Doctor Blade Strip Break Points for Safe Length Cutting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions for replacing worn doctor blades in printing technology are complex and can compromise the quality and safety of the squeegees during cutting to length, with potential deformation or injury risks due to undefined break edges.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of continuous, predetermined breaking points, such as grooves or heat-affected zones, in doctor blade strips that predictably break under load, allowing for clean and safe cutting to length without deforming the working edge.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If doctor blade strips are pre-cut and joined with adhesive tape to facilitate easy replacement, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional manufacturing process steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of replacementVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The doctor blade strip is segmented into individual replaceable sections joined by adhesive tapes. Each section can be independently replaced by peeling back the tape, eliminating the need for cutting tools and complex manufacturing processes while maintaining ease of replacement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If individual squeegees are cut from strips by peeling adhesive tape, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to potential deformation of working edges

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of cutting to lengthVSAvoidworking edge quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive tapes are pre-applied to the doctor blade sections during manufacturing, creating predetermined separation points. This preliminary action allows end users to simply peel the tape for separation without applying any force that could deform the working edges, thus maintaining manufacturing precision while improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If scraper blade strips have edge notches for uniform bending and wear, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to requirement of special replacement systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniform wear distributionVSAvoidreplacement system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The complex replacement system with edge notches and special guidance mechanisms is extracted and replaced by a simpler adhesive tape-based separation system. The adhesive tapes provide sufficient control for separation without requiring the blade to bend uniformly or use special replacement systems, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability through proper tape placement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

Ensures high-quality, safe, and efficient separation of individual squeegees with defined break edges, maintaining the precision and safety of the cutting process.

Implementation Method 1

a laser beam is used to cut grooves into a metal base body of the doctor blade at the predetermined breaking points

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser heating: Laser

Implementation Method 2

the predetermined breaking points are areas of the doctor blade which break predictably under load due to the structure, shape and/or the material properties

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFracture mechanics: Fracture Mechanics

Data Source

PatentEP4153430B1Removable doctor blade which can be cut to length for printing technology
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 DAETWYLER SWISSTEC
  • EP4153430B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4153430B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP4153430B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a doctor blade strip (100, 100') from which individual doctor blades (200.1, 200.2, 200.3) can be cut off for use in printing, more particularly for intaglio printing, flexographic printing and/or screen printing, wherein the doctor blade strip has a flat and elongate main body (101; 301; 401) with a working edge region (102) formed in a longitudinal direction, and is characterized in that the doctor blade strip comprises continuous predetermined breaking points (110.1, 110.2, 110.3; 310; 410) running transverse to the longitudinal direction (L) at defined intervals (A) along the longitudinal direction (L).