Container Printing Device Radiation Shielding Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printing devices for containers face issues with scattered radiation from curing processes damaging print heads and ink, and posing health risks to personnel, due to the inability to effectively shield direct and indirect radiation during the curing of multicolored prints.
Innovation Solution
A printing device with a housing structure that encloses the curing station and surrounding area, using movable parts to form a chamber around the containers during curing, preventing direct and indirect radiation from escaping, and allowing for continuous operation without impeding container flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a housing structure is added to shield radiation during curing, then operator safety and printhead protection are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is divided into multiple segments or panels that can be independently positioned and adjusted. This segmentation allows the shielding structure to be configured only where radiation exposure occurs, rather than enclosing the entire device, thus reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining protective functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing incorporates movable and adjustable shielding panels that can be dynamically positioned during operation. This dynamic configuration allows the housing to adapt to different printing configurations and only deploy shielding where needed, reducing static structural complexity while providing protection when required.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If an enclosure is formed around the curing station, then radiation scattering is reduced, but container transport flow may be impeded
Solution Approach 1:
The enclosure is segmented into discrete panels with strategically placed gaps and openings that allow containers to pass through freely. The segmentation enables radiation shielding in specific directions while maintaining unobstructed container flow paths, thus protecting against scattered radiation without impeding productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing provides localized shielding only in areas where scattered radiation would affect print quality or printheads, rather than creating a complete enclosure. This local quality approach ensures that container transport remains unimpeded while radiation protection is provided precisely where needed.
3Reliability
If shielding structures are added to prevent radiation escape, then print head durability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing provides partial shielding that addresses the most critical radiation exposure paths to printheads without creating a complete enclosure. This partial action approach delivers sufficient protection to maintain printhead reliability while significantly reducing manufacturing complexity and cost compared to full enclosures.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing acts as an intermediary structure that selectively blocks radiation paths using simple reflective or absorptive materials positioned between the curing station and printheads. This intermediary approach provides effective protection with minimal manufacturing complexity, avoiding the need for complex active shielding systems.
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
Effectively shields radiation during the curing process, preventing damage to print heads and ensuring operator safety while maintaining high throughput and precision in printing multicolored images on containers.
Implementation Method 1
The printed image can be produced in a single printing process using one or more printheads according to the 'wet-on-wet printing' principle and then fixed. However, with curing stations using UV light, as with electron beams, infrared radiation, or microwaves, the problem arises that some of the radiation used for curing reaches the printheads
Implementation Method 2
The present invention therefore aims to provide a device for printing on containers which shields directly and indirectly emitted scattered radiation during the curing process
Implementation Method 3
the device comprises a printing station with at least one printhead, which is arranged in the periphery of the rotor such that the containers are transported past the printing station by the rotor
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a printing device for printing on containers (110) with a driveable rotor (100) having a plurality of rotating container holders (130), at least one print head for applying a printed image to the container, at least one curing station (125) in the periphery of the rotor and at least one protective device, wherein at least one container holder (130) and the protective device are designed such that by moving the container holder (130) and at least one part of the protective device in the area of the curing station (125) relative to each other an enclosure is formed for at least one container (110) carried by the container holder (130).