阅读说明：本技术 调整基材的张力 (Adjusting the tension of the substrate ) 是由 I·邦霍奇罗马 J·M·贝尔卡拉维亚 A·维内茨阿龙索 于 2018-12-10 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种示例性方法包括操作驱动单元以使基材沿基材前进方向朝向打印站前进。在该打印站处,第一线被打印到基材上。驱动单元被指示使该基材沿该基材前进方向前进目标量,并且第二线被打印到该基材上。计算在垂直于该基材前进方向的方向上该第一线与第二线之间的距离,并且基于计算出的差来修改该基材的张力。(An exemplary method includes operating a drive unit to advance a substrate in a substrate advance direction toward a print station. At the print station, a first line is printed onto a substrate. The drive unit is instructed to advance the substrate a target amount in the substrate advance direction, and a second line is printed onto the substrate. The distance between the first and second lines in a direction perpendicular to the direction of advancement of the substrate is calculated, and the tension of the substrate is modified based on the calculated difference.)

1. A method, comprising:

operating the drive unit to advance the substrate in a substrate advance direction toward the print station;

printing a first line and a second line onto the substrate at the printing station;

instructing the drive unit to advance the substrate by a target amount in the substrate advance direction;

calculating a distance between the first line and the second line in a direction perpendicular to the substrate advancement direction; and

modifying the tension of the base material based on a difference between the target amount and the calculated difference.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second strands are at an angle of about 45 degrees to the substrate advancement direction.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

printing a first line pattern onto the substrate; and

printing a second pattern of lines onto the substrate,

wherein the first pattern of lines comprises the first lines and the second pattern of lines comprises the second lines, and wherein the pattern of each line comprises a plurality of lines printed along the substrate in a direction perpendicular to the substrate advancement direction;

the method further comprises the following steps:

calculating a distance between lines in the first line pattern and lines in the second line pattern in a direction perpendicular to the substrate advancement direction.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

averaging distances between lines in the first and second line patterns; and

modifying the tension of the base material based on an average difference between the target amount and the calculated difference.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein each of the first and second line patterns is printed in a single pass of a print carriage.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein modifying the tension of the substrate comprises comparing the calculated difference to a first threshold and a second threshold, the second threshold being greater than the first threshold, and adjusting the tension of the substrate when the calculated difference is less than the first threshold or greater than the second threshold.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the substrate has a first substrate tension in a region of the substrate before the printing station and a second substrate tension in a region of the substrate after the printing station, and wherein modifying the tension of the substrate comprises comparing the calculated difference to a first threshold and a second threshold, the second threshold being greater than the first threshold, the method comprising:

adjusting a first tension of the substrate when the calculated difference is less than the first threshold, or adjusting a second tension of the substrate when the calculated difference is greater than the second threshold.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the drive unit is calibrated.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

a driving unit that advances the base material by an amount corresponding to the target distance;

a printing unit that prints a mark on the base material;

a tension adjusting device for adjusting the tension of the base material;

a sensor that determines a distance between two marks printed on the substrate;

an analysis module that compares the distance between two marks printed on the substrate to the target distance and, based on the comparison, signals the tension adjustment device to adjust the tension of the substrate.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the drive unit is proximate to the print unit, and wherein the sensor is located on the print unit.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the tensioning device comprises:

an input tension adjusting device that adjusts a tension of the base material in an area of the base material that is before the printing unit;

an output tension adjusting device that adjusts a tension of the base material in a region of the base material that is behind the printing unit.

12. A method, comprising:

printing a first mark on a print medium;

instructing a printing medium driving mechanism to drive the printing medium by a predetermined distance;

driving the printing medium;

printing a second mark on the print medium;

determining, by a sensor, a distance between the first marker and the second marker;

calculating a distance error, which is a difference between the predetermined distance and the distance between the first mark and the second mark;

comparing the distance error to a first value; and if the distance error is less than the first value, adjusting the tension of the printing medium, and otherwise, comparing the distance error to a second value, the second value being greater than the first value, and if the distance error is greater than the second value, adjusting the tension of the printing medium.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the print medium includes an input tension and an output tension, the input tension being a tension of the print medium in a region of the print medium before the print medium driving unit, the output tension being a tension of the print medium in a region of the print medium after the print medium driving unit, and wherein if the distance error is less than the first value, the method further comprises:

comparing the input tension to a minimum input tension value and decreasing the input tension if the input tension is greater than the minimum input tension value and increasing the output tension otherwise.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the print medium includes an input tension and an output tension, the input tension being a tension of the print medium in a region of the print medium before the print medium driving unit, the output tension being a tension of the print medium in a region of the print medium after the print medium driving unit, and wherein if the distance error is greater than the second value, the method further comprises:

comparing the output tension to a minimum output tension value and decreasing the output tension if the output tension is greater than the minimum output tension value and increasing the input tension otherwise.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein if the distance error is greater than the first value and less than the second value, the method further comprises:

calibrating the print media drive mechanism.

