Large Sheet Image Registration via Movable Platen Cart
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for printing on oversized media substrates face challenges in accurately transferring images due to difficulties in adjusting the media substrate's position, leading to reduced productivity and image quality, especially with heavy platen carts and high-speed inkjet marking devices.
Innovation Solution
An image registration system that includes a rail support track, a platen cart movable along the track, an image capturing apparatus, and an image processing system to accurately determine and adjust the substrate's position for precise image reproduction, utilizing technologies like CHIPER or IRECT for correction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-speed transport is used to increase throughput, then productivity is improved, but image registration precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of the media substrate position using image capturing apparatus before the printing operation. This allows the system to pre-calculate and prepare the corrected image data with appropriate positioning adjustments, ensuring that even at high transport speeds, the image will be accurately registered on the media substrate when it passes through the printing zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the image capturing apparatus continuously monitors the actual position of the media substrate, and this information is fed back to the image processing system. The system then adjusts the image positioning in real-time based on the detected position, maintaining accurate registration despite high-speed transport variations.
2Strength
If heavy platen carts are used for oversized media, then structural stability is improved, but position adjustment capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical position adjustment mechanisms with an image processing-based solution. Instead of physically adjusting the heavy platen cart or media substrate position, the system captures the actual position and applies digital corrections to the image data, thereby achieving accurate registration without requiring mechanical adjustments of the heavy cart structure.
3Area of stationary object
If multi-pass printing is used for oversized media, then complete image coverage is improved, but productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a movable platen cart that can dynamically position oversized media substrates to present different areas to the printing zone during a single pass. This dynamic positioning capability allows the entire media surface to be covered in one pass rather than requiring multiple stationary passes, thereby maintaining high productivity while achieving complete image coverage on oversized media.
Data Source
AI summary
An image registration system which helps to accurately produce an image onto an oversized media substrate in a large scale printer. The image registration system includes a rail support track, a printing zone, and a platen cart moveable along the rail support track through said printing zone. The image registration system also includes an image capturing apparatus for capturing a position of the media substrate in relation to the platen cart in order to ensure accurate image on media substrate reproduction.