Deformable Printing Pad With Air Stabilization for Uneven Surfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

In existing printing technologies, the displacement of the printing pad on uneven or inclined surfaces leads to ink deformation and reduced print accuracy due to slippage, resulting in misplaced ink dots.

Innovation Solution

A printing apparatus with a deformable printing pad and air blower system that conforms to the surface shape and stabilizes the ink on the pad, using a blower to harden the ink before transfer to ensure accurate printing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the printing pad is pushed against an inclined or uneven surface to be printed, then the printing process can be performed on various surface shapes, but the printing surface of the printing pad easily displaces and slips on the surface, causing ink deformation and reduced print accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to print on various surface shapesVSAvoidprint accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The blower sends air toward the printing surface of the printing pad before the printing pad contacts the surface to be printed. This preliminary action stabilizes the ink on the printing surface, preventing it from deforming or moving when the printing pad slips on inclined or uneven surfaces during the printing process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

Air is blown toward the printing surface to stabilize the ink before the actual printing contact occurs. This preliminary stabilization of the ink ensures that even if displacement occurs during printing on inclined surfaces, the ink pattern remains accurate and does not deform.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the printing pad is made deformable to conform to the surface shape, then printing on uneven surfaces is enabled, but the ink on the printing surface may deform due to pad displacement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconformability to surface shapeVSAvoidink pattern stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The blower applies air to the printing surface before printing contact, creating a stabilizing effect on the ink. This preliminary anti-action counteracts the potential harmful effect of ink deformation that would occur if the printing pad displaces on the inclined or uneven surface during printing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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 system effectively prevents ink deformation and slippage, maintaining print accuracy even on uneven or inclined surfaces by using a deformable pad and air stabilization.

Implementation Method 1

a blower configured to send air toward the printing surface of the printing pad

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir flow:

Implementation Method 2

a printing pad having a printing surface configured to be deformed to conform to a shape of a surface to be printed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

the printing surface of the printing pad to which the ink is transferred is pushed against a surface to be printed to transfer the ink to the surface to be printed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInk transfer:

Data Source

PatentUS12459247B2Printing apparatus and method for producing printed item

Publication Date: 2025.11.04 SHUHO KK

AI summary

A printing apparatus includes a printing pad having a printing surface configured to be deformed to conform to a shape of a surface of an item to be printed, a printing original plate stage on which a printing original plate is placed, the printing original plate having a placement surface on which ink is placed, a printing stage provided for placing the item to be printed, and a blower configured to send air toward the printing surface of the printing pad. The printing pad is movable between the printing original plate stage and the printing stage, and is vertically movable from and to the printing original plate stage or the printing stage, and the blower sends air toward the printing surface of the printing pad in a state where the ink on the placement surface of the printing original plate is transferred to the printing surface.