EP-4742647-A1 - METHOD FOR PRINTING A DECORATION TO BE PRINTED AND DEVICE

EP4742647A1EP 4742647 A1EP4742647 A1EP 4742647A1EP-4742647-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for printing a design to be printed onto a plurality of printing surfaces using a digital printing system, wherein the method comprises the following steps: a) Providing a digital template and reference colour measurement data of a decor to be printed, which were determined by measuring colour measurement parameters of an unprocessed decor, b) Printing at least part of the decoration to be printed, based on the digital template, onto a printing surface using the printing settings of the digital printing system, so that an unprocessed print prototype is created, c) Measuring color parameters of the unprocessed print proof so that print color measurement data is obtained, d) Comparing the print measurement data with the reference color measurement data and determining an initial measure of the deviation of the print color measurement data from the reference color measurement data, e) Changing the digital template and/or the print settings of the digital printing system, if the first measure of deviation meets a first predetermined criterion, f) Repeat steps b) to e) if the first measure of deviation meets the first predetermined criterion.

Inventors

Dicke, Sebastian

Assignees

SWISS KRONO Tec AG

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20241107

Claims (9)

Method for printing a design to be printed onto a plurality of printing surfaces using a digital printing system, wherein the method comprises the following steps: a) Providing a digital template and reference colour measurement data of a decor to be printed, which were determined by measuring colour measurement parameters of an unprocessed decor, b) Printing at least part of the decoration to be printed, based on the digital template, onto a printing surface using the printing settings of the digital printing system, so that an unprocessed print prototype is created, c) Measuring color parameters of the unprocessed print proof so that print color measurement data is obtained, d) Comparing the print measurement data with the reference color measurement data and determining an initial measure of the deviation of the print color measurement data from the reference color measurement data, e) Changing the digital template and/or the print settings of the digital printing system, if the first measure of deviation meets a first predetermined criterion, f) Repeat steps b) to e) if the first measure of deviation meets the first predetermined criterion.
The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the provision of the reference color measurement data in step a) includes the following steps: a1) Providing a digital template of a decoration to be printed, a2) Printing at least part of the decoration to be printed onto a reference surface using the digital template, so that a reference prototype is created, a3) Measuring the color measurement parameters of the unprocessed reference sample so that the reference color measurement data are obtained.
Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that color measurement data includes hyperspectral data.
Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that steps c) to f) are performed for each printing surface printed in the method.
Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the measurement of color parameters of the unprocessed print proof is carried out in the digital printing system.
Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the measurement of color parameters of the unprocessed print pre-copy is carried out at least partially, but preferably completely, during the printing of at least a part of the decoration to be printed in process step b).
Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the measurement of color parameters of the unprocessed printed proof and the measurement of color parameters of the unprocessed reference proof are carried out under first predetermined light conditions.
Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in step b) only a part of the decoration to be printed is printed onto a printing surface, the method further comprising the following step: g) Printing the complete decor to be printed, based on the digital template, onto a first variety of printing surfaces using the printing settings of the digital printing system.
Apparatus for carrying out a method according to one of the preceding claims comprising a digital printing system for printing at least a part of the decoration to be printed, at least one sensor for measuring the color measurement data and an electrical control system configured for carrying out a method according to one of the preceding claims.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for printing a decoration to be printed onto a plurality of printing surfaces using a digital printing system and to a device for carrying out the method. From the EP 4 216 531 A1 A method for printing a design onto a paper web using a digital printing system is known. First, a reference pattern, containing a section of a digital image of the original design, and a hyperspectral reference data set for the reference pattern are provided. Then, a copy of the reference pattern is printed, and a hyperspectral data set for the printed copy is created. The reference copy and the printed copy are then impregnated as a whole, pressed onto a core, and subsequently checked for color fidelity and reproducibility. A disadvantage is that even with this type of printing process, deviations can occur between the printed designs and the desired designs. Color differences between the designs cannot be reliably detected, so several correction rounds are often necessary to obtain printed designs that meet the requirements. Each correction results in scrap due to the designs that do not meet the requirements, thus increasing overall production costs. The invention is therefore based on the objective of providing a method and a device that eliminate or at least mitigate the disadvantages. The invention solves the stated problem by a method for printing a design to be printed onto a plurality of printing surfaces using a digital printing system, wherein the method comprises the following steps: a) Determining a digital template and reference color measurement data of a decor to be printed, which were determined by measuring color measurement values of an unprocessed decor, b) Printing at least part of the decoration to be printed, based on the digital template, onto a printing surface using the printing settings of the digital printing system, so that an unprocessed print prototype is created, c) Measuring color parameters of the unprocessed print proof so that print color measurement data is obtained, d) Comparing the print measurement data with the reference color measurement data and determining an initial measure of the deviation of the print color measurement data from the reference color measurement data, e) Changing the digital template and/or the print settings of the digital printing system, if the first measure of deviation meets a first predetermined criterion, f) Repeat steps b) to e) if the first measure of deviation meets the first predetermined criterion. Preferably, in process step b) the entire decoration is printed. In a method according to the invention, color parameters are measured, i.e., corresponding print color measurement data are recorded and compared with stored reference color measurement data. The print color measurement data are acquired using the unprocessed print prototype, which, after printing the decoration onto the printing surface in process step b), is preferably not further processed. In particular, no further impregnation with a synthetic resin or a varnish, no laminating or coating onto a core, for example a wood-based panel, and no pressing under pressure and temperature influence takes place before the print color measurement data are acquired. All these steps are involved in the The production of laminate panels that can be used as flooring, wall and/or ceiling coverings or as furniture panels is advantageous and known from the prior art. It is preferably carried out in the manufacture of such items; however, in a method according to the invention, the color parameters are measured first after the decoration has been printed onto the printed surface. In the context of the present invention, a prototype has not yet been further processed, except that it may have been dried after printing. According to the invention, the reference color measurement data are obtained by measuring color parameters on an unprocessed decor, preferably an unprocessed reference decor. Preferably, the decor on which the color parameters are measured to obtain color measurement values is fed to the sensor with which the measurement is to be carried out directly after the respective decor has been printed onto the printing surface. In some embodiments of the method, it is advantageous to dry the decor after printing and only then feed it to the sensor. It is advantageous if the printed proof undergoes the same steps before measuring the color parameters that the reference decor underwent before the reference color measurement data was obtained. The reference decor is therefore also referred to as the reference proof. The comparison of the unprocessed, printed proof with a corresponding unprocessed, printed reference proof is carried out using the various color measurement data. The printed color measurement data is compared with the reference color measurement data, both of which, according to the invention, refer to unprocessed decors, i.e., proofs. The reference color