Continuous Printing Apparatus With Aligned Heads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printing apparatuses require the article to be stationary, leading to long printing cycles and inefficient movements of the printing heads, which limits the precision and speed of printing complex graphical patterns.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with two aligned printing heads and a feed device that moves the article continuously between the heads, allowing for sequential printing cycles without transverse movements, and incorporating drying units for instantaneous drying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the article is kept stationary during printing, then the printing precision is maintained, but the printing cycle duration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transitioning from a static printing system (where the article remains stationary) to a dynamic system where the article moves continuously through the printing zone. The synchronization between article feed speed and printing head movement speed maintains printing precision while enabling continuous operation, thus reducing the printing cycle duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional printing approach by keeping the printing head stationary relative to the moving article, rather than moving the printing head over a stationary article. This inversion allows the article to be fed continuously through the printing zone, maintaining precision through synchronized movement while significantly reducing printing cycle time.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the printing head moves repeatedly in transverse directions, then the printing coverage is completed, but the movement efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuity of useful action by eliminating the repeated transverse movements of the printing head. Instead, the article moves continuously in one direction through the printing zone, and the printing head deposits material continuously along the article's path. This continuous unidirectional movement maintains full printing coverage while dramatically improving movement efficiency.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple printing passes are performed, then the image definition improves, but the total printing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing all necessary printing operations in a single continuous pass as the article moves through the printing zone. The printing head is pre-positioned and synchronized to deliver all required printing material during one continuous article feed, eliminating the need for multiple separate printing passes and thereby reducing total printing time while maintaining image definition.
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
This configuration enables precise and continuous printing of complex patterns in reduced time, shortening the overall printing duration and eliminating the need for the article to be stationary.
Implementation Method 1
The printing head is also provided or cooperates with a drying device, normally a UV lamp or other similar or comparable device, which performs a substantially instantaneous drying of the printing material
Data Source
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AI summary
Printing apparatus for printing on at least one article (12), comprising at least two printing heads, respectively first (17') and second (17"), disposed aligned with respect to each other in a direction (F), and a feed device (13) suitable to feed the article (12) to be printed along the direction of alignment of the two printing heads (17, 17', 17"), so as to position the article (12) sequentially in cooperation with the two printing heads (17, 17', 17").