Ceramic Digital Printing Assembly with Solvent and Water Ink Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
The ceramic industry faces challenges with oil-based and solvent-based inks used for decorating ceramic articles, as they emit toxic substances during firing, pose environmental concerns, and can compromise product quality, while existing water-based inks lack decorative flexibility and variety.
Innovation Solution
A machine and process that combines solvent-based and water-based inks, with temperature-controlled dispensing units and a digital printing assembly, allowing for a range of decorative effects while minimizing environmental impact, using a system with interchangeable printing units and a suction unit to manage condensate and solvent vapors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If oil-based or solvent-based inks are used for decorating ceramic articles, then decorative flexibility and fine aesthetic effects are achieved, but toxic substances are emitted during firing causing environmental harm
Solution Approach 1:
The printing system is divided into separate printing units, each dedicated to a specific ink type (solvent-based or water-based). This segmentation allows selective use of ink types based on decorative requirements, enabling the system to achieve fine aesthetic effects with solvent-based inks when needed while using environmentally friendly water-based inks for other applications, thus resolving the contradiction between decorative flexibility and environmental harm.
Solution Approach 2:
The printing machine is designed with multi-functional printing units that can handle both solvent-based and water-based inks. This universality allows the same equipment to perform both high-performance decorative printing (using solvent-based inks) and eco-friendly printing (using water-based inks), eliminating the need for separate machines and enabling flexible selection based on environmental requirements while maintaining decorative quality.
2Quantity of substance
If high amounts of ink are applied onto manufactured articles, then decorative coverage is improved, but problems occur during firing or drying compromising product quality
Solution Approach 1:
The system controls printing parameters including ink amount, viscosity, and application density to optimize the balance between coverage and quality. By adjusting these parameters, the system can apply sufficient ink for decorative coverage while preventing excessive application that would cause defects during firing or drying, thus resolving the contradiction between quantity and reliability.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If water-based inks are used to reduce environmental impact, then emissions are minimized, but decorative flexibility and variety are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The printing system is divided into separate printing units, each dedicated to a specific ink type (solvent-based or water-based). This segmentation allows selective use of ink types based on decorative requirements, enabling the system to achieve fine aesthetic effects with solvent-based inks when needed while using environmentally friendly water-based inks for other applications, thus resolving the contradiction between decorative flexibility and environmental harm.
Solution Approach 2:
The printing machine is designed with multi-functional printing units that can handle both solvent-based and water-based inks. This universality allows the same equipment to perform both high-performance decorative printing (using solvent-based inks) and eco-friendly printing (using water-based inks), eliminating the need for separate machines and enabling flexible selection based on environmental requirements while maintaining decorative quality.
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 enables the creation of fine decorative effects on ceramic articles while reducing environmental impact by simultaneously using solvent-based and water-based inks, ensuring product quality and versatility in design, and positioning the decoration process before drying to avoid temperature-related issues.
Implementation Method 1
the dispensing unit is configured to dispense the first decorative material at a first temperature and the application unit is configured to dispense the second decorative material at a second temperature which is lower than the first temperature
Implementation Method 2
the digital printing assembly comprises at least one suction unit associated with the supporting structure in a removable manner and arranged upstream of the application unit with respect to the direction of forward movement
Data Source
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AI summary
The machine (1) comprises: - one supporting surface (3) adapted to hold at least one ceramic manufactured article (C) and movable along one direction of forward movement (D); - one digital printing assembly (4) adapted to apply at least one decorative material (M1, M2, M3) to the ceramic manufactured article (C) to obtain a decorated manufactured article having a predefined decorative effect; wherein the digital printing assembly (4) comprises a supporting structure (5) and a plurality of printing units (6) associated with the supporting structure (5) in a removable manner and arranged in succession with each other along the direction of forward movement (D) and comprising at least one dispensing unit (7) configured to dispense a first decorative material (M1) of the type of a solvent-based ink and at least one application unit (8) configured to dispense a second decorative material (M2) of the type of a water-based ink.