Printing system and method

Abstract

Printing system (100; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) comprising a first printing station (111) with respective input section (113), output section (114) and printing area (112), a second printing station (115) with respective input section (117), output section (118) and printing area (116), a conveyor device (120) for leading the items (101) in a motion from the output section (114) of the first printing station (111) to the input section (117) of the second printing station (115), along a conveying path (121; 221; 321; 421; 521; 621), wherein said first printing station (111) and second printing station (115) are arranged at least partially side by side and a component of said motion is subject to a reversal of direction along said conveying path (121; 221; 321; 421; 521; 621).

Description

[0001] PRINTING SYSTEM AND METHOD

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] The present invention is directed to a printing system and method.

[0004] The invention finds application in all those sectors where printing on items is required, in particular on surfaces of said substantially flat items, preferably with limited flexibility.

[0005] The items can be boxes, containers, wrappers, cardboard or plastic packaging and relative lids or closures, for packaging small single or loose objects, for example for the food industry (boxes for sweets, chocolates), for the pharmaceutical industry (blister packs, single or row vials, pill holders), or for the tobacco industry (wrappers, tobacco containers for oral use). The items may also concern more general component sectors, e.g. electrical components, or the card sector, in particular personalised cards.

[0006] The invention finds a preferred application in the card printing field, in particular for printing on personalised cards, for example identity cards, health cards, telephone cards, credit cards, bank cards, driving licences, gift cards, access cards, a sector to which specific reference can be made below without losing generality.

[0007] This invention is preferably, although not exclusively, applicable in the field of low- volume personalisation system. Furthermore, this invention is equally preferably applicable in the field of personalisation systems for items, and in particular for cards, from medium to high volumes.

[0008] Identity cards, health cards, telephone cards, credit cards, bank cards, driving licenses, gift cards, access cards, and various other types of personalised cards are generally made from plastic materials, paper, metal, or hybrid material composition (e.g., metal and plastic material), and generally have surfaces that include plastic material.

[0009] On the respective surfaces, the personalised cards contain personalisation data that can be printed or incorporated in the card in different ways, depending on the functionality and security level requirements.

[0010] The personalisation data includes data belonging to the cardholder such as name, surname, address, telephone number, bank account number, insurance number, identification image. Other personalisation data include personalised strings, images, messages, card number, card expiration date, linear or two-dimensional codes, logos, names.

[0011] The known card personalisation systems include a card printing system so as to print some of the personalisation data onto the card.

[0012] Said printing system may include one or more Drop-on-Demand (DoD) inkjet printers, which is capable of printing with selected colours (e.g. black, white, cyan, yellow, magenta) on the surfaces of the card, or on part thereof.

[0013] The DoD inkjet printer can print using thermal inkjet technology or piezoelectric inkjet printing technology where pressure waves are used to eject selected amounts of ink from the nozzles of the printheads.

[0014] The formulation of the ink may vary depending on the type of printhead and the substrate characterizing the cards to be printed. Ultraviolet and LED dryable inks are especially suitable for printing on plastic material. In particular, the ultraviolet-dryable ink is preferable since it provides immediate drying, light resistance, high print quality, adhesion, scratch resistance, colour density, no volatile organic compound. In recent years, water-based inks have also been developed, which adhere to various types of plastic substrates subject to corona treatment, with good mechanical and humidity resistance, high colour rendering and high graphic quality.

[0015] The printer of the printing system can also support the so-called “over-the-edge” printing or “edge-to-edge” printing or “edge-to-edge complete” printing, where the entire surface of the card is printed, leaving no visible unprinted edge or empty margin. The over-the-edge printing allows to obtain a card with a high quality result, which of course is more attractive to the end user.

[0016] To ensure cards are printed to high quality standards, the known card printing system may also include one or more card surface treatment stations, to appropriately treat the surfaces of the cards prior to printing. A surface treatment station may include air cleaning devices, corona treatment devices, plasma treatment devices, air plasma treatment devices, gas plasma treatment devices, by way of non-limiting examples.

[0017] The data that are not printed may be incorporated in the card, for example by encoding a chip or magnetic strip that is present in the card.

