Method and piece of equipment for the digital printing of an image onto a manufactured article

Abstract

The method comprises at least the phases of: supply of a manufactured article (M) to be decorated, of one image (1) to be printed on the manufactured article, of a piece of equipment (1) provided with one conveyor plane (2) of the manufactured articles (M), with one image identification unit (4) provided with a first reference system (Ref1) and with one printing unit (5) provided with a second reference system (Ref2); alignment between the first reference system (Ref1) and the second reference system (Ref2); placement of the manufactured article (M) to be decorated on the conveyor plane; modification of the image (I) to be printed so as to determine a modified image (Imod); printing of the modified image (Imod) on the manufactured article (M); wherein the alignment comprises at least the following sub-steps: application of a reference pattern (P) directly onto the conveyor plane (2) according to predefined coordinates (Xn2, Yn2, αn2) with respect to the second reference system (Ref2); detection of the identifying coordinates (Xn1, Yn1, αn1) of the pattern (P) with respect to the first reference system (Ref1); calculation of the deviation (ΔX, ΔY, Δα) between the predefined coordinates (Xn2, Yn2, αn2) and the identifying coordinates (Xn1, Yn1, αn1); determination of a correction factor (0) depending on the deviation (ΔX, ΔY, Δα) to be applied for the alignment between the first reference system (Ref1) and the second reference system (Ref2).

Description

[0001] METHOD AND PIECE OF EQUIPMENT FOR THE DIGITAL PRINTING OF AN IMAGE ONTO A MANUFACTURED ARTICLE Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to a method and piece of equipment for the digital printing of an image onto a manufactured article.

[0003] Background Art

[0004] As is well known, digital printing is now widely used onto manufactured articles of various type, such as manufactured articles made of ceramic, wood, PVC, etc....

[0005] Generally, the piece of equipment of known type used for digital printing involves a conveyor plane of a manufactured article to be decorated and a printing unit arranged on top of the conveyor plane and provided with a plurality of heads configured to print an image on the exposed surface of the manufactured article to be decorated.

[0006] Since it frequently happens that the manufactured articles to be decorated have different directions from each other with respect to the printing unit, it may happen that the image made by the printing unit be not aligned with the relevant manufactured article.

[0007] In order to achieve proper alignment between the image to be applied and the manufactured article, one can then proceed in two ways: align the manufactured articles by means of a mechanical centering system or modify the image so as to align it with the direction of the manufactured article to be decorated from time to time.

[0008] In the former case, it may be the case that the mechanical centering system, as a result of the interaction with the manufactured articles, causes them to be chipped or damaged, particularly in the case of unfired ceramic tiles and, therefore, leads to a high rejection rate.

[0009] In the second case, it is necessary to correctly identify the positioning of the manufactured article to be decorated in order to modify the image to be applied accordingly.

[0010] Pieces of equipment are known to date that provide an identification unit of the coordinates of the manufactured article with respect to a reference system. Since the reference system of the identification unit is different from that of the printing unit, alignment of the two reference systems must then be carried out in order to prevent the printed image from being misaligned in any case with respect to the manufactured article to be decorated.

[0011] To date, some pieces of equipment of known type perform the alignment of the two reference systems by means of the following steps:

[0012] - positioning a test manufactured article onto the conveyor plane;

[0013] - applying a first reference pattern to the test manufactured article;

[0014] - repositioning the test manufactured article onto the conveyor plane;

[0015] - detecting the first reference pattern;

[0016] - applying a second reference pattern different from the first reference pattern;

[0017] - repositioning the test manufactured article onto the conveyor plane;

[0018] - detecting the first and second reference patterns;

[0019] - deriving a roto-translation matrix to be applied in order to correctly align the two reference systems.

[0020] However, this alignment methodology does have some drawbacks.

[0021] In fact, it is particularly difficult to repeatedly position the test manufactured article onto the conveyor plane at the same position. This requires, on the one hand, high lead times and, on the other hand, results in a high probability that the manufactured article will be placed at a different position than the previous time, thus distorting the subsequent detections by the identification unit and by the printing unit.

