A printing jig

Abstract

The application discloses a printing jig, which comprises a clamping piece and a suction accessory. The clamping piece is provided with a positioning groove matched with the shape of a workpiece, and is used for clamping the workpiece. The suction accessory is arranged on the side of the clamping piece, and is used for generating a negative pressure airflow along the printing surface of the workpiece, so as to absorb the ink falling outside the workpiece during printing. The technical problem of how to alleviate the harm caused by the over-printing phenomenon in the printing process is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of inkjet printing technology, and more particularly to an inkjet printing fixture. Background Technology

[0002] In modern lithium battery manufacturing, inkjet printing technology has been widely used for marking and patterning batteries due to its advantages such as non-contact operation, high precision, and flexibility. However, in actual printing processes, the phenomenon of "overspray" is often encountered, where the ejected ink mist fails to adhere completely to the designated printing area, instead spreading to the edges of the battery or even splattering onto adjacent fixtures or other equipment components. This problem not only leads to a decrease in print quality but also adversely affects the operating efficiency and product quality of the entire production line.

[0003] The direct consequence of overspray is the adhesion of foreign matter to the surface of the jig, affecting its normal function. As a key component used for fixing and positioning in the production process, the surface cleanliness of the jig is crucial to clamping accuracy. The adhesion of foreign matter can lead to unstable clamping, thereby affecting the assembly accuracy of the battery. In addition, conductive components in the ink may introduce potential electrical performance hazards, increasing the risk of short circuits or leakage, threatening the safety and reliability of the battery.

[0004] Therefore, how to mitigate the harm caused by overprinting during the printing process has become an urgent technical problem to be solved. Utility Model Content

[0005] One object of this application is to provide a printing fixture that aims to solve the technical problem of how to mitigate the harm caused by overprinting during the printing process.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, one solution provided in this application is: a printing fixture, which includes a clamping member having a positioning groove that matches the shape of the workpiece for clamping the workpiece; and an adsorption member disposed on the side of the clamping member, which is used to generate a negative pressure airflow along the printing surface of the workpiece to absorb ink that falls onto the outside of the workpiece during printing.

[0007] Optionally, the adsorption component has an adsorption chamber and an air vent. The air vent is connected to the adsorption chamber and extends along the printing surface of the workpiece, and a negative pressure is formed inside the adsorption chamber.

[0008] Optionally, the air vent is located on the side of the workpiece's printing plane away from the inkjet source, and the vertical distance between the top of the air vent and the workpiece's printing plane is at least 10 mm.

[0009] Optionally, the angle between the plane where the air vent is located and the printing plane of the workpiece is at least 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees.

[0010] Optionally, the length of the air vent perpendicular to the printing direction is greater than the length of the positioning groove.

[0011] Optionally, the surface of the adsorption element is coated with an ink-repellent coating.

[0012] Optionally, a light-absorbing layer is attached to the inner wall of the adsorption chamber.

[0013] Optionally, the inkjet printing fixture also includes a light-shielding plate, which is disposed inside the adsorption chamber and located on the light propagation path between the air outlet and the adsorption chamber.

[0014] Optionally, the inkjet printing fixture also includes a guide pipe and a waste bin, the guide pipe being connected to the adsorption chamber and leading to the waste bin.

[0015] Optionally, the inner wall of the adsorption chamber is inclined at the connection point of the guide tube.

[0016] The beneficial effects of this application are as follows: To address the problems of overspray during inkjet printing in existing technologies, which leads to workpiece appearance contamination, reduced printing accuracy, susceptibility to ink droplet accumulation, and electrical short circuit risks, this application provides a printing fixture. By incorporating a positioning groove that matches the workpiece's shape, precise workpiece positioning and stable clamping are achieved, effectively preventing workpiece displacement during printing and improving printing accuracy. Simultaneously, by providing adsorption components on the side of the clamping parts and forming a negative pressure area around the workpiece's printing surface, offset ink droplets and spilled ink can be captured promptly, preventing them from adhering to workpiece edges or equipment surfaces. This not only reduces the defect rate caused by printing deviations but also significantly reduces the frequency of equipment maintenance due to ink accumulation. Furthermore, by suppressing the deposition of conductive ink in non-target areas, this application can effectively reduce the risk of electrical short circuits, improving the safety of the production process and the reliability of the finished product. Attached Figure Description

[0017] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a printing fixture and workpiece provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is a dimensional schematic diagram of a printing fixture and workpiece provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 This is a top view of a printing fixture and workpiece provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0019] Explanation of icon numbers: 10. Clamping component; 11. Positioning groove; 20. Adsorption component; 21. Adsorption chamber; 22. Air outlet; 23. Repellent ink coating; 24. Light-absorbing layer; 30. Light shield; 40. Guide tube; 50. Waste bin; 60. Workpiece; 61. Printing surface. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0021] It should be noted that all directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in the embodiments of this application are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture. If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly.

