Fluid Application Roller With Gas Outlet For Substrate Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing printer apparatuses face challenges in applying fluids uniformly to both sides of substrates while preventing adhesion and ensuring contactless transportation to maintain print quality and reduce cleaning requirements.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a controller, first and second rollers with fluid applicators and gas outlets, and a guide module to apply fluids to both sides of the substrate and use gas flow to prevent adhesion and facilitate contactless transportation, ensuring uniform application and drying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If contactless transportation is implemented using gas flow, then adhesion is prevented and print quality is maintained, but device complexity increases due to additional gas outlets and control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The gas outlets are integrated into the roller structures themselves, merging the fluid application function with the substrate support function. This consolidation reduces the need for separate contactless transportation devices while maintaining print quality through adhesion prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The rollers serve multiple functions: they apply fluid to the substrate, support the substrate during processing, and provide gas flow for contactless transportation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate contactless transportation devices, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Ease of manufacture
If gas flow is used to transport substrate contactlessly, then cleaning requirements are reduced, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gas flow system is designed to efficiently utilize the gas stream for both substrate transportation and drying functions. By combining these functions in a single gas flow path, the system reduces overall energy consumption compared to using separate systems for transportation and drying, while still minimizing cleaning requirements through contactless operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas flow performs multiple functions simultaneously: it transports the substrate contactlessly and provides drying action on the applied fluid. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate energy-consuming systems while maintaining low cleaning requirements.
3Manufacturing precision
If fluid is applied to both sides of the substrate, then coating uniformity is improved, but application time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is conveyed continuously through the apparatus while receiving fluid application on both sides. The overlapping fluid application zones and continuous motion ensure that coating uniformity is achieved on both surfaces without requiring separate processing steps, thereby minimizing additional application time.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid application process for both sides of the substrate is combined into a single continuous operation. By applying fluid to both sides simultaneously during one pass through the apparatus, the system achieves coating uniformity on both surfaces without doubling the application time.
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
This solution allows for uniform fluid application to both sides of the substrate, prevents adhesion, and reduces cleaning needs by using gas flow to transport the substrate contactlessly, enhancing print quality and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The outlet (38) is arranged to provide gas flow (42) towards the substrate (26)
Implementation Method 2
The guide module (22) is arranged to provide gas to the substrate (26) to dry the fluid applied to the substrate (26)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Apparatus (10) to apply a fluid to a substrate (26), the apparatus includes a first roller (14) to rotate about an axis and apply a fluid to a first side of the substrate (26). The first roller (14) includes an outlet (38) to provide gas (42) to the substrate to guide the movement of the substrate subsequent to the application of fluid to the substrate (26).