Background

Some printing systems have mechanisms for adjusting the tension of the substrate to be printed on.

Drawings

Examples will now be described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a flow chart of an exemplary method;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are simplified schematic diagrams of exemplary substrates;

FIG. 3A is a flow chart of one example of a method;

FIGS. 3B and 3C are flow diagrams of exemplary methods;

FIG. 4 is a simplified schematic diagram of an exemplary apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a simplified schematic diagram of an exemplary apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of an exemplary method; and

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of an exemplary method.

Detailed Description

In a printing operation, a printing fluid (e.g., ink) may be deposited onto a substrate to print an image onto the substrate. Managing the tension of the substrate can provide more accurate transfer of printing fluid and better image quality. For example, certain printing systems are capable of holding paper, plastic, and fabric substrates, and each substrate may be susceptible to different behavior under the pressures to which they are subjected as they advance through the printing system. Certain exemplary printing systems herein are capable of accommodating various types of substrates.

Some substrates (e.g., fabric substrates) exhibit low stiffness under compression, which may cause deformation (e.g., wrinkles). These can also be caused by variability in elasticity between different types of substrates and the difficulty of certain substrates (e.g., fabrics) to be sensed by optical sensors. For example, a fabric substrate (e.g., a woven or knitted substrate) may have a regular structure that may be difficult to track by algorithms of certain sensors. The textile substrate may also exhibit different levels of elasticity depending on the composition of the substrate, and print quality may be highly sensitive to variations in the control settings of the printing system. Such systems may have manual adjustment mechanisms to change the substrate tension, and highly skilled users may fine-tune the system to a target tension, or they may use a printing mode with a large number of passes, which may reduce the throughput of the overall system.

Some examples herein relate to a printing system in which a drive unit advances a substrate under a print carriage. In these exemplary systems, the drive unit advances the substrate from the input roller (or unwind roller) toward the output roller (or rewind roller) and through the printing station therebetween. Thus, the substrate may have first and second tensions or an input and output tension, the input tension being the substrate tension between the input roller and the drive roller, and the output tension being the substrate tension between the drive roller and the output roller. The output roller may function to apply sufficient tension to cause the substrate to properly advance outwardly from the printing station, particularly for substrates that exhibit low stiffness under compression.

If the input tension is greater than the output tension, wrinkles may appear in the substrate, which, if uncorrected, may adversely affect print quality. These situations may occur, for example, when the substrate passes through a nip formed by a small free roller that presses the substrate to a drive roller. For example, a "nip" roller may be spring biased to press the substrate against the drive roller because the substrate may slip without the force and traction provided by the nip as the drive roller rotates to advance the substrate. In some examples, the nip rollers may be arranged along the width of the drive roller and thus along the width of the substrate. When passing through the "nip," the substrate may exhibit a different tension in each zone, for example, when passing from the input side of the drive roller to the output side of the drive roller. For example, if the input tension is greater than the output tension, the substrate may not be sufficiently "pulled" toward the output roller and, thus, may wrinkle as it exits the printing station. If the output tension is greater than the input tension, the substrate may be sufficiently "pulled" toward the output roll so that any wrinkles in the substrate are effectively pulled from the substrate. Thus, in some examples, an output tension greater than the input tension may reduce the presence of wrinkles in the substrate.

On the other hand, if the output tension is too high, this may cause a running error, which may result in horizontal swaths (banding), for example, swaths in a direction perpendicular to the direction of substrate travel (which is also referred to as the "cross-swath" direction), because the increased output tension may cause the print area to contract in the cross-swath direction and expand in the direction of travel. An advancement error in the drive unit that advances the substrate may also cause horizontal banding when there is an excessive difference between the intended and actual substrate advancement, or when the expansion and stretching in the direction of advancement causes the ink drops to be misaligned during the passage of the print carriage.