[0018] For this purpose, the card personalisation system may also include processing stations for performing chip programming or magnetic strip coding.

[0019] Security elements, holograms, embossed elements are non-limiting examples of additional characteristics of the cards, for which processing stations, including by way of nonlimiting examples special coating devices, text embossing devices, laser markers, laser engravers, are required to be included in the card personalisation system.

[0020] Card personalisation systems including card printing systems are used to treat and print up to thousands of cards per hour.

[0021] The important requirements to be met in this field are to ensure a high quality printing standard while maintaining a high productivity of the system in terms of cards printed per hour. What is more, both surfaces of a plastic card need to be printed and treated.

[0022] An example of a known printing system, suitable for processing a high volume of cards, is a printing system that is capable of processing cards in parallel, such a configuration requiring that the printing stations and possibly other card treating stations be replicated on different paths. In this way, the printing stations operate independently, not cooperating with each other. Each card is therefore processed by a single printing station, in which printing is performed on one or both opposed surfaces of the card. In this second case, once the printing has been carried out on a first surface of the card, the latter is flipped and led again to the same printing station, for example by following in the opposite direction the path travelled when the printing was carried out on the first surface, so as to print on the other opposed surface.

[0023] The configuration of such a printing system allows to increase the volume and productivity, understood as the number of cards printed per hour, however it entails an increase in costs and overall size of the system.

[0024] In another example of a known printing system, the cards are conveyed on a single, substantially straight advancement path, along which the stations of the card personalisation system are placed in series. For example, a first and a second printing station can be placed in relative alignment along the card advancement path. The second printing station is placed downstream of the first printing station along the straight path so that the output section of the first printing station faces the input section of the second printing station and a card printed in the first printing station is subsequently led into the second printing station.

[0025] In order to print the two sides of the card, this known system includes at least one flipping station, interposed between two printing stations, where the card, output from the first printing station, is flipped before being brought to the second printing station. Any treatment stations can be placed along the path in a suitable position. This configuration, in which all the printing and treating stations follow one another along the straight path, results in a significant increase in the overall size of the printing system, along the direction of extension of the path.

[0026] For the purpose of facilitating the understanding of the present invention, the meaning of certain terms and expressions, as used in the present description and the appended claims, are set forth below.

[0027] By the expression “surface of a card” is meant one of the two flat surfaces having the largest area on the opposite sides of a card and generally intended to be printed to include relevant information.

[0028] “Flipping a card” means rotating the card about an axis parallel to the surface of the card, in particular rotating the card by 180 degrees about said axis. When a card lying on a plane with its first surface is flipped, the same card will lie on the plane with its second surface opposite to said first surface as a consequence of the flipping.

[0029] In a card processing system where a card moves in a certain direction along a path, a first station is defined “upstream” of a second station when said first station precedes said second station with reference to said direction, conversely a second station is defined “downstream” of a first station when said second station follows said first station with reference to said direction.

[0030] In a printing system, two printing stations are placed “side by side”, when they are arranged in relative alignment along a direction transverse to an advancement direction of the cards towards at least one of the printing stations.

[0031] The term “horizontal” is intended to refer to an orientation extended substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction of gravity.

[0032] The Applicant has observed that a printing system in which, in order to increase productivity, it is envisaged replicating several independent printers operating on different paths, without cooperating with each other, offers an unprofitable solution due to the high costs and sizes it entails. In fact, in addition to requiring the respective treating stations to be replicated along each path before and after printing the cards, it does not allow to reach high volumes of cards printed per hour, if it is envisaged that, in the same printing station, the cards are printed on one surface and then, once flipped, are returned to the printing station to carry out the printing on the opposed surface of the cards.

[0033] The Applicant has also observed that, if a solution in which the printing stations cooperate with each other is favoured, for example they are aligned along the same straight path, so that the cards are printed on one surface in a printing station and are then led, after flipping, to the second printing station for printing the opposed surface, it can improve productivity, but it nevertheless involves a high overall size, in particular in the direction of development of the path, where the printing stations and the respective card treating stations necessarily follow one another in line.

