Multi-functional electrographic printer device

Abstract

An electrographic printer device for printing tape-shaped recording media ( 10 ) in duplex and simplex printing contains two transfer printing stations ( 15/1,15/2 ) that can be pivoted against and away from the photoconductive drum ( 11 ). The first transfer printing station ( 15/1 ) serves for transferring toner images allocated to the front side, the second transfer printing station ( 15/2 ) serves for transferring back side toner images. A mechanical buffer storage ( 29 ) and a turn-over means ( 28 ) with preceding intermediate fixing station in the form of a photoflash fixing station ( 31 ) are arranged between the transfer printing stations ( 15/1,15/2 ).

I claim:  
     
       1. A multi-functional electrographic printer device for printing web-shaped recording media, comprising 
       a motor-driven intermediate carrier with a means for generating toner images on said motor-driven intermediate carrier;  
       a first transfer printing station with controllable transfer printing means for transferring toner images onto the recording medium  
       a second transfer printing station following said first transfer printing station in a conveying direction of said motor-driven intermediate carrier, with controllable transfer printing means for transferring toner images onto the recording medium in a transfer printing mode;  
       a recording medium transport channel arranged between said first and said second transfer printing station, having at least one added buffer storages that are operable to store the recording media dependent on printer mode, as well as a turn-over means for turning over the recording medium; and a fixing station following said second transfer printing station in the conveying direction.  
     
     
       2. A multi-functional electrographic printer device according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
       an intermediate fixing station that at least partially fixes the toner images transferred onto the recording medium by said first transfer printing station.  
     
     
       3. A multi-functional electrographic printer device according to  claim 2 , wherein said intermediate fixing station is a photoflash fixing means for fixing the toner image onto the recording medium by a photoflash. 
     
     
       4. A multi-functional electrographic printer device according to  claim 1 , comprising: 
       a simplex transport channel that directly supplies the recording medium to said second transfer printing station proceeding from a supply region.  
     
     
       5. A multi-functional electrographic printer device according to  claim 1 , comprising: 
       a means for producing toner images with preselectable color on said motor-driven intermediate carrier.  
     
     
       6. A multi-functional electrographic printer device according to  claim 1 , comprising: 
       a buffer storage that precedes said fixing station in the conveying direction.  
     
     
       7. A multi-functional electrographic printer device according to  claim 1 , comprising: 
       a buffer storage fashioned as a looper.  
     
     
       8. A multi-functional electrographic printer device according to  claim 1 , comprising: 
       a means for pivoting one of said first and second transfer printing stations in against and subsequently away from the intermediate carrier.  
     
     
       9. A method for two-sided printing of web-shaped recording media with a multi-functional electrographic printer device, comprising the steps of: 
       generating a first sequence of toner images allocated to a front side of the recording medium and a second sequence of toner images allocated to a back side of the recording medium on a motor-driven intermediate carrier;  
       transferring the first sequence of toner images onto the front side of the recording medium via a first transfer printing station and mechanical intermediate storage and turn-over of the recording medium printed with said first sequence; transferring the second sequence of toner images onto the back side of the recording medium via a second transfer printing station following the first transfer printing station in a conveying direction of the intermediate carrier with the first transfer printing station deactivated; and  
       fixing the first and second toner images on the recording medium via a fixing station that follows the second transfer printing station in the conveying direction.  
     
     
       10. A method according to  claim 9 , further comprising the step of: 
       intermediately fixing the toner images fixed on the recording medium after the transfer of the first sequence of toner images.  
     
     
       11. A multi-functional electrographic printer device according to  claim 1 , wherein said fixing station is a photoflash fixing means for fixing the toner image onto the recording medium by a photoflash. 
     
     
       12. A multi- functional printer device for printing a web - shaped recording medium, comprising:    
         a motor - driven intermediate carrier with a toner image generator at said motor-driven intermediate carrier;    
       
         a first transfer printing station with a controllable transfer printer for transferring toner images onto the recording medium;  
       
       
         an intermediate fixing station following said first transfer printing station;  
       
       
         said intermediate fixing station being a photoflash fixing unit for fixing the toner image onto the recording medium by a photoflash;  
       
       
         a second transfer printing station following said intermediate fixing station and said first transfer printing station in a conveying direction of said motor driven intermediate carrier, with a controllable transfer printer for transferring toner images onto the recording medium;  
       
       
         a recording medium transport channel arranged between said first and said second transfer printing stations having at least one buffer storage that is operable to store the recording medium dependent on printer mode, as well as a turn-over unit for turning over the recording medium; and  
       
       
         a thermal fixing station following said second transfer printing station. 
       
