Ink concentration adjusting device and pad printing machine

Abstract

The present application provides an ink concentration adjusting device and a pad printing machine, wherein the ink concentration adjusting device comprises a solvent tank, a stirrer, a conveying pipeline and a flow control valve. The solvent tank is configured to store a solvent for diluting the concentration of ink; the stirrer is arranged in an ink tank of the pad printing machine and is configured to stir the solvent and the ink in the ink tank uniformly; the conveying pipeline is connected to the solvent tank and the ink tank; and the flow control valve is arranged in the conveying pipeline and is configured to control the volume of the solvent entering the ink tank.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of pad printing technology, and in particular to an ink concentration adjustment device and a pad printing machine. Background Technology

[0002] Pad printing is an indirect, concave-convex printing technique that uses a special silicone printhead to transfer patterns onto the substrate. It has the significant advantage of being able to print on small areas and products with uneven surfaces.

[0003] The existing pad printing machine mainly consists of a pad, a doctor blade assembly, an ink tank, and a metal printing plate. After receiving the ink from the ink tank, the metal printing plate is moved to the appropriate position by a cylinder slide rail. The pad picks up the ink from the metal printing plate and, through the cylinder, transfers the ink pattern on the pad onto the substrate.

[0004] Due to the characteristics of ink, its consistency in the ink tank changes over time. Therefore, cyclohexanone needs to be added to the ink tank of a pad printing machine periodically and stirred to dilute the ink. Currently, this is done manually. However, manual addition and stirring are prone to spillage, and manual judgment of ink consistency is inaccurate. Inaccurate dosage and uneven stirring can lead to poor printing quality, such as blurry prints and missing prints.

[0005] The above description of "prior art" provides background information only and does not acknowledge that the above description of "prior art" discloses the subject matter of this application. It does not constitute prior art of this application, and no description of the above "prior art" should be considered part of this application. Utility Model Content

[0006] The main objective of this application is to provide an automated ink concentration adjustment device and pad printing machine that can achieve timed, quantitative, and uniform ink addition and mixing.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, this application adopts the following technical solution:

[0008] According to one aspect of this application, an ink concentration regulating device for a pad printing machine is provided, comprising a solvent tank, a stirrer, a delivery line, and a flow control valve. The solvent tank is configured to store a solvent for diluting the ink concentration; the stirrer is disposed in the ink tank of the pad printing machine and configured to uniformly stir the solvent and the ink in the ink tank; the delivery line connects the solvent tank and the ink tank; and the flow control valve is disposed in the delivery line and configured to control the volume of solvent entering the ink tank.

[0009] According to one embodiment of this application, the ink concentration adjusting device further includes a controller configured to control the opening and closing of the flow control valve and the stirring time of the stirrer.

[0010] According to one embodiment of this application, the stirrer includes a stirring motor and a stirring structure, wherein the stirring motor is connected to the stirring structure and drives the stirring structure to rotate.

[0011] According to one embodiment of this application, a stirring motor is disposed outside the ink tank, and the stirring structure extends into the ink tank and is configured to stir the solvent and the ink in the ink tank evenly.

[0012] According to one embodiment of this application, an ink can includes a can body and a lid, the can body storing ink, a stirring motor disposed on the lid, and a stirring structure extending into the can body.

[0013] According to one embodiment of this application, the delivery pipeline includes a first delivery pipe and a second delivery pipe, the first delivery pipe being connected to the outlet of the solvent tank and the flow control valve, and the second delivery pipe being connected to the flow control valve and the stirrer.

[0014] According to one embodiment of this application, the first conveying pipe is made of polyamide, and / or the second conveying pipe is made of polyamide.

[0015] According to one embodiment of this application, the solvent is cyclohexanone, and / or the solvent container is made of a transparent material.

[0016] According to one embodiment of this application, the ink concentration adjusting device further includes a mounting plate, the solvent tank being disposed on the mounting plate, and the mounting plate having a hole for the delivery pipeline to pass through.

[0017] According to another aspect of this application, a pad printing machine is provided, including a printing head, a doctor blade assembly, an ink tank, a metal printing plate, and an ink concentration adjustment device as described above, wherein the ink concentration adjustment device further includes a mounting plate, the solvent tank is disposed on the mounting plate, and the mounting plate is mounted on the pad printing machine.

[0018] As can be seen from the above technical solution, the advantages and positive effects of the ink concentration adjustment device proposed in this application are as follows:

[0019] The ink concentration regulating device proposed in this application has a flow control valve installed on the delivery pipeline between the ink tank and the solvent tank. This valve can control the amount of solvent entering the ink tank and the time of solvent addition, making it less prone to spillage. It can accurately control the time and amount of solvent addition, thereby improving the printing quality of the product and avoiding problems such as blurriness and missing prints.

[0020] The ink concentration adjustment device proposed in this application includes a stirrer installed in the ink tank of a pad printing machine, used to stir the added solvent and the ink in the ink tank evenly; it can improve the printing quality of the product and avoid problems such as blurring and missing prints.

[0021] The ink concentration adjustment device proposed in this application has a simple structure, can be integrated into various types of pad printing machines, and is easy to operate. Attached Figure Description

[0022] The various objectives, features, and advantages of this application will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings are merely illustrative illustrations of this application and are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the drawings, the same reference numerals always denote the same or similar parts. Wherein:

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the ink concentration adjustment device of this application.

[0024] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the pad printing machine of this application.

[0025] The annotations in the attached figures are explained as follows:

[0026] 1-Ink concentration adjustment device;

[0027] 2-Pad printing machine;

[0028] 10 - Solvent tank;

[0029] 20 - Mixer;

[0030] 21-Glue head;

[0031] 22-Ink can;

[0032] 23-Metal printing plate;

[0033] 24-Drying device;

[0034] 30 - Delivery pipeline;

[0035] 40 - Flow control valve;

[0036] 50 - Mounting plate;

[0037] 201 - Stirring motor;

[0038] 202 - Stirring structure;

[0039] 221 - Tank body;

[0040] 222 - Lid;

[0041] 301 - First delivery pipe;

[0042] 302 - Second delivery pipe. Detailed Implementation

[0043] Exemplary embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, these exemplary embodiments are intended to be implemented in various forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, they are provided so that this application will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the exemplary embodiments to those skilled in the art. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar structures, and therefore their detailed description will be omitted.

[0044] In the following description of various exemplary embodiments of this application, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this application, and which illustrate by way of example different exemplary structures, systems, and steps that can implement various aspects of this application. It should be understood that other specific solutions to components, structures, exemplary devices, systems, and steps may be used, and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of this application. Furthermore, while the terms “above,” “between,” “within,” etc., may be used in this specification to describe different exemplary features and elements of this application, these terms are used herein only for convenience, such as the orientation according to the examples described in the accompanying drawings. Nothing in this specification should be construed as requiring a specific three-dimensional orientation of the structure to fall within the scope of this application.

[0045] It is understood that the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, in the embodiments of this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or device that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the steps or units listed, but may optionally include steps or units not listed, or may optionally include other steps or components inherent to these processes, methods, products, or devices.

[0046] As used herein, “about,” “approximately,” “essentially,” or “substantially” includes the value and the average value within an acceptable range of deviations from a particular value as determined by one of ordinary skill in the art, taking into account the measurement under discussion and a particular number of errors associated with the measurement (i.e., limitations of the measurement system). For example, “about” may mean within one or more standard deviations of the value, or, for example, within ±30%, ±20%, ±15%, ±10%, ±5%. Furthermore, the use of “about,” “approximately,” “essentially,” or “substantially” herein may be chosen to select a more acceptable range of deviations or standard deviations depending on the nature of the measurement, the cutting nature, or other properties, and may not require a single standard deviation to apply to all properties.

[0047] Furthermore, relative terms such as “down” or “bottom” and “up” or “top” may be used herein to describe the relationship between one element and another, as illustrated in the figures. It should be understood that relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device beyond those shown in the figures. For example, if a device in one figure is flipped, an element described as being “down” to another element will be oriented “up” to that element. Thus, the exemplary term “down” can include both “down” and “up” orientations, depending on the specific orientation of the figure. Similarly, if a device in one figure is flipped, an element described as being “below” or “under” another element will be oriented “above” that element. Thus, the exemplary terms “above” or “below” can include both “up” and “down” orientations.

[0048] This document describes exemplary embodiments with reference to cross-sectional views, which are schematic diagrams of idealized embodiments. Therefore, variations in the shape of the illustrations can be expected as a result of, for example, manufacturing techniques and / or tolerances. Consequently, the embodiments described herein should not be construed as limited to the specific shapes of the regions shown herein, but rather include, for example, shape deviations caused by manufacturing processes. For example, regions shown or described as flat may generally have rough and / or non-linear characteristics. Furthermore, the acute angles shown may be rounded. Therefore, the regions shown in the figures are schematic in nature, and their shapes are not intended to show the precise shapes of the regions, nor are they intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0049] like Figures 1 to 2 As shown, the pad printing machine 2 of this application includes a printing head 21, a doctor blade assembly, an ink tank 22, a metal printing plate 23, a drying device 24, and an ink concentration adjusting device 1. After receiving ink from the ink tank 22, the metal printing plate 23 is moved to an appropriate position by a cylinder slide rail. The printing head 21 picks up the ink on the metal printing plate 23, and the ink pattern on the printing head 21 is transferred to the substrate by the cylinder. Then, the ink pattern on the substrate is dried by the drying device 24.

[0050] The ink concentration adjusting device 1 of this application includes a solvent tank 10, a stirrer 20, a delivery pipeline 30, a flow control valve 40, and a mounting plate 50. The ink concentration adjusting device 1 is mounted on the pad printing machine 2 via the mounting plate 50. The solvent tank 10 is mounted on the mounting plate 50, which has holes for the delivery pipeline 30 to pass through. The mounting plate 50 also has mounting holes for mounting the mounting plate 50 to the pad printing machine 2, allowing it to be mounted to the pad printing machine using screws or bolts.

[0051] Solvent tank 10 is configured to store solvent for diluting the ink concentration; solvent tank 10 is made of a transparent material, such as glass or transparent plastic. The transparent material of solvent tank 10 facilitates timely addition of solvent by operators, and also allows for setting the solvent addition time based on the amount of solvent in solvent tank 10, ensuring the consistency and stability of the amount of solvent added to ink tank 22. In this embodiment, the solvent is cyclohexanone. In other embodiments, the solvent may also be butanone or acetophenone, etc.

[0052] A stirrer 20 is installed in the ink tank 22 of the pad printing machine 2 and is configured to stir the solvent and ink in the ink tank 22 evenly; a delivery pipeline 30 connects the solvent tank 10 and the ink tank 22; a flow control valve 40 is installed in the delivery pipeline 30 and is configured to control the amount of solvent entering the ink tank 22.

[0053] The ink concentration regulating device 1 of this application is equipped with a flow control valve 40 on the conveying pipeline 30 between the ink tank 22 and the solvent tank 10. This valve controls the volume of solvent entering the ink tank 22 and the timing of solvent addition, preventing spillage and allowing for precise control of the solvent addition time and amount. The ink concentration regulating device 1 of this application also includes a stirrer 20, which thoroughly mixes the added solvent and ink in the ink tank 22, improving printing quality and preventing problems such as blurring and missing prints.

[0054] In this embodiment, the stirrer 20 includes a stirring motor 201 and a stirring structure 202. The stirring motor 201 is connected to the stirring structure 202 and drives the stirring structure 202 to rotate. Using the stirring motor 201 to drive the stirring structure 202 for stirring ensures that the solvent and ink are mixed evenly, guaranteeing consistent ink concentration on the metal printing plate 23, thus ensuring printing quality and improving printing clarity. The stirring motor 201 can be a miniature DC geared motor.

[0055] In this embodiment, the stirring motor 201 is located outside the ink tank 22, and the stirring structure 202 extends into the ink tank 22 and is configured to stir the solvent and ink in the ink tank 22 evenly.

[0056] In this embodiment, the ink container 22 includes a container body 221 and a lid 222. The lid 222 has a through hole. The container body 221 stores ink. A stirring motor 201 is mounted on the lid 222, and a stirring structure 202 extends into the container body 221. The stirring structure 202 is connected to the motor shaft. A short section of the stirring structure 202 shaft is located between the blades of the stirring structure 202 and the motor shaft. The shaft of the stirring structure 202 passes through the lid 222 of the ink container 22 and connects to the motor shaft.

[0057] In this embodiment, the stirring structure 202 has four blades, which are installed in a cross shape at the end of the shaft of the stirring structure 202. There is a distance between the end of the blades of the stirring structure 202 and the inner wall of the tank 221.

[0058] In this embodiment, the delivery pipeline 30 includes a first delivery pipe 301 and a second delivery pipe 302. The first delivery pipe 301 is connected to the outlet of the solvent tank 10 and the flow control valve 40, and the second delivery pipe 302 is connected to the flow control valve 40 and the stirrer 20. Both the first delivery pipe 301 and the second delivery pipe 302 are made of polyamide. In some other embodiments, the first delivery pipe 301 may be made of polyamide, and the second delivery pipe 302 may be made of other corrosion-resistant materials; alternatively, the second delivery pipe 302 may be made of polyamide, and the first delivery pipe 301 may be made of other corrosion-resistant materials. In this embodiment, the connectors of the ink concentration adjusting device 1 may be made of stainless steel; in some other embodiments, the connectors may also be made of other corrosion-resistant materials.

[0059] In this embodiment, the ink concentration adjusting device 1 further includes a controller configured to control the opening and closing of the flow control valve 40 and the stirring time of the stirrer 20. The controller can be a PLC controller, and the flow control valve 40 can be an electromagnetic flow control valve 40. The controller can precisely control the solvent addition time and volume, and also control the stirring time to achieve uniform mixing of the solvent and ink. Operators can also use the controller to set different solvent addition times, volumes, and stirring times for different types of ink. The ink concentration adjusting device 1 of this application can reduce the ink viscosity control error from ±20% to ±5%.

[0060] The ink concentration adjusting device 1 of this application also has a second embodiment, wherein the ink concentration adjusting device 1 of the second embodiment is related to... Figures 1 to 2 Compared to the ink density adjusting device 1 of the second embodiment, it has a substantially similar structure in its basic construction. Therefore, in the following description of the ink density adjusting device 1 of this second embodiment, the description will not be repeated. Figures 1 to 2 The structure has already been described in the implementation method. Additionally, regarding... Figures 1 to 2 The structures of the ink concentration adjusting device 1 described in the embodiments are the same as those of the original device and are marked with the same reference numerals. Therefore, in the following description of this embodiment, the structures of the same type as the ink concentration adjusting device 1 will be mainly referred to. Figures 1 to 2 The differences between the ink concentration adjusting device 1 in the second embodiment and the previous embodiment will be explained. The main difference in the ink concentration adjusting device 1 in this second embodiment is the stirring structure 202. In this second embodiment, the stirring structure 202 is a stirring rod, replacing the stirring blades in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the stirring rod can be disposed at the end of the shaft of the stirring structure 202.

[0061] The ink concentration adjusting device 1 of this application also has a third embodiment, which is related to the ink concentration adjusting device 1 of the third embodiment. Figures 1 to 2 Compared to the ink density adjusting device 1 of the previous embodiment, it has a substantially similar structure in its basic construction. Therefore, in the following description of the ink density adjusting device 1 of this third embodiment, the description will not be repeated. Figures 1 to 2 The structure has already been described in the implementation method. Additionally, regarding... Figures 1 to 2 The structures of the ink concentration adjusting device 1 described in the embodiments are the same as those of the original device and are marked with the same reference numerals. Therefore, in the following description of this embodiment, the structures of the same type as the ink concentration adjusting device 1 will be mainly referred to. Figures 1 to 2 The differences between the ink concentration regulating device 1 in this third embodiment and the previous embodiment will be explained. The main difference in the ink concentration regulating device 1 in this third embodiment is the stirring structure 202. In this third embodiment, along the axial direction of the stirring structure 202, the blades of the stirring structure 202 can be a double-layer structure. One layer has two blades arranged 180 degrees opposite each other, and the other layer also has two blades arranged 180 degrees opposite each other. Along the radial direction of the stirring structure 202, the upper and lower layers of blades are staggered.

[0062] The above is a detailed description of several exemplary embodiments of the ink concentration adjusting device 1 of this application. The following will provide an exemplary description of the usage process of the ink concentration adjusting device 1 proposed in this application.

[0063] Combined with appendix Figures 1 to 2 The process of using the ink concentration adjustment device 1 proposed in this application is as follows.

[0064] The controller is set according to the type of ink. For example, for white ink, the addition time is set to 3 seconds, the addition volume is 5 ml, the stirring time is 60 seconds, and the addition interval is set to 120 minutes.

[0065] The controller will then open the flow control valve 40 for 3 seconds. During this 3-second period, 5 ml of solvent will be added. The controller will then close the flow control valve 40, and after 3 seconds, the stirrer 20 will start stirring for 60 seconds. Afterward, wait 120 minutes and repeat the above process.

[0066] In summary, the ink concentration regulating device proposed in this application includes a solvent tank, a stirrer, a delivery pipeline, and a flow control valve. The solvent tank is configured to store solvent for diluting the ink concentration; the stirrer is located in the ink tank of the pad printing machine and is configured to stir the solvent and ink in the ink tank evenly; the delivery pipeline connects the solvent tank and the ink tank; and the flow control valve is located in the delivery pipeline and is configured to control the amount of solvent entering the ink tank.