Some examples herein involve printing indicia, which may include lines, onto a substrate and then advancing the substrate a "desired" distance. For example, the substrate may be programmed to advance 1 inch, but due to an advancement error or wrinkle, as described above, this may be caused by an incorrect ratio between input and output tension, and thus the substrate may not actually advance the programmed amount. Some examples herein involve printing a second mark on the substrate once the substrate has advanced, thereby measuring the actual distance between the marks, and then comparing it to an "expected" distance, i.e., the distance the substrate is programmed to advance. If these are equal, there is no advance error, and the substrate has moved exactly the amount it was programmed to move. On the other hand, if there is a spacing between the marks that is greater than the distance the substrate is programmed to advance, there is a so-called "over-advance" (the distance between the actual advance and the programmed advance is positive), and if there is a spacing between the marks that is less than the distance the substrate is programmed to advance, there is a so-called "under-advance" (the distance between the actual advance and the programmed advance is negative). Over-advancement may indicate an output tension higher than the input tension (which may be a desired tension ratio, or an output tension that is too high, which may cause an advancement error and horizontal banding), while under-advancement may indicate an input tension higher than the output tension (which may indicate that a wrinkle may occur if not corrected, and vertical banding due to the wrinkle).

Since a greater output than input tension may mean that no wrinkles should occur, some examples herein involve comparing the measured difference to a threshold value representing an amount to ensure over-travel (and thus greater output tension). Some examples herein involve adjusting the substrate tension until there is excessive advance, which may ensure that there are no wrinkles, and thus no vertical bands (which may ensure that the substrate is adequately stretched), but not necessarily no horizontal bands (because of increased output tension or advance errors that may be present). Some examples herein involve comparing the measured difference to a second threshold, which may represent a maximum acceptable over-travel, and adjusting the substrate tension until the difference is below the second threshold. Some examples involve adjusting the substrate tension until the difference is below the second threshold, which may ensure that the substrate tension is within a range where the printing system (e.g., drive roller) may be calibrated to remove tape due to over-advancement. Thus, some examples herein involve adjusting the tension until the difference is above one threshold and below the other, so as to be within the target range. Differences within this target range can be expressed as the following substrates, namely: the substrate is under tension to calibrate the printing system so that it can compensate. Accordingly, some examples herein relate to calibrating a printing system when the difference is within a target range in order to correct for a forward error in the printing system.

Some examples herein relate to adjusting one of input/output tensions. If the measured difference is below the first threshold (indicating insufficient forward progress), some examples herein attempt to correct this condition by reducing the input tension or increasing the output tension. Some examples reduce the input tension if the input tension is above a minimum value, and otherwise increase the output tension. If the measured difference exceeds a second threshold (indicating unacceptable over-travel), some examples herein attempt to correct this condition by reducing the output tension or increasing the input tension. Some examples reduce the output tension if the output tension is above a minimum value, and otherwise increase the input tension.

As will be explained below, these types of adjustments may be performed sequentially so that the measured difference is within the target range. When it is within the target range, the printing system (e.g. its drive unit) may be calibrated, since the tension adjustment may cause a forward error, so once the tension value is set to the target level, these may be corrected.

Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary method 100. The method 100 may be a method of adjusting the tension of a substrate, for example, a method of adjusting the tension of a substrate in a printing system. Method 100 may be a method of calibrating a printing system.

The method 100 includes, at block 102, operating a drive unit to advance the substrate in a substrate advance direction toward a print station. Block 102 may include operating a drive unit to unwind the substrate from a substrate unwind or an input roll. Accordingly, block 102 may include operating a drive unit to advance the substrate from the unwind roller toward the printing station.

The method 100 includes printing a first line onto a substrate at a printing station at block 104. The first line may be printed in a single pass of a printhead carriage of the printing station. The first line may be printed at an angle to the direction of substrate advance, for example the first line may be printed at an angle of 45 degrees to the direction of substrate advance.

The method 100 includes, at block 106, instructing the drive unit to advance the substrate by a target amount in a substrate advance direction. Thus, at block 106, the method 100 includes advancing the substrate by an amount corresponding to the target amount or the programmed amount. Thus, block 106 includes advancing the substrate by an amount that should equal the target (or programmed or indicated) amount in the absence of substrate deformation or advancement errors. For example, the substrate may be instructed (by an instruction drive unit) to advance 1 inch. However, due to the error, the substrate may actually advance 1 inch ± δ, where δ is the "error," or the difference between the actual amount the substrate has advanced and the amount it is indicated to have advanced. If δ is zero, the substrate has advanced the indicated amount.