[0022] A method for the digital printing of an image onto a substrate is known from US 2019 / 051012A1.

[0023] Description of the Invention

[0024] The main aim of the present invention is to devise a method and a piece of equipment for the digital printing of an image onto a manufactured article which enables the alignment of the reference systems of the identification unit and of the printing unit to be performed reliably and repeatedly over time. Within this aim, one object of the present invention is to speed up the operations of alignment of the reference systems with respect to the prior art.

[0025] Another object of the present invention is to devise a method and a piece of equipment for the digital printing of an image onto a manufactured article which can overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art within the framework of a simple, rational, easy and effective to use, as well as inexpensive solution.

[0026] The aforementioned objects are achieved by this method for the digital printing of an image onto a manufactured article according to claim 1.

[0027] The aforementioned objects are also achieved by this piece of equipment for the digital printing of an image onto a manufactured article according to claim 9. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0028] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a piece of equipment for the digital printing of an image onto a manufactured article, illustrated by way of an indicative, yet non-limiting example in the attached tables of drawings in which:

[0029] Figure 1 is a schematic axonometric representation of a piece of equipment according to the invention;

[0030] Figure 2 is a schematic plan representation from above of the piece of equipment in Figure 1;

[0031] Figure 3 is a block diagram of the alignment phase of a method according to the invention.

[0032] Embodiments of the Invention

[0033] With particular reference to these figures, reference numeral 1 globally denotes a piece of equipment for the digital printing of an image onto a manufactured article.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the manufactured articles are of the ceramic type, particularly of the type of tiles or ceramic slabs.

[0035] The piece of equipment 1 comprises a conveyor plane 2 of at least one manufactured article M to be printed movable along a direction of forward movement 3, where the manufactured article M is positionable with random orientation onto the conveyor plane 2.

[0036] The piece of equipment 1 then comprises at least one image identification unit 4 provided with a first reference system Refl and configured to detect the position of the manufactured article M onto the conveyor plane 2 with respect to the first reference system Refl, and at least one printing unit 5 configured to print an image I onto the manufactured article M and provided with a second reference system Ref2.

[0037] The identification unit 4 is, e.g., of the type of a camera and, more particularly, of the type of a matrix camera. More in detail, the camera has a fixed focal lens and is arranged orthogonally to the direction of forward movement 3.

[0038] Advantageously, the camera can be moved by translating along a direction of work which is transverse to the direction of forward movement 3.

[0039] The printing unit 5 is arranged downstream of the identification unit 4 with respect to the direction of forward movement 3.

[0040] More particularly, the printing unit 5 comprises a plurality of print heads, each provided with corresponding nozzles for ink dispensing.

[0041] The piece of equipment 1 then comprises at least one processing and control unit 6 operationally connected to at least the identification unit 4 and to the printing unit 5. The processing and control unit 6 in turn comprises at least one processing module 7 of the image I configured to modify the image I to be printed depending on at least the position of the manufactured article M onto the conveyor plane 2, so as to determine a modified image Imod and an alignment module 8 configured to carry out the alignment of the first reference system Refl with the second reference system Ref2.

[0042] It is specified that in this description the processing and control unit 6 is described as consisting of a plurality of functional modules separate from each other by way of example only. In fact, the processing and control unit 6 may consist of a single electronic device suitably programmed to perform the functions described and assigned to the various modules, just as it may consist of a plurality of electronic devices each corresponding to a relevant module. According to the invention, the printing unit 5 is configured to apply a reference pattern P directly onto the conveyor plane 2 according to predefined coordinates Xn2, respect to the second reference system Ref2 and the alignment of the first reference system Refl with the second reference system Ref2 comprises at least the following sub-steps:

[0043] - detection of the identifying coordinates Xni, Yni, aniof the pattern P with respect to the first reference system Refl;

[0044] - calculation of the deviation AX, AY, Aa of the identifying coordinates Xni, Yni, aniwith respect to the predefined coordinates Xn2, Yn2, a^;

[0045] - determination of a correction factor depending on the deviation AX, AY, Aa to be applied for the alignment between the first reference system Refl and the second reference system Ref2.

