Automatically reconfiguring a web printer

Abstract

In one example, a method for an inkjet web printer includes a print engine printing a first print job on a moving first web, a printer controller receiving a second print job, the printer controller determining that the second print job may be printed after the first print job on a second web automatically spliced to the moving first web, a web supply automatically splicing the second web to the moving first web, the printer controller reconfiguring the print engine from a first configuration for the first print job to a second configuration for the second print job without stopping the moving first web or the moving second web, and the print engine printing the second print job on the moving second web.

1 . A method for a web printer, comprising:
 a print engine printing a first print job on a moving first web;   a printer controller receiving a second print job;   the printer controller determining that the second print job may be printed after the first print job on a second web automatically spliced to the moving first web;   a web supply automatically splicing the second web to the moving first web;   the printer controller reconfiguring the print engine from a first configuration for the first print job to a second configuration for the second print job without stopping the moving first web or the moving second web; and   the print engine printing the second print job on the moving second web.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the printer controller reconfiguring the print engine from a first configuration to a second configuration comprises the printer controller causing the print engine to service uncapped printheads, service a printhead to dispense a new color, service a printhead to dispense a bonding agent, implement a new web speed, and/or implement a new dryer setting. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second web is wider than the first web and the printer controller reconfiguring the print engine from a first configuration to a second configuration comprises the printer controller causing the print engine to uncap and service one or multiple edge printheads that will be used to print on the second, wider web. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second web is narrower than the first web and the printer controller reconfiguring the print engine from a first configuration to a second configuration comprises the printer controller causing the print engine to cap one or multiple edge printheads that will not be used to print on the second, narrower web. 
     
     
         5 . A web printer, comprising:
 a web supply;   a print engine; and   a controller operatively connected to the print engine and programmed to:   cause the print engine to print a first print job on a moving first web;   receive a second print job;   determine that the second print job may be printed after the first print job on a second web automatically spliced to the moving first web;   cause the web supply to automatically splice the second web to the moving first web;   reconfigure the print engine from a first configuration for the first print job to a second configuration for the second print job without stopping the moving first web or the moving second web; and   cause the print engine to print the second print job on the moving second web.   
     
     
         6 . The printer of  claim 5 , wherein the printer controller programmed to reconfigure the print engine from a first configuration to a second configuration comprises the printer controller programmed to cause the print engine to service uncapped printheads, service a printhead to dispense a new color, service a printhead to dispense a bonding agent, implement a new web speed, and/or implement a new dryer setting. 
     
     
         7 . The printer of  claim 5 , wherein the second web is wider than the first web and the printer controller programmed to reconfigure the print engine from a first configuration to a second configuration comprises the printer controller programmed to cause the print engine to uncap and service one or multiple edge printheads that will be used to print on the second, wider web. 
     
     
         8 . The printer of  claim 5 , wherein the second web is narrower than the first web and the printer controller programmed to reconfigure the print engine from a first configuration to a second configuration comprises the printer controller programmed to cause the print engine to cap one or multiple edge printheads that will not be used to print on the second, narrower web. 
     
     
         9 . A tangible non-transitory processor readable medium having instructions thereon that when executed cause a web printer to:
 print a first print job on a moving first web;   receive a second print job;   determine that the second print job may be printed after the first print job on a second web automatically spliced to the moving first web;   automatically splice the second web to the moving first web;   reconfigure from a first configuration for the first print job to a second configuration for the second print job without stopping the moving first web or the moving second web; and   print the second print job on the moving second web.   
     
     
         10 . The medium of  claim 9 , wherein the instructions to reconfigure from a first configuration to a second configuration comprise instructions to service uncapped printheads, service a printhead to dispense a new color, service a printhead to dispense a bonding agent, implement a new web speed, and/or implement a new dryer setting. 
     
     
         11 . The medium of  claim 9 , wherein the second web is wider than the first web and the instructions to reconfigure from a first configuration to a second configuration comprise instructions to uncap and service one or multiple edge printheads that will be used to print on the second, wider web. 
     
     
         12 . The medium of  claim 9 , wherein the second web is narrower than the first web and the instructions to reconfigure from a first configuration to a second configuration comprise instructions to cap one or multiple edge printheads that will not be used to print on the second, narrower web.