The method 100 includes printing a second thread onto the substrate at block 108. Thus, at block 108, the method 100 includes printing a line onto the substrate that is offset from the first line in the substrate advancement direction by the amount the substrate has been advanced. The second line may be printed in a single pass of the print head carriage of the printing station. The second line may be printed at an angle to the direction of substrate advance, for example the second line may be printed at an angle of 45 degrees to the direction of substrate advance. The second line may be parallel to the first line.

The method 100 includes calculating a distance between the first line and the second line in a direction perpendicular to the direction of advancement of the substrate at block 110. The distance calculated in block 110 may be used to calculate the actual distance the substrate is advanced. For example, when both lines are printed at 45 degrees to the substrate advance direction, these distances will be the same. For example, when both lines are at 45 degrees to the substrate advance direction (and thus, to the vertical direction), their spacing in both directions will be equal.

Block 110 may include sensing the distance between lines by a sensor disposed on a printhead carriage of the printing station.

The method 100 includes modifying the tension of the substrate based on the difference between the target amount and the calculated difference at block 112. As will be explained below, block 112 may include modifying the input tension, the output tension, or both tensions of the substrate in order to adjust the tension in the substrate. For example, block 112 may include modifying the input and/or output tension by transmitting a current to an associated tension adjustment device to change the torque on the axis of the unwind or rewind roll of the substrate under the control of the controller.

Fig. 2A shows an exemplary pattern 201 printed onto a substrate 200, for example, by the method 100. A first line 202 is printed onto the substrate 200, the substrate 200 is subsequently advanced in a substrate advance direction 203, after which a second line 204 is printed onto the substrate 200. In this example, each line is printed at 45 degrees to the substrate advancement direction 203. When the drive unit is instructed (e.g., in block 106 of the method 100) to advance the substrate by the target amount, the actual distance the substrate is subsequently advanced will be the distance (or spacing) between the two lines 202, 204, denoted as x in fig. 2A. As explained above, if there is no error (advancement error or otherwise), x may be equal to the amount by which the drive unit is instructed to advance the substrate, whereas otherwise there would be a difference between that amount and the actual advancement distance x. Since these two lines 202, 204 are each at 45 degrees to the substrate advance direction 203, their spacing y in the direction perpendicular to the substrate advance direction (hereinafter referred to as the "cross-web direction") 205 will be equal to their spacing x in the substrate advance direction 203. Since these two lines 202, 204 are also parallel, the distances x and y can be measured at any point along the line.

Fig. 3A depicts an exemplary method 300. The method 300 may be a method of adjusting substrate tension, for example, a method of adjusting substrate tension in a printing system. Method 300 may be a method of calibrating a printing system.

The method 300 includes, at block 302, operating a drive unit to advance a substrate in a substrate advance direction toward a print station. Block 302 may include operating a drive unit to unwind the substrate from a substrate unwind or an input roll. Accordingly, block 302 may include operating a drive unit to advance the substrate from the unwind roller toward the printing station.

The method 300 includes printing a first line pattern onto a substrate at a printing station at block 304. The first line pattern may be a pattern of lines printed along the width of the substrate (or a distance perpendicular to the direction of substrate advancement). The first line pattern may be printed in a single pass of a printhead carriage of the printing station. The first line may be a pattern of lines each printed at an angle to the direction of substrate advancement, for example, each line in the first line pattern may be printed at an angle of 45 degrees to the direction of substrate advancement.

The method 300 includes, at block 306, instructing the drive unit to advance the substrate by a target amount in a substrate advance direction.

The method 300 includes printing a second line pattern onto the substrate at the printing station at block 308. The second line pattern may be a pattern of lines printed along the width of the substrate (or a distance perpendicular to the direction of substrate advancement). The second line pattern may be printed in a single pass of a printhead carriage of the printing station. The second line may be a pattern of lines each printed at an angle to the direction of substrate advancement, for example, each line in the second line pattern may be printed at an angle of 45 degrees to the direction of substrate advancement. Thus, the first and second line patterns may be parallel.

Although the two-line pattern is described in the example of fig. 3A, each line pattern may include a single line. In this regard, in one example, blocks 304 and 308 of method 300 may each include printing a single line.