[0034] The Applicant has found that providing for a printing system in which the printing stations are configured to cooperate with each other along a common straight printing path can improve productivity, however, entailing high overall sizes of the printing system with a consequent increase in the overall costs, aggravated by the fact that the sequence of card treating stations must be provided along the path, before and after printing, for each respective printing station.

[0035] The Applicant has therefore perceived the need to provide a printing system that limits the overall sizes albeit in a configuration in which the printing stations cooperate with each other to ensure high productivity, especially in the event that it was envisaged to print on both opposed surfaces of the cards.

[0036] The Applicant has therefore found that a printing system, in which two printing stations cooperate with each other along an extended card conveying path between the printing stations, and in which the printing stations are at least partially placed side-by-side one another and the cards are led along the conveying path with a motion having a motion component subject to at least one reversal of direction along the path, allows to effectively reduce the overall sizes and the consequent costs of the printing system, while ensuring high productivity, with an obvious advantage for high-volume productions.

[0037] In a first aspect thereof, the invention concerns a printing system for printing on items.

[0038] Preferably said printing system comprises a first printing station.

[0039] Preferably said first printing station comprises a respective input section, for the input of the items to be printed.

[0040] Preferably said first printing station comprises a respective output section, for the output of the printed items.

[0041] Preferably said first printing station comprises a respective printing area.

[0042] Preferably said printing area of the first printing station extends between said input section and output section of said first printing station.

[0043] Preferably said printing system comprises a second printing station.

[0044] Preferably said second printing station comprises a respective input section, for the input of the items to be printed.

[0045] Preferably said second printing station comprises a respective output section, for the output of the printed items.

[0046] Preferably said second printing station comprises a respective printing area.

[0047] Preferably the printing area of the second printing station extends between said input section and output section of said second printing station.

[0048] Preferably said printing system comprises a conveyor device.

[0049] Preferably said conveyor device is configured to convey the items in a motion from the output section of the first printing station to the input section of the second printing station, along a conveying path.

[0050] Preferably said first printing station and second printing station are at least partially side by side.

[0051] Preferably a component of said motion is subject to at least one reversal of direction along said conveying path.

[0052] The Applicant has found that such a printing system allows to have a high productivity of the system in terms of items printed per hour, while at the same time reducing the overall sizes of the system with consequent reduction of the related costs.

[0053] In a second aspect thereof, the invention concerns a method for printing on items in a printing system.

[0054] Preferably the method includes providing a first printing station. Preferably the method includes providing in the first printing station a respective input section, for the input of the items to be printed.

[0055] Preferably the method includes providing in the first printing station a respective output section, for the output of the printed items.

[0056] Preferably the method includes providing a respective printing area in the first printing station.

[0057] Preferably the method includes extending said printing area between said input section and output section of said first printing station.

[0058] Preferably the method includes providing a second printing station.

[0059] Preferably the method includes providing in the second printing station a respective input section, for the input of the items to be printed.

[0060] Preferably the method includes providing in the second printing station a respective output section, for the output of the printed items.

[0061] Preferably the method includes providing a respective printing area in the second printing station.

[0062] Preferably the method includes extending said printing area between said input section and output section of said second printing station.

[0063] Preferably the method includes arranging said first printing station and said second printing station at least partially side by side.

[0064] Preferably the method includes leading the items from the output section of the first printing station to the input section of the second printing station, along a conveying path, in a motion.

[0065] Preferably the method includes subjecting a component of said motion to at least one reversal of direction along said conveying path.

[0066] The present invention in at least one of the above-mentioned aspects may have at least one of the preferred features set forth below.

[0067] In a preferred embodiment, said printing system is configured to print on items having a respective first surface and a respective second surface.

[0068] Preferably said first surface and second surface comprise a plastic material.

[0069] Preferably said first surface is opposed to said second surface.

[0070] In a preferred embodiment, in the printing area of the first printing station printing is carried out on the first surface of the items.

[0071] In a preferred embodiment, in the printing area of the second printing station printing is carried out on the second surface of the items. In an equally preferred embodiment, in the printing area of the second printing station, printing is carried out on the first surface of the items.

[0072] In a preferred embodiment, said printing system comprises a flipping device of the item configured to flip said items along said conveying path between said first printing station and second printing station.

