Flexographic Ink Chamber Cleaning via Multiphase Bubble Agitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for cleaning flexographic printing machines are inefficient, requiring longer times and more cleaning water, with a lower cleaning effect due to the single-phase water flow through the ink chamber.
Innovation Solution
A multiphase fluid, such as a mixture of water with bubbles or granular solids, is used to enhance cleaning by creating agitating action and turbulent flow within the ink chamber, reducing cleaning time and fluid consumption through a circulatory supply system and controlled pressure ratios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If single-phase water is supplied through the ink chamber, then the cleaning process is simple, but the cleaning effect is poor and cleaning time is long
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameters of the cleaning fluid from single-phase to multiphase (gas-liquid or liquid-liquid mixtures). By adjusting the phase composition and pressure ratios of the multiphase fluid, the cleaning system achieves enhanced cleaning effectiveness through phase interaction effects while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite multiphase fluids consisting of multiple phases (gas bubbles in liquid or immiscible liquid phases) to achieve superior cleaning performance. The combination of different phases creates synergistic effects that improve cleaning capability compared to single-phase water alone.
2Quantity of substance
If single-phase water is used for cleaning, then fluid consumption is easy to control, but cleaning efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the quantity and phase composition of the multiphase fluid to optimize cleaning efficiency. By adjusting the gas-to-liquid ratio or liquid-liquid phase proportions, the system achieves higher cleaning efficiency per unit volume of fluid consumed, thereby improving overall cleaning efficiency while maintaining controllable fluid usage.
3Productivity
If multiphase fluid is supplied to create agitating action, then cleaning effect is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves enhanced cleaning effect by controlling the phase composition and flow parameters of the multiphase fluid rather than adding complex mechanical agitation devices. By adjusting pressure ratios and phase proportions, the system generates sufficient agitating action through fluid dynamics alone, avoiding additional mechanical complexity.
4Loss of time
If multiphase fluid is used for cleaning, then cleaning time is reduced, but fluid supply system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reduces cleaning time by optimizing the phase composition and flow rate parameters of the multiphase fluid. The enhanced cleaning action of multiphase flow allows faster ink removal, and the parameter control is achieved through integrated control of the existing fluid supply system rather than adding separate complex control mechanisms for each phase.
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 multiphase fluid significantly improves the cleaning effect on the ink chamber's inner surfaces, reducing both cleaning time and fluid usage, thereby enhancing the efficiency and productivity of the flexographic printing process.
Implementation Method 1
A multiphase fluid, such as a mixture of water with bubbles or granular solids, is used to enhance cleaning by creating agitating action and turbulent flow within the ink chamber
Implementation Method 2
A multiphase fluid, such as a mixture of water with bubbles or granular solids, is used to enhance cleaning by creating agitating action and turbulent flow within the ink chamber
Implementation Method 3
supplying a multiphase fluid to the ink chamber from a multiphase fluid generator and generating a pressure difference between two ends of the ink chamber in a longitudinal direction of the ink chamber
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4(a)~4(f)
AI summary
It is an object is to improve the cleaning effect, to reduce the cleaning time, and to reduce the consumption of cleaning water during cleaning of an inside of an ink chamber of a flexographic printing machine. For cleaning an ink chamber 20, purge air ''a" is supplied from pipes 46a-b to the ink chamber 20, and an ink "f" is collected from an ink supply pipe 26 and an ink recovery pipe 36 to an ink can 30. Subsequently, cleaning water "w" is supplied from the pipes 46a-b to the ink chamber 20, as well as defining a cleaning water circulatory passage 44 constructed from a three-way valve 24, an ink supply port 22, the ink chamber 20, excessive ink recovery ports 32, the ink recovery pipe 36, and a connecting pipe 40 for circulating cleaning water "w" through the circulatory passage 44 to clean inside the ink chamber 20. At the same time, compressed air "a" is supplied from a compressed air supply pipe 424 of an air gun 42 to generate bubbles in the cleaning water "w", thereby improving the cleaning effect on the ink chamber 20 by the agitating action and the turbulent flow generating action of the bubbles.