Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag

Matthias Schloerholz

Heiner Pitz

Bernard Beier

Michael Kohlmann

Martin Greive

Peter Hachmann

Axel Hauck

Thomas Wolf

Uwe Ernst

Albert Maul

Rolf Kuendgen

Michael Schwandt

Rolf Mueller

Achim Scheurer

Silvia Worgt

Jessica Gioia

A device cures a UV-curable fluid, such as offset or inkjet printing ink, on a substrate by way of an emitter. The emitter includes at least two flash lamps which are disposed in a row. This provides a cost-efficient way of evenly and homogeneously curing UV-curable printing fluids at low environmental impact. There is also described a printing machine with a device for curing UV-curable printing ink.

Device for curing a UV-curable fluid on a printing substrate by an emitter

A method of curing radiation-curable coatings in printing machines using UV light includes using the same light source or sources for the pinning and final curing operations in two different modes of operation suitable for pinning and for completely curing. The light sources are preferably gas-discharge lamps, in particular xenon flash lamps. A printing machine and a method for using at least one gas-discharge lamp are also provided.

Method of curing coatings in a printing machine using differently actuated gas discharge lamps, printing machine and method of using a gas-discharge lamp

In a method for operating an inkjet printing machine, a condition of an ink is determined. A sedimentation and/or agglomeration of a pigmented ink is determined by refractometry, i.e. the value of the refractive index of the ink is measured with a refractometer and compared with a stored value with computer assistance.

Method for operating an inkjet printing machine

A method for printing at least one section of a flat or preferably curved surface of an object includes using a relative movement between an inkjet head and the object to move the inkjet head along a first path and print a first track in the process and to move the inkjet head along a second path and print a second track in the process. A first track edge of the first track and a second track edge of the second track meet at a point and enclose an angle between about 1&#xb0; and about 179&#xb0; at the point. The method permits the curved surface to be printed without perceptible track connections.

Methods for printing a curved surface of an object by using an inkjet head

A method for removing solidified ink or varnish from a surface includes applying a cleaning agent to the ink on the surface. The cleaning agent applied to the ink on the surface is substantially solvent-free and water-based and reduces adhesion between the ink and the surface without dissolving the ink. An adhesive side or face of a single-sided or single face adhesive element is applied to the surface. As the adhesive element is removed from the surface, the ink that has been treated with the cleaning agent but is undissolved adheres to the adhesive element and is thus removed from the surface together with the adhesive element without splitting.

Method for removing solidified ink or varnish using adhesive strips

A method for the indirect application of printing liquid onto a printing material provides an intermediate carrier, preferably a circulating belt, a liquid conditioning medium including a first substance applied onto the intermediate carrier and a printing liquid, in particular an inkjet ink, including a second substance applied onto the conditioning medium on the intermediate carrier. The printing liquid is situated as droplets or a layer substantially on the conditioning medium and the droplets or the layer form a contact region on their underside with the conditioning medium. The printing liquid is heated, preferably by way of a dryer and the printing liquid is transferred from the intermediate carrier onto the printing material.

Method for the indirect application of printing liquid onto a printing material

A method prints an object, for example a vehicle and specifically the body thereof, wherein at least one area of the surface of the object is printed. The method includes: providing an image; three-dimensionally measuring at least the area; generating a number of spatial points in correspondence with the area; generating a three-dimensional net corresponding with the area; generating path data, i.e. a three-dimensional path for moving a robot for an inkjet printer head; generating raster data, i.e. a raster matrix, in particular a three-dimensional or higher raster matrix, for actuating the inkjet printer head; moving the robot, for example an articulated arm robot, utilizing the path data; and printing the image by the inkjet printer head utilizing the raster data. The method permits multi-color printing of any image onto so-called 3D surfaces of any shape.

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Plankstadt, Germany

Matthias Schloerholz