DLC Coated Member with Inclined Grinding Traces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional members with recessed portions coated in diamond-like carbon (DLC) experience fogging issues due to low friction coefficient, which prevents effective scraping of ink or adhesive in non-printing areas by doctor blades.
Innovation Solution
A member with recessed portions featuring a DLC coating and grinding traces at inclined angles, increasing friction resistance to prevent fogging, where the DLC coating covers both printing and non-printing areas and the grinding traces intersect at angles other than 0° and 90°, enhancing the scraping efficiency of viscous materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If DLC coating is applied to cover the surface, then hardness and wear resistance are improved, but friction coefficient becomes low causing poor scraping performance
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different surface treatments to different areas: the printing area maintains a smooth DLC coating for ink transfer, while the non-printing area receives grinding treatment to create traces that increase friction. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by providing high hardness where needed while enabling effective scraping where required.
Solution Approach 2:
The grinding treatment is performed in advance during the manufacturing process, creating friction-increasing traces on the DLC coating before the member is put into service. This preliminary action ensures that the scraping performance is optimized from the start, eliminating the need for subsequent adjustments or treatments.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If DLC coating is applied to cover the surface, then durability is improved, but ink in non-printing area cannot be scraped well causing fogging
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a local friction increase only in the non-printing area through grinding treatment, while the printing area maintains its original smooth DLC surface. This localized approach eliminates fogging in non-printing areas without affecting the durability and ink transfer properties of the printing area.
3Ease of operation
If grinding traces are formed at inclined angles, then scraping efficiency is improved, but surface complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses inclined grinding traces that create curved or angled surface features rather than flat, uniform surfaces. These inclined traces at angles other than 0° and 90° to the doctor blade direction create effective scraping action while maintaining a relatively simple manufacturing process using conventional grinding techniques.
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 effectively addresses fogging by improving the scraping efficiency of viscous materials, ensuring clear printing and application processes without residue, thereby enhancing printability and application accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a technology which uses diamond like carbon (DLC) as a hard coating for covering gravure cells is known
Implementation Method 2
the friction coefficient of DLC is low, and thus, there is a problem in that ink in the non-printing area cannot be scraped well by the doctor blade
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are a member with recessed portions which solves the problem of fogging, and a method of manufacturing the same. The member with recessed portions, includes: a printing area in which a large number of recessed portions are formed on a surface thereof; and a non-printing area in which the recessed portions are not formed on the surface thereof, the surface being brought into contact with a viscous material so that the viscous material accumulates in the recessed portions, the excess viscous material being scraped off the surface by causing a doctor blade to horizontally stick up on the surface and relatively moving the doctor blade. The member with recessed portions further includes: a base member having the printing area in which the large number of recessed portions are formed on the surface and the non-printing area in which the recessed portions are not formed on the surface; and a DLC coating formed so as to cover the printing area and the non-printing area. The surface is provided with a plurality of grinding traces, which are formed by grinding the DLC coating, and form an inclined angle of other than 0° and 90° with respect to an imaginary extension of the doctor blade which horizontally sticks up on the surface.