[0022] It should also be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another component, it can be directly on the other component or may be connected to an intermediary component. When a component is referred to as being "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or indirectly connected to the other component through an intermediary component.

[0023] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a printing fixture and workpiece 60 provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 1 The direction shown is the printing direction.

[0024] This application provides a printing fixture to effectively alleviate various problems caused by overspray during the printing process. The printing fixture includes a clamping element 10 and an adsorption element 20. By optimizing the clamping and adsorption mechanisms, the printing accuracy and cleanliness are significantly improved.

[0025] First, the clamping member 10 includes a positioning groove 11 that matches the workpiece 60. The size and shape of the positioning groove 11 are strictly designed according to the outline of the workpiece 60, ensuring the stability of the workpiece 60 during the printing process. This not only prevents displacement of the workpiece 60 but also effectively reduces printing deviations caused by positional offset of the workpiece 60. The clamping member 10 is typically made of high-strength materials, which not only ensures its durability but also absorbs and mitigates vibrations that may occur during the printing process to a certain extent.

[0026] Secondly, the adsorption element 20 is positioned laterally to the clamping element 10. The adsorption element 20, through its internal negative pressure system, forms a negative pressure area near the outer periphery of the printing surface of the workpiece 60, designed to capture ink droplets that fail to adhere precisely to the surface of the workpiece 60. The generation of negative pressure relies on an integrated small air pump or vacuum generator, which can continuously provide stable suction during the printing process, thereby reducing ink droplet splashing and accumulation.

[0027] In this embodiment, the positioning groove 11 of the clamping member 10 reduces printing errors caused by the movement of the workpiece 60, thus improving printing accuracy. Simultaneously, the negative pressure adsorption function of the adsorption member 20 effectively captures offset ink droplets, preventing excess ink droplets from accumulating on the equipment and reducing equipment malfunctions and maintenance needs caused by ink droplet buildup. This application reduces ink droplet splashing and accumulation through the adsorption effect of the adsorption member 20, lowering the risk of electrical short circuits caused by conductive ink, thereby improving the safety of the production process and the reliability of the finished product.

[0028] Furthermore, in some optimized embodiments, the adsorption element 20 is further refined to improve its performance during the printing process. Specifically, the adsorption element 20 is provided with an adsorption cavity 21 and an air vent 22. The air vent 22 not only communicates with the adsorption cavity 21, but also extends along the printing surface of the workpiece 60, forming a negative pressure area that is fully covered laterally.

[0029] The adsorption chamber 21 is designed to maximize the capture and adsorption of ink droplets that escape during the printing process. The adsorption chamber 21 can quickly form a stable negative pressure environment during the printing process. This negative pressure environment is evenly distributed on the side of the printing surface of the workpiece 60 through the air outlet 22, so that the deviated ink droplets can be adsorbed in time and prevent them from accumulating around the fixture.

[0030] In this embodiment, the synergistic effect of the adsorption chamber 21 and the air vent 22 creates a stable negative pressure environment, effectively capturing and adsorbing escaping ink droplets, reducing the cleaning needs caused by ink droplet scattering, and lowering the equipment maintenance frequency. Furthermore, the number and position of the air vents 22 can be adjusted according to the shape of different workpieces 60 and printing requirements to adapt to different production conditions. This flexible design allows the adsorption component 20 to adapt to workpieces 60 of various specifications and shapes, greatly improving its adaptability and practicality on the production line.

[0031] Please see Figure 2 , Figure 2 This is a dimensional schematic diagram of a printing fixture and workpiece 60 provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 2 In the diagram, X represents the distance between the top of the air vent 22 and the printing plane 61. Figure 2 In the figure, 'a' is the angle between the plane where the air vent 22 is located and the printing plane 61 of the workpiece 60.