The method 300 includes, at block 310, calculating an average distance between lines in the first and second line patterns. For example (and as will be described later with reference to fig. 2B), block 310 may include calculating a distance between a first line in the first line pattern and a first line in the second line pattern, a distance between a second line in the first line pattern and a second line in the second line pattern, and so on. These calculated distances may then be averaged at block 310 to obtain the average distance. Thus, block 310 may be used to mitigate particularly large distortions of the substrate in one isolated region (causing large differences between the expected and actual advance amounts) by averaging (e.g., averaging across the width of the substrate).

Although an average distance is depicted in this example, in another example, method 300 may print a single first line and a single second line, in which case the distance at block 310 may not be the average distance, but rather the distance between the first line and the second line.

The method 300 then proceeds to block 311, where the difference δ between the average distance and the target amount is calculated.

The method 300 then proceeds to block 312 where the difference δ is compared to a first threshold T1. If at block 314, the difference δ is less than the first threshold, the method proceeds to block 316, where the first tension is adjusted. The first tension adjusted at block 316 may be the tension of the substrate in the area of the substrate prior to the printing station. Thus, the first tension may be an "input tension". In one example, block 316 includes reducing the first tension.

Once the input tension is adjusted at block 316, the method 300 proceeds to block 302 (block 304 in one example) and block 302 and 312 of the method 300 are repeated as indicated by the loop arrow. Thus, in this example, the input tension is adjusted until the difference is greater than the first threshold.

If it is determined at block 314 that the difference δ is not less than the first threshold, the method 300 proceeds to block 318, where the difference δ is compared to a second threshold T2. The second threshold is greater than the first threshold. If the difference δ is greater than the first threshold at block 320, the method proceeds to block 322, where the second tension is adjusted. The second tension adjusted at block 322 may be the tension of the substrate in the area of the substrate after the print station. Thus, the second tension may be an "output tension". In one example, block 322 includes reducing the second tension.

Once the output tension is adjusted at block 322, the method 300 proceeds to block 302 (block 304 in one example) and block 302 and 318 of the method 300 are repeated as indicated by the loop arrow. Thus, in this example, the output tension is adjusted until the difference is greater than the first threshold.

Thus, in this example, both the input and output tensions are adjusted until the difference δ is greater than the first threshold and less than the second threshold. Thus, in this example, the input and output tensions are adjusted until the difference δ is within a target range, which is defined by the first threshold and the second threshold.

If it is determined at block 320 that the difference δ is not less than the first threshold, the method 300 proceeds to block 324, at which block 324 the drive unit is calibrated. For example, at block 320, the drive unit may be calibrated such that the actual distance the substrate is advanced is equal (or within a tolerance) to the indicated or programmed advance distance.

For example, the drive unit may indicate the substrate advance distance D. The actual amount of substrate advancement may be x (which would be equal to the distance between the first and second lines in the example of printing a single line, or approximately equal to the average distance between the lines in the two line patterns in the example of printing two line patterns). The difference δ, which may also be referred to as error δ, may therefore be defined as:

x – D = δ。

thus, the error is positive when the actual quantity is greater than the indicated quantity, and negative when the actual quantity is less than the indicated quantity. Thus, δ > 0 for over-advancement and δ < 0 for under-advancement.

This may define the "advance factor" a according to the following relationship:

( D + δ ) = D ( 1 – A )。

thus, the progression factor a can be given by:

A = 1 - (( D + δ ) / D )。

in some examples, block 324 includes calibrating the drive unit by a factor a or a factor proportional to a. Therefore, a may be a parameter that compensates for the forward error.

For example, in one example, the advancement factor a may be introduced into the printing system as follows. Since there is a difference in the amount the substrate will actually move and the amount it is instructed to move, when the drive roller is instructed to advance the substrate by D, it will advance by D + δ according to this example. Therefore, the printer can correct the advance error using the advance factor a. For example, to advance the substrate by a distance D_actual(e.g., 1 inch), the drive roller can be programmed to advance the substrate by the following distance D_program(e.g., 1 inch ± a small amount):

