Printer device for printing web-shaped recording media having different web widths

Abstract

An electrographic printer device is designed for printing web-shaped recording media ( 10 ) having different web widths in different operating modes, such as single-colored and multi-colored simplex printing, single-colored and multi-colored duplex printing and for simultaneously printing two recording medium webs in parallel operation. To this end, the units of the printer device such as intermediate carrier ( 11 ), transfer printing station ( 15 ) and fixing station ( 18 ) comprise a usable width of at least twice the web width of a narrow recording medium. The printer device further contains a deflection means ( 28 ) following the fixing station ( 18 ) and engageable as needed and having an allocated return channel to the transfer printing station ( 15 ) via which the recording medium ( 10 ) is turned and resupplied to the transfer printing station ( 15 ) in single-color or multi-color duplex mode.

We claim:  
     
       1. An electrographic printer device for printing web-shaped recording media having different web widths, comprising: 
       an image printer including an intermediate carrier of a usable width of at least twice a web width of a narrow recording medium, an image-generating means for generating a charge image on said intermediate carrier, a developer station for developing the charge image as a toner image on said intermediate carrier a charging station for charging said intermediate carrier, and a cleaning station for cleaning unused toner from said intermediate carrier;  
       a transfer printing station that is allocated to said intermediate carrier and accepts the recording medium, and that is of a usable width of at least twice the web width of the narrow recording medium;  
       a single fixing station means following said transfer printing station in a conveying direction of the recording medium for fixing the toner image on the recording medium, said single fixing station being of a usable width of at least twice the web width of the narrow recording medium;  
       a deflection means that follows said single fixing station means for selectively redirecting the recording medium to said image printer depending on operating mode for the narrow recording medium, said deflection means having an allocated return channel to said transfer printing station, whereby  
       in a first operating mode of said electrographic printer device for multiple printing of a single, narrow recording medium, the recording medium is conducted to a use area of said single fixing station via said transfer printing station proceeding from a delivery region and is resupplied to said transfer printing station and a use area of said single fixing station neighboring said use area via said deflection means proceeding from said use area of said single fixing station; and  
       in a second operating mode of said electrographic printer device for single-sided printing of at least one recording media having different web width, the at least one recording media are conducted to said single fixing station only via said transfer printing station proceeding from the delivery region, and  
       a conveyor means allocated to said transfer printing station and for conveying the recording medium through said electrographic printer device by frictionally engaging the recording medium, said conveyor means being selectively adjustable dependent on the operating mode of the printer device.  
     
     
       2. An electrographic printer device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the web-shaped recording media is provided with synchronization marks and further comprising: 
       means for reading the synchronization marks.  
     
     
       3. A printer device for printing web- shaped recording media having different web widths, comprising:    
         an image printer including an intermediate carrier of a usable width of at least twice a web width of a narrow recording medium, an image - generating means for generating an intermediate image on said intermediate carrier, a developer station for developing the intermediate image as a toner image on said intermediate carrier, and a cleaning solution for cleaning unused toner from said intermediate carrier;    
       
         a transfer printing station that is allocated to said intermediate carrier and accepts the recording medium, and that is of a usable width of at least twice the web width of the narrow recording medium;  
       
       
         a single fixing station means following said transfer printing station in a conveying direction of the recording medium for fixing the toner image on the recording medium, said single fixing station being of a usable width of at least twice the web width of the narrow recording medium;  
       
       
         a deflection means that follows said single fixing station means for selectively redirecting the recording medium to said image printer depending on operating mode for the narrow recording medium, said deflection means having an allocated return channel to said transfer printing station, whereby  
       
       
         in a first operating mode of said printer device for multiple printing of a single, narrow recording medium, the recording medium is conducted to a use area of said single fixing station via said transfer printing station proceeding from a delivery region and is resupplied to said transfer printing station and a use area of said single fixing station neighboring said use area via said deflection means proceeding from said use area of said single fixing station; and  
       
         in a second operating mode of said printer device for single - sided printing of at least one recording media having different web width, the at least one recording media are conducted to said single fixing station only via said transfer printing station proceeding from the delivery region, and    
       
         a conveyor means allocated to said transfer printing station and for conveying the recording medium through said printer device by frictionally engaging the recording medium, said conveyor means being selectively adjustable dependent on the operating mode of the printer device.  
       
     
     
       4. A printer device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the web- shaped recording media is provided with synchronization marks and further comprising:    
       
         means for reading the synchronization marks.  
       