     
     
       13. A multi- functional printer device according to    claim 12   , further comprising:    
       
         said intermediate fixing station at least partially fixing the toner images transferred onto the recording medium by said first transfer printing station. 
       
     
     
       14. A multi- functional printer device according to    claim 12   , comprising:    
       
         a simplex transport channel that directly supplies the recording medium to said second transfer printing station proceeding from a supply region. 
       
     
     
       15. A multi- functional printer device according to    claim 12   , comprising:    
         a means for producing toner images with preselectable color on said motor - driven intermediate carrier.   
     
     
       16. A multi- functional printer device according to    claim 12   , comprising:    
       
         an additional buffer storage preceding said second fixing station. 
       
     
     
       17. A multi- functional printer device according to    claim 12    comprising:    
       
         said buffer storage being fashioned as a looper. 
       
     
     
       18. A multi- functional printer device according to    claim 12   , comprising:    
       
         a means for pivoting one of said first and second transfer printing stations in against and subsequently away from the intermediate carrier. 
       
     
     
       19. The printer device according to  claim 12  wherein the thermal fixing station comprises a pressure thermal fixing station. 
     
     
       20. A multi- functional printer device for printing a web - shaped recording medium, comprising:    
         a motor - driven intermediate carrier with a device for generating toner images on said motor - driven intermediate carrier;    
       
         a first transfer printing station with a controllable transfer printing device for transferring toner images onto the recording medium;  
       
       
         a second transfer printing station following said first transfer printing station in a conveying direction of said recording medium and having a controllable transfer printing device for transferring toner images onto the recording medium;  
       
       
         a recording medium transport channel arranged between said first and second transfer printing stations having an intermediate fixing station that at least partially fixes by a photoflash fixing device the toner images transferred onto the recording medium by said first transfer printing station; and  
       
       
         a thermal fixing station following said second transfer printing station in the conveying direction. 
       
     
     
       21. A multi- functional printer device according to    claim 20    comprising a buffer storage that precedes said second transfer printing station in the conveying direction.   
     
     
       22. A multi- functional printer device according to    claim 20   , comprising a turn - over device in said transport channel for turning over the recording medium and which precedes said second transfer printing station in the conveying direction.   
     
     
       23. A method for spot- color printing of a web - shaped recording medium with a multi - functional printer device, comprising the steps of:    
         generating a first single color toner image and a second single color toner image on a motor - driven intermediate carrier;    
       
         transferring the first single color toner image onto the recording medium via a first transfer printing station and at least partially photoflash fixing the toner image onto the recording medium;  
       
       
         transferring the second single color toner image onto the at least partially photoflash fixed first single color toner image via a second transfer printing station following the first transfer printing station in a conveying direction of the recording medium; and  
       
       
         fixing the superimposed toner images on the recording medium via a thermal fixing station that follows the second transfer printing station in the conveying direction. 
       
     
     
       24. A method according to  claim 23  further comprising the step of fixing the superimposed toner images on the recording medium via a thermal fixing station. 
     
     
       25. A method for printing a web- shaped recording medium, comprising the steps of:    
       
         generating a first sequence of toner images on an intermediate carrier;  
       
       
         applying toner to the intermediate carrier with a developer station;  
       
       
         transferring the first sequence of toner images from the intermediate carrier to the recording medium;  
       
       
         at least partially fixing the first sequence of toner images on the recording medium at a first flash fusing fixing station;  
       
       
         generating a second sequence of toner images onto the intermediate carrier;  
       
         transferring the second sequence of toner images onto the web - shaped carrier at a second transfer printing station from said same intermediate carrier; and    
       
         thermal fixing at least the second sequence of toner images onto the recording medium at a second thermal fixing station. 
       
     
     
       26. A method according to  claim 25  wherein a turnover station is provided between the first and second transfer printing stations and wherein the first transfer printing station transfer the first sequence of toner images onto a first side of the web- shaped recording medium and the second transfer printing station transfers the second sequence of toner images onto an opposite second side of the recording medium.   
     
