Curved Surface Screen Printing Base Material Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing curved surface screen printing machines face challenges in properly positioning and retaining base materials with varying degrees of bend, leading to potential suction failures and damage during the printing process, especially when dealing with flat-plate-shaped materials that may be warped.

Innovation Solution

A base material retention device with a positioning unit that includes a first pressing unit with rotatable spheres for stable contact and a second pressing unit with outer edge contact members to ensure precise positioning and minimize friction, along with a suction unit to prevent failure, allowing for proper retention of both curved and flat-plate-shaped materials on a stage with a curved or flat surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a groove-shaped stage is used to retain base materials with curved surfaces, then curved surface printing is enabled, but base materials with varying bend degrees or warped flat plates cannot be properly positioned or suctioned

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different base material shapesVSAvoidpositioning accuracy and suction reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The stage surface is made dynamically adjustable between flat and curved states. A flattening mechanism allows the stage to transition from a curved groove shape to a flat surface, enabling reliable positioning and suction of both curved and flat base materials while maintaining the ability to perform curved surface printing when needed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The stage is designed with multi-functionality to handle diverse base material types. By incorporating both the curved groove structure for curved surface printing and a flattening mechanism for flat material handling, the stage can universally accommodate various base material shapes and states

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If positioning pins and pushing means are used to position base materials, then positioning is improved, but suction failures still occur when base materials have varying bend degrees

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidsuction reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The stage surface dynamically changes from curved to flat to ensure complete contact between the base material and suction surface. This dynamic flattening ensures that positioning pins can effectively position the material while the entire surface maintains reliable suction contact, eliminating suction failures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If a flat pressing surface is used to press base materials, then handling is simplified, but friction increases and may damage the base material

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of material handlingVSAvoidfriction-induced damage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pressing members are designed with spherical contact surfaces instead of flat surfaces. These spherical elements press the base material at point contacts, significantly reducing friction and preventing damage while maintaining effective material handling and positioning

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 ensures reliable positioning and suction of base materials, reducing friction and preventing damage, enabling high-quality printing on materials with varying shapes and curvatures without influencing downstream processes.

Implementation Method 1

a suction unit configured to suction the base material G on the stage 2

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSuction: Suction

Implementation Method 2

a first pressing unit configured to press the base material G against the stage 2, while minimizing friction between the first pressing unit and the base material G

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling friction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3882031B1Base material retention device, base material retention method, and curved surface screen printing device equipped with base material retention device
Publication Date: 2023.10.25 AGC INC
  • EP3882031B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3882031B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2C
  • EP3882031B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

This base material retention device (1) comprises: a pedestal (2) having a retention surface (21A) on which a base material (G) is placed; a positioning unit (3) configured to position the base material (G) in a predetermined retention position on the retention surface (21A); and a suction unit (4) configured to suction, to the pedestal (2), the base material (G) positioned at the predetermined retention position. The positioning unit (3) includes: a first pressing unit (31) configured to press the base material (G) to the pedestal (2); an outer edge contact member (32) that is provided to the pedestal (2) and that is configured to contact a portion of an outer edge of the base material (G); and a second pressing unit (34) configured to press the outer edge of the base material (G) so as to make the base material (G) contact the outer edge contact member (32).