Abstract: Method for holding substrates on a flatbed printing system. After positioning the substrates on the substrate support surface, a leak air area not covered by the substrates is covered by positioning a flexible cover device at least over the leak air area, and preferably over the substrates as well. Thereby, air flow through the through-holes is prevented. An under-pressure is then applied to the through-holes, sucking the substrates against the substrate support surface. The flexible cover device is then withdrawn to expose the substrate for printing while the under-pressure is maintained. It was found that despite the additional amount of air passing through the through-holes uncovered by the withdrawal of the flexible cover device, the under-pressure surprisingly remained sufficient to properly hold the substrates for printing. An additional advantage is that the cover device may be applied easily and rapidly over the leak air area and substrates at once.

Abstract: A media roll holder assembly a web-based printing system comprises a support for rotatably supporting the roll in an operative position, a holding element for rotatably holding the roll on the support, and a pivotable arm on which the holding element is provided. The pivotable arm is formed and positioned to position the holding element on the roll, such that a lifting force for lifting the roll from the support results in a holding force on the holding element in the first angular direction for holding the roll in the operative position on the support. The roll is then rotatably secured in its operative without excess angular forces acting on the roll. As the rotation of the roll is substantially unimpeded, the medium may be transported with great precision, resulting in high quality printing.

Abstract: A web printing system has a loading tool to aid in the loading of new wide format web media. The loading tool is pivotable between a first position for loading a leading edge portion of the web onto the loading tool and a second position wherein an end portion of the loading tool extends above a print surface when in use. The end portion of the loading tool includes a beam element protruding from the loading tool in its pivoting direction towards the print surface, wherein in the second position the beam element is positioned with respect to the turn element, such that an S-shaped curve is formed in a web held on the loading tool. The curvature in the web significantly enhances the friction exerted by the beam element on the web, thereby stably holding the web in place.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling take-up rolls in a printing system includes a holder device for holding a take-up roll in a take-up position. The take-up roll is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof in the take-up position for taking-up printed sheet output from the printing system. The holder device is movable to release or discharge the take-up roll from the holder device when the take-up roll is full or when a print job is finished. A movement of the holder device to release or discharge a full take-up roll also operates to load a new take-up roll onto the holder device and into the take-up position. A corresponding method of handling take-up rolls in a printing system is disclosed.

Abstract: A drive gear assembly for a roll that is detachably supported in a machine body, the assembly comprising a drive gear mounted for a rotation about a stationary axis in the machine body, a driven gear mounted on an end portion of the roller, and a bearing formed in the machine body for supporting said end portion in an operative position in which the drive gear meshes with the driven gear, the assembly further comprising by a safety cover that is pivotally supported on the machine body to be movable between an active position in which it covers at least a part of the periphery of the driven gear, except a portion where the drive gear meshes with the driven gear, and an open position in which it permits an insertion of the end portion of the roll into the bearing, the cover being elastically biased into the open position and having an engagement surface arranged to be engaged by at least one of the roll and the driven gear for holding the cover in the active position as long as the roll is in the operative posi

Abstract: A web printing system has a loading tool to aid in the loading of new wide format web media. The loading tool is pivotable between a first position for loading a leading edge portion of the web onto the loading tool and a second position wherein an end portion of the loading tool extends above a print surface when in use. The end portion of the loading tool includes a beam element protruding from the loading tool in its pivoting direction towards the print surface, wherein in the second position the beam element is positioned with respect to the turn element, such that an S-shaped curve is formed in a web held on the loading tool. The curvature in the web significantly enhances the friction exerted by the beam element on the web, thereby stably holding the web in place.

Abstract: In wide format web printing the loading of a new web medium is a cumbersome process, requiring the operator to raise a very wide flexible web from the supply roll up to the print surface. The present invention provides a simple apparatus to aid in the manual loading process. The web transport assembly of the apparatus comprises a supply unit arranged for supplying the web from a media roll to a transport path and a pick-up device comprising a pick-up surface and a holding mechanism configured for releasably holding a leading edge section of the web onto the pick-up surface, wherein the pick-up device is moveable between a first position near the supply unit for attaching the leading edge section and a second position near the print surface. The leading edge section is moved upwards towards the print surface while held by the holding mechanism.

