In-line printing calibration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10877419-B2
Application number	US-201716617543-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2017
Priority date	Jun 30, 2017
Publication date	Dec 29, 2020
Grant date	Dec 29, 2020

Abstract

In one example of the disclosure, a first print engine is caused to print a first image in a first set of sectors of a substrate. A second print engine is caused to print a second image in a second set of sectors of the substrate. The second print engine is caused to print a cover-up image over an incidence of the first image printed by the first print engine. The second print engine is caused to print a calibration image upon the cover-up image.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An in-line print system, comprising:
a production component to cause a first print engine to print a first image in a first set of sectors of a substrate, and to cause a second print engine to print a second image in a second set of sectors of the substrate; and
a calibration component to
cause the second print engine to print a cover-up image over an incidence of the first image printed by the first print engine; and
cause the second print engine to print a calibration image upon the cover-up image.

2. The in-line print system of claim 1 , further comprising an adjustment component to cause a calibration adjustment at the in-line print system based upon an identification of the calibration image.

3. The in-line print system of claim 2 , wherein the calibration component causes the second print engine to print the cover-up pattern with an optical density sufficient to enable an optical scanner to identify the calibration image.

4. The in-line print system of claim 1 , wherein the production component is to cause the first print engine to print incidences of the first image and the second print engine to print incidences of the second image such that after printing the substrate includes a printed row of alternating first and second images.

5. The in-line print system of claim 1 , wherein the calibration component is to cause the second print engine to print the cover-up image and the calibration image based upon a determination that a portion of the substrate situated between the first and second print engines has been printed upon by the first print engine.

6. The in-line print system of claim 1 , wherein the second print engine prints the cover-up image and the calibration image at a first sector of substrate, and the first print engine is to concurrently print the first image at a second sector of the substrate upstream of the first sector.

7. The in-line print system of claim 1 ,
wherein the second print engine includes a photoconductor element and a blanket to receive images from the photoconductor element;
wherein the second print engine is to cause the photoconductor element to transfer to the cover-up image as a first layer to the blanket, and is to cause the photoconductor element to transfer the calibration image as a second layer to the blanket, and is to cause the blanket to make a concurrent transfer of the first and second layers to the substrate.

8. The in-line print system of claim 1 , wherein the calibration component is to determine that n iterations of the cover up image are to be applied upon the substrate, and wherein the calibration component is to cause the n iterations of the cover-up image to be applied upon the substrate.

9. The in-line print system of claim 1 , wherein the second print engine includes an inkjet printhead, and wherein the calibration component is to cause a rewinding of the web substrate, the rewinding to enable the second print engine to print the calibration image upon the cover-up image.

10. A memory resource storing instructions that when executed are to cause a processing resource to enable in-line printing calibration, comprising:
a production module that when executed causes a first print engine to print a first image in a first set of sectors of a substrate, and causes a second print engine to print a second image in a second set of sectors of the substrate;
a calibration module that when executed causes a calibration operation including the second print engine printing a cover-up image over an incidence of the first image printed by the first print engine, and the second print engine printing a calibration image upon the cover-up image; and
an adjustment module that when executed causes a sensor to identify the calibration image, and causes a calibration adjustment at the in-line print system based upon the sensor identification.

11. The memory resource of claim 10 , wherein the calibration adjustment is to a registration system that measures an actual location or scaling of an image relative to a desired location or scaling.

12. The memory resource of claim 11 , wherein the desired location or the desired scaling is upon one of a photoconductor drum, a blanket, and a substrate.

13. The memory resource of claim 10 , wherein the calibration adjustment is to a substrate position measurement system.

14. The memory resource of claim 10 , wherein the calibration adjustment is to a system that is to measure one of a pressure, a relative location, and a timing of engagement as between a developer unit and a photoconductor element, as between a photoconductor element and a blanket, or as between a blanket and a substrate.

15. An in-line printing calibration method, comprising:
causing a first print engine to print a first image in a first set of sectors of a substrate;
causing a second print engine to print a second image in a second set of sectors of the substrate; and
causing the second print engine to utilize a photoconductor element to transfer a cover-up image as a first layer to a blanket, and transfer a calibration image as a second layer to the blanket, and to cause the blanket to concurrently transfer the first and second layers to the substrate to print over an incidence of the first image.

Assignees

• Hp Indigo Bv

Inventors

• Mashiach On
• Landau Yoav

Classifications

• G03G15/556

  for toner consumption, e.g. pixel counting, toner coverage detection or toner density measurement · CPC title

• B41J2/04518

  reducing costs · CPC title

• G03G15/5062 Primary

  by measuring the characteristics of an image on the copy material · CPC title

• B41J29/393

  Devices for controlling or analysing the entire machine {; Controlling or analysing mechanical parameters involving printing of test patterns} · CPC title

• B41J2029/3935

  by means of printed test patterns · CPC title