Stamp Head for Printing Poultry Eggs Using Screen Printing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing devices for printing on uneven surfaces, such as poultry eggs, suffer from manual operation leading to variable and non-reproducible contact force, and require manual refilling and motif changes, which are inefficient and result in inconsistent ink application.

Innovation Solution

A stamp head with a cylindrical chamber containing an open-pore microporous tampon for ink absorption, a flexible screen printing plate with a UV-sensitive barrier layer, and a mechanism for quick ink refilling and plate replacement without disassembly, ensuring consistent ink dispensing and adaptable motif changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual operation is used for stamping, then the device is simple to operate, but the contact force becomes variable and non-reproducible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanual operation simplicityVSAvoidcontact force consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The stamp head is divided into separate functional components: a reusable housing and replaceable consumables (screen printing plate and ink reservoir). This segmentation allows the mechanical structure to remain simple for easy operation while enabling precise control through standardized replacement parts that ensure consistent contact force and ink application.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the state of the stamping system from manually variable parameters to controlled, reproducible parameters through the use of pre-configured screen printing plates and ink reservoirs that maintain consistent contact force and ink delivery across multiple stamping operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If manual refilling and motif changes are required, then the device structure is simple, but the efficiency and consistency of ink application decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidink refilling efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The screen printing plates and ink reservoirs are prepared in advance as pre-configured consumable units. This preliminary preparation allows for quick replacement during operation without requiring manual refilling or motif changes, significantly improving productivity while maintaining relatively simple device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention employs disposable or replaceable screen printing plates and ink reservoirs that can be quickly exchanged when depleted or when motif changes are needed. This approach eliminates time-consuming manual refilling operations while keeping the main device structure simple and reusable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Device complexity

If manual refilling is used, then the device is simple, but the downtime for consumable replacement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverefilling mechanism simplicityVSAvoidconsumable replacement time
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By preparing screen printing plates and ink reservoirs as pre-assembled consumable units before operation, the invention eliminates the need for time-consuming manual refilling during the printing process. The pre-configured units can be quickly swapped, minimizing downtime while avoiding complex automated refilling mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Device complexity

If the stamp ink level varies, then the ink container is simple, but the amount of stamp ink dispensed becomes inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveink level control simplicityVSAvoidink dispensing consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the parameter of ink level from variable to controlled by using standardized ink reservoirs with defined fill levels. This ensures consistent ink dispensing without requiring complex level sensing or control mechanisms, maintaining simplicity while achieving precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The ink reservoirs are pre-filled to consistent levels before being installed in the stamp head. This preliminary action ensures that each consumable unit delivers a standardized amount of ink, guaranteeing consistent ink dispensing across multiple stamping operations without needing active level control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 provides a reproducible and efficient printing process with consistent ink application and quick consumable replacement, capable of handling various egg sizes and shapes with minimal downtime.

Implementation Method 1

a tampon (5) which absorbs the stamp ink

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

a flexible screen printing plate (4) with a UV-sensitive barrier layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotochemical etching: Photography

Data Source

PatentEP1954503B1Apparatus for printing poultry eggs
Publication Date: 2013.07.17 NUOVO
  • EP1954503B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1954503B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a stamp head (1) for printing uneven surfaces, especially agricultural products such as poultry eggs, by means of screen printing. The stamp ink is stored in a tampon (5) within a stamp chamber (2) and is transferred to the egg surface with the aid of structures of a small coated screen printing plate (4). The stamp head (2) can be fastened to a stamp guiding assembly (7) via a stamp pressing element (10) such that an egg stamp (50) is created which can be vertically moved up and down on a stamp bar (18), the stamping process being carried out by means of the vertical movement. Several egg stamps (50) can be mounted on the stamp bar (18) such that a stamping apparatus is created which allows several eggs to be printed simultaneously.