[0032] In one implementation, in some embodiments, the air vent 22 is positioned on the side of the printing plane 61 of the workpiece 60 away from the inkjet source, and its top is kept at a vertical distance of at least 10 mm from the printing plane 61.

[0033] If the distance is less than 10 mm, the airflow generated by the vent 22 will directly interfere with the inkjet path, causing ink droplet scattering or deviation, resulting in a blurry printed pattern and unclear edges. At the same time, the small distance will cause the adsorption area of ​​the vent 22 to be too concentrated, failing to effectively cover the entire printing area, thereby reducing the capture efficiency of escaping ink droplets.

[0034] In this embodiment, a distance is limited to effectively capture escaping ink droplets, helping to keep the mold clean and reduce ink droplet escaping. Simultaneously, this distance helps prevent direct interference from the airflow generated by the vent 22 on the inkjet process, avoiding ink droplet deviation or pattern distortion caused by excessively strong or close airflow. By optimizing airflow, this distance ensures smooth airflow, reduces turbulence, enhances the control of air pressure and airflow direction in the printing environment, and improves printing stability.

[0035] In some embodiments, the angle between the plane of the air vent 22 and the printing plane 61 of the workpiece 60 is limited to be greater than or equal to 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees.

[0036] When the angle between the air vent 22 and the printing plane 61 is less than 0 degrees, because the air vent 22 is located to the side of the printing plane 61, it is offset away from the printing plane 61 in all directions. This makes it difficult for the air vent 22 to effectively capture the escaping ink droplets, which may cause ink droplets to deposit in the surrounding environment, increasing the difficulty of cleaning and maintenance, and potentially affecting the normal operation of other equipment. When the angle is greater than 90 degrees, because the air vent 22 is located on the side of the printing plane 61 away from the ink source, it is offset away from the surface of the printing plane 61. Its absorption direction is consistent with the ink droplet ejection direction. The air vent 22 cannot effectively absorb the ink droplets escaping during the printing process, increasing the risk of ink droplet deposition on the printing plane 61 and surrounding equipment.

[0037] In this embodiment, by limiting the angle between the plane of the air vent 22 and the printing plane 61 of the workpiece 60 to between 0 and 90 degrees, the air vent 22 can effectively cover the ink spill area, maximizing the absorption of spilled ink droplets to maintain a clean printing environment and improve printing quality. Furthermore, by adjusting the angle, the device can adapt to workpieces 60 of different shapes and sizes. For example, for workpieces 60 with complex curved surfaces, appropriate angle adjustment allows the airflow to better follow the shape, ensuring uniform coverage of the printing material on the curved surface. Further, the wind speed at the air vent 22 is preferably set within the range of 2 to 12 meters per second. The lower limit of 2 meters per second ensures sufficient absorption of spilled ink droplets, while the upper limit of 12 meters per second effectively avoids disturbing the printing material, thereby protecting printing quality and stability.

[0038] Please see Figure 3 , Figure 3 This is a top view of a printing fixture and workpiece 60 provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 3 In the diagram, D represents the length of the air vent 22 perpendicular to the printing direction. Figure 3 In the diagram, d represents the length of the positioning groove 11.

[0039] In some optimized embodiments, the length of the air vent 22 perpendicular to the printing direction is limited to be greater than the length of the positioning groove 11. The positioning groove 11 is mainly used for clamping and limiting the workpiece 60, and its length basically corresponds to the size of the workpiece 60 in the printing area. The air vent 22 is set in a lateral position to the positioning groove 11. By extending the length of the air vent 22 appropriately beyond the length range of the positioning groove 11, an additional negative pressure airflow coverage area can be formed around the printing area of ​​the workpiece 60, thereby effectively capturing ink overflowing from a larger area on the side of the workpiece 60 during the printing process.

[0040] In this embodiment, by limiting the size of the air vent 22, the negative pressure space formed by the adsorption member 20 can cover a larger area, avoiding the problem of ink deposition at both ends caused by local adsorption only occurring on the side of the workpiece 60. In other words, the design of the air vent 22 being longer than the positioning groove 11 can establish a more continuous and uniform adsorption air field across the entire printing width of the workpiece 60, thereby further improving the collection efficiency of oversprayed ink and reducing the risk of contamination on the edges of the workpiece 60 and the surface of the fixture.

