Large-scale inkjet printer

摘要

A multipass large format flat bed inkjet printer (1) for printing an image on a substrate is described. In examples described, the printer (1) has a print carriage (8) for supporting an array of printheads (18) adjacent the substrate (6) during printing; a bed (4) for supporting the substrate (6) during printing; and a movement mechanism (5) for providing relative movement of the print carriage (8) and the substrate (6) in a print direction during a print pass. The print carriage (8) is such that the width of the array of printheads (18) transverse to the print direction is at least substantially the full width of the image. in examples described, the printheads (18) provide an array of nozzles (22) which is substantially continuous across the array of printheads (18).

主权项

1. A multipass large format flat bed inkjet printer for printing an image on a substrate, the printer having:
a printhead carriage for supporting an array of printheads adjacent the substrate during printing; a bed for supporting the substrate during printing; a movement mechanism for providing relative movement of the printhead carriage and the substrate in a print direction during a print pass; wherein the printhead carriage is such that the width of the array of printheads transverse to the print direction is at least substantially the full printable width of the substrate and wherein the printhead carriage is indexed in a direction transverse to the print direction between print passes, wherein the printhead carriage is indexed a distance less than 10% of the width of the printhead array, and wherein the printer comprises a curing device for curing print material printed onto the substrate wherein the curing device is connected to a fixed beam separate from the printhead carriage and extends across at least substantially the full printable width of the substrate transverse to the printing direction, the curing device being substantially fixed in the transverse direction and being substantially fixed during printing, and comprising a radiation source, the printer being adapted to print an image in a plurality of printing passes, each printing pass comprising the steps of printing print material onto the substrate and emitting radiation towards print material on the substrate from the curing device, wherein the printer includes a control device operable such that a first dose of radiation is emitted towards the print material on a first printing pass and a second different dose of radiation is emitted towards the print material on a subsequent curing pass.