[0073] In a preferred embodiment, said component of said motion is subject to a first reversal of direction and a second reversal of direction along said conveying path.

[0074] In a preferred embodiment, said first printing station and said second printing station are in relative alignment along a direction transverse to an advancement direction of the items in the input section of the first printing station.

[0075] In a preferred embodiment, said printing system comprises a housing structure, preferably configured to house both said first printing station and said second printing station.

[0076] In a preferred embodiment said first printing station and said second printing station comprise respective printers which are functionally independent of each other.

[0077] In a preferred embodiment, said printing system comprises a drying station. Preferably the drying station is located downstream of said output section of said first printing station. Preferably, the drying station is configured for drying the printed items output from the printing area of said first printing station.

[0078] In a preferred embodiment, said drying station is located downstream of said output section of said second printing station, preferably configured for drying the printed items output from the printing area of said second printing station. In a preferred embodiment, said printing system comprises an item treatment station. Preferably the treatment station is located upstream of said input section of said first printing station. Preferably, the treatment station is configured for treating the items input into the printing area of said first printing station.

[0079] In a preferred embodiment, said treatment station is located upstream of said input section of said second printing station, preferably configured for treating items input into the printing area of said second printing station.

[0080] In a preferred embodiment, said first printing station and second printing station are placed side by side on a substantially horizontal plane. In another equally preferred embodiment, said first printing station and second printing station are placed side by side in a substantially vertical plane.

[0081] In a preferred embodiment, said items are fed into the respective input sections of the first printing station and the second printing station with respective advancement directions opposite to each other.

[0082] In a preferred embodiment, said items are fed into the respective input sections of the first printing station and the second printing station with respective mutually concordant advancement directions.

[0083] In a preferred embodiment, the advancement directions of the items in the respective input sections of the first printing station and the second input station are parallel to each other.

[0084] In a preferred embodiment, said path extends in a first stretch extended at the input section of the first printing station and said path comprises a second stretch at the input section of the second printing station, said first stretch and second stretch being parallel to each other.

[0085] In a preferred embodiment, said method comprises flipping said items in the conveying path between said first printing station and second printing station.

[0086] In a preferred embodiment, said method comprises feeding said items into respective input sections of the first printing station and the second printing station along respective mutually opposite advancement directions.

[0087] In a preferred embodiment, said method comprises feeding said items into the respective input sections of the first printing station and the second printing station along respective mutually concordant advancement directions. In a preferred embodiment, said method comprises leading said items along the conveying path by subjecting said component of said motion to a first and a second reversal of direction along the conveying path.

[0088] In a preferred embodiment, said method comprises leading said items with respective advancement directions of the cards in the corresponding input sections of the first printing station and second printing station parallel to each other.

[0089] The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description of some preferred embodiments thereof, which are illustrated by way of nonlimiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0090] - figure 1 is a schematic representation of a first example of a printing system made in accordance with the present invention,

[0091] - figures 1 A and IB are schematic views of the components of the motion at respective points of a card conveying path of the printing system of figure 1,

[0092] - figure 2 is a schematic representation of a second example of a printing system made in accordance with the present invention,

[0093] - figure 3 is a schematic representation of a third example of a printing system made in accordance with the present invention,

[0094] - figure 4 is a schematic representation of a fourth example of a printing system made in accordance with the present invention,

[0095] - figure 5 is a schematic representation of a fifth example of a printing system made in accordance with the present invention,

[0096] - figure 6 is a schematic representation of a sixth example of a printing system made in accordance with the present invention.

[0097] With initial reference to figure 1, a first example of a printing system made in accordance with the present invention is indicated overall with 100 and schematically represented in the figure. It is also configured to operate according to the method of the present invention.

[0098] The printing system 100 is made to print on items 101 consisting of cards bearing opposed surfaces, respectively indicated with A and B. The printing system 100 comprises a first printing station 111 including one or more printheads (not depicted) arranged to print at a respective printing area 112. The first printing station 111 comprises a respective input section 113 and a respective output section 114 between which the printing area 112 of the first printing station 111 extends.

[0099] The printing system 100 further comprises a second printing station 115 including one or more printheads (not depicted) arranged to print at a respective printing area 116. The second printing station 115 comprises a respective input section 117 and a respective output section 118 between which the printing area 116 of the second printing station 115 extends.

