阅读说明：本技术 打印制剂转印组件 (Printing formulation transfer assembly ) 是由 彼得·涅杰林 沙伊·利奥尔 马克·桑德勒 于 2017-04-10 设计创作，主要内容包括：打印制剂转印组件(200)包括用于接收打印制剂的第一层和打印制剂的第二层的打印制剂转印元件(202),以及以第一预先确定的强度水平向第一层提供能量并且以不同的第二预先确定的强度水平向第二层提供能量的能量源(208)。(A print formulation transfer assembly (200) includes a print formulation transfer element (202) for receiving a first layer of a print formulation and a second layer of the print formulation, and an energy source (208) that provides energy to the first layer at a first predetermined intensity level and to the second layer at a different second predetermined intensity level.)

1. A print formulation transfer assembly comprising:

a print formulation transfer element for receiving a first layer of print formulation and a second layer of print formulation; and

an energy source for providing energy to the first layer at a first predetermined intensity level and to the second layer at a second, different predetermined intensity level.

2. The printing formulation transfer assembly of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined intensity level is predetermined based on at least one of:

a type of print formulation in the first layer of print formulation;

a number of additional layers on the first layer of print formulation to be received at the print formulation transfer element; and

printing a thickness of the first layer of formulation.

3. The printing formulation transfer assembly of claim 1, wherein the energy source comprises at least one of a plurality of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) and a plurality of Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs).

4. The printing formulation transfer assembly of claim 1, wherein the printing formulation transfer element is to transfer the first layer of printing formulation to a substrate prior to receiving the second layer of printing formulation.

5. The printing formulation transfer assembly of claim 1, wherein the printing formulation transfer element is to receive the first layer of printing formulation and the second layer of printing formulation prior to the first layer of printing formulation and the second layer of printing formulation being simultaneously transferred to a substrate.

6. The printing formulation transfer assembly of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined intensity level is lower than the second predetermined intensity level.

7. The printing formulation transfer assembly of claim 6, wherein the first predetermined intensity level is zero.

8. A method, comprising:

determining, layer by layer, a level of heat flow to be supplied to a layer of printing formulation;

receiving the print formulation layer on a transfer element; and is

Supplying the determined level of heat flow to the print formulation layer on the transfer element.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein determining the level of heat flow comprises determining the level based on one of:

a type of print formulation in the print formulation layer;

a number of additional print formulation layers on the print formulation layer to be received at the transfer element; and

thickness of the print formulation layer.

10. The method of claim 8, comprising:

transferring the printing formulation layer to a medium; and

receiving an additional layer of print formulation on the transfer member.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising:

determining a further level of heat flow to be supplied to the further layer of print formulation; and

supplying the determined additional level of heat flow to the additional layer of print formulation on the transfer element.

12. The method of claim 8, comprising:

receiving an additional layer of printing formulation on the transfer element above the layer of printing formulation;

determining a further level of heat flow to be supplied to the further layer of print formulation;

supplying the determined additional level of heat flow to the additional layer of print formulation on the transfer element; and is

Simultaneously transferring the layer and the additional layer to a medium.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the level of heat flow is lower than the additional level of heat flow.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the level of heat flow is zero and the additional level of heat flow is non-zero.

15. A printing apparatus comprising:

a first roller for forming a printing formulation layer;

a second roller for receiving the print formulation layer from the first roller;

a heater for heating the print formulation layer on the second roller; and

a controller for controlling the heater to a predetermined output level based on layer characteristics.

Background

Printing systems, such as Liquid Electrophotographic (LEP) printers, may use liquid toner or the like to form an image on a photoconductive element. The images may be transferred to an intermediate element where they dry. The image may then be transferred to a medium.

Drawings

For a more complete understanding, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a print formulation transfer assembly;

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a print formulation transfer assembly;

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of an example of a method of transferring a print formulation layer; and

fig. 4 shows an example of a printing apparatus.

Detailed Description

Printing systems, such as Liquid Electrophotographic (LEP) printers, include a transfer element that receives an image from an image forming element. An image can be formed on an image forming element using a liquid toner (hereinafter referred to as a printing formulation). The image, also referred to as a print formulation layer, is transferred to a transfer member where the image is at least partially dried using a heat source. The print formulation layer may then be transferred to a substrate. The image formed on the substrate may include a multi-layer printing formulation that may be liquid when applied. In some examples, multiple layers may be transferred onto a transfer element prior to being simultaneously applied to a substrate. In other examples, the layers may be transferred one-by-one onto a transfer element and then onto a substrate such that there is one layer at a time on the transfer element.

Fig. 1 illustrates an example of a print formulation transfer assembly 100, the print formulation transfer assembly 100 including a print formulation transfer element 102 for receiving a first layer of print formulation and a second layer of print formulation. In some examples, a first layer of a print formulation and a second layer of the print formulation are received from an image forming element. The printing formulation transfer assembly 100 also includes an energy source 104 to provide energy to the first layer at a first predetermined intensity level and to provide energy to the second layer at a second, different predetermined intensity level. This provides a drying aid for the first and second layers. In some examples, the energy source 104 is to provide energy after receiving each layer such that, for example, the energy source 104 is to provide energy at a first predetermined intensity level after receiving a first layer and at a second predetermined intensity level after receiving a second layer. In some examples, there may be a controller, or the like, to control the energy output by the energy source.

