Digital ink-jet glass printer

Abstract

A system for printing on glass boards is provided. The system includes a horizontal support for a glass board, a ink-jet printing head supported by a bridge and moveable above the horizontal support, an ink supply system to provide glass-based ink having solid glass particles to the ink-jet printing head and a primary ink fixation system . The primary ink fixation system is configured to fixate an image printed onto the glass board prior to shifting the printed glass board to a furnace for a firing process.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A printing system for printing ink on glass boards, comprising:
 a horizontal support for a glass board;   a ink-jet printing head supported by a bridge and moveable above the horizontal support;   an ink supply system to provide glass-based ink having solid glass particles to the ink-jet printing head; and   a primary ink fixation system configured to fixate an image printed onto the glass board prior to shifting the printed glass board to a furnace for a firing process.   
     
     
         2 . The printing system of  claim 1 , wherein the primary ink fixation system comprises at least two fixation units located parallel to the bridge and movable during printing such that at least one of the fixation units advances before the ink-jet printing head and at least another one of the fixation units advances after the ink-jet printing head. 
     
     
         3 . The printing system of  claim 1 , wherein the primary ink fixation system comprises at least two longitudinal heaters located parallel to the bridge and movable during printing such that at least one of the heaters advances before the ink-jet printing head and at least another one of the heaters advances after the ink-jet printing head. 
     
     
         4 . The printing system of  claim 1 , wherein the primary ink fixation system comprises at least one ultraviolet lamp movable in correlation with the ink-jet printing head. 
     
     
         5 . The printing system of  claim 1 , wherein the primary ink fixation system comprises at least one longitudinal heater located parallel to the bridge and at least one spot heater located near the ink-jet printing head and movable with the ink-jet printing head along the bridge. 
     
     
         6 . The printing system of  claim 1  further comprising a ventilation system to disperse the vapors and gasses released from printed glass boards. 
     
     
         7 . The printing system of  claim 6 , wherein the ventilation system comprises one or more fans suspended from the bridge. 
     
     
         8 . The printing system of  claim 1 , further comprising collect trays on both sides of the horizontal support for margin printing.