US 12,447,760 B2
Method and apparatus for printing on non-planar beds
Marco Serafini, Bergamo (IT); and Ernesto Propersi Sterbiati, Grassobbio (IT)
Assigned to ELECTRONICS FOR IMAGING, INC., Londonderry, NH (US)
Filed by Electronics for Imaging, Inc., Fremont, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 22, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/058,240.
Prior Publication US 2024/0165977 A1, May 23, 2024
Int. Cl. B41J 25/316 (2006.01); B41J 15/08 (2006.01); B41J 15/16 (2006.01); B41J 25/00 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 25/006 (2013.01) [B41J 15/08 (2013.01); B41J 15/16 (2013.01); B41J 25/316 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A printer, comprising:
a curved printing bed configured to hold a medium;
a carriage operable to swipe back and forth across the medium along a linear axis,
wherein the printing bed is curved along the linear axis such that the carriage swipes back and forth across a curved portion of the printing bed;
a set of printing heads for jetting ink on the medium, wherein the set of printing heads is secured to and moved along the linear axis by the carriage; and
at least two rails supporting the print carriage and arranged to guide the print carriage along the linear axis as the carriage swipes back and forth across the medium while the printing heads are jetting ink;
wherein the shape of the curved bed generates tension across the medium; and
wherein the shape of the curved bed pulls to the sides of the curved bed an increase in width of the medium due to swelling of the medium when printed to limit creasing and bulging of the medium.
 
10. A printing method, comprising:
passing a medium along a curved printing bed;
swiping a carriage back and forth across the medium along a linear axis, wherein the printing bed is curved along the linear axis such that the carriage swipes back and forth across a curved portion of the printing bed;
jetting ink on the medium with a set of printing heads, wherein the set of printing heads is secured to and moved along the linear axis by the carriage while the printing heads are jetting ink; and
supporting the print carriage are at least two rails that are arranged to guide the print carriage along the linear axis as the carriage swipes back and forth across the medium;
wherein the shape of the curved bed generates tension across the medium; and
wherein the shape of the curved bed pulls to the sides of the curved bed an increase in width of the medium due to swelling of the medium when printed to limit creasing and bulging of the medium.