Abstract: A method for printing a plurality of print jobs on a flat bed printer includes automatically grouping the print jobs into a plurality of consecutive container jobs, and for each container job automatically creating a digital plan of the flat bed, automatically defining a mask with cutting information according to the created plan, receiving the defined mask on the flat bed, receiving the media pieces on the flat bed positioned in according with the received mask, and unattended printing of the print jobs on the media pieces by the flat bed printer making use of the received mask. The automatic grouping includes gathering the group of print jobs due to the print job characteristics of each of the print jobs and/or the flat bed characteristics of the flat bed and ordering the consecutive container jobs due to the print job characteristics of each of the print jobs and/or the flat bed characteristics of the flat bed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a guide device for guiding print medium onto a take-up roll in a printing system. The guide device comprises a first guide member presenting a substantially planar surface for limiting or preventing lateral deviation of a printed medium output from the printing system as the medium moves along a transport path towards a take-up roll for winding or taking up a length of the medium. The first guide member is stationary in use. A position of the first guide member is adjustable in a direction transverse to the transport path for setting the position to limit or prevent lateral deviation of the medium along the transport path. The guide device further comprises a second guide member presenting a support surface configured and arranged to support the medium thereon as the medium travels along the transport path towards the take-up roll. The first guide member and the second guide member are preferably integrally formed as a guide unit.

Abstract: A media roll holder assembly a web-based printing system comprises a support for rotatably supporting the roll in an operative position, a holding element for rotatably holding the roll on the support, and a pivotable arm on which the holding element is provided. The pivotable arm is formed and positioned to position the holding element on the roll, such that a lifting force for lifting the roll from the support results in a holding force on the holding element in the first angular direction for holding the roll in the operative position on the support. The roll is then rotatably secured in its operative without excess angular forces acting on the roll. As the rotation of the roll is substantially unimpeded, the medium may be transported with great precision, resulting in high quality printing.

Abstract: A drive gear assembly for a roll that is detachably supported in a machine body, the assembly comprising a drive gear mounted for a rotation about a stationary axis in the machine body, a driven gear mounted on an end portion of the roller, and a bearing formed in the machine body for supporting said end portion in an operative position in which the drive gear meshes with the driven gear, the assembly further comprising by a safety cover that is pivotally supported on the machine body to be movable between an active position in which it covers at least a part of the periphery of the driven gear, except a portion where the drive gear meshes with the driven gear, and an open position in which it permits an insertion of the end portion of the roll into the bearing, the cover being elastically biased into the open position and having an engagement surface arranged to be engaged by at least one of the roll and the driven gear for holding the cover in the active position as long as the roll is in the operative posi

Abstract: Method for holding substrates on a flatbed printing system. After positioning the substrates on the substrate support surface, a leak air area not covered by the substrates is covered by positioning a flexible cover device at least over the leak air area, and preferably over the substrates as well. Thereby, air flow through the through-holes is prevented. An under-pressure is then applied to the through-holes, sucking the substrates against the substrate support surface. The flexible cover device is then withdrawn to expose the substrate for printing while the under-pressure is maintained. It was found that despite the additional amount of air passing through the through-holes uncovered by the withdrawal of the flexible cover device, the under-pressure surprisingly remained sufficient to properly hold the substrates for printing. An additional advantage is that the cover device may be applied easily and rapidly over the leak air area and substrates at once.

Abstract: An apparatus for handling take-up rolls in a printing system includes a holder device for holding a take-up roll in a take-up position. The take-up roll is rotatable about a longitudinal axis thereof in the take-up position for taking-up printed sheet output from the printing system. The holder device is movable to release or discharge the take-up roll from the holder device when the take-up roll is full or when a print job is finished. A movement of the holder device to release or discharge a full take-up roll also operates to load a new take-up roll onto the holder device and into the take-up position. A corresponding method of handling take-up rolls in a printing system is disclosed.

Abstract: A method for printing by means of a flatbed printer including a flatbed surface for placing a plurality of pieces of media to be printed upon, the plurality of pieces of media having different thicknesses, a control unit for controlling the printing of digital images on the plurality of pieces of media, a gantry constructed to move over the flatbed surface in a first direction and extending in a second direction, a print head configured to eject recording material on the plurality of pieces of media and attached to the gantry, the method including the steps of dividing the flatbed surface into a plurality of strips extending in the second direction over a length of the flatbed surface in the second direction, storing a position of each of the plurality of strips in storage of the control unit, for each strip coupling in storage a thickness range to the strip, the thickness range including a maximum allowed thickness for a piece of media to be placed in the strip on the flatbed surface and a minimum allowed th

Abstract: In wide format web printing the loading of a new web medium is a cumbersome process, requiring the operator to raise a very wide flexible web from the supply roll up to the print surface. The present invention provides a simple apparatus to aid in the manual loading process. The web transport assembly of the apparatus comprises a supply unit arranged for supplying the web from a media roll to a transport path and a pick-up device comprising a pick-up surface and a holding mechanism configured for releasably holding a leading edge section of the web onto the pick-up surface, wherein the pick-up device is moveable between a first position near the supply unit for attaching the leading edge section and a second position near the print surface. The leading edge section is moved upwards towards the print surface while held by the holding mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus for assisting change-over of take-up rolls in a printing system, especially in a roll-to-roll printing system. The apparatus comprises a guide device for directing or guiding printed sheet output from the printing system along a transport path towards a take-up roll for winding or taking up a length of the printed sheet, and a first clamping device for holding a new leading edge region of the printed sheet formed after the printed sheet is cut to terminate the length of the sheet to be wound or taken up onto the take-up roll. The first clamping device is configured to hold or clamp the new leading edge region of the printed sheet against movement along the transport path towards the take-up roll.

Abstract: A method for printing a plurality of print jobs on a flat bed printer includes automatically grouping the print jobs into a plurality of consecutive container jobs, and for each container job automatically creating a digital plan of the flat bed, automatically defining a mask with cutting information according to the created plan, receiving the defined mask on the flat bed, receiving the media pieces on the flat bed positioned in according with the received mask, and unattended printing of the print jobs on the media pieces by the flat bed printer making use of the received mask. The automatic grouping includes gathering the group of print jobs due to the print job characteristics of each of the print jobs and/or the flat bed characteristics of the flat bed and ordering the consecutive container jobs due to the print job characteristics of each of the print jobs and/or the flat bed characteristics of the flat bed.

Abstract: A method for printing by means of a flatbed printer including a flatbed surface for placing a plurality of pieces of media to be printed upon, the plurality of pieces of media having different thicknesses, a control unit for controlling the printing of digital images on the plurality of pieces of media, a gantry constructed to move over the flatbed surface in a first direction and extending in a second direction, a print head configured to eject recording material on the plurality of pieces of media and attached to the gantry, the method including the steps of dividing the flatbed surface into a plurality of strips extending in the second direction over a length of the flatbed surface in the second direction, storing a position of each of the plurality of strips in storage of the control unit, for each strip coupling in storage a thickness range to the strip, the thickness range including a maximum allowed thickness for a piece of media to be placed in the strip on the flatbed surface and a minimum allowed th

Abstract: An electronic beacon is used in a print system connected to an at least partially wireless network system. The electronic beacon is linkable to the print job via the network system, placeable on top of, attachable to or insertable in a physical intermediate product or a physical end product resulting from the print job. The electronic beacon includes a switch for activating and deactivating the electronic beacon, a memory for storing a link to the print job, and a signaling device for giving an electronic signal when the print job linked to the electronic beacon is selected on a mobile device connected to the network system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a guide device for guiding print medium onto a take-up roll in a printing system. The guide device comprises a first guide member presenting a substantially planar surface for limiting or preventing lateral deviation of a printed medium output from the printing system as the medium moves along a transport path towards a take-up roll for winding or taking up a length of the medium. The first guide member is stationary in use. A position of the first guide member is adjustable in a direction transverse to the transport path for setting the position to limit or prevent lateral deviation of the medium along the transport path. The guide device further comprises a second guide member presenting a support surface configured and arranged to support the medium thereon as the medium travels along the transport path towards the take-up roll. The first guide member and the second guide member are preferably integrally formed as a guide unit.