Flexographic Printing Roller Positioning Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flexographic printing units face challenges in efficiently and simply exchanging anilox rollers, as current positioning devices require complex movements and additional drives, leading to increased operational complexity and potential errors.

Innovation Solution

A positioning device with a linear guide system that includes a main support body and a transfer support body, allowing for linear movement and relative positioning of the forme cylinder and supply roller, with a storage support body for the application fluid, enabling easy and reliable exchange of supply rollers without additional drives.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If complex positioning devices with multiple drives are used for roller exchange, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning device is segmented into two independent support bodies: a main support body for the forme cylinder and a transfer support body for the supply roller. Each support body can be positioned independently along the linear guide, allowing simplified control of each component separately rather than requiring complex coordinated movement of a single integrated structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The linear guide acts as an intermediary mechanism that enables precise linear positioning of both support bodies without requiring complex drives. The guide rail system provides the necessary positioning accuracy while maintaining mechanical simplicity, serving as a mediator between the simple linear movement requirement and the need for precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If additional drives are added for roller exchange, then positioning capability is improved, but operational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning capabilityVSAvoidoperational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The linear guide system serves multiple functions: it positions the main support body, positions the transfer support body, and provides a common reference framework for both movements. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate positioning mechanisms for each support body, reducing operational complexity while maintaining versatile positioning capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The transfer support body can be independently positioned along the linear guide to align with the main support body, enabling self-alignment during the roller exchange process. This self-positioning capability reduces the need for complex coordinated control and additional drives, simplifying operation while maintaining positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If complex positioning mechanisms are used, then positioning precision is improved, but reliability decreases due to more potential failure points

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the positioning system into two independently positioned support bodies on a common linear guide, the patent reduces the complexity of each individual positioning mechanism. Each support body requires only simple linear positioning along the guide, reducing the number of potential failure points in each subsystem while maintaining overall positioning precision through the guide's inherent accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The linear guide serves as a reliable intermediary mechanism that provides precise positioning for both support bodies through a single, well-defined mechanical path. This intermediary structure eliminates the need for multiple complex positioning mechanisms, thereby reducing potential failure points while maintaining the required positioning precision through the guide's mechanical accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3908464B1Applicator with positioning device
Publication Date: 2023.01.18 KOENIG & BAUER AG
  • EP3908464B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3908464B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3908464B1 patent drawingFigure 3a

AI summary

The invention relates to an application assembly (400; 600; 800), which has an application mechanism (414; 614; 814) with counter pressure cylinders (408; 608; 808), plate cylinders (402; 602; 802), supply rollers (403; 603; 803), and a positioning device (43). The positioning device (43) has a linear guide (07) and a main support body (06) which is movably arranged in an adjustment direction (B) in a guided manner by the linear guide (07) and is arranged on the main support body (06) in a rotatable manner by means of a rolling bearing (26). The positioning device (43) has a transfer support body (19) which is movably arranged in the adjustment direction (B) relative to the main support body (06) in a guided manner by the linear guide (07), and a component (47) of a bearing receptacle (44) is arranged on the transfer support body (19), said bearing receptacle being designed to receive a rolling bearing (27) arranged on the supply roller (403; 603; 803). The positioning device (43) has a storage support body (57) which is movably arranged in the adjustment direction (B) relative to the main support body (06) as well as to the transfer support body (19) in a guided manner by the linear guide (07), and a temporary store (404; 604; 804) for application fluid is arranged on the storage support body (57). The storage support body (57) is arranged at least partly between the main support body (06) and the transfer support body (19) when viewed in the adjustment direction (B).