Method and printing system for depositing printing fluid on a sheet of corrugated media
A method of depositing printing fluid on a sheet of corrugated media comprises determining a deformation of a sheet of corrugated media, adjusting control parameters for a plurality of nozzles based on the determined deformation, and depositing printing fluid from the plurality of nozzles onto the sheet of corrugated media according to the adjusted control parameters.
1. A method of depositing printing fluid on a sheet of corrugated media with an array of nozzles, the method comprising:
determining a height displacement of the sheet at multiple locations on the sheet with respect to a reference height;
determining a gradient of the height displacements at multiple locations along the sheet:
adjusting control parameters for each of multiple nozzles, including at least one of:
increasing an angle of tilt of the nozzle at a location of a gradient that is more steep than another gradient;
increasing a spray angle of the nozzle at a location of a height displacement that is smaller than another height displacement;
increasing a spray angle of the nozzle at a location of a gradient that is less steep than another gradient;
increasing a spray flow intensity of the nozzle at a location of a height displacement that is smaller than another height displacement; and
increasing a spray flow intensity of the nozzle at a location of a gradient that is less steep than another gradient; and
depositing printing fluid from the plurality of nozzles onto the sheet of corrugated media according to the adjusted control parameters.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining height displacements comprises:
measuring height displacements at multiple locations on the sheet; and
estimating a height displacement of at least one additional location on the sheet based on the measured height displacements.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein estimating the height displacement of an additional location on the sheet is based on at least one of:
an extrapolation of the measured height displacements; and
an interpolation of the measured height displacements.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining height displacements and gradients comprises:
capturing images of the sheet with multiple cameras; and
generating a three-dimensional model of the sheet based on the captured images.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the printing fluid is at least one of:
an ink;
a gloss; and
a varnish.
6. A printing system comprising:
an array of nozzles arranged to deposit printing fluid on a sheet of corrugated media;
multiple cameras to capture images of the sheet;
a print controller configured to:
generate a three-dimensional model of the sheet based on images from the cameras;
determine from the model a height displacement of the sheet at multiple locations on the sheet with respect to a reference height;
determine from the model a gradient of the height displacements at multiple locations along the sheet;
adjust control parameters for the array of nozzles based on one or both of the height displacements and the gradients; and
control the array of nozzles to deposit printing fluid onto the sheet of corrugated media based on the adjusted control parameters.
7. The printing system of claim 6 , wherein the print controller is configured to adjust control parameters for each of multiple nozzles, including at least one of:
increasing an angle of tilt of the nozzle at a location of a gradient that is more steep than another gradient;
increasing a spray angle of the nozzle at a location of a height displacement that is smaller than another height displacement;
increasing a spray angle of the nozzle at a location of a gradient that is less steep than another gradient;
increasing a spray flow intensity of the nozzle at a location of a height displacement that is smaller than another height displacement; and
increasing a spray flow intensity of the nozzle at a location of a gradient that is less steep than another gradient.
8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors, in a printing system, to:
receive sensor data from a sensor device connected to, or integral with, the printing system;
use the sensor data to determine a height displacement of a sheet of corrugated media at multiple locations on the sheet with respect to a reference height and to determine a gradient of the height displacements at multiple locations along the sheet;
generate control data for multiple nozzles based on the determined height displacements and gradients;
adjust control parameters for the nozzles based on the control data, including at least one of:
increasing an angle of tilt of the nozzle at a location of a gradient that is more steep than another gradient;
increasing a spray angle of the nozzle at a location of a height displacement that is smaller than another height displacement;
increasing a spray angle of the nozzle at a location of a gradient that is less steep than another gradient;
increasing a spray flow intensity of the nozzle at a location of a height displacement that is smaller than another height displacement; and
increasing a spray flow intensity of the nozzle at a location of a gradient that is less steep than another gradient; and
deposit printing fluid from the nozzles onto the sheet of corrugated media according to the adjusted control parameters.
9. The medium of claim 8 , wherein the sensor data includes images from multiple cameras and the instructions to use the sensor data include instructions to use the images to generate a three-dimensional model of the sheet to determine the height displacements and the gradients.