The varioPRINT iX-series has a drop-on-demand piezoelectric ink technology. In the print module the print belt transfers the sheets under the printheads. The nozzles of the printheads eject the ink drops. The drum of the fixation module dries the printed sheets. The post fixation unit ejects a very hot shot of humid air on the surface of the sheet. The cold air impingement units decrease the temperature of the sheets. The printer cleans the printheads on a regular base. Therefore, the printhead unit moves to the maintenance position.
Location of the print process |
Location of the print process |
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The print module prints the sheets. |
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The fixation module dries the printed sheets. |
Transfer of the sheets during the print process|
Description |
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The sheets transported on the paper path enter the print module. |
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The print belt uses the suction air technique to flatten the sheets. |
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The sheets move in a single-pass way under the printheads where the nozzles eject the ink or ColorGrip. |
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The heated, fanned air dries the prints in the fixation drum. Thanks to the air suction technique the prints move from the print belt to the paper path in the fixation module. |
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The sheets receive a heat shot with humidity on their surface in the post fixation unit. |
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For duplex prints, the prints go for a second pass through the input registration unit and the print module. During the paper transport sheet cooling occurs to recondition the sheets. |
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Sheet cooling occurs to prevent the sheets from blocking. |
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For simplex and duplex prints, the prints go to the registration output module via the horizontal transport tray. |
The printhead unit holds five printhead arrays: black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and ColorGrip. Each array contains three printheads. The image is built up from four different monochrome bitmaps. The ColorGrip printheads eject ColorGrip drops only on the locations where ink comes.
The CMYK and ColorGrip print process
A single ink printhead (1200dpi) consists of 10 segments that contain 5312 nozzles in total to produce ink drops. This results in 3 x 5312 = 15.936 nozzles per print head array.
A single ColorGrip ink printhead (600dpi) consists of four segments that contain 2656 nozzles in total to produce ColorGrip drops. This results in 3 x 2656 = 7.968 nozzles for this print head array.
Printhead with nozzle openingsThe piezoelectric element of the nozzle is able to perceive an electric signal. The shape of the piezoelectric element changes and causes a pressure pulse in the ink. The drop leaves the nozzle chamber with high speed and hits the sheet that passes on the print belt.
Nozzle receives an electric signal (A) and ejects an ink drop (B)