ADJUSTING POSITIONS OF IMAGES

• US 20200133168A1
• Filed: 04/13/2017
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HP Indigo B.V. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: HP Indigo B.V. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Velner, Eli, Greenberg, Gilad, Miki, Bar-Navi
• Granted Patent: US 10,990,041 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/1605 using at least one intermediate support G03G15/1625 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/161 with means for handling the intermediate support, e.g. heating, cleaning, coating with a transfer agent
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/237 the image receiving member being in form of a continuous web G03G15/235 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5054 by measuring the characteristics of an intermediate image carrying member or the characteristics of an image on an intermediate image carrying member, e.g. intermediate transfer belt or drum, conveyor belt
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/5062 by measuring the characteristics of an image on the copy material
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/652 Feeding a copy material originating from a continuous web roll
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 21/14 Electronic sequencing control
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00223 Continuous web, i.e. roll
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00455 Continuous web, i.e. roll
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0089 Shifting jobs
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/0429 Changing or enhancing the image

Abstract

According to some examples, a method comprises successively transferring a series of images from an imaging surface to an intermediate transfer member, ITM, then from the ITM to positions on a web substrate. The method may comprise intermittently adjusting a position at which particular images are transferred to the ITM by a first defined distance laterally across the ITM and by a second defined distance longitudinally with respect to the ITM. The method may comprise adjusting a position at which the particular images are transferred to the web substrate by approximately the first defined distance laterally relative to the ITM and by approximately the second defined distance longitudinally relative to the ITM. The method may comprise, after a first defined number of intermittent position adjustments, changing a direction in which the position is adjusted. A print apparatus and a machine-readable medium are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

successively transferring a series of images from an imaging surface to an intermediate transfer member, ITM, then from the ITM to positions on a web substrate;

intermittently adjusting a position at which particular images are transferred to the ITM by a first defined distance laterally across the ITM and by a second defined distance longitudinally with respect to the ITM; and

adjusting a position at which the particular images are transferred to the web substrate by approximately the first defined distance laterally relative to the ITM and by approximately the second defined distance longitudinally relative to the ITM;

after a first defined number of intermittent position adjustments, changing a direction in which the position is adjusted.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein adjusting the positions at which the particular images are transferred to the ITM and to the web substrate comprises moving the positions along a path.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the path comprises a closed shape.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the path comprises a rhombus shape.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the first defined distance and/or the second defined distance comprises a distance of between 10 micrometres and 100 micrometres.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein a repetition rate of the intermittent position adjustments, the first defined distance and/or the second defined distance is based on the nature and the number of images in the series of images.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein intermittently adjusting a position comprises periodically adjusting a position of an image at a repetition rate of between one image in every five images and one image in every twenty images.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein a first image of the series of images is transferred to the ITM in a first position;

and

wherein, an image to be transferred after a second defined number of position adjustments, is transferred to the ITM in the first position.

9. A print apparatus, comprising:

an image plate to receive images to be printed;

an intermediate transfer member, ITM, to receive images from the image plate;

a web guide to guide a printable substrate to the ITM such that images can be transferred from the ITM onto the printable substrate; and

processing circuitry to;

intermittently modify a position at which particular images are transferred onto the ITM by a first defined distance laterally across the ITM and by a second defined distance longitudinally with respect to the ITM;

modify a position at which the particular images are transferred onto the printable substrate by approximately the first defined distance laterally relative to the ITM and by approximately the second defined distance longitudinally relative to the ITM; and

after a defined number of intermittent position modifications, change a direction in which the position is modified.

10. A print apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the processing circuitry is to intermittently modify the position at which the particular images are transferred onto the ITM by modifying a position at which the particular images are transferred onto the image plate.

11. A print apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the processing circuitry is to modify the lateral position at which the particular images are transferred onto the printable substrate by operating the web guide to adjust the lateral position of the printable substrate by the second defined distance.

12. A print apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the processing circuitry is to modify the longitudinal position at which the particular images are transferred onto the ITM by adjusting a repeat length associated with the particular images.

13. A print apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the processing circuitry is to modify the longitudinal position at which the particular images are transferred onto the printable substrate by modifying an image repeat length.

14. A machine-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

intermittently adjust a position at which particular images of a series of images are transferred to an intermediate transfer member, ITM, from an imaging surface, the position adjustment comprising a displacement by a first defined distance laterally across the ITM and a displacement by a second defined distance longitudinally with respect to the ITM;

adjust a position at which the particular images are transferred to a web substrate from the ITM, the position adjustment comprising a displacement by approximately the first defined distance on the web substrate laterally relative to the ITM and a displacement by approximately the second defined distance on the web substrate longitudinally relative to the ITM; and

after a defined number of intermittent position adjustments, change a direction in which the position is adjusted.

15. A machine-readable medium according to claim 14, comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

determine the defined number of intermittent position adjustments, the repeat rate of the position adjustment, the first defined distance and/or the second defined distance based on image data describing the series of images.