Adjustable gloss level for printing
First Claim
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1. A method of printing a printable feature onto a substrate, the method comprising:
- receiving the substrate at a printing device, the printing device comprising a printhead assembly, a first curing device, and a second curing device, the first and second curing devices being on opposing sides of the printhead assembly;
initiating a print job;
receiving a first gloss level information at the printing device, the first gloss level information indicating a first target gloss level for a first predetermined surface portion of the printable feature;
calculating a first separation distance between the printhead assembly and the first curing device based on the first target gloss level for the printable feature;
calculating a second separation distance between the printhead assembly and the second curing device based on the first target gloss level for the printable feature;
adjusting a first spacing between the printhead assembly and the first curing device so that the printhead assembly is spaced from the curing device by the first separation distance;
adjusting a second spacing between the printhead assembly and the second curing device so that the printhead assembly is spaced from the second curing device by the second separation distance;
moving the printhead assembly, the first curing device, and the second curing device along an upper surface of a base;
printing a print material onto the substrate using the printhead assembly and curing the print material using the first and second curing devices so that the print material forms the first predetermined surface portion of the printable feature having the first target gloss level;
receiving a second gloss level information at the printing device, the second gloss level information indicating a second target gloss level for a second predetermined surface portion of the printable feature;
automatically adjusting the first and second spacing dynamically during the print job, while the printhead assembly and the first and second curing devices are in motion, based on the second target gloss level; and
printing the print material onto the substrate using the printhead assembly and curing the print material using the first and second curing devices so that the print material forms the second predetermined surface portion of the printable feature having the second target gloss level.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus of providing varying gloss levels for a printed surface of a two-dimensional or three-dimensional printed structure is disclosed. The method includes dynamically adjusting the spacing between a printhead assembly and a curing device according to a target gloss level for the resulting printed structure.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method of printing a printable feature onto a substrate, the method comprising:
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receiving the substrate at a printing device, the printing device comprising a printhead assembly, a first curing device, and a second curing device, the first and second curing devices being on opposing sides of the printhead assembly; initiating a print job; receiving a first gloss level information at the printing device, the first gloss level information indicating a first target gloss level for a first predetermined surface portion of the printable feature; calculating a first separation distance between the printhead assembly and the first curing device based on the first target gloss level for the printable feature; calculating a second separation distance between the printhead assembly and the second curing device based on the first target gloss level for the printable feature; adjusting a first spacing between the printhead assembly and the first curing device so that the printhead assembly is spaced from the curing device by the first separation distance; adjusting a second spacing between the printhead assembly and the second curing device so that the printhead assembly is spaced from the second curing device by the second separation distance; moving the printhead assembly, the first curing device, and the second curing device along an upper surface of a base; printing a print material onto the substrate using the printhead assembly and curing the print material using the first and second curing devices so that the print material forms the first predetermined surface portion of the printable feature having the first target gloss level; receiving a second gloss level information at the printing device, the second gloss level information indicating a second target gloss level for a second predetermined surface portion of the printable feature; automatically adjusting the first and second spacing dynamically during the print job, while the printhead assembly and the first and second curing devices are in motion, based on the second target gloss level; and printing the print material onto the substrate using the printhead assembly and curing the print material using the first and second curing devices so that the print material forms the second predetermined surface portion of the printable feature having the second target gloss level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification