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data M Engineering and
ceramic toner technologies have developed a flexible digital pad printing machine for chinaware, glass or ceramics: "COPRAź DecalApplicator - digital print".
data M's COPRAź DecalApplicator, an innovative system for the decoration of chinaware by either heat release or direct printing technology, will be shown in an enhanced version allowing digital decoration of ware.
The decoration machine works like a colour laser printer where the paper is - metaphorically speaking - simply exchanged by chinaware to be decorated.
Digital photographs or pictures can be generated or modified on personal computers (or MACs) and are sent to the COPRAź DecalApplicator's computer
control.
A colour laser printer is applying ceramic toner on a plastic backing film respectively. A tempered printing pad is transferring the digitally generated picture onto the ware without any intermediate consumables. The laser printer in its basic version is able to handle 4 colours. Several printers can be interconnected; special colours are possible
too.
The whole system can be easily changed to conventional heat release transfer application modus by moving aside the laser printer mounted on a rail system. Due to the fact that the hexapod robot driven COPRAź DecalApplicator allows a kiss-fit printing technique. Almost all kind of ware can be decorated - including cups or bowl-type work pieces requiring a minimum of change over time.
"COPRAź DecalApplicator - digital print" offers a number of advantages compared to heat release technology:
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Pad heating can be dispensed with heated plates which speeds up decoration process
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No release paper is required any more reducing printing
costs.
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No wax is in use any more. This reduces the risk of getting spit-outs or carbon
staining.
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Every decor can be modified on-line. Both - modifications in colour or size can be done depending on the current plate
size.
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"Digital Printing on Plates"
(published in CERAMIC FORUM International
12/2004)
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