[0100] The printing system 100 also comprises a conveyor device 120, only schematically depicted in figure 1, for moving the cards 101 between the printing stations 111, 115, along a conveying path, the trajectory of which is identified by the line marked 121 in figure 1.

[0101] More particularly, the conveyor device 120 is designed to lead the cards 101 from the output section 114 of the first printing station 111 to the input section 117 of the second printing station 115.

[0102] In one embodiment, the conveyor device 120 may comprise a track system developed along the conveying path 121 and a shuttle moved on said track system by means of a driving device, for example a motor. In another embodiment, the conveyor device 120 may comprise a belt or a conveyor belt on which the cards 101 are kept resting and held in place, for example by suction means with vacuum systems or by electro-adhesion.

[0103] The movement of the cards 101 takes place along the conveying path 121 with a motion, which in the example described herein is a motion contained in a horizontal plane (parallel to the plane of the sheet of figure 1).

[0104] Along the conveying path 121, each motion displacement vector is identified by a pair of components parallel to respective axes (of abscissa x and ordinate y) of a Cartesian reference system, as schematically shown in figures 1 A and IB.

[0105] The conveying path 121 extending between the printing stations 111, 115 is designed with a configuration in which the component of the motion parallel to the axis of the abscissa x, is subject to a reversal of direction, as clearly shown by the components Px and P’x referable to respective points P and P’ of the path. Figure 1A shows the motion components of a point P of the path located in the portion of the path positioned upstream of the dotted line L of figure 1, while figure IB shows the motion components of a point P’ of the path located in the portion of the path positioned downstream of the line L.

[0106] In other words, the conveying path 121 is designed to extend from the output section 114 of the first printing station 111 and undergo a 180° reversal which takes it at the input section 117 of the second printing station 115.

[0107] In one embodiment, the 180° reversal of the conveying path can be made with a curved, preferably semi-circular, shape of the path.

[0108] It should be noted that such a configuration of the conveying path 121 allows the printing stations 111, 115 to be placed side by side, as clearly shown in figure 1.

[0109] 122 indicate an advancement trajectory of the cards 101 towards the input section 113 of the first printing station 111, with an advancement direction indicated by the arrow 122’.

[0110] The conveying path 121 comprises a stretch 121a at the input section 117 in the second printing station 115, with advancement direction 121a’. The advancement directions 122’ and 121a’ are opposite to each other.

[0111] Preferably, the stretch 121a of the conveying path 121 and the trajectory 122 are straight and parallel to each other.

[0112] In accordance with the invention the printing stations 111 and 115 are side by side, i.e. they are arranged in relative alignment along a direction transverse to an advancement direction of the cards towards at least one of the printing stations. In more detail, in this preferred example, the printing stations 111 and 115 are arranged side by side so as to be mutually aligned along a direction, indicated by the line D (figure 1), directed perpendicularly to the direction of straight development of the trajectory 122 (i.e. perpendicularly to the advancement direction 122’).

[0113] A housing structure configured to house both said first printing station 111 and second printing station 115 is marked with 125. In the figures, the housing structure 125 is schematically represented with a dashed line enclosing both printing stations.

[0114] Along the conveying path 121 there is provided a flipping device 130 by means of which the cards 101 output from the first printing station 111, in which printing is carried out on one of the surfaces of a card 101, for example a first surface A, are flipped 180° so as to direct the other opposed surface of the card 101, for example a second surface B, to the printheads of the second printing station 115, in order to carry out printing on said second surface B when the cards 101 are fed to the second printing station 115.

[0115] The flipping device 130 comprises manipulation or pushing means which are suitable for flipping the card 101, in particular for rotating the card 101 by 180° about an axis parallel to the surface of the card 101 itself.

[0116] The printing system 100 comprises treatment stations 135, arranged upstream of the respective printing stations 111, 115, for performing a surface treatment on the cards 101. In particular, the treatment stations 135 are configured to perform a treatment on one of the two surfaces of the card 101. In a preferred embodiment, said surface treatment station 135 is a plasma treatment station and said surface treatment is a plasma surface treatment.

