Curved Surface Printing via Dynamic Container Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional printing apparatuses face difficulties in maintaining print quality when printing directly onto curved surfaces of containers due to varying distances between the print head and the surface, resulting in unsatisfactory image or text clarity.
Innovation Solution
A printing apparatus with multiple print heads and container holders that rotate and move linearly, maintaining a constant perpendicular distance from the print heads to the container surface, allowing for continuous and consistent printing on curved surfaces by combining rotational and linear movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional print heads are used with vertical positioning, then the structure is simple, but the distance from the print head to the curved surface varies, resulting in poor print quality
Solution Approach 1:
The container holder is designed to rotate the container about its central axis while simultaneously moving linearly, creating a dynamic positioning system that maintains constant distance between the print head and the curved surface. This dynamic motion compensates for the curvature of the container surface, ensuring consistent print quality across the entire printing area.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution introduces an additional degree of freedom by combining rotational motion (about the container's central axis) with linear motion (toward or away from the print head). This two-dimensional motion control allows the system to maintain optimal printing distance on a three-dimensional curved surface, transforming a static positioning problem into a dynamic multi-dimensional solution.
2Manufacturing precision
If the print head is positioned close to the container surface, then print quality is improved, but it is difficult to maintain constant distance on curved surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback control through synchronized motion control, where the rotational position of the container is continuously monitored and used to adjust the linear position of the container holder. This feedback mechanism ensures that the distance between the print head and the container surface remains constant throughout the printing process, maintaining high print quality on curved surfaces.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional printing on flat labels is used, then the process is simple, but direct printing on curved surfaces is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The container holder assembly serves multiple functions: it rotates the container to present different surface areas to the print head, moves the container linearly to maintain constant distance, and coordinates these motions to enable printing on various curved surfaces. This multi-functional design allows the same apparatus to handle different container shapes and sizes, providing universal adaptability for direct printing on curved surfaces.
Data Source
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Figure 3A~3E
AI summary
An apparatus includes a plurality of print heads configured to print directly on a curved surface of each of the plurality of containers and a plurality of container holders for retraining each of the plurality of containers. Each of the plurality of container holders is configured to rotate a container retained therewithin and to move the container linearly relative to the plurality print heads in a continuous motion to maintain a print location on the curved surface of each of the plurality of containers at a substantially constant perpendicular distance from each of the plurality of print heads during a printing process.