Ductor Roller Ink Control for Printing Density Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional printing machines with ductor rollers face challenges in utilizing control data effectively across days, leading to increased loss papers and dependency on experienced operators, especially when switching between printing plates, due to delayed ink control and variability in printing conditions.

Innovation Solution

A printing machine with an adjustment apparatus that collects and processes data to update duty ratios for the ductor rollers, using parameters like basic, speed, and area parameters to adjust ink feeding based on past and present printing conditions, allowing for improved initial settings and reduced paper loss without experienced operators.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If conventional feedback control is used to monitor printed density and adjust ductor roller duty ratios, then printed density variations during printing are reduced, but control data cannot be utilized across days leading to increased loss papers when printing plates are exchanged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprinted density controlVSAvoidloss papers
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by storing control data from previous printing operations and automatically applying it when new printing plates are installed. This pre-adjustment based on historical data eliminates the need for extensive trial printing, thereby reducing loss papers while maintaining precise density control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback by continuously monitoring printed density and automatically adjusting ductor roller duty ratios based on measured values. This closed-loop control ensures precise density maintenance while the stored feedback data from previous operations is reused to initialize control parameters for new printing plates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If control data is not utilized across days, then simple control operation is maintained, but loss papers increase and dependency on experienced operators increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol operation simplicityVSAvoidloss papers
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically storing, managing, and applying control data without requiring operator intervention. The automatic data utilization system maintains simplicity of operation while reducing loss papers, eliminating the need for experienced operators to manually adjust settings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Control data from previous operations is preliminarily processed and stored in the system, ready for automatic application when new printing plates are installed. This pre-prepared data eliminates the need for manual adjustment by experienced operators while minimizing loss papers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If duty ratios are adjusted manually for each printing plate exchange, then printing quality can be maintained, but the process requires experienced operators and increases loss papers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprinting qualityVSAvoidoperator experience dependency
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces the mechanical/manual adjustment process with an automated electronic control system. The controller automatically retrieves stored control data and adjusts duty ratios based on this data, eliminating the need for experienced operators to manually tune settings while maintaining high printing quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

Optimal duty ratio settings are preliminarily determined and stored from previous successful printing operations. When new printing plates are installed, these pre-determined settings are automatically applied, maintaining printing quality without requiring operator expertise or manual adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3492262B1Printing machine having ductor roller, correction device, and printing machine correction method
Publication Date: 2021.04.21 I MAR PLANNING INC
  • EP3492262B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3492262B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3492262B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Individual graph data gr and its initial values gri, and average g of the graph data over the entire ductor roller and its initial value gi are used to change graph data gr and g during printing so as to cancel errors between measured printed densities and desired printed densities. The stable value ge of the averaged graph data g and the stable values gre of individual graph data gr are used and data including their initial values gi, gri and their stable values ge, gre are collected. In the collected data, the difference between the distributions of the stable values ge and the initial values gi makes a basic parameter B up and down. The collected data are classified according to printing speeds, and the difference between the distributions of the stable values ge and the initial values gi in each speed region makes a speed parameter V for each speed region up and down. The collected data are classified according to averaged graph data g, and the difference between the distributions of the stable values ge and the initial values gi in each region of g makes an area parameter F for each region of g up and down. The difference between the distributions of the stable values gre and the initial values gri both of the individual graph data makes a corresponding individual roller parameter R up and down. The duty ratio of the ductor roller is adjusted according to the values of the parameters.