Acute Angle Wash-Up Blade for Roller Wear Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wash-up blades for printers wear out quickly and are ineffective in scraping ink off rollers, typically lasting only 3-8 months and requiring frequent replacement.
Innovation Solution
A wash-up blade with a more acute angle of less than 30 degrees and a bend between its sides, designed to reduce wear and improve fluid flow, allowing for better contact with the roller and extended durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a wash-up blade with a 30-45 degree angle is used, then the blade can initially scrape ink off the roller, but the blade wears out quickly and becomes ineffective after 3-8 months
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the wash-up blade by reducing the angle from the conventional 30-45 degrees to less than 30 degrees. This parameter change optimizes the blade's ability to maintain effective contact with the roller surface, reducing wear and extending operational lifespan from 3-8 months to over one year while maintaining ink scraping effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a bend or curvature in the wash-up blade structure, deviating from a straight blade design. This curvature allows the blade to better conform to the roller surface, improving contact consistency and reducing localized wear points that would otherwise cause premature blade failure.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the wash-up blade angle is reduced to less than 30 degrees, then the blade lasts longer and reduces wear, but the blade width must be precisely controlled within specific ranges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies precise width parameters (first long side: 0.07-0.15 inches, second long side: 0.015-0.075 inches) that optimize the blade's performance and durability. These controlled parameters ensure the blade maintains proper contact pressure and wear distribution, extending lifespan while providing clear manufacturing specifications to manage precision requirements.
3Reliability
If a bend is added between the first and second long sides of the blade, then the blade maintains better contact with the roller, but the blade structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a bend or curvature in the blade structure between the first and second long sides. This curvature enables the blade to better conform to the cylindrical roller surface, ensuring consistent contact across the blade's length. Despite the increased structural complexity, the design remains relatively simple and manufacturable.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an apparatus suitable for use as a printer wash-up blade. Also provided is a method of cleaning a roller on a rotary printing press using the above apparatus.