuous trajectory path, and then adjust the formed continuous trajectory path according to the preset distance.
[0063] Furthermore, S322 includes the following steps:
[0064] When printing on surfaces containing both straight and curved lines, the distances between the printhead and the straight lines and curves are calculated. Based on these distances, the printhead's speed is determined to control its uniform movement along the preset printing path. Specifically, when printing ink on a glass surface, the printhead is parallel to the surface, meaning the distance between the printhead and the straight lines in the printing area is equal to the distance between the printhead and the straight lines. However, the distance between the printhead and the curved lines in the printing area is unequal. Because curved lines are longer than straight lines, the printhead needs to travel a longer path when printing curved lines. Therefore, a faster speed is required when printing curved lines to maintain uniform movement along the preset printing path.
[0065] Furthermore, such as Figure 5 As shown, after all steps have been performed, the following steps (S41 and S42) are also included:
[0066] Step S41: Detect whether there is a blank area between the two parallel printing paths. Specifically, using two printheads moving along parallel printing paths can improve printing efficiency. As one implementation method, a vision inspection system is used to detect whether there is a blank area between the two parallel printing paths.
[0067] Step S42: If yes, control the printhead to perform a second printing process to fill the blank areas in the two parallel printing trajectory segments. Specifically, by controlling the printhead to perform a second printing process to fill the blank areas in the two parallel printing trajectory segments, ink loss is reduced.
[0068] Furthermore, such as Figure 6 As shown, after all steps have been performed, the following steps (S51 and S52) are also included:
[0069] Step S51: Detect whether the ink in the printing area has jagged edges or defects. As one implementation, a vision inspection system is used to detect whether the ink in the printing area has jagged edges or defects.
[0070] Step S52: If yes, reprint the ink through the printhead into the printing area. By reprinting the ink into the printing area, the possibility of ink jaggedness or defects is reduced.
[0071] As one implementation method, after all steps are performed, the following step is also included: completely curing the ink within the printing area. Specifically, after the ink dam and the ink printed outside the ink dam have merged, the ink within the printing area is completely cured using a UV light source.
[0072] Furthermore, the present invention also proposes a printing press controller, which stores a computer program, and when the computer program is executed by the controller, it implements the glass window ink spraying method of any of the above technical solutions.
[0073] Furthermore, the present invention also proposes an inkjet printing apparatus, including a controller, which, when executed, implements the inkjet printing method for glass windows according to any of the above-mentioned technical solutions.
[0074] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows: By using the printhead of an inkjet printer to spray an ink dam at the edge of the printing area, the ink dam prevents the ink sprayed within the printing area from moving towards the inner edge of the printing area, thus improving the flatness of the inner edge of the glass window. Furthermore, the ink sprayed on the printing area fuses with the ink dam during curing, reducing the occurrence of jagged edges or defects.
[0075] The above are only some or preferred embodiments of the present invention. Neither the text nor the drawings should limit the scope of protection of the present invention. All equivalent structural transformations made using the content of the present invention's specification and drawings under the overall concept of the present invention, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the scope of protection of the present invention.
Claims
1. A method for printing ink onto glass windows, characterized in that, include: The printhead of the inkjet printer is moved according to the position information of the printing area to form an ink dam at the edge of the printing area. Curing the ink dam; Control the nozzle to reciprocate to fill the outside of the ink dam with ink that is flush with the ink dam; The step of controlling the reciprocating movement of the nozzle to fill the outside of the ink dam with ink flush with the ink dam includes: Obtain surface data information of the surface contour of the printing area; The nozzle is controlled to move along a preset printing path according to the surface data information of the surface profile, so as to fill the outside of the ink dam with ink that is flush with the ink dam. The step of controlling the printhead to move along a preset printing path according to the surface data information of the surface contour, so as to fill the outside of the ink dam with ink flush with the ink dam, includes: Based on the surface data information of the surface profile, the nozzle is controlled to maintain a constant distance from the surface to be sprayed of the pre-designed irregular product; Control the printhead to move at a constant speed along a preset printing path; The step of controlling the nozzle to maintain a constant distance from the surface to be sprayed surface of the pre-designed irregular product based on the surface data information of the surface contour includes: Based on the surface data information of the surface profile, a preset distance is determined between the nozzle and the surface to be sprayed of the preset irregular product; Obtain multiple surface contour coordinates corresponding to the surface contour, and each surface contour coordinate includes coordinate information corresponding to different positions of the preset irregular product; Based on preset conversion rules, the multiple surface contour coordinates are converted into corresponding trajectory paths according to the preset distance; The control of the printhead to move at a constant speed along a preset printing path includes: When the printing area contains surface data information of surface contours containing straight lines and curves; Calculate the distance between the straight line and the printhead and the distance between the curve and the printhead, and determine the speed of the printhead movement based on the distance between the straight line and the printhead and the distance between the curve and the printhead, so as to control the printhead to move at a constant speed along a preset printing path; The curing of the ink dam includes: The ink dam is cured to 15% to 30% of its full curing using a UV light source. The printing area is on the periphery of the glass surface, with a width of 1.5mm to 2.5mm. The ink dam is 0.2mm to 0.4mm from the inner edge of the printing area, and the height of the ink dam is 0.2mm to 0.5mm.
2. The inkjet printing method for glass windows according to claim 1, characterized in that, After all the steps have been completed, the following is also included: Detect whether there is a blank area between two parallel printing paths; If so, the printhead is controlled to perform a second printing process to fill the blank area in the two parallel printing trajectory segments.
3. The inkjet printing method for glass windows according to claim 2, characterized in that, After all the steps have been completed, the following is also included: Detect whether the ink in the printing area has jagged edges or defects; If so, ink is re-sprayed through the printhead into the printing area.
4. A printing press controller, characterized in that, The controller stores a computer program, which, when executed by the controller, implements the ink spraying method for glass window ink as described in any one of claims 1-3.
5. An inkjet printing device, characterized in that, The device includes a controller that, when executed, implements the ink printing method for glass windows according to any one of claims 1-3.