Compensating Cam System for Printing Device Torque Disturbance
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed sheet-fed rotary printing presses experience load imbalance and torque disturbances due to the actuation of grippers, leading to bending vibrations, banding artifacts, and reduced registration quality.
Innovation Solution
A compensating mechanism using a cam system that applies a compensating mechanical force opposite in phase and amplitude to the torque disturbances caused by gripper actuation, reducing or eliminating torque disturbances and vibrations in rotating components like impression drums.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If grippers are actuated to facilitate loading and unloading of sheets, then sheet transfer capability is improved, but load imbalance and torque disturbances increase
Solution Approach 1:
A counterweight mechanism is implemented to offset the mass distribution changes caused by gripper actuation. The counterweight is positioned and dimensioned to create a balancing moment that compensates for the imbalance generated when grippers open or close, thereby maintaining stable mass distribution during sheet transfer operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies a preliminary counteracting force through the counterweight mechanism before the torque disturbance fully develops. By anticipating the mass distribution change that will occur during gripper actuation, the counterweight pre-establishes a balancing condition that prevents rather than merely responds to torque disturbances.
2Productivity
If grippers are actuated during rotation, then sheet loading and unloading is facilitated, but bending vibrations and banding artifacts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The counterweight mechanism directly counteracts the forces that generate bending vibrations during gripper actuation. By maintaining balanced mass distribution, the counterweight eliminates the vibrational forces that would otherwise cause banding artifacts on printed sheets, enabling high-speed operation without quality degradation.
3Ease of operation
If gripper actuation is used for sheet transfer, then loading and unloading capability is improved, but registration quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By eliminating torque disturbances through the counterweight mechanism, the rotational speed and position of the impression drum remain more stable during gripper actuation. This stability prevents variations in printing pressure and sheet positioning that would otherwise cause registration errors, thereby maintaining high registration quality during rapid sheet transfer.
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 compensating cam system effectively reduces torque disturbances and vibrations, improving print quality by minimizing banding and registration issues, and enhancing the stability of the printing process.
Implementation Method 1
A compensating mechanism using a cam system that applies a compensating mechanical force opposite in phase and amplitude to the torque disturbances caused by gripper actuation
Data Source
AI summary
A printing device for printing on a printable media. The printing device comprises a rotating component (1), a gripper mechanically coupled to the rotating component (1) and configured for loading and unloading the printable media to and from the rotating component (1), an actuating element (5) configured for actuating the gripper, the actuation resulting in a disturbance to the rotation of the rotating component (1), and a compensating element (6) shaped such as to reduce the disturbance by applying a compensating mechanical force to the rotating component (1) during the rotation of the rotating component (1).