In some examples, a second layer is received on the first layer on transfer element 102. In some examples, the first layer is transferred from the transfer element 102 to, for example, a substrate before the transfer element 102 receives the second layer.

The energy source 104 may, for example, provide energy to softened toner or resin particles within the printing formulation to cause such particles to coalesce into a layer to volatilize a portion of the liquid content of the printing formulation and/or to "tack" the remaining printing formulation layer so it adheres to the substrate. By providing energy to different layers at different predetermined intensity levels, the printing formulation transfer assembly 100 can provide a particular level of energy appropriate for each layer. In some examples, the intensity level provided to a layer may be based at least in part on the type of print formulation used for that layer. For example, a print formulation with a darker pigment may absorb energy at a higher rate than a print formulation with a lighter pigment, and thus the intensity level to be provided to the print formulation layer may be lower for a print formulation with a darker pigment. The method of fig. 1 can thus avoid a compromise between overheating of the darker layers and under-heating of the lighter color layers. Excessive and/or insufficient heating may in turn affect the print formulation adhesion of the substrate, print quality, and/or the selection of available substrates, among others.

In some examples, the intensity level to be provided to the print formulation layer may be determined based at least in part on the number of additional layers on the layer to be received on the transfer element. For example, where the transfer element receives a first layer and a second layer is received on top of the first layer at the transfer element, the energy level provided to the first layer may be lower than the energy level provided to the second layer. The first layer may absorb some of the energy and thus continue to dry while energy is applied to the second layer at the second intensity level. By taking into account the absorption of energy when applying subsequent layers, the total energy consumption may be reduced and/or "overdrying" of earlier layers may be prevented or reduced. In some examples, the first intensity level provided by the energy source 104 to the first layer may be zero. Thus, for example, the first layer does not receive energy from the energy source 104 before the second layer is received by the transfer element over the first layer. The first layer may then absorb some of the energy while the energy is applied to the second layer at a second intensity level. In some examples, the level of intensity provided to the second layer may also be determined based on the number of additional layers to be received by the transfer element on the second layer. This may avoid a compromise between underfilling the heating of later layers (e.g., the final layer) and overheating the earlier layers (e.g., the first layer).

In some examples, the intensity level provided to the print formulation layer may be determined based at least in part on a thickness of the print formulation layer. For example, a higher strength level may be selected for a thicker layer than for a thinner layer. This can thus avoid a compromise between overheating of the thinner layer and underfilling of the heating of the thicker layer.

Fig. 2 illustrates an example of a print formulation transfer assembly 200. The assembly 200 includes a print formulation transfer element 202, which print formulation transfer element 202 may be referred to as an intermediate transfer element (ITM) in some examples. The first layer of marking agent and the second layer of printing formulation are received by the printing formulation transfer member 202 by being deposited on the exterior surface 204 of the transfer member 202 from a device (not shown) that forms each layer of printing formulation.

Print formulation transfer assembly 200 includes a media drum 206 for receiving media while a layer of print formulation is transferred from transfer member 202 to the media. For example, the media may contact a layer of print formulation on surface 204 and thereby transfer the layer to the media.

In some examples, the second layer of print formulation is received on top of the first layer on surface 204 prior to simultaneously transferring the first and second layers to media on media drum 206. In some examples, the first layer is transferred from surface 204 to the medium before the second layer is received on surface 204.

In some examples, the second layer of the print formulation may include the same print formulation (such as, for example, the same color) as the first layer. In some examples, additional layers of print formulation may be received on the print formulation transfer assembly. In some examples, up to seven layers may thus be received. For example, a third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh layer may be received. In some examples, more than seven layers may be received.

Printing formulation transfer assembly 200 also includes an energy source 208 to provide energy to the printing formulation layer on surface 204. In some examples, energy source 208 may include an energy source that may rapidly change its output level as compared to the time between transfers of different layers to transfer element 202. For example, the time between the start of transfer of the stack of layers may be on the order of approximately several hundred milliseconds in some examples (e.g., 100-300ms, and in some examples, approximately 215ms), and the time between the end of transfer of a single layer to transfer element 202 and the start of transfer of the next layer to transfer element may be on the order of tens of milliseconds (e.g., 10-50ms, and in some examples, approximately 35 ms). In some examples, energy source 208 may be selected based on the time that energy source 208 may increase or decrease its output in the time between the end of the transfer of one layer to transfer element 202 and the beginning of the transfer of the next layer to the transfer element. For example, the energy source 208 may be capable of increasing or decreasing its output energy in less than 35 ms.

In this example, the energy source 208 includes an array 210 of Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Lasers (VCSELs), the array 210 extending across the width of the layer of printing formulation on the surface 204 and controlled to provide energy to the layer on the surface at a predetermined level of intensity. In some examples, the array 210 of VCSELs can switch from one level of energy output intensity to another in about, or less than, one millisecond. Thus, each layer of printing formulation on the surface 204 may receive a respective predetermined level of energy intensity from the array 210 of VCSELs. In some examples, the energy source may include alternative technologies, such as an array of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) to provide energy to the print formulation layer. The LEDs may also be associated with fast output control, such as switching from one level of energy output intensity to another in about, or less than, one millisecond.