[0117] The printing system 100 comprises drying stations 137 of ultraviolet-dryable ink, applied or deposited on one of the surfaces of the card 101. The drying stations 137 are conveniently arranged downstream of the respective output sections 114, 118 of the printing stations 111, 115.

[0118] In operation, the cards 101 are moved, for example aligned in a row one after the other, in the advancement direction 122’ up to the input section 113 of the first printing station 111, and are led through the printing area of said first printing station 111 to carry out the printing on the first surface A of the cards 101.

[0119] Once the printing has been carried out, the cards 101 output from the first printing station 111 are conveyed along the conveying path 121, are flipped by the flipping device 130 and are led to the input section 117 of the second printing station 115. From the input section 117 of the second printing station 115 the cards 101 are passed through the printing area of the second printing station 115 where printing is carried out on the second surface B of the cards 101. Once the printing is carried out on the second surface B, the cards 101 are conveyed out of the second printing station 115 in the direction of the corresponding ink drying station 137 and then led to an unloading station (not depicted).

[0120] The printing stations 111 and 115 preferably comprise respective printers configured to operate functionally independently of each other. For this purpose, each printer is provided with a respective and distinct control system suitable for driving the respective printheads provided in each printer. Thanks to this configuration, the printing stations can print the respective printing works (i.e. data and / or images), the same or different from each other, at the same instant or at different instants, with the same frequency or with different frequencies, depending on the specific personalisation needs of the cards to be printed, and in particular for printing on one or both surfaces of the cards.

[0121] The embodiment of this first example of the printing system in accordance with the invention advantageously allows reduced overall sizes to be obtained, in particular in the longitudinal development of the system, parallel to the advancement direction of the cards from the input sections to the output sections of the respective printing stations. In addition, due to the fact that the printing stations are configured to operate functionally independently of each other, high productivity can be achieved, in particular when the printing stations cooperate to print the opposed surfaces of the cards.

[0122] With reference to figure 2, a second example of a printing system made in accordance with the present invention is indicated overall with 200 and only schematically represented in the figure.

[0123] For ease of reading, details of this second example similar to those of the previous example are marked with the same numerical references.

[0124] Also in this second descriptive example, the printing stations 111, 115 are arranged in relative side-by-side placement in a horizontal plane.

[0125] A main difference with the previous example consists in the fact that in the printing system 200, the printing stations 111, 115 are placed side by side in such a way that also the respective input sections 113,117 and the respective output sections 114,118 are placed side by side, i.e., in other words, they are aligned according to a corresponding direction extending perpendicularly to the direction of straight development of the trajectory 122 (i.e. perpendicularly to the advancement direction 122’).

[0126] In order to realize this relative side-by-side configuration, in the conveying path, indicated with 221, extended between the output section 114 of the first printing station 111 and the input section 117 of the second printing station 115, the motion component is subjected to a first reversal of direction and a second reversal of direction.

[0127] In other words, the conveying path 221 is designed to extend from the output section of the first printing station 111 and undergo a first 180° reversal and a subsequent further 180° reversal, to lead the cards 101 at the input section of the second printing station 115, as clearly shown in figure 2. This configuration of the printing stations makes it possible to have the advancement directions of the cards in the respective input sections 113 and 117, mutually concordant and so are the respective advancement directions of the cards from the respective output sections 114, 118 mutually concordant.

[0128] The embodiment of this second example of the printing system in accordance with the invention advantageously allows to obtain reduced overall sizes and at the same time may allow sharing the drying station 137 and / or the card treatment station 135 before printing, between both printing stations, thanks to the side-by-side position of said stations, thus avoiding a duplication of the same that can be expensive in terms of overall sizes and related costs.

[0129] With reference to figure 3, a third example of a printing system made in accordance with the present invention is indicated overall with 300 and only schematically represented in the figure.

[0130] Details of this third embodiment similar to those of the previous examples are marked by the same numerical references.

[0131] The printing system 300 differs, mainly, from the printing system 100 described previously, in that the printing stations 111 and 115 are arranged in relative side-by-side placement in a vertical plane, in a configuration in which they are placed vertically superimposed on each other.