D_program = D_actual / (1 – A)。

thus, according to the exemplary method 300, if it is determined at block 314 that the error is less than the first threshold, there may be an under-progression. This may be corrected at block 316 and then block 302 and 314 repeated to determine whether the correction (at block 314) resulted in over-progression. Therefore, the first threshold T1 may be set to produce over-advancement. For example, the first threshold may be +0.1 mm. Negative values may indicate under-advancement and 0 may indicate no over-advancement or under-advancement. However, if the error is zero, the input and output tensions may be balanced. Such a condition may indicate that the substrate tension is well balanced between under-advancement and over-advancement, and therefore, even if there is over-advancement, the substrate may be prone to wrinkling in such a case. Thus, in one example, the first threshold is set to a positive value (e.g., non-zero), such as a small positive value. If the adjustment at block 314 does not result in an error that exceeds the threshold, block 302 and 314 are repeated again. If the adjustment 314 results in an error that exceeds the first threshold, the error is compared to a second threshold and a determination is made as to whether the error is less than the second threshold at blocks 318 and 320. Since an error above the first threshold may indicate over-advancement, the second threshold may be set such that the over-advancement is not excessive. Accordingly, block 302 and 320 repeat (adjusting the over-run at block 322) until the error is within the target range defined by the first threshold and the second threshold.

In an alternative example, blocks 316 and 322 may include adjusting one of the first and second (input and output) tensions.

In the example of fig. 3A, at block 310, the average distance between the lines is calculated and subtracted from the target amount to define the error δ. However, in another example, the distances between the lines may be calculated, e.g., each distance may be calculated and subtracted from the target amount to define a plurality of differences or errors δ 1, … δ n. These may then be averaged and the average distance or error may be used as the difference δ in block 311 for the remaining blocks of the method 300.

Fig. 3B illustrates an exemplary implementation of block 316. In this example, at block 316a, the first tension is compared to a minimum first tension, and if it is determined whether the first substrate tension is greater than the minimum value, at block 316b, the first tension is decreased. If it is determined at block 316a that the first tension is not greater than the minimum first tension, the second tension is increased at block 316 c.

Fig. 3C illustrates an exemplary implementation of block 322. In this example, the second tension is compared to a minimum second tension at block 322a and it is determined whether the second substrate tension is greater than a minimum value, and then the second tension is decreased at block 322 b. If it is determined at block 322a that the second tension is not greater than the minimum second tension, the first tension is increased at block 322 c.

Thus, in an exemplary method (the example of the method 300 of fig. 3A in conjunction with fig. 3B and 3C), the tension may be reduced such that the tension is within the target amount, but if the tension is not at or below the minimum acceptable value. Thus, the minimum tension in fig. 3B and 3C may be the minimum acceptable amount.

Fig. 2B illustrates an exemplary substrate 250. The first line pattern 252 and the second line pattern 254 are printed onto the substrate 250, for example, by the method 300. The first line pattern 252 includes lines 252a, 252b, etc., and the second line pattern 254 includes lines 254a, 254b, etc. Each line pattern includes lines at 45 degrees to the substrate advancement direction 253. Each line pattern comprises lines printed along the width of the substrate (direction 255 perpendicular to the substrate advancement direction 253). Thus, each line pattern includes lines spaced in the direction 255.

When the drive unit is instructed (e.g., in block 306 of the method 300) to advance the substrate by the target amount, then the actual distance the substrate is advanced will be the distance (or spacing) between the lines 252a, 254a in the two line patterns 252, 254, represented in fig. 2B as x1, x2, etc. As explained above, if there is no error (advancement error or otherwise), each of x1, x2, etc. may be equal to the amount by which the drive unit is instructed to advance the substrate, whereas otherwise there would be a difference between that amount and the actual advancement distance. The actual advance distance may vary along the width of the substrate, and thus an average distance may be used. To measure distance, since each line in the two patterns is at 45 degrees to the substrate advancement direction 253, their spacing y1, y2, etc. in the direction 255 will be equal to their spacing x1, x2, etc. in the substrate advancement direction 253. Since these two lines 202, 204 are also parallel, the distances x and y can be measured at any point along the line. Thus, the distances y1, y2, etc. may be measured, for example, by sensors on the print carriage. Accordingly, block 310 of method 300 may include averaging the measured distances y1, y2, etc.

Fig. 4 shows an exemplary device 400. The apparatus 400 comprises: a drive unit 402 for advancing the substrate by an amount corresponding to the target distance; a printing unit 404 for printing a mark on a substrate; a tension adjusting device 406 for adjusting the tension of the base material; a sensor 408 for determining the distance between two marks printed on the substrate; and an analysis module 410. The analysis module 410 is configured to compare the distance between two marks printed on the substrate to a target distance and, based on the comparison, signal a tension adjustment device to adjust the tension of the substrate.