     
       27. A method according to  claim 25  including the step of moving the first transfer printing station away from the intermediate carrier prior to transferring the second sequence of toner images from the intermediate carrier onto the web- shaped recording medium at said second transfer printing station.   
     
     
       28. A method according to  claim 25  including the step of buffer storing the web- shaped recording medium after the first fixing station and before the second transfer printing station.   
     
     
       29. A method according to  claim 25  including the step of providing at said developer station a first developer station portion for applying toner of a first color and a second developer station portion for applying a toner of the second color to the intermediate carrier. 
     
     
       30. A method according to  claim 25  including the step of generating the first and second sequence of toner images by an electrophotographic method wherein the intermediate carrier is charged. 
     
     
       31. A method according to  claim 30  including the step of providing a character generator with light emitting diodes for character- dependent exposure of the charged intermediate carrier.   
     
     
       32. A method according to  claim 25  including the step of providing multi- functional capability by selectively turning over the web - shaped recording medium at a turnover station between the first and second transfer printing stations wherein duplex printing on both sides of the recording medium is desired and for selectively not turning over the web - carrier recording medium when printing the first and second sequence of toner images on a same side of the recording medium.   
     
     
       33. A method for printing a web- shaped recording medium, comprising the steps of:    
       
         generating a first sequence of toner images on an intermediate carrier;  
       
       
         transferring the first sequence of toner images onto the recording medium via a first transfer printing station;  
       
       
         at a first fixing station at least partially fixing the first sequence of toner images on the recording medium;  
       
       
         generating a second sequence of toner images on an intermediate carrier;  
       
       
         at a second transfer printing station following the first transfer printing station in a conveying direction of the intermediate carrier transferring the second sequence of toner images onto the recording medium;  
       
       
         fixing at least the second sequence of toner images on the recording medium at a second fixing station; and  
       
       
         printing in first and second colors with the respective first and second sequences of toner images. 
       
     
     
       34. A method according to  claim 33  including the step of providing said first fixing station as a flash fusing station. 
     
     
       35. The method according to  claim 33  including the step of providing said second fixing station as a thermal fixing station. 
     
     
       36. The method according to  claim 33  including the step of turning over the recording medium between the first and second transfer printing stations so as to allow duplex printing of the recording medium on both sides of the recording medium. 
     
     
       37. The method according to  claim 33  including the step of providing a buffer storage for the recording medium between the first and second transfer printing stations. 
     
     
       38. The method according to  claim 33  including the step of generating the first and second sequences in an electrographic method employing electrostatic charging for attracting toner particles. 
     
     
       39. The method according to  claim 33  including the step of providing said first and second fixing stations with non- contact fixing.   
     
     
       40. The method according to  claim 39  wherein said non- contact fixing comprises flash fusing.   
     
     
       41. The method according to  claim 33  including the step of providing at least said second fixing station as a thermal fixing station employing two rollers between which the recording medium is pressed and wherein at least one of the rollers is heated. 
     
     
       42. The method according to  claim 33  including the step of providing said web- shaped recording medium from the folded stack which unfolds as a recording medium is fed to the first transfer printing station.   
     
     
       43. The method according to  claim 33  including the step of providing said web- shaped recording medium as a continuous web which remains uncut at an output accumulation station.   
     
     
       44. The method according to  claim 33  including the step of providing the web- shaped recording medium as a continuous web which is not cut prior to output from the second transfer printing station.   
     
     
       45. The method according to  claim 33  including the step of providing a space between the first transfer printing station and the recording medium when the second transfer printing station is transferring the second sequence of images onto the recording medium. 
     
     
       46. A multi- functional printer device for printing a web - shaped recording medium, comprising:    
         a motor - driven intermediate carrier with a device for generating toner images on said motor - driven intermediate carrier;    
       
         a first transfer printing station with a controllable transfer printing device for transferring toner images onto the recording medium;  
       
       
         a second transfer printing station following said first transfer printing station in a conveying direction of said recording medium and having a controllable transfer printing device for transferring toner images onto the recording medium;  
       
       
         a recording medium transport channel arranged between said first and second transfer printing stations having an intermediate fixing station that at least partially fixes by a photoflash fixing device the toner images transferred onto the recording medium by said first transfer printing station;  
       
       
         a thermal fixing station following said second transfer printing station in the conveying direction; and  
       
       
         the thermal fixing station comprises a pressure thermal fixing station.