[0041] Furthermore, in some optimized embodiments, the adsorption element 20 has an ink-repellent coating 23 attached to its surface. During long-term use, the adsorption element 20, being close to the printing surface of the workpiece 60, is highly susceptible to the adhesion and accumulation of ink spilled during the printing process. If ink residue remains on the surface of the adsorption element 20, it will not only affect the adsorption efficiency but may also cause channel blockage due to ink drying, increasing maintenance difficulty. Therefore, an ink-repellent coating 23 is formed on the inner wall of the adsorption element 20 and its surface near the air vent 22. This coating has excellent ink-repellent and self-cleaning properties, significantly reducing the adhesion of ink to the surface, making it difficult for splashed ink particles to adhere or easily detached under airflow.

[0042] The ink-repellent coating 23 can be made of fluoropolymers, silane-modified materials, or other functional coatings with low surface energy properties to ensure its corrosion resistance and solvent resistance. This design not only extends the service life of the adsorption element 20 but also reduces the frequency of equipment downtime for cleaning, thereby improving the overall operating efficiency of the inkjet printing production line. In some embodiments, the ink-repellent coating 23 can be integrally formed with the inner wall of the adsorption chamber 21, or it can adopt a replaceable coating structure for quick replacement and maintenance after coating failure, improving the maintainability and adaptability of the device.

[0043] The inks used in the inkjet printing process are typically UV-curable or photosensitive materials. When these inks enter the adsorption chamber 21 and are exposed to external light, they are prone to premature curing inside the chamber, causing ink deposition and gradually clogging the airflow channels. This, in turn, affects the adsorption efficiency and the long-term stable operation of the device. To avoid the above problems, in some optimized embodiments, a light-absorbing layer 24 is provided on the inner wall of the adsorption chamber 21. This light-absorbing layer 24 can effectively absorb or block the entry of external visible light and ultraviolet light, thereby maintaining a relatively dark environment inside the chamber and ensuring that the absorbed ink remains fluid, facilitating subsequent centralized collection and processing.

[0044] In some alternative embodiments, the light-absorbing layer 24 may be a high-absorption black matte coating, a carbon-based coating, or a light-absorbing film with a microporous structure, which has a relatively large surface roughness, thereby reducing reflectivity while enhancing the light scattering and absorption capabilities. Furthermore, the light-absorbing layer 24 may also be combined with a solvent-resistant material to ensure that it is not easily corroded or peeled off in long-term contact with ink, thereby improving its service life.

[0045] Additionally, in some optimized embodiments, a light-shielding plate 30 is added inside the adsorption cavity 21 to effectively block or refract light entering from the air vent 22, reducing direct light penetration into the depths of the adsorption cavity 21 and further reducing the risk of ink curing. In some optional embodiments, the light-shielding plate 30 can be a sheet-like structure made of black or matte material to enhance light absorption. The light-shielding plate 30 can be arranged horizontally in parallel or at an angle, causing light to undergo multiple reflections and absorption paths after entering the cavity, thereby significantly reducing the light flux. Furthermore, several ventilation holes or slits can be provided on the light-shielding plate 30 to ensure smooth airflow inside the adsorption cavity 21, achieving both light shielding and suction.

[0046] In this embodiment, the light-shielding plate 30 forms a physical barrier, effectively enhancing the protective effect. Under long-term use conditions, the presence of the light-shielding plate 30 can significantly delay the curing and deposition of ink in the adsorption chamber 21, maintaining the stability and continuity of the adsorption system, thereby improving the overall reliability and service life of the printing fixture.

[0047] Furthermore, the inkjet printing fixture also includes a guide pipe 40 and a waste bin 50. One end of the guide pipe 40 is connected to the adsorption chamber 21, and the other end leads to the waste bin 50, thus forming a passage for ink collection and discharge. Oversprayed ink and its carried airflow captured by the adsorption chamber 21 during the printing process are guided along the guide pipe 40 to the waste bin 50 for centralized collection. This structure avoids excessive ink deposition inside the adsorption chamber 21, effectively reducing the burden of cleaning the chamber. The waste bin 50, as an independent ink collection unit, typically has a larger volume than the adsorption chamber 21, allowing for longer continuous use and facilitating periodic disassembly and cleaning.