Fig. 5 illustrates another exemplary device 500. The apparatus 500 comprises a drive unit 502 to advance the substrate 501 from the unwind roller 503 towards the printing unit 504 and from the printing unit 504 towards the rewind roller 505. The printing unit comprises a movable print carriage 509 to print indicia onto the substrate 501. For example, the print carriage 509 may be used, for example, to print a pattern onto the substrate 501 in a single pass. The print carriage 509 includes a sensor 508 to determine the distance between two marks printed on the substrate 501. In one example, the sensor 508 is used to determine the distance between two marks printed on the substrate that are separated in the substrate advance direction in a direction perpendicular to the substrate advance direction. In this example, the driving unit 502 is close to the printing unit 504. For example, the drive unit may be disposed before the printing unit 504 with respect to the substrate advancement path (as depicted in the example of fig. 5).

The substrate 501 includes an input tension and an output tension. The input tension is the substrate tension between the unwind 501 and the drive unit 502, i.e., the substrate tension in the area of the substrate 501 before the drive unit 502 and the print station 504. This output tension is the substrate tension between the drive unit 502 and the rewind 505, i.e. the substrate tension of the area of the substrate 501 after the drive unit 502 and the print station 504. The apparatus 500 includes an input tension adjustment device 506 and an output tension adjustment device 507. An input tension adjustment device 506 is used to adjust the input tension of the substrate, and an output tension adjustment device 507 is used to adjust the output tension of the substrate.

In one example, if the distance between the markers is less than a first threshold (which may be a minimum threshold in one example) or greater than a second threshold (which may be a maximum threshold in one example), the input and output tension adjustment devices 506, 507 may be used to adjust the input and output tensions accordingly. In one example, the input tension adjustment device 506 may be used to reduce the input tension if the input tension is above a minimum value, and the output tension adjustment device 507 may be used to reduce the output tension if the output tension is above a minimum value. In one example, if the output tension is below a minimum value, the input tension adjustment device 506 may be used to increase the input tension, and if the input tension is below a minimum value, the output tension adjustment device 507 may be used to increase the output tension.

In one example, the input and/or output tension adjustment devices 506, 507 may each include a motor (e.g., a DC motor) that may vary the input and output substrate tensions accordingly in response to an applied voltage. For example, the control system may calculate the voltage (or current) through the respective motors of the input and/or output tensioning devices 506, 507 to produce the desired torque on the axis of the unwind and rewind rollers 503, 505. Thus, the voltage applied to the motors of the i/o tension adjustment devices 506, 507 (e.g., under the control of the controller) may adjust the i/o substrate tension. For example, increased current through the motor of the output tension adjustment device 507 may result in higher output substrate tension.

In one example, there may be a controller (not shown) associated with the drive unit. The controller may include a motor (e.g., a DV motor) and may be used to control the advancement of the substrate by controlling the voltage supplied to the drive unit. In one example, the motor may comprise a PID servo motor to calculate the voltage required to advance the substrate a set distance.

Fig. 6 illustrates an exemplary method 600. Method 600 may be a method of adjusting the tension of a substrate, for example, a method of adjusting the tension of a substrate in a printing system. Method 600 may be a method of calibrating a printing system.

The method 600 includes printing a first mark on a print medium at block 602. The first indicia may comprise a pattern or be part of a pattern. For example, the first mark may be a line of 45 degrees, for example, 45 degrees from the advancing direction of the printing medium.

The method 600 includes, at block 604, instructing a print media drive mechanism to drive a print media a predetermined distance. The predetermined distance may be a nominal amount.

The method 600 includes driving the print medium at block 606. For example, the print medium may be driven in a print medium advance direction.

The method 600 includes, at block 608, printing a second mark onto the print medium. The second indicia may comprise a pattern or be part of a pattern. For example, the second mark may be a line of 45 degrees, for example, 45 degrees from the advancing direction of the printing medium.

The method 600 includes determining, by a sensor, a distance between a first marker and a second marker at block 610. The distance may be a distance between marks in a direction perpendicular to an advancing direction of the printing medium.

The method 600 includes, at block 612, calculating a distance error, which is the difference between the predetermined distance and the distance between the first and second marks. Thus, the distance error may represent the difference between the amount by which the print media advancement mechanism is instructed to drive the print media (at block 604) and the amount by which the print media is actually advanced (at block 606).

