Envelope Printing Device with Mobile Drive Rollers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing envelope printers are limited in handling mailpieces of variable thickness and require manual adjustments for optimal print quality, struggling to print at multiple positions efficiently and avoiding ink smearing, especially when dealing with large batches of varying envelope sizes.
Innovation Solution
The envelope printer features a displaceable print module with mobile upper drive rollers that can move vertically to avoid contact with the envelope after printing, combined with fixed and lower pressing members to ensure accurate registration and consistent print distance, allowing for printing at multiple positions on envelopes of different sizes and thicknesses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If fixed upper drive members are used to transport mailpieces, then transport stability is improved, but ink smearing occurs on freshly printed envelopes
Solution Approach 1:
The upper drive members are designed to be mobile/adjustable in the vertical direction rather than fixed, allowing them to adapt their position dynamically. This enables the drive members to be raised above the print plate when the print module is in the printing position, preventing contact with freshly printed envelopes and avoiding ink smearing, while still providing stable transport when needed.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual adjustment of print spacing is implemented, then print quality is improved, but device complexity and operation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-adjustment through the coordinated movement of the print module and mobile upper drive members. When the print module displaces horizontally to a new printing position, the mobile upper drive members automatically raise above the print plate through their vertical mobility, eliminating the need for manual intervention to adjust print spacing or prevent smearing.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile upper drive members provide dynamic adaptation to different print positions and envelope thicknesses. Their vertical mobility allows automatic adjustment of the transport path height, maintaining optimal printing conditions without manual intervention for each batch or position change.
3Device complexity
If fixed print positions are used, then device simplicity is improved, but adaptability to variable envelope sizes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The displaceable print module provides horizontal mobility to accommodate different print positions on envelopes of varying sizes, while the mobile upper drive members provide vertical adaptability to handle different envelope thicknesses. This dynamic configuration maintains device simplicity while achieving versatility.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If mobile upper drive members are added to prevent ink smearing, then ink smearing is avoided, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile upper drive members combine multiple functions: they provide transport drive capability and simultaneously serve as a protective mechanism by being able to raise above the print plate. This merging of transport and protection functions into a single component minimizes the need for separate protective devices, reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for printing information at multiple predetermined positions of a flat object including a registration wall, a print module including print nozzles and a print plate and displaceable along an horizontal axis perpendicular to the registration wall, fixed upper drive members for moving the flat object in a direction of transport along the registration wall, the print plate and the fixed upper drive members together forming an upper reference in a vertical direction, and lower pressing members for pressing the flat object against the upper reference, the device further comprises at least one mobile upper drive member and, for avoiding contact with the flat object immediately after printing, the at least one mobile upper drive member is vertically mobile and configured to be moved from a lower to an upper position above the upper reference when the displaceable print module is positioned along the horizontal axis ahead of the at least one mobile upper drive member in the direction of transport.