[0048] In some optimized embodiments, the cross-sectional shape of the guide pipe 40 can be circular, elliptical, or polygonal to adapt to different flow requirements; its interior can also be equipped with an anti-backflow structure, such as a one-way valve or a chamfered section, to prevent liquid ink in the waste bin 50 from flowing back into the adsorption chamber 21 during airflow fluctuations. Furthermore, the inner wall of the guide pipe 40 can be coated with a solvent-resistant, ink-repellent coating 23 to reduce ink adhesion to the pipe wall and improve the smoothness of transport. In some optional embodiments, the waste bin 50 can be equipped with a transparent observation window or a liquid level sensor for real-time monitoring of ink collection, reminding operators to replace or clean it in a timely manner; a sealing cap can also be installed on the waste bin 50 to prevent ink evaporation or leakage, thereby ensuring a clean and safe workshop environment.

[0049] In this embodiment, the above structure enables the inkjet printing fixture to achieve a closed-loop ink processing path of "capture-guide-collection", which not only improves the collection efficiency of oversprayed ink, but also avoids the clogging and secondary pollution problems caused by long-term ink deposition inside the fixture, thereby greatly improving the stability of the inkjet printing process and the service life of the equipment.

[0050] Furthermore, in some embodiments, the inner wall of the adsorption chamber 21 is inclined towards the connection point with the guide pipe 40. This is because during the printing process, a large amount of adsorbed overspray ink enters the adsorption chamber 21 with the airflow, and some of it will deposit on the inner wall of the chamber due to gravity and the deceleration effect of the airflow. If the inner wall is a straight structure, residual ink is prone to accumulate, which may cause blockage or make cleaning difficult over time. By designing the inner wall to be inclined towards the connection point of the guide pipe 40, a natural drainage slope can be formed under the action of gravity, allowing the ink to gradually collect along the inner wall and flow into the inlet of the guide pipe 40, thereby achieving gravity-flow discharge and collection of the ink.

[0051] In some alternative embodiments, the tilt angle can be optimized according to the ink viscosity, flowability, and cavity size, preferably between 5° and 45°, to balance rapid ink collection with the stability of the airflow field. Furthermore, the surface of the tilted inner wall can be coated with an ink-repellent coating 23 or made of a smooth metal material to reduce ink adhesion to the surface and promote smooth ink flow into the guide tube 40.

[0052] Furthermore, the use of terms such as "first" and "second" in this application is for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. Additionally, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but only on the basis of being achievable by those skilled in the art. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, such a combination of technical solutions should be considered non-existent and not within the scope of protection claimed in this application.

[0053] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and does not limit the patent scope of this application. Any equivalent structural transformations made based on the content of this application's specification and drawings under the concept of this application, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A printing fixture, characterized in that, include: Clamping components have positioning grooves that match the shape of the workpiece for clamping the workpiece; An adsorption element is disposed on the side of the clamping element. The adsorption element is used to generate a negative pressure airflow along the printing surface of the workpiece to absorb the ink that falls onto the outside of the workpiece during printing.

2. The inkjet printing fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adsorption component has an adsorption chamber and an air vent. The air vent is connected to the adsorption chamber and extends along the printing surface of the workpiece. A negative pressure is formed inside the adsorption chamber.

3. The inkjet printing fixture according to claim 2, characterized in that, The air vent is located on the side of the workpiece's printing plane away from the inkjet source, and the vertical distance between the top of the air vent and the workpiece's printing plane is at least 10 mm.

4. The inkjet printing fixture according to claim 2, characterized in that, The angle between the plane where the air vent is located and the printing plane of the workpiece is at least 0 degrees and less than 90 degrees.

5. The inkjet printing fixture according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that, The length of the air vent perpendicular to the printing direction is greater than the length of the positioning groove.

6. The inkjet printing fixture according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The surface of the adsorption element is coated with an ink-repellent coating.

7. The inkjet printing fixture according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that, The inner wall of the adsorption chamber is attached with a light-absorbing layer.

8. The inkjet printing fixture according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that, The inkjet printing fixture also includes a light-shielding plate, which is disposed inside the adsorption cavity and located on the light propagation path between the air outlet and the adsorption cavity.

9. The inkjet printing fixture according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that, The inkjet printing fixture also includes a guide pipe and a waste bin. The guide pipe is connected to the adsorption chamber and leads to the waste bin.

10. The inkjet printing fixture according to claim 9, characterized in that, The inner wall of the adsorption chamber is inclined toward the connection of the guide tube.

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