The JHF F3900 is equipped with sixth-generation Ricoh industrial-grade printheads capable of printing multiple layers of white ink and varnish at the same time. Additionally, its variable ink droplet technology enables printing of textured effects on ceramic tiles, wood and glass, as well as printing on a variety of media such as polystyrene, corrugated board, PVC, acrylic, aluminium composite or flexible foam, polycarbonate panels and metal with a primer.
Director Navin Jeewanlall explains that PSPs can configure this scalable system to their exact requirements, specifying from two to eight printheads. The four-channel (CMYK) option is for typical signage and graphics applications, the six-channel (CMYK LC LM) option with light cyan and light magenta delivers smooth highlights and midtones in photographic images, while the eight-channel option includes white and varnish for tackling niche market and high-margin jobs.
The printing bed with its eight-zone vacuum system, each controlled and adjusted independently based on the size of the substrate, reduces energy consumption and accommodates a variety of sheet sizes up to 1.3 x 2.5 metres. It also includes an automatic media thickness detector to rapidly detect media up to 70mm, a plasma electrostatic eliminator that improves stability when printing on static material, as well as a pneumatic control pin registration system for quick and easy registration of the next sheet, which simplifies the production of edge-to-edge and double-sided prints.
The fully automatic carriage lifting system and customised motor ensure the precise positioning control of the whole platform, which meet printing demands of different heights at any point. The carriage is also equipped with anti-crash media detectors. When the sensor detects obstructions on the vacuum table, the printer stops the carriage immediately to prevent accidental damage to the printheads and to protect the operator’s safety.
Navin lists the printer’s productivity features as a UV-LED curing system, tri-negative pressure controlling system, single colour purge system, sub-tank controlling technology, automatic height adjustment, an anti-collision device and accurate stepping.
He explains that the UV lamps enable cold curing (no warm up or cool down time is required) and printing on heat-sensitive materials.
The independent tri-negative pressure controlling system is for the white ink, CMYK inks and varnish respectively to guarantee their fluidity and stable supply to the printheads, which prevents them from clogging and sediment from forming. It also reduces the use of compressed air by more than 90%, improving the service life of the air compressor. Additionally, the single colour purge system reduces ink wastage, while the sub-tank controlling technology prevents ink leakage in case of a sudden power outage.
The JHF F3900 also has a dual servo motor installed on the Y-axis and a linear-driven motor installed on the X-axis to improve stepping and table accuracy.
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