Detachable Workpiece Carriers for Continuous 3D Screen Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for producing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces suffer from insufficient productivity due to the time-consuming drying process of printed layers, leading to underutilization of printing stations and limited operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method where the workpiece carrier is detachable from the printing table plate between successive printing processes, allowing for independent drying, and an automated transport system ensures continuous operation with minimal manual handling, integrating drying and printing processes for enhanced productivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the workpiece carrier remains on the printing table plate during drying, then the printing device structure is simpler, but the capacity utilization of the printing device decreases due to extended downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the workpiece carrier from the printing table plate into distinct components. The workpiece carrier can be detached and moved independently to drying stations, while the printing table plate remains in the printing device ready for the next workpiece. This segmentation allows parallel operations and eliminates idle time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a temporal dimension to the printing process by allowing overlapping operations. While one workpiece is being dried, another can be printed on the same printing table plate. This creates a multi-stage workflow where printing and drying occur in different time slots but are coordinated through the reusable workpiece carrier.
2Productivity
If multiple drying devices are positioned adjacent to the printing station, then drying capacity is increased, but the printing station utilization remains insufficient due to sequential operation
Solution Approach 1:
The workpiece carrier is prepared in advance by detaching it from the printing table plate immediately after printing, before the actual drying process begins. This preliminary separation action enables the printing table plate to be reused without waiting for the drying cycle to complete, effectively overlapping the printing preparation with the drying execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous useful action by ensuring the printing table plate is never idle. As soon as a workpiece carrier is detached for drying, another workpiece carrier is immediately loaded onto the printing table plate, ensuring the printing device operates continuously without downtime between cycles.
3Productivity
If the workpiece carrier is detachable from the printing table plate, then capacity utilization increases, but the handling and positioning complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The workpiece carrier serves as an intermediary component between the printing table plate and the drying stations. It absorbs the complexity of handling and positioning by being a standardized, reusable element that can be easily transferred between different stations. The carrier's design includes features like standardized dimensions and positioning references that simplify automated handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses identical workpiece carriers that can be reused across multiple printing and drying cycles. Instead of designing complex mechanisms to handle unique workpieces, the system employs standardized carrier copies that maintain all necessary positioning and handling characteristics, simplifying the overall system design while enabling high productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus for producing three-dimensional screen-printed workpieces, in particular 3D screen printing machine, with a printing device for the layer-by-layer production of at least one screen-printed workpiece in a plurality of printing operations and with at least one workpiece carrier for at least one screen-printed workpiece, wherein the printing device has at least one printing table plate being formed separately from the workpiece carrier and on which the workpiece carrier can be positioned for carrying out a printing process, and wherein the workpiece carrier is, between two successive printing processes for a screen-printed workpiece, detachable from the printing table plate for drying the screen-printed workpiece.