Annular Can Printing Mechanism Reduces Moving Body Inertia
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Solution Overview
Problem
The quality of images formed on can bodies is deteriorated due to poor positioning accuracy of the can body with respect to image formation units, and the weight of the moving body affects printing efficiency and accuracy, leading to potential misregistration of colors and increased inertia force.
Innovation Solution
A printing device with an annular-shaped moving mechanism and a mandrel driving mechanism that reduces the weight of the moving body and improves positioning accuracy, using multiple inkjet heads arranged in line to form images on can bodies with ultraviolet cure ink, and a drying unit for curing, while the moving unit is guided by electromagnets and a guide member to ensure precise movement and image formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the moving body is made heavy to hold the can body, then the can body is securely held, but the moving speed is reduced and printing efficiency is deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The moving body is divided into multiple independent moving units, each capable of holding and transporting a can body. This segmentation allows parallel processing where multiple can bodies are printed simultaneously, increasing overall productivity while each individual unit maintains sufficient weight for secure holding.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple moving units are combined into a single integrated system that operates cooperatively. The moving units share common infrastructure such as the guide member and control system, reducing overall system weight while maintaining the secure holding capability through distributed architecture.
2Reliability
If the moving body is made heavy to hold the can body, then the can body is securely held, but the inertia force when stopping is increased causing position deviation
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the system into multiple lighter moving units, the inertia force of each individual unit is reduced, allowing for more precise stopping and positioning. Each unit can be independently controlled to achieve accurate positioning without the excessive inertia problems of a single heavy moving body.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the control unit monitors the position and movement state of each moving unit, and adjusts the driving force accordingly to ensure accurate positioning. This feedback control compensates for any positioning deviations and maintains manufacturing precision.
3Productivity
If multiple inkjet heads are used to perform printing, then printing efficiency is improved, but positioning accuracy between image formation units becomes critical
Solution Approach 1:
The printing system is divided into multiple independent image formation units, each with its own inkjet head. This segmentation allows each unit to be independently positioned and controlled, maintaining positioning accuracy while enabling parallel printing operations to improve efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces mechanical positioning dependencies with electromagnetic positioning using the guide member and electromagnet. This substitution allows for precise, programmable positioning of each moving unit relative to each image formation unit, ensuring accurate registration even with multiple printing heads operating in parallel.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances image quality by improving positioning accuracy and reducing the weight of the moving body, leading to increased printing efficiency and reduced misregistration of colors, while also simplifying the production costs and maintenance of the printing device.
Implementation Method 1
a moving unit that moves while supporting a can body; a printing unit that performs printing on the can body supported by the moving unit; a mandrel driving mechanism that drives a mandrel to rotate; a guide member that guides the moving unit
Implementation Method 2
using multiple inkjet heads arranged in line to form images on can bodies with ultraviolet cure ink
Data Source
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AI summary
The quality of an image formed on a can body is improved by use of plural image formation units. A printing device 500 is provided with a moving unit 550 that moves while supporting can bodies 10. Additionally, the printing device 500 is provided with a printing unit 520 that includes plural inkjet heads 11W, 11C, 11M, 11Y, 11K and that performs printing on the can bodies 10 supported by the moving unit 550. Further, the printing device 500 is provided with a moving mechanism 560 that causes the moving unit 550 to move by using a linear mechanism.