Measuring system and method for calibrating printing stations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10336109-B2
Application number	US-201515541190-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 21, 2015
Priority date	Jan 12, 2015
Publication date	Jul 2, 2019
Grant date	Jul 2, 2019

Abstract

A measurement system includes a measurement device to detect measurement information relating to a position-modifiable component of a printing station during movement thereof. A calculation unit receives the measurement information from the measurement device. The calculation unit determines actual-position data of the position-modifiable component from the measurement data received and compares it with predetermined reference-position data to determine calibration information based on the actual-position data and the reference-position data. An interface permits then permits transfer of this calibration information.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising a measurement system for making measurements at a printing station that includes a print head that is adjustably held at a position at said printing station, said measurement system comprising a measurement device, a calculation unit, and an interface, wherein said measurement device is configured to detect measurement information relating to a position-modifiable component of said printing station during movement thereof, wherein said calculation unit is configured to receive said measurement information from said measurement device, wherein said calculation unit is further configured to determine actual-position data of said position-modifiable component from said measurement information received and to compare said actual-position data with predetermined reference-position data, and to determine calibration information based on said actual-position data and said reference-position data, and wherein said interface permits transfer of said calibration information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said measurement device is configured to determine position in three dimensions.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said measurement device comprises a 3D camera.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said measurement device comprises a laser scanner that creates three-dimensional cloud diagrams to permit deriving a multi-dimensional image of at least a section of said position-modifiable component.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said reference-position data represents where said position-modifiable component is supposed to be when said printing station has been correctly calibrated and wherein said calculation unit is configured to determine deviations between said reference-position data and said actual-position data, said calibration being derived at least in part based on said deviations.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said position-modifiable component is a reference surface of said print head.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said printing station comprises an exchangeable printing module, wherein said measurement system is configured for holding said printing module at a particular orientation and for carrying out measurements on said printing module.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising common storage for storing calibration information for plural printing stations, wherein said interface is configured for coupling with said common storage.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising common storage, wherein said interface is configured for coupling to said common storage and for transferring said calibration information to said common storage, wherein said common storage is a constituent of a printing device comprising plural print stations, and wherein said common storage contains calibration for said plural print stations.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said calculation unit is configured for determining calibration information for calibrating said print head, wherein said calibration information comprises information indicative of movement of said position-modifiable component.

11. A method comprising calibrating a printing station, wherein calibrating said printing station comprises moving a position-modifiable component of said printing station, while moving said component, measuring at least one of position and orientation of said component, thereby generating measurement information, receiving said measurement information, determining actual-position data from said measurement information, determining calibration information from said actual-position data and predetermined reference-position data, and calibrating said print head based on said calibration information.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising carrying out an optimization procedure that relies on a large number of position values from both said actual-position data and said reference-position data to determine adjustment values that are best suited for calibrating said printing station, said adjustment values being indicative of magnitude and direction of movement required for said position-modifiable component to arrive at a desired value.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein determining calibration information comprises determining said calibration information after maintenance or repair of a component of said printing station at a location that is remote from where said printing station is to be installed for printing and storing said calibration information at said printing station such that, upon installation of said printing station at any location where said printing station is to be installed, said calibration information thereby being carried by said printing station.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising defining a reference point from which said actual position is measured, said reference point being a region of said printing station that remains stationary as said position-modifiable component moves.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising selecting said reference point to be a receiver of a holding-or-centering unit.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising selecting said position-modifiable component to be a reference surface of said print head.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising selecting said position-modifiable component to be a print-head carrier, removing said print head from said print-head carrier, after measuring at least one of position and orientation of said component, reinstalling said print head on said print-head carrier, and measuring at least one of position and orientation of said print head, thereby generating measurement information indicative of movement of said print head, and wherein determining said calibration information comprises determining said calibration information based on said first and second sets.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein calibrating said print head comprises calibrating said print head directly using said calibration information.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising depositing said calibration information in common storage that is accessible to plural printing stations, each of which has printer-specific calibration information stored in said common storage, and wherein calibrating said print head comprises retrieving said calibration information that is specific to said print head from said common storage.

20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising depositing said calibration information in storage local to said printing station, wherein said storage such that, when said printing station is swapped out to another location, calibration of said printing station can proceed without having to retrieve calibration information from a common storage unit, and wherein calibrating said print head comprises retrieving said calibration information from said storage that is local to said printing station.

Assignees

• Khs Gmbh

Inventors

• Reiniger Markus
• Koers Sascha
• Preckel Katrin
• Teufert Daniel
• Van De Wynckel Werner

Classifications

• G01B13/12

  for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures (G01B13/18 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01B11/28

  for measuring areas · CPC title

• B41J3/4073

  Printing on three-dimensional objects not being in sheet or web form, e.g. spherical or cubic objects (B41J3/283, B41J3/286 take precedence; building up a 3D object using individual droplets from jetting heads B29C64/112) · CPC title

• G01B11/272

  using photoelectric detection means · CPC title

• G01B11/002

  for measuring two or more coordinates · CPC title