The method 600 includes, at block 614, comparing the distance error to a first value and determining whether the distance error is less than the first value. If so, the method 600 includes adjusting the tension of the print media at block 616. If the determination at block 614 is negative (the distance error is not less than the first value), the method 600 includes, at block 618, comparing the distance error to a second value and determining whether the distance error is less than the second value. If so, the method 600 includes adjusting the tension of the print media at block 616.

In one example, after block 614, at block 616, the print media tension is adjusted until the distance error is above a first value. In one example, after block 618, at block 616, the print media tension is adjusted until the distance error is below a second value. In one example, the print media tension is adjusted until the distance error is within a target range between the first value and the second value. In one example, block 602 and 616 of method 600 are repeated until the distance error is within a target range defined by the first and second values.

The first value may represent a minimum tension of the printing medium. The first value may represent a minimum tension in order not to cause wrinkles in the print medium. Too high a tension may cause a forward error resulting in a horizontal swath, and therefore, the second value may represent a maximum tension of the printing system to be calibrated. Thus, a print media tension within a range defined by the first and second values may be indicative of a print media that is less susceptible to wrinkles (or vertical banding caused by wrinkles), which may then be calibrated to reduce the advancement error. Once the print medium tension is adjusted, method 600 may include calibrating the print medium because the adjustment of the tension may result in an advancement error that may be corrected.

Fig. 7 illustrates an exemplary method 700. Method 700 may be a method of adjusting the tension of a substrate, for example, a method of adjusting the tension of a substrate in a printing system. Method 700 may be a method of calibrating a printing system.

Blocks 701-712 of the exemplary method 700 are similar to blocks 602-612 of the example of fig. 6.

The method 700 includes determining whether the distance error is less than a first value at block 714. If so, the method 700 includes, at block 716, comparing the input tension of the print media to the input tension minimum. If it is determined at block 716 that the input tension is not less than the minimum value (and thus, may still be reduced "safely"), the method 700 includes reducing the input tension at block 718. If it is determined at block 716 that the input tension is less than the minimum tension (and therefore should not be reduced), the method 700 includes, at block 720, increasing the output tension, thereby forcing the print media to over-advance.

After blocks 718 or 720, block 702-712 are repeated, and then at block 714, the (new) distance error is compared to the first value. Thus, block 702-720 is repeated until the distance error is found to be not less than the first value.

If it is determined at block 714 that the distance error is not less than the first value, the method 700 includes comparing the distance error to a second value at block 722. The second value may be greater than the first value. If, at block 722, it is determined that the distance error is not less than the second value, the method 700 includes, at block 724, comparing the output tension of the print medium to the output tension minimum. If it is determined at block 724 that the output tension is not less than the minimum value (and thus, may still be reduced "safely"), the method 700 includes reducing the output tension at block 726. If it is determined at block 724 that the output tension is less than the minimum tension (and therefore should not be decreased), the method 700 includes increasing the input tension at block 728.

After block 726 or 728, block 702-722 is repeated, and then at block 722 the (new) distance error is compared to a second value. Thus, block 702-728 is repeated until the distance error is found to be less than the second value.

Thus, the method 700 includes repeating the tension adjustment block until the distance error is within a target range defined by the first and second values. In this manner, method 700 may be repeated until the print media is less susceptible to wrinkles or banding.

If it is determined at block 722 that the distance error is less than the second value, the method 700 includes updating the calibration factor at block 730.

In one example, at block 730, a calibration factor may be determined based on the distance error. In one example, the calibration factor may be determined based on the distance error and the amount the drive unit is instructed to advance the substrate. In one example, the calibration factor is a progression factor as described above.

Examples herein may automate the tension adjustment of the substrate such that wrinkles and horizontal banding are avoided. A user without expertise may also be able to adjust the tension of the system accurately. Therefore, waste of the printing medium is also reduced, particularly in the example where multiple advances are performed to evaluate the performance. The number of iterations may also be reduced. For example, in the low-pass mode, the overall throughput of print media through the printing system may also be increased.

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 above-described flow diagrams illustrate 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.

Although the methods, devices 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. Accordingly, the methods, apparatus and related aspects are intended to be limited only 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.

The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements other than those listed in a claim, "a", "an" or "an" does not exclude a plurality, and a single processor or other unit may fulfil 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.