[0067] The ink concentration regulating device proposed in this application features a flow control valve installed on the delivery pipeline between the ink tank and the solvent tank. This valve controls the volume of solvent entering the ink tank and the timing of solvent addition, minimizing spillage and enabling precise control of the addition time and amount. A stirrer is installed in the ink tank of the pad printing machine to thoroughly mix the added solvent and ink in the ink tank. This improves print quality and prevents problems such as blurring and missing prints. The ink concentration regulating device proposed in this application has a simple structure, can be integrated into various types of pad printing machines, and is easy to operate.

[0068] It is understood that the various embodiments / implementations provided by this utility model can be combined with each other without creating contradictions, and will not be described one by one here.

[0069] In the above exemplary embodiments, the ink concentration adjustment device proposed by this utility model is described using an application in a pad printing machine as an example. It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications, additions, substitutions, deletions, or other changes may be made to the specific embodiments to apply the relevant designs of this utility model to other types of devices, and these changes are still within the scope of the principle of the ink concentration adjustment device proposed by this utility model.

[0070] It should be noted that the ink density adjusting devices shown in the accompanying drawings and described in this specification are merely a few examples among many ink density adjusting devices employing the principles of this invention. It should be clearly understood that the principles of this invention are by no means limited to any detail or component of the ink density adjusting devices shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification.

[0071] In the embodiments of the utility model, the terms "first," "second," and "third" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance; the term "multiple" refers to two or more unless otherwise explicitly defined. The terms "install," "connect," "join," and "fix" should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connect" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; "join" can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of the utility model according to the specific circumstances.

[0072] In the description of the utility model embodiments, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", "rear", "top", "bottom", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing the utility model embodiments and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or unit referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the utility model embodiments.

[0073] In the description of this specification, the terms "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "specific embodiment," etc., refer to a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example, which is included in at least one embodiment or example of the utility model. When introducing elements / components / etc. described and / or illustrated herein, the terms "a," "a," and "the above" are used to indicate the presence of one or more elements / components / etc. In this specification, illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0074] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the utility model and are not intended to limit the utility model. For those skilled in the art, various modifications and variations can be made to the utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the utility model should be included within the protection scope of the utility model.

Claims

1. An ink concentration adjusting device for use in a pad printing machine, characterized in that, include: Solvent tanks are configured to store solvents for diluting ink concentrations; A stirrer, disposed in the ink tank of the pad printing machine, is configured to stir the solvent and the ink in the ink tank evenly; A delivery pipeline connects the solvent tank and the ink tank; A flow control valve, located in the delivery pipeline, is configured to control the volume of solvent entering the ink tank.

2. The ink concentration adjusting device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a controller configured to control the opening and closing of the flow control valve and the stirring time of the agitator.

3. The ink concentration adjusting device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The stirrer includes a stirring motor and a stirring structure. The stirring motor is connected to the stirring structure and drives the stirring structure to rotate.

4. The ink concentration adjusting device as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The stirring motor is located outside the ink tank, and the stirring structure extends into the ink tank and is configured to stir the solvent and the ink in the ink tank evenly.

5. The ink concentration adjusting device as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The ink container includes a container body and a lid. The container body stores ink. The stirring motor is mounted on the lid, and the stirring structure extends into the container body.

6. The ink concentration adjusting device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The delivery pipeline includes a first delivery pipe and a second delivery pipe. The first delivery pipe is connected to the outlet of the solvent tank and the flow control valve, and the second delivery pipe is connected to the flow control valve and the stirrer.

7. The ink concentration adjusting device as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The first delivery pipe is made of polyamide, and / or The second delivery pipe is made of polyamide.

8. The ink concentration adjusting device according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, The solvent is cyclohexanone, and / or The solvent container is made of a transparent material.

9. The ink concentration adjusting device according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that, It also includes a mounting plate, on which the solvent tank is disposed, and the mounting plate has holes for the delivery pipeline to pass through.

10. A pad printing machine, characterized in that, The device includes a printing head, a doctor blade assembly, an ink tank, a metal printing plate, and an ink concentration adjustment device as described in any one of claims 1-8, wherein the ink concentration adjustment device further includes a mounting plate, the solvent tank is disposed on the mounting plate, and the mounting plate is mounted on the pad printing machine.

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