Printing system for layered object printing incorporating groups of multiple printheads

Abstract

A printing system includes a conveyor for conveying a substrate along a conveying direction; and a sequence of printhead groups arranged along the conveying direction for printing respective object layers onto one another, a first of the sequence of printhead groups printing an object layer onto said substrate. Each printhead group includes a plurality of printheads. At least one of the printheads in each printhead group is for printing a material different to the material printed by the other printheads in the same group.

1 . A printing system comprising:
 a conveyor for conveying a substrate along a conveying direction; and   a sequence of printhead groups arranged along the conveying direction for printing respective object layers onto one another, a first of the sequence of printhead groups printing an object layer onto said substrate, wherein   each printhead group includes a plurality of printheads, at least one of the printheads in each printhead group for printing a material different to the material printed by the other printheads in the same group.   
   
   
       2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the system prints multiple layers in a single pass of the substrate through the system, whereby a three dimensional object comprising said multiple object layers is formed in a single pass. 
   
   
       3 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the printhead groups in the sequence of printhead groups print simultaneously. 
   
   
       4 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein each object layer is substantially continuous. 
   
   
       5 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the printhead groups is offset from a printhead group upstream thereof in the conveying direction in a direction away from the substrate by the thickness of an object layer.