     
     
       5. A printer device for printing web- shaped recording media having different web widths, comprising:    
       
         an image printer including an intermediate carrier of a usable width of at least twice a web width of a narrow recording medium, an image generator mounted at said intermediate carrier and operable to generate an intermediate image on said intermediate carrier, a developer station for developing the intermediate image as a toner image on said intermediate carrier, and a cleaning station for cleaning unused toner from said intermediate carrier;  
       
       
         a transfer printing station that is allocated to said intermediate carrier and accepts the recording medium, and that is of a usable width of at least twice the web width of the narrow recording medium;  
       
       
         a single fixing station following said transfer printing station in a conveying direction of the recording medium for fixing the toner image on the recording medium, said single fixing station being of a usable width of at least twice the web width of the narrow recording medium;  
       
       
         a deflector that follows said single fixing station for selectively redirecting the recording medium to said image printer depending on operating mode for the narrow recording medium, said deflector having an allocated return channel to said transfer printing station, whereby  
       
       
         in a first operating mode of said printer device for multiple printing of a single, narrow recording medium, the recording medium is conducted to a use area of said single fixing station via said transfer printing station proceeding from a delivery region and is resupplied to said transfer printing station and a use area of said single fixing station neighboring said use area via said deflector proceeding from said use area of said single fixing station; and  
       
         in a second operating mode of said printer device for single - sided printing of at least one recording media having different web width, the at least one recording media are conducted to said single fixing station only via said transfer printing station proceeding from the delivery region, and    
       
         a conveyor allocated to said transfer printing station and for conveying the recording medium through said printer device by frictionally engaging the recording medium, said conveyor being selectively adjustable dependent on the operating mode of the printer device.  
       
     
     
       6. A printer device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the web- shaped recording media is provided with synchronization marks and further comprising:    
       
         a reader mounted to read the synchronization marks.  
       
     
     
       7. A printer device for printing web- shaped recording media having different web widths, comprising:    
       
         an image printer including an intermediate carrier of a usable width of at least twice a web width of a narrow recording medium, an image generator mounted at said intermediate carrier and operable to generate an intermediate image on said intermediate carrier, a developer station for developing the intermediate image as a toner image on said intermediate carrier, and a cleaning station for cleaning unused toner from said intermediate carrier;  
       
       
         a transfer printing station that is allocated to said intermediate carrier and accepts the recording medium, and that is of a usable width of at least twice the web width of the narrow recording medium;  
       
       
         a single fixing station following said transfer printing station in a conveying direction of the recording medium for fixing the toner image on the recording medium, said single fixing station being of a usable width of at least twice the web width of the narrow recording medium;  
       
       
         a deflector that follows said single fixing station for selectively redirecting the recording medium to said image printer depending on operating mode for the narrow recording medium, said deflector having an allocated return channel to said transfer printing station, whereby  
       
       
         in a first operating mode of said printer device for multiple printing of a single, narrow recording medium, the recording medium is conducted to a use area of said single fixing station via said transfer printing station proceeding from a delivery region and is resupplied to said transfer printing station and a use area of said single fixing station neighboring said use area via said deflector proceeding from said use area of said single fixing station; and  
       
         in a second operating mode of said printer device for single - sided printing of at least one recording media having different web width, the at least one recording media are conducted to said single fixing station only via said transfer printing station proceeding from the delivery region, and    
       
         a conveyor allocated to said transfer printing station and for conveying the recording medium through said printer device by engaging the recording medium, said conveyor being selectively adjustable dependent on the operating mode of the printer device.  
       
     
     
       8. A printer device as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the web- shaped recording media is provided with synchronization marks and further comprising:    
       
         a reader mounted to read the synchronization marks.  
       
     
     
       9. A method for printing web- shaped recording media, comprising the steps of:    
         providing an intermediate carrier that is of a width at least twice a width of the web - shaped recording media;    
       
         generating a first side latent image on a first portion of said intermediate carrier;  
       
       
         developing the first side latent image on the intermediate carrier to provide a first side developed image;  
       
         conveying the web - shaped recording media with a first side of the web - shaped recording media against said first portion of said intermediate carrier;    
         transferring the first side developed image from the first portion of said intermediate carrier to the first side of the web - shaped recording media;    
       
         generating a second side latent image on a second portion of said intermediate carrier;  
       
       
         developing said second side latent image on said intermediate carrier to provide a second side developed image;  
       
         deflecting the web - shaped recording media to convey said a second side of the web - shaped recording media against said second portion of said intermediate carrier;    
         transferring the second side developed image from the second portion of said intermediate carrier to the second side of the web - shaped recording media;    
         fixing the images on the web - shaped recording media;    
         wherein said conveying step includes engaging margin perforations of the web - shaped recording media.    
     
     
       10. A method for printing web- shaped recording media, comprising the steps of:    
         providing an intermediate carrier that is of a width at least twice a width of a web - shaped recording media;    
       
         generating a first latent image on a first portion of the intermediate carrier;  
       
       
         generating a second latent image on a second portion of the intermediate carrier;  
       
       
         developing the first latent image on the intermediate carrier to provide a first developed image;  
       
       
         developing the second latent image on the intermediate carrier to provide a second developed image;  
       
         conveying a first web - shaped recording media against the first portion of the intermediate carrier;    
         conveying a second web - shaped recording media against the second portion of the intermediate carrier;    
         transferring the first developed image from the first portion of the intermediate carrier to the first web - shaped recording media;    
         transferring the second developed image from the second portion of the intermediate carrier to the second web - shaped recording media;    
         fixing the first developed image on the first web - shaped recording media;    
         fixing the second developed image on the second web - shaped recording media;    
         wherein said first and second web - shaped recording media are a same side of a same web - shaped recording media, and    
         said first and second developed images are of mutually different colors so that two color printing is performed on the web - shaped recording media.