[0046] Advantageously, the conveyor plane 2 is defined by a continuous tape closed on itself, so that the pattern P repeatedly transits where the identification unit 4 and the printing unit 5 are located as a result of the actuation of the tape. Therefore, at each complete transit of the tape 2, the pattern P maintains its position unchanged with respect to the identification unit 4 and to the printing unit 5 from the previous transit, the position of the tape 2 being equal. In other words, at each complete turn of the tape 2, the pattern P repeatedly retraces the same positions in succession with respect to the identification unit 4 and to the printing unit 5. Preferably, the pattern P is of the type of a straight line.

[0047] Specifically, the printing unit 5 is configured to print the pattern P by activating at least one of its nozzles. Depending on the nozzles that are activated to print the pattern P, the corresponding predefined coordinates Xn2, Yn2, an2 are consequently acquired that identify the points constituting the pattern itself.

[0048] In a first embodiment, the identification unit 4 is configured to detect the coordinates Xii, Yn of an identifying point Pi of the pattern P with respect to the first reference system Refl and the alignment module 8 is configured to: receive as input the coordinates Xii, Yn of the identifying point Pi with respect to the first reference system Refl; receive as input the predefined coordinates Xi2, Yi2 of the identifying point Pi with respect to the second reference system Ref2; calculate the difference Ax, Ay between the detected coordinates Xii, Yn of the identifying point Pi with respect to the first reference system Refl and the predefined coordinates Xi2, Yi2 of the identifying point Pi with respect to the second reference system Ref2; determine a translation coefficient depending on the calculated difference Ax, Ay.

[0049] In a second embodiment, the identification unit 4 is configured to detect the coordinates Xii, Yn, Xji, Yji of at least two mutually separate identifying points Pi, Pj of the pattern P, which may be of the type of a straight line or having different conformation, and to calculate the identifying coordinates Xni, Yni, aniof the pattern P with respect to the first reference system Refl depending on the detected coordinates Xii, Yn, Xji, Yji. The alignment module 8 is configured to:

[0050] - receive as input the identifying coordinates Xni, Yni, aniof the pattern P with respect to the first reference system Refl ;

[0051] - receive as input the predefined coordinates Xn2, Yn2, an2 of the pattern P with respect to the second reference system Ref2;

[0052] - calculate the difference AX, AY, Aa between the predefined coordinates Xn2, Yn2, tn2 and the identifying coordinates Xni, Yni, ani;

[0053] - determine a roto-translation coefficient depending on the calculated difference AX, AY, Aa.

[0054] In more detail, the roto-translation coefficient corresponds to a matrix of coefficients.

[0055] Appropriately, particularly in the case where the pattern P consists of a straight line, the identifying coordinates Xni, Yni, aniof the points making up the pattern itself with respect to the first reference system Refl are calculated by the interpolation of the detected coordinates Xu, Yn, Xji, Yji of the identifying points Pi, Pj. More particularly, by the interpolation of the detected coordinates Xii, Yn, Xji, Yji of the identifying points Pi, Pj, the line passing through these points is identified and through a trigonometric calculation known to the engineer in the field its inclination with respect to the first reference system is also identified. Preferably, the speed of forward movement of the conveyor plane 2 is, in use (i.e., during the alignment phase) substantially constant.

[0056] Advantageously, the identification unit 4 is configured to calculate the identifying coordinates XMI, YMI, OMI of the manufactured article M with respect to the first reference system Refl and the processing module 7 is configured to determine a roto-translation of the image I, so as to obtain the modified image Imod, depending on the calculated identifying coordinates XMI, YMI, OMI of the manufactured article M.

[0057] Appropriately, the identification unit 4 is adapted to provide, through the acquisition of a predetermined plurality of rows of the manufactured article M in motion, a two-dimensional image of the manufactured article itself From the analysis of this two-dimensional image, the profile of the edges of the manufactured article M is then derived, and from these, its vertices.

[0058] Specifically, the identification unit 4 comprises an identification module configured to receive a plurality of representative points as input and to calculate the location coordinates of the manufactured article M with respect to the first reference system Refl. This calculation is carried out by interpolation of the representative points.

[0059] The alignment of the first reference system Refl and of the second reference system Ref2 can be carried out before or after the roto-translation of the image I. The processing module 7 may determine the roto-translation of the image I in its entirety or, alternatively, it may decompose the image I into a plurality of portions and carry out the roto-translation of each such portion, which are then reproduced by the printing unit 5 on the manufactured article M. More particularly, the processing module 7 may comprise a plurality of processing units, each of which is configured to carry out the roto-translation of a relevant portion of the image I to be printed, to obtain a plurality of modified portions and to command the reproduction thereof by the printing unit 5.

[0060] The operation of the piece of equipment in carrying out the procedure according to the invention is as follows.

[0061] The method for the digital printing of an image onto a manufactured article, such as a ceramic manufactured article, comprises at least the phases of:

[0062] - supply of a manufactured article M to be decorated, such as a ceramic tile or slab;

[0063] - supply of an image I to be printed onto the manufactured article M;

[0064] - supply of a piece of equipment 1 for the digital printing of the type described above;

[0065] - alignment between the first reference system Refl and the second reference system Ref2; placement of the manufactured article M to be decorated onto the conveyor plane 2; modification of the image I to be printed depending on at least the position of the manufactured article M onto the conveyor plane 2, so as to determine a modified image Imod.

[0066] According to the invention, the alignment between the two reference systems Refl and Ref2 is carried out by at least the following sub-steps: application of a reference pattern P directly onto the conveyor plane 2 according to predefined coordinates Xn2, Yn2, an2 with respect to the second reference system Ref2; detection of the identifying coordinates Xni, Yni, aniof the pattern P with respect to the first reference system Refl; calculation of the deviation AX, AY, Aa between the predefined coordinates Xn2, Yn2, tn2 and the identifying coordinates Xni, Yni, ani; determination of a correction factor depending on the calculated deviation AX, AY, Aa to be applied for the alignment between the first reference system Refl and the second reference system Ref2.

[0067] In more detail, the application of the pattern P onto the conveyor plane 2 is carried out by means of the printing unit 5 and the detection of the identifying coordinates Xni, Yni, aniof the pattern P with respect to the first reference system Refl is carried out by means of the identification unit 4.

[0068] Since, as described above, the conveyor plane 2 is defined by a continuous tape closed on itself, this ensures that the position of the pattern P printed onto the conveyor plane itself remains unchanged over time with respect to the two reference systems Re fl and Ref2.

[0069] Preferably, the pattern P is of the type of a straight segment, obtained by activating even just a part of the nozzles (even one of them) of the printing unit 5.

[0070] The pattern P can thus be a straight segment which runs parallel to the direction of forward movement 3 or which is inclined with respect thereto. However, alternative embodiments cannot be ruled out wherein the pattern P consists of a curvilinear line or a more complex drawing.

[0071] The alignment of the two reference systems Refl and Ref2 can be done by detecting the deviation between the coordinates of a single point in the pattern P or of a plurality of points.

[0072] In the first case, the identifying coordinates Xii, Yn can be detected of an identifying point Pi of the pattern P, the relevant predefined coordinates Xi2, Yi2 of which are known, and the difference Ax, Ay calculated between the identifying coordinates Xii, Yn and the predefined coordinates Xi2, Yi2. The correction factor P then consists of a translation coefficient depending on the difference Ax, Ay thus calculated.

[0073] In the second case, on the other hand, the coordinates Xii, Yn, Xji, Yji of at least two mutually separate identifying points Pi, Pj of the pattern P are detected and the identifying coordinates Xni, Yni, aniof the pattern itself with respect to the first reference system Refl are calculated depending on the detected coordinates Xii, Yii, Xji, Yji.