[0132] Based on this configuration, the card conveying path, indicated with 321, is contained in a vertical plane, in which the reversal of the motion component takes place, in a completely similar way to what is provided for the first example described above.

[0133] The conveying path 321 is designed to connect a first trajectory, contained in a first horizontal plane, of advancement of the cards through the printing area of the first printing station 111 and up to the output section 114, with a second trajectory, contained in a second horizontal plane (below said first horizontal plane) of advancement of the cards through the printing area of the second printing station 115 and up to the corresponding output section 118.

[0134] This configuration of the printing system 300 allows to feed the cards 101 with one of the two surfaces, for example the first surface A, facing the printheads of the first printing station 111, and to subsequently feed the cards 101 with the other surface, for example the second surface B facing the printheads of the second printing station 115, without the need for any flipping of the cards along the conveying path. In other words, the cards 101 are subjected to printing on the first surface A, in the first printing station 111, and then subjected to printing on the second surface B, in the second printing station 115, without requiring any flipping along the conveying path.

[0135] With reference to figure 4, a fourth example of a printing system made in accordance with the present invention is indicated overall with 400 and only schematically represented in the figure.

[0136] Details of this fourth embodiment similar to those of the previous examples are marked by the same numerical references.

[0137] The printing system 400 differs, mainly, from the printing system 300, in that along the card conveying path, indicated with 421, from the first printing station 111 to the second printing station 115, there is provided the card flipping device 130.

[0138] Thanks to this configuration, the cards 101 are fed to the first printing station 111 with one of the surfaces, for example the first surface A, facing the printheads of said first station, and then they are led to the second printing station 115, after the flipping undergone along the conveying path 421, with the same first surface A facing the printheads of the second printing station 115.

[0139] This configuration proves effective if the two printing stations 111, 115 have to print a respective first and second printing work on a same surface of the cards.

[0140] With reference to figure 5, a fifth example of a printing system made in accordance with the present invention is indicated overall with 500 and only schematically represented in the figure.

[0141] Details of this fifth embodiment similar to those of the previous examples are marked by the same numerical references.

[0142] The printing system 500 differs, mainly, from the printing system 200 described previously, in that the printing stations 111 and 115 are arranged in relative side-by-side placement in a vertical plane, in a configuration in which they are placed vertically superimposed on each other.

[0143] Based on this configuration, the card conveying path, indicated with 521, is contained in a vertical plane, in which the first and second reversal of the motion component takes place, in a completely similar way to what is provided for the second example described above.

[0144] The conveying path 521 is designed to connect a first trajectory, contained in a first horizontal plane, of advancement of the cards through the printing area of the first printing station 111 and up to the output section 114, with a second trajectory, contained in a second horizontal plane (below said first horizontal plane) of advancement of the cards through the printing area of the second printing station 115 and up to the corresponding output section 118.

[0145] Along the conveying path 521, between the stretches of said path in which the first and second reversal of the motion component takes place, the cards 101 are led along a horizontal portion of the path contained in a third horizontal plane below said second horizontal plane.

[0146] This configuration of the printing system 500 allows to feed the cards 101 with one of the surfaces, for example the first surface A, facing the printheads of the first printing station 111, and to subsequently feed the cards 101 with the same first surface A facing the printheads of the second printing station 115, without the need for any flipping of the cards along the conveying path.

[0147] This configuration proves effective if the two printing stations 111, 115 have to print on a same surface of the cards 101, a respective first and second printing work.

[0148] With reference to figure 6, a sixth example of a printing system made in accordance with the present invention is indicated overall with 600 and only schematically represented in the figure.

[0149] Details of this sixth embodiment similar to those of the previous examples are marked by the same numerical references.

[0150] The printing system 600 differs, mainly, from the printing system 500, in that along the card conveying path, indicated with 621, from the first printing station 111 to the second printing station 115, there is provided a card flipping device 630.

[0151] This configuration of the printing system 600 allows to feed the cards 101 with one of the surfaces, for example the first surface A, facing the printheads of the first printing station 111, and to subsequently feed the cards with the other surface, for example the second surface B, facing the printheads of the second printing station 115, after the flipping of the cards is performed along the conveying path.

