Dynamic Suction Chamber for Tablet Printing Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing tablet printing apparatuses experience reduced print quality due to increased friction between the conveyor belt and suction chamber, leading to vibration and misalignment of tablets, which affects the smooth conveyance and printing process.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a suction chamber design with a pulley body that communicates with the conveyor belt's suction holes, reducing friction by allowing air to be sucked from the pulley body through a slit-shaped through hole, and using guide pulleys to rotate with the conveyor belt, thereby stabilizing its movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the suction chamber is fixedly arranged to apply suction force to the conveyor belt, then tablets can be held stably on the conveyor belt, but the friction force between the suction chamber and conveyor belt increases causing vibration and reducing print quality
Solution Approach 1:
The suction chamber is configured to move together with the conveyor belt, transforming from a fixed static structure to a dynamic moving structure. This dynamic configuration maintains the suction force necessary for stable tablet holding while eliminating excessive friction and vibration that would otherwise occur with a fixed suction chamber arrangement
Solution Approach 2:
The suction chamber is integrated with the conveyor belt system such that they move as a unified assembly. This merging of the suction chamber movement with the conveyor belt movement ensures that the suction force is maintained effectively while preventing relative motion that would generate harmful friction and vibration
2Reliability
If the suction force is increased to improve tablet holding, then tablets are held more securely, but the friction force increases causing the conveyor belt to move less smoothly
Solution Approach 1:
By making the suction chamber move with the conveyor belt, the system dynamically adjusts the friction conditions. The suction force can be maintained at high levels for secure tablet holding while the synchronous movement eliminates excessive static friction that would impede smooth conveyor belt operation
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
This configuration ensures stable conveyance of tablets, reduces vibration, and maintains print quality by preventing misalignment and blurring, while also facilitating easier cleaning and maintenance of the suction chamber components.
Implementation Method 1
The conveyor belt has a plurality of suction holes, which are aligned in the conveying direction of the tablets, for sucking the tablets. Further, there is provided a suction chamber that has a suction slit over the entire circumference and faces a surface (back surface) of the conveyor belt opposite to the surface where tablets are held. Tablets are held on the conveyor belt by suction force applied via the suction holes of the conveyor belt and the suction slit of the suction chamber.
Implementation Method 2
The suction force that the suction chamber applies to the suction holes also acts as a force to attract the back surface of the conveyor belt to the suction chamber side, which increases the contact force between the back surface of the conveyor belt and the suction chamber.
Implementation Method 3
If the friction force increases between the suction chamber and the conveyor belt with the increase in contact force, the conveyor belt may not move smoothly and vibrate.
Data Source
AI summary
According to one embodiment, a tablet printing apparatus includes: a first rotator having an inner space; a duct configured to communicate with the inner space of the first rotator; a suction pipe configured to suck inside the duct; a second rotator arranged to face the first rotator across the duct; a conveyor belt wrapped around the first rotator and the second rotator; and a print head that performs printing on a tablet held on the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt includes a plurality of suction holes which communicate with the inner space of the first rotator and that of the duct, and are arranged in the rotation direction of the first rotator. The first rotator and the duct constitutes a suction chamber that applies a suction force to those of the suction holes of the conveyor belt located around the outer periphery of the first rotator and the duct.