Flexographic Printing Roller Positioning Device Linear Guide

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing flexographic printing units face challenges in efficiently and simply replacing anilox rollers and supply rollers due to complex adjustment paths and lack of linear movement in existing positioning and storage devices.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves a positioning device with a linear guide that allows for linear movement of a main supporting body and a transfer support body, enabling easy and reliable positioning and storage of supply rollers, with the adjustment direction deviating from vertical by a maximum of 45°, and a storage device with movable relocating devices for multiple storage positions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If complex adjustment paths are used in existing positioning devices, then rollers can be positioned, but the replacement process becomes time-consuming and operationally inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroller replacement speedVSAvoidadjustment path complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning device is divided into separate functional components: a positioning unit that moves horizontally along a linear guide to position rollers, and a storage device with movable relocating devices that handle vertical storage operations. This segmentation allows each component to perform its function independently through simple linear movements, eliminating complex combined adjustment paths and enabling faster roller replacement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If multiple linear movements and deflection points are required for roller positioning, then rollers can be moved to storage positions, but the positioning path becomes non-linear and more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroller positioning simplicityVSAvoidpositioning path structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The positioning device operates exclusively in the horizontal dimension along a linear guide, while the storage device handles vertical movements independently. This separation of dimensions allows the positioning path to remain simple and linear without requiring deflection points or complex multi-axis coordination, thereby improving ease of operation while reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If a stationary threaded spindle with multiple drive wheels is used, then multiple cylinders can be supported, but the device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecylinder support capabilityVSAvoidspindle drive structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of a stationary threaded spindle with fixed drive wheels, the invention uses a movable relocating device that can dynamically position and support different cylinders at various locations. This dynamic approach allows the same mechanism to adapt to different cylinder positions and configurations, providing versatility without requiring a complex fixed spindle structure with multiple drive wheels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3908465B1Applicator with positioning device and storage device
Publication Date: 2022.11.02 KOENIG & BAUER AG
  • EP3908465B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3908465B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3908465B1 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), and supply rollers (403; 603; 803); and a positioning device (43), wherein the positioning device (43) has a linear guide (07); the application assembly (400; 600; 800) has a supply roller (403; 603; 803) storage device (21), which is arranged preferably below the application mechanism (414; 614; 814), and storage receptacles (22) for receiving a respective supply roller (403; 603; 803); and the storage device (21) has a transfer device (23), by means of which the storage receptacles (22) can be arranged in different storage positions (28). A supply roller (403; 603; 803) can be moved along a linear roller adjustment path (33) by means of the positioning device (43), one end of the roller adjustment path being identical to a supply position (29) and the other end being identical to a storage device (21) storage position (38; 34) which is designed as a changing position (34), and the positioning device (43) preferably has at least one transfer support body (19) which is guided along the at least one linear guide (07) and/or is arranged in a movable manner in an adjustment direction (B) relative to the frame (427; 627; 827) of the flexible application mechanism (414; 614; 814) and on which at least one component (47) of a bearing receptacle (44) is arranged that is designed to receive a rolling bearing (27) arranged on the at least one supply roller (403; 603; 803).