[0152] In other words, the cards 101 are subjected to printing on the first surface A, in the first printing station 111, to be then subjected to printing on the second surface B, in the second printing station 115, after flipping them along the conveying path.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Printing system (100; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600) for printing on items (101), said printing system comprising: a first printing station (111) with a respective input section (113) for the input of items to be printed, a respective output section (114) for the output of printed items and a respective printing area (112) extending between said input section (113) and output section (114) of said first printing station (111), a second printing station (115) with a respective input section (117) for the input of items to be printed, a respective output section (118) for the output of printed items and a respective printing area (116) extending between said input section (117) and output section (118) of said second printing station (115), a conveyor device (120) for leading the items (101) in a motion from said output section (114) of said first printing station (111) to said input section (117) of said second printing station (115), along a conveying path (121; 221; 321; 421; 521; 621), wherein said first printing station (111) and second printing station (115) are arranged at least partially side by side and a component of said motion is subject to at least one reversal of direction along said conveying path (121; 221, 321; 421 521; 621).

2. Printing system according to claim 1, comprising a flipping device (130) of the items (101) configured to flip said items (101) along said conveying path (121; 221; 421; 621) between said first printing station (111) and second printing station (115).

3. Printing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said component of said motion is subj ect to a first reversal of direction and a second reversal of direction along said conveying path (221; 521, 621).

4. Printing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first printing station (111) and said second printing station (115) are in relative alignment along a direction (D) transverse to an advancement direction (122’) of the items in said input section (113) of said first printing station (111).

5. Printing system according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a housing structure (125) configured to house both said first printing station (111) and said secondprinting station (115).

6. Printing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first printing station (111) and said second printing station (115) comprise respective printers which are functionally independent of each other.

7. Printing system according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a drying station (137) located downstream of said output section (114) of said first printing station (111) and configured for drying items (101) output from said first printing station (111).

8. Printing system according to claim 7, wherein said drying station (137) is also located downstream of said output section (118) of said second printing station (115) and configured for drying items (101) output from said second printing station (115).

9. A printing system according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a treatment station (135) located upstream of said input section (113) of said first printing station (111) and configured for treating items (101) input into said first printing station (111).

10. Printing system according to claim 9, wherein said treatment station (135) is also located upstream of said input section (117) of said second printing station (115) and configured for treating items (101) input into said second printing station (115).

11. Printing system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first printing station (111) and second printing station (115) are placed side by side in a substantially horizontal plane.

12. Method for printing on items (101) in a printing system (100; 200; 300; 400; 500; 600), the method comprising:- providing a first printing station (111) with a respective input section (113) for the input of items to be printed, a respective output section (114) for the output of printed items and a respective printing area (112) extending between said input section (113) and output section (114) of said first printing station (111),- providing a second printing station (115) with a respective input section (117) for the input of items to be printed, a respective output section (118) for the output of printed items and a respective printing area (116) extending between said input section (117) and output section (118) of said second printing station,arranging said first printing station (111) and said second printing station (115) at least partially side by side,- leading the items (101) from said output section (114) of said first printing station (111) to said input section (117) of said second printing station (115), along a conveying path (121; 221; 321; 421; 521; 621) in a motion in which a component of said motion is subjected to at least one reversal of direction along said conveying path (121; 221; 321; 421; 521; 621).

13. Method according to claim 12, comprising flipping said items (101) along said conveying path (121; 221; 421; 621) between said first printing station (111) and said second printing station (115).

14. Method according to claim 12 or 13, comprising feeding said items (101) into respective input sections (113, 117) of said first printing station (111) and said second printing station (115) along respective mutually opposite advancement directions.

15. Method according to claim 12 or 13, comprising feeding said items (101) into respective input sections (113, 117) of said first printing station (111) and said second printing station (115) along respective mutually concordant advancement directions.

16. Method according to claim 15, comprising leading said items (101) along said conveying path (221; 521; 621) by subjecting said component of said motion to a first reversal of direction and a second reversal of direction along said conveying path (221; 521; 621).

17. Method according to any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein said respective advancement directions of said items (101) in the corresponding input sections (113, 117) of said first printing station (111) and second printing station (115) are parallel to each other.

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