In some examples, other sources of heating may also be present, such as internal heating like transfer element 202. In some examples, the heat supplied by transfer element 202 may be taken into account in determining the energy to be provided to the layer.

The energy source 208 also includes an air source 212 and an exhaust 214 for directing an air flow over the layer of printing formulation on the surface 204. The air source 212 may be controlled to provide some additional control over the heating of the layer and/or may take into account the air flow rate in determining the energy to be provided to the layer.

By providing energy to different layers at different predetermined intensity levels, the printing formulation transfer assembly 200 can provide a certain level of energy appropriate for each layer. As noted above, the intensity level provided to a layer may be based on the type of printing formulation used for that layer, the number of additional layers to be received on the layer on the surface 204, and/or the thickness of the printing formulation layer.

Fig. 3 is an example of a method 300, which may be a method of transferring a print formulation layer. The method 300 includes determining a level of heat flow to be supplied to a layer of printing formulation layer by layer in block 302. In some examples, the level of heat flow for the print formulation layer may be determined based on at least one of a type of print formulation in the print formulation layer, a number of additional layers on the print formulation layer to be received on the transfer element, and a thickness of the print formulation layer.

The method also includes receiving a print formulation layer on the transfer element in block 304. The method includes supplying the determined level of heat flow to a print formulation layer on a transfer element in block 306.

Fig. 4 illustrates an example of a method 400, which may be a method of transferring a print formulation layer, and which may follow the method of fig. 3. The method 400 includes transferring a layer of a print formulation to a medium in block 402 and receiving an additional layer of the print formulation on a transfer element in block 404. Thus, for example, each layer of print formulation may be individually received at a transfer element, disposed of with a heat flow, and transferred to a medium. The method 400 may additionally include determining an additional level of heat flow to be supplied to the additional print formulation layer in block 406, and supplying the determined additional level of heat flow to the additional print formulation layer on the transfer element in block 408.

Fig. 5 illustrates an example of a method 500, which may be a method of transferring a print formulation layer, and which may follow the method of fig. 3. The method 500 includes receiving an additional layer of printing formulation over the layer of printing formulation on the transfer element in block 502, and determining an additional level of heat flow to be supplied to the additional layer of printing formulation in block 504. The method 500 further includes supplying the determined additional level of heat flow to an additional layer of print formulation on the transfer element in block 506, and simultaneously transferring the layer and the additional layer to the media in block 508. Thus, for example, multiple layers are assembled on a transfer member before the layers are simultaneously transferred to a medium.

Fig. 6 illustrates an example of a printing apparatus 600. The printing apparatus 600 includes a first roller 602 to form a print formulation layer. The second roller 604 receives the print formulation layer from the first roller 602. The heater 606 heats the print formulation layer on the second roller. The controller 608 controls the heater to a predetermined output level based on the at least one layer characteristic. In some examples, the layer characteristic may be a position of a layer in a stack of layers that is deposited on the transfer roller 604 before being transferred to the web. In some examples, the layer characteristic may be a heat absorption property of the layer, such as, for example, one of layer thickness, layer brightness, and layer color.

The present disclosure is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus, and systems according to examples of the disclosure. Although the flow diagrams depicted above show a particular order of execution, the order of execution may differ from that depicted. Blocks described with respect to one flowchart may be combined with those of another flowchart. It will be understood that each flow and/or block of the flow diagrams and/or block diagrams, and combinations of flows and/or blocks in the flow diagrams and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by machine readable instructions.

The machine-readable instructions may be executed by, for example, a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to implement the functions described in the specification and figures. In particular, a processor or processing device may execute machine-readable instructions. Accordingly, the functional blocks of the apparatus and device may be implemented by a processor executing machine-readable instructions stored in a memory or a processor operating according to instructions embedded in logic circuits. The term "processor" is to be broadly interpreted to include a CPU, processing unit, ASIC, logic unit, or programmable gate array, etc. The methods and functional modules may all be performed by a single processor or divided among several processors.

Such machine-readable instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular mode.

Such machine-readable instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause the computer or other programmable apparatus to perform a series of operations to produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus implement the functions specified in the flowchart block(s) and/or block diagram block(s).

Furthermore, the teachings herein may be implemented in the form of a computer software product that is stored in a storage medium and that includes a plurality of instructions that cause a computer device to implement the methods recited in the examples of the present disclosure.

Although the methods, apparatus and related aspects have been described with reference to certain examples, various modifications, changes, omissions, and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. It is therefore intended that the methods, apparatus and related aspects be limited by the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. It should be noted that the above-mentioned examples illustrate rather than limit the disclosure described herein, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. Features described with respect to one example may be combined with features of another example.

The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements other than those listed in a claim, "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality, and a single processor or other processing resource may fulfill the functions of several units recited in the claims.

Features of any dependent claim may be combined with features of any independent claim or other dependent claims.