[0074] More particularly, the identifying coordinates Xni, Yni, aniof the pattern P with respect to the first reference system Refl are calculated by interpolation of the detected coordinates Xii, Yn, Xji, Yji of the identifying points Pi, Pj.

[0075] The correction factor corresponds in this case to a roto-translation coefficient that depends on the difference Ax, Ay, Aa between the predefined coordinates Xn2, Yn2, tn2 and the identifying coordinates Xni, Yni, aniof the pattern P.

[0076] In more detail, while in the first case in which the difference between the coordinates relating to the same identifying point Pi is calculated, the correction factor p to be applied consists of a translation matrix, since it is not possible to identify an angular deviation between the two detections, in the second case, as a result of the interpolation of the detected coordinates of the identifying points Pi, Pj the identifying coordinates Xni, Yni, aniof the pattern P are calculated and, therefore, also its inclination with respect to the first reference system Refl. In this way it is possible to calculate not only the translation when reading the coordinates between the two reference systems Refl and Ref2 but also the different angle of inclination.

[0077] Appropriately, the coordinates Xii, Yn, Xji, Yji of the identifying points Pi, Pj are detected by the identification unit 4, which also calculates the identifying coordinates Xni, Yni, aniof the pattern P, while the calculation of the difference Ax, Ay, Aa and of the correction factor is carried out by the alignment module 8.

[0078] Advantageously, subsequently to the phase of positioning the manufactured article M to be decorated and prior to the phase of printing, the following phases are carried out: detection of the position of the manufactured article M with respect to the first reference system Refl and calculation of the identifying coordinates XMI, YMI, OMI of the manufactured article M with respect to the first reference system Refl.

[0079] The detection of the position of the manufactured article M and the calculation of its identifying coordinates XMI, YMI, OMI are carried out by means of the identification unit 4.

[0080] The modification of the image I to be printed comprises, in turn, a roto -translation of the image I depending on the identifying coordinates XMI, YMI, OMI of the manufactured article M, to obtain a modified image Imod.

[0081] Such roto-translation is carried out by the processing module 7 which, as anticipated above, can either roto-translate the entire image I or, alternatively, can perform the decomposition of the image I into a plurality of portions and perform the roto-translation of each of them, individually.

[0082] Appropriately, the phase of alignment can be carried out before or after the roto- translation of the image I.

[0083] Specifically, the correction factor 0 can be applied to the identifying coordinates XMI, YMI, OMI of the manufactured article M before they are sent to the processing and control unit 6, which will then receive the coordinates that are already aligned to the second reference system Ref2, or the correction factor 0 can be applied to the modified image Imod (or its individual portions) before they are applied to the manufactured article M by means of the printing unit 5.

[0084] It has in practice been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects, and in particular, the fact is emphasized that the method and piece of equipment covered by this invention enable, thanks to the application of a pattern directly onto the conveyor plane of the manufactured articles to be decorated, the alignment between the two reference systems to be made in a practical and safe manner.

[0085] In this way, in fact, the pattern can be made to pass repeatedly where the identification unit is located with the assurance that, with each transit of the tape, it will maintain its position unchanged with respect to the first reference system and to the second reference system with respect to the previous transit. This makes it easy to detect its coordinates with respect to the first reference system, its predefined coordinates with respect to the second reference system already being known and according to which it has been printed.

[0086] In this way, without therefore the use of any manufactured articles, and in a very short time, it is possible to align the two reference systems with each other and proceed with the decoration of the manufactured articles.

Claims

CLAIMS1) Method for the digital printing of an image onto a manufactured article, comprising at least the phases of: supply of a manufactured article (M) to be decorated; supply of at least one image (I) to be printed on the manufactured article (M); supply of a piece of equipment (1) for the digital printing provided with at least one conveyor plane (2) of the manufactured articles (M) movable along one direction of forward movement (3), with at least one image identification unit (4) provided with a first reference system (Refl) and with at least one printing unit (5) configured to print said image (I) on the manufactured article (M) and provided with a second reference system (Ref2); alignment between said first reference system (Refl) and said second reference system (Ref2); placement of said manufactured article (M) to be decorated on said conveyor plane (2); modification of said image (I) to be printed depending on at least the position of said manufactured article (M) onto the conveyor plane (2), so as to determine a modified image (I mod); printing of said modified image (I mod) on said manufactured article (M); characterized by the fact that said alignment is carried out by means of at least the following sub-steps: application of a reference pattern (P) directly onto said conveyor plane (2) by means of said printing unit (5) according to predefined coordinates (Xn2, Yn2, Ota) with respect to said second reference system (Ref2); detection by means of said identification unit (4) of the identifying coordinates (Xni, Yni, ani) of said pattern (P) with respect to said first reference system (Refl); calculation of the deviation (AX, AY, Aa) between said predefined coordinates (Xn2, Yn2, Ota) and said identifying coordinates (Xni, Yni, ani); determination of a correction factor (0) depending on said deviation (AX, AY, Aa) to be applied for the alignment between said first reference system (Refl)and said second reference system (Ref2).2) Method according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said conveyor plane (2) is defined by a continuous tape closed on itself, said pattern (P) repeatedly transiting where said identification unit (4) and said printing unit (5) are located as a result of the forward movement of said tape.3) Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that said pattern (P) is of the type of a straight segment.4) Method according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that said straight segment runs parallel to said direction of forward movement (3).5) Method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by the fact that said detection is adapted to detect the identifying coordinates (Xii, Yn) of an identifying point (Pi) of said pattern (P) with respect to said first reference system (Refl) and by the fact that said correction factor is a translation coefficient depending on the difference between the predefined coordinates (Xi2, Yii) and the identifying coordinates (Xii, Yn) of said identifying point (Pi).6) Method according to claim 3, characterized by the fact that said straight segment is inclined with respect to said direction of forward movement (3) and by the fact that said detection is adapted to detect the coordinates (Xii, Yn, Xji, Yji) of at least two identifying points (Pi, Pj) separate from each other of said pattern (P) and to calculate the identifying coordinates (Xni, Yni, ani) of said pattern (P) with respect to said first reference system (Refl) depending on said detected coordinates (Xii, Yn, Xji, Yji), said correction factor being a roto- translation coefficient depending on the difference between the predefined coordinates (Xn2, Yn2, an2) and the identifying coordinates (Xni, Yni, ani) of said pattern (P).7) Method according to claim 6, characterized by the fact that the identifying coordinates of said pattern (P) with respect to said first reference system (Refl) are calculated by means of interpolation of the detected coordinates (Xu, Yn, Xji, Yji) of said identifying points (Pi, Pj).8) Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises, subsequently to said positioning and prior to saidprinting, the following phases of:- detection of the position of said manufactured article (M) with respect to said first reference system (Refl);- calculation of the identifying coordinates (XMI, YMI, OMI) of said manufactured article (M) with respect to said first reference system (Refl); and by the fact that said modification of the image (I) to be printed comprises a roto-translation of said image (I) depending on the calculated identifying coordinates (XMI, YMI, OMI) of said manufactured article (M), said alignment being carried out before or after said roto-translation of said image (I).9) Piece of equipment (1) for the digital printing of an image onto a manufactured article, comprising: a conveyor plane (2) of at least one manufactured article (M) to be decorated movable along a direction of forward movement (3), where the manufactured article (M) is positionable with random orientation on said conveyor plane (2); at least one image identification unit (4) provided with a first reference system (Refl) and configured to detect the position of said manufactured article (M) on said conveyor plane (2) with respect to said first reference system (Refl); at least one printing unit (5) configured to print an image (I) on the manufactured article (M) and provided with a second reference system (Ref2), said printing unit (5) being arranged downstream of said identification unit (4) with respect to said direction of forward movement (3); at least one processing and control unit (6) operationally connected to said identification unit (4) and to said printing unit (5) and comprising a processing module (7) of said image (I) configured to modify said image (I) to be printed depending on at least the position of said manufactured article (M) onto the conveyor plane (2), so as to determine a modified image (I mo a); and an alignment module (8) configured to carry out the alignment of said first reference system (Refl) with said second reference system(Ref2); characterized by the fact that said printing unit (5) is configured to apply a reference pattern (P) directly onto said conveyor plane (2) according to predefined coordinates (Xn2, Yn2, Ota) with respect to said second reference system (Ref2) and by the fact that said alignment comprises at least the following sub-steps:- detection of the identifying coordinates (Xni, Yni, ani) of said pattern (P) with respect to said first reference system (Refl);- calculation of the deviation (AX, AY, Aa) of said identifying coordinates (Xni, Yni, ani) with respect to said predefined coordinates (Xn2, Yn2, Cte);- determination of a correction factor (0) depending on said deviation (AX, AY, Aa) to be applied for the alignment between said first reference system (Refl) and said second reference system (Ref2).10) Piece of equipment (1) according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that said conveyor plane (2) is of the type of a continuous tape closed on itself, said pattern (P) repeatedly transiting where said identification unit (4) and said printing unit (5) are located as a result of the forward movement of said tape.11) Piece of equipment (1) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized by the fact that said pattern (P) is of the type of a straight line substantially parallel to said direction of forward movement (3), by the fact that said identification unit (4) is configured to detect the coordinates (Xii, Yn) of an identifying point (Pi) of said pattern (P) with respect to said first reference system (Refl), and by the fact that said alignment module (8) is configured to: receive as input the coordinates (Xii, Yn) of said identifying point (Pi) with respect to said first reference system (Refl); receive as input the predefined coordinates (Xi2, Yii) of said identifying point (Pi) with respect to said second reference system (Ref2); calculate the difference (Ax, Ay) between the coordinates (Xii, Yn) of said identifying point (Pi) with respect to said first reference system (Refl) and the predefined coordinates (Xi2, Yi2) of said identifying point (Pi) with respect to said second reference system (Ref2);determine a translation coefficient depending on said calculated difference.12) Piece of equipment (1) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized by the fact that said pattern (P) is of the type of a straight line inclined with respect to said direction of forward movement (3), by the fact that said identification unit (4) is configured to detect the coordinates (Xn, Yn, Xji, Yji) of at least two mutually separate identifying points (Pi, Pj) of said pattern (P) and to calculate the identifying coordinates (Xni, Yni, ani) of said pattern (P) with respect to said first reference system (Refl) depending on said detected coordinates (Xn, Yn, Xji, Yji) and by the fact that said alignment module (8) is configured to:- receive as input the identifying coordinates (Xni, Yni, ani) of said pattern (P) with respect to said first reference system (Refl);- receive as input the predefined coordinates (Xn2, Yn2, Ota) of said pattern (P) with respect to said second reference system (Ref2);- calculate the difference (AX, AY, Aa) between said predefined coordinates (Xn2, Yn2, an2) and said identifying coordinates (Xni, Yni, ani);- determine a roto-translation coefficient depending on said calculated difference (AX, AY, Aa).13) Piece of equipment (1) according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that the identifying coordinates of said pattern (P) with respect to said first reference system (Refl) are calculated by interpolation of the detected coordinates (Xii, Yn, Xji, Yji) of said identifying points (Pi, Pj).14) Piece of equipment (1) according to one or more of claims 9 to 13, characterized by the fact that the speed of forward movement of said conveyor plane (2) is constant.15) Piece of equipment (1) according to one or more of claims 9 to 14, characterized by the fact that said identification unit (4) is configured to calculate the identifying coordinates (XMI, YMI, QMI) of said manufactured article (M) with respect to said first reference system (Refl) and by the fact that said processing module (7) is configured to determine a roto-translation of said image (I) depending on the calculated identifying coordinates (XM, YM, QM) of saidmanufactured article (M), said alignment being carried out before or after said roto-translation of said image (I).

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