Patent ID: 9296228
Filing Date: 2016-03-29
CPC Classification: B41J,B65H

Claim Text:
1. A method for reducing tension fluctuations in a web when printing a print job on the web, comprising: providing a printing system with a first print station disposed opposite a first side of the web, wherein the first print station defines one or more print zones where a liquid is deposited onto the first side of the web, and a plurality of first rollers in contact with the web and adapted to receive tension control commands; defining a plurality of tension zones in the printing system, wherein tension on the web in one tension zone is controlled independently of the tension on the web in the other tension zones; for each tension zone, associating at least one of the plurality of first rollers with the tension zone, the tension control commands operating on the first roller to control the amount of tension of the web in the tension zone; using the printing system to print a first copy of the print job on the web; measuring tension changes on the web in each tension zone during the printing of the first copy of the print job; using a processor to determine first tension control adjustments based on the measured tension changes; and using the first tension control adjustments to adjust the tension control commands to the first rollers in the printing system to print a second copy of the print job, thereby reducing tension fluctuations in the web.