Apparatuses and methods for high-resolution printing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11505288-B2
Application number	US-202117356179-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2021
Priority date	Aug 12, 2016
Publication date	Nov 22, 2022
Grant date	Nov 22, 2022

Abstract

A method is provided that includes acquiring positional information regarding a pallet being translated on a conveyance system with an encoding sensor disposed proximate to the conveyance system. The method also includes receiving, with at least one processor, the positional information from the encoding sensor. Further, the method includes determining timing information using the positional information. The timing information corresponds to when a substrate disposed on the pallet will be in a print zone of a print head. The method further includes controlling the print head to print on the substrate when the substrate is in the print zone and passing beneath the print head.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
acquiring positional information regarding a pallet being translated on a conveyance system with an encoding sensor disposed proximate to the conveyance system;
receiving, with at least one processor, the positional information from the encoding sensor;
determining timing information using the positional information, the timing information corresponding to when a substrate disposed on the pallet will be in a print zone of a print head; and
controlling the print head to print on the substrate when the substrate is in the print zone and passing beneath the print head.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using at least one of a laser interferometer or a laser velocimeter to acquire the positional information.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using at least one of a magnetic sensor or a proximity sensor to acquire the positional information.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the conveyance system comprises a first conveyance system and a second conveyance system, the method comprising taking control of moving the pallet by the first conveyance system from the second conveyance system at a delivery point, and returning control of the pallet to the second conveyance system at a reception point.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising determining when the pallet is at the delivery point or the reception point.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising controlling the conveyance system using the positional information.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising continuously tracking the pallet through a sensing zone using the positional information.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the positional information corresponds to location and velocity of the pallet.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the positional information is acquired as the pallet is in motion traveling toward the print zone.

10. A method comprising:
acquiring positional information regarding a pallet being translated on a conveyance system with an encoding sensor disposed proximate to the conveyance system, wherein the positional information is acquired as the pallet is in motion traveling toward a print zone of a print head, wherein the positional information corresponds to location and velocity of the pallet;
receiving, with at least one processor, the positional information from the encoding sensor;
determining timing information using the positional information, the timing information corresponding to when a substrate disposed on the pallet will be in the print zone of the print head; and
controlling the print head to print on the substrate when the substrate is in the print zone and passing beneath the print head.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising using at least one of a laser interferometer or a laser velocimeter to acquire the positional information.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising using at least one of a magnetic sensor or a proximity sensor to acquire the positional information.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the conveyance system comprises a first conveyance system and a second conveyance system, the method comprising taking control of moving the pallet by the first conveyance system from the second conveyance system at a delivery point, and returning control of the pallet to the second conveyance system at a reception point.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising determining when the pallet is at the delivery point or the reception point.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising controlling the conveyance system using the positional information.

16. The method of claim 10 , further comprising continuously tracking the pallet through a sensing zone using the positional information.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Kucaba Tracy
• Konrath Paul
• Herring Jared

Classifications

• A61G3/06

  Transfer using ramps, lifts or the like · CPC title

• B41J11/06

  Flat page-size platens {or smaller flat platens having a greater size than line-size platens (B41J11/0085 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B41J3/4073 Primary

  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

• B66C1/66

  for engaging holes, recesses, or abutments on articles specially provided for facilitating handling thereof · CPC title

• B41J11/00

  Devices or arrangements  {of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers,} for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form (script supports connected to the typewriter or printer B41J29/15) · CPC title